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When I was last visiting my parents I saw my mom had a book on knitting socks two at a time and from the toe up. She lent it to me and I've been having a blast starting these socks!
Grace Unhinged
Grace Unhinged -- A mom's daily ramblings of raising a daughter and three sons. Young adults, twin boys, a farm with goats to chickens, gardening and quilting, work and my sweet husband especially. Taking a day at a time and by the grace of God, we make it thru.
Monday, January 19
Saturday, August 9
Sorry for the silence these past few months, I forgot my password to the blog! And trust me, it was killing me as I wanted to share our Disneyland trip with all of you.
We went to Disneyland during spring break and it was fun, scary, cheap, expensive, sunny, tiring, relaxing, a hot mess, and a an easy peazy time. The details tell all!
We decided to travel from Ferndale, Washington to Disneyland in our RV. We have a fifth wheel that is nearly a year old to us now. We bought it with many of Tommy's needs in mind, as well as all four of our kids and us as parents. We really enjoy our Forest River Vengeance 397 it sleeps 10 so next time you will just have to join us!
Our RV saved us the cost of hotel rooms and eating out during the trip to California. We stayed at campgrounds and cooked all of our meals. Every time we stopped for diesel, I got the boys out of the truck and did Tommy's diaper change, grabbed a snack or a new book and toy and ran around a bit to stretch our legs.
When we got to Sutherlin Oregon, we really enjoyed a "hidden rv turnaround" at the end of Ponderosa drive at exit 136. We slid the slideouts out and let them run around in the rv and use the potty and just in general relax before getting back in the truck. This part of Oregon was beautiful. Lots of green grass, rolling hills and sheep. It reminded me of Ireland. We stayed the night at Medford KOA in Oregon and it was easy to get in/out. 601 miles under our wheels the first day! We won't talk about how much the gas was, some durations we only got 7-9 mpg.
We left Medford at 8am and crossed the California border by 9:15. We filled up diesel in Yreka at exit 773 and it was super easy in/out. As we continued through California we noticed lots and lots of rice fields. I had no idea California farmers grew rice!
Day 3 we stayed in Santa Nella at the KOA. I will gladly share with you that the camp manager has the hospitality of a roach. A cockroach. Our truck had begun a slow spiral into what we now know was a major break down. But it was only a 'set back' in Santa Nella and Colin left the boys and I for the day so he could drive into Modesto and get truck parts. The boys and I enjoyed adventuring around the KOA and I made lunch and started doing some chores. I was outside of the RV getting something picked up off our picinic table and turned around to notice the RV door wide open. And only Liam inside. Panicking I started yelling for Tommy and racing around up and down the RV aisles. Tommy of course isn't going to 'yell back' but by calling his name I've found it stops him or sometimes he runs toward his name, especially if he feels 'lost'. And sure enough, about four aisles from our rv I find my toe headed tornado looking L.O.S.T.
Colin fixed the truck and in the process of all the 'melting down' at this KOA including Tommy's disappearance..... Colin mistakenly hooked the RV up to 'irrigation water'. Not the fresh clean potable water. Five bottles of pepto bismol later, we were back on the road as a family.
We pulled into the Anaheim RV resort, which I HIGHLY recommend very late at night. We picked this RV resort because it looked clean and nice and close to the Disneyland resort. And they had a pool! To save money each day we took the Anaheim shuttle rather than pay for Disneyland parking. The all day passes are $5/adult and $2/kids. We could leave the park and come back to the RV park and eat lunch or take a nap and return to the park. Disneyland parking is about $22/day and you can't leave.
Nate, Liam and Tommy ready for Disneyland! We bought Tommy a 'special tomato' jogger and SO enjoyed it on this trip. It's easy to move through crowds of people. He felt very secure in it with his blanky and would often search his stroller out and crawl into it and buckle up!
To save money we packed bottle waters and chips and fruit to snack on. I also saved money by getting the little boys Disneyland character items and an autograph book at the Dollar store ahead of time! I didn't tell them about these treats until we were in the park.
At the park we enjoyed SO many rides. I believe all but one in California Adventure. And every open ride in Disneyland we enjoyed. We got to the park when it opened and left when it closed at midnight!
A couple helpful things when traveling with a child that has a disability. I tried to go it 'on our own' for awhile and not get the disability pass.... but quickly I realized Tommy's sensory needs were not going to 'wait in line' with half of America. I had prepared for the disability pass by getting a dr's note... but alas, Disneyland just asks you the parent/caregiver what you need. I told them he needed to walk around while "waiting his turn" and I mentioned he may need some special type of help during a ride. So they gave me a sticker for the jogger to mark as an item for a disabled person... this enabled the jogger to be pushed into lines where strollers were discouraged. And often we got his disability pass marked with a "come back at this time" and could go walk him around while he waited to ride.
Tommy chose to ride Pirates of the Carribean like 12 times
Liam loved Space Mtn, Matterhorn and all kinds of rides
Liam with his Mickey ears
Tommy drove the autotopia car like a BOSS!
Tommy and his many sensory needs.....
We had LOTS of fun!
Friday, June 27
The kindergarten inclusion party
I'm not sure I could have said this any better than what was written in this post:
I'll be posting more soon on this subject and lots of pictures from our Disneyland spring break trip!
I'll be posting more soon on this subject and lots of pictures from our Disneyland spring break trip!
Saturday, May 24
Saturday, March 29
Greetings from California
Drove 601 miles on a great roadtrip and loving California Shasta Valley. Next stop Santa Nella tonight and Anaheim tomorrow. Yes there was a 5.3 earthquake at Disneyland yesterday. Nate was sitting in the hot tub at a hotel and felt the world shaking! We get to see him tomorrow and will enjoy Disney Monday and Tuesday.
Friday, March 28
California or bust
Headed to California to find a mouse! Six campgrounds in places we have never camped before and a goal to be frugal on the journey and enjoy the fun this trip brings.
Sunday, December 22
Grandparent tour
We spent a wonderful weekend visiting our parents and family. Colin will be on standby call for the next few weeks, so this was our weekend to go visit our parents and celebrate the twins birthday and Christmas with them.
Lots of good conversations, meals made by our sweet moms, my dad reading aloud from a terrific book, and plenty of time to relax and etch the memories in my mind.
Colin and I spent the hours traveling talking about some great parts of the bible and just life in it's ordinary day to day plodding. I love my hubby and how he cares for all six of us. Dreams of a soon to happen house addition and a spring vacation made me happy.
This is such an amazing time of year and joy is in all the nooks and crannies of the day, in our hot morning coffee and watching the snow fall.
Rereading Luke 2 daily and thankful for family and friends to spend time with. Merry Christmas.
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About the Amethi
Amethi is the name of a district in Faizabad division of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Gauriganj town is the headquarters of the Amethi district. Amethi was the 72nd district of Uttar Pradesh which came into existence on 1 July 2010 by merging three tehsils of the erstwhile Sultanpur district, namely, Amethi, Gauriganj and Musafirkhana and two tehsils of the erstwhile Raebareli district, namely, Salon and Tiloi and was named as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar. However, its name was changed back to Amethi when the ruling party changed. Now it has four tehsils Amethi,Gauriganj,Musafirkhana and Tiloi. Amethi is a major town of district and also a municipal board. It is also called as Raipur-Amethi.
Location & Geographical Area
District Amethi lies at the latitude 26°9' north and longitude 81°49' east at an average elevation of 101 metres(331 feet) from mean sea level. The total geographic area of the districts is about 3063 kms. The surface is generally level, being broken only by ravines in the neighborhood of the rivers. The principal river is Gomti, which passes through the centre of the district. North side of this district is bounded by Faizabad district,South side is bounded by Pratapgarh district. West side is bounded by Barabanki district and Raibaeilly district.
The land of Amethi district is generally plane except some regions around the river Gomti which drains almost the whole district. It may be called an agrarian area as agriculture is the main occupation of the people. Amethi district has a wet and dry climate with average temperatures ranging between 23 °C to 28 °C. Amethi experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and a mild autumn.

subset: commoncrawl


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There are so many excuses for not cooking: you're too tired, too busy, don't know how, or need to make a grocery run. It's time to drop the excuses and start feeling motivated to cook at home. Let these quotes from famous chefs be just the boost you need.
Image Source: Shutterstock


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Premium-view one-bedroom corner suite in one of lower Manhattan's most popular and strikingly-designed residential towers, completed in 2010.
732 square feet, fully-furnished, high-floor corner unit with a king-size bedroom, separate living space ideal for relaxing, working or entertaining, and a master bath. Floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning southern and western exposures. Elegant, contemporary décor by the award-winning Rockwell Group features custom furnishings by Fendi Casa in a sophisticated palette of bronze and ivory with accent pieces in hand-finished suede and leather. Interior finishes include custom cabinetry with Macassar ebony doors and handmade area rugs. An owner's locked closet allows for the private storage of personal items while the suite is rented to transient guests of the hotel. The wet bar with bronze fixtures houses a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker by Nespresso. The bed is a luxurious king with leather headboard, custom designed Egyptian cotton bed linens by Bellino, the Trump by Stearns & Foster Plush Pillowtop Sleep System and a brushed cashmere throw. A technologically-sophisticated entertainment system includes a 42-inch LCD flat-screen high definition television with DVD/CD, along with an iPod docking station, three dual-line telephones and high speed wireless internet access. State-of-the-art one-touch "Control 4" technology allows the blinds, temperature and lighting to be adjusted with ease. The oversized marble bathroom features a deep soaking tub, glass enclosed walk-in shower with rain showerhead and custom double vanity with television.
Purchasers can occupy this suite for up to 120 nights each calendar year, with the convenience of full management services provided year-round. Rental programs provide the opportunity to offset ownership costs. Owners will enjoy world-class amenities, including fine dining and 24-hour room service, the acclaimed 11,000-square-foot bi-level spa with wet and dry treatment suites, New York's first luxury Turkish hammams, the seasonal indoor-outdoor bar with 6,000-square-foot pool deck, private cocktail lounge, 12,000 square feet of meetings and special events space, 24-hour concierge, and sigature personalized concierge and valet services.
This unit enjoys a unique location with fantastic views of all of lower Manhattan, and is steps away from SoHo's best boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and nightlife.


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"On a refurbished item such as this, what is the warranty?"
I have had an old work horse Capresso grind and brew for the past 16 years. Finally it died. Having had such good luck (and great coffee) from my old unit, I decided to stick with Capresso. So far I am very happy I did. If it proves to be even half as durable as the last one, I will be a happy customer....
Capresso 465 CoffeeTeam TS 10-cup Digital Coffeemaker with Conical Burr Grinder and Thermal Carafe (Refurbished)by Capresso
ITEM#: 15396521With a built-in conical burr grinder and thermal carafe, the Capresso CoffeeTEAM TS 10-cup Digital Coffee Maker is the most compact and convenient coffee maker/conical burr grinder combination on the market. The machine features stainless steel accents.
- Innovative direct-feed technology allows the coffee filter holder to stay inside the machine during the grinding, maximizing aroma and reducing mechanical movements
- Compact footprint is a function of direct-feed technology and smart design
- Carafe and GoldTone filter are placed under the control panel
- Bean container tucked into top back corner
- Program the amount of coffee you want to grind (4, 6, 8 or 10 cups)
- Select from mild, regular or strong
- 10-cup coffeemaker
- Conical burr grinder
- Brew mode with or without grinder
- 2-hour auto shut-off for safety
- Charcoal water filter included
- Brand: Capresso
- Included items: 10-cup stainless steel carafe, gold tone filter
- Type: Coffeemaker with grinder
- Finish: Stainless steel and black
- Style: Modern
- Settings: 5 grind settings from coarse to fine, 5 brew amounts, 3 strength settings
- 6-ounce bean container
- Display: Fully programmable digital control panel with clock, timer and brew-pause function
- Wattage: 900W/120V/60Hz
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Model: 465 CoffeeTeam TS
- Dimensions: 15.5 inches high x 9.5 inches wide x 9.8 inches deep
|Coffee Grinder, Drip
|Cups Per Brew
|6-10 Cups
|Product Features
|Adjustable Brew Strength, Auto Shut Off, Clock Display, Ready Indicator Light
|800-1000 Watts
|See Details
|Model Number
|465 CoffeeTeam TS
|Country of Origin
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Product Reviews
Most Recent
I really wanted to love this machine
When I first purchased this Capresso TEAM TS coffee maker it had everything I wanted and at first made FANTASTIC coffee. But Capresso replaced the unit three times before I just gave up. Yes, that's four total units. The grinder would jam. The coffee temperature, which was supposed to be 200F, kept dropping to about 145-150, and I even heated the carafe. At least the Warranty worked. I ended up going back to the basics with a standalone grinder and a BUNN.Read More
Happy with new Capresso 465
I have had an old work horse Capresso grind and brew for the past 16 years. Finally it died. Having had such good luck (and great coffee) from my old unit, I decided to stick with Capresso. So far I am very happy I did. If it proves to be even half as durable as the last one, I will be a happy customer.Read More
Questions & Answers
Hello cocomero, This does not come with a warranty. You can purchase a warranty in the top right corner. Have a great day!
You do have 30 days to return this item if anything were to happen to it.
"Does the carafe vacuum seal? At what temperature does the coffee brew? How long will the carafe keep the coffee that hot?"
Hello jsergel, The carafe is steel and it DOES vacuum seal The coffee brews at 180 degrees With a full pot it will keep coffee hot for three hours. Thank you for shopping with us!
Shopping Tips & Inspiration
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Coffee Bar Ideas
Learn everything you need to know about setting up a coffee station in your home. Shop our huge selection of kitchen furniture and small appliances at Overstock.com.
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Urban Farmhouse Kitchen
Evoke a sense of warmth and comfort combined with decorative elements in this jesGORDON farmhouse kitchen.
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"One of the myths about the impact of automation on human performance is that as the investment in automation increases, the investment needed in human expertise decreases. In fact, increased automation creates new knowledge and skill requirements."
–Dr. David Woods
Professor, Ohio State University;
technical advisor for FAA human-factors report
In the preautomation days of the early 1980s, pilots were the central information processing units for all flights, keeping the required vision of their planned route in an ever-moving 3-D display inside their heads. The intended purpose of the transition from round cockpit instruments and E6Bs to electronic flight displays was to reduce pilot workload, hence making aircraft management more efficient. Increased operational safety through improved situational awareness was to be a welcome byproduct.
But solving one problem often creates another. Pilots of highly automated aircraft frequently found themselves struggling with data-entry issues that sometimes required more time than the flight itself.
And as these technologies continued to evolve into sophisticated flight management systems, even more gear was added, such as TCAS and EGPWS. Pilots complained of being overwhelmed with too much information and little logical flow. Increasing amounts of head-down time during some of the busiest phases of flight brought cries of decreased, not increased, flight safety. The early 1980s and 1990s also offered few effective training aids for pilots to learn their way around automated cockpits, translating into a high learning curve and war stories of old gray-hairs unable effectively to make the transition to computerized flying.
"Increasing use of automation in the cockpit has resulted in much publicity about the changing role of the pilot, underscoring the fact that he is becoming more of a manager, or supervisor, than an active controller of the aircraft," said a Flight Safety Foundation report. "However, their basic goal remains the same–to fly an aircraft safely from Point A to Point B. It is only the way in which the pilot carries out that role that has changed."
Cockpit automation also developed its own idiomatic in-flight phrases such as, "Where's the airplane going now?" or "How can we get it to do that again?" These phrases reflect a lack of pilot understanding about the capabilities of the systems they were operating, an issue at the core of automation-related pilot errors. But what these complex computerized cockpits demanded operationally, they more than compensated for with their versatility. Flying direct to an intersection often shaved minutes and sometime hours from the total flight times necessary for long flights, once the crews understood how to program the technology effectively.
Robert Sumwalt, chairman of ALPA's human factors and training group, recalls early jet training, often labeled as a culprit in automation errors. "Traditionally we went to ground school and spent weeks learning systems, with little time spent on cockpit-instrumentation training. Autopilots were simple, but even in the new automated airplanes we kept teaching too many systems. We believed crews could pick up the automation operations out on the line.
"But there were so many variations of how to work these boxes that many pilots might understand only a few of them before their first takeoff. I don't think the manufacturers were aware of all the concerns about these systems that one day might surface. I think we are now doing a better job of integrating the pilot-machine interface. Awareness of the problem is a good place to start, because the more you fly [a highly automated airplane], the more you learn what you don't know."
A Falcon 900 pilot in Denver said, "More time still needs to be spent on automation and avionics training. Heads are still bobbing up and down way too much to confirm information rather than looking out the windows. There is still an awful lot of on-the-job training."
A Hawker pilot recalled his type rating at FSI Wilmington in 2000: "My company flew a Collins-equipped aircraft, but the simulator was Honeywell equipped. The simulator box FSI gave me to play with was an even earlier version of the software than was in the sim. It was pretty useless. Luckily, my sim partner was an experienced Honeywell guy."
At a few thousand dollars an hour for simulator time, the cost to bring some pilots up to speed is still considered by some companies to be a luxury. In fact, safety analyst Robert Breiling said, "There really are no business aviation accidents that can be attributed directly to automation training or execution errors."
The Technology Factor
In the business aviation sector, pilots transitioning to highly automated cockpits are normally highly experienced aviators, which helps ease the pain of using complicated technology. On the regional airline level, where pilots often enter sophisticated cockpits with minimal flight experience, the wash-out rate has been tremendous until recently. While no one can point to a regional airline accident attributable directly to cockpit automation issues, that doesn't necessarily mean there have not been some close calls with pilots misunderstanding the technology in the cockpits, only that they are most likely being caught in time to prevent a tragedy and simply not reported.
When pilots and their flight management system are in sync, all is right with the world. But when one problem cascades upon another, such as a last-minute approach change at Teterboro with deteriorating weather, most pilots, let alone those new to highly automated aircraft, can begin to lose situational awareness. Richard Jones, a Citation 650 contract pilot, emphasized, "The hardest part of learning an automated cockpit is learning how to change things on the fly when you need them in a hurry. Schools never teach you that. It's usually a baptism by fire. On-the-job training is not the best way, but what else do you have in some companies where training dollars are scarce?"
As one Dallas-based Gulfstream captain said, "I've been to factory schools and taken the dynamic computer-based training, and it helps. But the bottom line is that you need to use the boxes in a dynamic flight environment to become any good with them. The time to figure out how to use them is now, not after you've been cleared for the approach." Automation confusion can easily translate into a proficiency nightmare for flight departments operating different aircraft equipped with a variety of technology. All use different kinds of boxes.
Val Trent, a Challenger contract pilot, recalled his early automation training: "Back in 1995 FlightSafety didn't have a way to teach the [automated] boxes. We couldn't even get any training from Universal on the UNS-1B. We just took our check ride and stayed pretty basic with the entire airplane for a while as we learned. The biggest issue on old airplanes is the poor integration of those systems. Our early 601 was a marriage of many different-vintage boxes and instruments. We didn't even have a multifunction display (MFD) to check our work as we typed. That's often what happens when you buy a used airplane."
Regional airline training failure rates on EFIS and FMS issues for transitioning pilots are as high as 50 percent, according to Eric Norber, codirector of Pan Am Academy's career-pilot division. "The regional airline people said the high pilot failure rate on automation issues was hurting them because anyone who needs additional simulator time is simply an added expense. But a training failure is a completely unmanageable expense because the airline is now short a pilot as well." In the old days pilots who climbed the traditional career ladder often acquired experience in a longer timeframe and had time to absorb things more slowly, no matter what system they used.
"Now people are coming out of training and jumping right into the CRJ," said Norber. "The learning curve of the FMS can overwhelm the pilot during training, especially since the airlines expect pilots to be prepared for every challenge. But simulator availability is limited and expensive. Operators have not had the time or the funds to focus on just FMS and automation operations. Training has normally focused on flying the airplane to meet required standards."
Befuddling Pilots
In the endless search for a sometimes elusive automated safety net for every flight regime, we may actually have befuddled more pilots, not simply by building electronic displays that offer more options than any two pilots together might opt for, but by integrating an ever-expanding series of warning and alerting systems that clamor for the pilot's attention. Consider the voice alerts, horns, klaxons, bells, cavalry charges, buzzers, klackers, blinking lights, flashing displays and shakers that everyone considers normal today.
After reviewing a few highly visible airline accidents, such as the 1994 China Airlines A300 crash at Nagoya, Japan, and the American Airlines 757 crash near Cali, Colombia, the FAA decided in 1996 to investigate the root causes of cockpit automation accidents and incidents. Those results were published in "The Interfaces Between Flight Crews and Modern Flight Deck Systems." This report states, "Concerns [about automation errors] are highly interrelated and are evidence of aviation system problems, not just isolated human or machine errors. Therefore, we need system solutions, not just solutions to individual problems. To treat one issue or underlying cause in isolation will ultimately fail to fundamentally increase the safety of aircraft operations and may even decrease safety."
Pan Am Academy began offering the regional airlines an automated cockpit training solution in 2000. "We spent $2 million for two Farous-Wicat fully functioning CRJ200 FTDs with visual capabilities, but no motion," according to Norber. A full-motion simulator would have cost $10 million. "These FTDs offer no type ratings, but definitely flatten the learning curve on integrated flight management systems at a more affordable cost." Pan Am offers three weeks of systems ground school and some turbojet operations training to new regional pilots, but the majority of the school is focused on FMS, EFIS and autopilot operation. To date, none of their graduates– even some with as few as 750 hours TT–has failed out in the field.
EASy Does It
Dassault believes it has a cockpit system–dubbed EASy–that will revolutionize not only the operation of modern automated airplanes, but the training of pilots who fly them. The company said it learned early on that keeping pilots in the loop was much easier said than done. Rather than attempt to patch current automated cockpit/human-factors problems, Dassault began with a clean-sheet design approach that would provide the simplest, most intuitive way for pilots to find the information they needed while still keeping their heads outside the cockpit the vast majority of the time. The EASy cockpit uses four 14-inch LCD screens–two outer screens for tactical information and two inner ones for strategic data. Information can be input from either seat through the use of a trackball and selector knobs without the need to look down.
Woody Saland, FlightSafety International's program manager for the EASy cockpit, commented, "Dassault eliminated things in the EASy flight deck that were gotchas. It is a safer cockpit because its designers worried about so many things." He admitted that the breakthrough for Dassault and FlightSafety came when "we wondered how to get two pilots to work together. We decided to put all tactical information in front of both pilots–air data, engines, everything. We put long-range issues in the center of the cockpit so nothing is hidden from either pilot and each can always see what the other is doing. The consequences of a problem being displayed in front of both pilots encourage them to work together. We got phenomenal training input from the Dassault flight-test and software engineers about how they built this equipment."
Saland added, "For the first time at FSI, Dassault has played a major role in defining the training curriculum for an automated cockpit." Dassault will also provide the training documents for the course for EASy, rather than allowing FSI to develop its own, as has been the tradition. "All instruction will be operationally based. That is, when discussing a system, only what the pilot 'sees' in the cockpit relating to that system will be covered, as well as the operational consequences of those problems."
Rich Iudice, director of flight operations at Dassault Falcon Jet in Teterboro, said, "Dassault is taking over the training on EASy, with more emphasis on presenting the operational end of what pilots need to know…[because] operators are demanding more from aircraft manufacturers on how they train pilots, rather than using the same old fire-hose technique."
But while the new Dassault solution will be a welcome breakthrough for new Falcon operators, Sumwalt believes "many pilots still do not understand what they are asking their automated machines to do and may not fully appreciate all the ramifications of the buttons they're pushing. To monitor an aircraft, the pilot must understand the system's capabilities, and that's where the gap is."
Sumwalt sees a partial solution in the way we offer checkrides: "When you sit down in a traditional oral exam, they put you in front of a panel and ask what happens if you flip this switch or if that light goes on. But we should be asking lots of pragmatic automation questions as well. 'When you get to 1,000 feet in the climb and you set the speed bug for 250 knots, what will this annunciator show and what does this all mean to the flight right this minute?' We are not doing that now."
The ATC Factor
But cockpit design and pilot training issues are not the only area still in need of reform. As one Miami-based pilot said of ATC in the Aviation Safety Reporting System database, "Controllers need to understand the increase in workload they place on a two-man crew using an FMS when they quickly spew out restrictions and holding instructions. We are just plagued with late clearances and frequent changes." A few more specific examples include, "clearances near the performance limits of the aircraft under many automated conditions such as the slam-dunk approach, last-minute runway changes or even late clearances that include crossing restrictions."
The advantage of the new cockpits and training systems, such as Dassault's, clearly demonstrates the weaknesses of older, yet highly sophisticated aircraft and their associated training systems. Saland added, "Manufacturers did not integrate that kind of information into the training organizations before." And will this new, even more pragmatically focused training filter down to the older aircraft for which FSI trains pilots? "Only if we get the same level of commitment from the manufacturers," Saland said.
Pilots of older aircraft may simply have to work harder to learn the intricacies of their aircraft's automation. One Citation charter pilot in Las Vegas reported his company training on an FMS consisted of the captain telling him to sit in the airplane and run the avionics. The captain tossed the new copilot a book on the Global GNS and said, "Don't come out of the airplane until you know how to run this thing backwards and forwards."
And with no business aviation accidents to point to, the goal might be to try to keep that kind of on-the-job training system alive. A Dallas-based Gulfstream captain suggested, however, that pilots be more aggressive and demand attendance at a company school on the FMS equipment they fly most often. "Write down every question you can possibly think of before you arrive at class and ask questions like mad while you're there. This can work if pilots are willing to play with the boxes in their aircraft, but this can be a pretty tough way to learn." When Trent returned to FlightSafety for a Challenger 604 type rating in 1999, he realized that for that aircraft "FlightSafety had already come a long way in automation training."
Are pilots better off as cockpit managers today? "I'm not so sure sometimes," said Jones. "In the old days of flying instruments, you kept that three-dimensional picture of what your aircraft was doing in your head. Now it is all in front of you. But if a system fails, you still need that picture somewhere in your head to make certain it all makes sense. The downside of this cockpit automation can be information overload. And even worse, you don't know you're overloaded because you're overloaded. But there is a real sense of satisfaction in shooting a totally automated coupled FMS nonprecision approach, too."
While automated cockpits can offer crews a chance to sit back and more easily monitor the operation of the flight, pilots of all models of aircraft using integrated flight management systems need in-depth education on how this technology works long before the first flight. Pilots cannot simply hope they'll be lucky enough to connect with an instructor or a system somewhere along the line to show them what they need to know. And they must demand better training before they learn–the hard way–the answer to the question, "What's it doing now?"
Finger trouble
Any pilot who has operated an advanced automated cockpit knows that the most frequent mistakes made by pilots, even after they know how the system operates, are:
• Pushing the wrong buttons at the right time.
• Pushing the right buttons at the wrong time.
• Pushing the right buttons in the wrong sequence.
• Thinking that an automated function is off when it is on.
• Thinking that an automated function is on when it is off.
The Automated Bugaboos
Experts warn about these human-factor black holes when flying highly automated aircraft:
• Absorption–Being so focused on a task that other issues are excluded.
• Fixation–Becoming locked into one solution despite evidence that supports alternative actions, for example, believing an unstable approach can be salvaged despite warnings from the other cockpit crewmember.
• Preoccupation–The pilot's attention is drawn somewhere else, essentially daydreaming, because the airplane is flying so well.
• Under load–Sustained attention is difficult because the workload is low.
• Complacency–Flight crews rely on these highly dependable cockpit systems so much that a flight crew might not recognize a failure when it occurs.


text: BaneTrapper 1531 Report post Posted May 3, 2014 Hello. I was thinking how to make a structure know its functionalities in my 2d top down game. The first thought i had is make bit flags and turn on and off what the structure does: For example: enum StructureFunctions{ SFStorage = 0x01,//Used to drop resources SFRest = 0x02,//Used to sleep at night SFTownHall = 0x04,//Used to get actions from SFBarrack = 0x08,//Used for training/ getting battle/scout/guard actions for day SFOnWater = 0x10,//This structure is on water SFOnLand = 0x20,//This structure is on land SFOperationable = 0x40,//Uses people to operate, instead of automatic SFProduces = 0x80,//Produces resources }; class Structure { public: int Functions; }; //Somewhere in cpp Structure Farm; Structure FishingDocks; Structure Church; Structure Barrack; Farm.Functions = SFProduces | SFOperationable | SFOnLand | SFStorage; FishingDocks.Functions = SFProduces | SFOperationable | SFOnLand | SFOnWater | SFStorage; Church.Functions = SFRest | SFOnLand | SFProduces; Barrack.Functions = SFRest | SFBarrack | SFOnLand; The big question is: I require more flag states, and i never worked with them so i got no experience in that field except tutorials and examples i saw. How do i make specific structures have attributes as such that would be efficient? I need to be able to make a object of structure and the structure stats with base value "Is on land", then i will add crafting table intro the structure i will turn "Crafting" on for that structure, if i add barrel intro it i will add "Storage" Then when i require something as //A unit just finished harvesting wood, find a place to drop resources for(all structures) { if(Structure.Function has Storage) //Check if storage has space left //Check if storage can take type the unit is carrying (Barrel, is made for liquid or small type objects as fish, not for wood storage) } //A unit has decided to go rest for(all structures) { if(Structure.Function has Rest) //If not occupied } Have you done anything like this before? would you be willing to trow some ideas this way? If you didn't do something like this before? would you be willing to trow some ideas this way. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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U.S. Web Log: Entries 21-40
During the World Cup, you'll be able to watch the U.S. Men's National Team on ussoccer.com's Studio 90 daily webcast, you'll be able to hear the players and coaches on our various podcasts and you'll even get to read features about certain guys in our revamped daily Center Circle. But even with all that, we figured some of those slight everyday details, those little tantalizing nuggets most people usually never find out, would continue to fall through the cracks.
We can't have that during a World Cup. So, to bring you the most comprehensive coverage, we've encamped ourselves within the team at all times and we're writing down all we see and hear in our 24-hour-a-day blog, right here on ussoccer.com. We're on the bus, in the meal room, at training, in the locker room, at the hotel and in the showe….er…wait, okay, not that far. We're bringing you everything, just not EVERYTHING.
We never know when something interesting, outlandish or hilarious will happen, so check back every so often to get the latest update about the MNT's journey through the World Cup.
Entry #40: June 8, 9:08 p.m. (3:08 p.m. ET)
What a cool surprise to walk through the lobby and see Frankie Hejduk here with his wife and son. 'Dukes' decided that he still wanted to come check out the tournament for a couple weeks, so U.S. Soccer kept his room for him and he just arrived this morning. Looks great, says the knee is coming along fine, and has the same unmistakably positive attitude that epitomizes the San Diego surf dude. No doubt he's looking forward to his first hefeweizen. It brings a smile to many faces on the team to have him hanging out here.
Entry #39: June 8, 8:55 p.m. (2:55 p.m. ET)
We just walked into the players' lounge where Landon Donovan and equipment manager Ryan Maxfield (yes, the same Ryan Maxfield that is the star of the ussoccerstore.com ads played during Studio 90...we know you secretly love them) were playing EA Sports' FIFA World Cup on XBox. They were playing together as the United States vs. El Salvador (think they were going through qualifying). We didn't stay for the whole match, but we caught Claudio Reyna driving a low drive into the lower left corner as we walked out the door. Check for a little shot of them playing sometime on Studio 90 as we saw one of our videographers heading in as we left.
Entry #38: June 8, 8:21 p.m. (2:21 p.m. ET)
Not surprisingly, German TV is doing a great job covering soccer prior to the start of the Cup. Late night games in black & white from back in the day, and a show highlighting Germany's past World Cups that seems to be on every few hours. The only danger of not being able to understand what they are saying is looking up to catch something you don't want to see. Exhibit A was about five minutes ago, when they showed tape of French striker Cisse breaking his tibia and fibula vs. China in a friendly last night. It was just plain nasty. (And speaking of Xzibit, 'Pimp My Ride' seems to be just about the only show on here in English)
Entry #37: June 8, 5:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m. ET)
Landon Donovan just left the sets of Studio 90. No, he is not going to be on the show again (you can check out the June 6 edition of Studio 90 for that). He was actually in the studios to film a sit down with Shelley Smith and the ESPN crews. Shelley's daily reports on ESPN begin tonight on SportsCenter. Additionally, Bruce will be making his first radio appearance on the U.S. airwaves since the team arrived in Germany when he shoots the breeze on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" show at 9:40 a.m. ET on Friday morning. Mike Greenberg helped launch the USA's World Cup hype when he helped Bruce announce the 23-man roster May 2 on ESPN's SportsCenter.
Entry #36: June 8, 5:20 p.m. (11:20 a.m. ET)
Here in the Studio 90 control room (which isn't as hightech as you think...just a bunch of tables and one large DSL Network switch with boxes, trunks, electronic equipment, food, and water scattered about), there is a new member of the crew prominently placed on the wall. Who is it? Well, it's none other than Mr. David Hasselhoff, the German singing sensation. Why is his picture on the wall? Ahh...well that we can't tell as we don't want to ruin the surprise that we have in store for you later this afternoon on Studio 90's June 8 edition.
Entry #35: June 8, 4:23 p.m. (10:23 a.m. ET)
Bruce se habla espanol? During today's presser - that would be 'press conference' for you non-media types - Pablo Mastroeni answered a question in Spanish about the team's preparation for the Czech Republic. When asked to repeat his answer in English, Pablo's response was "I can't remember what I said." In jumps Bruce to save the day: "c'mon, You're preparing; individually you're confident; estamos is 'We are'... " which brought laughter to the entire room. You just never know what Bruce has in store ...
Entry #34: June 8, 3:15 a.m. (9:15 p.m. ET)
A little backstory on our favorite guitar-weilding 80-year-old you got the chance to see again today between segments in today's Studio 90 show. The day of the game against Morocco, we decided to check out the streets of Nashville and see if there was any good footage to shoot. We were informed that if you ask, some of the guitar players on Broadway would compose a song for you on the spot. Well, that was no lie. We literally took one turn onto Broadway, saw our guitar man, told him who we were with and the good man simply plucked away right then and there. No more than four minutes. We thanked him and slipped him some bills for the amount of time he saved us to find some good footage. And yes...we're still up. The things we do to get you the most inside information.
Entry #33: June 7, 10:46 p.m. (4:46 a.m ET)
Jimmy Conrad is currently filming us working in Studio 90 headquarters. At 10:46 p.m., it's getting a little silly. There's a lot of stuff happening that's going to be hitting the editing room floor. Like Jimmy doing a version of the "human beat box," and the production staff doing Bruce Arena impressions. Johnny O is chilling in Neil's chair doing his best impression. Those guys took the camera out on the town for a couple hours and seem to be quite proud of their work - keep an eye out for a Studio 90 segment coming to a laptop near you. Oh, and our editors are really fired up about having to dredge through 45 minutes of tape.
Entry #32: June 7, 8:45 p.m. (2:45 a.m ET)
ze media bunker ist kool. Yes, it's actually a bunker, built before the World War II and now converted by the city of Hamburg to be a media work room and VIP hangout. They told us that after the war the city tried to destroy it and couldn't! How's that for German engineering? The second floor is a workspace, complete with computers, wireless internet access and a bar (doesn't every media work room have a bar? Seems like it sometimes, doesn't it?). They had a little trouble with cell phone signals inside the fortress, but seem to have sorted it out. Outside is a deck for sunbathing and barbeques - we're not making this up - and the top floor has a circular bar with probably the best view in the entire city. You can look down into the stadium for Sainkt Pauli on one side, and then turn to view the giant screen set up for the Hamburg FanFest that holds up to 50,000 people to watch games, sample German food and beers, and buy World Cup gear. Spotted at the Grand Opening VIP fiesta tonight were Grant Wahl from Sports Illustrated and Charlie D'Agata from CBS Evening News (plus a bunch of German celebrities we didn't recognize). The Bunker will be the place to be for any media covering the tournament in Hamburg.
Entry #31: June 7, 1:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m ET)
You can set your watches to it people. Early afternoon and Bruce Arena has again strolled through the sets of Studio 90 to check on the proceedings and offer his expertise on everything from defending free kicks to editing Q&As. (In a preview of tonight's episode of Studio 90, Coach Arena will be seen touring Cleveland with uberfan Drew Carey in advance of last month's game against Venezuela. The piece is an instant classic. Do not miss it.)
Entry #30: June 7, 1:08 p.m. (7:08 a.m ET)
We already told you about Kasey Keller's ring tone, well another U.S. goalkeeper's phone just went off during a visit to the Studio 90 set. His ring of choice? The "Star Wars" theme music.
Entry #29: June 7, 1:06 p.m. (7:06 a.m ET)
As we were typing away about Marcus Hahnemann up in our room, he stopped by Studio 90 and offered up his own blog on last night's Tool concert (more on that below):
"Finding out the show was in Hamburg was a bonus because I was prepared to drive or rent a helicopter to get there but I was not sure about the other guys. We were directed to the back door by their head of security with back stage passes and we were taken up to meet the band before the show. We met Craig, their tour manager, who told us how excited the guys were to see us with Justin ther bass player being a huge soccer fan. We meet the whole band: Adam their guitarist, Danny their drummer, Maynard their singer and Justin. I was really suprised to find out how stoked they were to see us, and that we were actually huge fans."
Entry #28b: June 7, 12:49 p.m. (6:49 a.m ET)
... and speaking of Keller and Hahnemann, we can confirm that they've returned intact from Tuesday night's Tool concert. They even got some love on the band's blog on their web site: "No problems to report other than ... these strange dudes in the Tool dressing room. Wait a second, they're members of the U.S. World Cup soccer team (that's what's keeping the band from taking the stage on time)."
Entry #28a: June 7, 12:47 p.m. (6:47 a.m ET)
So we're going through some tape of Marcus Hahnemann's sit down with the media on Monday, and did a double take toward the end of our tape. After all the expected questions about Jan Koller, his family, his jog around the lake and Kasey Keller, the one that really stood out was asking about German Dirk Nowitzki, who just made the NBA finals with the Dallas Mavericks ...
Entry #27: June 6, 12:08 a.m. (6:08 p.m ET)
Last thing before we get out of here: Since we've arrived, we've been following the team bus to practice in a van and to get easy access in and out of the hotel, we're driving down the major thoroughfare which is lined with shops and hundred of thousands of people walking up and down…and across the street! We always felt like we were getting weird looks as we drove up and down the street avoiding the streams of people, only to find out that only cabs and busses are technically allowed to drive on the street. We've basically been dodging people and guessing what the street signs mean. And you know what, we're not going to stop since, besides the odd looks, it doesn't seem like anyone is going to stop us.
Entry #26: June 6, 9:57 p.m. (3:57 p.m. ET)
We were just standing next to Kasey Keller in the lobby and his phone started ringing…well, it's not exactly a ring. He's got the Tarzan yell ring tone.
|Entry #25: June 6, 9:54 p.m. (3:54 p.m. ET)
One thing we've noticed while bouncing around Hamburg is that there are spray-painted smiley faces all over the city. The two-dot eyes and half-circle smile have been seen on street signs, billboards, light posts and other random locations. It got us wondering: Is there a smiley-face bandit scouring the streets and leaving his happy mark on the city? But there are so many…so is there possibly more than one bandit? Possibly there is a secret society that is silently marking their territory throughout Hamburg. When we asked a few of the locals about the smiley faces, they were dumbfounded, stating they did not understand what we were talking about, that they had not seen these spray-painted marks. Are they telling the truth? Or are they playing dumb, while quickly leaving our presence to tell their partners in crime that we're on to them? Or maybe we're just over thinking this. Blame it on long hours. Either way, the investigation will continue.
Entry #24: June 6, 9:45 p.m. (3:45 p.m. ET)
We forgot to mention earlier...on the way to training today, we saw a UPS truck drive by while waiting for the light to change at an intersection. There were two guys in the brown truck, instead of the typical single driver you see in the States. Do Germany UPS drivers need an assistant? Are there more packages for a German UPS driver than a driver in the U.S.?
Entry #23: June 6, 9:40 p.m. (3:40 p.m. ET)
We know you've been checking out Studio 90…well, one of the camera/editing fellas on the production side was a bit embarrassed tonight at dinner. After grabbing some food from the imposing spread in the meal room, he accidentally dumped his entire plate of food. Crash, boom, spill, doh! While one table of staff members saw him and instantly started crackling, he was lucky as most of the players were out of the room at that time. For had they seen him, there's no doubt their good-natured ribbing would have been a constant theme during the rest of the World Cup. But just because he got away from the guys, it doesn't mean we can't kill him here. We see and tell all.
Entry #22: June 6, 4:25 p.m. (10:25 a.m. ET)
We've already told you how amazing the hotel staff has treated the players and staff, so today we were lucky to get the chance to give something back. The manager of the hotel told us that they had organized a raffle for their employees in which they were asked to answer five questions about the World Cup. Everyone who answered correctly had their names put in a pot, and they were going to pick out four people who would win tickets to one of the World Cup matches here in Hamburg. When the staff assembled at 4 p.m. local time in their break room, in walked Marcus Hahnemann to draw the names out of the hat. Marcus, whose parents are from Hamburg, managed to get through most of the questions in German before picking the winners. The break room is decorated with a U.S. flag and pictures of all the players up on the wall. The manager told us that the staff has made an effort to memorize the names and faces of everyone on the team so they can greet them personally. They were extremely excited to have Marcus come down. Very cool to be able to say thanks to the people who are doing so much for the group.
Entry #21: June 6, 4:05 p.m. (10:05 a.m. ET)
Well, a couple of the 'keepers are pretty fired up right now. Got a call from the tour manager of Tool - don't feel bad if you haven't heard of these heavy-metal heroes - called to offer tickets to their show in Hamburg. Marcus Hahnemann and Kasey Keller will be rockin' it hard core. Why do you suppose it's the goalies that are the heavy metal freaks? Everyone always says to be a goalkeeper you have to be crazy. And no, we are not saying heavy metal fans are crazy, so please no hate mail. Check out the brand new Center Circle for more on Hahnemann's music taste.
Return to the Top of the U.S. Web Log | Entries 61-80 | Entries 41-60 | Entries 1-20


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Sunday Sundries … How It Works …
Courtesy: Wrestlingisbest
It is Sunday. And it was bitterly cold out. We are sitting at (-11c/-21c w.c.) It has been cold all weekend, but today the winds whipped up and brought a new chill to the air.
Today was one of those days where I was bored off my rocker. I can only sit in front of this box and twitter my thumbs, for so long. I check my mail, I visit my reads, not many of them post on a Sunday, so that is a bust. I don't usually Tumble during the day, I save that for my nighttime schedule.
I tried to nap on and off and that did not go very well. Hubby has been wheezing and puffing for the last couple of days, and I am trying to avoid catching whatever he has…
Finally around 3 I decided to take a shower and get dressed which put me ready to roll well before I needed to go. And I left the house around twenty to five which put me at the church early. I beat our coffee man – when he came in I was sorting out chairs and tables. And we had the room ready to go by 5:15.
We sat a full house and then some. I heard through the grapevine that the 2:30 meeting was packed as well today, because when I got there, they had left out stacks of chairs which I turned around for tonight's meeting.
Tonight was began reading Chapter 5 from the Big Book, titled, "How it Works."
From our first days in the program we hear this reading read at almost every meeting that we go to. But how many of us really pay attention to the words as they are read from the podium? Most meetings start out with the Serenity Prayer then move into How It Works … during the preamble of most meetings.
"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path …"
In the historical stories about A.A and of Bill Wilson, The one word that they would have changed from this reading would have been RARELY… And the new word would have been "NEVER." But cooler heads prevailed and the word rarely stuck.
The preceding chapters of the Big Book, cover Steps One and Two. Squarely setting us up to move into Step 3. How It Works is the lead up to the text covering Step 3 …
I heard something interesting at the meeting tonight that How it works is just that, it isn't "why" it works, but How it Works. Much of tonight's discussion centered around letting go and turning it over.
"Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our lives over to God as we understood him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?
The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success."
God as we understood Him. Who is that, why is it God and do I have to believe in God to begin with? Finding a power greater than ourselves is a personal choice. There is no direct mandate that we direct our prayers to God. But in reading How It Works … The text reads: Remember that we deal with alcohol – cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power – that One is God. May you find him now…
That spiritual experience is what we hope you will experience in one shape or another once you come to the meeting and you eventually Come To, and eventually Come To Believe.
How may times have I heard this reading at a meeting? And how often do we let the words, as they are read, to pass in one ear and out the other, without really allowing the words to work their way into our consciousness? How it Works is the guide to staying sober. And every time I hear this read, I am reminded of How it works, not why it works, but How.
It outlines who we are, and what it takes to get sober, in step form. How It Works outlines what we do when we stand in front of a room of alcoholics, and share our experience, strength and hope … Simply … What it was like, what happened and what it is like now.
The reading also tells us, "If you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps."
Over the years I have worked my steps a number of times. My 4's and 5's have not been perfect. They were adequate. I shared these things with my sponsor. A few months ago, I worked through my steps again, for a refresh.
Since I came to this city sober, I left the baggage of my past in another country. Sobriety is not a perfect ride for any of us. And that goes for me as well.
A big mistake I made in early sobriety was that I felt entitled, and I thought that expectations were part of the deal, I mean, I had them, I needed them and I felt like God should grant me them.
How wrong I was.
I also know that I work my steps to the best of my ability. And once again, I must admit that sometimes I feel like I have been sober more than a decade now, and I often think that long term sobriety should become all that is. In my mind I say to myself that I've been sober a long time, and that because I've been sober that long time, that sobriety should change those things in my life that I have no control over … Like other people.
This is an inside project the longer you stay sober and I must also remember that I am not God, because as soon as I assume God's authority, I have lost conscious contact with my God.
My sobriety will never be perfect. And that is something that I battle with. I want so bad for a certain sector of my life to be healed, BUT I am powerless over people, places and things. And going into my head – a place an alcoholic should never go alone – I want to get up on a soapbox and rattle some cages and yell at the top of my lungs that "HEY I am sober, Don't you see me? Love me, be part of me, but this is where I loose my mind on occasion.
I cannot change people. I can only change me. And I am not in control.
How it works … I need to hear this reading at as many meetings as possible. Because I need to be reminded that it is progress rather than perfection.
We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
We are all wounded people. In one way or another. I drank like many of my fellows and came to the point of incomprehensible demoralization. There was no way out but through the meetings.
The Big Book was simply written, by simple men, who like us, found that they could not drink like normal men. So they set out to write a book in which we would find commonality, conviviality, comradery, and identity.
And in these pages we would read How They Did It. And for more than seventy years, they have been doing it the same way, with the same words, and the same steps, both men and women alike. If we, just for a moment, believe that like they, we could learn how it works for ourselves.
In time we learn what it means to "Turn it over" and to "Let go and Let God." it doesn't come overnight, but the sooner you learn this the lighter the burden gets, when we can step up to prayer and meditation and ask God to take from our shoulders the burden we carry and to help us stay sober one day at a time.
Hundreds of Thousands of alcoholics all over the world have read this book. And they got it and found sobriety. And it all begins with How it Works.
I am human, therefore I am an imperfect being. God is perfect.
In all things. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
In scripture it is written, "Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect!" I don't know if I will ever be that perfect.
But this thought keeps us on the path.
To be able to begin ones day with prayer. Allowing God control, and to turn it over, and be at peace with that is a tall order. To be of service to my fellows, here at home, at a meeting, on the phone, and with myself, is something I have to practice on a daily basis.
Watching our women get sober and work their steps is amazing. They really get down to the nitty gritty of How It Works. There are no half measures for them. It is true that there is no comparison to how our women do it. Every day, from sun up to sun down. Talking to their sponsors every day, spot checking when necessary, 4's and 5's on a regular basis. 6, 7, 8 on a daily basis. 9's and amends when called for. 10th step every night. And living 11 and 12 on a daily basis.
Our women exude How It Works. They live and breathe these steps.
If you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps…
How many of us men are ready and willing to let go and let God and allow the steps into our lives, without hemming and hawing, and huffing and puffing and making things harder than they need to be?
Alcoholism is a progressive disease. Even getting sober, alcoholism is that entity that sits in the parking lot doing pushups, waiting for us to come outside.
Old Timers tell us these simple words … Don't Drink, Go to Meetings, and Keep coming back. Because if we stop going to meetings that rat will get back on the wheel and start spinning. Meetings are one way to keep that rat off the wheel.
Watching others get sober, and spending quality time with those people, we get to see how it works come to life in our fellows lives. That is why it is such a grace watching folks get sober. Spend ten plus years in the same rooms, week in and week out, eventually you will witness spiritual experiences. And if you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of God, by the by.
What it was like, What happened, and What it is like now.
I love my life. I have everything I need. My needs list is very short. I don't expect from God, but I listen for God. I've learned how to do that over the last eleven years. I have good friends. People are happy to share the same space with me.
Today, case in point, one of my friends, came up to me and gave me the biggest hug I have had in a long time. That is a gift of the program.
I don't know why it works, But I can tell you that it does work. Sobriety is give and take. In order to reap the rewards of sobriety, you have to give up the life you had, in opt for the life you can have if you trust in How It Works.
Life, is a journey. We need meetings like we need water. We must give up our ego in opt for Godliness. We must sacrifice all those things we thought we needed and realize that in God's time and goodness, we will get everything that we need.
And always end the day with some gratitude.
Because you won't be truly happy until you can learn to be grateful for something every day. As long as we stay on the path, the only way is up.
A good night was had by all.
More to come, stay tuned …


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Regions Sponsored by
The Estée Lauder Companies announced its purchase of a minority stake in a privately held Indian company that manufactures, markets and sells beauty products under the Forest Essentials brand, which is based on ayurvedic formulations.
In an interview, Sonia Michon, vice president and regional director, The Estée Lauder Companies, said that Forest Essentials gives the company a stronger presence due to the brand's already strong presence in India's premium skin care market. Also, the move will help Lauder create brand recognition with Indian consumers and build credence with affiliations to nature-based products. For its part, Lauder will help Forest Essentials in building a reputation as a high-end luxury brand and gaining international presence.
"We are delighted to gain The Estée Lauder Companies' brand-building and marketing expertise, which will help take Forest Essentials to the next level," said Mira Kulkarni, CEO, Forest Essentials. "We look forward to expanding our unique brand, which harnesses an age-old holistic philosophy to create a new beauty ideal." Lauder is also getting aggressive in making its presence felt by opening freestanding stores in strategically chosen retail environments. It opened its second store in India, a boutique in Bangalore's premier luxury mall, The Collection at UB City. During the next three years, Lauder plans to open 20 locations and expand into Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata. In the coming six months, Estée Lauder will open two freestanding stores in Delhi, as well.
The Indian color cosmetics market is seeing a drastic change. With the increasing demand for color cosmetics, some herbal brands are launching makeup colors claimed to consist of up to 95% natural ingredients and extracts. Two popular mass ayurvedic brands, Lotus Herbals and Ayur Herbals, have introduced natural color cosmetics.
While the trend for nature-based cosmetics is not really new, the market is gaining mass consumer attention. Brands such as Shahnaaz Husain and Biotique were already offering natural eyeliners, lipsticks and mascaras, but they did not see mass acceptance in India. The ranges also tended to be very limited. In fact, Husain lipsticks and kohl pencils found more shelf appeal to consumers in Europe.


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A classic beanie with a woven 'Hand of Shred' badge and small loop label that can be worn rolled up or rolled down..
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For do-it-yourself super funds where members have complying term pensions – also known as life expectancy pensions – this is becoming a common and important question, says actuary Geoff Morley of GM Actuaries, as many are likely to be approaching the end of their term. You are quite right to be planning what to do as it could have big tax implications for you or your dependants.
If you do nothing when the pension ends after the 15 years (or if you die), leftover assets become unallocated reserves. They don't belong to any particular member. They can be allocated to members as super contributions subject to the annual concessional contribution caps or a special entitlement known as the 5 per cent rule. This allows allocations from reserves of up to 5 per cent of members' balances each year, provided it is done on an equitable basis. To avoid paying excess contributions tax, the allocations must be within either of these limits. If you have around $400,000 in leftover assets, it could take a series of allocations over some years. To speed this up, you could allocate some of the excess now, while the pension is still in payment.
You could also consider commuting the pension to a market-linked pension (MLP). You will first need to determine a commutation value for the remaining pension payments. You'll need the help of an actuary to get this right. This value will become the opening account balance for the MLP from which you can withdraw an annual amount based on the account balance divided by a government-determined pension factor, plus or minus 10 per cent.
An advantage of an MLP is that on death, the fund trustee could pay the remaining assets directly to your dependants or your estate. Another possible advantage is the choice of term. You could choose a short term (to draw down the assets more quickly) or a long term (to draw them down more slowly).
The final consideration is what to do with the assets in excess of the commutation value. This is a contentious issue because the law is not clear. Some believe that if assets in excess of the commutation value are used to start an account-based pension at the same time, they won't count towards the contributions cap so there will be no excess tax issues. There is a risk this may not be correct. An alternative view is that you must use both the commutation value and the assets in excess of this value to start an MLP to ensure none of the assets count towards the contributions cap. Last year the Australian Taxation Office published an interpretive decision (ID 2012/84) which appears to support this approach.
A third view is if you start any type of pension with the excess assets, they will count towards the contributions caps and so be subject to excess contributions tax. If this is correct, the best approach is to start an MLP with the commutation value and leave the excess assets as unallocated reserves initially. You then progressively allocate them subject to the contribution caps and/or the 5 per cent rule. This will allow you to access all the fund assets but could take a number of years.
As a last consideration, if you receive social security benefits under your pension, a commutation of the complying term pension could cause you to lose the assets test exemption on the pension assets. So if you commute the pension, your Centrelink benefits may be reduced. Whichever approach you take, have it checked with a pension specialist before proceeding.
The Australian Financial Review


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Monday, September 14, 2009
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Histoplasmosis is another disease associated with bats. Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs. Occasionally, other organs are affected. When this happens it can be fatal if untreated.
In addition, histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus that grows in soil and material contaminated with droppings from animals, including bats. Droppings, also known as bat guano, can contaminate the soil and cause infectious spores to be released when the soil is disturbed.
Even though it can be found throughout the world, it is widespread in certain areas of the United States and can be found in places that harbor large populations of bats, including caves.
While most infected persons have no apparent ill effects, antifungal medications are used to treat many forms of the disease.
The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content on this page should not be construed to imply endorsement by the US Government of any commercial products or services, or to replace the advice of a medical professional. The mark "CDC" is licensed under authority of the PHS.


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James O'Connor is in talks to join the Queensland Reds in a bid to resurrect his Wallabies career before next year's World Cup.
As senior players backed the Australian Rugby Union's tough stance on Test eligibility, it emerged that O'Connor had piqued the interest of the struggling Reds and would most likely resume his Australian career in Brisbane next year.
Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael would only say the province was open-minded about the controversial outside back, but Fairfax Media understands the Reds have made an offer for his services next season.
"I don't have a closed mind on anything," Carmichael said. "We're working through what we would call the deficiencies we have as we speak. There's a lot of pressure on us and we need to cop it on the chin, and just live in that pressure cooker at the moment without distracting people with who we may or may not sign."
O'Connor played his 44th Test for the Wallabies under Ewen McKenzie last year but had his contract torn up after a drunken incident at Perth Airport in the hours after Australia's Rugby Championship win against Argentina.
He joined Premiership side London Irish under Australian coach Brian Smith on a short-term contract and will play out the year alongside fellow former internationals Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell at French Top 14 side Toulon.
It is understood O'Connor plans to be back in Australia by the end of the year and, after interest dried up from his former club the Western Force, will link up with the Reds if the deal goes through.
However, ARU boss Bill Pulver revealed a Super Rugby contract was not O'Connor's only option. Pulver said the former Force and Rebels outside back needed only to be registered to play domestically, meaning he could play a season of club rugby and be considered by national coach Ewen McKenzie at a pinch.
Fellow Test back Kurtley Beale took that route last year to make the Wallabies squad for the British and Irish Lions series, while veteran breakaway George Smith joined the Brumbies on a short-term deal and made the squad that way.
The subject of Test eligibility has come under increasing scrutiny in Australia amid a climate of diminishing revenue and salary-cap pressures.
While the Waratahs have resigned themselves to losing Test second-rower Kane Douglas to Irish province Leinster at the end of the season, pressure is mounting on the ARU to relax the rule that overseas-based Australian players are excluded from Wallabies duties. But Pulver ruled out any changes, saying it was an important "strategic" weapon in keeping the game alive in Australia.
"This is a really strategic, important issue," Pulver said. "[The Rugby Union Players' Association] and others are saying we should start to agree to pick Wallabies from offshore markets. I don't want to be sitting here in 2016-17 watching a Super Rugby tournament with a bunch of no-names. I want the best players playing in Australia and I think it is absolutely crucial that we preserve the policies that achieve that."
It was stance backed up by Waratahs captain and Wallabies back-rower Dave Dennis.
"I'd like to see it remain the way it is to be honest," he said. "I know other countries are doing it, but I agree with the fact you have to be in the country to play for your country. You contribute to the game with your province then you get the opportunity to represent your country."
Wallabies captain Ben Mowen, who will join French club Montpellier at the end of the Super Rugby season, also endorsed the ARU's policy last week.
Dennis said the system ensured Australian players were rewarded for not chasing big-money deals overseas.
"Like everything in life, you can't have everything," he said. "You can't have the best of both worlds, you have to make a decision. If your decision is to move offshore to experience something different and earn a bit more money, great, but you miss out on that opportunity."
- with AAP


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Herald staff
Diedre Haines is a regional managing broker for Snohomish County at Coldwell Banker Bain, with offices in Lynnwood, Edmonds and Everett. She recently was elected the 2012 chair of the board of directors for Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Q: How or why did you decide to work for or open your current job?
A: I bought my first house when I was 19 and my second shortly thereafter. The agents and agencies involved were, to say the least, lacking in service, knowledge or advocacy. I learned a lot through the process and decided I would become licensed and could perhaps contribute to the betterment of the profession. At that time, 36 years ago, there were no educational requirements to obtain a license and of course no educational requirements to maintain the license. Working with the Washington State Realtor Association, I participated in helping to change the law so that education was required.
Nearly 20 years ago I left Vancouver, Wash., and returned to the Puget Sound area where I had lived as a child. It didn't take me long to figure out that Coldwell Banker Bain was the company I wanted to be associated with. The Bain philosophies – doing the right thing, helping the licensees to be the best in the business, advocating for the client by always putting their interests before all things and providing quality education not only to the associates but to the client as well – were the same philosophies I had always believed in.
My volunteer service to the NWMLS and current position on the board of directors is nothing more than an extension of what I have believed for the span of my career.
Q: What convinced you that this was the job for you?
A: For the majority of people, the purchase and or sale of a home is the largest single investment they will make in their lifetime. The agent and agency involved should provide the client with the best possible experience. As a manager I have the ability to train, support and provide my brokers with the knowledge needed to represent their client beyond expectations. I have been in some form of management 34 out of my 36 years in the industry as well as sales. I know that with regard to the thousands of transactions I have participated in directly or through my position as a manager, while not all of them perfect, the people represented were represented with care, empathy, integrity and complete advocacy. This really isn't a job; it is more of an ideology based upon the simple principle of practicing the golden rule.
Q: What does it take to blend your passion with your livelihood?
A: My passion is my livelihood. Moreover, every single thing I do in life, everything that I participate in, I participate with passion. It goes against my nature to do or be otherwise. If I can't be passionate about whatever it is I am doing, then what would be the point of doing it?
Q: What are the crucial elements of success for your business?
A: Honesty, integrity, advocacy, knowledge, a strong work ethic and always putting the client's best interest before your own, always. Understanding that people are at the center of everything we do, every choice or decision we make. And if you further believe that by properly taking care of the people everything else falls into place, you will find success.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how did you meet it?
A: In the beginning of my career there were very few women in the real estate industry, and I was quite young. I was catapulted into management during my second year in the business. It was a challenge to work in an environment where I was the "boss" but everyone I was responsible for was older and had been in the business longer. Instead of calling me by name they called me "little girl." I made a lot of mistakes in those early years, but every mistake I made I viewed as a learning experience.
Q: What personal abilities do you think are needed to excel in your line of work?
A: First and foremost: leadership. And of course all of the elements required to be an effective leader: coaching and counseling, empathy, understanding emotional intelligence, adapting the style of management to the individual, hiring the right people for the position and then allowing them to do the job while taking none of the credit. Finally, and perhaps most important, understanding and embracing the concept that attitude reflects leadership.
Q: When you are not working, how do you enjoy sending your time?
A: I spend as much time as possible with my children and grandchildren. Since none of them live in the local area, every moment together is cherished. I also enjoy live theater, the symphony, working in my yard, visiting wine country in Washington, Oregon and California, and playing golf. And yes, despite the past several years, I remain an avid and loyal Mariners fan!
Coldwell Banker Bain
4100 194th St. SW, Suite 135, Lynnwood


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Customer Alert - bug 32669 - Custom Upload definition update
Flash (Alert)
Customer Alert - bug 32669 - Custom Upload definition update.
There is a potential Issue with the Custom Upload definition update
Technical Description:
Guardium R&D have identified an issue with custom built "Custom Upload" definitions introduced during the previous GPU, where any customer defined upload definitions have been unintentionally removed.
How to verify whether your system is impacted:
Manual validation:
1. Login to Infosphere Guardium UI as admin user.
2. Access Tools->Report Building->Custom Table Builder
3. Find the manually added Custom Upload definition and highlight it
4. Click Upload Data - is the "SQL statement" field is populated ?
An empty SQL statement field would indicate a potential issue.
Automated validati on:
To verify Custom Upload data integrity, a new must_gather check has been added in v8.01p120 and v8.2p150 GPU fixpacks.
In a federated (Centrally Managed) environment, the steps below are required on Central Manager appliances only.
In a non-federated (Non-Centrally Managed) environment, the steps below are required on all appliances.
Steps to invoke the Custom Upload Integrity check:
1. Access the Guardium appliance CLI interface.
2. Run the following must_gather command
support must_gather scheduler --debug_timeout=0
When the issue is detected, the resultant output may look like the following example
===2013-02-06 19:32:02 ... Output of the Custom Upload data integrity check:==
Data integrity conflict has been found for Custom Upload functionality.
CUSTOM_TABLE_NAME=table1, TABLE_DESC_ID=20000
CUSTOM_TABLE_NAME=table2, TABLE_DESC_ID=20001
To correct the custom definition integrity issue
1. Login to Infosphere Guardium UI as admin user.
2. Access Tools->Report Building->Custom Table Builder
3. Choose the custom table reported by the must_gather command in scheduler_output.txt (above).
4. Click the Upload Data button
5. Populate the fields in the Import Data screen
6. Click Apply
Perform steps 2 - 6 for all tables reported by the Custom Upload data integrity check.
Re-run the must_gather command above to verify that no more tables are reported as a discrepancy by the Custom Upload data integrity check.
Note: Custom Upload Definitions could also be restored from export definition backups.
|Affected Appliances
|In Federated environment (CM)
|Central Manager Appliance only
|In non-Federated environment (no CM)
|All Appliances
|Affected Guardium versions
|v8.01 and v8.2
|Fixed in version
|v8.1p120 GPU fixpack
v8.2p150 GPU fixpack
If custom built "Custom Upload" functionality is used, customers are advised to verify and correct the issue if it exists using the above instructions
Document information
More support for:
IBM Security Guardium
Software version: 8.0.1, 8.2
Operating system(s): Linux
Reference #: 1624884
Modified date: 07 February 2013
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Restaurants Travel: Restaurants Travel
by maribeth
5 comments
Restaurant Pet Peeves
As I prepare to head out on a five-week journey—here, there and the other place—I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for the pitfalls of travel. Yes, I love to travel. But it's not always easy as I outlined in Traveler's Woes: Internet Hassles, Hotel Pet Peeves and What Kind of a Traveler Am I Anyhow? Part One: Packing. I'm also recalling the wise words of a dear friend that I elaborated on in Travel Lightly: Something to Remember During the Busy Holiday Season and Always. Yes, it helps if you get your mind straight, if you lower expectations and anticipate that it will not always be smooth sailing. (I don't like to manifest a negative happening, however, it does help to be pragmatic.)
I'm trying to get a handle on my packing trauma by having begun to lay out my clothing, accessories and other assorted stuff last Sunday. This allows me to contemplate my piles. It all looks good so far, however, stuffing it into my bags (one duffle, plus a carry on with wheels) will be the real challenge.
Right now I'm considering the fatigue of it all, so I better start tapping into "travel lightly"—as in light in spirit—big time.
There will inevitably be many wonderful meals out and there's no doubt that even some of the finest establishments will trigger something in me that will make me cringe. It happens all the time. Am I a pill? Maybe. But consult my list of restaurant pet peeves and I'll bet you've been irked some, too:
-When a server addresses clients as "you guys."
-When a server asks "are you still working on it?" What ever happened to "may I clear your plate" or "have you finished?" When did dining become work?
-Dining at a less-than sparkling table, especially when it comes to glassware.
-Intrusive servers—ever have one that jumps in on your conversation?
-Even worse—have you ever had a server wipe their nose (typically with the back of their hand) when serving you? I have.
-And what about when a server doesn't know what's in a dish—isn't that annoying? Even worse, I sometimes hear things like "I don't know, I don't like mushrooms."
-I also become ornery when the host or hostess seats you and says "your server will be right with you" and then it takes forever for that person to come to your table. How about "it might be a little while, may I offer you an apéritif?"
-Then there's the change thing. The worst is when you give a server a big fat bill (which they see) and ask if you want change. No, I thought I'd leave you a 40% tip.
Am I sounding cranky? I guess I've been spoiled having lived in France for over a decade, a country where being a server is a real profession. I'm rarely peeved with the above there, even in the most humble cafés. It's all about training. If you're a chef or a restaurant manager, please share the above list with your staff. I invite all to post your own pet peeves in a comment. Or, feel free to comment on mine.
If you're a server, know that I wholeheartedly appreciate the efforts required to do your job—I waitressed for many summers in my prime. But it's always the little things that make a difference. Consider the above list, the little things.
Bon appétit!
by Susan Stone
Yes, Maribeth, we're still spoiled in France.
I absolutely agree with every point you made about peeves with serving staff. I especially loathe the "are you working on it?" which makes it sound like your meals is an arduous task instead of a moment of pleasure. I too have waitressed so know how hard a job it is to wait tables. But a little courtesy and common sense goes a long way…
All the best, Harriet Welty Rochefort
Maribeth – Having just returned from a month in France where we frequently enjoyed an amuse-bouche while waiting for our entrée and main course, we know we will probably run into some of the issues you mention now that we are home. Dining in France spoils us all. Having a server give us his name is another annoyance. If we need him, we will recognize his face and probably won't remember his name anyway. You certainly wrote what so many of us have been thinking for years! And, the interrupted conversations by a server to find out if 'everything is okay' is the most annoying of all.
Bon voyage!
Great article. Might I add that on a recent trip to Utah, I happened to dine in what was classified as a 4 star resort…however the waiter, besides being extremely chatty upon our arrival, chatted whilst gnawing on a tooth-pick for most of the conversation…and at one point finally retired the toothpick to the platter he was holding with water glasses, etc. on it. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
What an initial impression that left. Felt like I was dining at a "Po Folks" in the deep south with fried chicken and taters, rather than a 4 star resort.
Guten Appetit!
Let's air them all and get them out of our system! My two pet peeves in a restaurant: When you've used silverware for a first course, and they put it back on the table. They won't give you clean silver for the next course. Even if you've deliberately put it on the side of the plate to be taken away.
And, wait staff (everywhere) who say "No problem" instead of "You're welcome." Grrrr.
That's off my chest, let's smile!