text:
"Dan Wesson Guardian (9mm)
We are bringing back the Dan Wesson Guardian with a twist. It has long been requested that we make a commander size 9mm. Here is the twist: We have combined the best features from two of our most popular models, the Bobtail Commander and the CCO. The new Guardian has the bobtail frame to help reduce printing when carrying concealed, and the alloy frame, makes it light enough for comfortable full time carry. The commander length slide and alloy frame give it just the right feel and balance. The Guardian wears the handsome and durable black "Duty" finish from Dan Wesson..
Item # and Suggested Retail Price: #01985 $1,530" - [url="http://www.cz-usa.com/press-releases/141/"]PRESS RELEASE[/url]
As a lifelong 1911 enthusiast, 1911 purist, and proud 1911 snob I truly appreciate a fine 1911. I really wasn't in the market for a 1911 chambered in 9mm when I happened across the Dan Wesson Guardian at my local Cabela's store. Why would I buy a weapon that retails for $1500.00+ when I wasn't in the market for it? Look at it. This is the most beautiful weapon I have ever laid my eyes on and from the moment I saw it I knew I would own it.
Mine is a factory "blemished" model, as denoted by the (Lambda) stamped onto the end of the serial number. The "blemish" in question is a small blemish in the finish on the frame, underneath the slide stop. It is not visible when the weapon is assembled, and even when the weapon is disassembled I cannot get the blemish to show up in pictures. This minor blemish in the finish saved me about $400.00 on the cost of the gun, and assures me that the quality control at Dan Wesson is absolutely the best in the production gun industry.
The Guardian comes as shown above, complete with the gun, two magazines, bushing wrench, oil, owners manual, Dan Wesson sticker, gun lock, and spent shell casing from factory testing.
[size=4]Shooting The Guardian[/size=4]
Shooting the Guardian is a true pleasure. Recoil is essentially non-existant with even the hottest loads. I ran 147 grain +P (1050 fps), 125 grain +P (1250 fps), and 115 grain +P (1400+ fps!) loads and suffered no failures other than the OEM magazine failures to lock the slide back on empty (a continual issue with the OEM magazines!).
Shooting the Dan Wesson Guardian[/url]
As the video above shows, recoil was absolutely insignificant.
[size=4]What I Like:[/size=4]
Bobtail: Bobbing a 1911 not only makes it feel better in the hand, but it also makes it even more concealable. This weapon will disappear just about anywhere.
Fit & Finish - The fit and finish on this weapon is very good. Slide to frame mating is comparable to most other upper-medium shelf 1911s.
Ergonomics: It's a 1911!
Series 70 Trigger: The trigger is very smooth and crisp. Thank you Dan Wesson for remaining true to the original design!
Accuracy: The match grade barrel, outstanding trigger, and incredible 1911 ergonomics make this an extremely accurate 1911. Recoil is insignificant making follow-up shots very quick and accurate.
Contrast Night Sights: The Guardian has a green front night sight and a two dot white (I'm still trying to determine if the rear sight is white or yellow; it looks a little like both) rear night sight. The point in having night sights is to be able to acquire your target with proper sight alignment in low light conditions. Using unloaded guns equipped with standard green night sights left out specifically to test this, in the past at night when waking up to piss I have tried acquiring sight alignment within a sight picture to see how well I could utilize my night sights. To my disappointment, while still half asleep I have a bit of trouble distinguishing my rear night sights from the front. They're all the same green color and when they are the only thing you see (while half asleep) it can take a bit of effort to distinguish between the front and rear sights. By having contrasting colors its much easier and faster to line up your night sights allowing you to focus on identifying the threat instead of spending more time than is necessary acquiring proper sight alignment.
Concealability: This weapon will disappear just about anywhere.
Aesthetics: I know aesthetics don't matter, but this is the most beautiful gun I have ever seen. While I would have preferred full thickness grips, these grips are true art and absolutely complete this package. I usually replace grips with Larry Davidson's Monkey Grips, but these OEM grips will stay right where they are.
[size=4]What I Don't Like:[/size=4]
Magazines: I suffered continual failures to lock the slide back on empty using the factory magazines. Since I only carry Wilson Combat magazines this shouldn't bother me, but it does. I don't understand why any company would build such a beautiful 1911 and then stick [img]smileys/poop.gif[/img]ty magazines in with it. This certainly isn't unique to Dan Wesson; all of my Springields, all of my Colts, all of my Kimbers, all of my 1911s for that matter come from the factory with [img]smileys/poop.gif[/img]ty magazines. Since Dan Wesson doesn't cut any other corners on this weapon it was just a disappointment to find the [img]smileys/poop.gif[/img]ty magazines. I'm confident its not just these two magazines either, as I also suffered magazine related failures in my Dan Wesson V-Bob that I also shot for the first time today. I'm sorry to say that Checkmate magazines are [img]smileys/poop.gif[/img].
[size=4]What It Needs:[/size=4]
Font Slide Serrations: Seriously Dan Wesson, how could you have overlooked front strap serrations? This is a mod I will have done, as I always rack the slide by grabbing the front of it.
Ambidextrous Thumb Safety: This isn't a modification I will have done, but ambi-safeties have become an expectation.
Full-lenth MSH Checkering: The rounded bobbed MSH would benefit greatly from full-length checkering. This is a modification I will have done.
Speed Chute: I don't yet know if a speed chute is even available for a bobbed grip, but if it is this is a modification I will have done.
[size=4]How does it compare?[/size=4]
Dan Wesson V-Bob (.45) and Dan Wesson Guardian (9mm)
Dan Wesson Guardian and Springfield EMP
I will be comparing The Dan Wesson Guardian to a Colt Combat Commander and a Springfield Loaded Champion, and a lightly modified Springfield EMP.
Fit & Finish
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
ColtC [:)][:)][:)]
Champ [:)][:)][:)][:)]
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
ColtC [B)] ([url="http://concealedcarryforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3927"]CLICK HERE[/url]...it is what it is.)
Champ [:)][:)][:)][:)] (won't feed Corbon JHP, all else fine)
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
ColtC [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Champ [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
ColtC [:)][:)][:)][:)] (Series 80)
Champ [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Guard [:)][:)][:)] ($1,500.00)
ColtC [:)][:)][:)][:)] ($850)
Champ [:)][:)][:)][:)] ($850)
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
S-EMP [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D] (Five [:D]'s is the highest rating, but the EMP deserves a little more!)
ColtC [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Champ [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Asthetics (irrelevant and relative)
Guard [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
ColtC [:D][:D][:D][:D]
Champ [:D][:D][:D][:D]
Dan Wesson Guardian and Springfield EMP
Overall Quality - Equal. These two 9mm 1911s are so close that I could not choose between the two.
Accuracy - Equal. Both offer fantastic accuracy.
Configuration - Equal. Both are set up very nice, and features not found on either could be added.
Value - Equal. Both weapons are priced similarly enough, and both give you a lot for the money!
Were I forced to choose between the two I don't know how I would do it.
The Dan Wesson Guardian is one beautiful 9mm 1911 that is sure to become one of my all time favorites. Shooting it is a true pleasure that gets better with each trigger press.
See my review on the [url="http://concealedcarryforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33758"]DAN WESSON V-Bob[/url].
Dan Wesson Guardian
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Dan Wesson Guardian
Nathan in
NRA Certified Instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home.
NRA Certified Instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home.
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Sign In for your personalized experience!
The wicked King & Joker has just released a new electronic banger titled "If You Really Want It." If you're looking for something to perk up your mid-week, this is it.
It has been written alongside singer/songwriter Sam Marsey, with the lyrics being worked ...[more]
Released today is Jean Elan's latest single "Old Enough To Know Better." The highly respected German producer, DJ and remixer has brought about his hybrid style of electronic/pop once again for this release.
What we love about it is its instantly catchy, war...[more]
Eli Rojas de Cali Colombia ,creció con Salsa, Cumbia y folclore.
Se mudó a Costa Rica ,lugar donde nació su pasión por el Reggae, Calypso y todos otros Ritmos Caribeños.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Betting on the continued growth of the U.S. oil market, Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) unveiled an aggressive plan on Wednesday that includes upping rig activity across major U.S. shale plays and increasing its exploration budget.
Continue Reading Below
The company at its analyst day in New York on Wednesday told investors that it will raise rig activity by 20% at the Eagle Ford and Bakken rig shale as well as by 100% at the Oklahoma Woodford.
In 2014, it says more than 60% of its $5.9 billion capital, investment and exploration budget will be allocated toward high-growth, liquids-rich North America resource play assets, forecasting a production growth rate of greater than 30% over 2013.
Marathon Oil also agreed to increase its remaining share repurchase authorization to $2.5 billion and said it will continue to divest its North Sea assets that have already led to nearly $3.5 billion in proceeds.
"When you look at the three priorities for our 2014 business plan … we believe they definitively reinforce our stated strategy of creating long-term shareholder value and a commitment to rigorous portfolio management integrated with robust capital allocation," Marathon Oil CEO Lee Tillman said in a statement.
Marathon Oil has been busy increasing its share of the booming U.S. shale market. Since 2011, it has doubled its output of unconventional oil to more than 2.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent through 28 rig programs.
Shares of the company were up a modest 0.28% to $36.20 in recent trade.


text:
I launched my website www.IndianHumanist.Org a couple of days back.
I would like to use this as a repository of Information related to the progress of Humanism in India.
It will have info and links about the various organizations and people connencted with the Humanist Movement.
It will also have links to books, articles, events related to the Humanist activity in India.
Hope this will play the small part that is needed to serve the cause of making India a leading Humanist Country.
Views: 141
© 2019 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
With DIRECTV On Demand, you have instant access to thousands of the hottest shows and movies, including the latest Hollywood releases on DIRECTV CINEMA™, whenever you want. Watch the video for more information on DIRECTV On Demand.
To start watching DIRECTV On Demand, navigate to Channel 1000. You can also press the MENU button on your remote, select Search & Browse, and then select On Demand. Here, you can browse through various categories of DIRECTV On Demand movies and shows, or key in the letters to search for something specific.
You can also access the latest Hollywood releases on DIRECTV CINEMA® whenever you want. The price for these DIRECTV On Demand movies is listed in the information section.
Watch the video for more information on DIRECTV On Demand.
To start enjoying DIRECTV on Demand, all you need is an HD DVR connected to your home broadband Internet.


text:
Puzzling Adventures™ are a cross between a scavenger hunt, an informative self-guided tour, and an adventure race.
Explore, learn interesting facts, see the sights, and challenge your mind at the same time!
This self-guided adventure requires only a mobile device with web access and the desire to have fun outdoors!
Consists of a series of questions and directions that guide you from location to location where you are required to answer questions or solve puzzles to receive your next instruction.
There is no need to race as quickly as possible from start to finish. Part of the fun is enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the tour. Our online tour only times you on solving the puzzles and the discovery of each location, allowing you to eat, drink, enjoy the sights, or use the bathroom while the game clock is not running. You can even go home and come back another day without penalty.
Once your adventure is complete you will be ranked based on a combination of your answers to the questions and your game clock time.
Participate in a team, as a couple, or individually. Complete the adventure as quickly as possible or meander along aimlessly.
The goal is to have fun, enjoy the sights and sounds, and hopefully learn some interesting things along the way.
Embark on a Puzzling Adventure for a fun, challenging, and educational journey!
Special EventBrite price is only $39.99 per team entry.
Multiple locations available!
After purchasing your e-brite ticket go to
and enter your ticket number.


text:
Brantley Gilbert Named Country Music's Most Eligible Bachelor
He's 27-years-old — a Capricorn with hazel eyes and a propensity for adding "Sir" or "Ma'am" to the end of sentences. Brantley Gilbert loves his fans, his mama and a Pit bull named Alley, who he rescued from abusive owners before one of his shows in Macon, Ga. Don't let the soft southern accent or big heart fool you, however. Gilbert isn't a pushover. He'll fight for his family, his friends and his music when he has to. For these reasons, Taste of Country readers named the 'You Don't Know Her Like I Do' hitmaker country music's most eligible bachelor.
Gilbert had expanded his southern fanbase before signing with Valory Music Co. in 2010. He's gained a reputation for his explosive live shows. It's rare someone sees the Jefferson, Ga. native only once. However, the soul of his success is his simple, straightforward and honest songwriting. He'll pen rowdy, barroom jams like 'Kick It in the Sticks' and pensive ballads like 'You Don't Know Her Like I Do.' For many of country music's female fans, Brantley Gilbert is the complete package.
Coming in second in the Most Eligible Bachelor readers poll was Chris Young, who carried just under 30 percent of the vote to Gilbert's 37 percent. To be fair, Young was in the lead for most of the time that the poll was open, but Gilbert made a push at the end to be crowned king of the single country stars.
Kenny Chesney, Scotty McCreery and Billy Currington rounded out the Top 5 of eight possible choices. You can congratulate Gilbert on his Facebook page, or shoot him a tweet to ask if either of the women in the picture above were successful in taking country music's most eligible bachelor off the market.


text:
- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- Donate Now
ETSU hopes to continue the momentum established Thursday at Kennesaw State
MACON, Ga. (Feb. 21, 2014) – Looking to win back-to-back games for the second time this season, the ETSU women's basketball team will conclude its Peach State road trip with a visit to Mercer University to take on the Bears on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena.
Aiming to snap a three-game losing streak, the undermanned Bucs used increased production from some of their reserves to down the Kennesaw State Owls, 63-60, on Thursday evening inside the KSU Convocation Center. Leading the team was junior Tiana Burley (Camilla, Ga.) who posted a dominant 25 points in 22 minutes of play off of the bench. This scoring mark is a career-high for the Georgia native while the rebounds and minutes played totals are season bests. In addition, freshman guard Shamauria Bridges (Miramar, Fla.) added 13 points including a season-high tying three made three-pointers.
ETSU (8-16, 4-9) and Mercer (12-12, 5-8) will square off Saturday in the 27th all-time meeting between the two schools; a series that ETSU leads, 14-12. The Bucs have come up short in the last three meetings versus the Bears including the most recent matchup earlier this season on Jan. 25 when ETSU fell, 57-52, inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center. ETSU last won in Macon on Feb. 2, 2012 when the Bucs came away with a 75-59 victory.
For more on Saturday's game, read the game notes below. For more on ETSU women's basketball throughout the 2013-14 season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's hoops link.
Game Notes
The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to ask both the print and broadcast media to honor our request to be called "ETSU" throughout the 2012-13 season ... East Tennessee State in first reference is acceptable, but subsequent references should be ETSU ... On TV graphics, please use ETSU ... Our nickname is the Buccaneers, but Bucs is also acceptable.
The ETSU Buccaneers enter the 2013-14 season under the guidance of first-year head coach. Brittney Ezell. A two-sport star in basketball and softball at the University of Alabama, Ezell comes to ETSU after spending three seasons as head coach at Belmont University where she compiled a 41-52 overall record. The Franklin, Tenn. native takes the reigns of a veteran-heavy team that returns nine letterwinners from an 8-18 overall 2012-13 campaign. Among the nine returnees are six players who started 10 or more games last season. Highlighted among the returnees is last year's team-leading scorer and rebounder Destiny Mitchell who led the way with 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Supporting Mitchell are juniors Serena Clark and Cara Bowling who each averaged 9.5 points per game last season.
As a result of a leg injury suffered in the first regular season game of the season at Memphis on Nov. 8, senior forward Destiny Mitchell will miss the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign. Mitchell will undergo surgery and continue injury rehabilitation while the ETSU compliance department petitions for a medical redshirt to have the forward cleared to participate in 2014-15.
Leading by five points with 3:30 left to play, the Buccaneers were unable to hold off the Mercer Bears down the stretch as MU went on a 12-2 run to down the Buccaneers, 57-52, inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center. After a closely-played first half in which the Blue and Gold trailed 25-24 at halftime, the Bucs found increased offensive output in the second half en route to a six-point lead with 15:21 left to play. The two teams traded leads over the next 13 minutes before MU went on a 12-2 surge, beginning at the 3:30 mark, to overtake ETSU with a 57-52 final. Maria Bond led the Bucs with 13 points, while Serena Clark added a game-high 12 rebounds.
Pressed into increased minutes due to various personnel issues, junior forward Tiana Burley carried her team to victory in a 63-60 win over Kennesaw State on Feb. 20 inside the KSU Convocation Center. Off of the bench, the Georgia native posted a dominant 25 points in 22 minutes of play. This scoring mark is a career-high for Burley, while the rebounds and minutes played totals are season bests. The post player's offensive boost will be vital for the short-handed Blue & Gold down the stretch of the season.
Junior forward Serena Clark has started 2013-14 off strong, scoring in double-figures in 13 of the 24 games this season. After falling just one rebound short of a double-double in the season opener at Memphis (11/8), the native Georgian reeled off four-consecutive double-doubles for ETSU in games from Nov. 12 - 29 including a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 82-65 win against Alabama A&M (11/29). The junior's most recent double-double came in a loss at USC Upstate (2/15) where she posted 10 points and 15 rebounds. Clark has now exceeded her double-double total from last season just 24 games into the 2013-14 campaign with nine this season and is poised for more throughout the year. The forward's 10.1 points per game currently ranks among the top-20 in the A-Sun, while her 10.4 boards per game are second in the league.
Junior guard Cara Bowling is currently the leading scorer on the team with 11.6 points per game during the 2013-14 season. Presently, this point total per game ranks among the top 20 in the A-Sun while her 1.8 three-point field goal makes per game is in the top 10 in the league. The Elizabethton native posted a career-high 22 points vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) (11/24) including four makes from behind the arc. The guard did miss six games this season, from Jan. 19 – Feb.1, due to a hip injury, and returned to action on Feb. 8 against Stetson.
Sophomore guard Chandler Christopher has proved to be a valuable piece for the Bucs during the 2013-14 season. After spending the entirety of the 2012-13 campaign as a seldom-used freshman walk-on, first-year head coach Brittney Ezell liked what she saw from Christopher and decided to elevate the Greeneville native from walk-on to scholarship status prior to this season. Christopher has since recorded her first-career starts in 22 of the 24 games this season and has been a vital cog for the Blue and Gold. After netting two points, five rebounds and three assists in the opener at Memphis (11/8), the guard followed with career-highs of 17 points and four assists in an also career-best 37 minutes played in ETSU's 81-72 win at Appalachian State (11/12). Christopher's performance in the Bucs' first win of the season at App State led to her being named A-Sun Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on Monday, Nov. 18. The sophomore then added another team-leading scoring performance to her résumé with 15 points in a 77-69 loss to Morehead State on Nov. 21. In her first game off of the bench this season, the guard notched her first-career double-double with 14 points and a career-best 14 rebounds in a 74-68 win versus Kennesaw State (1/23). Recently, Christopher added career-highs of 17 points and five steals vs. Stetson (2/8).
Freshman Shamauria Bridges has been a great offensive boost for the Bucs during the 2013-14 season. The rookie guard is averaging 7.2 points per game in 21 minutes of play and has demonstrated the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. The Florida native has knocked down a trio of triples in four different games this season with the most recent performance coming on Feb. 20 in a 63-60 win versus Kennesaw State. In her first career start, Bridges led the Bucs with a career-best 19 points in a 74-68 win against Kennesaw State on Jan. 23. The guard also led ETSU in scoring with 13 points in a loss vs. Florida Gulf Coast (2/6).
Through 24 games during the 2013-14 season, ETSU is currently averaging 66.3 points per game which is fourth in the A-Sun. With the 66.3 points per game also come successes in field goal percentage, where the Bucs are fourth in the league at 40 percent, and in three-point field goal percentage, where ETSU is fifth in the conference at 32 percent.
After averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 26 games and six starts in 2012-13, junior forward Maria Bond has proved to be a force in the interior during the 2013-14 campaign. The native Georgian has started 22 games this season and is currently averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Bond posted a season-high 18 points in a 75-67 win versus Indiana State (12/18) and notched her first career double-double with 15 points and a career-best 15 rebounds at USC Upstate (2/15). The junior remains a vital piece in ETSU's paint production going forward.
Since the 2002-03 season the Bucs are 111-20 when the they hit the 75-point plateau, including 80-15 since the 2006-07 season. In the early portion of the 2013-14 conference season, ETSU put up 78 to defeat Lipscomb (1/2), 78-75, to earn the 111th such victory.
The Bucs have enjoyed a lot of success since joining the A-Sun in 2005-06 … since joining the league, the Buccaneers have averaged double-digit conference wins a year, including a league-best and school record 18-2 mark in 2009-10, three Atlantic Sun Tournament titles (2008-2010), and two regular season championships (2008 and 2010) …in total, ETSU is 109-55 (.664) against conference foes since moving into the A-Sun … the Bucs have also won 89 of their last 134 games against conference foes (includes A-Sun Championship games).
The Atlantic Sun coaches picked the Bucs to finish tied with North Florida at fifth, while in the media poll ETSU was selected seventh ... the coaches picked FGCU with seven first-place votes to win the conference, while the media selected FGCU with 30 first-place votes ... the Bucs finished the 2012-13 season in eighth place.
ETSU fans wanting to receive Buccaneer news, score updates, in-game promotions and much more sent to their mobile device can do so by signing up for "Buc Updates." Click here to sign up today!


text:
Human Capital Information System
The Human Capital Information System is a web-based system that is available to school districts to support their implementation of Compass, the state's educator evaluation system. Use of the system by school districts is free and voluntary.
With the system:Teachers can establish student learning targets and share them with an administrator. Leaders can add notes and ratings from observations. School districts can submit annual reports to the Louisiana Department of Education.
Additionally, the system automatically calculates evaluation scores from the data entered on observations and student growth.We want to help!
To get immediate solutions to the most common challenges with the system, please visit the HCIS Help Desk. You will be able to select from a list of frequently asked questions and receive an immediate answer to your question. For all other questions that cannot be answered immediately, the Help Desk staff will aim to respond within 24 business hours of receiving your question.News for Educators:
The Reports feature has been launched! Educators can generate reports with observation ratings to understand what they're doing well and where they need to grow. School and district leaders can generate reports for those educators they are supervising. Administrators can track progress on all of the employees in their system.Helpful Hints for Educators: Use the link on the home page of the Human Capital Information System to quickly and efficiently find resources. Don't use special characters in your log-in name (such as #, ^, %), which will cause an error message. Please change your log-in name using the "I forgot my code" button on the log-in screen. Repeated attempts to log in with incorrect information will cause your account to be deactivated. To activate your account, please contact your district's HCIS administrator. For your convenience, a list of all HCIS administrators organized by Local Education Agency is available on the error message. Pop-up blocker must be turned off to log-in
For more HCIS resources, please visit our Library.
Taken from:http://www.louisianabelieves.com/teaching/human-capital-information-system


text:
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - On Friday night, MIT's women's swimming and diving team hosted the Lyons of Wheaton College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) dual meet. Wheaton kept the competition close through the first few events, but the No. 6 Engineers pulled away to secure an easy win, 186-114.
Early in the meet, Wheaton's Sarah Houlihan picked up a win for the Lyons with her swim in the 1000 Free (11:18.67). In the next event, Dania Piscetta scored another with her performance in 200 Free (2:00.39). Later, Piscetta recorded Wheaton's only other swimming victory with her time in the 100 Fly (1:01.18).
The Engineers posted a 1-2-3 sweep in the 500 Free, courtesy of Sydney Giblin (5:27.30), Hailey Kopp (5:28.33) and Megan Tadge (5:33.75). Kopp, a freshman, was also part of the winning 200 Free Relay (1:44.44).
MIT freshman Anna Kokensparger added three more wins to her young career, including a team-record swim in the 100 Breast (1:07.83).
In the diving well, Wheaton's Julia Wright put up season-best scores in 1-meter (264.51) and 3-meter (260.99) to easily beat out MIT's contingent in both events.
MIT (4-0) hits the water again next weekend when the Engineers host the Mules of Colby College on Saturday, January 15, at 1 p.m. On the same day, Wheaton (5-3) will swim against the Bantams of Trinity College and the Camels of host Connecticut College.


text:
All features in
Audio & Music Lab Premium
Record audio media
A few clicks is all it takes to record individual songs or entire albums from cassettes and records or speech for podcasts in studio quality (up to 96 kHz/24-bit resolution).
Import CDs
Transfer your albums, singles and EPs to your computer in no time at all. Title information and CD covers are automatically retrieved online for original CDs.
Import for video sound
Import video files even faster than before and start editing the audio track right away. The new algorithm makes the whole process more efficient.
Internet radio
Exclusive to the Premium version: Discover thousands of radio stations online. All stations are clearly arranged according to genre and country.
Always up to date – station to station
The Internet radio feature recognizes automatically when a station is no longer active online. This means that only current stations are listed in Audio & Music Lab.
Audio editing
4 tracks for audio montages
Create transitions and add audio commentary or sound effects to recordings. The 4 tracks provide plenty of space for comprehensive audio editing.
See what you hear
Various visualization options for your audio tracks make it easier to identify and edit problems with the volume or frequency.
In addition to the Spectroscope, Peak Meter and Spectrogram, MAGIX Audio & Music Lab Premium also offers a Bit Meter, a Correlation Meter and a Direction Meter.
Time stretching & pitch shifting
Audio & Music Lab Premium includes one of the best algorithms in the world from zplane™ for adjusting pitch and speed in audio recording. This technology works with precision and gives you artifact-free results.
Range editing
Switch to range mode to select individual sections within a track and copy or edit them with a single click. This makes editing audio montages even easier.
Object effects
With the "object effects" you can edit individual sections of a recording with different effects and settings.
This enables you to adjust the volume of individual sections in a song or a speech recording, to efficiently remove audio errors and apply effects such as reverb and echo only to those sections that really need them.
Edit audio files
Whether in terms of volume adjustment, individual editing techniques or working with automatic wizards, Audio & Music Lab Premium is an impressive audio editor across the board.
Divide up recordings
When a recording is finished, the program automatically detects where one song ends and the next one begins.
The recording can then be burned to an audio CD and each song will show up as a separate track when it's put in a CD player.
Sublime transitions
Fade lines within the audio track enable you to quickly and easily adjust the volume. It's a great way to fade into a song intro or shorten longer tracks by slowly fading them out.
Batch processing
Thanks to batch processing, you can optimize multiple audio files in one easy step.
Freshen up your digital music archive now and enjoy your songs in brilliant sound quality!
CD covers & track info
Automatically retrieve album information such as song titles and CD covers over the Internet.
All of this information is displayed when you play music on smartphones, MP3 players or music management programs like MAGIX MP3 deluxe.
Audio converter
Vinyl or CD; MP3 or OGG; WAV or AIFF: Every format has its advantages and disadvantages.
With Audio & Music Lab Premium, you can record in a range of formats and burn CDs and convert audio files as well.
Optimize video sound
Optimize video sound
Enhance speech recordings and reduce background noise, wind noise or sibilants:
Audio & Music Lab Premium includes a wide range of presets for quickly removing all kinds of noise.
Preview Monitor
The preview monitor can be detached and resized freely, enabling you to work on two monitors simultaneously. It's the ideal tool for synchronizing picture and sound.
The latest generation now also supports monitors with 4K resolution.
Video Sound Optimizer
Click on your track and the Video Sound Optimizer will suggest the right effect settings for enhancing music or speech in your footage.
Video converter
Bring your videos to the big screen: Convert your video files with optimized sound into all standard formats.
Movie formats such as MPEG-4 can easily be converted to WMV.
Media exchange
Transfer your audio or video projects with just a few clicks from MAGIX Audio & Music Lab Premium to any other video editing software.
Videos can be easily transferred to MAGIX Movie Edit Pro, Video Pro X or MAGIX Photostory Deluxe.
Audio restoration
Spectral display
The spectral display provides an overview of the various frequencies of the audio track. This makes it easy to immediately detect and remove audio errors such as claps, coughs, etc.
Stereo editing combined with an extensive color palette for visualizing the frequencies ensure a smooth and effective workflow.
Preview function
When you select ranges in the spectral display, you can check to see what the same passage sounds like after cleaning and compare it to the original.
Simply highlight any audio noise using the mouse and one click later you're done.
Automatic cleaning
The Auto Cleaning feature makes precise suggestions for improving your audio based on an automatic analysis of your audio signal. You can adjust the suggested improvements, compare them directly with the original and even preview them.
Work with presets
Distortions, crackling vinyl, hissing, cracks, humming, and any other noise can be filtered out quickly and easily thanks to a vast selection of over 360 presets.
Advanced effects editing
Direct access to all effect parameters for sound optimization in audio editing and mastering. After optimizing the track, the end result not only sounds better, but also sounds just the way you imagined it.
Remove crackling from LP tracks
Most LPs bring back memories of special moments. Moments that are matched by the warm, smooth sound coming from the record player.
Crackling can be removed from vinyl easily with presets for different strength levels.
Clipping reduction
Remove overmodulation or prevent it in the recording with the help of the limiter and DeClipper.
This way, you can correct varying levels in volume and hear your recordings in top quality.
Enhance smartphone recordings
Smartphone cameras are becoming more and more advanced, but unfortunately this usually isn't the case for their microphones.
Audio & Music Lab Premium makes it easy to optimize your smartphone recordings using various presets.
Stop wind noise with the click of a button
The best footage is often shot outdoors, but can contain a high level of background noise. This problem often occurs in action cam footage.
You can remove the wind noise from your videos in a flash using professional effects plug-ins and various presets.
Remove camera noise
Get rid of noises from older camcorder models by using simple presets or make custom adjustments to the audio in the effects area.
Optimize speech recordings
In no time at all, you can optimize speech and bring the quality of your audio to a whole new level.
Easily remove and reduce popping and hissing "s" sounds in your speech recordings.
Digital mastering
Music digitally remastered
Simply select the genre for your song and the Auto Mastering function selects the optimal audio settings for optimizing sound.
Compare and preview results with other music styles such as jazz, 70s funk & soul or classic 80s pop.
Mastering package
Optimize and fine-tune the sound image of your audio material with just a few clicks – perfect sound at the press of a button!
The new parametric 6-band equalizer is the perfect tool for adding that final polish to your audio material. The StereoFX module expands the width of the stereo field and the MultiMax multiband compressor/limiter produces an authentic, warm sound image.
Effects plug-ins
VST2 interface
For using other MAGIX effect plug-ins or third-party plug-ins, Audio & Music Lab Premium has four slots in the VST2 interface.
essentialFX is a collection of 6 first-class effect plug-ins taken directly from the field of professional audio. Along with cutting edge algorithms, these effects offer a sleek interface with quick and easy access to every parameter.
eFX Reverb
This new plug-in contains everything you need for modulating reverb effects professionally – whether short reflections or longer reverb.
eFX gate
This "gate" only opens when the set audio signal occurs. This can be used to suppress hissing noise between tracks or the background noises on a speech recording.
eFX Vocal Strip
Compressor, DeEsser & High-pass filter: The eFX Vocal Strip is a plug-in with an fantastic combination of effects for optimizing the quality of your vocal recordings.
eFX Tube Stage
This plug-in simulates the sound of an analog tube amplifier and is ideal for creative distortion in speech recordings in audio books or videos.
eFX Chorus Flanger
A creative plug-in with various settings for that characteristic flanger effect. The ideal plug-in for playing around and experimenting with sound.
eFX DeEsser
The eFX DeEsser provides a warmer sound by reducing the typical sibilants (heavy "s" sounds) and popping that can occur in speech and vocal recordings.


text:
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Koppers Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs
Easter is the best candy season. The qualities that make a good holiday candy are hard to pin down, but most of us know it when we see it. One quality that's unique to Easter is the morselization of treats. Part of Easter is the presentation of candy within a basket. Sure, you can put packaged candy in there, but it sure is appealing when the Easter grass sports read-to-eat morsels. The jelly bean is a perfect example of this, since they started as spice drops but eventually someone gave them a more durable shell so that you can put them out in a candy dish.
I bring this up because today's candy is a great version of a year-round candy getting a unique holiday treatment. Koppers Chocolate Easter Spring Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs come in a box, but you can easily dump them out into a bowl or nestle them in a basket.
The candy construction is simple, though actually rather unique. It's a small marshmallow at the center, a thick milk chocolate shell and a thin pastel glaze on top.
These have been around for a few years, I first had them in 2011 and posted a photo. That version was a robin's egg version with a little thicker shell, but otherwise the same.
The box was on the expensive side at $7.99 for 6.5 ounces. It's a flat, clear box that holds a single layer of the candies. They come in a variety of pastel colors with speckles: green, white, pink and yellow.
They're ridiculously sweet, which is not ordinarily an appealing element. But at Easter, all bets are off. I go for white chocolate, I eat the super sweet things and I always give the marshmallow items a try.
The sugar shell is extremely light, so much that it doesn't really give any crunch to the confection. The marshmallow core is soft and foamy and every once in a while I catch a little bit of vanilla from it. For the most part the morsels are just a lot of milk chocolate. The milk chocolate has a good dairy component to it and a very sweet, cool to the tongue effect. It melts readily but doesn't have a very strong cocoa note, more like a hot cocoa morsel (with the marshmallow) than an intense milk chocolate.
This kind of candy, of course, could be done for other holiday and year-round treating occasions. It seems that there are other opportunities to mix them up as well with, perhaps, a flavored marshmallow (mint, perhaps) and different colored shells, dark chocolate ... even change the shape a bit.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:07 pm Candy • Review • Easter • Koppers • Chocolate • Marshmallow • 8-Tasty • United States •
Friday, May 2, 2008
Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears
There are a few candies still on my list of "I can't believe you haven't tried that before!" and chocolate covered gummi bears were one of them. Once I had the Japanese version, I realized I should try the original. They were invented over 30 years ago by none other than the ultimate "if it should be covered in chocolate, we'll cover it in chocolate" company: Koppers Chocolates.
When I was in San Francisco I found not only Koppers Milk Chocolate Covered Gummi Bears, but also the White Chocolate Polar Bears at Sweet Dish on Chestnut Street.
I'm not sure why I've been reticent about trying them. It might be that I was expecting a Haribo gummi bear, which are rather firm. Instead Koppers uses Swiss gummis (I don't know anything beyond that) that they are appropriately soft.
I got just a quarter of a pound each of mixed milk & polar bears to try. What struck me at first was the fact that all the white chocolate bears were the same milky yellow color. Even held up to the light, there was no indication what color the gummi bear beneath was.
What I found out later, after diligently sucking the chocolate off of enough of them for a scientific sample, is that they're all the same color (whether milk or white covered)! Though they're yellow, I'm hard pressed to say that they're lemon flavored, merely that they're a sweet & tangy mix.
The milk chocolate was pretty smooth, and very milky tasting. It melted well and didn't have that light waxy glaze that many other panned candies have. The white chocolate was similarly milky in its taste, but not too sweet. As a combination goes, I still wasn't completely on board with having chocolate with my gummi bears. They're cute and easy to eat, but I think I might like them apart.
Rating: 6 out of 10
To be fair, even though Koppers invented the confectionery genre of chocolate covered gummi bears, the ones I see most often in drug stores, movie theaters & discount chains are called Muddy Bears and are made by Taste of Nature (who also makes Cookie Dough Bites) which I think is an awesome name for an unappetizing looking product.
The box features a yellow bear who is entirely too happy to be covered in chocolate. I'm not sure if he understands that once he's sealed in his confectionery shell he's doomed.
I've only seen them in the theater sized boxes. Inside the box is a cellophane pouch that holds the bears and keeps them fresh. (And makes for extra wrapper noises at the theater and probably scowly looks from me if I'm sitting near.)
As unattractive as the Koppers were, I think the Muddy Bears are even worse. But since they're meant to be eaten at the movies based on the packaging, I'm going to guess that doesn't matter much. (For the record, I like candy that looks the same after sitting unwrapped at the bottom of my purse, so that when I switch purses and find it down there, I know what it is ... and then I eat it.)
One of the big differences in the products is the gummi center. Muddy Bears use multi-flavored gummis. Of course being covered in milk chocolate there's no way to know which flavor is which. It's a benign chocolate-covered Russian roulette. Mostly I seemed to get green apple.
The chocolate coating seems a bit crumbly, not as smooth melting as the Koppers and very sweet without much of a "chocolate" taste. I can't see myself buying these.
Candy Addict did a review last summer as well, interestingly, their photo of the box says, "The Original", I'm guessing Koppers took issue with the accuracy and they've changed it to the version I have.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Meiji Gummy Choco set the bar too high. Their candies come in lots of different flavors, they're packaged so nicely, the price is right even for an import and if you get a flavor mix, they're color coded. But if you're not able to get a hold of those, give the Koppers a try (you'll probably see them in bulk bins), if the shop also carries chocolate cordials, they're probably Koppers.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:59 am
Friday, August 31, 2007
Head to Head: M&Ms vs Koppers Milkies
Last year I reported that M&Ms was pulling back on candy stores on the internet being permitted to sell M&Ms ColorWorks candies. This means that if you want single colored M&Ms, you've either got to trek out to a candy store that carries them or order directly from M&Ms and their website.
ColorWorks are wildly popular as a candy for special gifts, parties, wedding favors and candy buffets ... but they're also rather expensive when you think about how much a regular mixed bag costs at the drug store or grocer. A pound of M&Ms usually costs about $3 to $4 (I can get them for about $2 on sale at times) a pound in their standard mix. However, the ColorWorks on the M&Ms website are $10 a pound when purchased in 5 pound bags (and $13.69 when purchased in the next smaller size, 7 ounces).
So what's a bride to do when she wants pretty chocolate pastilles for her favors? Well, unless you want to buy the regular M&Ms in bulk and separate them yourself ... or stock up around a holiday such as Easter or Christmas ... or pick something like Kissables then I thought I would look at an alternative brand: Koppers.
I'm very fond of Koppers as a brand to begin with, not only for their variety but also their innovative flavor combinations (they invented the chocolate covered coffee bean and chocolate covered gummi bears!) but mostly because they're just so darned pretty. It's a quality product, made in the USA and is certified Kosher. They also have a wide selection of color variations.
A few weeks ago I did a huge photo shoot with a large selection (14 different colors) of the Koppers Milkies and I figured it was a sign that I should do a piece on them, more specifically in a head to head with M&Ms.
Colors: I picked up a pound of pre-mixed M&Ms at The Jelly Bean factory which features 21 different colors. Though Koppers makes at least 28 colors (and would probably do a custom color for you directly if you ordered enough) I think it's safe to say that both have a great selection of colors.
Size & Shape: The candies are pretty much the same. The M&Ms are a little bit bigger around, but the Koppers are slightly higher in the middle. The Koppers are much more consistent in their size and shape and shell than the M&Ms. Of the Koppers that I sorted through, I found perhaps 3 or 4 "rejects" per pound. For the M&Ms I found at least 15 rejects in the single pound that I had to go on. I find at least one reject in a single serving bag as well (this would be a candy that is markedly out of proportion, has a problem with its shell in some way like bumpiness or missing part of it or irregular coloration).
Shell & Color - the M&Ms have a slightly thicker shell which appears to be colored all the way through. This gives it a consistent color depth. The Koppers has a white or colorless shell at its base and then a colored shell. I never encountered any that lacked a good coat of color on them. The color was more consistent and dense than the M&Ms, where sometimes had a slight mottled appearance, especially on the darker colors. M&Ms also have a little grey, lowercase M stamped on every one (including the grey ones, even though you really can't see it). Koppers are unbranded and I like the look. I'm not sure I would if they weren't so perfectly consistent.
The colors available for both are rather similar and it's likely if you're very picky for your occasion you should get some samples before you commit to large quantities. (I was able to buy a pound bag of the complete mix of colors at The Jelly Bean Factory.) Most of the colors in real life from both brands are remarkably consistent with those posted on their websites. Koppers has a larger variety of colors they produced, however, few stores carry all of them. (But might be willing to do a special order if you give them some lead time.)
Taste: M&Ms taste like, well, M&Ms. The shell is crispy and crunchy and the chocolate inside is mellow, sweet and has a slightly acidic milky flavor and maybe even a little hint of nuttiness.
The Koppers have a rather different chocolate flavor. In fact, they taste more like chocolate to me, especially since the shell is a bit thinner. The shell crackles at first but then dissolves away to leave only the chocolate. It's a light milk chocolate which smells divine in large quantities.
The nutrition info on both was virtually identical (200 calories per 40 grams).
Price: M&Ms ColorWorks prices seem to be pretty carefully controlled. Buying on the internet you're going to find very few shops that still have inventory left, and they're probably not selling for much less than M&Ms direct. Just about every shop I go into that has M&Ms ColorWorks sells for $8 to $10 per pound. Koppers are sold at a variety of online stores (and not very many brick & mortars). I got mine from Candy Warehouse (because I do photos for them) but there are a few other online stores that are starting to carry the line. Most are about $8 to $10 a pound - even less if you buy in HUGE quantities. (Please check out any online retailer before you order something for a special event.)
Here are a few things I noticed:
It all comes down to what you want at your party, what you prefer, and perhaps even which brand has the colors that go with your motif best. Definitely give both a try (and check out the rest of the Koppers line ... I'm rather fond of their mocha lentils and licorice lentils). It's fun to think outside of the normal Jordan almonds motif and the great thing is that the internet has made so many different kinds of candy available.
As mentioned earlier I have a lot of the Koppers Milkies and am planning a party for tomorrow evening where I intend to make all my friends eat pounds and pounds of the stuff. I'm going to create the ultimate "candy buffet" so look for some postings and photos in the future with ideas on how to make your own candy buffet.
The results of this head to head? I prefer the Koppers. I like the more authentic chocolate taste and they simply feel a little more upscale to me, mostly because of their high degree of consistency. However, M&Ms have a lot to recommend them. They're pretty easy to get a hold of (and I'm guessing if you order direct they'll be super fresh) and a known crowd pleaser, if a bit more "casual" in feel because of the branding.
Koppers (website) get a 9 out of 10 and M&Ms ColorWorks (website) get a still respectable 8 out of 10.
Related Candies
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Rum Cordials
One of my favorite chocolate treats since I was a teen are Koppers' Cordials. They're little dark chocolate spheres, about the size of a hazelnut that hold a crystal sugar shell inside filled with a "cordial" of some sort. They're just flavored, not real alcohol. The easiest flavor to find is Rum, but I've picked up Cognac, Mandarin Orange, Mint and Sambucca (Anise). In fact, Koppers has at least 40 different varieties.
Most of the time I find them at the chain bulk candy stores like Candy Station or Sweets Factory. They're usually rather expensive (being a chocolate item and also rather difficult to make), most of the time approaching $20 a pound. But I was happy to see them at the Jelly Bean Factory over the weekend. They're a great movie candy because they're easy to eat and easy to savor, so that's what I did with them.
The bonus to buying them in a pre-packaged bag is that you're pretty sure you're getting the flavor your want. The problem I have getting them in bulk sometimes if they have a large assortment is that they all look the same and can get jumbled up by a careless employee or a devilish customer. There are a few flavors that I find really unpleasant (Amaretto), so it's no fun to get one of those by accident.
I'm positively spellbound by everything Koppers makes. They're all so beautiful to behold. They're always so shiny and perfect. It's one of the things I'm looking forward to about the All Candy Expo ... that huge wall they do of all of their products with little spoons so that you can taste each and every morsel.
The dark chocolate is sweet and mellow. Not too bitter or complex. It's really just there to hold the cordial. The sugar shell is crunchy if you like to bite yours in half or just chew the whole thing. The cordial filling is like a hit of rum extract. I felt very sophisticated as a kid when I'd go to the candy counter at the department store and get a quarter pound of these (and a half a pound of gummi bears).
It's also kind of fun to dissolve the chocolate slowly to get to the sugar sphere. It's pretty durable, until of course enough of that to dissolve and out comes the little trickle of the cordial center.
Rum Cordials are the easiest to find, but I have to say that I prefer the darker flavors of Cognac and Whiskey or the real flavor zaps of Mandarin Orange or Sambucca.
If you want to feel really sophisticated, you can try real cordials from K Chocolatier in Bevery Hills (I know I was kind of harsh about the price, but they were $40!) for a real vodka martini inside of a chocolate sphere. Now that's a sophisticated indulgence.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 7:48 am
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Naked Chocolate Maltballs
This review is less about the malted milk balls and more about gratuitous photos of cross-sections of candy. I couldn't resist.
These malt balls are Maple flavored and from Naked Chocolate in Philadelphia, PA. I don't know that much more about them. In fact, I'm not even sure that they are Maple flavored, there's no label on them that says one way or another, but they taste maple-y (or maybe pecanish?) and that's good enough for me.
They're stunning to look at from the outside. Wonderfully glossy, these milk chocolate covered balls have a secret inside, a second inner shell of dark chocolate. This may be where the flavor is.
The malted center doesn't pack the malty punch that I usually look for, but the woodsy smell and taste along with the crunchy center was pleasant enough for me to eventually eat the whole package.
These orange beauties are Pumpkin Spice. Again, I'm guessing here, because there were no labels. They definitely had a good pack of spice in them, some mellow nutmeg, a little allspice and a light hit of cinnamon & clove (not so much as to bother me).
The orange color took a while getting used to, as did the sweetness of the white chocolate (that looks orange). There were no pumpkin notes, but that's okay with me (I'd already had my fill of Pumpkin KitKats before I got these).
I can't say that I liked these as much as the maple ones, at least that's what the evidence of me still having the Pumpkin ones around and no more Maple says. They do make my desk drawer smell fresh and woodsy. Perhaps it's that the center of the ball isn't malty but more like a graham cracker flavor. Which probably goes with pumpkin spices better but left me wanting my malt fix.
I've seen a lot of different flavored malt balls out there, peanut butter, espresso, toffee crunch, mint ... the list goes on and on. And though some of these iterations are good, they lack the malt delivery that I've come to expect in a sphere of chocolate with a crunchy center. So either I have to adjust my thinking about what I'm about to eat or I need to stop picking these up and hoping to get my malt on. Then they're pretty good.
UPDATE: it looks like these are actually made by Koppers.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:35 am
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Fairway NYC
I talk about Trader Joe's a lot as a candy source; the store opening in Manhattan was big news. But on my trip to NYC, I found that they already have an extraordinary store, Fairway. We pretty much stumbled upon the market while walking back from the Upper West Side to our hotel in Times Square.
Like Trader Joe's the store focuses on more gourmet, upscale or wholesome fare, with many items sold with their private label but at super-delicious prices. The best part, of course, was their candy section. They had a huge aisle of pre-packaged bulk nuts and panned chocolate goods, most of which made by Koppers.
The first thing that caught my eye were these little M&M sized dark chocolate goodies called Cayenne Pepper Savory. It was just what I was looking for all these years, a peppered chocolate in easy to eat morsels. But when they say Cayenne Pepper, they really mean it. It's far too spicy for comfort. I might try putting them in cookies or something, but it's too bad, the chocolate is really nice, but the afterburn is serious. ($5.99/lb)
Of course I have a hard time believing that they really were that hot, so after a couple of days I try another one. Same result ... whoo! I don't know, it's growing on me.
This was by far the best of the Koppers finds. It's little cubes of dried apricot covered in dark chocolate. So simple. The chocolate has a nice smoky, dark bite. It's sweet but doesn't overpower the natural sweetness and tart chewy bite of the apricot.
It's nice to find an affordable version of the glace apricots that I've seen at the upscale chocolatiers. Of course these don't replace them, but they're portable and high quality. ($5.99/lb)
Oh, I had such high hopes. Look at them, they're gorgeous! Dark and glossy and sweet smelling. But there's something so wrong about the taste and even though I've been sampling these for weeks, I can't quite put my finger on it. They chocolate is sweet, but bitter. Smooth but a little waxy and it has this odd dairy taste to it, even though it's dark chocolate. The malted center is not really malty or maybe the chocolate is overpowering it. I was just so disappointed. ($4.99/lb)
And here's the big secret - Fairway sells Lake Champlain! Only it's their house brand and it's far cheaper. I picked up two 5 Star Bars and they were only $2.19 each! I picked up the Caramel one, just to make sure the Fairway house brand was truly the same as the Lake Champlain, and I also got this one, the Fruit & Nut Bar.
This stunning 2 ounce brick 'o chocolate is dark chocolate on the outside, filled with a hazelnut praline (think Caffarel's Guanduia) studded with pecans and dried cherries. Now I know I say that I don't like cherry flavored things, but I have no problem at all with the real ones. This bar was really nice, the dark chocolate was bold and reigned in the thick flavor of the hazelnut praline quite nicely.
The nuts weren't as numerous as I'd hoped, but the bite of the sour cherries and the chewy texture was a nice mix. I do like the inventiveness of mixing pecans and hazelnuts - two sadly neglected nuts in American candybars. Of the two that I've had now, I still prefer the Caramel bar, but this one is certainly interesting and I'm wondering how it compares to the 5-Star Hazelnut bar.
Fairway had a large selection of candies, both in their own packaged bulk items like the Koppers, upscale brands like Scharffen Berger and Valrhona. I also saw a huge variety of imported candies like European brands like Cadbury and Nestle (not the American versions).
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:26 am New York City • Review • Koppers • Lake Champlain • Chocolate • Malt • Nuts • 8-Tasty • United States • Shopping •
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


text:
With Cinco de Mayo coming up, Thrillist Portland ran a feature today featuring Portland's five best Margaritas. I was flattered to learn that the plantain margarita I made for Mi Mero Mole made the cut. Their photo is above; if you'd like to make one at home the recipe is fairly simple:
2 oz reposado tequila
3/4 oz lime juice
3/4 oz spiced plantain syrup
Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. The recipe for the spiced plantain syrup is here. For one more drink from Mi Mero Mole, try the Senor Brown. Or even better, visit the restaurant for more cocktails and some of the best tacos in town.
Last week the Specialty Coffee Association of America hosted its annual conference here in Portland. While in town for the event, Joshua Lurie from FoodGPS stopped into Metrovino to have a few cocktails and record a fairly wide-ranging interview with me. Read it here. He also snagged an interview with one of my favorite local brewers, Ben Edmunds from Breakside.
Finally, Portland Monthly got on board with the Bone Luge trend with a piece about the meaty practice. They take the Bone Luge puns to new heights with their headline "Marrow Minded."


text:
Eureka returned last night with the first of its final fourteen episodes, seeking to resolving the big cliffhanger of what happened to the spaceship Astraeus at the end of last season. The answer took us in some unexpected, awesome directions.
"Lost" was a pretty terrific episode of Eureka, one that gives me plenty of hope that the show will wrap up its run on a high note. But I'll warn you now - there's no way to discuss this episode without getting into a series of fairly major spoilers, so if you're at all wondering whether this episode (and the season in general) is worth watching before you read this - yes, it is, and now go watch it. Otherwise, let's proceed.
The episode finds Astraeus crash-landing after its mysterious unscheduled launch at the end of last season. The crew - which includes Fargo, Zane, Allison, Henry's wife Grace, and Felicia Day's Holly - soon discovers they have landed on Earth...four years after they left. Things have changed a lot in the intervening time, with Senator Wuen placing Eureka and Global Dynamics under the control of the smart house super-computer S.A.R.A.H. and an army of robots all based on Deputy Andy, with the original now serving as the rather unforgiving head of security.
Things only get worse when Allison and Zane learn what has happened in the characters' personal lives - after years of grieving, Carter and Jo moved past their old lovers and started dating each other, with Jo becoming a surrogate mother for Allison's daughter Jenna. But these personal matters must wait, as the characters band together to overthrow the AI police state that grips the town. The characters are triumphant, but Allison in particular is heartbroken by all she has lost and begins to cry - at which point we learn all this is really just a simulation inside the minds of the kidnapped Astraeus crew being run by the ever villainous and mysterious Beverly Barlowe.
This is a tricky episode to pull off because, really, I think we all knew deep down a reset was coming sooner or later. Very few shows would have the guts to so completely pull the rug out from under us like this, to more or less elide past the resolution of the season-ending cliffhanger and jump ahead to a future where everything has gone to shit. Sure, Eureka had that game-changing reboot with the timeline shift at the start of season four, but that had an episode's worth of setup and served to refocus the show on its core cast.
Here, if the Astraeus jump into the future had really happened, the Eureka creative team would have risked smashing the show to bits in the first five minutes and severing our connections with the non-Astraeus half of the cast. The execution here is very much meant to feel dramatically unsatisfying - seriously, the Astraeus jumped four years in the future just sorta because? You know that isn't good enough justification for something this huge. Besides, it would have rendered the whole Jo subplot from last year's finale completely pointless, another reason I figured this wasn't what it seemed.
Eureka just isn't the sort of show to do something this massive for real, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Indeed, I can only think of one successful example of such an intentionally lousy jump to the future, and that's when Battlestar Galactica flashed one crappy year later in its New Caprica arc to show the characters even more lost (and in some cases fatter) than they ever were before. And Eureka is most definitely not BSG, which, again, isn't necessarily a bad thing.
So then, I spent the episode about 99% sure that all this was fake. The next question then is whether the reveal will be satisfying, and whether the time spent getting there will feel worthwhile. In our current TV world of needlessly dragged out storyline, Eureka has my eternal gratitude for dropping the reveal at the end of the first episode. There's still a lot we don't know about Beverly Barlowe's latest fiendish masterplan, and there are still plenty of unresolved questions about just what exactly is going on, but as a big twist, this works fairly well. (I should note that I've actually seen the first three episodes of the season, and without giving anything away I will say all my questions were answered quite satisfactorily. There's plenty of good stuff ahead.)
All that leaves is to make sure the actual episode is worth watching, even if we kind of know that probably none of this is really happening, which shows like Life on Mars turned into a bit of an artform. Beverly Barlowe actually rather helpfully spells out a key part of all this, which is the fact that it feels real to the characters and what's going on has actual emotional stakes, particularly for Allison. Even if this is all fake, it still matters to the characters trapped inside it, and the thought of losing out on watching your own children grow up is a heartbreaking notion, even to a childless, cold-hearted bastard like myself.
Besides, it's really fun to watch Eureka go full-on dystopian, and who better to make its fascist leaders than S.A.R.A.H. and a whole army of Andys? Kavan Smith steals the episode, and clearly deserves tremendous credit for managing to keep all the inherent creepiness of Andy bottled up until this episode, where it just explodes. He's a terrifying adversary, one that almost makes me wish we could have spent a bit more time in this darker version of Eureka.
Indeed, credit goes to the entire cast. For returning crew members like Salli Richardson-Whitfield's Allison and Niall Matter's Zane, there's great opportunity to play the pathos in coming back to a world where all you ever wanted is now just out of reach. The rest of the cast does a good job in being ever so slightly off in their performance while not actually tipping the big reveal. For Joe Morton, that means making Henry a bit of a lunatic, while Colin Ferguson modulates Sheriff Carter just enough that it's difficult to accept this man as our Carter, but he could still just maybe be him after four years of difficult choices and painful goodbyes. Really though, it's just impossible to accept Carter as a man who would ever give up, no matter the odds, and there's a subtle hardness in Ferguson's acting that makes it clear that no, this could never be the sheriff we've spent all this time with.
"Lost" is a daring start to this fifth - and, as we now know, final - season of the show, but it's one that seems primed to pay off some rich dividends, both as we further explore just what is going on with this simulated world and get a chance to see what the real Carter, Henry, and Jo are up to. More to the point, it just works on every level - it's hugely entertaining, emotionally satisfying, and sets up a nice ongoing mystery that more recent incarnations of the show have demonstrated some ability to deal with well, its essentially episodic and procedural nature notwithstanding. This is such a good story that the fact that most of it didn't actually happen is only the most minor details.


text:
Three types of patch panels (wireless, electronic, and intelligent)have benefits and drawbacks, depending on the application.
When it comes to making a move, add, or change in a voice/data cable plant, sending a technician to perform physical changes at a patch panel in a wiring closet is one of the most time- and cost-intensive operations in the overall support of a communications system. In fact, one industry research group recently estimated that the cost to maintain local area networks (LANs) consumes 84% of a network manager's budget, 44% of which is spent on physical management and troubleshooting.
There are new types of patch panels currently available that can help reduce the time and cost associated with these activities. These "unconventional" patch panels each have their benefits and drawbacks, depending on the application at hand.
Some definitions
Before getting into the subject of what's out there in the way of electronic patch panels, let's first attempt to define the term. An electronic patch panel is a device that enables cross-connecting electronically; that is, without the necessity of making by hand any physical changes using patch cords or other cross-connect components. This definition also implies the ability to make such changes from a centralized station or terminal such that the patch panels controlled in this manner can be remotely monitored and/or configured by a central operator. The promise of this technology could be very appealing, since it would effectively eliminate the need to dispatch technicians to wiring closets every time a cross-connect of some kind (i.e., a move, add, or change) is required.
The ideal electronic patch panel should also be very flexible and very intelligent. It should not only enable the making of distributed cross-connections from a central point, but should also support mixed media cross-connections as well. For example, you may, in some cases, want to cross-connect horizontal unshielded twisted pair cables (UTP) to fiber in the backbone or, at a minimum, make UTP-to-UTP connections. In any event, the ability to support opti-electronic transitions in media would seem to be of some value in certain cases.
In practice, an intelligent, electronic patch panel would give a network manager the ability to make cross-connections from any circuit in horizontal wiring to any circuit in the backbone subsystem without ever having to leave his or her desk. Moreover, the ideal system would also enable cross-connections between two or more circuits in the horizontal subsystem, up to and including daisy chained-circuits when required.
An example
Let's consider a simple example. Let's say we're dealing with a situation where a well-designed structured cabling system is in place. And let's say that this system provides for a standard faceplate having four RJ-45 jacks at each workstation. At one such station, you therefore would have four hard-wired 4-pair connections back to the wiring closet. Now, let's assume that each user's connection to the wiring closet is terminated onto what we have described as electronic patch panels. Let's also assume that the cabling system in our example also features the usual mix of copper and fiber in the backbone (copper for voice, and fiber for everything else).
Now, if we look at a typical cross-connect situation for an average user in this scenario, we might expect to find that one RJ-45 connection at the wiring-closet end is cross-connected to a circuit that supports "data," while another is cross-connected to a circuit that supports "voice." The third and fourth jacks might not be in use, but could be at some future time, if and when applications appear.
Let's assume that a need comes up for the third jack at a workstation, thereby requiring the cable manager to establish a new cross-connection to support a new application, a dial tone line to a desktop for a fax machine, for example. Rather than dispatching a technician with a set of tools and, hopefully, accurate documentation, the cable manager in this scenario (assuming electronic patch panels are in place) simply turns to the cable management/patch panel control system and makes the change on his or her screen within seconds of having received the request. Once completed, the change is instantly recorded, thereby updating the cable documentation in the same stroke.
Our example not only illustrates the power of electronics when applied to an otherwise physical task, but also illustrates the overlap of this technology with another one: cable management systems. But while cable management systems are a relatively mature technology at this point, the same can not be said for electronic patch panels. There are, however, some interesting developments out there that suggest it's time to start paying attention to this emerging technology. Let's take a look at what products are currently available to you.
Product classifications
A high level review of what's out there in terms of what we'll generally refer to as "unconventional" patch panel technology yields products in at least three different categories. In spite of their differences (which we'll describe), all products in these categories have one thing in common: they are designed to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the need to physically make moves, adds, and changes as traditionally done by technicians using patch cords and cross-connect wires in wiring closets.
The three categories of products, according to our view of the world, are as follows.
* Wireless patch panels
* Electronic patch panels
* Intelligent patch panels
Wireless patch panels. Products in this category fit the description of "unconventional" patch panels, but are far from electronic or intelligent. They are, in fact, passive devices. This is an important distinction compared to the other two categories, which themselves may be wireless, but are not passive.
Wireless patch panels are also wireless only to the extent that they avoid the use of external patch cords to achieve cross connections. Instead, they rely on internal cross-connections using hard-wired modules that connect "input conductors," or jacks, to "output conductors." This results in a straight-through cross-connection of media such that each conductor's identification is maintained all the way through the cross-connected circuit (e.g., the Tip of pair I is maintained; Ring of pair i is maintained; Tip of pair 2 is maintained; etc.). Wireless patch panels designed for copper connections are usually based on 2-, 4-, or 8-wire configurations (i.e., for UTP cable plants).
With wireless patch panels, the assumption is that "normal" prevails for most jacks most of the time, and patch cords should only be used to make changes or to deal with the exceptions. Patch cords, therefore, can be used with wireless systems, but only when deviations from the norm are required. Insertion of a patch cord into a wireless patch panel breaks the internal cross-connection, thereby freeing the input channel for reassignment to another output channel at the user's discretion.
All of the physical administration of a wireless patch panel must still be performed on a remote basis by technicians inside wiring closets. Wireless systems, according to our classification here, are therefore not addressable by remote devices and can not be controlled from a central management station of any kind. Wireless systems are also built using passive components and are not electrified in any way. (In terms of appearance, wireless patch panels closely resemble conventional patch panels and are comprised of RJ-type jacks on their front panels.)
Electronic patch panels. Unlike wireless patch panels, electronic patch panels are active in the sense that they are electrified. [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 1 OMITTED]. They, therefore, are capable of sensing, capturing, and storing certain operating or status conditions, which can then be reported to the network manager for proper handling. Electronic patch panels, again according to our classification, can not, however, be managed from a remote, centralized station, and still require physical handling by technicians inside wiring closets.
Examples of functionality common to electronic patch panels include "sensing" of patch cord insertion or removal from a jack, after which insertion/removal "events" are captured and reported to a network manager. Other examples include the ability to turn LED lights on or off around specific jacks to help guide technicians perform cross-connect work when changes are required. In general, a well-rounded electronic patch panel system will provide a variety of status and change-oriented reports, and may also be used to sense other systems of importance in managing the physical environment in wiring closets (e.g., cooling fans, thermometers, alarm systems, etc.).
Intelligent patch panels. This category of "unconventional" patch panel, as shown in Fig. 2, includes devices with all of the attributes of wireless and electronic systems. As its name implies, the intelligent patch panel is fully manageable from a remote, centralized station. Products that fall into this category support a variety of automated functions including the following.
* Centralized online control: The ability to make cross-connection changes and assignments from a remote, centralized station, thereby eliminating the need to send technicians to wiring closets. This also implies the total elimination of patch cords, since all cross-connections are made through internal electronics.
* System monitoring and reporting: The ability to activate certain sensor functions, as in the case of electronic patch panels, along with powerful reporting capabilities for network management.
* Automated recordkeeping: Fully integrated cable management system such that moves, adds, or changes are controlled by the system as well as recorded for full "as-built" documentation reporting capabilities. Systems of this type make heavy use of user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs) as well.
* Disaster recovery: The ability to withstand power failures using backup power supplies, robust memory systems, and secondary/back-up path selection.
* Security: The ability to password-protect configurations and associated databases is also common to these and all other intelligent systems.
Equipment analogous to intelligent patch panels
In many respects, the concept and functions of intelligent patch panels are very analogous to other forms of switches and intelligent hubs. In the voice arena, every PBX or telephone system out there minimally performs internal cross-connections between stations (extensions) and trunks (phone lines). Even the process of establishing station-to-station connections or multistation or conference calls resembles the same kind of flexible connectivity implied by our definition of intelligent patch panels.
In the world of high speed data networks, intelligent hubs (sometimes referred to as wiring concentrators) also provide dynamic internal cross-connections when used in conjunction with remote, centralized management software. Using systems of this type, a network manager can electronically group several network users together in one "logical" network on one day, and on the next, totally redefine the group such that a different mix of users results. This can all be done without having to dispatch technicians to wiring closets.
Performance considerations
In spite of the general appeal to the products discussed here, none of them offer a panacea from a functional standpoint, and all have their limitations. First of all, any of the products currently in place on the market are media-bound. In other words, they are all either copper-only or fiber-only in their makeup. This may represent a drawback in cases where users require multimedia connectivity such as needing to extend copper circuits over long distances where fiber may be the preferred choice.
All of the systems currently on the market also appear to be rather application-bound. In other words, the intended applications seem to be restricted to data-only requirements. This appears to be less the case with the wireless patch panels and more the case with the others. The granularity of treatment required for voice where, for example, 1-pair cross-connections are often required, would appear to be either impractical or cost-prohibitive based on how these systems are built and configured.
And lastly, even when it comes to data network performance, this technology is still somewhat behind the rest of the industry. If we assume that the expectation in the industry is that 100-megabit per second (Mbps), or Category 5 UTP, performance levels are required, products in each of the three categories discussed above roughly break out as shown in Table 1.
What's interesting about this performance analysis is that only the "unconventional" patch panel that still relies on "conventional" cross-connection methods rates at the industry-standard level of Category 5 performance. This is not surprising since Category 5 systems are very sensitive to deviations in crosstalk and attenuation. Unconventional methods of establishing and maintaining circuits appear to have a ways to go before these alternative technologies can stand up to the task of supporting continuous data streams at 100 Mbps. At this point in time, only one manufacturer of "intelligent" patch panels indicates that its products have been tested successfully at 100 Mbps, but have not yet been certified as such. This could prove to be problematic in the short run, since all of the industry standards for certification are based on the use of conventional connecting hardware, not unconventional electronic switches.
In any case, the nature of the products described here as electronic patch panels is such that all electronic functionality is essentially nonintrusive. In other words, the key functions of sensing and reporting really do not interfere with or participate in the cross-connections themselves. And certainly the presence of LED lights and so forth are external to the connectivity scheme inherent to these devices. Thus, it's no surprise that performance for these products are in line with the mainstream of traditional patch panels, and are higher than products in the other two categories.
Cost considerations
In looking at cost, we chose one representative product from each of the three categories defined above. Our attempt to reduce the comparison to equal terms is based on the notion of a typical cost per port. Our findings are shown in Table 2.
Well, as they say, "you get what you pay for." The lesson here is that with wireless and electronic patch panels, you're still paying for the performance of physical moves, adds, and changes by people (dispatching technicians to wiring closets, their salaries, etc.). With fully intelligent patch panels, you're not. Thus, the real costs of wireless and electronic systems also include the traditional cost of the human resources required to work with them. But given the still low levels of performance for intelligent systems coupled with their severe application constraints (data only), we would conclude that these systems have a long way to go before they begin to outweigh the flexibility offered by traditional connecting hardware schemes.
Nevertheless, it's definitely time to start watching this technology. In this business, everything can change in the course of a week!


text:
How to Safely Dispose of Your Holiday TreeDecember 24, 2018 10:43 am
As the end of the holiday season approaches, you may be wondering about the best way to dispose of your... View Article
As the end of the holiday season approaches, you may be wondering about the best way to dispose of your... View Article
Merry Christmas! May your holiday be filled with the warmth of family and friends as you celebrate this special time... View Article
A Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation branch in Fredericksburg, Virginia partnered with the American Warrior Initiative (AWI) to honor a local... View Article
Nothing is more magical than sharing the holidays with your family and friends, but last-minute preparations can be stressful. If... View Article
I would love to help you reach your financial goals in the coming year. By scheduling a mortgage checkup with... View Article
National Mortgage Professional Magazine has named Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation one of the best military lenders for 2018. At Fairway,... View Article
Say goodbye to gift-wrapping chaos this giving season! Follow these simple steps to wrap the perfect gift. Before you... View Article
Why do buyers need a real estate agent? Professional real estate agents have years of experience, teams to support you... View Article
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation recently earned a ranking of #2 in mortgage origination satisfaction by J.D. Power. This ranking was... View Article
Homes are often beautifully decorated during the holiday season with candles, fresh garlands and trees adorned in lights. While the... View Article


text:
中文版 | English | Español
Font Size:big
Anti-caking new tech was applied in MAP production
As the biggest MAP (12-61-0 ) supplier and exporter in China, Monband keep moving forward to adopt new science during the production.
It is well-recognized that, MAP crystal is easily caked and this caking will be worse after months of stewing as well marine shipment
Monband analysis the main reasons causing caking and apply new tech for avoiding caking although many other suppliers said caking is not avoidable.
Here is some reasons may cause caking as per our experiences:
1.Moisture (free H2O), the free H2O from air do exist between every MAP crystals, they will melt the surface of MAP crystals and form new crystal-bridge and then cause caking.
2.Pressure. we find that the surface of every crystals is not smooth and it is rough, the surface concave and convex may combine after longtime pressure, high stowing, marine shipment.
In year2104, Monband technician team start to research this problem and adopt the following methods for solving the problem:
1.Dedusting Increasing the power of the draught fan, make the crystals more even and contain less dust MAP.
2.Cooling facility. After crystallization, before packing, we added fluid bed cooling facility. We understand the crystal will absorb less moisture after cooling down.
3.Control Magnesium. We find the Magnesium element in the phosphorous ore will cause more caking cases. We added Mg-removing facility during the refining of phosphorous acid.
4.Keep conveyer belt to be isolated, the material on the belt will absorb less moisture.
5.Use good quality packages We know the good inner bag will protect the goods well and isolate the goods from outer air. We only use good quality double layer bags both for 25kg bag and 1000kg jumbo bag. And sewing after upper bag edge double folding will ensure the good sealing during transportation and storage.
We applied the above mentioned technologies in June 2014, and we did not ever find MAP caking cases during recent seven months, only some slight caking occurred and that did not affect the using of our MAP 12-61-0.
Previous post:Anti-caking new tech was applied in MAP production
Next post:Anti-caking new tech was applied in MAP production
Knowledge Center
Keywords for the information:


text:
2008 Melges 24 Davis Island Yacht Club Regatta Named As Replacement Event For King's Day Regatta/Atlantic Coast Championship, 22-23 November
1 October 2008
The 2008 Melges 24 Davis Island Yacht Club Regatta has officially been named as the replacement event for the King's Day Regatta/Atlantic Coast Championship. Located in warm and sunny Tampa, Fla. the final North American Ranking event of the year will be graciously hosted by the Davis Island Yacht Club (DIYC) on 22-23 November.
Just prior to the OSA Sailing.com U.S. National Championship, the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) was notified that the docks at the Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville had been damaged by one of the few tropical storms that impacted the state during the 2008 hurricane season. The USMCA was anxious to find a suitable replacement venue. Long-time Melges 24 Owner and DIYC Member, George Haynie USA-687 Firewater was quick to step forward and offer their first-class race facilities. "This is a great time of year to sail in Tampa. We are proud to call the area home to a base fleet of ten Melges 24s and we are ready to put on a great event,' said Haynie during the USMCA AGM in which the event was unanimously nominated as the perfect re-location.
The attendance expectations for this event is already upward bound. Historically, as one of the last events on the international schedule, the buzz is that potentially as many as 40+ boats will compete. In addition to a strong Tampa fleet, some of the fastest growing pods of Melges 24s can be found flourishing just a few minutes south in Sarasota and Naples, Fla. Locally, Haynie states that 20 will easily be found on the starting line. Teams have committed from Georgia, South Carolina and beyond. Those traveling southward to make their racing-rounds at the Key Largo Regatta on 6-7 December, Key West on 19-23 January then back to St. Pete's in late February have already sworn their presence will be felt.
USMCA SE District Governor Steve Kopf USA-773 Blur remarked "Although we were sorry to hear that the Florida Yacht Club was unable to host the traditional Kings Day regatta, we are pleased that DIYC stepped forward and offered an excellent alternative. We sailed the Suncoast Championship at DIYC in March and had a blast. It's a great club that is quickly becoming a hotbed for M24 racing in the SE. This regatta will be well attended and we look forward to seeing some of the locals including former 505 World Champion Ethan Bixby, Doug Fisher, and Jeff Duval. A special thanks to George Haynie (the current SE points leaders) for rallying his club to host the regatta. Put this on your calendar now and you won't be disappointed!"
In the next coming weeks, more information will be available on this event such as the release of the official NOR, entry form, storage and logistics for out-of-town boats and other competition details. Stay tuned to the USMCA Website as everything will be posted as soon as it is made available.
Visit the Davis Island Yacht Club online today!
REMINDER: The 2008 Melges 24 Fall Championship Regatta takes place on beautiful Lake Geneva this weekend, 4-5 October. Hosted by the Lake Geneva Yacht Club this event traditionally welcomes as many as 30 Melges 24s. 'Lake Geneva is awesome. The racing there is the very best. I love going to Lake Geneva,' says USMCA Midwest District Governor Mike Dow. This is the last event leading up to the 2008 North American Championship 26 October - 02 November in Annapolis, Md. hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club. Forty-two entries are on the board. Already this is the largest North American Championship ever! The final entry deadline for this event is October 17. Visit the Official Website for the NAC and get your entry in now!
For all the latest news about the Melges 24 in North America, visit the official website of the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association at www.usmelges24.com.


text:
|2010-10-17, 12:42
|Link #10602
Adventure ∀logger
the rules.
If you have any further questions, don't be afraid to ask a mod or AS staff member.
Hope to see you around
|2010-10-19, 11:02
|Link #10604
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Underground
Hello guys : )
Just joined even though I know this site from awhile. I live somewhere far away - Eastern Europe - and my name is Beatrice. I am first year of a bilingual high school - and that means 9th grade. Uhm, favorites anime are Code Geass, Death Note, Clannad and Mobile Suit Gundam 00. I like reading manga more than watching anime ( also, at the moment I have an unhealthy obsession with xxxHOLiC.
And yea', I know the rules guys. Anyway, nice to meet you all ~
Last edited by Niini; 2010-10-19 at 23:40.
|2010-10-19, 12:42
|Link #10605
Adventure ∀logger
And I think I speak for everyone when I say "welcome to AS". Hope to see you posting.
|2010-10-20, 00:43
|Link #10607
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: At the Best Place
Hi everyone, I just joined today. I live in Aus and I've been watching anime since I was small on tv. I only started to seriously watch anime last year. I generally like shounen anime like One Piece and Bleach. Oh and yes, I've read the rules
|2010-10-21, 21:25
|Link #10609
Mad Scientist
Hi kids! I'm Doctor Saering, your friendly neighborhood lunatic fringe outcast of the scientific community.
I've come to this forum because I used to be on a place with a lot of links at the end of the internet, and I found the people there to be disgustingly offensive, horrible excuses for human beings, so I have returned here to surround myself with enthusiastic, youthful mirth and joy.
I should let any administrators reading this know that I did have an account here about five years ago, but I don't remember the name, nor do I still have the email address that I registered it with. It's probably gone anyway since I heard there was a server crash and a lot of lost data around then (almost certainly caused by the Reptilian Illuminati... Message me for literature).
Also, please let me know if my signature pushes it.
|2010-10-22, 00:52
|Link #10610
Taking over your World!
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: In the distant view.
Age: 28
Hello my name is Brett I live in North America I have been visiting this site for a while now. I've been watching anime for over half my life but got really serous about 4 years ago. Hope to have some fun conversations about anime and manga. Oh I also read the rules.
|2010-10-22, 00:56
|Link #10611
~Official Slacker~
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Xanadu
Age: 24
|2010-10-22, 22:54
|Link #10612
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: United States--- California
|2010-10-23, 10:43
|Link #10614
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The World God Only Knows
Another new guy here. Hmm what to say, oh right.
Still a college student and apparently wants to have a part time job. Watching anime and reading manga is my favorite past time, add to that some gaming and Light Novel Reading. I'm not a native English speaker so please, I'm begging you, don't nit-pick me on that and my grammar. lol
Anyway, I have an account on MAL and few forums as well so that's basically it. Good day to you sirs and mams.
|2010-10-23, 16:01
|Link #10616
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Oh yeah I guess I should make one of these okay
I've lurked in the Umineko image thread for a really long time, but I figured that I would actually make an account since I come here often enough. I watch anime (derp duh no way) that seems interesting at a first glance (just some things I can think of from this season are Squid Girl, Oreimo, MM!, Soredemo, and P&S). I'm also trying to catch up on some ancient shows (KnK and Toradora! come to mind), but as soon as I get time for them, something else normally pops up.
I'm also a semi-visual novel enthusiast. I've read Umineko 1-6, Saya no Uta, Tsukihime, and a few small free VNs (Narcissu 1+2 being the best examples). I'm currently reading others though (such as the Higurashi question arcs), and trying to get into different types (very excited to start some like CLANNAD, Kanon, Ever17/Remember11, Chaos;Head, etc.).
I doubt I'll be posting much outside of the Higurashi/Umineko sections, but hopefully I'll be proved wrong on that. woop woop anime
|2010-10-24, 00:43
|Link #10618
Adventure ∀logger
Hope to see you posting around
|2010-10-24, 05:34
|Link #10619
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Germany
Hello there everybody
I'm also a newbie here! My name is Christina or just Chrissi, I'm 17 years old and I'm from germany. I'm still improving my english, so sorry if I maybe write something that sounds a bit strange xD
I'm glad to be here It seems to be a great forum!
|2010-10-24, 05:54
|Link #10620
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Hello, all. I have lurked on these forums for quite some time, and now decide I should perhaps register. I decided to forgo the perhaps and actually register, and so here I am. Thus far I mostly peruse the Spice and Wolf and Fate/Stay Night boards, so I'll probably be there, if anywhere. My "favorite series" has changed over time, but the reigning champion at the moment is none other than the all-great, all-powerful, and almighty Spice and Wolf.
|introduction, new members
|Thread Tools


text:
Like something from a Hollywood movie, and while driving the first GT race of his career, Sebastien Loeb won the FIA GT series opener in a McLaren 12C GT3 last weekend at his home event on the Nagaro circuit in France.
Not only was this his first GT race, but also his first in the McLaren. Sharing the drive was Alvaro Parente, the pair qualified second, with the Sebastien Loeb Racing team's sister car in seventh. The Parisy/Zuber car would eventually finish tenth, bringing the team some good points.
Although the 12C GT3 won its European debut, the second race of the weekend would not prove as successful. Starting from pole, Loeb would suffer a penalty in the second-half of the race as a result of a botched pitstop. This would result in a 12th place finish for Loeb with the sister car in 11th.
Check out this cool video on the race:


text:
Julia's Efficient Brooklyn Studio Kitchen
Who cooks here? Julia
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Owned or rented? Owned
Kitchen size: 56 square feet
What challenge have you overcome in your kitchen? The most challenging problem to overcome was the fact that the building is over 100 years old. The walls are solid concrete. We had to build a faux wall to be able to attach the cabinets and electricity for the new overhead lighting.
Thumbs Up Voting is only activated for 48 Hours — so don't delay!
What's the story of your kitchen?
Moved in 5 years ago to old and dirty white cabinets, a broken stove and a small fridge. The space was impossible to cook in, no drawers, no counter space and bad lighting. I wanted to create an updated and efficient kitchen using the same amount of space. Living in a studio apt, you can see the kitchen from every angle. It was essential that it blended in with the rest of the apt.
What is your favorite meal to cook here?
I love to bake cookies in my new kitchen.