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Olympic bronze-medal winning canoeists Liam Heath and Jon Schofield face an immediate return to the water this week as we take a look at the next six days of action taking place.
Sprinters Heath and Schofield, who won K2 200m bronze at the London 2012, were part of the British team that opened the new World Cup season with four medals in Racice last week.
Heath won silver on his own in the K1 200m in the Czech Republic while Lani Belcher played a part in the other three medals garnered with individual bronze in the K1 1000m and K1 5000m.
She teamed up with London 2012 Olympian Rachel Cawthorn for silver in the K2 200m with that discipline to be Heath and Schofield's priority as the second World Cup leg takes place in Szeged.
Elsewhere the Giro d'Italia continues and cycling's Mountain Bike World Cup moves to Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic while there is sailing in the form of the Delta Lloyd Regatta in the Netherlands.
Britain continue their charge at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships and finally, qualifying gets underway for tennis' second Grand Slam, the French Open, with the first round proper to begin in Paris on Sunday with Andy Murray leading Britain's charge.
Sprint World Cup, Szeged, May 23-25
Giro d'Italia, May 20-ongoing
Mountain Bike World Cup, Nove Mesto, May 23-25
Artistic European Championships, Sofia, ongoing-May 25
Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, May 20-24
French Open, Paris, May 25-ongoing
© Sportsbeat 2014


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"Some things are under our control, while others are not under our control," That is the famous first line from the Enchiridion of Epictetus. It clearly lays out the dichotomy of control, a core means of thinking as a Stoic. Before we can act well, it's important to understand what we can effect, otherwise we may spin our wheels but go nowhere. So what is under our control? And what are the benefits of focusing our energies entirely on those things?
Hi. I'm Matt Van Natta and this is Good Fortune. Today's questions: How can I become invincible? How can we internalize what is under our control? And finally, If Stoic invincibility is achievable, what would that life look like?
All right, let's get started.
[Crow Caws]
How can I become invincible?
That's an odd starting question, right? How did I get from what is or is not under our control to the concept of invincibility? Well, that's epicetus's fault. Not too far from line one of the Enchiridion, in the same chapter in fact, Epictetus says this,
"but if you suppose only to be your own that which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one and accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you will not be harmed. "
The first chapter of the Enchiridion is bold. Just a few lines in, and the head of the Stoic school is claiming that his philosophy can make a person invincible. If I were handed a pamphlet that explained some random group's belief system and paragraph one said, "Follow these teachings and you will have no enemies and will not be harmed," I would stay far away from that group. So assuming Epic isn't a crazy cult leader what could he possibly mean?
Let's return to line one, now with line two for some context.
"Some things are under our control, while others are not under our control. Under our control are opinion, choice, desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything that is our own doing; not under our control are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, everything that is not our own doing."
Everything Epictetus lists as under our control is mental. and he doesn't even include ALL of our mental life. for instance, you may notice that emotions aren't mentioned. OUTSIDE of our control are a much wider variety of things, our property, our reputation, our station in life. All of these things include our participation, of course, but our control of outcomes is limited. Did you notice what I just left off the not-under-our-control list? The BODY. Epictetus lists our own body as outside of our control. His list leads with the body and he almost doesn't need to follow up with property, reputation, and so forth. If my arm is not under my control, Stoically speaking, I'm guessing anything at an arm's length is even less in my sphere of influence. So, I find that Epictetus effectively gets across the idea that Stoicism considers only the mental life, our opinions, choices, desires, and aversions, to be under our complete control. What does that mean?
Are we to draw so completely into ourselves that nothing outside of our own thoughts matters? Surely not. Stoics have always been active individuals, often real political animals.
No. We ARE supposed to engage with the world, but we are meant to do so effectively. You've probably heard the phrase, "Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die"? Focusing our mental energy on things outside of our control tends to be ineffective in just this way.
The Stoic claim is that if we focus on holding intelligent opinions, making wise choices, desiring worthy things, and avoiding, not externals, like struggle, pain, and other uncomfortable situations, but instead avoid ONLY those things that make us less virtuous, IF we do that, our every action will be victorious because, even if the outcome is less than perfect, we will still have won because we obtained our goal; that of taking the best action possible while remaining true to our humanity.
[Crow Caws]
How can we internalize what is under our control?
Understanding that our opinions, choices, desires, and aversions are under our control does not automatically make those things healthy. We have to learn what to choose, what to desire, but before all THAT, we have to learn how to examine our mind and challenge the unhealthy thoughts that reside there.
In Stoicism, there is a practice called suspension of judgement. this is a constant practice, a way of thinking, NOT just something we are to do at the end of the day. The basic idea is to pause and examine our thoughts to see if they are true. Some thoughts are more worthy of examination than others, of course. Let's say we're traveling by plane and have hit some severe turbulence. The thought, "I am on a plane," doesn't really require examination. Nor does the thought, "the plane is experiencing turbulence." But what if you think, "We're all going to die?" THAT is quite an opinion, one that may elicit strong emotions and irrational actions...it is worth examining. If a thought like that bubbles up. Stop. Acknowledge it. It has already happened, after all. NO need to suppress it. Instead challenge it. Realize that thinking something isn't the same as approving of it. In Stoicism we call this 'withholding assent.'
There's a good chance that you've seen at least one of the Marvel movies that have TOny Stark, a.k.a Iron Man in them. If TOny Stark is in a movie, it's inevitable that he will interact with a hologram. Usually he's looking at the schematics of some sort of machine. He'll reach into the hologram and pluck out a piece of it to examine more closely. It's a cool effect and it's my personal visual when I examine my thoughts. I pick the thought in question out of my head and strip it into its parts. Am I on a plane. YES. Is there turbulence. That checks out too. Am I going to die? How could I possibly know that? I may feel that I'm going to die, but that state of mind is built on imagination, not truth. I refuse to assent to it. No seal of approval for you thought!
There's another aspect of the thought I need to evaluate. Even if it were true, does it concern me? Meaning: is the thought about something I control? Well, I have pretty much zero effect on whether or not a plane I'm on is going to crash. I can fasten a seat belt, put up my tray, and place my seat in an upright position, but none of that keeps a plane in the sky.
Back to the idea behind "resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die." What am I getting out of fretting over the state of the airplane? Not peace of mind. So am I trading that peace of mind in exchange for something more desirable? Does my fretting KEEP the plane in the sky? That would be great, but that's not how the universe works. So I'm getting nothing out of the deal. All I AM doing is making myself useless TO myself, and also to others if there were an ACTUAL crisis.
So how should I think, if I could be the best Stoic I could possible be?
One more Epictetus quote:
"I will show the nerves of a philosopher. "What nerves are these?" A desire never disappointed, an aversion which never falls on that which it would avoid, a proper pursuit, a diligent purpose, an assent which is not rash. These you shall see."
A desire never disappointed: If my desire is based on never experiencing crisis, or never dying, I'm going to be disappointed constantly and then, in my last moments, disappointed finally. If I desire to live well, in the present moment, and thrive up until my final moment? That's possible, but I have to stop investing in things I don't control.
An aversion which never falls on that which it would avoid: Again, seeking to avoid struggle, crisis, or death is a fools errand. Seeking to avoid our worst selves, that's possible if we dig in and do the work.
A proper pursuit, a diligent purpose, an assent which is not rash. Aim for these outcomes and our mind will become a tool for change in the world.
So, since I just had us falling out of the sky for 5 minutes, a recap.
Suspend you judgement
Pause and examine your thoughts
Is it provably true and, even if it is,
Is it within your control?
However it all plays out, show the nerves of a philosopher.
[Crow Caws]
If invincibility were possible, what would that life look like?
I saved this for last because I don't want anyone to leave with the idea that advocating for a Stoically self-controlled mind is a call to live a self-centered life.
Chapter 1 of the Enchiridion lays out the dichotomy of control as a concept. But what does the life of a Stoic PRACTICING that dichotomy look like? For that, we can turn to Marcus Aurelius. In Book 12 of his Meditations, Chapter 3 says this:
"Your three components: body, breath, mind. Two are yours in trust; to the third alone you have clear title.
If you can cut yourself - your mind - free of what other people do and say, of what you've said or done, of the things that you are afraid will happen, the impositions of the body that contains you and the breath within, and what the whirling chaos sweeps in from outside, so that the mind is freed from fate, brought to clarity, and lives life on its own recognizance - doing what's right, accepting what happens, and speaking the truth-
If you can cut free of impressions that cling to the mind, free of the future and the past - can make yourself, as Empedocles says, "a sphere rejoicing in its perfect stillness,' and concentrate on living what CAN be lived (which means the present)...then you can spend the time you have left in tranquility. And in kindness. And at peace with the spirit within you."
Here we find a Stoic reminding himself to put his energies into what he can control. What is he "cutting away'? what other people do and say, what HE has said and done in the past, FEAR of the future, weaknesses of the body, and the whirling chaos that sweeps in from outside. What does he expect to get from this? Personal happiness despite the world's pain? No. NO.
the mind is freed from fate, brought to clarity to live life on its own recognizance which means and again I quote "doing what is right, accepting what happens, and speaking the truth."
If you care that other people oppose you. If you bend to your own past failures or cringe from imaginary thoughts about the future you will not live a life of justice, or of courage and you certainly won't thrive. You will stumble, bend, and break under the pressure of the world. Or worse, retire from the world to build yourself a cocoon of safety without real regard for others. Stoicism wants to free us to be an unstoppable force, immovable object be damned. We can do what is right, accept the consequences, and continue speaking the truth. We can have the nerves of a philosopher.
[Crow Caws]
Thank you for listening to episode four. Next episode I'll try to talk about something simpler, less about changing the foundations of how you think, a quick exercise to do in the evening perhaps? As always, visit ImmoderateStoic.com for this podcast and my writings. There is a comment section on every post if you have something to share. You can subscribe to Good Fortune on my website or through iTunes. If you do listen through iTunes I would greatly appreciate a review. I'm @goodfortunecast on Twitter. And you can also hear me on the Stoic podcast, Painted Porch at PaintedPorch.org.
The music is by Tryad off of their album Public Domain.
And finally, Always remember, 'misfortune born nobly is good fortune.' And therefore, I wish you all good fortune until next time.
[Crow Caws]

subset: commoncrawl


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I have got to find some kind of a pace that is steady and disciplined and uniform and pretty near the top of whatever I may be capable of, and stick to that . . . — Thomas Merton in a letter to Evelyn Waugh
I'm looking at a full day with no appointments, no time table, no schedule at all. I get a little giddy at the prospect because I have so much I can do – so much writing, so much research, so much reading. For my writing life, this is the best kind of day to have – full of freedom and openness.
But for me, as a person, it's also a danger in a couple of ways. First, with so much time ahead of me, I tend to think I can dawdle and spend a lot of time doing little things – like picking a new blog theme or finding quotes to send to friends. Secondly, I'm a person who needs the company of people to feel healthy. I don't need to actually be talking with people, just around them – like in a coffee shop – so that I don't feel cut off and isolated. So a day without meetings or appointments can also really slow my writing down.
Like Merton, I'm trying to find that pace of discipline and uniformity while also honoring the freedom of no real schedule. It's a tough balance. I want to stay up until 1am to write and read and think in the stillness of the night, but I also know I get good work done early in the morning before the day gets going too far. I haven't hit on the right balance yet, but I'll keep working on it – it seems really important.
All in all, though, I am privileged to have the freedom to figure this out. Most writers have jobs or families that dictate their schedules. Instead, I have simply me – blessing and curse that I may be.
So what is an open schedule for you as a writer – blessing or curse?


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When saltwater is boiled the water evaporates, leaving behind solid salt. Those who boil saltwater are often attempting to desalinate water for drinking or to harvest salt for preserving or cooking food.
Those wishing to harvest salt from saltwater should boil the liquid until 90 percent of it evaporates. Once the remainder is the consistency of wet sand they pour it onto a baking sheet or roasting pan and stir it periodically for about five days. Once the substance has dried completely, they place it in an airtight container for safekeeping.
American explorers Lewis and Clark boiled seawater one winter while camping along the Oregon coast in order to harvest salt for preserving the game they hunted.
Others boil saltwater with the intention of removing the salt to make safe drinking water. The BBC reported that this is accomplished through distillation. The process involves boiling water and then cooling water vapor in order to condense it into pure, salt-free water.
Critics of both of the above practices say they require too much energy for a relatively small return.
Many people cook with sea water, which contains significant levels of salt, particularly when preparing seafood such as fresh crab or lobster.


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Michael Royer, Ph.D. from Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, will be discussing the newly released IES TM-30-15, and the complicated science of accurately quantifying color rendition. Color fidelity, color discrimination, and color preference are all aspects to be considered during the design process. Michael will discuss included aspects as well as next steps towards moving towards industry adoption. He will also give a live demonstration of color-tunable light source.
Sign ups closed.
About the Speaker: Michael Royer is a lighting engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where for the past five years he has worked on the U.S. Department of Energy's solid-state lighting program. He focuses on technology development issues, helping to improve product performance through research, testing, standards development, and engagement with various elements of the lighting industry. Michael is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society's (IES) Color Committee, chair of the IES Color Metrics Task Group, and has served as a guest editor for LEUKOS' special edition on color rendition. Prior to joining PNNL, Michael earned a Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering from Penn State University, receiving the 2013 Taylor Technical Talent Award from the IES for his published work. Michael was named a future leader of lighting by LD+A magazine in 2010, and has authored over 50 journal articles and government reports.


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Envoys of Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen and Zambia presented their credentials to the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony held in RashtrapatiBhavan on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
The envoys who presented their credentials were: –
1.Mr. Nejmeddine Lakhal, Ambassador of Tunisia
2.Mr. Mohamed Maliki, Ambassador of Morocco
3.Mr. Abdulmalik Abdullah Al-Eryrani, Ambassador of Yemen
4.Ms. Judith KangomaKapijimpanga, Ambassador of Zambia
Sushma Swaraj Calls US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
India's External Affairs Minister Mrs. Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had a customary telephone conversation on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
Both of them resolved to work together closely to further expand and deepen the multi-faceted strategic partnership between India and the US. They emphasized that close and strong relations between India and the US were not only in mutual interest but also had regional and global significance. In this context, they agreed to intensify cooperation in various sectors, including defence and security, energy, and economy.
They also agreed to follow-up the firm resolve expressed by Prime Minister Modi and President Trump to cooperate closely in the global fight against terrorism.


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Before the deadline for committee action, the General Assembly's Education Committee voted favorably on and advanced out of committee a plethora of bills. Among the most noteworthy were: 1) a bill that would delay the implementation of the uniform regional calendar, 2) a bill giving greater discretion to school boards with regard to expunging an expulsion from student records, and 3) further bills dealing with school safety. The 2014 session of the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on May 7, 2014, so stay tuned as the action at the legislature accelerates. The following is list of pertinent bills voted out of committee:
H.B. 5043 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GOVERNOR CONCERNING EDUCATION. This bill would implement the Governor's budgetary recommendations (particularly to the extent necessary to implement the latest Sheff settlement and expand early childhood education).
H.B. 5355 AN ACT CONCERNING COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. This bill would require school districts to adopt policies or enter into memoranda of understanding with law enforcement agencies concerning the use of law enforcement personnel as school resource officers.
H.B. 5357 AN ACT CONCERNING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. This bill would require school districts to address issues relating to "chronic absenteeism," in addition to mere "truancy."
H.B. 5519 AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT INTERNSHIPS. This bill would provide immunity from liability for injuries arising out of internships offered as part of an agricultural science and technology education center program. The immunity provided would apply only to ordinary negligence and would not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, reckless, wilful or wanton misconduct.
H.B. 5521 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE AND ADMINISTRATION OF EPINEPHRINE AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. This bill would authorize the storage of epinephrine at schools and the administration of epinephrine to students who do not have a prior written authorization for epinephrine; this bill would also provide greater specificity in the statute governing the administration of medications in the schools.
H.B. 5559 AN ACT CONCERNING A UNIFORM REGIONAL SCHOOL CALENDAR. This bill would adopt the recommendations of the Uniform Regional School Calendar Task Force to delay mandatory implementation of the uniform regional school calendar by a year (until 2016-2017) and to permit a school district to delay implementation for an extra year (2017-2018) if an existing employee contract makes such implementation "impossible."
H.B. 5561 AN ACT CONCERNING STATE AND LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. This bill would include "local" charter schools in the laws regarding charter school transparency, accountability and cooperative arrangements; such laws currently apply only to "state" charter schools.
H.B. 5562 AN ACT CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION. This bill would add dyslexia as a separate primary disability on the individualized education program form, require boards of education to inform parents and guardians via the procedural safeguards of their right to withhold enrolling their child in kindergarten, and create a three-tier funding system for special education "excess cost" grant payments
H.B. 5564 AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL SAFETY. This bill would establish a "safe travel to school" grant program, include a student safety hotline as part of the "2-1-1 Infoline" program, include nonpublic schools as eligible recipients for school security infrastructure grants, establish an approval process for safe school climate plans submitted by local and regional boards of education to the State Department of Education, require school climate assessment surveys to include students' perspectives and opinions about the school climate, and require the State Department of Education to analyze student perspectives and opinions about school climate in its annual report on school climate
H.B. 5566 AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES. This bill would make minor revisions to educational statutes covering, among other things, the administration of certain medical screenings and the sale of permissible beverages on school grounds.
H.B. 5567 AN ACT CONCERNING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS. This bill would clarify and establish the criteria by which boards of education are to offer alternative school programs (including the "alternative educational opportunities" offered to expelled students).
S.B. 25 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD. This bill would establish an "Office of Early Childhood" that would be responsible for the delivery of services to young children, administering a coordinated system of early care and education, and developing and implementing an early childhood information system.
S.B. 26 AN ACT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. This bill would expand access to school readiness programs.
S.B. 281 AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES. This bill would make a technical revision to the statute concerning the alternate route to certification for school administrators.
S.B. 282 AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM. This bill would include teen dating violence education in the prescribed courses of study in the public school curriculum.
S.B. 423 AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT PRIVACY AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY. This bill would require school districts to select the option that student test results on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery administered at their schools not be released to recruiting services; the parent or student on their own being would be able to release the results to a recruiting service.
S.B. 424 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. This bill would require the Department of Children and Families to enroll in a preschool program each preschool-aged child who is its custody.
S.B. 425 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER. This bill would convert the State Education Resource Center into a quasi-public agency.
S.B. 475 AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE STATUTES CONCERNING SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS. This bill would authorize state grant commitments for certain school building projects and make revisions to the statutes regarding the school safety infrastructure standards (including a possible waiver of said standards and requiring safety assessments by grant applicants).
S.B. 476 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP. This bill would require all "alliance school districts" to provide full-day kindergarten and to increase the amount of time a student may spend in bilingual education from 30 months to 60 months.
S.B. 477 AN ACT CONCERNING BOARDS OF EDUCATION. This bill would provide greater discretion as to the conditions and when a board of education may expunge an expulsion from a student's cumulative educational record (specifically, as to weapons-related offenses).
S.B. 68 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CERTAIN MICROBIAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PESTICIDES AND GRUB CONTROL PRODUCTS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. The bill would permit the use of certain microbial and biochemical pesticides and grub control products on school grounds.
H.B. 5040 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. This bill would, among other things, 1) clearly indicate that coaches are "mandated reporters," and 2) clarify the circumstances with regard to the sharing of information to schools of the placement of an employee on the child abuse and neglect registry list, along with the suspension of such an employee.
H.B. 5113 AN ACT CONCERNING YOUTH ATHLETICS AND CONCUSSIONS. This bill would 1) require the State Board of Education to develop a concussion education plan, 2) require the operators of youth athletic activities to provide information on concussions to youth athletes and their parents and guardians, 3) require youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion to provide written clearance from a medical professional prior to returning to the athletic activity, 4) limit "full contact" practices to ninety minutes per week, and 5) require local and regional boards of education to compile and report all instances of concussions suffered by students.
S.B. 203 AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE-WIDE SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT AWARENESS PROGRAM. This bill would require the Department of Children and Families, together with the Departments of Education and Social Services and Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. to identify or develop a statewide sexual abuse and assault awareness program for use by regional and local school boards.
S.B. 229 AN ACT CONCERNING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION. This bill would establish a sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program to educate students, parents and school staff (including coaches) about the dangers of sudden cardiac events during intramural and interscholastic athletics. The bill would require local and regional school districts and the vocational-technical high school system to distribute to parents and guardians of students participating in athletics a form related to sudden cardiac arrest. The form must include at least a summary of the 1) sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program and 2) applicable district policies on sudden cardiac arrests.
S.B. 224 AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SCHOOL NURSE ADVISORY COUNCIL. This bill would adopt the recommendations of the School Nurse Advisory Council with regard to school nursing staffing ratios and a nursing orientation program.
S.B. 217 AN ACT CONCERNING EXCUSED ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN OF SERVICE MEMBERS. This bill would provide that any student whose parent or legal guardian has been called to duty in, is on leave from, or has returned from deployment to a combat zone or "combat supporting post" shall be granted at least ten days of excused absence annually, and would require that the student complete assignments missed during the period of the excused absence.


text:
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Roeslein & Associates announced that it will soon be employee-owned. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) set up by Roeslein will involve the majority owner, Rudi Roeslein, selling a portion of his interest in the company to its employees. The sale will be made via shares of company stock to employees as part of their retirement benefits program. The ESOP will become effective beginning 1 January 2014.
Rudi Roeslein, CEO, announced the succession plan at an employee luncheon in October. The transition will take place over a period of ten years in which Rudi will continue to work with the company to oversee the transition.
"What more I can do for you is to empower you in the next transition to become owners of this enterprise. I've worked with my fellow owners to come up with a plan that includes all of you in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, " said Rudi. "That is my legacy to all of you and I hope that you'll embrace that legacy."
Roeslein President Dave May shared that the ESOP had been in the planning stages for the past two years. The employee benefits of the plan are the expansion of their current retirement plan. Roeslein's customers will benefit from the retention of company culture through a clear succession plan for the organization which includes the investment in Roeslein's most valuable resource, its employees.
"This has to be a mantra of what happens in our company. We all have to work together and communicate to help make this company grow," said May.
Representatives were on hand from Principal Financial Group to provide details on the Roeslein ESOP to the audience after the announcement.
Roeslein & Associates was founded in 1990 with experience in container manufacturing (canmaking) as well as experience in the process and energy sectors. They specialize in Engineering, Modular Fabrication, and Construction Services. Its 250+ employees are spread throughout offices in St. Louis, MO (HQ), Red Bud, IL, Denver, CO, Birmingham, UK and ShangHai, China. To find out more, please visit https://www.roeslein.com.


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Real Estate Investing is not an easy task to do. Actually investing is a more time-consuming process. It needs discovering the right property, handling the investment property and keeping good financial files. You will be successful as an investor only if you have enough time and interest to find out good properties and keep an eye on your properties.
You should know some real Estate Investing Tips to be profitable and safe. Try to create a proper real estate network. When you have made a decision for an investment then it is best to make the right team of folks around you. You can refer to Freedom Mentor Reviews to explore more about real estate and its investment techniques.
This team can include investment specialists which would include a realtor, a home loan broker, an attorney, an appraiser and an accountant. But ensure to choose only experienced and talented investment experts.
Get idea from those individuals who have investment experience. You may get recommendations from folks who are near you, such as friends and family, colleagues, relatives and neighbours, who have owning a home experience. Get a basic idea about their investment experience, from legalities to tenant issues.
Focus on the marketplace and do your own research. Make an effort to research to ultimately know the worthiness of a house. You can even search Property entrepreneur websites to get a concept about the properties nearer to your neighbourhood.


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Bombay Duck of London
Looking for a glam chandelier (or anything else unique for that matter)? London-based Bombay Duck fits the bill, especially if it's charming (leaning on decadent) items for your nest that you seek. Any why shouldn't you?
We all need a little pizzazz piece to add to our space, something that is bound to strike up a conversation along with a few oos and aahs from your guests. I absolutely adore the black Lolita chandelier with jet black glass crystals, don't you? Very dramatic. I can see this in an entryway with sky blue walls or, for more drama, black and white floral wallpaper (flocked, perhaps?). The vintage chandelier with crystal flowers is another love of mine, I've always wanted something like this in my bathroom, but for now, my ceilings are much to low for this. The antiqued bronze frame adorned with crystal cut blooms in vintage hues has such appeal, doesn't it?
If its embellishments from days past that you fancy, you'll really like this vintage mirror with its classic shape and antique charm. The best thing about mirrors, they expand your space, reflect lots of light, and become a real feature in a room without having to add much more to a wall. I mean, with a mirror like this, how much more would you need, right? Planning a tea party? Bombay Duck carries pretty pastel wares that are most proper for any Alice, in or outside of wonderland. From plates to aprons, mugs to placemats (shown), they have you fully prepared for your next spot of tea with the girls.


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Thursday, June 28th, 2012 and is filed under Blog, Obamacare
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Obamacare almost in its entirety, there will be copious pages of commentary written about the legal arguments, the precedents for the future, and the politics of the Supreme Court. None of that matters for us and our community of liberty-minded activists. The most salient question is where do we go from here? Are we willing to let this travesty stand?
There is nothing we can do about the Supreme Court. Justices, even those who are political conservative, will buy into quirky legal rationale and exhibit unique jurisprudence. What we must do now is focus on the elected branches of government.
When Republicans took over the House last year, they promised to repeal Obamacare. They also promised that in the likely scenario that their repeal bill is blocked in the Senate, they would refuse to fund Obamacare in the annual appropriations bills that fund the various agencies that oversee Obamacare. They passed the "Ryan budget," which defunded Obamacare. But then as the clock wound down to midnight, September 30, and the threat of a government shutdown scared them to death, they caved and agreed to an omnibus bill that included funding for Obamacare.
That must change now.
Part of the rationale for agreeing to fund Obamacare at the time was that many Republicans believed the Supreme Court would strike it down. Well, that didn't happen. Now you will hear many Republicans say that we'll repeal it next year when Romney wins the White House and Republicans take back the Senate. However, there are too many hypotheticals involved in that scenario. What if Romney loses? What if Republicans fail to win 51 seats? What if several of the members, including the likes of Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski balk at using reconciliation to repeal the full law? We simply cannot let this thing stand and hope for repeal next year. We must defund it now, while continuing to fight for full repeal.
All Republicans in the House have to do is stick to their budget. They must tell Senate Democrats that they will not agree to fund Obamacare. If Democrats want to force a government shutdown over funding for a program that 72% of Independents wanted repealed, then let's have that debate. We have no other choice at this point. Obamacare, when fully enacted, will take over 1/6 of our economy, create permanent dependency for tens of millions of Americans, induce unsustainable inflationary pressure on the cost of healthcare and health insurance, and saddle the next generation with crippling debt.
If we've learned anything from past experiences, it's that no government entitlement program is ever repealed once the dependency takes root. If there's anything important enough and as politically unpopular enough to use in a battle over a government shutdown, Obamacare is it.
It is incumbent upon the conservative movement and the Tea Party to get all members of Congress and Republican candidates on record to pledge to oppose any spending bill that contains funding for Obamacare. That is our next seminal battle.
Let's not get caught up in the minutia of convoluted legal arguments and the ridiculous quirks of the Supreme Court. What's done is done. It's time to act.
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Music News & Reviews
Critic's pick: Tom Petty still has something to say on 'Hypnotic Eye'
Critic's Pick
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Hypnotic Eye
As part of a rapidly vanishing breed of rock elders, Tom Petty makes news every four or five years merely by releasing another album. For fans, such news is an affirmation. It means one of the essential voices of the 1970s and '80s is still with us, even though such acknowledgement is rooted largely in music made during younger, hungrier years. But for anyone whose appreciation of Petty extends beyond the half-dozen hits that remain staples of classic rock radio, the demands placed on records like the new Hypnotic Eye are significantly greater. They want more than assurance that Petty is still around. They want to know if he and his music are still vital.
Luckily, Petty remains a rocker of purpose on Hypnotic Eye. It's far from the return to his pre-Damn the Torpedos roots that many initial reviews have suggested (At 63? Seriously?), the elements are generously on display that paved the way for Petty's career ascension: namely, a collection of keenly crafted songs that seldom stray from rock and pop essentials, a narrative and performance attitude that balances reflection with discontent, and a sidekick in longtime guitarist and co-producer Mike Campbell who still values the efficiently emotive power of a great riff.
The album takes its title from a loose theme of attention-grabbing philosophy and practices that run through its 11 tunes. Petty doesn't play that notion as heavily as he did a decade ago on the well-intentioned but over-reaching The Last DJ. Instead, the new record focuses on story lines as socially driven, as in the album-opening American Dream Plan B ("I got a dream; I'm gonna fight till I get it ... right") as they are personally confessional, as in the closing Shadow People ("I ain't on the left and I ain't on the right; I ain't even sure I got a dog in this fight").
Such a theme essentially is bait for music that the Heartbreakers whip up. Unlike 2010's Mojo, an enjoyable but decidedly laid-back record, Hypnotic Eye lets Campbell loose. Yet it's not the capable soloing that distinguishes his contributions, but his glossary of infectious hooks and riffs — from the steamrolling melody that runs through the apocalyptic All You Can Carry to the deep Bo Diddley groove that ignites the misanthropic Forgotten Man — that underscores the sharp electric jabs that most of these new songs become.
Best of all, there is a new Petty classic here. On Red River, Petty and Campbell deliver it all: riffs by the earful, a wild story line (religious reclamation in the face of extremism), an impassioned vocal performance, an ultra-cool Spanish guitar interlude and a chorus you'll be humming for days. That's where Hypnotic Eye hits the bull's-eye.
Walter Tunis, Contributing Music Critic


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About Mercury IT
Mercury IT was established in 2004 by technical engineers Luke Halliday and AJ Williams to fill a market gap created by IT companies they felt were too focused on supplying products, rather than quality service. We are a technology company that offers a comprehensive range of services to large and small Australian businesses—regardless of their industry.
Mercury IT knows that each business is unique and strives to complement each client with personalized services and solutions to improve each client's overall productivity, efficiency, and competitive advantage. The company designs solutions based on solid, objective business metrics like Return on Investment and Lower Total Cost of Ownership. These solutions are delivered via a life cycle services model that has been designed to ensure excellence in execution, financial management, and customer satisfaction.
The network consultants at Mercury IT collectively have over 40 years of experience installing, managing and optimising networks of all sizes. In addition to a solid background in hardware and software installations, our technical team have expertise in the following areas:
- All Microsoft Platforms
- Exchange Server
- Cisco network products
- Mobility and Cloud Solutions
- Firewalls and Security Solutions
- Enterprise Level Antivirus/Spam filters
- Cloud Migrations
- Telstra IaaS
Number of news items returned: 10 to 12 records of 32
Australia's technology spending set to increase
03 July 2014
(1947 views)
According to research organisation Gartner, Australia's technology spending is set to top $76 billion by the end of this year ...
Federal government urges SMEs to adopt cloud computing
01 July 2014
(1671 views)
Cloud computing seems to have the backing of the federal government after a series of guides aimed at helping businesses ...
Gartner: Worldwide security software growth
16 June 2014
(1594 views)
Australian businesses seem to be getting the message in relation to data security, with Gartner's latest statistics suggesting there has ...


text: Jodie L. Evans, P.E., PTOE, Senior Project Manager, draws on 19 years of traffic engineering experience. In addition to her knowledge of traffic operations, transportation planning, and highway design and research, she has experience in traffic impact studies, traffic simulation models, preliminary highway design, traffic signal design, and pavement condition studies. Ms. Evans also has a working knowledge of highway capacity software, Synchro, SimTraffic, and AutoCAD software applications.


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March Madness – Free Paint!
FREE PAINT??? (really?) And not the cheap stuff either! This is huge SAVINGS to you! We are offering FREE PAINT to our clients who book projects to be completed before March 15th. CALL IMMEDIATELY to book your project. 858-505-1361 Our schedule is filling quickly for these limited slots.


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Chicken Tinga Tacos
I dare you not to say Chicken Tinga Tacos over and over and over again. Doesn't it make you giggle?
Shredded chicken cooked in the most crazy delicious spiced sauce on the planet and then stuffed in a taco…. Ummm yes please. The Tinga sauce is pretty much out of this world. You'll want to slather it on top of everything – rice, quinoa, pasta, vegetables, you name it, it works on just about everything! But when it's folded up in taco and topped with some avocado to balance the sauce, it's absolute perfection.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 yellow onion, small dice
- 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 large tomatillo, husk removed, rinsed, and roughly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- One (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped chipotles plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- Kosher salt
- Corn or flour tortillas
- Avocado, diced
- 1 white onion, diced
- Cilantro, roughly chopped
- Scallions, sliced
- Cotija, crumbled
- Lime wedges
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs and cook until well browned, about 6 minutes. Flip thighs and continue to cook until other side is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving fat in pan, and set aside.
- Add onions and garlic to the same Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have browned around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add tomatillo and cook until browned around the edges, about 4 minutes. Add oregano and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, chipotle, and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
- Transfer sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour sauce back into pan, stir in chicken stock and bay leaf, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Nestle chicken thighs in sauce, reduce to a simmer, and cook until chicken is fully cooked and easily shredded, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and let sit until cool enough to handle. Remove sauce from heat and discard bay leaf.
- Pull chicken meat into strips. Stir chicken into sauce and cook over medium heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt to taste.
- Warm the tortillas over an open flame to char, prep the white onion, avocado chopped cilantro, sliced scallions, crumbled cotija cheese, and lime wedges for serving
- Spoon chicken into warm tortillas and top with avocado, onion, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Serve with lime wedges.
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe by What's Gaby Cooking
** This post is brought to you by Nestle Purina/Fancy Feast. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for What's Gaby Cooking**
I am so excited you are making one of my recipes and I would love to see how it turns out. Make sure to share it on instagram and tag me @whatsgabycookin so I can see your masterpiece!


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For those of you that think how New Zealand structures teacher training in future isn't an issue to be concerned about, take time to read this and see how, in the UK, outstanding university courses in Teacher training have been shut down since their equivalent scheme, School Direct, started.
The Department for Education boasts that take up for the scheme is great:
…there will be 17,609 places for School Direct trainees in 2015 and 15,490 higher education postgraduate places
Proponents cite the increasing numbers of applications year on year as evidence that School Direct works. I would posit that it is evidence that would-be teachers can no longer afford to go to university and prefer to earn money while training. Who wouldn't? But that in no way means the scheme is superior in terms of training.
There are another concern, too.
As universities shut down their teacher training programmes, there will eventually be a lack of places even for School Direct trainees to get their uni-based components:
Under School Direct, schools recruit trainees directly and link up with universities to provide out-of-classroom training. Trainees have an "expectation of employment" at their school at the end of their training.
But critics are concerned that the shift to School Direct may destabilise the teacher training system because universities cannot guarantee student numbers – and so funding – year on year.
And there's a teacher shortage looming in the UK…
Hey, but who cares, because when push comes to shove the government will scream !!!TEACHER SHORTAGE!!! and decree that teachers don't have to be trained at all.
You know, like they don't in charter schools already….
See the link?
Cheap, disposable labour – seemingly the government's goal for all employees these days.
I think the most telling part of the article is when the Department for Education spokesperson said:
"The School Direct programme is a key part of our plan for education."
Yes. I bet it is.
Alllllll part of the bigger plan.
I'm telling you, people, we are on one hell of a slippery slope.
~ Dianne
Sources and further reading:


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I was so excited last month to be one of the winners for August's Tim Holtz tag. How Fun!!
So here is my tag for Tim Holtz's September Challenge...I had so much fun with the layering technique in this tag.
I used Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, and Spiced Marmalade for the Distress Stains. Usually I've always had an issue with not enough color but not this time. :-)
Stencils used: Tim Holtz Stars and Cargo. Dylusions Alphabet and Luscious Leaves and Dots. TCW Mini Quatrefoil, Mini Diamonds. I applied the stars with Dreamweaver Translucent embossing paste.
Stamps: Whimsey Wings Set by Stamp Camp. Pursuit of Happiness by Stampin' Up!.
Metal Keys from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Crinkle Ribbon by TH with matching Distress Stain colors. Small key attached with pin from SU!


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This product is no longer in stock
Availability date:
More info
Le Chamois: the legendary companion of our mountains.
This handmade in France knife will become your perfect hiking tool !
Handle : 1st choice patterned walnut ( gun-stock selection).
Blade : Stainless swedish 12C27 steel, 3 mm thick. Hardness: 56 Hrc.
Tecnical tips : The spring is made from 3 mm thick stainless steel Z20c13 and features a bladestop : That helps maintain the edge of the blade. The whole "shamrock" spring is hand-chased with a file: This denotes artisan quality, unlike mass market products that have welded springs and are machine decorated. The file work and these details create a unique knife, making each knife one of a kind.
Size and weight : 10 cm folded, 17 cm open, approx. 100 grams
Included : Numbered Guarantee certificate, leather pouch.


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I've come to realize that my learning curve looks more like a roller coaster, or a parking lot exit ramp. Round and round and round with no hope of escape.
Case in point. I've been testing new thermometers for over 3 months now. One worked once. Yes, once. Steamed up. I dug out the receipt and promptly exchanged it for another one, with similar, but not quite as immediate results. That one worked twice.
So I didn't try that brand again. I learned quickly that time.
However, within my sphere of accessibility, only a certain number of brands of thermometers exist. Every shop seems to carry ones that appear to be blood relatives. Twin thermometers by different manufacturers. I find one. The clip breaks. I find another. The plastic lid comes off. Yes, there is the internet. But returns and speed of availability become an issue when I need caramels tomorrow and my tool doesn't work. Again.
This leaves me wondering how long this is going to continue.
Because I could keep doing this and never really own a thermometer.
Then I tried my mother-in-law's version of my now broken one. This is great. It's almost exactly like my grandmother's. Hers must have been handed down in her family, too. After one millisecond of joy, two treacherous thoughts race by. One - I can't keep it. It has another home. And two - what if I break it?? Maybe I should hope it doesn't work.
More like my eyes can't find the mercury, if it is working.
Rats. Still riding that curve.
But while on a trip in Wisconsin with my hubby, we stumbled on an antique store. Stumbled on really isn't the right word, since we hunted for it in the local paper. And right next door was a thrift store. Score.
After combing the store twice, due to its state of organized disorganization, and thinking of all the many possibilities for staging photo shoots and table dressings for tastings, I spotted it. A long, narrow box in a basket of misc. kitchen tools. How did I not see this before? A retro design and an unimaginably reasonable price. And that was just the outside. So I had to open it to see. Will this be my new, permanent replacement for my beloved and well-used gauge? Am I done looking? Is this it?
I held my breath and opened the box.
Inside its original box from the 50s was not just any thermometer, but a metal casing all around it to protect the mercury from the heat of the pan. Amazing. It was completely sealed. No leaking. It would be harder to break because of that lovely metal casing. And the clip to anchor it on to the pan was solid, not jointed. Oh, yes! This was going to be my new best friend!
Next step, testing. You know what's coming.
Being away from home, not having my tried and true caramel-making pot, I decided to do my first trial run on a recipe I'd been desperately wanting to try.
What was I thinking? Curve. Really big curve.
I must have been hoping for beginner's luck because new recipes bring a myriad of problems. Untested pots with new recipes bring even more. But much to my surprise the candy turned out well. Now begs the question, could I repeat this at home with a different pot, on a different day with different humidity?
Careful, nearly perfect attention to detail resulted in disaster. Rocks. I made rocks.
I am not currently a geologist. I cannot eat or sell rocks. Well, I could look in to selling rocks to the Science Museum store, but since that's not my desired goal, I'll set that option aside.
The third time is the charm, my Dad always said. Dad was a bevy of that kind of information. Knowing that I was going to present this candy at the Tasting Party on Saturday I was hoping he was right.
Admittedly, Dad was close. The candy turned out less hard than rocks, but it wasn't as charming as I'd hoped. And I dropped the temperature 15 degrees. So I'm thinking more experiments are in order.
Still curving. Anyone want to join me? I'll have Pistachio Nougat Candy for you to taste as we ride. Arms up and here we go.


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Today and tomorrow, our 6th Class of Project Coordinators is arriving in Tanzania! They'll head to Korogwe shortly after arriving, and begin 10 days of orientation where they'll learn more about 2Seeds' methodology and their projects, and ramp up their Swahili learning. We have a smart, dedicated group of individuals who are committed to helping bring our Partners' businesses to a self-sustaining state.
Meet the team:
Billy joins 2Seeds from the global communications firm APCO Worldwide, where he was involved with both government relations and multinational communications projects, the majority of which focused on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. While continuing—and hopefully accelerating—the progress of the Bungu Project, he plans to draw on his communications background to maintain close ties with project donors and transparently communicate the impact their support is having.
Dom graduated from Stonehill College in 2013 with a dual degree in Communication and Interdisciplinary Studies focused on Global Social Justice: Consciousness, Communities and Change. Dom has a passion for traveling and learning about communities, cultures and languages. Before becoming a PC with 2Seeds in 2014, she served for 10 months with AmeriCorps' first arts-funded program, MusicianCorps, a nonprofit organization that uses music in the community to reach, teach and heal. She is eager to embark on another year with her Bombo family as a 2nd Year PC, and is excited to see the project take off after an incredible transitional year.
Andrew grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Stonehill College in 2015. After working at the Farm at Stonehill, which works to alleviate food insecurity in its surrounding communities, his many interests came into focus. Andrew created his own interdisciplinary minor in Sustainable Development, fusing coursework from the departments of economics, environmental science, and international studies. He traveled with the International Honors Program to Kathmandu, Nepal, Amman, Jordan, and Santiago, Chile. Andrew is ecstatic to be welcomed into the beautiful Lutindi community, and even more excited to build lasting relationships and be a part of such meaningful work.
Jeremy was born and raised in Syracuse, New York and graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in Public Health. 2Seeds' unique model and set of values, plus his interest in sustainable development drew Jeremy to join 2Seeds Network in 2014. He worked as a Project Coordinator with the Kwakiliga Project for 2014-2015. Jeremy is thrilled to have the opportunity to build on the amazing relationships he has built this year and use his newly gained experience to do meaningful, impactful work with the Masoko Project.
Katie Imhoff is originally from Denver, Colorado. She graduated in May of 2015 from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in Politics and International Affairs and a B.A. in Religious Studies, with a concentration in Religion and Public Engagement. During her undergraduate career, Katie studied abroad in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile, as part of the International Honors Program: Human Rights. She is passionate about food security and poverty alleviation in both the United States and abroad, mentoring high school students through the ministry of Young Life, and fighting for the places where religious life and social activism intersect. Katie is excited about this year with the Magoma-Kwata project, forging new relationships with Tanzanian partners, and learning about living a meaningful story.
Jill Jahns grew up in Brenham, Texas with her parents and three younger siblings. She graduated from Austin College in 2013 with a major in Sociology and a minor in Communications. During her time at Austin College, she traveled to Rusinga Island, Kenya through the Global Outreach Fellowship Program. This experience solidified her desire to work in global development and public health. To continue along this path, Jill received her Master's in Public Health from Texas A&M University in 2015, with a concentration in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences. The program taught her many valuable lessons and skills, particularly the importance of community collaboration and building relationships. Through a required practicum experience, she traveled to Antigua, Guatemala to expand gardens in the homes of school children and increase their knowledge of nutrition.
Olivia graduated from Cornell University with a major in Biology and Society and a minor in Global Health. Through the Global Health program at Cornell, she spent the summer of 2013 living with a homestay family in the small Tanzanian village of King'Ori. There, she taught about HIV prevention and helped conduct HIV testing. Olivia has traveled extensively, visiting all continents except for Antarctica. Olivia is incredibly excited to be a Project Coordinator for the Magoma-Kijango project, and is eager to make an impact during her time there.
Austin grew up on a family corn and cattle farm in rural Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois and studied International Relations with a focus on ethnic conflict and resolution. He graduated from Hult International Business School with a Masters in International Business from the school's campus in Dubai, UAE. He completed a consulting project for an international firm in Shanghai, China before returning to Dubai to intern with the Commercial Attache at the US Consulate. He is excited to contribute his agricultural and business skills to further the 2Seeds mission.
Sarah is from Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Strategic Communications and minors in Environmental & Sustainability Studies and Psychology. Sarah fell in love with East Africa while studying Wildlife Management with the School for Field Studies in Kenya & Tanzania. While conducting independent research on how demographic variables influence individuals' attitudes towards elephants in northern Tanzania, Sarah had the chance to conduct in-depth personal interviews with farmers and business owners. Sarah is excited for the opportunity to join the 2Seeds team and can't wait to return to Tanzania while working on the Magoma-Kwata Project. She is looking forward to working alongside her Tanzanian Partners, building lifelong relationships, and mastering her Swahili.
Antal grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from The American University of Paris in 2010 with a BA in Comparative Literature and Philosophy. After earning his degree, he had some adventures as a freelance journalist, including a Paris Hilton stakeout with Hollywood paparazzi and an excursion to Cuba to document the revival of religion in the socialist country. Immediately before joining 2Seeds, Antal worked as a research analyst for IBISWorld, a company that specializes in providing industry information to financial service and consulting firms. Antal is interested in applying business practices and market principles to address social needs, specifically in the fields of sustainability and economic development. After working with this aim to address food and income security challenges in Bungu, he plans to earn an MBA with a focus in social enterprise.
Isabel is from Hull, MA and graduated from Elon University in 2015 with an Independent Major, Sustainable Business Development. It has always been her interest to promote sustainable growth/implementation in communities and industries alike. She is a firm believer in using agriculture as a means to develop human capital and eventually hopes to integrate sustainable practices into the current food system. Motivated by the challenges of the world, Isabel is ready to take on her next venture. She is honored to be a part of 2Seeds and cannot wait to work on the Tabora Project. Her hope is to create lasting relationships amongst the members of the community and to learn something new about herself, and others, each day she's in Tanzania.
After visiting the Kariakoo Market several times in 2014, David became fascinated by the Masoko Project and the potential impact that widespread crop data could have on smallholder farmers. Born outside of Boston, David is a graduate of Haverford College, where he first developed passions for sustainable food systems. He will be a second year Project Coordinator at 2Seeds after working with the Magoma Project in 2014-2015 to build an integrated agricultural system to feed a meal's program at the local primary school. David is excited to build on his experience in a rural farming community by addressing the same challenges at a higher level of the agricultural value chain.
Jimmy Schneidewind recently received a dual Master's Degree in Public Policy and Business Administration from the University of Michigan (UM). During his time at UM, Jimmy completed an internship with the Liberian Ministry of Health and worked as a consultant for Women's Campaign International as part of Esso's Women's Economic Opportunities Initiative in Angola. Prior to enrolling at UM, Jimmy spent two years as a Public Policy Associate with AIDS United in Washington, D.C. From 2007-2009, Jimmy was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique. His work focused on public health and youth development, both on a community-level. Jimmy received his B.A. in Social Relations and Policy from James Madison College at Michigan State University. Jimmy is excited to join 2Seeds and the Kwakiliga Project. He is also looking forward to being a highly productive member of the Kwakiliga soccer team, an opportunity for which he has been in rigorous training.
Anna is a native of Colchester, Vermont, where she first developed a love for farming. She graduated from Stonehill College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in a self-created, interdisciplinary major focusing on global health. During her junior year, she studied abroad in India, Vietnam, South Africa and Nepal and studied the intersection of health, culture and community development. During this year abroad, Anna developed an interest in food security and, upon returning to Stonehill, she cultivated this new interest by volunteering at her campus farm, taking classes about sustainable agriculture and setting up an independent research project on global food security. When Anna found out about 2Seeds, she knew it was the perfect fit for her! Anna is very excited to become part of the Magoma-Kijango community and hopes to master the Swahili language, learn how to cook ugali, and work tirelessly with her Tanzanian Partners to set up new projects!


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Jeff's Top Ten Photos (+3) for 2014
At the end of last year I posted my Top Ten (+6) Photographs from 2013. With a trip to China, I had lots of images to choose from. There were some momentous events this year as well, perhaps not as monumental as taking our girls back to China to see where they came from. But, still they were worth contemplating as the year ends and a new year begins. Like last year, I couldn't narrow it down to just ten. As last year, choosing my top photographs and putting them in order was a difficult task. I liked each one for various and different reasons. So here are my Top Ten (+3). Click on any image to see it larger.
The year began in a big way. My daughter, Lily, and I went to the Rose Bowl to see my alma mater, Michigan State, beat Stanford. It was a wonderful time to share with my daughter-who-loves-sports. And a selfie was in order. But, in addition, my return to the Rose Bowl had a much deeper meaning. It was a special homecoming to me.
On a college visit trip we stopped at a rest stop in Delaware where I found this tableau. And it got me thinking about the "givens" in my early life that have now become artifacts of a time past. This is what happens when you get old and you realize that you've lived in history. We have a past and there's something comforting about knowing firsthand about this past.
In November I attended a conference in Dallas. And, while there I got to visit part of my history: Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I remember that day well. I was in the 9th grade in junior high. At approximately, 11 a.m. we heard the announcement over the school loudspeaker.
This photograph was taken on the seventh floor of the Texas Book Depository. One floor below, at this spot, Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy on the street below. I took another photo of the exact spots the President was shot but this image resonates with me more. Beautiful, it's more like a ghost where something bad happened, rather than the document that my other image conveys.
Working in a museum, sometimes I come upon a scene that is as beautiful as some of the art in the galleries. I have put together a number of these images in an album on Flickr called "Art World Commentary." This was taken during my lunch hour in the main interior courtyard of the museum's building: the Old Patent Office Building, the third oldest federal building in Washington, D.C. It looked like an installation piece. The light and the muted tones of the photo with that stark pink in the middle drew me to take this picture.
Returning from Dallas in November, I sprinted through D.C.'s National Airport, trying to get to the Metro and home as quickly as I could. But I had to stop when I came upon the incongruity of this scene. Airports are not my favorite places. Busy and stressful, my nacent claustrophobia can easily surface. Too many people and too many hoops to jump through. So, I recognized how strange it was to see a woman relaxing in a rocking chair, reading, during the cacophony around her. It took a lot of energy to make myself stop my own frenetic sprint to see the beauty and actually take the picture.
New Year's Day, Lily and I got up early to take our pre-dawn walk the few miles to the Rose Bowl parade from our friends Jim's and Mark's house in Eagle Rock. Twelve hours later, after walking miles and miles from home to parade to the game and then back home, we encountered this sign at the end of the bridge that crosses Pasadena's Arroyo Seco. It's a beautiful bridge, far above the bottom of the canyon it traverses. Apparently, this has become a perfect spot for a number of suicides over the years. This sign, a signifer for better things than ending one's life, also meant a lot to me at the start of a new year.
In April, we took a trip to take one more look at a college before Lily made her final decision. While there we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and came upon this scene of Cy Twomblys. My decisive moment came when the guard seemed to be dancing to the lyricism of Twombly paintings.
Lily made her decision to attend the University of Maryland and, even before she graduated from high school, she tried out for the Maryland cheerleading squad. Short and light, she became a "flyer." Yes, exactly. She's the one who is tossed into the air and flips this way or that. So comforting to her parents, but something she loves to do. Susie and I bought season football tickets to see her in action. Our tickets were absolutely perfect for watching the game. On the 22 yard line and high up. But, they weren't so good for watching our daughter do her stunts. Not even binoculars gave us a good view. So, at least once a game I trekked down two levels and to the very front of the stands to take photos. This was one of my early successes. Her teammates wanted to know who was taking the good pics of the squad. I had to turn down a job as the cheerleaders' official photographer! Just kidding.
Every summer the Smithsonian puts on it's Folklife Festival on the National Mall. Every year a number of cultures are highlighted. This year, China was one of these. This photo was taken in the Chinese pavilion and the body language of the figure, set in front of the Washington Monument, seemed a perfect match for America's pontificating politicians.
It's about time soccer becomes a popular sport here in the States. The World Cup and America's successes up the ante. And in our game against Belgium, the museum decided to televise the match live in our Kogod Courtyard. I stood at the same spot the entire game waiting for my shot of the gathered fans. I could see the game on the projection system but I was viewing it from the back so everything was reversed. I got my shot.
This year was one of my "special" birthdays. As we were at the New Jersey shore, my wife made special plans at a spectacular restaurent on the beach at Atlantic City. The resort may be in a steep decline, with casinos and hotels closing, but the Buddakan restaurant was quite alive (and beautiful). And the food was amazing. As we were leaving, I saw this scene: an interior beach with Adirondack chairs for relaxing and watching the shore in air conditioned comfort. This photo is reminiscent of the photo above I took at National Airport: both full of contradictory elements.
A photo that sums up much about our family's year, this is a photo of Lily doing a toe touch at sunset on Santa Monica Beach the day after New Year's. It was our last day in California. And I had promised my daughter a trip to the beach. In fact, when we were planning our trip, she came into the bedroom wearing the bikini she was going to bring. I laughed, warning her that the Pacific was quite cold in January. We settled for a walk on the beach and as the sun began to set, Lily wanted me to document her gymnastic prowess.
So, we come to my number one photo for 2014. In reality this isn't one photo, nor were most (except for the last one) taken this year. But it was the most meaningful to me in so many ways. Every year I take photos of my girls on the deck of the Cape May Ferry. And this past July was no exception. Yet, this time, we were interrupted by a man who was concerned that I might be exploiting these beautiful young women. I wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post on our experiences and it went viral. Over 2400 people left comments on the online version, I received hundreds of emails, it was posted in Reddit and reprinted in publications around the world. Interestingly, just a couple days ago, The Post resurrected the piece and put it on its Opinion section front page once more. Suddenly, it was deja-vu all over again. More comments and more emails.
The comments ran the gamut from angry epithets to those who thanked me for bringing up the issues of race. Many felt I should be grateful that a stranger was willing to help my daughters. In turn, I explained that before passing judgement, I wanted to find out more about why this man interceded in our lives. Even though I was warned by many who have had lots of experience in these public forums not to engage these commenters, I often did. I was an early proponent of the Internet in the mid 1990s, because I saw the possibility for meeting others (some leading very different lives from my own), as well as enlarging dialogue about many important issues. I knew full well the territory I was entering but it was important for me to be an active part of the dialogue.
While many took the piece to be about the dangers human trafficking, it really was about our willingness to look at our biases before we rushed to judge. Ferguson, New York City and other racial incidents this year mirrored the issues I was grappling with and wanted to share. If nothing else, I felt it was important to be reflective when dealing with our complicated social issues, rather than reactive. And this was my way of doing it. I have written a short follow-up that goes over some of these points and what I learned as a result. But this morning I received an email from a reader and I'd like to end this list and this year with a short quote by a young person from a biracial family:
Many times people don't believe I belong to my family. I love them and want the world to know they're mine. And while this email may never meet your eyes, your article meant a great deal to me because it shows what I and many others go through on a daily basis; too many assumptions are made.
I wrote him to say that, indeed, his words met my eyes. And my heart.
Happy New Year, everyone. The best to all of you and thanks for coming this way.


text:
Centre for Animal Welfare
A high-impact centre dedicated to the advancement of animal welfare science.View content
About us
The Centre for Animal Welfare is an interdisciplinary centre that undertakes research, teaching and public engagement in the field of animal welfare.
Animal welfare is a broad term. It includes the subfields of animal welfare science, animal ethics, and animal law and policy. Animal welfare science involves using scientific methods (particularly physiological and behavioural indicators) to assess animals' welfare states in various settings. The knowledge so derived informs ethical analysis and in turn the evolution of animal law and policy.
CAW provides a collaborative hub for academics and academic organisations interested in animal welfare issues. In addition to traditional research and knowledge dissemination through academic publications, presentations and educational programmes, we also seek to engage with wider society, particularly through our seminar series on important or interesting animal welfare issues. Through such engagement we aim to increase knowledge and understanding about animal welfare and animal use practices within society at large.
CAW is based in the Department of Politics and Society in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. It has partnerships with Compassion in World Farming, International Fund for Animal Welfare and through CAW, the University is a signatory to the CreatureKind commitment. CAW also provides on-campus animal welfare events, specifically aimed at University of Winchester staff and students.
Meet the team
- Prof. Andrew Knight, CAW Director and Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics
- Dr Steven McCulloch, Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Studies
- Dr Robert Gray, Lecturer in Environmental History
- Prof. Anna King, Professor of Theology, Religious Studies and Philosophy
- Prof. Neil Messer, Professor of Theology
- Dr Thomas Nørgaard, Senior Lecturer in Liberal Arts
- Dr Lisa Riley, Lecturer in Animal Welfare
- Dr Liam Satchell, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Amoret Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Studies
Visiting Professors
External Advisor
Research students
- Nicky Shaw: 'Responses of the domestic dog to artificial intelligence technology: training and welfare perspectives'
- Rebecca Hammerton: 'Keeper perceptions of captive primate diets: nutritional and welfare perspectives'


text: In the last AMSAT Journal, Dr Shuch addressed the issue of education from the perspective of students and teachers. I would like to add one other idea to an otherwise excellent piece, and that is 'what are the experts doing'? I would like to propose that AMSAT or the education side of the organization, establish teaching centers where students can go for more than just Field Days. I promote an idea of a center where large antenna arrays are installed, accessible via the internet, controllable by schedules appointments, overseen by the AMSAT experts, and acting as established communications centers or ground stations to as many different flights as possible. I'm talking with M2 and ISIS about antennas and such, but wonder what comments and ideas the group would have about the idea. Any other ideas to address the need for new members, new interest, and involved kids? Dave ===== http://sciencecenter.no-ip.org SID ID: S-0258 APRS UI-View KA0SWT LAT: 38'16.278" N LON: -104'40.537" W Alt: 4780ft DM78


text:
Bud Abbott (1897–1974) was a veteran burlesque entertainer from a show business family. He worked at Coney Island and ran his own burlesque touring companies. He first worked as a straight man with his wife Betty, then with veteran burlesque comedians like Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson. When he met his future partner in comedy, Abbott was performing in Minsky's Burlesque shows, and had been working at least a decade before meeting Lou Costello.
Lou Costello (1906–1959) had been a burlesque comic since 1930, after failing to break into movie acting and working as a stunt double and film extra. He appears briefly in the 1927 Laurel and Hardy silent two-reeler, The Battle of the Century, seated at ringside during Stan Laurel's ill-fated boxing match. (As a teenager, Costello had been an amateur boxer in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey.) Costello was introduced to burlesque through the "Ann Corio Show", in which he performed as a "dancing juvenile," who came out before the top banana and warmed up the audience - only he would get the laughs.


text:
Who said fruit crates are useless, huh!! Well I, myself used to think they are but not anymore. Especially now that I know that those old and rusty fruit crates could be turned into the most wonderful pieces of furniture. The idea is very easy; it has to do with transforming a fruit crate into a shoe storage bench. This project is very practical indeed; it helps you keep your space neat and well-organised. Especially if you're living in a small apartment. Anyways, here are the things you will need when intending to make a shoe storage bench. (2 in 1 if you noticed)
1) Fruit Crate
2) Wooden Panel
3) Paint Spray
4) Cotton Foam
5) Material
6) Stapler
7) Wheels (Optional)
Now here are the instructions:
Well, the first thing to be done here is of course to give your crate a good cleaning. that's the first thing you should do before proceeding to painting.
After that comes the painting part. Take your spray paint and start painting your fruit crate in the colour desired. Paint the wooden panel as well.
Take another wooden panel and place some cotton foam on it's surface.
Now that you placed some cotton foams on the surface of the panel to make a comfy seat take your stapler and attach the chosen material to it.
After the crate and wooden panel are dried, place the later inside the crate (you should pick a wooden panel that will fit perfectly inside the fruit crate)
Place your shoes inside your new masterpiece and enjoy it :D
Seen on: handimania


text:
Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown to Jordy Nelson in the fourth quarter as the Green Bay Packers shook off a week's worth of controversy with a rally to beat the New Orleans Saints, 28-27, yesterday.
With Packers fans howling about what appeared to be yet another bad call — this time by the regular officials, not the replacements — Garrett Hartley missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with just under three minutes remaining, costing the Saints a shot at the lead.
Rodgers threw for 319 yards with four touchdowns and an interception for the Packers (2-2).
Drew Brees threw for 446 yards with three touchdowns for the winless Saints (0-4). Brees has thrown at least one touchdown in 47 straight regular-season games, tying the NFL's all-time mark set by Johnny Unitas.
With the win, the Packers were able to put Monday night's controversial replacement official-driven loss at Seattle behind them. But even with the regular refs back this week, the Packers and their fans still nearly were dealt a crushing blow on a blown call.
After Rodgers' touchdown to Nelson, Darren Sproles appeared to fumble the ensuing kickoff but officials ruled that he was down by contact. Replays showed that the ball clearly came out but the Packers were out of replay challenges, leaving Packers fans screaming at the officials for the second week in a row.
Brees then led the Saints into field goal range, and Hartley hit a 43-yard attempt — but the Saints were called for holding, forcing Hartley to line up a 53-yarder. The Packers then were called for encroachment, leaving Hartley to try a 48-yarder and he missed it wide left.
It was a sigh of relief for the Packers, who spent most of the week in the middle of a nationwide firestorm after a last-second decision by replacement officials cost them a game at Seattle on Monday night. The play was a burden for the Packers to bear, but likely played a significant role in the NFL agreeing to a deal with its regular officials during the week.
Referee Jeff Triplette struck a triumphant tone during the pre-game coin toss yesterday, announcing that "it's great to be back, gentlemen!" A handful of Packers fans came to the game dressed as officials, and some brought signs showing support for the regular refs.
The honeymoon didn't last long, though. Fans howled for an offensive pass interference call after Brees threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston late in the first quarter, but no flag was forthcoming. The boos intensified as a replay was shown on the stadium video boards.


text:
And the farmers just stood there beside their tractors, admiring the tan.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The MS Bike Tour is over. The whole event raised more than $400,000 and put 400 cyclists in harm's (and traffic's) way for two days.
Most importantly, I survived and I had such a great time that I'll do it again next year.
Day 1
We arrived at Kings Edgehill school in the Valley at 0730 and registered quickly -- surprisingly quickly given that 400 riders were to start in the next hour or so. It was going to be a scorcher, which at the time I thought would be better than rain. The rest of the team wasn't far behind, and contrary to our initial plan (starting in the last flight to minimize how many people could pass us!), we got in at the beginning of the second flight of riders and quickly found ourselves in a very large, very long peloton (I just love to be able to say that) on a country road. I do feel a little sorry for the Saturday morning yard sale crew who couldn't find a way to get to the side of the road through the hundreds of bicycles which had taken over their sleepy county.
We scarfed back granola bars, bananas, grapes, watermelon and gatorade (and some chips, but that was just for the salt. Or the sunflower oil. Whatever.) at the three rest stops before hitting the first optional bail-out at Acadia University (putting the first leg distance at a mere 50 km). My average speed was 24.1 km/hr, which I thought was pretty good considering the 2km hill that led up to the main pit stop. A quick lunch and the team headed back out for the last 30 km. Did I mention it was hot out? I kept pushing, but by the time I reached the last pit stop (66km), my I was playing head games with my gears and with my bike computer. Spoiler: the bike computer very nearly wins.
Six hours have ticked by since the team left the starting line when we all roll back onto the Acadia campus. The lengthy pit stops were probably a blessing, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I was one cranky bitch as I pushed my way through the eighty-third kilometre in the thirty degree heat. It was a little much to take. The good news? I had an hour to grab a shower and make it back so we could hit the pub before the banquet. The bad news? I had to ride the bike, this time with camping gear on my back over to a friend's place (he rode with the team, but surprisingly didn't offer to take any gear). The gear didn't get used, as I managed to score a bed in the house, for which I was extremely grateful.
I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed my first beer at the pub, because it disappeared so fast that I'm pretty sure I don't remember drinking it. We watched some "real" cyclists race through a 50-minute criterium event in town and marvelled at the hardware that was hurtling down the streets. Then it was off to a banquet in a crowded, ill-ventilated gymnasium. You can imagine how much fun that was.
Day 2
I was deathly afraid of what my body would say when I got out of bed on Day 2 (think: "Oh, no you don't!"), but found I was surprisingly limber given the previous day's activities. While sitting in the sweltering banquet the night before, we'd decided that the "optional extra 30km" would be a last minute decision in the morning. Well, it was morning, and I was feeling alright, but my riding partner had family obligations, so it would be smarter to just do the 50km main route and skip the extra bit.
As it turned out, the weather made the decision for 10 of the 11 of us. The light shower that started up at 7AM turned bad: the heavens opened up and the deluge started about 15 minutes before we were about to head off. That was enough to convince the majority of us that if it was going to rain all morning, we should minimize the bone-chill. The lone holdout in the group didn't want to do it alone, so we were all committed to doing the main route, and as it turned out, probably 90% of the pack opted for the same. I consider doing the full 80 on both days my goal for next year.
We started in the rain and immediately hit the long hill, this time in a more favourable direction ("down") -- only the rain was coming down so hard that I could barely see in front of me. Still, I managed to hit 47km/hr on the way down, and that was with white-knuckled hands on brakes. Fun stuff.
By the first rest stop, the rain had petered out and it was starting to get hot again. And muggy. The rest of the race went extremely well; I have a feeling going this direction was easier than the other direction, so it's probably good that this all happened on Day 2.
Other Tidbits
I should also tell the brief story of the "give'er" couple that I managed to haunt all weekend. On the first leg of Day 1, the peloton was slow going and people were having to battle the yard sale drivers as well as the slowpokes to get ahead. At one point, I noticed a young couple wearing matching jerseys doing frequent shoulder checks as if readying to pass. I was riding beside my friend and knew the opportunity was there, but fleeting, if these folks were to take advantage of it. So on the next shoulder check, I called out "give'er!" and recieved a knowing smile from one of the pair, and they pulled out, around, and took off.
I managed to see them on every leg of the race; sometimes I'd pass them, sometimes we'd see each other at rest stops. I wasn't sure if they knew who I was, or even if they'd heard me trying to be helpful so early in the Tour. On Day 2, when my team was all huddling under a building overhang to stay dry before ultimately embracing the rain and venturing out, I glanced beside me to see that very same couple getting ready to do the same. I had to say something, so I jokingly asked them to let me know when they were about to leave, since I'd seen them the entire day previous. The guy laughed and said he noticed that we'd crossed paths five or six times during Day 1, and that we'd probably see each other again. And we did. Several times, only now it became a friendly competition whenever we passed each other (my team waited at every rest stop for the rest of the team, while the young couple were free to skip stops or stop very briefly, which often put them ahead of our larger group).
We passed the couple prior to the last rest stop, about 15 km from the finish line, and though I knew we were quite a ways ahead of them, I didn't see them at the rest stop. I figured they must have made a quick stop and headed on. Pushing up the hill to the finish line and rounding the corner, I heard a familiar "give'er!" come from the sidewalk. It was the young couple, clearly egging me on. I would go over and congratulate them on a good ride later, and promise to look for them next year. A veteran on our team tells me this type of competition is both natural and infectious on the MS Bike Tour, and she's been doing this for 8 years now. I hope I do see them next year.
Bib Bingo:
When I wasn't being distracted by conversation or playing with the bicycle computer, I was hunting for the lowest bib number I could find (I was 352,for some reason I didn't ever figure out; possibly it had something to do with surnames). This is the equivalent of playing the license plate game on long car trips. On Day 1, the best I could do was #8. On Day 2 I found #1 and won the game. Note: I was the only one playing this game, so coming in anything less than first would have sucked.
The Final Tally:
Total Distance: 130 km
Total Time: 5hrs 40mins
Total Money Raised by Mike: $385
Posted bythemikestand at 8:28 PM
Labels: mike rides a two wheeler
8 stepped up to the mike:
- chRistine said... 9:51 PM, July 30, 2007
again.. thanks!
- Megan said... 1:03 AM, July 31, 2007
Congrats! And what is give'er?
- themikestand said... 6:08 AM, July 31, 2007
christine: you're welcome! I wanted to reply to your last comment, which really touched my heart, but there just wasn't time (and I'm severely limited in my blogging lately).
megan: give'er is sort of an encouraging phrase Maritimers like to use. Like "give 'em hell!", if you've ever heard that one.
- Lisa said... 11:28 AM, July 31, 2007
give'er is such a canadian term, I've learned (along with get 'r done, apparently!)
congrats on the ride!
- Josie said... 2:06 PM, July 31, 2007
Congrats!! Sounds like you had a lot of una as well as a great experience.
I said "Give'er" at a Convention in the US last summer and other than the fellow Canadian's - a whole lot of "what is wrong with her?" LOL
- SRH said... 10:09 AM, August 01, 2007
I am soooo not a cyclist. Mainly due to my not learning how to ride a bike until I was 16 and the fact that I am woefully out of shape. Congrats on the cycling!
- Steph said... 9:04 AM, August 02, 2007
While I was home on vacation, I biked the "nature trail" at home (old railroad tracks) - oddly enough, just as I turned on to the tracks, I mentally prepared myself for possible bear sightings by saying, "Give'er" to no one in particular.
I wondered how you made out on the ride. Great job Mike!!!! *insert standing ovation here*
- themikestand said... 8:03 PM, August 02, 2007
lisa: thanks. And I know I can count on the expats to know what the hell I'm talking about around here.
josie: it was also good to underscore that I have the endurance to make it through something like that -- not that it would require training like for a marathon (see lisa's blog for that!)
srh: you, too, could be on two wheels. We saw a few recumbant bikes. That would be comfortable. Or four wheels could work, if that's more your style.
steph: do the bears understand give'er? Because that could be ugly.


text:
Wilson, P. (2011) The last glacier in Dovedale, Lake District. North West Geography, 11 (1). pp. 7-13. [Journal article]
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|Item Type:
|Journal article
|Faculties and Schools:
|Faculty of Life and Health Sciences > School of Geography and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
|Research Institutes and Groups:
|Environmental Sciences Research Institute > Quaternary Environmental Change
Environmental Sciences Research Institute
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Dr Peter Wilson
|Deposited On:
|27 Dec 2011 00:05
|Last Modified:
|27 Dec 2011 00:05
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