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There is the St. Louis Arch at 630ft; The Washington Monument at 555ft; then the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial 352ft.
Posted by John Speweik in Uncategorized on March 8, 2018
Speweik Preservation Consultants, Inc., (SPC) was privileged to be commissioned to provide on-site quality control, masons training, and inspection services for the National Park Service on the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial last summer. The monument is 47ft.taller than the Statue of Liberty and is located in Put-In-Bay, Ohio on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.
The project involved removing all sealant from between the granite joints and replacing the joints with mortar. Over 4 miles of joints were repointed with a high-lime Type N mortar. Specialized tools were fabricated by SPC in order to facilitate good workmanship and efficient production. The joints were repointed in three (3) lifts. The mortar mix design was carefully prepared with the minimum amount of water to ensure excellent compaction and to keep the shrinkage cracks to a minimum as the mortar cured. The most challenging aspect of the project was removing all the sealant from each joint. The high winds on the island were also a factor in delaying the project. It took five months to repoint the column. Coon Restoration provided the contracting service. WJE was the architect.
Posted by John Speweik in Uncategorized on December 15, 2016
It could be that stonemasons never see the art of the original craft, "tool making"
Posted by John Speweik in historic masonry, Saving Historic Architecture, stone, Tools on May 9, 2013
It could be that stonemasons never see the art of the original craft, "tool making"
Posted by John Speweik in historic masonry, Matching, Saving Historic Architecture, stone, Tools on May 9, 2013
Your hands were blistered, your head dripping with sweat. It had taken a day, or two, maybe three, to create something you now hold in your hand to secure your short-term job-site future. You likely thought about its design and function in your head as long as it took to cut and weld it together with the best steel or iron you could find. A chisel. Not just any chisel, a stonemasons chisel.
Your chisel – its size, and weight to fit your hand – an extension of yourself. Made for the specific work you were paid to perform. Created for a specific type of stone. The chisel shape, length, and sharpness all part of its design and intended purpose to birth a dimension stone of specified measurements and texture worthy of setting into a historic masonry wall. To become an important part of another historic stone masonry building of load bearing capacity, carrying the weight of each consecutive floor upon itself as it raises from the ground on the stout foundation we never see or appreciate.
The creation of stone chisels at the construction site by the very stonemasons that use them is centuries old. And it probably is most definitely on the road to oblivion. The art of the stone masonry craft is now changed. Making tools at the construction site, or in the stonemasons workshop, was part of the trade. It was what you were trained to do 100 years ago. There were no other options. And for good reason, no one else would know what you needed for a specific project as each individual set of chisels were designed specifically for each job. If you have the privileged of knowing a retired stonemason – just look in his tool bag and confirm for yourself – there are many many chisels of various sorts.
Stone chisels; however, now are made by others. People that are not in the stone masonry trade. They can not appreciate the purpose of the chisel design or its intended purpose because they are not stonemasons.
Blame it on changes in architectural design: Veneer walls and thin stucco stone are in, old-fashion load-bearing walls are out. Blame it on changes in the father-son connection: handing down the trade skills to the next generation. Blame it on the fact that nothing lasts forever, not even tool making skills of the simple chisel lodged in the brain of almost every American stonemason over 80.
True American-made stone masonry chisels can not be found at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards or your local hardware stores. But don't blame these companies they serve a different customer base – the "Do-it-Yourselfer."
As a professional in your trade, part of your job is to research and look for those American companies that still do exist that make the custom tools you need – especially the all important chisel.
I have known Norm Akley, President of Trow & Holden Company, Inc., for nearly 20 years. He operates a company located in Barre, Vermont that makes old fashioned hand-made stone chisels among other items for the trade. Norm understands my trade and the challenges I face in difficult projects. I draw a picture of a special chisel design I need to have fabricated for a particular project to match a historic profile finish and fax it over to him, yes I said fax!
He makes the chisel from my sketch in the correct size and weight and the rest is history! Speaking of history, Trow & Holden Company has been making stoneworking tools since 1890.
Every chance I get I try to support American companies like Trow & Holden. The experience in tool making, as well as the companies appreciation and knowledge of my stone masonry trade, make Norm and his company a very valuable partner in our ability to offer the best Historic Stone Masonry Training Programs in the United States. In the end, I believe better workmanship is a direct result of better tools in the hands of craftspeople who know how to use them correctly.
Historic Gravestone Splits in Two During Restoration Work….Why?
Posted by John Speweik in Cemetery Gravestone, historic masonry, stone on April 8, 2013
Anguish for descendant of Victorian artist as stone splits in two during restoration work
Art lecturer Ian Wilson with the broken gravestone
Victorian Pre-Raphaelite artist Ford Madox Brown. Right: Great-great-grandson Oliver Soskice
Published: 29 March, 2013
by PETER GRUNER
THE great-great-grandson of Victorian Pre-Raphaelite artist Ford Madox Brown has voiced concern that the gravestone of his famous ancestor has been badly damaged during restoration work.
Oliver Soskice, 64, a professional artist, paid £750 to have the stone – which was leaning perilously – placed flat on the ground at Islington and St Pancras Cemetery, in East Finchley.
However, during lifting work last month the ornate stone broke into two pieces and that is how it has been left.
Mr Soskice said: "It's not that I tipped Hamlet's gravedigger £10 to do the job. The work cost a lot of money.
"I wanted them to clear the site, which they have done, and lay the stone flat on the ground so there was no danger it might topple over and injure someone. But I had no idea there was a danger it might break."
Mr Soskice, who lives in Cambridge, is the son of Frank Soskice, the late Labour MP and former Home Secretary.
The "forgotten and neglected" Madox Brown burial spot was discovered by chance by Holloway art lecturer Ian Wilson while visiting his mother's grave nearby in March last year.
As a result of Mr Soskice's concerns, featured in the Tribune last year, Islington Council launched a Ford Madox Brown grave improvement appeal.
Mr Wilson, art co-ordinator at the Hoffman Foundation for Autism in Wood Green, hopes the appeal will pay for repairs to the stone and the eventual full restoration of the grave. He said: "At the moment the grave looks like a building yard. This is disrespectful to anyone let alone an important British artist and early socialist."
He has asked the council's environment chief, Councillor Paul Smith, to instigate work cementing the two broken parts of the stone together.
"Cllr Smith was reported last year in the Tribune as saying he was keen on launching an appeal," he said. "How far has he got?"
Cllr Smith said this week he was sorry the stone had broken and hoped it could be repaired.
"I hope to meet the family as soon as possible and get the appeal going," he added. "This important piece of art history needs to be supported."
Speweik Comment: This story was first posted by Jonathan Appell on LinkedIn Group "Gravestone & Monument Preservation." April 7, 2013. It was refreshing (but sad) to see a published story in a newspaper about a historic stone repair gone wrong. Maybe it was because it was a gravestone, and maybe it was because it was a famous persons gravestone, or maybe because it was so old – at this point it doesn't matter – I'm just glad it was published for all to read. We can learn from the mistakes of others when we have the opportunity to know about them. A true expert (if such a person exists) is one that has a strong character trait to admit a mistake and allow others to learn from his experience. This of course is not usually our natural response.
Coming from the trades as a stonemason, I have come to learn and respect stone by working with it for many years in many applications. From quarry, to block, to slab, to dimension unit, to seasoning of the stone, then protecting and preparation, and finally to the installation into the wall. I have also had the reverse experience in my later years in historic preservation work of carefully deconstructing, removing from the wall, redressing, restoring, rehabilitating, and conserving stone for reuse – placed back into the same location or position.
I have found that historic preservation work requires a higher-level of sensitivity to the task with the baseline understanding that you are handling history and not just a piece of stone.
I have come to appreciate that the preservation approach must be well thought out and planned by first identifying the stone. Then determine the cause of the problem and possible pattern(s) to similar surrounding stone. Then examine the historic stone for potential areas of weakness prior to establishing the proposed solution to the problem – and certainly before moving it. It is from this process and examination (Condition Assessment) is HOW I develop the respect for the stone, what it has been through in connection to its problematic condition and then to finalize my proposed options for solutions.
This approach helps to keep surprises to a minimum, not to say they still do not occur, but hopefully not to the degree we read in this story.
I see some key contractor/owner errors or "red flags" in this story that may have made the initial problem more complicated. Can you identify some of these flags? Both on the contractor side and the owner side? I would love to hear your experiences with similar projects. Remember sharing any mistakes is a good thing here 🙂 Who will be my first expert to comment??
An Interview with Lauren McCroskey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Revised UFGS Historic Masonry Specification
Posted by John Speweik in building specifications, Cleaning, historic masonry, historic mortar, Limewash, Matching, Mortar, Saving Historic Architecture, stone, Training on March 23, 2013
I had the unique privilege to interview one of the leading historic preservation experts, Lauren McCroskey, Program Manager, for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at the Seattle District, on the recent revision to the UFGS for the Restoration and Cleaning of Masonry in Historic Structures.
USACE Official Announcement:
Technical Center of Expertise (TCX), Preservation of Historic Structures and Buildings Technology Update
As part of its mission to provide leadership in historic buildings technology, the TCX announces a major revision of its specification, "Restoration and Cleaning of Masonry in Historic Structures." The spec now reflects state-of-the-industry guidance for the treatment of historic masonry and mortar, and surpasses existing preservation guidance provided by other federal agencies.
Property managers and cultural resource specialists are encouraged to use the spec in contract documents to ensure that masonry work is performed appropriately to prolong the life of historic buildings. See Unified Facilities Guide Specification 04 01 00.91
Speweik: What is the official title of the specification?
McCroskey: The title is the UNIFIED FACILITIES GUIDE SPECIFICATIONS
Speweik: Who originally authored it?
McCroskey: The Corps was the preparing agent and performed the processing. The exact author(s) are unknown, though Corps staff would have prepared it.
Speweik: How long has it been in use/circulation?
McCroskey: It's been available since 1991.
Speweik: Who is authorized to use it?
McCroskey: The Guide is to be used by the Military Departments (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.), the Defense Agencies and the DoD Field Activities for planning, design, construction, sustainment, restoration and modernization of facilities, regardless of funding source. But anyone can use the guide to adapt to a particular masonry project.
Speweik: What government agency owns it?
McCroskey: The Architectural Discipline Working Group are the owners of the Section; Scott Wick is the Corps representative of that group.
Speweik: What is your position with the USACE and what specific responsibilities do you have regarding historic preservation?
McCroskey: I manage the Technical Center of Expertise for the Preservation of Historic Structures and Buildings, a program of nationwide service. The program provides technical assistance and preservation planning for Corps Districts, DoD, and other federal agencies to ensure facility and property managers apply the best practices to historic structures. We try to set the highest standards of preservation practice through quality project work, training, and by developing technical information.
Speweik: What prompted you to request an update to the Historic Masonry Division Section this past year?
McCroskey: For several years I've had an awareness that the Corps' existing standards and guidance for the treatment of historic masonry has lagged behind newer developments and technological advancements for treating historic brick, stone, and mortar. I receive inquiries from Corps Districts and other agencies asking for specific guidance to address deteriorated stone or brick. Property managers rarely know how to approach these issues from a historic preservation perspective, and often have maintenance and field crews tackle masonry problems. While their intent is good, the methods, materials, and applications are often not appropriate for historic structures, and can lead to further harm and long-term costly repairs. That's why it's essential for us to be able to pass along the most appropriate, state-of-the-industry techniques and standards.
Speweik: What do you believe to be one of the most significant changes to the specification?
McCroskey: There are many improvements, but one of the most important is the depth of information, which is far more educational for the user than the old spec. There is much to be learned from this document. Another key improvement is that materials application is not just described, but preceded by a thoughtful examination of building and masonry conditions. There is extensive information about how to investigate existing conditions so that the best decisions can be made about materials, conditions, and methods.
Speweik: How do you see this change making a positive difference for the quality-level of Historic Preservation Projects in the United States?
McCroskey: I believe the TCX is obligated to provide the best guidance regarding the treatment of historic structures and buildings. By encouraging the use of this guide, the rehabilitation of historic masonry should be performed in a manner that is appropriate, efficient, and prolongs the life of historic materials.
Speweik: How do you envision the revised specification affecting the work you do at the USACE?
McCroskey: The spec will be the only guidance we provide to customers, or when advising others on the best standards for masonry. Since this spec now surpasses all other historic masonry guidance, we now consider this document the "gold standard." Of course, there are sub categories of masonry, such as terra cotta and concrete, which may require other technical information. But where brick, stone, and mortar are concerned, this is our "go to" standard.
Speweik: Did you consider the possible additional costs to Historic Preservation Projects as a result of some of the changes? And, if so, do you believe the additional cost is a significant percentage of overall project costs?
McCroskey: When good preservation practices are used, the life and performance of historic materials is extended. When improper practices are applied, greater costs can be incurred when the wrong treatment or method causes damage that requires repair. Taking short cuts by using commercial products that are not suited to historic stone or brick, or using techniques that are not consistent with historic methods can cost more long-term, and rarely satisfy the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and treatment of historic structures that all federal agencies must follow.
Speweik: How do architects, owners, consultants and contractors find out more about this important specification document?
McCroskey: The guide is now available on-line at the TCX web page: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/HistoricPreservation.aspx
For additional information or clarification regarding the spec's application, your readers may contact me at:
Lauren McCroskey
Program Manager
Technical Center of Expertise
Preservation of Historic Structures & Buildings
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Heritage & Renewal in 2013
Posted by John Speweik in Saving Historic Architecture on January 12, 2013
Preservation – Looking Back to Look Forward – Workmanship of the Mason
Posted by John Speweik in Training on January 1, 2013
I encourage the next generation of future masons to always look for opportunities to embrace mentors in our trade. And to the older masons I say make a difference in the world of a young person looking for a trade and openly share your professional experience in masonry knowledge in the preservation of important historic architecture. We each bring to the table a skill set that can, and will, make a difference – if, or course, we are given the chance and awarded the projects we seek to secure.
Many of you may not know about my background and experience in masonry preservation – so I will provide you with just a brief overview of how I ended up where I am today with the title of: "Historic Masonry Preservation Specialist" I grew up in the masonry construction business working for my father, uncles, and grandfather in a family owned business located in Toledo, Ohio. This opportunity to be birthed into a family of working brick and stonemasons was not by choice but to keep me out of trouble in my teenage years. And yes, it did work. There is something about carrying brick and stone, building scaffolding, mixing mortar, and cleaning out the toolbox that keeps one honest. I think I was just to tired after working all day to have the energy to get into trouble as I learned the trade of masonry construction is most demanding on the body.
As it turns out I developed a lower back injury that kept me from working in the trade actively – so I decided to go back to school and study architecture. It was in college that I began to appreciate the art of design and the process of construction as it related to historic and traditional masonry architecture. If I could no longer lift and set the stone – I could learn about how to preserve its original condition – and more importantly to do this in the means and methods of the original builders. This meant I needed to be willing to learn about traditional masonry construction tools, methods and materials. It also meant I needed to find other masons that understood these aspects of my new desire. The year was 1990 – 26 years ago. I researched my own family of origin in the masonry trade which dates back to 1870 in Posen, Prussia. So I was the 5th generation in my family to be involved in the masonry business. The problem; however, was that the oldest living relative that would had known about traditional masonry construction methods, workmanship, and materials was my great grandfather and he died in 1951. My grandfather died in 1979; my father in 1985.
As luck would have it I secured a job at a lime manufacturing company in 1991. It was during my employment I discovered an enthusiasm for historic mortar materials, which of course are based upon lime, and have been for thousands of years. Working with several conservators, architects, and a masonry contractor based in Toronto, Canada I began offering lime putty for use as a binder (without Portland cement) combined with sand at the jobsite. It was not long after; however, that I realized the need to train masons on the jobsite to use the Portland-free mix design and assist them in delivering the best quality possible. I traveled to England, Ireland, and Scotland over the next several years to work alongside other masons who generously mentored me in preserving historic masonry using lime mortars and traditional methods on castles. Then I brought that information back to the United States to assist in our training efforts here. That was 1998.
We made mistakes; we learned from our mistakes, we improved our methods, tools, equipment and materials. We did not give up. Encouraged from my mentor masons in Europe and Canada – I completed one project after another across the United States monitoring the progress as I went along. Writing, speaking and communicating with industry professionals I stayed focused. I wish to gratefully thank the pioneers in the masonry preservation movement in Europe that encouraged and personnally helped me like; R.H. Bennett, MBE, Winchester, England; Dr. Gerard Lynch, London, England; Mr. Douglas Johnston, Glasgow, Scotland; Mr. Patrick McAfee, Dublin, Ireland; Ms. Pat Gibbons; Charleston Fife, Scotland; the late Mr. John Ashurst, London, England; Mr. John Fidler, York, England; Mr. Colin Burns, Manchester, England; Mr. Stafford Holmes, London, England; Mr. Tim Meek, Charleston Fife, Scotland; Mr. Michael Wingate, England; Mr. Sam Trigila, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Scottish Lime Centre; and English Heritage and the Society of the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in London, England.
Since the early 90s I have been privileged to assist in the effort to establish (or best said, re-introduce) the lost art of true traditional masonry preservation with the use of lime mortars leading the way. As we continue this effort in 2016 we will actively be searching for architects and historic building owners that seek to preserve the architectural history and character of their properties by supporting the masons by offering onsite historic masonry training that is project specific. I strongly believe that by understanding our past and acknowledging the workmanship, trade practices, techniques, and tools used by the original masons in the process of the original construction we will have a better chance at success in the authentic preservation of historic masonry.
If we go into historic masonry preservation projects expecting that masons today should know all the details that are vital to the success of a masonry preservation project – I think we are asking for too much – especially in a low-bid environment in which many design professionals must deliver their services. Let us expect the best, write excellent specifications to support quality assurance – but we must be realistic in the understanding of what that actually means to the mason working at the site. In many cases these men and women have never worked with a straight pure lime mortar before so there is a natural learning curve that must be acknowledged. But we can not, and should not, let masonry contractors figure it out on the jobsite without proper guidence. This is why I started my company to do just that – mentor and help the masons through training. The same way I learned in Europe.
Speweik Preservation Consultants are not masonry contractors. We use our hands-on historic masonry experience to provide the necessary technical consulting services in: condition assessment, material testing, specification assistance and masonry contractor training at the project site. We strive to support the efforts of the Architects and Historic Building Owners in meeting the US Department of the Interior's Secretary Standards for Rehabilitation in Division 4 and to protect the historic integrity of the architecture under repair consideration.
Historic Masonry Images from My Travels in 2012
Posted by John Speweik in Uncategorized on December 28, 2012
As many of you know my job requires me to take many pictures of historic masonry in various conditions of deterioration and decay. My camera travels with me from coast to coast of our great country capturing historic masonry usually in need of some type of repair treatment.
Anyway, I have many pictures in this computer and I thought I would share with you some of the finer details of historic masonry that works! The masonry that is still performing after many many years. It is fair to say that all historic masonry does not fall apart, only that which is under the attack of water or the ignorance of man from previous repair attempts that compromise the authenticity of the original material performance.
It is only fitting to close out the year appreciating the builders that went before us – the architecture that has stood the test of time and that we can now admire.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Posted by John Speweik in Uncategorized on December 25, 2012
All of us here at Speweik Preservation Consultants, Inc., wish you and your families a wonderful and relaxed holiday break followed by a "Time-to-Make-it-Happen" New Year!
All our best to you in 2013!
John & Amy Speweik


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So, I created (People, Add Unrelated person) a Person in FTM2012 called the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Maryland. I used the Military Service Fact, to capture the Dates, Locations, and Battle, if appropriate, for each event or fact.
From Ancestry, there were write ups on some of these battles. From those write ups, I created SmartStories™ for each of those battles. I used the Caption of the Media File (SmartStory) to make sure they were in the order of the battles.
Below is the People Workspace, Person View for the 2nd Infantry Regiment Maryland.
In the above screen is the Media tab, where a New SmartStory can be added. Clicking on the New, Create Smart Story, a dialog box will appear. For the SmartStories of the battles, I used the Start with Blank Page option and was able to Copy and Paste the details of the battles. But for this post, I wanted to capture the Timeline of the battles, so that it will appear in the Ancestry Member Tree for this regiment in the AMT. I selected the default, Auto populate Smart Story.
In the Right Hand Panel, of the SmartStory is what information that I wanted in the SmartStory. In this case, I wanted all of the data to be included, what was only the Military Service Facts.
This is the un-edited list of Facts that were populated for this "person".
I have discussed how to use this feature before.
Posts on the SmartStory feature
As you move your cursor over the text, you will see what can be edited and what can not be edited. In the example below, the Date is hi-lighted.
After doing some editing, this is the SmartStory that was created to reflect the Timeline for this Civil War Unit.
The Timeline button, in the People Workspace, Person View would look like this.
The point of this, for me, was to have a view in the Ancestry Member Tree, and in FTM2012, an overview of this Civil War Regiment. When reviewing my Civil War hero, and his dates, I have a good idea what battles he fought in.
He enlist on August 21, 1862, but into the 1st Regiment Maryland, so would have been in the initial organization of the 2nd Regiment. He was wounded on July 3, 1963 at the Battle of Culp's Hill. This would have put him at the battle of Centreville and Winchester, Virginia and the first day's battle in Gettysburg for this unit on July 2.
He missed the Battle at Martinsburg, but returned to the battle at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
He was wounded on the 2nd date's battle at Weldon Railroad, Virginia and would be out of the rest of the war, as he lost his leg in Weldon Railroad battle.
Copyright © 2011 by H R Worthington

subset: commoncrawl


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Minutes walk to the marina
Star Rating
Isle of Wight Festival Accommodation Accommodation, Cowes Isle of Wight for 8 people
The Isle of Wight Pop Festival continues to draw large crowds, many of whom prefer to rent a house or cottage rather than camp at the site. If you need Pop Festival Accommodation then it is best to email us as availability is limited.
Property Ref: 113
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Property Ref: 37
Newly refurbished (2011) this semi-detached house in the ever popular Beckford Road is finished to a very high standard with four bedrooms. All can be twins or doubles and one of them a triple giving a maximum capacity of nine. There is a kitchen/dining room and a good sized lounge with flat screen TV, Wifi, etc. Double glazed throughout, this house is cosy at any time of year. Paved back garden on two levels with BBQ and seating. Best quality Egyptian cotton bedlinen and towels. Available for Cowes Week, Little Britain Cup (LBCC) Swan Europeans, Round the Island race as well as for holidays and corporate guests.+ More details
Property Ref: 44
A fabulously positioned (100 yards from Cowes Yacht Haven) with 4 bedrooms sleeping 8 with two bathrooms. Internally, the property is set over three floors and is finished to a high standard throughout with an open plan living, kitchen and dining area. Externally, there is a fully furnished decking area which is accessed via sliding doors which open out from the kitchen area.
+ More details
Property Ref: 63
Newly refurbished (2015) to a very high standard four bedroomed house in Beckford Road seconds away from the Yacht Haven. Thsi house is used as a second home and as such has the best of everything as can be seen from the photos. One double room, one convertible twin/double, a furtehr twin and finally a twin with additinal third bed. Two bathrooms, one with bath and shower over, the other a shower room. More photos coming of the outside.+ More details
Property Ref: 88
Deceptively large town house in Cowes, immaculately presented. Stunning sea views with parking and a fabulous roof terrace with BBQ and seating. Ideal for sailing, family holidays, or corporate lets.
Town Court is right in the heart of Cowes Town centre. Situated in prestigious 'Old Cowes'. There is parking for one car on the drive of the house.
Arranged over four floors there is:
A shower room on the ground floor. Spacious lounge/diner and kitchen on the first floor. Bathroom including separate shower on the second floor, together with a double bedroom with one double and one single bed and a pull out single bed beneath.
Third floor has one double room with a single bed and an additional pull out bed beneath and there is a third twin bedroom which has two single beds.
Above this there is a flat roof terrace with fabulous sea views and a BBQ with seating.
+ More details
Property Ref: 3
Simply stunning four bedroom house on three levels right on the waterfont in the heart of Old Cowes. The property has just been refurbished by new owners for 2014 Cowes Week. The best views, two balconies, two reception rooms, waterfront garden, RIB launching crane, everything you could want for Cowes Week. Set out with luxury owners accommodation on the top floor with private balcony. The middle floor is the entertaining area with fully fitted kitchen, dining area, lounge and balcony leading down to the garden. The lower floor is the crew accommodation set out as three bedrooms and a spacious crew lounge leading onto the garden and waterfront. The standard capacity of the house is eight with an additional double sofa-bed in the crew lounge if required. This property provides a unique Cowes Week experience.+ More details
Property Ref: 119
A fantasticaly presented, modern Maze! Bright 4 bedroomed home with all mod cons and 2 balconies, over 4 floors.+ More details
Property Ref: 118
Excellent house, 5 mins flat walk into central cowes.Sleeps up to 8 guests with the added bonus of two bathrooms. Decorated in contemporary style with spacious entertaining areas. Lovely garden with BBQ. Home from Home feel !+ More details
Property Ref: 123
A period terrace which comfortably sleeps 8. Minutes walk from Cowes town centre. Attractive southerly facing garden with pond and BBQ area. Newly refurbished. This house has recently been awarded a four star rating by the Quality In Tourism board.+ More details
Property Ref: 135
Newly refurbished spacious family house. Within striking distance of Cowes town centre but far enough out to be peaceful. Large rooms, period feaures and high quality fittings make this an ideal corporate base for operations. Off street parking for 2 cars. All mod cons including wireless broadband.+ More details


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Microsoft Windows 7 ISO Download – Available Editions
Windows 7 exists in diverse editions. Each edition provides different features packed into each Microsoft ISO. Down below you'll find a comparisn of the different Windows 7 ISO download packs available on this website. Because there is no digitalrivercontent.net mirror anymore, downloads are provided by mirror.corenoc.de, a trusted german digitalrivercontent.net mirror.
The downloads are provided as torrents, because Microsoft does not provide any alternative way to download Windows 7 anymore. Rest assured that you check the MD5/SHA1 sums after each download even though this website is alive and pushing Windows 7 ISO download files for ages now (actually since digitalriver shut down). A complete feature comparisn of all Windows 7 editions can be found on Wikipedia here.
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic & Premium ISO Download
Windows 7 Home Basic was available in "emerging markets", in 141 different countries. Some Windows Aero options are excluded along with several new features. Home Basic, along with other editions sold in emerging markets, include geographical activation restriction, which requires users to activate Windows within a certain region or country. Windows 7 Home Premium comes also bundled with Windows Media Center, Windows Aero and multi-touch support while Windows 7 Home Basic ships without this set of features.
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional ISO Download
This edition is targeted towards enthusiasts and small-business users. It includes all the features of Windows 7 Home Premium, and adds the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain Additional features include support for up to 192 GB of RAM, operating as a Remote Desktop server, location aware printing, backup to a network location, Encrypting File System, Presentation Mode, Software Restriction Policies (but not the extra management features of AppLocker) and Windows XP Mode.
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate ISO Download
Windows 7 Ultimate contains the same features as Windows 7 Enterprise, but unlike the Enterprise edition, it was available to home users on an individual license basis. Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional users are able to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate for a fee using Windows Anytime Upgrade if they wish to do so. Unlike Windows Vista Ultimate, the Windows 7 Ultimate edition does not include the Windows Ultimate Extras feature or any exclusive features as Microsoft had stated.
Microsoft Windows 7 Starter & Enterprise ISO Download
Windows 7 Starter is the edition of Windows 7 that contains the fewest features. It is only available in a 32-bit version and does not include the Windows Aero theme. The desktop wallpaper and visual styles (Windows 7 Basic) are not user-changeable. Microsoft originally intended to restrict users of this edition to running three simultaneous applications but this limitation was dropped. This edition was available pre-installed on computers, especially netbooks or Windows Tablets, through system integrators or computer manufacturers using OEM licenses


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In 2004, LongHorn Steakhouse and Applebee's Restaurant paid $250,000 and $275,000 apiece for their liquor licenses, the equivalent of Boston-area prices at the time.
In 2004, LongHorn Steakhouse and Applebee's Restaurant paid $250,000 and $275,000 apiece for their liquor licenses, the equivalent of Boston-area prices at the time.
When the state increased the number of package store licenses for each town, three businesses vied for the new local permit.Times have changed.
The state cap on alcohol licenses once created a big demand for the asset, increasing its open market value.
"The economy has decreased that demand," Dennis Kirwin of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, said.Attorney Louis A. Cassis agrees.
His client, Karen Thomas of Joe T's Pub on South Street East, has been searching for a buyer of the business and the license since she closed in May.
Restaurants are feeling the pinch of consumer belt-tightening, Cassis said
Thomas now has an agreement with a restaurant chain to buy just the liquor license but Cassis hinted the price is not what it used to be."Things were very different a few years ago," he said.
Rum Runners Wine & Spirits in Market Basket Plaza has been on the market for a year and is now closed.
Owner Peter DeTrolio Jr. said a few prospective buyers had dropped out. One remains and has left a deposit.
Selectmen called both establishments in this week to address concerns that their licenses had been lying dormant for extended periods of time.
They said there was no set time for an inactive license to be pulled under state or local law.But, "one year is fair," Selectman Donald McKinnon said.
Joe T's Pub's license should be sold and transferred to another location within six months, Cassis said.
As the local licensing authority, selectmen approve all license transfers.
In the past, the board was reluctant to move a license off-site, fearing it could devalue a commercial property.
In the mid-1990s, however, Bickford's sold its liquor permit off-site to Chili's.
Later, the StoneForge Tavern and Publick House on Paramount Drive bought a license from Rendezvous Cafe on Route 44 that was going out of business. In 2004, LongHorn purchased its license from the owner of the Raynham Par 3 Golf Course and Applebee's bought its permit from La Garlic Restorante on Route 44 before it shut its doors.
Raynham Call


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The X Label brings to you the "Robin Hood Theory" t-shirt. The shirt displays a rare image of a young Guru looking very studious and ready to take on the world.
"Preserving his MESSAGE, his MUSIC, his LEGACY."
Guru's prolific lyrics and profound voice has left a permanent mark in hip hop history….
Guru's prolific lyrics and profound voice has left a permanent mark in hip hop history. His purpose was clear and driven from the heart. This clothing line seeks to uphold the message and continue the mission of a legend.
Guru has impacted the hip hop nation since the 1980′s with his unique insight and powerful delivery that garnered him mass appeal. He has left a number of stains on peoples' brains with the knowledge he kicked and has made it quite clear that no one can step into his arena. It was his daily operation to educate minds with thoughts and worldly views that stretched beyond comprehension . The man flat-out had Skillz. He was never afraid to battle rap and leave you there right where you stand, nor was he to proud to convey that he was lovesick though we knew he would move from ex to the next. He forced us all to take a look at ourselves and how we're living, prepping us for our moment of truth. A master of his art form who's rep just grows bigger, Guru is Royalty. He'll be watching over hip hop from above the clouds raining down, holding it down. Hip Hop has lost a legend. The world has lost an extraordinary man. He lives through the music he left behind because they are the words that he manifested. GURU was truly gifted and unlimited with rhymes that were universal.
Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff
MC Keithy E for magnus intro (track #1) by The X Label


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The magnitude of British Columbia's energy boom is hard to gauge in a city like Vancouver, where job-growth statistics and billion-dollar announcements can get lost amid the glassy towers and bustle of urban daily life.
But in the tiny village of Xa'xtsa, a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver at the north end of Harrison Lake, the boom has been a total game-changer.
After enduring more than a decade of economic hard times after jobs in the forest dried up, members of the remote Douglas First Nation community are in the midst of a powerful transformation generated by several run-of-river projects on their reserve and throughout their traditional territory.
They now have reliable electricity. They have high-speed Internet. And, more importantly, they have work.
Employment rates have soared in the community since 2006, when the first deals were struck between the Douglas band and independent power producers to begin construction work on six hydro projects.
At the height of development, virtually anyone who could handle a broom was earning a paycheque as a camp cleaner, labourer or cook to an outside workforce of about 400 people. Others trained as heavy-duty equipment operators and power-plant operators to meet the vast labour demands, both now and in the future.
"I think, prior to the projects starting, the majority of people in our community were on social assistance," said Chief Don Harris of the projects' far-reaching effects.
"After, there were three on social assistance: One disabled [person] and two elders," he said.
The Xa'xtsa experience may be dramatic, but it's not unique.
Between natural gas drilling in the north, development of B.C.'s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export trade, and construction of new electricity generation to power much of it, energy is among B.C.'s biggest growth sectors.
Many communities across the province are already feeling the profound impacts of the boom, with many more bracing for the punch.
Among the big questions on everybody's lips is just who will fill the thousands of jobs — the majority requiring trades training — that are expected to open up in the coming years?
It's an issue that's prompted much discussion and no lack of genuine concern among decision-makers across the province, from politicians, employers and labour leaders to first nations and post-secondary school administrators and trainers.
"There is, without a question of a doubt, a skilled trades shortage coming up," said Trevor Williams, dean of energy at the B.C. Institute of Technology.
Shale gas fields
If you want to know where most of the jobs are right now, you have to run your finger up the map to B.C.'s northeast, where an estimated 14,000 people are directly employed in the shale gas fields outside of Fort Nelson and Fort St. John.
Pipefitters, power engineers, machinists, welders, truck drivers, mechanics, electricians and millwrights are among the dozens of trades in hot demand across the region, with employers facing stiff competition from not just each other, but also neighbouring mining, industrial construction and hydroelectric operations to secure the trained workforce they need to support the work that is happening.
Over the next five years, another 1,000 to 2,000 openings are anticipated in connection with expanded natural gas exploration and products required to supply new LNG projects, with thousands more jobs created by the construction and operation of clean energy projects that will power them, the Ministry of Energy of Mines reported in its natural gas strategy paper.
Meanwhile, construction on BC Hydro's Site C dam on the Peace River, east of Fort St. John, is due to break ground in 2014 and open up an estimated 35,000 direct and indirect jobs.
In B.C.'s northwest region, an unprecedented boom fuelled by up to $25 billion of resources investments over the next decade is also expected to intensify the skills shortage.
More than 32,500 person-years of jobs are anticipated through the development and construction stages, leaving anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 operational jobs in their wake, according to a report commissioned by BC Hydro in 2011.
The pressure has the province scrambling to tap into labour markets that have traditionally been under-represented in the trades.
British Columbia's young and growing aboriginal population has become a critical element in the province's Jobs Plan and B.C. Energy Plan.
So, too, is the engagement of more women and immigrants in the trades.
"You've got to do what you can to fully utilize the skilled workers that are here and attract and retain them, and we haven't always done that consistently in our industry," said Cheryl Knight, CEO of the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada, a Calgary-based industry group tasked with finding solutions to the skills shortage in the country's oil and gas sector, of which B.C. has a seven-per-cent stake.
According to the PHRC, B.C.'s current population distribution is the biggest impediment to addressing the skills shortage.
Namely, while the jobs are in the north, the majority of population is in the south.
Companies are already flying in the employees they need to work at remote camps from centres such as Kelowna, Vancouver and Kamloops. But Knight said there is equal emphasis in current recruitment efforts to encourage families to relocate permanently to the more remote regions, with tempting offers of competitive salaries, cheaper housing prices and outdoor recreation.
"There is a lot of discussion going on because [the companies] are very, very concerned about the challenges in getting skilled workers to northeast B.C. right now and, later, to the northwest," said Knight.
Training priority
At the BCIT campus in Burnaby, there's no shortage of students eager to train in the in-demand trades, with some of the most popular programs drawing lengthy waiting lists.
"We are full in everything," said Williams.
The province has identified new skills training as a priority, and Williams said B.C.'s trades schools are doing all they can to get more people job-ready as fast as possible.
That effort includes a possible expansion to current training models beyond the apprenticeship system, which has suffered a decline in both the total number of apprentices in the system and completion of training since 2008.
"We call it front-end loading, which means we're providing the training before employment," Williams said of new models under consideration.
"We've been doing it for years, but it is just the scale, probably, that needs to be ramped up."
Williams said many BCIT graduates end up working in the north, lured by salaries of up to $100,000 a year.
"People will go where the work is," he said.
Knight said B.C. can learn valuable lessons from Alberta, home to 81 per cent of the country's oil and gas production and where as many as 140,000 skilled workers will be needed over the next decade.
*Start recruitment early: "When you need people, it is too late."
* Use a variety of work arrangements: "Flexibility opens up the opportunities for different types of people."
* Look to other parts of Canada: "Unemployment is not the same across the country."
Above all, Knight said, it's important for decision-makers to remember that attracting and retaining people in a boom is always challenging.
"It's more of a marathon than a race," she said.
Visit the BC2035 Energy site here.


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- "... An ugly fight. With lives lost."
- ―Carlisle, on the event.[src]
The newborn army battle was a battle between the Cullen family, the Seattle newborn army, and the Uley pack that took place in Eclipse.
The battle took place on June 15, 2006, with the Cullens and the Uley pack as the winners.
The vampire Victoria created an army of newborn vampires to destroy the Cullen family and Bella Swan to avenge her dead mate, James, after they killed him in Twilight. In order to avoid being seen by Alice Cullen's visions of the future, she allowed another newborn, Riley Biers, to select and take care of the members while she remained in the dark.
The army's conspicuous murders in Seattle caught Alice's attention, which allowed her to see the moment they decide to confront them in Forks. After the Cullens were denied the Denali coven's help, the Quileute wolves agreed to join forces in order to protect their town as well as Bella. Jasper Hale, having knowledge with how to defeat newborns, agreed to train the wolves and his family to face the army as well as formulate strategies to ease the fight. One of their strategies involved the newborns' ignorance of the wolves' existence, which gave them an edge in the confrontation. To disrupt the newborns' ability to focus, Bella used her scent to lead them into the battlefield, and then used Jacob's scent to mask hers and go into hiding. An advantage they did not participate was the escape of Fred, the most gifted member in the army, which gave the Cullens and the pack a better chance at the fight.
While most of the battle took place in a clearing, Victoria, Riley Biers, Bella Swan, Seth Clearwater and Edward Cullen fought on a mountain top after Riley and Victoria discovered their location. Edward managed to destroy Victoria while Seth killed Riley.
The army split in two groups to surprise the Cullens, but they were caught off guard by the wolves. The war ended with the Cullens and the wolves as the winners, with only Jasper getting bitten and Jacob getting injured after saving Leah Clearwater from a newborn in hiding. After the army was destroyed, their remains were burned. The last survivor from the army was a young newborn named Bree Tanner, who surrendered herself. The Volturi arrived immediately after the battle to interrogate and destroy Bree.
- The Cullen family
- Carlisle Cullen
- Esme Cullen
- Edward Cullen
- Emmett Cullen
- Rosalie Hale
- Alice Cullen
- Jasper Hale
- Bella Swan
- The Uley pack
- Jacob Black
- Sam Uley
- Jared Cameron
- Paul Lahote
- Embry Call
- Quil Ateara V
- Leah Clearwater
- Seth Clearwater
- Victoria
- Riley Biers
- Bree Tanner
- Kristie
- Raoul
- Kevin
- Casey (killed seconds before the battle)
- Sara
- Jim
- Warren
- Jen
- Heather
- Logan
- Dean
- 6 more unnamed members
While the battle is only described by Edward through his telepathic connection with the wolves' thoughts in the novel, it is seen in the film.


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Texans coach Kubiak collapses, taken to hospital
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HOUSTON (AP) -- As the Houston Texans trickled into the locker room at halftime and learned that coach Gary Kubiak had collapsed leaving the field, their excitement over a big first half quickly disintegrated into dread.
They were soon informed that he was in stable condition, but the rattled team unraveled in the second half as Indianapolis rallied for a 27-24 victory Sunday night.
"There was a lot of unknown," said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who coached the team after halftime. "Everything was unknown as to what was going on and what happened to Kube."
Kubiak hunched over and dropped to his knees at the 24 yard line and was immediately surrounded by medical personnel. He was lifted off the field on a stretcher and taken by cart to the ambulance.
"We were all very worried," quarterback Case Keenum said. "When we went back out they told us he was ... stable. We were all upset about that but trying to stay focused at the same time."
The Texans didn't say what was wrong with Kubiak, but did say he didn't have a heart attack. The team said the 52-year-old coach, a former NFL quarterback who calls the team's plays, was conscious and was with his family as he was taken to the hospital.
"He had an episode; he was light-headed and dizzy," Houston general manager Rick Smith said in an interview on NBC. "He was evaluated by a number of specialists ... he is awake and coherent.
We have to assess ... obviously, there's a lot of info. Hopefully, Gary will be back with us tomorrow."
Up 21-3 when Kubiak collapsed, the Texans struggled after halftime for their sixth straight loss after opening the season 2-0 with Super Bowl hopes.
Veteran safety Ed Reed didn't want to blame the loss what happened to Kubiak.
"I thought we dealt with it well," Reed said. "We've just got to finish."
Kubiak's collapse came a day after Denver Broncos coach John Fox was hospitalized in North Carolina as he awaits aortic value replacement surgery. The 58-year-old Fox will have surgery in a few days and will miss several weeks while recuperating.
Fox had been told earlier about his heart condition and was hoping to put off the operation until February. As part of his trip to North Carolina on a bye week, he met with his cardiologist in Raleigh and was told to seek medical attention immediately if he felt any discomfort.
On Saturday, Fox became dizzy playing golf near his offseason home in Charlotte and was taken to a hospital, where tests revealed he couldn't wait any longer to have the surgery.
In college, Minnesota coach Jerry Kill took a leave of absence last month so he could better manage and treat his epilepsy. He has had five seizures on game day in his two-plus seasons with the Golden Gophers.
Kubiak has long been known as a top offensive coach, mentoring quarterbacks in Denver under Mike Shanahan and now Matt Schaub -- and Case Keenum -- in Houston. Kubiak has had no known public health problems.
Kubiak was hired in 2006, along with general manager Rick Smith, after the Texans finished a franchise-worst 2-14. Smith spent 10 years with Kubiak while the coach was offensive coordinator of the Broncos. Smith was Denver's defensive assistant for four seasons before moving into the front office for his last six years with the Broncos.
The pair has helped transform the Texans, which began play in 2002, from league laughingstock to contender. The team went 6-10 in their first year and 8-8 in each of the next two seasons. Expectations were high in 2010 after Houston finished at 9-7 for its first winning record in 2009. But the Texans instead fell to 6-10, which led to many fans calling for Kubiak's firing.
His original contract was due to expire after the 2010 season, but owner Bob McNair has stepped up to keep Kubiak and defended him several times amid the bumps. Among recent departures were assistant head coach Alex Gibbs (for Seattle) and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan went to join his father, Mike, in Washington.
Last year, the Texans announced contract extensions for both Smith and Kubiak, rewarding them for taking the team to the playoffs last year for the first time. Kubiak's three-year agreement has him under contract through 2014.
McNair said at the time he offered Kubiak a four-year deal, but the coach preferred to make it for three.
Kubiak made his mark as Denver's offensive coordinator under Mike Shanahan, winning two Super Bowls. An eighth-round pick out of Texas A&M, he spent nine years as John Elway's backup. He finished his career 4-1 as a starter, all in emergency relief of Elway.
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org


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DETROIT – Local 4 is inside the courtroom for the federal corruption trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick's dad Bernard Kilpatrick and his childhood friend Bobby Ferguson. Each day we bring you information from inside federal court as it happens.
9AM - Carol Paszkiewicz is expected to resume her testimony this morning - we left off yesterday with discussion of a Ferguson Construction document which is alleged to have been altered. The document in question is a daily report form created by Ferguson supposedly from the first day of the Sterling Heights sinkhole, which showed Ferguson employees worked a full day when other documents indicate they only dropped off some equipment at around 6pm. All the attorneys are currently in the judge's chambers discussing the issue of admissibility and the expertise of Agent Paszkiewicz to interpret a forged document.
9:14 AM - Attorneys emerge from the judge's chambers. Agent Carol Paszkiewicz is back on the stand - all issues appear to be resolved. Paszkiewicz is describing the steps she took in her investigation of the FEI document in question. We are now seeing a FEI Document which Paszkiewicz is characterizing as a "proper" or "typical" FEI Daily Field Record. That "proper" document is now being compared to the alleged altered Daily Field Record. The Government now produces another FEI Daily Field Report that appears to be the "original" report from which the "altered" document was copied. It appears the date was changed from a 3 to an 8, it also appears several numbers have been altered or eliminated. DWSD Daily Records indicate Ferguson was not on site at the time the FEI Daily Field Reports claim.
Ferguson's Attorney Michael Rataj comes in to Cross examine Agent Paszkiewicz.
Rataj makes it clear Paszkiewicz is not a document expert. Paszkiewicz was not on the scene at the sinkhole at the time, and didn't know the location of all the Ferguson Employees on that day. Ok. All done? Nope - now comes Walter Rozicky project manager for Inland Waters.
He was on the scene at the sinkhole. Mr. Rozicky testifies Ferguson was not on site until 9/14/2004.
Ferguson employees came the next day 9/15/2004.
This supports the allegations of the Government. Government Attorney Jennifer Blackwell pulls out the previous documents for Mr. Rozicky review.
Rozicky testifies Ferguson had not been on site prior to 9/14/2004. Blackwell shows Rozicky an invoice from FEI sent on 10/1/2004.
This invoice is for the sinkhole project, where repairs were claimed to have been made by FEI on 3/23/2004 - which could not have happened because Rozicky indicates the sinkhole didn't form until October. Now the Daily Field Report in question. Rozicky indicates he had never seen this document before today.
He gets a laser pointer and shows the inconsistent and missing information. Side by side analysis of an older Daily Field Report document and the "altered" document indicate they are the same document.
All the hours and equipment are the same. The only difference is the date. Rataj comes to cross and points out Rozicky is not an expert document examiner. The defense is field reports are filled out by guys in the field and sometimes they make mistakes - oopsy. Rozicky wasn't everywhere on the job site - up stream or downstream. Rataj asked if he remembers what he was wearing back in 2004?
Rozicky responded with "bluejeans" which got a laugh. Rataj claims there is no way Rozicky could know everything that was happening on the job site.
Rozicky said he had photographs of the job site back during the project. Rataj is not interested in the photos. Blackwell recross - Rozicky had reviewed the photos from the site back in 2004 and can say with confidence that Ferguson was not on the site before 9/14/2004.- 20 minute break.
11AM - Back from the break.
Odell Jones takes the stand - Eric Doeh on direct. Owner of Jomar Construction Detroit based firm. Also, Manger of a Detroit Public Schools Renovation Program. This program included the Taft Schultz School Project in which Bobby Ferguson was a contractor. FEI had a dispute with a firm called Turner Construction who was the project management. Jones met with Ferguson to try and mediate the dispute.
The dispute was about Ferguson overcharging on the project. In the meeting at FEI Headquarters on Wyoming, Jones claims Ferguson told Jones to "go on strong black man" in reference to Jones attempt to "get to the bottom" of the dispute. Jones thought Ferguson "was just being silly."
During the meeting in Fergusons office, Jones noticed photos of Ferguson with Mayor Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty. Jones tries to make it clear that the issue of Taft Schultz Project needed to be resolved. After the meeting, Ferguson wrote a letter about the meeting which was copied to Mayor Kilpatrick.
Jones was disturbed by the fact that the Mayor was brought into this dispute and returned to the Ferguson HQ to voice his dismay. Jones indicates it was improper to use the relationship between Kilpatrick and Ferguson in a construction dispute.
Moving on to the Book Cadillac Renovation - Jones was part of the evaluation committee who chose contractors for the project. In Jones opinion, Ferguson was not the best qualified for the job but Ferguson got it in-spite of that fact.
Once the project began in 2003, The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality showed-up on-site and began writing citations for improper asbestos handling procedures and containment. Jones got into his car and drove to the site.
We are now seeing a letter of violation written by the MDEQ to the owners of the Book Cadillac - seven violations were cited, including unsafe levels suspected asbestos containing materials in the air. Jones spoke with Ferguson about the violations and Ferguson was not concerned.
Ferguson told Jones he had become a "punk and a puppet for the white man."
Fergusons suggested he could call the Mayor and ask him to call the Governor.
Jones didn't think the violations were a political matter.
Jones further explained Ferguson had no concern for his workers who were not trained or outfitted to protect themselves from the harmful effects of asbestos exposure.
After the Book Cadillac Project City work for Jones and his company dried-up. Jones made several attempts to contact the mayor and met with Ferguson, but he still did not get more work.
Jones donated $10,000 to the Manogian Mansion Restoration Fund, and was a supporter of Mayor Kilpatrick but none of it helped him get any city work.
Text between Ferguson and Kilpatrick indicate Jones tried to contact Kilpatrick's Mother and sister - Ferguson sent a text to Kilpatrick: Odel Jones called your Moma. Kilpatrick: yeah, I know.
Biting bugs have been reported in the courtroom by the judge - they either fly or jump. Several jurors have been bitten, so sprays may be applied.
- Gerald Evelyn begins his cross. Evelyn establishes that Jones is an African American Male and his business is no longer in operation. Good job.
Next revelation is that Jones didn't pursue business with the City of Detroit, Jones does not agree. Evelyn produces a document of former testimony to the FBI where Jones indicated his major projects were with Ford and he didn't really go after city work.
On to the photos in Fergusons office, the pictures had nothing to do with the project. The Mayor had nothing to do with the project? Jones was "the tempest in the teapot" according to Evelyn.
Evelyn asks Jones to produce the letter that was sent by Ferguson and copied to Kilpatrick. Jones does not have a copy of the letter. Evelyn questions why Jones got a letter that was not addressed to him. The letter was addressed to Turner Construction.
The premise is that Ferguson was showing his connections with the mayor and trying to get Jones off his back.
Jones indicated he has frequently been offered to be a minority front for white business but, that he has never allowed this arrangement for him or his company.
Evelyn is displaying the MDEQ violations which it appears put the responsibility on the management and no violation was written for unprotected workers.
Since the Book was built, we can assume the violations were taken care of so say the defense. "Well, the book was built" agreed Jones.
Letters from the MDEQ show each violation and how they were ultimately dealt with.
A new work plan dated 7/9/03 from FEI seems to address proper handling of hazardous materials.
Done for the day.
Cross will continue tomorrow.


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Director Francis Lawrence has found his Mags for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Lionsgate announced today that actress Lynn Cohen (Munich, Sex and the City) has been tapped to play the character of Mags. She's an 80-year-old woman who was a victor in The Hunger Games from District 4. I'm not sure how much of the plot will be revealed in trailers and such, so for fear of spoilers I'll leave the character description at that. Mags isn't exactly a lead character, but she's not necessarily insignificant either. Hit the jump for more, including a rundown of what actors will be playing the new characters found in Catching Fire.
We previously heard that Melissa Leo may or may not have been in the mix for the role, but it now appears that Cohen is the woman for the job. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Donald Sutherland all return for the follow-up, and they'll be joined by newcomers Philip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason) and Amanda Plummer (Wiress). Arguably the largest new role, that of Finnick Odair, has yet to be officially filled. We recently heard that Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman) was being courted for the part, but he hasn't officially closed the deal. Moreover, Tony Shaloub is apparently being eyed for the character of Beetee.
Read the full press release regarding Cohen's casting below, with the synopsis in bold. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens on November 22nd, 2013.
Santa Monica, CA, August 2, 2012 — Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. A former mentor to Finnick Odair, Mags is an eighty year old Hunger Games victor from District 4.
Known to New York theater audiences for decades of memorable roles, Cohen has also appeared in critically acclaimed films such as Steven Spielberg's Munich and Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, NY, as well as commercial fare such as Sex and The City and its sequel. She can next be seen in They Came Together, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.


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Caballé, Montserrat
Caballé, Montserrat mōnsĕrät´ käbälyā´ [key], 1933–, Spanish soprano, b. Barcelona. After voice study with Eugenia Kemeny and Conchita Badia in Barcelona, she made her operatic debut in Basel, Switzerland, in 1956, singing Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème. She became an overnight success with American audiences in 1965 after singing in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall in New York City. That same year she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust. Her voice is noted for its purity, precise control, and power. Remarkably active during her long career, Caballé has sung over 80 operatic roles, including the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier and the title role in Salomé; recorded more than 30 roles; and sung in all of the world's major opera houses. A superb interpreter of songs, particularly those of her native Spain, she is also noted for her recital performances.
See biography by R. Pullen and S. Taylor (1995).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Music: History, Composers, and Performers: Biographies


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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 — Older women who often have trouble sleeping may want to consider a little workout in the morning for a better rest at night. Morning exercisers had fewer complaints about a bad night's sleep and those who stretched in the morning had somewhat better sleep, a new study found. Women who exercise in the evening, on the other hand, were more likely to be up at night.
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The women didn't need much morning activity to get the benefit. "It's like doing a brisk walk," said researcher Anne McTiernan. "Nobody is saying people have to be athletes and do marathons."
The scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle drew their data from a larger study of the effects of exercise in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Because the study included survey questions on sleep, the researchers could examine an issue that was not part of the original project. McTiernan is principal investigator of the cancer study as well as senior researcher on the sleep project, whose findings were published in the November issue of the journal Sleep.
Women in the sleep study were cancer-free and postmenopausal, ages 50 to 75, overweight or obese, and not exercising at the start of the project. Eighty-seven were placed in the exercise program and 86 in the stretching program. Both groups were followed for a year. Researchers compared how well the women reported sleeping before the study started and afterward.
Women in the exercise program did at least 45 minutes of moderate walking or riding an exercise bike five days a week at an exercise facility or on their own. Those who were stretching did an hour once a week under the supervision of an exercise physiologist, and stretched 15 to 30 minutes three times a week on their own. Fifty-five percent of all the women did their activity in the morning.
Although the exercise program was about 15 minutes a day more than federal officials recommend as the minimum for healthful exercise, it's still not a lot, McTiernan said. The heart rates of the exercisers were no higher than they would get in a brisk walk, she said.
Significant improvement reported
How the women did in their programs was compared with their ratings of their ability to sleep, including whether they used sleep aids such as pills or alcohol, whether they felt they were sleeping soundly and through the night, and whether they fell asleep during quiet activities.
Women who exercised averaged 70 percent better sleep and women who stretched averaged 30 percent better sleep, the study found.
The study did not look for reasons why exercise in the morning was good for a night's rest while exercise at night was not, or why stretching would help at all.
The researchers suspect that exercise in the morning might set the women's body clocks for a day of activity and a night of sleep, while exercise at night might push back the sleep part of the sleep-wake cycle. They speculate that the stretches might have improved sleep by making the women more flexible and relaxed.
Exercise also increases activity hormones and creates lactic acid as a byproduct, and both can make a body more restless, said Edward Stepanski, director of the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Similarly, exercise raises temperature, while sleep requires a slight drop in temperature, said Stepanski, who was not part of the Fred Hutchinson study.
As for why exercise might be better in morning, Stepanski also suspects a change in circadian rhythm. Finding out whether morning exercise benefits the body clock would be an interesting follow-up study, he said.
© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Married October 7, 2006
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Tonight's dinner is brought to you by bizarre cravings and hangovers.
Nowadays in my old age, I typically limit myself to a drink or two when I go out – if I am even drinking. This is for a plethora of reasons:
- To not feel like shiz the next day.
- To avoid the dreaded "brain cloud" that makes studying, or really any intellectual activity impossible.
- To be able to have an effective workout, if desired.
- To remember the people I meet and conversations I have at parties, bars, etc.
- Too keep my cool while everyone else acts a fool.
- To not partake in any cringe, tear, or Emergency Room-inducing activities.
When I am hungover, the last thing I ever want to eat is lettuce. For some reason, the mere thought of my gut trying to digest cellulose is almost enough to send me running to the porcelain throne. I was craving vegetables tonight though, and it made sense to me that cooked vegetables would be more tolerable. That, in combination with my current obsession with Alexia's frozen sweet potato waffle fries and the desire to get back into my egg and feta cheese phase, was the catalyst to a highly unexpected and extremely delicious dinner.
Don't knock it till youve tried it.
Sweet potato fries and scrambled brussel sprouts with eggs and feta
The sweet potato fries are a delicious contrast to the savory, cheesy brussel sprouts and eggs. Its not weird – its uhmazing.
Recipe: Serves 1
~1 cup frozen sweet potato waffle fries
4 large brussel sprouts, sliced
3 tbsp onion, chopped
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove, finely chopped (or garlic salt if you are
hungover lazy)
3 egg whites
1 whole, organic egg
~2 tbsp feta cheese
fresh ground pepper
Directions – Place two pans on the stove on medium high heat. Grease one with olive oil and add the onions, garlic, and brussel sprouts. Saute. Add the lemon juice and continue to saute until lightly browned. In the other pan, add the sweet potato fries and occasionally flip until warmed through and slightly browned. In the other pan, once the brussel sprouts and onions are lightly browned, add the egg whites and feta cheese and stir fry until cooked. On a plate, add a layer of sweet potato fries. Top with the brussel sprout egg mixture. Take the whole egg and crack it carefully into one of the pans. Let the white cook but remove before the yolk is cooked. Drizzle the yolk over the entire dish and eat the white. Top dish with salt and fresh ground pepper. Enjoy!!!
Brussel Sprouts * a great source of fiber, folate, and vitamins C, A, and K
Eggs * the yolk is where all the nutrients are! It contains tryptophan, selenium, iodine, B vitamins, and phosphorous, many of which are necessary for optimal metabolism. The egg white has 6 grams of complete protein!
Sweet potato * high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, and B6! The antioxidants in sweet potatoes work to eliminate free radicals (which damage the body) and are anti-inflammatory, so they can help alleviate symptoms of many conditions.


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Everywhere you went this last week you saw them: desperate guys hoping to stay out of trouble with their ladies.
Everywhere you went this last week you saw them: desperate guys hoping to stay out of trouble with their ladies. I think of the one I saw a year ago at the supermarket checkout at 9 at night, clutching a bouquet of flowers so wilted it seemed like week-old romaine. We both looked down at it when he placed it on the belt. "Hey it's the thought that counts!" he said defensively. My own man is never defensive when he presents such gifts. He felt GOOD about the can of WD-40 he gave me one year. Ditto the jumper cables I got the next year. When our kids were little, what I did was to make a huge deal of Valentine's Day, with food coloring even. (Pink milk! Mashed potatoes the color of Strawberry Shortcake's petticoats!) What he did was bring us one small square box of fudge. One year anyway. Oh and one year he bought me a card, though he didn't bother signing it. It must have been the following year that I got some marriage revenge by washing his underpants with my dark-red sweater. I had less understanding then. And the world was very different. I think of the old jokes male stand-up comics used to make, like "My wife: Can't live with her, can't live without her." And "My wife: She's so big that when she sits around the house she sits AROUND the house." You don't hear those anymore. Things shifted somewhere along the line and now nobody DARES make fun of women. Rather, we show how evolved we are by making fun of men. Think about it: All over the media men are now portrayed as louts or goofballs, or well-meaning doofuses, like the Phil Dunphy character on ABC's Modern Family. Only that's not what men are like at all, at least not in my experience. I say this because in my line of work I get to talk to a lot of strangers. I also receive a lot of e-mails, a surprising amount of them from men. One man wrote to say that when he moved to his new town and began reading my column in his local paper he thought of me as his first friend in the area. I found that an extremely sensitive and generous thing to say. Another wrote to tell about a cat he drove past that morning as the poor thing lay by the side of the road, just as his neighbor sped going in the other direction. This man stopped his car. He saw the blood. "I think my neighbor hit her without realizing it," he wrote in this email that I still have. "My first thought was to knock frantically on doors, but instead I called Animal Control because the cat was still alive. "I hope I made the right decision," he added, "but I can't stop thinking about it." And a third man wrote once to describe how kind and sensitive his young sons were when his best friend died. "Joseph is having fun in Heaven,'" one told him. "Someday you'll make a new friend," said the other gently. Men are louts and dopes and goofballs? I don't think so. Men are our partners in adulthood, our allies, who find themselves living in a culture that paradoxically still feels free to mock signs of tenderness in them. So what do I care if my man doesn't 'deliver' on this shamelessly commercial shakedown of a day? When for me, secretly, it's been enough to have a good set of jumper cables, and that fresh can of WD-40 when I need it. Write Terry at email@example.com. Read fresh stories every day and leave a comment for all to see at her blog Exit Only, at www.terrymarotta.wordpress.com.


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I first had Ubuntu 11.10 installed on a single partition on my 750GB hard drive.
I then partitioned the hard drive to 500GB (for Ubuntu) in ext4 format (what it already was from the clean install of Ubuntu)....and 250GB for Win7 in NFTS format.
Then I installed Win7 onto that 250GB partition. Installation went smoothly and I was successfully booted into Win7 and setting everything up. After I was done doing all the stupid updates from Microsof, I thought I was done and I wanted to go back to Ubuntu.
This is where the problem starts
Of course I reboot and it goes directly to Win7. I research and find that Win7 has overwritten the Ubuntu bootloader, etc etc.. I don't fully understand it.
I download EasyBCD 2.1.2
In EasyBCD, I select "Add New Entry" and select "Linux/BSD" and change the type to "GRUB 2" and name it "Ubuntu"
Next, I go to "BCD Deployment" and select "Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR" and click "Write MBR"
I reboot, select "Ubuntu" and the purple screen comes up, but NOTHING HAPPENS.
If I hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, it goes to the Login menu where it acts normal for about 10-15 seconds, then freezes. It does this repeatedly every time.
What's wrong here? Why can't I load Ubuntu now? Am I going to have to reinstall Ubuntu with Windows, then set up the bootloader with EasyBCD instead of Ubuntu, THEN Win7?
Any and all help is appreciated!


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Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (AZ-203T05-A)
Audience Profile
Students in this course are interested in Azure development or in passing the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate certification exam.
Students should have 1-2 years experience as a developer. This course assumes students know how to code and have a fundamental knowledge of Azure.
Students should have 1-2 years experience as a developer. This course assumes students know how to code and have a fundamental knowledge of Azure.
It is recommended that students have some experience with PowerShell or Azure CLI, working in the Azure portal, and with at least one Azure-supported programming language. Most of the examples in this course are presented in C\# .NET.
Course Objectives
Students will learn how Azure Monitor operates and how to use tools like Log Analytics and Application Insights to better understand what is happening in their application. Students will also learn how to implement autoscale, instrument their solutions to support monitoring and logging, and use Azure Cache and CDN options to enhance the end-user experience.
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Azure Monitor
Azure Monitor is the central service that includes all of tools you need to monitor and optimize your solution.
- Overview of Azure Monitor
Module 2: Develop code to support scalability of apps and services
This module covers how applications scale and how to handle some troubleshooting.
- Implement autoscale
- Implement code that addresses singleton application instances
- Implement code that handles transient faults
Module 3: Instrument solutions to support monitoring and logging
This module covers adding code to your app to send the data to Azure Monitor.
- Configure instrumentation in an app or server by using Application Insights
- Analyze and troubleshoot solutions by using Azure Monitor
Module 4: Integrate caching and content delivery within solutions
This module shows students how to leverage Azure Cache for Redis and Azure CDNs to deliver assets to users more quickly.
- Azure Cache for Redis
- Develop for storage on CDNs


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Weezer Launching Summer Camp?
Fresh from the success of their cruise, Weezer are now considering creating an even more unique fan experience. In a recent interview, frontman Rivers Cuomo said the group is considering creating its own form of summer camp.
"We'd like to put together some sort of Weezer camp." he told the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia. "But we're just beginning to talk about it, so I don't have any details yet."
Although he provided no specifics, the idea of a Weezer camp is tantalizing. In addition to typical summer camp fare like archery, swimming and arts and crafts, there could be a whole host of Weezer-specific activities. What Weezer fan wouldn't be thrilled to take classes such as Destroying Sweaters, Having 'Raditude' and How to Not Talk to Girls?
And in honor of the nicknames given to three of their albums, a color war would be conducted between the Blue, Green and Red teams. There would also be a Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore lookalike contest, with the winners earning a trip to Beverly Hills.


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"Forget what you can't do … virtual worlds are about what you can do."
Disabled can have a new ' real
life' in a virtual world …
The ability of virtual worlds such as Second Life to provide new experiences as well as "a real life" to those with disabilities has to my knowledge not really been explored in New Zealand although well publicised overseas. It also has not been used to make the lives of the aged, infirm and shut-ins more meaningful, something that it has almost miraculous possibilities for doing.
But overseas, particularly in the United States, the ability to create a cyber version of oneself has been embraced by people with disabilities stemming from arthritis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, mental illness, autism, wartime injuries and other debilitating conditions, and their carers. According to a recent issue of the Philadelpia Enquirer the disabled can log on to virtual worlds to do things they cannot, or are afraid to, do in real life.
Carolyn Davis, an Inquirer Staff Writer, points out that already the disabled can in some ways emulate the feats of the lead character Jake Sully, the paralysed military veteran in the New Zealand-created, James Cameron-directed movie, Avatar, who uses a virtual body to "live" in and infiltrate another "real" world, Pandora.
"Can't go places without a wheelchair?, "Davis asks, before noting, "In Second Life, you not only can walk, you can fly.
"Is your speech slurred? In Second Life, text chats can let out your inner Shakespeare. "Forget for a minute what you can't do. In virtual worlds, it's all about what you can, " she says. And she is correct. World Second Life can be a boon for those with physical and even mental limitations.
"I'm building a house on Second Life right now," she quotes James Parcher, 85, of West Philadelphia (SL: Huber Grantly), as saying. "For an old guy like me, I can't get around very well with the arthritis problems I have. On Second Life, you're young again."
"People identify in a very intense way with their avatars," according to Sherry Turkle, professor of social studies of science and technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the Initiative on Technology and Self..
Noting that disabled players, however, often need adaptive equipment to use a computer and to interact with virtual worlds such as Second Life, Davis visited West Philadelphia's Inglis House, which offers services and housing to people with severe disabilities, and which has a computer lab stocked with such gadgets and is filled with residents using computers for writing, playing games, and sending e-mails.
Her article is worth reading just to see the possibilities in this area although a pilot project to see if residents and day-program participants could benefit from Second Life, especially by taking continuing education classes from schools with a presence in the virtual world, has wound down with the participants finding it too hard for too little return.
Davis also details Virtual Ability, a nonprofit group based in Colorado, which was founded by Alice Krueger, 60, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 years ago. Her group's mission is to help the disabled use Second Life, and its Virtual Ability Island is tailored to welcome disabled players, with tutorials and areas to practice manipulating their avatars.
On the island virtual sandwich boards advertise the ALS Association, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Autism Society (Autism Awareness Centre).
Boon for the aged?
For me the Davis article, along with other articles I have read over the years, points to the boon of virtual worlds for not only the disabled but for those who are shut-in (and shut-out of society) through age or other infirmities but still have all their faculties.
Although Linden Labs may not see the aged as a lucrative part of their target market – the aged not being so hip – I feel that is one direction in which virtual worlds are going to move with extraordinary vigor once the interface becomes more transparent.
I have met numerous avatars whose creators are over 70 in real life who appear to be repeating and enjoying the mistakes of their 20s without a lot of the anguish and angst associated with that in their real life. There already is a Silver Fox organisation within Second Life, whose members, despite the real life age of the membership, still appear to have the fun of youth… doing the things they possibly can no longer do in real life.
Age is not a barrier in virtual world. In fact it is one place that it is often an asset where life experience can be helpful.
Finally, I see a time when, rather than just sitting staring to space those who inhabit our old people's homes or live alone and lonely will be able to move, interact and socialise in virtual worlds just as easily as they once could in the real world.
I, for one, would rather spend my old age, if I live that long, interacting in a virtual world, than slowly devolving into a vegetative state.
Perhaps a MUVE membership and Broadband access might even become part of a pension cheque.
Filed under: Education, Online identity, Second Life, Virtual Worlds | Tagged: Aged in Second Life, Aging, Aging in SL, Alice Krueger, ALS Association, Arhritis foundation, Autism Society Autism Awareness Centre, carolyn davis, Clem Murray, Dawn waller, Disabled in Second Life, Elderly, Inglis House, James Parcher, Massachusetts inistitute of Technology, Philadelphia Enquirer, Sherry Trukle, slenz, Virtual Ability Island, VLENZ | 1 Comment »