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Find the latest in professional publications, learn new techniques and strategies, and find out how you can connect with other literacy professionals.
Teacher Resources by Grade
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|11th - 12th
Home › Classroom Resources › Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan
Exploring Compare and Contrast Structure in Expository Texts
|3 – 5
|Lesson Plan Type
|Standard Lesson
|Estimated Time
|Four 45- to 60-minute sessions
|Lesson Author
Denton, Texas
This lesson focuses on identifying and analyzing the compare and contrast text structure within expository texts. First, students are introduced to the terms compare and contrast and asked to find similarities and differences between two common items. Next, students work in small groups to identify texts that are comparing and contrasting information. Students are then introduced to the Venn diagram as a tool that demonstrates similarities and differences and aids in learning new material.
- Online Venn Diagram: Use this interactive online tool to help your students compare and contrast differing ideas in the texts they read.
- Venn Diagram mobile app: Compare and contrast ideas on a mobile device.
- Nests and Houses PowerPoint Presentation: Provides the visual support your students need to help them identify key elements and structures in compare/contrast texts.
Rhoder, C. (2002). Mindful reading: Strategy training that facilitates transfer. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(6), 498512.
- By learning to identify and use specific strategies for reading, students will be able to read and study more quickly and effectively.
- Introducing graphic organizers, such as a Venn diagram, can help students see a picture of the ideas and their relationships, which will help them remember the information being presented.


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Contribute to ReadWriteThink / RSS / FAQs / Site Demonstrations / Contact Us / About Us
ReadWriteThink couldn't publish all of this great content without literacy experts to write and review for us. If you've got lessons plans, videos, activities, or other ideas you'd like to contribute, we'd love to hear from you.
Find the latest in professional publications, learn new techniques and strategies, and find out how you can connect with other literacy professionals.
Teacher Resources by Grade
|1st - 2nd
|3rd - 4th
|5th - 6th
|7th - 8th
|9th - 10th
|11th - 12th
Home › Classroom Resources › Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan
Theme Poems: Writing Extraordinary Poems About Ordinary Objects
|3 – 5
|Lesson Plan Type
|Standard Lesson
|Estimated Time
|Two 60-minute sessions
|Lesson Author
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Writing poetry enables students to reflect on their everyday experiences, express their perceptions and observations, and craft powerful images. In this lesson, students write theme poems using their content knowledge and sensory awareness of a familiar object. Students first learn about the characteristics and format of a theme poem. They then engage in an online interactive activity in which they select a graphic of a familiar object (e.g., the sun, a heart, a balloon), build a word bank of content area and sensory words related to the object, and write poems within the shape of the object. Finished poems are printed and displayed in class.
Theme Poems: In this online interactive game, students can create a theme poem based on a shape with which they have a deep, rich connection.
The power of poetry often lies with the poet's unique observations and sensitive word choices that startle the reader into considering a new perspective. Kurkjian, Livingston, Young, and Hopkins (2004, p. 694) suggest that "Because poetry is so multisensory and evocative it often lingers with us, eliciting visual images, remembered lines, and powerful emotional responses." Pinnell and Fountas (2003, p. 1) write that through poetry children "construct the common experiences of childhood." Blachowicz and Fisher (2002, p. 80) add that through poetry "children can learn not only new ways of looking at the world, but also new words for exploring their own experiences of the world."
Further Reading
Kurkjian, C., Livingston, N., Young, T., & Hopkins, L.B. (2004). Poetry: A feast for the senses. The Reading Teacher, 57(7), 694702.
Blachowicz, C., & Fisher, P. (2002). Teaching vocabulary in all classrooms (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2003). Sing a song of poetry: A teaching resource for phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

subset: commoncrawl


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On 18 May 2017, the piano master Shiran Wang led Cairo Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven Piano Concerto Nr 4 in Salzburg (the place where the famous Salzburg Festival was held) Mozart Great Hall in Austria on invitation. She perfectly presented the classical music with exquisite playing techniques, bringing a hard-won music feast to the audience.
Before this, one of my friends in piano circle strongly recommended me to go to this concert of piano concerto held in Salzburg Mozart Great Hall on 18 May, and told me that the pianist was Shiran Wang called "Piano Princess" from China. My friend said that her performance would surprise me. As a journalist and super music lover, I searched her on the internet, got her recordings, and listened to Beethoven Piano Concerto Nr 5, Emperor. The pianist incisively and vividly expressed the magnificent style of king in this Emperor Concerto with very exquisite skills and the understanding about music beyond her age. I heard out this concerto at one stretch, and it is miraculous for me, since it has deeply touched me.
I searched her information on the internet eagerly, and got to know that she was invited to give high-standard performance with world-famous philharmonic societies in well-known music halls such as Vienna Golden Hall, Berliner Philharmonie and Carnegie Music Hall for several times. Moreover, she once cooperated with the distinguished cellist Maisky, recorded Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1 and 2 with Shostakovich's son, and recorded Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 and 3 with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, some famous media and musicians also speak highly of her. She is a real world first-class pianist!
On 18 May, I went to the music hall, and all seats were occupied. At the concert, the noble sound penetrating the heart and varying music flowed past every part of my body, baptizing every layer of my spirit. I did not take my eyes off her at the whole concert. She wore a noble and elegant formal dress and long hair; the lovely complexion and wonderful piano song presented an indescribable sense of tableau. I once listened to many Beethoven's audio materials or concerts, covering symphony, piano music, and violin piece, which were jubilant, painful, confused or screaming, but I never got such a comprehensive feeling like this. Besides the brilliant technique as well as rich and mature emotions, I also felt Beethoven before my eyes.
In the music, I truly experienced the joys and sorrows of Beethoven's life. My eyes welled up with tears, and I felt mixed emotions, as if I reached that era through time. I cannot imagine that this is no more than contents expressed by a concerto, but it seemed that I listened to all of Beethoven's works in one breath. Such feeling touched my innermost being. Suddenly, I began to understand why all seats were occupied, and this is really an awesome experience. When the concert was over, all audiences stood up and applauded. I did not come to my sense until the music hall was filled with applause and "bravo" sounds. Watching the atmosphere at the site, I believed that their feelings were the same as mine. At that time, an idea came into my head: This pianist with both beauty and talent has already ranked among the world top pianists, and I believe she will certainly become a music superstar sparkling around the world in the near future.
The piano music and the scene at the concert still linger in my head now. I hope to see more concerts and recordings of her! I wish that this great pianist can stand on top of the world in music.
Media Contact
Company Name: Ximalaya
Contact Person: Wang
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 021-50179076
Country: China
Website: http://www.ximalaya.com/dq/music/


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In an apparent reversal from his past statements, former Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that his immigration reform plan would "fall short" of offering a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants living in the United States -- a key provision being put forward by the bipartisan group leading reform efforts on Capitol Hill.
The former Florida governor talks about his new book, "Immigration Wars," in which he offers his own prescription for comprehensive immigration reform, and says Republicans need to work harder to appeal to fast-growing minority voters.
"Our proposal is a proposal that looks forward, and if we want to create an immigration policy that's going to work, we can't continue to make illegal immigration an easier path than legal immigration," Bush said on NBC's TODAY Show.
Bush -- an outspoken proponent of GOP outreach to Latinos who has previously embraced a path to citizenship -- said that he backs measures to allow illegal immigrants to become residents of the United States if they meet certain criteria. But he argued that the possibility of full citizenship would merely encourage more illegal immigrants to make their way inside the nation's borders.
"There has to be some difference between people who come here legally and illegally," he said. "It's just a matter of common sense and a matter of the rule of law. If we're not going to apply the law fairly and consistently, then we're going to have another wave of illegal immigrants coming into the country."
Related: Jeb Bush: I won't rule out 2016 White House run 'but I won't declare today'
Bush's rejection of that goal appears to be a turnaround for the possible presidential prospect. In a June 2012 interview with Charlie Rose, he acknowledged that his support for a path to citizenship placed him at odds with many in his party.
"You have to deal with this issue. You can't ignore it," he said during that interview. "And so, either a path to citizenship -- which I would support and that does put me probably out of the mainstream of most conservatives -- or a path to legalization, a path to residency of some kind."
In a January op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Bush and Clint Bolick, his co-author on a new book about immigration, wrote that opportunities for citizenship strengthen America.
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush talks with TODAY's Matt Lauer about the sequester cuts will have on the economy and national security and strategies for improving our immigration system.
"America's immigration system should provide opportunities for people who share the country's core values to become citizens, thereby strengthening the nation as have countless immigrants have before them," he said. (In the same op-ed, the pair also wrote that "amnesty promotes illegal immigration.")
Bush's voiced opposition to full citizenship rights also puts the former governor – and brother of former President George W. Bush – to the right of Republican senators like John McCain, Marco Rubio and Jeff Flake, all members of the Senate's bipartisan "Gang of Eight" currently tackling immigration reform legislation.
That group's proposal would offer "probationary legal status" for illegal immigrants who register with the federal government, pass a background check and pay back taxes and fines. After certain border security criteria are met, those individuals would become eligible to apply for green cards and – eventually – the ability to seek full citizenship.
Bush appeared on the TODAY show to promote his book "Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution," which hits shelves tomorrow.
NBC's Mark Murray contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 4, 2013 1:18 PM EST


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Maya Rudolph and Martin Short are separated by about two decades in age and 15 years in "Saturday Night Live" tenures. But they're bonded by a similar comic sensibility – and path.
Both are great mimics (Rudolph channels everyone from Liza Minnelli to Beyoncé. Short's imitation stable ranges from Katharine Hepburn to Jerry Lewis). Both have musical chops (see Rudolph's expert diva impressions and Short's comically funereal salute to the retiring David Letterman last year). Both performers' post-"SNL" journeys include scene-stealing parts in movies starring better-known peers (Rudolph in "Bridesmaids" and "Sisters," Short in "Father of the Bride" and "¡Three Amigos!").
But despite long and strong careers, neither Rudolph nor Short ever emerged, to put it in old-school show business terms, as a top banana.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Now they're combining forces to tackle another entertainment throwback: the TV variety show. "Maya & Marty" arrives on NBC on Tuesday in a bid to revive the format and raise the duo's stardom to a level equal to their talent.
It's an inspiring, if unexpected pairing. Rudolph's promising 2014 variety special showed off her versatility and positioned her as a modern-day successor to Carol Burnett. Short's Broadway turn in his 2006 revue, "Fame Becomes Me," offered a rollicking package of new gems and under-appreciated greatest hits dating to his "SCTV" days.
The new comedy team first came together during last year's "SNL" 40th anniversary special, in a high-energy musical number pairing Short with Rudolph-as-Beyoncé. Their chemistry burst through, not only to the audience, but apparently to "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels, who is producing "Maya & Marty."
Rudolph and Short, who appeared to be having fun during the bit, share perhaps the most important trait to succeed in variety: an unabashed, infectious delight in being silly. That's something Short proves every time he dons Ed Grimley's high-waisted pants. Rudolph most recently displayed a similar knack for the absurd last week on "SNL" with her Sid Caesar-like double-talk impersonation of embattled Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
You don't have to know who Sid Caesar is to enjoy a new twist on an old TV form.
Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.


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Pre-Mixed Grout is the no-mix, no mess alternative to traditional grout. This shrink and crack resistant formula is also highly resistant to most common household stains. Ideal for grout restoration.
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- California residents see Prop 65 WARNINGS


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Jug Bay's New Boardwalk
Jug Bay's new wetlands boardwalk at the Glendening Preserve in Lothian is for nature enthusiasts, ecosystem exploring and kayakers and canoeists.
The new boardwalk extends out to Old Galloway Creek, a Patuxent River tributary. It's an official site on the Patuxent River water trail.
"We needed a boardwalk in this part of the sanctuary to take advantage of it, both for park research and visitors," said Chris Swarth, director of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary for the past 23 years.
Now Swarth is retiring, and the boardwalk is being named in his honor.
"It's Chris's swan song," said Rick Anthony, director of Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks.
Under Swarth's leadership, Jug Bay has expanded almost tenfold, from 178 acres to 1,600. In 2010, Jug Bay became the first county facility using solar panels.
Swarth lived by the rule "estimate the time it'll take and then double it." It held true, he says, in every case, from designing and building the Observation Deck overlooking the marsh to designing the Wetland Center exhibits to renovating Plummer House for office and meeting space to the new boardwalk.
The new 450-foot-long boardwalk — three feet wide and a just few feet above the marsh — took almost three years to complete, including, two months of hands-on construction.
"We powered through September and October to build the thing," Swarth said.
Building the boardwalk took volunteers and friends, and the support of Friends of Jug Bay, Anne Arundel's Parks and Recreation and state and federal agencies.
The new boardwalk cost $25,000.
"I'm proud to say the boardwalk was built under budget," Swarth said.
David Wehrs of Asgard Contruction in Annapolis was the contractor and worked the mucky marsh in waders with his crew, installing the 120 12-foot posts in 23 days. Each was pounded eight or nine feet into the marsh.
"We worked six- to seven-hour days, 100 percent manual labor, just three guys pounding away and trudging through the muck," Wehrs said.
"Tons of volunteers hand carried all the materials down to us," Wehrs added. "We couldn't have done it without them."


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Grimas Cream Make Up, Bright Red
£5.50 GBP inc.VAT
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Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies
The Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies was founded in August 26, 1998, for the purpose of advancing the Catholic and Franciscan intellectual tradition and contributing to the identity of Neumann University as a Catholic, Franciscan educational institution.
The Institute has its home in a renovated area of the Neumann University Library, made possible through a $25,000 grant from the Koch Foundation, Inc. located in Gainesville, Florida. The grant was a capital gift initiative made possible by Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann University President.
The Institute includes The Assisi Room: a Meeting Place for Contemplation and Conversation which is a forum open to the University community, and The Francis-Clare Room, which provides both literary and artistic Franciscan resources for study and research.
The Institute fosters collaboration and integration of the Franciscan values and tradition within Catholic higher education. It provides opportunities for faculty to design and expand professional and interdisciplinary programs within a Franciscan ethic. It also provides a forum and resources for contemplation, dialog, study and learning in the Franciscan tradition.
As part of their Sponsors' gift to the University in 2000, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia created an endowment to fund ongoing efforts to ensure that the vision and values of Francis and Clare of Assisi permeate the campus community and that the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition is appropriately integrated into the curriculum. The endowment supports interaction between members of the Neumann University community and scholars recognized for excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship in Franciscan Studies.
Three individuals have served as Directors of the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies:
1998-2001 - Sr. Rose Cecilia Case, OSF
2001-2002 - Rev. Michael Dominic Ledoux, OFM, EdD
2002-Present - Sr. Patricia Hutchison, OSF, EdD


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Howdy All
After hiking Skyline on Sunday and Tuesday with Miracle Marilyn, Cameron and other friends, Sally, Marilyn and I hiked up the Momyer trace trail to the San Bernardino divide trail. It took us some time to find a good place to cross Mill Creek (we went downstream then upstream). Next, it took time to find the Momyer trailhead
By the time we reached the San Bernardino divide trail (~10.5 K), we were adequately thrashed and didn't feel the urge to bag East San Bernardino peak. Trail runner Chuck passed us on the way up -- he bagged both west and east San Bernardino peaks then chatted with us as we ate lunch. There was no snow until we reached the SB divide/ridge, however, on the unmaintained Momyer trace trail there were numerous downed trees that we had to go over or around. Someone had worked on the bottom part of the brushy section but higher up it was a bloody bushwhack -- even with pants, my legs tell the tale. Based on the wildflowers we saw on the lower elevations of Momyer, the Alger creek trail is probably gorgeous.
Enjoyed dinner at El Mexicano afterwards -- a great day with wonderful friends.
Miles of smiles,


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This recipe is one that was passed onto me from my sister. I think my sister got it from her sister-in-law. I made a few changes, due to foods that I can't eat and that my family won't eat. This is a fan favorite in our house. It is easy to put together and reheats very well.
Whole Casserole:
My serving:
Easy Enchilada Bake
1 pound ground meat (I used turkey, but beef or chicken would work fine too)
Taco seasoning for the meat
1-2 cans refried beans (I used organic black refried beans)
2 cans Hormel Chili w/Beans (With Beans is Gluten-Free, I am not sure about the others)
10 – 12 corn tortillas
Cheddar Cheese (I used almost 2 cups)
1. Brown ground meat and add taco seasoning per directions on packet or container.
2. Preheat oven to 350 and warm up your beans and chili.
3. Warm your tortillas up in micro according to pkg. directions.
4. Spread a little chili (not too much, you need to top the whole casserole with chili at the end) in the bottom of a glass pyrex dish.
5. Start to assemble your enchiladas: tortilla, beans, meat, cheese…then roll up and place seam side down in pyrex dish. Repeat until you are done. I do 6-8 length wise, then I stuff the remainder in along the side.
6. Top with remaining chili and then cheese. Cover and bake for 30 – 45 minutes or until cheese is all melty and casserole is bubbly.
7. Let cool for 5-10 minutes; cut and serve.
YUM! Enjoy! You can add in onions, olives, tomatoes, green chiles, peppers, etc. I don't b/c my peeps won't eat them if they spot any of the above. Top with sour cream and/or salsa. I personally like to add lots of Frank's Red Hot. 😉
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free, Gluten-Free Recipes | Tagged: easy enchilada bake, Gluten-Free, hormel chili with beans | 5 Comments »


text: paypalLOGO Redfoot_Dave2017-07-22T19:06:44+00:000 Comments Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! facebooktwitterlinkedinreddittumblrpinterestvkEmail Leave A Comment Click here to cancel reply. Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Our privacy policy is available at the bottom of each page. * Notify me of new posts by email.


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Search for burglar leads to hectic school dismissal
Students at Pasadena school held, dismissed, then brought back inside
Anne Arundel County police said they arrested and charged a man in relation to a Pasadena burglary that subsequently led to a hectic dismissal for a nearby elementary school.
Authorities were called to a home in the 8400 block of Alvin Road around 3 p.m. Thursday after getting reports that a man had tried to break into a neighbor's home. The caller who reported the incident told police the suspect, identified as Jason Donaldson, 27, of Severn, had fled the area after he confronted him.
Officers began a search of the area, which is not far from Lake Shore Elementary School.
Police said the school decided to wait to dismiss the kids because of the search. A short time later, authorities indicated the search was unsuccessful and that they could dismiss the students as normal, so the school began to let them go.
But shortly after 3:30 p.m., as students were in the middle of dismissal, police said an officer near the back of the school spotted Donaldson and began chasing him on foot. The chase caused several more officers to head to the school, including the K-9 unit and the helicopter.
School officials were then told to take everyone back inside and secure the building. Not long after that, though, police indicated Donaldson was no longer near the school and that it was safe to continue dismissing.
Police said shortly before 5 p.m., they were able to arrest Donaldson. The exact charges against him haven't been released yet, but investigators said he is being charged with burglary-related offenses.
Police said no one at the school was injured during the incident.


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Posts tagged 'Post-Rocktoberfest 2011'
Neil Kulkarni's New Nineties
It's funny that Neil Kulkarni's A New Nineties series of articles has coincided with Post-Rocktoberfest 2011, even though (or maybe particularly because) he altogether disavows the term "post-rock". Still, with excellent features on Main, Disco Inferno and Insides, it's hard to deny that UK post-rock – or whatever you want to call it – is the central focus of this series. Essential reading over at The Quietus.
Also coinciding with Post-Rocktoberfest, a neat little blog post on Papa Sprain's Flying to Vegas EP.
Meanwhile, here are some quick links for those of you who (shame on you) haven't been keeping up with Post-Rocktoberfest this year:
- Three mix CDs: UK Post-Rock Vol. 7, UK Post-Rock Vol. 8 and US Post-Rock Vol. 1
- Flying Saucer Attack: An Appreciation
- Kelvox1 – Grazed Red (a really great contemporary UK post-rock album)
- Disco Inferno – The Five EPs (song by song)
And that's about it for this year! Can't wait for Post-Rocktoberfest 2012.
Post-Rocktoberfest: The most magical time of year.
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: US Post-Rock Vol. 1
Those of you who remember previous posts on the subject of early American post-rock will recognize some of these tracks. Those of you labouring under the misapprehension that US post-rock is total crap are in for a pleasant surprise.
This stuff has a reputation for being a rather sterile mix of instrumental indie rock and light jazz fusion. This compilation aims to show that the earliest and best American post-rock was a natural extension of UK post-rock's futuristic eclecticism.
It's also worth noting that the Wire magazine article in which Simon Reynolds first identified a specifically American strain of post-rock concentrated heavily on an emerging strand of space rock, in which analogue synths and effects pedals were far more prominent than vibraphones and six-string bass guitars. Having said that, the first track on this compilation features both a vibraphone and – almost certainly – a six-string bass.
Click here to download US Post-Rock Vol. 1 or click the links in the track-list below to preview the individual tracks. And don't forget to support the artists whenever the opportunity arises!
1. Tortoise – "Glass Museum"
In a very specific sense, Tortoise are a bit like My Bloody Valentine. Each band spawned a legion of imitators, who only bothered to superficially imitate the surface details of the music, failing to touch the thick, rich layer of true strangeness that lay beneath.
2. Trans Am – "Firepoker"
Quite possibly the first band to build a sound on a basis of tongue-in-cheek 80s popular culture references. But there's no hypnagogic fug here, only invigorating percussive clarity.
3. Salaryman – "Voids + Superclusters"
The experimental alter ego of punk-pop band Poster Children. In terms of their influences and procedures, Salaryman were very much grooving along the same lines as many of the British post-rock bands. Being American, though, their material was purely instrumental.
4. Bowery Electric – "Fear of Flying"
Not that all US post-rock bands lacked in the vocals department. Here we have hip-hop beats, dub bass and shoegaze guitars, all topped off with cooing female vox. Now that's the 90s!
5. UI – "Sexy Photograph"
Even some of the primarily instrumental USPR bands would break out the vocals occasionally. Presumably that's future New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones doing the hollering on this cut.
6. The For Carnation – "A Tribute to"
It has been said that Slint's Spiderland was the key precursor to instrumental US post-rock and third-generation emo post-rock. Many of the folks who have said this genuinely seem never to have noticed that Brian McMahan's mumbled vocals are one of the key elements of that album's vividly dreamlike atmosphere. This track from McMahan's post-Slint project is rather closer to UK post-rock than it is to any of the garbage Spiderland supposedly inspired. It's downright funky!
7. Cul De Sac – "Doldrums"
Nine minutes of what sounds like a cassette recording of a Neu! rehearsal. In a good way!
8. Gastr Del Sol – "Rebecca Sylvester"
It almost seems unfair to lump the duo of Jim O'Rourke and David Grubbs in with post-rock. Somehow they were more interested in stepping outside rock than they were in moving beyond it. Still, they were very definitely tied into the Louisville/Chicago milieu that spawned Slint and Tortoise, so…
9. Labradford – "El Lago"
This is where we get into outer space. Labradford's music was like a gorgeous elegy for the glory day's of the US space programme. As vividly dreamlike as anything on Spiderland, without actually sounding much like Slint.
10. Fuxa – "Photon"
Wooshing analogue synths and chiming guitars. It must be space-rock!
11. Windy & Carl – "Lighthouse"
Space-rock drifting into shoegaze territory. Flying Saucer Attack fans will dig this one.
12. Stars of the Lid – "The Evil That Never Arrived"
Beautiful processed guitars business. These chaps were way ahead of their time in a lot of ways.
13. Rome – "Intermodal"
As with the Stars of the Lid track, this stands as proof that American post-rock bands were just as capable of dissolving into full-on abstraction as their British cousins. This is almost like a lo-fi take on Main.
Click here to download US Post-Rock Vol. 1!
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: Seefeel Live Videos
Barcelona 2011
London 2010
Moscow 1994
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: UK Post-Rock Vol. 8
Ultra-obscure bands! Little-known side projects! If volume seven was solid and familiar, this one is ragged and delightfully confounding. Click here to download UK Post-Rock Vol. 8 or click on the links in the track-list below to preview the individual songs. Like something you hear? Go buy the artist's actual albums – preferably on vinyl!
1. ROC – "Cheryl"
Not really post-rock per se but ROC were highly illustrative of an experimental pop style that was very much contemporary with the original UKPR scene. This style has been fairly well represented in the UK Post-Rock compilation series, with tracks by the likes of Adventures in Stereo, Locust, Screeper and – of course – Experimental Pop Band.
2. Mark van Hoen – "Photophone Call"
Talking of Locust, here's a track from a recent solo album by that band's leader (and Seefeel founder) Mark Van Hoen. Where is the Truth was perhaps the tragically overlooked LP of 2010.
3. Matt Elliott – "The Mess We Made"
Also tragically overlooked, Third Eye Foundation mainstay Matt Elliott's first solo album The Mess We Made is an absolute gem. Here's the title track.
4. Foehn – "We Tear at Each Other's Hearts"
Foehn was Debbie Parsons, who contributed heavily to The Third Eye Foundations scarifying Ghost album. Foehn's work is less nerve-wracking but equally spooky.
5. Crescent – "Drift"
Like Matt Elliott and Foehn, Crescent were central to the Bristol post-rock/space rock scene. Band's from that scene tended to be pretty downcast but Crescent took the biscuit. Exquisite miserablism!
6. Papa Sprain & Butterfly Child – "Lalena"
Wasn't Butterfly Child's high-watermark Ghetto Speak EP basically a Papa Sprain/BC collaboration? In any case, here they are together with a track created for a Donovan tribute CD put out by Vancouver's Nettwerk Records (which also featured a collab between Brix Smith and her then beau Nigel Kennedy!) One rather suspects said CD could be found in just about any dollar bin around the Metro Vancouver area.
7. In Heaven – "Aquanova"
A slight dip in audio quality here caused by the fact that this band seem never to have made it to vinyl or CD. This is the title track from a cassette release. Very much in the post-A.R. Kane style of the artists discussed immediately above.
8. Bracken – "Evil Teeth"
Chris Adams from Hood with a magnificent mix of free jazz chaos and digital electronica… well.. chaos! Did this really come out on genre-defining "post-rap" label Anticon? And – if so – what does that say?
9. The Declining Winter – "Summer Turns to Hurt"
Another Hood spin-off, this time led by Chris's brother Richard Adams. Also featuring this here blog's good buddy Paul Elam aka Fieldhead.
10. Shiva Affect – "Cloud My Way"
Almost as obscure as In Heaven, these fellows at least managed to put out a CD (Yahweh), from which this song is taken. Think Bark Psychosis in space.
11. Navigator – "Dorothy Carter"
We're getting into the UK-bands-inspired-by-US-post-rock zone here, which can be troublesome ground. This is a great tune, though.
12. State River Widening – "Amsterdam Green"
Likewise but even more so in every sense.
13. Ganger – "Cats, Dogs & Babies' Jaws"
Surprising there weren't more post-rock bands from Scotland. Of course, there's that band. You know the one!
14. .O.Rang – "Little Sister"
Brilliant and ground-breaking as they were Talk Talk's growing reputation as the great precursor to post-rock is somewhat overstated. This here blog would argue that Public Image Ltd., 23 Skidoo and Dif Juz were more indicative of what made early UK post-rock truly great and important. In any case, Talk Talk were, of course fantastic and it should be remembered that Lee Harris and Paul Webb went on to be .O.Rang, producing a sound that recalled the ethnological forgeries of Can (another great UKPR precursor).
Click here to download UK Post-Rock Vol. 8!
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: Flying Saucer Attack
What, you might be forgiven for asking, did Flying Saucer Attack have to do with post-rock? After all, post-rock in the original sense tended to be rather rhythmically solid and occasionally somewhat glossy; with all sorts of influences from electronic dance music and hip-hop. Post-rock in the contemporary sense tends to be epic and demonstratively emotional; full of big crescendos and widescreen angst. Flying Saucer Attack, on the other hand, were always decidedly shy and retiring; existing in an introverted, funk-less, lo-tech fug of fuzz and mumble; My Bloody Valentine with all the lustiness and digital tricknology bled out.
Perhaps it's just a matter of association. FSA will always be associated with the Bristol post-rock scene of the 90s, alongside the likes of Movietone, Crescent and Light. This brought them into contact with more typically UK post-rock-sounding acts like AMP and The Third Eye Foundation. And in fact, as FSA went on, they did start to take on board the technologically-enhanced rhythmic innovations of early post-rock per se. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we?
First of all, it seems ridiculous to talk of Flying Saucer Attack as "they" when the whole thing was essentially the bedroom recording project of a pale-and-interesting record collector by the name of David Pearce. True, he had some helping hands – notably Rachel Brook of Movietone – but Flying Saucer Attack was clearly the realisation of Pearce's very singular vision.
(The lo-fi, bedroom recording aspect is a large part of what sets Flying Saucer Attack apart from much early-to-mid-90s post-rock. One FSA's slogans was "Home Taping is Reinventing Music". In fact, though, there was quite a bit of crossover between the British version of lo-fi and UK post-rock – hear the early Hood material for evidence.)
Second, portraying Pearce as an intense and insular type only tells one side of the story. Did you read that bit in parentheses about FSA having slogans? When a musician starts using slogans, it tends to suggest s/he has some kind of overarching ambition; a slightly arrogant desire to impose a very specific worldview on the record-buying public; a special plan for this world. In fact, Pierce's diffidence clearly masked an impish, mischievous personality as well as some satirical and deeply ideological intent. (In this regard, he had a lot in common with Ian Masters of Pale Saints/Spoonfed Hybrid infamy). All this is to say that Pearce in no way lacked post-rock's artistic ambition or desire to disrupt and move ahead.
Pearce's wiseacre sense of humour came through early on, when Flying Saucer Attack covered Suede's "The Drowners" on their self-titled debut album. Listen closely and consider deeply and this incredibly sloppy, fuzzed-out take on a quintessential early Britpop anthem will tell you everything you need to know about FSA. Flying Saucer Attack also hinted at the more rhythmic nature of the band's later work, via some pretty freaky percussive jams. Furthermore, it was a crystal clear statement of intent in terms of establishing Pearce's credentials as an ahead-of-the-game rock scholar. Not one but two of the songs were named after kosmiche music/new age legends Popol Vuh – which was a pretty obscure reference for a British indie band to make at that time. (Pearce was also way ahead of the pack in embracing UK folk – he memorably described his music as "rural psychedelia" and FSA covered "Sally Free and Easy".) If all that were not enough, the album featured what may be FSA's best song, "My Dreaming Hill".
So, Flying Saucer Attack encompasses pretty much anything you might want from Flying Saucer Attack. But to hear the band's most coherent statement, you're advised to grab Further. The "Outdoor Miner" CD single is also worth hunting down as it features a beautifully fragile rendering of the classic Wire tune, as well as another stone-cold FSA classic, "Everywhere Was Everything". For some insight into FSA's more rhythmically-focused later work the Chorus compilation (featuring the glorious "Feedback Song") and New Lands album are both well worth hearing. Listen to the lot and you should get a fairly decent idea of what a richly rewarding and hard-to-pin-down phenomenon Flying Saucer Attack really was.
Anyone know what Pearce is up to these days?
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: UK Post-Rock Vol. 7
This year's Post-Rocktoberfest festivities will include three new mix CDs! UK Post-Rock Vol. 7, presented here, consists mostly of tracks by acts that have appeared on previous UK Post-Rock compilations. UK Post-Rock Vol. 8 will consist mostly of tracks by acts that have not appeared on previous volumes. US Post-Rock Vol. 1… well, you can work that one out for yourself.
On all of these compilations, some minor post-production has been carried out, in order to provide as close to a seamless listening experience as possible. In some cases, this might mean the tracks have been topped and tailed a bit but it's all in the interests of a pleasurable overall listening experience. If you want to hear the songs as the artists intended, go buy the original albums. Actually, you should go buy all the original albums anyway because they're all great!
Of course, finding legit copies of the original albums won't always be that easy. This is only partly because a lot of UKPR classics are no longer in print. It's also because this compilation collects some pretty rare tracks from compilations, Peel sessions etc.
Click here to download UK Post-Rock Vol. 7 or click on the links in the track-list below to hear the individual songs.
1. Papa Sprain – "I Got Stop"
Included because it's their best song and it had somehow failed to appear on any of the previous volumes.
2. Butterfly Child – "We, the Inspired"
A rarity taken from one of those Volume compilations. Remember them?
3. Pram – "Dancing on a Star"
Birmingham post-rock! A surprising amount of post-rock came out of Birmingham.
4. Broadcast – "Pendulum"
Another case in point. Sad that so many of us only recently came to appreciate Broadcast, given the tragic death of Trish Keenan. They had so much more to teach us!
5. Laika – "If You Miss (Laika Virgin Mix)"
A remix of a track from Laika's debut album (Silver Apples of the Moon). This was created for Kevin Martin's Macro Dub Infection Vol. 1 compilation, which was released on Virgin Records – hence the punning title.
6. Moonshake – "Coming (Peel Session Version)"
A radio session take on a track from Moonshake's debut EP, back when they were a borderline shoegaze act. On the officially-released version, Dave Callahan's vocal borders on the ethereal (someone in the office even misremembered that Margaret Fiedler – later of Laika – sang this one). On the version presented here, Callahan really lets rip – as does the rest of the band, for that matter!
7. Insides – "Further Distractions"
A remix of a track from the classic Euphoria album. This is taken from a rare promo 12″.
8. Bark Psychosis – "Manman"
Like the Papa Sprain track, this is a stone-cold classic that really should have featured on an earlier compilation in this series.
9. Disco Inferno – "Lost in Fog"
From the It's a Kids World EP. DI at their most intense and chaotic.
10. Flying Saucer Attack – "My Dreaming Hill"
Their finest moment?
11. Fridge – "Lost Time"
Weird that these folks have had so much more success in their solo careers than as a group. Here they are at their lovely, melodic best.
12. Seefeel – "When Face Was Face"
Turns out that Succour is a really great album. Actually, just about everything by Seefeel is pure gold.
13. Main – "Blown"
Traces of Main's origins in the much-loved hypno-rock act Loop are evident on this track from the early EP Dry Stone Feed.
14. The Hair & Skin Trading Company – "Highbury"
Traces of The Hair & Skin Trading Company's origin in the much-loved hypno-rock act Loop are not at all evident on this track from their final EP Crouch End.
Click here to download UK Post-Rock Vol. 7!
Post-Rocktoberfest 2011: Kelvox1 – Grazed Red (no label) download
Cambridge seems to be quite the unlikely hive of outsider musical activity right now, what with the hauntological techno of Nochexxx and his gang. Elsewhere on the Cambridge fringe, we have Kelvox1 – absolutely the finest new British post-rock band this here blog has heard in quite a few years. The band's new album, Grazed Red, is currently available as a free (FREE!) download and it's an absolute gem.
Grazed Red clocks in around the 35-minute mark but it features just two epic-length songs. And they really are songs – played by a band! In a room! This sense of organically expanded song-form immediately brings to mind Bark Psychosis's classic "Scum" single. Kelvox1 certainly have the slow-burning moodiness to justify that comparison but nothing here is quite as dank and nocturnal as "Scum". That is to say, the arrangements are colourful and vivid, in a fashion that recalls the electronically-enhanced-chaos-in-a-jam-room ambiance of Disco Inferno's DI Go Pop. The sullen vocals certainly add to this.
Obviously, these comparisons put Kelvox1 very much in the UK post-rock continuum. However, where other bands with the same influences (Epic45 and Hood spring to mind) don't really add much to the mix, Kelvox1 clearly have their own thing going on. Grazed Red is a genuinely ambitious and singular piece of work – certainly not perfect but all the better for its ragged edges.
A physical release is tentatively planned. It would be an absolute treat to own this thoroughly laudable album on vinyl. Fingers crossed!
(Note: Sorry for repeatedly misspelling the band's name in the original version of this post. That's what happens when you operate your blog according to a strict One Draft, No Proofreading policy.
Also, apparently you can't download the album any more because the plan for a physical release has become a whole lot less tentative. You can still stream it, though – and you should!)


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Printer Friendly Version
Standard ECMA-151
Data Compression for Information Interchange
- Adaptive Coding with Embedded Dictionary - DLCZ Algorithm
(June 1991)
This Ecma Standard specifies a lossless compression algorithm
to reduce the number of bits required to represent information
coded by means of 8-bit bytes. This algorithm is known as DCLZ
(Data Compression according to Lempel and Ziw).
This Ecma Standard specifies neither the strategy for resetting
the dictionary nor that for freezing it, as these are implementation-dependent.
This algorithm is particularly useful when information has to
be recorded on an interchangeable medium. Its use is not limited
to this application.
The following file can be freely downloaded:


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History Of The Hurst Wheel
The Untold Story Of A Product Way Ahead Of Its Time.
On January 5, 1965, George Hurst threw a huge PR party around the swimming pool at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. At that Tuesday bash, Hurst introduced his newest product, a forged aluminum custom wheel. Hurst knew a good promotion when he saw one, and he chose to debut his new wheel in Southern California, the cradle of hot rodding, and the home of Petersen Publishing Company. Petersen had the largest circulation automotive magazines in the country with titles like Hot Rod, Car Craft, and its flagship, Motor Trend, which was the sponsor of the upcoming Riverside 500 NASCAR race.
It was for that reason that Hurst chose to debut his wheels at that time and place. To cap it off, they were displayed on the 1965 GTO convertible that would pace the race (the one and only time a GTO served as a pace car for a major NASCAR race). The relationship between George Hurst and Pontiac had been firmly established in the early 1960s. Pontiac was the first to offer Hurst's stout three-speed floor shifter, and when Hurst developed a four-speed shifter in 1961, Pontiac immediately put it in their order book. When the GTO arrived in 1964, it was equipped with the Hurst lever, and every manual gearbox GTO built until 1974 was stirred with a Hurst stick.
So why did the Shifter King, who had built his success on engine conversion kits, floor shifts, and line-locks decide to get into the wheel business? Hurst saw an opportunity to market a quality wheel with a custom look, but that wasn't his only reason. Hurst had a genuine concern for safety, and he was aware that virtually all aftermarket wheels were poorly engineered and cheaply built. Since there were no true industry standards to hold wheel manufacturers accountable to, aftermarket wheels had a history of failure due to metal fatigue. Corners were often cut in materials and construction to bring it to market at an "affordable" price.
Hurst also believed that with the right wheel, he could crack the OE (Original Equipment) market and have his wheels become options on some of Detroit's hottest musclecars. Hurst had already gained a foothold in the industry by having his rock-solid shifters installed as standard equipment in GTOs, 4-4-2s, and Grand Sports. There was no reason to think he couldn't do the same thing with wheels, as long as they could meet the rigid OE standards.
To his credit, George Hurst was also dedicated to building products with no compromise to quality and safety. He had done his research on wheel safety and recognized that no one in the industry was building a wheel that met OE specifications. When Hurst decided to build his own, he constructed them with the same bulletproof engineering that went into his shifters. Aftermarket wheels were prone to breakage because, in the manufacturers' zeal for light weight or styling, lateral load capabilities were grossly inadequate, and many wheels failed, often causing accidents. George Hurst chose to build an unbreakable wheel.
"Before making a decision to build the new Hurst wheel," George Hurst said, "we decided to test all the popular makes to determine how good they really were. Test equipment was set up in our laboratory to evaluate the reliability and strength of any wheel."
Hurst utilized the same test equipment and standards as specified by carmakers in Detroit. Hundreds of different aftermarket wheels were tested and not one passed the standards. Two basic tests were used. The first was the Impact Test 2,000-pound, also known as "The Guillotine." In this test, a 2,000-pound metal slab was dropped from a height of either 12 inches or 24 inches onto a wheel mounted on a test stand at a 30-degree angle. According to Hurst, "The damage on a great many wheels showed the inner cores or spiders shattering like glass under the 2,000-pound blow."
The second was the Rotating Fatigue Test. In this test, a wheel was spun at a load of 2,036 lb-ft (which was the Pontiac OE standard for wheel testing) to "exert alternating stresses, or fatigue stress on the wheel." A rod was bolted to the wheel center and an overload of 50 percent was exerted. The wheel was spun to as many revolutions as it could bear before failure. "On the average," Hurst noted, "most wheels tested chalked up revolutions of just over 12,000, less than half the accepted number of revolutions required by the nation's leading independent testing laboratories."
As testing continued, it was obvious to Hurst that an entirely new approach to wheel design and engineering was required. Weight was a major consideration, but Hurst refused to trade strength for lighter mass. George Hurst worked with his engineers to design a wheel that combined both light weight and strength. Hurst turned to Harvey Aluminum, the leading manufacturer of forged aluminum alloy. The use of double-dropped forged aluminum alloy in the aerospace industry had become commonplace, but this was the first time it would be applied to automobile wheels. To ensure a smooth surface for plating, the forgings were coined to provide perfect grain flow in the forging's crystalline structure. The spiders were then coated with HINAC for a clear, preservative finish.
Hurst designed a 14x6-inch rim with a strong cross-section design and a wall thickness wider than any OE wheel used. The rim would then be zinc dichromate plated for both rust prevention and appearance. To attach the forged aluminum spiders to the rim, a load-distributing stabilizer plate was welded to the rim and overlapped the inside spokes of the spider, creating a steel/aluminum "sandwich" to double the wheel strength. Two 5/16-inch high-tensile steel rivets were used per spoke to attach the spider to the rim. A special washer and rubber sealer prevented possible air leaks.
In testing, Hurst's design proved to be twice as strong in fatigue and impact resistance as other custom wheels. It exceeded all OE wheel standard tests and proved to be virtually indestructible in real world applications. After reviewing the wheel's test results, both the NHRA and AHRA approved and sanctioned the wheel for competition.
Hurst engineered the wheels with one of three bolt patterns to fit Ford, GM, and Chrysler products. Plans were announced for 13-inch and 15-inch fitments for a later release, however, those sizes never materialized. Hurst wanted to give his customer the widest range of wheel appearances as possible, so a confusing array of 24 different wheel and beauty ring, and center cap combinations were offered. To that end, the spokes were finished in either a polished highlight in the spoke center, or with a matte finish. All had polished spoke ribs. A primered spider was offered beginning sometime in 1966, which allowed the customer to paint the spokes any color he or she wanted for a totally custom look. .
A deep-dish beauty ring was designed that reached to the center of the wheel. The ring also covered the wheel weights. These rings were retained to the wheel with spring clips. This also prevented the rings from being stolen while the wheel was on the car. Later, the clips were replaced with a ring that used a simple press fit between the spokes and over the rear of the rim. Two styles of rings were offered, a fully polished face with polished inner surface, or a semi-polished face with a "brushed" inner surface.
Hurst offered three different center cap designs. The standard cap was a flat, round chromed cap with the Hurst logo in the center. Available at extra cost was the chromed bullet-nose cap that had three Hurst logos or a chrome three-winged spinner with the Hurst logo in the center. A curved three-wing spinner was withdrawn from the market when safety and liability concerns for pedestrians were raised. All three of the caps were retained by two bolts from the rear, which prevented the caps from being stolen. Even the lug nuts were unique to the wheel, using a tapered mating surface. Lefthand thread nuts were identified by grooves machined across the flats of the hex.
During the course of the wheel's 4-year run, the spoke design was revised. The bead on the spoke's ribbed edge was changed from squared to rounded. This change was made mainly due to abrasion wear. The hub was also changed from a 5/8-inch thickness to a thinner 3/8-inch design and from webbed to unwebbed. The thinner hub was not webbed. The back side of the hub was also redesigned, with a deeply recessed oval at the lug holes, later replaced by a round recess measuring only .025 inch. Toward the end of the wheel's production, in an attempt to reduce costs and price the wheel more competitively, Hurst removed the stabilizer plate and simply riveted the spider to the rim.
Hurst came close to his goal of making his wheel OE when Pontiac considered it for the 1966 GTO. When plans for a version of the fullsized Pontiac's integral hub-and-drum aluminum wheel (widely known as the "eight-lug" wheel) for the GTO fell through, General Manager John DeLorean turned to Hurst with intentions of making the Hurst wheel an option. Ironically, while Hurst had worked so hard to make the wheel meet OE standards for strength, he had failed to make it light enough to pass GM's unsprung weight guidelines. When he refused to consider making the wheel lighter, Pontiac had no choice but to pass. Hurst's refusal to compromise his product's quality cost him an order for 35,000 sets of wheels, however, it underlined his personal commitment to building the best aftermarket custom wheel in the industry.
Each wheel was "warrantied for life" to the original purchaser (as long as Hurst's lug nuts were used) and received a serial number, stamped on the lip at the center of the spider. Buying a set of four wheels enabled the owner to receive a "Hurst Hustler" emblem, a jacket patch, and entry into the "House of Hurst" tents at major races.
Although the wheel was superbly built, distinctly handsome, and highly advertised in print as well as heavily promoted at the retail level, it was one of Hurst's few marketing failures. Hurst ultimately had to admit defeat and withdrew the wheel in mid 1969. It wasn't until the mid 1980s when the musclecar hobby began to grow that an interest in Hurst wheels drove collectors and restorers to swap meets in search of the forged wheels. Then as now, discovering an NOS set of wheels in the original shipping drum is a major find, and many restorers pay dearly for the right to bolt on a set of Hurst wheels. After more than four decades, the Hurst forged wheel has become a musclecar legend and testament to George Hurst's unwavering dedication to quality and safety.
The Return Of The Hurst WheelIn 2003, Performance West Group in Bonsall, California, was developing two new show cars, a 1965 GTO and a 2004 GTO, and was looking for a visual theme that would tie the two Goats together. "Our solution," explained Performance West's Larry Weiner, "was to capitalize on the well-known relationship that had existed between Hurst and Pontiac during the 1960s. That led to the idea to paint both vehicles a modern version of the original "Hurst Gold," feature Hurst Shifters, and create custom wheels inspired by the original Hurst wheels, taking advantage of 40 years of advances in metallurgy, engineering, and modern tire technology."
Weiner borrowed an original Hurst wheel for design purposes, and working with Oasis Alloy Wheels in Anaheim, California, created a modern interpretation of this classic wheel. Unlike the originals, which featured an aluminum center that was riveted to a heavy steel rim, Oasis engineers chose to manufacture the wheel as a one-piece casting, making it lighter than the originals, while being more affordable. In addition, these new wheels would be designed to accommodate a wide range of modern aftermarket disc brake kits, something that cannot be done with the original wheels.
Tooling for wheels in two sizes was created: 18x7-inch and 18x8-inch, and offered in three bolt patterns, 5x4.5, 5x4.75, and 5x5. In each case, the wheels were designed for early vehicle fitments. When Performance West recreated the famous Mr. Norm's 1968 GSS Hemi Dart in 2006, they again turned to Oasis. "With Hurst's well-documented involvement in the build of the original cars in 1968," Larry said, "it made perfect sense to follow in the footsteps of history and work with Hurst on the new Hemi Dart Program."
Oasis decided to engineer and cast one-piece wheels identical in appearance to the 18-inch wheels, but this time in a 17-inch diameter, since the Dart is a smaller vehicle. Wheels were cast in 17x7-inch and 17x9.5-inch, and have been seen on the new Mr. Norm's GSS Hemi Darts nationwide at shows and events.


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You may not think of DDJ for database info and I'll admit that what they do cover is often a bit off the path most of us SQL Server people follow, but they do have some interesting content that I like because it does take me past my normal SQL Server stuff. They also occasionaly feature database articles/discussions and that prompts todays note. They have a Databases section but in includes articles on non database topics. For example, today they have a article about Real Basic - huh?
I don't know if Steve includes their stuff in Database Weekly or not, but if you want to take a look visit http://www.drdobbs.com/database/?cid=vnav or pick up their feed at http://www.drdobbs.com/rss/database_news.xml.


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Car Accident Lawyer in Modesto, CA
California Car Accident Lawyers Protecting Your Rights
Highway 205, I-5, I-99, Highway 101 and 580 are among the many California roadways on which our firm's clients have suffered serious injury. With all of its drivers, California has one of the highest motor vehicle accident rates in the nation. Yet there is no simple way to collect insurance compensation to pay the medical bills for a person's injuries, lost work time, vehicle repairs, property damage, and other damages. Your recovery matters. Your case matters. We can help. Call (209) 522-2211 or e-mail us.
Injured? Our Modesto Law Firm Wants to Help.
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We genuinely care about each individual client and sincerely want to help. We take pride in being able to affect favorable results for our clients, many of whom have suffered devastating, permanent injuries, including amputations, spinal cord injuries requiring surgery after surgery and other life-changing harm. Recent Motorcycle Case: We were able to resolve a case for our client in which he received a structured settlement numbering in the millions of dollars after suffering the amputation of his left foot.
We Understand
We understand the strain that a person can go through after suffering brain damage or another serious injury. We know the strain that such injuries can place on the family and on the emotional well-being of the injured person. All this is taken into account as we work toward a settlement on your behalf. We handle all types of motor vehicle cases, including:
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Snap-in wiper seals
Snap-in wiper seals are designed without any metal component and are easy to install without any special equipment.
A common problem with snap-in wiper seals is that they become loose in the housing resulting in poor static sealing on the outside surface and reduced preload on the dynamic wiper seal lip (fig. 1). Furthermore, if the inside edge of the wiper seal could contact the rod, it may become an unintended sealing lip (fig. 1) and could trap pressure between the rod and wiper seal. Therefore, SKF snap-in wiper seals have special sealing and venting features to help ensure proper operation.
DTW profiles
DX profiles
DX wiper seals (fig. 3) have a patented profile with a single external lip design and vented inside edge. These profiles incorporate a rubber O-ring that maintains a robust static sealing contact in the housing. The O-ring also serves as an energizer to provide consistent long term preload on the dynamic lip. In case of radial misalignment, the entire TPU wiper ring follows these radial movements ("floating" design) as the relatively soft and flexible rubber O-ring energizer deforms to compensate.
When the wiper lip encounters resistance from contaminants adhered to the retracting rod (e.g. tree sap or frozen rain), the profile reacts by twisting to increase the preload on the dynamic wiper lip.
Therefore, DX profiles include the functionality of press-in wiper seals as well as the convenience of snap-in wiper seals. These profiles are available in inch sizes (→ Size list [pdf]). For additional information, refer to DX profile data.


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Mid-Height Boot with Buttons
The Fit Expert
Shea from our Calgary store says:
The Babycakes are an excellent, wide fitting boot with a fairly standard fitting calf and length. A fantastic boot for all kinds of feet!
The Babycake boots feature luscious Portuguese leathers in smooth and embossed finishes, decorative buttons, a rubber F-Sole, and the iconic 3" Mini hourglass heel for ultimate traction, durability and comfort. Named in honour of our baker friend Babycake who makes the most delicious cupcakes in Canada. Go on, fall in love. We dare you!
Approximate Calf Circumference: Size 6-7 (11"), Size 8-9 (12") and Size 10-11 (13") Approximate Boot Shaft Height: Size 6-7 (10.5"), Size 8-9 (11") and Size 10-11 (11")
Instagram @fluevog #vog_babycake
Found in: Casual, Boots, Heels, Best Seller, Womens
Shea from our Calgary store says:
The Babycakes are an excellent, wide fitting boot with a fairly standard fitting calf and length. A fantastic boot for all kinds of feet!
Babycake Boots
Perfect boots
Fit-wise, I was concerned these would be too narrow in the shaft for me (my calves are 14 inches at the relevant point, and I wear an 8.5 - my size in all my Fluevogs so far), but the reviews from other large-calved purchasers gave me hope. The helpful Petrea in the Amsterdam shop measured an actual 8.5 pair in their stock and confirmed they were 13 inches and could be stretched, so I fully expected they'd be too tight and need a trip to the cobbler. However, as other reviews have mentioned they stretch quite well just from wearing - I found them a little tight at first but was able to get them zipped to the top without too much effort, and after a week or so of daily wear they're comfortably moulded to my legs, easy to get on, and can now even fasten them over leggings and skinny jeans. So take heart if you're worried they'll be too tight.
The foot is nice and wide and consistent with the other pair from the Mini family I own - my feet are wide across the front but not in the heel (duck feet!) and this is an excellent shape for me. They were slightly too narrow at first and rubbed a bit, but again the leather has stretched with wear and they're now wonderfully comfortable. I walk 12,000+ steps a day on pavements in these, including many flights of stairs, running for trains, etc., and my feet are still happy at the end of the day (I'm neither an experienced high heel wearer nor a small lady, so this is very impressive).
I fully expect to wear these every day until the weather gets too hot and am now buying clothes on the basis of whether they'll match these boots...
Not like the old Babycake
More Please!
Wish the zip was hidden or gone.
In Love!!
Big calves, don't despair!
I've been lusting after these for several years, and had finally decided to buy them and pay to have a local cobbler put a panel in to give my large calves enough room, due to Fluevogologists telling me these were too delicate to stretch.
Imagine my surprise and delight when, with gentle use of a stretching spray on the inner lining, my lovely Babycakes now zip to the top - no panel needed! It took me four wears of multiple hours, but now they fit like a glove. I am so happy I took the chance on these - I can now wear them everywhere!
(For those blessed with large calves: I have 18" calves - you can do it too, just be super patient!)
These are a piece of art!
As soon as I started walking in these fluevogs tears started streaming down my face. They really are the world's most comfortable shoes. Thank you, John Fluevog, for being brilliance personified!
How could I say no?
Very cute
I'm converting all my friends to Fluevogs
Oh baby!
A miracle!
Now, I ordered two more pairs online:Babycake [Cherry & Black] +Libby Smith [Grey & Burgundy]
Consultants helped me to choose the size, and now I have everything right!
(The first two I bought at random and they were large to me)
Must take half a size larger than the US size.
But sending lost somewhere before the New Year. It took another two weeks and I thought I would never see them again. I asked Santa Claus: Please give me my favorite shoes! And in the morning brought me the parcel: a miracle!
The most comfortable, most beautiful, fun and eye-popping!
Awesome John!
Thank you!
I'm your forever!
Everyday boots
Simply love them!
Jaws drop
Beautiful Babycakes
my favorite shoes, ever
I would glad pay for them if
Awesome boots!
Comfort and awesomeness
New SIzes in the future?
Babycakes baby my feet
Another dream shoe
Tooled Leather?
Best Boots EVER
Oh what PERFECT boots!
The Babycakes (in super hot red) were my first Fluevogs, and I do not think there could have been a better first impression.
I'm anything but traditional, so when I started planning my bridal wardrobe, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to purchase my long-lusted-after Babycakes. Originally, I was going for black, but changed my mind and fell for the detailing on the red pair. We specifically set aside part of our wedding budget for these kick ass boots!
I've got really muscular calves (I run, cross country, too) and was concerned that they wouldn't zip, but they actually fit my calves perfectly, with just enough room for stockings.
The comfort - OH THE COMFORT! I had back surgery about 2 weeks before these arrived at my doorstep, and could actually walk around in them immediately! They are SO comfortable! Dancing, walking, epic shopping trips... these boots are amazingly comfortable for everything.
Babycake gets noticed - that super sexy hourglass heel and gorgeous detailed red leather BEG to get noticed, but look kinda cute under jeans, too. For me, they were bought to be worn underneath a custom made fantasy-style wedding gown from Romantic Threads. The gown was velvet and silk, the boots added my personal "funky style" to our wedding, and look so cute peeking out when dancing. On the weekends, they look amazing with miniskirts, long skirts, dresses.... God, I could wear these shoes everywhere.
Oh sizing - I wear a 10, these are a 10... they fit like a dream. I dunno why people say they run small, because they were perfectly true to size for me.
Now, my only dilemma is which pair to get NEXT!
Oh - and a HUGE shoutout to the kickass customer service I received from the Chicago JF store!
Love these Boots!
My 3rd pair of Fluevogs, perhaps my fave
Dream boots <3 <3
I think I was waiting for these to be invented. I had been fantasizing about them in my idle moments. I think they'd been fantasizing about me, too, because the moment I put them on they said "yes yes yes" with every step. Fit like a dream; didn't have to break them in at all.
They have everything I'd been craving in a boot: low but foxy spool heel, rubber sole, buttons, comfy wide toe, broguing. Perfect for office or for-special. I walk to work in them-- and when I come home after a hard day of work, these are the heels I'm HAPPY to put on for a night out. In San Francisco, we highly prize a 3" heel that you can walk down steep hills in.
(Also: Complete strangers love all over these shoes regularly. The lady in Williams-Sonoma sounded like her mind was blown: "Wow! Those must the coolest boots in the world!")
Libby Boots
White Babycake
After an Alteration, Amazing!
Sheer perfection
Feets Don't Fail Me Now
A note on calf circumference
Fell In Love, then got my heart broken
Skinny Calves Beware!
WOW, what a boot
First Pair, definitely not LAST
I'm in the love with the Red Babycakes!!
Gorgeous AND functional
These boots are just the cutest most comfy boots ever. I really can't say enough about the staff at the Toronto store, most employees in retail will tell you things look fantastic on you just to get the sale, not here, they are honest, I really appreciate that and would recommend this store to anyone looking for great well made shoes that are stylish and unique. Oh , I forgot to mention the BEST part, they sent the boots out to have them stretched to fit my not so skinny legs, and now they are PERFECT. :-O :-O
New York item!
Oh, WOW
a real class act!
kid leather gloves
I.Love. These.Boots.
Trust the girls....
oooooooh, babycakes!!!!
Babycakes, how I love thee...
Worth every penny
I am in love. In 40+ years of wearing (and then pretty much not wearing) heels, I've never met a pair that made me feel so well-balanced and *grounded.* Nothing about them hurts. To the contrary - my footing is better in these than in some flats. To get all that in a package that comes wrapped in beautiful craftsmanship and hot, hot style - I'm dazzled. And every woman in my office has done a "where did you get THOSE???" double-take today.
Great for Dancing!
for heaven sake aren't I your babycake?
My Sweet Babycake
I tried these on a couple of times hoping my calves had shrunk and they could fit, but they never did. I left the store thinking no way they could stretch them that much -- the 2nd time they convinced me to try and oh man, I'm so thankful to the Toronto store that they did. Ladies, they stretch -- just get them already!! Jen
Sweet sweet Babycakes!
Yummy Baby Cakes
dangerously beautiful
My sweet babycakes
Classic Stars of The Show!
These are the best shoes ever!!!
The best boots!
Just darling
my babycakes
Best B-Day gift ever!
#vog_babycakeLoad More


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POSTING GUIDELINES: One medical thread per pig!
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MALOCCLUSION Experiences and Links To Gp Illnesses
SKINNY PIG Data and T-4 count
QUARANTINE - why you should do it
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NASHVILLE, TENN. - Tennessee State track and field had a strong showing at the 14th
annual Ed Temple Classic at the Gentry Center on Saturday.
Brittani Logan won the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 1.5 inches. The Detroit native also had a good showing by finishing second in the shot put at 42 feet, 9.5 inches.
On the track, the Tigerbelles 4X400 Medley Relay of Breanna Adams, Ashontae Jackson, Jasmine Owens and Gabrielle Todd took the top spot clocking in at 3 minutes, 51.83 seconds.
Todd also had a second place time of 59.34 seconds in the 400 meters. Teammate Owens was a close third at 1:00.41.
Jackson had a pair of third place finishes as she ran the 200 meters in 25.73 seconds and had a long jump of 19 feet, 2.75 inches.
In the 55 meter hurdles, Claiwin Dameus was the runner-up with a time of 8.14 seconds, while Ja'Lyn Burr was also a runner-up with a triple jump of 40 feet, 2.25 inches.
On the men's side, Daryl Rice had the best high jump on the day with a height of 6 feet, 8 inches.
Alex Griffin had a solid outing as his shot put of 47 feet, 11 inches was good enough for second and his weight throw of 39 feet, 5 inches placed him third.
In the long jump, Royce Dates took second as he had a distance of 23 feet, 7.5 inches.
In the final even of the meet, the TSU 4X400 meter relay squad of Jason Griffin, Osafa Hippolyte, Jamill Jackson and Michael Johnson claimed second place clocking in at 3:23.01
Jackson also placed third with an 800 meter time of 1:58.12
A total of eight NCAA Division I universities competed in the meet, including local programs Austin Peay, Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee. Other regional programs consist of Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Alabama State, Bethel and Victory University (Memphis).
TSU is off next week before competing at the Gladstein Invitational in Bloomington, Ind., on Friday, January 18. The Big Blue return to the Gentry Cener for the TSU Inivite on Feb. 2.
Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers, Twitter @TSU_Tigers and YouTube


text:
Todd Zolecki, phillies.com
ATLANTA — This is not how John Lannan pictured it.
The left-hander signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Phillies in December with something to prove. The Nationals stuck him in Triple-A at the beginning of last season, and he joined the Phillies because he saw an opportunity to make 30 or more starts in the big leagues and show everybody that he remains an effective big league starter.
But his season has gone horribly awry.
Lannan left Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Braves at Turner Field in just the second inning because of an injured left knee — the same knee that cost him two months earlier this season. He wants to get this thing fixed, which means he might have thrown his final pitch for the Phillies this year — and, quite possibly, ever.
"It's tough," Lannan said. "I want to help this team out tremendously, go out there every five days. I know when I'm healthy I can go out there and do my job. I feel like I'm letting everybody down — letting myself down, my family down — but you have to look at the silver lining. Hopefully, I can get this thing fixed."
Lannan missed two months earlier this season following a platelet-rich plasma injection that was administered to help heal a strained quadriceps tendon in the knee.
"I had the quad strain, but also some structural damage that's happened over the years," he said. "This time it wasn't the quad tendon, but the other thing that flared up. It happened before the Nationals start [last Friday], and I thought it just flared up. I did the things I thought I needed to do to get it ready, and I just came to the point tonight where I was just trying to fight through it. But it obviously was affecting the way I was pitching.
"Every time I push off, there's a pain there in the knee."
Lannan, 3-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts, is eligible for salary arbitration following the season. Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Kyle Kendrick are expected back next season. Rookie Jonathan Pettibone, who is making a rehab start on Thursday with Double-A Reading, is 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 18 starts and could begin next season in the rotation. And if Roy Halladay comes back from surgery on his right shoulder and pitches effectively, he could be brought back as well.
Even if they don't bring back Halladay, the Phillies could go in another direction, and that means they could non-tender Lannan, making him a free agent.
It seemed obvious from the first batter that Lannan was not right. He threw a 1-1 fastball to Jason Heyward, who hit the ball to left-center field for a home run to hand the Braves a quick one-run lead. Lannan allowed another run in the inning to make it 2-0.
It got worse in the second inning. Lannan walked Braves starter Brandon Beachy with one out and allowed a double to Heyward to put runners on second and third.
After walking Justin Upton to load the bases, Lannan signaled he had a problem. Pitching coach Rich Dubee and assistant athletic trainer Shawn Fcasni went to the mound. After a quick conversation, Dubee called right-hander Zach Miner in from the bullpen.
Miner allowed those three baserunners to score to make it 5-0.
The Phillies, who have lost 19 of their last 23 games, waited through a rain delay of one hour and 48 minutes for that.
The only positives for the Phillies the rest of the way came in the sixth and ninth innings. Domonic Brown hit a two-run homer to right field in the sixth to make it 5-2. It was the 27th homer of the season for Brown, who finished the night two homers behind Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt and Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez, who lead the National League.
Brown could make things interesting with a run at the home run title over the final few weeks of the season.
Darin Ruf added a solo homer to left in the ninth to make it a three-run game.
"I see those," manager Charlie Manuel said. "When you're young, you work your [behind] off until you improve. You try to be the best player you can, and you never know what can happen for you."
As for Lannan, he thought he worked hard during his rehab to finish the season strong. It appears it won't be enough.
"I want to be a normal player," Lannan said. "I don't want to have to deal with this pain."
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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BOSTON -- Fifty-three percent of health club operators showed membership dues/fees revenue was down in September compared to September last year, according to a survey by the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Thirty percent showed that membership dues/fees revenue was up, and 17 percent reported it was the same for the month.
The numbers were from IHRSA's Monthly Trends Survey of 54 participating club operators.
Year-to-date (ending Sept. 30, 2009), the numbers were a bit better, with 49 percent of the clubs reporting decreased membership dues/fees revenue over year-to-date last year, 34 percent reporting increases and 17 percent reporting steady.
Non-dues revenue and membership accounts were down for the majority of surveyed clubs in September 2009 compared to September 2008. Fifty-eight percent of the clubs said non-dues revenue was down, 23 percent said it was up and 19 percent said it was the same. Fifty-one percent of clubs showed that membership accounts were down while 28 percent showed they were up, and 21 percent reported they were the same compared to September 2008.
Non-dues revenue year-to-date was down for 55 percent of participating clubs, up for 28 percent and the same for 17 percent. IHRSA did not provide numbers for membership accounts year-to-date.
So far, the numbers are different from what club operators expected for the fall. IHRSA's August survey showed that 46 percent of the 56 participating clubs in that month's survey anticipated increased revenue in the fall 2009 over fall 2008. Thirty-two percent expected steady revenue, and 21 percent expected decreased revenue compared to fall 2008.
However, Melissa Rodriguez, IHRSA's manager of research, said that September proved to be a good start for clubs.
"While membership dues may have dwindled for some clubs in August, strong businesses have proved to be resilient in September with increased membership fees revenue and favorable cost management," Rodriguez said in a release from IHRSA.
The participating IHRSA clubs reported steady staffing levels while a majority plan to maintain and enhance current fitness programs and club facilities. Fifty-three percent of respondents indicated a similar number of employees in September 2009 in comparison with September 2008, with 18 percent reporting increased staffing levels. Eighty-eight percent plan to maintain or increase their number of employees over the next three months.
Along with planning for consistent to increased staffing levels, 64 percent of the surveyed club operators plan to maintain their current level of special fitness programs, and 36 percent plan to add to them. Nearly the entire sample (98 percent) reported planning to maintain (68 percent) or add (30 percent) to their current level of group exercise classes. Sixty-four percent of responding clubs indicated plans to make capital expenditures for equipment, expansion or remodeling over the next three months.