text:
What is blogging and why is it important for your business?
It's a pretty weird question for people who have read so many "blog posts" and met a variety of "bloggers," both professional and amateur, over the previous years. Blogging is so common nowadays that we're continuously introduced to web logs of different kinds: personal, travel, food, parenting, political and so on and so forth. But this time, we'll focus on business blogs, what they are and how they can influence the growth of your business.
So first things, first. What is a blog? It's an online publishing hub of valuable information, shared by an individual or a group of people, documented in a reverse chronological order. These posts or write-ups have a diary-type appeal and also allow internet users to comment or share the information through re-blogging or via social media. That's a formal definition.
In short, it's a hub where you can build an online community by sharing short articles that others find interesting and/or valuable.
And how will Blogging impact your business?
1. The first point to consider is that a business blog is a great source of organic traffic. Think SEO.
2. Having your own blog gives you and your company a chance to be heard. Certainly, there aren't a lot of things that you can share using Twitter's measly 140 characters or with your Facebook page's limited number of fans only.
3. Since your blog site will be indexed by Google and all the other search engines, you're given a means to target a specific audience. And you'll do so by incorporating relevant keyword phrases into your blog posts.
4. Blogging is very important when it comes to building your brand. It will represent you and your business to the online community, help you build trust among your customers and also aid you in reaching out to other businesses. It often is a first impression of your business.
Quick bloggingtips:
1. Invest in your blog. We're not just talking about investing in your domain, your hosting and all the other technical stuff. Invest your time in writing and publishing posts regularly. Consistency is key.
2. Be yourself. Some would say it's the lamest advice they hear online. But seriously, why pretend to be a different person or business? Be transparent and authentic in a way that your customers will appreciate your online presence.
3. Assign the right person. If you're thinking about hiring a writer or giving another employee the responsibility of creating posts for your blog, make sure that he or she is in the right position (or mindset) based on credentials, attitude and personality. If he/she doesn't represent your brand with the highest regard, why give him/her the ticket to your company's destruction?
4. Content is king. Yes, it is cliché. But hey, it has a point. Publish content of high value based on topics related to your business and the solutions to your customer's problems. You may also write about promotions, events, company updates and entertaining work experiences.
5. SEO it! Your strategy doesn't have to be complicated for SEO to work on your blog site (and primary website). Keep it simple yet consistent. Some additional great blog resources that simply SEO are SEOMOZ and Search Engine Land. Check them out. We also recommend using Yoast for WordPress to boost your blog SEO.
6. Make use of multimedia. One way to keep readers engaged is by using photos, videos, slideshows and other multi-media that will make your posts more visually appealing, entertaining or interesting. This is why sites such as Instagram, YouTube, and Slideshare have become so effective in helping businesses. Use them.
7. Interact and engage with your users. Never ever fail to respond to reader comments, complaints, and questions. Being a snob is bad for business.
8. Invite guest bloggers. Having your own blog doesn't mean that it's supposedly for you and about you only. Feature people, colleagues and also invite writers once in a while to maintain positive connections.
9. Link back. When you've used another company's material (say an infographic, photo or article), do not forget to acknowledge them and create a link back to their site.
10. Be social! Notify the world about your new post! Tweet, post links on your Facebook page, update on LinkedIn and incorporate share buttons on your blog post for fast and easy sharing!
There! Blogging made easy by Big Fly Marketing!


text:
Boom Zaramay first screen share of the day:
No matter where you go, there you are; so ask **yourself **will you make the most of it?
Just took this today.
Look up!
[4K wallpaper edition, unedited]
Hey guys, I don't really post much in the forums, but after the latest Crown Pavillion and Zephyrite Event, I thought I might give you a few screenshots from the Beta and Living World Season 1. I hope that those of you that played back then get a little nostalgic, just as I do when I see these.
These screens aren't exactly HD since my PC wasn't the best back then, but oh well.
The Finale of the June 2012 Beta weekend, where Invading branded forces had to be repelled. If you died though, you were branded as well.
Up to some patch you were able to throw down as many consumables as you wanted, since there was no cooldown to use them. Sometimes a troll placed these and made everybody lagg out at a major event. Aaah good times ^^
A pieceful view of the Windmill and a part of Lions Arch in the Gandarran Fields a few weeks after release.
A small part of a vista that could be viewed in ye olde Lions Arch.
Another part of a Vista in ye olde Lions Arch
Ellen Kiels Fish-visage of Terror after receiving more votes than Evon Gnashblade in the Event "Cutthroat Politics" .
View of the Breachmaker near the end of scarlet's war.
View of the old destroyed Bank in Lions Arch with a few mourning players.
The View of the Zephyr Sanctum, which I think can still be seen ingame if you own the Model of it.
Me and a few friends I made back in 2013, when we used Mesmer portals and wind-crystals to scale the very top of the Zephyr Sanctum. All that's left of it now is the wreck in Dry Top
The Mystic Forge during Dragon Bash back in 2013 only a month before GW2's first Birthday
The image quality is not that good since i donthave a graphic card atm, but i think its good enogh.
My main: mesmer.
Alt guard.
Alt mesmer.
For the Blood Legion! - 11 charr
As a side note. This remember me how great the game will be if we could hide all UI and show it contextually, instead of not showing anything or showing nearly all.
You try to use a skill in CD, a small icon appear, you are hit, a small life bubble appear.
You see an interactive object,a small "f" appear.
All configurable at differents levels.
For the Blood Legion! - 11 charr
We all have that one character we hold in "higher" regards than the rest!
Ronin V/Skhaar/Vicious Blacktongue/etc.
Questionable Integrity [Sin]
Stormbluff Isle
Mithril Invader
my necro in fractal lobby
2 weeks in to my return to GW after 6years
I know there are some people that are doing it, so i will start off first. :P
Here is my cosplay of my fav champion in league of legends, kayle.
Its similar but not exact the same look, still i love it.
Tony Stark (Engi - Steampunk-style Iron Man)
Always willing to help others if I am able. Catch me in-game. I'm a dirty-casual with 2 kids in college, so I am on at odd times. lol
Might get more people involved if you move this to the Community Creations forum.
I am a very casual player.
@kharmin.7683 said:
Might get more people involved if you move this to the Community Creations forum.
That is correct. I'm moving this thread there, where it's more likely to be seen and joined.
Gaile Gray
Communications Manager: ArenaNet
Fansite & Guild Relations; In-Game Events; Community Showcase Live
My Mounts. I'm undecided between the two face colours, but I'll prob keep the orange until after Halloween. I also use Shadow red, but it comes out as black in my shots
What sleep is here? What dreams there are in the unctuous coiling of the snakes mortal shuffling. weapon in my hand. My hand the arcing deathblow at the end of all things. The horror. The horror. I embrace it. . .
About 3 years ago this was made.
It worked!
Bring back Ceara
Elih mesmer
Princess Peach, Princess Zelda and Princess Daisy
and Samus
My main character - a norn warrior
So many amazing screenshots in this thread!
Scarlet enjoys a bonfire at the Wintersday festival
Bring back Ceara
Wintersday Edition~
Wintersday in the AWOL Guild Hall, and the Lioning Tower of Pisa.
So... yesterday I got an unexpected gift from an unknown person. It really brightened my day. Thank you ♥
Hi people! I took these screnies along this year ^.^
WIntersday has ended... right below me! Halp!
Human Renegade, Sylvari Spellbreaker, Human Scourge, Norn Deadeyem Sylvari Reaper, Sylvari Tempest (now Weaver)
Asura Holosmith
the endless tree
and the ending grove
shiny guardian
this ulti deatil - glowy eyes
kitten norn
"You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars!"
rare screenshot from first karka queen
Nothing to see here - move along.
Posting a just a couple screenshots for now.
Puppy being all cute and stuff
Tranquilly waiting for the shatterer to arrive.
Was really exhausting, so decided to have a lunch.
Then, Hunting the golem but everyone bubl-head!
In the evening, exploring the unexplorable.
It's overrrrrr nine-thoussaaannnddd.
Whasup?! Whut? Of course I can fight while riding a mount!!!
Hey Zhaithan! Here come the mega-lasaarrrrrhhhh
Shiny links, take a look!
->Ideas: Housing , Designing a new lounge , New GameMode
->Project: ASURAN/PRIMORDIUS EXPANSION available on WIKI.
->NEW: Crucible of Eternity path 4: Legacy on WIKI
->NEW Asurapedia
Had a fun few mins yesterday doing absolutely nothing with a bunch of people I don't know.
You stand to benefit more from making friends than you do making enemies.
Oh! Hello, Kralkatorrik!
Bring back Ceara
been a hot minute since i've posted on here with some screenshots, so have some of my very tired commander
★★ Amis ★★ Underworld ★★ GW2 Blog ★★
@AmisAmai.5329 said:
been a hot minute since i've posted on here with some screenshots, so have some of my very tired commander
Great job on the compositions. The use of depth of field and high contrast lighting makes it very easy to see the texture on the armour. Good use of the rule of 3rds aswell. Really top notch.
Really enjoying the new Legion Jetpack. Goes with my Iron Legion Charr Chimie's outfit really well:
You stand to benefit more from making friends than you do making enemies.
Some of my favorite ss so far since i started playing again after a several years long break^^
Hope u guys like these ! Any tips for better looking pics :P ??
@TheQuickFox.3826 said:
Entering The Matrix. On a Warclaw.
(Funny glitch)
Kitty.exe has stopped working...
troubleshooting problem..
Has this happened before? (n)
Did this problem resolve itself? (n)
Have you tried contacting an admin? (n)
Was this troubleshoot helpful?
Error Windows 10 did not shut down properly
I don't edit as many screenshots as I used to, but here are some from over the last several months
Hope you enjoy!
WvW Junkie | Screenshot Enthusiast
While feeding my skyscale, I noticed that there was enough room in the nest for me too! So, I did what any logical person would do upon hatching a baby dragon and gave it lots of cuddles.
I'm not very cuddly looking, but my skyscale doesn't seem to mind.
Prepare yourselves for lots of meme worthy stuff!
Also permission granted to use these.
https://imgur.com/isnLEEw I might have a clingy Skyscale
Lena "Tracer" Oxton (Overwatch)
Angela "Mercy" Ziegler (Overwatch) (Valkyrie skin, couldn't find a similar hair but at least this one has a nordic style) (oh and don't mind the staff, I uh, borrowed it from Reyes, he prefers guns anyway)
Riven the Exile (League of Legends) (gonna try to do a Battlebunny version when the bunny ears return to the gem store)
The Banshee Queen Sylvanas Windrunner (Warcraft 3/World of Warcraft)
The Lich King Arthas Menethil (Warcraft 3/World of Warcraft)
My new look in action/posing
"Power of the weaver'"
New Skyscale skin idea. Looks really nice when in movement.
I like the new skyscale skin
I was amazed to capture this perfectly timed wing flap with the sun glare in Ember Bay!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A new study by the Medical Group Management Association has concluded that that physician-owned multispecialty practices spent roughly $32,500 on health IT last year for each full-time doctor. This number has climbed dramatically over the past seven years, the group's research finds.
To conduct the study, the MGMA surveyed more than 3,100 physician practices across the U.S. The expense number they generated includes equipment, staff, maintenance and other related costs, according to a press release issued by the group.
The cost of supporting physicians with IT services has climbed, in part, due to rising IT staffing expenses, which shot up 47% between 2009 and 2015. The current cost per physician for health IT support went up 40% during the same interval. The biggest jump in HIT costs for supporting physicians took place between 2010 and 2011, the period during which the HITECH Act was implemented.
Practices are also seeing lower levels of financial incentives to adopt EHRs as Meaningful Use is phased out. While changes under MACRA/MIPS could benefit practices, they aren't likely to reward physicians directly for investments in health IT.
As MGMA sees it, this is bad news, particularly given that practices still have to keep investing in such infrastructure: "We remain concerned that far too much of a practice's IT investment is tied directly to complying with the ever-increasing number of federal requirements, rather than to providing patient care," the group said in a prepared statement. "Unless we see significant changes in the final rule, practice IT costs will continue to rise without a corresponding improvement in the care delivery process."
But the MGMA's own analysis offers at least a glimmer of hope that these investments weren't in vain. For example, while it argues that growing investments in technologies haven't resulted in greater administrative efficiencies (or better care) for practices, it also notes that more than 50% of responders to a recent MGMA Stat poll reported that their patients could request or make appointments via their practice's patient portal.
While there doesn't seem to be any hard and fast evidence that portals improve patient care across the board, studies have emerged to suggest that portals support better outcomes, in areas such as medication adherence. (A Kaiser Permanente study from a couple of years ago, comparing statin adherence for those who chose online refills as their only method of getting the med with those who didn't, found that those getting refills online saw nonadherence drop 6%.)
Just as importantly – in my view at least – I frequently hear accounts of individual practices which saw the volume of incoming calls drop dramatically. While that may not correlate directly to better patient care, it can't hurt when patients are engaged enough to manage the petty details of their care on their own. Also, if the volume of phone requests for administrative support falls enough, a practice may be able to cut back on clerical staff and put the money towards say, a nurse case manager for coordination.
I'm not suggesting that every health IT investment practices have made will turn to fulfill its promise. EHRs, in particular, are difficult to look at as a whole and classify as a success across the board. I am, however, arguing that the MGMA has more reason for optimism than its leaders would publicly admit.


text:
Hey all -
I've done a few track days on my SDR and subsequently have decided to sell my track only R6 and just run the SDR. I'll likely get another road bike and convert the SDR to mainly track duty. Ideally, I'd like to put some race plastics on it and protect it a bit more. Does anyone know if the RC8 bodywork will work with some slight modification? I've got clip-ons already and know I'll need to change a fair bit to get it to work. So looking for any advice or suggestions.
- Will RC8 fairings fit with some modification?
- Will an RC8 gas tank fit an SDR? (I've got clip ons, but they are restricted with the tank protrusions.
- anyone know of a place that sells plastics for the SDR?


text:
Radiant Pools offer greater structural integrity, limitless installation options, incredible warranty protection and energy savings that, over time, allow this pool to pay for itself.
Aerospace Engineering
When it comes to innovative engineering and superior structural integrity, not all pools are created equal. »
Smart & Green
Harness the power of the sun for the only energy efficient, environmentally smart pool. »
Lifetime Warranty
The only pool with a non-prorated, fully transferable lifetime warranty. »


text:
Interesting talk by Chris, about 10 minutes long.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chris Martenson on Energy and Peak Oil...
Posted byAmy Jamison at8:10 AM
World View & Market Commentary.
Forest first; Trees second.
Focused on Real & Knowable facts that filter through the "experts" fluff and media hyperbole. Where we've been, what the future may hold and developing a better way forward.


text:
Modern, minimal design is what this triangle pattern is all about. This cute geometric pattern was created with hand painted alcohol colored sheets, cut into shapes and reconstructed .
• Ceramic
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• White and glossy
Additional Information
Policies and Disclosure | Shipping
Purchases made within the state of Minnesota will have a 6.87% sales tax applied.
To purchase internationally or shop other home goods featuring lake & River artwork, visit the partners below:
© Lake & River Co All Rights Reserved. Creating A Life of Vibrant Color Inspired by Nature.
Purchase of artwork from Lake & River grants the client personal use. Work may not be reproduced, altered, or distributed. All work is copyrighted by Lake & River Green Company.
►►Join the Fun◄◄►►Add A Little Color to Your Life◄◄
Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.
Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.


text:
Measuring instruments from Testo: News
Building diagnosis sets H4>
With thermal imager and humidity probe for professional mould risk detection.
Testo Smart Probes and digital manifolds H4>
Perfect for every refrigeration job.
New Products
Universal air velocity & IAQ measuring instrument testo 400 H4>
Air flow and IAQ measurement improved to the max.
CFR data logger system testo 190
Highly efficient validation of your sterilization & freeze-drying processes.
HACCP data logger system testo 191
Highly efficient validation of your pasteurization, sterilization and freeze-drying processes.
The testo 300 flue gas analyzer
Flue gas measurement truly smart.
testo 440 air velocity & IAQ measuring instrument H4>
Combines versatility with maximum ease of use.
Product highlights
New kits for food protectors
Measurement technology for food protectors.
Monitoring system testo 160
For museums, archives, galleries and libraries.
WiFi data logger testo Saveris 2:
Temperature and humidity monitoring
All measurement data. Always available. On any device.
testo DiSCmini H4>
Maximum control in the nano range.
Fully automatic soot generator testo REXS H4>
With high output and reproducible particle characteristics.
Cooking oil tester testo 270 H4>
Intuitive. Robust. Safe.
Data logger system testo Saveris:
Temperature and humidity monitoring
Easy, secure and efficient measurement data montoring.
Volume flow hood testo 420
Impressively light. Fast set-up. Convenient operation.
Portable nanoparticle counter testo Nanomet3 H4>
For real driving emissions (RDE): Test any vehicle. Anywhere.
The new thermal imagers H4>
The right model for every requirement.
Flue gas analyser testo 330i
The new freedom in flue gas measurement.
Testo Smart Probes H4>
Smartphone. Smart Probes. Smart work.
Electrical measuring instruments H4>
Unique technologies - easier and more reliable than ever before.


text:
Sponsored Content from New Harbinger Publications
Become a subscriber, or find us at your local bookstore, newsstand, or grocer.
Find us on instagram @SpiritHealthMag
© 2021 Spirituality & Health
2020 Spirituality & Health (en-US) MEDIA, LLC
Spirituality & Health (en-US)
Diving into the stillness of winter
A menagerie for mystics
Nappers, rise up!
2020 September/October
2020 July/August
2020 May/June
2020 Mar/Apr
Each issue provides inspiration for conscious living, healthy diet and lifestyle, social action, spiritual wisdom and sustainability.
1 Year, 6 Issues / $24.95
Returning Customers: Renew Now
Please subscribe to access our issue content and all of our archives. Subscribe Here.
Already a subscriber?
We've updated our Subscription site. If you haven't done so already, please create a new password here.
Forget your password?


text:
A Tribute to Dr. Bruce Shelley
Dr. Bruce Shelley, a Columbia International University alumnus who went on to serve for 50 years as a professor at Denver Seminary, passed away on Feb. 20. He was 82 years old. Shelley graduated from CIU in 1954, and was named CIU Alumnus of the Year in 1987. He was probably best known by his students for his passion for church history. One of those students was CIU professor of Old Testament, Dr. Bryan Beyer. He offers this trubute:
The Lord called Dr. Bruce Shelley, professor of church history at Denver Seminary, home on Feb. 20, 2010. His passing has occasioned some personal reflection on earlier days when the Lord brought our paths together. I've found it helpful to take some time to ponder the legacy of a man who profoundly shaped my life.
I first met Dr. Shelley in September 1976 -- my first term at Denver Seminary. Dr. Shelley taught my church history course, and we all immediately discovered his passion for his subject. He loved church history and wanted us to love it, too!
Dr. Shelley also loved students. I remember that when our son Matt was born during my second term, Yvonne and I received a congratulatory card from Dr. and Mrs. Shelley. They said they were praying that our firstborn would be as great a blessing to us as their firstborn was to them! That really meant a lot.
Dr. Shelley's "Writing for Christian Publications" course shaped my life in ways I did not comprehend at the time. Our little group of eight "writer wannabes" met with Dr. Shelley twice a week. He cheered our work, shredded our work, helped us develop thick skins (he said that was important for writers), and pushed us to strive for excellence. The article I wrote for his course was accepted for publication by His, an Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship publication, and when I told Dr. Shelley, he was as excited as I was! I had no idea publishing would prove as much a part of my ministry as it has, but I owe a great debt to my mentor.
Only after I began teaching at CIU did I discover that my beloved church history and writing prof was a CIU alum! I now see that even during those early seminary days, the Lord was already preparing me to teach here through Dr. Shelley -- a CIU alumnus who modeled what it means to know Christ and to make Him known.


text:
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Ride Reports - Day Trippin'' started by GRinCR, Jan 17, 2013.
I think I should have the bike rebuilt by then... still waiting on parts. Thanks for reading.
Thanks Clown, I am glad you enjoyed.
I did not see them, but can't say I looked either. CR is a small country and the "cities even smaller. So, in an imminent return to the area I may get the chance to meet Mandy.
Thank you for reading, and your kind remarks. Truly appreciated.
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to host JDowns in his journey. He is a spectacular person to be around. There are not enough good things to say about him.
Latin Women: The #1 reason I moved here.
I have always had a thing for bikes, but never owned one until late in life; my 20s. Regardless I would take advantage of anyone who was not careful enough to ask questions like, do you know how to ride? Have experience or a license? Then again, if you showed any kind of weakness what so ever I was usually on your bike and long gone by the time you thought to ask! From memory I have ridden an early 90s KX125with a powerband (YIKES!), a late 90s YZ 80 (crazier than the 125 IMHO) and had stolen a few times a YZF 600 while the owner was out on the lake (he left the keys in it, zoom zoom). There have been many others but in 2006 I finally had one to call my own, kind of.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>
My first bike was a 2001 Honda Shadow 600. Fun bike, comfortable but it never crossed my mind to just up and drive and not stop. I only used it to commute to and from work until it was too cold, or snowed. Longest ride ever was a two hour, each way, trip to a buffalo ranch in western MN. I did like the bike, nice to learn on, but it was lacking a fifth gear and I was moving to Costa Rica. The bike was my older brothers, I had paid half what we agreed on, used it for the summer and when I had to wear all my ski gear to stay warm on it, I drove it back to his house and he repossessed it. He cleaned it up, resold it and bought a Harley he rarely rides. I wouldnt either! It is likely broken.
<o> </o>
The Shadow
<o> </o>
2006 to 2008
I am semi established in Costa Rica and picked up my second bike, a Daelim 125 pandillera. It was a Korean made bike that came with a Honda Owners Manual written in Korean. It was the right price with all the wrong characteristics. It had a stolen title and owed a few years of registration stickers. Again, I only thought to commute with the bike, never got the title cleared and paid any fines when stopped right on the spot. Then one day it just stopped running and I knew little (nothing) about mechanics. So it sat.
<o> </o>
At this time I was single, working with a Real Estate developer and I was doing alright. I also had met my first inmate who turned me on to the www.ADVrider.com community and also the Long Way movies which spawned an obsession.
<o> </o>
Meet the instigator, inmate/lurker YBCAGED
<o> </o>
So I got to thinking ; how can I turn a whole bunch of money
into a steamy pile of ?
<o> </o>
The plan was to make a buck off of riding every day. My mistake? Ask China why they make such sh**ty quality sh*t. I planned to do the break in myself so I knew how they could be ridden and knew it was done correctly. Then I would find some fun routes (ask YBCaged about this topic) and start a web site. Easy, right? Not one of them made it to 2,500 kilometers before blowing up. On two the radiators burned holes from which all the oil poured out. The third? It pissed oil out of every possible place there was a gasket nearly from day one. I fought the dealership. They couldnt find parts. They returned them to me in the same broken condition telling me they were fixed. I thought about suing and then remembered where I was. Months went by and they finally got them back to me, one at a time, slowly.
<o> </o>
I would get one back and have to return it again for the same leaks. One time there were stains all over the engine case and the head mechanic tried to tell me it was like that. I started yelling. I fillanlly got one back I could keep. It got stolen. Got the second one back and finally the third. The warranty was extended on them so I sold one. The third one then got stolen. Shortly after I got a call from the OIJ (FBI in CR) telling me the first one had been recovered!
<o> </o>
After months of paperwork and a fax of roughly 45 pages I was told I had all the documents needed to pick up first stolen bike. I took a two hour bus ride over the mountain to one from one building to the next to retrieve my motorcycle. When I got to the impound lot, to official said something like, Im sorry, this isnt the document. You will have to get a different one from our office in San Jose. +2 hours on the bus.
I got on the phone with Jose (I forget his real name) at the Fiscalia building I was just at.
The conversation went something like:
Jose, its Greg.
Do you remember looking at all those pages I faxed to you?
Do you remember telling me todo esta aqui?<o></o>
Do you remember when I asked if you were sure everything was there and how I was not going to make two trips, etc
Si, si.
Ok Jose, talk to Jose II, the officer and tell him this is your fault and to give me my moto so I can go home.
<o> </o>
The Joses chatted a while, and I finally got the bike. It didnt start so we had to bump start it. A little dusty and a few scratches but it ran. Still leaked oil ! I almost sold it to Jose II right there on the spot for $200. I said give me the money, find a lawyer, call me when the paperwork is done and I will come back here to sign if it cant get done today. He almost bit, but wisely declined.
<o> </o>
The story goes, some bandito had my moto, the cops were looking for him, found him, he ran and crashed. The bandito later tried to sue the cops and my corporation because he broke his nose and wrist. When I filled up with gas and oil on the way out of town I had a fun conversation with the gas pumper guy. He tells me a friend of his has the same bike, but just crashed it and broke his wrist and nose. He would fill up at this same station too. I listened and when things were all done and the gas gun put away I made sure he knew his friend was a POS thief and this was my bike all along. I smiled, he didnt and I drove away.
<o> </o>
My garage now looks like this.
<o> </o>
I sold the black one with the stolen title for a hundred bucks and beer. Finally unloaded the Chino POS and was free of that nightmare. The little Honda; only had a clogged jet and still runs well today.
<o> </o>
So after taking a bath on that little adventure I amazingly had some coin left over. So for just a fraction of what I paid for three Chinese piles of poo, I got this:
<o> </o>
Dec, 2008. The first ride with the new (to me) DR650.
We have since gotten quite intimate
<o> </o>
Now, enough blah blah blah, it is time for a ride
Sorry about the long wind on this one, here is what is next...
Too bad we didn't take pics of the trip that now keeps me away from your "adventures". It's fun to think back on it now, but picking up a 550lb bike over and over again in 100+ degree weather was not fun at the time! Seems to me that you took the same road another time with an almost man size bike and you thought differently of it afterwards! Hopefully I'll downsize into the 800gs soon and I'll be back on the dirt tracks with you. Nice thread Bud.
Day I: Alajauela to Sardinas
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
I had just met my future wife and she was taking me around the country introducing me to her family, 10 siblings. This trip was to meet brother-in-law Lango and his family and a few others.
They live in the Northern Caribbean region, Banana and Pineapple country.
Our original destination is Esperanza, but by the end of the day, we are in Sardinas (near the X).
Departure from Alajuela is around 0830.
We are taking the main highway 32. Also called the Zurqui or the route through Braulio Carillo National Park. It generally takes about two to two and a half hours to reach Esperanza, but of course, I got lost and turned around in San Jose.
If you find yourself looking for Route 32, lost in San Jose, and come to a T faced with this:
You take a left and soon you will be here; the longest (only) tunnel in Costa Rica.
We make it to Langos house and the getting to know everyone proceeds. During this process my girlfriend is telling them how much I like ADV. A plan is born. Phone calls are made and we are off to the middle of nowhere.
I have no off-road experience at all. Maybe the few, well maintained, gravel kms it took to get to Langos house. What the hell? I will go on the bike and another brother-in-law, Jose, wants to ride his too.
The host (non family) packs his tuck with people and we are off to his farm. I end up riding two up with another of my brothers (forgetting the name), and off we go. The roads slowly turn to this:
The route was dry and hard packed with the exception of a few rather large mud bogs. The bike was dropped a handful of times and around 1630 we arrive to our destino final.
Rancho Lujoso in Sardinas, Limon.
With some daylight left we explore a bit. Climb to the top of the nearest hill for a better view.
And watch the sunset over the jungle canopy.
Time for dinner, go get the horses!
If you want something other than white rice and beans you must go find it.
No lights this far out, so candle light fish fry is the standard. Shortly after
Day II. Exploring. Sardias to Esperanza.
Wake up call 0530
Didnt get much sleep. Note to self: bring the mosquito net next time . By the time my body became numb to mosquito bites, the jungle came alive. Being only a few kms from Tortuguerro National Park, sleep was impossible once the sun began lighting up the morning sky. Toucans, parrots and God only knows how many other species of bird singing to welcome a new day. Monkeys, beetles and any number of critters all beginning their daily routine with being as loud as possible. It was a peaceful loud, but not one which encourages sleep.
Within an hour the daily human routine begins. 0615 gathering milk
(Meet Brother Jose)
and water to make coffee.
0730 bellies full, it is time for more exploration.
One group geared up and trekked into the jungle. Later found out they got quite lost. I chose to go with the women and children fishing.
We made it back from fishing around 1300, cleaned the mornings catch and fried up some lunch. Then we waited, and waited and waited for the jungle crew to arrive. 1500 came and went and still nothing:ddog. Shortly before 1600 they arrive with great tales of wading through marsh and muck up to their chests, not having a clue where they were and starving since they didnt think to pack any snacks.
Now since arriving yesterday, there has been on and off rain. Nothing near a downpour but regulary raining, and almost always a drizzle. This changed the consistency of the roads and my bald Dunlap wasnt going to cut the mustard this evening.
Local, improvised bikes mods: Rope Knobby:huh
Remember I have no dirt experience to speak of? Remember I had just met this girl? Is she trying to kill me? Are my future in-laws trying to kill me? Are they hiding some deep down hatred for white people I am not recognizing? Ropes? Really? F-it, lets go.
Ana said smile! She captured another emotion; fear.
1700 and we are off.
Now earlier I promised bent forks, rims and a cracked crank case. The little Yami riding with me had recently been involved in a near head-on, deflection, off the bridge into the riverbed type accident. The passenger was nearly killed and my brother-in-law Jose somehow walked away with a few days in the hospital, a concussion and some deep bruises. The bike was being held together by green rope, zip ties, twine and bailing wire.
-Forks: one wouldnt compress.
-Front rim: Not round and very not straight. So dented and bent it couldnt hold the bead, thus the need for twine. We stopped a few times to stuff the half flat tube back in the tire and wrap more twine around the rim and tire to hold everything in place.
-The engine: not sure how this thing was running. There was a large gaping hole in the clutch cover and a very large, horizontal crack along the bottom of the entire engine. A white, foamy/jelly like substance spewed everywhere and it leaked gas to boot!
Not too long after departure my chains came loose and my pit crew got to work.
Now I feel better.
Me slipping and sliding all over the place while the bike that shouldnt be running has no problem.
Needed a bit of help getting up this hill and likely dropped the bike too.
Almost made it to the top.
Finally the little guy has problems too. Some dip sh*t dropped his bike and a got in his way.
What the hell, one more time before dark and before we can't get any more pictures. Time: 1730.
There was about half hour more of this muck to ride in, in the dark. Then another hour of gravel and puddles.
1905 Back at Langos
The dirty DR the following day for the ride back over the mountain to civilization. At least the front fender is clean.
This concludes the first of many trips to Langos neighborhood.
Thanks to the 3,5xx readers and all to come!
More later.
Who says there aren't pics?
800GS: Puro blah blah. I know what road to go on whenever/if-ever you do get it!!
Going to a lil' beach south of Puntarenas. Departure: 0600. Hope to post the RR when I get back or manana (and you know what that means in latino time).
Gale force winds. Have calmed a bit, so departure expected around 0700.
Not much sleep with this thing blowing loose and bangin' around all night.
Now playing Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" on a constant loop and its working.
Looks like a fun place to live, ride, & explore. I hope to get down there sometime and check it out. Thanks for sharing your stories & photos with us.
It's 22f degrees & snow flurries here today....arrg!
Thank you GlennR for reading and commenting. The satisfation of RR'ing is knowing people are reading, and hopefully enjoying. So one more time Thank you and the 4mil de mas for stopping by.
I hope you get the change to come and snoop around as well. I suggest when it hits that 32F mark is a good time. Usually very warm and dry here at that time of year.
Oh... thanks as well for the Moto Repair site; bookmarked and loosing sleep.
The whole story to come, but here is the skinny. Threats of rain all day. Lots of ferocious wind but an overall a success. The return route got changed and the transit cops suggest I get a moto license (Stopped at the red "X").
Updated Route Map:
Bushed and hitting the sack. Would like to post the entire RR tomorrow but looks like I'm going to the MOPT (CR's DMV) tomorrow before work.
Agree with Glenn, looks like a great place to live and work - you are very lucky my friend. And yes we like your ride reports so looking forward to next one.
Just curious about the roof piece that kept you awake - is that a tennis facility you live near, it looks that way or some kind of sports stadium?
They are small (5 on 5/7 on 7), artificial fútbol fields. They are new and I thought I wouldn't like them as a neighbor until the girls came to play.
The Spanish Word for the day is a three for one; one noun and two adjectives.
Viento (n.): WIND :eek1
Mucho (adj.): A lot
Demasiado (adj.): Way too f*cking much.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
We were supposed to leave at 0600, but the wind was still howling. It had been all night, and it was blowing still with destructive force. So I suggested we wait and let it calm a bit.
So I mentioned the day of I put on Bobby McFerrin's best song and said, "We leave in one hour, 0700." Bobby McFerrin did not help in getting us out at 0700:stoned, nor had the wind really died down.
0800, departure.
Forty five minutes later we have just come over the mountain, through Atenas, and are beginning the decent down the Pacific slope. We have been shielded from the wind mostly, with only a few short moments out of protection of the mountains. The temps were quite chilly; the dash read 24°C. Also where we stop for breakfast, we meet two couples from Idaho, who I got to talking with, and they made time to ask me if the weather in normal.
The Idahoans were very nice folks and it was the first time I had seen a Ford Explorer with an automatic transmission as a rental vehicle. As they left they dropped us a couple of these.
Breakfast with a view.
Ana and I sat down to gallo pinto with carne en salsa. We each had a pineapple juice and I added two fried eggs and two black coffees to my meal. Total was $17.
As we were eating a small group of Harleys pulled up. 3 Road Kings and two others I know nothing about. They wore matching MC leathers so they were organized. I stepped out to take some pics after the meal and next thing you know more bikes pulled up.
There goes the town. The bikers are here. We got out of there as fast as we could. Actually we stuck around to bullsh*t a tad. Spoke with one gentleman about dreams of Sur America and RTW travel. Nice folks, but no dirt or scratches on their bikes.
We come out of the mountains and find ourselves in San Mateo. We continue ahead, bending in a northward direction towards Esparza. My hand written GSP device is telling me 3.79 Kms ahead I want to take a right onto a gravel road. We found it, and my guide tells me 5kms màs to the river.
We reach a fork where we are to keep right. I notice all the previous traffic has gone left. The road gets sh*ttier and then we come to a much steeper section. I promised my wife nothing like the last time (YBCAGED knows that route too and will never venture off the highway with me anymore). So the decision was made to turn around. We were only 500/600 meters from the goal, but I was also running a rather spent rear tire:eek1 and… Another day…
This is as far as we went.
Time: 1001. 51.9 Kms so far
We head back to the pavement.
I needed a dehydration and rehydration break so we stopped. Ana is also still bundled up from the mountains and the dash reads 33°C. <o></o>
Pit stop.<o></o>
Ana also picked fresh Marañones.<o></o>
Back on the road.<o></o>
Down and through the river again.<o></o>
And back on the slab.<o></o>
Passed a bunch of these in the area...must be some good roads around.
We came past this little swimming hole that we must return to. There were tents set up too so we may have to camp too.<o></o>
Hell yes! There are alturas to jump from too.<o></o>
But on this day we must move on. <o></o>
(For nature lovers: In this pic you see "some" bird in it's natural habitat: flying.)<o></o>
Time: 1104. <o></o>
We arrive to our destino final, Playa Doña Ana.<o></o>
There are much better beaches in Costa Rica, but this one has all the amenities for only a $3 cover charge. <o></o>
On top of that, it is close to home. As well the family was waiting for us for a day of R&R.<o></o>
Meet only a small portion of my extended family.
Kids: My little Joe climbed up there all by himself. He then started calling "Mommy, mommy" and we realized he was unable to get himself down. We took a few minutes of time while he was stationary to start packing up. It was getting late.<o></o>
All day the wind was relentless. Limbs were breaking off trees and crashing to the ground. One unfortunate soul got bonked and was invited on an ambulance ride to the hospital. Clouds were always looming but now some rather large drops were falling and I had planned an unknown, ADV'ous route home. <o></o>
Up next: The final leg and how I almost lost my moto to the Transitos .<o></o>
Sorry about the delay, #1 goal after this trip was a motorcycle endorsement. I have made off like a bandit too many times and my bullsh*tting abilities are being stretched thin.
So as you will see in the maps below our route of return was redirected.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
We depart at 1600 with big fat drops of rain sporadically falling and clouds hovering overhead, thicker to the East.
As we leave the park we head on the main costal route SSE towards Puerto Caldera. In Caldera we were supposed to exit the main drag and head NE to Esparza on a road less traveled, one we do not know. Mother Nature had another plan. All we could see to our left were heavy dark clouds. The hills off in the distance were also being faded out with that huge of grey which can only be rain.
Ana and I start discussing what to do. We are thinking the main highway will be jammed packed with all the weekend beach goers. We knew this because I was passing them in the Latin American "motorcycle" lane, or what the cops were soon to tell me is the shoulder . As we round a sweeping lefthander I saw them. No, problem, they didn't see me, and I will tuck in behind this semi and squeak by without them knowing … Boy I was wrong. The Transit cop stopped the truck and his buddy made sure I didn't escape out the other side. They had me in a gringo sandwich… F*ck! The "X" on the map is where they got me.
My first plan was to play tough guy . I hand him my residency card and my MN driver's License. He asked me for my visa/passport. I tell him that residency card is a visa, a permanent one. He then explains that my MN license is only good for the first 90 days of a tourist visa in a passport. This guy is good, so I then hand him my Costa Rica B1 License. He tells me this is for cars only. I tell him I saw on the news once that with this I could ride a motorcycle. The copper tells me, although true, I am limited only to bikes of 125cc or smaller on secondary roads. Tough guy plan failed, this cop knows his shit. I was then instructed to dismount and follow him .
Second phase and plan B; befriend the enemy . As we walk back to his bike I make mention of the beautiful Glock 9 he was carrying. Asked if it was one of the hundreds that were stolen and recovered ealier in the past year. I also started inquiring about epic routes in the area and all the places I have been on my Moto, with that very same license. He was on to my game and quickly brought the conversation back to the topic of "Gringo passing on shoulder without a valid motorcycle endorsement."
I then continued to push the "tough guy" routine, pointing out every infraction I could see passing by. "Theres one, and another, etc..." He was not amused and got upset. His tone changed. At this point I turned to begging because he was telling me I now was the winner of almost $500 in fines without mentioning the fees of getting my plates/bike back from impound.
Now, I tried to use logic and more begging. I know his ballpark salary, and asked what he would do with a fine like that. How long does it take you to save $500? I ask also if there were a smaller fine I could pay. I am happy to pay for what I have done wrong, but not an amount the average Tico would need to save months/years to accumulate. I also pointed out the fact all my registration is up to date and I do have a license, just not valid for some small technicality . Also, they had stopped and released two other bikers, free of charge, for the same passing infraction while dealing with me. At this point I could smell a bribe coming, but nothing materialized. He handed my documents back to me and said, "Dos cosas: no adelantar a la derecha y saque su licencia para moto." Noted. And we were off, on the moto!
I'd like to tell you all there are pictures coming, but we hit the new-ish, #27 toll-way home. The heavy clouds were still to our left and everything ahead looked nice a clear. Also, we had almost gotten sent home on the bus and didn't think much of getting wet. So, no left turn North into ADV, just a bomb run home on the Highway.
This is where the Spanish lesson from above will help. There was "demasiado viento". On Sundays the entire highway becomes a one direction vein of traffic into San Jose. Once you hit the one way section, all rules of the road are gone. No lanes, no respect for other's space, nothing. So as Ana and I were trying to keep up, we were getting blown all over the road. Finally as a bus pulled alongside of us at 110km/hr a gust of wind nearly put us into his side :eek1. At that point I took it down a gear and hovered at 80km/hr with both of us tucked down as aerodynamically as possible.
At 1750 we pull into the La Garita area of Alajuela to buy some flowers.
Then ride into the sunset to arrive home at 1808.
Now today (08MAR13), as a result of this little altercation, I spent six hours in lines to be granted my A3 motorcycle endorsement. Good up to 2000cc. Now you need not worry if you stop by and I steal your bike!
Sorry about the lack of pics, but I don't think the copper would have posed with me.
Cheers everybody and hasta la proxima!
Haha, great trip mate.
It reminds me a lot of Thailand!
A tribute...
To the worst/best investment I've ever made...
You get what you pay for.
Geez I was dumb. Shorts and sandals!
Enough of this sh*t. I will speak nothing more of this.
Chinese Motorcycles, I salute you....
... as I ride by on my Japanese Motorcycle.
Goodnight all and thanks again for reading.
More ADV on my Japanese moto to come...
Thailand... If not in this life, the next for sure.
Cheers for stopping by.
I have some gopro footage of a transito encounter close to that area (the right turn leaving Puntarenas), I'll try to put it up soon....


text: The zafu originated in Japan, made popular in China, and used to be filled with cattail. Now they're stuffed with 100% natural cotton or buckwheat hulls. The filling is densely packed to provide a solid cushion, and yet is soft enough to be comfortable since the zafu is made with all natural fibers. The outer cover is made of a soft 100% twill cotton. The zafus have a smaller zippered opening, neatly hidden between pleats, that can be used to remove the cover and wash it. You can also adjust the amount of stuffing in each zafu, thus changing the height and the firmness. Each zafu is 15'' in diameter and 6'' in height, and is available in a variety of colors. Zafus are typically used with a zabuton cushion to provide comfort and support to assist you in your sitting practice.


text:
Topretirements.com has just published its seventh annual list of the 100 most popular places to retire, and it offers clear proof that the Sunbelt's retirement popularity continues—76 of the 100 top positions are held by towns in the Sunbelt. Florida dominates the list of best places to retire, taking 25 of the spots, followed by North Carolina (11), Arizona (9), and South Carolina (8). California and Tennessee had six cities each in the top 100. The highest ranking non-Sun Belt city on the list was Portland, Ore. at number 14. These are the top 10 U.S. cities to retire in:
10. San Antonio
San Antonio is a fast-growing city near the center of Texas, has more than 1.3 million people and a warm climate. It is famous for its Paseo del Rio (river walk), Tejano culture and, as home to the SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by 20 million tourists per year. The Alamo shrine and museum is in the heart of downtown, and surrounded by hotels and tourist attractions. There are several festivals held throughout the year. San Antonio has a strong military presence that makes military retirees feel comfortable. It's home to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, and Brooks City-Base. It has a rich cultural scene with theaters and museums. At left, the River Walk entertainment district.
9. San Diego
San Diego (population almost 1.3 million) has been a popular retirement community since the end of World War II. Its scenery, climate, and lifestyle are second to none and appeal to active adults 55 and older. Its bustling downtown area has a busy convention area and city parks set alongside hundreds of anchored pleasure boats. San Diego is California's second largest city. There are many communities within San Diego, including La Jolla. The sun shines almost every day, it is rarely too hot, and almost never too cool. The University of California, San Diego is a vital force in the community, along with the famed San Diego Zoo.
8. Fort Myers, Fla.
As a retirement community Fort Myers is old and new Florida at the same time. The population is 65,000, with many times that in the surrounding area. Located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River on southwest Florida's coast, its roots go back to 1886. It has the Thomas Edison Museum and a restored downtown along the river. New developments go off in every direction. Virtually every retail chain and franchise in America is represented here on Route 41 and other arteries. Fort Myers Beach to the southwest provides sensational beaches. Golf courses are everywhere, public and private. It's a dynamic city with a diverse population of all ages, including active boomers. At left, downtown Fort Myers.
7. Naples, Fla.
Naples represents the gold coast of southwest Florida. People who say they don't like Florida might not have seen this upscale retirement community. Its downtown is as sophisticated as any in the world, but charming, too—you can pull up to a five-star hotel's valet parking, and then walk 50 feet to a old-fashioned bar where you can listen to Irish singers. Surrounding the walkable downtown are beautiful residential streets, conveniently situated next to a white coral beach that goes for miles, with condominiums and homes lining much of it. Many active adults choose to live in the many gated developments along various waterways. Naples has every type of active adult community imaginable, and golf courses are just about everywhere.
6. Beaufort, S.C.
The Old South lives on in the quaint seaside charm of Beaufort, S.C. Known as the "Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands," this popular retirement community of 11,000 was chartered by the British in 1711. It lies in the Sea Islands or "Low Country" area of South Carolina, just north of Hilton Head. History is reflected in the horse-drawn carriages that roll along streets in the town's charming historic district that are overhung with Spanish moss. There are 3 major military installations here that provide a solid economic underpinning and a lowering of the average age in the area.
5. Prescott, Ariz.
Located at an elevation of 5400 feet in the mountains of north central Arizona, Prescott was the original territorial capital of the Arizona Territory. This old mining town and now popular active adult retirement community borders the Prescott National Forest to the south and west. Carrying the nickname, "Everybody's Hometown," Prescott is home to the downtown Courthouse Plaza, famous Whiskey Row, (at left), World's Oldest Rodeo, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Sharlot Hall Museum, and the Phippen Art Museum. The State of Arizona has been officially designated Prescott as "Arizona's Christmas City." Prescott is home to several colleges including Yavapai, Prescott College, Emory-Riddle Aeronautical University, plus other specialty institutions.
4. Austin, Texas
Austin was selected by Money Magazine as the No. 2 best big city to live in. The University of Texas and its array of cultural and other activities is perhaps the biggest draw for Austin, its cosmopolitan and high-tech, quirky soul is another reason. UT is just one of nine colleges and professional schools in the area. The area is a hotbed of semiconductor and software industries. Austin, has a population of 758,000, but not so big that it is overwhelming. The city bills itself as quirky and fun. Retirees will find plenty to do in the live-music capital of the world with its robust cultural scene.
3. Venice, Fla.
A pleasant community of 21,000 people, Venice is south of Sarasota on the Gulf of Mexico. Originally developed in 1925 by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as a planned retirement community, Venice is named for the many canals and rivers running through it. Thanks to its central planning, Venice is a top-rated community for adults over 55. In many ways Venice is similar to Naples; except with less traffic and far lower prices. The town has wide boulevards lined with palms and banyan trees. Much of the town is in the northern Italian renaissance architectural style. The lively downtown, left, has interesting shops and restaurants and there are plenty of parks, public tennis courts and one of Florida's best Gulf Coast beaches.
2. Sarasota, Fla.
Sarasota is a town of 52,000 on Florida's central west coast on the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Development began in the 1920s; the town has dozens of historically significant buildings and institutions. The community is considered by many to be the cultural capital of Florida, with an impressive array of cultural facilities. Ringling Brothers located the winter quarters of their circus in Sarasota. Their philanthropic legacy has made Sarasota a cultural powerhouse. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is one of the most impressive museums in Florida.
1. Asheville, N.C.
When baby boomers share notes about potential retirement towns, chances are that Asheville will be the place most frequently mentioned. Asheville is a prosperous small city of just over 75,000 (400,000 in the metro area) in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina. Because of its charming environment and mild weather it has long been a desirable retirement community—from the rich and famous to ordinary people in quest of beautiful environment. The Vanderbilts built an enormous estate near here, the Biltmore Estate. Frederick Law Olmstead designed its famous gardens. Downtown Asheville has a great collection of art deco architecture, antique stores, art galleries, cafes and boutiques. Read the full story, 100 Best Places to Retire 2013 at TopRetirements.com


text:
Sugarbush Resort has received the final permits necessary for the construction of new slopeside residences at LincolnPeakVillage. Recently awarded the necessary permits for the LincolnPeakVillage master plan and the construction of the Rice Brook slopeside homes, Sugarbush is in the bidding process to select its construction partner and hopes to announce a contractor and construction start date soon.
Situated between SugarbushVillage and the new LincolnPeak base area, the LincolnPeakVillage master plan envisions a 93-unit multi-phase residential development that will provide a mixture of ownership opportunities.
"Rice Brook marks an important step in our long-term vision for Sugarbush," said Win Smith, president of Sugarbush Resort. "This next phase of construction brings us closer to the goal of creating a vibrant slopeside community here at the mountain."
Designed by Warren-based architects Jim Edgcomb and Jeff Schoelkoepf, the Rice Brook homes are a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhomes and condominiums.
The 15 new residences offer ski-in ski-out access to LincolnPeak, close proximity to hiking and biking trails and are minutes from the Sugarbush Resort Golf Club.
Sugarbush is now accepting pre-construction reservations for the residences through Sugarbush Resort Real Estate. Ownership opportunities are still available for Rice Brook, though 7 of the 15 residences have already been reserved.
For more information visit sugarbushliving.com or call 1-800-806-1070.


text:
Kelton receives alumni award
Vail, CO Colorado
SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – Arthur Kelton Jr., of Vail, received Vermont Academy's Florence Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award on Sept. 28 as part of the Academy's 2012 Reunion Weekend.
The award is given in honor of Dr. Florence Sabin, Vermont Academy alumnae and one of the great medical minds of the 20th century. Sabin devoted her life to furthering scientific knowledge and improving health conditions, particularly in Colorado. She was the first woman to receive a full professorship at Johns Hopkins University, and the first woman member of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. Sabin was also elected the first woman member of the National Academy of Science and the first woman president of the American Association of Anatomists. She was a member of the Vermont Academy Class of 1889.
Kelton grew up in Peru, Vt., and attended a one-room schoolhouse for eight years. His mother, a member of the Vermont Academy class of 1924, decided that Vermont Academy was the place to provide him with academic discipline and focus. Kelton credits his education there as extremely meaningful and, "established in him excellent work habits and goal objectives." He applied these life skills not only to his higher education and degrees at Dartmouth and the University of Vermont but beyond in his professional career.
In 1965, Kelton moved to Vail and is an active resident in the Vail Valley with his wife, Elaine, whom he married in 1986. His career in real estate development, syndication and sales, includes Colorado projects in Vail and Eagle County, Boulder, and at Denver International Airport. He was the managing partner of Christopher Denton Kelton and Kendall. He has developed golf courses, custom homes and various multi-family developments throughout the Vail Valley. Additionally, Kelton's career incorporates projects and investments in Idaho, Wyoming and Vermont. Included in these investments, he acted as a general partner in Boulder Beer, which is now The Rockies Brewing Company.
Always actively involved in both nonprofit and educational institutions, Kelton served as president of the Vail Valley Medical Center Foundation from 1991 to 2006. He's been a member of the board of the Vail Valley Medical Center since 2006, and serves on two boards at Dartmouth College, as well as on the boards of several other charitable organizations.
Founded in 1876, Vermont Academy is a private, independent boarding and day school in southern Vermont.
Support Local Journalism
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.
User Legend: Moderator Trusted User
Eagle County bear sightings have doubled from 2019
Are we seeing more bears because there are more bears on the valley floor, or because we're all spending more time at home? It could be a bit of both.


text:
DWTS Season 11 Casting Rumors – The Typecasting of Season 11, Part I
Prior to the cast announcement last season, some of you may remember me analyzing the typecasting of DWTS – basically, the patterns in celeb casting over the seasons which can help us to predict who we might see each season. Interesting to note – last season's cast fulfilled all 12 of my types (counting Nicole as both a "Teen Idol" and a "Singer"). So why not examine those types again and see what we might get for this season? 😉
The Olympian
Previous examples: Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, Apolo Ohno, Natalie Coughlin, Misty May-Treanor, Maurice Greene, Louie Vito, Evan Lysacek
Advantages: The winningest of the 12 types, their obvious advantage is their athleticism – you won't see these guys struggling with strength or endurance moves. In addition, the same tireless work ethic that helped them medal in the Olympics will likely carry them through the toils of the competition.
Disadvantages: For those specializing in sports that are less "artistic" (i.e. swimming, running, volleyball), it might be a bit hard to really get into the character of the dance and truly perform to the crowd. Previously incurred injuries (or the fear of incurring an injury that might hinder their participation in subsequent competitions in their sport, a la Misty May-Treanor) may also slow them down & limit their mobility.
Possible candidates this season: Johnny Weir fans (including Karina Smirnoff) have been tweeting like crazy trying to get him cast this season, but I don't see them succeeding. I see more possibilities with swimmer Greg Louganis, who has been trying to get on the show for several seasons now, or gymnast Nastia Liukin – a teammate of Shawn Johnson's & an alleged former flame of Lysacek.
The Athlete
Previous examples: Chuck Liddell, Warren Sapp, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Helio Castroneves, Laila Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Ty Murray, Evander Holyfield, Jerry Rice, Clyde Drexler, Monica Seles, Jason Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, Chad Ochocinco
Advantages: As with the Olympians, their athleticism & work ethic make them well-suited to the competition. An edge they might have over their Olympic counterparts: sports like football, auto racing, & mixed martial arts tend to have a larger, more mainstream following than some of the Olympic sports.
Disadvantages: Again, a lack of "artistic" experience & previous injury (especially with the football players, who have really taken a beating over the years). Some of the more muscular athletes in hard-hitting sports may also have difficulty with the refined, precise moves of some of the dances.
Possible candidates this season: At this point, the numerous (reputable) news outlets reporting that Kurt Warner is going to be on season 11, along with Kurt's own coy dodging of questions regarding his participation, make him almost a lock for this season in my eyes. Don't see a whole lot of hope for wrestler Shelley Martinez. Landon Donovan is a toss-up for me – maybe, maybe not. We here at Pure DWTS would love to see a representative from a more unique sport – such as jockey Chantal Sutherland. Troy Aikmen – nice try, but we're pretty sure you're just joshin' us 😉
The Model/Playmate/Beauty Queen
Previous examples: Kelly Monaco, Rachel Hunter, Tia Carrere, Shanna Moakler, Paulina Porizkova, Shandi Finnessey, Josie Maran, Albert Reed, Shannon Elizabeth, Brooke Burke, Holly Madison, Kathy Ireland, Joanna Krupa, Pam Anderson
Advantages: All the costumes seem to look fantastic on them (and they can get away with wearing the really skimpy ones) and so do their pro partners – easy to imagine a "showmance", which always seems to grab votes. Also seems to have cornered the votes of the small population of male viewers, for obvious reasons 😉
Disadvantages: Despite making a career out of looking great posing & strutting down the runway, many of them have proven to be rather awkward movers outside of that context, and some seem to have a hard time carrying around their taller than average stature. They also run the risk of "pretty girl backlash" – the female viewers may turn on them due to jealousy or perceived arrogance, or just never vote for them in the first place, instead giving their votes to the attractive male participants.
Possible candidates this season: Rumors have been flying about UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste, and True Beauty contestant Amy Schmoldt has been hinting that she'd like to do the show.
The Legend
Previous examples: Cloris Leachman, Wayne Newton, Donny Osmond, Tatum O'Neal, Marie Osmond, Jane Seymour, Marlee Matlin, Susan Lucci
Advantages: These individuals are extremely well-known & respected in the entertainment business, with many years of experience (and fans) under their belts, as well as an award or two. Also masters of the stage & screen – perhaps the best at emulating the emotions of the dances.
Disadvantages: With many years of experience comes an older age than many of their competitors – which comes with an increased risk of injury & fatigue that could limit the difficulty of their routines.
Possible candidates this season: The Betty White rumor seems to be kaput, so that only leaves Ryan O'Neal, whose name we've heard only a few times as a possible contestant.
The Soap Star
Previous examples: Kelly Monaco, Cameron Mathison, Lisa Rinna, Susan Lucci, Aiden Turner
Advantages: The demographic of soap opera viewers overlaps heavily with the demographic of viewers of DWTS, and most soap opera viewers have been watching those shows for years (I started watching General Hospital when I was 6!), so they often have a fierce loyalty to their favorite characters (and the actors/actresses who portray them).
Disadvantages: This group likely has the most grueling schedule to contend with, as most soaps tape year-round, and some of them are taped in New York, forcing the stars (and sometimes their partners) to fly coast-to-coast several times a week to practice. Many also have absolutely no background in any kind of sport, making them a real "project" for the pros to take on.
Possible candidates this season: The most likely is probably Nancy Lee Grahn, since she's on an ABC soap. Although I'd love to see Martha Byrne's campaigners succeed in getting her on the show! As for the men – seems like the only name we've heard is Antonio Sabato Jr., and that really just seems more like wishful thinking on the part of his fans.
The Comedian
Previous examples: Penn Jillette, Jeff Ross, Adam Carolla, David Allen Grier, Ashley Hamilton, Niecy Nash
Advantages: Let's face it, they're fun to watch, and they definitely inject some much- needed hilarity into the show.
Disadvantages: They often come across like they don't take the competition seriously, instead favoring their usual schtick over actual dancing. Some of their on-show humor (Jeff Ross' in particular) can also be rather polarizing – hilarious to some, offensive to others. And again – often no background in any sort of sport, let alone dancing.
Possible candidates this season: The only name we've heard is Heather McDonald, and we can't even telling if she's serious or kidding 😛
Tune in for part II, when I make my predictions for who we might see in the way of reality TV stars, teen idols, and much more!


text:
Statement regarding the Conference at York University Israel/Palestine: Mapping Models of Statehood and Paths to Peace
On June 12, 2009, B'nai Brith Canada issued a community alert through its listserv JewishCanada regarding the conference. The alert set out a list of concerns including a claim that the conference would be hosting Holocaust deniers. This particular concern arose from a quote regarding Holocaust denial attributed to Ali Abunimah, co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, one of the presenters and a member of the conference's advisory committee. The quote was found by our student intern on current live websites.
It has since come to our attention that this quote was and continues to be erroneously attributed to Mr. Abunimah by such websites. The quote that we attributed to Mr. Abunimah appears in an article written by somebody wholly different than him and in no way associated with him. On learning this, we immediately corrected our records and documents, removed the mistaken information from our website and notified the universities involved. This statement is also being sent over JewishCanada.
B'nai Brith Canada regrets this specific error and apologizes to Mr. Abunimah, the conference organizers, York University, Queen's University, and the other sponsors and funders for any confusion or distress that this mistaken attribution may have caused.
In our June 12 alert we also state that the conference was hosting presenters who "advocate for the destruction of the Jewish state," "reject compromise" and "justify terrorism" as well as raising concern of the conference's overall anti-Israel thrust. These concerns still stand. We arrived at these concerns as a result of quotations taken from statements made by conference presenters. The conference organizers have raised concern that these quotations were taken out of context. We will be posting links to the full text of the articles containing the quotations cited therein on our website www.bnaibrith.ca so that the public can judge the full context of the quotations and the statements from which they were taken for themselves.
- This statement must be quoted in its entirety-
Egg. Meet face.


text:
Domestication of Foreign Subpoenas and International Service of Process in Amador County
If you have a foreign (out-of-state) subpoena in Amador County and need for it to be served, John A. DeMarr PI is your best option for having the job done fast and right the first time.
Our foreign subpoena experts, working in Amador County and throughout California, are experts in this complex field. Among the areas we cover are:
- domestication of out-of-state subpoenas for service in California,
- preparation of subpoenas,
- domestication of California subpoenas for service in other states,
- service on Indian reservations,
- service of subpoenas in and from Hague Convention countries, and
- handling of subpoenas through letters rogatory in non-Hague Convention countries.
Please click on the links for out-of-state subpoenas and international service of process for complete details on our offerings. To contact us to arrange for our services, please call 833-4-DEMARR, or use the convenient email form below.
Domestication of Foreign Subpoenas and International Service of Process in Amador County – Free Consultation
Please fill out this form to contact us. We will reply within 24 hours.


text:
Articles & Databases : Database List
Most of these electronic resources are governed by license agreements which limit use to the George Mason University Community of students, faculty, staff, and on-site users of George Mason University Libraries facilities. Each user has the responsibility of using these resources only for individual, educational and non-commercial purposes. The systematic downloading, distribution, or permanent retention of significant portions of these databases may be a violation of said licenses or copyright law. Particular resources may have additional requirements for access or restrictions on use. Please consult with a University Libraries Collection Development Officer for details about terms and conditions.


text:
CINCINNATI — Tim Lincecum, Joaquin Arias and all the Giants' premium puzzle pieces suddenly are two-thirds of the way to pulling off the impossible.
They were pushed to the edge after losing the first two games of this series but pushed back. They could have split apart but bonded together instead.
And now this series is tied at two games apiece, after an 8-3 victory, with the deciding Game 5 on Thursday.
All that is left for the Giants is to make baseball, franchise and heart-pounding history — and advance to the National League Championship Series.
Or not. But just getting to this point told us almost everything we needed to know about this team and this journey.
"We get to play another ballgame," said outfielder Hunter Pence, who has led a stirring series of unifying dugout pep talks. "Get to see these guys and get take the field with them another day. That was it, got another ballgame."
And, rather perfectly, the Giants have ace Matt Cain set to try to finish it off against Reds starter Mat Latos, a Giants nemesis.
Of course, the Cincinnati Reds, who were good enough to win the first two games of this series, including a 9-0 drubbing of the Giants in Game 2, are still standing in the way.
So is this fact: In 21 previous tries, no National League team has come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a division series.
But after two grueling days and battling Giants' victories here, the Reds almost seem like an afterthought.
Either the Giants will have enough energy to complete this titanic upset, or they will get just close enough to taste it and then run out of steam.
"I guess you see what you're made of when you're down 0-2," said Buster Posey, the team's de facto captain. "But our work's not done. We've got to come out (Thursday) and keep pushing."
On Wednesday, the Giants had thermonuclear power — thanks to Lincecum's epic relief stint, Arias' fill-in value, key home runs from Angel Pagan and Pablo Sandoval, amid many other vital contributions.
That all made up for starter Barry Zito's short, ineffective outing and was more than enough to counter the Reds' offensive efforts.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy yanked Zito in the third inning when it was clear he had nothing, set up Lincecum to jump in a few outs later and watched the former super-starter hold down the Reds through the eighth inning.
"I knew he'd play a huge role for us," Bochy said of Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young award winner who has been relegated to the bullpen, for this series at least.
Dusty Baker, the former Giants manager who now manages the Reds, let his starting pitcher, Mike Leake, get crushed for too long, forcing the Reds to play catch-up from the second inning on.
And that gave the Giants all the momentum in this game and this series.
That comes after almost everybody (including me) all but killed off the Giants after they lost the first two games of this series at AT&T Park.
Two games later, the Giants are still here.
"This is today, and thanks to the win today, there will be a tomorrow," said Pagan, who opened the game with a home run on the second pitch. "We are ready for that."
To be clear, after Game 2, the Giants had a steep mountain to climb. They needed three consecutive victories in the Reds' home park, a place where the Reds haven't lost three straight all season.
That seemed almost impossible at the time. But now the Giants are right on the threshold. With Cain, Bochy and all the puzzle pieces — who will be the next unforseen hero? — it's all right there for them.
It was impossible a few days ago, and now the Giants are right there.
"You know what? We feel good," Posey said.
So what will happen Thursday in Game 5?
"Keep fighting," said Sandoval, whose monstrous home run in the seventh inning accounted for the final margin of victory. "Keep fighting."
No question, this series is capable of shifting back against the Giants as it did in the early going and as it shifted toward them once the series got to Ohio.
Much of this will be up to Cain and to Latos and to finding out which group of hitters will come alive in Game 5.
"It's a team that I'm comfortable with," Latos said of the Giants, whom he beat in an emergency Game 1 outing, "a team that I've faced before."
But the Giants are the team that seems to be playing at a higher speed and thinking at a higher level.
They have the momentum, the puzzle pieces, the urgency and the cohesion.
"It's not about going out there as individuals," Lincecum said. "It's just going out and doing what we've got to do to win. And the last two games, it's been about scratching and leaving it on the field."
Usually the tougher, more unified team is the one that wins the biggest game. That's Game 5, and it sure feels like that's the Giants.
A few days ago, it was impossible to see how they could do this. Now it seems almost impossible to stop them.
Read Tim Kawakami's Talking Points blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
DURHAM – Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author Hedrick Smith will visit the University of New Hampshire Wednesday, Oct. 23, to discuss how America has moved from an era of middle class prosperity and power to an unequal economy that is unraveling the American Dream for millions of middle class families.
Smith's presentation is at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building Theatre II. It is free and open to the public. His visit is co-hosted by the Carsey Institute and UNH Cooperative Extension.
Smith is author of the bestsellers "The Russians" and "The Power Game: How Washington Works." He spent 26 years with The New York Times, receiving a Pulitzer Prize for his international reporting from Russia and Eastern Europe, and he was a member of the Pulitzer-winning team that produced the Pentagon Papers. Smith received two Emmys for his work as a producer for PBS.
Following Smith's presentation, audience members will have the opportunity to ask him questions and take part in a facilitated discussion with panelists from UNH Cooperative Extension, The Carsey Institute, and other organizations.
"We are thrilled to have someone of Hedrick Smith's stature coming to campus," said Charlie French, head of UNH Cooperative Extension's community and economic development unit. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the University community to weigh in on a provocative topic. We hope that students, especially, will get in on this conversation that is so relevant to them."
During the post-lecture interactive discussion, audience members and panelists will consider how the university community is impacted by socioeconomic forces that Smith suggests are eroding the middle class. Panelists will discuss the student experience today and potential barriers to students' ability to become contributing and benefitting members of society and the economy post-graduation.


text:
I want to try this "Digital Copy" to iCloud movie deal but when I pop in the DVD it says:
You can't open the application Up because PowerPC applications are no longer supported.
Is there any other work around besides using Snow Leopard or a Windows PC?
I just want to watch Disney Pixar's Up on my iPad.


text:
Videos | May 27, 2009
Looking at Landing Sites for the Mars Science Laboratory
There are four possible landing sites for the next Mars rover. Scientists and engineers will evaluate all four sites for the future rover, which is scheduled to land on Mars in 2012.
Transcript:Rich Zurek: The prime responsibility of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been to search out new landing sites for future missions. Both to find places that are scientifically interesting on the planet, that have a great potential for future discovery once we land there, but also to make sure and to certify that we'll be able to land there safely. Next up is the Mars Science Laboratory, to be launched in 2011. It will set down on the planet in 2012. Over 3 dozens sites have been looked at intensively by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and from that the final landing sites have emerged.
In the northern hemisphere of Mars, the Mawrth Vallis area is important because of the diversity of the mineral signatures that you see. The great channel that cuts across this was carved by water. But even the highlands here were affected by water. In the craters that are there, we see different mineral signatures in the different layers, indicating the episodic activity of water at the planet, or the mixing of soils by impacts in the early history of Mars.
In the southern hemisphere of Mars, Holden Crater, 60 miles across, is very interesting because there is a channel that goes into the crater. And here you're looking at the front of that, the delta, indicating that water once flowed into the crater, ponding as an inland sea or lake, and then breached the far wall and ran out, leaving layers. In those layers we expect to find evidence of the past chemistry, the action of water – how long it was there. They may also have the potential to have preserved biosignatures, that is, evidence of past life, if life had ever developed on the planet and flourished in this area.
The outstanding characteristic of Eberswalde Crater, the thing that calls out to land in this area, is that it has a delta formation, like that of the Mississippi River, in which it's obvious that material has flowed, in a channel, out of the highlands down into this crater and formed a delta formation, highly structured and layered, meaning that there were many episodes of water flowing into the crater. Those layers could be preserving not only the history of this area as it formed over time on Mars, and the activity of water on its surface, but it's the kind of formation that could also preserve evidence of past life, if that life had developed on the planet.
Gale Crater in the southern hemisphere of Mars near the Equator is an attractive landing site because it's a very deep crater, more than 3 miles deep. And yet at one time it must have been completely filled, because its central mound actually extends above the crater rim today. Evident in here are many different kinds of minerals: sulfates, sediments, clay materials that indicated the action of water. And, because of that action of water, the possibility that it may have preserved evidence of past life.
Title: Images are from the HiRISE instrument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Title: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology


text:
World of Warcraft Performance Guideby Anand Lal Shimpi on March 23, 2005 12:17 PM EST
- Posted in
- GPUs
In PC gaming, first person shooters get all of the attention. The releases of Doom 3 and Half Life 2 were accompanied by a swarm of hardware upgrade guides all over the net, including those published on AnandTech. If you were waiting for Doom 3 or Half Life 2 before upgrading your machine, you had every ounce of information at your disposal upon their release.
The same type of attention is rarely cast on other genres of games in the PC world for a handful of reasons. For starters, FPSes are the most likely to have built-in benchmarking tools, making our ability to present you with performance data infinitely easier. There's also a good deal of emotional attachment to anything that comes out of id Software, Epic Games or Valve, given their history with PC games - in their own way, they are the developers who brought the PC its Super Mario Brothers or Legend of Zelda. But reasoning aside, there's much more to PC gaming than just FPSes; the best, most recent, example of an extremely successful non-fps is none other than Blizzard's foray into the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing realm - World of Warcraft.
MMORPGs, like World of Warcraft, rely on hordes of subscribed users (hence the massively multiplayer aspect); otherwise, they lose a big chunk of their appeal. World of Warcraft has been particularly successful in this respect. Earlier this month, Blizzard announced that WoW had reached over 1.5 million subscribers worldwide, with over 800,000 subscribers in North America alone. At any given time, there are over 500,000 users logged into one of Blizzard's many WoW servers at a speed of adoption never before seen in the MMORPG market. But as we saw with the introduction of Warcraft III, anything Warcraft from Blizzard is not only well done, but turns to gold upon release.
Given the tremendous market penetration of WoW, we felt that it was time to take a look at its performance demands. But unlike Doom 3 and Half Life 2, there is no static element of WoW gameplay - everything takes place in an ever-changing online world. The result is that finding a repeatable benchmark to run is fairly difficult...but not impossible. As a MMORPG, World of Warcraft doesn't depend on the razor-sharp reaction time of a fast-paced first person shooter; instead, you spend most of your time walking around performing quests and battling at a much slower pace, in a much larger, more interactive world. As such, there are two scenarios when performance in WoW becomes an issue: when a lot of characters are present on the screen, and simply rotating the camera in the world. The former is a virtually impossible scenario to use as a benchmark, as you can't reliably get a bunch of people to do the exact same thing at the exact same time in a repeatable fashion, but the same can't be said about scenario 2. The world of Warcraft is truly enormous and in order to prevent overcrowding, there is a large number of servers for you to choose on which your character may play - each server has a complete copy of the Warcraft world. Even on the highest populated servers (one of which we conducted our test), there are many areas where you can go that are devoid of any player controlled characters - making them ideal for benchmarking. We chose one such spot in the Night Elf city of Darnassus.
The other aspect of WoW that played into our favor was the fact that exiting and returning to the game using the same character always put you in the world at the exact same place. Equipped with FRAPS, we were able to get an extremely repeatable average frame rate out of a sequence of five full camera rotations in our chosen spot in Darnassus. The number of rotations ensured that minor variations such as a squirrel walking across the screen would have minimal impact on the benchmark, and the results backed that up. We found a maximum of 3% variation between runs as long as there was no disk swapping that occurred during the benchmark (more on that later). The only downside is that our benchmark is not externally reproducible, but similar techniques can be used to achieve a similar end result. We did have one user search us out in the world and interrupt our benchmarking by asking us if we had any linen cloth, but after a quick "no", we were back to benchmarking without being disturbed.
Graphically, WoW isn't another Doom 3 or Half Life 2; it's not pushing the limits of DirectX 9 nor is it going to knock your socks off visually. For a MMORPG, it looks pretty good, similar to Warcraft III, but obviously much more detailed, since you are taking the perspective of a single character in the world of Warcraft, rather than controlling an army from up above.
Blizzard states the minimum GPU requirement as a GeForce 2; while a GeForce 2 will run the game just fine at lower resolutions and detail settings, it will do so at the sacrifice of a good amount of image quality. Below, we have a comparison between a playable WoW system on a GeForce4 MX (GeForce 2 class DirectX 7 hardware) and on a Radeon X800 (DX9 hardware). You'll see a DX7 screenshot, and mouse over to see the same scene running on DX9 hardware:
As you can see, the improvement from older hardware to newer DX9 cards is fairly significant.
The same isn't necessarily true for DirectX 8 hardware, as the GeForce4 looks just as good as the X800, just slower, in WoW.
Below, you'll see a DX8 screenshot, and mouse over the image to see the DX9 version:
How much slower is a GeForce4 than a Radeon X800? That comparison and many more is the subject of our first comparison...
The Test
Our hardware configurations are similar to what we've used in previous comparisons.
AMD Athlon 64 Configuration
Socket-939 Athlon 64 CPUs
2 x 512MB OCZ PC3200 EL Dual Channel DIMMs 2-2-2-10
NVIDIA nForce4 Reference Motherboard and MSI K8N-Neo2 (nForce3) for AGP tests
Intel Pentium 4 Configuration
LGA-775 Intel Pentium 4 and Extreme Edition CPUs
2 x 512MB Crucial DDR-II 533 Dual Channel DIMMs 3-3-3-12
Intel 925XE Motherboard
AMD Athon XP Configuration
Athlon XP 3200+ Barton CPU
2 x 512MB OCZ PC3200 EL Dual Channel DIMMs 2-2-2-10
ASUS nForce2 Motherboard
ATI's Catalyst 5.3 and NVIDIA's ForceWare 71.84 Drivers were used.
59 Comments
View All Comments
digit - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - link#23
did you check the motherboard specs on that computer?
when i was looking at them to get one for my girlfreind the motherboard didnt have an agp or pci-x slot for an addon video card.
i could be wrong though... Reply
g33k - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - linkTypo on pg 4. "Thankfully from a performance perspective, the Radeon 9800 Pro behaves very similarly to the X700 Pro (a big slower, but nothing huge)" Reply
ppi - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - linkThanks for the article, I would however have one comment.
The test itself does not show it, but in practice the game is quite CPU dependant, especially in areas where it counts - when the game gets crowded.
My resoning behind this is that when I'm increasing or decreasing resolution by one step, performance difference is always minimal in any realistic scenario.
I'm not sure how to test this, though. Maybe if you could stuff a full raid (40 ppl) in some corner of the game. I'm quite sure CPU dependancy would then be MUCH more pronounced. Reply
Hans Maulwurf - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - link"I'm all about getting a lot of bang for the buck and here's what kind of system I chose to get"
-Well, you shouldn´t buy a Dell.
Anand, great review. I had to build a PC for EQ2 some time ago and couldn´t find any benchmarks. This WoW benches would have helped. Thank you!
What I don´t understand is why Blizzard offers no benchmark for WoW. It would be very usefull. I thinks your benches are like the flyby UT-bench (though it´s not your fault - anything else is impossible for you), but a botmatch-like bench would be more interisting. I guess Blizzard could build a good benmark level with ease.
Oh, one more question. Why don´t you write anythink about the command rate (1T or 2T) you used - it´s quite important! And if I remember correctly a tRas of 10 is not optimal for NF4 boards. I think its 7 or so. Possibly there are similar problems with the P4-setup. Reply
segagenesis - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - linkI almost thought that was a downgrade until I read you plan on adding memory/video. Not too bad a deal but I almost feel compelled to ask "why?" when its not significantly different than your previous system. Im still using the same XP 2400+ for ages yet get a consistent 30+ fps just about everywhere (discounting large towns where it will drop to 15, but still... what kind of computer does good in Ironforge when there are 50 chars on screen?). No jittering at all.
Mizuchi - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - linkGreat article. This was exactly what I had been wanting to know, but it came 1 day too late, as I've already ordered a system without any recommendations.
I am on a two year old 2500+ XP Barton with 512 MB PC2700, 80GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache, Radeon 9700 Pro system. General gaming away from many players is smooth, but going through the Crossroads, Origrammar, Ironforge, and flying on a gryphon/wyvern would be terribly choppy. I would guesstimate where I would run by holding down the movement keys during lag and then wait a second for an update and continue until I did what I had to.
It is also a pain to alt+tab out to use Thottbot, which is why I so rarely use it... (I end up being the one of the newbs to beg in /1 (general chat) for hints).
Along with the new system I've bought, I ordered extra RAM (2x512 Cosair Value Select $93 shipped from Chiefvalue.com) in order to multi-task better. And plan on looking up a good priced 6600 GT card.
I'm all about getting a lot of bang for the buck and here's what kind of system I chose to get:
Dimension 4700
Pentium® 4 Processor 530 with HT Technology (3.00GHz, 800 FSB), Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Qty: 1
Unit Price: $739.00
Processor Pentium® 4 Processor 530 with HT Technology (3.00GHz, 800 FSB)
Memory 256MB DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz (1x256M)
Keyboard Dell Quietkey® Keyboard
Monitor FREE! 17 inch Ultrasharp™ 1704FPT Digital Flat Panel
Video Cards Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Internal Hard Drives 80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
Floppy Drive and Memory Keys No Floppy Drive Included
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Mouse Dell 2-button scroll mouse
Network Interface Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet
Modem No Modem Requested
Document Management Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
CD or DVD Drives -- Read, Write and Store Data Single Drive: 48x CD-RW Drive 48CDRW
Sound Card Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
Speakers No Speaker Option
Productivity Software Pre-Installed WordPerfect®, Powerful Word Processing
Security Software Pre-Installed No Security Subscription
Digital Music Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software
Digital Photography Paint Shop™ Pro® Trial plus Photo Album™ Starter Edition
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1 Year On-site Basic Plan
Onsite System Setup No Onsite System Setup
Internet Access Services No ISP requested
Mail- In Rebate $150 Mail In Rebate
Miscellaneous Dimension 4700
Financial Software QuickBooks® Simple Start Special Edition (limited to 50 contacts)
Purchase Intent Purchase is not intended for resale.
Save $50 on select Dimension™ 4700 desktops through Dell Small Business.
Expires on 2005-03-24 06:30:00 - $50.00
Belkin SurgeMaster 7-Outlet Qty: 1
Unit Price: $17.00
You save 50% on Belkin surge protectors from Dell Small Business!
Expires on 2005-03-24 23:59:59 - $8.50
Free 720 Color Printer (Value $49.00)
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Qty: 1
Unit Price: $0.00
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange
Small Business customers receive FREE 3-5 day Shipping on select all Software and Peripheral items priced $50 or higher!
Expires on 2007-12-31 06:30:00 - $5.50
Sub-Total $697.50
Shipping Discount -$5.50
Shipping $0.00
Estimated Tax $41.85
Total $739.35
Dell just had a good deal going, considering the $150 MIR ($600 cost). It's like getting the monitor for $300, processor $200, HD $50, Mobo $50 and everything else free (Windows XP Home, Printer, Memory, CD-RW drive, KB/M, software, and Dell's support). Reply
JarredWalton - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - linkJust a quick FYI: Level of Detail (LOD) has nothing to do with the textures. LOD is a ploygon scaling algorithm, so as you get closer to an object more polygons will be added to make it look more realistic. Done properly, it should be hard to spot. Unfortunately, doing LOD properly is very difficult.
With the high-end GPUs, polygon performance generally isn't enough of a problem to make enabling LOD necessary. Lower end CPUs and GPUs can benefit, of course. In the past, I've seen LOD have less than a 10% performance impact, so I'm happier leaving it enabled in most games. (Not that most games actually expose LOD as a tweakable setting....) Reply
ViRGE - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - linkI wholeheartedly agree with the Mac statements after playing it on a Mac myself. I have a 12" PowerBook Rev. A(867mhz G4, GF4 MX420, 640MB RAM, etc), and the performance I get out of WoW while on the road is abysmal(single digit frame rates when more than a handful of characters are on the screen). Just for comparison's sake, I loaded up WoW on a somewhat similar PC(AXP 2100+, GF2MX original, 768MB DDR, etc), and there's simply no comparison between the two; just eyeballing the FPS has the PC at well over 2x the performance. I even managed to isolate the CPUs in all of this, with the PowerBook almost never hitting 100% CPU utilization in this test(it hovered around 80% or so), meaning the PowerBook should have the edge over the PC, but as I stated before it was losing badly.
I have a feeling a lot of this has to do with the fact that the Mac version is using an OpenGL renderer while the PC is using DirectX, but still 50% is insane. It beats not having WoW at all, but there's still some sort of large bottleneck in there, and I'm fairly sure it's all related to the graphics subsystems. Reply
civilgeek - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - linkI too would like to see a review like this for Everquest II. I don't play WOW and have not seen its graphics first hand but from the looks of the cards\resolutions that are being used in this review... Everquest is putting a lot more stress on the cards. I know that every video card I have seen thus far will crawl to a halt with the graphics turned up to Extreme Quality at 1280x1024. It would be very interesting to see where the bottle necks are and what card would do the best in this scenario. Reply
gotsmack - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - linkWhen measuring fps, could you also show the most common lowest fps achieved?
I want to see what the lowest will be, if I upgrade my hardware. Reply