text: Home World Soyinka on 'Obscene' Push for Achebe Nobel A Nigerian Nobel laureate wants fans of the late fellow writer to table calls for a posthumous prize. By: Sahara Reporters Posted: May 22 2013 12:28 AM 0 Wole Soyinka (Pius Utomi Ekpe/Getty Images); Chinua Achebe (AFP/Getty Images) (Sahara Reporters) -- Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has described Africa's most well-known novelist, Chinua Achebe, as a storyteller who earned global celebration, adding, however, that those describing Achebe as "the father of African literature" were ignorant. In a wide-ranging interview with Sahara Reporters, Soyinka paid tribute to the late novelist, who died on March 21, 2013, at age 82. Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature, also spoke about his personal relationship with Achebe and other Nigerian writers; his regrets about Achebe's last book, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra; and his attempt to talk the late Biafran leader Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu out of fighting a war. Soyinka also answered questions about Heinemann's African Writers Series and scolded "clannish" and "opportunistic hagiographers" fixated on the fact that Achebe never won the Nobel Prize. Below is the full text of the interview. Sahara Reporters: Do you recall where or how you first learned about the death of Professor Chinua Achebe? And what was your first reaction? Wole Soyinka: Where I heard the news? I was on the road between Abeokuta and Lagos. Who called first -- BBC or a Nigerian journalist? Can't recall now, since other calls followed fast and furious, while I was still trying to digest the news. My first reaction? Well, you know the boa constrictor -- when it has just swallowed an abnormal morsel, it goes comatose, takes time off to digest. Today's global media appears indifferent to such a natural entitlement. You are expected to supply that instant response. So if -- as was the case -- my first response was to be stunned, that swiftly changed to anger. Now, why was I stunned? I suspect, mostly because I was to have been present at his last Chinua Achebe symposium just a few months earlier -- together with Governor Fashola of Lagos. Something intervened and I was marooned in New York. When your last contact with someone, quite recent, is an event that centrally involves that person, you don't expect him to embark on a permanent absence. Also, Chinua and I had been collaborating lately on one or two home crises. So it was all supposed to be "business as usual." Most-irrational expectations at one's age, but that's human presumptuousness for you. So, stunned I was, primarily; then media enraged! SR: Achebe was both a writer as well as editor for Heinemann's African Writers Series. How would you evaluate his role in the popularization of African literature? Soyinka: I must tell you that, at the beginning, I was very skeptical of the Heinemann's African Series. As a literary practitioner, my instinct tends towards a suspicion of "ghetto" classifications -- which I did feel this was bound to be. When you run a regional venture, it becomes a junior relation to what exists. Sri Lankan literature should evolve and be recognized as literature of Sri Lanka, release after release, not entered as a series. You place the books on the market and let them take off from there. Otherwise there is the danger that you start hedging on standards. You feel compelled to bring out quantity, which might compromise on quality. I refused to permit my works to appear in the series -- to begin with. My debut took place while I was Gowon's guest in Kaduna prisons and permission to publish The Interpreters was granted in my absence. Exposure itself is not a bad thing, mind you. Accessibility. Making works available -- that's not altogether negative. Today, several scholars write their Ph.D. theses on Onitsha Market Literature. Both Chinua and Cyprian Ekwensi -- not forgetting Henshaw and others -- published with those enterprising houses. It was outside interests that classified them Onitsha Market Literature, not the publishers. They simply published. All in all, the odds come down in favor of the series -- which, by the way, did go through the primary phase of sloppy inclusiveness, then became more discriminating. Aig Higo -- who presided some time after Chinua -- himself admitted it. SR: For any major writer, there's the inevitable question of influence. In your view, what's the nature of Achebe's enduring influence and impact in African literature? And what do you foresee as his place in the canon of world literature? Soyinka: Chinua's place in the canon of world literature? Wherever the art of the storyteller is celebrated, definitely assured. SR: In interviews as well as in writing, Achebe brushed off the title of "father of African literature." Yet on his death, numerous media accounts, in Nigeria as well as elsewhere, described him as the father -- even grandfather -- of African literature. What do you think of that tag? Soyinka: As you yourself have observed, Chinua himself repudiated such a tag -- he did study literature, after all, bagged a degree in the subject. So it is a tag of either literary ignorance or "momentary exuberance" -- à la [Nadine] Gordimer -- to which we are all sometimes prone. Those who seriously believe or promote this must be asked: Have you the sheerest acquaintance with the literatures of other African nations, in both indigenous and adopted colonial languages? What must the francophone, lusophone, Zulu, Xhosa, Ewe, et cetera, et cetera, literary scholars and consumers think of those who persist in such a historic absurdity? It's as ridiculous as calling W.S. father of contemporary African drama! Or Mazisi Kunene father of African epic poetry. Or Kofi Awoonor father of African poetry. Education is lacking in most of those who pontificate. As a shortcut to such corrective, I recommend Tunde Okanlawon's scholarly tribute to Chinua in The Sun [Nigeria] of May 4. After that, I hope those of us in the serious business of literature will be spared further embarrassment. Let me just add that a number of foreign "African experts" have seized on this silliness with glee. It legitimizes their ignorance, their parlous knowledge; enables them to circumscribe, then adopt a patronizing approach to African literatures and creativity. Backed by centuries of their own recorded literary history, they assume the condescending posture of midwiving an infant entity. It is all rather depressing. SR: Following Achebe's death, you and J.P. Clark released a joint statement. In it, you both wrote: "Of the 'pioneer quartet' of contemporary Nigerian literature, two voices have been silenced -- one, of the poet Christopher Okigbo, and now, the novelist Chinua Achebe." In your younger days as writers, would you say there was a sense among your circle of contemporaries -- say, Okigbo, Achebe, Clark, Flora Nwapa -- of being engaged in a healthy rivalry for literary dominance? By the way, on the Internet, your joint statement was criticized for neglecting to mention any female writers -- say, Flora Nwapa -- as part of that pioneering group. Was that an oversight? Soyinka: This question -- the omission of Flora Nwapa, Mabel Segun [née Imoukhuede], and [we] do [not] include D.O. Fagunwa, Amos Tutuola, Cyprian Ekwensi, so it is not just a gender affair -- is related to the foregoing, and is basically legitimate. J.P. and I were, however, paying a tribute to a colleague within a rather closed circle of interaction, of which these others were not members. Finally, and most relevantly, we are language users -- this means we routinely apply its techniques. We knew what we were communicating when we placed "pioneer quartet" in -- yes! -- inverted commas. Some of the media may have removed them; others understood their significance and left them where they belonged. SR: Did you and Achebe have the opportunity to discuss his last book, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, and its critical reception? What's your own assessment of There Was a Country? Some critics charged that the book was unduly divisive and diminished Achebe's image as a nationally beloved writer and intellectual. Should a writer suborn his witness to considerations of fame? Soyinka: No, Chinua and I never discussed There was a Country. Matter of fact, that aborted visit I mentioned earlier would have been my opportunity to take him on with some friendly fire at that open forum, continuing at his home over a bottle or two, aided and abetted by Christie's [Editor's note: Achebe's wife, professor Christie Achebe] cooking. A stupendous life companion, by the way -- Christie -- deserves a statue erected to her for fortitude and care, on behalf of us all. More of that will emerge, I am sure, as the tributes pour in. Unfortunately, that chance of a last encounter was missed, so I don't really wish to comment on the work at this point. It is, however, a book I wish he had never written -- that is, not in the way it was. There are statements in that work that I wish he had never made. The saddest part for me was that this work was bound to give joy to sterile literary aspirants like Adewale Maja-Pearce, whose self-published book -- self-respecting publishers having rejected his trash -- sought to create a "tragedy" out of the relationships among the earlier named "pioneer quartet" and, with meanness aforethought, rubbish them all -- W.S. especially. Chinua got off the lightest. A compendium of outright impudent lies, fish-market gossip, unanchored attributions, trendy drivel and name-dropping, this is a ghetto tract that tries to pass itself up as a product of research, and has actually succeeded in fooling at least one respectable scholar. For this reason alone, there will be more said, in another place, on that hatchet mission of an inept hustler. SR: One of the specific issues raised constantly in recent Nigerian public "debate" has to do with whether the Igbo were indeed victims of genocide. What are your thoughts on the question? Soyinka: The reading of most Igbo over what happened before the Civil War was indeed accurate. Yes, there was only one word for it: genocide. Once the war began, however, atrocities were committed by both sides, and the records are clear on that. The Igbo got the worst of it, however. That fact is indisputable. The Asaba massacre is well-documented, name by victim name, and General Gowon visited personally to apologize to the leaders. The Igbo must remember, however, that they were not militarily prepared for that war. I told Ojukwu this, point blank, when I visited Biafra. Sam Aluko also revealed that he did. A number of leaders outside Biafra warned the leadership of this plain fact. Bluff is no substitute for bullets. SR: Your joint statement with Clark balances the "sense of depletion" you felt over Achebe's death with "consolation in the young generation of writers to whom the baton has been passed, those who have already creatively ensured that there is no break in the continuum of the literary vocation." How much of the young Nigerian and African writers do you find the time to read? Soyinka: Yes, I do read much of Nigerian [and] African literature -- as much as my time permits. My motor vehicle in Nigeria is a mobile library of Nigerian publications -- you know, those horrendous traffic holdups. That's where I go through some of the latest. The temptation to toss some out of the car window after the first few pages or chapter is sometimes overwhelming. That sour note conceded -- and as I have repeatedly crowed -- that nation of ours can boast of that one virtue; it's bursting with literary talent! And the women seem to be at the forefront. SR: In the joint statement issued by J.P. Clark and you following Achebe's death, you stated: "For us, the loss of Chinua Achebe is, above all else, intensely personal. We have lost a brother, a colleague, a trailblazer and a doughty fighter." There's the impression in some quarters that Achebe, Clark and you were virtual personal enemies. In the specific case of Achebe and you, there's the misperception that your 1986 Nobel Prize in literature poisoned your personal relationship with a supposedly resentful Achebe. How would you describe your relationship with Achebe from the early days when you were both young writers in a world that was becoming aware of the fecund, protean phenomenon called African literature? Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Soyinka: Now -- all right -- I feel a need to return to that question of yours. I have a feeling that I won't be at ease with myself for having dodged it earlier -- which was deliberate. If I don't answer it, we shall all continue to be drenched in misdirected spittle. I'm referring to your question on the relationship between myself and other members of the "pioneer quartet" -- J.P. Clark and Chinua specifically. At this stage in our lives, the surviving have a duty to smash the mouths of liars to begin with, then move to explain to those who have genuinely misread, who have failed to place incidents in their true perspective or who simply forget that life is sometimes strange -- rich but strange, and inundated with flux. My first comment is that outsiders to literary life should be more humble and modest. They should begin by accepting that they were strangers to the ferment of the earlier '60s and '70s. It would be stupid to claim that it was all constantly harmonious, but outsiders should at least learn some humility and learn to deal with facts. Where, in any corner of the globe, do you find perfect models of creative harmony, completely devoid of friction? We all have our individual artistic temperaments as well as partisanships in creative directions. And we have strong opinions on the merits of the products of our occupation. But "rivalry for domination," to quote you -- healthy or unhealthy? Now, that is something that has been cooked up, ironically, by camp followers, the most recent of which is that ignoble character I've just mentioned, who was so desperate to prove the existence of such a thing that he even tried to rope J.P.'s wife into it, citing her as [a] source for something I never uttered in my entire existence. I cannot think of a more unprincipled, despicable conduct. These empty, notoriety-hungry hangers-on and upstarts need to find relevance, so they concoct. No, I believe we were all too busy and self-centered -- that is, focused on our individual creative grooves -- to think "dominance"! Writers are human. I shudder to think how I must sometimes appear to others. J.P. remains as irrepressible, contumacious and irascible as he was during that creative ferment of the early '60s. Christopher was ebullient. Chinua mostly hid himself away in Lagos, intervening robustly in Mbari affairs with deceptive disinclination. Perception of Chinua, J.P. and I as "personal enemies"? The word "enemy" is strong and wrong. The Civil War split up a close-knit literary coterie, of which "the quartet" formed a self-conscious core. That war engendered a number of misapprehensions. Choices were made, some regrettable, and even thus admitted by those who made them. Look, I never considered General Gowon, who put me in detention, my enemy, even though at the time, I was undeniably bitter at the experience, the circumstances, at the man who authorized it and contributing individuals -- including Chief Tony Enahoro, who read out a fabricated confession to a gathering of national and international media. But the war did end. New wars (some undeclared) commenced. Chief Enahoro and I would later collaborate in a political initiative -- though I never warmed up to him personally, I must confess. Gowon and I, by contrast, became good friends. He attended my birthday celebrations, presided at my most recent Nigerian award -- the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize. J.P. was present, with his wife, Ebun. What does that tell you? Before that, I had hosted them in my Abeokuta den on a near full-day visit. Would Achebe, if he had been able and was in Nigeria, have joined us? Perhaps. But he certainly wouldn't have been present at the Awolowo award event. That is a different kettle of fish, a matter between him and Awolowo -- which, however, Chinua did let degenerate into tribal charges. Well, then, this prospect that "my 1986 Nobel Prize in literature poisoned my personal relationship with a supposedly resentful Achebe" -- I think I shouldn't dodge that, either. Even if that was true -- which I do not accept -- it surely has dissipated over time. For heaven's sake, over 25 people have taken the prize since then! The problem remains with those vicarious laureates who feel personally deprived, and thus refuse to let go. Chinua's death was an opportunity to prize open that scab all over again. But they've now gone too far with certain posturings and should be firmly called to order and silenced -- in the name of decency. I refer to that incorrigible sect -- no other word for it -- some leaders of which threatened Buchi Emecheta early in her career -- that she had no business engaging in the novel, since this was Chinua's special preserve! Incredible? Buchi virtually flew to me for protection; read her own account of that traumatizing experience. It is a Nigerian disease. Nigerians need to be purged of a certain kind of arrogance of expectations, of demand, of self-attribution, of a spurious sense and assertion of entitlement. It goes beyond art and literature. It covers all aspects of interaction with others. Wherever you witness a case of "It's mine, and no other's"; "It's ours, not theirs," at various levels of vicarious ownership, such aggressive voices, 90 percent of the time, are bound to be Nigerians. This is a syndrome I have had cause to confront defensively with hundreds of Africans and non-Africans. It is what plagues Nigeria at the moment -- it's my/our turn to rule, and if I/we cannot, we shall lay waste the terrain. Truth is, predictably, part of the collateral damage on that terrain. Yes, these are the ones who, to co-opt your phrasing, "diminished (and still diminish) Chinua's image." In the main, they are, ironically, his assiduous, but basically opportunistic, hagiographers -- especially of a clannish, cabalistic temperament. Chinua -- we have to be frank here -- also did not help matters. He did make one rather unfortunate statement that brought down the hornet's nest on his head, something like: "The fact that Wole Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize does not make him the Asiwaju [leader] of African literature." I forget now what provoked that statement. Certainly it could not be traced to any such pretensions on my part. I only recollect that it was in the heat of some controversy -- on a national issue, I think. But let us place this in context. Spats between writers, artists, musicians, scientists, even architects and scientific innovators, et cetera, are notorious. They are usually short-lived -- though some have been known to last a lifetime. This particular episode was at least 20 years ago. Unfortunately, some of Chinua's cohorts decided that they had a mission to prosecute a matter regarding which they lacked any vestige of understanding or competence or, indeed, any real interest. It is, however, a life crutch for them, and they cannot let go. What they are doing now -- and I urge them to end it shamefacedly -- is to confine Chinua's achievement space into a bunker over which hangs an unlit lamp labeled "Nobel." Is this what the literary enterprise is about? Was it the Nobel that spurred a young writer, stung by Eurocentric portrayal of African reality, to put pen to paper and produce Things Fall Apart? This conduct is [a] gross disservice to Chinua Achebe and disrespectful of the life-engrossing occupation known as literature. How did creative valuation descend to such banality? Do these people know what they're doing? They are inscribing Chinua's epitaph in the negative mode of thwarted expectations. I find that disgusting. China, with her vast population, history, culture -- arts and literature -- celebrated her first Nobel Prize in literature only last year. Yet I have been teaching Chinese literature on and off -- within comparative literary studies -- for over 40 years. Am I being instructed now that those writers needed recognition by the Nobel for me to open such literary windows to my students? Do these strident, cacophonous Nigerians know how much literature -- and of durable quality -- radiates the world? Let me add this teacher complaint: Far too many Nigerians -- students of literature most perniciously -- are being programmed to have no other comparative literary structure lodged in their mental scope than W.S. vs. C.A. Such crass limitation is being pitted against the knowledgeable who, often wearily, but obedient to sheer intellectual doggedness, feel that they owe a duty to stop the march of confident ignorance. For me personally, it is galling to have everything reduced to the Nigerian enclave, where, to make matters even more acute, there are supposedly only those two. It makes me squirm. I teach the damned subject -- literature -- after all. I do know something about it. So let me now speak as a teacher. It is high time these illiterates were openly instructed that Achebe and Soyinka inhabit different literary planets, each in its own orbit. If you really seek to encounter -- and dialogue with -- Chinua Achebe in his rightful orbit, then move out of the Nigerian entrapment and explore those circuits coursed by the likes of Hemingway. Or Maryse Conde. Or Salman Rushdie. Think Edouard Glissant. Think Ngugi wa Thiong'o. Think Earl Lovelace. Think José Saramago. Think Bessie Head. Think Syl Cheney-Coker, Yambo Ouologuem, Nadine Gordimer. Think Patrick Chamoiseau. Think Toni Morrison. Think Hamidou Kane. Think Shahrnush Parsipur. Think Tahar Ben Jelloun. Think Naguib Mahfouz -- and so on and on along those orbits in the galaxy of fiction writers. In the meantime, let us quit this indecent exercise of fatuous plaints, including raising hopes, even now, with talk of "posthumous" conferment, when you know damned well that the Nobel committee does not indulge in such tradition. It has gone beyond "sickening." It is obscene and irreverent. It desecrates memory. The nation can do without these hyperactive jingoists. Can you believe the kind of letters I receive? Here is one beauty -- let me quote: I told these people, leave it to Wole Soyinka -- he will do what is right. We hear Ben Okri, Nuruddin Farah, even Chimamanda Adichie are being nominated. This is mind-boggling. Who are they? Chinua can still be awarded the prize, even posthumously. We know you will intervene to put those upstarts in their place. I've assured people you will do what is right. Alfred Nobel regretted that his invention, dynamite, was converted to degrading use; hence his creation of the Nobel Prize, as the humanist counter to the destructive power of his genius. If he thought that dynamite was eviscerating in its effects, he should try some of the gut-wrenching concoctions of Nigerian pontificators. Please, let these people know that I am not even a member of Alfred's Academy that decides such matters. As a "club member," however, I can nominate, and it is no business of literary ignoramuses whom, if any, I do nominate. My literary tastes are eclectic, sustainable and unapologetic. Fortunately, thousands of such nominations -- from simply partisan to impeccably informed -- pour in annually from all corners of the globe to that cold corner of the world called Sweden. Humiliating as this must be for many who carry that disfiguring hunch, the national ego, on their backs, Nigeria is not the center of the Swedish electors' world, nor of the African continent, nor of the black world -- nor of the rest of the world, for that matter. In fact, right now Nigeria is not the center of anything but global chagrin. Chinua is entitled to better than being escorted to his grave with that monotonous, hypocritical aria of deprivation's lament, orchestrated by those who, as we say in my part of the world, "dye their mourning weeds a deeper indigo than those of the bereaved." He deserves his peace. Me too! And right now, not posthumously. It is not all bleakness and aggravation, however -- I have probably given that impression, but the stridency of cluelessness, sometimes willful, has reached the heights of impiety. Vicarious appropriation is undignified, and it runs counter to the national pride it ostensibly promotes. Other voices are being drowned -- or placed in a false position -- who value and express the sensibilities between, respect the subtle threads that sustain, writers, even in their different orbits. My parting tribute to Chinua will therefore take the form of the long poem I wrote to him when he turned 70, after my participation in the celebrations at Bard College. I plan for it to be published on the day of his funeral -- my way of taunting death, by pursuing that cultural, creative, even political communion that unites all writers with a decided vision of the possible -- and even beyond the grave. This article originally ran under the name "Achebe a Celebrated Storyteller, but No Father of African Literature, Says Soyina" at Sahara Reporters, an online community of international reporters and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features and news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Get what we're watching delivered to your inbox everyday! Sign up for our daily video newsletter below. Page 1 of 8 NEXT PAGE > Powered by Livefyre 0


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Photos: Royals Wives Food Drive underway
Today is day one of the Royals Wives Food Drive. Food will be collected outside of Rivals Sports Bar on Friday and Saturday. Fans are encouraged to drop off "kid-friendly" non-perishable food items. Suggested food items for donation include peanut butter and canned soups, pastas, canned fruits and vegetables.
A silent auction with one-of-a-kind Royals memorabilia will be held on both Friday and Saturday. Mystery grab bags featuring autographed baseballs will be available for purchase on Saturday. The grab bags are $20. Autographed player photo cards are also available for $10. Proceeds from the food drive go to the Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday matinee lineup
The Royals look for the series win over Detroit in a 1:10 start today. Brian Bannister starts for the Royals while lefty Dontrelle Willis will take the mound for Detroit.
Here's your Kansas City lineup:
(DeJesus – RF); (Podsednik – LF); (Callaspo – 3B); (Butler – 1B); (Guillen – DH); (Ankiel – CF); (Betancourt – SS); (Kendall – C); (Getz – 2B); (Bannister – P)


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You are posting a comment about...
The Results Are In!
We asked: Will you go to part two of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie? A resounding 72% of you said Yes! 3% of you said No, and the 24% of you were not quite sure. Make sure you read or reread the book to catch all of the details that the movie misses. Ten points to Gryffindor for voting!
Join us for Teen Tuesdays on August 2 for board games and lots of fun!


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AL Lunar Program
Posted 22 November 2012 - 07:24 PM
Working through the AL list has been so enjoyable that I've decided to start working on the Lunar II Program after I finish this one. That one will be a bit more intimidating with the sketching and all, but it will undoubtedly teach me how to really concentrate on viewing the Moon in detail.
So far this Lunation, my favorite targets have been Mons Pico, Mons Piton and most especially Rupes Recta. The view of Rupes Recta last night was awesome! The toughest object so far has been the tiny Herschel J crater that I viewed this evening with the SPI 60mm f/20. It's been partly cloudy here all afternoon, but there was enough breaks in the clouds this evening to quickly set up the 60mm refractor and binoculars and check off another handful of targets.
I highly recommend the AL Lunar Program for anyone else who, like me, has never taken the time to study the Lunar landscape.
Posted 23 November 2012 - 09:47 AM
Posted 23 November 2012 - 09:36 PM
Posted 29 November 2012 - 10:52 AM
Posted 02 December 2012 - 10:48 PM
Posted 03 December 2012 - 02:14 PM
I cannot wait to get started, but it has been raining for the last few days.
Posted 03 December 2012 - 05:03 PM
Now that I have taken that time thanks to this observing program, I am finding the the Moon is an amazing object. The more I learn the more I want to view, and am looking forward to starting Lunar II program and expand my knowledge (and observing skills) further. The sketching requirement bits of the program are a bit intimidating, but... I bought a tin of sketching pencils.
One cool thing is that it is an object for all optics and nights when the sky isn't so great for fainter objects, from binoculars to my 60mm /f20 refractor that I can just walk outside at a momemts notice to my 4" f/13 that I have to mount on the CGEM DX and then the 8" SCT if I am looking for some tiny objects. It is all fantastic. I am really looking forward to a binocular viewer early next year!
Posted 03 December 2012 - 08:43 PM
Don't know if I'll redo everything or not. Maybe. Seeing them at different phases could be interesting.
This one I like for the selenography lesson included.
Haven't looked to see how much overlap there is.
Posted 05 December 2012 - 09:36 AM
Posted 07 December 2012 - 11:33 PM
.....and one more. This one is heavy duty. The pdf says members only, but it will load.
Posted 11 December 2012 - 01:00 PM
As long as the weather cooperates, I should be able to finish up with 'Old Moon in New Moon's Arms' and 'Crescent Moon, Waxing' this weekend and submit the log to AL.
Posted 11 December 2012 - 07:46 PM
(hate getting up early, too!!!!)
Posted 15 December 2012 - 02:12 PM
Posted 20 December 2012 - 11:33 PM
Posted 21 December 2012 - 12:19 AM
I'm hoping when I finish the Brandon EP set that I will have a decent lunation. The new EP curse is killing me right now. Skies are clear here tonight but 15+ mph wind is keeping me inside.
Posted 13 February 2013 - 08:25 PM
Posted 14 February 2013 - 09:15 PM
The weather finally cooperated and I was able to log 'Old Moon in New Moon's Arms' and 'Crescent Moon, Waxing' Monday evening. I had also lacked the crater Endymion binocular observation, but the skies cleared enough this evening allowing me to finish the Lunar I program!
Posted 14 February 2013 - 11:07 PM
.....and one more. This one is heavy duty. The pdf says members only, but it will load.
The certificate and pin are only available to RASC members who complete the objectives. It is a good program, strongly linked to Rukl's atlas, and takes a little discipline to finish, but is very rewarding.
Posted 15 February 2013 - 09:54 AM
The certificate and pin are only available to RASC members who complete the objectives. It is a good program, strongly linked to Rukl's atlas, and takes a little discipline to finish, but is very rewarding.
Hi Dave. That does look like a very interesting program. I am thinking about joining the RASC next month. On the web site I only see certificates mentioned, but do see images of pins.
Do you know if one is required to be a member of the RASC before they commence working on a certificate program?
Posted 15 February 2013 - 10:32 PM
I believe it would suffice to be a member at the time of application. Welcome to the RASC!
Posted 16 March 2013 - 05:01 PM
I did make a nice start on the AL Lunar II program: Mare Australe, Mare Spumans, Mare Humboltianum, Mare Undarum, Mare Marginis and Mare Smythii logged last night with a favorable libration.
Posted 26 March 2013 - 05:42 PM
Posted 26 March 2013 - 09:13 PM
I've been so bloody busy with school and work that I haven't gotten to do much more than glance up at the sky. Haven't seen PanStarrs.......did get to see the big east coast meteor the other night though. Sigh. Can't wait for summer.


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Salerno Electric Fireplace
- $ 524 62 524.62
- Shipping
About this item
Sophisticated and rustic, this handsome burnt oak fireplace conveys charm and style. The flaws, cracks and distressing in the finish are natural and add character to the design. Detailed carving and scrolled columns frame the antiqued mirror that surrounds the firebox. Portability and ease of assembly are just two of the reasons why our fireplace mantels are perfect for your home. Requiring no electrician or contractor for installation allows instant remodeling without the usual mess or expense. In addition to your living room or bedroom, try moving this fireplace to your dining room for a romantic dinner or complement your media room. Use this great functional fireplace to make your home a more welcoming environment.
- Wood – burnt oak finish
- Antique mirror
- Mantle – hardwood, engineered wood, particle board, ash veneer with antique mirror
- Firebox – metal, glass and resin
- Firebox remote control – plastic and batteries
- Joints are combination of stapled, nailed and or glued
- Frame is hardwood
- Firebox is sealed unit
General Information:
- Firebox provides realistic flickering flame effect
- Adjustable flame brightness
- Easy to use adjustable temperature control
- Will heat 1500 cubic feet in 24 minutes (14' x 14' x 8')
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
45" W x 15.5" D x 40.5" H
Component Country


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Whiskey Town
by Craig Bridger, 11/28/2012
The JakeWalk (left) and Highlands. Photos: Phil Kline
- more in nightlife/
As the days get shorter and chilly winds blow across the City, rather than curse the cold, take advantage of the opportunity to indulge in the perfect remedy—whiskey, aqua vitae, the water of life. Whether it hails from Scotland, Ireland, Japan or the good ol' US of A, there are few things more satisfying than a stiff dram among good company in a cozy, stiff-dram-drinking establishment. And in New York City, the whiskey enthusiast is spoiled with myriad inviting places to warm his insides with a rare malt or small-batch bourbon. Here, nine of our favorite places to defrost.


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Patient's Bill Soars As Obamacare Plan Falters
September 10, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Coping with advanced cancer, Bev Veals was in the hospital for chemo this summer when she got a call that her health plan was shutting down....
Sep-10-13 11:49 AM Agree | Disagree
This was actually a positive story for Obamacare if you read past the unintellegencer headline.>>
This is an ASSOCIATED PRESS story, not written by any staff at the Wheeling paper. But you keep blaming a newspaper for publishing an article that you don't like. Why is it that liberal lemmings like you cannot accept ANY criticism of their stupid policies?
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
oldman, do you have an argument to make, or are you just muttering nonsense and clicking Post Comment? Apparently we're witnessing a new form of age-related dementia.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Wheeling, typical rightie reaction, the truth hurts. You faux nooz viewers are all the same . Misinformed.
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Considering she had serious cancer treatment, a three grand copay seems pretty cheap. I had some heart work for what turned out to be a minor problem, but the hospital insisted on keeping me for two days for "observation". For a catheterization and x-ray exam my co-pay was $4000. Considering the bill was $24,000, that's not too bad. Take a look at your policy. Even after the deductible, you almost certainly have a copay, usually 20%, until you hit your stop loss. These days', that can be $10,000.
Remember, it's "health INSURANCE", not health care.
Heard a very interesting talk today from a professor at Northwestern University. One year survival rates for heart disease in the US is significantly higher than Canada and the UK, and five year is almost double. Cancer is even worse for those countries. These are stats from their government health agencies, not some propaganda mill. And supplied by a prof at a very liberal university.
Ain't national healt
3 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
oldmansvan said "These righties like phony right wing propaganda. They can't handle the truth."
Right on oldmansvan! The American people are really tired of the lies from the media, Fox news included. You should tell them the truth about Benghazi, and the real story behind Fast and Furious. The righties need to be set straight. Don't be shy, dish that truth out and we'll see how those righties handle it. Throw in the truth about Obama's stand on Syria too. The righties are all over the place on that one.
2 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Obamacare is killing the American Dream of a 40 hour job with good benefits.
A 40 hour job with bennies is a LUXURY today. Companies are hiring 29.5 hour TEMP EMPLOYEES now.
No benefits, no long term commitment and they are not eligible for unionization!
No wonder big corporations profits are up but it is a jobless recovery.
Even the Teamsters Union are running commercials on talk radio urging the listeners to contact their congressman and demand a REPEAL of OBAMACARE!!!
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
The more it fails the more excuses we hear. The best excuse it to wait and see... I keep waiting. I keep seeing failure.
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Whiny liberals want health insurance to cover unlimited amounts of health care but want to pay very little for said health insurance.
Question-if Americans each pay $6,000 per year for health coverage and 50% of Americans use an average of $13,000 per year in coverage, who will pay the difference?
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
same old comments from the same old blow hards. such a bore.
2 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
These righties like phony right wing propaganda. They can't handle the truth.
2 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ohiodem "If Obama would have bombed Syria the Republicans would have him up on impeachment charges by now."
You mean like they impeached him on Libya? After Barry Benghazi's shameful record of multiple fatal failures in Benghazi and Fast and Furious, Republicans know the Democrit Senate wouldn't convict Barry Benghazi for anything. Barry Benghazi has a license to kill. I'm surprised he's been so timid on acting in Syria. What does he have to lose? Credibility? LOL
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Obamacare has done nothing to change access to quality care. The only thing it will change is the paradigm so that the federal government takes the profit from private industry. OHIODEM: "The fact is she has to pay some extra until the Obamacare exchanges kick in. " Watch out for that "extra". See if it ever goes away.
2 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ohiodem "This was actually a positive story for Obamacare if you read past the unintellegencer headline. She would not have insurance at all if not for Obamacare."
So while Obamacare failed, at least it "positively" failed. Rich. LOL
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
VRWC If Obama would have bombed Syria the Republicans would have him up on impeachment charges by now. All the Republicans were demanding a vote on Syria, he gives them a vote now they claim he is not leading. Republicans like that nut case Cruz was wanting to bomb Syria two weeks ago now since Obama says we need to bomb them he is against it. It has been shown time and again the Republicans just want to shut the government down since they can't win elections. The Republicans invented Romneycare until Obama adopted the plan then it suddenly became Obamacare and now it is no good. The only way they can win elections anymore is prevent people from voting, they even admit it themselves. Todays Republicans make Reagan look like a bleeding heart liberal.
2 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
This was actually a positive story for Obamacare if you read past the unintellegencer headline. She would not have insurance at all if not for Obamacare. The problem is those states controlled by Republicans are trying to through every monkey wrench they can to screw up the program. The fact is she has to pay some extra until the Obamacare exchanges kick in.
2 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
YEs goosy, it is good for lemmings. As Obama's biggest lemming, you would certainly know. Where is your dear leader on Syria today? Did he draw a red line or not? Are we going in with an incredibly small strike? Is he pondering his choices on the golf course today? And the big questions is: Are you going to respond with your typical "Mommy, he hit me first" excuse.
3 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ah, more bait for the lemmings.
3 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
When you try to govern from political ideology and not reality you will have failure afte failure. Obamacare was Obama's line in the sand, he was going to show everyone that he would take from the rich (that is the middle class to him) and give to the poor. Now no one was much insurance and it is going to get much worse. The effect has just started, when it is full bore Obama care you medical care will be like a 3rd world country. But..Obama's voting block of freeloaders, addicts and perverts DO have free health care courtesy of you having less access. Hospitals that used to be able to be surgical centers and cancer centers will be turned into giant free health care clinics. That will be where the gov money will be and that numbers. Health care in America will run with the same efficiency as companies that supply the military and we know how efficient they are. Its about money, yours.
7 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
North Carolina, home of John Boy "the zipper" Edwards, vice presidential candidate and the lawyer who sued all of the drug companies making flue vaccine.
NOW there ARE no USA based companies Making Flue vaccines so we get the crap from Europe, China, and Malaysia. Ummm Ummh UMMMMMMH!
Thanks, Johnny "that's not my child" Boy.
4 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
What is she complaining about, prior to the AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT her insurance company would have shut down and she would have been totally uninsurable due to PRE EXISTING CONDITION. Why are you blaming Obama when it was the STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA that screwed the pooch in the first place.
4 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
nobomacare will be good for obtaining a band-aid, surgeries, not so much....
5 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Poor woman has the misfortune of living in North Carolina in 2013.
That state was famous for being the single progressive star in the 'New South' recently returned to 'the Old South'. For the first time in over 100 years the Republicans have control of the Governor's office and the State legislature.
Result? Jim Crow is alive and well! Welfare and 'people services' are shutting down to save funding now being transfered to business centered programs. Death panels are the rule of the day. 'Voter ID' and 'Drug testing' before food stamps being authorized are the current goals.
Avoid North Carolina, for that matter avoid anywhere 'down South'!
5 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
but But but Opie said it would be FREEEEEEEE!
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I think it looks pretty good so far...
Here it is, my first ever attempt to make a map in GIMP! It's a church meant to be a battleground for an online game I hope to run.
First Floor
I appreciate any and all comments. Particularly to do with technique, as I'm basically winging it after following a few online tutorials. I hope you enjoy it!
Last edited by ZeroPoint; 08-11-2010 at 11:18 PM.
I think it looks pretty good so far...
My Finished Maps | My Challenge Maps | Ghoraja Juun, my largely stagnated campaign setting.
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Thank you! Is there anything that looks off, or could use a quick touch-up? I am particularly worried that the maps look bland, that my skill at applying shadows might need a little work, and that colors/elements might clash with each other. I've been working on it for a while now and am afraid that my eye glosses over problems which might be apparent to a first time viewer.
Here some content help.
Staircase cannot be butted against a wall you need to have space to get on or off the stairs. The only staircase that well placed on your map is the one in the upper right corner because it has a 90 degree turn in the middle.
You may want to add some pews for the congregations to sit down.
"The map is not the territory. The man is not the file."
-Kevin Usher
Thanks, and now that you mention it it's really obvious. I don't know what I was thinking there with the steps.
As to the pews, I put the big carpets there so that worshippers can sit on the floor, which is how this religion works. The real reason I did that was to open up the space so that combat can be unrestricted in it, but the in-universe reason is that people just sit on the cushy carpets instead of seats.
I'll correct the stairs and update the pics shortly! Thank you!
Ok, I made a quick change to the staircases to make them look better, and uploaded the images without grid lines this time for kicks. I realized too late that my background in the upstairs image still has grids, oops. Hopefully it isn't too distracting.
First Floor
Second Floor
I'm kind of curious how the building would look outside, and I'm also curious in what time or technology-level this plays, since the Church looks kind of modern, so I'll assume it is a modern setting. Otherwise the unsupported width of the roof seems VERY large.
It does look a bit empty, and you may want to start to play a bit with light and shadow to make the map a bit more interesting if you want to keep it empty. Absence of furniture is bound to lead to emptyness...


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- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
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- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Nov 16, 2010
- Channel: Auction House
We have just purchased a Wonderful Large 1000-2000 Piece Collection of Concord Dollhouse Wooden Miniatures from 1989. All these Quality Miniatures are Brand New, Most in their Original Boxes and have been in storage since 1989. This Auction is for a Beautiful Medium Dark Stained Wood and Brick Mirrored Fireplace Radio. It is 4 1/4" Wide, 2 1/4" Deep, 7 1/2" High. The furniture is 1" to 1' Scale. Please view all the pictures for condition, and bid accordingly. We pick up a couple hundred "Vintage Pieces" each week!! Please check in often to see what we uncover. We will be listing about 5 pieces each day. If you need something you don't see, please email (address below). Due to their 20 plus years in storage, it is possible that, glue or hardware may come loose in shipping (an easy fix). While we don't expect this to happen often, please be aware that it could. We have also noticed that on a very few items a piece of hardware may have become tarnished. If we notice it we will point it out in the listing. However let the pictures be your guide. We have Duplicates of Almost All Items, so if you need more than one, simply let us know. If you are looking for particular pieces, please email and we will list them or make them a "Buy it Now" if we have them. .PLEASE VIEW OUR "BRAND NEW" EBAY STORE. WE WILL BE ADDING HUNDREDS OF "VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE" ITEMS INCLUDING BOXED POSTWAR LIONEL AND STANDARD GAUGE TRAINS AND MANY TYPES OF TOYS AND DOLLS OVER THE NEXT MONTH. Please Note: Our Miniatures are "Adult Collectibles", and not suitable for young children as there are many small parts which could become a choking hazard. For Safety, Our Miniatures are sold specifically to Adults and for Adults. Please view more DOLL and DOLL RELATED items in our Auction Listings and in our "New Ebay Store", just Please note: Our expertise is in Pre World War II Model Trains, however we obtain many vintage collectibles. Please email questions; we will do our best to answer them for you. As all of our listings, it is offered with a very Low starting price and NO Reserve, and as is and as shown with no returns. Serious bidders only, please. Payment is appreciated within 4 days. Payments by Paypal usually go out the day after payment is received. NJ residents must include the 7% sales tax. The buyer pays the cost of shipping (no packaging, handling or any other fees). If you have questions please email. Our new email address is We will be more than happy to combine items (that can be safely be packed together) in order to save you shipping costs. We will ship anywhere in the world. Foreign bidders must pay by Paypal or in American Funds. The cost of International shipping will be determined at the end of the auction. Customs fees for international buyers, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer. Regarding our policy: Our Ebay rating is Important to us. We will leave positive feedback for you, after you have received the item, are satisfied, and have left positive feedback for us. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied, please contact us immediately and we will make every effort possible to resolve the problem. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ITEMS, AND OUR "NEW" EBAY STORE, AND CONSIDER ADDING US TO YOUR FAVORITES. "IMPORTANT" EVERY ITEM IN OUR STORE WILL BE LISTED AS A "MAKE OFFER" TO SAVE YOU MONEY!!!!! WE RECEIVE MANY QUALITY VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE ITEMS DAILY. Thank you for looking and have a Wonderful Day!!!!!!!!!!!!


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GAHAGAN, Sebastian
Born: fl.1800, Dublin, Ireland
Died: fl.1835
(Amgueddfa Cymru regrets that we are not able to provide an image for this item at this time. This is either due to copyright restrictions, or the item is awaiting digitisation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.)
NMW A 395General Sir Thomas Picton (1758-1815)


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Maximum Bob (Mass Market Paperback)
Hard-ass Palm Beach County judge Bob Isom Gibbs enjoys sending even petty offenders away to do hard time -- which has made the list of miscreants who want him dead longer than a fully grown Florida gator's tail. And a good number of his illwishers are probation officer Kathy Baker's clients, including young Dale Crowe and his psycho uncle Elvin. Now, Kathy's got an even more daunting task than keeping BIG's horny hands off her: keeping "Maximum Bob" alive. Because Gibbs's many enemies seem to be willing to go to any lengths -- be it death by amphibian or some more tried-and-true method -- to permanently end the career of an oversexed, racist jurist who's more interested in scoring than in saving his own red neck.
About the Author
Elmore Leonard has written more than forty books during his highly successful writing career, including the bestsellers Road Dogs, Up in Honey's Room, The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, and Tishomingo Blues, and the critically acclaimed collection of short stories When the Women Come Out to Dance. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Be Cool. Justified, the new hit series from FX, is based on Leonard's character Raylan Givens, who appears in Riding the Rap, Pronto, and the story "Fire in the Hole." Leonard is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from PEN USA and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife, Christine, in Bloomfield Village, Michigan.


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WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told fellow House Democrats Wednesday that she will run to keep her leadership position, likely extending her tenure as Democratic leader for another two years.
"I have made a decision to submit my name to my colleagues to once again serve as the House Democratic leader," Pelosi said at a press conference following a meeting with fellow Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
On the 10th anniversary of her election as Democratic leader, Pelosi said her colleagues had made their desire for her to remain as leader "very clear." There had been mounting speculation that the 72-year-old California Democrat might step aside and yield to younger figures in the party.
Pelosi served two terms as speaker of the House, the first woman to ever hold that role, from 2007-2011, during which time she oversaw House passage of President Barack Obama's landmark health reform law. She has also taken a special interest in advancing legislation intended to address the effects of climate change, prompting a vote on a "cap-and-trade" bill in 2009 which eventually stalled in the Senate.
Republicans seemed almost giddy about the announcement.
"There is no better person to preside over the most liberal House Democratic Caucus in history than the woman who is solely responsible for relegating it to a prolonged minority status," said Paul Lindsay, the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
As part of her decision to stay aboard, Pelosi said that New York Rep. Steve Israel had agreed to serve a second term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Israel helped Democrats pick up seats in the most recent election.
Pelosi's decision also means the top leadership in the House would presumably remain the same for the next two years:
-- John Boehner as speaker
-- Eric Cantor as majority leader
-- Pelosi as minority leader
-- Steny Hoyer as minority whip.


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Colorado Disc Sports Association
Supporting, Enhancing and Promoting Disc Sports Throughout Colorado.
Thanks to donations from the CDSA, MHDGC and Birdie Disc Golf, 2 new baskets have been replaced at Ken Caryl Ranch. This is one of Colorado's oldest disc golf courses, established in the late 1970's.
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ACHICA > Natures Purest > Natures Purest Pure Love Pack of 4 Activity Bricks
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Natures Purest Pure Love Pack of 4 Activity Bricks
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Note: All the Natures Purest products come beautifully packaged in recycled presentation gift boxes, making them perfect gifts too.
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Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Al Jefferson posted 21 points and 10
rebounds to pace the Utah Jazz to an 86-77 win over the Portland Trail
Paul Millsap contributed 15 points, Randy Foye 14 and DeMarre Carroll 13 for
Utah, which raced out to a big first-half lead and won for the seventh time in
its last nine contests.
Rookie Damian Lillard, who played college ball at Weber State, scored 26 for
Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge ended with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews was helped off the court in the third
quarter with a severely sprained right ankle. Matthews isn't expected to play
in the rematch Saturday night in Portland.
The Sports Network


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Worked With:
Peter Fonda
Birth Name: Peter Fonda
Born: 02/23/1940
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born: 02/23/1940
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born Feb. 23, 1940 in New York, NY to his famous father, actor Henry Fonda and financier Frances Ford Seymour, Fonda was the younger brother of big sis, Jane. Tragically, his mother took her own life when he was just 10 and on his 11th birthday, he accidentally shot himself - nearly dying as well. As he grew older, the tormented Fonda traded his Eastern boarding school existence for the Midwestern stability of his Aunt Harriet and Uncle Jack's Omaha, Nebraska - Henry Fonda's hometown. It was there that he first gravitated to the stage, acting in the same community playhouse that had once nurtured his father, before quickly moving to Broadway in 1961 and starring as the earnest Private Ogleto... Continue Bio >>
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Tampa, Florida -- The city has fast tracked more than a dozen projects so that Tampa shines during the Republican National Convention.
The latest to be completed are the new water lights unveiled on Friday.
But not everything will look so good. For example the Hut, a closed restaurant across from the Forum, still sits empty and looks more abandoned than ready to be rented.
"It would have been nice to have a park there or a fountain, but we don't. So we don't think about the bad stuff, we focus on the good stuff," Mayor Bob Buckhorn said of the building, which is privately owned.
The good stuff, the mayor says, includes the 36 dilapidated boat slips along Bayshore which have been taken out and the beautification of the city's most famous thoroughfare, Bayshore Boulevard. Buckhorn also points to the replacement of dozens of downtown trees and plants as well as the improvements to the "Opportunity Corridors" or to the main roads leading into downtown.
Still the widening of I-275 between Bearss Avenue and I-75 will not be completed before the convention starts on August 27th and it will be used by Texas delegates staying in Pasco County.
Neither will the reconstruction of I-275 through downtown, which will be the road used by thousands staying in Pinellas County. In fact, the reconstruction project between downtown and the airport was stopped years ago and won't resume until after the convention.
The work currently being done on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway right in front of the Forum will also not be finished before Republican delegates begin arriving.
Yet, Convention Chief Operating Officer Michael Miller didn't think the sight of construction barrels would be a problem.
"I have not heard that as a real problem from our transportation company. They seem to think our system will move and I have not heard of impediments due to construction.
When asked if the construction would be an aesthetics issue, Miller said it did not bother him.
To make the area look better and ensure traffic does run smooth, Florida Department of Transportation officials say no major work will be done the week of August 27th.
"Specifically we won't be doing any lane closures, anything that will impede the progress of people coming to and from the events," FDOT Public Information Officer John McShaffrey told 10 News on Monday. He added work sites will also be cleaned up next week.
But taken all together, the mayor insists the city will be ready.
"I think when folks see this community, when they see the warmth of this community and the beauty of this community and they see those bridges light up at night and they see the minarets light up and get to interact with our citizens, hear their stories... I don't know how anybody could not spend time here and not fall in love with Tampa."


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The hypothesis prior to the study was that microlot coffee production may have both positive and negative impacts on communities, with positive impacts including recognition for effort and a return on investment in quality and negative impacts including feelings of envy and competition among fellow community members. The study design aimed to clarify the elements of microlot coffee production that contribute to its success and the areas that need improvement. Data was collected through 13 semi-structured, open-ended, qualitative interviews with microlot-producing and non-microlot-producing members of the cooperative, two interviews with CENFROCAFE staff members who work in these communities, and one facilitated community meeting.
We examined common themes and differences among members, as well as among members and Cenfrocafe representatives. Both microlot-producing members and non-microlot-producing members expressed support for the program and its continuation. Price incentives and pride emerged as the primary motivators for exerting extra effort, and members unanimously feel supportive of the microlot achievement of other community members. At the same time, all members expressed a desire to see the program evolve to address some commonly-cited areas for improvement, including the cupping and scoring system used by CENFROCAFE and Counter Culture Coffee and the on-farm infrastructure required for production of high-quality coffee. CENFROCAFE's staff demonstrated even more positive feelings overall, with a desire to create more, similar opportunities for growers in other communities of members as a top priority.
Limitations of the study include: small sample size, lack of diversity among sample, consideration for cultural congruency of the research design, and the survey instrument. Recommendations for enhancements of the partnership between CENFROCAFE and members as well as for CENFROCAFE and Counter Culture Coffee are addressed. Suggestions for future research are explored with an emphasis on a more participatory approach and an additional focus on economic impact of microlots.
Kim Elena
Kim Elena


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View galleryRajon Rondo. Photo by Keith Allison.
COMMENTARY | Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the most entertaining players in the NBA. But now that the Celtics' chances of a championship in the near future are slim, the time to cut ties between Boston and Rondo has come.
The following five reasons, in no particular order, outline the most important advantages to dealing one of the league's most enigmatic stars:
1. The Celtics have no chance of winning in the near future
After six seasons of competitive basketball, Boston is no longer a powerhouse team with a legitimate chance of winning a title. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls all are significantly better than the Celtics (and that's just in the Eastern Conference). If there is no chance of winning a title, it makes more sense to trade Rondo as he is coming into his prime so that Boston can get the most out of a deal for him without having to worry about jeopardizing its own season.
2. Losing Rondo makes the Celtics one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference
An entire season without Rondo will surely make Boston one of the worst teams in the NBA, which may very well be a positive spot for the Celtics to be in. Boston has nine first-round picks in the next five drafts, including three first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and another first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015 that they received for relinquishing rights to former coach Doc Rivers.
Unfortunately, because the Clippers and Nets are both teams on the rise, it's unlikely any of these picks, except possibly the 2018 pick, will be lower than the 20th spot in the draft.
The Celtics' best chance of getting a top spot in the draft will be from their own picks and is heavily dependent on the team's win-loss record. This actually presents an amazing problem for the Celtics: The better the team plays, the worse off the team will be in terms of the draft and rebuilding for the future. While it may upset some fans to hear it, the best decision the team could make for the future is to lose now in order to win later, a strategy that will likely only be successful without Rondo on the floor.
3. His contract is almost up
The more time left on Rondo's current contract, the more the Celtics can expect to get in return in trade. If Boston waits to make a deal too close to the end of 2014-2015 season, when his contract expires, then the team must also worry about finding a trade partner who can negotiate with Rondo over a new contract immediately. Trading Rondo now avoids this problem completely.
Additionally, because Rondo's contract is back-loaded, which means his salary increases each season, it is actually easier to trade him this year when a team only has to worry about matching an $11.9 million salary compared to next season when the contract jumps to $12.9 million. This may seem like an insignificant difference, but the complexity of the NBA salary cap makes every penny count in trade talks.
4. Rondo is not worth a max contract
The alternative to trading Rondo is signing him to a maximum salary contract over at least four seasons. As good as Rondo is, he is not worth that kind of financial commitment in a league where a few bad contracts can hinder a team's ability to make changes for several years.
Yes, Rondo makes everyone else on the floor better, he is capable of outstanding defense, and he creates offensive opportunities on fastbreaks better than anyone. But if he is given a maximum contract, he would likely be the worst scorer of any max-contract guard in recent memory. It cannot be understated: Giving a guard a maximum salary who has career averages of 11.1 points per game, a 3-point average of 24.1 percent and a career free-throw success rate of 62.1 percent would be unheard of and should be avoided at all costs.
Trading Rondo sets up the Celtics for the future
If Boston fails to trade Rondo in the near future, the trade rumors will persist, the team will be forced to either let him go to free agency in two seasons or pay him a max contract -- and the Celtics will miss out on an opportunity to bring in a key young player they would likely be able to attain in return for Rondo. It may not be easy for Boston's front office, but the right move for the organization going forward is to trade Rondo as soon as he can prove he is healthy.
Don't agree with me? Tell me why I am wrong on Twitter @THATCelticsGuy or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Justin Haskins is a New England native and a freelance journalist. He has been obsessively following Boston professional sports for 10 years and has been published in numerous online publications and websites.
Statistics provided by Basketball-reference.com and NBA.com.
Hey...discuss amongst yourselves...


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- 18g
- Three extra flights
- Three extra tips
- Three additional nylon shafts
- Dart wrench
- Plastic slide case


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Charlotte, N.C.--The Carolina Panthers have hired Bruce DeHaven as assistant special teams coach and Lance Taylor as assistant wide receivers coach/quality control, the team said Tuesday.
DeHaven joins the Panthers after spending the previous three seasons (2010-12) with the Buffalo Bills.
In 2012, DeHaven's special teams unit ranked first in the NFL in punt return average and fourth in kickoff return average. In 2011, DeHaven's kickoff coverage unit held opponents to 20.4 yards per return, the best in the NFL.
Also, the team's punt return unit finished third in the NFL with 12.7 yards per punt return. A veteran of 26 NFL seasons, DeHaven previously coached with the Bills from 1987-99 and also coached with the San Francisco 49ers (2000-02), Dallas Cowboys (2003-06) and Seattle Seahawks (2007-09). Prior to entering the NFL, DeHaven spent three seasons (1983-85) coaching in the USFL and four seasons (1979-82) coaching collegiately.
Taylor comes to the Panthers after three seasons with the New York Jets (2010-12).
In 2012, Taylor served as the Jets' assistant tight ends coach/quality control after previously working as offensive quality control coach (2011) and a coaching intern (2010).
Prior to joining the Jets, Taylor was wide receivers coach at Appalachian State (2009). He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for two seasons at his alma mater, the University of Alabama (2007-08). As a player, Taylor walked on at Alabama, played in 38 consecutive games for the Crimson Tide and was named a team captain as a senior in 2003.
Carolina Panthers


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Quick Connect Female Adaptor / Faucet Connector - 3/8" X 7/16"
Watts 1010B-0601 | Our#: 175678
Quick Connect Female Adaptor - 3/8" X 7/16" - 1010B-0601 - 3/8 in. OD x 7/16 in. UNS (10 x 12mm)||
This versatile adaptor allows you to connect a water line via quick disconnect connection to a number of common male threaded fittings like:
- Threaded shanks on drinking / RO Faucets
- Threaded water line connection on the back of your fridge for in-door water dispensor and icemaker
- Threaded connection on self-tapping saddle valve
3/8" Quick connect on one side and threaded 7/16" female thread the other side. Quick-Connect fittings require no special tools and can be installed in seconds. Wrap threads with teflon tape. Plastic tubing must be cut clean and square - use sharp tubing cutter. Clean pipe before inserting. Copper tubing must be cut using rotary pipe cutter - clean and deburr pipe.
- Require no special tools and can be installed in seconds
- Works with any standard CTS-sized pipe - PEX, Polybutylene, Copper, CPVC
- Easy to connect and disconnect
- No internal barb fittings that restrict water flow
- Fitting can be rotated under pressure
Reviewed by 1 customer
Comments about Watts Quick Connect Female Adaptor / Faucet Connector - 3/8" X 7/16":
Although they didn't have all 6 pieces I ordered they sent out the 3 they had and followed up quickly with the back-ordered 3 so I was pleased.


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Staff Report
Published Dec. 4, 2012
U.S. sales of South Carolina-built vehicles climbed 25.6% in November compared with the same month in 2011, the BMW Group reported Monday.
BMW reported 9,786 light trucks – Sports Activity Vehicles – were sold in the United States during November compared with 7,793 for the same month in 2011, BMW said.
The X3 model (pictured, left) was the best-seller among the three models produced by BMW's plant in Spartanburg County, the Munich-based carmaker reported.
November sales of X3s rose 50.5% to 4,172 units, while X6 sales climbed 55.2% to 813 units in the United States. U.S. sales figures for the X5 model, which is also produced at the S.C. plant, were not released.
BMW produces all of its light truck or SAV models at the Spartanburg County plant. Approximately 70% of all vehicles made in South Carolina are shipped overseas through the Port of Charleston to 130 world markets.
Year-to-date, sales of light trucks or SAVs totaled 74,444, a 15.9% increase over 2011's total of 64,232, BMW reported.
Overall, sales of BMW brand cars rose 45% in November and year-to-date were up 10.4%.
For the month, 31,213 BMW brand vehicles were sold compared with 21,521 for November 2011. For the 11 months of 2012, BMW brand sales total 244,061 units, up from 221,073 sold over a similar period last year.
Sales of the 5 Series topped all BMW brands in November, up 64.3% to 5,857 units; the 6 Series rose 67.4% to 919 units.
"Supply is catching up with demand, making November the best sales month on record for BMW in the U.S.," said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO, BMW of North America.
"The momentum is strong in this final month of the year," Willisch said, adding that he was confident BMW Group will set a new U.S. sales record for 2012, beating the previous record year of 2007.


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|Over 200 farmers attend Colorado Ag Classic
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
Attendance at the Colorado Ag Classic continued to grow, as 200 agricultural producers participated in the event held Dec. 12-13 at The Embassy Suites in Loveland. The eighth annual event was jointly hosted by the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers/Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee/Colorado Wheat Research Foundation, Colorado Corn Growers Association/Colorado Corn Administrative Committee, Colorado Sunflower Administrative Committee and Colorado Seed Growers Association.
The Colorado Ag Classic opened the afternoon of Dec. 12 with a panel on "Getting Capital at the Capital." State legislators and representatives of national legislators updated attendees on the current political situations in Colorado and Washington, D.C. and advised farmers on how to best represent themselves to legislators. That evening, a dinner, casino night and auction raised funds for CAWG and CCGA state and national legislative efforts.
Dec. 13 started with a unity breakfast hosted by Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar. The boards of the host organizations discussed issues of common interest to all of the participating organizations.
Salazar opened the general session with remarks on the state of agriculture in Colorado. Keynote speaker Jim Wiesemeyer of Informa Economics presented "Future Factors Affecting Global Agricultural Markets," discussing factors impacting U.S. and global food and agricultural markets over the next decade. Wiesemeyer's presentation was sponsored by CoBank.
"As in past years, the Colorado Ag Classic was an interesting, eye-opening experience. Jim Wiesemeyer gave a realistic assessment of what our country faces, within and without, unless things change dramatically and soon.
"Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe presented a worrisome possibility of a continued long-term drought similar to what was experienced in the 1950s," said Mark Linnebur, CAWG president.
"Another session told us how we might weather the storm with drought tolerant genetics. As always, Dan Maltby gave an entertaining assessment of how he would face the uncertain marketing environment ahead. I went home with a lot to think about and prepare for."
Additional sessions on Dec. 13 included a panel, "When Ag Gets Attacked," and a Workers' Compensation safety meeting was also held during the day.
Holyoke Enterprise December 27, 2012


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Good day all,
I have been having this problem since Zdesktop 2 beta 1. i am using zdesktop 2 beta 3 now.
I use HTML for composing and incoming mail.
but after a few hours of having Zdesktop over all my new emails i am composing or emails that i am replying too, I am see a an old text signature that I use to use months ago in Zdesktop1 .
Any idea why ? Once the signature changes to text i have to quit zdesktop and start it over again.


text: By Tim LinscottManaging Editor With several outstanding performances by female runners from Perkins County at the district meet, the girls cross country team will be in Kearney on Friday (Oct. 25) for the state meet. Sophomore Emily Kemling finished sixth overall (21:14) and senior Courtney Lyon was 10th (22:19) at the district meet in Bayard on Oct. 17. PCS head cross country coach Paula Wurst said, "Emily and Courtney had solid times because they and the rest of the girls train hard every night. If you work hard at practice, you perform well at the meets." The team finished runner-up and all female runners will head to state. The team had 49 team points and Dundy County-Stratton won the district title with 40 team points. Kendra Hoffert finished in 23rd place while Korey Lake was 38th. Lake improved her time by over two and a half minutes and Hoffert ran a personal best at Bayard. Cutting minutes off of times and setting personal records have been beneficial to the PCS girls' squad. "This is why we are district runner-up and why we are going to state," Wurst said. "I am super proud of the girls. We talked on Wednesday about everyone making a difference; everyone has to try to beat as many people as possible to lower the team score. This is true for the fifth runner, because they can break a tie, as well as the first runner. Everyone matters." Jakelynn Broeder was 46th overall. Ninety of the girls at the starting line of the state competition were district medalists, ensuring that the PCS runners will have to be at the top of their game when running in Kearney. "It is intensely competitive. My hope is that they will run well and improve their times from the September meet at Kearney. I don't put hype and expectations on them; you can't carry stress and run well," Wurst said. This is the fourth year in a row for the girls heading to state with the last three being as district runner-up. Top runner for the boys was Matthew Sestak, placing 41st overall, while teammate Coy Aerni was 45th. Dylan Barry came in 53rd, Sam Rowley was 58th, Tyler Thelander was 59th. Finishing 61st was Shane Ourada. The state cross country meet is Friday, Oct. 25 with the Class D girls running at 2 p.m. at the Kearney Country Club.


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I want to set up a ZCS 7.1.3 network edition system with four servers. Two of the servers, the central directory server for ZCS and other applications and the mailstore server, should be in a private network with private RFC 1918 IP addresses and a DNS server for the private network. The other two servers, one MTA handling incoming and outgoing emails and one proxy server for web and IMAP proxying, should have official IP addresses with worldwide resolvable names. Between the two networks there is a packet filtering firewall with two interfaces which NATs the internal network. All in all I have:
Private network with:
- Directory server (192.168.1.10, ds.mydomain.pri)
- Mailstore server (192.168.1.11, ms.mydomain.pri)
Paket filtering firewall
Official network with:
- Mail exchange server (mx2.mydomain.de)
- IMAP/HTTP proxy server (comms.mydomain.de)
Now, the problem is that I can not make the external proxy server talk to the internal mailstore server. Web proxying does not work, nginx gives a "bad gateway" message.
I have a case open at Zimbra with this question but maybe someone here can help. I do not think that my setup is something special so it must be possible somehow.
Does someone have a similar setup and could give me some configuration hints?
Thank you.


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Large dams in West Africa: building dialogue
16 May 2012 | News story
Large dams have brought significant benefits in West Africa and are likely to provide more in the future. Providing electricity, improving irrigation, supplying drinking water are some of the benefits from large dams for communities in the region. Yet, the development of such infrastructures shouldn't come at the expense of ecosystems and the people who depend on them. The implementation of large hydraulic structures requires careful consultation between all stakeholders involved. Lessons from such processes are explained and illustrated in a new publication produced by the IUCN West and Central Africa office.
The report, Regional Dialogue on large water infrastructure in West Africa: Building multi-stackeholder participation frome 2009 to 2011, is published by IUCN in partnership with the Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC) of Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) It describes the various steps and progress of regional consultation, with the objective of contributing to the sustainable development of West African regional integration. The report also elaborates on the development of tools to support investment plans in a coordinated framework.
"It is necessary to learn from past experiences and find ways to minimize negative effects of large hydraulic infrastructures, in order to implement better processes in the future," says Mr Innocent Ouédraogo, Acting Director of the Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC/ECOWAS).
"IUCN is engaged in the international debate on dams and sharing of profits, especially through regional dialogue with ECOWAS. Its strategy is to strengthen the ongoing process of knowledge through research, support for the participation of all stakeholders, including civil society, and promoting good environmental and social practices to meet the challenges posed by the World Dams Commission", said Mr Ousmane Diallo, Water and Wetlands Regional Programme Coordinator of Central and West Africa IUCN Office.
As part of this regional dialogue, among others, the decision-making process during design and construction of three dams selected (Manantali in Mali, Kandadji in Niger and Bui in Ghana) were analyzed by a panel of independent experts. This analysis helped to define best practices and develop guidelines that have been shared and adjusted in consultation with States, basin organizations and civil society, and that will develop a framework directive across the region.


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The accessory label Miansai offers some pretty phenomenal products (and not just because they make a 14K solid gold iphone case). Launched by designer Michael Saiger, Miansai developed a quick reputation for it's signature nautical bracelets which embody an odd mix of the nostalgic and the timeless. Of course this depends somewhat on one's aesthetic, but with a plethora of colorways available to choose from, it is not hard to find the perfect piece.
These bracelets are crafted from either custom military-grade rope or premium Italian leather straps. The most impressive aspect of this bracelet is the metal hook, which is pounded, formed, stamped, and polished by hand. Naturally this process leads to minor variations in size and contour, but that offers an added character and personality to each piece. All in all, It certainly beats scooping some plastic off of a conveyor belt.
Check out the video below which highlights the handiwork which goes into making the "Hook" bracelet.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/31774864 w=400&h=300]


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Photo: President Barack Obama fist-bumps a medical professional in the White House prior to a health-care event in March/Photo courtesy of the White House/Pete Souza
States are just beginning to confront the technology implications of federal health-care reform. At first blush, the new health-care law holds big risks and equally big opportunities for state governments, which will shoulder most of the burden of implementing these sweeping changes.
On March 23, President Barack Obama approved health-care legislation that's expected to extend health insurance to an additional 32 million Americans. About half of those newly insured citizens will get their coverage through state Medicaid programs, thanks to expanded eligibility for these low-income insurance plans. Many of the rest will receive government subsidies to help them afford health coverage.
Technology upgrades could be pivotal to cutting the cost of delivering these new services - a notion that's getting more attention in state houses across the nation, according to Ray Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association.
"There's a lot of opportunity, but it's going to put a big burden on states," said Scheppach, speaking at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) mid-year conference in April. "To me, there is high risk around these changes because the federal government hasn't been willing to put the money in for the upgrade of systems. But there's a high potential benefit for states that do it well."
From an IT perspective, health-care reform hits states from several directions. Medicaid eligibility systems will strain to handle millions of new applicants - and these systems will need to connect with other state and federal systems to accommodate new eligibility requirements. States must decide if their current Medicaid systems can be upgraded or if total replacement is necessary, Scheppach said. Either way, they'll need to add features like online benefits sign-up for Medicaid applicants that let agencies deliver benefits more efficiently.
The health-care legislation also envisions new state-run health insurance exchanges - essentially Web portals that will match citizens with insurance plans that meet their needs. These exchanges will need connectivity to other state and federal systems to determine eligibility for Medicaid coverage or federal subsidies.
In addition, health insurance exchanges - which will aggregate millions of health insurance customers - also could give states leverage to force health insurers and providers to adopt electronic health records (EHRs) and other money-saving technologies.
Using technology to cut the cost of delivering health benefits may prove fundamental to the long-term viability of health-care reform. Governors already worry that growing Medicaid caseloads and a spiraling federal budget deficit could prompt the feds to cut Medicaid reimbursements to states, according to Scheppach, forcing states to pay a larger share of the cost for providing health coverage to low-income families.
"We really have to get the costs down to something that's sustainable," he said.
As state governments struggle to simultaneously expand health-care coverage and cut the cost of providing it, here's a closer look at some of the biggest technology issues.
1. Upgrading Medicaid Eligibility Systems
According to some states, the massive expansion of insurance coverage - the flagship of the health-care overhaul - comes at a steep price.
The new law expands Medicaid programs to cover low-income Americans who earn up to 133 percent of the poverty level (or $14,404 for an individual and $29,326 for a family of four). Although the expansion isn't required for all states until 2014, a Kaiser Health News article pointed out that the vast increase could bring 15 million more people into the safety-net program nationwide, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
As the millions of potential recipients pour into Medicaid programs, the influx threatens to strain eligibility systems - especially now, with many states already suffering from


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Thirty-eight students in third through fifth grades are embarking on a new challenge this school year. The students are spending time each week after school working in teams to prepare for the 2013 North Carolina Destination Imagination Competition. Destination Imagination, DI, is an international creative problem solving program.
The teams of students will choose one of six challenges to work on during the school year. Each of the challenges is developed by a team of educators and industry experts who target a particular area of the curriculum and its related standards of content and performance. The areas of focus include: technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, structural and service learning.
Each team must write a skit to show a creative solution to the challenge selected. In addition to the selected team challenge, each team will be given an Instant Challenge. The Instant Challenge is shared for the first time at competition and requires the team to think quickly using problem solving and teamwork skills.
Destination Imagination requires students to think outside of the box, applying knowledge they are learning through the new Common Core Curriculum and N.C. Essential Standards, while collaborating with one another. DI develops future leaders, as well as, improves student performance in school. Students who participate in DI will gain leadership, performance and public speaking skills.
Destination Imagination requires involvement from the school, students, parents and the community. The school has eight team leaders dedicating several hours each week for practices. The DI Team Leaders volunteering their time for the program are Jennifer Seif, Sara Cuttic, Christina and Tim Best, Juliet Rogers, Shirin Scotten, Lisa Kafer, Sandy Slaughter and Tonya Mills.
The students participating in DI this school year are Tristen Best, Evan Breasure, Charlie Lewis, Tyler Rollins, Ellie Simmons, Layla McDaniel, Emma Hutchens, Camryn Hutchens, Alex Hutchens, Chris Somers, Julian Rogers, Mia Cuttic, Hayes Darden, Blake Seif, Abby Simpson, Randall Hudson, Tyler Presson, Nicole Williams, Cobi Wolf, Gavin Watters, Owen Jernigan, Morgan Scotten-White, Marcie Metcalfe, Katherine Hampton, Gesiah Briley, Ethan Batdorff, Carolina Gomez-Linares, Hana Smith, Will Ezzell, Cora Talbert, Maddie Boeck, Austin Davis, Becca Knight, Jarrett Hall, Quinn Seif, Sophia Wagner, John Mills and Jace Amaro.
Caroline Godwin is a teacher at A.H. Bangert Elementary School.
Location, ST | website.com


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Where to shop in S.A. for 'Small Business Saturday'
Wedged inbetween Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday - meant to spotlight that shopping deals don't always have to come from big box stores. Check out these local shops for the perfect gifts.
By Compiled by Tricia Schwennesen
on November 26, 2013 1:39 PM
A Bit of Something
Beacon Hill Marketplace
B. Link
Casa Margarita
Dos Carolinas
5 Broads Off Broadway
The Florence Shop
Gallery Vetro
Garcia Art Glass
Grove Hill Ltd
Hacienda Style
Hogwild Records
Ivy House Market
The Jewelry Box
Kathleen Sommers
La Casita de Colores
La Fey Y Mas
Le Chic Boutique
Lin Marche
Lizzy's Gifts
Melissa Guerra Tienda de Concina
Not Too Shabby
Pickles and Ice Cream Maternity Apparel
Pig Liquors
River City Kites
Sara's Hand Crafted Jewelry
Schnabel's True Value Hardware
Shoes 'N Bags
Shades of Green
Southern Gypsy
Ten Thousand Villages
Toy Zone
You've Got Paper
Photo: Jennifer Rodriguez


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Based in North Cornwall, North Coast Wetsuits specialise in wetsuits & associated water sports & surfing products. We design & import all our own stock lines. All our products are manufactured to the highest quality & specification. Each product is developed with the help of our sponsored rider, Rich Smith, UK & WORLD Knee board surf champion.OK - so you have seen all our kit online but you'd like to see it in the flesh and get the feel of it, take a good look, perhaps try a few suits on ? Well now you can ...... we are in the process of opening our little showroom / office right now. If you are in North Cornwall it's on the B3314 between Wadebridge and Polzeath.
Currently open by appointment only (buzz us an email) or if you are passing by and see the "NCW WETSUITS SHOWROOM OPEN" sign on the side of the road we are here and your welcome to pop in.
We have a good selection of stock here but we can't fit in all sizes of all suits (it's only a small place). So if you want to try a few things on and get a suit that is the perfect fit send us an email first and make an appointment ( info @ northcoastwetsuits.co.uk ) and we'll make sure we have all the styles and sizes appropriate here for you to see and try on..........Got a question - contact us on 01208 880839 or email : firstname.lastname@example.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see our latest deals and new product info : http://www.facebook.com/ncwcornwall & Twitter : http://twitter.com/ncwukcoukGot an idea for a wetsuit product or innovation ? Tell us about it. If we like the idea we'll get a sample made and if it becomes a production item we'll send you one of them FREE of charge !! Just e-mail us on firstname.lastname@example.com. An example of this is the addition of an outside pocket on our wetsuit bag/changing mat. The idea of adding a pocket was sent to us by a customer in Germany that loved the bag but thought a pocket would be useful. GREAT idea so in return we sent him a couple of FREE BAGS once they were in production. ADOPT - ADAPT - EVOLVE - that is our ethos ! We sell both retail and offer wholesale terms to all watersports and surf associated product retailers. Our products are designed specifically for frequent use in cold waters like ours here in the UK (unlike many other inferior brands which are designed for occasional use in warmer seas).
TECH BIT : All NCW product is made using the highest possible grade of neoprene, which is nitrogen blown, so the material remains supple with consistent nitrogen bubbles to provide the maximum insulation possible. Do not confuse these suits with low quality suits made with inferior quality materials.About the maker : It's our goal to make sure you, the surfer or watersports enthusiast, won't have to worry about your equipment when you are out in the water. If you are interested in WHOLESALE prices for your surf shop please contact us. We are the only UK distributor of this quality product. We also offer preferential rates to those lucky enough to be living in Cornwall - just mention this when you contact us. We also have our own more detailed website - just search Google for 'North Coast Wetsuits'.
"Excellent 3/2mm wetsuit, smooth transaction, speedy delivery. Recommended" ............" your 5mm boots were a great product swiftly delivered"............"Forget the other brands these suit are the buisness !!! A++++"............"Comfortable, well constructed suit and a very reasonable price."............"The 3/2 suit was perfect for my recent winter trip to Morocco"............"Fast and friendly seller - TOP quality surf hood - many thanks"............"Friendly and fast seller and a FANTASTIC WETSUIT!! excellent value"..........."Re your surf boots, great Product swiftly delivered"............"received,excellent ebayer,superb wetsuit !!!!!"............"Well pleased, fits like a glove,many thanks. quick delivery would use again."............"Fantastic surf hood, extremely fast delivery, will buy here again!"............"Thanks - another great wetsuit at bargain price!! fast and friendly service too!"............"Fantastic surf hood, extremely fast delivery, will buy here again!"............"Fast and friendy service...good advice/guidance given... will be recommending to friends"............"All received . Its a very good fit too many thanks."............"Looks good trying out this w/end nice one :-)"............"All received,excellent ebayer,superb wetsuit !!!!!"............"5* excellent, nothing was to much trouble, i will definately buy from him again"............"VERY PROMPT DELIVERY. VERY HELPFUL. HIGHLY RECOMENDED. A COOL DUDE ALROUND."............


text:
Hello everyone!
In this thread I intend to share my experiences running Zimbra Open Source Edition 5.0.x with Sun JDK 1.6.x. You are all welcome to share yours to help out the development team behind Zimbra to migrate to JDK 1.6.x as soon as possible in order to get the benefits from Java 6, mainly in terms of performance but also in terms of programming features. If you know any other threads with information related to this matter, please post here.
At the moment, as of 2008-07-17, I am running Zimbra 5.0.8 Open Source Edition on Debian Etch i686 32 bits. I have downloaded and decompressed the JDK version 1.6u7 in /opt/zimbra/jdk1.6u7 and changed the /opt/zimbra/java symbolic link appropriately.
So far, so good. My server is, unfortunately, not loaded enough in order to be able to tell the difference in performance terms, but I will be able to report about stability. The machine has 1 GB of RAM and the configuration against spam is very strict (Postgrey, Spamhaus.org ZEN and all the recipient restrictions active).
Finally, it would be lovely if someone from the development team could post the specific issues I could/should be finding, so that I can keep an eye on them and monitor the logs for such issues (I will have the Zabbix agent in the server as soon as I have the time, and perhaps monit too).
Thanks for your contributions, and thanks to Zimbra for such a great system.