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Errata Editions Books on Books Series Update
This morning I received the advance copies of our first four titles in the Books on Books series. I was so nervous it took me about half an hour to work up the courage to just open the box. After fighting through the packing tape and bubble-wrap I revealed four finished and shrink-wrapped copies of each book (two limited edition and two trade editions each). They looked so great shrink-wrapped I didn't want to open a set to check the binding. I remember John Gossage's advice, "Watch the binding! Don't try the 'duck lips.' Watch the binding." What he meant (about the binding) was that the bulking dummies I received long ago were bound by hand. These finished copies are machine bound which tends to be slightly tighter and often with more glue. I am happy to say that the binding feels perfect, the books open fully and everything is solid. Not too much glue etc. So as we speak, the bulk are being finished and shipped. The first of the limited editions should be arriving to us in about one month and the rest should be in DAP's warehouse system soon enough.
For those of you who do not know the details of the limited edition sets, the info is below. This is actually how we will be able to continue the series as the revenue from the trade edition doesn't even come close to paying for the next four titles in the series. I would suggest you reserve a set first by sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with your name, mailing address and email address. I would prefer to accept payments AFTER we have received the books and made sure they are fit and ready for shipping.
Books on Books #1-4: Limited Edition Set:
In addition to the trade edition of the Books on Books series, we are offering Limited Edition sets which include the first four titles sold directly through Errata Editions. These Limited Edition books feature a beautiful reproduction tipped into the cloth cover of each book. Besides owning a more elegant version of each in the series, the advantage to purchasing a Limited Edition set is the assurance that you will receive these special editions of the Books on Books series as soon as they are off the press and months before the regular edition is distributed.
The Limited Edition sets are due to start shipping in early December.
Limited Edition sets are priced at $200.00 USD (plus shipping) which works out to only being $10.00 more per book than the regular trade edition. Please note that these special editions will not be sold as individual books, they are only available as a set. For Paypal payments and credit cards please use the "Add to Cart" button on the Errata Editions website (www.errataeditions.com click on the SHOP page). Check or money order payments (including shipping and New York State sales tax if applicable) payable to Errata Editions can be sent to: Errata Editions, 526 West 26th Street, #507, New York, NY 10001.
Shipping is provided via well-packed Flat Rate Priority Box for all locations. This is the least expensive yet fastest delivery for a majority of destinations. Destinations within the United States add $10.00 per Limited Edition set. For Canada and Mexico add $23.95 per set. For all other countries add $38.95 per set. Priority mail shipping speeds vary according to destination. Within the United States 3-5 business days for delivery is average. Other countries 1-2 weeks for delivery is average.
Errata Editions at Schaden's booth at Paris Photo
I am also happy to announce that the series will be making its debut at Paris Photo at the booth of Markus Schaden from November 13th to the 16th. The books will be on his table and those of you who attend will be able to take a look at sets of both editions. Unfortunately we will not have books for sale but I will be there taking reservations for the limited edition in person. Stop by and say hello. I will also be doing a bit of blogging from there since Paris Photo is known to be as much a "book" event as a "gallery and prints" event.
Also, on the Paris Photo opening night of November 13th (which happens to be my 40th birthday) we will be hosting a small book signing with Sophie Ristelhueber at Schaden's booth from 5-6pm. We will have a small supply of advance copies of Books on Books #3: Fait on hand for purchase and signing. Supplies are very limited so I would advise to show up early if you would like to purchase a book.
Post-Printing Miscellaneous (continued from On-Press Day 5)
Since I have returned I have been dealing with many aspects of producing a book overseas that young book-makers will need to be aware of and I thought it would be informative to describe a part of the post printing wrap up.
First and foremost, if you print your book out of the country you will need to navigate the daunting procedure of getting your books shipped to their final destination. There are a few different ways to do this and many different people involved in doing so. If you have a distributor, they can easily guide you through the process but just so you know, my initial talks with C+C in China were a bit confusing. Shipping, customs, etc, has its own language and is full of terms like: EXW, FCA, FAS, CFR, CIF, DDP, DES, FIS and many, many more. To the uninitiated...it is a foreign language. As soon as I returned I made an appointment at DAP to talk with their inventory manager and he walked me through the whole procedure.
Often when you pitch your specs to the printer to get a cost of printing and binding quote, they will specify the added costs involved in shipping. Our original quote gave an option of shipping that is called CIF, which means Cost, Insurance and Freight. This is the added cost per book, to get them packed, insured and shipped to the port of your choice. This clears the customs at both ports. These costs are paid by you and you are then responsible for arranging the pick up of your books by courier from the port and transporting them to their final destination at your distributor's warehouse (or the vast amounts of space under your bed, in all of your closets, and in the worst case scenario, in the garage). If you are storing the books personally, as I understand it, in some cases, the driver who arrives at your destination also will not touch the cargo, meaning you need to show up with a pallete jack and unload the contents yourself. Otherwise they will send along another person with the jack to do that for you, of course, at your expense. Ask in advance and be clear of every detail.
If you use a distributor, make sure the printer is informed of any particular packing and labeling instructions that your distributor requires. These are usually things like pallete type, packing and stacking specifics and how the boxes are labeled. If these instructions are not followed then usually the distributor will repack and relabel your book boxes and then charge you for the expense of doing so.
The other most common shipping choice is DDP (Direct Duty Paid) or "door to door," (sometimes also referred to as FIS) in which the carrier arranges everything from providing the customs clearance agent to the overland freighting directly to their final destination including unloading the palletes. This has the convenience of not having to worry once you agree but, of course, this all costs more. Depending on your book size and the amount of the print run, it can add up to a decent additional charge you should be aware of when calculating your final costs. Our shipment, in that it is four different books, is pretty big considering.
It is a common practice, like getting quotes from printers, to pitch the specs to a few couriers for quotes and see the best offers. One last note: Insurance on your shipments is optional. Like most things, you can proceed uninsured, but keep in mind that in the rare case that your ship goes down, the freight container falls off the boat, or the container just gets doused with sea-water and ruins the contents (ask your courier to prepare the container contents for sea voyage) -- you've just eaten tens of thousands of dollars in expense. In a word -- INSURE. Probably nothing will happen but, just like the lottery -- Hey, you never know.


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Dominic Kinnear has the kind of headache no coach wants to cure ahead of Saturday's game against the San Jose Earthquakes - the challenge of picking eleven starters from a wide range of options.
The international-week absentees are headed back to Texas and their understudies gave promising auditions last Saturday, giving Kinnear plenty to ponder before the clash with 2012 Supporters' Shield winners at BBVA Compass Stadium.
"It's a great thing to have, it's something that we plan for - to have a good squad of players to create these problems. When everyone's healthy it makes our team better and makes my job a little more difficult," said Kinnear.
For the head coach, the concept of a fixed first-choice line-up is a fallacy, even for a club as stable as the Dynamo. Assessing form and fitness requires judgment calls close to kick-off and a roster is in a permanent state of flux. The notion of players as "starters" or "back-ups" is too simplistic: everyone with a squad number is a potential difference-maker.
READ: Bruin on frustration of goalless campaign: "The goals will come"
"You never really have a solid, settled unit because there's always injuries, suspensions or call-ups. So you can't say 'this is my XI' because rarely does it ever work out that way. You have to go with whatever you feel is your best XI on the day," he said.
"We have a good squad of players and this guy could be starting that day, but ... you can't plan for it because your Plan B's always your best option because it's always the more realistic one."
The Dynamo beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 last week despite missing Brad Davis, Jermaine Taylor and Boniek Garcia.
Pre-match chatter was that Houston might be vulnerable without that international trio. In the end, beating tricky opponents despite the absentees created the opposite impression, underlining the roster's strength in depth and the side's ability to tough out results at home no matter how the pack is shuffled.
"We were happy with the win on Saturday, especially because we had some guys out, some important key pieces out and the guys filled in admirably and got the job done," Saturday's captain Bobby Boswell told HoustonDynamo.com. "For me that's the sign of a good team, your depth and your ability to handle adversity in terms of different lineups.
"All the teams that I've ever been on that were really, really good teams were deep teams. Teams where there was competition. What better way to create competition than to have guys playing in important games and doing well and getting results?" added the center back.
"So that way guys know if they don't go out and perform they could potentially find themselves on the bench and that brings the best out of everyone both on the bench and on the field. That game showed that there are guys who can get the job done when our main guys are out."
Davis was not involved in the U.S. win over Costa Rica last Friday in a Colorado blizzard. But he came off the bench in the 71st minute on Tuesday night in Azteca Stadium to join former Dynamo player Geoff Cameron on the field as Jurgen Klinsmann's men secured a superb goalless draw with Mexico.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Taylor played the full 90 minutes as Jamaica tied 1-1 with Panama then lost 2-0 to Costa Rica. It was a similar story for Garcia: he spent every minute on the pitch as Honduras secured an impressive 2-2 draw with Mexico then surprisingly lost 2-0 away to Panama.
VIDEO: Creavalle discusses first MLS goal
Subbing for Davis on the left wing against Vancouver, Andrew Driver impressed with a busy performance in his first Dynamo start. Second-year player Warren Creavalle was lively on the right flank and bundled in a close-range winner. And despite the Whitecaps' pace and movement up front, experienced former Portland Timbers defender Eric Brunner was a calm presence on his Dynamo debut.
"The guy's played in big games before, he's played in the Scottish Cup Final," said Kinnear of Driver. "Eric's played in the league for quite a good number of years and Warren whenever he steps on the field always does something good. So there was no concern about the guys who were playing. Fitness-wise they were fine and I knew they weren't going to be overawed by the occasion at all. All three guys I thought played well and it was expected."
Another first-timer, Omar Cummings, only saw a minute's action as a late substitute. But it was an important milestone for the Jamaican forward, who is still working his way back to full fitness after knee surgery in January. Now Calen Carr is the only long-term absentee as the forward continues his rehabilitation from the ACL injury he suffered during last year's MLS Cup final.
Cummings should soon be pushing for a start, though the versatile Giles Barnes has impressed as a support striker operating just behind Will Bruin and the former Derby County playmaker headed in the equalizer against Vancouver for his first MLS goal.
Kinnear stresses the importance of respect and unity as players wait their turn.
"The guys are supportive of each other, we ask them for that and that's kind of expected no matter who's playing," he said. "Obviously everybody wants to play and obviously I make the decisions but if you're not playing, support your teammate, and when given the chance vice versa."
Kofi Sarkodie is a perfect example of patience paying off. The 22-year-old had a stretch of fifteen MLS games in a row as an unused substitute last season. Then he broke into the lineup in September, seized his chance and is entrenched at right back.
Tom Dart is a contributing writer to HoustonDynamo.com. Former editor and reporter for The Times of London, Dart currently freelances for The Guardian as well as SI.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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These fabulous ladies are a constant source of inspiration. Be sure to stop by their blogs for more beautiful photos, creative ideas, and loving adventures. ♥
Mandy from Harpers Happenings in our lace top.
Mandy from Harpers Happenings in our lace top.
Tieka from Selective Potential in our gray dress and midi skirt.
For more style inspiration, view our longer length hemlines, pastels collection, and colorful recommendations. ♥ Happy Friday, everyone!


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One night, some time last year, Dan and I were going back and forth at it in bed, and well, it just wasn't happening. You know what i'm talking about right? It can be incredibly frustrating. You want to scream sometimes. You both keep trying, you go a little more slowly, try putting it out there another way, but still you just can't seem to make it happen. It's a problem every couple has at some point. Heck, it's a problem I have with my Dad all the time. It's even a problem i've had with the Yum Cha Door Lady at Zilver many-a-Sunday...
Mis-comm-un-ic-at-i-on, yes, that's what we will be talking about today.
Amanda: I have to get up earlier tomorrow morning
Dan: How come?
Amanda: Have to get a miche from the markets
Dan: Amish what?
Amanda: I have to get a miche
Dan: Amish. What do you mean Amish.
Amanda: A...Miche!
Dan: How can you get Amish.
Amanda: Miche, it's a bread!
Dan: ohhh, a miche.
Dan:...What's a miche?
He clearly hadn't been initiated yet. Have you?
Beautiful, wonderous Sonoma Miche, what ever did we do without you? Are you bready, my cake and knifelings? Bready to find out what happens when artesian bakers mix white sourdough with wholemeal and malt, fire it up and finish it with a chewy, dusted crust?
Word has been out for a while, and those of us who eat carbs (there must be at least seven of us in Sydney) are going all Lady Gaga over this delectable little large loaf. I first spied it in the Sonoma cafe at Five Ways, a Stunning sphere of baked beauty, elegant, lofty, caramel-hued and branded with rustic marks, in lovely, lagubrious lines behind a polished glass window. Generous and picturesque, biblical-driblical-the genesis my deepest desire. Baked largess in Love.
Unlike other Sonoma stellars that take their names from the grains from which they are baked, miche is a style of bread, of a French provencial nobility. It is a wheat bread, but of much more malty depth and texture than the normal sourdoughs. It's crust alone is enough to reduce you to tears. Much more than a beguiling bread upon which to spread and fill, a perfectly crafted Sonoma miche is texture Houdini. Rising and falling and weaving in dark golden, baked dough.
The texture reminds me of the opening scene from The English Patient, sinking and spinning in slow motion. Falling. This bread isn't simply a food, it's a terrain. A burning Sahara of luscious surfaces, cracked here and dusted there, glossy and thick, made for terrific tooth tussling. The kind of texture you must gnaw into and rip ravenously apart.
And like a true desert it has something of the infinite in its voluptuous proportions. The larger size is both table art and food, so European and rustic looking. It is a wilderness in sourdough, dangerous and alive.
Glossy baked wheat within, malted and scrumptiously sour, slightly moist and shiny and divine. It tastes so warm and true and deep. Its depth carries the memories of the flames it was born in.
The first time I tried miche, I wasn't quite sure how to dissect its largess. I tried cutting it like pie, it works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. Often I cut it in gloriously enormous cross sections of elliptical agony, thick and uneven and so moorish. New lovers are nervous and tender, but smash everything, for the mouth is an organ of fire.
This is Sourdough Ralph Fiennes a la Almasy - and with the third degree burns to boot!If the miche is Almasy, then Katherine Cliffton would have to be a gorgeous slab of Harmonie Organic Butter. Rich and pure and deep. Take a fresh wedge and spread it luxuriously and thickly with the soft butter. And...Sigh. Simplicity is heaven, a perfection you can become undone in. The taste is like dying. So moist and chewy, strong grain, crusty and soft against a creamy, unseemly buttery gloss. Dip the knife back into the butter, and then again...like the hollow at the base of a woman's throat.
You'll need a strong knife in heavy silver to cut, and then some softer, lighter silver to spread. Cut and spread and sink in teeth. Seraphically simple, winged, lofty, sublime.It is nice to reduce food, to pare it down, to take it back to what it is all about. You discover it's quintessence again. Simply, simply. Just ingredients. And just a few.
Ingredients that are stunning and strong, that can stand alone and blend perfectly. Don't spoil this by eating it with anything. Let just the miche and the butter be the meal itself, a breakfast or a lunch or a lonely but rustically decadent dinner.
We die. We die rich with lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we've entered and swum up like rivers. Fears we've hidden in - like this wretched cave. I want all this marked on my body. Where the real countries are. Not boundaries drawn on maps with the names of powerful men. I know you'll come carry me out to the Palace of Winds. That's what I've wanted: to walk in such a place with you. With friends, on an earth without maps. The lamp has gone out and I'm writing in the darkness.This bread is an experience to be measured in sighs. Share it with your friends. Talk to people about it. I haven't met anyone yet who's had anything other than rapturous things to say about Little Miss Miche. Sonoma miche is baked, good and such completely honest food. There is life in it, beautiful life, and there is living in eating it and in taking it deep into your senses. Let it overcome you, think about it as you eat it. It does something to your belly and to your imagining. I promise.
If you haven't already, please try some. Try it simply and let yourself fall. Miche is available in a smaller loaf (around$6) and a larger loaf for $10. It's available at all Sonoma outlets and at their stalls at Everleigh and Orange Grove Markets. A beautifully crafted piece that deserves to be table center at any dinner party, but with substance enough to have always on hand as a staple.
I am just a bit of toast my friend, said Almasy (seriously)!
Toast, nonetheless, Go on, Swoon, i'll catch you.


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Anyone who has been to India or is familiar with the country knows how chaotic it can be: from the congestion on the streets of Delhi to the messy way in which democracy functions. And for journalists, covering the chaos of India can be risky business. This week alone, Indian law enforcement officials assaulted two journalists covering demonstrations in different corners of the country.
On Monday, seven officers belonging to a security force in eastern Odisha state allegedly beat Subhakanta Padhiary, a correspondent for an unspecified Odiya-language daily, while he was covering demonstrations staged by members of the opposition party outside the chief minister's home. "All of a sudden about seven [officers] came to our bike and started beating me with lathi [sticks]. They continued thrashing us even after we showed them our ID card," Padhiary told local media. One senior police officer even walked away from the scene as officers continued beating the scribe, reports said.
A day later, in India's restive, northern-most state of Jammu and Kashmir, police officers attacked Muneeb-ul-Islam, a photojournalist for local news agency Current News Service, as he was covering demonstrations outside a local hospital related to a young man's mysterious death. "I was attacked by policemen with bamboo sticks continuously for 15 minutes," he told CPJ by email. While two senior police officers intervened to stop the assault, they also directed an officer to confiscate Islam's camera. The officer forced Islam to delete his photographs.
Assaults like these are not uncommon in the world's largest democracy. While neither journalist was seriously injured in these recent assaults, covering demonstrations can turn deadly in India. During nationwide protests against sexual assault that broke out in December, cameraman Dwijamani Singh of the Prime News channel was shot dead by police in Imphal, the capital of the northeastern state of Manipur. Later that month, police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse journalists and demonstrators on the streets of Delhi and beat them with batons.
These assaults are emblematic of India's failure to respect members of the press. In the Odisha incident, two officers were suspended, according to local reports. In the Kashmir incident, no action has been taken against the offending officers, Islam told CPJ. And in Singh's case, the Manipur state government ordered a probe into the killing, but the results have not been made public, according to news reports. India's National Human Rights Commission has called for "appropriate action" to be taken, but there is no indication that anyone has been held to account, according to the reports.
The Indian Reserve Battalions fall under the jurisdiction of the central government and the police fall under the purview of the various state governments. It is high time that these law enforcement bodies be trained not to attack the press and to spread a clear message that such attacks are completely unacceptable in a democracy. Taking swift, severe action against these purported guardians of the law is one way to ensure that the message does not get lost in India's chaos.


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An essential for any Collection, the Iced Out Miami Cuban Chain is completely iced with 5A CZ over 12 mm White Gold Links. It features a custom lock-box clasp and is fitted at the length of your choice: 16,18, 20, 22, 24, 26 or 28 inches.
|Brass plated with white gold
|5 times plating for an everlasting shine
|Stone Type
|Cubic Zirconia with 5A quality
|Stone Setting
|Micro Pave
|Stone Cut
|Stone Color
|Stone Amount
18": 1445
20": 1613
24": 1925
|Length (inch)
|Width (mm)
|Weight (g)
18": 127g
20": 141g
24": 153g
|Package Content
|a chain, a giftbox
Our Guarantee:
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Before you ask, no it's not four-wheel drive, but we'll get to that in a minute. Perhaps surprisingly there has previously been 22 Fords to carry the evocative letters 'RS', and this, the new front-wheel drive Focus RS, is number 23. It has a lot to live up to then, not least to trump the flawed gem that was the original Focus RS.
The previous generation car was loved and loathed in seemingly equal measures, the former being reflected in the staggeringly strong residuals it still enjoys. But one of the main bugbears was torque steer, which was as bad as the article you happened to be reading at the time.
It was once said that Saab's engineers had decided the maximum a front-wheel drive car could handle is 220bhp, and the new Focus RS has 300bhp, a figure almost unimaginable a few years ago. According to Jost Capito, Ford's director of global performance vehicles, an all-wheel drive prototype of the new Focus RS was built, as the idea was very much an option in the early stages of development.
In fact the development hack used the system from the Kuga SUV and while they proved to be capable Capito decided the 'edginess' that RS customers had come to expect of these products was missing. Power to all wheels would also affect weight, fuel efficiency, emissions and the overall sharpness of this beefed-up hot hatch, he concluded, and thus the decision was made to stick to front-drive.
With 324lb ft to deal with it seems those two 19" rims are going to have a lot to take on, so the decision is a brave one. Luckily Ford has a trick up, or rather at the end of its sleeve – and it's called RevoKnuckle. The system was originally developed for big torque turbodiesels but the RS is the first road car to put it to use.
It basically works by moving the point of axis at the front wheels away from the MacPherson suspension strut and reduces the steering offset. It operates in conjunction with the Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential and the whole thing is designed to eliminate torque steer and promises to transform the way we look at front-drive cars.
Not to make life easy for itself Ford decided to launch the cars in Nice, southern France, and in particular on the roads that snake around the foothills of the Alps, with savage camber changes, bumps, ruts, snow, ice, mud, sheer drops, and the odd 200 sheep that are driven up the road with little warning. In particular this area is home to the Route Napoleon, perhaps one of the greatest driving roads on the planet, and a stern test for any car.
This is Monte Carlo tarmac rally country and this backdrop fits beautifully with the Focus RSs sitting in the winter sun. The Frozen White models in particular look nothing short of a WRC car with the decals removed, purposeful, low and significantly wider than the ST. It appears far more exotic than its £25K price tag would suggest and harks back to a time when performance variants were defiantly different to their everyday cousins.
The wheel arches have been extended to accommodate the wider track and huge alloys and instead of welding in new sections like on the old Focus RS, Ford has fitted whole new rear sections, which it says will improve quality. The huge exhausts may be a little OTT for some and there may be one fake vent too many but overall the look triggers that schoolboy wow factor in whatever part of the brain it resides.
The most popular colour (40% of orders) so far is Ultimate Green – a reference to the colour on the BP-sponsored WRC car - and while it makes the RS look even more outlandish the White wins by a nose, because of its competition connotations. Performance Blue is so far attracting 30% of customers, as is Frozen White.
Inside it can be as garish as you like, depending on whether you spec the seats in green or blue. Alternatively you could go for black leather and Alcantara versions of the gorgeous, thin-backed Recaros, which work well with the white. The dash confirms that the EU really needs to start looking into a ban of fake carbon fibre, but that aside it is business as usual if you are upgrading from an ST.
On paper another familiar feature is the engine, which is a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder similar to that in the ST, although it has had a number of upgrades to boost power from 222bhp to 300bhp. There is a revised intake, a larger K16 turbo, revised pistons, a bespoke camshaft profile, and a completely new exhaust system. The suspension has also been tweaked, with redesigned bushes, dampers, anti-roll bars and a 40mm wider track.
Push the starter button and the RS settles into a faint burble at idle and apart from a fairly large turning circle the RS is happy trundling around the urban sprawl. This fits nicely with Ford's brief of making the car 'practical, affordable and usable every day' and thanks to plenty of low down torque it never seems to fight you at low speeds.
The only reminder that you are in something special is the vice-like grip of the seats and the faintly nuggety ride which rather than being annoying lends the impression that you are a works driver trundling between stages. Heading out of town takes you onto the route to Grasse, which is the kind of road that would make the commute to work the best part of the day.
There are sweeping fast bends, blind hairpins, negative and positive camber and today, barely any traffic. Nothing really prepares you for the noise when you first flatten the throttle, it doesn't so much build as come in like a stereo has been switched on with the volume cranked up.
The cabin is instantly filled with an orchestral mix of a number of different sounds, all playing a different tune. First there's the raging five-cylinder howl which sounds as ballistic as an Audi Quattro rally car, then you notice the gasping induction roar, while the tailpipes bellow behind you.
Lift off and you get a pop from the exhaust that is just audible over the way-too-addictive fluttering sound of the wastegate, which frankly should be illegal. 0-60mph is a claimed 5.9 seconds but the RS feels faster, but like any car that sounds this incredible it doesn't really matter if it isn't, the impression is there.
The RS's ability to thump you back into the seat every time you press the throttle is no doubt accentuated by the fact that the whopping maximum torque of 324lb ft refuses to budge from a plateau between 2500 and 4500rpm, giving you instant grunt almost all the time. Keep the RS in third, or even fourth, and it will despatch the straights as if they are simply an inconvenient interruption between corners.
You never feel more than a slight twitch in the steering as the car deploys its tarmac-splitting torque into the road, and when you reach the first bend it becomes clear why the car wants to get to the next apex as quickly as possible.
Throw it into a turn and you realise understeer is not a word the RS understands. The front tucks in supernaturally and yanks the car around the bend as if the door handle is attached to a piece of rope. At silly speeds the car is not even being stretched and frankly ridiculous entry speeds coupled to full power way too early cannot throw it off line.
What is particularly impressive is how the RS squats mid-corner, seemingly rotating around a point in between the front seats, totally balanced. No matter how hard and recklessly you go on the brakes, which work admirably to slow down the chunky 1467kg Focus, and at what point, the car doesn't become unsettled.
As the speed rises the RS is sucked on to the road and in few cars, at these speeds, will you feel as confident and in control. These twisting ribbons of tarmac feel tailor-made for the RS, but point it down the flatter, faster, and unquestionably higher, parts of the Route Napoleon and it feels equally at home. The speed it carries on any of these roads is jaw-dropping.
The gearbox is perhaps the weakest point to the experience, but this is hardly a worry. It has a shorter throw than the ST but it doesn't have the direct clunk of an Impreza STI and doesn't feel quite as special as the rest of the car. The steering, as mentioned before, is virtually untroubled by the waves of torque and power being channelled through the bespoke 235/35/R19 Continental tyres.
It feels nicely weighted and thanks to a quicker rack (2.3 turns lock-to-lock) you can flick the car from left to right without excess arm-twiddling. There is a razor-sharp accuracy to all your steering inputs too, the car placing itself exactly where you want it in a bend.
Choose your desired trajectory, point the Focus at it, and squeeze the accelerator as soon as the nose is hooked up. It's mesmerizing and on these roads, which conjure up images of Ferraris and Lamborghini Muiras at full chat, you never wish you were in something else.
Everything in the RS works so well together and the car feels in total harmony with itself, refusing to throw up any surprises. If you need further proof that the RS is quick it is worth mentioning that it has proved faster than any other Blue Oval-badged car ever built around the firm's Route Seven handling circuit at Lommel, and that includes the 205mph GT. On tarmac it has the same roll stiffness as the '06 WRC car too.
The burning question is this: should it have been four-wheel drive? After witnessing the car's astonishing grip, turn-in, sure-footedness and overwhelming fun-factor it is difficult to see what power to two more wheels would bring. In fact I'll go one further and say that there is a real danger all-wheel drive would actually spoil a perfect mix.


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This SDK includes the following features:
- Raw sensor streams: Access to raw data streams from the depth sensor, color camera sensor, and four-element microphone array enables developers to build upon the low-level streams that are generated by the Kinect sensor.
- Skeletal tracking: The capability to track the skeleton image of one or two people moving within the Kinect field of view make it easy to create gesture-driven applications.
- Advanced audio capabilities: Audio processing capabilities include sophisticated acoustic noise suppression and echo cancellation, beam formation to identify the current sound source, and integration with the Windows speech recognition API.
- Sample code and documentation: The SDK includes more than 100 pages of technical documentation. In addition to built-in help files, the documentation includes detailed walkthroughs for most samples provided with the SDK.
- Easy installation: The SDK installs quickly, requires no complex configuration, and the complete installer size is less than 100 MB. Developers can get up and running in just a few minutes with a standard standalone Kinect sensor unit (widely available at retail outlets).


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Christine Alexandre-Pollen Ring
At Design Interviews
Interview with Christine Alexandre : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Christine Alexandre : My design is inspired by nature. I'm really fascinated by plant life wich is a true bursting of shapes and textures. Nature is everywhere around us and we sometimes forgot how it's a real part of our lives. It's in this plentiful universe I took my inspiration. Shapes, textures, structures of plant life are rich and fabulous, giving an infinity of possibilities. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Christine Alexandre : The aim is to create new shapes the nature would design them with its sensitivity and sensuality to provide a jewel which is unique as well as deeply connected to nature. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Christine Alexandre : To increase awareness. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Christine Alexandre : For this one it takes about 5 months. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Christine Alexandre : Because I'm feeling close to nature. The design was not commissioned. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Christine Alexandre : It's already produced under my own brand, Chris Alexxa. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Christine Alexandre : As told previously, I'm really fascinated by nature. I just wanted to design something which evokes for me a fragment of it. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Christine Alexandre : Not really. Even if we can probably find other designers with same fascination as mine for nature each one has it's own interpretation of it. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Christine Alexandre : Any women who likes originality and sensitive to organic beauty. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Christine Alexandre : The treatment of textures to bring out organic feeling. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Christine Alexandre : The name comes from the part of the plant which inspired me. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Christine Alexandre : I do not use computer because it's not for me the right way to express my mind. This is nearly a fully handmade process. I use handicraft tools to realize waxes prototype. Castings are done. The wax lost casting is the only "mass" production process as all the finishings are also hand made. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Christine Alexandre : The personal touch with particular treatment of textures and shapes to bring out organic feeling. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Christine Alexandre : Nobody. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Christine Alexandre : Technology didn't take a important part in this design except silver casting. .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. Christine Alexandre : No data or analytical research. Just focused attention on details all around me in the nature. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Christine Alexandre : To emphasize the essence of plant life to design a smooth and sensual jewel both discreet and visible to get a timeless piece of Nature. .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. Christine Alexandre : I've been contacted to do so. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Christine Alexandre : So many things... I'm not a jeweller and I had to learn a lot to achieve this work. .Frank Scott: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?. Christine Alexandre : No .
Christine Alexandre-Pollen Ring Images:
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Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 01, 2013
R&D Systems is pleased to announce that it will award travel grants for researchers to attend the 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI) in Milan, Italy. The biotech company invites immunology researchers to apply for funding by visiting their website at: http://www.RnDSystems.com/ICITravel.
Ten travel grants of $1,000 will be awarded. Researchers planning to attend ICI 2013 can apply for travel funding online between April 1, 2013 and May 31, 2013. The online application process is short and simple. Award recipients will be determined via a random drawing and announced June 15, 2013.
The ICI is celebrating its 15th meeting in 2013 in Milan, Italy. R&D Systems representatives will be attending the meeting and welcome inquiries on products for studying hematopoiesis, pathogen recognition, the innate immune response, T cell differentiation, B cell activities, cytokines and receptors, inflammation, tumor immunology, and autoimmune diseases.
The company offers a broad range of high quality reagents for studying all areas of immunology including over 12,000 high performance antibodies, cell selection and multicolor flow cytometry kits, and the most referenced collection of bioactive proteins and immunoassays in the industry. In addition, R&D Systems offers a wide selection of multiplex assays for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes using different detection platforms.


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Well, not really, that's just an urban legend. But even 30 years after his death, Bob Marley remains a cultural, musical, and spiritual icon worldwide. Marley, simultaneously released today in theaters and online aims to be the man's definitive biography.
Directed by Academy Award-winner Kevin MacDonald and produced with the blessings of his family (as you can tell from the interviews), the movie documents Marley's rise from grinding poverty onto the global stage and his untimely demise at just 36. The biography also features the requisite never-before-seen-or-heard tracks and interviews.
If you're lucky enough to live in a city with independent cinemas, gratz—now go find out if it's playing near you. Otherwise, it's available on iTunes and a bunch of On Demand options. [Bob Marley]


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LIVE Freethought Talk Show, with guests and call-ins. Over 10 years in the making. Currently looking for a coder to help with the ig site and youtube channel.
Website: http://www.infidelguy.com
Members: 154
Latest Activity: Jan 6, 2014
All of my programs are now available from: ReginaldFinley.com.
Started by Reginald Finley Sr. Last reply by D. Swift Jul 11, 2010. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Lone Wolf. Last reply by Richard J Jul 30, 2009. 3 Replies 0 Likes
No longer doing the show.. But I am planning on resurrecting something in the future.
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Johnny "The Fox" Torrio
A mentor to Al Capone, a confidante of Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello, Torrio even managed to win the begrudging respect of law enforcement.
by Allan May
Some people think that Johnny "The Fox" Torrio retired from organized crime after he turned his crime empire over to a young Al Capone in 1925. Far from it. Many crime historians believe that Torrio's most significant contributions to organized crime came years later, an opinion shared by Torrio's contemporaries on the other side of the law. Virgil W. Peterson of the Chicago Crime Commission called Torrio, "an organizational genius." Elmer Irey, the famous head of the Treasury Department's Intelligence Unit, called Torrio, "the father of modern American gangsterdom." Irey claimed, "He was the smartest and, I dare say, the best of all the hoodlums. And when I say best I am referring of course to talent. Not morals."
The events leading to Torrio's exodus from Chicago began on May 19, 1924 when North Side Gang leader Dion O'Banion, somewhat of a fox himself, delivered Torrio into the hands of federal authorities. O'Banion, Torrio and Capone jointly owned the Sieben Brewery. When O'Banion was tipped off to an upcoming federal raid on the brewery he went to Torrio and Capone with a concocted story about retiring and heading west. He sold his share to the two and made plans to meet Torrio at the brewery the night of the raid.
When the federal raiders appeared, Torrio realized O'Banion had doublecrossed him. He also realized that because this was his second federal offense that he faced certain prison time if convicted. Torrio seethed in anger and plotted O'Banion's death. On Nov. 10, 1924, O'Banion was gunned down in his own flower shop.
The murder of the popular O'Banion infuriated the North Side Gang. On Jan. 24, 1925 North Siders Hymie Weiss, Vincent Drucci, and George "Bugs" Moran caught up with Torrio when he and his wife Anna returned home from an afternoon of shopping. Torrio was seriously wounded in the chest and neck. Torrio quickly recovered, served his time – a nine-month stretch in the Lake County Jail – and left Chicago for New York with an armed escort.
Torrio wanted to live in semi-retirement in Italy with his beloved wife. Arriving in New York to set sail, he met with Charles "Lucky" Luciano to discuss his future plans. In the book The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, the mob boss discusses their meeting:
"…he (Torrio) had millions stashed away. He told me he wanted to talk over a plan. He thought booze was gonna become legal again and he wanted to become my agent in Europe, to start buyin' up legal options on the best Scotch to get ready for the end of the Volsted Act. This was seven long years before Repeal, and it was almost impossible to believe. Here was a guy predictin' that my whole fuckin' bootleg business, and everybody else's for that matter, was gonna wind up in the shithouse."
The following day Torrio again met with Luciano. This time Charlie Lucky invited Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello. Lansky was of the same opinion as Torrio about looking ahead and getting into legitimate businesses. Before leaving, Torrio told the group, "You've gotta get into the big politics; you can buy the top politicians the same way you bought the law." It was apparent Costello took note of the advice.
The Torrios set sail for Italy in late 1925. They leased an apartment in an upscale Naples' neighborhood. Although only 43, Torrio was enjoying retirement. He and Anna took weekend trips together, attended the opera, and enjoyed the warm climate. Their plans to remain in Italy came to end when Benito Mussolini declared war on the Mafia. Fearing for their safety, the Torrios returned to New York in the spring of 1928.
Torrio met with Luciano, Costello and Joe Adonis and was brought up to date on the events going on in both New York and Chicago. He was told his protégé Capone had turned Chicago into a Wild West show. Torrio heard that Frank Yale, a long time friend of his, was now at odds with Capone over booze shipments Capone suspected Yale had hijacked. Capone soon dispatched a hit squad to murder Yale. Though saddened by Yale's murder, Torrio stayed away from his opulent funeral not wishing to advertise his return to the states.
Torrio exercised his organizational skills after the death of Arnold Rothstein in November 1928. He helped organize all the prominent bootleggers and rumrunners along the Eastern Seaboard into a loose cartel, an arrangement which allowed them to pool their resources. The cartel stretched from Boston to Philadelphia and the members became known as the "Big Seven."
In May 1929, mobsters from across the country met in Atlantic City to discuss new ways of cooperating with each other. Depending on which book you read, the meeting was the brainchild of Lansky, Costello or Torrio (even Abner Zwillman's biographer claims "Longy" was responsible for the summit). Whatever the case, Torrio was seen as the elder statesman at this conference. The mobsters met to forge relationships and prepare for the day when Prohibition would end.
One of the concerns the group had was the recent rash of bloodshed in Chicago. Between February and May 1929, 10 men had been brutally murdered in two highly publicized incidents. One was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and the other the baseball bat beating deaths of Albert Anselmi, John Scalise, and Joseph Giunta. Capone biographers believe that Torrio convinced Capone that doing a little jail time would help take the heat off everyone. After the meeting, Capone and a bodyguard went to Philadelphia where Scarface allowed himself to be arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Capone, thinking he would get 90 days, was slapped with a one-year sentence.
During the bloody Castelammarese War, Torrio kept a low profile. After the smoke cleared, he became a regular visitor at Luciano's Waldorf Towers apartment on 50th Street near Park Avenue in Manhattan.
Torrio's influence during this period was apparent again in the spring of 1934. In his book, Lansky, Hank Messick states that a meeting was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan attended by mobsters from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston, and Minneapolis. Presiding over this meeting, at which Messick claims that the national crime syndicate was established, was Johnny Torrio.
As early as 1928, Torrio had warned the mob bosses of New York about watching their tax returns. Luciano stated, "That was when Johnny Torrio told everyone of us that we better start fixin' up our income tax returns. A lot of us did that, startin' with 1928, to show some legitimate business." In Chicago, the government was already prosecuting cases against Ralph Capone, Frank Nitti, Jake Guzik, Terry Druggan and Frank Lake. While Capone languished in a Pennsylvania prison, Torrio referred his own tax attorney to him. A couple years later, during Capone's tax evasion trial, Torrio was brought back to Chicago to testify. Though he was never called, no one expected he would reveal anything about his old protégé.
In the early 1930s Torrio purchased the Prendergast & Davies Company, LTD. for $62,000. The company was a wholesale liquor concern as well as an importer. Torrio set up an in-law as president of the company and hired a few former bootlegging pals to help run it. Although it was a legitimate operation, Torrio wanted his name kept out of the records for tax purposes. However, when a jealous competitor turned informer the government was alerted to Torrio's hidden ownership in the firm.
The government was already in the process of putting a tax-evasion case together against Torrio. Investigators had discovered his role in the Eastern Seaboard liquor cartel as well as his hidden ownership in a government-licensed alcohol denaturing plant in Baltimore.
While this was going on Torrio fled to St. Petersburg, Fla., in the wake of the murders of Dutch Schultz and three of his gang members. Torrio and Schultz owned two-thirds of the Greater City Surety and Indemnity Company and were in a position to create a monopoly on bail bonds in the city. After Schultz was shot Torrio's name came up several times during the delirious deathbed ramblings of the Dutchman and the police wanted to question him.
When Torrio realized the depth of the government investigation, he quickly sold Prendergast & Davies to a Boston group, turning a $93,000 profit. He then tried to leave the country and booked passage for Anna and himself to sail from Quebec to Rio de Janeiro. On April 22, 1936, Torrio went to the White Plains Post Office to pick up his passport. There he was arrested by an Internal Revenue agent and jailed at the Federal Detention House in Manhattan on a $100,000 bond.
Anna brought the $100,000 in cash, wrapped in a newspaper, to bail her husband out. While Torrio was signing a receipt for the return of his personal possessions, he was served with a warrant charging him with forgery. He then waited another two hours while Anna trotted out and fetched another $4,000 for bail on these charges. Still later, a New York City police captain arrested Torrio for vagrancy. Anna bailed him out again. As Torrio left the Coney Island Municipal Court he tripped and fell while trying to dodge newspaper photographers. An embarrassing photograph of the sprawling Torrio appeared in newspapers across the country.
Government agents prosecuting Torrio came to the conclusion that he owed $110,277 in back taxes and penalties for the years 1933 through 1935. William H. Boyd, a "section chief" with 18 years of government service, recommended to the court a cash settlement of $100,000, but no criminal prosecution. The offer stunned members of government agencies who had investigated Torrio and an investigation of Boyd was initiated. The FBI quickly discovered a connection between the two men; Torrio held the mortgage on Boyd's home. Boyd was suspended from his job and ordered to report to the FBI for questioning. Instead, he went home and hanged himself.
Torrio's trial got underway March 29, 1939. Bail was revoked and Torrio spent his nights in a detention center. The jurors were sequestered with deputy marshals guarding them. Both of these precautions were normally reserved for capital murder trials.
The government presented a host of witnesses during the first week, including imprisoned narcotics peddler Jacob "Yasha" Katzenberg. Late in the trial information was introduced tying Torrio to Schultz and the Greater City Surety & Indemnity Company. Schultz's widow, Frances, and his attorney, Richard "Dixie" Davis, were due to testify. In addition, reporters discovered that Al Capone had been questioned at Alcatraz about Torrio's finances and his tactics for hiding income. A 50-page statement from Capone allegedly had been prepared. Both revelations made the front pages. At this point Torrio decided to plead guilty.
Although Torrio was looking at 12 years in prison, Prosecutor Seymour Klein asked for and received a sentence of just two-and-one-half years. Torrio was also ordered to pay $86,000 in back taxes and fines.
As Torrio was led away a curious reporter asked him, "Why did you change your plea?"
Torrio replied, "Mrs. Torrio told me to do it."
The "Fox" never revealed why he changed his plea. Asked by reporters if he thought the Schultz or Capone revelations had anything to do with the guilty plea, Prosecutor Klein replied he had been intending to "present witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the Torrio-Boyd relationship." Klein felt the story of the "bribery and suicide" scandal would provide a lot of weight for the jury.
Journalist and author Jack McPhaul wrote the biography, Johnny Torrio: First of the Gang Lords, in 1970. McPhaul was a veteran Chicago newspaperman, his career dating back to 1923. He interviewed Seymour Klein about the Capone incident and was told that the news stories about the statement were incorrect. Klein told McPhaul that, "Capone did not want to say anything against Torrio." An associate of Klein later told Capone biographer John Kobler that even though Capone's mind was already in a state of deterioration he still "fended off probing questions" and said that Torrio had been like a father to him.
Torrio was imprisoned at Leavenworth Penitentiary. Lepke Buchalter who received a 14-year sentence on narcotics charges soon joined him there. Soon Lepke would be on his way back to New York and finally the electric chair in Sing Sing after Abe "Kid Twist" Reles ratted out the Murder, Inc. gang.
On April 14, 1941, after having served just 23 months, Torrio was paroled. According to Jack McPhaul, Torrio, after realizing the humiliation his wife experienced when his parole officer performed an inspection of their Brooklyn apartment, made Anna a promise that "never again would he bring her grief."
Like many leading members of the New York underworld, Torrio sweated out the ramblings of Abe Reles, and later the rumors that Lepke himself was going to spill what he knew about his crime associates. Torrio spent those dreadful years vacationing in St. Petersburg, Fla., during the winter months. True to his word to Anna, Torrio stayed clear of illegal activities and focused his energies in the real estate market. During this time he and his wife were the target of an extortion plot in which two Brooklyn men threatened to kill them if $10,000 was not paid. Torrio, at Anna's urging, took the extortion note to his probation officer. In an ironic twist, Torrio worked with the FBI to lay a trap for the two men. Although the men failed to show, the pair was arrested six months later and Torrio testified in federal court.
Torrio's name came up briefly during the Kefauver hearings in the early 1950s. Although they were close friends and business associates for years, Costello told the committee he had met Torrio only twice. On two earlier occasions, in 1943 and 1947, Costello, testifying under oath, denied that he had ever met Torrio.
McPhaul takes us through the twilight years of Torrio's life. In 1953, Torrio and Anna moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for a short time where he was involved in real estate. The couple returned to Brooklyn where Torrio tended to his business interests, went to real estate auctions, and drove around the city appraising properties.
On the morning of April 16, 1957, Torrio sat down in a barber's chair for a haircut and suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Cumberland Hospital. With his devoted wife Anna at his bedside the "Fox" died peacefully at 3:45 that afternoon.
McPhaul writes that Torrio had a sparsely attended funeral with burial at Greenwood Cemetery. This was unlike the many lavish funerals Torrio had been a part of during his days in Chicago. McPhaul claims that Torrio had been buried for three weeks before the newspapers found out about his passing.
Despite the fine investigative work McPhaul did on his biography of Torrio, he made one interesting mistake. He talks about Torrio reading a newspaper article on the suicide death of his long-time friend Abner Zwillman. McPhaul states that Torrio sadly "put down the paper and sighed. He had many good recollections of Longy." The problem is Zwillman committed suicide in February 1959, nearly two years after Torrio's death.
It is interesting to note that the three men who were given credit for the Atlantic City Conference, and who helped create the organized crime structure that still exists in the United States today – Lansky, Costello and Torrio – all died peacefully of natural causes in a hospital bed with their wives near their side. Maybe in the end that's the truest sign of success for a mob boss.
Allan May's e-mail address is: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Kalen Ballage, of Falcon, signs with Arizona State
The suspense is over. Kalen Ballage is going to Arizona State.
Sun Devils coach Todd Graham announced the signing on Twitter Thursday.
Ballage had given his verbal commitment to Arizona State in December, according to The Gazette. However, questions about where the 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior would land arose Wednesday when the University of Colorado's website briefly had Ballage's name listed as one of its players signed. The post was promptly taken down.
Since Falcon District 49 was closed Wednesday and Thursday, postponing the signing ceremony. The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Woodmen Hills Community Center West at 11720 Woodmen Hills Drive in Falcon.
Ballage rushed for 1,943 yards and 25 touchdowns for Falcon this season, leading them to a 9-2 record.
He is listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN and Scout, and a four-star recruit by Rivals.
Huge Boom from the Valley of the Sun! Welcome aboard Kalen Ballage!!! #ASUSigningDayExtended #SunDevilBrotherhood
— Todd Graham (@CoachGrahamASU) February 6, 2014


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If you are an advertiser or PR representative wanting to contact me about a review, giveaway, or advertising opportunity, please also fill out the form. If I feel your product is a good fit for Living A Frugal Life and it's readers, I will be in contact with you. A Media Kit is available upon request as well.
Comments or questions are welcome.


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Perfect Comfort Eco Wool Comforter by Holy Lamb Organics, King
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Why Premium Eco-Wool?
Wool is sourced only from small sheep farmers in the U.S. All of the U.S. farmers who sign onto the Premium Eco-Wool program are educated in sustainable farming practices that are good for both the people, the land and the animals. In turn, for following these sustainable principles the farmers are paid twice the amount they would receive in the general wool pool. It is a win win situation for everyone and a great example of how what is good for the environment is also good for the economy.
Not all wool is the same. It depends on the machinery. The Premium Eco Wool's mill uses additional breakers and carders to produce an incredibly clean wool that is dust free and virtually vegetable matter free. This is the best of the best.
- Controls temperature and eliminates moisture build up
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Comforter Sizes:
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Same Old Story
Guess this classifies as old news since the announcement came earlier this week. It is also old as in the same old story.
Once again, Charlie did not win manager of the year. Puzzling. And, it isn't the first time. He's never won the award for crying out loud.
All he's done is reach the postseason five straight years. He's one of only two NL managers to do that. The other was Bobby Cox, who was there 14 years in a row. He was a three-time winner.
Perhaps I shouldn't belly-ache. After all, Charlie finished fourth, which is an improvement over 2010 (fifth) and 2009 (sixth). Maybe the baseball writers who vote are slow thinkers.
Yes, he was second in 2007 and 2008. But second isn't winning.
Then again, Charlie has a lot of company when it comes to Phillies managers and the writers' award. Only one has ever won, Larry Bowa in 2001).
The Associated Press used to give out the same award and the Phillies have fared better there than with writers: Eddie Sawyer (1950), Gene Mauch (1962, 1964), Danny Ozark (1976) and Jim Fregosi (1993).
OK, the writers' award didn't start until 1983. But, in 1993, Fregosi's Phillies went to the World Series. Dusty Baker's Giants finished second and he won the award. Guess that classifies as old news.


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The Screwball: New rules for a new baseball world
Major League Baseball has adopted Experimental Rule 7.13, governing collisions at home plate. Including the rulebook commentary, which guides implementation of the rule, it takes 351 words to say that runners may not go out of their way to barrel over a catcher, and that a catcher cannot block home plate without having the ball. The word "buttocks" is included, so you know it's good.
There still will be collisions, because sometimes collisions are unavoidable between a runner making a legal approach to the plate and a catcher standing his ground to field a throw. In fact, the word "unavoidable" is part of Experimental Rule 7.13.
PHOTOS: Scenes from spring training
Experimentation is good. It helps the game move forward with the times. There is no reason for avoidable collisions not to be avoided, and we have seen firsthand, from Ray Fosse to Buster Posey, how severe the effects of bodies smashing into each other at home plate can be. But what else can be done to help baseball be a safer sport and protect the men who play it?
Here are some new experimental rules, submitted for Bud Selig's approval, to deal with other important issues.
The lead runner on a double play where the first out is made at second base shall be safe if the "pivot" fielder never comes within three feet of the base. The runner must slide at the base, not the fielder, or remain on his feet all the way to second base. He is not allowed to wildly wave his arms in an attempt to distract the fielder, although if he has a rolled up poster of a 1940s pin-up girl tucked away in his uniform, he may unroll it and show it to the fielder in an attempt to stop him from completing the play. This portion of the rule also will apply to home plate collisions, per the precedent set forth in the classic baseball documentary "Baseball Bugs."
Upon hitting a home run, the batter has 30 seconds to make his way around the bases, as measured by a stopwatch held by the third base umpire. If the batter fails to make his way around the bases in a timely fashion for reasons other than injury, interference, gross obesity, or act of God, the opposing team will have the option to subject the next batter to a dunk tank, which will be wheeled out to home plate. If the dunk tank is used, the pitcher will have one pitch to hit the target and dunk the batter. If successful, the batter is called out (and wet). If unsuccessful, the batter advances to first base and is credited as if hit by a pitch.
Other violations of so-called "unwritten rules" subject to the dunk tank include, but are not limited to, yelling at a fielder to prevent him from catching a pop fly, swimming in an outfield pool, tweeting inappropriate things at or about a opponent's spouse, and being Alex Rodriguez. Basically, anything that would get a pitcher to throw at a hitter.
If a team declines to use its dunk tank option, whatever offense has been committed shall be immediately forgotten. A pitch deemed by a supermajority of the umpiring crew to have been intentionally thrown at a batter, regardless of whether it his him, shall be ruled a home run. The pitcher shall be suspended for a minimum of 10 games.
Any players who leave their position on the field, and make contact with an opposing player, shall also be suspended for a minimum of 10 games. Any players who leave the bullpen during an incident shall be suspended for a minimum of 25 games.
No pitcher shall be ejected from a game, even after a warning, if he hits a batter with a breaking ball. Everyone on the field will point and laugh at a player who is hit by a knuckleball.
A player who slides into first base, for any reason other than to avoid a tag, shall be called out for making a travesty of the game. He will be given a written warning by the league, and subject to a 50-game suspension for his next such offense. Subsequent offenses will result in the player's team forfeiting a game along with a 100-game suspension, and then a lifetime ban from baseball.


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Commuters demand action from Metro-North
At a forum hosted by the state's official rail advocacy group, about a dozen commuters and legislators complained about late trains and long trips, and the economic drag that poor quality rail service will wreak on Connecticut's economic future.
"The added time to my commute in the recent months has dragged it out far beyond what it has been at any time during the past 20 years," Patrick Swearinger, of New Canaan, said. "When are train schedules going to go back to what they were? Can anyone respond to that?"
Like other towns and cities with Metro-North stations, Stamford's ability to court economic investment relies on Metro-North Railroad's ability to restore old service and enhance both speed and frequency, Stamford Mayor David Martin told the panel of rail officials in attendance.
The forum, presented by the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, drew more than 60 people to the fourth-floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center.
John Kesich, senior vice president of operations for Metro-North, appeared alongside state Department of Transportation Commissioner Jim Redeker, Sue Doering, Metro-North's senior director of service and stations, and Anne Kirsch, Metro-North's director of safety and security. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was also there.
"Fundamentally the unreliability and lack of capacity and frequency on Metro-North is jeopardizing the economic prosperity of Stamford," Martin said. "You have got to fix this. You have to have more capacity and you need a plan for the next 10 or 20 years. Please do it, it just might be our economic future at stake."
El Shaffei Dada, an Old Greenwich commuter who travels from Stamford, said he was puzzled that the accidents in the past year, including three derailments, have not resulted in more conspicuous change in railroad leadership.
"Whose responsible, Metro-North, or the DOT? Is it our legislators? Who do we go to?," Dada said. "Whose job is on the line when things aren't done?"
Kesich offered some detailed explanations, blaming slower speeds on a federal order in late 2013 which required the railroad to create speed transition zones as trains approach curves and bridges.
Kesich said he couldn't definitively tell riders when trains would resume the running speeds they had before last May, when a derailment of one train and collision with another in Bridgeport injured 76 people.
"Our objective is to take a better look at (Metro-North's) operation from a system perspective," Kesich said.
In the audience, Harry Artinian, a Darien commuter, muttered an angry, "come on," when he heard Kesich blame the poor service in part on the retirement of experienced Metro-North rail workers.
"How many years ago should they have expected people to retire? Isn't that part of their job?" Artinian said. "What this is, is a catastrophic failure of management by the government, Metro-North, and the Legislature."
Aaron Armstrong, a Stamford commuter, said that he and his wife are now balking at their long-held goal of buying a house in Westport or Fairfield because of Metro-North's string of misfortune.
"It's going to be a longer commute and possibly a two-hour commute each way," Armstrong said. "The quality of life is something to think about, and the MTA is going to be a big part of it."


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Readings in Classical Greek I
This course proposes the reading and translation of long excerpts from one or two ancient Greek works. Passages will be analyzed from the grammatical, literary, and historical points of view. The authors and genre (historical prose, epic poetry, etc.) will change from year to year. PREREQ: GREC 3227 or equivalent (lec 3) cr 3.
Thorneloe University


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After viewing an event, click here to return to the full list.
'Gathering Saturday Trolleyday
Saturday, July 27 10:30AM
Open 10.30am until 10.00pm (last admission at 8.00pm) Click here for public transport links today
(On Sunday, 28 July, it is Sandtoft Gathering 2019 - our biggest open day of the year - when the Trolleybus Museum will be open between 10.00am and 6.00pm. For those who want to visit on both days, a special weekend ticket is available - see below)
What's happening today:
We are having a preview of the next day's Sandtoft Gathering (which is our biggest open day of the year) with a selection of trolleybuses in use for visitors to ride on up until 9.00pm: late operation of trolleybuses presents a rare opportunity to photograph, take video and ride on them in twilight and near-dark conditions.
There is also an evening barbecue and a real ale beer tent, so an opportunity to enjoy the proceedings in a convivial manner.
Special features for Saturday, 27 July ONLY
- A large selection of trolleybuses on display, along with some early arrivals of display vehicles that will be on show on Sandtoft Gathering Day itself (28 July).
- Twilight and nearly-dark trolleybus operation and rides, with the opportunity to take photographs or video as the light goes. Last trolleybus runs at 9.00pm
- Barbecue from 6.00pm until 9.00pm (or earlier if the food runs out!)
- Real ale beer tent open 6.00pm until 10.00pm
Please be aware that circumstances beyond our control may necessitate the cancellation or closure of any activity, facility or attraction.
Visit our Facebook page for the latest information about today and this weekend.
Our normal attractions include:
- Selection of trolleybuses in operation to ride on
- Full-size working replica pioneer 1911 Cedes Stoll "trackless trolley" on display (weather permitting)
- In-house 5-rated cafe serving made-to-order meals, delicious home-made cakes and hot and cold drinks
- Vintage motorbus guided tour of surrounding local area (the Isle of Axholme) **
- TOY museum
- Trolleybus displays
- 1950s/ 60s shop window displays
- The period Sunbeam cycle shop exhibition
- 1950s Prefab "home" display
- Audio-visual presentations in the "Regal" lecture theatre
- Children's full-sized trolleybus "Have a Go at Driving" simulator (located in the café)
- Guided tours of vehicles in the main depot building
- Souvenir shop
- Gardens & nature trail
** These motor bus tours operated by the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft are provided free of charge and admission to the Trolleybus Museum is neither required nor granted by the use of these tours or any other free bus service provided by the Trolleybus Museum and payment for admission to the Trolleybus Museum is not a condition of carriage.
Ample FREE parking (including for coaches)
Admission prices today:
- Our admission prices include a 10% (rounded up) gift aid donation
- For visitors planning to attend on both days of the Sandtoft Gathering Weekend, there are special weekend tickets available
Adult: £8.00 - "Adult" is defined as a person aged 17 to 60 inclusive and who is not eligible to be classified as a "Concession" (see below).
Senior £7.00 - "Senior is defined as a person aged 61 or over and who is not eligible to be classified as a "Concession" (see below)
Concession £6.00 - "Concession" is defined as the following:
- a child aged 5 to 16 inclusive
- a person who is registered as disabled
- a person acting as a carer for a (or a group o) disabled person(s) also visiting the Museum
- a university student (student union ID must be produced)
Under-5s Free
Family £25.50 - "Family" is defined as a party of 2 adults (they may be either "Adults" or "Seniors") accompanied by up to 4 "Concessions"
Special 'Gathering Weekend Tickets (i.e. Saturday & Sunday, 27 & 28 July)
Adult: £12.50
Senior £11.00
Concession £8.50
Under-5s Free
Family Not available
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES! Our admission prices are all-inclusive, so it include ALL trolleybus and motorbus rides, and will admit visitors to ALL available exhibitions and attractions.
Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control and on a lead. Please note that (apart from guide and other assistance dogs) they are not permitted in certain buildings, including the café and the souvenir shop. For the security and comfort of passengers, it will be at the discretion of the conductor whether a dog may be allowed on a trolleybus or motorbus. We endeavour to provide bowls of water for dogs – please ask a Museum official if these are empty or not obviously available!.
On each Saturday Trolleyday, the Trolleybus Museum operates a free bus link between Epworth and the Trolleybus Museum to link with a scheduled bus service from/ to Doncaster operated by Isle Coaches.
Isle Coaches Service 291 (to Owston Ferry) Trolleybus Museum Free Bus
Doncaster Interchange (Bay C5) depart 11.00am
Epworth Rectory arrive 11.52am depart 11.55am
Trolleybus Museum arrive 12.10pm
Free Bus - Return Service (This return trip connects with the last Isle Coaches service of the day from Epworth to Doncaster, so we regret we cannot provide a later return service to Doncaster)
Trolleybus Museum Free Bus Isle Coaches Service 399 (to Doncaster)
Trolleybus Museum depart 4.20pm
Epworth Rectory arrive 4.35pm depart 4.45pm
Doncaster Interchange arrive 5.45pm
Please remember that fares are charged on the scheduled Isle Coaches services
On Sandtoft Gathering Day itself (28 July) we are operating a half-hourly FREE bus service from Doncaster Interchange direct to the Trolleybus Museum and back.
Advertised free bus services are operated by Sandtoft Transport Centre Limited. Payment for admission to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft is not a condition of carriage.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft today and/ or over this weekend!
Click here to return to the full list of TrolleydaysLocation: The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft


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iPod® Direct Control Cable
- Enjoy iPod® Direct Control
- Audio Compatible Only
- Fast and Easy Connection
Use the CD-I200 interface cable to connect an iPod® directly into the receiver, and gain full, direct, adapter-free control via the receiver interface.
The CD-I200 iPod Direct Cable is compatible with third generation iPods® and newer featuring the dock connector. Some iPods may not be fully compatible with (and certain features/functionality may be limited with) Pioneer systems.
Either "Made for iPod" or "Works with iPhone" means that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod or iPhone and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Operations and functions may vary depending on iPod models or headunits. iPod Control is compatible with iPod® (5th generation or later/Firmware Version 1.2 or later/iPod nano Version 1.2 or later). A 3rd or 4th generation iPod® requires CD-IB100II. iPod, iPhone and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.


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Play & Explore
Please click here to book tickets
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Latest news
Far from the Madding Crowd in Linlithgow have been crowned Julia Independent Bookshop of the month for June. This is for their huge commitment to children's events and storytelling and for expanding their children's space.
To experience the Gruffalo website you need a modern browser, select one from the choice below.


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Yolo CountyHome Sitemap Contact
Business License
All Businesses Are Required To Be Licensed
"Business" means any trade, manufacturer, profession, occupation or service of all and every kind, whether or not carried on for profit or for charitable, philanthropic, or other purposes, including the arrangement of business transactions, holding of sales or training meetings and administrative conferences, the receipt of customer or client payments and the keeping of records and accounts pertaining to a business.
Please refer to County Code, Title 12, for more information on Business License.
Business License Renewal:
Click Here to pay your renewal fee and print your Business License
***License renewal fees can now be paid online! Click Here for instructions to find your license, set up your online account and link your license to your profile. We accept Visa and MasterCard for online payment.
New Business License (Fees, Inspection, and Forms)
In general, a Business License not requiring an Fire Life Safety inspection or subject to other departments' fees is $141.80 (includes a technology fee of 6%) and expires the next year on January 31st.
Businesses located in the Unincorporated Areas of Yolo County applying for a new business license, change of ownership, or change in occupancy use may be required to pay additional fees. Please call us at (530)666-8775 for more information on the cost details and additional submittal requirements.
To apply, please complete the Business License Application form.
For a home-based business, please also complete the Supplemental form.
Businesses Currently Licensed in Yolo County
Click Here to use our new eTRAKiT webpage to search for licensed businesses in Yolo County.


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Mike W necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 192 diseños de 27 diseñadores freelance.
Turin Project, http://www.turinproject.com
We are a leading edge bespoke software solution provider. Developing applications for enterprises across the world. We specialise in Cloud, RIA and Mobile solutions. Creating creative, engaging bullet proof solutions.
A fusion of creative design with enterprise development..
All our employees are on client sites and work remotely (Airports, coffee chops etc..). We want people to know who we are by having a creative and eye catching laptop jacket design.
What is a laptop jacket design? Good question, well it is a way to skin a laptop personalising it.
This needs to be VERY eye catching and make people look over and take note of the company, look up one of the URL's and give us business ;-)..
It's simple. We need an eye catching design that get attention.
- It has to have the logo in the design (you choose which one of the 3)...
- Deliverable in well structured, layered PSD correctly names and grouped.
- Design for 15ins MacBook Pros
- Image Size
3932 x 2690 (pixels)
- Very artistic and abstract in design.
- This is the link to the website deign
- Please use this only as a reference....
- Very creative and modern design
-Must have the following social media links and make it obvious what the links are for.. We need people to look over at the design and mentally note down one of the links so that they can check us out online....
- We need to have the following text in the design
- Creatively infused bespoke enterprise software .
- From the cloud, to the desktop, to the cloud, to the smartphone.
- Next generation solutions, today.