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New questions, comments, etc., should be posted elsewhere.
Thank you.
1. Why are my messages stuck in my Outbox?
2. Why was my thread locked?They are not "stuck." Messages will remain in your Outbox until they are read by the recipient (or one of the recipients, if there is more than one). From there, the message will move to your "Sent messages" folder.
3. Is it an official rule that the lowest rated trader has to ship first?There are many possible reasons why a thread might be locked. Most commonly, it is because you violated our rules on "bumping." Yes. I'm aware our forums don't bump in the traditional sense. We still use the term, though.
If your thread was not bumped (which generally refers to you replying to your own thread outside of the limited manner that we allow), you should check the site rules to see if you violated any. If you do not see any rules violations, you can post a message in the "Have questions? Need help?" forum and someone will find your answer.
4. Why can't I reply to ads that are looking for painters/converters? (Why do I have to pay to advertise here if I want to operate as a business?)NO.
Anyone who refers to "Lower rating ships/pays first" (or any similar form) as a site rule is (a) lying or (b) misinformed. While it is probably the MOST common "personal" rule that many traders (myself included) adhere to, it is MOST CERTAINLY not endorsed by the site or any staff member as an OFFICIAL rule in any capacity.
5. What is ITL?Bartertown is free to use. What it isn't, however, is free to run. To keep a site with 35,000 members running, there are notable costs involved. Staff members volunteer our time (Yes. We're unpaid!) to keep the site running, but we do not volunteer our bank accounts. As such, we sell advertising to keep the place going.
Since we accept money from people to allow them to advertise their businesses and services here, it would not be fair to them to allow others to do so for free; it's our responsibility to protect their investment. By allowing you to offer your painting or other services here without charging you, we are giving you for free what others pay for. Eventually, those paying advertisers decide that the investment is no longer worth it and back out. With no funds available to keep the site running, we have to close down.
No advertiser investments = no Bartertown.
6. How do I leave a reference?ITL is the Internet Trade Listing. It is where your references are stored. The site pulls from the ITL to show the little # next to your User ID that is your Reference Score.
7. What if my trade partner won't leave me a reference?Click on the "Post a Reference" tab above (right below the advertising banner). Fill out the requisite spaces (denoted by red asterisks) –we LIKE it when you use the trader's REAL name, but it is not required- then hit "Submit."
Next, you will get to the confirmation screen. It will ask, "Are you sure you want to post this reference?" Presuming you do, hit the "Yes" button.
You will be directed to a final screen that says, "The trade reference has been posted." If you do not receive that message, the reference was NOT posted to their profile.
8. When using PayPal to pay for stuff why do sellers get upset if I choose "I'm paying for goods or services" (as opposed to "I'm sending money to family or friends")? Isn't that what I'm doing?You can politely ask them to do so. Keep in mind that, per Bartertown rules, references are NOT required. Harassing someone for failure to leave you a reference is not acceptable.
One option you can try is to include verbiage in your trade agreement that makes the leaving of references part of your trade agreement: "Upon the successful completion of the trade, Trader X will leave a positive reference and Trader Y will do so in return within 5 business days." If your trade partner agrees to this, it becomes an enforceable part of the agreement. If Trader X leaves a reference and does not receive one in the allotted time, he can contact an Admin. We would remove the reference in that case (once proof has been provided).
9. What should I do if I haven't received my items?PayPal charges a lot of money to use their service for receiving payments. As a result, many people look to alleviate that cost whenever possible. You are, of course, doing the right thing.
Some sellers will ask or insist that you use "Friends and Family" (F&F) to eliminate the fees that PayPal charges. You should never feel obligated to do so and, in fact, should never do it if you are not 100% comfortable with it. Also, it is a violation of PayPal policy to send a payment in this manner for a transaction such as you'll have here. It is a rule, however, and not a law. Therefore, Bartertown has no official stance on whether or not you should pay via F&F if you are comfortable doing so.
As a second option, you can opt to pay the fees yourself. While it will cost you a little more, it will give you the protection of a "regular" payment while making your trade partner happy that he received the entire amount.
10. My link to a non-advertiser got removed. Why?First and foremost, if you received a tracking number for the package, you should check it. It might answer your question as to when the item was shipped and where it is. If you did not get a tracking number 9always insist on tracked shipping) or the USPS system does not have any information on it, you should contact your trade partner. Ask him for an update.
If your partner does not reply, or you are not happy with the response, you should investigate a Deadbeat & Back Out (DB/BO) or Bad Trader Report (BTR). Rules, guidelines and instructions for those reports can be found in their respective forums.
11. What is the difference between Chronological Order and Reverse Chronological Order and why should I care?The answer is similar to #4, above:
Since we accept money from people to allow them to advertise their businesses and services here, it would not be fair to them to allow others to do so for free; it's our responsibility to protect their investment. By allowing links to other commercial endeavors, we are sending traffic their way; essentially, that is allowing free advertising for those sites.
It is a little bit of a heavy handed policy. We realize that. In the end, though, we decided to err on the side of our advertisers.
12. What are the "Bartertown Information and Misc Messages" and "Have Questions? Need Help?" forums for? How are they different than the Discussion forums located at the bottom of the main page?Chronological Order (CO) lists items in the order they happened, from oldest to newest. Reverse Chronological Order (RCO) does just the opposite; items are listed from newest to oldest.
Typically, CO and RCO only come into play when you're looking for help in one form or another (via PM or BTR) or notifying the community of a problem (DB/BO). Posts that list communication, etc. in RCO are typically harder to read. That means people are less likely to want to offer help to you.
Look through the closed BTR forum. What you see about the overwhelming majority of those threads are that the communication history was posted in CO. Even in the active BTR forum, the most active BTRs are typically posted in CO.
13. If I trade multiple times with the same person, will my rating go up each time?These two forums are specifically for communicating about site related issues. Information and Misc Messages might contain posts about how the site works, things important to traders (USPS updates), and site-related messages from staff (upcoming planned site outages, etc.).
The Have Questions? Need help? Forum is for just that. Have a question about how to act/react in a certain circumstance? Want to know how to interpret a rule? Want to know why your thread was locked? All of these are appropriate for this forum.
The Discussion forums at the bottom of the main page, on the other hand, are for general discussion. These are for gaming related, painting related, etc. discussions. As a general rule, if you're not talking or asking about something that is specific to Bartertown, it probably goes down here.
Seriously, just don't so it.
14. I've lost my account name AND password, but I know I already have an account. Since I'm not allowed to have two accounts, how do I get a hold of someone to get help? How do I prove it's my account?Yes. Every separate, individual trade you do with any Bartertown member is eligible for a reference. This includes eBay transactions, provided you found the auction via a link posted by the seller on our site. Regardless how many times you trade with any individual, your score will adjust for each eligible reference they leave you.
15. Why does everyone want me to ship my models before they pay me? That's not how the rest of the internet works.Advice on this can be found in our posted rules:
I would quote the exact rule here but (a) this way it means these FAQs will not need to be updated for any tweaks we make to that post and (b) it encourages you to read more of the rules, rather than just what suits you. : )
16. What happened to my trade ad? I went to view it and it's gone. I just posted it yesterday!As any experienced Bartertowner will tell you, this is not the rest of the internet.
Bartertown is a site where trades are based on trust. Someone with a higher reference score has done more to prove himself trustworthy than someone with a lower score. It is not a fool-proof system, we admit, but it works very well, over all. Typically, if you check your trade partner's reference score, you'll find that his is higher than yours. Other times, you'll just find someone who's not trusting of you for whatever reason.
In either of these situations, you'll need to decide what makes you comfortable and act accordingly.
17. What happened to my trade ad? I went to view it and it's gone. I posted it last month and wanted to copy the contents into a new trade ad.If your trade ad is only a couple days old and has gone missing, FIRST go to your profile and check your post history. You might have put it in a different forum than you intended or you might have put it in the WRONG forum and a staff member moved it. Another option is that you violated a rule (all 40K items in the generic Sci Fi forum, all CCGs in the Video & Board games forum, etc) and a staff member removed it.
Typically, in the latter case, you'll receive a PM from the staff member who moved it, telling you why it was removed. In the case of the former, the staff member might've just replied to the ad with that information, if he did not PM you.
If you still cannot locate your ad and don't know why it was removed, post an inquiry to the "Have Questions" forum.
18. What do I need to do to keep my trade ad in a Word document and keep the formatting for bold, italics, underscore, etc. so that I can edit my trade ad offline?Typically, you can expect a trade ad to stay on the site for 2 to 3 weeks before it is auto-pruned. Ads in different forums have different life spans, which is largely affected by how busy the forum is. In general, the busier the forum, the shorter the life span of the ad.
In each forum, Bartertown has a 7 day posting limit for regular members & 4 days for staff, advertisers and BT+ members. We encourage you to repost your ad at those intervals, rather than updating it, to maximize your views/clicks and to keep this from happening to you.
19. How do I pack what I am sending without it getting smashed and broken?To the best of my knowledge, you can't do this… and you can.
If you want to embolden the ad in Word, then copy it to Bartertown and have that emboldening stay with you, I can't help. On the other hand, if you write the original ad in the context of a forum post, using all the bracketed [] commands necessary, you can then copy & paste that text into a Word document. Your word document won't embolden, etc. the text, but it will store the bracketed [] commands, allowing you to copy & paste them at a later time. When you upload that ad again, everything will show as you intend it (provided you did not make any errors when editing the ad).
20. What are some guidelines to writing a good trade posting?As a general rule, don't pack it so that it survives moving around in the box; pack it so that it never moves in the first place. Use packing peanuts, bubble wrap, air pillows, etc. to protect your items. "Pluck foam" tear outs from miniature carrying cases (Sabol, Battlefoam, etc) make excellent packing materials, as well.
Do not use crumpled up newspaper or plastic grocery store bags. These are weak and are easily crushed.
If you have bits or loose models, put it all in plastic bags (Ziploc, Walmart, etc.) so that parts don't fall out of any small holes in the box. Pack those bags within the box as described above.
Never attempt to seal your box with masking tape or cellophane (Scotch) tape. These are just BAD ideas. These tapes do not possess the durability to reliably survive a trip with the USPS. Instead, use clear packing tape. Be liberal with your tape usage. When sealing the top and bottom of a box, 3 layers of tape is best. Your first layer should evenly straddle the 2 flaps. The following layers should each be on one flap, half way overlapping the first layer of tape. This will support and strengthen your first layer. Another good practice is to strengthen the circumference of the box with packing tape. One continuous line of tape around each plane of the box will do wonders to help it retain its' integrity in shipping.
21. Do I have to post "PM Sent" or a similar message in someone's trade thread when I PM them about items in their ad?Clearly state the game system each item is for, as well as how it is referred to in the game. Alternatively, list by the manufacturer & name they gave the item when possible.
Use full words and avoid excessive or obscure abbreviations. If you're selling Warhammer 40K models, most people looking at your ad are going to understand "40K." On the other hand, if you use a string of abbreviations (DE, AM, BA, BT, EH, CD, DoC, WS, IF), many people will skip your ad because (a) they aren't sure what you're offering and/or (b) it's freaking annoying to try to decipher a huge string of abbreviations like that, and they'll have lost interest in & patience with your post by then.
In your ad, clearly state the quantity and price/trade value of each item you have (if you're not sure about price, list it as "make an offer"). Also be clear about the condition that each item is in & clearly disclose whether anything is damaged or modified, etc. This is actually in the rules. As the seller, it's YOUR responsibility to list ANYTHING of note about your items that might change the buyer's opinion on them. "You didn't ask if they were painted, so I didn't offer that information" means YOU are in the wrong and broke a rule.
22. Should I edit my trade ad when my item is sold or traded to indicate that it's no longer available?No.
God, no.
Please, no.
It's annoying and unnecessary.
It's not a rules violation to do so, however. So, if you do, you won't get anything more than an eye roll from staff. : )
23. I accidentally made an error in a reference I left for someone (should have been a positive, but left a negative; left two references; used the wrong Real Name). What should I do?Not everyone does, and it is not a rule that you do so. That said, it's not a bad practice to stay in the habit of.
24. What should I do if I need help from a staff member or Admin? Who should I PM?Post in the "Have Questions?" forum. Put the specifics there. An Admin will handle it for you and post a notification when he does.
25.If I work for Games Workshop, Privateer Press...etc, am I required to make this known? Are there any special rules I must follow?The best option is to post in the "Have Questions?" forum. Put the specifics there. The first staff member who sees it that CAN help WILL help. Often, people think they need to have an Admin help but, in actuality, any staffer could do what they want done.
If the nature of your request is private/embarrassing/about a staff member, go ahead and PM an Admin directly. Please, keep in mind that it may take days (or more) for a reply.
26. How do I join Bartertown Plus (and any related questions such as what I get for doing so, what happens if I want to join in September, etc .)?Nope. Not at all. In fact, if you're a GW employee, it's probably best to just keep that to yourself. LOL
As an employee of one of these companies, you might have special requirements on their side. We have no special requirements for you to follow, though.
27. How do I get my Live Chat to work?That information can be found here:
28. How do I know that a trade has gone so sour it warrants a BTR?By chatting somewhere else. LOL
In seriousness, though, there is no Live Chat feature on Bartertown.
Yes. There's a tab. We know. Just ignore it. : )
29. What is Bartertown's connection to BartertownUK?This is a question that can potentially have a lengthy and convoluted answer. I happen to specialize at these, but would prefer not to make this any longer than necessary.
Generally, these are good rules of thumb:
You sent your items/money, but your trade partner has stopped communicating for more than a week.
You completed a trade with someone, but are unhappy with something they did (packing that resulted in damage, model condition, etc). Although you tried to work it out with them, you feel they're being unreasonable.
What you received was not what was promised. Although you tried to work it out with them, you feel they're being unreasonable.
If all else fails, PM an Admin (reminder: a reply might be slow to come). Tell them the generalities of what's wrong and as their opinion. There's no need to include your entire PM history, etc., unless they ask for it. Generally, a brief but accurate synopsis will suffice. He will advise you of his opinion.
Bartertown UK (BTUK) is a sister site, of sorts. While we're not directly related/affiliated, they DO use the Bartertown name with permission and have copied many of their rules, policies, etc. from us. We are independent sites, though, and operate as such.


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The latest suite in our Sneak Peek Series has a fun and unique history. Our Yountville suite was inspired by a board created by one of our favorite bloggers -- Kathryn at Snippet & Ink. Initially we fell in love with the colors and preppy style of the board. We found ourselves coming back to it over and over after having it pinned up on the wall in our design studio. She really did nail it! Finally we decided that it was the perfect jumping off point for a full letterpress wedding suite and Yountville was born.
Inspiration board created by Snippet & Ink! (please visit original post for credits)
For more sneak peeks into our new Custom Wedding Portfolio II - Don't forget to follow us on twitter and click the "like" button on our Facebook page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Total War: Shogun 2 Review
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Creative Assembly remakes the game that started it all.
This game better have gotten 5 stars.
Video isn't working?
Haven't had the chance to play it yet, but rest assured the glowing praise it's received has only reinforced my iron-clad intent on making it a purchase very soon.
It's a game that aims for five stars AND get five stars.
As a fan of the first one I can't wait until friday when I will be able to buy my copy so I will now commence the inventing of a fully functional time-machine.
So excited! Rome was my favourite so far because of no gun fighting so I hope it isn't TOO prevalent in this game.
The big thing for me in this itteration is two things. Jumping in to peoples SP games and MP campaigns.
Truly a great, objective review.
I was never a fan of the Total War series, but it looks quite interesting indeed.
OK, seriously Mr Butts...
At what point in time did a laptop with 1 gigabyte! of video memory become low-end exactly?
Yes, I know a low end graphics chip can have that much RAM and be a lot slower than a high-end chip with not a huge amount more than that, but that just proves RAM is not a defining performance feature.
(My desktop is hardly low end, and only has 1 gig of video RAM, and 2 gigs of System memory. (and a quad-core i5 processor). It's really not slow for all that.)
Anyway, nitpicks about that kind of comment aside, the game sounds pretty good, though I am always somewhat concerned when a long-running game series repeatedly fails to fix certain basic problems...
I'm only going to say this one time.
Shogun 2: Total War.
Anyway, sounds good. The main bugs of the series don't really bother me all that much.
And here's a "moving large group of units" tip: If you group them, but don't choose a specific layout (like Single Line), generally they'll stay in the same formation when you hold right click move them.
I love this game because of it's complexity. There is nothing like seeing a plan coming together. Most times I find myself skipping the battles just so I can go ahead and move my pieces accordingly.
I gotta go.. I have 3 armies pressing around Kyoto while also have a fourth army in the west keeping the pressure on the heathen enemies. Not to mention keeping my main sea routes clear..
In order to move multiple units and have them stay in formation you need to put them in a group first. This first started with empire and I still have no idea why they implemented it. It does nothing but add complexity to a system that already worked. There's nothing worse than putting your units in formation before the battle, starting the battle, forgetting to group them, ordering them forward and watching as they decide to reform into one giant line.
Rome was always my favorite in this series even though the Greeks were imba at some parts imo. Finally I can retake my rightful place as lord of the Kwanto.
Heh, take it up with the devs. They decided to swap the naming scheme in this iteration.
Umm what about Napoleon?
Also I've never had a problem moving units or with pathfinding. The biggest control issue I've had is chasing down fleeing units, which has been massively improved over the years.
I don't know what you're trying to say here. If it's about the name, they changed the name because everyone refers to the series as simply Total war.
This game is highly processor and memory intensive. Especially memory. Every individual animation, texture, and model must be loaded into RAM. If RAM is not the issue then decreasing resolution or unit detail should help it run faster. If RAM is the issue then unit size should help.
The System memory is crucial and if you're running windows xp take 256MB off your system memory for the OS. If its Vista or 7 take off 512MB.
It looks like it's come a bit since Rome, the last game in the series I liked. Too bad the setting isn't very interesting to me :/
And console gamers say that we don't need more powerful graphical hardware -_-
Damn, I really don't think I can run this, Civ V was bad enough...
Great review. I never really played the original Shogun, and having played Empire and a little of Rome Total War i'm more used to these epic grand scale conflicts, so this focus on smaller terrain would certainly feel a bit disjointed for me.
In all honesty, the actual battles are where i really gleam my enjoyment from the Total War games. I'm quite put off by all the management on the text based screens and large, bland map. In fact, most of my time spent on Empire was fighting the historical battles and other 'quick battles' as opposed to the campaign, because i didn't like dealing with that messy text-heavy interface where if you cock it up, things could go horribly wrong for you and your army in the next fight. It's for that reason that it gives me pause to consider whether Shogun 2 would really be worth a purchase for me. Creative Assembly has done some impressive stuff, though. They're worth all the praise and support they get, even if pathfinding is a little wonky and Empire kept deciding to crash to desktop now and then for no sodding reason.
I think you've pretty juch nailed it on the head, Steve. Although one thing that's gotten me more than crashes (never been a problem) or the apthfinding (single player general), the unit selection is really, really sticky.
About half the time I try to change my selected unit, it doesn't take, and I end up ordering some poor sods halfway around the map before I realize that single clicks just won't register.
I loved the first 3 total war games, and would still play the original Shogun now, it was so awesome. Only just got into Medieval 2 (and enjoying it very much), so won't be picking up Shogun 2 just yet - definitely will in the future though.
I agree with the complaints about the series as a whole. Luckily I haven't gotten into multiplayer, so all the pathfinding issues in the battles can be remedied by pausing and re-issuing commands. It's just something I've come to expect.
And the excessive management does make the mid game onwards seem like a bit of a grind. I'm constantly scanning the map to make sure I haven't forgotten to move someone or build something, bit of a nightmare really. I've become really OCD about saving all the time so I don't screw something up, which means everything takes even longer to do.
The only thing I'll add is that some of the more extranious features aren't always implemented so well. I have really yet to find diplomacy and religion useful (at least in M2) - I can't really fathom how things work, and it all comes down to builing a huge army and stomping everyone else anyway, so I'm not really sure what the point is. The best use I've found for diplomats is killing the enemy's to train my assassins XD
Though I wont have much issue running this would be nice if they posted a spec of the machine they used in the video for the game footage to give people some benchmark to run off.
I know, but it's just a pointless marketing move.
Yeah, but the name has always been first. I know it's not true for most games, but so what? Everyone has gotten used to it being Game: Total War. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but I think only an idiot would think Rome: Total War and Medieval 2: Total War weren't in the same series. It's pretty obvious.
And now I just have the joys of getting bootcamp to work properly for my bastard Mac, then I should be home free. :D
"...and then realm divide happens - the game suddenly stops being nearly as fun and turns into a nigh-impossible task of trying to hold off every single other clan, because suddenly they all hate you. Even your (now ex)allies." As least, on Hard and above it does.
I've enjoyed the later Total War titles more as they've moved away from mass faction specific units, making the battles focus on the tactics of position, manuever and considered force composition rather than spamming overpowered faction specific units and battering away at whatever's in front of you. Sure, you still could use all the tactical thinking in the older games but it wasn't encouraged by the gameplay because it'd let you ignore it all.
The diplomacy system is still off, though. Better but still buggy... I've found a few instances of other daimyo being pissy at me for being allied with their enemies when I've had no ally in the game so far (nor vassals) and some other odd shit. Getting the bastards to trade once you hit mid-game is a right prick, too. Vassalage works better now, too. Much prefer putting liberated clans in my pocket rather than having to strong arm long time allies.
Eh. The way I see it, they made the game and every other one in the Total War series. I think that means they are at least entitled to call it whatever they please.
Does that on all levels. Was dicking around on Easy to get a better grip on the economic system of the game and when I hit that point, my clan got gangraped... all my allies and most of my vassals turned on me, the ungrateful little shits and everyone pull massive armies out of their arses while all the broken agreements left me economically neutered and struggling to maintain my main force.
I've found the AI in Shogun 2 to be a LOT better than previous installments (unless you play on easy of course).
It still glitches out from time to time, but I've had it do some surprisingly clever things.
I would've expected 4.5 out of 5 based on the problems that you mentioned, but it is your review, after all!
I may have to buy this for my dad. He loves this series.
According to steam since I bought the game on the 15th I have played it for 23 hours.
Best in the series so far and I wonder where the series will go next.
Wow. Cinematic AND Compelling both within the first paragraph :P
They are, but quite frankly, Total War: Shogun 2 sounds very awkward, even to non-fans.
OK, I can believe this game is memory intensive. But that wasn't what I was getting at. What I was actually saying is I doubt my computer would struggle with running this, judging by how well it runs everything else.
It seems... Odd.
Also, saying a computer only has 4 gigs of ram, when the majority of programs (And games in particular) are still 32 bit applications (And thus can never use more than 2 gigabytes of RAM, the remainder only helps to deal with the OS or background applications.)
The most likely problem on a laptop is going to be something that wasn't mentioned in the review, which is a low-end graphics chip that just doesn't have a lot of processing power.
Anyway, I should check the demo of Shogun 2 really... At least then I'll know for sure if my suspicions are correct.
I adore strategy games. I am absolutely in love with the Total War series. As a series, its easily my favourite of them all.
And I have a Mac.
I got the GrandMaster edition and i just couldnt be more happier. I started with Shogun 1 as a kid and i sucked at it :D But now im enjoying this baby soooooooooooooo much!
And the game is fantastic on ULTRA settings. Sometimes i just leave the battle to do tis thing and max zoom in to watch the samurai fight. its just glorious!
The multy player gives me some headaches since i cant find games....not sure what the deal is and the avatar exp thing confuses me even tho i did some battles.....but i guess those are issue that ill figure out in time.
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Day 51: Dear diary, what great 50 days it has been. I have got amma lady lunchbox attending me all 160 hours of the day, I don't really know how many hours there are in a day, I fall asleep a lot, to keep any track of time, you see…
Day 52: Dear Diary, I had my first heartbreak today. I am no more in love with my boyfriend - the fan. We broke up. I asked him where our relationship was heading. He just went on and on in circles. Now that my heart is broken, I don't think I will find my love again. I am going to cry myself to sleep tonight. (which is something I do every night actually)
Day 53: Diary! I have found the love of my life. He is my new boyfriend - the curtain. He talks to me and tries to reach out to me. I have learnt to coo and all my coos, oohs and aahs will be reserved for my boyfriend – the curtain. XOXO!
Day 54: Daddy Strange guy has been in and out of my life and what he lacks in skill he compensates in his eagerness to please me. All the other people in the house also do their bit. It pleases me to see such a unskilled but willing workforce work for me.
Day 55: Daddy strange man came today and spent first 42 mins kissing me. Okay, it might be lesser, I have no idea how long a minute is. Who wants to be kissed? I want him to clean my potty. It is not going to clean itself now, is it!
Day 57: My nails are so dirty. I need a manicure. I wanted to put my fingers in my mouth the other day and almost stopped - looking at my dirty nails - But of course, I put it in my mouth anyway coz #YOLO
Day 58: Daddy guy eats my fingers every chance he gets. But he doesn't allow me to do it. I think he's being selfish. He wants to eat my fingers all by himself.
Day 60: Something annoying happened last night. My tummy was acting up, you know how it is, with a liquid diet… So I summoned daddy guy's services and after 1 hour of walking me around the house, he sat down – LIKE ON A CHAIR! In the middle of taking me on the walk! I mean how dare he! I created a ruckus and he got up and started to walk again tiredly. But tell you what he is going to think 10 times the next time he wants to sit even in his office chair. #Likeaboss
Day 62: Went to a new house. Apparently daddy strange guy also had a daddy...and a mommy and a house! I am gonna call them aaji-baba, coz they asked me to. Nice chaps. Welcomed me with garlands and balloons. Why u no do this everyday?
Day 63: Amma lady gave me a manicure today. Good. I am pleased. I am having "fingers" for dessert tonight...
Day 66: Dear diary, you wouldn't believe what I saw today! These adult humans have a window screen on which you can see people dancing and singing. Then there are car chases and fights and so much fun things.
Day 69: Do you have those afternoon naps when you wake up and wonder what year it is? That is every nap of my life.
Day 70: Now that I have found the window, I am wondering why do we need daddy guy. I get much needed entertainment from the window screen. The feeding department is taken care by amma lady lunchbox. The caretaking by other ladies in the house. What is really Daddy guy's function in all of this I wonder!
Day 71: Travelled in a car through lots of dark holes in mountains to arrive at Daddy guy's house in Pune. These guys seem pretty well to do yaar, I wouldnt have thought he was much good for anything...
Day 72: Took a huge dump today. Like a nuclear U298 enriched dump. My room now smells like a mix of baby powder, baby lotion and rotten cabbage. #instapotty
Day 73: Diary, these humans have a day and a night! Who knew! I think night is the time to wake up and day is the time to sleep. I might be wrong… Ha! Who am I kidding, I am never wrong! #SWAG.
Day 74: Attended a wedding today, someone Amma lunchbox knows. Totally stole the bride's thunder. #babymaid
Day 75: Was talking to my boyfriend the curtain and smiling at his flying stories when daddy guy came in the room. By mistake smiled at him. He was very happy. Next time I smile at Daddy will be when I am 13 years old and need a new dress.
Day 78: Something incredible happened today, diary. Some friends of the adult humans had come and they brought with them a BABY! WHAT? Can you believe it? There are more than one of me? He was very wise and we talked a little and shared notes. He said I should be on my best behavior when adult humans have their friends over and once they are gone we can order them around. I was like – puhleaseee, tell me something I don't know!
Day 81: Laughed looking at my hand for 15 minutes today. My fingers are so damn funnnnyyyy…
Day 82: Went to the children doctor today. I found more babies there. You know diary, I feel silly now to think tht I was the only baby in the world. Of course, one baby alone cant rule the world like this. We need at least 5-6 babies.
Day 83: Got my first frock today. Aghhh.. About time!! God knows I am tired of those onezies! #fashionista
Day 84: The first few days of my life are a blur. No literally, I couldn't focus my eyes well. I can focus much better now. Daddy strange guy has a lot more body hair than amma lunchbox. Daddy could never make a chef, they would invariably find at least one hair in every dish. #masterchefbaby
Day 87: Amma lady gives a lot of importance to daddy guy, undeserved of course! They talk to each other for minutes together! Even when my pretty self is right next to them! What is there to talk so much! (Dad: Wait till you reach teenage and I ask you the same thing.)
Day 88: These adult human don't drink food like I do. They put food in their mouth and gulp it. If I have to point out one reason for babies ruling adults around the world, it has to be their uncouth eating habits!
Day 90: Celeberated my first Vishu at amma lady's place. They call it the new year. What it has been a year already? Seems much less for some reason.
Day 92: Got a injection today. Didn't cry at all. #fearlessbaby (actually got distracted by the rattle amma lady was rattling)
Day 93: Moushi lady polished me with olive oil. Cried my lungs out. Now I smell like pasta and daddy guy is eating my hand. Go eat some of your uncouth food and gulp it down, DADDY GUY!
Day 95: Daddy guy was making Amma lady laugh. I farted and both of them looked at me and laughed their lungs out. #Lastcomicfarting
Day 97: Diary, it is so hot nowadays. But I don't like baths. I am in a tough situation here.
Day 98: Slept like a baby last night, which is good coz that's what I am #funpun
Day 99: I throw a smile or two every now and then at amma lady lunchbox, but not too much lest she get complacent. Very pleased with her work so far. Her life finds meaning because of my smile. #Oshobaby
Day 100: Dear diary, I completed 100 days. I feel like a successful movie. My life really is a disney movie. I am a princess surrounded by simple folk and the curtain prince. Everybody loves me and I of course take advantage of it. Life is beautiful... Now if you excuse me, I have to watch some window screen.
Editor in chief Arshat ChaudharyCurrent Issues: aamir khan, baby, Dan Piraro, down the memory lane, happy diwali 5 letters to the editor Links to this post


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Four Out of Ten iPhones Sold to Business Users
"Five hundred dollars?…That is the most expensive phone in the world. And it doesn't appeal to business because it doesn't have a keyboard."
— Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on the iPhone, January 2007
Who was it, again, who said Apple's iPhone "doesn't appeal to business because it doesn't have a keyboard"?
Because the device clearly does appeal to business. In fact, quite a few of the iPhones sold today are purchased by business users, according to Ron Spears, chief of AT&T's (T) Business Solutions unit.
"Four out of 10 sales of the iPhone are made to enterprise users," Spears said at an investor conference Thursday (via ZDnet's Larry Dignan). "When the iPhone came out, what most people heard in the first year from '07 to '08 was 'oh my God, it's not BlackBerry secure. This is not going to work on the enterprise space.' At the end of the day, it's just software. That's all it is."
Elaborating on the history of adoption of the iPhone by business users, Spears notes, "And by the time the 3G came out in '08 [Apple] had solved about 80 percent of the security issues. By the time the 3GS came out last summer, most CIOs will tell you today they have very few issues around the security that they need provided as they have come to know that RIM can do it because of the way RIM provides their solution. So enterprises today view the iPhone as a mobile computer."
Evidently, Apple (AAPL) has succeeded in overcoming enterprise's early misgivings about the iPhone's security and business-readiness. Recall that last fall, the device scored highest in both the consumer and business categories of JD Power's Smartphone Satisfaction Study. The iPhone scored 803 points out of a possible 1,000. That's 79 points more than Research in Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry, which took second place with a score of 724 points, the industry average.


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In New Jersey's early history, any person who owned land free from debts, mortgages, other legal claims or liens was a "freeholder." Those who were elected to serve were the "Chosen Freeholders." At first, legislative functions were performed by the Courts, later by a Board of Chosen Freeholders and Justices. Gradually, the judges became increasingly involved with judicial concerns and in 1798 the State Legislature established the Board of Chosen Freeholders as the legislative and administrative head of county government in New Jersey.
As a result, the 21 counties of New Jersey serve as a middle level of government between the state and federal governments and the municipalities. The counties deal with regional problems such as solid waste disposal and water supply, as well as the historic responsibility with the courts, roads, general government, and the conduct of elections.
For the first half of the nineteenth century, the system of apportioning Freeholders remained absolutely rigid; two Freeholders for each township, town or city. But when the number of townships in the county began to grow at an appreciable rate, the board membership became unwieldy. For example, if that rule were in effect today, Monmouth County would have 106 persons sitting on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, as there are 53 municipalities in the county.
Monmouth County is governed by five Freeholders elected at-large for three year terms. Each January, the Freeholders select one of their members to serve as the director of the board for the year to preside over the meetings and activities of the board.
Ordinarily, on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, the Board meets for an afternoon workshop session in the Hall of Records and again in the evening with a formal Regular Meeting. The meeting schedule may also be adjusted for holidays and special events.
Regular Meetings are those in which the Freeholders take formal action. Workshop meetings are informal discussions of items to be considered at the next Regular Meeting and other important matters. Both Regular and Workshop meetings are open to the public.
By subscribing to our newsletter you will stay up to date with the latest programs and services. Your email will not be shared.
Copyright © 2020 Monmouth County, NJ. All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy and Disclaimer


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You giggled when you filled out your application for a new Arizona license plate. You thought your chances were good the DMV wouldn't get "LOLGTFO." You were wrong. That is one of many banned license plates on the state of Arizona's extensive no-drive list.
GovernmentAttic.org has released a treasure trove of banned-plate lists from various states. Arizona, in particular, has a very long list of plates you're not allowed to have. Most of them aren't too surprising. The standard curse words aren't allowed. If you wanted your BMW to say "MYPOOPY," you're out of luck. Some of the banned plates are a bit curious. For example, "BIOPSY" is not allowed.
You can have txtspeak on your plate in Arizona, but only if you keep it clean. "ROFLMAO" is a no-go. Arkansas, however, seems to be a little slower on the uptake. "ROFLMAO" doesn't appear on the state's prohibited list. That doesn't necessarily mean the plate would pass DMV scrutiny should someone request it.
California has given itself a lot of leeway when it comes to banning plates. A plate can be denied if it "has "a negative connotation to a specific group," "a term of lust or depravity," or "is a vulgar term." That means "MILF123" probably won't make it.
If you thought Arizona was strict, then you wouldn't want to try to sneak one by Washington D.C. Sorry, Batman fan, you can forget about having a personalized geek plate reading "DKNIGHT." The banned lists are quite long, but you can cruise them to your heart's delight. Just don't try to register "OMGWTF" in Iowa. Iowa sees what you're trying to do there.
(Via BoingBoing)


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Memorial Sloan Kettering maintains one of the world's most dynamic programs of cancer research — a scientific enterprise aimed at generating transformative and more-affordable treatments for people everywhere. While most of our research revolves around cancer, our scientists are developing technologies for a variety of applications, including the management of infectious diseases, immune system disorders, and neurologic conditions.
Memorial Sloan Kettering's tradition of laboratory scientists and physicians working together started more than 60 years ago, giving us a unique advantage in the pursuit of clinical translation and development. A wide range of technologies are taking shape in our labs and clinics, from novel biomarkers to targeted drugs, gene therapies, vaccines, medical devices, and more.
In 2011, an independent study rated Memorial Sloan Kettering the third most successful nonprofit organization with respect to the development of drugs and vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, after the National Institutes of Health and the ten-campus University of California system.
Commercialized Products
To date, research conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering has produced ten drugs that have been approved by the FDA for marketing, and one product approved by the US Department of Agriculture.
Learn about some of our most successful developments, including numerous lifesaving treatments and other broadly used products.
Neupogen®: An Immune System–Stimulating Drug Benefiting People around the World
Filgrastim – sold under a number of brand names and most commonly known as Neupogen® – is a drug that stimulates the body's production of white blood cells called neutrophils. It has been used in more than one million people around the world – mainly to treat neutrophil depletion caused by treatment with chemotherapy.
The use of chemotherapy has been vital in saving and extending the lives of cancer patients. However, in addition to killing cancer cells, many chemotherapy drugs destroy neutrophils and other white blood cells, leaving patients susceptible to infection and sometimes unable to undergo additional chemotherapy treatments.
In the 1970s, Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers isolated a naturally occurring protein called G-CSF, or granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and showed that it can stimulate the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils. In subsequent studies, the Memorial Sloan Kettering team demonstrated that filgrastim – an analog of G-CSF – could be used safely in patients to speed up the body's renewal of neutrophils after chemotherapy. Filgrastim treatment was shown to reduce the frequency and severity of infections in these patients, and to help them recover faster after chemotherapy.
Since 1991, Filgrastim has been marketed by Amgen as Neupogen®. Today, it is produced by a number of companies worldwide. In many hospitals, the drug has become the standard of care for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant. It is also used to increase the production of blood-forming stem cells in people who donate blood or bone marrow to transplant patients.
ERLEADA™: The First FDA-Approved Therapy to Treat Patients with Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
The drug apalutamide, or Erleada™, is used to treat people with prostate cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone. It has been shown to delay the spread and progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Apalutamide is marketed as Erleada™ by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Erleada™ is a next-generation androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor that binds directly to the ligand-binding domain of the AR. It works by inhibiting AR nuclear translocation and DNA binding and impeding AR-mediated transcription. Erleada™ was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in February 2018 and is the first FDA-approved therapy to treat patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Folotyn™: The First Drug Approved for Treatment of Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma
The targeted therapy Folotyn™, also known as pralatrexate, is the first drug ever to be approved for the treatment of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL), a group of rare but highly aggressive blood cancers that often become resistant to standard treatments.
In the United States, the disease accounts for approximately 10 to 15 percent of all newly diagnosed cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or about 5,600 people per year.
Investigators at Memorial Sloan Kettering discovered that tumor cells are capable of taking in natural folate as well as methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug similar to folic acid that has been used for decades to treat cancer. They also found that the uptake mechanism relies on the function of a protein called plasma membrane transporter, or RFC-1, which cancer cells often produce in high amounts. Research has found that in noncancerous cells, RFC-1 is less abundant and does not mediate the same transport function.
Building upon this discovery, the Memorial Sloan Kettering team collaborated with researchers at SRI International and Southern Research Institute to develop a targeted therapy that exploits the tumor cells' dependence on RFC-1 for folate intake. Their work resulted in the development of pralatrexate, which was studied in patients for the first time at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
After encouraging trial results, Memorial Sloan Kettering's Office of Technology Development licensed the drug to Allos Therapeutics, Inc., for further clinical testing.
In September 2009, Folotyn™ was approved for the treatment of PTCL by the FDA under accelerated approval, which allows for earlier approval of drugs that address unmet medical needs.
Thyrogen®, or recombinant human thyroid–stimulating hormone, is used to test for recurrences of thyroid cancer in patients who have undergone a thyroidectomy. Prior to the approval of Thyrogen®, patients tested for recurrences had to temporarily be put on thyroid hormone withdrawal, which can be debilitating. To date, Thyrogen®, which was licensed to Genzyme, has been taken by more than 300,000 patients and is sold in 50 countries worldwide.
The immune system has an inherent ability to recognize and attack tumors, but in many cases this response is ineffective. Cytokines – cell signaling molecules that assist in the maturation and replication of several cell types in the immune system – have been shown to increase the effect of the antitumor immune response.
Scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering demonstrated that Interleukin-2, or IL-2, is among the most effective cytokines for this purpose. Marketed by Novartis Oncology as Proleukin® (aldesleukin) for injection, IL-2 was approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in 1992, and for metastatic melanoma in 1998.
Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 patients are treated with Proleukin® each year in the United States.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Columbia University demonstrated that HDAC inhibitors – drugs that target gene-regulating enzymes called histone deacetyleases – can induce tumor regression. HDAC inhibitors are believed to work by activating certain genes that suppress cancer development in normal cells, but may be repressed in tumor cells by histone deacetylease activity.
Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, or Zolinza®, was the first of several HDAC inhibitors developed for the treatment of cancer. Marketed by Merck, Zolinza® was approved in the United States for the treatment of advanced refractory cutaneous T cell lymphoma in 2006, and is in clinical trials for several other indications, including cancers of the breast, kidney, and colon.
TOPO® Cloning
DNA cloning, a commonly used method in the field of molecular biology, traditionally required a number of steps that were very time-consuming. Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists developed a way to eliminate many of these steps, reducing the bulk of the process to a highly efficient five-minute reaction.
Marketed by Invitrogen as TOPO® PCR Cloning technology, the method takes advantage of an enzyme called topoisomerase I, which is present in the vaccinia virus.
TOPO® PCR Cloning kits include standard PCR primers and a standard linearized vector with topoisomerase attached to both ends. The enzymes essentially replace themselves with the insert to be cloned, covalently attaching it to the vector. TOPO® PCR cloning does not require gel or column purification of the insert, post-PCR modification — such as digestion, blunting, or dephosphorylation — or the addition of adapters.
Currently, there are 90 different products that incorporate TOPO® Cloning technology, and TOPO® Cloning products are sold in more than 80 countries.
Tumors can cause bone resorption leading to hypercalcemia, a condition caused by excessive levels of calcium in the blood. Ten to 20 percent of all cancer patients suffer from hypercalcemia, which can induce nausea, dehydration, stupors, and even comas. For some cancers, including breast and lung cancer, 30 to 40 percent of patients are hypercalcemic.
Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists demonstrated that a compound called gallium nitrate inhibits bone resorption and is an effective treatment for cancer-related hypercalcemia. Today, gallium nitrate is sold by Genta under the name Ganite®.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare form of leukemia characterized by the accumulation of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood. Patients with the disease often suffer from anemia, susceptibility to infections, bleeding, and hemorrhaging.
Twenty to 30 percent of patients receiving the standard treatment – all-trans retinoic acid usually in combination with an anthracycline – eventually suffer relapse. Arsenic trioxide, marketed as Trisenox® by Cephalon, was approved by the FDA in 2000 as a second line of treatment in APL.
The anticancer drug clofarabine is approved for refractory or recurring acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and is in clinical development for the treatment of several other cancers. The drug is marketed by Genzyme as Clolar® in the United States. In Europe, it is marketed by Bioenvision, a subsidiary of Genzyme, under the trade name Evoltra®.
Clofarabine is a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis and repair. It also disrupts the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane, inducing cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death.
Clofarabine was designed to retain anticancer activity while reducing the neurotoxicity associated with similar drugs. It is jointly owned by Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Southern Research Institute.
Leukemia Diagnostics
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of indolent leukemia. Its name derives from the characteristic appearance of cytoplasmic projections on malignant lymphocytes.
About 600 people are diagnosed with HCL each year in the United States.
Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists discovered a number of antigenic markers that are characteristic of HCL. Marketed by BD Biosciences, these markers, known as CD22 and CD11c, are used in diagnostic tests for the disease.
The Diagnosis of Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes
In some cancers – including cancers of the lung, breast, uterus, and ovary, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma – a small percentage of patients have seemingly unrelated neurologic symptoms generally referred to as paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. These symptoms include ataxia of the limbs and trunk, involuntary eye movements, and difficulty with speech articulation.
Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are believed to be caused by autoimmune reactions, in which patients produce antibodies against antigens expressed on the surface of tumor cells and as well as some noncancerous cells in the cerebellum.
Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists identified several of these antigens and used them to create diagnostic tests for paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. These tests are marketed by Athena Diagnostics.
Canine oral melanoma is a common type of cancer in dogs, and the most common malignant tumor of the dog's mouth. The disease is highly aggressive and frequently spreads to distant organs, including the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and kidneys. The disease often spreads in spite of treatment with radiation and surgery, which in the past were the most common treatments for canine oral melanoma, resulting in death within five to six months.
Building upon their research on a human melanoma vaccine, Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists partnered with Merial to develop ONCEPT™, the first and only USDA-approved therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of canine cancer. ONCEPT™, which became available to veterinary oncologists in 2010, has been shown to extend the survival of dogs with advanced stages of the disease.


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Augustana's 'Entertainment Tonight' Legacy Lives On
Mary Hart '72 is known more for her famous legs and her 29-year-long career as co-host of TV's "Entertainment Tonight" than attending Augustana College. She retired from ET in 2011 and shortly thereafter, another Viking joined the crew at the famous Hollywood news show — as an intern. (Hart's manager had her legs insured for a total of $2 million dollars).
Jenny Brown '13, a Spanish and business administration major, has interned at the show twice, and is now working there full-time at the news desk.
"I've been a fan of TV, music, and movies since before I can remember," Brown said. "I used to want to be in front of the camera as an actress, but have since learned that there is so much more that goes on in entertainment that people don't see and it's all very exciting."
She was also recently involved with a reality television show.
"Aside from my job with ET, I worked on the pre-season interview junket for the new Big Brother show," Brown said. "I was a production assistant and worked alongside a producer getting our set ready, helping create a shoot report with interviews from the cast, and even doing a few interviews myself. "
A native of Omaha, Neb., Brown is enjoying life in Los Angeles, Calif.
"My favorite part about living in LA would be the weather: every day is like paradise," Brown said.
"I also love the people out here. Everyone is so open-minded and free-spirited. You are never the craziest or weirdest dressed person anywhere. People seem to just be very relaxed and accepting and it makes it easy to fit right in."
Whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes, "Entertainment Tonight" has had an Augustana Viking on its team for over 30 years, most recently, Kelly Nyberg in 2009.
– Kristina Johnson '13


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3 inch Body Lift Kit - Range Rover P38.
This is a full kit for the P38 which includes the following:
We are also quite happy to answer questions on the phone, our phone number is +44 (0) 20 3598 2107 (sorry english only)
8.8 high tensile steel bolts
All Bolts 50Nm
Steel plate with welded nuts, supplied with high tensile bolts plus flat and spring washers
Full fitting instructions are Here
Land Rover Range Rover P38A (P38)
1994 - 2002
Please check out our FAQs Here
Do you sell/make Bumper Relocation Plates for the P38There are problems with lifting both bumpers on the P38: On the rear the bumper is wrapped under the cross member and very often has a trailer lighting socket attached to it, so it would need major modification to be able to lift it. There is a air conditioning pipe that runs behind the front bumper, to be able to lift the bumper this pipe would have to be moved.Have a chat with us if you do want to move the bumpers, we can make the relocation plates if you're happy to do the extra modifications.


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'When responding to the taste test, he didn't have to curse'
Conservative mom group offended by 'd-word' in Burger King commercial. No, not that d-word
The conservative activist group One Million Moms has taken Burger King to task, putting out a strongly worded press release in response to the restaurant chain's use of the "d-word" in an advertisement.
"Burger King is airing a commercial that uses profanity to advertise its Impossible Whopper — a burger made from plants instead of beef," the press release stated.
The "profanity" the group is referring to? "Damn, that's good."
Though the group's campaign against the fast food chain began Friday, the commercial in fact premiered in August, when Burger King launched the burger in question.
One Million Moms is a subset of the American Family Association, an Evangelical fundamentalist non-profit that opposes LGBTQ rights, abortion and other non-traditional, non-Christian values, while promoting "pro-family" Christian values. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists it as a hate group.
In the minute-long Burger King video, unsuspecting customers are lined up, waiting to try the meatless burger at the "Impossible Restaurant." It's soon revealed that the restaurant is actually a Burger King, where customers can try the new plant-based burger.
Once inside, the commercial shows people pleasantly surprised at how good the burger is. One man in the ad likes it so much, he exclaims, "Damn, that's good."
"One Million Moms finds this highly inappropriate," says the Evangelic group. "When responding to the taste test, he didn't have to curse. Or if, in fact, it was a real and unscripted interview in which the man was not an actor, then Burger King could have simply chosen to edit the profanity out of the commercial."
The group went on to call the commercial irresponsible and tasteless. "It is extremely destructive and damaging to impressionable children viewing the commercial. We all know children repeat what they hear."
The petition on the group's website has just over 9,000 signatures, with people pledging not to eat at Burger King restaurants until the commercial is edited or withdrawn entirely.
The mom group aims to fight against the exploitation of children by calling out companies, especially entertainment media, for what it says are incessant smut and violence filling screen time.
"We want our children to have the best chance possible of living in a moral society," reads a statement on the group's About Us webpage.
One Million Moms has had some campaign successes in the past. In December, it targeted the television channel Hallmark — known for its bland and blond Christmas rom-coms — for airing a commercial that featured a lesbian couple kissing at their wedding.
Hallmark acquiesced and removed the commercial from air, before later rolling back the decision after severe blowback from LGBTQ activists.
One Million Moms has also gone after companies like Walmart, Whole Foods and Disney in the past.
Prince Harry and Meghan get blessing from Queen to live more independent life, with transition period in Canada
Maple Leaf Foods CEO criticizes the 'narcissist in Washington' after Iran deaths
Matt Gurney: False nuclear alert shows Canadians are on their own in case of disaster


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Welcome to Yulee Baptist Church
We are an exciting congregation whose doors are open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. If you're new to Yulee Baptist or are considering joining us for a service, we hope you'll find a place where you are warmly welcomed and feel at home, even if you've never been to church before. At our services, we present the ageless truths of the Bible in a compelling, easy-to-understand format.
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Yulee Baptist Church exists to share God's love in both word and deed so that all people can enter into a saving and growing relationship with our Lord Jesus and His church.
Worship With Us
Sundays at 8:15am and 11am
Sunday Evening at 6pm
Wednesday Evening at 6:30pm
Breakfast Sunday Mornings at 9:15am
Sunday School at 9:45am
85971 North Harts Rd
Yulee, Florida 32097
Telephone: (904) 225-5128
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Rev. Doug Sides - 03/03/2019
The Good Shepherd Gives Life
Scripture References: John 10:27-29
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if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
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46! The years just go by more and more quickly. Amazing.
This year my birthday run was WET! I couldn't believe it when I woke to 38F yesterday morning with rain and a high of 42 forecast for the day. Crazy.
Topaz and I began at Lake Maria State Park for a snowshoe start to the day. There is only about 9 miles of hiking/snowshoe trail and I didn't want to repeat 5 times. I would be finishing my run on road. Wet road.
It was still dark so I couldn't see the trail conditions, but I sure felt them. Soft. Real soft. The rain hadn't yet begun, just a barely able to feel it drizzle, it might have only been wet fog. My snowshoes sunk only a bit in the beginning, I was able to run the 9 miles on top of the snow most of the time. The thick tree cover and heavy fog kept the trail in OK condition most of the time. Until the fog broke, the light came through and the rain POURED upon us. Running on snowshoe in the pouring rain, I think that is a new one.
I pulled my jacket back on and was surprised that the rain wasn't soaking me to the skin. I was warmer than I liked but I didn't want to get a cold soaking. After a few more hours my snowshoes were no longer necessary. I was sinking completely to the dirt trail. Amazing. I was so glad we went skiing the day before and not today!
Once the sun came up I noticed that Topaz was digging along the trail every once in a while. He would dig a deep narrow hole, looking for something and then when I would get back to him I'd see him eating something! This happened a few times. As he was again digging in the snow I interrupted him and dug in the hole with my finger, wondering what I was going to find and bit nervous about what was going to be at the bottom of the hole. Guess what it was? M&Ms! Someone had been out on the trail and was dropping M&Ms along the way! Topaz enjoyed them. Chocolate is not good for dogs but I had already had a major chocolate episode with our last dog and knew that Topaz had not consumed enough for me to have to worry.
I headed back to the car for a change of gloves, water, SCAPS and VESPA. I had a few gels in my pocket that I was using. I am finding that I really like this VESPA. I seem to recover more quickly since I've been using it. I find that I drink more water, using more salt when using VESPA. I wasn't using Hammer Heed yesterday so the SCAPS were a good idea.
After removing my snowshoes and changing gloves and jacket I was ready to head out again. I tried to get Topaz to drink but he refused. He ate lots of melty snow and rolled in the wet snow constantly to keep himself cool. I had 24 miles in so far and decided to run upon the state park roads for a while. It felt good to run with a longer stride and to have the snowshoes off. The road was gated in spots but I had read on the park website that the blocked off roads were only prohibited to motorized vehicles.
Topaz ran in the ditch most of the time, opting for the soft wet snow instead of the hard packed snow upon the road. Many times he chased after turkey, deer and squirrel and I wouldn't see him for a while. I stopped a few times, listening for him in the woods. He just doesn't run out of energy. I was running out of energy!
By the time 46 miles was done I was beat. I was thankful that I had run Tuscobia the week prior; it made for a great training run for my birthday run! Tomorrow's Polar Dash will be s l o w recovery run as today's 10 miler was.
A birthday celebration dinner at Pittsburgh Blue last night with my family topped off the birthday day. Fabulous!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuscobia Winter Ultra Marathon
Well, I don't know what is up with blogger photos. I put them all in order in the text and look at them, all up above in a bunch. Boo.
There is Wayne and I on the bus to the start and Wayne, Vicky and Marcus ready to begin the run. There is one of Wayne and another runner climbing up a hill, the Christmas light display with me.
A few weeks ago I was looking for an ultra to run before the end of the year and
found the Tuscobia Winter Ultra Marathon. I hadn't heard of the race before so
as I looked it up I learned that it takes place in Wisconsin on the Tuscobia
State Trail. This trail is a 74 mile abandoned railroad grade that is used as a
snowmobile trail during the winter months. The trail runs southwest from Park
Falls to Rice Lake, WI.
This race offers a run, bike or ski/skijour option. I would be running-although
I did think about the skijour option. Topaz and I have enjoyed it very much but
the cabin I rented didn't allow dogs.
The race offers three distances: 50K, 75 Mile and 150 Mile. The gear
requirement for all three races includes headlamp, flashing red LED lights on
front and back, water carrier, 10" reflective material. For the 75M and 150M
64 oz water container, 3000 calories of food, -20F sleeping bag, insulated
sleeping pad, bivy sack or tent, 3.5 oz fuel, firestarter, stove to melt snow.
I reserved a cabin at Northern Pines Resort on Butternut Lake. Vicky recommended
it as she stayed here last year. It really was a great choice! Steve and Troy
were coming along for a fun weekend; they would ice fish while I was running.
I had intended on snowshoeing the race. I was surprised when I stopped at the
packet pickup Friday evening and learned that the participants were not
snowshoeing, that they would be running in the loose snow. Hmmm…
I didn't know if I should use my snowshoes. I wouldn't have the weight of the
snowshoes and the straps wouldn't be irritating the top of my foot as they
sometimes do after 4-5 hours of running. If there wasn't enough snow I surely
didn't want to use them. We didn't arrive to Butternut Lake until 8 PM so I
wasn't going to go check out the trail at that time. I didn't know what to do.
We navigated our way to the cabin rental It was placed right on the lake-two
bedrooms, bathroom and a large kitchen with living room. All appliances, linens,
dishes; I was very impressed. We unpacked and heated up the dinner I had
prepared at home. A few games of Jenga and we all went to bed.
The race didn't begin until 10 AM (!) so I had a ton of time in the morning. I
fixed breakfast for all of us, packed up my gear and went next door to introduce
myself to Marcus from Duluth and to say hi to Wayne and Vicky. Steve and I were
going to follow them to the finish where we would take a bus to the start. Steve
would then know where to pick me up after the race. I told him I would be
finished in 7.5 hours.
I decided to leave the snowshoes behind. Marcus was running in Vibrams-I figured
if he could run in those I could run in my Inov 8 Gortex trail shoes! I didn't
have spikes or screws, although Vicky offered my some screws. I didn't feel like
taking the time to screw my shoes and because we wouldn't be running on ice, I
didn't think they would offer much traction in the snow.
The start temperature was 6F, the high for the day would be 10F. There was a
wind but it would be at my back, score! I wasn't worried about getting cold. I
have the clothing figured out for running in this type of weather. I don't want
to be too warm, cold sweat will freeze, wet clothes are not a good thing!
A school bus was waiting for us at the finish line. We boarded and were on our
way! It was so cold on the bus! My feet were absolutely freezing and this
worried me. I was wearing a new cozy pair of smartwool socks under my shoes. I
couldn't believe how frozen my feet felt. I took my shoes off and began to rub
my feet with my hands, trying to get warm. Marcus looked at what I was doing and
was relieved that his feet weren't the only ones that were cold. He didn't have
on any socks, just the Vibrams.
We arrived at the start line in Winter, WI. I stayed in the bus until start
time. As we piled out I counted 26 starters. 25 run and 1 ski. Nobody was
wearing snowshoes.
As soon as we began my feet warmed up. I never noticed any cold during the race.
I was very comfortable, temperature wise.
The trail was very wide-maybe 6 feet across, well covered with snow, some rocks
strewn about. I began too fast and warmed up very quickly and saw that my first
mile was less than 10 minutes. I knew that was too fast and didn't like that I
had allowed myself to do this. I knew this race would be difficult, mentally,
for me and I was already experiencing that. My finish goal was 7:00-7:30. I
told Steve to be at the finish in 7:30 so I checked myself and slowed down.
The miles were going by pretty quickly; I was very comfortable, drinking hammer
heed and taking gels. I was having a good time.
I knew there was a checkpoint at the halfway mark with water and gels. I
conserved my now slushy hammer heed so that I wouldn't be dry.
When we came to a road crossing I saw Jim Wilson. He asked if I needed water,
my own Trail Angel! Jim topped off my bottles and off I went, smiling down the
I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders once I had full
bottles. I drank greedily, knowing I could refill in a few miles. Whew!
The trail began to get quite a bit softer. It seemed that the snow was deeper
and that it was churned up by snowmobiles. I kept trying to find a hard packed
area where I could run without slipping. It seemed that the outer edge of the
trail was best. I would stay there until it became soft and then hunt along the
trail for a better piece.
I noticed that Marcus' Vibram footprint crossed back and forth over the trail as
I did. He must have been looking for firm snow as well. His print didn't seem to
'dig in' to the snow as the tread of the trail shoes did. I wondered if that
made it easier. I pictured him floating across the snow. He did finish a half
hour earlier than I did.
The half way point came a bit early. My Garmin told me we were at 13 miles. I
was happy to know that the aid station was early otherwise I could have broken
down mentally, that 2.5 miles does made a difference. I asked the woman at the
station and she told me we were at 16 miles. I didn't argue. I filled up my
bottles, grabbed a handful of gels (so thankful!), and carried on.
Each time I took a step my foot would slide a bit, only ¼" or so to the side.
Eventually this caused knee pain and pretty soon my pectinus /hip flexors weres
killing me. I don't know that I have ever had such pain during a race before,
other than a 100 mile race.
When I caught up to Wayne I asked him if the course was short or if the aid
station was just early. He confirmed that the aid station was just early. OK,
now I knew that I wouldn't expect the finish at 26 miles, it would be 50K. It
looked like I would be finishing within my goal time.
I came to an area where the snow was very deep, soft and churned up. I was
barely running, my form was so inefficient that I tried walking but that was
just too slow and depressing. I looked ahead and saw that Wayne was
walking…walking faster than I could run. Ugh. My knees and adductors were pain
filled. I looked at my watch and saw that the last mile took me 17 minutes.
Good grief.
I trudged along, trying to find a firm area on the trail where I could run
easily. It wasn't happening. A bunch of snowmobiles flew past me.
Lisa and Lynette were at many of the road crossings. Lisa took many great photos
and I was able to get water from her as well. I told them how nice it was to
have them out there, checking in on us. Really they were there to check on
Wayne, I believe, but I wasn't far behind Wayne so I was able to enjoy their
company too!
The surroundings were very pretty. Lots of pine covered with heavy snow, many
bridges over rivers. There was a section along the road but it wasn't too long.
I really enjoyed the scenery. I didn't see any deer but did see two timberwolf
on the lake earlier.
I ran solo most of the time, catching up with Wayne one in a while, then with a
skier for a bit, but mostly solo. At around mile 20 I turned on my iPod and
listened to music. I noticed that not only was this one of the few runs that I
felt pain, but it was also one that I wasn't high on endorphins. Normally I'm
swinging my arms, laughing, smiling, yelling out Megadeth and cranking up the
trail. I think the slow pace put a limit on the endorphin rush!
I often though of Jason and Lynn who were competing the 75 mile race. This was
their first race of this type and I was very intrigued as to how it was going
for them.
I must say, this 50K has certainly sparked my interest in the 75 mile race next
As I was running down a hill I caught a branch. Boom! I slid outstretched a
good 10 feet and ended up sprawled upon the ground. Thankfully it was deep here
so I didn't skin my face up on any rocks. My foot was sore, I really banged it
up . I began to walk, checking my limbs, making sure everything was OK. I was
fine, just shook up.
Eventually the sun became weak. I ran up to two men in front of me and asked one
of them if he would take my headlamp out of my pack. He obliged and handed it to
me. I turned on my lights and was ready to grind out the last few miles to the
Ah, the water tower! I remembered at the start someone mentioned that when we
saw the water tower we would be nearing the end. He warned us to look out for a
sharp right turn to the finish. I saw the sign and was really happy to finish
this up.
Looking at my watch I was at 6:45, a few more minutes to go. I came up to two
people standing around, Tim the RD and Wayne. Gee, I was at the finish! Ah,
Amen! I was told I was third woman. I was so happy to be finished.
Wayne and I stumbled into the warming tent. I removed my pack and took off my
lights. Oh man, it felt so good to stretch out. Hot coffee was offered, a warm
heater, it really was nice. I removed my wet mittens, hat and neck gaitor and
just sat.
It was fun to talk with others about the race. RD Tim did an excellent job on
the 50K race and I'm sure the 75 and 150 were just as awesome. Putting these
three races together has to be a huge endeavor and it came off without a hitch.
Steve came along and after introductions we were off to the cabin. We made a quick stop at a beautiful Christmas light display so I could get a photo. I hobbled out of the truck for the shot. He and Troy had a fun day ice fishing, we were all exhausted and into bed by 8 PM!
Even though this race was only a 50K and I didn't have to pull anything it certainly served it's purpose for me. I wanted to really embrace winter this year. I have slowly changed mymind about winter and surprise myself by my reaction. I didn't hate my time spent running this race, didn't hate the cold, didn't wonder what
the hell I was doing. I knew exactly what I was doing. I was embracing winter, trying something new and learning so much about myself in
the process. I can run a race even if it isn't all about having fun, even when it is a lot of work and I am in pain. It's ok.
The next morning after we packed up and headed out we drove along the course, looking for John, Jason, Lynn, Daryl or John. We weren't able to locate them
along the route. It had been close to 24 hours so as it turns out some had already finished and some were out on the course, we just missed them.
I was so happy to hear that John S won the 75, Jason and Lynn finished their
firsts, John T and Daryl finished their 75. Get this: Chris Scotch ran and won
the 150 mile. 150 miles in 60 hours. Can you even fathom such a thing. It is an
amazing thing, what a body can do.
I must say, I am more intrigued than ever with the 75 mile option. I am really
thinking about it for next year. I think I could give it a try and maybe even finish it.
Thank you so much to RD Tim, to the volunteers and to the runners. You inspire me.
Posted by Julie B at 4:37 PM 6 comments:
Labels: tuscobia
Saturday, December 11, 2010
17th Annual Lake Harriet 50K Fat Ass CANCELLED
Boo! Mother Nature has nixed the 50K fun run I had scheduled for tomorrow at Lake Harriet. It is so much fun! Approximately 7 loops around Harriet-up through the neighborhood, check my name on the list in the porch and do it again. So much fun!
I totally understand that with over a foot of fresh snow and -30F wind chills it had to be canceled. I'll be going solo instead.
Tuscobia is one week from today :)
We are in the midst of a good old fashioned snow storm.
This morning by 5 AM there was about 6" of snow in the driveway. It was a slow snowy drive to Maria State Park. As I figured, there wasn't ANY traffic other than snow plows. Slow and easy.
Of course the lot was empty when Topaz and I piled out of the car. He ran away like a banshee-racing me to the trail head. I had to get my snowshoes on in the dark, fumbling with my headlamp so I could strap them on.
The wind was whipping and the snow was flying. We headed off into the darkness. It kind of felt rather spooky, knowing there wasn't anyone else in the park. There were not any car tracks going into the park so unless someone was in one of the remote cabins there was nobody here but us.
I couldn't see Topaz in front of me, the snow was so heavy. All I could see was a white out in front of my lamp. Weird. Eerie weird. Cool. Way cool.
As we ran along I could hear the maples above me bending in the wind..and snapping branches..and pretty soon a branch fell in between Topaz and I. Oooh.
Daylight had to arrive soon. It seemed like at least an hour had passed. Sure enough, it was 7 AM but not a bit of daylight was approaching. The thick clouds and heavy snow was not letting any light in.
Not until 722 did I finally see a bit of light from the sky. I turned off my headlamp and watched the sun try to brighten the cloud cover. Still rather dark, but I could now see without lights.
Topaz was a flurry of activity. Chasing deer, squirrels, turkey and fox; the now fresh 8" of snow on the ground wasn't slowing him down. I was trudging. I was tired. I was out of my mind happy. SO beautiful, so peaceful, so thrilled to be out in the woods enjoying myself. There wasn't anything else I'd rather have been doing.
As I ventured out along a trail that I hadn't yet broke the snow was up past my knees, up to my thighs. This is along an open area where I normally see many deer feeding. They weren't feeding out in the open today. As the wind howled around me I realized that this was one hell of a storm. Pretty soon I heard thunder. Ah, thunder snow! Typically 1" plus of snow falls per hour when one hears thunder along with it. Amazing.
When thoughts of driving home surfaced I pushed them away. No sense in thinking about it now. Enjoy the run..
4 hours and 15 SLOW miles later we came back to the lot. My car was buried under the snow. What a sight. I helped Topaz to de-ice his legs and started the car. While it warmed I took off my snowshoes and uncovered my car. Wow, still snowing like crazy.
After a slow drive home I made it safe and sound. Troy was heading out to slide. I told him I'd quick change into dry clothes and meet him out there.
More trudging around, sliding down, climbing up, laughing on my back as I fell into the snow! What a blast.
Troy is now drinking hot cocoa, Topaz is sleeping next to the fireplace and I was going to head over to Gold's. I just called to make sure they were open and guess what? They are closing at 3 due to snow. Really?
Enjoy the snow! Go on out there, play in it, laugh in it, lay down and make a snow angel!
I totally understand that with over a foot of fresh snow and -30F wind chills it had to be canceled. I'll be going solo instead.
Tuscobia is one week from today :)
We are in the midst of a good old fashioned snow storm.
This morning by 5 AM there was about 6" of snow in the driveway. It was a slow snowy drive to Maria State Park. As I figured, there wasn't ANY traffic other than snow plows. Slow and easy.
Of course the lot was empty when Topaz and I piled out of the car. He ran away like a banshee-racing me to the trail head. I had to get my snowshoes on in the dark, fumbling with my headlamp so I could strap them on.
The wind was whipping and the snow was flying. We headed off into the darkness. It kind of felt rather spooky, knowing there wasn't anyone else in the park. There were not any car tracks going into the park so unless someone was in one of the remote cabins there was nobody here but us.
I couldn't see Topaz in front of me, the snow was so heavy. All I could see was a white out in front of my lamp. Weird. Eerie weird. Cool. Way cool.
As we ran along I could hear the maples above me bending in the wind..and snapping branches..and pretty soon a branch fell in between Topaz and I. Oooh.
Daylight had to arrive soon. It seemed like at least an hour had passed. Sure enough, it was 7 AM but not a bit of daylight was approaching. The thick clouds and heavy snow was not letting any light in.
Not until 722 did I finally see a bit of light from the sky. I turned off my headlamp and watched the sun try to brighten the cloud cover. Still rather dark, but I could now see without lights.
Topaz was a flurry of activity. Chasing deer, squirrels, turkey and fox; the now fresh 8" of snow on the ground wasn't slowing him down. I was trudging. I was tired. I was out of my mind happy. SO beautiful, so peaceful, so thrilled to be out in the woods enjoying myself. There wasn't anything else I'd rather have been doing.
As I ventured out along a trail that I hadn't yet broke the snow was up past my knees, up to my thighs. This is along an open area where I normally see many deer feeding. They weren't feeding out in the open today. As the wind howled around me I realized that this was one hell of a storm. Pretty soon I heard thunder. Ah, thunder snow! Typically 1" plus of snow falls per hour when one hears thunder along with it. Amazing.
When thoughts of driving home surfaced I pushed them away. No sense in thinking about it now. Enjoy the run..
4 hours and 15 SLOW miles later we came back to the lot. My car was buried under the snow. What a sight. I helped Topaz to de-ice his legs and started the car. While it warmed I took off my snowshoes and uncovered my car. Wow, still snowing like crazy.
After a slow drive home I made it safe and sound. Troy was heading out to slide. I told him I'd quick change into dry clothes and meet him out there.
More trudging around, sliding down, climbing up, laughing on my back as I fell into the snow! What a blast.
Troy is now drinking hot cocoa, Topaz is sleeping next to the fireplace and I was going to head over to Gold's. I just called to make sure they were open and guess what? They are closing at 3 due to snow. Really?
Enjoy the snow! Go on out there, play in it, laugh in it, lay down and make a snow angel!
Posted by Julie B at 2:01 PM 3 comments:
Topaz is Nine!
(I wrote this on Thursday but didn't realize I didn't post it until now!)
For Topaz's 9th birthday (edited to add:) on Thursday a 9 mile snowshoe run was scheduled. The weather was perfect for a winter day. No wind, bright sunshine and a good amount of snow.
At 4:00 sharp we left the lot and as usual, nobody had been upon the trails since I broke them. I carried my headlamp and a few gels for the run. I knew it would be dark upon our finish. It becomes pretty dark in the woods just before 5:00, with a pre-dark at about 4:45 where I need to take out my lights. I have such horrible night vision, it is very difficult for me to see in the darkening woods.
It was pretty cool to begin our run in the bright beautiful sunshine, breaking more trail, feeling the warm sun upon my back. Pretty soon the sky began to turn a pink and purple color as the red ball began to set. The moon began to rise and before I knew it we were in darkness. I put on my headlamp and continued to break trail. Before I knew it we were in total darkness. I stopped to flick off my light, to look at the stars. They they were, obliterating the darkness of the sky. Beautiful.
2 hours later were were back at the car, ready to head home. A perfect birthday run for Topaz :)
Posted by Julie B at 11:33 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Birthday Run, Topaz
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Winter Running Tips
I've received a lot of questions about winter running. Most of you know that I live in Minnesota; land of cold winters! Most of you also know that I normally struggle with winter. I complain about being cold, I complain about the decreased daylight, I complain about the depression that sets in and the 5-10 pound weight gain that normally comes with winter for me.
Over the past few years I have working very hard at changing my view of winter. Instead of huddling indoors and complaining I began to snowshoe run, then snowboard and now ski. I didn't really enjoy these activities at first, but with repetition and a whole mind-shift process, mentally and physically, I can say that I no longer hate winter. First time ever. Baby steps finally brought me to that goal.
Not once this winter have I complained of the cold weather, the snow, the winter, shortness of daylight; none of that. I haven't needed to. I have changed my thought process. Thank god.
When I first began running, 13 years ago, I only ran on my treadmill. My children were small and I stayed at home. My treadmill was set up in front of the TV in the living room at the time and that is where I did all of my running.
Eventually I began to run outdoors-when the temperature permitted it. I didn't run outdoors in the winter at all.
I hated winter. I hated the snow, the cold, the 'Minnesota Hunch', everything. And I thought about it and dreaded it and lived the hate every single day. Man, how sad and exhausting.
As time passed and I learned to love to run (another goal I wanted to work toward and completed with baby steps-it doesn't just happen on it's own), I decided I wanted to run during the winter and I wanted to run every day. Hmmm..what would get me out the door every day,even in the winter? You got it, Topaz!
I researched dog breeds and learned that the Border Collie must be exercised every day, an hour minimum, in order to live in a peaceful fashion. I learned that they were the smartest of dog breeds, loyal to their master, loved agility, running and were a great family dog. Sold.
I decided to try snowshoe running that winter so that I could eventually take a dog running winter trail with me. Over the years, a passion was created.
We purchased Topaz at 6 months old and I couldn't be happier with him. I purchased him in April and when the snow began to fly 8 months later I was apprehensive. I had to get this dog out each and every day. It was the promise I had made to myself.
I did it. Rain, snow, sleet or hail, hot sun, it didn't matter. Topaz needed his hour exercise. During those first few winters it rather sucked. I dreaded it quite a bit as the day went on and I would soon be home from work. I would cringe as I drove home, watching the wind bend the trees, the snow flying, the bitter cold temps. I'd walk in the door and the boys would yell "Topaz is excited for you to run!" Ugh. I'd bundle up, head to the trail head, snowshoe run for an hour and realize it wasn't so bad as I headed back home.
Fast forward a few years. Topaz will be 9 next week. I finally love, yes, love, to snowshoe run in the winter.
I've learned a few things that work for me and I will share them with you. Most importantly:
1) You will NEVER feel worse after your winter run. NEVER. You will always feel better! You may be cold and wet on your drive home (if you drive to your running location), but after a change of clothing you will feel awesome. Endorphins are a great thing. Not only that, but mentally and physically, you did something that you were going to dread, and it was OK, and you stuck with your plan. That is huge, emotionally. Good going, you!
2) Clothing: Learn to dress for the weather. This is so important. You don't have to be cold out there. Today the air temperature was 3F, windchill was -17F. I wasn't cold or wet. I felt the resistance of the wind, I heard the wind but I didn't feel the wind penetrate my clothing. I no longer become cold while running. You don't have to either. I actually became a bit warm snowshoe running. I unzipped my armpits on my outer jacket and zipped down my two tops.
3) Surfaces: Ice or snow require snowshoes if deep snow, trail shoes if ice. You can't be slipping and sliding, you may injure yourself. You need the correct shoe tread for the surface condition. Some people use screws or yak tracks. I never have.
When I first began to run outdoors I wrote the temperature and my clothing as well as how I felt every day into my MDRA log book. I still use MDRA log books, I think they are awesome, but I no longer need to monitor my clothing. I know what I need to wear.
Here is what I find works for me:
60F+ Singlet and shorts. I love the compression tanks for summer running but hate compression for winter running. For winter running compression makes me feel like a running sausage.
50-59F Short sleeve and shorts. Technical fabric all of the way. Don't wear cotton!
40-49F Longer sleeve, lightweight technical shirt, shorts.
30-39F Long sleeve, mid weight technical shirt, light tights or wind pants, I normally have to add light gloves at 30F with an ear band.
20-29F Long sleeve mid weight technical shirt, winter running jacket, heavier tights or pants, gloves, fleece hat, neck gator as the temp is closer to 20, gortex trail shoes as I am usually snowshoe running at this temp, snow shoe gator.
10-19F Long sleeve thick technical shirt, lightweight technical shirt, winter running jacket, heavier tights, winter 'over' pants (when closer to 10), gloves, wind mitten, fleece hat, neck gaiter, gortex trail shoes and shoe gaiters for snow shoe
0-9F Same as above but I add wool socks instead of microfiber which I wear otherwise and may have to add a full face mask dependent on wind.
Minus 15 to 1F Same as above and I add a vest for upper body warmth, vaseline on exposed face portions.
Minus 20 and below I'll add hand warmers to my gloves and socks and my snowboard goggles.
One of the Northwoods Snowshoe Marathons was held in the below 0 range and I was not at all cold. I stayed warm and dry because of these layering techniques. The only problem I had was that my goggles froze to the top of my fleece hat when I removed them from my face. They were iced to my hat and I had a hard time pulling them back to my face when necessary! Then I knew it was a cold day, buy hey, I won that Northwoods Snowshoe Marathon and kept my first place title alive another year.
I drive each day to the trailhead, about 25 minutes each way. On the way home my sweat gets cold, making me cold. I could change before I head home but I just don't take the time. I start the car, crank the heater, remove my neck gaiter, fleece hat, gloves and mittens. Sometimes I will call home and ask Troy to turn on the gas fireplace for me. As soon as I get home I change into warm fleece. I love Horny Toad Cashmoore fleece pants and tops. I wear them all of the time as well as Patagonia RI fleece. Yummy soft! A hot cup of tea and I'm all warmed up and comfortable.
My favorite running gear that I keep grabbing for the past few years is my Patagonia winter pants and jacket. Zipper pockets, polyester soft shell so there is no swoosh swoosh swoosh while running, soft interior fabric on collar, arm pit zippers, so warm and comfortable but real light. I wear this all of the time. As I wrote above, as it gets colder I add layers. 1/4 zipper shirts are the best! When I feel to warm I pull the zipper down, letting the cool air inside.
When the temps are cold enough for two layer of pants I like Hind Winter Ready tights. Heavy duty poly fabric with a bit of stretch. Perfect. When I first began to run in the winter I needed three bottom layers, but with these items two is fine.
I wear Inov-8 Gortex shoes from November to March, normally. The tread is good enough for trail or road without adding screws or yak-trax. I've never purchased the yak trax or any of those spikes you add to your shoe. I use the Inov-8s in my snowshoes as well.
One problem I do have is freezing water bottles. Because of this I normally run loop routes in the winter so that my car can house bottles of water out of the freezing temperatures. When very cold I wrap the bottles in warm towels from the dryer and place in a cooler into my car. This usually keeps them from freezing. It just isn't worth it to me, to carry a 24 oz water bottle at below 0 temps that is going to be an ice cube before I even need a drink.
You are all set for winter running! Really, give it a try, it doesn't have to be that horrible. If you really do hate winter, you can change that. Wouldn't it be awesome not to dread winter? It is, really! I feel so great by not hating winter. Really.
Posted by Julie B at 10:06 AM 4 comments:
Labels: Winter Running
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