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Our Disney Trip: Organized Packing and Playing in the Van/
The last time I drove to my mother's in Ponte Vedra, Michael was eighteen and Karoline was an infant riding backwards. Mike flew in to meet us there. I drove the whole way. Karoline cried the whole way. It took us fourteen hours. I waited nearly five years to repeat that trip.
This time, Mike drove. Everyone is old enough to ride facing forward. And I applied everything I have ever learned about packing and planning for the car. here's the brain dump.
We began the packing process early and took our time working through it thoughtfully. Mary Beth was a huge help. Totally umprompted, she presented me with packing lists one morning and showed me how she had begun to gather into a laundry basket t all of the extra things we would need. Those basket items were then divided into things we would need in the car while we traveled and things that could be packed and put in the back. Then, it was divided again to cut down on what we actually needed and didn't need. The kids' bags were laid out on the floor, packed, checked, unpacked, repacked, checked, and one more for good measure;-). I'm happy to report no one underpacked (though a certain 13-year-old boy overpacked).
We were lucky enough to have a washer and dryer in our hotel suite, a feature that was a huge help with eliminating extra clothes. I did laundry every day at my mother's house and every day at Disney World. The only dirty laundry we brought home was the laundry we were wearing. That made transition to home a bit easier. The packing lists we created for the children included 3 pairs of jeans, 5 shirts (3 long sleeved, and 2 short sleeved), sweatshirt with hood, bathing suit, pajamas, underwear, socks, baseball cap, and sunglasses and clothes to wear for dinner at the club and church. The older kids were in charge of getting their car 'toys' into the car while the youngers had theirs packed in an extra bag (more on that later in the post).
A note about shoes: About three weeks before we left, I took inventory of the shoes each child planned to wear while walking at Disney.I made sure they were in good repair and fit perfectly. I ended up buying new pairs for a couple of children and then encouraging them to wear them often before we left so that they'd be broken in and we'd catch any ill-fitting blister issues before leaving.
Car Bag 1 (this is a euphemism. We actulaly called it the "Throw Up Bag."). The first car bag was packed with things we potentionally would need while we were in the car (a bag that wouldn't get packed and be unaccesible in the back of the car). We have several children who are prone to motion sickness. This bag was the go-to bag when someone started to gag. It included baby wipes, clorox wipes, gum, snacks, waterbottles (they weren't IN the bag but nearby), and plastic bins just in case of car sickness. I used these bins, so that I could put the lid on it and dispose of it as soon as possible. I also packed a roll of scented trash bags for nasty clothes and clean up trash. In the accessible car bag, we included a change of clothes for each of our two littlest girls.
Extra Things Bags: This was a catch-all bag for the stuff of every day living away from home. It included
- Tiger Balm patches and cream (for mom's elbow, but they were used otherwise as well)
- bandaids (why, Mickey Mouse of course)
- neosporin
- blister packs (happy to say no one in our family needed them, but I did give one to someone else)
- nebulizer
- cold medicine
- Airborne
- sunscreen (something we definitely DID need)
- Advil
- breakfast food and some patnry items for meals prepared in the hotel. we ate all our breakfasts and some dinners in the hotel.
- glowsticks, needed for extra magic at night and great for helping to keep track of kids at the nighttime parade and fireworks
- garbage bags
- laundry soap
- paper towels.
- Tide to go
- Cinch sacks for everybody. I'll explain these in further detail in a later post, but we packed an empty cinch sack for each of us to use daily while we were there for water and snacks and other essentials. The boys regularly collect these at soccer tournaments and from shoe vendors, so we had planty of them around the house. Sarah's bag was the only one that was different. She had a teddy bear backpack that was a birthday gift. Since I ended up carrying her and her packpack more often than not, I'd think differently about her backpack if I had it to do again. My backpack was a frontpack. Sarah rode in it. So, my pocket for water and snacks was super small. I still managed to put trail mix in it and to stash a few bandaids, Tide-toGo, and lipgloss. I carried this purse with me everywhere. The size, the zippers and the velcro while I walked through throngs in the park made it perfect! (And here I admit that it made me happy that my hipster and my baby carrier happened to coordinate. It's the little things;-).
AeroBed Sleep Tight Bed: So worth the money! This bed is extremely easy to inflate and so cozy to sleep in. If you need extra beds in the hotel room I strongly recommend these. i didn't pack these from home. My Aunt Lisette had them for her grandchildren and mentioned them to me. My mom borrowed them from her while we were staying at my mother's and then I packed them to take to Disney. I plan to buy some of our won. Katie and Sarah slept on them. Katie is nine and had plenty of room. One night, Sarah woke and I laid down next to her to put her back to sleep. I comfortably spent the rest of the night there.
Download Disney Master List PDF.
Tips for a Happy Car Ride:
For the older kids they had the things they wanted in their own bags/pockets so they weren't forgotten. They mostly occupied themselves with iPods, laptops, and the occasional Kindle. They also slept a whole lot. iPod Touch: This is 14 hours of teen and tween peace at your fingertips, from Nick to Christian, all of the older kids had music, HD video camera, game apps, and, when needed, iCloud to find misplaced iPods. Audio books can be downloaded to these also and they can listen to them while playing apps. While in wifi zones, the kids could also play Words with Friends against each other, update to Facebook, and check ESPN game scores.
For the younger kids, we kept their LeapPads, batteries, and headphones in one bag ready and accessible to them. This was Car Bag 2, another accessible bag with extra batteries, markers, drawing paper, crosstich projects, extra embroidery floss and Kids Travel (by Klutz). This book matches its description as a backseat survival kit. Everyone had something fun to use in this book, it is definitely complete. Even if you don't plan on going on a trip anytime soon you might like this book, lots of fun mess-free things to do.
About the LeapPad in Pink and LeapPad in Green.: These have gone up in price and are still extremely hard to find in stock. We bought them for each of the little girls for $99 each and that was their Christmas present from us (we don't do Santa--so the Leap Pad was it). I let them play with them Christmas Day and then I put them away until the trip. The recommended age is 4-8, but I think it suits a much wider span. Sarah is three and LOVED it, and Stephen (13) and Nick (11) might have spent more time on them than Katie. Also, once we got to Disney these were great to have when they wanted to take pictures or even videos of Disney World,.The camera isn't the greatest but it is not awful and it captured for them what they wanted to remember. We only let them take the Leap Pads into the park on one day because I really didn't want to mess with carrying and remembering them. LeapFrog always does things well and this product is no exception.
Make sleeping comfortable. We packed a pillow a person and some throw blankets..Those throw blankets were passed all around and helped tremendously when one person wanted the air conditioner up high and another person didn't want air conditioning at all.
Snacks on the Way and Border Treats: We packed a variety of snacks so that we could stretch time between stopping for meals and keep carsickness at bay. I tucked in granola bars in three different flavors, crackers, goldfish, trail mix, and things that would hopefully not make too much mess in the back. I did vacuum after arriving in Ponte Vedra, after returning to Ponte Vedra from Orlando, and after we got home before we returned the rental car.
The favorite treats were our border treats. This is a fun idea Lissa passed on to me when I drove to Florida several years ago. Every time we crossed a border into another state, Katie would read aloud (or shout) the sign saying "Welcome to...", then the treat would be passed all around. On the way there we had: Peanut Butter Cups from Trader Joe's (you will never want Reese's again after tasting these), Smashing S'Mores from Trader Joe's, Minty Mallows from Trader Joe's, and Salted Caramel Chocolates. On the way home we had to go to a local grocery store and we had: Pirouettes, Coconut Dreams, Mint Cookies, and Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers.
For my own entertainment, I packed some embroidery and some lovely floss. I had visions of stitching merrily for hours while I chatted with Mike. The reality was that I stitched a wee bit and then recognized that the van was not the smoothest ride and getting that needle right where I wanted it wasn't happening. Besides, the shifting light along the treeline as we traveled, combined with the needlework, made me start wondering about whether that Throw Up Bag was for me, too. I also packed a bunch of old design magazines, some glue, and a blank sketchbook to create an idea journal. That took about an hour:-). There were some new books, both print and audio awaiting me on my Kindle, but that just seemed rude to Mike, who was doing the real work of getting us there. Mostly, I just kept keeping the little girls happy.
In order to maximize the benefit of gas and meal stops, I insisted everybody "give it a try" every time we stopped at a bathroom. For the most part, this strategy prevented the dreaded "I have to go" fifteen minutes after having just stopped. I will admit that I grew very, very weary of lifting Sarah onto every public toilet along the southeast coast.
On the way down, the girls were battling carsicknesses mightily. Mike and I decided on a sitdown late breakfast at Cracker Barrel. After that stop, they were considerably better the rest of the trip. So, it was probably time well spent. But it did slow us quite a bit. On the trip home, we snacked more and stopped for fast food and potty breaks, but ate meals in the car. All in all, our best coping strategy for little bladders and motion-sick girlies was to accept it and just roll. We did what they needed and didn't try to push past their limits.
One more note: we don't have a vehicle big enough for all of us any more, so one of our major expenses was the renting of a 15 passenger van. We had plenty of space for all of us and all our stuff. The thing gobbled gas, though.
This trip was so much better than the last one. As long as Mike is with me and willing to drive, I'd easily do it again. Soon. Maybe this summer?
{{This post, the PDFs, and all of the packing that went into the education that informs this post, would not have been possible without bushels of cheerful, thoughtful help from Mary Beth. }}


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9/11 defense attorneys denounce Guantanamo court system as 'rigged,' 'unjust'
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- The five men accused of plotting the Sept. 11 attacks used their weekend war court appearances to stage "peaceful resistance to an unjust system" being used for political reasons, defense lawyers said Sunday — a day after the 9/11accused turned the judge's plans to hold a simple arraignment into a 13-hour marathon of prayer and protest.
"The system is a rigged game to prevent us from doing our jobs," argued criminal defense attorney David Nevin, accusing the prison camp commander of making it impossible to learn from alleged mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed how the CIA waterboarded him 183 times and used other since-outlawed techniques to break him.
Mohammed, his nephew and three other men allegedly trained, advised and financed the 19 hijackers who crashed airliners into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, killing 2,976 people. All could get the death penalty, if convicted.
"The government wants to kill Mr. Mohammed," Nevin said, "to extinguish the last eyewitness to his torture."
Nevin other attorneys met with the media Sunday morning to discuss the proceedings that lasted until 10:30 p.m. Saturday. "We're here for a political reason," said Nevin, who also referred to Attorney General Eric Holder's plan to take the case to New York until Congress overruled him.
But the Pentagon's chief prosecutor predicted no speedy resolution to the trial, due to start a year from now at the soonest. "We've got to do this methodically and patiently. It's going to take time," said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, deflecting a reporter's question on whether the Pentagon was preparing an execution site at this remote outpost in the Caribbean.
The military commissions can cope with "deplorable and disappointing" episodes of torture or cruel treatment, Martins said. But he said he disagreed with critics of the prosecution that "some instance of mistreatment or torture pollutes everything in the case."
"The remedy is not to dismiss all charges. Everything is polluted and tainted? Everybody goes free? That's not justice," he said. "We have to submit that to our courts methodically."
During Saturday's hearing, however, both the accused and their attorneys did their best to frustrate the methodology that the judge had scripted.
Each of the accused steadfastly refused to answer basic questions posed to them by Army Col. James L. Pohl, the war court's chief judge, on whether they accepted their Pentagon-appointed attorneys. Instead, they periodically disrupted the proceedings with demonstrations of Muslim prayer and protests of prison conditions.
Ramzi bin al Shibh, 40, a Yemeni who allegedly organized a cell of 9/11 hijackers in Germany, likened the Guantánamo detention center to that of the brutal regime of Moammar Gadhafi in Libya. Fellow Yemeni Walid bin Attash, 33, who allegedly trained some hijackers in hand-to-hand combat, took off his shirt to try to display scars his lawyer said resulted from abuse by the guards at Guantánamo. The judge barked at him to put it back on.
"These men have endured years of inhumane treatment and torture" that will "infect every aspect of this military commission tribunal," attorney James Connell III warned Sunday morning. On Saturday, he said, "The accused participated in peaceful resistance to an unjust system."
Connell's client, Pakistani Ammar al Baluchi, affected an air of disinterest, leafing through a magazine. During a recess, he handed it to Saudi co-defendant Mustafa al Hawsawi, 43, who like Baluchi is accused of wiring money to the hijackers.
Criticism didn't come from only the defense attorneys. Retired Rear Adm. Donald Guter, the Navy's top lawyer on Sept. 11, 2001, declared Sunday, "I am convinced more than ever that this belongs in federal court." He came to Guantánamo to watch the proceedings for Human Rights First, as a critic of commissions.
It wasn't just the 13-hour proceeding that ended with a reading of the charges that discomfited critics but also the tug-of-war over fundamental issues — from prison camp conditions to restrictions on communications between the accused and their defenders. Hawsawi's attorney, Navy Cmdr. Walter Ruiz, struggled throughout the arraignment to get the judge to hear arguments on why the defense is hobbled by limited resources, and why the case should be dismissed as improper.
Pohl said he'd address those issues at the next hearing June 12-15. He stuck to a script of approving the legal teams, then taking questions from the defense teams about his background and potential conflicts at trials. The defense lawyers postponed until later whether they would challenge the judge's ability to preside at the first capital trials of his career.
Pohl sought to waive the reading of the 87-page charge sheet, but Bin Attash asked for them it be read, a single defendant's prerogative, extending the arraignment into the night.
"The participants were raced up to the coliseum for the pleasure of the masters," Ruiz told reporters bitterly.

subset: commoncrawl


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Your Ultimate Guide to Fighting Zitsfashion Other Brands
Pimples have a tendency to show up when they're least wanted, though we can't think of a time we actually want those pesky things mottling up our perfect skins (okay, it may not be perfect, but we try to get it close enough)! We use more and more products and DIY skin treatments to clear them out and hope they will not decide to protrude out of our foreheads on our wedding day! That would be terrible to say the least!
There are many guides to getting rid of those terrible zits, no matter which abominable place they decide to pop up from. They rather like the forehead, but sometimes even invade the ear. Back facials have become quite common since they certainly love appearing on our backs as well, spanning down until our waists.
• For the acne appearing on your forehead, you will see anything from blackheads to red angry bumps to pustules or larger nodules. Mostly it's moderate types of acne you have to work with since the glands are clogged but still seem to produce oil. Retinoids are the best bet to use in this case instead of aggressively scrubbing at the problem areas in the shower.
• Pimples on the nose are some of the hardest to get rid of because that's where the large oil glands are at their densest and tend to inflame easily. Retinoids used twice a day should do the trick and the ingredients you want in the products are Rx. Doxycycline and tetracycline. A doctor should always take a look at the problem area before giving you a medicated subscription, however.
• Hormones and genetics are the cause of pimples on your chin and they will drive you bonkers whether you like it or not. They are not very receptive to oral contraceptives either that would normally help clear up the acne. Retinoids and gentle cleansers are your safest bet and will clear out those zits in no time. You should keep on using those afterwards as well though. It will help keep your skin clean and clear and under control.
• Popping up without a reason to do so, pimples on ears are also pretty common and they just like to turn your life upside down a little. Topical treatments are your best bet here and retinoids are where you should be heading.
• You will end up finding zits on your back and chest, particularly when you have long hair and the oil on the tendrils ends up clogging up the pores. Topical treatments aren't always the best and might also bleach your clothing while at it. Antibiotics will probably work best, particularly Accutane, but there are side effects to consider and a doctor should be consulted with. Personal experience has shown going for back facials, cutting hair short or constantly keeping it up and away from your skin works like magic as well. A body wash with salicyclic acid may help clear things up as well and always wash yourself after sweating. This will help keep your pores clean of any clogging.
• Butt acne is not typical acne but mostly caused by protein keratin clogging fair follicles. It is certainly not so easy to treat but glycolic and lactic acids may help. Unfortunately you will have to bear with it as there is little else you can do at the moment with today`s products available. Personal experience has shown that the bumps will go away after a time but may be rather uncomfortable to sit on if it`s not higher up on the buttocks.
There are some easy ways to get rid of those pesky pimples as well, particularly by reducing the inflammation on the skin. These include:
1. Using an aspirin mark: Yes, it really works! What you have to do is crush an aspirin and add a drop of water. This creates a paste that you can then spread over the problem areas.
2. Use a turmeric mask: Turmeric powder mixed with a bit of almond oil and a few drops of whole milk creates a great mask that will help soothe the skin and get rid of those pimples. Do it once a week and your skin will feel so smooth!
3. Cystic bumps also exist so a dermatologist might recommend getting an injection of steroids to help calm the redness immediately and heal the region.
4. Cleansing pads are great to use after a workout especially so that you're wiping away the dirt, the sweat and the bacteria from your face and preventing our pores from clogging.
5. Sonic cleansers are pricy but they do offer an interesting and calming option, cleaning deeply into the pores. Using it every other day is safe and keeps the skin smooth and clear.
6. Acne clearing scrubs are great to use on a regular basis to prevent the pores from clogging and keep the skin clear of unwanted dirt and oils.
There are also some homemade remedies against acne that have not been tested but that just might do the trick if you do not want to be using products from the drugstore. We cannot say these will work, but anything natural, other than coconut oil, which ends up just clogging the skin instead of clearing it, is worth a try.
• Ice can be used on pimples to get rid of them quickly by soothing inflammation and improving blood circulation. You just need to grab a cube or some crushed ice in a piece of cloth and hold it over the affected problem areas for a few seconds. Repeat the process every few minutes and it should react as you hoped.
• Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and can most definitely help dry out the pimples faster. Of course, you want it to be fresh lemons and not store-bought lemon juice. A swab dipped in the juice should work handsomely.
• Garlic is great for everything but you may be loath to use it on your skin. If you are not so particular about the smell, cut a fresh garlic clove in two and rub on the pimples. It's an old wives' tale that should help out.
There are many anti-acne treatment options available out there. If you opt for products, or even wish to use natural ingredients, do ask a dermatologist before you embark on the journey. Coconut oil and toothpaste may not help, but there are certain options that will.


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Two housesits, one in Coalville and one in West Kirby, allowed me to plough forward with my new novel. Unfortunately my writing schedule has been derailed these last few weeks while I've been writing blog posts and press releases for various people.
Big Dog Kayaks has relaunched its website and I'll be a lot more involved with the writing, editing and co-ordinating of their team paddler blog. Manchester Wildcatz Canoe Polo Club also has a website with update and blog writing demands. And I'm finding time to continue writing for The Busking Project.
I may not have been writing much fiction, but I have been reading a vast amount of post-apocalyptic dystopian type novels: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Stand by Stephen King, Childhoods End by Arthur C Clarke and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, to name a few. All good research for my own novel which is set in a future Salford.


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Jessica Simpson's rep confirmed to CNN that the 32-year-old singer and television personality gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Sunday.
The newborn boy, named Ace Knute Johnson, is Simpson's second child with her fiance, Eric Johnson, a former NFL player. Ace Knute joins his one-year-old big sister, Maxwell Drew.
Simpson's father, Joe, expressed his excitement over Twitter.
"Very blessed to celebrate the birth of my new grandson," he wrote.
Simpson confirmed her pregnancy over Twitter on Christmas Day last year, sharing a picture of her daughter, Maxwell, sitting above the words, "big sis," written in the sand.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours! pic.twitter.com/EjlCoYbq— Jessica Simpson (@JessicaSimpson) December 25, 2012


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Backers of Zapatista rebels march by the thousands in southern Mexico
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OCOSINGO, Mexico – Thousands of supporters of the leftist, indigenous Zapatista movement have marched in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas to commemorate a 1997 mass killing and the end of the current cycle of the Mayan calendar.
Organizers said some 12,000 people marched in the cities of Ocosingo, Palenque and San Cristobal de las Casas. The marches marked the Dec. 22 killing of 22 indigenous Zapatista backers by a rival armed local group. They also marked the conclusion of a 5,125-year cycle in the Mayan calendar.
The Zapatistas last marched in May 2011 in support of a movement against drug-cartel violence in Mexico.


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Messenger bags are very popular in the fashion world and often come in several shapes and sizes, but we have noticed a real dearth in such bags that can be used in the professional-chic way. This is why we are lining up this exclusive collection of leather messenger bags, super practical, with different volumes, timeless design yet modern. With loop, zip or magnet closure, your laptop and belongings will be securely kept in those messenger bags.
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From Sydney Oland at SeriousEats.com
1 recipe pie dough (see note)
1 tablespoon butter
1 cups of Leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
5 ounces arugula, divided
3/4 pound salmon, skinned and cut into 1 inch pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup cream
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice from 1 lemon
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 425[°]. Roll our pie crust and place in a 12 inch tart pan. Trim edges. Prick pie crust all over with a fork. Transfer to freezer for at least 15 minutes. When ready to bake, place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
Heat butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until melted. Add leek and cook, stirring often until leek is soft, about 4 minutes. Roughly chop half of arugula and add to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer contents to a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper and allow to cool.
Whisk together cream, eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Scatter leek mixture over bottom of tart, followed by salmon pieces. Pour cream mixture over and place the tart back on the baking sheet in the oven. Cook until cream mixture is set and salmon is cooked, about 20 minutes.
Toss the remaining arugula with olive oil and vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow the tart to cool for 15 minutes then serve tart topped with dressed arugula.


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Armed UK Police Raid House Over Facebook Picture Showing Toy Weapon In Background
from the let's-get-rational dept
One of the reasons Techdirt rails against exaggerated responses to supposed terrorist threats is that it has caused police forces around the world to lose all sense of proportion -- literally, in the case of this UK story from the Daily Mail.
It began when Ian Driscoll decided to post a picture to his Facebook page. It was of an Action Man doll, accompanied by a toy Alsatian dog. Why? you might ask. Well, "as a laugh", he says, because the Action Man figure looked a lot like him, and he had a real Alsatian -- which sounds entirely reasonable. What Driscoll did not note at the time, though, was that lurking in the background of the picture was another toy: a model mortar.
Luckily, Driscoll was there, and was able to defuse the situation by showing them the mortar in question. He was able to point out that it was in fact only slightly larger than the nearby Playstation that was clearly visible in the snap he had posted, and considerably smaller than the table that was also prominent in the Facebook picture. He might even have pointed out that the figure and dog in his upload were quite obviously toys to anyone who spent more than three seconds examining the picture. The police had presumably decided not to waste those precious three seconds before acting. Instead, as a spokesperson later said:
'We are sure that the community would rather we acted quickly on information given to us of this nature, in case it had turned out to be a weapon.'
Well, no, actually: what the community would really like is for the police to use some intelligence before reaching for the sub-machine guns. If they had just stopped and looked carefully at the picture, it would have been evident that there was no possible threat here. And that's likely to be the case for many other incidents around the world where the police have assumed the worst.
That not only represents a huge waste of their valuable time and resources, it also perpetuates the corrosive idea that we should be constantly afraid and ready to report anything and anyone odd or vaguely suspicious, no matter how absurd it would seem to anyone looking at things rationally. This then creates a self-sustaining loop of public fear and police over-reaction. It's time to scale the rhetoric back, and to make common-sense judgments common again.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: overreaction, police, social media, terrorism, threats, toys, uk


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February 20, 2014 - 1:17pm
Donut help - browns too quickly? Maybe some bread experts can help me out please?
I'm testing a new donut recipe that browns too quickly in the fryer. I fry at 375 degrees, which is the recommended temperature for donuts. I use flour, butter, sugar, cornstarch, eggs, baking powder, yeast, and water. Hydration content is about 70% after calculating 75% of the eggs.
I know many of you are not donut experts, but I think that there is a lot of overlap between donuts and bread. What are some things that can cause browning too quickly? Low hydration? Butter solids instead of oil? Sugar? The main thing I use sugar for is the instant yeast. Should I not use any? I'm only using 20g of sugar for 4g of yeast.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it.


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Staff writer
County commissioners breathed a collective sigh of relief Monday after their four-month long search for a new appraiser ended.
"We're locked down at this point," Commissioner Dan Holub said. "We need an appraiser to go forward after these tax hearings. It's crucial."
The commission met in a closed session for 20 minutes interviewing Raymond Cook, the applicant that currently lives in Valley Falls, ultimately deciding to hire him as a replacement to former appraiser Cindy Magill. Magill resigned from her position in August.
"We've made at least four offers," Chairman Randy Dallke said. "Timing in a couple of those people's lives has been the big issue to where they just couldn't move, due to the other half of their family."
After the initial failed attempts, County Clerk Tina Spencer developed the idea to send letters to every applicable appraiser on a list provided by the state.
Cook accepted an offer of $55,000 for his first year, with annual increments of $1,500 for two years, the fourth year being negotiable.
"I don't know where it's all headed, but yes we are glad to have a person accept the job and be here," Dallke said. "He'll be looking for a room or apartment to begin with until he can make arrangements with his family to come out here."
In other news:
- Commissioners approved a Class B Club license to Marion Country Club for 2014.
- Holub will host a legislative forum at 9 a.m. Dec. 21 at the Marion Community Center. Commissioners discussed possible moderators and how the event should proceed.
- Commissioners voted to give employees a one-time payment in lieu of a pay raise. Full-time employees will receive $300, and $75 for part-time employees.
- Demolition of the old jail is scheduled for this week, but Spencer said she was unsure of the exact date.
- Commissioners gave permission for a $600 computer stand to be placed on the emergency management truck.
- Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford said his department would be putting down sand to neutralize icy conditions instead of salt.


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Products, Regulatory, Services
By Staff Writer | April 22, 2014
Send Feedback
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the redesigned vertical bevel gear shaft for Airbus Helicopters' EC225, allowing production and installation on all compatible rotorcraft in operation globally. Manufacturing for this new gear shaft is underway, allowing worldwide implementation on aircraft in service and in production starting in the second semester of 2014. According to Airbus, the new design eliminates three factors that, in combination, caused two unexpected vertical shaft ruptures. It provides corrosion resistance, compensates for residual stress and eliminates stress hot spots.
Airbus EC225. Photo courtesy of Airbus Helicopters


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I am trying to convert the mac4lin awn theme from 0.3 to 0.4 so it will work in my awn. But I'm not sure about the colour codes in the 0.4 files. They are not normal hex codes, they are sixteen digits and look like this:
ghistep1 = #f2f2caca00001212
ghistep2 = #f2f2caca00001212
The ones in the 0.3 look like this:
glass_histep_2 = FFFFFF00
glass_histep_1 = FFFFFF2C
How do I convert the colour codes? What are they?


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There is nothing like a game of Wii to reveal that the best of families quickly goes from looking like the old Leave It To Beaver show to The Munsters show. In the family room, we discover that we are all dysfunctional. We can be overly competitive, afraid of conflict, have control issues, etc. And "It's easier to see across the room than to look in the mirror." I can see my spouse's anger, perfectionism, inability to take criticism a lot easier than I can see my own insensitivity, critical spirit, or blind need to always be right. From our perspective it looks something like this:
- My husband is a workaholic, it's hurting his relationship with the kids.
- My wife is overly sensitive, it makes our communication impossible.
- My mother-in law is a perfectionist.
- My oldest child won't listen to anything I say.
- My daughter is obsessed with boys and won't focus on what matters.
- My father was emotionally unavailable to me.
- My mom is constantly critical of everything I do: my housecleaning, the way I raise the kids, the way I discipline, etc.
We all have a mental list. A list of all the people across the room, don't we? I know I do. I can tell you right now exactly what my wife, my kids, my brother, and my parents all need to do to "be better." In fact, I live in the delusion that if "they" would fix their "issues," all with me would be fine. But here is the truth. We are all dysfunctional. Every family has as many dysfunctions as there are people in it. And until we look in the mirror, we won't be able to build stronger relationships with those across the room. Here is how Jesus says it…
Matthew 7: 3 And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but not consider the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then you will see clearly to cast out the speck out of your brother's eye.
Jesus shows us that we all have specks in our eyes. We all have some kind of dysfunction we bring into our relationships with our "brothers," spouses, families, and parenting. He then puts his finger on the Real problem. It's easier to spot the "little sliver" across the room, than to spot the giant beams and logs in our reflection in the mirror.
My brother and I have not talked for two years. If I told you the whole story, I would look like the unsung hero, and he'd be a cross between George Custanza and Cruella Devile in the way he decided to cut off contact. I'd paint the whole picture of how he made a mountain out of a mole hill, gossiped about my wife and I, giving us the ultimatum of being verbally abused or cutting off contact, and we chose… Not to be cussed out again. But…. I realized this principle, "It's easier to see across the room than to look in the mirror." I have a tendency, like all of us to clearly see how wrong the other person is in a conflict, and not be able to own what I did by looking in the mirror. So, over the past two years, I have continually written emails requesting the chance to keep communication open. Two months ago, after two years, he wrote back giving his side. I read it and immediately dismissed his concerns as overreaction, zoomed in on the words that were emotionally charged, and felt more justified than ever… BUT! I knew I needed to look deeper into the mirror, and try to really see this from his side and try to own my part. I really tried to think about this from his perspective and think about his accusation that I had "trivialized and patronized his concerns" and mocked them rather than address them. I went back and thought about the parts of the story I had "left out" of my memories… I was able to remember a, "I am better than you" tone that I had used in my phone conversation telling them to "just get over it." I also recalled my email where I openly mocked their basic accusation with dripping sarcasm. And as I looked in the mirror. I still think I am more right than not, BUT, I wrote an email of apology for the things I was able to see, and told him I was open to hearing more about the things I couldn't. We still aren't talking yet, but we are in contact again.
If you and I want stronger families, we're going to have to wrestle with this reality. Let's look at a story in the Bible which will help us learn: 1) WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE ROOM, 2) WHAT WE NEED TO SEE ACROSS THE ROOM, and 3) HOW TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
There is a family in the Bible with plenty to see across the room. A woman named Naomi is conversing with her daughter in laws and is hurting, but at the same time pushing them away. While they've been friends and family for a long time, Naomi keeps pushing away the people who are tryant to help her. She says, RETURN, GO AWAY, TURN BACK… and yet they sense she is hurting and needs them to be near…
8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters;
Naomi is hurt and wants to withdraw. Push away her two daughter in laws. She is depressed, discouraged, and worn out from life's punishment. So she pushes others away. Now, if we started the story here we might say, "Why is she always pushing people away?" "Why is it so hard to get close to her?" or "She doesn't seem very welcoming."
11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!"
Naomi is being the typical martyr. She takes things very personally. As her daughters resist her attempts to withdraw and try to go with her, she becomes irrational. She says things like, "I know why you are staying… You are hoping I'll have more sons you can Marry!" What? His daughters are in their 20-30's and they are hoping she's gonna to have sons that grow up to marry? Of course not, this oversensitivity, personalization, and then martyrdom as she responds, "The Lord has gone our against me" makes it a challenge to even help her in her pain. No matter what you do, she questions your motives. She is angry at God, Angry at others, and feels like God is out to get her. the Bible is full of stories about imperfect people. That's part of what makes it unique from the books of other religions. As a result, it is a great book on the struggles of real life.
19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" 20 But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
Naomi comes back to her home town and introduces herself by a new name. No longer will she be called Naomi meaning pleasant, No No. Her new name is Mara, meaning bitter. From the bitter herbs used in the Jewish Passover meal. She is bitter. And she wants people to remember to call her bitter. Remember how bad and mean God has been to her? Remember that she was once full, but now empty? Let me pause for a moment and ask, how many of you have a family member who could also be named "Bitter?" (don't raise your hands ) This might be the teenager that whatever you do is never enough. The mother who always finds a way to look on the dark side and find the glass half empty.
If we back up about 5 verses, we learn What we need to see.
1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
Naomi's name means pleasant, and she had a very pleasant demeanor. But the last few years have been tough. She is living during a time when a foreign nation had conquered the land, a great famine had kept her husband from finding a job, The family had to sojourn or move because of the challenging economic conditions. They had to leave their family and friends. And after having left their family and community network, Naomi's husband passed away. And in a short sad sentence, the writer tells us "she was left." Alone…with two sons…with responsibility.
Do you see the symptoms and reasons behind Naomi's dysfunctionality? Now back to our original premise: Before we look across the room, we need to look in the mirror. As long as you and I think that we don't have any dysfunction, we will –in our hearts- think we are superior (better than) the "Naomi's" in our family. And that pride will destroy our family's ability to move toward healthy relationships. As long as you are looking down on someone, you will never be able to move forward. But, when we admit our dysfunctionality… By looking in the mirror. We are able to see other's dysfunctionality, not as a scarlet "A" but with compassion as we adapt to help each other.
I am dysfunctional enough to quickly criticize, rather than have compassion. We are quick to critique, rather than search for the reasons someone acts the way they act, and replace critique with compassion. We are quick to point out others flaws rather than have empathy.
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said: " Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."
Notice the way Ruth, Naomi's daughter in law, refuses to leave her. She refuses to let her go. She sticks close to this bitter, angry, and withdrawn woman. She says, "I am going with you. I will go where you go. Live where you live, and die where you die. Why would she do this? Why would Ruth stick with her? She tells us in verse 16… "I want your God to be my God."
Why would Ruth want Naomi's God to be her God? Remember that Ruth grew up in a different time and culture as Naomi. The God of the Bible was foreign to her. And she too has experienced the pain of losing her father-in-law, husband, and brother in law. Right? So Ruth draws upon her own experience and sees her own pain as a way to show compassion to her mother-in-law. But here is the real secret.
The reason Ruth is able to draw near to a woman with such dysfunctional behavior is because she discovered a God that draws near dysfunctional people. The God of the Bible pursues you and I when we are at our worst. In fact, when we realize how arrogant, selfish, and unkind we are to others, we are able to experience his mercy. God not giving us what we deserve. We are able to experience His grace. God giving us what we don't deserve. As long as you think you are "worthy of God' and easy to love… you will never fully see how his love can melt over you. God offers you unconditional love… when you least deserve it. He offers unconditional respect to you, when you are the least respectable. He offers to make you clean and forgiven when you are the dirtiest and most unforgivable. God created us to be part of his family, but we withdrew, just like Naomi. We made excuses for the logs in our eyes, trying to rationalize them and claim to be martyrs. We became bitter at God for not giving us the painfree comfortable lives we think we deserve…. We are Naomi. Jesus is Ruth. He pursues us. The Bible says that God demonstrates His love for us, while we were yet sinners. While we were bitter. While we were angry. He demonstrates his love for us. He offers his grace to us. His patience to us. And as you see God as Ruth, and You as Naomi… you are now able to be Ruth for the Naomi in your family. This is the power of Grace. Amazing Grace.
- I can be patient with a son because God was even more patient with me.
- I can adapt and accommodate a difficult spouse because God adapted and accommodated me by coming in the form of a child and dying on a cross.
- I cannot give my mother what she deserves because God didn't give me what I deserved.
- I can be kind to an unkind brother because God offered His kindness when I was unkind to Him.
For a free first session of Godonomics, visit: http://www.godonomics.com/watch-session-1
- Related Topics
- Emotional needs
- Marriage
- Parenting
- Reflection


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Senate 1931-38 (District 64)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served: Mahnomen, Norman
Spouse: Dora Schreiber (married on February 16, 1898) Children: Seven children: Walter, Clarence, and another son who preceded him in death (sons); Hazel, Mrs. Russell Honningschmidt, Harriet, and Mrs. Lloyd Sweet (daughters) Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
He moved to a farm near Ada, Norman County, Minnesota in 1880, with his parents.Size Burnout PLANET GOLD Up Plus Tee Lace "Mr. Sprung took an active part in politics as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party." (In Memoriam, 1957, p. 20)He was politically Liberal and Progressive.His funeral was held at the First Lutheran Church in Ada, Minnesota.He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Ada, Minnesota.Religion provided by In Memoriam.
Plus GOLD PLANET Tee Up Lace Burnout Size Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155


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« Comment on the Dubai Ports World Fiasco--BECKER | Main | Dubai Ports Controversy--Posner's Response to Comments »
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Regarding competence, these statements trouble me. The Iraq war might have cost more than people were told. People (military and other) might have been pushed out or isolated who said otherwise. We possibly could have gotten Bin Laden at Tora Bora but did not. And for years and years, Cheney and Bush have never been real big conservationists of oil. The U.S. is not addicted to oil. Perhaps the fed govt did not deal with the media on Dubai ports because they were working overtime on Cheney and his hunting accident.
Bush in 2006 State of Union:
As we make progress on the ground and Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead, we should be able to further decrease our troop levels. But those decisions will be made by our military commanders, not by politicians in Washington, D.C.
And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil,
Here's the thing. When you only inspect less than 5% of the containers arriving at US ports, 99.999999999% of the risk is created in the supply chain outside the US - at the point where the container is loaded or trans-shipped. Those ports are all run by foreign companies, many of them by DP World. Talk about solving the wrong problem.
This is just one more example of spending huge amounts of political, physical, moral and financial capital since 9/11 on stuff that doesn't make us one little bit safer. The last four years have been the biggest boondoggle in the history of boondoggles.
"Moreover, the ruling and business classes in these nations understand that the United States is a democracy, that our government must therefore be responsive to public opinion..."
Given that there are no elections of any kind -- none, zero -- in the UAE, this statement is not axiomatic.
What are the economic deterrents for Muslim living in the US to pro-actively cooperate in the war on terrorism? Wouldn't 'informal' barriers to FDI investments of Middle Eastern firms that might be more likely to hire Muslims living in the U.S. act as an economic deterrent?
On a different note, what percentage of Americans do you think would support raising money for homeland security by targeted taxation on Middle Eastern ethnicity individuals living in the U.S.? I think the percentage is quite high. It gets even higher after people are disappointed by their fellow Muslim citizens response to controversies like Danish cartoons and their lack of response to videos of westerners being killed in the broader Middle East.
Shallow, superficial and misguided as this sounds - bear in mind I am making a statement about broad public opinion here:
I don't believe that you have to watch Michael Moore's films to form an opinion that the Bush administration is in the pocket of "Big Arab Oil." To me, Dubai is as tied to "Big Arab Oil" as any other entity on the planet. So, would we be offended if Dick Cheney pushed a(nother) deal promoting Haliburton?
I think a large part of the groundswell opinion against the Dubai deal is that it sounds like Dubya passing out pork and strategic control to his Arab buddies, never mind that they are paying "fair market value" or any of those other facts... this is opinion (outrage) that shut down this deal.
Good points in favor of being, at the very least, cautious of the greater implications of the DP World deal. As for the substitution effects of Unocal oil vs. that of other suppliers, Posner's argument that diversion of Unocal oil to China would only free up supply for the U.S. would be true if demand were stagnant. As it stands, China's oil appetite increases at a much faster pace than the U.S. Consider also the enormous costs of boosting production and it is certainly conceivable, in the short run, that a diversion of Unocal oil to China would provide less for the U.S.
I always wondered how the blowhards of the Republican party could call Clinton a liberal when the man was clearly to the right of Ronald Regan. It was George Washington, a real liberal, who warned us of the despots of the political party. "The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism." Washington's Farewell Address. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washing.htm
If we had a liberal party in America, one would expect them to take a principled stand in favor of free trade. "It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy...What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom. If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage." The Wealth of Nations, Book IV Chapter II.
But we don't have a liberal party, one party wants an official state religion; the other want only to be in power. "There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume." Washington's Farewell Address.
Sorry Collestro, I don't agree with your sentiments.
Clinton was hardly to the right of Reagan. A 1994 Congress made him look more conservative than he was. In reading our founding fathers biographies, I find it hard to classify them in either party. I hardly think that the Reps want a state religion.
Meanwhile, both parties are using emotional political rhetoric to advance their agendas. Democrats want ot look strong on security, their weakness in the last election. Reps want to keep the corner they have on security-so we get a lot of blather about illegal immigration and now port security.
The simple fact is that anytime America becomes protectionist in its thinking, it is not good for Americans. Free trade is an integral part of our society. While we do not always hit the ideal of free trade, to lose sight of it is very improper.
Bush had a good idea here with his 45 day cooling off period. Maybe then we could have had a good look at port security and the company that was going to buy the ports. If we do not let foreigners invest in America, they don't ave a good reason to see us prosper. I think you also will see asset values in America decrease if you limit foreign investment.
Port security is a bogus issue. 9/11 did not involve smuggling in a weapon of mass destruction. It depended on catching the U.S. off-guard (or more precisely, the U.S. trying to achieve security through obscurity by not informing the public and pilots well enough of previous thwarted airline hijacking crashing plans).
If a terrorist organization has a weapon of mass destruction that can be fit into a shipping container, it is too late at that point. It could be brought in by a thousand different ways (mini-submarine, cigarette boat, plane). Tons of drugs make it to the streets of the U.S. every day.
Only nuclear weapons are real threats - no one has every been very effective at weaponizing chemical or non-smallpox bio weapons without a huge military operation. If terrorists get smallpox or enough fissionable material, forget port security, we've lost, they'll find a way in.
The goal is to deny terrorists access to smallpox or fissionable material outside the U.S.
We spend billions of dollars on useless security inside the U.S. now. It is unclear if we are seeing a return on the investment.
I'm not sure I agree with Judge Posner on this issue for three reasons.
First, the proposed deal was vetted by a committee made up of various representatives of the government, specifically, the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security, among others. The result of that process was approval of the deal despite the security concerns that have now become a matter of public record.
Second, since 9/11 the policy of the government has been to "extend" port security outward, i.e., to first engage in the inspection of cargoes in foreign ports so that, to the greatest extent practicable, potential threats can be dealt with in the first instance on foreign soil.
Finally, as has been readily conceded even by those in opposition to the deal, port security has and will remain in the hands of the U.S. government and its relevant agencies. The deal itself was intended to tranfer only the commercial aspect of port operations.
I have not yet seen any explication of just what type of control over operations the port operator actually exercises or what intelligence a port operator could provide to a terrorist or other enemy. I thought that all the "hands on" work at seaports was conducted by members of the Longshoremens' Union (whose exact name I forget) under work rules over which Port Operators have little control.
Security (deciding which few of the many containers to search, and How) seems to be controlled by agents of Customs and Border Security or by the Coast Guard.
Perhaps a port operator of both a transshipment port and a US port could provide counterfeit documentation or disguise the origin of a container, but no one has actually said this.
The Dubai Ports World deal is nothing more than a casualty of the "fear, paranoia, and confidence crisis" that now exists in the U.S.and the world. Or is it? If anything, a new style "IG Farbin deal" has been stopped in its tracks. (just a point of history- IG Farbin, a subsidiary of the Abwehr, bought up all rights to synthetic rubber production. Essentially killing all RD into synthetic rubber production by US Companies. Crippling the US war effort in the opening phases of WWII.) But at the time, everyone thought it was a great busines deal.
In order to provide the security everyone expects would require that each and every containerized cargo carrier coming into the U.S. be inspected. A virtual impossibility, no matter who "owns" the port operation. Be fore-warned, one of these days one of those things is going to go up. No matter who owns the port. The only real rational plan is to figure out how to minimize causalties and loss when it does happen. Something made much more difficult when owned by a foreign firm.
As to the DPW, tough luck guys, it's a new and even more dangerous world than any of us can possibly imagine.
"Demonstrations of the indignation of the American people over Muslim misconduct may even cause some Muslim leaders to rein in their followers."
American/Israeli missiles and tanks couldn't persuade Palestinian leadership to "rein in" ther followers, because they weren't followers... so why expect American Indignation to do the same?
The few radical Muslims that everyone worries about are NOT answerable to visible Muslim leaders or moderate Muslim populations, that is the whole reason people worry about them.
The most likely result of American indignation is the continued persecution of innocent Arab-Americans here on our soil.
The point I was trying to make is that a liberal politician should have stood up and spoke in favor of the port deal. Free trade and free enterprise are the fundamental underpinning of a liberal philosophy; and a free society. We have members of the Democratic party, but it is very difficult to find a liberal holding office.
As for Clinton, remember Rickey Ray Rector, a black man executed in Arkansas during the 1992 presidential campaign of then Governor Bill Clinton? Rector had shot himself at the time of his arrest and had sustained organic brain damage that reduced his intellectual capacity dramatically. He is reported to have spoken of deferring eating part of his last meal until "later" - after the execution.
Right before a huge primary election, during 1992 presidential campaign, then Governor Bill Clinton flew home to Arkansas to execute Rickey Ray Rector. You can call a man who kills a retard man lots of things, but you canít call him a liberal.
And you can call me retard, or perhaps, retarded if you want.
The biggest casualty of the entire Dubia Ports deal has been the truth. Almost every major newspaper, both liberal and conservative, with the notable exception of the LA Times, has misreported the facts of the takeover deal. The New York Post went so far as to refer to the deal as a contract between the Bush Admninistration and the UAE. As a maritime attorney who does know something about port security, I have been dismayed since the first TV report I saw three weeks ago. The facts are that one foreign (UK) corporation had sold its marine terminal operations to another foreign (UAE) corporation. Dubai Ports would not be operating any "ports", as has widely been misreported, but rather would be operating marine terminals within certain ports. In the port of New York/New Jersey, for example, the terminals at issue actually move only a small percentage of the cargo that passes through New York harbor. The ports would still be owned by the local municipality or port authority. The terminal would still employ union labor and would be subject to the same security that the Coast Guard, US Customs, and the local port authority would presently provide. A terrorist's cargo has no greater or lesser chance of entering the US through a terminal operated by Dubai Ports than any other terminal; the load port, over which the US has very little control, is where a terrorist's cargo would have to be detained.
Nope, would never call you a retard. But I would have liked to see any politician step in front of the protectionist freight train Schumer started.
Debating the political stripe of the former President does us no good here. Clinton made decisions not on what he believed, but on how polls behaved. If he didn't execute the guy, he would have been painted as soft on crime and he couldn't afford that.
Protectionism is not good for America.
I agree with Prof. Becker that the consternation has little to do with protectionism, that it has more to do with security. I disagree with the claim that something is not racist because it is realistic. Prof. Becker's book proved that racism in a specific context (hiring) does not help black labor or white capital, but the book also showed that racism in the employment context might help black capital and white labor. The point is that racism is often grounded in reality (though not always nor necessarily in efficiency). They are not mutually exclusive. The heightened fear and need for security can very well be rational and racist. What I hope we do more of in the future is admit the correlation between racism and other more desirable ideals and seriously consider how to optimize our addresses to both.
"I agree with [Judge Posner] that the consternation..."
Just as an aside, given the temper of times and the current situation, here's a little something that everyone ought to keep in the back of their minds: "In Bellum, Leges silent" It may very well explain Congress's actions now and in the forseeable future.
This time, I agree more with Professor Becker than with Judge Posner. Also, I noticed an interesting asymmetry with respect to Becker and Posner's respective positions on 'human' vs. 'economic' protectionism:
While Becker is adamantly opposed to all forms of economic protectionism, he is willing to tolerate other types of protectionist measures in order to stem the flow of illegal immigration. Posner, in contrast, seems more willing to tolerate some economic protectionism (in exchange for enhanced security), but is more skeptical of immigration controls.
As I see it, it would be more principled to favor (or oppose) the free flow of all forms of capital, whether it be goods, services, or peoples.
Mr. F.E. Guerra-Pujol.
It is certainly principled to favor the free flow of all forms of capital goods, services, or peoples. A moral person cannot oppose it. You are either for free trade, or in favor of third world poverty. There is no middle ground.
Collestro, I hope your'e pointing out an error in the application of the 'Law of the Excluded Middle". Not too mention, the fallacies of false Dilemma, Dichotomy, and Bifurcation. It would be nice if the World and its Economy (Capital & Labor) operated as a non-zero sum game, but from what I've seen it operates as a zero sum game.
As for issues of National independence, security, and well being; we cannot allow a superficial sentimentality cloud the important issues of policy.
Is there a cause to be concerned that DPW is a government owned company, as opposed to a publicly traded company? This would be especially important when the government that controlled the company was not democratic, and therefore not accountable.
A publicly traded corporation would have understandable motivations (to make profit). Could a non-democratic government corporation be considered a rational actor?
Right before a huge primary election, during 1992 presidential campaign, then Governor Bill Clinton flew home to Arkansas to execute Rickey Ray Rector. You can call a man who kills a retard man lots of things, but you canít call him a liberal.
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Why is:
Assumed-size arrays may not appear in a {private,firstprivate,lastprivate,reduction} clause.
mentioned in 2.9.3.{3,4,5,6}? When assumed-size is predetermined, 18.104.22.168 says:
Variables with predetermined data-sharing attributes may not be listed in data-sharing attribute clauses, except for the cases listed below.
and thus saying explicitly that assumed-size arrays are not permitted is redundant.
I know this change was already in 3.0, but 3.0 forgot to explicitly say that assumed-size is predetermined shared in the normative text.


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Companies routinely invest in technology, and too often feel they get routine results. Technology's promise is not simply to automate processes, but to open routes to new ways of doing business.
To better understand how businesses succeed or fail in using digital technology to improve business performance, MIT Sloan Management Review and Capgemini Consulting conducted a survey in 2013 that garnered responses from 1,559 executives and managers in a wide range of industries. Their responses clearly show that managers believe in the ability of technology to bring transformative change to business. But they also feel frustrated with how hard it is to get great results from new technology.
This report (as well as the survey) focuses on digital transformation, which we define as the use of new digital technologies (social media, mobile, analytics or embedded devices) to enable major business improvements (such as enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations or creating new business models).
The key findings from the survey are:
Previous research with executives by the MIT Center for Digital Business and Capgemini Consulting showed that many companies struggle to gain transformational effects from new digital technologies, but also that a significant minority of companies have developed the management and technology skills to realize the potential of new technologies.
Regarding the new look and feel, the font size and style increase clarity and facilitate the reading. I really like the "jump to" idea although response time is a little bit slow to access the section. On the things that could be improved from my point of view, the picture are definitely too big. They take too much space with respect to the text which constitutes the actual value of the page. The main picture of the article is quite interesting in this respect. In the current look and feel the earth emerges clearly from the mosaïc of pictures whereas in the new look and feel it is very hard to determine what this set of small pictures tend to represent. Related to this, when we jump to a section via the "jump to", the picture takes almost of the space of the screen and very few is left of the text which imposes to scroll down immediately before to start reading.
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For Immediate Release
EWG Public Affairs: Alex Formuzis (202) 667.6982 or email@example.com
American Academy of Pediatrics Endorses Cell Phone Safety Bill
Oakland, Calif. - The Environmental Working Group applauds the decision by the influential American Academy of Pediatrics to support pending legislation that would require new research into the safety of cell phone radiation, especially for children, require safety standards that protect children and other vulnerable populations, and impose new labeling requirements for the ubiquitous devices.
EWG Senior Scientist Renee Sharp said in a statement that the bill's endorsement by the nation's largest organization of physicians specializing in children's health "should be a wake-up call" to Congress and the public:
"Many people wrongly still regard the question of cell phone safety as a fringe issue. The fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics is officially supporting a bill calling for more research, more protective standards, and better labeling of cell phones' associated radiation exposure should be a wake-up call that this is an issue that must be taken seriously.
"We are pleased that this well-regarded doctors' group has joined the mounting calls for legislation aimed at ensuring cell phone safety. The science is not definitive that exposure to cell phone radiation can cause cancer or other health problems, but there is real reason for concern. Given their widespread use by children and adults, the federal government needs to be doing all it can to ensure that cell phones are safe and that consumers are informed. The government's efforts have fallen woefully short.
"We must demand stronger safety laws such as the Cell Phone Right to Know Act to help consumers make informed decisions and protect the public from potentially harmful consequences for human health."
The Cell Phone Right to Know Act, H.R. 6358, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, would expand research on the potential health effects of cell phone radiation, require the Federal Communications Commission to update its limited and outdated safety standards and mandate better labeling and right-to-know measures.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is the first physicians' organization to take a position on the bill. In his letter to Rep. Kucinich, Academy President Thomas K. McInerny, MD, wrote:
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"The AAP strongly supports H.R. 6358's emphasis on examining the effects of radiofrequency (RF) energy on vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women. In addition, we are pleased that the bill would require the consideration of those effects when developing maximum exposure standards. Children are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures, including cell phone radiation. The differences in bone density and the amount of fluid in a child's brain compared to an adult's brain could allow children to absorb greater quantities of RF energy deeper into their brains than adults. In addition, the AAP supports the product labeling requirements in H.R. 6358. These standards will ensure consumers can make informed choices in selecting mobile phone purchases. They will also enable parents to better understand the potential dangers of RF energy exposure and protect their children."
In May 2011, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified cell phone radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" based on evidence linking it to an increased risk of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer.
Although most scientific and public attention on the issue of the safety of cell phone radiation has focused on evidence suggesting an increased risk of brain tumors, a little-noticed but growing body of research points to a new concern – sperm damage.
In a comprehensive review of the published scientific literature released this past June, the Environmental Working Group found 10 human studies that have identified a startling variety of changes in sperm exposed to cell phone radiation. In the most striking findings, men who carried their phones in a pocket or on the belt were more likely to have lower sperm counts and/or more inactive or less mobile sperm. These findings accord with similar results in laboratory animals.
In addition to calling for updated safety standards, EWG has lobbied for greater transparency in communication cell phone radiation exposure information to consumers, supported right-to-know initiatives and recommended simple steps that individual cell phone users can take to decrease their exposure, such as using a headset and texting rather than talking.
Read EWG's tips on reducing cell phone radiation exposure here.
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Why Every Entrepreneur Needs to Blog/
Ok, it's still resolution time, right? Time to get cracking on some new initiatives in 2013... and I can't argue strenously enough for investing the time into a blog this year if you've started a company.
Forget the fact that you can't write or it takes a long time. These are things that go away over time. First off, many of the widely read tech bloggers aren't the best writers either. They're not known for their literary prowess or their way around the English language. They're known for their insight--their ability to focus an audience on something others might not have noticed. Being a good writer is NOT a prerequisite for being a good blogger--AND, you get better by writing.
Plus, if it takes too much time, just write shorter posts. Problem solved. It's not about how much you write--it's about the practice of noticing stuff.
Being able to innovate requires both intuition and creativity--combining a good sense of direction with enough spontaneity to be willing to lose your way long enough to move in a direction others haven't travelled before. Getting into the practice of writing mixes around the disconnected new facts you pick up everyday with the existing knowledge you already have, creating new hunches. Writing also requires enough self-reflection to sift between the hunches by understanding your observational bias in order to help you pick out the best ones to follow.
In other words, if you aren't journaling what you're seeing and doing in a thoughtful way, you're running your company based on year or more old information, never cleaning off your blind spots. Just because you got funding doesn't mean you put your head down. Reporters should be looking to you to understand when things change and what it means. You need to champion your space and the trends behind you just as much as you need to champion your own company.
Your job is to keep the company funded and to hire the best people--and both require a convincing narrative told to people you build a relationship with over time. Do you think it's easier to raise money from people who have been following along for months or even years, or from people that have no idea what you're about? The chances of getting money from someone who is hearing about you for the first time during the pitch process is extremely low.
What about hires? Blogging about what you do provides a long term, consistant assault on their will power. By the end, they're willing to take a pay cut and start working crazy hours because they got on the train with you five stations ago. You've roped them into the story way before they ever saw a job post.
When an entrepreneur doesn't blog--it makes me wonder if they understand what investing in the long term really means. Blogging is a way to seed ideas with journalists. If you understand anything about PR, it's not about placing a story--it's about seeding a story early and nurturing it long before you need it. It's about relationships. You are the best person to tell your story--and two years from now, your Forbes pieces is going to be due to a reporter getting hooked into the vision long before you ever reached out to them.
When you're fighting fires everyday and you don't have time to reflect on being a better entrepreneur, or to opine on what's going on in your ecosystem, you're not building a machine. Reflection makes you better. Building a brand helps your company. It creates opportunities for you that puts distance between you and your competition. It gathers inbound opportunities for you--often your first ones, before anyone else is willing to work with you.
Not only that, but investors and business development partners want to work with leaders. They want to work with the people who are visibly moving their industry forward. If they're hearing that interesting stuff is going on in your area, you better be right in the middle of it--helping to promote it and guiding visions on how things are moving in your favor. Otherwise, you're a trend follower, not a trendsetter.
Just take an hour and a half a week--block off two periods of 45 minutes in your calendar. When you know it's there, you're going to be thinking about what you post ahead of time--which means you're going to go into your job with your eyes that much more wide open.
That's a good thing for any entrepreneur, not just one who blogs.


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More about dreads
For most people with dreads, dreadlocks are more than just a hairstyle and the choice was made whole-heartidly. There are many reasons that can make you decide to have dreadlocks, from fashion to religion. Whatever your reason is, as dreadlock owner you'll want the best for your dreads. On this page you'll find links to informative webpages.
Dreadspullen occasionally makes webpages with explanation how to do things yourself.
- Dread wrap tutorial
Links to provide you with extra information on the care and backgrounds of dreadlocks. But you'll also find sites of people who make dreads, product websites and messageboards. Do you know an interesting, non-commercial, website that should be in this list? Let us know! If you have a website about dreadlocks with links, we could perhaps do a link exchange.
EN = English, DE = German, NL = Dutch, FR = French
PS: dreadspullen is not responsible for the contents, services and products of the websites listed above.
|Contact | Guest book | Newsletter | Terms of purchase | Privacy policy | About Dreadspullen © 2006-2018 Dreadspullen (powered by Dre@dcat)


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Election night: 6 big questions
In a post-Eric Cantor world, anything seems possible. And Tuesday's races in Mississippi, Oklahoma and New York offer fertile territory for upsets and surprises.
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is the underdog in a runoff with state Sen. Chris McDaniel, and could end up the first Senate incumbent to lose this year. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) faces his toughest reelection challenge yet as he seeks a 23rd term. And Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) is trying to fend off a tea party-backed former state House speaker in the race for an open Oklahoma Senate seat. Colorado and Maryland also are holding primaries.
Story Continued Below
Wins by the candidates running as outsiders could feed into an anti-Washington narrative that was given life when Cantor, the House majority leader, lost in Virginia two weeks ago. But if the men already in Congress stay put, it could make Cantor's loss look like an outlier.
( Full primary election results here)
Here are six questions that will be answered as results come in:
1. Will non-Republicans show up to save Thad Cochran in Mississippi?
McDaniel, 41, received slightly more votes in the primary than Cochran, the 76-year-old seeking a seventh term. Turnout usually drops in a runoff, which in this case would give an edge to the more motivated, more conservative activists who are backing McDaniel.
Cochran and super PACs supporting him are trying to mobilize African-Americans, moderate suburban women and other nontraditional primary voters to cast ballots for the incumbent. Democrats are allowed to vote in the runoff if they did not cast ballots in the state's June 3 primary, but counting on them is a tall order and risks a backlash on the right.
The Senate Conservatives Fund, one of McDaniel's biggest backers, is spearheading a "voter integrity project" to place volunteer observers in polling places to make sure that Democrats who voted in their party's primary don't vote in the GOP runoff. Cochran allies suggest this amounts to voter intimidation.
( Also on POLITICO: 'The Brad Pitt of the Republican Party')
The state's political establishment has pulled out all the stops for Cochran. The current governor, Phil Bryant, and former Sen. Trent Lott, once a rival, both cut ads, as did football legend Brett Favre. Cochran's camp has used clips from his old talk radio show to paint McDaniel as a misogynist who could lose to Democrat Travis Childers in a general election.
In a reflection of how this race has become a proxy battle in the larger Republican civil war, Sen. John McCain flew down to campaign for Cochran while his 2008 running mate Sarah Palin stumped with McDaniel. If Cochran loses, this will be the third consecutive cycle that a Republican senator has lost a primary.
( Also on POLITICO: The Cochran-McDaniel ad wars)
2. Are the Baptists more organized than the tribes in Oklahoma?
The special Sooner State primary to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn would have received a lot more national attention if Mississippi had not gone to a runoff.
Before being elected to the House in 2010, Rep. James Lankford, 46, ran the biggest Baptist summer camp in the state for a decade and a half. He has strong backing from the religious right. T.W. Shannon, the African-American former speaker of the statehouse, is a member of the Chickasaw Nation, whose gambling interests make it a major player in Oklahoma politics.
( Earlier on POLITICO: Coburn rips outside right groups)
The tribes have money to spend, but the Baptists have the organizational muscle to turn out the vote.
Polls have shown a tight race, although a survey released Monday by SoonerPoll.com put Lankford up 8 points. If neither man breaks 50 percent, the runoff is Aug. 26. The winner faces no credible Democratic opposition.
3. Does Charles Rangel survive in New York?
The 84-year-old legendary Harlem politician barely won his Democratic primary in 2012 against state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, and now, as he faces a rematch, Rangel is taking nothing for granted — campaigning intensely at every step.
But the demographics in Rangel's district have changed, becoming more Hispanic and less African-American, and a cloud still hangs over the former Ways and Means Committee chairman because of a 2010 ethics censure.
( DRIVING THE DAY: Primary preview)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's late endorsement Sunday reflects the growing conventional wisdom that Rangel will win, and the last independent poll showed him up 13 points. But pollsters warn the district is notoriously tough to survey, and others in New York City's political establishment have declined to endorse in the race, as has President Barack Obama.
If Rangel goes down, Democrats are guaranteed to hold the seat, but it will be the end of an era in Harlem politics.


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Square Enix picked up Sleeping Dogs from Activision's scrap heap and early word is it's worth a good look. Maybe being freed from True Crime's heavy yoke of disappointment will help the concept live out its promise. Darksiders II also hits shelves, and the Summer of Arcade closes out as the kids return to school./
•Sleeping Dogs (PS3, PC, 360)
•Darksiders II (PS3 360)
•Papo & Yo (PS3)
•The Last Story (Wii)
•Dust: An Elysian Tail (360)


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General Human Development Report Tajikistan 1999
The report takes part from the progress of the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord signed by the Government and the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) under the auspices of the UN. the 1999 NHDR was based on the human development pillars, namely empowerment and participation, equity, sustainability and productivity. It also contained a "5 Years of Development" overview of Tajikistan.
Human Development (General)


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Kristyn Ulanday / for NBC News
Jennifer Anstead, a runner, had three friends injured in the marathon attack, including one who lost a leg.
BOSTON -- Scores of marathon runners, doctors, nurses and others descended on Boston on Thursday to join a memorial service to pay respect to the victims of the bombings that struck the iconic road race as the city continued to reel from the twin blasts.
Some nurses attended in their blue scrubs, while others in the crowd wore their blue-and-yellow Boston Marathon jackets. There were many large contingents of staff from the various city hospitals that responded to the trauma.
About 2000 people gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, less than a mile from the finish line, to honor the victims of the bombings that killed three and injured 176. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
Jennifer Anstead, a runner who was about 20 feet away from the second blast, choked up as she talked about three of her friends who had come to cheer her on and were injured in the explosions, including one who lost her leg.
"I still feel a lot of guilt. It's a lot to process. It's a lot to take in," she said.
"I'm trying to be strong for her," Anstead, a 37-year-old operating room nurse, said through sobs. Her friend has a "long road ahead," she added. "She's incredibly strong, she's an amazing person."
Another runner, Brian Ladley, said he found himself between the two bomb blasts but emerged unscathed. He appeared solemn and paused between words as he spoke with a reporter.
President Obama, addressing the crowd at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, tells the people of Boston "your rebuke is the greatest resolve to whoever committed this heinous act."
"I'm here for the runners who can't be here today," said Ladley, 39, who just moved to Boston. "It's still surreal, but (I'm) coping, managing. It's good to be here with people ... people are coming together."
Rodney Bensley, a resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who worked in the trauma unit as patients were incoming, said the last few days have been emotionally challenging, especially since a number of the victims were young.
"We personally cared for a lot of these patients and want to pay our respects to the ones that lost their lives and the ones that are injured as well as their families," said Bensley, 34, who waited with a long line of colleagues to attend the service.
"I kind of think about what happened and how to move forward and ... heal as a city," he added.
Registered nurses Linda Denekamp and Kim Cross, who work with Bensley, said the service offered a period of reflection for the staff.
"It's partly to decompress, partly to offer support to them and their families," said Denekamp.
"It's just nice to come here to take ... a step back and reflect," Cross, 26, added.
Kristyn Ulanday / for NBC News
Jennifer Dunphy, outside the memorial service: "I guess I'm just looking for ... maybe some peace, some understanding, something, a little bit of hope."
Another runner, Jennifer Dunphy, 29, stood in line with a friend who offered her a ticket to the service to help her cope with her feelings from that day. She said she was nearing the finish line as the blasts went off, and ultimately ended up crossing it as she searched for safety.
She later learned that some of her friends were hurt in the attack.
"You were numb at first, and then you're in shock and then you're angry," said Dunphy, a political consultant and Charlestown resident. "Now I guess I'm just looking for ... maybe some peace, some understanding, something, a little bit of hope."
- Bombing victims try to track down heroes who saved them
- Who is the FBI's agent in charge of Boston marathon case?


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Collect your order from goodMix HQ Use the "Order Notes" field above to let us know when you will be picking up your order. For additional details contact Brad 0424 170 545
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Event Search Results
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Agricultural Fair
Bring the family and enjoy a great weekend including: Parade, Midway, Petting Zoo, Free Stage Entertainment, Horse Events, Cattle Show, and so much more! Home of the Miss Interlake Pageant!
Venue: Fairgrounds, Main Street
Neighbourhood: Lundar
60th Pelican Lake Ag Society Annual Fair
60th Anniversary - planning lots of entertainment, fireworks, family dance on Friday night, social on Saturday night, petting zoo and all our annual events! Don't Miss It!!
Venue: Fair Grounds
Neighbourhood: Ninette
Red River Exhibition
EX-perience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Manitoba's largest summer fair. Featuring nightly concerts, family attractions, animals, agriculture and the worlds largest travelling midway. Red River Exhibition Park, Winnipeg's west side.
Venue: Red River Exhibition Park, 3977 Portage Avenue
Neighbourhood: Winnipeg
Agricultural Society Fair
Venue: Fair and Rodeo Grounds
Neighbourhood: Rapid City
Boissevain Fair
Featuring a horse show, cattle show, display building with baking, quilts, crafts and more! Children's entertainment, live band and the famous steak, spud and sud barbeque.
Neighbourhood: Boissevain
Agricultural Fair
Venue: Fairgrounds
Neighbourhood: Dauphin
Summer Blast and Fair Days
The fair is a true celebration of our rural roots. Livestock and home craft displays combined with talented local entertainment and fun and games for the kids make it the perfect opportunity to take in a country fair.
Venue: Agricultural Grounds
Neighbourhood: Killarney
Agricultural Fair & Races
Venue: Fair Grounds
Neighbourhood: Carberry
Portage Fair/Exhibition
Midway rides, food booths, home living competitions, cattle and horse shows, 4-H fun activities and competitions, vendors, entertainment, petting zoo, ranch rodeo, dog show, salute to 4-H's 100th anniversary displays and activities.
Venue: Portagex Fairgrounds on Island Park
Neighbourhood: Portage la Prairie
Agricultural Fair
Horse and Beef 4-H competitions, gymkhana, open cattle show, ladies exhibits, 55+baseball and a steak supper.
Venue: Fairgrounds
Neighbourhood: Manitou
MGRA Horse Show
Starts at 5;00 p.m.
Venue: Fairgrounds
Neighbourhood: Rivers
Agricultural Fair
Venue: Fairgrounds
Neighbourhood: Rivers
Carman Country Fair
Events include: motorsports, midway, displays, commercial exhibits, entertainment for all ages, parade, 4-H Fun Fest, food booths, beer gardens, livestock events, fireworks, and much more.
Venue: Dufferin Agricultural Society Grounds, Kings Park
Neighbourhood: Carman
Triple "S" Fair & Rodeo
Annual Fair and Rodeo this year celebrating 50 years of Rodeo; Children's festival all weekend; demolition derby, live bands, midway, horse shows, 4D barrel racing, chuckwagons, rodeo, and lots more fun for everyone.
Venue: Selkirk Park
Neighbourhood: Selkirk
Are you ready for Manitoba's premiere anime convention? Ai-Kon is coming back for another non-stop weekend celebrating the geekish hobbies we know and love, from Japanese animation to comics, video games, costumes and so much more!
Venue: RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Avenue
Neighbourhood: Winnipeg


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DeKALB – Craig Rusch had plenty of down time on the sidelines during the fall of 2007. After a season-ending knee injury, it was watching and waiting with a little time to reflect and daydream.
He watched practices he couldn't compete in, film he wasn't in and drills – like a cut-blocking drill where coaches rolled a 60-pound ball at defensive lineman – he couldn't participate in.
One day – he doesn't remember which one – an idea came to him.
What if there was a better way to simulate a cut block?
He thought about it, drew up what was in his head and last Sept. 28 showed it to classmates Britt Mork and Chris Newquist as they sat down to eat at The Junction.
The trio of senior mechanical engineering majors had been juggling around thoughts for their senior design project, and Rusch was finally ready to present his idea.
"When Craig started talking about this, I don't think either of us had any clue what he was talking about," said Newquist, a Sycamore High graduate. "I know football, I know what a chop block is but ... Craig had a mental picture in his head that needed forming. The way he drew it the first time, I looked at him like 'I don't know what this is at all' "
"He's not very articulate," Mork joked.
After a little more explaning, however, Mork and Newquist began to follow, and they fell in love with the idea.. Before the end of the year, they had a model drawn on their Pro-E engineering design software.
The cut-block sled would be their brain-child, and last spring it was their life.
The process
After the computer model was built, the next step was building the sled. From the start, that was more difficult than it sounds, because things that work on the computer don't always work in real life.
The trio set up shop at Newquist's father's business, T & H Industries on Industrial Drive in DeKalb. They had all the parts and equipment already at the shop, which builds air purification systems, and they could use it as convenient storage space as well.
Rusch had just five credit hours of classes last spring – three dedicated to the senior design – so he estimates he spent at least 15 hours a week at the shop, building and tweaking with Mork and Newquist.
There were glitches along the way – the circular tubing was bending, the brake was sticking and the blocking pad wasn't dropping quick enough – all things they tried to iron out.
"Instead of taking notes in class, we just started drawing pictures of what we wanted it to look like," Mork said. "We started looking at roller coasters, machines in [the weight room] and the other sleds out here. We wanted to see what was working in [the weight room] and what was smooth there and apply it."
Eventually, that's what they did. The biggest headache of the construction process was the box that controls when the blocking pad drops. After some trial and error, that box now contains large casters, like much of the weight-lifting equipment on the market.
"We call it the Frankenstein setup," Mork said.
The presentation
Once the sled was complete, it was time for the class presentation.
While the sled didn't fit in the classroom, it was rolled into the engineering building for the presentations encore.
When the three students walked into the room to present, they were a bit surprised – it was packed. NIU coach Jerry Kill was there with defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, defensive line coach Jeff Phelps, athletic director Jeff Compher, members of the engineering industry and a whole lot of family members.
That was the first time the trio really understood that the sled – the first of its kind - was a big deal
"It was kind of nerve-racking," Newquist said. "Britt and I didn't know they were coming until that morning."
Afterward, the group went into the hallway to see the sled in motion. A lineman starts blocking the pad and sled on one end of the 20-foot track and it will suddenly drop to their feet at certain adjustable triggering points along the way.
When the pad came down, the demonstration was a bang.
"It did attract a lot of people around the building, because it's pretty loud slamming on a flat floor," Mork said.
The meeting
After the presentation, the trio knew they should get the idea patented if they wanted it to be used in the future.
Their idea was featured in the engineering school's newsletter and the university shot a commercial – still in production – that will feature the students while promoting the university and football team.
Since the sled was created for an NIU class, the university holds intellectual property rights to the idea. They had discussed patenting the idea, something that will cost between $15,000-$20,000 and now are waiting until a late August budget meeting to decide whether to greenlight the project.
If not, the idea will be released and the three NIU students will be allowed to patent the idea on their own.
Eleven months, three models and plenty of headaches later the fruit of those long hours had its reward Friday morning. As the Huskies' defensive linemen went through their drills, they used the cut-block machine for the first time.
Mork said that Kill would contact them afterwards to suggest things that need to be changed.
"It's an interesting device," NIU defensive end Brandon Bice said. "It was a new experience. It's kind of a goofy thing but it does the job. It does what it's supposed to."
It's still a prototype – with its own set of glitches – but if the trio have their say, it could also become an even bigger part of their lives in the future.
"We could sell the idea, work on a couple and then sell the idea or we could just pick this up as our career or our hobby on the weekends," Mork said. "There's a couple different paths we could take with it and we're looking at all of them right now."
The cutting edge: NIU engineers invent football training sled
DeKALB – Craig Rusch had plenty of down time on the sidelines during the fall of 2007. After a season-ending knee injury, it was watching and waiting with a little time to reflect and daydream.