text:
Wednesday morning the Lady Bisons flew to Fort Myers, Fla., home of Florida Gulf Coast University, the tournament host. The Lady Bisons have a first round bye, but will practice Thursday and attend a mid-day banquet.
They will make their first appearance at Alico Arena Friday afternoon at 4 Central time in the semifinals against either No. 4 Belmont or No. 5. The Lady Bisons finished the conference double round-robin with a 20-0 record and a 26-3 worksheet overall.
Rounding out the field are No. 2 seed Jacksonville, No. 3 seed Florida Gulf Coast and No. 6 seed Campbell. The championship game is Saturday at 2 p.m. CST.
Lady Bisons coach Brandon Rosenthal, the 2009 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year, isn't afraid to admit that he made several mistakes last season in dealing with his team's top seeding in the conference tournament.
"We are approaching it completely different from last year," said Rosenthal. "Last year we over –analyzed and we over-worked. We put too much emphasis on it."
The Lady Bisons are making their fifth trip to the Atlantic Sun Tournament. They have been in the championship game the past two seasons, losing in 2008 to Belmont and winning the title in 2007.
The Lady Bisons are approaching the tournament in the same manner they would a regular weekend series. They practiced 1 ½ hours each on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is strictly a travel day with no practice scheduled.
"We are not going to over practice," said Rosenthal. "Without knowing who we are going to play we would be practicing just to practice. Last year we watched more video and broke down more things.
"I don't know if that helped us. In the end, it is my job to figure out what is the best thing to do to put us in the position to win. Rest at this point is huge. We had good practices Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we are going to let them relax, catch their breath and refocus."
Rosenthal isn't concerned with the seedings. The motto for this season is "anyone, anytime, anywhere". And that means even more this weekend to the Lady Bisons.
"We have believed that all year," said Rosenthal. "We will believe it this week."
Written by Mark McGee, Senior Publisher/Director of Media Relations


text:
Game Notes - pdf
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University football team will host Denison University on Saturday, October 6 on Homecoming at Gesling Stadium. The game is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
Carnegie Mellon and Denison will meet on the gridiron for the 10th time Saturday afternoon with the Big Red leading the series 5-3-1. However, the Tartans have won three of the last four meetings. The teams first met in 1909 with the contest ending in a 0-0 tie before Denison won four straight from 1962-1965. The Tartans' first victory over the Big Red came in 1997 followed by a Denison victory in 1998 and then a Tartan win in 1999. The last time they met was at Denison in 2000 with the Tartans winning 20-7.
Carnegie Mellon will enter the contest with a 4-1 mark after dropping a 54-28 decision at #17 Wabash College last Saturday. Denison comes to Pittsburgh with a record of 2-2. The Rig Red is riding a two-game winning streak including a 30-22 victory over Wooster last week.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- "The Goblet of Fire! Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly! If chosen, there's no turning back. As from this moment, The Triwizard Tournament has begun."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
The Goblet of Fire is the "impartial judge" for the Triwizard Tournament, who chooses which students will represent their respective schools during the upcoming tasks of the tournament.
After the students have finished placing their name in Goblet, the Goblet then chooses one student from each school by spitting out their name in a rush of red flames. Once chosen the participants are subject to a binding magical contract in which they can not back out of the tournament.[1]
The Goblet is described as being made of wood and — when active — has blue-white flames up to the edges. When it wasn't in use, it was kept in a jewelled casket.
It acted as an impartial judge, and as such, it generally had an age barrier cast to ensure that no one under the minimum age could try to put their name into the goblet. Similarly, anyone who tries to do so with a rapidly-aging potion would end up hit with its flames and force them to age even further as old men, as demonstrated by what happened to Fred and George Weasley when they tried to trick the goblet via that exact method.
Though it was an impartial judge, it can be bewitched to make decisions that transgress the rules. Since the goblet is a highly powerful magical artefact, it would require a Confundus Charm of equal or greater power to accomplish. After the champions are selected, it will extinguish itself and will not reignite until the next tournament.
The Goblet of Fire was created at an unknown time and by an unknown person. As many who knew about the Triwizard Tournament were unaware of its use in the competition in 1994, it had either been created rather recently, or so long ago that it was long-forgotten by the time it was unveiled once again in 1994.
The 1994 Triwizard Tournament
- "If your name is chosen, there is no turning back. As from this moment... the Triwizard Tournament has begun."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
Albus Dumbledore drew an Age Line around the Goblet during the 1994 Tournament to prevent students under the age of seventeen from entering their name. However, the Goblet was fooled into thinking there were more than three schools competing by a powerful Confundus Charm cast on it by Barty Crouch Jr, disguised as Alastor Moody.
This resulted in the selection of a fourth Champion, Harry Potter, into the Tournament alongside Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum. The flames of the Goblet went out and would not ignite again until the next tournament, much to Igor Karkaroff's frustration, who wanted to reselect champions until each school had two representatives to even things out. It was later revealed that Crouch was working for Lord Voldemort as part of a plan to use Harry's blood to revive the Dark Lord.
- Angelina Johnson, Gryffindor house, unsuccessful.
- S. Fawcett, Ravenclaw house, underage, unsuccessful.
- Summers, Hufflepuff house, underage, unsuccessful.
- Fred Weasley, Gryffindor house, underage, unsuccessful.
- George Weasley, Gryffindor house, underage, unsuccessful.
- Several Durmstrang students, who were unsuccessful.
- Viktor Krum, Durmstrang Institute, selected as Durmstrang Champion.
- C. Warrington, Slytherin house, unsuccessful.
- Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff house, selected as Hogwarts Champion.
- Several Beauxbatons students, who were unsuccessful.
- Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, selected as Beauxbatons Champion.
- Barty Crouch Jr (as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody), entered as Harry Potter, selected as Champion of unspecified fourth school.
Behind the scenes
- In the films, the Goblet is bigger than in the books and Pottermore.
- The Goblet may possess an unknown degree of sentience, similar to such objects as the Sorting Hat. Beyond its mere ability to sort through applicants, this is further suggested by the fact that the Confundus Charm, whose purpose is to confuse a mind, could be used against it, albeit only by a wizard of great skill.
- What becomes of the Goblet afterwards is unknown, though it has been rendered effectively useless with the permanent discontinuation of the Triwizard Tournament.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 16 (The Goblet of Fire)
|Objects & Locations: Goblet of Fire • Casket • Golden egg • Hedge Maze • Triwizard Cup
|Schools: Beauxbatons • Durmstrang • Hogwarts
|1994-1995 Triwizard Champions: Fleur Delacour • Viktor Krum • Cedric Diggory • Harry Potter


text:
November 22, 2002
Senate Passes H.R. 4070, "Social Security Program Protection Act of 2002"
On November 18, 2002, the Senate passed (with amendments) the House-passed version of H.R. 4070, the "Social Security Program Protection Act of 2002." The bill was returned to the House, which took no further action. Below are descriptions of the bill's provisions.
Authority To Reissue Benefits Misused By Organizational Representative Payees
- Would provide for the reissuance of title II, title VIII, and title XVI benefits in case of benefit misuse by an organizational payee or an individual payee who serves 15 or more beneficiaries. Under present law, benefits can be reissued only where there was negligent failure on SSA's part to investigate or monitor the performance of the payee. In all other cases, the individual loses his or her funds unless SSA can obtain restitution of the misused benefits from the payee, or unless the individual obtains restitution from the payee through other means, such as a civil lawsuit.
- Would define "misuse of benefits" by a representative payee in titles II, VIII, and XVI. Present law provides that benefits paid to a representative payee on behalf of an individual are for the individual's "use or benefit", but does not contain a definition of misuse.
- Would provide that reissued title II, VIII, and XVI benefits would be excluded from resources for purposes of determining SSI eligibility for 9 months after the month in which the reissued benefits are received.
- Would be effective with respect to misuse determinations made on or after January 1, 1995.
Oversight Of Representative Payees
- Would require that, in order to receive a fee for serving as a title II or title XVI representative payee, nongovernmental organizational representative payees certify annually that they are both bonded and licensed, provided that licensing is available in the State. Would be effective on the first day of the thirteenth month beginning after the date of enactment.
- Would require periodic onsite review of title II, VIII, and XVI representative payees who are either individual payees serving 15 or more beneficiaries, nongovernmental fee-for-service payees, or any other organizational or governmental representative payee that serves 50 or more beneficiaries. Would be effective upon enactment.
- Would require the Commissioner, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, to submit to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee a report on the results of the periodic reviews conducted during the subject fiscal year.
Disqualification From Service As Representative Payee Upon Conviction Of Offenses Resulting In Imprisonment For More Than 1 Year And Upon Fugitive Felon Status
- Would provide that a person who has been convicted of an offense that resulted in imprisonment for more than 1 year could not be appointed as representative payee for title II, VIII, or XVI benefits, unless the Commissioner determines that such appointment would be appropriate, notwithstanding such conviction.Would provide that a person who is a fugitive felon or a parole violator could not be appointed as representative payee for title II, VIII, or XVI benefits.
- Would require, within 270 days of enactment, the Commissioner in consultation with the Inspector General to submit a report to Congress evaluating whether existing reviews and procedures relating to the qualification/disqualification of representative payees provide sufficient safeguards.
- Would be effective on the first day of the thirteenth month beginning after the date of enactment.
Fee Forfeiture In Case Of Benefit Misuse By Representative Payees
- Would provide that an organization qualified to collect a fee for serving as a title II or title XVI representative payee could not collect a fee for any month that it is determined that the organization misused all or part of the individual's benefit.
- Would be effective in any case with respect to which the Commissioner makes the determination of misuse after December 31, 2002.
Liability Of Representative Payees For Misused Benefits
- Would provide that the amount of benefits misused by a nongovernmental representative payee would be treated as overpayments to the representative payee, subject to current overpayment recovery authorities. Any recovered amounts not reissued to the beneficiary pursuant to section 101 of the bill would be reissued to the beneficiary or his alternative representative payee, up to the total amount misused.
- Would be effective in any case with respect to which the Commissioner makes the determination of misuse after December 31, 2002.
Authority To Redirect Delivery Of Benefit Payments When A Representative Payee Fails To Provide Required Accounting
- Would provide SSA with the authority to redirect payment of title II, VIII, and XVI benefits to local Social Security field offices if a representative payee fails to provide an annual accounting of benefits report. SSA would be required to provide proper notice prior to redirecting benefits. Under present law, there is no authority to redirect benefit payments.
- Would be effective 180 days after the date of enactment.
Issuance by Commissioner of Social Security of Receipts to Acknowledge Submission of Reports of Changes in Work or Earnings Status
- Would require the Commissioner, as soon as possible but no later than 1 year after date of enactment, to issue a receipt to a disabled beneficiary each time he or she submits documentation or otherwise reports a change in earnings or work status and to continue to issue such receipts until a centralized computer file recording the date of the submission of such information is implemented.
Denial Of Title II Benefits To Fugitive Felons And Persons Fleeing Prosecution
- Would deny title II benefits to fugitive felons and individuals who are fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, under the laws of the place from which the person flees, for a crime, or an attempt to commit a crime, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which a person flees, or in the case of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of such state, or is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law.
- Would require the Commissioner to furnish (unless it would violate other Federal or State law) law enforcement officers the current address, SSN and photograph (if applicable) of any beneficiary under this title upon written request of the officer. The written request must provide sufficient identifying information for the Commissioner to uniquely identify the beneficiary, and must establish that the beneficiary is a fugitive felon or probation or parole violator, has information needed by the officer to perform his/her official duties, and that locating/ apprehending the beneficiary is within the scope of the officer's official duties.
- Would be effective 9 months after enactment.
Requirements Relating To Offers To Provide For A Fee A Product Or Service Available Without Charge From The Social Security Administration.
- Would amend section 1140 of the Social Security Act by adding a mandatory requirement that persons or companies include in their solicitations a statement that services that they provide for a fee are available directly from SSA free of charge. The statement would be required to comply with standards promulgated by the Commissioner of Social Security with respect to their content, placement, visibility, and legibility.
- Would be effective 180 days after the date of enactment.
Refusal To Recognize Certain Individuals As Claimant Representatives
- Would authorize the Commissioner, after due notice and opportunity for hearing, to refuse to recognize a representative and disqualify a representative already recognized, who has been disbarred, suspended, or disqualified from participating in or appearing before any Federal program or agency from which he or she was previously admitted to practice in any jurisdiction.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Penalty For Corrupt Or Forcible Interference With Administration Of The Social Security Act
- Would require a fine of not more than $5000, imprisonment of not more than 3 years, or both, for anyone who corruptly or by force, impedes or attempts to impede or obstruct the administration of the Social Security Act. If the offense is committed only by threats of force, the penalty would be a fine of not more than $3000, imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Use Of Symbols, Emblems, Or Names In Reference To Social Security Or Medicare
- Would update section 1140 of the Social Security Act to include the Health Care Financing Administration's (HCFA) new name - Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the names prohibited from use in specified circumstances. It would also add Death Benefits Update, Federal Benefits Information, Funeral Expenses, and Final Supplemental Plan to the terms that are prohibited from use because they may give a false impression that an item is approved or endorsed by SSA, CMS, or HHS.
- Would be effective 180 days after the date of enactment.
Disqualification From Payment During Trial Work Period Upon Conviction Of Fraudulent Concealment Of Work Activity.
- Would provide that an individual who is convicted of fraudulently concealing work activity during the trial work period (TWP) would not be entitled to receive a disability benefit for TWP months that occur prior to the conviction but within the same period of disability. If payment has already been made, he or she is liable for repayment plus restitution, fines, penalties, and assessments.
- In order to be considered to be fraudulently concealing work activity under this provision, the individual must have: (1) provided false information to SSA about his or her earnings during that period; (2) worked under another identity, including under the Social Security number of another person or a false Social Security number; or (3) taken other actions to conceal work activity with the intent to fraudulently receive benefits that he or she was not entitled to.
- Would be effective with respect to work activity performed after enactment.
Cap On Attorney Assessments
- Would cap the amount of the attorney fee assessment at the lower of 6.3% percent of the attorney fee certified or paid from the claimant's past-due benefits, or $75. The $75 cap would be adjusted based on the annual cost-of-living adjustments rounded down to the next lower $10, but in no case to an amount less than $75.
- Would apply with respect to attorney fees which are first required to be certified or paid in or after the month beginning 180 days after enactment.
Application Of Demonstration Authority Sunset Date To New Projects
- Would extend the general title II disability program demonstration project waiver authority to include projects initiated before the expiration of the 5-year period (ending December 17, 2004).
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Expansion Of Waiver Authority Available In Connection With Demonstration Projects Providing For Reductions In Disability Insurance Benefits Based On Earnings
- Would authorize the Commissioner to waive requirements of section 1148 of the Social Security Act, which pertains to the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program and the provision of rehabilitation and return-to-work services.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Funding Of Demonstration Projects Providing For Reductions In Disability Insurance Benefits Based On Earnings
- Would change financial authorization language in the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act to specify that benefits associated with the $1-for-$2 demonstration will be paid directly from the OASI, DI, HI, and SMI trust funds.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Availability Of Federal And State Work Incentive Services To Additional Individuals
- Would allow Benefit Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) services and Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System services to be provided to those beneficiaries in section 1619(b) status, those beneficiaries receiving only a State Supplement payment, and those beneficiaries in an extended period of Medicare eligibility under title XVIII after a period of disability under title II has ended, and would allow P&A System services to include those needed to maintain employment (in addition to those needed to secure or regain it).
- Would be effective with respect to: (1) grants, cooperative agreements or contracts entered into on or after the date of enactment; and, (2) payments provided after the date of enactment.
- Technical Amendment Clarifying Treatment For Certain Purposes Of Individual Work Plans Under The Ticket To Work And Self-Sufficiency Program
- Would treat an individual receiving vocational rehabilitation pursuant to an individual work plan established under the Ticket to Work program the same as an individual with an individualized work plan under a State plan for vocational rehabilitation services approved under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, thereby making employers who hire such individuals eligible for the worker opportunity tax credit.
- Would be effective as if enacted in section 505 of P.L 106-170 (i.e., applies to individuals who began work for the employer after June 30, 1999).
Elimination Of Transcript Requirement In Remand Cases Fully Favorable To The Claimant
- Would provide that SSA would not have to prepare and file a transcript with the district court after a court-ordered remand for further administrative proceedings results in a fully?favorable award of benefits.
- Would be effective with respect to final determinations issued upon remand made on or after the date of enactment.
Nonpayment Of Benefits Upon Removal From The United States
- Would end the exemption from nonpayment of benefits for aliens removed from the United States for smuggling other aliens into the United States.
- Would be effective for aliens for whom the Commissioner receives a removal notice from the Attorney General after the date of enactment.
Reinstatement Of Certain Reporting RequirementsWould reinstate the following report requirements, which were eliminated as a result of provisions in P.L. 104-66, the "Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995."
- Trustees reports on OASDI, HI, and SMI trust funds;
- Continuing disability reviews report; and
- Disability preefectuation review report.
Clarification Of Definitions Regarding Certain Survivor Benefits
- Would provide a limited exception to the 9-month duration-of-marriage requirement for widow(er)'s benefits. This exception would apply in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.
- Would be effective based on applications for benefits filed after the date of enactment.
Clarification Respecting The FICA And SECA Tax Exemptions For An Individual Whose Earnings Are Subject To The Laws Of A Totalization Agreement Partner
- Would provide clear legal authority to exempt a worker's earnings from U.S. Social Security tax in cases where their earnings were subject to a foreign country's laws in accordance with a U.S. totalization agreement, but the foreign country's law does not require compulsory contributions with respect to those earnings.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Coverage Under Divided Retirement System For Public Employees Of Kentucky
- Would add 'Kentucky' to the list of 21 States in the Social Security Act permitted to use the divided retirement system procedures. Under these procedures, the State has the option of extending Social Security and Medicare coverage (or Medicare coverage only) to only those current employees who wish to be covered, with all future employees being covered under Social Security automatically.
- Would be effective January 1, 2003.
60-Month Period of Employment Requirement For Application Of Government Pension Offset Exemption.
- Would replace the present-law "last-day of covered employment" exemption to the government pension offset (GPO) with a more stringent requirement. The provision would require that Federal, State and local government workers be covered by Social Security throughout their last 60 months of employment with the governmental entity in order to be exempt from the government pension offset.
- Would be effective for applications filed after the month of enactment. However, the provision would not apply to individuals whose last day of State or local government employment was covered by Social Security and occurs on or before June 30, 2003, provided that such period of covered employment began on or before December 31, 2002. (For those individuals who meet these requirements, the present-law "last day" test exemption would apply.)
Technical Correction Relating To Responsible Agency Head
- Would delete all references to the "Secretary of Health and Human Services" in section 1143 of the Social Security Act (with regard to issuance of Social Security statements) and replace them with the "Commissioner of Social Security."
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Technical Correction Relating To Retirement Benefits Of Ministers
- Would conform the Social Security Act to the change made to the tax provisions in the Internal Revenue Code in 1996 by excluding from coverage for Social Security benefit purposes certain benefits (including a parsonage allowance) received by a retired minister or member of a religious order.
- Would be effective for years beginning before, on or after December 31, 1994.
Technical Correction Relating To Domestic Employment
- Would remove the references to domestic employment that appear in the provisions in the law that define agricultural employment. Further, the provisions that define domestic employment would specify that domestic employment includes domestic service performed on a farm.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Technical Corrections Of Outdated References
- Would change the Act to correct terminology and citations respecting removal from the United States.
- Would change the Act to correct the citation with respect to the tax deduction relating to health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
- Would change the Code to eliminate the reference to the obsolete 20-day agricultural work test.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
Technical Correction Respecting Self-Employment Income In Community Property States
- Would conform identical provisions in the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to current practice in both community property and non-community property States (i.e., to provide that income from a trade or business that is not a partnership will be taxed and credited to the spouse who earned the income in carrying on the trade or business or to each spouse based on their distributive share of the gross earnings, if jointly operated).
- Would be effective upon enactment.


text:
Chris Brown has become Perez Hilton's latest Twitter foe after the celebrity blogger took aim at the singer during a TV appearance on Tuesday.
Hilton appeared to taunt the R&B star early on Tuesday when he took to Twitter to alert fans to tune in to "The Wendy Williams Show," where he planned to discuss a candid interview Brown had recently given to Britain's The Guardian newspaper, in which he revealed he lost his virginity at the age of 8.
He wrote, "I hope @ChrisBrown doesn't watch! I'm talking about him on the @WendyWilliams show today and I'm going in!!!"
His Twitter post didn't go unnoticed by Brown, and he hit out at Hilton with a series of insults directed at both Hilton and TV host Wendy Williams.
In a series of insulting messages, the singer wrote, "Thanks for the publicity. Your insecurities are manifested by your hatred. Princess Perez and wicked witch Wendy. Flunkies!
"Can't take advice from 2 buff chicks when one can't stand to look at herself without plastic surgery and the other is forever on his period."
Hilton, who is openly gay, took the rude words in his stride and instead corrected Brown's nickname for the blogger, firing back, "That's Queen Perez! BowDown."


text: Everytime i make a dns record it puts peroids after the domain and replaces @ with peroids. and its making the dns records invalid. This is a fresh install. Also have a new issue. I can dig locally but if i try to dig on an external server i get servefails. This is a dedicated live front facing ip. There isnt any ports being blocked at all. Also did an external port scan and returned this. XXX.XXX.XXX.XX5 is responding on port 53 (domain).


text:
Monday, April 1, 2013
Everything in that Baseball Digest post was true
Turns out they were totally right.
Crane told McTaggart that it's going to take a few years, but basically here are the steps that need to be taken:
1. Get the cities/counties (Crane mentions The Woodlands and Conroe) involved, and agree on funding.
2. Build a stadium.
3. Buy a franchise.
3. Move them.
Obviously, the Astros can't buy the Zephyrs and leave them in New Orleans, if they're currently affiliated with a team in Oklahoma City. The current Professional Development Contract with OKC ends in 2014. And, hey, so does the Zephyrs agreement with the Marlins. So you could have the Astros purchase the Zephyrs, sign up for a two-year PDC for 2015-2016 in New Orleans, build a stadium in north Houston, and move them for the 2017 season.
Turns out Zephyrs GM Mike Schline is surprised that it's gone public this early in the process.
"I was a little surprised that its gone public at this preliminary of a stage, but (owner) Don (Beaver) has had discussions with people in the past and discussions are discussions. That's where it's at right now. If someone comes up with the right price and the right package, he'll sell the team."
The linked Advocate report says that the Zephyrs' current stadium lease ends in 2016. So it's all sort of mapped out, isn't it?
Also, the Astros are involved in planning to build new Spring Training facilities ready for when the agreement with Osceola County ends in 2016. Crane:
"There's a number of teams that have expressed interest, and the Blue Jays are one of them. Again, we're waiting on state approval and city approval, which isn't done yet. Once that's done, a two-team complex there would anchor that area with the Marlins and Cardinals, and Mets up the street. That would be a pretty good situation for everybody, and those teams are very supportive of somebody trying to get something done there."
4 comments:
Not a criticism but can someone explain what would be gained by this. I truly don't see how this helps the Astros. It doesn't expand their brand. It just over saturates a market they already own and further reduces their brand presence away from Houston. Are we trying to make the Texas part of the Rangers legit...
- April 1, 2013 at 5:00 PM
- Blinutne said...
This makes me really sad. I grew up in New Orleans, and for most of my childhood the Zephyrs were the Astros' AAA affiliate. There are a lot of Astros fans in New Orleans (and all of Louisiana), and it would be great to have the AAA team back in New Orleans. Moving the Zephyrs would really sting, however. Also, it's not like New Orleans is that far from Houston, and isn't it important for the Astros to maintain a presence in the city, lest their popularity continues to erode in favor of the Braves, Cubs, Yankees, whatever BS team.
I don't live in New Orleans anymore, but this really upsets me!
- April 1, 2013 at 9:23 PM
If Houston takes the Zephyrs away, New Orleans (which has many Astros fans) will cut ties. These two cities have always been close friends. But this will make them enemies. There is no MLB in Louisiana and its a great baseball state.
- April 1, 2013 at 11:51 PM
- Blinutne said...
I just remember as a child in Louisiana most of my peers who liked baseball were Astros fans. Some kids liked the Braves or Cubs because you could catch the games on TBS and WGN, but the majority of people were Astros fans. It'd be really sad if they became known as the team that took away the Zephyrs.
- April 2, 2013 at 12:03 AM


text:
Downtown KC Federal Building Planning
Feasibility study identifies preferred site alternative for downtown federal lease facility
Determine feasibility of a proposed lease federal facility in downtown Kansas City, MO, to identify a preferred alternative to meet the long-term space and functionality needs of several federal agencies.
The design team evaluated numerous viable site alternatives and facilitated a charrette that provided the client with stacking diagrams, building orientation evaluations and energy analysis studies of each alternative to determine the best viable scenario. Security evaluation criteria included a security setback dimension of 50 feet, entrance security requirements, parking security requirements and a design blast pressure for the multi-tenant building.
SFS generated information for developing the new facility so that the GSA can evaluate a proposed project to meet tenant agency space needs and government-owned facility requirements. Space needs include tenant/rentable space, and a 272-car secured parking garage below the building. The site selected – based on numerous geographic, environmental, security, technical and financial criteria – supports the design of a high performance building that will be capable and consistent with the GSA's goals for a minimum of LEED Silver certification.


text:
Platforms: CORTEX, PIC (Original VEX)
Version: 3.65
Date Posted: February 17, 2015
Note: You do not need to deactivate your license in order to upgrade for ROBOTC versions 3.0 and above
Already have a building license?
How to install the Building License file »
The drivers for the CORTEX Microcontroller and VEXnet Joysticks are included in the ROBOTC 3.0 installers. If, for any reason, you need to download them separately, here are the downloads:
Download Network Driver (in addition to required driver) if ROBOTC will run from a network:
For access to previous versions, please contact us (include your License ID) at firstname.lastname@example.com.
ROBOTC 3.0 introduces a new and improved way of managing your ROBOTC software, designed to simplify the process of keeping all of your software up-to-date while minimizing the number of downloads and installations you must perform!
Once you have downloaded and installed any version of ROBOTC 3.x, you have everything you need (NXT and Cortex drivers excluded). No Additional downloads of ROBOTC software are required; in fact, don't try to download and install additional versions.
Click here for more instructions »
VEX Programming Driver Install and Instructions »
Note: The VEX Programming driver is built into the ROBOTC installer
05/06/2011 If you are using SMART Board software, it may prevent ROBOTC from being able to communicate with the Cortex. Click here for instructions on how to resolve this issue.


text:
The Chicago Cubs' push for more night games and later Friday afternoon games could be in jeopardy for the upcoming season because the team has been unable to reach an agreement with the local alderman.
The team had hoped to strike a deal on more night games in time for Ald. Tom Tunney, whose 44th Ward includes Wrigley Field, to introduce a measure at Wednesday's City Council meeting. But Tunney did not submit changes to the city ordinance that has limited night games since the Cubs installed lights at Wrigley Field in 1988.
Additional night games this season and beyond are one of several concessions the Cubs are seeking from the city as part of a proposed $300 million stadium renovation. The team also wants the city to loosen landmark and zoning restrictions that limit what the owners can do with their stadium.
Both Tunney and Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that they wanted one comprehensive deal to rehab Wrigley and would not proceed first with just an ordinance to add more night games. "It's all of one piece," the mayor said. "We're going to do this comprehensively."
Tunney would like the Cubs to address parking, traffic and security issues that more night games, concerts and other nongame events would bring to the residential neighborhood surrounding the ballpark.
"Everyone's going to have to give a little," Tunney said. "We're not there yet."
The Cubs have scheduled 30 night games this season, and it's not clear how many more games the team seeks. The team also would like to start many of its Friday afternoon games at 3:05 p.m. instead of 1:20 p.m. The additional night games could boost the value of the team's broadcast rights because they draw higher television ratings than day games.
Another major hurdle to a comprehensive deal is the team's plan to increase advertising signage inside Wrigley. Adding more lucrative advertising billboards poses a threat to the rooftop clubs just outside the ballpark. The rooftop owners want the team to put signs on their buildings instead of installing billboards inside the ballpark. Talks continue.
The Cubs, meanwhile, would like to begin renovations as soon as the 2013 season is over.
"Everybody has a sense of urgency," said Dennis Culloton, spokesman for team's owners, the Ricketts family. "The team is still hoping to get things resolved by opening day at the latest."
Although the city could end up allowing more night games, it might be too late to change the schedule for the upcoming season because of Major League Baseball deadlines.
Tribune reporter Hal Dardick contributed.


text:
Does anyone know if KD or IVIG can have side effects that can cause pale skin, pink/glassy eyes and decreased appetite? (He is not anemic).
My five year old is almost 4 months post diagnosis and IVIG treatment for Atypical KD (he was diagnosed and treated on day 12). In the last few weeks he has gotten really pale again, his appetite seems to be decreased and his eyes look feverish (glassy and pink) and dark around the eyelids. The pediatrician did blood tests to see if he was anemic and everything looked normal except for his iron level (I think he said Ferritin) and ESR were a little high. He said neither were elevated enough to indicate a cause or to be of concern at this point, but they were higher than they had been after the IVIG treatment. He said to watch him over the next week and if he doesn't improve then we can run more tests but his body just might be fighting a bug and they really just don't know at this point.
The problem is that almost every doctor I have come into contact with admittedly does not know much about KD. In the two weeks before my son was diagnosed, he was diagnosed and treated for an allergic reaction, scarlet fever (with two negative strep tests) and hospitalized before he was sent to the KD specialist at Children's Hospital. He had an unexplained case of hives (it was really really bad) about a week after he got out of his second hospitalization, and has developed a case of eczema but the cardiologist said that eczema was fairly common after KD and that the hives were probably just his body being through so much in a short time that it reacted to something. His follow up echos have been normal, so we don't need to see the cardiologist until his 12 month follow up.
The Cardiology and Infectious Disease Departments at Children's seem to be the only people I have encountered that know anything about this disease, but since my son is not an active KD case that they are treating, they said to go through my doctors office. My doctor's office basically said they don't really know anything about KD but they also have not consulted with the specialists to see if there's something we should be watching for....so that brings my here
Has anyone had experience with developing allergies or side effects of the disease/treatment that could be causing these symptoms? Is it possible (while unlikely) that he could be relapsing but showing even less symptoms due to the IVIG treatment within the last 4 months? He has been exposed to carpet cleaning in the last 30 days, and I know there's some discussion about that, but no link has been proven.
I just know that my little guy is not quite right again and have no idea if it could be related to the KD or treatment and really just don't want to miss anything again - so thanks in advance for the help!
Post KD/IVIG side effects
General discussion regarding Kawasaki disease
Post Reply
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: Post KD/IVIG side effects
I definitely feel your frustration on the lack of knowledge and guidance we receive as parents regarding KD, ESPECIALLY post KD. My son is 17 months old and last month was diagnosed with KD and had 3 treatments and 2 hospitalizations for it, post KD he has had severe eczema bouts and low grade fevers, so of course as Mom I worry constantly. The only thing confirmed for us was the eczema post KD and that it is a side effect with some patients. But on a mom side, his eyes have been glossy and his appetite has not returned to normal yet either. We are having our 4th echo and set of blood draws next week, so I guess we shall see. Out of curiosity have they kept your child on a aspirin regime? There is a hospital in Boston, MA that I have been discussing my sons case with, that may help you, the Doctor there is Jane Newburger and they know ALLOT regarding KD. I hope this helps a little bit. Keep us posted please.
Re: Post KD/IVIG side effects
My son had kd in March of2010 he still has problems with eczema and still is on an aspirin regiment. He still has an aneurysm in the left coronary artery it hasn't changed in size so they just keep monitoring it.
Post Reply
3 posts • Page 1 of 1


text:
When it comes to quality lawn care, TruGreen offers premium services, including fertilization, weed control, and many others. For TruGreen Portsmouth professionals, there is a big difference in a home's appearance based on the color and health of the lawn. To get lawns to their ideal condition, various services are applied to encourage growth from the roots to the tips, allowing them to remain strong in the cold and withstand the heat and against any harmful pests.
For lawn services that benefit the healthy growth of lawns, the TruPerformance program provides several options. Among the services, the Healthy Lawn Analysis performs an assessment of the current condition of your lawn to construct a customized plan that meets your lawn's needs. Weed control and lawn fertilization are some of the services available to lawns so that weed growth is prevented and nutrients are encouraged in the soil. Unlimited service calls are a feature included in the full program that enables customers to contact TruGreen Portsmouth lawn care professionals with their lawn concerns.
As a greener option, the TruNatural service offers organic fertilizers that are 100% natural. TruNatural clients will also receive the Healthy Lawn Analysis, which includes an evaluation performed by a TruGreen lawn professional to evaluate the health of your lawn. Homeowners concerned with weed growth have the option of employing synthetic weed control, which uses targeted applications to get rid of just the weed.
Additional options like targeted insect control, aeration and seeding, testing of pH and soil quality, and disease control can be added to either lawn care service program. With aeration, the lawn experiences increased circulation of air, water, and nutrients, while seeding assists the thickening of the turf. To help lawns reach their full potential, a test to evaluate the pH and soil quality balances the alkaline and acids with potassium and micronutrients to help it grow in a healthy and beautiful manner. Portsmouth TruGreen also tries to prevent damages caused by destructive insects and disease patches by applying a targeted control to avoid these situations. All of these services can be applied based on the unique requirements of each individual lawn.
With so many options available in lawn care, there is no reason why your home can't have a beautiful and healthy lawn. Green and healthy lawns not only offer homes curb appeal; they give homes a fresh source of oxygen and a means to trap pollutants. To get started on the path to a healthier, more appealing lawn, get in touch with a Portsmouth TruGreen professional at 866-382-8529 today!


text:
Sept. 26, 2011
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-For the third week in a row, a member of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's cross country team has been honored by the Little East Conference.
Junior Courtney Testa (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton HS) has been named Little East Conference Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, while freshman Ben Girard(Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex HS) has been named LEC Men's Rookie Runner of the Week.
Testa led the women at Saturday's Codfish Bowl at Franklin Park in Boston, finishing 33rd in 20:04 for the 5000 meter race. She was the highest finisher among LEC runners at the race. Girard finished 71st in 28:37 over the five mile course at tbe Codfish Bowl.
"One of the nice things about this fall is that Courtney has come back ready to be a real leader," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jon Hird. "It's very helpful to have someone who is that dependable and willing to take on the role of number one runner and the responsibility that goes along with it. She loves to race and she loves to compete and she is going to have a very good year."
"Ben is off to a nice start in his college career," said UMass Dartmouth Assistant Coach Steve Gardiner. "He has been our number one runner in our first three meets of the season, and has established himself as one of the top freshmen in the Little East."
The Corsairs will return to action when they visit the James Early Invitational at Westfield State a week from Saturday.


text:
A Little Guy Named Charlie
I first met Charlie at my future in-laws' house. Devin and I were heading out there from Tucson for lunch on one of our first weekends together. I can remember the expression on Dev's face, his eyes all sparkling and this huge grin. "Well, you passed the test with my folks, but this last one is an important one for me," he said. I was already nervous as it was, having to sit down and chat with his parents. That comment gave me a sudden extra dose of nerves. I shrugged it off though, didn't want him to see me sweat. I had seen pictures of Charlie and was told about him. But, I had yet to officially meet him.
Now, before I go any further with this story I want to explain myself. Charlie is not a person. Charlie is a very small miniature Dachshund. He has a sharp black coat and a serious stare. I have never known Dachshunds in my life. I am more used to the bigger dogs. My boy, Nitro, is living at home in California with my father. Nitro, whom I've had since he was a pup, is a red-nosed Pit Bull. So, I was at odds with what this little Charlie might be all about. Devin and the family had built him up as this hardnosed, serious dog.
How serious could our meeting really be? I thought to myself. Are they serious? The future of our relationship is all but placed in the hands of this little miniaturized dog? Ok, I'd gladly play along with it, I guessed.
So we end up at the house and Devin is now flowing with excitement. We ring the doorbell and instantly I hear this enormous howl of barking. I mean, the bark sounded fierce and not coming from anything small. It was loud and demanding, almost as if Charlie was saying Don't try me 'cause I got something for you buddy. It surprised me at first because I had his picture in my head.
The door opens and this little guy immediately runs up on Devin. Devin naturally goes down and picks Charlie up and the little dude begins to shower him with endless kisses. A moment passes and Devin introduces me to Charlie. Before he can finish his sentence, Charlie jumps out of his arms and runs up on me! There he was, barking and growling and all the while rubbing his front paws on my legs. I just stood there, hoping he would accept me.
I thought Charlie wasn't into me until I noticed his tail wagging through all of this. He was simply checking me out and saying hello. And that's how our relationship started. Charlie and I clicked from the get go. I remember after our lunch I went over to sit on the couch. This little guy runs right up onto my lap and starts licking my face. I responded by rubbing his cute little ears and head. And in the corner of my eye I could see Devin smiling. I had passed the final test. With Charlie's acceptance I was officially a part of the family.
Now, let me tell you something about Charlie. I had this impression that all small dogs were pretty much weak and easily intimidated. Boy was I clueless on that note. When Devin, Charlie and I moved out to Virginia for work, I started running on certain trails. Now, if you are from Virginia you can appreciate what I mean about some of these running trails. They are very hilly and enduring in length. I started taking Charlie on these runs. Believe it or not, Charlie would not only run right next to me, but HE would be pulling ME along near the end of those runs. This little guy has some power. He always seems to be full of energy and life.
On our walks, Charlie would make sure of who to snarl at and who not to. He is extremely protective, and particular about who is allowed near him and his two dads. As far as children go though, Charlie puts on another face. He loves it when kids shower him with attention. I can remember a time when we were coming back from a drive. These two little girls just ran up on him. They thought he was so cute and wanted to pet him. I was nervous because I thought maybe Charlie would snap at them but he just rolled on his back and demanded they rub his tummy, tail wagging and paws moving about.
And all of that has really impressed me. To get to experience this little guy and to have him in my life has really helped me. It has helped me learn not to be quick to judge. I have as much respect and admiration for Charlie and his abilities as I do for Nitro.
Charlie has also helped me with slowing down. Sometimes when I would come off of work late I would feel so out of it. Or, if I had a messed up day, I would not be looking forward to home. But, there in the car with his head shaking, Charlie would be waiting to greet me. Devin would pick me up with him and I always knew that Charlie would be happy to see me.
Charlie in bed.
That's what I truly love about Charlie. No matter what type of mood I am in or how bad a time I've had, it didn't matter to Charlie. He was there ready to show only love and affection. I am so proud and honored to call him our son.
I think about this and realize that we could learn a lot from our pets. We can learn a lot from children. For me, they continually show me to not take life so serious. They show us that it really isn't THAT important how work went, or how an event went. What counts is how we feel about the people we hang close to in our lives. What matters is how we treat each other. How we show each other how to slow down every now and then when things aren't looking so good. How we spend time with each other and how precious that time is because it can be cut short at a moment's notice.
I have learned a lot from my son, Charlie. He adds an extra piece of love between me and Devin. And, for me, that's what counts. I look at Charlie's eyes and still see that all he wants for us is to be happy and to make it. So, if you have a little one at home, I want you to do this for me. Stop what you are doing and watch them. Listen to what they are telling you. Enjoy the time you have with them. You can learn a lot. I know I have, from a little guy named Charlie.


text:
Katy Perry's 'Colorful Past' Makes Her One of 2011′s 'Most Fascinating People'
Katy Perry has a past almost as "colorful" as her wardrobe, making her one of Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People of 2011. On the special, Perry dishes on how she discovered pop music at 15 and dropped out of school to pursue it in Nashville. At 17, the then-Katy Hudson changed her last name, her look and her Evangelical outlook when she moved to Los Angeles.
After years of getting signed and dropped, Capitol Records took a chance on the 'One That Got Away' warbler. Barbara Walters was quick to ask Perry about her 'I Kissed a Girl,' 'Ur So Gay' and the menage a trois she mentioned in 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).' "Are you totally straight?" Walters asked. Perry's response? "I don't know if I'm totally anything."
Walters specifically asked Perry about her love for candy, cupcake and cleavage looks. "Did you say to yourself, 'I'm going to become a character?'" Perry was sheepish. "No, I never said I was going to become a character," Perry said, giggling. "I think I've always been a character, unfortunately."
Walters also delved into Perry's upbringing. Born Katherine Elizabeth Hudson to two former hippies-turned-Evangelical pastors, the only music Perry was exposed to was gospel. Perry couldn't listen to the pop music that propelled her to superstardom, couldn't watch the TV shows that convey her all-important image and had to call deviled eggs "angeled eggs." Perry insists she still calls them that, and explains her limited exposure to TV. "We had television, but it was very censored — if people were about to kiss, it would be changed," Perry said. "When I was a little girl, I thought my family's world was the only type of world that existed."
However, it wasn't — her parents' pasts were checkered before they were church-going. Her mom went on a date with Jimi Hendrix, her dad dealt drugs — but Perry only found out through preaching. "I'd heard it in his sermons, because it's part of his testimony," Perry says, "so I started to register: their lives were very colorful before this very black-and-white world."
Perry's past, and that of her parents, helped her land her man. Perry is visibly smitten with her hubby, British comedian and actor Russell Brand. "It's lovely so far," Perry said of their one-year marriage. Perry admitted that her father's past as a drug dealer helped her deal with Brand's wild child, heroin-addled history.
"I know that there's a capacity for change in anyone," Perry said. "I really do believe that. I saw that Russell's changed as well, so I really believe that people can turn out for the best." We should hope so — she wants to have babies with the man! "I think that's one of the biggest reasons why you do get married," Perry said of the pitter patter of little feet. However, Perry was quick to deny that she's currently pregnant, motioning to her still-taut tummy. "That's just Taco Bell right here," she told Walters.
While it's been a whirlwind, record-breaking year for Perry, she recognizes how lucky she is. "This year has been very intense," Perry said. "I'm just kind of like holding on to the rocket for dear life, hoping that I don't get bucked off."
Watch Katy Perry's 'Most Fascinating People' Interview With Barbara Walters


text:
A man adrift at sea. A woman adrift in space. And a young girl all by herself in the desert.
If there's a theme at this weekend's Telluride Film Festival, it's that solo travel might have its benefits but also carries more than a few risks.
Colorado's Labor Day weekend festival � which starts today, a day earlier than normal to commemorate its 40th edition � is known for eclectic programming announced at the very last minute, and it's often difficult to detect trends.
But the inclusion of three films � Alfonso Cuar�n's "Gravity," which stars Sandra Bullock opposite George Clooney as astronauts detached from their space shuttle by a mission disaster; "All Is Lost," director J.C. Chandor's account of an unaccompanied sailor (Robert Redford) stuck in a sinking boat; and "Tracks," featuring Mia Wasikowska as a young explorer on a 1,700-mile trek � suggests this year's festival will make some moviegoers appreciate the roofs over their heads just a bit more.
In recent years, more by accident than design, Telluride has hosted the world premieres of several films that went on to take the best-picture Oscar, including "Argo," "The King's Speech" and "Slumdog Millionaire."
"It's incredibly fortunate that we're just really lucky that way," said Julie Huntsinger, who directs the festival with Gary Meyer and Tom Luddy.
Among the 59 features and shorts playing in Telluride, the awards contenders certainly include "Gravity" � which premiered yesterday at the Venice Film Festival � and "All Is Lost" � which premiered at Cannes in May � as well as Jason Reitman's "Labor Day." Reitman's film is an adaptation of Joyce Maynard's novel about a single mother (Kate Winslet) who decides to take in an escaped prisoner (Josh Brolin), sparking a rift with her young son (Gattlin Griffith). It's the third time the director has launched a movie in the mountain resort town, as "Labor Day" follows the Telluride premieres of his "Up in the Air" in 2009 and "Juno" in 2007.
The festival typically holds several "sneak previews" of movies that are not on the festival's official schedule, and candidates for those prime slots could include writer-director Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave" and the Hugh Jackman-Jake Gyllenhaal drama "Prisoners" from Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies").
In addition to "All Is Lost," the festival will show several other works that debuted to acclaim at Cannes, including Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," which stars Bruce Dern as a bitter man on a road trip with his son, and "Inside Llewyn Davis," Joel and Ethan Coen's folk-music tale starring Oscar Isaac.
Although the Telluride festival is not known as a destination for sales agents and distributors looking for new movie titles to buy, the festival will show two up-for-grabs films likely to draw some buyer interest: Jonathan Glazer's "Under the Skin," which stars Scarlett Johansson as an alien who can change her appearance into human form, and "Starred Up," a father-son prison drama from British director David Mackenzie ("Perfect Sense," "Mister Foe").
In 2012, Telluride showcased the French end-of-life drama "Amour," which went on to win the Oscar for foreign-language film, and this year programmers have scheduled several notable international films. Iran's Mohammad Rasoulof is showing "Manuscripts Don't Burn," and his countryman Asghar Farhadi, maker of the Oscar-winning "A Separation," will show his latest, "The Past." Other high-profile foreign titles include "The Lunchbox" (India), "Bethlehem" (Israel), "Gloria" (Chile) and "Before the Winter Chill" (France).
Telluride typically presents some of the year's top nonfiction films � a year ago, it had the Oscar-nominated Israeli film "The Gatekeepers." This time around there are new documentaries from Errol Morris (the Donald Rumsfeld film "The Unknown Known"), Werner Herzog (the death penalty story "Death Row: Blaine Milam + Robert Fratta"), Nicolas Philibert (the French radio chronicle "La Maison de la Radio") and the magician Teller (the art investigation piece "Tim's Vermeer").
Huntsinger said the usually silent half of the Penn & Teller prestidigitation duo will not only speak at a question-and-answer session after a screening of "Tim's Vermeer" but also will be among the storytellers at a new Friday event called "Story Night," at which he, Reitman, Buck Henry, Gregory Nava and others will tell original, 10-minute stories in an outdoor venue.
While the audience will have the final say over the quality of the festival's selections, Huntsinger said she, Luddy and Meyer were able to pick from a solid crop of contenders.
"I do feel there is an amazing amount of good cinema," she said. "And we're the lucky recipients of it."


text:
It's never been done before (that I know of), but I have made a 100% custom mask made of plastic, that was printed off of a 3D printing website called shapeways. I modeled the object in Blender 3D, then simply sent it to the site and made my order. It was printed in a strong and slightly flexible white plastic, and I received it in the mail a few days ago! I then finished off the process with a gold paint finish. But anyhow, here it is! .
NOTICE: A topic to sell this mask and its partner (there are two) will be created in the "buy/sell/ trade section of the BZP marketplace within the upcoming days.Details about the Ignika and it's creation: Growing up as a fan of Bionicle, I have always been in amazed at the creativity of the Bionicle community. I loved the legendary story, and the amazing sets, but most of all I loved building with them. From the day I popped Tahu out of his canister, I have never stopped trying to add my own Ideas to this masterpiece lego has created. I have been a proficient 3D modeler for the past few years, and yes, I became one for that very reason. 3D art is an amazing realm that allows a person to take their ideas and transform them into something they they and others can look at and appreciate. But I didn't want to stop there, and so this project grew. I set out, and after putting many hours into measuring, 3D modeling, and researching (mostly modeling ) I finally got a 3D object. If you are not familiar with 3D modeling, the closest thing I can compare it to is an odd mixture of origami, and sculpting . Because of this, I made sure to pay attention to the smallest details to make sure that the 3D model would come out looking as if it were a real lego piece, fit snugly on a bionicle head (which it does), and be sturdy. In the end I had taken a real piece of Bionicle history, and made it into a tangible object, through a printing company called shapeways. I was amazed when I saw how well it had turned out (and so exited that my hands were actually shaking. XD) The printing was highly detailed, and smooth. The plastic is also very strong, somewhere between the stiffness of the 2001 masks, and the Glatorian helmets. Because of this, I would bet that falls from hand height would be o.k. Like anyone, I wanted the Kanohi to look like it was ancient and powerful. To do this I spray painted it black, then mixed a couple shades of metallic paint to get a color that is very close to the Bionicle gold. I used a dry paint method to get it to look worn, as you can see in the picture below. The gold is shinier than the bionicle gold, but not enough so that they don't fit together. All in all I am VERY happy with how this turned out, and it sure does feel good to own an object this rare!
reference: http://biosector01.c...NOLG_Ignika.png
Gold comparison (on Iruini): http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18905.jpg
Comparison with Brutaka gold: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18888.jpg
Before being painted: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18902.jpg
Vezon with Ignika: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18894.jpg
on Tahu: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18900.jpg
Angle: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18887.jpg
Back: http://www.brickshel...ks/sdc18883.jpg
"Why are the antennae curved forwards?"
I actually had not known that there had been a 3D version of the mask in "Bionicle Heroes". Because of this I had to rely on the two dimensional picture of the mask. Because of this I took some artistic liberty (as I did with the crest on the forehead), and did what balanced the mask out. By doing this, I could also take advantage of having a curved line run through the mask, rather than having a harsh angle (like in Bionicle Heroes)
"Why is the mask so flat?"
On seeing the mask, I felt like it belonged closer to the time of 2001, and Mata Nui. It seemed very reminiscent to me of the simpler designs that existed in those years. Feeling this, I wanted to make the mask feel at home on the Toa mata, as well as later sets (who at times had very large heads XD ). I used Tahu's head as my main reference, because of this the top goes about as far back as his. The mask curves forwards towards the mouth (similar to the noble ruru), and the side pieces go just past the circles on the side of the head. Looking at the Images I have up, there aren't really any good ones at a side view (on a head), so maybe I'll try and get some up.
"Does it fit well?"
I like this question, because this actually caused me a ton of problems XD. When I got the mask, the first thing I did was try and stick it on a toa head. Bad idea. I had made the mouth piece a fraction of a millimeter to big, and I couldn't get it off. Finally with the help of a flat head screwdriver I popped it off. After that I carefully sanded it down a little, and it now fits quite well.
Let me know what you think, Any comments are appreciated (other than spam ). I plan on creating a topic to sell it sometime soon.
Edited by Black Six, May 20 2014 - 07:13 AM.


text:
RethinkDeworming.com - Zimecterin Gold®.
Let's rethink the way we deworm.
Rotational deworming is horse pucky. Simply put, it's time for a new approach. Especially today, as parasite resistance continues to threaten the health of horses.
RethinkDeworming.com is your place for all things deworming. Here you'll find the materials you need to develop a strategic deworming plan that works for you and your horse.
If you have questions about RethinkDeworming.com, Merial or Merial products, we would love to hear from you.
Just e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
TEXT: Stephen Kim
At its core, electronic fuel injection is nothing more than a central computer interacting with a bunch of sensors to keep an engine happy. Obviously, this is much easier said than done, and getting it right involves a synergy of hardware, software, and tuning expertise. For nearly two decades, Fuel Air Spark Technology has had the first two elements of that three-part equation thoroughly covered. The biggest wild card has always been the skill and experience of the tuner, but fortunately, FAST has some great advice for walking novices through the process of tuning an aftermarket EFI system. To get to the bottom of it all, we threw an onslaught of elementary tuning questions at FAST's Kevin Winstead, and he was more than happy to share his expertise. Just some of the topics he shared with us include how to establish a baseline tune, the benefits of tuning on the dyno versus tuning at the track, how to set the fuel and spark maps at various engine loads, dialing in the air/fuel ratio for different types of fuel, and how to tune for boost and nitrous.
Furthermore, FAST's existing XFI stand-alone system underwent an extensive update last year. The new XFI 2.0 system is a firmware upgrade that unlocks a new realm of performance potential. New features include a boost controller, internal data logging, a four-stage nitrous controller, a self-learning fuel map, an intelligent traction control system, transbrake control, and the ability to switch among multiple tunes by flipping a switch. The good news is that older XFI stand-alone systems can be upgraded to the version 2.0 software with an upgrade CD, as it is completely compatible with the existing XFI hardware. Naturally, we had Winstead explain all the benefits of XFI 2.0 in far greater detail to supplement his valuable tuning advice. Here are his words of wisdom.
There are newer stand-alone EFI systems on the market, but the FAST XFI system is still getting the job done. Based on the feedback we heard from racers at the track, we added a new firmware upgrade to the existing system last year to create XFI 2.0. FAST's XFI 2.0 is now more versatile than ever. With the new Qwik-Tune technology integrated into the 2.0, you can toggle among four different tunes at the flick of a switch, eliminating the need for a laptop. For example, you can have one tune for daily driving, a race tune for running nitrous at the track, and another tune to maximize fuel economy. Likewise, the XFI 2.0 features a very robust NTK wideband O2 sensor as standard equipment, which is one of the most dependable sensors on the market. A new self-learning table allows for quick and easy fuel mapping automatically, and two new exciting options are intelligent traction control and internal data logging. For power-adder applications, XFI 2.0 has a standard boost controller, and it can also manage up to four stages of nitrous. Other perks include the option to choose between sequential or bank-to-bank injector firing, and compatibility with flex fuel sensors for use with E85.
For someone just getting started with EFI, the process of tuning an engine can be intimidating, but it's definitely feasible. All it takes is some patience and some basic knowledge of what tuning changes your engine requires. It certainly helps to have a good baseline tune as well as intuitive software. Fortunately, XFI 2.0 includes many baseline tune files that allow users to get started quickly. Likewise, the self-learning fuel tables make it much easier to dial in the fuel maps. FAST also offers XFI tuning classes that provide a wealth of information for all aspiring tuners. Check out FAST's website to get an up-to-date schedule.
After installing the XFI 2.0 system, following these five simple steps are all that is required in order to fire an engine up for the first time. Step one is picking out a baseline tune that is comparable to your application from our library of files. Next, the optional parameters must be set. This includes selecting between bank-to-bank or sequential injector firing, and setting up the ignition strategy and crank reference angle. Afterward, it's time to dial in the fuel calculation parameters, which involves entering in the engine displacement, injector size, and the fuel energy constant. The final two steps are entering the engine's firing order, and performing a sensor calibration. As long as you've entered the correct baseline tune, the engine is ready to fire up at this point.
Some tuners prefer dialing in an engine on the dyno, while others prefer doing it on the street or at the track. Where you choose to tune a car depends on which part of the tune you're trying to optimize. The best way to initially tune the wide-open throttle fuel and spark maps is on the dyno. The controlled environment of a dyno cell is perfect for making small changes and optimizing the cylinder-to-cylinder fuel distribution and timing effects on each cylinder. However, there are also advantages of tuning at the racetrack, as it gives you an opportunity to make changes on shift transitions and the opportunity to optimize the tune for specific track conditions. The track also loads the motor differently than the dyno, so track tuning can offer a more precise calibration for race day. As far as the idle and part-throttle tuning, that is best achieved when you're actually driving the car down the road.
Tuning aftermarket EFI systems can seem confusing because there are so many different screens and tables to navigate. Fortunately, familiarizing yourself with the most commonly used tables can simplify the tuning process. In practice, the Base VE table and the base spark table are the two screens that are by far the most frequently used when tuning. These tables are the basis for fuel delivery and ignition timing, so learning to navigate them pays large dividends. There are also multiple tables that are used to set up the cranking fuel, acceleration enrichment fuel, and cold start fuel as well. However, if you choose the proper baseline calibration file, then these tables will need very little attention.
There's a fine line between advancing the timing as much as possible for maximum power, and advancing it so much that the motor detonates. To walk this fine line, remember that as you approach the ignition advance for maximum torque you'll see a point of diminishing returns. If you have a dyno that allows you to hold the engine speed at a steady state, you can easily establish the proper timing value for maximum torque at that engine speed. Some engineering books refer to this timing value as MBT, or maximum brake torque timing. Once you exceed this number, torque values will decrease. If you keep increasing the timing value you will eventually get into detonation. An experienced tuner will recognize the MBT value and stop advancing the timing before you reach the detonation point.
Unlike a carbureted motor, EFI systems can monitor engine load as a means of dialing in the fuel and spark. This is a very useful feature, since the amount of fuel and ignition timing an engine requires varies as engine load changes. As a general rule of thumb, you can run maximum timing and relatively lean air/fuel ratios when an engine is operating at the low load areas of the table. This is when you're just cruising and the engine is under very little load. As far as timing is concerned, when an engine is at very low rpm, such as at idle, you do not need much spark advance. Under these conditions, you will typically have a fairly lean air/fuel ratio that's not too far from the stoichiometric ideal. Conversely, the air/fuel ratio will be the richest at WOT.
The exact value for the target air/fuel ratio depends on the type of fuel used as well as the application. The stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for gasoline is 14.7:1. An engine with an efficient cylinder head and a mild cam will prefer an idle air/fuel ratio slightly richer than stoichiometric, usually around 14.0:1 to 14.5:1 for non-blended pump gas. Keep in mind that most pump gas contains at least 10 percent ethanol, which means that the stoichiometric value of that blended gasoline is now closer to 14.1:1. This means that the idle air/fuel ratio will have to be a lower number for the same application, usually around 13.5:1 to 14.0:1. For part-throttle cruising, it's common to see an air/fuel ratio close to stoichiometric. However, when you're dealing with an engine that has a large cam and less efficient cylinder heads, this number will tend to be a little richer. Moreover, at WOT it's common to see an air/fuel ratio of around 12.8:1 to 13.0:1 for naturally aspirated applications. For certain power-adder applications, the WOT mixture can be even richer than 11.0:1.
Although gasoline is the fuel of choice for most hot rodders, alternative fuels like E85, methanol, and compressed natural gas are gaining popularity as well. Fortunately, XFI 2.0 can be easily programmed to run off these different types of fuels by simply entering a fuel energy constant (FEC) into the so ware's fuel tables. This automatically adjusts the target air/fuel ratio in each cell, instead of having to modify each cell individually. For example, E85 has a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio of 10.0:1 opposed to 14.7:1 for gasoline. By entering an FEC value of 0.68 into the fuel tables, the FAST so ware automatically adjusts the air/fuel ratio by the proper amount, since 14.7 multiplied by 0.68 is 10.0:1. Furthermore, the FEC values for compressed natural gas, liquid propane, MTBE, ethanol, and methanol are 1.17, 1.07, 0.796, 0.612, and 0.439, respectively.
XFI 2.0's new traction control feature is a powerful tool for racers. It requires installation of a driveshaft speed sensor, which is utilized to keep the driveshaft acceleration rate below a predetermined level. In actual track testing with one of our company test cars, the intelligent traction control (ITC) system allowed us to leave at WOT on the hottest day of the summer without any track prep. Best of all, ITC isn't difficult to set up. There are two different modes of traction control in the XFI 2.0. The first is the heuristic mode, which does not limit the rate at which your car can accelerate. By monitoring the change in driveshaft speed over time, the ECU can determine whether the tires are slipping, and then retard the timing to try and keep that acceleration rate within the acceptable range you program. The XFI can also reduce the boost level in turbo applications.
The second ITC mode is called PA. It differs from heuristic mode in that it uses actual driveshaft rpm as the base curve to calculate from. The farther and faster your driveshaft goes over the programmed curve, PA mode will begin cutting out cylinders sequentially, using both fuel and spark, until the driveshaft rpm comes back to even or below the programmed curve. This mode isn't recommended for nitrous engines.
Forced-induction motors present extreme challenges in terms of power management, fuel consumption, and exhaust gas temperature. The good news is that XFI 2.0 offers a variety of features that deal with these challenges quite well. The system now has a three-port boost control solenoid for controlling the wastegates. It can be operated off either manifold pressure or compressed CO2. For flexibility, it can be plumbed to either add boost or to remove boost from the wastegate. Likewise, the XFI 2.0 software has both an open loop and even closed loop feature for boost control. Utilizing closed loop control, you can target the amount of boost that you want, and it will maintain that boost. If you utilize the open loop mode, then the solenoid pulse width changes over time. Since the XFI 2.0 software has the option to drive multiple injectors, it makes managing large quantities of fuel much easier. We have customers who run two or three injectors per cylinder on applications that require a lot of fuel delivery. XFI 2.0 also has an optional EGT system that allows monitoring exhaust temperature in each cylinder.
A great perk of the XFI 2.0 system is that it includes an internal data logging system. This eliminates the cost and complexity associated with installing a separate external data acquisition system. XFI 2.0 can monitor all of the engine parameters such as rpm, throttle position, coolant temperature, air temperature, and air/fuel ratio, just to name a few. With an external data acquisition system, additional sensors must be purchased to log these parameters. XFI 2.0 also features additional inputs that can be used for several more external sensors. By utilizing these additional inputs, it can monitor fuel pressure, oil pressure, wastegate pressure, backpressure, and driveshaft speed. The XFI system can also be combined with the FAST touch-screen dash that allows for even more inputs as well as hours of data-logging capacity.
Naturally aspirated and forced-induction motors call for vastly different tuning strategies. Much like a naturally aspirated combination, the air/fuel ratio of a forced-induction motor at idle and cruise speed is between 13.0:1 and 15.0:1. However, as boost increases, the fuel demands are much greater than that of a naturally aspirated combo. Between 14.5 and 29 psi of boost, an air/fuel ratio of 11.8:1 to 12.5:1 is common. At boost levels beyond that, the air/fuel ratio can get as rich as 10.0:1. As far as spark timing is concerned, ignition advance varies greatly depending on fuel type and inlet air temperature. In steady state cruising, anywhere from 25-35 degrees of timing is common. Between 14.5 to 29 pounds of boost, timing can range anywhere from 15-30 degrees. Beyond that level of boost, timing can drop as low as 12 degrees of advance. At any rate, forced-induction motors are very sensitive to changes in air/fuel ratio and spark advance, so it's extremely important to get the tune dialed in right.


text:
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Announcing The Ruby Conference Ratings Board
It's already out of control. Indignation and outrage are powerful drugs and they're working their magic right now. There will not be any civil discussions possible before the high subsides and people get some distance.
Here's one proposal: Start rating your conference or track according to the material. The movie standards of PG, M, and R would do just fine. Then people can self-select on the type of content that they're willing to hear.
I, for example, can just make sure that I only attend or speak at M and R rated conferences and tracks. If you're offended by profanity, for example, you'd be forewarned that sitting in on an M or R track would be a bad idea.
That's how a movie theater manages to cater to all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. I think that fits well for this.
Nothing I love more than going to see a good rated-M movie. Good old M. It hasn't been used since 1969, but it's a classic. They don't make M like they used to.
DHH isn't just the guy who revolutionized Web frameworks forever. Oh no. That's not enough. He's also every bit as good at handling people as he is at developing features, deciding what features to develop, and building a top-notch business. Because all these skills are really the same skill: the skill of being awesome. And his proposal makes a lot of sense.
After all, it's not as if what Matt Aimonetti did was wrong in any way. It would be insane to suggest that all the guy needs to do is learn a little bit about communication skills so he can stop making people angrier every time he tries to apologize to them. Only a crazy person would say that.
It's true that if Aimonetti's presentation had been done at work, he would have been fired and slapped with a lawsuit that he would have had no chance of winning and barely any chance of even surviving. But just because you can lose a job over it, and a judge can punish you for it, doesn't mean it's wrong. It doesn't mean you've been a complete dick, and if you can't see that then you need to find somebody who can explain it to you. Not at all! There isn't even any porn in the presentation, except for the blow job in slide 7. And that hardly counts because you can't actually see the guy's penis, so she could be doing anything down there. Maybe she lost a contact.
Like an arty foreign movie, a bold, innovative presentation should carry a special warning: Be careful! This might be too awesome for you.
And that's what the Ruby Conference Ratings Board will provide. After all, somebody has to put in the time to make these ratings. It'll take a group of volunteers. I am now assembling that group of volunteers. And oh yes: we'll be using M.
Seriously, what the fuck is this M shit? What is he even talking about? Is that some crazy shit they have in Denmark?
Oh hey. Wait a minute.
Speaking of crazy shit, what do you bet neither Denmark nor France have any kind of sexual harassment law?
In Denmark, the rules about sexual harassment are not so strict as you know it in your country but we are in the middle of a process. It is only 5 years ago when a court rule that a man could not be punished if he did beat his wife up if she had accepted it for years. Our politician had since changed the laws. But making jokes and signs about once sex or origin is still allowed.
Across the channel, it's hard for women even to initiate litigation. For a person to sue for sexual harassment in France, he or she would have to prove that it resulted in some form of professional or emotional damage, says Marie-Hélène Fournier-Gobert, an employment lawyer at Barthélémy et Associés in Paris. "An isolated attempt to kiss someone or a sexist comment would not be considered sexual harassment," she says. Americans find such distinctions disturbing. "The French definition of sexual harassment is what we Americans would call assault and battery," says Michael Rubenstein, co-editor of the Equal Opportunities Review in London, who wrote the European Commission's code of practice on measures to combat sexual harassment at work.
Welcome to America, kids. You're not in your respective Kansases any more. Speaking as a first-generation American with a name Americans can't even say, I know it can suck. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and shut the fuck up about it already.
5 comments:
I didn't want to be the first to say to the Europeans saying we were too touchy, "well maybe, but you *are* in America now." There is established case law for the work place though, and it's not surprising that expectations about that would flow into professional conferences.ReplyDelete
Some day the law suits are going to start flowing more even in the tech field and we'll have to start trying to convince jurists that hiring 1 woman for every 13 men is a figure that is totally not our fault (http://www.37signals.com).
It's actually the simplest thing in the world. If somebody's employer bought your ticket to GoGaRuCo, you can now sue them for sexual harassment. You'd probably only get a small settlement, but you wouldn't walk away empty-handed. Meanwhile we've got these guys from other countries who can't figure out what the fuss is about. I honestly wish somebody would just shut the fuck up and sue them already. What they did is punishable in a court of law, albeit only by proxy and only with civil penalties. If there was a lawsuit against GoGaRuCo, these otherwise intelligent guys who in this case are just clueless would see what the problem was. Right now they seriously think that the problem is somehow similar to hearing a swear word on prime-time TV. The other fantastic benefit, if somebody would just stop yammering about it and bring litigation, is they would get to have their say in the courthouse and we could all get on with our lives.ReplyDelete
I don't really want to see lawsuits, and they would be losing suits. Your company has to have known there was a problem, and taken no steps to remedy it. I really don't think anyone is going to claim that over one slideshow. And I doubt that that as a reality is either of our points.ReplyDelete
It is instructive to remember that in this country those sort of things are actionable, so it's not just "no biggie, right" in every case. This case fairly minor, but it's not that far of a stretch from where someone *could* make a case out of it, especially if they already had cause to complain in their workplace.
- AnonymousMay 1, 2009 at 3:41:00 AM PDT
I don't normally post comments with such little content, but you deserve a pat on the back for your comments on "On Engendering Strong Reactions". Nice work.ReplyDelete


text:
For the first time this year, Reading Together will
feature a more age-appropriate title for younger readers.
Laura J. Burns'
The Case of the Prank That Stank, seventh-graders Agatha Wong
and Orville Wright, who has Asperger's syndrome, try to prove that the prank
they organized did not cause the fire that burned down their rival school's
field house.
Over four sessions, we will broaden and deepen our picture of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) through reading texts by and about those on the spectrum: Temple Grandin, Clara Parks, Judy and Paul Karasik, and Mark Haddon. We'll begin the first session with Grandin's Emergence. Books are available at the Kalamazoo College Bookstore and Kazoo Books. Led by Bruce Mills, English professor at Kalamazoo College and autism advocate. Registration and $52 fee required; call 337-7354.
Location: K College Stryker Center


text: Top 10 Videos of 2012 December 12, 2012 11:00 PM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Nate Birt Top Producer Managing Editor Email As we prepare to put 2012 to bed, it is always a good idea to reflect on the past year. For the remaining days of 2012, the editors at AgWeb.com will bring you stories that were important this year and will continue to be top of mind in 2013. We'll also include some traditional best-of and end-of-the year pieces. Send any thoughts or comments on the stories to email@example.com. These were among the most-watched videos of 2012. Follow the links to take a trip back through the year. Agribusiness: When the End of the Bulls Is Near Bob Utterback of Utterback Marketing--everyone's favorite marketing bear--explains how to tell when a bull market is going to end. Related stories on AgWeb: Bulls Predict Repeat Performance for Crop Prices in 2013 Agribusiness: What Will It Take for $7 Corn? Corn prices are relatively low right now, but could they reach $7? Bill Biedermann of Allendale, Inc., offers one scenario where they could. Related stories on AgWeb: No Sharp Retreat Likely for Corn, Beans Meet Mike Stamp, Top Producer of the Year Finalist In less than a decade, this 37-year-old Michigan farmer grew his operation from a single semi to 40,000 acres. Related stories on AgWeb: A Finalist, But Not the Winner Agribusiness: Will History Repeat Itself? Mike Florez of Florez Trading explains how we can use previous drought years to predict corn prices this year--and why we may be looking at $7 corn. Related stories on AgWeb: Ongoing Drought Sparks Uncertainty in 2013 Corn Prices Pro Farmer Profit Briefing: The Fourth of July Came Early Pro Farmer editors Chip Flory and Brian Grete discuss the fireworks associated with the current markets. Related stories on AgWeb: Crop Conditions Continue Decline Effective, Future Decisions on Corn and Soybean Sales Starts Now Farm Journal Economist Bob Utterback spoke to a packed house at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. Related stories on AgWeb: USDA Announces Corn and Soybean Sales AgDay: How Much Higher Can Agriculture Get? Times have been good for the American farmer, but Mark Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing warns that they may not last much longer. Related stories on AgWeb: Don't Think Farmland Values Could Tumble? Think Again AgDay: Prepare Now for Jan. 12 Reports The upcoming USDA reports might not turn out the way you expect, so make sure you're prepared, says Mark Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing. Related stories on AgWeb: Coverage, Analysis of the Dec. 11, 2012, USDA Reports The Psychology of Selling Grain How often have you waivered on whether to sell your grain? Jason Moss of Brock Associates provides advice on how to manage your marketing plan. Related stories on AgWeb: Grain in the Bin? Sell Baby, Sell! Soybean Harvest in Gaois, Brazil Missouri farmer Kip Cullers explains the soybean harvest he's watching near Capadao do Ceu, in the state of Gaois. Related stories on AgWeb: Soybean Switch: Brazil Set to Outpace U.S. Production See More: Top Stories of 2012, Looking Forward to 2013 Back to news


text:
- Remove this product from my favorite's list.
- Add this product to my list of favorites.
- Send to a friend
Send to a friend
Recipient :
* Required fields
* Required fields
We are conveniently located on the heart of Midtown Miami at 2217 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137. Very close to Wynwood, Brickell, Miami Beach, and Downtown Miami. We offer daily fresh cut flowers from around the world, a large selection of succulents, cactus, bonsai trees, orchid plants, and a variety of plants. Also, we create unique Floral Art pieces with natural and artificial flowers, innovative event designs, full event decor and production, and weekly arrangements. Some of our categories for our floral arrangements are birthday arrangements, love arrangements, sympathy arrangements, newborn baby arrangements, mother's day arrangements, valentine's day, any occasions, Thanksgiving, 3D arrangements, weekly flowers, splendor, bonsai trees, succulents, succulents gardens, orchids plants, weddings, Event décor. Same Day Delivery
No customer comments for the moment.


text:
|Featured Devotional
A Patch From My Past
|When I was a kid, I had horrible eyesight. One eye was lazy, my right
eye, so I had to wear a patch over my left eye for most of my first grade
year. It was black like a pirate patch, so even though the six-yr-old boys
thought it was cool, it was so NOT COOL to me. read more
|"Amen and hallelujah! Printing it off, reading it often. Many thanks
|to you. (Where's A Soapbox When You Need One.)
|"We are battling a big wave with a family member right now so this
|particular devotional really touched my heart." (What's In A Wave)
|"I truly was blessed by your piece, Where's The Backdrop. I had
|never thought of God 'blowing' us where He wants us. I hope I can
sow productive seed when I land.
|"I am a serious fan of my mentor Laura and her writings. Her words
|have a lot of insight and learnings for life, which is refreshing to the
|"I love your website and I especially love the question and answer
|page for kids."
|"Thank you for this reminder that God does expect us to finish it
|and we can with His help!!!"
|"...this is such a visual and wonderful message. You have a depth in
|your writing and a compassion that warms the heart."
|Copyright (c) 2008 Lovinthearts.com
All rights reserved
report web site issues to email@example.com
|"For in Him we live and move and have our being."
Acts 17:28a (NIV)


text:
BANGKOK (AP) – Encouraging news on the US economy boosted most Asian stock markets Thursday as investors followed Wall Street's lead in shrugging off political turmoil in Egypt and worrying developments in Europe's debt crisis.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng led the modest rally, jumping 1.8 percent to 20,508.02 after reports that fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week and ADP, a payrolls processor, said that businesses added more jobs last month than analysts had expected.
China's Shanghai Composite rose 1 percent to 2,013.49. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.9 percent to 4,786.60. Jakarta's JSX was up 1.3 percent to 4,638.11 while South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.3 percent to 1,830.52.
The employment news, added to a muted report on U.S. manufacturing growth, was good enough to restore confidence that the American economic recovery s is on track but probably not strong enough yet for the Federal Reserve to pull back on its stimulus program.
With Wall Street closed on Thursday for the Independence Day holiday, investors will be watching the U.S. government's jobs report Friday in hopes of figuring out what the Federal Reserve will do next.
Over the past few weeks, markets have sputtered amid speculation that the Fed might taper off its policy of buying $85 billion in bonds every month to keep interest rates low and encourage spending.
"We have had a period of extreme volatility, and now we have some settling going on," said Lorraine Tan, director at Standard & Poor's equity research in Singapore. "I think there's a realization that the reaction may have been overdone."
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 bucked Thursday's trend, edging down 0.1 percent to 14,046.85. Taiwain's TAIEX was also nearly flat, up 0.1 percent to 7,914.35.
Asia's mild rally came after Wall Street also entered positive territory, despite Egypt's political crisis and worries over Europe's dormant debt crisis erupting again.
In Europe, stock markets slumped as Portugal's government teetered on the edge of collapse. Investors worried about the future of the bailed-out country and its efforts to get a handle on its debt after two Cabinet members quit.
Investors around the world were also keeping a close watch on the oil price after Egypt's military overthrew the country's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, who had defied calls to resign despite the demands of millions of protesters.
Egypt is not an oil producer but its control of the Suez canal one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, which links the Mediterranean with the Red Sea gives it a crucial role in maintaining global energy supplies.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was up 7 cents to $101.31 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The day before it climbed to nearly $102, its highest level in more than a year.
In currencies, the euro rose 0.2 percent to $1.2993. The dollar slipped to 99.75 yen from 99.97 yen.


text:
Eero Saarinen's Greatest Hits
Posted by
Becky |
View all posts by Becky
Leave a comment!
I am so excited for Museum of Design Atlanta's upcoming Eero Saarinen exhibit – it starts this Sunday April 14th and will run through June 30, 2013. For those of you who won't be in Atlanta during that time, I thought we could do a post on Saarinen here to let you enjoy his work too. Here's a quick peek at a fe of his greatest hits:
The Miller House, Columbus, Indiana 1957: Now owned and maintained by The Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Miller House is open for tours. If you visit, be sure to pay attention the landscape by Daniel Urban Kiley; it's one of the most spectacular modern gardens in the U.S. and the interior fun provided by Alexander Girard. Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to plan ahead if you're planning a trip to the modern-architecture rich Columbus! You can buy them here.
photos via The Indianapolis Museum of Art
The TWA Terminal at JFK 1962: The last time I was in this building, it was leaky and there was a bird flying around, but this architecture was all about the Jet Age, back when flying was glamorous and exciting:
John Deere Headquarters, Moline, Illinois 1964: After catching the eye of John Deere's president, William Hewitt with his designs, Saarinen designed the striking headquarters for the company. The project is a wonderful example of modern architecture living in harmony with its surroundings:
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis 1965: One of the most iconic structures (at 630 feet high, it's also the tallest monument) in the U.S. is also by Saarinen. Again, he teamed up with Dan Kiley to complete the landscape. Isn't this picture crazy? It gives me vertico just thinking about it, and it also makes me miss my erector set!
Saarinen's furniture designs continue to be some of the most popular examples of mid-century modern style today.
He designed the Womb Chair (1964) at the behest of his good pal Florence Knoll, who wanted a chair she could curl up in. If one wants to stretch out in it, the matching ottoman is a great addition.
Of course, his tulip table, a.k.a. Knoll Saarinen Table (1956), is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture from the mid-century modern period. Saarinen was not fond of legs and wanted a cleaner look when it came to kitchen and dining areas. "The undercarriage of chairs and tables in a typical interior makes an ugly, confusing, unrestful world," he said. "I wanted to clear up the slum of legs. I wanted to make the chair all one thing again."
For a typical kitchen table with four legs plus four chairs, Saarinen decreased "the slum of legs" from 20 legs to 5 pedestals. Not too shabby!
For those of you in Atlanta during the next few months, be sure to check out MODA's Eero Saarinen exhibit!