text:
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Kiki: My Stylish Life
by Kyla May
No current Talk conversations about this book.
This is another in the Branches series (yes, I'm going through the whole stack) and I have to say this is probably the one I like the least. Prepare for totally biased reviewing.
Kiki is at first delighted when a new girl moves in next door, but after they get off on the wrong foot it seems like nothing can go right for her, even with her bffs Coco and Lulu by her side. It takes a little compromise from everyone for the misunderstandings to be cleared up, and there might even be a new member of the Lotus Lane Girls Club in the future.
While there is an obligatory reference to the "mean girl" in school, if you look at the story...Kiki is the mean girl herself. While she does initially apologize to Mika, the new girl, when Mika doesn't immediately fall in with Kiki's clique, Kiki gossips about her, blocks her out of her clique, tries to get her in trouble at school, and generally makes it clear that she feels her position as queen fashion bee is threatened. Even at the end when she makes up with Mika, she doesn't give any indication that she's really thought about her actions and would behave differently in the future. Basically, she's a snotty little brat who doesn't understand any perspective outside of her own. The nods to other cultures appear to just be there as window dressing for the story, much in the manner of different costumes the girls wear. Kiki's vintage fashion doesn't disguise the fact that she and her friends pretty much get whatever they want in the way of consumer goods as well.
Um, no I did not like Kiki. While her behavior is pretty typical for lots of 7-8 year old girls, it's not something I'd feel comfortable recommending. Readers will be too young to really think about the story, and as it's in diary format and all from Kiki's perspective, it doesn't do a good job of making the reader think about Mika's persective, or the other kids in class who are always secondary to Kiki's drama. The book is designed in diary format, like a notebook, with lots of small drawings and illustrations. Kiki is very fond of catch phrases and exclamations, which annoyed me, although some of that is a personal thing. I also have to say that I find the smiley face characters rather creepy.
Verdict: If you have incipient Clique or Gossip Girl readers, they will probably love this series, especially if you live in an area where you have lots of upper middle class mini fashionistas. On the other hand, I can see some parents objecting to this series and it's not unique or interesting enough that I feel it's a necessary addition to the library, so I feel ok in not purchasing it just because I don't like it.
ISBN: 9780545445122; Published May 2013 by Scholastic; ARC provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2013
Lotus Lane Book 1 - Kiki is about a young girl named Kiki and her BFFL's (BFFL=Best Friends For Life) Coco and Lulu. They all live on Lotus Lane and are members of the LLGC (LLGC=Lotus Lane Girl Club).
In this book we are reading Kiki's diary which is a very cute, sassy diary, full of pretty little pictures and doodles.
The tale is of three best friends, a new girl, a misinterpretation of events and the eventual understanding and friendship that results.
My four year old lost interest somewhere in the middle of the story (14 small chapters), but we did read it in one sitting and she came back to it towards the end. We had fun identifying the days of the week and some of the smaller sight words she knows.
Overall a cute book for kids. Would be better read to your child a few chapters at a time.
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0545445124, Paperback)
Meet the Lotus Lane Girls!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
Kiki, Coco, and Lulu are the BEST of friends. They even have their very own club! But Mika, the new girl, is shaking things up on Lotus Lane. This first book is written as Kiki's diary--with illustrations and doodles throughout. Kiki LOVES creating cool outfits, hanging out with friends, and collecting fun facts like these:
Fact: I am a member of the Lotus Lane Girls Club.
Fact: I will one day be a VERY famous fashion designer.
Fact: My new neighbor Mika is trouble--triple trouble!
Fact: Even chickens must look their best.
Read Kiki's diary to find out all about life on Lotus Lane!
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:23:18 -0400)
Kiki and her best friends, Coco and Lulu, all live on Lotus Lane, attend Amber Acres Elementary School, and have their own club, so when a when a Japanese girl named Mika moves in next door and also chooses fashion design for her art project, Kiki is seriously annoyed.… (more)
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Community Services
Funded by over $1 million annually, the After-School All-Stars program was developed over a decade ago to provide a comprehensive after school program for middle school students living in the inner city of Atlanta. The program has now grown to include nine separate and distinct sites both in Atlanta and in the near suburbs. Students are engaged in sports and recreation, homework assistance, tutoring (including standardized test preparation), technology, the arts, and project-based learning experiences. Nearly 2,000 children participate in this five days a week, 3 hours per day after school and summer program.
The Center, housed in the College of Education & Human Development, works in partnership with school systems, parents, students, and community organizations to increase efforts toward the improvement of life-long learning and development for members of urban areas. The Center develops and generates research-based materials for use in teacher training and for teaching pupils at various grade levels.
Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence
Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence
The Child Development Program, a part of the College of Education & Human Development, is comprised of two locations, the Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center and the Capitol Hill Child Enrichment Center. The centers play a vital role in University research efforts, supports and develops teacher education programs, offers an ideal setting for students from a variety of disciplines to learn about young children through observation, interaction and research, and provides a model of "best practice" for Georgia's early learning professionals at all levels of the professional ladder.
The Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) is a professional association of public school superintendents who preside over Georgia's urban, rural and suburban school districts.
The ITC provides an atmosphere for faculty, students, and Pre-K-12 educators that encourages and supports technology confidence and expertise in the areas of teaching, collaboration, and consultation. They support both software and course development and establish a framework to engage all learners in continuous study for professional growth.
The Georgia State University College of Education & Human Development recognizes the need for teachers and students to be able to perform academically, economically, and professionally on an international level.
The Principals Center provides practicing and aspiring school leaders with learning and networking opportunities designed to develop their capacity to create schools that work for all children.
Reading Recovery provides a system-wide, short term, cost effective, scientifically-based early intervention program for young children at risk of reading failure. Utilizing a three-tiered approach that includes teachers, teacher leaders, and university trainers, the Georgia State University Regional Reading Recovery Training Center provides initial graduate level study and long-term professional development for school district personnel in systems implementing this early intervention program.
Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders is an academic enrichment program offered by the College of Education & Human Development at Georgia State University for Kindergarten through 8th grade gifted and talented children in the metro Atlanta area. Classes are held on the downtown main campus from 9 a.m. to noon on 5 consecutive Saturdays throughout the year. Atlanta area educators teach a variety of enrichment classes, ranging from the fine and applied arts to math and science, designed to challenge participants at all levels (K- 8th grade).
The goal of the clinic is to provide exceptionally high quality services to clients with a wide array of communication difficulties. We see individuals of all ages (1-90 years of age) for screenings, evaluations, and individual or small group therapy. In therapy, all clients have personalized goals designed to meet their communication needs. We have well-designed facilities and access to a wide selection of materials and technology for use in evaluation and therapy sessions. We also have well-equipped observation areas for family members.
Our goal is to address the literacy needs of kindergarten through 12th grade students in the metro-Atlanta area while providing practical experience to Georgia State students training to be literacy leaders in their schools.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
UC Ship Funds Program:
2012 Request for ProposalsFor ship time to be used during calendar year 2013
DEADLINE: Proposals are due Friday, 30 NOV 2012.
The UC Ship Funds Program is now soliciting proposals from students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty and staff for ship time aboard research vessels operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Proposals for work during the periods of availability below are solicited. Revelle cost match funds will be applicable to Melville again this year. Click here for an explanation why.
Due to funding constraints, nearly all awards this year will be made for ship time aboard Roger Revelle. Funds for other ships are extremely limited.Awards pay for ship time and the operation of standard shipboard instrumentation at sea. For student cruises, limited funds are available for cruise-related expenses (for instance non-standard shipboard instrumentation, shipping, travel, data processing, or sample analysis costs). To be considered, these costs should be specifically described and estimated in the proposal.
Please see the links at left for information regarding eligibility, priority of proposals, and how to apply.
Ship schedules for 2013 will be in a state of flux through the proposal deadline period. If you intend to submit a proposal, please contact SIO ship scheduler Liz Brenner to check continuing availability.
Up to 22 days at sea will be awarded, either as a single cruise or the sum of multiple shorter cruises.
R/V Roger Revelle West Pacific
R/V Roger Revelle West Pacific
R/V Roger Revelle West Pacific
R/V Roger Revelle West Pacific / Indian Ocean
R/V Roger Revelle Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal)


text:
AMMAN – Tribal leaders, regime loyalists and independent businessmen are set to sweep Jordan's parliamentary election, which was shunned by Islamists, preliminary results showed Thursday.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said the results will become official once they are published in the official gazette, which is expected next week.
Analysts said the new Parliament will be dominated by loyalists resistant to pressure for political reform. And two U.S. organizations that observed Wednesday's poll agreed that local loyalties would pose a challenge to plans by King Abdullah II for a parliamentary government.
The Arab Spring uprisings that began two years ago and toppled four regimes across northern Africa also sparked regular protests in Jordan, where a combination of youths and Islamists have been demanding sweeping reforms. Their protests have become increasingly vocal and, during deadly November rioting over a sharp hike in fuel prices, there were unprecedented calls for the king to step down.
Abdullah, whose throne is not thought to be under threat, had touted the election as a focal point for his reforms, which he said should pave the way for parliamentary government. He said his reform plans include consulting members of Parliament before naming a prime minister, who should in turn then consult with lawmakers before forming a Cabinet.
But the Muslim Brotherhood boycotted the election, saying the monarch's measures fell far short of true democratic change and arguing he should not have any say in naming a prime minister.
The IEC announced a 56.6 percent turnout of Jordan's 2.3 million registered voters, although the Brotherhood disputes this figure.
"Vote-buying and fake voter cards were very clear. We will prove that our boycott was the right decision," Zaki Bani Rsheid, deputy leader of the Brotherhood, said. But the IEC insisted its figures were accurate.
The results showed that independent candidate Maryam Luzi won a seat outside the quota system, which reserved 15 seats for women. Also among the winners were two women from the capital, Amman.
The U.S. organizations that observed the polls warned of difficulties ahead, with the National Democratic Institute saying, "The unequal size of districts and an electoral system that amplifies family, tribal and national cleavages limit the development of a truly national legislative body and challenge the king's stated aim of encouraging 'full parliamentary government.' "
The International Republican Institute said, "Tribal allegiances continue to be the major factor in candidate selection and campaigning."
At least three candidates accused by the authorities of vote-buying appeared to have won seats. Their cases are still before the courts and if found guilty, they will forfeit them and face several years in jail.
"The Islamists got a slap in the face when it comes to turnout, which was good. But that's not all — Parliament faces huge challenges," said Mohammed Abu Rumman, a researcher at the University of Jordan's Center for Strategic Studies. "It will be weak because it will have many MPs who served in past parliaments, as well as businessmen who used their money to win. These two groups do not have a clear agenda for change."


text:
From KiKi's Catster Photos[ View profile page ]
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CLtwJW tpmtgzwqvyjk
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text:
Alberto Pettarin
I am a freelance software developer interested in high performance computing, speech and NLP technologies, and digital publishing. If you are curious about what I am currently working on, click here.
Previously, I was the (co-founder, CEO, and) Head of Research of ReadBeyond, a research lab developing innovative software for producing, distributing, and enjoying digital contents.
In another life, I was a Research Collaborator at the Department of Information Engineering of the University of Padova, where I got a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science in 2012, for studying random geometric graphs and doing probabilistic analysis of information spreading processes.
I maintain a couple of personal projects, most of them are also on GitHub.
I occasionally write on my blog.
You can get my CV here. Feel free to get in touch.
Need a picture of me? Here you are!


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Courrier to Release "Cathedrals of Color" on March 12
Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:27:45
U2 Photos
U2 Videos
Austin based alt-rockers Courrier will be releasing their sophomore album Cathedrals of Color on March 12.
The record was produced by Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam) and features the top 50 radio single "Love Is a Fire."
For an inside look at the making of the new album and to get acquainted with the band, watch a the clip below the tour dates:
Tour Dates:
2/7 Houston- Fitzgeralds
2/8 Austin- Antones
2/9 Dallas- Prophet Bar
2/10 Live Oaks Bar and Ballroom Monroe, LA
2/12 Atlanta-Vinyl
2/13 Knoxville- Preservation Pub
2/14 Raleigh- Deep South
2/16 NY,NY- Bowery Electric
2/19 Madison,WI- High Noon
2/20 Chicago, IL- Elbo Room
2/21 St. Louis- Ciceros
2/22 Kansas City, MO- The Czar Bar
New music, FIRST, always at ARTISTdirect.com.
Did you check out Courrier? Visit their site at CourrierMusic.com
—Maggie Pannacione


text:
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LumaPower Trust Model-2 LED Flashlight with CREE XP-G R5 450 Lumens - 2 x CR123A or 1 x 18650
- Item #: LUMAPOWER-TRUST-2
- Brand: Lumapower
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| Reg. Price $69.95
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LumaPower Trust Model-2 LED Flashlight
The trained engineers from LumaPower bring you this specially designed Trust Model-2 LED flashlight. Featuring a multitude of features such as the extreme LED at the center of its reflector, durable anodized aluminum housing, and multi-mode smart user interface, this light is sure to be your trusty light cannon. As one of the brightest compact lights on the market, the Trust Model-2 is ideal for campers, fishers, hikers, hunters, and every day users. Keep it in your pocket or in your kitchen drawer for when the power goes out.
Features and Specifications:
The trained engineers from LumaPower bring you this specially designed Trust Model-2 LED flashlight. Featuring a multitude of features such as the extreme LED at the center of its reflector, durable anodized aluminum housing, and multi-mode smart user interface, this light is sure to be your trusty light cannon. As one of the brightest compact lights on the market, the Trust Model-2 is ideal for campers, fishers, hikers, hunters, and every day users. Keep it in your pocket or in your kitchen drawer for when the power goes out.
Exquisitely BrightGet a maximum output of up to 450 lumens from the advanced LED at the center of the Trust Model-2 orange peel reflector for wide area lighting. Now you never have to worry about washing out important details during up close and personal applications. Not only that, but every Trust Model-2 is designed with an anti-reflective glass lens, 2-way removable pocket clip, and an extra long run time.
Durable Construction
Ultra ToughMolded from anodized aluminum, the Trust Model-2 is one tough light. Drop it, dent it, scratch it, or even try crushing it and you won't be disappointed. Fitted with a SMART user interface with 2 modes that are selected by twisting the head, a constant current circuit, and able to support a wide range of voltages, this light is versatile and capable.
Features and Specifications:
- 4 output modes (Ultra/High/Medium/Low) with maximum output at 450 Lumens
- Dimensions (L x D): 5.2" x 1" (13 cm x 2.54 cm)
- SMART UI 2.0 with 2-modes (Constant Ultra + 3 levels) selected by twisting the head
- Full-regulated circuitry with maximum constant forward current @1450mA in Ultra mode
- High efficiency DC-DC engine (PWM / PFM)
- Supports a wide range input voltage from 2.4 to 8.4V; feed with 2 x CR123A, RCR123A or 1 x 18650 (Batteries not included)
- Best runtime with 18650; Ultra to 50% --> 120 minutes; High to 25% --> 425 minutes; 500 Hours Low to Dim
- Type-III HA aluminum body for maximum durability
- Aluminum OP textured reflector for great throw
- AR coated lens for excellent beam transmission
- User Replaceable LED module for future upgrades
- 2-way removable pocket-clip
- Able to tail-stand allowing "candle" mode
- Crenelated (Scalloped) Bezel serves as an impromptu striking surface in a self-defense situation or tactical purpose
- Low operating temperature; no overheating issues
- Well sealed with O-rings that protect the light at all potential points of water entry
|Runtime (Hours):
|Output Modes:
|3+ Brightness Levels
|Compatible Batteries:
|1 x 18650, 2 x CR123A
|Batteries Included:
|Included Accessories:
|Crenelated Bezel
|Flashlight Usage:
|Switch Location:
|Product Certifications:
|Battery Junction 30-Day Warranty, LumaPower 1 Year Warranty
|Return Policy:
|Battery Junction Return Policy
|Primary Material:
|Anodized Aluminum
|Product Weight:
|Product Dimensions:
|5.2" (L) x 1" (Head Diameter)1" (Body Diameter)
|Country of Origin:
LumaPower Trust Model-2 LED Flashlight with CREE XP-G R5 450 Lumens - 2 x CR123A or 1 x 18650
san leandro, CA
3 Stars
Three stars
April 15, 2015
It was a bit expensive for the price of this low lumens. Nitecore or JetBeam at this price would double the lumen powers.
4 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Good torch for the price
December 27, 2014
Certainly very tough and well constructed. Not sure the light output reaches the stated levels but still very bright. Cycling between the output levels is not as easy as many other torches. Also, given the method, is the torch still splash / water proof on the lower setting? It seems maybe not but not confirmed yet. I got mine at an offer price and am satisfied.
Pros:Tough construction built for for some rough usage. It won't let you down. Bright light and good distance
Cons:CR123A batteries are very expensive...and at high output lasting a couple hours this will prove expensive...i'll invest in rechargeable batteries but also costly...
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Great light
May 19, 2014
Love the tint and good run time. Just a tad big for my EDC but, great light.
5 Stars
Good affordable torch.
January 1, 2012
This flashlight offers a lot for under $60. The beam pattern is a little more flood than my Fenix tk10, but every bit as bright. It\'s light weight and good usable pocket clip make it a great backpack light. I\'d really like to know if it has good water resistance but I don\'t want to find out the hard way. This light stays in my pack every day and I walk home from work in the dark often. I like having a light on me that can blind any unfriendly folks, or run for a long time on low power. Lumapower seems to be active in flashlight forums and takes customer input into account. Battery Junction service was good and fast as usual.
5 Stars
love the light BUT!!
December 3, 2011
I just got my Light and it is Frickin Bright! BUT they fail to say in the battery types that if you plan to use the 18650 battery it MUST BE THE BUTTON TOP 18650!!!!!!!! not the flat top 18650 that i recieved, I didn\'t know there where 2 different batteries with the same part# but there is. make sure you buy 18650 \"BUTTON TOP\" cells other than that, it ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 Stars
Love this light.
April 20, 2011
I was in the market for a nice pocket carry light for every day use. This light nailed it. Four different brightness levels. A choice of different batteries. The CR123\'s have worked well. I\'m curious how the light will compare with the use of other battery options but given that CR123\'s can be had @ $1.00 each I doubt I\'ll ever spring for the more expensive batteries unless I find my self in a pinch. I have other lights that throw a better beam but won\'t light up a room nearly as good as this light will. Highly recommend this light
5 Stars
December 8, 2010
This flashlight has good build quality and a decent user interface, and it\'s size is comfortable for the hand too. The beam is relatively tight and the color is a nice white. The brightness you can get depends on the batteries used. With two RCR123A\'s it\'s really bright!
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text:
Всавте tu be ( am/is/are)
See also:
Всавте tu be am/is/are1.Fred and Bess…students. They…good students.2.Rex..my dog. He..big and black.3.Lizzy…a pupil. She…little.4.I…pupil, I
1 Январь 0001 → admin
Всавте tu be ( am/is/are)
1.Fred and Bess...students.They...good students.
2.Rex..my dog.He..big and black.
3.Lizzy...a pupil.She...little.
4.I...pupil,I...not a student.
5.We...not in the park.
6.Where... you?
- .Fred and Bess are students.They are good students.
2 Rex is my dog.He is big and black.
3 Lizzy is a pupil.She is little.
4 I am pupil,I'm not a student.
5 We are.not in the park.
6 6.Where are you?
- 1 are
5 aren't
See also:


text:
Memcache is a basic key value pair, it can be installed as either the standard memcache package or a whole host of drop-in replacements like couchbase , redis or even Amazon's ElastiCache.
Whether it is installed on a dedicated or a shared server, memcache
Usage is fast with gets and sets at 100K per second, and usage is simple with basic commands like get, set, delete and flush.
When the memory is full, it uses a least-recently-used algorithm to evict old items.
Basic php example:
/* connect to memcached server */
$memcache_obj = memcache_connect('localhost', 11211);
$key = 'key';
/* Get our item */
$value = memcache_get($memcache_obj, 'key');
/* Check if the items exists */
if ($value === false){
$value = 'testValue';
memcache_set($memcache_obj, 'key', $value, 0, 30);
echo $value;
WordPress has a built-in object cache not many people know about. By default, it uses non-persistant cache, so it's useless out of the box.
It caches a tons of wordpress queries and settings to reduces the amount of database interaction.
Depending on how it is set up, it can store objects in memory or disk with a variety of different persistent cache plugins.
In this case, we will use memcache as the object cache.
- Download the wordpress Memcached Object Cache
- Move the object-cache.php file to the wp-content root directory
- Add your memcache server to wp-config.php (see Memcache Object Cache readme.txt)
- Pat yourself on the back.
Running some apacheBench tests on a small local apache virtual server:
With no object cache:
Concurrency Level: 1
Time taken for tests: 10.359 seconds
Complete requests: 10
Failed requests: 0
Write errors: 0
Total transferred: 85790 bytes
HTML transferred: 83520 bytes
Requests per second: 0.97 [#/sec] (mean)
Time per request: 1035.879 [ms] (mean)
Time per request: 1035.879 [ms] (mean, across all concurrent requests)
Transfer rate: 8.09 [Kbytes/sec] received
With Object cache turned on
Concurrency Level: 1
Time taken for tests: 2.168 seconds
Complete requests: 10
Failed requests: 0
Write errors: 0
Total transferred: 86750 bytes
HTML transferred: 84480 bytes
Requests per second: 4.61 [#/sec] (mean)
Time per request: 216.781 [ms] (mean)
Time per request: 216.781 [ms] (mean, across all concurrent requests)
Transfer rate: 39.08 [Kbytes/sec] received


text:
"Satellite children" is not, I believe, a familiar term. Today's neologism comes to you from David Wilson Homes, a nationwide house builder currently looking for a family to test a few new concepts in home design. The company is not, it says, looking for the standard two adults and 2.4 children. Which is where the "satellite children" come in - the kind of children who visit only at weekends.
Anyway, you unconventional Guardian types could be responsible for providing future homebuyers with extra-large bathrooms or state-of-the-art potting sheds, or whatever other suggestions for better living might be provoked by your stay in a David Wilson home. You'll even get to experience the joy of electronic tagging (it's a way of establishing which rooms are used the most).
The house at the heart of the experiment already exists in Sheffield, on an estate of newly-constructed, stone-clad homes. But this one is the daddy: a five-bedroom detached, bristling with balconies and punctuated with plentiful solid-sealing PVC windows. It's a demi-palace of sunken baths, split levels and laundry chutes, of en suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes - not quite Footballers' Wives, more Footballers' Wives' Cousins' Sisters Once Removed. Talk about giving the public what it wants. If this isn't design-by-focus-group, I'll eat my Victorian-style conservatory.
The point of your living there would be to see how much fun you have in a hot tub that's situated on the master en suite balcony; whether you actually use the laundry chute from the top floor to the basement utility room; and to revel in the weirdness of occupying something that is neither show home nor real home. And, of course, to see if it brings those satellite children back down to earth.
· Write before August 10 to Project: LIFE, McCann House, Highlands Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4WE (email: email@example.com).


text:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The doubles point and three singles wins gave Northern Arizona a 4-1 win over Weber State in the semifinals of the Big Sky Championship, advancing the Lumberjacks to their first Big Sky final since 2001. Sacramento State swept Montana, 4-0, in the other semifinal to advance to face NAU in the championship match on Sunday afternoon.
NAU has not won the Big Sky Championship since 1997, and with a win on Sunday would advance to its first NCAA Tournament in program history. Sacramento State went 7-1 during the Big Sky regular season, with their only loss coming against Northern Arizona in a 6-1 Lumberjack win in Flagstaff on January 21.
The Lumberjacks earned a pair of doubles wins to open action on Saturday en route to avenging a 4-3 loss at Weber State on April 3. Sophomores Andrew Reiff and Robin Pezzutto picked up an 8-4 win at No. 2 to open the action, and an 8-6 win from freshmen Hugo Ramadier and Kevin Taylor at No. 3 gave NAU the first point of the match.
Weber State would strike first in singles play, as Simon Unger upended Reiff at No. 1, 6-3, 6-1. NAU would bounce back at No. 2, where freshman Patrick Schimmelbauer earned an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win over Weber State's Henning Hipp. Taylor would notch a 6-1 , 7-5 victory at No. 6, putting the Lumberjacks one win away from the team victory. That win would come at No. 5, where junior David Flodberg outlasted Wildcat Cole Patterson, 6-1, 6-4 to seal the victory. Ramadier and Pezzutto were on their way to wins at No. 3 and 4, respectively, as well when the match was clinched and play was stopped.
Both the men's and women's Big Sky Championship final matches will pin Northern Arizona against Sacramento State, with first serve for the men's championship scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats for both matches will be available via the above link and at hornetsports.com.


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I'm not writing my Politics Live blog every day during the summer recess, but we thought some of you who like it because it's somewhere you can catch up with the latest news and find links to good politics blogs and articles on the web would find it useful to have an alternative. That's why, as an experiment, we've been trying a Politics Live – readers' edition.
Please feel free to use this as a place where you can comment on any of the day's political stories, just as you do when I'm writing the daily blog. But what would be particularly useful would be for readers to flag up new material in the comments – breaking news or blogposts or tweets that are worth passing on because someone is going to find them interesting. A lot of what I do on my blog is aggregation – finding the good stuff and passing it on – and you can do this too (as I know, because it happens every day when I'm blogging). We'll pick up the most useful comments and post them above the line.
All today's Guardian politics stories are here, and all yesterday's politics stories, including some in today's paper, are here.
@lucygreenwood has tweeted @GdnPolitics to say:On twitter,
today @38_degrees publish legal opinion on meaning of NHS bill. Gov to abdicate responsibility for NHS.
The legal opinion on campaign group 38 Degrees' website claims:
The bill will remove the duty of the Secretary of State to provide or secure the provision of health services which has been a common and critical feature of all previous NHS legislation since 1946. This is the means by which Parliament ensures the NHS delivers what the public want or expect. Furthermore, a "hands-off clause" will severely curtail the SoS's ability to influence the delivery of NHS care to ensure everyone receives the best healthcare possible.
Our health editor Sarah Boseley has the Guardian's take on the story here. David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, is quoted as saying:
"The so-called 'hands off' clause … removes political accountability, which is the only real control voters have on the way the NHS is delivered. We won't be able to fire people on regulatory bodies or private healthcare companies when things go wrong.
"None of us voted for these fundamental changes to the NHS. They weren't in any party's manifestos, or the coalition agreement, so 38 Degrees members have clubbed together to get legal advice to convince MPs that the changes shouldn't be pushed ahead and that the public's concerns need to be taken seriously."
DustDevil has pointed us to a couple of interesting pieces. The first, from Bloomsberg's George Magnus, argues we need to look back to Marx to make sense of the crisis in the world economy: "The wily philosopher's analysis of capitalism had a lot of flaws, but today's global economy bears some uncanny resemblances to the conditions he foresaw." Specific to the UK, Magnus writes:In the comment section,
We have to sustain aggregate demand and income growth, or else we could fall into a debt trap along with serious social consequences. Governments that don't face an imminent debt crisis -- including the U.S., Germany and the U.K. -- must make employment creation the litmus test of policy. In the U.S., the employment-to-population ratio is now as low as in the 1980s. Measures of underemployment almost everywhere are at record highs. Cutting employer payroll taxes and creating fiscal incentives to encourage companies to hire people and invest would do for a start.
And the user also points to this blog post in New Statesman by Laurie Penny, which argues the anti-choice minority are being allowed to dictate policy.
Please post what stories, blogs and articles have been catching your eye in the comment section below.
The Guardian's John Vidal reported:We have seen discussion of proposed changes to national planning laws.
A planning free-for-all leading to blighted landscapes, urban sprawl, more congestion and an undermining of local democracy is inevitable if the government insists on pushing ahead with proposals for new rules, say the UK's leading conservation, heritage and green groups.
ToshofSuberbaville had this to say:
Here In England, why do I suspect that relaxation of planning laws will only make the rich richer? Land should only be owned and developed by local communities, with profits used to develop and facilitate sustainable lifestyles - not put in the back-pockets of a select few.
We have also had a story brought to our attention from a commenter on our facebook page. Patrick W posted:
My local radio station just reported that owing to falling attendance at Day Care Centres for the Elderly across Cumbria - the County Council is considering passing the centres over to "charities" to run. They don't admit though that this falling attendance is mainly due to the charge for the service having gone up by 10 times what it was before.
In the comments, ado16 provides us with a link to the story from local radio station The Bay's website.
And thanks to LauraOliver, who spotted this story on the PC Pro website: Councils "using broadband cash to feather their own nests".
Thanks for all your comments and links so far. Keep them coming.
legal advice funded by campaign group 38 Degrees concerning the government's NHS reform proposals. JamesWalsh points to this piece on Huffington Post UK, which focused on the impact such campaigns have on MPs:There have been a few more comments on the
Campaign director Hannah Lownsborough told the Huffington Post UK the group were expecting hundreds and thousands emails to be sent to MPs.
"We're certainly hoping that as a result of our emails Conservative MPs will think again about their support for the government's plans for the NHS and we're hoping they will look very, very carefully at the legislation as it goes through the Commons and hopefully make some amendments."Harriet Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire said she had already received four of five within the first hour.
"Since first thing this morning you can start seeing the steady trickle that typifies when they start to ask all their email list to email MPs ... They've obviously kicked off on the latest campaign.
"I very much welcome it, I think it's a very good way of engaging and people who otherwise probably wouldn't have got in touch with their MP get in touch. It would be easier from the point of view of just constituency staff if there were a way that 38 degrees allowed us to do an email reply to everyone. We've asked them from that but they said that's not really what we're trying to achieve."
This is interesting given what parrotkeeper, among others, pointed out in our comment section:
Be aware that some MPs (mine included) refuse to respond to mass emailing by pressure groups so please please please personalise your email.
Thanks again for all your comments and links today.
We're finishing the blog for the day now. Thanks for all the contributions and do feel free to continue to post below the line. We hope you have found this useful and we'll carry on trying this during the recess to see how it goes. Do let us know what you think.


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text:
- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Item Category: Entertainment
- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Jun 27, 2009
- Channel: Auction House
are a set of 10-Vintage Slingerland Radio King nickel bass drum t-rods and claws. These are in perfect working order, none are bent or twisted with the exception of onlyone which has a very small twist at the top but it is very minor. I would say these are in pretty good shape for their age. i think they look better in person than the photos show. I have more parts from this bass drum on auction and gladly combine items into one package to save on shipping. These parts were pulled from an old Vintage Slingerland 14x26 Radio King bass drum with the brass Chicago,ill. U.S.A. badge.SHIPPING TO USA LOWER 48 STATES IS $7.95 ALASKA AND HAWAII IS $13.00 SHIPPING TO CANADA IS $17.00 ALL OTHER INTERNATIONAL IS $22.00 The t-rods are exactly 5" from end to end.


text: STV provided architectural and engineering design services for a 10,000-sf data center with an adjacent 500-sf lab and electrical equipment room for client Agere Systems. The firm prepared complete design including equipment layouts with additional floor space for mechanical and electrical support equipment and circulation aisles, access ramps, and steps included in the room footprints. Clean reliable power was provided for the servers, data storage equipment, and peripherals in the data center by two (N+1) 450kVA UPS and an 800kW standby generator. The air conditioning system was based on 30-ton chilled-water computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units with infrared humidification and electric re-heat coils, and provides conditioned air through a 36-inch high raised access floor.


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Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood is giving back in a big way by making a major donation.
On Thursday, she revealed she is donating $1 million to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
"I have watched the devastation in my home state of Oklahoma over the past several days with great sadness," Carrie said in a statement. "With the help of my fans who attended my concerts over the past year, we can offer the Red Cross a little extra help in comforting those affected by the recent tornados."
PHOTOS: Country Cutie Carrie Underwood
The money comes from the proceeds of Carrie's concert tour - the "Blown Away Tour" - per her rep.
A rep for the Red Cross said Carrie's donation will go far.
PHOTOS: American Idol Alumni: From Kelly Clarkson To Candice Glover
"The impact of the tornados in Oklahoma and the Midwest was devastating and the road to recovery will be long for many families. Through the generosity of Carrie, the American Red Cross can quickly respond with shelter, food and comfort now, and with lasting help as they move toward recovery," Neal Litvack, chief development officer for the Red Cross, said in a statement.
-- Jolie Lash
Copyright 2013 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Please visit our fantastic new website by clicking this link!
Dear All,
It was with great interest that I read Eric's recent article 'What are we doing when we do astrology?' and as I already have a copy of my birthchart I followed up his advice to getting an ephemeris with enthusiasm.
However when I followed this up, it wasn't the simple process I imagined, and I seemed to have far more questions than answers. Which are as follows:
Do I get a ephemeris that covers my year of birth or the current date? Does where you were born and live (the UK in my case) affect which ephemeris one purchases? And why do you need an ephemeris in the first place? And what exactly is an ephemeris? I would be delighted if you could answer one or more of my queries. With thanks,
Cynthia (a Capricorn if you hadn't already guessed!)
Dear Cynthia,
I KNOW THAT I have at least one story about everything except milking a pig, but I do have a funny ephemeris story.
Apparently I wanted to be an astrologer before I knew quite what an astrologer (or an ephemeris) was. Here is how I know. I was in my old attic one day rummaging through stuff, it must have been around 1996, and I unearthed a letter from the first astrologer I ever knew, Flo Higgins.
Apparently I had written to her and said that I was an astrologer or wanted to be an astrologer, and she wrote back and asked me if I had an ephemeris. And I said, "What's an ephemeris?"
Well, she wrote back to me incredulous, and that was the letter I found. "What do you mean you don't know what an ephemeris is? How can you be an astrologer if you don't know what an ephemeris is?" She went on for a while, in this approximate tone.
I'm sure you can imagine, I blushed a bit; I was more capable of embarrassment in those days. At least by that point I was well accepted as an astrologer and solidly devoted to it, with a couple of ephemerides of my own. I wish I had that letter; I would frame it.
The ephemeris is the basic astrological tool. It is literally a schedule of the planets and their movement, with various other bits of information thrown in based on the publisher's or author's fetishes. It does not include your place on the planet; that is the job of an atlas. The ephemeris gives the positions of the planets in space and the atlas helps you morph that data with your local coordinates and from the two you get a horoscope chart.
The world Long. in the ephemeris table on the right (which comes from Raphael's Ephemeris) means longitude, which is the east-west coordinate used to determine a planet's position relative to the Earth; that is, the position in space. You can see the glyphs for the planet across the top; the days go down the left side; you recognize the signs Cancer (for Mercury and Venus) and Aries (for Mars) which are the positions on that particular day. At the top, that month's Full Moon day, time and position are listed. They are listed several other places as well.
As you will read in Wiki, the word ephemeris means daily. Note also that it is an astronomical tool; it is not specifically made for astrologers. But since there are more of us than there are astronomers, we have helped keep them alive during times when they might otherwise have disappeared entirely (notably, plenty of times before the advent of science, which would have sort of delayed the invention of astronomy).
It tells you what planet is in what degree of the zodiac what day; whether it is retrograde, stationary or direct; and most tell you the declination, or height above the celestial equator. Another section of the page is the aspectarian, which tells you what a planet is doing in terms of its aspects to other planets.
The thing about an ephemeris is that you can do anything with it. If you have a good one, you can write a daily horoscope with it. A one-year ephemeris is about 3mm thick, so that is a lot of data in a small place. Prior to computers, they were the only thing an astrologer used to cast a chart, of course, with the exception of math. There is a third part of the ephemeris called the Table of Houses, which is the thing used to calculate the house cusp divisions in the chart. Now, computers do all of this and people are slowly losing the art of casting charts by hand — something that I never learned to do.
The information you get is the same as in a chart, but the chart is a snapshot of time for a single moment, while an ephemeris gives you all the data you need to cast charts for any time for an entire year.
I've given a sample of a few lines from an ephemeris in the graphic above, and a sample of a lunar aspectarian in the graphic below. These are from Raphael's Ephemeris.
They all used to come in the form of a book, usually a thick one. This book is arranged in columns, and down the side is the date and across the top is the planet and you look up the position of a planet like a train schedule, only it's less confusing. There are not certain planets available only on Wednesday night but not on Sunday morning.
I recommend that you get a book, even if you can get the same data online. An online ephemeris can provide much more data (for example, it can list a hundred planets, which a book just cannot do) and do calculations, but it is, I think, vital to both keep tradition intact and also to have at least limited data in a portable format, such as a book. Books also make for easier scanning, but here is an example of a printable monthly ephemeris for just one planet, Chiron, that covers a couple of hundred years.
I recommend a full century one, if you want to study astrology. Because we're near a turn of a century, with most brands of ephemeris this means you need two books, one for the 20th (when most of us were born) and one for the 21st (where most of us are headed, even deeper than we are now). The better ephemerides (pronounced e-femme-a-rides, which is plural for ephemeris) cover periods like 1930 to 2030.
The reason you want a book ephemeris is for ease of research; and so you don't have to be on both a computer and the Internet to do astrology.
There are other book-formats that are single year. The most famous is Raphael's Ephemeris. It is the universally accepted bible of the British astrology world, and it's a good publication. I think they plan to list Chiron in the 2050 edition and Eris in the 2100 edition, but if you can stand having a thing that lists only nine planets, and a lot of other cool stuff, this is something to get. You can obtain them in the United States from the Astrology Center of America. (You can get most other ones there, too, with one notable exception, which I will get to). Here is the ephemeris page from that website. On this page, if you look around, you'll find samples pages from different publications. They also have their own ephemeris.
Raphael's is the only truly notable annual. Eventually you will start collecting. If you ever see them in a used bookstore, buy them all; if you don't know what to do with them, I'll buy them from you.
My favorite of them all is the Aureas Ephemeris. It is published in Paris, around the corner from where I used to live (that is another ephemeris story, I'll save it for another time — it's getting late). You can't get this one in the United States. It's expensive; you can only get it from France or maybe England (try The Astrology Shop in Covent Garden), and if you want to be an astrologer or a serious student, it's worth the approximately $100 it will cost you to have one. The website is extremely cheesy. It's no reflection on the book, which is amazing, which lists new planets, as well as the intensity of eclipses, the Dark Moon and other cool stuff. It's the one I use every single day.
The Rosicrucian Ephemeris is okay, but the printing has become sloppy, and the Rosicrucians believe that astrology should only be done for free. So if you're planning a professional career, I would suggest skipping this one except maybe for your collection. They do list Chiron and I think they have got around to Ceres.
The American Ephemeris is a good one, and it's a landmark — the first to be calculated by computer, by one of the saints of astrology called Neil Michelson. It was the first to list Chiron, way back in the day; and I think the New American Ephemeris (a major revision of the original, by Rique Pottinger) has some asteroids. However, the problem with this publication is that it's split along the turn of the century, so you need two volumes; not a big deal, and I would rate it as second best after Aureas.
Once you have the thing, then what do you do with it? I'll save that question for next week.
Yours & truly,


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Due to the harsh climate, traditional Finnish cuisine included many grains and berries. Today contemporary Finns enjoy a wide variety of modern foods typical of Western Europe. Hunting and fishing are popular in Finland, with fish, moose and deer plentiful, but restaurants also serve reindeer.
A large cabbage
Water, Salt
1/2 cups (1 dl) raw rice
Water, salt
300 g ground beef
The core of the cabbage
1 small onion, grated
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) water
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) cream
salt, black pepper
For frying:
Margarine, or oil
On top:
2 Tbsp syrup
Water or bouillon
1. Cut out the core of the cabbage.
2. Cook the cabbage in salted water until done.
3. Remove the leaves and drain. Pare down the thick base of each leaf.
4. Cook the rice in salted water.
5. Let the breadcrumbs swell in the water and cream mixture.
6. Mix the ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, seasonings, and rice. Dice the core of the cabbage. And add to the ground beef mixture. Season.
7. Spread cabbage leaves on a board. Put 1-2 tablespoons of filling on each leaf. Wrap into little packages.
8. Place the packages side by side in a greased baking dish. Top with a few dabs of butter and pour on syrup.
9. Bake at 425 degrees F (225 degrees C) until slightly brown. Turn and bake some more. Add water or bouillon.
10. Lower the temperature to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Baste and bake for 45-60 minutes.
11. Serve with lingonberry or cranberry jam or fresh puréed berries.
Back to the main Finland page
Finland on Wikipedia
More country Destinations
This page modified January 2007
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text:
China Tiger Moms Turn Guardians of One-Child Policy as Law Eases
Rosa Xia, a 39-year-old mother in Shanghai, is allowed to have a second child. She doesn't think she can afford it.
She reckons a fifth of the 6,000 yuan ($989) a month she earns as a Shanghai nanny goes to her 12-year-old daughter Amy: saxophone and ballet lessons, on top of food and school. Then there's saving for her only offspring's college education.
"She saw people playing saxophone on TV, got interested and asked for lessons. It's expensive, so of course I'd rather she hadn't asked, but I gave it to her anyway," said the migrant worker, who scrimps on clothing and her own meals to give her daughter the chance of a better future.
Doting parents like Xia help explain why China's move to ease family-planning rules is unlikely to reverse falling birth rates that have saddled the country with a shrinking labor pool and aging population.
While lifting the restrictions -- imposed through fines, forced abortions and sterilization -- may prove popular at home and with rights advocates abroad, attempts to unpick the state's meddling with family sizes face roadblocks from Confucian tradition, urbanization and the rising costs and especially expectations wrought by China's economic resurgence.
Following Japan
"The fact is, a huge change in mentality about family, children and future is evident," said Nicholas Eberstadt, a demographer at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based policy group. "China is heading in the direction of other low-fertility East Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan."
Cost is at the forefront of the minds of many parents.
Many baby goods cost more in China than they do in the U.S., partly because of Chinese parents' willingness to pay up for their only progeny. A packet of 114 Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)'s Pampers Baby Dry diapers sells for 309 yuan on China's Tmall.com website, about 12 percent more than a similar product on Wal-Mart's online site in the U.S. Abbott Laboratories (ABT)' Similac Advance formula for babies younger than one costs 199 yuan on Tmall.com, 40 percent more than in the U.S.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in late November approved rules that allow couples to apply for permission to have a second child where either parent is an only offspring. That loosened the policy that allowed a second baby if both parents are only kids.
China introduced the one-child policy in 1979 after the population jumped more than 70 percent in the three decades following the Communist Party's civil war victory, even as the economy stagnated.
In fact, annual population growth was already in decline. It had dipped below 1 percent five years earlier and hasn't breached the mark since -- this year, it will expand 0.45 percent to 1.36 billion people, according to U.S Census Bureau estimates. Japan's population will shrink for a sixth year; South Korea and Taiwan's will grow less than 1 percent.
Fewer, More Success
"They share common cultural values that place enormous emphasis on the success of their children," said Wang Feng, a sociology professor at University of California, Irvine. "Chinese parents want their children to be successful, and they do this by having fewer and investing in them."
Such aspirations have thrown up a group of so-called tiger moms, made famous by author Amy Chua in a book describing strict, disciplinarian Chinese mothers.
The corollary is inflation, both in the money and the time it takes to rear a child as parents wage an arms race to secure the best of the limited opportunities available -- raising the barrier to entry for a second child.
For example, to get into a good school, many parents pay a large "sponsorship fee" or buy an apartment in the area. To make them stand out, kids are signed up for expensive or unusual activities -- Xia proudly related how her daughter was top of her class in origami.
Fierce Competition
"Fierce competition and the social eagerness to get ahead or at least to stay on par with peers -- especially on things symbolizing success, such as house, car and other consumption goods -- are still the main forces that drive Chinese society," said Cai Yong, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina.
Urbanization -- long established globally as an effective contraception -- is magnifying the effect. As more and more children enter cities, their parents are forced into competition for limited resources, Cai said. In Shanghai, the reported fertility level is 0.7 births per woman per lifetime.
Xinhua News Agency website reckons it costs 2.76 million yuan to take a child from birth to college in Beijing. The report on the state-owned news organization's website cited an informal survey and calculations suggesting that a husband and wife earning the average per capita income would need to work for 23 years without eating and drinking to afford it.
Daughters Please
More than half the about 900 respondents in a separate informal survey after the policy announcement carried out by the Internet portal Sina said they wouldn't have have a second child because the financial stress was too great.
The cost of bringing up a son is also turning a long ingrained Confucian preference for male children on its head.
In Shanghai, where men are expected to own their own home before they get married, daughters are becoming more popular, a government poll of 1,005 city residents showed in November. Almost 45 percent said they would feel less burdened with a girl as there would be no pressure to buy a house.
Even on the farm, where the extra hands that come with big families were once seen as a bonus, attitudes are changing. Wu Dehui, a 52-year-old asparagus farmer from Anhui province, said the eldest of his three sons chose to stop at one child.
One's Enough
"These days, you have to send children to kindergarten, buy them all sorts of snacks and stuff," said the tanned and small-built farmer with pronounced wrinkles around his eyes. "In my day, you never needed to do that."
Sons are also expected to splurge on weddings these days, making them too expensive to raise, Wu and his wife said.
Ultimately, China's system of residence permits, or "hukou," may be the biggest added cost for migrant workers such as Shanghai-based nanny Xia. She sets aside about 2,000 yuan each month for unexpected medical bills, as the Jiangsu province native and her daughter are excluded from health and education benefits card-carrying Shanghai city residents get.
"With a child, you really need to plan and budget," says Xia, who won't spend more than 100 yuan on blouses so she can save for Amy's education and medical costs. "I want a second child, I just can't afford one."
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Liza Lin in Shanghai at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Wong at email@example.com


text:
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Dear BMW...
I'm very eager for your electric cars to widely available...
but I wanted to make sure you learn from the amazing job Tesla's done
resist any urge to do anything remotely like Fisker!
Thanks! :)
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So I got a COBB AP a few days before my birthday which was October 10th, (AP was a gift) then 2 days ago I used some birthday cash and ordered myself a nice set of weathertech window visors, hopefully those arrive soon. But I was thinking, maybe it's time I order some sway's to tighten up my handling a bit.
What I'm looking for :
-I just turned 18 so I don't mind a harsh ride (although I do take trips to upstate new york(2 1/2 hour ride), down the shore (hour and a half) and to Vermont (4-5 hours) This being said, i don't mind a decently harsh ride, but i don't want it to feel like i have no suspension and I'm feeling every little imperfection in the road.
-I want the car to 'lock' into a turn, The other day me and a buddy were going down this 'highway' type road near my town, which has some nice curves to it, and as I was coming around the curves I could completely feel the car body roll, I want it to be a little more stiff
***** - Not looking to spend alot of money, I just want something people can back up and give input on, but don't want some cheap crappy part.
Thanks for any input.
P.S. Idk how hard these are to install, I'd probably try and tackle it myself (I got race ramps to I can install them with the suspension under load, which i read is a must)


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I want to get my girl a tablet and pen device for editing photos. Shes quite the photog. I want to get her something that wont disappoint her or my wallet. I have my eye on the VisTablet 12". Ita around 90 dollars and seems like a good product, but the reviews are all over the map. Some love it, some hate it. Does anyone have any input on these products???
Here is a link if you so desire to take a look.


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Yes sir, I would like that a lot assuming I can mount it to my existing piping with little/no modification. I can get measurements this weekend most likely.
Yes sir, I would like that a lot assuming I can mount it to my existing piping with little/no modification. I can get measurements this weekend most likely.
Cool. I'm going to try and have a vendor conduct the GB on AZ in all the 1.8t and 2.0t sub-forums to generate interest. I only contacted Dan at RAI so far. If he says he can't do it, then it's onto the next. Hopefully he will be able to do it, though.
Anyways, going to wait for those dimensions. Matter of fact, mind getting me the core height and length dimensions while you are at it. Along with that, end tank to end tank. This will help me decide what size to have the core made in. Once I get those I'll figure out exact dimension specs, pricing, payment process, time frame for delivery, shipping prices, warranty, etc. I asked Mike Hood about this, and he said I should size it between the ER Comp and Racetek. So, 500hp seems the right medium ground.
Only thing I see you needing to do to make this work with your piping is make a new mounting bracket, and transition couplers from whatever size piping you currently have to the 2.5" inlet/outlet I plan on having this intercooler made. That is assuming I can get the dimensions close to Racetek size, minus width. But I am really aiming to make this cool IATs of a 500hp turbo application. Might be the last one you may ever end up needing as long as you own your car.
Last edited by Seerlah; 05-07-2012 at 08:46 PM.
Ya, if I did it I would only want to do it once more with the exception of increasing the piping size later on. acket is not a problem as I made my current set in an afternoon anyway; I just don't want to re-route piping or trim the bumper any more. I will get all dimensions for you as soon as I can...my car is just back on the road after finally having the hanger bearing replaced, as well as the driveshaft CVs and having it balanced. I get to drive it for the first time in pretty much 3 weeks tonight.
I also installed my mounts with the exception of the snub (ran out of time), so I will try to get that done this weekend or next.
How that Stern driver's side mount treating you? I hear those are harsh.
To install or how does it drive? The install wasn't bad at all, I had to install the bolt upside down though. I am going to pick it up now though so I'm not sure how it drives yet. The car has been at my buddies shop since I put the mounts in on Sunday.
I meant the ride quality. I installed 034 SD mounts all around when I installed my turbo kit roughly a month and a half ago. No complaints on my end. Prior to that, only had 034 snub mount with cage and stock mounts. I have other drivetrain upgrades, though. Stern Power Ring and Stern rear diff carrier mount bushings. Not sure about the Power Ring, but I'm about positive you have the same rear diff carrier mount bushings. Only reason I went this route is because I came across a deal for them, and figured "why not?". If I had to piece together the mount setup myself, it would be:
Stern soft motor mounts
Stern passenger's side tranny mount
034 TD driver's side tranny mount
034 snub mount with cage
I have the power ring, and yes I also have the rear carrier mounts (stern). There is a slight vibration at idle and a little bit in the pedal while cruising; but they still have to settle and I also have yet to install the snub (I think there is still come movement there.)
The 034 mount is really the way to go, with their snub mount cage. It really permits little to no movement. Unless a company makes a snub mount to fit the casing of the stock bracket (meaning molded to fill it completely)with maybe 1-2mm between the mount and the entire inner wall of the bracket, there is no comparison.
And a vendor on AZ said he will be glad to help with the GB. By AZ guidelines, a paying sponsor has to conduct the GB. So, as soon as I can get specs of the intercooler figured out, I'm going to call Treadstone up and work out the details. Then, the ball for these front mount intercooler should be rolling.
I have a tweaked BF SMIC for my GT2871R (changed outlet to 2.5" with custom 2.5" aluminum TB inlet pipe), and the IATs get up there. I placed a sovereign IAT gauge onto the cold side piping before the TB to monitor my system and today I was easily hitting 145*F (~63*F) with it being roughly 65*F (~18*C) ambient temp. My Vag Com cable acts like a little b*tch and does not like to record at times, so I have yet to be able to log my ignition timing. But with IATs like this, that can't be good. My next step is the Bosch FSI 2.0 ignition coils with IE adapters and better front mount with proper sized piping. Better combustion and better cooling efficiency of air intake temps should make my car much much happier. Once summer hits, my current setup will be far from optimal.
The Racetec seems to do ok, but then I haven't done many runs in a row to cause a heat soak situation.
From what I read my current APR snub mount is known to be crap, so I can't wait to get the stern one in (bought it as a package) and TBH I am not 100% sold on the quality of 034s mounts. I can feel the motor rock on the shifter now because everything else is locked, lol.
The stern mounts also cause a little vibration at cruising speeds, just enough to massage my foot. haha. I figure once they settle it will relax a bit.
I'll more than likely end up getting the Stern units in the future, but not yet. As for current, they suit me just fine. There have been quite a few testings on the Racetek, and it really isn't suitable for the GT2871R. For one, the piping on the kit poses a restriction issue. Then there is the whole actual efficiency of the core. I mean it works, but not like other units such as the 400hp Garrett core. The latest confirmation was by AZ member flynnr who is also running the GT2871R with the Racetek. He switched to a different intercooler (can't recall which one he picked up) and already picked up roughly 300rpm quicker spool. That's just in spooling. Cooling of IATs and top end power is something else.
Last edited by Seerlah; 05-08-2012 at 05:03 PM.
Just to throw it out there he picked up a treadstone unit tr11 (I think) and upped his piping size
I figured out what dimensions I want to roll with, Geoff. No need to measure for me. Some details.
Core: 22x10x2.5 (what I already told Treadstone) or 22x10.5x2.5
End to End: 29.xx inches
Offset from bottom of inlet/outlet lip to bottom of intercooler: 3"
Inlet/Outlet: 2.5" with diverter casted into the end tanks like on their TR8/10 models to distribute airflow throughout the intercooler core
Hangers: On side like the TR8/10 model
Price: Below $200 a pop before shipping with 10+ buyers
The lead time is a while. I first need to send him a $500 refundable deposit to have the end tanks cast, since they are aluminum molded and not sheet metal welded. That $500 is so they don't lose money if I flake. Once the GB is complete, I get the $500 back. He said it will take roughly 3 months for the mold to be made, and 4-5 month total. So, going to sell my Greddy intercooler I have laying around towards deposit for the mold to get the ball moving (mees a broke guy). If it was to be a hold on a credit card, I would have already paid. But it is a cash deposit needed. Anyways, that's an update.
I'm 100% in. How do those dimensions compare to the racetec model?
The measurements of the actual core of the Racetek is 18x10(really 9 7/8)x2. That equates to 360 cubic inches. My Boost factory side mount is 384 (or maybe 386) cubic inches, just to give you an idea. The core I want to use is 22x10x2.5 and that equates to 550 cubic inches. I am guesstimating it is efficient anywhere from 450-500hp. I will ask Jason at Treadstone next time I talk to him. But it is def efficient for the GT2871R. And the beauty of it is it will fit behind the stock bumper rather nice, if I took the measurements correctly. Placed measure tap to my car, and everything seems like it would be legit.
I am also going to ask one of my friends to front me the money for a couple months (just give him back the refundable deposit after all is said and done). Should not be that big of an issue. If he can do it, then it makes the transition that much easier.
Last edited by Seerlah; 05-09-2012 at 02:30 PM.
New pics from last night:
Looks so good! I miss my stupid car
Llllloooooovvvvvveeeeeee it.
- c a r -
Thank you sirs. More from last night:
I don't see how your brother doesn't get dizzy or fall when Hea running around with his light. Lol
Who knows...
pics made boner. true story bro.
Who knows...
I will see about bringing them, it's a lot of equipment to lug around.
I will definitely be shooting again though, hopefully a bunch more private shoots, I enjoy those, helps me to see everyones car in a different way then walking around it at a show.
I feel like I wasted your time last year as the car wasnt all that nice enough to shoot. Hopefully it meets some standards.
Geoff or Matt- Have you guys decided where you're staying at this year down there?
Who knows...


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Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn Spears is the younger sister of pop sensation Britney Spears. Jamie Lynn Spears is not planning on marrying the babies father Casey Aldridge and is now dating James Watson. Jamie Lynn Spears plays Zoey on her Nickelodeon show Zoey 101.
Her sister Britney visited last weekend for a family baby shower. And now, Jamie-Lynn Spears was spotted heading off to another fete in honor of her yet-to-be-born child.
Sporting a multicolored summer dress with her bikini tan lines showing, the heavily pregnant "Zoey 101" star was spotted gassing up as she made her way to a party given by members of fiancee Casey Aldridge's family in McComb.
Wearing a snug yellow t-shirt, Jamie Lynn Spears was out running errands in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana on Thursday afternoon (April 10).
The Zoey 101 star made a trip to Connie's Jewelry & Gifts, where she reportedly was getting her engagement ring resized due to her swelling finger.
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It's been a rather profound time in Jamie Lynn Spears' life as of late. First she announced that she's expecting a baby, then she got engaged, and today she says goodbye to 'sweet sixteen.'
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Hiding her baby bump under a navy hooded sweatshirt, Jamie Lynn Spears popped out on Tuesday (April 1) for a grocery shopping trip to Blalock's Food Center.
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Clad in an oversized t-shirt with the words "Phat Lady" on it, Jamie Lynn Spears was spotted out running errands in Kentwood on Monday afternoon (March 31).
The Zoey 101 star flashed her engagement ring for all to see as she made a quick pit stop for gas, then heading to the local church to switch cars.
We were all shocked when Jamie Lynn Spears announced that she was expecting a baby with boyfriend Casey Aldridge. And now the soon-to-be-parents are reportedly engaged.
According to People magazine reports, the "Zoey 101" actress has been rocking a new engagement ring as of late, hanging out with friends and family around Louisiana and Mississippi.
Pregnant women have a tendency to crave specific foods throughout their term. And apparently Jamie Lynn Spears had a hankering for some Mexican food last night.
The "Zoey 101" actress was spotted leaving the Mexican Restaurant in Kentwood, Louisiana last night with a gal pal. And she was doing her best to camouflage her baby bump.
She's been pretty shy when it comes to public outings as of late, but Sunday afternoon Jamie Lynn Spears emerged from her Kentwood, Louisiana home to attend a little league baseball game.
As the "Zoey 101" actress has progressed in her pregnancy, she's become more reclusive. But according to an inside source, she's been trying to spend more time with her friends.
Wrapping up for the chilly Mississippi weather, Jamie Lynn Spears paid a low-key visit to the the Crisis Pregnancy Center a few days back.
Accompanied by the support of a female friend for the outing, Jamie Lynn looks to be taking the appropriate steps as she readies to give birth in the late spring/early summer timeframe.
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Ellen Pompeo: Whole Foods Hottie
Keeping up with her weekend routine, Ellen Pompeo was spotted out running errands in Hollywood, California on Sunday morning (March 28).
Dressed casually in a grey v-neck top with jeans, the "Grey's Anatomy" actress hit up the local Whole Foods for her household grocery needs.
In related news, Miss Pompeo recently chatted with Self magazine about packing on a few pounds since her pregnancy with daughter Stella, telling, "I went up a pants size. I was in size 25 jeans and went to 26. I gained 26 pounds. Now, after the baby, I weigh 10 pounds more than I ever have."
Not worried about the added weight, Ellen continues, "I love it, because everyone always told me I was too skinny before, and I thought, Oh, God, what if there are 14-year-olds who think I'm not eating, and then they don't eat? Do I have a responsibility? But really, I don't care if people think I'm too skinny. This is my body. If they don't like it, screw it. [My weight] doesn't matter to me. I have a healthy baby."
Enjoy the pictures of Ellen Pompeo out at Whole Foods (March 28).
Photo Credit: FlynetOnline.com


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I must have missed that section in the What to Expect books on
how to react when your child comes home from school with a Ziploc
bag filled with squid parts in his backpack.
"Um, what in the world is this?" I asked as I gingerly held the
package at arm's length.
"The stuff from inside the squid we dissected in science,"
replied Zachary as nonchalantly as if they were gym clothes. "Nick
and I divided up the parts. Aren't they cool?"
Wonderful. Half of the pieces from a real-life game of
Operation: The Sea Creature Edition. I examined the contents
through the plastic. Was that an eyeball? Do squid have
I agreed to let the squid remains sit on our kitchen counter
(bagged, of course), but after three days, the unwanted guest had
to go. The kitchen was starting to smell like the dumpster behind
Red Lobster.
You would think by the time my son had reached sixth grade I
would be done with backpack surprises. Long past were the days of
insects collected at recess that, to Zachary's chagrin, didn't make
it to his house alive. Likewise, he gave up turning his backpack
into a personal quarry sometime during second grade. Nowadays, the
bag just feels like he's hoarding rocks because he insists on
bringing home every one of his textbooks. No, he's not that
diligent of a student; he's afraid he'll forget an assignment and
end up with the worst of middle school horrors-homework
The days of trying to clean an inch of orange frosting from his
front flap after he's discovered that leftover Halloween party
cupcakes do not travel well may be over, but I can only imagine
what new items will appear in the years ahead.
Just as his backpack designs have transformed from Clifford the
Big Red Dog to Star Wars to plain black, someday I'll probably be
seeing college applications instead of field trip permission forms
and pink paper with a girl's phone number on it rather than torn
notebook paper featuring sloppily penned strategy a fellow
11-year-old has provided for an Xbox game they both love.
And I'll probably wish I could unpack squid parts again.
Beth Braccio Hering is a freelance writer who lives and works in South Elgin.
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Anniversary Gift Baskets ›
57 items found
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