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Review: SCATT MX-02 Electronic Trainer
In recent years, the use of electronic trainers has revolutionized training in all disciplines of position shooting. By capturing valuable metrics like the steadiness of a shooter's hold, accuracy of aiming, and the timeliness of trigger release, these devices can offer tremendous insight into the strengths and weakness of a shooter's position and technique, making marksmanship training less of an "oral tradition" and more of a science. Popular trainers on the market include RIKA, Noptel, and the most ubiquitous of all, the SCATT Training System.
All existing electronic trainers on the market operate on the same basic principle: a sensor attached to the rifle monitors the position of an infrared light source close to the target; the position of the light source within the sensor's field of view determines the rifle's point of aim at any given instant. These products' common reliance on infrared results in a common weakness: the inability to use them in outdoor ranges for live fire training, as sunlight is full of infrared radiation that overwhelms the sensor.
Now, a new product has entered the market. SCATT's next-generation MX-02 electronic trainer promises to perform just as well as the company's older WS-01 infrared-based trainer in dry fire, but with the new ability to be used in live fire under broad daylight, with both smallbore and centerfire calibers. As a committed smallbore prone shooter who has long desired such a product, when I was offered a unit to review, I jumped on the opportunity. Does SCATT MX-02 live up to its lofty promises? That's the question this review seeks to answer.
What's in the Package
SCATT's previous-generation product, the WS-01, comes packaged in a large flat box. By contrast, the new SCATT MX-02 is packaged in a sleek 9"x7" nylon pouch, designed for portability. Inside it, we find a comfortably long 9-foot USB cable for the sensor, two hex wrenches, a basic instruction manual, and a padded plastic box that contains the sensor, the mounting bracket, as well as a USB thumb drive with the SCATT software on it.
The contents of the SCATT MX-02 package
The MX-02 package is reduced in size due to the absence of a powered target frame. Unlike the electronic trainers that came before, the MX-02's sensor operates in the visible spectrum, which eliminates the need for an infrared light source at the target end. Essentially, the sensor is a high resolution, high-speed camera, capable of recognizing the target's dark bullseye within its white background, and assessing the rifle's point of aim based on the bullseye's position within its field of view.
SCATT MX-02 Sensor (left) alongside the SCATT WS-01 Sensor (right)
Despite its sophistication, the MX-02 sensor is impressively compact. It is only slightly bulkier than the WS1 unit, and not much heavier; with the sensor attached, the shooter is unlikely to notice any change in the rifle's balance. There is a lever on the sensor itself, which the user needs to adjust to focus the sensor on the target, depending on the distance between the two. The adjustment range is from 2.5 meters to infinity. A setscrew locks the focal distance in place.
The SCATT MX-02 sensor, seen mounted on a Grünig & Elmiger Racer smallbore rifle
The sensor is attached to a V-shaped mounting bracket through a dovetail interface, which in turn clamps onto the barrel of the rifle with a metal band. The band locks onto the mounting bracket through one of its six perforations on one end, and a screw on the other end, which tightens the whole bracket-band assembly around the barrel.
For more information or to order SCATT products, including the new MX-02, visit ScattUSA.com or call toll-free: 1-855-57-SCATT (72288).
Setting up the SCATT MX-02
For existing users of SCATT, setting up the MX-02 is a familiar and intuitive process. The sensor is fastened to the end of the barrel, and connected to a laptop computer, on which the SCATT application is installed. For dry firing, the SCATT application prints out targets scaled to the appropriate distance. The target is taped to the wall or some other vertical surface. The target face needs to be very well lit, particularly for MX-02, since both the shooter and the sensor need to be able to "see" it. A table lamp works nicely.
When live firing, the shooter simply fires on normal, full-sized targets. One major caveat is that you may not use multiple-bull American smallbore targets. For the time being, at least, the SCATT software supports only single-bull targets.
Now is the time to sling up and get in position. The shooter starts the SCATT application on the laptop and selects the discipline he or she desires to train in. There are numerous choices, from NRA High Power to International 50 meters. Upon selecting a program, the shooter is presented with a screen to fire one shot to calibrate the sensor. If the sensor "sees" the target, the calibration screen shows a crosshair indicating where the target is in the sensor's field of view. Upon detecting the calibration shot, the software is ready to record shot tracings and metrics, using the calibration shot's placement as its initial zero.
The sensor calibration screen for SCATT MX-02. The crosshair represents where the target bullseye is within the sensor's field of view.
This is when setup could get a bit complicated. In my experience, the calibration process is trouble-free for live fire at 50 meters and beyond. However, if you are dry firing within confined spaces where the target-sensor distance is less than 10 meters, you will likely run into a snag during calibration: no crosshair would appear on screen and your shot would fail to register. This is due to the fact that the sensor has not yet been adjusted to compensate for parallax, which is caused by the several inches of distance between the line of sight for the shooter, which is above the barrel, and the line of sight for the sensor, which is beneath the barrel. The SCATT MX-02 sensor is sensitive to parallax because it has a very small field of view compared to its IR-based predecessor. At live fire distances, parallax becomes insignificant and does not pose a problem. But at short shooting distances, when the shooter's line of sight centers on the target, the target might be completely out of the sensor's field of view.
To compensate, MX-02's mounting bracket is equipped with two brass setscrews with which you can fine-tune the "aim" of the sensor. To aim the sensor upward, flip the bracket so that the screws are at the rear, and turn both screws the same number of revolutions inward. Conversely, position the screws at the muzzle end to aim the sensor downward. Turn one screw more than the other to move the aim left and right.
This is a procedure more easily performed while the rifle is on a rest rather than in position. To determine the direction in which you must move the sensor, and by how much, you will need to shift the aim in all four directions until the crosshair lands on the center of the calibration screen. And then, you need to adjust the setscrews incrementally until the lines of sight for both the shooter and the sensor converge on the center of the target. Fortunately, this is a one-time ordeal. Once you find the correct setting, I recommend putting a drop of green Loctite on both screws to ensure that they stay put over time. (Be careful that the Loctite doesn't seep into the sensor dovetail and prevent you from removing the sensor later, which you need to do in order to change the focus.)
Dry Firing Evaluation
Even though outdoor live fire capability is MX-02's main selling point, most buyers will want to use it mainly in the same way as they did the previous generation of SCATT: dry firing at home. Home training is convenient, saves ammo, and many problems in shooting technique can be diagnosed and corrected through dry firing. In order to be considered a viable product, therefore, the MX-02 must work as well in dry fire as did the previous generation trainers.
Here is the author's dry fire setup. The target paper is held in the disconnected target frame of a SCATT WS-01, but any well-lit vertical surface will do.
In this respect, the MX-02 doesn't disappoint. I alternately performed 10-shot strings using both MX-02 and the IR-based WS-01, and the results are practically the same. The tracings produced by both sensors are very comparable. The shot metrics obtained from MX-02, such as stability of aiming and tracing length, are also within my normal ranges.
A typical dry fire tracing from SCATT MX-02 (left) alongside a tracing from SCATT WS-01 (right).
To put it simply, aside from a somewhat more complicated calibration process, dry firing with MX-02 is typical SCATT, and that's a good thing. SCATT MX-02 uses the same Windows software for data capture and analysis as its predecessors. This means that shooters and coaches upgrading to MX-02 will have no learning curve to overcome, and newcomers to the SCATT platform can tap into the wealth of knowledge accumulated over the years by the shooting community on how to interpret shot data.
Live Firing Evaluation: Smallbore
Strictly speaking, several electronic trainers on the market already support live firing; in the case of SCATT WS-01, a special target frame, containing IR emitters and designed to be placed near the actual target, can be purchased to enable this feature. However, due to the nature of infrared, such support has been restricted to indoor use only. Since access to full distance indoor ranges suitable for position shooting is extremely limited, especially in North America, most shooters have been effectively denied the possibility of using SCATT in live fire. The SCATT MX-02 is the first electronic trainer to overcome this limitation and fully support outdoor use, finally making live fire capability available to the vast majority of shooters.
SCATT MX-02 is designed to work with both smallbore and centerfire calibers. At the time of publication, we have only tested the review unit with smallbore rifles. An upcoming revision to this review will contain evaluation results from High Power shooting.
Testing Methodology
The smallbore live fire evaluation took place at my home range, Los Angeles Rifle & Revolver Club. The SCATT MX-02 was used alongside a SIUS ASCOR electronic target. The weather in Southern California was sunny and largely wind-free throughout the multiple evaluation sessions.
I wanted to find out if SCATT's usefulness might vary among shooters of different skill levels. Therefore, two prone shooters took part in the test: myself, a high-level shooter who averages mid-to-high 590s on the ISSF 50m target; and Jober Velasco, an intermediate-level club shooter averaging around mid-560s. This gave me the opportunity to act as the coach to Jober, and to use his SCATT data to come up with performance suggestions.
We each performed multiple 10-shot strings. After each string, we took a snapshot the group on the SIUS target, and saved the corresponding SCATT tracing file for later comparison.
We didn't spend a lot of time trying to match the zero on "paper" and the zero in SCATT. While centering the groups in both places is possible, I don't consider it worth the time, as we are mainly interested in comparing the shapes of the groups and reading the tracings.
Results: Intermediate-Level Shooter
A selection of strings shot by Jober Velasco is provided below, with each live-fire group on top of its SCATT counterpart.
Here are Jober's strings. The live fire groups are on top, the SCATT groups at the bottom.
As we can see, the shapes of SCATT and live-fire groups are largely comparable. It is not realistic to expect them to match exactly, due to the random dispersion inherent in the ammunition, which SCATT cannot replicate. Ammunition is especially a factor in Jober's groups, as he was shooting his sub-optimal practice ammo, which is likely why his second live fire group is so much larger than the SCATT group.
Despite the uncooperative ammo, the tracings captured by SCATT explain a lot about Jober's performance. Take, for example, shots marked #14 and #18 within his third 10-shot string, which are to the extreme right and left of the group, respectively, both in SCATT and on the live target. The shot tracing in shot #14 shows that his aim was high, and then got pulled to the lower right at the moment of shot release, whereas during shot #18, his aim was continuously listing toward 8 o'clock. This tells us that Jober needs to improve his trigger release, during which the point of aim should not move. The quality of his natural point of aim is also suspect, as a shooter's aim tends to drift to his true NPA if it is not aligned with the center of the target.
The SCATT tracings tell us exactly what caused Jober's two worst shots to go so far afield. Disregard the fact that SCATT zero is quite a bit off from the live zero; the relative position of two shots is what we are interested in.
Jober's wobble zone, as indicated by the yellow line, is a little larger than the 10-Ring. It can certainly be reduced considerably, if he works on improving his position. His approach to the center, as indicated by the green line, is rather chaotic, which suggests to me that he is steering the gun to the center rather than relying on a sound NPA. Jober's recoil pattern, indicated by the red line, is usually vertical, but can sometimes be completely out of control, as shown in the following tracing:
Bad Recoil Revealed — Here is a particularly bad recoil pattern from Jober.
Thus, the use of SCATT MX-02 in live fire has given us considerable insight into the performance deficiencies of an intermediate-level shooter. Granted, a lot of this information can be acquired from dry firing with SCATT, but some factors, such as recoil characteristics and the role played by ammunition quality, can only be evaluated in live fire. We shall now see whether live fire data could be even more illuminating for a high-level shooter.
Results: High-Level Shooter
A selection of strings shot by the author is provided below, along with some sample tracings.
The author, Tony Chow, in prone shooting position.
Shown are strings by Tony Chow. Live fire groups are on top, with the SCATT groups at the bottom.
To reach world-class level in prone shooting, one needs to consistently land hits well within the 10-Ring. Frequent loose 10s and tight 9s are unacceptable. By these standards, my performance still has some way to go. So what clues can we glean from the SCATT data? The most obvious area of improvement is aiming accuracy. Points of impact on target correspond pretty well with the relative positions of points of aim shown in SCATT. In fact, SCATT offers a dedicated metric — Stability of Aiming — that shows at a glance the shooter's aiming consistency. Smaller numbers are better. On the 50m ISSF rifle target, aiming error of around 7mm is quite typical. A value of 5mm or under would be ideal.
Aiming error is an important factor, but insufficient to explain my worst shots. Take shots #1 and #8 in the third string; they are at least 15mm apart from each other on the live target, center-to-center. Yet in SCATT, the aiming points of these shots (represented by the yellow crosshair marking the center of the last second of tracing) are just 5mm apart. What accounts for the rest of the dispersion? Ammunition could be an explanation, but considering the match-quality ammo that I was using—a lot of Lapua Center-X well suited to my rifle that regularly shoots decimal strings of 105.0 or better when I'm in top form—it's one that should be turned to only as a last resort in the analysis. In this case, the ammunition factor can be safely discounted, because the shot tracings contain a vital clue: for both shots, the direction of shot displacement is same as the direction in which the tracing is traveling at the junction between the blue and red parts of the line, which represents the first instant of shot release:
The author's two worst shots are well explained by the movement captured by SCATT MX-02.
This movement isn't the recoil, which is a much more violent motion constituting the bulk of the red portion of the tracing. Nor could is it likely to be the trigger jerk; if that were the case, it wouldn't be so brief in duration and random in orientation from shot to shot. Rather, the most likely explanation is that this area of the tracing is simply a moment in the natural vibration of the muzzle, the "wobble" within my wobble zone. If so, it would mean that the vibration inherent in my hold is a force strong enough to significantly displace the bullet in whatever direction the muzzle happens to be traveling at the moment of shot release.
An examination of the rest of the shots in the group seems to bears out this theory. Shot #7 is the lowest in the group, and the tracing shows that the muzzle is moving downward during shot release:
The low 7th shot correlates with a downward muzzle movement during release.
In some shots, the muzzle happens to be changing direction during shot release. In theory, the muzzle's momentum is at its slowest at such moments, and should not displace the shot as much. As it turns out, as these shots do happen to be some of the best in the group:
Some of the best shots occurred when the tracing happened to be turning during release.
For me, the fact that muzzle oscillation plays such a major role in determining shot placement is an important revelation. It tells me convincingly that to have fewer flyers and higher scores, I must work to reduce the amount of vibration in my hold. SCATT provides a specific metric, the Tracing Length, which can be used to assess the speed of muzzle vibration. At this time, even though I have a much smaller hold than Jober, my tracing lengths aren't much better than his—50mm to 60mm—indicating that the muzzle is vibrating very quickly within a tiny area. By contrast, world-class shooters exhibit tracing lengths in the 20-40mm range.
Trace Length Comparison
Tracing Length isn't a feature introduced by MX-02; previous generations of SCATT have always had this it. Yet until now, I have largely ignored this metric. Only with the help of MX-02, did I realize how important it truly is.
T. Chow trace lengths (left) compared to those of Russian shooter Marina Bobkova (right):
This, to me, is where SCATT MX-02 proves its worth. Its outdoor live fire capability not only can provide information not available in dry firing, it can also help shooters and coaches better understand the significance of data captured in dry firing. There's simply nothing like being able to correlate SCATT tracings with the real holes on target, and that makes SCATT MX-02 a uniquely useful tool.
It isn't often that a product that promises so much ends up delivering on all counts. SCATT MX-02 comes very close. It is well made, portable, reliable, and, aside from a potentially more involved calibration process, easy to set up. In dry fire mode, it is a worthy successor to its IR-based predecessors, and provides the same wealth of data that users have come to expect from a SCATT product. MX-02's outdoor live fire capability works well and opens up intriguing training possibilities. When the data is interpreted correctly, it can reveal problems in shooting invisible in dry firing, as well as help users better understand the implications of dry firing data. I highly recommend this product for anyone serious about mastering position shooting.
The MSRP for SCATT MX-02 is $1,799, $500 more than its predecessor, the SCATT WS-01, which is still available for sale. In my view, the extra premium is justified by the new capabilities of the product. For newcomers to electronic trainers, SCATT MX-02 is undoubtedly a better value and long-term investment than its infrared-based competitors.
For those who already own an electronic trainer, whether it is worth upgrading to the MX-02 depends on the shooter's skill level. Beginners and intermediates still working on fundamentals should spend most of their training time doing dry firing. Accordingly, they may be adequately served by the IR trainers that they already own. On the other hand, more advanced shooters, who are chasing those last 5 points in their scores, should seriously consider upgrading to the MX-02, as they are in the position to fully exploit SCATT MX-02's powerful features.
Interested readers can examine SCATT MX-02 at the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. SCATT will have the MX-02 on display at SHOT Show Booth 111.


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We are on vacation this week, so we are taking a break from sharing our history to talk about vacationing as a business owner. Our history will resume next week. – Joe & Annemarie
When you own and operate your own small business that always becomes the question when you contemplate taking time off to relax and spend some quality time with your family.
As anyone who has a small business will tell you, no matter where you go you can never really leave your business behind. Yes, you can travel and spend time with your family; but, your business is never completely out of your thoughts and, most likely, you will still need to take care of business while you are away.
We are fortunate to have very capable employees along with an outstanding operations manager who we trust and is skilled enough to take care of the day to day business while we are away. Yet, even with these advantages, we not only keep in touch with the office, respond to and send emails, and field important telephone calls whenever we travel, but almost always bring some work with us.
Worse yet, it seems to never fail that whenever we are away one crisis or another will suddenly arise and demand our immediate attention. Our vacations would not be complete without that urgent call from the office! Sometimes, this not only will happen while on vacation, but also on a late Friday afternoon so that we have the added pleasure of stewing about it all weekend.
It is just a fact of life that the owners of a small business are never "off the clock". If you can completely detach yourself from your business while you are away, you might want to consider staying on vacation since either your business does not need you or you may not be in business very long due to neglect.
Leaving your business for a few days of 'R and R' is a little like leaving your children with a sitter. You can go out and have fun, but; your children are never out of your mind. You will interrupt your activities to check in with the sitter to make sure everything is all right and you always leave the sitter with all the ways they can get in touch with you, if necessary. Going on vacation as the owner of a small business is not much different.
As we make plans for our summer vacation, along with the sunscreen, we will remember to also pack our small business and bring it along.
Our advice for all the small business owners who plan to have a carefree vacation this summer:
- Be sure you have Internet access. We love our Blackberries and laptops!
- Be sure your cell phone is fully charged
- Be sure someone in your office is prepared to take care of the routine matters and only call you when something really important happens.
- Be sure you set aside time to call in anyway (just for peace of mind, if for no other reason).
Oh, by the way, 'Have Fun!" even if you are the owner of a small business.

subset: commoncrawl


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Alexandre Reza: Green is my mother's favorite color and I owe my obsession with emeralds to her. She had a pair of emerald studs, a gift from my father that she only wore on special occasions. When I saw these at Alexandre Reza I fell in love with the amazing color and cut of the emeralds, which are set off by the surrounding diamonds.
Louis Vuitton: The Louis Vuitton fine jewelry boutique opened last July on Place Vendôme and there you can see not only fantastic jewels but also great art including a ceiling installation by Teresita Fernández. I was immediately drawn to this long necklace because of the opal (which happens to be my birth stone) and white diamonds in white gold, (The blue tint comes from ceramic dust.) I got a preview of some soon to be released pieces by designer Lorenz Bäumer—definitely more to look forward to.
Chanel Fine Jewelry: The new "Sous le Signe du Lion" collection was presented throughout a series of pitch-black rooms where in each box displaying the marvelous collection of jewels also contained a surprise. The lion was a familiar symbol for Coco Chanel throughout her life—she was both a Leo and a resilient creature. This beautiful Lion Mosaïque brooch in white gold set with 989 brilliant cut diamonds to me best represents Chanel's character and strength.
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Bulgari: To celebrate its new Diva Collection, Bulgari hosted a lavish, star-studded event at the Hôtel Potocki in Paris. Models were draped with jewels; my favorite was a bracelet called "Persian Memories." The emeralds were originally cylindrical but were later cut in half to better show off their amazing color—the sheer size of them is astonishing. The bracelet contains 6 actual emeralds, 12 emerald beads, spinels, buff top rubies, and pavé diamonds.
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This week, the racing media descends upon Charlotte for the annual NASCAR Media Tour. I was fortunate to attend this event twice. While most fans know this tour is a chance for teams to tout the possibilities of 2010, things do happen behind the scenes. Here is a glimpse behind the curtain.
Everyone is winning the 2010 Sprint Cup
We all know Jimmie Johnson is taking home his fifth straight title this year. Still, it's newsworthy to hear Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards explain why 2010 is their year. But when start-and-parkers say they're going to make the Chase, I cringe on so many levels. Reporters don't challenge these comments; they just choose to not use the quotes, tossing them away like a losing lottery ticket. Instead, most ask why 2010 is their year, and the following words come out.
We're really excited blah blah blah
A reporter once kept track of how many time the word "excited" was uttered in opening statements of the tour. He stopped keeping track at 200. Michael Waltrip jokingly banned the word from his opening remarks in 2008. I told you he was going to be a good owner.
Every announcement is the biggest announcement of all time
Teams use this week to make positive announcements, like Kyle Busch extending his contract or teams working on earthquake relief. Not all announcements are so newsworthy. Just don't tell that to the PR staff. We were eating lunch and told to hurry up with cameras ready for important announcement. Food scarfed down, lunch kind of messed up, but it's an important announcement. Turns out that important announcement was the unveiling of the Johnny Carino's car on the Nationwide Series. At least we got a gift card, which was nice, but not as nice as this.
The hotel bacon is awesome
The tour has a central location. Every morning, we got free breakfast. Some tried to eat healthy. I tried to be one of those folks – until I had a slice of the hotel bacon. When you have a slice of the hotel bacon, those resolutions drop faster than Paul Menard from the lead lap.
You'll be hearing about this crap all year
Every writer is tweeting, blogging, reporting, updating and possibly annoying the tar out of you with nuggets of wisdom. But as quick as the news cycle is, there are stories gathered from this event you'll be hearing about in July. The access to every random crew member, executive and driver is unparalleled. It is access you don't get in other sports and one of the reasons NASCAR achieved its popularity. So read well racing fans, and don't hesitate to mail me some bacon.


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1st International Forum Somalia Oil, Gas & Mining
WhenApr 27, 2015 10:00 AM to
Apr 28, 2015 06:00 PM
The Forum will be instrumental in unfolding the potential of the underexplored country, both onshore & offshore investigating hydrocarbon reserves & discussing successful investment with the Ministry
The rapid improvement of Somali security conditions, coupled with its ensuing political stability, has once again established the nation as an attractive investment opportunity. This is particularly true of its Oil, Gas & Mining industry.
Due to Somalia's proximity to the oil rich Gulf Arab states and its geological similarity to its mineral-heavy surrounding nations, it is increasingly being described by industry experts as an untapped resource.
This makes it one of the most exciting destinations for exploration and development and therefore a monumental attraction for foreign investment.
The Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources aims to liaise with investors and operators to establish a platform upon which Somalia's potential can be unlocked.
More information about this event…


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I love my pups, but I've never made treats for them before. As I learn to treat myself better through food, I figured I ought to do the same for them, too.
Dollar and Brandy were so excited, it's almost like they knew what was going into the mixer was for them.
And with it being so close to Valentine's Day, I just had to use the heart-shaped cookie cutter.
Peanut Butter and Applesauce Dog Treats
Makes at least 3 dozen treats
- 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Not everything will come together well since there's no egg for binding, so add more applesauce or peanut butter if necessary.
Flour a table or working surface, then begin to roll out the dough. You may want to do it in batches.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out the treats and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone sheet.
Pop em in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until browned slightly. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container or plastic bag.


text:
SAP C_TAW12_750 Exam Questions
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Musical Performance: Oriental Music Ensemble of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music-Palestine
Mon, March 9, 2009 8:30 pm at Miller Theatre, Columbia University
(View all musical performances »)
Co-presented by ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) and Miller Theatre at Columbia University, supported by Alwan for the Arts, to benefit the reconstruction of a music school destroyed in Gaza on December 27, 2008 and the construction of a school of music for the ESNCM Bethlehem Branch.
Oriental Music Ensemble of the
Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine
Suhail Khoury, nay (flute) and clarinet
Ahmad Al-Khatib, oud
Ibrahim Attari, qanoun
Yousef Hbeisch, percussion
Miller Theatre, Columbia University
116th and Broadway, Manhattan
Tickets: $25
To order tickets online click here
* * * * *
The Oriental Music Ensemble of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music - Palestine (ESNCM) comes to the Miller Theatre on a United States tour. The ensemble, founded and formed by four talented faculty members of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music-Palestine, performs classical and contemporary Arab music for oud, nay, clarinet, qanun, and percussion.
More info on event: Oriental Music Ensemble at Miller Theatre
Listen to the Oriental Music Ensemble
ESNCM website: Edward Said National Conservatory of Music
Watch a video about the ESNCM
_____Support provided by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Additional support from the Ford Foundation is also provided through Yabous Productions and from Alwan for the Arts.
Last updated: 2009-03-09 14:55:54
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Directions16 Beaver Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(646) 732 3261
Email Us
Alwan for the Arts is accessible to people with disabilities. Please call 646 732 3261 in advance, or, buzz at the door to arrange a ramp.
© 2020 Alwan for the Arts
Hosting donated by:Marefa.org, the Arabic Encyclopedia


text: 2015 Our annual Christmas lunch was held at the Relais de l'Oust in Josselin on 15th December. It was well supported by members and friends with good food, wine and an excellent atmosphere. Rodney and Jacques (from the ANT-TRN who attended with his wife) Rodney presenting the owner of the Hotel with a beautiful festive plant.


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By: Kyle Buschelman
Experts anticipated an above average run at Buoy 10 this year and that's meeting expectations. I think this year is a normal Buoy 10 year. It's not super good and it's not slow like last year when we struggled largely due to water challenges. The run is lining up the way it's supposed to. As of today I think we are on tract for what the forecasters expected. The kings are here, they are acting normal and coming in on the right tides. I would call this a normal Buoy 10 season and we are happy with that.
There's a lot of salmon in the river. This is the peak of the run. Typical Buoy 10 season for kings ends at the end of September. Right now is a good as it gets for booking dates. Coho started arriving in numbers today, but this is prime time for kings. We are catching a lot of jacks (and we have to release those) and there's a lot of tule salmon being caught (and we recommending releasing those as their table fare isn't good, anyway) but the size of the upriver brights is really good. I've seen lots of 30-pound fish caught this year. We've actually caught a lot of 30s on our boat already.
The best fish finder here is boats. There are so many boats out there you can see when there's a bite. It's basic fishing out at Buoy 10. If you are around 100 boats and no one is getting a bite it's time to move to new area. There's a lot of people out here and everyone is trying to hit the best fishery we have on the West Coast. People expect the crowds, but there's plenty of fish for everyone, which is kind of cool. People are nice even with the high pressure.
The most ideal tides are the softer tides because the fish come in on the on high tide and they don't go back to the ocean so quickly and we can manage our speed better. When we have extreme tides it makes it rough out there and tough to fish. The best tides are the softer tides because they are easier to fish and the salmon can hold in the estuary a bit better.
Knowing where the tide is at any given time is important because it lets you know where you need to be. For example, if we are starting a day with a high slack that means we are going to have an outgoing all morning and we want to be above the bridge preparing for a downstream troll to hit those fish. With that being said if we are on the low end and we have an incoming tide I like to put myself in a position to interception those fish as they are coming in. When faced with these conditions I like to fish the Oregon side and hold against the current to try to find where the fish are based in relation to where we are in the tide.
We are trolling mainly Natural Fire Brine herring (and anchovies) with Blue and Chartreuse Fire Brine herring on our rods at all times. The largest fish we've caught this year have been on Blue Fire Brine. However, the most fish have been on natural. But, to be fair that's because I fish mostly natural baits. To be honest I run blue all the time. I only use the chartreuse if the water seems off color, but natural and blue are two colors you can always run. The blue stands out different on sunny days and on cloudy days. It's a different shine. The other day blue anchovies took three of our fish.
Here's a blog I wrote yesterday on tips to have great bait for Buoy 10: https://www.pautzke.com/tips-to-prepare-good-bait-for-buoy-10
Line isn't extremely important. Every body uses something different. However, if trolling I prefer a braided mainline and fluorocarbon leaders. With that said I use 65-pound Power Pro and 30-pound Seagar STS. I run a three-hook system, but a lot of guys use two hooks. My hook to land ratio is pretty good with three hooks so I continue using it. I use Owner herring hooks for the three-hook system. I use a 4/0 for my top hook and my two trailing hooks are 3/0. Remember on this system they have to be barbless.
Regulations: The limit is one king per day. You are allowed two salmon a day. They can be two coho or one king and a coho. Only hatchery coho may be kept. However, wild or hatchery kings can be kept. Chinook season at Buoy 10 closes at the end of August. It's important always to check regulations as they may change.
Editor's Note: Kyle Buschelman operates Willamette Valley Outfitters. For more info on his guide Buoy 10 trips please visit www.willamettevalleyoutfitters.com or https://www.facebook.com/WillametteValleyOutfitters.


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The draw for the third round of the U16's Scottish Youth FA Cup was made at Hampden Park yesterday morning.
Last years final in the 2003 age group was a thrilling encounter which saw Longniddry Villa edge past Falkirk FCF with a goal in the last minute to lift the famous trophy. Villa will begin the defence of their title with an away tie against Central Region side Milton Reds
Beaten finalists from last year Falkirk FCF will be looking to go one further this year and they begin with a home tie to ADJFA side Newmachar United.
The full draw is as follows:
Holytown Colts vs Rutherglen Glencairn JFC
Kelty Hearts CC vs Camelon Juniors
Real Fife vs Rowallan Sports Club or Dalrymple Thistle
Broomhill SC P&D vs Letham SC Tangerines
Johnstone Burgh vs Edinburgh City Blacks
Rossvale FC Munich vs Glenburn Miners Welfare
Knightswood FC vs Finnart BC
Kennoway Star Hearts FC vs Stonehaven Youth
Hearts of Beath Juniors vs Heston Rovers
Deveronvale vs Tranent Colts
St Cadocs YC United vs Oban Saints or Winton Rovers
Pitfour FC vs Rossvale FC United
Cumbernauld United FC Black vs Jerviston FC
Dalziel BC vs Jeanfield Swifts
Giffncok SC P&D vs Newtongrange Star YDA
Clyde FC SofF vs North Motherwell BC
Musselburgh Windsor vs Leith Athletic FC
Linlithgow Rose CFC vs Dundee West FC
Falkirk FCF vs Newmachar United
Barrhead YFC vs Spartans FC Youth
Airdrie United vs Fraserburgh Link-up
Broughty United YFC vs Bellfield Royals
Tynecastle FC vs Fairmuir BC
Murieston Blues vs Port Glasgow Juniors CSC Reds
Pollok FC or St Cadocs YC vs Edinburgh South FC Reds
Mossend FC vs Cumbernauld Colts
Milton Reds vs Longniddry Villa
Erskine YFC Reds vs CBC Hilton
Kirkfield United vs Milton
KSC Kilwinning Rangers vs Milton Rovers YFC
Melrose FC vs Salvesen CFC
Accies BC vs Westdyke CC
All ties will be played on the weekend of the 3/4 November


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Screened as part of NZIFF 2017
Blade of the Immortal 2017
Mugen no junin
It beggars belief that this is Miike Takashi's 100th feature, but even more impressive is how the man behind such stone-cold classics as Audition, Happiness of the Katakuris and Ichi the Killer is still on fire in the director's chair. So, rejoice fans – the maestro is back on form, katana in hand and ready to party.
Based on a hugely popular manga series about a vengeful swordsman with an uncanny ability to self-heal, Blade of the Immortal is a gorgeous and brutal fantasy romp, and a welcome return to the heroic bloodshed of Miike's great samurai epic, 13 Assassins. Less rigid than that chanbara opus, and without the cartoonish violence of his recent loopy outings, this is Miike unplugged – raw and savage, with just the right amount of levity.
Mega idol Kimura Takuya stars as Manji, whose sister is viciously killed by bounty hunters. After dispatching the scum, a mysterious nun uses blood worms to work their magic on Manji's veins and meaty bits. Years later he is hired as a bodyguard for Rin (Sugisaki Hana), whose kendo-master father and pupils were slaughtered by the swordsmen of Itto-ryu. Together they make an odd couple, especially as Rin looks uncannily like Manji's dead sister.
Before the last drop of blood hits the dirt viewers will be immersed in a complex web of political conspiracy, double-crosses and supernatural shenanigans, as the expertly staged battles between ever increasing numbers of adversaries erupt in crimson geysers of body parts. It all builds to a virtuoso display of kinetic action that some are saying even tops 13 Assassins' climax to end all climaxes. — AT


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WEB Du Bois, Souls of Black Folk
Franz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks
Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom
Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider
Edward Said, Orientalism
Ahmed, Sara. On being included: Racism and diversity in institutional life. (Duke University Press, 2012). Further here on the 'non-performity of anti-racism' (Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism, 2006)
Bonilla-Silva, E. Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States. (2006). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Brown, Adrienne Maree. Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. (AK Press, 2017)
DiAngelo, Robin. White fragility: Why it's so hard to talk to talk to white people about racism, The Good Men Project. Further here (International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, 2011).
Donnelly, Michael. Diverse Places of Learning? Home neighbourhood ethnic diversity & ethnic composition of universities (IPR, 2018)
Gabriel, Deborah and Tate, Shirley Anne (eds). Inside the Ivory Tower: Narratives of Black British Women Surviving and Thriving in British Academia. (Trentham Books, 2017)
Kamunge, Beth., Joseph-Salisbury, Remi., & Johnson, Azeezat. (2018). Changing our fate in the fire now. The Fire Now: Anti-racist scholarship in times of explicit racial violence. London: Zed Books.
Manzoor-Khan, Suhaiyma (2019) Postcolonial Banter, Padstow: Verve Poetry Press.
Molisa, Pala. "White Business Education." Critical Perspectives on Accounting 21, no. 6 (2010): 525-528.
Osuri, Goldie. "How to stop worrying about the neoliberal present and start engaging with it." Australian Feminist Studies 22, no. 52 (2007): 145-147.
Osuri, Goldie. ""White Free Speech: The Fraser event and its enlightenment legacies"" Cultural Studies Review 14, no. 2 (2008): 170-183.
Puwar, N. Space invaders: Race, gender and bodies out of place. (2004). Berg.
Sue, D. W. . Race talk and the conspiracy of silence: Understanding and facilitating difficult dialogues on race. (2016): John Wiley & Sons.
Tate, Shirley Anne. "Racial affective economies, disalienation and 'race made ordinary'." Ethnic and Racial Studies 37, no. 13 (2014): 2475-2490.
Tate, S. A., & Page, D. Whiteliness and institutional racism: Hiding behind (un) conscious bias. Ethics and Education, 13(1), (2018): 141-155.
Tate, Shirley Anne, and Paul Bagguley. "Building the anti-racist university: next steps." Race, Ethnicity and Education 20, no. 3 (2017): 289-299.
Yancy, George. 'Whiteness as Ambush and the Transformative Power of Vigilance' in Black Bodies, White Gazes: The Continuing Significance of Race (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008).
The Feminist Killjoy blog by Sara Ahmed
Brewis, Deborah N. "Duality and Fallibility in Practices of the Self: The 'inclusive subject' in diversity training." Organization Studies (2018): 0170840618765554.
Dar, Sadhvi. "The Masque of Blackness: On performing assimilation in the white academy." Organization (2018): 1350508418805280.
Dar, Sadhvi and Salmon, Udeni. Book review: Inside the Ivory Tower. Gender Work and Organization (2018): 10.1111/gwao.12273. See here for further info on the book and project.
Liu, Helena. "An embarrassment of riches: The seduction of postfeminism in the academy." Organization (2018): 1350508418763980.
Left of Brown (collaborative blog curated by Dr Sadhvi Dar)
Sisters of Resistance (radical queer feminist of colour blog curated by Dr Angela Martinez Dy)


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Most of the time I'm a rather stable, level-headed person until I run into someone or something that makes me lose my patience and have what I call 'a moment.' It's those moments we all have where you look at someone when they did something and you're like, really dude … what the frack?
Some days you just gotta say what's on your mind. I'm having a moment today and just have a few things that I want to say …
1. Sunday morning dog barking: I have this neighbor who lives four doors down who has an annoying dog. I'm a total dog person and there's a rare dog out there that I don't want to walk over to and pet on the head. But not my neighbor's dog.
I have no idea what kind of dog it is. All I know is that dog barks ALL. THE. TIME. For some reason, my neighbor leaves him outside in their backyard even though they know he barks. He barks when someone walks by (with our without a dog), he barks when he sees a squirrel, he barks when he sees a leaf drop.
For a full week, that dog woke me up every morning about 10 minutes before my alarm went off. I didn't say anything to my neighbor because I had to get up early but then when it happened on Sunday morning at 7am, I had enough. If I can hear your dog four doors down with my windows closed, there's no reason you can't hear your own dog barking from inside your own house.
What the frack people? Open the door and bring the freaking dog inside …
2. Do you drive like this?: You already know how I feel about the way tourists drive in my city, but what about the people who live here? I have no idea if this was an old person or a new driver but here I was driving along on the straightaway part of the road. I see this car on a side street getting ready to turn right on the road. I swear there was no one about ten miles ahead of me or behind me and that freaking driver waited until I was about 2 feet away from them before they pulled out in front of me.
What the frack people? You waited this long to pull out, can't you at least wait for me to pass by you?
3. When stuff won't work: I just recently upgraded to a new phone with all the new gadgets in it. I'm still trying to figure out what half the stuff does in it but for the most part, it's been pretty cool to play with. Of course, its all fun and games until the thing decides that it doesn't want to work.
Less then a week after I got the phone, something weird happened and it wouldn't make a phone call. I messed it with, touched this, checked that setting, screwed with it for over 30 minutes until I just wanted to throw it out the window. I felt like one of those old folks you see in the Jitterbug commercial – I just want a phone that's suppose to make a phone call! Why is that so hard to ask for?
After several four-letter words came out of my mouth, I just pulled out the battery and rebooted the freaking thing. What the frack people? The more stuff you put in our phones, the less it seems to work like a phone.
Anything that bugs you where you want to say 'What the frack people?'
Photo credit: Question One


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Ohio State University's athletics watchdogs still think they are among the best in the nation despite a football-program scandal that has tarred the school's reputation.
But the scandal is prompting changes in the compliance department to tighten oversight of athletes' cars, who gets the passes that family and friends use to attend games, and whether students' expenses match their incomes.
Ohio State University's athletics watchdogs still think they are among the best in the nation despite a football-program scandal that has tarred the school's reputation.
But the scandal is prompting changes in the compliance department to tighten oversight of athletes' cars, who gets the passes that family and friends use to attend games, and whether students' expenses match their incomes.
Ohio State will formally respond to NCAA allegations of wrongdoing by football players and former coach Jim Tressel today, so officials would not discuss the case yesterday. But in an interview with The Dispatch, they outlined how the compliance department works and described what steps they're taking to improve it.
"We want to go further than where we've been," athletic director Gene Smith said. "Using cars as an example, we feel really good about how we track cars, but through this process, we've learned some additional things that we could do."
Specifically, Smith and other Ohio State officials said they are working on plans to:
� Get better documentation of car purchases. To ensure that athletes are not getting inappropriate deals, dealers or players would provide records detailing transactions. Currently, athletes report how they obtained cars, but they don't provide any supporting documentation.
� Set a time limit on "loaner cars." The university would limit how long a student-athlete can borrow a car from a dealer or individual. Currently, Ohio State does not set a limit.
� Audit vehicles several times a year. Ohio State would check parking lots used by athletes to ensure their cars are registered with the university. Unregistered cars would be ticketed.
� Check everyone who receives game passes from football or men's basketball players. At the beginning of the school year, students would be required to provide a list of anyone who might receive passes to games. The compliance department would talk to each person to determine his or her relationship to the student. Currently, Ohio State does random checks.
� Examine students' budgets. A new software program will help officials guide students on how to manage their money. Ohio State officials say the main goal is to educate students, some of whom have never had a checking account before college, but the software also could help generate red flags about students who are living beyond their means.
The NCAA violations at the heart of the case against Ohio State involve improper benefits that six players received when they sold or traded memorabilia for tattoos, and Tressel's lies about his knowledge of the violation.
Reports by The Dispatch raised other questions during the NCAA investigation, including whether players got deals on cars that the general public would not have received and whether it was proper that some players, including then-quarterback Terrelle Pryor, repeatedly borrowed cars from dealerships. Also, some key figures, including a car dealer who sold many vehicles to players and the tattoo-parlor owner who received the memorabilia, were among the people who went to games using athletes' passes.
The infractions committee is to hear the case against Ohio State on Aug. 12 and determine whether the school should face other penalties. Tressel and five players were to be suspended for the first five games of the season, but the coach resigned under pressure, and star quarterback Pryor left the team to pursue his NFL dream.
The OSU compliance department now is rewriting its own rulebook at a time when compliance nationally is taking the first steps toward establishing common procedures. A first set, called reasonable standards, was adopted last September. Another set was released last month.
But the standards proposed by the National Association of Athletics Compliance cover limited areas and are guidelines rather than rules.
Kate Hickey, the head of the association, said that even an encyclopedic knowledge of the more than 400-page NCAA manual doesn't guarantee compliance.
"The fact of the matter is that on any given day something is going to happen which falls outside of the rules," said Hickey, who is also head of compliance at Rutgers University in New Jersey. "But I do believe it is possible to detect violations based on systems you have, to provide education to allow people to understand when they have inadvertently violated a rule. Those are the ways we try to manage all of this stuff."
The lack of national standards means there hasn't been clear direction about what the athletics watchdogs should do. Should they act like private investigators and look for wrongdoing, or simply act on reports of problems as they come in?
How far should they go to check for cushy deals? Should they hang out in parking lots to see what students are driving and search court records for traffic violations, or is collecting information about their vehicles enough?
"There is no baseline as to how an institution has to structure its compliance office," Smith said. "It's really based on years of experience of everybody involved. But there is no standard in our industry that says you have to have this, you have to do that."
Compliance chief Doug Archie said the development of national standards is "long overdue." He said Ohio State's office has tried to tread the line between acting like enforcers and being educators.
"It's a fine line, and a hard line sometimes to balance because if we are just the police officer, then they are not going to come to us (for help). ... And if we are just their friend, we're not going to pick up the things we need to know," Archie said.
"It's finding that balance between those two that makes an effective compliance office."
He said OSU officials typically are responding to tips when they investigate potential violations, but they don't intend to become an undercover unit that tracks athletes' moves.
"We won't shadow or follow them around," Archie said.
Smith has discussed hiring private investigators to help the compliance department, but he said that was just one idea among many being tossed around.
Ohio State officials and national experts say schools get most of their direction from the NCAA by watching for violations, hopefully at other schools. Compliance offices use NCAA rulings and news media reports about problems as tip sheets for what to watch for and what to avoid.
OSU officials point to the school's compliance record - the university says it reports more potential violations to the NCAA than any other Big Ten school - as proof that it takes the rules seriously.
The challenge, Smith said, is that Columbus is a big city and Ohio State has prominent programs. That means there are more opportunities for athletes to get into trouble and more fans looking to exploit future pros.
"Our football and our basketball athletes are put on this pedestal - they're like pros in this community - and so people want to attach themselves to those individuals for different reasons. Some are legitimate, and some, frankly, have different motives," Smith said.
Ohio State's compliance department says much of its focus is on educating students and coaches about NCAA rules to avoid violations. But they say a big focus now is to address the people outside of Ohio State.
"The people who are trying to get close to (students) for unscrupulous reasons are pretty talented and skilled at what they do ... so their ability to persuade and influence is pretty doggone good. ... That to me is one of our biggest weaknesses and where our focus is," Smith said.
To get the outside community involved, for instance, the university plans to work with car dealers who agree to provide records about sales. Athletes interested in buying cars could check the university's list of participating dealers to simplify the effort to follow NCAA rules. Students who buy elsewhere would be required to provide the records themselves.
Also, the compliance department has added two people this year, giving it a staff of eight. And assistant athletic director Chris Rogers has revamped the education program this summer to spread out lessons about compliance into more digestible chunks. The hope is that the football and men's basketball players who participate will retain more of the information.
A committee of Ohio State trustees is investigating possible changes, including whether to move the athletics watchdogs into a standalone compliance department that also would oversee other parts of the university.
Smith said yesterday that he would support that move.
"Anything we can do to get better, strengthen. We embrace that idea," Smith said.


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DJ Mean Gene (The L Brothers)
Hip Hop Pioneer, DJ Mean Gene's history and involvement in the Hip Hop Culture.
DJ Mean Gene is from the "old school" with a ton of knowledge and has had a major impact on what we call Hip Hop today.
To give a little bit of history on who this legend of Hip Hop is, I will give you a couple of excerpts from various articles. In a 1996 interview with Kool DJ Red Alert by Davey D (Davey D's Hip Hop Corner, Sept. 1996), DJ Red Alert had to say this:
"There was a host of different deejays that was coming up during the time. Rest in Peace Disco King Mario who was from Soundview [Bronxdale] Projects. He passed away due to severe problems. He's considered one of the pioneer deejays. There was DJ AJ who later on became the deejay for Kurtis Blow. Kurtis Blow made a record using his name called 'AJ Scratch'.
Then you had the L Brothers, who were the Livingston Brothers. Once upon a time the Livingston Brothers and Grandmaster Flash were all together as a crew but then they parted off. The L Brothers consisted of the older brother called Mean Gene. The middle brother was Cordeo and the younger brother who turned out to be one of the baddest out the bunch was Grand Wizard Theodore."
DJ Mean Gene is given credit for teaching his brother Grand Wizard Theodore how to DJ. "Grand Wizard Theodore learned the art of DJing from his older brother ("Mean Gene" Livingston), and Grand Master Flash, who in the early 70's performed together. " Grand Wizard Theodore is given the credit for inventing the "scratch" and also the "needle drop". As you can see, DJ Mean Gene is deeply rooted into the history of Hip Hop.
words originally posted by Lynn Lane (http://docmaker.blogspot.co.uk/) in 2005
video credits:
1. u.net interviewed the Amazing DJ Mean Gene @ the UZN 37th anniversary. magic Johnson Theatre Harlem.
November 2010
2. Lynn Lane (http://docmaker.blogspot.co.uk/) 2005


text:
Tedswoodworking Plans
Most shops can always use more storage space. So why not build a workbench where the base not only supports the top but also provides space inside for your hand and power tools? That's the idea behind this workbench.
And to make it easy to use this storage space, a drawer and two trays ride on full-extension slides to keep your tools accessible.
Then there's the top. This laminated, hard maple top adds considerable weight to a storage cabinet already filled with tools. When you combine the two, you end up with a "rock-solid" workbench capable of handling most any project.
To hold these projects on the bench, there's a metal woodworking vise attached to one corner with a thick, maple block covering the front jaw. A pair of dog holes in the block line up with the ho] les in the bench top so bench dogs can be used to hold big projects. And the vise is easy to install. Just four lag screws hold it in place.
Construction Details
Record ED vise with quick-release mechanism
Made from strips of 8/4 hard maple glued face-to- face
Outside case is made from cherry hardwood and plywood
Interior framing and drawers made from maple hardwood and plywood
Complete cutting diagram and materials list on page 13
Record ED vise with quick-release mechanism
Made from strips of 8/4 hard maple glued face-to- face
Outside case is made from cherry hardwood and plywood
Interior framing and drawers made from maple hardwood and plywood
Complete cutting diagram and materials list on page 13
VA'-dia. wood knobs
Frame and panel doors
VA'-dia. wood knobs
Frame and panel doors
Hardwood kickboard
The Record #52V2ED vise with woodjaws has an open capacity of
The Record #52V2ED vise with woodjaws has an open capacity of
Wood spacer
_ Quick-release lever allows vise to open and close freely
Vise mounted with (4) !6"x3" lag screws
Wood spacer
_ Quick-release lever allows vise to open and close freely
Vise mounted with (4) !6"x3" lag screws
Hardwood kickboard
(2)#14x2" RhWoodscrews (4) x Lag Screws
(2) Ball Catches
(8) #4 x Fh Woodscrews (4) Va " x 3" Lag Screws (4) i . Washers (20) #8 x 1 : Fh Woodscrews (36) #8x1: Fh Woodscrews (161 #8 x 1" Fh Woodscrews (3 pr.) 16" Full-Extension Drawer Slides apairofcase sides (J) are cutnext, see Fig. 2. These arejust %"-thick pieces of plywood with rabbets cut on both edges. Each rabbet forms a tongue that fits into the grooves already cut in the stiles, see Fig. 2a.
Then assemble the sides and frames and glue and clamp the case together. After tightening your clamps, check that the case remains square.
CHAMFER STILES. With the case assembled, I routed a decorative stopped chamfer on all four corners, see Fig. 3. (It works best to rout this chamfer in several passes.)
CLEATS. Next, I turned my attention to the inside of the case, starting at the bottom and working my way up.
First, I cut a pair of front/back cleats (K) and a pair of side cleats (L) to fit inside the case, see Fig. 4. These cleats are positioned so the case bottom (added next) will fit flush with the top edge of the bottom rail on the front frame, see Fig. 4a.
BOTTOM. After the cleats are installed, the case bottom (M) can be cutto size, see Fig. 4. This piece of V£"-thick plywood rests on the cleats and helps strengthen the cabinet when it's glued and screwed in place.
STIFFENERS, On most projects, I'd be finished with the cabinet once the bottom was installed. But not here. Instead, to make the case stronger, I added frame stiffeners. These 3/4"-thick pieces of maple cover the joint lines on the frames. It's an easy way to strengthen the stub tenon joints.
I started by cutting three horizontal stiffeners (N)to fit inside the case, see Fig. 5. Two fit behind the top rails on the front frame, while the third is glued to the top rail of the back frame, see Fig. 5a.
Next, I added vertical stiffeners. First, the vertical stiffeners (O) are glued and screwed to the back two corners of the case
between the horizontal stiffened and case bottom, see Figs. 6 and 6a. The other vertical stiffeners (P) and (Q) fit along the sides of the drawer and door openings and are glued and clamped to the front frame.
MOUNTING CLEATS. Now to hold the top in place later, I added a pair of mounting cleats (R). These arejust 3/4"-thickpieces of stock glued and screwed flush with the top of the case sides, see Figs. 6 and 6b.
MCKBOARD. To complete the case, all that's left is to install a kickboard.
First, I cut the stock to finished width (4") with a Vi>" chamfer routed along the top edge. Then the front/back kickboards (S) and side kickboards (T) are mitered to fit around the base and are glued and screwed in place, see Figs. 7 and 7a.
Miter kickboards to fit around case
Miter kickboards to fit around case
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There are a lot of things that either needs to be repaired, or put together when youre a homeowner. If youre a new homeowner, and have just gotten out of apartment style living, you might want to take this list with you to the hardware store. From remolding jobs to putting together furniture you can use these 5 power tools to get your stuff together. Dont forget too that youll need a few extra tools for other jobs around the house.


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We had the pleasure of chatting to Free the Nipple Brighton 2018 organiser Bee, who revealed everything we need to know about this year's event. Join the movement on Sat 7 July to help smash the stigma surrounding female nipples.
Free the Nipple Brighton is a local feminist protest group all about body autonomy and nipple equality, highlighting the very real and sexist attitudes in our culture towards women's bodies and trans bodies. In a world where breasts are used to sell everything from sports cars and perfume to hit singles and TV shows, we really ought to have achieved topless equality by now – at the very least mothers should be able to breastfeed in peace without being harassed by strangers. But alas, equality is still a long way off.
Women who show their breasts in almost any context are shamed, sexualised and disrespected – kicked off social media and potentially even arrested. For trans folk, the issues are even more complex – our culture's obsession with the gender binary makes it nearly impossible for a trans person to show nipples in public – either with or without top surgery. It's high time that this double standard should end – we all deserve the right to be comfortable in our own bodies and walk the streets in peace and safety – just like men do.
How long has the Brighton event been going?
The movement has been going worldwide since 2012 and we have been marching in Brighton for a few years. This year will be our team's second year organising the march. The core organising team includes:
- Bee Nicholls
- Mickey F
- Roni Guetta
- Suze Smethurst
- Dani Simmons
- Dory Valentine
- Rachel Beck
- Beckah Hawkins
- Lottie Wood
What can we expect from the day?
Friendship, sisterhood, networking and bonding with other amazing likeminded souls. Life-affirming, empowering and liberating experiences. A fully accessible march and rally along Brighton seafront, followed by a totally amazing after-party organised by Traumfrau. Last year was honestly one of the best days of my life!
How did you get involved in it?
I went along to the 2016 march which was organised by Samantha Pressdee and when I couldn't find any word on a 2017 march, I contacted her to see if it was happening. She told me she was away all summer – "But why don't you organise it?" she said. The idea was so exciting and terrifying, I couldn't believe I was capable of organising something like that, but immediately the ideas and inspiration started flowing. So I bit the bullet – and here I am! It's been one of the most wonderful things I've ever done.
How can people help the event?
We have managed to put on the 2017 and 2018 march on a minuscule budget (self-funded) and I personally think it's great when things can exist without orientating around money. The best thing people can do to help us is by promoting the event online, distributing our flyers for us, making banners and placards, and most importantly – turning up and taking part! But if there are any socially conscious millionaires reading this, I won't turn down your donations…
Do people have to be topless to take part?
Definitely not. We acknowledge that for all sorts of complex reasons being topless is not an option for everyone. The stigma still hangs heavily in the air and it's not an easy thing to do. We wouldn't want anyone to feel that they had to dress a certain way in order to take part – if our message resonates with you, you'll be welcomed! That's all there is to it for us. All ages and all genders are welcome to take part. We have a code of conduct and safety plan in place to make the event as inclusive and as safe as possible.


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EA7 Emporio Armani Mens Grey Large Logo Melange Sweatpant
Sorry, this item is out of stock.
EA7 Emporio Armani Large Logo Melange Sweatpant in Dark Grey. Constructed from a mix blend of cotton and polyester. Includes a elasticated waistband that has contrast drawstring closure, two side pockets and cuffed detail to the ankles. Completed with the large EA7 Emporio logo printed to the thigh.
- EA7 Emporio Armani
- Elasticated/Drawstring Waistband
- 2 Side Pockets
- Cuffed Ankles
- Large Printed Logo
Info & Care
- 72% Cotton, 28% Polyester
- 30 Deg Cold Wash
- Cool Iron
- Do Not Tumble Dry
- Always Consult Care Label
We aim to dispatch all orders placed before 15:30 on the same day, Monday – Friday. Orders placed after 15:30 or placed at weekends/bank holidays will be dispatched on the next working day (working days are classed as Mon-Fri).
Please see the Delivery page for further information.
Masdings offer 7 delivery options across the UK, Europe and Rest of the world, for more details check the delivery page.
Please return the item(s) to us in their original condition complete with labels* within 14 days of receipt in a protective postage bag/box.
For more information please see the Shipping & Returns page.


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Friendly Hills benefits from the support of many partners who help expand students' learning opportunities. Partners include:
360 Communities — 360 Communities has worked in collaboration with school districts since 1992 to improve student success including improved grades, increased attendance and increased parent involvement. 360 Communities' school-based Family Support Workers develop a trusted relationship with families and lead parents to create a home environment that encourages learning and promotes increased parental involvement in school. Learn more about Friendly Hill's Family Support Worker.
Dodge Nature Center — The Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center is an environmental education and habitat restoration organization located on 322 acres in the heart of West St. Paul and Mendota Heights. Dodge works with schools in District 197 to provide students with environmental-based education.
Friendly Hills appreciates the volunteer services and other means of support from:
701 Mendota Heights Road
Mendota Heights MN 55120
Information for: Parents | Students | Staff | New Families
Phone: 651-403-7600
Attendance: 651-403-7607
Fax: 651-403-7610
Principal: Chris Hiti
School Hours: 8:45 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
District 197 Web Master: firstname.lastname@example.com


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For all of the natural beauty of Australia, the high temperatures present some problems. Here's everything you need to know about Bushfire Attack Ratings (BAL). Plus, what you need to keep in mind when building in wooded areas.
At the height of summer, Australia is at its finest. Barbeques litter backyards throughout the nation, and neighbours get together to share good times.
Unfortunately, the Australian summer has a dangerous side. The country's acres of natural woodland become ever more dangerous as the temperature increases. Hot weather, coupled with arid conditions, raise the chances of bush fires occurring.
Once it starts, a bushfire is difficult to stop. With so much fuel surrounding the flame, it spreads quickly. Anybody in the surrounding area is at immediate risk, as are any buildings near the fire.
Just ask the folks living in Wye River and Separation Creek – on Christmas Day 5 local homes were destroyed despite being bushfire rated.
The incident left experts questioning house design standards.
On what is normally a festive day, 116 families in total lost their homes as the bushfire tore through the area.
The Bushfire Building Council of Australia (BBCA) claim the standards are flawed.
"The type of fire and fire weather conditions [during the Christmas Day fire] were well within the design limitations of the building standards," Kate Cotter, the BBCA's chief executive, said.
Stephen Kip, board member of the Australian Building Codes Board and fire safety engineer, said: "There is half a dozen design flaws in them".
Bushfires On The Rise
A 2016 ABC report citing research by NASA satellite data showed there were 4,595 bushfires per week in Australia in 2013. And since 2007 there's been a rise of 40%.
Bushfires are a serious matter and pose grave concern to those living in affected areas.
Typically, they last for between two and five minutes in a single area. However, the embers they leave behind can smoulder for days. They generate a huge amount of heat, and can cause damage to property and lives.
Usually bushfires occur naturally. In fact, approximately half occur as a result of lightning strikes. This is also what makes them so dangerous. While we can try to predict when they might occur, we can never be certain. As a result, most policies focus on mitigation, rather than complete prevention. This is a stance that builders take too. Buildings in bushfire-risk zones must meet several regulations to protect those who own them.
The Bushfire Risk Factors
So, how can you know if you're going to build in an area that's at risk of bushfires? There are a few risk factors to keep in mind:
- Tree and Bush Density. The most obvious risk factor is the presence of high volumes of trees and bushes. In particular, pay attention to the foliage on the ground. While bushfires engulf entire trees, they find most of their fuel on the floor. Without foliage, there's less risk of them spreading. However, more foliage means a fire can spread faster. Dampness also plays a part. If a region experiences a drought, the risk of bushfires increases. This is because the fuel has no dampness to quell the flames.
- Wind Speed. The wind plays two roles in a bushfire. It provides more oxygen or the fire, which just adds more fuel. Enough wind may even be capable of igniting embers into full on flames. Furthermore, wind can blow flames in the direction of more fuel. This speeds up the spread of the flames. Geoscience Australia notes that winds as light as 12km/h can drastically increase the spread speed of bushfires.
- Slopes. You'd think that flames would move faster downhill. However, that's not the case. Fires use convection and radiation to heat up their fuel sources. As a result, they actually travel faster when they reach an incline. Every ten degrees in an incline doubles the speed of the fire. A 10-degree incline leads to a fire spreading twice as fast when compared to fire on flat ground. A 20-degree incline spreads the fire four times faster than flat ground. This continues in 10-degree intervals.
Which Areas are at Risk?
The Australian climate dictates which areas are most at risk. As a result, some areas are more prone than others at different times during the year. For example, the summer into the autumn is peak bushfire season in South Australia. However, spring into summer presents the biggest risk in Queensland and New South Wales. Surprisingly, winter holds the biggest threat for the Northern Territory.
As a result, you could argue that all states are at risk, assuming there's woodland present. When they're most at risk depends on the time of year.
Beyond that, cities present far less risk that suburban and rural areas. Because of their built-up nature, cities don't contain adequate fuel to sustain a bushfire. However, the further you get away from the city, the more the risk increases.
This is a problem because many Australians want to live in areas that have natural views. Architects and engineers must take more care the further their structures move from the city.
Thankfully, most areas carry a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating. This indicates how much risk an area faces from bushfires. Furthermore, BAL regulations also dictate building measures.
What is the BAL Rating
In 2009, Victoria experienced the worst bushfires in Australian history. Approximately 400 bushfires started up, all in a short period of time, in February of that year. They spread rapidly. The death toll was huge, as 173 people lost their lives during the fires. A further 414 suffered injuries, and the fires killed about one million animals. They also razed about 450,000 hectares of land.
Before this point, bushfires were a danger, but there weren't many regulations in place to protect against them.
However, The Victoria Black Saturday bushfires changed all of that. In the immediate aftermath, each state agreed to implement a common system that would govern the safety of building materials.
Dubbed the Bushfire Attack Level, this rating would determine how at-risk an area is of bushfires. The BAL rating also dictates which materials builders, architects and engineers must use.
Australian Standard (AS) 3959 sets out the specific rules to follow for each BAL rating. As a general rule, the closer you are to bushland, the more likely it is that you'll have to make adjustments to your structure.
What are the BAL Ratings?
There are six BAL ratings. Each one indicates a higher level of risk than the one that precedes it. They are as follows:
Each zone has specific restrictions in regards to the building materials that structures must contain. These restrictions apply to the following:
- Subfloor supports
- Floors
- Exterior walls
- Exterior windows
- Exterior doors
- The roof
- Any additional outdoor structures, such as decks and balconies
Both BAL-40 and BAL-FZ are flame zones, so don't assume that you need only worry about the latter rating.
You can speak to the local council to find out what a regions BAL rating is. However, it's also worth speaking to an independent bushfire consultant. These professionals have specific expertise that may prove invaluable. For example, they may be able to tell you if a property you build backs into a region with a higher BAL rating.
BAL Ratings and Windows
BAL ratings only affect exterior windows. As a result, you should be able to use any materials you want for internal windows.
Let's focus on the final two ratings, as this present the most risk.
You have three options open to you when building in a BAL-40 zone. These include the following:
- First Option: Use standard windows, provided that they have bushfire shutters that provide complete protection. These shutters must comply with AS3959:2009.
- Second Option: Build a window system that complies fully with AS 1530.8.1. Tests will take place to ensure this compliance.
- Third Option: Build your own windows, which much meet the following criteria:
- Window glass has a minimum 6mm thickness.
- Metal window frames only, though this includes aluminum.
- Metal hardware used in the sash that opens or closes the window.
- Openable portions must have metal screens to protect them. You must use bronze or steel of at least 2mm in thickness for these screens.
- Sills, stiles, and threshold materials must have a flammability index rating of five or less.
As you can tell, this places a lot of restrictions on architects and other building professionals.
However, louvre windows can solve many of the problems. As long as they meet the materials guidelines, you can use them in place of unsightly bushfire shutters.
Unfortunately, you lose the third option from BAL-40 when building in a BAL-FZ zone. Furthermore, taking the second option requires compliance with AS 1530.8.2.
Other than that, there's little difference between the two.
Other Considerations When Building in a BAL-40 or BAL-FZ Zone
We've only covered the materials you need for exterior windows in this article. You must follow similar instructions for other areas of your structure too. Speak to the local council to find out exactly which regulations you have to meet. Bear in mind that you have to pay $149 to receive a certificate for more specific information.
Beyond that, here are a few other things to consider:
- Check the area you want to build on against the risk criteria above. The presence of slopes near bushes is a particular concern. Ideally, you'll build at the bottom of a slope, rather than the top.
- The Asset Protection Zone dictates how closely you can build to vegetation. Check it before starting any design work.
- Consider building in an alternate power supply for the property.
- Consider water supply options, and how you could use the supply to fend off a fire. For example, you could place hosepipes around the house.
- Understand that the higher the BAL rating, the more you'll spend on construction.
- Check access roads to ensure any occupants have escape routes open to them.
- Remember that a structure isn't necessarily safe just because it doesn't back directly onto bushland. Flying embers can cause problems too.
The Final Word
As you can see, building in bushfire-risk areas presents some problems. The higher the BAL rating, the more thought you have to put into construction.
At Safetyline Jalousie, we can help you with the windows. Our louvre windows provide a perfect alternative to unsightly bushfire shutters. They can serve the same purpose, and make your buildings look more attractive. We can help you design great windows that meet the various regulations.
Contact us today to talk to one of our business managers. They can provide more information about our windows' technical specifications. Furthermore, they'll help you through the ordering process.


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George Foreman
It gives us great pleasure to include, Mr. George Foreman, the great two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, and successful entrepreneur to our campaign. "Big George" as he is nicknamed became the oldest man ever to become heavyweight boxing champion of the world when, at age 45, he knocked out Michael Moorer, to reclaim the title he held 20 years earlier. He has been named one of the 25 greatest fighters of all time by Ring magazine is now a very successful businessman and an ordained Christian minister. For I Am Waters, he is "Wisdom".


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DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Mireya's Flowers website Valentine's Day season debut marks another first for one of the most creative, on-trend female flower designers at California Flower Mall. Mireya Perez was the first CFM wholesale flower business owner interviewed by Telemundo52 reporter Sandra Bonilla for a series on young Latino women entrepreneurs. She was the first CFM vendor to showcase rainbow roses. She was the first flower vendor in LA's 8 block Flower District to premiere forever roses. Forever rose products preserve the beauty, texture, scent and fresh bloom appearance of roses for a year or more using a process that removes the flowers water content replacing it with glycerin.
Perez says the new site is designed to help prospective and repeat clients conduct part of their event floral design planning and purchasing online. It lets them share images from an event they've produced or attended or browse designs for a specific occasion, color palette, style or price point. One click website functions let users easily:
- See how the team brings a floral vision to life
- Discover event design teams and venues Mireya's Flowers works with like Angels Touch Events
- Make contact from the site by text, voice, email, or social media direct message
- Navigate right to the showroom door for in-person appointments
The website is built for point-of-sale transactions with B2B event designers, wedding planning and florist service clients, she says. "A branded internet presence and mobile responsive communication tool makes it easy for clients of all ages – especially millennials and their wedding planners – to do business on the platform of their choice. It is an important part of our mission to deliver on-trend floral artistry, quality, punctuality and professionalism to our clients," she adds.
Mark Chatoff owner and president of the 25 vendor California Flower Mall wholesale flower market applauds the professional branding, design, and functionality of Mireya's Flowers new website. "In this robust economy, the number of floral businesses in LA's Flower District trade community is expanding right along with its geographic boundaries. Those that want to thrive will need to do more to standout than merchandise quality flower products in a high traffic location like CFM. Now it's critical to define and differentiate their business model, cultivate business relationships beyond showroom foot traffic, have a professionally branded dynamic online presence and be active on social media," Chatoff says.
About Mireya's Flowers
Mireya Perez is a master flower designer with 15 years of experience serving 10,000+ events in California and Las Vegas. The Mireya's Flowers team works with event designers, wedding planners and florist service clients to create custom floral designs for every style, culture, ethnic tradition, and occasion that make life's most memorable moments magic. Visit Mireya's Flower at http://www.mireyasflowers.com
About California Flower Mall
The California Flower Mall, located at 825 San Pedro Street with parking at the 824 San Julian Street entrance, is one of the largest DIY wholesale flower markets in the expanding eight block Downtown LA Flower District trade community — the largest concentration of wholesale flower markets and flower businesses in the U.S. It is located in the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District. CFM customer amenities include an onsite ATM, customer restrooms, on-site parking, and a cafe with patio dining. There is no admission fee or membership badge required for the trade or public to shop at CFM. CFM is open 7 days a week and most holidays. Visit CFM at http://www.californiaflowermall.com
Source: California Flower Mall


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In a withering attack on President Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow's ousted mayor Yury Luzhkov on Wednesday accused him of promoting a climate of repression and censorship reminiscent of the Stalin era.
The extraordinary attack is the fiercest launched by any leading figure in Russia against Medvedev, who a day earlier dramatically sacked Luzhkov after 18 years in power, citing a loss of confidence.
The lacerating broadside came in a letter sent to the Kremlin late on Sunday but was only published early on Wednesday on the website of the opposition weekly New Times magazine.
"In our country the fear of expressing your view has existed since 1937," Luzhkov said, referring to the peak of the repression and Great Terror under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
"If our leadership merely supports this fear with its statements … then it is easy to go to a situation where there is just one leader in the country whose words are written in granite and who must be followed unquestioningly."
"How does this stand with your calls for 'development of democracy'?" he asked the president
'Nothing but censorship'
He accused the Kremlin of pulling from the air a documentary on a Moscow channel that countered several muck-raking programmes on his rule on state television. "This is nothing other than censorship," he said.
The former mayor, who came to power in 1992 under late president Boris Yeltsin, is an unlikely champion of democracy.
Luzhkov's comments are hardly likely to impress his own liberal critics who have accused the ex-mayor of sanctioning violent tactics against opposition rallies and extreme homophobia.
Medvedev has sought to promote himself as a reforming president who is encouraging the development of a strong democracy in Russia as part of a modernisation drive.
But also in the letter Luzhkov noted he had championed the idea of reinstalling direct elections for regional leaders which were scrapped in 2004 in favour of an effective direct appointment by the Kremlin.
Luzhkov's dismissal was seen by analysts as one of Medvedev's boldest moves since coming to power in 2008 and aimed at eliminating a potentially tricky opponent ahead of 2012 presidential elections.
Kremlin spokesperson Natalya Timakova said that Medvedev was aware of the letter but emphasised its content had not influenced his decision.
"Its content could not influence things one way or another," she told reporters on the sidelines of the president's visit to the Far East.
Luzhkov's ruthless dismissal was immediately effective and Russian news agencies reported Wednesday that he was seen returning to his office to move out possessions early in the morning.
"I will need several days to pick up my personal things. My awards alone take up several cupboards," he told Interfax.
Medvedev appointed Luzhkov's ageing deputy Vladimir Resin as acting mayor in his place but observers believe it unlikely he will remain permanently and that the Kremlin is already casting the net for a successor.
Names aired in the press have included powerful deputy prime ministers Igor Shuvalov and Sergei Ivanov but the Kremlin will be careful not to allow any potential opponent to create his own powerbase.
Another mooted possibility, the Kremlin's special envoy for the conflict-torn North Caucasus region Alexander Khloponin, told Interfax that he was ready to take the job if asked by the president . — Sapa-AFP


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Gijs Van Wulfen is a bestselling innovation author and public speaker on entrepreneurship and business innovation. He was educated as a business economist and has 25 years of experience in marketing. After much reading and speaking with others Van Wulfen has come up with 10 principles and practices to foster business innovation.
Don't Accept the Status Quo
Innovation involves coming up with something new and different. It can typically be something that bothers you and makes you want to invent a solution to the problem. It can be called the why of innovation.
Concrete Innovation Assignment
Have a target market of consumers you will be serving with your new concept. It will give you and your organization a clear overall vision.
Structured Approach
Take your out of the box idea and fit it in the box enough for you and your organization to have a clear plan for executing the project.
Defer Your Judgment
Keep your mind open for new ideas, It would be easy to say no to something that sounds crazy. Defer your initial judgment and give new ideas an objective look.
Stop Thinking
A high percentage of new ideas can come to you out of the blue when you're not trying to force them out of your brain. The process is called incubation.
Get Fresh Insights
The idea is to get fresh ideas from sources other than your circle of co-workers. All team members should visit customers and others to discover a source of inspiration and innovation.
Relevant Customers Frictions
If your new concepts are right on target they will serve the needs of customers in search of the new service you will be providing. Ways of identifying the customers needs are personal visits, focus groups, and crowdsourcing.
Keep A High Pace
Present your innovation in a quick, interesting manner to avoid loss of customer interest.
Use The Voice of the Customer
Check with potential customers to realize how attractive your new product or service is to them. Use any positive feedback to prove you're on the right track..
Bring Back Business
Present your new concept in a business-like manner, and point out why it can be a financial success.