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Letters to the Editor
Editor and Blaine City Council:
I believe the city is overdue as far as updating business license fees. The cost of a license starts at $25 and goes to $500 which Im forced to pay. In order to pay $500, I must net $815 Canadian dollars; unfortunately, most of my business is in Canadian dollars.
Ive called around to neighboring cities to compare fees. Ferndale cost $50, Bellingham $40 and B&O tax to license a tavern. Why is Blaine 10 times more?
It doesnt seem fair that I pay $500 when another business on my street pays $25! The license classifications and fees are unfair and have no logic to them. Theyre old and need to be revised. This must change if we want new businesses to come to our town. Why come to our town? Why come to Blaine when you can get your license for one-tenth the cost in Ferndale? Businesses are closing on a regular basis and the cost of a business license is part of the reason.
I urge you to make a change now because businesses in Blaine cant afford unfair license fees along with everything else we have going against us.
Mary Lee Hill, owner of Pastime Tavern
I am writing to ask for the communitys support for the vote on the upcoming school bond vote for the Blaine school district. Support from everyone in the Blaine school district is very important. There are so many reasons why this bond should pass and I would like to mention a few of them.
Both of our sons wrestle, and if you havent been in the wrestling room lately, you really should take a look at it. The kids who are wrestling right now have much talent and promise to go far. It would be nice for these talented kids to have a modern wrestling room complete with a work out area.
The middle school shares classroom space with the high school, and if the bond passes, then new classrooms for the middle school will be built as well as the cafeteria expanded and the buildings would be made more energy efficient.
The primary school will receive a new pod which, with our growth in the community, is desperately needed. Over at the elementary school, a new heating system is planned and four new classrooms will be built. The outdoor play area will be enclosed which will be great on those rainy wet days!
The Blaine school district already has the best teachers, staff and students in the entire universe! Lets make them all have the best school and equipment in the universe! Please support the bond, get out and vote yes!
Terilyn Price
Birch Bay
Support our school district. Theres a powerful computer between your ears, I told my student, a member of the United States Coast Guard. Why not turn it on and raise your grade? I asked. The programmer is on vacation, he replied. That answer I got 23 years ago; I was an itinerant sociology professor assigned to Alaskan military sites by Chapman University.
Thankfully, there are students at Blaine high school whose programmers are on duty. As academic athletes who realize the human mind is a galactic gift to be discovered and explored, they launched the new millennium with state championships in math and the knowledge bowl. No small achievement! Nothing beats lifelong development of the mind; even at their tender age, they have come to realize this.
In their honor I ask my community to vote in favor of the forthcoming bond issue. Honor our Borderite athletes as they discover and explore the unfathomable universe of the human mind. Support them by granting them the finest tools and environment for a lifelong journey that will equip them to improve the world for the good of all.
Richard E. Clark
The Blaine public schools have been serving the community well. My children are receiving an excellent education. However, to remain competitive, the schools need adequate classroom space. At this point in time, the schools are filled to capacity and in the middle school they are overflowing. There are presently three middle school classes that are meeting in the high school due to lack of space in the middle school.
The proposed bond that the school district is putting forth to the voters would provide money to expand the classroom space of the individual schools as well as update the buildings for energy conservation and safety. Also included in the proposed capital improvements are the expansion of the seating area of the PAC, a new shared cafeteria for the high school and middle school, expansion and remodeling of the physical education facility and other improvements and renovations to the overall campus.
I strongly urge the voters in the Blaine School District to vote yes on May 15.
Anne Abrams
Our school district staff and elected officials have identified a building plan that will ensure we have an adequate and safe school facility to meet our communitys needs for the next decade. To fund this plan, we are asked to approve a bond issue May 15 that will result in an increase in property taxes.
The Blaine school district provides high quality education and is one of the major assets our community has to offer. An investment in our school system correlates to an investment in our community. If our goal is to maintain property values and attract manageable growth, we cannot ignore the legitimate needs of our school system.
Addressing the schools needs should not be delayed. No one expects construction costs to decrease over the next few years and we should take advantage of favorable prevailing interest rates. Furthermore, some of the more important aspects of the plan involve bringing the school campus into compliance with contemporary fire and life safety standards that are necessary for the protection of our children. These are high priority items that cannot in good conscience be delayed.
As a taxpayer, resident and parent, I urge my fellow voters to vote yes on May 15.
Bill Elfo
Im writing today because my husband has worked at Intalco for the past 33 years and the crisis that is facing us will affect the entire county and the economy of this state for a good many years.
I attended the public meeting at Mount Baker Theatre on Friday evening and was gratified to see a full house that included city officials from Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and Everson. There was no mention of any official, elected or appointed from the city of Blaine! [Ed. note: city manager Gary Tomsic was in attendance.]
The fight we are waging for power is not just about our jobs, that is important, but the fact is the loss of 930 jobs is the loss of a total payroll or $65 million annually! This money supports three more service jobs for every one at Intalco. There are another $75 million of goods and services (excluding electricity) annually that Intalco purchased, most of it local! If that doesnt make you stop and think, there is one more little item:the local medical community is the beneficiary of purchases annually in the amount of $7.5 million.
Everyone in this town and this community needs to write to Steven Wright of the BPA and to President Bush and their elected officials in Washington, D.C. Without reasonable power rates for all of us we are looking at the beginning of a recession that will be a long time leaving!
This is not just a local issue. There are over 7,000 workers in the aluminum industry in this state who are going to lose their jobs. Each of those jobs support seven other jobs! Pay attention!
Thank you for listening, now get out and do something!
Maureen Scott
It is unfortunate when some people leap to conclusions without all the facts. David White needs to know the facts about the city managers salary, and about the White Rock/Blaine Amtrak stop. The city managers salary is the same figure as originally negotiated last July five figures. No change.
White Rock/Amtrak: The city manager and six others, including myself, met April 11 with senator Georgia Gardner. It was a good meeting, clearing communication channels admittedly let slide. We are discussing two different train services. The one championed by senator Gardner is the second Seattle-Vancouver train now stopping in Bellingham, to make a Blaine stop. Senator Gardner has been a real champion for train service and we appreciate her effort to include a Blaine stop.
It is necessary for B.C. to step to the plate with $20-$30 million to allow two and potentially four trains daily. But a stop in lower mainland seems from a regional view point necessary for this to take place. This is the reason for thinking beyond our city limits to support White Rock in pursuing a stop on the part of Amtrak. Where B.C. government actually will put the stop is up to them, but it could benefit Blaine by a stop in White Rock, rather then further north or east. There is also a feasibility study underway supported by senator Gardner for an Everett to Blaine commuter train with potentially five to eight round trips daily.
Again two different trains commuter and an Amtrak high speed train. I applaud senator Gardner and look for her help to get necessary financing to make a Blaine stop a reality. Likewise we encourage White Rock and the B.C. government to do what needs to be done to improve the Eugene to Vancouver run with more high speed trains and make it therefore convenient to all in the greater Northwest.
Dieter Schugt, mayor
Its perfectly understandable that senator Georgia Gardner should lament the decision by Amtrak to support a new stop in White Rock, but the rationale is based purely on economics.
Simply put, Amtrak wants to be able to attract passengers from among the nearly 700,000 Canadian residents living south of the Fraser River in order to increase its revenues. Senator Gardner can draw some comfort, however, from the likelihood the new revenue will reduce Amtraks dependence on state subsidies and make possible the introduction of a commuter rail service to the residents of Blaine.
At the same time we want to increase traffic across the border in another significant way. White Rock and Blaine officials have discussed the launch of a new three-point shuttle ferry service that would connect Blaine, White Rock and the Semiahmoo Inn. This has been proposed in the past as a commercial stimulus for all communities near the border, but the additional Amtrak stop will make it economically feasible.
I must assure the senator that Blaine has not been, and will not be, ignored during these Amtrak discussions. On the contrary, the plan has already led to the development of positive and open relations between our city councils, our provincial and state representatives and between our chambers of commerce. We have developed a consensus on this issue and we now look upon our two cities as a single development area that will share the benefits of this new service.
I can only hope that senator Gardner will recognize the benefits of a stop in White Rock and by her support, help cultivate the positive, cross-border spirit of cooperation and respect that has already been established.
Hardy Staub, mayor
White Rock, B.C.
Concerning the Blaine city managers salary, it remains at five figures. Mr. White, it would seem, has an expanded capacity for discovering zeros.
Kenneth Ely, council member
Referring to your report of a hearing on manufactured homes: I have lived in both manufactured and site-built homes and have been equally comfortable/uncomfortable in each (although the manufactured home was easier on my budget).
Of the principals your report named, I am only familiar with the Meakers and Coggan. Do they have an axe to grind? Of course. They have proved their willingness to rape the land if it will provide benefits to them. Why else destroy several fruit trees to make room for a parking lot?
Indeed, why build several apartment houses in a town that has been losing businesses for the last two years? I can only imagine, if those white elephants remain vacant ... Well, a business loss is tax deductible, isnt it?
Lawrence Hammer
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.
send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.
Please email letters to email@example.com


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Summer Reading Kickoff Party
Published on Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 11:27am
Come celebrate the end of school, and the beginning our Making Waves and make a Splash Summer Reading programs. Sign up to win prizes when you read, get information on our special performers for this year, and help paint a mural in the lobby.
We will begin painting at 4:30 pm. Children and teens of all ages are welcome.

subset: commoncrawl


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"Easy to personalize, super fast standard delivery, very beautiful but simple colors. Overall great product for a great price."
"We are so happy with the way these invitations turned out for our son's baptism. They are simple and perfect for the occasion. The paper quality and overall look of them is fantastic. My family commented on how nice they look. I wouldn't change a thing and would recommend these to anyone looking for a quality baptism invitation."
"I absolutely loved these baby dedication invitations! They turned out perfect. The quality of this invite was great. I was worried how the gold would turn out so I made the back of the invite blue and I love being able to customize the card."
"I didnt want anything too crazy. I wanted a simple classic look and this invite does it justice. I asked them to change it to blue but then went with aloe in the end bc it looked so much better. Aloe is perfect its like a light grayish green so classy. I do however wish you could put a time for the reception and a phone number to rsvp. I realize now I probably couldve called them to add but I am all about getting it done on the internet. So i wish they would add those optiona for you from the beginning."
"I was very happy with this purchase. I wanted something simple and elegant for my baby's Baptism instead of the photo cards I was seeing everywhere. The quality of the card was great. Looking back I probably would have liked to get the glossy finish on them, but even without it they look great. I do want to say that the background color is much more gray than the gray-blue that appears online. I have received many compliments about them already and the invitations only when out last week!"


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Visualizing Geography: Maps, Place, and Pedagogy
Similar Content
Mapping technology has recently been the focus of much critical attention as evidenced by numerous efforts to develop new ways of visualizing physical and textual spaces. The proliferation of tools such as Neatline, The DM Project, Google Earth, and Walking Through Time has made mapping the stuff of both academic endeavours and everyday life.
Specifically on the academic front, the marriage of geography and literary scholarship raises interesting questions about how an individual imagines and experiences spaces. Projects like Map of Early Modern London, MappaMundi, and The Pegasus Data Project among others, are grappling with complex issues of space, place, and time, and sometimes they create encoding problems that expose epistemological flaws.
This forum will attempt to articulate some of these flaws and propose solutions that will help us better understand how literature, geography, space, and time intersect. Ultimately, we hope to foster an interdisciplinary conversation among scholars working on varied projects, from medieval texts to post-colonial movement, in order to gain new perspectives on the advantages and pitfalls of mapping text, space, and place.
- How can web tools represent the literary spaces that a reader encounters (or imagines) in literature? What types of tools would fill the existing technological gaps in geospatial information studies?
- How do narratives travel and replicate over geographical space? What would mapping these processes yield? How can we do it?
- Is it problematic to represent literary and historical geography with modern interfaces like Google Maps? Should we be concerned that these visualizations may not be accurate representations of how our subjects would imagine space, or can we be content in uncovering new (and previously impossible) readings of old texts?
- How does using maps as a pedagogical tool affect our understanding of both real and literary environments? Does mapping change the way we make connections even when we aren't thinking about geographical space?
Hosted by HASTAC Scholars:
Cameron Butt, department of English, University of Victoria
Annette Joseph-Gabriel, department of French, Vanderbilt University
Rebecca Nesvet, department of English and Comparative Literature, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Rebecca Shores, department of English and Comparative Literature, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Forum Guests:
- David Borland, The Renaissance Computing Institute (RenCI)
- Laurel Bowman, department of Greek and Roman studies, University of Victoria
- Alex Gil, Digital Scholarship Coordinator, Columbia University
- Jen Jack Gieseking, Visiting Assistant Research Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Project Manager for JustPublics@365
- Martin Holmes, Humanities Computing and Media Centre, University of Victoria
- Alex Huang, department of English, George Washington University
- Todd Hughes, Director of Instructional Technology, Center for Second Language Studies, Vanderbilt University
- Janelle Jenstad, department of English, University of Victoria
- Joel Legassie, department of history, University of Victoria.
- Kim McLean-Fiander, The Map of Early Modern London, University of Victoria
- Jana Millar Usiskin, department of English, University of Victoria
- Greg Newton, Humanities Computing and Media Centre, University of Victoria
- Lynn Ramey, department of French and Italian, Vanderbilt University (mapping medieval travel at Discoveries of the Americas)
- Joyce Rudinsky, Associate Director for Digital Arts and Humanities, Institute of Arts nd Humanities (IAH), UNC Chapel Hill
- Katie Tanagawa, department of English, University of Victoria
Image Sources:
(1): "I am It, and It is I": Lovecraft in Providence. Neatline Project By Paul Mawyer
(2): Screenshot of Digital Harlem: Everyday Life 1915-1930, showing all of the neighborhood churches
Everyone is welcome to join the forum! Register on HASTAC to comment below.
literary worlds and cartography
One of the more powerful poetic images of maps is Anna
Laetitia' Barbauld's image of a British woman looking at a map. In
"Eighteen Hundred and Eleven" (1812), the woman:
. . . the spread map with anxious eye explores,
Its dotted boundaries and penciled shores,
Asks where the spot that wrecked her bliss is found,
And learns its name but to detest the sound.
(ll. 33-8)
(From Project Gutenberg, provenance unknown)
This woman is "exploring" in cartography, to understand how war and imperialism have destroyed her family and possibly imperilled her life.
Barbauld's map-reading scene anticipates the Victorian geographer Lady Jane Franklin's search for her husband Sir John Franklin and his Arctic expedition of 130, which disappeared in 1845 and has never been located. Lady Franklin did not just passively read cartography, she influenced it, by commissioning fruitless rescue missions and somewhat more productive recovery expeditions that mapped much of Upper Canada. (She also lobbied successfully for her husband's erroneous immortalization as the discoverer of the Northwest Passage.)
Many more Victorian readers saw literary worlds cartographically. One of the nineteenth century's unsung bestsellers, James Malcolm Rymer's The String of Pearls--the origin of the Sweeney Todd legend--is almost incomprehensible without a map of London's Temple Bar area. As it was disseminated far beyond London, with a New York edition published before the end of the century, most readers probably knew Rymer's London only from maps, illustrations, and other stories.
In the 1880s, Edwin A. Abbott's Flatland introduced a world adequately represented by a map. Flatland exists in only two dimensions. As a satirical dystopia that mirrors Abbott's England, Flatland might be considered a 1:1 scale map of England. Flatland is viewed from above and below by its psychopomp, the imperialist Sphere, so it looks like a map. In contrast, the pompous Sphere is a globe, so in Abbott's parable, the world looks in the mirror of the map and fails to recognize itself. Perhaps in this forum, we shall do better.
visualize "map view" & "street view" at the same time?
One of the more interesting things I've come across in the
geohumanities is the distinction between the two primary ways in which
we tend to visualize geography. I think the best way to describe these
two visualization types is in Google's terminology: "map view" and
"street view." For Michel de Certeau, this distinction is the
difference between "the knowledge of an order of places" (i.e. seeing
from above) or "spatializing actions" (i.e moving through a space).
For me, these two visualizations of geography are mutually exclusive: I can never conceptualize both images at the same time. It's like a gestalt drawing: I can see the rabbit and the duck, but never both animals together. And I think that this statement is true despite the miracle of mobile phones. Even staring at a blue dot that I understand represents my body as viewed from above, I can not completely merge what I see around me with what my phone imagines the spaces around me look like from above.
It's possible that this is a personal handicap and that other people can indeed conceptualize both the street view and the map view at once. I'm thinking now of a video games I played growing up, Goldeneye, in which players impersonate James Bond characters trying to kill each other. In these games, the first person view simulates the player "walking" around, gun drawn, annihilating their enemies or, in my case, being gunned down by apparently invisible opponents. Let's call this the street view. There was also a map view, a small series of squiggles and dots in the corner of the screen that outlined the terrain of the virtual space. Now the reason I used to get killed a lot when playing these games was that I couldn't make sense of the map view, or when I could, I couldn't make that information relevant to my understanding of the street view. My opponents, however, played that game every day and thoroughly understood how to make connect their knowledge of the "order of places" with their "spatializing actions."
Now bear with me, because I think there's more to this anecdote than my repressed anger at losing every single game of Goldeneye I ever played. With practice, my friends had successfully fused these apparently opposite visualizations of the same space. But I think it's important to note that, even in understanding the relationship between these views, they could not successfully see both at the same time. Their eyes would repeatedly dart back and forth between the map and the screen showing the street view.
Which leads me to conclude, though not
empirically, that we can not conceive of a space in both a street view
and a map view at the same time.
Does this theory hold up? Has anybody managed to do so? Are there any tools out there that reflect or disprove this dynamic?
merging two views
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has difficulty merging map view and street view in my mind. Yes I agree that "we cannot conceive of a space in both" views simultaneously, but I would like to try.
current project (still in very early stages) is attempting to do this.
In trying to plot the movements of 2 women political activists
throughout French West and Central Africa I definitely want to merge
both views. I'm currrently exploring Neatline to craft a narrative that
will allow the map viewer to very literally see the movement through
space via points on a map but also to "be" in the space, it's landmarks
and terrain...and I say "be" because to access googgle maps street view
you need to place yourself (i.e the little yellow man) onto the map. I'm
not sure if this is possible. Currently the map viewer would still have
to toggle between one and the other view.
So to add to the questions above, what are the implications of our (in)ability to simultaneously be in a space and have a bird's eye view of it? In particular, what are the implications for the way we read say travel narratives that seek to give us both views? Do such texts bring us as close as we can get?
Envisioning Ability to Combine Views & Visualization
Annette, your project sounds fascinating. And your description calls attention to the reasons why it's not enough for us to plug our data into existing interfaces like Google Maps, why we need new interfaces. Why on earth should the travels of two women be represented on a map by a "little yellow man?" And why does Google think that this man represents the reader of the map in their armchair, projected, or remembered travels? What does that say about Google Maps' assumptions about the archetypal voyager's gender and/or race?
What are the implications of our (in)ability to simultaneously be in a space and have a bird's eye view of it?
And this is a great question, Annette... especially for readers of FLATLAND.
To recap: Flatland is 2D. Inhabitants - shapes - experience world as plane. Above and below don't exist. "Spaceland," home of the Sphere, is our 3D world, and Flatland cuts through it like the rings of Saturn.
So, do the Flatlanders have an advantage in their not needing to constantly translate and shift between map-view and street-view perspectives, as in Flatland these are the same?
Would a creature from the 4th Dimension (Hyperland?) have too many views of OUR world? (Map, Street, and hyperspatial?)
(My sketch)
Geography and temporality
I also struggle with envisioning "street view" and "map view" at the same time, and can only get close to reconciling them with the help of layering or other graphics like a "you are here" outtake on the same page. But this issue hits another vital aspect to mapping literary geography: what do we do with the temporal elements of our visual renderings? How do we reconcile, or at least articulate, the distance between us and the literature we're mapping? The real and the imagined space? The present and the past?
All of these issues come up in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a group of 8 annalistic texts whose first version began in the 9th c and whose last ended in the 12th. The annals contain prose, poetry, short stories, and genealogies. And although each entry begins with a date, most of them also contain reference to place.
When looking at the 10th century entries that are unique to each version (places only mentioned by A Chronicle, B Chronicle, etc), we see clearly particular spatial preferences :
It seems unlikely that the scribes had much (if any) access to maps, but texts like the Old English Orosius complicate our understanding of Anglo-Saxon sense of space. The translator of Orosius's geography/history text added "interviews" from two contemporary sailors, Ohthere and Wulfstan, who seem to dictate (with occasional anomaly) their voyages in the White Sea and Baltic.
Ohthere's Voyage mapped by Finn Bjorklid (wikipedia comons)
But how many of the scribes over the Chronicle's 3+ centuries of creation had ever seen a map, especially of England? How did they conceive of their own kingdoms? How are changes of power among Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria, and with ever-increasing waves of Viking invasion entered into these temporal registers?
Most important to this forum, I think, is, "what happens when we visualize spaces that were imagined differently by their authors?" This question leads us back to the issue of street view v map view-- both mark place and change in different ways, and both are perhaps misleadingly real. Do we have any business at all using modern maps to imagine the ancient past, or satellite maps to create imagined spaces? What are the plusses and pitfalls?
Great post and questions
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for organizing this forum.
I really enjoyed your question Rebecca, and it's something I consider a great deal because many of my historical actors (missionaries) have a highly religious worldview. Trying to map this perspective on to existing google or satellite maps has not really produced the landscapes or visions I'm trying to map.
Does any one know of alternative software that allows you to physically alter the sizes and shapes of countries? I often find myself wanting to alter the maps I'm working on so that important landmarks and interests are propotionally larger. Such a software would perhaps bridge the gap between street and map view, while at the same time allowing us to make space a much more contigent variable in our analysis of the past. I've not had any luck finding such s software but it would be a great tool.
Please feel free to share any leads!
Old and New Maps
Sorry to be late to the discussion! But so far, it's fascinating.
I'm intrigued by two of the points, which seem to intersect:
1) The question of trying to visualize two different views of the same space at the same time and the narrative equivalent of that, and
2) How should we use old and new maps? Should we try to see what the author may have seen? Is there a morality of mapping?
I agree with Cameron that there are different capacities for viewers. Brains are wired uniquely, and some people prefer street view (3D) and some prefer flat (2D), and some people seem to pass easily from one to the other. But the positioning is so very different-- one with a bird's eye (narrative equivalent of omniscient) and the other with a first person view. [I wonder what a game would be like with a 2nd person view? That would seem the closest to merging the two.] This would make a fantastic model for a text that switches between points of view. I can imagine playing through the text (I'm currently a little obsessed with gaming models for the humanities) with a change in point of view, as Annette suggests. What would that bring to the reader? Would the reader "see" or experience the text more as the author did? Which brings me to the second point.
What does it bring us to see things as they may have been seen 50 or 1000 years ago by an author? Like Rebecca, I work with medieval maps that don't geo-reference precisely to modern maps. We tried an exercise to geo-rectify a medieval map, and while it was possible, the result was rather amusing; I'm not sure it was helpful to anyone, though it did show the impossibility of such a task. Here I quote from one of the students in the course, Katie Gandy:
While reading over the excerpts from [Martin] Foys's book [Virtually Anglo-Saxon, Florida 2010], especially Ch 4, I kept thinking of our attempts to map the medieval map onto a modern map while using ArcGIS.
I know that we all spent much time connecting green x to blue x in order to align the edges of the maps (April takes the cake with her 100+ alignments). Regardless of the time spent, though, we could never make the maps fit exactly — "To modern eyes, these medieval worlds never seem quite right" (Foys 111).
We were trying to use a modern political map and precise GPS points from google maps to locate positions on a medieval map… which was NOT the purpose of that map. Foys writes, "As maps become more and more accurate in their schematized signification, then, they become further and further divorced from 'real' perception of the space they reproduce" (117); we should read medieval maps therefore NOT as "an accurate indicator of physical space" (120) but as "datascapes" (120).
In adapting the medieval map to modern standards, as we did in our use of ArcGIS, we really just emphasized the 'accuracy' flaws without profiting from the rich information that's within.
Indeed, when one looks at a medieval map it looks a lot more like the sort of map Rebecca and Zoe imagine for religious travelers-- Jerusalem at the center of the world, out of proportion objects and images of peoples who intrigued more than one medieval mapmaker. Here's a close-up of Ireland, England, part of France on the Catalan Atlas of 1375:
Geo-political and religious references are marked on the map-- flags and churches for Nantes and Paris, flags representing factions and alliances in Ireland and England, and then a fairly long section of text, upside-down on the left which reports travel writing accounts of what can be found in various areas of the map. This is pretty close to seeing from a bird's eye (the map) and street (first-person text) in the same space, though your eyes must dart between the two because those really are two positions that cannot inhabit the exact same space at the same moment.
As for the morality of using modern maps for older texts, or even old maps to read old texts, I think it's the combination of these points of view, as long as we acknowledge our own position and the impossibility of inhabiting anything other than our own time and place, that gives us the most possibility for insight. With every map being political and every mapmaker and author having to work with his or her own impressions and preconceptions, I don't think we could ever see what any author or mapmaker really saw, but it adds something for us to know that Nantes was almost as important as Paris in this mapmaker's eyes (why, we must ask?) and that Ireland and England are roughly the same size. But we know that is worthy of remarking because on a modern map, Paris is much more central (geographically) to France and Ireland is far smaller than the UK.
Mapping touring theatre works
What does it mean to map world-wide theatre activities? Why would we want to do it? As the co-founder of http://globalshakespeares.org/ (an open-access performance archive), I am intrigued by two sets of your questions:
- How do narratives travel and replicate over geographical space? What would mapping these processes yield?
- How does using maps as a pedagogical tool affect our understanding of both real and literary environments? Does mapping change the way we make connections even when we aren't thinking about geographical space?
Maps and mapping as a pedagocial and research tool are central to the field of global Shakespeare studies and to our understanding of touring performances. In one of the "wings" of our Global Shakespeares project (http://web.mit.edu/shakespeare/asia/), we experimented with Google Maps to plot the frequency of plays performed (where is Hamlet most popular?), locations of productions, and touring trajectories of select productions across continents.
Mapping geopolitical space is not the only concern here. We also have to consider a wider and longer history of globalization. In other words, we have to map time and space.
The data can be viewed as a table, plotted on a world map withsatellite and hybrid map-satellite options, or timeline. Dynamic timelines and maps used in conjunction with faceted browsing and tagged video, allow users to trace the paths of production and diffusion of Asian and touring productions. If 'distant reading' and graphs, as Franco Moretti suggests, can bring about important changes to the study of literature, such tools for visualization are important for performance studies. For any given period scholars tend focus on a select group of canonical works, and, as a result, they have allowed a narrow slice of history to pass for the total picture.
Maps and timelines of the large number of productions can suggest new questions and unexpected relationships, and—especially important for the study of world-wide performance and emerging forms in a global context—counter the biases of metropolitan constructions of the field of study.
Cameron Butt raisd an interesting question (above) about Google's terminologies: "map view" and "street view." What might we do with "street view" and on-the-ground knowledge of a specific performance space? Michel de Certeau's points about the surveyor's knowledge of a land and "spatializing actions" is useful, but there is more work to be done regarding 3D modeling and mapping.
Frank Hildy does not
engage in maps, but he does "map" in metaphorical ways theatre buildings
across the world in his Theatre Finder project (http://mith.umd.edu/theatrefinder/).


text:
My name is Scribe.
We have fought the bastards to a standstill. We have taken up residence in the royal palace and barred the doors and the approaching gates.
They rallied the countryside, and everybody and his second cousin have taken to throwing stones and excrement at our standards. It got worse as the days rolled on and especially when that boy king Ptolemy ran screaming into the streets like a little baby crying that his sister had usurped him. Now it's all out war – on us.
Valens is as cool as a melon, and he seems to enjoy the battle that rages around us. When the Alexandrians poisoned our water, all he did was hand Digger a shovel. "Find us more," he said.
Digger went to it and found a hidden well.
Good job Digger!
Alexandrians have bad tempers, and now there have been three attacks on the moon gate. My shield looked like a porcupine.
I thought this place was supposed to be barrels of wine and willing women. The women have gotten all patriotic on us, and I am wondering if the Alexandrians have poisoned the wine as well. Lips and Tickle looked depressed.
Medicus had his hands full. He sews us up like rag dolls, and removed at least three arrow punctures in our squad.
Boss has distinguished himself on the wall. He had fought off an Egypto-attack, and managed to throw six men off the wall as they scaled up a ladder. He is amazing. Caesar has noticed him, and all that does is egg him on to more heroics.
Falcon-Priest spends most of his time with a worried look on his face. He fights, but he fights like it's his last day on earth. Men come to him for solace from other squads and other maniples. So far he has repeated prayers from at least 20 religions, 40 sects from the temples of 21 gods. He seems to know them all, including the hidden chants of the adherents of Mithras. He did not start out a squad-priest. He began when a friend of his died in his arms and was trying to recall a prayer for the dead. He finished his friend's prayer, and after that he was the one that everyone came to for assistance. He told me that he did not believe in the gods until he found out how many – and how similar – they all are. He has even postulated the following: "Scribe, would it not be interesting if all the Gods were actually just one?"
Cook was in a bad mood because he can't find a source of salt. He puts it into everything, and on everything. He has no time to cook. During clashes with the enemy he dreams of roasted chicken, and stuffed mushrooms soaked in wine.
So do I.
All we eat are moldy biscuits and one of my crackers actually moved! It tasted like a gooey chicken.
Lyre-Singer sings in war than he does in peace. We can't shut the bastard up. Centurion
Valens told us to put him on the wall. He said, "His singing will keep the Egyptians up."
From the battlements below the wall a voice rises up in Egyptian: "By the grace of Ra, shut up. If Ra comes to your infernal city he WILL need some sleep for the journey!"
Laughter comes from below the wall and from on top. Centurion Valens is pleased. The enemy for the moment is not sleeping. "Continue to sing," he orders Lyre-Singer.
Before I slept I opened my journal. I take out my stylus and octopi ink. The stylus seems to quiver; it seems to jump while left on attended on the page. It rolls back and forth, the nib seems to inch its way towards the octopi ink. "Pick me up," it whispers to me. "Pick me up."
It is one of those nights. A battle in the moon-light and you can swear that you can see the spirits of men leave their body and fly to the moon-lit clouds. The air, to our surprise, is cool. It is the type of night one can hear words whisper out from the dark.
"You can grab your prick, can you? Just grab my shaft so that I can write!"
These are the words.
"You will listen to me!" The boy King shouts.
Arsinoe and Ganymede stand side by side. Arsinoe looked at her little brother with contempt. "I say we attack this wall!"
Arsinoe begins to talk, but she is stopped by Ganymede. The fat eunuch sniffs and points at the map. "Your royal highness" he said to the boy. "This wall is reinforced by 1000 Romans and two hundred 'Cleopatran' guards. The wall will stand."
The boy king looks at his hero Achillas. He commands the Pharaoh's cohorts and has fought more battles than anyone in the room. His eyes are on the map and the map alone. "The moon gate has to eventually give," he says. "I have war engines, towers with flame throwers to engage them there. Tiny Pharaoh is right. We attack the moon gate."
Arsinoe shakes her fists at the room. "You shall waste man power on them. You shall waste our luck. Luck is what makes us, and the lack of it drags us down. We cut off their water. They are running out of food. What do we care if they sit inside their walls!"
"The princess is right,' says the fat Ganymede.
"Luck favors those that do not let time fall through their fingers. It is like sand," says Achillas. "Luck favors us now, but it may not favor us in a few days, or even a few hours."
Archillas turns to his aide. "Unleash the monsters on the moon gate."
Arsinoe rages at the bearded man in Greek helmet and Apollo armor. "Waste! Waste! Waste! We will need those men for later in the fight! Nothing but waste!"
Her shrieks make young Ptolemy cover his ears.
"Shut up you cow!" He yells.
Ganymede takes the girl outside the war tent. He strokes her neck as her shoulders shake in rage.
"You highness, do not stress yourself. We shall have our way in the end. "
"Your brother's power is in the arms of Achillas. He always says he talks to the gods, does he not? As he formulates his war plans Achillas says, 'I shall talk to the gods.' Why don't we send him to the gods."
She looks up at the fat man and smiles. "Yes, yes Ganymede. You are wise. Send him to the gods."
They both smile.
Arsinoe hugs him and he strokes her neck.
"Oh Ganymede," she says with passion, "If only you were a man."
"Yes, your majesty."
I stopped writing.
Valens is looking down at me. "What is that?" He asked.
"My book."
"Oh, is that all it is. Let me read it." He takes the book and reads the words.
I see his eyes move across the page. He ponders the words. He then returns the book and begins to walk away.
"Where are you going?" I call after him.
"To see Caesar," he said before disappearing into the night.
(By Rob Cain at http://ancientromerefocused.org)
I am Cleopatra.
It was dark. I could not see. My prison restricted my movement. It was hot, and I sweated profusely, but I did not move. I am disciplined you see – I learned discipline at a very early age. I learned that sometime you must enter into danger unseen.
It was dark then too. Our ship was entering Alexandria harbor, with a black sail, and 600 hundred men in black cloaks. The moon was hidden behind low clouds in the sky. They are paid mercenaries, soldiers bought from the Roman Senate to restore my father's throne.
Father and I stood at the bow as the ship knocked up against the harbor, and the soldiers jumped onto the wharf eliminating sleep-eyed sailors or slaves with a stroke of their short swords. Father held my hand as he walked the gangplank to the wharf. When we reached solid ground he took out his flute and played some notes:
The contingent moved out in a slow march – as not to be too conspicuous. Father and I followed. Next to us was a young officer, named Marc Antony.
He was the most handsome man that I had ever seen. He had a massive neck (a god), a chin with a cleft (a god), wavy locks and golden hair (twice a god) I could not take my eyes off him.
We marched through the streets at night. The thieves and beggars ran to get out of our way. Women of questionable nature ran when they saw us march down the street. Leading the way was a palace guard bribed to take us into the palace through the front gate.
"SOL, LA, SOL, LA, SOL LA," he tweeted on his pan flute.
Father trilled the order to stop. It took a few minutes to get the front gate opened. There was a struggle, and the sound of a man being dragged off and screamed from underneath a calloused hand.
We were in the gate, and off we went running down the halls, to the left, to the right, familiar corridors with wet grasslands, panthers and birds in flight etched and painted on the walls. I felt like we were in a ridiculous race, and it was when we got to the golden doors – my bedroom – we found Berenice. My sister bitch. She was reclining on a sofa, trimmed in coppers and silver. She stood up and screamed at the top of her lungs, "GUARDS!"
From father's flute came the following notes: "DOOOOOOOOOOOO REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
The six hundred soldiers spread out through the room, killing guards as they rushed into the room. The blood spilled out onto the magnificent black onyx and inlayed floors.
"You can't do this!" she shouted. "This is my kingdom, my land!"
A battle took place in the outer corridor. The was the sound of metal. The sound of clashing shields and solders dispatching opposition. Father and I stood there staring at Berenice. This was the bitch that took his throne. This is the bitch that tried to have me killed. Her big glands exposed for all to see, her makeup smeared by the tears that ran down her face. Bitch, bitch, bitch.
Finally, the battle stopped. Antony, lovely Antony came and whispered in Aurletes ear. He smiled and removed his hood. So did i.
We smiled at Benese who once more screamed at the top of her lungs.
Father plays a few notes: 'DOOOO REEEEE DOOO REEEEE."
"Shut up with that infernal music," Berenice grunted and fell on her knees.
Father played again. 'DOOOO REEEE DOOO REEEEE."
Father then began to dance around Berenice. He danced up to her ear and played: 'FA LA FA LA FA LA!"
The soldiers in their black capes came back into the room. The palace was secure and many of the royal guards pledged loyalty back from Berenice to her father. That pledge was easy to gain with the point of a sword and a bag of gold.
The Romans stood on the periphery of the room and laughed of the site of Father dancing about my sister – the cow – while playing his pan flute.
She began to cry.
Father enjoyed his little dance and humiliated her by pouring a cup of wine over her head. It ran down her shoulders and stained her white dress that barely hid her large chest as it heaved between sobs.
He looked at two of the Romans, and they looked at Antony. Only when he nodded did they pull her onto the balcony.
'NO!" She shouted.
Her head was dispatched and lobbed over the balcony to the courtyard below.
Father smiled and took off his cape. He went to a hidden chamber embedded in a wall. He removed a golden ivy, a laurel, once worn by Alexander himself. I danced up to him. "Let me, let me!" I shouted begging for the honor of placing it on his head.
I took the laurel, made with beaten gold and father fell on his knees in front of me. I placed it on his head. He rose and then immediately performed a long trill on his flute.
The soldiers in black applauded.
I looked up at Antony. He smiled and winked at me. I thought he was more beautiful than the laurel crown that now sat upon my father's head. I was like a puppy looking up slavishly to his master. "Command me, command me," I cooed under my breath.
That was many years ago.
As for now, it is still dark. It is still hot. Suddenly as I dream of the Antony that I once loved, I am freed from my prison. The carpet is unrolled and I find myself laid out upon the cool marble floor. I look around for the man I have come to see. He is not beautiful like Antony. He is old, with a balding pate, and has the nose of an eagle. There is a twinkle in his eye as he stares at me. There is longing in those eyes. It's been a longtime since he has stared upon a youthful and willing girl. I know he will be easy to command.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"Who are you?" I barked back in the best commanding voice I can give.
"I am Caesar ," he said. "now answer my question. "
I paused for effect.
(Story by Rob Cain of http://ancientromerefocused.org.)
My name is Sanguine.
My squad name is Scribe.
For the rest of this account I shall call me what I was dubbed by my fellow soldiers. Each soldier is given a name that best bears his personality. I was the one who could write, the only one who could write…and thus my squad name was Scribe. Sometimes they called me 'Blood-scribe' for sometimes my writings tell of misfortune. However, for you who reads this account…Scribe is what I prefer to be known. My mates call me Scribe. I am Scribe to all. I am Scribe to you. There are many names we are called in life. Now I am Scribe.
This is an account of our voyage.
The centurions packed us into the ships. We were to set sail for Egypt
"They won't be happy to see us," I said.
"What country ever is?" the Sub-Centurion Valens said to the men. "You march into their country, eat their food and fut their women. We are not hospitable guests."
The men laughed as the trireme moved away from the shore. Immediately, I vomited into the sea. The men of my squad laughed at my discomfort.
"Are the baby-soldiers sick already?" Valens said without pity. "Wait till Neptune causes the waves to rock, and up and down, up and down we fly over the waves like a dove riding the winds."
"STOP!" I shouted from the assault of his descriptions
On the shore a group of women held up bastards for the soldiers to see. They held the children up to remind the soon to be gone father's where to send their extra coins. Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry while in the legions, but there were no regulations on who you shared a hut or room. They looked at Valens sheepishly, and like little boys caught in a lie they waited for him to express his position on this subject for it would be Valens that would hold the whip.
"Oh, I know that some of you are looking on your honeys. Go to the railing for you might not be this way for quite a while. Before we get too far from shore go and wave goodbye and smile."
The 'married' men ran to the railing and waved and shouted names of sweethearts and baby boys and girls. One fellow broke out into tears.
"Touching, isn't it?" Valens said. "Men think with their pricks not knowing if the legion will send them to Egypt."
When we made it out of harbor I began to feel better. I spent my free time – and there was much on board ship – writing in my journal. The men looked at me with almost mysticism. They wanted me to note them in a passage there or a passage there. "Note me, Scribe. I was first over the wall in the battle of the desert city. Note me, Scribe. I won the civic crown." They took pride if their names made my parchment. I carried a folio of paper, stitched together into pages with leather front and back. It was a sturdy journal that could take cold and rain.
Three days and nights we sailed and rowed. A nastier smelling lot never stank up a ship then my small squad of mine. Let me tell you about them.
Falcon Priest (not his real name) was our squad priest. He can make sacrifices and is good with prayer to most any god you can name.
Lyre-Singer (not his real name) is a poet, a singer with a loud and awful voice caused by a twang from a three time broken nose and a throat punch in a shoving match to capture a rebel wall.
Cook (not his real name) can bake, grill, fry and any animal, into the most delicious fare. He spends his days – when he is not fighting – gathering herbs and carries a pouch of salt on his armor.
Digger (Not his real name) is the best in the unit with a spade. In fact, he enjoys it. He is good at it, and has actually used the spade in battle He has wailed into the enemy line swinging the spade back and forth to bang head and shield into tiny bits as he plows a course through the enemy line.
Lips and tickle (Not his real name) for his charms the women at every city taken in battle or not. They watch him in formation, and his reputation was well known throughout the civil war. It did not matter if the city was loyal to Caesar or not, when he entered the front gate the women had heard of him and the giant size of his prick. He is a god, a Pan, an Apollo with a flashing smile.
Medicus (Not his real name) – is our physician. Not sure how he learned 'the arts.' He can stitch you up, and cut your left off if needed (lucky for us he has not ever needed to perform such a task). Strangely enough he and Cook are best friends, and each has been seen wandering pastures and quiet forest searching for herbs. Cook wants what can affect the palette. Medicus wants what can affect the senses and the mind.
Boss (not his real name) is our scrapper. We named him after the metal knob on the front of our shield. He is quick tempered and good with his fists. He loves to fight, and has restricted his bouts to men from other squads and for civilians in town. We know we can always count on him to drag us out of a bar fight if it goes against us.
And finally, there is our centurion — Valens (his real name). We call him Philosopher Valens, the tutor, the teacher, the one who instructs. He keeps an eye on all of us. It is rumored that he and Julius Caesar were friends. It was a friendship forged on the Gallic plains in the deep forests. Caesar waded into battle and it was Valens that was on his right. Caesar almost lost his life to a deadly blow to the head, and it was Valens that stepped between him and the mace. Valens was a centurion of the first order, in the first line, but he was flat on his back in a hospital in Greece for too long to retain his rank. Upon his return, Valens was given the last rank, and thus demoted. Some would have considered it a shaming, but Valens loved the legion – so did we.
So what can I say about a soldier's life? You are never alone. Falcon Priest made us feel like we were closer to the gods, Lyre-singer gave our hopes and sorrow words in tune – bad lyrics and all – Cook fed us, Medicus cured us, or at least made us feel like mother was nursing us back to health. Digger made sure that we could dig a tunnel better than any other squad, Lips and Tickle regaled us with tales of lust and Boss consistently saved us from a beating.
Occasionally we washed with water from the sea, and the salt would sting our private parts. The ship was so small we spent most of the time getting in each other's way, and sleeping on each other's laps. Our pastime was watching the coast for clues for our destination. We hugged the coast for the entire way, and the land went from rocks and inlet coasts with green vineyards, to dry, sandy, and featureless plains.
Black clouds at our stern marred our trip, and warned of an impending storm. We called to Falcon-Priest for a sacrifice.
"Neptune's fury is in the distance, Falcon…sacrifice something…anything," said Medicus. He pointed to the back of the ship where clouds, black and filthy rains sat in the distance.
There was a mad scramble to find something to kill. A goat, a dog that may have been hidden on board.
"Anybody got a rat?" I called to the squad.
The oars began to move to a double beat, and we good hear the slaves below groan in response.
Falcon began to mumble his incantations while we looked for something. The ship was searched, in odd out of the way places until Digger found a cockroach. He brought it forward to the bow of the ship where Falcon-priest was ready to appeal his prayers to Neptune. He took the ugly thing and held it between thumb and finger and let its juices run down his fingers as he squeezed it to a pulp.
The water turned black, and the temperature dropped. The ship was bouncing over the waves, and luckily we had the wind in the right direction. I gazed on to our left and right, and the other ships were keeping up. There were eight ships in all, with their decks packed with men and equipment.
"Accept our offering, Great Neptune," said Falcon Priest to the storm that followed us. "Keep our path clear and let us use your winds to send us to our destination."
"BLESSED NEPTUNE!" We shouted into the wind. The men clapped three times. "Blessed Neptune, blessed art, blessed Neptune lord of sea and wind."
In a day we had outrun the storm. Fat fingers and a cockroach did the trick. "What works, works," said Falcon-Priest.
Two days passed without incident until we heard a splash. Two slaves were thrown overboard.
They had died at their oars. The soldiers remained quiet as the bodies floated behind us in our wake. Two sharks appeared and we simply watched as they were dragged below. They were dead anyway, so we did not make comment. We were afraid that two of us might have to break our backs at the oars, but no one asked for volunteers. Soldiers fight, slaves pull the oar, and that is that.
More days of sail, Lips and Tickle was sure we were near Greece. On the coast was a temple, and a sun beam made it gleam like a diamond.
"Temple of Venus," Lips and Tickle said. He then offered up a prayer and closed his eyes. A smile went over his face as he remembered some woman that spread her charms before him. I resisted pulling my journal from its pack to write. I could have reached into his mind, and from my pen I could have written of his sexual exploit in porn-like detail. It would have been something nice to think about other than the stink of the ship.
Without thinking I said a single word out loud: "Women." I said the word with a sigh.
Two or three heads along the railing turned my way.
"Where?" said Digger.
"On the ship?" Lyre-Singer said hopefully.
"No," I said. "In Alexandria."
A smile spread throughout the ship, as the thought of women spread as well. Lips and Tickle started telling stories of his exploits making my journal entry unnecessary. It was great time to pass the time, but unfulfilling like eating a capon while being unable to chew.
I left my seat and went to the bow of the ship and looked up at the stars that had begun to pop out in the sky. With the coming of night, the temperature began to drop, but the wind of the distant storm kept our sails full. I stared up at the fire points, flaming lamps, and haze of sparkle across a blue-black sky. My tutor taught me to pick out the North Star, and deduct our heading east.
"Which direction are we going?" shouted Cook.
"East," I said.
The word was sent up and down the crowded ranks, like biscuits were handed out for each man to take.
Lyre-singer began to sing:
"Over the sea,
Over the flow,
Over Neptune's Scalp,
We do go!
Dream of Home,
It will not do,
The only home,
Is East of you."
It was this song that lulled us to sleep.
In the morning the soldiers were shouting. The sun was about to rise, and the air had turned blue in expectation, and the men gathered at the bow once more. I could see that others on board our little fleet were doing the same.
They were hooting, and shouting to something off in in distance. I pushed by all the shoulders, and saw something it too. It was a single light.
"A STAR!" Digger shouted
"No…no," I said. It was too low on horizon.
As we approached it was a giant light tower signaling the entrance to a harbor. It was taller than any building I had ever seen. It rose into the sky, after that a smaller building rose on the wider base, and then another building on that base, and so on and so on. At the top was a flaming beacon, and in the morning light and by the intensity of the flame it seemed unsupported by the building below it. By its light it guides us right into the port. It is like a star brought to earth.
"What is this place?" Boss asked.
"It is…Alexandria," I said.
My name is Caesar.
I am of a noble house.
I am a direct descendent of Venus.
Pompey has fled to Alexandria. May the gods shit on all relatives!
I come back to Rome and he defied me. You would think that my brother- in- law, who married my sweetest daughter Julia, would be waiting for me with an army to support me rather than challenge my rights. What's more I would expect some support in the Senate. May he be strapped to a rock and have his entrails eaten. Julia the sweetest, Julia of the sunlit smile, was everything to me, and she dies in childbirth. Her legs were stained with blood, and that old man can't even keep his loyalty to me.
"Marius," I told my clerk. "Find Julia's dowry and have it returned."
I blamed the shits in the Senate. They think me too powerful, and they build walls between two men that should have had an unbreakable bond.
The civil war is not my fault. I crossed the Rubicon to establish my rights, and now I sit in an empty Rome. The senators fled and took the gold. They can't even fight me in Italy.
"Marius," I said. "The port Pompey fled from, have the city fathers whipped."
My spies tell me Pompey has fled to Alexandria. Of course, it would be there. He flees to the one place where he can get support. The one place that is rich enough to have an army for him to command.
"Marius," I said to my clerk who looked up barely finished from his last letter. "Gather ships for us to sail in two months time."
Pompey I'm sure still stinks of Pharsalus. I know he did not even wash before getting on the ship and nothing is worse than an old man that did not wash.
I stood in his tent at Phasalus. He fled before he and his officers had touched their victory dinner. My men wanted to sit down and eat the victory dinner of the enemy, but I warned them back. "We do not eat meals flavored with defeat."
I must think, time is of the essence, especially for me. I am running out of time. I am old, past 50, past my prime. I keep thinking of Alexander the Great. Before 30 he had conquered the world. I accomplished nothing at 30. In a small village there was a statue of Alexander by a spring. People of this village came for the water and came to worship in his presence. In the afternoon, I found myself crying uncontrollably. So I made a pact with myself. I shall use every moment and burn it up so that the air is hot with my presence.
That pact was all I needed to conquer Gaul.
Enough of tears.
Everything I do will be for a purpose. Pompey blossomed when he was young. He now feels his power pissing away with age. I shall blossom in my older years. My piss shall become stronger; it shall stink heartier; it shall fill oceans.
"Marius," I said to my clerk who is still scribbling away. "Raise troops. We need new ones. We need young ones that are itching for spoils and adventure. Make sure there are enough veterans to show them what to do. We shall go to Alexandria with about 4000 foot. That way we can travel light."
"Sir, we will be as easy to kill as an arena clown, " the old soldier said. "Only 4000? The Ptolemy will see it as an invitation to attack us."
I smiled. "Then by the wisdom of Venus, we will know our enemies."
(Story by Rob Cain of http://ancientromerefocused.org)
My name is Sanquine.
I am a shield carrier for the 10th Legion. I am the unofficial scribe.
Where did a bastard of the surbura learn his letters? My mother paid for them by giving herself to the tutor Paladoris, allowing her to 'pay' for her lessons by a wood splinter in her ass as the Greek ploughed her up against any door available. How do I know? I peeked one day.
She told me to "never mind it." She said it was her way of "giving it to the Greeks" and she said she would give it again and again for my benefit and mine alone.
My mother was a practical person.
How did I get the name of 'blood?' Sanquine is an odd name, you say?
It is.
She said it was that color that marked me. I was covered in it after birth. She said it made me holy, and she was determined from the day I popped out that I should be able to write. A priest of Isis said I was special. Even a Jupiter priest called me special. Both saw me use my fat thumb to scrawl something upon the bed linen.
I wrote the word with my fat thumb in the blood that was provided as ink. It was the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge. As soon as I was old enough she sent me for lessons. Any child that can write a name of a god upon entering the world deserved lessons as quickly as possible.
"Why is it important to be able to write?" I asked.
She shook her head. "To interpret the Gods, and to do that…you must write. To write…is god-like. It sets things down forever. Words can sing. Words can excite. Words can open the universe."
Her eyes shined. There was something behind those eyes that made me feel that I was something more than a dirty kid from the subura. But even if I could interpret dreams, and write of things that I had never experienced, and 'take' people's thoughts…I had to eat. The Army would provide me with food, and the gods would do the rest.
When old enough I joined a legion. It was the most exciting day of my life. At the field of Mars there was a recruiter sitting behind an old wood table and a marble chair. He looked me up and down, and asked about my upbringing to my mother. He told me to pull down my pants and examined my manhood. I wanted to kick him in his, but mother shook her head at me.
"He is healthy, has two balls, and…" the doctor said before my mother jumped in.
"He can write."
He blinked once or twice. He then pulled out some paper, stylus and some octopi ink.
Mother nodded at me.
I wrote on the paper. It took me ten minutes, and the physician looked over my shoulder as I demonstrated my skill.
His face went white as he read what I wrote. Blood drained from his face and he sat down as if his knees gave out.
He stared at the piece of paper.
Last night my friend I witnessed an examination of a strange and odd type.
It was done by a Greek used to examine the entrails of a dead man found on the docks of Ostia. It started in the following manner: the first cut is done in the manner of a wooden cross oddly shaped. The arms of the 'cross' extend from the front of each shoulder to the bottom end of the breastbone. The tail of the 'cross' extends from the sternum to the pubic bone and typically deviates to avoid the navel. The incision must be deep, to the rib cage on the chest, and completely through the abdominal wall. Peel the skin back like the skin of an apple, and pull over the face. Make a slave saw the ribs off exposing the organs inside."
He looked at me in shock. "How can you know this?" He asked.
I shook my head, trying to act dumb like a monkey that can do a trick. I could have gone on and described the rest of their butchery and even the wine they consumed.
He grabbed my shoulder. "How could you know this? Were you there? How can you see into my mind?"
Mother stepped forward and pulled me from him. "He is marked by the gods. He is talented. He has many talents, a boy like…like…" she searched for a word.
"A boy like GALEN you mean," he said.
The legion physician sat there reading what I have written. He then looked up and ran his fingers through his hair. "The Xth Legion has use for a boy like you. I shall keep an eye on you."
"Am I in?" I asked.
The physician nodded. "You are in. However, let me give you some advice."
"What's that?"
"For the sake of your mother and the gods," he said in a whisper. "Don't tell any one."
I signed the paper and was now a shield carrier for Caesar.


text:
The dynamic, complex and specialized dimensions of technology communications are compounded by the rapid pace of product evolution, making it challenging for public relations professionals to keep pace. The Technology Section offers opportunities to connect with practitioners who understand your issues and are willing to share solutions. Through our annual conference, in-person and virtual networking opportunities, newsletters and other resources, we help practitioners develop public relations and management skills directly relevant to the technology industry. The Technology Section also recognizes excellence in industry reporting through our Awards for Excellence in Technology Journalism. Join us!
Broaden your skill set with access to more than 50 live and on-demand webinars in 2014.


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GovTrack.us is an independent tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology.
Last in line
The outbreak started in February. Migratory waterfowl heading south along the West Coast found the wetlands of northern California's Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge -- a major stopover point on the Pacific Flyway -- half dry. Nearly 2 million birds passed through the area as winter edged toward spring, many crowding into the remaining 15,000 marshy acres, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Such tight conditions are a playground for disease, and by March, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 birds had died of avian cholera -- the worst such outbreak the complex of refuges on the Oregon-California border, of which the Lower Klamath is a part, has seen in 10 to 15 years, according to the Oregonian:
Why the low water? The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which controls the water sources for the Lower Klamath refuge, held it back in Upper Klamath Lake from December to mid-March, blaming the Klamath Basin's dry winter and what the Oregonian describes as "projections of dismal inflows." You see, the lake stores water for irrigators and endangered fish on the Klamath River, and in the pecking order for water in the Klamath River Basin, wildlife refuges are currently last in priority, behind fish, then tribes and then farmers.
It's a sad state of affairs for a basin that once contained 185,000 acres of shallow lakes and freshwater marshes. Thanks to BuRec, much of that was replumbed and drained over the last century to support agriculture and settlement; today, less than 25 percent the historic wetlands remain, and in dry years, they often go wanting.
Though the bird die-off subsided as the migration slowed, spring rains fell and the agency began releasing a little water again, it lives on as the latest ammo in the salvo over the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (for background, check out Matt Jenkins' 2008 feature, "Peace on the Klamath" and my followup blog, "The long and winding road") which is currently stalled in Congress along with an agreement to remove four dams on the Klamath River under the umbrella of the Klamath Basin Restoration Act. The KBRA is a sort of detente in a more than decade-long war over not-enough water that pitted endangered fish and tribes against farmers. The product of multiple years of negotiation between some of the tribes with fishery interests in the Klamath River, BuRec, the Fish and Wildlife Service, irrigators who draw from BuRec's Klamath Project, environmental groups and commercial fishermen, the settlement would, proponents say, ensure more water in the river system for fish most of the time in exchange for more certainty for farmers.
They also argue that the KBRA will prevent occurrences like the die-off much more effectively than the regulatory framework in place now. "Currently, the refuges get inadequate deliveries in eight out of 10 years," Craig Tucker, the Klamath Coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, and a "vocal architect of the Klamath deals," told the Two Rivers Tribune. "Under the agreements they would get adequate water in nine out of 10 years."
Indeed, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's own analysis of the deal's effects vs. the status quo (pdf), the Lower Klamath would, in general, receive more water under the KBRA. The agency's models showed that from November to February, the refuge would receive an allocation of 35,000 acre-feet in all but 5 percent of years, presumably the driest, and from March to October, it would receive an allocation of 48,000-60,000 acre-feet in all but 10 percent of years. The agreement would also funnel 20 percent of income from a program where refuge land is leased to farms to the refuges, which currently see none of that money.
But opponents like the environmental groups OregonWild and WaterWatch point out that the KBRA locks in those lessees -- which themselves draw a significant amount of water -- for 50 years, doing the refuges more harm than good: "To protect a sweetheart deal for a small group of irrigators, the settlement attempts to perpetuate commercial leaseland farming on 22,000 acres of Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges and asks taxpayers to subsidize this harmful practice," WaterWatch Director John DeVoe wrote in a recent Oregonian editorial. "In contrast, phasing out this federally managed program, using those lands to store winter water, and using the 1905 priority date water rights associated with those lands for fish and wildlife purposes would represent a huge step toward a sustainable Klamath Basin -- at a fraction of the cost of the settlement deal."
DeVoe also argues that the dry years when the KBRA doesn't come through could prove harmful:
Whatever happens with the KBRA, it likely won't occur soon enough to help or harm the Lower Klamath refuge's waterfowl. In the meantime, water allocations for the refuge this summer are looking especially dismal, reports the Herald & News:
While the powers that be puzzle out a solution to the larger conflicts on the Klamath, one can only hope that the toll of the ever-deepening mess won't be too great.
Sarah Gilman is High Country News' Associate Editor
Photo of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge courtesy of Flickr user USFWS headquarters; photographer, Tupper Ansel Blake.
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml


text: Items 37 to 39 of 39 total Previous 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 View: 12 / 24 / 48 Good pump for price By Gregory on 1/14/2011 Gregory would recommend this product to a friend I had one of thes as my return pump its a strong little pump but seams to loose flow pretty quick with any restriction on the input. Plumbed up temporarily as an external pump and was surprised at how hot the body gets, and to thank all that heat was going into my water will be using external pumps as much as possible to avoid chillers! Still a great value if you have.limited space. Soild Pump By Clinton on 10/31/2010 Clinton would recommend this product to a friend I'm using this as a return pump with about 4' of head. It flat out moves water really impressed with the flow that I'm getting. Its a louder then my Eheim 1250 but moves twice the water and is cheaper. What more could u ask for great pump By Mike on 8/14/2010 Mike would recommend this product to a friend nice pump, quiet, great price, small foot print Write Your Own Review You're reviewing: Mag-Drive Supreme 7 Pump (700 GPH) *How do you rate this product? *Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes No *Nickname *Summary of Your Review *Review Submit Review


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ls explored
Generally ls is used just for listing the entries in a directory. But there is more to ls. If you look up the man page for 'ls' or 'info ls', then you can begin to understand the varieties of things 'ls' is capable of.
Let's work through few of the things you can do with ls.
ls -a
ls -t
ls -l
ls -lh
ls a*
ls [^a]*
ls -d [^a]*
ls -d [^abc]*
Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.
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All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on oreilly.com are the property of their respective owners.


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From June 4-20, BlueshirtsUnited.com is counting down some of the most memorable moments for several Rangers players in 2011-12. We continue today with a look back at forward Brian Boyle's season. Although his points and goals totals dropped a bit, Boyle managed to set a career-high with 16 assists in 2011-12 and continued to provide key intangibles, particularly his talents as a penalty-killer. He got off to a fast start in the postseason, scoring goals in three straight games vs. Ottawa before suffering a concussion in Game 5. Although he came back after missing three games due to the injury, Boyle was hardly at full speed for the remainder of the playoffs. Here are five great Boyle moments from his third full season with the Blueshirts.
No. 5 -- March 28 at Winnipeg
Boyle breaks 2-2 tie with game-winning goal at 3:07 of the third period.
No. 4 -- April 12 vs. Sens at MSG (Round 1, Game 1)
Boyle scores the eventual game-winner for a 3-0 lead at 19:06 of the second period.
No. 3 -- March 11 vs. Islanders at MSG
Boyle ties game 3-3 at 3:29 of third period, opening door to dramatic overtime win.
No. 2 -- March 1 at Carolina
Boyle sets up Brandon Prust for game-winning goal, 3-1 lead at 1:57 of third period.
No. 1 -- April 16 at Ottawa (Round 1, Game 3)


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Gifts to Case Western Reserve University are beneficial to the university and a sound investment for the donor.
Whether your goal is to leave your legacy, supplement your income, lower your taxes, support a university project that is of great interest to you, create a lasting remembrance of the values you embrace, make yourself happy or a combination of these, gift and gift-planning professionals at Case Western Reserve are here to help.
We will partner with you and your advisor to find creative ways to support present and future generations of students and faculty—and help you achieve your personal philanthropic goals.
To start a conversation about making a planned gift to Case Western Reserve, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 1-877-477-1143.
John "Jack" Dannemiller (CIT '60, MGT '64) believes tomorrow's economy will hinge on three important developments: the discovery of new technologies, the creation of new products and services, and the founding of businesses that bring these inventions to market. That's why he and his wife, Jean, have made provisions in their will to endow the Jack and Jean Dannemiller Scholarship Fund. read more >
Thomas R. Kromer (LAW '82) likes to think ahead, which is why he and his wife, Dana, have made a gift of life insurance to Case Western Reserve University's School of Law. read more >
Scholarships also allow the university to enroll some of the world's most talented students. Junior biomedical engineering student Mengzhi Wu explains, "The investment in the student will pay dividends in every accomplishment he or she will make in the future." read more >
Inspired by his father's decades-long career as an attorney, James Berick (LAW '58) never seriously considered any other career. He also credits his father with inspiring Berick and his wife Christine to make a generous will commitment to the university. read more >
Your gift to Case Western Reserve University is an investment in the present and future vitality of the university—a strong and stable institution that educates nearly 10,000 students each year.


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The Guest
Wingard and Barrett have a perfect eye and ear for this type of material. They have fun with their influences, paying homage to John Carpenter…
Wingard and Barrett have a perfect eye and ear for this type of material. They have fun with their influences, paying homage to John Carpenter…
In his music, he routinely celebrates/deconstructs his public persona: brutalizer, coward, agnostic, and wannabe deity. "20,000 Days on Earth" is accordingly not a biography, but…
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
Patrice Leconte's "Monsieur Hire" is a tragedy about loneliness and erotomania, told about two solitary people who have nothing else in common. It involves a…
"Life Itself" opens at many more venues, including the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Chaz Ebert and Steve James will discuss "Life Itself" at the 2014 Chicago Humanities Festival.
Don't miss "The Homestretch" from Kartemquin Films, now at the Siskel Film Center in Chicago.
A tribute to Leonard Maltin by RogerEbert.com's writers, on the occasion of his reference book Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide ceasing publication after 45 years.
A personal appreciation of George Takei in light of the release of "To Be Takei."
An FFC Review of Kim Beyong-seo and Jo Eui-Seok's South Korean thriller "Cold Eyes."
A report on response to early Oscar favorites from TIFF 2014.
Odie Henderson went to TIFF 2014 and shares his favorites from this year's fest, along with a glimpse of what's it like on the ground…
The crime novelist is looking for peace and quiet to finish his new book. Not unreasonably, he goes to Venice. He meets a real estate agent who knows just the place for him, and will take him there in her own boat. This is a small, comfortable house on the island of Sant'Erasmo, which is north of the Lido and grows fruits and vegetables for the city.
The house is isolated and near the water. Francis (Andre Dussollier) likes it. He also likes Judith (Carole Bouquet) as she shows it to him. He tells her he will take both — the house and herself. She takes this in stride, and when we see them a year later, they are married. The French director Andre Techine takes this as the starting point for a film that incorporates elements of noir and romance, but is too complex to be disciplined by a genre. Much of the film's appeal centers on the newly married couple: Andre, 10 or 15 years older, happy but not trusting his happiness, and Judith, independent, self-sufficient, bisexual, with a former female lover now beset by disease.
No island, even in a remote corner of the Venetian lagoon, is far enough to shield them from the complications of family. Andre's adult daughter, Alice (Melanie Thierry), arrives with her discontented daughter Vicky (Zoe Duthion). Alice has barely arrived when she disappears, leaving Vicky behind. To find Alice, Andre hires his wife's former lover, who was a detective. This is Anna Maria (Adriana Asti), a doughty, reliable woman not far from his age.
Living in such isolation, Andre begins to use binoculars to extend his surveillance, and grows uncomfortable when he notices the apparent warmth between his wife and a local market gardener. He meets Anna Maria's son Jeremie (Mauro Conte) and hires him to follow them and report what he observes. This cannot end well. Nor is his novel going well. At first it stalled because he was distracted by the joy of love. Now he is blocked by love's torments. Never expect real estate to remove you from emotional problems.
As you can see, there is a great deal of plot. What makes the film involving is that it doesn't depend on the mechanical resolution of the plot, but on the close observation of its effects on these distinctive characters. Like all movies set in Venice, "Unforgivable" derives much of its effect from the city itself, which acts as a stage set for the lives lived there. By placing Andre's island both within the city and apart from it, it underlines his own isolation from these busy lives that have intersected with his. Nothing ever seems straightforward in Venice, least of all its romances.
A new look at the role of hero and villain in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner."
Part ten in Scout Tafoya's The Unloved series tackles "The Village."
An appreciation of the actor's perseverance through age 63 despite depression.
White privilege, lived.


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The Colorado State Title and Registration System (CSTARS) advisory committee was created pursuant to C.R.S. 42-1-211 (4)(a) and consists of seven authorized agents appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Revenue. The committee members must be county clerk and recorders, the clerk and recorder for the city and county of Broomfield, or the manager of revenue for the city and county of Denver as may be appointed by the mayor to perform functions related to the registration of motor vehicles. The CSTARS Committee have the following responsibilities:
The special fund created in C.R.S. 42-1-211(2) is the Highway Users Tax Fund, which is known as the Colorado state titling and registration account, for purpose of providing funds for the development and operation of the Colorado state titling and registration system.
CSTARS Strategic Plan and Operating Plan
CSTARS 2014 Agendas:


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Posts Tagged 'Toothbrushes'
50% off Most Oral B Toothbrushes (retail only)
Now here's an interesting offer! We all know how important oral hygiene is and with its emergence into the tech world combined with the ways we help you save money we've discovered an awesome bargain offer. For a limited time y...


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The Disparities Dashboard displays breakout data by age, gender, and race/ethnicity across all topic areas to help identify disparities within the population.
Use the tools at the top of the Dashboard to Search All Indicators or view indicators for your county using the Location drop-down menu. You can also compare specific indicators by scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on the Create Indicator Comparison Report. To see a detailed explanation of an indicator, simply click on the text link for that indicator.
NOTE: The following indicators illustrate how our community compares to national, state, and local health measures. They are not indicators of individual hospital or health provider quality.


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Tip: Click on the Bleach manga image to go to the next page. You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between pages.
If you find missing chapters or pages, please contact us here
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LANSING (WKZO) -- Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm overstepped her authority when she revoked the commuted life sentence of Matthew Makowski in 2010. That's the opinion of the Michigan Supreme Court, which has unanimously ruled that a commutation cannot be revoked by a governor.
The ruling means Makowski will be eligible for parole after 25 years in prison. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a health club worker in Dearborn in 1988 during a robbery that he had arranged.


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UW-Green Bay school songs
Tribute to the Writers
"Alma Mater" composer Prof. Emeritus Lovell Ives was a member of the UW-Green Bay music faculty from 1969 until his retirement in 1997. The long-time director of jazz studies, he was a founder of the annual UW-Green Bay Jazz Fest, director of the UW-Green Bay Jazz Ensemble, performer on trumpet in venues ranging from symphony orchestras to Dixieland jazz groups, leader of the Green Bay Packer Band and the Lovell Ives Orchestra, arranger of music, activist in professional music organizations, and teacher and mentor to hundreds of students, many of whom went on to careers in music.
Lyricist Peter Stambler was a member of the Humanistic Studies and English faculties at UW-Green Bay from 1975 to 1990. A published poet and playwright, he won the UW-Green Bay Founders Association Award for Community Outreach in 1983 for his active outreach for poetry and communication, giving scores of readings and seminars to schools, organizations and businesses throughout the region. During his time at UW-Green Bay, he won a Wisconsin Public Radio playwriting competition and three times won the Best Book Award of the Council for Wisconsin Writers.


text:
Academic Senate Agenda
I. Call to Order: Meeting will call to order at
II. Adopt Agenda
III. Approve Minutes
IV. Public Comments (three minutes each)
V. President's Report
VI. First Vice President's Report
VII. Committee Reports (three minutes max/per committee)
VIII. Discussion/Information Items (10 minutes max/each)
A. Information Competency
B. Election Committee
C. New English and Math Requirements from the statewide Academic Senate
D. Accreditation Self-Study
E. Constitution and Bylaws
F. Student Policy Review Committee New Recommendations:
1. Student Rights & Responsibilities and Grievance Procedures
2. Incomplete Grade
3. Basic Skills Pre-Collegiate Course Limitation
4. Repetition of Course
G. Recording of Classes and Faculty Rights
IX. Announcements
A. Institutional Planning Committee Recommendations for 2006-07 Planning & Budgeting Priorities
X. Adjournment


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Out of Stock
Item # RIT0019
This model is no longer in stock.
Ritchey WCS Flat Handlebar $0.00
Don't worry about that bandwagon, it's full of risers and people who don't come in 1st.
The Ritchey WCS Flat Bar is the winningest handlebar in World Cup cross-country history. The OS version is a stiffer, stronger version of the 25.4mm diameter original. It is light, simple, strong. Best of all, it's barely heavier than its blingy carbon cousin at a fraction of the price. It's hard to go wrong here. These bars work. And last.
The Ritchey WCS Flat bar comes in 31.8mm handlebar diameter. It is 580mm wide and has a 5 degree rearward sweep. Ritchey recommends using only Ritchey or Syncros stems with this bar, as any others will void the warranty. The bar is made from seamless TRX50 triple-butted aluminum. It is bead-blasted and anodized for better fatigue strength. 140g.
Tech Specs
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Ritchey WCS Flat Handlebar
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I am interested in Ritchey wcs Flat handkebar 10 D/ 31.8 X 660mm. How much does it weight?
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235 gm for the WCS Flat aluminum, the Flat Carbon WCS version is 135 gm.


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Our beloved grandfather, Poppy Sol, started this business in an open-air market. Three generations later, we're still bringing smiles to our customers' faces.
Almond Flour
Certified: Gluten-Free Kosher
Almond flour is a low-carb, gluten-free baking alternative to standard wheat flour. As you might have guessed, this flour is made of almonds (and only almonds), which are first blanched to remove the skin and then ground up to a very fine consistency, similar to that of wheat or cornmeal.
A Gluten-Free Staple
Sometimes known as almond meal, this flour is particularly popular with customers on gluten-free diets, as it serves for almost all of the same uses as wheat flour. Many gluten-free cookbooks feature the flour prominently in their recipes, as do many almond flour recipes on our site. Our almond flour is certified gluten-free.
Compared to other flours, the flour is especially flavorful, with a nutty taste that works well with many other foods. It produces baked goods that are especially light and moist. It's also very easy to use, and doesn't require any sifting or kneading.
Even if you're not on a gluten free or low carb diet, give this unique flour a try and you won't be disappointed by the nutty flavor, delicate undertones, and the moist yet light baking products that result from its use. It'll be a refreshing difference from your everyday flours.
Our Registered Dietitian's Top Pick
Our Health Nut Registered Dietitian loves almond flour because it contains healthy fats, vitamin E and plant based protein. It's also tasty in pancakes and it's the perfect gluten-free flour stand-in for bakers.
Almond Flour Nutrition
1. Protein Powerhouse: Almond flour is high in protein (1 serving has 6 grams of protein compared to 5.5 grams in one egg) and low in carbohydrates and sugar. This makes it an attractive option for customers on paleo or low-carb diets. Furthermore, the protein is great for maintaining and building healthy muscles.
2. Heart-Healthy: 64% of the fats found in almonds are monounsaturated fats and according to the American Heart Association, these fats help lower harmful cholesterol as effectively as expensive pharmaceutical drugs in addition to lowering the risk of heart disease.
3. Protective Antioxidants: One ounce of almonds has 35% of your daily recommended value of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. According to The Journal of the American Association (2002), the high vitamin E content of almonds has been linked to protecting against Alzheimer's disease.
4. Nutty Health Benefits: Along with being a rich source of protein, monounsaturated fats, and antioxidants, the flour also contains high amounts of calcium, iron, and dietary fiber, nutrients that people with gluten-free diets sometimes lack.
The Blanching Process
Our almond flour is made from blanched almonds, which means that the almonds go through a process where steam is injected into the water and the almonds are soaked for 2 minutes to soften the skins. The almonds are then passed onto rollers to remove the loosened skins. Finally, the almonds are finely ground to an even consistency that is ideal for baking and cooking. There are no additional ingredients added to the flour; it is simply made from almonds. That's it!
Baking and Cooking Ideas
Almond flour is a popular alternative flour due to its subtly sweet taste, high nutrition content, and low-carb attributes. To use it as a substitute for wheat flour, replace the indicated amount of wheat flour in the recipe with the same quantity of almond flour. Baked goods made from almond flour should sit longer once removed from the oven because of their more delicate nature.
Many people prefer baking with blanched almond flours because the absence of skins creates a soft, light-colored flour. Almond meal, by contrast, has a much coarser texture and can be made from unblanched almonds. Further grinding would cause the fine almond flour to release more oils, turning it into a creamy almond butter.
Almond Flour Recipes
Use this versatile flour as a base in:
- --- Breads
- --- Almond Flour Pancakes
- --- Almond Flour Muffins
- --- Almond Flour Cookies
- --- Almond Flour Cake
and more. It can also be used to coat meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables.
Packaging and Storage
This almond flour arrives ready-to-use in our signature nutty re-sealable packaging to help the flour maintain its freshness. Due to the flour's high moisture and fat content, the package should be stored in the fridge if you plan to keep it for more than a couple weeks. Transfer the flour to the freezer if you're planning to keep it even longer. This will extend the shelf life and prevent rancidity. Almond flour should be thawed before handling straight from the freezer since it will initially be clumpy and difficult to work with.
Customer Reviews
Leave online feedback and share your thoughts with other customers!
Amanda, Seattle, WA March 4, 2011
"Awesome service and love love love the packageing and the communication style. Thanks for making it fun."
Mrudula, Odessa, FL February 24, 2011
"Prompt service, Very fresh product.
Now I can make many Indian sweets very easly.
phylis, Pittsburgh, PA February 23, 2011
"What a company! Once again you guys have exceeded expectations."
holly , charlottesvile, va February 20, 2011
"The delivery was very quick, and the products were delicious. Thanks for providing gluten-free products!"
Nenad, Toronto, Canada February 7, 2011
"Thank You so much for great almond flour! deliver was fast 2 days!! The flour is great for baking...very good quality! "
Sterling, Boston, MA January 15, 2011
"I'm amazed at how quickly my package arrived! I ordered it on Wednesday night around 11pm. Nuts Online shipped it Thursday, and it arrived on my porch Friday afternoon! Icing on the cake: the almond flour is delicious and really finely ground. Will order again very soon!"
Deborah, Kenner, LA December 22, 2010
"I had difficulty finding almond flour locally and was fortunate to see the Nuts On-line website. What a blessing to have the product delivered timely and without any problems. The flour is great and my cake is in the oven! Thanks and Merry Christmas!"
Janine Richmond, Southern Tier, NY December 20, 2010
"You guys are NUTS! I can't believe how fast you shipped the 25 pounds of almond flour and those delectable little GREEN BEAN CHIPS I ordered. Green Bean chips... who knew! I have to follow a super strict no gluten/no lactose/no crazy additives/not much of anything diet and wanted something CRUNCHY (besides carrots). So maybe now instead of turning orange, I'll turn GREEN! And my husband's eyes will be green with envy! Hey, he can eat whatever he wants and not get sick. So much for sharing! I think I might attack some dried mango the next order! Your flour looks great, a nice comparable consistency to the bulk flour I USED to order. I am very sure it will pass the baking test! And I don't have to wait weeks for it to be delivered! What more could a girl want? Hmm, maybe a few more green bean chips... "
Janet, Essexville, MI December 14, 2010
"Excellent service - immediate delivery. A+++ discovered your website as a result of recipe in Martha Stewart's Living Magazine. "
Gretchen, Amesbury, ma December 5, 2010
"Hi. My name's Gretchen & I'm a nut. I mean, er, I ordered 25lbs of almond flour and got it THE NEXT DAY! And, having been on a grain-free diet for nearly a year, MADE BREAD... and it looked like BREAD! Not pancakes like it does when you use almond meal which is all you can afford locally... Price was excellent. Shipping was reasonable. And delivery was SUPER FAST. ...but the customer service dept. IS kinda nutty. %?"
Showing 341-350 of 387
lori, danvers, MN September 29, 2014
"Makes the best bread and muffins. Yummy!!!"
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 28g (~1 oz.)
(Approx. 16.2 Servings/Pound)
|Amount Per Serving
|Calories From Fat
|Total Fat
|Saturated Fat
|Total Carbohydrate
|Dietary Fiber
|Vitamin A
|Vitamin C
Whole blanched almonds.
Packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and milk products.
Store open or closed under refrigeration for up to 6 months. This item can be frozen.
Country of Origin: United States
|1 Pound Bags
|1-5 lbs.
|6-10 lbs.
|11+ lbs.
|5 Pound Bags
|5 lbs.
|10 lbs.
|15+ lbs.
|25 Pound Cases
|25+ lbs.