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Caravan Construction (Bailey)
Caravan Club Magazine, october 2000
First task is to assemble the chassis. Work sometimes starts by bolting chassis sections to a floor panel, but many manufacturers now use Alko Kobers Vario chassis. This is adjustable to suit different models and here it's assembled indepently.
By assembling the chassis and running gear in an upside down position, it is especially easy to connect the overrun braking system and to make the initial adjustments.
Meanwhile floor panels are being constructed using Styrofoam block insulation and a series of strengthening battens as a core, sandwiched between plywood sheets and bonded in a huge press.
Once bonded, the floor panels are inverted on raised supports so that the under floor gas supply system, heating ducts, electric cables and water pipes can be installed.
Having subsequently bolted the floor to the rolling chassis, service items like the battery box shown here and other appliances can be fastened down. At this stage, none of the external walls is fitted
Without the restriction of walls, there's plenty of working space when fitting bed units to the floor. Water services which have been part pre-assembled and cut to length are similarly installed with the minimum of hindrance
Furniture modules are constructed in a separate area. Jigs ensure that each unit is accurately replicated so that when it's brought to the production line, each section should f it without difficulty
Meantime, side walls are being prepared. Construction commences on the internal plywood lining, with battens positioned around the apertures f or windows, doors and ventilator openings
Polystyrene panels are cut to form the core layer in the wall sandwich. In this factory, the insulating material is cut to exact shape by a computer-controlled machine and then laid on the adhesive coated plywood
Adhesive is applied to the core material, then pre-painted aluminium sheet, end the side walls bonded in a press. Window rubbers, fridge vents, cassette toilet doors and external lamp units are then fitted to the finished panels
Only then are the walls fitted around the nearly completed interior. Front and rear walls are usually constructed differently from the sides, using timber framework as the base for supporting external moulded plastic panels
In comparison with the sides, production of the forward end of a caravan is more labour-intensive. The large area of opening windows calls for sturdy bracing -as does a locker designed to carry heavy gas cylinders
Flexible insulation is used to f it around the curved shapes that form part of the roof. Cables also have to be fitted in the void above the ceiling plywood and this is done from above rather than from inside the caravan
With the roof frame and insulation in-fill in place, aluminium is used to cover the entire top of the emerging caravan. Sheet metal pulled from a roll eliminates the need for joins
The roof sheeting is trimmed and a generous overlap is dressed over the side wall using a soft hammer and former. Ribbon sealant had been previously applied before the sides of the 'lid' were carried and folded over the edges
Throughout this final stage, both ribbon and gun-applied sealants are used to ensure that all overlaps are weatherproof. Then the junctions between panels are covered by aluminium trim strips which are bedded on mastic


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The Fairy and the Frog (Grades 3-6)
Written by: Stephanie Ireys
Illustrated by: Liliane Grenier
Frogs had disliked fairies for a very long time, and fairies absolutely never talked to frogs. That was just the way things were, until one young fairy's curiosity changed things. Pixie Lou, the daughter of the Fairy Queen, didn't understand why fairies and frogs couldn't get along, so she disguised herself as a dragonfly and flew over to meet some frogs and find out for herself. She came across George, who just happened to be a frog prince, lying in the sun. And he wasn't bad at all! In fact, he was quite nice and very funny, and the two became fast friends. So what was the big deal? Well, there was something Pixie Lou didn't know. There was a reason fairies and frogs didn't get along, a horrible secret hidden amongst the beautiful flowers of the tranquil river valley. It was definitely not a good idea for a fairy to be in the frog kingdom, something Pixie Lou would soon discover.
For 2 - 6 Readers
Advantage (Multi-Level) Format includes Playbooks Reading Levels Stages 3-5
Available Options:
Publishing Type:(ML) Small Group Set-7 books (Spiral) ($80.85)(ML) Single Copy (Spiral) ($11.55)(SL) Small Group Set-11 books (Spiral) ($46.20)(ML) Small Group Set-7 books (S-Stitch) ($67.20)(ML) Classroom Set-25 books (S-Stitch) ($240.00)(ML) Classroom Set-30 books (S-Stitch) ($288.00)(ML) Classroom Set-35 books (S-Stitch) ($336.00)(ML) Single Copy (S-Stitch) ($9.60)

subset: commoncrawl


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Court of Appeal Invalidates Tiered Rate For Parcel Tax Measure
December 13, 2012
December 2012
Number 79
In Borikas v. Alameda Unified School District (December 6, 2012) __ Cal.App.4th __ (2012 WL 6084027), the court of appeal issued an important decision regarding school district parcel taxes. The court held that a tiered-rate parcel tax exceeded the school district's taxing authority and was invalid because the rate structure was not uniform for all taxpayers and parcels.
This case is significant as an increasing number of schools districts have obtained voter approval for parcel tax measures with tiered-rate tax structures, as opposed to flat-rate tax structures. Tiered-rate tax structures generally have different rates for residential and non-residential use parcels, such as residential rates based on the number of housing units on each parcel, and non-residential rates based on the square footage of the parcel. It was previously understood that these tiered-rate structures complied with state law requiring that such taxes typically must apply uniformly to all taxpayers or all property within the school district, under principals of tax law. Since each type of parcel would pay the same tax, school districts have taken the position that there is adequate uniformity to comply with the statutory requirements. Borikas indicates that, for at least the time being, school districts are not authorized to use a tiered-rate parcel tax because it does not apply uniformly to all parcels in the school district.
In Borikas, plaintiffs challenged Alameda Unified School District's 2008 voter-approved parcel tax measure (Measure H) that taxed residential parcels at $120 per year, commercial/industrial parcels of less than 2,000 square feet at $120 per year, and commercial/industrial parcels of more than 2,000 square feet at $.15 per square foot, up to a maximum of $9,500 per year. Measure H also included exemptions for residential parcels owned and occupied by senior citizens or by those receiving Supplemental Security Income, regardless of age.
The trial court in Borikas ruled in favor of the school district, concluding that so long as like parcels are treated in a like way and the division of parcels into different classes has a rational basis, Government Code section 50079's requirement of uniformity and equal protection of the law is satisfied. The trial court also found that the statute allowed Measure H's exemptions for some senior and disabled taxpayers. This was the second time that Alameda Unified School District's tiered-rate structure was upheld in a trial court.
The court of appeal partially reversed the trial court, holding that the tiered-rate parcel tax was invalid, but that Measure H's exemptions for some senior and disabled taxpayers were expressly allowable under section 50079. The Borikas court read section 50079 literally as requiring that special taxes apply "uniformly" to everyone and all lots within the district, regardless of whether what sits on those lots is radically different from what sits on other lots.
The court acknowledged in passing that school districts and other local governmental entities are more dependent than ever on the revenues from parcel taxes, but any "fix" to the wording of the statute must come from the legislature and not the courts.
Alameda Unified School District is considering appealing this decision to the California Supreme Court and has until approximately January 15 to make that decision. At the same time, we are exploring with our affected clients and CSBA possible legislation to clarify districts' right to use tiered-rate parcel tax structures going forward and to save the parcel tax measures already approved with such structures. We will keep school districts apprised of future developments in this important area. In the meantime, we urge districts that have passed tiered-rate parcel taxes or that are considering new or renewal parcel tax measures to work closely with their legal counsel in determining how to respond to this important development.
If you have any questions about the Borikas decision, or parcel taxes generally, or would like assistance with preparing a parcel tax measure, please feel free to contact one of our eight offices located statewide. You can also visit our website, follow us on Facebook, or download our Client News Brief App.
Written By
Jeffrey L. Kuhn
Fresno Office
Aria Link
Law Clerk
Monterey Office
©2012 Lozano Smith
As the information contained herein is necessarily general, its application to a particular set of facts and circumstances may vary. For this reason, this News Brief does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your counsel prior to acting on the information contained herein.


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Notice: We are getting hundreds of fraudulent registrations from Russia, Denmark, and China over the last two days. If you would like to become a member, please Email us from the home page with a user name and password.
We do NOT allow registrations from other countries (Canada is ok). If you are from another part of the United States, please tell us why you want to join the forum.
Very sorry for the trouble.


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Amazon is selling sex toys. KY has expanded beyond its pharmaceutical niche to launch a line of massage oils that double as lube. And Bush and the porn industry are united against the proposed .xxx top-level domain.
Have I entered an alternate sex-tech reality?
I don't know whether to be amazed or scared that the adult industry and the Bush administration agree about something. When the extremes come together, where's the middle ground for the rest of us to stand on?
I used to think a .xxx domain was a no-brainer. I envisioned it as an indicator that a site contained sexually explicit material intended for adults. That way we could put all the porn in one convenient place for fans while making it easier for others to block it out.
In my world, porn companies could keep their .com addresses for branding and trademark purposes. But the .com URL would redirect to the .xxx homepage.
And that page would not have any pornographic content on it. Not even a pert bottom in lacy hot pants, even though you might come across such a picture in an ad in any mainstream fashion magazine.
This splash page is important in preventing accidental exposure to boobies. It would contain a standard text warning that you're about to enter a site containing erotic, indelicate or downright salacious content.
(Text, because you want browsers to be able to interpret the message for people with visual impairments. But you could also include an MP3 of a nice lady reading it aloud, using Very Simple Words and in multiple languages, to make sure users really understand what they're on the verge of getting into.)
Anyone who made a typo when entering a .com URL into the address bar, or who clicked a .xxx link by mistake, would immediately realize his or her error when faced with this ADULTS ONLY notice.
And when you do click Enter, you can't blame anyone but yourself for your exposure to the full monty.
Naturally, all interior .xxx pages would redirect to the platonic homepage until you click Enter and accept the cookie. After that, it's smut galore.
Maybe someone would develop a special adult browser with porn-specific features: sexy skins, a media player that looks more like a peep show and less like Windows, embedded chat and webcam support, open-source teledildonics code, a boss button.
Perhaps the browser itself could act as a declaration that you're of age and willing to peruse the prurient – the old "gold key" method – and let you skip the warning pages.
But from a mainstream browser, you wouldn't get to porn unless you wanted to. You could set your browser and search-engine preferences to avoid .xxx domains, and the family computer's filters would block everything in the .xxx realm.
It wouldn't be a perfect system. And it would exist mainly to pacify anti-porn activist groups, even the ones who won't appreciate it because they're too busy trying to eradicate adult content in toto.
All we have to do to get from here to there is force an entire business sector – an international one at that – to emigrate from the generic commercial domain to the .xxx domain. (No worries about the legalities, of course; we can work out the details later.)
Then we'd have to create a committee to determine whether certain websites – those about figure drawing, for example, or online bookstores that publish user reviews of erotica books – belong in .xxx.
Of course once all "adult" enterprises have paid $75 for each of their new .xxx domains (versus the $10 or so they pay for .com), we'd know exactly where to find them next time we decide to impose further regulations (or even taxes) on them.
For me, the most intriguing part of the story is not the .xxx domain itself, but the reason ICANN delayed its approval for another month. All the official statements spout politespeak about making sure everyone gets to be heard, all political and social implications are considered, blah blah blah.
But the impetus for the Department of Commerce's letter (.pdf) to ICANN requesting the delay are the 6,000 letters and e-mails the DOC has received on the subject since June.
Considering that the Florida-based ICM Registry first applied for assignment of the .xxx domain (along with the .kids domain, incidentally) in 2000, it seems like we've all had plenty of time to share our views on the subject. Yet one month's flurry is enough to change the course of the final decision.
That's the strength of the internet. Certain international governments had already expressed concern about .xxx, according to a letter from the Governmental Advisory Committee to ICANN, dated Aug. 12.
But when Conservative Petitions and Family Research Council called their members to action, all it took was 6,000 voices to slow, and possibly reverse, approval of a top-level domain.
I'm glad this example of the power of online communities is happening over a technicality. It doesn't matter much to me which way ICANN decides on this issue – I don't think a voluntary .xxx domain changes much for consumers, whether they view porn or eschew it.
But I have seen from this that by acting in concert, a small group can have tremendous influence over the future of sex and the internet. And I know I have to pay closer attention to the various arguments. What starts with the porn industry could expand to the personal – our right to post a profile at an adult swinger site, maybe, or to vlog our showercam to a small group of fans.
Personally, I'd rather not have the Family Research Council dictating what (or whom) I can and can't play with online, whether it's porn videos, BDSM role-playing games or VOIP sex.
Oh, and about that KY massage oil-cum-lube – you can buy it on Amazon, too.
See you next Friday,
Visit reginalynn.com to find out where you can meet Regina in person and to join the Sex Drive forum.


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Kim & Kamal – Royal Botanic Gardens
December 1, 2012
Bride & Groom:
Kim Begg & Kamal Kader
Royal Botanic Gardens – Caledonian Hall
Bride's Flowers:
Kim held a compact hand tie of all off white roses. Kim's bridesmaids (four) held similar but smaller versions.
Table Centres:
Tall gold candlestands topped with an arrangement of white berries, mistletoe, snowberry, holly, seasonal off white flowers and greenery


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Call them what you will, they are often but shadows of the real thing!
If I close my eyes, I can just about bring the taste of those "BGT"s to mind, which makes for an interesting comparison against this modern-day homage / knock-off.
The aroma is good: sweet and dark, perhaps a bit dusty.
Amazingly enough, the initial aroma smells just like that of the 1999 and 2003 versions! I don't know how they did it, but they did it. It has a strong attack that swiftly fades into sweetness, all rich, dark, wet woods. A delicious and tantalising start.
Like all those Xiaguan specials (and I feel as if I've had several hundred of them throughout 2008), it is good, but limited. It is capped at some invisible ceiling, perhaps brought about by whatever means they achieve that dark, tobacco addition. I enjoy modern Xiaguan blends, but I go into it with my eyes open, in the understanding that some long-term prospects have probably been sacrified in order to make these leaves more immediately compelling.
Xiaguan have learned how to avoid extremes, which is a good thing if you want to avoid dire teas, but perhaps less good if you want to sample greatness.
It's absolutely nothing like Big Green Tree (except for that uncanny aroma), and it's certainly not Yiwu Zhengshan Laoshu [proper-mountain, old-tree], but it is a pleasant Xiaguan special production of the kind with which we're all probably very accustomed by now.


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NH House considers letting police scan license plates; devices illegal now
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) � New Hampshire police would be able to use license plate scanners under a bill being voted on by the House.
The House votes Wednesday on whether the devices should be legalized.
Supporters say New Hampshire is the only state that does not permit the devices. They argue police could use them to recover stolen license plates and vehicles, during Amber alerts and to find people who have defaulted on court appearances or have outstanding warrants against them.
Supporters said records are purged from the system within three minutes unless the plate triggers action.
Opponents argue the devices erode residents' privacy and could have trouble reading some plates accurately. They also worry that inaccurate databases could prompt police to stop innocent people.


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Postpaid SIM (Data + Voice)
You can use this by inserting the KT SIM into your mobile phone.
Obtain a Korean mobile phone number to get unlimited access to data and phone services at an affordable price.
※Charge paid for voice/text services after returning the SIM Card
※ A credit card in your name is definitely needed to pay a deposit (the expiration date of the credit card shall be more than 3 months away.)
*debit card is not permitted in paying a deposit.
※ Maximum number of rentable devices per 1 credit card
- Cell Phone Device(2units), WiFi Router(5units), Postpaid SIM card(5units)
KT Postpaid SIM
- Use unlimited data service without worrying about your bill!
- Inexpensive outgoing domestic/international voice/message!
- Free incoming domestic/international voice/message!
- Use your own phone in Korea just as you do in your country!
Kinds of SIM cards
(※ Vat is included.)
|Period of use
- ※ Discount Event Learn more
※ After estimated return date, additional amounts will be charged (on your credit card)
|Data Free
|Depend on your data plan (optional)
|Voice & Text
|Due date
ex> If you purchase a 10 days plan but when you return after 12days from rented day 33.000 KRW
of additional price will be charged on the day of your returning
(30days : KRW 71,500 - 10days :?KRW 38,500 = KRW 33,000)
Use Rates
Data Rates
|Data Rates
|Charges to Receive
|Charges for Making
Calls/Sending Texts
|International Rates
General Rates
(※ Vat is included.)
|Charges for Making Calls/Sending Texts
|264 KRW/1 min
|Charge paid for voice/text services after returning the SIM Card
|International Rates
|110 KRW/case
|330 KRW/case
Postpaid SIM rental method
You can follow the step-by-step process of renting a SIM, as described below.
Confirmation of items prior to use of service.
- Before using the service, confirm if your country lock has been terminated by contacting your communication company!
Visit kt Roaming Center (Incheon/Gimpo/Gimhae/Busan Harbor)
- Required Documents : ID cards(passport, residence card, etc.)
Receipt of SIM card /Test if it is usable or not / Payment
- After receipt of SIMcard, test if it is usable or not.
- Receipt by a third party is not possible.
- Payment is possible with a credit card or a check.
- Return of SIM card is possible at the Roaming Center in airports and terminals nationwide.
- Return of SIM card can be done by an agent.
International Telephone Rates
- KT SIM does not support the personal authentication.
- To use the prepaid SIM, your cellphone's country lock should be terminated. You are advised to confirm this through your communication company.
- This service is possible at terminals with the WCDMA function.
- Use may not be possible according to terminal model and frequency band.
- After installation, the prepayment chip is identified by the cellphone turning itself on and off up to a maximum of five times, according to the terminal model.
- Video calls may be unusable according to your mobile phone model.
- For rental inquiries, contact KT Roaming Customer Center.
- +82-2-2190-0901(free everywhere at KT mobile phone)
SIM Settings
- 1Turn off mobile phone power, install SIM into SIM card slot.
- 2Turn on power, set Wi-Fi flight mode to OFF and Data Network to ON.
- 3After double-re booting, confirm if the antenna is well indicated.
- For indication of "Non-service area" : Re-boot until the antenna is indicated.
- For indication of "no chip card" to the antenna : Check if SIM is properly set. If it fails to continue recognizing SIM, check if the terminal is unusable. (For exchange and refund, inquire into the store.)
- 4If the carrier "KT" is chosen, but there is no data access, check the APN setup.
(Set-up → Show Networks → Mobile Network → Access Point Name)
- In case of auto-identification : Select the relevant APN.
- In case of non-auto-identification : Add menu button → new APN at APN. Input/save following items.
- lte.ktfwing.com
- 450
- http://mmsc.ktfwing.com:9082
- 08
- 1Set Wi-Fi and flight mode to OFF and cell roller data to ON.
- Post- iPhone6 models need setting to LTE activation → data exclusive use.
- 2Turn off mobile phone power and install SIM to chip slot.
- 3After double-rebooting, check if the antenna is well indicated.
- For indication of "Non-service area" : Re-boot until the antenna is indicated.
※ Pre-iPhone4S models may take more than 15 minutes for the antenna to be indicated.
- For indication of "no chip card" to the antenna : Check if SIM is properly set. If it fails to continue recognizing SIM, check if the terminal is unusable.
- For indication of "Non-service area" : Re-boot until the antenna is indicated.
- 4If the carrier "KT" is chosen, but there is no data access, first try deleting the phone's profile
(Set-up → General → Profile) before turning on the device again.
- ※ Once deleted, the profile cannot be restored. Only perform this step if you have tried all of the other previous options.


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Flinders Partners Group now offers a seamless lending solution to integrate with all of your existing financial products. We offer an holistic approach to your finance needs, taking into account any existing financial commitments and your income tax situation.
Working in conjunction with PLAN Australia, we are able to source finance from 28 different lenders, ensuring that you receive the most personalized and applicable finance possible. We are confident that our approach and service will meet and exceed your needs.


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We've officially survived the season-opener!
While it's easy to get lost in the hundreds of articles recounting the race and post-race events, I've decided to compile a list of raceday's interesting and real talking points, you know, the stuff that truly matters most?
No need to thank me, I do this all for love.
Überraschungssieg means "surprise victory" in German. Which is a fitting description for Sebastian Vettel's masterstroke. From P3 to P1 in a difficult-to-overtake-in track? Sorcery*! Now try to pronounce that German word quickly five times in a row. You're welcome.
(*More like luck + a well-timed pitstop under the VSC.)
Speaking of Vettel, his "signature dance" from last year was notably absent from his post-race celebrations, but not to worry, The Finger made a very visible comeback.
Nico Rosberg officially began his punditry career in F1–with stints in both RTL and Sky Sports F1–and still managed to take the time to introduce himself to a young F1 fan who had no idea who he was:
The grid kids made their debut. Just look at them in their snazzy F1 race suits! Hopefully there will be more diversity in the coming races. And admit it, did you even notice the absence of the grid girls?
A sandwich bag may be at fault for Sergey Sirotkin's retirement from his first F1 race. And no, I cannot confirm whether it was of Polish origin or not.
A faulty drink tube nearly made Carlos Sainz Jr. vomit inside his helmet during the race. The said faulty tube was forcing the poor guy to drink too much water, and coupled with the G-forces he was enduring, Sainz experienced nausea but thankfully overcame it in time. Todo bien.
Update: Sainz later claimed a "poisoned banana" was the cause of his problems during the race. Yes, you read that right.
Kimi Raikkonen thinks his P3 finish is "Ok".
He also owned his brand by posting an Iceman pic on his IG story.
(You really should get Instagram by now–following Kimi is so worth it.)
Also, did Kimi's wife just shade his team Ferrari in her own IG story…?
The new graphics were generally well-received, until the battle of Lastname vs Lastname appeared on the telly and made social media crazy. And yes, that became an actual trending topic. Lastname FTW!
Charles Leclerc's debut was much-anticipated but surprisingly ignored by the race directors. As in he was never shown driving his Sauber during the race broadcast at all. Leclerc can take comfort in the fact he's got the best pose in the new starting grid graphics, though. Can you say swag?
The Haas drivers were actually having a good race. As in P4 and P5 good. Until they didn't, as a result of 2 botched pit stops. Romain Grosjean's parenting skills took center stage as he took his time to comfort his colleagues, while Kevin Magnussen found a perfect book to console him.
Some people on Twitter actually believed that Haas sabotaged the races of both their drivers so Ferrari can win. Come on, guys. Seriously?!
Hometown fave Daniel Ricciardo overcame his grid penalty, made up 4 positions to finish P4 and took the 1st Fastest Lap Award. He had quite an exciting cat-and-mouse chase with Kimi Raikkonen and dropped another quotable line (Ricciardoism?) in, "I don't wanna let him breathe". Erm, if that is your kink Dan, we won't judge.
Both McLaren cars finished the race. And in the points! Sadly, the Toro Rosso-Honda partnership got off on a rocky start, as Pierre Gasly had to retire due to a PU issue, and Brendon Hartley limped home bringing up the rear.
Red Bull Racing took the Fastest Pit Stop Award. Surprisingly, Mercedes only ranked 10th. A blip in the famous German Efficiency?
Someone not named Max Verstappen won Driver of the Day. Who could it be? It's the Papaya King himself, Fernando Alonso!
Nico Hulkenberg still wants the grid girls back. And made a Tom & Jerry comparison to emphasize his point. Oh deer. Just let it go, Hulk. It ain't worth it.
Nine out of the Top 20 Worldwide Trends on Twitter, within an hour of the race finish, were F1-related. And they say F1 Fans are losing interest?
Giant cardboard driver faces are a little bit terrifying, but also hilarious. Are those an in thing this season, now?
(P.S. Where do I get some?)
Darn it, Bahrain is now going to feel like a lifetime away.


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Let babies be babies
Why do we have this urge to check, cross-check and double check our baby's developmental milestones with that of someone else's? Celebrate their individuality... they are just little humans after all
So, is Re talking?
Well, he says mamaaa and dadaaa and a few other words, but I wouldn't say he is talking really…
You know P is so cute, she is talking nineteen to the dozen. She is learning ten new words each day!
Really? Good for her..
Now if I was one of those vulnerable, insecure moms, I would quickly compute P's age and get all antsy that Re is lagging behind and wonder if he has a speech impediment, and look up blogs like this one and others for advice and join more mommy forums and worry till kingdom come. But I am not, so I don't do any of that and write this post instead.
I find it a bit vulgar to talk about my child— what he does, what milestone he is at, what he said today—unless specifically asked. I never go into details about his growth or development and it takes a lot of probing to get information from me. I reckon talking about one's child is equivalent to talking about one's boyfriend or husband, and I have spent enough time as a singleton to disown people who do that, so why should it be any different now? Even my mother, who calls me every single day complains that I never tell her enough about his 'progress'. That she has to pry and pry till she can get some meat out of me.
For most mothers, motherhood might be some kind of pinnacle; the child becomes the centre of your universe and sometimes you don't even realise you are talking about your child all the time. I love being a mom and I love my child, but I still get irritated when every conversation is about him. Most fellow mums want to know what your child is up to so that they can quickly feel one-up if theirs is on a higher milestone.
But seriously, it is as boring to hear people talking about their children as it is to hear them talking about themselves. I don't know whether that makes me less of a mother, but I find it really boring. So why should I impose that on anyone else? So you will not be hearing about Re's nursery rhyme mastery or his first legitimate sentence or the first word he wrote unless there is a larger point to make.
And there is no end to comparing baby notes, if that is the agenda when mothers discuss their babies. When your baby is barely turning, someone else's has flipped over. When yours has flipped over, someone else's has sat up. When yours has sat up, someone else's is crawling. Hell, it never ends. I still remember when I got my big ticket job in a newspaper, all my mother could think of is when will I appear on television!
Poor babies! They are under performance pressure right from the womb. Is it kicking? Is it moving enough? Has it engaged? And once born, it's all about: Is he latching on? Is he sleeping? Is he staying swaddled? Is he responding to his name?
And then it goes on to: Is he eating? Teething? Crawling? Walking? Talking? Writing?
The thing is, babies will do whatever they have to do whenever they are ready for it. So if yours hasn't started solids till nine months while another's did at six, big deal! Or if yours started talking at two years while another's started at 11 months, so what?
I don't give a baby's bottom (my new coinage for rat's ass) but Re can do whatever he does whenever he wishes to do it. I am in no rush. And every time someone gets a 'learning toy', I can feel a capillary burst in my head. I don't care if your baby can recognise all the birds and animals in the book. I don't know who the hell Barney is and why are his DVDs so significant to my child's growth? There's no way a child can get away from learning his alphabet, his numbers or his tables, his colours, birds or animals, but my point is, what's the hurry? The best thing about babies is that they are babies, so why do we want them to grow up so soon?
But it never ends, does it? I recall having the following conversation with one of my fraternity mums when Re was a year and a half:
Is he going to playschool?
No, he plays at home
How old is he? Isn't he 18 months?
Yes, but..what's the hurry?
Mine is so bored at home, he needs constant stimulation. So I send him to art class, dance class, song class, play school…blah blah blah
Really? So when does he get the time to be a baby?
What do you think about all the fuss around a baby's developmental milestones? Please share in the Comment box below.
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Dear Sis~
I just finished devouring my December issue of Flying magazine, which I typically read cover-to-cover as soon as I receive them. My deep love for all things related to aviation emanates from something in my spirit, something I was born with. Although Dad was an executive with Eastern Air Lines and consequently, we were exposed to the fundamentals of flying at a relatively early age, (how I loved visiting the open-air rooftop viewing area on top of the old Miami International Airport terminal to watch those old propeller-driven airliners take off and land back in the early 1960's!) my inherent love of planes predated our introduction to flying by Dad.
Well, Thanksgiving Day is just 3 days away. Of course, it's a little less celebratory in prison than it is on the streets, but I really do have much to be thankful for, notwithstanding my being on death row...Still, while you're probably eating some juicy turkey and delicious sweet potato or pumpkin pie, with hot buttered rolls and spicy stuffing, my meal will be a little more mundane & generic. We'll get 2 slices of turkey loaf (i.e., lunchmeat), a couple of slices of white bread, some cold & lousy "stuffing", and a couple of tablespoons of cranberry sauce. Ironically, in the "old days" (the 1970's and early 1980's) we ate much better in prison during the holidays. Back then the prison kitchens made a real effort to make our three annual holiday meals special (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July). Typ
ically we'd get a lot of real turkey meat, with hot mashed potatoes & gravy, rolls and butter, good stuffing, salad, hard-boiled eggs, corn on the cob, pumpkin or sweet potato pie, a big hunk of cranberry sauce and eggnog to drink. But, over the years, the prisons have outsourced their kitchens to private companies (like Aramark) who win the contracts based on the lowest bids. Not surprisingly, in such a profit-driven atmosphere, our meals have gone to Hell. We get very small portions of very bad food. This is a more or less universal thing, nationwide, in all jails and prisons (that's why we get a bag lunch - two stale sandwiches - every single day, year in and year out). So, when the holidays come, the meals are nearly indistinguishable from any other meal, which is to say they're equally bad. On the other hand, I'm alive, healthy and in good spirits, and that's certainly worth being thankful for!
Happy Turkey day, Sis! (Be sure to give some to the dogs!)
Peace & Love,
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
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Camilla Akrans: ie. My Idol (Warning: Topless)
by The Editor
By: Kate Van Raden One of the most gifted photographers out there…Camilla shoots for everyone under the sun, is reped by all the best agencies and has been published more than many male photographers. In other words, she is one bad ass mama jama!!! Here is some of her work that I absolutely LOVE. Enjoy!


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Orlando, Florida may be home to the happiest place on Earth, but No. 11 Ole Miss (0-1) is leaving town with nothing but disappointment. The Rebels blew a 22-point lead against No. 4 Florida State (1-0) in the Camping World Kickoff in Orlando. The Seminoles ripped off 33 straight points on their way to a 45-34 victory. It was the largest come-form-behind victory in Florida State history.
Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois went through some growing pains in his first start for Florida State at quarterback, but gained some confidence in leading a late touchdown drive in the first half and came out looking like a brand new player in the second. Francois passed for 420 yards and two touchdowns without an interception or a fumble (one fumble by Francois was overruled upon video review). He looked like a freshman starting his first game in the first half, because he was a freshman starting his first game in the first half. And he was going up against a solid Ole Miss defense, which crumbled in the second half as Florida State gobbled up a decisive edge in the time of possession department.
Ole Miss did have success running an up-tempo offense against Florida State early on, which played a part in building a 28-6 lead in the first half, but the wear and tear on the defense showed in the second half as Florida State looked like the fresher of the two teams. The Rebels saw Chad Kelly look confident and living up to the hype of being the best quarterback in the SEC with three touchdowns in the first half, but he also cooled off in the second half and was picked off three times in the game, the last coming with under three minutes remaining in the game to essentially put to rest any hope of a win for Ole Miss.
1. You cannot turn the ball over against Florida State and expect to win. Ole Miss did so three times, with a trio of interceptions thrown by Kelly among them. Florida State is not going to dig holes too often this season the way they did Monday night, and there are only a small handful of offenses that will be able to hang with Florida State and have the potential to overcome a deficit in the turnover margin (Clemson, Louisville… Miami?).
2. One observation to take from Sunday night's Texas-Notre Dame game is the Longhorns could be turning a corner but must still learn how to finish a game. Texas had a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter before seeing Notre Dame battle back and eventually get the game to overtime. Texas escaped with the win, but it was a lesson that could be learned in Austin. The same experience must be earned in Oxford. Ole Miss was in command of the game shortly before halftime, when Florida State scored a late touchdown to gain some momentum at the break. The Seminoles then went on a tear with a 24-0 run in the third quarter and a 33-0 run overall before the Rebels got back on the board, going from up 28-6 to down 39-34. Perhaps this can be an assessment of the coaching. Jimbo Fisher held a decisive edge while Hugh Freeze will have some questions that need answers.
3. Dalvin Cook turned in a fine effort, even if he did have the bonehead play of the game. Cook was mere yards away from reaching the end zone in the second quarter on a pass play but for some reason switched the position of the ball in his hands before he crossed the goal line, uncontested. The ball dribbled loose out of bounds and instead of a touchdown, Florida State was reduced to settling for a field goal. All was forgiven later, as Cook ended his night with 192 all-purpose yards, including 101 receiving yards.
Florida State opens its home schedule next week against Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers gave North Dakota State a solid test in the FCS opener two weekends ago and demolished Kentucky State at home this past weekend. As good as they may be in the FCS ranks (and they are really good), Florida State should manage to avoid any real threat of a massive upset in Tallahassee. Ole Miss also gets an FCS opponent next weekend at home when they host Wofford. Wofford opened its season with a 21-7 road victory at Tennessee Tech on Thursday night. After getting by Wofford, Ole Miss has two pivotal game sin SEC play at home against Alabama and Georgia. Then comes a revenge game against Memphis. Memphis upset the Rebels last season.


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Thanks Bergs.
Thanks Bergs.
Ball Cap.jpg
Ken and Emma showed tonight. I set some ground rules at the outset. Slow and easy, I had no intention of getting even slightly boogered up so as to ruin or diminish the meet.
I had them warm up, and alternate with moving hand deflection drills. Outside to inside and inside to outside counters to shoves, grabs, or strikes. Emma had trouble keeping her hands up high during the drills but with some attention and correction she got better.
After that it was alternating back and forth between her blue belt and Ken's blue belt 2nd degree techniques. They were both rusty after the break and needed a little coaching, correction, and calibration and smoothed out. Emma, who has grown and weighs 82 lbs. at (finally!) all of 5 feet tall, actually made Ken, who is 6'1" and 248 lbs. wince. It impressed both Ken and me.
Done with the meet and relaxing now.
It hit 97F here, but the heat didn't affect me at all. Thanks of an ice chest, lots of Gatorade and, judicious use of the Chilly Pad. No dizziness or cramping hamstrings like in other such un-air conditioned meets.
There was good news/bad news. The good news was that I could set Illinois state records even though I was not lifting in that state, but was a resident of Illinois. The bad news was that I could not set a World record because there were no World certified judges at this meet. National records, yes. Just not Worlds. Ah well.
I followed my plan to the letter with the following results:
Squats: State records in all three attempts.
Bench Press: 1st attempt-state record. 2nd and 3rd attempts-National records.
Deadlift: 1st attempt-state record. 2nd attempt-National record. 3rd attempt-World record. Even if it isn't official, it set the record.
This was the first meet I went 9 for 9 in my lifts. None were disallowed. I did get one red light in my 2nd and 3rd attempts in the squat, and one for my 2nd attempt in the deadlift.
I have to say, the judging was spotty. I'll own the red lights I got, although I didn't inquire as to what they were for. Probably depth on the squats and i have no idea what the issue was on the deadlift. In my opinion as well as DB's, there were a number of shallow squats that got passed as well as problematic bench presses. There were a couple of consistently hard nosed judges who got their own red lights in but the lifts got passed with two other white lights.
The deadlift bars had excellently sharp knurling which has my thumbs a touch raw, but otherwise I feel really good and not wiped out like after other meets.
Almost forgot, I got a gold in this meet too.
Congratulations, Im happy for you, so whats the next step after this and how was the other competitors?
I neglected to mention I also qualified for Nationals. So the next steps are to get my competition squat up over 280 and into 300 pound territory and my bench press to 242. That too is a World record in my age and weight class. Then there's my deadlift. The 363 went up without too much strain, so I have 10-20 more pounds and maybe even more I can grind out.
My total today was 811. At Nationals I need to total 875 or better to qualify for Worlds. I need to work on my confidence in squatting more at the right depth. That is the biggest challenge I face. I can compensate for it with the other two lifts, but I need to overcome my phobia.
Easing back into things today.
Speed bag was not yet replaced, so I vented my hate, shit, and discontent on the heavy bag. All the while imagining it was the bozo who keeps breaking the bags with his uninformed enthusiasm. Followed by playing around with bench dips*. The rowing, medicine ball toss, and finishing with rolling and external rotation work with a 15 lb. dumbbell and resistance band**.
I felt really good Sunday after the meet. Not very whacked at all. Just to be safe, I soaked in a hot bath tub. Monday morning was another story. My lower back had tightened up, but not in a debilitating way. Surprisingly, after the 7+ hour drive back from Tulsa it recovered.
DB will be posting some videos when she gets herself settled from the return. For certain, the world record deadlift of 363 lbs. will be posted.
* I'm doing some modifications to my routine. I'm dropping the shrugs, since it seems I have figgered out the cues for control of retracting and depressing them. More work on the triceps for a good lockout in the bench is in order, along with speed work. Still doing the cumulative singles for 3 weeks with a 4th week of speed work at 60%-70%. Then continuing on for another such cycle until I test my 1RM in week 12 of this. It should be interesting.
** The external rotation work paid off well at the meet. I settled the bar nice and low on the scapulae with no fuss or straining.
This morning was speed sets, or dynamic effort, or velocity based training. It goes by different names according to who espouses it. It 10 sets of 3 reps with 60 seconds rest between sets with 60% of 1RM moved as fast as could be done.
Bench Press: 10 x 3 with 140.
Hammer High Row: 10 x 3 with 225.
Bench Dips: 10 x 3 with bodyweight.
Rolling and external rotation work.
These speed sets are supposed to be good for cardio. Normally, my slower, heavier work with singles and such nets me 75%-80%+ of maximum heart rate. Today skimmed under that at 69%. Surprising that.
Grats on the gold, and the National Record lifts... even if administratively they don't count.
Oh the state and Nationals count, just not the World deadlift. And thank you BTW.
I have a query in to the USPA for Nationals asking if there will be World certified judges there. By then I'll break the currently unofficially broken World record by at least 10-40 lbs.
I got a light frisk and equipment check looking for supportive gear after each record coming off the platform. After an attractive young brunette handed me gently, I told her she had no future in TSA, should she sign on for that jobs program.
Also, there were three of us middle to old aged guys at the meet. On named Ray, a mere sprat of 43, went for a 4th attempt after setting a state record. Something the USPA lets you do with permission of the judges. I yelled out "Old guys rule!" To which he gave me a Roman salute worthy of Russell Crowe in Gladiator, and called back, "Damn right!"
Then there was Dom, who was a 58 year old superheavyweight in from Texas who hoisted a huge deadlift. I yelled out "Show these kids how it's done, Dom!" And he did.
Finally there was Bill, a venerable 78 years old in the 100 kg weight class. He had long silver hair in a pony tail, and this being Oklahoma and all, was almost certainly an injun. I didn't ask but his features were nearly the same as the guy on the old buffalo nickel. He went for his 3rd attempt in the bench and I called out, "Make it look hydraulic!" A spotter/loader looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. You know you made a good one when you get that reaction. Bill's wife, who was a classy looking lady with short white hair in a Yoga Is Magic t-shirt looked over at me and giggled. Bill made it look hydraulic.
Old Guys Rule.


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Swanson Vineyards
2008 Salon Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
California: Napa Valley: Oakville
What We Say
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Mission Codename: Hanging in the Salon
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Revisit Swanson and acquire a limited allocation of the delicious Salon Sauvignon Blanc.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Swanson Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2008 Oakville Salon Sauvignon Blanc
Winemaker: Chris Phelps
Napa's Oakville AVA, centrally located and adjacent to Napa Valley's famous Rutherford AVA, was established in July 1993. Oakville is considered one of the most diverse AVA's in the Napa area and grows some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and as you'll see in today's selection, Sauvignon Blanc in California.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Very pale crystalline clear straw-yellow with just the slightest of pale honey hues through the core. When swirled, this medium weight wine has slow medium thick legs creep down the side of the glass.
Smell – A fresh aromatic nose of plump grapefruit, tangerine citrus and other tropical aromas with a hint of honeysuckle and sweet spice. Floral notes of orange blossom and touch of flint and stone balances the bright fruit.
Feel – Lively and youthful with bright acidity, this dry medium-bodied wine has a little weight at mid-palate that holds everything together balancing the structure that ripples to the finish.
Taste – Crisp and fresh ripe grapefruit up front followed by other tart citrus and sweet tropical fruits integrated with slate and mineral notes, hints of sweet spice linger with a touch of smoke, vanilla and sweet floral orange blossom.
Finish – Medium in length and clean with persistent grapefruit and citrus framed under a touch of lingering minerality.
Conclusion – The 2008 Swanson Salon Sauvignon Blanc shows exceptional purity of fruit that shines through in a refreshingly crisp and flavorful. The redolent nose, a texture with spice and minerality and its clean finish makes this perfect for enjoying on the long warm summer afternoons.
Mission Report:
Today, we are pleased to provide Agent Red's recent interview with Chris Phelps, winemaker for Swanson Vineyards:
AGENT RED: Greetings, Chris. We are thrilled to be showing your 2005 Oakville Merlot today. The wine is really fantastic. Thanks so much for the wine, and for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today. We are really impressed by your wines!
CHRIS PHELPS: I always appreciate hearing that, Agent Red. It's a pleasure to go 'covert' with you today.
RED: Thanks, Chris. Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
CHRIS: Well, yes, but more cumulative experience than specific. I grew up in Livermore, CA, a stone's throw from Cocannon Vinyeards. My parents made a barrel or two of Zin or Cab every year when I was a kid. They picked the grapes with friends, and I helped with crushing, racking, etc. when I was old enough. I found it fascinating that the wine quality could vary so much, depending upon variety, grape source and vintage.Wine was often on the family dinner table, so I was able to taste when I was a kid, and I liked it.
RED: So, winemaking was really in your blood. Tell me, where did you learn the most about winemaking?
CHRIS: I learn more about winemaking every day! There is so much nuance in winemaking, which consists of hundreds of details, some of which might seem insignificant, but can really affect the final product. I was fortunate to me mentored by many colleagues along my career path, starting with Mike Martini at Louis M. Martini in 1980. I graduated from UC Davis in Enology, then continued my education at the University of Bordeaux. Those years in academia, coupled with the key internships I did at Martini, Chappellet and in St. Emilion / Pmoerol as I cut my winemaking teeth, were very formative years.
RED: It sounds like it! What is your winemaking style or philosophy?
CHRIS: In a word, minimalist. If the fruit, at the time it is picked, is physiologically ripe and balanced, intervention through winemaking techniques is minimized. Speaking of red Bordeaux varieties, since we are tasting the 2005 Swanson Oakville Merlot today, I'm looking for perfectly ripe fruit, but avoiding super-high Brix levels, which lead to some of the very stylized wines produced today, which need huge doses of input by the winemaker. If the fruit is handled correctly, it is possible to coax the optimum extract out of the must, and produce a wine which honestly reflects the terroir from which it came. My job as a winemaker is precisely this: to form an honest interpretation of what a specific vineyard site in a specific vineyard is trying to tell me. I hope that makes sense to you…
RED: Your focus is on Merlot, and we applaud that. We are really happy to see Merlot doing so wonderfully. Tell me, what makes Merlot so unique?
CHRIS: So nice to preach to the choir when it comes to Merlot. Merlot is uniquely a 'winemaker's wine'. It suits my minimalist approach to winemaking perfectly. Grown in the right climate, in the right soil, with the correct conditions that dictate terroir for Merlot, it is one of the best varieties to work with. Color, aromatic expression of fruit, balanced acidity, silky, ripe tannins – the key attributes we are looking for – come very naturally to Merlot. Even grown under less-than-appropriate conditions, Merlot yields a decent, quaffable wine, and this is also the problem with Merlot, which is part of its uniqueness… there are a number of Merlots, from hot climates, with deep soils better suited to corn or tomatoes, which are not unpleasant, but have nothing to do with great Merlot. We know at Swanson that the clayey-loam soils in Oakville are optimum for this variety, and we take full advantage of this. When it comes to Merlot, terroir is everything. In Napa, there are sites on Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, in Oakville, in Carneros that are perfectly suited to the production of ultra-premium Merlot.
RED: And you happen to make your Merlot in one of them! What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
CHRIS: Jean-Claude Berrouet, winemaker for Ets. JP Moueix in Libourne, France. After being the winemaker for Petrus and a number of other Moueix properties on the Right Bank of Bordeaux for 44 years, he has 'retired', staying on in a consulting role for Petrus in Pomerol, and Dominus, here in Napa. During my 12 years as the first winemaker at Dominus, he had a significant influence upon my approach to winemaking.
RED: How long have you been making wine?
CHRIS: My first stint was 6 months in 1980 at Martini. I became a 'winemaker ' in 1984, when I joined the team at Dominus. I remained there for 12 years, before moving to Caymus for 7 years. I have been at Swanson for 6 years.
RED: Who do you make wine for?
CHRIS: Chuck Wagner at Caymus gently reminded me from time to time that I should not make wine for myself, and this was an important lesson. I don't fixate on 'who' the wine is for, per se, but it does get factored into the overall picture. I am conscious of the fact that Clarke Swanson would like me to be producing wines that appeal to consumers, critics, bloggers, etc. At Swanson, as in my previous winemaking roles, I strive to make the absolutely best wine possible, given the fruit sources and other resources I am given to work with. I'm sure this sounds cliche, but it always seems to work out. The wines are not just for the critics, not just for the consumers, not just for me. Wine should be universal. We'll need to sit down and discuss this question more over another bottle of Merlot…
RED: Any time. It would be a great pleasure. Tell me, what makes the Napa Valley so special?
CHRIS: As I am reminded every time I return to the Valley after being away (I'm sending these notes from Chicago, where I am spending 3 days helping promote Swanson wines), Napa Valley is a place of unique natural beauty. And it is still the Mecca for ultra-premium domestic winegrowing.
RED: Nice to hear someone else call Napa 'Mecca'. What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone that is considering a career as a winemaker?
CHRIS: Seek a mentor or mentors who are willing to share what they know. Plan on internships in different international wine regions. Study, sure, but not to the exclusion of lots of practical experience. You must be willing to get your hands dirty.
RED: And stained purple. What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
CHRIS: 2009 is a critical year for winemakers to help with promotion. We've completed bottling for the year, and are fine-tuning 2008 blends. I'm taking advantage of the fact that we are ahead of normal schedule in the winery to spend a little more time on the road, sharing the wines with consumers and trade. All wineries are affected by the domestic financial situation, but folks enjoy meeting the winemaker, so I am happy to help out when I can.
RED: Ahead of schedule. I wonder what that's like. Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today
CHRIS: The 2005 vintage was characterized by a very generous fruit set in our blocks of Merlot, so we were able to select the very best 1 or 2 clusters on every shoot, and drop the rest on the ground, and believe me, the ground was covered with green fruit! Producers who did not want to look very seriously at crop level, and had too much fruit on the vine, had difficulty getting it ripe, since it was not an overly warm growing season. I believe the longer, cooler seasons like we saw in 2005 in Napa produce the best red wines, whereas the hot, short seasons in Bordeaux are generally better for achieving optimum fruit maturity. The 2005 Merlot – 100% Oakville, by the way – represents a tremendous value. During my tenure at Swanson, we have moved to a riper style, but not overripe, to avoid green, herbal, herbaceous aromas and flavors, and have increased the black fruit component in the process. In fact, the black cherry and blackcurrant aroma/flavor in this wine are more Cab-like than Merlot. We call our Merlot a Cab-drinker's Merlot, because it has many of the same attributes as a good Cabernet, without some of the astringent tannins of Cabernet. That's the beauty of Merlot – quantitatively, about the same amount of tannin as Cabernet, but qualitatively, tannins which are more velvety, more finely-grained, and, frankly, more balanced. Christian Moeuix, director of his family's Right Bank company now, and the owner of Dominus, told me last Saturday when we met up in Oakville, that he loves our 2005 Merlot. I consider this a huge compliment to our winemaking team, since I know he was not just being kind, he really meant it. This from a man who is known in the press as "Mr. Merlot". We've balanced the wine with the addition of a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, and about 30% new oak, which is half French, half American. Christian found it to be well-balanced and enjoyable. I agree!
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today's wine?
CHRIS: When I lived in Pomerol in 1982, the locals taught me how to grill ribeye steak over aged grapevine canes. I still do this at home, and at the winery. I like the meat rare, with sauteed shallots. This is a great combintation with the 2005 Merlot.
RED: Please share one thing about yourself that few people know
CHRIS: I'm an Indigo Girls (folk-rock duo) groupie. I love to get to as many shows as possible. Emily Saliers (one of the IGs) has become a good friend, and she loves wine.
RED: What is your favorite 'everyday' or table wine?
CHRIS: Over the past 15 years or so, I've made a barrel or two of home wine every year, kind of like my folks did. In addition to being the communion wine at our church in St. Helena, this is our everyday table wine.
RED: You'll have to tell me your secret formula one day. How would you recommend that people approach your wines, or wine in general?
CHRIS: Keep an open mind. Minds are like parachutes, they function best when open. Drink what really appeals to you, not what someone else thinks you should like. Always be open to trying new wines.
RED: If you could choose any one wine to drink (regardless of price or availability), what would it be?
CHRIS: I would love to try the 1961 Petrus again; I've tasted it out of both 6 liter and 750 ml format, and it was phenomenal.
RED: If I come across a bottle, I promise to share! What is the one question that I should have asked you, and what is your answer to that question?
CHRIS: What are my favorite Napa Valley producers? It's actually a tough question, and my answer varies, but Joseph Phelps, Chappellet, Provenance, and Honig are always on the list.
RED: Thank you so much for your time, Chris, and for the extensive answers. Our Operatives love getting to know our winemakers and I appreciate that you spent this much time with me today.
CHRIS: Thank you for spending time with me, and for your insightful questions. Is your name really Agent Red?
RED: I could tell you, but, you know…
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Swanson Vineyards in Napa's Oakville District can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
About This Wine:
Our 2008 Sauvignon Blanc is a very pure expression of this variety—aromatic white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc exhibit a true-to-type character. Inviting aromas of lemon blossom and grapefruit, with a very bright and fresh palate and intriguing minerality. The perfect wine for oysters, seafood, and light pasta dishes, or as a stand-alone aperitif. This vintage was harvested over two hours in the cool morning of August 22nd.
About The Winery:
We are a family winery founded on a passion for evolving the existing standards of wine and food. In the 1950s, long before founding Swanson Vineyards, the Swanson family introduced the first lifestyle product, Swanson frozen dinners, which helped women get out of the kitchen and enjoy life.
In 1985, at his 25th Stanford University reunion, W. Clarke Swanson, Jr. was inspired by a tip from a fraternity brother and successful vintner to purchase a parcel of vineyard land on the Oakville Cross Road in the heart of Napa Valley.
Clarke immediately hired André Tchelistcheff, one of the century's most influential winemakers, as a consultant to help determine how to make the best use of the vineyards. For André the answer was to plant the then relatively unknown variety merlot—a move that would shape the future of Swanson Vineyards.
The family continues to expand the simple and sensual pleasures of life through Swanson Vineyards. With an eye toward quality, relevance and innovation, the next generation is enticing a whole new audience with a progressive approach to wine, food and the good life.
About The Winemakers:
By the summer of 1987 the vineyards were replanted, and André made another influential suggestion—to hire the young novice talent Marco Cappelli to oversee winemaking. Marco, a first-generation Italian-American, was 26 and hired based on André's gut instinct. It was a wise decision; Marco's distinctive wines became the founding flavors of Swanson Vineyards.
For the rest of his life André lent his visionary talents to our winemaking pursuits, meeting with Marco biweekly and consulting on matters of the vine and winery. Marco remained Swanson's winemaker for seventeen years, after which he purchased his own vineyard in the California Foothills. Marco is currently making four dessert wines for Swanson, which include Angelica, Crepuscule, Arsene, and Les Trois Filles.
In 2003, Swanson Vineyards was fortunate to obtain the talent of Chris Phelps as its new winemaker. Chris has had an illustrious career in the wine industry, first as winemaker at Dominus for twelve years and at Caymus Vineyards for six years. His wines are more refined and sophisticated than ever, yet they remain delightfully accessible and approachable—the perfect embodiment of our trademark decadence with a wink.
Technical Analysis:
Vintage: 2008
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Oakville
Harvest Date: August 22nd, 2008
Alcohol: 13.0%


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I'm currently running (at home): Unbelievably Simple Roleplaying post-apocalyptic science fantasy. A solo Labyrinth Lord dungeon campaign. Some D&D b/x one shots.
I'm currently running (on line): nothing
I am currently playing (at home): A solo Labyrinth Lord dungeon campaign.
I am currently playing (on line): nothing
I would especially like to play or run: I'm prepping for a game set in feudal Japan with a fair dose of magic and strange creatures, with Yamato M20. Some days I think of running it with LL AEC + Oriental Adventures 1st ed. Either way it's at the top of my "to run" list. I'd also love to run an extended D&D b/x sandbox campaign. I'd really like to play Space: 1889.
...but I would also try: Mostly anything if someone else is running it.
I live in: GA
2 or 3 well-known RPG products other people made that I like: Dungeon Crawl Classics, Tunnels & Trolls, AD&D Dungeon Master's Design Kit.
2 or 3 novels I like: King Solomon's Mines, The Lost World, The Beautiful and Damned
2 or 3 movies I like: Hari-Kari: Death of a Samurai, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Despicable Me
Best place to find me online: my blog, Twitter, or G+
I will read almost anything on tabletop RPGs if it's: not racist, sexist or homophobic.
I really do not want to hear about: why you think dungeon crawls suck.
I think dead orc babies are (circle one: funny / problematic / ....well, ok, it's complicated because....): Problematic and as such, they don't exist in my games.
Games I'm in are like (link to something): No matter what atmosphere they start out with, they eventually end up like this:
Free RPG Content I made for __USR_____ is available here: http://tabletopdiversions.blogspot.com/p/downloads.html
Free RPG Content I made for __any RPG that has dungeons_____ is available here: http://tabletopdiversions.blogspot.com/p/downloads.html (early versions of my dungeon generator)
Free RPG Content I made for __solo RPGing_____ is available here: http://tabletopdiversions.blogspot.com (look for "solo rpg" posts)
You can buy RPG stuff I made about _any old-school compatible system___ here: http://tabletopdiversions.blogspot.com/p/6-iron-spikes-small-hammer.html
I talk about about RPGs everywhere I go online and off.


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Methods to Improve Memory and Concentration
If you are feeling that you are suffering from memory loss and you are quite worried about this, then stop worrying now and try your best to overcome this situation. Are you unaware of methods that can help improve your memory? If yes then carefully read the instructions given below:
Keep Yourself Relaxed
Always keep yourself calm and tension free as your memory and concentration will be improved when your brain will be in a relaxed state. If you are feeling some tension then get rid of it by taking deep breathes and listen to some calm and relaxing music. It will help you a lot in forgetting your tensions and worries and you will feel that you can concentrate on a matter in a better way.
Learn Something New
Next very easy tip is to learn something new. For example, you can try to learn a new language as it will stimulate your brain parts and help new neural tissues to grow. Most of the people think that learning a new language is difficult but it has been proved that learning a new language expands your brain size and produce new memory folders and help your memory to improve a lot.
Try to Challenge Yourself
Try to challenge yourself with difficult tasks. One method of challenging may also be learning a new language as mentioned above. But don't forget that the challenge should also have an element of fun in it to enhance your brain power. You can put yourself in a challenge by playing some mind games like making jigsaw puzzles or crosswords. It may frustrate you a little but you should remember that you are doing it for fun and to keep your brain relaxed. Another way to develop memory is watching a movie and then remembering the events taken place in that particular movie. It will definitely boost up your memory and concentration.
Engage in Some Exercise
Try to do some exercise that you can do with your fingers. When you will use your fingers, your brain will send signals to fingers resulting in mental workout of brain. The best way to make it possible is to start learning a musical instrument. By doing this, your attentiveness and coordination will improve which will result in improving your memory.
Increase Social Activities
Increase your social activities and try to engage in some conversation with someone. Listen to the person carefully and then try to give a reply to his conversation. It is a proven method of improving concentration and memory as well.
If you are working on improving your memory these days, grasp above mentioned tips. You will definitely notice a tremendous change.


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Humble mom transforms her craft ambitions into soap making business
Browsing through the aisles at Hobby Lobby and the pages of craft magazines, Ana Martinez was in search of something crafty.
In 2007, Martinez, a resident of Humble, had just given birth to a son and made the transition to a stay-at-home mom but wanted a craft project when she found several articles on soap making.
"The more articles I read about soap making, the more I became interested in the process," Martinez said.
Her first creation was the Mango-Kiwi bar, which was a huge success. Slowly, she has created many bars; she officially became a business in 2010, and has sold soap since.
Thus Martinez started her own company, Wiloje Soap, pronounced like "Willow J," which is a combination of her nephew, son and her nephew whose names are William, Logan and Jeremiah.
"I first started making soaps in 2007; that Christmas everyone received a gift basket from me containing the homemade soaps," Martinez said. "Everyone loved the soaps so I turned my new passion into a business."
From there, Martinez has continued to develop her line of soaps which include three different kinds of lye soap including a hot process, cold process and glycerin soaps.
At Martinez' first craft show where she had a vendor booth to sell Wiloje Soaps, she sold out within 10 minutes. She has experienced similar responses at every show she is at so she makes sure to have enough product for customers at every show she attends.
"I jump into every show head-first and I love it," Martinez said.
They also make novelty soaps and soy candles. The handmade lye soap is created in 5 pound batches at their studio.
Cold process soap makes soap look hard and smooth, and it can take anything between a month to six months to cure before its ready to hit the shelves and be ready for use.
Hot process soap gives soap a beautiful rustic feel and it is a bit softer than cold process. This soap can be made and used between 24 hours to 72 hours.
Each process gives the soap a different unique feel and look.
"My favorite and the easiest soaps to work with are the glycerin soaps because you can make them into any shape or color," Martinez said. "Also, glycerin soaps take the least amount of time to make."
Martinez uses everything organic such as food, vegetables and fruits to add certain elements as well as spices to incorporate colors into the soaps.
A few of Wiloje Soaps' customers enjoy their different soaps such as the mud bar which can help with dryness and some skin issues and the novelty soaps which have items like a rubber ducky encased in the glycerin soap.
She will also take special orders for soaps from customers for any design they request.
"Our customers pay for quality soap from Wiloje Soaps," Martinez said. "We love those who support small businesses and shop local. We support other businesses in our community and encourage everyone to shop local. Small businesses need support from their communities."
For more information about Wiloje Soaps, log on to www.wilojesoap.com or search of "Wiloje Soaps" on Facebook.


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Hello Earth Art members! I have made my blog private and this is the first post exclusively for you guys. I will be doing regular blog posts in the future, on all things photography from tips and advice to general musings. If there is anything in specific you would like me to cover, please let me know! This first post will cover the all important aspect of photography: composition.
A great landscape photo is made up of a number of different parts - but none more important than a good composition. Until I find an eye catching composition I will rarely bother getting my camera out, regardless of the light, or conditions. A landscape photograph is like a lego set. If you arrange and build all the pieces correctly you'll end up with an organised, structured set that works well and looks good. But if you put them together without thought the end result will be a bit of a mess that doesn't make much sense. Basically, composition is all about arranging the elements of a scene so that it looks appealing and keeps the attention of the viewer. Below are some tips for using composition to create a winning photo:
Add Foreground Elements of Interest
Although nature is often stunning, until you choose a point of interest that will focus your viewers attention it can sometimes be messy, random and not easily packed into a small rectangle screen. A well chosen point of interest will make people want to view your image longer and brings your own creativity to the image. Look for a flower, man-made item, water ripple, interesting tree, rock, or other interesting aspect that will draw people into the scene.
Keep it Simple
Often less is more. Instead of taking a photo that attempts to capture everything around you, sometimes you need to cut back and focus on colour or one key subject/theme. It will give your image more direction and will keep the viewers imagination searching for more. Use of 'negative space' is often just as important as the main subject.
Zoom In
While wide angle is often the preferred type of landscape photography by many - sometimes using a longer lens, will create depth and mood to a scene lacking direction. Distant mountain peaks that may get lost at 16mm can turn into monsters that with the right light and atmospheric conditions look incredible. Another scene that I like to shoot with a longer lens is fog/mist. I adore fog and I love the way it provides natural layers to an image. An object close to the camera may be relatively free of fog, but the further away you go, the more the object fades. I find using my 55mm or 70-200mm lens, removes the boring air close to the camera and draws the viewer in to the mystical scene ahead.
Lead Viewers in With Lines and Curves
The human eye naturally follows lines and curves. Place your subject at the end of a man made or naturally occurring line or curve to increase its impact. Viewers' eyes often start at the bottom of the frame, so lines leading up into the image often make for a well composed photo.
Getting Creative
Following all the rules can lead to a beautiful landscape image - But adding your own creativity to a picture can sometimes create a more interesting and memorable photograph. A few examples of getting creative in camera are: zooming your lens in or out with a long shutter speed, panning the camera during an exposure to blur all or part of the image or moving so you are able to get a different perspective that you haven't seen done before. Sometimes doing things a bit differently can spark some new passion if motivation has been a bit lacking.
Show a Sense of Scale
When it helps the photo, you can include a person, animal, or object to provide a sense of scale. It isn't something I have done a great deal of, but it can produce stunning results and help give the viewer an idea of how small or wide the scene before you is.
Choose the right format
Although it's natural to shoot landscapes with the camera held horizontally in the 'landscape' format, turning the camera on its side can totally transform the composition. By using the vertical format you can emphasise vertical
lines and height to add drama and excitement, or capture rivers and roads snaking away into the distance. Using a square crop in post processing is also a creative option and it works best when you have taken the image with a square crop in mind. Another option is shooting multiple images and stitching them together in Photoshop as one wide panoramic image.
Break the Rules
Sometimes the best landscape images are made when you consider the rules and then completely ignore them! Photography for me is about having fun and expressing myself creatively. If the rules are stopping you from doing that, then its ok to sometimes ditch them and go express yourself!


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About Tenco
Tenco is one of New Zealand's largest exporters of forest products. We have built to this position since 1991 when the company was set up to export lumber to growing Asian export markets. Experience and reputation count; from small beginnings Tenco has become the largest independent exporter of New Zealand lumber and New Zealand's 4th largest log exporter. Tenco has a regular shipping program of their own log vessels and in combination with these and other ships currently calls at 7 New Zealand ports (5 North Island and 2 South Island).
Tenco buys standing forests. Tenco currently has a number of forests which they purchased at harvestable age to log over a number of years for export and domestic markets. Tenco also regularly buys smaller tracts of forest to harvest immediately or immature forests to hold until harvest time. Tenco is interested in broadening the base of owners from whom it purchases forests and stands of trees. A deal with Tenco is a certain transaction. The owner and Tenco will agree on a value of the tree crop and then Tenco will pay this amount to the owner either in a lump sum amount or on rate per volume unit out-turn from the forest depending on the nature of the tree crop.
Tenco knows there are a lot of farmers who have trees that are close or ready to harvest and will be asking themselves how they should proceed with the sale of their trees. For some farmers the kind of certain transaction with money in the bank could well be appealing. Tenco is actively interested in buying harvestable forests or trees from areas including all the North Island (except the Gisborne and East Coast districts) and Nelson & Marlborough in the South Island .
If you own a forest in this area (16 years and older) and are ready to enter into this kind of agreement Tenco is interested to develop something with you.
Please contact: email@example.com
Work: +64 7 357 5356 Mobile: +64 21 921 595 www.tenco.co.nz
Forest Owners Association Media release, 23 February 2016.
Meaningful carbon price is vital to future of forestry
New Zealand's third largest export industry, forestry, is steadily shrinking. Ministry for Primary Industries figures reveal that only 3000 hectares of new forest were planted in 2015 and that the total area of planted forest fell by 16,000 ha.
Forest Owners Association technical manager Glen Mackie describes the figures as predictable and says the area of forest is likely to continue to fall, until the cost of land can be justified by the income it generates.
From 1955 to 2000, the area of New Zealand's plantation forests grew from 344,000 to 1,769,000 hectares, an increase of 31,667 ha a year. Since then the planted area has declined to 1,720,000 ha, a decline of 3267 ha a year. In addition, in 2015 there were 9300 ha of harvested forest lying fallow, awaiting a decision from the land owner whether or not to replant.
"The irony is that forestry in the long-run is more profitable than sheep and cattle on a lot of second class hill country. It is particularly profitable for established growers with good infrastructure, as well as for new forest owners on land that has good road access and is near to a port or processor," Mr Mackie says.
"The key hurdles for those contemplating planting new forests are the cost of land and a lack of income from the forest until it reaches harvest. The cost of land is largely determined by farmers who are willing to accept extremely low financial returns in return for the lifestyle benefits of owning a farm and the promise of future capital gains."
He says reliable income from carbon credits – $15 a tonne or better – plus averaging of credit income through the life of the forest could help overcome these hurdles and be a game changer for forestry.
"The government is currently reviewing the emission trading scheme (ETS) with the aim of making it more effective. If, as mooted, the 50% subsidy on existing emitters is removed this will increase demand and underpin prices for carbon credits – an important step in giving emitters an incentive to reduce emissions and land owners an incentive to plant trees. "
Mr Mackie says government policy will always have a big influence on forest planting rates.
"Unlike most other land uses, forestry offers major environmental and recreational benefits to society for which forest owners usually don't get paid.
"A meaningful price for carbon will not only tell land owners and the rest of the world that New Zealand takes climate change and reducing carbon emissions seriously, it will ensure that future generations get the environmental and other benefits of a vibrant forest industry."
For more information, ring Glen Mackie, technical manager, Forest Owners Association
Tel 027 445 0116
For a copy of the MPI Nursery (Planting Rates) Survey, contact
Trevor Walton, Forest Owners Association communications, Tel 021 381 465
For up-to-date forest production and planted area statistics: https://mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/open-data-and-forecasting/forestry/


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By John Schweibacher
» More Columns
After missing the postseason last year for the first time since 1996, the Devils clinched a playoff spot with their 5-0 win in Carolina this past Saturday.
With just three games left on their schedule, it was one of the latest "clinchers" in club history. Here are the latest points of the seasons in which New Jersey wrapped-up a playoff berth:
Season, Clinching Game*/Length of season
· 1987-88, 80/80, 4-3 OT win at Chi
· 1990-91, 78/80, 4-3 OT win at Har
· 1994-95, 46/48, 3-1 win vs. Fla
· 1992-93, 81/84, 5-3 win at Was
· 2005-06, 79/82, 4-3 OT win at Car
· 2007-08, 79/82, 2-1 OT win at NYI
· 2011-12, 79/82, 5-0 win at Car
· 1989-90, 76/80, 4-3 win at Buf
· 2001-02, 78/82, 3-2 win at Atl
(*clinching win or last win prior to clinching.)
David Clarkson reached the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career in the win over the Hurricanes. Clarkson joins teammates Ilya Kovalchuk (34) and Zach Parise (31) with 30-or-more goals.
For the first time since 2000-01 New Jersey has three players with 30 goals in a season. Alexander Mogilny (43), Patrik Elias (40) and Petr Sykora (35) reached that plateau together that season.
Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists in the Devils' 5-0 win over the Hurricanes. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was Kovalchuk's ninth game with three-or-more points this season, tying Claude Giroux, Evgeni Malkin, Eric Staal and John Tavares for the most such games in the NHL this season.
Kovalchuk's total of nine games of three-or-more points is also the highest in one season by a New Jersey player since Scott Gomez had nine in 2005-06. Kovalchuk had only one such game in the 81 games that he played for the Devils last season.
Here are the most three-or-more point games for New Jersey in a single season since 1987-88:
· Kirk Muller 1987-88 11
· Aaron Broten 1987-88 10
· John MacLean 1988-89 10
· Patrik Elias 2000-01 9
· Scott Gomez 2005-06 9
· Ilya Kovalchuk 2011-12 9
· Claude Lemieux 1992-93 9
For the second straight season, Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg have both won at least 15 games. It's only the 6th time in club history that New Jersey has had a pair of goaltenders win at least 15 games apiece:
· 2011-12: Brodeur 29, Hedberg 16
· 2010-11: Brodeur 23, Hedberg 15
· 2008-09: Clemmensen 25, Brodeur 19
· 1993-94: Brodeur 27, Terreri 20
· 1992-93: Billington 21, Terreri 19
· 1989-90: Burke 22, Terreri 15
Last Thursday night, Martin Brodeur allowed four goals while facing only 20 shots, including three goals by Ryan Malone, but he still posted a 6-4 win against the Lightning.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was Brodeur's 115th win over the last four seasons but only the second in which he gave up more than three goals. The other one was a 5-4 overtime victory against the Maple Leafs on January 29th, 2010.
By using the hockey-reference.com play-index, it was Brodeur's 30th career win in which he allowed four or more goals. Here are the games Brodeur won despite allowing more than three goals against:
· 10/12/06 7-6 vs. Toronto (shootout)
· 2/23/96 6-5 vs. Montreal
· 1/11/00 6-5 at Tampa Bay
· 10/30/00 6-5 vs. Florida (overtime)
· 3/17/01 6-5 at Edmonton (overtime)
· 2/1/07 6-5 at Philadelphia (overtime)
· 10/13/07 6-5 at Atlanta
· (four goals allowed in wins 23 times)
The Devils close out the regular season schedule with a home-ice match-up against the Islanders, a road contest with the Red Wings in Detroit and wrap things up with Ottawa Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center.
New Jersey has won three of five against the Islanders this season. Over the past three seasons, the Devils have faced seven different Islander goalies over the 17 games played:
NYI Goalie, NJD record
· Rick DiPietro 2-2
· Al Montoya 3-1
· Martin Biron 3-0
· Dwayne Roloson 0-2
· Anders Nilsson 1-1
· Kevin Poulin 1-0
· Evgeni Nabokov 1-0
The Devils face the Red Wings for the first and only time this season Thursday night in Detroit. New Jersey has lost its last nine games at Joe Louis Arena, dating back to a 2-0 win back on November 6th, 1996.
Martin Brodeur stooped all 36 shots that night to register his 13th career shutout.
New Jersey ends the regular season Saturday afternoon against Ottawa at The Rock. The Devils are 14-11-3 all-time in season closing games, 5-0-1 since the lockout.
The Senators have been the Devils' final opponent of a season twice before; a 4-1 New Jersey win at the Meadowlands on April 14th, 1994 and a 5-2 Ottawa victory in New Jersey on April 13th, 1996 which eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion Devils from the post-season.
Schwei's Plus/Minus:
Plus: Peter DeBoer. After missing post-season in three seasons with Florida, reaches playoffs for 1st time as NHL head coach in 1st season with Devils.
Minus: Burned in 3rd. Devils have allowed 88 3rd period goals, only Columbus with 91 has given up more.
How far do you think the Devils will go in the playoffs? Sound off below…


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Last week was Bridport's Open Book Festival, culminating in the 2011 Bridport Prize award ceremony. Myself and fellow storyslinger member, Simon, went to two events and met two of our favourite authors: Adam Marek and Joe Dunthorne*.
In travelling the roads of
Dorset from North to South through picturesque countryside and chocolate-box villages, one might wonder at how an internationally prestigious short story competition can have its roots in such a provincial location.
Though rural, Bridport certainly isn't insular. Settling into our seats on Tuesday waiting for Joe Dunthorne's reading, I looked up and saw a familiar face in the seat in front of Simon. It was none other than twice Mercury Prize winning singer-songwriter, PJ Harvey; one of my all time favourite musicians. More striking than her mere presence, was the scent of expensive and powerful rose-cinnamon perfume. I'm tempted to email her to ask where she buys it from.
Greta Stoddart read four or so of her poems, elegant and original with a strong voice and honeyed fluidity. She read some beautiful poems from her book Salvation Jane, shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Award in 2008.
Joe Dunthorne read a passage from Submarine, his debut novel that was adapted into film by Richard Ayoade (I.T Crowd, The Mighty Boosh). He then read a few poems, scrawled into what looked like a dog-eared school exercise book. His poems were sharp, lyrical and, sadly, a little pretentious in places. He raised enough laughs from the audience, and I very much enjoyed his readings. He ended with an excerpt from his new book, Wild Abandon, set in a Welsh commune. I bought a copy of this book and got Dunthorne to deface it with his signature. I am half way through reading it. Submarine is much better. I'll save my full review for later.
He read this poem, the banter beforehand pretty much word for word identical:
And here is a trailer for the film adaptation of Submarine
Overall, an inspiring evening that has confirmed my faith in
Dorset's capacity as a hub for the arts and literature, despite not having a single city or motorway within its borders.
Part 2 of this report wherein we return to Bridport, buy cheap shoelaces, and chat to Adam Marek, will follow soon.
*actually, hard-to-please Simon doesn't particularly like Joe Dunthorne, but Adam Marek is a definite favourite. Read Part 2 of this report to find out about Adam Marek.


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Media Options
President Clinton yesterday denied that he offered clemency to 16 Puerto Rican political prisoners for political reasons, as Republicans continue to accuse the president of making a politically motivated decision to favor Hillary Clinton's New York Senate race.
The activists were released from prison about two weeks ago, and most of them have moved to Puerto Rico, while two have returned to their homes in Chicago.
Some of the conditions of their release and their parole continue to be murky, despite the fact that the former prisoners have all met with their parole officers. For instance, it is not yet clear to many of them whether they can attend political events at which they might run into one another, since they are prohibited from associating with each other.
And some of those who returned to Puerto Rico will face the first political test of their release tomorrow–the 131st anniversary of the "Grito de Lares" or "the cry of Lares"–the first pro-independence uprising when Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain. Three of the former prisoners have indicated that they plan to attend the celebrations in the Puerto Rican town of Lares, and the parole board has ruled on their behalf.
It will be the first time that all pro-independence groups will participate together in these celebrations, a sign that the issues of the political prisoners and the continued battle to expel the US Navy from the island of Vieques have united activists around the island.
As Republicans and the White House continue to battle over the release of the prisoners, with Republicans ready to subpoena Attorney General Janet Reno, Puerto Rican independence activists say that the right has hijacked the debate over the future of Puerto Rico, and focused it on terrorism instead of on the real issue of colonialism. Many of the former prisoners have indicated that they will remain politically active and focus on putting pressure on the US Navy to get out of the island of Vieques, and on securing the release of the remaining imprisoned activists.
- Alberto Rodriguez, former Puerto Rican political prisoner, now living in Chicago. He served 16 years in federal penitentiaries in Louisburg, Pennsylvania, and in Beaumont, Texas.


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How to install Wget on Debian system
Wget is free and open source tool for download files from web repositories. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP protocols. In this article is described how you can install "wget" on your Debian system but if you want to know how to install it on Red Hat system check ...Read More ⇾


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+44 0203 002 4125 (24 hours)
+44 0203 002 4125 (24 hours)MENU
Brent Hoberman co-founded lastminute.com in April 1998, with Martha Lane Fox, in the living room of his London flat three years after having drafted the initial idea. Brent was 29 and Martha was just 25.
Brent was CEO from the inception of the company. lastminute.com offers consumers airline tickets, car hire, hotel rooms, package holidays, entertainment tickets, restaurant reservations, home delivery, speciality services, gifts and auctions. Brent's initial vision remains unchanged: "to delight customers with great value, inspiration and solutions when they are going away, going out or staying in".
lastminute.com remains one of Europe's leading e-commerce companies and is one of the only start-up brands in Europe to regularly feature in the top 10 e-commerce sites in many European geographies. The company floated in March 2000 when the dotcom bubble was at its peak – the IPO was 40 times oversubscribed and the price increase during the process was a record for a UK company.
lastminute.com acquired 14 businesses after the IPO to supplement the annual growth of the core brand which was over 100% from 1998 to 2004. Ten years on the company had become the number one travel website in Europe and was acquired by Travelocity Europe (a division of Sabre Holidings Corporation) for $1.1 billion in 2005. It is estimated that gross bookings in 2005 were over $2.1 billion.
Brent's leading industry role was recognised by several organisations including: Time Magazine's Top 25 European Digital Leaders, Revolution's Internet Person of the Year and the Institute of Travel Tourism (ITT) Travel Business Person of the Year.
Brent remained CEO of lastminute.com until April 2006 when he handed the position over to Ian McCaig and became Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of lastminute.com. Brent's entrepreneurial vision ensured the lastminute.com customer experience was continually enhanced by the latest innovations in technology.
Brent founded another VC-backed internet start-up, mydeco, which launched in February 2007. The online interiors site intends to revolutionise the way we shop and design for our homes, encouraging consumers to spend, socialise and play house all at the same time.
Brent is a Governor of the University of the Arts College, London and a Non-Executive Board Director of Guardian Media Group. In 2007 he took on the role of Non-Executive Chairman of wayn.com – a travel and leisure social network with over 10 million members. He is also an angel investor in several internet companies including Viagogo, Wayn.com and moveme.com.
Brent was born in South Africa, educated at Eton and holds a MA in French and German literature from Oxford.
For enquiries or bookings for Brent Hoberman please call us on +44 (0)203 002 4125 or use our contact form