text:
Size900 ft²
Floor No.5(with elevator)
- Internet/WiFi
- Towels
- Family/child friendly
- Kitchen
- Parking available
- Washer/dryer
- Dishwasher
Accommodation summary
|Lanewood Ave, 90028 Los Angeles, United States
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES, CABLE, KITCHEN WARES, ALL UTILITIES, FREE PARKING, WiFi, DISHWASHER, POOL, FITNESS CENTER, BBQ GRILL etc..
- The apt is 4-6 people sleep able, 2 queen beds are suit for 4 people, one full mattress suits for 2 and one twin suits for 1. It's great for budget savers.
- All the linens and towels are used only for guests and are professionally cleaned for each guest. The condo is also cleaned thoroughly by professional cleaners before your arrival.
- All photos were taken by us - just an amateur photographer - It looks exactly what it is -
Welcome to the clean, comfy, quiet and lovely 2-bedrooms and 2-bathroom suite – situated in the heart of Hollywood where the Oscars telecast live - Hollywood & Highland - behind the world famous Roosevelt Hotel - where they shot most episodes of the famous HBO TV show Entourage and next to many fabulous places such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the world famous Mann's Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Bowl and so much more. There are many best restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, shopping, gym and supermarket are right at your doorsteps. You even do not need a car since the Metro station and bus stop is right at the corner. It's really super convenient and a great balance!
It is fully equipped and tastefully furnished. Bedrooms come with brand new queen-size beds and big closets + extra mattress for extra guests, high quality linens, fresh towels, large living & dining room, fully stocked kitchen with brand new dish washer, HDTV, DVD blue ray with Netflix for Free Movies, central air conditioning and heat. The apartment complex has a fully equipped fitness center, pool, and multiple BBQ pit's that's available for you to use.
Secured building with elevator, 2 secured gate parking spots. Convenient to Runyon Canyon Hiking Park known for the best view of Los Angeles from downtown to the ocean as you walk on Runyon - it's breathtaking views of all of Los Angeles and free outdoor yoga classes.
It is nice, clean, peaceful and absolutely, not a house party. You will feel like 'Home Away from Home' here – we are really interested in renting to people, who are nice, clean, respectful, non-smokers, and non-party. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your visit with your pictures.
We are willing and very happy to help out as much as we can to make your trip here memorable, comfortable, and fun.
OVERALL - Our goal is to make you feel at home (not a hotel). Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable - All we ask is to leave our home in the same condition as when you arrived and have a FANTASTIC Vacation!
Check-in: INSTANT CHECK-IN - NO WAITING! We'll meet you at set time to hand over the keys and show you around.
Its calendar is always up to date so there is no need to ask about availability, if it shows as being available then it is!
Within Walking Distance...
Just blocks away from many of L.A.'s most fashionable boutiques, Roosevelt Hotel, hottest restaurants,clubs, Hollywood Bowl and
Grocery stores: Trader Joe, Ralph's
Coffee shops: Starbucks Cafe, Coffee bean.
Short Drive Away...
Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, The Grove, The Beverly Center,CBS Television City, and Paramount Studios.
Ten Minutes Away...
LA's best beaches, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studios, NBC Studios, UCLA, USC, or Downtown Los Angeles.
And just 45 minutes away...
Disneyland, Magic Mountain, or The Queen Mary.
Day Trips
With all of the major freeways nearby, you can take day trips to Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Big Bear, or San Diego's Sea World
House rules-: PLEASE NO ROWDY GATHERINGS!
- We request all the noises must be under control at all times, especially during sleeping hours between 10PM - 8AM
- Keep in mind that there are other people living right next door. Please respect the apartment as though it was yours and do not bother other tenants in the building.
- Please take off your shoes while indoors.
- No smoking, No hair/nails coloring and absolutely NO drugs allow in the apt.
- We shall not be liable for any damage or injury to you and/or your guests due to you or your guests own actions or neglect.
|Price for > 2 guests
|$ 11 US per guest/night extra
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
The apartment was in the perfect location in Hollywood: both near Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. The spacious apartment was newly decorated. Everything you need in the house, was present. Despite the busy area it was daytime and quiet at night. The two bedrooms both had their own bathroom plus WC. The warm welcome from the host was also a plus. Finally, there was a pool in the apartment complex where was a great swim. In short: a nice apartment in a bustling city.
Het appartement lag op de perfecte locatie in Hollywood: zowel dichtbij Hollywood Boulevard als Sunset Boulevard. Het ruime appartement was nieuw ingericht. Alles wat je in huis nodig hebt, was aanwezig. Ondanks de drukke omgeving was het er zowel overdag als 's nachts rustig. De twee slaapkamers hadden allebei een eigen badkamer plus toilet. De hartelijke ontvangst van de gastheer was ook een plus. Ten slotte was er een zwembad in het appartementencomplex waar heerlijk kon worden gezwommen. Kortom: een aangenaam appartement in een bruisende stad.
Die Wohnung ist sehr gut gelegen, um LA und seine Attraktionen zu erkunden. Sie ist schon ein wenig in die Jahre gekommen und entsprechend verwohnt. Aber alles Notwendige ist vorhanden, so dass sie als Ankerpunkt für einen LA-Aufenthalt sehr gut geeignet ist. Der Gastgeber, Duke, ist einfach extrem hilfreich und sehr bemüht, einem den Aufenthalt so angenehm und bequem wie möglich zu machen. Auf diesem Wege möchte ich ihm nochmals herzlichen Dank für seine freundliche, stets aufgeschlossene Art sagen, mit der er uns immer ein verlässlicher, zuvorkommender Gastgeber gewesen ist!
Reviews for this host's other properties
The apartment was very nice, clean and very close to the places of interest of Los Angeles. Duke and his wife are wonderful hosts and very helpful persons. We would recommend them and the apartment for every person, who would experience one of the beautifulest cities on earth. Thank you so much!
Thank you Duke for a wonderful stay and all the great restaurant recommendations, many of which we tried and enjoyed very much!
The apartment was perfect for us. Spacious, very clean and equipped with everything we could possibly need during our stay. The benefit of a bathroom per room is amazing. The location in west hollywood is perfect, we were able to get most of the places we visited within minutes. One day we even walked from hollywood walk of fame within 5 to 10 mins.
There is also a supermarket (Ralph's) a few minutes walk away which was very convenient. I would highly recommend this apartment for your stay in LA.
Very nice place. Conveniently close (15 min walk) to metro, which is a good idea as traffic is horrible in LA. Spacious apartment with all the necessary stuff. Duke and his son Dennis take good care of matters. We would certainly book this place again.
Just Got back from a stay at Dukes Place it is in a perfect location less than 5 minutes from Hollywood boulevard, in fact you can see it from the balcony. the apartment is clean, quiet and secure. And it has everything you would need and more. Both Duke and His son Dennis are really nice guys If I ever get to Hollywood again Duke will be getting a call from me !!!
The apartment was very nice, clean and very close to the places of interest of Los Angeles. Duke and his wife are wonderful hosts and very helpful persons. We would recommend them and the apartment for every person, who would experience one of the beautiful cities on earth. Thank you so much, to enable this great time. We definitely see us again!
This suite was perfectly located close to Hollywood boulvard, the suite was nice ! The kitcken was well equiped with everything we needed, the garage was also easy to entrance both from the suite and from outside. The host Duke was nice to talk to and very helpful. Best recommendations !!!
Hello my dears,
there were wonderful days with you two! Who ever wants to LA "Hollywood" should be here to book an overnight stay, situated close to the Hollywood Boulevard and the Hollywood Since it is beautifully situated. The room is very modern and very clean, it is safe here even so sure that can stand there the door open sometimes ;-)
My hosts have also taken time for me and gave me a list of nice places. The hospitality I enjoyed and I look forward to seeing you again, true after I saw Los Angeles and San Francisco, my hosts already worth the journey.
Best wishes and I hope we'll see you again soon. And the next bottle of wine I bring you with from Germany.
Hello my dears,
there were wonderful days with you! Who ever wants to LA "Hollywood"
Should be here to book an overnight stay, situated close to the Hollywood
Boulevard and the Hollywood Since it is beautifully situated.
The room is very modern and very clean, it is safe here even so safe did the door can stay
open sometimes ;-)
My hosts so Tuke there time for me and gave me a list of nice places.
I enjoyed the hospitality and I'm looking forward to see you again,
After I saw Los Angeles and San Francisco, my hosts were so worth the journey.
Best wishes and I hope I'll see you again soon. And the next time I will bring you a bottle of
Wine from Germany.
Hallo Ihr lieben,
es waren wunderschöne Tage bei Euch zwei! Wer jemals nach L.A. "Hollywood" möchte sollte sich hier eine Übernachtung buchen, dicht gelegen am Hollywood Boulevard und auch am Hollywood Since ist man schön gelegen. Das Zimmer ist sehr Modern und sehr sauber, Sicher ist es hier auch noch, so sicher das dort die Tür auch mal offen stehen kann ;-)
Meine Gastgeber haben sich auch Zeit für mich genommen und mir eine Liste mit schönen Orten gegeben. Die Gastfreundschaft habe ich sehr genossen und ich freue mich auf ein wiedersehen, nach dem ich Los Angeles und San Francisco gesehen habe wahren meine Gastgeber schon die Reise wert.
Liebe Grüße und ich hoffe wir sehen uns bald wieder. Und die nächste Flasche Wein bringe ich Euch aus Deutschland mit.
Hello my dears,
there were wonderful days with you! Who ever wants to LA "Hollywood"
should be here to book an overnight stay, situated close to the Hollywood
Boulevard and the Hollywood Since it is beautifully situated.
The room is very modern and very clean, it is safe here even so safe that the door can stay
open sometimes;-)
My hosts also tuke there time for me and gave me a list of nice places.
I enjoyed The hospitality and I´m looking forward to see you again,
after I saw Los Angeles and San Francisco, my hosts also were worth the journey.
Best wishes and I hope I'll see you again soon. And the next time I will bring you a bottle of
wine from Germany.
First of all we would like to thank Duke who was very kind and helpful for all types of questions and needs - this is much more than you can expect!
The apartment was perfect for our 10 days stay in LAX with our two kids (15/13): a one minute walk to Sunset Blvd., 10 minutes to Hollywood Blvd. (Walk of Fame), 20 minutes by car to Universal, and so on. The photos really present the apartment like it is: spacious, clean, a quiet house. The only thing you hear is the traffic from La Brea Av. but never annoying.
We definitely recommend this apartment. Thank you very much Duke, hope to see you again!
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


text:
when a girl who is getting butt fucked accidentally shits on the man's dick. the man then proceeds to force her to suck his shitty dick to make up for such a disgusting act.
hey brah that bitch is lucky she gave me a chi-town dumpster blow last night after she shit on my dick.
by clitora orgasma November 18, 2010

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The act of holding one's cell phone low in your lap as to conceal your actions, all the while illuminating yourself from below.
I was trying to have a conversation with Johanna, but she was playing with her phone and giving me a lot of crotch glow.
by grasscarp99 June 02, 2011


text:
Roberts man cries foul over religious symbols on city property
Mayor: City is abiding by Constitution
ROBERTS, Idaho - A Jefferson County man isn't too happy about a water tower adorned with multiple crosses across the street from his home.
He said the tower, in Roberts, is city property and should not have any religious symbols or displays on it.
"They symbolize a particular religion," said homeowner Joe Cohea. "In violation of the First Amendment, which is separation of church and state."
At the top of one of the tallest towers in Roberts, three crosses look over the town of nearly 700.
Cohea has lived in Roberts for years and said he's had enough.
He said the crosses give the wrong message about his town. It's not just full of Christians.
"It might not only be offensive, but intimidating to some people," said Cohea. "There are Native American religions and Buddhists and Hindu that I know of here, and there's also an individual that is Jewish."
So Cohea took his concerns to City Hall.
"We understand not everyone's a Christian, not everyone's a God-fearing person and that's fine," said Robert "BJ" Berlin, mayor of Roberts.
Berlin said there's nothing wrong with those crosses, and no one besides Cohea has complained.
"Government will not create any state religion and will not deter or get in the way of anybody's religion," said Berlin. "The City of Roberts abides by the Constitution."
But Cohea disagrees -- especially when the crosses are lit up at night.
"Red, white and blue must mean that Christianity is equated with patriotism, I suppose," said Cohea.
Cohea said he's scheduled to talk to the City Council next month.
He also said it's not just about the three crosses on the water tower -- it's also about a Nativity scene that's put on display at the city park around Christmas.
He said he has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union for support.


text: Hi everyone I'm picking up the K-Source tow mirrors for my 2006 Sierra Z71 (SLE2 Nevada) Edition. They had the 'heated, power, w/signals". We tow alot during the spring and summer and had to get pair for towing our trailer. The stock mirrors just don't cut it, even if you pick up the slip-on mirrors. I find the vibrate a little too much. One question about the mirror harnesses on the Sierra. I pulled the passenger mirror away from the door on the weekend and noticed the stock wire harness was zip strapped, and tucked up into the mirror so I couldn't find the electric connections. Are the two connections for the stock mirrors inside the mirror or tucked away behind the door panel? Just trying to sort it out before I recieve the mirrors. Thanks Tony


text:
Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
Change Location
ACE Fit Share
With the news that dark chocolate contains some healthful properties, there is a better excuse than ever to indulge during the holiday season. Specks of green pistachios and red dried cherries in this chocolate confection make for a festive holiday gift.
Nutrition Profile:
Diabetes Appropriate
Gluten Free Diet
Healthy Weight
Heart Healthy
Low Calorie
Low Carb
Low Sat Fat
Low Sodium
Serves 48
Prep Time 40 min
Total Time 60 min.
Step 1
Line the bottom and sides of a jelly-roll pan or baking sheet with foil. (Take care to avoid wrinkles.) Toss pistachios with cherries (or cranberries) in a medium bowl. Divide the mixture in half; stir orange zest into 1 portion.
Step 2
Melt 18 ounces chocolate in a double boiler over hot water. (Alternatively, microwave on low in 30-second bursts.) Stir often with a rubber spatula so it melts evenly.
Step 3
Remove the top pan and wipe dry (or remove the bowl from the microwave). Stir in the remaining 6 ounces chocolate, in 2 additions, until thoroughly melted and smooth.
Step 4
Add the pistachio mixture containing the orange zest to the chocolate; stir to mix well. Working quickly, scrape the chocolate onto the prepared pan, spreading it to an even 1/4-inch thickness with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the remaining pistachio mixture on top; gently press it into the chocolate with your fingertips. Refrigerate, uncovered, just until set, about 20 minutes.
Step 5
Invert the pan onto a large cutting board. Remove the pan and peel off the foil. Using the tip of a sharp knife, score the chocolate lengthwise with 6 parallel lines. Break bark along the score lines. Break the strips of bark into 2- to 3-inch chunks.
Featured Workouts
Check out our 12-week fitness plan designed to boost your strength, endurance, muscle definition, energy level and overall health.
Flatten your stomach and build strength in the muscles that provide stability and mobility for the spine, pelvis, ribs and hips.
Focus on pulling, rotating and building strength with workouts created alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes.
This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


text:
Feb 12, 2013
One Ugly 'Makeover'
House Republicans promised a makeover after Americans rejected their party in November – but who knew they were just going to get uglier?
An honored guest of House Republicans at tonight's State of the Union address is Ted Nugent, who once threatened the President's life, equated feminists to "a fat pig who doesn't get it often enough" and called the President's supporters "pimps and whores."
"Republicans promised Americans that they were undergoing a serious makeover – but if anything, bringing Ted Nugent to the State of the Union shows just how ugly their party can really be," said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "If John Boehner and Eric Cantor are really serious about changing their image, they should speak up now and condemn their Members for bringing the ugliest vein of intolerance into the United States Capitol tonight."
To date, Speaker John Boehner and Republican Leader Cantor have been silent on Nugent's attendance.
Nugent on President Obama's supporters:
"Pimps whores & welfare brats & their soulless supporters have a president to destroy America." [@TedNugent, 11/7/12]
Nugent on women:
"What's a feminist anyways? A fat pig who doesn't get it often enough?" [VH1, Behind the Music Remastered: Ted Nugent, 1/30/12]
Nugent on President Obama:
"If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year." [Washington Post, 4/17/12]
Nugent on African-Americans:
"See, I'm a black Jew at a Nazi-Klan rally ... because I have the audacity to speak the truth to identify the violations of our government." [Christian Science Monitor, 4/18/12]
Nugent on the Civil War:
"Because our legislative, judicial and executive branches of government hold the 10th Amendment in contempt, I'm beginning to wonder if it would have been best had the South won the Civil War. Our Founding Fathers' concept of limited government is dead." [Washington Times, 7/6/12]
Nugent on undocumented immigrants:
"I'd like to shoot them dead." [Fox News, Hannity and Colmes, 10/13/08]


text:
To sleep on a friend's couch or other impromptu sleeping arrangement for indetermined amounts of time when one has no place to sleep.
My girlfriend kicked me outta her place, and I have no where to go! I've been snoreboarding at my friend's places.
by mysteryweapon January 05, 2009
The vengeful act of crapping on a lover's chest while they sleep.Buy the plush


text:
Which would you get? And why? Assume the price is the same for each.
Does color really matter? I can get Pierco in black for my deep frames in the brood boxes.
Which would you get? And why? Assume the price is the same for each.
Does color really matter? I can get Pierco in black for my deep frames in the brood boxes.
RiteCell is the thickest and the stoutest, Plasticell is quite flexible and lightweight, and Pierco is right in between. When you are popping RiteCell into frames, it'll get hard on the thumbs. Otherwise, I love it. Next (and last) I'd go with Pierco. Plasticell is my least favorite plastic foundation. If I have a large order (over $100), I always go with the RiteCell from Mann Lake for the free shipping; it beats all with that. These are just my observations. I prefer foundationless comb over all though.
Pierco... Cheapest if you are buying several thousand. Last batch of Pierco was bright yellow and bees draw out faster than any other foundation! Out of 1000 yellow drawn out this last season only a few had tongues drawn out. Pierco cell size is 5.2. The other few thousand were ritecell. Ritecell had trouble fitting into frame slot and the bees would first draw out the Pierco first and then the rite cell.
I buy several thousand direct from Nick at Pierco. I buy it unwaxed and use my wax. He has always had the best price. Give him a call and he will e-mail you a quote. I use all black, but doesn't seem to matter as I have tried the yellow also but hard to see eggs and larva in yellow.
"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain
I have tried just about every plastic foundation I could find. Black really helps to see eggs larvae. My favorite is perma dent. Mann lakes stuff is to thick, makes it harder to install and I wonder about heat transfer in the winter. There is a lot of plastic between the cells on the other side of of the cluster. The wax coating from dadant seems very inconsistant with the batches I have purchased.
Mann Lake's Rite Cell is a little heavier than Dadant"s plasticell. I wouldnt agree that it necessarily follows that it is better though. We have never had any problems at all with the Dadant foundation blowing out in an extractor or any other problems relating to its slightly lighter construction so I really look at weight as a non-factor. Let price be your guide. If you want to go with a plastic frame then Pierco is probably the best though I have never tried the molded "Plasticell Pro" plastic frame. We have done it both ways and have finally settled on installing the foundation as we are putting on the bottom bars as being slightly faster to snapping in the foundation is really a non-factor in my decision.
Last edited by jim lyon; 12-29-2012 at 01:30 PM. Reason: typo
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
I ended up ordering directly from Nick @ Pierco last week. He was the most economical choice. I ordered waxed black foundation for my deeps and waxed white foundation for my medium frames. Mr Lyon brought up something I had not thought about. Is it easier to put all the frames together and then at a later date come back and snap in the foundation. Or should I put the plastic foundation in as I build the frames? I forgot to mention that all my frames are grooved top and bottom bars from Western Bee. I have several thousand frames to do and would prefer to do it like 'the big boys' do it.
Given a choice, I would only use Pierco. A friend of mine did side by side studies of which foundation the bees preferred. This was only for plastic foundation, since he's a commercial guy. This study was done in multiple yards, and multiple hives. All brands of foundation were in each yard. All frames were Dadant wood frames. The Pierco was preferred by the bees each and everytime! By a large margin too. Some hives had multiple brands of foundation in them, and the bees worked the Pierco first, everytime. It didn't matter if it was yellow or black. All were waxed. Next in line was the Dadant foundation, and Mann Lake came in last. I used Pierco in all my hives last year and wasn't sorry. 64 hives drew out 1200 frames of foundation, and still made 4000 lbs. of honey. Nick is a great guy to do business with too! Good prices, fast service, and a quality product. What more can a beekeeper ask for?
Sorry, I had assumed the OP was talking about the molded one piece plastic Pierco frames. I havent used the foundation.
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
We build the frames through the winter and add the foundation just before using. So far this winter we are half way through putting together 500 boxes and 5000 frames, all from Western Bee. The foundation will be from Nick at Pierco. If you put it in early it can get dirty. If they are clean and freshly waxed the bees take to them better.
"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain
I tried Rite Cell for the first time this year, it is sturdy stuff, but the bees wouldn't touch it unless there was a super heavy flow going and they needed more storage room yesterday. I even tried putting it in between frames of brood to get it drawn out and they didn't touch it during a fairly good flow. I think I may try the Pierco next. John
I run Pierco foundation in wood frames in all my brood chambers. I use full plastic frame/foundation in my honey supers. I'll only use Pierco for both. Like Broke-T stated, we build boxes and equipment during the winter and install the foundation just before we need it. Nothing like that smell when opening a fresh box of foundation. I want my frames to have that smell when we put them on the hives. The bees seem to just jump right on it then. I didn't spray the frames/foundation with sugar syrup as recommended. Bees didn't seem to care. If there was even a small flow on, or we were feeding, the girls just drew the frames right out. I would recommend that as the foundation gets drawn out, you rotate the undrawn frames towards the center of the box. Brood or honey super, do it and you'll get great straight comb.
Do you add more wax to the pierco ones.? I know the Mann Lake plastic ones need more or they dont build them out very well.
The Pierco don't need more wax.
I agree with RAK. I buy their waxed frames and foundation. They come with enough wax, so say my bees. That's what counts to me.
My bees have almost always said, "Hey cheap-skate! Add more wax." And so I do. I prefer Rite-cell, but cost-wise, I go with one-piece Pierco and add more wax.
If anyone would like a free copy of my PDF report on how to add more wax and increase the likelihood of acceptance, send me an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com and I'll reply with an attachment. I haven't figured out how to do it on beesource. Put "WAX" in the subject line.
Jackson, MO
Beekeeping With Twenty-five Hives: https://www.createspace.com/4152725
We started out adding more wax to the waxed foundation. I decided if we were going to do that, why not buy unwaxed foundation. It is cheaper to buy and weighs less so its cheaper to ship. We are treatment free so I know the wax I am putting on the frames is chemical free so that makes me feel better also. Win win situation.
"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain
I'm halfway between Dadant and Mann Lake. Reading through this thread has me confused as to which direction to drive. I'm just picking up frames for starting two boxes.
>Which would you get? And why?
Mann Lake PF100 series, because they are 4.95mm cell size and well accepted.
Michael Bush bushfarms.com/bees.htm "Everything works if you let it." ThePracticalBeekeeper.com 42y 40h 39yTF
Ive always used rite-cell, very sturdy. Once they draw it out they use it just as readily as anything.
Jason Young


text: my 1996 Tahoe wont start when i turn the key i hear a clicking noise as i do turn the key and i see a small drain from the voltmeter. this has happened once before and that time i put it in neutral and it started right up i tryed to do the same again but no luck. the truck also has been hard starting for the past month instead of its normal instant start up and rev. any one have any idea on what might be wrong


text:
Scion FR-S convertible coming by early 2014 By Noah Joseph RSS feed Posted May 8th 2012 3:29PMWith an epic chassis and the lowest center of gravity in the business, there's plenty for enthusiast to love about the Scion FR-S. Except, that is, for those who prefer to take their nimble, affordable sports cars with the roof down. Their choices are rather limited in this price category to the Mazda MX-5 and Ford Mustang, but if the latest reports prove accurate, the FR-S – which is, of course, virtually identical to the Subaru BRZ and sold overseas as the Toyota GT 86 – is preparing to throw its hat in the ring, as well.rest at link...
How much weight is this going to add to an already heavier car than promised? This will make the anemic acceleration feel more glacial than ever before. Toyota needs a turbo on this desperately to offset the added weight gain of making a coupe into a convertible.
____________________________Edgy, Controversial, Dangerous...
Don't care. It's going to decrease aspects of the car simply because it was a coupe-first design, and those are rarely any good, if ever. Maybe for the highest end sports cars like the F430, or the supercars like Zonda. I'm willing to hate the entire BR-Z/FR-S line simply for THINKING about making it less of a drivers car.It's pandering to the posers-- nothing more.
----------When life throws you a curve, downshift and take it vigorously.Pheobe's@478,000-ish miles. (RIP original engine 475k)Youtube
ehhhthe twin coupes have the novelty of attracting miata guys who have been asking for a miata coupe, but never got their wish.these verts won't have much leverage against the miata.
It will probably look better, that's a good thing. But then again, they'll want an astronomical amount for it.
Well, if the hype machine rolls in it will say the new vert FRS will weigh less than 2700 lbs (come in at 2900) and still post 0-60 times under 7 seconds (while actually rolling in at under 8 seconds). All of this fabulous, other world convertible performance for less than $30k (actual price: $33,995 minus Destination).
____________________________Edgy, Controversial, Dangerous...
It might be pretty good. I've always been a fan of 'verts. Maybe this will sway some Miata owners maybe not. The Miata does finally have competition again. Some good points have been brought up though. Maybe this will hurt this car too much and the performance loss won't be worth not having a top.
=\/=DD: 1995 Mazda Miata M EditionToy: 04 Honda VFR800 Interceptor named Phoenix (nicknamed VTAK)
Hehehe...can't wait!It'll be like a Miata that you pay 10K extra to add a useless backseat and 30 horsepower.
~~~Patiently awaiting the Dodge Dart SRT4...
So they admit the Miata is better then. Great!
___________________________Chortle ChamberEggs.
Awesome, this is already making people upset, and I love it.
.**************************************Go Placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. Be on good term with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
I know, it is making the Toyboys upset as the Miata is still better.
___________________________Chortle ChamberEggs.
The concept roadster was a 2 seater, that also had a shorter raked windshield. Looks wise, it will be much better than its direct competitors. It already has an advantage in the handling dept.Since the S2000 is gone, this will give a better alternative to the feminine looking miata imo.
RedChocobo:I know, it is making the Toyboys upset as the Miata is still better.It is better. Making this a convertible is completely useless. THAT'S what makes me mad, not the MX-5.
----------When life throws you a curve, downshift and take it vigorously.Pheobe's@478,000-ish miles. (RIP original engine 475k)Youtube
Did anyone read the end? It said that they may also be considering a four-door based off the same platform. Now I would buy that!
____________________________________________________________________"Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you."-Jeremy ClarksonChrysler, Imperial, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Cord, Lexus, and a few others...Fiat needs to get out!
^It'd be a RWD Impreza with the roof chopped....
----------When life throws you a curve, downshift and take it vigorously.Pheobe's@478,000-ish miles. (RIP original engine 475k)Youtube


text:
Redmond standoff suspect in court
Friends offer support; mental health experts share advice
BEND, Ore. - The Redmond man arrested after a five-hour standoff with police Thursday night made his first court appearance Friday. Police, family and friends of Michael Boynton, 43, said he suffers from mental illness.
Boynton is accused of running around on the streets outside his house, threatening three random women with a knife, then going inside and refusing police directives to come out.
Friends and family said Boynton suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disease. They said after his mother died recently, he lost his job and was evicted from his apartment, he spiraled downward.
"When you know you have a problem and you don't get the proper medication, or the treatment that you need, you're messing with fire," said a friend, Jeanette Walker.
After nearly five hours, the SWAT team forced their way into the home and arrested Boynton. He appeared by video camera in a Deschutes County courtroom, where he told the judge he was sleeping when he was arrested.
Because of his mental issues, police said they did not want to share more information.
"There was certainly a crisis element involved in this situation, and we certainly don't want to make this worse for him or his family members," Lt. Nathan Garibay said.
Psychiatric workers said if family or friends fear their loved one may do something violent, help is always a phone call away.
"They can either call Deschutes County mental health and speak with someone there, or they have a crisis line after hours," psychiatric health worker Molly Wells said. "They can talk about what their family member's history is, what's going on with them, whether they should be concerned. They can get someone to go out and check on them."
As Boynton faces a long legal process ahead of him, his friends say they hope they can help him move forward.
"We knew that it could be something tragic that happened to him, because we've been trying to reach out to him," Walker said. "Between the loss of his mom, losing his job, being served papers to move out of his place -- he's just a real good guy that needs some help."


text:
sans titreNedjar, Michel
untitled, ca 1981
sculpture of scrap rags and strings coated with mud
height 90 cm
© photo credit
Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne
Nedjar, Michel (1947), France
BiographyMichel Nedjar was born in Soisy-sous-Montmorency, France, to a Jewish family combining both Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions. Originally from Algiers, his father was a tailor, while his Polish mother moved to Paris around 1923, fleeing the pogroms. A large proportion of his family disappeared in the concentration camps. At the age of 14 he was placed in a couture house as an apprentice. Later he travelled to several countries in Asia and to Mexico, where he came into contact with magic and the dolls used in witchcraft.
On returning to Paris he made his first doll fetishes. These were made using fabrics, rags and plastic bags which he adorned with feathers, bits of wood, straw, string and shells dipped in baths of dye, earth and blood.
Since 1980 he has also created drawings with wax crayons and paint on salvaged support materials as well as statuettes and bas-reliefs in plaster or papier-mâché.


text:
A secure portal allowing our customers and vendors 24/7 access to their operational and financial information.
All around the world MSC's teams share a pride, a passion and a belief in the company and the way we do business. Channelling this passion is what enables us to deliver unrivalled customer service. MSC's people take a personal interest in finding solutions to match each of our customers' needs.
MSC has more than 480 vessels sailing 200 different routes to 315 ports in over 150 countries, but for all our shipping capabilities, it is our team of more than 24,000 people that sets us apart.
By continuing to use the website, you will be agreeing to our Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions and Use of cookies.
Please enter your email address below and we will send you an email containing a link which will allow you to edit your preferences.


text:
As the spate of comic movies continue to hit the big screen, we in the fanboy universe start to naturally speculate on who we'd like to see get the big-screen treatment next. While DC has lagged behind Marvel in the volume and quality of live-action comic-based films (though their animated ones are excellent for the most part), there are some heroes that could use the big-screen treatment, even if the production companies consider them second-tier characters, such as Aquaman.
As many of you may know from following me on Twitter, I have an unnatural love for all things Aquaman. While he's not my favorite comic hero, he's certainly at the top of my list in the DC Universe. I can't really explain why. Maybe it's the hook on his hand, maybe it's the underwater adventures that no other hero really has. Maybe it's because he's not Namor. Either way, as an Aquaman fan I'd love to see DC try to get an Aquaman movie made, but that probably will never become a reality. Here's ten reasons why DC and Warner Bros. will probably never produce an Aquaman movie.
1. It would require a massive budget.
Considering that most of Aquaman's world is underwater, and since Warner Bros. already stated he is a second tier character, there is no way he'd get the money required for all those underwater effects. We're talking Waterworld money, in the $200 million range or more. Unless a major director with a serious love for our hook-handed hero gets involved, which is always possible. Continue Reading "10 Reasons There Won't Ever Be an Aquaman Movie" »


text:
Prices and availability are subject to change from the time and date that you print this page.
5/26/2017 3:17:07 PM. For Customer Service, please call 800.933.9904
Thanks to our Orion's Sheet Set, you'll be able to gaze at the stars no matter what time of day it is. Exclusively designed for us by artist Leah Duncan, each 100% cotton sheet set features a printed starry sky, complete with constellations. Pair it with our Solar System Bedding for an out-of-this-world look.
Learn about the advantages of organic cotton bedding
Organic Orion's Twin Sheet Set 66"Wx12"Dx96"H
Details, details
- Nod exclusive
- 200-thread count
- Printed
- Imported
- Click here to order Complimentary Swatches
Show 'em what you're made of
- 100% organic cotton
Care instructions
- Machine washable
DimensionsTwin Sheet Set
- Flat Sheet: 96" x 66"
- Fitted Sheet: 76" x 39" with a 12" pocket depth
- Case: 30" x 20"
- Flat Sheet: 96" x 81"
- Fitted Sheet: 76" x 54" with a 12" pocket depth
- Case: 30" x 20"
Extras! Extras!
- Coordinates with our Solar System Bedding
Overall DimensionsWidth: 66" Depth: 12" Height: 96"
At The Land of Nod, nothing is more important to us than providing safe, high-quality products to you and your family. We believe that kids' products should be able to handle everything kids throw their way (literally and figuratively). That's why all of our products have an 18-year quality guarantee. And, hopefully, your kids will no longer be sleeping in bunk beds by then.
Who's there?
Wade who?
Wade until next time.
More Items
Our Designers Recommend
All Solar Systems Go Bedding $11.90 - $194.65reg. $14.00 - $229.00
Organic Stars Sheet Set $58.65 - $84.15reg. $69.00 - $99.00
Blast Off Throw Pillow $12.75 - $29.75reg. $15.00 - $35.00
Pluto Throw Pillow $12.75 - $29.75reg. $15.00 - $35.00
All Solar Systems Go Curtains $29.75 - $38.25reg. $35.00 - $45.00
Uptown Grey Bunk Bed $1,359.15reg. $1,599.00More Colors Available


text:
Police: No foul play suspected for body found in Morehead City
MOREHEAD CITY, CARTERET COUNTY - Police said they do not suspect foul play in the death of a man whose body was discovered in Morehead City Thursday morning.
Because no foul play is believed to be involved, NewsChannel 12 has taken down the name and photos of the victim to respect his family.
According to investigators, a woman was feeding ducks near the Crystal Coast Visitors Center on Arendell Street when she discovered the body in some bushes in front of a boat dock at about 10:50 a.m. Thursday.
Investigators said they believe the body had been there since Wednesday night.
Police said they found the man's identification near his body. His home is listed as being less than a block from where his body was found.
The man's cause of death is unknown, but investigators said they do not suspect foul play.
The Crystal Coast Visitors Center has a popular boat ramp on the Morehead City waterfront. Many residents use the area for lunch on a regular basis. They expressed shock over a body being found in such a popular place.
"It's not something you'd expect to see down here, not in this environment," said resident Sheila Croom.
Most Popular
- One person injured in Greenville shooting
- Son kills father, himself in murder-suicide in Morehead City
- One dead, two injured after early-morning shooting in New Bern
- Coast Guard calls off search for missing Hyde County boaters off Georgia
- Dudley man shot, killed early Saturday; Goldsboro Police investigating


text:
Pueblo bank won't do business with marijuana establishments
PUEBLO, Colo. - Marijuana establishments won't be banking with Pueblo Bank & Trust, even if the federal government decides to loosen banking regulations.
Last week Attorney General Eric Holder said the government plans to create regulations so that banks can work with marijuana businesses. Still, the president of Pueblo Bank & Trust said he won't.
"The banking industry is typically a conservative industry and we're probably going to take the conservative approach," said bank president Mike Seppala.
Pueblo Bank & Trust sponsors thousands of ATMs across the country. None of them will be in or near marijuana businesses. Seppala said it's the responsible thing to do.
"At some point in time it becomes a business decision, reputational, moral- whatever you want to call it as to whether or not we want to," he said.
Even though marijuana is legal in Colorado, it remains illegal under federal law, keeping many banks away from doing business with pot shops.
Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace said the federal government needs to take action and roll out bank regulations soon. "That way we don't have ATMs and cash on the premise but instead people can use debit cards and credit cards in these stores," Pace said. "It is a public safety concern."
The Colorado Department of Revenue has access to 24-hour video surveillance inside every pot shop. But the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office doesn't believe that's enough when dealing with mostly cash-only businesses.
"Anytime you mix a large amount of people and a large amount of cash and you put it all in one place, you have a higher propensity to suffer violence," said Pueblo County Undersheriff J.R. Hall.
Hall hopes store owners will use money from marijuana sales to improve store security.
Hall said the sheriff's office has not received any information to indicate that any marijuana establishment in the county is at risk.


text:
Twinkle Holiday 2009
Photo 1 of 16
Twinkle Holiday 2009
Twinkle delivered a subdued holiday effort; classics you can jazz up with trendy accessories. Black and white evening is ladylike and lovely, while Twinkle's signature prints keep things interesting. Subtle embellishments and ruffles provide texture, while draping — a key Fall trend — makes everything appear more lush.


text:
Photo of the Day: Badr Hari's Foot Injury
- Written by Dave Walsh
The K-1 World Grand Prix has come and gone and Badr Hari, the bad boy, one of the main attractions at the event was forced to pull out of th event due to a foot injury. There was some talk about it possibly being less-than-accurate or truthful, that there was some controversy about him fighting beyond one fight, but this photo was released this morning and tells all of the story that you need to know; that looks really, really painful.
There have been other rumors, like Badr Hari being back in prison already, but we've seen absolutely nothing to substantiate that. We wish the Bad Boy a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the ring again when he has more time to prepare.


text: Looks like we're going to learn a lot more about JSOC over the next few days and week as we learn more about Osama Bin Laden being killed under forces controlled by this group. ---------- Post added at 10:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ---------- Thanks to all of the men and women on this site that have served in the armed forces. I have known some special forces folks and they're a special breed, even far and away from the rank and file that put it all on the line.


text:
Barnard News
Alumnae, students, trustees, faculty, staff, parents, and friends participate in university-wide fundraising effort
"Peaceland" receives honorable mention for the prestigious Chadwick Alger Prize
Students, faculty, alumnae and community members gathered at Barnard on Sunday, October 26th, to celebrate the College's 125th anniversary year. View a photo essay that brings to life a wonderful day honoring Barnard's history, present, and future.
Hundreds of students, alumnae, faculty, staff, and Morningside Heights community members celebrated Founders Day with an afternoon of performances, lectures, and more on campus.
On Sunday October 26, join us for Founders Day, when Barnard will welcome the community to campus for lectures, performances, food trucks, and more.
Fellowship spotlights the importance of originality across creative disciplines
Joining the College's American studies, anthropology, architecture, biology, political science, sociology, and urban studies departments, the College's newest faculty represent a diverse range of research areas and teaching interests
Political science professor discusses her experience working on the ground in crisis zones
Workshops organized by Athena Fellow Jimmie Briggs aim to spark conversation on difficult but important topics
More than 120 young student scientists pursued full-time research projects as part of Barnard's new Summer Research Institute. Watch as they share their experiences and stories.


text:
HiYas! I am starting to get things togeather to launch a couple of hives this spring and I was wanting some input as to my plans, if you guys don't mind.
I've never kept bees before, but have been researching it for the past couple of years and have the wife and kids agreeing to a trail run of two hives here in Central Oklahoma. We don't want to use chems, so we are leaning towards the small cell methods and are currently looking for some suppliers of small cell bees. We plan on two hives with three broodboxes, plus three supers (should we get lucky and get honey the first year). I was thinking about using deeps for all the supers with was 4.9 foundation (if I can find it). Other than a veil and smoker, is there anything else that I am missing here?
Any advice would be helpful!


text:
At Ministry Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Services we are committed to providing quality care and education to the Merrill area community.
Occupational therapists assess and treat the whole person physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially. If everyday function is complicated by injury, illness or disease, we assist you in returning to optimal functioning.
Physical therapy assists in the rehabilitation process for people with health problems resulting from an injury, illness or disability. We assess and develop treatment goals and shape personalized programs that meet the needs of each individual.
The ability to communicate is vital to our existence. Speech therapists evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide range of speech, cognitive and swallowing disorders. Our team approach assures comprehensive care for infants, children and adults.
Industrial rehabilitation specialists work with business and industry to provide safe work environments for employees. If injury occurs, we work with the employer and employee to ensure an efficient and safe transition back into the work force. Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center has partnered with SAINTS Health Services for Business to offer a full range of Occupational Health services.
To schedule an appointment or for more information about Occupational Health Services, please call 715.539.2132.
To make an appointment:
or, for more information,
Submit an online request
Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center
601 South Center Avenue
Merrill, WI 54452


text:
Note: As of July 1, 2015, the the carbapenem requirements for the laboratory surveillance definition of CRE and the case definition changed. For more information see
Changes in definitions (disease control) 333-017-000 (pdf)
Changes in reporting (disease reporting) 333-018-000 (pdf)
The Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of Gram-negative bacilli, many members of which are upstanding residents of the human gastrointestinal tract. See the full list of genera (pdf). Currently available carbapenem antibiotics, commonly used to treat severe, hospital-associated infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, are doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem. Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae can occur by many mechanisms, including the production of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) or a metallo-beta-lactamase.
In the U.S., CRE were first reported in North Carolina in 1999; since then, they have been reported in at least 32 states. Unfortunately, carbapenem resistance genes can be transmitted among bacteria of different genera, so that once CRE emerge in a given area, the carbapenem antibiotics may lose their effectiveness against many different organisms. If CRE become prevalent, empiric therapy will necessitate antibiotics that have broader antibacterial spectra and are much more expensive; and some patients may die for lack of prompt and effective treatment. If we can rapidly identify and isolate patients with CRE we may be able to prevent or delay their becoming endemic in Oregon.
What is required?Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report cases and suspect cases to local health departments within one working day.
Disease reporting form (pdf) for health-care practitioners
Go to our disease reporting page for information on how to report and for telephone numbers of local health departments.View the CRE Reporting Poster (pdf)
Clinical laboratories are asked to save novel CRE isolates (i.e., not more than one per patient of the same genus and species per calendar year). These isolates should be forwarded to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, with the following exceptions: Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and Morganella spp. should not be saved or sent to OSPHL.
For county health departments
Investigative Guidelines: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (pdf)
DROP-CRE Network
New Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Warrant Additional Action by Healthcare Providers (pdf) (CDC HAN Alert, Feb 14, 2013)
Infection Control Response Toolkit for Hospitals and other Healthcare Facilities (pdf) (CDC, 2012)
Guidance for Control of Infections with Carbapenem-Resistant or Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Acute Care Facilities. (MMWR 58(10);256-260 / March 20, 2009)
CRE Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Health Care Personnel (pdf) (Minnesota Department of Health)
Promoting health and preventing the leading causes of death, disease and injury in Oregon.


text:
The James Gettys
Hotel is located in historic
downtown Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, it looks as it did in
the 1920s, and provides your first taste of living history
within history. Upon entering, you will step even further
back in time.
James Gettys Hotel 27 Chambersburg Street
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325
Tel: 717-337-1334 or 1-888-900-5275 Fax: 717-334-2103
Web Site - email@example.com - Site Map - Links
© 2012 James Gettys Hotel
Follow us on Facebook!


text:
If any of you are interested in seeing the entire build progress, here is a thread at the RPF....
My HIC Poker Table.
if not, you can just jump to the end here........
So it is done.........
I will get some good high-qualityl pics up when I finish building my "nerd cave" that it will be kept in. Maybe since there are a gazillion boba fetts in our garrison, I will have a group shot of boba's playing poker at the table.
there's no real good way to photo it without a glare ( do to the glass reflections ) but here it is.
and the drawers/panels ( each one has a poker chip as a greeble )
The hero panel will have electronics too.....eventually.
and drink holders
I will update it one last time when I get the professional photos taken.


text:
Day of new life and surprises for new moms
BRISTOL, Tenn. - How much money did you spend on gifts for your mom this Mother's Day weekend? A group of newborns surprised their mom with a gift that didn't break the bank.
You could call it a labor of love -- nurses with the Birthing Center at Bristol Regional Medical Center have a surprise for new moms this Mother's Day weekend. "Their first footprint on a flower pot. It's something that [new moms] can keep forever," said nurse Sandra Richardson.
It's a gift that grows alongside their newborn, since a pack of seeds is put in the flower pot.
We're told this one-of-a-kind gift is a surprise to the new mothers. "They don't know we're doing it. Then once they're getting ready to be discharged we take the pots to them," added Richardson.
First-time mom Mary McCormick had her fair share of surprises this Mother's Day. "We were planning for next week, so [our new child] Graham was a surprise. Graham came just a little bit early so we did not think he would be here on Mother's Day," she said.
McCormick is one of about 10 new moms getting to take home a new addition to their family and one of the butterfly flower pots. The new parents say it's a keepsake that money could never buy. "We hope it's made it special for them," said Richardson.
Nurses tell News 5 they got the idea for the craft from a website.
They also hope to continue making more flower pots for other holidays like Father's Day and Christmas.


text:
November 30, 2011 at 19:49:11 Nov 30, 2011 @ 19:49
yeah tara is fucking annoying now, that was awkward as fuck when she told gemma to tell her she loves her
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
Originally posted by Inactive User
wtf are you guys talking about?i didnt see clay get shot.the episode ended abruptly.im guessing you mean that lil preview?didnt bother clicking.and suck my dick before snide remarks.
also side note but fx related i saw a commercial for a straight to dvd cgi elf movie presented by elf on the shelf studios or productions about an elf on the shelf.now prior to kegel the elf i never heard of that term in my life.is the whole u.s. being trolled?
did you dl the last episode or something? it showed him getting shot in the episode.
I have no idea what you're trying to say in the second paragraph.
^gtfo with that elf shit. elf on the shelf has been around way before the league. google, my friend.
anyways, SOA stayyyyyyyyyyys killing it. well, except for season 3.. what a drag =/
but this season has been crazy as fuck. im sure the finale will pay off. <3 this show.
its prob been mentioned in here, but i was IMDB'ing the other day and i found out that Kurt Sutter (Otto) - who is also the creator and executive producer of SOA - is married to Katey Sagal (Gemma) in real life... And they have a kid together named Jackson. lolz..
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
^Which season/episode is that?
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
Forum Administrator • @DREWKKAKE
eh deep down we all knew clay couldnt die.
jax is pres, and next season they will have hella violence with all the blacks in oakland lolz
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
this was somewhat interesting, an interview with kurt sutter (creator of the show)
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
i'm the best mayne, i deed it
We're all in the same game, just different levels. Dealing with the same hell, just different devils


text:
Computing with locomotives and box cars takes a one-track mind
Brian Hayes
Guided by an unseen hand, a grimy railroad tank car negotiates a
series of switch points in the tracks, veering right, then right
again, then left. Next comes a lime-green box car, which makes two
lefts. I observe these events from the control tower of a railroad
facility called a hump yard, where freight cars sort themselves into
trains bound for various destinations. It is an eerie scene. The
cars glide silently downhill through the maze of tracks, seeming to
steer themselves, as if each car knows just where it wants to go.
This is an illusion; a computer two floors below me is making all
the decisions, setting the switches a moment before each car
arrives. But I can't shake the impression that the hump yard itself
is a kind of computer—that the railroad cars are executing
some secret algorithm.
It's not such a far-fetched notion. In 1994 Adam Chalcraft and
Michael Greene, who were then at the University of Cambridge, and
later Maurice Margenstern of the University of Metz, designed
railroad layouts that simulate the operation of a computer. The
machine is programmed by setting switch points in a specific initial
pattern; then a locomotive running over the tracks resets some of
the switches as it passes; the result of the computation is read
from the final configuration of the switches.
These constructions are wonderfully ingenious, although admittedly
they have little to do with the day-to-day running of real
railroads. Even at a more practical level, though, brawny steel
rails and brainy silicon chips have surprisingly rich connections.
The work of the hump yard is a case in point. Algorithms for sorting
are a specialty of computer science, but railroads were sorting
freight cars decades before the first electronic computer was built.
Methods invented by rail workers have served as metaphor and
inspiration for the development of algorithms and data structures in
computer science; conversely, the theoretical analysis of algorithms
has suggested ways for railroads to improve their operations.
What a Way to Run a Railroad
Railroads were the epitome of high tech in the later years of the
19th century. Even more than dot-com businesses of recent times,
they were a magnet for capital investment and intellectual talent.
They dominated the economy; nine of the eleven companies in the
earliest precursor of the Dow-Jones stock average were railroads.
Technological innovations bloomed: Pneumatic brakes in 1869,
automatic signals a decade later. Like the Internet today, railroads
transformed aspects of daily life and culture, knitting together
distant regions and even changing the way people kept time.
Trains have also become a part of our mental furniture. They appear
in paintings, poems, novels, songs, legends and figures of speech;
children are still strangely enchanted by them. In the sciences,
too, trains have made an impression. Einstein worked out some of his
ideas on special relativity by thinking about hypothetical events
inside railway carriages. Trains are also common props in the
problems found at the end of the chapter in mathematics and physics textbooks.
Somewhat more challenging than a typical textbook problem are
various railway-switching puzzles that began appearing in the 1880s.
W. W. Rouse Ball presented a few of them in his Mathematical
Recreations and Essays, first published in 1892. A good
example of the genre was discussed at length by A. K. Dewdney in
1987. Eastbound and westbound trains are chuffing toward each other
on a single track; they stop just in time to avert disaster, at a
place where a short siding parallels the main track. The siding,
which connects to the main line through switches at both ends, can
hold only one car or locomotive. The question is: Can the trains get
past each other, so that both of them can continue in their original
direction, pulling the same cars in the same order? (You might want
to try finding a solution on your own before reading on or peeking
at the diagram under the subheading "On the Right Track," below.)
If each train consisted of a single engine, unaccompanied by any
cars, the problem would be easy: Just have one engine (say the
eastbound one) duck into the siding while the other engine proceeds
along the main track; afterward, the eastbound engine can exit the
siding and continue on its way without obstruction. In fact, this
scheme works no matter what the length of the westbound train.
What if both trains have several cars? The trains can still
pass, but the crews will have a busy day, coupling and uncoupling
cars and throwing switches. The basic idea is to break the eastbound
train into single cars and pass them through the siding one at a
time. (The westbound train remains intact throughout the procedure.)
The eastbound engine can slip by in the way described previously;
for the rest of the process, the westbound train does all the work.
First it moves forward and grabs the leading eastbound car; then the
train backs up into the siding and uncouples the car, leaving it
there. Now the train performs a maneuver called a runaround, backing
out of the eastern end of the siding, driving forward along the main
track until it is clear of the western switch, then reversing again
into the siding in order to push the eastbound car out and hitch it
to the waiting eastbound locomotive. The runaround procedure is
repeated for each of the remaining eastbound cars; for each one the
crew has to perform three hitching and three unhitching operations,
and the westbound train reverses direction twice.
Track Topology
Playing with a puzzle like this one will quickly acquaint you with a
salient fact about railroads: They are one-dimensional. Rail cars
cannot jump over or go around one another. Indeed, if a rail line
has no switch points—if it is an unbranched length or loop of
track—then the order of the cars is absolutely invariant. So
is their orientation, or polarity; each car always faces in the same
direction along the track. As a matter of fact, even in the presence
of sidings like the one in Dewdney's puzzle, no rearrangement of the
cars can ever alter their orientation; you can shuffle their
sequence but you cannot change the direction they are facing.
Certain other configurations of tracks and switches, however, do
allow the orientation to be reversed.
Railroad switches (also known as turnouts, or points) have roughly
the same geometry as highway on-ramps and off-ramps:
The action of the switch is asymmetrical. A train departing
A and moving from right to left can be steered either to
B or to C, but trains traveling from left to right
have no choices. The switch does not allow a turn from B to
C or from C to B (except by going through
the switch toward A and then backing up). For trains headed
right to left, a switch in this configuration is called a
facing-point switch; for those going left to right it is a
trailing-point switch.
Switches combine with straight and curved sections of track to form
the basic structural motifs of railroad layouts. The simplest such
element (other than an unbranched length of track) is a
lead, or stub: a dead-end branch connected to the
main track by a switch at one end. Depending on a train's direction
of travel, leads are entered either head-on through a facing-point
switch or by backing up through a trailing-point switch.
A siding, as mentioned above, is a parallel track with
connections to the main line at both ends; the two switches face in
opposite directions, which means that a train can run through the
siding and return to the main track still going the same way. A
turnaround loop has a jug-handle shape, with two
switches that face in the same direction; turnarounds are rare
except at the terminus of a rail line. Finally there is the
wye, a configuration of three switches joining three
tracks, and allowing a train on any track to reach either of the
other tracks. Turnarounds and wyes differ from other track elements
in that they change a car's orientation: The car can go in facing
east and come out facing west.
Some versions of the passing puzzle have the trains confronting each
other at a wye instead of a siding. The third track attached to the
wye is a short spur, with room for just one car. Despite this change
in topology, essentially the same procedure can be used to get the
trains past each other. Again the intact westbound train shuttles
back and forth, parking the eastbound cars one at a time on the
spur, then doing a runaround before pulling them out and shoving
them along to the east. But there's a difference: The cars come out
of the spur with reversed orientation. Turning them to face in the
right direction takes another pass through the wye.
Can the trains pass if all they have to work with is a one-car,
dead-end lead? Around 1900 Sam Loyd published a solution for trains
of length 4 and 5. It takes 33 reversals of direction.
Another famous railroad puzzle asks if a train can make a U-turn at
a wye with a one-car-length spur. A suitable unit of measure for the
work done in turning the train around is the effort expended in
moving a single car through its own length. For a train of
n cars, Dewdney gave an algorithm requiring an amount of
work proportional to n 3; in essence, n
cars move through n car-lengths n times. In 1988
Nancy Amato, Manuel Blum, Sandra Irani and Ronitt Ruvinfeld (all
then at the University of California, Berkeley) found an
improvement, reducing the effort required to n
2log2 n.
Tracking Data
Sidings, wyes and other devices for directing trains inspired some
of the earliest ideas about managing the flow of information through
a computer program. In 1961 Edsger W. Dijkstra included a diagram of
a railroad wye in a memorandum about methods of translating the new
programming language Algol 60. In parsing an expression such as
3x(5+2), the seven symbols are read from left to right, but they
must be acted on in a different order: First the subexpression
inside the parentheses is evaluated by adding 5 and 2, then the
result of this operation is multiplied by 3. Dijkstra showed that
the reordering can be accomplished by temporarily storing the
operators (such as x and +) in a data structure called a stack. The
stack is a first-in, last-out storage device; in this case the x
sign goes in first, followed by the + sign, but they come out in the
opposite order. Dijkstra chose to explain this principle in terms of
a railroad wye. One of the three tracks serves as input, one as
output, and the third provides the first-in, last-out storage.
A few years later Donald E. Knuth, in the first volume of The
Art of Computer Programming, gave railroading
interpretations of three important data structures: the stack, the
queue and the double-ended queue, or deque. The queue is the
simplest of these—at least for railroaders. A queue is a
first-in, first-out data structure, and so it is represented by a
simple straight length of track. Cars put in at one end of the queue
come out the other end in the same order. A deque is an arrangement
of tracks allowing cars to be added at either end and removed from
either end (but there is no access to cars in the middle of the
train). Knuth illustrates a deque by a complicated layout of two
back-to-back jug-handle loops, requiring four switches. The same
functions can also be accomplished by an ordinary siding, provided
that trains are allowed to back up in order to pass through a
trailing-point switch. (The siding and the double-jug-handle layouts
differ in their effect on the orientation of the cars.)
On the Right Track
Routing and sorting are at the heart of railroad logistics. Cars
enter the system from many points of origin, and they must be hauled
to many destinations. Other transportation networks, such as
shipping lines and the postal system, also sort their cargoes
according to destination, but they do not have to deal with the
strict one-dimensional constraint of railroad tracks.
Computer science offers a fully-stocked toolbox of methods for
sorting—for putting things in order. The textbooks are filled
with such algorithms: merge sort, insertion sort, selection sort,
shell sort, heap sort, quick sort, bubble sort. It seems there's a
sorting algorithm adapted to every imaginable purpose—except
maybe the sorting of railroad cars.
When computer scientists evaluate the performance of a sorting
algorithm, the usual practice is to measure the mental work done
(deciding where each item goes) while ignoring the physical labor of
actually moving things. An algorithm is judged to be more efficient
if it requires fewer decisions, regardless of how often or how far
the data have to be moved. This convention is reasonable when the
things being sorted are bits and bytes of data, represented by
packets of electric charge with a mass of maybe a zeptogram. The
situation is different when you are sorting 100-ton rail cars.
Railroad sorting is usually done in two stages. First, a batch of
cars going to the same general area is made up into a train; then
the cars within a train are arranged in the best linear order for
delivery to their individual destinations. The hump yard is mainly
concerned with the first phase of this process. An incoming train is
pushed slowly up a hill, and at the crest a worker "pulls the
pin" to uncouple each car in turn. The separated car then rolls
down the other side of the hill into a fan of diverging tracks. In a
large yard there might be 40 or 50 of these
"classification" tracks, where trains are assembled.
As each car comes over the hump, switches have to be set to direct
it to the correct track. Years ago this was done by workers yanking
on iron levers. Other workers, called runners, rode along on the
coasting freight cars, cranking the hand brake to regulate speed so
that the car would retain just enough momentum to couple with any
other cars already on the classification track. The runners and the
switch tenders are gone now. An unseen computer sets the switches
and controls each car's speed through a mechanism called a retarder,
which squeezes a passing car's wheels to slow it down. The speed is
measured by radar units much like those used by the highway patrol.
Each car is identified (so that the computer knows where to send it)
by a radio-frequency ID tag.
From a computational point of view, the hump yard is an array of
queues arranged in parallel. Each car coming over the hump is
steered onto a specific track, where the car is appended to the rear
of the queue of cars already present there. When the train is
complete, a locomotive extracts the line of cars from the far end of
the classification track. Because of the first-in, first-out
property of a queue, this process does not change the order of the
cars within each train. (To be more precise: If car A is
ahead of car B in the incoming train, and if A and
B are both directed to the same classification track, then
A remains in front of B in the outgoing train.)
Solitaire Sorting
The second phase of the freight-car sorting process—putting
the cars in order for delivery—is typically done in smaller,
local switching yards. These are humpless "flat yards";
the cars are moved by engines rather than gravity. The tracks can be
arranged as queues, as in a hump yard, or as stacks—dead-end
leads—so that cars have to be pushed in and pulled out from
the same end. Suppose a train has cars numbered 1 through
n, but on arrival at the yard they are scrambled in some
arbitrary order; the departing train should have the cars in
ascending sequence, with car 1 just behind the engine and car
n at the end. How many classification tracks are needed to
achieve this result? How many times do cars have to be pushed onto
and pulled out of the tracks? These are questions of obvious
practical importance to railroaders. They are also questions that
yield to mathematical and algorithmic analysis.
Robert Tarjan of Stanford University answered some of the questions
in 1972. Here are a few of his results:
If a switch yard has an internal loop, allowing cars at the output
to be brought back to the input for further processing, then
any sequence can be sorted. Conversely, in the absence of
such loops, no finite network of stacks, queues or deques can sort
all possible sequences, even if the individual storage elements are
of unbounded capacity.
If the yard consists of m queues arranged in parallel, then
a train can be fully sorted if and only if the longest decreasing
subsequence has no more than m cars. (The cars of a
decreasing subsequence don't have to be consecutive; for example, in
the sequence 1635492 the longest decreasing subsequence is 6542.)
For a yard with m parallel stacks, it's the longest
increasing subsequence that governs. But these constraints
are somewhat artificial. They apply only if cars must always move
from the input to a stack or a queue and then directly to the
output. Real rail yards are more flexible; cars can be pulled from
one stack and pushed onto another. When moves like this are allowed,
it's harder to determine which sequences can be sorted.
In 2000 Elias Dahlhaus, Peter Horak, Mirka Miller and Joseph F. Ryan
showed that a version of the switch-yard problem is NP-complete
(which means, roughly speaking, that there's no efficient algorithm
for solving it). Specifically, they proved it is difficult to decide
how many tracks are needed.
Chinese mathematicians have taken a somewhat different and
more-pragmatic approach to train-sorting problems, apparently in
response to a request from Chinese railroad officials. (The exact
provenance of these ideas is somewhat murky. In 1976 an American
delegation to China heard a lecture on the subject by Ma Chung-fan;
notes on this talk were written up by Henry O. Pollak and published
in a National Academy of Sciences report. A 1983 paper by Zhu
Yongjin and Zhu Ruopeng covers similar ideas but does not mention Ma.)
Pollak's lecture notes present an example: Use an array of stacks to
sort the 10-car sequence 6324135726. (Cars with the same number are
going to the same destination and thus should be grouped together.)
Here I am going to consider the same example but look at it from a
different point of view.
One approach to sorting the example sequence resembles a game of
solitaire, building multiple stacks of cars in nondecreasing order.
Working from the rear of the train toward the front, we examine the
number on each car and push the car onto a stack. Suppose the car we
have just reached bears number k. If there is exactly one
nonempty stack whose topmost element is greater than or equal to
k, then we put the car on that stack. If there are multiple
stacks with a top element greater than or equal to k, we
choose the stack with the smallest top entry. If no stack qualifies
to receive car k, then we have to start a new stack.
For the sequence 6324135726, we begin with the rightmost 6, which
necessarily starts a new stack. We push 2 onto the same stack, but
the 7 starts a second stack, which can also accept 5 and 3. The 1
then goes on the first stack, and the 4 inaugurates a third stack.
Working through the rest of the sequence, we finally reach this
configuration of four stacks:
Now the cars can be pulled out of the stacks in nondecreasing order;
following the guidelines indicated by the colored blocks, this final
assembly step will take seven "pulls." The sorted
sequence, of course, is 1223345667.
In his Beijing lecture, Ma gave an alternative sorting procedure;
I'm going to call it the Chinese solitaire algorithm. It partitions
the sequence in a way that requires just four pulls to assemble the
sorted train. Here is the final state of the four stacks:
It's easy to confirm that this configuration can be reached from the
original train order, and that four pulls do indeed yield the
properly sorted sequence. But by what rule were the numbers dealt
into these particular groups? Both the notes on Ma's lecture and the
paper by Zhu and Zhu give a rather convoluted algorithm. In trying
to explain it I can do no better than quote the lecture notes:
Start at the leftmost (in this case the only) 1, put down all 1s,
all 2s to the right of the last 1, 3s to the right of the last 2 if
you have covered all the 2s, etc. In this case, the first
subset defined in this way is 12.... The next subset takes the other
2 and the second 3...; it can't get to the first 3. The next subset
takes the first 3, the 4, the 5, and second 6; the last subset is 67.
This procedure works, but there's an easier way to generate the same
partitioning: Repeatedly scan from left to right, and on each pass
extract the longest possible nondecreasing subsequence starting with
the leftmost number. In the example considered here, the first such
subsequence is 67, followed by 3456, then 23 and finally 12.
Zhu and Zhu give a proof that the Chinese solitaire algorithm allows
the train to be assembled with the minimal number of pulls from the
classification tracks. But the proof counts only pulls.
What about "pushes"—the train movements needed to
place the cars on the stacks in the first place? For the example
sequence, the Chinese algorithm has the worst possible performance
in this respect: Ten separate pushes are needed to stack up the 10
cars. The non-Chinese solitaire method is somewhat better,
at seven pushes. Taking the sum of pushes and pulls, the two methods
score a tie at 14. I don't know whether some other technique can do better.
All the Livelong Day
From the mathematical literature on railroad sorting, one might get
the impression that putting the train in order is the end of all
difficulties. The cars can then be dropped off at their
destinations, one by one, without further thought. Train crews tell
a different story. A memoir by Ralph E. Fisher, who worked on the
Boston and Maine Railroad until the 1950s, refers to the process of
making deliveries as a chess game. "Figuring out all these
moves required no small skill if they were to be done in the
shortest time and the least amount of motion."
Inspired by Fisher's stories, I offer the little puzzle
(right). The task is simply to deliver cars 1, 2 and 3 to
destinations A, B and C. The cars are
already in delivery order. The procedure shown requires six
reversals, three couplings and six uncouplings, for a total of 15
steps. Is there a better solution? Would some other initial
permutation of the cars be more efficient? Is there a worse permutation?
The chess game of making freight-car deliveries is one aspect of
railroading that has gotten easier in recent years. Many of the spur
lines used for such local runs have been closed. Much rail freight
is now shipped in containers or piggy-back trailers that are lifted
off the train at a central terminal and delivered by truck. Such
"intermodal" transport doubtless has several advantages.
One of them is escape from the tyranny of the one-track mind.
© Brian Hayes
You can find this online at http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/num2/trains-of-thought/5
© 2016 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society


text:
White Water Rafting in the Lower New River Gorge
Trip Start Jun 07, 2007
16Trip End Sep 01, 2007
Map your own trip!
Loading Map
Loading Map
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
Where I stayed
Songer Whitewater
What I did
whitewater rafting
Saturday we got up early to have breakfast and sign waiver's before we could go rafting. Everyone was pretty hungover and tired and I think a few people still looked drunk.
We were given our helmets, life jackets and paddles at the center before we boarded the bus. We took our stuff to decorate our helmets on the bus with us and we did that for the 20 min ride to the river put in at Cunard.
We looked hysterical, the other rafters on the bus were laughing at us
Our guide was Doug, he was one of 4 Songer guides doing our trip that morning. We took our raft down the river where we were video taped putting in. We were told the river was running at about 2.5 ft. which is optimal level for huge holes and big waves for the New River.
About a few hunded yards from the put in was our first rapids. It was called Pinball and had a nice wave train. We got through that one no problem. The next set of rapids coming up were the Railroads. We watched the first 3 rafts of Songer's team go into the rapid and do pretty well with only a few swimmers. As we hit Upper Railroad the raft spun to the side and flipped over completely. Everyone got dumped! Both Bob and I got caught under the raft in the Cunard Stripper which apparently its a class 3 reciruclating hydraulic. It was scary as hell in there! I had to keep fighting to get out from under the raft and it just kept pushing me back down and the whole time my body is circulating around in the water. It was like being flushed down a giant toilet bowl with a raft on your head!
I was trapped under the raft for quite a while, finally the Stripper spit me out and I got to swim through the next set of wave train rapids they call Chicago! At the bottom Mercer's raft picked me up and got me in until Doug righted our raft and picked all the swimmer's up. Mercer dumped me back in my own raft so we could continue on down the river to Lower Railroad. All of this was caught on tape! Unfortunately the lower ball of my eyebrow piercing got lost in the fray.
Just down the river was Lower Railroad another class 3 rapid where our video man was set up on a rock taping us coming in to the rapid, catching the eddy and paddling up to surf the hole. Our raft got into the hole and a huge wave knocked me over board and I got trapped under the raft again! A few people have died in this hole. Thankfully I got out ok, and without as much trouble as Upper Railroad. My raft picked me up and we went into the eddy to surf yet again! We did this like 3-4 times. I managed to stay in the boat for the rest of the surfing attempts.
After Lower Railroad was Swimmer's, a small class 2 rapid. Doug told us we could get out of the raft and swim the rapid if we wanted. I opted to stay in the boat since I just swam 3 rapids involuntarily and I swallowed quite a bit of river water
Doug told us to hold on for dear life because the Keeney's are a set of 3 nasty rapids that range from class 3 to 4 to 5 back to back! Its not rapids that you want to swim! We got through Upper Keeney no problem, everyone was bracing hard and hanging onto the chicken line.
After Upper Keeney we went right into Middle Keeney which has some huge waves. We manged to get thorugh it without any swimmers. We pulled over on the side of the shore at Middle Keeney and had our lunch and watched some of the other rafting companies coming down the river. Songer had a nice lunch of sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, nachos, cookies and water for us. We were there for a little bit. I took some video of some of the other rafters going through Middle Keeney.
After lunch it was time to get back on the river and tackle Lower Keeney and the Meat Grinder
After passing the Keeney's we went through Lollygag, a small bumpy class 2 rapid. It was on the way to Double Z the biggest, most technical rapid on the New at class 5!
Doug once again told us not to fall out of the raft. We got through that one fine. Then we came up to Greyhound Bus Stopper, a churning class 4 rapid with a good surfing hole. Doug told us with the river running over 2 foot that breaking the eddy to get into Greyhound was going to be difficult and if it was too difficult to get into we prob. didn't want to get into it anyway. We watched one of Songer's other rafts make a few attempts and get rejected and a few swimmers get flung down river. Doug told us he wanted to get closer to watch the other rafts make the attempt so he had us paddle up river toward Greyhound. At the last second he cut our raft into the hole and had us surfing! It was awesome. We were only in for a minute or so before we got rejected but it was cool. We caught the eddy and paddled back up to try it again
Thankfully the raft didn't drift too far and I didn't have to swim too much to get back in. While I was swimming the raft bumped into a small rock and knocked our guide overboard. All the other guides started pointing and blowing their whistles...they thought it was hysterical that Doug fell out in calm water. At some point in this rapid I lost the other piece of my eyebrow ring.....the New River just ate it! LOL!
We all got back into the raft and continued downstream. After Greyhound is another class 4 rapid called Miller's Folly with a large undercut rock, not a good place to get trapped! We charged through that and went onto our last rapid of the day Fayette Station. Fayette Station is a choppy class 4 with tons of waves, its bumpy and fun. This is where the take out for the river is. Our camera man was set up on a rock to film the rafts doing their grand finale for the video. We all put our goofily decorated helmets on backwards, donned our "breastplates" and turned our paddles backwards for the finale. Bob gave the pig CPR as we were being filmed. It was hysterical.
It was a great day on an awesome river
Once we got off the river we unloaded the gear from the raft, had our picture taken and got on the bus....where they served us beer! They told us that about 40 min after we got back our rafting video would be done and we'd all be able to watch it back at Songer.
We got showered and went to the office to check out the video. It was awesome. You can see me get tossed all 3 times and you can see me getting trapped under the boat in Upper Railroad and getting spit out of the recirculating hole of hell! I had to buy the video and some pictures. I'll post them shortly. After we watched our video we went to the bar! Where else. We drank from 3 til 7 when they served dinner.
Then after dinner the Beer Olympics resumed with Flip Cup, Beer Pong and No I Never. There was also a crazy Noodle Fight. We wandered back and forth between the bar and our party site all night.


text:
Jay Rock f/ Kendrick Lamar "To The Top" (prod. Mano)
Oh the hunger on display. Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar were on that grind in 2007 as evident in this new, unreleased track by producer Mano called "To The Top". Chi-Town's own liberated it today, saying this was lined up for Jay Rock's album, but ended up not making it. Whoo, I'm rockin' with Kendrick's verse on this one especially. Listen below and hopefully these three can revisit a collab like this, now 7 years later.
*Tibs Fav.


text:
Elsa Youngsteadt
In this roundup, Elsa Youngsteadt summarizes some notable recent items about scientific research, selected from news reports compiled in Sigma Xi's free electronic newsletters Science in the News Daily and Science in the News Weekly. Online: http://sitn.sigmaxi.org and http://www.americanscientist.org/sitnweekly
A Day Defined
Neptune's thick, blue atmosphere obscures any solid landmarks, making the planet's rotation tough to track. But after scrutinizing hundreds of images from the Voyager 2 spacecraft and the Hubble telescope, an astronomer says he's done it: The ice giant rotates once every 15 hours, 57 minutes and 59 seconds. That's eight and a half minutes faster than the previous best estimate. The new analysis depends on two stable cloud patterns that, during 20 years of observation, never blew away with prevailing winds. Their constancy suggests these disturbances are linked to stable features deeper inside the planet and reveal its underlying spin. The new day length could spur other discoveries. Neptune's core density, for example, may be recalculated to account for the faster rotation. (Image courtesy of NASA.)
Karkoschka, E. Neptune's rotational period suggested by the extraordinary stability of two features. Icarus (published online May 20)
Early Armor
Crunchy organisms with mineralized bones and shells link the worlds of biology and geology. That link first formed at least 750 million years ago, according to a study of the oldest direct evidence for biomineralization. The evidence takes the form of lacy, spine-fringed fossils such as that of the Characodictyon alga pictured above at right. Just a few hundredths of a millimeter long, these relics were preserved in outcrops in Canada's Yukon Territory. Spectroscopy and microscopy suggest that the minute shells mineralized while the cells were still alive, rather than during fossilization: All were composed of phosphate minerals, regardless of the kind of rock in which they were embedded. And their structures were consistent from one individual to the next, not distorted like those of softer-bodied cells. This armor probably protected the early shell makers from single-celled predators. (Photograph courtesy of Phoebe A. Cohen.)
Cohen, P. A., et al. Phosphate biomineralization in mid-Neoproterozoic protists. Geology 39:539–542 (June)
Cheater Physics
Corked bats are forbidden in baseball, but they won't hit the ball any farther than a regular bat, physicists say. Replacing part of a bat's solid wooden core with cork or rubber is punished under a Major League rule that prohibits altering a bat to "improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball." But after firing balls from an air cannon aimed at a stationary bat—unmodified, then corked—physicists conclude that the banned bat was no bouncier and would hit a ball no farther than normal. The study does leave open the possibility that a player with a lighter corked bat could quickly adjust his or her swing and hit more accurately. The shady reputation of corking remains intact.
Nathan, A. M., et al. Corked bats, juiced balls, and humidors: The physics of cheating in baseball. American Journal of Physics 79:575–580 (June)
Agency Angst
If it turns out that free will is an illusion, we'd only be losing something we never had. But believing in that loss makes a difference. Doubting free will has previously been linked to aggression and cheating in individuals. Now, neuroscientists say it even affects how the brain prepares for simple body movements. Researchers asked 30 young adults to read a passage that scientifically refuted free will, or one that did not mention it at all. Then subjects donned electrode caps to measure electrical activity in their brains while they made spontaneous decisions about when to press a button. Those who had read the anti-free-will text had less brain activity in the second before the conscious decision to click. Activity during that time period is thought to reflect unconscious preparation for intentional action. The results hint at an intriguing link between complex belief systems and much more basic physiological functions.
Rigoni, D., et al. Inducing disbelief in free will alters brain correlates of preconscious motor preparation. Psychological Science 5:613–618 (May)
Beetle Mind Control
All is not well for the ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata) pictured below. The beetle's tissues have been eaten from the inside by a wasp larva (Dinocampus coccinellae), which then forced its way out and spun a silky cocoon between its host's legs. The beetle doesn't die immediately, but is partially paralyzed and remains atop the cocoon, twitching when disturbed. In laboratory experiments, such well-defended cocoons succumbed to predatory insects only about one-third as often as those left unprotected or guarded by dead ladybugs. It's in the wasp's interest, then, to eat sparingly and keep its host alive—while still consuming enough to fuel its own future reproduction. (Photograph courtesy of Mathieu Bélanger Morin.)
Maure, F., et al. The cost of a bodyguard. Biology Letters (published online June 22)
Community Guidelines: Disqus Comments
The Art and Science of Communicating Science
American Scientist Classics
Women in Science
Purchase a Back Issue
2014 Annual Index
The Age of Nuclear Weapons
25 Years in North Carolina
Of Possible Interest
Letters to the Editors: Mosquito Vectors of Zika
Feature Article: The Challenge of Survival for Wild Infant Baboons
Feature Article: The Penguin's Palette: More Than Black and White
© 2016 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society


text:
Justin Bieber & More Celebs Tweet Happy New Year's Pics
New Year's Eve 2013 was full of moments to remember — from Taylor Swift and Harry Styles' midnight kiss to Justin's vodka party with Lil' Twist! See all the pics from your favorite celebs!
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles shocked millions of viewers when they freely locked lips for all to see at the strike of midnight! Happily ringing in the new year together, Haylor looked happier than ever! Likewise, many other celebrities tweeted and shared amazing photos on Instagram!
Justin Bieber doesn't look like he's getting off to the right start this New Year. The 18-year-old heartthrob posted a pic of him and his BFF, Lil Twist, pouring a bottle of vodka on Instagram — and Selena Gomez was nowhere in sight!
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a lot to be celebrating this year! Not only are they welcoming a baby in 2013, but based on new photos of the couple at 1 Oak nightclub, they look more in love than ever!
Furthermore, Playboy Playmate Crystal Harris shared a lovely photo of herself and new husband Hugh Hefner!
Take a look at our full gallery, featuring pics of your favorite celebs ringing in the new year!
What pic is YOUR favorite, HollywoodLifers?


text: I have what appears to be oil and water in my exhaust pipe. The coolant levels haven't changed and I just changed the oil, I've been keeping tabs on those levels as well, but haven't noticed anything. When I let the car warm up in the afternoon at work there is sometimes a small pool of the sludge under the muffler where it has dripped out. I need some Ideas, because the most likely candidate seems to be the turbo.


text:
By the fall of 2014, Marin ferry riders will have an almost unrecognizable old boat after it undergoes a $20 million revamp.
The interior and most of the guts of the aging M.V. San Francisco will be stripped and entirely redone over the next year, with only the original hull remaining, according to Golden Gate Ferry plans.
"It will be like a brand new vessel once it's done," said Jim Swindler, head of the Golden Gate Bridge district's ferry division.
On Thursday the bridge district's Building and Operating Committee approved the project, which will be fully paid for with federal funds. The district Board of Directors is expected to give approval to the plan Friday. Marin Group Boat Works of San Diego will do the work, which will take about a year. The district will hire a crew to sail the vessel on the ocean to San Diego.
"This ferry carries a lot of people and bikes, it's what works in Sausalito," said Denis Mulligan, bridge district general manager.
The M.V. San Francisco is a Spaulding class vessel that went into service in the early 1970s as Golden Gate launched its ferry service. It can carry more than 700 passengers. It is used to take passengers from Sausalito to San Francisco and is used out of Larkspur for weekend service and to take baseball fans to AT&T Park. Two other Spaulding boats will take up the slack while the work is being done.
Among the items to be replaced: indoor and outdoor seats, deck covering, carpeting, ceilings, wall paneling, lighting, the public address system, restrooms, refreshment stand, security cameras, paint and windows. All its machinery, with the exception of two generators, also will be replaced. There will be new racks on the lower deck and a new modern lift for people with disabilities.
The bicycle racks will be heavily used on weekends when tourists renting bikes in San Francisco ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, then take the ferry back.
A new vessel would have cost at least $27 million. The existing hull on the San Francisco is stronger than what could be produced today, Swindler said.
"This was built in the 1970s in San Diego and there was a lot of naval work going on and the thickness of materials used were typically more than what was required," he said. "The vessels today use lighter materials."
While the district has updated the main propulsion system on the ferry, there has been little done to upgrade or refurbish the interior and exterior passenger spaces, other than routine maintenance and repairs, officials said.
"It is in pretty bad shape from the interior standpoint," Swindler said.
Board member Jim Eddie was more direct in his comments after he went on a recent tour of the ferry: "It smelled like tobacco and diesel. I couldn't wait to get off."
Contact Mark Prado via email at email@example.com


text:
Youth driver's education class scheduled
Students who will be 15 by Sept. 1, 2013, can register for the state-mandated 30 hours of classroom instruction for a driver's permit.
This class will be held from 8:30-11:30 a.m. May 28-31 and June 3-7 at Pequot Lakes High School.
Classroom fee is $75. Class size is limited to 45 students; register now before the class is full.
To register or for more information, contact Pequot Lakes Community Education at 218-568-9200.


text:
Reader and service hours are subject to availability. Click here to book an appointment online or call 612-872-1292.
10 Day Outlook
Monday, June 4 – Full Moon in Sagittarius. Partial Lunar Eclipse
2:00-5:30pm Tarot Readings by Thraicie
3:00-9:00pm Psychic Readings by Christine
6:00-9:00pm Tarot & Bone Readings with Christian
8:00pm Pagan Friendly AA
Tuesday, June 5
3:00-9:00pm Tarot Readings or Reiki Healing by Chuck Boe
Wednesday, June 6
1:00-9:00pm Psychic Readings by Christine Schroeder
3:00-9:00pm Readings w/ KayCee Williams
7:00-8:00pm Twin Hearts Meditation – Monthly
Experience a cleaner energy body, calmer emotions, and increased mental clarity through Meditation on the Twin Hearts, in which we focus on blessing the Earth through the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. Jason Calva, Pranic Healing instructor, leads this transformational monthly meditation. $10 Donation Requested


text: Does anyone else have trouble sending the PM with your info on it? The last 2 months I get a message that 5000 characters is all it will take. I went through and condensed the information as much as I could and I was still at just under 7000. Am I including too much? Or am I doing something wrong? Help this old lady figure out how to "do it right".