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I'm Sick, But I Have To Blog This One
After the second round of London mass-transit bombings within two weeks, a comforting headline appeared above the fold on the front page of the Washington Post on July 22, 2005: Metro Patrols Grow As Security Tightens.
Much of the article focused on the feasibility of bag searches of the type which the NYC Police are conducting. Apparently, Washington, D.C., is going to wait to see how the random bag-searches work in New York before employing such searches here.
Meanwhile, Metro has issued some guidelines for the public to follow, including the following:
"Federal agents and police officials urged citizens to look for suspicious behavior on the area's Metro and rail systems..."
Metro's official guidelines contain these words, directed to the riders themselves:
"Be observant. Watch what people bring onto trains. Look to make sure they don't leave behind packages or bags....To report such incidents, use the intercoms, call transit police or call 911."
Yet, when, on the very next day, Metro riders reported one such package left behind, response on the part of Metro was delayed:
"Jittery about the bombings in London and told to be vigilant, Metro riders spotted an unattended backpack yesterday on the last car of a Blue Line train and did exactly as officials have been urging. They alerted the train operator.
"But the suspicious bag stayed on Train 401 as it rolled through two more stations Metro Center, a major hub, and McPherson Square, a few blocks from the White House -- before Metro officials took the train out of service and inspected the backpack...."
Blessedly, the abandoned backpack turned out to be a false alarm and contained two baseball bats belonging to a forgetful child. Nevertheless, the incident shows just how vulnerable Metro is--not only because it is a mass-transit system but also because the proper steps were not taken. In fact, when one of the riders contacted a security officer after the train had already proceeded unchecked through two stops, the officer contacted at that point admitted that he had received no previous notification of a suspicious package.
In what may be the ultimate irony, Donnelly had the following experience after the incident was resolved:
"Shaken by yesterday's incident aboard the Blue Line train, Donnelly sent an e-mail complaint to Metro. She received an automated reply, thanking her for her e-mail.
"The reply also reminded her to report anything suspicious on the Metro system."
Even before the incident cited above, Metro riders seemed to have adopted a fatalistic attitude, as found in the first article:
"At Metro Center yesterday afternoon, James Washington, 54, of Brookland changed trains for a trip to Silver Spring. He had heard about the bombings, but the news did not change his plans.
"'There's not much you can do,' Washington said. 'These people have shown that even if you prepare for it, if they want to do something they're going to do it. It doesn't matter if you have all kinds of security or not. You have to keep going.'
"Nearby, Chad Pipan and his wife, Julie, of Modesto, Calif., said that they had just heard the news over lunch and that they hesitated only momentarily before getting on another train to head to Arlington National Cemetery.
"'If they want to bomb something, there's not really something we can do about it,' Chad Pipan said."
Is this an attitude one that our Founding Fathers would endorse? Just accept this way of life? Hunkering down for a crisis to pass is one thing; indefinitely living in a state of siege is another.
We must, somehow, turn around the crisis-management mode in which we've become locked.
Step One is the renewal of the Patriot Act. As Robin Leach said on Fox News on July 22, 2005:"We are living in war conditions." In wartime, civil liberties sometimes have to be temporarily curtailed in the interest of national and personal security.
Step Two is to follow through on security guidelines. It is inexcusable for those who have sworn to enforce security to assume a lackadaisical attitude, even in the face of false alarms. Just because bombings such as London has endured have not occurred here does not mean that they won't. Denying the enemy soft targets requires constant vigilance from citizens and from security officials. Any break in the chain of security will eventually have fatal consequences.
Step Three is to employ criminal profiling. Seditious and treasonous words, including but not limited to what goes on inside mosques and Islamic centers, should result in rapid and effective prosecution. With free speech come responsibility and certain limitations, and in wartime, that responsibility and those limitations assume grave importance. Cutting off the funding of jihadists is a corollary to step three, and relying on Saudi oil-supplies funds to the Wahhabists.
Step Four is to control our borders.* Allowing Wahhabists to immigrate to our nation is unacceptable and threatens personal and national security. To believe that immigrants today do not include those sworn to our destruction is the height of naivete--and downright stupid.
Talking about understanding Islam and about reform within Islam is just so many words, not a proactive step. Furthermore, such reform is not a step we Westerners can take. Islam must reform itself. And those who are not jihadists cannot afford to wait too long for such hypothetical reform to take place. Reform is a process, not a definitive turning point in and of itself.
In the meantime, I won't be riding Metro.
*Thanks to LA Sunsett for reminding me of this very important step! See Comment #12.


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I've seen a few commentary articles about the iPhone 5 announcement that are referring to the new iteration as boring. This doesn't surprise me at all. It's no longer a revolution like the original one was. New Macs are nice to look at, but in reality who really cares how much the industrial design changes—it's the one aspect of the device you almost never interact with. It's the box the toy comes in.
I'm an Apple geek and I pay attention to the rumors before a new device is expected. Typically they are blown out of proportion and way off the mark. This is due to one simple fact: most people seem to misunderstand Apple.
I've been using a Mac since 1994. The one thing that stands out in Apple's product lines since the return of Steve Jobs is that of a long period of refinement after a burst of innovation. The iPhone has been a perfect example of this approach.
The first iPhone was a revolution. I don't care how much you hate Apple, you cannot get around the fact that Apple changed the computer industry and the mobile phone industry completely, and without precedent. Much like they did with the original Macintosh. Apple does not create products for consumers. If they did, they would redesign the iPhone radically every time one was released to cash in on the "shiny new thing" phenomenon that seems to work so well with people. They would add new gee-whiz features and functions to beef up the bullet point lists in their ads. Apple has no interest in this, but their competitors do: bigger screens, emerging technology, and other glitter designed to attract the masses.
Rarely does Apple do this. They wait. They add the best version of a new technology once it has proven itself. In fact, Apple is much more likely to remove things that people think are required rather than add something superfluous (think: the iMac and the floppy disk drive).
My first iPhone was an iPhone 3G, but I didn't feel Apple actually delivered on the promise of the iPhone until the iPhone 4. In terms of the industrial design, the speed, the networking and the display, the iPhone 4 was the point when the iPhone truly arrived as a complete device. It was a device that did not (and still doesn't) frustrate the user. It "just works", and disappears behind the real star of the show: the apps.
With the iPhone 5, Apple is now refining that achievement. This comes as no surprise. At least to me. I've yet to hold one in my hands, but reports of it being slimmer and lighter are just what the iPhone 4/4S needed. To be honest, I'm not even all that excited about the bigger screen, but my tune may change once I've experienced it. Personally, I like the smallness of the iPhone 4. I don't want a pocket computer, I want the pocket communicator that Jobs touted the original iPhone as.
I won't say I'm not disappointed at better camera specs, but again I've yet to use the improved camera technology which might compensate for the lack of a new sensor or more megapixels. The battery life is longer than the 4S, but not by much, and again that's something I'd like to see improved even if I've almost rarely had the battery get to 25% during a regular day of usage.
I'm not really sure what they naysayers expect out of a smartphone these days. What exactly are they expecting to see added that would sate their appetite for new? What exactly have Android phones brought to the table that satisfy this craving? The iPhone 5 is exactly the iPhone I wanted: an improved version of something I already like.
It's said that crystal meth is such an evil drug because it burns out the receptors in the brain that deliver the high, resulting in an inability for the addict to ever reach that first high again. I think we are seeing the same with Apple and each successive iPhone launch. The initial iPhone was a true revolution that happened in front of our eyes, and we clamor to have that same sense of amazement every time a new model is revealed. But those neurons are long gone.
The attention should be focused where I look nowadays: at iOS. I've casually played with Android-based devices, most recently a Samsung Galaxy S2. I liked it. It was fluid, the screen was nice, the device was light, I even liked the big screen. But what interests me more is the software. The iPhone is closed down in ways that make Android appealing. To date, nothing that would spur me to switch allegiances, but still there are things that do make me wish Apple would include them—even in a limited fashion—in iOS. I don't need actual widgets, but dynamic home screen icons would be nice. I don't need 3rd-party apps to be able to access deep levels of iOS, but some inter-app communication would be extremely welcome. But that's a whole other post in itself.
I'm glad the iPhone 5 is what everyone expected. I would have been disappointed had it been less. But I don't need to have my mind blown every time a new iPhone makes its way out of Cupertino. What I do want to see is more, and much more, from iOS 7 and beyond.

subset: commoncrawl


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Whether you're a rapidly growing start-up or an established family run business, we have the skills, knowledge and understanding to support you.
The Marriage Allowance was introduced in 2015. It allows one partner in a married couple or civil partnership to transfer part of their tax-free allowance to the other partner ...
If you're not using the Marriage Allowance yet then you could be missing out!
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This is not an additional allowance, and you shouldn't confuse it with the Married Couple's Allowance, but it's undoubtedly worth claiming it if one partner can't use all of their personal allowance in a particular tax year.
"Up to four million couples will benefit from the Marriage Allowance according to HMRC!"
Three million have already claimed it, but if you are part of the one million who haven't then speak to your accountant or tax advisor as soon as you can.
In 2018/19, the Marriage Allowance is £1,190 which gives a maximum tax saving of £238. There are two conditions here, one is that you have to transfer the entire amount and the other is that neither spouse or civil partner will be taxed at the higher rate in that tax year.
You can claim now for the 2018/19 tax year and backdating maybe possible meaning you could get a tax refund. You can also claim retrospectively if one partner has died.
If you and your partner are not sure of your income levels in this tax year, you may wish to wait until the end of the year before you decide on making a claim for Marriage Allowance.
It's possible to claim the Marriage Allowance online, though I would recommend speaking to your accountant or tax advisor to be sure your eligible to claim and to help make the process easier.
"Would you like to know more?"
If you'd like to find out more about the Marriage Allowance then do give me a call on 01908 774320 or click here to ping me an email and let's see how I can help you.
Until next time ...
ROGER EDDOWESBusiness Godparent
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Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.
Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.
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Old Kirkforthar Brickworks,
Markinch, Glenrothes
Tel: 01592 770295 Mob: 07968 120331
email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Message +44 7437 175166 on WhatsApp https://wa.me/447437175166
Seasoned Logs and Firewood
Price List
1 cubic metres hardwood £ 75
add £12 delivery within Fife
2 cubic metres hardwood £ 150
* free local delivery
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3 cubic metres hardwood £ 225
includes kindling
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4 cubic metres hardwood £ 280
includes kindling
FREE delivery within Fife
and £20 discount
1 cubic metres softwood £ 65
add £12 delivery within Fife
2 cubic metres softwood £ 130
* free local delivery
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3 cubic metres softwood £ 195
includes kindling
* free local delivery
add £12 delivery within Fife
4 cubic metres softwood £ 240
includes kindling
FREE delivery within Fife
and £20 discount
£ 4 refund on each empty re-usable large bag on your next order
Special KILN DRIED log price list
Optimised moisture content 10% to 15% supplied in easy to move and store barrow bags
1 barrow bag kiln dried {0.25 cu m}£ 37
£3 bag cost refunded on your next order
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3 barrow bags kiln dried {0.75 cu m}£ 111
£9 bag cost refunded on your next order
FREE delivery within Fife
* free local delivery offer applies to 2 or 3 cu m loads delivered within 10 miles of Glenrothes
Our logs are split to fit UK standard log stoves nominally 8 inches.
A fresh green log of about average moisture content has only around half the energy content of an equivalent, well seasoned log. While the type of tree the log comes from can have some impact on the calorific value, it is usually extremely small.
- Kiln dried logs provide maximum heat output because they burn hotter and give better fuel efficiency therefore saving you money.
- After the logs are kiln dried they must be stored in a suitable dry ventilated location otherwise they will absorb moisture.
Forestry Commission guidance notes on Wood Burning (pdf opens in new tab)
- We aim to offer affordable rates to our clients and are cheaper than most firewood providers since we source our woodstock from our associated tree surgery business. Branching Out
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Please give us a call on 07968 120331 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll ensure that you get your order as soon as possible.
We can supply Oak beams, Oak floorboards, cladding, Hobby Packs, Project Packs and offcuts, Rough Sawn Timber, Structural Timber, Flooring and Firewood and Logs dried using our in-house kiln to your specification.
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Beagles and Basset Hounds are beloved by many individuals and families across the country. So, which hound dog is best suited for you? Beagles are happy-go-lucky, affectionate, and friendly. Basset Hounds are charming, low-key, and goofy-looking. Both hounds are driven by their noses, and have roots in rabbit hunting. We'll look at intelligence, maintenance, temperament, health, and more to help you determine which hound dog breed is best for you.
Beagle Overview
It's hard not to love a beagle. They are upbeat, charming, and make friends easily. The beagle is a hound dog, meaning it was bread to track and chase game for hunters. It's short little legs serve well to keep the beagle's nose on the ground, sniffing and tracking rabbits through grass and bushes.
Beagles can be traced way back to ancient Rome, but the specifics of this breed have been lost in history. It is believed that the modern Beagle was developed around the 1830s in Great Britain.
Today, the typical Beagle is white, black, and brown. Snoopy is an exception. While Snoopy is a beagle, he's only white and black. The average lifespan is 12-15 years. They're a small dog, weighing in around 20-25 pounds. Typical height is only 13-16 inches.
Beagles are sometimes pegged as unintelligent. This perceived lack of intelligence comes from the Beagles' strong instinct and independence. For example, Beagles LOVE to follow their nose. It is incredibly difficult to train a Beagle to stop chasing a scent. This could mean chasing a smell across a road, or nabbing a pizza off the kitchen table.
While this may sound annoying, you can use it to your advantage. Beagles respond extremely well to treat-based reward systems in training. Like most breeds, you'll get a lot farther with positive reinforcement than negative.
In conclusion, Beagles are smart. However, they can be more difficult to train. Be creative, get with other Beagle owners, and do your research.
Beagles are awesome with kids, and love making friends. They aren't overly aggressive or timid. This breed is high-energy, independent, and needs room to run and play. Those looking for a lap dog should steer clear of this breed.
They are LOUD. Beagles bark and howl frequently. We recommend purchasing either a pair of earplugs, or the BarkBlaster. Being a pack animal, Beagles are prone to separation anxiety. If left unattended, a Beagle can be very destruction.
Beagles aren't plagued by a lot of the genetic diseases you find in some purebred dogs. Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and ear infections are a few of the more common health issues found in Beagles. Overall, Beagles don't spend a lot of time at the vet.
This breed has a short coat, and will require moderate brushing due to shedding. It's important to provide your Beagle with opportunities for physical activity. Leaving a Beagle at home for long periods of time may not go well, as they are pack-oriented.
Basset Hound Overview
It's hard not to laugh when you look at a Basset Hound. Every part of a Basset is droopy. Giant ears, long bodies, and short legs characterize this breed. While they don't look like the most athletic dogs, they were originally bred to chase and track game. Their short legs keep their noses on the ground, and the long ears pick up and keep scent in the Basset Hound's face. In fact, these dogs have the 2nd best nose of any dog, behind the Bloodhound.
It is believed that the modern Basset Hound descends from French dogs that were bred in Great Britain during the late 1800s. This type of hound gained most of its initial popularity during the reign of Napoleon III. Back then, they were purely bred as hunting companions, typically for royalty and aristocratic families.
These wet-nosed hounds are short, typically measuring in under 2 feet. Typical weight ranges from 45 to 75 pounds. Their short, smooth coats are typically of a combination of black, white, or tan. You can expect a Basset to live around 10-12 years on average.
Basset Hounds are both intelligent and stubborn. They were bred to rely on the pack, rather than a master's commands. This makes them difficult to train. Their noses are incredible, having the second strongest sniffer behind the bloodhound.
You must start training early, and start with distraction-free environments. Treat training is effective, but be sure to transition away from treats slowly. Fences are a must. When this hound catches a scent, good luck trying to stop it. House training can be difficult with Bassets, but crate training is often a very effective way to housebreak a Basset Hound.
READ: 6 Simple Steps to Train Your Stubborn Dog
Basset Hound personalities are loveable, to say the least. They make great family pets. You can expect Basset temperament to be positive and friendly toward all, even strangers. They are often described as the class clown of dog breeds.
This upbeat personality makes up for the excess flatulence and slobber you'll experience owning a Basset Hound. These hounds like to howl, especially when they are bored.
Expect heavy shedding with this dog breed. These hounds require more baths than the average dog. A Basset Hound's diet must be monitored closely, as they are prone to overeating.
Exercise is a must to keep a Basset Hound from encountering obesity and related health issues. Due to their build, they are prone to back issues. Bloating and ear infections are also common.
Beagle vs Basset Hound Conclusion
When comparing the Beagle vs Basset Hound, you'll find a lot of similarities. Training can be challenging, they are driven by their nose, and their personalities are loved by most. Basset Hounds experience more health issues and typically don't live as long. Beagles are a little more hyper than Basset Hounds. The deciding factor for many is appearance. Some love the cute simplicity of the Beagle, while others can't get resist the goofy rolls and giant ears of the Basset Hounds.
Which breed would you rather own? Let us know in the comments below!


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Katie Westbrook 5K Race & Dog Walk
In Memory of Katie
The Duquesne University School of Law student body dedicates this race in memory of Katie Westbrook, whose dream at age 13 was to become a lawyer. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, which took her life at age 15, just a few hours before she was to receive an honorary degree from Duquesne University School of Law.
Although Katie was never able to fulfill her dream of becoming an attorney, we honor her memory and dream to become a Duquesne Lawyer, with all race proceeds benefitting the Public Interest Law Association Fellowships.
If you are interested in becoming a race sponsor or donating a race day prize item, please contact Beth Bauer at email@example.com.
Thank you in advance for your help and support in keeping this race a successful event each year.


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Most everyone has uttered the phrase " I need a vacation" moments after their vacation has ended. If you have every gone away with children, or through airports, or with a long car ride, you understand it ain't easy. Throw in a couple of amusement parks and oversold flights and you get the drift.
So as we transitioned back to "reality" over the past few days our couch time included a healthy dosage of mindless entertainment. More specifically, the last few evenings were spent watching Kardashians, Eastwoods, America's Got Talent, and, gasp, the NBA.
This just in... what the hell is this country watching??? Why are we green lighting these projects? Are we not embarrassed?
E! had a Kardashian marathon Memorial Day and like so many moths to the flame, we engaged.
The matriarch, Kris, drives erratically while frantically typing away on her mobile devices racing from one place to another. Her husband, the former man (and Gold medal winner!!) Bruce Jenner goes ignored and disrespected as he transitions through menopause.
Their kids, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Karthage, Kaos, Kronos, Kockblocker, Khan, and Rob all rome around LA having fancy lunches, signing divorce papers, shopping for homes, and mugging for any camera in sight.
It's all a show. Every last frame of it.
Income based on image. Lifestyle based on facade.
And apparently we cannot get enough of it. Sadly, I must admit it kept me amused for a few episodes.
But why? There is nothing redeeming about any of the "stars" on screen. The one person who actually trained to become a World class athlete is ridiculed and cast as the shows Barney Fife. The matriarch has some success due to marrying well many years prior. And the child with the most fame has her generous posterior, caught on camera sexual escapades and absurdly brief marriage to thank. They are all a vacuous mess in the oil spill that is reality tv.
The same can be said with Mrs Eastwood and Company. Yes, Clint's wife has a reality show too. Another West Coast Hollywood family blending families and has been hangers on in an attempt to cash in on the 15 minutes culture we sadly all crave. Like Kelsey Grammer a few years back Clint seems to want to shut his spouse up and thrust her in the spotlight so she will stop nagging him about a bit role in his next film.
You can almost hear his scratchy voice telling her "Go ahead... call back that E! exec producer..."
Even the antithesis of mainstream, Howard Stern, has crossed over to the dark side.
Admittedly one of his biggest fans and a devoted listener, it hurt a bit last night watching him judge hack stand up comics, male dance revues, and ventriloquists for the lame and wholly un-original America's Got Talent. Here Stern, Howie Mandel and the frozen faced Sharon Osbourne "X" those folks they deem unworthy or unable to fill a Las Vegas arena with their talents. Quick, name me the past winners of this show. Better yet, name me 5 of the American Idols. Save for the outcome/payout this show is the Gong Show. And Nick Cannon ain't no Chuck Berris.
A retread show looking for original talent. The irony is too rich.
But would a network exec realize that? Better, would they know what ironic means? "I don't know what it is, but I can tell you when I see it."
It's all over your dial. And there is no sign of a change.
It costs a lot of money to produce scripted television. And it is far riskier to take a chance on a creative idea rather than a cheap, tried and true (lazy), money-making one. Take a look at the budgets/revenues of Housewives of Wherever vs Mad Men for a hard truth.
So what can we do?
How about not watch?!
I know I am dumber for falling victim the past few days.
You can vedge out to far better. Or, maybe even read a bit. I know this great blog.
For tonight you can give the NJ Devils some love. The NBA is as bad as the shows mentioned above. No drama. Contrived storylines and overpriced "stars."
The Guide predicts the Kings in 6... but you never know. Gotta love a final that pits a 6 seed versus an 8.


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You can imagine my excitement when i received this little package in the mail, last week!! i had to rush home to tear it open.. simply couldn't wait!!
not one, but two little boxes inside....
do you recognize the label??
let's take a closer look...can you guess what's inside??
that's right..scissors..in the most delightful shapes & designs..take look
mama stork & baby storkette..adorable!!
quaint little cat snips..love that tail lol!!
not to mention these cute little owl scissors...
btw i couldn't resist this pair of glossy black scissors in the shape of a Salem witch..spooky huhl!
oh and i love these sweet little heart scissors...
love the shape of these too!!
i'm always on the hunt for vintage scissors to add to my collection and i'm really thrilled with my 'new' little scissors from Silent Stitches...they have vintage appeal and i love the quaint designs.
on the quilting front i'm pleased to report that i've kept up with my civil war BOW..so far so good!!
this week's block #32 Carolina Lily
a little tricky but i got there in the end...
Block #31 Empty Spools
Block #30 Peterson's Star & Stripes
an applique star which wasn't as complicated as i thought it would be...phew!!
Block #29 Railway Crossing
i really enjoyed making this block...
Block #28 Next Door Neighbour
this one was a lot of fun too!
i'm still hand quilting my signature quilt...it's slow going but i really enjoy the process, if all goes well i should have it done by Christmas..fingers crossed lol!!


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Belgium Part 2!
A little late, but here we go!
Racing in Belgium was highly addictive, and I can't wait until I get another chance to go back and give it another shot! After the Hoogerheide World Cup cross race, team Canada spent the week training, getting massages (!) and resting up for the big race- the Zolder Cyclocross World Championships! The race took place in, around and over a car race track, which made for some fun fast road sections, and great spectating! I was shocked when I first saw the course- the Zolder races that I had watched online were a great deception, as I thought it was more or less a flat course. But nope. Over half of the course took place on the side of a hill, so there were lots of ups and downs. I found it incredibly fun when I first got to ride it, on one of our pre-ride days, as there were three flyovers, some steep decents and a super steep run up, that made you feel like a monkey as you ran up it, because at points you would be using your hands to help you stay balanced. Once again, I got to pactice more bike changes with our fantastic pit crew, meet the youtubers, Global Cycling Network, guys (I even made it into one of their videos!), and discuss some lines with some pro-women from other countries!
Race day was a totally different story from pre-ride. The two days we pre-rode the course, it was dry and even sunny. But naturally, mother nature preferred race day to bring on the downpour. Besides the run ups getting slick, the course didn't change that much, and was even better in some ways because there were more ruts to choose from for lines. I went through my warm up routine, picked my way through the crowd of fans walking down team alley, ogling at the pro-riders, and finally lined up with the field of approximately 50 u23 women (at the back, because of my lack of UCI points)! Despite my hours of start practice in training, even with a bob trailer and a piece of a log in it, I had trouble clipping in when the whistle blew. In those situations, you just need to relax, first focus on getting your foot into the pedal, then go hard! I slightly panicked, and once I finally got it in, had some ground to make up. I was able to make up a decent amount of ground around the first couple of corners. As fate has it, when we got to the switchbacks about halfway through first lap, a girl went to dismount beside me and ended up kicking my shoe when she swung her leg over. After remounting, I clipped in, and my foot felt like it was going to come out the shoe, so I reached down to do the buckle back up, assuming it had come undone, and poof! It was gone. It had burst, and my foot was now slipping around in my shoe. I still pushed hard through the wet, exhausting conditions, executing some awesome bike changes and mounts/dismounts (thanks to the help from Aaron Schooler a few days earlier!) and finished my first World Championship race in front of a crowd of 40,000 spectators!
It is unfortunate that practically the only two mechanicals I have ever had happened when I was racing on the world stage, but that's 'cross for ya! Post race, I got to watch Canada's elite women, Mical Dyck, crush the women's field, and try the famous fries and mayonnaise (which is surprisingly good!). The next day, we got to watch the u23 and elite men's race, explore the crazy packed drink tents, with bands playing and people singing and dancing, and all the elite riders paraphernalia (t-shirts, scarves, flags and more with riders faces on them!). A highlight was being able to watch the end of the elite men's race in a rider's only area, right at the finish line, with British rider, Helen Whyman, then get right up front, to watch Wout Van Aert collect his rainbow jersey!
This was an amazing trip, and I can't thank Cycling Canada enough for all of the support we got over there, nor my sponsors for all of the support you gave me to get to Belgium for Worlds!
Maggie :)


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JW Marriott Juhu has several restaurants but the main hall area has buffets priced differently on different occasions. I went for one such buffet there! And there were platters of different cuisines. Chinese, Italian, Korean, Asian, Continental, Indian, chaat and desserts. The pastas and pizzas were absolutely amazing. But the desserts were complete stealers of the show. There were so many to choose from and plus you could keep having them! Unlimited desserts! There were cheesecakes, ice creams, brownies, mousse, pastries, pies, Indian sweets, fruits, etc.
Unlimited Desserts & More: JW Marriott's Buffets Can't Be Missed
What Makes It Awesome
What's My Pro Tip?
It's JW Marriott, of course there's valet parking!
Anything Else?
The ambience is absolutely wow!
Also On JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu


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Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!
-eREKTion-If you're looking for something good in powder and variable you should be looking on the wider side, surface area and torsional rigidity on fatter skis plays a huge role in their performance in those conditions. The Cochise, Legend, and Ripstick are good options but maybe take a look at the Enforcer 110, it looks like a monster. Also, 113 seems like a really weird cutoff point. If you bumped up 3mm to a 116 you could look at the ON3P Billy Goat which is a fucking machine in pow and crud. The Moment Bibby is another ski that's just a few millimeters away from your seemingly arbitrary cutoff and it's famous for it's pow and crud busting performance.


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Although libraries remain closed until further notice, our 'phone and pick up' service is now available at some libraries offering you the opportunity to order a book and collect it. Find out more about this service and which libraries are offering it.
All library events are cancelled until further notice.
Gorseinon Library
15 West Street, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 4AA.
Opening hours
Open for pre-ordering and collecting books only
Events at Gorseinon Library
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Hearing loop: Yes
Toilets: Yes
Wi-fi available: Yes (library members only)
Meeting room: No
Photocopier: Black/white and colour
Scanner: Yes
Getting to the library
Parking: Car park at the rear of the library. Access from Cross Street
Bus: Numbers 16, 110, 111, X11 (First Cymru) stop outside the library at Gorseinon Bus Station
Postcode: SA4 4AA


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See what the Night Train Tank Lift Kit does for this bike:
"The best way to get a chopper look, gotta love it!"
–Manny, Salesman, Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, Riverside CA
See the Tank Lift Kits for Softails in the shop
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LCVU-symposium 15 December 2009
7 October 2009
Dr. Ronald Plasterk (Netherland's Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences) visits the Laser Centre VUHe has announced that starting in 2011 extra structural funds will be allocated to Physics (10 ME/year) and to Chemistry (10 ME/year) in the Netherlands for enforcing research in these areas and for making the University studies in physics and chemistry more attractive, with the goal to attract more students. A committee under leadership of Prof. D. Breimer will evaluate plans to most effectively spend these extra funds.
See also: Press release bij the Ministry of OCW http://www.minocw.nl/actueel/nieuws/36009/Per-jaar-20-miljoen-voor-wetenschappelijke-natuur-en-scheikunde.html
Further on the visit by Minister Plasterk.
The Laser Centre VU congratulates Rienk van Grondelle with his KNAW Academy Professorship
Rienk van Grondelle (left), The Rector Magnificus Lex Bouter (next to Rienk) and Robbert Dijkgraaf, President of KNAW (right)
On Wednesday 15 April 2009 Rienk van Grondelle, Professor of Biophysics at LCVU, received the prestigious KNAW Professorship. KNAW will provide a 5-year salary to let him devote himself to academic studies and to give LCVU the opportunity to appoint a young professor in the same field.
Workshop: Do the constants of nature vary?Thursday June 11th 2009 at lecture room P647 in Science building of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Tulip 2009 Summer School: Modern Developments in Spectroscopy.http://erbium.chem.vu.nl/tulip.html
Best paper of the LCVU 2008Bram van den Broek receives the Prize (500 Euro + diploma) for the best paper of LCVU-2008 for his paper: How DNA-coiling enhances target localization by proteins, PNAS 105 (2008) 15738
Dr. Bram van den Broek and Prof. dr. Johannes de Boer
The Laser Centre VU congratulates Dr. Gijs Wuite with his
NWO-VICI grant for: Physics in the cellular fuel tank.
He also becomes an elected member of the Young Academy (November 2008).
Dr. Gijs Wuite
LCVU Symposium 2008On 17 december 2008 the yearly symposium of the Laser Centre VU will be held in Amsterdam with the following Program.
NWO groot grantThe Laser Centre VU receives a NWO groot grant (3.4 M€) for setting up a microscopy facility.
The Laser Centre VU congratulates its scientists with the receipt of ERC and NWO-VICI grants
- Dr. Rick Bethlem (left) receives an ERC grant for his proposal to build the worlds first Molecular Fountain (See: Fountain project).
- Dr. Davide Iannuzzi (centre) receives an ERC grant for his proposal to utilize Fibre-Top-Cantilevers (See: FTC).
- Dr. Kjeld Eikema (right) receives a NWO-VICI grant for his proposal entitled "harnessing quantum dynamics and structure of complex molecules and simple atoms".
Best paper award of LCVU in 2007At the LCVU-symposium on 17th December 2007 Rudi Berera received the Prize for the best LCVU paper in 2007.
Rudi Berera
Fascination of Light at LCVU 2007During 3-18 October 2007 the Exhibition "Fascination of Light" was held at VU campus. About 1700 high-school pupils visited. This exhibition is an activity of LASERLAB-Europe and it travels through a number of cities throughout Europe with EU-funding. See FOL-Europe. For a video clip click here.
Poster for the Fascination of Light Exhibition.
June 2007: LCVU scientists on the cover of APPLIED SPECTROSCOPYEvtim Efremov and coworkers of the ACAS-group within LCVU publish a paper entitled "Fluorescence rejection in resonance Raman spectroscopy using a picosecond-gated intensified charge-coupled device camera" and appear on the cover of the journal Applied Spectroscopy
January 2007: LCVU scientists had publications in Nature, Science, Nature Physics and CelIn January 2007 LCVU scientists had publications in Nature, Science, Nature Physics and Cell
Hanbury-Brown and Twiss Cytoskeletal networks The molecular synchrotron The cell skeleton
Symposium: "Atoms and Lasers in the Spotlight"On 9 March 2007 the symposium "Atoms and Lasers in the Spotlight" was held at the Laser centre VU. This was at the occasion of the 65th birthday of Prof. Wim Hogervorst. Speakers were Prof. T.W. Hansch (Nobel laureate 2005), Prof. W. Ertmer (Hannover), Prof. S. Svanberg (Lund Laser Centre), Prof. M. Inguscio (LENS Laser Centre Florence), and Prof. W. Sandner (Max Born Institute Berlin).
Collaboration with National Laser Centre of South Africa (Pretoria)On 12 February 2007 an agreement on future collaboration between the Laser Centre VU and the National Laser Centre of South Africa (Pretoria) was signed in Amsterdam.
On the picture from left to right: Lourens Botha (senior scientist at NLC), Thulani Dlamini (Director of NLC), Jan van Mill (Dean of Sciences - VU), Wim Ubachs (Director of LCVU).
Selection of "Best student-paper award at LCVU in 2006"Prize winner in 2006 was Stefan Witte for the paper:
S. Witte, R. Th. Zinkstok, A.L. Wolf, W. Hogervorst, W. Ubachs, K.S.E.
A source of 2 terawatt, 2.7 cycle laser pulses based on noncollinear optical parametric chirped amplification
Opt. Express 14, 8168-8177 (2006)
Laser Centre Symposium 2006
On Wednesday 13 December 2006 the annual Laser Centre Symposium was held at the VU campus. The Lecture program was as follows: Program LCVU symposium 2006.
Symposium on the 6th of October
On October 6th a Symposium was held at LCVU on "Frequency and Length Metrology in the Lab, in Space and in Industry". For more details and the program of speakers see: Symposium Metrology. The symposium formed the kick-off of a new research program on "Metrology with Frequency comb lasers" that will be carried out by the research group of Atomic, Molecular and Laser Physics at LCVU, in collaboration with the Optics Research group at TU Delft, the Nederlands Meet-instituut, FOM, TNO, and ASML. It is a so-called FOM Industrial Partnership Program described at FOM-IPP I11.


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S1 The Forest Knife is probably the best hunting and fishing knife ever made.
Not In stock
This product is currently out of stock. You can still buy it though and we will order it in for you
S1 The Forest Knife is probably the best hunting and fishing knife ever made. Its sturdy blade made of the new extremely strong stainless laminate VG10 custom steel is convex grounded for extra strong cutting power with no risk for edge breakage. The modified clippoint design works well for penetrating purposes, the long curved edge is ideal for skinning. The blade is long enough for lighter chopping and won´t break, it´s full 5 mm (0.2") thick!
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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Facebook: Expanding Biometric Services to Our Neighbor Islands
Until recently, neighbor island residents requiring biometric technology for things like immigration assistance had to travel to Honolulu. In addition to taking time off of work and school, and paying USCIS processing fees, neighbor island residents had to also personally pay for the cost of air transportation to and from Honolulu, hotel costs, and other travel expenses. My team worked with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other partners to launch a biometrics pilot program on the islands of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii in 2017 that has helped constituents like Tapani of Kahului, Maui access get access to these services.
Tapani said: "I wanted to write you and express my gratitude for the pilot program that USCIS is currently running on Maui. I understand that normally in the past the collection of biometric information for the purpose of applying for the US citizenship was only taken in Honolulu. This was very convenient for me personally having ability to get this taken care here on Maui where I reside and work as I would imagine is the case to anyone living on Maui or any other major neighbor island. Please know that I am very grateful for this pilot program and hopefully it has enough merit to be continued so it may help other future US citizenship applicants."
Do you need assistance with a federal agency, or have an idea to share? Our team of caseworkers can help with issues you have dealing with our federal agencies, including checking on the status of passports, visas, immigration and naturalization applications, Social Security claims, and much more as you and your families deal with our federal government and federal agencies. Call us at 808-541-1986 or visit Gabbard.house.gov for more information.
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Monday, March 1, 2010
Lily of the Nile Give Away
Meant to do this on the 24th... but I went to Greyton instead ;)
Every 24th I'll be doing a little give-away to celebrate the end of my theme.
This months I will be giving away a set of Lily if the Nile post cards.
To enter just leave a comment here. I will draw the winner at random on Saturday Morning.
Good Luck!
9 comments:
- Theresa said...
How nice that you are doing this! I love that flower!
- March 2, 2010 at 1:14 AM
- Julia said...
Oh I'd like to enter! Such lovely pictures, I'm looking forward to next month. Thanks!
- March 2, 2010 at 2:07 AM
- Line said...
a give away so cool I wanna play, you tagged me last week, you can read my answers today,
have a happy week!!!!!
love your flowers shots!!!
- March 2, 2010 at 3:27 AM
- jane said...
thank you!! beautiful shot!
- March 2, 2010 at 10:04 AM
- Christie Minchew said...
I always enjoy coming to your site and seeing your photos. So, of course, I can't resist the chance to see 'live and in person' your postcards! Thanks so much :)
- March 2, 2010 at 6:59 PM
- Cindy said...
oh lovely!
- March 3, 2010 at 3:19 PM
- Valerie said...
I was going to say this one is probably what we call "agapanthe" here and was one of my beloved grandmother's favorite flowers...
but I realized this makes me enter my name for the give-away ?! since you take such beautiful pictures & I guess these are your own postcards (?) please yes count me in ! ;)
- March 4, 2010 at 12:07 AM
- magnusmog said...
These look beautiful - count me in!
- March 5, 2010 at 1:11 AM
- Anne Marie said...
Yes please, count me in! We would love some colour around here. A hope of spring :)
- March 6, 2010 at 1:21 AM


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Note: This is an article than ran in the Sept. 29 edition of the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON — The United States held him for seven years and then, ultimately, decided that he poses no threat to national security. But he's still sitting in prison at Guantanamo Bay because no other country will take him. Nor will the U.S. let him come here to live, even temporarily.
In the Kafkaesque world of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, being eligible for freedom doesn't make you free.
He is Huzaifa Parhat, who now promises to be the next test case in detainee rights in the war on terror. Parhat is a Uighur, a Muslim from western China, picked up in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks on suspicion of having ties to the Taliban. Some Uighurs (pronounced WE-goors) are part of a movement that seeks separation from China to form their own Islamic nation.
The Chinese government considers Uighurs a threat to the country's security and is accused of widespread human-rights abuses in their home province of Xinjiang. The U.S. State Department will not return Uighur detainees at Guantanamo to China because of fears that they will be imprisoned or tortured.
But the U.S., too, has recently branded Uighur separatists as terrorists, even though a decade ago they were cheered by conservatives such as the late Sen. Jesse Helms for opposing the Chinese government.
Parhat scored a major victory in June when he became the first Guantanamo detainee to have his detention ruled invalid by a U.S. federal appeals court. Since then, his lawyers have been trying to free him from the naval prison, but the Bush administration has resisted, arguing, in essence, that even though there is no longer any basis to hold him as an enemy of the state, it still has the power to decide how, where, and when to let him go.
Now his lawyers are pressing for a court to order an extraordinary remedy. They want Parhat to come to the U.S. to testify that he poses no threat. And after that, they want him released in the U.S. to live until another home can be found for him.
Essentially, they are asking that he be paroled. A federal judge in Washington will hear the request Oct. 7.
"The Uighurs are really the poster boys for what happens when you exclude judicial review from something like Guantanamo," said Jason Pinney, a Boston-based lawyer for Parhat. "You get abuse."
The Justice Department says that it won't allow Parhat to even set foot in this country. Atty. Gen. Michael Mukasey has long resisted any efforts to allow detainees inside the country, even for court hearings.
But cases such as Parhat's will grow increasingly common as the Pentagon pushes to empty Guantanamo and resettle detainees who are no longer deemed to be enemy combatants or guilty of war crimes. And the results of his litigation could help establish whether, at some point, the government forfeits control of its captives' movements.
Parhat's situation provides a little insight into the Pentagon's grounds for holding some of the detainees in the first place. In Parhat's case, a three-judge panel held that there was simply no evidence in the record to support a finding that he should have been held as an enemy combatant. The government had argued that it was enough that Parhat was a Uighur, that he had been "affiliated" with a Uighur independence group, and that the group had been "associated" with Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
While details of his capture and imprisonment are murky, it is known that Parhat traveled from China to Afghanistan in 2001. There, he lived briefly in what his lawyers say was a Uighur refugee camp but what the government terms a terrorist training site. He was turned over to American forces in 2002.
Still, the Defense Department has produced no evidence that Parhat was looking to wage war against the U.S., and Parhat told interviewers that his enemy is China. Parhat's lawyers suggest that Parhat and about 20 other Uighurs were held at Guantanamo because the U.S. wanted to enlist China's support for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Pinney said the Bush administration branded a Uighur separatist group a terrorist organization only after the Uighurs were imprisoned at Guantanamo, noting that the Pentagon gave access to Chinese interrogators to speak to the detainees. "If you connect the dots, it does not look good," he said. "The government knew it did something wrong, picked up the wrong people."
But the Pentagon denies the Uighurs were held to curry favor with China. "This assertion is categorically untrue," said Cmdr. J.D. Gordon, a Defense Department spokesman. "For years, we have been hard at work with the international community in resettlement options for the Uighurs at Guantanamo, as we do not repatriate detainees to countries which cannot provide credible assurances of humane treatment."
The State Department says that more than 90 countries refused to accept the Uighurs. "They want to blame the international community. They won't accept these poor Uighurs," Pinney said. "You've brought them here and you have labeled them terrorists. The worst of the worst. Cold-blooded killers."
That leaves resettlement in the United States as perhaps the most workable option for the Guantanamo Uighurs. About 2,000 Uighurs live in the U.S., and their status as enemies of the Chinese government makes them eligible for political asylum here.
Except, that is, for the Uighurs at Guantanamo Bay, even though they for the large part have been cleared of wrongdoing. Why? On that issue, the Pentagon defers to the Department of Homeland Security, which says the detainees have ties to terrorist organizations.


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