text: CHICAGO — As a small-business owner or manager, you take on hundreds of tasks seemingly at once. You're a budget director, PR representative, mechanic, human resources manager and customer relations director, just to name a few.And to those who excel at their business, you like to feel in complete control of all of those tasks at one time.Congratulations, you are probably doing a great job of that.Unfortunately, you can't always be on top of everything all at once. And it seems that when you get a little behind with your regular tasks, that's when something out of your control invades as icing on a tasteless cake.If these are internal matters, then you can just deal with them in your own time and pick them off one by one. But when they are matters that impact your customers (and, thus, potentially your bottom line), you need a show of force — sometimes literally, as I'll describe in this column. You need to let your customers know that you know there's a problem. You won't always have an immediate solution. You won't always be able to wipe away the problem as if it never existed. You may even be up against something of a wall with no room to move.But it's at these times when you have to let your customers know that you see what they see. This harkens back to an earlier column, where I recommended owners or off-site managers spend an entire week, 9-5, inside the store to see what your employees see each day and make a face for yourself with the customers.UPDATING CUSTOMERSHere's scenario #1: We have 301 machines at the World's Largest Laundromat. On a recent Sunday, we walked around and saw that at one moment in time, 298 of those machines were moving. Two hundred and ninety-eight! That's fantastic! Can't wait to count all those quarters on Monday.Our success is playing into one of our trouble spots, though: folding tables. We knew we needed to add folding tables, and this busy time of year really exploits that. The jockeying for tables can sometimes lead to arguments, and both the jockeying and the arguments are the types of things that may cause customers to shy away. And they are the types of things that really drain our employees.We knew we needed more folding tables. We could tell even on normal days that there was a need. But we also did a customer survey, and the need for more folding tables came up time and time again.So, we ordered more. But there was going to be a delay before they were to be installed, so we announced their impending arrival. We put up signs telling our customers that we're being responsive to their needs (and their survey answers) and working to fix this problem. That tells shaky customers that they shouldn't go in search of a less-hectic store. They should hang around because hope is on the way.A few weeks later, the tables arrive. The employees are reporting that they're seeing a lot of new people in the store. That's not because of the new tables, but it means that those new customers are more likely to become regulars if their first impression of us is good. Retain the old, grab and retain the new.That scenario underscores the benefits of communicating with your customers. In making that simple change, we communicated directly with our customers in several different ways and times. We did a survey, we posted follow-up signs and then we showed them the results. And while I literally don't speak the language of many of my customers, they appreciate seeing me and my father roaming the aisles keeping an eye on things. This all goes hand in hand. ENOUGH IS ENOUGHThat brings me to scenario #2: Our neighborhood has some really wonderful and charming people, businesses and features. Salt of the earth people raising beautiful families. Upstart businesses trying to grab a foothold in an area with an incredibly dense population. This neighborhood is diverse and dynamic.This neighborhood is also home to the Latin Kings street gang. These ever-present kids move up and down the blocks in our surrounding area, many of them living just across the street from us here. They congregate outside the store, they wander in to use the bathrooms and they wander in to see if there's anything worth stealing. All in all, it's a daily battle that requires a lot of my attention.Our customers know who they are; you can see the tension in their faces when these people are around. We've taken steps to ID and watch them. They don't come through our store without at least a tail from me or one of my employees. If they are grouped together on the corner, we call the cops to go and break them up. We're on a first-name basis with the anti-graffiti guy and the gang task force guy here in town.This, unfortunately, is what we have to deal with. I remember following one of them inside the store a month or so back and watching him go out the door. As I stood in the doorway a minute later, I watched as he pulled out pliers and started going to town on a bike lock across the alley from the back of the laundry. Broad daylight. I called the police. Joined by about 10 customers, I watched him from the window for about three minutes until he was caught and taken off in cuffs. (He was back wandering the streets the next evening.)This, as I said, is the norm. But scenario #2 led to a gang fight. A three-person brawl started on the sidewalk outside the store. The pushing and shoving activated the automatic doors in the front of the store and the combatants literally tumbled into the store. It was a two-on-one, with one of the "two" working the "one" over with a club. Customers in that part of the store scattered, grabbing their kids and carrying them away.It lasted a minute. The "one" hung around to catch his breath and talked with the cops when they arrived.That was enough. We spent the next day calling the police chief, mayor's office and council members. Our customers had seen the gang's show of force, now it was time to see ours. We now have regular police walk-throughs throughout the day. They come in, talk to our employees, smile, talk to customers, high-five the kids. (And yes, on occasion, they grab a donut.)We also have a direct line of communication with the gang task force, and when our number pops up on their caller ID, they come and come fast. With their blessing, we now work more of a zero tolerance policy here. Where before we watched them as they used the bathroom and left, now they know that the bathroom is for customers and that another visit will bring the police.The message to our customers is clear: We're on it. They don't expect their local laundry to take down a street gang, but they expect us to keep them safe while they're within our walls.They've seen our show of force; we've had nothing but huge (even record) sales since the fight. Customers see our attention to this problem, and feel empowered. Where before I saw only tension and fear when these gang members were around, now I see some resolve. They come up and point the kids out to me if they're hanging around. "That kid by the vending machine, he's a gang banger and isn't in here doing laundry," one told me, only about 15 feet from where the kid was hanging out. I gave the kid the boot and thanked the customer for her help.The police have our back, and our customers know we have theirs. And that, my friends, is hard to put a value on.WHAT'S NEW?So, have you taken any of the 10 steps I gave you to improve your store in 2008? I want to hear your stories of what you're doing to ramp it up this year. It's still young, so get to it.


text:
Have you ever wondered how Big Bird from Sesame Street® gets across an auditorium so fast when he's performing live on stage? It might come as a shock to you he doesn't fly: he rolls. Check out this interview with the puppeteers from Sesame Street®, those working behind the scenes to create the characters we treasure so much, where they share what it was like crawling and rolling under the stage at the conference center to make the magic of Keep Christmas with You a reality.
Keep Christmas with You is a great gift the whole family will love!
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square join the Muppets® from Sesame Street® and guest vocalist Santino Fontana (the voice of Prince Hans in the popular Disney movie Frozen) in a celebration of the spirit of Christmas. Other standout moments are a duet with the Count and the Choir's organist, Richard Elliott, to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," a medley of songs from Seasame Street® as well as the popular "Keep Christmas With You," and hilarious hijinks and banter from the Muppets® from Sesame Street® throughout the show. This show is a world-class performance perfect for all ages as you celebrate the Christmas holiday.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is what separated us from you; we made demands. You were satisfied to serve the power of the nation and we dreamed of giving ours her truth.
-- Albert Camus, 'Letters to a German Friend'
Earlier this month, Janis Besler Heaphy, publisher and president of the Sacramento Bee, gave a commencement speech at California State University at Sacramento that was fitting of a true patriot and all that it means to be an American: "The terrorist attacks awakened a sense of patriotism long dormant in this country. We have been reminded of our greatness and how lucky we are to be Americans. But that blessing comes with responsibilities." That responsibility, illustrated in her remarks before she was booed off stage, is to ask the questions and serve the citizenry, however difficult those questions are to ask or however much they may disagree with official government policy. We may never know the motivations of those who shouted and stomped. Perhaps there was a mix of those put off by her questioning the erosion of civil liberties in a time of war--and others who thought she 'rained' on their day to shine. My country, right or wrong, meets the world is your oyster. Whatever the cause, it's the consequence of their actions that brought the university and the publisher a certain amount of fame and fallout. What it brought us as citizens was a textbook example of our democracy at work. It is Heaphy's act of dissent, her willingness to question those who derive their power from the consent of the governed, to dissent in a public setting, and on a campus university, that deserves our congratulations.
How many of us since September 11 have noticed examples of where distinctions between official policy in Washington and personal opinion have all but disappeared? In such an atmosphere, no official mandate of censorship is required. We self-censor remarks, internalize our difference of opinion, and throw our ideals--for a world without war and all forms of violence--out the window marked "unsound."
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Then along comes someone like Janis Besler Heaphy, newspaper publisher. Who would have thought that a university commencement address would generate more than its usual polite applause and "let's get this over with" feeling among the crowd. Heaphy's speech reiterated what we already know: citizens in a democracy need information in order to provide informed consent to those who serve us. And a free and vigorous press is the best vehicle to fight for the whole story, not just what official Washington wants us to know. If the citizenry of the United States does not want the whole story, only parts of it that favor 'our side' in a war, then we shouldn't be surprised if journalists and newspaper publishers stop asking the questions.
Luckily for us, Heaphy remembered who she was.
We live in a time of great sensitivity and a wish not to hurt feelings. Emotions are running high and sentimentality reigns. In time, we will look back at Janis Besler Heaphy's Commencement Address as the highest mark of a public servant, who, like the true patriot, is one who shows a higher loyalty to the country it can be than to a country that it is. Heaphy may have been stung by how some received her speech in the moment of its making, but in the long run she will have strengthened our values as a citizenry and the proper role of the university. Read her speech, without interruption, and see the duty and beauty in asking questions.


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A Hole in Pandora's Box
August 12, 2011
So, the joy of technology (and trust me, I find few joys in technology beyond simple convenience and the comfort of warm face, warm hands, warm feet) is being able to find totally new hobbies that would have never existed before. Like customized radio.
I love Pandora. Pandora, if you're unaware, is a Web site where you can make a radio station customized around a certain band or song you start with. Enter a band, singer, or song, and you have a whole list of songs playing for you that are (arguably) in some way related. Usually. Sometimes it strays. Like how I got from Otis Redding to the Dixie Cups once, I'll never know. There are some kinks. Like how I got from The Kinks to Linda Ronstadt. But generally, it's a pleasurable experience. Additionally, you can add variety to a station by adding the name of another band or singer you wish to incorporate, so Pandora can find songs that work between their two styles and smooge them into one Frankenstation.
And this morning, in order to keep myself occupied, I've been playing with my newfound hobby–seeing how long it can take Pandora to get from Tony Orlando/Dawn to the band Hole. Which, you know, just makes me giggle.
So far (and I'm writing this as I listen, so it's like a play-by-play. Be excited, gentle reader. This is breaking news.), I'm still waiting for how they're going to bridge that gap. I've had Tony Orlando's Bless You, I suppose as my punishment for placing such a silly request in the first place. Then Roy Orbison's Only the Lonely, followed by Sam Cooke's Wonderful World, a darling song about the quest of a non-intellectual attempting the fair heart of the elusive smart chick. Sort of a "pre-Lloyd Dobler" Lloyd Dobler anthem.
And Sam Cooke is always marvelous. Let us not toss that aside.
Then It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond. Waaa, waaaaa, waaaa. This is also punishment for my silly request. Is it too much to ask for a simple Tie a Yellow Ribbon? Can I get a Knock Three Times? Anything? Throw me a Tony bone, here, Pandora.
…pretty sure there's a better way to phrase that.
Holy hell—it just leapt from Albert Hammond in a rather jarring transition to Hole's Celebrity Skin. Ha! Oh, please play Candida next. This is brilliant.
Okay, so we have Dumb by Nirvana following Hole, and then a little Key Largo by Bertie Higgins. Wow. The disturbing aspect of it was somehow unforeseen. Not gonna lie; it's swiftly approaching "oh god, make it stop." Ripping my mood back and forth between the two worlds. There really needs to be a dramatic record scratch sound in transition each time.
See? Hobby. This will amuse me for hours. It actually hurts. And some pain, you gorgeous people, is good pain.
Beer Me That Job
July 25, 2011
There are just so, so many things that bother me about the job search process.
For instance: why is it that nowadays, if you want to send in a resume to a job that's located on a site that isn't Craigslist, often they make you register with a multi-step process for their own stupid site, which then begins to send you more spam than exists in the entire state of Hawaii? News flash: If I'm looking for a job, I need to be checking my email account for serious job inquiries or, like, videos of kittens happily attacking watermelons sent from friends who want me to be less depressed about the dejecting work of job applications. I do not need it bulked up with requests for me to apply to jobs for which I would never apply and so, you know…I didn't.
"Job available in your field: Prison Barber" Is it? Is it?
Or bulked up with ads directed at me, the job seeker. Alleged head-hunting agencies that—if really scammy—want you to pay to play, or—if merely sleazy, useless, and opportunistic—desire for you to go to their advertisement-marinated web page that no one actually uses to find jobs. Hey, glad that while I can't find a job, you're able to make lazy cash off advertisements springing up in my face like so many unwanted joke nut can snakes.
Don't believe me that they're not there for you to apply to jobs? Actually attempt to apply to a job on one of those sites some time. More often than not, you can't submit what you need to, it's unnecessarily convoluted to the point that you end up just not applying, or you have to sign up for more advertisement abuse in order to submit a resume.
Departed are the days of sending in an application directly to the company via email or in a very simple one- or two-step process. Dead and buried are the days of just going over the building and handing the resume in.
(Yeah, try this some time. Then as you leave, hide and watch the receptionist unenthusiastically use it as a great big wrapper for stale gum.) Just, really. In a vast majority of careers, the physical resume is all but obsolete in the eyes of an employer.
Which is fine. All I wanted to do was to email the damn thing in anyway. But it's just never that simple.
There are other things I loathe about the job application process, too. For example, feeling like the worst sort of corporate whore, having to sell yourself on your cover letter to please the sadistic evil hiring machine of the non-desperate, already-job-havin' HR dementors while they muse over your life's accomplishments in the most trivial of manners and make capricious decisions about the fate of your life.
Or that's at least what it feels like. I know and love a few hiring managers—family members and friends. That's really not dementors. …that we know of… But I'm fairly certain that all the hiring managers who've gone over my resume and cover letter have been exactly like this. Evil suckers of hope and identity.
But most of all, what I cannot handle about the job search process is the interview. The terrible, horrible, stinking interview.
Very possibly it's just that I've always been as inept with interviews as I have been with auditions or, say, blind dates. I lose all semblance of personality (or even what a human is and how it normally functions) when faced with the daunting task of "BE CHARMING AND SAY ONLY THE RIGHT THINGS." What the hell? It's like someone telling you, "Be funny." Or, "Be interesting." Or, "Be sexy." Uhhhhhh. Ummmmm. Buuuuuuuh. *blink, blink, rub eye, blink*
You can't put someone on the spot like that and expect them to perform well. Least of all me. It's like I completely lose the ability to comprehend the fundamental makeup of humor or normal speech patterns at that moment and instead sit thinking totally functional and moderately intelligent thoughts with a horrified expression on my face, unable to make them come out of my mouth. It's amazing—another person's power to abduct attributes you might otherwise rock when not having to try at them. In these situations, rather than funny, interesting, or sexy, I instead break down into a grotesque amalgamation of the antonyms of all three—a character I think of as Abused Meg.
Abused Meg has had handed to her some of the most ghastly, miserable experiences known to man or woman and is therefore now no longer able to talk with the usual shape or wetness of her former mouth, cannot consider numbers or manifest emotions with certainty, can't find an appropriate volume at which to express her monosyllabic sentiments, has never seen the sun nor heard loud noises, is constantly on the verge of tears or hiding in her own arm crevice like a sad baby Dracula, and otherwise behaves just as an abused, neglected dog might. At best, she has no personality at all; at worst she's strange and alienating with the ability to rob anyone else in the room of a sense of normalcy. I am not good at interviews.
And the thing with interviews is, you just can't ask the freaking questions you want. Mainly—how much will I get paid, and what are my benefits? I don't get why this is such a taboo. You're not supposed to ask that until right before you get the job. Why are we all wasting so much time?!
I understand that employers want a person who is right for the job and dedicated to the work. I get that. That makes for a more pleasant work experience for all and a more dedicated worker. But here's a thought that is applicable for every single person I've ever met—unless there's something truly horrific about my current job, I am leaving my job to look for either comparable pay or a vertical move of some sort, like more pay and better benefits. If money weren't important with regards to the job, I wouldn't be working in the first place. I'd spend my time … I don't know … rowing a fucking boat or painting pictures of me rowing fucking boats. I wouldn't be sitting in a cubicle taking orders from people. Right? And you—the job dangler—are remarkably stupid in not acknowledging that out in the open and right away.
So why can't I ask on the first interview—or hell, before I go take off work to waste my time and the potential new employer's time—what the pay is going to be? Then let's see if I'm a good fit. Because I tell you what—even if I really love a potential job, I—like most everyone else—do not live in a career utopia fantasy. I have rent and bills to pay. I have to eat. I have a life outside of work I'd like to continue living in a similar fashion or better. I need to find a new job that's going to pay me what I need to make in order to do all these lovely lifey things. And nearly everything beyond that is a minor deciding factor. The order of importance has to be: 1.) Do I vaguely want to perform this job/am I qualified? 2.)Does it pay what I need/want to make? 3.) Literally anything else that might be a point of interest. It doesn't matter.
Number 1 is taken care of when I apply. I got the job description, I'm interested so far. Number 2 should be next. Number 2 should always be next. There is no point proceeding if number 2 is a deal-breaker. PEOPLE—NUMBER 2!! Come on.
So, yeah. This is the aspect of our job culture that I think I find most aggravating and wasteful of everyone's time and energy. And so does Abused Meg. As she shambles off into the shadows, totally freaking out all who exist there with her wide-eyed weirdness.
**I should note that this is not about a current job search I'm doing. In fact, I'm on the brink of going down to part-time work in a month so I can start full-time grad school (Yaaaaaay!). But being around others who are currently looking for jobs, it brings me right back to that same old rant in my head. Why the senselessness? Why the time-suckage? You know what? Let's all just quit our jobs and join a commune.
Or go back to grad school.
Origin of the Phrase "Nose to the Grindstone"
July 24, 2011
Oh dear god, I've finally reached the end of these old blog posts (the ones I wished to actually keep). Here you have it–post number six of six that I have pulled from the murky depths of my former blog, washed off, and set here.
This one is from 2006. Pause with me to see if you can remember it. Back before our hovercrafts and our robot nannies. Back when we still lived on the ground. Before our food was given to us in the form of small, flavored pills. Ah, 2006. How I faintly remember what a tree looked like.
Okay, moving on. Here's my final post of yesteryear, a snippet of me in 2006. I give you Origin of the Phrase "Nose to the Grindstone":
The phrase "put your nose to the grindstone" is commonly used today to mean "get to work." Its origin has been traced back 5,000 years (by the etymological research department of UCLA) to when humanity relied on grindstones to sharpen all their tools, teeth, and household items. Carpenters of yore had made a startling finding about the sedimentary stone sandstone, and thus began using it solely to make the grindstones that sharpened their tools and other items.
The properties of sandstone were first discovered by renowned carpenter and gymnast William Van Metermeyer, who unearthed the fact that the stone, when grinding against something else, gave off a surprisingly invigorating lavender aroma (for which the stone is now best known). Carpenters began using it to build grindstones, because they found that it helped them to better focus and to stay more alert. When they would begin to feel fatigued, they would simply put their noses close to the grindstone and inhale the scent of the stone for energy, and then get back to work (hence the phrase).
As a related side note, this was also the birth of the popular new age practice of aromatherapy.
…this is all true.
Reverse Darwinism
July 15, 2011
Huh. So, having been discussing animal collective nouns with my darling male companion last week, it caused me to remember I had once given conquistadors a collective noun classification. So, in search of the reference, today I stumbled across some old blog entries I had drunkenly or hungoverly pecked out back in those years, before I started keeping this blog, on a site no one ever visits anymore *coughMyspacecough*. Oh, I'm sorry, something in my throat. On Myspace, which no one ever visits anymore.
Anywho, if you've read these already several years ago, both of you, feel free to be excused to go have a smoke outside until I'm finished. All the rest of you must staaaaaay.
Until then, I'll post one a day for the next few days. Good? Good.
Note: it is entirely appropriate to accuse me of laziness for not wanting to write anything new right now. I actually have a good rant sort of worked out in my head, and also another ongoing bloggity project that's been sitting dusty on an invisible shelf (that apparently collects real dust) for months. But, again–lazy. I'm getting there.
In the meantime, I give you Reverse Darwinism. Me, circa 2007. You lucky person, you.
"Sources claim that Henry J Heinz began making ketchup in 1876. The recipe has remained the same to this day. Heinz was neither the inventor of ketchup nor the first to bottle it commercially. The tomato is a native of the Andes, and early in the 1500s, while living in Mexico a group of Spanish conquistadors discovered it, and the tomato followed them back to Europe."
Evolution rears its ugly head yet again, apparently. Here I am looking up the history of ketchup (as one spends one's time doing during one's lunch break), only to read here that the first tomato ever discovered apparently had the ability to follow (and keep up with) a group of conquistadors… (Shit. is that right? Myriad of conquistadors? Gaggle of conquistadors? An invasion of conquistadors? Let's see….murder of crows, pride of lions, school of fish, silliness of Republicans, herd of sheep, bellowing of bullfinches, flock of camels…)—we'll say 'disco of conquistadors.' Why? Because it amuses me.
Moving on… I believe this suggests that the original tomato had, at least, legs, and then certainly arms for balance, likely opposable thumbs for wielding weapons (so as to survive when conquistadors get into a scuffle, as conquistadors tend to do), and a prehensile tail (clearly for hanging onto branch and limb when attempting tough terrain). Which just makes you wonder, I think, how we as humans have affected the evolution of the tomato so much that we have simply caused its appendages to fall out. Clearly our global footprint is deeper than we thought. This concerns me very deeply.
My message to you is this: before we can inflict any more harm on the state of the world's vegetation, quit pulling the vine off the tomato, or else someday—if evolutionary history repeats itself—our tomatoes will simply be red, round balls, inherently vineless and incapable of forming their distinctively pleasing shape. For the love of god, people, do it for the Earth. Okay? Who's with me?
This is all true, by the way. Don't bother looking it up.
Definitely not nefarious.
June 13, 2011
Do you know how many samples of my frightening genetic code would be out there if I could sell my sperm? Not that I have sperm. That sounded like I'm speaking of my sperm like I have sperm, like it already exists. Or will ever exist. For the record, not that I've ever extensively microscope-checked anything that's left my body in one way or another, but being that I'm female and all, I'm relatively certain I don't have sperm. I'm not, like, secretly hording anyone else's or anything, either. That would be creepy, and that's not how I meant my opening sentence. In sum, I have no sperm.
I feel like that was unnecessarily complicated.
But that's the point. It would be so much easier if I did have sperm. That's like a nonstop ATM attached to your body. Need a buck? Grab a magazine. AND it's helping people who really want babies to have babies. AND it would be spreading my seed so that I may some day have a thousand me's to carry out my nefarious– I mean, nothing. My nefarious…group of…pacifist gardeners…who desire nothing more than to plant flowers all over the world.
What? Nothing. What's over there? *walks away*
The Great Battle
June 10, 2011
Things I find it nearly impossible to do while in a relationship:
1.) Lose any significant amount of weight. Not a few pounds here or there, but significant weight.
2.) Well…no, that's really about it. Truly. It is a crazy phenomenon brought on by a number of things, and after talking to many others about this, I've found it isn't singular to me. Not nearly.
3.) Yeah, no seriously—just that.
Now, there are a number of factors that go into this phenomenon. Because when single, despite certain genetic—oh, we'll call them "gifts," but they will refer to things like curves—I find I tend to lose weight pretty easily by tweaking any number of behaviors. When I'm putting even moderate amounts of effort and/or money into it. Not that I wish to get rid of my curves, mind you, gentle reader. I usually quite like them, and I think they're highly undervalued in this society's media. (Curves in general, not mine in specific. Actually, you know what? Fuck. Mine in specific. YOU WILL APPRECIATE MY CURVES, AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!) But my healthier ideal weight is probably around the one I lied about on my driver's license, so I'd at least like to get to that place.
But when I'm single, I have more money and effort to put into keeping a certain weight.
And aside from having effort and money to put into losing weight when single, I also find that I just lose some weight in general as a singleton, even without the added effort. This is because when I'm bored or anxious/tripping on the paranoia one can only achieve while living alone and realizing that having not left your apartment all Sunday means you haven't actually heard the sound of anyone's voice—not even your own—for over 24 hours, I tend to spend all my free time walking. I do love walking to alleviate unpleasantness. It's so cathartic.
For example, my anxiety and paranoia while single might manifest like so: "Dear god—I haven't had sex in two months. TWO MONTHS! Wow. Like, I don't even really miss it…I just didn't notice. Oh my god, come to think of it, I read once that there's a pheromone you emit when you've been having sex regularly that attracts the opposite sex. Can they smell my sexual inactivity? Is my singleness repelling people??!" (Said in my apartment alone, talking to my plants.)
And a walk—ooo, a walk just takes all the nasty craziness away and replaces it with sanity and clarity of thought. Like, "Ahhh. Much better now. Frightening paranoia has ended; I'll just suck on these juicy beta endorphins for the next hour and go sweetly to sleep." It just clears the air. A walk is like the Glade air freshener of my fetid psychological miasma. That's poetry. I may stitch that on a pillow.
Only, since being in a relationship, when I'm feeling anxious, there is another sentient being in the apartment at most times who tends to quell the emotional baddies much better than my plants ever did (who still have yet to put a nice arm around me when I'm sad. So, you know what? I quit watering them. Yeah, screw you, you heartless bastards). And when I'm bored while in a relationship, my sig' o' and I just do something or watch something together. I'm not complaining; it's lovely. I just now have no motivation to go walk out of general malaise until I'm too tired to remember what was bugging me. And that seems to rule out just losing weight without really trying.
In in a relationship, there never seems to be enough of anything to accomplish significant weight loss when I am really trying: free time, money, superfluous energy, etc. Even when I feel like I'm putting lots of energy and focus into it, it does not happen. And it's so irritating; I eat sensibly. My portions aren't large; I almost never like fried foods or things in butter; the only meats I usually eat are chicken, turkey, or fish—again, not in butter or fried; I seldom go back for seconds; I don't often fancy dessert; I like vegetables and healthier options generally whenever possible; and I've cut out copious amounts of drinking. Hello, body. I'm torturing you with sensible, healthy eating—you'd think you'd shape up.
But I think I've boiled it down to a fair number of reasons.
First, age. I was 24 when I got into my current relationship; I am 27 today. Now, I'm not exactly a card-carrying member of the local gomer club (despite a rather misleading name for my blog), but I'm no spring chicken anymore either. Maybe like a summer chicken. And I'm thinking my body has decided to prepare me for the joys of bearing children and carrying them on my hips whether I make the active decision to procreate right now or not. Much like happens with chickens' bodies in the summer! True story…
And I've come to this conclusion because, most specifically, it used to be easier to lose weight in certain areas of my frame than it is now. Ergo, I'm going to go ahead and say age is one of the villains of this piece.
Secondly, happiness. It is damned difficult to worry about fighting myself with health food and annoyingly long hours of exercise when I'm too happy to notice. Not that I disliked myself when I was single, by any means. I was just more honed in to the task at hand, you see. The battle with my instincts of "tastes good = is good" and "feeling of laziness = well-deserved sleep," if you will. I was a warrior in the body fight. And now I'm all, "Tra la la…whatever. Sugar bomb? Meh. I could really go for an orange pop…" I'm all sleeping in on weekend mornings rather than going out for a walk because the bed is such a nicer place to be with my partner there. Damn this insufferable, infernal contentment! What is it getting me?
Thirdly, I do not live in the constant fear of never having sex again. Say what you will about this statement, but that panic button for me and many others is a big, shiny, red one. It will make you do things you have absolutely no desire to do (when being totally honest with yourself)—things like going out at all hours of the night to packed bars booming with music so loud that you nightly lose your voice just trying to ask the name of the random sweaty person whose hand has been on your ass for the last half hour rather than just staying home with a hot toddy and a decent, quieter, more satisfying form of entertainment. Or suffering through torturous first date dinners with people you wouldn't want to talk to if they were the only person who spoke English in a 1000-mile radius. Or regular small talk. Or going to comedy clubs for amateur night. Or, I don't know, jogging. Point made.
Next, I spend most free time I do have (which is precious little, let me tell you, and that is no understatement) doing relationshippy or couply things rather than at the gym. If I do get a night free, it's so much nicer spending it at home with the darling male companion. So that's how I spend most of my free time. And again, "most of my free time" is a small percentage of an already small percentage of my composite time, so have perspective. (I work a full-time job, do freelance work, commute 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, go to meetings and appointments most evenings, and see people constantly.) Also, see "not living in the constant fear of never having sex again." This fear would trump wanting to spend free time at home if it were a certain reality, but it is not.
And finally, cooking for two. It has always been really easy for me to lose weight when cooking for just myself because I'm willing to eat some remarkably unenjoyable things. When I was single, since I don't care about meals terribly much, I would often just make sure I was hitting certain food groups and stayed below a certain calorie/fat content amount. And then I'd eat what I'd made, regardless of whether any of it went together. It wasn't about the pleasantness of the experience. It was about having fuel, and …doing math, and …eating nearly indigestibly healthy, tasteless things. But now that I cook for two (we have a nice system where I do all the cooking, he does all the dishes), I cook entirely differently.
It's not that he's picky; he's said numerous times he'll eat whatever I cook. And let's just all pause now and appreciate a good'un when we see one. He's a good'un.
But even though he assures me he's not picky, I don't want to inflict bad meals upon him. I prefer to give him a nice, balanced meal (taste-wise as much as health-wise). No, I don't know why. I just do. So I cook things we both want to eat, which immediately ups the starch intake, at least. It also puts more meat where I normally wouldn't put it, since he works on his feet all day, and I feel he should have a good intake of protein. I still cook things without putting them in butter and have other healthy cooking habits thoroughly ingrained. Still.
But furthermore, healthy food is often fresh food, which as you probably know is pretty damned costly. Health food generally does not consist of things that come out of boxes and cans. And therefore, making meals of healthy food for two people is even more expensive than…well, than making healthy food for one. Which is already fucking expensive! So in order to cut costs, we eat more things like pasta. More bread. More rice. These carbs add up, don't ya know.
So, despite my continual work to overcome these obstacles, so far, aside from the small weight losses here or there, my efforts to lose significant weight have been fruitless as of late. Similar stories from many, many of the shacked-up people I've talked to. Damn. And combined with back problems I've had over the last two years that make it difficult for me to do any workout more athletic than walking, I think it might just be one of those things that will continue to plague me for quite awhile.
As will my plants not responding to me.


text:
|The Church, 2016
For some reason, these deaths always come as a shock. I don't know why they do, because the majority of them are pretty old and, well, everyone's gotta go sometime.
But part of the shock is that in many cases they are someone I saw 30 years ago, and that's how I'll always remember them. Prince is a great example. He was a phenomenal showman and one of the best guitarists I've ever seen, but now he's gone.
So as an answer to this apparent epidemic, my wife and I are committed to attempting to see more aging rockers before they kick the proverbial bucket. Sure there's plenty of new talent out there and we see/listen to many of them as well. But when it comes to the classics, we figure, see them now, or never.
As a result, in the next few weeks, we are seeing some good ones.
This afternoon for example, we are going to Summerfest to see The Church, who are definitively my favorite group ever. The two remaining core members in their early 60's and still recording new, great material. In a couple of months they are coming out with a new album and probably a tour to back it. So why not just wait and go then?
Because you never know. Especially lately.
You know they are my favorite when I am willing to deal with the hassles of Summerfest to go see them. In fact, depending on the crowd, I may just go, watch them, and leave. Last time I was at Summerfest was probably 20 years ago. But I can't miss this.
Then, in a few weeks I will be going to see Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame. He is 73 years old, but still rocking it. I actually saw Pink Floyd at County Stadium in 1987 for $5.50. There is a great story behind that transaction. Be sure and ask me about it sometime.
So, I am going with another huge fan and my son, Ben. And I actually prefer Waters' cohort, David Gilmour's songs - he tours himself at times, but I didn't want to miss this chance.
Because if I were to skip it, the question is:
What if?
And finally in September we are going to see Stevie Nicks at Ravinia. Now, I saw Fleetwood Mac in 1984 or so, but I have always been a Stevie fan. But she is 69, and, like the others...
you never know.
Blogging off...


text:
A New Year & A New Greener Outlook for the Campus Center & Event Services Office
During the winter break, the CC&ES office got a much needed face lift. New carpeting, fresh paint and a slightly new configuration set the stage for our friendly and knowledgeable staff to assist you in planning your next great event. While our focus remains on providing this community with first rate event expertise, we wish to do so in a "greener" manner.
The Campus Center & Event Services office is moving - temporarily.
Please pardon our appearance and our temporary relocation.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 9th. One way to honor mom on Mother's Day is by serving a special Mother's Day breakfast or brunch. A little creativity can make the day extra special for mom.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
It's nearly FIESTA TIME! With Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) right around the corner, it's time to make plans for your own celebration. Make your Cinco de Mayo fiesta muy fabulosa with these helpful tips and ideas.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Earth Day is right around the corner. To celebrate incorporate these 3 recycling tips at your next meeting or event.
1. NAME-TAGS. Collect plastic name tag holders for reuse, with collection boxes at all registration, exhibit, and exit areas. To encourage folks to return their badges try holding a prize drawing from their recycled badges.
2. EVENT SIGNAGE. What can you reuse from this event that can be carried over to the next event? Signage and materials without dates and time specific information can be reused again to cut down on costs from year to year.
3. PLACE-CARDS. Consider using plantable seed cards for your next event. There are a number of eco-friendly companies offering these products. You simply print guests' names on the cards and when the event is done guests have a favor that they can plant in the ground to grow flowers.


text:
Top football recruit recruit Ishaq Williams is scheduled to announce his college choice Saturday, during the broadcast of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl high school football game Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. The game, which starts at 1 p.m., will be televised by NBC.
Williams, out of Lincoln High School in New York City, has narrowed his list of potential schools to three -- Notre Dame, Penn State and Syracuse. HIs father, Shaun Williams, is a Syracuse alumnus who created a stir on fan and recruiting sites when he wore a Notre Dame cap to Army All-American Bowl practice on Monday.
To fans who thought that gesture was a signal that the Irish had won the recruiting war .... hold on just a second. Irish Illustrated reported on Twitter that at Tuesday's practice, the elder Williams was sporting a Syracuse University cap.
What's it all mean? Other than Ishaq Williams' father travels with a lot of caps (the latest report has him switching again, this time to a San Diego Padres cap), who knows? Most likely, everyone will have to wait until Saturday to find out.
» More on Ishaq Williams on Syracuse.com
» Orange Fizz: I-Team: Ishaq Williams' Dad Spotted Wearing Notre Dame Hat
» Irish Sports Daily: Ishaq Williams looks dominant in first day of practice for Army all-star football game
» New York Post: Lincoln All-American cuts list to three


text:
added some commentars to localizer
parent 9f0a88df
Showing with 102 additions and 9 deletions
docu/PPAA_docu.txt 0 → 100644
docu/head.pdf 0 → 100644
File added
|@@ -10,10 +10,21 @@ global simwork
|@@ -10,10 +10,21 @@ global simwork
|simwork.tmpSig = work.signal;
|simwork.tmpSig = work.signal;
|simwork.DOA = [];
|simwork.DOA = [];
|% for each interval, run doa=localizer_preproc(interval sound),
|% so that we have an estimate of the DOA for each presented interval
|% NOTE!!! the target interval of the current trial is always in the
|% first two columns of work.signal (so also of simwork.tmpSig), no matter
|% in which order it was presented to the subject!
|for i=1:def.intervalnum
|for i=1:def.intervalnum
|simwork.DOA(i) = eval([work.vpname '_preproc(simwork.tmpSig(:,2*i-1:2*i))']); % actual sig processing
|simwork.DOA(i) = eval([work.vpname '_preproc(simwork.tmpSig(:,2*i-1:2*i))']); % actual sig processing
|% Create the reasoning-scheme of the machine:
|% The task for the subject is always: press the interval, which you think
|% was different from two other intervals, so response is always 1,2 or 3.
|% How will the machine respond if the DOA estimated for all intervals is
|% the same? How would it be if they are all different?
|if length(unique(simwork.DOA))==1
|if length(unique(simwork.DOA))==1
|@@ -29,12 +40,11 @@ elseif where(1)~=where(2)
|@@ -29,12 +40,11 @@ elseif where(1)~=where(2)
|% now select the interval with the maximum standard deviation
|% NOTE!!! the target interval of the current trial is always in the
|% [tmp,response] = max(simwork.actStd); % select max power
|% first two columns of work.signal (so also of simwork.tmpSig), no matter
|% in which order it was presented to the subject! Therefore the right anwer
|% if it is another interval than the first, the response is wrong, since in the work.signal always carries the
|% is always response=1. If it is 2 or 3, we set it here to 0 (wrong):
|% signal interval in the first column
|if response ~= 1
|if response ~= 1
|response = 0;
|response = 0;
|@@ -9,11 +9,17 @@ global work
|@@ -9,11 +9,17 @@ global work
|global simwork
|global simwork
|% load DOASVM model
|% specify the input channels of the localization algorithm (sensors)
|if strcmp(work.userpar4,'in-ear')
|simwork.sSensors = 'inear';
|simwork.sSensors = 'inear';
|error('please go to function localizer_init.m and specify corresponding sensors')
|% specify model type
|simwork.sModeltype = 'HRIR';
|simwork.sModeltype = 'HRIR';
|% load DOASVM model
|simwork.LocModel = load(['LocModel_' simwork.sModeltype '_' simwork.sSensors]);
|simwork.LocModel = load(['LocModel_' simwork.sModeltype '_' simwork.sSensors]);
|% make a variable containing azimuth angles
|simwork.DOAazimuth = simwork.LocModel.az;
|simwork.DOAazimuth = simwork.LocModel.az;
|@@ -7,18 +7,28 @@ function response = localizer_main
|@@ -7,18 +7,28 @@ function response = localizer_main
|global def
|global def
|global work
|global work
|% in this case the example model calls a detect routine for this, which returns 1 if the signal is detected.
|% in this case the example model calls a detect routine for this, which returns 1 if the target
|% interval is detected.
|detect = eval([work.vpname '_detect'])
|detect = eval([work.vpname '_detect'])
|% if detected than select the current signal position as the response interval, select a random one from the
|% if detected than select the current signal position as the response interval, select a random one from the
|% remaining intervals otherwise
|% remaining intervals otherwise
|switch detect
|switch detect
|case 1
|case 1
|% if the correct signal was detected, the response of the model is set
|% number or the target interval (in the order it really was presented
|% to the listener)
|response = work.position{work.pvind}(end);
|response = work.position{work.pvind}(end);
|% work.position{work.pvind} contains a history of where the target
|% interval was hidden [3 3 2 2 2] the last one is always the temporary
|% one
|case 0
|case 0
|responseTmp = randperm( def.intervalnum );
|responseTmp = randperm( def.intervalnum );
|response = work.position{work.pvind}(end);
|response = work.position{work.pvind}(end);
|i = 1;
|i = 1;
|% this loop is to choose a response that is different from the right
|% one
|while ( response == work.position{work.pvind}(end) )
|while ( response == work.position{work.pvind}(end) )
|response = responseTmp(i);
|response = responseTmp(i);
|i = i + 1;
|i = i + 1;
|The goal of this experiment is to compare the human and machine performance
|in spatial hearing of speech signals (localisation abilities).
|What do we compare?
|Both humans (you) and machine (localisation algorithm) have
|to participate in a psychoacoustic (AFC) experiment, that measures the SNR at
|which a subject is still able to perceive a change in the direction
|of arrival of speech.
|The following tools/data are used:
|- AFC toolbox (for designing the AFC experiment)
|- Localisation Algorithm by H. Kayser (GCC-Phat features + SVM)
|- OLLO data base (as speech material)
|The following scripts are important to work with:
|-afc/models/localizer_cfg.m(some configuration like if you want to display the gui and answers of a machine)
|- afc/models/localizer_init.m (initializing the localiser)
|- afc/models/localizer_detect.m (doa estimated for each interval is turned into response)
|- afc/models/localizer_preproc.m (computing doa for one interval - here the algorithm is living)
|The AFC experiment can be started by running following line in matlab command window:
|afc('main','experimentDOA',subject,ref_az,change_angle,speech_data,hrir_type, noise_type)
|The first two input arguments are fixed.
|The remaining ones are described below:
|subject - is the string containing subject name
|a) human subject name, like 'joanna'
|b) algorithm name, in this case 'localizer'
|ref_az - is the string containing reference angle in degrees
|at which the snr will be measured
|change - is the string with change in angle in degrees for
|which the snr will be measured
|speech_data - is the string specifying the speech material
|a) 'ollo_female' - Logatomes spoken by female speaker
|b) 'ollo_male' - Logatomes spoken by male speaker
|hrir_type - specifies the HRIRs with which the mono speech signals are
|convolved to generate signals coming from different directions
|a) 'in-ear' - binaural in-ear impulse responses
|b) 'front' - impulse responses measured at front microphones
|of the hearing aid
|noise_type - specifies the noise that is used in the experiment
|a) 'white' - channel uncorrelated white noise
|b) 'cohnoise' - Coherent spectrally speech-shaped noise that comes from -160°
|c) 'diffuse' - Spatialy diffuse spectrally speech-shaped noise
|Research questions: What is better - human or machine? What happens in coherent noise?
|what happens for different change angles?


text:
Contact Me
Rachel Arif is a contemporary landscape artist based in London. Arif spends much of her spare time in Suffolk, where she gets much of her inspiration. The artist is drawn to the enchanting coastal region with its quaint rural villages and bleak beautiful marshes and heaths.
Known as 'Constable Country', the artist himself painted many of the villages, streams and heaths that Arif visits today. It is famous as an area of outstanding natural beauty, and Rachel Arif is particularly drawn to the coastal towns and villages of Aldeburgh, Southwold, Thorpness and Walberswick.
Rachel Arif's work is abstract and loosely painted, highly textured, atmospheric, magnetic, and weather-filled. The land and weather in the U.K has moulded its inhabitants. They are emotive and powerful forces that are part of each of us. Rachel Arif tries to capture that intense intrinsic emotion.
Rachel Arif was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, where she developed a deep appreciation for drawing and painting from a young age. Arif studied Art, but it wasn't until her young children began school that the artist took up the discipline with any seriousness.
Quick sketches gave way to more serious works and Arif found herself receiving commissions and selling works. Her subject matter is often the Suffolk coast.
2017 Art in Mind Exhibition, Brick Lane, London
2017 Wrattens, Chislehurst, Kent
2017 Olivie Interiors, Suffolk
2017 The George Farnham Gallery, Suffolk
2018 Snape Maltings Suffolk
2018 Talented Art Fair Old Truman Brewery
2017 The Resident Magazine Editorial
2017 Inside Kent Magazine Feature
2017 Kent Life Magazine Feature
2017 Suffolk Resident Feature
2018 Destig International Art and Design magazine Feature
2018 Harper's Bazaar, Town and Country Feature
2018 Visit Chislehurst Feature
2018 Norfolk Suffolk Feature


text:
Begin the Downieville Classic bike race weekend at the Yuba Theatre on Friday at 8:00 PM to watch the 1975 classic film Jaws, co-sponsored by Santa Cruz Bicycles and the Sierra County Arts Council.
Directed by Steven Spielburg and starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss.
There has never been a movie or a phenomenon like JAWS, the terrifying motion picture from the horrific best seller and one of the most popular films of all time. Directed by Steven Spielberg and acclaimed by critics worldwide, JAWS continues to shock moviegoers with its riveting tale of three men who become allied in a life-and-death hunt to destroy a killer embodying nearly three tons of instant white death.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation $5.00.


text: Keanakamanō, meaning "shark cave," refers to the general vicinity above the main gate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama where a Native Hawaiian garden of the same name is located. This Keanakamanō section features brief descriptions of native plants found at the garden and some of their cultural uses. The plant descriptions have been formatted into a booklet. For easier access to individual plant information, these descriptions have been grouped alphabetically and are represented in the thumbnails below. Or, click on the following link to download the entire booklet (file size: 10.9M).


text:
Uh, oh! You either don't have the Flash plug-in installed, or you have it disabled.
Otherwise, there'd be a cute lil' streaming audio player on the left, rather than this message.
Os Mutantes
A arte de Os Mutantes
(Universal Music/Mercury, 2006)
Back in the late 16th Century, in the early days of this blog, listener VirginiaM requested something rare by Os Mutantes. Most of their original catalog of six studio albums and one live (from 1968 through 1976) has been available, off-and-on, on CD and LP since the beginning of this century. In addition to those seven, two unreleased albums from that period have surfaced, plus a live and a studio album since they reunited in 2006.
Like many bands that began in the 1960s and continued into the next decade (and beyond), Os Mutantes went through some interesting changes, which included three fairly distinct phases. They began life as a psychedelic, Tropicália combo, morphed into a psychedelic, rock/hard rock band, then shifted into a progressive rock group.
- Phase I: 1968 to 1970
- Os Mutantes
- Mutantes
- A divina comedia ou ando meio desligado
- Tecnicolor [recorded in 1970 but not released until 2005]
- Phase II: 1971 to 1973
- Jardim elétrico
- Mutantes e seus cometas no país do baurets
Ae o
Z [recorded in 1973 but not released until 1992]
- Phase III: 1974 to 1978
- Tudo foi feito pelo sol
- Ao vivo
- Intelligent, Murderous Ants: 2006 to present
- Live - Barbican Theatre, London, 2006
- Haih... or amortecedor
So, anyhow, finding a rarity that I could actually, you know, afford would not be an easy task. Luckily, not long before VirginiaM's request, I just happened to have purchased an Os Mutantes collection, A arte de Os Mutantes, with a tiny handful of non-LP tracks, and today's jukebox selection is one of them.
The info (in Portugese, dang it) in the booklet seems to indicate this tune is from 1968. A bit of on-line research leads me to believe it was from a 7" EP released between their first album, 1968's Os Mutantes, and their second, 1969's Mutantes.
No doubt, the more observant of my listeners have noticed that they ditched the Os from their name between their first and second albums. No biggie; it's just Portugese for The. Since I've not been able to find a picture of a record cover for the aforementioned EP, or even a label (as in the paper stuck to the center of the vinyl disc), I've decided to leave the Os in place for this song. If that is incorrect, my deepest apologies, and, as always, please, no lawsuits.
Interestingly, to me at least, the Os has returned twice. The first time, on the cover of their double-decade-delayed album
A e o
Z and again for their 2009 studio comeback (and quite good) album Haih... or amortecedor.


text:
- For The Horde equivalent, see Quest:This One Time, When I Was Drunk... (Horde).
The subject of this article or section is part of Brewfest, a seasonal event that lasts two weeks. Once the event has run its course, this will no longer be available until next year, but there are no guarantees.
This quest can be repeated daily.
Completing it once grants the achievement Down With The Dark Iron.
Talk to Boxey Boltspinner at the Brewfest camp.
The Dark Irons took a beating! As they rushed back to the Grim Guzzler, a portion of their transport fell off. More importantly, you managed to keep the camp safe... today.
Head over to Boxey and explain your heroic triumph over the Dark Iron dwarves.
You will receive: [Brewfest Prize Token] x10
So you managed to stop the Dark Irons... While drunk too? That, <class>, is truly the spirit of Brewfest! I guess in keeping with the spirit of Brewfest you want your prize tokens.
Thanks for your help, <name>. Enjoy the rest of Brewfest.
On completion, you will receive the achievement Down With The Dark Iron.
The quest Chug and Chuck! (Alliance) / (Horde) introduces you to the concept of using the [Complimentary Brewfest Sampler] mugs to bonk something with. If the populace is successful in defending the brew kegs during one of the half-hourly invasions, a bit of wreckage will drop, allowing the start of this quest.
The Dark Iron Mole Machine Wreckage only spawns if the Dark Iron Dwarves are defeated, there have been reports that approximately 250 Dark Iron Dwarves must be knocked out in order for their side to lose.[1]
- Patch 3.2.2 (2009-09-22): On some servers, for some characters, the ability to actually hit anything with the mugs was greatly impaired. Patch 3.2.2 seems to have corrected that.


text:
Air collision fears slow expansion of U.S. drone use
Washington ? Leaps in unmanned aircraft technology have military authorities clamoring to use more drones for everything from coastal patrols and border surveillance to tracking natural disasters. But fears of midair collisions are slowing any broad expansion of their domestic use.
Federal Aviation Administration officials made it clear in a recent closed government conference that until the pilotless aircraft gain the high-tech ability to sense and avoid commercial aircraft and other airborne objects, the government is unlikely to allow them to operate much more freely in congested airspace.
For the military, it's a frustrating limitation. For the FAA, it's a matter of safety.
During the northern California wildfires last summer, the Air Force, Navy and NASA each offered to launch unmanned systems to track the flames, identify hot spots and determine where the fires were likely to move. But because of FAA guidelines, only a single drone could fly in the region at one time.
NASA's Ikhana — a variant of the military's Predator unmanned aircraft — got the first call, largely because of the space agency's ability to merge its thermal-infrared imagery with Google Earth maps to help project evacuation needs and fire movement.
The military argued that the Ikhana could be flown at the same time as one of the Navy's or Air Force's high-altitude Global Hawks because the aircraft would be as much as 40,000 feet apart in altitude. The additional drone, officials said, would provide broader, more comprehensive coverage of the disaster.
In the end, Global Hawks operated by the Navy and Air Force were flown at separate times from the NASA drone.
Military officials raised the firefighting incident as an example of expanded drone uses during a two-day summit at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., late last month. At the meeting, up to 100 senior leaders from at least 10 government agencies tried to resolve some of the problems that restrict the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in American airspace.
Aviation officials at the summit said they are looking at ways to carve up restricted airspace zones in order to give agencies the ability to fly more than one drone at a time over a particular disaster area.
FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the agency expects to have a plan covering drone use in place next year, and will try to work with military and other officials in the coming fire and hurricane seasons to perhaps allow some type of staggered flights if needed.


text:
- Samenvatting
- The book is the successor of the authors monumental and ASIL Award-winning commemorative books on the International Court of Justice (1996) and the First Hague Peace Conference (1999). The present publication links its two predecessors in bridging the gap between that first seminal gathering of the nations in The Hague in 1899 and the institutionalization of the international judicature in 1922. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the first ever and unique diplomatic gathering of the self-acclaimed Civilized World prior to the cataclysm of WWI. In its essentially interdisciplinary approach it offers insights into the complex political backdrop, the vexing legal challenges faced and the social atmosphere of the Conference. All this is enlightened with authentic source material and illustrated with pictures that captivate the world of the Belle Epoque. This book offers - A Sweeping Panorama of the Period - A Rich Analysis of the Conventions - Scores of Excerpts from Speeches of Delegates - A Captivating Review of the Social Entourage - A Dazzling Display of Photographs - Historical Documents and Cartoons


text:
Having worked on funerals I got to see many different order of services books. Some were good, some were amazing, others were terrible. So I thought it was about time I explained how to make a decent order of service.
The order of service is a very important booklet, and such as simple thing. It is very easy to make a decent one, but also quite easy to mess up. Below I have made a basic guid to making a nice order of service. Follow this and one should be happy.
Most order of service books are made by a professional, such as a printer or artist. However their style and information is determined by the family. Having worked in printing I know how often the customer would dictate the process. Not knowing what they were doing (hence the need to pay to have it done) this would mean the product was not as good as it could or should have been. On one hand you have to chose a style you like, something you actually want. Yet you also have to give the professionals the room they need to do their job properly.
A common issue with people who do not have much graphics experience is the file type. A detailed or elaborate order of service should be designed using a PSD, PDF, JPEG or other image file in a proper program like Adobe Illustrator. Things like Microsoft Word are not intended for graphic design work and as such will not be the same visual quality.
Having said that, a very basic order of service (like the one in this post) will work fine in Word or other typing programs. If the oder of service only has a few pictures and is simple then Word will be fine. As such one can design and print an order of service at home without much difficulty.
Below I have created a basic template of an order of service. This template is designed to be printed on one single A4 page. It can then be folded in half to create a small booklet. The reason for this design is that it is simple, quick and cheap. Each booklet is only one page, there is no stapeling needed and just one fold per book. Quite easy really.
Of course not all order of service books have to be like this. After my template I go into more detail on tips, tricks and styles for the order of service. I aslo talk about extra information rarely found but always appreciated.
First page:
The first page is the cover of the order of service. The point of the cover is to inform people about who has died without inundating them with too much information. On almost all orders of service there is a basic black and white picture of the deceased, the name of the deceased and date of death and date of birth. This is all that is needed for the cover and sometimes there is even less than this. One can easily get away without the picture or dates if desired or needed.
Below is a basic cover I put together. It shows how and where this are placed and what is included.
|Fig1. First page template.
The font should be size 14 to 20 and not too thin (but not fat). This will make it not only easy to read but visually appealing.
The next most common mistake with the cover is that they are noisy or messy. By this I mean that there is simply too much going on or things that do not look good. If one cannot find a good colour image (and colour printer) then go with a black and white image of the deceased. Black and white usually looks better and is cheaper. The picture should not have too much going on in it and should focus on the deceased as much as possible. Also there is no need in too many details. While a simple border around the text, image or whole thing looks nice complex borders are distracting.
Second page:
The second page is the one that covers the funeral service information. This is the order or list of events. It will appear on the left side of the order of service when opened up. Often there is a short message or title such as "celebration and farewell" at the top, followed by the full name of the deceased. Here is where you include any nicknames along with the proper names.
Below is a basic second page I put together. It shows how and where this are placed and what is included.
|Fig2. Second page template.
Again the key to this page is simplicity. It should just be a basic list of what is to happen and in what order. What hymns are to be sung, who is to speak and so on. There is no need for much more information than this. If everything does not fit neatly onto one page then perhaps rethink what to include.
As always, simpler designs look nicer on this page. A white background and simple text will look nice and clean. Also a good clear font is vital. Complex and fancy fonts just get in the way and make things look cluttered. Use bold, not italics to distinguish titles. Bold is easier to see and more obviously different and is used to draw attention or make things obvious. On the other hand italics should be used to convey 'speed' or emphasis.
Third page:
This page is the final informative page of most order of service books. It will appear on the right side of the order of service when opened up. This page should focus on the funeral details. Such as where and when the funeral and wake are held.
|Fig3. Third page template.
From this page people should be able to find out about everything they need to know to attend the funeral. From where it is to whether or not to bring flowers or donations and who donations will be going to. Including things like the cemetery or crematorium information is not just useful to attend the funeral. It also lets people find records later if they so wish. From this information one can easily find the grave at a cemetery later.
I also recommend including a thank you message at the end. Just something short like "thank you to those who could attend the service. And thank you to those who could not attend but sent their kind thoughts".
Fourth page:
This is the back of the order of service. It is only a simple thing that is quite often left blank. But I recommend including something small here.
Below is a basic fourth page I put together. It shows how and where this are placed and what is included.
|Fig4. Fourth page template.
Additional things to include or know:
Here is a list of some interesting things I very rarely saw in the order of service. Of course these things take more work and time to put together. But they are always very appreciated and people find them interesting. If you want the order of service to stand out do one or more of the following:
- Time Line; A time line of the life of the deceased stands out. I have only ever seen it done once by a religious order in Hunters Hill. But it was great, such a simple yet outstanding thing. It was simply the year of an important event and a very short description of that event. Like when the deceased graduated and the mark they got when they graduated. Everyone at the funeral, from the undertakers to the mourners were intrigued with this. It might take a bit or work and research, but it would be well worth it.
- Avoid the word 'funeral'; The word 'funeral' is often awkward on the oder of service. I would recommend avoiding it where possible. However do not go to great lengths to avoid it. This will just be obvious and strange. The same goes for any talk of 'deceased' or 'dead'. Death has no place at a funeral.
- Vary the font; Using different fonts on the same page looks good and makes things more obvious. Notice that this page uses different fonts for the title and for the main body. Use fonts to spice things up, to give it more life and make it more interesting to look at. This also makes it easier to read. However do not over do this. Only use a couple of different fonts on any one page. Too many different fonts looks jammed together and messy.
- Simple fonts; There is no need for fancy fonts. All the pretty swirly fonts that imitate calligraphy often just get in the way. They look like someone is trying hard to make the order of service fancy and formal without succeeding. Simple fonts are not only easier to read but look nice.
- Clean cohesion; By this I mean keep things simple and neat. Lots of colours and styles stuck together will not look nice and makes things harder to understand. Instead keep to a white and black theme.
- Extra pictures; Having a section in the middle or at the end of a few pictures is a nice touch. This will push up the price of the printing (especially if it is colour) and does need more work. You will have to find these pictures. But like the time line it is a very personal thing that conveys a personality about the deceased. And it is always appreciated. An easy option is to just use the pictures from the slideshow (if there is one). Print out the slideshow and people will really like it. They can later look back over the pictures and talk about them.
- Style of the first picture; The image on the front should convey a message about the deceased. For example if the deceased was an easy going person then an informal and candid picture of the deceased would be best. Naturally if you cannot find an image you think conveys a message, or the write message, then do not worry. At the end of the day any picture of the deceased will do.
- Alternative bindings; Different style of binding can really spice up the booklet. Rather than just using staples try a ribbon down the spine. You can use a ribbon or something like this even if there is only one page. However, as always keep it simple. Bows or multiple ribbons end up ripping or looking tacky. Plus this is more costly than nothing or staples.
- Smile; The order of service should be a happy thing. While the death of a loved one might be sad do not view the order of service this way. Think of it as a nice memento of the final farewell. Something that should make people smile when reading it later. You can do this by sneaking in a funny picture of phrase about the deceased.
- Personalise; The order of service should always be personal if possible. It should reflect the deceased or the mourners. Even something simple like "in lieu of flowers donate to" a specific charity. A charity, cause or organisation that the deceased was passionate about.
- Colour; Do not be afraid to add colour. Just because it is for a funeral doesn't mean it has to be dark or plain. Sure, simple whites almost always look nice. But a splash of colour in the right place goes a long way. Of course colour will increase the cost of printing.
>> Due to the popularity of this post I am looking for order of service templates which will be hosted on this blog, anyone is free to submit a template or guide. Read this post for more details <<


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Hello Surrender Fast Family!
Remember the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?" Well it's true. And after reading this post you may have a sudden urge to run to your local grocery store to buy the biggest bag you can find!
It's probably no surprise that apples are good for you, but in the article written for Best Health Magazine.com, you'll find 15 reasons to love this delicious fruit even more.
The benefits include:
–Whiter, healthier teeth
–Avoidance Alzheimer's
–Protection against Parkinson's
–Curbing all sorts of cancers
–Decreasing your risk of diabetes
–Reducing cholesterol
–A healthier heart
–Prevention of gallstones
–Beating diarrhea and constipation
–Neutralizing irritable bowel syndrome
–Averting hemorrhoids
–Weight control
–Detoxification of liver
–Boosting your immune system
–Preventing cataracts
Didn't I tell you? I bet you have an urge for an apple right now. Enjoy!
Living Well,
Stephanie Davis
Executive Administrative Assistant to Dr. Celeste Owens
REGISTER for "Surrender Your Void" June 1, Bowie, Maryland. It's time you surrendered the void to the One who made your heart; He's the only one who can properly fill it.


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(Thursday, August 1, 2019 - Moncton, NB) The 2019 NBL Canada Champion Moncton Magic announced today their first official signing for the upcoming season. Fan favorite Denzell Taylor has re-signed with the club for his third consecutive season, a signing that Head Coach and GM of Player Operations Joe Salerno says was high on their priority list.
"Denzell was an anchor for us all season. He is exactly what we look for in players. A blue-collar guy who knows his role, and flourishes in it. He was outstanding for us last season, especially on the defensive end of the floor and will be a vital piece once again this season for our club."
Taylor, a 6'7" forward from Brampton, Ontario was named to the NBL's All-Defensive team last season. Starting in over 31 games for the Magic last season, he averaged 5.8 points, to go along with a team high 7.6 rebounds per game. He will now bring back a veteran mindset, and a consistent presence on the defensive end of the floor that played such an important piece in the Magic's Championship run.
"Zell does all the little things and does them so well. He is the type player that every successful team has. He is about contributing, doing his job, and winning. It's been a pleasure seeing his growth over the last two seasons, and I look forward to seeing him take even more steps forward this year" stated Salerno.
For Taylor, who splits time in the off-season between his hometown of Brampton, and training at his former University Old Dominion, in Norfolk, Virginia, its all about continuing to build.
"I am excited to be back for my third year with such a great organization. I can't wait to get back to Moncton and start building off of last season's success."
Taylor will be joining the Magic at their youth summer camp next week taking place at Moncton high School. Look for more player signing announcements in the coming weeks, as the Magic start to prepare for their third season in the NBL, and to defend their National Championship.
About MONCTON MAGIC Headquartered in Moncton, NB, the MONCTON MAGIC is a professional basketball organization that operates under a licensing agreement with the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC). The team will play its games in a two-conference league with clubs located in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Media Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Read our guide to ADSL and cable broadband, discover the pros and cons of each and choose the right broadband package for you.
Broadband provides faster internet speeds to homes at rates that are at least ten times faster than standard dial-up. With prices for broadband packages now as low as standard dial-up, the choice between the two is relatively easy.
However, there are also different types of broadband connection to choose between and these are broadly split into two categories – ADSL and cable. So how do these two types of broadband work, and is one superior to the other? This guide to ADSL and cable broadband will help you decide.
What is ADSL broadband and how does it work?
ADSL is an abbreviation of asymmetric digital subscriber line – which basically refers to broadband through a telephone line.
Unlike dial-up, which uses the phone line to make a connection, ADSL actually works alongside the frequencies used for voice telephone calling, therefore allowing you to continue to make phone calls while using the internet. It enables faster data transmission through a single connection, but allows users to download data and make voice calls at the same time.
The distinguishing factor of ADSL is that the flow of data is greater in one direction than it is in the other – hence the name 'asymmetric'. This is why download speeds are far greater than upload speeds. Consequently, ADSL broadband is usually marketed towards passive internet customers who rely on downloads but have little emphasis on uploads. The top speeds for downloads are usually 8Mb, and the top speeds for uploads are usually below 1Mb.
ADSL broadband is widely available in the UK – with coverage accessible for more than 99% of the UK population. As such, the majority of homes in the UK have ADSL connections.
To make your ADSL connection work effectively you will need an ADSL modem and micro-filters. The micro-filters, which should be supplied by your internet service provider, prevent crackling on your phone line while you are using the internet. If you require more than one or two, they are usually available for just a few pounds.
ADSL modem routers rely on an upgraded BT telephone line. You plug the ADSL router directly into the BT phone line and there is no need for a separate modem – the broadband internet connection is then pushed to all computers within your home and within the wireless range. The only times you can receive an ADSL connection without a BT phone line is through a process called local loop unbundling in which providers offer an ADSL service without using a BT exchange, thus allowing them to be more competitive with the prices and services they offer.
Though you will generally require a BT phone line to use ADSL broadband, there are many different providers offering competitive packages to choose from. Check out our broadband comparison tool to find out more.


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Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wireless experimentation with my new Sony
I'm one of the first shooters here in Indy, that I know of... that is making the switch from Nikon or Canon to the Sony system. I was at my Pictage PUG meeting doing some wireless demos with my Nikon gear and took home some fun info and added this to test out my Sony using my Nikon flash system and voila! it works!!!! Thanks to "Smitty" for the great modeling and enjoy :) As always, click on the pic to see it bigger.
Posted by Brian Diehl at 6:21 PM
2 comments:
Very nice Brian. You always amaze me with your eye and talent!
- December 3, 2008 at 3:31 PM
- ElllEfff said...
I can't wait to see the new system in action. Very nice post. I really like the music stand, Mike combo pic. :) - Lisa
- December 12, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Who's this Brian guy?
- Brian Diehl
- I'm one of the few people from Wyoming in the midwest. Born and bred, by default I'm a cowboy, through life though I guess I've kept the wanderlust and taken it urban. Having lived in 11 states now, I feel safe to say that I've found home in Indy. I'd never have dreamed I'd live here but 5 years later, I have no complaints! I've been a "lifestyle" photographer for quite a while. Cutting my teeth in landscape photography and photojournalism out West I've developed a style that focuses on simplicity, beauty and life lived well.


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It's unpleasant to consider, but occasionally dust isn't all that is in your duct system. You can pull out all the stops to lure the little guys out but they may not leave their babies if they are nesting. Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for a complete duct cleaning and we will assure your duct system is free of all these uninvited house guests, for instance:
Bugs and Insects
Nothing is worse than trying to kill a spider and watching is escape into an air vent. It's impossible to get it now and all you can do is lay in bed and imagine the spider laying all those spider babies. You may even swear you hear a couple scurrying around your duct system. Don't worry. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning will come see you and give you a thorough duct cleaning and assure that spider and any of her yucky friends are evicted. Eggs, too.
When rats, squirrels, and other wildlife make a home in your duct system, normally through holes in the duct work and cracks in the foundation or home exterior, it causes many issues. First, furry critters can leave droppings behind and can destroy anything they come across, including holiday decorations or old toys you're saving in your attic. Second, those little guys tend to chew, which can result in exposed wiring. That combined with the dried grass and leaves they're likely bringing in to create a nest, and now there's quite the fire hazard in your attic, behind your walls, and in your duct system. A complete duct cleaning can remove rodent droppings or nests, but you may also need to call a professional animal removal company to remove the rodents and possibly an electrician if there has been any damage to wiring.
Birds typically find safe and warm places to nestand your air vents are perfect. Nests mean eggs, which means they are finding food for babies, and that means BUGS. If you have birds in your vents, you'll presumably end up with creepy-crawlies in your home. But that's not all. Birds create nests in your vents, and given the great amount of leaves and grass they use to assemble said nest, it can end up fully clogging a vent, stopping any airflow. As with mice, squirrels, etc., a completely duct cleaning from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can get rid of any droppings, feathers, or other likely illness-carrying leave-behinds. You might also need an expert animal removal company to actually remove the birds from your vents or attics.
Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning now for a complete duct cleaning to help ensure the air you and your loved ones are breathing is healthy and pest-free.


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|Dian Shi Ma Li
Dian Shi Ma Li's title screen
|"Namco Corporation" (Unknown)
|Bit Corp.
|Sound engine
|Bit Corp.
|Alternate names/hacks
|Big TV Mary Bar
Dian Shi Ma Li (English: "Television Mari") is a Famicom game based on the Taiwanese "Xiao Ma Li" gambling machines, apparently made by "Namco Corporation" (although this is more than likely to be by Bit Corp. based on the quality and its similarity to Jackpot) in 1989. It is well-known for featuring Fortran (who is based strongly on Mario) and the phrase "Push Start To Rich".
OverviewThe objective of the game is to gain as many credits as possible, mainly through betting on the numerous icons you'd find on a slot machine. The control system is awkward and like several Atari 2600 games such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, requires two controllers to play properly. Each button on the first controller (including the D-pad) is assigned to putting bet on a certain icon (i.e. The A button puts bets on the cherry icon) with the exception of Bar, which is done by pressing A on the second controller. Pressing B on the second controller will start the machine, which can also be done by betting 180 credits. Winning a bet triggers a primitive rendition of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and Fortran hitting a block. If the item that the pointer landed on appears above the block Fortran hit, the amount of credits won will be doubled. During or after this, pressing down on the D-pad will start the next round, while pressing up starts a bonus card game where you have to guess whether the next card will be high or low, with 8 and lower being small and 9 and above being high. The player can gain double the amount of money they won if they guess right.
If the pointer lands on the coin item then the phrase "Push Start To Rich" flashes near the bottom of the screen and the timer (on the right of the gameplay image) is set to a certain amount of seconds, where tapping the start button makes Fortran jump into the block, gaining 10 credits every time he does this. This part (as well as a high-resolution version of Fortran's idle sprite, and the normal sprite of Fortran) became a minor internet meme.
- The unhacked release claims to be called "Big TV Mary Bar", made by Namco Corporation in Taiwan in 1989. It also includes the message "For Amusement only", which appears in Jackpot, made by Bit Corp.
- There is a cheat.Pressing start while receiving bonus gives you more extra bonus.As it says when you hit the coin.
- The main board looks somewhat similar to the one from Press Your Luck.
- Idea-Tek released another Famicom adaptation of Xiao Ma Li, simply titled Xiao Ma Li.
- The dumped version of this game is a pirated version which removes the text on the title screen.
- Unused tiles within the game reveal the text "Fortran" which is assumed to be either, the name of the strange Mario ripoff or the name of the development team.
- An "F" logo appears alongside the text, which can also be found in the Bit Corp games Jackpot and Sheng Hen Pao (Strip Poker).
- Fortran is one of the earliest programming languages that was "portable", or one that could be used on multiple machines. Fortran could also be a misspelling of "Fortune".
- Fortran appears on the title screen of Mario IV, Mario Fighter III and Grand Dad 7 slighty edited.
- Fortran being referred to as "Grand Dad" originates from a popular stream where Joel from Vinesauce plays the Flintstones hack, Grand Dad 7. GRAND DAD From Grand Dad 7 is a sprite edit of fortran.


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Sledsleduj filmy, sledujfilmy.cz
A sled, sledge, or sleigh is a land vehicle with a smooth underside or possessing a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners that travels by sliding across a surface Most commonly sleds are used on snow or ice, however in certain cases they may be used on any surfaces, especially on ones with relatively low friction, such as sand or wet grass They may be used to transport passengers, cargo, or both Shades of meaning differentiating the three terms often reflect regional variations depending on historical uses and prevailing climate
In Britain sledge is the general term, and more common than sled1 Toboggan is sometimes used synonymously with sledge but more often to refer to a particular type of sledge without runners2 Sleigh refers to a moderate to large-sized, usually open-topped vehicle to carry passengers or goods, and typically drawn by horses or dogs3 In Scandinavia particularly a sleigh may also be drawn by reindeer, as for Father Christmas
In American usage sled remains the general term but often implies a smaller device, often for recreational use Sledge implies a heavier sled used for moving freight or massive objects syn "stone boat" Sleigh refers more specifically than in Britain to a vehicle which is essentially a cold-season alternative to a carriage or wagon and has seating for passengers; what can be called a dog-sleigh in Britain is known only as a dog-sled in North America
In Australia, where there is limited snow, sleigh and sledge are given equal preference in local parlance4
- 1 History
- 11 Etymology
- 2 Modern sleds
- 21 Sleds for recreational sledding
- 22 Sleds for competitive sledding
- 23 Other sleds
- 3 See also
- 4 References
- 5 External links
HistoryeditDecorative Sled Sled on Brunnsviken, Stockholm Original av Martin Rudolf Heland 1765–1814
The people of Ancient Egypt are thought to have used sledges extensively in the construction of their public works, in particular for the transportation of heavy obelisks
Sleds and sledges were found in the Oseberg "Viking" ship excavation Sledges were useful not only in winter but can be drawn over wet fields, muddy roads, and even hard ground, if one helps them along by greasing the blades with oil or alternatively wetting them with water; in cold weather the water will freeze to ice and they glide along more smoothly with less effort to pull them The sledge was also highly prized, because – unlike wheeled vehicles – it was exempt from tolls
Until the late 19th century, a closed winter sled, or vozok, provided a high-speed means of transport through the snow-covered plains of European Russia and Siberia It was a means of transport preferred by royals, bishops, and boyars of Muscovy Several royal vozoks of historical importance have been preserved in the Kremlin Armoury
Man-hauled sledges were the traditional means of transport on British exploring expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries Dog sleds were used by most others, such as Roald Amundsen Today some people use kites to tow exploration sleds in such climesAn enormous cargo sled being maneuvered by a 10K-AT "All Terrain" forklift at McMurdo Station in Antarctica
EtymologyeditHorse-drawn sleigh ride, Pakenham, Ontario, Canada
The word sled comes from Middle English sledde, which itself has the origins in Old Dutch word slee, meaning "sliding" or "slider" The same word shares common ancestry with both sleigh and sledge5 The word sleigh, on the other hand, is an anglicized form of the modern Dutch word "slee" and was introduced to the English language by Dutch immigrants to North America 6
Modern sledsedit
Sleds for recreational sleddingeditA child's sledge 19th century Radomysl Castle7 Old horse-drawn sled at a museum
There are several types of widely used recreational sleds designed for sliding down snowy hills sledding:8
- Toboggan, an elongated sled without runners, usually made from wood or plastic9
- Saucer, a round sled curved like a contact lens, also without runners and usually made out of plastic or metal
- Steel runner sled or flexible flyer, a steerable wooden sled with thin metal runners10
- Kicksled or spark, a human-powered sled
- Inflatable sled or tube, a plastic membrane filled with air to make a very lightweight sled
- Foam slider, a flat piece of durable foam with handles and a smooth underside
- Backcountry sled, a deep, steerable plastic sled to kneel on with pads and a seatbelt, such as the Mad River Rocket
Sleds for competitive sleddingedit
A few types of sleds are used only for a specific sport:
- Bobsled British bobsleigh, an aerodynamic composite bodied vehicle on lightweight runners
- Luge and the skeleton, tiny one or two-person sleds with runners1112
Various types of sleds are pulled by animals such as reindeer, horses, mules, oxen, or dogs
Other sledseditA horse-drawn "stone boat", a sled used in horse pulling competition, Spring Fair, Woolbrook, NSW Boy on snow sled, 1945
- Airboard, an inflatable single-person sled, similar to a hovercraft1314
- A cutter is a North American type of small horse-drawn sled15
- Troika, a vehicle drawn by three horses, usually a sled, but it may also be a wheeled carriage
- In some regions, "sled" 16 is colloquial slang for a snowmobile
- In arctic regions, the Inuit qamutiq is uniquely adapted for travel on the sea ice17
- Ahkio or pulka, a traditional sled of the Lapland region, originally pulled by reindeer; now more common as a human or snowmobile-towed sled often used for cold weather expeditions by mountain rescue teams and military cold weather units to haul equipment, supplies, and passengers
- In truck and tractor pulling, an implement pulled behind the machine which uses friction to stop the machine18
See alsoedit
- ^ "Collins 2012 digital edition"
- ^ "Collins 2012 digital edition"
- ^ "Collins 2012 digital edition"
- ^ The Macquarie Dictionary, 2nd ed, North Ryde: Macquarie Library 1991
- ^ "thefreedictionary entrance on "sled"" Farlex
- ^ "thefreedictionary entrance on "sleigh""
- ^ Bogomolets O Radomysl castle-Museum on the Royal Road Via Regia — Kyiv, 2013
- ^ Parigon Sleds
- ^ "Hörnerschlitten" in German wwwschlitten-bobde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Snow Racer von Stiga finden Sie in der Rubrik Stiga Schlitten!" in German wwwschlitten-bobde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Herzlich Willkommen !" in German wwwschlittendiscountde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Hörnerschlitten" in German wwwhoernerrodelde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Klappschlitten" in German wwwhoernerrodelde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Lenkbob" in German wwwschlittendiscountde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "Outram's Cutter MFG" Retrieved 5 November 2012
- ^ sledspacecom 2008 "Sledspacecom – Snowmobile Community" Retrieved 18 Apr 2011
- ^ "Snowracer" in German wwwschlitten-bobde Retrieved 19 May 2013
- ^ "The Sled" Lake Country Antique Tractor Association Retrieved 27 July 2011
External linksedit
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sleds
- North America's Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
sled dogs, sled.sc.gov, sledding, sledge, sledge hammer, sleduj filmy, sledujfilmy.cz, sledujufilmy.cz, sledujuserialy, www.sled.sc.gov
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Since I'm a leetle bit addicted to making bags, I couldn't resist making this week's Zakka Style sewalong tote. I didn't follow directions very well, though — the zig zags ended up awfully centered-looking, even though I could have sworn I made the panels different sizes. I left my bag a good bit floppier since I like it when my bags can streeetch to fit everything I cram in there.
I also made the handles differently (I can't stand turning tubes), made the interior pocket a zip pocket, and only lazy-quilted the back.
This time, I took Linda's advice and put something in my tote before taking a picture. I think it helped! :}
7 Responses to "Zakka Style Tote"
Hey Alli, it looks awesome! Love that zigzag and your fabrics look great together.
Very cute! Do you keep many of the bags you make?
really like the colors you chose…the bag looks great! 🙂
Very nice. I also want to get some of these knocked out this weekend, but the tonsillitis is currently winning on the energy sapping front 🙁
Love that green fabric. This is one of my favorite versions of this bag!
So I am interested in how you made your handles, because they do look very good. I had soooo much trouble with this pattern and it was my first bag.
I love your color and fabric choices! I also like how you "lazy" quilted the back. I will use that idea sometime… Your tote is so springy!


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Removing Shower Door Splines
Shower door spline is a U-shaped rubber or plastic channel with ribs on the outside. It is also called vinyl glazing channel. This channel fits down inside the metal frame of a shower door. The spline acts to support the glass or plastic panel of the door as well as provide weatherproofing.
Things You Will Need
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Block of wood
- Lubricant
Over time the spline breaks down and should be replaced. It is important to use the right size and shaped spline for your particular door. Remove the old spline before purchasing the new spline.
Remove the shower door from the track. Typically, the door will lift up into the top track enough to clear the bottom track.
Place the door flat on the work table. Mark the four corners of the glass door with a marker so that you can check your fit when you reassemble. Unscrew the screws holding the corners together.
Place a block of wood along the inside of the frame. Tap the wood firmly with a mallet. Move the block from frame to frame to loosen and knock the frame apart. You may need to use a lubricant on your corners and screws if they are rusted.
Slide the door away from the spline. Slide the spline away from the frame. Use your spline to order the correct type of glazing channel for your door.
Clean the shower frames thoroughly before installing new spline.
Things You Will Need
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Block of wood
- Lubricant
- Clean the shower frames thoroughly before installing new spline.


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Traditional Irish Potato Farls …
Traditional potato bread (or potato farls) is a must have accompaniment for a big Irish fry up. It's such an easy recipe to follow and perfect for using up cooked potatoes. I love it with crispy bacon and poached eggs. This is the … Continue reading
Posted in Irish Heritage Baking, Recipes Tagged Butter, Cook, cooked potato recipes, farls. how to use up left over mashed potato, Flour, Full breakfast, how to use up potatoes, Ingredient, Irish baking, irish breakfast, Irish potato farls, mashed potato recipe, Poached egg, Potato, Potato bread, traditional Irish fry up, traditional potato bread, ulster fry 4 Comments