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Nicholas Thompson and Malcolm Gladwell will be chatting about track and field throughout the Olympics. You can read their first exchange here.
Nicholas Thompson: In our last exchange, we talked about one of the things I love about track: strategy in the five-thousand-metre. But now I want to ask about something less lovely: drugs. Specifically, Malcolm, how many of these guys do you think are doping? My instinct is that virtually all the men and all the women in every event shorter than four hundred metres are doped, about half of the quarter milers are doped, a few of the half milers, and very few of the long-distance runners. There are some exceptions though: Moroccan men and Russian women seem to have particular issues. The greatest dopers of all time, I suspect, were the Chinese women in the early nineties who claimed that exotic worms made them fast.
[#image: /photos/59095308ebe912338a372f53]
I would, however, be shocked if any of the top Kenyan or Ethiopian distance runners dope. I'm sure there are physiological benefits to doping in long-distance running, just as there are in long-distance cycling. (There's an interesting Science of Sport study from a few weeks ago that suggests that the winners of the Tour de France have slowed down so much since Lance Armstrong's time that it's perhaps conceivable they weren't doped this year.) But drugs haven't become part of the culture of distance running.
Malcolm Gladwell: I confess that I don't understand the relationship between long-distance running and doping. Sprinting—yes. But do we know what kind of benefit a truly élite runner in, say, the ten-thousand-metre gets from drugs?
What I've always understood is that to compete in anything from the five-thousand-metre to the marathon, you need to train at least a hundred and twenty miles a week. But most people who try to run a hundred and twenty miles a week or more will, in a relatively short period of time, get hurt. The great American distance runner Chris Solinsky is a clear example of this. He's clearly one of the finest long-distance runners in the world. Unfortunately, the amount of training he needs to do to compete at that level has so far proven too much for his body. I'm guessing there are hundreds of Chris Solinskys out there, all over the world. The limiting factor in distance running is injuries, and the greatest challenge in the sport is finding a way to make the hundred and twenty miles a week manageable.
What I don't understand is how "performance enhancing" drugs help you manage that hundred-and-twenty-mile-per-week burden. Surely the ideal performance-enhancing drug for a distance runner would be a brand-new, perfectly legal, anti-inflammatory. Nothing too complicated. Just a super-charged ibuprofen that would help injuries heal faster. Or am I being naïve?
N: How fast do you think you'd run if doped?
M: Well, for a seven-minute-mile shuffler like me, doping could really make a difference. I'm so far from optimal at this point that even caffeine works wonders. I'm joking, actually. It's not much different. What slows me down now is an arthritic big toe and a chronically sore left knee. I can only manage running every other day. I don't want something off the banned list. I want that super-charged ibuprofen!
N: As we know from the Mark Singer's great piece this week about Kip Litton, there are other ways, besides doping, that regular people can improve their times! And, actually, the caffeine issue is an important one. I used to never drink caffeine. Then I read the reports of the studies on its benefits to distance runners. Now I never go to a workout without drinking a cup. And I suspect that, if I did, I'd be at a psychological disadvantage. Something related probably happens with drugs. When you dope, you get physiological benefits and psychological ones, too. A genius coach would be one who convinces his athletes that he's doping them, but then just gives them placebos. They'd never fail drug tests, and they'd get many of the benefits.
But back to the potential benefits, wouldn't blood transfusions—like have been done so often in competitive cycling—also help an élite marathoner? During training, or even before a race, replenish your blood supply so you can carry more oxygen?
M: Yes. But here is where doping confuses me. For the three-hour marathoner, absolutely. But surely people who are already at the 99.99th percentile physically, the extra boost that might come from doping would be vanishingly small. I just don't know. It's a great question to ask an exercise physiologist.
N: Also, as you probably know, there have been some questions raised about the benefits of altitude training. In an article about Ryan Hall in the New York Times a few weeks ago, Tim Noakes, whom I consider one of the smartest sports physiologists around, suggested that altitude training was basically a placebo. " 'If you look at the literature, some people benefit and some get worse, and the general result is no effect,' Noakes said of altitude training. The placebo effect, though, can be significant, Noakes said. He urges those who believe in altitude training to continue and those who are skeptical to skip it."
M: A placebo effect is not nothing! I'm sure most élite athletes will take any edge they can get—even the purely psychological ones.
N: Do you think that countries develop training cultures where doping is accepted? I wonder if you could stamp it out by penalizing the country of someone who tests positive. A friend of mine, Daniel Yi, proposed an interesting scheme in Legal Affairs some years ago. Each nation gets to enter three people—who meet qualification standards—in each race. What if we had a rule whereby a country would only get to send two people to the next Olympics if one of their athletes got busted?
M: I thought that the problem with doping was that certain national-athletics bureaucracies were complicit with cheating. So they warn their athletes when the "random" inspections are coming. Does that suggestion solve that problem? Maybe. But I'm not sure. The great book to read in this regard, by the way, is Charlie Francis's "Speed Trap" about Ben Johnson. Johnson was the Canadian sprinter who won the hundred-metre at the Seoul Games and then got busted for steroids. Francis was his coach. The book is kind of brilliant, in a very roundabout sort of way. In it, Francis is candid about the fact that Johnson was taking drugs. But, rather awkwardly, he makes a pretty airtight case that Johnson never, ever took the drug he was accused of using. Did someone spike Johnson's sample? We now know, from a more recent book, "The Dirtiest Race in History," by Richard Moore that people from the camp of Johnson's great rival, Carl Lewis, were "accompanying" Johnson when he was giving his sample. I suppose we'll never know. Let's just say that little about the drug-testing process inspires confidence.
N: Wait: let's pause for a second. You're saying Carl Lewis drugged Ben Johnson?
M: No. I'm saying that the Johnson camp thinks that someone spiked Johnson's urine—and that someone might have been a rival. I actually wrote about this in a New Yorker piece, "Drugstore Athlete," years ago, which no one read because it had the misfortune to come out in the September 10, 2001 issue. Here's the passage:
The most striking (and unintentionally hilarious) moment in "Speed Trap" comes when Francis describes his bewilderment at being informed that his star runner had failed a drug test—for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. "I was floored," Francis writes:
"To my knowledge, Ben had never injected stanozolol. He occasionally used Winstrol, an oral version of the drug, but for no more than a few days at a time, since it tended to make him stiff. He'd always discontinued the tablets at least six weeks before a meet, well beyond the accepted "clearance time." … After seven years of using steroids, Ben knew what he was doing. It was inconceivable to me that he might take stanozolol on his own and jeopardize the most important race of his life."
Francis suggests that Johnson's urine sample might have been deliberately contaminated by a rival, a charge that is less preposterous than it sounds. Documents from the East German archive show, for example, that in international competitions security was so lax that urine samples were sometimes switched, stolen from a "clean" athlete, or simply "borrowed" from a noncompetitor.
N: I should add here that Bernard Lagat, my favorite runner, failed a drug test in 2003. However, his B sample came back negative, suggesting that the initial test was in error. And he was never punished.
Culturally, the race I'm most interested in is the eight-hundred-metre. As Scott Douglas, the great track journalist and co-author of "Advanced Marathoning," pointed out in an e-mail to me, it's the only one where there seems always to be genuine diversity. Americans are good at it; so are Europeans, and so are Africans. The top five runners of all time in the race are from five different countries. The top ten come from eight different countries. In the sprints, it's basically all Americans and Jamaicans. In the distance events, it's East Africans. Why is this race the one where everyone can succeed? It's also, curiously, as Runner's World has pointed out, the one race where the athletes don't run negative splits: in every other race, the winner generally runs the second half faster than the first. At the least, they run the last lap much faster than the rest. But in this one, nearly everyone runs the first lap faster than the second.
M: I think what happens in most track races is that they become "owned" by various nationalities. The psychologist Claude Steele's idea about stereotype threat clearly applies here. Steele showed that if you ask a black student to identify their race before they take a test like the S.A.T., they will score lower than if you never bring up their race at all. His argument was that in bringing up their "blackness" you made them aware of the stereotype that says blacks are not as intelligent while they take the test. And that the "threat" of that stereotype is powerful enough to inhibit performance. Others have done similar things with whites and the long jump. If a black instructor is running a long-jump competition, whites don't jump a far as if a white instructor is running the show. Same concept. White sprinters now face massive stereotype threat at the élite level. I would even say that all non-Jamaican sprinters at this point battle stereotype threat. (Keep in mind that I am half Jamaican.) And non-East-African distance runners have the same burden in the five-thousand-metre and the ten-thousand-metre. But the eight-hundred-metre? No one "owns" it. So there's an even psychological playing field. This is your big chance, Nick!
See our full coverage of the Games at The Olympic Scene.
Photograph, of Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis, by Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images.


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Conf chair at the full house event in Coventry, Tony Allen,
Employers are very interested in higher standards to spend their levy. There is only one month to the first deadline for getting on the apprenticeship register, you have until Nov 25th!
Carl Lomas IOC chair,
Express trailblazer is in development at level 6 for degree apprenticeship and the level two standard is in final edit for express final mile delivery' Final mile will get a one stop shop for all, driver to manager, FE and HE. 90% subsidy for none levy SMEs and the same subsidy for the large companies when they use their existing pot of funding, It looks good for the next generation workforce in our exploding sector of e-retail home delivery, final mile courier. Time is not on our side, our sector in peak will then need to be ready by April 17.
Bhavena Patel, - Standards - senior relationship manager for SFA,
New standards should be simple and there to drive quality, driven by an appetite for sector where voluntary time is available to develop the standards. The new standards should set out knowledge and behaviour for the job roles in two pages. Employers will identify the end point assessment bodies and engage them.
Una Bennett , - levy funding - deputy director for funding systems SFA,
A lot of documentation published this week. For levy payers the first payments will appear on the digital service around May 20th 2017. Govt will add their ten per cent top up. None levy payers will go to providers who have SFA contracts and 90 % payment from govt. Employers will contribute their ten per cent by provider invoicing that will have similar practice to the existing systems. 20% of funding will be held back for completion payments. Expire date for levy funds lost if not spent is extended from 18 months to two years. A thousand pound support payment for 16-18 year olds is there and further fundng for the disadvantaged. Funding bands will remain similar to existing rates. Providers may have subcontractors and end point assessment will be included in the initial contract the employer signs up to.
Una went on to talk about the new register for those who will provide apprenticeship training from the trailblazer standards, (deadline is Nov 25th 5pm) Providers can register, employers delivering their own provision can register and there is a supporting route for small provision to register. Safeguarding and protect will be in the registration requests on the governments Bravo application software, those with an Ofsted four cannot register. Fast run of slides followed to showcase the digital platform for levy that will list monthly contributions, cost, spend and subsidies for each employer who have a gateway similar to their existing PAYE platform and pass words.
Q&A hosted by Tony Allen for the SFA master class was a healthy run of hands high. Snapshot of the big answers - A levy payer spending over their account is subsidised at 90% - 20% of payments will be held back for completion and the end point assessment. – There is no cap to funding that runs beyond the employers levy pot. – One question centred around choosing a provider, Una replied, the provider list has not yet opened, we can't guarantee who will be on it at this time.'

subset: commoncrawl


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Award-winning commercials director Bruno Aveillan will make his feature directorial debut on the upcoming "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" sequel at Paramount Pictures.
Stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton are expected back for the follow-up to the $50 million fantasy comedy which grossed $226 million worldwide, proving a surprising hit overseas.
Tommy Wirkola wrote and directed the original and is penning the sequel while Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Beau Flynn and Kevin Messick are producing.
Source: Deadline


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Philadelphia Furnace Repair
Furnace Repair Services Throughout the Philly Metro Area
Your furnace, when working properly, is easy to take for granted. When the temperatures in Philadelphia and the greater Philly area start to drop, you trust that, with the flip of a switch, your home will become your warm, comfortable place to catch a little R&R. If you're in need of furnace repairs—whether your furnace is making a loud banging noise or simply won't turn on—W.F. Smith is here to help!
At W. F. Smith, Inc, Heating & Air Conditioning, we appreciate your need for rapid furnace repair. For 70 years, W. F. Smith has been synonymous with dependable home heating service and installation. Our customers trust us to for furnace repair and all of their HVAC needs. Our technicians have the experience and know-how to perform your repairs thoroughly, and in a timely manner. We'll have your home warm and toasty again in no time at all.
Fill out one of our contact forms to schedule furnace repair in the Philadelphia area.
W.F. Smith was great. They worked very professionally and neatly. They were extremely knowledgeable about the equipment and all specific HVAC practices. Would recommend them to the world!
Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair
You can't always know ahead of time when furnace repair is necessary. Sometimes you toss back the blankets and wake up to a frigid home. Other times, the signs are subtle. When you know what to look for, you may be able to avoid furnace failure, costly repairs, or possible replacement.
- Unusual odors coming from your furnace can be frightening. If you smell gas, check your pilot light. If you see a flame that's blue, there may be another issue with your lines. Evacuate your home and contact your local gas provider immediately.
- Loud noises and racket during operation is not a good thing. Fortunately, it's often indicative of a broken fan blade, or other component, which may be an easy furnace repair if caught early. For unusual noises coming from your furnace, contact W. F. Smith, Inc, Heating & Air Conditioning.
- If you find your furnace is continually running, yet not able to maintain a reasonable temperature, you need to call us for furnace repair. You may need to replace your thermostat, or failure to maintain a comfortable temperature could point to a leaking duct or pilot light problem.
- A furnace that turns on, then off, almost immediately, could indicate a problem with your motor, your thermostat, or your electrical system. Give us a call to remedy your furnace cycling problem.
- Higher-than-normal bills without unusually cold temperatures mean it's time to schedule an inspection. There could be many reasons for your less-than-efficient heating bills and putting off repairs could cost you much more in the long run.
Common Furnace Repairs in Philadelphia
Some of the most common areas that cause furnace malfunctions include:
- Ignitors
- Blower Fans / Motors
- Pilot Lights
- Thermostat
- Circuit Breaker / Fuse
- Limit Control Switch
- Thermocouple
Schedule Furnace Repair in Philadelphia, PA
Anytime your home heating system isn't working as expected, you need to call in a professional. The sooner, the better. Contact W. F. Smith, Inc, Heating & Air Conditioning today, before an easy repair becomes a costly endeavor.
Pennsylvania: Abington (19001), Bensalem (18015, 18016, 18017, 18018, 18020, 18025), Cheltenham (19012, 19027, 19038, 19095), Churchville (18966), Elkins Park (19027), Glenside (19038), Holland (18966), Horsham (19044), Huntingdon Valley (19006), Jenkintown (19046), Langhorne (19047), Meadowbrook (19046), New Hope (18938), Newtown (18940), Philadelphia, Richboro (18945), Southampton (18966), Washington Crossing (18977), Willow Grove (19090), Yardley (19067), and more.


text: Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the federation of 5 provinces Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan & Giglgit baldistan.Islamabad is the Capital and Federally Administered Tribal Area & Azad Jamu Kashmir region administered by Pakistan. So when you are applying for any kind of visa for Pakistan you must know that on that visa you cant visit Azad Jamu Kasmir or Tribal Area. You can move freely to rest of Pakistan But if you are willing to visit there also so just apply for Azad Jamu Kasmir visa also.


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A professional writer is somebody that writes for a living, which means all that person does during the working week is write. It is a person with at least a degree in English, and it is a person that has ...Read More »
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Digital Transformation of Mattel helped by Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Toymaker goes for deeper digital engagement with consumers who use Journey Builder from Salesforce Marketing. On Sept. 16, 2015, Salesforce made the announcement that Mattel Inc has signed on with the company to use the Salesforce Marketing Cloud. This will ...Read More »
Your Pebble Time Deserves A 3M Vinyl Skin
Over all the other makes and models of smartwatches, you chose the Pebble Time to wrap around your wrist. You picked the Time because of how different it is from the other options, in both design and user experience. Status-quo ...Read More »
iPhone 4s
These days, smartphones have become extensions of people themselves. Not only do they provide a crucial link to the outside world in an emergency, but they also offer up several ways to stay in contact with friends, family, and coworkers. ...Read More »
Here's How Commercial Television Displays Can Improve Your Communications And Marketing Initiatives
In today's world, it can seem like your image is everything. When it comes to advertising and marketing, this fact is of paramount importance. In fact, one study shows that our brain processes images 60,000 times more quickly than traditional text ...Read More »
Internet Security: GUARDING OUR PRIVACY
Today, we come across data breaches, cyber attacks. The world is fighting with this tough situation be it United States of America, Russia, China etc. United States of America is trying their level best to strengthen the cyber attacks so ...Read More »
The Top 5 Free Cloud CRM Software Providers Revealed
When it comes to finding the top cloud CRM software services the list can be quite long. Picking which of the cloud CRM services on that list are also worth it can make it much shorter. We've identified the top ...Read More »
SEO Is a Key Priority in Presenting Web Content
Many business owners do not view SEO as they should and give it the credit it deserves. SEO or search engine optimisation, is not some kind of buzz term that you don't have to take seriously. SEO is a very ...Read More »
Using Web Design in Gold Coast is Important to Success
Having a great looking website is essential these days for a business to gain customers off the internet. Unlike years ago, there is now much more competition, fighting for a slice of the potential profits an online presence offers.Web sites ...Read More »
What to look for when hiring a SEO Manager?
At the present time, a number of websites and blog sites are on the rise, the degree of exposure of some of them is severely affected. As a result, it is essential that all website owners who seek more and ...Read More »


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First Clip from 'Man of Steel' Featuring Amy Adams & Laurence Fishburne
Warner Bros. has released the first clip from Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. As opposed to the action-heavy TV spots we're used to seeing, the first clip features a heated conversation between Lois Lane (Amy Adams) & Perry White (Laurence Fishburne). The film centers on Clark Kent, a journalist in his twenties who was adopted as a child by Jonathan and Martha Kent after he was transported to Earth from the dying planet of Krypton. Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, & Amy Adams. Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, and Diane Lane co-star. Man of Steel hits theaters on June 14, 2013.
In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Cavill) is a young twentysomething journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond anyone's imagination. Transported to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question – Why am I here? Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Costner), Clark soon discovers that having super abilities means making very difficult decisions. But when the world needs stability the most, it comes under attack. Will his abilities be used to maintain peace or ultimately used to divide and conquer? Clark must become the hero known as "Superman," not only to shine as the world's last beacon of hope but to protect the ones he loves.
Clip courtesy of Ellen.


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Frequently Asked Questions about Debt Reduction
We work hard to help all sorts of people reduce debt, recover financially and move on with their lives. Here are some of the things they often want to know.
How long does it take?
Generally negotiations will take from a few days to 4 weeks to complete.
How much can you save me?
This largely depends on your circumstances. We are able to save you from 5% of the debt to as much as 95% of your original balance owing. If the circumstances are right we can even have your debts written off.
What if my creditor is taking legal action against me?
Contact us immediately so that we can discuss how we can stop this legal action for you and then facilitate a good settlement offer. Alternatively it is advisable to contact a lawyer to seek further advice.
Must my debts be in arrears?
Does it affect my credit rating?
No. Loans that remain under 2 months in arrears will not be credit listed, your credit will not be harmed no matter how much we save you. Accounts that are already listed as a Default with VEDA Advantage before the client engages our services will be listed as 'Settled' once our service is completed.
Will you stop legal action and phone calls?
Yes. While we are involved in mediating between you and the bank, all phone calls, letters and legal action will cease.
What if negotiations are not successful?
It is seldom we are not successful in negotiations, however if we cannot save you money you have us free.
Am I required to have Credit Mediation Services Pty Ltd negotiate all my unsecured debts?
No, however in the interest of giving you a clean break from debt it is advisable to include all or most of your debts in the negotiation program.
Could I negotiate on my own?
Yes you can. You can also repair your own car, build your extension on your house and do your own taxes, but most people choose to seek help. Most people prefer to leave these tasks to experienced people who earn their livelihood as specialists in those lines of work. We are specialists at one thing only, negotiation with financial institutions. We live and breathe to save you as much money as possible from the banks who squeeze as much money from you as possible.
Use us to negotiate your debts. You can Google this topic, but be careful as some ranking companies on this topic are insolvency specialists, which is fine if you're looking at a bankruptcy option.
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However in the end debt negotiators will generally provide their services without the client risking their house, business, and their credit rating. Additionally if you have the right profile you will have your debt dramatically reduce with guarantees in place and without you investing upfront cash for the service.


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Architectural Standards Manual
The Architectural Standards Manual is an integral component of the City's design review process. Typically, design review occurs concurrently with other development applications. Projects that require Administrative Design Review (see Meridian City Code, Title 11, Chapter 5, Article B) should meet all requirements and follow supplied checklists below. For applicability, process, and other explanations of this process, see the Introduction (Page A-3) and How to Use this Document (page B-3) sections of the Architectural Standards Manual. Don't worry, they're only several pages and mostly graphics.
City of Meridian Architectural Standards Manual | Full PDF
Administrative Design Review Overview | PDF
Administrative Design Review Checklist | Web link
Sub-category Standards Checklists
Sub-category checklists are based upon your type of structure (non-residential or residential) and your zoning district. For help identifying your sub-category, see the "How to Use This Document" on page B-3 of the Architectural Standards Manual.
Standards Checklist - Commercial (PDF)
Standards Checklist - Traditional Neighborhoods (PDF)
Standards Checklist - Industrial (PDF)
Standards Checklist - Multifamily (PDF)
Standards Checklist - Singlefamily (PDF)
City Council adopted the original City of Meridian Design Manual and new administrative Design Review process on February 4, 2009. After years of use and experience, the Design Manual was felt to be effective in encouraging attractive developments, but was burdensome to use both for architects and City staff, due to subjectivity in the guidelines and confusing application requirements. On February 16, 2016, City Council adopted a revised and renamed Architectural Standards Manual, by resolution No. 16-1120. This new Manual resulted in streamlined standards based on original guidelines, and removed most of the site and transportation discussions that were not applicable during the established Design Review process.
For Questions, contact the City of Meridian Planning Division at 208-884-5533.


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Happy New Year!! Our first meeting of 2017 will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Our meeting location is Fortino's at 1579 Main Street West in the 2nd Floor Community Room. Select the Meetings tab above for more details. Remember: No outside food or drink is allowed in our Fortino's meeting space. Light refreshments, tea and coffee will be served.
This meeting will be a social knitting night...a great time to relax after the busy holiday season! Bring your knitting and show-and-tell projects.
Here's a handy checklist of what to bring to our meeting:
- $2 door entry fee
- Money for 50-50 Draw tickets
- Your knitting projects and any to show-and-tell
- Any donations that you have knit for Out of the Cold, the Linus Project, Knitted Knockers or Twiddle Muffs.
Also, don't forget to sign up for our special outing to Johanne's Knit N Stitch on Saturday, January 14, 2017. This knitting store is located at 2049 Mount Forest Drive, Burlington, in the Mount Royal Plaza not far from the Burlington Costco. We encourage you to make your own carpool arrangements.
Johanne is welcoming us to her store at 11:00 am, where she will warmly greet us with coffee and snacks. She will give a brief presentation and will be offering 15% off most items you wish to purchase.
We need a minimum of 20 people for this outing. Please reply to firstname.lastname@example.com to register, or you may also sign up at our upcoming January meeting. Guests (non-members) are also welcomed!
We encourage you to RSVP to email@example.com ASAP!


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The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 this evening (Tuesday 13 July 2010) completed its Committee, Report and Final stages in the Seanad. The Bill has now completed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Bill as passed includes measures to give effect to An Taoiseach's strategy to deal with the issues around unemployment and income support in a more coherent way. The measures in the Bill will facilitate the Minister for Social Protection to deal with job activation within the one Government department and over time, to provide more opportunities for meaningful work activity to unemployed people.
Among the measures within the Bill are provision for the transfer of the Community Services Programme and the Rural Social Scheme from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to the Department of Social Protection, subject to a commencement order. The Bill also allows for the transfer of responsibility, and associated funding, for the employment services and community services of FÁS from the Minister for Education and Skills to the Minister for Social Protection.
Speaking after the conclusion of the Bill in the Seanad, Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Social Protection said: "The passing of the measures in the Bill mark another significant step towards integrating income support and unemployment services within one single department."
He added: "The biggest concern in many households around the country today is the loss of a job, where the household has gone from two incomes to one or from one to none. One of the priorities I have been given in my Department is to place a particular focus on job activation or helping people get back into the workforce."
Referring to the transfer of the schemes to his Department, Minister Ó Cuív said: "There are a lot of real needs in communities in terms of provision of after-school services, childcare and services for older people that we could continue to address through these schemes. There is also the semi-economic sector where we have heritage centres and tourist amenities, enterprise support units and sports clubs with gyms and all-weather facilities that can generate some of their financial income, but that will always require some small state support from work schemes.
"Best practice internationally has indicated that integrated social welfare and employment support services are the most effective way of ensuring that people are not simply assisted with income support but are facilitated to a full participation in society through employment or by developing their employment potential by means of training, education and work experience. I am committed to progressing this practice and to providing meaningful work activity for those who are unemployed," concluded the Minister.


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This is a sample review
Perfect small car
I needed a car which was inexpensive but had a long test certificate, with reasonable loadspace if possible. I got this tatty 407sw 1.8 petrol for a bargain. It has a years test certificate. It has nowhere near the loadspace of my previous skoda octavia estate, and the build is not as good. What the peugeot has is style, and comfort, and its tatty exterior is a minor inconvenience as it has a reasonable interior. If it lasts the year ill be delighted at the price, and if not, i always wanted to try one and it was fun. Id buy another and with prices low now, even great high spec late ones are only up to 4k to buy, and the peugeot diesel hdi engines will last for years.
Extra extra low mileage 87k miles/140k kilometres. Totally reliable car. 3 door Rav Sport. Removable rear seats. Have owned it for 8 years and it has never let me down. Breaks my heart to sell it but it has to go. NCT Sept 2019. Tax April 2019. A steal at €1200.
I'm now retired (72 yrs, ex military 3 countries, Fireman on foot plate Steam engins in Rhodesia,, Policeman Rhodesia, Prison Warder Rhodesia, Professional Soldier Rhodesia, Carpenter Joiner-by tradeBritian, Site manager Brittian, Senior Construction Manager Brittian - 10million plus ) bought VW Passat petrol in Suffolk where I live 3 yrs ago and never had a days problem ….German tec and its best.
Skoda octiva great all round car load of space, very easy on fuel and very comfortable to drive.
New 2019 Kia Rio diesel K1, only diesel variant available in Ireland. A serious drop in standards with this car the third Rio I have owned. Poor quality components are obvious from first sight of the car, even the carpets are of very poor grade. Window winders on the rear windows are of shockingly poor quality, all the other Rio's I have owned had electric windows in the rear. The plastic finishes in the front of the car are a throw back to the seventies even with the 7" touch screen thrown into the centre! The glove box is so small that even the manuals and service record folder don't fit into it! The boot is tiny, even smaller than the older models. More road noise too than the older variants, too soon to judge fuel and economy figures but look similar to the previous models. No air-con in this variant either despite the increase in price over previous versions. The upholstery looks quite good but the material is of poor quality and is unlikely to last the test of time. Looks like Kia are not designing the car to last any longer than the 7 year 150k km warranty. Already regretting the purchase of this car and I expect it will be my last Kia Rio!!!
It's a car of it's own you can't compare with any car it's a saab I have 2008 and 2003 but these are real cars if the creator of heaven and earth can give them the best investors oooohhh boy I'll be flyinf
Shocking on disel 550km on full tank of disel on city driving advertising 1216km
Let us know your thoughts by having your say!Write a review


text: I'm so thrilled! Apparently, a writer for the Atlanta Creative Loafing nabbed some of our eggs and decided to write about them. Glowingly. All I've got to say is that it's not us, it's the chickens. If you let these birds be themselves, then that's all you need to make a good egg. If you're in the area and want some of these "creamy, dreamy" eggs, you can start buying them the week after Thanksgiving at The Local Farmstand ,at Bella Cucina, or, through our CSA program starting up the first week of January.


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Add Pages to an Existing Photoshop Elements 10 Project
Rather than create a new, blank file, you can add pages to an existing file in the form of a project. Just follow these steps:
1Open an image in Full Photo Edit mode.
On the Welcome screen, which appears when you first launch Elements, click Edit to launch the Full Photo Edit mode.
2Right-click the photo thumbnail in the Project Bin. By default, the Project Bin opens.
The context menu appears.
3Choose either Add Blank Page or Add Page Using Current Layout.
Add Blank Page enables you to add a new, blank page. Add Page Using Current Layout enables you to duplicate the current photo as a new page.
4Save the file by choosing File→Save As and selecting Photoshop Multiple Project as your file format.
Note that the default format in the Save As dialog box is Photo Project Format (*.PSE).
All the pages you add to a project are saved as separate files in a folder created automatically by Elements. When you open any one of the images, it appears separately in the Project Bin. To open an image in the stack, click the image you want to open in the Project Bin. Clicking an image in the Project Bin opens that image in the image window.


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MAGINE a house whose walls can turn into windows that can be moved at will. Or a watery substance that can be molded into artificial human cartilage with properties exactly like the original substance. Or a cleaning brush so small that several thousand of its bristles could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.
These things might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but they're far from it. And the people who are working to produce these technologies will be converging on Honolulu this week.
From Wednesday through Friday, the University of Hawaii will host the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Multifunctional Nanocomposites International Conference. Speakers participating in the conference include two of the field's pioneers: Sir Harold Kroto, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996 for helping discover a nanotech building block called the buckyball; and Pulickel Ajayan, a key figure in the development of the carbon nanotube, another basic component of nanotechnology.
For academics like Ghasemi Nejhad, the founder and director of UH's Hawaii Nanotechnology Laboratory, hosting the meeting helps validate the laboratory's work producing such things as nanotech composite material that can be used to strengthen everything from surfboards to airplane wings.
Previous conferences have been held at universities such as Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nejhad said.
The conference is being produced by the ASME, UH and Oceanit Laboratories Inc.
Like nano particles, the conference is small -- but important.
"It's only maybe 150 people, but these are the key people working in nanotechnology," said Vinod Veedu, senior nanotechnology engineer with Oceanit.
Local technology professionals see an opportunity to hear leaders of a field full of business opportunities.
"I'm going there for an education," said Sharon Webb, a medical doctor and lawyer who works with Hawaii biotech startups as a member of Vantage Counsel in Honolulu.
"There are a number of presenters who can get people up to speed on the state of the art," said Webb, who has taught surgery as Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Tufts University. "The presenters seem like they're first-rate in their fields."
The conference is about more than pure science. The meeting also will explore applications for nanotechnology and include a business plan competition featuring mainland researchers and startups that are trying to convert their nanotechnology into the next big thing.
Among them is Chuck Soponis, chief executive of Nanotherapeutics Inc. of Gainesville, Fla. Nanotherapeutics is working to use nanotechnology to enhance the effectiveness of drugs by increasing their "bioavailability." Already the company has had some successes, improving by many times the bioavailability of one antibiotic in experiments with animals, Soponis said.
"It shows the power of nanotechnology when dealing with drugs," he said.
What all of this has in common is that the scientists are creating these technologies using incomprehensibly small building blocks. The nanometer, from which nanotechnology takes its name, is one millionth of a millimeter. The bristles on Nejhad's cleaning brush are 5,000 times thinner than a human hair.
Hard as it may be to imagine manipulating things so small, what's even weirder is what happens to particles this size. The laws of ordinary Newtonian physics no longer apply to them; instead, they are bound by the more esoteric laws of quantum physics. According to these laws, particles of matter can move through seemingly impenetrable barriers, or appear to be in two places at the same time, said Wil McCarthy, an aerospace engineer and chief executive of the Programmable Matter Corp., a Colorado-based nanotech materials firm.
McCarthy is working on several applications using devices called quantum dots, which resemble artificial atoms. While some scientists are using quantum dots to create super-efficient solar electricity cells, McCarthy is applying them to optics. One vision within reach, he said, is a "programmable house" with windows that could be moved around on walls at will. And that's just the beginning.
"If you think of everything in your office as being made of some kind of material, it's not inconceivable for everything around you to be made of programmable materials," he said.
"You can't really think of nanotechnology as one thing," said Erik Miller, a mechanical engineer and polymer scientist from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who plans to present his team's nanotech synthetic cartilage during the conference's venture competition. "Nanotechnology is a toolbox. It's an application to a lot of things."
Applications: Nanotechnology is widely used in advanced materials, including such down-to-earth items as stain-proof slacks, sunblock and plastics used in automobiles. Scientists are also researching the use of nanotechnology for a host of things: from making better drugs to creating tiny robots that can be used for space exploration.


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Banking Solicitor
- Recruiter
- Pro Legal Recruitment Specialists
- Location
- London (Greater)
- Salary
- £85000 - £110000 per annum
- Posted
- 31 Oct 2018
- Closes
- 19 Nov 2018
- Job Function
- Lawyer
- Industry
- Secretarial / Administration, Legal
- Position Type
- Permanent
Banking Solicitor
£85,000 - £110,000
This future-thinking team are seeking an Associate with 3-6 years general banking experience. The banking and finance team are part of the larger corporate group and are an integral part of the business with their technical excellence.
The team focus on advising borrowers on various types of new bank finance both in the context of M&A/PE/Property deals and the restructuring and re-financing of existing facilities. Currently acknowledged for their expertise in general banking transactions and real estate finance, part of their vision is to strengthen their leveraged finance offering.
This is a rare opportunity for a technically strong Banking and Finance Lawyer who is looking to leave the politics of private practice behind, whilst still enjoying a varied workload working with multiple clients. Opportunities within also include frequent client secondments in both the UK and overseas.
The ideal individual will;
- Be 3-6 years PQE
- Have a leveraged ,acquisition and/or general finance background
- Ideally have experience of external and intra-group restructuring related finance work
- Be enthusiastic to work in a variety of banking and finance areas
If you would like to discuss this opportunity further or make an initial application, please contact me directly at email@example.com or via the relevant links on this page.
The Pro-Recruitment Group consists of four distinct brands: ProTax, ProLegal, ProFinance and ProHR


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Presenting a close up look at a pristinely well preserved and rare Pra Khun Phaen Pong Prai Kumarn, with 6 code stamps on front face, and Pra Somdej indent on rear face, with bronze wanich and sai rae tong kam golden coating. This is a master class Khun Phaen of LP Tim, which won first prize trophy during the August 2561 BE LP Tim amulet competition of the Samakom Luead Ban Kaay Luang Phu Tim amulet association.
This Model is Pra Khun Phaen pok Pim Niyom Sao Mee Sen, in Pink Prai Kumarn Powders with Sai rae Tong Kam golde coating, 6 code stamps on front face, amd Pra Somdej coin impression indented into rear face. this Amulet won first prize trophy during the highly esteemed Amulet competition of the Luead Ban Kaay Lp Tim Amulets association, for its impressive beauty and originality, in the category of Pra Khun Phaen with coin impressions in rear face.
Luang Phu Tim Issarigo, was of course not only one of the most highly acclaimed and sought after Guru Monks for his amulets in his lifetime, amd posthumously, but is also the holder of the highest esteem in Thai Buddhist amulet history for Pong Prai Kumarn powders. Luang Phu Tim, is Internationally Acclaimed, for his famous Pra Khun Phaen Pong Prai Kumarn, and Look Om powder balls.
As to the classic 'Rian' type coin image amulets which have become all time favourites, and eternally, world famous classic amulets of the high end variety. His rian Jaroen Porn, and Rian Nakprok Paed Rorp are amongst the most highly sought after coin amulets of all.
An exquisitely beautiful Pra Khun Phaen Prai Kumarn 2515 BE Pim Yai Niyom Block Tong Hlueang (Block 2) Hlang Dtok Dtaeng Niyom Nuea Chompoo with Khaw Hniaw Suk & Pong Prai Kumarn Ta Bronze Wanich Dtem Ongk, code Sala (crown code stamp), code 3, and quadruple code Pidta embossed on the front face, with the indented image of a Rian Pra Somdej Lor LP Tim embossed into the rear face as an indentation.
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- Paperback: 248 pages
- Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (December 22, 2010)
- Language: English
password: pcgeekers.com
Product Description
While media buzz regularly circulates around iPhone and Android, Nokia still leads the pack in terms of world market share. Symbian, for instance, remains the most widely used mobile operating system. With Nokia's open development platform, the opportunities available for mobile developers to target this vastly popular operating system are abundant and clear.
- Use Qt to target both platforms: Symbian, the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, as well as MeeGo, the Intel/Nokia platform for mobile devices.
- Develop HTML5 applications for both Symbian and MeeGo platforms that will run with little modification on other mobile platforms.
- Novice developers learn the basics of Qt with a mobile slant, giving them the ability to target both desktop and mobile platforms.
What you'll learn
- How to do Qt basics
- What is QML or the Qt Markup Language
- What is Qt for Meego and how to use it
- and how to use it
- How to work with the Web Runtime
- Why mobile development is different
- How to port/support MeeGo and Symbian platforms
Who this book is forThis must-have book is for mobile developers wanting to target the Meego and Symbian platforms (either as the sole platform or in cross-platform development), and existing mobile developers wanting to start using Qt.
Table of Contents
- Introducing Nokia's Software Platform
- Designing Your Application
- Working with the Nokia Qt SDK
- Beginning Qt Development
- Doing More with Qt
- Introducing Qt Quick
- Developing with HTML5
- Testing Your Application
- Deploying Your Application
About the AuthorA bio is not available for this author.
Ray Rischpater is a freelance consultant and author with over eight years of experience writing about and developing for handheld computing platforms. During this time, Ray has participated in the development of Internet technologies for J2ME, QUALCOMM BREW, Palm OS, Newton, and Magic Cap, and proprietary operating systems for vertical handheld computers. In addition, he's consulted during the development of websites for wireless devices using HTML and WAP. Ray is a senior software engineer at Rocket Mobile, Inc. and holds a bachelor's degree in pure mathematics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is the author of Wireless Web Development, Second Edition and Wireless Web Development with PHP and WAP.


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Contact UsContact Us To Find Out More
Common Eye ConditionsPatient Information
GP FinderFind a GP
Cheshire LOC
Cheshire Local Optical Committee represents all Optometrists who practise in Central, East Cheshire and Western Cheshire
The Committee works on all issues relating to NHS Optometric Services in the county including GOS sight tests, GOS Regulations and Terms of Service, Clinical Governance and Enhanced Services.
The Committee holds its AGM during March or April each year and all contractors and optometrists practicing in the area are encouraged to attend. The last AGM was held on the 15th March 2018 at the Cottons Hotel in Knutsford.
The Committee meets approximately 4 times a year, if you are interested in attending as an observer click here.
Minutes from the last AGM meeting can be downloaded by going to the documents section.


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I really really try not to rant on here that often, but this one really does deserve it. This story basically indicates that after a sexual encounter a woman is entitled to do whatever she wants with your sperm including impregnate herself and then sue you for child support and win. Honestly this just reaffirms my stance that you simply cannot trust women at all because there are too many legal loopholes they can exploit to either financially exploit you or outright ruin your life (false rape charges for example). Given that this went down in Chicago I really shouldn't be surprised; the city has to be one of the most fucked up and corrupt in the entire nation.
Honestly at this point every man should be at least wary of this happening to him now that a legal precedent has been established, but honestly the only way to be 100% sure is to use multiple forms of contraception including a vasectomy, that way when some disgusting and decietful woman attempts to pull the baby-trap-card you can properly decimate her in a way that hopefully crushes her very soul.


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My Love Hina Marathon
As many of my regular visitors know by now, I live in a pretty rural area, where it's 65 km to the nearest small town and an even longer trip to the big city. Well, Earlier this week I had the opportunity to travel to the big city to pick up the complete Love Hina DVD collection. When I say "complete" I actually mean season 1. There were also a few subsequent Holiday Specials and a three-part Original Video Animation entitled Love Hina Again that I have to get my hands on still. So I'm going to get that the next time I'm in the city. It's pretty common in anime for the show to change it's title between seasons, mainly as a way of signifying the start of a new story arc.
I had never seen Love Hina before, despite it being one of the more popular animes, so I decided it would be fun to pull an all nighter marathon and watch all 25 episodes in one night. Here is my account of that night.
Disk One
I popped in disk one at about 6.30pm. Sat down on my couch and instantly fell in love with the Love Hina theme song. The credits are all in Japanese, despite the fact the theme song is subtitled, and I have the option of watching the show with either Japanese or English Audio. The first episode was a little hard to watch, but subsequent episodes get much better.
Basically, the first episode sets the storyline, which is to be expected. I learn that Keitaro Urushima is a young male with his eyes set on enrolling in Tokyo University because of a promise he made to a girl he liked back fifteen years ago. Of course, in classic slice-of-life/sitcom style, he can't remember her name.
He also accidentally is hired on to become the new manager at Hinata Inn - an "all girls" apartment complex that his grandmother owns. And the girls are not happy to have a male around, as pointed out by the fact that fifteen of the twenty-two minutes of the first episode are spent by watching Keitaro-kun daydream, do something stupid, and then get beat up by the girls. The girl who becomes the central female lead in subsequent episodes - Naru Narusegawa - packs one hell of a mean punch. In the second and third episodes (chronologically speaking, parts of episode two actually overlap with episode one) introduces two new tenants: Shinobu Maehara (In episode two) and Motoko Aoyama (episode 3).
Shinobo-chan comes to the Inn due to family turmoil, which Keitaro-kun's first real duty as manager is to help her. Aoyama-san was on a swordsmaster retreat when Keitaro had been hired. Keitaro's duty of the day is to prove himself worthy to this thirteenth generation swordmaster.
At 7.30 I pour myself a coffee and watch as Narusegawa-san and Keitaro-kun go on a vacation to Kyoto where they meet the lovely - and almost as accident prone as keitaro-san - Mutsumi Otohime. Hilarity ensues. It also begins to become painfully obvious that Shinobo-chan has a crush on Keitaro.
At 9pm I pour another coffee and pop in disk 2.
Congratulations! You're Still Reading this!
I would not advise marathoning through this collection.
Disk 2
I'm going to reduce the amount of times I use honarariums at this point. It's probably easier to understand if I just use the cast members first names. New coffee in hand and a cigarette break later, I'm settling in to watch another disk of Love Hina.
There's not much to report here, actually, except that Episode 10 is definately going to make for some nice Anime Music Video material, as Naru becomes a pop sensation, falling behind on her Tokyo U studies, and getting frustrated with Keitaro when he actually plays the responsible one between the two of them. With quite a few segments of Naru singing, it is perfect for AMV footage.
I had just poured myself another coffee before watching this episode, which started at about 10.45pm. By this point, I had already grabbed my blanket and was now laying down on my couch to watch the show. Shinobu's feelings for Keitaro were explored in depth in another episode, Kaolla Su has some cool magical powers, and a new cast member is introduced: Dr. Seito, a professor at Tokyo University - also Naru's former tutor, crush, and the man she made a promise to in order to enter Tokyo University.
Disk 3
Cigarette breaks, bathroom breaks, and coffee breaks combined, I pop in this disc at about 12.30 in the morning. At this point I was getting pretty tired, and had just poured myself another coffee, not to mention my cat starting to get pretty demanding - he loves attention and can get hyper when ignored - I was starting to become a little distracted, so forgive me if I accidentally mention an episode on disk 4 in this group, or vice-versa.
The story arc on this disk covers two things: Keitaro trying to come to terms with Naru's feelings for Seta-sensei, and a trip to the beach to restore a coffeehouse that is also owned by the Hinata family. As usual, Naru gets mad at Keitaro because he does something clumsy, and by the time they leave the beach (the coffeehouse arc covers three episodes) things are not exactly resolved, but Naru decides to forgive Keitaro anyways.
After the beach/coffeehouse storyline, I really needed to use the bathroom. Interestingly enough, I also brew a fresh pot of coffee at this time. It is now 2.45, and sleep deprivation and an attention-seeking cat were struggling to take me away from my marathon. I was also starting to get confused as to whether the show was just a show, or real life - In other words, I was dreaming while I was awake.
There are a few more episodes, in which the clumsy Mutsumi moves closer to the Hinata apartments so she can enroll in Tokyo U, Kaolla's past is explored (again), and Keitaro and Mutsumi are enchanted by a doll/remnant (ghost created by a promise from someone's ancestor).
3.45, I'm ready to watch the last disk in this collection.
Have you watched Love Hina
Disk 4: The Final Disk
Disk 4 covers a significant and important story arc, so I'm really glad I didn't fall asleep. Naru begins to become painfully aware of her own feelings for Keitaro, and we also find out more about Mutsune's feelings concerning Keitaro. The trio's history is fleshed out in full here, and we find ourselves with what would be considered a romantic comedy, if not worthy of Ryan Gosling, then at least Hugh Grant.
Of course this seems like a fitting conclusion and leads up to the moment we have all been waiting for - Naru to finally realise she is in love with Keitaro. This of course becomes complicated when Naru finds an old photograph (actually found by Naru's stepsister) that leads her to believe that Mutsune is the young girl that Keitaro made his Tokyo University promise to, several years ago. This jealousy is also partially what awakens her to her feelings as well.
The storyline unofficially begins when Naru's younger stepsister, Mei, comes to the Hinata Inn to try and get Naru to give up on Tokyo University and come home. Mei seems to think that Keitaro is the person that is preventing Naru from leaving, so she goes out of her way to try and bring him closer to Mutsune. At 4.30 in the morning the storyline is getting really interesting, as it's been known for a while that Mutsune has feelings for Keitaro.
Meanwhile, while Naru begins to feel more and more jealous, Keitaro has a long talk with Mei, and begins to understand why Mei would want her sister to return. As well, Keitaro's grandmother "Granny Hina" moves back, announcing renovations that will force the Inn to be closed for a few days. While the girls are all deciding where to stay - Keitaro will be staying with Mutsune - Keitaro tries to convince Naru to return home with her younger sibling - because of his earlier conversation with Mei. Naru gets confused, thinking that he's changed his mind and fallen for Mutsune, and gets pissed off at both Keitaro and herself.
At this point, I'm once again daydreaming - at 5 in the morning, and decide to take a cigarette break and make yet another pot of coffee. I give my cat a few treats and sit up on the couch to make sure I don't fall asleep. I then unpause and find Naru in conflict with herself. She reveals to Keitaro her knowledge of his Mutsune's promise and runs away in tears, leaving Keitaro conflicted between the girl he loves, and the girl he made his promise to.
Of course, everything gets resolved in a nice little package - thanks to Shinobu's efforts and a whirlwind of confusion. Surprisingly, I'm a little worried that they did not invoke the "deus ex machina" clause in anime, in which everything resolves itself in the last three minutes of the storyline. In fact, it took a full episode to resolve all the conflict created in the last few. How did it get resolved? Well, I don't want to put in any more spoilers than I already have, so you'll just have to watch it yourself.
As well, there seems to be a tradition in anime that they always complete the main story before the season actually ends, and this is no exception. I believe it's because they order seasons on a per episode basis, so when they ordered twenty-five episodes of Love Hina and the season finale was on episode twenty-four, they had to create some filler. As such with this one, the final episode has little to do with the main plot, as Mitoko's sister comes to pass on the dojo under one condition: Mitoko must defeat her sister in battle within three days, or else marry Keitaro.
6.00 am, three pots of coffee, 25 episodes, four disks. This was one fun night, but I am going to have to watch the shows again, at a much slower pace. I was thoroughly impressed with the storyline, but to get a deeper understanding of the series, follow it better, and maybe get some ideas for a few more "Anime Philosophy" articles, I'm going to need to let my brain absorb some of the information. I did enjoy the show, but I can't properly critique it unless my mind rests between a few episodes. Plus the whole confusing the show with reality kind of scared me, so I think it might be a while before I do that again. Oh, did I mention I had to work that day?
Haha this was a pretty interesting read. Back in the day I used to marathon episodes of Sailor Moon when the sets came out way back in like 2004, though not for nearly as long. Impressive that you survived! I actually want to try something similar I'm motivated to do this for a series one day before my summer break ends!


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You are here
BMW denies manipulating or rigging diesel emission tests
[FRANKFURT] German top-of-the-range carmaker BMW on Thursday denied suggestions in a newspaper report that it might have cheated in pollution tests on its diesel cars, as rival group VW has admitted to doing.
"The BMW group does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests. We observe the legal requirements in each country and adhere to all local testing requirements," it said in a statement after a report in the weekly Auto Bild claimed that emissions from one of its diesel cars exceeded European Union norms by 11 times.
The report had sent BMW's shares into a tailspin on the Frankfurt stock exchange, as investors feared that other manufacturers were also involved in the massive pollution scam at Volkswagen.
According to Auto Bild, one of BMW's diesel cars produced dangerous gases that exceed EU anti-pollution limits.
"Volkswagen is not the only carmaker whose cars produce high levels of nitrogen oxide," said the magazine, accusing certain vehicles of the BMW group of the same.
It quoted road tests carried out by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) which found that BMW's X3 xDrive equipped with 20d diesel motors produce gas emissions that are 11 times higher than European limits.
"All these data show that the problem is not specific to VW," Peter Mock from ICCT was quoted as saying.
The ICCT had been at the origin of the stunning revelations of cheating by Volkswagen, which went public last Friday when the United States announced a probe.
"When it comes to our vehicles, there is no difference in the treatment of exhaust emissions whether they are on rollers (eg test bench situation) or on the road," BMW said.
"We are not familiar with the test mentioned by Auto Bild concerning the emissions of a BMW X3 during a road test. No specific details of the test have yet been provided and therefore we cannot explain these results," it said.
"We will contact the ICCT and ask for clarification of the test they carried out," the carmaker added.
Investors appeared sceptical.
After already falling nearly 10 per cent earlier, the shares were still showing a loss of 6.7 per cent after the company's denial.


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One Piece Merchandise
So who doesn't love One Piece? If you are a hardcore fan of the anime then obviously you'll have some space for One Piece Merchandise in your hearts as well as in your pockets. Bringing you some of the best One Piece merchandise from around the world, these are the things that will be hard for you to ignore.
Ranging from awesome One Piece t-shirts to One Piece action figures, One Piece mugs to cool One Piece keychains, there's something for everyone in the One Piece collection by Kill Ping Online Store. Get something for your favorite character in One Piece and add something beautiful to your one piece collection at home.
One Piece is undoubtedly the best anime you can follow. The extremely deep storyline that is full of twist and turns makes One Piece a must watch anime that you just can't get bored of. What's more interesting to know is that even being such a lengthy anime, One Piece had the least amount of fillers in it but were still intriguing enough to keep viewers on their toes.
The never ending journey of Luffy to become the Pirate King and the entire crews quest of finding One Piece itself gets better and better with each passing day making the anime simply unmatched. This is why collecting one piece merchandise seems like the perfect hobby of its anime lovers.
A lot of items in the one piece merchandise are also on exclusive discounts so be sure to grab them while the offer lasts or until stock ends. Kill Ping Online Store currently boasts a huge list of awesome collectibles with more to come in future. Browse through the long list of one piece merchandise and get yourself something now.


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Stance'.
Found 9 results
Breadvan inspiration
eurorob posted a topic in Polo ChatRecently bought myself a breadvan, had one years ago and when I saw this forsake it brought back memories so I just had to buy it, looking for a bit of inspiration for what to do with her, I'm fancing a bit of a retro stance kind of look for it but what pics have you guys got to give me inspiration
Bolt on Wide Arches
ellisecw posted a topic in Bodywork, Interior and TrimNow, me and the other half are looking at putting a wide arch kit on car as my OH rushed the job with an arch roller. I'll honest this is actually on a Jetta, but you guys helped me massively with my old polo. We just wondered if anyone had heard anything along the lines of; once the arches have been cut and welded back, do the tyres tend to catch on the arches that have been cut back. As we dont want to cut the arches out and not be able to drop the car as much as we want. Doesn't matter if the advice isn't for a polo golf or jetta. any help is much appreciated.
9n polo stancing
Bwheeler posted a topic in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and BrakesHello all, recentely rebuilt the engine on my 1.2 9n polo and got so much satisfaction that I now have a new found love for my polo. Starting to have it as a project car now and as a start I'm wanting to stance it out. However I am new to this and I need some advice. I will be starting with coilovers and following that with banded steels however I don't know what size banded steels will look best. Any advise on how to work that out? And photos of other people's 9n's will be appreciated, thanks for you help
Flash Red 1.4 8v - New Updates!
AllanHardie posted a topic in Mk5 PoloHi everyone, recently bought myself a car some may know/have seen due to its feature in FastCar magazine, well the car was sold in march for £2500 to someone who really never looked after the car, ran it into the ground, and didnt care about it, i seen the car come up for sale and seen the potential in it straight away. I sold up my impreza and made the journey in a recovery truck to collect her. The bad bits list is never ending .. 4 bald tyres wheels need a refurb no tax no mot no cd player as it was stolen no windows worked drivers door loom was melted/ caught fire wires and cables everywhere bumper scratched/ grazed bonnet covered in water marks due to face mask small dents in body work very dirty drivers side front bearing gone no handbrake rear brakes needed done front brakes needed done ABS sensor away and soo on .. the good parts now 2 way rayvern air ride suspension, shortened struts and firestone bags 380cc Compressor 6.5j Banded space savers tidy enough car except the dirt and dings false floor smoothed boot GTI seats GTI Headlights and only 75k miles on the clock Full face mask "gimp" mask will be for sale, aswell as banded space savers with 4 brand new tyres soon.
Suspension Kits - A Rough Guide
harris.racing posted a topic in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and BrakesThought I'd put together a quick post with regards to suspension kits/setups. I regularly see the same questions asked, particularly on social media with regards to suspension kits, lowering cars etc; so I thought I would try and generalise some advice. Generally, the majority of people seem to want to lower their car, which can be achieved in several ways. Cheapest option: Lowering springs. These can be bought cheaply, and of different brands and quality. Often designed with a few of the coils designed to go coil-bound under the vehicles weight, this ensures the spring is still properly seated with the suspension in full rebound, but also allows it to sit lower under its weight. Generally, you get what you pay for - the springs will tend to be a different rate to standard, and totally change the character of a car, therefore the standard dampers will no longer be matched to the rest of the vehicle. You may find it doesn't drive too great with just lowering springs, or you suffer premature wear of your dampers. Spring and shock kit: As mentioned above, damping can be an issue with lowering springs - not just the damper settings themselves, but also the range of travel the damper has - generally a lowering spring will be both shorter and stiffer, so to ensure it has the correct amount of pre-load, dampers matched to lowering springs tend to have reduced travel. You can spend between £100 and probably £1500 on a spring and shock kit. Cheaper kits will do the job - but probably won't be as good a quality, or have had any of the R&D which a more expensive kit will have had (Bilstein for example) Dependant on your vehicle platform, ride heights can be adjustable with a spring and shock kit via a circlip on the damper body, however, not as accurately as 'coilovers' Coilovers: People commonly describe a lowering kit with threaded height adjusters as coilovers, when really coilovers just means a coil spring over the damper, so technically every standard polo has coilovers on at least the front, and on the rear on some models too. However, for ease of description, coilovers are a spring and damper kit, which generally has threaded adjusters for adjusting ride heights. This is what people tend to go for to get their cars really low (although a lot of them aren't actually approved to go as low as people run them) These are great for tweaking your ride heights, and particularly if you have a track car, setting up the corner weights accurately. Again, you get what you pay for, cheap coilovers can be had for around £150 and up to and over £2000. Cheaper ones tend to again 'do the job' by lowering the car, however handling and ride quality tend to be somewhat sacrificed. More premium brands such as KW put more development into their kits, therefore you are paying towards that, but essentially end up with a better product. Air Ride I don't really have any experience with after market air suspension, so wouldn't like to comment on what is good and bad. Air will let you drive your car at a sensible height, then release air from the air springs to lower your car to look better. Air springs can be a very tunable component, however I have no idea how much thought is put into this for after market kits. Certainly sleeve bags can be made to have linear and non linear rates so you could essentially make a great kit if the effort was made. From what I have seen a lot of kits use bellow style bags, which I don't really know anything about. Air can be bought cheaply second hand, or you could pay up to £10000 getting a good kit professionally installed. Summary When it comes to suspension, the first thing you should ask yourself is 'What am I trying to achieve?' Generally you are compromising a car from what the manufacturer originally created when you start fitting after market suspension, so you need to decide what you are willing to compromise, whether that be ride quality, handling, durability, practicality and so on. Personally I would save up as much as possible to buy the best quality kit you can, it may even pay to buy a premium Spring and Shock kit, instead of a cheap coilover kit. I have witnessed lots of horrors with after market suspension kits, with regards to how they are fitted, or removing parts to make cars lower etc. Just bare in mind, if things like helper springs and bump stops are supplied with a kit, they are supposed to be fitted - if the manufacturer didn't deem them necessary, they wouldn't put them in! When you are driving along and the vehicle goes into a heave moment, such as a small "jump" in the road the main springs become unloaded, without helper/tender springs, the force of the spring acting on the tyre contact patch is lost, the same thing happens when cornering - as the car rolls and the inside of the car essentially lifts up, the spring becomes unloaded, this results in a huge difference in contact patch loading on the tyre, which could well result in erratic and dangerous handling characteristics. Here is an example with a tender spring correctly fitted. The vehicle has its wheel off the ground, so the damper is at its maximum rebound travel, yet the spring is still preloaded: Here is an example without a tender spring fitted, note the gap at the top of the spring, this means there is a lot less force acting on the tyre (basically just the weight of the unsprung mass hanging down) but also when the suspension is compressed again it will have very little force due to no spring resistance, and then a sudden large build up of force: You will find with more expensive coilover kits, the height adjustment range is a lot less than that of cheaper ones, this is because it has been designed to work around a certain range, and optimised for that. This is a key indicator that cheaper kits which have a huge lowering range aren't perhaps as great as people think. I have tried to explain in simple terms to help people understand, but anyway, I hope this brings some help to someone!
Mehow's first car - 6n2 16v
mehowski posted a topic in Mk5 PoloHey guys, my name is Mehow and I'm an 18 year old lad from London. I've written up a much more detailed thread about my car on Stance Works, however I thought i'd be fitting to make a thread on here too. The S|W thread is way more detailed as I got quite tucked into the write up over there, but I'll cut it down for you guys here Long story short, back in November I was one of those 17 year old who just passed their driving test I got myself a part time job and saved up enough to afford my first car (with a little help from my parents, who I've not payed back) My insurance restricted me to a 1.4, so the hunt for the more desirable 16v begun I'm a true car guy, so I've done my research at this point and I knew exactly what I wanted Canyon Red SE, 51 reg with a sunroof and rear speakers Then this thing came up for sale not too far away Black Diamond Magic S, X reg... full poverty spec, no speakers, no sunroof no nothing. The cup holder was the only optional extra her The good bits? Most of the service history was in tact, it only had 79,000 miles on the clock and the guy wanted £680 for it I sent my dad off to take a look at it whilst I was at school (my dad is not into cars, sending him was the first mistake of this whole build) Dad was happy, I was happy, why wouldn't I be right?? Insurance and tax sorted, and my dad even haggled the £80 Fast forward to 9:00 on the same day, it's dark and rainy and I'm outside The central locking works, lucky me looks like the ebay central locking has held up First time I drove a car since passing my test 3 months ago, it was rainy and dark. 40 mins later I make it home Next morning I get to see what I really spent my money on Halfords wheels from the previous owner are there Paint is scratched to shit But, the important thing here is, I just purchesed my first car - to say I was excited was a very very big understatement It may have been budget spec, however... The engine is more powerfull than your average 6n2, theres disks and callipers on the front and back and the tires were fairly sporty and new If it's just me in the car, this thing whizzes - perfect little motor for me, the sort of raw driving experience I dreamt about before buying a car 1 week into ownership, engine light comes on Now let's get this straight, I'm poor and even £100 worth of expenses into my first week of owner ship seemed dreadful to me I booked myself a slot at the local mechanic I shall leave the story here and carry on tomorrow, I have plent of updates to come Thank you for reading
Lowering - the practical limits
Fireballuke posted a topic in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and BrakesSo guys I have decided that due to there being absolutely no information on the limits of lowering your car; be it coilovers, springs or bags. I would like you to post a picture of your car along with a tape measure next to it showing how far it is from the ground. Along with a short list of the pro's and con's of the height you have set your car with the set up you are using. Keep it short guys Please note that this will not be a competition, it is going to be the only source for a lowering guide
Lowering a Mk2 Polo
ollyfawcett posted a topic in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and BrakesHi all, I've just bought my first car- a Mk2 Polo Coupe S 1.3 from 1990. Before the face-lift to the mk2f. I've got some engine upgrade plans in my mind, but I want to get it looking sweet first. So, I need some help. My mechanical knowledge/ability, although not non-existent, is relatively limited. So i thought the easiest and safest way to do this, would be to ask, heres the deal: I want to lower the car a bit, not all that much, just enough that it handles and drives better, and looks better. I don't want it scraping on speed bumps though. What do I need? Who do I need? What cost am I looking at? I'd rather spend more and get a proper job, then spend the bare minimum and have it shitty. like I said, its not just for looks, I want it to handle better round corners and feel smoother when cruising at higher speeds. Thanks for any suggestions, Olly [Pictures] http://gyazo.com/f6834494862ce22df00db8eebebea3a3
my 6n2 1.4 16v
jaike7 posted a topic in Mk5 PoloBought a silver 6n2 last wednesday, found one completely standard which is a bonus. I have loads of plans for this, low and slow is the main idea, needs a good tidy up and MOT sorting before any of that starts though!


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As world Muslim population soars, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has stated that 71% of Sierra Leoneans are Muslims. According to a new study of more than 200 countries, the number of Muslims in the world hits 1.7 billion.
This number represents about 23% of an estimated 2009 world population of 6.8 billion people. More than 300 million Muslims, or one-fifth of the world's Muslim population, live in countries where Islam is not the majority religion, the survey stated.
While 80% of the world's Muslims live in countries where Muslims are in the majority, significant numbers – about one-fifth of the world's Muslim population – live as religious minorities in their home countries. Of the roughly 317 million Muslims living as minorities, about 240 million – about three-quarters – live in five countries: India (161 million), Ethiopia (28 million), China (22 million), Russia (16 million) and Tanzania (13 million).
Sub-Saharan Africa, which includes 50 countries and territories, has about 241 million Muslims, which is about 15% of the world Muslim population.
Nigeria has the largest Muslim population in Sub-Saharan Africa, with about 78 million Muslims (about 50% of Nigeria's total population).
Almost one-in-three Muslims (about 32%) in Sub-Saharan Africa live in Nigeria. Western Africa is the only area in Sub-Saharan Africa with a Muslim majority. In contrast, the southern part of Africa has the smallest Muslim population.
Sub-Saharan Africa is also home to a number of countries that have very large Muslim majorities. Countries with the highest percentages of Muslim populations are: Mauritania (99%), Niger (99%), Somalia (99%), Mayotte (98%), Comoros (98%), Djibouti (97%), Senegal (96%), Gambia (95%), Mali (93%), Guinea (84%) and Sierra Leone (71%).
The combined Muslim population of all these countries is about 67 million, or about 4% of the global Muslim population.


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Afterwards we trotted down the road to an ice cream shop called Ouca that specialises in Japanese ices, with flavours such as green tea, sweet beans or miso. With this you also get a cup of hot wheat tea which has a wonderful roasted flavour, and a pinch of salted seaweed flakes to cleanse the palette after the sugar intake.
Monday, 23 May 2011
Friday Night
On friday night our friend Tatsuya took us to a great little eatery in Ebisu. I couldn't tell you the name of it and I would only just about recognise it from the outside, but it was a rabbit warren of lots of different little restaurants under one roof, where most of the seats were made of crates and the tables were makeshift boards on crates. There was a great atmosphere and a tasty selection of food from okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), to yakitori (food on skewers), to beef sashimi. It was all washed down with nama birru (draft beer) served in tin cups.
Posted by Katie Gordon at 11:28 No comments:
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Japanese Cut Paper Class
Last week I did a taster class in Japanese cut paper art. This is a traditional Japanese technique where layers of paper (usually washi paper) are cut into to create a picture. Most of them tend to be very involved and intricate, and take years to master. Luckily we started with a relatively easy piece and our lovely teacher had set it all up ahead of time for us, so that we just followed exactly what she told us to do. She had chosen an image from a piece of art by the artist Sharaku and she had drawn out the template of where we should cut, so that there was little room to go wrong. The template is placed over about 5 layers of paper which are stapled together and then we cut out sections of the image, depending on what colour we want and where. I have shown the steps below. I was rather pleased with the result!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 15:16 No comments:
Friday, 20 May 2011
Taking it too far?!
We went to a friend's apartment for dinner the other night and as we were waiting for the lift, we were bemused to see a lift button with a dog picture on it. When we got in the lift, there was another button with a dog on it and a sign saying "Please press the pet button first when you are with pets". When we asked our friend what this meant, she said that if you get in the lift with a dog, you have to press the dog button which then alerts fellow lift riders that you are "with dog". They can then choose whether to get in or let the lift ride on by!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 10:53 No comments:
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Naughty Trousers
I found these trousers yesterday and had to share them. The idea is great - the back pocket, when lined in a fab pink colour, becomes a smiling mouth. Then turn the pocket inside out and it becomes quite rude!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 10:12 No comments:
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Glorious Geta
There appear to many forms of flip flop here in Japan, the most famous one being the geta that resemble both clogs and flip flops.
The geta are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong. This keeps the foot well of the ground and helps to keep the foot dry in wet or snowy weather.
Zori are flat flip flops and can be made of cloth, lacquered wood, leather or rubber and the thong is attached centrally so that the shoe can be worn on either foot. They are usually worn with the more formal kimono, although many women wear them in the summer with yukata (cotton kimonos). The men wear more casual zori and they are often just black or white thongs on a plastic or cork sole. I love the way that the men "slop around" in their zori. At first I thought this was just laziness, but apparently it is a sign of strength and "cool" if you do that!
There are also cloth zori which you often see - a rather more ecological approach.
I have to say, my favourite geta were the ones we saw in a museum recently, attached to some ice skate blades. I can't imagine how you even begin to get your balance on these!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 18:31 No comments:
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Yurakucho Antique Market
Today I went on, what seems to have become, my monthly pilgrimage to the Yurakucho Antique market at the International Forum. It was another stunningly sunny day and a lovely way to spend a few hours when you are a fabric junkie and in need of a fix. I went with my friend Becky and we did a good bit of foraging and came back with some wonderful finds.
Posted by Katie Gordon at 21:46 No comments:
A Day At The Races
On saturday we went to the races! After a pretty terrible week weather-wise, the sun came out and it was a glorious day. We got dressed up and went with a group of friends who had organised the trip, with a coach to take us there and back. When we got there we found we had our own room on the top floor of a very grand stadium that overlooked the stunning green of the track below. We had lunch and afternoon tea laid out for us, and we even won enough money for a taxi ride home at the end of the day!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 21:42 No comments:
I have always been intrigued by Ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arranging. Flower arranging has never majorly grabbed me, but the Japanese way of doing it is so beautifully minimalistic that I was intrigued to try it out. I did a one hour lesson on tuesday and have to say, it's definitely not my forte.......
The teacher was a lovely Japanese lady called Mrs Matsudaira who deftly demonstrated the floral arrangement we were going to do in seconds flat. Irises were the main flowers used as they are traditionally associated with the boys festival that was just celebrated on 5th May. We also had white blossom, and some Pinks to add a bit of bright colour.
With Ikebana, there are strict rules as to which angle the flowers have to be placed at and what lengths each flower has to be. Traditionally the flower arrangement was only seen from the front as it was placed on a tatami mat in front of a scroll painting in the Japanese home. But this one was a table arrangement , so had to look good from every angle. The teacher explained that you had to start with three flower stalks (the Irises) as the main points of interest. The flowers were placed in oasis and the first and longest one had to be facing out at 15 degrees, the second one was slightly shorter and at 45 degrees, and the third was the shortest and had to be at 75 degrees, all forming a triangle shape in the oasis. You could then fill your arrangement around these three stalks, using the other flowers and the leafy foliage provided, constantly turning the pot so that you made sure that it always looked good from every angle......mine didn't.
Posted by Katie Gordon at 19:56 No comments:
Giant Pandas
On tuesday, after having a cultural morning of seeing a Rembrandt Exhibition in Ueno Park (which I was pleasantly surprised about and really enjoyed), my friend Ali and I decided to head to Ueno zoo and join the crowds of children and tourists to view the giant pandas. They are wonderful animals and quite unreal looking with their big black eyes and baggy bottoms. There were two pandas and, while one looked rather unhappy and that was a bit upsetting to see, the other was thoroughly wallowing in his endless supply of bamboo shoots, lying on his back and letting his big brown stomach hang out!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 19:54 No comments:
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
May Morality Poster
I often wait with anticipation to see what the month's subway morality poster will be. For months and months (in fact the whole time we've been in Tokyo) the posters used somewhat disconcerting cartoon characters with googly eyes as their mascots. Last month I was very thrown off to find the googly-eyed people had been replaced with a cutesy photo of a lounging cat! This month's was no exception and we now have the cutest dog possible, running at top speed. The caption below him says "Please Take Your Time When You Ride The Train". Love it!
I recently read a book called "Confucious Lives Next Door", a very interesting insight into the lives of Japanese people and what we Westerners could learn from them. The morality posters were actually mentioned in this book and it turns out they are actually called "Manner Posters" and have been going for years. Every now and then Tokyo Metro commissions an artist, illustrator, or photographer to portray their view on the etiquette of subway riding. Apparently they even have exhibitions of past posters every now and then - I must look out for the next one!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 18:03 No comments:
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Cheeky Monkeys
While we were in Kamikochi, we saw many monkeys who happily live in the wild around that area, but seem very happy and comfortable with humans around. They were often hidden up a tree, scavenging for tasty morsels, but we were lucky to see some up close too. I have always wanted to go and see the snow monkeys. You can check out some images of them here. They really are amazing and obviously love to wallow in the hot waters when it's cold outside! I am hoping to do a trip to visit them in the winter.....
Posted by Katie Gordon at 17:05 No comments:
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Golden Week - Kamikochi
This last week has been Golden Week, one week of the year where the whole country takes time off to travel to see relatives, see other parts of the country, or just chill out at home. We decided to head to Kamikochi, a beautiful mountainous area of Japan that has been called the Japanese Alps. We decided to break up the journey and spend a night in Matsumoto first. It is a small town with a big castle and was nice to spend a night in. We sampled the local delicacies - soba noodles for lunch, which are served cold, as well as sushi and some sake that evening.
Soba noodles have never majorly appealed to me as they are served cold, but we felt we should try them as they were one of Matsumoto's local delicacies. It was beautifully presented on a wicker tray and tasted amazing!
That evening we sampled some beautifully fresh sushi at Kura, a 90 year old Meiji-era warehouse converted into a restaurant. It was all washed down with some lovely sake.
One of the walks we did in Kamikochi took us through leafy forests and much of it was decked out in a wooden walkway that took you through the trees.
Wherever you looked, the surrounding mountains were always in view. At one point we passed w oman with a telescope and she pointed out some hikers at the top of the mountain. That was when we realised why the people we saw were so heavily kitted out - they were actually mountain climbing!
Kamikochi was a small train ride and then a one hour bus ride from Matsumoto and is only open during the summer months. Even then, it is closed to private cars, so the only way to get there is by bus or taxi. Our hotel was right in the centre and was overlooked by the stunning surrounding snow-capped mountains. During the day, the hoards of hikers and day trippers seemed to descend on the small village and it was rather chaotic, but as the last bus left at 6pm, the locals (and local monkeys) and over-nighters breathed a sigh of relief and silence overcame the area. We spent each day walking and passed through some gorgeous countryside. We also passed a lot of very serious hikers, with crampons and ice picks etc. We later realised that most of these people had literally been mountain climbing and made their way to the top. Pretty impressive! We took it easy and did day hikes (none of that camping milarkey for me) followed by a wallow in the onsen and then a 7 course tasting menu at our hotel each evening.......Matsumoto Castle was a rather awesome building and I would have loved to see the beautiful wooden interior, but it was a 90 minute wait to get in, so we just enjoyed the grounds instead.
Soba noodles have never majorly appealed to me as they are served cold, but we felt we should try them as they were one of Matsumoto's local delicacies. It was beautifully presented on a wicker tray and tasted amazing!
That evening we sampled some beautifully fresh sushi at Kura, a 90 year old Meiji-era warehouse converted into a restaurant. It was all washed down with some lovely sake.
One of the walks we did in Kamikochi took us through leafy forests and much of it was decked out in a wooden walkway that took you through the trees.
Wherever you looked, the surrounding mountains were always in view. At one point we passed w oman with a telescope and she pointed out some hikers at the top of the mountain. That was when we realised why the people we saw were so heavily kitted out - they were actually mountain climbing!
Posted by Katie Gordon at 18:43 1 comment:
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Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
- Status: Out of Print
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
PS Publishing Slipcased Limited Edition!
Just 474 Copies Ever Printed!
COVER, ENDPAPERS, SLIPCASE & TRAYCASE ART Glenn Chadbourne
INTRODUCTION by Peter Crowther
AFTERWORD by William F. Touponce
A limited numbered edition (just 474 copies) signed by Glenn Chadbourne (artist) and Peter Crowther (introducer), housed in an illustrated slipcase and including the original short story 'The Black Ferris,' the inspiration for that most wonderful of novels, and which features fifteen specially commissioned knock-'em-dead illustrations from Glenn Chadbourne.
In a career spanning more than seventy years, Ray Bradbury has inspired generations of readers to dream, think, and create. A prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to fifty books, as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays, and screenplays, Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time.
It's the week before Hallowe'en, and Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois. The siren song of the calliope entices all with promises of youth regained and dreams fulfilled...
And as two boys trembling on the brink of manhood set out to explore the mysteries of the dark carnival's smoke, mazes and mirrors, they will also discover the true price of innermost wishes .


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The Ancient Temple of Newgrange
Newgrange is a prehistoric burial temple located in the east of Ireland. It was built 5,200 thousand years ago (3200 BC) during the Neolithic period. Newgrange is older than Stonehenge and the great pyramids of Giza, and was built by a civilisation who had advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics.
The temple is just one monument within a large Neolithic complex called Brú na Bóinne, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
These rocks at the entrance of the tomb were carved 5,200 years ago and are some of the finest examples of ancient art in the world.
Once a year, at the winter solstice, the rising sun shines directly along the long passage into the chamber for about 17 minutes and illuminates the chamber floor.
The sun enters the passage through a specially contrived opening directly above the main entrance to the temple.
Today the first light enters about four minutes after sunrise, but calculations based on the precession of the Earth show that 5,000 years ago first light would have entered exactly at sunrise.
Excavations have revealed deposits of both burnt and unburnt human bone in the passage, indicating human corpses were indeed placed within it, some of which had been cremated. From examining the unburnt bone, it was shown to come from at least two separate individuals, but much of their skeletons were missing, and what was left had been scattered about the passage.
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2 comments:
Great shots .ReplyDelete
1. The Headline, "Ancient Temple of Newgrange" is almost certainly correct.ReplyDelete
2. While there is no evidence that Newgrange was a burial temple, see below, the builders had developed advanced astral knowledge, without the benefit of telescopes or computers, that was later lost. Only to be re-discovered relatively recently.
3.The Sun Window through which the solstice sun shines was not contrived. It was carefully constructed using years of pre-planning. The actual working of the Sun Window was only re-discovered in 1969; at which time the description should have been altered from burial tomb/passage grave to Sun Temple with a Fertility App.
4. The so-called deposits of burnt and unburnt human bones were more likely to have been the remains of animal and human remains dragged into the temple after she was abandoned by the Neolithic worshippers and/or deposited by animals/humans, after 1699 when the entrance was de-discovered but before the OPW installed an animal proof gate and before there was strict supervision. When Edward Llwyd examined the basins in 1699, he did not note signs of burial goods or matter. The Battle of the Boyne took place in 1690, only a few miles from Newgrange, offering wild dogs and wolves still chewy bones to drag into the now open monument.
5. It would be impossible for the original builders to burn human bone and flesh within the chamber as the lack of air would choke both the fire and those gathered inside. There were no signs smoke on the interior walls or ceiling of the monument.
6. When Michael O'Kelly excavated the site, there were no signs of bones or burial material behind the orthostats.