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Saturday, January 16, 2010
Winter: The Beautiful and the Damned Difficult
In my own neighborhood, winter is quite beautiful as well. The snow, the bare trees, the crisp air, that somewhat surreal quality of light - I love it all.
What I don't love so much, is winter cycling. Sorry, I really am trying. But I just don't love it. The combination of how time consuming it is to get my clothing just right and how much more vigilant I have to be of the road conditions, adds stress and sucks much of the joy out of it for me. I still cycle, but unless the day is exceptionally warm, it has become an activity that I do mostly out of necessity. I look at Dottie's pictures and narratives on Let's Go Ride a Bike, and I am in awe on a number of levels. But not everyone's experience is the same, and I think that's okay. I have the right wool, the right boots, the right bike - but most of the time I still do not find it easy or enjoyable. If this disappoints some readers or says something terrible about my character, then so be it, but I prefer to be honest.
A couple of weeks ago, Un Vieux Velo humorously pointed out the "competitive winter cycling" phenomenon that was spreading through the blogs and flickr after the Christmas blizzard, and to some extent I do think it's true that we - perhaps unconsciously - sometimes try to outdo each other (Coming Up Next Week: "My blizzard was blizzardier that your blizzard! And I biked to work in a bikini!").
But jokes aside, I do feel some responsibility if I present an unrealistic image. Despite the snowy scenes I show, I do not mean to pretend that I am a stoic winter cyclist. Quite often I am miserable. If my destination is close enough I prefer to walk. And while I don't drive myself (don't like it), the Co-Habitant does, and for a number of reasons we use the car much more often now than during the warmer seasons. And that's perfectly fine with me.
If you love winter but don't love winter cycling, I think the only thing to do is just to let it go and not try to combine the two. You cycled only twice this week? Fine. No need to feel bad. Enjoy taking a walk around the neighborhood instead. Or forget the bike and go skiing, if that's your thing. Or sit by the fire place reading cycling magazines and watching the snow out of the window, if that's what makes you happy. It's all about improving the quality of your life, rather than proving a point. Happy Winter, and enjoy it in any way you like.
36 comments:
Thanks for this! I wish that more people would acknowledge that not all of us ride on the same level. I've been getting into this with people I know in real life who seem to think that if I'm displeased with local street conditions, that there must be something wrong with me. On days when the bike lanes are cleared of snow, or mostly cleared, I tend to love it. But when I'm trying to navigate around chunks of ice, frozen solid mounds of snow in the street, parked cars, and moving cars, I can get into a mood quick. Sometimes, mentally, it's just easier to walk than to get on the bike when the streets are slushy.ReplyDelete
Good point. What is it about bicycles that make people so competitive?ReplyDelete
"If this disappoints some readers . . ."ReplyDelete
I wasn't aware it was my place to expect anything of you.
". . .or says something terrible about my character . . ."
Perhaps, but:
". . . then so be it . . ."
There ya go.
"I prefer to be honest."
Always the best policy if you aren't absolutely certain you can remember and get away with an artful lie.
You are absolutely correct, you know. Out of the 5 years I have been cycling again, and the now 3 years I have been bike commuting, this is the FIRST Winter I have braved. Prior to this year (09/10) I was a bit of a cold weather wimp... yes yes, me Mr. out in 2 degrees... I used to not go out on the bike if it dipped below 40.ReplyDelete
The only reason I am riding through this Winter is to prove something to myself, not to "outdo" anyone else. Trust me, I am in complete acceptance when it comes to the fact there are others who will pedal faster, in more adverse conditions, wearing less, and more often than I, regardless of whether conditions.
Oh yes, I ride in the horrid cold, snow, and wind... but my rides for pleasure are very few and far between. My decision to continue to bike commute is more due to my primal hatred of public transportation! ;)
So no worries about not cycling much come the cold and snow; if you don't like riding in the Winter... don't ride! My take on it is if you force yourself to ride too much and you don't enjoy it, you might get to resent it... and later associate that dislike with ALL cycling.
One day you might want to, maybe you won't... but no matter; you don't now. So don't! Spring will be here eventually (I hope!)
Bicycling should never feel like an obligation or proving something, that could just make it joyless. If you don't like winter riding, you don't. Nothing wrong with that.ReplyDelete
I don't like riding in 95° heat with 98% humidity (and it's 110° on the asphalt). I don't like spending 15 minutes drying off and changing clothes in an office restroom for a 20 minute meeting. So, lacking resonable transportation options in Orlando, I drive my car a lot more in the summer.
Fil, I love your transparency, not so much about winter, or winter riding, but about the competitiveness, or one up-manship of the bike writing. Face it, it is just "macho". I am drawn to cycling because it simplifies my life in a few ways. If the snow and ice are thick, what more simple way to get around than walking. Down here in Texas it isn't snow and ice, it is rain. I hate riding in the rain, so I get in the truck. Stay warm.ReplyDelete
- jon caradiesJanuary 16, 2010 at 6:10 PM
I couldn't agree more. Just because you can rideReplyDelete
in the dead of winter doesn't mean you always
want to. Also all the attention to all the special
winter gear i.e. the perfect gloves,tires,boots,
bikes, wool, types of wool, just smacks of the same
tech nerd scene as the roadie aero dynamic
sunglasses and lycra.
To each their own,
I guess I'm just thinking that biking is supposed
to be fun.
I like your new mast
Jon C.
Coming Up Next Week: "My blizzard was blizzardier that your blizzard! And I biked to work in a bikini!"). Snortle!!ReplyDelete
Lovely snow pics though. Don't blame you for not riding; if you're not comfortable riding in the snow, the bike police won't force you to.:-)
Ah, you are so right. Great post. Not everybody likes to cycle in the ice and snow - I had a day off the bike last week because of the snow (although, that said, the bus I took instead 'to save time' actually took 3 times as long as normal and was jam-packed full and just horrible, so I got back on my two wheels the following day, just because I knew it couldnt be any worse than the bus!). You are so right about the competitiveness as well - it seems to happen in real life as well, amongst my friends who cycle (all of whom are guys and seemed genuinely shocked that I had braved the weather last week - nearly as shocked as they were that I knew how to change an inner tube, in fact....!).ReplyDelete
I've really enjoyed the snowy cycling most of the time though and it's still been the quickest way for me to get from A to B, but it's definitely not been the same sort of enjoyment as normal! You really have to pay attention to everything and everyone all the time, and start braking a lot earlier too. It's hard work!! And it's scary knowing that if someone comes out unexpectedly at a junction, you might just not be able to brake in time on the icy roads when it's snowing and your brakes are therefore all wet. A man actually died in London last week when he came off on an icy street and hit his head on the tarmac. That was sobering. And our weather hasn't even been anything approaching extreme by your standards - I'm not at all sure I'd be going out in what you have going on there!!
That said, I do enjoy cycling when it's crisp and cold and just gently snowing - the roads here really empty out when the weather is bad and it's just very serene and quiet and beautiful, London feels like a new city and the trip feels like a great adventure!
I say keep salting the roads. I am willing to tolerate any damage to equipment, bikes and cars so long as the roads stay ice free. I wouldn't ride if I constantly encountered black ice, but it's been very well plowed and maintained thus far this winter in Boston & Cambridge.ReplyDelete
I'll be honest too. I love, love, love, love winter cycling. I can't get enough of it. I do it for at least an hour and a half each day. I just love being outside when everyone else is hiding, crispy winter evenings in the city, warm lights that make downtown look like a forest of Christmas trees, blankets of fresh snow, peeking into peoples' warm homes ;) , drinking hot chocolate when I get home. I won't pretend that I can understand how someone might not like it. I accept it, but I don't understand it.ReplyDelete
BTW, I positively refuse to use any special gear on my bike or on me. (Except for wool socks. Can't do without those!)
Giffen - Thank you for your acceptance : ) And I also like the way downtown looks in the winter; those lights create a magical atmosphere. I am envious of you cycling at least an hour and a half each day; perhaps next year that will be me.ReplyDelete
One thing I notice, is that I find it a lot less stressful to cycle in the winter with the experienced Co-Habitant than on my own. So it would be neat to have a "winter mentor" programme, where a more experienced cyclist leads a less experienced one on a winter ride that the less experienced cyclist would not have been able to take on their own. Just daydreaming here - but imagine a virtual bulletin board where cyclists post "Mentor wanted/ Mentor available" ads, listing the routes they wish to take and the day...
MDI, while i'd love not to worry about riding on black ice and slushy snow, salting roads does more than corrode bikes and cars (and public infrastructure, like bridges). it also damages ecosystems, and has other negative biological effects on wildlife. sure, there's an argument to be made for public safety, and also for economic continuity (can't slow down capitalism because of a bad storm!). however, it's mother nature, and maybe we should all take a cue from her and seek alternatives to our transportation habits when the weather turns foul and dangerous. as much as i appreciate an ice-free ride to work, and also think that salting is a necessary safety measure, i do wish that municipalities would cut back on their excessive salt usage. studies have shown that the necessary amounts of de-icing chemicals for effectively clearing roadways is orders of magnitude less than some towns use.ReplyDelete
Filigree, interesting idea with the mentor thing. I've long believed that the best way to learn how to cycle around a city is to do it with a seasoned local. Here's a little trick which I often use in new cities: Follow around cyclists who look like they know what they are doing. Not for long enough to creep them out, but for 5-10 minutes or so. You'll learn all sorts of cool tricks. For example, that's how I discovered that Summer St. can be used to get to South Boston by bike. Okay, I hope this doesn't sound too creepy.ReplyDelete
I agree with somervillain, to the extent that if the chemicals are synthetic I would prefer limited treatment. Have a look at Silent Spring and Our Stolen Future to understand this point of view. However, ideally I would prefer it if they developed a non-harmful treatment instead, especially as not all areas can count on non-car and non-bike transportation.ReplyDelete
When we lived in NH, the roads there were somewhat plowed, but not salted nearly as much as here. This was not for environmental reasons I suspect, but rather for financial ones. Everyone where we lived owned a 4WD, us included, as this was the only way to get around. Still, I got in a very scary accident driving home from work one evening, as a result of road conditions. Not to mention the number of near-accidents, when the car would start "pinballing" on the winding road that were part of our daily commutes. So often it is a choice between immediate safety concerns and the generational safety from contamination. How to choose?
filigree, silent spring is the book that has most influenced the way i think about the world around me!ReplyDelete
somervillain - An acquaintance of mine who used to work for the EPA introduced me to these books. The information in them is something I had always independently suspected, but never realised that for decades there had been research to confirm it. It does change the way one views the world.ReplyDelete
Astroluc - Fear and loathing of public transportation is a big reason I continue to cycle in the winter. I don't like crowds, and the feeling of dozens of people pressing against me in an underground tunnel is just too much.
giffen -Following cyclists around in my neighborhood would mean blowing red lights and stop signs!
just to clarify about road salts and other de-icing chemicals: they don't have to be synthetic to be bad. the best de-icer (and the one that is most widely used) is plain old table salt, but just because it's naturally occurring doesn't mean it doesn't wreak havoc to the ecosystem!ReplyDelete
You must mean this:ReplyDelete
Road Salt Turns Streams Toxic.
As much as I support public transportation, and love it in other countries, I *hate* the T. I ******* hate the T. The waiting is the worst thing. Poor temperature control (cold, windy bus stop, Park St. oven, hot bus, cold train, etc.) is the second worst. Then there is the disrespect. The smells. The noise. The scenery of blank and angry walls. The COST!!! It's so damn expensive nowadays. I will do anything, ride my bike in any weather, just to avoid taking the T. I curse the years I relied on it before discovering the wonders of two wheels.ReplyDelete
I appreciate this post. I read your blog often and sometimes I feel jealous that I dont have the will power to get out and ride in teh snow. I commute in good weather (non-snow) but my husband commutes rain or shine/snow or not. but to hear it from someone else that it isnt always possible or that enjoyable to commute in the snow I dont feel so bad now. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Yeah, I like your approach. Winter cycling is only good when you can enjoy it a little bit. No need to force it. But I think it comes naturally and after a few years it gets easier as one is more aware of how to dress and how to cycle in certain conditions. Still more exhausting than in the summer. And kind of depressing when there is a lot of slush on the streets and the sky is gray. Well, not to much snow and slush in Vienna, anyhow. Mostly dry roads, and so cycling in the winter is not that hard :).ReplyDelete
Thanks for this - and for the lovely snowy pictures.ReplyDelete
I do love hearing about intrepid cyclers through snow and ice. They're an inspiration. But I want to keep my longtime simple enjoyment of just riding for the fun of it and the eco-sense (-nomic and -logical). And not start to feel guilty or less than authentic as a rider because I sometimes choose the car or walk instead.
p.s. I'm still eagerly awaiting your test ride of the Electra Ticino?
giffen-- i agree with you about the more undesirable aspects of the T, and compared to practically any urban rail system in europe it fails miserably. on the other hand, also consider that it's probably the second best system in the US (next to NYC), and is a fraction of the price of the NYC subway system. in fact, the T is the cheapest urban transit system in the country when you buy a monthly charlie card-- $59/month for unlimited train and bus service. i'm probably also a bit biased toward the T since i'm spoiled with only ever having to use the red line-- arguably the most reliable line in the whole system. (i'm also biased towards it because my company gives free charlie cards to discourage car commuting, so i ride the T for free). but if i have to rely on the green line or the bus system regularly, i'd probably start describing the T with various obscenities as well.ReplyDelete
oh man, i hear ya! i have yet to get back on the bicycle since i've been home (over a week!) and i'm feeling mighty guilty, but it is seriously slushy and icy out there and it takes so long to get suited up in all the layers.ReplyDelete
i'm looking forward to more bike commuting when school starts (always better than the bus), but you're totally right--it is way less fun to be freezing your ass off.
I loathe winter. We call it the season of complaints at our house. Truly, I am happiest when it's at least 80 degrees out. YET. I love cycling in the winter. Weird.ReplyDelete
Filigree - Thank you for saying what needed to be said (and saying it quite well too). Cycling isn't always easy or fun or carefree. Sometimes it actually takes quite a bit of effort both mentally and physically. The sad part is just saying so will undoubtedly raise the ire of certain bikes-as-fashion purists. Funny, isn't it? It's like a religion, and you just don't mention the elephant in the room lest you be cast out.ReplyDelete
BTW ---- I lo-o-o-o-ove winter riding, but I certainly understand why others don't like it.
Beautiful pictures and great post! I love your honesty - I think it's particularly helpful for those newer to riding (like me, for example) to know it's okay to not force yourself to ride. Sometimes it's possible, but just not practical or pleasant. I'm finally realizing that's okay and I don't need to put myself through the throes of guilt everytime I feel that way.ReplyDelete
imaginary bicycle - I've been looking through my images and realise that I erased the ones of me riding the Electra Ticino, so I won't be writing a formal test ride report after all. But I posted my thoughts on your wordpress blog (you have 2 blogs now!). Hope they're helpful.ReplyDelete
Krista - My husband commutes in the snow as well. All things considered, he still finds it easier than driving to work, because the parking situation there is crazy. And he finds it easier than public transportation, because the closest T stop is a 10+ minute walk from our house anyway. But he is also much more athletic than me and a more experienced cyclist - so even cycling in a blizzard is within his comfort zone. That's very cool and I admire it, but I'm just not at that level yet.
CrankyPants - I certainly did not intend to evoke ire, and I hope that's not the case. I honestly admire both Dottie from Let's Go Ride a Bike (I would ask her for one of these photos to have as a poster for my wall, but fear that she might misinterpret!) and my own husband, whose winter pursuits are quite authentic. I wish I were at their level and also found the whole thing easy. But I'm not and I don't. So I just wanted to point out that there are many experiences out there, and how "easy" or "difficult" something is, is a very subjective thing.ReplyDelete
I sometimes think of how competitive I once was about my cycling and equipment, even long after I stopped racing. Let me tell you, it's been really nice to lose that!ReplyDelete
That said, I do have a reason why I haven't ridden in the snow we've had. And that reason is medical!
Well said! People should try winter riding a few times (to figure out how they should dress), but if they don't like it, no big deal. I think a lot of people would be surprised by how normal it feels, and a lot of people would be miserable.ReplyDelete
The simple fact is again that a bicycle is a tool for getting from one place to another, and it's great to use it as long as it's effective in accomplishing that goal. When it's not, use another tool (your feet, bus, car, etc) that is a better tool given the circumstances, unless you just have no choice, of course. That being said, even the best and most convenient means of travel isn't always enjoyable under all circumstances, it's just the best choice.ReplyDelete
In Portland, it's fun and adventurous to ride the few days we get any kind of snow, but I can see doing it everyday for months could be difficult and tedious (given that you're not in Copenhagen where they clear the paths everyday).
I'd probably choose to ride the bus and walk much more often in those circumstances, as we and everyone else did in Lithuania when it was snowy/icy from December through March. They didn't salt at all, as far as I know, but simply cleared roads and sidewalks each morning, and people rarely had mobility problems because almost everyone walks and rides transit every day of the year, it just takes marginally longer when it's snowy.
I live in Sweden, and have a 10km ride to town, own no car. I have to ride in winter too. I love winter, but we have minimal road service here, so it does get very hard to ride in all the mess cars makes; washboard-like ice slaty slush etc. I have come to the conclution that Hakkapelitta´s is not enough, I need a fork with suspension too.ReplyDelete
I love winter riding, and curiously am looking forward to it again very much (even though it is mid August.) One thing I have found really helps is prep work.ReplyDelete
I lube the daylights out of the moving parts of my commuter with an oil like Phil's Tenacious Oil which lasts almost a week in a Southern Ontario snow/slush fest before needing to add more. I also coat the lower parts of the bike and exposed nuts etc with rust proof spray which matches that which we put on our cars. The bike also gets 700x40 Schwalbe studded winter marathon tires. 120 studs a tire means virtually no slipping, and like a car snow tire, the rubber stays soft even at -25. Just don't dry steer the studs - they can pull out. In deep snow or on ice, run the tires a bit soft so more studs hit the ground. Other than fenders and good lights, the bike is the same as it is in the summer time.
As far as what I wear? I am a huge fan of layers and use a lot of them - wool is best. I top the whole mess off with either an EMS jacket I have (totally wind and waterproof) or a canvas farm coat (styling!). I don't bother with fancy pants and ride in the winter in jeans with thermal long johns under them. Bogs go on the feet - nice and warm, nice and waterproof. Way too flexy, but there ya go. Usually, unless we are getting "thick wet rain" (really wet snow) I arrive where I am going dry.
It only takes me about 5 minutes to clean up at work which is not much longer than it does in the warmer months when I ride in.
Best bit is though, all I see from my fellow winter two wheel wanderers is smiles. And I like the crazy looks I get at work. Also, there is something wonderful about blasting down a MUP (ours get -mostly- plowed all winter) at 25kmph or so in about 10-15cm of powder snow at -15. The snow makes a neat "poof" noise. Last year's useless winter had virtually no snow and I missed this.
All that blather said, I totally get that most don't like doing this. For me, it is a lot of fun, but that is just me (and my friends actually - we are all a little nuts :P)
I use my bike to commute for all purposes, work, shopping, appointments etc. - I don't have a car and nor do I want one. I just love cycling but, if the weather is extremely cold, rainy or windy then I walk; I want to enjoy my bike and on those occasions when I leave her at home I enjoy a different experience and most importantly appreciate even more the next time I ride.ReplyDelete


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Lincoln Park Cultural Center
2045 N. Lincoln Park West Chicago, Illinois 60614
(312) 742-7726
Fee: Free
Age Range: 6 and up
The Chicago Park District in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is offering the interdisciplinary Classics in the Parks series this fall featuring five local companies in an eclectic interpretation of classical performances.
This re-creation of Orson Welles' radio production of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds will feature live music and Foley artists. It also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the original broadcast, infamous for convincing people that Martians were invading. The mission of The Gift is to tell great stories onstage with honesty and simplicity.
Recommended for audience members 6 years old and over.

subset: commoncrawl


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Janice Peterson: Plant combines tomato's fruit with potato's root
What do you get when you combine a tomato with a potato?
It sounds like the start of a joke, but this is a reality in the horticulture world. Dubbed a tomtato or pomato, this novelty is created by grafting a tomato plant with a potato plant. Grafting is an ancient horticulture practice where the upper portion of one plant (the scion) is joined to the bottom portion of another plant (rootstock). Grafting is more commonly done on woody plants such as trees or shrubs. If you've ever seen a swollen area on the trunk of a young tree it's probably the graft site. However, grafting can also be done on herbaceous plants. Grafting tomato with potato works because they are closely related members of the nightshade family.
The concept of a tomtato has been around for a while with gardeners having varying luck creating their own grafted tomato/potato plants.� Just last year Thompson and Morgan, a seed company out of the UK, became the first to commercially offer this unique plant combo with their TomTato. The TomTato produces cherry tomatoes and white potatoes, all from one plant. A single plant costs the equivalent of $25 USD, but as far as I know they are not yet available here in the States.
I'd love to try one of these and see how it does. A plant uses a lot of energy to produce a fruit or a tuber, and in this case it needs to produce both. How good are the yields? Does it need more than normal amounts of fertilizer?
Grafted plants like these could be great space-savers in the garden. Imagine growing future French fries and ketchup together in one pot! Would you ever try one? What other plant combinations would be cool?
Last updated: 9:45 am Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Janice Peterson has worked as a grounds horticulturist at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville since 2002. She is a master gardener with the Rock Prairie Master Gardener Association. Though her education is in plant science, she considers her love of gardening and strong back to be her true qualifications. Janice is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. Her opinion is not necessarily that of The Gazette staff or management.


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Watch These People Finding Out They Will Be Grandparents — Daily Distraction
[onescreen item="5015850″]
Grandparents are great. They bring such joy to the world, so it's nice to see what makes them happiest: becoming grandparents.
The closest thing to this that we can think of is when we see clips of kids opening presents on Christmas. Only with more tears. Tears of joy, of course, but tears still. Aww man, we're gonna sit down now and write Grandma a letter—a real letter, on paper, like she likes!
The Daily Distraction is your Internet break from reality. Whether you're eating lunch at your desk or avoiding high school exes on Facebook, you might just laugh, say "aaahhh" or not believe what you just watched.


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New Janesville Craig teacher finds his groove in 'Footloose'
JANESVILLE—"That city kid? I wouldn't let him kiss my a—," said Nathan Schneider, repeating his line during a rehearsal of Craig High School's upcoming musical, "Footloose."
Director Adam Miller stopped the scene. "Switch that to 'butt,'" he said.
Schneider, in his role as the unpleasant high school student Chuck Cranston, repeated the line with "butt," in a tone that elicited some giggles from the cast.
Miller liked the response and encouraged Schneider to go with it.
Such is the life of a high school musical director, and Miller seems to have a firm grasp of his role, even though this is his first full-time teaching job.
Among Miller's new duties is producing the annual musical, which opens Friday, Nov. 1.
Miller, a La Crosse native and UW-La Crosse graduate, replaces Craig choral teacher Bob Schrank, who retired after a lengthy career full of well-regarded musical productions.
Miller, with English teacher Lindsay Swanson as stage manager, is taking the reins from a well-oiled production team led by Schrank.
A recent rehearsal seemed well managed, with students following directions and nary a disruption.
The show's appealing music also sounded good. Miller had the 41-member cast harmonizing and projecting well.
"He definitely had big shoes to fill, and I think he's doing a good job of giving us all he can," said senior Ross Sroda.
Sroda plays Ren, a troubled Chicago boy who moves to the country and finds a community where dancing is banned.
Sroda said Miller knows his music and has quite a vocal range. He even can sing the soprano parts.
A choreographer was hired to create the dances and rehearse the students, but then they were on their own. Sroda asked permission to hold a student-run dance rehearsal in the mornings.
"It's my senior year, so I want the best show we can have," Sroda said.
Craig's cast and crew seem much more harmonious than the sometimes dysfunctional kids in the fictional town they are portraying.
Emily Saliby, who plays Ren's romantic interest, Ariel, said "Footloose" story is one the students can relate to, as it's about the conflicts that can come with the transition from child to adult.
"I'd assume all girls go through that stage, where they figure out who they are and who to trust in their lives," Saliby said.
"Teenagers tend to rebel against their parents, and sometimes you need to take a step back and breathe and look at yourself," said Angelo Villarreal, who plays the dark and controlling minister Shaw Moore, Ariel's father.
The tension between adults and teens drives the narrative and heightens the drama, Villarreal said.
"Some numbers make you want to cry, and some numbers will make you want to get up and dance," he added.
"It's the kind of music that you can't get out of your head for a week," Saliby said.
Villarreal, a senior who wants to become a choral director like Miller, said the new teacher takes a collaborative approach, asking students their opinions and knowledge of past practices.
"He's been doing so well. I'm really proud of him," Villarreal said.
Saliby agreed: "He's taken on a huge challenge in the Craig music department, and I think he's doing really well with it. He's pulling stuff out of us (as far as vocal range) that I think we didn't see in ourselves."
Miller seems on his way to finding a home at Craig, and like a coach or a parent, he's putting in the extra hours to make it work.
"It's fun," Miller said. "I never feel like the work I put in is not worth it. It's always validated by the students and the parents."


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Calendar of events
Practice folding paper into your favorite garden shapes. Daily through October 22, 2017, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Children's Garden. Weather permitting.
Looking for a unique experience in the Children's Garden At The Morton Arboretum? Rent a self-guided family backpack and enhance your visit. Available daily, April through October, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The exhibit features artifacts from the library's special collection relating to famous plant hunters, and it explores modern conservation efforts by scientists at the Arboretum. Tuesdays-Saturdays, during regular library hours.
Come learn about the gifts that the world's endangered trees give us—and how you can join the Arboretum in saving them. Daily, 7:00 a.m. - sunset
Enjoy creative, unstructured outdoor play spaces, Mud Kitchen near Parking Lot 20 and Word Garden near Parking Lot 13. Daily, weather permitting, 7:00 a.m. to sunset
Beginning April 24, 2017 hop on the Acorn Express tram for a tour of our 1,700 acres of blooming beauty (weather permitting) narrated by one of our expert guides. Call 630-968-0074 for times and pricing.


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Teen pleads guilty to assaults at school
ELKHORN—A Whitewater teen accused of sexually assaulting a young girl at a small Baptist school pleaded guilty to a felony charge in Walworth County Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutors had charged Samuel Shelton, 18, of W6150 Kettle Moraine Drive, Whitewater, with three counts of repeated sexual assault of a child this spring.
At a hearing Wednesday, Shelton pleaded guilty to one of those charges as part of an agreement that saw the other two dismissed but read in, Deputy District Attorney Josh Grube said.
He had been accused of regularly assaulting a young girl at the 35-student Kettle Moraine Baptist Academy between the spring of 2012 and January of 2013.
Shelton's parents took him out of the school when the assaults came to light, administrator John Swaffer said in April.


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Society will host antiques collectors
Thursday, July 3, 2014
FOOTVILLE-Luther Valley Historical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at 115 Centre St.
Collectors Steve and Lani Parker of Rockton, Ill., will share their knowledge of antiques. They will be available to appraise antiques and heirlooms.
Members may bring two objects for appraisal. Guests are welcome.


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Top ten accident-prone intersections in rural Rock County
JANESVILLE—The rural Rock County intersection with the most crashes has stoplights, turn arrows, good sight lines and a separate left turn lane—virtually all the traffic safety innovations available.
Despite those features, the intersection of highways 14 and 51 north of Janesville was the site of 189 crashes, including one fatal crash, between 2000 and 2013. Many of the other rural Rock County intersections many crashes share similar safety features.�
Authorities say it's often not the intersection, it's the drivers.
The UW-Madison Transportation Information Center crunches accident data from around the state.
According to the center's analysis of crashes at rural Rock County intersections, the most crashes between 2000 and 2013 were at:
—�Highway 14 and 51, town of Janesville, 189 crashes.
—�County G and Highway 11, town of La Prairie, 168 crashes.
—�County N and Highway 26, town of Milton, 146 crashes.
—�Highway 51 and Highway 11, town of Rock, 117 crashes.
—�County Q and Highway 51, town of Beloit, 80 crashes.
—�County A and County H, town of Center, 79 crashes.
—�County MM and Highway 14, town of Harmony, 51 crashes.
—�County J and County O, town of La Prairie, 41 crashes.
—�Highway 11/14 and Highway 140, town of Bradford, 38 crashes.
—�County M and Highway 14, town of Bradford on the Rock-Walworth County line, 33 crashes.
Not surprisingly, the top 10 are some of the busiest intersections in the county.
Ryan Mayer, traffic safety engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, said that crashes are measured per 1 million cars entering the intersection.
The state average for intersection crashes is one per 1 million cars entering the intersection.
Mayer crunched the crash numbers from 2000 to 2013 and discovered the average at highways 51 and 14 was at 1.89 per� million cars entering the intersection.
Rock County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jude Mauer said a turn arrow was added to the stoplights at the intersection several years ago, and that helped decrease crashes, but the change might not yet be reflected in the data.
The intersection with the most fatal crashes?
Highways 67 and 140 south of Clinton.
On the map, it appears to be out in the middle of nowhere, but Mauer said there's a significant amount of truck traffic on Highway 140.
The bypass effect
A few of the worst intersections in the county have fallen off the list because of the bypass around Milton. Highway 26 and N was the site of 146 crashes.
For years, county officials had warned motorists traveling west on County N about the dangers at the intersection. Rumble strips, flashing red lights and plenty of signs warned travelers. Still, accidents occurred on a regular basis.
In an interview after a particularly serious accident, sheriff's officials speculated that motorists on County N became impatient waiting for a break in Highway 26 traffic or misjudged how quickly northbound traffic was moving.
The bypass, which opened in 2013, replaced the intersection with an overpass and ramps.
The bypass also eliminated two intersections that were sites of fatal crashes. Highway 26 no longer intersects Bingham Road or Arthur Drive.
Mauer said the number of crashes on Highway 26 dropped significantly after the state expanded it to four lanes several years ago.
"There was a lot of access onto Highway 26 from side roads, and that ended when it went to four lanes."
Fatal review
Each quarter, the Rock County Traffic Safety Commission meets to review fatal crashes.
The committee is made up of law enforcement officials, traffic engineers and community members.
For each fatal crash, investigators make a video of the intersection so committee members get a driver's view of the road, the signs, the sight lines and the hazards.
They review the accident investigation to learn about driver condition, road conditions, time of day and any other factors that might have contributed to the crash.
At a recent meeting, the committee reviewed a crash that killed three members of the same family. A Toyota Fit driven by an 18-year-old Sharon woman was northbound on Highway 140 when she entered the intersection at Highway 11/14 and collided with a pickup pulling a 35-foot trailer.
Investigation showed the driver of the Toyota either didn't stop or performed a rolling stop.
What happened?
Mauer said investigators might never know.
It was daylight, but the Toyota driver wasn't looking into the sun. The road was dry, the traffic signs weren't missing, and Highway 140 has rumble strips warning motorists they are approaching an intersection.
She might have been distracted by conversation.
She might have been reaching for a dial on the instrument panel, or she might have been on the phone.
Whatever the case, she didn't see the truck traveling west.
What about the intersection?
Drivers approach from the west after going through Emerald Grove, where the speed limit is 45 mph. Drivers pick up speed on the gentle slope going out of town, crest the hill and travel down toward the intersection.
Ryan Mayer, traffic safety engineer for the DOT, said motorists stopped at an intersection should be able to see approaching vehicles at least eight seconds before they reach the intersection.�
A driver stopped on Highway 140 at Highway 11/14 can see vehicles approaching from the east 14 seconds before they reach the intersection, Mayer said. From the west, the interval is even longer, he said.
Mayer gave the committee a collision diagram of the intersection showing the date, time weather conditions and probable causes for crashes from 2008 to 2013. Of the 12 crashes:
—�Two were linked to alcohol use
—�Three occurred when the pavement was icy or snow-covered.
—�Six were at night.
—�All but one were attributed to failure to stop or failure to yield.
After reviewing the information, Mayer recommended adding a stop sign on the other side of Highway 140.
Other committee members recommended installing larger stop signs and a larger double-sided arrow sign across from the intersection.
After analyzing the intersection, Mayer considered the human factor.
"Really no reason for anyone to run through that stop sign," Mayer said. "With that being said, there are things we can do there."
Mauer and other authorities agree: The most common cause of intersection crashes is what they refer to as "reduced alertness." That can mean anything from reaching for a fast food bag to talking on a cellphone.� It also encompasses drunken- and drugged driving.
The formula for safety?
"In addition to being alert for yourself, do the same for other drivers," Mauer said. "You can see their speed and the distance they have to break, and you know when it's not going to happen."


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TSMC starts FinFETs in 2013, tries EUV at 10 nm
22 comments
SAN JOSE, Calif. Facing heated competition from Globalfoundries and Samsung, TSMC pulled in plans for initial production of its 16-nm FinFET process to the end of 2013. In addition, it hopes to adopt extreme ultraviolet lithography to make 10-nm chips starting in late 2015 but is still researching e-beam as an alternative.
Company executives detailed the new processes and how they aim to get there at an annual symposium here. They also provided an update on their work on 3-D chip stacks and their ongoing ramp of todays 28-nm process node.
It looks like we have another 7 to 8 years ahead in advances -- maybe more -- we can see in technology down to 10 and even 7 nm, said Morris Chang, founder and chief executive of TSMC, speaking to a small group of press after a keynote here.
Moores Law is going to go on and we will be there -- if anyone pursues it, we will pursue it, he told an audience of several hundred chip designers.
Moore's Law has another 7-8 years ahead, said TSMC founder Morris Chang.
Chang, a veteran of more than 50 years in semiconductors, forecasts four percent growth for the industry this year.
Fabless companies probably can enjoy nine percent growth this year, and we are also optimistic about ourselves -- we expect growth in the teens, he said.
He said TSMC will spend more than $9 billion in capex in 2013. Thats up from $2 billion in 2009.


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Public records for Oct. 20, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Rock County
Intoxicated Driving Arrests
—�FRANK H. KRETZSCHMAR, 38, of 1211 Sylvester St., Janesville at 5:25 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Morse Street, Janesville. He also was arrested on a charge of resisting or obstructing.
—�BURGLARY, reported at 7:23 a.m. Friday in the 2400 block of North Pontiac Drive. A .45 caliber pistol valued at $800 was reported taken.
—�BURGLARY, reported at 9:46 a.m. Friday at A & A Sheet Metal, 2120 Beloit Ave., Janesville. A gun valued at $800 was reported taken.


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RootsWeb member accounts are a new free service from RootsWeb that will help you coordinate and maintain your member information.
If you already have a RootsWeb member account, enter your username and password below. You can also use a message boards, Ancestry site, or MyFamily.com username and password. If you need to create a new account, click "register."
For more information: click here.


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A. You need to go to the veterinarian. It is very dangerous if cats stop eating even for a few days. The cat may need immediate medical attention with basic blood work and fluids.
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APRon Paul put on a show at Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony on monetary policy earlier today—even challenging the Fed to let him pay his taxes in gold.
In his rant, Paul argued that inflation was actually more like 9 percent—and not the 2.9 percent increase that Bureau of Labor Statistics says we've seen in the last 12 months—based on the old CPI statistics.
This "old measure" of measuring consumer prices actually touches on a much larger debate–one that has been spearheaded by John Williams and his website Shadow Government Statistics. Ron Paul endorsed Shadow Stats statistics in an interview with Fox Business last year.
The stats
Williams's research contends that the 12-month inflation statistic we should have seen last month was 10.5 percent, arguing that the basis for calculating CPI back in 1980 was the pure formula before "the reporting system increasingly succumbed to pressures from miscreant politicians, who were and are intent upon stealing income from social security recipients, without ever taking the issue of reduced entitlement payments before the public or Congress for approval."
(Williams also contests other government economic indicators, like M3 money supply, one of the keys supporting Ron Paul's argument that expansion of the money supply produces an almost 1-to-1 increase in inflation.)
From the BLS (.pdf), these are the three main pieces of their CPI calculations that regularly come under attack from Williams and his ilk:
- Beginning in 1983, the BLS changed the way it saw homeownership from reflecting the price of the asset to reflecting its rental equivalence.
- Beginning in 1998, the BLS expanded the list of consumer goods on which it performs hedonic regressions to include computers, televisions, and refrigerators. Such regressions attempt to control for changes in the quality of goods.
- In January 1999, the BLS changed the way it calculated indexes to reflect consumers ability to switch to, say, cheaper apples sold in the same market when other apples became more expensive. That's a change from the Laspeyres index used to calculate CPI before then.
The main issue
Critics of the BLS take the biggest issue with the final item here. We'll synopsize briefly an illustration of the Bureau gives as to why it made this change:
You generally buy four candy bars—two peanut and two chocolate bars—at $1 a piece. The price of the peanut bars goes to $4. So in order to buy exactly the same goods, you'd have to spend $10. So the Laspeyres formula would say that the price of your basket of candy goods increased from $4 to $10.
The BLS argues that because consumers maximize their utility with respect to prices, they shift away from more expensive goods when very similar goods are cheaper—and they wanted to account for this in their measurements. So maybe paying $7 for one peanut bar and three chocolate bars gives you the same utility as your initial purchase. Thus, saying that $10 is your new price of goods would be an "overstatement" of what's actually happening—they're not arguing that your utility is exactly the same for $4, they're arguing that $7 is a much more realistic evaluation.
Taken at face value, the problem is readily apparent—it would appear that the BLS wants you to scrimp on steak, eat more hamburger, and deal with it. See Williams's argument:
...it is the so-called "overstatement" in the cost of living that enables the maintenance of a constant standard of living, where the consumer does not have to be concerned with changes in price. The BLS claims that with the geometric weighting, weighting shifts are measuring a "constant level of satisfaction," that there is no "declining standard of living" in the numbers, because geometric weighting is not applied to broad enough categories to allow hamburger substitution for steak.
While this argument may appear to be persuasive, it ignores one simple fact: the consumer price index is meant to measure the effect prices have on a consumer's utility, not what they can actually buy. Paying $7 gets you more utility than paying $10 (because you have $3 more dollars left over), so obviously you're going to adjust your purchasing accordingly.
To give an even more real-world example, if I'm having people over for dinner, I'm going to hem and haw over buying yellow bell peppers because on one hand it makes my stir-fry look more appetizing, but on the other hand buying the same number of green bell peppers puts another $1 in my pocket. Since both choices provide me equal utility, it only makes sense for the BLS to evaluate them equally.
Now, considering that the price of yellow peppers ($3) is always higher than the price of green ($2), if the price of the yellow peppers were to rise ($4), then the BLS would account for the fact that more consumers are going to switch to green peppers as an alternative to yellow peppers because they'd rather have the utility of extra cash in their pockets. Thus, there will be a jump in the price basket, but it's mitigated by the fact that consumers are retaining some utility out of saving the money.
If the inflation rate measures the change in the purchasing power of your dollar, then CPI is clearly meant to assess the amount of money you would need to produce the same amount of utility, not purchase the exact same goods. Thus Williams's point—while seductive—just doesn't add up.


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Target acquisition is the detection, identification, and location of a target in sufficient detail to permit the effective employment of lethal and non-lethal means, according to Wikimedia. [Note that while some brand owners may have occasional fleeting thoughts of using lethal force against counterfeiters, this article will only discuss the best practices to identify your brand's appropriate target so that non-lethal force can be exerted to protect your brand.]
What you may ask, does target acquisition have to do with protecting your brand? Just about everything if your company, like most, has limited resources to fight the reality of global counterfeits. Focusing your efforts on the "big fish" can be the difference between a successful anti-counterfeit program and one that doesn't add value and quickly becomes a drain on your budget. The military and law enforcement have long gathered and analyzed intelligence to acquire the "right" targets. Your brand can too.
But the collection of data all by itself is not enough. The information you collect from both inside and outside your company, including information received from Customs, online monitoring, test buys and cease and desist letters, should be analyzed to determine how best to proceed to effectively decrease the counterfeit market for your brand and allow the effective deployment of precious resources.
In our first four articles of this series we discussed budgeting for anti-counterfeiting; positioning a trademark portfolio for maximum effect on counterfeits; the benefits of working with U.S. Customs; and the implementation of an online monitoring program. In this article, we discuss how all these pieces fit together to assist brand holders to identify targets worthy of escalation.
The United States Commerce Department estimates that online sales in 2013 were $262.5 billion in the U.S. alone. It is, therefore, not surprising that a simple eBay or Amazon search may reveal hundreds or even thousands of purveyors of your products. Figuring out which sellers are selling counterfeit can be a herculean task. Any successful effort funnels your data collection and analysis through the prism of an effective criminal referral and civil enforcement program and allows you to focus your efforts on the top targets: the manufacturers, the distributors and the large-scale sellers of counterfeit products. Counterfeiters are businessmen too, and if they face jail time or their transactions costs are elevated, they are likely to move on to seek profits elsewhere.
Stopped at the border: How U.S. Customs and Border Protection can help protect your brand
FedEx faces arraignment for drug trafficking charges
Proposed U.S. and EU trade secret laws could create more tools to protect your valuable information
An analysis of the data from the following is crucial to effectively accomplish target acquisition and will inform your criminal referral and civil enforcement program:
- A U.S. and/or international customs program
- An effective online monitoring program
- Test buys
- Cease and desist letters
Data can come from a myriad of sources. However, the information gathered from Customs and your online monitoring program provides a good starting point as to the universe of counterfeiters profiting from your brand's intellectual property. Customs seizures will contain contact information for importers and exporters. Some online marketplaces will provide personal information for sellers against whom takedown notices have been filed. Return address information and or shipment information will often be available on products purchased as test buys. An analysis of the data you collect oftentimes reveals that a small handful of sources are behind multiple online stores. Once targets are identified, further investigation can be conducted to determine exactly who the entity is behind the sale. If the entity is in a foreign country, counsel with expertise in that jurisdiction can be consulted to discuss investigation possibilities or seizure opportunities.
In both the U.S. and abroad, a cease and desist letter sent to a target is frequently useful. The letter serves three main functions. First it may cause some sellers to immediately stop their sales. Second, it puts the seller on notice that they are selling counterfeit goods effectively preventing the seller from claiming they lack knowledge of the fakes. Knowledge is a key element of most criminal statutes and also can allow for increased damage awards in civil actions. Third, the letter serves as a mechanism to collect more data from the sellers who will often eagerly provide information as to how and from whom they have sourced their products often in exchange for resolving the matter with the brand owner.
Once the field of targets is narrowed, test buys can be made (a single test buy or multiple test buys can be made both before and/or after a cease and desist letter is sent). A product received should be examined to confirm that it is in fact counterfeit. The shipping data and other information supplied by the seller will add to your intelligence and will inform your next move, which can include possibly referring the matter to law enforcement or the filing of a civil enforcement action.
An effective anti-counterfeiting program should always involve a way to meticulously collect and keep track of seller data. As patterns are revealed in this data the best targets rise to the top allowing a brand owner to focus resources only on those counterfeiters causing the most damage to the brand.


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Sharon Lynn Carpenter, Janesville, WI (1958-2014)
July 31, 1958 - April 22, 2014
Sharon Lynn Carpenter, age 55, died Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at St. Mary's Hospital, Janesville, after a short illness. She was born on July 31, 1958, in Madison, WI, the daughter of Frank and Dorriane (Ofsthun) Carpenter. She was employed at General Motors in Janesville, until her retirement in 2007, and was a member of the United Auto Workers Union. Sharon enjoyed watching NASCAR racing and was an avid Green Bay Packers Fan. She loved animals, was very caring and would do anything for anyone. She like to visit and socialize with her friends and family. Sharon was a loving daughter, sister, friend and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Sharon is survived by her mother, Dorriane "Dorie" Carpenter of Evansville; her sister, Francis "Frannie" Carpenter of Fort Wayne, IN; two aunts; Betty Arndt of Janesville, and Dawn Ofsthun of Antigo, WI; several cousins; and a special friend, Ann Sellnow. She was preceded in death by her father, Frank; aunts, uncles, cousins and her loving chocolate lab, Sydalee.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at WARD-HURTLEY FUNERAL HOME, Evansville, with Reverend Matthew Poock of St. John's Lutheran Church, Evansville, officiating. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the FUNERAL HOME. Burial will be held in Maple Hill Cemetery, Evansville, at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed at Wardhurtley.com


text:
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A Touch of Inspiration: Visiting Mt. Mansfield Creamery
I recently had the great fortune to visit with Stan Biasini and his family at Mt. Mansfield Creamery in Morristown, Vermont. I arrived bright and early, just as Stan was pooling the milk from the morning milking into a heating vat to begin making his cheese: Inspiration. Here at the shop, we only began carrying Inspiration this year – it is a washed-rind cow milk cheese based on a Corsican recipe and has quickly become a staff favorite.
Apparently, we are not alone in our admiration of Inspiration. Although Stan has been making the cheese for only three years now, he has received some serious critical acclaim. Last year, for instance, it was awarded 2nd place in its category at the American Cheese Society competition.
Stan says that he largely owes his success to the fact that his wife, Debora, single-handedly milks their small herd of Brown Swiss and Holstein cows each morning, with the milk going directly to the creamery for cheese production. Indeed, cheesemaking is a family affair at Mt. Mansfield. The morning I visited, we were joined by Stan's young daughter Adele who had the day off from school and chose to help her dad make cheese rather than go skiing with her brother on the nearby slopes. On the wall of the creamery hangs a poster project Adele made a few years ago for school, documenting each step in the cheesemaking process. I had come looking for small-family, farmstead production and, clearly, this was it.
As a relatively new cheesemonger here at the shop, this was my first opportunity to participate in the cheesemaking process. Cheesemaking is part scientific calculation and part hygiene assurance. Calibrated instruments rest neatly beside the stainless steel vat and a chart on the wall records specific times at which the cultures and rennet were added and an estimate of when it would be time to cut the curds. The cheesemaking room sparkles and, in between each step in the process, Stan was constantly cleaning. Nevertheless, Stan views cheesemaking as a relaxed process. "I am not a scientist," he said with a smile on his face. "I make cheese to have fun." Spending the day with Stan, I had a great deal of fun myself.
Inspiration has a wonderful golden, unctuous paste, with a well-balanced profile of sweetness, bitterness and funk. It pairs well with sweet and velvety Belgian beers, notably Saison Dupont and Ommegang Rare Vos. Keep an eye out in the upcoming months for wheels of Inspiration with a special Formaggio Kitchen touch!
Brad Jones is a cheesemonger at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge and is currently studying for a masters in the Gastronomy program at Boston University.


text: Art classes help students to develop their creative talents or turn their passions into careers. Art instruction is available for hobbyists who want to improve skills like drawing or painting and for students developing the creative and professional skills for a career in the arts. Below are five terms to be familiar with when researching art education programs.


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UPDATED: Driver, Infiniti SUV sought in double-fatal accident
TOWN OF HARMONY—Investigators are asking for the public's help in finding the sport-utility vehicle involved in a hit-and-run fatal crash Sunday near Janesville.
A fog lamp found at the scene was from an Infiniti QX4, model years 2001-03, according to a news release Monday from the Rock County Sheriff's Office.
Witnesses told investigators the SUV was of a dark color, perhaps blue or black.
Authorities are looking for the driver of the Infiniti, which they believe was involved in the accident Sunday night on Highway 14 just west of East Old Humes Road.
The vehicle left the scene and as of Monday evening had not been located.
Two motorcyclists, Mitchell J. Vance, 24, of 6120 E. Lone Lane,� Janesville, and Devin J. Julius, 18, of 2317 W. Burbank Ave., Janesville, died from injuries they suffered in the crash.
Capt. Todd Christiansen of the sheriff's office detective bureau said the most serious charge the Infiniti's driver might face is homicide by reckless use of a motor vehicle, but all the facts aren't in, so any talk of charges is speculation.
Leaving the scene of a fatal accident also is a serious charge, Christiansen noted.
The preliminary investigation showed five motorcycles were traveling west on Highway 14 behind a Toyota Sienna. The driver of the Toyota took evasive action to avoid the eastbound Infiniti that had crossed the centerline on a curve.
The Infiniti then struck the lead motorcycle, driven by Vance, and the following motorcycle, driven by Julius, investigators believe.
Three other motorcyclists were able to avoid the collision.
Julius was transported to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville, where he was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m. Vance was pronounced dead at the scene.
A reconstruction team responded, and Highway 14 was closed from Harmony Town Hall Road to Wright Road for nearly six hours.
The sheriff's office is seeking information on anyone who knows anything about the mid-sized Infiniti SUV. The vehicle likely would have front and driver's-side damage, including the missing bumper-mounted fog lamp assembly and a missing wheel well cover.


text:
$ $ $ $ $ CARVERaudio INTERCONNECT ROADSHOW $ $ $ $ $
I boxed up:
(2) pairs of 1-meter IC's
This should be enough cables for most people to connect their main equipment to test.
Please keep them for ONE WEEK (give or take) and then mail them on to the next person on the list.
Post "I'M IN" and you will be added to the list below. I will keep the list updated.


text:
Ellen Page is doggone obsessed with pet names.
The "X-Men: Days of Future Past" has brought her apparent favorite pastime — renaming dogs! — to Twitter. And while the 27-year-old merely started doing it for fans, some other celebrities, including Lena Dunham and Kate Mara, were brought in on the action, too.
Here's the tweet that started it all:
I love renaming my friends dogs like a total jerk.— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
From there, a flurry of her followers asked to be a part of her "total jerk"-iness by coming up with new names for their four-legged friends:
"@_charlestrippy: @EllenPage wanna rename mine??? pic.twitter.com/Zew4Kw691I" thora— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
"@ofmiceandgranta: @EllenPage rename my dog pic.twitter.com/MTAnKCZr2M" Jordan— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
Some were even given celeb names:
"@turnerebecca: @EllenPage rename my dog? :) pic.twitter.com/mxhdpTHsF7" Freddie prince junior— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
"@SnowFey: @EllenPage Her name is Sidney, after Sidney Prescott from Scream, how would you name her? pic.twitter.com/Y1rtVJKkfq" Neve Cambell— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 23, 2014
The fun wasn't limited to pooches. She also renamed a cat:
"@ReannaGoomez: @EllenPage rename my cat pic.twitter.com/nR7dlcy9rl" Lawrence— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
And a shark. Well, sorta:
@steveagee not a fish— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 22, 2014
Her new game quickly won celebrity fans, including Anna Kendrick:
@EllenPage This was the greatest use of twitter I've ever seen #BowDownBitches #AndBoyDogsToo— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) April 22, 2014
Page then randomly offered up name suggestions for Kate Mara's dogs:
@EllenPage Thanks! They are confused but flattered... pic.twitter.com/DIVa08T2lT— Kate Mara (@_KateMara) April 23, 2014
And Lena Dunham asked to get in on the action, submitting a photo of her adopted dog, Lamby, in bed with her boyfriend, Fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff.
"@lenadunham: @EllenPage rename ours because this is joyful! #pleaseandthankyou pic.twitter.com/7WiGKCt2ho" Miranda— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 23, 2014
After two days of this taking over her Twitter feed, Page admitted that things seem to have spiraled out of control. Late Tuesday night she posted:
Guys, I don't know how to stop this— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) April 23, 2014
Well, we hope it never stops. We agree with Anna Kendrick — looking at dog pix and giving them silly names? This is exactly what the internet is for. Carry on, friend.


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In 2004, responding to today's increasingly diverse work environments, Harter relaunches the Sling seating group. Revamped by Timothy deFiebre, Harter Sling sticks to its clean, modernist roots while featuring a new arched back. One of Harter's most dynamic offerings, Harter Sling is the perfect fit for office teamwork spaces, lounges, and retail settings, where its lightness fosters idea gathering and socializing.
Timothy deFiebre graduated from Denison University with a BFA in theater and cinema. However, after college, he became interested in furniture design. He then studied technical design and production at the Yale School of Drama and attended the Parsons School of Design in New York. He began his career with Brickel Associates. Soon after, he became a design assistant and model maker for Ward Bennett, subsequently becoming the director of design for the furniture division. He later joined the ICF Group in New York, then worked with Geiger Brickel in Atlanta creating a number of new table and seating designs. In 2004 he curated and updated The Ward Bennett Business Classics Collection for Geiger. His numerous awards include an ID Annual Design Review honorable mention for tables, two IBD Gold Awards for seating, three Roscoe finalist awards for seating, and silver and gold Best of NeoCon awards. His work is also part of the permanent collections of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and the Chicago Athenaeum. In 1998, he founded Timothy deFiebre designs in New York City.
Overall Width 26" Overall Height 27"-32"
Arm Height (to floor) 23 1⁄2" - 28 1⁄2"
Seat Depth 16 1⁄4" Seat Width 18"
Seat Height 15 1⁄2" - 20 1⁄2"
Back Width 18" Back Height 12 3⁄4"
Overall Width 201⁄2", Overall Height 29"
Arm Height (to floor) 241⁄2"
Seat Depth 161⁄4", Seat Width 18", Seat Height 171⁄4"
Back Width 18", Back Height 123⁄4"
Overall Width 201⁄2", Overall Height 35"
Arm Height (to floor) 321⁄2"
Seat Depth 161⁄4", Seat Width 18", Seat Height 26"
Back Width 18", Back Height 103⁄4"
Overall Width 201⁄2", Overall Height 39"
Arm Height (to floor) 361⁄4"
Seat Depth 161⁄4", Seat Width 18", Seat Height 30"
Back Width 18", Back Height 103⁄4"
Molded Ply: Back Shell: European beech wood ply
Arms: Polypropylene
Base: Swivel only. 1" diameter steel tube, stack 1/2" steel rod
Casters: 2 1/2" HR or optional SR caster
Tablet Arm: Black laminate with black plastic edge Plastic: Shell: Polypropylene Fully Upholstered: Back Shell: Fully upholstered
Upholstery: Fabric or leather over CAL. 117
Click thumbnail for an enlarged view.
To download image(s), click Low Res or Hi Res.


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The Canadian Opera Company is delighted to be part of the ever-growing support of honeybees, Currently we host seven hives onthe roof of our opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Follow the honeybees' progress on Parlando, with visits and posts from beekeeper Fred Davis!
NEW - Our bee blog has moved!
Visit Parlando for more updates about our honeybees.
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Video, Press / comments (0) / permalink
Last year the Canadian Opera Company was delighted to welcome two hives of honeybees on the roof of our opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. On May 7, beekeeper Fred Davis brought in new hives, to replace the bees that didn't survive the winter, upping our hive numbers to seven!
Fred tells us more, below:
On Saturday May 7 we introduced a number of new hives to the rooftop of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. I usually give hives about a week to get acclimatized to their new surroundings but had to extend that a while due to the poor weather. This week I starting champing at the bit to see how they had adjusted to their journey and if they had settled in ok.
The poor bees must feel like they are living in Vancouver! I love Vancouver but the cold temperatures here followed by the incessant rain these past few weeks have really put a damper on hive activity. I hate to open hives when the weather is crummy because you encounter bees with cabin fever. Yikes! So we had to wait until this afternoon for our first real hive check. This is when we determine how much food they had on hand (i.e. their honey stores), the queen's egg laying patterns, if the queen is busy laying eggs, and if they are showing signs of swarming. Remember, it's very natural for honeybees to swarm. They prepare for it every year around May and June and that's the time beekeepers must be on their toes in order to prevent such an occurrence. You might ask why we would want to prevent a swarm? Well, if you are in this game to produce honey you don't want to lose half your production facility (i.e. half your bees) just when nectar gathering and honey production is about to ramp up. So, as with all animal husbandry, there are a few things a beekeeper must do to trick Mother Nature a little bit. We don't harm the bees in any way, we just try to make them think they have already swarmed. This is not always successful and there is a bit of science behind it so I will write about it in another blog entry.
Today, May 19, Lorna, my very capable assistant, and I looked through our seven hives in search for the queens, laying patterns, food stocks (honey they will use), and swarm cells. A swarm cell is one in which a new queen is gestating. If we find one or more it indicates they are preparing to create a new queen and will swarm in the near future. We were pleasantly surprised to find the bees very active and healthy and only two swarm cells which we removed from the hive. We'll keep our eyes on those hives. We added a new brood chamber so each queen has more room to lay eggs. We reversed the hive boxes as well. This a simple, precautionary measure that sometimes convinces the bees that they have already swarmed. We'll see about that.
I placed a shallow pan with lots of water and rocks upon which they can sit safely while they sip away. I also added a bag of sugar water solution to each hive in case they need a little extra boost of food. I will check in on them again this weekend to see how they are doing.
Thanks Fred! And now, here are some pictures...
The new hives arrive at the opera house. Each hive contains approximately 10,000 bees! The smell in the truck was lovely: warm and honeyish.
The honeybees await placement in their new home. Notice Fred's beekeeper's hat on top of the pile! This year, Fred has moved the hives further east along the roof of the opera house. If you're attending a performance, visit Ring 4, and you can see the hives just outside the (locked) glass door overlooking the roof.
Fred adjusts his hat.
Fred preps the hives. The top of each hive is very warm, as the honeybees create and control the temperature inside each hive.
Honeybee activity!
Honeybees from the new hives come out to check out their surroundings. Fred told me that in the first day or so they would make orientation flights to learn their new neighbourhood.
Honeybee closeup!
Fred with his great helpers: Barb, his wife, and Sam, his son.
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Bee Update / comments (2) / permalink
With spring surely not too far away, it's time to check in with our honeybees! Beekeeper Fred Davis is waiting for a nice, warm day to open the hives and see how our bees are doing. He'd like to add four more hives this season but will wait till a later time in late spring/early summer to make sure he gets well-established hives. The cold winds of late spring can be a bit fierce for a new hive.
In the meantime, it's good to know that our honeybees are helping diversify the types of species of pollinators and plants in the vicinity of the opera house. It's another way to be a - literally - vital part of our community.
Come back and visit soon to get all the buzz on the bees!
Posted by Gianna Wichelow / in Bee Update / comments (3) / permalink
Read the nutritional guidelines for the FSC Honeybees Honey!


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DBENGINE is a management system for using the database system PostgreSQL via browsers like Firefox. You can build multiple databases and configure and use them without logging into the server system. To use the databases, you only need a browser. The system gives you the ability to add own procedure for designing listings and input formulas. You can use binary large objects like any other type of field.
mbrChunker is a utility that allows you to mount raw disk images (created by dd, dcfldd, dc3dd, ftk imager, etc.) and create VMDK files. It does this by taking the raw image, analyzing the master boot record (physical sector 0), and getting specific information that is need to create a working VMDK file that points to your raw image. It can also extract information such as heads, cylinders, and sectors per track. With version 0.3.15, the tool now has the ability to search for hex byte offsets within any binary file. It will give you the byte location for every hex pattern found. More information about this can be found in the README.
CPT Crosswords is a multilingual crossword puzzle maker/compiler and Sudoku generator. It features interactive and automatic modes, general operations over crossword sets such as browsing, searching, adding, deleting, editing, selection by filters, data format conversion, and printing, and the ability to create and modify the crossword dictionaries used by the generators.
Giada is a minimal, hardcore audio tool for DJs and live performers. Just pick your sample, drop it in any channel, and start the show by using this tiny piece of software as a loop machine, drum machine, sequencer, live sampler, or effect (VST) host. Giada aims to be a compact and portable virtual device for production use and live sets.
iGolaware Linux is an Ubuntu 10.10 derivative intended for beginners.. It adds many codecs and plugins and extra applications in the base installation including XBMC 10.0 media center, ClamAv anti-virus, Firestarter firewall, kdenlive NLE, GIMP and Inkscape for image manipution, Nanny parental control, PlayOnLinux (for Windows compatibility), and more. It is an ideal distribution for anyone new to Linux or even to computing itself.
mod-icon-geom is a command line utility that allows the user to set the KDE 4 desktop icon's height and width. It creates a configuration file by using the -c option along with default height (-h) and default width (-w) option settings. It modifies the geometry for each desktop icon found in .kde4/share/config/plasma-desktop-appletsrc to make the icons have the desired height and width. After the configuration file is generated, the user can modify that file to have height and width values for individual icons that are different than the default (useful if the icon text is larger than the default width allows), and the true values in the appletsrc file can be saved back to the configuration file with the -s option. This utility saves time and energy by giving the user an additional level of control over desktop icons that was lost in KDe 4.
An interface library to access tags for identifying languages.
A backend for the Core Five file manager.


text:
Greetings, Devil Dog! Welcome to the Call of Duty Forums. It looks like you're looking forward to Call of Duty: WWII, but haven't created an account yet. Why not take a minute to register for your own free account now? As a member you get free access to all of our forums and posts plus the ability to post your own messages, communicate directly with other members and much more.
What was wrong about IW
Discussion in 'Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare' started by VoiDProjects, Nov 25, 2017.


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Death Notices for Oct. 10, 2013
Gazette staff
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Nancy Hammell, 69, Beloit, died Wednesday at home. Arrangements are pending at Brian Mark Funeral Home, Beloit.
Loretta Krueger, 72, Janesville, died Tuesday at Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg. Informed Choice Funeral & Cremation Alternatives, Madison, is assisting the family.
Harvey McCarthy, 88, Janesville, died Wednesday at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Janesville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the chapel. Brian Hansen Funeral Service, Janesville, is assisting the family.


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Autoland CUSO Reports 17% First Quarter Sales Increase
More members using financing to replace their aging vehicles led to a 17% increase in first quarter sales for auto buying CUSO Autoland Inc.
The Chatsworth, Calif.-based CUSO said its first quarter profitability increased 29% over the same period last year.
Direct loan volume to credit union partners also improved by 21% with the CUSO's auto loan retention rate increasing to a combined 85%, according to Autoland.
With credit union members continuing to take advantage of available credit to replace aging vehicles, Autoland said its first quarter sales productivity demonstrated a year-over-year increase of 17%.
"Our success as a strategic partner that drives direct auto loans, is due to the majority of our credit unions implementing Autoland's best practices in the last year," said Jeffry Martin, president of Autoland.
While the CUSO will remain focused on expanding its service to markets in California, Washington and Oregon, interest in Autoland from credit unions in other states remains high, Martin said.
"We'll look to grow our service footprint into new territories as we determine it feasible to do so," he said.
Autoland said it serves more than 200 credit unions nationwide representing more than 8 million members.


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Delavan-Darien preparing for dual-language changes
DELAVAN--Estamos listos para estudiantes.
We are ready for students.
That's the message from the Delavan-Darien School District, and it's appropriate that it comes in two languages.
For more than a year, the district has been creating a Spanish-English dual-language program in 4-year-old kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade.
The community, it seems, is ready for dual-language instruction.
"The response has been overwhelming," said Ron Sandoval, director of bilingual school and community education. "In the past, I've really had to pull in the Hispanic families; I've really had to pull the Anglo families to come in."�
Not in the Delavan-Darien School District.
As of the second week of February, the district had enough students for one class of 4-year-old kindergarten, almost three classes of kindergarten and two classes of first grade.
The dual-language program will be a part of the district's offerings for the 2014-15 school year.
Each class will have 18 to 20 students, with a cap of 24 students total. Each class will be made up half Spanish-speaking children and half English-speaking children.
The program also caught the attention of �Adelante! the weekly news show on Milwaukee Public Television. Sandoval and District Administrator Robert Crist were interviewed on the program. It is scheduled to air in the next several weeks, but no date has been fixed yet, district officials said.
Delavan-Darien continues to admit children to the dual language program. Although sign-up officially ends March 3, the district is prepared for latecomers, transfer students and procrastinators.
The district has enough teachers who can teach in single-language or dual-language classrooms. Classrooms and staff can be adjusted accordingly, Sandoval said.
Teachers who have the training to teach in dual-language classrooms have been teaching in traditional classrooms or working with students who speak English as a second language. If the district has an influx of students interested in the dual-language program, those teachers can be moved as needed.
Parents who are interested in dual language instruction can place their children in a classroom where 50 percent of instruction is in English and 50 percent in Spanish or a classroom of 90 percent Spanish and 10 percent English.
Students will be taught literacy skills such as reading and writing in both English and Spanish, but other subjects will be taught in one language or another using a technique called "total physical response."� The technique uses movement, music, images and interaction to teach children who are immersed in a second language.
By fourth or fifth grade, all the bilingual classes will be 50 percent in English and 50 percent in Spanish.
The goal is to make students bi-lingual, bi-cultural and bi-literate, Sandoval said.
Research has shown that students in dual-language programs do better on state tests by fourth or fifth grade, Sandoval said.


text:
Riis Park
6100 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60639
(312) 746-5363
Fee: Free!
Age Range: All Ages
Come outside and play this winter with Nature Oasis! Roast some marshmallows over the fire and enjoy some fun family winter activities at this free event! Enjoy ice skating with half-priced skate rentals for $3 per pair.


text:
Approx.3,116 sq. ft.
4 bed
3.5 bath
3 -car garage
2 story
A dramatic two-story entry welcomes guests to the distinctive Donovan plan. The main floor also includes a study, an expansive great room and a formal dining room with a butler's pantry leading to a well-appointed kitchen with optional gourmet features. Upstairs, relax in the luxurious master suite with optional deluxe bath. Personalize this plan with a wraparound porch, sunroom and finished basement.
- GE® stainless-steel appliance package
- Granite countertops in the kitchen
- Brick or stone front exterior
- Main-level hardwood floors
HERS® score
Estimated Monthly Payment$*
30-year fixed-rate loan
Mortgage products provided by:
*Taxes and hazard insurance premiums are not calculated in the above payment and actual payment will be higher.
mortgage calculator
Get local homebuying help
House hunting? Enjoy help from a local expert.Chat now
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This plan's projected
HERS® Index = 60*
Projected Rating Based on Plans – Field Confirmation Required
Click here for more information
How does this floor plan rate?
Take a look:
130 = Typical existing home++
100 = Reference home+++
The lower the number, the better! Refer to the RESNET® HERS index brochure or go to www.RESNET.us for details.
What's a HERS® Index?
HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System, a system created by RESNET® to measure home energy efficiency.^
A Projected HERS index or rating is a computer simulation performed prior to construction by a third-party HERS rater using RESNET-accredited rating software, rated feature and specification data derived from home plans, features and specifications, and other data selected or assumed by the rater. The projected HERS index is approximate and is subject to change without notice. Actual results will vary.
*This information is presented for education purposes only. The HERS index for a confirmed rating will be determined by a third-party HERS rater based on data gathered from on-site observations and, if required, testing of rated features for a home as featured, optioned, located, oriented and/or built.
++Typical existing home is based on the U.S. Department of Energy definition with a HERS® index of 130. It is no guarantee that energy efficiencies will be achieved.
+++Reference home is based on the RESNET® Reference Home definition with a HERS® index of 100 (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code).
^RESNET® has developed the HERS® index to indicate the comparative efficiencies of homes. It is no guarantee that energy efficiencies will be achieved.
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text:
Your Views: City police could patrol, ticket sidewalk slackers
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Year after year, same old, same old: "Shovel your walk." The problem here is that not everyone gets a Gazette.
Years ago when I was a paperboy, seems like everyone got a paper. Not so today. So now, many people don't know that by not cleaning off their walks, they are breaking the law.
How many of you know anyone who has ever gotten a bill from the city because they didn't clean off their walk?
Most people don't call in on their neighbors; these are people they know and like. So, 12 hours after a snowfall, why can't the city have a few squad cars go out in the neighborhoods and check on walks that haven't been cleaned off and write a few tickets?
Perhaps then people would take notice and clean their walks.


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JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest U.S. bank, is planning to issue $750 million of 30-year bonds, its first dollar-denominated benchmark offering of that maturity in 20 months.
The subordinated notes may yield 190 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction. Proceeds from the securities, which may be rated A3 by Moody's Investors Service, will be used for general corporate purposes, said the person, who asked not to be identified because terms aren't set. Benchmark sales are typically at least $500 million.
JPMorgan issued $1.25 billion of 5.4 percent, 30-year debentures in December 2011 to yield 250 basis points more than benchmarks, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The notes traded at 108 cents on the dollar to yield 4.88 percent on Aug. 12, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Two former JPMorgan employees were charged today by U.S. prosecutors with attempting to conceal trading losses last year as part of a probe of the bank's $6.2 billion loss on derivatives trades.
Bruno Iksil, the Frenchman at the center of the case who became known as the "London whale" because his portfolio was so large, signed a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. in June, the government said today.


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State Views: Bill would protect consumers from cash-for-gold fraud
Last summer during the Rock County 4-H Fair, Rep. Deb Kolste and I were holding office hours on the fairgrounds when Shaughn and Katherine Bolton of Janesville approached us.
The Boltons told us that a house cleaner they had hired on three separate occasions stole a total of nearly $17,000 worth of jewelry before they noticed the items were missing. The thief was found guilty of theft of movable property and sentenced. While the law enforcement part of this incident has been brought to a favorable conclusion, the Boltons have lost property that cannot be recovered or replaced.
Before her arrest, the house cleaner took the stolen jewelry to a cash-for-gold store. The store sold the Boltons' jewelry to a refinery, which melted it down. The jewelry was insured, and the Boltons were able to recover the financial loss, but they will never be able to recover the priceless sentimental value attached to the items. For example, the cash-for-gold dealer melted down charm bracelets the Boltons had purchased for their daughters with charms signifying momentous events in their lives.
The best police work in the world cannot recover the stolen items. Employing quick turnarounds, cash-for-gold stores send the jewelry they purchase off to refineries to be melted down long before victims notice the items are missing.
The cash-for-gold stores also pay well below market value for stolen jewelry, something that should raise a red flag. In the Bolton case, jewelry valued at nearly $17,000 was sold for less than $500.
If your television set is stolen, you will likely notice it right away. But you might not notice that your jewelry has been stolen until the next time you want to wear it. Sadly, by then the jewelry is often melted down with no chance of recovery.
Rep. Kolste and I started working on this issue as soon as we heard about it. We have carefully drafted legislation that will require cash-for-gold dealers to hold purchased items for 28 days after filing required online or in-person reports of every transaction.
The bill's 28-day holding period and reporting requirement, which requires photographs of purchased items, will provide law enforcement officials greater ability to recover stolen items before it's too late. Both bills, Senate Bill 486 and Assembly Bill 640, have been assigned to legislative committees. Rep. Kolste and I have been appealing to the committee chairs to hold hearings on the bills and move them to the floor for a vote.
Regardless of the outcome of the bills in this session, I am confident that reform legislation to better protect victims of jewelry theft will eventually become law. The bills now before the Legislature create reasonable expectations for cash-for-gold retailers, give law enforcement officials another tool to recover stolen property, and address the loss of priceless jewelry items such as those lost forever by Shaughn and Katherine Bolton.
Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, serves the 15th Senate District, which includes most of Rock County and Whitewater, as well as parts of Jefferson, Green, and Dane counties. Readers can contact him at Room 108 South, state Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882; phone 608-266-2253; email email@example.com.


text:
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