text:
Orlando, FL., August 16, 2016 – BRP (TSX: DOO) continues to expand and improve its industry-leading watercraft lineup with the introduction of new Sea-Doo models and a new Rotax Advanced Combustion Efficiency (ACE) power plant. The 2017 Sea-Doo line introduces a new way to play with the Sea-Doo SPARK TRIXX, an unbeatable price-point with new GTS/GTI models and more performance in the mid-range with a GTR-X 230 powered by a new Rotax 1500 HO ACE engine.
"The Sea-Doo watercraft line has never been stronger," said Anne Bélec, SVP Global Brand, Communications and PAC at BRP. "By offering new models that continue to focus on rider needs such as affordability and efficiency, and of course fun, more people can find the right model for them and make the dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft a reality."
The SPARK TRIXX model is the Sea-Doo watercraft that changes the game, and invents new ones, with features that leverage the light and nimble handling of the SPARK model to offer new ways to play on the water. The 2017 SPARK TRIXX model comes equipped with numerous innovations including handlebar with adjustable riser, step wedges and extended-range Variable Trim System (VTS), all of which help riders perform tricks like a pro.
2017 Sea-Doo GTS and GTI models are the lightest, most fuel-efficient and offer the greatest value of any full-size watercraft on the market. Each features a compact and efficient Rotax 900 HO ACE engine and lightweight and tough Polytec hull material, which has proven its performance and durability throughout the past three years in the industry's best-selling model, the Sea-Doo SPARK watercraft.
Also new to the Sea-Doo watercraft lineup for 2017 is our Rotax 1500 HO ACE engine. Thanks to its ACE design, the 1500 HO ACE offers more mid-range performance, produces 15 more horsepower than the previous generation and is optimized for regular fuel instead of premium gas. This new engine also features a low-maintenance supercharger. The Rotax 1500 HO ACE powers the 2017 Sea-Doo GTR-X 230, as well as the GTR 230, WAKE PRO 230 and GTX Limited 230 models.
The Sea-Doo GTR-X 230 watercraft extends the brand's X-package offering to a new model and includes the exclusive Ergolock system, which allows riders to better connect to the machine during riding.
With the widest selection of models in the industry, BRP offers the right Sea-Doo watercraft model to fit any watersports enthusiast's desires, at a price that makes it possible for more to live the Sea-Doo life.
Follow Sea-Doo and the #SEADOOLIFE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seadoo and on Instagram and Twitter @brpseadoo.
For a complete view of the 2017 Sea-Doo watercraft line and to find authorized Sea-Doo watercraft dealers, visit www.sea-doo.com.
About BRP: BRP (TSX: DOO) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of powersports vehicles and propulsion systems. Its portfolio includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles, Can-Am Spyder roadsters, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft. BRP supports its line of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and clothing business. With annual sales of over CA$3.8 billion from over 100 countries, the Company employs approximately 7,900 people worldwide.


text:
As Cesar and I were watching the kids in Mexico enjoy the rooftop patio covers our charity Hope For Mexico just unveiled, these two adorable little girls were meandering around the school arm in arm singing like nobody was listening. They caught our eye and I grabbed my camera and started following them around and watching them. As Cesar and I found ourselves standing in the sun and not under the patio….the one little girl came and tugged on Cesar's shirt and said "Ummm…..mister, why are you standing in the sun when we now have shade?" and gently pushed him back under the patio cover. We just looked at each other and melted, not from the sun, but from the impact we have made on these little lives. So cool.
Author Archives: ktiessen
Who knew……
So, this little girl's mom wanted to tell me a story. Lupita attends one of our schools in Mexico and was so touched by our visit last year she couldn't wait for us to come back.
Our charity, Hope For Mexico, was just touring our schools last week unveiling the new rooftop patio covers we installed to help shade the kindergarten kids from the burning Mexico sun.
Last year, when we toured the four schools and delivered private school quality school supplies, we had fabric bracelets made that had Hope For Mexico embroidered on them and we tied them on all the kids wrists.
Well, according to Lupita's mother this bracelet was her favourite thing in the world and she refused to take it off. Her mother said, it got dirty from her playing outside but she insisted her mother wash it – but not take it off. So her mother scrubbed the bracelet clean while still wrapped around her daughter's little wrist.
We were there in February of last year….and in late summer Lupita broke her arm. She came running to her mother and her only concern was the bracelet. She didn't want to have to take off the bracelet we gave her. She pushed and pushed the bracelet as far up her arm as possible so the doctors would not take it off…but in the end the doctor had to cut if off. Lupita's mother said the little girl cried for days and days. Not because of her broken arm, Lupita told her mother "that will heal", she said, "but the bracelet of hope is gone."
Whoa, who knew such a small thing would delicately lay across a little girls wrist and bring such hope and inspiration. I wonder what she thought about when she looked at that bracelet after we left. Maybe, just maybe it opened her little mind to the possibilities of what this big ole' world could offer.
I know what you're thinking….a great ending to this story would be that we pulled out a brand new clean bracelet for Lupita and the biggest smile crept across her face? Nope…..Cesar and I didn't bring any fresh bracelets because we figured we already did that…no need to do it again.
How wrong were we?…..guess we'll just have to book another trip to Mexico and hand deliver some much loved and cherished Hope For Mexico bracelets. Couldn't have planned it any better myself.
Clap your hands if you think that happiness is the….
I think we often forget what happiness truly feels like. It's easy to get lost or caught up in our day to day activities and lives and not really stop and feel the moment you feel something real and raw. But as I was driving away from the fourth and final school in Mexico the other day, I had a familiar euphoric feeling that I recognized as pure happiness. It was a warm and comforting feeling deep in my bones (and not just because I was in Mexico where it was sunny and warm) but a "real" feeling of joy in it's purest form. I've missed that feeling lately, whether I've let it breeze by unnoticed or it's been a while since I felt it; I don't know, but man, it's addictive and I want more.
Hope For Mexico toured the four schools we committed our help to this week and I can tell you I felt the communities gratitude, I felt that they appreciated us for following through and doing something for them that they least expected. That's a very big gift for me to share with all of you, those who helped us get there and helped us build those shelters and helped us get running water for the kids to wash their hands and washrooms that work for them to use. It was humbling to see and feel the relief on the mothers faces. We heard stories that since the patio covers have been installed a number of kids who suffered from painful skin conditions due to constant sun light have healed and disappeared. We heard that kids no longer are getting sick and passing out because they are 33 kindergarten kids in a cramped hot 10×10 school room. We heard that communities come to enjoy the shelter from the sun and families can eat outside and socialize together as friends and neighbours. Our generosity has brought people together and by doing that I believe it brings them hope. The very foundation of what we were built on…Hope For Mexico.
It's possible to make a difference, little by little, big or small. It is possible that one kind gesture can change the direction of a community and lives that live in it.
Stay tuned, I will be posting some great stories and photos over the next few days. Some of the stories are sure to inspire and hopefully inspire you all enough to help kick off phase two of our fundraising efforts.
Finally done and heading "home"
It's official, the rooftop covers for all four schools in Mexico are done. The kids are over the moon happy and can play and learn and eat outside their 10 x 10 school rooms.
Last year our charity Hope For Mexico visited all four remote areas in northern Mexico to see for ourselves what these kids really needed most. We held a fundraiser, raised 15 thousand dollars and then got to work on making four schools a better place for these kindie kids to learn. With the money raised by all our friends and family here in Canada and Mexico we bought bags of "private school" quality school supplies, musical instruments and learning tools and delivered them personally last February.
On the spot, working with the DIF, the government body that oversees the schools in Mexico, we realized these kids need shelter from the sun. They couldn't play outside, or eat outside or learn outside because these playgrounds had no shelter from the blazing Mexican sun. Some of the kids were passing out and getting sick because they couldn't find a reprieve.
We knew this is where our money needed to go. It took a lot longer than I had hoped – for reasons out of my control and nothing to do with the Mexican side of things, but here we are. Finally Done!!
I will be travelling to Mexico in the next few weeks to tour each school and "officially" unveil the rooftop covers. Once again we will be accompanied by the Mayor of Dolores Hidalgo and the members of the DIF in that city as well. Both have been huge supporters of ours and we can't thank them enough.
I would also like to thank a few people back here at home, who have weighed down my suitcase with supplies and support. My daughter's dentist office, surprisingly handed me a big box of school supplies one day after they found out what our family is up to in Mexico. Thank you Danforth Children's Dentistry. Also our friends Shelagh Meek and Stella Reed who so kindly bought school supplies for me to take back and Sue and Mike Stevens with another box of supplies and endless ideas for our fundraising efforts to continue. HFM's new fundraising "idea" is actually Sue's idea. Stay tuned, it's going to be an interesting one. I know I'm missing people…so thank you to you too. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to Cesar, my brother from another mother who is on the ground in Mexico and takes care of all the details and ensures Hope For Mexico is moving along and takes care of me and my family when we are in our beloved Mexico. See you soon mi hermano!!
I have not forgotten….
I may have been silent since my last post, but I have not forgotten what we have committed to do in Mexico. Things have been happening, at a snail's pace, but still things are happening.
Since returning from Mexico and our school trip, I got really sick and have been fighting or clawing my way back ever since. I had to step away for a bit and then busy life stuff got in the way, but all the while knowing we needed to finish what we started. So, I am happy to report that the patio covers are being built as we speak. We have new plans in motion to raise more money for these schools and I am kicking around ideas for our next fundraiser.
I have been quietly working behind the scenes and wanted everyone to know that we are back! Can't wait to get back to my second home and see what's been done and how it has affected all our kindie kids.
Stay tuned, I promise it won't be such a long commercial break next time.
Shelter from the sun….
That's what's needed. Period. First and foremost. These kindergarten kids need shelter from the burning Mexican sun. A basic necessity that will fundamentally change the lives of these kindergarten kids and those who will follow years to come. Believe me, standing out in these "playgrounds" was beyond hot, and it's winter here too. We are so thankful that we came to tour the schools before settling on what is really needed.
Last night….the HFM team negotiated and decided on installing four patio covers at each of our schools pronto. As you can see from the photo below, the kids are squished up against the side of the school, the only place for two or so hours that provides some reprieve from the sun. The school acts as a shelter, but it's not enough room for these kids to run around and play and enjoy the outdoors. Their classrooms are small and hot, some with no electricity, so building these patio shelters will be a God send.
You can see the DIF constructed 'make shift' cover from tarps, that is where the patio shelters will be constructed in the other three schools.
We spoke the supplier, got him to commit to a better price since we are building and installing four patios and all work will be done by the end of April. Awesome! Just in time for the 'hotter' weather.
Meet some more of "our" kids who will enjoy their new sheltered playgrounds thanks to all of you….who helped raise the money so we can raise the roof(s)!!
It's the best when you least expect it…..
If you really believe that kindness is contagious, even when you least expect it – than you won't be surprised by the message of this post. When our charity Hope For Mexico was touring and delivering much needed school supplies to our four schools in Dolores Hidalgo we had no idea that others were taking note.
We decided in early January that we would hold off on building anything in the four schools we have committed to, simply for the fact that we wanted to tour each one and see for ourselves what they need and really get a feel for the schools, the kids and the communities. After we handed over all the supplies, we toured the classrooms and went over the teacher requests for their school needs. I was shocked that bathrooms, flushing toilets and running water to wash hands were on each list, but not even close to being number one. First and foremost each school needs a patio roof or shelter from the sun. Believe me, we could barely stand it out on their paved playgrounds for more than 20 minutes, these little guys have no where to play, eat or learn outside because none of the schools have proper shelter from the sun.
Now, let me back up a bit…..these particular schools are not funded by the federal government because they do not have enough students in each to meet the requirements for funding. So they are left to fend for themselves and rely on the DIF (family services) to help provide basic funding. But the DIF provides help to so many areas in Mexico like medical, dental, retirement and assistance for the aging, domestic violence and shelter for those in need and of course impoverished schools to name a few. So funding is spread thin and the schools suffer for sure.
But while touring the school and talking with the teacher at our first school of the day, we couldn't stand the thought of these kids not having running water to wash their hands and a toilet that flushes. I asked how much to fix that…..her answer?? About $100.00. Just before I could say we'll take care of that…..the DIF employee piped up and said if you provide the patio roof, we'll take care of the toilets and running water. I held out my hand and said, "You've got yourself a deal!"
And to my surprise…. that's how the day went, HFM and Senor Alejandri went side by side and made deal after deal. We committed to building patio roofs on all four schools and the DIF committed to other needs that seem so basic to us, but a complete luxury to these teachers and students. If HFM wasn't there that day, the DIF likely wouldn't have been there to really see what a fantastic job these young teachers were doing with basically nothing to work with.
Beyond Words…..
I can't begin to describe what kind of day we had yesterday. You know when you plan for something, dream of something, think of what it's going to be like…. and then it happens…and it blows every expectation you had or could have hoped for. Well, our day was even better than that!!
So, Hope For Mexico arrived in Mexico on Friday….we got settled in at our friends place, went to an unbelievable party with our friends here in Mexico and then headed up to Dolores Hidalgo to pick up all the school supplies we bought for our four schools. When we arrived at the shop, everything was bagged and waiting for us. Juana, the owner kindly offered a reduced rate as a part of a donation. She went above and beyond by offering a truck delivery of the supplies the next morning at the DIF (the organization that runs the four schools) at no extra charge.
We left Guanajuato as the sun was rising over the mountains filled with anticipation. When we arrived at the DIF everyone was waiting for us, it was clear we were to have an entourage for our day of tours. We sat in the offices over coffee before heading out and got to know the people we had been working with for months, but I hadn't had the chance to meet them face to face yet. And let me tell you….same organization (the DIF)….as our adoption process, in the same country…..but nothing prepared us for the open arms that were waiting for us. Some might say…yeah….well of course…you don't want to take something from them this time….you are coming with money to give and asking for nothing. But that was not it. Not at all. It was 8 years of building credibility in a country that has no reason to trust us. It was 8 years of friendship with Cesar and his family that got us in the doors and heard for the first time. It was a life lesson that sunk in even deeper than before…"Do what you say you are going to do." And do it quickly. These people were honoured to meet "us". We were treated like Kings and Queens (and princesses) for the day and they didn't have to do that.
At each school we visited a ceremonial celebration was set up for us. All the kids were dressed in their Sunday best….waiting in the courtyards for us. Sound systems were set up…like come on….I don't even think these kids have even seen a microphone in their little lives. All for us. We were introduced and I had to say something at each school….YIKES….big fear of mine. But my daughter turned to me and said…"Mommy, don't be nervous….they're just kids." Wow…..she's so right. From that point on, I just took a deep breath and took in the moment. Not letting a moment go by without recognizing how lucky we were.
And then came the moment that I nearly lost it. I had no idea….the DIF had made plaques to say thank you for Hope For Mexico, but not only did not I not know this…but the plaques were actually already carved into the walls of the schools, painted around and looked like they have been there forever. And what hit me was…they will be there forever. Each school had an unveiling of the plaque and we each took turns pulling back the curtains. The last school, the Mayor of Dolores Hidalgo joined us and he and I revealed our plaque together.
But the absolute greatest of all….the best moments of the day came when I watched my daughter immerse herself in a dream that came true. She loved every minute of it…and when you looked into the eyes of the kids you could actually see the joy we brought them…even if for one day. I knew going on this adventure would change the lives of some children and the best is yet to come there….but it changed us as a family too. And it all comes back to our the saying we used as the symbol our wedding ten years ago…in Mexico, where our journey here began. "En la union esta la fuerza" – In unity there is strength. It's not just me, or my family of three….it's our "entourage" that will continue to make the differences we dreamt up not so long ago, our friends here in Mexico and those at home who have supported us and believed in our dream.
Meet some of our "kids"
Stay tuned….more stories to come.
Here we go….
We're atta here….Mexican sunshine here we come. We've been waiting for this trip for a long time and worked hard to get it all done. Thanks to Cesar who is the eyes and ears in Mexico…we are ready to put our plan into action.
Hope For Mexico raised over 15 thousand dollars in November to help rebuild 4 schools in impoverished areas of Mexico. We are super excited to arrive and get to work. It's amazing when you dream up something and then little by little you test the waters to make sure it's something that can work. And the moment you realize, ok….it's time to put up or shut up…and you close your eyes and take that leap of faith. Now it's pay off time. We will update with photos and videos while away so you can see our progress.
On February 24th, our first order of business is to deliver all the curriculum items we have ordered, we decided to buy all the supplies that private schools order. The best of the best for our Hope for Mexico kids. Then we will tour the four schools and make the final decisions as to what we feel they really need, it's so hard to make those decisions from such a distance. Thank heavens for Cesar and my Mexican family there; we decided to take our time and do it right.
Last week, I went to my daughter's classroom and asked the kids in her class to create two templates for murals that we will paint on the faded and dilapidated walls of these schools. Something for these tiny kids to look at and inspire them; remind them that people care and have faith in them. Ava's classmates did a beach scene (as these schools are no where near beach or ocean) and since that's where we live, they thought that would be a great thing and then…of course….they did a winter snowman scene. Very Canadian, with the CN Tower in the background. Super cool, so we'll recreate these drawings on the walls there and sign all their names to them. Leaving our mark.
Should be an inspiring trip, one I hope our family never forgets and sets us on a path to continue our dreams for change.
Hasta luego!!
Plans are being finalized
We are in the final stages of hiring a contractor on the ground in Mexico. We decided not to hire our original company, based in Guanajuato, rather we wanted to give the local people in Dolores Hidalgo work and help that community even more. The four kindergarten schools have the same needs as they are not run by the Federal Government in Mexico therefore those schools do not receive any funding or help in any way. They are desperate for our help and are very much looking forward to our arrival. We are planning on travelling in February, but work on some of the patios and playgrounds will already be underway. Cesar, is the Executive Director in Mexico and our plans are in very good and capable hands.
We have been asked to a meeting with The Rotary Club in Guanajuato while we are there as well. It too would like our help with some local schools in our city. I am very much looking forward to meeting with them and seeing how HFM can help. We are still looking for donations, so please, if you can, donate as we are raising money for phase two and three. We have some very good ideas that we are working on to help even more kids and families in Mexico and will share them with you once we get something a bit more concrete. Very exciting times and I can feel this is going to be a very special year.
We ran across this article (link below) over the weekend and I can't help but feel a certain pride in the human race. I've always been of the mind if you want something done….you're gunna have to do it yourself. I can only hope these groups march with peace in mind and that the intentions of taking back their country is for the better good. Change starts with one movement at a time.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty,
the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,
and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.
Proverbs 31:30
"Nicolette is with The Angels. I am lucky to be surrounded by angels. My heart is flowing over with bittersweet joy. In her memory, I thank all those who have given selflessly to this celebration of Nicci's Life."
-Russell Kunkel
Now Available
Site designed by
LA Web Design


text:
Soft Gear™ designs unique American-made children's products to help you gear up for your child's every moment. We are the market leader in 3-D molded thermoplastic elastomer foam products, manufactured in the United States. All Soft Gear products are created to be soft, safe and fun for your little one.
With long-term durability and stylish appeal, these practical products serve as the perfect accessory for you and your child's daily routines. Whether it's playtime, dinnertime, bathtime or naptime, your family can use Soft Gear throughout the day to keep your child safe, healthy and happy as they grow.


text:
It's been a while between posts, life crept up on me and spun me around for a loop. But I think I can manage this once a week again. Anyway here's a treat. A two for one shot in the Comic Book Resources, Project CBRunway competition. First up, CBRunway : Round 2 – Gender Bender. In this round I had to swap power sets for two comic book characters, the challenge being the characters are of different genders. One has to be male, the other female. I went with Doctor Doom and Black Canary. It made sense in my head, but the end result wasn't a voter favorite. Such is life.
The trick was to have the characters switch power sets and costumed identities yet retain the essence of who they are. With Black Canary, I really liked her ponytail look in Birds of Prey. For some reason it made me think of a dominatrix. So I went with that, since she's not a doctor of any kind. I looked into fetish gear and decided a mask made of leather straps said, "ooh, kinky." Changed the color scheme of her costume to resemble Doom's signature look and added some thigh high boots with leather straps and came up with this.
- For Doom I had to think what it would mean for Him to have a sonic scream. So I modified his mask so his mouth looked like a speaker that would amplify
- the scream to Black Bolt levels. Well, close to it. Doom needs his hood, so I kept that modified the color scheme of his tunic to make him a Wiz Khalifa fan. (ie. Black and Yellow) I kept his armor because I Imagine like his mask it's seared onto his flesh. I could be wrong, though.
- For those of you who hate it and say it's not very "Doom" like, let's just say he's a Doombot.


text:
3rd Annual Peace Day Concert Contest
Terms: By answering three questions and submitting your entry into the "Peace Day Concert Contest", each contestant agrees to the Contest Rules and Bermuda Sun's website Terms of Service.
Who may enter: Entries will be accepted from any individual aged 16 years or older and normally resident in Bermuda. Individuals affiliated with MediaHouse Limited or its subsidiaries, including employees, trustees, interns, volunteers, and their immediate families (children, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for this contest.
Bermuda Sun will determine winners' eligibility.
Only one (1) entry per contestant for this contest will be accepted. In the event that a contestant submits two or more entries, only the first entry will be considered in the contest.
How to enter:?Visit www.bermudasun.bm, go to Lifestyles and click the ENTER CONTESTS button to enter.
Complete the entry form. You must complete all the required fields of the entry form. Incorrectly entered contact information may result in a forfeiture of prize.
We do not accept entries received by mail or by other means. Bermuda Sun is not responsible for incomplete entries, technical difficulties or entries that are not received by Bermuda Sun. An entry is not considered valid until it is approved by a contest moderator.
By entering the contest, entrants grant MediaHouse Limited, a group of companies including Bermuda Sun, a royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, for any MediaHouse purpose, including, but not limited to advertising and promotion of its publications and its websites, including but not limited to Bermuda Sun publications. Entrants' names may appear on the Bermuda Sun sites and may appear in other MediaHouse publications. MediaHouse Limited will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses. By submitting an email address, entrants agree to allow MediaHouse or any of its subsidiaries to use the email for future marketing and promotional uses.
Entry deadline:?All entries must be received by noon (ADT) on Monday, September 8th, 2014. To avoid uploading delays, please do not wait until the final days of the contest to enter.
Determining a winner and prizes:If all three trivia questions on the entry form are answered correctly, the contestant's submission form is entered into a draw to win one of the following prizes donated by the organizers:
The correct answers will be entered into a draw to win tickets in:
PREMIUM VIP x1
GOLD x2
SILVER x2
BLEACHER x4
HILL SIDE x10
Please do not contact us about the status of entries. The winners will be contacted directly by Larissa French, Sales and Marketing Coordinator.
The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Bermuda Sun reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. Decisions of Bermuda Sun will be final.
Contest Dates: The contest entry period will run from 7:00am (ADT) Friday, 4th July 2014, through noon (ADT) Monday, September 8th , 2014.


text:
The new Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., was vandalized with graffiti Saturday afternoon, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Someone spray painted the phrases "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice No Peace" at one of the entrances of the luxury hotel. Workers at the hotel covered up the messages with pieces of plywood.
Police said a man dressed in a yellow shirt and hat walked up to the side entrance on 12th Street NW just after 4 p.m. and spray painted the building's facade.
Video posted on social media appears to show the man tagging the building while bystanders condemned him and threatened to call police.
Police are searching for the man.
In 2013, the Trump Organization won a 60-year lease from the federal government to transform the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue into a luxury hotel.
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
The hotel was embroiled in controversy before it even opened. Several chefs who had planned to open restaurants in the newly renovated space pulled out of the project, citing Trump's comments about undocumented Mexican immigrants.
Trump was also accused of "baiting" the media to cover the hotel's opening by promising to finally address the birther controversy swirling around his campaign. The businessman turned the event into an infomercial for his latest real-estate project, only briefly acknowledging President Barack Obama was born in the Unites States, after touting the hotel for coming "under budget and ahead of schedule."


text:
by Sean Croxton
There's a lot more to fat loss than meets the eye.
I've sat through many conferences, read hundreds of books, and spoken with countless experts about the causes of and potential solutions for our modern obesity epidemic.
Everyone has their own opinion. Some make sense. Others are overly simplistic — take the calories-in/calories-out fat loss formula, for instance. And most completely miss the point by approaching the topic with extreme tunnel vision.
In my opinion, solving problems usually calls for some lateral thinking, or what I call thinking outside of The Box. In other words, getting to the bottom of obesity requires that the conversation move beyond just diet and exercise alone.
This conversation can go in many directions. We could talk about the effects of sleep deprivation on weight gain, the role of stress in blood sugar dysregulation, or even how infections contribute to insulin resistance and thus fat storage.
But one leading cause of obesity that often gets lost in this ongoing discussion is how the abundance of toxic chemicals in our air, food, water, and even those lurking in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets are making you fat.
It is blatantly obvious that obesity has steadily risen as our food supply has become more processed and refined. I think we can all agree on that. Yet during this same period the number of chemicals in our environment has exploded in lock-step with our waistlines. For instance, in his fascinating-yet-kinda-scary book The Hundred Year Lie, author Randall Fitzgerald states that in a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control involving 2,400 adults and children, more than two hundred synthetic chemical toxins were found in the subjects' bodies, with a hundred more chemicals suspected to be present.
The human body was never intended to deal with this kind of chemical assault. In fact, when you think about it, your body is a highly complex machine within which literally thousands of biochemical reactions are taking place at all times. If you've ever taken a laboratory course in Chemistry, you know that mixing random chemicals together can be a bad idea. You never know what you're gonna get!
According to a growing number of research scientists studying obesogens, the chemicals we inhale, eat, drink, and lather ourselves with during and after a shower are making us fat.
When it comes to fat regulation, it's all about the hormones. Obesogens are chemicals that negatively impact the hormonal system thus triggering weight gain. At times, they are referred to as endocrine disruptors. A common example of an endocrine-disrupting chemical is a plastic bottle that leaches estrogen-mimicking substances into the body. An elevation in estrogen will certainly create the conditions for fat storage, especially in men.
But it doesn't end with plastics — not even close. Other chemicals with obesegenic effects include bisphenol A (BPA), non-stick (Teflon) coating on cookware, the petrochemicals in common personal care products, and many more.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA can be found in hard, clear plastic containers, on sales receipts, and in the linings of canned goods. It has recently found itself in the news, as research has demonstrated links between BPA and learning disabilities, cancers, and leptin resistance -— the latter being a significant factor in weight gain.
BPA also suppresses the release of adiponectin, a hormone responsible for increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. Inhibiting adiponectin contributes to insulin resistance, which, of course, leads to fat storage. As a general rule, when insulin levels are elevated, the body is in fat storage mode.
To minimize BPA exposure be sure that you purchase canned goods that are BPA-free, avoid bottles or containers marked with a number 7, and have the cashier toss the receipt when you don't need it.
Teflon (PFOA)
Teflon, or PFOA, is commonly found in non-stick cookware, greaseproof food wrappers, waterproofers, and popcorn bags. Research by the Environmental Working Group has found that over 90% of us have PFOA in our bloodstreams. Studies have also found high levels in umbilical cord blood. Yikes!
This chemical has been linked to various cancers, lung and kidney damage, and obesity. If you are cooking your food in non-stick cookware, you are slowly poisoning yourself daily with small amounts of PFOA. Keep this is mind if you are one those people who eats healthy but also eats out a lot. The restaurant chef is most likely using non-stick cookware!
Avoiding PFOA is a matter of investing in a set of cast iron or stainless steel cookware. If making such an investment is not in the cards for your right now, be sure to get rid of any scratched of chipped non-stick items, as they can tremendously increase the amount of PFOA in your food.
Personal Care Products
According to Fitzgerald, we use 9 personal care products daily with around 126 chemical ingredients, one-third of which have been identified as causing cancer or other serious health problems. Ouch!
Just as we should read our food labels, we should also pay mind to the chemicals in these products. No, we don't eat or drink our shampoo or body wash (at least I hope not), but we must not forget that what we rub on our skin can be absorbed transdermally into our bloodstreams.
Toxic ingredients to be on the lookout for are propylene glycol, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and fragrances (because your kiwi shampoo doesn't really have kiwi in it). These chemicals can have an estrogen mimicking effect, thus shifting hormones, storing fat, and possibly fueling tumor growth.
I encourage you to visit www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to learn just how toxic your personal care products may be. The database ranks products on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most toxic. I try to keep my products at four and below. Great brands are Aubrey Organic, J/A/S/O/N, and Alba Organics.
We're just scratching the obesogenic surface! Additional fat-storing toxins include vinyl, most cleaning products, fire retardants (they're everywhere), chemicals in our water supply, and more.
I cover many of these environmental toxins, how to remove them, and what to replace them with in chapter 9 of my e-book The Dark Side of Fat Loss. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Of course, none of us can live in a bubble. But what we can do is educate ourselves, become more aware of the toxins around us, and replace them with healthier options.
The next time you're out buying a new bottle of shampoo, skip your usual toxic brand and grab its non-toxic alternative. Or invest in just one stainless steel skillet; you don't have to buy the whole set!
Remember, a little on top of a little will soon become a lot. By making small changes today, in a matter of months you will have tremendously reduced your toxic load. Not only will feel better and live longer, but you will also burn more fat by normalizing your hormonal system.
Burning fat by eliminating toxins…
Now that's thinking outside of The Box!
Sean Croxton


text:
Browse through all the cars that are currently for sale.
Pre-loved, looking for a new home. Browse all our used cars.
From the common cars to the exotics, they all come from overseas.
Want a full warranty? Then this is the place to look.
Car Loan Calculator
Car Insurance Calculator
Road Tax Calculator
Car Market Value Guide
Please fill in this form and the seller will get back to you shortly.
oto.my is the best way to buy and sell new, used and reconditioned cars in Malaysia.
Use oto.my to reach over 2,000,000 car buyers on Malaysia's #1 automotive network.
Or find your next car amongst the quality listings at oto.my.
It's simple, free and easy! So register with us today.
Maximum of 5 cars can be compared at the same time.


text:
In 1987, a group of geneticists published a surprising study in the journal Nature. The researchers examined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) taken from 147 people across all of today's major racial groups. These researchers found that the lineage of all people alive today falls on one of two branches in humanity's family tree. One of these branches consists of nothing but African lineage, the other contains all other groups, including some African lineage.
Even more impressive, the geneticists concluded that every person on Earth right now can trace his or her lineage back to a single common female ancestor who lived around 200,000 years ago. Because one entire branch of human lineage is of African origin and the other contains African lineage as well, the study's authors concluded Africa is the place where this woman lived. The scientists named this common female ancestor Mitochondrial Eve.
The researchers got the idea for this project based on a discovery another geneticist made in 1980. Dr. Wesley Brown noticed that when you compare the mtDNA of two humans, the samples are much more similar than when the mtDNA of two other primates -- for example, two chimpanzees -- is compared. Brown found, in fact, that the mtDNA of two humans has only about half as many differences as the mtDNA of two other primates within the same species [source: Cann]. This suggests that humans share a much more recent common ancestor than other primates do, an idea tantalizing enough to launch the Nature investigation.
The study's lead author, Rebecca Cann, called her colleagues' and her choice to use Eve as the name "a playful misnomer," and pointed out that the study wasn't implying that the Mitochondrial Eve wasn't the first -- or only -- woman on Earth during the time she lived [source: Cann]. Instead, this woman is simply the most recent person to whom all people can trace their genealogy. In other words, there were many women who came before her and many women who came after, but her life is the point from which all modern branches on humanity's family tree grew.
When the researchers in the 1987 study looked at samples taken from 147 different people and fetuses, they found 133 distinct sequences of mtDNA. A few of the people sampled, it turned out, were recently related. After comparing the number of differences among the mtDNA samples within races, they found that Africans have the most diversity (that is, the most number of differences) of any single racial group. This would suggest that the mtDNA found in Africans is the oldest: Since it has had the most mutations, a process which takes time, it must be the oldest of lineages around today.
The two distinct branches they discovered contained the mtDNA found in the five main populations on the planet: African, Asian, European, Australian and New Guinean. Researchers found that in the branch that was not exclusively African, racial populations often had more than one lineage. For example, one New Guinean lineage finds its closest relative in a lineage present in Asia, not New Guinea. All of the lineages and both of the two branches, however, can all be traced back to one theorized point: Mitochondrial Eve.
So how did Eve end up being humanity's most recent common ancestor? We'll look at that in this article, as well as some arguments lodged against the Mitochondrial Eve theory. But first, what are mitochondria and why do scientists use mtDNA to track lineage?


text:
Today, the country bid a not-so-fond farewell to the 112th Congress (including Denny Rehberg), and swore in the new 113th Congress with Steve Daines.
What was the first thing this shiny new Congress did?
Well, Daines, who ran on a "more jobs, less government" platform, cast one of his first votes in favor of the House continuing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars defending the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) which denies hundreds of benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
Apparently when Daines said "more jobs" he meant "more jobs for lawyers defending blatantly unconstitutional archaic laws."
DOMA is the Clinton-era law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions. This law denies benefits to the same-sex partners of military members killed while fighting for our country. It also prohibits the federal government from recognizing bi-national same-sex couples in immigration cases, which has led to several high-profile deportations. It also refuses to acknowledge same-sex spouses in relation to Social Security survivor benefits.
This law is clearly unconstitutional, which is why in early 2011 the Obama administration's Department of Justice announced they would no longer defend the law. Our illustrious House members though chose to pick up the torch of bigotry and continued to defend the law at the taxpayer's expense. Thus far, Steve Daines, John Boehner and the Republicans in the House have spent more than $1.7 million defending this law.
The latest expenditure in support of DOMA was actually buried within the House of Representative rules that the new Congress approved today. Generally these rules simply lay out the process for how the House will run. To bury an appropriation inside this bill is an unprecedented abuse of the process.
This is just the latest example of the clear hypocrisy of Daines and his tea party colleagues advocating for smaller government except for when they don't.
DOMA, ruled as unconstitutional ten different times in seven different cases, will face the US Supreme Court later this year.
Related articles
- House GOP To Re-Fund DOMA Defense (joemygod.blogspot.com)
- Third Republican House Member Supports DOMA Repeal (advocate.com)


text:
Marci Hablicsek (a finishing Ph.D. student at UW) and I recently posted a new preprint, "An incidence conjecture of Bourgain over fields of finite characteristic."
The theme of the paper is a beautiful theorem of Larry Guth and Nets Katz, one of the early successes of Dvir's "polynomial method." They proved a conjecture of Bourgain:
Given a set S of points in R^3, and a set of N^2 lines such that
- No more than N lines are contained in any plane;
- Each line contains at least N points of S;
then S has at least cN^3 points.
In other words, the only way for a big family of lines to have lots of multiple intersections is for all those lines to be contained in a plane. (In the worst case where all the lines are in a plane, the incidences between points and lines are governed by the Szemeredi-Trotter theorem.)
I saw Nets speak about this in Wisconsin, and I was puzzled by the fact that the theorem only applied to fields of characteristic 0, when the proof was entirely algebraic. But you know the proof must fail somehow in characteristic p, because the statement isn't true in characteristic p. For example, over the field k with p^2 elements, one can check that the Heisenberg surface
has a set of p^4 lines, no more than p lying on any plane, and such that each line contains at least p^2 elements of X(k). If the Guth-Katz theorem were true over k, we could take N = p^2 and conclude that |X(k)| is at least p^6. But in fact, it's around p^5.
It turns out that there is one little nugget in the proof of Guth-Katz which is not purely algebraic. Namely: they show that a lot of the lines are contained in some surface S with the following property; at every smooth point s of S, the tangent plane to S at s intersects S with multiplicity greater than 2. They express this in the form of an assertion that a certain curvature form vanishes everywhere. In characteristic 0, this implies that S is a plane. But not so in characteristic p! (As always, the fundamental issue is that a function in characteristic p can have zero derivative without being constant — viz., x^p.) All of us who did the problems in Hartshorne know about the smooth plane curve over F_3 with every point an inflection point. Well, there are surfaces like that too (the Heisenberg surface is one such) and the point of the new paper is to deal with them. In fact, we show that the Guth-Katz theorem is true word for word as long as you prevent lines not only from piling up in planes but also from piling up in these "flexy" surfaces.
It turns out that any such surface must have degree at least p, and this enables us to show that the Guth-Katz theorem is actually true, word for word, over the prime field F_p.
If you like, you can think of this as a strengthening of Dvir's theorem for the case of F_p^3. Dvir proves that a set of p^2 lines with no two lines in the same direction fills up a positive-density subset of the whole space. What we prove is that the p^2 lines don't have to point in distinct directions; it is enough to impose the weaker condition that no more than p of them lie in any plane; this already implies that the union of the lines has positive density. Again, this strengthening doesn't hold for larger finite fields, thanks to the Heisenberg surface and its variants.
This is rather satisfying, in that there are other situations in this area (e.g. sum-product problems) where there are qualitatively different bounds depending on whether the field k in question has nontrivial subfields or not. But it is hard to see how a purely algebraic argument can "see the difference" between F_p and F_{p^2}. The argument in this paper shows there's at least one way this can happen.
Satisfying, also, because it represents an unexpected application for some funky characteristic-p algebraic geometry! I have certainly never needed to remember that particular Hartshorne problem in my life up to now.


text:
Convenient, cost-effective and Earth-friendly.
This water-resistant, two-pocket bag is your reusable, on the- go solution to carry personal-use Norwex Microfibre Cloths, dry or wet, any time, anywhere. It conveniently stores dry, unused Makeup Removal Cloths or Baby Body Cloths in the front pocket. Use the larger pocket for wet or used items. * Microfibre cloths not included
While disposable wet wipes are convenient to quickly get dirty hands, faces and baby bottoms clean, many are filled with toxic chemicals and nearly all of them wreak havoc on our environment. They clog sewer systems when flushed, and can wind up on beaches and in waterways too.
Go green with the Norwex reusable solution eco-friendly Reusable Wet Wipes Bag. It's perfect for carrying unused dry cloths as well as wet used cloths on the go, and cleans up easily once you get home.
Frequently Bought Together


text:
Members of BART's largest labor union voted today to approve a contract agreement ending nine months of labor strife that included two short strikes that heavily impacted Bay Area commuters.
Eighty-seven percent of voting members of Service Employees Union Local 1021, which represents 1,430 mechanics, custodians and clerical workers, voted to approve the contract, according to SEIU 1021 spokeswoman Cecille Isidro.
The agreement, which was reached on Dec. 21, previously was approved by BART directors on Jan. 2 and by members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, which represents 945 station agents, train operators and foreworkers, the following day.
In approving the agreement, BART directors said it isn't perfect and includes more money and benefits for employees that they had wished but they believe it's a reasonable compromise because it requires employees to accept new workplace rules that will make the transit agency more productive and efficient.
The agreement resolved a dispute over a paid family medical leave provision that management said had been inserted in a previous tentative agreement by mistake but leaders of the two unions said was intended by all parties to be part of the pact.
The new agreement doesn't include paid family medical leave but does expand paid time off for bereavement leave to include deaths of grandchildren or stepparents of a spouse or domestic partner.
The new contract also calls for the construction of break rooms in the Daly City, Millbrae and West Oakland stations and allows qualifying employees more flexibility in how they pay for the costs of their family medical leave, plus additional administrative changes to the contract.
Contract talks between BART and its union began on April 1 and workers staged short strikes in July and October.
Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News


text:
(2018) Mystery (Kino-Lorber) Wei Tang, Jue Huang, Sylvia Chang, Hong-Chi Lee, Yongzhong Chen, Feiyang Luo, Meihuaizi Zeng, Chun-hao Tuan, Yanmin Bi, Lixun Xie, Xi Qi, Ming Dow, Zezhi Long, Jian Jun Ding, Kailong Jiang, Kai Liang, Chuanren Lin, Xizhen Liu, Tongfu Long, Zhonglan Luo, Zhengfu Meng, Hongyue Pan. Directed by Gan Bi
Funny thing about dreams; they're often more real to us than what we perceive as reality. Dreams reveal our true selves – the good, the bad and the ugly. Dreams can be beautiful, but dreams reveal the lives we wish we had led.
Luo Hongwu (Huang) is returning to the Southwestern China town of Kaili which he had lived in much earlier days of his life. He has returned there after the death of his father, the ne'er-do-well gambler nicknamed Wildcat (Lee). Luo finds a photo of a woman (Tang) hidden in a broken clock and vaguely remembers a relationship with someone who looked like her – and her name might have been Wan Qiwen. He goes in search of the woman.
Along the way he interacts with a rogue's gallery of oddball characters from a crusty hairdresser (Chang), a precocious 12-year-old boy who lives in an abandoned mine, and assorted pimps, thieves, hookers, thugs and cops. Luo finds himself in a movie theater and sits back to watch the movie in 3D, putting on his 3D glasses. That's when dreams become reality, and vice versa.
If you think I'm being deliberately vague about the plot, you're not wrong. The thing is that this is something of a stream-of-consciousness film which has a kind of dream logic to it in which the laws of physics might just be suggestions. Director Gan Bi hit the critical radar in 2015 with his debut feature Kaili Blues which contained a single 40-minute tracking shot. He outdoes himself here with one that lasts close to an hour – in 3D yet – that takes up the entire second half of the film. It is a magnificent technical achievement but in the immortal words of Ian Malcolm (as spoken by the equally immortal Jeff Goldblum) he was so busy figuring out if he could he didn't stop to think whether he should.
Bi is a visual wizard and the shots are so thoughtfully framed, so beautifully lit and the production design so exquisite that you realize that he's heavily influenced by the great Chinese director Kar-Wei Wong. It's a beautiful movie to watch and if you're tempted to avoid reading the subtitles altogether and just let yourself float among the images, I wouldn't blame you. In fact, I think that's a good way to approach this movie because the dialogue is absolutely superfluous.
Movies in many respects are dreams given form and I don't know about you but some of my dreams would make shitty movies. This is a long (nearly two and a half hours), slowly paced and often confusing film that, like a dog trying to settle down in its bed for a nap often turns round and round on itself before settling down, only to get up again and do the same thing all over again. In that respect this isn't a movie for everybody except the most esoteric and avant garde of filmgoers. Mainstream audiences aren't going to like this very much.
There is a very Noir tone to the film which is welcome; it is set in a city where the rainfall is constant, like Seattle on steroids. As a result, there is a sense of decay and entropy to the surroundings where water is wont to break through walls and create nifty little waterfalls. Most of the characters smoke like chimneys and not just because everyone in China seems to be a chain-smoker but because smoke and water go together as motifs. Incidentally, despite the title there is no connection here that I could see with the classic Eugene O'Neill play.
This should be approached as fine art; very subject to interpretation. The story isn't the important thing which is something that will have most mainstream moviegoers headed for the exits. What matters here is the tone, the vision, the feeling and the thoughts provoked, but don't say we didn't war you about the whole art thing.
For readers in Miami the movie is currently playing this week at the Cinematheque before taking up residence at the AMC Sunset Place. Keep an eye for the visual cues as to when to put on your 3D glasses; there's a brief graphic informing the audience to put on their glasses when you see the main character put on his.
REASONS TO SEE: The shot composition is outstanding. There is a definite Noir feel to the film.
REASONS TO AVOID: It's a bit of a slog, figuratively and literally.
FAMILY VALUES: There is a good deal of sensuality and a crazy amount of smoking.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Chinese moviegoers felt misled by the marketing campaign which billed the film as a Noir mystery and less as an art house experience leading to a good deal of Internet backlash.
CRITICAL MASS: As of 4/30/19: Rotten Tomatoes: 93% positive reviews: Metacritic: 88/100.
COMPARISON SHOPPING: Into the Void
NEXT: Postal (2019)


text:
"Plastics!" If you're old enough to remember "The Graduate," plastics was the one-word piece of career advice offered to Dustin Hoffman after college graduation.
Things may not be quite that dramatic in the pallet industry – wood is still by far the material of choice for pallets by most shippers. The last time Modern surveyed its readers, fewer than 9% were using plastic pallets. But the interest in plastic pallets is clearly growing.
In part, that interest is the result of regulatory concerns in the food and beverage industry as well as a highly-publicized product recall by Johnson & Johnson that was blamed on a chemical treatment used in wooden pallets produced overseas. "Companies in the food industry, especially the agricultural industry, are converting to plastic because of FDA regulations," says Abby Verbeten, pallet marketing manager for Orbis ([url=http://www.orbiscorporation.com]http://www.orbiscorporation.com[/url]). "Plastic is non-porous, so nothing will seep in to contaminate the pallets, and they're washable." When hygiene counts, plastic has real advantages over wood.
And in part, renewed interest is being driven by the plastic pallet pooling system developed by iGPS ([url=http://www.igps.net]http://www.igps.net[/url]). The pool allows end users who can control their assets to rent plastic pallets on a per trip basis that's comparable to wooden pallets. "We are seeing some organic growth by our existing customers in the soft drink and beverage industry," says Bill Mashy, general manager, material handling business group for Rehrig Pacific ([url=http://www.rehrigpacific.com]http://www.rehrigpacific.com[/url]). "But the companies that are converting from wood to pallet are participating in a pool."
There are other benefits to plastic pallets besides hygenics, say Mashy and Verbeten.
Ergonomics: As a general rule a plastic pallet weighs less than a comparable wooden pallet designed to handle the same load. That can result in fewer lifting-related back and shoulder injuries.
Safety: Plastic pallets are not only washable, there are no nails, splinters or wooden shavings that can damage product or injure an employee.
Long life: Both Verbeten and Mashy say they have customers using plastic pallets that have been in the field for 15 years. While some wooden pallets have also delivered years of service, they will have been repaired multiple times over that period. The expense of repairs has to be factored into the overall cost of using wood pallets.
Sustainable: Like a wood pallet, plastic pallets can be recycled at the end of their useful life. Are they green? Wood pallet manufacturers will argue that plastic pallets are a byproduct of petroleum and treated with flame-retardant chemicals, making their green bonafides suspect. Plastic pallet manufacturers will argue that wood pallets are the result of cutting down valuable hardwood forests, are also sometimes treated with noxious chemicals and can transport pests and bacteria. We'll let end users sort through those arguments with their in-house sustainability experts. Depending on your corporate priorities, both wood and plastic have pluses and minuses when it comes to sustainability.
Still, there's a reason that plastic remains a niche option for pallet users: A plastic pallet is significantly more expensive than a new or used wood pallet. "If you can't control your assets return that plastic pallet into the supply chain, you can't justify the difference in price between a wooden pallet and a plastic pallet," says Verbeten. "And, if your pallets don't turn very often, you may not see a return on investment." Likewise, if you need a rackable pallet, plastic pallets can be reinforced with steel, but they're costly if they're not part of a pallet pool.
Where, then, do plastic pallets fit? Here are some factors to consider:
Closed loop supply chain: Whether you own your plastic pallets or participate in a plastic pallet pool, you have to control the asset to make it work. It's one thing to lose a $10 wooden pallet; it's another thing entirely to lose a $35 – or more – plastic pallet. Beverage manufacturers, for instance, will use plastic pallets for direct to store delivery, where they can pick up an empty pallet when they drop off a pallet of new stock.
Inside the four walls: While most pallets are used to ship product across the supply chain, pallets are also used for strictly internal processes. Examples include slave pallets that are used for storage or captive pallets used for storing work-in-process between manufacturing processes. In those situations, a plastic pallet can deliver a longer life than wood. Likewise, a number of retailers prefer plastic pallets to wood for their in-store floor displays.
Automated systems: Since plastic pallets are highly-engineered and manufactured in a mold, they are more consistent than even new wood pallets. That makes them ideal for automated storage and conveyor systems. Since there are no deck boards to break or stringers to collapse, they are less likely to fail during use and stop the line.
Whether those benefits will justify the added expense of a plastic pallet will be determined by an individual users processes. "Each customer's economics are different," says Rehrig Pacific's Mashy. "But what it usually comes down to is how many times can you turn the pallet during the year. If you're turning your pallet one or two times a year, plastic will have a hard time competing. If you're turning that pallet 4, 5 or 6 times a year and you can control you're supply chain, it gets more interesting."
Want to learn more about pallets? Join pallet experts as they put context behind the findings of Modern's 2010 Pallet Usage and Trending Study Webcast on October 28, 2010 at 2 pm ET.


text:
Dear Twilight lovers,
I have to apologize. I really goofed up. I'm really nervous to admit this and I hope you forgive me. Go easy on me okay? It's been a long week and I accidentally clicked on the snail & dragon penis Moon posted Friday 3 times, so I'm a bit fragile. And plus with the news of Hughbert– Rob possibly being in love with a handsome Australian man- this is just the icing on the cake. I was bound to mess up. You can't be perfect for forever. And you have to admit I've been pretty damn near perfect since we met. Okay, I'm stalling…
I forgot about Bella & Edward's anniversary. (cowering in fear) I KNOW- what kind of Twilight blogger am I? I should be ashamed of myself. I missed a perfectly good oportunity to give a "Twi Dork of the Day" award out to whoever remembered that fact.
Thanks to TwiCrack Addict for reminding me and being the winner of our VERY FIRST Twi-dork award! This means nothing except you have bragging rights. You can make people respect you more by saying "I was a Twi-Dork on Letters to Twilight- listen to me dammit!" (To be fair, Moon gets Twi-Dork of the day awards quite often from me when she pulls names like "Kiowa" (the wolf) outta thin air & the date when Rob signed on to Twilight)
Am I forgiven? Perhaps you'll forgive me after I leave you with some anniversary images. And my opinion on them, of course.
- They are very well done
- They are also very 2nd-hand embarrassing. Cuz it's really Rob & Kristen. Not Bella & Edward. And they're just kids, fooling around in a hotel room while Rob learns where the "little man in the boat" is.
- But they should also hang on to the images. In case he learns where the little man is… and they one day tie the knot…
There's a debate going on about which anniversary this is. Is it 5 years? Just 1? Or 3? I'm really worked up about it. I really need to know. Just kidding. I don't give a crap. Happy Anniversary Edward & Bella- I hope you feast on a big ass giraffe or elephant or something on an anniversary safari trip to Africa….I'm sorry I missed the actual day of your anniversary- I could've had Moon photoshop something brilliant in your honor- like you taking a elephant ride through Kenya and then after you're done, chowing down on the very same elephant.
Forgive me friends…. I have… sinned,
Celebrate on The Forum
Tell Rob Congrats on the wedding annivesary for the character he plays over on LTR
Annversary Banner by Everglow– who could technically get a Twi-Dork award of the day from Twicrack since they were the ones that reminded them of the anniversary! Pass on the Twi-Dork love!
3rd image: ivabella via FanPop
Filed under: Bella, Breaking Dawn, Edward, Kristen, Rob Pattinson, Twilight, Twilight Fans, Twilight News | Tagged: African Safari, Bella & Edward's Anniversary, bella swan, edward cullen, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, the cullen wedding, Twi-dork of the day award, twi-dorks, Twilight, Twilight Fans, wedding anniversary, who gives a crap | 30 Comments »


text:
Included below are homes for sale in Palmer Ranch, FL, in Sarasota County. These Palmer Ranch real estate listings are updated daily from the Sarasota MLS (MFRMLS).
Want more information about any of these Palmer Ranch homes for sale? Just click the "Request More Info" or "Schedule a Showing" button when viewing the details of that property. As Sarasota real estate experts, we not only have access to the property disclosures and past sales history of each property, but the local knowledge to help you interpret them. We can also provide you with dates and prices of nearby homes recently sold in the Palmer Ranch area, and more.
Also, please consider registering for a free account -- doing so will enable you to receive automatic email notifications when new homes come on the market in Palmer Ranch, FL.
Email AlertsSubscribe Today!
Questions?Contact Us Now!


text:
Our black, green and red tropical/floral Rayon Spandex fabric is light-medium weight with 4-way stretch.
Special Notes
Current turnaround time is: 3-5 Business Days (excludes weekends & holidays)
Fabric Description
Rayon Spandex is a light to medium weight jersey knit fabric usually made from 95% rayon and 5% spandex. It is very breathable similar to cotton jersey, and has a nice fluid drape perfect for tops, tanks, t-shirts, cardigans and dresses. It has a very slight sheen and the edges roll toward the face of the fabric like cotton jersey. It is a great summer alternative to polyester fabrics since it is so lightweight and breathable, plus it is great for making baby items like swaddles.
Fabric Details
Fabric Type: Rayon Spandex
Color Family: Black Tones
Main Color: Black
Secondary Color(s): Green, Red
Stretch: 4-way
Weight: light-medium weight
Width of Fabric: 60″
Fiber Content:
Country of Origin:


text:
I just realized. I've been intermittently blogging now for three years, as of this December past. In that time, I think I've remained more or less true to the 'mission' of Electric Archaeology – to try out new techs, recount experiments, disseminate my research, in new media for archaeology and history. There have been times when I could post thoughtful, in-depth pieces; and times when I've merely passed on the interesting things that have turned up in my inbox. As of this morning according to WordPress, Electric Archaeology has had over 85,000 views, spread across 394 posts. There have been 329 comments made. I have 62 categories – clearly I need some rationalization there.
I sometimes toy with the idea of moving Electric Archaeology to my own space, so I can put some better analytics on it, but for whatever reason, that just doesn't happen… :)
The all time most viewed posts on Electric Archaeology (the most recent posts of course are at the bottom, having had less chance to be viewed):


text:
As public companies, Nokia and Research In Motion have drawn considerable press coverage relating to their ongoing struggles. Nary a day passes without a barrage of articles on the latest setbacks and travails affecting both companies. Some of the coverage is decidedly morbid, even ghoulish, with death-watch speculation on how soon one company or the other might be sold off or otherwise expire.
Perhaps because it is private, Avaya has escaped such macabre notice from the mainstream business media and the industry trade press. Nonetheless, speculation has arisen as to whether the company, richly backed by private-equity sponsors Silver Lake Partners and TPG Capital, has a future any brighter than the dim prospects attributed to RIM and Nokia.
Abandoned IPO Hope
At this particular juncture, the prospect of an IPO, which once seemed tantalizingly close for Avaya, seems a remote and forlorn hope. As I've noted on a couple occasions before now, Avaya's IPO was scuppered not only by its wan growth profile, but also by industry and macroeconomic headwinds that show no sign of abating.
If no IPO is in the cards, what happens to the company? While at least one blogger has speculated that bankruptcy could be an option, I suspect the deep-pocketed private-equity sponsors might have no choice but to prop up Avaya until a buyer can be found. Given Avaya's tepid growth prospects, its daunting long-term debt overhang, a recent weakening of channel sales, and stiffening competition across its product portfolio, the company is unlikely to find itself in the driver's seat in any negotiations with a prospective buyer, presuming one can be found.
Stranded in Purgatory
Meanwhile, Avaya stakeholders, including the company's employees, are mired in a purgatory. Sources have suggested the company will consolidate facilities and further reduce headcount, but no major announcements have been made on either front.
With an IPO seemingly off the table as an exit alternative, all eyes turn to the company's private-equity sponsors. One potential delaying tactic, which we could see before the end of this calendar year, is the potential departure of president and CEO Kevin Kennedy, who has served in that dual capacity since January 2009. We've already seen revolving doors in the executive suites along Avaya's mahogany row, and "new blood" in the CEO office would buy time for the company's financial backers to devise and articulate a compelling narrative for customers, channel employees, employees, and potential strategic acquirers.
We'll have more insight into Avaya's circumstances soon. The company is due to report its latest quarterly results within the next month or so.


text:
Sibert scores 23, Dayton hits enough free throws to hold off UMass 86-79 to reach 20 wins
DAYTON, Ohio – Jordan Sibert matched his career-high with 23 points and Dayton hit enough free throws down the stretch to defeat Massachusetts 86-79 on Saturday.
Dyshawn Pierre added 16 points, Vee Sanford 15, Devin Oliver 11 and Khari Price 10 for the Flyers (20-9, 8-6 Atlantic 10), who made 9 of 16 free throws in the final 2 minutes.
Trey Davis scored 19 points for the Minutemen (22-6, 9-5) with Chaz Williams adding 17 and Derrick Gordon 15.
Dayton trailed 37-36 at half but started the second with 3s from Sibert and Price and Sibert's three-point play to take the lead. The Minutemen got within three but went scoreless for just more than 2 minutes late while Oliver was making four free throws sandwiched around a Price 3, to lead 68-56 with 5:38 to go.
It was three at 40 seconds but the Flyers made six of their last eight foul shots.


text:
The Balkans recently experienced the heaviest rains in 120 years of recorded weather measurements, causing massive flooding and powerful landslides. My colleague Haris Balta, a certified UAV pilot with the European Union's ICARUS Unmanned Search & Rescue Project (and a member of the Humanitarian UAV Network, UAViators), was deployed to Bosnia to support relief efforts. During this time, another colleague, Peter Spruyt from the European Commission (DG JRC), was also deployed to the region to carry out a post-disaster needs assessment using UAVs.
Haris, who also works at the intersection of robotics and demining, was asked by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to identify the location of mines displaced due to the major flooding and mudslides. As it turns out, some mines were displaced as far as 23 kilometers. When the flood waters subsided and villagers returned, most were unaware of this imminent danger. Haris used a rotary-wing UAV (the quadcopter pictured below) and logged some 20 flights (both manual and autonomous) at more than a dozen locations.
The purpose of these flights was to capture imagery that could be used to identify displaced land mines and to analyze the effects of landslides on other explosive remnants of war. Haris and team created 3D maps from the imagery and used geo-statistical modeling to try and determine in which direction land mines may have been displaced. The imagery also provided valuable information on dyke-breaches and other types of infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, my colleague Peter from DG JRC (who is also a member of the Humanitarian UAV Network) flew a light fixed-wing UAV in five locations to support damage and needs assessments in close collaboration with the World Bank and the UN. According to Peter, both local and regional authorities were very supportive. Some of the resulting images and models of landslide areas are depicted below, courtesy of DG JRC (click to enlarge).
I just introduced Peter and Haris since they weren't aware of each other's respective efforts. If you're participating in humanitarian UAV missions, please consider sharing you work with the Humanitarian UAV Network by posting a quick summary of your mission to the Network's Operations page; even a one-sentence description will go a long way to facilitate information sharing.
See Also:
- Humanitarians in the Sky: Using UAVs for Disaster Response [link]
- Crisis Map of UAV/Aerial Videos for Disaster Response [link]
- Using UAVs for Search & Rescue [link]
- Debrief: UAV/Drone Search & Rescue Challenge [link]
- Crowdsourcing Analysis of UAV Imagery for Search/Rescue [link]
- Check-List for Flying UAVs in Humanitarian Settings [link]


text: > Tough.. the energy density of lead acid is really high. > > Here's an example using one of those big 1 Farad 12V caps the auto sound > people use.. say the UPS can take voltage drop of 2V on the "battery". At > 12V it stores 72 Joules. At 10V, you've recovered 22J. That's about 1/10th > second, assuming the UPS is 100% efficient, which it isn't. Ouch. I have been schooled indeed, and of course I know 1/2 CV^2 and should have been able to figure this out myself. Lazy boy. > The battery life *should* be a whole lot longer (Lead Acid batteries can have > 10-20 year lives, as can NiCd), however, the run of the mill UPS doesn't > treat the battery very well. I have never seen a NiCd last that long. One is lucky to get a hundred power cycles out of them. NiMH aren't even doing too well in my copious supply of rechargable batteries at home. And of course a car battery that makes it to seven or eight years is more the exception than the rule. >> especially at mass market prices. > > That's the problem.. mass market means race to the bottom for quality and > life, to reduce initial price. You can get a PC UPS which provides 10 > minutes or so at 200-300VA for $50-70 at the local big box store. If you > were willing to pay, say, $300-400, you could probably get 20 year life. I'd just like to get more than 1-2 years. Laptop batteries too. At three years there is a notable drop in charge time, no matter what you spent on them originally. rgb -- Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu


text:
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 review!!!
Alright its time to chat about chapter one and two with you all. I hope you all have either read Supernova or are reading with me, if not what are you waiting for?
So anyway, lets talk chapter 1, shall we? What did you all think about the characters introduction in this story. I must say I loved it! I love the dreams and I am in love with Gabe!!! I really wish I had a friend like him.
The dreams that Kerrigan had in the beginning about her grandmother and the ravens was so fascinating and I really can't wait to read more about the connection between her and her grandmother! I'm also dying to understand about the man her grandmother was talking about and the light. Very excited!!!
By chapter 2 I was so intrigued by the dream and what her grandmother was trying to tell her that I couldn't wait to read more of the story. Chapter 2 though I wanted to scream at Kerrigan to punch her boyfriend. Seriously I like Gabe's idea of what to do to him.
I have always loved the way C.L. Parker writes and tells her stories, but this one has me totally engrossed in the pages! I can't wait to read the chapters tonight so I can share more about this book with all of you.
Also remember you can ask C.L. Parker anything in your comments below. She has agreed to answer your questions. YAY! I already have one for her today and I can't wait to read her answer.
Where did your idea for Gabe come from? I love his character so much and always wanted to know where he came from. Do you have a picture of what he would really look like in real life?
So what did you all think of chapters 1 and 2?


text:
So much for that come back to blogging. Life always gets crazy as soon as you make a commitment to something. I will keep my house clean. We start a new project. I will lose weight . There's an event at church or a party with delicious goodies. I will exercise. I fall on the ice and hurt my back. I will write more. I start another new job. Okay, now I am just making excuses.
This morning on the way to work I heard the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus on the radio. Why does that song always make me cry? Not a good thing while you're driving on the freeway doing 75 mph.
So it is a new year. Time for renewed vigor and energy and zest for our goals. I made A huge list of all the all the things I want to accomplish this year. Huge. I will accomplish at least one of them.
AmI the only one that finally cam to the realization that life is about change and I should just get used to it and accept it. Every year I think it will stop but every year we have big changes in our life. So this year I am all about the change. Change is good will be my mantra.
No more excuses. I will enjoy the climb and changing scenery of life.


text: REV-X is kicking back off starting Saturday April 30th, 2011 at our new time 8:00PM and runs to 12:00AM\n\nAddress:\n11120 Gordon Road\nFredericksburg, VA 22407\n\n\n\n\n\nREV-X is held at the Salem Fields Community Church Parking Lots. This is private property; and with over 550 available parking spots, we definitely have room to grow. REV-X last year averaged about 175 cars every weekend and had a peak attendance of 363 one night. We are currently the most successful weekly meet in Virginia.\n\nThe Church Meet\nWe have become known as "The Church Meet." This is because REV-X is held at a church parking lot. But also, Salem Fields Community Church owns and operates REV-X. They are the equivalent of a corporate sponsor, they pay for EVERYTHING and they put a lot of money into REV-X. And yes, I am a pastor. HOWEVER, you are NOT required or obligated to attend\/go to\/volunteer at (etc.) this church in any way. We don't bash you with scripture or try to convert you. Those who know me know my circle of friends; those who don't are usually surprised by it. I don't care if you are an atheist, homosexual, hate God, whatever. If you have questions about religion or faith, just ask me. And that is as far as I will talk about religion.\n\nI just wanted to put it out in the open.\n\nA step above the rest\nREV-X differs from any other local weekly meet in that we have a corporate sponsor. This has given us some benefits that most other meet allows do not. We have our own indoor full service cafe serving drinks and food. We have indoor bathrooms. We have a pretty stout sound system. And I am writing proposals to vastly improve REV-X. Also we have one vendor\/shop that has expressed interest in setting up a booth at REV-X. Salem Fields Community Church has a full time production team, which means if I need help with sound, audio, video, photoshoping, etc. they are available to tackle the job. They are taking on the task of making our new flyers this year.\n\nAlso, I take on the responsibility of managing and keeping everyone safe, while still trying to maintain a fun atmosphere. All you have to do is follow the rules and have a good time.\n\nRules\nThe rules really are just common sense to ensure this meet continues:\n\nThis will be a 100% drug\/alcohol free event.\nKeep it slow in the parking lot.\nNo burnouts\/donuts\nNo revving your motor or blasting your music.\nIf your car is moving your headlights MUST be on\nNo weapons.\nNo Fighting.\n\n\nBreaking the rules\nWe know that people will slip up, so we will in most cases give a warning for people revving or playing loud music, or driving with their lights off. Repeat offenders will be asked to leave.\n\nThe only reason we have the headlights rule is because last year there was a near accident that would have been avoided if the moving car had it's headlights on. It's more for your safety than anything.\n\nSpeeding through the lots or Burnouts\/Donuts will get you kicked out for the weekend, maybe longer.\n\nI am an advocate to the right to bear arms, but Virginia is unique that it is a misdemeanor to have a weapon on church property; these includes knives unless you have written consent from the church or are a LEO. So we had to make it a rule. Punishment? You could be arrested.\n\nFighting will get you kicked out for season. It's simple, we don't tolerate it; however smack talking about your cars is encouraged.\n\nEquipment violation Tickets\nLast year when we started I had hoped to work with local law enforcement. It didn't exactly go the way I wanted it, but we did eventually sit down with the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Department and came to an agreement. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Department is working with us. We have agreed to deny entry to anyone that the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Department asks us to deny, but they can only do it for two reasons. 1) Street Racing 2) extremely reckless behavior. In return they have agreed not to give tickets for equipment violation for people coming\/going to\/from REV-X.\n\nREV-X vs. Mid-Atlantic Mega Meets\nREV-X and Mid-Atlantic Mega Meets are separate organizations; though we do sometimes advertise their events even if they land on the same day\/time as REV-X. We'd like to give people options, plus MAMM has some friggin' cool meets. To help distinguish us from them, we have stopped using the term "Mega Meets" and are pushing for Auto or weekly meets.\n\nOther REV-X Events\nLast year we talked about things like free track days and a burnout pit. Those plans were put on hold due to some complications. We are re-investigating those events. Things like this take a lot of planning and must be budgeted far in advance, I really do hope to do at least one track day this year, but it may not happen due to the planning\/budgeting requirements.\n\nSlander against REV-X\nREV-X and myself has experienced some slander in the recent months. Most of the slander is regarding over bearing rules and penalties and some about us working with the police to get people tickets. None of these are true. \n\nTo make this simpler, if you have a question about the direction of REV-X or rules or penalties just ask, I'll answer them the best I can.\n\nI started REV-X to give the community a positive outlet to express their enthusiasm in cars, bikes or trucks. I did not start REV-X to have the community serve me. Organizing a car meet is a lot of work, I enjoy serving my community, in the same way I enjoyed serving my country. I'll admit that REV-X is still a work in process, but I am keeping fluid and flexible allowing change as I get input from the people that attend.\n\nREV-X Communication\/Facebook\nDue to the overwhelming number of forums we are advertising on it will be impractical to respond to every question on every forum. The best source of communication with us is to use our facebook page. Like our facebook page at:\nREV-X | Facebook\n\n\nREV-X teams up with SpecOne.Va\n\nLast year SpecOne.Va brought you another impressive meet at Dicks Sporting Goods located in Woodbridge, VA. Dicks Sporting Goods would eventually put up "No Loitering" signs which stopped the meets at this location. This year Spec One and REV-X has decided to start working together to keep a strong meet going. With over 550 parking spots, we will be able to hold this a meet at our spot and still have plenty of room to grow.\n\nIf both meets can keep up their average attendance from previous years we would have 500 cars weekly.


text:
Republicans need to make up their minds: Is President Obama a socialist or a corporate stooge?
"The president claims his economic agenda is for the middle class. But it's actually for the well-connected," Paul Ryan, the GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee, wrote last week in USA Today, rejecting Obama's latest proposal for a corporate tax cut. "There's no doubt that it works well for them. But for the rest of us, it's not working at all."
Ryan, in his brief commentary, protested that Obama is "interested in tax reform for corporations — but not for families or small business." He further accused Obama of implementing health-care and regulatory policies that favor big businesses and big banks.
That's rich.
Ryan, after all, is the guy who just a year ago accused Obama of "sowing social unrest and class resentment," of supporting "a government-run economy" and of "denigrating people who are successful." He has charged the president with leading the nation toward "a cradle-to-grave, European-style social welfare state."
Republican lawmakers seem to think that Americans have short memories and lack Internet connections, for their latest line of attack — that Obama's health-care and tax policies favor the corporate elite — directly contradicts their previous allegation that Obama was waging "class warfare" with "socialist" policies attacking these very same corporate elites.
"Why is it," Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, asked at a Ways and Means Committee hearing last month, "that under this White House, Warren Buffett gets a break from Obamacare, but Joe Six-Pack, the single mom working at the local restaurant, they don't get any kind of break?"
The theme was picked up Wednesday by House Speaker John Boehner, who, rather than crediting Obama for offering to cut the corporate tax rate, complained that Obama's "scheme" would "actually require small businesses to pay higher tax rates than big companies."
So Obama's that rare socialist who is in bed with big business? Then again, the point of the Republicans' critique of Obama isn't to be logical; it's to be critical — relentlessly, if not rationally.
Boehner, asked at a news conference about Obama's series of speeches on the economy, replied: "If I had poll numbers as low as his, I'd probably be out doing the same thing if I were him." Obama's job-approval rating is 46 percent. Boehner's is just over half that.
The indecision over whether Obama is a socialist or a plutocrat is but one of the contradictory critiques his opponents have yet to resolve. They also haven't determined whether he's a tyrant or a weakling, arrogant or apologetic. It all suggests the opposition is based less on principle than on reflex.
"We have a president that's a socialist," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said at one of the 2012 Republican presidential debates, disregarding both nuance and grammar.
But now, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is one of several Republicans complaining that Obama is unfairly boosting corporations by extending the deadline for them to comply with Obamacare. "We have big business being thrown a big bone," he said on the Senate floor last week. "This is not fair."
Likewise, Boehner says, "the president is not leading," a charge echoed by other prominent Republicans. Mitt Romney called Obama a "weak president," and Newt Gingrich, during the 2012 campaign, called Obama "so weak that he makes Jimmy Carter look strong."
That should come as a relief to Republicans, who spent much of 2010 calling Obama a tyrant. Many of them still do. Darrell Issa of California, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, says Obama is guilty of "imperial behavior" and "abuse of power." Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky asserts that Obama is "someone who wants to act like a king or a monarch." And Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas still prefers to think of Obama as "a tyrannical despot."
If you're going to be a despot, you might as well be a tyrannical one.
The Republican lawmakers may be so muddled because their thought leaders can't agree on the proper line of attack. The confusion grew so intense during Obama's intervention in Libya that some Republicans contradicted their own critiques in the span of days. Gingrich, for example, demanded in early March 2011 that the United States should "exercise a no-fly zone this evening." Two weeks later, after Obama took the action that would bring down Moammar Gaddafi, Gingrich said, "I would not have intervened."
It was a brave stand against the cruel tyranny of consistency.


text:
About Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
You will visit the following 5 places:
Saint John
Punta Cana
Punta Cana is part of the newly created Punta Cana-Bávaro-Veron-Macao municipal district in La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches and balnearios, which face both the Caribbean and Atlantic, and it has been a popular tourist destination since the 1970s. The Punta Cana area has an estimated population of 100,000 with a growth rate of 6%. To the north, it borders the village and beach of Cabeza de Toro, and then the Bávaro and El Cortecito beaches. The nearest city, the 500-year-old capital of the Province Higüey, is 45 kilometres (28 mi) away, and it takes about an hour to drive there. Europeans, particularly Spanish hotel chains, own all but two of the 50+ megaresorts of the Punta Cana tourism destination.
Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. It is the only city on Barbados and well over half the island's residents live there. It is the port of call for many cruise ships and is known for its duty-free shopping as much as for its more cultural and historical attractions.
San Juan
San Juan, officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista (Municipality of the Capital City, Saint John the Baptist), is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 658,304 making it the 42nd-largest city under the jurisdiction of the United States. San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, who called it Ciudad de Puerto Rico ("Rich Port City"). Puerto Rico's capital is the second oldest European-established city in the Americas, after Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Several historical buildings are located in San Juan; among the most notable are the city's former defensive forts, Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristóbal, and La Fortaleza, the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.
Sandals Regency St Lucia
One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries, is a port of call for cruise ships. They dock at Pointe Seraphine, to the north of the harbour, which is also a duty-free shopping centre. Beaches are also a major draw for tourists, and there are several in or very near Castries. The city doesn't have a huge amount to offer visitors, and it's usually just a place that you'll pass through on your way to the more obvious attractions of Saint Lucia - but it's worth watching those marvellous cruise ships that visit Saint Lucia dock!


text:
Cody Asche was drafted by the Phillies in the 4th round of the 2011 draft. Since the draft, Asche has had a good deal of success, flying through the minor leagues — never spending a full season at any one level — and making his Major League Baseball debut in July of 2013.
After somewhat of a disappointing professional baseball debut in 2011, where he batted .192 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI's in 78 games, Asche began climbing through the ranks at the start of the 2012 season.
In 2012, Asche posted a batting average of .324 with 12 homers and 72 RBI's, between High-A and Double-A, before finishing out the year in Arizona as a member of the annual Arizona Fall League.
Following the great season, Asche recorded 15 home runs and 68 RBI's the next year, to go along with a .295 batting average, earning him a callup to the majors after the All-Star break. In 50 games with the Phillies, before the end of the 2013 season, Asche blasted 5 homers and drove in 22 runs, proving why he was able to make it there so quickly.
Heading into what's going to be Asche's first full season in the major leagues, Asche should continue to get better and better as he gains experience, and will likely be playing the hot corner in Philadelphia for years to come.
Cody Asche — third baseman for the Phillies — took the time recently to answer some of my questions:
1.) At what age did you first become interested in baseball? Who was your biggest baseball influence growing up?
I would say really young, around five to six. I loved playing it in the backyard with my brother and my dad. So they have to be the two who influenced me the most.
2.) Who was your favorite baseball player growing up? Why?
Ken Griffey Jr. He was a superstar. He did it all and played the game the right way.
3.) You were drafted by the Phillies in the 4th round of the 2011 draft. What was that process like for you? Where were you when you first found out? Initial thoughts?
It was very stressful. Not knowing what lies ahead can be stressful, especially when you are trying to play a college season. I found out in my kitchen. We had the draft audio on and my mom and dad were with me when my name was called. Initially, thoughts were excitement, and happiness that the process was over.
4.) After getting drafted, you were assigned to Single-A and placed at second base. Having played third base up until that point, you didn't have a very successful (half) season. However, in 2012, you were moved back to third, and did very well. Having excelled ever since, what is it about third base that makes you more comfortable?
I'm not sure it's only third that made me feel comfortable. I think it was more just learning the ropes and getting comfortable in pro ball. Hitting wise, success is all about comfort. When you struggle it's because something doesn't feel right and you aren't comfortable. So after the first year I worked on some things to help improve that, and I have been able to do well since.
5.) Your great 2012 season was capped off with an invitation to the Arizona Fall League, where you once again posted good numbers, earning you a spot on the Western Division roster of the Rising Stars game. What was that experience like? What did you take away from it?
The Arizona Fall League was awesome. I was fortunate enough to be a guy that got to play four days a week down there, so I could really work on my game. I definitely credit that time period for setting me up for a good 2013 campaign.
6.) Starting the 2013 season at Triple-A, you made your major league debut in July. What kind of emotions did you experience during your debut?
Emotions were crazy. Trying to hold back tears seeing your parents in the stands for the first time was tough, then playing on top of that made it a little crazy to start. But that is all part of it. I think the phone call I got to make to my parents the day I was called up was the most memorable part of making it up last year.
7.) What's it like playing under Ryne Sandberg (a baseball Hall of Famer)?
He's a great person. I think that stands out to me the most. It seems like he sincerely cares about the players, and especially myself. I think all managers have a way of showing that to their players.
8.) What do you feel went well in 2013? What are your goals for 2014?
I think in 2013 I was able to improve a ton. That's what I really care about, just improving on a daily basis. As far as 2014 is concerned, I would like to be healthy and keep learning and finding my niche on the team so I can contribute to a winner in Philly.
9.) Favorite TV show? Favorite food?
TV show: Parks and Recreation. Food: Chicken parm.
10.) Lastly, what advice would you give to kids who are just starting out that dream of playing professional baseball one day?
Don't sell yourself short. No matter what position or level you are at, keep faith and confidence in yourself and keep improving. Never lose your own self confidence. ——————————————————————————————————————————————
Big thanks to Cody Asche for taking the time to answer my questions.
You can follow him on Twitter: @cody_smasche