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What's it take to make a lake?
In addition to the expertise that golf course designers bring to a project in civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning and agronomy (not to mention golf) we also have a major role in providing well-coordinated lake design. Most golf projects include a significant amount of water features for reasons ranging from the need to generate dirt for fill to golf strategy to providing enhanced aesthetic value. When designing a course, we attempt to balance these sometimes competing interests in a way that provides the maximum benefit throughout the life of the project.
Aesthetics and playability
In the earliest stages of a project, the design usually evolves through a series of possible routing options and proposed pond locations. When selecting the position for ponds, we are predictably looking to the low-lying or flatter portions of the property to maximize the benefit of our gravity-flow drainage systems and minimize the expense of excavation. We also derive an aesthetic benefit because the ponds will tend to have the most natural appearance if they reside in the lower spots.
With respect to playability, we try to implement several principles. We prefer to have a majority of the water to the golfer's left. This strategy recognizes the fact that most high handicappers tend to slice to the right and, by placing most of the trouble on the opposite side, we hope to avoid making the course overly difficult for the average or beginning player. We also prefer that our ponds are on the inside of the dogleg to maximize their visibility. Finally, we want to achieve a balance and variety of holes for golfers as they play the course. When possible, we avoid a layout that features a great deal of water on one of the nine holes, and none on the other nine. Our goal is to achieve a flow to the play that varies the degree of difficulty throughout the course of the round. The sequencing of holes and positioning of water are two key components in creating an interesting and exciting golf experience.
On most courses, one of the lakes will serve as a reservoir for the irrigation system, and its construction and positioning will have special requirements. First, we try to maximize the size of the lake to enhance its storage capacity. Irrigation designer Dave Davis prefers to have 4 to 7 days of emergency storage in the lake in the event that the supply of irrigation water is interrupted. Remember that to avoid vortexing (a whirlpool effect), the lake can only be lowered to within 3 feet of the pump plant intake line and, therefore, only the uppermost portion of the lake is actually providing useable storage. Also, an irrigation lake with a large surface area helps minimize the "drawdown" created by nightly watering of the course. To avoid an unsightly, muddy bank and to reduce the chances for erosion created by wave action, we try to create a lake with sufficient area to limit the drawdown to 6 vertical inches at the end of each irrigation cycle.
On sites with modest terrain (less than 80 feet of elevation change), we prefer to locate the irrigation lake centrally and lower in elevation. A central location will create the best hydraulic conditions and allow the smallest and, therefore, least expensive pipe and pump sizes. On sites with greater than 80 feet of elevation change, the lowest pond may not be a practical irrigation reservoir. The large elevation difference between the pump station and the highest sprinkler head may require a booster pump, and the irrigation designer may seek a more intermediate elevation to avoid the cost and maintenance of the additional pump.
By placing the reservoir in the lowest elevation, you maximize your ability to direct drainage to it and, therefore, capture and recycle as much rainfall as possible. In addition to conservation of water, we can derive additional environmental benefits from this configuration. Although golf course superintendents have an excellent safety record with respect to the application of fertilizer and pesticides, directing drainage through the lake network to the irrigation pond provides an additional factor of safety for two reasons:
First, any nutrients or pesticides present in the run-off are dramatically diluted when they enter the vast body of water present in a lake. The dilution is multiplied many times if the runoff actually passes through more than one lake, which is likely for runoff that originates from the more removed portions of the course.
Second, you can incorporate water-quality basins into the lake and drainage network. In these specialized detention basins, incoming, potentially nutrient-rich water is slowed to the point where excess nitrogen is taken up by emergent and aquatic plant material. Phosphorus is removed through chemical reactions with mineral-rich soil of the pond floor. Pesticides are also removed in water quality basins because they often adhere to sediment, which settles to the pond floor.
The biotic mass that accumulates in the ponds is periodically harvested, composted and may be returned to the course in landscape areas as mulch. Finally, by ultimately directing drainage to the irrigation lake, we maximize the amount of nutrients or pesticides that are returned to the course through sprinklers rather than discharged off-site. In so doing, we are, to the extent possible, creating a "closed system" that reduces the chance that an undesirable chemical reaches an environmentally sensitive area or leaves the golf course property.
Once we have the lakes positioned, our focus turns to the specifics of their design and construction. Among our major concerns are water tightness, water quality and, perhaps most importantly, safety. Golf course ponds are often referred to as "attractive nuisances" for the simple reason that they may lure people to a potentially dangerous situation. Accordingly, we must do everything possible to prevent an accident.
The best preventive measure is a modified cross section of the typical 3:1 (horizontal:vertical) slope of a lake bank. In early attempts to address the issue, designers specified a "safety shelf" incorporating a 6-foot-wide horizontal landing positioned 3 feet below the normal water level along the entire perimeter of the lake. During the course of years of experience, we have found that the resultant change in slope below water level, which often cannot be seen, may create a less safe condition than if the bottom slope was gentle and even. Therefore, the preferred approach to a safety edge has become a more gradual 4:1 or 5:1 slope from the normal water level continuing down to the bottom of the lake. The rationale of this method is that a gentle, even slope can be negotiated back to the bank by all but the most incapacitated people, and it will not provide the false sense of security that a bench might.
Water quality
Water quality is also a major concern, and Rick McGuire of Waterscapers reports that it is in large part related to the quantity of oxygen and nutrients in the lake. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are food for algae and, consequently, their presence in large quantities almost ensures the algae blooms that superintendents frequently battle.
Our strategy for controlling the problem takes a two-pronged approach. First, we try to limit the nutrients that reach the lake by circulating our run-off through the previously discussed water-quality basins. Unfortunately, we know that despite our best efforts, some nitrogen and phosphorus will inevitably reach our ponds. To manage this situation, we can introduce aquatic plants into the lake environment that will compete with the algae for these nutrients. Essentially, we are simply promoting the growth of other beneficial species to limit the propagation of the algae.
As you seek to control nutrients, you should simultaneously try to increase oxygen levels in your lakes. The presence of oxygen creates a healthy environment suitable for fish and lower members of the food chain, including microbial life. Typically, oxygen is most lacking at the bottom of a lake where the water is obviously farthest from the atmosphere. To compensate for this problem, it's beneficial to inject oxygen or ozone from specially designed tubing laid on the bottom of the lake. This configuration helps solve the problem at its source. Additionally, as the bubbles drift to the surface, they tend to pull water with them creating an upward circulation in which less aerated water is dragged to the surface, and more oxygen-rich water replaces it at the bottom of the lake. This action tends to produce a column of water that is more uniform and healthy from top to bottom.
A deeper lake also helps the oxygen interact with the lake water because the deeper the lake, the longer it takes for the air to rise in the water column and the greater the period for oxygen transfer. For good aeration, the preferable lake water depth is 15 feet, and 10 feet as a minimum.
Water conservation
As water becomes a more precious commodity, its conservation will become an increasingly important issue as well. To conserve water in golf course lakes, it's typical to line them with an impervious membrane to prevent leaking. PVC liners have been the material of choice for the lake industry. This material is relatively inexpensive, easy to install, durable and has a proven track record that covers more than 30 years. A PVC liner must be covered with soil, and from an aesthetic viewpoint, a soil bottom is the most desirable lake bottom surface. There are other materials that have been used in lake systems; some covered and some uncovered. But PVC continues to be the most suitable for this type of work.
As you can see, good lake design covers a range of topics and considerations. Successfully managing these factors will provide the design that creates the most cost-effective, attractive and functional lake — one that you can successfully maintain for many years.
John K. Millhouse and Richard Elliott are design principals with Sandy Lyle Golf Design (Windsor, Colo.).
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I've been making a lot of recipes on this site from a numbers-focused perspective lately. I try to make main course recipes because that seems to be the most popular content here, to keep the ingredient lists down, to ensure that the recipes could be made free of gluten, grains, refined sugar, moss, lichens etc. All things to all people. It's kind of draining from a creativity sense after a while. Not complaining! Just a personal observation on what's been happening around here.
When I was working on posts over the last couple of weeks, the idea of just skipping the whole thing entered my mind more than once. I think there's a tendency to put a lot of pressure on yourself when you work in a creative field. There's a constant feeling that you're in competition with your own capability, that you have to one-up people around you and yourself. When someone rips your style or criticizes a certain aspect, it's quietly infuriating because a piece of yourself is woven throughout the entire work. And then there's other times where you drop into the zone seamlessly, and ideas/vision/everything is just flowing and nothing can ruin your day.
I have a plugin for this site that helps me settle on optimal post titles, focus words, recipe descriptions etc with Google searches in mind. I read through all of the descriptions I've made with this thing, and thought "But that isn't how I feel about this recipe at all!" It was a weird moment. Food has always been about connection, feeling, and expression for me. It's one of the easiest ways to bring strangers/not-yet-friends into our world. It's a universal language out of necessity, but also highly individual because of background, economic circumstances, dietary needs, and skill level. It's not something that can be captured by a Google description, ya know?
I never make the same thing twice because I like to get wrapped up in the little moments of making food, and I love when those moments always feel different. When I make something for dinner that my man likes and he says "You should put this on your site!" I shrug it off and try to explain that the dish has too many steps, it's too simple, too many weird ingredients, it's not an interesting flavour profile, it's not a hearty vegan main course that's ready in 7 minutes. It's such a toxic way to talk down something that you gave your full attention and feeling to.
I never make definitively breakfast-y recipes on here anymore because they tend to lack in terms of pins, shares, and page views. But who cares 'cuz I love breakfast way too much, and also I'm not some weird, blogging robot. I still have a couple handfuls of frozen wild blueberries in our freezer, and I honestly couldn't think of a better fate for them than pancakes or waffles. These spelt waffles are all jammy bluebz and nutty-sweet flavour. I make multi-flour waffles/pancakes almost every weekend, but the spelt is always in the mix because that's my all purpose flour. The rhubarb for the tangy, sweet, and rich cashew cream came from my backyard! The pride is huge with this one :)
Print the recipe here!
Serves: 4
Notes: For the turmeric granola, I just followed Izy's method from this recipe that she posted on The Kitchn. I combined the total amount of nuts and seeds used in the recipe and just made that up with what I wanted for add-ins (sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and sliced almonds). At the stage where the maple syrup is added, also sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of vanilla powder. Voila! Turmeric stovetop granola :)
Also, I used a little pinch of beet powder to really bring out the pink hue of the rhubarb cashew cream, but obviously this isn't a necessary step. Frozen raspberries would be so great in place of the blueberries. For a gluten-free option, just replace both spelt flours with an all-purpose gluten-free blend that you trust and make sure that you use certified gluten-free rolled oats. I also added a heaped spoonful of mesquite powder to the dry ingredients of my waffles.
½ teaspoon coconut oil
heaped ½ cup chopped rhubarb
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours
1/4 cup filtered water (plus extra if needed)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ⅓ cups non-dairy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar/fresh lemon juice
1 ½ cups whole spelt flour (I use a sprouted spelt flour)
¼ cup light spelt flour
½ cup rolled oats OR coconut flakes (or a mix of both)
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
3 tablespoons liquid coconut oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
⅓ cup frozen blueberries
Make the rhubarb cashew cream. Heat the coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Add the rhubarb to the pan. Stir and saute until the rhubarb is soft, about 3 minutes. Transfer the cooked rhubarb to an upright, high-speed blender. Drain the cashews and add them to the blender as well. Then, add the water, maple syrup and vanilla. Blend the mixture on high until totally smooth, stopping the motor and scraping the sides down if necessary. Transfer the rhubarb cashew cream to a bowl, cover, and set aside in the refrigerator.
Make the waffles. Combine the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar and stir together. Set aside to curdle for about 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole spelt flour, light spelt flour, rolled oats/coconut, baking powder, and sea salt. Pour the non-dairy milk mixture into the bowl. Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir the batter together with a spatula until just barely combined. There should still be some dry flour spots. Gently fold the blueberries in.
Pre-heat your waffle iron to the desired level of doneness. Also preheat your oven to about 225 degrees F. Place a parchment lined baking sheet in the oven so that you can transfer finished waffles to the warm oven quickly.
Lightly grease the waffle iron with coconut oil. Drop about ⅓ cup of the batter onto the bottom iron and close the top. Once the timer beeps, retrieve the waffle and transfer it to the warming tray that you've set up in the oven. Repeat this process with the remaining batter.
Serve waffles warm with rhubarb cashew cream, turmeric granola, extra blueberries, and extra maple syrup.

subset: commoncrawl


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The search found 384 results in 0.01 seconds.
Does low‐level policing increase during gentrification? If so, are police responding to increased crime, increased demand by new residents, or are they attempting to "clean up" neighborhoods marked for economic redevelopment? To address these questions, I construct a longitudinal dataset of New York City neighborhoods from 2009 to 2015. I compile data on neighborhoods' demographics, street stops, low‐level arrests, crimes, 311 calls to the police, and—using a novel measure—property values.
This article utilizes recently published US Census data covering the pre‐and post‐Great Recession period (1990–2015) to identify key determinants of growth among small urban places in the New England Region. We find little evidence of random growth and robust evidence of convergence in growth, indicating that smaller urban areas tend to experience faster rates of growth than larger ones, over both the short and long term. Factors such as distance to large city areas and amenities are found to be particularly relevant to population growth rates.


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Science and Galileo - working together
Galileo is a promising tool for the scientific community, even though it is mainly intended for a set of practical services such as guiding cars, supporting safe aircraft landings or helping blind people to find their way.
This was clearly demonstrated during the first colloquium on scientific and fundamental aspects of the Galileo programme that took place at the 'Cité de l'Espace' in Toulouse from 1 until 4 October. The colloquium was organised by the Air and Space Academy, the Bureau des Longitudes, the Académie de Marine and ESA.
Indeed, the main objective of this world premiere was reached beyond expectations: enhancing the scientific use of Galileo and contributing to the science-based development of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
Around 200 scientists, coming from 25 countries world wide – with 19 being European, gathered and showed their interest in using GNSS systems and in particular Galileo's accuracy and integrity to improve their research in a wide scope that spans Earth sciences (for example: geodesy, meteorology, geophysics), quantum metrology (for example: atomic clocks, inter-satellite links, the Galileo timing system) and relativity (for example: spacetime symmetries, relativistic reference frames, astronomy and GNSS).
At the same time, the scientist's expertise can be of great help in improving the Galileo system itself. This is a 'win-win' situation, since a more precise tool can give more accurate data and therefore improve the measurements needed by the scientists for their research.
The scientists need to have access to GNSS data and ESA will facilitate further access to EGNOS and GIOVE-A data, which are already available to some extent. Dedicated solutions will be found for the scientists, with restrictions only being sometimes applied to commercial or PRS service data. Access to registered, stored data – which are the types most wanted by the scientific community – will be easily granted.
With this conference ESA was also expecting recommendations to improve the system itself and several were expressed so as to ensure the best environment for the scientific exploitation of Galileo. Of course, the requirements are now frozen for the first generation system but within the GNSS evolution programme, supported by ESA member states for technology accompaniment and the new Galileo generation, there is time to implement these particular needs – this is totally open in this programme envelope and new ideas are welcome.
The colloquium also led to reflection on the way the scientific community can organise itself for the use of Galileo. The event complements the already established effort, carried out by ESA, to contact scientific institutes in the fields of timekeeping, frequency standards and geodesy. Following this conference, the Galileo scientific community also includes the domains of quantum metrology and relativistic mechanics.
Although important progress was made, the debate still remain open on how scientists wish to express their specific needs to make the best use of Galileo. This will lead, in the medium and long term, to a privilege working relationship between scientific teams and the project teams responsible for building the next generation of European GNSS.
The colloquium was a great and unique opportunity for the Galileo partners to discover the numerous uses of satellite navigation, in the fields of Earth sciences, quantum metrology and relativistic mechanics, and to identify how scientific requirements can contribute to making the most of the present systems and to define their possible future evolution.
The use of quantum entanglement in the overall GNSS constellation, for example for clock synchronization, and the development of fully relativistic reference frames implemented through the GNSS constellation itself are of particular interest.


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Your favourite all time photo past or present VXR/Vauxhall."
Please consider this months theme when casting your vote(s)
1. All voting will be public so no voting for your own car.
2. Only one entry per person per month.
3. Please stick to the month's theme.
4. If you don't agree don't enter.
5. You must own the car in the photo/owned the car when you posted the photo.
6. Any pic used must not have been used for car of the month before.
8. no enhanced photos please just use the picture the camera took.
1. Jessy
2. vxrvirg
3. Seanwebb68
4. Cal93
5. Klystron
6. robertnottingham
7. MrCarpCatcher
8. Tom_Y2K4


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Orders received after 1:00 PM EST may not ship until the next day.
The Radian case provides compact and
light weight protection for your Radian wireless system components.
The case has die cut pockets for a Radian Pro transmitter and
receiver with Backbones attached, along with pockets for 4 batteries,
power and HDMI cables, USB battery charger, hot shoe adaptors and
thumb studs. It can also be used to store a multicast transmitter
and 2 receivers with Backbones attached, along with 5 or 6 batteries
and other accessories.
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Fall 2012 Commencement:
Kuterbach Assures Grads They'll Accomplish Great Things
DuBOIS – Fall commencement ceremonies were held on Thursday evening in Hiller Auditorium, marking the graduation of nearly 50 students from Penn State DuBois this fall semester. Bachelor and associate degrees were conferred in a wide range of disciplines.
Jim Kuterbach, campus instructor of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) offered the commencement address. Kuterbach began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 2004. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology. He successfully defended his thesis for his Ph.D. in educational theory and policy in October, and will receive that degree in May. Kuterbach's HDFS students go on to work in fields such as mental health, addiction counseling, behavioral counseling, probation, and more.
Kuterbach was named the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year for 2011-12. Nominations for the Educator of the Year Award come from campus students who feel a faculty member has had a significant impact in the lives of those they teach. Besides his classroom duties, Kuterbach acts as the academic advisor for many of the HDFS students, assisting them with scheduling classes, and providing job and graduate school guidance. He assists in advising the HDFS Club, serves on the Enrollment Management Team, the Library committee, and the Early Intervention Team. He also supervises and mentors undergraduate research for several HDFS students.
"Every one of you in this room will go on and accomplish something great, that is something that I have no doubt about," Kuterbach told the graduates. "Whether it is starting a business, starting a family, doing great works, or helping out your fellow man, you will all make an impact on the world. And regardless if that impact seems large or small, that is accomplishing something great."
Kuterbach stressed to his audience that they had already accomplished something great by earning a college degree. He noted many ways in which that degree would then help them to accomplish more great things. He said, "Your college degree doesn't just make you more marketable; it doesn't just make you educated; your diploma is piece of paper, but it is a piece of paper that sums up that you not only have learned something, but that you know how to learn for yourself. And it is that ability to learn that will serve you the most in your new beginning."


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This compelling documentary, narrated by John Leguizamo and executive produced by Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, is a gritty and never before seen look inside the world of Major League Baseball (MLB) training camps in the Dominican Republic. Miguel Angel and Jean Carlos are two of the top prospects and they are both about to turn 16, which means they can be signed to an MLB farm team and ultimately move up to the majors. BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO filmmakers Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin and Jonathan...more
75 out of 100 Metascore®
Generally favorable reviews
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All Ballplayer: Pelotero photos
All Ballplayer: Pelotero cast + crew photos
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
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Aid Worker Diaries: Assessing displaced people's needs in eastern DRC
TitleAid Worker Diaries: Assessing displaced people's needs in eastern DRC
23 Apr 2012
23 April 2012 - 5:22pm
Show Image
Aid workers in South Kivu assess the needs of hundreds of thousands of people displaced by violence
Crammed into a four-wheel-drive car, OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer Gilbert Sengamali and colleagues from the UN and local NGOs are on their way from Bukavu in South Kivu to the Shabunda region, where they will assess the needs of displaced people. Ongoing conflict in this part of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
Reaching the airport outside Bukavu, the team embarks on a 40-minute flight over a seemingly impenetrable jungle canopy. UN agencies and NGOs in DRC rely heavily on helicopters and protection from the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, when travelling to remote parts of the vast country. Access remains a key challenge in the region, and armed groups have increasingly targeted humanitarian workers, often brutally, since 2008.
Military attacks, sexual violence and the ransacking of villages by armed groups have led to massive displacements in the Kivus; more than 220,000 people fled their homes and villages in South Kivu in the first three months of 2012. Of these people, an estimated 50,000 were in the Shabunda region, where clashes between the armed groups and the Raia Mtomboki (militia groups defending the villages) further threaten security and lives. NGOs working in this area report that people from 17 villages have fled to the forest, and many health centres and schools were closed for more than a month.
In Shabunda, the team plans to verify the displacement reports and evaluate the urgent humanitarian needs of the affected communities. These assessments are a critical part of ensuring that the right type of help and support is provided to people in need.
A crowd of about 500 people, including the village elder, greets them at the landing strip. "Welcome," says the elder. "We are happy you have come to hear about our problems."
After explaining the mission's goal, the team heads into the village to interview people about issues including food security, displacement, protection, health and education. The team also talks to the head of police, to teachers and to displaced people to get a better sense of the humanitarian situation.
Sitting on an improvised school bench, Gilbert meets with more than 20 teachers in the village's schoolhouse. He asks them about the number of children enrolled in the village's schools, if the schools are functional, how long they were closed due to attacks and how many schoolchildren have been displaced. In the next hour, he learns not only about the state of the schools, but also about the villagers and how they continue to live in fear of attack.
In front of the school, Gilbert is introduced to a young man in a red tracksuit who the villagers say is the local commander of the Raia Mtomboki.
"He said that this village was attacked seven times and that the Government does nothing to protect them," Gilbert explains, after a short exchange in Swahili. "I explained the goal of our humanitarian mission once again, and said that we have nothing to do with the military."
After conducting the needs assessment, the team members head back to Bukavu to discuss their findings. The information they have gathered will help them to develop a better understanding of the humanitarian and security situation, and the pressing needs of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected. Timely and credible needs assessments and information analysis play a vital part in enabling humanitarian organizations to plan and implement the right response to a crisis.
Reporting by Philippe Kropf/ OCHA DRC


text: Updated Photo: Oct 2017 Photo credit: Jason Broom Updated photo: April 2015 Updated photos: December 2014 Updated photos September 2014 Updated Photos: July 2013 Updated photos Mar 2013 Updated photos 1/20/12: Updated photos 9/20/11: The building of our Adventure Van The Objective An Adventure Van. A van that is comfortable for two people when we pursue our outdoor pasttimes which include: dirtbikes, mountain biking, snowboarding, fly fishing, hiking, camping, etc etc. This means it needs to be comfortable, versatile, and "convertible". The Foundation 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. 144" wheel base, high ceiling. 3.0 Turbo Diesel V6. The engine is Bluetec which means it is an ultra low emissions vehicle. I bought the vehicle from Mercedes Benz of Henderson Nevada a couple of weeks ago. 800 miles away. I hopped on my 950 and rode out to the dealership in 111 degree heat.. loaded the bike in the back (with the help of 4 strong guys at the dealership ) and drove it home. 1640 miles in less than 2 days. Photos from the drive home: Pretty much a clean slate for us to build from ...let the games begin!


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Did some Christmas shopping this past weekend, and got some goodies for myself. :) Who doesn't buy themselves presents when they going shopping for others?! lol Anyway, I stopped at Ulta because I had a $5.00 off $10.00 purchase. I wanted the LA Splash Glitter liners after I seen a YouTube video on them.
Forever 21
These two things I ordered from Forever 21.com (I don't live near a Forever 21). I wanted to get an outfit for Christmas Eve, for church with my family. I love this flowy red top, it's so cute. And of course the "flower" earrings.
Victoria Secrets
I know no one wants to see people's unmentionables, but these panties are too cute not to include in this post. :)
Also, every year I buy a PJ set for Christmas morning, and this one is super cute from Victoria Secrets..
And last, but not least, from Kohls I picked up this Faux Fur sweater. I don't know what it is with me and faux fur, but I think it's adorable for the holidays. Besides it was only $15.99 And the color is black, when my camera takes photos in my room of black it makes it appear grey, I don't know why..
What did you buy this past weekend? Did you get any good deals?


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Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory and cognitive skills. This decline may be severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform activities of daily living, though the range of symptoms can vary greatly. At least two of the following areas of impairment must be present in order for a diagnosis of dementia to be considered: learning and memory, communication, language, focusing and paying attention, reasoning ability, judgment, social cognition, and visual perception. For example, a loved one might notice their family member struggling to articulate or find the right words; difficulty completing ordinary tasks such as balancing a checkbook or playing a game with many rules; difficulty following story lines; or struggling to adapt to change. While there is no one specific test to diagnose different types of dementias, it is important to consult with a doctor to determine symptomology. Generally, doctors utilize medical history, physical examinations, laboratory tests, family/caretaker reports, and observable changes in thinking and behavior. While individuals may be predisposed to dementia, there are certain risk factors and preventative measures one can take to manage symptoms and slow disease progression. Those include but not limited to maintaining a healthy diet and regular physical exercise, practicing good cardiovascular care (e.g., refraining from smoking, maintaining a healthy cholesterol level), and trying new and challenging activities such as learning an instrument, picking up knitting, or brain teasers.
» Customize Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia resource listings for your community
Resource Organizations » Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
In Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts/ New Hampshire
Massachusetts Chapter Office Number: 617-868-6718
New Hampshire Chapter Office Number: 603-606-6590
The Alzheimer's Association's mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. It is the largest private investor in innovative research related to Alzheimer's and related disorders. The Alzheimer's Association has a highly regarded scientific program. The Massachusetts/ New Hampshire chapter has published an online guide to participating in research trials. This is also available in hard copy by calling the Helpline. In addition, the Alzheimer's Association in Massachusetts/ New Hampshire has five offices: Watertown, Raynham, Springfield and Worcester, MA and Bedford, NH. If outside of Massachusetts/New Hampshire, find your local community here: http://www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp
Organizations without hotlines
Elder Community Care
"Elder Community Care is a network of agencies working together to serve elders in their own homes. The organization provides comprehensive assessment and counseling services to elders and their families in Metrowest. It also provides comprehensive assessment, counseling and referral services."
Springwell, Inc.
Springwell is a private, non-profit agency that has been creating, managing, and coordinating services for seniors, individuals with disabilities and those who help care for them for more than 30 years. Along the way, the organization has amassed a wealth of knowledge and insight about the many public and private resources available. It serves all elders, individuals with disabilities and their families regardless of financial situation or level of need. It's reputation for excellence is why more than 10,000 families turn to it each year for support.
Outside Massachusetts
Alzheimer's Association
800-272-3900- Helpline
The Alzheimer's Association's mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research and to enhance quality care and support for individuals, their families and care partners.
Find your local community: http://www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR)
As a public, U.S. Government-funded resource, the ADEAR Center strives to be a current, comprehensive, unbiased source of information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
866-232-8484 (Toll-Free Helpline)
This site includes information about Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, care giving strategies and behavioral issues, as well as daily news about Alzheimer's disease, and links to AFA member organizations and AFA divisions. It also maintains a nationwide toll-free hotline (866.AFA.8484). AFA's hotline provides information, counseling by licensed social workers and referrals to resources across the nation, including community organizations that offer hands-on support services.
Dementia Friendly America
Through the work of over 35 national, leading organizations, the Dementia Friendly America initiative is catalyzing a movement to more effectively support and serve those across America who are living with dementia and their family and friend care partners.
Department of Health & Human Services
This is a free informational website provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The site includes information on Alzheimer's disease, possible treatment options, caring for someone with Alzheimer's, and insurance and payment information on the cost of treatment and care.
Family Caregiver Alliance
(800) 445-8106
Family Caregiver Alliance is first and foremost a public voice for caregivers. Founded in the late 1970s, they were the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care for loved ones at home. Their services, education programs, and publications are developed with caregivers' expressed needs in mind, to offer real support, essential information, and tools to manage the complex and demanding tasks of caregiving.
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
(703) 556-9222
The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation was established by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry to raise awareness of psychiatric and mental health disorders affecting the elderly, eliminate the stigma of mental illness and treatment, promote healthy aging strategies, and increase access to quality mental health care for the elderly. Explore the site for mental health information for older adults and their families, to find a geriatric psychiatrist, for news of Foundation programs and events, and much more.
Latino Alzheimer's & Memory Disorders Alliance
(224) 715-4673
The Latino Alzheimer's & Memory Disorders Alliance empowers Hispanic and Latino caregivers and families of those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and memory disorders by providing education, skill building training and support programs. It also provides training programs to healthcare providers who work with the Hispanic and Latino communities.


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Upwards and onwards with the arts
The visual arts have long been a major factor in gentrification, from the artists who moved in to the Lower East Side and East Village of Manhattan in the 1980s to the continuing colonisation of former East Berlin districts Kreuzberg … Continue reading
Posted in Art in and around Hackney, Democratic People's Republic of Dalstonia Tagged art, Flaca, Hackney, Portikus Leave a comment


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Mowing Matters
A long-time lawn mower dealer in Maryland said he could remember the days when homeowners got out their push reel mowers and mowed their lawns every Saturday. These days, most reel mowers are powered and you're more likely to find homeowners cutting their grass with a riding mower. If it's a larger acreage, they might even be using their own zero-turn riding mower.
Commercial mowing is big business these days. Besides homeowners, facility managers — homeowner associations, apartment complexes, developers and industrial site managers — frequently contract out mowing and grounds maintenance tasks. It means the facilities don't have to buy and maintain their own equipment and it lowers their "in-house" labor expenses.
The growth in commercial mowing operations has led to a big increase in the number and types of mowers available. Competition has led to new designs and improvements in mowers and more choices for the mower buyer. At the same time, customer expectations for quality of cut have increased. For the commercial cutter, this means using newer, improved equipment and, at the same time, trying to control operating costs, such as fuel and labor.
The keyword has become "productivity" — more efficient mowing, done in less time. It tends toward a "Catch 22" situation, but golf course superintendents, site managers and landscape operators are finding newer mowers built better and delivering a better job.
The original mechanical lawn mower, built by an Englishman in about 1830, was a reel mower, and reel mowers have continued to be an important part of the mowing business. In fact, with small urban yards and a renewed emphasis on fitness, push-type reel mowers have made somewhat of a comeback. Estimates are that homeowners buy about 200,000 of them each year.
Commercially, however, reel mowers are generally the mainstay for golf course and sports turf managers. Commercial reel mowers are engine-powered and many are used in gangs of three to five sections. Although reel mower design is essentially the same as it has been for many years, the design and manufacture of the whole machine have seen marked improvements.
Trim work around golf course bunkers and tee banks usually is a walk-mowing job, to get grass edges cut properly. New, ground-following rotary mowers are being used in some cases, both for trim work and rough mowing. The newer rotary mowers make workers more productive and require less maintenance for such applications.
Tamara Youdbulis, turf product manager for Kubota Tractor Corporation, says it's F-series front mowers are seeing wider use on golf courses, as well as parks, schools and cemeteries. Equipped with Kubota diesel engines (22 to 30 hp), the F-series mowers have auto-assist 4-wheel drive that works in both forward and reverse, and automatically controls wheel drive loads to lessen chances of turf damage.
"We are seeing more interest in zero-turn mowers for golf courses, because of their speed and maneuverability around sandtraps, trees and shrubs," says Youdbulis. "Kubota offers the ZD series, with 18- to 28-hp diesel engines, and the ZG series, with 20- to 23-hp gasoline engines."
Although newer design rotary mowers can find uses on certain golf course areas, the fine, close cut required for greens and tees still dictates the need for reel mowers. Jeff Johnson, superintendent at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn., keeps greens clipped to about ⅛ inch. Tees are cut at just under ⅜-inch and his fairways are cut with reel mowers to about
Minikahda has been a predominantly Toro user for many years. The 106-year-old course sees about 25,000 rounds every year. "Today's mowers are more user friendly, especially when it comes to making adjustments," he says. "Time saving, though, is still based on getting your crew routed around the course efficiently."
The "paradigm" today for commercial landscapers and site managers is "productivity." That creates a challenge: How to do the best mowing job in the shortest amount of time and, at the same time, keep the increasing costs of operation as reasonable as possible.
There is no lack of equipment choices for commercial mowing. There are more than 45 companies manufacturing and selling riding mowers, most of them zero-turn radius models. And growth has increased dramatically every year since the first ones came on the market in the early 1990s.
Not that many years ago, a "manicured lawn" was pretty much the domain of trendy resorts and high-end country clubs. These days, everybody wants one. You even hear radio commercials touting consumer mowers that leave that "manicured look" on homeowner lawns. Someone observed that owners will be satisfied with a "decent mowing job" if they do it themselves, but they want "the best" if they hire it out.
"A zero-turn radius mower is kind of the 'Harley-Davidson' for the yuppie crowd these days," says Dan Dorn, product sales manager for Exmark Manufacturing. "It's a status symbol, but what they are really doing is buying back their time. The faster they get their lawn mowed, the quicker they can get on to other activities. That's the reason so many of them are hiring commercial cutters to mow their yards. They don't want to spend time mowing when they could be on the golf course."
The offsetting factor is that owners expect a higher quality of cut when they pay someone else to do it. Dorn says Exmark has invested a lot of time in gathering data from owners and commercial landscapers on what they expect in mowing performance. "Exmark has pioneered cutting deck technology with specific baffling designs to improve cut quality. We also have focused on improving operator safety and comfort, with ROPS, ergonomic design and other measures to make it easier for the commercial operator to deliver the quality of cut customers want."
Improved productivity has been the driving force in the continued development of Deere's Quik-Trak stand-on mowers. "The Quik-Trak fills the gap between traditional zero-turn radius mowers and walk-behinds," says Wes Freeman, commercial mower brand manager for John Deere.
"For many mowing jobs, a stand-on mower is ideal, especially in tight landscaped areas that normally take a lot of finish-up trimming. The operator actually has better visibility of his cutting area, and can maneuver the mower to cut closer to trees, shrubs and other objects."
While stand-on mowers are still relatively small in market share, they are gaining a good niche among landscapers who mainly mow residential properties. "We have actually had operators say they are less fatigued after operating the Quik-Trak all day than they are on a sit-down mower," Freeman says. "Loading and unloading on a trailer is not only easier, but the stand-on unit takes up less space."
Deere offers three Quik-Trak models, with 48-inch, 54-inch and 60-inch decks.
Roy Dust says mower productivity is the primary reason the 4-wheel independent suspension on Ferris Industries' zero-turn radius mowers is becoming more popular. Dust is a mower product specialist for Ferris and recently returned from visiting dealers and commercial landscape firms in the Southwest.
"Municipalities are more conscious of labor hours and how to better manage those hours, because municipal budgets have tightened up a lot. Commercial cutters face the same challenge — how to get more productive hours in a day." He says purchase price for new equipment is not the most important aspect of selling commercial lawn mowers. "Productivity is the driving force today. If an operator is less fatigued on the last job of the day, he's going to do a better job."
Dust says the suspension feature on Ferris mowers is easier on machines, as well as operators. "Long-term, the owner will have less maintenance and fewer hours lost to downtime."
While mid-mount zero-turn radius mowers have been the sales leaders for the past few years, Mark Eby thinks out-front mower decks are poised to grab more market share. Eby and his wife, Cindy, operate Pro-Power Mid South, a Walker mower distributor for Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
"Front deck zero-turn mowers may not mow quite as fast as mid-mounts, but it's a proven fact that operators can save 60 to 80 percent trim time with an out-front mower compared to a mid-mount," Eby says. He says the new Walker Model MB is a good example of a competitive, front-deck zero-turn radius mower.
"The operator can get in under tree branches or shrubs and mow a lot of the grass that a mid-mount would miss. The MB design leaves a nice, clean cut, too." Eby says the Model MB comes with a choice of 36-inch, 42-inch, 42-mulch or 48-inch side discharge decks. "The mower has a low center of gravity for good hillside stability, and the basic body and mechanical design is very simple and easy to maintain."
We've only touched on a few of the mower choices and developments available to the commercial operator and the facility manager. There are many more; here is a brief look at some of them:
There's still a need for trim mowers, and Honda has introduced its first new commercial mower in 15 years with two models: the self-propelled, hydrostatic drive HRC216HXA and the HRC216PDA push-type. Both feature the 21-inch Honda Micro-Cut twin blade system.
Jacobsen sells its Z-Fast Cat Plus ES mower to both commercial cutters and homeowners. It's one of the only commercial zero-turn mowers to offer PowerLink, a mobile power generator capable of supplying up to 1,000 watts of continuous 120 AC power.
Cub Cadet Commercial has introduced its Z-Wing 48-inch zero-turn radius mower. The operator flips a switch to raise the wings so the mower can negotiate a 36-inch gate.
Encore brought out its new X-treme mower with 23-hp Kawasaki engine, 52-inch deck and bigger tires. The operator can adjust cutting height from 1-inch to 4-½ inches with a foot pedal. The Encore X-treme will mow at up to 11 mph, according to the company, and comes with a 10-year deck warranty.
Wright Manufacturing, long-time pioneer of stand-on mowers, now has a 32-inch deck Stander for mowing in tight spaces, and has introduced the Sentar, a compact sit-down zero-turn mower that can be switched to a stand-up mower by folding up the seat.
Newcomers are still joining the market. A Nebraska firm, Auburn Consolidated Industries, Inc., brought out its EverRide Warrior zero-turn radius mower two years ago and introduced the smaller EverRide Hornet last year. The line is already available at more than 300 U.S. dealerships.
Gary Burchfield is a freelance writer who resides in Lincoln, Neb.
Scott Speiden has worked at Itasca Country Club for 20 years, the last 11 years as director of grounds. The 18-hole private course is just 10 miles from Chicago's O'Hare Airport and is surrounded by several world-renowned golf courses, such as Edina Country Club, Butler and Butterfield.
When the membership bought out Itasca Country Club two years ago, the board asked Speiden to upgrade the club's maintenance equipment, which averaged eight years old. "We researched all the major brands, including Jacobsen, Deere and Toro," he says. "Ultimately, it came down to who offered us the best long-term financial contract." Itasca went to an all-Toro lineup.
"This new equipment has increased our efficiency so much, and the reliability has been incredible," Speiden says. "We went with all diesel engines and that has literally 'changed the world' for me as a superintendent. As long as we keep up on proper maintenance, the engines just keep going and going."
Itasca operates two Reelmaster 5200-D fairway mowers and three Greensmaster 3250-D tee mowers, plus a big 4500-D rough mower. "In the old days, I used to send mowers out all week long to keep the roughs mowed. Now, I send out the one mower and he cuts all the roughs in two days."
Although they are gas powered, Speiden uses eight new walk-behind mowers to cut the greens, and a 3500-D equipped with Toro's Sidewinder System to cut around bunker edges, greens banks and tee banks. "Shifting the mower decks right or left each time keeps the mower wheels from wearing tire tracks."
With the club members' observations of the improved course turf and quality of cut, their expectations have gone up, too. "They gave me the go-ahead to upgrade our equipment so that we keep the course playable every day. That's what we're doing," says Speiden.
Reel mowers usually predominate on fine cut turf like ball fields. At Ohio State University, Brian Gimbel, superintendent of athletic grounds, uses a combination of reel and rotary cutters to keep varsity athletic facilities trimmed.
He uses a Toro 3-gang reel mower with the Sidewinder Cutting System to mow the football field, which is 100 percent perennial ryegrass. The sand-based field has a polypropylene fiber stabilizer mixed into the upper 1-½ inches of the soil profile, which keeps the sand from shifting. "The perennial rye allows us to cut the field a little shorter, which makes it play faster for the football team. We cut the field at about 1-inch height all season.
"The sidewinder system lets us shift the cutting units up to 24 inches left and right to prevent tire compaction when we mow between the yard lines. One time we'll set the mower to the left, next in the center and then to the right, so the tires aren't always following the same track."
Gimbel's crew uses a rotary mower with the sidewinder system to cut the football practice field, and uses Deere reel mowers at the baseball field and soccer stadium.
The first time Chris Urbauer and his Lawn Pro crew mowed the Forrest Lake Estates development in Lincoln, Neb., it took them 8 hours. Now, they mow and trim the upscale home development in 3 hours or less. "We've had to make our mowing time more efficient in order to recoup our fuel and labor expenses," says Urbauer.
Like most young start-up lawn care operators, Urbauer started Lawn Pro with a 21-inch walk mower and an old F-150 pickup. His first job was mowing the yards at his grandparents' rental properties in Lincoln, Neb. That was 1999. Today, Lawn Pro services 140 accounts, about 80 percent of them residential and the rest commercial accounts, including apartment complexes and homeowner associations.
Early on, he bought two gear-drive walk-behind mowers with 36-inch decks. Last year, he upgraded to four Scag hydraulic walk-behind mowers, with two 48-inch decks, a 52-inch and a 36-inch deck. "We switched because they hold hillsides better, leave a cleaner cut and the operators aren't as fatigued by the end of the day. And, we figure we cut our mowing time by 25 percent."
Last December, Urbauer added a zero-turn rider to his lineup. He figures the new Lazer Z HP from Exmark eliminated the equivalent of one person for his mowing crew. "The 48-inch deck is just perfect for landscaped areas, and the bagger accessory works great for picking up leaves. We can get most of them in one pass."
Urbauer raised his rates modestly last fall, but he says the real key to success is quality of cut and efficient use of time. "Customers are more quality conscious today. They will come out while we're mowing and check the cut; they do like the striping effect."
At the same time, he continuously works at ways to save time, both with careful scheduling and better equipment. "Yesterday we did 22 yards, including mowing, trimming and blowing, and we were done by 4:30."
Wayne Talley has operated The Lawn Ranger, Inc. in Richmond, Va., for 21 years. His business is 95 percent commercial, but his seven mowing crews still do a number of residential properties.
"We were using three or four 48-inch walk-behind mowers on the residential lawns," says Talley. "The operators were walking 6 or 8 miles to mow and were exhausted at the end of the day. We replaced a 52-inch deck mid-mount mower and a 44-inch walk-behind mower with two John Deere Quik-Traks, with 60-inch and 48-inch decks. We gained more than 8 percent in productivity for that three-man crew. The main saving was in our load and unload times. We actually added two more jobs on that route because of the time saving."
Talley says the stand-on mowers cut down on pre-policing job sites, too. "It's so easy to step off and back on, the operators do their own policing while mowing." Talley believes commercial lawn care operators have to work "every way you can" to make a profit these days. "The key is productivity of your people. As long as we do a good job, the customers will be satisfied." Talley says the Quik-Trak is perfect for lawns from 5,000 square feet up to 4 acres.
Sales of commercial riding mowers jumped 39 percent last year, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. OPEI forecasts riding mower sales will grow more than 10 percent in 2005 and more than 14 percent in 2006. Commercial walk-behind mower sales typically range around 50,000 units per year, although they increased 7 percent last year.
OPEI says outdoor power equipment now amounts to an $8.3 billion industry. The Department of Commerce estimates $867 million worth of outdoor power equipment is exported every year, with $359 million imported. The industry provides more than 28,000 jobs in original equipment manufacturing plants.
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|System: Xbox 360Z*, PS3
|Dev: Visual Concepts
|Pub: 2K Sports
|Release: March 5, 2013
|Players: 1-2
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
by Josh Engen
When I sit down to write a review, I try to choose my words very carefully. I understand that video game developers sink hundreds of hours into making these games, and I'd rather not be the type of person who disrespects their process by casually chaining a string of adverbs together. This doesn't mean that I pull my punches when a title is bad. It simply means that I try to give it the respect that it deserves.
But I'm not going to do that this time.
See, after spending a good deal of time with MLB 2K13, it's become fairly obvious that 2K Sports, MLB 2K's publisher, doesn't have the same respect for baseball fans that I've been giving to video game developers. So, instead of carefully choosing my words, I'm going to borrow from 2K's approach to video game development and apply it to my review; I'm simply going to reuse much of last year's material.
Here's part of the introduction from my MLB 2K12 review:
"Well, if you know how to operate a calendar, you know that 2012 has arrived, but, in a lot of ways, it seems like another MLB title has not. Sure, MLB 2K12 is technically in my Xbox 360 as I write this, but it's essentially just a slightly more polished version of MLB 2K11, which was a slightly more polished version of MLB 2K10."
Unfortunately, we're going to need to add yet another year to that list. MLB 2K13 is nearly identical to last year's addition. In fact, when it comes to laziness, it's a far greater offender than any of the previous spit-shine editions. Sure, the rosters have been updated, the Astros have been shuffled over to the American League, and many of 2K12's bugs have been polished out. But the game itself is nearly identical. In fact, most of the changes in MLB 2K13 are so minor that it feels like they would have been better handled by patching the previous title.
The graphics, though, are probably the biggest offender here. It's not that they're terrible. They're just lazy. Visual Concepts, the developer behind the MLB 2K franchise, hasn't made any major graphical improvements since 2010, and the graphics weren't even good back then. Here what my 2012 self had to say:
"Graphically speaking, MLB 2K12 leaves something to be desired. The stadiums are impressive and realistic, but when you take a closer look, the field is rife with torn textures and jagged edges. And, I don't know about you, but I wish that Visual Concepts had dedicated a little more development time the player's faces. I'm not exaggerating when I say that everyone on the field looks like a serial killer."
Now, as much as I hate to disagree with my former self, I need to challenge one thing; the stadiums were not impressive in 2012, and they still aren't. In fact, when compared to modern titles, like MLB 13: The Show, it's easy to see how antiquated 2K13 actually is. The textures are broken, the animations are constantly twitching, and there are graphical hiccups on a fairly regular basis. This franchise has been churning out yearly titles since 2005, so the fact that Visual Concepts and 2K Sports thinks that these graphics are passable is slightly embarrassing. It's far too late in this console generation to let this kind of laziness slide.
Also, yes, the characters still look like serial killers, which makes MLB 2K13 scarier than Dead Space 3.
Visual Concepts does deserve a bit of credit, though; the controls are still as crisp as ever. MLB 2K's pitching system is one of the best mechanics in all of sports gaming. It's intuitive enough for any newcomer to pick up quickly, but it has enough depth to give the hardcore players a challenge.
The same is true for the other gameplay elements, but to a much lesser degree. I'll let last year's review do the explaining:
"The controls, for example, are simultaneously esoteric and intuitive. They have a certain flexibility about them that allows newcomers to make incidental contact with a few passing curveballs, but they require an academic approach to truly get a handle on their intricacies. When you first pick up the bat, your only responsibility will be to time your swing with the approaching pitch. But as you grow more aware of the interface, you start to catch on to the subtleties that the MLB 2K12 interface is feeding to you. Soon, you'll be able to differentiate between a fastball and a curveball and predict whether a pitch will land outside of the strike zone."
But even though the graphics are subpar, even by mediocre standards, 2K13 does manage to deliver a fairly immersive experience. The camera work mirrors what we've come to expect from watching Major League Baseball on television (though, The Show is far more authentic), and the colour commentary is as good as it ever has been. Everything from last year's review applies perfectly:
"Perhaps the most impressive feature from MLB 2K12 is the audio commentary. This year, the game features over 80 hours of unique lines from commentators Gary Thorne, Steve Phillips, and John Kruk. The game's engine specifically tailors each line to your ongoing matchup, which means that no two games have the same commentary, and repeated lines are very rarely heard.


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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and clean out the oven. Why do ovens get so filthy? It's not like you baked a live cat in there. LET'S GO!
SAME NAME – 9:00PM Sunday (CBS) CBS's new reality show features celebrities switching places (not permanently, alas) with ordinary folks who happen to share the exact same name. On Sunday night, David Hasselhoff goes to Texas to swap lives with the OTHER David Hasselhoff, an electrical technician. I'm told this particular Hasselhoff does not enjoy floor burgers as much as the original Hoff does. ANTICIPATION: HOFFY!
ENTOURAGE – 10:30PM Sunday (HBO) HBO's show about very short, intolerable men begins its final season tonight. Yes, that's right. No more "Entourage" after this. I'll miss them so. I'll miss the way Turtle bought sneakers. I'll miss the way Eric went by the nickname E, which is the least creative nickname ever. I'll miss the way Vince represented everything I hate about flaky people living in Los Angeles. And most of all, I'll miss hating all of you so very, very much. ANTICIPATION: THE END!
MY STRANGE ADDICTION – 10:00PM Sunday (TLC) My favorite reality show in the world to look up is back on Sunday night, featuring a woman who wears wet diapers all the time. And the fact that they're wet just makes it so much more uncomfortable, doesn't it? I find someone who obsessively wears dry diapers to be relatively normal after hearing about wet diaper lady. Also featured is a woman who chews on dryer sheets. It's a potentially harmful habit, but her breath does smell April Fresh, and her teeth NEVER cling together. ANTICIPATION: WET DIAPERS!
CELEBRITY REHAB WITH DR. DREW – 9:00PM Sunday (VH1) During a therapy session, Bai Ling uncovers a past childhood trauma. WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED. ANTICIPATION: CRAZY!
GUYS YOU WANT TO KICK IN THE #&%# – 8:00PM Sunday (TV Guide Channel) That's the actual title of the TV Guide show about bad boy celebrities. And really, there are so many different options for the expletive they've presented. I'm gonna go with "Shin." Such a naughty place to kick someone! ANTICIPATION: #&%#!
Weekend Watch List: A Tale Of Two Hoffs
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and clean out the oven. Why do ovens get so filthy? It's not like you baked a live cat in there. LET'S GO!


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SRP Long Beach Symphony: Instrument Petting Zoo
- Date: 07/10/2019 2:00 PM
- Location: Southeast Library
23115 Arlington Ave.
Torrance, California 90501
The Long Beach Symphony explains how the instruments of the orchestra work and how they fit into the orchestra as a whole. Children will have the opportunity to attempt creating a sound from each instrument. This program is free, sponsored by the Friends of the Torrance Library, and no registration is required. For more information please call the Southeast Library at 310-530-5044.


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Spicy beef stew with beans & peppers
Just the thing to warm you up on a cold winter night
Nutrition and extra info
- for up to 1 month, without cheese
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal400
- fat18g
- saturates5g
- carbs18g
- sugars8g
- fibre4g
- protein43g
- salt1.2g
- 3½ tbsp vegetable oil
- 1kg stewing beef, cut into chunks
The classic choice of meat for a British Sunday roast. Beef is full of flavour, as…
- 1 onion, sliced
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp black treacle
- 1 tsp cumin
An aromatic spice native to eastern Mediteranean countries and Upper Egypt. This warm,…
- 400g can chopped tomato
A member of the nightshade family (along with aubergines, peppers and chillies), tomatoes are in…
- 600ml beef stock (from a cube is fine)
- 2 red peppers, deseeded and sliced
- 400g can cannellini bean, drained and rinsed
Cannellini beancan-a-leen-ee been
Slightly kidney-shaped with squarish ends, cannellini beans are from Italy and are creamy white…
- soured cream and coriander, to serve
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large saucepan with a lid. Season meat, then cook about one-third over a high heat for 10 mins until browned. Tip onto a plate and repeat with 2 tbsp of oil and rest of the meat.
Add a splash of water and scrape pan to remove bits. Add ½ tbsp oil. Turn heat down, fry onion and garlic until softened. Return meat to the pan, add flour and stir for 1 min. Add treacle, cumin, tomatoes and stock. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hr 45 mins. Stir occasionally and check that the meat is covered with liquid.
Add peppers and beans, and cook for a further 15 mins. The stew can now be cooled and kept in the fridge for 2 days, or frozen for 1 month. Serve in bowls, with sour cream, coriander and cornbread.


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Butler leads Royals in romp of Diamondbacks
Billy Butler wanted to talk more about Adam Moore's feat than his own stellar performance.
Butler had two hits, drove in three runs and scored twice as the Kansas City Royals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-4 Monday.
But he was most impressed with Moore's at-bat in the fifth. Moore pinch-hit for Butler after Max Ramirez had a pinch-hit grand slam and sent a drive soaring over the left field wall.
"He's definitely got the most power I've seen after hitting that one," Butler said. "That ball was killed. I think that ball hit a car in the parking lot in left as far as that one was.
"It literally might be one of the furthest balls I've seen hit," Butler added. "I didn't see it land, so I don't even have an estimated distance on this one. If you were anywhere in the stadium, you knew that one was gone from the sound."
It was Moore's second home run in his fifth spring at-bat.
"I knew it was gone," Moore said. "I didn't pay attention to where it landed. I just got a good pitch, inner half, 2-1 count and put a good swing on it. The rest took care of itself.
"It's only four games, but at the same time you've got to make them all count. I feel confident. I feel good at the plate, getting pitches I can hit, seeing the ball up in the zone and just letting it take care of itself," Moore said. "I know I've got to keep this going the rest of the spring."
Moore is competing with George Kottaras and Brett Hayes for the backup catcher job.
"I've hit some long balls before, but I don't think I can hit a ball that far," said Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who went 2 for 3 with a double and RBI. "I don't have that in my arsenal."
Diamondbacks starter Randall Delgado, who was acquired from Atlanta in the Justin Upton trade on Jan. 24, gave up five runs on six hits in the first inning. There is only one vacancy in the Arizona rotation.
"It's going to be hard for me to get that fifth starter's spot," Delgado said. "Everybody has to compete for something. I felt physically great, but obviously a little out of control, but it's the first day. I missed my location. My command was not good.
"I just forget it. This is my first game. I just try to keep focus for the next one," he said. "It's not like on the first day you're going to be comfortable with everything."
Butler, a career .300 hitter, contributed a RBI single in the Royals' five-run first and a two-run double in the fourth inning.
"I'm happy to be in there feeling comfortable," Butler said. "I saw the ball good. It took me a couple of games. Camp is a little longer this year. I'm just kind of easing into it."
The Royals stroked 19 hits and went 10 for 16 with runners in scoring position.
NOTES: RHP Ian Kennedy, who has won 36 games the past two years, has been selected to start the Diamondbacks opener, April 1 against St. Louis. Manager Kirk Gibson said RHP Trevor Cahill, LHP Wade Miley and RHP Brandon McCarthy would follow Kennedy in the rotation. . Royals LF Alex Gordon was scratched with stiffness in his lower back. Manager Ned Yost said he has a "one percent concern" Gordon's sore back is serious. . Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero was scratched with a swelling in his right thumb. . Royals LHP Everett Teaford will throw his first bullpen Tuesday since being shutdown with a sore shoulder.


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Vermont Creamery's Bonne Bouche is made from pasteurized milk and set in tubs for lactic coagulation for 24 hours. The following day, the cheese curd is carefully hand ladled into molds and drained overnight. The cheeses are then unmolded, ashed, and moved into the drying room and then into the aging room where the controlled environment is cool and humid. The entire process takes seven to ten days before the cheeses are packaged in their individual micro-caves.
Bonne Bouche can be enjoyed fresh or aged up to 45 days. As a young cheese, the rind has a distinct geotrichium flavor. The texture is mild, yet still acidic- like a fresh chevre. As the cheese ages, it becomes softer and the rind becomes drier and piquant.


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We are proud to announce the availability of major release Adobe Experience Manager 6.0
AEM has Forms solution which has most of the LiveCycle capabilities running inside OSGi viz.
- Forms Manager
- Forms Portal
- Document Services (Forms,Output,Assembler,DocAssurance [Encryption , Signatures , Reader Extensions] , Mobile Forms)
In addition to above capabilities Forms solution has introduced Adaptive Forms with which Form authors can a use browser based Form authoring tool to create HTML5 forms which are adaptive.
For more information about all the solutions of AEM 6.0 refer to blog on experiencedelivers.adobe.com
Check out this two and half minute video to know What's new in AEM 6.0
Watch this six minutes video which explains features of AEM Forms
Some other useful links of AEM 6.0 :


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Camera Housings
Take your compact camera for a scuba dive. Allows access to all essential controls.
U/W Housings for Mirrorless and Micro 4/3rds Cameras. Sony NEX, Olympus E-PL, Panasonic GF & more..
Professional DSLR Housings for U/W Photography. Advanced controls and multiple lens compatibility.
Underwater Housings for mobile phone cameras: Iphone, Galaxy and more..
Shopping Options
- Shop By Category
- Housings
- Camera Housings
- Compact Housings
SKU: IK-6170.45Ikelite 6170.45 Underwater Housing for Panasonic ZS45 / TZ57 Camera, Depth Rating: 200ft/60m * Made of: Polycarbonate
Learn More$349.00
Relevant Posts from Our Blog (Query Camera+Housings)
Fantasea Releases new Housings for Canon A480 and Nikon L19 L20
Fantasea Line Releases New Underwater Camera Housings The FA-480 Underwater Housing for the Canon PowerShot A480 Digital Camera The FL-19/20 Underwate ... Read More!
What camera should I get? A guide to buying your first camera from a full time photographer
...visibility) it is actually better than using 2 strobes. Camera Ok, so the big question is what camera should I get. Assuming you do not alre ... Read More!
Ikelite Action Housings vs. Standard Dive Housings
Ikelite has recently released a new generation of Action housings for 5 models of popular compact cameras for underwater photography. Among those rele ... Read More!
NiMAR Underwater Housings
...housings a bit more in a moment. The Pro housings are only the latest addition to the 2 existing lines of underwater housings – the NiMAR sta ... Read More!
Related Frequently asked Questions
FAQ About Ewa Marine Soft Housings
...risk of improper installation and insufficient air added before the dive, can cause harmful stress on the camera itself. – Which model would ... Full Answer
What is a Mirrorless Camera ?
...and large sensor (good low light performance and superb image quality). The disadvantage is no viewfinder and sometimes less choice of lenses. To b ... Full Answer
I cannot find a housing for my camera
Some popular cameras like Nikon P500, P510, P520, P100 and other ultra zoom compacts do not have underwater housings for them. The reason is that thes ... Full Answer
Do the Nimar housings support Rokinon lenses?
...best one, every time pulling the camera out of the housing and back in. Frankly, it'll be a drag. Something like the Tokina 10-17mm would be ... Full Answer


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Coconut Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- 1/4 cups grated sweetened coconut
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup raspberry jam
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Place the grated coconut in a shallow bowl and set aside.
Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and oats in a large mixing bowl.
In another bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
To shape cookies, roll the batter between your hands to form balls the size of a large walnut. Roll in the grated coconut to coat, then place on the cookie sheet and flatten to 2 inch circles with the palm of your hand. With your thumb, make a depression in the center of each and fill with a generous teaspoon of jam. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer to racks to cool.
This entry was posted by Drea0208 on 2010/12/22 at 4:33 PM, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.


text: Sweet cost-saving hack from our very own Andrew Lewis over on CRAFT. Dedicated negative scanners are expensive, but Andrew's downloadable papercraft adapter allows good-quality slide and negative digitizing with common flatbed equipment. Cut the adapter from silver card stock, fold and tape it up, and position it over the slide or negative to be scanned on the glass. The scan is taken with the lid open (obviously), and negatives can then be inverted and touched-up using common image-editing software.


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The Energy Star system is a model because it's simple and easy to use, and also because it's gained traction with industry, which now develops products with the rating in mind, committee members said.Except that this rating system hasn't gained traction with industry:
But the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Food Marketing Institute announced their own front-of-the-pack system, called Facts Up Front, in January. It gives information on calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugars but doesn't rate foods according to those components.This is a smackdown, ladies and gentlemen.
In a statement today, the GMA said it has "concerns about the untested, interpretive approach suggested by the IOM committee" and that "consumers have said repeatedly that they want to make their own judgments, rather than have government tell them what they should and should not eat." The FMI said in an emailed statement that it believes the Facts Up Front program "utilizes the guiding principles recommended by IOM."
If this is what the wellness ivory towers are coming up with for America, imagine what other brilliant initiatives we can brace ourselves for as millions of dollars are shifted from grandma's pacemaker to expensive wellness campaigns such as this one.
But in small-town America where the corporate suits have herded, overregulated, and often micromanaged America's workers, ordering the "0 energy-star" food stuffs might be exactly the point:
Hey Mildred, can I have one of those '0-star' cherry pies for my breakfast? And while you're at it, grab a pack of Marlboro Lights, will ya?Once again, Joe Worker fails to appreciate that the gurus at the institute and food industry are only trying to save him from himself.
When will our regulators get this? Studies have already suggested the futility of these attempts.
But I guess to a carpenter, everything looks like a nail.


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Memorias de Un Replicante Sin Recuerdos
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off shore of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness near the Tannhauser's gate. All those... moments will be lost... in time, like... tears... in the rain. Time to die.
Monday, November 21, 2005
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Bushfires, broken necks: nothing compares to pain of missing gold, says BMX star
Bushfires, injuries and family pain - Caroline Buchanan has taken plenty of hits over the years, but nothing compared to the devastation she felt as her dream of Olympic gold disappeared in 38 seconds.
The Canberra rider couldn't contain her emotions after a "nightmare" BMX final in London.
Instead of standing on top of the podium with a gold medal around her neck, the 21-year-old was trying to figure out where she went wrong as she crossed the line fifth.
Nothing could ease the heartbreak. After the heat of battle and with her emotions spilling over, a tearful Buchanan was inconsolable.
"You know what," Buchanan said before pausing to wipe away some tears. "It seriously feels like a nightmare."
"My house has burnt down, my brother has broken his neck, I've had setbacks in my life before but nothing compares to this."
As she braved the post-race media, it seemed as if the pain would never disappear.
In time it will pass as she regroups and, well, gets back on her bike.
A decade ago Buchanan's brother Sam broke his neck in a BMX race. The easy option then would have been to end her love of the adrenaline junkie sport.
In 2003 her family home in Canberra's south was destroyed by the bushfires which devastated the capital.
At the end of last year one of her closest friends, Dane Searls, died on the Gold Coast.
She's had injuries, been written off by critics and sacrificed a "normal life" to chase her BMX goals around the world.
But every time something has gone wrong, she has bounced back.
And as hard as it was to be hit with the realisation she didn't finish on the podium, there's already a fire burning in her stomach for the Rio Games in 2016.
"Right now it feels like a bit of a nightmare, I just want to get out of here. I've been riding great all day, this is the best I've ever rode in my life.
"I prepared well, I've done every single little one percenter that I could probably do leading into this race.
"I knew I had everything in my favour and I don't know if it was the pressure or what it was, but I missed the gate on an Olympic stage.
"I got fifth, I'm happy. But at the end of the day, I wanted gold."
It was hoped Buchanan and Sam Willoughby would take double gold for Australia. But while Willoughby won silver, Buchanan was left shattered.
Buchanan had been one of the best riders all day. Earlier in the week she had qualified fastest for the semi-finals in a solo race. But everything changes when there are eight riders jostling for position.
Despite the pressure of chasing her dream, Buchanan navigated the semi-finals with relative ease.
She booked her spot in the gold-medal race and she was poised to achieve what she had been chasing since the sport was added to the Olympic program.
Four years ago Buchanan was too young to compete in Beijing, depsite being one of the best riders in Australia.
Every day since she's worn the Olympic rings on a necklace given to her by parents Laurence and Gail.
London was supposed to be the stage she used to launch herself to the top of the sport.
She is No2 in the world and the time trial world champion. But when it came to the gold-medal race, she missed the start, fell behind and never recovered.
To describe it as heartbreaking is an understatement.
"I truly believe that it's all of the hard times that make you step up to the next level and that's what makes you a champion.
"I'm going to hold my head high and I've had a lot of setbacks in my life and a lot of hard races with things not going my way.
"I have no idea [what to do now]. This is not what I planned. I wanted a gold medal.
"I've got my whole family here for support but I guess I get on that plane home soon and start preparing for four years time in Rio."
There was drama and concern early in the day when Brazilian rider Squel Stein had an ugly crash on the second jump of her semi-final.
Stein was stretchered off the track and taken to hospital with her coaches yet to comment on her injuries.


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Reel Asian proudly presents our inaugural summer Video Production Workshop, which launched this past summer with a merry band of intrepid youth who possessed little to no formal filmmaking experience but had great stories to tell. After putting their hearts and souls into our unique crash course of mentor- ship by industry professionals, hands-on exercises and compressed schedules, they produced an impressive collection of short films that include romance, dark thrills, psychological drama, documentary and experimental nuances. Good old-fashioned bonding through teamwork, leadership development and the skill of proper organization were not only critical to their films' success, but will likely aid in all of their future endeavours. While some of them may not have previously thought about filmmaking as a career, we certainly welcome these newly minted auteurs into the ranks of our current generation of promising, young artists.
Jaewuk J. Kim* | Canada 2012 | 4:30
A psychological thriller that explores the anatomy of struggle with morality.
Jaewuk J. Kim was born in Seoul and is currently studying English and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He has published poems and short stories and is also a local lyricist/musician. Conscience is his first foray into filmmaking.
Althea Balmes* | Canada 2012 | 8:20
After contemplating returning to her homeland, a struggling woman executes a plan to solve her problems in the streets of Toronto by using suman, the delicious Filipino rice cake.
Althea Balmes is a York University graduate involved in the Filipino community and its social issues. She produces art in the form of stories and comic books.
Thila Vijayan* | Canada 2012 | 8:00
A young man chases love from the girl he desires, but knows that he will never receive it from her in return.
Thila Vijayan is a Computer Engineering student from Malaysia currently studying at Ryerson University. Summer Child is his first film.
Albert Zablan* | Canada 2012 | 12:40
A mother and father adjust to their newly adopted Canadian homeland and deal with challenges common to all immigrants while trying to manage a long-distance relationship with their Filipino children.
Albert Zablan is a first-time filmmaker and a recent graduate of the University of Toronto.
Lisa Qiu* | Canada 2012 | 3:15
Roaming the city streets, a marginalized woman finds herself trying to evade an unknown pursuer, only to be further entrapped by an inescapable reality.
Lisa Qiu is a fourth-year student at University of Toronto studying Political Science and Cinema Studies who never really quite understands what "normal" is. She is always contemplating the aspects of life, and continues to be creative.
Ferdelle Lauren Capistrano* | Canada 2012 | 7:10
Through the lens of love and loss, a reflection on life is set to a dramatic soundtrack. When a girl receives a bicycle from her grandfather, we are taken along on her journey–a ride that she must endure and overcome.
Ferdelle Lauren Capistrano was born and raised in Toronto and graduated from University of Toronto. Driven by aptitude and passion, she has written, directed and starred in two short films and hopes to continue in film and TV.
*Directors in attendance


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DNR inspects contaminated private wells in multiple counties
Officials advise private wells in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine be tested
Private wells in three area counties may be contaminated, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Over the past two years, DNR said it has sent letters to homeowners whose wells have tested positive for molybdenum, a naturally occurring metal. Health officials said it's fine in small amounts, but it could make anyone sick in large quantities.
At the Powalisz family's home in Muskego, bottled water is stacked knee-high.
"You don't realize how much (water) you use until you have to take it out of a bottle and you're like, 'Whoa, I'm going through water,'" said resident Tad Powalisz.
Powalisz said he received a letter from DNR informing him that a high level of molybdenum is pouring from his tap from a private well and he's advised not to use it.
"First thing you think of is all of a sudden, there's a contaminated well after I built a house on the land. It scares you," Powalisz said.
The DNR believes it's a very low-risk level, but it's still warning people in parts of Waukesha, Milwaukee and Racine counties to get their private wells tested.
"If they have levels exceeding the Wi-based standard, they should look for treatment devices or an alternative water supply," said DNR Southeast Region Director Eric Nitschke.
Officials said the safe level of molybdenum is 40 milligrams per liter of water. Powalisz said his sits at 62 milligrams, but his real concern came when a school well, not far from where his children go, tested positive.
"My kids are there. I can stop them from drinking water here, but what about the bubbler at school?" said Powalisz.


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A Pending Foreclosure in Sacramento, Stockton, Manteca, Lodi or Modesto, California is something that is catastrophic; financially and emotionally. Oftentimes, individuals facing the process of foreclosure or bankruptcy are confused, scared, and not well informed as to their options. Foreclosure help Sacramento is just a phone call away. Sure its difficult to make a call […]
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Understanding the foreclosure process in Sacramento CA is the most important part of navigating your own home foreclosure. It is the best way to avoid or even stop a Foreclosure dead in it tracks. Knowledge is power and arming yourself is important. Here is what you need to know about Foreclosure: What is foreclosure anyway? […]
Can I sell my Stockton house in foreclosure?
Do you have a Stockton CA house that's in foreclosure right now? Many people going through the CA foreclosure process want to get out from under that burdensome house and wonder if they can sell the house in foreclosure. The short answer: yes. The long answer: it's a little more complicated, but usually you can […]
Short Sale Can Stop Foreclosure Stockton
Whether you're a buyer, borrower or seller, a short sale can stop foreclosure – [Stockton] but each is a process and the Foreclosure process presents several challenges for homeowners wishing to avoid a foreclosure time bomb. Whatever you you have heard… in Foreclosure… TIME IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE! What Is A Foreclosure In Stockton […]
Stopping Foreclosure Stockton
As you know, foreclosures over the past 7 years have been at record levels. Just like with anything, you need to do your homework. Not all Companies have the experience to navigate a foreclosure and create a plan that works for you. You need a Company that you can Trust and will walk you through […]
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Not all foreclosures have to end in the homeowner losing their home. Most homeowners going through foreclosure don't know all of their options, and it's not your fault.
In some cases you may be able to stop foreclosure, or if you're not quite in foreclosure but heading there... we may be able to help you avoid foreclosure.
There is a lot of mis-information out there about foreclosure and the foreclosure process. And frankly, new regulations from the government seem to come out every few months.
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