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Japan launched a rocket carrying the local version of American GPS satellite with the Japanese GPS system to improve the stability of receiving radio waves and intensify the precision of positioning information used in smart phones and car navigation system.
Japan launched an H-2A rocket which carries the satellite called "Michibiki No.2" from a space centre in Tanegashima, southern Japan.
In 2010, the country launched the first Michibiki satellite on a trial basis into space and according to the cabinet office, it plans to send two more satellites later this year.
Once the four satellites are in orbit, one satellite at the minimum will be flying over Japan for eight hours per day.
The U.S. GPS has a margin of error of about 10 meters (about 33 feet) but on combining with the Japanese system positioning error will be diminished to only several centimeters (a few inches).
The system is expected to use for the activities such as driverless tractors in farming and to assist evolve automated construction machines.
By fiscal 2023 the government plans to have launched a total of seven satellites into orbit and secure Japan's own GPS system without depending on the U.S. system.
(Source: www.ndtv.com)


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subset: commoncrawl


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The purple-podded beans have been creating a lot of interest in the kitchen garden at Polesden Lacey, Surrey. Visitors love some of the more unusual crops that we grow here. This variety appears to be doing better than the runner beans, although I think that is because the bumble bees have been chewing the ends of the flower out to reach the nectar, and therefore preventing the pods from developing.
Elsewhere on the kitchen plot, the onions are huge! Bizarrely, there is an annual 'largest onion' competition held in the local pub. Yep, only in England would you find an eccentric event like this, but I'm in. The allure of boasting about the size of my vegetables, while downing pints of beer with other equally engaging and fascinating gardeners like myself is too much to resist. I'm going to leave these onions in situ though for the public to admire for a bit longer, as I have been priming some whopping swollen bulbs down on my allotment over the last few months, and these are ready to go… When it comes to vegetables, size really does matter!
Four hours later! Just to clarify what I said earlier….size does NOT matter, it's what you do with them that counts! Christ, the humiliation! Right my little onions, it's coleslaw for you!


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Thanks for joining Coco and me for the Ultimate Coffee Date August linkup today. These are some of my favorite posts to read and write. It's fun to see what everyone is up to isn't it? Coffee dates with friends are my favorite way to chit chat and catch up so lets get to it. Grab your favorite mug and join us! If we were having coffee, I would tell you...I am still a little bummed that I decided to bail out of my tri race tomorrow. I trained really hard this summer but I know it was the … [Read more...]
Ultimate Coffee Date-February
So glad to have you joining us for the Ultimate Coffee Date link up today. If you are new, it's pretty simple, grab our button above, link back to the hosts (myself, Coco and Lynda) and pull up a chair and dish as though we were having coffee together. It would be great if you could also hop over and visit some of the other blogs as well. I have some of my best conversations either over coffee or running-how about you? If we were having coffee, I would tell you...Usually I feel as though … [Read more...]


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(LINA) – The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) has recorded over 25 fire outbreaks in Monrovia and its suburbs between April and May 2015, compared to about 12 during the same period in 2014.
LNFS Director of Public Relations, Col. Jassah Gonyan, who made the disclosure in an interview with the Liberia News Agency Monday, attributed most of the fire outbreaks to the use of sub-standard electrical wires in buildings.
Col.Gonyan lamented that many Monrovia residents are no longer using quality wires to electrify their homes, adding that the use of substandard electrical wires usually results to electrical shocks.
She is also cautioning house owners against the use of candles in their homes to avoid fire outbreaks, noting that since 2012 to present, the LNFS has conducted several sensitization campaigns on the danger that candles pose to anti-fire safety measures.
Meanwhile, Col. Gonyan has observed that most communities in Monrovia have a congested building style which violates the 35ft space between buildings outlined by the fire service handbook, noting that fire knows no borders.


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From Blue Tangerine Art - Houzz
I came across this gorgeous entrance through Houzz. I just love everything about it, I feel the artwork just sets if off.
Have a house full of boys today, I just love knowing there home safe and sound with their friends enjoying spending time at home.
Enjoy this wonderful day!


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Hip-hop has more variety over the last year than it's seen in a while. We've heard rappers take chances with vocal synthesizers, high-energy beats and even have heard them crooning tunes over hot rhythms. We have producers to thank for this. Producers like Play-N-Skillz—two brothers from Dallas, TX—who are beginning to turn hip-hop upside down.
Beginning their musical journey as DJ's and slowly getting their hands wet in almost every aspect of music from recording to producing, Play-N-Skillz will soon be worldwide musical icons. 2009 has already proven to be a prosperous year for the pair—being nominated for three Grammy awards for their work on Lil' Wayne's The Carter III—which we all know sold an insane million. Play-N-Skillz have the midas touch and with the anticipated release of their sophomore album Out Tha Box we'll be laced with an album that would make Michael Phelps jealous. Want a taste of what you can expect to hear on their new release this summer? Listen to "Checkin' My Fresh" featuring Jay-Z – Play-N-Skillz's hit single hitting the airwaves as we speak.
In an interview, Chronic sat down with Play to talk music and life.
-Danielle Young
So what's up with this dymanic sophomore album?
The album is called Out Tha Box. The Titanic was the old title. We shifted direction on the whole album. It's exactly what the [new] title is…Out Tha Box. It's more of a worldwide type of album; collaborating with guys like Talib Kweli, Tego Calderon. There are some house, upbeat, European type sounds on there. It is definitely Out Tha Box. We pushed the envelope on this one. The Titanic is more hard core hip hop.
What do you consider yourself, above all else, DJ's, rappers, producers?
Probably [producers]. You get to be behind the scenes. We're definitely stronger in producing, you know…writing. The DJ'ing stuff is just really fun to do. Being a DJ, you control the crowd. The artist thing—that's our face value. We get to see what we look like when we perform.
You have collaborated with countless artists—T-Pain, Lil' Wayne, Chamillionaire—creating hit, after hit.
Thank you!
You're welcome. It seems like everything you touch turns to gold. What do you attribute your Midas Touch to?
I think us being DJ's is the reason behind everything. As a good DJ, you are able to play all the great hit songs. Not just what's in now, but a good DJ takes you back with some old school music. A good DJ plays Pac, Biggie, plays all the great stuff. He takes you to all the musical eras in one night. That right there—you're exposed to so much music and you hear people's reactions. As a DJ, you get to see what people like, what type of intros they like, keys of music, whatever it may be. So, I owe our success to being DJ's. That's what influences us the most.
Who came up with the idea of you guys having your own label, G4?
**read more here!**


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It is no suprise to a believer when he/she hears the phrase "the Lord always provides." We constantly see and hear about how God meets needs and takes care of His children. Then from time to time the Lord not only meets a need but He meets it with a little Pizzazz! Such is our recent experience. I will give you the whole story in chronological order, just know we did not know how all the pieces worked together until it was over and done with.
A few weeks ago Donnie and Juanita (Dan's "other" parents, refered to from now on as D&J) asked Mark and Lanell (Dan's parents, refered to as M&L) how Dan and Carrie's cars were. A simple question M&L responded to with the all is well we think type response. D&J thought the Lord wanted them to give Dan and Carrie their "old" car since they were in the process of getting a new one. So as is the way with the Christian life they just waited and went about life as usual.
Friday September 5th
Dan meets Carrie and Taylor at Southern Seminary for the yearly kickoff bar-b-q on the big lawn at the seminary. Good fun (Check out the Marshmans blog for pics: http://raeleshe.blogspot.com/ ) hanging out with friends and eating and getting faces painted. Well as we got ready to leave Dan tries to start up the truck and it siezes and then does nothing. Eventually it starts and shakes and sends some blue smoke out the tailpipe (this gave Carrie some good memories of her younger years when they had a van that gave off blue smoke). Nonetheless we all made it home. Carrie had Saturday off and Dan got off early and took the truck to get it looked like by a mechanic, knowing it was not good news.
Saturday September 6
Mechanic says blown head gasket water getting into engine and mixing with oil, not good. Also not the first time this had happened. (Two years ago the same thing happened and M&L had just got a new car and gave their old minivan to Dan and Carrie which they sold for the amount it would cost to fix the truck.) Dan called M&L to tell them the status of the truck and for any advice they might have. M&L said laid out a couple possibilities knowing Dan and Carrie sure did not want an added car payment but need something to get from point A to point B. Dan and Carrie when to the Toyota dealership to see if we could get any trade in value for a busted truck and check out the used car lot. Not feeling comfortable with any of the vehicles especially in such a rush we left and had to do some shopping at Walmart (shh don't tell anyone).
Meanwhile, M&L went out with D&J to do some car shopping with them. D&J again ask about the vehicle situation and M&L tell them the latest. While they were working out a deal for their new car they told the guy they were buying it from, who is a Christian, the story and that instead of trading in their car they were going to give the car to us. This brought tears to the guys face and he told them he would send it out and get it detailed and certified at no charge.
Sunday morning 1:30am EST
We wake up to a phone call from Dan's dad which we were not cohereant enough to answer, but he left a message. Carrie goes in to check on Taylor who has a 104 temperature. Dan listens to the message, half asleep and then hands the phone to Carrie, after she gives Taylor medicine, and told her to listen to it and tell him what she hears. She says I think D&J want to give us their car?! Dan scratches his head and says "lets talk about this in a few hours" and we go back to sleep. In a few hours we called D&J to see what was going on and they told us the story. Amazed we laughed and said "thank you" and chuckled at the strange and wonderful ways God provides for needs in ways which we don't even see as viable options.
All this being said the car is being shipped out here and should be here in a matter of days.
Oh yeah here is a picture of the car, which is 2 1/2 years old, still under warranty, oh and a Lexus!!!


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WorldTeach volunteer Patrick Donovan introduces simple technology and opens up endless possibilities for his learners in Namibia.
Over the August holiday, I got my hands on a cool technology put together by a colleague, Joris Komen, who I met during my struggle to get information about the state of education technology in Namibia. Joris is working with a team of talented hardware and software folks who more or less hacked a wireless router so that it could transmit the content of a USB stick (also specially formatted for this purpose) to up to/over 40 wifi-enabled devices at once. So you need no internet whatsoever. You simply turn on this little router (about the size of a smart phone, which is what my students think it is), and then look for a network called 'OpenLibrary' on your device. Once connected, you enter a particular URL in your browser and from there you can navigate between all the various resources.
In short, wireless router + USB pre-loaded with content = an entire class (using our school PCs) can access educational resources 'offline'. The connection is fast, even with videos, and reliable.
So what is the content? A US-based non-profit called World Possible has created a package of various Open Educational Resources (OERs) that anyone is free to download for use offline. That package is called 'Rachel' and it's what Joris & co. put on the USB. It includes a lot of good stuff, such as:
- Khan Academy videos
- Curated Wikipedia articles (mostly school-related, but some more general topics such as sports and pop culture)
- Encyclopedia of Health & Medicine
- Hesperian Health Guides (illustrated guides on health topics that are useful for people located in very rural settings, with limited access to medical personnel/facilities)
- CK-12 Textbooks (open-sourced, high quality math & science textbooks)
- E-books from Project Gutenburg
- Resources gathered by the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) project
- UNESCO teaching resources
Note: the total 'Light 2 Read' package, which clarifies why it's so named, includes a solar panel for charging and a very low cost tablet. So really if you get the whole package, you can be anywhere (with at least adequate sunlight) and have unlimited access to the above resources. A really promising idea, particularly because it meets learners/families where they are (i.e. it's a self contained network that requires nothing external, no hardware, software, internet, power, etc…, to operate).
Initially, I used the device as a sort of 'dummy internet'— a way to teach learners about how internet works at a conceptual level and show them how to find and connect to a network. It also allowed me to go over the basics of using a browser: inputting a URL, using links to navigate between pages, etc… At the same time, I tried to expose students to the variety of content and spark some curiosity so that they'd explore the resources independently, without my directing them to a specific page. Typically, this involved pulling up a page about Lionel Messi or Lady Gaga, waiting a few seconds for the learners to see it on the projector, and then giving clues for them to find the page on their own (their first foray into the 'hot and cold' game, I believe). After some time spent in the more 'fun' sections of the site, I attempted to redirect them to some of the academic materials and explain how they could use them to study independently. I think that resonated with some students, but it's difficult to get the digital approach to studying to catch on.
Beyond introducing L2R in formal ICT classes, I've tried to employ it as a supplemental resource for learners preparing for exams. This approach is more ad hoc in that I'll observe one of the learners studying after school, and then set up the L2R and direct them to a specific video or page that has additional content. Sometimes they run with it, other times they go back to their way. It's hard to tell if they're actually finding the content useful or if they're just captivated by the tech/anything that resembles the internet. There's a small number of students that do come back and ask to use the 'OpenLibrary,' so I'll take that as proof that they get something out of it. But I think I'd expected to see more 'user adoption.' I'm confident that with more time and effort I could get many more learners (and teachers) realizing the potential of L2R, but until then, here are some of the challenges that stand in the way:
- Getting to the site that hosts the content can be difficult for many learners. And that's not a knock on how the product works, but rather an indicator of where a lot of learners are in terms of their computer proficiency. All you have to do to access the material on the USB is connect to the network (OpenLibrary), open a browser, and type in the URL 'http://home'. Try to imagine you've never used a computer before. Actually that exercise is futile because I've come to realize that there's an almost irreconcilable gap in perspective between those who've been using computers for years and those who have just used their first one (though I like to believe I've managed a degree of fluency when communicating with either party). But let's play along anyway:
- To connect to a network, you need to find the tiny little wifi icon (which you don't know is a wifi icon) in the bottom corner of the screen. You then need to click it, find and click the right network, and click connect. I'd apologize for being too specific if those weren't all things my learners struggled with.
- Once connected, you have to open a browser. That we did okay with ("it's the blue and orange circle, with a tiny fox curled in a ball"). But typing the correct URL in the correct place, that was a problem. Everyone typed some bastardized version of the URL (which must be exact) into the search bar found in the center of Chrome/Firefox, not the URL bar atop the browser.
- When they got to the right place, typing the URL was no walk in the park. The combination of a colon and two forward slashes just messes everyone's world up.
Once at the site, a lot of learners just sat there staring at the home page. I've got three distinct but ultimately interconnected reasons why:
- They don't know how to proceed. The tool works such that once at the page, you just navigate using hyperlinks, the back button, and a 'home' button. It took learners a long time to get comfortable using the links to navigate, and especially going back to previous pages. Often times they would just close the browser and start all over, which was brutal given the above mentioned issues with getting to the site. They also didn't recognize the presence or utility of a scroll bar, so they stared at one-tenth of the site's content without realizing there was way more out there.
- They lack the instinct, the curiosity, to explore (or in web-surfing terms, 'click around'). I suppose they're not used to a situation where they are free to peruse a large body of content and pursue what piques their interest. They're used to, in class and at home, being told explicitly what to do and how to do it. But in this digital environment, it's up to them to move from one place to the next; they are responsible for determining the next step, and that freedom is daunting at first. When you're used to getting orders, it's hard to transition to a less structured environment… that sort of 'liberation' isn't necessarily welcome.
As a result of the above, when they look at a list of topics and fail to see anything of note, they stop there. Without the impulse to look deeper, their reaction to a largely school-centric table of contents is something akin to 'meh' or 'so what'. After I picked up on this, I'd start navigating to pages about soccer players or movie stars, and all of a sudden everyone in class wanted to figure out more. It feels like one of those "you don't know what you don't know" type situations- they're bored by this thing Mr. Donovan is showing them, until Mr. Donovan pulls up a picture of Wayne Rooney. Then every wants 'Sir' to help them.
Learners are accustomed to studying in a certain way. A very one-dimensional way. Any deviation from that bears an 'adaptation' cost, meaning they replace a certain amount of time-being-productive with time-spent-adapting (to this new tool and technique). And the deviation here isn't just from the nature of the content that they're consuming, but the medium through which it's consumed. Many of the learners still have a sense of general, 'everything's new and cool and/or intimidating', awe when using computers. To use technology for study purposes, the tool itself needs to melt into the background, enabling the learner to focus completely on the content being delivered. It will take time before that happens with my learners.
But generally speaking, working with the L2R has been really exciting. It's such a portable, easy to use technology that delivers a huge amount of helpful content, not just for learners but also for community members. People talk a lot about access to internet, and that's hugely important, but a big part of what they mean is really just access to information. The internet is just the most dynamic way to do that. But given the challenges of connecting rural communities, L2R serves as a formidable alternative for providing people with really helpful resources. And when you consider the potential to tweak the content on the USB, customize it for cultural nuances and differing curriculums, you have a really powerful, self-sufficient tool.
Huge thanks to Joris and his team/colleagues. They're very dedicated to making a positive impact in Namibian education, and they are equally as dedicated to creating solutions that work in Namibia and are driven by Namibians. And beyond coming up with L2R, the context Joris has given me about ICT in Namibia, in just a few brief exchanges, has added immense value to the insight I've gleaned in the classroom.


text: A well-constructed billiards table is an heirloom-quality purchase on the level of a baby grand piano or a grandfather clock. There are many things to consider when buying a pool table, and Leisure Times has done the research for you. We have chosen to offer Olhausen Billiards because they are one of the leading manufacturers of high quality pool tables and we agree that quality and craftsmanship are top priorities. Our selection of pool cues and accessories is top of the line.


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Oceania Cruises' in-depth voyages take you to the heart of diverse destinations around the world, allowing a deeper understanding of the cultures that call these fascinating places home. It's a perfect opportunity to have your most memorable vacation yet. Let us design your perfect sailing to South America with shore excursions specifically attuned to your unique interests, from historical treks among ancient ruins to wine-focused dinners paired with local cuisine.
When you visit South America with Oceania Cruises, you'll be privy to unique experiences found among the continent's bustling cities, small towns and picturesque landscapes.


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Forced display of patriotism has never been the Australian way
No sooner had this column speculated that Australia was flirting with the US path of division and hatred, than up pops proof of how close we've come.
A nine-year-old girl in Brisbane refused to stand during the national anthem and somehow we know about it, many miles away, as the adults pile on in anger.
Pauline Hanson and Mark Latham joined what he might have once called a conga line of suckholes across the usual conservative media, to say the usual radical things.
How dare she, kick her out, what a brat, etc etc, as if it's OK to abuse a kid if it's in the name of patriotism.
When did this madness grip us? Since when do Australian adults froth over how a nine-year-old displays her patriotism, like they're drunks at the Big Day Out demanding people kiss their flag?
At school in the 80s, I sometimes stood for our (rather boring) anthem, sometimes didn't. It wasn't an issue. Same at sporting events; people stayed seated if they felt like it. As far as I know, playing the anthem is still not compulsory at schools, let alone doing any particular thing while it's on.
Unchained by forced public patriotism, we grew up having a chuckle when the Poms or the Yanks went over the top with it.
But we can be pretty sensitive about it – particularly when it comes to indigenous people. My psychologist mate might say it's because Australia has some unresolved tensions about our colonial past. Which was the nine-year-old's point.
It's not a coincidence that some Australians have become more fervent about patriotism over the same period as the country's cultural and demographic makeup has shifted, particularly in cities.
Do you think Hanson and Latham are really troubled by a nine-year-old's ideas? Of course not. But what an opportunity for some grandstanding.
My opinion here is that a school student can do whatever they want during our national anthem, but be respectful.
But my opinion of what a kid does during the anthem doesn't matter. Nor does yours. Or that of the conga line. She's nine.
It's a dangerous route when people are forced to show the right patriotic behaviour at the right time, or risk denunciation. And it's never been part of my Australia.


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Let's restore integrity to the education conversation.
Report: Charter School Vulnerabilities to Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Release: "A new report released today reveals that fraudulent charter operators in 15 states are responsible for losing, misusing or wasting over $100 million in taxpayer money."
Summary: "Charter School Vulnerabilities to Waste, Fraud And Abuse," authored by Haven Recovery Center, the Center for Popular Democracy, Getting US Covered and Integrity in Education, echoes a warning from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General. The report draws upon news reports, criminal complaints and more to detail how, in just 15 of the 42 states that have charter schools, charter operators have used school funds illegally to buy personal luxuries for themselves, support their other businesses, and more. The report also includes recommendations for policymakers on how they can address the problem of rampant fraud, waste and abuse in the charter school industry. Both organizations recommend pausing charter expansion until these problems are addressed.


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Little Doves celebrates Matariki
A glowing fire, heartwarming and interactive waiata, and some delicious kai made Friday night a Matariki to remember at Little Doves.
The children (aged 0-4 years) have been preparing for weeks, coming together each day to learn 'Te Aroha', 'Te Rama' and the absolute favourite waiata 'Matariki macarena', which was eagerly enjoyed with wiggling hips and all! They had their work cut out for them making vegetable soup and rewena potato bread from scratch to feed the 200 family and community members that attended.
Matariki has been a celebration of coming together as a Little Doves community, building a sense of togetherness and belonging.


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Abbeyfield Oxford's Brian Lewis House received Core Standard award
Abbeyfield Core Standard
In November 2015, staff, volunteers and residents at Brian Lewis House were delighted to hear that the Abbeyfield Oxford Society had been awarded the Abbeyfield Core Standard – click Certificate 2015 to view it.
In order to achieve the award, we had to demonstrate that the house is managed to the standards set by Abbeyfield nationally based on legislation and best practice across all our activities including services to residents, managing staff and volunteers, financial management and care of the premises.
Communication is a key theme running through the process and the assessor interviewed residents, staff and Trustees to check that everyone has the information that they need. The assessor gave us a very positive report and complimented us on the warm and friendly atmosphere in the House. All that hard work was worth it: the moderator commented (we) "are extremely impressed by the work which has been carried out by both the assessor and the society, both in its detail and for the quality which has been self-evident and which has been highlighted in the validation report."
The Trustees welcomed the award which enables us to demonstrate to residents, prospective residents and their families that we meet externally-recognised standards and provide a happy and safe home for our residents.


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What is an automatic washing machine - a type of automatic washing machine
1, the front side door of drum type washing machine, the invention is the first front side door of drum washing machine, this washing machine is the European invention, good washing silk, cotton and other fabrics, not winding and abrasion, when washing clothes which is not compromised, and with good temperature measures but also. There is the bad side, because the winding and abrasion washing and other factors, this kind of washing machine washing time, washing cleanliness is poor, water consumption, is several times the other washing machine, in particular the use of stainless steel inner cylinder, the noise is larger. This washing machine is suitable for a higher standard of living, in general to silk, wool, mainly high-grade fabric such as cotton, and change clothes more frequently in the family.
2, open impeller washing machine, washing machine is the latest invention invention open Asian pulsator washing machine. There are many brands on the market, such as "Little Swan", "Begonia", "Royalstar" and other features of the washing machine is short washing time, low water consumption, high cleanliness, is very few times of drum type, the inner tube is made of plastic material, the noise is small, and open the cover, the washing liquid is reused, the use of more economical. This washing machine is suitable for living in the poor green, air dust amount is larger, on average every 2 to 3 days for a family clothes, mainly in wash, fabric fiber, acrylic fiber.
3, stirring type washing machine, a stirring type washing machine invented in America, because America more wind, people wearing jeans like thick fabrics, so they apply stirring type washing machine and the washing machine wash is very high, is ten times the impeller type washing machine, but because wash and wear rate is proportional to, so it is damage clothes, the washing machine market is very rare.
What is the full automatic washing machine - the working principle of the automatic washing machine
Full automatic washing machine is fit to control water through the water level switch and an electromagnetic water inlet valve, the drainage and the on-off of the motor, so as to realize the automatic control of the electromagnetic water inlet valve plays, breaking the role of water. When the electromagnetic coil is energized, moving core in the spring force and gravity, firmly at the top of the rubber diaphragm, and the central hole diaphragm plug, so the valve closed, the flow is blocked. When the solenoid coil is energized, moving core under the action of magnetic force upward, left diaphragm, and the diaphragm of the center hole is opened, and the diaphragm at the top of the water through the center hole into the tub. The center hole of the flow capacity is greater than the diaphragm both sides of the hole flow capacity, pressure above the diaphragm decreases rapidly, the diaphragm moves up, open the door under the action of the pressure difference, the water conduction.


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Long time no blog. How ya doin'? I'm doin' gud. Why I talkin' like dis? I dunno. It's like I got sum crazy redneck kinda way o' speakin' in mah head. Maybe from reading this great review of ONE DEAD HEN on Amazon US:
"The problem I had with it is that it's written in some type of Southern dialect. To be honest, I had trouble understanding what the character was saying. I know. There are some Southerners who may talk like that. I just don't know any, and I was born and raised in the South. Even though I've traveled quite a bit, and I have a college degree from a fine Northern institution, I still have my accent. I just don't talk like that, and like I said, I don't know anyone else who does."Dammit, and there was me thinking I wrote the great American novel.


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April is taxing! Best way to escape? Go fishing – or read a book about fishing! My April giveaway is all about fish from the humorous essays regarding how to clean, fry and bone a fish in Gold Pans and Iron Skillets to my children's book, Gary Learns to Fish. I'm even including a fish themed bookmark so you can save your place when the napping bug bites.
How to enter:
1 – Visit this blog post. (You've already done that!)
2 – Follow me on Twitter @CarolMGreen1 or Facebook (You may have already done that!)
3 – Share this post on Twitter or Facebook with the comment "Go Fish!" and be sure to tag me so I know you entered! (Find Share buttons at the bottom of this post.)
The giveaway will run from thru April 18. (Hey, the IRS is giving you a few extra days this year. I will, too!) The winner will be announced Tuesday, April 19 at noon MDT via Facebook, Twitter, and direct message if I have your contact info. Must be 18 years old to enter. Only ships to mainland United States.
Good Luck and Go Fish!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


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Musikmesse: Europe's biggest trade fair for the music industry
Visit Musikmesse and meet international professionals from all parts of the music industry – from instrument and accessory manufacturers, via sheet music and publishers, to music production, music education, media and marketing. The whole music sector and musicians from all over the world come together at Musikmesse in Frankfurt am Main!
What you can expect at Musikmesse 2020
The 40th anniversary edition of Musikmesse will be held from Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 4 April 2020. Next year, the show will once again be positioned as the international trade fair for the music business with a clear focus on professional encounters. Additionally, there will be offered a special ticket for private visitors on the Friday and Saturday when Musikmesse will present an expanded programme of events with numerous workshops, concerts and entertainment.
Music Business and networking
Forge new business contacts and strengthen existing business relationships for the trade, music production, media production and music education. Build up your specialist and musical expertise and meet a host of international players.
A huge programme of events, conferences and concerts
Around 1,000 events at the Exhibition Centre and throughout Frankfurt am Main with professionals from the music industry as well as clinics with stars from the music scene.
The platform for your music business
Nowhere else in Europe can you meet so many exhibitors, retailers, distributors and professionals from the fields of musical instruments, music production, sheet music and accessories. Our business programmes make Musikmesse a magnet for key communicators and retailers. A stylish Networking Are aoffers a perfect environment for business discussions in a relaxed atmosphere.
New in 2020
Home of Drums (3 + 4 April 2020)
The international drum industry is launching an innovative meet-up concept for drummers and percussionists from all parts of the world: Home of Drums will combine product presentations, knowledge transfer, concerts and performances organized by our partner OnlineLessons.tv


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You have all the skills you need to succeed as a writer: I'll help you hone and apply them with power.
My one-on-one coaching method uses a positive approach to help you meet whatever writing goal you've prioritized—whether it's overcoming writer's block, mastering comma usage, reshaping your resume to land your dream job, honing a writing process that flows, or anything in between.
My one-on-one coaching method uses a positive approach to ensure your creative or academic manuscript meets the needs of your audience, purpose, and situation. After reading your manuscript, I provide targeted holistic feedback. We work through the revision process together in person or online to make your manuscript more powerful and effective.
My one-on-one coaching method uses a positive approach to ensure your creative or academic manuscript is structurally and/or stylistically sound. After reading your manuscript, I provide detailed feedback on structure and/or style. We work through the revision process together in person or online to make your manuscript more organized and engaging.
[Michelle's] approach was thoughtful and thorough, providing energy, guidance and wisdom in an encouraging way. She gave me the helping hand I needed to prepare my book for submission. Working with Michelle was also an excellent learning experience which was an unexpected benefit. So happy I took the plunge!
Michelle effectively and efficiently worked with me through all stages of the editing process to produce a well-written finished product relevant to the intended audience.
Michelle Superle is a wonderful editor! Her edits opened up my book to be more captivating and full of magic. If you are thinking of getting Michelle to look at your work, it is well worth it!
My Write to Win workshops show you how to engage and cultivate your readers to empower the action you need. This series includes my most popular workshops.
Cultivating Relationships with Reader-centered Email teaches you how to use the "reader-centered" technique described in the widely used textbook, Technical Communication: A Reader-centered Approach by Paul V Anderson. Learn how to overcome resistance, build trust, and inspire action.
Engaging Readers with Storytelling Techniques teaches you how to use the engagement techniques described in Chip & Dan Heath's best-selling books Switch and Made to Stick. Capitalize on the human brain's preference for narrative by imbuing your organization's communications with vivid descriptions, human interest, and anecdotes.
Persuading Readers with Framing Tactics teaches you how to use the persuasive techniques taught in Communications courses. Learn the same skills that politicians use to dazzle their followers by choosing which details to include and the order in which to present them. By appealing to both readers' emotions and intellect, framing transforms information into action.
Collaborating with Team Writing teaches you how to combine group dynamics with step-by-step revision techniques to improve message consistency across teams and departments in any organization. Using a positive approach that values each team member's writing strengths, this workshop also functions as a team building exercise—the perfect activity for professional development retreats.
A four-hour workshop with lecture, discussion, hands-on activities, take-away resources, collaborative feedback on one writing exercise, and individual feedback on one writing exercise.
Travel within the Fraser Valley is included; travel allowance charged separately for other locations.
My children's literature workshops combine high quality children's books with rights-based education to improve group dynamics in the classroom or at home. This innovative approach engages both children and adults, helping them work together towards the shared goal of interacting more harmoniously. These workshops can be tailored to any age group or subject area.
A four-hour workshop with lecture, discussion, take-away activities, and an annotated list of suitable children's books with discussion questions.
Travel within the Fraser Valley is included; travel allowance charged separately for other locations.
The Write to Win "Reader-centered Writing" and "Principles of Storytelling" workshops were an incredible learning experience, and the information obtained will have a lasting impact on my writing personally and professionally for years to come. Michelle is skilled, knowledgeable and dynamic. She informed, educated and entertained our group. Her hands on approach is just what I needed!!
Michelle is a fabulous teacher.
This was an excellent workshop. I was able to immediately apply what I learned to my day-to-day correspondence, and the notes will be a valuable resource. Michelle is a very knowledgeable and personable instructor, and it was a pleasure to be in this class.
Whether writing short emails or important letters, Michelle's course helps ease the writing process with a focussed and efficient approach that gives confidence the message will be understood by the reader. We were very impressed with how Michelle could take what we thought were some of our better e-mails or letters and show us how to make them much more concise and readable.
Michelle is very knowledgeable, interesting, and encouraging. I will definitely use the info that I learned in my daily work.
Excellent workshop. [The reader-centred approach] is very interesting and something I will use every day. This workshop . . . is [one of the] best experiences I've had so far—excellent use of my time and PD funds.


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Wouldn't it be easier if we were all more open about the perfectly normal bodily function we experience each month? We think so. Each week a member of our very own #PPSquad will be sharing her period stories with you. Read, comment, share your own. Every story is welcome here.
This week's period talk is from Ellen, our Customer Service Agent.
What's your period craving?
I crave everything! Sweet or savoury.
I know my period is coming when…
I know when my period's coming as I become an emotional wreck. I cry at anything!
Tell us about your first period…
Living in a girls' boarding house, periods were always a topic of conversation. They would have hot water bottles at the ready to save you with the dreaded cramps. At 16, I was one of the last to start in my group of friends and even though they had all dealt with having a period, I was still panicking about what to do. I remember when I started I phoned my mum in a panic, and bless her she came into school with all the essentials to help me come to grips with getting used to my period, she even remembered the very needed bag of giant chocolate buttons!
Tell us a period cringe (we've all got one, hey…)
We all know how immature boys can be... I remember being in Science and I wasn't allowed to leave to go to the loo. I ended up leaking onto my grey school skirt, which was highly embarrassing, and was waiting for the comments to be thrown by the guys in my class. Luckily, I rushed back to my room at school and changed, hopefully before anyone noticed.
Your favourite thing to do when you have your period is...
There's nothing better than being snuggled up on the sofa in a fluffy blanket with a classic Netflix series.
If you haven't signed up to Pink Parcel yet, it's time to start enjoying your period! Subscribe here and you'll have everything you need (and want) sent directly to your door.


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Hello Readers - I ran across this article by Melanie Haiken and thought it was great. I know it's long, but it's a must-read......
A 10-step plan to win the battle of the bulge
Every year, it seems, the needle on the scale is a little harder to budge. You cut back on portion size; you say, "No, thank you," to dessert; you sign up for a Zumba class -- and yet your jeans size goes up and your energy level goes down. What's going on?
Starting in our early 40s, our bodies go through a series of changes that profoundly affect digestion, metabolism, and other bodily functions. Thanks to hormonal and other changes, the very growth rate of our cells slows down. It's just something we have to learn to work around.
Sometimes, though, something's gotten off track, metabolically speaking, and there's an underlying medical issue that needs to be dealt with before the usual weight-loss measures will have any effect. Here's a 10-step plan for understanding the challenges that prevent weight loss over 40, and for learning how to overcome them.
1. Get to know your body's new biological rhythms -- and adjust to them.
In long-ago times, older didn't necessarily mean plumper. Think of those icons of the American prairie, the sinewy pitchfork-wielding farm couple pictured in American Gothic. But today, those of us over 40 face a twofold challenge: We're living longer, and we're no longer out there milking the cows at 5 a.m.
When it comes to burning calories, it's a fairly simple equation. What goes in must be burned off, or it sticks to our ribs. Acquiring weight is absurdly easy -- eating just 100 extra calories a day (100 more than what your body burns) will lead to a 9- to 10-pound weight gain over the course of a year, experts say. How much is 100 calories? Not a lot: A can of Coke contains 155 calories, a chocolate bar more than 200. Of course, that cola or chocolate chip cookie is no problem if we're walking or running it off. But after 40, our activity level tends to decline, too. So the challenge is to bring the two into balance.
Look back over the past year, and think about when your weight seemed to be holding steady and when it seemed to be trending slowly upward. What were you doing during the good weeks? What sabotaged you the other times? Make a list of what works for you, and what throws you off. Your own healthy habits in the past are the ones most likely to work for you now.
2. Eliminate underlying metabolic conditions.
Would it surprise you to know that thyroid problems strike as many as 1 out of 5 adults over age 40? And 8 out of 10 of those adults are women? The most common of these is hypothyroidism -- an underactive thyroid -- and it's one of the primary reasons many women over 40 can't lose weight. The thyroid is a tiny gland that produces hormones that regulate metabolism, and when it's underactive, so is everything else. Think of low thyroid as having your internal thermostat set too low. Symptoms include feeling cold all the time, poor circulation in the hands and feet, clammy hands, tiredness and lethargy, hair loss (including eyebrows and eyelashes), and weight gain -- despite real attempts to exercise and eat well.
If you suspect an underactive thyroid may be slowing your metabolism, the first step is to call the doctor and ask for a thyroid test. But beware: It's not always that simple. Many thyroid experts consider the first-line thyroid blood test, known as the TSH, an unreliable indicator, and they argue that doctors should diagnose according to symptoms rather than a lab number. And there is extensive disagreement among endocrinologists about what should be considered a "normal" range for the TSH, what range indicates subclinical hypothyroidism, and what number indicates full-blown hypothyroidism. Since 2003, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has been recommending that a TSH test result of 2.5 or above should be considered a possible indicator of hypothyroidism. But many laboratories still use an older standard, according to which 5.5 is the cutoff above which TSH is considered abnormal. And new recommendations issued jointly by a task force of the AACE and the American Thyroid Association (ATA) didn't clarify things much; they basically say that a thyroid result of between 2.5 and 10 could indicate hypothyroidism on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the 2012 recommendations suggest that doctors use an additional test for elevated thyroid peroxidase antibody, or TPOAb, when diagnosing autoimmune hypothyroidism.
The takeaway: If your TSH result is above 2.5, make sure your doctor knows that the AACE considers you a candidate for thyroid medication, based on your symptoms. Then ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, with whom you can discuss the need for additional testing.
3. Adjust your eating habits for maximum energy.
Your goal at this stage in your life is to keep yourself feeling full without succumbing to the temptation to eat like you could at age 20. One strategy recommended by internist Julie Taw, MD, of Englewood, New Jersey, is to eat more frequently but to consume less at each sitting. An added benefit of eating this way is that it's easier to keep your blood sugar steady, so you don't have the peaks and valleys that contribute to fatigue.
Here's the rule: Try eating five to six small meals a day, and don't go more than three or four hours without eating. For example, you might eat a light but healthy breakfast before you leave for work, then have a nonfat yogurt in the late morning. Then instead of eating a big pasta lunch and spending the afternoon in a stupor, eat a light lunch and spend the rest of your lunch break taking a brisk walk. An afternoon snack of nuts and an apple keeps you from needing the 4 p.m. sweet treat and makes it easier to avoid overeating at dinner.
Your goal is the opposite of the starvation approach to dieting -- you want to trick your body into feeling satisfied and well-fed at all times, though the total amount you're eating is less.
4. Time your eating to take advantage of your body's natural rhythms.
Most experts agree on one thing: Snack (or eat dinner) after 8 p.m., and whatever you eat is more likely to go straight to your hips and stomach. Happily, the opposite is also true -- what you eat in the mornings, when your metabolism is revved up to its optimum operating speed, is much more likely to be expended efficiently.
Don't like to eat breakfast? Sorry, but there's no way around this one; eating a good breakfast is one of the key habits experts have identified that keeps thin people thin. When members of the National Weight Control Registry (people who have maintained a weight loss of 30 pounds for between one and six years) were surveyed, 78 percent reported eating breakfast every day and almost 90 percent reported eating breakfast at least five days a week. This was one of the only factors researchers identified that those in the registry had in common!
5. Trick your metabolism with fat-fighting foods.
I know you've heard it before, but it's true: It's really not just about how much you eat, but how much of which foods. There are plenty of healthy foods you can eat all you want of -- and no, that doesn't mean stuffing your fridge with celery sticks, 1970s-style. Instead, make a few simple tweaks to your diet, incorporating foods that actually fight fat instead of those that trigger it. Then eat other foods in moderation, and you should be OK.
6. Make muscles an ally in your weight-loss campaign.
There's one thing the exercise gurus have gotten right: The more muscle mass you have, the more effectively your metabolism burns calories. But sad to say, a natural tendency of aging is to lose muscle, gradually replacing it with fat. So in order to enlist the calorie-burning abilities of muscle, we do have to work at it.
The key here to long-term benefit is basic strength training. Buy some hand weights, a bar, and some stretch bands, and channel your high school gym teacher. And don't ignore your core; planks, curls, and Pilates moves help strengthen the deep core muscles that are key to posture. Make it as pleasant as possible; work out while you watch the evening news or your favorite sit-com. Other tools that help: kettlebells, an exercise ball, and ankle weights. Slowly and gradually build up those biceps, abs, deltoids, and glutes, and you'll have some key allies in your fight to prevent age-related weight gain.
7. Get more sleep to burn more calories.
As any perimenopausal woman or hardworking man over 35 can tell you, sleep gets ever more elusive as you age. It's not just that we're busier and more stressed. We also have multiple physical issues, from back pain to snoring to night sweats, any of which can interfere with getting a good night's sleep.
Yet, paradoxically, getting a good night's sleep is one of the keys to losing weight. In recent years, significant research has shown that lack of sleep is directly connected to weight gain because of the actions of two hormones, leptin and ghrelin, that control hunger and satiety, or feeling full. One key study concluded, "Sleep duration may be an important regulator of body weight and metabolism." Here's how it works: When you're sleep deprived, ghrelin levels increase at the same time that leptin levels decrease. The result is more craving, less feeling full. Add to that the fact that sleep-deprived people often crave "energy" foods, which tend to be sweet or salty, and you can see how small changes in your routine can add up to big weight gain.
And there's more. Recently, studies have shown that our bodies are most metabolically active while we sleep, and that sleeping less than six hours impairs glucose tolerance, a key precursor to diabetes. So the longer we sleep, the more efficiently our inner fat-burning and sugar-processing engines function.
Add these all together and you can see a pattern emerging: The older we are, the harder it is to get a good night's sleep -- and the less we sleep, the more likely it is we'll gain weight. What to do? Take steps to combat sleep problems and your waistline will benefit, too.
8. Strike up a healthy relationship with your sweet tooth.
If you're dying for a sweet treat, give it to yourself, savoring it slowly so it registers fully with your brain's pleasure sensors. A trick that many experts recommend: Cut the treat in half before you start eating, carefully wrapping the second half up to "save for later." You may or may not want it -- sometimes if you eat the first half slowly and consciously enough, you'll feel satisfied. But knowing it's there if you do plays a nice trick on your brain, which tends to crave things it perceives as being in short supply.
Also, don't try to substitute artificially flavored sweets. Researchers have recently discovered that artificial sweeteners fail to trigger the body's natural satisfaction response. So eating that 100-calorie artificially sweetened cookie only adds to your problems; you'll keep on wanting the real cookie, so the 100 calories you just ate were in vain.
9. Forget dieting. Instead, focus on your fuel-to-energy ratio.
If, like most 40-somethings, you're packing some extra pounds, you've probably made plenty of resolutions to go on a diet. You've also probably figured out by this point in your life that diets rarely work, and neither does suddenly embarking on a strenuous new exercise regimen. There's a good reason that sudden, drastic changes don't lead to long-term weight loss, and may even lead to a rebound. Have you noticed that your weight tends to stay fairly constant week to week, even if one day you go on a junk food binge and the next day you're fairly good? Nature designed us with optimum abilities to maintain a steady metabolic rate, because it helps us weather food shortages and sudden demands on our energies.
Unfortunately, this means that when you've gradually gained weight over time, your body has adapted to the new weight and now does its best to hold onto it. So here's what you do: You make slow, gradual adjustments to each end of the equation. And you -- and only you -- decide which end of the fuel-in, energy-out equation to emphasize and when.
10. Make slow, realistic changes in tune with your lifestyle.
Let's say you want to lose 10 pounds. To do so right now, you'd have to burn 35,000 calories -- an overwhelming number that would require you to eat nothing at all for about 2 weeks, or jog for 51 hours, or walk for 126 hours. Not only would it be impossible, but attempts like those would send your body into starvation-mode metabolic slowdown, sabotaging your efforts.
But you could also, much more effectively, set out to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week for the next 5 to 10 weeks. Studies show that if you take the slow-but-steady approach, you're much more likely to keep that 10 pounds off. Remind yourself that you are the only one in charge of tuning up your metabolic engine. Decide whether to focus on cutting down the number of calories you're consuming, or on upping the number you're burning. Most likely, you'll strike a balance between the two that suits you.
If six half-hour walks a week is relatively painless for you, that's a good choice; if you can only manage three, do that. If going outdoors in ten-degree weather is singularly unappealing and you wouldn't be caught dead in a gym but it's not too hard to give up dessert, then prioritize dietary changes instead.
Your primary goal should be making small, gradual lifestyle changes that you can incorporate into your daily routine and stick with over time. That's the ultimate secret to combating over-40 weight gain.


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Stream Living Better Now (Mastered), the newest drop from Jamie Foxx which features Rick Ross. The cut was released on Sunday, October 24th, 2010. Jamie Foxx continues to impress with each new leak, and Living Better Now (Mastered) is no exception. It's strengthens Jamie Foxx's already impressive body of work, which has seen positive change over the years. We're most definitely anticipating Jamie Foxx's next offering.
Check out Jamie Foxx on Fall For Your Type, featuring Drake. If your interest is piqued, hit up Jamie Foxx's profile for more info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
Is this a good combination? Let us know what you think, folks.


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Swimming Pool Blog
Rob Cox September 07, 2016
Can you put an electric pool heater on a swimming pool? Yes and No. There's been a renewed interest in electric pool heating, but there is also some confusion about how to use electricity to heat swimming pools.
There are two types of electric pool heaters, Resistance Heaters and Heat Pumps. Resistance heaters use an immersion element that heats the water as it flows through the heating chamber. Heat pumps, also electric, absorb heat from the surrounding outside air using an evaporator, compressor and condenser to heat the pool. Like a reverse air conditioner.
Both types of electric pool heaters require hard wiring, 240V, neither can be plugged into an outlet. Resistance electric pool heaters (those with heater elements), need a lot of amperage, 100-150 amps, or 2 or 3, 50 amp circuit breakers. Pool heat pumps only require a single 30-50 amp breaker.
And herein lies the problem with resistance heaters. They are Expensive to Operate, or very expensive I should say, when compared to other heating methods. It takes a lot of amperage to heat up even a small pool, and when it comes to your energy bill, what you really pay for is amps.
Pool Heat Pumps, on the other hand, draw only about 30 amps, for a 100K BTU unit, and only 15 amps for smaller 50K BTU heat pumps, used on small pools or aboveground pools.
A pool heat pump uses about the same amount of juice as a 100 watt lightbulb, and can heat a pool for just $2-3 dollars per day. Install an electric resistance heater however, and you can spend $10-15 dollars per day, easy.
It's so tempting to take a look at these cute electric pool heaters (one model shown here) that promise warm water for up to 11,000 gallons.
Don't be Fooled! This small electric 'pool' heater, even at 27 kw, is not going to heat much more than 3000 gallons, and unless you have an insulated spa cover on your pool, it can cost hundreds of dollars per month to use, even on a small pool. Plus, you'll have a high electrician bill, to add 100 amps to your breaker box, and a buried power line to the heater, which is not really even weather-proof, so it needs a shelter.
Electric element heaters are great for hot tubs, but not pools. If you want an electric pool heater, buy a pool heat pump, they are more expensive than resistance heaters, in the $1500-$3000 range, but will heat your pool effectively and efficiently.
So No - swimming pools, even a small pool, should not be heated by an electric pool heater. Heat Pumps, Yes! But Resistance Heaters, NO...
That is all for now, carry on.
- Rob


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text: On Tuesday 27 June, Uche Ogbuji wrote: > We used our own version of the DOM IDL, with a few mods. Fnorb was > easy, but for ILU we had to make liberal use of underscores to > escape clashing names, although as Martin von Lowis has pointed out, > most of the errors are for CORBA 2.3 only and were not errors for > CORBA 2.2. Besides changing the few clashing names, the DOM IDL in > general compiled just fine. I think people have been making far too > much of the few errors name-clashes Duncan Grisby turned up. Note > that Duncan Grisby maintains the unsurpassed omniORBpy, by far the > most compliant 2.3 ORB for Python. It is far stricter than > Fnorb/ILU, but only emerged after we took CORBA out of the 4DOM core > (and, IIRC, after our earlier discussion on Python/DOM binding). I'm sorry I introduced the stuff about the name clashes. I just meant it to be evidence that aiming for compliance with the Python CORBA mapping was more trouble than it's worth. As Martin pointed out, all but one of the clashes are trivial to fix, anyway [1]. The only issue is really with the W3C since they claim their IDL is CORBA 2.3.1 compliant, which it plainly isn't. I don't think people who are using/implementing DOM should religiously stick to the CORBA mapping. As long as you keep to the intent of the IDL, it will be trivial to map whatever you use into the full CORBA mapping. This could even be done at the IDL compiler level, so there wouldn't need to be any proxy objects doing the translation. As an example, dom::Attr is defined as: module dom { interface Attr : Node { readonly attribute DOMString name; readonly attribute boolean specified; attribute DOMString value; // raises(DOMException) on setting // Introduced in DOM Level 2: readonly attribute Element ownerElement; }; }; omniORBpy currently maps that to the following (sort of -- I've cut out a few things which aren't relevant, and wrapped some long lines): # Attr object reference class _objref_Attr (_0_dom._objref_Node): def __init__(self): _0_dom._objref_Node.__init__(self) def _get_name(self, *args): return _omnipy.invoke(self, "_get_name", _0_dom.Attr._d__get_name, args) def _get_specified(self, *args): return _omnipy.invoke(self, "_get_specified", _0_dom.Attr._d__get_specified, args) def _get_value(self, *args): return _omnipy.invoke(self, "_get_value", _0_dom.Attr._d__get_value, args) def _set_value(self, *args): return _omnipy.invoke(self, "_set_value", _0_dom.Attr._d__set_value, args) def _get_ownerElement(self, *args): return _omnipy.invoke(self, "_get_ownerElement", _0_dom.Attr._d__get_ownerElement, args) It would be very easy to add a flag to the IDL compiler which generated the obvious __getattr__ and __setattr__ methods. The server side would still have to use the _get and _set methods. Cheers, Duncan. [1] The only clash which can't be fixed by escaping the IDL identifiers with an underscore is the interface named "Range" in module "range". This is really a problem for the W3C to fix, but it would be easy enough to relax the name scoping rules to allow range::Range to pass the IDL compiler. -- -- Duncan Grisby \ Research Engineer -- -- AT&T Laboratories Cambridge -- -- http://www.uk.research.att.com/~dpg1 --


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Next up, Cisco Brewer's Monomoy Kriek:
Sours are not the Haybag's favorite. So, upon learning that the Haybag was going on the 9-month DL, I came to the realization that (1) I had a 9-month default designated driver, and (2) I could finally go on a sour beer spree. This explains my recent foray into the sick and twisted world of sours.
This is a sour Flemmish-Style Red from Cisco's "The Woods" series. It's aged on whole sour cherries and in oak barrels. I had been eyeing it up like a Red Rider BB gun for some time, but I heard it was way low on carbonation, which for me can make some sours unbearable. Also a deterrent, it sports a $20 price tag. But, as Jessie J so wisely posited: It's about neither the cha-ching cha-ching nor the ba-bling ba-bling…so let's do this thing.
It pours brownish-red…like a deep ruby. There is no head to speak of, nor visible carbonation. It sits there unimpressed that you dropped a 20 on it…like a date who orders the most expensive entrée but still thinks you're a cheap asshole for taking her to TGI Fridays. It smells like sour cherries, and it has a very slight funkiness and a hint of a fall Sycamore. Interestingly, it smells very wine-like. Clearly, the "oak barrels" mentioned on the bottle's label were formerly occupied by wine. (Cisco also makes wine and distilled spirits.) The taste is sour, but not like you just broke into LL Cool J's house and he broke your jaw…more like breaking into Ne-Yo's place. It's slight vinegar, slight lactic sour, but very sour cherry and vinous. Also, it's throwing around tannins like it ain't no thang. The finish is sour with a cherry twang. Still, not much carbonation to speak of; and often with sours, this is where lack of carbonation will get me, but this one doesn't. I love it. I will get it again.
The Haybag: I think you're the only one who smells Sycamore trees. It's a little creepy. Enjoy your sour beers while you can.


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GENTLE BREEZE by Atty. Nelly F. Villafuerte | Seven is God's favorite number
* * *
Let me share some instances in the Holy Bible where the number seven mentioned:
· In the Book of Revelation, the last Book of the Holy Bible, there is mention of seven churches, seven angels, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders, and seven last plagues;
· In the Book of Genesis: - God rested on the seventh day; Noah took the clean beasts into the ark by sevens; and seven days after Noah went into the ark, the floods came;
· In the Book of Jeremiah 25:11-12, the Israelites were exiled in Babylon for seventy years;
· In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven;
· In Joshua 6:1-16, God told the Israelites to march around Jericho seven times before the walls of Jericho collapsed on the seventh day. From biblical account, we see also seven priests blowing seven trumpets of ram's horns before the walls of Jericho collapsed;
· In the Book of Leviticus (see Chapter 23:1-44), there is mention of the seven feast days of the Lord (Pass over, Unleavened, First-fruits, Pentecost, Atonement, Trumpets and Tabernacle);
· In the Book of Luke 8:2, we see seven devils cast out of Mary Magdalene who was earlier possessed by satan;
· In the Book of Matthew 12:45, "seven other spirits" more wicked than a man entered his body. In Matthew 13, it is also mentioned that Jesus spoke to people through parables - seven parables;
· In the Book of Judges 16:13, Samson revealed to Delilah that his strength is in his hair. Mention is made of "seven locks" of his hair;
· In the Book of Leviticus 25:4, the "seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest."
The Holy Bible is replete with instances highlighting number seven and multiples of seven. The healing miracles that Jesus performed on a Sabbath day in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5 amazingly totalled seven. It also took King Solomon seven years to build the temple. Remember the famine in Egypt during the days of Joseph? There were seven years of planting and seven years of famine.
* * *
Many bible scholars are perplexed why the Holy Bible is saturated with the number seven and with multiples of seven. Indeed, this is a biblical mathematical phenomenon that remains a mystery up to this day. As for me, I believe like other bible-believing Christians that God is just confirming his divine perfection.
* * *
Do you know that the cycle of sevens does not end in the Holy Bible? Not many of us know that even in our human body, the number seven comes to life. There are seven bones in the neck; seven bones in the face; seven bones in the ankles; and there are seven holes in our heads.
* * *
Hopefully, all of us will be encouraged and challenged to read the Holy Bible more often and discover many things that modern science and modern technology cannot explain. May I take this opportunity too to thank Mrs. Honorata T. Malonso, one of my readers who so generously donated Php5,000.00 for the blind children in Bicol. Please be assured, Ma'am, that all the amount will go to the food and partly for the rental of the place where the blind are staying.
Be joyful and forgiving! (Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuerte's email: firstname.lastname@example.com.)


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The ways that a group gather, prepare and consume food offer unique insights into their values, that is, their culture.
Not surprisingly, there are strong connections between their arts and their attitudes to food. Many anthropologists believe that the preparation for and celebration of the hunt formed the basis for early human music and dance, and harvest festivals appear to be ubiquitous across human cultures (to say nothing of drinking songs).
Current concerns in western societies about junk food, the decline of social eating (particularly within families) and the rise of the slow food movement, point to a growing awareness of the importance, not only of a healthy diet but of process – the rituals of sustenance may be as important as the content.
This recent article from Ari Le Vaux, while offering a very personal view of food, is predicated on an important insight – one that I believe is as applicable to art as it is to food. The most satisfying is that which comes with a story, and the best stories are the ones in which the teller is also the protagonist.


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Just the other night Jimmy was interviewing actress Nicole Kidman. He recalled that they had met ten years before. On that occasion, a friend of Jimmy called him to say that he wanted to bring Nicole Kidman by his apartment.
Jimmy later realized, and Nicole affirmed, that it was a set-up date, and he'd given her a rather bland reception: playing video games, not talking much. Nicole then revealed that she had been romantically interested in Jimmy, but he was clueless about it! Imagine: he could have been Mr. Nicole Kidman—if he wasn't so—aargh! The whole interview unraveled rather humorously after that admission, but they took it in stride. Although the awkwardness of the past could not be erased or redone, the interview opened the door to a new perspective in friendship.
Many times in life we recognize a choice before us, and many times there doesn't seem to be a choice. In that instant when Jimmy realized the opportunity he'd missed, the audience also could see the present outcome, where both are happily married with children.
After watching the interview I wondered whether there were any times I was simply unaware of others' intentions about me, and how things might have been different, especially if I had handled them better. But that practice is a kind of spiritual and emotional quicksand. My thoughts needed to turn to a more productive and worthwhile theme: the mysterious workings of God's Providence, which aims to reinforce within each of us our fundamental identity as God's beloved son or daughter.
That's what Baptism does for us: makes us children of God, heirs of heaven, temples of the Holy Spirit, and members of Christ's Mystical Body, the Church. It frees us from the Original Sin and, in the case of adults, from any personal sins we have committed. Baptism confers upon us a new identity and a new mission, leaving behind the way that leads to death. Though, like Jimmy with Nicole, we may be unaware of God's loving intentions for us, through Baptism He inaugurates for us the strange and wonderful journey that is discipleship, where, though we participate freely, there is always Another Hand at work.
Along our life's course we will stray, we will miss the mark, we will sin. Not just instances of wry regret like the way that Jimmy Fallon initially regarded Nicole Kidman, but snubs of the most meaningful relationships of our lives: intentional choices against God's commandments to love Him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. But no sinful choice that we ever make will erase our splendid identity as God's beloved, made for communion with Him. That's not to say that we can't reject that communion or don't need to repair it; but, even if we rejected it completely, we'd still have been made for it, which would add all the more to the frustration that is hell.
But God the Son fully identified Himself with the human race by becoming man and submitting Himself to the baptismal waters. He knew and owned His identity as the Father's Beloved and the Savior of mankind. Through Baptism He invites all to receive that dignity and to walk in that dignity each day. In view of that wise and loving plan, God will use even our sins and our missed chances for His glory and for the good of all. Though much of life may cause real and deserved shame, God allows us to participate in our redemption and renewal.


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Primary Authority: Ian Parkin writes most content, and reviews, verifies and edits all guest posts published on Psychic-Junkie.com
by Michael
Psychic Spiritual Minister
Hello to All! My name Michael. I am a professional psychic/medium. I have had this ability my entire life (well as far back as I can remember.)
I recently became ordained as a minister in spirituality as well. I believe there are no limits or boundaries on God, or God's ability to give us gifts, appeal to us in different forms, make things happen, and to love each of us.
I believe God created each person who they are for a reason. Therefore, it's somewhat of an insult to the creator to say someone or something has been made "wrong."
I have a spirit guide named Jason whom has been with me my entire life. Spirit Guides are there for each one of us. The modern world has simply reduced them to a "conscience." Jason assists me with readings, but mostly the ability comes from God.
I never pretend to know everything, or to have the ability to replace a doctor, psychiatrist, and the like. I simply have an ability to tap into more information regarding your current life situations.
I began telling people what they needed to do or not do, who they needed to drop, where they needed to go, what was going to happen to them, and any other information that came through at age 6 that I can remember.
I have assisted with hauntings, past life progressions, love questions, life questions, emotional problems, confused parents, and on and on and on.
I'm always very straight forward with my clients, and I will never willingly mislead you in any way. In fact, if you ask me a question, and nothing comes through, I just tell you the truth.
I don't believe in blockages, or curses that need to be removed. I don't believe that God gives you anything you can't handle. I have been helping people achieve clarity and validation my entire life.
I'm never going to pretend to be the best there is, but I can tell you in over twenty years of doing this, I have yet to receive a client complaint.
I am a psychic medium, and I am genuine, honest, and authentic. I will always do my best to help you. I don't charge per-minute fees. I offer an affordable flat fee ranging from twenty to thirty dollars depending on the length of your session.
I also do public lectures, room readings, and party event readings. For more information about all the services I offer please visit www.facebook.com/PsychicSpiritualMinister/
I look forward to speaking with you. Thank you for your time, and God Bless All!
Michael - Psychic Spiritual Minister
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During the Apollo moon missions, tension filled the operations room at the Apollo Mission Control Center in Houston. NASA staffers' consoles were not only piled with paperwork but also hastily removed suit jackets, American flags and uneaten snacks. And their amber glass ashtrays overflowed with cigarette butts.
Over the years, that atmospheric clutter has largely been removed. "Right now the room looks pretty sterile," said Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, historian for the Johnson Space Center, which contains the Apollo control room, now a national historic landmark.
This fall Space Center Houston, a nonprofit that organizes public tours of the Apollo operations center, has set out to raise $3 million to help restore the center's late-1960s appearance. In the next few months, staff members will begin bringing back historically accurate details.
Binders, maps, pencil sharpeners, logbooks, flags and plastic foam coffee cups will be placed on consoles and desks. The original configurations of keyboards, monitors and TV sets will be recreated, and buttons and lights will be activated to evoke a sense of missions in progress. Rows of cameras will be reinstalled on the ceilings. Period clothing and hats will be hung from coat racks. (Some of the low-tech equipment will most likely puzzle children unfamiliar with the workings of rotary phones, reel-to-reel tapes and pneumatic tubes that delivered data printouts.)
"We want it to look like the flight controllers have just walked away from their consoles for a bit," said Sandra J. Tetley, a historic preservation officer at the Johnson Space Center.
Historians have interviewed former mission workers, who remember squinting at consoles through the haze of cigarette and cigar smoke. Headsets blared multiple audio channels at the same time, and the cacophony echoed in the workers' ears even after they went home.
Given the intensity of their Apollo workdays, Ms. Tetley said, "They get very emotional when they start talking about it."
She added that the center's employees are still reaching out to former space mission workers and their descendants in hopes of documenting their recollections. They are also seeking photos and other souvenirs that will yield insights into the control room's original appearance and workings.
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington is also restoring equipment used on Apollo missions. Galleries for the material, with items like spacesuits and even a toothbrush and a container of shark repellent (for those ocean splashdowns), will be redone in the next few years. Among the recent acquisitions going on display will be a camera that was mounted on the lunar module of Apollo 11 during the 1969 landing that put Neil Armstrong on the moon. Two years ago, Mr. Armstrong's widow, Carol, found the camera at the couple's home, forgotten in a bag in a closet.
Allan Needell, curator of the museum's space history division, said there are also plans to exhibit the mangled remains of an Apollo 11 engine, which were rediscovered a few years ago during underwater expeditions off the Florida coast. (Other chunks of Apollo engines that turned up during the dives have been sent to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.)
The photographer Roland Miller has published images of ruined and preserved Apollo launch and operations sites and artifacts in a recent book, "Abandoned in Place: Preserving America's Space History." Among the relatively well-maintained facilities is Launch Complex 34 at Cape Canaveral in Florida, where three astronauts died in a fire during a test aboard their spacecraft in 1967. But on buildings and their remnants elsewhere, paint is peeling, vines are choking walkways and owls have nested in the crannies.
Mr. Miller said that he took home a few souvenir bolts and fiberglass fragments from structures being demolished. While visiting dozens of sites and reflecting on the space program's achievements and tragedies, he said, "There were times when it was a very overpowering feeling."
On Nov. 11, Heritage Auctions in Dallas offered a few hundred objects related to Apollo missions. Equipment and supplies included foodstuffs (which sold for $4,000), a film fragment that was part of a roll of photos taken by Mr. Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin while on the moon ($550), a heat shield plug ($5,500) and an aluminum tool ($37,500) with a lens and brush that were used to clean and analyze moon rocks. Flags and silver medallions that astronauts carried on the flights each took in $1,500 to $37,500.
The sale's contingent of paperwork that was consulted during flights, either onboard spacecraft or at NASA offices, included an engineers' logbook recording the demands of "working all weekends" ($4,500), a plan book for lunar surface operations ($6,875) and a launch checklist ($42,500). Cue cards and lunar surface maps brought a few thousand dollars each.
Autographed photos in the sale (which sold for up to $2,750 each) showed Houston staff members during Apollo flights, smoking cigars, wearing headsets and surrounded by coffee cups, snacks and stacks of binders. They were also photographed waving American flags after missions went well.


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Happy blogging birthday to me!!
As of Tuesday I've been blogging here for 3 years! I thought that was pretty neat! I've met some really cool people and have felt like I was a part of an awesome community thanks to this blog. It's been a fun 3 years! 🙂
Coincidentally, 3 years ago was when I started to get into races. I did my first half marathon in November of 2015 and then I did my very first organized "5k" in December of that year. My first 5k-ing experience was definitely an interesting one! The race I did was a super small, Christmas themed one, put on by one of the churches in my town. Unfortunately they don't put it on anymore or else I totally would have done it again! I think it was one of the most unique races I've done as of yet!
- It was held at night. As far as I know most races are held in the morning, so that was pretty cool! Especially because of all of the Christmas lights!! Which was the whole point of running at night, I suppose.
- No race bibs. We were given Santa hats that had tiny Santa's on them that light up instead.
- Santa drove the course in a lime green VW beetle with the top pulled down and all decked out with Christmas lights. That was a lot of fun!
- There were maybe 30 people who ran it? That took "small, local race" to a whole new level!
- The finish line was one of those little yard tent things you use to shade patios in the summer. Covered in Christmas lights of course! 😊 No fancy time display, timing mats, or time chips.
- Soooo many people from my town were out cheering on the runners! Honestly this race probably had the best crowd support I've ever experienced! And why not?!? It was our friends, neighbors, and police force cheering us on!
- Remember how I said there was no fancy timing equipment? Apparently there was no measuring of the course either. This run was advertised as a 5k, but it actually came out to be around 3.03 miles. Not a big deal though. At the end of the day it was all just got fun. 😊
- And last but not least, there was hot chocolate and cookies for all and the end! What's not to love about that?! 🍪
Seriously, it was one of the most interesting and probably most fun runs I've ever done! 🎅🏻🏃🏻♀ And can we just take a second to appreciate how long my hair was?!? Jeez that was kind of excessive and I kinda miss it. 😂
Also, fun little fact; that's the only race I've ever done that I didn't write a race recap for haha. But I mean, I pretty much summed it all up now. So that' count's for something, right? 😉
Anyway, I just want to take a second to acknowledge how big Whiskey is getting!!
She was such a tiny little thing when we got her, but she is growing into a beautiful dog! Haha you can see one of her ears has gone up. I thought she was going to end up with floppy ears, but it's looking like I was wrong!! That one just kinda shot up over night! Every once in a while the other one will go up too, but it usually doesn't stay that way long. But I'm thinking eventually it will end up being pricked too. Hahaha honestly I'm pretty excited about that! Obviously it really doesn't matter much, but I do like dogs with pricked ears. 🙂
She is a very well built little puppy. She's been going through a growth spurt and gained 6 pounds in a month hahaha. The vet is thinking she'll get up to be around 30-35 pounds and I was thinking the same thing. Our vet is also pretty supportive of us breeding Finn to her as long as she doesn't have any kind of health issues pop up, which is unlikely but it's always a possibility.
Hahaha my house is super duper Christmas-y right now and it makes me super happy! 🙂 And now I've finally got a gift under my tree!! I'm literally the worst gift wrapper in the world, but Luke's been threatening to go snooping for what I got him for Christmas so I had to wrap that today. But other than that, that's the only gift we have under the tree. We've mailed some off so we aren't like behind on Christmas shopping or anything, so that's good. I temporarily had two under my tree! The little neighbor girl I babysit turned 5 yesterday so I had her gift under the tree for a whole hour haha. She came over today so obviously I gave it to her. Getting gifts is great, but honestly I think I like giving people something I know they'll really like more! That's always a great feeling. 🙂 And my neighbor seemed really happy with what I got her. It was just a stuffed Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch 😉 ). She told me she was definitely going to sleep with him tonight, so I figured that meant she liked him haha.
Anyway, last night Green Day put out a new music video as kind of a Christmas gift for their fans. Obviously I was pretty excited about that because they are my favorite haha. But I thought it was especially cool because it's made up of a bunch of different clips from their Revolution Radio tour and they included a bunch of different clips of fans. I just think its really awesome that Green Day seems to love their fans just as much as their fans love them and when they do things like this it just makes you feel like you're a part of something, ya know?
Hahaha I haven't fangirl-ed in a while, so I'm not gonna apologize for doing it this time. 😉
Okey Dokey, that's all for today!
Happy Friday eve, I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season!


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Jim Parsons has opened up on the end of The Big Bang Theory, as punters prepare themselves for the finale of the long running show after it was decided the 12th season would be its last.
The actor, who plays lead character Sheldon Cooper, and reportedly turned down $50million (£39million) to do an extra two seasons, compared the ending of the CBS show to putting down a dog and, sheesh, that's one way to look at it, we guess.
He said the whole shebang was sentimental, but there is nothing about it that felt like it was 'too soon', for the star, as Johnny Galecki (who plays Leonard Hofstadter) also felt it was the right time to hang up the atoms.
'But even so, this is morbid, but it reminded me of having to put a dog to sleep,' Jim told The New Paper.
'Not that the show is sick. You know you are doing the right thing, but it is still very, very painful. Because it is a death, there's no way around it. It's not just another job ending, it's a whole way of life ending for all of us.'
In the show his character is married to fellow scientist Amy, with fans wondering whether or not they'll have a baby to tie up the season.
While he said he's definitely not going to be dying seeing as he's narrating spin-off Young Sheldon from the future, he doesn't want anything crazy to happen just because it's the finale – feeling a baby with Amy is just not going to happen.
'A baby would surprise me, so therefore maybe there will be a baby,' he said before he changed his tune. 'I don't think so, she would need to be pregnant as a character right now, so I don't think I am going to hold a child, not in this context.'
A baby has also been ruled out for Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard, so we can all cool it with the baby vibes, okay?
'They were in disagreement on the subject, but they now seem to be on the same wavelength. She is not ready for that now,' Kaley told The Koz Post.
'I love the way they have spoken about it. She did not want to have children, she is very focused on his professional life and wants to enjoy his life.'
The Big Bang Theory continues Thursdays at 8pm on E4.
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MORE: The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco rules out baby for Penny and Leonard ahead of final episode
MORE: Wanda Sykes wants to have a conversation with Roseanne as she reflects on quitting show following racist tweets


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Review summary
Previous Palm-powered phones, including Samsung's own i300 and i330, all had at least one fairly significant drawback. Some were a little too bulky; others had screens that weren't quite up to snuff. But as soon as we got our hands on Samsung's SPH-i500, we knew this Palm phone had turned the corner. No, it's not perfect, especially if you're looking to do serious e-mailing. And yes, we'll nitpick and bemoan its current over-$500 price. But the i500 is still a tempting choice for those who want to consolidate their phone and PDA. For a Palm phone, the i500 is small. With the standard battery installed, this pocket-friendly, flip-style model weighs 5.1 ounces and measures 3.4 by 2.13 by 1.03 inches, only slightly bigger than Samsung's 4.4-ounce A600 camera phone. The screen is obviously not a full-size Palm display and is a bit smaller than the Kyocera 7135's. However, it supports 65,536 colors and looks better than both the 7135's and the Handspring Treo 300's displays. The upcoming Treo 600's screen appears to be its equal, though neither display has high resolution.
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|Smart and small: The Samsung is as little as many cell phone-only handsets.
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|Slightly thick: A beefy battery adds a bit to the device's girth.
This is Samsung's third-generation Palm phone for Sprint PCS, so the company has had some time to tweak the interface and smooth out most glitches. You'll find the familiar Palm interface, but a click of a side button or the onscreen phone icon toggles between Palm and phone modes. The buttons are well positioned for easy navigation, with a set of quick-launch application controls placed just under the screen. The phone feels solid in hand and snaps shut with authority.
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|The cradle has a slot to accommodate the Samsung's spare battery. There's also an extra stylus for forgetful types.
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|Belt one out: A handy carrying case protects the device and attaches to your midriff.
Other pluses: We liked the stair-step approach of the backlit dial-pad keys (minimizing misdials), the telescoping stylus that's housed on the back of the phone, and the rocker/scroll button in the middle of the dial pad.
Samsung includes a nice set of accessories: a dual-slot cradle with a HotSync USB cable for docking the unit with your PC (sorry, no Macs), a travel charger, an extra "slim" battery and stylus, and a protective carrying case that attaches to your belt. The skinny battery brings the weight of the phone down to 4.7 ounces and trims 0.18 inches from its thickness. Powered by a 66MHz DragonBall processor, the i500 ships with 16MB of built-in memory and runs on Palm OS 4.1--it's not upgradable--instead of the newer Palm OS 5.0. Some Palm phones, such as the Kyocera 7135, feature an expansion slot as well as MP3 playback capabilities. Because of battery-life issues, we don't think your phone is the best place for an MP3 player, so the lack of support here isn't a big deal. However, it would've been nice to see a Secure Digital (SD) expansion slot for JPEG images and additional applications. The 16MB of RAM will be adequate for most users, but some may find it limiting.
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|Writing strategy: There's no thumb keyboard, so you'll want to brush up on your Graffiti skills.
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|A step up: We liked the placement and style of the phone's roomy keys.
In most other aspects, the i500 mirrors the feature sets of Sprint's other Palm phones. First and foremost, you'll appreciate the ability to quickly tap into your calendar and contacts list. There's a speed-dial option, and you can dial a person in your contact lists by simply tapping his or her name. It's easy to locate a desired contact; just type the letter of the person's first or last name, and a short list of entries appears. The i500 also supports voice-activated dialing but lacks a speakerphone.
Thanks to Sprint's PCS Vision services, the wireless-data experience is generally good, but this model doesn't feature a minikeyboard, so you're less apt to find yourself banging out long e-mails. As soon as you subscribe to PCS Vision, you're good to go; no ISP setup is required, as Sprint is the ISP. Handspring's Blazer browser lets you access the Internet at nearly dial-up speeds on a good day with Sprint's 1xRTT network. Click the Home icon in the browser, and you're taken to Sprint's wireless Web portal, which retains a WAP-like, text-only feel but is jazzed up with color icons and a slicker interface. You can access full-blown Web sites, but given the small size of the display and the long load times--it took almost two minutes to load CNET.com with full-blown graphics--you'll probably stick to Sprint's partnered sites, which are optimized for viewing on the device.
On the included CD-ROM, you'll find Palm's desktop software with a Microsoft Outlook conduit, a world clock, a calendar, a screensaver, plug-ins, a few games, and Sprint's PCS Business Connect, which allows you to access your Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes company e-mail, as well as your contacts and calendar info. This app was easy enough to install, and within 15 minutes, we were receiving our Outlook mail on the device. You must keep your computer or another machine (such as a server) on in order to receive e-mails, with Sprint's servers acting as a go-between for your computer and phone. The personal version of the e-mail service is included if you opt for a PCS Vision plan in excess of $84.99 per month; otherwise, you have to pay a $5 monthly fee. An enterprise version of Business Connect is also available.
As with other Palms, you can install a wide assortment of Palm OS applications, including AOL Instant Messenger and third-party e-mail apps. For an extra fee, you can download games and ring tones wirelessly to the phone. The i500's 66MHz processor is faster than the Treo 300's 33MHz chip, but it doesn't measure up to the zippy processors you'll find in Palm OS 5.0 devices such as the Zire 71. Still, for the majority of applications you'll run on the device, it's quite sufficient. Just as important, programs launched quickly, with barely a lag when we switched from one to the next.
While we weren't disappointed by the generally good sound quality, callers said that they could tell we were using a cell phone. But it's hard to determine whether that was the service--Sprint PCS isn't stellar in New York City--or the phone.
Battery life was decent, especially if you stick with the larger standard battery. We hit the rated talk time of 4.2 hours and were able to leave the phone in standby mode for almost a full week (Samsung rates the standby time at 250 hours). If you're a power user and don't mind bulking up the phone a little more, Sprint will sell you a $60 extended battery that delivers up to 5.4 hours of talk time and 350 hours of standby.