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"A fascinating potpourri of history, engineering, and imagination, all presented in the fluid, humane writing style that we have come to expect from this author." —The Washington Post Book World
"A pleasure. . . . It is a measure of Mr. Petroski's skill and sensibility that his essays about structures made of steel and stone so frequently provide a sense of that large humanity, as well." —New York Sun
"He writes clearly about complicated subjects, and provides lucid explanations and penetrating insights." —The New York Review of Books
"Henry Petroski turns an expert eye on the technology–and economics and vanity–behind [building]. The most compelling chapters concern disasters, from the collapse to the World Trade Center to the whip-snapping death of the Tacoma Narrows bridge. These essays are elegantly written and consistently thought-provoking." —New Scientist
"Henry Petroski has become the main emissary from the world of engineering to the rest of us. . . . He brings clarity and good sense to his subject, making the enigmatic world of things a little less mystifying." —Austin American-Statesman
"Petroski writes . . . with the observant eye of an engineer and the imaginative heart of a novelist." —Los Angeles Times
"An unlikely combination of mathematical brain power and a more irrational curiosity. . . . Petroski not only can put science in laymen's terms, but also can do so without killing its magic." —The Christian Science Monitor
"Petroski . . . asks us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary." —Chicago Tribune
"[There is] pleasure [in] seeing Henry Petroski's playful mind at work." —Scientific American
Art in Iron and Steel
Bridges of America
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Floating Bridges
Confederation Bridge
Pont de Normandie
Britannia Bridge
Tower Bridge
Drawing Bridges
An Eye-Opening Bridge
Millennium Legacies
Broken Bridges
New and Future Bridges
Dorton Arena
Santiago Calatrava
Fazlur Khan
The Fall of Skyscrapers
Vanities of the Bonfire
St. Francis Dam
Three Gorges Dam
Fuel Cells
Engineers' Dreams
Engineers' Achievements
Acknowledgments and Bibliography
List of Illustrations and Credits


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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah bank confirmed Tuesday that an airplane registered to the bank was used by a Ghana mining company to take Ghanaian businessmen to Iran last week.
The New York Times published a story last week revealing the presence of the plane, which had a small American flag on the tail, in Iran.
Aviation records show the plane is registered to the Bank of Utah through an arrangement in which the bank serves as a trustee for aircraft owners.
Except for some approved activities by the U.S. Department of Treasury, federal regulations prohibit most economic activity between the U.S. and Iran. The Treasury Department said in a statement Tuesday that sanctions on Iran generally prevent U.S.-registered aircraft from flying to that country. Determining if a violation "has occurred is fact specific, and Treasury is unable to comment on this situation," the statement said.
Scott Parkinson, senior vice president for marketing and communication with the Ogden-based bank, confirmed Tuesday morning that the Ghana company Engineers & Planners had been using the Bombardier CL-600.
Parkinson said the Bank of Utah has been cooperating with the State Department and other federal agencies since the plane was spotted in Iran but wouldn't comment further about what those agencies are looking at or to what degree they are investigating.
Engineers & Planners said in a statement Saturday that the plane's trip did not violate any international aviation laws.
The company's chief executive is Ibrahim Mahama, the younger brother of Ghanaian President John Mahama.
While the company has said the passengers on the flight were businessmen, initial reports were that it was carrying a governmental delegation, and an anti-corruption group, Ghana Integrity Initiative, has asked the government to explain.
Felix Ofosu-Kwakye, the deputy minister of information, denied on Ghanaian radio Tuesday that the government had sent a delegation to Iran and added that it had not leased any plane from the company.
Parkinson said his bank, which offers aviation ownership trusts as one part of its business, has no reason to believe there's a problem with their trust agreement for this specific aircraft.
"Of course we're looking at all of our policies regarding this, but we're pretty confident that what we've done is appropriate," he said.
The aviation trust arrangements have prompted two warnings from a government watchdog in the past year.
A government watchdog warned last June and again in January that non-U.S. citizens have registered 5,600 planes with the Federal Aviation Administration through trustees, concealing the owners' identities.
Under FAA regulations, this can be done by the owner creating an agreement to transfer the plane's title to a trustee that is a U.S. citizen. The trustee then registers the plane. The agreements provide little information on the identity of the owner or who uses the plane, according to a memorandum by the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General.
On Friday, Parkinson said his bank performs due diligence required by regulators in terms of aircraft ownership and its trust agreements make it clear that the bank does not permit any illegal activity.
FAA regulations don't require trustees to identify aircraft owners or operators as a condition of registration. The FAA recently updated its policies to require trustees to produce this information, but only within 48 hours of an FAA request, the memorandum said.
The FAA has at times experienced problems identifying owners and operators of U.S. registered planes involved in accidents or incidents, the memo said.
Associated Press Writer Joan Lowy in Washington contributed to this report. Francis Kokutse reported from Accra, Ghana.

subset: commoncrawl


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How Many SEO Consultants Actually Know What They're Talking About?Blog Post: September 25, 2012
I am going to speak from a different perspective here- that of the small business owner, the client. Many of you seem well aware that there is a shady layer hovering over the reputation and tactics of SEO professionals, more than is exposed here. Certainly not all but, as we know, enough bad apples will spoil the bunch.
I am here deperate for SEO help. I truly need to outsource the job of SEO but in asking for recommendations, I have been told many stories of like minded colleagues spending a nice chunk of their already small budget for minimal or no real results. I am scared to death to put my little, but hard earned, business in a position of poor cash flow because I am spending money on SEO services hoping for results that never come. Instead, I grow at a slower pace and spend the little free time I have trying to learn all that I can and apply my part-time, "self taught", SEO knowleged to my business. As SEO professionals, you know this is not wise and so do I. However, there are no guarantees at my level of business and no "Angie's List" of services to feel comfortable taking that step at this stage.....as much as I really want to. I am all for taking risks, but mindful, educated risks.
I would love to have some sort of process or service to rely on that would allow me enough peace of mind to take the risk of spending the money I need to spend on SEO and get the services I want to get. Some of you have some real ideas of what is needed and I hope you will keep exploring those ideas to work at bridging the gap between small business owners who want the services and reputable providers of SEO services. It is truly needed!
Just my two cents! Thanks for hearing it.


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History of Athletics at Oglethorpe
Varsity athletics at Oglethorpe University started with basketball in 1916. During the next three years, baseball and football teams were organized by Coach Frank Anderson.
His contemporaries called Coach Anderson the Dean of Southern Baseball Coaches. The Stormy Petrels were defeating the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, University of Alabama, University of South Carolina, Dartmouth, Furman and many other major universities, while winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in 1924 and in 1925.
Anderson developed some great players such as : Luke Appling, L. N. Turk, Clay Parrish, Greek George, Lefty Willis to name a few that reached major league baseball teams.
Oglethorpe's President, Dr. Thornwell Jacobs, determined to go big time, added Coach Harry Robinson, an All-American from Syracuse, New York as his football coach in 1925. He felt he could get national attention for Oglethorpe University.
Robinson proved his genius in football. He developed a slick military shift and a most deceptive double wing offense on the football field. Immediate success came his way with the Petrels winning the SIAA championship in 1924 and in 1925. Some fine athletes like Nutty Campbell, John Knox, Adrian Maurer, Parker Bryant, Wendell Crowe, Curley Fulton, Ike Cousins, Cy Bell and others led the Petrels in victories over Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Florida, while losing close games to Syracuse and Alabama.
John Patrick succeeded his former football coach in 1933. Coach Pat was a tireless worker but was confronted with a depression budget. His teams, though not as successful as earlier teams, were typical Stormy Petrels. They were tough, conditioned, disciplined and well-coached. Their schedule was still tough with Kentucky, Miami, Georgia, Auburn, The Citadel and Chattanooga included in the opposition.
Some of Coach Pat's outstanding players were: Little All-American Jack Puryear, Frank Metrick, Kimsey Stewart, Ernie Sheffield, Bot Owens, Fred Kelley and Cecil Moon. World War II curtailed all sports in 1942.
During the early 1930's, Coach Don Overton developed a good basketball team. He took a team including Ed Copeland, Jimmy Sullivan, Cecil Moon, Ben Forkner and Buster Fisher on a trip to play Penn State, George Washington, Long Island University and several other eastern powerhouse teams.
In 1947, Coach Swede Phillips arrived at Oglethorpe. He mixed some war veterans with young players and developed an outstanding basketball program, reaching the national playoffs in Kansas City in 1948.
The next outstanding coach arrived in the person of Garland Pinholster in 1956. With no budget and very few athletes, Pinholster gathered a few old athletes and friends of Oglethorpe and the first Booster Club was organized. In four short years, with the help of the Boosters and a small budget, the Petrels were again playing basketball in national tournaments in Kansas City and Evansville with players like Bobby Nance, Morris Mitchell, Ray Thomas, Tom Norwood, Bill Carter, Wayne Dobbs and John Guthrie to name a few.
Coach Pinholster, with his great wheel offense and a super hard-nosed defense, defeated powers like Rhode Island, Southern Illinois, St. Peters, Tennessee State, Jacksonville, Georgia Southern, New Hampshire and many others to compile a record of 184 against only 62 losses. He developed many outstanding players and also authored four best sellers.
Coach Bill Carter and Coach Tom Norwood followed their coach with success and reached regional playoffs in Norfolk, VA. And Louisville, KY.
During the early 1970's as a member of the NAIA, the program fell on hard times. There was even talk of dropping athletics at Oglethorpe. Instead, Dr. Manning Pattillo arrived as President in 1974 with the aim of developing a non-scholarship program similar to the Ivy Leagues. He hired Coach Jack Berkshire as Director of Athletics and men's basketball coach, with the goal of developing a broad-based program to compete against small liberal arts colleges with strong academics. His basketball program, confronted with high academic entrance requirements and no basketball scholarships, progressed so well that by 1979, he had a 23-7 season. (Bob Wolfe, Tom Seitz, Dennis Bailey, Larry Broadnax and Richard Johnson led this group), and by 1984 he had won 100 games reaching the national playoffs several years.
Coach Berkshire's 1982-83 team sported three Academic All-Americans in basketball - Jay VanderHorst, John Marshall and Steve Oliphant , the first time three players on the same team were so honored.
In 1988, Oglethorpe's athletic program opened a new chapter in its history by joining the NCAA at the Division III level. The program expanded to meet Division III requirements and to enhance its chances to be accepted into a quality Division III conference. Adding five sports in one year, Oglethorpe soon attracted the attention of the College Athletic Conference, a conference of top small private liberal arts colleges in the South. Oglethorpe was invited to join the conference provided they also add baseball and women's basketball. In 1991, Oglethorpe became a member of the newly named Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Under Berkshire's leadership, the program increased from six sports to the current 14 sports sponsored. Gender equity was achieved during this growth with seven women's sports currently offered.
The men's basketball team captured the University's first SCAC championship in 1994. This team earned a spot in the NCAA national playoffs, as did the 1995 team which finished second in the conference race. Berkshire's 22-year career as basketball coach saw him reach 315 wins in the 1997-98 season.
The women's basketball team enjoyed a historic four-year run from 2006-09, advancing to the school's first-ever NCAA Division III Final Four and securing its first-ever conference championship in women's basketball during the stretch. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament all four years and went to the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons (2008-09). After finishing as the SCAC runner-up in 2008, they went on an incredible run through the NCAA Tournament to advance to the semifinals. They went on to finish fourth in the nation. The next year, they captured the SCAC championship and advanced to the sectionals again before falling in the Sweet 16. The squad was led by two All-Americas, guards Katie Kulavic and Anna Findley, both of whom have their numbers retired in Dorough Field House.
Oglethorpe's baseball teams have consistently been a solid team in recent years, normally finishing in the middle of the conference standings.
For the 2012-13 season, the conference moved to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) with several other former SCAC members and an in-state newcomer. The SAA is an eight-member league which includes: Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia; Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama; Centre College in Danville, Kentucky; Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas; Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi; Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee; and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Oglethorpe takes part in SAA competition for baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.
The men's golf team, under the tutelage of Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame head coach Jim Owen, has turned into one of the best Division III programs in the country. They've won two national championships, the only two in any sport in the school's history. The first came in 2009, when the team rode an individual-medalist performance by Olafur Loftsson to the trophy. They followed that up with a 20-stroke victory in 2012 as freshman Anthony Maccaglia took home individual medalist honors and led the squad to its second title. In addition, the program has taken home a total of 12 conference championships spanning their time in the SCAC and SAA.
The men's soccer program, led by head coach Jon Akin, has reached prominence in recent years, winning conference championships in three of the last five seasons. They took home the last SCAC men's soccer championship that Oglethorpe competed for in 2011, marking the school's first soccer championship. With it, the team received an automatic bid to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament. Then, the team came back with its first SAA championship in 2013, winning three games in less than 48 hours at the SAA Championship in Conway. They earned the outright SAA regular season title in 2015, compiling a 10-3-3 overall record and a 5-1-1 mark in conference play.
The Oglethorpe men's tennis team added to the conference title haul in 2015, as well, earning their first conference crown of any type when they earned a three-way share of the SAA regular season title by handing conference power Sewanee their first-ever SAA loss in the four-year history of the league. They finished 14-6 overall on the season and 6-1 in conference play.
The university's most outstanding contributors to its athletic history have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Over 100 individuals have been elected and plaques honoring these individuals are displayed in Dorough Field House.
From its beginning in 1916 to the current edition, the athletic teams of Oglethorpe have had to compete against teams with greater talent, stronger manpower, larger coaching staffs and larger student bodies, but like their mascot, "The Stormy Petrel" (pronounced Pea-trel), which can fly at sea against the fiercest storms and strongest winds, the Oglethorpe athletic teams fight hard to overcome these obstacles.


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Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Philosophy Index: Aesthetics · Epistemology · Ethics · Logic · Metaphysics · Consciousness · Philosophy of Language · Philosophy of Mind · Philosophy of Science · Social and Political philosophy · Philosophies · Philosophers · List of lists
Autopoiesis literally means "auto (self)-creation" (from the Greek: auto - αυτό for self- and poiesis - ποίησις for creation or production) and expresses a fundamental complementarity between structure and function. The term was originally introduced by Chilean biologists Francisco Varela and Humberto Maturana in 1973:
- "An autopoietic machine is a machine organized (defined as a unity) as a network of processes of production (transformation and destruction) of components which: (i) through their interactions and transformations continuously regenerate and realize the network of processes (relations) that produced them; and (ii) constitute it (the machine) as a concrete unity in space in which they (the components) exist by specifying the topological domain of its realization as such a network." (Maturana, Varela, 1973, p. 78)
- "[…] the space defined by an autopoietic system is self-contained and cannot be described by using dimensions that define another space. When we refer to our interactions with a concrete autopoietic system, however, we project this system on the space of our manipulations and make a description of this projection." (Maturana, Varela, 1973, p. 89)
The canonical example of an autopoietic system, and one of the entities that motivated Varela and Maturana to define autopoiesis, is the biological cell. The eukaryotic cell, for example, is made of various biochemical components such as nucleic acids and proteins, and is organized into bounded structures such as the cell nucleus, various organelles, a cell membrane and cytoskeleton. These structures, based on an external flow of molecules and energy, produce the components which, in turn, continue to maintain the organized bounded structure that gives rise to these components. An autopoietic system is to be contrasted with an allopoietic system, such as a car factory, which uses raw materials (components) to generate a car (an organized structure) which is something other than itself (a factory).
More generally, the term autopoiesis refers to the dynamics of a non-equilibrium ( or non-equilibrium thermodynamic (NET) (Dyke, Charles, 1988, ch. 9)) system; that is, organized states (sometimes also called dissipative structures) that remain stable for long periods of time despite matter and energy continually flowing through them. A vivid example of such a non-equilibrium structure is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, which is essentially a gigantic whirlpool of gases in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. This vortex has persisted for a much longer time (on the order of centuries) than the average amount of time any one gas molecule has spent within it.
From this very general point of view, the notion of autopoiesis is often associated with that of self-organization.
An application of the concept to sociology can be found in the Luhmann's system theory, while the autopoïetic approach of Limone and Bastias was popularized at the Commercial School of the Catholic University of Valparaiso, starting from the thesis of Aquiles Limone (published in 1977) and model CIBORGA (popularized of 1998) with the collaboration of Luis Bastias, Cardemártori and others.
See alsoEdit
References & BibliographyEdit
- Capra, Fritjof (1997). The Web of Life. Random House. ISBN 0385476760 —general introduction to the ideas behind autopoiesis
- Dyke, Charles (1988). The Evolutionary Dynamics of Complex Systems: A Study in Biosocial Complexity. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Maturana, Humberto & Varela, Francisco ([1st edition 1973] 1980). Autopoiesis and Cognition: the Realization of the Living. Robert S. Cohen and Marx W. Wartofsky (Eds.), Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 42. Dordecht: D. Reidel Publishing Co. ISBN 9027710155 (hardback), ISBN 9027710163 (paper) —the main published reference on autopoiesis
- Mingers, John (1994). Self-Producing Systems. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. ISBN 0306447975 —a book on the autopoiesis concept in many different areas
- Luisi, Pier L. (2003). Autopoiesis: a review and a reappraisal. Naturwissenschaften 90 49–59. —biologist view of autopoiesis
- Varela, Francisco J.; Maturana, Humberto R.; & Uribe, R. (1974). Autopoiesis: the organization of living systems, its characterization and a model. Biosystems 5 187–196. —one of the original papers on the concept of autopoiesis
- Luhmann, Niklas (1990). Essays on Self-Reference. Columbia University Press. —Luhmann's adaptation of autopoiesis to social systems
- Winograd, Terry and Fernando Flores (1990). Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design. Ablex Pub. Corp. —cognitive systems perspective on autopoiesis
- Livingston, Ira (2005). Between Science and Literature: An Introduction to Autopoetics. University of Illinois Press. —an adaptation of autpoiesis to language.
External linksEdit
- The Observer Web: Autopoiesis and Enaction: a website with more explanations
- An email list on autopoiesis: email@example.com
- Several papers on autopoietic theory are available through archonic.net
- A mindmap-collection of links and papers visualized by Ragnar Heil
- Autopoiesis in the Enterprise by Luis E. Bastias
- A short 'Introductory Overview' of Autopoiesis by Tom Quick
- Autopoiesis and knowledge in the organization by Aquiles Limone, Luis E. Bastias
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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Why Video Games Might Not Be Art
Roger Ebert might have a point when he claims that 'games can never be art'. At least, Aristotle and T.S. Eliot would have agreed.
I guess that I should begin by conceding the slightly disingenuous quality of my title. I actually happen to be one of those people that is interested in declaring for the idea that video games can be art.
That said, however, I have run into a great many instances in online essays and on podcasts that I listen to about video games, lately, in which folks of the "it's just a game" sort (normally my opposites on this issue) have raised what I consider to be a rather legitimate observation about the nature of games and how they might defy standard definitions of art. Additionally, what has bothered me is the response to the objections raised by these folks, objections which usually concern the interactive nature of video games -- certainly one of the defining differences between games and other forms of traditional media, like novels or film or theatre, that are normally accepted as potentially artistic productions.
That response usually consists of the "defenders" of the "games as art" position tending to dismiss this objection out of hand, and that frequently if there is a "rebuttal" to it at all, that such a rebuttal includes something like the idea that interactivity is indeed a defining characteristic of games, it is in fact important to games as an art form (for some undefined reason), and that, well, games just are art. As if such a claim is self evident.
Frankly, the point that interactivity might be problematic was one of Roger Ebert's concerns in his infamous essay on the subject (which I realize that he has in part retracted), nevertheless, this objection I spoke of earlier is present in his original essay, and again, a relevant concern for folks that have a familiarity with aesthetics:
One obvious difference between art and games is that you can win a game. It has rules, points, objectives, and an outcome. [Kellee] Santiago might cite a [sic] immersive game without points or rules, but I would say then it ceases to be a game and becomes a representation of a story, a novel, a play, dance, a film. Those are things you cannot win; you can only experience them. (Roger Ebert, "Games Can Never Be Art", Chicago Sun-Times, 16 April 2010)
The really crucial observation to me exists in that last sentence, in which Ebert is suggesting that the player is doing something in playing a game, whereas normally an audience's relationship to art (be that a painting, novel, film, etc.) is merely "experiencing" (in some passive sense of the word) the object before them, allowing meaning to "wash over them", rather than actively participating with the artwork.
As I alluded to above, the reason that I find this objection compelling is that I am a student of the history of aesthetics, and in that context, the objection makes some sense to me. There's a tradition of seeing an importance in the distance between artwork and its audience. However, to consider that idea and why that might be a problem, one first needs to consider the way that philosophers who have made claims about aesthetics have done so and why "games as art" folks may need to consider fielding a clearer definition of what they mean by "art" (other than: well, it seems like art) in order to successfully make their case.
I personally very much dislike the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". What bothers me about the phrase is its implication that recognizing beauty can solely be understood as a result of the perception of a thing and that somehow the object under observation has not in some way had the effect of provoking that recognition. In other words, sure, I might recognize that a rose is beautiful, but it isn't merely because I decided arbitrarily that the rose is beautiful. There may be some qualities inherent in the rose that makes me respond that way. Both my subjective experience of the rose and the rose itself objectively have something to do with why I feel the rose is beautiful.
There are some aestheticians that have made claims about the pure subjectivity of the aesthetic response. However, most philosophers concerned with an understanding of the aesthetic response have held, as I do, the idea that aesthetic response has to do both with the object under investigation and how it has been arranged to provoke an aesthetic response along with what the viewer brings to the table and their ability to recognize those qualities.
This idea is related to something that I really admire in the criticism of video games practiced by Ian Bogost. Bogost has argued for understanding video games in rhetorical terms. Rhetoric is, of course, a field that very much acknowledges the relationship between a communication act (something that a video game may be partly defined as) and the response that that communication act elicits from a "listener". When someone yells at you, you do not arbitrarily feel sheepish or guilty or angry. Your response is in part defined by the communication itself, which has been designed to elicit one of those specific emotions.
In part, rhetoric as a discipline is the study of what are the most effective means of evoking specific emotional responses from a subject and why some ways of structuring such acts are more effective than others. Ultimately the goal of doing so is practical and functional, though. How does one get a mob angry enough to riot? How does one create an argument that is emotionally evocative enough to pass a certain piece of legislation? Thus, Bogost is interested in political games and how they are designed to get a gamer to "do" something.
While rhetoric can also rather effectively be applied to art that "says something" to see how such artwork might result in getting an audience to feel and act on those emotions, though, this isn't quite the same concern that aesthetics as a discipline has -- though it's related. Aesthetics is less interested in the practical outcome of a communication (what art can get you to do), as it is in studying a specific kind of response that art assumedly elicits from its viewer, the aesthetic response.
Now, the aesthetic response is a difficult concept to define. It's easily as difficult as defining any kind of emotion (and, indeed, some thinkers like Aristotle and T.S. Eliot have argued that the aesthetic response is not an emotion at all -- more on that idea in a moment). I know what you mean when you say that you are happy because I have experienced this thing you call happiness. However, if pressed to describe what "being happy" feels like, I would have trouble being anything more than abstract and vague in defining that feeling. "Happy"... ummm... feels good (whatever "good" means). To be happy is to not be sad ("sad" being another equally abstractly defined concept).
Defining happiness to someone who has never felt happiness is as difficult as describing the color red to someone who has never seen the color before (try it some time -- and good luck with that). These are feelings that we know purely experientially and an aesthetic response is like that. You have have felt it before or not in response to something -- and awkwardly for those interested in understanding it, it's probably a far less common "feeling" than anything like happiness or sadness. So, what is it?
In order to define what one feels when one sees something that is beautiful (as distinct from other feelings, like, say, what one feels when seeing something that is sexy / arousing, or that is ugly / repulsive), philosophers have used various terms to describe the response provoked by beauty. Some call it a sense of the sublime. Aristotle calls it radiata (or a "feeling of radiance"). This might sound something like experiencing enlightenment, and indeed, some have suggested a kind of relatedness between religious experience and aesthetic experience (note James Joyce's notion of the artist-priest, someone who provokes experiences of the beautiful or mediates between viewer and beauty the way that a priest might between congregation and God).
More recent study of aesthetic response by folks like Abraham Moles and Freider Nake has suggested a relationship between aesthetics and information processing, as if the aesthetic response is at least in part intellectual and not merely emotional. It has something to do with coming to know or appreciate something.
Indeed, in mathematics, part of the evaluation of solutions to problems are aesthetic in quality and mathematicians use terms ascribed normally to aesthetics (not science) to describe successful and less successful mathematical formulas (or more beautiful or less beautiful, more elegant or less elegant mathematical formulas). If one has two mathematical solutions to a problem and one is bloated and overly complex, the simpler, more elegant solution is preferred, as if simplicity has some essentially more beautiful composition than that which is baroque. Simplicity should not be confused with "easy to understand" here, though, just because a math problem is more elegant doesn't mean that you will understand it if you are not familiar with the symbols and what they represent in a formula -- elegance is sometimes recognized more easily by one eye than another.


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I participated in a giveaway on The Rusty Thimble and I got my mail in the week before Christmas and found this surprise from Brenda for participating. It is the cutest Santa Pillow ornament. It looked just perfect on my tree. Thank you so much Brenda!!
Check out Brenda's Etsy shop for more of her pillow tucks and much more.
And be sure and check out her blog. She has giveaways monthly.
And now for the funny surprise. I won a basket from Rose on Baskets by Rose blog! Well a package came the week before Christmas. But my hubby's computer had crashed and he bought a new one. Well the package came wrapped in an HP box and I thought it was part of his puter. On Christmas Eve he informs me that this is my box! Well I thought it was too big for my basket by Rose but OH MY GOSH it was the basket and it is AWESOME!!!!! So I got an early Christmas present on Christmas Eve.LOL
This basket is a work of art! Thank you so much Rose!!!! Rose's craftsmanship is extraordinary!!!!! You would never buy anything this well built and beautiful in any store!! I still can't believe I was lucky enough to win this wonderful and beautiful creation!
And don't forget to check out her blog. You will enjoy reading her posts.
I am sorry it took me so long to post about my treasures but I am battling an asthma attack that the doctor's can't seem to fix so I am slow at everything. But I really did enjoy my Christmas surprises!!


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READ: "Sweet treats: bid for some rare Fortnum & Mason honey"
Interview with Steve Benbow, the founder of London Honey Company
What could we be doing for bees in London?
'I am often asked about what planting individuals could establish for bees across the capital. Honey bees especially love mature trees as a nectar source. Limes and acacias are particularly important but sycamores, chestnuts, hawthorns and blackthorns are good too, however although the planting of these is an essential thing, they do not provide instant bee fodder.'
What should we be planting?
'I recommend early pollen sources such as crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells which are excellent early pollen yielders, pollen is rich in protein and fantastic for young bee growth. The autumn is also a key time, with ivy and buddleia providing late nectar flows, allowing the colony to build up for the barren months ahead. London is 65% green space but I believe there could be greater nectar sources and safe havens.'
What if I don't have a garden?
'If, like me, you have no garden or roof terrace, then I'd like to introduce to you "guerilla gardening". Have you ever thought that your local roundabout looked a little shabby or a local patch of wasteland needs beautifying? If so, just grab some wild flower seeds and scatter. We have just started selling bee bombs here at Bee HQ. When soaked they resemble a soil hand grenade and are fantastic as they contain everything you will need to start your own little wild flower patch – just soak and chuck.
Anything else?
'You could also persuade your local park or open space to reduce or stop their use of pesticide – the cumulative affect on bees is now well proven and catastrophic. There is a real move to make London free of these terrors, like Paris already is, and the sooner it happens the better. Persuading local authorities to make everything less manicured is also important, not only for bees but other wildlife such as butterflies. Long grasses are a haven and can also look wonderful. I passed Blackheath common the other morning and it had the most amazing white clover covering it… two days later it was fully trimmed! Finally, it's been a terrible year for honey production in the UK so where possible try and buy local or British honey.' Sonya Barber
For info about Steve, see thelondonhoneycompany.co.uk
[Click here to read the original article via Time Out London]


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Paramount Pictures has debuted the first trailer, poster and new images from the upcoming Footloose.
In the remake of the 1984 film, Ren MacCormack (played by newcomer Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont's local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister's troubled daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough) in the process.
Footloose, directed by Craig Brewer, is set for release on October 14th.
Click the poster for a bigger version and click here for more images!


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needing a break. Although let's be honest... I still have to study for
biology all weekend! Oh well, I really cannot complain because I am
going to be completely finished in two weeks. Oh boy, oh boy!
Anyways, onto the outfit. I received this amazing jumpsuit from
Anarchy Street and I am completely obsessed! The long vertical stripes
make me feel super tall. And who doesn't like feeling super tall? I also
received this lovely bracelet/ring as well and I have been rocking it
with simple outfits to add a little flair lately. As for the bag, I was
eyeing it at the vintage boutique I work at for weeks! Just a bit
inspired by Becky-May's beautiful woven baskets as bags, I decided to
put my little twist on the trend.
Well I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
wearing: Jumpsuit & bracelet c/o Anarchy Street; f21 hat; vintage bag from Grey Dog Vintage Boutique; Jefferey Cambell 'miracle' wedges


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Proms Diary: The Big Proms Bear Hunt
Jeremy Pound enjoys assorted ursine activities at the Royal Albert Hall
Wagner or Bear Hunt? Bear Hunt or Wagner? It's not the sort of dilemma one might normally expect when choosing which BBC Prom to take one's children to. So let me explain…
Back in 2009, Dame Liz Forgan, the recently appointed chair of Arts Council England, explained to the world – well, the audience at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards – that the best way to introduce children to the joys of music is to plunge them headfirst into Wagner. It was, to be fair, not a theory plucked out of nowhere, but based on her own experience of getting to know and love Tristan und Isolde at the age of six.
This year's Proms programme has certainly offered youngsters and their parents plenty of chance to try Dame Liz's theory out. With no fewer than seven complete Wagner operas looming large over the two-month season (that's around 26 and a half hours in total) all it would need would be a little diary juggling and a train journey or two, and my son, James, could have racked up Tannhäuser, Parsifal, Tristan and all four parts of the Ring cycle before his sixth birthday has even loomed on the horizon – and with the Rienzi overture and the Wesendonck Lieder thrown in for good measure.
Or, alternatively, I could go for the Big Proms Bear Hunt on 1 September – an hour or so of Sunday afternoon musical fun, in which nippers get to hear short works of classical music in the context of a visual presentation of Michael Rosen's much loved book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt. So, Wagner or Bears? Sorry, Dame Liz, but for the sake of James's (and my) sanity, we went for the Bears.
And a fine choice it was too. Quite rightly, Rosen (pictured above) himself led the way from a lectern at the front of the stage, reading those words that have become familiar to millions of parents and children – 'We're going on a bear hunt; we're going to catch a big one; we're not scared…' – but with suitable moments of adaptation to fit this musical occasion.
Providing that music was the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, its colourfully clad ranks swelled for the day by clearly thrilled members of the West Everton Children's Orchestra – an ensemble that is the result of the wonderful In Harmony Liverpool organisation. Behind the orchestra stood the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Children's Choir – in fine vocal fettle and equipped with a full complement of accompanying actions – while in front of them was leading children's illustrator Tony Ross (above), drawing suitably ursine scenes that were projected onto big screens as the action moved merrily along.
Much of the music was familiar, such Musorgsky's Great Gate of Kiev, the Trepak from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and so on, but there were plenty of new and lesser known pieces to keep even us oldies intrigued and involved. I was particularly taken with the RLPO's raucous rendition of Arturo Marquez's Conga del Fuego Nuevo, a work I last heard played by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela back in 2005.
Admittedly, one or two moments didn't work – the 'let's take a breather' performance of Humperdinck's 'Evening Prayer', for instance, was never likely to have the most receptive audience, given everyone's impatience to move on to the next instalment of bear hunting. At its best, however, this was a brilliantly conceived and performed Prom, rounded off by a masterful medley of all the works we'd heard throughout the previous hour, as the bear-hunting family ran back home through the various obstacles it had met on its way (you'll have to read the book…). Pound Jnr was agog throughout. So were his mum and I.
As for the best way to introduce children to music? Let's not be entirely dismissive of Dame Liz's idealistic Forganland, where tots tootle Tannhäuser and reception classes stage Ring cycles. Not until it's been given a go, at least. However, my own experience of the Big Proms Bear Hunt – and, in previous years, the Horrible Histories Prom and the Wallace and Gromit Prom – convinces me that this, surely, is the better approach…
You can hear the Big Proms Bear Hunt for the next few days on the BBC iPlayer. Photos: Chris Christodoulou
- Article Type: | Blog |


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ppoints had een nieuw flash-animatie ontwerp nodig en lanceerde daarom een wedstrijd op 99designs.
Een winnaar werd gekozen uit10 ontwerpen ingezonden door5 freelance designers.
This contest is for a very short flash intro for a new site that has not yet been released. The intro will illustrate a very general "how it works" demonstration.
Accepted File Formats:
The site will be an Online trading/marketplace. Target audience will be similar to eBay buyers/sellers. Since this site has yet to be released, very few details can be given regarding the details in this stage of the contest.
Screenshot of website:
Please see the example storyboard I have made:
The flash intro will be added in the blue place holder (515px X 320px)(color can vary). The intro does not require any sound.
The "how it works" diagram should be similar to:
I used the diagram as an example of how the arrows and the steps work. The content will be completly different than the example given. Our site will require 5 steps total. If you wish to create a mock-up, please just use "step1, step2, step3...etc.." with some 10-15 word filler text explaining the steps. Sorry for being so vague. Since this is a start-up site, we are very careful about releasing any details before the site is actually released.
Please see this image for a design concept:
Please provide a 'mock-up' flash intro using the limited information I provided. The contest winner will be provided with the full storyboard and text details for final design.


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Welcome to SKW Stahl-Metallurgie Holding GmbH
At the heart of SKW lies all-important steel. In basic terms there are two steps in refining steel, the first being primary metallurgy which entails the processing of ore into liquid iron. The second (secondary metallurgy) involves refining the liquid iron, thereby creating steel of different quality levels for use in a multitude of industries, from steel girders for building to sheets for the automotive industry.
SKW is the holding company for the leading international brands ESM, Tecnosulfur and Affival, whose products and services are vital to these processes to achieve the optimum results for our customers' specific uses. When it comes to our product range we have a steely resolve that only the best will do. It's the least we owe to all our customers, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders.
Investor relations
...one of our highest priorities. Click below for all information regarding investment in the SKW group


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Suns shut down Rockets in Houston
Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Bledsoe had 20 points and seven assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 97-88 victory over the cold-shooting Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.
Goran Dragic added 19 points and P.J. Tucker scored 18 as the Suns halted a two-game skid and dealt the Rockets their first defeat at home since Nov. 9.
Playing without a pair of key players in Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik, Houston managed a meager .352 field goal percentage and was held to its lowest scoring output of the season. Top weapon James Harden went 3-for-17 from the floor and 0-for-10 from 3-point range while mustering 14 points.
Dwight Howard posted 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Rockets, who had won six in a row at the Toyota Center. Aaron Brooks finished with 17 points and six assists.
"Phoenix came out and got real aggressive with us," said Houston coach Kevin McHale. "We didn't have any flow tonight but that's two games in a row now that we didn't have any flow."
The shorthanded Rockets shot a woeful 29.6 percent during the opening quarter and trailed 25-20 at period's end, and their offensive struggles extended into the second as Phoenix began to increase its margin.
Bledsoe and Tucker netted five points each during a 14-4 push that sent the Suns in front by double digits, with the latter's 3-pointer with 3:09 left in the half putting Houston at a 47-34 deficit. Phoenix led by 14 before Harden was fouled shooting from beyond the arc and hit all three free throws to pull the Rockets within 51-40.
Houston went just 14-of-47 on field goal attempts over the initial two quarters.
The Rockets were able to make some headway in the third quarter, using an 11-2 spurt capped by a Patrick Beverley three to cut the lead to 55-51 near the midway mark of the frame. The differential was just two around four minutes afterward, when Francisco Garcia's triple pulled Houston within 63-61.
Phoenix closed out the quarter on a 10-0 surge, however, with Channing Frye and Tucker draining 3-pointers to begin the flurry, to build a 73-61 lead entering the fourth.
Houston again kept coming, though, outscoring the Suns by a 13-2 spread to open the period and closing the gap to 75-74 on a Brooks three with 7:09 left.
The Suns responded by scoring the next 13 points to pull away, with Marcus Morris providing the dagger with a beyond-the-arc basket that made the score 88-74 with three minutes remaining.
"They cut it down, and we could have gotten panicked where we forced shots, but we didn't," Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek said of his team withstanding the Houston run.
Game Notes
The Rockets had eclipsed the 100-point mark in 11 of their last 12 games, with their 93-86 win at Memphis on Nov. 25 the club's previous season low for points ... Parsons missed his second straight game with back spasms, while Asik is expected to sit out a week with a bruised right thigh sustained Monday at Utah ... Tucker ended 8-of-13 from the field ... The Rockets' bench outscored the Suns' reserves by a 31-22 margin, with Omri Casspi adding 14 points to Brooks' 17.


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When we finished, he called up to me,
Have you ever felt that way?
Have you ever just felt like screaming, "Enough is enough" and begging God for peace?
He is the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
but Jesus overcame, and so can we...through following Him and the path He walked while on earth.
I have found, that, at least some of the disturbance of peace in this life, can be self-inflicted.
We take on too much.
We have too much excess in our homes and in our lives.
We spend too much energy striving for the things money can buy.
We continually want more.
Jesus lived a life that was 100% eternity-focused.
His life was unencumbered by the things that are temporary.
He was always available to go and do His Father's will.
You never read where He ever, one time, had to tell someone who needed Him that He was too busy
to come to their aid.
He never put what is earthly ahead of what is Heavenly.
He was the most selfless Man who ever walked the earth.
He owned little to no physical possessions, so He was free from having to take care of them.
He was born in a borrowed space.
His first bed was a borrowed manger.
Later in life, He had no where to lay His head. (Matthew 8:20)
After His horrific, agonizing death on the cross,
He was buried in a borrowed tomb.
He didn't need it for long.
Jesus lived His whole life completely unattached to this world.
He made the most of every moment He had to spend here,
and He never allowed this life to come before His Father's will.
He knew His time here would be short.
The longer I live, and the older I get, the more I realize how short mine will be, too.
Losing both of my parents drove that truth home with unsurpassed clarity and vividness.
Life is way too short to live it in an uproar.
To a degree, peace is something that has to be pursued.
A lot of it has to do with the choices we, ourselves, make.
"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
Psalm 34:14
To achieve peace, we must be willing to let go of the things that disturb it.
If you have been reading here for very long, you know that, over the course of the past year or so,
we have really been pursuing a simpler, more minimal life.
The surprising result that has arisen amidst the progress we have made is that
our lives have become, and are steadily becoming, increasingly peaceful.
We are continuing to let go...not only of stuff, but of circumstances and encumbrances that vex us.
We have made up our minds to "seek peace, and pursue it."
Turmoil, chaos, and discord are things that, more often than you might believe, can be avoided.
Romans 12:18 says,
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
God does not expect us to perpetuate the enablement of such.
If you know me at all, you will know that I do not like conflict with others.
In fact, I honestly cannot stand it.
I just can't do it.
So much of my growing up years were spent caught in the crossfire of church conflicts,
my parents and I being spiritually battered, bruised, and abused and kept in a state of continual turmoil, in the process.
Dear Mom and Dad lived their entire lives trying to fit in to manmade molds in which God never intended them to conform.
It pains me to know this and to realize how much misery it caused them through the years.
I am so thankful to be free.
To have found peace.
God is continuing to break bondage chains...
to remove what is binding from our lives...
to pare off the things that rob serenity.
And, in this process, He continues to show us that some of this is up to us.
You may want to read THIS POST.
We have to be willing to let go of what does not "make for peace".
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
There are many things, situations, and circumstances in this life that hold the potential to take away our peace.
What is stealing your peace, dear friend?
Is it the excess belongings that keep your nose to the grindstone, not allowing for time for who and what matters most in your life?
Perhaps, it is time to downsize and release the things you cannot afford.
Maybe it is a job that consumes, a relationship that vexes, or a ministry you fell into by default, but do not feel called by God to continue to pursue.
Only you and God can identity the exact thief of your peace.
It can be different for all of us.
My prayer for you is this..
that, in the midst of your battles, you find the Philippians 4:7 kind of peace.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
I love the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus", written by Joseph M. Scriven...
especially the lines,
"Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."
And, here is a video that explains the story behind this beautiful song.
It is worth your time to watch.
If video doesn't load, click here.
Oh, Zach was SO excited last night, as the big snowflakes began to fall!
Today, we took a drive through the country and took in the sights of sunlight glistening on snow-covered fields and bare tree limbs clothed in pure white.
There has been no change, and she still surely needs your continued prayers.
She is having a lot of chest pain, difficulty breathing, and pain behind her lung.
We are very concerned, and it seems that we have a constant battle with fear, but we are continuing to "speak faith" and believe our dear and awesome God to heal her and bring her through this with no further complications.
Thank you ever so much for your support, kind words, and most of all, your prayers, dear friends.
It means SO much to all of us.
A BIG thank you to all who entered to win this wonderful book.
There were 26 commenters who entered.
I wish I could send ALL 26 of you this life-changing, amazing book!!!
It has blessed me so much over the years!
We put all 26 names in a bowl,
Kevin shuffled the names around,
the three of us prayed over the bowl of names and asked God to have His way,
and Zach picked a name.
And, the winner is...
Valerie Sisco!!!!
She is just a sweetheart and blogs at "Grace With Silk.
I hope you will stop over and visit her and consider subscribing to her beautiful blog!!
Please email me privately with your mailing information,
and, Lord willing, we will get your book in the mail to you real soon!!


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A darling girl named Jenna gave me a handmade Christmas card and the flower that has come to mean Christmas. A bright red poinsettia.
A darling girl named Jenna gave me a handmade Christmas card and the flower that has come to mean Christmas. A bright red poinsettia.
When we lived in Africa, poinsettia bushes were planted along the highways but they only blossomed on roads that had no street lights. These tropical plants only bloom if they have less than 12 hours of light a day. Even a sliver of light will delay bud set and a cold draft of wind will cause them to drop their green leaves.
Somehow this plant, a straggly native in the tropics, has been improved, inbred, subjected to all the miracles of modern science, and like a butterfly has emerged as the floriferous symbol of Christmas.
I visited greenhouses in California, where, in 1912, Paul Ecke began growing poinsettias as cut flowers for folks in Los Angeles. By 1920, he had developed them into houseplants. For the next 40 years, he improved, patented and shipped them (as bare root cuttings) to greenhouses all over the world, which finished growing them into house plants. At one point, he supplied 75 percent of the world's cuttings.
Today acres of Ecke greenhouses grow impatiens, petunias, Cape daisies and of course, poinsettias. To keep insecticide use to a minimum, insects are controlled by pressurized doors which, when opened, blow air out, the rational being that stray bugs can't fly against such a wind.The third generation Paul Ecke shared a few tips with me. To care for poinsettias
Water when the surface is dry to the touch, but hopefully before the leaves droop like a dog's tail. They abhor wet feet, so don't keep them soaked.
After a while the green leaves fall off, usually due to too much water, not enough water, cold drafts or poor light. However the colored bracts can hang on for many months. To hide the bare stems, set pots of foliage on top of the soil in the flowerpot.To grow as a nice green house plant
When you are sick to death of looking at the plant (and I guarantee you eventually will be) cut it back to 6 inches and fertilize each month. Bright green shoots will grow, which may be pinched back to encourage side shoots. Plants can go outdoors in summer.To get colored bracts to reappear
This requires three months of total darkness for 14 hours a day plus 10 hours of bright light. I've tried it ... unsuccessfully. It's not for the fainthearted.
The original flowers were just red, but now they are bred in pink, cream. white, speckled and colors Mother Nature never imagined. The true flower is the tiny yellow spot in the center. The petals are actually colored leaves called bracts. Improved varieties hold their leaves longer, are not straggly and are easier to keep alive. (So they say.) It's all in the genes.
Some large corporations, particularly in Europe have made minute variations and sold them as their own patented stock taking advantage of an old "copy breeding" rule which made it easy to steal other people's genetic stock. Today you can't tell where they're bred or where they're grown. California, Canada or a vast outdoor farm in South America.
Ruth S. Foster is a landscape consultant and arborist. More gardening information can be found on her Web site: www.mothersgarden.net.


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ESCANABA, MI and FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — Fitness facilities across the country are reaching out to the military world — to both recruits and family of deployed military personnel.
The Delta County YMCA in Escanaba, MI opened its doors in late October to military recruits. The facility already had a program in place for the families of local National Guardsmen who were deployed to come in and workout, but the new program targets those who have not yet been sent to boot camp.
Every recruit that has gone through the program has passed their first physical fitness test in boot camp — quite a feat since typically only about 50 percent pass on their first attempt.
"Their [fitness] has changed drastically with their confidence," Erick Hoversholm, Escanaba Army recruiter, said of the recruits. "The confidence comes through, and they break through those mental barriers. I've seen a lot of improvement."
Last year, Hoversholm came to YMCA Program Director Lisa Broman with the idea. Having a brother-in-law in the military, she was responsive and took the idea to the YMCA Director Gary Nash.
"We were already doing things for the National Guard. Any families of those deployed can come in and use the facility during deployment — it's a good stress reliever and keeps their mind off the situation," Broman said. "I thought it would be perfect to let the recruits come in and do their training."
Recruits can come in with or without a recruiter to workout, and have no time restrictions on their membership.
Hoversholm said recruits are usually in training anywhere from two weeks to eight months before they go to boot camp. Hoversholm runs recruits through a series of stretching exercises, conditioning drills, push-ups and sits-ups, and has recruits do cardio on their own. Although a few athletes come in, he said most recruits start from "scratch" and are sometimes intimidated by the weight room. To avoid this, Hoversholm focuses their conditioning on selectorized equipment. The program is especially helpful in the snowy, winter months when it's hard to workout outside, Broman said.
"We're hoping that [the program] will catch on in other fitness centers across the U.S.," she said. "We do have to help them, whatever we can do to make it easier for them. They protect the country."
Ladies Workout Express is also donating free memberships to the spouses of military personnel that have been deployed overseas. Announced in early February, those individuals will have full use of the more than 1,500 Ladies Workout Express, Lady of America and Workout Express Fitness Centers in the United States. The free membership will last for the entire duration of the spouses' deployment overseas.


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The University of Alabama hosted a stellar group of top prospects for Saturday's Junior Day. Many of the elite players left Tuscaloosa with a scholarship offer from the national champions. The Crimson Tide coaching staff also hosted a couple of official visitors in the class of 2013, and key targets were taking final visits to other schools.
The University of Alabama hosted a stellar group of top prospects for Saturday's Junior Day. Many of the elite players left Tuscaloosa with a scholarship offer from the national champions. The Crimson Tide coaching staff also hosted a couple of official visitors in the class of 2013, and key targets were taking final visits to other schools.
Cameron Sims, a four-star wide receiver from Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, La., and Garrett Brumfield, a four-star offensive guard from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, La., were among the players who received scholarship offers.
Alabama does well recruiting the Peach State, and Junior Day showed early of who the Crimson Tide likes from Georgia.
Nick Chubb, a four-star running back from Cedartown High, was offered a scholarship by Nick Saban on Saturday.
"I was kind of expecting the offer, but it's still kind of surprising," Chubb said. "It is Alabama. I really like how they turn their running backs into monsters. I like how they pass and run the ball."
Cortez McDowell, a safety from Locust Grove, was also offered a scholarship.
"It's a dynasty," McDowell told The Tuscaloosa News. "It's somewhere a lot of people would love to play at because of their reputation. You have to work hard at Alabama to do the things they've done. With all the hard work that I've put in, I feel like it's paid off. I'm very happy about that."
Nick Glass, a four-star safety and Georgia commitment from Peachtree Ridge High in Suwanee, was also in Tuscaloosa.
"Coach Saban gave me the offer at the end of the day," Glass said. "He told me, 'You are a hell of a football player, and we like the way you can play in the box. You are thumper, and you can go out and cover.' "
The Crimson Tide staff also hosted juniors Raekwon McMillan, a five-star linebacker from Liberty County High in Hinesville, Ga.; David Cornwell, a four-star quarterback from North High School in Norman, Okla.; Tre Williams, a four-star linebacker from St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile; and Bo Scarbrough, four-star athlete and Alabama commitment from Northridge High in Tuscaloosa.
The two official visitors were Jarran Reed, a three-star junior college defensive tackle from East Mississippi in Scooba, Miss.; and Henry Poggi, a four-star defensive tackle from Gilman School in Baltimore. Reed has received a lot of attention from the Alabama coaching staff of late. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound prospect is committed to Ole Miss. Poggi is committed to Michigan. They are two players to keep a close watch in the next week.
Dee Liner, a Rivals100 defensive tackle from Muscle Shoals, returned to Tuscaloosa as an unofficial visitor. The former Auburn commitment in the class of 2013 has visited only Alabama this month. He is scheduled to announce a final decision next Wednesday on signing day.
Several Alabama targets took their final visit over the weekend, while others will visit schools this weekend.
Laremy Tunsil, a five-star offensive tackle from Columbia High School in Lake City, Fla., has trimmed his list to Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss. He canceled his visit to Florida State this weekend.
Alvin Kamara, a four-star running back from Norcross, Ga., visited Georgia over the weekend. He will choose on signing day between Alabama and Georgia.
Reuben Foster, a five-star linebacker from Auburn High, visited Georgia. He is scheduled to visit San Diego State today and Wednesday with a former teammate. He will visit Auburn this weekend.
Eddie Jackson, a three-star wide receiver from Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., visited LSU over the weekend. He might decide this week between Alabama, Florida State and LSU.
Vonn Bell, a five-star safety from Ridgeland High in Rossville, Ga., took his final visit to Tennessee over the weekend. Antonio Conner, a four-star safety from South Panola High in Batesville, Miss., visited Ole Miss.
Alabama might have one official visitor this weekend. Eddie Vanderdoes, a five-star defensive tackle from Placer, Calif., is scheduled to visit. The former Southern California commitment visited Notre Dame over the weekend. He is also considering USC and UCLA.
TideSports.com has much more in-depth interviews from the weekend and daily recruiting news of the remaining Alabama targets who might land in the Crimson Tide's class on national signing day. Join the weekly recruiting chat at TideSports.com every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Reach Andrew Bone at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewJBone
For more recruiting coverage, see TideSports.com


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What Romney accomplished… And what he didn't… Romney's nostalgic optimism and Obama's forward… Romney's pitch to women… Clint Eastwood: Go ahead, make our day… It was yet another unforced error by Romney and his campaign… Romney and Ryan stump in FL, Romney heads to New Orleans, and Ryan stumps in VA... Obama speaks at Ft Bliss, TX… And "Meet" will interview Rahm Emanuel.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd discusses how Mitt Romney showed voters his personal side.
Watch: Slideshow from the Republican National Convention
TAMPA, Fla. -- Yesterday, we wrote that Mitt Romney had four objectives with his acceptance speech: 1) better introduce himself to the public, 2) close the empathy gap, 3) get American voters to be comfortable with him as president, and 4) put more meat on the policy bone. He accomplished those first two goals, especially if you were in the convention hall or watching the live feed in the 8:00 pm hour.The testimonials from families who had lost loved ones during the time Romney played a key role in his church were powerful, and there were tears in the audience after these families told their stories. It was something we hadn't seen from Romney or his campaign before. But how many people saw that? You didn't if you only tuned in for the primetime hour beginning at 10:00 pm, which began with Clint Eastwood's very unusual introduction (more on that below). On the empathy question, Romney also delivered this line that was very effective: "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. MY promise is to help you and your family."
*** And what he didn't: So the campaign largely succeeded on those first two objectives. But on the last two? Not as much. On getting American voters more comfortable with him as president, Romney made a stronger case -- and devoted more time -- to why Obama should be fired than why Romney should be hired. Indeed, the speech was heavy on trying to channel disappointment with the current president. One example: "I wish President Obama had succeeded because I want America to succeed. But his promises gave way to disappointment and division." Yet Romney didn't make the case how he could get past the current division, polarization and gridlock, especially given how these campaigns are currently conducting themselves. And as for more meat on the policy bone, we didn't get it. Romney discussed his five-step plan on the economy -- take advantage of domestic energy sources, give Americans the job skills they need, encourage free trade, cut the deficit, and lower taxes. But outside the budget deficit, none of those steps is any different than what George W. Bush pursued when he was president. And this was surprising, but Romney never mentioned the word "Afghanistan" once. By not putting more meat on the policy bone and by not differentiating his policies from Bush's, Romney left the Obama campaign a lot of room to work with.
*** Nostalgic optimism vs. Forward: If you could sum up the majority of Romney's acceptance speech it would be with these two words: nostalgic optimism. Per NBC's Sarah Blackwill, Romney used the word "restore" three times (" Now is a time to restore the promise of America"). And he vowed to "return" to the foreign policy legacy of Truman and Reagan. And the message of nostalgic optimism -- to the time of his father and mother -- was typified by this line: "I was born in the middle of the century in the middle of the country, a classic baby boomer. It was a time when Americans were returning from war and eager to work. To be an American was to assume that all things were possible. When President Kennedy challenged Americans to go to the moon, the question wasn't whether we'd get there, it was only when we'd get there." But looking backwards only gets you so far; after all, another story of America is moving forward. And that word "forward" happens to be the slogan of the man Romney is trying to unseat.
*** Shades of Dole in '96? In fact, Romney's message of a return to yesteryear made us think of Bob Dole's message in his 1996 acceptance speech. "Let me be the bridge to an America that only the unknowing call myth. Let me be the bridge to a time of tranquillity, faith, and confidence in action," Dole said. "And to those who say it was never so, that America has not been better, I say, you're wrong, and I know, because I was there. And I have seen it. And I remember… We have fought and prevailed on almost every continent and in almost every sea. We have even lost, but we have lasted, and we have always come through. Like Dole (Greatest Generation) vs. Clinton (Baby Boomer), Romney vs. Obama is a battle between generations, too.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney acknowledges delegates before speaking at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012.
*** Romney's pitch to women: Another thing struck us about Romney's speech: He made a direct pitch to women voters. He said of his mother, "I wish she could have been here at the convention and heard leaders like Gov. Mary Fallin, Gov. Nikki Haley, Gov. Susana Martinez, Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. As governor of Massachusetts, I chose a woman Lt. governor, a woman chief of staff, half of my cabinet and senior officials were women, and in business, I mentored and supported great women leaders who went on to run great companies." If you didn't think the Romney camp knows the gender gap is an issue, you know now…
*** Go ahead -- make our day: And finally, we come to the story that's likely to be the subject of late-night comedians -- and that's still the talk of Tampa: Clint Eastwood. After all of the scripting, Eastwood delivered a 10 minute-plus rambling speech, part of which was an imaginary interview with President Obama. Romney World has to ask itself: Why Eastwood over the touching Romney video in the primetime hour? Why Eastwood over those touching stories about Romney? The word we've received about Eastwood from the Romney camp is this: The Obama campaign is dedicated to tearing down Romney, and an American icon like Eastwood is on Romney's side.
*** Yet another unforced error: Unfortunately for the Romney campaign, Eastwood was yet another unforced error. Of course, all campaigns make them -- Obama made one when he allowed Republicans to seize on his "You didn't build that" line. But Romney and his campaign stumble on the EASIEST of situations. Remember the speech at Ford Field in Detroit? Romney questioning London's readiness before the Olympics? All were unforced errors, and all were VERY avoidable.
*** On the trail: Romney and Ryan hold a farewell rally in Lakeland, FL at 10:00 am ET; Romney then heads to New Orleans; and Ryan stumps in Richmond, VA at 2:00 pm ET… Obama speaks at Fort Bliss, TX at 2:45 pm ET… And Biden campaigns in Lordstown, OH at 11:00 am.
*** On Sunday's "Meet the Press": NBC's David Gregory interviews Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Countdown to Dem convention: 3 days
Countdown to 1st presidential debate: 33 days
Countdown to VP debate: 41 days
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 46 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 52 days
Countdown to Election Day: 67 days
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Autumn Grove
Wednesday, November 21
per guest
Learn more
Class Details
Allow the colorful fall leaves guide you to walk down this beautiful path.
Pinot's Palette is a pioneer of the paint and sip experience – a revolutionary way to enjoy art, while enjoying a beer, wine or cocktails, meeting new people and bonding with friends.
Guests enjoy a no-experience-required art class – all supplies included – directed by trained, local artists, who guide guests step-by-step through a featured painting.
The more the merrier, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
Please read the following IMPORTANT info:
Arrival Time & Late Arrivals: We ask that you arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the start time of this class, so that we can start and end on time. Anyone arriving any later than 15 minutes after the start time may have to catch up on their own without Artist assistance. Reservations will not be refunded for late arrivals and no shows. Thank you for your understanding!
Food and Beverage Policy: Guests are welcome to bring snacks, appetizers, and meals into the studio to enjoy during class. Beer, wine, and an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase from the studio's bar. Since some of our guests choose not to drink, drinks are not included in the price of the class. CA law does not permit BYOB. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to enter our studio. Identification is required.
The Perfect Night Out
Enjoy drinks, upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people while you paint! It's as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists.
Fun Atmosphere
From the moment you walk in, the mood is light, the music is fun and the conversation comes easy!
Easy to Do
You don't need to be a seasoned painter — we make it easy for everyone to find their inner artist!
Sit Together
You'll get seats with all your friends, even if you book separately. Just tell us your friends' names when you register.
Paint Your Way
There's no rule that says you have to follow the artist's steps. It's your art, so paint it however you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs to learn more about what to expect from your Pinot's Palette experience or feel free to call the studio to speak to a member of our staff.
How do I sign up for a class?
Signing up is easy. Click the "Events Calendar" link on the side of the page to view our calendar of paintings. Select which painting you would like to paint and click "Add Painting to Cart." Follow the on-screen directions to complete the order. Contact us if you have trouble completing your order and we will walk you through the process.
What days are events held?
Events are held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. We also occasionally have classes on other nights during the week & on Saturday & Sunday afternoons – view our event calendar to find out more!
What does an event cost?
2 hour events cost $35 per painter. 3 hour events cost $45 per painter.
When do I need to arrive for an event?
We recommend you arrive 15-20 minutes before the event starts to allow time for you to get settled in and mingle before the painting starts.
Is there reserved seating?
When you sign up in advance we have your easel set up for you at your spot before you arrive for the event. If you have friends attending the event that you'd like to sit by, you can let us know when you book the event or you can send us an email (…just make sure to give us at least 24 hours notice).


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Perfect Point, Sector II
SCO-10, 1st Floor, Sector II, Panchkula, Haryana - 134109
Perfect Point has developed a wide range of programme, therapies, technique to render better service in Fatloss, Figure Correction, Body shaping and tonning, hair & skin care, Breast firming & tonning, Hair & skin treatments along with other beauty services. Perfect Point is not merely about managing bodies. It is about building confidence. It is about changing the life style for the better.
- Weight Loss Center
- Beauty Spa
- Hair Spa
- Slimming Center
- Head Massage
- Back Massage
- Hand Massage
- Spa Manicure
- Spa Pedicure
- Spa Therapy
- Body Shaping
- Skin Care
General Info
- Female
Payment Methods
- Cash


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ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today announced the launch of the SH14. The company is touting the super-tough exterior of the SH14, and is again targeting the on-the-go crowd whose active lifestyles call for shockproof performance. The new SH14 offers a new approach to shock-resistant designs, combining a modern style and a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface with military grade shockproof and water-resistant construction. The result is a fashionable break from the cold and monotonous outer form often seen in drives of this class.
The SH14 drive exterior is constructed of a unique silicone material, providing a smooth surface texture that is seldom seen in external drives. The military specification shock-resistant structure, coupled with water-resistant and impact-damping silicone shell, create a formidable line of defense important data. Users need not worry about data loss from accidental drops or spills, which can cause irreparable damage in conventional storage devices. The curved grid pattern of the drive body demonstrates an elegance and charm of modern technology, making the SH14 suitable for use by both active and trendy consumer groups.
In performance terms, the SH14 is equipped with a 2.5-inch 5,400 RPM hard drive. Utilizing the new generation USB 3.0 transfer interface, it achieves transfer rates up to 90MB/s. Compared to a standard USB 2.0 device, back up of data files is nearly three times faster, with enhanced performance significantly reducing transmission time by 70%.
The SH14 comes in two color series- passion red and jet black. Initial capacities available will be 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. Additionally, purchasers of ADATA external hard drives are eligible for free download of the latest Norton Internet Security 2011 antivirus software (60 day trial), utility backup software HDDtoGo and enjoy peace of mind with a three year warranty.
The SH14 will be distributed through select agents and distributors. For related product information, visit the ADATA website: http://www.adata-group.com/index.php?action=product&cid=2&lan=en


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Bally Total Fitness, Chicago — led by Michael Sheehan, a former 24 Hour Fitness executive — plans to emerge from its second bankruptcy soon. Will Sheehan and his new executives give birth to a better company than former executives did during Bally's first emergence from bankruptcy in 2007? I hope so. It would make a great story for the company and the industry if they turn into one of the best club companies around for their price point. Unfortunately, Bally never had the reputation that many in the industry had hoped for in a national brand. Now is the perfect time for Bally to change that by reinventing itself.
Bally has plenty of challenges ahead, most notably, executing its plan as the industry watches. What will a redefined Bally look like? Will Bally remain at its current price point? Will it focus on group exercise? Will it focus on families or singles, urban or suburban markets? We'll have to wait for those answers from Sheehan and his team. But to execute the brand properly, Bally executives will need to have a clear idea of the brand and how it's different from its competitors' brands. And they must be able to communicate that difference to staff, members and potential members.
According to industry people with whom I spoke, Bally executives will need to create a great management team and supporting staff at each club. That means keeping successful staff members who can adapt to Bally's plan. It means retraining some and letting go those who can't change. It also means empowering general managers to be fully charged with bottom line responsibility and compensating them based on net profits (with expense accountability).
Bally is already re-doing or letting go leases in some areas. The plan appears to be to operate only in areas where they have clusters of clubs that are doing well. And my hope is that Bally will add state-of-the-art clubs and re-invest in physical plant and equipment to bring its existing clubs up to the standards of its competitors. Bally must also invest in its staff, making sure its personal trainers and group exercise instructors have quality certifications, particularly if the new Bally wants to be a strong provider of group exercise programming.
And the investment must extend to the information technology side of the business by creating customer relationship management systems, daily dashboards for on-site general managers, e-marketing, interactive Web sites and other technology options that could move Bally to the front of the pack.
And finally, Bally must become a brand that inspires pride in its staff and members. Bally must have a culture focused on integrity and service that will help build the industry for the long term. That means having in place member integration programs with tracking systems. It also means eliminating its infamous three-year membership contracts with legacy rights and instead selling one-year committed dues memberships and month-to-month memberships.
For better or for worse, Bally is one of the most recognizable names in our industry, and it would be best for the industry if Bally emerged to become a strong company with a strong brand and a solid reputation. If Sheehan et al. can turn around this ship, then they'll have pulled off quite a feat in our industry. I'm rooting for them.


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- Dilma Rousseff (PT): 39%
- Marina Silva (PSB): 31%
- Aécio Neves (PSDB): 15%
- Dilma Rousseff: 42%
- Marina Silva: 43%
The letter, dated yesterday September 12th, can be read in full here. This is how it starts:
"Prizes awarded by the Nobel Committee are not retracted. It remains the obligation of the Committee to disassociate itself from actions taken by laureates that frustrate rather than advancing the fraternity between nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies. The Committee therefore joins with the public statements of several Nobel Peace Laureates in expressing its regrets over the conduct of the 2009 prize recipient."
...has just been sent to subscribers, 15 minutes before the opening bell on this very pleasant, warm and sunny Friday morning. Time to purchase something.
Which is, "Maybe you should sell at any price over $5, just like we do".
...Rio Alto $RIOM versus B2Gold $BTG, 2014 year to date:
1) George Carlin was a genius. Thanks to recording technology, he still is.
2) It's now 22 years.
3) At the time of Carlin's show it was Iraq Part One. Last year was Syria, today it's ISIS. The future will offer further name tags and incarnations, la plus ça change.
...gold, which keeps going lower.
Yesterday, this post on the cost levels in gold mining today and insight on how production may get crimped by the current gold price.
Not even 24 hours later, this from Yamana (YRI.to) $AUY and the part on its Santa Luz mine in Brazil:
After careful and extensive review, and having allowed a sufficient period of time for optimization efforts, the Company has concluded that the optimal plan for C1 Santa Luz would be to temporarily suspend ramp-up activities, and put the project on care and maintenance while several identified alternative metallurgical processes are evaluated.
The decision to temporarily suspend ramp-up activities at C1 Santa Luz and put it on care and maintenance is consistent with the Company's focus on maximizing cash flow rather than production only and protects the significant inventory of mineral resources that that would otherwise likely be lost permanently to tailings with the current recovery levels.
...the USD index:
1) Scotland Factor: The land of Nessie goes Yessy.
2) The British Pound (GBP) takes an almighty and well-deserved dump.
3) The US Dollar Index, under which the Greenback's relative strength or weakness is gauged, is 11.9% weighted to the GBP.
4) The dollar shoots up.
5) Everything priced in dollars goes down.
6 And as that's just about everything that's heavy if you have a bucketful of it, oil, zinc, copper, gold etc etc, we start to get the feeling about market influence that 51% of Scotland's 4.12 million registered voters get to exert on our interconnected world.
"....chicas peperas are girls that.............. get guys to buy them a drink, or bring the guys a drink themselves (servers typically don't wear uniforms, so you don't know). Next thing the poor guy knows is when he wakes up in the middle of the Plaza de Armas…
- Where's my wallet?
- Where's my cellphone?
- Where are my clothes? What happened? (more here)
Two employees of the United Nations (UN) were assaulted in an apartment in Miraflores Lima, by a women who apparently knocked them out using a powerful sleeping drug.The victims, one Spanish citizen and another French citizen, had arrived in Lima that same evening and had met a woman in a restaurant in the Plaza de Armas (main square).Apparently after meeting her, the foreign nationals took the unknown woman back to an apartment. There they drank some beers and fell asleep.When the employees of the international organization woke up they found they had been robbed of their cellphones, laptops and money to the value of approximately U$20,000.
1) In the event of an Indy Yes result England (using the name to generalize) would let Scotland use the pound because it suits England, not because of benevolence towards Scotland. Without the Scots, England's currency would be sorely weakened and that's bad for the printing country. The events of the last few days in the forex market make it abundantly clear, quantifiably clear, that it suits England to have Scotland inside its currency zone (just the way it suited England to have the entire geographical island of Ireland inside the pound sterling zone for a full 300 years).
2) Seen Ecuador's economic performance recently, Krugger? High GDP growth, low inflation, constantly improving balance sheet, and all by using the US Dollar. The change there hasn't been in the currency, it's been in the stronger attitude to leadership. Scotland may have a problem in Alex Salmond in the medium-term, but adopting the Pound is not the base issue.
Chart, please:
Night of the long knives
That's what the NR says.
AEM's right to use its paper to buy assets. I wish them luck in Guerrero. They'll need it
August 2014: Nolan Watson of Sandstorm (SAND) buys equities. Specifically, 19.5m shares of Luna Gold (LGC.to) at $1.02 per share.
August 2014: Pierre Lassonde of Franco Nevada (FNV) sells equities. Specifically, 8.375m freshly minted shares of his own company at U$59.75 per share.
4) Uranium won't break $40/lb at any point and the sector will continue to get the rah-rah from the promo people still holding their large bags.
I'll say one serious thing about the subject, as you have it on your mind today. A basic issue is the way in which this whole subject of Climate Change juxtaposes on the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Triangle. You the concerned (and like it or not, you are the concerned otherwise you wouldn't publish on the issue) believe the issue to be a Level One physiological, which threatens everybody. Most of the rest of the world (I'm leaving my position out of this, trying to be observational only) consider it a Level 5 Self-Actualization issue, one that can wait until the other human needs are dealt with to their satisfaction. Or put another way, the problem of having no water isn't a threat for somebody who has water, it will stay as an abstract until some cruel and nasty reality comes a-knocking on the door.
The mindset behind this is the same as the one that sees people die in the Australian outback every year because they didn't fill up a jerrycan of water and put it in the car. It's the mentality I come across in South America (and I've got used to it, can't say I like it but I can handle it these days) of placing trust in an everyday event to a third party who hasn't thought of any potential consequences, the thing goes wrong and then the other guy turns to you and says, "¿Y ahora que hacemos?", which is "And now what do we do?" and is always but always in the plural.
The bottom line is that we humans are naturally (i..e. hardwired) lazy and will only attend to the concerns that most affect us. Maslow saw that, and worked out the order in which we solve problems. Climate change is something that you worry about, and quite rightly too, because you know where your next meal is coming from, you know where you can take your next shit hygienically, there's an opposite sexual organ waiting and available for you, you have a roof and a shirt etc etc. Therefore your neuroses have the luxury of the abstract while the vast majority of people don't care. What's more, the sector to which you're addressing your spiel is populated by people with potentially tenuous employment situations and mortgages (to generalize and characterize) so your concerns become a threat to them and to their most pressing needs. Hence pushback.
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The standout company has produced engines for many of the top names in the sport, including multiple world champions in Pro Stock. Its owner, Sonny Leonard, sees a great deal potential in the X-DRL, which begins its nine-race 2013 debut season on April 6-7 in Tulsa.
"I recently met with the three X-DRL owners (Jeff Mitchell, David Hubbard and Larry Pearce) and I was impressed with their credentials and integrity," Leonard said. "That means a lot and to have that in an association means a lot. It gives people incentive to race there and all three of them are successful businessmen, which you need in a sanctioning body. It's pretty exciting to have a sanctioning body you know is going to be strong and that's important.
Sonny's Racing Engines will be heavily involved with the X-DRL's inaugural season, offering a number of exciting incentives and programs.
It will offer contingency in a number of X-DRL professional classes, as well as a No. 1 qualifier bonus in X-treme Pro Stock if the driver uses one of Sonny's popular engines, which are the product of choice for world champions like Cary Goforth and John Montecalvo. In all, Sonny's will post nearly $50,000 in for drivers who use the company's engines or popular cylinder heads.
Additionally, Sonny's Racing Engines will introduce the "Sonny's 3-Second Club," which will honor the first five X-treme Pro Stock drivers to reach the prestigious 3-second mark.
"We are thrilled to have Sonny's Racing Engines as a premier partner for the 2013 season in the X-DRL," X-DRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby said. "The product and support they offer to the talented drivers in the sport speaks for itself and we are excited with the programs they have in place for the X-DRL's 2013 season."
Leonard is confident the first 3-second place will take place in 2013.
"I'm sure this spring that someone will run a 3.99 and I would say there's 5-6 people capable of doing it, and that's what makes it really good," Leonard said.
"Everyone in this class is so good and there's so many teams who want to be the first to do it. I think it's going to be a really neat deal in 2013."
Operating out of a state-of-the-art 14,000 square-foot facility in Lynchburg, Va., Sonny's Racing Engines has always been at the forefront of technology, thanks in part to a location that features two SuperFlow dynamometers, a porting room, two five axis CNC machining centers, digitizing and laser scan equipment, a fabrication and welding shop, and other racing machinery.
It has embraced EFI technology in the Pro Stock class, and Sonny's Sales Manager Todd Hoerner became the first driver in Pro Stock history to win using an EFI set-up.
"The advantage of EFI is its tunability. It will respond almost immediately," Leonard said. "You can tune it quickly and be happy. You spend your time on a laptop, change cylinders and be ready to go. The bottom line is it costs you less and the younger generation love it." EFI will certainly be prevalent in the X-DRL's X-treme Pro Stock class in 2013, and will be used by talented drivers like Todd Hoerner, Dean Goforth Kevin Bealko and more. Sonny's Racing Heads and Components are also popular in the X-treme Pro Mod class,
The 5-inch and 5.3-inch bore-spacing products are used in the X-treme Pro Mod legal weight class and are the choice of talented drivers like Pat Musi, Rickie Smith, Robert Patrick, Johnny Pilcher and others.
It's yet another reason why Leonard is excited to be working with the new sanctioning body in 2013.
"I feel really positive about the X-DRL and where it is headed in 2013," Leonard said. "It gives people a good place to race and I think a lot of people are going to appreciate the X-DRL.
"The owners are racers, so they know what the fans and the racers want, and I think it's going to be a win-win situation for everyone." For more information about Sonny's Racing Engines, visit www.sonnysracingengines.com or call (434) 239-1009.
For more information on the X-DRL, visit www.X-DRL.com.