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The ballistic protection against high-energy projectiles, such as the 7.62mm, is more efficiently performed by means of multilayered armor systems (MAS). A MAS might be composed of a ceramic front, followed by a fiber/fabric composite as intermediate layer, and a ductile metal back layer. In a previous investigation, a MAS with intermediate layer of epoxy composite reinforced with 30vol.% of ramie fabric was ballistic tested against 7.62mm ammunition and compared to MAS with Kevlar® (aramid fabric laminate) as intermediate layer. Both MAS met the standard requirements, but a significant cost reduction favored the ramie fabric composite. In the present work, two other related epoxy composites, one reinforced with raw ramie fibers and other with aramid fabric layers, are investigated as MAS intermediate layer. The objective is to achieve similar ballistic performance with more economical and/or environmentally friendly materials. The results indicate that both new composites met the requirements with comparable ballistic performance as the previously investigated ramie fabric and Kevlar®. Moreover, the ramie fiber composite MAS was the least expensive, among all of them, being 14% cheaper than the previously studied ramie fabric composite MAS.
The ballistic protection against high-energy projectiles, such as the 7.62mm ammunition, is more effectively performed by means of multilayered armor systems (MAS) [1,2]. These systems combine specific characteristics of different materials that synergistically contribute to the global protective efficiency [3]. Other ballistic armors based only on a single material, such as steel or aluminum alloy armor plates, can only stop those projectiles in the case of larger thickness and/or high weight pieces [4,5], which might be convenient for vehicles, but not for personal protection, in which wearer mobility is required.
A typical MAS is composed of a ceramic front, followed by a synthetic fiber or fabric composite, as second layer, and a ductile metal as back layer [1,5]. The ceramic material, by its rigid and hard nature, has the function of deforming and eroding the tip of the projectile, as well as absorbing the greatest part of the projectile's kinetic energy, by means of a dynamic fragmentation mechanism. The composite absorbs a still significant amount of the energy and collects the fragments of the ceramic layer and projectile [1]. The ductile metal, such as an aluminum alloy, absorbs the remaining energy by a plastic deformation mechanism [5–7].
The light materials traditionally used for ballistic application are synthetic fabrics, made of high strength fibers such as aramid (Kevlar® or Twaron®) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (Dyneema® or Spectra®) [8,9]. Other materials, such as carbon nanotubes [10] and graphene [11], are also considered in light armor composites. Recently, composites reinforced with natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLF) have been investigated. They show a satisfactory ballistic performance in conjunction with low weight and low cost [12–30]. Wambua et al. [13] were probably the first to consider NLF composites for ballistic applications. They subjected flax, hemp and jute woven fabric-reinforced polypropylene to impact with fragment simulating projectiles, in order to assess the V50 parameter for the composites. Today, extensive literature on the ballistic properties of the NLF composites can be found. Risby et al. [14] evaluated coconut shell powder particulates as reinforcement to epoxy for several ballistic levels of protection, following NIJ Standard 0108.01 specification [15]. Ali et al. [16] developed hybrid anti-ballistic boards made from Kevlar 29/ramie fiber-reinforced polyester composites. They evaluated several properties such as ballistic limit, maximum energy absorption, failure modes and environmental effects. Radif, Ali and Abdan [17] evaluated Kevlar 29/ramie fiber/polyester resin laminates, aiming to produce green protection garments. Abidin et al. [18] studied the ballistic behavior of sandwich panels using kenaf foam as core material, for protection against small arm bullets. Akubue et al. [19] performed a statistical optimization of the mechanical and ballistic properties of kenaf fiber-reinforced polyethylene.
In particular, several NLF composites have been studied as possible materials to replace Kevlar® laminates as ceramic backing in MAS [20–29]. This includes giant bamboo [20], jute [21], sisal [22,23], curaua [24–27], sugarcane bagasse waste [28] and ramie [29], all of them showing satisfactory results. Among the NLF, the ramie fibers are known to have high specific modulus (reaching 120GPa) [30] and specific strength (reaching 660MPa.cm3/g) [12], which make them promising for replacing synthetic fibers such as glass and aramid [12] for ballistic and non-ballistic applications.
In a recent work, Monteiro et al. [29] studied a MAS with intermediate layer composed of ramie fabric reinforced epoxy composite, as compared to an aramid fabric laminate (Kevlar®) with layers joined by an elastomer (Neoprene®). They found that both ramie fabric composite and Kevlar®, as intermediate MAS layer with same 10mm of thickness, complied with the NIJ standard requirements [31]. Apart from the same performance and weight, the cost reduction by using the MAS with ramie fabric could be significative.
The present work follows the same approach than the previous one [29], aiming to reduce the cost of the MAS by using more economical and/or environmentally friendly materials. The Kevlar®-elastomer laminate (∼87vol.% aramid) was replaced by a 30vol.% fabric-reinforced epoxy composite, with significant lower Kevlar® content. The ramie fabric-reinforced composite was replaced by a 30vol.% raw ramie fiber-reinforced epoxy composite.
Therefore, the objective of the present work is to investigate the ballistic behavior of two lower cost epoxy composites reinforced with either raw ramie fibers or a smaller amount of aramid fibers, when threat by high energy 7.62mm non piercing armor projectiles.2Materials and methods
The MAS used in the present work is composed of an alumina-niobia (Al2O3–4%Nb2O5) ceramic front, that gets directly the projectile's impact. An intermediate layer of epoxy composite reinforced with either 30vol.% ramie fibers or 30vol.% aramid fiber follows the front ceramic. An aluminum alloy (5052 H34) layer was used as MAS backing. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the MAS prepared for the ballistic test.
The alumina (Al2O3) was provided by Treibacher Schleifmittel, Brazil, and the niobia (Nb2O5) by the Brazilian Company of Metallurgy and Mining (CBMM), Brazil. The ceramic processing included the mixture and milling of the powder in water suspension using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as binder. After the milling, the powder was dried at 60°C for 48h, and sifted until 0.355mm (42 mesh). The dry powder was then cold pressed (30MPa) and heat treated at 158°C for 1h, for the PEG evolution, and at 1400°C for 3h, for final sintering. Some properties of the ceramic tiles produced are shown in Table 1.
The aluminum alloy 5052 H34 sheets were provided by Metinox, Brazil. Some of their properties are shown in Table 2.
Characteristics of the 5052 H34 aluminum alloy.
|Mechanical property
|Mean value
|Standard deviation
|Tensile strength (MPa)
|Total deformation (%)
|Rockwell B Hardnessa
|Chemical composition
|Element content (%)b
The ramie fibers were provided by Sisalsul, Brazil. Fig. 2 shows the general aspect of the ramie fibers and the microscopic aspect of their surface. These fibers were dried at 60°C for 24h, for the composite production.
The aramid fabric, illustrated in Fig. 3, was provided by LFJ Blindagens, Brazil. It consists in a plain weave fabric, with 450g/m2 as areal density, comprising Kevlar 29® fibers.
The epoxy resin was a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), provided by Resinpoxy, Brazil. The resin was mixed with the hardener triethylene tetramine (TETA), in the stoichiometric 13wt.% proportion. The still fluid mixture was then added together with either the ramie fibers or aramid fabric in the cavity of a steel mold, and kept under 3MPa pressure until the cure (25°C for 24h). The produced composites are rectangular shaped plates, with dimensions 120×150×10mm, having 30vol.% of ramie fibers or aramid fabric. Table 3 presents basic mechanical properties of Kevlar® laminate and epoxy composites reinforced with ramie fabric [29] as well as the present investigated ramie fiber and aramid fabric reinforced epoxy composites.
Mechanical properties and areal densities.
|Composite materials
|Tensile strength (MPa)
|Total strain (%)
|Impact energy (J/m)
|Areal density (kg/m2)
|Epoxy – ramie fiber
|Epoxy – aramid fabric
|Epoxy – ramie fabric
|Kevlar® fabric laminate
The materials were subjected to ballistic impact with 7.62×51mm M1 ammunition, 9.7g in weight, provided commercially to the Brazilian Army. The shooting equipment, available in the Brazilian Army Assessment Center (CAEx), consists in a gun barrel with laser sight (Fig. 4a), positioned 15 meters away from the target (armor specimens). The shooting was performed horizontally and 90° to the target. The MAS targets were positioned in front of a Roma Plastilina type clay witness (Fig. 4b–d), with density 1.7g/cm3, simulating the consistency of the human body. The reason is that, after the ballistic impact, the MAS leaves an indentation in the clay witness, known as backface signature (BFS) or trauma. This methodology of evaluating the ballistic performance is specified by the U.S. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard 0101.06 [31], for body armor testing. In the present work, as in previous works [20–29], this method was used to measure and compare the ballistic performance of different types of MAS.
The projectile's impact velocity (vi) was measured by an optical barrier HPI B471 right before impacting the target. As a consequence, the impact kinetic energy (Ei) could be calculated by:m, mass of the bullet; vr, residual velocity of the projectile after the impact.
The fragments of the composites were examined after the test, in order to identify the mechanisms of fracture. They were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in a quanta FEG 250 FEI equipment, operating with secondary electrons contrast.
The different MAS were compared not only by their ballistic performance, but also based in their areal density (Ds). Estimated Ds could be calculated by Eq. (2).Di (i=1, 2, 3), areal density of the ith layer of the armor; mi, mass of the ith layer of the armor; A, area covered by the armor.3Results and discussion
Table 4 shows the values of impact velocity (vi), impact energy (Ei) and BFS for the several MAS.
Parameters and "backface signature" (BFS) ballistic test.
|MAS intermediate layer
|Vi (m/s)
|Ei (m/s)
|Epoxy-30% raw ramie fibers
|Epóxi-30% aramid fabric
|Epoxy-30% ramie fabric [29]
|Kevlar® fabric laminate [29]
In none of the ballistic tests the MAS targets were perforated. In fact, the values of BFS for all the MAS were below 1.73in. (44mm), as specified by the NIJ Standard 0101.06 [32]. These are reliable indicators, meaning that the armor specimens could absorb efficiently the projectile's impact energy.
The BFS results of the different MAS were very similar. The MAS with raw ramie fiber composite (BFS=18±2mm) presented the same average BFS as the aramid fabric composite (BFS=18±1mm). The MAS with ramie fabric composite and aramid laminate, both studied by Monteiro et al. [29], had also the BFS very close to the present results (BFS=17±1mm and 21±3mm, respectively). A statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to the data. The parameters of Fisher-Snedecor (F) and the p-value were calculated as 2.44 and 0.14, respectively. Both parameters indicate that the results are statistically identical, for a level of significance of 10%. Previous results [27] indicate that the presence of a brittle composite matrix, such as the epoxy, increases the energy or trauma absorption in the ballistic impact, when compared to softer ones, such as the Neoprene® rubber, due to the surface energy created during fracture. However, when the material is backing the ceramic layer in a MAS, the major part of the energy absorption is performed by the first layer (ceramic), and the most important function of the second layer happens to be collecting the shrapnel (fragments) generated by the impact, as explained by Monteiro et al. [1].
Fig. 5 shows the general aspect of the specimens after the ballistic test. In both, Fig. 5a and b, it is possible to observe the gray area around the point of impact. This is attributed to the pulverized ceramic deposition, since the first layer was totally fractured during the ballistic impact. The ceramic spallation was already expected, since it is the main absorption mechanism of the projectile's incident kinetic energy. In the MAS with aramid fiber specimen, Fig. 5b, one can observe the fracture of the thin epoxy resin layer over the first layer of fabric. This might have happened because of the smooth and pore-free surface characteristic of the aramid fiber (Fig. 3b), in conjunction with the tight weave of the fabric (Fig. 3a), which makes the aramid layer almost impermeable to the resin. In this way, the aramid composite structure behaves similar to a laminate, although the high volumetric percentage of resin results in more disperse and heterogeneous layers. The raw ramie fibers, on the other hand, as a typical property of the NLF, display a rough and porous surface (Fig. 2b), which makes them not only highly absorptive to moisture, but also receptive to liquid intrusion (higher surface area). These characteristics make the ramie fiber-reinforced composite structure more homogeneous than the aramid.
Another difference observed in Fig. 5 is the radial fracture of the raw ramie composite (Fig. 5a). For the MAS second layers, this phenomenon is often caused by the lower toughness of the reinforcing fiber, in this case, the ramie fiber. It might be considered a limitation for multi-hit applications, although the composite kept a partial integrity after the impact. Besides that, this phenomenon does not affect the trauma absorption (BFS).
Fig. 6a shows the fracture aspect of the ramie fiber at the impact zone. The fracture is complex, involving fiber and matrix rupture as well as and fiber pullout, which is an indication of the weak interface. This is a consequence of the hydrophilic nature of the ramie fibers that contrasts with the hydrophobic nature of the epoxy resin. For the aramid composite (Fig. 6b), one should expect better interface properties, but not strong adhesion, since aramid fibers often need coupling agents to fully compatibilize fiber and matrix. In Fig. 6, indeed, little or no incidence of resin bonding was observed for both composite fiber surfaces, indicating relatively weak interfaces.
Another feature seen in Fig. 6 is the fine shrapnel of the ceramic layer deposited around the whole fracture surface. This was already observed in Fig. 5, indicated by the gray area around the impact zone. The fine shrapnel can be seen in both ramie and aramid composites (Fig. 6a and b).
For practical application of a MAS, relevant points are the cost and weight. Table 5 presents the basic parameters that allow estimated cost and weight of the distinct MAS investigated. The values for the parameters used in this table were provided by the suppliers or obtained from the literature [32,35]. In spite of the MAS front Al2O3 ceramic to be a smaller hexagonal tile, Fig. 4c and d, its calculated area was considered the whole 15×15cm of the target, which corresponds to a realistic situation.
Total cost and weight for the distinct MAS with epoxy composites and Kevlar® laminate as second layer.
|MAS component
|Volume (cm3)
|Density (g/cm3)
|Weight (kgf)
|Price per kg (US dollars)
|Component cost (US dollars)
|Al2O3 ceramic tile
|Kevlar® fabric laminate
|63.60 [29]
|Kevlar® fabric composite plate
|Ramie fiber composite plate
|Ramie fabric composite plate
|5052-H34 aluminum sheet
|MAS with (as second layer)
|Total weight (kgf)
|Total cost (US dollars)
|Kevlar® fabric laminate
|Kevlar® fabric composite plate
|Ramie fiber composite plate
|Ramie fabric composite plate
Kevlar® was the one with a higher cost (US$2.84) than the other MASs, due to the high fraction of aramid fabric (around 87%), which is more expensive. Thus, the application of epoxy composites allows a satisfactory performance decreasing the unit cost. Indeed, the epoxy resin matrix composite is able to absorb the projectile's impact energy and presents a lower cost (US$16.25/kg of epoxi) than aramid (US$63.60) [29]. The composite reinforced with 30% aramid fabric is thus 56% less expensive (US$0.71 per component) than Kevlar® laminates (US$1.60 per component). Besides that, the application of ramie fabric can decrease the cost of the epoxy composite relative to aramid by 21%, and the total MAS cost by 7.7%. Eventually, the application of raw ramie fibers reduces even more MAS cost, 46% reduction in comparison with the aramid fabric laminate, 21% against aramid composite, and 14% against ramie fabric composite.4Summary and conclusions
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In the present work, epoxy composites reinforced with 30vol.% of raw ramie fibers or aramid fabric were studied as second layers of a multilayered armor system (MAS). The MAS was also composed by an alumina-niobia (Al2O3–4%Nb2O5) ceramic front, and a 5052 H34 aluminum alloy backing.
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Statistically similar ballistic behavior was observed in these MAS, in terms of the measured backface signature in the ballistic tests and also in terms of microscopic fracture mechanisms and shrapnel capture.
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Both composites of the present work had a similar ballistic behavior as a ramie fabric composite and aramid laminate, Kevlar®, previously studied. However, the application of raw ramie fibers also resulted in a significant cost reduction, as compared to any of the MAS.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The authors of the present work wish to thank the Brazilian supporting agencies CAPES, CNPq and FAPERJ for the funding, and the CAEx, for performing the ballistic tests.
Paper was part of technical contributions presented in the events part of the ABM Week 2017, October 2nd to 6th, 2017, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.


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Donator Pack
Thank you for your support! Your feedback is important to us, anything is welcome that comes with kind words, a mug of coffee, or via paypal. :) We need your help to make new races, and to drive this project towards success.
When we've started the Indiegogo project, we decided that a special pack will be made just for the donators. Since the Indiegogo project is over, we wanted to share this pack in more "playful" ways:
1. Everytime when you make something on the website, you receive points. When you invite your friends, when you write on the forums, when you participate in a forum game, or just you log in, and look around. You can buy the donator pack from these points.
2. Random events :)
And we would like to mention some people, who have supported us in many ways, thank you! Kudos for you!
John G. Kane - He supported us with 50$ when we made the project, and with his very useful comments and suggestions.
Vaughn Romero - He supported us with 100$ when we made the project.
Dave Bacher - He supported us with 100$ when we made the project.
Paul - He supported us with 100$ when we made the project.
Stock what we used @deviantart: Itsdura, Pranile, Nathie-stock, Alz-Stock, Eacthe, ED-resources, camelfobia, archaemic, LG-Design, moonglowlilly, IgnisfatuusII, Anulubi, Artreferencesource

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The "Halo: Reach" live-action short, "Deliver Hope," turned heads when it debuted two weeks ago, and now fans can view a special extended version online starting today. The extended cut of "Deliver Hope" debuts today exclusively on Machinima's You Tube channel, and will be available starting tomorrow on Halo.Xbox.com, Halo Waypoint and www.bungie.net.
Sometimes in the face of unfathomable odds, the only way to accomplish a mission is to pay the ultimate price. This two minute and 15 second extended cut of the "Halo: Reach" live action film "Deliver Hope" is a dramatic depiction of the sacrifice paid by Noble Team. It's a more in-depth look into the type of courage and heroism required of all soldiers during the battle of Reach, and includes footage not seen in the original 60 second version of the film.
"Deliver Hope" is the dramatic capstone to the series of live-action ads from acclaimed director Noam Murro ("Smart People"), who also directed the "Halo: Reach" "Birth of a Spartan" short and a collection of live-action vignettes housed at RememberReach.com.
"Deliver Hope" features an original musical score written and produced by Human, with Brian Emerich ("The Wrestler") as sound designer. The short was edited by Angus Wall ("The Social Network"), and was filmed on location in Prague. For the production of "Deliver Hope," Microsoft and Bungie partnered with top industry talent including ad agency agencytwofifteen, Legacy Effects (props) and Method Studios (visual effects).
Exclusive to Xbox 360, "Halo: Reach" is now available for pre-order at participating retailers worldwide in Standard, Limited and Legendary editions. Additionally, a stunning lineup of custom-designed "Halo: Reach" hardware products are also currently available for pre-order. The Xbox 360 Limited Edition "Halo: Reach" Bundle will be available day and date with "Halo: Reach" on Sept. 14, along with the "Halo: Reach" Limited Edition Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset. As a special bonus, fans can receive a token to unlock an exclusive in-game Spartan Recon Helmet by picking up a copy of the game on launch day at North American retail stores, and outside of North America by making a pre-order reservation at participating retailers.
Developed by award-winning studio Bungie exclusively for Xbox 360, "Halo: Reach" launches worldwide on Sept. 14, 2010, and in Japan on Sept. 15.
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Table Recovery
Replacing the old cloth with new cloth of your choice on the bed and rails. We remove all of the old staples, ensure that the frame and the playing surface are level, the cushions are fully secured to the rails, and the seams between the slates are properly sealed with beeswax where needed. we offer full expert Pool Table Repair
This service may be needed if you are moving long-distance, installing new carpet or flooring, etc. The pool table is dismantled and all of the pieces are marked to guarantee that the table will be re-assembled correctly. The pool table is then stacked neatly in place to the customer's satisfaction.
If you just moved into the area or purchased a new/used pool table and the table itself is in the room where it is to be installed, this is the service you are looking for. We position the table for optimum playability or to the customer's specifications. We replace any worn or missing hardware and professionally assemble and level your pool table.
Pool table is disassembled at one location/residence. It is then carefully loaded and protected while being transported to the new location/residence. Once there, the table is completely assembled and is ready for play.*
We also service Hunterdon County Pool Tables and many other surrounding areas.
*We do not move 10′ pool tables or tables with 1 piece slate. If you have one of these types of tables, call us and we can refer you to someone who can provide this service for you.
In-House Moves: Minor Move
Pool table is put on dollies and moved from one room to another. This method is used only if the opening between rooms is wide enough for the table to fit through in one piece.
In-House Moves: Major Move
Pool table is disassembled and then moved to another room/floor and re-assembled for play.
Re-Leveling: Minor Leveling
Often re-leveling your pool table can be achieved by adjusting the legs (tables with leg levelers) or by adding/removing shims beneath the legs. This is all that is required if the playing surface is flat.
Re-Leveling: Major Leveling
If the level reading is different on all three pieces of slate, the rails and bed cloth need to be removed so that the slates can be adjusted to create a flat playing surface. In some cases, the slate may need to be removed also.
Slate Crating
Each slate is crated separately in a custom frame according to its size using 1″x4″ lumber and screws.*
*This may be required by some moving companies.
New Cushions
The old cushions and cushion facings are removed and the rail facings are cleaned of all glue. New cushions are applied and allowed to set overnight (12 hours minimum) before the cloth is put on.
The service is normally done at the same time new cloth (recovery) is put on the pool table.


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Dubai: A Revolutionary Guards commander said Iran would use its missiles if its security is under threat, as the elite force defied new U.S. sanctions on its missile programme by holding a military exercise on Saturday.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since a recent Iranian ballistic missile test which prompted U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to impose sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Revolutionary Guards. Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn said the Washington was putting Iran on notice over its "destabilising activity", and Trump tweeted Tehran was "playing with fire"
"We are working day and night to protect Iran's security," head of Revolutionary Guards' aerospace unit, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. "If we see smallest misstep from the enemies, our roaring missiles will fall on their heads," he added.
Despite the heated words, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday he was not considering raising the number of U.S. forces in the Middle East to address Iran's "misbehavior", but warned that the world would not ignore Iranian activities.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards is holding the military exercise in Semnan province on Saturday to test missile and radar systems and to "showcase the power of Iran's revolution and to dismiss the sanctions," according to the force's website.


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Across all of the print solutions that we can provide, we also offer a bespoke online print procurement system enabling a client to order their print materials in minutes, with pre agreed fixed prices and clear delivery dates. It is a great solution for helping you reduce and plan your print costs during the course of the year, as well as significantly reducing the workload required to order your materials, freeing up valuable resource for other important tasks.
Please get in touch to find out more about our print procurement system and how you might be able to save time and money.


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Azerbaijani art has developed over the ancient history of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijanis have created a rich and distinctive culture, a major part of which is decorative and applied art. This form of art rooted in hoary antiquity is represented by a wide range of handicrafts, such as chasing, jeweler, engraving in metal, carving in wood, stone and bone, carpet-making, lasing, pattern weaving and printing, knitting and embroidery. Each of these types of decorative art, evidence of the and endowments of the Azerbaijan nation, is very much in favor here. Many interesting facts pertaining to the development of arts and crafts in Azerbaijan were reported by numerous merchants, travelers and diplomats who had visited these places at different times.
Azerbaijani rugs are a product of Azerbaijan, an ancient center of carpet weaving.
Azerbaijan has been since the ancient times known as a center of a large variety of crafts. The archeological dig on the territory of Azerbaijan testifies to the well developed agriculture, stock raising, metal working, pottery and ceramics, and last but not least carpet-weaving that date as far back as to the 2nd millennium BC.
Azerbaijani carpets can be categorized under several large groups and a multitude of subgroups. The true scientific research of the Azerbaijani carpet is connected with the name of Latif Kerimov, a prominent scientist and artist. It was his classification that related the four large groups of carpets with the four geographical zones of Azerbaijan, i.e. Guba-Shirvan, Ganja-Kazakh, Karabakh and Tabriz.
The Ardebil group includes the following widely known carpets: " Ardebil", "Sheikh Safi", "Serabi", "Shakh Abbasy", "Mir".
The traditional features of this group, which were developed to a high level from the decorative and technical points of view, with time became famous far outside Iran.
Baku carpets are marked for their increased softness of the material and intense colors, as well as excellent artistic taste and exquisite decoration. This school has about 10 compositions. The historical sources and inscriptions on the carpets testify to the fact that carpet making was widely spread in these villages and carpet-ware was exported outside the country. The carpet composition often includes medallions. They are filled by various motifs, most often by stylized images of plants, which lost their resemblance to the original object after they had been geometrized.
The carpets of Ganja are notable for peculiarity of their compositions and ornamental patterns. The Ganja carpets include a relatively small number of carpet compositions, all in all between 8 and 20 patterns. The Kazakh carpets cover about 16 compositions with various patterns. Kazakh, which is located on the NW of Azerbaijan, is the most famous carpet production region and also accounts for the Kazakh and Borchaly carpet groups. The Kazakh carpets have a geometrical ornamental pattern, the composition is not very complex with a focus on a schematic presentation of the geometrical patterns, plants and animals. The ornamental d?cor of the Ganja carpets is rich and diverse, with a focus on geometrical motifs as well as schematic presentation of plants and anumals.
The Karabakh carpet is one of five major regional groups of carpets made in Azerbaijan named after the Karabakh region, which comprises present Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent lowland territories ('lowland Karabakh').
The Karabakh carpets amount to 33 compositions. Due to the specifics of the local sheep wool the Karabakh carpets are characterized by thick pile, high and fluffy. These carpets are marked for their vivid and joyous colors. They are divided into four groups: without medallions, with medallions, namazlyk and subject carpet. In the mountainous part of Karabakh the carpets were made in Malybeili, Muradkhanly, Dashbulakh, Jebrail, Goradis and many other villages.
Shirvan is one of the most ancient historical regions of Azerbaijan. Carpet making of different types is a widespread craft with both settled and nomadic natives. The Shirvan school accounts for carpets manufactured in the following towns and villages of the Shirvan region: Shemaha, Maraza, Akhsu, Kurdamir. The school totals 25 compositions. The Salyan carpets, with similar artistic and technical features, also belong to this school. The Shirvan carpets are characterized by an intricate design, which depicts numerous artifacts of everyday life, birds and people.
Tabriz used to be a large and worldwide famous carpet making center in the Iranian Azerbaijan. It played a significant role in development the rich traditions of the decorative and applied arts.
The Tabriz carpet art was in its prime in the 12th-16th centuries. About 200 Tabriz school masterpieces of the classical or "golden" period of the 14th century are characterized by a harmonic merge of the arts of miniature paintings and weaving, by a high level of craftsmanship demonstrated by artists and carpet weavers.


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Young Professionals – Defining the career that's right for you…
Are you stuck in a path that you are not sure suits you? Do you wake up in the morning and feel like working somewhere else? You are not alone! Young people all around the world are second-guessing their career and life plans all the time.
Now, more than ever, it's important to take the time to find the right career fit and make the right life choices. Our jobs mean a lot to us because they become a huge part of our daily lives and we spend a lot of time doing them. How we feel about what we do affects all areas of our lives. That's why it's essential at a young age to be in a job you enjoy.
Here are some quick steps developed by Sigal Consulting to help a young professional identify their ideal job and navigate the transition.
- Define the career that's right for you: This can take a lot of time and effort and often talking to people with experience will help you. Talk to Sigal Consulting for help from an experienced organizational psychologist.
- Clarify and develop confidence in your skills and abilities: Gather experience and identify what things you are good at and make sure to cultivate these things and become aware of your specific talents and strong points.
- Overcome the obstacles that prevent you from moving forward: Obstacles are inevitable. Recognize the obstacles that are inhibiting you from going down the right path and try to overcome them. Often talking to a professional with experience in this realm can help, contact Sigal Consulting for help.
As an experienced organizational psychologist and a professional & personal change expert, Sigal Consulting helps people follow their goals, recognize their dreams and therefore gain maximum satisfaction from their lives. Sigal Consulting helps clients find a fulfilling career and dream job and also maintain a better and healthier lifestyle. Additionally, Sigal Consulting helps take new ideas from conception to delivery and provides Start-ups with tools needed to develop and launch a successful company. For more information and to create your new path today, contact us today.


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The Oscars will be announcing their winners next week, and I'm planning on writing up some Oscar related posts. So this week, I'll be asking another Oscar-related question: what's the biggest Oscar snub?
My answer is 2001: A Space Odyssey for Best Picture. In my opinion, Stanley Kubrick is the greatest director in film history and I'm absolutely stunned that this didn't get a nomination (I'd also like to throw in The Shining, which received zero nominations). The movie which won in 1968, Oliver, is ultimately pretty forgettable and I doubt any major film critic would call it essential filmmaking. 2001, on the other hand, is and it's my second favorite movie of all time.
But what's your answer?


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"Welcome to Fantasy And Beyond ! Here you will receive my creations of anything to do with Fantasy. You will see Kings,Queens,Knight,Maiden,Creature, Trolls and lots more. So make yourself a home and start enjoying the "Animationary" that I enjoy"
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(Don't forget to vote for your favorite blogs in the Best of Blogs contest! You can vote once per category per day.)
Tag Archives: SteelStacks
Drawn to the Quest?
Last night, while ordering my second gin & tonic at the bar in the lobby of the Artsquest Center at Steelstacks, it hit me that I had visited this space—in fact, spoken to this bartender—3 times in the past 3 days. This is not to say that I've been on some sort of ridiculous bender where I've been frequenting bars, but I have had various reasons to show up at this venue over the past couple of days.
This arts center in south Bethlehem has proven to be a pretty major point of contention among several people I know personally. A friend's partner found steady enough employment here that they could adjust their lifestyle to suit their passions. A colleague refuses to visit the facility because of its connections with the casino. A man a spoke to tonight referenced the casino and this center as a reason he likes this area, even though he never gambles himself. I've made money designing graphics for a gambling addiction group that formed after the entertainment complex opened. I've also spent money seeing movies, dining, attending concerts and purchasing drinks from this center.
Who would have thought that an arts and entertainment complex on one of the largest brown fields in the region would cause so much controversy? I can't say that I was thrilled, or even mildly supportive, about a casino opening in south Bethlehem. But, it's not something I am going to argue now that it has opened, and I have to say, I've been thoroughly impressed with my interactions with the Artsquest Center to this point. However, I suppose wherever there are large sums of money being spent to develop a part of any town, disagreements and controversy will arise.
Politics and opinions aside, I have visited the Artsquest Center several times over the past couple of days. Saturday morning, I visited the winter farmer's market, which paled in comparison to the summer market (understandably), but still packed a punch and allowed me to purchase some fresh, local veggies in these cold months. I was thrilled to see the press coverage of the reopening of the market (after it unfortunately was pushed aside for the Christkindlemart tourist attraction).
You can read more (and watch a video!) about the market here and here.
Saturday night, I headed back to the center for dinner and an amazing Everclear concert.
To read more/see more pictures of Everclear, click here.
Finally, last night I attended the first Lehigh Valley bloggers meetup, also at the Artsquest Center. Sponsored by Lehigh Valley Live, the event allowed local bloggers from various backgrounds and interests to step out from behind their screens and meet others who fill the blogosphere with impassioned content. Food bloggers, political activists, news journalists, special interest writers and non-profit organizations gathered to share their thoughts on ethics, accountability, anonymity, and content. It was great to see the amount of energy people have for sharing their passions and encouraging conversation and the diversity in styles, approaches and attitudes. Lehigh Valley Live took a few minutes to put in a plug for their blog hosting services, and a young man presented his initial vision for Bloggleverse, which seems to be a hybrid of WordPress and Facebook. The site is in it's earliest days (created 12/30), but it'll be interesting to see how it develops.
I wish I would have had the chance to talk individually with each blogger, and I wish even more that there would have been a list of everyone's blogs available, but these are the products of some of the cool Lehigh Valley-ite bloggers at the event (if you were there and I missed you, please feel free to leave your blog address as a comment!):
- Laughing At My Nightmare: A brutally honest and often hilarious documentation of this 19-year old man's life with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a debilitating disease that has left him in a wheelchair since age 2.
- Remember: A well-informed blog written by a fascinating environmental scientist centering on the Allentown parks system, plant life, and life with anxiety, with a call to action for all people to get involved in environmental service.
- Neighbors of Easton: A blog of enormous content and scope, this woman touches on all aspects of local democracy, food, and businesses.
- No Room For Seconds: A foodie through-and-through, this gent shares recipes and reflection through witty-titled posts.
- The Corner Seat: This woman offers comprehensive coverage of the Lehigh Valley Roller Derby scene, as well as entries about local art and music.
- Save the Kales!: I've already told you about this fantastic vegan cooking and lifestyle blog.
- Lehigh Valley With Love: A satirical look at news in the LV, with an eye for the absurd and a good heart, supporting several charities.
I know there were lots of other talented and fascinating folks at the meetup, that I just didn't have a chance to talk with! This event definitely reinforced the notion in my mind that there are awesome people doing great things in this area. I can't wait to meet more of them (maybe at the Artsquest Center, since it seems to be the place to be these days!).
Now, to go finish the tortillas I am making so I can post another recipe soon!
Weekend Hodgepodge: Everclear Edition
I am still waiting for my hearing to come back in my left ear and my voice to regain strength after this weekend's awesome Everclear concert, but fortunately my fingers still work, so I can tell you about it! The weekend got off to a pretty low-key start, which is actually just what I needed after a particularly long (actually, all-day) meeting at work on Friday. After a happy hour drink with some colleagues at Roosevelt's 21st, my Friday evening was filled with my crocheted blanket, homemade turkey noodle soup Kevin made for me, watching Fievel Goes West and reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, then heading to bed at some ungodly early hour. Yeah, yeah, not incredibly exciting, but some Friday's you just need to kick back, you know?
Since we didn't plan on a sit-down meal, we got upstairs to the Musikfest Café a bit later than I had hoped to. I was a little nervous that we wouldn't get a good spot in the general admission crowd—A problem I frequently run into as a short person in large crowds. Somehow, though, despite the fact that we got upstairs just as the doors were opening, we managed to get a spot literally against the stage. No joke, I used the stage as a table for my drink. Needless to say, we remained glued to our places for the hour-and-a-half before the show started (it began a half-hour late).
As if this night wasn't amazing enough, a completely random stranger stopped me after the show to tell me how much she liked my blog. I had never seen this woman in my life! Unfortunately, I was too starstruck, deaf and exhausted to say anything particularly intelligent or appreciative to her, but it really did make my night!
Also, after a quick trip to Moravian's south campus, we ended up running around in the cold trying to catch a big orange cat that was running loose in the cold. Unfortunately, he got spooked away just as Kevin was getting him to come over. Hope he found some shelter from this bitter cold!
Here's to a weekend that sure beat the last one!


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Commonwealth Irrigation & Landscape can assess your lawn to provide you the right type of lawn sprinklers for your Orange lot. We can create a long-lasting irrigation system for you. Browse our website to see a complete list of our services. To book an appointment with Commonwealth Irrigation & Landscape, complete our online form or call 540-898-3555.


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Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Libraries that Have It: The Mangum star and southwest eagle. [volume] (Mangum, Greer County, Okla.) 1918-1919
Mangum, Greer County, Okla. (1918-1919)
HOLDING: Oklahoma Hist Soc Res Libr, Oklahoma City, OK
View more titles from this institution
Available as: Microfilm Service Copy
- <1918:7:4-1919:8:14>
Last updated: 08/2013
Available as: Microfilm Master
- <1918:7:4-1919:8:14>
Last updated: 08/2013


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John Boehner says Obama "took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission's ideas"
During an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, had a blunt message for President Barack Obama on the deficit: "Grow up."
Referring to the deficit commission chaired by former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming and former Democratic White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles, Boehner said, "While I didn't agree with everything they did, there was a lot in their proposal that was worthy of consideration. And what did the president do? He took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission's ideas. Not one. Come on! It's time to grow up and get serious about the problems that face our country."
A reader asked us to check whether the White House has indeed ignored the recommendations of the very blue-ribbon panel it had established. So we looked at the commission's final report, which was released in December 2010; the president's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal, which was released in February 2011; and a fact sheet released by the White House following Obama's budget speech at George Washington University in April 2011.
We should begin by noting that the commission's report offered no shortage of recommendations for the White House to choose from -- more than 70, in fact. Based on our analysis of these three documents, as well as our discussions with independent budget experts, we found many policies now advocated by Obama that had been included in the bipartisan commission's final report. However, in many cases the White House proposal either differed in some of the details or lacked details entirely.
When we contacted Boehner's office, a spokesman said that the fairest way to compare the proposals is to look at the president's proposed budget, since that document includes greater detail than the fact sheet that accompanied the George Washington University speech, which is informally known as the "framework." Still, we think the framework has value, so we'll evaluate them separately.
First are two recommendations by the commission that were included in the president's budget proposal:
• Allow the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to increase premiums. The PBGC is the federal agency that protects traditional defined-benefit pension payments for workers whose companies have failed. Both the commission and the White House agreed that PBGC premiums are lower than those charged by private-sector financial institutions and are too low to allow the agency to remain financially stable. Both proposals would allow the agency to raise premiums in order to shore up its financial position.
• Increase government authority and funding to reduce Medicare fraud. The president's budget does this.
So these two items by themselves show Boehner is wrong to say that none of the commission's recommendations were included.
Next, we'll list six of the commission's recommendations that were included in the president's budget with slight differences.
• Eliminate "in-school subsidies" for the federal student loan program. Both the commission and the president's budget agree that this policy should be eliminated, though the president would do it only for graduate and professional student loans.
• End the reliance on deficit spending to fund the transportation trust fund. The main difference here is that Obama does not specifically advocate a 15-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax -- a key provision of the commission's recommendation.
• Freeze pay for federal workers and Defense Department civilians. The commission recommended a three-year freeze; the president's budget would do two years.
• Overhaul the medical malpractice system. The commission advocated an "aggressive" set of changes to the medical malpractice system, such as imposing a statute of limitations for suits, creating specialized "health courts," and allowing "safe haven" rules for providers who follow best practices of care. Obama's budget is much less specific, saying only that the president "encourages Republicans to work constructively with him on medical malpractice as part of an overall effort to restrain health costs."
• Reform the corporate tax system. The president's budget calls for simplification but does not go so far as to endorse the commission's specific recommendation of a single corporate tax rate between 23 percent and 29 percent and changing how foreign income is taxed.
• Increase government efficiency. Both the commission and the president's budget endorse the idea of reorganizing government to make it more efficient, but neither provides much detail.
Finally, the White House "framework" on deficit reduction refers very generally to seven of the commission's recommendations. In several of these examples, the White House proposal offers less detail than the commission's.
• Cut both security and non-security spending. The commission urged cutting both types of spending by equal percentages. In his fact sheet for the framework, Obama advocates cutting non-security spending to levels consistent with that of the commission, but his cuts to security-related spending are not as large as those proposed by the commission.
• Implement structural tax reform. The commission and Obama both agree with the principle of cutting marginal tax rates while eliminating loopholes. But while the commission recommended "a small number of simpler, more targeted provisions that promote work, home ownership, health care, charity and savings," Obama was less specific.
• Reform Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate mechanism. Both the commission and Obama agreed that the Sustainable Growth Rate needs to be overhauled, in a way that is fully offset in the budget, but their approaches are somewhat different.
• Establish a long-term global budget for federal health care spending. The commission urged a "target of holding growth (of all federal health care spending) to GDP plus 1 percent and requiring action by the president and Congress if growth exceeds the targets." In his framework, Obama proposed a more aggressive standard -- GDP plus 0.5 percent per beneficiary -- but for the more limited target of just Medicare.
• Eliminate state "gaming" of Medicaid. The commission recommends preventing states from taxing providers in order to increase their payments, and therefore increase the federal match. The Obama framework backs a limited version.
• Reduce agricultural subsidies. The Obama framework supports cuts, but it does not mention the specific programs recommended by the commission.
• Create a mechanism to enforce adherence to debt stabilization. Both the commission and the president's framework agree on this in principle, but they use different mechanisms. The commission recommended that if balanced-budget targets are not met, Congress would need to implement a fast-track legislative procedure to enforce changes in spending and/or taxes. The president would do something similar, but he would specifically carve out Social Security, low-income programs and Medicare, "consistent with prior fiscal enforcement triggers put in place by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton."
We do think it's fair to say that Obama has stopped short of adopting many of the commission's recommendations, and he's been clear that he will not accept the package in its entirety.
But even if you look only at his fiscal year 2012 budget plan rather than the less detailed framework, Obama made two proposals -- pension guarantees and Medicare fraud -- that are substantially similar to those offered by the commission, and his budget proposal includes six additional provisions that share significant common ground with recommendations made by the commission.
Alice Rivlin, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget for Clinton and a member of the commission, told PolitiFact that the most important idea Obama took from the group wasn't a policy proposal at all but was instead "the concept of shared sacrifice," which was a centerpiece of the commission's preamble.
If Boehner had offered a more measured assessment, he would have had a fair point about the differences between Obama's fiscal approach and that outlined by the commission. The president certainly could have gone further in embracing the recommendations of the panel he had commissioned. But he did embrace a wide variety of them, so to say bluntly, as Boehner did, that Obama "took exactly none of his own deficit reduction commission's ideas" is simply not correct. To one degree or another, the commission's recommendations are sprinkled throughout Obama's budget proposals, in recognizable -- if not always in identical -- form. So we rate Boehner's statement False.


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There is a key to my heart, there are codes to my safe box. No matter how securely locked my heart may be, there is only one person who can open it.That person is you. Only your keys can unlock my heart.
Love Life Inspirational Wishes Encouragement Funny DP Congratulatory Seasonal Flirty GoodBye Portrait Me


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When a worker sustains a work-related injury, he or she is entitled to seek medical treatment for the initial injury as well as an on-going basis. Workers' compensation is meant to cover the costs of the treatment, including equipment, therapy, surgery, prescription medication, and a number of other costs. A provider who has supplied services, products, or medicines to an injured worker in a workers' compensation case can file a lien against the workers' compensation benefits of the worker. This allows the provider to make sure he or she gets paid. In 2012, a bill came into effect that required lien holders to pay an "activation fee." The purpose of this fee was an attempt to clear the large backlog of small liens that were bogging down the system, as well as discouraging providers from filing small claims by making the fee large enough as to render the lien worthless. A case called Angelotti Chiropractic v. Baker challenged the constitutionality of the activation fee. The case claimed that the activation fee was a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the United States Constitution because large institutional lien holders such as union trusts and health care plans were exempt from having to pay the activation fee. The plaintiffs alleged that this was unfair, and either all or no lien holders should have to pay the fee. The court ultimately agreed.
In November 2013, the court approved the request for a preliminary injunction, which prevented the DWC from collecting the activation fee for the liens from before 2013 as well as preventing enforcement of a provision of the new law that would have allowed for dismissal of liens by December 31, 2013 if the activation fee had not been paid.
The Ninth Circuit United States Court later determined that the activation fees were, in fact constitutional. The court dismissed the injunction put in place by the trial court. The court determined that any affected lien claimant who filed a declaration of readiness or attended a lien conference between November 9, 2015 and December 31, 2015 must pay the activation fee. It also determined that pursuant to labor code 4903.06(a)(5). After December 31, 2015, activation fees were no longer accepted by the DWC. Providers should note that the fee for filing liens was completely unaffected by this case.
If you have questions about how workers' compensation claims are paid, you need an experienced attorney to discuss it with you. Contact us today at (714) 516-8188 for a consultation to discuss your business and how workers' compensation will impact your business.


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Introducing a safer prescription medication package.
MediBubble® is a new medication package that helps you safely manage what prescription medications you take and when you take them.
Available only to Louis & Clark, MediBubble® is a unique prescription medication package. It gives a patient greater safety, convenience and peace of mind. Each plastic blister (or bubble) contains all of your medications for that time of day. We've reduced the confusion when taking multiple medications.
Is MediBubble® easy to use?
Yes, very easy. On the back of the medication sheet, you'll see each day's medications listed. They're color coded for the specific time of day. Simply peel back the paper liner for that individual bubble.
Each bubble is perforated, so if you travel, you can safely take only that day's medications with you. Since it's sealed, your pills are protected from dirt, moisture, and germs (unlike constantly handling your pills from a prescription vial). If you've ever spilled a bottle of pills, you'll appreciate the convenience of MediBubble.®
Is MediBubble® for everyone?
Most patients will benefit from this medication management system. It's widely used by assisted living facilities, independent congregate housing and other similar residences. It's also now available for individuals. As with all our prescriptions, we help you manage your refills, so you'll always have the medications you need. And of course, we deliver.


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Austin Guitar HouseAustin Guitar House Contact: Oz Hofstatter
You can purchase from Austin Guitar House in our store located at 2206 West Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78757, Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, (closed Monday). Also, you can call us at (512) 243-6036 or e-mail us (that's the best way) through email@example.com, and we'll be glad to talk to you about product information as well as order placement.
2206 West Anderson Lane Austin TX 78757 United States
Chicago Music ExchangeChicago Music Exchange Contact: Dan Bordonaro
3316 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60657 United States
Denver Guitar ExchangeDenver Guitar Exchange
1625 17th St. 3rd Floor Denver CO 80202 USA
Destroy All GuitarsDestroy All Guitars Contact: Cliff Cultreri
We ARE boutique
DestroyAllGuitars is like a traditional record company's A&R team, but for guitar and amp builders instead of musicians. Our goal is to search out the best talent and find the finest guitar related products in the world and give the buyer the very best sales experience and buyer protection possible while nurturing the immensely talented luthiers/builders that make all of this possible. You can rest assured that when you visit our website you are viewing some of the hottest work being done in the boutique guitar and amp world and that we will represent both our luthiers/builders AND our customers equally.
Fuquay Varina NC 27526
Distortion Bros.Distortion Bros.
Montara CA 94037 USA
Guitar Planet / Pan ProjectGuitar Planet / Pan Project Contact: Tak
2-1-11, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan
Infinity GuitarsInfinity Guitars Contact: Randy
Handcrafted guitars and custom instruments from a select group of builders is our specialty. From instruments that remind one of the early era to the contemporary and innovative.
We work closely with our builders to offer you the most unique selection of handbuilt, one-of-a-kind guitars in the world. We offer handmade guitars from Fano, JET, Nik Huber, Nash, Frank Hartung, Red Rocket, b3 Guitars by Gene Baker, M-Tone, Koll, Duesenberg, McSwain, Rock N' Roll Relics, Asher, Big Tex, and Reverend guitars.
We are also proud to offer an exclusive line for Infinity Guitars. Fatback guitars made in Houston Texas by Dirk G.
Specializing in spectacular electric guitars means that we must also offer the cream of the crop in boutique effects pedals and amplifiers. In amps we offer groundbreaking brands like: Tone King, Greer, Two Rock, Jackson Ampworks, and 3 Monkeys
The right pedal can make all the difference and different is what we offer. Stompboxes from Catalinbread, Greer, Xotic, and Menatone
We thoroughly enjoy sharing our enthusiasm for the finest handmade guitars, amplifiers, and pedals with our customers, and we hope that our approach provides a refuge to all who enjoy the pleasures of handcrafted quality.
Check back often as we constantly acquire used and vintage guitars and amplifiers.
Infinity Guitars 12520-B Westheimer Rd. Houton, TX. 77077
12520 Westheimer Rd Huston TX 77077
Jack's MusicJack's Music Contact: Daniel Jack
15 Alma Road New Lambton New Lambton NSW 2305 Australia
Prymaid GuitarsPrymaid Guitars Contact: Corey Owens
Authorized B3 and OD Guitars Dealer, Exclusive USA Dealer for Grainger Guitars. Specializing in Sales of Custom, High-end Guitars.
22 N. Front St Suite 200 Memphis TN 38103


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Welcome to Classic Industries® v6.1
America's First Choice In Restoration
and Performance Parts and Accessories
and Performance Parts and Accessories
Toll Free1.800.854.1280
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MD2310 - 1972-74 Rallye Wheel Cap Set; Dark Argent; Acorn Style ; Set of 4 Caps
Reproduction of the original Rallye wheel center caps designed for use on 1972-74 Mopar A-body models. Each wheel cap is a reproduction of the original Acorn style cap offering an authentic appearance and fit. Correct dark argent with chrome accents. The center caps feature a 4" bolt pattern. Set of 4 caps. Mounting hardware included.Applications:
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Dr. Lauren Quinn, researcher with the University of Illinois, is seeking help from Master Gardeners to locate and identify individual or whole populations of Miscanthus sinensis – Chinese silver grass and/or Miscanthus sacchariflorus – Amur silver grass growing in natural areas of Louisiana. These varieties are large ornamental grasses commonly planted in gardens and used for landscaping. Unfortunately, both varieties have the capacity to produce seed and establish in natural areas such as roadsides, pastures, forest openings to become invasive. Dr. Quinn feels that Louisiana Master Gardeners could aid with the research because of their strong knowledge of plants, commitment to conservation and interest to help with plant research projects.
M. sinensis: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MISI M. sacchariflorus: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MISA
A side-by-side comparison of M. sinesis and M. sacchariflorus: http://miscanthus.cfans.umn.edu/identification.html
Information needed (but whatever could be documented) would include:
Location (GPS coordinates, if possible. If not, an intersection, or other landmark);
Description of environmental context (e.g. roadside, pasture, etc);
Population size (a rough estimate of the number of plants. i.e. one, a handful, a dozen, hundreds, etc);
If on private property, names/contact info of property owners if possible;
If possible, an estimate of the history of the population (how long it has been there, where the nearest planting is and when it was planted);
A photo of the population;
Your contact info;
Sightings of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus can be added to the map of naturalized populations on EDD Maps. This is a fairly painless process described here: http://www.eddmaps.org/report/index2.cfm or sightings/information can be sent directly to Dr. Quinn firstname.lastname@example.com e-mail address.


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Dunkirk IMAX Prologue Footage Description
20th Декабрь, 2016 Admin
Пинг не поддерживается.
All three individual plot threads begin to interweave together as the action escalates, before the sound of an incoming German Stuka overtakes the soundtrack, and the entire picture cuts to the Dunkirk title card — but not before viewers see Hardy's plane descending perilously from the sky in a post-credit snippet. Given the fact that history has already been written, viewers can find out for themselves how the evacuation efforts turned out in the end, but in the cinematic telling of that well known narrative Nolan reportedly makes his mark with what will be his first original military drama.
Nolan is still recognized around the world for original films like Memento and Inception, and made his mark with superhero fans with his bold revisionist take on Batman with his Dark Knight trilogy. But it will be with Dunkirk where the filmmaker will break significant new ground, with the hopes of producing one of his most ambitious theatrical efforts to date. And by the sound of things, viewers won't be disappointed.
Dunkirk will see theatrical release in the U.S. on July 21, 2017.


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Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park
Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park is a state-of-the-art waste treatment facility, which Amey has the contract to design, build and operate on behalf of Milton Keynes Council.
- 2013-2031 Duration of contract
- 140M GBP Total value of contract
- 95% Reduce the amount of material going to landfill
The facility will use a combination of innovative technologies to process the borough's residual municipal waste, which currently goes to landfill. Mechanical Treatment will be used to remove any additional recyclable materials such as metal cans or plastic bottles which have been left in the waste.
Any food or organic waste will be extracted and treated in an anaerobic digester to generate renewable energy and create a compost-like material for use on brownfield sites.
Finally, any remaining non-recyclable waste will be used as a fuel for an Advanced Thermal Treatment plant. This process will turn waste into a gas, which in turn is combusted to generate high temperature steam which creates renewable electricity in a turbine.
Construction began on Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park in June 2014. This is due to be completed in January 2016, when the facility will go through a rigorous testing process before becoming fully operational in September 2016.
Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park is the first facility to use this combination of technology in England and Wales.
The facility will remove an estimated 9% of additional recyclable materials, and reduce the amount of material going to landfill by at least 95%. It will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 11,000 homes each year.
By creating a 'waste hub' in the Wolverton area of Milton Keynes, comprising this facility, a Materials Recycling Facility and vehicle depot, the journeys made by waste collection vehicles in the borough will reduce – creating carbon savings equivalent to around one million road trips from Milton Keynes to London.


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I am a woman who likes new things, well, not really things, per se, but new starts, new projects, new opportunities. Probably part of this penchant comes from the fact that my family moved ten times before I was 4; probably some of it results from the fact that I have parents who are, obviously, not afraid of change; probably some of it is a generational thing, as Shawn Smucker explored yesterday. Whatever caused this desire for the new in me, I am often grateful for it because I am not a person who stagnates easily.
But sometimes – in relationships, in jobs, in places, and particularly in writing – this desire for something new is absolutely the opposite of what I need. Sometimes it is not an act of courage to start something new; it is an act of cowardice when faced with the long-stretch of life I see before me. I'd much rather pick up a new cross-stitch pattern or read a new book (the pile beside my bed testifies to this) or write something entirely different rather than face "the middle" of anything. (You see, I'm also pretty good at endings; I've had to learn to be.)
Laraine Herring says, "There is always a barren place, a place where you feel you don't have enough supplies, or talent, or hope to cross. This is the intersection where hope becomes faith . . . . " Amen to that.
I'm learning to push through the barren places. I'm learning that much that is worth having is largely made of up "the middle," the daily, the mundane. But sometimes, it is in the seemingly lifeless, empty places that I find the greatest source of life – like I walked up on the burning bush and found myself somewhere holy.


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SAVE over 10% more on each product by
purchasing this Combination Special!!!
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Here's a bit of information about each product. Feel free to give us a call for
first hand information and affirmations.
NOFLEX Digestor has been used for several
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NOFLEX is not a bacterial treatment enzyme biocide or
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NOFLEX It is safe on plastics, cast iron and copper piping.
As NOFLEX works into the tank it breaks down
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for Marine/RV Holding tanks
Over time
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fumes, sometimes venting into passenger spaces and dock areas.
NOFLEX DIGESTOR liquefies the sludge and neutralizes odors instantly on
contact with waste. This solves smell and solids build up problems,
facilitating easy and complete pump out of the unit.
Suggested dosages - Black water holding tanks
In service
Add 1/2 an
ounce (tablespoon) a day per person.
If there are
more than one toilet, do a different one every day.
After pump out
Add one
ounce into empty tank from the toilet, flush twice to introduce the power into
Shut down
For more
than a week add one ounce / 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons of effluent holding
Hint: before
you leave the ship add into the toilet (on shut down) 1/2 ounce of the powder
into the water in the bowl. This will keep the water clean and prevent any
staining of the bowl; plus give a shot into the unit on start up.
In a
severely sludged systems; use the same as above but two times a day, product
works better on a routine basis rather than using large doses.
There are many many more uses for
this product. Contact us or come see us for more information.
And many many more uses
Never mix
NOFLEX with other chemicals or cleaners outside of the treatment system or
holding tank.
Biotal MDS
A unique liquid toilet bowl cleaner
combining eco-benign chemistry with specially selected bacterial cultures to
provide effective cleaning and biodegradation of organic matter and reduced
build up of both inorganic and organic scale in sanitation piping
Biotal MDS 3000 contains
proprietary, application-specific bacterial strains chosen specifically for the
ability to degrade the materials found in shipboard waste systems. The
eco-benign chemistry present in the product works to safely clean the toilet
and prevent scale formation in black water collection systems.
Biotal MDS 3000 is Low foaming for
maximum vacuum system efficiency and is highly biodegradable . It is suitable
for use in all marine sanitary and sewage treatment systems and can be used
with common materials such as stainless steel, steel, brass, copper, PVC,
polyethylene and polypropylene.
On vacuum systems with a history of
severe scale build up Biotal MDS 3000 can be used between descaling operations
with Biotal Acid Replacement.
Why Biotal MDS 3000?


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Horses are responsible for more human deaths in Australia than all of the nation's venomous creatures put together. more...
December 8 , 1965 : Pope Paul VI promulgated Vatican II into ecumenical law. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
Yellow diamonds are diamonds which have taken on a yellow tone, either through natural interruptions in their formation process or chemical treatment. Diamonds that are naturally this color are extremely rare, and the color is usually caused by nitrogen impurities that appear while the diamond is being formed. More commonly, yellow diamonds are synthesized in the lab; lab-made diamonds are chemically indistinct from natural diamonds, and are widely used in ornamental jewelry and some manufacturing processes.
Usually, clear diamonds are in high demand. A flawless clear diamond which is cut in a flattering way can fetch a great deal of money once set in a piece of jewelry, while a discolored diamond is not considered valuable. If, however, the color is strong and intense, it becomes what is known as a fancy diamond: a naturally colored diamond. Fancy diamonds such as yellow diamonds are handled and graded differently than clear diamonds, and some of the most famous diamonds in the world, such as the Hope Diamond, are fancy diamonds.
When yellow diamonds are being graded, independent assessors look at the stones to determine the basic hue and its intensity. Fancy diamonds come in red, purple, pink, brown, yellow, and sometimes green; the first thing to determine is what color the diamond is. Next, the intensity of the diamond is gaged on a scale that runs from fancy faint, meaning that the color is barely perceptible, to fancy vivid, meaning that the color is rich and intense. Next, graders check the stones for inclusions, although minor inclusions are not as noticeable as they are in clear ones. Finally, the stone must be well cut to enhance the stunning color.
A number of names are used to refer to yellow diamonds commercially including canaries, a reference to their color, and Cape series, a reference to the African mines where these diamonds are most commonly found. Since the diamonds rarely appear naturally or often have weak color, some companies treat their diamonds with irradiation and heat to lend or enhance color. Heat treatment to create colored diamonds appears to be permanent, and the color should not fade or change over time unless the diamond is exposed to heavy radiation again.
Finding true natural yellow diamonds can be very difficult, due to chemical synthesis and lab diamonds. Not all jewelers can be certain about the provenance of their stock, especially in small jewelry pieces, so prepare to pay a hefty sum for a true certified yellow diamond. Because most of these diamonds come from Africa, you may also want to ask questions about the jeweler's source, to guard against purchasing a blood or conflict diamond.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Biggie Smalls always stayed draped up in a style very much his own. Among many other looks, The Notorious B.I.G. remained true to his roots, rocking dope outfits which often times included a black leather jacket. On April 21, one of those aforementioned jackets will be up for auction in Oceanside, New York, allowing fans to put up big money for a material connection to the beloved rapper. Bidding will start at 2 p.m., and online bidding will be provided as well by Proxibid.com and Auctionzip.com. Whoever bids highest will surely have an incredible Big Poppa relic to hang up on the wall. [SOHH]
Follow @ComplexStyle for the latest drops, info, and lifestyle news.


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Remarks by the Prime Minister of Canada on steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the United States Prime Minister Trudeau "These tariffs are totally unacceptable" in imposing a dollar for dollar tariff match May 31, 2018 By Lynda Powless/Editor Ottawa, Ontario-Canada is hitting back. A move by American President ...Read More »
Manitoba First Nation Consortium partner to buy Hudson Bay Railway and Churchill Port
Manitoba First Nations Consortium in Partnership with iChurchill Inc. Enters into Agreement to Acquire Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill from U.S.-Based Owner WINNIPEG, May 3, 2018 – A consortium of Manitoba First Nations, led by Chief Glenn Hudson, and in partnership with iChurchill Inc., a private Canadian company, ...Read More »
Bank of Canada hikes interest rate on strong economy, but underlines NAFTA risks
By Andy Blatchford THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The economy's impressive run prompted the Bank of Canada to raise its trend-setting interest rate Wednesday for the third time since last summer, but looking ahead it warned of growing uncertainties about NAFTA. The central bank pointed to unexpectedly solid economic numbers as ...Read More »
Navajo Nation sues Wells Fargo for alleged predatory tactics
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.- The Navajo Nation announced Tuesday that it's suing Wells Fargo for allegedly engaging in predatory and unlawful banking practices that targeted and harmed tribal members. In a statement, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said the tribe's lawyer has been directed to seek restitution, damages and civil penalties ...Read More »
PayPal ordered to disclose business account information to Canada Revenue Agency
By Dan Healing THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY -The records of Canadians who use PayPal business accounts to make and receive payments will soon be in the hands of the federal government's tax-collecting agency. The online payments company said Wednesday it has been given 45 days to hand over information identifying ...Read More »
Despite benefits boost, feds post $100 million deficit through four months
OTTAWA- The federal Finance Department says the government ran a $100-million deficit through the first four months of the current fiscal year, a significant decline from the same period last year. Between April and July 2016, the Liberals had posted a deficit of $2.8 billion. The government's monthly fiscal monitor says ...Read More »
NewsAlert: Ottawa says federal deficit for 2016 17 was $17.8 billion
OTTAWA- The federal Finance Department says the government ran a smaller deficit than it was expecting in the spring budget. Ottawa ended its 2016-17 fiscal year with a deficit of $17.8 billion. That compared with a $23-billion deficit that was forecast in the spring budget. Government revenues were down $2.0 ...Read More »
Century old $5 bill sold at auction for $11,000
FORT MYERS, Fla. -Money may not grow on trees, but its value can grow. That was evidenced last week by a $5 bill issued almost 100 years ago by a Florida bank that was sold at auction for more than $11,000. The News-Press in Fort Myers reports that the auction ...Read More »


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"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
In theory, everyone knows how such a thing exists. A smaller, more stigmatized group gets the short end of the stick simply because how they are, or how they act, which is in a way uncommon to that of the larger majority. In modern western societies, explicit sexuality is obviously most often noted in the form of homosexuality and the associated issues. People assume that marriage equality means simply only altering the existing structure for that one issue, but that is simply not the case. They are one discriminated group, but not the only. In fact, the reason they are considered the main discriminated group is actually because LESS people discriminate against them than the groups which get less sympathy. The people who consider them the only entities left out of this issue are doing exactly what they accuse others of doing. That is, being more accepting of what is considered more common and accepted, whilst continuing to shun that which they're less forgiving of.
Yes, that's right. We're discussing taboo love. In other words, the most discriminated against of all (legal) relationships. We could bring up polygamy too, if we wanted, but more to the point we're talking about incest. Now I would like to begin by stating that I am not now, nor ever will be in an incestuous relationship. I cannot speak about it firsthand, but in the name of equality know that those who are less will always need those who are more to speak for them. I know that what I may consider an unpalatable love is to some others very real, and consumes a very large portion of their existing love life. That it is alien to me or you does not make it something which is not real.
Now on the topic of incest, many people will try to say "that's different" or that it's not the same as homosexuality in various ways, but the realistic response to that is quite simply "why?" The reason it's "different" is simply because more people remain who are more ready to have knee-jerk revulsion to it, who think the morality of an action is dictated purely by their own preconceived biases which they want to believe come from an objective chem carved into the universe itself, but which in reality are simply fed back into them by the collective of their culture. Incest (between consenting adults, of course) now is what homosexuality itself was a few decades ago. People consider it harmful or odd. Unnatural, and that by extension they believe they have an absolute right to pronounce judgment on it in the most passive aggressive of all ways, to prevent people they have no reason to inhibit from receiving the same governmental benefits that those they believe should be privileged should enjoy.
But to those who still want to declare it "different" and make various excuses relating to the matter such as "But what about children? It's not healthy to reproduce with people who are too close to you genetically." But so what? Making an argument that they shouldn't or "can't" have children is no different than using that logic to deprive gays or the elderly or infertile with the same rights. Birth control exists for a reason. And even if they choose to anyways, the act of sibling relations in and of itself is certainly not illegal, so why should a civil recognition of it be?
From there you can of course address the science of the matter itself. There are few states that allow marriage between first cousins, even though there are next to no medical issues with cousins reproducing at all, and in fact many cultures simply accept it in general. Which makes us, the "tolerant" west, seem to be viewed in a much different light regarding openness to sexual practices one is unused to. And even moving beyond cousins to sibling, or even twin based relationships, the chance of any kind of a defect between siblings is actually LESS than that of two genetically unrelated individuals having children later in life (for as you get on in years, the chances raise slightly). In fact, problems only crop up when it continues on for generations, feeding back and multiplying people's own genetic weaknesses into their own bloodline. In a world where optimal parents of all kinds can do much harm to a child in various ways, preventing a loving couple from something which has statistically negligible chances to manifest can hardly be construed as anything but another alternate type of discrimination.
And once you get past all those, people's arguments generally devolve back down to "but how many people even want that?!" But how is that even an argument? Some do certainly, many most likely. If there was not such a heavy stigmatization, there would in fact most likely be many more. Which is of course what the issue is in the first place. Why should these people have to hide, be denied, or change their lives simply because others believe they are only a few who can easily be swept under the rug? This is the same thing the oppressors think of every minority. Certainly using the oppressors same logic does not make sense in declaring one's self more egalitarian than them.
This isn't in any way to say that these people have it any worse than gays do now. Many different people have different sets of issues, and have to fight for the ability to be recognized or legitimatized in different ways. But it's important to remember that discrimination is an overpowering concept. Just because someone claims to be against it in one way does not mean they are not still part of it in another. Many people may recognize the ad which shows next to each-other the states gays versus cousins can legally marry in, lamenting over how preposterous it was that cousins had sightly more legality. But this ad design in itself carries with it a rather blatant hint of bigotry; it is not looking at the progress of one group, and lamenting that another is not so far. It is literally feeding off of people's revulsion at one group to gather support for another, while retaining and reinforcing stigmatization for the first. And what's worse, these types of arguments are made by people with no sense of irony to their own actions!
Mind you, none of this is to say that the fight for gay rights is not important. It is. But people are so ready and common to say "gay rights are human rights." But if that's so, why is it about "gay" marriage rights at all? Rather than chisel away the issues of individual groups people happen to like enough now at once, why not simply go for the main goal. Actual marriage equality for all citizens, for whoever, whenever, why-ever they choose? Egalitarianism isn't a weird word for helping your favorite discriminated against group; it literally means that the goal of society is to move forward holding hands, to help everyone equally at the times and for the purposes they need it. We are all brethren on this one Earth, and we should by now have come to learn that our social issues are all intertwined as well. The world isn't for one, or some, or even most of us; it's for all of us.


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SANTIAGO / GENEVA – "Inequality is one of the hallmarks of Chilean society, and this is starkly apparent in the housing situation in the country" underlined the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, who today ends a ten-day official visit to the country.
"It is unusual to see a country that has successfully delivered homeownership to such a large number of low and middle income households, who can in turn pass it on to their descendants", Ms. Farha said. "This secure tenure, however, has come at the expense of essential aspects of housing as a human right: location, quality and habitability, as well as access to transportation and employment opportunities", the Special Rapporteur highlighted.
The market driven approach to housing for vulnerable groups has contributed to the segregation of people in Chile based on socio-economic status, according to the UN expert. "Traveling to different places in Chile, including to informal settlements, I have witnessed sharp divisions between neighbourhoods, particularly with respect to the type and quality of housing, and the services around them", she said.
The UN expert said she was shocked by the abandonment by the government of people who are homeless, many of whom have disabilities. This population is basically invisible. They are offered few to no government services and certainly no housing options but for periodic shelter and charitable services.
Ms. Farha was heart-broken to hear of the discrimination faced by migrants, both documented and undocumented, in accessing adequate housing. "I call on the Government of Chile to reform its migration law, including with explicit references to access to housing and to regulation and monitoring of private sector lessors", she said.
The Special Rapporteur acknowledged that the Government of Chile has put in place programmes to enhance inclusion and integration as well as a number of innovative pilot programmes addressing distinct housing needs.
"However, without addressing housing as a human right, signalling a shift away from the view that housing is a commodity I fear vulnerable populations in Chile will continue to experience housing inequality which is unacceptable in a country that has indicated its strong commitment to human rights."
During her ten-day mission to the country, the expert went to Santiago, Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, Temuco, and Antofagasta and met with senior Government officials at national, regional and municipal levels, as well as with residents, civil society and community organisations.
A detailed report of her findings will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2018.


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CAPE COD, Mass.—The awards and honors seem to keep rolling in for University of New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos (Bellingham, Mass.) who was named ECAC Player of the Year recently.
The announcement was made by ECAC Interim Commissioner Steve Bamford. Santos will receive the honor at the annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet at the Pegasus Restaurant at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J. on Feb. 15, 2007.
Santos, who was named the winner of this year's Walter Payton Award, a "Sports Network" All-American, a Walter Camp All-American and the Atlantic 10 Football Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year, passed for 29 touchdowns this season and led all players in the conference at the end of the regular season with 12 rushing touchdowns.
He also topped the 3,000-yard passing mark for the third straight time in his career with 3,125 yards in 2006. Santos completed 293 of 432 pass attempts and threw only seven interceptions, giving him an impressive completion percentage of 67.8.
A first-team All-Atlantic 10 selection, he has broken most of UNH's career passing records and he was named "National Offensive Player of the Week" twice by "The Sports Network".
One of the most impressive performances of his career came on Sept. 9 at Northwestern, where he was responsible for five touchdowns vs. the other Wildcats, leading UNH to a decisive 34-17 upset over the Big Ten power. Santos then led UNH to the NCAA Division I Football Championships, where he and the Wildcats played in their third straight quarterfinal appearance. UNH, which finished the 2006 season with a 9-4 overall record, is the only team in the Atlantic 10 to advance to the quarterfinals three consecutive times.
His career statistics over three seasons are staggering. After starting all but the first contest of 2004 at Delaware, Santos has compiled numbers in three years that many quarterbacks struggle to reach in four. He topped the 10,000 yard passing milestone in 2006 and heads into his senior campaign with 10,240 passing yards. He also enters next season with 99 career passing touchdowns, which already ties him for the Atlantic 10's all-time lead, while he has also rushed for 21 career touchdowns.
Since 2004, Santos has completed a school-record 866-1,286 passes. In his 39 games played at UNH, he has helped the Wildcats post an impressive three-year record of 30-9.Santos and senior wide receiver David Ball (Orange, Vt.) were also both named first-team ECAC Division I-AA All-Stars.
Santos named ECAC player of the year
CAPE COD, Mass.—The awards and honors seem to keep rolling in for University of New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos (Bellingham, Mass.) who was named ECAC Player of the Year recently.


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Boxer shorts are loose-fitting shorts worn under your clothes as underwear. Making the switch from form fitting underwear to boxer shorts is sometimes challenging. Make the switch less stressful by taking the change in stages. Switching from briefs to boxers for short periods of time allows you to adapt to the fit and feel of the boxers gradually.
Choose boxer shorts in the same materials as the underwear you're currently wearing. Changing the style while staying in the same fabric makes the switch easier to adapt to for many men.
Begin wearing your new boxer shorts over your current undergarments as if they're a pair of shorts. You'll be less uncomfortable while you get used to the fit of boxer shorts.
Wear your boxer shorts as undergarments for a couple of hours a day to help you adjust to the switch from your current undergarments.
Sleep in your boxer shorts. Your skin adjusts to the feel and the movement of the boxer shorts while you're asleep.
Wear boxer shorts as undergarments on a day when you're schedule is full. Your mind will be occupied and you'll have less free time to think about the boxer shorts.
- Goodshoot RF/Goodshoot/Getty Images


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