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Stage 12 - Port Hardy to Telegraph Cove
Distance: 56 km
Riding Time: 1 hrs
Coming out of Port Hardy, you'll connect onto the northern tip of Highway 19 with a high speed limit and very little traffic. This is a short stage that is more of a throughway onto more interesting roads ahead. However, if you just completed stage 11, this will be exactly what you need to get those carbs and fuel injectors cleaned out with some high rpms.
Special Note
Meetup Location
Captain Hardy's is a good meetup spot for coffee and a nice breakfast while you review the route ahead.
Food and Coffee
Many food options available in Port Hardy. Telegraph Cove has minimal options, but what's available is fantastic for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Not a lot to see along most of this route until you turn off the highway onto Beaver Cove Road, which is especially nice in the morning when the fog has settled leaving only a few hundred meters of visibility. The active sawmill can seen from the road going into Telegraph Cove.
Aside from the usual low volume of norther Vancouver Island traffic, the only time there will be a noticeable amount of traffic will be when the ferry from Prince Rupert gets in.
Very little challenge, which will be appreciated after stage 11. Set your cruise control and kick back with some music while you enjoy the road.
the entire route is paved and in good condition. Beaver Cove Road has some bumps and wildlife can be a concern, but it's barely even worth mentioning.


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Supra has announced a new member of the Terry Kennedy line up. The Supra Society Mid has the same silhouette as the original Society minus the two velcro straps knocking it down from a high top to a more wearable mid. This model will be available in both premium leather and suede, feature the speed-lacing system with wax laces, and offer extra heal protection so you can kick, push, and coast...in comfort. Look for the sneaker to drop sometime this spring.
Also Watch

subset: commoncrawl


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Open hours:
Daily, from 12:00 PM till 12:00 AM
Contact information:
81- 350334 / 05- 559078
Venecia Pizzeria
Venecia Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant located in Aley Center, serving all kinds of Pizza baked in a wood fired oven. With more than 10 years of experience in the Italian Pizza and Pasta in Spain and Italy, the chef delivers the best service using the highest quality of ingredients.
The Restaurant has been designed to match the traditional experience of Italian food. Visitors can enjoy eating the Pizza baked in front of them in a cozy and watch Euro Cup.
Yes, the ingredients are fresh and highest quality, but the one of the most secret ingredient that makes our Pizza special is the "Passion" and "Love" we do it.
Other than the delicious food, you will enjoy the outdoor seating and nice weather in summer.
Visit us any time during the 7 days and let us serve you best Pizza baked on Wooden. Sahtain Salaf 🙂


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Are you thinking about learning to code but are not yet sure what, how and when? This event is for you:
Code Evening on April 25 ⭐
After three sold-out editions with 80 attendees at Kraftwerk in the last three years, we decided to offer this format in a smaller setting in our new office.
During this evening, you'll write your first lines of HTML and CSS and create a simple website. In addition, to that hands-on experience, you'll get a short overview of Master21's programs and learning philosophy.
5:30pm: Registration and Welcome
5:45pm: Short introduction of Master21
6:00pm: Intro to HTML and CSS and hands on Coding
7:30pm: Q&A and apéro
Seats are limited to 20. So make sure to reserve your seat as soon as possible.
Beginners welcome. Please bring your laptop with rights and space to install an editor such as Atom.
Give it a try and let the joy of our teachers and coaches inspire you.


text: Infrastructure Sponsor: Cisco Beyond the Sandbox: Strengthen Your Edge-to-Endpoint Security Online threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and elusive. Cybercriminals are launching attacks through a variety of vectors, including tools that users trust or view as benign. And targeted attacks are on the rise, creating a persistent, hidden presence within an organization and from which to execute their mission. Register Now


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Title: How to replace the Axle Drive gear on your Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 or 2-6-0.
Post by: Loco Bill Canelos on February 25, 2012, 04:26:52 PM
Hi Members. Hope this helps, it is easier to do the gear replacement than you think: hopefully the Yardmaster will pin it or put it in the FAQ. Sorry the photos did not download, I will try to add pictures directly if I can figure out how. In the meantime here is a link to photos but they are not in order. http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh291/sharronbillc/Gear%20Replacement%20Spectrum%202%206%200%20and%204%204%200/
How to replace the Axle Drive gear on your Bachamnn Spectrum 4-4-0 or 2-6-0.
By Bill Canelos
Copyright 2012 All rights reserved. Permission is granted to post this on Bachamnn Industries forum by the author, but no other place without permission from the author. Use for any purpose other than your private use to fix your locomotive, requires permission as well.
The beautiful Bachamnn Spectrum 4-4-0 and 2-6-0s have been around for many years now. Just like your automobile breakdowns do occur. The more miles you put on your locomotive and heavier loads do take a toll, and with these locomotives the main failure is the axle gear which cracks or breaks in two. These instructions are my attempt to show you how you can do the job yourself. I have done my best to make it like one of those for dummies books. If you take your time, have patience and the necessary items listed below you should be able to do this repair yourself even if you do not have a lot of mechanical experience. Without experience it will just take longer. This is the lowest cost way to get the job done. If you have suggestions on how to make these instructions better please send me a private message or email.
1. If your motor runs but the wheels dont turn, you definitely have a bad axle drive gear on your locomotive. I have not yet seen a case where any of the other gears in the gearbox have been part of the problem. After looking at several of these bad gears there is no doubt in my mind that the gear fails either because the material the gear is made of is weak or because the diameter of the hole in the gear was slightly too small when pressed on during manufacturing process. Wait until you have everything you need before starting any disassembly of your locomotive. You will need a Northwest Shortline Brand Gear part No. 2223-6 for the Fn3 Bachmann 4-4-0, 24 tooth. This same gear works for the 2-6-0. The cost is only about $12 not including shipping. If you send your loco to Bachmann or buy the Bachmann replacements parts you will only be setting yourself up for the same problem probably sooner rather than later. So get the gear ordered from NWSL. If Bachmann Industries introduces an upgraded gear I will let you know.
2. While you are waiting for the gear, gather together what you will need to do the job. Get several different size small phillips screwdrivers, a small standard screwdriver; a 9/32th wrench, nut driver, or socket; a small pliers, some Loctite 222, or other brand thread locker for small screws or bolts, some plastic compatible gear grease, assorted lite oils, a small hammer, a small deep well socket, or something similar to drive the new gear on to the axle, some clear snack bags, a black marker and some assorted blocks of wood to hold your loco firmly upside down while you work on it. A small digital camera is handy to take pictures of each step and can be very helpful in getting things back in right. If you inadvertently break a wire during your work you may also need a small soldering iron, thin rosin core solder and soldering flux. If you have workspace available, assemble your support blocks and add padding. Place your loco upside down on it tweak it as necessary until it sits solid. Make sure your work area is very well lit and that your work surface is white or a very light color so you can easily find items you drop. Keep one of those handy mini led flashlights handy to see into the dark places.
3. So your parts have arrived everything is gathered and you want to get started. Make sure you are rested and relaxed and have two to 3 hours to do the job.
4. I will be using the Bachmann 2-6-0 so the article is based on it, but the 4-4-0 is almost, if not exactly the same. On the 2-6-0 you can leave the front wheel drive rods in place or remove them if you have too much of a problem maneuvering the wheels off the loco. Start by removing the side rods from the rear two driving wheels by carefully removing the hex head screws holding them on, and push them down out of the way. If you do not have a 9/32 wrench, or nut drivers, you can use a small pliers (very carefully) to get them loose. Spin them off with your fingers and put them in a plastic snack bag marking it number 1.
5. Now remove the guide plate with two pins centered between the main driving axle. Put it and the two screws in a plastic snack bag and mark the bag number 2 guide pins. Next remove the eight screws that hold the cover of the bottom plate and put the screws into a snack bag and mark it number 3 bottom plate screws. On my loco I noticed they were already very loose. Carefully remove the bottom cover lifting it up and backwards. The chuff sensor leads are attached to it so you cannot totally separate it from the loco bottom. It may be necessary to wiggle and push the chuff sensor lead wires while lifting the cover. Move it out of the way.
6. Next pry the little plastic hubcaps from the main driving wheels. It exposes a Phillips screw which holds the wheel on the axle. Loosen the screw and wiggle the wheel off and place it and the screws in a plastic bag number 4. Now remove the drive wheel from the other side and place it in the same bag. Watch out that you do not lose the plastic spacer and metal washer when removing the drive wheels. With the wheels off you will now have to remove the eccentric assemblies from each side of the axle. You will have to pull up on the gear box, lifting the bearing blocks up and out of their guide rails. Note: The 4-4-0 has sprung suspension on all the drivers and the 2-6-0 has it on the front driver. The springs are centered at the base of the bearing blocks. When lifting out the bearing blocks the springs often fall out or stick to the base of the bearing blocks. Be sure you do not lose them. With the bearing blocks lifted push them off the axle and out of the way. You can now slide the eccentrics off the ends of the axles. If you can find a way to clamp them to keep them from coming apart, good, if not, the two plastic spacers and metal end washer will fall out and you will have slightly more difficulty when putting them back in. If they fall out put them in Bag No.5 and mark it
7. At this point you will be able to slide the gear box and motor forward and up. This will allow you to disassemble the gear box which has six screws, two on one side and four on the other. On my gearbox all six screws were pretty loose. During this process you should not remove the gear box cover from the motor. But be careful not to break a wire off the motor while manipulating things around. Turning the gearbox to one side remove the screws from the side with two screws on it. Put them in Bag No 6 and mark it. Turn the gearbox to the other side and first remove the two end screws and then the center two while holding the gearbox with two fingers. Put the screws in the bag. It is now time to separate the halves of the gearbox. You will notice that the gearbox has a thick side and a thin side. Rotate the gearbox till the thick side is facing down and lift the thin side, motor still attached to expose the gears inside. Lift straight up carefully so as to leave the gears and pins they turn on, in place. You should now see your broken or cracked gear. The other gears and pins in the box turn freely and care should be taken to keep them from falling out. Remove the axle and broken/cracked gear from the gearbox and set the gearbox with the remaining gears on your workbench in a safe place so you dont dump the gears out of the box.
8. It is now time to put the new gear on the axle. Slide the new NWSL gear on the axle as far as possible. I then slide a small as possible deep well socket over the axle and gear, place the axle end on a wooden or other soft surface and use your small hobby hammer to tap on the socket forcing the gear onto the serrated part of the axle until it is fully centered on the axle. Keep your blows centered to avoid damage to the gear, and make sure everything stays level as you tap it into place. It may take a fairly heavy blow to get things started. If you go too far simply turn it over and use the socket to tap the gear back just enough to get it centered.
9. It is now time to reassemble the gearbox. First use the plastic compatible grease and thoroughly grease all the gears in the gearbox. Grease the side of the gearbox where the axle goes thru and the gear itself. Slide the axle and gear back into the box and grease the exposed side of the gear.
Now the gearbox cover with motor attached goes back on. Carefully place the thin side of the gearbox over the thick part and wiggle them as necessary until the two sides are fully engaged. I then put one screw in place to hold the gearbox together. Then I apply thread locker to each screw in turn and drive them firmly into position, I then remove the screw without the thread locker on it, apply some, then put it back in. Be careful not to get the thread locker on any plastic surfaces as it may damage or even ruin the plastic. This basically finishes the repair and it is time to put everything back together. Putting things back is as basic as reversing the instructions and is fairly straight forward. You will need to make sure the drive wheels are properly quartered.
10. Here are some thoughts on getting things back together. Be patient and take your time. Use thread lock on all screws. Go step by step using the bag numbers and photos you took as your guide.
11. The first crunch point is getting the eccentrics back on. If the washers came off, be sure to put the first plastic washer on the axle turning it so the widest part of it is flush against gear box side. Slide one of the eccentric loops onto the washer; put the next plastic washer on turning it to fit, then the next eccentric loop goes over that. Next comes the plain metal washer. Holding things in place slide the axle through the bearing block being careful not to break the wire lead off. Next slide the drive wheel back on to the axle turning it until it fully seats in place. If the washers fell out when you did this, put the plastic spacer in first then the metal washer. Use the thread locker on the screw and firmly drive it back into place. Then put the plastic hubcap back on.
12. Repeat this process on the other side. You will need to be sure that when you do this second side, you position this driver on the axle correctly quartered. It will go on either correctly or 180 degrees off. Slide the wheel onto the axle and before inserting the screw check to see that the side rods line up properly in a straight line on both sides. If they do then drive the screw home firmly. If not pull the wheel back off the axle, turn it 180 degrees, and slide it back on. All side rods on both sides should now be properly aligned. Leave them loose until you complete the next step.
13. It is now time to slide the bearing blocks back into the slots on the frame. It will be a lot harder than getting them out, because of the wires and stiffness of the reassembled axles to this point. I fussed and wiggled and raised them up, trying to align them with the slots at same time I was trying to push them evenly down into the frame and pushing the motor end back far enough to get things lined up. If your loco has sprung bearing blocks be sure the little springs are in place and stay in place. I had a frustrating time doing this step and broke one of the wires off the top of one of the bearing blocks. Once I finally got them seated, I fired up the soldering iron. I then striped the insulation to expose just enough wire to reattach to the bearing block. I tinned the end of the wire then brushed extra flux on the wire and the solder blob on the bearing block. I melted a little bit of solder on the soldering iron and carefully and quickly soldered the wire back in place. Hopefully you will not need to do this, but dont be surprised if it happens. At this point I tested the installation, by using a small transformer to make sure that the gears were working properly and that the pickups on the drivers were all getting juice. Now you can reinstall the side rods insuring that all they are properly aligned on both sides. Again use thread locker on the hex screws, carefully tightening them firmly into place. Apply a little power again to make sure the side rods and all running gear are working smoothly.
14. If the circuit board with the two orange/red flat LEDs have slipped out of their slot during the manipulation of the motor, now is the time to be sure you push it back down into its slot so you can get the bottom plate back in proper position. Tuck the wire leads down alongside the motor making sure they do not interfere with the drivers, or your efforts to get the bottom cover back into position. As you realign to bottom cover, be sure the two brass wipers on the chuff sensor are positioned against the rear axle. You will need to pull gently on the leads as you position the bottom cover back in place. Again using thread locker replace all eight screws.
15. If you are using very tight radius curves you may want to reinstall the guide pins. I have wide radius curves and find that the guide pins are not needed. The guide pins will catch on some brands of switches, if they do try leaving them off. At this point you are about done. I went ahead and forced more gear grease into the two holes on the bottom of the gear case. I then used very light oil and sparingly oiled all the moving parts of the side rods and running gear including the eccentrics. I then put the loco on the track and ran it forward and backwards for about 20 minutes to kind of break things in. I then attached it to 5 Jackson & Sharp passenger cars and made the schedule for the evening train on my Missouri Western Railway. With any kind of grade, pulling five cars would really need to be double headed, or run it with a reduced consist, just like on the big trains!
Loco Bill


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Batwing #16 - DC Comics, January 2013
I wanted to post an update to let everyone know that my next work will be coming out in January from DC Comics, on Batwing #16. I had the pleasure of inking over penciler Allan Jeff on this issue and he has a very dynamic style that I am sure you will like. I had alot of fun interpreting his lines and I was happy with the results.....although, there is ALWAYS more that you wish you could do with the inks...but alas: deadlines are ever present! Make sure you check it out and let me know what you think.
Leave a Reply.


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With Net-at-hand's recent move to AWS EC2, I had a chance to build the new server from scratch.
In doing so I started using thin as my application server instead of mongrel, and I started using monit for monitoring my application servers instead of god. The main reason for the changes had mostly to do with memory usage by each of them. Monit uses much less memory and is more stable than god, and my rails app on thin is only using around 70MB instead of 110MB+.
One thing that I've always wanted an easy way to do is a rolling restart of my applications servers. A "rolling restart" restarts only a portion of the running applications at any given time so there is no time when there are no application servers available.
When configuring monit, you can assign a group to the running instance, but it turns out that you can assign more than one group by putting in multiple "group" directives for the same instance. So all the thin instances that are listening on even-numbered ports have the following lines in their configuration:
group thin
group thin-even
And then all the thin instances that are listening on the odd-numbered ports have the following lines in their configuration:
group thin
group thin-odd
So if I need to restart all of them at once I sould issue this command:
sudo monit restart -g thin
However, to do the rolling restart I just restart the "thin-even" group first, wait for a bit, then restart the "thin-odd" group. This is done automatically in my capistrano deploy.rb file by issuing a "sleep 10" in between the two restart commands. The restart task in my deploy.rb file looks like this:
task :restart, :roles => :app do
sudo '/path/to/monit -c /path/to/monit.conf restart -g thin-even'
sleep 10
sudo '/path/to/monit -c /path/to/monit.conf restart -g thin-odd'
So now, I push code changes to Net-at-hand in the middle of the day with no hesitation because I know it isn't going to cause an outage (of course, I do it all on the staging server first just to make sure nothing blows up :).


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Condominium Owners Survey Launched
McGuinty Government Committed To A Fair And Informed Marketplace
Ontario has launched an online survey to learn about the experiences of condominium owners across the province.
The survey, posted at www.ontario.ca/condos, asks condo owners about their experiences with buying and living in condos, as well as with condo corporations, boards of directors, repairs and maintenance, reserve funds and dispute resolution.
Condos are an increasingly popular form of home ownership and the survey will provide a broad snapshot of Ontarians' experiences with condos. Information provided with the survey will help condo owners learn more about their rights and responsibilities under the Condominium Act and the survey results will also help inform government.
Condo owners can also receive more information about the survey through their local Member of Provincial Parliament's (MPP) office or by calling the Ministry of Consumer Services toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.
Quick Facts
- Sales of condominiums in the Greater Toronto Area hit a record in the first quarter of 2010 according to independent research. Developers sold 5,415 new condos in the first three months of this year, up 491 per cent (nearly six times more) from the same time in 2009.
Additional Resources
"Learning about the experiences of Ontario's condo owners will help us better understand the marketplace. It also helps us get consumers the information they need so they can make informed condo-buying choices."
Sophia Aggelonitis,


text:
Windows 7 & Office 2010 – Real World Deployment Success
Play Windows 7 & Office 2010 – Real World Deployment Success
In January 2010, Immanuel College engaged deployment gurus Fastrack Technology, to develop a cutting edge desktop environment for their fleet of PCs. With their current SOE aging, as well as an impending One to One laptop rollout, it was imperative to create a robust and scalable platform that harnessed some of the great new innovation in the desktop space. Hugh from Immanuel and Yoni from Fastrack Technology will explore some noteworthy successes yearned from deploying Windows 7 and Office 2010 across the school. Some of the challenges faced will also be examined, with plenty of tips and tricks to ensure an outstanding result. Topics include: •Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 •Office 2010 deployment methodology •Windows 7 Application compatibility •User State Migration using USMT •SharePoint 2010, collaboration, co-authoring •Volume activation for Windows and Office using KMS...
Download:Slides View Slides Online
Right click or Alt+Enter to download this episode
- High Quality MP4 (401.7 MB)
- High Quality WMV (754.8 MB)


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It was on my recent flight to San Salvador, El Salvador, with Javier Bardem, while enjoying a clearly healthy breakfast, I was reading this month's Outside magazine.
Sure, Lindsey Vonn posed near-naked for the magazine cover, but, I'm happily married; so just like I used to tell the wife-person when I "read" Playboy, I was only looking at the articles.
And, just like those "professional models" in Playboy, we guys tend to lust over things that are out of our reach.
For me, that includes my longtime burning desire to take in all the sensory pleasures of Cuba. As I mentioned in our last visit, that would include the,
"…fine cigars, aged rum, magical music, and classic cars…"
Notice, I did not mention the incredibly hot, sexy Latinas that inhabit those dimly lit cantinas of Havana, since as I just mentioned, I am happily married and those voluptuous women wearing threadbare half-shirts and skintight shorts that barely cover their…well, I hardly think about them at all.
A while back, I reported that during a scuba trip to the popular destination island of Cozumel, given a similarly simple connecting flight to Cuba, I supposedly skipped the temptation to visit my mysterious mistress of desire.
In other words, I would like to say that I did not go to Cuba when I had the opportunity on that occasion. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
After my recent week of incredible diving in
Cuba Roatan, I needed to avoid any underwater forays the last day, which all divers must do for 24-hours before flying home.
That is either to allow my body to purge any remaining excess nitrogen in the bloodstream—which could go to my brain and possibly kill me—or to make sure I have time to polish off that large bottle of Flor de Caña rum that I purchased when I got there—which could go to my brain and possibly kill me.
Such are the risks that a global adventure humor writer takes, all for your amusement and reading enjoyment.
So, it was that last day of the trip that I decided a kayak paddle would be a good way to while away the time; unfortunately, I forgot my place.
Things were going peachy, just until I noticed I had garnered the attention of the locals and obtained a navel escort of sorts. Needless to say, I began to paddle towards shore with just a little bit more urgency.
It was then that I remembered that I had left my passport in the room; the passport that would have made it clear that I had strayed a little off-course.
Could I claim that I really thought this was Honduras? After all, it was only a few nautical miles to the southwest.
The actual distance was just under 900 kilometers, which we Americans do not really understand, but when converted to nautical miles, given the prevailing wind and current directions, it was only just mostly an inconceivable distance to paddle in a morning jaunt.
I could plead cluelessness; that sometimes works with the wife-person (actually, almost never).
As I approached the malecón, I could not help but notice that I might have a problem claiming that I thought this was the Honduran city of Coxen Hole (which would be a great name for a porn star).
But, then it came to me.
It is not this government that minds me visiting and spending copious amount of American greenbacks…it's OUR government that minds, as if somehow my purchase of a few cigars and bottle of rum might help prop up the régime of some ancient revolutionary on his deathbed.
But, mind they still do, and that might explain the noise I heard coming from just over my head.
When I looked up, there was this strange skeleton of a flying object that was…HEY, it was one of those small drones that I had read about in the latest Outside Magazine—once I got past the pictures of the near-naked Lindsey Vonn.
Cool, I thought. Must be some guy out playing with his new toy. Basically, these new personal drones are kind of like those old radio-controlled airplanes. And, as the Outside article pointed out, these things are easily obtained; you can even buy one from Amazon, which you can control from you iPhone.
That was just until I saw the long, narrow object with the trailing smoking plume, apparently headed my way.
WTF? I thought. Who would be firing upon me, an American citizen in mostly good standing, just because I was paddling in the wrong neighborhood?
That was until I made it closer to shore and caught two guys red-handed—and by "red" I am not talking about their political affiliation. Check out their matching government issue, logo shirts (although I never did see their stinking badges).
And, while this was nowhere near the Bay of Pigs, after a week of sans showers or shaving, I was beginning to look pretty sloven.
Maybe this scuba diver I met on the shore won't mind the smell.


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Reciprocity Network
Reciprocity Network
rec·i·proc·i·ty : the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit. Give and take.
New Users Need To Sign Up – Existing Members Need To Login
Reciprocity Network, an online home for those involved in marketing; relationship marketing, digital marketing, inbound marketing, content marketing, real-world marketing, search marketing, local marketing, global marketing, online marketing, scarcity marketing, cta marketing, viral marketing, multi-level marketing, mass marketing, seasonal marketing, email marketing, direct marketing, article marketing, social media marketing, Guerrilla marketing, brand marketing, and any of a host of others. Whatever you call it, whatever marketing niche you are in, this is the place to be!
Join with me, and other experts, to share and to learn and to explore a variety of trends, options, and solutions. Let's grow this site together and bring your skills into the mix. It's a journey. It's about goals and solutions, ideas and attitudes. Bring your best to the table and share in the best from others. Join Reciprocity Network today.
Reciprocity Network is all about Internet Marketing, sometimes called simply IM. But this isn't just about selling content online. As the image above suggests, Reciprocity Network is about a number of key elements, all of which are integrated into the broader scope of Internet Marketing. Much of marketing is about words and how you use them. Watch the video below.
Sign-up with Reciprocity Network and get access to our professional marketing forum. Learn from and share with others ranging from beginners just looking at getting started all the way to professional marketers making their living in the online world. Whatever your current level you will find a place at Reciprocity Network.


text: JUPITER-MM-5000 213W PC/104-Plus DC/DC Power Supply Module Targets Rugged Networked Applications Diamond Systems Corp. — No Comments Diamond Systems announces the Jupiter-MM-5000 high-efficiency, high-precision family of DC/DC power supply modules. These rugged I/O modules offer up to 213W of +5VDC and +12VDC power in either the compact PC/104 form factor or PC/104-Plus form factor. Advanced Technology 213W PC/104-Plus DC/DC Power Supply Jupiter-MM-5000 power supplies consist of a PC/104 form factor module with complete DC-DC voltage regulator circuitry, integrated thermal solution, detachable screw terminal block I/O connections, and PC/104 bus connectors. The wide input voltage range of 7 to 34VDC is compatible with industry standard 12V, 24V, and 28V inputs. The Jupiter-MM-5000 uses a state-of-the-art design with the latest generation high efficiency components. It delivers efficiency as high as 95 percent, reducing input power requirements as well as heat generation. Jupiter-MM-5000 was engineered for rugged applications such as automotive or on-vehicle. Extended temperature operation of -40ºC to +85ºC is tested and guaranteed. Low-profile, surface mount components reduce susceptibility to shock and vibration. I/O connections are made with locking screw terminal blocks for the highest degree of ruggedness. The modules are compatible with MIL-STD-202G shock and vibration specifications. Read More About Diamond Systems Corp. DIAMOND SYSTEMS CORPORATION, founded in 1989, provides compact, rugged embedded computing solutions to customers around the world in a wide range of industries. We deliver both board-level products and system-level solutions incorporating these products. Our expertise is in analog I/O technology, high integration, customization, and rugged design. Our embedded CPU boards provide a unique level of integration by incorporating data acquisition and other features right on the board, reducing size and cost. Our analog I/O capabilities include our patented, best-in-class autocalibration technology that reduces analog measurement errors by a factor of 10 over competitors' solutions.


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Less than two months after adopting a new global brand image, Tahiti Tourisme is getting a new CEO.
Taking over from Anne-Sophie Lesur as of July 31 is tourism marketing specialist Paul Sloan, who has more than 20 years experience in a wide range of tourism positions, both in Tahiti and in the US, and has worked extensively in the areas of marketing, strategic planning, communications, branding, and business development.
Mr. Sloan, 52, holds a Master of Tourism Administration degree from The
George Washington University School of Business with specializations in Marketing and Sustainable Tourism Development, as well as Professional Certification in Tourism Destination Management from the International Institute for Tourism Studies in conjunction with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Previous positions include Director of Marketing & Promotions for Tahiti Tourisme's North America office and most recently in the same role at Visit San Luis Obispo County in California.
With his main objective to increase tourist arrivals, Mr. Sloan said his strategy with Tahiti Tourisme will be to "deliver the right message to the right customer in every market." The 3 priorities for promoting the Islands of Tahiti are to develop a strong brand and differentiate ourselves from our competitors, adapt our brand to what our target customers are looking for, and finally, generate demand for the destination through every activation with the right assets and a strong emphasis on marketing ROI.
During the local tourism fair in September 2014, Paul Sloan summarized his vision for Tahiti Tourisme in 3 points:
- To develop synergies between tourism actors and partners (local tourism offices, the association for family pensions and other professional tourism associations, the private sector, the public sector, and as well local communities).
- To increase efficiencies in communication and marketing via greatly enhanced targeting of our specific customer profile in each market (Discerning Explorer), and with greatly increased tracking of KPI's (key performance indicators) and analysis of marketing ROI (return on investment).
- To grow tourism to grow local jobs and advance the local economy.
As he expressed it to the media, tourism is a key economic resource for French Polynesia and "…we need to work more together to be more effective. We are all in the same va'a."


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The Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library will hold a craft for tweens on Monday, December 3rd, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants will learn to cut, fold, and glue paper boxes. These small, colorful containers are easy to personalize and make great gift boxes. Dress appropriately for a potentially messy craft.
This program is free and open to tweens ages 9 to 14. The Stafford branch is located at 129 N. Main St. in Manahawkin. Space is limited, so please register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or by phone at 609-597-3381


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Sometimes getting good sound can be really tough – most especially if you have limited space. And it's a shame, too, because often that means you'll have to do without.
My, how things have changed!
This little power pack of sound is a modern-day solution to a decades old problem – getting great sound in a tight space. In my Alpine KTP-445U review I'll provide a detailed an honest review of this fantastic like amp.
You can find my final review score and pros & cons list at the end.
Alpine KTP-445U basics
First off, we need to set the stage by understanding what this little amplifier is and isn't. It is not an end-all solution for the best audio quality money can buy. Let's be realistic – you cannot get "perfect sound" in an incredibly tiny package for less than $150.
When it comes to sound, there are always compromises that must be made. It's important to have reasonable expectations. Any good engineer will tell you the same.
Also, it's important to remember that as I'll be explaining below, this is a class D type of amplifier. Class D amps have several pros and cons to be aware of (which I cover in detail) and it's important to remember this when you compare it to other amplifiers you may be considering purchasing.
I'll be reviewing it based on my extensive knowledge of the technology and the amp both as an engineer and an installer. Also I'll be very fair – and very detailed – when I make comparisons to bigger and more expensive amplifiers.
In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm a big fan of this little guy – and very happy with what Alpine has come up with! I don't normally expect much from miniaturized amplifiers, but in this case I can honestly say I'm impressed.
Behind the technology: understanding the KTP-445U amplifier design
In only the last several years class D audio amplifiers have become one of the hottest audio technologies in the audio world. This modern technology has improved greatly since the first class D amplifiers hit the market years ago. I've found that despite this many brands still leave a LOT to be desired. Unlike the KTP-445U I have been very disappointed by some I've tried.
What is a class D car amp?
Simply put, audio amplifiers are all based off on one or more basic "classes", or fundamental types of designs. These range from Class A (the lowest distortion and best sound, but most expensive and biggest power hog) to Class B, and other variations similar to it.
Until recent years, Class A/B amplifiers were the most common because they're cost-effective, relatively simple in design, and don't waste as much power as Class A designs do. Also A/B amps provide low distortion and high power levels for a good watt-per-dollar value.
Despite their good points, conventional amplifiers waste a lot of electrical power which is turned into heat rather than power to drive speakers. Today's amps are still somewhat bulky and heavy due to the large metal body needed to dissipate the heat created.
A class D car amp is a newer type of amplifier technology used to produce power more efficiently.
How do class D amps work?
A Class D amplifier works by "modulating" (chopping up) the incoming audio signal and switching the transistors used to amplify it on and off incredibly quickly. This results in a fantastically efficient design without huge amounts of power being turned into heat like designs from the old days!
Class D amplifiers are based on a switching circuit. This means the design modulates – or transforms – the incoming audio signal by chopping it up into a series of on-and-off waveforms. This is used to switch power-conducting transistors on and off thousands or hundreds of thousands of time per second.
Older audio amplifiers (like class A or class A/B) conduct electricity nearly all the time they're on. While A/B type amplifiers are about 65% or less efficient, Class D amplifiers can achieve an incredible 90% efficiency!
Because of this the actual amount of power being consumed by a Class D amp is greatly reduced – resulting in no need for a huge, bulky amplifier body or lots of heat being produced. This was a huge step forward in technology!
Some bare-bones miniature D amps are smaller than a pack of cigarettes.
Additionally, electronic component sizes have evolved to make these amps smaller and smaller. The decades-old problem of "How can I fit an amplifier into a tiny space in my vehicle?" is now just a bad memory.
No longer do you just have to settle for a weak 15W per channel stereo head unit. You're now able to get many times the sound in package that's far smaller than anything imagined possible only 10 years ago.
Alpine vs the competitors
Something you might not be aware of is that there's a lot of junk out there. Many of today's car amp brands are no longer selling unique designs of their own. Sadly, many amplifiers on the market today, including compact Class D designs, are rebadged models that share the same internal components and mediocre design and only have minor cosmetic differences on the outside.
Over the years, lower-end brands were bought out by larger companies and exist only for marketing purposes, not for quality.
I've even bought one of these competing amps for test purposes (perhaps one day I'll do a write-up) and was very disappointed with the design & sound quality. Noise levels were unacceptable and upon examining it I realized quickly it was another low-end version of an "amp on a chip" design.
In the audio engineering world, this means shortcuts were taken at the expense of sound quality and performance.
Alpine has relied on its great engineering resources and the KTP-445U is different from the competition because it's an original and fresh design. I was not disappointed to find it has the trademark Alpine quality and innovation that became my personal favorite over the years.
Also, Alpine doesn't use misleading power ratings and specifications unlike other brands. The power ratings and sound quality specifications I'll go into below are realistic and honest. This is important to me not just as an installer and an engineer, but because I need to be confident in anything I review and recommend. I know how it feels to spend your hard-earned money for products that disappoint.
KTP-445U features and specifications
One of the biggest selling points is it's size. The amp measures an amazingly compact 7 7/16″ x 1.5″ x 2.5″ (189 x 38.2 x 64.5 mm) in size. That's smaller than pretty much any comparable amplifier available anywhere in the world today! I'm not kidding – I was expecting it to be much bigger. Basically all other high-quality Class D amplifiers below $200 today are at least 4 x the size of the Alpine.
Hard to believe how small it is. An amp with comparable power only a handful of years ago would have been 5 x times bigger. This one is small enough to hold in your hand!
Built-in high-pass crossovers
Originally I had expected the amp to be a "plain Jane" amp with NO features whatsoever, but it turned out I was wrong.
The amp actually, to my surprise, includes optional high-pass filters with selectable frequencies for the high-pass feature ( 60Hz, 80Hz, or 120Hz) to allow you to cutoff speaker-distorting bass frequencies if you like. Of course, you can always switch if off and run your speakers in "full range" mode if you like, but I normally prefer to block the lower bass frequencies.
My custom-installed 6.5″ speakers can't handle the lower bass frequencies (they don't do well below 50 Hz or so, so 60Hz is pretty close) so that's very important to me.
High and low level inputs
Of course I didn't expect the Alpine to disappoint, but again they've done a great job in the design. The amp can work with both aftermarket head units via the or RCA inputs OR speaker-level inputs from a factory stereo! In other words, you can use the KTP-445U to get more powerful and better sound even if you have a factory-installed stereo in your vehicle.
The included color-coded wiring harness makes it easy and it's a feature I'm sure a lot of buyers just like you will appreciate.
One thing I've learned over years of car stereo installation experience is that the ability to connect to factory-installed stereos is a huge plus. The Alpine can be connected directly to factory speaker wiring in order to "tap off" and get a good audio signal to feed into the amp.
While not as good as being fed from an aftermarket head unit via the RCA inputs, it's still a great option and in my experience, when done correctly, still sounds clean and there's very little distortion or breaking up at higher volumes.
You can also disconnect the factory speakers once the KTP-445U is connected to avoid any distortion issues if that's a concern for you.
The included signal input harness allows connecting both RCA (low-level) inputs or speaker-level inputs to the amplifier easily. Inputs are color-coded and explained clearly in the owner's manual. A similar harness is used to connect to the output (to connect to speakers you'd like to use)
There are switches for audio controls on the bottom of the amp if you need to choose speaker level inputs or change crossover functions. As an added bonus, even if you're using 4 speakers and only have a 2-channel input, the amp can provide a signal to all 4 outputs. You won't have to buy a pair of RCA Y-adapters.
In order to bridge the amp you'll also need to set the 2/4 ch. input switch to 2 channel as well.
Selectable option switches on the bottom of the amp allow you to adjust the crossover functions or split a stereo input into 4 channels. Also this is where you must select the audio source before powering up the amp.
Front and rear gain controls
Separate front and rear gain controls allowing adjusting the amplification level depending upon the input signal strength you have. Speaker-level inputs, for example, might require turning it down, while RCA-level inputs may require boosting it a bit. It's highly dependent upon what kind of stereo you have. In either case, it's easy to adjust. The KTP-444U can accept up to 4V RCA inputs which is considered a "higher end" signal strength for aftermarket units.
Not too much I have to say here – the front and rear controls are easy to use and easy to adjust. Also, the gain controls "feel" good because good quality components (potentiometers, which are just adjustable resistors) are used on the circuit board. This means that when you adjust the gain levels it won't change over time and will have a good "feel" when you turn them.
The amp can deliver up to 45 watts per channel into both 4 or 2-Ohm speakers, which is surprising because most miniature amps in my experience cannot handle 2 Ohm speakers. This means you could add extra speakers in parallel (to a degree) if desired.
It's important to understand that 45 watts isn't enough for extreme sound levels or to drive large woofers if that's your goal. This amp isn't designed for that.
I'd estimated with a good set of efficient speakers, however, you can get close to around 100dB of clear sound before it begins to give out due to its limits. For most people with normal listening habits, it's plenty of power and you need not worry.
Sound quality
For me, sound quality is extremely important.
It seems like every little bit of irritating distortion or poor musical reproduction I've heard really grates my nerves.
I'm happy to report the KPT-445U has great good sound quality and is very impressive for a tiny amp! If you recall what I mentioned earlier, this is a Class D amplifier. The benefits of Class D amplifiers are fantastic size, great efficiency, and a lower weight, but one of the drawbacks is reduced sound quality.
I can say with certainty (and don't just trust me on this – check the multitudes of other happy reviews) that the sound quality is very good. Remember when I mentioned earlier about how I bought another brand of car amplifier and was disappointed?
It was because the noise levels (the noise I heard when no music was playing) was far too high compared to the many amplifiers I've installed and listened to over the years. Not so with Alpine – they've done a great job in minimizing noise.
I can say I was pleasantly surprised. I came into my review of the KTP-445U expecting an "ok" experience but was honestly very impressed with what Alpine has done.
Here's an excerpt from the company themselves:
In order to ensure that Alpine sound quality is heard at your ears, we've created a platform that offers an unbelievably low noise floor, taking extra care to ensure a clean signal path, with no extraneous interference. The end result: The Power Pack boasts 1 Watt Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 82dB or better.- Alpine Electronics
In my opinion this says a lot. Why? Because it takes additional engineering time and manpower – in addition to planning – to make the effort to make better sound quality a design goal rather than a forgotten number on a spec sheet somewhere.
I'd much rather pay a bit more for something I know is designed right from the beginning and I know sounds great rather than just made to be "ok" and barely passable.
And by the way, for you spec nerds like me, the specs on this little amp are great. According to the company the Power Pack distortion actually decreases at higher frequencies, resulting in a clean and clear signal where your ear is most sensitive to distortion (less than 0.03% THD+N @ 1W, 1% THD+N at rated power).
Here are some of the most basic specifications you need to know:
Note: the KTP-445U mini amp – despite its tiny size and simple design can drive 2 ohm speakers up to 45 watts each. I was honestly impressed and didn't expect that.
Great for installation under seats and just about any small space you can think of.
The great thing about the size is that you can fit it in incredibly small spaces which were unheard of years ago. A great example is some of today's vehicles in which there's extremely tight space inside the dashboard, perhaps besides or behind the current stereo.
It's a great solution to the most difficult installation problems which years ago would have required either a ton more money to be spent by customers or unfortunately cause some people to just "give up' as there weren't any other options.
It's also a great fit for boats as well but you'd need to ensure it is protected against corrosion and exposure to the air and salt water since it's not marine rated. You can mount the tiny powerhouse by using the included zip cable ties to attach it to the nearest available wiring or mount it permanently using the included brackets and self-tapping screws.
Don't forget that because of its light weight you could also use double-sided adhesive tape or Velcro if desired for convenience.
Note: Because it is so efficient and draws less electrical current than traditional amps, you won't need to get a heavy-gauge wire installation kit and run extra wire. It's possible to connect it to a nearby 12V supply from your car stereo, for example.
Accessories included with the KTP-445U
- Mounting brackets (2)
- Self-tapping srews (4)
- Cable ties (2)
- Required wiring harnesses
I would definitely suggest getting a few inexpensive items to make sure you're better prepared for installation, such as:
- A roll of speaker wire
- 14 or 16 gauge power and negative wire for installations placed further way
- Wire crimp connectors ("butt connectors") and a crimp tool
- A small bag of 6″ or 8″ zip wire tie
Bridging the amp
Need more power? Amazingly – and to my surprise – it's not a problem with this amp.
Just switch the 2/4 channel input switch to the 2 ch. input mode. Then connect the output speaker wiring in bridged mode and you're done!
You'll have 90W RMS per channel of high-quality sound at your disposal. Honestly, I didn't expect that for an amp so small, but once again the engineering quality made all the difference.
Just one more reason I'm impressed with it.
KTP-445U vs KTP-445A
The KTP-445A looks very similar to the KTP-445U. However, it's designed specifically for Alpine head units 2005 and later, not for RCA or high-level inputs from others.
When shopping it's important to be aware of the KTP-445A model as it can cause a bit of confusion and comes up in search results.
The KTP-445A is a model of the KTP-445U (where "U" stands for universal; "A" stands for Alpine head units) designed only to work with Alpine model car stereos. The wiring harnesses included don't allow using RCA connectors and the standard speaker-level inputs.
Aside from that, both share the same basic design and performance.
There are a few drawbacks to know…
I would have liked to have an optional low-pass crossover feature in addition to the high pass design. Perhaps it was a cost-cutting or design compromise decision that had them remove it. I'm not sure.
I have somewhat mixed feelings regarding the location of the switches used to control sound options. They're located on the bottom, whereas ideally they'd be accessible from the side or top. But ultimately that's a minor complaint.
Review score & summary
All in all, in my opinion the KTP-445U is a wonderful little 4-channel amplifier with great sound quality. It's truly a dream come true if you want great sound but have especially limited space.
It's not for those need extreme power and volume levels. You can't drive subwoofers or very high-volume speaker systems with this amp, but what it does it does well!
Head over to check out the current price and see the fantastic buyer reviews at Amazon.
Alpine has done it again with their approach to getting the most power and sound out of a tiny package. It's a great upgrade for weak aftermarket or factory stereos. Thanks to its design it's a great general purpose 4-channel amp that can fit a wide variety of installation and audio system needs. You're paying a few extra dollars for better sound and a better design - and that's exactly what you'll get. You won't be disappointed.
- Amazingly small size!
- Great sound, low distortion and low noise design for a Class D amp
- Can handle 2 ohm speakers (4 channel mode)
- 4 channel outputs
- Bridgeable to 90W RMS x 2 channels
- Selectable 2/4 channel input switch (no Y adapters required)
- Speaker level inputs
- Installation accessories included
- Great power: 45W/channel
- Built-in optional high-pass crossovers
- Simple installation / no large wire required
- No low-pass crossovers
- Option switches are located on the bottom as opposed to top or sides
- Could use more zip ties in package to aid installation neatness & ease


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$25 / $23 / $17
November 10 / 1:00 pm
**Kay Hoke, nationally recognized opera lecturer, will present a FREE pre-performance opera talk one hour before performance.**
Nico Muhly's Marnie, based on Winston Graham's novel, which in turn inspired Alfred Hitchock's suspenseful thriller, has its U.S. premiere at the Met this season. Isabel Leonard stars in the title role opposite Christopher Maltman as her blackmailing husband Mark Rutland, Iestyn Davies as his brother Terry, Janis Kelly as Mrs. Rutland, and acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as Marnie's mother. Robert Spano makes his company debut conducting.
Marnie is a co-commission and co-production with English National Opera, where the production premiered in 2017.
Conductor: Robert Spano
Production: Michael Mayer
Set and Projection Designers: Julian Crouch and 59 Productions
Costume Designer: Arianne Phillips
Lighting Designer: Kevin Adams
Cast: Marnie (Isabel Leonard), Mrs. Rutland (Janis Kelly), Marnie's Mother (Denyce Graves), Terry Rutland (Iestyn Davies), Mark Rutland (Christopher Maltman)
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Majestic Box office located at 25 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or Online at "Fandango" (add'l fees will apply to online ticket purchases)
Upcoming MET Live in HD events:
October 6 - Aida**
October 20 - Samson et Dalila
October 27 - La Fanciulla del West
November 10 - Marnie**
December 15 - La Traviata
January 12 - Adriana Lecouvreur
February 2 - Carmen**
March 2 - La Fille du Régiment
March 30 - Die Walküre* (Start time: 12:00 pm)**
May 11 - Dialogues des Carmélites* (Start time: 12:00 pm)**
*All showings start at 1:00 pm unless noted*
**Kay Hoke, nationally recognized opera lecturer, will present a FREE pre-performance opera talk one hour before performance.**
Be the first to know about new season line-ups, upcoming shows, events, special offers, and more. Sign up for the Majestic newsletter.


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Asthma Canada is committed to improving the lives of the Canadian asthma community through education and support services, research and advocacy. This year, we are offering a series of five free online webinars to educate and raise awareness for people affected by asthma. Our Speaker Series Webinars address key topics and issues pertinent to the asthma community.
Asthma in Children: Management and Support
On Wednesday, August 22 at 1:00 pm (EST), we will be hosting a FREE webinar with a Registered Respiratory Therapist/Certified Asthma Educator on Asthma in Children: Management and Support.
The September back-to-school period brings a dramatic increase in hospitalizations for children living with asthma. Kids returning to school in September face increased exposure to viral infections and other asthma triggers such as dust mites and moulds. However, with correct management, most asthma-related hospitalizations can be prevented.
This webinar includes a Question & Answer session with the guest speaker, giving you the opportunity to ask an experienced Certified Asthma Educator from one of the top children's hospitals in Canada for tips on how to prevent asthma exacerbations. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Susan Balkovec speak about asthma management in children.
What You'll Takeaway:
Guest Speaker: Susan Balkovec (BSc, RRT, CAE)
Susan Balkovec is a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Asthma Educator in the Respiratory Medicine Division at SickKids hospital in Toronto. In her role, she provides asthma education to families of children who have been hospitalized or been to the intensive care unit (ICU) for asthma. She collaborates with the multi-disciplinary team regarding asthma management and with the families during scheduled visits in the ambulatory asthma clinic.
As an educator, Susan has been very active within SickKids promoting standardization of asthma education and management with other staff members to improve programs. She has taught both students and teachers about proper asthma management at a number of schools in the Greater Toronto Area.
Susan was also involved in the early stages of The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study, a prospective longitudinal birth cohort study still in progress which looks at early determinants of asthma and allergy. As the lead respiratory therapist, she directed the infant pulmonary function team looking at the role of lung function variables early in life.


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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Second Hiker Injured in the Last Two Days- Be Careful Out There People!
SANTA BARBARA- A man who broke his ankle while hiking near Stevens Park had to be carried out by Santa Barbara fire crews Tuesday morning. The unidentified 62-year-old was located about a half-mile north of the park, near the Jesusita Trailhead, off San Roque Road. A fellow hiker reported the incident about 8:30 a.m. after walking back to his home on nearby Foothill Road. Crews had to hike in to tend to the victim.
Visit our homepage for safety tips on hiking!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Hiker Injured On Rattlesnake Canyon Trail
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Typical Winter Weekend Weather In Santa Barbara
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tunnel Trail Christmas Rainbow 12/25/08
Monday, December 22, 2008
Bye Bye Billy Goats
The Website: http://www.brushgoats4hire.com/
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Stuck All Day In The Board Room Friday
My Chair Lift
Self Portrait
My Boardroom
Penthouse View
Antelope Valley
Leaving My Mark
Natural Terrain
Fun Features of the Boardroom
You Should Have Been There
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Who Needs A Ski Lift?
Due to global warming I haven't been back to this Southern CA secret spot in the last 4 years. There are no lifts, not many other people and no shortage of bitchin'. Here is the photographic account from the days events.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
San Ysidro Sunset 12/11/08
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Re-Opened This Weekend
Names Of The Tea House Fire Starters
He burnt down 30 homes and 34,000 acres and was sentenced to probation and 541$ fine. The sentence for the 10 will probably be along those same lines if they are charged.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Task Force Recommendations Progress Report
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Ladybug Redux
Friday, November 28, 2008
You Talkin To Me?!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cold Springs Trail Open....Again.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Mountain Drive Flood Prevention Day Photos
I was assigned to a group of properties on E. Mtn Drive where none of the 10 or homes were left standing. We met with one of the homeowners who directed us on how to protect the properties and creeks from flooding. While talking with her we about the fire she told us how there was 15 minutes to get out with everything including her 2 daughters. Her neighbors were not as lucky, they are the two burn victims still being treated for their injuries. This property is almost the next door neighbor to the Tea Gardens but in a canyon so the flames would not have been visible until they were right on top of her. Interesting to know that as she was evacuated fire engines lined the road and were unable to do anything to fight the massive flames. It is one thing to see the photos in the newspaper or even drive by one of these burnt down homes but it is another to actually see them up close. Some of the properties in our zone still contained personal items in the rubble, obviously the homeowners had not gotten a chance to sift through what was left.
Back to the reason we were all there. The main task was to prevent erosion and flooding of those who live near the watersheds down below. The plant life gone prevents any absorption of water and the creeks simply can not contain the amount of run-off. We lined the driveway with sandbags, dug ditches for silt fences, and created diversions in the creeks. It was a huge amount of work even with a good sized crew of about 15. When looking to neighboring properties the same task was occurring up and down Mtn Drive over and over again. Good work to all those who helped out and lets hope we helped prevent some major problems this winter.
Still Smoldering
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Help The Mountain Drive Residents Prevent Flooding! 11/23/08
Friday, November 21, 2008
More Trail Closures- Cold Springs
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Goats are on Tunnel Trail!
First Look Post Tea FIre: Parma Park, Cold Springs Trail, Rattlesnake Cyn
Parma Overview from W. Mtn Dr.(Permission to enter this area by SBPD)
West Mountain Drive
Parma Trails
Parma Fire Road
Parma Hillsides and above W Mountain
Picnic area still standing!
Cold Springs Trail- Of the three trails affected, Cold Springs had the least amount of damage. The fire primarily stayed to the west of Cold Springs Cyn due to the winds and from the help of fire fighters. The lower part of CS Trail up to just past the West Fork seemed to be the only affected areas. At the time that the photos were taken the West Fork was still closed.
Cold Springs Trail Head(west side of creek)
Cold Springs Main Trail where the fire stopped
Phos-Chek coated sign at the juncion
Phos-Chek coated rocks in the creek from aircraft
Warning at the W Fork
Tea Gardens
Hillside above West Fork(note- the fire did not continue up towards Tangerine Falls or the trail to Gibralter)
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail- The Lower part of Rattlesnake was burnt up pretty good. The fire burnt down the hill from the monastary up to St Marys Seminary and down the canyon a few hundred more yards. For about 1/4 of a mile the trail is burnt on both sides really leaving the trail in a unrecognizable state. From that point up until the next creek crossing the fire primarily stayed on the east side above the trail. It does not appear that there is much if any damage past the second creek crossing except on upper hillsides. This trail is closed at the time of this posting.
Rattlesnake Trail Head
St Marys Seminary
Rattlesnake Trail(photo taken from adjacent property)
Fire Fighters still working hot spots in RS and Skofield Park


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By Business editor Peter Ryan
A leading technology firm forecasts that the need for internet speed will increase at a mind-boggling pace over the next three years.
"Our report is showing that in the year 2017, in four years time, the internet and IP traffic will be three times larger than it is today," forecast Ken Boal, Cisco's managing director for Australia and New Zealand.
Listen to the interview with Ken Boal broadcast on this morning's AM.
"If you summed all of the traffic on the internet from 1984 through to the end of last year, 2012, the traffic in 2017 will actually surpass that in one year alone, so huge growth across the world and it is going to be very large in Australia as well. We'll still be twice as large as what it is in Australia today - so huge growth."
Cisco is expecting 1.4 zettabytes of internet traffic by 2017 and, for those who have never heard of a zettabyte, it is an enormous amount of data.
"A zettabyte is the equivalent of a trillion gigabytes. It's a very, very large number with a lot of zeros - 21 zeros - but what that means in reality is if you digitised all of the movies ever made, that could cross the internet every four minutes around the world. So it's an awful lot of data and huge volumes," Mr Boal explained.
"Obviously it's going to have implications for government, business and everyone concerned with the internet."
Cisco's report forecasts that much of the growth will not come from direct human usage, but from automated business processes that are increasingly using the internet.
"It's predominately been, historically, PCs and computers, phones and those things," Mr Boal observed.
"Now we're seeing the rise of the machines - video surveillance cameras, digital health monitors, asset tracking for business, public transport vehicles and cars will also be connected, so in Australia that will sum to about 145 million devices. So considering we'll have roughly 23, 24 million people, that's a lot of extra devices per every user connected."
Outside increasing business use of the internet, Ken Boal says households are increasing accessing their entertainment via the web.
"Three-quarters of the traffic will be video, and we're connecting things like TVs, so high definition TVs, internet video will be absolutely a huge contributor to the growth," he said.
"11 per cent of the internet use in Australia in 2017 will be through internet connected TVs, and that's got new opportunities for providers, content players and so on."
Mr Boal says the increase in internet usage will necessitate a massive increase in access speeds.
"If we look at the global trends, the average worldwide speed will be 39 megabits per second for broadband residential access in 2017. At the moment Australia is around about 9 megabits per second on average, so clearly there's a significant platform upgrade required," he said.
"You know, we're agnostic on the access technology but clearly significant increase in capacity is required and that's what this report is highlighting."


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I just wanted to say, I am so happy to go to a school that is so involved in the community. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by people that want to make a difference in the world. Whether it's a small task or a huge event, we can all make a difference.
This is something that I have been thinking about for a really long time. Even it's just a week long challenge, I will be happy with anything this can turn into! Thank you guys for watching! 🙂


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I HAVE AN ALMOST-50-YEAR-OLD LONDON FOG LIGHT-TAN RAINCOAT that my mother sent me money to buy in the campus store in South Bend, Indiana that I wear when it's just sprinkling and I want to hold my sign to show the people it matters more than enough--as in, I think it could change the world--to get a little wet. Part of my street cred with the sign comes from my consistency. 'Man, you're here every day.'
It was raining too hard though today. Not too hard for me. I've got that raincoat and a couple different baseball caps I could wear. But the sign could get ruined if it's sopping rain.
I never want to miss a day, which is a pretty powerful sign of its own. Today especially I wanted to be there, to stand as mindfully as I could for Gwen Ifill.


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By now, you've probably heard the news that HTC unveiled a tablet, two Facebook phones, and a trio of updated Android devices. And while pictures are nice to look at when reading a press release, nothing beat a little video. HTC has released some short clips on YouTube today which give us our first official look at most of their new units. Hit the break and check out the videos. Which of these, if any, has you the most excited? Are you one of those ready to run out and by a "Facebook Phone?"
HTC unveils a new line up at MWC 2011
First Look at Desire S
First Look at Wildfire S
First Look at HTC Salsa
First Look at HTC Flyer
First Look at Incredible S
First Look at ChaCha


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career, do you need a change, fear of change, how to know if i should change jobs, job, should i quit my job
Jobs can be a lot like dating. When you initially start dating someone, there's usually a lot of excitement. The possibilities seem endless for your future. You feel like you're on cloud nine. Then, it happens. The moment comes when you realize your significant other isn't cutting the mustard anymore. You have bigger goals now, but your partner doesn't. You still care for this person, but it just doesn't seem like they are heading in the same direction as you anymore. You're a new person now.
Jobs can have the same effect on you. Maybe you started off thinking "This is it! I have the job of my dreams." Yet, after a while, you realize you would rather work in a different position fighting a slightly different problem. Maybe you no longer want to teach the students. Instead, you want to serve as the superintendent over the entire county. Maybe you no longer want to be the builder working for another company. Now you want to own a company that provides housing for battered women. Or maybe, you realize being the president of a company isn't quite what you expected. The money is awesome, but you're barely able to spend time with your family.
Whatever your reason, just know that it's okay to let go of where you currently are. People change. Needs change. Values change. Change is a part of our growth. It is not something to fear, but to embrace. Sure, it can be scary to change. I mean, it's a big world out there, and you don't know which way to go sometimes. However, it would be a huge disservice to yourself and others if you decide to stay somewhere that is no longer meeting your needs and values. Don't stay for the wrong reasons.
So, what do you do if your values and needs change?
- Talk with your supervisor.
What can be accomplished by doing this? Well, your supervisor may be able to give you insights on another position within the company that may be better suited for you. He or she could recommend you for it based on your job performance so far.
If it's a situation where you love the job, but it's eating away at family time, your boss may be able to work out a schedule that is more family-friendly for everyone (you never know). Depending on your job, your boss could host a family-friendly event for the company or your boss could pitch the possibility of offering day care services to the CEO.
I know these options don't work for everyone, but it never hurts to think a little outside the box. The guys and gals in charge are always looking for ways to retain good employees because let's face it, satisfied employees don't mind working hard for the company.
- Go on the hunt.
If you're not able to change the culture of your job to fit your values, then you may need to look for opportunities elsewhere. Before dashing to the job ads, make a list of what really matters to you. Do you want a job that has family-friendly hours? One that has opportunities to earn more? Maybe you want your company to help pay for your expenses as you consider going back to school to specialize in your craft. Maybe you value growth, and want the opportunity to move up in rank. Marinate on these things as you go on your quest to find something more tailored to the new you. If possible, try talking to people who already work where you'd like to, and see if the company's values really do align with yours (just make sure you have reliable sources).
- Start up your own gig.
You know, if you can't find somewhere that allows you to be the new you, you should consider starting up your own. Now, this option is not as easy as it seems, and it is not for everyone. Just know that you will still have to put in the work to make it work for you. If you truly feel led to create your own company, by all means, have at it! Do your research to see what licenses you may need and survey your area and target audience to see if there is a need for your services. There's a lot that goes into starting a business, so make sure you do your homework before putting in that two week notice. You may want to also consider how you will fund your new venture. Trust me, the money is out there. You just have to find it!
It can be pretty tough working for a company that doesn't make you happy, doesn't allow you to grow, and doesn't align with your purpose. So many people stay with a company for all of the wrong reasons. We discussed some of those reasons in this series. One of the big reasons is fear. There is no guarantee your next job will live up to your standards. I have to be honest with you about that. Yet, you have to make the decision to do what's best for you, and you have to hold yourself accountable for your decision. No more making excuses for why you can't let go of your job. It's time to decide once and for all what you really want to do. I'll leave you with a quote from John Greathouse: "Never let the odds keep you from pursuing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."
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Posted by J. Gilbert | Filed under Motivation, Success Tips


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Below you will find a list of E-Journal Collections related to all subject areas. To use these databases more proficiently, we recommend that you visit the Database/E-Journals Guides section under the Supports for You Tab.
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is the definitive scholarly business database, providing the leading collection of bibliographic and full text content. As part of the comprehensive coverage offered by this database, indexing and abstracts for the most important scholarly business journals back as far as 1886 are included. In addition, searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,300 journals.
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RILM Music Encyclopedias is a unique collection of 45 seminal encyclopedias in full text, comprising 95,000 pages and including historical and current encyclopedias published between 1775 and 2017. It is international in scope, providing access to content written in the key languages of musicological research, among them English, German, French, Italian, Czech, Dutch, Greek, and Slovak. It is the first comprehensive collection of encyclopedia content spanning the most important disciplines, fields, and subject areas of historical musicology and ethnomusicology, with subject-specific focus on topics ranging from popular music, opera, instruments, blues and gospel, to recorded music and women composers.
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NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) develops and publishes standards to meet international demands for the quality, design, performance, safety and environmental impact of products and services. The i2i Platform has been designed to provide lecturers and students with accurate and up to date full-text access to 55,000 current NSAI Irish Standards: straight IS (Irish Standards) EN (European Norms) and ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation). The i2i platform also lists the bibliographic content from over 350 international standards publishers covering over 1.5 million standards, references and equivalencies.
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BASE complements the current metasearch system for catalogues and databases of the Bielefeld Digital Library by disclosing multiple scholarly full text archives, digital repositories and preprint servers on the World Wide Web. The service includes both full text and bibliographic information and indexes only qualified academic online resources from all academic disciplines
An internet-based digital library of education research and information sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education. ERIC provides access to bibliographic records of journal and non-journal literature indexed from 1966 to the present. ERIC also contains a growing collection of full-text materials in Adobe PDF format.
The ERIC collection includes bibliographic records (citations, abstracts, and other pertinent data) for more than 1.2 million items indexed since 1966, including journal articles,books,research syntheses , conference papers,technical indexes, conference papers technical reports, policy papers, and other education-related materials.


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Her life as a courtier began in a turbulent time; when she was eighteen she was placed in the household of Louis XIV. At this time the Fronde was in full swing and Gabrielle was planted in the middle of it. However, she never seemed to have been in any real danger. Later she was transferred to the household of the King's brother, Philippe. The two of them developed a close relationship which only strengthened after Philippe became Duc d'Orléans.
At the age of 22 she was married to Claude Leonor Damas de Thianges and thus became the Marquis de Thianges. Gabrielle herself was not pleased with the match. As a daughter of the house of Rochechouart de Mortemart she felt that she was entitled to a "better" husband. As a a married lady she could take her place as a proper court lady and remained in the close circles of the royal family. It is quite possible that she was the mistress of Louis XIV from time to time although their relationship was more "on-off" than an actual thing. It certainly never got anywhere close to that of her sister, Madame de Montespan, who became the King's most famous mistress. However, whenever her sister was pregnant with the King's child - which was often - she would "lend her favours" to the King.
|Gabrielle, Marquise de Thianges
She certainly was beautiful and well-aware of it. She would later describe herself to Madame de Sévigné as a "master-piece of nature". However, she was also obsessed with rank and the privileges that entailed. For instance she relished that she had been born into one of the finest noble families in France and spent her later years attempting to marry her own children into equally fine families.
Gabrielle and Athénais had a very close relationship which was somehow not particularly affected by the fact that they "shared" the King from time to time. Gabrielle took advantage of her sister's influence especially when it came to her children. Her favourite daughter, Diane, was married to the Duc de Nevers. However, she did not care much for her other daughter, Louise-Elvide, because she had not inherited the Mortemart good looks. Consequently, she was married to the sixty-year old Duke of Sforza.
Gabrielle had received a thorough education which had only brought out the infamous Mortemart wit. Her contemporaries praised her quick intelligence and her high spirits; one of these were Queen Christina of Sweden whom she met while travelling in France.
She also met another monarch, Charles II of England, when she accompanied Madame Henriette Anne, Duchesse d'Orléans on her way to meet her brother. Gabrielle went on well with the English King as well. It says something about her ability to charm that she could remain friends with the Duc d'Orléans who had done his uttermost to prevent his wife from leaving. Also, she was on good terms with Queen Marie Thérèse despite being both the sister of his maitresse-en-titre and occasionally his mistress herself. The Queen had become accustomed to the King's mistresses but the high humour of Madame de Thianges still endeared her to the Queen.
|Portrait presumed to be Gabrielle de Rochechouart
Whether she was with her friends at court or keeping court herself on her estate the Marquise de Thianges became notorious for her wild parties. Her's was a personality of spontaneity and would frequently stay up until four or five in the morning.
Her marriage was not so amiable although she had four children by her husband. The couple had been living apart for a number of years when Gabrielle followed her sister's lead and separated from her husband in 1674. It was not a divorce per se which was not allowed by the Catholicism of her country but a "separation of bed and board". Instead, she set herself up quite as a single lady with her servants wearing her personal livery rather than her husband's.
With the separation the Marquise de Thianges was paid back her dowry; still, her husband did not protest to the procedure. The two of them would never renew their relationship but it seems that they parted ways voluntarily - contrary to her sister's troublesome husband.
By the end of 1679 the favour of Madame de Montespan was waning and the two sister plotted to provide the King with a new mistress as well as keeping him "in the family". Gabrielle suggested her beautiful, young daughter, Diane, but the King was not interested in her. To both her mother's and her aunt's surprise Diane was not interested in the King either - she was deeply in love with her husband.
The years she had spent at court had turned her into an adept courtier. When her sister fell from grace most expected the Marquise de Thianges to follow her into "exile". However, not only did Gabrielle manage to preserve her spacious apartment at Versailles she made an ally of the new mistress, Madame de Maintenon. As such she continued to play her part at court. While there she kept an eye on her nephews and nieces who were the offspring of the King and her sister.
Unfortunately, her previous lifestyle had taken its toll on her and while she kept her beauty her health deteriorated. By the time she had passed her fiftieth birthday she had to be carried by her servants to her supper.
Gabrielle died on 12 September 1693 in Paris.


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This Weeks Walks
Backup Only
This Week's Walks - Archive
Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.
This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.
Saturday, 26 August 2017
Oliver's hometown
Length: 18.5km (11.5 miles) Toughness: 2 out of 10
10:22 Peterborough train from Kings Cross (Finsbury Park 10:28) arriving Huntingdon at 11:22.
Return trains are xx:00 (1h 2m) xx:34 (1h 15m) until 23:00. If you wish to visit the Cromwell Museum, you'll need to do so before starting the walk as it closes at 15:30. T=3.31
4 comments:
6 on this walk, weather perfect for walking in morning and then really sunny at lunchtime when 2 members of group swam near Houghton Mill. Several other places on afternoon stretch of walk looked possible swimming sites too. Group divided in afternoon with some doing short cut, some long version, some possible extra-long option. Idyllic (even bucolic) scenery, particularly in afternoon - small groups of cows (Holsteins possibly) wandering across water meadows edged with purple loosestrife, rosebay willow herb and (I think) coltsfoot. Sandals fine for walking today though I imagine much of the walk would be very muddy or even under water in winter.
- Saturday, 26 August 2017 at 22:26:00 BST
- Sunday, 27 August 2017 at 16:03:00 BST
I'm pretty sure the yellow flower would be fleabane; coltsfoot is a spring flower. See Peter's nature blog for pictures.
- Sunday, 27 August 2017 at 21:40:00 BST
- Walker said...
Your coltsfoot was almost certainly common fleabane yes. A lovely flower despite its name and very common in late summer.
Coltsfoot does indeed look similar but is only found in early spring. I have photos of both on Flickr but unfortunately our webmaster's anti-spam measures mean I can't post links to them here. But Google would doubtless bring up good photos of both flowers.
- Tuesday, 29 August 2017 at 20:14:00 BST


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Katie Toft has spent her life defying the odds.
Her parents were once told she would never walk, she was always picked last in PE and she never thought sport would play any part in her life.
Fast forward to 2019 and Toft, who was born with cerebral palsy, is a five-time para-cycling world champion with her sights set on representing her country at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Having only burst onto the international scene in 2018, winning C1 individual pursuit gold at the Para-cycling Track World Championships, Toft's rise has been both rapid and unexpected.
As she prepares to compete in the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Emmen this week, Toft admits she cannot believe how far she has come.
"If I could compete at Tokyo, it would just be fantastic – it's that simple," said Toft.
"It would be ridiculous really considering my journey. I wasn't ever the kid who was sporty. I liked the idea, I just couldn't do it.
"I was the person in school who was always picked last in PE – I think I only really have a handful of good memories of doing sport in twelve years of school.
"I actually saw an old PE teacher the other week and she said to me, 'You were the least likely person to go into sport!' I just can't believe I am where I am now.
"I'm competing at the same level as the people I aspired to be, and that is amazing."
UCI Ostend Paracycling World Cup Time Trial this morning, it was a tough ride. Really happy to come away with a GOLD medal 🥇!!!. Thank you so much to @StoreyRT, @BarneyStorey and @DerbyshireIS for their help getting me ready!! 🚴🏼♀💨🎉 https://t.co/VVXV7RJAml— Katie Toft (@KatieToft) May 17, 2019
Seven years ago, Toft was sat at home watching the London 2012 Paralympics – now she's training and competing alongside the very best.
At last year's Para-cycling Road World Championships in Italy, Toft won gold on the same day as one of her greatest inspirations, Britain's most successful female Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey.
She has since joined her cycling team, Storey Racing, where she is coached by Sarah's husband, three-time Paralympic medallist Barney Storey.
For Toft, there is no better position she could be in – and she knows none of it would have ever been possible if she hadn't had the courage to just get on the bike.
"I remember watching Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London growing up and always thinking, I would love to have a go at cycling, but I just never did," she added.
"There's so many athletes I remember watching and thinking I want to do that. I remember watching Rebecca Romero in Athens and thinking 'god, that's fast, I want to go fast'!
"When I watched London, I thought 'you know what, even if I don't do that much with it, let's just get on a bike' – and it went a bit crazy from there!
"Once I learned to cycle, I found riding a bike easier than walking.
"When I walk, I always feel like my legs are in a vice, moving through mud or something. It's hard work.
"It was meant to just be fun, and it still is fun, but it's gone further than I ever anticipated which is amazing.
"I didn't realise it at the time but when I was younger, I used to time trial myself around the village where I live and compare myself every day. I used to get really frustrated if I went too slow one day - it's that competitiveness that you're just born with, I guess."
She has already made a name for herself on the road and on the track, but Toft's talents don't stop there.
We're here in sunny Emmen for the @UCI_paracycling Road World Championships 🌈— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) September 12, 2019
Plenty of action on this morning with Time Trials from:
Matt Robertson - MC2@DameSarahStorey - WC5@CrystallLane - WC5@KatieToft - WC1
Start Lists and Results ⬇https://t.co/9tMDkYPQLf pic.twitter.com/8sPArVmzuq
She is a fully qualified primary school teacher, having completed her master's in education at Sheffield Hallam University in 2014.
Tokyo is her ultimate goal, but Toft has another dream to pursue.
No one expected her to qualify as a teacher, let alone become a para-cycling world champion – now she wants to encourage others to overcome the odds too.
"If I had access to a bike at school, everything could have been different. Perhaps this would have all happened earlier, who knows," she added.
"There are kids I know who hate sport because they can't access it. To turn around and say, I couldn't access it either, but look where I am, is amazing.
"Some of the stuff I do in the gym now would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Sport opens up so many doors. I just can't believe I am where I am now."


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This publication is available in a PDF file format only.
Deciding what career to begin after discharging from the military is an important decision. Because agriculture can often bring a new sense of purpose and leadership to a veteran's life, many are choosing farming as their new career. Military veterans offer unique skill sets and discipline that are needed in the rigorous daily life of a farmer.
Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.
Publication Date
December 12, 2016


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Proving that heavenly jackpots can drop with even the smallest of bets, Georg from Germany has just won $140,880 on jackpot slot, Divine Fortune! Incredibly, our latest big winner tried his luck with a $3.20 bet before hitting the Mega Jackpot and scooping a life-changing amount of cash.
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Everyone dreams of winning a jackpot, so we asked Georg what it feels like to be a winner. "I felt amazing, I couldn't believe it," he said.
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The Floozy ™ External Reed Elk Call. This easy to use elk call will produce sweet sounding cow elk and calf elk calls and seductive estrus calls sure to bring any bull into close range. This call will also slip into the Antagonizer Grunt Tube and can produce great locating bugles. This unique one of a kind elk call is made from premium light maple wood or premium dark walnut, hand turned the old fashioned way by a master craftsman. A call you can be proud to carry in your elk calling arsenal. Comes with lanyard.
Comes with black band as seen on the Cocobola Call.


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How to Become a Great Author
by Jordan Jolley Each author has different tactics of writing. Some authors will work from sunup to sundown while others may have part-time jobs. Some may have a deep love for historical fiction while another has a deep love for romance. Of course, one specific set of writing methods isn't the same among… Read More How to Become a Great Author


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FORLI (anc. Forum Livii), a town and episcopal see of Emilia, Italy, the capital of the province of Forli, 40 m. S.E. of Bologna by rail, 108 ft. above sea-level. Pop. (1901) 15,461 (town); 4 3,321 (commune). Forli is situated on the railway between Bologna and Rimini. It is connected by steam tramways with Ravenna and Meldola, and by a road through the Apennines with Pontassieve. The church of S. Mercuriale stands in the principal square, and contains, besides paintings, some good carved and inlaid choir stalls by Alessandro dei Bigni. The façade has been considerably altered, but the campanile, erected in 1178-1180, still exists; it is 252 ft. in height, square and built of brickwork, and is one of the finest of Lombard campanili. The pictures in this church are the work of Marco Palmezzano (1456-1537) and others; S. Biagio and the municipal picture gallery also contain works by him. The latter has other interesting pictures, including a fresco representing an apprentice with pestle and mortar (Pestapepe), the only authentic work in Forli of Melozzo da Forli (1438-1494), an eminent master whose style was formed under the influence of Piero della Francesca, and who was the master of Palmezzano; the frescoes in the Sforza chapel in SS. Biagio e Girolamo are from the former's designs, though executed by the latter. The church also contains the fine tomb (1466) of Barbara Manfredi. The cathedral (Santa. Croce) has been almost entirely rebuilt since 1844. The Palazzo del Podesta, now a private house, is a brick building of the 15th century. The citadel (Rocca Ravaldina), constructed about 1360-1370, and later rebuilt, is now used as a prison. Flavin Biondo, the first Renaissance writer on the topography of ancient Rome (1388-1463), was a native of Forli.
Of the ancient Forum Livii, which lay on the Via Aemilia, hardly anything is known. In the 12th century we find Forli in league with Ravenna, and in the 13th the imperial count of the province of Romagna resided there. In 1275 Forli defeated Bologna with great loss. Martin IV. sent an army to besiege it in 1282, which was driven out after severe fighting in the streets;. but the town soon afterwards surrendered. In the 1 4 th and 5th centuries it was under the government of the Ordelaffi; and in 1500 was taken by Caesar Borgia, despite a determined resistance by Caterina Sforza, widow of Girolamo Riario. Forli finally became a part of the papal state in 1504. (T. As.)
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We can establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican very soon if the two principles are accepted. But it is very hard for us to do so if the two principles are violated.
Buddhism helps people to overcome pain. The deepest pain that Chinese people feel now is the pain of separation from loved ones, one of the eight pains in Buddhism.
As long as the Dalai Lama makes clear that he has completely abandoned Tibetan 'independence,' it is not impossible for us to consider his visit.
The 'harmonious world' theory ... will help dispel doubts in the international community about China's continued development and refute the absurd 'China threat theory'.
Picture Quotes to Inspire and Delight
Picture Quotes to Inspire and Delight