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New Autumn Treasures . . . Now What To Do With Them!?!
I'm slowly pulling out my Autumn and Thanksgiving decs and rounding up my newest treasure finds. But, at the moment, I'm feeling very un-creative.
I found this darling quail planter at GW last year in time to use him in my Autumn decorating. His detailing was a bit too busy to do a floral arrangement in, so I left him empty. I'm not sure that was the most attractive option, though. What do you think???
And then, after Thanksgiving last year, I found these two pheasants at GW for $1.50 and $2 and now need to do something with them.
Question: what kind of floral arrangement would you put in this new planter of mine . . . or would you put something else in it?? It's 9 1/2" long and about 7" tall.
Pheasant statue, approx 9 1/2" long and 6" tall at it's head.
This Spring, I found this beautiful pitcher, in perfect condition, at GW for only $2. I love it, and look at those cool acorns on the handle!
And finally, I've decided that this rustic votive holder would work someplace. The shade is actually wax, but it only stands 10" tall and is 6" wide at it's widest. That's not big enough to make much of a visual impact, but I like it a lot. I've had it for at least ten years. I bought it new but can't remember where now.
So, if you have any idea as to how to use any of these, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!
I think with both the quail and the pheasant I would use just one kind of greens - perhaps ivy or holly - I can see a trailing ivy arrangement - they are so pretty just by themselves you don't want to have the detailing lost in a busy arrangement. I really love that pumpkin pitcher - how cool is that - I can see that on a fall colored tray with mini pumpkins and acorns scattered around amongst fall leaves - nice finds .....
Lynn...my first suggestion would be to just 'Pack It ALL up' and send it on to me!! That should help...right?
I love all your pheasants and I think the planters can be used in so many ways - filled with small gourds..pinecones..acorns or greens. I have a few like that and that's what I do..I'm curious to read what others have to suggest for them.
I love the pitcher and it reminds me of the covered dish you bought not too long ago. As far as your rustic votive holder, I can see that in a Vinette with some of your old books and a rustic basket or bowl filled with some natural elements. Everything is lovely and the prices were great too.
I'm curious to see all the ideas you receive for them.
lynn...first off, I love your planters! & that beautiful pitcher. I don't know about the quail planter ...but the gold tone pheasant might look nice with some "quaking grass" in it or around it. I think that's what the grass is called...I've heard it called "rattlesnake grass" before, too. Anyway, I attached a link with a pic...probably available at HLobby or whatever you have for craft stores out there. He sure looks wonderful sitting on your beaded placemat.
And that 1st pic is absolutely GORGEOUS ... your sparkly fruit, textures & colors are beautiful & that lovely rich tapestry on the table. All looks great to me, as is!
I know your creative mind will kick in because everything you do is always beautiful! On another "favorite holiday decor" post, I love, love, love that pic of your "reading area" with the NA MaDonna batik painting!
Have fun...great $$$ bargains! TFS! Jeanne S.
Here is a link that might be useful: Quaking Grass
Oh Man, Jane beat me to the punch. I was going to suggest that she get that bus going and relieve you of those things. They just won't work for you and I know they would for me. LOL. But seems I'm not the only one lusting after your great finds. My GW NEVER has neat birds. On top of that, they've really raised their prices this year. :o(
I know you will do some great decorating with these wonderful pieces!
hugs, Karen
Lynn, I remember your pretty decorated pumpkins, in fact, I think I saved a picture of them in my inspiration folder. I think that cute little quail would be neat in the kitchen holding sugar/sweetener packets or even the scouring pad! Who says he has to be a "planter"? ;o)
Your other two birds are painted so nicely, I know you will find just the right vignette/display for them to fit into. You know the pitcher has to be my fav with those cute little acorns on it. I really like the color and shape of it too. And the pinecone shade makes me think of someone's dishes--is it you who has the pinecone decorated plates?
All good finds, you did good. I agree with Karen, prices are higher and choices are less out here this year too--darn it!
Lynn, great finds and I'm sure you will figure out what to do with them. I can see them on your book case with other items to display. I think the wax votive would go great with your dishes as Luvs mentioned in a vignette with books birds and a lamp or some rustic items.
You always come up with neat decorations and it will be fun seeing what you do with them. I really like the idea of adding grasses with the birds as others suggested. I also like the look of your first picture and love those place mats the others are sitting on.
I'm sorry not to have gotten back here before now. My nephew was killed in a car accident. He was only 24 y/o with a one year old daughter. My big, close-knit family is coming together to deal with it, but at the moment it's too painful to talk about. Hope to be back here next week or so.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and your prayers. At the moment, we are all devastated, but together we will get through this. Please keep my brother in your prayers. He raised both his sons by himself and is heartbroken at the passing of Chris, his youngest. He was a very special guy. Wasn't he beautiful? It makes me happy to see his smiling face still.
Lynn...I'm so sorry to hear of this terrible loss to one so young, in your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and especially your brother.
It's good that you have a close knit family to find strenghth and support in one another at this time.
What a handsome young man, with soleful eyes...
May he be at peace.
Lynn, thank you for sharing his picture with us...
Chris was beautiful, as you said.
Losing a loved one at this time of year, always seems so much worse to me. So unfair.
I know you won't feel like doing the things that normally bring you joy, but I hope if you need some distraction...
or comfort...you can come here and know that all of us will
be holding you close and wanting to help any way we can.
You're part of our forum family and very important to us.
heartfelt hugs,
Lynn, Chris was so handsome and I'm sure loved by all. My heart is sad for you and yours.
A poem for you and your family.
attributed to
David M. Romano - 1993
When tomorrow starts without me
And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me
As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.
She said my place was ready
In heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday
Just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates
I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity
And all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it all starts anew."
"I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
And since each day's the same day,
There's no longing for the past."
"But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things,
You knew you shouldn't do."
"But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free;
So won't you take my hand
And share my life with me?"
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart.
Sharing You Sorrow - Sending My Love,
Thank you all so much for your kind words and for your prayers. Punk, the poem is lovely and very comforting to read and think about. I'm planning on copying it to my FB page this morning so that my family all over the country can be comforted by it, as well.
I am very much a believer in the power of prayer and positive thoughts, having seen it work on many people, including myself and my very sick preemie daughter sixteen years ago. I know in my heart that your kindness is already at work, for my grieving brother and for all my family. Thank you!
Oh how very sad (((((Lynn))))) just opened this thread after a couple of days and read the news. May God be ever present with you and your family, your nephews wife and baby. May he give you all peace and comfort and the strength to get through these weeks and months.....
Lynn, Here is the poem I wanted to share with you and yours but couldn't find it before. Please share if it will help in some way. I'm sending more thoughts and prayers your way today.
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."
It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.
Ruth Ann Mahaffey
éCopyright 1998
We just got back last night. I hadn't taken my laptop with me, and am just now reading through these lovely messages this morning. Thank you! Punk, I posted that first poem on my FaceBook page day and my family was very comforted by it. I'll copy and paste this latest one there, as well. Again, many thank for your kind words of comfort and support.
Lynn, happy to hear your back. You were missed. Will be great having you back here posting with all of us, again. May it help you through the Holiday season seeeing all the beautiful decorations and reading the fun chats here.
Glad the poems I posted, gave you and yours some comfort. At times like this, one needs it.


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Named an AVA in 2005, Lake County's High Valley appellation is one of California's newest. The valley floor is at 1,800 feet with ridges rising above 3,000 feet in altitude and its soils are a combination of volcanic and alluvial fans. Brassfield's 12.5-acre block of merlot at High Serenity Ranch is planted on benchland in the western hills of High Valley where the soils are known for their excellent drainage and low vigor potential. This Cab entices with aromas of tangy red currants and hints of licorice that carry over to the palate, which is soft, round and full-bodied.
Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.
The item you have chosen is not in stock in our retail stores or within our main
1995 York Creek Spring Mountain District Meritage (Previously $55)
2005 Berthoud "Ursus Minor" Sonoma Valley Bordeaux Blend
2004 Heitz Cellar "Martha's Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2003 Chateau Montelena "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

subset: commoncrawl


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Article first published online: 26 SEP 2012 | DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00629.x
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"Yes, that would be gut." said he while looking around "I wonder," looking back at her, "do you feel something..." (lordcastigator) looking about some more and then looked back at her... "Yes, some food would be great..."
where are you? I know your heeeerrrrre
I'll find you.
I'll find all you evil things.
And when I find you
*girlish giggle*
I'm gonna plaaaaaayyyy.......
A new shape wandered into town. Trenchcoat wrapped around him tight, the stranger walked into the town, just like he had done to so many other towns. He didn't care what town this was. All he cared about was those smells.
I can smeeeellllll yyyyoooouuuuuuu.....
Come out to plaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy....
"I wanna plaaaayyyy......."
Continuing down the street, he picked up on a scent. Giggling again, he turned to follow it...
The Madman previously known as Daniel219
Wish I could get on here more often. *Sigh* The down side to night shift...
"Yes, that would be gut." said he while looking around "I wonder," looking back at her, "do you feel something..." (lordcastigator) looking about some more and then looked back at her... "Yes, some food would be great..."
death and life are one and the same
I stood on the street in the rain and noticed a figure coming down the street. I scoffed and stayed where I was.
" Aw to hell with it." I said as I noticed my jacket was still in the house and went inside to get it.
I looked at the man who just entered my house.
"You know knocking would be nice." I scuffed and walked into the kitchen to make the other person some food.
when i was walking down the street i went right pass the dark unknown figure as if i didn't care who it was.
Willow Luna, walked around slowly. She was bored!! Well, take that back, she really didn't feel anything. She was..... what was it. Restless. She hadn't hunted in days and she needed something to do. Not that there was anuthing to do around here.....
but then again, she knew something was going to happen and she was going to be part of it.
'This world is trash. Cursed by the Fon Master...'
As I was in the kitchen preparing food I had heard a noise come from outside. The sound kept repeating itself. I grabbed my gun from out of my kitchen cabinet and walked out through my kitchens back door. I crept around listening, it sounded as if someone was giggling. I finally saw the source of the giggling, it was a man. I jumped out of where I was standing.
"Hault! what are you doing in my town? And what are you?"
Kenchi walks around the bar and picks up left over, and half-empty bottles, "Such messy people," saying to himself, he looks outside and notices a strange man walking in the dark streets, "well if it ain't a show-down." he laughs and tends back to his work.


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Regents Want Cuts Reversed With Budget Improvement
'Defunding universities goes against state's goals of economic growth,' Regents president says.
'Defunding universities goes against state's goals of economic growth,' Regents president says.
Not indexing results in 'hidden tax' when income goes up for inflation, sponsoring legislator says.
Phone-in question-and-answer meeting Thursday at 7 pm will focus on 'Classrooms First.'
Students show up en masse, ask for budgeting transparency, grad student 'living wage.'
Nearly 50% increase from last year, federal health officials report; deadline to enroll Feb. 15.
House Committee on Federalism, States' Rights wants balanced budget provision.
Decision now moves to federal level - Forest Service and Army Corps of Engineers.
Federal government says tribes would be treated same as states that have legalized pot.
Bill's sponsor calls it breach of Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches.
Class action federal claim says Arizona violates youngsters' civil rights, despite 2014 state reforms.
Proposed changes in measuring language proficiency; requirement for 60 minutes of daily exercise.
Statewide average of $1.90 a gallon, down 1 cent in a week, could be end of 6-month trend.
Political officials laud plans for 150 permanent employees, plus construction crews during buildout.
McSally leads congressional delegation on tour of region; area ranchers divided on what's needed.
No cases in Pima County so far; 7 confirmed in Pinal, Maricopa counties; 1,000 people exposed.
New company will distribute state, federal funding to local service providers; service effects unknown.
collection categories
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Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne Coming Back for 'Insidious' Sequel
UPDATED: Actors Lin Shaye and Ty Simpkins will also reteam with director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell for the follow-up.
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne will reprise their roles for Insidious Chapter 2, the sequel to the hit 2010 horror movie made by FilmDistrict, Alliance Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.
James Wan will return as director for the second chapter, which also will bring back actors Lin Shaye and Ty Simpkins as well as original screenwriter Leigh Whannell. Jason Blum is returning as producer.
FilmDistrict will release the film in the U.S. on Aug. 30, while Alliance Films, which is financing, will distribute in Canada, the U.K. (via its Momentum Pictures subsidiary) and Spain (via Aurum). Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will distribute in all other international territories.
Production is set to begin Jan. 15 in Los Angeles.
Insidious was made for only $1.5 million and grossed $97 million worldwide, proving a boon for FilmDistrict, which had the rights. The film led many producers to see the viability of low-budget, non-found-footage projects.
The movie followed a mother and father who try to save their son from being possessed and trapped in a dark dimension.
Must Reads
Kids' Choice Awards 2015: Red-Carpet Photos
Kids' Choice Awards 2015: Best and Worst Moments (Photos)
'Game of Thrones' Star Emilia Clarke on Playing Sarah Connor, Turning Down 'Fifty Shades' and Moving on From Nudity
L.A.'s Soho House Turns 5: Membership Rejections, Success Secrets Revealed in Oral History
Gavin Polone on TV's Dirty Secret: Your Agent Gets Money for Nothing (Guest Column)
Reality Power: The Declining Clout of the Broadcast Unscripted Chief
Why More 'Star Wars' Actors Haven't Become Stars
From Christian Bale to Benedict Cumberbatch: Why British Actors Nab So Many American Roles
The Uncensored, Epic, Never-Told Story Behind 'Mad Men'


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Book your room at A Haven Townhouse
Double RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)
Single RoomMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Twin RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)
Hotel with a bar/lounge, in Edinburgh (Leith)
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This hotel is located in Edinburgh (Leith), close to Newhaven Heritage Museum, Royal Yacht Britannia, and Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre. Also nearby are Palace of Holyroodhouse and Princes Street Gardens.
Hotel Features
A Haven Townhouse offers a complimentary full breakfast. Other amenities include a bar/lounge, complimentary wireless Internet access, and free self parking.
Room Amenities
In addition to complimentary wireless Internet access and coffee/tea makers, guestrooms feature desks along with hair dryers and phones.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. High-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
This Edinburgh hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, a garden, and room service (during limited hours). Complimentary self parking is available on site.
A Haven Townhouse is a smoke-free property.
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- Total number of rooms - 14
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- Bar/lounge
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Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
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- Iron/ironing board (on request)
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- Room service (limited hours)
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A complimentary full breakfast is served each morning between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
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Western Carolina University
Mom gets prison time for teen's drinking deathSubmitted by WWAY on Tue, 11/22/2011 - 11:11am.READ MORE:
Full story...»
WCU football holds camp to check out local playersSubmitted by Cliff Pyron on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 5:40pm.READ MORE:
Usually high school athletes looking to play at the next level would have to go to a college camp to showcase their skills. Instead Western Carolina came to them. Full story...»
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"Famous Paintings" is a free Android app with paintings by Matisse, Homer, Uccello, Velasquez and dozens of others. Tap to zoom in once, then spread your fingers to zoom more. The details are remarkable. (Bob once visited a home in Morocco with $25 million worth of paintings in the entrance hall: A row of Fragonards on one wall and Watteaus on the other. Raphael was in the study. Now Joy has seen some of them too.)
Filed under: apps, art, graphics | No Comments »


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Olympics: the alien invaders that destroy our cities
(Image by Smuzz)
(Image by Smuzz)
Something I enjoy: Specialized equipment that looks completely and utterly ridiculous when you watch people using it out of context.
Case in point, this advertisement for the HydroWorx X80 Underwater Treadmill. You have never seen Olympic-caliber runners look sillier. (Sadly, it's not entirely underwater. When I first saw the name of the clip, I was really hoping for guys in scuba gear.)
Also: I've apparently reached the age where current Olympians look to me like they ought to be too young to drive. Crap.
Thanks, Eli Kintisch
James Losey from New America Foundation sez,
The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal, who has estimated how long it would take to read every privacy policy you encounter highlights an interesting bit from the "Linking Policy" in the Terms of Use for the London 2012 website:
"a. Links to the Site. You may create your own link to the Site, provided that your link is in a text-only format. You may not use any link to the Site as a method of creating an unauthorised association between an organisation, business, goods or services and London 2012, and agree that no such link shall portray us or any other official London 2012 organisations (or our or their activities, products or services) in a false, misleading, derogatory or otherwise objectionable manner."
Hey, LOCOG! I think you're a bunch of greedy, immoral corporatist swine who've sold out London to a bunch of multinationals and betrayed the spirit of athleticism and international cooperation. You're a disgrace. And I'm linking to you. In a most derogatory manner.
What are you going to do about it?
The McDonald's sponsorship deal at the Security Games in London meant that Olympic workers are not allowed to buy chips (AKA fries) unless they come with fish. A chorus of complaints from site workers has led to a relaxation of the sponsorship terms so that workers (but not visitors) can buy their chips from the vendor of their choice, even if they're not served with fish.
From The Guardian's Robert Booth:
It all results from one of the stranger twists of Olympic planning. McDonald's sponsorship deal included the exclusive right to sell chips in and around Olympic venues. Other caterers had negotiated special rights to serve chips with fish – but not chips on their own, or with anything else.
Cue frustrated scenes at the lunch counter in the ceremonies catering area where staff were toiling over the staging for Danny Boyle's 27 July opening extravaganza. "Please understand this is not the decision of the staff who are serving up your meals who, given the choice, would gladly give it to you, however they are not allowed to," read a notice pinned up by staff. "Please do not give the staff grief, this will only lead to us removing fish and chips completely."
"It's sorted," said a spokesman for Locog. "We have spoken to McDonald's about it."
But the embargo will hold in other areas. That means no chips with anything other than fish anywhere else in the park unless spectators dine at McDonald's.
I know a couple of people on the lighting and automation crew at the Security Games and they report that there's a mass lunchtime exodus from the site by its workers every day as they troop off to find anything to eat that isn't McDonald's.
Chip-hungry Olympic workers celebrate freedom from McDonald's monopoly
(Image: Big Mac meal with Chocolate Shake, Fillet-O-Fish, Chicken McNuggets - McDonalds, Hume Hwy AUD16.80, a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike (2.0) image from avlxyz's photostream)
The WSJ's Joel Schectman reports that NBC and Google are conducting "war games" in at least three countries, in preparation for possible hacker attacks or hardware screwups that could interrupt web streaming of the 2012 Summer Olympics Games in London, which begin this month.
The planned online streaming, if successful, will be the largest-ever online offering of a sports event.
For the past nine months the network's online team, together with Google, which is managing the streaming of the games, have simulated hundreds of disruptive scenarios, some lasting eight hours. They have simulated a range of problems from broken broadcast encoders to traffic overloads and hacker assaults on the systems, NBC staff told CIO Journal.
"We have it very well-scripted, so we know that when a problem occurs who is on point and what steps we need to take," said Eric Black, vice president of technology for NBC Sports and Olympics. "At some point during the games there's likely to be an outage, but the goal is for us to be on top of that and have no end-user impact."
Read more: NBC, Google, Stage "War Games" To Prepare for London Olympic Disruptions.
Meet Sarah Robles. She can lift as much as 570 pounds. In last year's weightlifting world championships, she bested every other American—both female and male. Sarah Robles is going to the Olympics in London this summer. But at home, in the United States, she lives on $400 a month.
Track star Lolo Jones, 29, soccer player Alex Morgan, 22, and swimmer Natalie Coughlin, 29, are natural television stars with camera-friendly good looks and slim, muscular figures. But women weightlifters aren't go-tos when Sports Illustrated is looking for athletes to model body paint in the swimsuit issue. They don't collaborate with Cole Haan on accessories lines and sit next to Anna Wintour at Fashion Week, like tennis beauty Maria Sharapova. And male weightlifters often get their sponsorships from supplements or diet pills, because their buff, ripped bodies align with male beauty ideals. Men on diet pills want to look like weightlifters — most women would rather not.
Meanwhile, Robles — whose rigorous training schedule leaves her little time for outside work — struggles to pay for food. It would be hard enough for the average person to live off the $400 a month she receives from U.S.A. Weightlifting, but it's especially difficult for someone who consumes 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day, a goal she meets through several daily servings of grains, meats and vegetables, along with weekly pizza nights. She also gets discounted groceries from food banks and donations from her coach, family and friends — or, as Robles says, "prayers and pity."
She's not alone. Holley Mangold, the other American woman who'll be doing Olympic weightlifting in the same division, works part-time for a BBQ restaurant and lives in a friend's converted laundry room.
In fact, while the biggest stars in the most-watched events can pick up million-dollar endorsement deals, the truth is that most Olympic athletes live on extremely modest incomes. That's especially true in countries like Canada, which lacks the kind of government support system you find in places like China and Russia, but also lacks the plethora of large and small private endorsement deals that are available to some (but not all) American Olympians.
I think this is interesting. Every time the Olympics come up, I hear friends and talking heads alike arguing that the amateur athlete no longer exists. Everybody in the Olympics is really a professional and that makes it all less exciting—or so goes the conventional wisdom. The reality is that, for the most part, we're talking about people who make big sacrifices to be able to compete at a high level in a sport they're obsessed with for its own sake, not because they're getting rich. Sponsorships, rather than tainting the sport, do also help some athletes know where their next meal is coming from. After reading some of these articles, I think the vast majority of Olympic athletes probably fall squarely into Happy Mutant territory.
Read the rest of Buzzfeed's profile of Sarah Robles
• Read the New York Times' profile of weightlifter Holley Mangold
• Ivestopedia: Olympic Athletes—Back to Reality
• Wired: Olympic Runner Fights to Change Sponsorship Rules
• ABC News: How Can Olympic Athletes Find a Real Job?
• Time Magazine: Keeping Afloat (which contrasts the profits of the U.S. Olympic Committee with the small incomes that support many Olympic athletes)
The US Olympic Committee has apologized for describing the knitters' Ravelympics as "denigrating" to real athletes. Ravelympics are an activity on Ravelry, a community for knitters, in which members compete to complete knitting projects while watching Olympic events, producing hybrids like the "afghan marathon" and "scarf hockey." The Olympic Committee, worried that they will have a hard time raising millions for giant, evil companies like Dow Chemicals if knitters are allowed to share patterns that include the Olympic rings, sent a grossly insulting legal threat to the knitters of Ravelry:
We believe using the name "Ravelympics" for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games. In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country's finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work.
After a lot of hue and cry, the USOC said sorry, and suggested that knitters could give away the stuff they make to the USOC.
Jun 21 Statement from USOC Spokesperson Patrick Sandusky (Thanks, Gladys!)
Afraid of the Knock on the Door sez, "An old age pensioner, living in a residential care home, received a visit from the Scottish police plain clothes division following his letter to a local newspaper in connection with the Olympics due to be held in London this summer. He wrote about the connection of the torch relay with Germany in the 1930s. **Contains irony.**"
Mr Coull said: ''It was invented by Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, to please his boss Adolf. Hitler loved the idea of the relay, and the connection with pagan mythology in ancient Greece, emphasising the Aryan nature of the games.''
The pensioner, who completed a history degree at Dundee University in his late 50s, said in his letter that he would be ''there to protest this fascist display'' on the Angus leg of the relay.
A few days after the letter appeared, Mr Coull and wife Keri received the surprise CID visit...
''I asked if protest was now illegal. They said no, it isn't, but there will be lots of folk out to cheer the Olympic torch, and we wouldn't want you to get hurt by them, or vice versa. I think they were a bit nonplussed that both myself and Keri were laughing so much. I assured them that I had no intention of hurting anybody.''
'I started laughing, and kept on laughing' — Olympic torch protester gets a police visit
Laurie Penny takes a look at G4S, the scandal-embroiled "private security firm" (they're not technical mercenaries because the "security" people who work from them are usually born in the same territories in which they operate) that is the world's second-largest private employer, after WalMart. The company is providing 10,000 "security contractors" to the London Olympics, like these people, who think that it's illegal to take pictures from public land. G4S has lots of juicy contracts around the world, like supplying security to private prisons in the West Bank where children are held. They're also the proud inventors of "carpet karaoke," a technique used at private asylum-seeker detention centres, which is a fancy way for "stuffing a deportee's face towards the floor to contain them."
What difference does it make if the men and women in uniform patrolling the world's streets and prison corridors are employed by nation states or private firms? It makes every difference. A for-profit company is not subject to the same processes of accountability and investigation as an army or police force which is meant, at least in theory, to serve the public. Impartial legality is still worth something as an assumed role of the state – and the notion of a private, for-profit police and security force poisons the very idea.
The state still has a legal monopoly on violence, but it is now prepared to auction that monopoly to anyone with a turnover of billions and a jolly branding strategy. The colossal surveillance and security operation turning London into a temporary fortress this summer is chilling enough without the knowledge that state powers are being outsourced to a company whose theme tune features the line: "The enemy prowls, wanting to attack, but we're on to the wall, we've got your back." If that made any sense at all, I doubt it would be more reassuring.
Laurie Penny: Don't listen to what G4S say. Look at what they do
Long-term unemployed workers say they were bussed to London to act as stewards for the Queen's Jubilee, told they would be paid for the work and cared for while in town. When they arrived, they were told they wouldn't get paid (this was "work experience" not a job), and were made to strip down and change into uniforms in public, pitch tents in the rain, sleep under a bridge, and left without toilet facilities for 24 hours. They were told that if they didn't accept this "training," they wouldn't be considered for work during the Olympics.
Unemployed bussed in to steward river pageant
Close Protection UK confirmed that it was using up to 30 unpaid staff and 50 apprentices, who were paid £2.80 an hour, for the three-day event in London. A spokesman said the unpaid work was a trial for paid roles at the Olympics, which it had also won a contract to staff. Unpaid staff were expected to work two days out of the three-day holiday...
A 30-year-old steward told the Guardian that the conditions under the bridge were "cold and wet and we were told to get our head down [to sleep]". He said that it was impossible to pitch a tent because of the concrete floor.
The woman said they were woken at 5.30am and supplied with boots, combat trousers and polo shirts. She said: "They had told the ladies we were getting ready in a minibus around the corner and I went to the minibus and they had failed to open it so it was locked. I waited around to find someone to unlock it, and all of the other girls were coming down trying to get ready and no one was bothering to come down to unlock [it], so some of us, including me, were getting undressed in public in the freezing cold and rain." The men are understood to have changed under the bridge.
The female steward said that after the royal pageant, the group travelled by tube to a campsite in Theydon Bois, Essex, where some had to pitch their tents in the dark.
The Space Hijackers' Twitter account for their Official Protesters of the London 2012 Games has been suspended, following a complaint from the London Olympic committee:
Twitter. That harbour of free speech, undaunted by various Arab dictators. However, it seems that a quick word from LOCOG, the unelected body in charge of the 2012 Olympic Games, is enough to encourage Twitter to suspend our account. Apparently there's a danger people might think we're part of the Olympic delivery team. We're sorry if you were enjoying our tweets, we hope to be back up and running again, as soon as Twitter gets the joke. In the meantime, you might want to look at this website to get some background...
Twitter actually has a pretty clear policy on this: parody and protest accounts just have to have some indicator that they aren't the official item (e.g. "FakeCoke" or "CokeSucks" but not "OfficialCoke"). My guess is that Twitter's suspension of the account was on that basis. If so, it should be pretty straightforward to get it back up and running.
Oi! You Can't Protest Here! (Thanks, LDNBikeSwarm!)
Leah sez,
Bespoke troublemakers, the Space Hijackers, have announced that they are the Official Protesters of the London 2012 Olympic Games. To this end, they've launched a site where you can register for tickets for the official protests. They have also outlined the top ten reasons why the Olympics are worth protesting against.
A spokesperson said "accept no imitation, we are the Official Protesters. We shall be taking steps to ensure no unauthorised protest occurs around the London 2012 Olympic Games".
The Space Hijackers stress that LOCOG, the IoC and the ODA should expect protest wherever Olympic legislation and regulation is applicable and enforced. An international network of Olympic protesters have partnered under the Protest London 2012 umbrella and are planning as invasive a campaign as the Olympic Games themselves. However, only those groups authorised by the Official Protesters of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be allowed to express dissent.
Disclaimer: "Official Protesters", "Official Protester", "Official Protest", "Protest", "The Space Hijackers", "Space Hijackers", "Spacehijackers", "Space", "Hijacker" and "Hijackers" are protected under trademark and copyright. Unauthorised use without express written consent from the Official Protesters of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Some background: as part of its campaign to win the games, the UK promised the International Olympic Committee that it would extend extraordinary privileges to it and its corporate partners. It's a criminal offense to use "London" and "2012" or "2012" and "Games" in a commercial context without authorisation. Yes, criminal: you can go to gaol for putting up a pub signboard that says "Watch the Olympic Games here today!" Parliament's Olympic lickspittles also delivered a law that gives the cops the power to enter your private home and remove anti-Olympics posters. And there are 10,000 private security guards on-site who insist that you're not allowed to stand on public land and take pictures, despite assurances from the government and police that they've been trained and briefed.
Here's an earlier Space Hijackers action: "Life Neutral" certification for arms dealers.
Official Protests for the London 2012 Olympics (Thanks, Leah!)
Residents of a gated community in east London got Ministry of Defence leaflets through their doors advising them that their roofs might be commandeered for surface-to-air missiles during the London Olympics this summer. The MoD assured them that the missiles on their roof "will only be authorised for active use following specific orders from the highest levels of government in response to a confirmed and extreme security threat". Gosh, the Olympics sure are wonderful.
Journalist Brian Whelan, a resident at the flats, said: "They are going to have a test run next week, putting high velocity missiles on the roof just above our apartment and on the back of it they're stationing police and military in the tower of the building for two months.
"It's a private, gated community... We have an MoD leaflet saying the building is the only suitable place in the area.
"It says there will be 10 officers plus police present 24/7. I'm not sure if they are going to live in the building."
I'm just waiting for some of our local gang-kids to swipe a few of these.
Here's the brochure (PDF).
Charlie Stross points out that a wily terrorist who buzzes east London with an RC airplane and triggers a launch would succeed in tricking the MoD into showering a crowded residential area with blazing supersonic shrapnel. For bonus points, aim the RC plane to get the missile to shower the white-hot shrapnel over a crowded train station.
A few of the 10,000 G4S private security guards hired to police the London Olympics have been videoed while illegally harassing photographers who were taking pictures of the Olympic site from public land. In the video, the guards make lunges for the press-cameras, put their hands over lenses, and make inaccurate statements about whether and where images may be taken of the site. Scotland Yard had previously assured the National Union of Journalists that the private security at the Olympics had been trained on the legality of taking images from public land.
They were totally wrong.
Peter Walker writes in The Guardian:
As they walked along one pavement, near the adjoining Westfield shopping mall, a G4S guard approached the group and told them they were not allowed to film, before trying to hold his hand over Hurd's camera.
A supervisor who arrived told the group that guards had been specifically instructed to stop people filming a nearby "security screening area".
She said: "We are told that we should refrain from letting anybody film the security screening area. Obviously, we don't want that filmed."
The supervisor appeared not to know the difference between filming on public and private land, likening the rules to those against taking pictures of security checks at London's Heathrow airport.
She added: "We're all here for the protection of the Olympic park. Obviously, if you don't care about that, that's your business. We care."
Olympic park security guards forcibly stop journalists from taking photos
As London ramps up for the 2012 Olympics, a dystopian regime of policing and censorship on behalf of the games' sponsors is coming online. A special squad of "brand police" will have the power to force pubs to take down signs advertising "watch the games on our TV," to sticker over the brand-names of products at games venues where those products were made by companies other than the games' sponsors, to send takedown notices to YouTube and Facebook if attendees at the games have the audacity to post their personal images for their friends to see, and more. What's more, these rules are not merely civil laws, but criminal ones, so violating the sanctity of an Olympic sponsor could end up with prison time for Londoners.
Esther Addley documents the extent of London's corporatism for The Guardian:
"It is certainly very tough legislation," says Paul Jordan, a partner and marketing specialist at law firm Bristows, which is advising both official sponsors and non-sponsoring businesses on the new laws. "Every major brand in the world would give their eye teeth to have [a piece of legislation] like this. One can imagine something like a Google or a Microsoft would be delighted to have some very special recognition of their brand in the way that clearly the IOC has."
As well as introducing an additional layer of protection around the word "Olympics", the five-rings symbol and the Games' mottoes, the major change of the legislation is to outlaw unauthorised "association". This bars non-sponsors from employing images or wording that might suggest too close a link with the Games. Expressions likely to be considered a breach of the rules would include any two of the following list: "Games, Two Thousand and Twelve, 2012, Twenty-Twelve".
Using one of those words with London, medals, sponsors, summer, gold, silver or bronze is another likely breach. The two-word rule is not fixed, however: an event called the "Great Exhibition 2012" was threatened with legal action last year under the Act over its use of "2012" (Locog later withdrew its objection).
The London Olympic bid insisted that these restrictions were necessary to get the sponsors, and of course, they were bidding against other cities who were also making promises to police their residents' free speech and personal expression. Each games' sponsor doubles down on the previous games' restrictions and surveillance, which suggests that by 2020, the winning bid will include a promise to imprison all non-attendees for the duration of the games, and permanently tattoo sponsors' logos on the faces and chests of all ticket-buyers.
Olympics 2012: branding 'police' to protect sponsors' exclusive rights
Writing in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, China Mieville blazingly describes two Londons: an exuberant, organic place that has been lived and built over and remade, bursting with energy and vitality; and a fearful, banker-driven collection of megaprojects and guard labour, where billions of pounds can be found to surround the Olympics with snipers and legions of police, but nothing can be found for the library on the corner, where the center of town is being purged of anyone but the super-rich, and where rioting has nothing to do with stop-and-search powers and poverty, and is the result of mere "pure criminality."
The Olympics are slated to cost taxpayers $14.7 billion. In this time of "austerity," youth clubs and libraries are being shut down as expendable fripperies; this expenditure, though, is not negotiable. The uprisen young of London, participants in extraordinary riots that shook the country last summer, do the math. "Because you want to host the Olympics, yeah," one participant told researchers, "so your country can look better and be there, we should suffer."
This is a city where buoyed-up audiences yell advice to young boxers in Bethnal Green's York Hall, where tidal crowds of football fans commune in raucous rude chants, where fans adopt local heroes to receive Olympic cheers. It's not sport that troubles those troubled by the city's priorities.
Mike Marqusee, writer and activist, has been an East London local and a sports fan for decades. American by birth, he nonetheless not only understands and loves cricket, of all things, but even wrote a book about it. He's excited to see the track and field when it arrives up the road from him in July. Still, he was, and remains, opposed to the coming of the Olympics. "For the reasons that've all been confirmed," he says. "These mega-events in general are bad for the communities where they take place, they do not provide long-term employment, they are very exploitative of the area."
Stratford sightseers are funneled into prescribed walkways; going off-piste is vigorously discouraged. The "access routes," the enormous structures are neurotically planned and policed. For the area to be other than a charnel ground of Ozymandian skeletons in 30 years, it will have to develop like a living thing. That means beyond the planners', beyond any, preparations.
Update: Here's the original, from PureEvil.


text: MMI Prep head of school Thomas G. Hood, left, and athletic director Bruce Young, right, present PIAA District 2 Scholar-Athlete Awards to Kirsten Young and Casey McCoy. MMI Prep honored all of its atheletes recently. Baseball: MVP, Alec Andes; Most Improved, Casey McCoy; Coaches' Award, RJ Kupsho; Boys basketball: MVPs, Aaron Kollar and Timothy Connors; Coaches' Award, Michael Sarno; Girls basketball: MVP, Kristen Purcell; Most Improved, Hayle Shearer; Coaches' Award, Rachel Stanziola; Boys cross country: Most Improved Runner, John Driscoll; Most Valuable Runner, David Polashenski; Coaches' Award, CJ Snyder; Girls cross country: Most Improved Runner, Karalyn Sitch; Most Valuable Runner, Devon Sherwood; Coaches' Award, Katlyn Frey; Golf: Most Improved, Cassie Caldwell; MVP, Casey McCoy; Coaches' Award, Dominic Maduro; Boys soccer: Most Improved, Elijah Dove; MVP, Noah Beltrami; Coaches' Award, Casey Olszewki; Girls soccer: Most Improved, Sandrine Gibbons; MVP, Lindsey Joseph; Coaches' Award, Alexis Haupt; Softball: Most Improved, Kristen Purcell; MVP, Kirsten Young; Coaches' Award, Kayla Karchner; Swimming: Varsity letter, Ashley Acri; Boys tennis: Most Improved, Michael Eisenhart; MVP, Justin Sheen; Girls tennis: Most Improved, Claire Sheen; MVP, Gabriella Lobitz; Coaches' Award, Gabriella Lobitz and Stephanie Pudish; Girls volleyball: Most Improved, Kirsten Purcell; MVP, Kirsten Young; Coaches' Award, Amber Ferry.


text:
April 22, 2009
You're feeling grounded today, more so than usual, and that's a good thing. Still, it's easy to get caught up in trivial details and run yourself ragged trying to cover all your bases. You're a compassionate person, so treat yourself with some of that softhearted concern. Don't push yourself too hard to accomplish everything, and don't worry about the details you leave hanging. Trust that everything will happen as it should.
By Kelli Fox, The Astrologer
What do the rating, intensity, keywords, mood words mean?


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Regioselective carboxylation of 1,3-dihydroxybenzene by 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate decarboxylase of Pandoraea sp. 12B-2
- Tsuyoshi Matsui,
- Toyokazu Yoshida,
- Tomohiro Yoshimura,
- Toru Nagasawa
- … show all 4 hide
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We found a bacterium, Pandoraea sp. 12B-2, of which whole cells catalyzed not only the decarboxylation of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate but also the regioselective carboxylation of 1,3-dihydroxybenzene to 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate. The whole cells of Pandoraea sp. 12B-2 also catalyzed the regioselective carboxylation of phenol and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene to 4-hydroxybenzoate and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, respectively. The molar conversion ratio of the carboxylation reaction depended on the concentration of KHCO3 in the reaction mixture. Only 5 or 48 % of 1,3-dihydroxybenzene added was converted into 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate in the presence of 0.1 M or 3 M KHCO3, respectively. The addition of acetone to the reaction mixture increased the initial rate of the carboxylation reaction, but the final molar conversion yield reached almost the same value. When the efficient production of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate was optimized using the whole cells of Pandoraea sp. 12B-2, the productivity of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate topped out at 1.43 M, which was the highest value so far reported. No formation of any other products was observed after the carboxylation reaction.
- Anderson, JJ, Dagley, S (1981) Catabolism of tryptophan, anthranilate, and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate in Trichosporon cutaneum. J Bacteriol 146: pp. 291-297
- Brackmann, R, Fuchs, G (1993) Enzymes of anaerobic metabolism of phenolic compounds 4-hydroxybenzoil-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating) from a denitrifying Pseudomonas species. Eur J Biochem 213: pp. 563-571 CrossRef
- He, Z, Wiegel, J (1995) Purification and characterization of an oxygen-sensitive reversible 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase from Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum. Eur J Biochem 229: pp. 77-82 CrossRef
- He, Z, Wiegel, J (1996) Purification and characterization of an oxygen-sensitive 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate decarboxylase from Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum. J Bacteriol 178: pp. 3539-3543
- Ishii, Y, Narimatsu, Y, Iwasaki, Y, Arai, N, Kino, K, Kirimura, K (2004) Reversible and nonoxidative γ-resorcinolic acid decarboxylase: characterization and gene cloning of a novel enzyme catalyzing carboxylation of resorcinol, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene, from Rhizobium radiobacter. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 324: pp. 611-620 CrossRef
- Kamath, AV, Dasgupta, D, Vaidyanathan, CS (1987) Enzyme-catalysed non-oxidative decarboxylation of aromatic acids. I. Purification and spectroscopic properties of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid decarboxylase from Aspergillus niger. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 145: pp. 586-595 CrossRef
- Matsuda, T, Ohashi, Y, Harada, T, Yanagihara, Y, Nagasawa, T, Nakamura, K (2001) Conversion of pyrrole to pyrrole-2-carboxylate by cells of Bacillus megaterium in supercritical CO2. Chem Commun (Camb) 21: pp. 2194-2195 CrossRef
- Nakamatsu T, Nishida Y, Kometani N (1993) Method for producing 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Patent EP 0552912 A2
- Omura, H, Wiser, M, Nagasawa, T (1998) Pyrrole-2-carboxylate decarboxylase from Bacillus megaterium PYR2910, an organic-acid-requiring enzyme. Eur J Biochem 253: pp. 480-484 CrossRef
- Sagawa M, Okai M, Mizutani B, Takaba H, Ue M (2000) Display device. Patent JP 12323016 A
- Santha, R, Rao, NA, Vaidyanathan, CS (1996) Identification of the active-site peptide of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid decarboxylase from Aspergillus oryzae. Biochim Biophys Acta 1293: pp. 191-200
- Toshimoto M (1996) Heat-developable diazo copying material. Patent JP 08272035 A
- Uchida, A, Ogawa, M, Yoshida, T, Nagasawa, T (2003) Quinolinate dehydrogenase and 6-hydroxyquinolinate decarboxylase involved in the conversion of quinolinic acid to 6-hydroxynicotinic acid by Alcaligenes sp. UK21. Arch Microbiol 180: pp. 81-87 CrossRef
- Wieser, M, Fujii, N, Yoshida, T, Nagasawa, T (1998) Carbon dioxide fixation by reversible pyrrole-2-carboxylate decarboxylase from Bacillus megaterium PYR2910. Eur J Biochem 257: pp. 495-499 CrossRef
- Yoshida, T, Fujita, K, Nagasawa, T (2002) Novel reversible indole-3-carboxylate decarboxylase catalyzing nonoxidative decarboxylation. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 66: pp. 2388-2394 CrossRef
- Yoshida, T, Hayakawa, Y, Matsui, T, Nagasawa, T (2004) Purification and characterization of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate decarboxylase reversibly catalyzing nonoxidative decarboxylation. Arch Microbiol 181: pp. 391-397 CrossRef
- Yoshida, M, Fukuhara, N, Oikawa, T (2004) Thermophilic, reversible γ-resorcylate decarboxylase from Rhizobium sp. strain MTP-10005: purification, molecular characterization, and expression. J Bacteriol 186: pp. 6855-6863 CrossRef
- Zhang, X, Wiegel, J (1994) Reversible conversion of 4-hydroxybenzoate and phenol by Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum. Appl Environ Microbiol 60: pp. 4182-4185
- Title
- Regioselective carboxylation of 1,3-dihydroxybenzene by 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate decarboxylase of Pandoraea sp. 12B-2
- Journal
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Volume 73, Issue 1 , pp 95-102
- Cover Date
- 2006-11-01
- 10.1007/s00253-006-0437-z
- Print ISSN
- 0175-7598
- Online ISSN
- 1432-0614
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Additional Links
- Topics
- Industry Sectors
- Authors
- Tsuyoshi Matsui (1)
- Toyokazu Yoshida (1)
- Tomohiro Yoshimura (1)
- Toru Nagasawa (1)
- Author Affiliations
- 1. Department of Biomolecular Science, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan


text:
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 years
LOS ANGELES Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison for running a wiretapping scheme that spied on the rich and famous.
U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer also ordered the 64-year-old Pellicano and two other defendants to forfeit a combined $2 million.
Pellicano showed no emotion when the sentence was read. "I have taken full and complete responsibility for all my actions," he said.
Fischer said Pellicano engaged in "reprehensible behavior" while digging up dirt for his well-heeled clients to use in legal and other disputes.
"He did this eagerly, sometimes maliciously and with extreme pride," the judge said.
The private eye was convicted of a combined 78 counts, including wiretapping, racketeering and wire fraud, in two separate trials earlier this year.
Prosecutors said Pellicano wiretapped stars such as Sylvester Stallone and bribed police officers to run the names of comedians such as Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon through law enforcement databases to gain information.
Prosecutors previously recommended in court documents that Pellicano serve nearly 16 years in prison for running a criminal enterprise and for becoming a "high-priced thief who fraudulently obtained prominence through the harm that he wantonly inflicted on others."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Saunders said outside court that he thought the sentence was appropriate.
Pellicano must serve 85 percent of his sentence, making him eligible for release when he is about to turn 77, the prosecutor said.
Defense attorney Steve Gruel said he plans to appeal his client's conviction. He also noted authorities tried to get Pellicano to cooperate three years ago with the investigation and now are taking it out on him by recommending a hefty prison sentence.
"Three years ago they wanted him to provide the sizzle, and he didn't and he won't," Gruel said.
In all, 14 people have been charged in the case. Seven, including film director John McTiernan and former Hollywood Records president Robert Pfeifer, have pleaded guilty to charges including perjury and conspiracy.
Authorities investigated Pellicano's activities for three years. An indictment was unsealed in February 2006, just days after he completed a 2 1/2-year prison sentence for possessing illegal weapons.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed Pellicano as a well-connected thug who ran a lucrative business by charging clients a nonrefundable retainer fee that started at $25,000 and could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Authorities were led to Pellicano after former Los Angeles Times reporter Anita Busch found a dead fish with a rose in its mouth on her car along with a sign reading "stop" in June 2002.
The discovery came after she wrote a series of unflattering articles about one-time superagent Michael Ovitz, a Pellicano client.
Busch, hobbled by a hip injury, spoke before sentencing, telling the judge she has suffered with stress-related physical and emotional problems because of Pellicano. She no longer works in journalism.
"It was a death by a thousand cuts," she said of the affect of the spying on her life. "They were deep and they were hard."
Former Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Arneson and ex-telephone company employee Ray Turner were also ordered to pay restitution for accessing confidential information for Pellicano. Both are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 29.


text:
Dueling Banjos on Tesla coils
What better use for a pair of musical Tesla coils than FONentertainment's rousing 2010 chorous of "Dueling Banjos?"
What better use for a pair of musical Tesla coils than FONentertainment's rousing 2010 chorous of "Dueling Banjos?"
MIT student Tyler Christensen created a musical Tesla coil hat for his Hallowe'en costume (it played the Mortal Kombat theme and the Harry Potter theme while discharging semi-tame lightning). While freely stipulating that this is "a really bad idea," Tyler is still generous enough to document his project for others who might follow in his bad footsteps.
Really, it's just a DRSSTC. Nothing less, nothing more, nothing fancy. It was a bit tricky to make a bridge appropriately sized, and even harder to make a boost converter for it. In fact, the boost never truly worked. If I play a mid to high note for a few seconds, the boost can't keep up and it fades away. I think this is due to saturation of my boost core, but I haven't really taken the time to do much on this since now I'm back in the gate driver world and also have to throw together my 6.131 power electronics final project. I'll fix hatcoil in February.
I love this video of my friend Lloyd Kahn (founder of Shelter Publications) talking about his joy of skateboarding. He's 76, and started boarding as a wee lad of 65.
Toby Morse, singer for the NYC Hardcore band H20 has spent the better part of the last year or so building up his One Life One Chance project. Inspired by the creativity and positivity he experienced in the punk / hardcore scene over so many years, Toby decided to create a vehicle to share that message with school age children across the country. Adopting the Bad Brains' PMA (positive mental attitude) as his slogan, he spoke at schools and spread the word in 2010, and plans to do the same and more in 2011.
His message is largely his own story about being straight edge and being in the band H2O. While he does talk about the upside of sober living, the bigger point seems to be the power of positive thinking and accepting people even when they are different than you. I think this is such a better approach than the old "Just Say No" or DARE campaigns. If you work at or with a school, check this out and consider having him come speak to your kids!
Video link. This footage prepared for the North American Unicycling Championships and Convention contains some pretty unbelievable footage, including jumping over a picnic table, up a flight of 7 stairs in one hop, and the you-gotta-see-it-to believe-it "maxwhip." Also some amazing Kris Holm vids here and here.
Link (Thanks, Susannah Breslin!)
James sez, "I just completed a working build of Donald Michie's MENACE (Matchbox Educable Noughts And Crosses Engine), an early (1960) example of machine learning. MENACE uses 304 matchboxes to play Noughts and Crosses (or Tic Tac Toe in the US) - and learns over time to play it better. I built it for a talk at the UK games conference Playful, about Awesomeness and Miracles, particularly focussing on the work of Charles Babbage - and culminating in a surprisingly large version for playing Go..."
MENACE is a machine that plays noughts and crosses, built out of 304 matchboxes. Each matchbox corresponds to one of the 304 board layouts that the opening player might face (there are actually 19,683 possible board layouts, but we only need to calculate the opening player's first four moves, and many are rotationally or reflectively identical). In turn, each matchbox contains a number of glass beads corresponding to each possible next move. When it is MENACE's turn to play, the operator simply selects the matchbox corresponding to the current state of play, shakes it, and opens it to see which move has been chosen. Each matchbox contains a small nook into which one bead falls--and MENACE plays in the square corresponding to that bead.A New THEORY of AWESOMENESS and MIRACLES Being NOTES and SLIDES on a talk given at PLAYFUL 09, concerning CHARLES BABBAGE, HEATH ROBINSON, MENACE and MAGE
But what's really clever is that MENACE learns. Every time it wins a game, an additional bead is added to each matchbox played, corresponding to each winning move. Likewise, every time it loses, a bead corresponding to each losing move is removed. As a result, over time, MENACE becomes more likely to play moves that have previously resulted in wins and less likely to play moves that have resulted in losses.
BB pal and periodic guestblogger Richard Metzger has an amazing blog post up about the off-Broadway musical Man on the Moon. The play was conceived by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas and his third wife, South African actress, Genevieve Waite, as a potential film or stage production originally entitled "Space."
The stage performance was produced by Andy Warhol. Long-lost video footage of the play is embedded above. More video over at Metzger's blog, too, amazing stuff.
The following text was written by Chris Campion and Jeffrey A. Greenberg from the liner notes of the CD release of Andy Warhol Presents Man on the Moon.
I'll post a snip here, but you have to read the whole thing to hear about the part Philips wrote for Elvis, and all the weird little factoids about Warhol's work, and allegations that George Lucas stole the idea for Star Wars from this offbeat project. Snip:
Space was born the day Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon. Like millions of other people, John watched the 1969 moon landing on TV. He was living, at the time, on the Malibu property rented by British film director Michael Sarne, who was under contract at Fox to direct the adaptation of Gore Vidal's novel, Myra Breckenridge, with Rex Harrison, Raquel Welch and Mae West. Sarne had commissioned John to write songs for the film.LONG LOST FOOTAGE OF MUSICAL PLAY BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PRODUCED BY ANDY WARHOL (1975) (Dangerous Minds, photo courtesy Ken Regan / Camera S)
The Apollo 11 moon landing became an obsession. John would watch a recording of the TV transmission made on an early video tape machine over and over. The idea of exploring this new frontier - and particularly Neil Armstrong's scripted aside as he stepped onto the lunar surface that it was, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" - fired John's imagination, and he began to piece together ideas for a mythical space opera set to music. "He loved myths," says Genevieve, who was first introduced to John by Sarne that summer. "He liked Homer - The Iliad and The Odyssey."
(...) Genevieve bemoaned the fate of the show to her friend, Andy Warhol, who offered to find a backer, and did. Warhol also agreed to serve as a producer, and provided a director in the form of Paul Morrissey, who had made a series of avant-garde exploitation films under Warhol's aegis (Flesh, Trash, Heat, Chelsea Girls, etc.). John expressed his bemusement about Warhol's involvement in the song, "Oh Andy My Assistant": "Oh Andy, my assistant/your mind is so consistently blank/that I'm banking on you now/so please so don't try to comprehend/the reason why I have to send/ you up or else, I'm sure that we, shall have a terrible row/It's either you or I must save the race/ So bye-bye Andy and off you're goin' to Space."
Music CD: Andy Warhol Presents "Man on the Moon" (Amazon.com)
Creepy High Voltage Installations (Thanks, Bill!)
(Image: Master Z Great)
ATLAS/CERN Multimedia Contest and Intern Program: (Thanks, Joao!)
CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, birthplace of the World Wide Web and home of the famous Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has a great opportunity for you. We are about to kick-start the most complex scientific project ever conceived by mankind, and would like you to witness and record its unveiling, and help us spread the news.
We want you to start by showing us your communication and creative skills by producing an original short film or multimedia piece, incorporating material about ATLAS, the biggest experiment on the LHC. The best submissions will be posted on the ATLAS website and YouTube page with full credit to the author, and enter a competition for a paid internship at CERN or alternatively win a Adobe Production Suite package. The winner will be offered a trip to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, and given exclusive access to scientists working on the project as well as all the equipment and expertise in CERN's audiovisual lab.
What we want from you is your unbridled creativity. In return, we offer a chance to experience history in the making, and a global platform for your work as the world's eyes look towards CERN this fall. To apply, read the official rules and register below. What are you waiting for?
The deadline is July 31, so lights, Camera, Action!
(Download / YouTube) Boing Boing Video today peeks inside the electrified world of Omega Recoil, a group of engineers and "makers" who craft giant Tesla Coils, and stage humorous and thrilling performances with those large electrical devices. What's a Tesla Coil? From the Tesla Society website:
[It] is one of Nikola Tesla's most famous inventions -- essentially a high-frequency air-core transformer. It takes the output from a 120vAC to several kilovolt transformer & driver circuit and steps it up to an extremely high voltage. Voltages can get to be well above 1,000,000 volts and are discharged in the form of electrical arcs. Tesla himself got arcs up to 100,000,000 volts (...) [They] are unique in the fact that they create extremely powerful electrical fields. Large coils have been known to wirelessly light up florescent lights up to 50 feet away, and because of the fact that it is an electric field that goes directly into the light and doesn't use the electrodes, even burned-out florescent lights will glow.
For viewers in San Francisco -- Omega Recoil members will be giving a talk at the 7th anniversary Dorkbot event, which features other cool "maker mutants" we've featured on Boing Boing Video before, like Jon Sarriugarte and the Boiler Bar folks. Organizer Karen Marcelo says,
...and to think this all started because i was bored seven years ago and decided to call Douglas and start the SF one in Marc Powell's garage! Pesco was a speaker at the first one! We had Brian Normanly talk about how to 'liberate' electricity from PG&E. I dont think anyone has the guts to do that now! :) Here's that first event from 2002.More on Jon Sarriugarte's blog.
Tischer's EV project
Tischer converted a '91 VW Passat with a blown engine. He found it on Craigslist for $1,800. The Passat is a bit big for a conversion, he says, but it's aerodynamic and attractive. That counts for a lot. "It's just a professional looking car with a beautiful interior, and something I enjoy having as a daily driver," he said.
VW Owner Shifts Gears, Goes From Gas to Electric (Thanks, Aaron)
ArcAttack employs a unique DJ set up of their own creation (an HVDJ set up) to generate an 'electrifying' audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA System while two specially designed DRSSTC's (Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coils) act as separate synchronized instruments.Tesla Coil Emulator
These high tech machines produce an electrical arc similar to a continuous lightning bolt which put out a crisply distorted square wave sound reminiscent of the early days of synthesizers. The music consists of original highly dance-able electronic compositions that sometimes incorporates themes or dub of popular songs.
Joe DiPrima and Oliver Greaves are the masterminds behind the design and construction of the Tesla Coils while the music is developed by John DiPrima and Tony Smith.
(As the Anaconda moves, it forms "bulge waves") similar to those that pass through the human circulatory system and can be felt as the pulse in the wrist and neck, says Rod Rainey of Atkins Global, co-inventor of the Anaconda. When each bulge wave reaches the end of the snake it keeps a turbine spinning to generate electricity."Sea 'snake' generates electricity with every wave"
The snake is made from a rubber-based material similar to that used to make dracones – flexible containers that are filled with diesel or water and towed behind ships for quick and cheap transportation.
Other than the turbine, Anaconda has no moving parts and unlike other wave power devices it needs only one tether to the ocean floor. That lowers construction costs and reduces the need for maintenance – an expensive undertaking in offshore settings where corrosion and accessibility are problems, explains Rainey.
Although I won't sacrifice my own microwave to replicate this experiment showing the surprising effects of nuking a mobile phone, I'm glad that one of the web's many amateur scientists did so and recorded the outcome.
My Cell phone company is evil! (Thanks, Fipi Lele!
The theme for MAKE Vol. 18 (on newsstands and in bookstores on May 18) is about building a sustainable future at home. The articles include geeked-out gardening tips (like an Arduino-controlled automatic indoor garden called the Garduino, micro-irrigation, and worm composting) and lots of energy related projects (like how to make a Tweet-a-Watt so you can twitter your electricity usage, and other ways to measure and reduced power usage in your home).
One of the projects in the magazine I'm looking forward to making myself is the solar powered hot tub heater. Eric Muhs, the author, built a 3' x 3' plywood box, painted it black, drilled a couple of holes in a corner, and dropped a 100 foot coil of cheap black vinyl hose inside. The ends of the hoses go into the water, and a solar-powered pump moves water through the coils. The cool thing Eric's design is that the pump stays off when it's dark or cloudy, preventing the system from cooling the hot tub water.
Eric says, "On a sunny day, it works great, and the water returns to the tub 2 or 3 degrees hotter than it left. That may not sound like much, but it adds up. The basic rule of thumb of this system: if it's the kind of day when your parked car is hotter than the outside air when you get in, you'll get heat."
Circuitry Snacks (via IZ Reloaded)
My pedal generator is in the garage, hooked up through the Trace C12 controller in my Micro Solar Energy System to a recycled battery pack from my Sparrow Electric Car. I work out in the early morning, and it's dark. It would be pointless to use as much energy to light the workout area as I generated with the workout, so I light the area with the 12 volt LED Bar Light I put together several years ago. It uses white LED's to light the workout area. They require almost no power, so virtually everything I generate ends up in the batteries.The San Francisco Chronicle profiled Butcher last year. Butcher digs alternative power tech in general, having installed solar panels on his roof and X10 modules throughout his house for intelligent control of appliances and other devices. From the SF Chronicle:
Butcher, who lives alone after a divorce, traces his environmental leanings to the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which marred miles of coastline with 200,000 gallons of crude oil. Butcher was 14 at the time and witnessed it firsthand. He built his first pedal generator when he was in his early 20s.David Butcher: Pedal Powered Generator (via BB Gadgets)
"I was always interested in alternative energy and solar in particular," he says. "I was living in Portland, Ore., where solar is not as much of an option. So I thought, 'What else could I do?'
"I'd been on a swim team for years and I was in pretty good shape, and I thought there must be a way to get some power going."
Butcher's prototype bicycle was chain-driven and featured a welded steel frame. Today's version, with its simplified drivetrain and bolted frame, can be assembled with basic hand tools.
When he took up his pedaling regimen two years ago, Butcher tipped the scales at 180 pounds. Today, at age 53, he weighs a lean 150 and possesses a pair of legs that wouldn't look out of place on the Olympic cycling squad. Butcher's pedaling has become so efficient that he has pretty much abandoned his car (electric, incidentally) in favor of bicycling, reducing his carbon footprint still further.
Water-splitting is key to the renewable production of hydrogen gas and other energy fuels, and doing so with inexpensive catalysts, as plants do a billion times per day, would be a huge step forward for solar power research. But the photosynthetic process has some other secrets, too, that scientists are only just figuring out, such as how photosynthetic organisms can tame light without suffering too much radiation damage, the plant equivalent of a sunburn...That's where biomimicry comes in. The companion article in C&EN describes research by Gust and others to build small molecular systems that imitate what plants do using a biological "machine" consisting of 20 proteins. From the second article:
(One) contentious area is the question of how efficient photosynthesis actually is..
One reason that plants don't store fuel efficiently is that "plants' goals are different than our goals," says (Devens Gust, a photochemist at Arizona State University). "The plant's goal is to live and reproduce, not to store energy for humans."
Even so, many researchers turn to photosynthesis for inspiration on how to achieve humanity's energy needs. They hope to mimic the early, energy-efficient light-harvesting steps of photosynthesis, but then direct the harnessed light energy entirely toward producing fuel instead of growing a plant.
"When we think about ways to harvest sunlight," Gust says, "it seems natural to look to photosynthesis for ideas. It has been around for the longest time, and it works on the largest scale."
The overall efficiency of photosynthesis for making sugar fuels is low--only about 2-3%--because plants' primary goal is to live and reproduce, not store fuel. But the first steps performed by (the plant's photosynthesis system) are much more energy efficient, about 30%. So researchers want to "take the basic chemistry and the basic physics of the photosynthetic reaction center" and build a molecular version in the lab, says Devens Gust, a photochemist at Arizona State University. In effect, they want to produce a molecular photovoltaic that, like (the plant's version), produces a current of electrons that could be used to split water and thus drive the production of a fuel such as hydrogen gas.Harnessing Light
Neil Young's latest album, Fork in the Road, is entirely about his electric car, which he calls the Lincvolt.
The songs on the album are an emotional response to the current social and ecological questions facing the world's population. Young has been an activist his entire career, and over the past few years has become involved in developing different fuel possibilities. Along with Johnathan Goodwin, their LINCVOLT project using alternative energy to power Young's 1959 Lincoln Continental is now finished.
Thomas built a steam powered iPod generator. From Jake von Slatt's Steampunk Workshop:
I coupled a Lego Technic Motor to a Jensen #75 steam engine to make a crude generator. From there I built a 5V regulator circuit and soldered in a female USB connection to power any USB device. Since I wanted to use it to charge my iPod, I put in a diode and a .5 amp fuse to provide some circuit protection. Attached are some pictures of it and here are some links to videos of it in action. Unfortunately you can't see the charge light on the ipod, But as you can hear, the iPod really loads the engine. I was somewhat surprise it could hack it.What a cool idea. Just think if they could scale up this idea and use steam to generate electricity for entire cities!
It's not. This is to energy and climate what Freakonomics is to economics: an accessible, meaty, by-the-numbers look at the physics and practicalities of energy. MacKay, a Cambridge Physics prof, approaches the subject of carbon and sustainability with a scientific, numeric eye. First, in a section called "Numbers, not adjectives," he looks at all the energy and carbon inputs and outputs in Britain and the rest of the world: this is how many kWh of energy are needed to power all of Britain's vehicles. This is how many kWh you would get if you covered the entire British shore with windmills, or wave-farms. This is Britain's geothermal potential. Here's how much carbon vegetarianism offsets. Here's how much carbon unplugging your idle appliances saves (0.25%, making the campaign to switch off energy vampires into a largely pointless exercise -- as MacKay says, "If everyone does a little bit, we'll get a little bit done"). This is the carbon-footprint of all of Britain's imports, gadgets, office towers, and so on.
Using a charming, educational style that teaches how to think about this kind of number, how to estimate with it, and what it means, MacKay explains these concepts beautifully, with accompanying charts that make them vivid and clear, and with exhaustive endnotes that are as interesting as the text they refer to (probably the best use of end-notes I've encountered in technical writing -- they act like hyperlinks, giving good background on the subjects that the reader wants to find out more about while allowing the main text to move forward without getting bogged down by details).
Next, in "Making a Difference," looks at what it would take to balance Britain's (and, eventually, the world's) energy budget so that the consumption is sustainable (that is, so that it uses only renewables or fuels that would last for 1000 years -- and emits so little carbon that we avert a 2C' rise in global temperature). He looks realistically at conservation, considering the theoretical limits on efficiency for rail, electric cars, air, as well as factories, home design and so forth, giving examples ranging from better insulation to tearing down all the housing in Britain and rebuilding it for maximum efficiency (factoring in the energy and carbon costs of the new building, of course).
This chapter also has a lot of sensible personal advice for things you can do to reduce your energy consumption -- especially identifying those few badly designed devices in your home whose idle power-draw really is punitive and replacing them (one Ikea lamp he cites draws nearly as much switched off as running, because of a transformer design that was one penny cheaper to manufacture than a more efficient one would have been).
Finally, in a long technical appendix, MacKay delves into the physics of maximal performance in transport, manufacturing, housing and energy generation, explaining it in a way that I -- who have not studied physics since I was 18 -- was able to follow.
This reminded me of nothing so much as Saul Griffith's wonderful talk on climate change as an engineering problem. Add up all the energy we can make if we harness every erg, every photon. Subtract all the energy we want to use. Examine this difference and come up with strategies for bringing the two into balance. Once you get this approach, it becomes a lot simpler to figure out what is and isn't worth doing.
My only complaint about this book is its packaging: if it were tarted up to look like the transformative, important popular science book that it really is, I think it would be at the center of the environmental debate today.
The entire book is available as a free 10MB PDF download so you can start reading immediately
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air (US)
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air (UK)
Without Hot Air -- MacKay's site for the book, including the whole book as a free download
Puma: GM and Segway take a swing at a small car (Thanks, Jim Leftwich!)
All I can say is, it's about goddamned time:
Creators of the original Singing Tesla Coils, the crew of ArcAttack uses high tech wizardry to present music in a whole new light.ArcAttack! (Thanks, Mary!)
ArcAttack employs a unique DJ set up of their own creation (an HVDJ set up) to generate an 'electrifying' audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA System while two specially designed DRSSTC's (Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coils) act as separate synchronized instruments.
These high tech machines produce an electrical arc similar to a continuous lightning bolt which put out a crisply distorted square wave sound reminiscent of the early days of synthesizers. The music consists of original highly dance-able electronic compositions that sometimes incorporates themes or dub of popular songs.
Joe DiPrima and Oliver Greaves are the masterminds behind the design and construction of the Tesla Coils while the music is developed by John DiPrima and Tony Smith.
To maximize the amount of light entering (moths') eyes, to help them see at night, the insects' eyes are covered in tapered nanostructures. This creates an "effective medium" where the refractive index gradually increases as light travels from air through to the insects' optical nerve. The resulting effective index is close to one, which means that very little light is reflected out of the eye."Moth eyes inspire more efficient solar cell" (via Daily Grail)
Inspired by these biostructures, Gomez Rivas and colleagues have mimicked the effect by growing nanowires of different lengths - creating a metamaterial with optical properties that change gradually as a function of distance.
In MAKE, Vol. 4, Mister Jalopy wrote a "Maker's Bill of Rights." In the introduction, he stated "If you can't open it, you don't own it."
Well, here's a light switch that I paid full price for, but don't really own. I learned this when the block plastic strap (the part attached to the chain you pull to turn the light off and on) broke off inside the housing. There was a screw on the housing, but when I removed it, the housing wouldn't come apart. That's because the metal socket (the part with the threads in it) has a dimple pressed into it, preventing its removal from the plastic housing.
In addition, the seam between the two halves of the plastic housing seem to be glued or melted together, violating one of Mr. Jalopy's tenets: "Screws better than glues."
So I had to throw it away instead of repairing it. Yes, I know it's dangerous to play with electricity, but I would have liked to have been able to peek inside, at least!
Here's an attractive PDF version of the Maker's Bill of Rights.
Smoke alarms are great -- they detect fires but don't prevent them. One of main causes of fires is electricity.
How does electricity ignite fires? Faulty, overloaded or misused outlets. 83% of all fires start at loads below circuit breakers (invented by Edison) trip.
By putting a 10-cent data tag (like RFID) in an appliance plug and a reader in the electrical outlet, you can prevent fires. The appliance's safe operating parameters are embedded in the plug. If there's an overload, the power shuts off. Also, outlets are off unless the appliance with the chip is plugged in. That means a kid can stick a fork in the outlet and not get shocked.
Can save thousands of lives and conserve energy.
Convert your Honda Accord to run on trash (Thanks, Stef!)


text:
Welcome to the Destin Beach Ultra Runs 2016! The 24hr/100M will start on SATURDAY, the 50M, 50K and RELAY are on SUNDAY. This is an event your family will WANT to attend with you! These 100M, 50M, 50K, and 24hr races take place completely on the white sand beaches of Destin, Florida and next to the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides a college education for the children left behind when a spec ops member is killed in combat or training. We have the top aid stations in ultra running, top of the line Under Armour race shirts, serious medals, a very organized race that runs on time, the greatest group of volunteers you have ever seen, and a post-race pool party right at the finish! If you want to run a race like no other, in a location with beauty that can not be matched anywhere in the world...then this is your race! Please look through our website as it provides the answers to most questions. If you don't find your answer there, contact us on our Facebook page or email email@example.com. We always have time to make sure our runners know everything they need to finish and have a great time!
Our 100+ mile event (27 hour) is unique in ultra running. In 2015 only 5 of the 19 people who started the race made it to the finish. From 4pm on Sat evening until 5am on Sun morning, 100 mile entrants will run as many miles as possible on the 2 mile loop with the 24hr runners.IF, at 5am, you have completed 50 miles or more, you will start the last 50 miles on the normal 50 mile course.If you have NOT completed 50 miles by 5am Sunday, you will not meet the cut-off and receive a DNF. The runners who cover the most miles (ie: run the most before 5am Sun AND finish the last 50 before 7pm Sun) will be declared the winners. If two runners complete the same distance, the tie breaker will be finish time.Accurate 100+ mile results for 2015 can be found at http://www.beachultra.com/100-mile-results.html. The results loaded in Ultrasignup only give the runners credit for completing at least 100 miles in 27hrs and the order is correct. Remember, the winner is the one with the most miles at the end- not who finishes first.
We strive to keep entry fees as low as possible-just covering our race expenses. But by doing this, we count on our runners to individually raise money from their friends and family for the SOWF. Watch a short video about the Special Operations Warrior Foundation by clicking on the logo.
All former and current military and first responders, please check our Destin Ultra registration details for your discount code. This code will be used instead of a separate registration category. Be prepared to provide proof of status at packet pickup. This code cannot be refunded later if you do not use it at checkout. http://www.beachultra.com/register.html


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80-7430 - AM/FM Tabletop Radio with Alarm, AUX Input and RDS
This is the last Portable Radio you will ever have to buy. It has an enormous 200mm ferrite antenna providing the best AM reception you have ever heard. Dual 2.5" special stereo speakers with RDS text function makes it a standout portable receiver. This light and ...
Mfr Name: Sangean
Mfr Number: PR-D5
See all items in iPod Docks & Radios
28-18388 - Propscope Parts & Text
This kit includes the PropScope USB, electronic components for breadboard circuits, and a printed text that guides you step-by-step from the basics through advanced electronic measurement techniques.
Mfr Name: Parallax
Mfr Number: 32225
See all items in Parallax
80-7445 - Weather Alert Am/Fm Portable Radio
The Sangean Model DT-400W is the last pocket radio you will ever need to buy. It has about everything you could want, and then some, in a small, pocket sized portable radio. As an example the new NOAA Weather Alert Emergency Channel sounds a very loud audible tone...
Mfr Number: DT-400W
555-18840 - Chime Generator
Chime Generator With 8 Electronic Chimes
The FP-CH8 is an electronic chime generator that produces eight different synthesized chimes. Each chime can consist of up to 3 tones and 3 harmonics selected to produce sonically natural effects. Certain chimes are s...
Mfr Name: Radio Design Labs
Mfr Number: FP-CH8
See all items in Interface Boxes
28-17949 - Propeller Multicore Activity Board
Harnessing the power of the 8-core Propeller microcontroller is now easier than ever before. The built-in Propeller P8X32A programming system is pre-wired to the most popular peripherals, making experimenting fast and fun.
Supported by the new Propeller C Learnin...
Mfr Number: 32910
See all items in Project Labs
35-1308 - Handheld Multi Channel True Diversity Microphone System
Wireless Handheld Microphone System
When ultimate performance and reliability are a must, the Audio-Technica 3000 series is the system of choice. 200 PLL synthesized user selectable channels are available, providing unsurpassed flexibility and immunity to outside...
Mfr Name: Audio Technica
Mfr Number: ATW-3141BD
See all items in Handheld
50-16720 - Panoramic Soundbar 150W Six Speaker Bluetooth
3D Sound Bar System
This sound bar features Opsodis 3D processing using digital interaural cross-talk cancellation to create wide ranging surround effects and precise stereo imaging. Features include a built-in radio with digital tuner and 30 station presets, 3 s...
Mfr Name: Sherwood America
Mfr Number: S-9
See all items in Sound Bar
555-20352 - Wireless Handheld Microphone for Mipro Personal PA
ACT-30H Handheld Microphone
An extremely rugged and ergonomic true-condenser wireless microphone with 14 channels for use with MiPro receivers.
Also available with remote volume control
Mfr Name: Mipro Electronics Co
Mfr Number: ACT-30H
See all items in Portable PA Systems
80-7450 - 25 Presets Am/Fm Portable Radio
Keep up-to-date on the latest news, weather, traffic, sports scores, & much much more with this ultra-portable pocket radio from Sangean. Weighing a mere 3.9 ounces, the DT-210 is a small PLL-synthesized AM/FM stereo radio small enough to fit in a shirt or jacket ...
Mfr Number: DT-210
72-11945 - Arbitrary Function Generator 5Mhz 20 MSa/s
The AFG-2005 Arbitrary Function Generator is a DDS (Direct Digital Synthesized) based signal generator designed to accommodate the Educational and Basic Industrial requirements for an accurate and affordable signal source covering the output of Sine, Square (Pulse...
Mfr Name: GW Instek
Mfr Number: AFG-2005
See all items in Function Generators
35-1307 - UniPack Multi Channel True Diversity Microphone System
Wireless Receiver and Beltpack
When ultimate performance and reliability are a must, the Audio-Technica 3000 series is the system of choice. 200 PLL synthesized user selectable channels are available, providing unsurpassed flexibility and immunity to outside inte...
Mfr Number: ATW-3110BD
See all items in Lavalier
35-2570 - AirLine 77 UHF Wireless True Diversity Fitness Headset Microphone
Wireless Headset Microphone System
The AirLine 77 UHF Headset System offers a true wireless experience with no beltpacks and no cables, allowing complete freedom of mobility. The system includes the AH1 headset transmitter, along with the CR77 receiver.
Mfr Name: Samson Technologies
Mfr Number: SW7AVSCE
See all items in UHF
35-2580-S1 - Wireless Microphone Dual Handheld UHF True Diversity
This kit contains a variety of active components like ICs and regulators as well as various PC boards, switches, headers, heat shrink and much more. Ideal to educate and train on the basic principles of electronics. Components are packaged in a deluxe carrying c...
Mfr Number: SW277VSHQ7-N12
See all items in Scratch and Dent
35-2600 - AirLine 77 UHF Wireless Handheld True Diversity Microphone
Wireless Handheld Microphone System
The AirLine 77 UHF Handheld System offers a true wireless experience allowing complete freedom of mobility. The system includes the CR77 receiver and an AX1 handheld transmitter, which plugs into any standard dynamic microphone...
Mfr Number: SW7AVSHX
80-7465 - AM/FM Tabletop Radio with Alarm, AUX Input and RDS and Walnut Cabinet
Take the incredible fidelity and sound quality of our famous WR-1 and WR-11 Table Top radios and combine that quality with the most advanced state-of-the-art electronics and you've got our latest WR-2 Digital Table Top Radio. This radio has everything. From its ac...
Mfr Number: WR-2WL
Good job MCM. I'm very pleased with all areas of dealing with MCM. Keep up the good work.