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High School Sports: Rowing.
Honors and Awards: Member of the 2005 New Zealand Jr. National Team ... Rowed seven seat in the men's eight that placed fifth at the 2005 Jr. World Championships in Brandenburg, Germany ... Member of the 2008 Pac-10 All-Academic Second Team.
Major at Washington: Communications.
Husky Rowing Experience: 2009 (Junior) - Seven seat in the varsity eight... Spared against Oxford... Won Cal dual... Bronze medal at the Pac-10 Championships... Gold medal at the 2009 IRA National Championships. 2008 (Sophomore) - Rowed in the varsity eight all season ... Undefeated during the regular season, with wins at the San Diego Crew Classic, Windermere Cup, and against Oregon State and California ... Gold medalist at the Pac-10 Championships ... Won a silver medal at the 2008 IRA Championships in Cherry Hill, NJ 2007 (Freshman) - Stroked the first freshman eight to a victory in the Erickson Memorial Cascade Cup at the Windermere Cup ... Rowed to a silver medal at the Pac-10 Championships and a bronze medal at the 2007 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship ... Represented UW at the Moscow Race of Champions in September, defeating Oxford, Cambridge, and Moscow State University to win the Challenge Cup.
Personal: Son of Lynne and Alan Taylor ... Father is an accountant and mother is an artist and nutritionist ... Has one older brother, Daniel (23) and one younger brother, Jordan (19).


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Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Institute of International Education &
Freeman Foundation
The Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) offers qualified undergraduate U.S. citizens or permanent residents the financial support to travel and learn in countries in East and Southeast Asia for up to one academic year. The overall aim of the Freeman-ASIA Program is to increase greatly the number of Americans who know Asia first-hand and understand its peoples and cultures.
Description of Award
There are presently about 150 summer programs scattered around most Asian countries and about 250 academic year programs, all of which are open to American college students. The Freeman-Asia grants will range between $3,000 and $7,000 depending on the length of stay. The Freeman Foundation and IIE plan to support over 1,200 students
1.Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of application.
2.Applicants must be currently enrolled as undergraduates in U.S. colleges or universities and be in good academic standing.
3.Applicants must currently receive financial aid or have verifiable need for financial assistance to study abroad in Asia.
4.Priority will be given to students with no previous experience in the country in which they plan to study.
5.Awards are available only to students who plan to study abroad in the following countries/regions: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
6.Within three months after return from a study abroad program in Asia, awardees must fulfill a service requirement to promote study abroad in Asia on their home campus and share their knowledge with their community.
7.Awardees must submit a final report to IIE within 6 months after return to the United States, summarizing their experiences, including the implementation of the service requirement.
8.Applicants' study abroad advisers must verify financial need and endorse a student's application, according to the deadlines below, before it is submitted to IIE.
Application forms are available at the IIE's website. For further information on the Freeman-ASIA Program , please consult the website: http://www.iie.org/pgms/freeman-asia/
Questions about Freeman-ASIA can be sent by email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Home | Univ. of Minnesota | College of Liberal Arts | Dept. of Asian Languages & Literatures | Chinese Courses at UMN
Scholarhip Opportunities | Study in China | Placement Test | Online Resources | Chinese Instuctors | Computer& Chinese
© 2003 University of Minnesota. Last updated: 02/11/2004

subset: commoncrawl


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Newegg.com - A great place to buy computers, computer parts, electronics, software, accessories, and DVDs online. With great prices, fast shipping, and top-rated customer service - once you know, you Newegg.
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What makes the ideal cavalry saber? It has a narrow 35'' long blade, a thick cross section and a sharp point. To protect the hand, wrist, and forearm, it had a superb bowl shaped guard and a grip that automatically brought the point ''in line'' for the perfect thrust. It was easy to carry too, as its scabbard had two rings for suspending it from the saddle or attaching it to a belt or baldric. It was issued throughout the British empire and it is still used, with minor changes, even today. Our president, Lynn C. Thompson, became quite enamored with this saber after fencing extensively with it for many years and has brought fourth cold steel's interpretation of this extraordinary saber It's modeled on the original lines, with just a marginally lighter gauge steel on the bowl guard (improving balance and handling) and a more durable black plastic grip.
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– The Church of Christ Food Pantry at 302 Hospital Road in El Dorado Springs has received $6,117.71 in new funding. The grant, made possible by the Wal-Mart State Giving Foundation in cooperation with the Ozarks Food Harvest and the El Dorado Springs Community Foundation, will be used to leverage about $60,000 worth of food distribution for chronically hungry residents in El Dorado Springs.
Bart Brown, CEO at Ozarks Food Harvest, said, "There's a growing population of clients who are not eligible for government assistance such as WIC or the National School Lunch Program. The 'gap' truly relies on our member pantries and feeding sites to help feed their families. The current child food insecurity rate is sobering . More than a quarter of our children – five percent higher than the national rate – now face hunger or do not know where their next meal is coming from."
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for Southwest Missouri, serving more than 300 hunger relief organizations across 28 Ozark counties.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a public charitable foundation with a network of 44 affiliate foundations across the Missouri Ozarks that overlaps with much of the Ozark's Food Harvest service regions. Pictured are (from left) Stephanie Stutter and Danita Ehlers Church of Christ Food Pantry volunteers, Kay Forest, president of the El Dorado Springs Community Foundation and Winter Skelton Development Operations officer of the Community Foundations of the Ozarks.


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Author Profile: Jacquie McGlade
All Articles
THE PRIMACY OF NATURE • Jacquie McGlade
Issue 214 • September/October 2002 • Challenge at Johannesburg > Feature Articles
The misuse of ecosystems is unjust.
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Artists Project Earth New Album. Help us to help them...
The misuse of ecosystems is unjust.


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(NBC NEWS) -- Gold medal alpine skier Lindsey Vonn will join NBC as an Olympic correspondent for TODAY and NBC Sports during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
COMPETE COVERAGE | 2014 Winter Olympics
In her new role, Vonn will report daily from the U.S. for TODAY, and she will contribute to NBC Sports Olympic coverage. As the Games unfold, Vonn will share her unique perspective on the events and the competition from an Olympian's point of view.
In her first interview since deciding to withdraw from the Sochi Olympics, Vonn appeared on TODAY Tuesday, Jan. 28, to discuss her role at NBC and give an update on her training and rehabilitation.
During the days leading up to the Opening Ceremony, Vonn will report live for TODAY from Studio 1A. She will cover how the athletes prepare physically and mentally for the Games, and she will share some of her favorite memories. After the official start of the Olympics, she will continue her reporting for TODAY and NBC Sports from the U.S.
RELATED | Injury prevents Lindsey Vonn from competing in Sochi
(NBC News)


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Enhanced for Bible Study using the Resource Guide
Available for: iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows Desktop and Windows Store.
In this major commentary on the Gospel of John, Andreas Kostenberger presents comprehensive and up-to-date analysis. His detailed study of one of the most important books in the New Testament is sure to become a standard resource for preachers, students, and scholars.
A well-respected New Testament scholar, Kostenberger begins with a thorough introduction to John and the topics relevant to its interpretation. He discusses the book's authorship, date of writing, theological emphasis, and relation to other New Testament writings.
As with all volumes published in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, John seeks to reach a broad audience with scholarly research from an evangelical perspective. Each volume in the BECNT series interacts with the best contemporary scholarship, offering up-to-date, accurate, and authoritative analysis of the Greek text through rigorous exegesis and exposition.
"Kostenberger has already distinguished himself as one of evangelicalism's premier Johannine scholars. Now he pulls all his research together in what will immediately establish itself as the best and most thorough commentary on the Greek text of John in recent years, from any theological perspective. Highly recommended!"--Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary
This product is only available for the new 5.9 version of our apps or newer. However, if you purchase now, you will be able to download the product at no extra charge when your app is updated.
The Olive Tree team has been busy working on a major technology update to give you the best reading and studying experience possible. The Bible Study App 5.9 or 6.0 technology update is already available for our Windows Store, Android, and iOS apps. We are currently working on the 6.0 update for our Mac and Windows Desktop apps, and hope to have them released soon!×
Will 6.0 Be Available For My Device?
We are currently working on the 6.0 update for our Mac app. Please note that 6.0 will only be available to the Mac App Store for those running Mac OS X Yosemite or later.
When Is The 6.0 Update Expected?
The 6.0 update is our top priority. We are working hard to get the update out as soon as we can. This is a major update to our core technology that requires us to rework major sections of the app. It could still be several months before we have fully rolled out 6.0 to all platforms.
Will I Have To Purchase This Resource Again?
Nope! If you purchase this product now, you will be able to download it as soon as your app has been updated to 5.9 or above at no additional charge.


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Video: 2012 Coast Guard Videos of the Year Compilation
Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelly Parker
We've combed through all of the Coast Guard's videos from throughout the year to select the top 10 videos highlighting the year's most compelling cases from the work done every day by America's Coast Guard. Now we need your help in deciding the best! These real-life operations, like many performed by the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, largely go unseen by members of the public. While some may get a glimpse of the action, we wanted to give you something more… The videos will be released nationwide beginning Saturday, with a new video released each day through Dec. 31. Fans can vote for their favorite Coast Guard Video of 2012 by liking it on the service's Facebook or YouTube pages and the winner will be announced Jan. 7 on the Coast Guard Compass. U.S. Coast Guard videos. http://www.facebook.com/UScoastguard http://www.youtube.com/user/USCGImagery
This work, 2012 Coast Guard Videos of the Year Compilation, by PO1 Kelly Parker, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:12.17.2012
Date Posted:12.17.2012 2:27PM
Video ID:193548


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Tokyo International University
Program Site: Tokyo International University (TIU) campus, located in the suburb of Kawagoe, a 40-minute train ride north of Tokyo
Eligibility: Minimum 3.0 GPA and two semesters of college-level Japanese or the equivalent.
Description: Study abroad students take classes in TIU's Japan Studies Program. Visiting students have ample opportunity to mix with local students, as the campus is fairly small, with around 6,000 students. With a population of over 300,000, Kawagoe allows students enjoy a smaller scale city and slightly slower pace while having easy access to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
Academics: Students take one 8-unit Japanese class and area studies courses taught in English. The small size of the language classes (5-10 students) ensures ample individual attention and accelerated language acquisition. Recent area studies courses offered in English have included: The History of Modern Japan, Japanese Economic Development, Japanese Society, Japanese Film, Japanese Literature, Power in Japanese Politics and Society, and War and Memory in Modern Japan. In the spring semester, students with very advanced language skills can take regular TIU courses.
Course load and Credit: Students take 3 courses and may earn up to 16 units per semester.
Activities and Other Program Features: Each semester there is a long excursion to the Kansai region, where students visit cities such as Hiroshima and Kyoto and have the chance to stay in a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan. Monthly outings are arranged the the JSP, such as making udon, making washi, picking mikan, and visiting museums and historical sites in the area. Students also have peer assistants and language partners throughout the semester and are encouraged to participate in school clubs and circles.
Accommodations: Students live with a Japanese host families in Kawagoe. All meals are provided except weekday lunches.
Dates: Fall, Spring, or Year. The Fall term runs from late August to mid-December, and the Spring term runs early April to late July.
Estimated Semester Cost:
Additional Expenses*.........$11,570
Cost Updated: 5/28/15
Text Updated: 8/7/15
*Additional expenses include estimated costs for airfare, room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and personal expenses (which can vary greatly from student to student). USC financial aid, scholarships, and tuition remission may be applied to program costs. Please visit the Office of Overseas Studies for more detailed cost information.
Tokyo International University Japan Studies Program
USC student Garrett Sergeant's short films about life in Japan
Lonely Planet Japan


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The Organic Pharmacy
Deodorant Spray 50ml
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Our deodorant is a unisex spray with a delicate fragrance from essential oils of Sage, Rosemary, Bergamot, Neroli and Lavender that kill odour-causing bacteria without interfering with the body's normal function.
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Founded in 2002 by pharmacist Margo Marrone and her husband Francesco, The Organic Pharmacy skincare brand evolved from the duo's successful London-based chain of herbal, homeopathic dispensaries and wellness clinics. Developed for a range of skin types, the comprehensive collection of organic and fair-trade products treats, repairs, and improves a broad spectrum of issues. One of the brand's first products, the Carrot Butter Cleanser, is celebrated for its velvety texture and blend of all-natural ingredients which gently lift dirt and makeup without stripping the skin.
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Best tips for good skin
BY Donna Duggan Beauty expert
Diet and beauty tips for a great complexion and smooth, healthy skin.
The skin is composed of three layers: the surface layer (epidermis), the middle layer (dermis) and the deep layer (hypodermis). The epidermis is several layers deep. Cells are created in the lowest layer and take about a month to move to the surface, where they then die. What we see as our "skin" is actually a layer of dead cells. Washing with a cleanser helps to slough off the dead skin cells, leaving the skin looking more vibrant. As well as getting rid of dirt and sweat, cleansers also remove blemish-causing bacteria from the surface layer.
While age does slow the process of cell regeneration, the cycle never stops. The health of these new cells is affected by the food and drinks you consume, your lifestyle and the products you use. Treat your body well, and this will be reflected in your skin. To keep your skin looking good, naturopath Janella Purcell says, "Water is key. Omega-3 from fish oils and/or flaxseed oil is essential. Olive oil, avocado and tahini can benefit the skin. And vitamin E and C are great for skin repair. "
Collagen and elastin - those substances that give the skin structure and flexibility - are found in the dermis. As we age, their production slows down, causing wrinkles. An antioxidant-rich diet - one that contains lots of fruit and vegetables - has been found to slow the breakdown of collagen.
The good oil
The dermis also contains sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, an oily substance that travels up the hair shaft to the surface of the skin to protect and lubricate the epidermis. Gwen Giorla, head therapist at True Solutions, says, "Our hormones stimulate sebaceous glands. This increases during puberty or when your adrenaline levels are unbalanced due to anxiety or illness."
When the glands don't produce enough sebum, the skin looks dehydrated. When they produce too much, the skin appears oily and is more prone to breakouts. Make sure your moisturiser suits your sebum flow. If your skin feels dry, opt for a heavier or oil-based moisturiser. If it feels oily, try a light, water-based moisturiser.
Basic steps for healthy skin
Daily exercise can improve your complexion as it increases blood flow, gets rid of impurities through sweat and brings more oxygen to the skin. If your skin is tired, try a product that contains ascorbic acid as it has been found to stimulate collagen production. Stress can wreck havoc on your hormones, causing adult acne and other skin problems. Relax!
Clean make-up brushes every month or two with gentle soap. Get rid of make-up that is past its expiration date. Ditch foundation, concealer, moisturiser and sunscreen after two years; lipsticks after 18 months; and mascara after six months. If you want to prevent skin getting an afternoon shine, Gwen Giorla recommends mineral make-up.
- PreviousThe Fast Food Detox
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Sales RepresentativeElkridge, Maryland
Velaro Inc. is the leading provider of best of breed, enterprise-class Live Chat solutions. Velaro software sales reps play a vital, frontline role in closing new business opportunities while managing and growing existing business accounts. This results-driven position will prospect the market in order to qualify leads and establish new client partnerships.
Systems EngineerElkridge, Maryland
Velaro, Inc provides one of the most recognized and powerful web-based live help services on the market today. We are seeking an individual with a strong technical background to join our team in Elkridge, MD. This position is designed for a Systems Engineer with a knowledge of Windows System administration.
Microsoft .NET DeveloperElkridge, Maryland
Velaro provides one of the most recognized and powerful web-based live help services on the market today. We are seeking a Senior .NET Developer to join our team in Elkridge, MD. Responsibilities will include designing and developing new and innovating features and technology to Velaro's Award Winning Live Help service.
Account ManagerElkridge, Maryland
As an Account Manager, you are the driving force in identifying potential new Velaro clients and turning them into satisfied customers. Velaro is one of the original "software as a service" providers. Our industry leading live help product suite includes click-to-chat, click-to-call, co-browsing and content targeting.


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muscle relaxer for sciatica pain
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I am currently suffering from sciatica pain and my doctor put me on ibuprofen/vicodin/lidoderm patch.
A few years ago i had my first problem with sciatica and that only lasted a few days. At that time i was put on the usual pain meds and a muscle relaxer. This time it has been well over a month and i am still in pain.
I was thinking of asking my doctor for a prescription but i'm not sure. the reason i am thinking about it is because the only difference from the last time i had sciatica pain and this time is that i had a muscle relaxer that time.
I would like to know if anyone here feels like having a muscle relaxer really helped with the lower back pain/sciatica and if not having one would be significant enough that it might be the reason i have yet to find relief.
Thanks in advance
Posted on 03/01/09, 11:50 pm
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i tried soma and did not find relief
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My surgeon put me on Flxeral and I love it! It makes my pain level down to a 1 or 2 (my pain is usually a 7 or 8). I feel like a human being again. Feel better!
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Flexeral, not Flxeral. Sorry.
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Thanks for responding! I have decided to email my doctor and try to get a prescription cause they did help the first time i got the pain. I had just forgotten lol. hopefully this will work! :)
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It sounds like are are trying to simply mask the pain instead of address the pain. I previously had major problems with lower back pain. I would wake up in the middle of the night if I shifted in my sleep awkwardly and it would send shooting pain up my spine. There were times I would bend over to pick up a shoe or something off the ground and would be brought to one knee. This is my first post, so I don't want to come across as a spammer, but my doctor recommended something that changed my life. I have found no information on any of these forums in regards to it. I don't want to violate any board rules so I won't post the information, but I want to leave my email address if you are interested in the information. I can tell you that for the first time in 6 years that I'm pain free in my lower back.
Shoot me an email and I'll pass along the information: email@example.com
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If the sciatica is causing you to have a lot of muscle spasm, then yes, muscle relaxants are great because along with the anti-inflammatories and pain meds, they help reduce the pain. Of course, they dont cure the sciatica, but they do aleviate the chronic cycle of nerve irritation and terrible spasm that you can get.
Years ago, when I first started having serious problems with my back, my Dr suggested Valium for the muscle spasm. I must admit I was hesitant, but it worked so effectively, and I could combine fairly simple pain meds and anti-inflammatories, without needing to get really strong/narcotic pain meds that usually made me sick. I'd take it for about 5 days then stop and had no problems with dependecy. Now I just keep it up my sleeve as an emergency remedy.
So they are not a cure-all, but I reckon there's definately a place for muscle relaxants with back pain or sciatica.
I hope you get some relief soon and all the best.
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I take Vicodin, Naproxen, & I also have Tizanadine (which is a muscle relaxer) I take the Tizanadine when I need it & it does help a lot in my opinion.
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I take Robaxin along with my pain meds, and it works awesome! It doesnt make me loopy or so tired that I cant function.
It really helps my whole body relax.
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I had a sciatic episode before I had any back pain. The flare up lasted 3 days of terrible pain, but then it was gone. This went on for 2 years, every so often, I'd get a twinge and it would last for 3 days or so, but would go away. The next 2 years I had constant sciatic symptoms. After 4 years of this pain, I decided to see a doctor because I had severe lower back pain by this time and couldn't stand for more than 5 minutes without shaking in pain.
I read somewhere else that you were trying to get an MRI, were you able to get it? It is important to get this test done because as you learned, sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. I finally had an MRI and found out my problem was in my disc. Although there are several different things that can cause sciatica, the disc is the most commom. It is important to stay as comfortable as possible while finding a diagnosis and hopefully a cure, but I don't believe the muscle relaxer is the difference between you getting better and having this prolonged pain. A lot of people can have an episode and recover from it before the pain moves in for an extended stay.
I've read your other posts, and I believe you are smart! You know when these doctors aren't paying enough attention to the situation (giving you the brush-off), and you also know when they are telling you something that might not be good for you. My best advice is to go with your gut!!! MAKE these doctors treat you right, or better yet, try to find a new doctor that treats you right from the start! Just because they are doctors does NOT mean that they are well-trained and aiming to help you!!!
Good luck! I'm so happy you found DS! Coming here was my first step in getting proper care and I hope it is for you too!!! Please remember, although everyone is trying to help, their advice is just that, advice, and may not be correct or right for you!!!
Much love and understanding,
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For my sciatica I like Soma and Flexeril but find the Soma works better for me. My doctor referred me to www.ordersomaovernight.com which carries several muscle relaxers. He said this was a good online pharmacy as they used U.S. licensed doctors and pharmacies and only FDA approved medications. He said this way I was not getting any overseas crap! You don't need any health insurance or prior prescriptions to order from them.
I also visit a chiropractor 4x a year and use a Tens unit but they are expensive.
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Issue 65
June 2002
Wealthy early Roman graves near St Albans
Dig in West Midlands reveals empty landscape
Medieval enclosed garden found at Welsh border castle
Porcelain finds show changes in 18th century taste
Medieval parchment from site of Canterbury's friary
Fortress Britain
Great Sites
Engines of Change
Lord of the Hrungs
Armoured jacks, human sacrifice, and a 'lost' Roman town
Stop demolishing Victorian terraces, by George Lambrick
Peter Ellis
Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World by Katherine Dunbabin
Migrants and Invaders by Malcolm Todd
The Molecule Hunt by Martin Jones
Britons and Romans edited by Simon James & Martin Millett
The Archaeology of Shamanism edited by Neil Price
CBA update
favourite finds
John Lewis on realising the truth about the Stanwell cursus.
Editor Simon Denison
Engines of change
Railways profoundly influenced the rural and urban landscapes of Britain. David Gwyn reports
Few inventions have had so vast an impact on the British landscape as the railway. Alongside its more obvious direct effects - the thousands of miles of cuttings, tunnels and embankments, bridges, stations, signal-boxes and crossings - the railway brought immense changes to the size and layout of towns and transformed the architecture of industrialising rural areas.
Visible signs of the influence of the railway lie all around, yet landscape archaeologists have generally been slow to recognise their importance. For many, it seems, archaeology is only about the distant past and railways are simply too recent to be interesting. Nothing could be further from the truth.
For a start, the railway was not an invention of the Industrial Revolution. Railways have been part of the European landscape from at least the 6th century BC when Periander, tyrant of Corinth in Greece, built a railway with stone rails over the Corinthian isthmus in order to save the long sea journey around the Peloponnese. The underground mine railway was certainly known to Roman engineers, and it was in the great mining centres of the Eastern Alps that the technology re-emerged in the late medieval period, whence it was brought by German miners to the Lake District in about 1560.
The earliest overland railway in Britain was probably the colliery line connecting Strelley colliery to Wollaton in Nottinghamshire, operational by 1604. Railways serving collieries were established in Shropshire by the following year and on Tyneside by 1608. In the 18th century they were increasingly found in ironworks, quarries and foundries, and at any large construction sites - such as lighthouses and factories - where building materials had been brought in by rail. Even before the wrought-iron rail and the steam locomotive ushered in the 'railway age' in the 1830s, Britain had many thousands of miles of railway. By 1906 this had become 52,904 miles belonging to more than a hundred public railway companies. And there was almost as much again of private industrial railway.
The scale of railway civil engineering is overwhelming. Prodigious quantities of soil were excavated manually by navvies, and moved with the aid of nothing more than horse-drawn tip wagons. The nine main lines built between 1834 and 1841, with a combined mileage of 660 miles, involved the excavation of 70m cubic yards (54m cubic metres) of material for which there was no precedent. This scale of landscape transformation was not exceeded until the construction of the M1 motorway. Here, the first 55 miles involved the excavation of 11m cubic yards, but this was achieved with modern earth-moving equipment. The number of bricks used for the huge retaining walls through which railways entered towns and cities is incalculable.
A locomotive had to be designed and operated according to the landscape through which it ran. The more powerful it was, the longer and heavier the trains it could pull, but the more substantial its rails and earthworks had to be to carry it. Moreover, its wheelbase had to be able to negotiate whatever curves it might encounter. The long steep gradient of 1:75 up to Shap summit between Lancaster and Carlisle, for instance, was for many years the limiting factor on the West Coast main line, only finally overcome with the introduction of electric locomotives in 1974.
Where capital was readily available, as on most European main lines, civil engineering could defy topography, and span great valleys on embankments and viaducts, and drive tunnels through mountain ridges. But where money was scarce, other means of overcoming differences in height had to be found. Some railways, particularly those which only carried goods or minerals, often resorted to rope-hauled sections, in which goods were either moved by a stationary engine, or operated on the counterbalance principle, whereby heavier loaded wagons pulled up lighter empties on an adjacent track. Many of the cash-starved railways in the British Empire climbed mountain ranges in gigantic spirals, such as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, now a World Heritage Site, or in huge zig-zags, such as the Khyber Pass Railway in Afghanistan.
The Americas posed different civil engineering problems, and provided different answers. The first trunk line in the usa, the Baltimore and Ohio, chartered in 1827, was consciously modelled on the Liverpool and Manchester, building solid brick viaducts over Gwynns Falls and the Patapsco. Shortage of capital and the availability of timber as well as landscape factors ensured that later American railways opted for wooden bridges. The preference for timber was seen at its simplest in a railway built in Sonoma County, California, in the 1880s, where the trees in a ravine were sawn off to a level on either side of the railroad, and cross ties (sleepers) attached to the stumps to receive rails.
Railways came into being as the handmaidens of industry, and by the late 19th century there were few industries of any size which were not connected to the rail network, and had a rail system for internal movement as well. Coal mines, open quarries, gasworks, cement works, engineering complexes and defensive sites all came to acquire their own railways, with the result that buildings and plant were designed, and their relation to each other decided, according to the need to shunt materials from one place to another. The Corus (British Steel) steelworks at Scunthorpe, for instance, contains 90 miles of railway on its 1,700 acre (690 hectare) site.
Ports and harbours which had been built in a pre-railway age were often unsuitable for rail access. The quay walls were not strong enough to bear the weight of trains, and the dock area insufficiently large to allow for the comparatively large-radius curves which even small goods wagons required - so either a new generation of harbours had to be constructed, such as Grimsby, or older ones had to be adapted, as at Liverpool.
Railways themselves grew into large-scale industries. Locomotive sheds and coaling facilities might cover many acres, and many companies developed manufacturing works capable of turning out locomotives and rolling stock - even, in the case of Crewe, operating a steel mill. Other companies bought in from independent engineering firms which specialized in such work. These were located all over the UK, though Glasgow-Kilmarnock, the North-East of England, Manchester and its satellites, and Bristol were principal centres. Many locomotives were built by one or other of the Leeds firms which grew up in the Hunslet area of the city, an area traditionally associated with blacksmithing.
A host of smaller industries came into being in the immediate vicinity of station goods yards, and some remain there still - even after the railway has gone. The town gasworks might be sited close to the railway to allow for the delivery of coal. Other typical satellite industries include coal merchants, cattle marts and merchants selling agricultural foodstuff.
The landscape impact of the railway system was felt in many ways. In some areas transport routes became a 'metropolitan corridor', creating a more developed urban world in their immediate vicinity than the broader hinterland had hitherto supported. We tend to assume that railways supplanted roads in the early 19th century, but in fact many of the fast-industrialising areas of this period had not even developed a road network. The South Wales valleys, for instance, were crossed by little more than hill-paths, and certainly what roads there were ran in the wrong direction for the ironworks and their ancillary industries.
The railways that were laid here from the 1790s onwards became the natural thoroughfares for the workers and families who established themselves in this otherwise scantily populated area. Houses, places of worship and pubs were built facing the railways, and when locomotives were introduced on these lines in the 1830s the temptation for enginemen to quench their thirst at a lineside watering-hole was often irresistible. More than one iron horse came to a sudden and explosive end because its crew were sinking pints nearby, forgetting all about the rising pressure gauge and the screwed-down safety valves.
Trains on railways such as these moved slowly, and the footpaths alongside them gradually evolved into roads. When the railways came to be upgraded in the mid-19th century, they were re-routed onto their own new right of way, leaving the present-day road as evidence of its original course. Many of the valley roads in South Wales, for example, started as railway lines. Even in genteel Cheltenham several roads began in the early 19th century as horse-drawn mineral lines.
The preserved Ffestiniog railway in North Wales, opened to carry slate from the mountains to the sea in 1836, provides an illuminating example of how these early industrial communities evolved. Near its upper terminus is the village of Tan y Grisiau. Here all the older houses, mostly vernacular cottages, cling to the hillside alongside the sinuous course of the narrow-gauge railway. For as long as trains were horse-hauled, groceries were delivered to the front door by the simple expedient of throwing them off the wagons as they crept past. Once steam locomotives were introduced in 1863, catching your groceries became a more hazardous affair. A station was opened at one end of the village, a road was built to it, and straightaway all the new houses came to be constructed along the road. These were solid, industrial two-up two-down types, contrasting both in form and location with the earlier houses built higher up the hillside.
Railway companies themselves built houses for their workers - this might be a single cottage for a widow supporting herself by opening and closing level crossing gates, a row, a suburb, such as Inchicore in Dublin, or the best part of a whole town, such as Crewe and Swindon. Railways created communities in different ways also. They did not bring coastal resorts into being, but they fuelled their growth and democratized them - sometimes, as at Llandudno, driving out their more well-heeled earlier patrons.
In fact, railways blurred the distinction between town and country. Huge suburban tracts were brought into being by railway companies, generally as a consequence of electrification. The London tube system was rapidly expanded between the wars, ensuring the passage of traffic from its further reaches right into the centre. By buying a house in 'Metroland' the city clerk might, in Betjeman's words, become a countryman again.
The townscapes of the USA, above all others, are the creation of the railway, which confirmed the fortunes of some cities and either created or greatly enlarged towns in their hinterlands. The railway system transformed Chicago, for instance, but also effectively created the other Illinois towns of Centralia, Decatur, Galesburg, Effingham, Savanna and Stockton.
When railroads pushed into the unsettled West and Florida from the 1860s onwards, the rail companies created their own towns from new - the value of agricultural land by the trackside was far less than the money that could be made from urban promotion, and careful research went into selecting sites with a good hinterland, and at a suitable distance from each other. Typically these towns were laid out on a grid pattern, with a business and middle class residential district on one side and a working class district on the other - the phrase 'the wrong side of the tracks' had a very specific meaning in the American West. Always the railroad was the central element, and it is only recently that in some towns they no longer run down the main street.
Yet not even the usa could match the experience of Kenya. After three years' work and fatalities in the thousands, the Uganda Railway paused to establish a depot at a site known to the Maasai as Ewaso Nairobi ('stream of cold water') in 1899. By 1907 Nairobi was the capital of British East Africa, displacing the ancient coastal settlement of Mombasa, and is now the largest city between Johannesburg and Cairo.
Railway architecture both influenced, and was influenced by, prevailing local idioms. Architects responsible for passenger stations included learned references in their building work right from the days of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and buildings 'on the ancient principle' were felt to lessen the shock of the new. Cottage and vernacular styles found their way into station design, though details such as the finials and ornamented bargeboards with which railway companies liked to decorate passenger facilities also came to be found on houses and public buildings. Before long, mass-produced and processed building materials, such as Bedfordshire brick and Welsh slate, began to displace local stones and thatch.
The gradual contraction of the British railway system from the end of the First World War has impacted on the landscape in a variety of ways. Branch lines in rural areas were the first to go, and many secondary main lines disappeared as a consequence of the Beeching axe in the 1960s. Some have been reclaimed by nature, others have become cycle routes or footpaths, serving recreation in a very different way from the excursion trains of old.
Selling off the sites of redundant railway buildings, particularly former steam sheds or infrastructure from the very early days of railways, has released land often near town centres for the development of supermarkets, multiplex cinemas or fast-food outlets. The classic case is Swindon, where the closure of Brunel's Great Western Railway works made it possible for the silicon valley microchip businesses to buy town centre sites near the M4 and the railway - and for the National Monuments Record to establish itself in one of the old railway workshops.
Yet it would be wrong to assume that the railway as a form of technology will cease to be an element in the British landscape. Despite all the complaints about passenger services on the privatized system, train operators have finally managed to reverse over 80 years' decline in goods traffic, and are now handling materials in vastly more efficient ways than the sleepy country goods stations of the past.
Opposition to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which recently cut a swathe through the Kent countryside, suggests that many of us still object - as Wordsworth did - to what is new and raw in the landscape. Our reaction is wholly different, however, to railway lines that have been established for decades. They have come to be seen as a cherished part of the landscape, and the closure of entirely redundant and out-of-date systems is felt by local communities as an affront. The first railway threatened with closure to be taken over by enthusiasts was the Talyllyn railway in Gwynedd in 1950. It passed through beautiful scenery, and lay significantly near tourist destinations. It has since gone from strength to strength.
When the Ealing studios sensed the comic possibilities of amateur volunteers running an old railway, they filmed The Titfield Thunderbolt (1952) not in Wales but in Devon. Here not only is the railway firmly a part of old England (with the bus company there to represent the distorting forces of modernity and commercialism), but it is also the traditional regional élite of squire and parson which takes the lead in enabling the villagers to run their own railway.
According to Steam Railways magazine (March 2002), no fewer than 110 'heritage railways' are now operational in the United Kingdom, many of which try to recreate the ambience of a particular period in the recent past such as the 1950s. Perhaps this is a symptom of a worrying malaise, in which we feel compelled to retreat to a less threatening world. But if nothing else, it is also a testament to the almost unconscious way in which this form of technology has entered both the mental and the physical landscape.
David Gwyn is the Editor of 'Industrial Archaeology Review', and is Director of the Gwynedd-based Govannon Consultancy
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When my grandson was born 11/26/07 the hospital asked his parents if they wanted him to have the hepatitus vaccination before he left the hospital. My daughter and son in law told them to go ahead and give to my grandson. I am concerned because what I have read is this is normally given at 2 months(the earliest). Can anyone tell me if their child had this done as a newborn and if there are more risks than waiting later on? I worry about autism and other things that might cause problems.
Posted: 12/15/2007 by dylan2
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We can go around and around but bottom line is that vaccines are full of toxins and weather it is today or way in the future I think we all might be in trouble. Think about "cancer" and how it is rampid for those who are researchers good for us those who just believe what there doctor says I wish I could make you research but I can't so good luck and I hope all turns out well for your family. Those who are aware keep spreading the word.posted 03/12/2010 by Ginger36
I agree with a lot of what you just said and think you put it very well. Sorry if I came off irritated... it's just that a lot of the people that have posted here are a little off the deep end. (imho) My girls were both ebf'd for extended periods but I was nervous about taking them places after we had an outbreak of measles in San Diego the year my odd was born. Anyway, thank you for your well put response. : )posted 05/11/2010 by blovesmommy
I don't think there is a need to apologise to dylan2. She asked a question and got answers from both side of the fence she can now consider.posted 10/19/2011 by capricorn45
What's your name? What propaganda? I don't make any money from warning parents about vaccinations - unlike the vaccine manufacturers and needle nuts who have virtually unlimited access to tax-payer funds to fund their organised criminal enterprise disguised as disease prevention. BTW, referring to vaccination as "immunization" is propaganda used to lead parents to believe that vaccines immunise, when in fact they mess up children's health and immune system. Hence the appalling chronic ill-health of vaccinated children who unlike vaccine-free children commonly suffer from asthma, allergies, eczema, ear infections and other health problems as well as neurological disorders, including autism.posted 10/19/2011 by capricorn45
All parents have to do is next time they are in the doc's office ask the doc if they know what are in these vaccines and ask for the list of ingredients, if the doctor doesn't know then I would be highly concerned and go home and do the research myself. That will shut the doctors and nurses up if they are put to the spot w/ questions about something they don't even know. There are doctor's resources online that anyone can look up and get the list of ingredients in each vaccine, so I dare you, I dare you to start looking them up! Then we will see which one is the smarter one!! :)posted 11/03/2011 by a BabyCenter Member
If vaccination was a safe and effective way of preventing diseases, everyone would happily get vaccinated. Explain why the antivaccination movement is growing among parents as well as doctors and why e.g. Dr Russell Blaylock MD, USA, warns that vaccinatio is a massive fraud. I used to believe in vaccination, but as Abraham Lincoln once pointed out, one can't fool all the people all of the time. I for one have come to the realisation that vaccination is an organised criminal enterprise dressed up as disease prevention by means of junk science.posted 11/07/2011 by capricorn45
I understand you, and unfortunately people dont like to listen to grandparents. My older son has autism and I do fear that vaccines play a role because of the chemical ingredients. What people have to do is research the ingredients in all vaccines. Some of the chemicals even cause cancer.posted 11/19/2011 by a BabyCenter Member
I thought the background to this question is not whether to vaccinate or not, but whether it is necessary to vaccinate for Hep B at birth. At least my general questions about vaccination deal with when, and how, it is done, not whether it should be done or not.posted 11/30/2011 by a BabyCenter Member
Sorry for the long posts.........side note, I am not against parents who vaccinate, I just personally chose to wait. I had strong reactions to the One 1/4 of a dose that I received, my brother on the other hand was not so lucky, he had a grand mal seizure, which resulted in a brain hemorrhage, which ressulted in mental retardation and cerebral palsy.........Doctors only Report 1%, 1% of Reactions. There is something wrong about that.posted 07/22/2010 by ambercrowhurst
I have re-read these comments and everyone is right in a way. SOme have bad side effects some don't the scary part is that if doctors are not reporting the true side effects and how many kids really have thse effects then the "numbers" your being given are NOT correct and that is NOT fair to us. We all have the right to informed consent but we choose to truse someone becasue they went to school for 8-12 years. That does not make you all knowing. And vaccines are a ddouble edge sword they do good but they kill as well. When they do a vaccine study they do it on 100,000 kids however millions get the vaccine so the numbers your being given are not accurate. Just be careful and trust your instinces as a mom. The important thing is that each of us as moms has the right to make the decison for out family. If your lucky enough to live in a state that does not force you to get vaccines... this in itself should say enough to all of you that choose to belive the doctors only.posted 03/01/2010 by Ginger36
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Release Date: January 01, 1998
Running Time: 94 mins.
Genre: Comedy
Armando has been condemned to death in an Arab country, and friends back in Italy react to the news. In flashback, the film traces his life up to this point, revealing him as an inveterate kerb-crawler, a shady Casanova, and a corrupt businessman and aspiring politician. He goes too far when he cruises a veiled Arab woman in the desert while driving a Red Cross jeep.


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you know i dreamed about you 29 years before i saw you
- -February 11, 2011, 6:40PM
this post made me smile B I G :) cheers, xx.
- -February 11, 2011, 7:19PM
I am obsessed with this post. Beautiful. And even more obsessed its named by a national quote. <3 Perfect for v day.
- -February 12, 2011, 12:10PM
So so beautiful and perfect for Valentines day.
- -February 12, 2011, 12:56PM
perfect compilation of photos! <3
- -February 12, 2011, 10:24PM
beautiful photos, beautiful song…the national never fails us :)
- -February 13, 2011, 6:33AM
i looove those pictures, all the colors are so wonderful and happy.
my fave is the one with the two girls sitting on skateboards .. remindes me of me and my bestie sallie ..
- -February 13, 2011, 1:17PM
i love these random photo posts, always inspirational. more please? :D
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The intersection is in
(And there never was a pink house there. Magic!)
Here's the photo (click to enlarge):
(Many, many thanks to Yvonne D. for this.)
(Town corrected - thanks, Macx)
A bad review has nothing on a CN locomotive when it comes to destroying a book.
Hey Nathan - it was sheer literary tourism pleasure. The magic of the sleuthing includes a cover, under Sherlock Hemlock magnification, showing the NB route sign and number. After that, it was simply a matter of Google Earth. Well that and finding the right Maritimer -- he and his buddies would have likely been driving that very road when and the trees were small and the photo was taken. AWOT is a story of all these places, and all the times. I've passed it on to him (on loan Dave, on loan). ~Yvonne
I know Sackville very well, and when I was told this was actually Sackville, my first thoughts were:
1) There's no pink house there!
2) That's on the way to Dorchester! (So I can understand the Dorchester/Sackville confusion)
I believe the train track is the town limits at that point, so this is taken standing on the very cusp of Sackville and Dorchester, looking into Sackville.
The very cusp...
It was a dark and stormy night. Fists jammed into his Wrangler wide legs, wet and frozen to the knees, he shivered in his jean jacket at the very cusp of Sackville and Dorchester. He trudged on, the Pen an hour behind him, Dorothy's warmth an hour ahead.


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The creek of wooden wheels on a hard packed dirt road began to invade the still night when the moon was normally at its zenith, growing louder as a stream of wagons made their way along. Light soon spilled across the dark landscape, casting strange shadows. The lead drivers had a glass lantern on each side of them, the flames flickering brightly; several cabins still had lanterns burning – golden light leaking out into the night. The menagerie members were still high on the enthusiasm of Andoran patrons, as were their coffers. It was difficult to turn in early when the rush of adrenaline was pumping through one's veins.
Tensleigh's cabin was one such that was dark, though she was not asleep. Despite the lull of the wagon swaying gently back and forth, she found herself staring at the ceiling – dozens of thoughts running through her head. The roar of the crowd, the dazzling costumes, the soft fur of her lions, it never got old. She lived for performing and it seemed to suit her well. Moreover, the thought of staying in one place her entire life was a nightmare. She was still in her prime and had already seen most of the world. Only the most elusive places were left to discover – the Sea Folk Isles, the Aiel Waste, and Shara. I wonder how they treat performers there. If the royalty of Shara has a court set up anything like that of Andor or Cairhein.
Several moments later, Tensleigh rolled over and sighed into her pillow. She felt as awake as she had in the ring. Pushing herself up off the bed, she drew on a robe and quietly opened her door, quiet night rolling into her cabin as she glanced around. Victor would be positively apoplectic if he saw her jumping wagons in the middle of the night. He'd already spoken to her about doing it in the daytime. As if it was a difficult feat to manage. She'd been maneuvering in harder situations practically since she was an infant. Balancing lightly on the balls of her feet, she walked quickly across the metal links connecting her cabin to the following wagon and swept up over the side. It was more pleasant up here, the rush of air in her ears as the caravan moved along.
Hips swaying with the movement, Tensleigh moved easily along the wagon tops. Golden curls snapped around her until she untied a ribbon from her wrist and drew them back to the nape of her neck. Not that that would hold her hair for long – it seemed to have a mind of its own most of the time. Viktor often commented on the volume and color of her hair, remarking on how similar it was to the manes of the lions she worked with. Apparently he thought it was a compliment, always smiling at her afterwards with brilliant white teeth. Sadly, despite outwardly groaning, she often thought of it as one. Shaking her head as if to clear it of its thoughts, Tensleigh forced herself to stop thinking about the menagerie owner, and her best friend. The topic of Viktor was always confusing for her and this trip was all about serenity.
Holding the neck of her robe closed with one hand, she deftly moved to the fifth wagon from hers. In the night, the brilliant yellow of the wagon looked like more a light gray. During the day, it was a bright enough to rival a Tinker's wagon. She'd told Viktor as much, back when they were smaller children. When his father had been running the show and their friendship hadn't been awkward. A part of her had figured he would paint over the gaudy colors upon taking over, yet here they still were. Half growling at herself, Tensleigh cleared her mind once more. Laying down on her stomach, she tipped her head over the side and looked in the high windows. A sound just barely discernible over the wind, she could hear the soft growls and heavy breaths that conferred the three lions were asleep. At least someone around here is getting sleep. As they rightly should. In Andor, more than in any other country, the big cats were in high demand. They had even given the Queen herself a private audience, her eyes sparkling at the sight of the large felines. Tensleigh had felt a kindred with her then, flushing with pride over the skill of her animals. Afterward, the Queen had personally thanked her before retreating to another area of her Palace.
Flipped back up on top of the wagon, Tensleigh rolled onto her back and then into a sitting position. Dangling her feet over the sides, she giggled quietly as the wind caressed her bare skin. Despite her love of performance, betimes the extreme quiet was necessary too. Chewing the side of her lip, the lion tamer found herself thinking of Bo for the first time in ages. How the old man could be found in quiet contemplation as often as he was found in the lion cages or in the ring. She wondered how he fared, or if he was even alive. It was not easy to find information on performers in different menageries, the relationships between them being tenuous at best.
Placing her arms behind her, Tensleigh leaned back on them and tilted her head up to the dark sky and twinkling stars. After a moment of staring, she found herself looking for shapes in the amorphous set of stars, a game her father used to play with her when it was late and she couldn't sleep. She found a cup, a soldier, and a fish easily. Lions were harder to find. She'd just begun to connect stars when she heard a noise toward the front of the wagon. Snapping her head to the right, her blue eyes widened in surprise.
Edited by keyholder21, 06 September 2011 - 03:45 PM.


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[^a] means any character other than
a, we know, but what does
[^] (with no following characters) mean? Just as
- loses its meaning of character range in cases such as
[-], I assumed that
[^] would match the caret. I spent way too long debugging this problem, only to find out that at least in Chrome 19 it appears to match anything--in other words, be equivalent to
.. Is there a spec applicable here or what is the expected behavior?
Yes, I'm aware that I can and probably should use
[\^]. This question is more in the nature of morbid curiosity.


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Benchmark strive to make their products exactly that: something against which the competition should be judged. So how does their new preamp measure up?
The American manufacturers Benchmark have been making and selling high-end audio products since the mid 1980s, and their DAC1 converter (SOS July 2005) has rightly become something of a standard bearer for reference‑grade D‑A converters — indeed, I use one within my own reference system. The similarly superb and partnering ADC1, sharing the same half rack-width form factor as the DAC1, was reviewed in SOS July 2006, and even back then there was talk of a matching mic preamp to extend the family. At last, the MPA1 has arrived, in a half rack-width case to match the ADC1 and marketed as a very clean and neutral high‑end, high‑quality two‑channel microphone preamplifier. This is not the company's first preamp design, though: the MPS400 and its successor, the MPS420, received many plaudits before the current and very clever PRE420 four‑channel preamp/mixer was launched. Benchmark also make a range of preamp modules for customisable rack-frame systems.
The MPA1 is part of the Benchmark 'System 1' range, and has been designed with the same meticulous attention to detail, both in design and construction, as the rest of the range. It is claimed to provide the highest standards of sonic transparency for a dual‑channel mic preamp, with ultra‑low distortion and extremely low noise, making it a great device for compact stereo recording applications — and not least because it incorporates an HPA2 headphone amplifier to provide the highest quality local signal monitoring. This headphone driver is also built into the DAC1 converter, and is very highly regarded as a reference-quality source.
As is usually the case, I'll start my description with the rear panel, which simply carries two pairs of XLRs for the dual inputs and outputs, plus a fused IEC mains power inlet that can be configured for nominal 110 or 220V operation. However, the internal power supply is very accommodating, with the 110 setting accepting supplies ranging from 105‑140VAC, and the 220 setting from 200 to 285VAC.
The front panel is a little busier, but clearly laid out and logically marked, with white legends on a black background. The two preamp channels are identically equipped, with recessed toggle switches to select phantom power, high‑pass filter (12dB/octave from 40Hz) and polarity inversion. The phantom switch is more recessed than the other two, to make accidental operation extremely unlikely. An endless rotary switch, marked from 0 to 24dB in 2dB steps, adjusts the gain, with three revolutions required to reach the maximum of 74dB. The current gain setting is indicated by four adjacent LEDs, which illuminate to show when the minimum (0dB) or maximum (74dB) positions are reached, along with range steps of 24 and 48dB. The current gain level is revealed by adding the switch value to the number indicated by the LEDs, so if the switch is set to 16 and the 24dB LED is on, the total gain is 40dB. It's an unusual arrangement, but one that works very well in practice.
To the right of the second preamp section is a simple, four‑LED, dual‑bargraph, peak‑reading meter. The bottom green LED lights when the signal level exceeds ‑20dBu and the second green LED when the signal rises above +4dBu. The yellow LED doesn't illuminate until +24dBu is reached, and the top red LED is at +28dBu, one decibel below clipping. It's very easy to set appropriate output levels with this arrangement, adjusting the channel gains to get both green lights on happily, with the yellow light warning of potentially scary transient peaks.
The right-hand side of the front panel is given over to the HPA2 headphone output facility, with a simple volume control and quarter‑inch socket. This is a high‑current, high‑output amplifier, which can drive any type of headphone down to 30Ω very easily, with plenty of level for higher impedance types.
The input stage is transformerless, and uses precision‑matched transistor quad‑arrays to achieve very low noise and wide bandwidth (‑3dB at 500kHz). The input impedance is high at 8.1Ω (most standard preamps present around 2.4kΩ), but this is similar to the 'high' settings found on many adjustable‑impedance preamps, and some classic designs. It reduces the loading on dynamic mics and is generally associated with a more open and spacious sound.
A high supply voltage enables a very impressive +29dBu clipping point, while servo control minimises DC offset and maximises headroom. Dual‑capacitor AC coupling is used to maximise signal quality and transparency, while providing an unusually wide bandwidth (it's completely flat to below 10Hz), with extremely linear subsonic phase accuracy. Common-mode rejection is calibrated at three different frequencies, and two‑stage RF filtering guards against external interference. The unusual gain‑control arrangement is based on a 38‑step, relay‑switched resistor ladder, providing 2dB steps from 0‑74dB of gain, with inter‑channel gain‑matching of an excellent ±0.03dB, and no switching clicks on the audio. The input stage is fully protected from phantom power surges, caused by hot‑plugging and cable faults, with high‑speed Schotky and high‑current TVS diodes.
Internal construction is to very high standards, with a shielded torroidal transformer at the centre rear. The rest of the floor area is occupied by a single PCB, mainly carrying surface-mount components. An internal 'handbag' link can be removed to disable phantom power (from both channels), which is useful if you intend to use the MPA1 with ribbon mics, or just don't require phantom for some reason.
Everything feels very solid and professional, with high‑quality control knobs and switches. The gain‑setting arrangement takes a little getting used to, but other than that, operation is very simple and straightforward. Given its cost and the claims made for it, I compared the MPA1 against my own GML 8304 mic preamps and another preamp on review, the AEA RP48Q (see SOS November 2009). These seemed the most relevant competitors, as both are transformerless solid‑state designs and aim to provide the finest of neutral, clean and transparent sounds, albeit using slightly different technology (the GML is all discrete, with no capacitors in the signal path, while the AEA is FET‑based).
The initial impression on first hearing this preamp is of masses of clean, precise detail. The sound character is very natural, with a perfect balance throughout the frequency range, from the deepest lows to the airiest of highs. Nothing seemed prominent, exaggerated or exposed; just very natural, but with that slightly larger‑than‑life character that so often marks the true high‑end designs from the ordinary. My first tests used Sennheiser MKH40s as a stereo pair in front of a singing acoustic guitar player, feeding straight into an HHB CDR recorder, and I was rewarded with a lovely and very natural rendition of the performance, complete with a very stable and detailed enveloping acoustic. In comparison with the same mics into the GML, the latter seemed to sound a tad larger and more 3D, somehow, but it was a very subtle difference. Detail and clarity were very, very similar on both.
Being able to adjust the gain in precise 2dB steps, with perfect channel matching, made stereo working direct into the CD recorder a doddle, and allowed the headroom margin to be reasonably minimised without too many will‑it/won't‑it clip worries. This was aided by the superbly clear and detailed headphone output, which justifies a significant proportion of the cost of this unit all on its own!
With plenty of gain on hand (and with phantom turned off and allowed to expire before replugging), I also quickly hooked up a pair of AEA R92 ribbon mics. The results weren't as good, although that was entirely down to their positioning and the acoustic: the preamp performed flawlessly, providing more than enough gain and allowing the ribbons to deliver the full and balanced sound they're capable of, thanks to the relatively high input impedance. There was, in fact, very little to tell the difference when comparing the MPA1 with the RP48Q.
For some vocal tests, I set up a Gefell M930 on one channel and an AKG C414B ULS on the other, and was immediately very pleased with the results from both. The AKG can often sound a little thin and clinical on some vocals, but here it sounded very natural and well balanced, with a bright, open, detailed top end, and a realistic weight to the lower ranges. The Gefell provided a warmer but still very usable sound, equally blessed with an airy but not sibilant top end. In both cases I felt that I was hearing exactly what the microphone was delivering: all the detail and clarity was precisely laid out, without any hint of congestion or coloration. The preamp was simply making the signal louder without adding any character of its own — and that's precisely what I (generally) want from my preamps.
The high‑pass filter has an unusually low turnover at 40Hz, and I'd have liked a higher option too (perhaps 80 or 100Hz), but it was effective at helping to reduce unwanted stand‑vibration noise and air‑con rumbles. The provision of a polarity inversion is also useful to have, if not essential in the kind of applications where this mic preamp is likely to be used. The half‑rack design makes it practical to fit four channels in 1U of rack space, or to partner the MPA1 with the ADC1 in a single rack space, or for racking to make a very high‑quality front‑end for a digital system.
As with all Benchmark products, the manual is well written and includes an exhaustive set of test measurements and plots that reveal the product's genuine performance specifications. Would that more manufacturers adopted such a transparent and engineering‑based approach to back up their claims!
I had high expectations of the MPA1, based on my experience of the DAC1, and I wasn't disappointed. There aren't many preamps that can challenge the GMLs for clean, neutral and transparent operation. The AEA designs are quite close, but this Benchmark is closer, and also better looking, better equipped, more practical to use and less expensive. I had been toying with the idea of adding more GMLs, but in all honesty I think I've just found a more versatile solution that gives nothing away.
Ultra‑clean and transparent preamps aren't everyone's cup of tea, but GML probably sets the gold standard at this quality level, with the specialist ribbon preamps from AEA following closely behind.
500-series Microphone Preamplifier & Equaliser
Neve's venerable 1073 preamp and equaliser are both now available in API's popular 'Lunchbox' format. Were they worth waiting for?
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifters
In-line Microphone Preamplifiers
Do these in-line mic preamplifiers mean you can use a passive ribbon mic with any preamp?
Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier
Test plots to accompany the article.
Audio Examples
Audio files to accompany the article.
Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier
With two channels and four 'flavours' on offer, Slate's mic preamp promises plenty of flexibility. Does it also deliver on quality?
Four-channel Microphone Preamplifier
Neve believe that there's scope to bring classic designs up to date — and that's exactly what they've done here, taking their revered 1081 mic preamplifier as the starting point.
Acoustic Instrument Preamp
James Dunkley is on the case of the Radial Tonebone PZ Preamp.
Preamplifier & D‑A Converter
Can a preamp and D‑A converter successfully straddle the pro-audio and hi‑fi markets? Drawmer believe it can...
Microphone Preamplifier
This hybrid mic preamp can go from solid‑state clean to valve warmth — and for a surprisingly low price, too. Is there a catch?
Microphone Preamp
This novel preamp design features a variable impedance and slew rate — which opens up a whole new world of possibilities from your mic locker...
Valve Microphone Preamp
Can Sicilian manufacturers MC AudioLab bring a touch of Mediterranean magic to your recordings with their new boutique preamp?
Mic & Preamp Switcher
The patchbay remains the cornerstone of most commercial studios, but using one to patch mics into different preamps can be risky — which is where the MicMAID comes in...
Valve Preamplifier
Is a high-quality valve preamp in a programmable pedal just what the SpinDoctor ordered?
Dual Solid-state Preamp
There are now several Neve 1073-inspired preamps available — but theyre not always 100 percent faithful to the original design. How close does this new contender from BAE come?
Focusrite Octopre MkII & MkII Dynamic
Eight-channel Microphone Preamps
With upgraded mic amps and A-D conversion in their MkII versions, do Focusrites latest eight-channel preamps still lead the way at this price point?
Microphone Preamplifier & Compressor
Empirical Labs, purveyors of some of the most versatile compressors around, apply their dynamics expertise to a mic preamp.
Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier
Benchmark strive to make their products exactly that: something against which the competition should be judged. So how does their new preamp measure up?
Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier
AEA have tweaked the design of their TRP ribbon-mic preamp, already something of a favourite, to create a device thats much more versatile — and without compromising on quality.
Two-channel Microphone Preamplifier
Striking a useful balance between the transparent and the characterful, this high-quality, US-made preamp design brings versatility to the studio and some colour to the rack...
Eight-channel Mic Pre & A-D Converter
Presonus combine their respected analogue and digital technology in this affordable ADAT-equipped preamp.
Modular Preamp & Processor System
Sound Performance Lab have developed an enviable reputation for their hardware products, and now you can buy more for less with their modular rack system.
Dual Microphone Preamplifier
With two channels of mic preamp, a phase-alignment control, digital outputs and clean signal path, the Mico offers you an awful lot of Audient for the money.
Universal Audio Twin-finity 710
Hybrid Microphone Preamplifier
Which is best, tube or solid state? When it comes to investing in a preamp, thats a question you may no longer need to ask...
Microphone Preamplifier
This highly affordable device is based on the circuitry used in Neves legendary 1073. So can you really get a classic vintage preamp sound on a budget?
Microphone Preamplifier & EQ
This new brand by revered high-end equipment manufacturers API is much more affordable than their established lines. So there must be a catch, right?
Microphone Preamplifier
Regular readers will know that our Technical Editor isn't prone to excessive use of hyperbole — so when he calls a product "awesome", "stunning" and "sublime", it's probably time to sit up and take notice...
Valve Microphone Preamp & EQ
Is this latest addition to the Thermionic Culture flock something for the company to crow about?
Mic Preamp
The ISA preamp range has graced professional recording facilities the world over — but this classy single-channel model is within reach of the home and project studio.
DIY Mic Preamp System
The DIY approach to audio equipment needn't mean bargain basement, and if you apply this principle to high-end vintage gear it might just save you a small fortune — without compromising on quality.
Valve Mic Preamp
Australian company Sebatron aim to start building their brand in the UK with this 'character' preamp.


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Hey everyone!
So I just purchased my first road bike to use for my commuter, weekend rides, races, etc. I cannot afford to buy another bike that is only for commuting, so I was wondering what the best lock is on the market. I'm riding to college so which lock would you guys recommend?


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Teresa Giudice
Teresa Giudice Thinks Going to Jail Will Make Her "More Famous"? — Report
We're all about looking for a silver lining to a tough situation. Still, we're not sure what to make of a report that Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice thinks, if she were to serve jail time, she would become even more famous as a result. Uh, OK.
Teresa and husband Joe currently face a tough legal situation, having both pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges last week. The two are currently awaiting sentencing, with Joe likely to get jail time, while Teresa could just end up with probation.
However, In Touch shockingly reports that Teresa thinks going to jail could have its benefits. "Teresa thinks that if she goes to jail, it'll only make her more famous," according to a source. "She thinks she'll be redeemed — and then become even more popular and be able to make a fortune."
Say what?! We find this rumor very hard to believe, given that Teresa is a mother of four, and we can't imagine her wanting to be away from her daughters for any amount of time. Plus, does jail really make celebs more famous? Martha Stewart had a TV show before her stint in prison, and now, no TV show. Unless you're, say, 50 Cent, we don't think jail is really the best career move.
What's your take on this rumor about Teresa?
Source: In Touch


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One of my least favorite sentences starts out: "Oh, you're just one of those native plant purists who …" and ends with phrases like: "… wants to ship all non-natives back to where they came from.… is trying to recreate some sort of mythical pristine Eden.… believes that anyone who wants some pretty flowers in their yard is evil.… hates/fears all aliens and immigrants." Etc. etc. etc.
Most of us have heard countless variations on this theme. Even though no native plant enthusiast actually holds any of these extreme positions, people who oppose the use of native plants have found a handy label to use when they want to disarm and dismiss those of us who believe in the benefits of native plants.
They call us purists, a powerful, pejorative word that neatly implies we're all a bunch of radical fringe whack-jobs who don't understand real life and aren't real gardeners. We are called green freaks, shrieking dogmatists, arrogant dreamers, self-righteous zealots and pious members of the church of green. (Amazingly, all of these labels – in various combinations – were actually found during a half-hour search of the blogosphere.)
Worse than this though, is my absolute least favorite sentence. This is the one that begins: "I'm no native plant purist, but I just….." and then rushes to a comforting sort of conclusion. However the sentence ends, its meaning is always the same. The speaker is trying to sooth and reassure, to establish credibility as a sensible person, and to distance him- or herself from outrageous beliefs that actually exist only in the minds of native plant detractors.
It's unclear to me how these detractors have so successfully defined the terms of the conversation, putting native plant advocates on the defensive even before we start to talk. Yet there's no escaping the fact that lately this expression has been showing up everywhere. Perhaps you've even uttered it yourself. I know I have. Not too long ago, at a conference where I was speaking, I heard myself saying those minimizing words: "Now, believe me, I'm not a native plant purist, but…." as I so smoothly implied to my audience that they can trust me and no, I'm not one of those kooks who think every plant in the landscape should be a native plant. I've regretted that moment ever since.
Here's why: I actually do believe that, in an ideal world, every plant in our domesticated landscapes would be a native plant. (And, just to clarify, by native plant I mean a species that exists because it has co-evolved with other organisms as a contributing member in a regional ecosystem.) My dream landscape is one that contains some amount of food plants for us humans, vast amounts of native plants thriving in robust ecosystems all around the house – or even on it – and no others. So. There. I've said it. That's my ideal, and I'm sticking to it.
Are you now asking, "But how could this ever work? What about my daffodils? My lilacs, my dahlias, my irises and sedums?" Well, achieving this ideal would certainly involve a shift in our definitions and expectations. For starters, we might stop thinking that plants belong to us, that their purpose in life is to entertain and charm us. Instead, we could garden in full recognition of the profound truth that plants have a much more important purpose: as the base of infinitely complex food webs that we can never fully understand, they support life on the planet.
Further, plants grow in ecosystems with other plants and organisms, in intricate relationships of support and competition, most of which we don't comprehend even when they're right in front of us. How can we know which plants are doing what for whom, and why, and what will happen if they're not there? Non-native plants are rarely, if ever, true ecological equivalent of native plants. The same holds true for hybrids, cultivars and "nativars" (a new term surely coined by a marketing department).
In practice, living this ideal would involve taking ourselves out of the center of the picture. Not out of the picture entirely, no, just out of the center. Difficult, but do-able. We can still have gardens full of beauty and sensual pleasure. However, in place of an attitude that says, "I'll try to use some natives, if possible…", we could approach every garden decision with the question, "Is there some very compelling reason not to use a native plant here?"
In every part of every garden and landscape, we could seek to plant a native first, and choose a non-native only when there's no native that could possibly work in its place. We could aim to make natives always the best choice, and non-natives a very distant second option.
I admit that this is a dream, a paradigm, a starting point, a place to begin my negotiation with reality. As a landscape designer, do I achieve this ideal in every project? Ha. Have I achieved it in any project? Sadly, I have to admit, no, not even at my own home. Will I ever achieve it fully? Unlikely, given the depth of our attachment to conventions of garden beauty, and the disturbing existence of so many fiercely invasive plants (the majority of which, by the way, started out as "harmless" ornamentals).
Of course the ideal must be adjusted in response to client demands, spousal objections, neighborhood fears, cherished traditions, human nature, local politics, and the limits of the natural world. Of course our real-life actions will have to include compromise. But should my starting position be concession? I think not.
So, in full recognition of the reproach that may now rain down upon me, and despite the efforts of native plant opposers to define this as a slur, I'm proud to say that in my deepest beliefs and hopes, I am a native plant purist. No apologies, no shame and no buts about it.
© 2011, Sue Reed. All rights reserved. This article is the property of Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. We have received many requests to reprint our work. Our policy is that you are free to use a short excerpt which must give proper credit to the author, and must include a link back to the original post on our site. Please use the contact form above if you have any questions.


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Top Definition
Ikenna is a nigerian name in which means "gods strength". If you meet an Ikenna, treat him like royalty, because he is. He is an outgoing person, cool and funny. Loves to have a good time, and always pleases the ladies. Might I add that he knows how to talk to a girl, and knows there weaknesses. If you meet an Ikenna, make friends with him ASAP. Its said that Ikenna's also have big packages aswell.
Damn Ikenna, you are royalty. May you be my friend?
by Kid ya yo April 09, 2009


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Remembering the Oklahoma City bombing
POSTED: 2:48 PM Apr 17 2014 UPDATED: 2:42 PM Apr 18 2014
On the morning of April 19, 1995 Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people during the Oklahoma City bombing. Find out more about that tragedy here.
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Ok, so I figured I'd start up a thread for everyone who ordered a Kilo WT to post their pictures and impressions and whatnot so we don't have a bunch of information floating around everywhere. There was a lot of interest in this bike, being brand new and all, and it will be fun to see what people think. :thumb:
Unfortunately, I don't have the cash for a new bike right now or I'd have ordered myself one of these babies...maybe sometime soon.


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For the Sake of Our Children
Since it's creation by Rabbi David L. Silver over 60 years ago,
The Silver Academy has been dedicated to educating our youth, shaping students' ethical and moral character and instilling Jewish values to prepare them for meaningful adult life.
Whether it is an inspiring or caring teacher, a stirring community outreach project or meaningful Jewish experiences, the Silver Academy is having a profound and lasting impact on our students' minds and hearts.
To provide students with excellent academic, arts and technology programs, the Silver Academy depends each year on the financial support of our friends, families and alumni. Our goal: to enable the Silver Academy to provide the best possible education in academics and Jewish values and to prepare our children for the future.
When you support the Silver Academy, you give a gift that lasts into the future. Your gift will make a difference to every student, and faculty member and the greater Harrisburg community. Your gift will provide the support that we need to continue our tradition of creating Jewish leaders, one soul at a time.
To make your gift, contact us at the number below.
The Silver Academy
Office of Development
3301 North Front Street
Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17110
Alternatively, you can now pay via PAYPAL.


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Airport jettisoned bidder score sheets
Documentation for $1.16 billion in concessions contracts was discarded
Diego Concessions Group wanted to bring a gastropub, pizzeria, cantina and wine bar to Lindbergh Field — proposals that were rejected by the airport in favor of other bidders. The San Diego company promptly requested a tally of the scores it received during the competition for new food and retail outlets.
What it got were pages upon pages of blank score sheets.
Guava and Java, a concessionaire at several U.S. airports, was also surprised to find the scoreless pages when it sought to understand its failed bid to feature a local coffee house and pastry shop at two San Diego International Airport terminals.
So too did several other bidders, some of whom filed formal protests over the outcome of an effort that began three years ago to overhaul all of the airport's 55 eateries, gift shops and beverage stands.
Months after the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority board awarded contracts for more than 80 new concession locations worth $1.16 billion in projected sales, the missing score sheets are raising questions.
More than 40 proposals were graded on eight categories covering details such as store design and name, marketing plans, customer-service philosophy and merchandise mix.
"The biggest reason you retain those records is in case someone who loses isn't happy and questions why. That way you can validate the scoring," said David Pfeiffer, a former executive who oversaw concessions at San Francisco International Airport and is now a consultant. "The other reason is you want a transparent process because you want the community to buy in."
San Diego airport staff says it never intended to hold onto the score sheets, which formed the basis for a six-member panel's final recommendations. The airport board endorsed all of the committee's recommendations at meetings held in August and September, and the 16 contracts awarded will commence by the end of 2012.
"The decision was made prior to the proposals ever being given to the panel members that this would be a ranking, so what was retained were the overall rankings," said Jana Vargas, director of procurement. "The scoring was strictly a guidance tool to be used in (the panel's) evaluation for a final ranking of the proposals."
The score cards used by panel members, obtained under the California Public Records Act, contain 15 pages of complex criteria and detailed explanations of how to score the bidders. For some contracts, the maximum points was 1,070. For others, it was 695.
The only scoring that was retained was an evaluation prepared in advance by an airport consultant that rated the financial health of each of the bidders and their proposed offers. In nine out of the 16 contract awards, the airport did not choose the bidder who offered the highest rent projections, an outcome that some unsuccessful applicants said made it even more important to understand scores on other criteria.
Keeping score sheets
Two of San Diego's own panel members — concessions managers from the Seattle and San Francisco airports — said their staffs hold onto scoring when awarding concessions contracts.
"It's a call every airport has to make, but (retaining scores) does communicate to the bidders that their bids were evaluated in a thorough and thoughtful way, and it's not an arbitrary decision," said Deanna Zachrisson, manager of concessions business at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Consultant Sue Schooley, whose La Quinta firm most recently advised the Phoenix Airport on its bidding program for food and beverage concessions, said she regularly urges airports to retain scoring for each of the categories on which all of the applicants are judged.
"I've never heard an airport say, destroy the scores," Schooley said. "We've always cautioned airports to be very succinct and clear as to their scoring methodology but don't destroy scores. At least the proposers know where they stood in the evaluation process and have information on exactly how deficient they were in meeting the evaluation criteria."