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Technology Investment Approved
Wednesday 28 March 2018
Inverclyde Council has approved a £145,000 investment to improve and develop its online services.
At the moment the majority consist of one way 'eforms' which generate an email to the Customer Service Centre who pass on the information to the appropriate service.
The Council's Policy & Resources Committee has approved the investment to develop 'pay for it', 'book it' and 'report it' type services across multiple platforms and channels.
Convener and Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: "The vast majority of people now use smartphones or tablets so it is vital we do all that we can to improve our digital and online interactions.
"This investment will allow is to increase the scope of services we are able to offer digitally and also provide a more joined-up process – improving the online experience of our customers and our own performance."
Over 95% of the population of Inverclyde have access to super-fast broadband and free Wi-Fi is available in all of Inverclyde's public libraries.
In 2017, eight in ten (83%) UK adults aged 16+ say they have broadband internet
access at home, and nine in ten (89%) UK adults aged 16+ say they use the internet
either at home or in other locations. Use of the internet anywhere (i.e. at home or in
other locations) has increased since 2016. As in previous years, differences by age
group are considerable; 99% of 16-24s say they use the internet, compared to 50%
of those aged 75+. (Source: Ofcom)
Page last updated: 28 March 2018


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What Is AAA Baseball League?
AAA baseball or "Triple A Baseball" is the highest level of minor league baseball. Most players who are on the verge of being moved into Major League Baseball ("the Big Leagues") will be found playing on a AAA baseball team. AAA teams (and all minor league clubs) are also known as "farm teams", because they develop the players to be used by a major league franchise. All MLB baseball clubs have their own AAA farm teams.
Triple-A minor league baseball teams are usually found in the largest metropolitan cities without major league baseball teams. The Triple-A baseball season is shorter than the 162-game MLB schedule, with minor league seasons ending before September 1st every year. This allows for minor leaguers from AAA to be called up after September 1 to the expanded "40-man roster", which allows teams to see how their most talented or promising minor league players look like against real major league competition. Before Sept. 1, major league teams only have 25-man rosters.
What is AAA Baseball and Where Are Triple-A Clubs Found?
There are two AAA baseball leagues where the main AAA farm teams for American League and National League baseball teams are found: the Pacific Coast League and the International League. There is a third league, the Mexican League, that is considered a AAA baseball league, but these 16 baseball teams are not directly linked to MLB franchises. You'll see that the AAA-ball clubs are often (but not always) relatively close to the major league club, to allow quick call-ups and the ability of the team's scouts and front office personnel to watch the farm system talent. See the Toronto Blue Jays for an example of a team which definitely does not hold to that philosophy (with its AAA team in Las Vegas).
AAA Baseball Teams and Their Major League Clubs
Pacific Coast League
- Colorado Springs Sky Sox – Colorado Rockies
- Fresno Grizzlies – San Francisco Giants
- Iowa Cubs – Chicago Cubs
- Las Vegas 51s – Toronto Blue Jays
- Memphis Redbirds – St. Louis Cardinals
- Nashville Sounds – Milwaukee Brewers
- New Orleans Zephyrs – Florida Marlins
- Oklahoma City RedHawks – Texas Rangers
- Omaha Royals – Kansas City Royals
- Portland Beavers – San Diego Padres
- Reno Aces – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Round Rock Express – Houston Astros
- Sacramento River Cats – Oakland Athletics
- Salt Lake Bees – Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim)
- Tacoma Rainiers – Seattle Mariners
International League
- Buffalo Bisons – New York Mets
- Charlotte Knights – Chicago White Sox
- Columbus Clippers – Cleveland Indians
- Durham Bulls – Tampa Bay Rays
- Gwinnett Braves – Atlanta Braves
- Indianapolis Indians – Pittburgh Pirates
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Philadelphia Phillies
- Louisville Bats – Cincinnati Reds
- Norfolk Tides – Baltimore Orioles
- Pawtucket Red Sox – Boston Red Sox
- Rochester Red Wings – Minnesota Twins
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees – New York Yankees
- Syracuse Chiefs – Washington Nationals
- Toledo Mud Hens – Detroit Tigers
As you'll notice, some AAA baseball teams have made it into the pop culture. The Durham Bulls were the inspiration for the name of the movie, "Bull Durham". On the M.A.S.H. television show, Corporal Max Klinger often mentioned he was a Toledo Mud Hens fan.
What is AAA baseball and what do the AA and A designations mean?
The AAA, AA and A designations are meant to designate the level of play of minor league baseball. The more letters, the better the level of play. Often, a young player drafted or signed by a major league club will start in the Single-A farm system, then gain enough experience and skill to move to that club's Double-A (AA) farm team. After more seasoning, the player will be moved to the AAA baseball club, and on to the major league roster.
Obviously, some players never make it out of one of these designations, and may spend years playing as a minor league baseball player. There are players in AAA baseball who are called AAAA-ballplayers, because they are experienced and skilled enough to be called up by the major league club for emergency fill-in spots (usually due to injury), but are not skilled enough to stay in the major leagues permanently. So-called "Quadruple-A players" are generally less talented than the younger, up-and-coming AAA players, but are older and have more experience in the game of baseball.
There are other designations besides AAA baseball, AA baseball and A baseball. These is the "short-season A-ball", rookie ball and "rookie-advanced" ball. These are considered for players below the level of A-baseball, and usually for young and raw players to get playing time.

subset: commoncrawl


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We have over 2,000 5-star reviews between our websites, Google and Facebook! We Do Lighting. Better.
"I'm not one for leaving many reviews but my recent purchase from HR requires I do so. I didn't want to spend $150 on the S-V.4's so I bought a couple LED lights from Ebay, they look about the same and are half the price, however, they were a defective set. Great service in replacing them with another defective set. Wel I spent 6 weeks with fluttering LEDs that created noise in my radio. Finally gave in and bought the V.4 LEDs. If I would have started there, I wouldn't have left a review at all because I wouldn't have realized how GREAT they really are. These lights are adjustable, bright (without blinding others) and simply work. So instead of $150 to begin with, I spent over $230 to get what I could have bought for $150. Let alone all o fthe frustration and time of returning the other sets twice. SO learn from my mistakes, start here and you won't be disappointed."
--Jim Gerkin


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|Superb Building Site With Fpp, 30m North West of 32 Lisbarnet Road, Lisbane, Comber, BT23 6AW
|Last listed at Offers around £150,000
|Land type
|Building Site (with FPP)
|0.8 acres
|Full Planning Permission
|Sale Agreed
A superb elevated site extending to just over 0.8 of an acre with far reaching views over the surrounding rolling countryside towards Belfast Hills.
This site is currently accessed over a shared concrete lane way that services two other properties though there is the potential to put in ones own private lane way from the start of the lane way.
Located within walking distance of Lisbane village and within easy commute to the surrounding villages of Comber, Balloo, Ballygowan and Saintfield. Belfast is approximately 30 minutes away.
The shores of Strangford Lough are only short drive away for those interested in water sport. There are a range of local amenities in the area both at Lisbane and Balloo including Local Health Centre and chemist at Lisbane, convenience shops, petrol station and popular restaurants of The Poachers Pocket, the Post Office Tea rooms, Balloo House and Daft Eddies at Sketrick.
The site has full planning permission for a detached bungalow extending around 2000 sq ft plus double garage, originally approved under planning application X/2011/0757/F on 19th June 2012. Full planning permission has now been granted on 16th May 2019 to re-site the dwelling under application No. LA06/2018/0289/F.


text: Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall5111 Boulder HighwayLas Vegas, NV 89122Group Name: USBC Senior MastersGroup Code: A9USC06Toll-Free Number: 877-593-5993Group Cutoff Date: May 16, 2019 is the last day to make a reservation and receive the group room rate.Prior to the cutoff date, individuals may reserve their room online. To receive your special group rate, members will need to enter the assigned reservation ID: A8USC06 through the hotel's website at www.samstownlv.com/groups. Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to arrival.


text: Brazilian federal police have opened a probe into US oil giant Chevron over alleged pollution linked to an oil spill at its offshore Frade project, a leak that an environmental group alleges is far bigger than the company has stated. Fabio Scliar, who heads the Federal Police's division of environment and historical patrimony, said evidence showed Chevron's drilling went about 500 metres beyond permit. Information provided by Chevron to the police does not match what police saw upon a visit to the site, he added. "We saw a big spot of oil, in a very large area - we couldn't find the limits of the oil," Scliar told Al Jazeera. "I would not say chevron is lying, but I think that they are not as transparent as they should be. "I think it is a disaster, I have no doubt that it is a big problem and environmental damage of huge proportions." Brazil's energy regulator said oil seeps off the coast of Rio de Janeiro were caused by a well drilled by Chevron at Frade, where the company has estimated as much as 650 barrels had been released causing a "sheen" on the sea surface. Energy Minister Edison Lobao told reporters in Brasilia on Thursday that the leak "is not good, but neither is it as grave as is being said." He said the ANP, Brazil's oil and gas regulator, could take legal action against the company if there are grounds for it and warned that Chevron would be held to account for any breaches of conduct. 'Chevron co-operating' Lobao did not express any specific complaint against Chevron however. "If Chevron is not doing its part, it will be severely punished," Lobao said. In an e-mailed response to Reuters' questions about the investigation, a Chevron spokesman said the company "continues to fully inform and cooperate with Brazilian government agencies as part of the company's response efforts." The company on Tuesday said it had started plugging the well that was suspected of causing the oil seeps and that the seeps appeared to have stopped. On Sunday, Chevron said the sheen has spread over 163 square kilometres from the well area. The company has vessels in the area working to either recover or disperse the oil. Brazil is sitting atop massive deep-water oil reserves that were discovered over the past half-decade. The government is keen to tap these resources as a new source of revenue for federal, state and municipal governments. But the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded in April 2010 in the US Gulf underscores the risks that offshore exploration and production poses for Brazil's extensive coastal economy. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Environment Humanitarian crises Business & Economy US & Canada Latin America


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Had a few friends over for the day last weekend, and decided a casserole was in order. Throwing SH!T in a pan and putting it in the oven is always a time saver. As much as I love standing in … Continue reading
Category Archives: Entree
Mexican Lasagna
So I was my turn to make some lasagna for Cam. 🙂 As much as I hate to admit it, I did take inspiration from a dish I saw on Rachael Rays show. Forgot to takes picks till it was in the oven sorry.
- Tomato sauce – One large can
- Diced tomato with onions and peppers – one can
- tortillas – 4 (I used low carb)
- Roast or baked chicken (I used tenderloin) – about 6 loins or two breasts
- shredded cheese – bag or per shredded or 8 oz
- cumin
- spicy chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Start by either using a store-bought rotisserie chicken or roast your chicken. I roasted mine with salt, pepper, cumin and spicy chili powder.
When cooked and cooled, shred or chop up into small pieces and mix with the ca of diced tomato.
Coat the bottom of a casserole dish with tomato sauce (i sprinkled a little cumin and chili powder too)
Layer of tortilla
Chicken mixture
Finish with tortilla layer on top, then put a little of the left over tomato sauce on top of the tortilla and sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Eggplant Lasagna
So this is the welcome back dinner Cam had waiting on me Sunday. It was sooooo good.
To start, peel and cut eggplant into 1/4 inch long slices. Lightly oil (or use a cooking spray for fewer calories), salt and pepper. You'll broil these on high for about 10 minutes. The will get soft and pliable and should reduce in size.
While that was broiling the sauce prep work began. Brown one pound of hamburger meat with sliced pepperoni (you can sub out for ground turkey and turkey pepp for a lighter version). Then add two cans of puree tomatoes, chopped mushrooms,basil and garlic. Salt and pepper to taste.
Now for the layering. Start with a light sauce base, really thin layer. Eggplant, then alternating sauce layer then ricotta layer. So Eggplant, sauce, eggplant,ricotta, eggplant…. Not sure what kind of ricotta was used but you can use part skim. I love ricotta so i would mix some in with every layer. But that's just me 🙂
End with a layer of shredded cheese. The pepperoni heart is optional.
Bake at 350f for 45 minutes.


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My mother is a structural engineer; my dad is a computer scientist. When I entered Stanford, I was sure I was going to be techie. I didn't know what I wanted to major in (although science seemed like a good bet), so I started off my freshman year with all of the introductory math and science classes I could take. Now, five years later, I've ended up with a degree in…sociology.
How did that happen? I wish I could say it was because I discovered this great new field I never knew existed and fell in love with it. Although I have enjoyed my major, the truth is that in many ways I'm a sociology major because I got too fed up with techie classes to major in them.
Despite jumping into techie courses with much enthusiasm freshman year, I soon came to realize that the classes themselves were just not that enjoyable. I frequently encountered professors whose English I could not understand and who lacked the ability to command a classroom or explain concepts at a student's level. I disliked feeling like just a number in a class, the inaccessibility of the professors and most of all, the tests designed to produce an average grade of 40 percent so that everyone feels as though he or she has failed.
For me, the kid who adored calculus in high school and who spent a summer taking physics because she was sad she didn't have time to take it in high school, this was a problem. I love learning and I love going to school, so my college years just seemed too precious to be spent in classes that I didn't enjoy. I fled from these unsatisfying courses and found a human-centered, student-centered department in which I could actively enjoy my education.
In and of itself, this story of how I chose my major holds little significance. However, when looked at in light of national trends, I am one of millions of women who have opted out of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. This phenomenon is often called the "leaky pipeline" to describe the way that women and non-Asian minorities drop out of these fields at greater rates than white and Asian men at every educational and professional level. The problem is that this attrition is not due to skill or competence; women who drop out of STEM majors earn equivalent grades to men who decide to stay in those majors. This means that STEM fields, often heralded as the sector most important for economic growth in the United States, are losing out on a number of talented women and minorities and the innovations that they may bring to these fields. For Stanford, this is especially troubling because the alumni who bring the most prestige and donate the most money to the school are often techies. By driving women away from techie fields, we are reducing both the future earning power of alumni and publicity for the school.
There have been many studies that address the problem of how to keep women in STEM majors in college and a large number of them propose solutions that – had they already been implemented at Stanford – would have made a difference in my educational journey. Many of the solutions suggest altering pedagogical methods in ways that make classes more accessible to women. Group work, female TAs and examples of women and minorities making a difference in their field all help reduce the feeling of tokenism. Interactive classes with hands-on work and an emphasis on the applicability and potential social impacts of the material help to sustain interest and make classes more enjoyable. Personal interaction with professors and re-tooling weeder classes can counter attrition due to low self-confidence. Women often believe that they are doing worse than the average student in STEM classes – a perception that has no correlation to their actual performance. This is especially problematic in weeder courses, which cause disproportionately high numbers of women and minorities to leave the subject despite being equally as good at it as those who don't leave.
So my question is: Stanford, what are you doing to ensure that our STEM majors aren't just another piece of the leaky pipeline? I know that we have numerous extracurricular groups and programs to support women and minorities, but the classroom experience in techie majors leaves a lot to be desired. With the exception of introductory computer science and product design classes, the majority of techie classes geared toward freshmen and sophomores utilize pedagogy that has been shown to drive away women and minorities. So, Stanford, I challenge you to do your part to stop the pipeline from leaking and revisit undergraduate technical curriculums to improve them for your female and minority students.
Any comments? Jamie would love to hear them at jamiesol "at" stanford "dot" edu.


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The latest DLC announcement for The Surge certainly took me and many others by surprise, especially with a sequel so deep in development.
Yet here we are with The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented, the second major expansion following A Walk in the Park which popped up last Christmas. And if you've ever wondered what would happen if Westworld crossed over with Dark Souls, this DLC is your answer.
The Western theme certainly suits the visceral, gritty, augmented world from Deck 13, even though it's a piece of content filled with frustration.
Tex-based Adventure
So, before you go rootin' and tootin' with cowboys and CREO tech murder bots, you will need to have beaten the first section of The Surge by defeating P.A.X and arriving in Central Production B.
After finding the first Medbay, you can follow the sounds of The Supervisor talking smack about an old TV show called Frontier Riders, one that apparently got cancelled before its time. This leads you to a series of Test Chambers where you'll go head to head with some of the most fearsome enemies in the West in exchange for some of the coolest loot you ever did see.
In total, The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented has nine episodes to get through, each one offering you a cool implant, weapon, gear, or special item if you make it through alive.
Each episode is broken down into three seperate sections, which you'll eventually be able to speed through once you know what you're doing, but will take quite a bit of time, patience, and skill to get on the first few tries. When you beat an episode though, shortcuts will open up, which means you can quickly skip ahead to a boss with minimal fuss.
While you could play through The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented right after beating the opening portion of the game, you're better served understanding the mechanics in full. How to use block effectively, when to time your dodges and strikes, and most importantly, build up your rig to max effectiveness.
It's a DLC made for experienced players, but one where anyone can jump in. This is thanks, in part, to the Modifiers. Up to four mods can be activated per episode – one per row – some making your job harder, though offering nice compensation in return – others taking it a bit easier on you, like increasing the damage you deal or building up your combinations.
Then there's those simply use for aesthetical purposes, like turning the whole episode into a black and white movie with no sound and silly captions.
The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented is also chock-loaded with tough boss battles across the unique Western scenarios. One boss battle sees you fight multiples of the same enemy, while others require you to dodge bullets being shot out of smashed windows. Each battle really gives off the vibe of a showdown at sunset.
But Deck 13 have also thought about the less experienced players again and introduced a smart and welcome Lucky Coin system. These coins can be located and collected through each level and stored up. When you reach the door before the boss, you have multiple chances to try and beat him before the episode restarts over. If he kills you, you lose one coin, but the more coins you have after beating him, the bigger the bonus.
Alternatively, you can bail out at the same point with the loot you've already collected and keep farming it to improve your equipment.
While The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented has some really clever ideas to keep the action fresh, constantly incentivizing the player to have 'one more go', it's also full of frustrating potholes and is riddled with bugs.
Quite often, I got stuck on the scenery, fell through a piece of the floor I couldn't see, plummeting to my death and losing precious loot and progress, dealt with odd AI pathing, random glitching, and gleefully overpowered enemies, relishing in being able to slash over half your health away in one hit.
There's also the continued issue of The Surge's armor not necessarily feeling like an upgrade at times and new weapons still not having a desired impact on an enemy's health bar.
What worked for The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented, though, is its wit, style, creativity, and more importantly, serves as a reminder that The Surge is actually a damn good video game.
This DLC reminds us of the good things as well as the bad things, while giving us a hefty dose of augmented to satiate our appetite until next years' sequel.
+ Shortcuts and Lucky Coins are cool, smart features
+ A really good challenge that isn't just catered to pros
+ Witty DLC with a decent premise
+ 'Just one more go' factor
– Quite bad glitching which leads to regular frustration
– Loot and weaponry doesn't always feel like an effective upgrade
– Levels will need to be repeated a lot which won't be for everyone
The Good, The Bad, and The Augmented
7 out of 10
Tested on PS4


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- Uninsured motorist
- Under insured motorist
- Comprehensive
- Business auto insurance
- Towing and labor costs
- Rental reimbursement
- And more
Which type of auto insurance policy you need, what it should include and how much your coverage should be is something that an experienced insurance broker like Allied Brokers will be able to tell you. Balancing risks with costs to get customers the kind of affordable car insurance they need is something that the Bay Area insurance brokerage has been doing for 50 years. Allied represents the leading insurance companies and they will find you the insurance policy you need, at a price you can afford. To find out more about the types of coverage available and the discounts you may be entitled to, click on http://www.alliedbrokers.com/auto_overview.html. You can even ask for an quote online. And the company's reps will be happy you meet with you to discuss your specific needs and guide you in choosing the policy that is best for you. To learn about the full range of insurance service that the company offers, go to http://www.alliedbrokers.com/ or call (650) 328-1000.


text: Kaal Sarp dosh is one of the most dreaded dosha considered these days in Vedic astrology. When the native gets to know that he/she has Kaal Sarp dosh, it is a shock. Actually some astrologers and Pundits make a big hue and cry about Kal Sarp dosh. Is kalsarp dosh really all that bad. Does it destroy marriages, brings ill ...Read More »


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Talk Thursday | Procrastination.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
– Nelson Mandela
Hello loves. I hope you all enjoyed the last Talk Thursday post 'Unforgiveness' written by Bookie who is now a guest writer here on my blog*throws confetti in the air*. Today, we are talking about something we are all familiar with,
Did someone just feel a lil pang of guilt? lol, that's okay, I'm not here to judge. How could I when I am equally guilty of this. Anyway, on to the days topic. "Procrastination or to procrastinate, simply means to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness. It is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time, sometimes to the "last minute" before a deadline".
How do we procrastinate?
- We wait for the perfect time –Telling yourself you need the right amount of time, physical space, equipment,etc and then waiting for the magic ingredients to appear.
- No strain, no gain. You work best under pressure, right? Not really, but it may be the only way you're used to getting things done. Now why would anyone want to work under pressure when you can work smart instead of 'too hard'? Beats me…
- Productive procrastination. Taking care of all those other things you've put off (due to earlier procrastination) in favour of what you need to get done.
- Second guessing. If we continually question a decision, we tend to stall and stall and can't move forward.
How to curb procrastination.
- Create a smart to do list and by smart I mean include only the items that you're avoiding, not the ones you know you'll do anyway. Then set deadlines, when you want to start and finish.
- Finish the hard stuff. When you have a huge project that's holding you down and making you unproductive in other areas, tackle it first. Finishing the largest item on your list of things to do will make you feel extra productive and give you the boost to do other things you've been pushing to the side.
Break down the tasks to lessen the sense of being overwhelmed. Once you start to enjoy a small accomplishment or two, you're more likely to finish.
- Eliminate temptation to do something else and focus on the task at hand. Remember you are working with a set time frame.
Bargain with yourself. If you complete all you set out to do for the day, you can treat yourself to the movies or buy yourself a gift. Sounds good right.
- Come up with a consequence that will deter you from avoiding the task. For example, If you fail to complete a task (take out the trash) two times a week, you have to give up watching your favourite tv programme or talking to your friends on the phone etc.
Make your intentions public. You can share your goals and intentions with people or a particular person. People who will motivate and push you. This will add pressure, but for some of us, avoiding embarrassment is the mightiest motivator.
- Don't be a perfectionist. If you're waiting for the perfect time, the perfect supplies, or you won't stop until you've "perfected" your project, you're putting off completing your task. Avoid this "perfect" thinking by considering quantity over quality. If your project doesn't require perfection but you're still focused on it, stop and move on to your next task. When you've finished everything, you can backtrack and finish perfecting your original task.
- Give yourself a break. If you can't seem to focus and are working half-heartedly at your tasks, give yourself a brief break. Set a timer for ten minutes, and take a nap, read a book, or call your friend. Do whatever it is you've been daydreaming about so that the temptation is removed once you get back to work. Just be sure to follow through with your deadline rather than ignoring it when your ten minutes is over.
Focus on the success you will achieve and the joy you will feel.
The Danger Of Procrastination.
- Gaining a bad reputation with coworkers, friends, and family.
- Losing your ambition to succeed.
- Not accomplishing your dreams.
- Threatening your well-being if it is a health-related task (like an annual checkup).
I hope this post urges us all to curb procrastination. I personally know how long it took me before I started my own blog cos I believed in saying "I'll get it done tomorrow".
As one person rightly said "Procrastination never won a race, received a promotion or changed the outcome of any situation."
Thank you Grace for this. This is amazing. I need to read this everyday, I need to get up everyday. Thank you.
My former boss made us repeat this everyday, procrastination is laziness. I try to follow thru now, a detailed write up, thanks dear. Laced boots always.
Nice piece.so…..off to practise
My Lil cousin's definition of procrastination 'the lazy man's apology'.
I will put the steps into play.
Thanks for the article.
Like the saying goes "Procrastination is the thief of time" … I decided to put an end to it so "I am a volunteer at a human rights organization" and "I have started my business"
And I am sooo happy with my decision cos it takes a stong will to say to yourself "never put off till tomorrow what you can do today". Thank you Grace for this write up. Truly motivating.
Dope write up, very enriching.
Hello Grace,
This post is brilliant!
"Come up with a consequence that will deter you from avoiding the task" made me chuckle. I have been postponing the drafting of a trouser pattern everyday for the last 3 days. I am off to figure out what consequence will be powerful enough to motivate me 😀
Indeed, "Procrastination never won a race"…
Thank you for sharing this, I'm loving Talk Thursdays!
Great post. Love it so much cos i am guilty. Of the useful tips, I would take all and most importantly 'Procrastination is laziness'. Thanks Grace
Great posts and thanks for the tips. I hate procrastination. Yet its what is always pushing me back. From as far as I can remember, it has always affected my progress. Even in life, generally. I hoping 2015 will be a different chapter.
Again, great tips. Will start with my to-do list.


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The Sweet Side of Beans
March 5, 2013
Not that long ago, I posted a series of photos on Facebook featuring my husband and I on a date night. Aside from all the other nerd festivities, there were a couple shots of me holding a book I happened upon at a used book store we wandered in while waiting to eat. Now let's … More The Sweet Side of Beans


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Future Graduate Students
Information for Future Graduate Students
At the graduate level, the Department offers computer science emphases on the MS and PhD programs. For descriptions of these emphases, see the page:
Graduate admission and financial aid
- Apply online
- Graduate School website
- Office of International Programs website (giving information for international students)
- Computer Science assistantship application
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Student computers
Because the Department provides a wide variety of computers and servers to support its instructional programs, it does not require students to purchase their own computers. However, we do note that most students choose to buy a computer for their personal use, either a laptop or a desktop for their dorm room or apartment. We provide the following information:


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Becky "Upside" Polonium is a secondary protagonist in the Shadowcalypse series. She is the first member of Umbra's team.
Upside has a sort of gravitational energy flowing through her veins, hence her nickname.
Physical Appearance
Upside is technically a "simple" girl, wearing a basic blue t-shirt and red shorts. She has orange-ish skin thanks to the hot, dry climate on Venus. She often puts her blonde hair in a ponytail, because she says it lets her upbeat attitude out.
She is energetic, strong-willed, and very active. She usually looks on the bright side of a situation, and is almost always smiling.
Shadowcalypse: Master of the Eclipse
Upside joins Umbra's team on Venus, where they must fight off invading Cosmotroops; however, they were actually sent by Nebula to create a diversion.
After the events of the game, Upside joins Umbra in his resistance against Nebula, with the help of Reverse.
Shadowcalypse 2: Lord of the Blood Moon
Upside will return in the sequel, with an unknown role.


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Lucius had found the one tomb that my master had been searching for, it was almost hidden from casual view by the trees who's branches almost touched the ground with the weight of the snow upon them. And quickly the master assembled the men, and with an almost child like glee the necromancer led us off.
The fresh snowfall masked our approach, and once through the trees the tomb itself could be seen, it was at the centre of a collection of ruins and a scattering of snow covered tombstones. I was in no doubt that at some point this would have been an impressive place, but now it just looked old, ruined, shrouded, dead.
But there was movement, we could spy the occasional skeleton animated by long dead sorcerers wandering aimlessly amongst the ruins, but it was the chests, partially hidden by the tomb itself that we were here for, the master took, Ramos and Flynn and left me with the four ruffians to head forward, Lucius meanwhile took shelter upon some rock outcroppings and readied his crossbow.
Everything happened so quickly, yet to me it all appeared in slow motion, a skeleton suddenly lurched from around a ruin column, and two of my men laughing, rushed forward. I remember their screams and how bright the blood was upon the ground, I rushed for cover. I noticed the other two men rush past the melee towards one of the chests, but before they could reach it, it started to drag itself across the ground away from them! I stared in disbelief, then I saw the reason, crouching near a crumbling wall was the witch Agnes, our rivals were here as well!
Suddenly a shadow loomed over me, the skeleton had felled its two opponents, they were still writhing in puddles of their own blood, and now it raised its sword to finish me! Then there was a whistling and its head exploded into shards as Lucius's bolt found its mark, I nodded my thanks and ran towards the tomb.
To my right I could my master with his companions locked in combat with vicious looking war hounds and another two mercenaries were behind the hounds, but then the fight moved into the ruins and I lost sight.
The bowman appeared from nowhere, he raised his bow, and the witch appeared next to him, she mutter and waved her hand, his arrow suddenly turned red with magical energies and he released it, and that arrow flew straight and true towards me…


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7 Movie Review Podcasts to Get You Ready for Awards Season
Audioburst | 09.11.17
From Bladerunner 2049 to Get Out, 2017 has been chock full of films that have everyone talking (and we've still got a month to go!). With film awards season just around the corner, we want to make sure you're up to date on all of the latest releases. We've rounded up our favorite movie review podcasts, that feature in-depth interviews with your favorite directors or give you the fast take you need. If you're the type of person who loves making Oscars ballots with your friends and enjoys dropping the word "diegetic" into everyday conversation, these podcasts are for you.
1. The Next Picture Show | Filmspotting
Each week hosts Scott Tobias, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, and Rachel Handler get together to talk about how a classic film has shaped their take on a new release. This refreshing approach gives each new release context within film history, inviting listeners to go beyond a straightforward review.
"'It's a great film, asterisk' is a great way to describe it. My experience in the theater watching [Mother] was pretty much the split that's developed over whether it's a good or bad movie, whether it's overly obvious or a terrific piece of filmmaking."
2. The Director's Cut | Director's Guild of America
How often do you get to hear your favorite directors talk in-depth about the ins and outs of their newest film? The Director's Guild of America's podcast brings you just that with fresh and insightful interviews featuring top directors sharing behind the scenes anecdotes, in-depth script breakdowns, and on-set challenges on their most recent releases.
"We love what we do and we get to talk about it anytime we want which is mostly a good thing but sometimes when you're brushing your teeth and you have an idea and you want to talk about it, your partner may not be eager."
3. Filmspotting | WBEZ
Can't decide which movie to catch this weekend? We've all been there. Filmspotting takes the stress out of potential film FOMO by giving their fast take on the new releases of the week. They also share informative top five lists that can help you load up on film trivia.
4. Little Gold Men | Vanity Fair
Want to be the most in-the-know at your next Oscars party? Little Gold Men pulls back the curtain on the Oscars race, covering everything from the glitzy premieres to the incredulous acceptance speeches and all the highs and lows in between. It also explores the fascinating history of the Oscars and ruminates on the complex politics behind who wins Best Picture.
"The big asset for [Bladerunner 2049] is the visual grandeur of the movie, the music, this Han Zimmer rattling aural soundscape. They're so overwhelming in a good way…that the thinness I saw underneath it might just not bother other people."
Here's a high-energy movie podcast hosted by an electric trio, made up of Jeff Lowe, Kenjac, and Trilly, that is as fun as it is informative. Not only do they offer their brutally honest opinions on current box office releases, they also love debating everything movies: from best comic book adaptations to worst films of all time.
"The original Superman is considered one of the best comic movies of all times. It hits all the right beats for being a Superman movie, Christopher Reeves is Superman for a lot of different people. People who are 40 and 50 right now, this is probably their favorite comic book movie cause it was the only good one in forever."
6. /Filmcast and /Film Daily | /Films
If you want to take a bite into the geek/genre side of the movie-verse, /Filmcast and it's companion podcast, /Film Daily, are exactly what you need. /Filmcast is a weekly podcast that delves into the latest films, with a focus on sharing well-formed opinions on films with a particular fandom and outlining trends within the industry. /Film Daily is a daily broadcast that airs every weekday and offers breaking news on entertainment-related announcements, releases, and controversies.
"I find the Thor franchise in general to be the least essential of the Marvel films but the trailer for [Thor Ragnorak] had me really excited and also the cast, it has a great cast. It just sort of.. it's very funny, but beyond that the script is very weak. There's no depth to it, is the best way I can put it."
7. Filmhaus | Rooster Teeth
This zany bi-weekly podcast will ensure that you impress friends with quippy, film-school-like analysis of newly released films. After discussing new releases, they spend the second half of each episode talking at-length about a classic film, which they announce to their listeners beforehand so everyone has time to watch it and join in on the discussion.
"I don't want to say Ryan Gosling has range in [Bladerunner 2049], but he has subtle range. I feel like this movie played that perfectly especially because he's an android/robot/replicant thing. When he had those moments when he burst out, it had more weight as opposed to someone who's always charismatic or funny."


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Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Hunt-Morgan House
Lexington's haunted Hunt Morgan House, a.k.a. "Hopemont", is at 201 N. Mill Street, the corner of N. Mill and W. Second.
It was built in 1814 by millionaire John Wesley Hunt,who died of Cholera in 1849 and left it to his daughter Henrietta and her husband Calvin. Their son John Hunt Morgan, went on to become a noted Brigadier General in the Civil War. He was killed in Greeneville, TN, shot in the back by Union soldiers.
John Hunt Morgan's nephew, geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan, was born here in 1866 and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933. (He is, incidentally, the only Kentuckian so far to have won the Nobel Prize.)
Supposedly, the house is haunted by John Wesley Hunt himself (who has been allegedly sighted walking the halls), and by Mammy Bouviette James, the nursemaid of John Hunt Morgan's children. There are various online reports of her apparition being seen on the third floor, where the nursery had been located.
Labels: buildings, civil war, fayette county, haunted, john hunt morgan, lexington
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I've been talking about this confession in some shape or form for a while. My girlfriends (as well as random women standing in line at WalMart) and I talk about it all the time. We're tired, exhausted, overwhelmed, stressed. But today I realized,
20. I'm actually drowning.
I realized it through an AWFUL situation. Immediately you think something I missed, forgot, failed at but it's not any of that. I'll try to keep it brief but give you the whole picture.
So this morning I'm in the backyard with the dog and a baby bunny runs from under the deck. Sophie Joe chases it as usual but instead of darting under the fence and getting away. This bunny jumped in the pool. I totally FREAK out. I have to save the bunny. The bunny is swimming for dear life. I get the dog inside. Call for Sydney to help me and I start trying to rescue the bunny. A wet broom, swimming pool pole and a rigged ramp later, I cannot get the bunny out. It's getting tired, resting between strokes. I'm begging it to hold on and keep trying. Telling it, 'you can do it'. It's struggling now. I swear we're close to saving it and then it stops moving. It's DEAD.
I was trying to hold it together, but I started crying. I thought to myself, I'm losing my mind. The girls don't know WHAT to do. Sydney reassures me bunnies die all the time – we do have an overinflated bunny population running around our house. But I just felt so bad for that bunny.
And then I realized, I AM THE BUNNY.
It's almost like I've woken up in my life and I'm wondering…how did I get here? Surrounded by water. This place where the to do list never ends and the pressure to perform is crushing me. Where in all aspects of my life I feel like I'm treading water or falling behind. And this is not a time where I just need encouragement, a pat on the back or someone telling me you can do it, this is REALITY. I have too much on my plate. I have too much responsibility and too many people or projects depending on me. I have too many jobs to do and roles to play.
I have gotten here and I'm swimming as hard as I can but I know I'm drowning and it's just a matter of time before I'm dead.
There were times last year I actually thought I was going to die. I still live with the fear that the cancer is just dormant right now but it will come back and kill me. But if it doesn't, anything could. Now, 5 years from now, 10. It's going to happen, but I feel like the race against the clock has started. I don't want to spend these years struggling just to survive.
But what am I doing about it? What CAN I do about it? I see people ditching their McMansions and building tiny houses, leaving their jobs and pursuing their passions. I have thoughts, ideas, dreams but something still holds me back. It could be all that responsibility I have, but my faith in God and myself should reassure me that it will all be taken care of. For some reason I'm still SCARED, and in many ways, I'm sort of comfortable in this crazy place. The water is warm now that I've gotten used to it.
But I'm still drowning and I know it. Drowning is different than being exhausted or overwhelmed cause there are only TWO possible outcomes. You get out of the water or die.
I just need to jump out of the water. One good leap and that bunny would have been out of the water -and alive. I need to JUMP.
I have the tools to get out and to succeed when I'm there. They've been developed, improved and sharpened for the last 43 years. Shouldn't I live the next 43 years on the shore, really living and not just struggling until I die?
I want to know my IKIGAI (eek-y-guy) – "the reason for which I wake up in the morning." or, "sense of purpose". This is an important concept in the Okinawa lifestyle and was identified as one of the principles that helps make this region a blue zone. If you haven't heard of this you have to watch Dan Buettner's TedTalk on it. But he's identified 9 factors present in regions where people for generations live longer than anywhere else. Knowing and living your purpose was one of those factors. Not only did they live longer, but they lived more fulfilling and rewarding lives. I know my PURPOSE is not just to tread water until I drown. I know it's bigger than that.
I don't want NOT knowing to hold me back anymore. I need to bet on me and my ability to find my purpose and make a way. It's time to jump. If I don't do it now, I'm afraid I'll forget the impact this crazy cancer time has had on me. I'll get comfortable in my CRAZY again and settle in the struggle. I don't want to settle.
I'm jumping.


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A blog that backs a bi-monthly magazine covering all the islands of Scotland
Sunday, 16 June 2013
Fort Yields Facts
Windwick Bay, South Ronaldsay, Orkney was once the site of an Iron Age fort which performed a defensive and, perhaps, domestic function for centuries. Recent investigations, reported in The Orcadian, have yielded some interesting finds. A steatite or soapstone fragment of pottery suggests a Norwegian source and the discovery of a hearth which has been subjected to archaeomagnetic dating. These point to connections with the Norse people in 600 AD. Although earlier than the main influx of the Vikings, it shows that there were probably sporadic settlements and links from across the waters to the east. Full details of this, The Cairns Project, give insights.
Scottish Islands Explorer - copies will one day be unearthed
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I'm a sucker for the grandeur of events such as these, so I give you video showing the entire arrival ceremony earlier today in Israel.
If you want to skip a head to Trumps, Remarks, they begin at about 21:10.
"We love Israel; we respect Israel. And I send your people the warmest greetings from your friend and ally, all of the people in the United States of America," he said. "We are with you. Thank you and God bless you."
We don't know whether Trump is about to pressure Israel into an unwelcome peace deal, although I doubt it. We do know that with Trump, unlike Obama, Israel has a sincere friend who understands its moral superiority to its neighbots and enemies and gets exactly who are the enemies, and who are the friends.
No more equating Israel with its enemies.
While Obama spent his presidency sucking up to the mullahs in Iran, Trump during this trip is seeking to ally Israel and the Arab world against Iran. He gets that the Saudis and other Arab states have their own problems, big ones. But he also understands that Iran is the key enemy, and that it has to be isolated and stopped.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post8682415341725809000..comments2020-08-07T07:35:17.638-07:00Comments on Mid-Life Cycling:: Pro-Flex ReflectionJustine Valinottihttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-87012757418472784062018-08-27T14:08:48.048-07:002018-08-27T14:08:48.048-07:00Unkown--If you're riding anything at age 66, y...Unkown--If you're riding anything at age 66, you're doing just fine!Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-60640329913389468242018-08-26T15:55:47.215-07:002018-08-26T15:55:47.215-07:00I HAVE A 1996 PROFLEX I THINK ITS AN EX WERKS AND...I HAVE A 1996 PROFLEX I THINK ITS AN EX WERKS AND I FIND NO PROBLEM MENDING OR REPLACING PARTS TO KEEP A GOOD BIKE ON OR OFF ROAD RIDING AND KEEPING THE FUN IN RIDING IT AT MY AGE (66) HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY YOURE BIKING WHAT EVER YOU RIDE Anonymoushttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-18381062399306805152017-03-10T23:04:07.413-08:002017-03-10T23:04:07.413-08:00JT--I'm glad you've had so many good rides...JT--I'm glad you've had so many good rides on your 656. If you can figure out how to tighten that rear triangle, you'll have many more.

Thanks for stopping by!Justine Valinottihttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-42161237366967033692017-03-10T14:32:49.707-08:002017-03-10T14:32:49.707-08:00I bought a used Proflex 656 in the year 2000 for $...I bought a used Proflex 656 in the year 2000 for $600 and I still have it. It's main purpose was for riding when I went to Crested Butte Co. The trails are steep out there and I've endoed with the thing a few times so last year got an "alternative bike". But the Proflex is great. It feels like a light, whippy hot rod and people admire, when they see it much like they do when I'm on my Norton Commando. This one's Girvin front fork has shock and coil spring so it's better than an elastomer but still not much travel. Although it's not much for big hits, your not near as beat up after a long day in the saddle. Right now it's too loose where the rear triangle meets the elastomer so I need to figure out how to tighten it up. I put a set of WTB Bronsons on it instead of the Volociraptors and I hope to use it for a gravel bike. JT Boone email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-11432838703304907372016-06-27T00:40:14.154-07:002016-06-27T00:40:14.154-07:00This post has helped me for an article which I am ...This post has helped me for an article which I am writing. Thank you for giving me another point of view on this topic. Now I can easily complete my article.
outdoor bikeZoeyhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-18319324062358348732016-05-24T04:31:42.968-07:002016-05-24T04:31:42.968-07:00Thank you for your input. I have moved over and p...Thank you for your input.
I have moved over and posted on a few specialty forums that I found. Should be able to get some more in-depth data points to determine mt direction of course.

Enjoy your email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-54437316104808790852016-05-19T15:17:23.994-07:002016-05-19T15:17:23.994-07:00Rad--From what I'm hearing and reading, it sho...Rad--From what I'm hearing and reading, it should be fine for the kind of riding you intend to do with it. I welcome comments from other readers.Justine Valinottihttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-86069740417000981212016-05-19T10:28:14.108-07:002016-05-19T10:28:14.108-07:00I have a chance at picking up one of the 96 Beast ...I have a chance at picking up one of the 96 Beast models. Not much info out there that I could find on the 1996 Beast in particular.
Wondering if it is worth the investment? I will not be using it for DH riding. Mostly want full suspension for the comfort on flat land, and build up for a future project (again.. not DH riding).
Does anyone think the Beast model is worth $200?
It has the spring shocks.
One thing that I am worried about is that it is apparently a 16" frame. I'm 5'10"ish, and I do not mind being a bit shorter on the bike if that means a lower center of gravity.
Also would like to know the weight of this bike. From what I can find, the bike appears to be all aluminum.

With all that said, I have nice hardtail bikes. Just want a cheap (not junk) FS bike that I can ride and later build into a project I have in mind. Project is NOT trying to build up this bike into a high-end DH bike or anything like that.

Anyone have email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-17044393965962749362016-05-17T08:59:39.148-07:002016-05-17T08:59:39.148-07:00Arrowhawk--I know it was red, and that I rode it a...Arrowhawk--I know it was red, and that I rode it around 1992 or 1993.

It may well be that, as you say, I was riding an early models and that the later ones were better.Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-17646589789216876102016-05-16T23:29:40.165-07:002016-05-16T23:29:40.165-07:00With Proflex, the last number generally refers to ...With Proflex, the last number generally refers to the year in 1990 the bike was made. The '54's game out in 1994 and the '57's came out in 1997. I am not familiar with any bikes before 1994.

The 8xx bikes were generally red, but that 857 would have been in 1997. However, I was looking at a Proflex brochure from 1994. Apparently the designer, Bob Girven started with a flex stem in 1988. The brochure states that Proflex made its first full suspension bike in 1990 and the picture shows a red bike that looks somewhat like the 8 series. So you may have ridden an 85[1,2,3]x in 1993.

I have no experience with Proflex before 1994, so I can't speak to the ride-ability of those early bikes, so it very well may have been exactly as you describe. Anonymoushttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-74418600092982672282016-05-16T17:02:54.434-07:002016-05-16T17:02:54.434-07:00Arrow--If I remember correctly, it was around 1992...Arrow--If I remember correctly, it was around 1992 or 1993,and the bike was an 857. Could be wrong, though.Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-61802039164628428022016-05-16T16:58:19.356-07:002016-05-16T16:58:19.356-07:00I think those of use who have owned and loved thes...I think those of use who have owned and loved these bikes naturally get defensive when people have a bad experience on the bike as you described the bike being too bouncy. What year did you ride the bike? Which bike was it?

Anonymoushttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-83143954439694407572016-05-16T14:10:47.713-07:002016-05-16T14:10:47.713-07:00Arrowhawk--You have quite a history with your Pro ...Arrowhawk--You have quite a history with your Pro Flex bikes! I am glad you are riding again--I simply like to see people ride, whatever they choose to ride.

I don't mean to "bash" Pro Flex bikes, as I never owned one or even rode one extensively. I merely wrote of what I noticed among those who rode them during the time I was an active mountain biker.

I agree with your assessment of the current market place. It is indeed oriented toward downhill speed (or the perception thereof), as the ski market seems to be. I think it has a lot to do with something "Citizen Rider" observed in one of his recent posts: "Mountain biking has become a destination resort activity, not a daily dose of fun."

Thanks for stopping by!Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-4177295899623437052016-05-16T13:20:45.642-07:002016-05-16T13:20:45.642-07:00It is with somewhat mixed emotions that I read you...It is with somewhat mixed emotions that I read your blog, but mostly am happy to see it. I share many of Fyrstormer's sentiments, particularly the notion that the bike has inspired many reflections. In fact, Neil Donoghue of Global Mountain Bike Network recently did a flawed comparison between the 957 and a modern Canyon Lux.

Rather than pick apart GMBN's comparison, the thing that should resonate is that they even did the comparison to begin with. The 957 is nearly 20 years old and people are still talking about it.

My contribution? Right after I got out of college, my father bought a bike store and started carrying Proflex bikes. I think he gave me a 554 as a gift. That bike was a mountain goat. I loved it and road it and road it and road it. When the 957 came out, I had enough money to buy it at wholesale.

Then I moved to Seattle and rode the bejesus out of the 957 on Tiger Mountain and lots of trails around Seattle. My college friend who had moved with me, bought an 857 and we became weekend warriors, status we held for years. Then life happened and we both stopped riding for about ten years.

Last year, I decided I was going to get back into MTB. I dusted off both my 554 and 957 and an old Demo Diamond Back V2 and proceeded to get them back in to riding condition. I had the Noleens on the 957 sent back to Noleen and the shocks were recondition. I changed the rear spring and replaced the chain and got new tires - Wild Grippers.

The 554 was a lot harder to reanimate. The elastomers had completely fallen apart and no one still has these that I could find. I tried a direct replacement elastomer, but it doesn't come close to performing like the MCU's did. I also found out that the Fastrack front fork on the 554 had been recalled years ago as had the Manitou fork on the Diamond back. Fortunately Manitous. Manitous send me a replacement 140mm fork which I stuck on the 554 along with some V-brakes and I found an old Marzoochi Bomber for the Diamond back.

Getting to the point, my friend and I have been riding the 957 and 554 a lot in the last 12 months. The 957, imo, is still a dream to ride. The bike is incredibly supple for light rough and climbs like a mountain goat. The 957 is still more bike than I am rider and the 554 has been more than serviceable with a new front fork. After all, I still see people riding hardtail.

Last year, a friend of my father's rode my Diamond Back and loved it as we tooled around Duthie Hills. It's got a spring suspension in the back and yet it rides better than the 554 (Just can't bring myself to spend $50 on spring for the 554).

The point is that these old bike are still fun to ride. But the MTB industry has shifted its focus on down hilling and I won't pretend that any of these old bikes are able to compete with a modern day All-Mountain, Enduro, Shredder, Trail bike when it comes to going down hill. A major change in modern bikes is that head angle has grown increasingly slack. The 957 is set up at around 74 degrees which is steep for even XC bikes these days. A-Mountain bikes are frequently in the 66-69 range. That makes it possible to go a LOT faster down hill. And let's be honest, down hill speed is where all the sex appeal is for the industry. So it is unlikely bike companies are going to go back in time. But from my perspective the Proflex design is still amazing and fun to ride. We'll see if that changes as I look for a better down hill bike and test ride more.

Anonymoushttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-72511437548853517572016-02-27T11:28:40.470-08:002016-02-27T11:28:40.470-08:00Thank you so much! This is the best website for sh...Thank you so much! This is the best website for sheet music that I've found so far.khadijahttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-40829835472170246482016-01-21T10:07:37.831-08:002016-01-21T10:07:37.831-08:00Thank you for the great post,It is really a big he...Thank you for the great post,It is really a big help.thanks for sharing nice blog.Sarahhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-60876482280712376432015-11-23T15:02:07.085-08:002015-11-23T15:02:07.085-08:00M.Silvester--I'm glad you have such great memo...M.Silvester--I'm glad you have such great memories of riding the bike. I'm sorry that you can't ride it any more. I hope your surgeries don't stop you from riding altogether!Justine Valinottihttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-11767740195959508872015-11-23T12:30:37.198-08:002015-11-23T12:30:37.198-08:00I am thrilled to find this blog, as I was "BI... I am thrilled to find this blog, as I was "BIG" a PRO FLEX 253 lover. All I can say is I did not too much off road riding, actually none at all unless you want to count writing through football fields and such. I mainly road along the ocean in Hollywood Florida. My PRO FLEX 253 is a great bike. I corrected the yellow sponge shock absorbers with steel coils, perfect. Unfortunately my back surgeries have prevented me from enjoying riding any longer, so I'm willing to offer this antique if you want to call it that for sale to the first appreciative person it . It is in perfect shape and may the best offer win. This bike cost me $1400 back in '94 I think maybe earlier. But the titanium lightweight construction will make it last forever. My email is firstname.lastname@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-34154201427415252992014-10-31T08:22:40.685-07:002014-10-31T08:22:40.685-07:00Anon--Hey, I don't blame you for fixing up the...Anon--Hey, I don't blame you for fixing up the Proflex you just acquired. I don't think they're bad bikes: I just think that you have to realize what it was designed to do and its potential flaws, and ride and repair it accordingly.

Congratulations on your find.Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-70660799123517500192014-10-29T18:46:49.179-07:002014-10-29T18:46:49.179-07:00Justine, First I wanna say awesome blog you have m...Justine, First I wanna say awesome blog you have made a fan. I was probably just abit before your time in my serious cycling days. I remember well 300mi. a week training, riding in the back of some really over packed van to get to the race location, etc. mmm good times!!!
 I just acquired a Proflex 756. needs a few suspension fixes and gobs of TLC. but how can you not love a bike that makes elitists cringe at the sight of that erector set front end, then rejoice in their gasps of disbelief and bitter tears as you calmly pass them on a local trail. at aprox. one hundredth their monetary outlay. of course they will blame their tires,shoes, handlebars and possibly even that $900.00 rear shock made from metals only available when made in zero atmosphere by aliens contracted by NASA. end of the day I love my "Dinosaur" bikes. being "antique" myself. hehehe
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-67350464228287561752012-12-12T12:00:44.019-08:002012-12-12T12:00:44.019-08:00The frame in your first picture is actually newer ...The frame in your first picture is actually newer than the one I have ('97 vs. '96), so I assumed that is the kind of Pro-Flex you were familiar with. If you were referring to '94 or earlier, then yes, the design was significantly less advanced. '95-'96 is when they worked out the major bugs.

The rear shock appears to be unique at first glance, but actually a normal double-eyelet shock can be used in combination with a simple adaptor that holds the bottom eyelet tightly and adapts it to fit into the cone-shaped hole at the top of the strut. So, the unusual-rear-shock problem was solved years ago. The fork is even easier, because it can be replaced with any fork that has a 1 1/8" threadless steerer. The only other issue is that the frame uses steel bolts, which will eventually rust, but I replaced all my frame bolts with titanium, so that issue can be solved too.

Yes, it's much more likely that you'll see an old road bike vs. an old mountain bike, but there's an explanation for that which has nothing to do with durability: full-suspension mountain bikes as we know them today have only been made since the mid-1990's, whereas road bikes as we know them today have been made since the 1920's if not longer. There are fewer old mountain bikes in service today because there were fewer made in the first place.

Certainly it is fair to say that mountain bikes take much more of a beating than road bikes, but the *good* designs also are built stronger to withstand that beating. As I mentioned, I once crashed mine into a car piloted by an absent-minded driver, among other crashes I've been through. I hit the car hard enough to launch myself completely over the hood, and the bike pinwheeled through the air above me before crashing to the ground about 15 feet down the road from where I landed. All four of the wheel bearings were spalled from the impact, and the lower headset cup was stretched outward on its rear-facing surface, but the frame didn't need realignment, and to this day it doesn't creak at all. I have little doubt that a road bike would've suffered significant frame damage from that kind of collision, due to a build quality focused more on lightness than strength.

Mountain bikes are more mechanically complex than road bikes, and obviously softer over bumps, which makes the archetypical mountain bike design more susceptible to being reproduced cheaply, for the benefit of people who want to own a bike but don't want to ride it. Weld some spare tubes together, maybe with some sheet metal that has edgy-looking "lightness holes" punched in it, stick some flashy decals on it and bolt-on a fancy-looking "shock absorber" that doesn't actually work, and you can sell a couple thousand of them to people who want some cool-looking garage jewelry. That is a very common approach, but I think we can all agree that any bike built like that isn't really in-the-running to be an antique to start with. You have to look at the *good* designs if you want to make bets on longevity.

Because of that low-end market saturation, it's tempting to think that mountain bikes *as a genre* are less elegant, timeless, and durable than road bikes. Unfortunately mountain bikes haven't been around long enough for any meaningful data to exist in this regard, but it is worth considering that you yourself compared the style of the Pro-Flex swingarm to a piece of Salvador Dali artwork. That speaks well of its aesthetic appeal, even if it isn't your personal favorite.

So, it's too early for anyone to say with authority that there won't be plenty of long-lasting iconic mountain bikes in the future. Once the genre has been around longer than the people commenting on them, as is already the case with road bikes, then we'll see. Conveniently, I am just barely younger than the first mountain bike (1982), so perhaps when I'm an old man I'll know how things really turned out.fyrstormerhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-73200083257421273792012-12-11T19:15:51.629-08:002012-12-11T19:15:51.629-08:00Fyrstormer--I don't think I was entirely negat...Fyrstormer--I don't think I was entirely negative. I did say I might have appreciated the Pro-Flex more than I did, and perhaps might have even bought one, had I raced off-road or simply did more off-road riding than I did. (Even though I was doing a pretty fair amount of trail and rock riding, I still saw myself as mainly a road rider.)

Also, I think it was fair to mention the problems encountered by people I knew who were riding them in the early years of the bikes' production. It sounds like you got a later model; some of the problems might have been corrected by then.

Finally, I stand by my point that you're a lot more likely to find an old road bike than an old full-suspension mountain bike, and that road bikes don't date themselves as much. In its own way, the ProFlex is iconic, for it was probably the first high-production bike of its kind. I'm sure there will be collectors and that people will ride them for as long as they can continue to keep the shocks working.Justine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-32454702364339871172012-12-10T22:26:23.033-08:002012-12-10T22:26:23.033-08:00I have to admit, I'm not sure what the objecti...I have to admit, I'm not sure what the objective of this blog entry is, but for some reason, I find myself...strangely bemused as a result of reading it. From the sound of it, your encounters with Pro-Flex bikes were few and well in the past now, but clearly it made a memorable impression on you, or else I doubt you would've taken notice of the Pro-Flex you saw recently. So it seems strange to me that they would be memorable enough for you to feel like writing about them, yet you don't have anything good to say about them, and you you don't think they're iconic in any way. How can a thing not be iconic, if it is "one of the first" AND memorable enough to be worth writing about 15 years later?

Anyway, I own a Pro-Flex; two, if you count the one I built for my father, which is more on indefinite loan to him than anything else. My Pro-Flex 756 was my first "grownup bike", bought on clearance from a black-and-white advert in the back of a biking magazine that is no longer published. I actually got the magazine from a pile of collage-fodder that a high-school classmate was using for a class project.

I still have that bike, though I've upgraded every single part on it since I bought it in 1996. I even had a rear disc-brake mount welded onto it, which necessitated removing the swingarm and mailing it cross-country to a guy who could do the work. It kept me fit in college, kept me sane after breakups. I've crashed it about a half-dozen times, and I even hit a car on it, when the car cut me off. (my father thought I was nuts for spending $500 on a bicycle, but after that incident he decided a cheaper bike would've crumpled under me instead of launching me safely over the car's hood.) After all that, it still works fine, with none of the non-replaceable parts showing any signs of wear.

I see your lugged steel road bike, and I raise you this: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/deusexaethera/bikes/CIMG5363.jpgfyrstormerhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-2130542762154174752012-07-10T10:01:31.865-07:002012-07-10T10:01:31.865-07:00Robert: I'm sorry I didn't respond to you...Robert: I'm sorry I didn't respond to your comment. I don't know how to bleed the brakes. However, there are probably a number of threads and discussion groups where you can find, or ask for, help. Here's one: http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-35392.htmlJustine Valinottihttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-12231077824650254212012-07-10T08:31:23.274-07:002012-07-10T08:31:23.274-07:00I have a '97 Pro-Flex Beast that's still a...I have a '97 Pro-Flex Beast that's still alive and kicking. After going through a couple sets of elastomers that are now almost impossible to come by, I bought some custom air shocks from Risse Racing. They cost about $250, but they really improved the ride. The suspension can now be adjusted to suit the terrain.
I see Pro-Flex and K2 bikes come up on ebay and on Craigslist every now and then. The Beast's Magura hydraulic rim brakes were the Bee's Knees back in the day, but nobody misses them much in the age of disc brakes.
Thanks for the post!MT cyclisthttps://email@example.com


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Have you ever asked yourself, how to create a mega cool game controller for your favorite games?
Yes? – But did you also think about developing one by yourself? If you think, that this is very complicated and to expensive for you, let me tell you: it's not!
This blog is a documentation of the practical course "Sketching with hardware" at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University that tries to make the learning content accessible to future interested students. During the following 7 days, 12 students will learn to use electronic components, to create new creative user interactions and they will realize their own physical computing project. The course teaches theoretical background about physical laws and electricity as well as the practical handling of tools to build innovative and useful controllers or other creative electronic devices out of old or relatively cheap electronic components.
Sketching with hardware is fun and students can experiment with many different components and instruments.
The official homepage of the course at LMU with the contacts of the supervisors can be found here.


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With over 50 years of combined experience, we can make your home one of a kind. Spencer Carlson Furniture & Design is owned by Paula Spencer and Katie Carlson. We have proudly served the Tri-Cities area since establishing our business in 1993. Today, we continue on the path we set from the start, with unique products not found anywhere else and the knowledge to transform a home into a haven.
From the floor to the ceiling, and everything in between, our experts can assist with your project, big or small. Our motto is: "Your style - Your budget!"
What makes Spencer Carlson Furniture & Design special to its clients is the manner in which its interior designers makeover a room. "While the client is gone, we deliver the furniture, art, window treatments, and lighting that complete and customize the look for their individual tastes. We like to work on the premise of the design show 'While You Were Out'. We love our clients reactions."
With excellence in creative design, service and furnishings, Spencer Carlson has found the secret to lasting success and satisfied customers. So it comes as no surprise that their plan for the future won't be changing much, says Spencer and Carlson. "We want to stay on the path we originally set from the start with unique products not found anywhere else and the knowledge to transform a home into a haven."
Dan & Julio take pride providing white glove service when delivering your new purchases.
Katie's natural talent for design was apparent as a child. At the age of 8 her grandmother allowed her to redesign many of the rooms in her home. She would re-position the furniture; pick paint and the fabrics for the draperies. Her grandmother would then buy all of the supplies and they work together to put everything together. As an adult Katie studied at the Sheffield School of Design. She then spent one year designing custom window treatments. She has a passion for window treatments and has designed many sophisticated styles. "I believe window treatments make everything come together in a room." Katie's eclectic style uses old and new, contemporary and traditional, bringing a vibrant new energy to any room. Her sense of color and texture add the finishing touch which makes every room shine. Her enthusiasm for every project, no matter the size, is apparent and results in repeat clientele and many referrals. She believes her biggest job is to listen to the client. "If you listen well they will always tell you what they need by telling you about how they live. She believes all of us here at Spencer Carlson can design a beautiful room but our goal is to create a beautiful room in the eye of the client."
Passion: a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything.
Do you know what it's like to find your passion at a young age? Well, it's rare, for those that do; they have been given a gift. Paula recognized that gift, and knew she had to follow it to wherever it would take her. Before her cap and gown were hung, she was off and running to Bassist Institute in Portland, one of the best design trade schools on the West Coast. There she would absorb the knowledge needed to add to her passion to be as good as she is today. That was in 1976, when she came back to her hometown and opened her first business at the tender age of 20. Since then she has been working with clients from all walks of life, all economic backgrounds and most importantly, all personalities. Paula has honed the skill most strive for and that is to listen intently, take the queue from the client and execute what it is that sometimes even the client doesn't know they are conveying. And like magic what they imagined appears before them in their home. As with most driven professionals, Paula has many projects going at once, and that's the way she works best! You can find her knee deep into new construction, Parade of Homes, commercial office space, a simple family room for a big family looking for the balance between a big screen TV and entertainment space, all the way to that big house located high on the bluff overlooking the Columbia River. Most importantly she is comfortable in all of those spaces with each and every client, no matter the challenge at hand. Paula finds the greatest compliment when a client calls and says "I love what you've done." In her limited free time, she enjoys entertaining, spending time in the sun on the river and traveling. Those that know her well understand the word passion and have no doubt it fits right alongside Paula and the gang at Spencer Carlson.
"I want to design your home or business so that it fits your lifestyle, personal style and budget. An Interior Designer can help direct your purchases and prevent you from making costly mistakes."
It has been a privilege for Tami Rawlins to be a member of the Spencer Carlson design team for the past three years. Having received her training from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. Tami then went to Bellevue, WA and worked at Ethan Allen where her design aesthetic was expanded to appreciate both contemporary and traditional styles; learning to design environments that fit the lifestyle, needs and tastes of her clients. After several years in Bellevue, she missed the sun and moved to the Tri-Cities where she delved into graphic design and learned how to fulfill the needs of her clients in the printing industry. Tami appreciates both large and small budgets. Sometimes a client can do the whole room at once; but other times we have to plan out purchases and finish the room over time. The best part of the job is when the client calls and says that they just love the room and wouldn't change a thing. Contact me at email@example.com
Great customer service is a crucial component of any business. As… "Without the customer, you have no business". That is Peggy's belief and earning the clients respect to form a long-term relationship is vital. Listening to a customer's needs, focusing on their design vision, satisfying their concerns & questions, all are important aspects of customer service.
Her some odd 25 years in customer relations taught her to listen to the customer to make sure she listens twice as much as she speaks. Favorite saying "I have never met a person I could not strike up a conversation with". With each customer she strives to help them find something as unique and special as they are.
As sales and marketing manager, Peggy is delighted to join the team at Spencer Carlson. Contact Peggy at email@example.com.
After a brief absence, it is my sincere pleasure to be back working with the Spencer Carlson team! Living and working in the Tri-City area for over 35 years, my passion is working closely with you, my client, to create a beautiful and functional interior that reflects who you are. Working as your consultant, you provide the budget and the inspiration and I will guide you through the process of room design! Listening is the first step in creating the perfect interior and choosing the look you want to accomplish. Modern to traditional, coastal, vintage, transitional, eclectic-together we will find your design style! I love working with personal pieces and bringing them into a newly created space! Here at Spencer Carlson, we do floor plan development, décor set-up, space planning, color and finish consulting, furniture and material selection, art selection, product sourcing and procurement, blind and window treatments. Commercial and Residential.No matter your project, great or small, I will be honored to help you with a personalized and thoughtful design that best fits you.
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Service by Medallion in Pleasanton, CA
Service by Medallion has provided comprehensive building maintenance services to the entire Bay Area community for decades. As professionals helping other professionals, we understand the difficulties of maintaining a property and cater to your specific needs to help your business thrive. With a focus on efficiency and eco-friendly processes, our mission is to provide a clean, safe, and healthy environment through high performance green cleaning, responsive customer service, and unbeatable value. Read on to learn more about our building maintenance services in Pleasanton and surrounding communities.
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Service by Medallion offers a wide range of janitorial services, including high performance green cleaning, flex cleaning, periodic maintenance, and restocking your maintenance and cleaning supplies, all with your health and eco-friendly processes in mind. All of our cleaning solutions are Green Seal certified, which designates sustainability and reduced environmental impact. These cleaning products contain fewer volatile organic compounds, allowing for a safer, healthier workplace environment and reduced employee absenteeism. We combine the right tools, equipment, processes, and training to reduce your environmental impact and uphold greater overall sustainability.
Consulting and Project Management Services in Pleasanton
With over 40 years of knowledge and expertise in the building maintenance industry, Medallion is happy to share its experience through cost-effective consulting and project management services. We can guide East Bay organizations and businesses in program implementation and management with a particular focus on sustainability. This includes waste management, building retrofits, and LEED compliance and certification.
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Through our East Bay facility services and temp staffing, Service by Medallion aims to provide several solutions to simplify service contracts and streamline your own service offerings. We can provide you with a pool of experienced workers that already have the expertise and training to help you with general facility services, moving, cleanup, event-based employment, attendants, and more.
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Equipped with the right tools and expertise, our construction support team can provide aid when you need construction cleanup. Using sustainable, environmentally friendly cleaning products and tools, we can provide quick and efficient cleaning services after an office remodel, addition, tenant improvement, or other construction project, ensuring your business' health and safety and allowing for a return to proper workflow.
Building Repairs and Maintenance Services in Pleasanton
As a general contractor, Service by Medallion provides skilled building repairs and maintenance services to East Bay businesses. We specialize primarily in tenant improvements and repairs designed to improve the property asset and maintain greater safety and wellbeing. We have a team of in-house facility technicians who are trained and accredited to provide routine preventative maintenance. We can also stage our technicians on-site to give you 24/7 access for your maintenance and repair needs.
Why Choose Service by Medallion?
Service by Medallion has a commitment to quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. We are members of the U.S. Green Building Council and are certified by several respected organizations, including the ISSA CIMS-GB, which not only signifies our commitment to sustainability, but also allows us to consult other companies on how they may gain points toward a LEED certification. We are also winners of Acterra's Business Environmental Award. Most importantly, we are committed to the Bay Area and want to contribute our skills to businesses and organizations in the area to create even greater positivity and progressiveness within the community. Contact us today if you have questions or need our building maintenance services in Pleasanton and surrounding areas.
Serving Pleasanton
3958 Valley Avenue, Suite C
Pleasanton, CA 94566


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Dayton Soul
Event Details:
Date: Saturday 02 April 2016 -- EVENT HAS PASSED
Venue: Durrington Working Mens Club map
Address: 40 Windsor Rd, Durrington, Wiltshire, SP4 8HG - 10.5 miles
Event: Dayton Soul
Venue Facebook: facebook.com/groups/DDWMC
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Instead of writing, "We can't refund your money until you remit your expenses," turn that sentence around and make it positive:
"As soon as you remit your expenses, we will refund your money."
Some of the most appealing and persuasive words in the English language are please, thank you, yes, free, save, new, results, easy, money, now, guarantee, discovery, health, sale, safety, proven and love.
If you use those words, make sure you are using them accurately. When you make promises, keep them.