text:
Photographing Cozumel
Cozumel Island History
D.I.Y. Snorkel Tour
Weather/Dive Conditions
CZM Dolphin DISCOUNTS
Fox Hill - Weather Or Not
Weather Or Not
Fox Hill, Freelance Writer and Photographer
I'm lying in the sun on the rooftop deck of our house. Directly above me, the sky is clear and blue. It could be any other beautiful and carefree day on the island of Cozumel. But it's not. It's Thursday the 20th of October, 2005. To the south and about forty miles away, is the outer edge of the gigantic and destructive hurricane Wilma, now a category five. If I stand up, I can see the enormous spinning mass of dark gray clouds. I'm trying to catch a few rays between rain bands, the alternating periods of sunshine and rain that precede an approaching hurricane. Wilma has spurned all of her usual island suitors in the Caribbean, and seems to be saving her attention for us as she continues her approach. She's had her eye on a date with Cozumel from the very start, and it looks like she's going to keep it. Somehow, sun tanning in the face of such danger feels better than cowering indoors.
The local cable company doesn't offer the weather Channel. Why bother? There usually isn't any. With an average annual temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, Cozumel enjoys an almost perpetual string of perfect summer days. The warm weather seems to affect the pace of life, with people moving in a relaxed and unhurried manner. There is none of the slightly panic stricken attention that good weather got in my hometown. My neighbors there practiced a sort of high-speed gardening and camping, always aware the snow would be flying again before they knew it. Winters were often severe beyond imagining, with temperatures dropping to more than forty degrees below zero. The air was often so cold that it was difficult to breathe when leaving the house, and four wheel drive vehicles were a necessity there, not a fashion item. I have never quite adjusted to Christmas in the Caribbean though. It doesn't matter how many decorations are hung, or how many festive songs are played, it just never quite feels like Christmas here. (I think it's something about the palm trees). Still, I don't care if I never see another harsh winter, and I relish the series of summer days melting one into another until it's hard to remember what month it is.
The region has now seen three hurricanes of this magnitude in a little over a year. In September of 2004, Hurricane Ivan left dozens dead in other countries. With sustained winds of over 160 mph, Ivan put the Cayman Islands out of business in a flash, but spared us with a last minute turn to the north. Next, Emily hit Cozumel in July of 2005 with her 155 mph winds, but was moving so fast that we escaped with only a few bruises. Most of the damage was to plants. Wilma however is taking her time, crawling along at a horrifying four miles per hour. She has smashed almost every record for Atlantic hurricanes, and is now the most powerful storm in recorded history, besting even the monstrous Gilbert of '88. No hurricane has ever intensified so rapidly, changing from a category two into a category five in only a few hours. The predictions are grim. We've been working for three days straight, laying in supplies and boarding up every window in the house. Concerned about the risk of storm surge and flooding, we've packed up nearly everything and stowed it in plastic boxes. All the loose items from the yard have been moved inside to give Wilma fewer projectiles with which to kill us. We've also prepared a safe room in one of the bathrooms, where all the walls are concrete and there are no windows. I admit that I'm a little bit scared, because I've done my homework, and I know that if the hurricane is severe enough, it will, "huff and puff and blow this house down." I'd better go check the weather.
There are really only two seasons here: dust and mud. The dry season, running from December to June, means few mosquitoes, lower temperatures, less humidity, and lots of garden watering. It also means floors that are constantly covered in a fine layer of dust. When the rainy season arrives, it brings with it brief daily rainfalls, and hordes of mosquitoes. Like flying piranhas, they suck the joy from outdoor activities and keep me inside more than I care for in the evenings. Humidity often runs as high as ninety five percent, but I'm off the hook for watering the garden. Local golfers have to keep an eye out for extra hazards on the course, as crocodiles will venture into flooded low-lying areas when it rains hard enough. (I can tell it's raining hard when I can't see across our garden). Locals seem to be afraid that they will melt in the rain like the Wicked Witch of the West, sometimes standing under awnings and trees for hours waiting for it to stop. But I like the warm rain, and I don't mind riding or walking in it.
I pass a lumberyard on the way to the Internet café. Cars are lined up all the way down the block, their drivers waiting while loads of plywood are tied onto one car after another. The entire city is in a frenzy of last minute preparations; shops are closing and boards are going up over every window and door. I ask a local friend if he thinks this will be a bad one. He replies that he knows it will be, because all the Gringos are putting up their plywood. The grocery store shelves are stripped, and there isn't a bottle of water to be found, as many here clearly expect the worst. All three gas stations on the island have huge lineups as people try to fill up one last time, or fill containers for their generators. While the locals don't overreact to every little storm warning, they aren't taking this one lightly - everyone remembers the thrashing that Hurricane Gilbert delivered. I'm lucky, as the café is still open, though it won't be for long. They are packing up the computers when I walk in, but there are still a few hooked up. They tell me to hurry. This will be my last chance to check the computer models on the weather web site. With only hours to spare, all five of the models are predicting a direct hit on Cozumel. Worse, the stalling of the storm is leading the experts to believe we might face hurricane force winds for as much as thirty six hours. I pale at the prospect, remembering how bad Hurricane Emily seemed with its duration of only a few hours. Now we wait.
When we do get weather here, it is literally the worst weather in the world. Not long ago we endured a three day period during which 86 inches of rain fell, 39 of them in one day. To put this in perspective, this is as much rain in three days as my hometown sees in six and a half years. The rain fell as if a celestial cask had been split with an axe. Had the water in our courtyard been a single inch deeper, the entire main floor of our house would have flooded. It could be worse though, as many homes here are built below grade, so they fill up with water, sometimes several feet deep. During heavy rainfalls, the municipal drainage system is quickly overwhelmed, and soon every manhole cover in town is transformed into a sewage fountain. Foul smelling brown water gushes up, adding to the flooding in the streets. My wife and I call this water, "
liquidos misteriosos
," and when cycling at such times, I pray I have no open cuts and hasten to the shower afterwards. (I never thought I would live in a place where the wave action from passing vehicles would be a problem while bicycle riding). After the Big Rain -- I capitalize it in my mind when I think about it -- we saw buckets of water flying out the front door of a neighbor's house. We went to investigate and saw he had an enormous sunken living room, which looked more like a wading pool. We came to his rescue with an electric sump pump, and had his house pumped dry in a couple of hours. We've been friends ever since.
Wilma strikes. The power goes out at 9:00 PM, and the winds are very strong - but I've seen strong winds here before. So far the night of the hurricane has boasted a carnival atmosphere: candlelit board games, music on the battery powered CD player, and we still have cold beer. The house seems invincible, and we pat ourselves on the back for our thorough preparations. Besides, we survived Emily with nary a scratch. But Wilma builds in strength relentlessly. The intensity of the wind has increased far beyond any I have ever seen. The sound is amazing, like the roar of a living thing. The rain comes sideways, and the window frames and glass doors bow inward so far that I am sure they will explode. Soon, we're mopping up wind driven rainwater with blankets, and opening windows in an attempt to equalize the pressure. Emily taught us that if the hurricane wants a window open, you had better open it, or the hurricane will. A rapid one-two punch pressure change slams my sinuses and lungs. Now I'm officially concerned. We give up worrying about whether the doors will hold and start moving to the safe room. Our efforts to keep the second floor dry have failed, and water cascades down the stairs to the first floor, most of which is covered in water. A late dinner comes from cans as we listen to the onslaught. We don't sleep well, waking frequently to check for a breach in our defenses. The next day, around noon, things really quiet down. The sky brightens a bit and we chance a look out the front door. It seems the worst has passed, and we start to move some things back into the living room and mop up. Miraculously, our phone still works, so I call my Mom and ask her to check the weather on the Internet. She tells me the storm is centered on Cozumel, and my heart sinks, as this can only mean one thing. We are in the eye. Sure enough, in a few hours, as Wilma crawls along, the back eye-wall strikes, with winds much worse than before. We grit our teeth and hunker down for the long haul.
Despite the risk of hurricanes, or torrential rains and flooding, the weather doesn't usually kill anyone here. It was common to hear of someone dying every week in a winter traffic accident back home, or sometimes even freezing to death during an ill-considered drunken walk late at night. There would however, be an upside to a good stretch of forty degree below zero weather here in the tropics - it would keep the bugs at bay. I tire of the endless battles with ants, roaches, scorpions, mosquitoes, flies, and moths. In fact, while storms might lay waste to property and plant life, insects seem to thrive with a renewed vigor after a hurricane. The destruction of the forests (causing a drop in bird and bat populations) coupled with vast areas of standing water are no doubt to blame. Remind me to cancel my subscription to the Insect of the Month Club.
Sunday morning finally comes and Wilma moves on, leaving us exhausted and battered, three days after our tryst with her began. I'm stunned when I leave the house. It looks like Beirut, with many trees downed or simply gone, and power lines and poles littering the streets. There is not a single leaf or branch left, and naked gray tree trunks are everywhere. Our garden is destroyed, with only the headless Royal Palm trees still standing. Every metal thing I see is bright orange with rust, and I realize that it has been raining salt for three days. Waves over forty feet high pounded the coastline, and whole buildings on the waterfront simply vanished, as did all the cruise ship piers. Not a single store on
Avenida Rafael Melgar
, the popular shopping street, survived unscathed. Roofs collapsed, walls fell down, and many stores were stuffed full with tons of ocean debris. It looks like we all have a lot of work to do.
In the end, Wilma subjected us to damaging winds for over sixty hours, perhaps the longest any place has had to suffer the wrath of a hurricane. November 14, 2005 marked the return of the cruise ships, just three weeks after Wilma. Much depended on how this first post-hurricane visit went. Any negative feedback from the tourists and we might have found ourselves off the cruise itinerary for a long time. The locals all knew this, and their brief taste of a fully stopped economy made them keen to impress. It was one of the most important days this island had seen in nearly two decades, so I headed downtown to see how things went. Three massive cruise ships sat offshore, and tourists filled the plaza and the main shopping streets. There was an electric party atmosphere all around me, with street performers, music, and busy cantinas spilling patrons onto the sidewalks. The cleanup was remarkable. Power was restored to much of the city in only seven days, by linesmen that poured in from all over Mexico. Those businesses that could not reopen in time were boarded up, but even the boards were painted with festive island scenes. I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, my chest literally swelling with pride in my new home and countrymen. Nobody sat wringing their hands waiting for FEMA to save them. Everybody here simply got to work, and did what had to be done.
We're at a favorite local seafood joint for dinner. It's been a year now since Wilma, and the island has mostly recovered. Some cleanup and rebuilding continues, but things are looking much better. I notice that the sun feels warmer lately, and the sky looks bluer than it once did. Soon the waiter is bringing us our sizzling plates of food as we munch homemade corn chips with blazing hot salsa. My favorite meal of grilled fish, rice, and cold beer, tastes better today than it once did. A brush with death improves the value of life. It is indeed our very mortality that makes living worthwhile.
Savor it.
©2006 Fox Hill
Other Interesting Perspectives by Fox Hill you might Enjoy!
Fox Hill's Cozumel
Fox hopes to share his view of Cozumel with you through his column and photographs and welcomes your comments.
Fox Hill - Under the Big Top
The hands of the clock don't move any slower here, they just don't matter. If you're married to the idea of firm schedules and on-time performance, you'd better stick to Cozumel as a tourist destination.
Fox Hill - Jewels
The color is so intense in the setting sunlight that it doesnt even seem real. The locals are fearless about their use of color in decorating, with vibrant yellows, blues, and reds everywhere. My neighborhood back home was brown and gray.
Fox Hill - Tapestry
Cozumel is draped in a rich tapestry woven from sounds, ranging from the annoying to the sublime.
Fox Hill - All Around Me
Freedom is a thing so clear and light, that you dont notice when it starts to slip away; and once lost, its not easy to find again.
Personal Experiences
Submit Feedback
It is clear you have a love of teaching as an art in addition to photography... My expectations for this course were only slightly more than: This is a camera, point at fish, shoot...However, this course was outstanding and could appropriately be titled: An Introduction to Becoming a Professional Photographer.
Fox Hill Underwater Photography Class
Rory Tucker ~ Not Given
As a published underwater photographer with 15 years experience, I was amazed by how much I learned from your underwater photo course. Your depth of knowledge, friendly teaching style and technical tips made the day a great investment for me. I would highly recommend your course! Thank you!
Fox Hill Underwater Photography Class
M. Cowman ~ Fla
The material presented was so much more than I would expect. Everything was explained clearly. The manner in which it was taught made the concepts easy to understand and follow. I learned a tremendous amount and I look forward to significantly improving my photographic efforts and experience.
Fox Hill Underwater Photography Class
Ryan Meglathery ~ Not Given
Copyright © 2000-2016 Sherri Davis, All Rights Reserved. All website content is the property of Cozumel Insider unless otherwise attributed and cannot be used, displayed or reproduced without express written permission from Cozumel Insider. Contributors retain the copyright to their work where applicable; please do not take art or words without permission. Other graphics and reference materials are used and attributed as per the Fair Use Provision of The Copyright Act and individual terms of use.
Contact Sherri Davis
Set a Meeting
Send a Message
Contact Form
Meeting Scheduler


text:
JCoz wrote:No Peeker response?
Nothing other than to ask the fellas here if there's anything to this 'old boys club' that Chubby is referring to.
It would seem to me dismissing Chubby's claim that this was a deal between friends and old boys would have to lead to dismissing some of the Lamonte Club bullshit that's prevalent here.
Or is it completely different in that the popular agenda simply isn't served?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Signing up using your Facebook account allows you to win some free credits in our credit oven.Register using Facebook
Showing deliveries for Zubčice. Please specify your address.
There are no restaurants in selected category.
Do you have a tip for restaurant?
Send us your tip for restaurant. We will give you free 500 CZK if it works.
But we can let you know when will be new restaurant available!
Enter your email and we will send you email
when will be new restaurant available.


text:
mattvan1 wrote:motherscratcher wrote:You guys can bust BPs balls all you want, but there was a lot of truth in there.
I read some contrived, albeit well articulated, truths based on a particular POV, but lumping Afganistan and Iraq in the same let's scapegoat the US bucket is simply distorting facts to fit an agenda.
Meh... doesn't matter given it's an agenda Moscratch is more than willing to prescribe to.
BP wants to ignore the overwhelming smell of shit in his own yard to tell you to clean up after your dog.
He's the murdering, rapist father surprised and appalled that is son has just been arrested for assault.


text:
Co Q-10 Supplements
- 1 Products in Co Q-10
Coenzyme Q-10 (Co Q-10) supports a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.**
Nearly every cell in the body needs Coenzyme Q-10 for the production of energy.**
Co Q-10 levels can decrease as we age.**
Did you know your statin medication may be lowering your Co Q-10 levels?
Q-Sorb™, our Coenzyme Q-10 supplement, can help replenish Co Q-10 that statin medications take away.
Remember, Coenzyme Q-10 is not intended to serve as a replacement for Statin therapy, nor should you discontinue taking any prescribed medications while supplementing with Coenzyme Q-10.
Above Statements not applicable to all products below.
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
2 for $39.99
Buy 2 Get 3 Free
5 for $79.98
600 mg / 30 SoftgelsItem #030453
- Currently on back order.
We expect this item to be back in stock soon.
Click here for other sizes
- Currently on back order.


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Sharlene, are you driving or flying? If flying, will you be renting a car? In what borough will you be staying? How long will you be in the area and on what days of the week? Your means of transportation, lodging and trip duration will all impact where you can go.
I just found out about Scott's Pizza Tour on TripAdvisor, rated as top 10 tours/attractions in NYC. Are you guys familiar with the tour? There is a 6 hour bus tour that drives you to pizzerias in other boroughs-but it's all booked up. So I'm thinking of the walking tour - either the Greenwich Village Pizza Tour or the Crosstown. Based on the reviews, sounds like Lombardi's, Joe's, and John's in Bleeker are the pizzerias visited in the Crosstown. Greenwich Village tour offers Keste (Neo), John's (NY style), and one that offers Sicilian style. Tough decision.... I just emailed Scott to get his recommendation.
Manhattan has absolutely nothing in the way of a decent NY style slice
I made sure that Scott is working on the day of the tour and that Keste is a stop. First one, for that matter! I will be meeting with Giulio Adriani for 3 hours in Brooklyn the day before. I hope to be taking videos and lots of pictures, to share. And will be sure to stop by Williamsburg pizza.
one more note if you want to meet roberto he is now at don antonio most of the time.we ate their monday and it was great,the pies were outstanding.
The bread on the other hand from the sullivam street Bakery next door Awesome!! I took a classic whole wheat loaf home and just finished this AM I ate the whole loaf !! nice sourdough finish. Gotta start making some breads soon ! J


text:
Builders in Van Nuys, California
The below information is public information which was obtained in November, 2009 from the Contractors State License Board of California. Click on the "Get current license status" links below to see the current status of the contractors licenses.You will also want to verify the contractor you choose has the necessary insurance/bonding.Never use unlicensed or uninsured contractors.
Additional Builders in Van Nuys, California
Click here to get Quotes from Networx General/Remodeling contractors
Copyright © 2002 BuilderQuotes.com


text:
Fountec Fountain Algaecide Clarifier - ½ Gallon
About this itemKeep Algae away and enjoy crystal-clear water without harsh, staining chemicals!
Fountec's organic polymers keep fountain and statuary water cleaner, clearer, and algae-free without chlorine and laborious scrubbing. This EPA-registered product utilizes a unique control mechanism to kill and inhibit algae without harming the environment. Unaffected by heat, sunlight and evaporation, Fountec also outlasts and outperforms copper, enzyme and quat based products. A small dose of Fountec lasts up to a week or more and is very economical, due to its concentrated formula. Fountec is non-hazardous, non-staining and non-foaming. It is safe for birds, plants, and animals, but not for fish. Fountec is the most effective, environmentally-friendly product now available for fountain treatment.
- Kills and prevents algae growths
- Non-foaming and non-staining
- Keeps water crystal clear and algae-free
- ½ gallon/ 64 fl oz
- Treats over 2400 US gallons
- Recommended dosage: 1 drop per gallon of water - very economical
- Kills and inhibits all types of algae growth in all types of waters
- Fast acting
- No chlorine needed
For questions or concerns regarding this item, please contact the Manufacturer's Customer Service Department at 1-866-SNOW-JOE.
Assembled Country
Component Country


text:
Preprinted Cash Register / Printer Rolls
Imagine how professional your business would appear if all your receipt rolls had been tailored to your individual company. Achieve a professional image with preprinted cash register rolls also called preprinted till rolls.
Your company logo, terms and conditions, business details, in fact anything you choose to promote your business present on every preprinted receipt you produce. This is not just a privilege of the big multi-nationals, anyone can do it. We have access to world-class printing machines. We can prduce full colour images and apply colour washes to paper. For more information just fill out the form below or call us now:
Sign Up
Get exclusive offers from Tillfood
You can easily unsubscribe at any time - privacy policy


text:
HOME CBS Brown Bears Gear Brown Bears Mens Brown Bears Mens T-Shirts Brown Bears Mens T-Shirts Long Sleeved (16 items) Product ID: 1232697
Main Content
Now that you're in the real world, you need Brown fan gear that is a cut above a basic tee. Show off your status as an elite Bear with this Epic Easy Care button-down shirt from Cutter & Buck! This classic long sleeve nailshead shirt boasts Easy Care wrinkle resistance for a polished look all day long. It features a team logo embroidered on the left chest, button-down collar, barrel cuff, double back pleat, chest pocket, and a C&B pennant on the left cuff, giving you the professional look you need and the Brown spirit you want!
- Button-down shirt
- Imported
- Two button cuff
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Quality embroidery
- 60% Cotton/40% Polyester
- Long sleeve
- Full-button front
- Imported
- Brand: Cutter & Buck
Bears Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Share Your Reflection
A beautiful piece of music
A beautiful piece of music and played in a Forest.All the the comments seem to be trying to outdo one another.S>A>D> Just enjoy the moment.
I love this
I love this
absolutely amazing
absolutely amazing
That it is totally Japanese is understandable as they are extremely precise and persistent on absolute perfection. Beautiful
Simply ingenious and so very
Simply ingenious and so very beautiful as well. If you ever want to win $250k, you should enter this masterful work of art in Grand Rapids, MI's ArtPrize.
Very well done!
Clever idea. The digital
Clever idea. The digital music contrasts with nature, but this is just a whimsical thing. I'm sure there will be another one coming. Great ideas come from just things like this.
Love this and used it to show
Love this and used it to show students another avenue for a career in music. There had to be some musician who was the overseerer for this project! Yeah!
As a musician, I've found
As a musician, I've found many professional musicians to be quite off-key, horrible songwriters, and quite egotistical. I think that some non-musicians can have a deeper and more educated appreciation of music than some musicians. I thought this was magically original, even with a song we all know.
Love this.
Love this.
No matter what anyone says -
No matter what anyone says -
God's that 's good !
My heart skipped with joy at
My heart skipped with joy at the end of this video. Both funny and contemplative and a wonder of wood working. I work with wood every day "making" the places we inhabit.. what a joy to see the creative way wood can sing to us, Thank You
Thank you, thank you, Krista
Thank you, thank you, Krista Tippet, for. Everything...
just too beautiful!!! so very
just too beautiful!!! so very clever!
"Ode to Joy" is one of the
"Ode to Joy" is one of the most beautiful, uplifting pieces of music ever written. However, it was written by Beethoven, not by Bach. I believe it was the last movement of his 9th Symphony, but not positive. I think this setup with wood, in the woods was spectacular. Most of you probably do not care who wrote it. For me, it was amazing I knew something that sounds so cultured, so I had to tell you!
Sorry, but this is not "Ode
Sorry, but this is not "Ode to Joy", it is "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" by J. S. Bach.
Everything about this
Everything about this presentation is absolutely beautiful. Thank you.
Simply wonderful!
Simply wonderful!
This video is fascinating.
This video is fascinating. That is a LOT of work involved for the music, but it was worth it!!
This is the most infuriating
This is the most infuriating video I have seen in a while. In the name of commercialism, how many trees were wasted to make this totally unnecessary video? Talk about environmental elitism for the liberal left because it touches the heart and therefore must be okay. At what point do you people engage the brain?
Fantastic prediction a
Fantastic prediction a Guinness record to awarded.
I appreciate the engineering
I appreciate the engineering and keen ear for exactly the right note as well as the team work this required. Well done!
awesome! What a work of love!
awesome! What a work of love!
Much ingenious ado about
Much ingenious ado about nothing. Aurally, unrecognisable as Bach's Motet.
Excellant, none can beat
Excellant, none can beat Japan.
Like any kind of art, music
Like any kind of art, music is subjective. It's whatever resonates the heartstrings of the individual. I personally think this is brilliant!! Every piece of wood had to be finely tuned to a certain note, and masterminded into absolute precision to bring Bach's work alive. In nature there is music in the wind, raindrops on water, sounds of feet clicking on twigs and leaves, chirping of birds and animals talking to each other. I love the point that one little wooden ball takes us back to simpler times when music wasn't provided through a digital device, but as nature originally intended it to be. The Japanese are precision masters, and they took the time to produce this while others only dream to do something so beautiful.
Wondrously beautiful
Wondrously beautiful
If ever there was a doubt
If ever there was a doubt that music...good classical music...had the power to draw people of the world together in universal friendship and understanding, this labor of love should dispel it. To all the conceivers/designers, musicians and workers that created this wonderful instrument, my warmest thanks. To the company that sponsored and financed this video, I extend best wishes and hope that your sales far exceed expectations. We could wish that American advertisers would return to pleasant music and be merciful to their audiences! Aregato.
What's funny to me is how so
What's funny to me is how so many people feel the need to say 'what a grump!' to the person who didn't like it. Comments like 'get over yourself' and 'to hell with professional musicians' reveal a sort of reactive intellectual hostility towards naysayers and someone having a contrasting view... The guy's just saying that he didn't love the freakin' television commercial... C'mon people!
the little ball that could.!
the little ball that could.!
Watch the videoo once to see
Watch the videoo once to see the how then play it again, close your eyes, see the ball roll in your minds eye and just listen.
Wonderful would love to be
Wonderful would love to be there and experience it all
gravity has played a big part
gravity has played a big part in music, so this is not so far removed. I love the unexpectedness of the project, and hearing a familiar melody ( one of my favorites ) in an unusual rendering adds a sense of discovery. It is both familiar and surprising.
There are wind chimes in my neighborhood, and I enjoy that too. Water in streams makes sounds with the help of gravity. Music as we know it began with natural sounds and natural materials.
So beautiful and filled with
So beautiful and filled with the love and care it took to create.
It is like an approach to
It is like an approach to literature. Once the author pens the lines does he own it or does the reader? And then what difference does it make to you?
Amazing--someone clearly had
Amazing--someone clearly had too much time on his hands.
What a waste of a major event
What a waste of a major event...this is fabulous and should have been viewed by MANY!!!
Oh, superb! Thank you! What a
Oh, superb! Thank you! What a treat!
Japan's own native music is
Japan's own native music is nothing like this, but the Japanese have, in recent years, become well-known throughout the world for their interpretations of western music, particularly Bach. The idea of creating a self-playing xylophone (marimba?) operated entirely by gravity to play this particular piece was a flash of genius. Any nation could have produced the skills to make it, but the Japanese THOUGHT of it. Perhaps the next stage would be to have a second instrument alongside this one to play the chorale melody, to which this piece forms the accompaniment!
I loved it! (I'm an engineer by profession, and an amateur organist in my retirement)
Wonderful way to teach a
Wonderful way to teach a child visually as well as audibly the magic of music and time
That's cool
That's cool
A master piece indeed! BRAVO!
A master piece indeed! BRAVO!!
Seriously! You can't see the
Seriously! You can't see the forest through the trees! This is God inspired creativity. A brilliant mind thought this up. It was first, so intriguing to watch wondering how could someone think this; second, the music added to the experience as I watched the ball roll in total amazement of how creative people are. Tree huggers, I have a question, "Was man made for the tree or tree made for man?"
What a wonderful and
What a wonderful and beautiful feat of engineering!!!!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was smiling after a month
I was smiling after a month of gloom. It wasn't perfect, but who cares?
It brought a glimmer of happiness to me and maybe a stray deer.
This is more beautiful than
This is more beautiful than all the times I have performed it on my flute or on my piano. Thank you so much to all the creators of this beautiful masterpiece. Bach would have been astounded!. :-)
I found the creativity of the
I found the creativity of the whole project very inspiring. The tuning of each piece of wood must have been painstaking. Assuring each piece was in the proper location took musical ability. Overall it was impressive. However, after a short time, the speed of the song and the clankyness did get slightly annoying. I understand both sides here. Yes it is enjoyable for it's creativity and peacefulness and at the same time, it is also musically annoying. Please allow everyone to have their own opinion on the project and don't judge others if it doesn't line up with your opinion.
If you know the title of the
If you know the title of the work, it is a sign of the times as to what is worshipped today as compared to the joy of Bach's heart. (and kidneys are considered the heart in some cultures!)
Absolutely LOVE this, thank
Absolutely LOVE this, thank you!!
Over the course of visiting
Over the course of visiting hundreds of art galleries and art shows I developed the notion that there is no bad art. There is art that I personally don't like, but with that assessment I realized that others may have a different opinion The basic foundation of why I say there is no bad art is this one fact - I couldn't do better - which for me is sad since I love art so much yet have less than zero ability in art. This display with the little wooden ball is, I am sure you will agree with, an art form, and in this case a very interesting and charming art form. Coupling the display with music made it immensely pleasing to me and I hope other feel the same.
Fun Fun Fun FABULOUS LOVE
Fun Fun Fun FABULOUS LOVE LOVE LOVE THANK YOU!!!!!!
All I can say is WOW!!
All I can say is WOW!!
Awesome- what an
Awesome- what an extra-ordinary effort-Divine
Japanese esthetics and
Japanese esthetics and precisión surprises me all the time.
Magical, inspiring and so
Magical, inspiring and so clever! What an accomplishment - and a great choice of music BECAUSE it is well known, so more people can appreciate the art involved in making this 'performance' happen.
The brain is indeed a
The brain is indeed a terrible thing to waste.
So GREAT! AND, makes me want
So GREAT! AND, makes me want to buy the phone, too, which has a wonderful design, plus beautiful, smooth wood! An amazing, uplifting creation of music and engineering combined! Thank you!
This is truly amazing. Well
This is truly amazing. Well done!and cogratulations
Sorry you can not hear the
Sorry you can not hear the music of the ntural forest drowned out by an Ego to do one better, a shame
I didn't realize Bach wasn't
I didn't realize Bach wasn't the originator of Jesu...thanks for that bit of precision!
Sooooooooooo lovely! Thank
Sooooooooooo lovely! Thank you for sharing.
this is great...original,
this is great...original, holds your attention... until the end... wonder how much was the production cost....
WOW! very good! the wok of a
WOW! very good! the wok of a genious!
I don't care what anybody
I don't care what anybody thinks about this. This is amazing. Who cares if it sounds a little clunky. Its a ball rolling down wood. Playing a song. If you don't like it you are just mad you didn't think of it.
Amazing people these Japanese
Amazing people these Japanese.
This is a COMMERCIAL, so the
This is a COMMERCIAL, so the Bach melody is wisely selected. Because it would be recognized by a large audience, for maximum appreciation. If the melody selected had been the theme from "Pancham Se Gara" of Ravi Shankar, the achievement would have been just as noteworthy -- but fewer people would recognize the melody and appreciate the commercial.
This is so amazing!
This is so amazing!
That's truly blending art,
That's truly blending art, commerce and spirituality.
Wow! That was most excellent!
Wow! That was most excellent!!
wow! Loved it .... thank you!
wow! Loved it .... thank you!
Awesome. So creative and
Awesome. So creative and unique. For those that do not like this, I can not understand. We need people in the world to come up with fun, interesting and unique concepts otherwise we would all be wearing the same clothes, listening to the same music eating the same boring food. Ideas like this are inspiring.
Thank you SO much! What a
Thank you SO much! What a beautifully genius way to promote something, while at the same time holding the interest of individuals who love Bach!
quite a feat to create such
quite a feat to create such beauty
perfectly wonderful
perfectly wonderful
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
Really awesome fantastic
Really awesome fantastic creativity ...
I am simply speechless and
I am simply speechless and full of wonder. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am 80 and facing the wonder of the Ultra Deep Slice of Heaven.
I enjoy it very match, it´s
I enjoy it very match, it´s Fantastic and marvellous, my congratulations
If Carlsberg did Marble Runs.
If Carlsberg did Marble Runs. . .
Just goes to show how little
Just goes to show how little I know.
Wow, there was a lot of work
Wow, there was a lot of work to do!
I think this is incredible,
I think this is incredible, what wonderful use of wood in a forest. I love the sounds of the stream in the back ground, I don't think that Bach could ever imagine that his music would ever be set in a forest with nature as a back up. The birds in harmony with stream. Thank for the pleasure of allow so many others to enjoy this, I thought it was amazing.
BRAVOOOOOOO!!!!! BRAAAAAAVOOOOOOO! BRAVOOOOOOOOOOO! Thank you for the smile you put on my face! :-)
phenomenal, fantastic!
phenomenal, fantastic!
I applaud all of the inspired
I applaud all of the inspired people who put this all together. This is very fascinating and interesting. Much talent was needed to complete this masterpiece and it was accomplished. Bravo!!!
WOW! Thank you for your
WOW! Thank you for your amazing contribution to the Arts! What a creative and unique concept of bringing Music and Nature together. Also and amazing Recycling of our Natural Resources that would have otherwise just rotted away!
beautiful and absolutely
beautiful and absolutely amazing!
Humanity's ever-present quest
Humanity's ever-present quest to experience spiritual beauty reaches a new level with this creation.
Truly memorable and amazing.
Truly memorable and amazing.
All of that work, beauty,
All of that work, beauty, craftmanship, and sparkling ingenuity... for a damn wooden, pear shaped phone. I would applaud this if it were artists creating art on their own, but that plug at the end killed it.
Well Tony, the problem with
Well Tony, the problem with that thinking is that it's not really a "plug at the end". Marketing that stupid phone was the one and only reason the commercial existed in the first place. What I'm hoping is that the huge wooden xylophone was actually created by an artist first (for the sake of art) and the phone company simply licensed it for their commercial. These companies have so much money to throw at marketing, it could go either way.
Yes the world needs more of
Yes the world needs more of this to bring man kind back to the right way of life away from the immoral way it is going
Unbelieveably fantastic.
Unbelieveably fantastic.
At the end of the commercial
At the end of the commercial it states that the reason for this wood panel smartphone is to find ways to create a way to fund thinning of forests in human-made forests meant for harvesting/logging. Thinning is done to prevent overcrowding and to promote better health and growth rate of remaining trees.
I am guessing all the wood used in this commercial is from said thinning process. Such wood has limited use and demand due to its unreliable supply and lack of desired properties for industrial and household use (too thin, too soft, burns too quickly etc.). Basically it is repurposing of the harvested wood to give it more value in the long run. Kind of like making products like floor panels out of pine-beetle infested trees, I think.
I have just one word!
I have just one word!
Excellent use of hard wood!
Excellent use of hard wood!
Why can we not have
Why can we not have commercials like this in the United States?
A very beautiful work of art in a setting that makes this so wonderful.
Thank you for the hard work to make this happen.
It is magical, fantastic.
It is magical, fantastic.
That is amazing.
That is amazing.
And the two sided brain that
And the two sided brain that conceived this.....................there is hope for the world.
couple of flat notes.lol
couple of flat notes.lol
Absolutely spectacular, hats
Absolutely spectacular, hats off to the creators...thank you
You made my day!
You made my day! Congratulations on a most beautiful work of art, in ALL respects!
How medical. this is?
How medical. this is? beautiful sound this is.
what a joyful video to watch
what a joyful video to watch and hear...I feel connected in a new way to japan, wood, trees and bach.
Very interesting. I wonder
Very interesting. I wonder what happened to the wood after production finished?
thank you.
thank you.
The music of ingenuity!
The music of ingenuity!
I think you'll find it's an
I think you'll find it's an original composition by JSB, and only became a hymn afterwards.
well…..go figure, it was
well…..go figure, it was connected to an advertising budget. It was stil beautiful.
You guys are too much!!!
You guys are too much!!! LOVE YOU!!!
a byproduct to sell a damn
a byproduct to sell a damn phone.......much more important than a phone!
A delight bringing a dawning
A delight bringing a dawning series of smiles and at the end an internal bow to those who thought of it and made it happen.
I once wanted to do a similar
I once wanted to do a similar project but on a bike trail so that when people rode over a set of wooden blocks, it played a tune. Unfortunately the art world of Scotland has no imagination and it never came off. Glad to see that someone has used the idea and used it well
Beautiful and very clever!
Beautiful and very clever!
Thank you for your idea,
Thank you for your idea, inventiveness, creativity, patience, your efforts, your abilities, your work, and most of all for the gift of sharing music with me! :)
I love you
I love you
No wonder these folks are so
No wonder these folks are so far ahead of the US in education. They are absolutely brillient !!!!!
Darrell Brunet
WOW!!!! No other words needed
WOW!!!! No other words needed.
Beautiful and peaceful!
Beautiful and peaceful! Thanks for sharing
Apparently these guys have
Apparently these guys have more time on their hands for frivolous things than productive, beneficial effort.
"When a true genius appears
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." - Jonathan Swift Which category are you? True music is letting go of the judgemental analysis.
the medium is the message
the medium is the message here surely
some people appear to have a
some people appear to have a lot of time on their hands.
So patient and joyful.
So patient and joyful.
I PLAYED ON. MY IPAD J Sebastian Bach .
Outstanding your work and do intricate.
I loved your performing such hypnotizing work of ART.
Only the Japanese would have
Only the Japanese would have the time and patience to work this kind of magic....for a cell phone no less
Super!! Congratulations!!!!!
Super!! Congratulations!!!!!
As for the music, it was
As for the music, it was beautiful. To the construction and engineering of the instrument amazing. For most of the comments I believe Plato said it best " It is the wise man who has something to say. While the fool must say something "
Wow...such genius . I loved
Wow...such genius . I loved the music too.
Very simply beautiful. What
Very simply beautiful. What an act of discipline empowered by a love for doing something so well.
not a musician, but I do work
not a musician, but I do work with wood, and I thought that that this was ok for the person fot his or her personal happiness, BUT, I also think that as a group thing it was a total waste of time, energy and money, a much more useful thing could have been done(like fixing a roof on a persons house that cant afford it and cant do it themself) ... I like strings and horns myself -thankyou
As a child I spent many hours
As a child I spent many hours in the forest ;it never occurred that there was no music there.
This is absolute amazing..
This is absolute amazing...never saw anything like it before! This song was played for our wedding after we were announced "husband and wife".
Really fantastic - well
Really fantastic - well done all
Great analogy for life. You
Great analogy for life. You start at the top and arrive at death, but not without producing some music along the way (if you're lucky).
Magic clarity in the woods...
Magic clarity in the woods....such patience and dedication to perfection! Well done!
Brilliant - Work out world
Brilliant - Work out world peace now!
It is a marimba, marimbas are
It is a marimba, marimbas are have bars made of wood. A xylophone has bars made of metal.
The above is common
The above is common terminology. But "Xylos" is Greek for "Wood", so an actual xylophone --at least in it's original form-- is by definition made out of wood.
wow beautiful... thanks
wow beautiful... thanks gracias!
I have cancer…some day it
I have cancer…some day it will get me, but for now when I see and hear something like this It restores my faith in the human race and lets me know God wants me to continue to fight so I can see and hear more. Everyday is a blessing
Everything that lives is.
Everything that lives is. Full of the lord.......enjoy do not covet his property then pray for a hundred years of life doing your duty(they were doing their's so life goes on full of the lord)eesha upanishad.....god bless youq
God is awesome.
God is awesome.
Just wonderfull ! Great job !
Just wonderfull ! Great job ! The best !
I agree with BOGZOP. It's
I agree with BOGZOP. It's cute, it's clever, but it's not art and it doesn't enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding woods. When you think of the endless hours that went into constructing this, those hours might have been better spent listening to actual Bach or learning to play his music. And I do think the deer ran away.
Haiku: "A touch of wooden -
Haiku: "A touch of wooden - musical magic in a - Japanese forest"
What a complete waste of
What a complete waste of resources
It's wonderfull!!!
It's wonderfull!!!
This is a true tribute to the
This is a true tribute to the soul of mankind! I now to the creators! Thank you!
absolutely awesome well done
absolutely awesome well done guys
It never ceases to amaze me
It never ceases to amaze me in what people can do and will do.
It also never ceases to amaze me that so many people in the world use their wonderful brain to murder each other over nothing.
What a waste of energy and
What a waste of energy and trees. Clean up Fukushima!!
All I need to know is this:
All I need to know is this: IT MADE ME SMILE!
Since there are no resonators
Since there are no resonators, it would be a xylophone.
Magical film. Love the
Magical film. Love the wonderful performance. Thank you. Love Bachs hymn in German Ode. Great !
What I find hard to believe
What I find hard to believe is that they actually built this. If this was for a commercial, why not just CGI it? Build a few real pieces, get some video and audio to guide the creation of the final product, make it look as if it was all built. Novel idea, pretty setting, but the end product is not worth the effort.
I think this is altogether
I think this is altogether wonderful. The time, effort and dedication that went into perfecting it deserves high praise. To those who say they should have used their time to learn to play music. Do you really think they could tune this without musical ability?
Loved it Ted. I do some
Loved it Ted. I do some woodworking so it was of special interest to me. It is a marimba because the keys are made of wood. Thanks, Ted. Phil Rentsch
I started to scroll to read a
I started to scroll to read a few comments and was soon flabbergasted by a couple of the responses. This is and amazing engineering feat and, while man is capable of this art, I will have faith. Very sad that so many of you are so far captured by cynicism that you are unable to appreciate this wonderful piece of work........
All I can say is WOW,WOW!
All I can say is WOW,WOW! that is amazing. I would to have the phone. The Japanese coulture is to die for.
A wonder... very Japanese. I
A wonder... very Japanese. I married in Japan, many years ago. They are a beautiful
"SUPER" I'll send this to
"SUPER" I'll send this to all my musical friends! THANK YOU
Phone looks only good for
Phone looks only good for right handers!
Totemo kirei desu yo! Wow
Totemo kirei desu yo! Wow what a beautiful thing to have done.
Just a small footnote, but
Just a small footnote, but Bach is German for "brook" so the setting is particularly apt.
pointless and a waste of
pointless and a waste of lumber. No new ideas were explored, no advancements in any art were made.
Costly too.
Il faut une patience de
Il faut une patience de Japonais pour parvenir à un tel résultat. Étonnant!!!
In a culture that honors
In a culture that honors expertise and beauty and history, this is another example of their values.
Wow! This was really
Wow! This was really interesting and beautiful!
Oh my God, I do appreciate
Oh my God, I do appreciate their precise work of art and the time they spent but also they can develop something useful to public with their talent. Their patience and will to do anything can be very beneficial to others. I do appreciate their work because I do understand the time and effort and their soul in it to succeed the project but some may think waste of material, time, and effort. However, they can do this means their are blessed and should be happy to be able to do it. I thank God for them.
monumental waste of wood.
monumental waste of wood. think of all the phone books you could have made with that.
Thanks, I circulated this.
Thanks, I circulated this. demonstrates the human spirit, several parts of it, anyway
This is great these people
This is great these people are genius's can you imagine the patience this took. Who could have ever thought of something like this to start. You can not say enough of there talent ,some people have Gods gift they have it for sure.
This is just a Masterpiece !
This is just a Masterpiece! It's wonderful, the time to do all of that.. Thanks for sharing!
this is amazing
this is amazing
Imust say i found all the
Imust say i found all the clever sod comments no matter how erudite very boring, what we have something beautiful and simple-keep it simple-and the beauty will last.
Amazing--a real gift--Thank
Amazing--a real gift--Thank you!
As we enter the holiest of
As we enter the holiest of holidays for us all, I wish you enjoyment and wonder.
I am really very, very
I am really very, very impressed ! ! !
Great work
Great art
Great video
Very clever with a lot of
Very clever with a lot of wood tone. They were having lots of fun.
Nature is the only
Nature is the only environment through which grows peace and joy. Nature is the greatest invention!
I feel that if people put as
I feel that if people put as much time and effort into things that are important as they did in the production of this video the world would be better off. It was a shock to get to the end and find out that this video was to promote a phone. Sadly not even a good phone at that.
That was absolutely beautiful
That was absolutely beautiful!
if mankind can do this she
if mankind can do this she can creatively solve all the problems, yes!
Bach lives!
Bach lives!
The deer is a nice touch.
The sound of the ball as it
The sound of the ball as it drops to it's different levels making different tones sounded interesting. The quiet and the serenity of the forest yet it felt alive....Creating the xylophone was a neat and unique technique
absolutely amazing with all
absolutely amazing with all the precision in making it and in having the sound come out so lovely- wonder if all the animals had a smile on their faces :)
What a lot of work but what a
What a lot of work but what a creative idea!!
Cool reflection of sound as a
Cool reflection of sound as a product of space-time-materialistic relationships. I especially like how the main mass-ball created a sound on a slope and the small-mass balls created a sound descending vertically!
I feel peaceful watching this
I feel peaceful watching this video. You look at the atmosphere around it and it's all quiet expect the xylophone.
Question. I love this. Can
Question. I love this. Can I get permission to show it at my church?
I love this. Is it possible
I love this. Is it possible to have permission to show it at my church?


text:
3 Last-Minute Retirement Savings Strategies
By Matthew Malone
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- The apocalyptic talk of the fiscal cliff likely has you worried about your own financial health, particularly your retirement savings, and what you can do before year-end to ease any looming pain. The good news is that there are moves you can make (or not make) to insulate your portfolio from pending tax increases and ward off the more general effects of a neglected retirement account.
Convert to a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA differs from other retirement accounts in that you don't take a current-year tax deduction for contributions. Instead, you pay income taxes now and don't pay any taxes when you withdraw money in your retirement years. That's particular important in an environment like today's when taxes are set to rise.
For instance, if you're in the 15% tax bracket this year and convert $1,000 from a traditional to a Roth IRA, you'd pay $150 in taxes on the converted amount. Put the $1,000 in a traditional IRA and you wouldn't pay anything in taxes today. But what if taxes go up to, say, 20% in the future? If both accounts increased to $2,000 by the time you retire, when you withdraw the money you would pay $400 in taxes with a traditional IRA. With a Roth, you pay nothing but the original $150.
The math improves even more if you consider dividend payments. Today, most dividends are taxed at the long-term capital gains rate of 15%; unless Congress acts, those rates will revert to ordinary income tax rates after Dec. 31. With a Roth, those dividend payments would be sheltered from taxation.
The major caveat to any Roth conversion: Make sure you have the money on hand to cover the tax increase generated by the conversion. Paying penalties for late taxes will very quickly outweigh the benefit of the conversion.
Converting is typically easy. Assuming you meet the Roth IRA income eligibility guidelines, you can usually convert simply by calling your financial institution. The deadline for a conversion for the current tax year is Dec. 31.
Rebalance. the principle behind rebalancing is simple. Over the course of the year, the relative increase and decline in value of your different investments throws your allocation targets out of whack. What started as a mix of 80% stocks and 20% bonds at the beginning of the year could become more like 90/10 or 60/40. To rebalance, simply sell some of the assets that have appreciated and use the money to buy more of assets that have declined (assuming you're still sure the investment is a good one). Alternatively, a recent Vanguard study suggests a more effective approach is to redirect dividends and interest payments toward purchases that will rebalance the portfolio.


text:
Karen Erickson doesn�t let lung disease sideline her exercise routine
At 35, Karen Erickson of Thousand Oaks, Calif., felt set. She had a career as a scientist, had healed from divorce, and was back to two-hour workouts of biking and running. �My life revolved around working hard and playing hard,� says Erickson, now 46. �I was on top of the world.� Until one day in spinning class, she blacked out. Earlier, she had noticed some breathlessness. �I thought I was just getting older,� she recalls. Doctors diagnosed Erickson with exercise-induced asthma and prescribed bronchial inhalers, but the breathless episodes increased. Finally, two years after her initial symptoms, a blood test revealed a genetic form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related emphysema. Alpha-1, caused by a missing protein, affects 100,000 Americans, less than 10 percent of whom are diagnosed. Emphysema, a form of COPD, destroys the lungs� air sacs. �They gave me two years to live,� Erickson recalls. Her initial response was denial but, inspired by doctors who treated her, she adjusted her outlook to: �I�m going to learn about this. I�m going to beat these two years.� Now, nearly 10 years later, Erickson is awaiting a lung transplant and has 18 percent lung function. For five years, she�s used supplemental oxygen while she sleeps and works out. But she still exercises daily. �I throw a couple of oxygen tanks on my back and ride my bike for up to 45 minutes,� she says. �She is an amazing athlete�to this day,� says Penny OBrien, a fitness trainer and former general manager of the Fitness and Wellness Center at the company where Erickson worked. �And her exercise has been a huge factor in her ability to be as well as she is.� Erickson began receiving disability benefits in 2010, but she�s not lying around. She�s thrown herself into work for the Alpha-1 Association and Alpha-1 Foundation, advocating on public policy issues and speaking at congressional briefings, drug companies and fundraisers. �When I started this battle, it was about beating the two years, staying healthy enough for a [lung] transplant and continuing to learn,� Erickson says. �But now it�s about doing all I can to raise awareness, to find a cure, and to find every patient who needs it. It�s the fight that�s kept me alive.� She knows the disease has changed her, but she sees gifts in the change. �I am a much better person for having alpha-1. Before, I wanted to enter corporate America and make money. Now there�s nothing I wouldn�t do for another patient,� she says. �There�s no point in my life where I would say I�m happy to have alpha-1. Every day is difficult. My bike rides now are at a pace I used to walk,� she says. �But when I hit the mountains, I see things I never saw before. I take in the beauty. That wasn�t in my life before.� Brought to you by: American Profile - Inspirational Stories & American History


text:
Moderators: scottab, Carl Blanton
Carl Blanton wrote:Constructive replies only.This is NOT the discussion forum.Replies will be limited to questions and answers regarding the confirmation of a sale. Questions asked of the seller should be answered by the seller only. Think a price is too high? Send the poster a PM by simply clicking on his username and following instructions to send a personal message [PM]. Remarks about pricing are pointless and they keep the ad floating at the top. If the price is high the seller should get the idea when no one replies. These types of replies will be deleted.
DO NOT INQUIRE ABOUT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED. If a seller is parting out a car and you don't see a part listed that you might need then SEND A PM by clicking on the seller's username and following simple instructions.
DO NOT POST "PM SENT" OR "EMAIL SENT". Some people do this whether they want the item or not. This hurts the other ads. If you want the thing feel free to post so. If you have questions about the item and the answer would be of interest to others, post it. If you want to send a PM for whatever reason then do it. Do not do both.
YOU CAN LOCK YOUR AD!The best way to use the swap shop is to simply lock your ad and ask that those interested send a PM or e-mail
"Smart Assing", "Ball Busting", and straight up whining will not be tolerated. We'll delete it. If we delete it a lot, you'll be banned.
By posting here, you agree to allow us to edit your ad to fit the editorial focus of this site..
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Financial Success Tips for Any Kind of Family (or Single Person)
NEW YORK ( BankingMyWay) -- The United States still values its marriage culture, with 58.4 million married couples living in the country this year. That's 19% of the population, only a slight drop from the 21.5% of the population that was married back in 1980, according to calculations from U.S. Census Bureau figures .
But marriages do come and go, and Americans can expect different financial challenges whether they are married, single, divorced, living with a domestic partner or widowed.
So says the MetLife Mature Market Institute in its study Planning Tips: Focus on Family Types and Financial Well-Being .
In it, the Institute says that the so-called "traditional family" is losing ground, with alternative forms of family taking their place:
The American family is changing. In fact, household makeup in general is changing -- today, the percentage of people living alone is at an all-time high, now representing the second-largest American household type after married couples.
The "traditional family" of husband, wife and children, all from a first marriage, is a smaller percentage than ever before. For the first time since Census data collection on families began in 1940, fewer than half of all households (48%) are husband-wife households (first and second marriages). Other types of households, such as same-sex couples, opposite-sex nonmarried couples and single parents with children have increased in percentages.
There is no cookie-cutter approach to financial planning across disparate family groups, MetLife (MET) says. What one family headed by a single mother faces is significantly different than what a husband-wife household faces.
To that end, MetLife uses the study to offer specific advice to different family groups to help cope with varying family financial issues.
"The economy has been difficult for almost everyone, but different family types have different concerns and there are individualized ways to handle them," notes Sandra Timmermann, director of the institute. "Singles should be particularly disciplined about saving and planning for the simple reason that they don't have the same safety net. Couples with children have to consider the expenses of raising them, subsidizing higher education costs and perhaps, assistance later on. Divorced individuals and those in second marriages have still more financial considerations."
Here, straight from the MetLife report, are specific tips on how different families can improve their financial standing and lay the groundwork for a secure, comfortable retirement.
(Some tips not included below in all groups, such as creating a will, estimating your Social Security income or having long-term health care insurance, are considered by MetLife to be universal and should be undertaken no matter what the state of your family.)
Couples in a first marriage:
- Save using a combination of financial products to create guaranteed lifetime income for both spouses.
- Communicate openly about financial expectations and differences. Set goals and spending budgets for pre- and post-retirement spending.
- Recognize the impact of supporting others when planning for retirement.


text:
Home » Media » Can you help? Watchet Station need Victorian clothes for 150th Anniversary Event
Can you help? Watchet Station need Victorian clothes for 150th Anniversary Event
(02/02/2012 @ 11:46:00)
Watchet Station is busy preparing for its 150th Anniversary on 31st March 2012. We hope to replicate what happened on that day in 1862 with a brass band playing, children waving flags and local dignitaries greeting the Celebration train at 9.45 am.
The Station Staff are searching for Victorian clothes for both Staff and Passengers. Although some outfits have been sourced from Roadwater Players Amateur Dramatic group,their is still a lack of Men's uniforms and Men's clothing from that era.
Can anyone out there help with the loan of outfits for that day?
Are you a person who may wish to take part in the Celebrations at Watchet station and around the Town on 31st March a saturday?
For further information please contact Steve Sutherland 01984 633425.


text:
Basic Korat Information
- Lifespan: 9 - 15 years
- Weight: 6 - 10 pounds
Medical Conditions Seen in Korat
- Gangliosidosis
- Lysosomal Storage Disease
Korat Traits
- Lap Cat
- Intelligence
- Ease of Training
- Grooming Requirements
- Shedding
- Good with Children
- Good with Dogs
- Chattiness
Korat History
- Officially recognized by the government of Thailand as a national treasure.
- According to an ancient manuscript, Cat-Book Poems, the Korat was created in the 1300s in Siam (now Thailand).
- The Korat were valued as wedding gifts and were trained to check for scorpions before babies were placed in cribs during ancient Siam days.
- King Rama V was especially a big admirer of Korats and ordered state funerals whenever one of his favorite Korats died.
- First pair of Korats arrived in the United States in the 1950s, brought back by a couple serving in the Foreign Service in Thailand.
- In the late 1960s, military returning from serving tours of duty in the Vietnam War brought back more Korats.
- The Korat, one of the oldest and purest of breeds, garnered championship status by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1966.
Korat Behavior Concerns
- Extremely bonded to their family and home.
- Known for extreme intelligence and problem-solving skills.
- Capable of learning specific words and engaging in conversations using a variety of expressive sounds.
- Very curious and dexterous, capable of pawing open cabinet doors.
- Prefers quiet households and being catered to by his people.
- Can be a bit cautious, which can be misconstrued as being aloof.
- Likes to be the one-and-only pet and can be territorial and bossy toward other pets in the home.
Look of Korats
- This muscular breed sports a heart-shaped head along with huge, luminous green eyes and a lion-looking downward curve of the nose.
- Its cobby-shaped body is medium sized and muscular with its front legs slightly shorter than the hind legs.
- The medium-length tail is fuller at the base and tapers to a rounded tip.
- It sports a shorthaired, single coat that is fine texture with a glossy look.
- The only Korat color accepted in cat show competition is blue, which is actually silver tipped.
- Korats do not fully mature until age five.
Grooming Korat Cats
- The Korat's single coat lies flat and does not have a downy undercoat that causes matting, so little grooming is required.
Suggested Nutritional Needs for Korats
Please consult with your veterinarian about the type of diet and amount to feed your cat during their different life stages. Different breeds may have a greater risk of obesity based upon their diet, metabolism, activity and age. Thus, your veterinarian is your best source for information on this topic.
Fun Facts of Korats
- Also referred to as the Si-Sawat in Thailand, the Korat is nicknamed the "Good Luck Cat."
- According to Thai legend, the Korat's good luck increases if there is a kink in the tail.
- Thai tradition holds that a pair of Korats bestowed to a bride on her wedding day guarantees a happy marriage.
Did you know?
- A decrease in cat grooming behavior may indicate they are in pain.
- Some cat parasites are transferable to humans.
- Many common pet ailments may be detected early and prevented by visiting your veterinarian twice yearly - saving both time, money, and most importantly, ensuring the best quality of life for your cat.
Come visit us, we would love to see you!
We are here to help! Book an appointment today to continue your pet on a path to great health and wellness
Ask the Vet
Have unanswered pet health questions? Dr.Donna Spector, with 10+ years of hands-on Internal Medicine experience, is here with your answers every Friday.


text:
Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: How to Gain From the Long-Term Game
This program was last aired on Dec. 26, 2012. NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Anyone can turn a profit in the stock market, Jim Cramer told "Mad Money" viewers, if they're willing to put in the time and effort. Anyone can do it, but only if done the right way, he added.
That's why Cramer dedicated his entire show to the notion of long-term investing, a term that's gotten somewhat confusing over the years -- so much so that it has become one of the biggest obstacles for new investors.
Cramer said that too often the term "long-term investing" is used as an alibi or excuse for poor performance resulting from simply not paying attention. The term "buy and hold" often means "buy and forget," which is a terrible investing strategy.
Being in the game for the long term does not mean investors can afford to take short-term losses. Nor does it justify owning damaged goods, hoping they'll recover "someday." Investors must always keep track of their investments, said Cramer, and fortunately it's never been easier to do.
Whether it's looking over Securities and Exchange Commission filings or searching the Web for the latest news and analysis, finding out what's happening at the companies you own is a necessity. There's no excuse for laziness, said Cramer, especially in an age where quarterly conference calls are only a click away.
"Stocks are still the best way to make money," Cramer concluded, but the notion of "buy and hold" needs to become a thing of the past.
Price Matters
Cramer's next lesson for investors? Few things are more important than price.
Whether you're a short-term investor or planning on owning a stock for years and years, the right price matters. Put simply, when you pay too much, it's that much harder to rack up big gains. Fortunately, if your time horizon is a long one, you can afford to wait and be patient for that perfect price to arrive.
In the real world, though, the notion of the "right" price is a farce, said Cramer. There will never be an "all clear" signal that now is the right time to buy. So how should investors approach this problem? Buy in increments.
Cramer said it's practically impossible to call a bottom in a stock, so if investors are looking to buy 400 shares of an $90 stock they should buy 100 shares right now at the $90 price. Then, if shares slip to $85 a share, buy another 100 shares. Buy 100 more if the price hits $81, then the rest if it falls below $80.
Cramer said he prefers to use wide scales because it affords investors more flexibility. The worst-case scenario in this example would be the stock going higher than $90 a share, in which can you've just made money, albeit less than you were expecting. But in the long run, buying more as a stock goes lower is the right way to buy.


text:
Serta Carswell Plush Eurotop Mattress Set - Queen *$75 OFF, WAS $499, NOW $424!
About this itemBoxspring Included.
Last Chance Buy!$75 OFF, WAS $499, NOW $424! Limited Time Offer While Quantities Last!
The New Limited Edition Carswell is a plush Eurotop design at an incredible value! This bed features an additional upholstery layer at the top of the mattress like a pillowtop, only with more structured tailoring for a slightly firmer feel. The additional upholstery layer allows you to sleep slightly farther from the support system, so you will feel more softness while still feeling the benefits of the support. This mattress has a slightly firmer feel than our other Eurotop models and is best for those who prefer the additional upholstery layer without a sleep surface that is too soft or cushiony.
The Carswell Plush Eurotop features Serta's exclusive Verticoil Premier® innerspring, a patent pending coil design that provides 35% increased surface coverage when compared to other value-priced innerspring systems. More surface coverage results in an increased ability to react and conform to the individual contours of the body for proper support throughout the night. Plus, three layers of convoluted foam provides enhanced cushioning at the sleep surface while gently relieving pressure points for a more comfortable sleep. Don't lose anymore sleep; this is a value you can't pass up!
Is a boxspring included?
Yes, boxspring is included. Color and pattern of boxspring fabric may vary.
One or Two-Sided Mattress:
One sided - No Flip Design. Today's mattresses are specifically designed to be single sided so they do not ever have to be flipped. Turning the mattress over is not required, but you can still rotate it.
Is a bed frame included?
No. Bed frames are sold separately.
Overall Comfort:
- Plush Eurotop Surface Comfort
- Firm layer of foam upholstery
- 3" Convoluted Foam
Upholstery Layers Breakdown:
- Layer of Firm Foam
- Convoluted Foam – or "egg crate" foam, provides gentle cushioning while disturbing weight evenly to promote better circulation and relieve pressure.
- VertiCoil Premier® Innerspring - provides 35% increased surface coverage than traditional, value-priced innersprings. This results in an increased ability to react and conform to the individual contours of the body.
- 13.75" Gauge Wire
- Queen Coil Density - 504
- Fireblocker - Meets the requirements of 16 CFR Part 1633 - Federal flammability (open flame) standards
Sizes available for this model:
- Twin Mattress, Twin Set
- Full Mattress, Full Set, Full Low Profile Foundation Set
- Queen Mattress, Queen Set, Queen Low Profile Foundation Set, Queen Split Foundation Set
- King Mattress, King Set, King Low Profile Foundation Set
- California King Mattress, California King Set, California King Low Profile Foundation Set
Recently purchased a Serta Mattress from Sam's Club? Click Here to track your order.
Platinum White Glove Home Delivery Service:
- Estimated Delivery is 10-12 business days to standard delivery zones, remote delivery zones may take longer
- Delivery is not available to Alaska or Hawaii
- Upon receipt of your online order, Serta begins production of your bed, which takes approximately 3 business days. After production, your order is sent to your local carrier, who will contact you 24-48 hours after receiving your order to schedule a delivery
- Upon arrival at Member's home, delivery service will remove bedding from outer packaging. Please inspect bed completely for damages before bed is set up. Delivery team will remove all waste and packing materials from premises
- Delivery team will set up bed frames and attach headboards/footboards (if no tools are required) at Member's desired location
- Used bedding will be moved to another location within the premises or to curbside for pick-up, upon Member's request
- Any exchange of products after initial purchase
- If delivery is attempted and Member is not home/no answer
- More than 2 flights of stairs
- Member refuses mattress set at the door due to non-driver reasons
- Any damages to mattress or mattress set during delivery must be reported by Member within 15 days of actual date of delivery
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
Component Country
USA And Imported


text:
AFD Historical Incidents
Austin, Texas was first settled by Americans in the 1830´s along the banks of the Colorado River. Following the War for Texas Independence the city of Austin, formerly the village of Waterloo, was chosen as the Texas capital in 1839. As the town grew fire was definitely a threat to the emerging city. Throughout the 1840´s and 1850´s the local newspapers commented on the lack of fire protection following a fire. In fact, the city leaders tried to organize a fire department around 1841, but that venture quickly dissolved probably due to a lack of leadership, experience, and of course, money. Following a fire that burned a storehouse on Congress Avenue occupied by Fisk and Bowers, Bengener´s boot and shoe store, and Jones´ blacksmith shop in December 1855, the Texas Intelligencer lamented "An engine and water facilities are much needed for the safety of property in this city." By September 25, 1857 leading business merchants of Austin, under the leadership of John Bremond, Sr., began organizing Austin Hook and Ladder No. 1, but it wasn´t until August of 1858 that the fire company was completely up and running. Probably the first fire of historical significance occurred on February 4, 1858 in John T. Miller´s livery stable. The Texas Intelligencer reported that Hook and Ladder 1 only had a "scarcity of ladders, hooks and buckets" which made it a "miracle that anything was saved." This fire was significant in that it crystallized public sentiment in supporting and organizing Austin´s first fire company.
There are no criteria to determine what makes a fire historically significant or not. A very large incident isn´t necessarily historically significant, although size is usually a major factor. The historical incidents on this list are basically determined by the amount of coverage given to it by the local media and/or by oral accounts. As always, information on this website is always up for discussion and modification. In addition, this list wouldn´t be complete without major weather disasters that have plagued the Austin area. Thunderstorms, floods, and even tornados are natural phenomena that plague the Austin landscape and are a necessary evil that help shape the beauty of our city. Unfortunately, many Austinites and several Austin firefighters have given their lives to these powerful storms.


text:
Published 07/11 2011 03:40PM
Updated 07/11 2011 03:42PM
Watch this episode of Tooth Talk!
Copyright 2017 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Eyewitness News on Facebook
MyStateLine on Twitter
Eyewitness News en Español on Facebook
MyStateLine iPhone App
FirstWarn iPhone App
MyStateLine Android App
FirstWarn Android App


text:
Great Dane
Basic Great Dane Information
- Lifespan: 7 - 10 years
- Height: 28 - 30 inches
- Weight: 110 - 180 pounds
Medical Conditions Seen in Great Danes
- Addison's Disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cervical Vertebral Instability (Wobbler's Syndrome)
- Gastric Dilation and Volvulus
- Patellar Luxation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Osteochondrosis Dissecans
- Acral Lick Dermatitis
- Subaortic Stenosis
- Callus Dermatitis
- Cataracts
- Chronic Valvular Disease
- Demodicosis
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Glaucoma
- Hip Dysplasia
- Megaesophagus
- Panosteitis
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Great Dane Traits
- Jogging Partner
- Lap Dog
- Good with Children
- Warm Weather
- Cold Weather
- Grooming Requirements
- Shedding
- Barking
- Ease of Training
Great Dane History
- The Great Dane probably originated in the Middle Ages as a combination of strong mastiff-like war dogs and swift greyhound-like dogs. The combination made for a big-game hunter of great speed and strength.
- By the 1300s, they were popular with nobility in Germany as unrivaled hunting dogs and imposing estate guardians.
- It's not clear when the breed made its way to England, where it was initially called the German boarhound, and later, Great Dane.
- Nobody knows the origin of the name, Great Dane, especially because the dog is not Danish. In 1880, German dog authorities declared the name should only be Deutsche dogge, the name by which it still goes in Germany.
- The Great Dane came to America in the late 1800s, where it immediately attracted attention.
- The AKC recognized the Great Dane in 1887.
- The most famous Great Danes are cartoon characters Marmaduke and Scooby-Doo.
Great Dane Behavior Concerns
- Makes a loyal and protective companion.
- Playful and gentle with children, but its sheer size can make it not the best choice as a child's playmate.
- Outgoing toward strangers.
- Generally good with other dogs, but some can be aggressive toward strange dogs.
- Generally good with other pets.
- Learns quickly, but can be both sensitive and stubborn.
- Does best with a firm owner who can combine reward-based training with good control and leadership.
Great Dane Suggested Exercises
- Makes a calm and alert housedog, as long as it receives adequate exercise.
- Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk or short jog.
- The Dane's short coat makes it intolerant of very cold weather.
- Obedience training is essential not only for control, but for the mental exercise it provides.
Great Dane Grooming
- Coat is short and shiny.
- It needs only occasional brushing, once every week or so, to remove dead hair.
- Shedding is average.
Suggested Great Dane Nutritional Needs
- Great Danes tend to stay in good weight.
- Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.
- Puppies should be fed a large-breed growth food, which slows their growing rate but not final size. This may decrease the incidence or severity of hip dysplasia in adults.
Did you know?
- Grapes and raisins are harmful to dogs.
- Some dog parasites are transferable to humans.
- Many common pet ailments may be detected early and prevented by visiting your veterinarian twice yearly - saving both time, money, and most importantly, ensuring the best quality of life for your dog.
Come visit us, we would love to see you!
We are here to help! Book an appointment today to continue your pet on a path to great health and wellness
Ask the Vet
Have unanswered pet health questions? Dr.Donna Spector, with 10+ years of hands-on Internal Medicine experience, is here with your answers every Friday.


text:
Are You and Your Partner Ready to Sign a Lease on Your Own Marriage?
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Can a marriage be like a lease?
Or perhaps a better question: Should a marriage be like a lease?
Leave it to a lawyer to even broach the subject, which is exactly what Paul Rampell, a Palm Beach, Fla., attorney did last week in a Washington Post opinion piece .
Rampell proposes the idea of "wedleases" -- a marriage contract that places an expiration date agreed upon by the spouses. The duration could be one year, five years, 10 years -- whatever the "loving couple" deem appropriate.
If at the end of the wedding lease, the couple decides things are going well, the lease can de renewed, again for a specific period. But if the marriage has turned sour, the couple can call it quits without having to go through the messy -- and expensive -- process of divorce.
Along the way, the couple may buy items together or separately and can agree on the disposal of those items in the event of dissolution of the marriage contract. Rampell isn't exactly clear on how a couple would handle the co-ownership of a house. Presumably, assets would be sold back to a spouse, along with a split of any profits, based on the amount of money each spouse pours into the deal.
Rampell uses the contract between a landlord and a tenant as a model for a wedlease, as those contracts do a good job of separating ownership of property and who walks away with what at the end of a lease.
If you think that breaks the "lock" part of wedlock, you're on the right track.
Wedding leases are inspired by those who want to "try out" marriage without the long-term commitment -- "and good luck with that," says April Masini, a relationship expert and founder of AskApril.com.
Masini isn't sure wedding leases are even enforceable.
"Anyone who's signed a legally binding prenuptial or, as they're called in some states, postnuptial agreements, knows the legality of the document is usually tested in a court," she says. "In other words, not all agreements that are intended to be legally binding and are drafted and overseen by attorneys, are. Prenups are overturned regularly by courts and found to be not binding or unenforceable."
On an emotional level, Masini is against wedding leases because they lack two elements needed for any successful long-term relationship: commitment and character.
"As for the intention of wedleases, they're ridiculous because they basically let you off the hook for commitment," she says. "Anyone care to comment on the damage done to people -- including children born during the wedlease agreement term?"


text:
The wagging, barking and perhaps licking that wakes you up each morning may be even more reliable than your alarm clock - dogs have been known to be creatures of habit. Once they are given a schedule, say, breakfast at 7 a.m., they are going to stick to it - even if you want to sleep in. Does that mean when it's time to "fall back" each November for daylight saving time, your canine companion may face some issues? According to Dogster.com, the answer is yes.
Creatures of habit
Dogs depend largely on consistency in their daily schedule, and when this is disrupted, it can affect the canine's behavior. Although dogs are pretty good at syncing their schedules with those of their owners, sometimes they need more help - especially when sudden shifts like Daylight Saving Time happen.
Sometimes it seems like dogs can read clocks, like when, at 7 a.m. on the dot, your canine starts whining for breakfast. When you set your clocks back an hour this November 4, it's important to remember your dog does not read time - he feels it. That means your dog will be waking you up for breakfast at 6 a.m. this Sunday, presenting you with a lovely alarm of dog barking. Same goes for dinner time - Fido might be expecting a meal earlier than you are able to give it. According to CesarsWay.com, this can cause minor stress and anxiety in some dogs, so you may want to help your dog adjust to the change.
Working up to a change
If your dog is sensitive to time in this way, it might be a good idea to help him through this adjustment by gradually pushing back his feeding, walking and any other activities that are scheduled in his daily routine. A few days before Daylight Saving, start adjusting the schedule earlier and earlier in 15-minute increments. William Berloni, author of Broadway Tails and director of behavior for the Humane Society of New York, told the news outlet.
Generally, it might be a good idea to use a less-strict schedule when it comes to raising puppies or dogs. Berloni told the news outlet that varying the times by a half hour throughout a dog's life can help keep the dog accustomed to an unpredictable life, reducing stress when changes in routine inevitably happen.


text:
Zink Ready for Golden Opportunity in Denver
by Theresa Smith | LaxMagazine.com | Twitter
|A version of this story originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of Lacrosse Magazine, which featured Lee Zink on the cover. Start your subscription today by joining US Lacrosse!
Photo Gallery: Zink ready for lacrosse world to visit his adopted hometown
Next month, the biggest event in lacrosse history will descend on Dick's Sporting Goods Park, a 25-minute drive from Lee Zink's home in Colorado.
Zink, a quiet, polite sort, takes his hosting role seriously as a member of Team USA. He's among 31 players in the running for the final 23 spots for a U.S. team that will defend its gold medal at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship July 10-19 in Commerce City, Colo. A record 38 countries will compete in front of a fan base that has set a plethora of professional lacrosse attendance records with the National Lacrosse League's Colorado Mammoth and Zink's Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse.
Zink, 32, gets better with age. The two-time reigning MLL Defensive Player of the Year now stands on the threshold of making the U.S. team in his third attempt. After missing the cut in 2006, Zink traveled with the team to England as an alternate in 2010.
As the second-oldest member of Team USA (he's two months younger than Kevin Leveille), Zink admits he has lost a step. But his rigid and relentless position defense — helped by his massive wingspan and 6-foot-4 frame — is viewed as the antidote for Team Canada legend John Grant Jr.
In two MLL encounters last summer, Zink held Grant to one goal and one assist. Grant, who starred in the Chesapeake Bayhakws' run to the 2013 MLL title, was traded to Outlaws and also plays for the Mammoth. The Ontario native now lives fulltime in Denver.
So Zink will get a teammate's perspective on a potential rival.
"One of the biggest challenges when you face Canada is how do you stop one of their main offensive threats?'' Zink said. "I'm not stronger. I'm not bigger. I'm not going to muscle him. He and I have both lost a step. But when you get older, you get smarter."
Jesse Schwartzman, one of three goalies vying likely for two spots on the U.S. team, enjoys a bird's-eye view of Zink's lockdown abilities as a six-time MLL All-Star with the Outlaws.
"He's neither the biggest nor the strongest, but he's versatile. He can play a speedy player. He can play behind the net or in front of the net," Schwartzman said. "He doesn't get too many highs and he doesn't get too many lows. He is a calming force. He leads by example. He's not a screamer. If you give up a goal, he makes sure you know what's wrong, and we fix it.''
Those attributes were enough to convince Team USA defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala that Zink deserved the chance to move one step closer to a dream he has pursued for the last nine years.
"It's hard to turn your back on his experience," said Pietramala, who tried to get Zink to play for him at Johns Hopkins before Zink landed at rival Maryland. "I said to him, 'I recruited the heck out of you, and I'm glad to have a chance to coach you.'"
A brief episode of phone tag betwen Pietramala and Zink delayed the good news. When Zink finally heard it, he texted his wife, Kiera, then called his parents, waiting a few hours because his father was in Australia.
Schwartzman said Zink's call came four years too late, insisting that he belonged on the 2010 U.S. team. But Zink was diplomatic.
"Going into those 2010 tryouts, the coaches had an outline of exactly what they need on their team and what role they want people to fill,'' he said. "If you fit those roles, it's great. If you don't fit those roles, or if you're not able to adapt to assume those roles, it's harder."
"There was no ill will about that team," Zink added. "I was lucky enough to be a part of it, to go over and travel with them as an alternate. So I got to experience what the worlds are all about, and it only makes you train harder for the next go around."
After January's Champion Challenge, where Pietramala feverishly worked both sidelines during the nationally televised U.S. Blue-White game, the coaches forged forward with a mostly younger defense that includes current collegian Joe Fletcher (Loyola) and 2013 Maryland grad Jesse Bernhardt.
Zink graduated from Maryland in 2004.
"Having a player like Lee Zink who is very experienced and has been around the block is critical," Pietramala said. "He has played against many of the guys we'll see from the Iroquois and Canada. It has been interesting to watch him move on and have a lengthy career from being rock solid in high school, on to college and the pros. He does it in his own calm, cool, collected and poised way."
The opportunity to play in Denver added to Zink's motivation.
"This is my hometown now," said Zink, who grew up in Connecticut, "so I always had that in the back of my mind — to do whatever I could to give myself the best chance to make the team."
No matter who makes the final 23, Zink sees a winner in this U.S. team.
"The coaches say it is a challenge to pick, and they've put forth a team that is going to win the gold,'' he said. "The strength of the team is that we have a bunch of great athletes. We can control the tempo. The key to success is to dictate the pace of play."
Thirty-seven other teams, including five in the top-flight Blue Division, will take their best shot at Team USA, a far cry from the eight teams that participated in 1998, when US Lacrosse last hosted the World Championship. Zink attended those games in Baltimore as a 17-year-old. While he never imagined playing for Team USA, he said, he also never imagined lining up across from Uganda, Norway and Thailand.
As spring gives way to summer, Zink said it will be easier to combine his full-time responsibilities at an oil and gas financing company with CrossFit training, stick-skill sessions in the park and the strength training prescribed by Team USA coach Jay Dyer.
After all, the lacrosse world is coming to his backyard, and a championship quest awaits him.
Click here for ticket information for the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship July 10-19 in Commerce City, Colo., presented by Trusted Choice. Click here for hotel information.
comments powered by Disqus


text:
Prosecutor wrote:leadpipe wrote:
I don't deal is pessimism. I deal in facts. It is a FACT. A mathematical FACT that jumping 3 or 4 teams is a GREAT DEAL harder than jumping one.
Sure, all things being equal. But in this case they're not. Those 3 or 4 teams have to play 9 games or so against the Red Sox (58-39) while the Tribe doesn't play any. They also have to play a lot of games against each other while the Tribe plays much weaker opponents.
From this point on the Tribe has 29 games against the Royals, Twins, and White Sox. So far the Tribe's record against those teams is 19-9. So is it possible they could repeat and go 19-10 or 20-9 against those same teams in the second half? Especially since those teams may be conducting fire sales and auditioning prospects? Can anybody think of a reason why that's not realistic?
It could be bad if they are auditioning pitchers.


text:
I worked as a Graphic & Web Designer for a company in Norwich for several years. It was a fun job with a nice variety of work and some good experience. Sometimes I'd work on designing websites and coding them up, other times I'd be working on brochures and other print jobs, but occasionally I got to draw cartoon characters (all work related of course!). Before that I did some freelance work and before that I did all sorts, including driving a fork lift and cutting down trees.
I just came across the job on the internet. I saw it and thought, wow, a computer games studio are looking for a web designer. I love design and have a massive passion for computer games so this was perfect for me, I couldn't believe my luck when I got the job.
I work as a Graphic & Web Designer and I've been here for just over 2 years.
Photoshop, Photoshop and more Photoshop! Seriously, that's all I do all day. From designing websites to banner ads, it all involves me and my Wacom tablet pushing pixels about in Photoshop. Sometimes the day is broken up with the occasional meeting and office banter in my department, which often has me in hysterics! At the moment I also can't get through the day without soothing my addiction to table tennis on my lunch break.
Most of all I'm doing what I love, design! and I'm doing it for a company that makes something I'm passionate about, computer games! I've been playing games since the Atari 2600 & ZX Spectrum days, well before the current heavy weights got involved. Gaming is a big part of my life so it's great to work in the industry.
I also like the relaxed atmosphere around the office, I come in to work in my scruffy jeans & trainers and I'm allowed to just get on with my job and be creative. The people I work with are great too and it's amazing to work with so many talented people who have the same passion for their work that I do.
Usually I'd say my free gym membership, but since I'm injured and can't exercise at the moment I have to go with team jollies. Last time my team had the day off and went to Thorpe Park, all paid for by Jagex of course! It was an amazing day!
Jaguar Skills doing a DJ set at the Christmas party was amazing and epic!
The staff are genuinely passionate about what they do and that makes it an exciting place to work as well as a good place to learn from your colleagues. Plus, it's more relaxed than most places I've worked, which really suits me. There are also so many social groups and diverse interests around the company.
Make sure you've got a great online portfolio where you can clearly demonstrate your artistic talent. Design is one of those rare jobs where if you are talented enough and you're persistent enough someone will pick you up, regardless of your experience or education.


text:
Espresso Gallery Frames
- Overview
Design a dynamic family photo wall with our mix-and-match frames.
- Museum-quality frames are crafted of hardwood with an off-white mat.
- Assembled with fine biscuit corners for added strength and a clean look.
- Spacers reduce glare.
- Dimensions & Care
4x6 Frame
- Art/Photo Area: 4" wide x 6" high
9x11 Frame
- Overall: 9" wide x 11" high
- Mat: 8" wide x 10" high
- Art/Photo Area: 4" wide x 6" high
14x17 Frame
- Overall: 14" wide x 17" high
- Mat: 13" wide x 16" high
- Art/Photo Area: 8" wide x 10" high
18 x18 Frame
- Overall: 18" square
- Mat: 17" square
- Art/Photo area: 5 x 7
16 x19 Frame
- Overall: 18" wide x 23" high
- Mat: 17" wide x 22" high
- Art/Photo Area: 9 windows, each 4" wide x 6"high
18x23 Frame
- Overall: 21" wide x 25" high
- Mat: 20" wide x 24" high
- Art/Photo Area: 16" wide x 20" high
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
View Our Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn Kids, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment; upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage. We will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
If your return for Merchandise Credit Cards is greater than $10,000, we will issue $10,000 in Merchandise Credit Cards to you that day, and then mail additional Merchandise Credit Card(s) for the amount in excess of $10,000 to you.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items, which are identified by a price that ends in $0.99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn Kids registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
For assistance, please contact Customer Service at 800.993.4923
International Returns: Online returns are available only for items that were shipped to the United States. If you would like to return items that were shipped outside the US, please see International Returns and Exceptions.