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There has been much debate recently over which makes the better gift: cupcakes or flowers. Considering the fact that flowers wilt and die after only a few days, need more attention than a new puppy and taste worse than a mouthful of dirt, they seem to be losing by a landslide. Cast your vote in cake's favour and pay R67.50 for one dozen couture cupcakes from Cupcake Couture.
Culinary connoisseurs dedicated to crafting couture confectionary, the sweet-toothed wunderkinds are the go-to guys when you're craving something bite-sized and sugary. Handcrafting their delicacies with a skill second to none, it's no wonder they've gained a reputation for serving up sugary delights more magical than a wily young wizard with a wand. Catering to all manner of sweet-toothed individuals, it's not just vanilla cupcakes on offer, but word on the street is that the couture vanilla's are the way to go when you're looking for something sweet to tempt your taste-buds.
Crafted with more love than a Michelangelo painting, and far better-tasting, the handcrafted bite-sized bits of heaven are baked to perfection and possess the perfect cake-to-icing ratio. Topped with butter icing coloured to whichever shade you're looking for, there's no better way to indulge the near constant craving for cake that so many are plagued with.


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You can now invite anyone to meet at your favorite Starbucks.
Limited-time feature
35 year old man | Hyattsville, MD, USA | Seeking women 28-38 within 50 miles
♫ Don't worry ♫ Be happy ♫
My drug of choice is coffee. If there was an IV drip for that, it would be in flowing through my arms right now. There are a lot of things can say about me. Oddly, I can't figure it out at this time. I teach online, but online dating is new for me. It's also ironic that I still can't find things to say, but in my classes, I can type a lecture and annotate it for students in a jiffy (a lecture on coffee). I think I am more fun in real life than online. I 'think'... My thinking is more like out of the universe than out of the box (maybe it's the caffeine). I am generally a chill, most say, "comfortable" person to be with. I don't know what that means, but I'll take it. I feel lately, I am having more "Danny Glover" moments in Lethal Weapon, where I am becoming "too old for this sh!t" these days. But, I am young at heart. Maybe I'll hear from someone. By the way - I don't actually 'like' exercising 1-2 times a day like it may say. And, I am REALLY trying to quit! Feel free to contact me. Don't be a stranger (or at least not with me). Happy hunting everyone!
Book club , Camping , Coffee and conversation , Cooking , Dining out , Gardening/Landscaping , Hobbies and crafts , Movies/Videos , Museums and art , Music and concerts , Exploring new areas , Performing arts , Video games , Volunteering , Wine tasting
Baseball, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Soccer, Swimming, Walking / Hiking
I exercise 1-2 times per week.
Don't display my sign
I like Birds, Cats, Dogs, Fish, Horses, Other
I love most pets. I used to have turtles... I can usually get along with most creatures.
Very Liberal
National Harbor for now. This will often change.
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
I like a lot of things. Not just one or two things. Don't like to limit myself to a few things. I surprise myself with how many things I actually like once I try it. Least favorite thing though is roller coasters. I stay away from them.
My friends book, "Drug, Sex, Violence, God and everything else that's good for you."
Z{{Cta}} {{#if HasMoreInfo}} ?{{CtaSecondary}} {{/if}}
|What he is looking for
|5'3" (160cms)
|3'0" (91cms) to 5'4" (162cms)
|Body type:
|A few extra pounds
|No preference
|No preference
|No preference
|Yes, but trying to quit
|No preference
|Social Drinker
|Social Drinker, Moderately
|Artistic / Creative / Performance
|No preference
This is a weird one. I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to do what I love. I do multimedia and video for a local DC area University, and I also teach art and design and video for a few local colleges/universities.
|I'll tell you later
|No preference
|Currently Separated
|No preference
|Have kids:
|No preference
|Wants kids:
|No preference
|East Indian
|No preference
Originally from a small country in South Asia that is not an island. Let's see who gets this :-) But, I grew up and live inside the beltway.
|Christian / Catholic
|No preference
I am Catholic, but my education(both from priests and teachers) have taught me, tolerance, acceptance and love for all. So, I try to stick to that and am very open to everyone. I think it's cool if you can celebrate all religions rather than isolate.
|No preference
|Graduate degree
|No preference
Did my undergraduate work at GWU. Then, did my MFA work across the river at Mason.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook16 October 2012
Lugging around a hefty laptop can feel like a bag full of rocks over the shoulder. Not so with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, a carbon-fibre chassis laptop with a 14-inch screen that weighs in at 1.4kg. The Carbon X1's main audience is the on-the-go... >>


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The Office of Minority Business Development (OMBD) is a special initiative of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. This Division was created to provide special attention to the needs of minority entrepreneurs by identifying procurement opportunities, locating sources of capital, and supporting outreach efforts of minority business people around the state.
The Georgia SBDC provides free consulting services including assistance with business plan development, market analysis and marketing strategies, financial analysis, compliance and legal issues, and preparation of loan submissions for individuals who want to start their own businesses or expand an existing one. Click to select the SBDC center closest to you for counseling services.
The Georgia SBDC offers a variety of free and low cost training programs; available throughout the state. Click here to view our training calendar.
For more information about MBD email or call (706) 542-6791
I had no small business experience before. I am a speech pathologist and my husband is a marine engineer. We took the SBDC's GrowSmart program, then started going to the SBDC's free business consultations, and it was awesome. It still is!
- Samantha Meier, owner
The University of Georgia
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Athens, GA 30602-5412
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business
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Lotusphere Online is *officially* open!
January 20 2011
Welcome to Lotusphere 2011 Online!
Access the latest Lotusphere information and 'Get Social' and mobile with Lotusphere Online!
Whether you connect with your own laptop, smartphone device or one of our Lotusphere Online workstations located in the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan hotels, Lotusphere Online is your dashboard for all information about
Lotusphere including sessions, sponsors, exhibitors, parties, FAQs and more. Of course, Lotusphere Online is also the place to get access to the latest conference agenda information, create your personal Lotusphere schedule and new for this year, you can take your schedule with you on most smartphone devices.
Experience social software and collaboration with Lotusphere Online running IBM Lotus Connections 3.0, Domino 8.5.2, Sametime 8.5.1, Traveler 220.127.116.11, iNotes, XPages, Mobile XPages and other IBM software. Get involved - - join Communities, find and network with other attendees, share your knowledge and experience by microblogging and blogging, create your own wikis, bookmark and share your favorite sites with other attendees, send and receive messages, etc. There's lots to do, we invite you to experience it for yourself.
Your username is the email address you provided when registering. The password is your Lotusphere confirmation number, which can be found in the upper right hand corner of your confirmation letter (Your password needs to be entered all upper case).
Use your smartphone device to stay connected to Lotusphere Online. Visit the mobile website available that provides much of the same functionality that you find on Lotusphere Online today. You can get to this new site by going to one of the following URLs:
Mobile site running on Mobile XPages: http://www.lsonline.info/m
Mobile site 'Lite' version: http://www.lsonline.info/mlite
This site has a Lite and an Enhanced version. The Lite version will support most Internet-connected mobile devices, while the Enhanced version is running completely on top of Mobile XPages.
This year you can create your schedule in many different ways:
- Using our Session Scheduler application with your favorite browser directly on Lotusphere Online
- Using your smartphone device via the mobile browser version of our site (www.lsonline.info/m)
- Using native applications for the most popular smartphone device available currently for the BlackBerry (v5.0 and higher), Android and Apple iPhone devices
Once you've created your schedule you can take it with you by:
- Downloading your schedule as an iCalendar (ICS) file directly from our main site and importing into your own calendar
- Synchronizing the calendar on your mobile device using our Lotus Traveler server
- Synchronizing the schedule on one of our native mobile applications with our Lotusphere Online servers
Chris Miller
The video walkthrough is up for newcominers
You can see it right ehre
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Studly Adventurer
Joined: May 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Oddometer: 964
Well, we are going a different way again.
We are now going to be using our mountain bikes and I will be building a shift kit for them. The 79CC HF motor will have a 11 tooth clutch, going to a jackshaft with a 54tooth gear to a 11 tooth gear. The 11tooth on the end of the jackshaft will be driving a 24 tooth ring gear on the bottom bracket (bottom bracket will be freewheeled), then using the bike chain to drive a Nexus 8 hub.
This will give us a range of speeds, from a low of 12 m.p.h. at 4000 r.p.m. to a high of 39 m.p.h. at 4000 r.p.m.
It should work great! I'll be buying the freewheel conversion parts from SickBikeParts.com and make my own jackshaft/motor mount setup.
Now just to order a few more parts.
My Photography Page:http://andrewmarjamaphotography.com
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Morgan Hill CA
Oddometer: 2,880
I used to have one of those 4 stroke chinese kits before I was old enough to drive.
It was ok. But I really wished it had a gears, or a cvt, as it was aweful on hills. Top speed was good, stock 30-36 MPH, after some mods and gearing change it was up to 40-47 MPH. Fast enough with bicycle brakes!
It was on a schwinn jaguar. I put a few thousand miles on it, but then it blew a valve and has been in the shed ever since. I'd like to fix it but don't really have the time right now.
Not to be discourging, but I'd be a little worried taking a 2 stroke chinese engine across the country. I believe your also supposed to let them cool down after an hour or a few I don't remember, after long higher speed rides [for the 2 stroke chinese], and the engines have a short life span, I think the some companies report 10K miles for the 2 stroke on average, which is plenty, but its considerable if your going on long trips. BUT, at least, if you do brake down, you can always peddle! And the 2 strokes are better for peddling I think.
I think the Honda 49 cc would be a really good motor for a bike. Mine was the clone motor. It was ok, but not the best, although it never came with an air filter, probably why it blew up.
I would like to put a bigger motor though, like the Honda 2.8 HP 100 cc [GXH 100 I think?], its still same design verticle cylinder like the 50. Yes, only .3 more HP, but it has a lot more low RPM torque, and with a CVT or gears that would work out well, and would be way better on hills, and would cruise nice at a lower RPM in top ratio, without sounding like it's gonna blow.
Thats cool the shift kit your doing, sounds like a nice wide range of ratios.
But good luck! I certainly hope more than I did! I blown up 3 chinese engines! But if you do the right maintainece and are lucky you should be fine. Keep us posted!
85 Honda Shadow 700, 86 Honda Elite 150 deluxe, 2001 Honda Elite 80, 07 CRF 100, 07 CRF 50, 07 DRZ 250, 78 CB 400 Automatic [Project Bike]
Studly Adventurer
Joined: May 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Oddometer: 964
It is a 4 stroke. It is an Over Head Cam 79cc Predator engine from Harbor freight. You can pick them up for $80.00 when they are on sale and you have a 20% off coupon. It is an excellent engine, especially for the money, light, small and powerful with a little tweaking.
My Photography Page:http://andrewmarjamaphotography.com
Living the life!
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Asheville, NC
Oddometer: 2,640
Anyone using electric motors!
I'd like to add a kit to my bike to help up hills and such. Not looking for speed or long distance, just a little "nudge" on my rides.
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Chandler, AZ
Oddometer: 5,069
Electric motors are very expensive and far less efficient than gas motors. A decent electric bike will cost around $1000, and will have low speed and short range, unless you do a lot of pedaling. And they are heavy. The batteries are where all the weight is, and they can be a lot harder to pedal because of it. Imagine trying to pedal a 70 pound bike. You can get cheaper electrics, I believe Walmart has one for around $400, the problem with those is they don't last. Both the motor and batteries fail quickly. I would avoid the Currie drive at all cost, and go with a hub motor. If it has anything that says Currie on it, it is one of the really cheap ones. Check out www.motoredbikes.com for tons of information.
About that HF motor, I don't know how far I would trust it. If/when I build another motorized bike, I'm going to use either the Honda or Robin-Subaru 35cc motor, and they cost around $350. They are legal everywhere a motorized bike is. They put out 1.6 hp, and if used with a geared drive setup, that should be plenty. The 79cc engine is not legal anywhere. AZ has a 48cc limit, and I believe the limit in all states is below 50cc. Last bicycle engine I had was a Tecumseh TCII 48cc 2 stroke, set up with a friction drive, and it blew up after less than 1000 miles. A ring broke and destroyed the piston and cylinder.
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Nowhere, OK
Oddometer: 1,726
Over the years, I have built four motorized bikes. Starting with an old Trek 820 mountain bike and a "80cc" chinese frame mount engine. The 80cc engines are really only 66 cc or so. There are NO 80cc two stroke frame mount "happy time" engines, no matter what they might tell you when selling one. The Trek worked out OK, but it was really too light - and I learned a fast painful lesson one night, about proper lighting. You need enough to see where you are going, the wal-mark bike headlights are garbage and will get you killed!
After the Trek bike, I moved the engine to an orange cruiser type bike, and it was much more pleasant to ride. It's top speed was about 27 MPH.
I got a wild hair one day, and my brother had given me a scrap piece of aluminum - it was 2.75" diameter and about 2" long. I turned it into a roller, and using it and a 2.5 HP harbor freight 4 stroke 79cc engine, I built my own. It would run decent, but had issues. Issues were fixed, and I ended up with something truly terrifying. I never found the top speed. It would cruise along without a care in the world at 30 MPH, and at one point I had it up to 40 mph and it still had throttle left. It did not climb hills well, but it's OK I could pedal it up any hill.
I ended up putting the 2 stroke engine back on and removing the four stroke HF engine - I laser cut myself a 36 tooth sprocket, and the top speed increased a bit. It could run 25 without rattling my fillings out.
I saved some money and bought one of the good Golden Eagle belt drive kits - those who say there is no good two stroke, I invite you to try the Tanaka 32cc. Starts first pull every time - even if it has been sitting for months. It will hit 30 mph without a lot of trouble. Wife and I put it on a full suspension bike, and it's a lot of fun.
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Chandler, AZ
Oddometer: 5,069
The 2 big issues with the Chinese "happy time", HT, or "China doll" engines, as they are commonly called, are the REALLY flimsy idler roller that clamps to the chain stay, and the rag joint method they use to clamp the rear sprocket to the spokes. When these things fail, and they will, it can lock up the rear wheel, and cause a serious accident. If you want a simple single speed, I recommend a quality friction drive, like from Staton, inc. and a Honda GX35 or Robin-Subaru EHO35 four stroke engine. As long as you don't have to climb steep hills, they are about as bulletproof as you can get. Nothing to go wrong. They just won't work in the rain, because you use the friction between the roller and the rear tire.
For climbing mountains you will have to have some kind of geared setup. A 1.6 hp engine will pull a heavily loaded bike up the side of a mountain with a low enough gear, and still top out at over 30 mph with a high top gear. You can use either derailleur gears or an internally geared hub, like the NuVinci, but those are NOT cheap. They shift much better under load though. A PROPERLY built shifter bike with a jackshaft is VERY reliable if built right, out of quality parts, but it won't be cheap. The cost is mostly what has prevented me from building one. The Golden Eagle setup is good, though it is a single speed, and I would prefer a simpler friction drive for a single speed. You can get good 2 stroke motors, but none of them seem to last as long or have the reliability of a 4 stroke, and for me, noise is an issue. Many people have a problem with a motorized bike, especially the spandex crowd. And if yours is noisy, it makes the problem even worse. They are legal in AZ right now, but irresponsible use could change that.
Outside the Pod-bay
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Just off the Warrego, S.E. Queensland
Oddometer: 1,779
One can drop that motor and 'go with the wind'.
Inventus wins wind powered car race
'08 Suzuki AN650A Burgman (and trailer)
Sometimes I'm A Jerk
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Tyler, Texas
Oddometer: 498
Check all the state laws for any places you want to go. Some states outlaw motorized bicycles completely, some require them to be registered and insured as mopeds, and the operator to have a valid motorcycle/moped license.
I tried to use one of the 2 stroke engines, but never could get it to run, even after putting a ton of work into it. Chinese CDI's are crap!
My mountain bike has a 4 stroke friction drive that works great. It has been very reliable, and doesn't draw the kind of police attention that one of the mid-frame engines would. An engine that is in the frame looks like a motorcycle, and the police treat it like one.
Just remember that it is a bicycle, and is not made to handle high speeds without a lot of modifications. The tires and rims aren't made for the speed and road hazards, and the frames aren't designed for the stresses.
If you make a MB with a front suspension, just remember that a bike suspension is not made for taking high speed cornering either. If you overpower it in the turns, it will dip too far, and could throw you.
They are a lot of fun, if you know their limitations. I'm still waiting for someone to do a RTW trip on one though!
Doug, are you ready for a new challenge?
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Chandler, AZ
Oddometer: 5,069
To me they are "motor assisted" bicycles. They are not supposed to go 60 mph. Even a $5000+ downhill mountain bike is not designed for that kind of speed, and will come apart. What I like about them is that you can cruise along at 15-20 mph forever without pedaling.
If I build another one, I will use a decent quality steel hardtail mountain bike frame (may have to get that used, as they have almost completely switched over to aluminum for the newer bikes) put a big wide cruiser seat and suspension seatpost on it, and bars high enough to reach without leaning forward. I will use high quality rim brakes front and rear, and high quality wheels. Definitely no Chinese engines, but there are several choices. Frame mounted using a jackshaft, so you can shift gears (this is for climbing, not speed) or a rear mount friction drive setup, or a rear mount belt drive setup, like the Golden Eagle. For frame mounted single speeds, don't use any kind of chainstay mounted rensioner/idler, and don't attach a sprocket to the rear wheel with a rag joint. Both are guaranteed to fail, and can cause a serious accident. You can buy heavy duty rear wheels with the motor drive sprocket already attached to the hub.
Really, if you want to go faster than 20 mph, a bicycle is not the best way to do it. Get a moped or scooter.
Sometimes I'm A Jerk
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Tyler, Texas
Oddometer: 498
My 4 stroke friction drive will go 18-22mph all day, and that's good enough for my mountain bike. As you said, it is an assist for when I don't feel like pedaling.
A rear mount/friction drive can also be hidden behind some false touring bags to operate in stealth mode.
Those little gas tanks they come with won't get you very far either. I carry a couple of the 30 oz MSR fuel bottles for extra gas, but I want to set up something more permanent that runs direct to the engine.
I do need to get my motorcycles going again though. I miss riding them.
Too much of "life" has been coming up lately.
My CT90 frame looks at me every time I go into the workshop, just begging for the 140 Lifan engine to go in.
I guess I need to just get busy!
Ancient trailbike padwan
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: western oregon
Oddometer: 6,474
I think the big problem with the Chinese 2 stroke bike conversion kits is that the engines are old school, iron linered cylinders with a need for careful break-in treatment for the first few hundred miles.
We've been using chrome cylinder 2 stroke engines for years that you can basically run nearly WOT straight out of the box, so that it's a bit unusual to have to consider a break-in period for a new small engine like this.
I'd be using a smidgen more oil in the premix and trying to richen the jetting to keep it running cool.
Weaponry will only keep you alive, but a good ballad can make you immortal. T. Pratchett
Parts is Parts
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Charleston, SC
Oddometer: 507
Discount OEM, replacement and performance parts for vespa, honda, bmw, yamaha, suzuki, genuine, kymco, piaggio, aprilia, SYM, tgb, tomos and other scooters at http://www.scooterpartsco.com
GT200, GT200, ET2, Italjet Velocifero, Italjet Torpedo, Eton Beamer 3, Genuine Buddy Pamplona 150, Kymco Vitality 50, Honda Elite 50
Parts is Parts
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Charleston, SC
Oddometer: 507
Suzuki did a study on 2 Strokes and found that they break in after about 4-5 hours.
We always premix at 30-50 to one and use the oil injector for the first tank or two. And if I want a motor to last a long time, I let my wife, who's first question about a new bike is not, "how fast will that go?" ride it for a couple of days.
Discount OEM, replacement and performance parts for vespa, honda, bmw, yamaha, suzuki, genuine, kymco, piaggio, aprilia, SYM, tgb, tomos and other scooters at http://www.scooterpartsco.com
GT200, GT200, ET2, Italjet Velocifero, Italjet Torpedo, Eton Beamer 3, Genuine Buddy Pamplona 150, Kymco Vitality 50, Honda Elite 50
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Chandler, AZ
Oddometer: 5,069
"Rock Solid Engines has an optional Walbro kit for Happy Time/China Girl engines"
This post is from a motorized bicycle forum. On all these forums, the cheap 2 stroke frame mount Chinese engine kits in either 48cc and 66cc (sometimes referred to as 80cc but displace only 66cc) are referred to as an HT (Happy Time) or China Doll/China Girl engine. These engines have many brand names, but all are the same design, which started out as a "Grubee" engine. They are extremely cheap, both in price and quality. Average life of one of these engines is under 1000 miles. They are a universal fit, and do not properly fit newer bikes with large diameter downtubes. They use a flimsy "rag joint" to attach the motor driven sprocket to the right side spokes in the rear wheel. It is very hard to get centered, and often comes loose. They use an even flimsier "tensioner" or "idler pulley" clamped to the chain stay to keep the motor chain from flopping around. Because the chainstay is at an angle to the rear sprocket, it is common for the chain to come off or break the pulley, get hung up on the bracket, and pull it into the spokes of the rear wheel. It happened to me. The tensioner bracket is so flimsy it can be easily bent with your hands.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/...ac9afda4_o.jpg This is a typical HT, Happy Time, China Girl bicycle engine kit. The rear drive sprocket is on the upper right, the "rag joint" mount is below and to the left of it, and the "tensioner" roller and bracket is to the left of that. The plastic pulley is about the same as what you would find on a sliding screen door. The metal bracket can be bent double with your hands, but will still lock up the rear wheel. You can usually get these kits for under $200 with free shipping. I consider them a death trap. These engines can reach up to 30 mph, and going down at that speed is not fun. And to make matters worse, people usually put these engines on a $70 Walmart bike with nothing but a rear coaster brake.
JerryH screwed with this post 07-03-2013 at 06:53 PM
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'SYTYCD' Alex Wong: 'My heart really hurts'
It's with a heavy heart that Alex Wong said goodbye to "So You Think You Can Dance" Thursday night (July 8) after a serious injury to his Achilles tendon pulled him from the competition.
Tears were shed by his fellow dancers and the audience alike, sharing in his frustration that a ballet dancer who had just electrified the competition to an unprecedented level the week before with his hip-hop routine, would have to leave before his full potential could play out.
In the interview with Wong backstage, we see just how emotional he is. He's been incredibly gracious about the turn of events, but it is satisfying to hear him admit that "I was really pissed off" about the having his "SYTYCD" experience cut short so abruptly.
On Friday, July 9, Wong talked with the press more about his plan for recovery, his possible return to the show and his experience overall.
How much pain are you in?
Alex Wong: I'm not in too much physical pain, but my heart really hurts. Emotionally I'm in a lot of pain.
When you were injured did you know right away what had happened?
Wong: I was doing a series of jumps at the end of my Bollywood routine at the Tuesday night rehearsal. It was actually the last rehearsal. It was actually the last time I was going to do that. It was the last eight counts of the piece. I landed. I didn't even land funny. I just thought I stepped on something. I heard a crack. I thought the floor buckled or something, but when I looked down the floor was flat. It did not buckle.
Wong: I was kind of shocked. I stopped, and the medic came on stage and looked at my Achilles. He said, "Look, it's not there. It looked like it split in half." I was so frustrated. I sat there and just thought to myself, "Better not be hurt. This better not take you out." I've worked so hard and I've given up so much to be here. It was just really hard. I was very, very, very frustrated and I still am. But looking back at my journey, I'm very grateful to be here in the first place.
What is the procedure for your recovery?
Wong: I'm actually not sure yet because I haven't been able to speak with surgeon extensively yet. I'm on the surgery table on Tuesday. It's a long recovery process from there. I do know that it's something like get in a boot. At first your foot is sort of pointed and then slowly they flex it as the weeks go out so your tendons don't tear. And then there's rehab after that and it's slow because you're not supposed to it too hard.
Are you definitely coming back next season?
Wong: "So You Think You Can Dance" takes out so much out of your life. I have to start from Vegas, and then you don't know if you'll be picked to be in the Top 20. You have to give up everything before you even know. It's going to be a tough decision. I really do want to return because I feel like I haven't finished my journey, but I really have to give it some thought. I feel like there's so much more to learn. I was learning something every single day. It definitely is appealing to me to come back.
Did you at least feel good about going out on a high note with the hip-hop routine with tWitch?
Wong: Yeah, I do. I accomplished a lot of what I set out to do, but I feel like I wasn't finished. There's so much more I could learn. It's very bittersweet because even though I have had a few great weeks, but it's just not enough.
Where did you get the t-shirt that read "I am grateful" that you were wearing on Thursday's (July 8) show?
Wong: That's from Peace Love World. They've been supporters of me since the beginning. They've sent me a lot of the t-shirts I've worn on the show and I felt it was very, very appropriate that I wore something like that last night because I was so grateful.
What other styles would you have liked to have tried? Which all-stars would you have liked to partner with?
Wong: Well, this week, I had the foxtrot and the Bollywood. So that was all ready to go. I would have liked to get a Latin ballroom as well. Anything. I'm up for all the styles because there's nowhere else you can do that. This is why I came to the show, to learn. I would have loved to have danced with every single all-star. They are all so amazing and such an inspiration and help us so much.
Which style did you enjoy trying the most?
Wong: Probably hip-hop and Bollywood. It's really crazy, but that's what I came to do, to learn all these different styles. I enjoyed learning them so much. To get such good feedback from judges, it's just the cherry on top. I really enjoyed those so much.
Were you surprised how close you became to the other contestants?
Wong: Yeah it was not something I really expected. I had assumed we all get close, but I think this season was really special with just so few of us to begin with. We just all instantly clicked. It's just luck of the draw when suddenly everything is amazing and the contestants are the most amazing people. We all get along so well. That's going to be the hardest part for me, to leave them.
Will you be showing up for finale?
Wong: I don't know. I think it depends on my recovery process I don't think I will be dancing. Hopefully I'll get to go back to at least watch though. If something amazing and I recover quickly, then who knows?
Did you think this was a good launching pad for you?
Wong: Yeah I think so, I think it exposed me to the public eye. It's amazing that "So You Think You Can Dance" has done so much for dancers. It amazes me every single day that people are actually watching and people actually like it. When we go outside and are just walking around, people recognize us all over the street. I'm very happy [about that] because dance is such an important part of my life, and "So You Think You Can Dance" has really brought dance back to the public eye.
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text:
Book Search
Complexity and Management
Complexity theory is generating increasing interest amongst strategic thinkers. This fascinating book covers issues such as predictability, creativity and relationships as it considers how complexity, and its central principles of emergence and self-organization, are being used to understand...
Published January 4th 2002 by Routledge
Complex Responsive Processes in Organizations
Learning and Knowledge Creation
Series: Complexity and Emergence in Organizations
The past decade has seen increasing focus on the importance of information and knowledge in economic and social processes, the so-called 'knowledge economy'. This is reflected in the popularity amongst practicing managers and organizational theorists of notions of learning, sense-making, knowledge...
Published February 15th 2001 by Routledge


text:
December 11, 2004
Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman John Miller called the meeting of the Commission for the Blind to order at 10:05 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2004. The following members were present: John Miller, Debbie Jackson (ex-officio), Tom Winton, Anita Heath-Cunningham, Allen Moore, Graham Watt, Ron Huber, Angela McCants, Sandy Foster, and Kathy Brack.
Members not present: Catherleen Thomas, Russ Stinehour, and Annette Clinard.
Others Present: Mary Flanagan, Dave Arthur, Joann Strader, Sally Syria, Chris Fleming, Jan Fesperman, Jim Boehm, and Carla Parker.
Appointment of Parliamentarian and Remarks by Chairman
Graham Watt was appointed Parliamentarian.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Tom Winton, seconded by Graham Watt, and carried to approve the minutes of the September 11, 2004 meeting.
Committee Reports:
Public Relations Committee – Ron Huber
The Lions will be having an exhibit table in Greensboro. Alysia Well, Social Worker in Forsyth County, will be doing a seminar and calendars will be distributed.
Debbie Jackson continues to send Mr. Huber an article each quarter about DSB. Mr. Huber then sends the article to the district governors for them to include in their newsletters.
Intercommittee Relations—Allen Moore
Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) met on November 5. The elections were by acclamation--Debbie Baldwin, Chair Person; Pat Yarborough, Vice ChairPerson; and Scott Broadway, member at large. Membership Committee will be recommending 6 members to fill vacancies. Committee assignments were made as follows: Johnna Simmons and Allen Moore are going to co-chair a technology committee for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and/or older blind. Scott Broadway is also going to serve on the committee. There was some discussion of finding a new hotel to meeting but the location will remain the same. SILC adjourned after lunch.
Advocacy Committee—No Report
Directors Report—Debbie Jackson
The General Assembly returns in January. Expansion Budget request has been submitted to include money for case service funds for people in our ILR Program. It also includes several new positions that will be used by both ILR as well as our Vocational Rehabilitation (Employment Program). Positions we have asked for are: 1) Assistive Technology position; 2) support staff/clerical position; 3) deaf/blind position; and 4) field-based computer training position. This request has been approved by the Department and is now at the State Budget level.
DSB's Charlotte District Office will still be moving; although, it hasn't been as quick as we had hoped. Space requirements have been developed and bids will go out in January. DSB's Wilmington District Office may also be moving.
Charlotte/Mecklenburg School System--DSB has developed with the Charlotte/Mecklenburg School System a Cooperative Agreement that will allow us to place 2 people in Charlotte/Mecklenburg area to provide services specifically to transition age kids who are blind and visually-impaired. Federal Rehabilitation money is used and the Charlotte/Mecklenburg school system provides the non-federal match. Two people have been hired for these 2 positions.
The Durham County agreement is still not in place. Agreement has been signed but not returned. Until DSB receives the signed agreement, hiring cannot take place.
The Director of Governor Morehead School, Judy Plymale, is no longer working at GMS. She has taken a position with the Wake County Public Schools. Cyndie Bennett, Director of Office of Educational Services, will be filling in until the position is filled.
Federal Level--IDEA was reauthorized. The Rehabilitation Act was not reauthorized.
DSB Funding—As in year's past, programs are running short. Program Chiefs will report on how much money is needed to keep bills paid and services continuing. Money from "Other Vending" and "Social Security Reimbursement" will be moved into the programs as needed.
DSB Recruitment--DSB will be focusing on improving our recruitment efforts. We have many staff members nearing the retirement age. We need to hire people that we can train and move into supervisory roles. The difficulty is in the Rehabilitation Program. The Rehabilitation Services Administration has a requirement that staff have a master's degrees in Rehabilitation. The colleges and universities are not generating as many people as the Rehabilitation agencies need and private employers can pay more than government. DSB and DVR will start an internship program. DSB will begin their paid internship program in January (1 will begin in January for Asheville and possibly another in February for Wilmington). We hope this will be an ongoing effort so each semester we will be able to offer paid internships.
DSB had the opportunity to participate in both consumer conferences—the Federation and the Council--and the VIP Fishing Tournament. All were very well attended.
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction—Tom Winton
54th Conference on Exceptional Children – The 54th Conference on Exceptional Children was held on November 1-3 in Greensboro at the Koury Convention Center. Among the 79 instructional sessions, Maria Delgado of APH gave a web-based presentation on new APH technology products and Julie Kagy and Peggy Holly of Wake County Public Schools presented on using laptop computers with visually impaired students. Estelle Condra presented to exceptional children directors and principals from throughout the state and received a standing ovation. In all, more than 2,800 educators attended. The 55th Conference is scheduled for November 7-9, 2005.
North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairments and Blindness – Planning is continuing on the 3rd annual North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairments and Blindness. This professional conference, which brings together agency and education professionals from across the state is scheduled for March 10-12, 2005. The Exceptional Children Division looks forward to continue its involvement and sponsorship of this worthy conference. It will likely contract with NCAER to sponsor a keynote address by Dr. Abraham Nemeth, inventor of the Nemeth Braille Code.
NCCU-VITP Advisory Board – The Consultant for Visually Impaired continues to serve as co-chair with Dr. Deborah Hatton on the NCCU-VITP Advisory Board. The Board meets bi-monthly and is representative of stakeholder schools, agencies, committees, and consumer groups. The Board is currently working on strategies for student recruitment and publicizing the VITP. Currently the Board is also addressing issues of appropriate use of funds and positions for the VITP. The next meeting of the Board is Tuesday, December 14. It is hoped the program will see increased administrative support with the firing of the Provost at NCCU. It was believed this Provost caused many of the difficulties with resolving tenure issues, completing contracts and filling faculty vacancies.
Consumer and Advocacy and Advisory Committee—Tim Jones was not present. Debbie Jackson reported that no resolutions or action was taken at the Consumer Advocacy and Advisory Committee meeting yesterday. Verlo Insko, the house-appointed representative to serve on the CAAC, was present at the meeting. She chairs the electronic voting committee and extended invitation to a public hearing on December 20 from 10 a.m. til 1 p.m. in the Legislative Office Building.
Professional Advisory Committee
In Dr. Wiggin's absence, Sally Syria, Chief of Medical Eye Care, reported on issues. As in past year's, we are running short again this year in the Medical Eye Care. Two new nurses have joined the Medical Eye Care Program and they are outstanding.
Old Business
New Business
Adjournment of Commission Meeting
Following an adjournment motion, a second, and a vote, the meeting adjourned at 11 a.m. The next meeting of the Commission for the Blind is scheduled for March 12, 2005, at 10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John T. Miller, III, Chairman Commission for the Blind DHHS
Debbie Jackson, Director Division of Services for the Blind/DHHS
Call to Order of the State Rehabilitation Council
Following the Commission meet, John Miller opened the State Rehabilitation Council meeting at 11:15 a.m. The following members were present: John Miller, Debbie Jackson (ex-officio), Graham Watt, Allen Moore, Angela McCants, Ron Huber, Tom Winton, Kathy Brack, Sandy Foster (ex-officio), and Anita Heath-Cunningham
Others Present: Joann Strader, Jan Fesperman, Dave Arthur, and Carla Parker
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Tom Winton, seconded by Ron Huber, and carried to approve the minutes of the meeting September 11, 2004.
Committee Reports:
Policy and Procedures—Kathy Brack
The Rehabilitation Program made 3 policy changes that were recommended by RSA. The changes concerned: 1) Family members; 2) Guidance and Counseling; and 3) Other services.
Updated existing policies regarding 1) Post-Secondary; 2) Rehabilitation Center; and 3) Admissions Policy to the Rehabilitation Center.
A motion made by Graham Watt; seconded by Kathy Brack, and carried to approve the policies and procedure changes.
State Plan—Kathy Brack
No Report
Consumer Information Committee—Joann Strader
In Catherleen Thomas' absence, Joann Strader reported on the Consumer Satisfaction Survey. The Satisfaction Survey that is mailed out quarterly has had minor formatting changes and needs the Council's approval of the changes. After discussions with other States about the survey, we found another measurement criteria as being more valid and accepted. This criteria has been changed from having 5 measurements to 3 which will be, if approved: "Satisfied", "Somewhat Unsatisfied", and "Unsatisfied". Also, additional space was added for any comments the consumer may have. The 16 questions remain the same.
A motion made by Tom Winton, seconded by Angela McCants, and carried to approve the formatting changes in the Consumer Satisfaction Survey.
Annual Report—Dave Arthur
The Annual Report was distributed to Committee.
The Calendar is at the printers and will be back before the end of the year. A proto-type of the calendar was distributed to the committee. Council members, Tom Winton and Graham Watt, assisted with the proofreading of the calendar. The Rehabilitation Program is required to do an annual report so DSB encompasses the annual report of all programs into a calendar. Calendars are distributed to congressional representatives in Washington as well as State House/Senate Representatives in North Carolina as well as every State.
Question was raised regarding how many blind people are in North Carolina. DSB does not know an exact number. DSB does have a Register of the Blind which is a State legislative-mandated register. DSB relies on ophthalmologists, optometrists to make us aware of people that need to be on the Register. Currently, DSB has around 24,000 people. DSB can breakdown the 24,000 into age, county, race, etc.
Old Business
New Business
Statewide Needs Assessment is coming up in 2005. Mary Flanagan explained as required by the Rehabilitation Act, DSB is required to periodically do a needs assessment. In 1999, we contracted with Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. The process involves conducting interviews with DSB staff, council members, and consumers. The process takes about 6 months. At this point, we are looking at whom to go with at doing the needs assessment. Invitation was extended to people on the Council that would like to be a part of the needs assessment. Angela McCants volunteered her assistance.
Chairman, John Miller, reported on information he received from the Rehabilitation Services Administration regarding training that will be occurring for the State Rehabilitation Councils. This training will be in Atlanta on January 26 & 27, 2005. John Miller, Dave Arthur, and Tom Winton are planning to attend. In case, Chairman John Miller or any others are not able to attend Graham Watt and Allen Moore volunteered to go in their absence.
Graham Watt is involved in Workforce Development. There are currently 103 job link career centers in the State that serve all workers and handicaps. When DSB staff are traveling through the job link centers and determine there is a need for a piece of equipment that will enable the person to work, let Mr. Watt know and he will assist in getting that piece of equipment in place
Adjournment of Meeting
Following an adjournment motion, a second, and a vote, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next meeting is schedule for March 12. 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
John Miller, III, Chairman State Rehabilitation Council DHHS
Debbie Jackson, Director Division of Services for the Blind DHHS / DSB


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Waiting On Wednesday (15)
Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. As always, the summary provided is from Goodreads.com This week I am "Waiting On" just one book, but it's one I've REALLY been looking forward to for a while. I can't wait to get my hands on it :)
Team Human
by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
Published: 3rd July 2012
Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity
On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.
Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.
I've heard good things about this book. It sounds like it's going to be a really fun, different, book to read.
What book(s) are you "Waiting On" this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I will check them out – I'm always on the lookout for new things to read!
June 27, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Ooo… Been seeing this around lately and so far, good reviews and ratings. Awesome pick! :D
June 27, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Haha, I have only heard amazing, hilarious things about this one and I'm definitely going to try to squeeze it in my TBR pile – seems like everybody loved it :)
June 27, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Look really good. Thanks for sharing!
Kinx's Book Nook
June 27, 2012 at 9:07 pm
This was my pick a couple of weeks ago!! Love the blog, new follower on Linky : )
June 30, 2012 at 6:27 pm
My sister told me about this book the day after WoW, so I couldn't use it as a pick! Read an excerpt and loved it. Also love Sarah Rees Brennan.
I'm a new follower by Linky.
Please see my new blog, Ensconced in YA at


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WASHINGTON D.C.—Members of Congress applauded Falun Gong practitioners for their courage in standing up to the Chinese Communist Party, saying they are heroes and champions of freedom.
The congressmen and women were speaking at a rally on Washington's Capitol Hill to mark ten years of persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese regime. Representatives from human rights, religious freedom, and community organizations also spoke in support of Falun Gong practitioners' efforts to end a decade of repression.
"Can you imagine a crackdown on a spiritual movement?" said Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). "Unbelievable."
In the past decade, there is no known instance of violence from a Falun Gong practitioner against the Chinese authorities.
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen recently introduced a House resolution supported by over 40 congressional co-sponsors, that recognizes the continued persecution of Falun Gong in China. Forty co-sponsors, however, is "not enough" she said, calling on the crowds at the rally to inform more people about the extent of the persecution.
"Why is Falun Gong being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party?'" she asked, answering at once, "Falun Gong stands for the principal of truthfulness, for the principal of compassion, for the principal of tolerance, and these characteristics represent the very antithesis of what the Communist Party in China stands for—it stands for lies, it stands for brutality, it stands for intolerance."
Methods Used Against Falun Gong 'particularly brutal'
Falun Gong is a spiritual meditation practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture. It has been persecuted in China since July 20, 1999, at the behest of then-president Jiang Zemin.
'We need to remind President Obama that first and foremost [should be] human rights; trade and commerce issues come second.'
"The methods that they have used to eradicate Falun Gong have been particularly brutal," said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen.
"Falun Gong practitioners have been beaten, they have been tortured, and they have even be killed for seeking only to uphold freedom of conscience."
The Falun Dafa Information Center lists more than a dozen torture methods used against practitioners, including the use of high-voltage electric batons, forced-feeding, beatings, brainwashing, and sexual abuse. Fair trials are not granted, and a new directive from the regime bans a "not guilty" verdict to be given to Falun Gong practitioners, according to paperwork obtained by The Epoch Times.
Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ), pushed for more action from around the world. "Your presence here today reminds the White House that we can no longer have business as usual," he said. "We need to remind President Obama that human rights come first, and trade and economics come second."
Congressman Dana Rohrbacher's Speech
Rep. Smith expressed concern over the Chinese regime's influence in Western societies. "If you look at the way the Chinese regime hunts down Falun Gong practitioners in the U.S., that is an abomination as well. You are free. We will fight very hard to ensure that someday the Falun Gong will be free in China as well."
Rep. Smith along with Democrat Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ), sponsored a letter asking President Obama to give "all possible public and private diplomatic support to Falun Gong practitioners in China". It was signed by 60 other members of Congress.
Another such member is long-time supporter of Falun Gong, Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA)."It is our job to reach out to the rest of the people of the world and form an incredible coalition of people of moral human beings," he said. "We will stand together against this type of tyranny and we will build a better world. And the Falun Gong is in the forefront of this effort.
'Chinese Communist Party is an embarrassment to humankind'
Rep. Rohrbacher said the years of persecution against Falun Gong will not be forgotten.
"You have remained courageous, you have gained the attention of good people throughout the world—that is what will change the world."
Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said he is reminded of the principles of Falun Gong when he is in the House of Representatives—the word "tolerance", one of the three abiding principles of the practice, is inscribed in wood on the floor.
Rep. Diaz-Balart said the Chinese Communist Party is an embarrassment to humankind.
"They rule by brute force and when we see the brutality that the regime practices we are embarrassed for mankind," he said. "And when we see that mankind acts as though … [it is] business as usual, with a regime of thugs, then it is an embarrassment for mankind. And when the world treats it as though it is a normal peaceful law-abiding regime, and the Olympics, a symbol of peace, are allowed to go to that regime, that is an embarrassment to mankind."
"I admire you—know you have friends here in the halls of this Congress," Rep. Diaz-Balart assured.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) of Maryland said he was impressed with the vibrancy of Falun Gong practitioners as they visited his office. "I would think that the Chinese government would want everyone to be as positive and upbeat and as happy as members of your group are," he said. "[But], I guess totalitarian government would see it as a threat … please know that we in this country are with you 100 percent of the way."
'We believe in your cause of Truthfulness'
"How tragic that we even have to come here today," said Texan Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), stressing the bipartisan support for Falun Gong. "We stand here as righteous fighters and believers in your cause of truthfulness."
Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO) said the rally is not about politics—it is a statement about conscience and community.
"The sense of the Congress of the United States, is simply this: detention must end, torture must end, and repression has no place in society," he said. "I applaud the courage and the non-violent nature of the practitioners of this ancient pathway to enlightenment. Your struggle for freedom is just and we will continue to support you."
Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) said tens of thousands of practitioners have been persecuted and tortured by communist authorities solely because of their religious belief. "Religious persecution is the weapon of tyrants," he said. "You have not surrendered to the tyranny, you have fought against it with the power of your hearts and minds and I commend you for it."
Rep. Bilirakis said he will ensure the Falun Gong voice is heard in the House of Foreign Affairs, of which he is a committee member. "I stand with you," he said.
Congressman Joseph Cao, (R-LA) reminded the audience of the hundreds of years that have been spent fighting for religious freedom. "Freedom, especially freedom of religion, is what brings this world together in tolerance and cooperation," he said. "I am a religious man and I understand the necessity of religious groups and leaders to speak out against religious persecution."


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So, in my quest to make every day's food choices just a little bit healthier for me and, in turn, my boy, I have removed nearly all dairy from my life. Some parts of it haven't been so difficult. I've never been one to sit down and drink a big glass of milk. In fact,… [read more]
Not Milk?
April 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment


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Plateau State Police Command has again stopped the protest embarked upon by workers on the Plateau, saying any protest at this moment may distort the tentative peace currently being enjoyed in the state.
But the state deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gunshin Yarlings, has described the action of the Police, whom he said shot tear gas at workers on peaceful procession along Tafawa Balewa, as unfortunate, adding that the police was only acting out the script of the state government.
He also said that about ten workers were injured in the pandemonium that ensued and are now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.


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Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Loudon, NH
Oddometer: 295
Dayton OH to Chester VA and Back
Work related travel generally sucks. Airports, cabs and boredom are the norm, so when an opportunity for a late season bike trip of 500~ miles each way presented itself, I'd have been a fool to pass it up.
The plan was to get up "whenever" Saturday morning and head south until it warmed up, then turn left toward Chester (south of Richmond). I tossed the camping gear on the bike just in case I felt up to roughing it (ha ha)packed the liners and top case with the other essentials and hit the road:
Saturday morning was chilly, but not too bad:
Stopped in Portsmouth for a photo op and grabbed a sammich
I kept traveling south along US 52 which runs along the border of West Virginia and Kentucky. At this point, I thought my 10 year old Easy Share camera needed batteries, but it turns out it gave up the ghost and I was left to take pics with my iThingy the rest of the trip. I ended the day in some Comfort/Quality/Whatever Inn near Princeton WV. (Yeah I know...7 and Coke? meh... I like it.)
Sunday was all business riding to Chester, but I did manage to coax two more pic's out of the old Easy Share
Found this twisty little piece of Heaven somewhere along the way and took these:
Worked all week until Friday afternoon and headed for home. I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway several years ago, but due to time constraints had to skip Skyline Drive, but was determined to give it a go this time.
Stopped at the first overlook and grabbed a pic:
Found some snow...
Saw several deer and as I came around a bend there was a black bear on the side of the road! I came to a quick stop and reached for the iThingy, but the bear took off into the woods and I missed the shot. :(
The rest of the ride was fantastic, but the sun was setting fast and by the time I reached Front Royal, it was pretty dark. Normally, I don't mind riding in the dusk/dark, but this was Skyline and it has a reputation for suicidal forest denizens, and this reputation was born out by all of the meat and red blotched/streaks on the pavement. So I took it easy, rolled into Front Royal in the dark, found a crappy hotel and a not too crappy sammich and settled in for the night:
Saturday was all about miles but it was damn cold.
I still haven't turned the clock back on the FeeJ so this was actually 6:11 am
GPS shot from Capon Bridge, east of Romney.
Heading west on US 50, I saw some of the damage caused by Sandy. Lots of trees and lines down, but the road was clear of debris and the riding was excellent. Sorry, but I didn't stop for pics because I couldn't find any good places to pull off in the twisties. I saw a couple small groups of riders on ST bikes and a couple of other FJR's. If any of you guys were out along US 50 Saturday, I was the guy on the black 09 headed west. :scooter:
Snow in the mountains of northern West VA.
Pretty much just beat feet along 50 the rest of the way and cut up US 35 to home.
I did manage to turn a 1000 mile round trip for work into a 1367 mile mini-vacation and for that I am pleased.
I don't have any heated gear, but still managed to stay pretty toasty. I layered up underneath my AVG Solare pants and Tourmaster Sabre jacket.
For my hands, an old pair of snowmobile gloves did the trick. This was the weak link in my planning, but I figure a pair of hand guards would have made a world of difference.
Never did pitch the tent, but dragging the gear along wasn't that big of a deal.
ADV Pirate
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: West Virginia at the confluence of US Rt 50 & I-79
Oddometer: 340
If you stayed on 50 West till it opens up into a 4 lane then you rode right past me. Route 50 is an amazing highway coming out of Winchester to I-79 at Clarksburg. Glad you have a great time and safe trip.
1. "The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.........."
2. "If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times..........There's a douche-bag in every crowd!"
2002 H-D Sportster 1200C - 2000 Suzuki DR650SE - 2008 H-D Road King Classic
Positively charged
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: PNW
Oddometer: 1,455
Good report, nice bike.
I used to live in Columbus, went down that way to Charleston on our way to the Outer banks 1 time, enjoyed the BRH & Tenessee. Beaut colors around OH i bet at the mo!
Thanks for sharing.
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: High Point, NC
Oddometer: 1,771
Dayton OH to Chester VA and Back
Good ride report. I smiled when I saw 311 on your GPS. That's a great road!
Duty- Honoring a Friend
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Loudon, NH
Oddometer: 295
Yep, I was on 50 from Winchester until it intersected with 35 near Chillicothe...about 320 miles of it.. and you're right. It is amazing.
I have another trip scheduled for June to the Richmond area and will be hitting that stretch again.
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Jersey Shore
Is Snooki's Fiance and Baby Daddy Jionni LaValle From New Jersey?
Some Jersey Shore fans are still struggling to wrap their heads around the fact that many of the cast members are not actually from New Jersey — and some aren't even Italian! Snooki, for instance, is actually Chilean by birth, and was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY.
But what about her hubby-to-be? Is Jionni LaValle the real Jersey deal?
You betcha!
According to Us Weekly, Jionni grew up in East Hanover, NJ.
And that's not all: Snooki and Jionni reportedly plan to live with Jionni's parents in New Jersey "for a year or so" once she has her baby.
Snooki may not be a Jerseyite through and through, but it sounds like baby Lorenzo will be.
Want more Jersey Shore? Catch the next episode of Snooki & JWOWW on on Thursday, August 23 at 10 p.m. on MTV.
Source: Us Weekly
For more on Jersey Shore, Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.


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Essentials for doll play, our innovative Combi Doll Furniture is made from beautiful Baltic Birch plywood. Rock dolly to sleep in the Combi-Cradle, or turn the cradle over to create a bed large enough for two or more dollies up to 18" tall. Tuck sleepy dollies in with the included wool-stuffed cotton quilt and pillow set (fabrics may vary).
Our clever Combi-Chair is a highchair when stood on end and a desk when laid on its side! Adult assembly required. Made in USA.
For ages 3 to 10.
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Cradle 19"L x 13"W x 10"H
Chair 16"L x 8"W x 8"H
Clothing Rack 18"L x 8"W x 19"H
Combi Doll Furniture Collection Save $24.94 when you buy the Cradle, Chair, and clothing rack together.Only $120
Send a quick note to friends and family members to let them know your child would love this!
Dear _______:
My child is wishing and hoping and dreaming of this. They would be just thrilled to find it under the Christmas tree!
—A helpful hint from the Magic Cabin gift fairies


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Remember the hula hoop bag which Karl Lagerfeld designed for Chanel last Spring 2013 show?
It will be sold in stores! But it will only be the smaller version. They're afraid no one would purchase the really big one.
Uhm, never ever under estimate the spending power of The Bored Housewives of Beverly Hills…they might actually buy it. Hehe!
This time, Karl sent models sashaying the runway with a Chanel Lego bag.
Both will be available in stores.
So what do you think now will be the "IT" bag of the season? Will there be pinoys to grab these crazy bags?


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« Additional work is viewable in the Extended Portfolio.
Copyright 2015 Jared Christensen, Designologist.
Running on Textpattern, a CMS that works about 5 billion times harder than Jared.
Subscribe to this website to be handily reminded that nothing gets published here.
Woah, look at that. It's the ol' Links page.
I never sleep on planes. I don't want to be Incepted.


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College Basketball Betting: West Virginia vs. Baylor Pick
- Updated: December 23, 2011
The Baylor Bears and the West Virginia Mountaineers are set for the holiday season, and they are going to duke it out in NCAA basketball betting action on Friday night in Hawaii, where they will face off against each other in the biggest game that either has played all season long.
Join the BTB Expert Handicappers right now! Click Here for our guaranteed college basketball picks
The Mountaineers had themselves a heck of a battle last night against the Missouri State Bears. The game was tied at the end of the first half and the second half, and only on the graces of a fantastic defensive effort in overtime was the team able to come out with a narrow two-point victory. It was the fifth straight win for WVU, and it was the second in that stretch that came in overtime. The 'Neers have underachieved this season with a few losses that they really should have never endured, and this is going to be a great test against one of the better teams in the Big XII before having to start off the wild Big East season next week. Keep a very close eye on Kevin Jones, as he played every second of the 45 minute game last night against the Bears. He was held down to 16 points and 13 boards, which is a bit of a cry from his 20.4 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. When he is on his game, Jones is one of the best forwards in the nation, and he is doing a great job some far on this season of shooting the ball, knocking down 55.9 percent of his shots.
Baylor's duel last night against the St. Mary's Gaels was impressive as well, as it was able to take care of a good team by 13 points on this neutral court. The Bears haven't played much of a schedule this year, and this is really their first game against a legitimate Top 25 team on the campaign. The most difficult games to date came on the road against the Northwestern Wildcats and on the road at the BYU Cougars. At least those games, as we mentioned, were road games, thus get a lot more credit. Four players scored in double digits last night for the Bears, and that's really nothing new. Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy get all of the accolades, but this is a team that is as deep as could be. Case in point: Jones played 36 minutes, but there wasn't another player against the Gaels that even played 30 minutes, which will leave the Bears a heck of a lot more fresh for this game than the Mountaineers will probably be.
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Baylor Bears Keys: This one is simply going to come down to heart and character. It's not quite the emotion of a conference tournament, and it's nowhere near the NCAA Tournament, but whichever team has the heart to grit through this situation will probably win. Both teams have to be tired, and both have to be waiting for the holidays to begin and are a long, long ways away from home.
Aaron Ryan
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Kenneth Starr to defend gay marriage ban before state court
Most people remember Kenneth Starr from his days as the special investigator of Whitewater and President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky. But for the last few years he has served as dean of the law school at Pepperdine University, which is affiliated with a conservative Christian denomination that I grew up in.
After rumors circulated last month, Starr was named today the lead counsel for the chief proponents of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment, passed last month by 52 percent of Californians, that would limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman. Legal challenges have been filed, and proponents are preparing for a battle.
"We are confident that the will of the voters and Proposition 8 will ultimately be upheld," said Andrew Pugno, General Counsel for ProtectMarriage.com and the Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund. "The addition of Dean Starr to this legal conversation will provide useful guidance for the Court in resolving these important issues."
Starr, like me, grew up in the Church of Christ (not to be confused with the United Church of Christ, which resides on the other end of the theological spectrum). I'm curious as to how his faith shapes his practice of law. I couldn't find much online. The best window I got into Starr's Christian worldview comes from a comment he made during his speech at Christian Business Men's Committee in Washington. It appeared in a 1998 Washington Times article, no longer online:
"When you think of the blessed life that Jesus led on earth, think of his time utilization," Mr. Starr said. "He didn't waste a lot of time. Three years, that's the length of time . . . that this individual, human yet God, ended up shaping not just history, but each person who will say, ?I want to come to know Christ.? "
(Originally published at The God Blog.)


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Halloween! Want to be a sailr girl or dress up as Popeye and Olive Oil like my husband and I. Then, have a go with this Sailor Hat!
Very cheap and easy Sailor Hat! Large coffee filters, card board pizza box, stapler and glur. If you want to rim to look better try glueing white fabric. In my pictures the smaller one has only coffee filters glued to it and the larger hat has a white mesh fabric clued to it but still a coffee filter for the crown. Hope you enjoy!
Measure the card board around your head and staple where needed.
Place large coffee filter inside of circle. Alternating sides staple coffee filter to card board.
Choose your supplies for the white rim. I recomend white fabric. If you do not have fabric white paper and even coffee filter will work.
I glue my white material around the card board first.
Remember to leace hang over more on one side than the other. You will just need anought hang over to fold over the staples and the opther side will need more coverage.
Cut slits in the paper or fabric.
Fold over one bit at a time, glueing as you go.
One you have all the paper or fabric glued down and dry gently push coffee filter back the other way.
The rim must stay glued down. Hold the rim a little down the card board with your finger so not to rip up the glue or staples.
Be gental.
Flip hat over to other side.
Cut slits for this side too.
Repeat the glueing process, the same as the other side.
Let hat dry or use a hair drier.
Place on head and adjust to you likeing.
super cool ill try that
tis a chef hat!
lol ok sorry about that
This...this is BEAUTIFUL
I love this! I've been looking for a good sailor hat tute for a long time! yay you!


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I'm a new HAM and tried 2meters, but never really go into it. While I'm studying to upgrade, I bought a Swan 500c and power supply at an auction, and it is in really nice cosmetic shape - except for some dust, this was really well-taken care of. I've been working on receivers for 30 years, but have minor experience with transceivers. I'm starting to replace the electrolytics, check tubes, power supply resistors and etc., but are there any other check-out steps I should perform before applying power for testing?
My old TV7 will not be able to test the 6LQ6's, and I saw a thread about using the cheaper 24LQ6.


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Thousands of nutritious recipes. Choose your kind of healthy. Learn more
I make something very similar to this and cut it into strips to wrap in a tortilla. Nice breakfast to go! If its within reason, any grated/shredded cheese and a touch of smoked paprika, hot sauce, or salsa is amazing on this!
it was very good and easy to make
...and always consider putting in a few more veggies, as well. Can morph into an omelet that doesn't need folding...
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One of the stalwart units of astronomy just got a makeover. The International Astronomical Union, the authority on astronomical constants, has voted unanimously to redefine the astronomical unit, the conventional unit of length based on the distance between the Earth and the sun.
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Kevin Schmidtchen
Sotheby's International Realty
1436 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone or Text
(805) 689-6877
San Roque Neighborhood 3 Bed 2 Bath Santa Barbara Condo – New Listing
NEW Listing:
Wonderful new Santa Barbara San Roque Condo listing. Great location in the recently renovated San Remo complex. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit is superbly located on the top floor (single level) with a great sun deck and views over the pool and towards the mountains. Well cared for and maintained by the owners. 1 car garage, heated pool, located in Monte Vista School district and close to all up town shopping, restaurants and parks. Garden style landscaping and mountain views. Well sought after condo community.
Address: 3663 San Remo #5K, SB CA 93105
Offered Price: $509,000


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Rainn Wilson Hosts Tickled Pink
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 | 2 years ago
We trekked all the way out to Riverside's Municipal Auditorium where we hung out backstage with Rainn Wilson, Tig Notaro, her documentary crew and friend Missi Pyle, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Thomas Lennon, Geoff Keith, Creed Bratton and "The Lampshades," Kate Flannery and Scott Robinson. All profits from the event went to benefit the Pink Ribbon Place, Riverside's only breast cancer resource center. All photos by Star Foreman.
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Back to School Party
Two weeks before school is back in session we host a 'Back 2 School Party' on our campus. At this party we give away over 1200 backpacks and school supplies, free haircuts, immunizations, BBQ lunch, food boxes, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and much more. We play games and give away several bikes and different prizes, including a flatscreen tv. This is a tangible way of showing love to our community.
For more information on this outreach please contact the church office at 661-327-8446.
|Church Office


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Latest news
- 1
Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Top Gear goes to Burma, continued…
Head this way for a glimpse of part two of our long-delayed Christmas special. See you Sunday, 8pm, BBC Two
Behind the scenes on this week's Top Gear
Jack Whitehall, Caterhams and more… See you Sunday, 8pm as usual
Behind the scenes at this week's Top Gear
Featuring a Mercedes van, lots of rain, and a romantic Valentine's moment... See you Sunday, 8pm, BBC Two
We're back! A sneak preview of series 21
Head this way for a small taste of our new series. And see you all Sundays, 8pm, BBC Two as usual…
We're back! Behind the scenes on show one
Some highlights from the studio as we get ready for Sunday's show...
21 top moments of Top Gear telly
In honour of our 21st series, here are 21 of your most-watched clips on TopGear.com


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COOL SIDE OF THE PILLOW by Gregory G. Allen to be Released 2/8
ASD Publishing has announced the launch of the latest novel by award-winning author, Gregory G. Allen that sends a man tumbling down the rabbit hole instead of Alice. COOL SIDE OF THE PILLOW is a story of a stay-at-home dad whose life becomes intertwined with an eccentric older actress specializing in children's theater.
Zachery Kleinmann lives in the elite world of New Canaan, Connecticut and has left his accounting job four years earlier to be a modern stay-at-home father. But as his son is starting preschool, his wife is passionately involved in her own career, and Zach is knocking on forty years old, he begins to wonder how he will find his own serenity and define himself moving forward. Enter Ginger Charman, an older, eccentric, free living children's theater actress who has dedicated her life to bringing joy to children and keeping all those around her young at heart. As Zach is pulled into her world and discovers secrets about his new friend, he is not sure he'll ever be able to leave that rabbit hole once he has fallen through - or if he'll even want to venture outside of it again.
Allen started his career as an actor in theater and worked for years touring the country as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, received his equity card performing Theater for Young Audiences in the early 90s, and has played libraries, malls, and schools. He found that wild world a fitting place to plunge his main character into for the setting of his new novel. He loves to write about people making life-altering decisions and creating unusual characters to fill the pages of his books. While Zachary and Ginger become bonded despite their differences, the author ponders the question as to whether men and women can be 'just friends', as well as stay friends once secrets emerge. It is that element of mystery and intrigue in his stories that adds another layer to his writing.
"I wanted to pay homage to my early roots of theater without telling a standard theater story," Allen said. "Having Zach enter the world in which a woman runs an entire company out of her house with all of its oddities and quirks is one of the reasons a reader called this book a cross between Grey Gardens and Mr. Mom."
Allen has been in the entertainment industry for over twenty years as an actor, director, producer and writer. He is an award-winning composer, has been featured in national magazines, NY/NJ Public Broadcast Stations, and several radio shows; and is a contributor to BroadwayWorld.com and HuffingtonPost.com. He currently manages an arts center on a college campus in New Jersey.
COOL SIDE OF THE PILLOW will be available February 8, 2013 exclusively on the Amazon Kindle before a wider release. For more information visit www.gregory-g-allen.com or www.asdpublishing.com Book Trailer
About Author
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- CONSTELLATIONS' Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson Set for THEATER TALK This Weekend


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Life in TokyoTokyo, Spring 2009
Life here in Tokyo has slowed down a little bit. With the start of classes most of us have been tied down to our studies and haven't explored outside the Chiba prefecture on the weekdays. On the weekends, however, we always manage to venture to the Tokyo area for numerous reasons. As you can see from my photos, Shibuya is the place to be. There is also Ikebukuro which has a large shopping mall called Sunshine City that also has an aquarium, observation room, a food theme park (called Namja Town), and many more things! I'm sad to report that the aquarium was a big let down, but I cannot wait to go back and check out the food theme park!
Golden Week is this week! I'm off to Mount Fuji for a few days!
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'Legend of Korra: Book 3' shift to digital explained at Comic-Con 2014Add to Favorites | The Legend of Korra
"The Legend of Korra" co-creator Brian Konietzko surprised fans Wednesday (July 23) when he revealed that the remaining episodes of "Book 3" will not be airing on Nickelodeon. He and fellow creator Mike DiMartino set the record straight about the shift to digital platforms during their San Diego Comic-Con 2014 panel.
"It's part of this huge sea change in the industry," Konietzko says. "Things have changed just for us between when we did 'Avatar: [The Last Airbender]' ... and when we came back on the air in 2012 [with 'Legend of Korra']. When 'Book 1' of 'Korra' came out, it did pretty good numbers on TV, but its online numbers were just insane."
"Legend of Korra's" numbers have been down on Nickelodeon for "Book 3," but Konietzko says that they've only grown on Nick.com, the Nickelodeon app and on streaming services. The "Book 2" finale, for example, was the biggest digital hit on the channel's website of the year. That seems to be what convinced Nickelodeon to have the show live online.
Konietzko says it's no secret that the channel has "had kind of a hard time fitting it into their programming." The shift "definitely caught us by surprise. It wasn't necessarily done in the smoothest way," he adds.
But the show is not canceled, which is good news for fans. DiMartino says the rest of the season won't change when the final episodes run. The last on-air episode is at 8 p.m. ET/PT Friday on Nick, and the remaining episodes will roll out every Friday from Aug. 1 to Aug. 22 (the two-part "Book 3" finale).
"It really has no effect on what the show is or what the stories we're telling [are]," DiMartino says. "Other than it not being on the Nickelodeon main channel, nothing has changed."
Following that conversation about the shift to digital, the cast and creators of "The Legend of Korra" played a never-before-seen "Book 3" episode during the panel.
Photo/Video credit: Nickelodeon


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Fox turned Pirate
Bristol Rovers loanee Tom Parkes discusses his future and learning in League Two with Chris Burton.
Last Updated: 13/05/12 7:26pm
Loans are intended to be beneficial to two parties, with both sides in need of something that the other can provide.
In footballing terms, this means clubs short on players look elsewhere for new recruits.
Often these come in the form of untested youngsters from higher up the football food chain.
The promising young player in question gets the opportunity to cut his teeth in the senior ranks, while the club snapping him up benefits from his potential and presence in their squad.
Everyone's a winner.
One player who is no stranger to such agreements is Tom Parkes, with the 20-year-old defender currently taking in the fifth loan spell of his blossoming career.
Time spent with Yeovil Town and three stints at Burton Albion have given the Leicester youngster a taste of what Football League life is all about.
In 2012, his footballing path led him to Bristol Rovers and it was while on the books of the League Two outfit that Sky Sports' Chris Burton caught up with Parkes to discuss his past, present and future.
"I have really enjoyed my time being here," he said when asked to sum up his stint at the Memorial Stadium.
"I had a little setback at the start of the season, I broke my ankle, but coming to Bristol Rovers has helped me to get back to fitness and got me enjoying my football again."
Parkes' cause has been aided by the fact that fellow Fox Cian Bolger is also taking in a loan spell with the Pirates.
He added: "Being down here has been really good. Playing with Cian as well from Leicester, I think we have both gained a lot of experience. I think it has been really good for both us and really beneficial."
While enjoying his time in the fourth tier, Parkes admits he is hoping to make the grade at Leicester when he returns to the King Power Stadium at the end of the season.
He said: "When I go back hopefully I can stay fit and do well. Hopefully I can get a chance there. If not, we will just see what happens from there. If nothing happens, hopefully it does, then I will try to get a loan move again."
Leicester have been keeping a close eye on Parkes and he has welcomed the feedback he has received from the Foxes' coaching staff.
He said: "They have been to watch a few games. I have been in touch with the reserve manager and the manager and they have said that they are happy with how I have been doing."
There is a chance that Parkes could be heading back to a Premier League outfit this summer, with Leicester still clinging to their play-off dream in the Championship.
He said: "Leicester have done really well. They have had their ups and downs as well, but they are pushing on now and hopefully they can get into the play-offs."
Stepping up from the fourth tier to the top flight would be a big ask for Parkes, but he believes he has benefited greatly from the time he has spent in League Two over the past few seasons.
"I think League Two is one of the toughest leagues to play in," he said.
"You don't know what to expect from teams. The Premiership is a really high standard and they pass the ball well, but in League Two it's different. You get players that are skilful and play the ball well and you get players who are physically strong as well.
"In League Two there are a lot of players who are really experienced and they have come down through the leagues because they still want to play. They have got all the experience and it's harder for the youngsters to come through. The experienced players have more of an idea about what they are doing."
Bristol Rovers have found themselves back in League Two this season after slipping out of the third tier last term, and they have not had things all their own way.
Parkes said: "At the start of the season I think it was a bit up and down. I wasn't at the club at the time, but after Christmas the lads have done really well. We have won games, we have lost a few as well, but we have worked hard to get where we are at the moment.
"We will be looking to win all of the last three games we have got this season and take that into next season. I think it would nice to get into the top half. We have just got to look to try and win all three games and try to end it on a high note."
Wherever the Pirates end up this season, Parkes is confident that Mark McGhee's side will be pushing for a return to League One in 2012/13.
He said: "I think next season the gaffer will be looking to make changes and they will be strong. I think they have got a really good chance next season."


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Before running Zotonic, you must make sure your system meets the minimum requirements to do so. Zotonic needs the following software installed:
If you meet these requirements, head straight on to Installation, otherwise, read on below for the specifics on these.
You can check if you have Erlang installed by typing the following command in a terminal:
$ erl
The output should be something like:
Erlang R15B02 (erts-5.9.2) [source] [64-bit] [smp:4:4] [async-threads:0] [hipe] [kernel-poll:false]
Eshell V5.9.2 (abort with ^G)
(Press ctrl+c twice to exit)
If your version is below release R14B03, you need to upgrade.
You can check if you have ImageMagick installed by typing the following command in a terminal:
$ convert -version
This tells you which version of ImageMagick is installed:
Version: ImageMagick 6.7.7-10 2012-08-17 Q16 http://www.imagemagick.org
You can check if you have PostgreSQL installed by typing the following command in a terminal:
$ psql -V
Returns the PostgreSQL version:
psql (PostgreSQL) 9.1.6
To let Postgres users access the database from Zotonic, you need to make a configuration change in Postgres' configuration file pg_hba.conf.
On Linux, this file is located in /etc/postgresql/<pg version>/main/pg_hba.conf. Add the following lines:
# Zotonic settings
local all zotonic ident
host all zotonic 127.0.0.1/32 md5
host all zotonic ::1/128 md5
These settings assume that your Zotonic sites are going to connect with a Postgres user called zotonic. For other user names, adjust accordingly. Do not forget to restart Postgres after you've made this change.
You can install Erlang from the default Ubuntu repositories:
sudo apt-get install build-essential postgresql imagemagick erlang-base erlang-tools \
erlang-parsetools erlang-inets erlang-ssl erlang-eunit erlang-dev erlang-xmerl erlang-src
A recent Erlang should be installed from a custom PPA by running:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:scattino/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential erlang-base erlang-ssl postgresql imagemagick
You'll need to build erlang from source. Before building, make sure you install these packages:
sudo apt-get install build-essential libncurses5-dev m4
sudo apt-get install openssl libssl-dev
sudo apt-get install unixodbc-dev
Alternatively, you can install a precompiled recent Erlang from the following PPA: https://launchpad.net/~scattino/+archive/ppa
If you're running on FreeBSD, make sure you've got the 'GNU' 'make' (check with 'make –version', which should give you GNU, and version info) If you're not running GNU-make as a default, edit the Makefile to run with 'gmake' (make sure gmake is available first).
With MacPorts you can install Erlang and ImageMagick using the following commands:
sudo port install erlang +ssl
sudo port install ImageMagick
EnterpriseDB has an excellent PostgreSQL installer available at http://www.enterprisedb.com/products/pgdownload.do#osx
Currently, Zotonic is not officially supported on the Windows platform. However, the main dependencies Erlang, PostgreSQL and ImageMagick do work on Windows, so, if you're adventurous, it should be possible to get it running.
We have included user-contributed start.cmd and build.cmd batch-scripts which are supposed to work on Windows.


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"A nice inexpensive jersey top for the kids and looked good once we had them screened. They had plenty of colors to choose from and again the service was great... fast and reliable... thanks for the assistance." (E248)
"perfect size ball pump that fits in coaches bag" (E11975)
"Have used these jerseys for 2 seasons. Great value!
Eric" (E1467)
Svforza Neon Orange Racing Flag 9" Mens Comp Short [E28114]


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who is luke schantz? artist and designer & entrepreneur. abolitionist singularian with trans-humanist vibes. appreciator of arts, culture and cuisine.
bio from Twitter
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United States United States, New York
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05.30.2012 //
The homie Sean McNulty's part from Wild Power. Watch it. Check out the tits at the end. Get hyped. Go skate!
The homie Sean McNulty's part from Wild Power. Watch it. Check out the tits at the end. Get hyped. Go skate!
Check out this video and learn why Manny likes the Axion "Heritage" shoe so much.
Ray Barbee has been and should be everyone's all time favorite pro. He's defined style. This time with Vans Adventures with Chris we go inside Ray house and talk about the old days. Can't wait for more of these! Watch this now!
Skate Sauce has a pretty cool edit of Sebo Walker. Check it out and get hyped.
Start your morning off right with some great skating from Dolan Stearns for Lurkville Skateboards.
Comune just released a new video with a whole new team. Check out this rad little 10 minute video featuring Jordan Sanchez, Al Partanen, Nial Fredrickson, Josh Murphy, and Joseph Lopez.
Head over to the Tum Yeto site to check out their new mini ramp and see some of the team kill it.
By the looks of this trailer this video is going to be bonkers. Check out the trailer featuring Daewon Song, Chris Haslam, Cooper Wilt, Lewis Marnell, Willow and Youness Amrani. Also head over to their site to see more info and photos about the video.
This week Vans is having two art actions for Andy Kessler featuring artist Dennis McNett, Lance Mountain, Steve Olson, Wes Humpston, and more. 100% of benefit proceeds will go to the Andy Kessler Foundation. Check out the flyers for more information.
Has it been your dream to design skate parks for a living? Well here's your chance. The folks over at California RampWorks have a contest to become the next Assistant Skatepark Designer. Check out this video with all the details.


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Mad Bastards on Bulldozers - South Is NZ
View Single Post
Trans-Global Chook Chaser
Joined: May 2004
Location: Rotoiti, New Zealand
Oddometer: 3,584
Cheers guys!
The next day I cut south to Fairlie to meet up with Chris (a different one) All the rain in the hills had shut down most of the tracks in the area we were thinking of exploring so we headed for the Ahuriri valley access which is largely river crossing free. First up it was over MacKenzie Pass to the Haldon arm of lake Benmore.
From Haldon arm we followed the Tekapo river upstream. Much of the track would have been better navigated in a jetboat!
But it was a warm day so we had fun splashing up the track/river. Chris almost drowned the 690 in one section, somehow I managed to waddle through ok.
It's a neat trip up here & would be an easy ride with normal lower summer river levels.
We popped out in the back of Tekapo village & grabbed a late lunch before continuing south on the highway.
Just before Lindis Pass we turned off up the Ahuriri.
Most of the trip so far has been in the relatively arid eastern side of the South Island but here we are getting into the mountains of the Main Divide & closer to the west coast, where the prevailing westerlies dump all their rain on the way over. We reach our destination for the night, Ahuriri Base Hut.
We settle into a couple of beers & some dinner & watch the light fade from the hills.
It rains most of the night but is clearing up by morning.
Note white stuff on hills that wasn't there yesterday. Gotta love the scorching South Is summer
We head up the valley a few km to take in the view from the road end. The track gets a bit rougher up here.
We backtrack to Omarama & shoot into the clay cliffs for a look.
After a coffee at Twizel we take the scenic route up the side of Lake Pukaki.
Most of the lakes around here are glacier fed, hence the spooky blue glow. The gloom in the hills doesn't bode well for our afternoon plans for a ride up the Macaulay river, so after a pie in Tekapo (& a trip back to Twizel for me cos I left my backpack behind
) we continue to Fairlie. Chris's parents have a very nice place on the edge of town & I was lucky enough to stay there for the next few days, thanks guys! We review some footage, watch the rain fall in the hills & kick back on the couch.
Next up: Offroad in the Orari.
'03 KTM 640 LC4 Enduro
The wilderness, the desert - why are they not crowded
.................................................. .....
with pilgrims?
clintnz screwed with this post 01-29-2013 at
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