text:
Matson: A name associated with success
When Shane Matson was in college he received a collection of geological studies.
The books had sentimental value in his family, but they were a little overwhelming for a student with limited living space.
"It was 15 boxes of books, and when you're in college you're thinking, 'What am I going to do with this? These are maps of Osage County. That will never be relevant,'" recalled Matson, now an AAPG member and a geologist with Spyglass Energy Group in Tulsa.
The collection of studies was compiled by his great-grandfather, George C. Matson, a famed petroleum geologist. George Matson served as the fifth president of AAPG, following the estimable (and near-legendary) Wallace Pratt.
Shane Matson earned his degrees in geology from the University of Arkansas and joined Tulsa-based Ceja Corp. in 2003, initially working with Ceja's seismic crew as a juggie and eventually getting an assignment to work a horizontal Mississippian chat play in – where else? – Osage County, Oklahoma.
George Matson had made his fortune there. He acquired a lease in an area that turned out to be the heart of the Burbank Field, a super giant major mid-continent oil discovery that ultimately produced more than 120,000 barrels per day.
By fall of 2003, Shane Matson was working on a horizontal well play in the Osage County tripolitic chert, "just a township away from where my great-grandfather bought a lease that changed his life," he said.
"It was probably the opportunity of a lifetime for me. The only horizontal wells of real importance in Oklahoma at that time were coalbed methane," he noted.
Ceja's vice president of exploration, AAPG member Ron Snyder, allowed Matson and two colleagues (engineer Dan Jacobs and AAPG member Ron Haveman) the chance to run with a development project in the Osage County chat.
They were not exactly familiar with the concept.
"I had never heard of the words 'tripolitic chert' before," Matson recalled. "Welcome to one of the most complex reservoirs in the country," Matson recalled friend, fellow AAPG member and managing partner of Spyglass Energy Group Charles Wickstrom as saying.
The first challenge for the three was, "none of us had ever drilled a Mississippian chat well," he said. "Collectively, we had five years' experience among us – we had drilled three or four horizontal wells in the Mississippi chat before we drilled our first vertical!
"It was a great experience," he added. "'Geosteering' was not even coined as a word, so far as we knew, but the three of us managed to put together a methodology that allowed us to learn as we went along – and learn what we did."
George Matson had a different career path. He left the family farm and went to college to become a doctor, but decided to pursue geology instead.
"He was a very interesting person, like a lot of these explorers who were born in the late 1860s and the 1870s," Shane Matson said. "He was born in Nebraska in a sod hut and was raised, I think, with eight sisters."
After earning a master's degree in geology from Cornell University, George Matson went to the University of Chicago to study for a doctorate.
His son – and Shane Matson's grandfather – Tom Matson, a retired petroleum geologist living in Tulsa, who also has an oil finding legacy, picks up the story:
"Dad had finished his academic work in 1910, but they wouldn't give him his degree unless he appeared in person to accept it. He wasn't about to come back from abroad just to do that," Tom Matson said.
By that time, George Matson had been recruited by the Mellon family, chief financiers of Gulf Oil, and sent to Colombia to study the possibility of acquiring an oil and gas concession.
"They'd go on Mellon's private yacht to South America. They took three geologists – another one of them was Shorty Wilson," Tom Matson recalled.
George Matson was recruited into the oil business at the University of Chicago and asked to name his starting salary.
"Dad asked for a couple of thousand dollars a year," a significant amount of money in those days, Tom Matson said.
Later, George Matson asked the recruiter how much he'd been prepared to pay. The answer was, "You'd be sick if I told you," his son recalled.
At about the same time, the noted petroleum geologist Arville Irving (A.I.) Levorsen was beginning his career in Texas and Oklahoma; in the 1920s he lived across the street from George Matson.
In a eulogy, Pratt later said:
"Levorsen's genius for teaching enabled him so to express his ideas on the occurrence of oil, on the nature of oil fields and on the art of oil-finding as to make them intelligible to all men. As a result, his presence as a speaker at their annual conventions was sought just as eagerly by the independent oil-producers as by his fellow geologists."
It was summer in Oklahoma, and Shane Matson initially wasn't sure about the wisdom of taking on the horizontal well project or his own choice of career path.
"It was a questionable move, going to Osage County in August," he said. "The ticks and chiggers are just terrible."
And maybe there is something about August in Osage County, but by June 2005 the company had drilled 17 successful horizontal Mississippian tripolitic chert exploitation wells there.
Shane Matson said "a lot of buzz" developed around Mississippian exploration in northern Oklahoma.
"There is a lot of interest in the Mississippian," he said. "The problem there is, it's very hard to get your hands on what's happening and who is doing what. Within our own companies it is hard to know what is happening."
So he and his colleagues decided to write a paper about their experience in the Oklahoma Mississippian tripolitic chert, with the idea, "Now that the dust has settled, how did things work out?"
"The three of us had known the project was successful, but we were going so fast and furious we never had the chance to look back and see what happened," he said. "We would drill a couple of wells, get them online, then drill another two.
"We rarely looked at the production profiles of each well."
George Matson and his wife were expecting a child in 1917. The Mellons sent their yacht to bring the couple back to Tulsa.
"Dad went to work for Gulf and he took the streetcar, which went right up Main Street. He was chief geologist for (Gulf's) Gypsy Oil Company," Tom Matson said.
Gulf started Gypsy Oil to handle its Oklahoma production operations. Gypsy's offices in Tulsa were in a brick building at Cameron Street and North Cincinnati Avenue, now home to the Gypsy Coffee House.
"George left Gypsy in the mid '20s and went to work for J.B. Schermerhorn, where he worked until 1929," he recalled. "He had made a bunch of money in the Burbank and he eventually retired. He found a nice little oil field for Schermerhorn in the 1920s, right by the town of Garnett, Kansas."
That field had the unusual distinction of paying out all of its discovery costs in one week, he said.
In the late 1920s the United States was entering a period of economic decline, leading to vocal criticism of the nation's treasury secretary. That happened to be A.W. Mellon, who had sent the recruiter to Chicago who brought George Matson into the family's oil business.
By that time, George Matson had sold out his leasehold in the Burbank field and was independently wealthy.
"That was the lease that really allowed my great-grandfather to do what he loved, which was the science," Shane Matson said.
"With the Depression hitting, dad was sitting on top of the world," recalled Tom Matson.
During the next two decades AAPG built up a strong meetings program, high on attendance and collegiality – but lacking in the area of presentations. The skilled delivery of someone like Levorsen was a rare exception.
"They were having a hell of a time with the society," Tom Matson said. "The talks were lousy and they were terribly delivered. They were just dreadful."
AAPG's leadership decided to institute an award for the best paper presented at the annual meeting, to encourage improvements.
On behalf of AAPG's convention department, the Matson family was approached by the distinguished geologist Elmer W. Ellsworth.
"Lefty Ellsworth promoted me for some money, and I said, 'Sure, we'd be glad to.' We just gave them a bundle of money," Tom Matson said.
That established the George C. Matson Memorial Award, given each year at AAPG's annual convention in recognition of the best AAPG paper presented at the convention the previous year.
A separate award was established for the best papers presented at AAPG section meetings. The A.I. Levorsen Memorial Award recognizes the best paper presented at each of those meetings, with particular emphasis on creative thinking toward new ideas in exploration.
The award is perpetuated by the Levorsen Memorial Award Fund, established in 1966 by Levorsen's friends to create a lasting memorial to him.
At the AAPG Mid-Continent Section meeting in October 2009, Shane Matson and his co-authors Ron Haveman and Dan Jacobs received the Levorsen Award for their paper, "Exploitation of the Mississippi Chat Using Horizontal Well Bores in Osage County, Oklahoma."
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text:
Prepare for the surprise of tomorrow,
i.e. S . . . . . . u n d a y
Unsurprisingly, there is a schism between those who started out sceptical of Rossi's claims and those with a tendency to believe him when we look at the responses to today's Zurich play. I was neither disappointed nor surprised. Andrea Rossi had prepared us to temper our expectations and then delivered as promised.
I really wish the hard sceptics would behave with a little humility (and some of the believers lay off their own abusive attacks) but I have to agree with them that nothing of substance was demonstrated. That does not mean that this is a scam but it does mean that anyone thinking of investing should jump every time they hear an alarm bell.
To be fair to the conference; they do not exist to satisfy our demands. This is business. We may be surprised tomorrow but I am not counting on it. For me; the break-point will be the delivery (or otherwise) of the University validation as promised by AR after they study the eCat in October. I will give them a short time for the report to be compiled and then make a decision. I am not as hopeful as I would like to be but this site will not exist on the day I hold no hope at all.
From my perspective and taking into account the poor audio and language difficulties, the main takeaway was that there was a lot of talk of basic stuff that is easily available to anyone on the Net and it seemed to be mostly filler. This gave me the impression that the licensees present may not know very much. That could be absolutely wrong and it is not meant as a criticism – it is merely my subjective response to what was presented.
To those among you calling Rossi's engineer fat, you are being cowards. You would not do so to his face. He is likely much stronger than you. Lay off the personal insults, it reveals your bias and dampens the impact of anything you say that might be worth reading.
Rossi spent most of his time talking about the hotcat. I'm not going to give details here because until there is some evidence that it is real, I do not wish to propagate misinformation (should it turn out to be so). Full details are to be posted on Frank's site over at e-CatWorld. I was interested to see that he put a strong caveat on the hotcat. Given that this was his first presentation to licensees as a collective, it was curious that he spent the time giving unverified details of a new product he says is too risky to invest in. I would have thought the audience might be more interested in hearing about what they had backed and not a blue-sky dream that might be viewed as a distraction from the tangible promises made to get them to invest in the first place.
I want to stress that I share many of the concerns the hardest of sceptics display here and elsewhere but deplore the scatter-gun insults that paints anyone in their anonymous sights as scammers, idiots, gullible, morons or any of the other descriptors from the bag of insults they wear slung at the ready. Not all sceptics behave this way (I try not to and others manage it, too. Thank you, all). Unfortunately, such poor behaviour is evident in some from the other camp and reading the resulting spat is unproductive, boring and leaves a nasty taste. Being right (in your own eyes) on an Internet forum is not worth the bile you are sending through your system or the damage you do to those who have done nothing to you.
Stop the mudslinging. If it means that this site dies, so be it.
<< Previous Post -- -- Next post >>
Prepare for the surprise of tomorrow,
i.e. S . . . . . . u n d a y
I know you are an insider and have much to tell, yet are prohibited, or at least refrain, from doing so.
Can you please tell us why?
Why no one can come out publicly and scream to the world that this is it, this is the answer, this is REAL, I know for sure, I've seen it, and this is what I know and have seen?
Why all this secrecy about something of such importance? Is it monetary, legal, patent, rivalry or maybe just an "Italian thing".
I'm so curious about this and can't wait for the book, so please shed SOME light on… WHY?
"Why no one can come out publicly and scream to the world that this is it, this is the answer, this is REAL, I know for sure, I've seen it, and this is what I know and have seen?"
Because it isn't. This isn't the way the real thing would develop. This is bad measurements and deceit.
"This is bad measurements and deceit."
Were this to be rephrased :
"This is {almost certainly|highly likely} bad measurements and deceit."
Then it would accord with admin's request about bile and insult.
Even if convinced of deceit, without legal proof, politeness dictates rephrasing.
Did you read Paul's post at all?
S o n n t a g = S i e m e n s
Wake me when a credible, independent organization acknowledges any of Rossi's claims.
Anonymous reports won't cut it.
Well, not entirely anonymous. Three names are associated with it. One is a radiation physics student from U of B who only measured radiation. Another is a Rossi engineer. Yet another is another engineer whose affiliation is unknown.
I agree that this is not what is meant by independent verification.
Also it's the wrong product. I want to see independent testing of the lowly but easily testable low temp ecat. The self-glowing version is very hard to do a heat balance on. There are too many places errors can be made and I bet Rossi made every one of them. In his favor of course.
Will you stop making disparaging remarks about the ability of the scientists involved?
Your boredom reveals a true disinterest in the potential of the ecat to revolutionize human affairs. That is sad.
The reports are not anonymous. You can inspect the education and background of two out of three reporters.
A report from an organization may be less reliable than reports from independent consultants. What counts are their credentials. Organizations always have political goals.
Note:I have yet to assess the reports.
To paraphrase Paul (admin): nothing new, nothing bad, back to the believer/skeptic standoff, and the skeptics here have to start taking their bi-polar meds.
Although he is spot on about the medications, I mildly disagree with admin about where we are today as compared to yesterday. Names, organizations and employees are starting to surface ever more frequently. With each new revelation the argument for scam grows ever more unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.
Our skeptics were not dealt a knock-out blow today and are fortunate to have some more time to entertain themselves insulting us meek believers.
Unfortunately we believers have to wait just a bit longer to say… I told you so.
He he… just watching the sputter and fluster from the pathos here is worth the over-priced popcorn!!
The most irksome statement has to be 2nd hypothesis Energy Density – ((3.66-1.28)/0.02038 x 6.48 hrs.= 758 kWh/kg!!! Eeek!
And GERK!! "The dosimetry measurement is not dissimilar from the ambient and instrumental background within the instrument's sensitivity, both in average and peak values." Zero gamma above bg??? Double Eeek!
IGZ-2013 Resistance WAS Futile
BTW D. Bianchini MSc, is on staff at Univ. Bologna as a Radiation Protection Specialist
Rossi may not have provided a single piece of information that would sway the opinion of a skeptic but apparently he didn't disappoint any believers either. So, all in all, he had a good day. Buona notte.
What a pity – and a shame – that some people on this blog, who clearly display an above average intellect and also seem to be well educated, can't stop rubbishing a process which wasn't taught on their respective high schools. Launching personal attacks on scientists, engineers or anybody else for that matter who are actually trying to understand this process and make their hands dirty is even more disturbing. The arrogance and short sightedness of you is mind-blowing. Have you ever wondered what would've happened to you if you were caught with an i-phone by the NSA on your way to Woodstock in 1969? Even without a cell connection. Take an (educated) guess. What a waste of my tax dollars you've all been.
You think Rossi is getting bad reviews here because cold fusion wasn't taught in high school?
@Knoert, the "sceptos" here are either flaks for competitor energy sources or disturbed in some unfortunate way. That's why you'll find little balanced discussion here – it is 98% Rossi-hatred. Some including myself try to lighten up the mood with humor and offbeat commentary. However the wall antipathy is well paid.
Your comments are welcome. Though I don't get the Woodstock reference.
Greenwin, I'm probably a bit older than you are. But in the Woodstock days, there were no digital wristwatches. I think they became available in the early seventies. I had one of the first Pulsars. It had THREE (3) functions. I'm sure that if I would've been stopped and strip searched by a NSA agent with an i-phone in my possession in 1969, I would've been arrested and charged with being an alien from a very distant planet. Because the technology in today's i-phones would have been classified as being alien – and therefore impossible – in 1969. As what's happening with cold fusion right now. Sad.
The technology behind mobile phones WAS available and understood in the 60's the only thing that was lacking was the ability to make it work. The manufacturing to get it small enough and the insight to make it fun and usable. None of the physics you claim as being 'alien' in the 60's was unknown.
There are plenty of technologies that were unthought of back then and maybe even thought of as impossible for us mere humans to do. but none of it was outside the realms of known physics. Go back another 60 years and then I'd agree with you.
The mobile phone itself was invented by motorola in the 70's but the physics wasn't 'discovered' then.
I had a quick look at the "reports" (thanks to Ivan Mohorovicic)
I have the following questions:
1) Using Stefan-Boltzmann equation to estimate the radiated heat is a very bad method IMHO, why they don't use flow calorimetry?
2) Why the hell they suppose that the *inner* cylinder radiates independently from the outside cylinder (so, in the end they estimate twice the output power??). Only the external cylinder should be considered radiating. Otherwise I could construct a "hot pipe" made with n inner pipes and just multiply the supposed radiated power by n!?!?
3) What does this mean?
Average room temperature, as recorded by the infrared camera, was 35° C.This value was subtracted from the calculated data.The highest average E-Cat module temperature was calculated from Frame 17h49 (5:49:00PM) and was 800.98° C, taking room temperature into account. The local peak of 873° C wasreached at 5:49:21 PM.
What exactly are they subtracting from what?
4) Other things that I don't bother to mention now =)
Also, why no blank run?
Hehe, actually this is already a blank run, very blank 😀
1.Complexity of flow calorimetry is unnecessary to prove the power density in kW/kg and the energy density in kWh/kg matches a COP > 1 non-chemical source.
2.For simplicity of calculation that does not significantly detract from demonstration of point 1.
3.The calculations were based on 35 degrees ambient temperature.
Oh, now I understand why in the report they suppose that the inner pipe is radiating "freely", that's because there is a hole on the side, made to measure the internal temperature, in the spirit of black body radiation measurement. That said, considering the whole inner surface as radiating is wrong, they should just neglect it or at most just consider the area of the hole radiating at the inner temperature.
Instead of critisising – knocking is probably a better description – the reports, why don't you offer your expertise you profess to possess towards this project?
Better still, do something constructive for a change and BUILD ONE YOURSELF????? Refraining from making crap comments on a blog will give you plenty of time to do so.
Project? What project? Build what exactly? How? Why?
Read my post again. I'm not talking about Rossi. Whether he's right or wrong is irrelevant. I'm talking about "scientists, engineers or anybody else for that matter who are actually trying to understand this process and make their hands dirty". (As this blog is about cold fusion, I've obviously used it as an example).
I would put it to you however, that you would react in a similar manner with ANY new or not well understood process you haven't been taught about in high school. Which is sad. Did nobody ever teach you to think outside the square?
No wonder why more than two thirds of all scientific papers are published by people with a Chinese sounding name.
Nobody is insulting serious workers, for example Celani. I am not sure what you are objecting to. The only people attacked in this forum are Rossi, Defkalion and other claimants who provide no or bad evidence for their claims.
That's not true, Al.
You do spend a lot of time insulting serious workers.
Well yes, I could build a "blank run" (without any nickel or hydrogen) hot pipe and show how easy it is to overestimate the output power. My opinion is that this kind of measurement is both error prone and also trick prone.
September 9, 2012 at 12:39 am
If Rossi had something, by now he'd have proved it.
In other words, because Rossi has not proven his ecats are real, then he must be a fraud and he must be a fraud because he has not proven that they are real.
At least there is a pattern to your logic."
Well, there's no pattern to yours. You just said the same thing twice. All you changed was the order of the phrases.
Your logic appears to be that
A. Rossi is a fraud because he has not produced proof.
B. Rossi has not produced proof because he is a fraud.
Ah, that's better. That's not what you wrote before. But it's wrong. Rossi is almost certainly a fraud because he follows the exact script for similar frauds. If he's bringing out a real discovery by making it look like a fraud, it's his fault he's thought of as a fraud.
I am not going to repeat the whole long list of things Rossi has done and not done to make me think he's a bald faced liar and an unrepentant crook. We've been over it many times here and it's been discussed in many other places.
"Rossi is almost certainly a fraud"
Better phrasing. Thanks. 🙂
Your powers of logic are amazing AP. So you are sure from your home under a rock that what you are witnessing is all fraudulent.
Trully a half wit. No sorry that's a compliment. Half a wit is 10 times more brain power than your Capable of possessing in your entire life.
Normally i attack the argument but in you're case i make an exception since you and you're stooge buddies have never presented actual proof of anything yet continually act like you do.
If you have the proof i suggest you take it to the authorities and show it to them so they can put Rossi in jail otherwise shut your pie hole and stop spreading you're silly pseudo facts and pseudo logic.
You need to be limited in you're posts. Its annoying for readers to have to sift through post after post of garbage from you.
Let me bottom line it for you. Nobody here has been taken by Mr Rossi. Nobody here can possibly prove anything about Rossi. I and most readers want to hear about new developments not you're latest pet theory on how Rossi is almost surely a fraud.
Admin please limit the annoying repetetive borderline libelous posts from AP and JM.
The results from Zurich day 1 are exactly as I expected.
Those people that are certain that Rossi is a fraud saw more proof of their beliefs.
Those people that are certain that Rossi has a real working device saw more proof of their beliefs.
What this proves is that behavior science is correct once again – people see what they expect to see regardless of what is actually presented.
No. I didn't see more proof that Rossi is a fraud, not that I need a lot more. This time, what I saw was badly presented inconclusive material which was purported to show an LENR device and most probably reflects measurement errors. Deception is not ruled out but there's no immediate evidence for intent here. It could be incompetence, negligence or fraud. I guess he gets to choose which but he probably won't tell us.
But wait. There's more to come tomorrow.
After watching and reading through this stuff, I really don't see Rossi as a scam. I do question whether he has a viable product but Scam, doesn't feel like it. One thing I am sure about though, you never accomplished a competent thing in your life. In fact expect for Popeye who Seems competent I doubt any of the sceptics on this site are capable of evaluating a scam. The only incompetents I see are named Al, Milstone and company. What a bunch of losers.
Al's not a loser, he's just written that way. Now, who loves ya Al?? Seriously… who?
IGZ-2013 Nobody Loves Ya!
Have you asked yourself why Rossi would put out such preliminary trash masquerading as a "scientific" analysis?
Do you think he may be trying to get his critics to evaluate these papers so he can just write better ones later in the final report?
What a genius – let his critics write the papers for him! Then they cannot complain about the final report.
AL, I specifically said attacking, not insulting.
As expected, no independent verification. Nothing proved. The same doubts remain.
Funny, how some deniers don't know when they're thoroughly defeated.
The "hot cat report" is just a load of crap to use polite terms… For any person with basic knowledge of thermodynamics and physics it raises a red flag. First, the assumptions are all wrong. What the heck with the inner cylinder radiation power estimates? The so called assumptions 1 and 2 are both total crap. Anyone with a pass grade on their thermodynamics course should know why. There was an attempt to rectify this in so called "corrections" section, but it still totally discredits the first part of the report and Rossi's engineer.. Then come the shady calculations around the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. WTF with assuming an average temperature? The whole thing should be calculated as an integral going through the whole range of temperature readings.
Second, and more important… The report estimates some kind of "active ingredient" mass as the difference of weight of the device before and after the experiment. Total BS! What are they comparing? If the mass loss is due to nuclear reactions then 28 grams of mass converted to energy would have wiped the whole neighborhood out of existence (gigawatts of power generated in a cylinder you can hold in your hands…). Then, on the other end, if no nuclear reactions are involved then the mass of reactants should be equal to the mass of the product…
Whichever way you look at it, it smells like fish…
Read the errata properly.
Someone else who hasn't read Paul's article, and has embarked on a scatter gun 'incompetence' attack.
I don't see your point clearly, Methusela. Which part of my post do you refer too?
I read the "errata". It does address the "inner cylinder" part, which I mentioned that made no sense, and which puts Eng. Penon in a rather unreputable spot , but I don't see any explanation of the "active mass". What is it exactly? Is it the mass converted through nuclear reactions to energy? Or is it the mass of Rossi's cup of coffe, which he spilled inadvertently into the reactor in the morning before the test, which eventually had evaporated?
Hi JKW, I agree with all you wrote. About the "lost mass" it is funny to calculate that just 1 milligram converted completely to energy is equivalent to about 25,000 kWh. ^_^
Another funny thing.. Rossi's been running his unseen hot cat for a month at a time or more (I feel lazy to look up His JoNP elucidations, but I'm pretty sure it's on the conservative side), then he whips out a "validation" report spanning 8 hours or so… Diesel gen ran out of fuel?
Good morning all,
I would like to suggest an interesting reading about Rossi's Hydrogen-Nickel reaction.
Somebody from Cyprus just asked whether it would be possible to get an on-site demo for his bosses in order to convince them. Rossi said "yes" – but only if they would sign a try-and-buy agreement.
That would be standard procedure for deals like this.
When confronted with the Cu transmutations again, he starts spinning an entirely new theory. He now claims the transmutations are a "side effect" and in reality the Cu samples found were too small to be analyzed properly (I replayed it – and that is in deed what he is saying). He now also claims that gamma rays thermalizing in lead only account for a fraction of the energy gain and that "something else" was going on.
Too bad – I loved the idea of neutrinos wearing sun glasses. Maybe the new theory is they're wearing wigs and makeup.
The "discussion" during the afternoon will now only be held between the "specialists" on stage and not with the audience. The audience was asked to provide questions in written form which will then be selected from. I'm sure they'll love that.
It ends in an irrelevant question about using metals other than Ni – and Rossi answers that he doesn't care any more. He is now focusing on "making electricity" because that would put him on a level with Tesla. So – pretty much what we thought before: Forget the e-cat, forget the theory or validation. Focus is on the Hot Cat. (and, yes, there was applause in response to that)
In essence, this was – again – a complete waste of time. Any of the nutcases on vortex could have done a better job of impersonating a serious researcher who has at least some foggy idea of nuclear physics than Rossi did.
On stage now is Gerd Neumann. He's a babbler going on about how important all this is for mankind and who could use it for what and how wonderful it will be.
At September 9 2012 @ 08.17 CuriousChris wrote:
The technology behind mobile phones WAS available and understood in the 60′s the only thing that was lacking was the ability to make it work. The manufacturing to get it small enough and the insight to make it fun and usable. None of the physics you claim as being 'alien' in the 60′s was unknown.There are plenty of technologies that were unthought of back then and maybe even thought of as impossible for us mere humans to do. but none of it was outside the realms of known physics. Go back another 60 years and then I'd agree with you. The mobile phone itself was invented by motorola in the 70′s but the physics wasn't 'discovered' then."
Curious read my post again. I wrote: " Because the technology in today's i-phones would have been classified as being alien – and therefore impossible – in 1969."
As I wouldn't have been able to connect to a cellular network, because there were none, the NSA couldn't have arrested me for making a call. I'm specifically talking about the technology and wizardry of an i-phone or any other smart phone for that matter.
I'm glad though that, by your own admission, you agree that my illustration bares a striking similarity with what is going on with E-cats: i.e., the technology is there, were just trying to make it useful. Unless of course you're absolutely convinced that LENR is, to use your own words, "outside the realms of known physics".
Only someone willing to twist anothers words would imply what you have.
The dissimilarity is simple you are claiming 'new physics' in the example of a mobile phone by comparing it to cold fusion.
My response is there is no 'new physics' in a mobile phone.
Cold fusion if proven represents new physics. therefore your comparison is apples and oranges.
As one who appears to twist reality it is easy to see why you believe in Rossi.
If you are going to find a comparison please do like for like. For example if you attempted to claim it is similar to say the wright bros. you are only showing more ignorance.
"my illustration bares a striking similarity with what is going on with E-cats"
You could say that about any crackpot idea ever dreamed up. "It is not fully understood yet". Every perpetual motion machine on youtube, every zero-point-energy tinfoil experiment in a garage somewhere, every water engine, every wonder fuel saver, every self-charging battery ever presented on PESN.
I take it therefore that you are satisfied that LENR is a hoax. Your honesty in this regard is to be commended.
No, I don't think LENR is a hoax. I think it is totally unproven and most likely doesn't exist.
Instead of existence, how about the possibility of LERN? Any thoughts about that?
Very remote and declining.
It's Roger Green's turn now – and he lifts the entire circus firmly in the realms of PESN by going on about "brownian gas". What's next? Somebody with a magnet motor? Feng Shui? UFO sightings, crop circles, the Illuminati and the Nazi's secret spaceport in Atlantis?
don't feign to look skeptical or rational…
facts are blatant scientifically (Nasa GRC+Uni Tsignsua, Spawar+replicators, Toyota+mitsubishi, NI, Darpa (see nanotech research on PdD), CEA Grenoble, Uni Missouri boss-> Duncan).
you cannot even doubt on the result it is not scientific nor rationnal in any way… rather believe in UFO conspiracy.
about industry you can still play teh hyperskeptic, waiting for hard proof, ignoring circumstantial evidence that are huge for Defklalion and Brillouin.
For Rossi, you can play easy since he play the fool all the time… but Rossi fool behavior does not cancel Brillouin nor DGt results…
please stop that comedy… rather go to conspiracy theory site, free energy magnetic engine sales or ID science.
If you are honest (which I doubt) you can find much data about scientific data and research centers there:
and for the business data:
you really need to update your data…
provided you can see evidence that disagree
The mountain of crap you piled up on your playground is impressive in size – I'm giving you that. Now – what was your point again?
calling it crap does not change the facts.
I thought you could with p=0.05 be honest, it is clear no.
At best you could give interesting critics.
In put you in the same camp as Science when they rejected report 41 DeNinno by ENEA. Not Honest!
I know you know what I mean, because you clearly are not ignoring how important it is, otherwise you would be curious.
I don't care about you, but lurkers clearly will understand the reality…
by the way, are you financially dependent on the mainstream consensus (Benabou theory) ?
Are you paid to disinform the public (Exxon theory).
Are you simply investing too much ego (Benabou+Troll theory) ?
nb: in don't expect any honest answer, but lurkers can try to get the idea from your past behavior.
and please, stop feigning to be balanced. You are less honest than a priest on condom.
We've been there before, haven't we, Alain? The point isn't that I'm calling the facts crap – the point is that you're calling the crap facts. And the only argument you have is the height of the pile. If we pick out any single piece of it, it doesn't stand up. Not a single one. You simply make the continuous, Jed-Rothwell-mistake of believing that so much bad information simply has to amount to something good. Well it doesn't.
Reading these blogs is like smoking crack. Addictive but without any benefit. We know as much today as we knew after Rossi's October 2011 test. What we knew then and know now is that Rossi is making claims but that there has been no verifiable third party substantiation. Most of the skeptics who post in these blogs are not pathologically negative (or part of a conspiracy to discredit LENR). They just see a suspicious pattern of behavior on Rossi's part.
I never smoked crack, but now thanks to you I have insight into the feeling. Thank God I was going to try it next week. you have saved me the effort. 😉
Pingback: LENR Conference in Zurich 9-9 through 9-10 - US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum
Admin, you write "… but this site will not exist on the day I hold no hope at all."
Seriously? You are not serious about this, are you? The believer/skeptic theater of the absurd on this blog is a never ending source of entertainment. And the best thing is, it is entirely self sustained, and requires no, or only minimal, input as you found out when you abandoned this site for a while.
Don't take this away!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
On the programme today, the strange customs and conduct that make up 'good manners'. Where do they come from? What purpose do they serve?
And how do they change from place to place?...We'll serve up linguistics, civility, civilisation and some gender politics too.
(Image of English film actor Roger Moore opening the door of his Volvo for Isabelle McMillan in a scene from the television series 'The Saint' Credit: Getty Images)
Last on
Mon 31 Dec 2012 11:32 GMT
BBC World Service Online


text:
Opinion: I've Had Enough of Banks Behaving Badly
JP Morgan Chase reported a $2 billion loss, a sign that the financial sector's reckless gambling habit has in no way abated since the crash of 2008, the attempted reforms of 2010 and the Occupy backlash of 2011.
Despite the world watching, modern-day Cassandras offer unheeded warnings, critics seeking greater oversight, big banks still behave badly. They are still foreclosing on homeowners and resisting write-downs, still raising banking fees, still lobbying against reforms. And one can bet they are on track for big bonuses.
The sad part: We're not really surprised.
The numbers are large, but not astonishing - what's two billion anyhow? We expect them to keep careening into excesses and pushing our system into greater risk, and we expect most politicians to absolve them or be ineffective at deterring and regulating them. They are big corporations after all…this is what they do.
There's some truth to that. Like in the story of the scorpion and the frog, the banks shrug and say, "It's my nature." Despite Mitt Romney's claim that "Corporations are people, my friend," we know they aren't. So we shouldn't expect them to act like people: with compassion, communitarian spirit, restraint, morality and an eye toward the future. It's not their nature.
If we can't expect corporations to act in line with the better angels of human nature, than humans need to take control again. On a federal level, it's why we need laws that restore Glass-Steagall, set real restraints and empower oversight agencies with real muscle. If you need what that looks like drawn out for you, let former Secretary Robert Reich have a go with the marker:
But if you feel like we tried that road with Dodd-Frank, and only saw that the lobbyist-laden Capitol culture reduced real reform, there are other ways for human to take action.
There is the opportunity for local legislation. Right now, in New York City, the Council is considering measures that would require the city to consider banks' broader social and community profile in determining with whom to do business. Local elected officials can hold banks accountable when our federal officials choose not to.
Then there are the shareholders, who can curb their corporations' excesses, as they did in voting down the proposed pay package for Citigroup executives. While that was a non-binding vote, it was a step in the right direction of people exerting power on behalf of principles that "corporations" overlook.
Then there are all of us. Move Your Money campaigns have helped many Americans - and their businesses, unions and municipalities - get their money out of the bad actors, and invested instead in the principled players. It gives value to a company that lives by values - and is the kind of incentive that a bank may heed.
We want JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and his crew to be held accountable, we want the argument for stricter reforms to be made, we want the outrage to fuel policies that rein in executive pay, contain risk and lead to a more stable and more just economy.
However, in the sad reality, we know banks will be banks. Corporations aren't people. But real people can make a better choice…and can lead to better corporations.


text:
ED Magedson – Founder
Ripoff Report
iLeadsNationwide USA
iLeads Mistakes, Poor Customer Service Newport Beach California
Does your business have a bad reputation?
Fix it the right way.
Corporate Advocacy Program™
I purchased exclusive life leads from iLeads via Erik Tyndall. It took two calls for Erik to set up my account. I set my range from ages 40-60 in two counties in Illinois. The first lead I received was outside of my age range. A week later I received a lead that met my criteria. After contacting my account executive with concerns that the leads were not coming quickly enough he gave me options to expand my territory. I did not agree but several days later I received 2 leads that were outside the selected counties; in defiance of my express wishes he expanded my lead area.
I spent more time on the phone and drafting emails than contacting my prospect. I asked for a refund of my remaining leads as I lost trust and faith that I would be delivered what I paid for. I was informed by VP of Sales Robert Gregory that I would not receive a refund, that my options were to expand my territory, expand my age range or get semi-exclusive leads. He also stated that when buying exclusive life leads many of iLeads clients have a territory of an entire state, which I certainly was not told adn would have have altered my approach. He regretted that I was not told.
This experience does not reflect the quality of the leads, as a veteran life lead purchaser I know it can be difficult to get quality leads, rather this serves as an educational tool for others to make informed decisions. In an environment where one has dozens of lead options, customer service really sets a company apart and I believe the difficulty I've had with iLeads needs to be shared.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/31/2014 09:45 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ileads/nationwide/ileads-mistakes-poor-customer-service-newport-beach-california-1135240. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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#1 UPDATE Employee
Exclusive Life Leads for Veteran Life Lead Purchaser
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, April 01, 2014POSTED: Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Hello Todd, as discussed in our email correspondence and on the phone we have generated Exclusive Life leads in your territory that have fallen just outside your strict filter requirements. Your account Executive Erik Tyndall and I have simply tried to provide you options in expanding your territory and filters to increase your volume. When we queried a larger territory in our system to offer you additional options we made the mistake of not reverting your account to the original geographic settings. This resulted in two leads being generated from just outside your original territory that met your filter criteria. As discussed we have replaced those two leads and the first lead delivered that did not meet your filter criteria.
You made clear your experience with Internet marketing, "as a veteran life lead purchaser I know it can be difficult to get quality leads". With that in mind we are working within your strict filter criteria to provide you consumers who are shopping for Life insurance on line in your area. We have filtered out viable prospects that have fallen just outside your age requirement and just outside your territory requirement. Again we have been working with you in offering small ways to change your filter set to help you connect with viable and interested individuals looking for information on Life Insurance. We continue this effort and as mentioned in my previous email, offered multiple suggestions to help.
I have years of experience helping agents make money with our program. You and I have the same goal, we want you to write business. We have found over the years and through the many agents who successfully utilize our program that Internet marketing can be a game of inches meaning the smallest changes can produce the greatest results. Based upon your commitment to our Exclusive Life leads in your territory we invest resources to drive consumer traffic to meet your filter criteria and turn away potential clients. We are reliant upon the consumer for the information we provide you therefore are unable to make any delivery commitments.
Your account was activated on March 17th, while there have been some challenges in meeting your strict filter and territory requirements, as you point out we have demonstrated that we do generate quality leads through our network. We continmue to work to that end. With our years of combined experience I am confident we can make this a successful marketing investment. I welcome your call so we may continue our combined efforts. You may reach me at 877-245-3237 ext. 119 or your account executive Erik Tyndall at 877-245-3237 ext. 125. (PST)
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
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text:
New Spierer lawsuit seeks answers in two-year-old mystery
The parents of missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer are trying a new tactic to get answers in their daughter's disappearance.
The Spierers are using the legal system to try to get Lauren's friends to tell what they know - under oath.
With so many unknowns about just what happened the night Lauren Spierer disappeared, her parents filed a civil lawsuit against the three former Indiana University students who were last to see Lauren.
"It is unusual. This doesn't happen very often," said Indianapolis attorney Bruce Kehoe. "Generally when you file a civil claim, a wrongful death action, it's for monetary damages and that's really the purpose of the system. But a byproduct can be to gain information."
The lawsuit alleges negligence by Corey Rossman, Mike Beth and Jason Rosenbaum - all of whom the Spierers have begged to talk for two years.
But the companions of Lauren during the early morning hours of June third have stayed mostly silent.
Corey Rossman last spoke publicly a week after Lauren's disappearance, with his attorney, outside the Bloomington Police Department.
"I just hope that they find her as soon as possible and I'm praying for her and her family," Rossman said at the time. "Did you have anything to do with her disappearance?" he was asked by reporters. "Absolutely not. That's all I can say," Rossman said.
Robert and Charlene Spierer filed the suit right before the two-year anniversary of Lauren's disappearance.
That's because two years is the statute of limitations for civil suits, like injury and wrongful death, in Indiana.
It's something the Spierers say they didn't want to do, but felt they had to do to finally get information.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, the Spierers' attorney, Jason Barclay, said,
"Rob and Charlene Spierer authorized the filing of this lawsuit with great reluctance and only after we counseled them that they would lose certain legal rights if not exercised by the two-year anniversary of Lauren's disappearance. We hope no one will misinterpret this action. Any parent in search of information about a missing child would use every resource available to them. Therefore, we intend to use the rights afforded by the civil justice system to obtain answers to questions that have gone unanswered for too long. We fully expect that those with relevant information will cooperate with this process."
But some legal experts say compelling the defendants to talk may be a challenge, even through a lawsuit.
Beth, Rossman and Rosenbaum could refuse to testify to protect themselves.
"They may be successful in getting under oath answers and they may not be," Kehoe said. "The real complicating factor is when folks are at risk for criminal charges. People don't have an obligation to incriminate themselves. People can take the 5th."
The Spierers claim on June 2 and into June 3, 2011, the three men gave Lauren alcohol, encouraged her to drink more, then abandoned her, even after seeing her "distressed, incoherent and non-responsive."
The suit claims their actions resulted in Lauren's disappearance and likely death - that they lacked a "duty to care."
Defense attorneys could challenge that because a friend or companion's duty to care for someone is a gray area in the law.
"If you invite people into your home and serve them alcoholic beverages, you know you have some obligation. If you're a restaurant or bar operator, you know you have some legal obligations that are statutory. This is an area that may well be challenged," Kehoe explained.
The defendants' attorneys could also request to have the case dismissed.
Suggested Links
Eyewitness News reached out to the attorneys of all three of the former IU students being sued.
None of them would comment on the case.
The case has been transferred from Monroe County Circuit Court to federal court. That's because the defendants now live in different states and the damages sought by the Spierers exceeds $75,000.


text: Flag of Federated States of Micronesia, 2009 Small 320×160 Medium 640×320 Large 1024×512 Download Tiff Original 3000×1501 | (119.1 KB) Description Black and white outline flag of Federated States of Micronesia. Light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern. Keywords banner, country flag, Federated States of Micronesia national flag, fm, standard, vexillology Galleries Other Pacific Islands, World Flags, Black and White Source: Florida Center for Instructional Technology Clipart ETC (Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, 2009)


text:
Skip to Content
If you are seeking a world-class educational experience within a vibrant, Christ-centered learning community, Cedarville is the place for you. Step up to the challenge of our arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs, and achieve more than you ever imagined. Be challenged and transformed by professors who are experts in their fields and invest their lives at Cedarville to mentor and guide students like you.
Douglas Anderson
Chair, Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Phone: 937-766-3017Office: HSC 241ASend Email
Marc Sweeney
Dean, Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Phone: 937-766-7480Office: HSC 238ASend Email
Sandy Yoder
Administrative Assistant, Department Chairs
Phone: 937-766-3290Office: HSC 241Send Email
Rebecca Gryka
Chair, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Phone: 937-766-7484Office: HSC 241BSend Email
Ginger Cameron
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Phone: 937-766-3733Office: HSC 233Send Email
Lauren Wiebe
Director of Pharmacy Admissions
Phone: 937-766-7700Office: SSC 200Send Email
Cheryl Reese
Dean's Assistant
Phone: 937-766-7480Office: HSC 238Send Email
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Administrative Assistant, Experiential Programs
Phone: 937-766-8032Office: HSC 253 CSend Email


text:
Property: OotakanoyuAddress: 548-350 Iguchi, Nasushiobara 329-2763, Tochigi Prefecture
Location: Japan > Kanto > Tochigi Prefecture > Nasushiobara
Ranked #2 of 84 Hotels / Ryokan in Nasushiobara
Price Range (Based on Average Rates): $$$
Number of rooms: 30
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with HRS so you can book your Ootakanoyu reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Ootakanoyu Japan/Nasushiobara


text: A few months ago I had a brake line bust and rearended a minivan so none the less here's how I spent the insurance check. I paid $0 out f pocket so I think I did pretty good. My $1950 insurance check paid for a cowl hood, new grille, bumper brackets, parking lights, both light mounts, street scene ss bumper cover, paint, all for new calipers, and a Gibson stainless dual cat back. https://db.tt/cgaLbJ0D https://db.tt/48VcBo33


text:
Record of Telephone Conversation, December 7, 2011 - Flublok
Submission Type: BLA Submission ID: 125285/0 Office: OVRR
Influenza Vaccine
Protein Sciences Corporation
Telecon Date/Time: 07-Dec-2011 03:06 PM Initiated by FDA? Yes
Telephone Number: Communication conveyed via e-mail
Communication Categorie(s):
1. Advice
2. Information Request
Author: TIMOTHY FRITZ
Telecon Summary:
Process and fill validation comments and requests.
FDA Participants: Timothy Fritz
Non-FDA Participants: Penny Post
Trans-BLA Group: No
Related STNs: None
Related PMCs: None
Telecon Body:
From: Fritz, Timothy
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 3:06 PM
To: Penny Post (email@example.com)
Subject: CBER Process and Fill Validation Comments
Importance: High
Attachments: CBER Process and Fill validation comments.doc
Dear Dr. Post-
CBER's review of Protein Sciences Corporation's September 16, 2011 submission (Amendment 47) to STN 125285 is ongoing. We have the following comments on your responses to our May 27, 2011 Information Request and the information provided in your November 21, 2011 submission (Amendment 49):
CBER Comment 1a.
b. You have provided data in various submissions to support column re-use for H1, H3 and B rHA downstream process steps.
Please summarize acceptable running conditions for all strains by providing a tabular listing of the number of column runs and the number of repackings as well as column acceptance criteria for all subtypes. Please include consistent void volume for each column as an acceptance criterion and please provide the current specified number of re-uses for each column.
It is unclear if you can achieve acceptable separation at flow rates of –b(4)-------- and –b(4)----for the –b(4)------ columns, respectively. Please comment.
To determine whether you have established adequate b(4) acceptance criteria please provide baseline b(4) levels from the –b(4)-------------- columns prior to their use in production.
CBER Comment 3c.
The monovalent bulk specifications as submitted November 21, 2011 are acceptable.
The specifications for drug product at release as submitted November 21, 2011 are acceptable. The potency (SRID) specification at release –b(4)------------------ for each strain) provides confidence that the product will maintain the labeled dose (45 µg/dose) up to the expiry date. In the footnote, it is explained that –b(4)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that since the labeled dose of Flublok is 45 µg/dose, the lowest concentration acceptable for distributed product is –b(4)-------------- to accommodate assay variability when results of –b(4)- vials are averaged. Please confirm that this is the number of vials proposed for release and stability testing with % RSD specifications as mentioned above.
If PSC decides to test –b(4)---------------------------, respectively, the acceptable RSD will be –b(4)--------------------------------------------- with the lowest concentration acceptable for distributed product at –b(4)--------------------- to accommodate assay variability when the results of –b(4)---- vials are averaged.
CBER Comment 7b.
The addition of –b(4)----------------------- in H3 preparations is acceptable; however there is some concern that this may reduce the sensitivity of –b(4)--------------------------------------------------------- tests. Please provide data for the –b(4)------------------ and –b(4)------------------- tests to demonstrate equivalence of assay sensitivity in the presence and absence of the maximum amount of –b(4)-----------. Please also provide the sample dilution for H3 samples tested for –b(4)--------------------- in 2010 (or prior to addition of –b(4)------- to the monovalent bulk) and 2011, and data for the spike controls for all H3 lots manufactured in 2010 and 2011.
As indicated, CBER's review is ongoing and CBER will provide comments regarding PSC's response to Comment 4 of CBER's May 27, 2011 Information Request as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact the Regulatory Project Manager, Dr. Timothy Fritz, at 301-796-2640.
Thank you.
Timothy A. Fritz, Ph.D.
1451 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-796-2640
Fax: 301-827-1597
1451 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-796-2640
Fax: 301-827-1597
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE PARTY TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, AND PROTECTED FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER LAW. If you are not the addressee, or a person authorized to deliver the document to the addressee, you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, dissemination, copying, or other action based on the content of this communication is not authorized. If you have received this document in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail or phone.


text:
Geoff Shaw causes parliamentary chaos after voting with the opposition; Victorian Parliament tables Royal Commission report into child sexual abuse
November 13, 2013 , 12:40 PM by Rebecca Ritters
Louise Asher, Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, tells Jon Faine yesterday's parliamentary event may or may not be a precursor of things to come. "Mr. Shaw has been calling the shots on the Government's legislation since March." Mr. Shaw, who holds the balance of power in the Lower House, unexpectedly supported a motion that will allow for all bills to be debated by the opposition. Jacinta Allan, Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Manager of Opposition Business, tells Jon "The Liberal Party can attempt to be in denial, but they have a parliamentary agenda in disarray". Anthony Foster, whose two daughters were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a Melbourne priest, tells Jon he is feeling confident the Victorian government will come down on the side of victims when the Royal Commission's report into sexual abuse will be table in parliament today.
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text:
Today I woke up with this feeling of dread in my neck. You know those days when it seems like you have the entire world on your shoulders? Yep — that is exactly what I felt when I opened my eyes this morning.
Not sure why I woke up feeling this way. It could be because of the afternoon yesterday when I almost hit a turkey coming home, the van got a flat on our way home, or it could just be that I have SO much pressure on me these days. Whatever the reason, I feel overwhelmed and burdened down.
Yes I know what the Bible says about giving your burdens to God, and that Jesus makes your burdens lighter, but some days — I really struggle. I won't lie. It's hard to share how I feel with others, because I keep all of it locked inside.
But today . . .
Today, I thought I would let you see the real me — raw and emotional. Today, I am not the upbeat woman I normally am. Today, I am struggling with crying at the drop of the hat. Today — I feel burdened. Today, I feel like I can't breathe.
Over the past couple of months, my anxiety issues have returned with a vengeance. I am not sure why, but they have. When I am anxious like I am today, I cry, I wail, I get mean with those around me. It's days like today that I just need to be by myself.
I have so many things that I want to write about, but when I open my blog and get the post ready to write, I stall. I stare at the screen and I feel like screaming simply because I hear this small whisper telling me "no one wants to read what you write. No one cares."
I write things I don't care about simply because I need SOMETHING to put up here, but it is not fulfilling to me. I want to share stuff that makes a difference. I want to make a difference. ME. God who is in me.
So — that is where I am today.
What about you? How are you feeling today?


text:
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
The Freelance Pallbearers (edition 1999)
by Ishmael Reed
Work details
The Freelance Pallbearers by Ishmael Reed
No current Talk conversations about this book.
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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0689707320, Paperback)
"For all the talk of the black aesthetic, few black novelists have broken sharply with the traditional devices of the realistic novel. One writer who departs from such conventions, however, is Ishmael Reed. . . . The Free-Lance Pallbearers uses an explosive combination of straightforward English prose, exaggerated black dialect, hip jargon, advertising slogans and long, howling uppercase screams."—NewsweekIshmael Reed's electrifying first novel zooms readers off to the crazy, ominous kingdom of HARRY SAM—a miserable and dangerous place ruled for thirty years by Harry Sam, a former used car salesman who wields his power from his bathroom throne. In a land of a thousand contradictions peopled by cops and beatniks, black nationalists and white liberals, the crusading Bukka Doopeyduk leads a rebellion against the corrupt Sam in a wildly uproarious and scathing satire, earning the author the right to be dubbed "the brightest contributor to American satire since Mark Twain" (The Nation).
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text:
Project Zero 2: Wii Edition Credits (Wii)
Published by
Developed by
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings.
Project Zero 2: Wii Edition Credits
Other Games
In addition to this game, the following people are listed as working on other games. No more than 25 people are listed here, even if there are more than 25 people who have also worked on other games.
Satoru Iwata, 291 other games
Hiroshi Suzuki, 40 other games
Erkan Kasap, 26 other games
Toru Osawa, 25 other games
Yuji Takahashi, 25 other games
Hiromasa Inoue, 25 other games
Toshiharu Izuno, 21 other games
Chiharu Sakiyama, 21 other games
Shinji Tanaka, 20 other games
Keisuke Kikuchi, 19 other games
Masaki Takahashi, 18 other games
Naoki Watanabe, 17 other games
Matthew Mawer, 16 other games
Manabu Koike, 15 other games
Toru Akutsu, 14 other games
Kazuhiko Takahashi, 14 other games
Shingo Suzuki, 14 other games
Yuki Watanabe, 13 other games
Koji Ogata, 13 other games
Andrew Steele, 13 other games
Makoto Shibata, 12 other games
Rie Iijima, 12 other games
Kentarō Shimazu, 12 other games
Masayo Ono, 12 other games
Hiroyuki Aoyagi, 11 other games
People who have worked on this game have also collaborated on the creation of the following games:
Quantum Theory, a group of 33 people
Zero: Tsukihami no Kamen, a group of 28 people
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, a group of 19 people
Super Swing Golf, a group of 17 people
Ninja Gaiden 3, a group of 16 people
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented, a group of 15 people
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, a group of 14 people
NeverDead, a group of 14 people
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a group of 14 people
Metroid: Other M, a group of 12 people
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly - Director's Cut, a group of 12 people
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, a group of 12 people
Resident Evil 6, a group of 11 people
Trapt, a group of 10 people
Dark Souls, a group of 10 people
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, a group of 10 people
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Undead Knights, a group of 9 people
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Last Window: The Secret of Cape West, a group of 7 people
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Niagara Falls is the place to be for the most fun a family can have on vacation together! This package has something for everyone. Available Fall 2016
Package Includes:
One night Deluxe accommodations
Kids Eat Free fallsview buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet*
Kids Eat Free for dinner at the Marriott Fallsview Dining Fallsview Restaurant with the purchase of an adult entree*
Shuttle Passes for Unlimited Rides to Top Tourist Attractions
(See the shuttle schedule)
Attraction passport for 4 including Bumper Cars, LASER Ride, Wild Safari Mini Putt, and $10 Hershey Store voucher ($85 value)
or call 1-888-501-8916 and mention the Kids Eat, Stay, & Play Free (SPE)
Starting at rate quoted above; select dates available at a higher rate. Not available for group booking. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Advanced reservations required. Taxes extra. Blackout dates may apply. Limited rooms available for this promotion. Vouchers are not redeemable for cash. Some restrictions apply.
* Kids Dinner for 12 and under. Must order off kids menu. One free with each paid adult meal.
* Kids Breakfast for 12 and under. One free with each paid adult meal.
** Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
** Vouchers are not redeemable for cash. Not valid in combination with any other offer, discount or group booking.


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Live updates
Oxfordshire zoo named one of best in the country
Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire has been named one of the best zoos in the country by Trip Advisor.
It came fourth in a poll based on customer feedback over a year.
The park started in 1970 and now has one of the UK's largest zoological collections.
Leopard photo knocks spots off the competition
Judges were spoilt for choice in Marwell Wildlife's prestigious Photographer of the Year competition.
'Leopard cub in the light' beat off fierce competition to be the overall winning image. The fantastic photograph of the Hampshire Zoo's Amur leopard cub 'Kanika' was taken by George Wheelhouse of Flitwick in Bedfordshire.
George said: "I'm overwhelmed - I can't believe it! I visited the zoo for one day with my family and never believed I'd get a shot like this."
Rare leopard cub born at Marwell
Marwell Zoo has announced the arrival of an Amur leopard cub - one of the world's most critically endangered species of big cat. Born to mum, Kaia and dad, Akin, the little leopard is an importantaddition to the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme.
It is estimated that there are as few as 35 Amur leopards left in the wild. This tiny population which survives today is under serious risk of extinction, and maintaining a healthy captive population is crucial to the global conservation of the species.
- ITV Report


text: Greg Campbell took his oath in Bangor's Penobscot Judicial Center, swearing to uphold the constitution.Governor LePage swore him in, making Campbell the state's newest district judge."This is a great honor. I'm going to work very hard and be fair and impartial and going to be the very best judge that I can," said Campbell.The courtroom ceremony was well attended. In the audience were Campbell's family and friends, fellow judges, and members of the legislature.After being sworn in, he received his judicial robe. His three children helped him put it on for the first time. "It's great to see how many people came out and supported him. We're so proud of him and we know he'll do a wonderful job," said his daughter, Katie Campbell.Campbell formerly worked as an assistant district attorney in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties. He says his experience in the courtroom will help him in his new role."I have a lot of trial experience and I've appeared before a lot of different judges and hopefully I've learned from them over the years that I'm going to use common sense and fairness to do do the best job that I can for the people of the state of Maine," he said.Campbell is the first judge to be sworn in under the LePage administration.


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Know for their designs revolving around active lifestyles, the Gravis "Indo" Expedition pack is the latest from the brand as they pair concepts of retro outdoor footwear on a runner's last. Despite the number of colors making an appearance on this shoe, they all work together quite well providing a pleasing colorway with other nice touches including colored 3M, speckled soles and the proprietary Cloud9 cushioning system. To round out the collection are some matching bags. While the use of gray on the footwear balanced out the overall colorway, the bags are a bit flashier combining the brightest elements seen on the shoes.
Source: Crooked Tongues


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Please could someone provide me with advice re the above.
I am intending to convert a house (which was formerly a barbour on the ground floor - A1) into a cafe (A3). It was last an A1 premises in the mid 80's, but still has a flat front (as opposed to a bay, like the other houses in the street).
I have spoken with planning in bristol about the likelihood of receiving permission, but they were unable to help that much as they only provide advice for larger projects. I have yet to go ahead with formal drawings.
The house has shops on either sides (jewellery and grocers), but the rest of the street is generally residential. It is currently very run down and would need a great deal of work, but when complete would certainly add to the community (aethetically and because of its use).
Can anyone provide advice on the chances of it receiving planning, or at least note some key factors that would be taken into account, which i could look into further.


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(Microwave Accessories - Filters)
Microwave Hood Charcoal Replacement Filter. Replace your charcoal microwave hood filter every 6 months to improve air circulation and remove odors. Dimensions are 11.625" by 5.6875" by 0.375". Measure your current filter to assure correct replacement.Ask an Expert
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Martinez faults Obama, Congress on immigrant surge
SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez is blaming President Barack Obama and Congress for [auth] the surge in Central American immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally.
The nation's only Latina governor said in a statement Tuesday the latest wave is a result of mixed signals from federal authorities and "a direct failure of gridlocked Washington lawmakers and President Obama."
"Children, no matter where they come from, are not political footballs. Immigrants flood across the border — or parents drop their children there —expecting the federal government to just throw up its hands and let them in," said Martinez, a Republican. "That's not an immigration policy — that's a failure of leadership."
A spokesman for Martinez also said she has spoken with officials from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to express her concerns over security issues involving a temporary detention center in southeastern New Mexico.
Her comments come after immigration authorities opened Artesia's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as a detention center for around 700 Central American women and children.
The three barracks at the Artesia site will hold people as they await deportation or seek asylum amid an influx of women and children fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America.
But the opening of the center has sparked anger from some area residents over safety and health concerns.
A rising star within the GOP, Martinez has told her party in the past to tone down its rhetoric around immigration. She is leading an effort in the Republican Party to recruit more Hispanic and African Americans to run for office.
Yet Martinez has drawn criticism from immigrant-advocacy groups of her own policies in New Mexico — especially her push to repeal the law that allows immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally to obtain state driver's licenses.
On Wednesday, a coalition of immigrant-rights advocacy groups announced it was suing the federal government over accusations that few minors have legal representation during deportation proceedings.
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Kohl's sees 2Q profits jump 34%
August 24, 2001,
Menomonee Falls, WI — Still defying the laws of gravity and flying higher than the space station, second-quarter profits at rocket-hot Kohl's Corp. shot up by 34.6 percent, to $86.5 million from $64.3 million.
The heartland retailer leveraged stronger sales, wider margins and lower costs — all in the midst of a widespread retail slowdown — into a long-running winning streak of continued explosive growth.
While other retailers are reporting gross margin erosion under unrelenting markdown pressure, Kohl's continues to bulk up its margins, which expanded by 50 basis points, to 35.4 percent from 34.9 percent a year ago. At the same time, the retailer continues to hack away at costs, leveraging stronger sales into an improved expense ratio, down by 20 basis points, to 22.7 percent from 22.9 percent a year ago.
At the same time, inventories remain under control, growing by 15.9 percent, to $1.2 billion, behind the 20.7 percent increase in sales.
Through the first six months of the year, Kohl's opened 34 new stores, entering the Atlanta and Fayetteville/Ft. Smith, AR, markets. Over the back half, the retailer plans to open another 28 stores, bringing the total for the year to 62.
Next year, the chain plans to pick up the pace, opening 70 new stores, including 35 to 40 in the first quarter. For the first time, the company will enter the Boston market, and at the same time beef up its presence in Texas with a major entry into Houston.
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アブカムでは最適な動作のために Google Chrome など最新ブラウザでの閲覧を推奨します。
Recombinant fragment, corresponding to amino acids 7-126 of human PU.1/Spi1 (NP_003111) with a proprietary tag.
Our Abpromise guarantee covers the use of ab88082 in the following tested applications.
The application notes include recommended starting dilutions; optimal dilutions/concentrations should be determined by the end user.
|Use a concentration of 1 - 5 µg/ml. Predicted molecular weight: 31 kDa.
|Use at an assay dependent concentration.
|Use a concentration of 10 µg/ml.
|Flow Cyt
|Use 2µg for 106 cells. ab170190-Mouse monoclonal IgG1, is suitable for use as an isotype control with this antibody.
ab88082 has not yet been referenced specifically in any publications.
Please note: All products are "FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC USE"


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Tonia O'Connor serves as chief commercial officer and president of Content Distribution for Univision Communications Inc. (UCI), reporting directly to the CEO. In this role, O'Connor drives the Company's content distribution efforts across all screens, including online and mobile. She leads UCI's Enterprise Development efforts to expand its content availability and licensing revenue by securing key partnerships and new business models with both traditional and emerging content distributors.
O'Connor also led the creation of the company's first over the top English-language digital network, Flama, the Univision Creator Network and has worked with other key leaders across UCI to coordinate joint ventures and investments in new businesses. Her most recent accomplishment is leading the launch of UCI's direct to consumer subscription video service, Univision NOW. O'Connor also helped lead the launch of and continues to sponsor UCI's Women's Leadership Council, an employee resource group designed to advance women across the Company and prepare the next generation of women leaders.
O'Connor joined UCI in January 2008 as executive vice president of Distribution Sales and Marketing. She has played a key role as the Company expanded its portfolio from three networks to 17 broadcast, cable and digital networks and partnerships, as well as developed its digital distribution and content windowing strategy for SVOD and TV Everywhere. Prior to that she spent 13 years at Gemstar TV Guide, where she served as executive vice president of Distribution. Before that, she served as executive vice president, Affiliate Sales & Marketing and served as senior vice president of National Accounts for TV Guide Affiliate Sales. O'Connor held various positions within Affiliate Sales and Marketing since joining Gemstar TV Guide in 1994, starting first in the cable and satellite publishing division. During her tenure at Gemstar TV Guide she was responsible for negotiating complex technology and intellectual property agreements, as well as programming deals. She also played an integral role in the growth of Gemstar TV Guide's networks and defining the strategy of the company. O'Connor began her career in the telecommunications industry, serving in sales and marketing positions.
She is supportive of industry organizations and currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Board at the S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications and the executive committee of the board for the T. Howard Foundation. O'Connor has received multiple awards and recognitions including the Liberty Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications in 2005, appeared on CableFax's 50 Most Powerful Women in Cable in 2005 and 2006, as well as every year from 2008-2014, and the magazine's Top 100 annually beginning in 2008. In 2011, she received a Wonder Women award by Multichannel News and was honored with the 2011 Moves Magazine Power Woman award. O'Connor was also named as one of Cynopsis' Most Intriguing People in 2013, and featured in The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power 100 in 2012 and 2013. She is also a director on the board of El Rey Network, a cable network started by filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez.
O'Connor graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a dual major in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science.


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Originally posted on Project Spurs | Last updated 1/29/13
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan is one of the few players in the NBA who's extremely popular without being flashy or becoming normal to controversy. In this occasion, Duncan is linked to violent incidents because of his newly released Nike Air shoes. As reported by WJLA.com, there have been a few incidents where three individuals were held at gunpoint for their shoes. The shoes are extremely popular as they go for as much as $250 for a pair according to the site. The newly released Tim Duncan Nike Air tennis shoes are so popular bids for the shoe on eBay start at $250 but can end up selling for hundreds more, observers say. It's not bad enough that there are victims of this crime, but also take into account the age of these teens. One of the teens was just a block away from his school when he got held at gunpoint: Police say a 15-year-old was approached by two masked gunmen while walking home from Eastern High School last Thursday. The teen was just a block away from the school when, according to the police report, the suspects said, "Give the [expletive] up...give them shoes up." The student took off the shoes and was able to escape the gunmen without injury. The day before on Alabama Avenue, SE a 17-year-old and his 18-year-old friend were both wearing Tim Duncans when two suspects pulled out a gun. Sources say the suspects said, "Give me those Duncans." While the suspects took the shoes off the victims' feet, the gun went off, striking the 17-year-old in the shoulder. This is disappointing news for Spurs fans who want to purchase them after hearing these reports. Everyone hopes that these senseless acts of bullying and violence end and fans fan support their favorite player by buying and wearing his shoes. Apart from the violence to the innocent victims, it's disappointing that Duncan has to be connected with anything of this nature as he's one of the quiet men in the NBA who is a role model with his character and personality.
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Welcome to the Jungle
Trip Start Apr 19, 2013
17Trip End Feb 19, 2014
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We got on the ferry at around 6pm after having paid extra for a ticket �with chair�. This was a very interesting journey which would take us through the night, on an open topped ferry where we slept on deck chairs and arrived at around 6am next morning. As soon as the ferry began moving, we knew we were in for a cold night. I changed into my warmest clothing and had my travel towel over me as a blanket. After a couple of hours of terrible sleep, I realized that more warmth was needed so moved my chair to an area with less wind and got into my sleeping bag inner liner (we didn�t bring actual sleeping bags, just inner liners that are enough for times like this!)
The journey up river was stunning as the downpour abated and we got to see our first glimpse of jungle! The reason for wanting to travel here was really to get as deep into untouched jungle as we could which is why the travelling took so much time and planning. We wanted to have the opportunity to witness the incredible wildlife and ecosystems of the jungle of Central America before the opportunity would be gone due to industrial development or over commercialization of the area. While researching this part of the trip, we had already found information about future plans for the area which made us incredibly sad, including plans to build a road alongside the river (the river cuts right through the heart of the jungle) and even the plan to possibly use the river for industrial cargo ships, to haul goods from China into the middle of Central America.
Anyway, with this in mind, we made our journey by boat further up the Rio San Juan and closer to the heart of the Nicaraguan Jungle
Arriving in El Castillo, we were welcomed by a very pretty town topped by a high primitive fort which gave the town its name. Later on in our stay here, we went to visit the town�s museum and find out more about the local history, which was really amazing. The fort was built in the effort to defend mainland Nicaragua from the real deal Pirates of the Caribbean who would use the Rio San Juan as a passage directly to Grenada - a city of treasure and delights! El Castillo was built right on a bend in the river, next to the �devils rapids� which would have been nature�s way of stopping the pirates in their tracks. How incredible to be stood in the fort, looking out onto the river where the battles of the pirates really took place. We even went into the dank jails where captured pirates languished!
Anyway, back to our trip; we arrived in El Castillo and headed to the beautiful Nena Lodge
Back on the boat, we headed to the drop off point for the jungle walk. Heading out of the boat and into the jungle was a amazing. The trees were so dense and thick that you felt as if you were indoors. The humidity was very high and although it was raining, so few drops actually touched your skin due to the density of the tree canopy. We were actually so pleased that it was raining as we were in a rainforest after all and the sound of the gentle rain mixed with the noises of the jungle was really beautiful. Our little safety talk on entrance to the jungle was pretty intimidating; don�t touch ANYTHING, it may be poisonous or something may be on it that will bite you! Apparently, huge tarantulas wait next to the most beautiful flowers waiting for a hummingbird to visit and then.....*shudder*. The guide didn�t have to worry - we understood perfectly!
We began the walk through the jungle and the guide showed us lots of really interesting plants and trees. Some trees were incredibly intelligent and had the ability to actually walk their roots to be closer to water - they call them walking trees
After walking a little way through the jungle, the guide stopped, looking up into the trees and hurriedly ushered us forward. Initially, I thought he had spotted a monkey, but it turned out to be a white anteater - an incredibly rare find! We watched the anteater curl its long tail round a branch and sniff around, scouting for a meal. Again, he was so high that we could only see him through binoculars but it was still such a magical thing to see. The guide told us we had good energy to be able to see so much wildlife! We didn�t see any further animals in this part of the jungle, but we got to walk for about 3 hours and see many different types of trees - the jungle really was beautiful. Robbie was especially pleased that we had trekked through the jungle and he still hadn�t seen any snakes - they obviously felt his negative vibes towards them.
After the walk, we got back into the boat and headed to some smaller rivers to see some wildlife around these parts. We saw lots of huge iguana�s - probably the best part of a meter with tail
A little further down the river, we had the opportunity to swim which I was the only person to take up. It wasn�t really a proper swim because the water was too shallow but it was refreshing and a great experience to dip in the river in the jungle and the guide had PROMISED there would be no camen here!
Next, we headed to an archeological site of a steamship, whose wrecks had formed an island in the middle of the river
From here, we headed back to El Castillo - we were absolutely shattered and pretty muddy, but we were so pleased with our tour and the way we had been able to see the darkest jungle (and lots of wildlife too). On the way home, we passed howler monkeys shrieking in the trees and even saw a couple of Toucan - which Robbie was very pleased about.
While we were on our trip, the guide was talking to us about tourism in the region and how the government was trying to promote eco-tourism in the jungle. There were really very little tourists in this area and we knew before arriving that it was off the beaten track due to the difficulty in planning and finding out information. However, I believe that this was one of our most magical experiences and the Rio San Juan has so much to offer. They have it set up well for eco-tourism too as only a tiny sliver of the jungle is open for exploration. 95% of it remains proper, dense, unexplored jungle where you need a folders worth of legal papers to allow you to do research
Once back in El Castillo, we spent the afternoon and following morning enjoying the rest of what the town had to offer. This included tasting the most magnificent smoothie - made with frozen banana and cocoa beans - intense but delicious. We also tasted river camerones (shrimp) which were delicious. We had a trip to a butterfly sanctuary where we watched huge butterflies and even held one (apparently, when they are the size of saucers, it doesn�t hurt to touch them!).
Next day, we headed back down the river, in order to stop off at a lodge in the middle of the jungle. As lovely as El Castillo was (and necessary to be able to access the section of protected jungle), we really wanted to spend some time in a very remote area of the jungle. There are a couple of well-established lodges on the river; however they come at a high price
After a simple but delicious lunch, we spoke to Jearo (the father of the family and manager of the lodge) about the activities we could do in the lodge. He said he could take us fishing and when we asked how much, he said completely free which was incredible. The other lodges all had wonderful activities but they came at a price so it was wonderful that we were able to do these things. An hour later, Jearo came past our caba�a with bamboo fishing rods and said ��listo?�� (which means ��ready?��) - well OK then! He took us to a battered little boat, with mud patching holes in the bottom, which we had to empty of water before we got in
That night, we ate our fish by candlelight (there had been a power cut) and it was a wonderful evening until the mosquito�s turned up in the THOUSANDS. We escaped to our room where we had a really ingenious net which was shaped like a box over the bed, so the netting wasn�t quite so claustrophobic. Saying that, we had the candle on a chair by the bed and the chair was still holding our beautiful floral decoration which I couldn�t bear to throw away, so laying in our dark purple box bed, with floral arrangements lit by candlelight, I said I felt like I was laying in wake at my own funeral! We slept well that night and didn�t get molested by the mosquitos.
In the morning, we had breakfast and then Jearo took us horse riding. It was only a short ride and probably for the best as our horses clearly knew we didn�t have a clue what we were doing and were being very naughty until Jearo rode up and gave them a little slap on their backside! We saw some beautiful scenery during the ride. At one point, Jearo motioned for Robbie to go first and gave his horse a great smack to get him running - it was hilarious to watch as the horse ran forward and sank down to his belly in muddy water while Jearo and I laughed watching Robbie try and keep his legs above water
Later that afternoon, Jearo took us along with a Belgian couple to look for birds in the jungle. We saw some lovely birds and some monkeys too; however we were absolutely mauled by mosquitos. There were thousands buzzing around us at all times and although we had covered ourselves in repellent, they were still landing on our bare skin and biting us through clothes. We all looked cartoonish stood looking up at monkeys and swatting ourselves continuously all over. This is the only time when it is alright for a near stranger to reach out and slap you clean across the face - ��got him�� they say! After dinner that night, (where we got eaten alive again), we counted the damage - we were both pretty chewed up but to give you an idea, Robbie had over 40 bites on his back alone.
Next day, we were taken on a tour of the cacao plantation that the family had set up. This was very interesting but unfortunately, we had to receive the translated version as Jearo�s Spanish was too much for us to understand. One of the most interesting points was that when the Spanish came over to Central America, they found that the most precious thing to the locals wasn�t gold or treasures, but chocolate. In discovering chocolate, the Spanish decided to take the cacao over to Africa to plant, where it acclimatized very well
We had loved the trip to the jungle in all its wonderful wildness, but after a week (and after battling a cockroach out of my toiletry bag) we were happy to head back to some civilization!
On the morning we left, we caught a glimpse of a giant river otter while waiting for our boat, a really rare site and a lovely goodbye from the jungle! We took the boat back to San Carlos, where we took another boat to Los Chiles - the border town of Costa Rica on the Rio San Juan. This has got to be the best border crossing of all - a beautiful, calm hour long boat ride and a very relaxed entrance to Costa Rica!
Next was a fast paced travel through Costa Rica and Panama (we would love to explore both places but time and money pressures mean we prefer to explore one country well rather than explore a lot of countries badly) and as relaxed as the border crossing to Costa Rica was, the crossing into Panama was the most stressful (well not quite as bad as the states but almost!)
Next up is a sailing trip to Colombia!
Next time I blog, we will be in South America! Adi�s! xx