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Indicted Galveston judge suspended
GALVESTON - A state commission Thursday suspended a Galveston judge without pay, a day after he was arrested on eight criminal charges related to his conduct in office.
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued an order suspending County Court-at Law Judge Christopher Dupuy at 4:24 p.m., citing the indictments against Dupuy.
The suspension means Dupuy may not sit on the bench until the charges against him are resolved. He can file a file a written request for a hearing to demonstrate that his continued service on the bench would not jeopardize the cases he is handling or damage public confidence in the judiciary.
Earlier Thursday, Dupuy startled courthouse employees by showing up for work and hearing a divorce case in his courtroom on the second floor of the Galveston County Courthouse, carrying on as if he had not been arrested the previous day on two felony and six misdemeanor indictments.
Dupuy could not be reached for comment after the judicial conduct commission action. Earlier Thursday, he said he intended to remain on the job until he was convicted or removed from office through a lawsuit also filed Wednesday. The lawsuit, filed by a local attorney but being handled by the office of Attorney General Greg Abbott, seeks his removal for the same conduct cited in the criminal indictments and asks that he be removed until the case is resolved.
A conviction on any of the eight counts would result in Dupuy's automatic removal.
Dupuy declined to discuss the charges against him or the lawsuit, but he appeared to be cheerful.
"We are very confident about everything," Dupuy said, hinting that he might have some legal maneuvers ready to deploy.
"We are going to continue working very hard," he said. "The truth is going to come out."
Dupuy's appearance back on the job was troubling for Greg Enos, one of the three attorneys cited in the indictments as the victims of official oppression, obstruction or retaliation, and abuse of official capacity in Dupuy's court.
"He is clearly innocent until proven guilty," Enos said, "But he's not a plumber, he's a judge, and if he cares about how people perceive our system, he should step aside.
Dupuy is accused of ordering Enos to stop representing a client and of fining Enos $25,000 in response to Enos' efforts to have a case transferred.


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Getting here
Getting to Willen Lake is easy, however you decide to travel.
Willen Lake
V10 Brickhill Street
Milton Keynes
By Car
Use the postcode MK15 0DS in your Sat Nav.
If you are on the M1, exit at Junction 14 and follow the signs to Central Milton Keynes until you pick-up the signs for Willen Lake.
We have a number of chargeable car parks at Willen Lake. For more information on these please click here
By Bus
Catch the number 8 bus from Milton Keynes town centre to 'Woolstone Roundabout West'.
Walking down from the bus stop, take the first right at the redway junction under the main road, then take your first left into Willen Lake.
By Train
Direct trains to Milton Keynes Central run from London Euston and Birmingham. From Milton Keynes Central, it's approximately 50 minutes walk or 12 minutes cycle. Alternatively, you can catch a bus or take a taxi.

subset: commoncrawl


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Icelandic Hot Pots.
The term "hot pot" is used rather vaguely in Iceland and it is important to understand the different types, if only to avoid giving offence by breaking one of Iceland's few tourist taboos (see Hot Pot Etiquette below).
Starting at the plastic end of the spectrum, there are "hot pots" that are simply "Jacuzzi®" type hot tubs, fed by geothermally heated water.
If you want to soak in water, that was a few minutes before spouting out of a Geyser, then the "hot pots" behind the Geyser Hotel at Geyser are for you.
Moving up (or down according to your preferences) you come to the many town and village swimming pools with "hot pots" attached.
Even villages with only 200 residents will have a well signed and well maintained swimming pool (although it may be several kilometers out of town, if that is where the hot water is).
These "hot pots" are usually concrete and there may be several at different temperatures. The Laugardalslaug pool in Reykjavík (next to the camp ground) has a 50 metre indoor pool, a 50 metre outdoor pool, a steam bath, a sauna and six "hot pots" with temperatures ranging from 38ºC to 44ºC (from memory). Entry to this type of swimming pool complex usually costs around 5 Euros.
Then comes the Blue Lagoon(s). The southern one (the original and now very expensive one) advertises itself as "Out of this world. Unwind in the mineral-rich warmth of Iceland's Blue Lagoon and watch all your cares float away. It is the perfect place to relax - and perfect for a great day out with a difference." "The Blue Lagoon Iceland - no place like it."
Well there is now a very similar one in the north of Iceland - The Myvatn Nature Baths. Smaller and considerably cheaper.
There is nothing particularly natural about either "lagoon". It is the hot water effluent of the nearby power station's cooling pond that grows the blue-green algae that dies as the water cools leaving a bluish organic soup for you to "unwind" in.
Getting considerably less plastic and more rustic are the nearly natural "hot pots" found in the Highlands at places like Landmannalaugar and Hveravellir.
In spite of what some guide books say the bathers in both of these "hot pots" are resolutely clothed. The only "hot pot" that seems to attract nude bathing is the Viti crater at Askja.
And this hardly counts as a "hot pot" because the temperature is only about 28°C
Hot Pot Etiquette.
One of the few things Icelander's seem to get worked up about is hygiene in public bathing, and this includes all but the most wild of "hot pots". Stern notices warn you that you must publicly wash those parts of your body you normally wash only in private before entering the pool or the pot. To ensure this happens public swimming pools have complex rules about how you get into them and sometimes "attendants" to check that these rules are being followed. As a public service, below is summary of these rules.
Zone 1 - The outside world.
Here you can do and wear what you want. Before you attempt to enter the pool complex you will need swimming trunks, a towel, one or two plastic carrier bags, the entry fee (if any) and as little else as possible.
Zone 2 - The outer locker area.
In this area you discard your shoes or boots and place them in a public rack, or in an outer locker, or into one of your carrier bags. Barefoot you are now ready to enter....
Zone 3 - The inner locker area.
Here you remove all you clothes and carrying only your towel, your trunks and your locker key you enter...
Zone 4 - The shower area.
Here you place your towel in a public rack and carrying your trunks you enter the showers (no cubicles). The showers will be on an industrial scale with detergent dispensers on the wall. Here you wash thoroughly (at least) those areas of your body graphically illustrated on the wall posters. There may be an attendant watching to make sure you do. You are now deemed ready to don your trunks and enter...
Zone 5 - The pool and hot pots.
Here you enjoy yourself.
Getting back into the outside world is just the reverse, but note that the attendant will not let you enter Zone 3 from Zone 4 if you are wet! If you have inadvertently (but quite reasonably) left your towel in your locker you will have to give your key to the attendant and ask him to retrieve it for you.
An ideal Wild Camp?
About 18km south east of Bíldudalur on the 63 is an isolated and apparently abandoned swimming pool (N65.62309 W23.46880).
The pool is still fed by hot water and is still reasonable clean. It is marked on some maps.
It would seem to make an ideal wild camp with its own private "hot pot".
However in the derelict building adjoining the pool are two notices in Icelandic warning of something. But what?
Would you swim in it? (A translation of these two notices would be appreciated.)
Thank you Einar for a translation of these two notices.
The first notice apparently reads: Warning! This swimming pool is without any guards. Those who use it do so at their own risk. And the second notice reads: Attention! Please don't mess up the pool and surroundings. Do not use shampoo or other cleaners in the pool. Is prohibited to bathe animals in the pool. ( Friends of the swimming pool in Reykjafjörður).
|Stephen Stewart.
Home - This page last changed on 2009-11-16.


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Fennel, fresh dill, fresh rosemary, and fresh Italian parsley enhance the flavor of the vegetables. – http://www.tangledpasta.net
By Mary Anna Violi |@MaryAnnaVioli
I must confess to my life long love affair with vegetables. My secret is now out in the open, and I may now breathe more easily. This affinity of mine for vegetables has its origins within my family.
It began long ago when I was a child running through the garden paths of my Italian father's large vegetable garden. Fragrant red and green bell peppers, yellow banana peppers, small fierce red hot peppers, Big Boy tomatoes drooping like red weights on the vines, deep purple eggplants sprawled on the garden floor, green beans climbing up poles next to my favorite beans: the yellow Kentucky Wonders, orange and yellow zucchini flowers that my mother would stuff and fold and bake. Fennel with its elegant fronds, Brussel sprouts dotted their own green poles, carrots, and turnips all converged in a riotous medley. In August, tall stalks bearing corn with their soft corn silk beckoned. Near the garage, a large cold frame brimmed with fresh herbs to lace our salads, pasta sauces, and vegetables. Here is one of my favorite, go-to roasted vegetable recipes from Paula Wolfert: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/10568-paula-wolferts-roasted-vegetables-with-garlic-and-herbs
I generally omit the celery, but I add eggplant, bell peppers, and Italian parsley to Paula Wolfert's original recipe. The combination of vegetables may be adjusted to one's own palate. – http://www.tangledpasta.net
Another portion of the garden yielded strawberries, black raspberries, red raspberries, and rhubarb. Much space is needed to grow rhubarb, for its leaves are huge. I liked harvesting rhubarb for my favorite summer dessert. My mother used to make a delicious rhubarb dish called Rhubarb Crisp. She shared her recipes with her sisters, and with friends. Her Rhubarb Crisp recipe was legend within our family. One summer in the 1960's or early 1970's, a friend of her sister's came to town with my aunt. My mother served her eponymous dessert with coffee after dinner. The woman asked for the recipe, which my mother wrote down, and gave to the woman. Within a year, the recipe appeared in Better Homes and Gardens with the woman's name attached to it! The woman gave no acknowledgement to my mother for appropriating her recipe. In fact, Better Homes and Gardens paid the woman for the recipe. Crass and rude the woman's behavior certainly was, but my mother attempted to laugh off the insult. Ironically, now recipes for variations of my mother's Rhubarb Crisp abound. Whenever I make it, I use her original recipe. I shun strawberries, or any other berry with the rhubarb. Rhubarb Crisp, unadulterated with add-on ingredients is not for me.
This spring, now that asparagus is plentiful, I prepare asparagus every which way: folded into omelets, gently steamed, cooked with pasta in the same pot, parboiled for salads, or simply roasted. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that used to line the side of my father's garden against the fence. Each spring day, my mother cut fresh asparagus from the garden to serve with our dinner. Like most of the vegetables we grew, she froze enough asparagus to see us through the winter. Most of the summer saw her freezing vegetables, like corn and beans, or canning peaches and apricots from our orchard trees.
I am not much of a carnivore, so a plethora of vegetables suits me fine in the spring, summer, and early fall. Whether a vegetable stands alone, or whether it is prepared in concert with others vegetables, I roast, steam, fry, or parboil them, then serve the vegetables over pasta, or rice, or lettuce, or by themselves. I welcome the color and the pageantry of fresh vegetables!
Vegetables toujours!
Ciao for now.


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On September 16, 2013 Review Officer Dennis Walsh petitioned the Court requiring the District Council to "Implement Updated Business and IT Operations Plan." The upgrade was previously rejected by the Executive Committee and Delegate Body.
Judge Richard Berman has scheduled a hearing for September 30, 2013 at 11 a.m. on the RO's petition to enforce his recommendations regarding upgrading the DC's IT platform and business practices.
Additional documents: RO Petition to Require DC to Implement An Updated Business and IT Operations Plan


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More About Professional Window
At Professional Window we care about your home, your project is an extension of us! We bring our high quality of standards to every job. Our focus is on time deliveries, prompt response and quality workmanship with the best pricing available. We offer direct discounted pricing to our customers. We are dedicated and ensure your project has the best possible rating and has been approved by all state and local authorities.
- Project requirement/specification review: At your property our team of experts will inspect, review and give you Free analysis and pricing to match your project's needs.
- Proposal/Contract Sign Off: After Review , a detailed contract will be prepared for your approval. At Professional Window we don't provide you with "standard sizes" designed to appease the majority of the industry, we build and Customize our plans to your exact requirements. This ensures that you will have the best and most Professional finished job anyone can provide.
- Development: Elevation and Window Opening design plans are all done in-house by our professional staff. Engineering calculations are done to exceed wind load and pressure requirements to ensure that the final product installed meets or exceeds governmental codes. At Professional Window we are a fully Florida State Licensed Contractor (# SCC131150356). We apply and process our own permits to meet and exceed state and local requirements.
- Product Order: Material is ordered and manufactured to meet your specific requirements. We buy direct, and pass on the savings to you! We have direct relationships with the industry leaders and are a licensed dealer for PGT Windows, Florida's leading window manufacturer. Because of being in business for almost 30 years we are able to bring you the best products for the lowest prices to protect your Home, Condo or Business from Hurricanes.
- Installation: We pride ourselves on complete in-house installation services provided by our experienced and professional team who are dedicated to serving customers like you. Our installation teams work directly for us and have a combined average of over 40 years of service. We take pride in our work as you do in your home.
- Final Inspection: Our installation group is attentive to their work and during the inspection process will keep you informed. We take pride in our work and as we part ways after competition we feel comfortable that we will get another GREAT Referral!!! That's the Professional Window difference!


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Car or truck Rental Los Angeles Ideas for Foreign Nationals
Scheduling on leasing a car or truck on your following vacation in Los Angeles, California? Effectively, there is much more to look at than driving on the remaining aspect of the highway. From driving permits to legal responsibility insurance coverage car or truck rental Los Angeles can be complicated in particular if you are a overseas national than leasing in your regional spot.
To assistance you have a prosperous vacation in Los Angeles, in this article are some ideas for finding a great car or truck rental Los Angeles offer, ideal documentation and driving properly whilst overseas.
Picking a vehicle
If you are with your household, then decide on a vehicle that will provide the function or if you are traveling by yourself and mild on the price range then decide on a hybrid or a inexperienced car or truck which has affordable car or truck rental LA and lets you help save on gas.
Reserving a Car or truck Rental LA
Normally reserve in progress and you will help save a couple of much more dollars. It is generally high priced if you reserve a car or truck 24 hours prior to choose-up. If probable, make all your car or truck rental Los Angeles arrangements prior to leaving your residence country. Reserving and paying as early as probable will assistance you prevent unwanted conditions on your arrival.
Securing International Driving Permits (IDP)
To push lawfully in Los Angeles, you must 1st obtain an IDP. This is to guarantee that you have a legitimate driver's license in your residence country. This will allow you to push autos in the US prior to you can get your US driver's license.
Acquiring the ideal Car or truck Rental LA Dealer
If you still have not observed a dependable Car or truck Rental LA Dealer, test out LAX Car or truck Rental Los Angeles. The Company is domestically owned and operated for twenty a long time. LAX Car or truck Rental Los Angeles has been serving air tourists, travellers and regional citizens with inexpensive and trustworthy car transportation in the car or truck funds of the globe: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
For much more information and facts you can visit Lax Car or truck Rental Los Angeles at http://www.laxcarrentallosangeles.com/.
These ideas are certainly simple to recall so, anytime you are organizing on leasing a car or truck in LA just stick to these easy recommendations and you will have a smooth and stress-cost-free car or truck rental LA working experience.


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Lauretta Flammer, UPAT Parent Educator
Many parents are confused, even startled sometimes, to hear there child first say "No" to them. And then, as that child gets older and older, the confusion and startlement tends to fade while the frustration and annoyance builds. So, what do we do when a child says "No"?
There are so many answers and not one single answer is going to be the perfect fit for every child. So many factors play in to how we should respond to this undesired behavior; the age of the child, the temperament of the child, and our own attachment to our child.
Let's first consider age-appropriateness. When a 2 year old says "No", he/she is generally exerting independence and autonomy. Desire to be independent generally out-rules the desire to be obedient for the 2 year old. When a 3 year old says "No", it can be related to the independence factor as well as the beginning stages of testing limits. When that 4 year old says "No", typically testing has already been executed and proven OK to say.
So, assuming that parent and child have a solid, healthy attachment formed and fostered through the first years of life, and the child's temperament is average for a child that age, the following steps should help in eliminating the "NO" word.
-You have asked your child to buckle up and they say "NO".
Hopefully this gives a few guidelines and suggestions that will be helpful. The main thing to remember is that this phase starts young, and if handled properly and consistently through those testing periods, it can be almost extinct in the later preschool years.


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Presidential Report Calls for Expanded Ag Research ProgramFriday, December 7, 2012
(American Meat Institute)
A new report from the Presidential Council on Science and Technology (PCAST) said that the federal government needs to launch a coordinated effort to boost American agriculture science by increasing agricultural research investments by $700 million per year and by rebalancing USDA's research portfolio so that external funding is increased.
The "Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and Agriculture Research Enterprise" concluded that the U.S. is the undisputed world leader in agricultural production today, but must invest in more technology to maintain this position. The report prioritizes the top scientific challenges facing agriculture, including the need to manage new pathogens, reduce ag's environmental footprint; adapt to a changing climate and accommodate demands for bioenergy while producing safe and nutritious food at home and abroad.
PCAST recommended that Congress appropriate the previously authorized funding for USDA's competitive grants program, aimed at researchers outside the government and noted that the majority of USDA's search and development budget is directed internally (60 percent) while most other science based federal agencies devote less than 30 percent of their budgets intramurally.
Earlier this year, AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges told the PCAST that additional funding for agriculture research was "absolutely critical." In response to today's announcement, Hodges said, "We are gratified that PCAST has recognized the essential nature of agriculture science and technology investments. If we are to stay competitive and meet future challenges, we simply must follow through on PCAST's recommendation to increase research funding."
To read the report, click here.share on facebook share on twitter


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A Patchwork Blanket
This patchwork blanket is for my almost five year old daughter who loves all things pink. I've been working on making patchwork blankets for my kids for Christmas and this one is the first to be completed. We've had a couple of cold snaps in the last few weeks and I really enjoy thinking about all the snuggling this blanket will get. I really love repurposing items and fabrics so that they can be loved and used again. Most of the fabrics on the top have been sitting in my stash for a while, but I used a vintage sheet that I love for the back. I love all of the bright colours and flowers and I know that my daughter will too. It is big enough to completely wrap my little girl up in or for several of us to sit and share some cuddles. My favourite thing about this blanket is that the sheet I used for the back was my mother's favourite bedsheet when she was my daughter's age.


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Since 2002, Optima has developed a reputation for supplying high quality, experienced and where required fully qualified staff – ranging from trades people through to director level roles – for projects and offices nationwide and beyond.
Our success can largely be attributed to the people we employ. The Optima construction team is comprised of professionals from both within the Construction Industry and with extensive recruitment industry experience. This mixed skill base enables us to appreciate, understand and ultimately deliver key personnel for our Clients requirements.
All our Operatives are CSCS card holders and are only offered employment via Optima once they have undergone our screening process which incorporates the checking of references, qualifications and identification.
Amongst the trades often used by our clients are;


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|Location: Netherlands, Netherlands
|Salary: NEGOTIABLE DAY RATE
|Sector: IT Service Provider
|Type: Contract
|Reference #: CR/054070_542854_1537889470
** SAP PMO - Netherlands - 6 Months + - English Speaking **
I have a fantastic contract for a SAP PMO based in the Netherlands for a 6 month contract with the chance of extension.
Applicants but be in the Netherlands area, The role its self is located in the area of Rotterdam. You will be coordinating and support the Project manager of a multi SAP Integration project.
Must have for this position:
-> English Speaking Dutch is a big Bonus
->Good Communication Skills
-> Solid experience in SAP PMO
-> Experience working with Stakeholders across various time zones
-> Experience in building relations and able to support /Advise Project Managers
-> Knowledge of all kinds of Methodology's within PMO ie Agile , Waterfall, Prince2
For a chance not to miss out on this great role please send an email to cmceachran@redsapsolutions or apply within the advert, Don't wait as interviews are filling up quickly.


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Safety Publications/Articles
One More Reason To Fly
Beating The Dumb Dads ClubYou won't find it written in the regulations, but one important flight instructor responsibility has always been recruiting new pilots to the joys of flying. Over time, we CFIs have identified all sorts of hot buttons for motivating our prospects to sign up for lessons-adventure, travel, personal growth, a new challenge, even a mid-life crisis.
There's no end to reasons why people become pilots, and the more we understand all of the different motivations, the more opportunities we have to attract new people to flying. Recently, I learned yet one more darned good reason to be-come a pilot-the lack of quality family time in today's frenetic world.
My kids were on Christmas vacation from school, and the Arizona air was crisp, cool, and blue, when my 15-year-old son, Austin, raised the subject at the breakfast table.
"Hey Dad, do you think we oughta go flying?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, let me think about it a second," I said, a Flight Training article deadline hanging heavy on my conscience.
"C'mon, Dad, it's vacation, and I don't have anything to do. You always say you want to fly more often, so let's get with it!"
Given that small amount of prodding, I phoned to arrange rental of a Cessna 152; we then filled our water bottles, collected our headsets, and headed for the airport.
It was a beautiful day for flying, and we set our sights on the little mountain town of Payson as our destination. As usual on these occasions, Austin claimed pilot duties with me to back him up on the radios, help with navigation, and offer occasional professional advice.
We departed the Sonoran Desert, overflew the sparkling blue waters of Lake Bartlett, and skimmed between the snow-dusted peaks of the Mazatzal Mountains. Little was said because both of us were just groovin' on the sights and the flight.
Upon clearing the mountain ridges, we passed into the Tonto Valley, scattered buildings ahead among the pines suggesting Payson long before we could identify specific details of town or airport.
The community lies in the shadow of the spectacular Mogollon Rim, snow-covered at that time of year and towering some 2,000 feet almost straight up to the north and east of town. All in all, it's an incredible flight, especially considering all this happens a mere 49 nautical miles from our home airport.
A call to unicom reminded us of the days when you could radio inbound to reserve a table and order your breakfast-unfortunately the cook at the airport restaurant no longer answers unicom-but there's still a wonderful family atmosphere about the place, and it seems almost like returning home to fly there.
We soon identified the airport north of town, joined the downwind leg, and, following discussion about winds and the dip in the runway, Austin put the Cessna down in good form.
As we turned from the taxiway to the ramp in this beautiful setting, we noticed a man and his young son watching us from the fence. We ex-changed waves and smiles as we walked into the little "restaurant with the million-dollar view." Austin claimed a table near the window while I went to wash up.
Upon my return, I was surprised to find the man we'd seen at the fence, sitting with his child at the table next to ours and grilling my son.
"Was that you sitting in the pilot's seat?" asked the man as I walked up.
"Yes," said Austin. "My dad's a flight instructor and he lets me sit in the left seat."
"It almost looked as if you were actually piloting the plane."
"I was - I even made the landing."
"Really? Wow, that's neat! Do you do this sort of thing with your dad very often?"
"Oh yeah, my dad and I fly together a lot - it's really fun."
At that point I introduced myself and sat down to join them.
"Nice meeting you," said the father. "I'm Warren." He encouraged a shy handshake from his young son. The man then explained how he and his family lived in Phoenix, but often made the two-hour drive to see his wife's parents in Payson. He peppered me with the expected questions, like how long it takes to fly to Payson - "about half an hour, even in a small plane like the 152," I told him.
It turned out that on visits to grandpa and grandma's house, Warren and his kids often ventured to the Payson Airport to watch the airplanes land. Accordingly Warren had many questions about the procedures for flying a plane there and landing.
"Where else have you flown with your dad?" he then asked Austin. Warren listened with rapt attention as my son recounted with pride destinations throughout the Southwest and California. I rarely consider most places we fly as exotic, but the expression on Warren's face reminded me that to most people piloting your own airplane from Phoenix to San Diego is pretty heady stuff.
Throughout lunch I answered eager questions about what it takes to be-come a pilot; afterwards the four of us walked the ramp and admired different airplanes parked there. "Sounds like you might really enjoy becoming a pilot," I said to Warren, shaking his hand as we preflighted for the trip home.
"To tell the truth," said Warren, "I've been looking for a fun activity to get involved in that I can share with my own sons as they get older. Seems like all anyone does these days is work, and I don't want to let my kids' teenage years pass without enjoying every moment together we can. Seeing you and your son fly in together today makes me feel that this could be just the adventure we're looking for."
With that I collected Warren's card and we made a date the following week for an intro lesson, his sons to ride along. As for Austin, he stood about 14 feet tall as he loosened the tiedown ropes from the wing struts under the admiring gaze of the younger boy, then climbed into the pilot's seat.
I'm a lucky guy, I was reminded at that moment-really lucky. Not just because I get to fly airplanes, but because my son likes to do it too, and best of all, he likes to fly with me. Like most teens, Austin generally avoids hanging around with members of the "Dumb Dads Club" like myself.
But when it comes to flying, nobody can keep us apart. In the cockpit we work as friends and equals to do the most professional job we can. Meeting that man at the fence gave me new appreciation of just how fortunate I am to share the special passion of flying with my son, as I so often do.
All too frequently, when prospects come to the airport, we concentrate on selling the "practical" benefits of flying, like getting places faster and saving time. Occasions like this flight to Payson remind me that the best selling points for flying go way beyond practical explanations, to the very heart of what's important in life.
Flying offers shared adventure with family and friends, and that message must never be forgotten when promoting aviation. Ask prospective pilots what they like to do for fun, and show how flying will allow them and their families to do more of it-together. In today's world that means a lot, and for pleasure flyers it may be among the most important benefits we have to offer.
Above all, don't wait to meet pro-spective students at the flight school. Keep your eyes peeled for that parent lingering with a daughter or son behind the fence, watching the planes land. Invite those kids and parents together onto the ramp and install them as a group into the cockpit. Show young ones how when they turn the yoke, one aileron goes up and the other goes down, and that's how they would bank the airplane. ("It's that simple?" asks mom or dad.)
Offer an airplane flight-"right now" if you possibly can-because what parent can say no while the kids stand wide-eyed right there at the airplane? Once in the air, allow everyone a hand at the controls, however brief. We want them to understand that this is family stuff, after all.
Two small figures could be seen back at the fence as Austin and I rolled down the runway at Payson, so on climbout we "waggled" our wings goodbye. "Think they could see us rocking the wings?" asked Austin. "I'm sure they could," I said.
As we left the pattern and the land dropped precipitously into the Tonto Valley below, Austin turned to me with a smile and shared a high five with his free hand. "Guess we're pretty lucky getting to do this all the time," he beamed. "Hey! Want to head down toward Lake Roosevelt on the way home and follow the Beeline Highway through the pass? I like going that way."
"You bet!" I replied, hoping the intercom would mask the lump in my throat so I wouldn't have to rejoin the Dumb Dads Club any sooner than necessary.
"Awesome!" said Austin, banking left. "Oh, and dad-think we could fly once more before vacation's over?"
By Greg Brown


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Joining me in the studio for fight club, David Feeney stepping into the red dressing gown. He is the Shadow Minister for Justice, the member for Batman and you are the Shadow Assistant… you speak on Defence as well don't you? What is that title?
I do. Shadow Assistant Defence Minister.
I am glad you have got it, because I do not have it.
I was worried there for a split second.
Bruce Billson is the member for the Melbourne Riviera that is Dunkley. He is the Minister for Small Business and because Joe Hockey and Mathias Cormann are on holiday or out of the country he is the Acting Treasurer, welcome.
… and not wearing a dressing gown, your red one looks quite fetching.
Thank you.
We will get you a blue one.
No no look I have got other things to do and people might wonder why….
So you are it, you are the one man, you are the finger in the dyke, you stand between the Greek crisis and a….
I am a part of a synchronised team that has a very clear economic action strategy we keep each other informed- seamless, focused, delivering results that is what I am about.
Normally the Treasurer being absent at a moment of crisis like this would cause us all angst. The fact that Joe Hockey [inaudible]
In all seriousness I know we have a huge Greek audience that listen. We do, and we are, watching very carefully what is happening in Greece. We are fortunate to some extent to have quite a limited direct exposure, but that does not mean that it is not, you know, reverberations that we are very interested in, strong banking system - tick, reliable, good institutions – tick, and a credible budget strategy to get us back to surplus…
There is not much to worry about here?
We are focused on monitoring what is happening.
Our advice is that the European community is very activated about this. And they are obviously looking for ways forward but the central issue is you cannot keep borrowing from your creditors if they are not feeling like you are fair dinkum about paying it back so there needs to be a pathway found there.
Do you get to put your face on the bank bills why the Treasurer is away?
No not really, some people say I have a great face for radio - not quiet the most chiselled handsome character running around.
I mean David is a good looking rooster, but I could never suggest I have that face… well they do say politics is showbiz for ugly people and I can't say too much.
I want to talk more budget and economic matters, however the breaking news this afternoon that there will be a marriage equality bill.
Bruce Billson I am not sure if you can explain, actually, the timing. If it goes, is introduced to parliament on the eleventh of August and then there is a Liberal party room meeting I believe one week later on the eighteenth. Why the timing like that?
Not sure, I only just heard about it when I came into your studio. I think it is private members business. That has a particular slot in the parliamentary schedule. So this is just a normal course of events and I just picked up from what you were saying when I came in.
My understanding, private members business, there is a particular slot in the sitting schedule each week for private members business. There are other private members businesses as well, so I do not quite know what the scheduling of that will be.
Potentially a very positive development.
Potentially. I am interested in both of you giving me your best guesses. So Bruce Billson you are a better guesser then most of us because you sit in the Liberal party room. Free vote yes or no, what do you think?
Look I think it will be an interesting discussion, mainly because, me included, a lot of us went to the election making our position quiet clear.
Was it enough of an issue at the last election?
It was, at community forums, I might add I was the only one who turned up.
It was a bit of a free for all, having a go at the local member. But that is a part of it and I was asked the question and I explained what the party position was going into the election and I think we should see that through. Now if there is not, depends very much of what is in the bill. If the bill (interjection)
It is not going to be that surprising is it?
Well I do not know if the bill is discordant with that, that is one issue. There might be some other ideas about [Interjection]
You mean it might come into effect after the next election?
Well that could be it that is what I am saying, you are drawing me in on things I am unsure about. I have not seen the bill, because there are a number of varieties floating around.
A lot of the commentary already for the last few months has been this could make or break for the Liberal party, people making lots of noise, this could be a significant issue for the Prime Minister, is it that divisive?
No I would not have thought so I mean I know both sides of the argument and I respect their views - they hold those views very strongly and therefore it is not the only issue that sees people of good will holding very strong but quite divergent views. So, you know, the party and the team have the wit to work through those issues, on other issues and we respect people's points of views and no doubt we will have a discussion.
We are a bit different from the Labor party. I mean once the Labor party adopt a position you are sort of handcuffed to it. We are not like that we have always valued free will and free expression but expect our colleagues to actually do the right thing by the other colleagues in sharing their thoughts and being able to discuss through…[Interjection]
In the aftermath of that pronouncement you have got to let me say something.
Go for it.
I earnestly hope that what was just said is realised, and that is that the Liberal party does have a free vote. But of course on this issue the Labor party resolved to have a conscious vote and I would not be surprised if 80 per cent or more of my colleagues would support a sensible marriage equality bill. I know I will, and the fact that it is proposed to be a cross-party bill and the way that it is should be something which fills our hearts with optimism that this issue will be dealt with in a mature and respectful way and I hope it realises marriage equality [interruption]
Best guess on free vote for the Liberal party?
I do not have a best guess on which version of the bill you might know but I [Interrupted]
No I don't, but I would imagine given that it has got Liberal, Labor and Independent sponsors we would see a pretty sensible piece of legislation and probably reminiscent of the legislation that has been to us before. So that is that there would be protections in there for religions and people of faith and those things which I think deserve to be in such a bill.
And the numbers David Feeney? Well, let us say that there is a free vote. House and Senate would pass a bill like that do you think?
Well given that there are 50 something Labor MPs in the House and 90 something conservatives, the critical thing here is that the Liberal party get a free vote and enough of them hold marriage equality views- that is going to make or break the legislation – that is just the raw numbers of it….So I would expect 40 plus of my colleagues to support the legislation, that of course gets us about half way to where we need to be.
In the Senate, absolutely, I would defer to my colleague here on what he sees inside the Liberal party. In the Senate I would think between Labor, the Independents and the Greens we should be optimistic that with enough Liberals it would pass the Senate.
Just so your listeners are clear, the Liberal party normally doesn't ordinarily have declarations of free votes. The point I was making is that in our political tradition we encourage the colleagues to…
…{inaudible]…. cross the floor.
..Well there is, and what we ask of our colleagues is that if you are contemplating deviating from the election policy we took and encourage voters to support, you need to have a pretty good reason and the colleagues deserve the respect of that being disclosed to them so that colleagues can have a conversation about what has led an individual to move that way.
Just so you are clear on the processes in the Liberal party that has been part of our traditions for decades.
Bruce Billson I am interested, first of July – it means a lot to people who run a small business. You are clearly happy with it. I think Labor has supported much if not all of your provisions. What else do they want though? One of the small business organisations actually giving an address at the Press Club today, they see this very much as the beginning do they not? Not the end.
I think it reflects my attitude, which is there is always more to do. To be honest with you Raf, my work in this area will be done when Australia is the very best place to start and grow a small business.
Now, we are not, but we are making extraordinarily good progress where we have come from.
We have spoken before about the almost half a million jobs lost in small business under the previous Rudd Gillard Rudd Labor Governments. Now, we are trying to arrest that decline, turn it around and see the engine room of the economy producing jobs and I just got some new figures out.
The good news is under the Abbott Coalition we have seen an increase in the number of jobs in small business by 146,000. So we are getting that right. It is not just about the tax package, that is very important and a lot of those measures start on the first of July. It is about getting that entrepreneurial eco system, if I could use that term right, so that enterprising men and women who want to have a go and are hardworking and create their own economic opportunities and livelihoods for others do so.
So, 1 July, yes the new reduced small business company tax rate. That is the lowest it has been in nearly 50 years. Discount for the unincorporated small business, that is two thirds of small businesses. Fixing the employee share scheme errors that Labor made that even Labor recognises were a mistake. These are just some of the measures…
Shifting that threshold from two million to five million?
I have got plenty of ideas and …
… I will let you in on a bit of a scoop Raf as long as you do not tell everybody.
That was one of the issues that we were weighing up as we worked out what would best make a difference to the enterprising spirits and see activity: See ambition and inspiration turn into economic activity.
But I had to work within a funding envelope. New programs need to be more than offset by savings, but I am not out of ideas Raf. There is more to come and we need to keep at it.
David Feeney do the Government get a tick for small business?
Yes this is a package that Labor supported and that is not really a surprise. We of course take the credit for having originally introduced this kind of package only to see…
That is the instant asset write-off?
That is it.
It was much smaller was it not?
So when the legislation came before the Parliament, we did recognise it having done something like it ourselves.
Just to clarify, it was six grand instant asset write-off under Labor is that right?
Six and a half linked to the Mining Tax. It is twenty now…
So yes we supported it and as he says the number is now 20,000 thousand dollars. There are obviously issues about the enterprise eco system that the Minister speaks of. That is something…
So is that around penalty rates? Is that what you mean?
No but cute. I am talking about…
I am just curious. I do not know what you mean.
We need to have things like TAFE, we need to have things like universities, we need to make sure that businesses are able to get into global supply chains as those things take off. We continue to be anxious about the state of industry policy under this Government. The automotive industry is obviously something that has affected Victoria very severely.
Now we have seen job losses at Williamstown as our shipbuilding industry starts to be starved of work. There are big questions that this Government still needs to wrestle up.
Can I put a question to both of you, some of it is around news of the day, some of it is around news a few weeks ago. I still for the life of me do not understand why the two significant parties in this country cannot agree to do some trimming at the top when it comes to super and pensions. There is news today about the Government receiving some Treasury advice on super.
Raf the sad truth is I think there is the problem with Labor's proposal which was to, in super, to trim concessions at the top – we are anxious about the fact that 40 per cent of those concessions are going to only 10 per cent of the population, the top 10 per cent.
We are anxious about what that does to the long term survivability and sustainability of the superannuation system in this country which we take great pride in. We invented it.
The problem is we authored the change and we now see that the Liberals were thinking of doing exactly the same thing.
Asking for advice is different to thinking of doing the same thing.
Joe Hockey spoke to it, he issued….in March he put out an issues paper which flagged this as one possible response. He gave us every sign that he was open to the idea. It is just one of those awful instances I think where because it was not their idea it is cursed.
What about your dreadful politicking on pensions? That is an idea straight out of Labor's playbook. More money for pensioners at the bottom, trimming those at the top.
I hate to see a good, decent soul like yourself succumb to the conservative mantra on this. It breaks my heart, it breaks my heart.
This was a broken promise by the Liberal party. Obviously implemented by them in alliance with the Greens, which ultimately reduces pensions for a lot of vulnerable people.
We need to get away from, significant issues retirement income, we need to get away from broken promises and political point scoring do we not?
There is nothing more logical. I know neither of the policies are perfect. Not the Government's on pensions, or yours on super, however, this is clearly a room a space in the Budget where there is a lot of savings that could be made for very justifiable reasons. Yet both sides of politics spend most of the time politicking, talking sense on their own policy and politicking on the opposing.
I think there is a lot of agreement across the two parties about the underpinning principles here. The principle is we want to move the superannuation system to the point that it decreases reliance on the pension. We want to make sure that the pension system is increasingly not the first port of call for a retiree. That is why we invented the superannuation system.
We agree on those principles. We then are going to argue about the detail because Labor, unsurprisingly, is always going to be concerned about…
I still have not heard a bad idea for why the pensions' idea was bad.
Because it strips vulnerable people of part pensions and full pensions. While there was good news for some, there were winners, Labor was anxious about the losers.
Bruce Billson, could we not have both?
It is interesting listening to David and he is having a good crack at it. It was actually Kevin Rudd prior to the 2007 election recognising that in superannuation, too many moving parts arose…
This is the not one jot not one tittle.
That is right. Not one jot, not one tittle and then there were what, about eleven of twelve changes.
About nine billion taken out of superannuation and people are heartily sick of the superannuation space, a long-term investment designed to provide a retirement savings pool to relieve the need for income support through the pension system sees so many pieces moving.
We have just said settle that down. If people are making choices to provide for their own retirement, terrific but, what have also said is in encouraging that, if you are able to provide for your own retirement it is not worth taxing tax payers in Langwarrin or Frankston to supplement someone's income when they are in a perfect situation to fund their own retirements.
They are our guiding principles and that is why we have landed where we have. Saying to couples with a million dollars in their own retirement nest egg in addition to their home.
A little trim.
The accumulation of that reserve of resources supported by tax concessions should now be drawn upon and that is the thinking that is there.
Is it valid, I am interested if you think this is valid. If I say to you 'listen a lot of what you are say about change in superannuation makes sense, however the superannuation tax concessions are soon going to be equal to the entire cost of the pension system. So those numbers are the same.' Is that a valid point in your mind or not?
It is an interesting debating point but my initial reaction would be if that is encouraging people to provide for their own retirement that is the point of it.
If it is encouraging people not to be reliant on the tax paid by others to supplement their retirement incomes, that is the point of it. It is an interesting number by number comparison, but I think it kind of misses the policy objectives that it is are designed to support.
Those examples are ones that are well chosen, obviously I do not disagree with those examples. But where do we end this rort? The problem is.
Is it a rort?
Labor calls it a rort when it is a concession people are responding to.
Why did the Government give tax concessions to superannuation accounts earning, not in terms of their total capital, but earning more than one million dollars a year? For Labor that is an outrage. So at the same time as tax concessions are cut for the lowest income earners, we see those whose accounts are earning more than a million receiving tax concessions. That is where Labor wants to strike.
Labor made that statement when they were in office and then could not legislate it. So it was an idea, a thought bubble that sounded great but they made and banked but did not legislate because people's retirement savings arrangements may vary. They are vulnerable, they change.
It has got to be sustainable. It has got to be fair.
And they could not implement it so it is an interesting conversation.
There you go I tried to being two sides together there. I am not sure what we achieved.
[Traffic report]
David Feeney is with me. Bruce Billson is telling David Feeney about his fantastic scrambled eggs recipe. Bruce Billson is the Acting Treasurer. David Feeney is part of Bill Shorten's Shadow Cabinet.
David Feeney are turn backs going to be part of Labor's policy at the next election because it is pretty clear there are senior people who would like turn backs as part of something broader. I know the Labor party sees it as different fundamentally to the Coalition. However, it is going to part of Labor's platform at the next election is it not?
No we do not know that but what we do know is that the ALPs national conference in July is going to have a red hot debate about that very subject. I always like to make the boast that the ALP national conference is the crucible of democracy and the big debates of our time. We will have literally a thousand delegates and alternates in a hall debating these issues.
And you will have Liberal party people taping that conference to make ads for the election campaign saying Labor will be soft on turn backs.
Maybe so but the fact that we have a party full of passionate folk, the fact that we have big debates internally about these issues and that we do that in public is something we take pride in.
I note for the record that the Greens, and their conferencing, remains behind closed doors. No one can see what goes on in their internal operations.
I have asked Richard Di Natale about that before.
Good, well, we are not a secret party – our debates will be out there for all to see. So I don't know where that story will end Raf….
What is your best guess?
Well I literally do not know how that debate will go.
Honestly do not know. Which of course I think should make it desperately interesting for all concerned. But it will be a red hot conversation. Both sides of that debate inside the Labor party will be trying to construct a policy that is faithful to our values about being a compassionate international citizen, but making sure that….
So you can have a turn back and be compassionate?
Both sides of the debate are very keen to make sure that Australia is not doing anything in its policy settings that means people are drowning at sea.
Bruce Billson you were talking about the Cabinet leak actually, which I do not want you to comment on, but the citizenship laws a few weeks back as evidence of a good healthy debate. Is that precisely what is going on in the Labor party when it comes to turn backs you think?
I do not know how the Labor party would characterise their debate. I guess we will wait and see whether they land on a [interruption]
But it is good isn't it, if ideas get discussed in public?
Well I suppose it will and if it crystalizes a position. I think what is difficult for people that watch political debates is Labor is all over the place on this stuff and you will get one spokesperson saying one thing then someone else will come out saying something different. So, I mean, David is right there are mixed views within Labor and perhaps the national conference will crystalize a position.
I think that is what the Australian public want to know, what is Labor's position, rather than depend on who you talk to.
One of the only virtues of being in Opposition is it does mean a political party does take the time to take stock so I make no apologies about that. By the end of July we will have a policy, between now and then we will have a debate.
Look I do not want to get into the details around donation law reform. Donations to political parties. I will note Nick McKenzie the Four Corners journalist did praise, I am not sure if Bruce would call it full praise or not, but did praise Bruce Billson. I do not want to get into the Four Corners story. I do want to ask you both; there are significant issues around disclosure and amounts when it comes to donations. I will start with you Bruce Billson, would you like to see a change and do you think there will be a change? Will we know more and in more detail, do you think, in the future?
I think it will require all political parties to recognise that different policy settings have a different impact on different parties. I mean on the side of politics that I represent we do not have rivers of gold coming to us from the union movement.
We do not have rivers of gold coming to us from the top 500 companies.
Well that is not right either, because what you will find is that major companies tend to hedge their bets and….. Labor likes that and that neutralises that argument, but then there are rivers of gold from the union movement and (INTERRUPTED)
A lot of ALP federal branches declare at a thousand and not, sort of, eleven or twelve thousand. I know that does not cover all the money they get. Is that a good direction to go in?
Well I think whatever the rules are as long as they are applied consistently. I mean Labor tried to change the rules when they were last in office and then happened to leave this gaping advantage to themselves being they can still get their rivers of gold from the union movement. There was no vote of union members whether they wanted to feed the Labor party election machine, no decision made about placing - which currently happens in my own electorate, a union sponsored agitant running around whipping up a storm in my electorate.
They are allowed to lobby on issues aren't they?
Well but the interesting thing is, of course they can and I welcome that - but to have that masquerading as something other than pure electioneering and campaigning, and if it was done by my side of politics there would be a whole set of different rules applied to it, I mean that is just nonsense. There needs to be a consistent set of rules that does not seek to advantage one side of the argument over the other. That is where I come out on the issue.
David Feeney?
Well, not withstanding some of the hyperbole I think those principles are sound, we think that the transparency levels should be that donations should be declared at a thousand dollars and that is what the Labor party does voluntarily.
Does that include the donations from unions?
That includes every single donation, so to be very clear about it.
That is the Federal Labor party though?
And I think our state branches do the same. So that is our in-principle decision. The Liberal party likes to make a point about the fact that trade unions participate in public life and donate to the Labor party, we declare that. And I guess any onus that they want to put on trade unions and their members we say should be shared by shareholders and businesses. Because tell me shareholders are across the donations made to conservative political parties in this country.
Or the Labor party for that matter.
I am not sure we are going to get resolution but I need to give people the weather.
Bruce Billson thank you very much for coming in, try and get your name on a bank bill before Joe Hockey comes back.
And can I just say for the record, thank you for saying I am Acting Treasurer but I take great pride in being the Minister for Small Business.
I am sure you do. David Feeney is the member of Bill Shorten's shadow team. Thanks to the both of you.


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BEC Tero Sasana 2 Sisaket 1 (30/11/2011)
Sometimes you just get lucky, and this game was third time lucky for me. Originally, when I planned my trip, there were no games on this evening. Then, after booking up, Muang Thong United – Robbie Fowler et al – scheduled a home game for this date. A Thai FA Cup win however caused MTU to re-arrange this fixture and play a cup tie in Chonburi, 40 miles down the road, on this date instead.
I had planned to go to that game, but having just travelled up from Pattaya, a further 40 miles further south, I just didn't feel up to trekking halfway back to where I'd just come from. I'd seen a bonus game in Cambodia, so missing a game this night wouldn't be such a loss. I instead spent the afternoon having a few beers and the odd game of pool, before strolling through the city centre, to try and get a couple of pics of the old national stadium about a mile away.
Next door to the old National Stadium is the rather more modest Thephassadin Stadium, the current home of Bangkok club BEC Tero Sasana. I wasn't wildly interested in this stadium, but as I passed I couldn't help but notice hundreds of people milling about, and it looked like my Chonburi laziness was about to be rewarded.
Sure enough, there was a game on, an FA Cup tie v Sisaket, far enough into Thailand's east to be nearer the Vietnamese coast than Bangkok. Rather more eye-catchingly there was also a promotion by Airline Air Asia. In a country rather less concerned with political correctness than the west, this promotion featured a group of young women in stewardess uniform styled more in keeping with the bars of the infamous Nana Plaza down the road than actually used by the airline – or if they had changed the uniform only a week after I used the airline, I'd be very disappointed.
Less welcome, to be at least, were one or two groups of guys performing choreographed dancing to music, as if rehearsing moves for a boy band. They were there the following day too, so I can only hope therefore it was some kind of punishment.
The set-up was slightly more professional than in Sriracha. They even had a proper club shop, rather than an outdoor stall selling souvenirs. No ticket office though, so again it was a case of buying a ticket from a couple of women sat at a desk. No problem with that though, especially when the posh seats here are only 100 Baht (£2).
With 45 minutes before the 6 pm kick-off I figured I had time to dash back to my hotel and get the spare camera battery I'd left on charge. After negotiating an extortionate fee from a tuk-tuk driver I embarked on what I thought would be a tight but clearly achievable return trip.
I hadn't banked on the appalling Bangkok traffic though, and this two mile journey took a whole hour. My hopes of making the return journey directly down the main artery of Sukhamvit in just 15 minutes quickly evaporated like a puddle in the midday sun. My mood didn't lift when I realised I'd left my recently purchased ticket in my hotel room as well. Still, at 100 Baht it is a mistake that's not too costly.
After sheepishly buying a second ticket I dashed into the ground. Again, a rubber stamp on the wrist was the order of the day, but I ran in and looked at the scoreboard. Still 0-0. Fantastic. I then looked at the pitch and noticed that rather than midfield action, both teams were still working round cones and doing stretches. It rather explained the number of people still outside the ground when I arrived. This 6pm kick off wasn't actually going to start until 7.
With my wrist duly stamped, I took a seat down one side of the two-sided ground. With bottles and cans banned from the ground, fans wanting drinks either brought in cups of drink, or went for a bizarre option of having a drink poured into a plastic bag. Strange enough to see normally, it got disturbingly surreal with any beer coloured beverage, looking like a hospital patient with a catheter had discharged himself in more ways than one and was at the game. The less said about the straw, the better.
I'd found myself sat in the "Fire Dragons Zone", the area for BEC Tero Sasana's noisiest supporters. As kick off approached, several guys at the front with megaphones and several drummers set the tone for the support. The drummers, after all, unlike their English counterparts, actually knew how to use their instruments. All stopped abruptly once the teams were out for the national anthem. A flurry of noise following that was also cut short as the players lined up around the centre circle. The name Gary Speed was whispered among a few, and such is the popularity of English football in Thailand that a minute's silence for a player who graced the English game isn't that surprising. When you consider that a few days later I saw live coverage of Sutton United v Notts County, in Thai, you appreciate just how closely the game is followed.
The silence was observed impeccably, then the megaphones and drums cranked into life. The Air Asia girls, ushered to front row positions next to the chant leaders and drummers, danced, clapped and wiggled their hips perfectly in time to the songs. If only the two teams could have matched the pace and rhythm.
I've no idea if Thai teams have the same disdain for cups as many English teams now do, but both teams looked far worse than the relegation-haunted Sriracha team I'd seen a four days earlier. BEC Tero Sasana's main tactic seemed to be to knock the ball to a pacy right-winger, who played like he'd been chosen for his pace rather than his ability to do anything useful with that round white object in front of him. Overall it was just poor. At least those guys with the megaphones, organising the fans' songs with their backs to the pitch, weren't missing much. I began to think that if the game had kicked off at 6 after all, then missing 15-20 minutes would actually have been a blessing.
With the game seemingly heading for a 0-0 half-time scoreline, it looked like divine intervention would be needed to prevent that. Instead, there was an intervention that was simply divine. A speculative shot from outside the box looked no danger at all until a Sisaket defender had other ideas. Neither a block nor an attempted clearance, he decided to flick a toe at the passing ball as if trying to trip it up. This effort, more of a gesture than anything else, had the effect of lifting this torpedoing shot up into the air on a trajectory that was just perfect for lifting it both over the Sisaket keeper, yet allowing it to dip under the crossbar for the opening goal. The striker celebrated like he'd meant that all along, and I just celebrated the match coming to life.
And come to life it did. The second half was much better. Realising I was in completely the wrong section for the first half, I'd moved to the other side to the "expensive" seats. They didn't offer a better view, unless being able to watching the skytrains pulling into National Stadium Station floats your boat, and the atmosphere was definitely down a couple of notches on this more sedate side, but at least their was slightly more leg room. The Fire Dragon's side had been designed either for people who have no feet, or are bandy-legged enough to be able to turn their ankles 90 degrees from their body.
Other than that, and a small and currently redundant roof partially covering this stand, both stands were more or less identical. Eight rows or so of red seats lined either side of a running track. Neither end had any spectator accommodation, although a scoreboard at one end, the back of the national stadium behind one side, a sports hall behind the other, and the elevated Skytrain behind the other end did at least provide some visual relief.
The home side were in need of some relief themselves. Despite being a goal up and looking the better team, the second would not come, and Sisaket's noisy followers, a good 250 or so, were getting louder as they sensed their team might just snatch something.
Perhaps enthusiasm got the better of them. They had too many up for a corner, and one clearance later, one burst upfield, and BEC Tero Sasana had a breakaway. It was two attackers to three defenders, but the defenders all went for the man with the ball. One pass, and the other attacker effectively had a clear run at goal. A left foot blast smashed past the keeper, and the game looked dead with 20 minutes to go.
Sisaket, and their fans, had other ideas though. Rather than getting down, this set-back seemed to make their fans louder. They didn't sing much, but the roars of encouragement every time a white and orange shirt got forward sounded like it came from four times the number of fans there. Despite my nominal support for the home side, I began to want Sisaket to score.
And score they did. After a few close shots, a BEC Tero Sasana player left and inviting extended leg training in the box, and a wily Sisaket forward accepted the invitation to fall over it. Penalty duly converted, noisy celebrations from the Sisaket fans. Any who'd made the 8 hour bus journey would no doubt celebrate any consolation, but sadly for them consolation was all it'd be. They'd just left it too late. Such tardiness may have been in keeping with a cup round that had taken a staggering three months to complete – and they don't even have replays – but for those Sisaket fans who been given false hope, that 8 hour trip home must have seemed even longer than usual.
Walking out of the ground, the annoying boy-band hopefuls were still there, doing their stuff, but the Air Asia girls were sadly long gone. With the Skytrain taking me back to Nana Station, checking the possibility of them working nearby did cross my mind. Hmm, perhaps not.


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Monthly Archives: March 2013
Lees Ferry Report
Guide Trip
March 23, 24 and 30th, 2013
2 groups of fly anglers on separate weekends with similar success. Dry and dropper rigs are working well on shallow flats and drop-off areas. Eggs and midge larvae are taking rainbows around spawning beds. The trusty double nymph rig is producing well in deeper runs with scuds and Zebra midges. Swinging wooly buggers on a sink tip line has been consistent in certain situations as well. The flows are excellent for wading giving us access to many spots unavailable with higher flows. This is going to be a great spring at the Ferry
Lake Powell Report
Guide Trip
March 9th, 2013
water temp 50-54
lake elevation 3600
Nice stable weather prior to today's guide trip on Lake Powell with Evan, TJ and Bob from UT. We fished for smallmouth for the first half of the day. Smoke color Yamamoto Hula grubs and chartreuse single tails were the best choice. Several smallies and 2 walleyes and 1 striper came to hand on the plastics. We trolled the back of Navajo at lunch time with limited success but we did have a few stripers take deep divers while trolling. We went back to bass fishing to end the day with decent luck again on Hula Grubs and single tails around broken rock.
Lake Powell Report
Guide Trip
March 9th, 2013
water temp 47-51
lake elevation 3600
After a late winter snow storm on Friday, March 8 PM – March 9th AM, I had my first guide trip on Lake Powell for 2013 on Sunday, March 9th. Kacey, Scott, Ryan and Jed from Roosevelt, UT fished with me for stripers in Navajo Canyon. The storm had cooled off the water a bit since the week before and fishing is generally tough immediately after a cold front and storm. We were able to scratch out a decent day trolling, spooning and fishing a short time with anchovies. The guys caught fish on several crank baits, minnow shaped and shad shaped alike. We spooned a few and sought a few on frozen anchovies in 35 feet. Trolling was the most productive overall. One of the best baits of the day was a giant 6″ Storm minnow diver. Great guys and a beautiful weather. I hope to get up and fish for giant lake trout with them on Flaming Gorge sometime this year.
Lake Powell Report
Personal Trip
March 3rd, 2013
water temp 48-52
lake elevation 3601
Saturday I launched about 11 for a good spring break in cruise for the boat. Caught 1 nice LM across from Whaweap marina at the end of the day.
Sunday I ran back into Navajo Canyon. I saw 1 other boat that was having good success trolling anchovies with lead core. I tried a 40 foot shelf across from them. There were plenty of fish but I didn't hook any pulling plugs. I left that area in favor of the dirtier water in the back of the canyon. After a few passes, I began to pick them up on Norman DD22's, deep thunder sticks. wally divers, and Risto Raps. The DD22 was the most consistent. The biggest fish went 4.75, average was 3.5-4. The warmest water was 52.5, spring is breaking out! Wahweap was 48 degrees at 10:30


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The vehicle I was in pulled to a stop in front of a traffic light and we had to wait for the light to turn green before moving ahead, as the light came on, our driver started honking horrendously for the man in front to move quickly and he rained curses at him. In about 10 minutes time, we arrived at another traffic light and the light turned red, we had to wait again and when the green light came on, our driver took some time before the car could start. This time around, he was so quiet while the other drivers behind honked for him.
I just thought that so many times, we find people around us in some situations and we think they were so foolish or stupid to get themselves in that situation but let us always bear in mind that it could happen to anyone at anytime.


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Here is one more popular recipe from North Indian cuisine, Chana Masala. A very simple recipe with minimum spices and yet delicious. It goes well with everything you can think and in every occasion.
Preparation Time: 1 hours
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
? 2 cups white chickpeas (chana)
? 1 tbsp of oil
? 2 large onions (finely chopped)
? 1 large tomato (finely chopped)
? 1 tsp – chana masala or garam masala
? 1 tsp – chopped garlic
? 1/2 tsp – chopped ginger
? 1 tsp – red chilli powder
? 1 tsp – salt (adjust to taste)
? Coriander leaves / cilantro for garnishing
Preparation Instructions:
- Soak white chickpeas (chana) overnight and pressure cook (when cooking) for 3 whistles.
- Heat oil in a skillet and add chopped onions to it. Saute till onions turn golden brown.
- Add ginger and garlic and fry them for few seconds.
- Add tomatoes and cook till they become soft.
- Let all this mixture cool and blend it into a fine paste.
- In the same pan, add the paste (you can also heat a little oil and then add the paste).
- Add boiled white chickpeas, salt, chilli powder and some water. Cook for some time.
- Turn off the stove. Add garam masala or chana masala and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Serve warm Chole Masala with Batura, Chapati, Poori, Laccha Paratha or rice.
- Don't use both garam masala and chole masala. Pick only one.
- You can also make dry chana masala by not adding much water.


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As I was watching one of Dr. J's Podcasts - this one called # 38 Power Tips and Tweaks, I checked the box in General Preferenced labeled "Include reference when amplifying from text to tool (override with shift key)." Based on the Podcast information, I then did a Search for All Text and a Search in the Eerdmans Dictionary for the word "wicked." See the screenshot of my general test workspace below.
I then magnify the Eerdmans Dictionary zone. I select (highlight) some text in the dictionary, as shown in a screenshot below, and right-mouse click while the mouse is hovering over the highlighted text. I then see a corrupted zone or workspace - see screenshot below. When I click on the corrupted workspace or zone, I see a partial display of the tabs and zones. See screenshot called CorruptDisplay.
To "uncorrupt" the work space, I click on the Library icon once, sometimes twice, and my workspace is back to normal. Or, try the instant details toolbar icon, and it should "uncorrupt" the workspace too. I have seen this happen from time to time since I started to use multiple zones and magnify, but I never reported them until now.
Has anyone else experienced this with Accordance for Windows 10.3.3.1? I also attached my zipped workspace if you want to try it on your Windows version. My OS is Windows 7 64 SP1
Edit: Left out a screenshot called "what happened". When I want to use the contextualized menu of highlighted text in the dictionary, I get the display as shown in the screenshot.
Attached Files
Edited by David_Bailey, 03 January 2014 - 08:32 PM.


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Perhaps you saw it on the D.C. Sports Bog yesterday. Or, perhaps you caught it on Rome is Burning or PTI. In any event, you may be aware by now that the Maryland women's basketball team has a little motivational slogan for themselves this year. But not just any slogan. A very special slogan. It's like Ubuntu, except not. Inspired by the ramblings of Mike Tyson (and who isn't), the Lady Terps created the motto: "We Eat Kids."
Some people have reacted rather "voraciously" to this revelation, and you know what? I don't blame them. After all, do the Lady Terps really espouse this behavior? How can we know?
I'll tell you how. Because I recently sat down to dinner with them. Guess what was on the menu.
We started out with some basic small talk — you know, their great season, their championship prospects, the weather, Obama, recently released films that we had enjoyed. Chips and salsa were available to whet our appetites. Those of us of legal age partook in a delightful "adult beverage" or two. But before too long, we were ready for the main course. Now I admit it; I was something of a babe in the woods (sorry) on this thing. I must have missed the "Kids" episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, so I didn't know quite what to expect. What's the proper etiquette here? What parts are good to eat? But never fear. The ladies were with me every step of the way.
Now before I go any further, I just want to make one thing clear to all you letter writers out there. Our chef (can't remember now where he said he trained) informed me that these kids were terminated in as humane a way as possible. And I can attest to that. When the kids came out, they wore peaceful, almost angelic expressions on their faces. As a new father, that gave me a lot of comfort.
You don't actually eat the head, though. It's just for presentation. They removed it before the carving.
I ended up with a thigh. Let's give it a go, huh? Down the hatch, right? Nothing ventured nothing gained, no? You never know until you try, know what I mean? Are you with me?
The meat had a tender, almost buttery texture. Not too bad! Think veal, except more, I don't know, human-y. The Lady Terps hungrily tucked in to their big team meal. They sure can pack the kids away! The chef was going to go back to the school for more, but everyone decided against it for some reason. I didn't really follow the explanation. What am I, a lawyer?
You know what else I had while I was there? Roasted tomatillos. Fantastic!
So please. Everyone out there can just rest easy. Because the Lady Terps? They walk the walk. I found that "We Eat Kids" is not only a motto for these women. It's a credo. My guess is they'll be looking pretty well-fortified this Saturday when they take on Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16! Three cheers, ladies! And thanks again for dinner.


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I don't want to be bitter, and I'm sorry that I have been lately. Ironically, Christmas does that to me a little bit. I think it has that effect on a lot of people. It was simpler when I was a little kid and didn't really know about Jesus. I just knew that a guy named Santa was going to sneak into my house late at night and give me stuff.
Lately I've been liking Santa Clause less and less, but today I looked up the history behind the myth because, honestly, I didn't really know much about where it came from. I knew Saint Nicholas was a real, historical person, but I didn't really know anything about him other than, presumably, he was generous. What I found were two details about his life that made me like him quite a bit more. I found out that Saint Nick was actually a bishop in the Church. At one point he found out that a poor nobleman had three daughters who were getting married, but he didn't have a dowry for each of them. Nick wanted to help, but he wanted to do it anonymously, so he threw three bags of gold through the nobleman's window. Eventually people did find out who did it, which started the tradition of associating charitable giving with Saint Nick. I also found out that at one time, he was imprisoned for his faith, but while he was there, he spread the Gospel to the other prisoners. In fact, he was super generous because the Gospel says we are supposed to help the poor.
So I like the guy. I have a cousin who doesn't celebrate Christmas at all because it has essentially become a secular holiday. I know plenty of people, including my friends, who celebrate Christmas even though they're not Christian. While the consumerism of it does get on my nerves, I still love it. I love Christmas. I love going bananas with the decorations. I love hanging out with my relatives. I love going to midnight mass on Christmas eve and then coming home at 1:00 in the morning and opening presents then. I love driving around with hot chocolate to go look at people's insane decorations. I love that there's tons of junk food.
I love that Christmas is kind of like starting over. It's a reminder that our savior came as a tiny human baby, born to a family who couldn't even get a room in the inn. It's where his story, and therefore, really, our story begins.
There are some things I want to do differently in the coming year. I want to read Scripture more, and try to figure out to the best of my ability what is objectively True about some things (as best I can, anyway). I also want to lose a little weight and build up some upper body strength. Skiing is on my bucket list, but because of my disability, I would have to ride a sit-down ski thingy and use my arms to steer. I'm not strong enough to do that yet, so I'm going to work on it. I have to figure out exactly how I'm going to do it, but these are sort of my New Year's resolutions.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and this makes me happy. Long story short, I want to thank everyone for reading, and I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas.
Because in my world guinea pigs can fly!


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God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.
Some of your greatest blessings come with patience.
Faithfulness in the small things will lead to blessing in the big things.
What the majority calls "blessing" may actually be a judgment from God.
The secret of a happy life is to delight in duty. When duty becomes delight, then burdens become blessings
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By Eamonn Byrne
Tinryland Junior A team are in contention for a semi-final place in division 4 at the half way stage following this impressive victory over Old Leighlin at Rathcrogue on Thursday 23rd April.
Tinryland got off to the perfect start and were 7 points up in the opening 10 minutes following goals from Dean Farrell and Paul Doyle and a point from Padraig Whelan. Old Leighlin opened their account with quick points from Paddy Deevy and Declan Gough before Tinryland consolidated their advantage with points from Paul Doyle and Garry Fields coming up to the 20th minute. A Paddy Deevy point in the 24th minute was matched 2 minutes later by a great Padraig Whelan point. Old Leighlin then enjoyed a spell of supremecy scoring 3 unanswered points from Declan Gough (2) and Deevy before Dean Farrell crashed the ball to the Old Leighlin net after a great pass from John White. Half time score Tinryland 3-5 Old Leighlin 0-7.
When Bagenalstown referee David Hughes re-started proceedings Old Leighlin quickly set about reducing the gap and Paddy Deevy showed his free taking skills by slotting over 2 points in the 31st and 36th minutes. At the other end Garry Fields scored a wonderful point for the home side to leave the scoreboard reading 3-6 to 0-9 in Tinryland's favour with 20 minutes remaining. Old Leighlin never gave up though and points from wing forwards Barry Hayes and Declan Gough reduced the margin to 4 points before a brilliantly worked goal from Tinryland sub Killian Maher following a pass from Padraig Whelan extended the advantage back out to 7 points. Points from Garry Fields following good play by Owan O'Gorman and Dean Farrell and by Padraig Whelan kept the Tinryland fans sweet but Old Leighlin just would not lie down scoring further points via midfielder Peter Brophy and Deevy from a free. Padraig Whelan then converted a '45 for Tinryland as minor player Rory Doyle entered the fray for the men in blue and white. The closing stages saw Tinryland make further substitutions with Barry Power, Cathal Whelan and Bradleigh Nolan all being introduced. On the scoreboard Tinryland added points via Padraig Whelan and Garry Fields before sharpshooter Deevy slotted over 2 consolation points for the Old Leighlin men. Final score Tinryland 4-11 Old Leighlin 0-15.
Tinryland who play Mount Leinster away in their next game on Thursday 30th April were best served by goalkeeper David Townsend, together with Owan O'Gorman, Cian Lawlor, Gregg Murphy, Padraig Whelan, Dean Farrell and Garry Fields.
Team: David Townsend, Eddie Dowling, Alan Kirwan, Owan O'Gorman, Garry Scully, Padraig Delaney, Cian Lawlor, Gregg Murphy, Sean Kirwan, Padraig Whelan 0-5, John Whyte, Dean Farrell 2-0, Garry Fields 0-4, Paul Doyle 1-1, Eoin Fields. Subs Killian Maher 1-0, Rory Doyle, Cathal Whelan, Bradleigh Nolan.Man of the match Gregg Murphy
Match Reports >


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VISTA — A steady torrent of noise complaints has advocates of Palomar Airport working to enforce noise abatement procedures as well as educate the public on airport operations.
Palomar Airport is one of the biggest single-runway airports in the country. Sited in the heart of North County, traffic flies in and out over thousands of homes every day of the week, sometimes at low altitude.
"There are times I could tell you what color the pilots' eyes are because they are flying that low over our neighborhood," Vista resident Barbara Boyer said at an outreach meeting in Shadowridge on May 15.
"They come in at night, pretty darn low," Linda Brent, also of Vista, said. "Are they landing in my backyard over here?"
For years, the number of submitted complaints remained relatively low. After Internet reporting began in 2004, complaints ranged from 50 to 250 depending on the season. Suddenly, in August 2007, reported noise incidents spiked to 550 and have remained elevated ever since.
Strangely, the spike seemed to defy the true noise situation. Airport flights, which peaked in 1993, have dropped to an all-time low over the past two years. A recent analysis by mobile stations showed that the airport's sound footprint is down 40 percent from the mid-1990s.
On the other hand, the escalation of noise complaints coincided with the establishment of loudairport.com, a noise watchdog group based in Carlsbad. Their site serves as a clearinghouse for airport-related information and facilitates the reporting of noise incidents.
"When you look at how much trouble it is to actually submit a complaint, I don't think people would do it because it's such a headache," Dwight Webster, a spokesman for the group, said. Webster maintained that any single complaint really represented anywhere from 10 to 20 complaints.
Chuck Collins, a member of the Palomar Advocate Advisory Committee, or PAAC, said he had a hard time accepting that, noting that most of the complaints were submitted by just a few individuals lodging a complaint whenever a plane flew overhead. "If we took out three complainers, 80 percent of the complaints would go away," he said.
Webster countered that 80 percent of the noise issues would go away if pilots adhered to the "Fly Friendly" program, a set of procedures and routes to minimize noise impact to surrounding neighborhoods. Collins said many pilots do follow the program but noted that adherence to the guidelines is strictly voluntary.
"The guy flying at 30 feet above the ground 500 feet off shore, I want to choke him, but he is technically legal in the regulations," Collins said at the Vista meeting.
Fellow PAAC member Jim Swain pointed out that bad weather and high traffic can also cause planes to travel less-than quiet paths.
"Safety always trumps noise," he said.
Collins stated that the airport takes all noise concerns seriously. He and other PAAC members have stepped up their meetings with pilots to encourage them to follow the sound abatement procedures. The PAAC also formed a subcommittee May 21 specifically to deal with the noise problem. These are positive developments, according to Webster.
"The airport's not going away and the people aren't going away so they should be working together … to alleviate the problem," Webster said.
More information on Palomar's noise abatement procedures can be found at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/airports/noise.html. Noise complaints can also be registered there.
Palomar Airport advocates address noise concerns
VISTA — A steady torrent of noise complaints has advocates of Palomar Airport working to enforce noise abatement procedures as well as educate the public on airport operations.


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Premium footage scene styles
Having a Biteable Premium account just got even better! Now, when using Premium stock footage, you can apply a scene style. Put simply, scene styles are how your text will appear onscreen, with certain flashy effects or filters to enhance the look. Check out our video below to see the new scene styles in action:
I know what you're thinking: you want to jump in and start using them straight away. Here's how to do it!
Log in to your Premium account and start a new video, then add a scene to your timeline. Choose 'Footage' from the scene type menu on the left, then enter what you're looking for into the search bar. I've entered 'parrot' in the example below because parrots are cool.
Choose 'Style' from the options on the left, and you'll get a drop-down menu of each different scene style. Hover your mouse pointer over each thumbnail to see what the style looks like in action. Click on the one you like best, you'll see a green line around the edge to show when it's been selected.
Now select the 'Content' button and write your text.
Choose a font from the drop-down menu, then hover your mouse pointer over the footage thumbnail to see the 'Update Preview' button, and click it to see what your text will look like on screen.
Once you're happy with the way your text will appear, add as many more scenes as you like, then choose your colors, (bear in mind the type color is set to white for almost all of these new scene styles,) select your audio and you're done!
And if all of that wasn't enough, we've got a raft of new scene styles in the works, so stay tuned for more fun stuff!
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Martel Bistro & Bar - $50 Gift Certificate
- Item Number
- 39
- Estimated Value
- Sold
- $40 USD to hma021019
- Number of Bids
- 1 - Bid History
Item Description
Like most great restaurants, Martel embodies the vision of its owner, Marty Levine. It is the culmination of his long history in the restaurant business, owning a series of renowned and successful restaurants, like Breakaway and Pane Vino.
This experience, and his passion for good food, combined with his love of France, makes Martel the wonderful place to be that it is today.
Marty owns a home in the Dordogne region of France where he relishes, and is inspired by, the cuisine of the region. His regular visits to the local bistros were
part of the inspiration for Martel. He "borrowed" the name Martel from a village
near his home.
Martel's vibrant, lively atmosphere is like that of the best of the brasseries found
in all French cities. It's a great spot to meet friends for a drink, dinner
and a great time…
Martel's is located at 2316 Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Focus on French Cinema stores data...
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Your privacy is important to us, so Focus on French Cinema will keep your personal data secure and Focus on French Cinema will not use it for marketing communications which you have not agreed to receive. At any time, you may withdraw consent by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or by contacting our Privacy Officer. Please see our Privacy Policy found here PrivacyPolicy.


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(This week, we conclude a two-part series on music in Aspen, Colorado. This week's blog - part two - spotlights the wonderful festivals that feature live music. Want info on some great venue for live music in the area throughout the year? See part one of this blog, which ran last week.) When it comes to live music and music festivals, Aspen, Colorado, offers a year-around selection ranging from classical to contemporary, and from up-and-comers to music legends. The town offers a number of great music festivals, and this week our blog team runs down the can't-miss list - basically everything you need to know to plan that amazing Aspen vacation, summer or winter.
THE FESTIVALS You can't start a list about festivals in town without first mentioning the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS). The AMFS is the nation's premier classical musical festival, with over 300 musical events during the summer season. Top musicians from around the world visit the AMFS and perform. More than 600 students from more than 30 countries come to Aspen annual to study with the AMFS's renowned alumni. (Many of these prodigies have already begun their professional careers - and all of them are rising stars!) Performances are held at a variety of locations around Aspen:
- The Benedict Music Tent, 980 N. 3rd St.
- Kaye Music Garden, just outside the Benedict Music Tent
- David Karetsky Music Lawn, just outside the Benedict Music Tent
- The Joan and Irving Harris Concert Hall, 960 N. 3rd St.
- The Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum Campus, Castle Creek Road just outside of Aspen
All of the events at the Kaye Music Garden and David Karetsky Music Lawn are free. For more information, contact the AMFS box office at (970) 925-9042. Another popular summer festival that draws huge crowds is Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS). JAS presents major summer concerts with music icons, but also offers smaller festivals and special events, educational programs and the popular JAS downstairs at the Little Nell. If you're in Aspen, be sure to check the latest happenings with these events:
- June Fest Lawn Party - June
- Snowmass Summer of Free Music - June-July
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Benefit - July
The Snowmass Mammoth Festival is quickly becoming another can't-miss summer event. Typically slated for mid-June, this weekend event features live music, chili tastings and beer tastings, among other shenanigans:
- aEUoeChili Showcase DayaEU
- aEUoeGrand Beer TastingaEU
- Parade
- Kid's Area (*new for 2014)
- Late-Night Shows
The 2014 music line-up includes headlining bands Leftover Salmon, and Chris Robinson & the Brotherhood.


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Castle, 1950's
I don't often post photos of Sleeping Beauty's Castle...let's face it, we've all seen it a million times before (two million, for some of you). Anyway, it's easy to take the castle for granted; when I was rabidly collecting Disneyland postcards, it got to the point where I if I saw one more photo of SBC my eyes would bleed.
But I have to admit that this photo is especially nice. I love the color and composition...there are swags of Christmas greenery garnishing the castle (and one flocked tree). The sun is already setting on this short winter day, and its warm light makes the castle glow.
Just to the left of center you can see a red fire hydrant, not much effort has been made to hide it. Maybe that was due to fire codes? I don't look for hydrants at the park when I'm there, but presumably they are there - - only hidden.