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,Home owners and builders today have so many choices in floor framing materials when building a home. In many ways this is fantastic because these material choices mean there is a solution to almost any tricky framing situation and the answer doesn't have to be additional posting or bearing. This can cause some confusion as to what the right choice is for a given situation. Typically, when confronted with spans that are too long for conventional floor framing, TJI joists are the logical, cost-effective solution and are readily available in long lengths at most lumber yards. However, with a little planning ahead of time there is another answer, pre-engineered open web floor trusses!
Unlike the TJIs, which are comprised of two wood flanges and an OSB plywood web, pre-engineered floor trusses are typically made up of solid wood components. The components are then either mechanically fastened with metal gusset plates or finger jointed and glued. This means there is no drilling or cutting when it comes to installing utilities (plumbing, HVAC, electric, etc…).
Like TJIs, pre-engineered floor trusses are designed and manufactured to span long distances over multiple bearing points without being broken. Not having to cut and piece together multiple floor joists means time saved. This, combined with a typical layout greater than 16" on center allows pre-engineered trusses to be installed far quicker than traditional 2x framing. The large flanges also provide more surface area for the adhesive to bond to, making a stronger connection which can then be nailed. This makes for a stiffer and quieter floor in your home.
Whether you're looking for a floor system that is quicker to layout and sheath, or you just want some flexibility when it comes to installing house utilities or you just want to minimize the amount of posting and beams required to support your floor system. Pre-engineered floor trusses are a great option that are sometimes overlooked because of schedule and/or price but with a bit of planning the amount of time saved during construction can offset the extra cost and result in a better product for the home owner.With a bit of planning however the amount of time saved during construction can offset the extra cost and result in a better product for the home owner and an easier build for the contractor.
Joe Murphy, Architectural Designer


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Liberty Director carries the Olympic Flag in opening ceremony of London 2012
27 July 2012
Tonight Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, participated in the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games. The head of the campaign group joined human rights activists and athletes from across the globe in carrying the traditional Olympic flag into the stadium.
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said:
"There are always dangers of abuse of power with an event of global proportions and Liberty is ever-vigilant in defence of peoples' rights and freedoms. But internationalism is not just for big business and governments - our Olympics are about more than commercial branding.
"The signal sent by including human rights campaigners in tonight's opening ceremony should give us all hope. The organisers have set a challenge and made a statement for the Games, our country and the world."
In the run-up to the ceremony there have been concerns about how organisers and authorities have prepared for the Games – and how they will manage them once begun. There have been worries about impediments to peaceful protest, mass surveillance, some corporate sponsors and the privatisation of security. Liberty has warned of the impact on civil liberties and urged a common-sense and light touch approach to policing and the enforcement of Olympic regulations.
Contact: Liberty Press Office on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831128
1. Read Shami Chakrabarti's blog about participating in the opening ceremony;
2. Find out more about Liberty's campaign 'Freedom Games'
3. The other flag-bearers were:
- Muhammad Ali (at the summit)
- Ban Ki-Moon
- Daniel Barenboim
- Sally Becker
- Leymah Gbowee
- Haile Gebrselassie
- Doreen Lawrence
- Marina Silva

subset: commoncrawl


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CHICAGO - Grains futures were mixed Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for May delivery rose 6.75 cents to $6.7075 a bushel; May corn fell 2.75 cents to $6.3950 a bushel; May oats fell 8.75 cents to $3.6750 a bushel; while May soybeans rose 3.25 cents to $13.94 a bushel.
Beef fell, while pork prices rose on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
June live cattle fell 1.28 cent to $1.2282 a pound; May feeder cattle fell 0.57 cents to $1.4710 a pound; June lean hogs added 0.28 cent to 91.85 cents a pound.


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Tooling Update
Tool & Die Authority Newsletter Delivers Top-Notch Advice
With the tagline "Exclusive technical information and timely news, by industry experts for tool and die professionals," Tool & Die Authority is a combination of blog-style news and exclusive information about tool and die companies, markets, customers and much more. Five expert columnists provide solid technical tips not found anywhere else to help tool and die operations solve a range of challenges, enabling them to offer top-notch service to customers while improving the bottom line.
If you missed the April issue, you missed this:
• Troubleshooting Sheetmetal Problems, by Danny Schaeffler
"It is entirely possible, and even expected, that the 10 to 20 coils produced from the same heat will have different mechanical-property test results, even if the mill used the same recipe for all processing."
• Surface Coatings for Draw Steels—You May Not Need Them, by Peter Ulintz
"Before applying a surface coating to your next problematic tool, verify that you have the appropriate punch-to-die clearance for the amount of material thickening that is occurring. Properly heattreat and polish the die components as though a surface coating will be applied. Then return the prepared die section to service without a surface coating and document the results. You may be surprised."
• Job Tracking and Quoting Systems—A Deeper Look, by Bob Quinn
"There is no off-the-shelf tracking system that can accurately quote, project or estimate costs, or develop schedules to match your shop without some level of tweaking. But neither the quoting system nor the tracking/scheduling system will be accurate unless the shop provides it with data from its real-world applications, tuning the system to its unique circumstances. Every operation you track should have a matching line item in the quoting system."
• Part Measurement on the Fly, by Drew Stevens
"Using a digital sensor to error-proof a feature is easy enough—if the feature falls within the sensing range, it's within the print tolerance. Using an analog signal is a bit different. The idea is to determine how far the form deviates from a perfect right-angle bend, and if that deviation is acceptable."
• Here's How We Got Here. Spread the Message!, by Joe Brown
"America, I love you dearly. But I'm tired of you cheating on me time and time again. And now you're giving out your phone number? You allow your foreign partners to levy heavy tariffs on American imports while you have become a red-light district of the manufacturing industry. Consider this: While Korea restricts the import of American automobiles with an eight percent tariff, we levy a paltry two percent tariff on Korean imports. This is in addition to several nontariff barriers used to restrict U.S. access to foreign markets."
Related Enterprise Zones: Tool & Die
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text:
The Basics
Oral Roberts vs. Southern Nazarene
Date/Time: Friday, December 8, 2017 / 7 p.m.
TV/Video: None / ORU Sports Network
Radio: The Franchise 107.9 FM / 1270 AM
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (Mabee Center)
ORU Sports Network | ORUAthletics.com | The Franchise
ORU Notes | Summit League Notes
ORUMBB | ORUAthletics | ORUMBB | ORUAthletics | ORUMBB
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team returns home for a pair of games over the weekend, beginning with a Friday night date with Southern Nazarene. ORU will then host Missouri State Sunday afternoon.
Saturday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. and a free video stream will be available through the ORU Sports Network. Radio broadcaster Adam Hildebrandt's radio call of the game can be heard on The Franchise at 107.9 FM and 1270 AM, and online at TheFranchiseOk.com.
Important Links
ORU Game Notes: vs. Southern Nazarene
Summit League Notes: Week 5
Live Stats: vs. Southern Nazarene
TV / Live Video: vs. Southern Nazarene
Free Audio: vs. Southern Nazarene
Quick Hits
• ORU is 2-0 against Southern Nazarene, winning 127-108 in 1989 and 86-80 in 1991. Friday's game will be a regular season contest for the Golden Eagles but will serve as an exhibition game for the Crimson Storm.
• Following ORU's two games in Malibu as part of the 2017 Progressive Legends Classic, sophomore Emmanuel Nzekwesi was named to the subregional All-Tournament Team. Nzekwesi averaged 13 points and 6.5 rebounds against Montana and Pepperdine in Malibu.
• Entering the 2017-18 season, senior center Albert Owens was picked as a preseason first team All-Summit League selection while sophomore forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi earned preseason second team honors. Additionally, Blue Ribbon Sports tabbed sophomore guard Sam Kearns as The Summit League's Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
• It is a new look for ORU this season. In addition to new Head Coach Paul Mills, who will bring a new look on both offense and defense, ORU has nine newcomers, including a trio of redshirts from last year. ORU also has a new logo and home court design that were both released just before the start of the season.
• In the 98th game of his career, Albert Owens reached the 1,000 point mark, tying him with Luke Spencer-Gardner as the 28th fastest to reach the mark. Owens was the 34th player in ORU history to reach the 1,000 point mark.
For the latest information on ORU men's basketball, follow @ORUMBB on Twitter or Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics Front Row App at ORUAthletics.com/frontrow or the ORU Golden Eagles Live App in iTunes or the Google Play Store. For tickets, visit mabeecenter.com or call 495-7ORU (7678).


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Backing up your Outlook 2013 calendar is as simple as exporting the data to a file. Choose between two types of export files: PST (Personal Folders) or Comma Separated Values, or CSV for short. PST files are specific to Outlook, whereas CSV files can be imported into Outlook as well as other programs, like Excel. If your calendar contains recurring entries, you must export as a PST file.
During the export process, you can choose to filter the exported data.
Back Up Your Outlook Calendar
Click the "File" tab, choose "Open & Export" and select "Import/Export."
Video of the Day
Pick the second option, "Export to a file" and then click "Next."
Select "Outlook Data File" (PST), and click "Next." Remember, if you have recurring meetings or appointments on your calendar, you must choose this option.
Pick "Calendar" to export only the calendar, and then "Next." For IMAP setup, such as for Gmail, "Calendar" will display as "Calendar (This computer only)." Click on your name at the top of the hierarchy list to choose the entire mail file.
Click "Browse" to navigate to your preferred backup location. Choose one of the three options available to manage the export of duplicate items. Press "Finish."
Export Filtered Data
Filter your exported data by clicking the "Filter" button, after selecting "Calendar."
Filter data by keyword, date or meeting attendee. Click "OK" after setting the filters you want.
Click the "More Choices" tab in the dialog box to filter by Category, item size or whether a calendar item contains attachments. Press "OK" when filter choices are complete.


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On May 25, 2006, our client, a 70-year old woman, was raped in the parking garage stairwell of an outdoor shopping mall in the greater Kansas City area at noon. Although this shopping district had security patrol, there was no security present within the subject garage at and around the time of the rape. In addition, there were several missing security cameras in the stairwell where our client was attacked. There were cameras brackets in this stairwell without cameras. We were able to settle this case for $625,000.
Browse: Home / Negligent Security – Rape in Parking Garage
By Shachtman Admin on June 29, 2010
Posted in Case Settlements and Verdicts | Tagged Negligent Security


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Acts 10-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
Cornelius Sends a Delegation
10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian [a]Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave [b]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About [c]the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He[d] will tell you what you must do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about [e]the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has [f]cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea
17 Now while Peter [g]wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
21 Then Peter went down to the men [h]who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?"
22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"
30 So Cornelius said, [i]"Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your [j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. [k]When he comes, he will speak to you.' 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."
Preaching to Cornelius' Household
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the [l]children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom [m]they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission[n] of sins."
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And [o]those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Peter Defends God's Grace
11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I said, 'Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.' 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
Barnabas and Saul at Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Relief to Judea
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Herod's Violence to the Church
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four [p]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter Freed from Prison
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but [q]constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were [r]keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel."
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." And he departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small [s]stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod's Violent Death
20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus [t]the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was [u]supplied with food by the king's country.
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and [v]died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul Appointed
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned [w]from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
Cross references:
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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When Enough is Enough
I've spent much of the past few weeks exhausted and just trying to get to the next moment.
I've had enough and I want to take a nap.
I've watched my own deadlines come and go with no follow through.
What has occupied my mind and my time? Not much, not much at all.
So I'm giving up.
I'm giving up trying to control my life.
I'm giving up mindless pursuits.
I'm giving up high expectations for myself.
Instead, I am taking back and adding some things.
I'm taking back my time by making the best choices for my life.
I'm giving myself the gift of grace.
I am also finding new ways to take care of myself.
Life becomes overwhelming so often and something has to give. Normally that is taking care of myself or the things that I need. Well, no more.
Enough is enough and I am taking back my life.
Will you join me?
Until next time,


text:
Island Princess
The Island Princess is your floating resort - this exotic ship will transport you to exotic locations in style and comfort! 90% of the staterooms have an ocean view, with 700 balconies and a wraparound Promenade deck! Enjoy the scenery, and enjoy the myriad activities and dining options this amazing ship as to offer. You'll never forget your vacation trip on the Island Princess!
Activities on Island Princess
The Island Princess offers your favorite amenities, and more - all you've come to expect from a Princess cruise is here! Enjoy the Lido Pool, with its three hot tubs, or the Pirate's View hot tub and splash pool! The Lotus Spa® pool has two hot tubs, too! Speaking of the spa, you can pamper yourself all day and enjoy amazing spa treatments at your leisure. There's also a gym and fitness area that features a swim-against-the-current lap pool, as well as the Center Court for basketball and volleyball! Practice your swing with the virtual golf simulators, or enjoy the Princess Links 9-hole putting course! Head over to the chic boutiques on this amazing ship and enjoy duty-free shopping - they have designer clothes and other items at a great discount! The ship also has a world-class art gallery and collection - and they auction off some of their art for you to take home! The Internet Café has 24-hour wireless access, and there's a library too! Check out the wedding chapel, or head to a seminar with the ScholarShip@Sea® program - you can learn to cook, learn ballroom dancing, or enjoy a lecture about the ocean! Learning is fun on this ship!
Dining / Food on Island Princess
The dining opportunities on this amazing ship are out of this world! The Island Princess offers your favorite Traditional Dining, where you are served a great meal in the Provence Dining Room at the same time each day! If you'd like to eat at your leisure, the Anytime Dining is available (any time!) in the Bordeaux Dining Room. Head out for some Italian cuisine at Sabatini's, or try out the Bayou Café and Steakhouse for a great steak dinner! The Ultimate Balcony Dining option allows you to enjoy your meal along with a great view of the ocean! For a more casual meal, you have lots of other options to explore! The Grill has burgers and hot dogs, and there's the Princess Pizza parlor! Sundaes ice cream bar is great for a cold treat, and there's also a wine bar as well as a patisserie available! You can even get afternoon tea. The Horizon Court has 24-hour dining if you want a midnight snack, or you can get food delivered to your stateroom at any time with the 24-hour room service!
Entertainment on Island Princess
The nightlife on the Island Princess is a sight to behold! The ship's theaters have amazing acoustics, great acts, and perfect seating. Try the Princess Theater for a Broadway-style stage production, or for a comedy act! There's also the Universe Lounge - great for a live music show! The Explorers Lounge features a nightclub-style performance every night, and you can dance the night away, too! Check out the Princess Casino, which has a Paris-themed interior, for your favorite casino games like blackjack, roulette, poker and slots! If you'd like something a little more laidback, head over to the Wheelhouse Bar, the Churchill Lounge, or the Crooners Bar. Enjoy your favorite drink with great company and an amazing atmosphere! There is something for everyone to enjoy, late into the night!
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Compact Spark Spectral Sensor Measures Vis-NIR Absorbance of Hemoglobin and More
Heme proteins play many vital roles in mammal physiology, including the storage and transport of oxygen and the transport of electrons in the mitochondria, where the high-energy molecule ATP (adenosine trisphosphate) is synthesized. The presence of the heme prosthetic group in these proteins gives rise to UV-Vis absorbance spectra that vary with the state of the heme group. In this application note, we focus on the visible response of the heme group using the compact Spark spectral sensor to measure absorbance spectra for the heme proteins hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome c.
Heme proteins are metalloproteins with an iron atom found at the center of a porphyrin prosthetic group. The heme group is bound to the protein and is absolutely required for the protein to carry out its critical biological function. The metalloproteins hemoglobin and myoglobin are very similar proteins that function to store and transport oxygen in mammals. The metalloprotein cytochrome c plays a critical role as part of the electron transport chain in mitochondria where the ATP that powers life is synthesized.
The heme groups found in metalloproteins generate absorbance bands that vary based on the state of the heme group. These spectral changes make UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy a very powerful tool for studying heme proteins. Absorbance measurements can be used to study changes to critical protein parameters like protein conformation and to provide information on the binding and oxidation state of the heme prosthetic group.
To demonstrate this, we used the Spark-VIS spectral sensor with direct-attach sampling accessories to measure the visible absorbance spectra for the metalloproteins hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome c. The Spark-VIS is the first Ocean Optics spectral sensor to use a solid state optical component in place of a traditional diffraction grating. Spark fills the price-performance niche between diode filter-based devices and spectrometers, adding a new dimension both in size – which is about the same as a small microcontroller — and in cost reduction, but with the ability to perform full spectral analysis from 380-700 nm. Its detection limits and response make Spark useful for absorbance, fluorescence and color measurements in educational, lab and industrial settings.
Experimental Setup
Hemoglobin (Sigma H-7379), myoglobin (Sigma M-0630) and cytochrome c (Sigma C-3131) solutions were prepared in water at a concentration of approximately 1 mg/mL. The samples were diluted as necessary to provide spectral data below 1 AU and pipetted into disposable cuvettes (CVD-VIS1M). We made absorbance measurements using the Spark-VIS and direct-attach cuvette holder with white LED module. Integration time was set at 3. 5 ms, with 50 scans to average and boxcar smoothing width at 10.
The absorbance spectra measured for the metalloproteins are shown in Figure 1.
The similarities observed in the spectral features for each protein result from the presence of the heme group in these proteins. Based on the shape of these spectra — which change with the state of the heme group — the iron atom in the heme groups of these proteins appears to have been oxidized and resulted in spectra consistent with methemoglobin and metmyoglobin (Figure 2), and oxidized cytochrome c (Figure 3). The spectra measured for these proteins would be very different if the iron atom was in a different oxidation state or had oxygen or some other gas bound to it. The ability to study the state of the heme group using UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy makes absorbance a powerful technique for education, research and even clinical diagnosis.
Figure 2: Oxidation of the iron atom in the heme groups of metalloproteins resulted in spectra consistent with methemoglobin (left) and metmyoglobin (right).
Absorbance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing proteins and other life science samples. In the case of metalloproteins, the UV-Vis absorbance spectra provide detailed information about the heme prosthetic group required for the proteins to carry out their critical biological functions. The compact size and low cost of the Spark spectral sensor make life science measurements more accessible and enable simpler use in education, research and clinical laboratory settings.


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Just Married Please Excuse
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"JUST MARRIED PLEASE EXCUSE hums with a honesty and humour that is simply endearing. Yashodhara's writing style is speak easy and simple. None of the pretense that often is the handmaiden of first time fiction authors. Yashodhara invites you into what is an album of her rather fine family, complete, like any family, with its idiosyncrasies and charming nuances. At one level it is a love story of two individuals who are complete opposite yet deeply together. It is a tale of love and how that love transforms as all love does when it enters into marriage. Yet, Yashodhara does not speak just for herself and hers. The book is a mirror to all our lives and the lively relationships that dot them. Hilarious mostly, Yashodhara's characters are real. With a simplicity and a style that is terribly attractive. If you are in a relationship, read this book. It will explain the complexities of feelings and bring you even closer to the person you love. It is raw, it is refined. It is flawed. It is fabulous."
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text: Don was born in New Orleans and grew up in Kenner and Metairie before moving to the Northshore. He has been married to his wife Karen for 41 years and they have two sons, both living out of town. Don graduated from St. John Vianney Prep High School and recently earned a B.A., majoring in philosophy, from St.Joseph's Seminary College. Don and Karen have been members of St. Peter Parish where Don has participated in the ministries of Lector, EMHC, and Usher. He had previously served as Lector at St. Angela Merici Parish in Metairie. Retired from the bank equipment service industry, Don is actively involved in the St. John Prep Alumni Association. He and his wife Karen helped with the planning and implementation of the St. John Archdiocesan Summer Vocation Camps.


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Near Newgale, Pembrokeshire, before I removed the horrid bull bar and red stripes.
Pyrénées between Spain and France. Luckily the snowploughs got there before me.
In the Spanish Pyrénées
Any layby will do if you're tired. After a 3am ferry, chances are you will be. This one is near Dunkerque.
Above Quillan in the Aude.
Closer to home, the winding road which crosses the Brecon Beacons between Talybont on Usk and Merthyr Tydfil.See also more T4 campervan info


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- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR021000.000.2 gone! Caught at gully! Manzoor shows no restraint despite being beaten the previous ball. He goes for a flamboyant cover drive on the front foot against another outswinger and the thick edge flies swiftly to Faf du Plessis at gully. Look at those celebrations. The South Africans are pumped. The length was fuller from Steyn and Manzoor was tempted by the open spaces at cover 0/121601011035.0021.6 he's been bowled! Tahir delivered the ball full and wide outside off stump, and Masood went forward to drive the ball powerfully through cover. It came into him a little with the angle from round the wicket and took the inside edge and hit the stumps after a couple of bounces. Pakistan's watchful start has come apart. 52/31954800035.1816.6 he's been given lbw! Azhar has a chat with his partner and then asks for a review. Morkel bowled a very full length and Azhar came forward to play. The ball slanted into him from over the wicket and beat the bat as he played across the line. Replays indicate that it would have clipped leg stump so the decision stays with the umpire's call. Azhar has to go after a watchful innings. 38/21026320038.4624.4 edged and taken! Steyn's been rewarded for a top spell. He bowled a full ball outside off stump and Younis reached for it and played a lame push. AB de Villiers took it easily. Steyn was moving the ball both ways and Younis was unsure which delivery was going in which direction. He should have let that go though 60/427180028.5725.1 a huge appeal for lbw and the umpire sends Misbah on his way! Tahir is ecstatic. Misbah has a discussion with his partner and decides to review. Tahir pitched just outside off stump and it was the googly. Misbah was on the front foot and he played across the line and was beaten. The ball came into him and hit low on the pad. That looks plumb and replays say it would have hit leg stump. Misbah has to go. 60/51019312052.6331.1 Tahir has his fourth! That was a rash shot from Shafiq, he cleared his front foot and mowed across the line, aiming for the midwicket boundary. Tahir's delivery was flighted and slower, and it beaten the bat to hit off stump 76/8032000.0025.4 Tahir sprints away with arms in the air after picking up his third wicket! Pakistan in tatters. Akmal stayed back to a full ball that pitched in line with the stumps and skidded on quickly to beat the bat and clip leg stump. Akmal was cramped for room 60/6027000.0026.6 Ajmal's been run out! Shafiq looked like he wanted to keep the strike when he dabbed towards cover and set off for a single. Ajmal was late in responding. Petersen sprinted to the ball from point, picked up with one hand and whipped the throw to the striker's end, hitting the stumps direct. Ajmal was well short 64/7not out2533363075.75022000.0031.3 he's got it! Five for Tahir, and what a comeback he's made! Irfan saw the ball pitching outside off stump so he covered his off stump by thrusting his pad out and played no shot. It was the googly, though, and it spun back into the right-hander, clipped the top of his front pad, and then hit the underneath of the glove before going on to hit off stump 76/9412180033.3336.4 Junaid's been bowled! He stayed back in his crease to a good length ball that pitched around off and came back into the right-hander to hit middle stump. Pakistan have been shot out for 99, the same score they had made in the first innings (against England) the last time they played a Test in Dubai 99/10Extras8 (b 5, lb 3)TOTAL99 all out (36.4 Overs, RR: 2.7)Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Khurram Manzoor, 0.2 ov), 2-38 (Azhar Ali, 16.6 ov), 3-52 (Shan Masood, 21.6 ov), 4-60 (Younis Khan, 24.4 ov), 5-60 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 25.1 ov), 6-60 (Adnan Akmal, 25.4 ov), 7-64 (Saeed Ajmal, 26.6 ov), 8-76 (Asad Shafiq, 31.1 ov), 9-76 (Mohammad Irfan, 31.3 ov), 10-99 (Junaid Khan, 36.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB DW Steyn 13.4 2 38 3 2.78 0 0 VD Philander 5 2 9 0 1.80 0 0 M Morkel 5 1 12 1 2.40 0 0 Imran Tahir 13 3 32 5 2.46 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR2636524072.2210.5 a confident appeal for lbw and umpire Tucker raises his finger after a while! Petersen wants a review after having a chat with his captain. The ball pitched outside off and angled into the right-hander. Petersen played down the wrong line and was hit plumb in front. The ball hit pad first before hitting the inside edge. That would have hit middle and leg. Pakistan have their first wicket 37/123438862716060.30141.2 and Akmal's drop doesn't prove costly this time. Ajmal throws his head back and extends his arms in relief as he lures Smith to drive the wonderfully tossed up ball. It gets a little extra bounce, which carries the edge over the the slip fielder around head high. Marathon effort from the South African captain 478/62370942032.8532.6 oh my, that is an excellent catch at short leg! Elgar pushed at the ball off the front foot, looking to defend, and the ball flew quickly to Azhar Ali off the inside edge. Azhar was low down, well balanced and caught it cleanly 91/2730370023.3342.2 that looks plumb and the umpire agrees. Kallis has to go. He decides not to review the decision. Kallis tried to defend on the front foot but played down the wrong line to the off break. The ball beat the inside edge and hit him low on the pad 119/3739501017.9455.4 Steyn's been bowled after offering no shot. Irfan pitched slightly fuller around leg and middle and the ball straightened a touch instead of angling across the right-hander. Steyn pressed forward and shouldered arms but left his off stump exposed. Irfan hit it at 147kph. 134/416427437417159.85138.4 immediate vindication! The left-armer's angle secures the edge and this time Akmal is up to the challenge. Full and inviting the drive and de Villiers, after the last shot, wasn't going to miss out, but this time he could only manage an edge 472/5728370025.00146.6 this time there is no need for the umpire. Top of off knocked back and Duminy has to go. Fuller length again, pitched outside off. Duminy was stretching forward to defend, but the movement in made the ball sneak through bat and pad 486/7not out1764981026.56827400029.62155.6 but now he's bowled through the gate! Excellent bowling from Ajmal. I wonder if that one was set up. he had looped the last ball quite nicely, to tempt the batsman to use the cover drive. And he was at it again this ball, but Ajmal was a touch quicker and straighter, and the sharp turn beats the bat and crashes into the stumps. And umpire Ian Gould says you dont need me now, do you... 505/8718201038.88161.2 and that's five for Ajmal! he hadn't taken any wickets all of last day but he's made amends this morning. Another probing delivery outside off stump and this time it takes the edge and Younis Khan at slip dives to his left to take a lovely, low catch. Ajmal exults with gusto as he turns around to look at umpire Gould who is not too impressed 515/92590040.00163.1 Ajmal has six and Pakistan will have to bat for abound six minutes before the lunch break. Tossed up outside off stump and Tahir cannot hold himself back as he goes for another slog through midwicket, only this time he cannot clear Misbah-ul-Haq 517/10Extras15 (b 5, lb 8, w 2)TOTAL517 all out (163.1 Overs, RR: 3.16)Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Alviro Petersen, 10.5 ov), 2-91 (Dean Elgar, 32.6 ov), 3-119 (Jacques Kallis, 42.2 ov), 4-134 (Dale Steyn, 55.4 ov), 5-472 (AB de Villiers, 138.4 ov), 6-478 (Graeme Smith, 141.2 ov), 7-486 (Jean-Paul Duminy, 146.6 ov), 8-505 (Vernon Philander, 155.6 ov), 9-515 (Morne Morkel, 161.2 ov), 10-517 (Imran Tahir, 163.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB Mohammad Irfan 34.3 5 102 3 2.95 1 0 Junaid Khan 31.3 2 105 0 3.33 1 0 Saeed Ajmal 55.5 8 151 6 2.70 0 0 Zulfiqar Babar 36.2 2 124 1 3.41 0 0 Azhar Ali 5 0 22 0 4.40 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR045000.000.4 and Steyn his has man! That looked dead to me, but Masood confers with his partner and goes for the review. Might well turn out to be another wasted review for Pakistan. Steyn jagged this one back in after offering a trio of outswingers. Masoon wasn't ready for it and is struck on the pads well below the knee-roll. The umpire gave it out straight away and his decision stands 0/10311000.001.5 and he's gone as well, a pair for Khurram Manzoor after his century from the previous Test. This was back of a length outside off stump and he hung his bat out without any conviction in the stroke. Kallis leapt to his right to hold on to a good catch and Pakistan go in to lunch at 2 for 2, trailing by 416 runs 2/219731122026.0225.1 and he strikes first ball! The two batsmen confer and Younis sends Azhar on his way. Might well have been a very good decision there. It was full and turned wildly into the batsman. Azhar was not expecting that as the ball sneaks low and hits him on the pads with him in front of off stump. Replays however show the impact was outside the line of off stump, but it would have been umpire's call either way 48/3361021452035.2933.2 beated in the flight and the turn. This was the googly from Tahir and he is off on his run, arms stretched wide. Younis charged him and looked for a rank slog over midwicket, but the ball snuck between bat and pad, turned in, struck him on his thigh and went on to hit the stumps 70/4882183466140.36108.4 Misbah, what have you done?! After surviving so many sterner tests yesterday and today, Misbah gives part-time spinner Dean Elgar his first Test wicket. He cannot believe what he has done and trudges of the field so slowly. Elgar delivered an innocuous little tossed up ball outside off stump and Misbah wound up to slog that into oblivion. Instead, he got an outside edge that was held by Kallis at first slip. A brainfade similar to what Younis had last evening. Visible relief on the faces of the South Africans. Smith is thrilled with his bowling change. 267/513032041115140.62135.1 Shafiq's been stumped and I think that is the end of the Test. The injured Babar will not bat. Shafiq jumped out of his crease but was beaten by Duminy, who bowled it quicker and wider outside off stump to beat the bat. AB de Villiers did the rest. South Africa have leveled the two-Test series 1-1. Shafiq's played superbly for his 130, but the first innings failure from Pakistan was just too much to overcome 326/10521250023.80115.4 he's been given lbw! Will Akmal review? He will. After facing several googlies Akmal decided to pad up to a ball that pitched on middle. A dangerous decision no matter what sort of delivery it is. It was the legbreak and it spun past the thrust-out front pad and clipped the back pad in front of off stump. Replays indicate that it would have just clipped off stump and that's all the umpire needs for his decision to be upheld. 278/6928280032.14123.1 that looks plumb and the umpire's given him lbw! Ajmal is not about to review that. Tahir pitched the quicker and straight delivery on off stump and it skidded on to Ajmal, who moved across to play the ball on the leg side and was hit flush on the pad. That would have hit middle stump. 301/71429343048.27131.1 he does it for South Africa! First-ball strike! He bowls a quick offbreak into the right-hander, Irfan defends on the front foot with a gap between bat and pad. The ball takes the inside edge, brushes the pad and then hits the stumps 323/8not out215130013.33absent hurt-Extras23 (b 10, lb 5, nb 2, w 1, pen 5)TOTAL326 all out (135.1 Overs, RR: 2.41)Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Shan Masood, 0.4 ov), 2-2 (Khurram Manzoor, 1.5 ov), 3-48 (Azhar Ali, 25.1 ov), 4-70 (Younis Khan, 33.2 ov), 5-267 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 108.4 ov), 6-278 (Adnan Akmal, 115.4 ov), 7-301 (Saeed Ajmal, 123.1 ov), 8-323 (Mohammad Irfan, 131.1 ov), 9-326 (Asad Shafiq, 135.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB DW Steyn 22 9 48 1 2.18 0 0 VD Philander 19 7 34 1 1.78 1 1 M Morkel 22 7 47 0 2.13 0 1 Imran Tahir 42 14 98 3 2.33 0 0 JH Kallis 7 3 9 0 1.28 0 0 JP Duminy 21.1 3 67 3 3.16 0 0 D Elgar 2 0 3 1 1.50 0 0
Match Details
Player Of The Match
Player Of The Series
Series result
Match number
Hours of play (local time)
Match days
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- Wed, 23 Oct - day 1 - South Africa 1st innings 128/3 (GC Smith 67*, DW Steyn 3*, 49 ov)
- Thu, 24 Oct - day 2 - South Africa 1st innings 460/4 (GC Smith 227*, AB de Villiers 157*, 134 ov)
- Fri, 25 Oct - day 3 - Pakistan 2nd innings 132/4 (Misbah-ul-Haq 42*, Asad Shafiq 28*, 55 ov)
- Sat, 26 Oct - day 4 - Pakistan 2nd innings 326 (135.1 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- Over 59.2: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - Asad Shafiq (Upheld)
- Pakistan: 150 runs in 63.3 overs (382 balls), Extras 11
- Drinks: Pakistan - 167/4 in 69.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 49, Asad Shafiq 48)
- Asad Shafiq: 50 off 121 balls (4 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Misbah-ul-Haq: 50 off 121 balls (3 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 5th Wicket: 100 runs in 227 balls (Misbah-ul-Haq 41, Asad Shafiq 50, Ex 9)
- New Ball Taken: Pakistan 196/4 after 79.6 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 59, Asad Shafiq 66)
- Review count at the end of 80th over: Pakistan 1 (1 successful, 1 unsuccessful); South Africa 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful)
- Lunch: Pakistan - 198/4 in 84.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 60, Asad Shafiq 67)
- Pakistan: 200 runs in 84.4 overs (509 balls), Extras 16
- 5th Wicket: 150 runs in 361 balls (Misbah-ul-Haq 64, Asad Shafiq 79, Ex 10)
- Drinks: Pakistan - 239/4 in 100.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 80, Asad Shafiq 88)
- Pakistan: 250 runs in 102.1 overs (614 balls), Extras 16
- Asad Shafiq: 100 off 238 balls (11 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Tea: Pakistan - 274/5 in 113.0 overs (Asad Shafiq 114, Adnan Akmal 1)
- Over 115.4: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - Adnan Akmal (Struck down)
- Pakistan: 300 runs in 122.6 overs (740 balls), Extras 21
- Over 126.6: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - IJ Gould, Batsman - Mohammad Irfan (Struck down)
- Drinks: Pakistan - 311/7 in 129.0 overs (Asad Shafiq 125, Mohammad Irfan 6)
- South Africa: 500 runs in 151.4 overs (910 balls), Extras 15
- Drinks: South Africa - 500/7 in 152.0 overs (F du Plessis 11, VD Philander 6)
- Innings Break: South Africa - 517/10 in 163.1 overs (F du Plessis 17)
- Pakistan 2nd innings
- Lunch: Pakistan - 2/2 in 1.5 overs (Azhar Ali 2)
- Drinks: Pakistan - 26/2 in 15.0 overs (Azhar Ali 9, Younis Khan 16)
- Pakistan: 50 runs in 25.2 overs (152 balls), Extras 1
- Tea: Pakistan - 56/3 in 28.0 overs (Younis Khan 29, Misbah-ul-Haq 7)
- Penalty: 29.6 - Unfairly Changing the condition of the ball
- Drinks: Pakistan - 86/4 in 40.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 19, Asad Shafiq 6)
- Pakistan: 100 runs in 45.1 overs (271 balls), Extras 6
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 105 balls (Misbah-ul-Haq 29, Asad Shafiq 23, Ex 1)
- End Of Day: Pakistan - 132/4 in 55.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 42, Asad Shafiq 28)
- Over 0.4: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - IJ Gould, Batsman - Shan Masood (Struck down)
- Over 54.2: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - IJ Gould, Batsman - Misbah-ul-Haq (Struck down)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 61.1 overs (367 balls), Extras 2
- Drinks: South Africa - 157/4 in 63.0 overs (GC Smith 77, AB de Villiers 15)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 81 balls (GC Smith 26, AB de Villiers 25, Ex 0)
- GC Smith: 100 off 204 balls (6 x 4)
- Lunch: South Africa - 198/4 in 75.0 overs (GC Smith 107, AB de Villiers 26)
- South Africa: 200 runs in 75.2 overs (452 balls), Extras 3
- New Ball Taken: South Africa 220/4 after 79.6 overs (GC Smith 116, AB de Villiers 37)
- Review count at the end of 80th over: South Africa 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful); Pakistan 0 (0 successful, 2 unsuccessful)
- 5th Wicket: 100 runs in 162 balls (GC Smith 53, AB de Villiers 48, Ex 2)
- AB de Villiers: 50 off 95 balls (8 x 4)
- South Africa: 250 runs in 84.1 overs (505 balls), Extras 8
- Drinks: South Africa - 274/4 in 89.0 overs (GC Smith 135, AB de Villiers 68)
- 5th Wicket: 150 runs in 212 balls (GC Smith 68, AB de Villiers 76, Ex 6)
- South Africa: 300 runs in 94.6 overs (570 balls), Extras 9
- GC Smith: 150 off 262 balls (10 x 4)
- Over 99.6: Review by Pakistan (Bowling), Umpire - IJ Gould, Batsman - AB de Villiers (Struck down)
- AB de Villiers: 100 off 152 balls (13 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 5th Wicket: 200 runs in 269 balls (GC Smith 96, AB de Villiers 100, Ex 7)
- Tea: South Africa - 337/4 in 101.0 overs (GC Smith 165, AB de Villiers 100)
- Over 102.1: Review by South Africa (Batting), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - AB de Villiers (Upheld)
- South Africa: 350 runs in 104.2 overs (626 balls), Extras 9
- 5th Wicket: 250 runs in 331 balls (GC Smith 116, AB de Villiers 126, Ex 8)
- South Africa: 400 runs in 115.2 overs (692 balls), Extras 10
- Drinks: South Africa - 407/4 in 118.0 overs (GC Smith 197, AB de Villiers 137)
- GC Smith: 200 off 326 balls (14 x 4)
- 5th Wicket: 300 runs in 418 balls (GC Smith 142, AB de Villiers 148, Ex 10)
- AB de Villiers: 150 off 238 balls (16 x 4, 1 x 6)
- South Africa: 450 runs in 129.1 overs (775 balls), Extras 13
- Over 130.3: Review by Pakistan (Bowling), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - GC Smith (Struck down)
- End Of Day: South Africa - 460/4 in 134.0 overs (GC Smith 227, AB de Villiers 157)
- Pakistan 1st innings
- Over 2.3: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - Azhar Ali (Struck down)
- Over 16.6: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - Azhar Ali (Struck down)
- Pakistan: 50 runs in 20.6 overs (126 balls), Extras 6
- Over 25.1: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - IJ Gould, Batsman - Misbah-ul-Haq (Struck down)
- Lunch: Pakistan - 60/6 in 25.4 overs (Asad Shafiq 0)
- Innings Break: Pakistan - 99/10 in 36.4 overs (Zulfiqar Babar 25)
- South Africa 1st innings
- Over 2.2: Review by Pakistan (Bowling), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - GC Smith (Struck down)
- Over 10.5: Review by South Africa (Batting), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - AN Petersen (Struck down)
- Tea: South Africa - 41/1 in 14.0 overs (GC Smith 12, D Elgar 1)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 17.5 overs (107 balls), Extras 2
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 124 balls (GC Smith 29, D Elgar 20, Ex 1)
- Drinks: South Africa - 91/1 in 32.0 overs (GC Smith 40, D Elgar 23)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 36.1 overs (217 balls), Extras 2
- GC Smith: 50 off 103 balls (3 x 4)
- End Of Day: South Africa - 128/3 in 49.0 overs (GC Smith 67, DW Steyn 3)
- Reviews used before 80th over: South Africa 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful); Pakistan 0 (0 successful, 2 unsuccessful)
- Over 4.2: Review by Pakistan (Bowling), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - AN Petersen (Struck down)
Match CoverageAll Match News
Shafiq's coming of age provides comfort
Not many things went right for Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai, but Asad Shafiq's fighting century against the best Test side in the world, proved that he has the temperament to lead Pakistan's next generation of batsmen
Smith lauds South Africa's 'immense' record
It took a little longer than appear likely at one stage, but South Africa's comfortably victory extends a formidable overseas sequence which vindicates their No. 1 status
Misbah questions Pakistan's domestic set-up
Misbah-ul-Haq has suggested that Pakistan need a stronger first-class system to help them become a more consistent Test side
Ajmal reprimanded for on-field celebrations
Saeed Ajmal has received an official reprimand after pleading guilty to a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, on the third day of the Dubai Test against South Africa
South Africa preserve away record in Test series
South Africa's unbeaten run in Test series on the road will extend further after their victory in Dubai, which allowed them to share the spoils of this two-match rubber with Pakistan
|Pakistan INNINGS
|Shan Masood
|Khurram Manzoor
|Azhar Ali
|Younis Khan
|Asad Shafiq
|Adnan Akmal
|Saeed Ajmal
|Mohammad Irfan
|Junaid Khan
|not out
|Zulfiqar Babar
|absent hurt
|(b 10, lb 5, w 1, nb 2, pen 5)
|326 (all out; 135.1 ovs)
|South Africa BOWLING
|DW Steyn
|VD Philander
|(1nb, 1w)
|M Morkel
|Imran Tahir
|JH Kallis
|JP Duminy
|D Elgar
Pakistan 3rd innings Partnerships
|Khurram Manzoor
|Shan Masood
|Azhar Ali
|Khurram Manzoor
|Younis Khan
|Azhar Ali
|Younis Khan
|Asad Shafiq
|Adnan Akmal
|Asad Shafiq
|Saeed Ajmal
|Asad Shafiq
|Asad Shafiq
|Mohammad Irfan
|Junaid Khan
|Asad Shafiq


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October is the season of pumpkins, fireworks, mulled cider, frights and forest splendour with its rich, vibrant colours of gold, red and green. The falling leaves make beautiful cushions streaming through parks and a fresh, misty air surrounds us. I love love it! This said, the chill of winter is on the horizon where the skies appear greyer and a time of reflection comes to the fore.
These colder months always fill me with excitement for upcoming festive events, which are evidently a big thing for me: Joy of Christmas It is even more so exciting now I have my beautiful Mr KB to join with me :-)
I couldn't live without my cat, thus, I had to fill the void. Along comes Matilda (tilly). A beautiful little princess with an obscure, somewhat aloof, personality: now 1 & 3 months. I'm not sure how long you should wait to mourn until you get a new cat, but she doesn't replace him at all and I'm so glad I have her!
Our family cat is Tabitha, a 16 year old tortie. She's lived with us for 9 years. She 'adopted' us in 2004. Like a stray she'd venture in our house for food, however, she wished to always stick around longer. She was a large lady! We in fact made a nest for her believing she was pregnant. Eventually, we found the owner who claimed we could have her as Tabitha wasn't a lap cat and she didn't like that. Shameful woman!! Well, a year on from losing Billy, we're pretty sure she's on her last legs as her organs are failing right now :-(
I believe people like to nurture and care for pets like children. They share our homes and we form bonds with them, they provide us with heart-lifting pleasure and in fact, they comfort us. Tabitha came to my family at a perfect time: First introductions She looked after me when I was at my most vulnerable and helpless self, giving me purpose, happiness, love and positivity. As ridiculous as this may sound to some, I'm grateful for her and losing her will be heart-wrenching.
Animals provide mental and emotional benefits. The release of endorphins when in the company of an animal improves mood, alertness and health. There's no wonder cats and dogs are brought to ill patients in hospitals or retirement homes. The joy they give humans is so simple; all they ask for is food, shelter, affection & play. Their unique characters provide hours of entertainment and aid companionship.
A month ago I've added another creature to my home. A cutiepie, golden syrian hamster named Pippin. Again, he keeps an inner child's sense of amazement alive in me and lightens any darker moments I might have :-)


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Jan 8, 2015
The gang is back and so drunk they are doing phlegm jokes. Real bad weather. The puns are cut off real quick. Dane the plumber. Rehab for weed taxi service. Sam got a ration of crap from his rants from last podcast. Keith is not happy, the enigmatic story of the search for a laptop. Dane moans. Lab grown vaginas. Call the comment line at (206) 309-7308. Thanks for listening.


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In the shadow of ground zero, they point at the hole in the skyline and they raise their hands to their mouths and stand in silence.
They walk next to the 56-foot-long bronze depiction of America's darkest moment and stop to stare at the poster taped to the wall nearby, the one depicting 343 faces of firefighters who never came home on Sept. 11, 2001. They close their eyes and remember.
The jet turning and ripping through the side of one of the steel-and-glass-sheathed buildings in a fireball. The smoke billowing skyward. The collapse of two buildings that stood as the very symbol of the economic and engineering might of the United States. The confusion and then the sense of collective unity for perhaps the only time since Pearl Harbor or maybe the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Ten years after coordinated terrorist attacks ended 2,977 lives and altered the world in countless ways, those memories remain. Today there is also war fatigue, a fragile economy, more stringent security at airports and the frustrating partisan bickering that has come to define American political life.
But there is something else too. – There is a near universal feeling of reverence for that day, for all of those who were lost, even for the twisted artifacts pulled from the rubble. And there is an ongoing quest that continues a decade later to put that day into some kind of perspective, to say about it something important and lasting.
The legacy of Sept. 11, 2001, takes on different forms in different places. Here, on the streets around the World Trade Center, it may be in the New York forcefulness of a plumber who voices his own sense of loss intermingled with the pride of knowing that he is helping to rebuild. In Washington, D.C., it can be reflected in the face of a college student, standing in the Lincoln Memorial considering what freedom means — and what it costs. In Denver, it can be found in a sculpture fabrication studio, where a gnarled piece of steel from the twin towers will be transformed into a display that will touch people.
And in a three-stoplight town in Kansas, it is illustrated in the adoption of a New York firefighter's family and an audacious effort to build a 9/11 memorial that is ambitious far beyond anything a community of 2,297 ought to be able to pull off.
Along Greenwich Street, the noise never stops. Diesel engines thrum incessantly. Boring machines thump-thump-thump as they pound a hole deep into the earth.
A tractor's backup alarm screeches.
The scene of America's greatest national wound — the 16 acres now known as ground zero — is slowly being healed by an army of construction workers. That work goes on, day and night.
One World Trade Center — known for a time as the Freedom Tower — has passed 78 stories and is climbing higher by the day. It's already more than 200 feet taller than anything in Denver. Eventually, its spire will stretch up 1,776 feet — a bold statement in a bold city.
A tourist snaps a photograph while peeking through a small hole in the green nylon fabric stretched across the fence separating the sidewalk from the construction zone. A woman in a burka walks by, oblivious to the burly construction worker in the day-glo orange T-shirt, the one that says "Seal Team Six — Who's Next?" on the back.
Down the street, at the top of a weathered steel staircase, Matty Tingo, 47, savors his midday break. A plumber, he has been at ground zero for two years, part of the crew completing two acre-size fountains that officially come on today, fountains that mark the footprints of the twin towers.
His jeans are faded, his work boots scuffed, and his lunch is a ham sandwich, two bottles of Lipton iced tea, "and as many cigarettes as you can smoke in half an hour," he says.
For him, the aftermath of Sept. 11 represents steady work — and powerful emotions.
"It still hurts," he says. "We lost a lot of good people that day."
And then, a moment later: "I'm honored to be here, to be working on this site."
Building the fountains has been a constant reminder of what happened 10 years ago.
"I can't help but think about it," says Danny Hartmann, taking a seat a few steps below Tingo. "I'm here every day. I feel like I'm working in a giant mausoleum."
In the past decade, he has grown cynical.
"Every time I see the site, I think, we seem to help everybody — this country helps everybody," says Hartmann, 49, a fellow plumber whose voice is pure New York. "We dole out billions of dollars, and, for lack of a better word, we got sh– on. There's everybody here. Muslims. Jews. Christians. They're all trying to make it here, to make a living, and this is what we get? This was a good idea?
"I don't want to hate a whole group of people. But they're forcing us to do that."
Two blocks away, at the corner of Greenwich and Liberty, stands the home of the Fire Department of New York's Ladder Co. 10 and Engine Co. 10 — "Ten House" — the closest firehouse to the World Trade Center. It lost six men on Sept. 11. The firetrucks poised for the next call have "Still Standing" painted on them, and a bronze memorial to Sept. 11 stretches along the outside of the station's west wall.
Each day, hundreds of people make the pilgrimage to this corner.
On a muggy morning, Orliaguet de Graaf and Didier Manon were looking above the construction fence at the empty place where the twin towers once stood. For a minute, they are quiet.
"I wanted to see this because last time I was here it was the big towers," de Graaf says.
Manon and de Graaf are both 37, both from Amsterdam. The attacks still shake them.
"I was watching it live on television," Manon says. "Devastating. Unbelievable. I watched all day. You couldn't overestimate how huge it was."
For each of them, there is a moment that lingers. The first plane hit. An accident, some thought — reminiscent of an October 1992 crash in Amsterdam in which a 747 cargo plane plummeted into an apartment complex, taking 43 lives.
But then the second plane hit the second tower.
"When I saw the terrible crime, I couldn't believe it," de Graaf says.
As they talk and look and point, they are solemn, but not somber. And they remember.
"It feels like it in here," Manon says, patting her breastbone.
Sunlight burns through the morning haze, casting the Washington Monument in stark silhouette. Its rays knife between the columns of the Lincoln Memorial, splashing across the marble and up the legs of the most famous statue in a town full of them.
In the distance, work progresses to rebuild the reflecting pool, a project aimed at fixing leaks and — in a sign of the times — improving security. Off to one side of the massive sculpture of Lincoln, Grace Hernandez stands in utter silence, oblivious to the construction noises, to the runners padding up the 58 steps to the memorial's main level.
Hernandez, from Joliet, Ill., is a student at Lewis University, where she is studying special education with the goal of becoming a middle school teacher.
She is 20.
Her trip to Washington has been one of reflection. She's visited all the monuments and thought hard about what they represent. For her, it's all intertwined — what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, the day a teacher ran into her classroom with the news that planes had hit the twin towers, American history, concepts including freedom and liberty, and the knowledge that men and women her age sign on to a life in the military in a time of war.
"It's unbelievable what they do to keep this country free, so I can come to this Washington Mall and walk in freedom," she says. "You can't do that in a lot of places. Women can't do that in a lot of places."
Her thoughts toggle back and forth, from this place and what's represented to that day half her life ago.
"I don't understand why somebody would just surprise attack like that," she says. "It's unbelievable that that would happen."
For others, the aftermath of Sept. 11 is more visceral.
David Campbell has worked for the National Park Service for 26 years, all of it on the mall. He spent time at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Now he is assigned to the Lincoln Memorial. He spends this morning with a squeegee, sweeping the water of an overnight rain off the steps, and with a mop, working it back and forth across the marble floor.
Every few minutes, the air is pierced by the rumble of an airliner lifting off from nearby Reagan National Airport.
He pauses for a moment and watches, unable to stop himself. Unable to keep from making sure the plane passes safely.
State Highway 2 cuts across harvested wheat fields left golden and crumbly dry by an unrelenting drought. It funnels down a hill past the abandoned drive-in movie theater, the Dollar General and the boarded-up filling station, past the gravel lot full of John Deere tractors and implements, and stops at the McDonald's in this three-stoplight town located 12 miles from the Oklahoma border.
On the left sits Memorial Park, and in one corner, next to a corrugated metal building, stands the official Sept. 11 memorial for the state of Kansas.
On a brutally hot summer noon, three flags snap in the breeze. One for the United States. One for Kansas. One for New York.
Below them, encircled by bricks and mortar, rest three chunks of steel from the World Trade Center, a brick from the Pentagon, and a glass-enclosed case holding ash and dirt from the field in Pennsylvania where the fourth plane crashed.
The memorial is here despite the fact that Anthony has no direct connection to New York, or the Pentagon, or Shanksville, Pa. — no town native died in the twin towers or on one of the planes, or in the wars that followed.
And yet, in the dark days after Sept. 11, 2001, a man named John Schott, who owned the True Value hardware store on Main Street and was the town's mayor, grew restless to do something tangible about the pain and the loss.
Today, the effort that grew from that idea is a point of pride in a community that is the very picture of a small town on the high plains of the Midwest.
The twin silos of Anthony Co-Op dominate the skyline, and a sign in the office window carries the latest bushel price of the crops grown in the area — wheat ($7.55), milo ($6.33), corn ($6.98), beans ($13.43).
Anthony is facing the same challenges as plains towns all over the Midwest. Declining population. Empty businesses, like Phillips 66 on Main Street, bindweeds poking through the cracks in the concrete out front.
There's hope for a community project to reopen the movie theater — the marquee urges people to "like us on facebook" — and there's an effort to impose a new sales tax to rebuild a block of Main Street leveled by fire a couple years ago.
It is a town rooted in faith — inside the Irwin-Potter Rexall drugstore, a sliding glass door leads to a prayer and healing room. The stained glass window above it includes a biblical verse, "With healing in his wings" — Malachi 4:2.
Joe Brummer, who has owned the drugstore for 30 years, sits at a table next to the soda fountain and talks about his business, his town and, ultimately, the memorial.
He points immediately to John Schott.
"It was just on his heart to do something for them," Brummer says. "I think it says we're patriots. More than that, I think it says we care. That's important. People need to know that you care.
"People that come through town can see that. One person can make a difference that can affect the world. Nobody knows where they're going to end up. There wasn't the idea of what can we get out of this. It was how can we help. I think that had to be the idea — not what can we get but what can we give."


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But I know when 😉
Huge apologies to my regular readers this week. Since my last post, I've been pretty crammed up with reality odds, ends, dramas and even the mundane stuff seems to have been taking an age. I am going away Friday morning – Sunday evening this week and unfortunately, that has meant more work. Booo!
So, while I am currently mid-progress with my next feature, this does mean that it will be delayed until Sunday night at least. I do apologise for this however, it's been unavoidable this week. I just want to reassure you that regular updates will continue and, as always, try to keep my favouritees, bookmarkees and followers in the loop as to what's going on here. I have not forgotten you and I shall return!
I am one person and unfortunately, this one person's life interferes sometimes.
However….this gives me a chance to pimp my write for fifty page. If you want to see even more updates, love photography and have a passion for freebie hunting please give that page a glance. Fifty is a regular in many online blogging groups and is fast gathering a pretty prolific following so I would love to add to my team and make an even bigger success of this project.
We also passed the one month anniversary of the blog this week, (which I will be marking in a bumper edition for you all next week 😉 )and I'd just like to express my astonishment and thanks for the huge amount of support, feedback and tips I have received from you all. You have all supported me wonderfully and, in two weeks, I have seen a massive 200% increase in what was already a pretty impressive following for a blog of this age. So thank you and I sincerely hope to keep giving you more of what you like.
On a final note, if you're really hungry for more while I'm away I strongly advise you to hop down page to my 'More like this' links page. You will find plenty of talented freebie and discount bloggers there to sate you until I return at the end of the week. Any fellow bloggers out there too, if you'd like a link exchange, I'd be more than happy to add you to my blogroll and would ask only that the favour be returned. I have had this favour done for me a couple of times already and would very much like to pass it on.
Take care all, have an awesome weekend,
See you on Sunday!
Alice xxxxx


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Very small footprint. Good image quality in good lighting conditions. Wide-angle lens (26mm). User interface is easy to navigate. Sweep Panoramic mode.
LCD is smaller than on many same-price cameras. Short 4x zoom. Proprietary connectivity options.
Bottom Line
The $200 Sony Cyber-shot W350 is small and light, and takes good pictures in good conditionsbut in order to keep it svelte, this camera is missing a few features you'll find in same-price competitors.
If you're looking for a inexpensive camera that's very small and light, the $199.99 (direct) 14.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot W350 should be on your short list. About the size of a pack of gum, the W350 delivers sharp images (as long as you're in well-lit environments or using the flash), HD video capture, and a user interface that's a breeze to navigate. For $200, it's tough to find a good camera with a footprint this small, so if size doesn't matter to you, there are other same-price cameras with better features, like the Kodak EasyShare M580 ($199.99, ) with its long 8x zoom lens, or the $180 Nikon Coolpix S4000 with its big 3-inch touch screen.
Similar Products
Design and Features
The 3.5-ounce W350 measures 2.03 by 3.57 by .66 inches (HWD), very close in size to the more-expensive Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 ($299.99, ). The W350 is basically a budget version of the WX1, keeping its form factor but sacrificing features like a lens well-suited for low light conditions (without the flash), a better image sensor, and some in-camera software tricks to fix up your photos on the fly. The W350 is offered in a few color optionssilver, black, blue, or pink.
In just .66 inches of space, the W350 manages to squeeze in a 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 26-104mm (aperture is f/2.7-f/8). If you're looking for maximum zoom, you won't find it here since the W350 is so slim. The Kodak EasyShare M580 is about an inch deep, but offers 8x optical zoom via a 28-224mm lens, bringing you more than two times closer to your subject than the W350.
The LCD screen on the W350 is only 2.7 inches, which feels small but is understandable given the overall size of the camera. The small screen is super-sharp, though, with 230K dotsthe same number that larger, 3-inch LCDs in this price class pack.
Sony uses the XrossMediaBar UI, that is mostly navigated through the X and Y axis of the screen. In general, it works similarly to the the interface on the Sony Playstation 3 ($299.99, ). The interface and menu system is far and away the most modern looking you'll find on a camera in the $200 price range, and makes using the camera much less intimidating and extremely easy to navigate.
Most digital cameras have the ability to take multiple photos and stitch them together to create a single, panoramic photo. None are particularly simple to use, and all require time and practice to execute. The W350 changes that with Sony's Sweep Panorama mode. When enabled, you simply move the camera in one direction and it will rapid fire consecutive shots and then within seconds stitch them together for a single wide image. This feature worked very well in my tests, and it's a blast to use.
Performance and Image Quality
This camera can boot up and snap its first picture in about 2.6 seconds, which is fairly average; shots after that average a longish 3.2 seconds of wait time in between. In my tests, the W350 averaged just 0.6 second of shutter lag, which isn't bad, but the Kodak M580 is slightly faster with 0.4 second between shutter press and image capture.
For a $199 camera, the W350 did well in our lab tests. In terms of sharpness, the W350 showed good results throughout the image, though the Kodak M580 does a little better. The W350 scored a center-weighted average of 1,922 lines per picture height (2,067 in the center region, 1,867 part way to the corners, and 1,511 in the corners.) This is a very good showing, but the Kodak M580 bests it with average of 2,127 (2,241 in the center, 2,093 partway, and 1,769 in the corners).
Like many cameras in this price range, the W350 can produce clean images in good lighting conditions or when using the flash, but it's not suited for low-light shooting. At ISO 800 and higher, the camera produced very noisy images. Both the Kodak M580 and Sony W350 exceed the maximum 1.5 percent image noise at ISO 800 and above, so images are grainy. You'll need to spend about $100 more if you want a camera that masters low-light shooting, like the WX1, which can offer lower noise at higher ISOs. Images from the W350 at ISO 100-400 weren't noisy, but the Kodak M580 did deliver lower noise levels. At ISO 100, 200, and 400, the W350 achieved 1.02, 1.05, and 1.12 percent, while the M580 scored .66, .68, and 1.08 percent respectively.
While recording video with the W350, you have the option to refocus and zoom in or out. Many cameras don't allow this, because you will hear noise from the lens motor while it's moving. Still, I prefer to have the option. Videos are recorded in high-definition 720p30 as .MP4 files, which are easily uploaded to Facebook and YouTube without conversion.
Connectivity options on the W350 aren't great. The camera has one proprietary port which connects to a (bundled) proprietary cable that terminates in USB for connecting to your computer, and analog A/V for a standard-def connection to a TV for image playback. An optional $59 cable is available that will connect it to your HDTV via analog high-definition component jacks. In contrast, the Kodak M580 offers standard micro-USB and mini-HDMI ports, and you can even charge the camera via the micro-USB cable.
Other than the connectivity limitations, there's not much to complain about with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350. It's a very compact camera that's well-designed and delivers great photos. If your goals are compactness and affordability, the W350 will serve you well on both fronts. The same-price Kodak EasyShare M580 offers twice the zoom, a bigger LCD, and slightly sharper photos, but it lacks the W350's sleek interface and compact build.
More Digital Camera Reviews:
Sony a6600
Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay
Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Canon EOS 90D
Leica V-Lux 5


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Smallmouth Bass
Mille Lacs is a world class smallmouth bass destination with thousands of acres of prime habitat and can offer an exciting trip and opportunities to catch the fish of a lifetime. Book your trip today!
See Summer Rates Page for full details.
Large groups can easily be accommodated


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I've always loved to photograph animals as they are so different in size, shapes and attitude. Animals in the wild are a great challenge to catch an image that show their true nature.
Bird Chorus
Back in 1971, I made a project of depicting birds on telephone wires. They were created purely from my imagination. Here are some of the images I made during that period.
Black and White
I developed my first roll of film and made black and white contact prints at the age of twelve in a cellar coal bin, and never tire of the medium. It captures the depth of tones better than color photographs.
California Missons
Back in 1980, my wife Sylvia and I traveled up and down the California coastline to photograph all the California Missions, large or small, as they were like rare jewels from yesteryear.
Cape Cod
My wife Sylvia and I fell in love with Cape Cod many moons ago and in 1972, permanently retired here. I've generated some of my best images here and continue to discover more gems each season.
Computer Graphics
Taking a photograph beyond reality and creating a new contemporary image with computer software has always fascinated me, as it then makes it my original creation. The variety is endless, depending only on your imagination.
I always loved taking photographs of Nature's most colorful creations. Their beauty is unsurpassed and their variety is endless. My favorite species are the Roses for their variety of color and design.
I have a collection of trophies, prize ribbons and honor certificates that cover the past 60 years of my photographic life. These were issued by the Photographic Society of America (PSA), many camera clubs, photo salon exhibitions and photo contests.
Jenne Farm
Known as the most photographed farm in the world, hundreds of photographers from all over the world come every year to shoot this amazing rural composition. For 50 years, I came here to shoot great images when the conditions were perfect.
I have always been fascinated by the beauty that Mother Nature gave us on such a large scale, and the variety of her creations. It has been one of the joys of my life to be able to photograph them.
The variety of the beacons of the sea in New England gave me the chance to create beautiful photographs of these life-saving monuments. Some are dated back to the 1700's.
National Parks
Our national parks comprise some of the most beautiful locations for photography. Sylvia and I had the pleasure to visit many of them on our cross-country tour in 1980. Each one has its own charm and personality.
I started taking portraits in my basement photo studio when I was fifteen years old, back in 1931. Many of them have won trophies and prices in local and worldwide photo exhibitions.
Living near the ever-changing scene of the ocean gave me a chance to capture a variety of beautiful images along the New England coastline.
Still Life
At my age and with limited mobility, still life is the easiest creative photography for me. I first tried this type of photography in the fall of 2010 and am very happy with the results.
Vermont has been one of my very favorite locations for photography for the past 50 years, especially in the fall and winter months. This gallery contains some of the best images I made in my numerous visits to the beautiful Green Mountain state.


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Het is bepaald niet de eerste keer dat Abbas (want hij staat aan het hoofd van zowel PLO als PA als Fatah dat op zijn beurt weer de PLO controleert – zie ook kaartje hieronder) hiermee dreigt. Het doel is doorgaans om meer concessies los te peuteren bij Israel. Ook zullen Europa en de VS Israel onder druk zetten om concessies te doen zodat de genereuze Abbas wellicht van plan is hiervan af te zien. Stopzetten van de samenwerking heeft zeer nadelige gevolgen voor de PA zelf dat op de Westbank door Hamas wordt bedreigd.
Haaretz schrijft:
Instead of implementing the decision immediately, however, Abbas is expected to try to use the threat of its implementation to push the United States and the European Union to pressure Israel to halt construction in the settlements and release Palestinian prisoners as conditions for restarting diplomatic negotiations. In his speech to the council on Wednesday, Abbas said explicitly that he would be willing to resume negotiations if those two conditions were fulfilled.
Het is een bekend patroon: eenzijdig voorwaarden stellen, waarvoor in ruil meneer eventueel bereid is een paar keer te komen praten. Misschien dat wanneer Abbas zelf met een aantrekkelijk of redelijk voorstel zou komen, dit de Israelische kiezer nog zou kunnen beïnvloeden, en het gevoel kan geven dat er wat te kiezen is: een harde lijn of toch weer de weg van onderhandelingen en vrede bewandelen. Maar ik denk dat maar weinig Israeli's nog heil zien in het praten met Abbas, de man van de eindeloze voorwaarden en het weglopen zodra hij zijn zin niet krijgt. En dat speelt de hardliners in Israel natuurlijk in de kaart.
Political Pallywood in "decision" to stop security coordination with Israel
Mahmoud Abbas has threatened for years to stop security coordination with Israel, similar to his perennial threats to resign or to dissolve the PA.
Which makes this story interesting:
The leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organisation has voted to suspend all security co-operation with Israel, insisting that Israel – as occupying power – should assume all responsibilities for the Palestinian territories under international law.
A statement issued by the PLO's central committee on Thursday night announced it was calling for the suspension of "all forms of security coordination given Israel's systematic and ongoing non-compliance with its obligations under signed agreements, including its daily military raids throughout the State of Palestine, attacks against our civilians and properties."
Although the final decision to implement the council's decision rests with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, well-informed sources told the Guardian that Abbas supported the decision.
The move, which came after two days of talks by the PLO's central council, comes in the midst of a close-run Israeli election campaign and is certain to escalate tension between Palestinians and Israelis.
The PLO's central council is the second highest decision-making body. Significantly, it takes the threat to end cooperation beyond rhetorical statements to mandate action on the issue.
The statement added: "Israel, the occupying power in Palestine, must assume all its responsibilities in accordance with its obligations under international law."
It called for a boycott of all Israeli products and not only those coming from Israeli settlements, adding: "Israel must pay the price for its refusal to assume its responsibilities under international law, including the systematic denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination."
Although the Guardian understands that the end of security cooperation will not be immediate, the decision by the PLO is regarded as binding on the Palestinian Authority and Abbas.
The Palestinian security forces report to the PA, not the PLO. But the PA itself reports to the PLO.
PLO members are not elected, and the supposedly democratic PA is subservient to the self-selected leaders of the PLO.
The PLO of course is dominated by Fatah.
And the PLO, Fatah and PA are all headed by the same person:
While The Guardian assumes that there is some sort of formalized process going on here where an independent PLO Central Committee voted for this decision, everything is up to (and orchestrated by) Abbas - including implementation of the decision.
Ha'aretz disagrees with the Guardian:
Instead of implementing the decision immediately, however, Abbas is expected to try to use the threat of its implementation to push the United States and the European Union to pressure Israel to halt construction in the settlements and release Palestinian prisoners as conditions for restarting diplomatic negotiations. In his speech to the council on Wednesday, Abbas said explicitly that he would be willing to resume negotiations if those two conditions were fulfilled.
The council's decision to suspend security coordination indicates that its members are seeking to keep the PLO, and themselves, relevant among the Palestinian public by taking aggressive positions in response to what they view as Israel's peace rejectionism.
The entire thing is theatre. Abbas used the committee to pretend that he will do something he has no desire or interest in doing, but it is meant to scare the West, just as his previous threats spook Western nations into pressuring Israel.
The Guardian is playing its role, by gravely informing its readers that this is serious.
It's not. It's the political Pallywood. As usual, it will work to add pressure to Israel, which is the real point of this farce.
Ha'aretz is probably wrong in the goal being to release prisoners or stop settlement activities, although that will be part of conversations with the West. The goal will be to have Israel release the tax revenues that it has been withholding from the PA after its decision to go to the ICC to charge Israel with war crimes.


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ISTANBUL — It is no secret that Islamic fundamentalism is a threat to democracy, freedom and security in today's world, especially in the Middle East. Yet the same values can be threatened by secular fundamentalists, too. Turkey's self-styled laïcité, a much more radical version of the French secular system, is a case in point.
The American model of secularism guarantees individual religious liberty. The Turkish model, however, guarantees the state's right to dominate religion and suppress religious practice in any way it deems necessary.
This devolves from the veneration of the state as an end in itself, an entity to which all other values may - and must - be sacrificed.
Mingled with this is the hostility felt by the Turkish secularist elite toward religion generally. Influenced by the European anti-religious movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it views religion as a pre-modern myth, one that must be extinguished for modernity to blossom.
The outcome of this mindset is an authoritarian strategy: Political power is to remain in the hands of the secularist elite. Thus the "secular republic" equals the "republic of seculars" - not the republic of all citizens.Continue reading the main story
Moreover, the secular elite holds itself responsible for preventing religion from flourishing; it is the proper role of the state, they believe, to suppress religious communities, restrict religious education and ban visible signs of observance such as the head scarf.
The secularist program functioned smoothly in the second quarter of the 20th century, during which Turkey lived under a euphemistic "single party regime." But after World War II, the secularist elite was forced to accept a disagreeable inconvenience - democracy.
Since 1950, almost every election has been won by center-right parties, which have advocated relative religious freedom. More recently, Islamist parties have risen in popularity.
A liberal offshoot of these parties, the Justice and Development party, known by its Turkish initials as the AK party, came to power in 2002 by rejecting its Islamist past and defining itself as "conservative."
The AK party's evolution is an interesting story. Islamic circles in Turkey have long hoped for a return to the glorious Ottoman and Islamic past in order to rid themselves of the ruling autocracy, which they regarded as the West's evil gift.
However, since the 1980s, thanks to their growing interaction with the rest of the world, they have come to realize something significant: The West is better than the Westernizers.
Noting that Western democracies give their citizens the very religious freedoms Turkey has denied its own, Muslims of the AK party have rerouted their search for freedom. Rather than trying to Islamize the state, they have decided to liberalize it. That's why in today's Turkey the AK party is the main proponent of the effort to join the European Union, democratization, free markets and individual liberties.
For the same reason, there are many secular liberals (including some atheists and agnostics) who sympathize with the AK party government led by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Interestingly, this has led the party's secularist opponents to embrace fierce anti-Westernism. Most ultra-secular pundits speculate about "the alliance between moderate Islam and American imperialism" - and they despise both.
In recent rallies in Ankara and Istanbul, secularist protesters denounced Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the AK party's candidate for president, with a pun: "We want no ABD-ullah as president," their posters read. "ABD" is the Turkish equivalent of "USA." In other words, they were calling Gul "USA-ullah."
This anti-Western, anti-religious and anti-liberal ideology lies beneath the current ultra-secularist hype in Turkey.
Adherents accuse the AK party government of using salami tactics to usher in "sharia rule," but the evidence for this is hardly convincing.
They point to the endorsement of peaceful religious practices, the appointment of observant people to the bureaucracy (which has been a bastion of secularists) and the possibility that the country's first lady might wear the hated head scarf.
The Turkish military issued a harsh warning about the threat to secularism on April 27, pointing to the shocking evidence of rising religious fanaticism: Two groups of schoolgirls had been sighted covering their heads and singing a hymn praising the Prophet Muhammad. Needless to say, had this highly alarming spectacle taken place in the free world, no one would have raised an eyebrow.
It is true that Turkey's Islamic circles need further modernization, but studies show that they are already on that track. And whatever Turkey's problems, it should never retreat from democracy. The Western world should support the country's efforts in that direction.
The ultimate solution, of course, will come when we Turks understand that all citizens - whether they wear a head scarf, cross or miniskirt - are equals. Our over-susceptible republic will be much more secure and relieved when it treats them as such.
Mustafa Akyol is the deputy editor of the Istanbul-based Turkish Daily News.Continue reading the main story