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Published 18 Nov 2010
Human brain has more switches than all computers on Earth - November 2010 Excerpt: They found that the brai...
Human brain has more switches than all computers on Earth - November 2010 Excerpt: They found that the brain's complexity is beyond anything they'd imagined, almost to the point of being beyond belief, says Stephen Smith, a professor of molecular and cellular physiology and senior author of the paper describing the study: ...One synapse, by itself, is more like a microprocessor--with both memory-storage and information-processing elements--than a mere on/off switch. In fact, one synapse may contain on the order of 1,000 molecular-scale switches. A single human brain has more switches than all the computers and routers and Internet connections on Earth. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20023112-247.html More Switches Than the Internet - November 2010 excerpt: The human brain is truly awesome. A typical, healthy one houses some 200 billion nerve cells, which are connected to one another via hundreds of trillions of synapses. Each synapse functions like a microprocessor, and tens of thousands of them can connect a single neuron to other nerve cells. In the cerebral cortex alone, there are roughly 125 trillion synapses, which is about how many stars fill 1,500 Milky Way galaxies. http://darwins-god.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-switches-than-internet.html Single-Synapse Analysis of a Diverse Synapse Population: Proteomic Imaging Methods and Markers - November 2010 excerpt: Rapidly accumulating physiological and genetic evidence establishes that the molecular diversity of synapses extends far beyond that envisioned by traditional classification schemes based solely on neurotransmitter identity. http://download.cell.com/neuron/pdf/PIIS089662731000766X.pdf?intermediate=true The Amazing Human Body - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5289335/ Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Glimpses At Human Development In The Womb - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4249713 The Human Body - You Are Amazing - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5246456 There are about.... One-quadrillion "connections" (synapses) between the one-hundred-billion cells (neurons) of an adult brain. The brain's one hundred billion neurons match the number of stars in the Milky Way, and the number of connections active in the brain's functioning verge on the number of stars in the 1400 galaxies. To fill the capacity of all those synapses, a person would have to learn a one-billion volume encyclopedia (a million "letters" per encyclopedia). That's enough to fill a bookshelf 10,000 miles long. In contrast, the Library of Congress (The largest library in the world) only has 17 million volumes. The brain is the most complex structure in the known universe, far surpassing, by many orders of magnitude, the most advanced supercomputers. One human brain generates more electrical impulses in a single day than all of the world's telephones put together. This is all done with the power equivalent of a single flashlight, 12 Watts. All of our senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, feeling) are transformed to electrical impulses which are sent to general regions of synapses in the brain where we, after complex transformations, finally become conscious of it. To accomplish all this thinking, the brain uses 20 to 25% of the body's oxygen and 20% of its blood sugar, even though it is only 2% (3 pounds) of the body's weight. You don't consume any more calories studying for a test than you do gazing at a cloud. William Lane Craig - If Human Evolution Did Occur It Was A Miracle - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUxm8dXLRpA The average number of cells in the human body is approx. 75 to 100 trillion cells, maybe more. 300 million cells in the human body die and are replaced (most of them) every minute. If all the DNA was removed from a single cell in a person's body and laid end to end, it would be six feet long. If the DNA was removed from all of the cells in a person's body and laid end to end, it would stretch from Earth to the sun and back 450 times, or about 135 billion kilometers. The human genome, according to Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft, far, far surpasses, in complexity, any computer program ever written by man. The data compression (multiple meanings) of some stretches of human DNA is estimated to be up to 12 codes thick! (Trifonov, 1989) No line of computer code ever written by man approaches that level of data compression (poly-functional complexity). There are about three-billion letters of code on the six feet of DNA curled up in each human cell. The amount of information in human DNA is roughly equivalent to 12 sets of The Encyclopaedia Britannica—an incredible 384 volumes worth of detailed information that would fill 48 feet of library shelves! If you were to read the code aloud, at a rate of three letters per second for twenty-four hours per day (about one-hundred-million letters a year), it would take you over thirty years to read it. The capacity of a DNA molecule to store information is so efficient all the information needed to specify an organism as complex as man weighs less than a few thousand-millionths of a gram. The information needed to specify the design of all species of organisms which have ever existed (a number estimated to be one billion) could easily fit into a teaspoon with plenty of room left over for every book ever written on the face of the earth. For comparison sake, if mere man were to try to 'quantum teleport' just one human body (change a physical human body into "pure information" and then 'teleport' it to another physical location) it would take at least 10^32 bits just to decode the teleportation event, or a cube of CD-ROM disks 1000 kilometers on 1 side, and would take over one hundred million centuries to transmit all that information for just one human body even with the best optical fibers conceivable! (A fun talk on teleportation - Professor Samuel Braunstein - http://www.research.ibm.com/quantuminfo/teleportation/braunstein.html) On top of that the entire digital output of the entire world is only 10^21 bytes or 10^22 bits and Werner Gitt observes that the storage capacity of just "1 cubic cm of DNA is 10^21 bits. (DNA – deoxyribonucleaic acid.)" http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/zetabytes-by-chance-or-design/ Believe it or not, I've even debated evolutionists who insist the human eye is 'poorly designed', as if they could design a better one, and even though humans can't even produce a single novel functional protein much less trillions of integrated proteins working in precise concert: Evolution Vs. The Miracle Of The Eye - Molecular Animation - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4189562 Evolution vs The Eye - Miracle Or Mistake? - article http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYmaSrBPNEmGZGM4ejY3d3pfMThmd25mdjRocQ Stephen Meyer - Functional Proteins And Information For Body Plans - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4050681 song in video: All of Creation - MercyMe (with Lyrics) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7bD02ZmTqk further reading: Intelligent Design - The Anthropic Hypothesis http://lettherebelight-77.blogspot.com/2009/10/intelligent-design-anthropic-hypothesis_19.html


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South America had six teams looking to preserve the tradition that dictated that a World Cup in the American continent is to be won by an American national team.
In the end, the South Americans weren't able to lift the Cup as Germany won it and took it back to Europe.
However, some of the most memorable and dazzling performances in Brazil 2014 were from some of South America's most talented players.
Here's the best 2014 World Cup XI of South America composed of six Argentinians, two Brazilians, two Colombians and one Chilean in a 4-4-2 diamond classic formation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fayette apologizes for stinky water, delayed fix
The Fayette County Water System's longtime director, Tony Parrott, issued a mea culpa Friday afternoon for the three-week-long stinky water mess.
"I truly apologize for the inconvenience we created for our water customers," said Parrott. "The problem took too long to resolve and I want to assure the public that we have implemented daily raw water testing to assure we are obtaining water of the highest quality into the treatment facilities."
The bad taste and smell were caused by two chemicals emitted by blue-green algae, a tiny plant that grew in Starr's Mill Pond — the water intake point — with the resulting stinky and foul-tasting chemicals being pumped directly into the holding pond for fresh water at the water treatment plant itself.
But it took dozens of angry calls from irate water customers and many days before the system technicians finally figured out they had fingered the wrong culprit — a water temperature inversion — and the wrong lake — Lake Peachtree — as the source of the problems.
That revelation came after both the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and a private water quality consulting firm had been called in to help pinpoint the problem.
Other problems were found at the water plant as well, including the discovery that sludge in a drinking water storage lagoon had last been cleaned out more than a decade ago.
Below is the full news release emailed late Friday afternoon by County Clerk Floyd Jones:
"Independent Tests Show Water Problem Not Caused by 'Inversion'
"County government moving forward on resolving other problems as odor issues disappear
"Fayette County, Georgia, May 30 [sic], 2013 – After the first week of problems in the water system resulting in taste and odor issues, the Fayette County government began working with the Georgia Environmental Division and a private consultant to rectify the problems.
'The taste and odor issues were originally attributed to an inversion event in Lake Peachtree by Water System staff. Later, both EPD specialists and the private consultant thought the inversion diagnosis was incorrect.
"On May 29, the consultant, Stuart Jeffcoat of CH2MHill, received the results back from a comprehensive set of water tests. The tests revealed that the taste and odor concerns resulted from high readings of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in Starr's Mill Pond and geosmin in the raw water reservoir at the Crosstown Water Treatment Plant. The raw water reservoir was fed by the Starr's Mill Pond.
"Both geosmin and MIB are chemicals released by blue-green algae and are two of the most widely known causes of taste and odor in water systems. Neither chemical posed a health hazard.
"At the onset of the taste and odor problem, the Water System stopped pumping from Lake Peachtree and Starr's Mill Pond. Since the real cause of the problem was an algae bloom in Starr's Mill Pond with the water filling the raw water reservoir, the taste and odor problems continued for a second week.
"Staff from EPD told the county administration the water flowing from the Crosstown Plant was of the same quality as the prior week. The EPD staff also assisted the Water System with making the necessary corrections at the water treatment plant on May 16, with further assist from Jeffcoat on May 17. There was an immediate improvement in the water quality.
"On May 16 Fayette Chairman Steve Brown contacted the Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority for assistance on removing affected water and sludge from the water treatment lagoons. Stephen Hogan from the Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority worked with Jeffcoat on an action plan for cleaning the lagoons. EPD has approved the action plan and the work is proceeding.
"'I truly apologize for the inconvenience we created for our water customers,' said Water System Director Tony Parrott. 'The problem took too long to resolve and I want to assure the public that we have implemented daily raw water testing to assure we are obtaining water of the highest quality into the treatment facilities.'
"Other maintenance issues have been found at the Crosstown Water Treatment Plant and some needed changes in the treatment process have been identified by Jeffcoat.
"Anyone still experiencing a bad taste or odor in their water should call the Fayette Water System at 770-461-1146."


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Knut, our man in Norway, clearly has his finger on the pulse of beer blogging in Europe as he has found a newly minted blog with a very good writer from London Engerland entitled Stonch's Beer Blog. Welcome Stonch and the rest of you go read.
Have you read The Unbearable Nonsense of Craft Beer - A Rant in Nine Acts by Alan and Max yet? It's out on Kindle as well as Lulu.
Maureen Ogle said this about the book: "... immensely readable, sometimes slightly surreal rumination on beer in general and craft beer in particular. Funny, witty, but most important: Smart. The beer geeks will likely get all cranky about it, but Alan and Max are the masters of cranky..."
Ron Pattinson said: "I'm in a rather odd situation. Because I appear in the book. A fictional version of me. It's a weird feeling."
February 2, 2007 3:04 AM-
To be fair, it was Stonch that found me - he left a comment on my blog.
Anyway, this is the kind of competition we enjoy. Imagine being a beer drinker in a city where good beer is easy to find!


text: The K hotels are also known as the Myconian Kaholi, Korali, Kyma-Kalypso and Thalasso Center (uff!! let me rest my fingers). The staff is very friendly and they provide shuttle from the ferry, and we didn't even have to tell them. it was a nice surprise. They have also a really nice spa, that I took advantage of. Prices are... More


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KEMP Genealogy in All Regions
Search criteria: All Regions, Surname KEMP
What can you do here?
Search online databases for your ancestors:*
Find related genealogy web sites:
Web sites 1 through 10 of 88
1. Kemp one-name study and family history
3. Bath and Somerset 1841 census
4. Kim Simmonds' Family Genealogy
6. Christman Genealogy Website
9. Andrew Kemp's Genealogy Page
10. Koppelman Family Genealogy
Search for KEMP at partner sites:
KEMP queries on CousinConnect.com
KEMP genealogy records at DistantCousin.
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Share your research with others:
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Cheats and Walkthroughs(80)
Killzone 3 and Sony are teaming up to send you to E3. A new competition has been launched and the winner will win a trip to Los Angeles to experience the magic of the Electronic Entertainment Expo this June. To win you have to sign up, collect Helghast symbols and meet objectives like earning a place on the Live Fire Range. Lesser prizes will also been handed out including a PS3, special editions of Killzone 3 and signed artwork from the game's devs at Guerrilla.
Do you have what it takes to become the Ultimate Recruit?
[The above image accurately depicts what the E3 showfloor is like when there's "schwag," you've been warned.]


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Showing page 4 / 4
- Guard leaders laud Army's Olympic athletes
- Published February 16, 2006 by SoundOff in Sports
- ARLINGTON, Va. — National Guard leaders are bidding good luck to five Army National Guard Soldiers who will help represent the U.S. during the 2006 Winter Olympics that began in Torino, Italy, on Feb. 10 and end Feb. 26. Spc. Jeremy Teela...
- Bowling on Fort Meade provides entertainment for all ages
- Published February 16, 2006 by SoundOff in Sports
- It used to be all about scoring, about perfect form and reaching that impossible number - that perfect 300. But now, bowling at The Lanes on Fort Meade has been redefined as a way for service members and their families to have fun, cut loose an...
- Sports Shorts
- Published February 16, 2006 by SoundOff in Sports
- These events may be canceled or rescheduled. Some on-post events are open to ID cardholders only. Call to verify dates and times. If you have a sports announcement (upcoming event or outstanding accomplishment by your team), e-mail Patricia Hof...
- Movies
- Published February 23, 2006 by SoundOff in Community
- The movies schedule is subject to change. Please call the theater to ensure that movies are playing at their scheduled times. Fort Meade Feb. 23-March 5 Feb. 23: "Casanova" (R) Heath Ledger stars as the n...
- National Briefs
- Published February 23, 2006 by SoundOff in National News
- Rumsfeld: U.S. must out do terrorists in public opinion battle WASHINGTON, D.C. (American Forces Press Service) - The Global War on Terror is unlike any conflict the United States has ever faced, and some of the most important battles are fough...
- Pet policy reminder- Scoop the poop
- Published February 23, 2006 by SoundOff in News
- Picerne Military Housing would like to remind all pet-owning residents that it is your responsibility to control and clean up after your pets. This should be done out of respect for the property of your neighbors and their furry friends. It is also a p...
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Today is Thursday, Jan. 17, the 17th day of 2013. There are 348 days left in the year.
Highlights in History
• On Jan. 17, 1963, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy testified before U.S. Supreme Court justices that Georgia's county-unit voting system in Democratic primaries discriminated against urban voters. (The court later struck down the county-unit system, citing the concept of " one person, one vote.")
• In 1893, former President Rutherford B. Hayes died in Fremont, Ohio, at age 70.
• In 1945, Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw.
• In 1950, seven masked men held up a Brink's garage in Boston, stealing $1.2 million in cash and $1.5 million in checks and money orders. (Only part of the loot was recovered.)
• In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address, warning against "the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."
• In 1977, murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, was killed by firing squad at Utah State Prison — the first U.S. execution in a decade.
• In 1989, five children were shot to death at the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, Calif., by a drifter, Patrick Purdy, who then killed himself.
• Five years ago: Bobby Fischer, the chess grandmaster who dethroned the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky as world champion in 1972, died in Reykjavik, Iceland, at age 64.
• One year ago: Italian officials released a recording of a Coast Guard officer demanding that Capt. Francesco Schettino, commander of the grounded Costa Concordia, re-board the ship to direct its evacuation after ramming a reef on Jan. 13.
Thought for Today
"A politician is a person with whose politics you don't agree; if you agree with him, he's a statesman." — British statesman David Lloyd George (1863-1945)
Source: Associated Press


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Resources Conservation Service New York
Conservation Practice Support Documents
Conditions fo= r Use: NRCS New York Engineering Standard Job Sheets and Standard Details are part= of the design and are subject to review and approval by an individual with the appropriate approval auth= ority, or certified Technical Service Provider (TSP), before implementation can occur.= span>
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Grassed waterway with stone center
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Armenian Potatoes
Total Time
Prep 5 mins
Cook 45 mins
Found this in one of our local Church cookbooks making for potatoes that are a touch different - and always an empty bowl! The recipe calls for 'old' potatoes - I find for most part I never have old potatoes - if I do not have large potatoes I eyeball an equivalent. Weighing - 11/2 pounds of potatoes takes about five what I call regular sized potatoes. Serving size is a quesstimate as it depends what you are serving and how big the helping!
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 1⁄2 lbs large old potatoes
- 2 large onions (cut in chunks)
- 1⁄4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (recipe suggests catsup as a sub)
- 1⁄2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- pepper
- 1⁄2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley (I add the parsley) (optional)
- Wash and peel potatoes, cut potatoes and onions in chunks.
- In a large bowl mix together the oil, tomato paste, water, salt, paprika, combine with potatoes.
- Add onions, pepper to taste, parsley and toss to mix.
- Bake in a covered dish in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 45 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
Most Helpful
Easy baked taters dish that tasted delicious. A nice change and would make a great side to almost any dinner
These were the best leftovers! I used smoked paprika and added some chopped red pepper for color. Will make this one again. Thanks.
I was a little hesitant with this recipe, I was not sure about using the tomato paste or the water, but who am I to argue without trying it first. I am so glad I didn't hesitate because this was fabulous! I followed the recipe exactly as written and the potatoes were superb. Everyone loved these so much. The tomato paste, onions and paprika add such a wonderful flavour to the potatoes. This is one recipe I will be making again. Thanks for sharing Gerry.


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Collectors, The museum is working on updating signage on Scratch Built or Modified items, what details do you look for in these types of units? Send your comments...
In the upcoming AGCO display what aquired company are you most interested in learning more about?
National Farm Toy Museum | 1110 16th Avenue Ct. SE | Dyersville, IA 52040 | 563-875-2727
Web Services Provided By: Net-Smart


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Otis College Students Design for the Possible Future of Transportation
A couple weeks ago, I was asked to sit in on a panel reviewing and critiquing undergraduate design students' visions for the future of Los Angeles transportation. The location was Otis College of Art and Design, located near LAX. Lecturer and Architect Matt Gagnon had given his product design students a simple, but far reaching, assignment: design for the future of mobility in L.A.
The students, working in teams, took things in varied and interesting directions. I didn't find them all to be things I would run out and push for tomorrow… but they are nonetheless thought-provoking fresh looks at issues that Streetsblog tracks.
Here's round two of the critique: readers, what do you think? Comment below.
Re-Designing the Bicycle: Evolu
team: Taeho Ko, Jenny Lee and Joshua Melara
These young designers feel that the old-fashioned bicycle could use a second look. They've come up with a new frame geometry that they think would be both exciting (think sports car) and useful for transportation.
The team built a life-size cardboard prototype. Various security and fit features were proposed to be built into the frame, including a fingerprint-recognition based lock to deter theft. The most interesting and practical feature was slot in the frame crossbar where riders can stash laptop computers. Read more…


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Andrew Kirwin, Ray Patterson, Man Patterson and James William Hudson
- Arkansas |
- Clarksville AR |
- Hudson Springs AR |
- Johnson Co AR |
- Stores |
- Patterson |
- Hudson |
- Kirwin
L-R: Andrew Kirwin (Brother of Martha Ann Kirwin, wife of Samuel McDonnell Hudson, son of James William Hudson), Ray and Man Patterson, and James William Hudson. Picture taken in front of James William Hudson's store, across from his home, near Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas.
Click on the City or Town name right under the name of the photograph, to view more photographs from that city or town. If there's a county listed, you can view more photographs from that county. If you see a surname listed under the title of the photograph, you can click on that surname or surnames to view more photos that are associated with that surname. Same thing works with any of the other "tags" listed right under the title of the photograph. You may be able to make the photo larger, if the original photograph was larger than the photo shown here. Click on the word "original" above and a window will open with a the photo in a larger size. Want to add some information or comment on this photo? Click on "Add new comment" above.


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What is in this article?:
- Cotton Incorporated shows growers their assessment dollars at work
- $83 million dollar company
- It costs money to make money, and cotton producers from across the country recently learned how their money is used to keep cotton on the consumers' "got-to-have" list and creatively covering up birthday suits around the world.
More About:
$83 million dollar company
'Cotton Incorporated will be a $83 million company in 2013, said Berrye Worsham, CI's president and CEO.
Half the money comes from cotton producers and the other half comes from the assessment of cotton imports into the U.S., arriving mostly as yarn or finished products.
He expects the 2014 budget to be down $8 million in 2014, due mostly to reduced acreage in 2013, lower prices and reduced imports. (According to USDA's March planting intentions report, producers will plant 10 million acres this year, down 20 percent from last year.)
The U.S. cotton business is still recovering, or working through, a run in prices in early 2011, when cotton prices reached all-time highs, marching near $2 per pound for a short time.
This threw a shockwave through the supply chain. Cotton demand shrank and it lost market share to its main competitor, polyester, which was selling for $1.20 to $1.30 per pound less than cotton at the time.
"The impact this had on the market was dramatic, to put it lightly," Worsham said.
Cotton and polyester are more closely priced now. "But the mindset is still there, and it will take some years of some stability in price before that kind of washes through the memory banks of retailers.
"So, the next couple of years on the demand side we are still facing the challenges of that tremendous run up in price," he said.
Cotton's share of the world's staple fiber is a good indicator of how it is doing in the home furnishings and apparel markets.
That share was 60 percent a few years ago. It dropped in 2011 to 54 percent and 2012's share is expected to drop even a bit lower, Worsham said. "So, the difference in market share from where we were just a few years ago to today is the equivalent of maybe 12, 13 or even 14 million bales."
But Cotton Incorporated is working to re-introduce consumers to cotton clothes, most recently during Cotton's 24 Hour Runway Show, which took place March 1-2. It sent 1,440 cotton looks down the runway from 74 different retailers, brands and designers, said Andrea Samber, Cotton Incorporated's co-director of strategic alliances.
The runway show was first introduced in 2011, partnered with MTV and had 7 participating retailers and such. That year 15,000 people watched the show online.
Now in its third year, Cotton Incorporated partnered this year with people.com and People Stylewatch magazine. More than 678,000 people watched the 2013 show, or 4,377 percent more than watched in 2011.
This, matched with Cotton's "The Fabric Of Our Lives" slogan and campaign, which each year puts a young female celebrity as its spokesman, Samber said, is getting cotton back front and center in consumer's faces.


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|Walter Tungsten
|Grunk Bigfix
As Grunk emerges from the shuttle he slaps Walter hard on the back "Hmph that was good little man!!!" This is Grunk's version of a compliment.
Seeing everyone salute he lets out a booming laugh that echoes around the hold "I like it!!!"
|Leo Gotrum
Time: The shuttle on approach
As Walter begins his aerial show off, Leo turns notably paler on on the final approach his stomach finally wins the battle. He doesn't reach the disposal bag in time and pukes over the floor of the shuttle. "G*% d*%n pilots always showing off. My stomach is never going to get along with this." he says weakened by the nausea.
At touchdown he is wiping his mouth with the backside of his hand while gurgling water and spiting it out into the disposal bag. He glares towards Walter, mumbling under his breath: "This is the last time we do an approach like that unless it's into a hot zone."
I love this censored forum, you can't even swear.
As they walk out, Leo takes care not to exit before the captain, but follows after him. He manages to carry both sea bags and his carbine over his left shoulder while saluting the crew with his right hand.
|Walter Tungsten
|Horus Hightower
Horus climbs out with his gear. Taking in the assembled crew with a glance, he turns his focus to the interior of the hanger bay itself. He's practically rubbing his hands together in his eagerness to crawl around in the ship's guts.
The Captain and CMO also emerge from the shuttle. Captain Ageera is still smiling, but Baasira looks a bit green around the gills.
The crew is arranged into six lines of four. Each line is headed up by a crewman wearing the one hollow pip of Chief Warrant Officer on their collars. (One rank below ensign, they are NCOs). They are wearing the working uniforms of the FEF, which consist of a black sleeveless flight suit over a colored undershirt to indicate specialty. The undershirts are skin tight, and similar to modern exercise/jogging wear. The sleeves extend down to the elbow. You see the gold sleeves of command and helm, the red of security, operations and engineering, and the blue of science/medical all represented.
|FEF Excelsior
The CWOs of each of the lines seem to be staring at one of you in particular.
There is a sturdy looking man, in golden sleeves with his eyes going back and forth between you and the captain. His stony skin marks him as an Oread. Standing behind him at attention are two goblins. The male Goblin has yellowish skin and black hair, the female is more blue skinned with brown hair. In the back of the line is a is a female gnome, her huge violet eyes blinking often. Her hair is arranged in a multitude of tiny braids, each a few centimeters long.
There is a tall beautiful blonde woman with bright flashing yellow eyes staring at you. Her sleeves are golden, as are those of the crewmen standing behind her. Directly behind her is a shorter woman with curly shoulder length black hair and brown eyes. Behind the Brunette is a taller Catfolk man. The last one in the line is a broad shouldered dwarven man with a short cropped salt and pepper beard and a bald head.
A red sleeved Hobgoblin standing at perfect rigid attention follows you with his eyes. Hulking over his shoulders are two large orcs. Their facial features are so similar that you're sure they must be twins. In the back of the line is a woman with a shaved head. She has small tusks protruding from her lower lips, revealing her mixed heritage.
There is a short somewhat fat Ifrit following you with his gaze. His sleeves are red, as are the horns on his brow. Behind him is a Gnomish man with large spectacles. Towering over the small gnome is an extremely furry Catfolk man. Finally in the back of the line is a dusky-skinned Duergar woman, she is the skinniest specimen of dwarf-kind that you've ever seen.
Looking at you is a beautiful woman of average height. Her auburn hair is pulled up and clipped behind her head in a neat twist. Her red sleeved uniform is impeccable, her emerald green eyes intensely bright. Behind her is another woman, slightly taller and thinner. She is surprisingly aged, her short hair a silvery color and her handsome face lined from frequent smiling. Behind her is an asian Human man, his hair shaved close, his build is athletic. In the back of the line is a Kobold with bright blue scales, his tail swishing back and forth rapidly.
There is a distinguished looking goblin staring at you, his goateed beard a deep black color. His hair is combed over to one side, and his wrist is wearing an expensive looking timepiece. Behind him stands a medium-height blue-skinned Undine woman. Her black hair looks as if it is a little damp. Over her shoulder you can see a tall thin Drow woman, whose white hair is done up into a tower of intricate braids. The last in line is a beautiful Duergar woman, her grey complexion as smooth as stone. Her bountiful curly white hair is so voluminous that it almost extends past her shoulders. All of them have blue sleeves.
The CWO in the front of a final seventh line is clearly a Tiefling. Her hairless head is covered in green and black patterned scales. She has two rows of small black horns extending back from the outside edges of her eyebrows. Behind her stand a bright red-scaled kobold, a calico female Catfolk and human looking woman with greenish skin and slightly pointed ears. All of them have the blue sleeves of medical staff.
These are your staff, feel free to interact with them as much or little as you like. They are essentially lvl 1 NPCs who are available to help you with whatever you need.
|FEF Excelsior
|Captain Alejandro Ageera
|CMO Baasira Morelane
CMO Baasira wanders over to the Tiefling woman and extends her hand while saying something quietly. The four medical crewman in front of her immediately relax and gather round her to begin shaking hands and making introductions. Soon smiles can be seen on their faces, as they take Baasira excitedly by the hands and lead her away into the interior of the ship.
|Syarha Screething
|Horus Hightower
Horus walks over to the the fat ifrit CWO in the engineering line.
"Horus Hightower, I'm the new Chief Engineer. I take it you're my team of Boffins."
He shakes hands with his team during introductions.
"Well now that that formality is out of the way. How about we head down to engineering and you all can give me the dime store tour."
Syarha, the Goblin medical CWO drops his salute and says, "My name is Tancorix, these are Suvyan, Adabelia, and Reabrylla." He says indicating the Undine, Drow and Duergar in turn. "We're all medical staff with some experience in counseling. Just let us know if you need any help, otherwise we'll be assisting in the sick bay on general duty." His accent is rather urbane for a goblin. Even at her short height, he only comes up to Syarha's waist.
Horus, the Ifrit lowers his salute and says, "I'm Lydd, this is Periadoc, Waarith and Elwrka." point to the Gnome, Catfolk and Duergar standing behind him. "Not sure what a boffin is, but I'd be happy to show you up to engineering on deck 2." His voice is jolly, but a bit nasally. The other engineers smile and nod as their names are mentioned. Lydd continues by saying, "Right this way. Feel free to call on us anytime you need anything." He begins walking in the same direction as CMO Baasira and her staff towards the teleporters in the rear of the shuttle bay.
|Grunk Bigfix
Grunk strides over to his group and stands before them and growls "No saluting!!!" He rubs his tusks, feeling awkward in front of the very attractive women Ah what's the use.
He holds out his hand "Grunk." He grunts as he speaks But you can call me any curse in the Federation.
"Where do we go." he looks over at the Kobold "Nice Tail."
When Grunk growls, all four of them flinch a little, but they drop their salutes. The CWO steps forward. She takes his big hand with her little one and gives it a firm single-pump handshake. "Hello Grunk, I'm Alullyra. This is Cwryan" she says pointing to the older woman. There's Cenoic." She points at the asian man. "Navzar is in the back."
Navzar steps forward and in a squaky accent says, "Thank you sir!" when Grunk compliments his tail.
Alullyra continues, "As for where we go, that's up to you. As I'm sure you know, the COO is in charge of communications, sensors, environmental systems and hangar deck operations." she looks around at the deck. "Well, this is the hangar deck. I can give you a tour, or take you to your office or quarters." She smiles revealing her perfect white teeth and does a funny little shrug. "You wish is our command."
|Walter Tungsten
Walter looks at the show the others are putting talking to their help, he turns to his gives them a nod and says, "Walter, new helmsman, now what are your names, ranks, jobs and specialities? And what should I know about handelling this ship?"
The blonde woman says "I'm chief warrant officer Rivyan. That's Jeara, Mujeeb and Veran." She says pointing to the human woman, the catfolk and the dwarf. "They're all crewmen. As for our jobs, we're pilots. I'm the flight officer for the shuttle deck so I handle most of the stuff involving those. As for the Excelsior, he mostly handles himself, isn't that right big guy?" She asks, looking up at the ceiling.
|FEF Excelsior
|Walter Tungsten
CWO Rivyan snorts softly before continuing, "Of course the helm is on the bridge, once you get your hands on the controls you'll see for yourself how he handles. Anytime you're off duty one of us will be at the helm, and if you need anything you just let me know." she finishes. The other three are nodding in agreement. "Your quarters are on deck 2. Would you like me to take you there?"
*Above Edited*
|Walter Tungsten
|Grunk Bigfix
Its not often Grunk is dazzled by beauty but when Alullyra smiled he took a step back. No...I am Orc. "Hangar Deck. Quarters then Office...Thankyou" the thankyou almost got stuck in his throat as he spoke.
He turned around quickly his cheeks showing a strange reddish tinge beneath the green skin. Grunk grabbed his belongings then came back over to his group "Begin"
"Certainly. Right this way sir." She leads Walter to the teleporters at the rear of the shuttle bay. Once there she says, "Deck two." and you are both teleported up.
Rivyan then leads Walter down a long hallway past many closed doors. It seems to run down the length of the ship, you are walking towards the front. She stops in front of a door labeled "Helmsman" and says "Here we are. I'll wait out here."
Inside the room is plainly furnished. It's about three meters deep and six across. The back left corner is taken up by a bed. Next to it running the back length of the room is a couch-like bench, it continues on down the right hand wall as well. Near the foot of the bed is the open doorway into the bathroom where there is a small sink, a toilet and a shower.
|Walter Tungsten
Alullyra nods "Yes sir. Please follow me." She begins to lead him around the deck. "As you can see the excelsior has four shuttles, and capacity for a large amount of cargo. Approximately 30,000 tons to be precise. CWO Rivyan over there," she points to the tall blonde walking away with Walter, "is the flight officer. So she deals with the shuttles mostly. The cargo bay proper is down on deck 6, shuttle maintenance is over there." She says pointing to a hydraulic lift and several work stations in one corner of the hangar. "Come on, I'll show you the teleporters and then we can head up to deck 2. That's where your office and quarters are."
Alullyra leads Grunk over to the same teleporters that Walter and Bassira left through. There are two large side by side industrial models. It looks like they could fit almost a whole shuttle between them. "These babies can teleport cargo to anywhere in the hold, and they can also take you to any deck you want." she says, rubbing her hands together and smiling. "In an emergency they can literally put you anywhere on the ship, but we try to avoid that due to the amount of 'cite it burns throu...oh boy. I'm rambling aren't I? Sorry sir. Right this way." She leads Grunk onto the pads and says "Deck two." The pads activate and with a golden shimmer Grunk and Alullyra are transported up to deck two. She leads Grunk to a room very near Walter's with the door labeled "Chief Operations Officer". Inside the room is identical to Walter's. She waits outside in the hallway, making smalltalk with Rivyan in some strange language. Once Grunk is finished, she will lead him to his office which they passed further up the hall.
Rivyan turns away from her smalltalk with Alullyra and says to Walter, "I wouldn't call it nice, but hey, it's home. Are you ready to head to the bridge?" she asks him with a smile. Now that they're standing near each other you notice that Rivyan and Alullyra's eyes both seem to flash with the same intensity, and their uncanny beauty is even more apparent.
They are likely Suli. A race of humans who interbred with genies long ago.
|Syarha Screething
"Before you leave, is there anything I should know? My workplace, office, do I even get one?" I ask, unknowingly. So, looks like I don't have any real office mates. No big deal, when I'm not working, I can just wander around.. I think, as I lose myself in my thoughts.
|Horus Hightower
|Walter Tungsten
Kimefe moves forward towards her team, shaking the hand of each in turn as she asks them their names. She then turns to face the group, her hands held behind her back but otherwise in a relaxed stance. "I want to know of any specialties that any of you might have. After that I will need you to lead me through every nook and cranny of the ship so that we can scout out covered positions, bottlenecks, and alternate passages." She then looks up to the ceiling as she finishes her instructions "I also want information on the surveillance systems of the Excelsior--and especially the procedure for quarantining sections of the ship and for limiting the area that the teleporters can access."
|Leo Gotrum
Looking a bit uncomfortable Leo lets the captain lead him over to the waiting men. He is wierd, one minute he's captain and the next he hangs around my shoulder like we're fresh of of boot.
As they arrive at the waiting group, Leo puts his sea bags down and salutes the waiting men and women in turn. He then presents the captain: This is your captain, captain Ageera and I'm your new XO junior lieutenant Gotrum. He turns his attention to the CWO and continues: "You must be the senior chief warrent officer, I look forward to working with you." as he extends his hand.
|Grunk Bigfix
Grunk throws his things on the bed quickly taking out a small pack with a label saying Tusk Grooming Essentials. Looking in the bathroom he places the small pack at the sink when he notices there is no mirror "S&!t!!!" He charges out the room quickly barely noticing the strange dialect that the two women are speaking. "Alullyra office now...please" Struck again by her beauty he is strangely polite. As they leave for the office he asks "Are there mirrors available for bathrooms."
Wasn't sure if there was a mirror but just went with it for Grunk he loves his tusks to much :D
Location:Shuttle Bay
Tancorix replies to Syarha, "Of course mam. Your office and quarters are both on deck 2. You can take the teleporter there, or I'd be happy to escort you." He does a half bow, and indicates the teleporters with his open hands pointing the way for her to start walking.
Lydd chuckles before saying, "Right, Mr. Hightower Sir, whatever you like. You don't need to sleep with the likes of us though, you have your own quarters near the other officers. Your office, main engineering and quarters are all on deck 2. Come with me." He begins to waddle off in the direction of the teleporters, the other three engineers following behind both him and Horus.
Kimefe you approach the security team they hold their salute until you begin to ask their names. The Hobgoblin CWO shakes your hand and says, "I'm CWO Javidan." The massive Orc twins step forward and say "Menucher" and "Shirmard." shaking your hand. They say their names at virtually the same time, so it's actually quite difficult to tell which said which. The half-orc woman waits until the others have shaken your hand before taking it and saying "Rucla. Pleased to meet you, mam."
After the handshaking Javidan steps forward and says, "We all majored in Security at the academy. We're familiar with the Excelsior's weapon systems as well as ship board combat and law enforcement procedures. I'd be happy to give you a tour, and answer your questions as we go. You three, back to your duties." He gives the other three officers a curt wave and they hustle off in the direction of the teleporters.
Javidan will give Kimefe a ship wide tour, pointing out all the alternate passages and auxiliary systems. He explains that the Excelsior constantly monitors everything inside unless privacy mode is engaged in an area. This can be overridden by the Captain, XO and COS. He also tells you that during red alert, only the Captain, XO, and COS can authorize emergency transport, using their personal identity codes. Any of the doors can be locked down from either a security terminal, the bridge or the actual door by the same three officers. By the time your tour is done you know everything about the Exclesior that's in the campaign info tab and then some. If you want to know more specifics now ask.
|Syarha Screething
|Captain Alejandro Ageera
The Captain releases Leo's shoulders before they reach the group of crewmen waiting for them. He stands slightly behind Leo, his arms crossed over his chest while Leo introduces him. His face is painted with a glaring sneer, as if he had just caught the aides stealing from the cookie jar. He allows the Oread man to take Leo's hand, and get out "Hello sir, my name is Seddyn..." before he rudely interrupts him.
"That's enough Seddyn. You three," he says pointing at the goblins and gnome, "Go fetch my and the XO's luggage from the shuttle and place it in our quarters. Seddyn lead us to the bridge. Now. We've got a journay to get underway." He snaps his fingers three times and points at the teleporters, before walking towards them, not really allowing Seddyn to lead him. "Gotrum, with me. I want you on the bridge for this."
The three smaller crewmen look momentarily stunned, before scrambling off to do the Captain's bidding. Seddyn gives Leo and apologetic smile before hustling off after Captain Ageera, his hands clasped firmly in front of him.
|Horus Hightower
Horus drops his gear off, taking a brief look around his quarters I assume they appear more or less like like Walter's, before heading over to main engineering.
He asks his CWO to get him up to speed with maintenance, asking whether there are any problem areas or any kinks that still need to be worked out of this cutting edge piece of technology. He also asks whether a maintenance schedule has been drawn up yet.
Location: Deck 2
Rivyan replies to Walter, "Oh we've both been with the FEF for a few years. Different assignments. I guess not f*cking up so far was good enough to get us posted here." she pauses to smile. "I actually just recently meet Alullyra, but since we're both Suli we've made fast friends. The bridge is up on deck one, so we need to go back to the teleporters." She leads Walter back down the long hallway, past Grunk and Alullyra. As you are about to get on the teleporters, Syarha appears and steps off, heading back in the direction you just came from. "Why don't you try it this time, just step on and say Bridge." Rivyan suggests.
Alullyra gestures down the hallway in the direction Walter and Rivyan just went. "Right this way sir, your office is just down the hall." When Grunk asks her about the mirrors she smiles and bites her lower lip a little trying not to laugh. "This must be your first time on an FEF ship sir, if you need a mirror simply say 'mirror' and the bathroom wall will become reflective." She stops in front of a door labeled 'Office, COO' and pushes the button to open it.
Inside you see a small room, about two meters by two meters. The rear wall is an outside display, and through it you can see Vega floating below in a sea of stars. The room is dominated by a simple black desk, which you recognize also serves as a standard FEF terminal. The screen is the desktop, all activated by touch and voice. There is a comfortable looking chair behind the desk. "Well, this is it. Is there anything else sir? I'm sure we'll be preparing for departure soon." Alullyra asks.
Syarha, your quarters are the same as the others. The room is fairly clean already, but feel free to decorate it or whatever.
Yeah, all the officer's quarters are the same Horus.
Lydd will show Horus around main engineering, and show him the schedule. Main engineering is connected to the Arcanicite core, and Excelsior core. It also has the auxiliary controls for the shield generators and gate drive down on deck 6.
The Arcanicite core is a large glowing blue column surrounded by a circular panel of terminals. The glowing, roiling Arcanicite reaction is happening inside a specially shielded magical circle, itself crafted from intricate crystalline circuitry. It is in a right hand room as you enter main engineering. On the left there is another room which houses the Excelsior core. This is the Excelsior's actual 'brain'. It is a large dome-like apparatus covered in small Arcanicite nodes. On top of the dome is a mechanical avatar of the Excelsior, in the form of a robotic head. Around the core's base are several terminals for maintenance and interaction. It is all the most advanced equipment that Horus has ever worked with. The other engineers go about their tasks monitoring levels and answering any questions he might have.
|Leo Gotrum
A strange man indeed Leo wonders at the captain's sudden change of behaviour. "Aye aye captain," Leo says and follows the captain and the CWO to the bridge. It is a bit difficult for him to leave his belongings as he has always been drilled to take care of it himself. Before he hurries after the captain, he grabs the arm of one of the gnome, hands her his carbine and says: "Please take this to the arms locker."
|Walter Tungsten
|Grunk Bigfix
Location: Deck 2, COO(Grunk's) office.
In reply to Alullyra about the mirror "Oh. Yeah first time."
Grunk enters the room and walks up to the rear wall looking out a few seconds before turning back to Alullyra. "No I don't think. What tasks will you do."
He sits down in the chair as he speaks and releases a deep sigh.
"I do have one more question Javidan, how many crew members are there besides the ones I already met?"
After the tour Kimefe retires briefly to her room and quickly unpacks, throwing everything onto her bed. Good, everything is here. I'll have to put it away later; right now I want to see the start of our journey.
She then ports up to the bridge, standing quietly behind the others as she waits for the release from orbit.
Location:Shuttle Deck
The gnome takes Leo's weapon with a quick "Yes sir!" beore scuttling off to do as he was told.
Location:Deck 2 (COO's Office)
Alullyra replies to Grunk, "I am CWO for operations so I make sure that there aren't any problems with the com system, sensors or allocation of resources aboard the ship. Of course these are ultimately your purview and I will follow your lead. When it's not your shift on the bridge I will likely be manning the ops station."
Location:Deck 2 (Teleporters)
As soon as the word leaves Walter's lips, Rivyan's pleasant looking face disappears in a wave of golden sparkles and he is instantly teleported to the bridge.
Location:Deck 5 (COS's Office, Kimefe and Javidan)
Javidan thinks for a moment before replying, "The excelsior is capable of maintaining a crew of over one hundred, but at the moment I believe the crew is 32 enlisted and 8 officers. I think you saw all but the four most junior crewmen in the shuttle bay."
|Syarha Screething
Location:Bridge (Walter, Leo, Captain Ageera, Seddyn, 4 redshirts)
Walter reappears on one of the bridge teleporters and the set of double sliding doors in front of him opens at the same time that across the bridge the opposite teleporter doors are opening to release Seddyn, Captin Ageera and Leo.
The bridge looks basically like this, except that from the teleporter doors forward it extends about four meters into a bullet shape. The walls in that part of the bridge are all viewscreens, providing an almost 180 degree view of what's in front of the ship. The two terminals in front of the captain's chair are Operations and Security, the foremost is the helm. Behind the captain's chair are the engineering and general purpose terminals.
|Captain Alejandro Ageera
As the Captain strides out of the teleporter, Seddyn says "Captain on deck!" and all the crewman currently tending to the bridge snap to a salute.
Cpt. Ageera strides over to what is to to be his new seat, and looks around. A small smile creases his lips before he says "Everyone who's not an officer is dismissed! Clear my bridge!" All the crewman instantly hustle to the teleporters and port out. "Ship, give me shipwide."
|FEF Excelsior
|Captain Alejandro Ageera
The Captain sits down in his chair, before saying. "This is your Captain speaking. We've got a mission that I'm eager to complete. All crew to stations, we will be departing shortly. Ensign Bigfix, Kimefe report to the bridge immediately. Any other officers are also welcome." he punches a button on the arm of his chair and the intercom cuts off.
"Tungsten, get you ass to the helm." he says pointing to the foremost console. At that moment Kimefe comes striding out of one of the teleporters. The Captain nods at her in acknowledgement and points to the security console. "Once Bigfix shows himself we can be underway."
|Syarha Screething
Sorry about last post, didn't have time for anything juicy
Well, what to do know... I could talk with the spaceship, that could be interesting, NO, I have it, I'll go exploring! With that thought, I cautiously leave my room, I didn't really want to leave, I just couldn't bear being alone. I quickly begin running around the entire ship, travelling the places that say don't, and any other such things, looking for someone to talk to.


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Hey there. Hello. Hola. It's been a while. A long while. But don't fret, I've still been eating - and eating well every single day. I just haven't gotten around to posting much. I know, I'm selfish... Keeping all those good recipes to myself. Well, here's to changing that.
Although I value protein highly in my diet, sometimes I just crave a meatless meal (not that all meatless meals are low in protein, but it is more difficult to get a decent amount in a meatless meal). I have always liked the idea of one meatless meal a week, and with Gabe back to the grind stone and taking classes twice weekly, I have two great opportunities to satisfy this craving.
On the menu this week? Grilled eggplant open-faced sandwiches. Piled high with vegetables and cheese, each bite is packed with flavor. And the best part? It all comes together in less than 15 (10?) minutes. Enjoy!
2 slices of hearty bread
4 eggplant rounds, approximately 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick
1/2 Tbs. olive oil + more for brushing bread
1/2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
Herbs de Provence, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste
1/2 Tbs. mayonnaise
Spinach and tomato slices
1 oz. mozzarella cheese
Fire up the outdoor grill or inside grill pan, and preheat oven to the broil setting.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Brush over both sides of eggplant rounds, then sprinkle with Herbs de Provence, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Grill until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat. Additionally, brush bread with olive oil and grill until lightly toasted, about 1-2 minutes per side.
Assemble open-faced sandwiches by spreading mayo on each piece of toasted bread, then layering on spinach and tomato slices. Top with grilled eggplant and cheese (Note: I had to slice eggplant rounds in half). Pop sandwiches into the oven and broil until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool slightly and serve.
Note: If you're interested in other meatless meals, check out Ezra Pound Cake blog. She hosts a great Meatless Monday feature with some really great recipe ideas.


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At Noon on Tuesday, a WIND CHILL ADVISORY will replace the wind chill warning until 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Wind chills of -20 to -35 are possible.
StormTeam 8 Meteorologist Bill Graul said we'll see lots of sun again Tuesday, but it will remain frigid with highs right around zero. Some area businesses are closing or cancelling events due to the weather.
Looking ahead, on Thursday the Coulee
Be sure to LIKE WKBT StormTeam 8 Weather on Facebook for the latest updates on the arctic blast.


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Warning: this post contains some graphic language describing a slaughterhouse. Do not read if you are easily upset (or squeamish, like the author of this post...).
I don't think many people can say "I went to Uruguay on a business trip." Probably just as few people can say they've been through a slaughterhouse. But for better or for worse, I can say "yes" to both of those statements. And it's all because of cows...
Before I started working at Boloco in 2011 (and therefore eating burritos for free at my leisure), I'd been buying burritos there since 2008. And over those almost 5 years, I've gone through different burrito and protein addictions.\
It just so happened that in December 2012, I was in one of my steak-eating phases (more specifically, Buffalo Steak, but that's irrelevant).
So clearly, when my boss, Boloco's CEO, John Pepper, asked me to plan a video about the source of Boloco's steak (Uruguay!), I was a bit nervous to see how my extremely common lunch choice gets from farm to burrito.
Admittedly, I'm no food expert, but I'd heard that the steak we purchase is grass-fed and all these other things that sounded great on a menu. I've never really known exactly what they mean, though. Well I was about to learn, up close and personal.
Our first full day in Uruguay was extremely pleasing on the eyes, as we visited two farms (Santa Ana and Santa Barbara). Both were covered in the most vast stretches of grass I've ever seen.
We spent hours just driving through acre upon acre, riding in the back of a 4x4, hair blowing in the wind, 80-degree sun shining down on our skin, and my camera bouncing around in my hands. We learned then that on average, each cow there has one hectare (2 acres) all to itself! That's a lot of space (especially when compared to how small my apartment is...!).
We spoke to the farmers, who all seemed very happy (and why wouldn't they be? They live in such a beautiful place!) and proud of the cattle they produce.
It really was amazing to see that everything we've heard about where our steak comes from is true. Those 2-3 years that each cow lives are spent happily, out on the open land, hanging out, eating grass, enjoying the sunshine.. -- not a bad way to spend time, if you ask me!
Of course, that's only half of what we saw during our trip to Uruguay; the other half is a little more gruesome, but still incredibly interesting.
I'm talking about the slaughterhouse; the hardest part to comprehend in the whole beef process. Before I hopped on the plane to Uruguay, I'd been joking about this part of the trip for weeks around the office. I'd said things like, "Yeah, I'm going to the slaughterhouse! Hopefully I don't pass out! haha..." Really, these jokes were just a cover for the way I was really feeling: terrified.
I don't think the words "I'd love to go see the inside of a slaughterhouse!" are said very often... Most meat-eating people like to see pictures of happy cows on a farm, then go eat a nice, juicy steak for dinner, and call it a day. Most companies like to stay on the surface like that that too. But at Boloco, we like to get to the bottom of things, be 100% honest and transparent, and sometimes that means you have to walk into a slaughterhouse...
So we hopped in the van and headed to Tacuarembo, where all of Boloco's grass-fed beef is packaged up.
Upon our arrival at the plant, we were given white uniforms (I thought the color choice was odd, but it actually made the plant look even more clean and sterile than it already did!), including pants, a jacket, rubber boots, and a hairnet.
I had no idea whether this uniform was going to remain white the entire time, or whether it was going to get stained with all kinds of things I didn't want to think about...
We walked through the plant in reverse order, starting at the cleanest part - the room where they cut and package the various cuts of beef - so that we could finish in the dirtiest part: the slaughter room.
At first glance inside the slaughterhouse, I was really impressed. It was one of the cleanest and most organized places I've ever seen. I don't know what I expected to see, but the vision in my mind was nowhere close to as sterile as this was. It was very comforting to know that our beef comes from somewhere so sanitary, to say the least.
As we continued backwards along the disassembly line of the beef (they really do call it the "disassembly line"), things did get a little less... clean. Obviously, when you're cutting cows into pieces, it has to get a little bloody at some point.
Seeing the cattle travel down the disassembly line was the most organized process I've ever seen. Every worker at the plant has an extremely specific job, and only has a few seconds to do it. The cattle hang by their ankles and are mechanically moved down the line, so as the cattle pass by each worker, that worker has to work fast to get his or her job done in that short amount of time. There's one guy who has about 5 seconds to literally cut the cow in half with a giant chainsaw, and if his cut is even a tiny bit off the mark, the beef from that cow is ruined.
As we continued along, eventually we got to the end (or, really, the beginning) of the line. My nerves were building up as the nice workers asked me if I was sure I wanted to go in and see the actual slaughter happen. I have somewhat of a FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) problem, so I knew if I didn't go see it, I'd regret it.
There's no way to predict how you're going to react to seeing a slaughter. I'd managed to keep pretty calm through the rest of the slaughterhouse tour (which I was proud of - I'm pretty squeamish - one time I fainted just hearing people TALK about hospitals and blood...), so I was feeling pretty good at this point. But when I saw the first cow walk into the slaughter room, the slaughterman placed the stun gun at the top of its head, and the cow dropped to the floor (the stun gun renders the cow unconscious immediately, so it no longer feels any pain or has any emotion), it hit me hard.
I started to break down. One tear formed, then another, and another. After watching three or four stunnings, I decided to leave the room.
I tried to hold it together, I really did. But when the first person asked me if I was ok, I couldn't hold it in anymore (and lucky for me, John caught it on-camera).
Two of the women who worked at the plant took me outside into the comforting sunshine and walked with me, assuring me that my reaction is not uncommon - they said they both had similar reactions when they first came to work there. But it's something that, if you see it every day, you get used to. And it is the harsh reality of our meat-eating habits. What we saw in Uruguay, which seemed massive in scale (they slaughter 1,100 heads of grass-fed cattle daily, just in that one plant), is actually only a tiny fraction of our consumption. It really makes me appreciate how such moments would motivate people to become animal rights activists or go vegetarian or vegan (personally, I was a pescetarian for a few years a while back). This was definitely a life experience for me.
Although it was tough to see, the way the slaughters happen in Tacuarembo are truly as humane as it possibly can be, with all of the animal welfare rules and the care they give the animals in their last moments. They've built the slaughterhouse perfectly over the years (with the help of animal science expert, Dr. Temple Grandin), to ensure that the cattle are as calm as possible in their final minutes. When they're lined up outside, they walk in a curve, which is comforting for them because they get the sense that they're walking in a circle and not going anywhere. The ramp they walk up is not too steep, and made in a way that's easy to walk up. And when they enter the slaughter room, they don't see anything that makes them nervous or worried. When the stunning happens, they are calm, not stressed or worried. As a human, it's sad to know what's about to happened, but the cattle really seem to have no idea.
Yes, my squeamishness got the best of me that day. But that doesn't mean I regret seeing anything I did in Uruguay. I think it's easy to go along with life, eating 3 meals a day, loving the food you're eating but not really knowing what's in it or where it comes from. It's harder to actually take the time and effort to go see how it really gets to your plate (or, in this case, inside your tortilla). I'm glad I got to see this whole process from start to finish, from the grass to the gore, farm to factory. It gave me a new perspective on a lot of things. It made me realize all the time and effort goes into creating each burrito, before the meat even arrives at Boloco. It forced me to think harder about my life as a meat-eater. And seeing how much the people at Tacuarembo care about the animals was a great lesson for life in general.
It was an odd two full days in Uruguay. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And since I've returned to the States, I've been working hard to produce a video encompassing all I experienced in Uruguay, without offending or grossing anyone out (we took out pretty much all of the slaughterhouse!). So if you haven't had enough of my Uruguay adventure, watch away - even if you watch solely to hear the moo-ing ;)


text:
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Pre-Painted Mustang Parts
Now you can have the best of both worlds on many of today's Mustang Parts. Now you get get Pre-Painted Mustang Parts at Cruizin Concepts Wholesale LLC. Find these parts at some of the most competitive prices around. Find popular pre-painted parts by some of the industries most reputable brands such as Roush and 3D Carbon. Our pre-painted Mustang Parts are made to be easy direct bolt on products that can be perfect for the driveway install. Find pre-painted Mustang Hood Scoops, pre-painted side scoops and window louvers all in one easy place. Our pre-painted Mustang parts are breeze to install and take all the work out of you taking your car to the shop.
We also have a Roush pre-painted parts program. Find Mustang pre-painted body kits, chin spoilers, louvers and more by Roush. Our pre-painted Mustang Parts are the perfect solution to cutting out the middle man and getting exactly what you need.
View our Pre-Painted Parts:
Johnathan R.
I seen you guys at Mustang Week and purchased a Ford Mustang SCT Tuner and you guys installed the product and everything for me at the Show at no charge! I appreciated that and couldn't recommend a Mustang Parts supplier more than I would Cruizin Concepts.Frank L.
Own 2 Mustangs and I try to buy all of my parts from you. You have one of the largest selections of Carroll Shelby Parts anywhere and I appreciate that because I've purchased several Shelby parts from Cruizin that I couldn't have gotten elsewhere.Chris V.
You guys ROCK! I always look around before I buy anything for my Mustang but i keep coming back here. Not only that but your VIP program is saving me tons of money and I can find everything I'm looking for on your site. I purchased almost all of my exterior parts from you from my wheels to my body kit and am extremely satisfied.Mike R.
I have been shopping with you guys for years and I have to say it is the best online shopping experience I have ever had. You guys keep making your site easier to navigate and loading it with awesome new features. I also love your selection, it seems like every time I get on here there are new products. You have a customer for life with me.Larry S.
I used to buy my Mustang Parts from another company but i have made a few purchases with you guys and it's like a whole new experience. The whole staff is friendly and helpful and are able to answer all of my questions. But what I love the most is the low prices, and on top of paying less here I get more money for my next purchase!Jen B.
I have to say that I am impressed with your company! The transit time was not the greatest but with the amount I paid it was well worth the couple extra days. I think Cruizin is awesome and will continue to shop with you as long as I have my Mustang.Charles S.
I just got a Cold Air Intake, Exhaust, and Tuner from you guys because the sales guy talked me into it and I love it. First the deal you guys gave me felt like I was getting one of the items for free. And if I wouldn't have got the Tuner with this I think I would have been disappointed. You guys know what you're talking and I couldn't believe the difference in performance just from the Pype's Exhaust, SCT Tuner, and the K&N Intake!Leon W.
I can't believe I just got a Body Kit from you for under $500! That was the Front Bumper, Rear Bumper and the Side Skirts all for less than I could have found just the front bumper at other places. And I got the Body Kit at the end of the week, talk about fast. I called another place and they said it would be about 2 weeks but you guys beat them in every way!William O.
I love shopping online because of the convenience but I don't like the customer service at most places. When I called you about the Steeda Spyder Wheel and Tire Package the rep I spoke with was nice and didn't pressure me in to anything, just let me know the difference in the Nitto Tires and the Toyo Tires. I love the Customer Service and great pricing.Paul B.
Cruizin must be a bunch of experts because I called 3 times and spoke with a different person each time and they all blew my mind on their knowledge of Mustangs and all the Parts. I never even knew what a wind screen or the difference between a styling bar and a light bar until I called. Two thumbs up from me.Tanya H.
Your pricing on the Cipher Race Seats is incredible! I was cautious at first because I have never heard of Cipher before, but when I called about the Corbeau your rep told me about the quality and the many styles they came in. I was still a little worried but once my Race Seats came in I was happy! Great quality, I don't think I would have been happier with any other brand.Robby S.
I love the top notch customer service and knowledge you've given my son and I on several of the Mustang Parts and accessories we have inquired about. I've had the pleasure of speaking with at least 5 or 6 of your customer service representatives and all of them have been able to answer all of our questions. I love dealing with your staff that seems to know Ford Mustangs inside and out!Timmothy J.
I love the look and feel of the new Cruizin Concepts website! You guys seem to have allot more videos and it's even easier to navigate for parts and accessories now. I've ordered from you now for the third time and I always have received quick delivery and what feels like wholesale prices on my parts. Thanks for giving consumers like myself great service and keeping the prices so low!Jeremy H.
Cruizin Concepts is by far my favorite place to shop for parts online. My last purchase was a performance cat-back exhaust system for my 2011 Mustang GT 5.0L and you guys had it shipped out the very same day I placed the order. The site is always makes it easy for me to find my way around and the selection is always great and everything I've purchased has been cheaper through Cruizin than anywhere else. Love accessorizing my American Muscle car with you guys!James W.
All my friends shopped with you guys and I finally had my first experience dealing with Cruizin. I have to say you guys are awesome and I noticed you guys have 365 Day returns and I don't believe I've seen that anywhere else. Just ordered Shelby Wheels and Tires for my 2009 Shelby GT500 and your pricing rocked! The packaging was incredible and you guys make some awesome custom packaging for your high end wheels and tires. Quick shipping and the free installation kit were both nice touches. Thanks.Eric V.


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- Worldwide Rank #5,559,215
- Follower/Following Ratio 2.01
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Showing 1-24 of 109 items found in Events
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It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
This beloved American holiday classic comes to the stage as a 1940's radio broadcast. With the help of the signature 40's sound-effects, actors bring us Capra's unforgettable story. George Bailey lives his life selflessly, always putting others before himself. Wanting nothing more than to leave his hometown of Bedford Falls and see the world, George's unwavering loyalty keeps him in the small town. Down on his luck on Christmas Eve, George considers if his family would be better off if he had never been born and with the help of an angel looking to earn his wings, George discovers just how much he has influenced the small town of Bedford Falls. A touching and timeless story for the whole family. See website for exact dates and showtimes.
CITY:Arlington Heights
Hear that? Yes, it's the sound of bells a-jingling already. Next thing you know dreidels are spinning and pumpkin-spiced everything is everywhere. Now your family is in town, you're numbed to frosty snowmen and Black Friday bargains...and it's not even December! Thankfully The Second City is here with the perfect upheaval of your holiday malaise: Holidazed bursts the monotony of the season with a riotous send-up of all things holiday. Put your turkey baster down and laugh until your cheeks flush with ho-ho-holidazed joy!
CITY:Arlington Heights
Berwyn Cruise Nites in the Depot District
Head to the Depot District for the 9th Annual Cruise Nites presented by Berwyn Kia, Paisans Pizzeria & Bar, Mike & Sons Auto Services, Cicero Auto Parts, Deece Automotive! Cruise Nites take place on Tuesdays from 6-9pm in the Depot District at Windsor & Grove Avenues steps away from the Berwyn Metra Station. Enjoy your summe evenings while taking a stroll through a combination of car show and nightlife.
Head to the Depot District on Tuesday, August 6th for a combination of car show and nightlife. Evening begins at 6pm in the Depot District at Windsor & Grove Avenues steps away from the Berwyn Metra Station.
August 20th Cruise Nite in Berwyn
Come down to the Depot District and enjoy Cruise Nites with other families, residents and car enthusiasts. Learn more about Berwyn's proud classic car culture and historical automotive heritage. Cruise Nites are free! Just show up and have a great time!
Pick any decade and come ready to dance! Event fundraiser features: *King & Queen voting *Groove to the DJ mix *Raffles & Prizes *Finger foods & desserts from local restaurants *A Local Celebrity Lip Sync Battle General Ticket $75: includes open bar, appetizers & desserts and coat check.
Halloween fun awaits families at Brookfield Zoo's annual Boo! at the Zoo celebration. The popular daytime event, presented by Fisher-Price, features a Costume Parade, Costume Showcase, professional pumpkin-carving demonstrations, not-so-scary games and activities, special animal Zoo Chats, and haunted hayrides. For more information, visit www.CZS.org or call (708) 688-8000.
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
Chicagoland's longest-running lights festival is back and ready to dazzle families with more than one million LED lights. Brookfield Zoo's 35th annual Holiday Magic, presented by ComEd and Meijer, offers guests 12 enchanted evenings to enjoy the lights, and so much more, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and the week of December 26-31. For more information and a complete schedule of Holiday Magic activities and entertainment, visit CZS.org/HolidayMagic or call 708.688.8000. Guests will also receive a schedule of events when they arrive.
The Christkindlmarket is a four-week, open-air market modeled after the famous Nuremberg Christmas market dating back to 1545. The market offers shopping opportunities and serves as a winter wonderland meeting place for family and friends. Plus, enjoy German delicacies like brats, goulash and potato pancakes while you're there.
Enter a winter wonderland illuminated by the laughter of children and more than one million lights at Lincoln Park Zoo's annual ZooLights. This holiday classic has become one of the Windy City's must-see seasonal events. Join us for the brilliance of this fun, free, family-oriented holiday celebration, featuring luminous displays and holiday-season activities throughout zoo grounds. Animal exhibits stay open late as guests roam taking in the lights, music and taking photos with Santa. Prepare holiday crafts and enjoy the zoo's incredible animals immersed in an atmosphere unlike any other.
Christmas Around the World & Holiday of Lights
As is tradition, the museum's 45-foot Grand Tree takes center stage in the Rotunda decked out in 30,000 lights. It takes on a different theme each year so expect giant gears to be part of the decor to match the special MSI exhibit, Robot Revolution. Surrounding it will be more than 50 smaller trees beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago communities to represent their various cultures and holiday traditions. The occasional falling of "snow" adds to the fun. . New this year, and in conjunction with MSI's Brick by Brick exhibit, guests can create their own holiday trinket to remember their visit—a LEGO® ornament.
The Chicago Flower & Garden Show brings springtime to winter with its 20 lush gardens, beautiful and fragrant flowers, trees and other plants allowing "newbie" gardeners and experts alike to experience the latest the industry has to offer. Top garden builders create fresh designs, while nationally-known presenters teach visitors how to get that professional garden look. It's all happening at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Be among the first to see new plant varieties for 2017 and experience the newly-redesigned Navy Pier. Enjoy art, free kids activities, wine tastings, cooking demos from noted chefs, and a shopper's paradise of garden gadgets, jewelry, and more. Special rates available for groups.
The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet
Discover the magic of Chicago's mysterious 1893 World's Fair through the eyes of a child in the Joffrey's astounding new Nutcracker -- brilliantly reimagined by Tony Award®-winning choreographer Wheeldon. Be part of dance history as they celebrate this beloved city and unlock a world of wonder for the 21st century. An electrifying holiday tale that will leave you breathless.
Shakespeare 400 Chicago is a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare. As the world commemorates the four hundred years since Shakespeare's death in 1616, Shakespeare 400 Chicago will engage more than 500,000 Chicagoans and visitors to our City through 850 events.
Brick by Brick at the Museum of Science and Industry
Explore the power of play at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago's new temporary exhibition, Brick by Brick, opening March 10. Brick by Brick features a spectacular collection of more than a dozen LEGO®-built structures of engineering marvels, including a 60-foot-long Golden Gate Bridge, the International Space Station, St. Louis Gateway Arch, Hoover Dam, Roman Colosseum, the Burj Khalifa and more. These models are constructed by LEGO Certified Professional and Chicago native, Adam Reed Tucker. Guests will also experience hands-on building challenges that reinforce key principles of engineering, construction and architecture—and encourage creativity. Throughout the exhibit, guests learn how architects and engineers push the limits of design, materials and location to make the seemingly impossible, possible; witness how form follows function; and learn how building beautifully uplifts us all.
Are you a procrastinator when it comes to holiday shopping? Are you at your most productive when the stress of a quickly approaching holiday is giving you a little extra motivation? Then join us for our second night of Late Night Andersonville, just a little "late-er" than usual. On Friday, December 16 from 6-10pm, take advantage of 4 more hours of the same discounts from Late Night Andersonville, plus once again enjoy free entertainment, refreshments, and pictures with Santa.
One of Andersonville's many traditional Swedish events, St. Lucia begins with a torch-lit procession down the sidewalks of Clark Street at 4:45 p.m., kicking off at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St. The procession highlight is the appearance of the specially chosen "Lucia Girls," who will lead the crowd, wearing long white robes and beautiful crowns of candles and singing "The Lucia Song." Children and adults are welcome to join in the procession. Afterwards, all participants are invited to the Lucia celebration at the Swedish American Museum. The Lucia celebration features a telling of the Lucia legend, family entertainment by Dream Big Performing Arts, and Swedish holiday treats including traditional "pepparkakor" ginger snaps. Admission is $1 or can of food to benefit Care for Real, Edgewater's food pantry.
Apartment 3A at Windy City Playhouse
It might be the nicest apartment in the building, but it can't possibly be enough to make up for the day that Annie has had. A nasty breakup, an on-air meltdown, and a fledgling romance have left her faithless and heartbroken. So when a simple visit from an enigmatic new neighbor starts to change things for the better, Annie has to ask: is it fate? Luck? Or… divine intervention? The cast includes Wardell Clark, Peter DeFaria, Jose Tony Garcia, Eleni Pappageorge, and Daniel Smith. The playwright, Jeff Daniels, is the award-winning actor and musician known for his role on The Newsroom.
Above and Beyond at the Museum of Science and Industry
Above and Beyond offers guests the opportunity to explore innovations in aviation and aerospace, from the first powered flights to space travel, through hands-on experiences and virtual simulations. In Above and Beyond, guests can learn about the scientific principles that allow us to fly and explore farther through exhibition features such as a group flying experience with motion-sensing technology that simulates the flight of a bird in a flock; a simulated space elevator that transports guests to the edge of space; a virtual design challenge that allows guests to create and race their own supersonic fighter-jet against other pilots; and more. Throughout Above and Beyond, guests explore the scientific concepts behind flight and learn how humans continue to discover innovative ways to fly faster and higher, challenging the limits of both our world and outer space.
Chicago Blackhawks 2016-2017 Season
Don't miss a minute of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey season, as the team pursues its dream of another Stanley Cup win. Home games at the United Center will thrill hockey fans of all ages.
Chicago Theatre Week is a celebration of Chicago's world-class theatre scene. Presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago, Chicago Theatre Week is returning for its fifth year and will take place February 9-19, 2017. This February, visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to choose from more than 100 productions and sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings in Chicago. February 9 – 19, 2017. $15 and $30 tickets (or less!)
Where the Wild Things Are: The Works of Maurice Sendak at the Museum of Science & Industry
Step into the fantastical imagination of Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of the beloved children's book, Where the Wild Things Are. In this special exhibit, you'll explore 50 original artworks by the creative genius, including sketches, illustrations and works on paper. Presidents, illustrators, friends and celebrities also share their words about the renowned author—how he influenced their careers and touched their lives.
Holiday Flower Show: Sky Forest
The Garfield Park Conservatory, considered the largest indoor conservatory of its kind in the country, showcases vibrant and festive flora with its annual holiday flower show. This year's exhibit, titled Sky Forest, evokes a walk through delicate wintry woods by highlighting snow-topped branches and towering fir trees. The free exhibit will run from November 24, 2016-January 8, 2017.
Progressive® Insurance Chicago Boat, RV & Strictly Sail Show
The Progressive® Insurance Chicago Boat, RV & Strictly Sail Show® is the perfect oasis for escaping frigid winter temperatures this January! This mega show features hundreds of powerboats, sailboats and RVs on display for attendees to view, board and shop, plus the latest in outdoor and marine accessories and technology, and plenty of hands-on interactive & educational activities for everyone. Powerboats, RVs and sailboats will be showcased in three distinct areas to make it easy for attendees to navigate the show and find what they are looking for.


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However somehow I can't get rid of lonely feeling in these days.
The day before yesterday hubby suddenly asked me to go out for refreshing.
I didn't know he took a day off that day. Is he a good mind reminder? (laugh)
Really? Where are we going?
He proposed visiting a temple just a 30 minute-drive from home.
Can we enjoy beautiful turning leaves at this time of the year?
With willing haste, I made lunch with what was in the fridge.
There were only a few small groups, perhaps retired people, in Kanshinji-Temple. Very calm and comfortable... It was a gloomy and cold day but I enjoyed a good smell of the air in the spacious temple pricincts. Leaves have just begun turning red. In a few weeks they will be at their best. Shall we come again around that time?


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Come and meet Steve and hear the NEW Gypsy Acoustic Amplifiers at
January 19-22, 2017 · Anaheim Convention Center · Anaheim, CA
Steve is looking for a partner to take up to 50% share in his company "Steve Grindrod Amplification".
Legendary Valve Amp Designer Steve Grindrod Invites Guitarists, MI Executives and Music Lovers to Share in The Ownership of Steve Grindrod Amplification
Steve Grindrod, Founder, Managing Director and Chief Designer of Steve Grindrod Amplification (SGA), announced that he is inviting guitarists, MI executives and music lovers to share in the ownership of his brand. Grindrod is making 50-percent of the equity in his company available.
Please contact Steve or Andrew on +447973223949 for more information.
Steve Grindrod is acclaimed by leading artists, MI executives and journalists as a creator of "the British Sound." He formed SGA in 2015, after 27 years as Chief Designer at Marshall, where he created iconic amps including the JCM800, Silver Jubilee, JCM900 and JCM2000; 8 years as Chief Designer at Vox, where he created the AC30, Custom Classic, and Heritage AC15; and 6 years as Chief Designer at Albion, where he created additional models embraced by elite artists and working musicians alike.
The initial SGA range, the Pendragon series, was introduced at Music China in October 2015 and at NAMM in January 2016 and generated significant interest. Sales channels have been opened and over 50 global distributors are ready to place orders as soon as SGA initiates a planned global marketing campaign.
"For over 40 years I've obsessed on one thing: making guitarists sound better. The way I've achieved this is by listening deeply to their concerns and by becoming one with their wants and needs," said Steve Grindrod. "Since we're one emotionally and SGA is still a young company, I felt it would be meaningful to invite guitarists to share in the growth of my brand with me. Has a guitarist ever been able to say, 'I own a piece of the amp brand I play?' Now they can."
Steve stated, "By investing in SGA guitarists and all music lovers are helping me to help them. Together we can take British sound forward."
Andrew Bishop, CEO
Steve Grindrod Amplification Co. Ltd.
Cell: +44 (0) 7973 223949


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The Style Gallery is a great new way for you to view, love, and share outfit photos. It's meant to showcase
all the expressive, creative, and inspirational personalities of our community!
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You know those days when you adore your outfit to the point that you wish you never had to change? You'll find yourself feeling that way frequently when you adjust the evergreen-hued, vegan faux-leather spikes of this gold accessory around your neck! A style that adds edginess to a classic sheath and color to an all-ivory ensemble, this cylindrically-beaded piece is nearly impossible not to wear with everything. If you should happen to sneak it into your outfit several days in a row, that's 'pine' with us!
Final Sale: This item cannot be returned or exchanged.
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Today, while I was waiting at a red light, another car slammed into me. By the time I got out to assess the damage, the other car was empty and there was nobody in sight. Either Moby Dickwad was abducted by aliens mid-crash, or he was behind on his insurance payments. FML
by Boar / 06/24/2012 at 4:51pm / United States (New Mexico) / Miscellaneous
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Tiny, tender, tangy…
It's mid-winter and I'm starting to get a little desperate to harvest something fresh from the garden. Plastic boxes of washed greens are convenient but a sorry second to truly fresh salads. Here's a way to put all those plastic containers to good use and yield a fresh crop of tiny, tender, tangy microgreens.
Fresh from your windowsill, microgreens are ripe for harvest when just a few weeks old and barely an inch high. It is this short growing period that makes this crop doable throughout these bleakest months of the year. Add freshly snipped sprouts to salads, sandwiches, soups, scrambled eggs or just about anything for a hit of sprightly flavor and welcome crunch.
A quick crop of kitchen window microgreens is a great way to finish off leftover seed packets from last year. Take a quick look around the house – you may already have everything you need for this simple, tasty garden project. This is a great project to do with kids. Who knows – you might even get them to sample their tasty (and nutritious) crop.
You'll need:
- recycled 2 part plastic take-out containers
- potting mix
- seed
- spray bottle
If your plastic containers do not already have drainage holes use a sharp knife or a heated metal skewer to pierce the bottom in several places.
Pre-moisten the potting mix and fill containers to within 1" from the top. Evenly sprinkle seed over the surface of the potting mix making sure to leave a bit of space between them. No need to sow seed one by one – just be sure to allow space for each little seedling to grow.
Barely cover the seed with more potting mix and mist with a spray bottle to thoroughly water and activate germination.
Set your "garden" in a bright window; the lid to your plastic container makes a perfect drip tray and protects your windowsill from water damage. Keep soil moist but not soggy by spritzing with the spray bottle every day. The warmer the room the more you'll need to water.
In 1 ½ -2 weeks your microgreens will be ready for harvest. Harvest by clipping with scissors just above soil level to keep greens clean. Serve at once or store in a closed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Like all greens, microgreens hold best when completely dry to the touch.
Micro-greens are not to be confused with more established cut-and-come again greens from which you can harvest one, two or even three cuttings. However, provided your first "crop" was free of disease and pests, you can replant your container for another crop using the same soil.
To sow another crop, sift the remaining roots and stems from the soil and toss them into your compost bin. Sprinkle seed as before, top up with more potting mix and mist with water. Start a second crop of microgreens a few days to one week after the first pot for a continuous harvest throughout the rest of winter.
Spicy: Peppergrass cress, 'Giant Red' mustard, radish, arugula, daikon radish, and 'Wrinkled Crinkled' cress.
Mild and Tangy: Tatsoi, mizuna, kale, lettuce, miner's lettuce, and minutina.


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With two current locations on Oahu, Peet's Coffee & Tea is planning to expand to Kailua Town, according to Kaneohe Ranch.
It will open in early 2014 at 143 Hekili Street in Suite 120. Kaneohe Ranch will turn
over the 648-square-foot store to Peet's in November for the California-based company to build out its interior.
Peet's Coffee has two existing locations on Oahu-- both at the Sheraton Waikiki, by the pool and valet. But, Peet's Coffee & Tea Hawaii licensed partner Chipper Pastron said he and his partners Sal Sr. and Sal Jr. Casola are excited about opening a store in Kailua.
"Kailua is the No. 1 area we've wanted to get into for years," Pastron said. "This will be the first store in Hawaii where we are really part of a community. We also believe that the Kailua customers will appreciate the high level of artisan products we have to offer."
Peet's Coffee & Tea opened its first store in Berkeley, Calif., in 1966. Each batch of coffee is personally hand roasted, and roast masters select the best coffee beans. For tea enthusiasts, Peet's offers an equally thoughtful selection of herbal, certified organic and rare teas.
"Kailua shoppers value quality, and this charming caffeine oasis will offer the service and high-quality products local residents appreciate – making Peet's Coffee & Tea another great hangout for Kailua residents," said Kimo Steinwascher, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kaneohe Ranch.
Janeen Lee-Abelaye, general manager of the Peet's Coffee at the Waikiki locations, says the top seller is the simple freshly-brewed coffee.
"Peet's Coffee is known for its quality roasting," said Lee-Abelaye. "While we do sell a lot of blended drinks, lattes and different types of espresso, the freshly brewed coffee is what our customers love."
The Kailua location will also sell breakfast sandwiches, and fresh-baked artisan pastries -- all created exclusively for Peet's Coffee & Tea Hawaii.
Peet's Coffee neighboring tenants in the renovated 143 Hekili Street property will include
Crepes No Ka 'Oi and swimwear boutique Splash! Hawaii.
Pastron is planning a blessing and other grand-opening festivities when the store opens early next year.


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Are you looking for statement-making pillows and throws? west elm carries a large assortment of modern decorative pillows that you'll love. Shop our sale pillows, sequin pillows on sale, velvet pillows on sale and decorative pillows on sale. We also carry beautiful, soft throws on sale in addition to cushions and floor pillows for great prices.


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CNJ staff
A 44-year-old Texico man was electrocuted Sunday afternoon in Farwell while cleaning water out of a basement at a residence on Highway 292, police said.
Rocky Horton died at the scene, according to Farwell Police Chief Scott Burton.
Burton said police and paramedics tried to resuscitate the victim for 35 minutes using CPR and other methods.
Police received the emergency call about 2:40 p.m. (CST), Burton said.
Burton said Horton was killed when he touched a lamp that was plugged into an extension cord. The cord was on wet carpet, the chief said.
The homeowner was with Horton in the basement at the time of the accident, Burton said. The homeowner was not injured, Burton said.
Services are pending with Steed-Todd Funeral Home.