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Posts Tagged '5stars'
ZPacks Arc Blast Backpack
Greetings Hikers, Runners, Alpinists, Adventure Racers, And Other Outdoor Fans!
Does your list-wish for a backpack include an external support frame, high volume capacities, super tough fabric, and be sub 20 ounces (566 grams)?
If so, the ZPacks Arc Blast backpack is going to be the backpack that you will want at the top of your list.
The "Arc Blast" from ZPacks LLC, based out of Florida USA, features a flat carbon fiber support system, three different volume capacities (45 Liters up to 60 liters [2,750 – 3650 cubic inches]), is made from a cuben fiber and nylon fabric, and starts off at a meer 454 grams (16 ounces) on the scale!
Two hiking seasons have passed, since the Arc Blast was released and it has been great to start seeing some reviews show up on the internet about this backpack, including an excellent write-up by Keith "Fozzie" Foskett, and I figured it was about time for me to write up my thoughts on this backpack.
I purchased my first Arc Blast in November of 2012. I have since ordered a second one with a few extra features, and even sent my second one back for some additional modifications – one of the truly great aspects of ZPacks LLC – and the Arc Blast has, unquestionably, become my go-to backpack when I need a pack with a lot of volume. As I head into the winter hiking season the Arc Blast will be the only backpack I will be using due to the need for extra room for a winter sleeping bag and winter garments.
Gossamer Gear Murmur Hyperlight Backpack (2012), First Hike Review
Greetings Hikers,
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to acquire the new 2012 Gossamer Gear Murmur backpack, which is the first non cuben fiber backpack I have bought in many years, because by the numbers the Murmur is one amazingly impressive backpack! The numbers were so impressive that it pretty much forced me into buying it (giggle) just to see it and put it on and take it for a hike.
As most of my blog and video followers are aware I have been using a multitude of cuben fiber backpacks for the last few years, with the ZPacks Blast 26 (now called the Blast 30) and the ZPacks Zero (X-Small) as my primary two backpacks, the latter of which is all I used in the 2011 hiking season, for a bit over 750 combined miles. Somewhere along the way I had a HMG WindRider as well but in the end it proved to be overbuilt and too heavy for my requirements (25 ounces is more than 1/3rd of my Base Pack Weight at this point.) Before I made to move to cuben fiber backpacks I was a big time ULA owner, having owned all of them from the catalyst down to the smallest ohm – but I moved away from ULA when I got into the mid-level UL range and have never looked back due to their larger capacity.
The Gossamer Gear Murmur is my first backpack from Gossamer Gear. Going away from cuben fiber was something I thought I would never do. None the less a backpack that is sub-10 ounces (283 grams) deserves the attention of anybody – especially when it is a fully featured backpack!
In traditional style (with the exception of my one article about the zpacks waterproof breathable cuben fiber rain jacket unboxing) I have tried very hard to never write a review, or do a video, about a piece of gear that was totally untested. It just seems wrong to write an article or do a video on something I have never even used. So, even though I did not have a trip planned for this weekend, when the backpack showed up and I took a seriously hard look at it to see if it would be worth spending a few days on the trail with it, it did not take me long to stop looking and just go dump the gear out of my other backpack and throw it into the Murmur and jump in my truck – and that is exactly what I did.
Being a SUL/XUL hiker, in true tradition, I went without a camera and video recorder, so for those of you interested in what this backpack looks like check out the official Gossamer Gear Murmur website and the following other reviewers (which all helped me make the decision to buy one) Brian Green, Philip Werner, JERMM, and Jhaura Wachsman.
My Weekend Trip Stats:
Over the last three days I did a total of 57 miles (91.7 kilometers) – which granted is not very far for an initial review on a backpack, but it was all I could pull together for such a short planned three-day trip. The backpack felt very nice and performed beyond what I was expecting it too, reminding me of the days of having a ULA backpack on my back (I have always considered the ULA Backpacks to be the most comfortable backpacks out there – but that comes at the price of being way to heavy for my style of hiking these days).
When I started the hike I had a Total Pack Weight (total pack weight = all gear + all food + all liquids) of 4176 grams (147 ounces / 9.20 pounds).
Six Moon Designs, Skyscape X
This is an exciting day for me – I finally get to share with the world my thoughts on the Six Moon Designs "Skyscape X" shelter which I consider to be one of the finest solo shelters that presently exists!
When I first wrote my article and built the spreadsheet called "SUL/XUL Solo Enclosed Shelter Comparisons" I never expected it to be as popular as it has become. It seems that every time I open it there are two or three other people looking at it. I have no idea how many times the spreadsheet has been viewed but the article itself has been viewed well over 2,500 times. I mention this because while doing researching for that article I came to realize that there were a few shelters out there I had never stopped to consider just how light weight they actually were, and the Six Moon Designs, Skyscape X was one of them!
The Six Moon Designs "Skyscape X" shelter is getting my highest praise in this review. It is an exceptionally engineered shelter utilizing cuben fiber material, super light weight bug netting, the lightest #3 zippers, and cordage that is amazingly light weight. I have bought, used and put to the test dozens and dozens of shelters over the last few years, and in the world of UL and SUL shelters, I do not know of any one-piece shelter that is better than the Six Moon Designs "Skyscape X" shelter. It is a 5-Star shelter and one that I am beyond happy that I bought. It is the shelter that is in my backpack every time I leave the house for a hike.
Shelter Specs:
Here are the specs based on their website:
Weight: 425 grams (15 oz) — and let me just confirm this… when they say 425 grams, they are dead on accurate! I got two Skyscape X shelters at two different times and both of them were exactly 425 grams. That was just amazing! Oh, and unlike some of the other companies out there… when SMD says 425 grams, they mean it… as in, all of it… the tent, the guylines, and the stuff sack. You will not find any of this crappy, deceiving PR crap like what Terra Nova and MSR and others pulls with their "minimum weight" and than having the TRUE weight of the shelter be pounds heavier. Way to go SMD – keeping it real, like it should be!! But here is the point hikers, that 425 grams that SMD states is the weight of this shelter, that is everything except stakes and poles (which no company factors into their listed weight), and the vast majority of hikers these days use poles so that makes it even sweeter!
Stakes: Five. Yes, five. No six, not eight, not tent… five. This shelter is totally secure with just five stakes! And if its a nice sunny day with no wind, it only takes three! This pretty much owns every other fully enclosed shelter out there!
Inside Space: This shelter has 23 square feet of space. All of it is usable and reachable. I would say that around 5% of it is not available for sleeping and that is at the very head of the shelter. I suppose this is a good point to talk about one thing that would be a nice modification or future product update. When it is windy and if you are not using a sleeping pad, the sides of the inner wall have a tendency to move ever closer and closer in towards your head. A few times I have woke up and had the netting right in my face. I originally thought about attaching some shock cord to both sides of the inner wall (netting) and pulling it out to one of the stakes, but I think a better way to go would be to attach loops on the outside of the wall, and push a couple of sticks (or stakes, if you felt like carrying them) through them. It would take very little to prevent this inner wall from moving in. Realistically this is a solo shelter so one does not (nor should not) expect it to be a wide shelter – solo tents are light weight because they are just wide enough to fit inside of, do not go buying a solo shelter if you want a grand hotel shelter, simple as that. But, this one little modification could solve an annoyance.
Hybrid Double Wall:
I suppose it is important to talk about this issue. This shelter, like a few other shelters out there these days are being called "Hybrid Double Wall" shelters. I really have no idea who originally coined that term but I wish they would have picked a different name, it seems to be a bit mis leading to a lot of hikers who do not understand shelter terminology. Thankfully I understood the term from previous encounters with these "hybrid double wall shelters" so I knew what it was I was getting into.
The basic logic behind it is seems to be that there are two walls, a bug netting (which they deem to call a "wall") and than a hard-shell material wall (cuben fiber in the case of this shelter). The thing is that unlike true double wall shelters, most of these 'Hybrid Double Wall shelters' are finding unique ways to attach the two different materials together. So, basically think your standard dome tent with an inner setup made of bug netting, with a 'fly' that you put on over the top of it, only in the case of Hybrid Double Wall shelters, the top part of the bug netting is cut away and the 'fly' is sewn/attached to the top of the bug netting. Hopefully that makes some sense.
I will say I have never personally been a fan of them. Than again I have never been a fan of dome tents, nor to be honest have I been a big fan of all netting shelters either – I guess I just do not really know what I am a fan of, to be honest. But what I do know is that of all of the Hybrid Double Wall Shelters that I have used, Six Moon Designs has thus far been able to pull off this concept in a way that actually seems to work. Not only does it work, but I have to admit I kind of like it. Ok, I think I really like it. I have never made it any secrete that my favorite all time shelter is the TarpTent Rainbow. Its a heavy beast (compared to my other shelters) but it just works so amazingly well. It has massive headroom, a lot of wiggle room inside, setups fairly easy, and is the only shelter that the rest of my family (none of who hike) will actually call "a real tent" lol. Now I do not do write "comparison articles"… I just do not do that… I never have and hopefully never will. So please understand when I say this… the Hybrid Double wall system that Six Moon Designs has pulled off with their design of the Skyscape X… well, it sort of feels like my old beloved Rainbow… only a lot lighter!
To get away from feelings and to talk about reality, the reality of the facts are simple, SMD has pulled off a hybrid double wall shelter that actually works. It has an amazingly simple entry/exist, it setups faster than any shelter or tarp I have ever owned, it only requires five stakes, and it just feels like what a tent should feel like, regardless of it being a solo-shelter. I have owned and used and tried a lot of solo shelters on the market and there are only two of them that have survived my trials and testing, and both of those are still in my house and get used on a very regular basis. But now I have three!
Vestibule: According to the SMD website, this shelter has two (2) of them. I however, am going to argue against that. The basic definition of a vestibule is that it is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building. Now the SMD Skyspace X clearly does have one vestibule, on the door entrance side. But on the other side, it just does not seem to fit the properly description of a vestibule. Yes there is a zipper that allows you to open the non-door side outer wall (going back to the Hybrid Double Wall knowledge), but there is no actual entrance into the shelter from that side. Therefore, it is not a lobby or a passage way or an entrance, it just isn't. There is no zipper entrance to allow you into the shelter, so lets not call it a vestibule, technically speaking. But not technically speaking, yep, it has two vestibules.
Nettings: The netting is your standard No-See-Um. It makes up the entire "inner wall" of the Hybrid Double wall design with the exception of where the support poles are and the bathtub.
Canopy: The outer wall, the canopy, is made from CT2K.08 cuben fiber, also known as 0.74 cuben fiber. I do not want to get into the discussion of which cuben fiber weight material is the best for solo shelters, so let me just put it this way: Pretty much every single outdoor cottage manufacturer that makes cuben fiber shelter, with the exception of one, uses 0.74 (CT2K.08) cuben fiber. Test after test after test by some pretty brilliant people have shown that 0.74 is able to be the most water impermeable cuben fiber for its weight. Yes many people have shown that you can get away with lighter cuben fiber – I myself have been doing long term durability testing on 0.34 cuben fiber for a tarp, but I absolutely do not recommend 0.34 for anybody but the most experienced of hikers with a lot of use of CF shelters. I think one of the very important things for sticking with 0.75 cuben fiber for the SMD Skyscape X is the amount of pressure it has on the material because of only having 5 tie-out points and that spreader bar inside at the top. I have used cuben fiber enough over the last few years to really know how far you can push cuben fiber (and have pushed it too far a few times, which has cost me a lot of money!). Going with 0.74 really allows me to stake down this shelter tight. Really tight. There is none of that "setup, weight 30 minutes, than retighten your guylines" with 0.74 cuben fiber. You setup your shelter and go to bed.
Bathtub: The floor is made also made from CT2K.08 (0.74) cuben fiber. Like I said above, I do not want to get into the discussion of which cuben fiber weight material is the best for solo shelters, but a nice future option for this shelter would be the ability to have 1.24 cuben fiber for the flooring/bathtub. I have come to respect the ability of 1.24 cuben fiber on the floors of shelters. This is not to say that the average hiker will/should ever have a problem with the floor (given proper site selection/clearing) but having the ability to go with 1.24 for the floor just means that it gives you the ability to pretty much throw your shelter down anywhere, especially important on thru-hikes where camping space can be limited if there is a big pack of hikers. This potential option would add an additional 3 ounces or so, so that is why I think it would be an option and not standard. Personally, there are better options if you are willing to carry an extra item in your backpack, such as the Gossamer Gear 1/8th sleeping pad (2 ounces) but I feel like it was worth mentioning that an optional floor using stronger CF would be worth noting. I took my GG 1/8th sleeping pad and cut it down to fit about 1/2 of the bathtub floor (right at the door entrance where the most pressure is applied to the floor material) and it was a bit under 2 ounces. But I only carry it when I know for a fact I will be likely setting up somewhere that is not going to be floor friendly. Of course a person can just always deal with it and if a puncture rip ever does happen, well, that is what you carry ducktape for! Ducktape and cuben fiber seem to have a love for one other. Or better yet, carry 8 or 10 inches of "Single Sided Cuben Fiber Tape" It performs much better than that gray tape does. Now for something is not an "option" but a "must have" for the next version of the Skyscape X… an actual real bathtub. Not a floor, but a bathtub. Something that will give me at least 4 inches of height for hiking here in the Redwoods of Northern California where the ground is usually totally wet all year long – and not having a bathtub floor is just not a pleasant thing. That is what I love about the HMG Echo Shelters, they have the tallest bathtub of any shelter I have ever encountered, and I loved it!! Now the SMD Skyscape X does not need ones as tall as the HMG shelters, but having a bathtub with at least 3 or 4 inch height would really make this a dream come true shelter for me! Here is a photograph of a typical trail in the Redwoods during the shoulder/winter season which I hope explains why I am constantly after a higher bathtub floor. The very first time I got to see one of these Skyscape X shelters, and got into it, was when I was on a hike with the owner of SMD and the very first thing out of my mouth was "it needs a higher bathtub" – Ron, I am still saying it and am going to keep asking for it :-D
Zipper: The zipper is your standard #3 YKK. Only the best! One of the things I really like about this is not necessary the zipper itself but rather the angle that the zipper takes. A few solo shelters I have used over the last few years had zippers with really sharp angles, or angles in high stress/pull areas. The path that the zipper takes is very smooth. I did have to attach some 1.25 mm spectra card to the zippers because those little #3 gabbers are just to small for my fingers to find, especially in the dark or with gloves on, but this is typical of most solo shelters.
Bonding: In the world of water protection you have DWR, SilNet and tape bonding. Six Moon Design wisely choose to go with tape bonding. And not just the tape that the guys who make Cuben fiber sale – nope, SMD after a lot of testing deemed it unacceptable! So SMD does what nobody else I know of does… they went out and found some glue that works really well for cuben fiber, than cut strips of cuben fiber (0.74) and they make their own bonding tape! That is just uber crazy! And I freaking love it!! My shelter is rock solid tight and I put it to the test by having it setup 24/7 for 18 days of straight rain. Not a single drop caused by a leak in the bonding.
Usage Observations:
So far I have over 45 nights spent inside of the shelter since I acquired it a few months ago, so, not a whole lot of nights spent inside of it but probably close to what a weekend hiker would end up using it for all hiking season. There are a few things I have observed about it that I want to share with my readers.
- The bathtub has yet to have any water get into it from drippage or condensation or from build-up on the netting and than working its way down.
- In the nights I have spent in it only a single time did I experience any condensation at all. That one specific night it had been raining for 14 hours and the ground was saturated and it was raining and foggy all night. No shelter I have ever had could have not suffered from condensation with those conditions. I carry dried out wet-wipes (they are lighter dry and are just as good when you add a few drops of water on them) and I just grabbed the one I had sitting out for breakfast and used it to wipe up the condensation on the inside (and saved me using water from my bottle).
- I have noticed that the three corners of the bathtub end up with small puddles in them on really wet ground. This is a result of the seams on the bathtub not being bonded (and SMD has confirmed this.) I know it is not dripping down as none of the material above it is wet. The puddles are small, dime-size, and would not cause any problem at all if your sleeping bag came into contact with it – that is what dwr is for after all. I will be attempting to solve this by applying some one-sided cuben fiber tape on the outside of the bathtub seams and would recommend you do as well if you order one (or better yet SMD should do it in their shop.)
- The cuben fiber is standards 0.74 cuben fiber, and I have had a lot of shelters made from 0.74 cuben fiber. For some reason the bathtub floor on this shelter seems to be suffering from hydrostatic pressure issues. That is, it seems like the cuben fiber used on the bathtub is allowing water into the bathtub from the pressures applied where you sleep at, as well as where the two support poles rest on the floor. In the morning I end up having to take a towel and soaking up water under the sleeping pad and in the two spots where the poles rest on the bathtub floor. I would sort of expect this from 0.51 cuben fiber but not from 0.74 cuben fiber. I am going to put this to a test by placing a large Polycryo Ground Cloth underneath the shelter and seeing if that resolves this issue. This is an odd issue because I have other shelters with 0.74 cuben fiber floors and have never had this happen before. It is perplexing me. I will report back when I am able to determine what I believe has been causing this. Six Moon Designs has confirmed that there is a double layer of cuben fiber on the bathtub floor where the poles go, so that makes the issue of water seeping through all the more curious. Pretty much all of the Cuben Fiber out there comes from Cubic Tech Corp as far as I am aware, so it really just does not make any sense why this hydrostatic pressure issue is occurring.
- This shelter is rock solid in high winds. I had it setup for one night in some very high winds (35+, which is really windy for where I hike at) and it took it without even a hesitation of causing problems. For those concerned a single stake at the head-end would be a problem in the wind, I can assure you, it is not.
- In high winds there does seems to be a significant amount of air flow coming into the shelter. This can be good to prevent condensation or bad if its crazy cold and you do not have a warm enough sleeping gear. It felt like I was using a tarp. There is an art to getting the side vestibules deflecting a lot of the wind, but this is typical of any solo shelter – tricks to learning how to set it up. In the end though, I am somebody who believes that high wind flow through a shelter is a good thing, especially in solo shelters with a lot of high angle material that condensation usually seeks out.
- One of the issues that haunts other solo shelters is that the netting and bathtub floor are usually so close to the end of the tarp, especially at the foot end, that you encounter issues where either the netting gets wet and than drips inside, or rain spray causes water to get into the bathtub. That I just do not see happening to this shelter. I had this shelter setup for 8 straight days (24/7) for which it rained for 6 straight days, and zero water entered the bathtub from rain spray or dripping onto/through the netting. Highly impressive. Only solo shelter I have had (out of well over two dozen) that did not have this problem (though the TarpTent Rainbow has never had this problem once I learned a couple tricks to setting it up.)
- For some reason I tend to end up on the non-door side of the shelter once my pad and sleeping bag are inside. I suspect this is instinctive as every other solo shelter I have (non tarp) you have to move as far away from the door as you can in order to evade rain spray. That is just not the case with this shelter. I am learning I can actually setup right in the middle, or even right on the door if I wanted too, and enjoy the greatest amount of elbow room on both sides.
- Getting into this shelter is easy. Getting out of this shelter is really easy! Without a doubt the easiest solo shelter I have owned for getting out of. I have no idea why, but its almost naturally to get out and stand right up.
- Crazy fast setup time. In soft grass where stakes could go right in, I suspect I could setup this shelter in under 60 seconds. Having dedicated carbon fiber poles helps with that time of course, no fiddling around getting the right size for your hiking pole height. I have also found that I usually just leave the spreader bar inside of the shelter, even inside of its stuff sack. Makes setup easier and it stuffs just as easily.
Future Updates I Would Love To See:
Here is a list of some of the features I would love to see this shelter have in the future:
- A higher bathtub. Not because it needs it from rain spray, but rather for those situations where you might need to setup in really wet ground, such as is very common here in the Redwoods of Northern California.
- Adding a pouch on the non-door side would be really nice. It would probably only add a few grams and would be nice.
- Adding a short zipper along the bottom of the netting on the non-door side so I could actually utilize that vestibule space, it just needs to be long enough to put a pair of shoes, or whatever through it. Would add less than an ounce and make the shelter vestibule space seem more usable.
- An option to not have a zipper on the outside vestibule on the non-door side. I realize having the zipper on the other side allows for both sides to be opened up to allow max air flow, so this could be an 'optional' feature for those that would rather save a few grams of weight in exchange for never opening up the vestibule walls on the non-door side of the shelter. I went 12 nights inside of the shelter before I finally unzipped the non-door side vestibule zipper – but it was really nice during a warm day when I went out and sat in it for an hour or so.
- Offer an option to not have all the extra clip-hardware installed (for the optional 'porch'). The attachment in the apex of the shelter (inside) is just a total waste of weight for most thru-hikers who are never ever going to be buying and using the 'porch' attachment. Likewise, by not having the clips at the termination end of the door side zipper could shave off a few grams. It seems to me that any long distance willing to spend the money on this cuben fiber shelter is not going to be lugging around the weight of the optional porch.
- Loops on the outside of the bathtub side-wall where your head is at. The idea of these loops would be so that you could use a couple of stakes/sticks (or cordage out to the primary side stakes) to pull out the netting right where your head is at. When its really windy the sides of the netting tend to flap around, and can even flap into your face if you are not using a sleeping pad. Rather annoying and could be so easily solved.
- Additional layers of cuben fiber on the inside of the bathtub floor where your poles set at. I am concerned about long term issues in that area with poles eventually weakening the material and allowing the cuben fiber to break down. I solved this issue by applying some one-sided cuben fiber tape in that area, but it should be there by default. This is all the much more important for hikers that do not use hiking poles with broad handles. When using small dedicated poles like I am (0.292 poles) it creates significant amounts of additional pressure in a very small spot. Six Moon Designs places two layers of Cuben Fiber in this area to prevent any issues, it just does not seem to be enough to me however.
- Change the stuff sack. Right now the stuff sack is a narrow and tall stuff sack. Probably designed this way for the cross-bar. Personally I would rather have a wider and shorter stuff sack and than just shove the cross-bar somewhere in my pack. Just me.
In Closing:
In closing the facts are simple, the Six Moon Designs "Skyscape X" shelter is the finest one-piece solo shelter I have ever encountered. The 75/25 apex is amazing. It is wide enough for a 25″ pad plus a bit of extra room. It can fit a 6 foot tall person with ease. It is crazy light – the third lightest fully enclosed shelter in the world based on my SUL/XUL Enclosed Shelter Comparison – and the worlds lightest one-piece solo shelter based on my research over the last year!! It setups amazingly fast and very easy using only 5 stakes, and three stakes are all you need in nice weather. I truly believe this shelter to be a redefining moment in the world of UL/SUL fully enclosed shelters. It uses 0.74 cuben fiber giving you a higher durability of material and even with a required cross-bar this shelter packs down into a very small space, for those like myself with sub 2000 cubic inch backpacks – and it even fits inside of my 1000 cubic inch backpack when I need it too.
I am not raving about this shelter to try to talk you into buying one. I am raving about this shelter because I have been on a hunt for over three years for a fully enclosed shelter that made me happy. With a few modifications to mine, I am now happy. In the end, that is all there is to be said about a shelter.
Thanks for reading!
November 13, 2013 – The SMDSX has now been updated by SMD to have double doors!!
(disclaimer: I purchased this product with my own money. It was not given to me. I am under no obligation to write this review.)
Sawyer PointOne Squeeze Water Filter System
Greetings Hikers!
A lot of hikers place a lot of value in making sure that their water is filtered, and rightly so. I am not going to get into that issue within this article, other than to say that there are times when I absolutely refuse to go on a hiking trip without a water purification of some sort. Because of where I live and typically hike a water filter is not necessary – it rains so much that I can just gather water by setting down my water bottle and it fills up in a few minutes. At night, if I know the next morning I will be wanting to take a quick towel body shower, clean any gear, or just to have a nice breakfast I can easily gather three liters of water, the one liter that my primary bottle holds plus a 2 liter water bag for additional storage. Of course there are times when I am just not able to gather that much water and find a need to acquire water from another source beyond just rain falling, in these times it is typically from a river or creek.
I have gone through a lot of different water filters, like most of us have I suspect, trying to find one that works for me. Forget trying to find "that perfect one"… these days I just try to find one that makes me happy and feel safe and does not weigh a lot.
I have bought the Sawyer Three-way filter but it was way bigger than what I expected it to be and thus it never made it into my backpack, plus I almost never drink directly from a storage bag and I am just not a fan of the whole gravity system. Nothing against those methods, I just do not care to go down those roads, done them both and just do not like either of them.
I have bought the SteriPen Adventurer Opti and really do love it. It has never failed me, something I hear happens to people here and there. It is also something that I do not have to worry about freezing in sub freezing conditions. If you have ever woken up and realized that your standard membrane filter is frozen and totally unusable, you know what I mean. Yes it requires batteries, but I do not care about that. It is really no different from carrying fuel for your stove, its just a necessary part of your overall total backpack weight.
Awhile back Sawyer released their "Sawyer PointOne Squeeze Water Filter System" which at first I neglected to take a close look at, but here a few weeks ago I came across it again and took a serious look at its technical specs and it jumped out at me as something that could be the finest – and lightest weight – membrane filter system available for hikers. Read the rest of this entry »
Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants – Long Term Usage Review
Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants:
I have been looking forward to writing a review about the Mont-Bell Dynamo Wind Pants for a rather long time. This month I passed the 365-day mark for wearing a single pair of the Montbell Dynamo Wind Pants through snow, rain, hail, fog, beautify sunny days, more fog, and more snow and hail. They have been used as my primary pants on every hiking trip I have been on since 2010, have wore them for well over 1200 miles, and encountered every conceivable type of abuse I could think of to try to destroy these pants.
After 1,200 miles of use, an entire year of wearing them (I am at around 375 days as of today's hike) they have suffered the following damage:
- The little metal rings for the draw cords on the waist ripped out of the fabric. The first one happened while I was hiking at Gold Bluff Beach in Northern California (see my video) and the second came off when I was on a trip up into the Trinity Alps (see that video). Nether of there were a rush of the draw cords getting caught on a branch or bush or such, they just ripped off on their own. Thankfully it did not result in any additional rippage of the material and all I did was tie a knot in the draw cord to keep the cord from pulling through the slightly larger holes. This is the only 'defect' they have suffered, the below two issues were/are my own fault!
- A small section of threads came loose in the crotch region at around the 200 day mark. It was my own fault. I had them pulled down right against my shoe (thanks to the elasticize drawstring in the ankles that allow you to pull the ankles tight and than put the elastic down around your foot inside of your shoe – love this feature!) and than I proceeded to sit down indian style and caused the slight thread pulling to happen. Thankfully was not big enough to reveal anything ;)
- Lastly, one small fire hole happened about four inches from the bottom where an ember from a fire ember somehow got lucky. Now I do not think it is wise to stand in front of a fire in a pair of 12-denier rip-stop Ballistic Airlight nylon, but lets just say that on multiple occasions it has been documented that I have stood right next to a fire with these pants just getting nailed my sparks and such and they took it all in style. Again, I do not advise that, just felt like I should explain why the pants might have happened to suffer a hole from a spark from a fire ;)
I think it is beyond fair to say that I have put these pants through much broader conditions than they were ever designed to be.
They may not be as light as the Mont-Bell U.L. Wind Pants (which are 0.4 ounces lighter) and they are made with slightly less abusive resistant material, but these Mont-Bell Dynamo Wind Pants have more than proven themselves to me. They received my #2 award for my "10 Favorite Pieces of Hiking Gear for 2011" and to be honest, they could have just as easily be listed at #1 and maybe should have been.
I have had them on in 102 degree weather and they did not get clammy on me or start sticking to my legs, which I expected them to do at that temperature. I have also had them on down to 18f with a base and mid layer on and was able to move freely without any problems at all.
I have slide down snow fields, walked through blackberry bushes (probably the worst thing ever for ul/sul/xul hiking cloths), walked through fields of 6-8 foot tall ferns (if you did not know, ferns when they get that big, are about as nasty has blackberry bushes), I have posthold with them, I have crossed raging rivers with them, I have strolled along the beach and even done some bushwhacking with them. I have had to crawl up than down Redwood Trees that had fallen across trail, scrambled up and down bolder granite faces, slept in them, washed them in rivers, and waded through mud and muck that I wish I could forget I had waded through. No matter what I have done these pants have been spectacular. They have totally and completely gone beyond my expectations.
Whether you are a heavy hauler, a weekender, a devoted ultra lighter hiker, or somebody that has moved into the super ultra light and extreme ultra light world of hiking, the Mont-Bell Dynamo Wind Pants receive the highest level of praise I can given any piece of gear I have ever bought.
John B. Abela
Read the rest of this entry »


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Hannibal man facing weapons charges gets new bond
Tue, 13 May 2014 13:43:33 GMT —
A Hannibal man arrested after police say he was waving a gun and pointing it at people is now having his bond changed.
Fity-two-year-old Michael Hagan's bond was amended in Marion County Court Monday.
It went from $50,000 cash only to $75,000 or surety.
That means someone would need to take responsibility of Hagan to make sure he appears in court.
Hagan faces three counts of unlawful use of a weapon for the April 27 incident.
His next court appearance is in June 23.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thick, peanut butter blends together with sweet marshmallow fluff in this Fluffernutter Dip. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or even apples for a delectable dip that everyone will love!
Some of you might have grown up with fluffernutter. Some, like me, may have never heard of it. Since I am such a peanut butter fan, then you are probably wondering why I've never heard of it. It certainly isn't my fault. I would have posted a recipe using it long before now. This is one of those times when I wonder how many other delicious recipes mom has swimming in her head that she's never told me???
Since last week when I first heard of fluffernutter, I have been in love with it. It is with pure happiness that I bring to you this amazing Fluffernutter Dip.
Let me show you how to make this amazing fluffernutter dip.
First, you're going to make a mixture using powdered sugar, vanilla, 1 cup of peanut butter and 1/2 a stick of butter.
Once this mixture is mixed well, you'll press it out into a 9 x 7 inch rectangle on a cookie sheet that has been covered with wax paper. Then you'll want to pop it in the freezer for about 10 minutes so the mixture gets firm enough to spread on the marshmallow fluff.
After you spread on the fluff, let it sit until it is almost back to room temperature, which for us was about 10 minutes. Fold the peanut butter mixture in half, trapping the marshmallow inside the peanut butter by pressing the edges of the peanut butter mixture together. Make sure it's all pressed together as best as you can or you'll have marshmallow fluff oozing out! Which, now that I think about it…is that really a problem?!
Here comes the fun part. Carefully mold your fluffernutter mixture into a ball. Then, if you want, roll it in mini chocolate chips to make it look as pretty as it tastes.
Use pretzels, graham crackers, or even apple slices to dip in this gooey peanut butter dip. The apples make it all healthy, right?
Thick, sweet peanut butter blends together with marshmallow fluff in this Fluffernutter Dip. Best served with pretzels, vanilla wafers, crackers or apples!
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup marshmallow fluff
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- Pretzels, apple slices, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, etc. for dipping
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the peanut butter and butter until well blended. Add in the vanilla and mix again. Then add in the powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until all of the powdered sugar is mixed in.
Line a small cookie sheet with wax paper. Press the peanut butter mixture onto the wax paper, making a rectangle that is about 9"x7". The peanut butter will be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Put the cookie sheet into the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Once the peanut butter is firm, spread the marshmallow fluff on top, leaving 1/2 an inch of peanut butter showing on all sides of the rectangle. Allow the layers to sit for about 10 minutes to bring it closer to room temperature.
Fold the layers in half and press the edges together, to enclose the marshmallow inside the peanut butter. Then gently mold the mixture into a ball, being careful to keep the marshmallow fluff hidden inside.
Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on the cookie sheet and roll the peanut butter ball in the chips, coating the outside.
Wrap the ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.
Be sure to keep this dip wrapped tightly in plastic wrap until you are ready to serve it. It keeps the marshmallow fluff hidden neatly inside.
We served this dip on a plate. Once the ball has been cut into, the marshmallow will very slowly start to ooze out as it comes to room temperature. You could very easily serve this in a small bowl so that the marshmallow fluff doesn't make a mess on your cupboard. Our dip didn't last long enough to cause a problem, though. 🙂


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Mikko Tiihonen <mikko(dot)tiihonen(at)nitorcreations(dot)com> writes: > The protocol messages itself are well defined, but I cannot find any > documentation about the data value contents because there is no official > documentation. I had to just guess how the values are stored. "Use the source, Luke" ... you're supposed to consult the backend "foo_send" and "foo_recv" routines if you are in doubt about the on-the-wire representation of type foo. Someday we should get around to transposing that information into the SGML docs, but it's not a real high-priority item. regards, tom lane
Next: From: Thomas Finneid Date: 2009-06-03 15:28:33 Subject: jdbc excpetions in pg Previous: From: Croc Date: 2009-06-03 15:01:46 Subject: Re: Headless Exception


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Would You Please Yield?
Amid Low Returns From Bonds, Sovereign Wealth Funds Move Aggressively Into Real Estate
At the start of 2010, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund had no property investments to speak of.
Related Stories
Three years later, Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, which manages the oil-rich nation's wealth through Norges Bank Investment Management, has committed around $6.7 billion to property. The investments are mainly focused on prime office and retail space in major European capitals, and Norges Bank has said it plans to spend billions more over the next decade.
The fund manager has stated that it will invest up to 5% of its $690 billion fund in real estate by 2020, coinciding with a corresponding decrease in its bond holdings. It declined to comment for this article.
The change of heart typifies a shift in the portfolios of global institutional funds—especially sovereign wealth and pension funds—toward property in the search for greater returns against a backdrop of historically low government bond yields.
It's a shift that is having profound effects on global real-estate markets.
"Bond yields are so low, people are reasoning that with real estate, even though there's more risk, the return profile is much better," says Graeme Eadie, senior vice president and head of real-estate investments at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, which manages the investments for one of Canada's largest retirement systems. CPPIB now invests 11.1% of its $172.6 billion of funds under management in real estate, compared with just 4.3% in 2007.
Yields on 10-year government bonds considered the safest investments—including U.S. Treasurys, German Bunds and Japanese government bonds—have sunk to record lows of less than 1.5% during the past 12 months, and still hover not far above those levels. Meanwhile, real-estate returns have ranged between 3% and 6% for prime assets, leading to widening spreads of real-estate yields over government bond yields in nine of the 10 biggest property markets since 2007, according to property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle .
Despite recent rallies in global equity markets, major institutional funds—even the most conservative typically target total portfolio returns above 4%—are seeking the greater yields offered by real estate.
For many big funds, portfolio diversification is not only an obligation but also a necessity given lower returns from other asset classes. Although investment in infrastructure projects or private equity both offer attractive yields, many funds choose to buy into property.
"Real estate is the first place to go," says Tom Garbutt, head of global real estate at TIAA-CREF, a retirement and asset manager with $502 billion in assets under management, including $19 billion in property.
In Europe, institutional funds made up just under a quarter of the €73.1 billion ($95 billion) invested in commercial real estate during the second half of 2012, compared with an average of 15% over the past six years, according to figures from CBRE Group Inc. Within that, investment by sovereign wealth funds stood at €4.2 billion, boosted by Norges Bank's £348 million ($519 million) purchase of a 50% stake in the Meadowhall shopping center in the north of England.
During the same period, spending by real-estate investment trusts and listed property companies declined, hinting at the rising influence of institutional funds in global property markets.
Sovereign wealth and pension funds in particular have made a marked shift into property since the turn of the decade. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund both made their first significant property investments during 2012, while Middle Eastern funds have increased their activity since 2010.
"Real estate is increasingly a rather stable asset class, often with rather high dividend yields," says Patrick Kanters, global head of real estate at Dutch pension asset manager Algemene Pensioen Groep, or APG, which currently invests 10% of its €324 billion assets under management in real estate.
But competition for the best assets is intensifying, creating a squeeze for the increasing number of pension and sovereign funds demanding top-quality real estate.
Last year, Malaysia's pension fund, the Employees Provident Fund, was part of a consortium that bought London's Battersea Power Station, a former electricity plant on the south bank of the River Thames, for £400 million. Current planning consent for the building—unused since 1983—is for a residential development including 850 luxury apartments, but decades of dereliction means the investment represents something of a risk.
"The amount of parties looking for the pure prime assets is strongly increasing," says APG's Mr. Kanters. "It is likely the focus is being shifted to lesser prime locations or tier two cities, especially for funds in the build-up stage of their portfolio."
Tier two cities are those, such as Leeds and Manchester in the north of England, which are some distance from major capitals, but still boast a relatively affluent population and strong infrastructure.
China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, through its U.K.-registered Gingko Tree Investment Ltd., took a 49% stake in the Manchester office building One Angel Square for about $110 million in December, the latest in a string of U.K. property and infrastructure investments by the fund.
The increase in major funds looking to buy into real estate has caused experts to predict a sharp increase in investment in the next decade. Jones Lang LaSalle estimates that commercial real-estate market transactions world-wide will top $1 trillion a year by 2030 from $450 billion in 2012, far exceeding pre-financial crisis levels.
"There is very strong support from investors for real-estate assets," says Christian Ulbrich, the Europe, Middle East and Africa chief executive at Jones Lang LaSalle. "This will continue through 2013 and beyond as interest rates stay low and government bond yields remain below 2%."
—Tommy Stubbington contributed to this article.


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Your McDonalds Restaurant Management training transfers seamlessly to North Island College's Bachelor of Business Administration, General Management Major.
With NIC's Business Degree you will access:
How it works
North Island College will grant transfer credit for successful completion of McDonald's Management Development Program Levels 1 – 4 (MDP1, MDP2, MDP3 and MDP4) to all applicants who meet NIC's admission requirements (Eng 12 C+, Math (Foundations 11 C+, Principles 11 C, Applications 12 C, or Pre-Calculus 11 C).
How to apply
Step 1: Apply online at www.nic.bc.ca/apply or talk to an NIC educational advisor if you have questions.
Step 2. Submit the following supporting documents to NIC:
Step 3. Once you've met all the admission requirements, you will be offered a seat in NIC's Bachelor of Business Administration program. Next you'll pay a tuition deposit and will be invited to register for classes.
Come talk to us.
NIC's Educational Advisors are here to answer all your questions about programs, provide information about funding options, and help you create an educational plan based on your specific needs and interests.
email@example.com | 1-800-715-0914
NIC has been delighted to welcome artist-in-residence, Rita McKeough to campus in May and June 2017 and we now welcome you to join us Thursday, July 13 at 7 pm for the opening of Rita McKeough's exhibition "Veins." The evening will include an artist's talk. You can also visit the Comox Valley Art Gallery to view the exhibit from July 13 to September 30, 2017.
Rita McKeough has created a complex installation titled, Veins, an extensively composed installation of lands the artist is deeply concerned about. Lands with pipelines running like veins throughout their whole expanse. These lands house both human and non-human life. Veins offers a sensory immersion in a landscape where the paradox between a healthy natural world and human systems of capitalism, production, consumption can be contemplated.
The Artist-in-Residence is a collaborative program between NIC School of Fine Art and Design, the Comox Valley Art Gallery (CVAG) and the McLoughlin Gardens. It is the second year the program has run. The residency offers a creative space and platform for professional practicing artists to conduct active, hands-on research in the fine art studios at NIC.
McKeough is a Calgary-based audio, media installation and performance artist. Her work blends her varied experience as a radio disc jockey and drummer with her studies in printmaking and sculpture to create unique installations, some with interactive environments. Her work has been exhibited throughout Canada and she was awarded the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2009.
Explore 'The Act of Painting' with NIC fine art and design students at the Courtenay Lewis Centre.
The exhibit showcases the work of five emerging artists who have studied painting at NIC's School of Fine Art and Design.
"These students and their works are remarkable," says NIC instructor Elizabeth Russell. "The School of Fine Art and Design wants to thank Carol Millar and all the Lewis Centre staff for supporting emerging artists."
The exhibit displays an eclectic range of thematic concerns, styles and techniques as each artist finds their unique voice through the act of painting. It includes:
The exhibit is free and available to view daily during Lewis Centre's operating hours.
NIC School of Fine Art and Design offers courses in digital media, design, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics and art history. Students interested in learning to paint or advancing their skills and talents in art and design can take individual courses or register in the Fine Arts diploma.
Gain certifications that are required to work in the forest industry. Program includes essential workplace skills, job readiness workshops and certifications.
Date: Oct 16, 2017 to Jan 31, 2018
*Funding criteria must be met in order to participate.
The following prerequisite and preparatory courses are required to apply to NIC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program - Option C, which is designed to allow Licensed Practical Nurses to access Term 4 of NIC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Health and Healing Introduction (NUR-170)
Admission requirements: Practical Nursing Diploma or Practical Nursing Certificate and 900 hours of practice within the past five (5) years; Current & active registration as an LPN in British Columbia or the Northwest Territories.
Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO-160)
Admission requirements: Registration in NUR-170; C+ in Biology 12, BIO-060 or BIO-110 (completed within last 10 years); C+ in Chemistry 11, or CHE-051 (completed within last 10 years)
Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO-161)
Pathobiology I (BIO-260)
NIC is proud to host its annual NIC Foundation Awards reception in Courtenay on September 27th . This special reception brings together our 2017 Scholarship & Bursary student recipients, staff, faculty and donors to celebrate student success.
Date: Wednesday September 27, 2017
Time: 7 pm
Location: Ballroom, Crown Isle Resort, 399 Clubhouse Drive, Courtenay
Questions or RSVP: 250-334-5074 or email@example.com.
Join NIC's School of Business and the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Thursday, September 28 to learn about our Global Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship program which connects top business students with working professionals in the Comox Valley.
Date: Thursday, September 28
Time: 7:45 to 9 am
Location: Tyee Student Lounge, NIC Comox Valley Campus
Student mentees connect with mentors in the business community, build networking skills and gain valuable business contacts. Please read through the program guidelines and then click here to apply to be a mentee.
Mentors share their knowledge and experience with a new generation of business leaders while tapping in to the students' theoretical knowledge of current business trends. Please read through the program guidelines and click here to apply to be a mentor.
When: Saturday, September 30 from 10:00 AM to Sep 30 12:00 PMWhere: Stan Hagen Theatre, Komoux HallCourse Code: CVEC 9001
Join us for Tuesday, October 3, 6-7 pm to learn more about NIC's Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Training which will take place over 12-weeks, beginning January 29, 2018.
Course Code: GENI-5130 (Info session is free but you must pre-register)
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Time: 6-7 pm
Location: NIC's Comox Valley campus
NISU invites you to join them for a Sisters in Spirit Vigil at NIC's Comox Valley campus.
The vigil is part of a nationally recognized event, running concurrently nationwide to bring attention to the thousands of missing and harmed Indigenous women across the country. NISU stands in solidarity with nations across the country to honour those family members who never came home.
Date: October 4, 2017
Time: 10 am - 11 am.
Location: NIC's Comox Valley campus
Choose from four in demand careers within one of BC's fastest growing industries.
Length: 3-4 weeks per course, full time.
Cost: $275/ course
Production Assistant Training
Campbell River: Oct 10 -30 | Port Alberni: Nov 6-27
Gain essential skills and industry knowledge needed to pursue entry-level employment as a production assistant. Preference will be given to applicants with Aboriginal ancestry.
Instructors: Mark Voyce, Location Manager and Donna Hains, Human Resource Specialist
Lighting Film Training
Campbell River: Nov 14-Dec 11 | Port Alberni: Jan 8-Feb 2
Learn to plan, develop and execute lighting schemes to support film and TV shots. This training is well suited to individuals who have completed the electrical foundation program and individuals who are ready to diversify their careers.
Instructor: John Helme, Gaffer/Chief Lighting Technician
Grip Film Training
Campbell River: Nov 14-Dec 11 | Port Alberni: Jan 8-Feb 2
Learn how to configure camera and lighting equipment to get the perfect shot, understand industry protocols and execute professional shots. This program is well suited to individuals who enjoy hard work, have a technical aptitude and desire to work in the creative industries.
Instructor: Jeff Smith, Key Grip
Carpentry and Set Construction Training
Campbell River: Nov 14-Dec 11 | Port Alberni: Jan 8-Feb 2
Learn about the materials and requirements to design, build and take down sets. This training is well suited to individuals who have completed the Carpentry Foundation program and who are ready to diversify their careers.
Instructor: Hal Keown, Journeyman Carpenter and Master Craftsman, Set Construction Coordinator and Foreman
To request a training application package, email email@example.com
All communications for this training are via email and will be answered within 24 hours.
Do you want to find out how you can work at Walt Disney World Resort as part of NIC's Study Abroad program? Come out to our free, community event on Friday, October 13 and find out.
Meet a Disney representative to find out how you can:
Date: Friday, October 13
Time: 1-2 pm
Location: Village J, Comox Valley campus
When: Saturday, October 21 from 10:00 AM to Oct 21 12:00 PMWhere: Stan Hagen Theatre, Komoux HallCourse Code: CVEC 9003
Comox Valley ElderCollege Winter Courses begin.
Stay tuned for upcoming courses and the Winter 2018 Comox Valley ElderCollege newsletter.
Save the date! Join our Student Employment Services for the next annual NIC Career Fair on March 22, 2018.
This free event for students provides employers the opportunity to promote their companies and meet with skilled and enthusiastic potential employees in the Comox Valley region.
Whether you are looking for an employee to fill short-term, seasonal, or permanent positions, you will meet with exceptional students, new graduates, alumni, and community members.
Online registration for this not-to-be-missed event is available in October 2017.
Date: Tuesday, March 22
Time: 11 am - 3 pm
Location: Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave., Courtenay, BC
Student Employment Services (SES) assists students in developing strategies for effective job searching, while helping connect students with businesses and organizations that are seeking new employees. Improve your resume building, letter-writing and interview skills and learn more about co-op education opportunities by making an appointment with an Employment Services Advisor. Questions? Contact an SES advisor at email@example.com or call: 250-334-5000 (Comox Valley campus) or 250-923-9700 (Campbell River campus).
Disclaimer | © 2010 - 2017 North
Island College, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada | Contact
North Island College: University transfer & degrees, trades,
nursing, business, distance education, and more.
Locations: Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, and Ucluelet.


text:
Starting cornerback Aqib Talib will miss rest of season with hip injury
Aqib Talib will miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury that he suffered in Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Falcons.
Talib tore a tendon from a bone near his hip, but the injury will not require surgery.
It could be a devastating loss for the Bucs. Entering Sunday's game against Atlanta, Talib was tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions.
Second-year pro E.J. Biggers is expected to start in his place for the remaining four games.
-- Rick Stroud, Times staff writer


text:
Dec. 4, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas – The latest episode of "Inside UTA Athletics" presented by Mixed-Up Burgers features softball coach Kristie Fox and is hosted by UT Arlington communications student Josh Sours.
Fox and the softball team recently finished up their fall season. She discusses recruiting, the new indoor facility currently under
"Inside UTA Athletics" is a weekly sports program jointly produced by the UT Arlington Athletics and the UTA Department of Communications. "Inside UTA Athletics" covers all 14 sports sponsored at UT Arlington, and will spotlight coaches, student-athletes and other aspects of the UTA Athletics.
Mixed-Up Burgers is the exclusive sponsor for "Inside UTA Athletics." Visit Mixed-Up Burgers online at mixedupburgers.com.
About Mixed-Up Burgers
We're not one of those "slap a boring ol' patty on the grill and call it gourmet" burger joints. We serve 'em up right and throw all your favorite burger toppers right into the fresh patty meat- bringing out the flavors of your choice ingredients. Every burger is custom-made, just for you.
Mixed-Up Burgers locations:
The Original Location
510 E. Ave K, Grand Prairie, TX
Grand Prairie Airport
3116 S. Great SW Pkwy
Grand Prairie, TX
More Headlines
W. Volleyball - 9/23/2017
VB: South Alabama Takes Down Mavs
Cross Country - 9/23/2017
XC: UTA faces stiff test in College Station
M. Golf - 9/23/2017
MG: Mavericks conclude play at Tucker Intercollegiate
W. Volleyball - 9/22/2017
VB: Mavs Top Troy in Conference Opener
M. Golf - 9/22/2017
MG: Short-handed Mavs move up in New Mexico
General Release - 09/22/2017
Another season of excellence at UTA is well underway


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Tony has another great recipe for you to try out at this weekend's football watching party or tailgate. This week's recipe comes from the food blog Lauren's Latest.
Before you get started, you'll need to reference Lauren's recipes for BBQ Pulled Pork and Coleslaw.
- 1/2 recipe Lauren's Easy BBQ Pulled Pork
- 1/2 recipe Lauren's The Best Coleslaw Ever
- 1 package crinkle cut sweet potato fries
- 1/3 cup drained mild yellow pepper rings
- Follow the directions for baking the sweet potato fries on the package. Let them cool for 5 minutes.
- Build sliders by heaping 1-2 spoonfuls of pulled pork on one sweet potato fry. Top with the coleslaw and a couple of yellow pepper rings. Use a similar-sized sweet potato fry for the top.
- Repeat until all the fries are used up.


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manon's review of Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder [DISCONTINUED]
155 reviews
80% would repurchase
Package Quality: 3.4
Price: $$$
Package Quality: 3.4
Price: $$$
INGREDIENTSTalc, Magnesium Myristate, Parfum (Fragrance) and may contain: Iron Oxides CI 77491, 77492, CI 77499, Yellow 5 CI 1914O, Ultramarines CI 77007
Age: 25-29
Skin: Other, Other, Not Sure
Hair: Other, Other, Other
Eyes: Other
I am most definitely not a powder user. I buy them on occasion, but I always end up swapping them away, because I just don't like they way they feel on my face, plus I like that glowy look. So when the Becca SA told me that I need this to make my perfect Becca makeup virtually sweat- and water-resistant and to set it for 12-24 hours, you can imagine what I was thinking. To be fair, she did offer to provide me with a sample. But I purchased it anyway, because I had a feeling that I would like it. Well, the powder has not been put to the full test yet, considering the nice weather, and the fact that I rarely wear makeup beyond 12 hours and certainly not for 24! But I will say this, it disappears into the skin, does not dry it out, still leaves that wonderful Becca glow without adding shimmer, and it does seem to hold off the "oilies" for a bit. I also like the fact that you can get it to match your foundation. Another wonderful product from Becca.*edited to say that the sifter is not entirely secure, which can cause a bit of a mess, so open carefully. continued >>
Read all 155 reviews of Fine Loose Finishing Powder [DISCONTINUED]
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Photos are for members only!!
Peachmate is a 100% free sex site for adults looking for fun with no strings attached.
Escort ads, casual sex groups, personal ads, video chat and much more.
Fun, like to hike and be outdoors, down for whatever. older or younger..or even just flirting and sexting..let me know woman


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Konami announced this week that Pro Evolution Soccer 6 will be arriving in stores on October 27 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and PC, but currently very little has been said in regards to bringing the acclaimed series to the Wii.
Speaking to CVG, Seabass has confirmed that a version of Pro Evolution Soccer is currently in development for the Wii. Although very much in the early stages, the game is already in a playable state and the team is working on ways to utilise the Wii remote and nunchuck.
We'll be sure to keep readers posted on any further developments.


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The New Year has already brought big news from one of music's biggest names – Lady Gaga.
The pop superstar has announced the release dates for her new album, "Born This Way," which will drop on May 23. Gaga revealed it will be preceded by the album's self-titled first single, which will hit on February 13.
"THE SONG 2 3 11 THE RECORD 5 23 11," Gaga posted on her Twitter page at the stroke of midnight on the East Coast on New Year's Eve.
Her post was accompanied by a photo of a half-nude Gaga wearing a jean jacket with "Born This Way" emblazoned on the back.
The announcement fulfilled the singer's previous promise of big news to be revealed as the clock ran out on 2010.
"Merry Christmas little monsters! I love you with all my heart. My gift to you is a BORN THIS WAY announcement Midnight on NEW YEARS EVE. –MM," she Tweeted on Christmas Day.
Prior to the big news, Gaga posted several messages containing lyrics from her forthcoming release.
"Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track baby, I was Born This Way," she wrote in one Tweet.
"I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes, I'm on the right track baby, I was Born This Way," she said in another.
Gaga's new album will certainly have lofty expectations on the heels of her 2010 release, "The Fame Monster," which was the best-selling album of the year worldwide, having sold nearly 6 million copies.


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High-tech security cameras to be installed all over Dubai
Dubai: High-tech security cameras— at a cost of Dh500 million — are to be installed in the next few days in order to ensure the safety of Dubai residents.
The smart cameras are to be installed in various areas in Dubai as part of the Dh500 million plan that is to be implemented in order to monitor day-to-day traffic and criminal activity.
Director of the Criminal Investigation Division, Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, stated that the locations where the cameras are going to be installed will be decided by a specialised team.
He also added that due to the cameras' advanced technology only a small number needed to be installed.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, has stated that a budget of Dh500 million has been designated to spread the smart cameras across Dubai.
This is because the cameras proved their worth in 2010. Cameras installed in Dubai hotels, shopping malls and the airport played an important role in detecting the 33 European and Australian suspects involved in the murder of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Mabhouh.
Al Mansouri added that these cameras play a big role in ensuring the safety of Dubai residents — without breaching their privacy. Therefore they are installed in public places only for the purpose of monitoring traces of criminal or social activities that might pose a risk to the people of Dubai.
Al Mansouri concluded by stressing the importance of adopting new technology in the face of fighting crime.
He also stated that the security cameras installed across Dubai have already helped in arresting many criminals who were caught red-handed by these cameras.


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Beaumont Children's Hospital provides the most advanced care to the ones who matter most. Whether it's a common cold or a complex surgery, the dedicated physicians and nurses at our pediatric hospital have the training, the technology and the compassion to provide the highest quality medical care especially for children.
We take care of everyone from the smallest infants to growing teenagers from across Southeast Michigan and around the world more than 100,000 times every year. As part of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, our comprehensive health services and expertise span nearly every pediatric medical and surgical subspecialty.
At Beaumont Children's Hospital, offering the most advanced pediatric care doesn't just mean connecting your family with internationally recognized physicians utilizing the latest technology and procedures. Whether your relationship with us begins in a birthing suite, a pediatrician's office or even in our Pediatric Emergency Center, we're committed to making your child feel welcome and comfortable every step of the way.
Our highly trained doctors, nurses and other pediatric professionals take a family-centric approach to care, including in dedicated pediatric units in Royal Oak and at Beaumont Hospital, Troy and at our state-of-the-art Ghesquiere Family Center for Children's Surgery. We also treat children at Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe, and in outpatient locations and affiliated physician offices throughout the region.
Beaumont Children's Hospital is a member of the Children's Hospital Association, a testament to our commitment to the highest standards of pediatric care. We are also proud to be the only Southeast Michigan affiliate of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Connect with a Specialist
To connect with a Beaumont pediatrician, call 248-551-2057 or complete and submit the form below.


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SourceFan-made Half-Life remake, Black Mesa, has been given the go-ahead by Valve to become a commercial product on Steam.
That's right. Valve admires the remake so much, apparently, that it's okay with not only hosting the community project on its distribution portal, but actually allowing the dedicated fans to profit from it.
"Black Mesa has been given the opportunity to be sold as a retail product on Steam!" the developer beamed on its Steam Community page. "This is an incredible honour - one we never expected - but also one we found hard to accept."
"We never developed Black Mesa with money in mind. Our team is made up of average, hardworking people, and no one joined the team to make money. For us, Black Mesa is purely a labour of love. We believe this philosophy has significantly contributed to the overall quality and feel of the game."
The developer explained that its decision to sell Black Mesa is based on the fact that it wants to make the game as good as possible and that requires "having full access to the Source engine" and the project lead admitted "our team could really use the financial help." This is not a huge surprise for a developer that put together a high-quality remake of one of the finest shooters ever made in its spare time with no outside capital.
This doesn't mean the free version will be dropped, however. Players will still be able to enjoy the release that came out last autumn in addition to an upcoming, even better free version once Black Mesa appears on Steam. It was one of the first games accepted on Steam Greenlight, after all.
The paid version will have a few extra features, though these have yet to be revealed. "Purchasing the Steam version of Black Mesa is more about supporting the team and our efforts than anything else," the developer stated. "However, the Steam version will include features that the free version simply can not have. We will be paying careful attention to feedback, and you'll have a very real say in how the final game turns out."
One addition that we know is coming is the final few levels of Half-Life: the alien planet Xen. These were omitted from Black Mesa originally, mostly due to time constraints and the fact that it's almost universally considered Half-Life's weakest section. The Black Mesa developer is still planning to add and improve the Xen stages, but given the project's port to a new version of Steam, this isn't going to be for awhile.
"To be totally honest however, Xen is still a ways off," the developer said. "Over the past year, we have spent a huge amount of time porting the game to a new engine and fixing hundreds of bugs. The work to port to the new engine was not because of the decision to go retail, this was work that had to be done to get Black Mesa onto Steam and support our future plans."
EG-contributor Will Porter was a big fan of Black Mesa when he played it upon its initial release last year. "It genuinely feels like something of an insult to its creators that we can all sample the fruits of their extensive labour for free," he said in his glowing Black Mesa appraisal. "One can only hope that Uncle Valve might find a way to reward them for their startling act of devotion." How prophetic!
I'm sure i've seen a few of you mention this game several times. I want to say Rapture and Keefy but I'm not too sure.
Anyway, nice of Valve to do so.
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11-20-2013 #1
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Valve gives Black Mesa permission to be a commercial product
11-20-2013 #2
WOW. I never saw that coming. I was thinking about this game and noticed the greenlight status was removed, I couldn't find its page and wondered why,. This explains it.
I will buy the "full version" might as well the version i played last year was very good and extremely well made and polished for a fan made mod.
Whas not to love about a game that has these guys in it?
To me to you.
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AI'm going to be making a belle Barbie cake. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can order a topper for that. All I can find is ones for individual size cakes. Also how much should I charge for this type of cake?
Are you going to make it a doll cake with Belle's body the cake? If so you could always use the barbie type doll and insert the whole doll in the cake. Just make sure to wrap the legs and body good in plastic wrap. It actually becomes a toy for the child afterwards. I made the mistake of breaking the legs off the first time I did one and the child was so upset. YIKES! I have charged between $75-$90 for one of these dolls. Just depends if it is buttercream/ fondant and how much detail. I have a couple pictures in my album if you want to take a look. HTH


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Christmas light show in Isanti
Through the holidays: The Bryant and Danielle Lentsch Family in Isanti will once again be doing a Christmas light show. Showtimes for the light show at 310 Elm St. SW in Isanti begins daily at 6 p.m. and runs every 30 minutes. Each show runs 15 minutes and syncs up with music. Directions from Isanti Main Street: Head south on Railroad Street. Continue on Railroad Street until you reach South Passage. Turn right on South Passage. Turn right on Fourth Street. Turn right on Glenwood Street. Turn left on Third Street. Turn left on Elm Street S.W. The Lentsch home is on the right side of the street. The display features more than 10,000 lights. New features have been added this year including strobe lights to the mega tree that is now 20 feet tall.
Holiday Concert at Cambridge Campus
Wednesday, Dec. 11: A Holiday Concert featuring "The Above Average Tuba Quartet" will be held at 7 p.m. at Anoka Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus, Room G202. Sponsored by the Anoka-Ramsey Cambridge Campus Chamber Ensemble. Concert is free and open to the public.
Kenny Krona in Concert at CCFA
Thursday, Dec. 12: Cambridge Center for the Arts announces Kenny Krona in concert next door to the CCFA gallery at 144 Second Ave. SE, Cambridge. For ticket information contact: [email protected] Limited number of tickets available at the door.
Book Fair at Cambridge Medical Center
Dec. 12-13: Reach Out and Read invites the community to a "Books Are Fun" book fair at Cambridge Medical Center Foundation Room. Many fun and colorful books will be available for purchase. Profit will be used to buy the books that doctors give to children at their well child check ups.
Isanti County Self-Advocacy Holiday Celebration
Friday, Dec. 13: An Isanti County Self-Advocacy Holiday Celebration will be held Dec. 13. From 2-4 p.m., they will be ringing the bell for Salvation Army at Cub Foods in Cambridge, depending on weather. Come even for half-hour, dress warm. From 5-7 p.m. will be the Holiday Potluck. Bring food item to share. $5 wrapped present to exchange. Holiday Bingo with door prizes. Potluck at Common Ground United Methodist Church, Cypress Street, Cambridge. Contact Maggie Treichel for more information at 763-370-3946.
Braham Santa Day
Saturday, Dec. 14: Braham Santa Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Braham. Braham VFW Pancake Brunch, Photos with Santa, Santa's Gift Shoppe, Mrs. Claus Bake Sale, Christmas Music and Caroling. Raffle Tickets are now on sale and will be available at Santa Day for the drawing to take place at Santa Day. Do not need to be present to win. Win a weekend night stay at Grand Casino Hinckley; Win a hand carved baseball bat, valued at $150. Tickets on sale at Frandsen Bank, Braham Country Floral, Braham Liquor Store, Kline Oil and Braham Area Community Center Committee Members. Ticket price: $2 per ticket or three tickets for $5.
Christ the King Knights of Columbus Bingo
Sunday, Dec. 15: The Cambridge Christ the King Knights of Columbus will sponsor a bingo party at the Catholic Parish Hall from 5-7 p.m. Lunch will be served beginning at 4:30 p.m. Prizes will be turkeys or cash. The public is invited.
Breakfast at Mill Ridge Terrace
Tuesday, Dec. 17: Join your friends for breakfast at Mill Ridge Terrace, 235 Fern St. N. in Cambridge, on Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Good food, friendly service and great prices. For more information call 763-689-1474.
35th Anniversary City Center Market Celebration
Wednesday, Dec. 18: City Center Market will be 35 years-old on Jan. 18, 2014, and the Co-op is starting to celebrate on Dec. 18. The community is invited to stop in, sample a variety of delicious foods, listen to music, enjoy a chair massage, and learn more about co-ops. And, there are 35 special items on sale. City Center Market is located at 122 N Buchanan St., Cambridge. Call 763-689-4640 for more information.
Free Community Dinner at Faith Lutheran
Thursday, Dec. 19: A free Community Dinner will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Isanti from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Use the downstairs entrance. Everyone is welcome to join for a time of fellowship and a meal. Call the church office at 763-444-9201 with questions.
St. Scholastica Dinner Theater Fundraiser
Thursday, Dec. 19: The students of St. Scholastica Academy will present the play "A Rented Christmas" for their third annual Dinner Theater Fundraiser. Event will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church Parish Hall in Cambridge. A sit down lasagna dinner complete with salad and dessert will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by the play. A limited number of tickets are available. To purchase call 763-689-4648.


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Kelvim Escobar went from the disabled list to the rotation to the bullpen and then back to the DL in the span of about a week last month, and now Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports that he "hasn't picked up a baseball in weeks and has to be considered a long shot to pitch again this season."
General manager Tony Reagins said yesterday that Escobar is still experiencing "a deep ache" in his surgically repaired shoulder, adding: "We wanted him to back off and that's what he's doing. We're not writing him off, by any means. We're going to move forward cautiously. If we get him back, great. If we don't get him back, then we don't get him back."
On a related note, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Angels "are looking for late-inning relief help" and have targeted Scott Downs and Brandon League of the Blue Jays, Chad Qualls of the Diamondbacks, and Rafael Betancourt of the Indians. And of course DiGiovanna also notes that the Angels would be interested in a front-of-the-rotation starter like ... drum roll please! ... Roy Halladay.
In laying out potential deals for Halladay yesterday Matthew Pouliot speculated that the Angels could give up Jordan Walden, Brandon Wood, Trevor Reckling, and Matt Sweeney. On the other hand, DiGiovanna writes that "Halladay would probably cost the Angels pitcher Jered Weaver, a top pitching prospect such as Trevor Reckling or Jordan Walden, top hitting prospect Brandon Wood and a young big leaguer such as Erick Aybar or Howie Kendrick."
Halladay is an exceptionally good pitcher and the Blue Jays should be holding out for an exceptionally good package of players in return for him, but there's just no way that their asking price is anything close to Weaver, Reckling/Walden, Wood, and Kendrick/Aybar if they actually want to make a deal. For one thing, Weaver is 26 years old, has a 3.60 career ERA, makes the MLB minimum, and is under the Angels' control through 2012.
Does anyone think that upgrading from Weaver to Halladay--who's 32 years old, makes about 40 times as much money, and becomes a free agent after next season--is worth Wood, Walden, and Kendrick? If the Blue Jays want prospects like Walden or Wood, they can get them. If the Blue Jays want young major leaguers like Weaver or Kendrick, they can get them.
But as the deals for Dan Haren, Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Josh Beckett, and various other top starters and the rumored offers for Jake Peavy have shown in recent years asking for a couple of choice names from Column A and a couple of choice names from Column B just isn't how these things tend to work.


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Links to Data and Online Resources for Cass County NOT on this Site
1860 Census Mortality Schedule
"1860 federal Census, Schedule 3.- Persons who Died during the year ending 1st June, 1860, in the County of Cass, Territory of Nebraska, enumerated by me, J.D.Simpson Ass't Marshal"
Transcribed from "Federal Non-Population Decennial Census Schedules for Nebraska," National Archives Microfilm Publications, Call No. T1128, Roll 2. Transcription by Wendy J. Anderson.
Original Enumeration Columns
[Note: The cause of death of this person appears to be written as
Links to Data and Online Resources for Cass County NOT on this Site
Information on this page may be used for personal,
nonprofit purposes only. © Copyright 1999 Wendy J.
Anderson. This page may not be copied or distributed or
accessed for profit without the written permission of the copyright
holder or the owner of this site.


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In a recent media dinner with Shell, they shared with me a really cool event that has been ongoing for years and unfortunately escaped my green radar.
Shell's Eco-marathon invites students from all over the world to design and build the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle and produce the fewest emissions. Teams can enter two main categories:
- Futuristic prototypes – which are streamlined vehicles where the primary design consideration is reducing drag and maximizing efficiency
- Urban Concept vehicles – which are built to more conventional 4-wheel roadworthy criteria (new to the Americas event in 2009)
Either conventional fuels such as diesel, gasoline and LPG, OR alternative fuels such as solar, electric, hydrogen, bio-fuels and GTL can be used to power vehicles. The goal of the project is not to break speed records or be the first to finish; it is to consume as little fuel as possible over a set distance.
The Eco-marathon has been ongoing in Europe for 25 years and in 2007, Shell started the Eco-marathon Americas, which again will be held this year this time in Fontana, California, on April 15-18.
Watch the vid to learn more about it. Shell will hold this year's Eco-marathon Europe on May 7-9 in Germany while a brand new Eco-marathon Asia will be held next year in Malaysia.
Shell said the marathon started in 1939 as the 'Shell Mileage Marathon' when a friendly wager between scientists at Shell Oil's research laboratory in Wood River, Illinois, tried to find who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicles.


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Police seeking armed robber of Walgreens
Largo police are searching for a man who robbed the Walgreens pharmacy at 2295 East Bay Drive at 6 a.m. Thursday. He is described as white, between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall and about 230 pounds with black medium-length hair. He was wearing business attire. After entering the store, the man went straight to the pharmacy, produced a gun and demanded OxyContin. After receiving the drug, he fled in a 2006 or 2007 white Honda Accord with a Florida license plate. Anyone with information is asked to call the Largo Police Department at (727) 586-7427.
Crash with SUV badly hurts biker
A motorcyclist was critically injured Wednesday night when his motorcycle ran into the back of a sport utility vehicle. The crash happened in the 2700 block of Sunset Point Road about 10:24 p.m., according to Clearwater police spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts. Jason Johnson, 23, of 1848 Princeton Drive was speeding west on Sunset Point Road on his 2006 Honda motorcycle, police said. He tried to pass a car and couldn't stop in time, running into the back of a 2002 Jeep Cherokee driven by Russell Downes, 45, of 200 Second Ave. S in St. Petersburg. Johnson was ejected from the motorcycle. His body hit the SUV and then fell to the ground. He was not wearing a helmet, police said. Johnson was in serious condition at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa on Thursday night. Daly-Watts said that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Police looking
for stolen plaque
Clearwater police are on the lookout for a bronze plaque that was swiped Wednesday from the wall of the David Martin soccer field at Glen Oaks Park, 1345 Court St. The plaque was glued to the west wall, near the playground. The plaque is bronze, 24 inches by 16 inches and weighed about 100 pounds. It's valued at $1,337. Anyone with information on the theft or the whereabouts of the plaque is asked to call the Clearwater Police Department at (727) 562-4420.
Pinellas deaths
Ahmann, Donald Henry
Anderson, Helen A.
Bresee, Debbie
Carr, Virginia Mae
Duecker, Diane
Harrison, Elsie L.
Kirkelie, Edith A.
Mabini, June C.
Mueller, Helen D.
Price, Col. Jean E.
Scarr, Leonard Patrick
Struck, Mildred D. "Millie"
Stull, Janet L.
Wilson, James A.
Wunderlich, Fred J.
This list is from detailed obituaries published in Section B.


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Church & State Update: Chef Tony Esnault Takes Over From Jeremy Berlin
Chef Tony Esnault at Patina
A. Scattergood
The downtown bistro Church & State has a new chef. Former Patina executive chef Tony Esnault took over the kitchen recently, succeeding Jeremy Berlin. The move came when Berlin, who had worked with Gordon Ramsay previously and had come to Los Angeles from England to open Ramsay's The London West Hollywood, was tapped by his former employer for a new Ramsay project in Las Vegas. Berlin departs on good terms with Church & State's owner, Yassmin Sarmadi, who hired Berlin to succeed Joshua Smith, who himself followed Walter Manzke behind the stoves.
Sarmadi has been working with Esnault on Spring, a French restaurant going into the ground floor of the Douglas Building at the corner of Spring and Third streets in downtown Los Angeles. Since that project is still some ways away -- target opening date is late 2013 -- Sarmadi told us yesterday that Esnault decided to fill in at Church & State. And Esnault had so much fun cooking the bistro cuisine of his native France that he decided to make the move permanent.
Esnault will be the main chef at Spring when it opens, Sarmadi says, but chefs work best when they're in the kitchen -- not going through the sometimes endless process of waiting for a restaurant to open. Esnault left Patina last year to open Spring with Sarmadi, and he's been consulting, and wandering city government hallways and farmers markets since.
The time off, it seems, has done nothing to dispel Esnault's fondness for Southern California produce. At Patina, the chef specialized in glorious dishes featuring vegetables, and he has said that one of the reasons he loves Los Angeles is our stellar market produce. Since Esnault took over the kitchen at Church & State, he's been making nettle soup and chicory and citrus salads. Also new on the menu: a traditional Alsatian tarte flambé, new charcuterie and pâtés, and a coq au vin.
Sarmadi says the menu probablywill continue to evolve under Esnault, but that the downtown bistro will stay fairly unchanged. "Through different chefs we've always remained who we are."
And in related news:
Chef Tony Esnault and Yassmin Sarmadi Join Forces to Open Spring: Between French Bistro and Fine Dining
Q & A With New Patina Chef Tony Esnault: What He Cooks for Joachim Splichal + Why There Are No Potatoes On the Patina Menu
A Q & A With Patina Chef Tony Esnault, Part 2: Whisks, Tweezers and Carrot Batonnets for Kids
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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Diablo, a Buxton Ferret was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Ferret for sale in Buxton, or seeking a Ferret from a breeder in Buxton.


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World to end before Christmas?1:35
Fox News reporting on a Mayan prediction that things are going to get bumpy December 21, 2012.
US PROPHETS of doom are amping up their supply of military arms, finessing drop / roll manoeuvres, lining their underground bunkers with stockpiles of tinned beans.
They are preparing to outlive the rest of us deep in southern US swamplands.
Doomsdayers are convinced (again) that they'll be the last ones standing when the Mayan calendar ticks over to the end of time at the December 21 solstice.
Over centuries, thousands of predictions have been made about the end of our world. Y2K turned out to be a fizzer, will the solstice stand up and be counted as the day to end all days?
According to the ancient Mayan civilization of southern Mexico, December 21, 2012 , will be the first day the sun has risen in alignment with the Milky Way for tens of thousands of years. This moment marks the end of the Mayan "long count" calendar, interpreted by some to be a prediction of the end of time and civilisation.
And so?
Statistically speaking a lot of people over a lot of years think this means something.
Three thousand or more pieces of literature claim that the Maya predicted the Earth will be destroyed on this date.
And here's how:
Whacked by an asteroid: You'll be buying petrol or watering the pansies when a dark shadow looms overhead and jolt! The Earth has met with an asteroid.
Ripped in two: A galactic planetary alignment will tear the Earth apart or the north and south poles will swap and our planet, us included, will flip upside down. Sounds like childbirth.
Sucked up: The Milky Way Galaxy will make like a bag-less vacuum and suck the troublesome little ball called Earth right off the solar system's carpet.
In any case it makes for spooky torchlight storytelling and we can at least say we were forewarned. But I do wonder about skipping the rent for the month of December.
Originally published as Apocalypse... wait for it, wait for it... now!