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Table of Contents
"Ilona Andrews" is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have co-authored four NYT and USAT bestselling series, the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.
Magic Steals
The story is filled with wit, humor, action, and romance, creating the perfect balance with an engrossing mystery. –That's What I'm Talking About
I would love to have a full series of this couple because this glimpse into their lives was awesome. –FictionVixen
Burn For Me
Andrews serves up a refreshing new magical society, excellent world-building, beguiling characters, and strong storytelling. –Publishers Weekly
It's smart. It's engaging. And I wouldn't change a thing. –Red Hot Books
Fantastic plot, ridiculously meticulous world building and characters that will burrow inside you and take up residence. Don't miss out on BURN FOR ME. – Parajunkee
Magic Breaks
From the opening sentence to the mind-blowing conclusion, Magic Breaks is the best kind of adventure fantasy. –Romantic Times Book Revies (top pick)
I was on an adrenaline high from page one right up until I read the last word. –Fiction Vixen
Urban Fantasy with plenty of action and excitement coupled with an interesting plot, great characters and a unique world that you can immerse yourself in. – Under the Covers
As soon as it was finished, I immediately wanted the next one. –Whedonopolis
Magic Rises
Part of the reason this incredible series is so beloved is due to the rich array of characters . . . Gut-wrenching and glorious! –Romantic Times Book Reviews (top pick)
Magic Rises is an emotionally dark and weighted story that opens up new doorways for both the arc and the romance. –SmexyBooks
The authors pull you into their elaborate and dangerously addictive world with every sentence. –Paranormal Haven
The romance, the action, the drama, it is all the perfect blend of harsh and unforgiving and loving and sweet. – The Book Pushers
Steel's Edge
You will laugh, cry and gasp throughout this story — what more can you ask of a book? –Romantic Times Book Reviews (top pick)
As always, this book from Ilona Andrews was a gem. –Fiction Vixen
Great characters, great story, great villains, great pace, great great great. –Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks
Picking up an Ilona Andrews book is always a good idea, but it's especially true when a series ends as strongly as this one does in STEEL'S EDGE. –All Things Urban Fantasy
Gunmetal Magic
For Andrews' legion of fans, this one hits the sweet spot of character development, relationship building and kick-ass thrills! –Romantic Times Book Reviews (top pick)
Gunmetal Magic excels in the action, worldbuilding and magic department. –Kirkus
[R]ich world building . . . witty, sarcastic dialogue . . . original takes on mythology and folklore…. there are no rivals. –Fiction Vixen
Another really freaking fantastic book. –Meljean Brook, New York Times Bestselling Author
Fate's Edge
"[An] engaging urban fantasy series opener."—Publishers Weekly
"A thoroughly entertaining blend of humor, action, misdirection, and romance."—Locus
"Will leave you breathless."—SF Revu
"With memorable characters and a different view [of] the Edge, it keeps you interested and coming back for more . . . great characters great writing . . . a must-read series." –Night Owl Reviews
"Fast paced, plot driver . . . interesting twists along the way . . . plenty of romantic sparks . . . This is an enjoyable addition to the Edge series." –Monsters and Critics
Magic Slays
"Delivers nonstop action and a few surprises while adding considerable background and depth to Kate's character as she begins stretching her magic usage . . . Top-notch urban fantasy." —Monsters and Critics
"Fast, witty, and descriptive. Kate is a strong female lead, and Curran is perfect for her." —LoveVampires
"Simply amazing. The Kate Daniels series honestly gets better with each new release. I had high hopes for this book, and the authors simply blew me away with the quality and depth of this story." —Night Owl Reviews
"It takes both talent and hard work to keep a series consistently high quality . . . Andrews's intricate, detailed world-building provides such a rich backdrop for the story that it nearly becomes a character itself. Add in clearly defined and layered characters, not to mention amazing kick-butt action, and you've got one unbeatable series." —Romantic Times Book Reviews (4½ stars, top pick)
"The conclusion is heart-stopping as Kate fights to secure Atlanta's survival in a dramatic finale that left me satisfied but ready for book six. Ilona Andrews once again hits a game-winning home run with Magic Slays." —Smexy Books
Bayou Moon
If you like your urban fantasy with a strong edge (forgive the pun) of romance, Bayou Moon will leave you breathless. –SFRevu
A thoroughly entertaining blend of humor, action, misdirection, and romance. – Locus
Megatalent Andrews returns to the world of the Edge, where magic, blood feuds, and danger await . . . [There's] never a dull moment. –Romantic Times Book Reviews (top pick)
Even better than the first book! . . . With a great setting, a super action-packed plot, and fabulous characters, Bayou Moon is a thrill to read, and I highly recommend it! –Night Owl Reviews
Magic Bleeds
"At times I felt like I needed to take a break from the book due to [its] just being too engrossing, too brilliant for my little heart . . . Magic Bleeds is the best yet of this series!" —Night Owl Reviews
"Ilona Andrews is one of the few authors whose books just keep getting better . . . It's books like Magic Bleeds that make television and movies seem like an inferior form of entertainment." —Romance Reviews Today
"I have read and reread this book, and it's perfect. The action, the romance, the plot and suspense . . . I cannot wait for the fifth in the series." —Smexy Books
"Balancing petrifying danger with biting humor is an Andrews specialty, leaving readers both grinning and gasping. Put this on your auto-buy list immediately!" —Romantic Times Book Reviews (4½ stars, top pick)
"Delivers on the promise of 'One hell of a good read.' You will not be disappointed!" —ParaNormal Romance.org
On The Edge
- Bookscan mass market fantasy bestseller list: #9
- B&N mass market Overall bestseller list: #36
- B&N mass market sf/f bestseller list: #8
- BGI mass market sf/f bestseller list: #12
"Andrews takes dysfunctional family stories to a new level in this engaging urban fantasy series opener. . . . Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning." –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Cementing her position as a rising star of supernatural fiction, Andrews launches a vibrant new series filled with magic and menace. Since worldbuilding, as well as characterization, are two of the author's strengths, readers are quickly drawn into her distinctive vision. The enormous social gulf between the story's protagonists makes their romantic-relationship dance all the more captivating. Packed with action, yet focused on the impact of relationships, this is pure reading pleasure! – Romantic Times, 4 1/2 Stars, TOP PICK
On the Edge is going down on my 2009 reading list as a top ten favorite. When I'd like nothing better than to reread it immediately, I know I've read a winner. – Lurv A La Mode
I'm not sure what genre you can label it, but it [On The Edge] has a deep core of magic, world building and romance that made this book a delight. – Bookpushers.com
Bottom line is that On the Edge proves that Kate Daniels wasn't some fluke. It's fun, it's gritty, it's darkly humorous and leaves me wanting more. – Poisoned Rationality
I will tell you this – I loved it. I could go on and say that Andrews creates a fascinating world that survives in between two different, yet similar, realities; that the characters are amazing and the chemistry they exhibit keeps the reader completely entertained; and that the plot keeps you guessing while not leaving you completely clueless. I could say all this, but if you're a fan of Andrew's Kate Daniels series, then you probably already know these qualities are going to be there. Ilona Andrews has an amazing way with words and she totally delivers with On the Edge. – Literary Escapism
Totally loved it, go buy and read it. Caution: you might want to choose a day when getting up the next morning is optional, cuz there's a good chance you're going to want to read it straight through. – Alpha Heroes
Andrews creates a fascinating universe where three distinct, individual worlds literally exist side by side. Peopled with unique characters in a richly- layered text laden with imagery, this highly improbable place feels completely real. Written with generous doses of humor and heart underscoring the imaginative narrative, the authors ensure that readers will relish their visit with Rose, Declan, the boys, and the townspeople of LaPorte. This reviewer very much looks forward to the next trip to the Edge in book two. – Bitten by Books
Ilona Andrews has started this series off with a bang! – Howling Good Books
If you enjoy fantasy with romance or romance with fantasy, you'll love ON THE EDGE. The world Ilona Andrews has created is believable and vivid. I feel as though I know how to get there. I don't even need my GPS. – Mean Marie
Great storyline with a romance line mixed in – Book Bargains and Previews
Magic Strikes
- #16 New York Times Bestseller List
- #109 USA Today Bestseller List
Winner of 2009 Romantic Time Reviewer Choice Award in Best Urban Fantasy Category
"Kate Daniels' terrifying heritage comes into focus in this blockbuster of a third book. Andrews' crisp dialogue and layered characterization make the gut-wrenching action of this first-person thrill ride all the more intense. One fascinating element of this series has been watching the loner heroine forced into making emotional connections. Devotees of Kate and Curran will be savoring every word as this mesmerizing tale unfolds. Place your book orders now; it's worth every penny!" –Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick, GOLD standard
This is one series that is on my "absolutely must buy" list and it should be on yours too. – Literary Escapism
From the first page to the last, Magic Strikes was a riveting, heart pounding ride. Story lines advance, truths are admitted, intriguing characters are introduced and the romance between Kate and Curran develops a sweetness that is simply delightful. – Dear Author
I opened Magic Strikes and simply sighed in bliss because I knew I was about to be entertained by a top notch 1st POV heroine. – Lurv a la Mode
Fast-paced, tightly plotted, and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, Magic Strikes is a great read, simultaneously a satisfying story on its own and a nice addition to the longer arcs of the series. – Genre Reviews
Write faster. There have been many descriptions given to my sense of humor: wry, twisted, sarcastic, sardonic, demented, dry – but this book fits it perfectly. I absolutely love the relationship between Curran and Kate – I laugh out loud with the witty sarcasm and one-liners, and the sexual tension building between the couples drives me to my knees, knowing I'll have to wait for another book – maybe two…*must not think years*…arrgghhh, the frustration of a reader… SFRevu Reviews
I was up until 2:30 this morning because there was absolutely no way I could put Magic Strikes down before finishing it. – Book Series Reviews
Kate is often vulnerable and has a great sense of humor about all the strange and dangerous things in this new world. – Romance Reviews Today
Magic Burns
- #32 New York Times Bestseller List
"Fans of Carrie Vaughn and Patricia Briggs will appreciate this fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy full of magic, vampires, werebeasties, and things that go bump in the night." – Monsters and Critics
"With all her problems, secrets, and prowess both martial and magical, Kate is a great kick-ass heroine, a tough girl with a heart, and her adventures… are definitely worth checking out." – Locus
"[Magic Burns] hooked me completely. With a fascinating, compelling plot, a witty, intelligent heroine, a demonic villain, and clever, wry humor throughout, this story has it all." – Fresh Fiction
"A new take on the urban fantasy genre, the world Kate inhabits is a blend of gritty magic and dangerous mystery." – News and Sentinel
"The sexual tension Kate emits has me gritting my teeth." – SF Revu
"If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's early Anita Blake or the works of Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison, you need to add Ilona Andrews to your reading list." – LoveVampires.com
"Andrews… demonstrates her mastery at balancing dark humor, clever mystery, and supernatural jeopardy. Andrews is the total package!" – Romantic Times
Magic Bites
"Treat yourself to a splendid new urban fantasy… I am looking forward to the next book in the series or anything else Ilona Andrews writes." – Patricia Briggs, New York Times bestselling author of Iron Kissed
"Andrews shows a great deal of promise. Readers fond of Laurell K. Hamilton and Patricia Briggs may find her work a new source of reading pleasure." – SFRevu
"Andrews's edgy series stands apart from similar fantasies… owing to its complex world-building and skilled characterizations." – Library Journal
"An intriguing world." – Locus
"Fans of urban fantasy will delight in Ilona Andrews's alternate-universe Atlanta." – Fresh Fiction
"An excellent start to a brand new series." – Dragon Page
"Fans of CSI… The X-Files, and any other of a host of such subgenre offerings should be pleased." – Fantasy Book Spot (fantasybookspot.com)
"A perfectly paced supernatural mystery with bits of dark humor and – if you'll forgive the pun – a fair amount of bite." – Rambles (www.rambles.net)
"The strong storyline coupled with a complex alternative history… will have readers hoping for more." – Monsters and Critics
"Magic Bites is an enchanting paranormal whodunit that takes the supernatural into new, natural directions." – The Best Reviews
"Her world-building and characterizations are exceptional… Magic Bites is not to be overlooked." – Book Fetish
A unique world laced with a thick plot full of strife, betrayal, and mystery." – Romance Junkies
"The plot moves along at a pleasant clip, and the world-building is interesting and well done." – Romantic Times
Author Photos and Book Covers
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Our Mission
The Giants Community Fund collaborates with the San Francisco Giants by using baseball as a forum to encourage underserved youth and their families to live healthy, productive lives. The Fund supports Junior Giants leagues throughout Northern California, Nevada and Oregon and provides assistance to targeted community initiatives in the areas of Education, Health and Violence Prevention.
Since its inception in 1991, the Fund has donated over $21 million to community efforts. The Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is managed by a 30-member Board of Directors, and is sustained by contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations through a number of special partnerships and fundraisers.
In 1994, the Board of Directors of the Fund decided that in order to make a significant and lasting impact in the lives of our children, the Fund needed to focus the majority of its resources on an effective and wide-reaching youth program. The Fund sought a program that would give at-risk kids a meaningful partnership with community-based organizations and provide an alternative to drugs, gangs and crime. In doing so, the Fund could play a part in helping to end the cycle of violence. The Junior Giants Program was established as our flagship program and now serves over 22,000 boys and girls, ages 5 to 18 in more than 85 communities.
Learn more about the Junior Giants »
In addition to supporting public awareness campaigns at AT&T Park such as Until There's A Cure Day, Organ Donor Awareness Night and Strike Out Violence Day, the Fund also annually provides grants to charitable organizations that provide important programs in health, education and violence prevention.

subset: commoncrawl


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The teambuilding department of Event Masters has over 20 years experience in staging creative and innovative events. Despite already having 50 different proven concepts for clients to choose from, Event Masters is excited to be the exclusive provider of Catalyst Global products in Belgium, in particular business games and musical events.
Watch out too for the roll out of Event Masters' ultimate interactive dinner game, Battle of the Tables, through the Catalyst Global network in the first quarter of 2015. It's a highly flexible, fully personalized and well-scripted activity to turn your groups into teams – and all this during dinner! It's coming soon to the Catalyst Global network.
Event Masters' Managing Director, Bert Knuts and Managing Partner, Johnny Machiels travelled to Lyon recently to witness the another Catalyst Global teambuilding partner, Eagles Team Building France, deliver a 600 pax Orchestrate in full swing!
Event Masters is no ordinary team building business; their CSR efforts are commendable. Event Masters are a structural partner of Cunina, contributing to the training of forty Cunina foster children to become Community Medical Assistant in the Himalayan region of Nepal. In November, Johnny took time out from his philanthropic work in Nepal, to meet Asian businesses in the Catalyst Global team building network at the Asia Zone 2014 conference.
The additional of Event Masters brings the total number of businesses involved in the Catalyst Global team building network to 40!
Find out more about Event Masters : www.eventmasters.be


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Clipboard Format Spy
|21 March 2014
|Windows 2000 and later
End User License Agreement
The Clipboard Format Spy license agreement is displayed in the box below.
================================================================================ DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy End User License Agreement ================================================================================ 1. Definitions In this document the following definitions apply: a) "Product" means DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy and related documentation. b) "Author" means the author and copyright holder of of the software, that is Peter D Johnson, http://www.delphidabbler.com. 2. Introduction A source code version of some of DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy's functionality that you may use, modify and distribute is available to you free of charge from http://www.delphidabbler.com/ under the Mozilla Public License and other open source software licenses. The Mozilla Public License can be found at http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/. The accompanying executable code version of the Product is made available to you under the terms of this end user license agreement. By installing or using DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy you are consenting to be bound by the agreement. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement do not install or use any part of DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy. DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy is copyright © 1997-2014 by Peter D Johnson, http://www.delphidabbler.com. 3. License Grant. The Author grants you a non-exclusive license to use the executable code version of DelphiDabbler Clipboard Format Spy. You may install as many copies of the program as you wish and may distribute the program providing this license agreement and any other copyright or legal notices are distributed with the Product. This agreement will also govern any software upgrades provided by the Author that replace and/or supplement the original Product, unless such upgrades are accompanied by a separate license, in which case the terms of that license will govern. 4. Termination. If you breach this Agreement your right to use the Product will terminate immediately and without notice, but all provisions of this agreement except the License Grant (Section 3) will survive termination and continue in effect. Upon termination, you must destroy all copies of the Product. 5. Proprietary Rights. Portions of the Product are available in source code form under the terms of the Mozilla Public License and other open source licenses from http://www.delphidabbler.com/. Nothing in this agreement will be construed to limit any rights granted under the Open Source Licenses. Subject to the foregoing, the Author, for himself and on behalf of his licensors, hereby reserves all intellectual property rights in the Product, except for the rights expressly granted in this agreement. You may not remove or alter any copyright or other proprietary notice in or on the Product. 6. Disclaimer Of Warranty. THE PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE AUTHOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES THAT THE PRODUCT IS FREE OF DEFECTS, MERCHANTABLE, FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGING. YOU BEAR THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO SELECTING THE PRODUCT FOR YOUR PURPOSES AND AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT. THIS LIMITATION WILL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY. SHOULD THE PRODUCT PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. 7. Limitation Of Liability. EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, THE AUTHOR AND HIS LICENSORS, CONTRIBUTORS AND DISTRIBUTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, AND COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY (CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) UPON WHICH SUCH CLAIM IS BASED. 8. Miscellaneous. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Author and you concerning the subject matter hereof, and it may only be modified by a written amendment signed by the Author. Except to the extent applicable law, if any, provides otherwise, this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the United Kingdom.
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Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
Doug Pike / Colorado Hometown Weekly
On the wall above Louisville residents Don and Barbara McKee's back door is painted a motto that sums up the couple's philosophy when it comes to their home: "Never make anything simple and efficient if a way can be found to make it complex and wonderful."
Suffice to say the McKees have found a way — starting with the back door.
Like something straight out of a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, the door is perfectly round, with an intricate floral pattern framed in wood, inset with stained glass and of course, an ornate brass door knob.
Oddly enough, the centerpiece of the home is the exit.
"We're longtime 'Lord of the Rings' fans," said Don, who recalls first reading the Tolkien series in his youth. "The round door is mentioned in the second sentence of the whole saga."
The door is opened by turning an ornate brass door knob, sculpted by Don, in its center. The round door features three dead bolts — a feat of engineering themselves, considering there are no straight lines in the door's wooden frame through which to route the mechanisms.
The door took the McKees around 15 months to complete, and that doesn't include design time.
"I remember pages of equations laying around all over," Barbara said. "It was complicated."
But it is a labor of love.
"If I didn't enjoy doing this, it wouldn't get done," said Don, a retired mechanical engineer. "It wouldn't even get thought of."
The couple started building a 700-square-foot addition onto their 1897 home nine years ago, and much of that time has been spent turning fantasy into reality.
The McKees included a few more commonplace additions such as French doors and a clawfoot bathtub.
They also added a hidden mount for a flat screen television, which at the push of a button emerges from behind a painting above the fireplace. The couple covered their refrigerator in hand-hammered copper plating, domed their hallway ceiling and covered porch and carved out their own design into the cabinets beneath their sink. Don even designed a kitchen island via which a drawer of silverware can be accessed from either side — always with the handles facing out.
Turning the page from Tolkien to J.K. Rowling, the home also features a set of custom hallway book cases that double as a pair of hidden doors — one leading to the main bathroom and the other exposing a staircase that descends to the basement and Don's workshop.
Don and Barbara have found sport in directing unsuspecting guests to the bathroom by simply telling them, "The bathroom door is in the hallway."
The bookshelves, which weigh approximately 400 pounds each, are hinged with the front wheel bearings from a car.
The hidden doors open by cocking the hammer on an antique pistol discreetly mounted in a display case on the bookshelf.
In front of the bookshelves is a 4-foot round, wooden medallion inset into the floor. Barbara designed the piece, hiding the images of eight animals within its pattern.
"We probably should have grandkids, but we don't have any kids," Don said.
The home has become so much of an attraction that the couple have discovered passersby admiring the unique features of the home and invited them in for an impromptu tour.
"In any other place, letting people — strangers — into your home would be iffy, but this is Louisville," Barbara said. "It's so safe."
The home was originally built by E.J. Di Francia, the first owner of the former Old Louisville Inn building. The McKees started on their elaborate addition by knocking out the original kitchen and building out to the west.
Don worked as a sculptor for 25 years. He has put his stamp on such Colorado landmarks as the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. He constructed the archway over the hotel's main entrance.
Don, who for years sculpted buckles and broaches for use with kilts, was the first American ever commissioned to do a piece of royal regalia when he produced a collar of office for Lord Lyon, King of Arms in Scotland.
Barbara did stained glass work professionally for 35 years and her craft is featured throughout the home.
Even the outside of the home is a custom work of art. The exterior walls are done in a dizzying pattern of hand-cut shingles.
"You have to really like doing little nitpicky things to get some of this done," Barbara said. "I guess it's fortunate that we do. We really do love it."
The McKees are far from finished.
The kitchen island still needs to be completed and a kitchen cupboard that also doubles as a hidden door is already in the design phase. The work seems endless, but they wouldn't have it any other way, Don said.
"Our goal is just to be done before we die," he said.


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"After Dark [is] hypnotically eerie, sometimes even funny, but most of all, it's [a book] that keeps ratcheting up the suspense." —The Washington Post Book World
"After Dark is a streamlined, hushed ensemble piece. . . . Standing above the common gloom, Murakami detects phosphorescence everywhere, but chiefly in the auras around people, which glow brightest at night and when combined." —The New York Times Book Review
"Murakami is masterful with symbolism. . . . Night . . . can't blacken the ever-shifting shutter speeds of Murakami's cockeyed Kodak. . . . It is straight-ahead jazz with a quiet grace." —The Los Angeles Times Book Review
"A bittersweet novel that will satisfy the most demanding literary taste. . . . Murakami's fiction reminds us that the world is broad, that myths are universal-and that while we sleep, the world out there is moving in mysterious and unpredictable ways." —The San Francisco Chronicle
"Hypnotically eerie, sometimes even funny, but most of all, it's [a book] that keeps ratcheting up the suspense." —The Washington Post Book World
"After Dark is a gripping dream. . . . In Murakami's hands, hope is nothing more nor less than a deep, cleansing breath." —The Boston Globe
"What you'll love: The book's spare yet eerily atmospheric scenes will fester under your skin, poking at your equilibrium long after you've finished reading." —The Washington Post
"There's a dreamlike quality to Haruki Murakami's mesmerizing new novel, [where] amid the alienation are flickers of hopefulness springing from seemingly random, serendipitous human interactions and connections. . . . Like a latter-day Walker Percy or Albert Camus, Murakami raises questions about perception and existence [and] captures the palpable loneliness and essential unfathomability at the heart of modern life." —The Christian Science Monitor
"This strange, mesmerizing, spell-binding, voyeuristic novel is impossible to put down." —The Providence Journal
"A metaphysical mystery. . . . After Dark deftly explores existentialist notions of purpose, control, and identity." —Elle
"Gripping. . . . Creepy!" —Wired
"In After Dark, night seems to be where Murakami was headed all along. . . . He has a natural curiosity about people, a belief that they contain wonders, perhaps none so great as the capacity for human connection." —Newsday


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|Photo: Ittay Weiss
|Photo: Elesey/Shutterstock
Your brain is made up of billions of neurons connected by trillions of synapses. And how they're arranged gives rise to the brain's functionality and to your personality. That's why scientists in Switzerland recently produced the first-ever digital 3D brain cell atlas, a complete mapping of the brain of a mouse. While this is a colossal achievement, the great challenge now lies in learning to decipher the atlas. And it's a huge one.
Science is full of this kind of problem: how to turn large amounts of information into useful insight. For many years, researchers relied on mathematics and statistics to explore data. The explosion of large datasets created by digital storage, the internet, and cheap sensors has led to the development of new techniques designed specifically to deal with this "big data".
And now there is an emerging new approach based on century-old ideas that's producing superior tools for understanding certain types of big data. Using the mouse's brain as an example, its physical shape determines its functionality. But a precise description of this shape, which we now have, doesn't automatically reveal everything about how the brain works.
Behind the physical shape lies a more abstract shape formed by the interconnections within the brain. Capturing aspects of this shape by applying techniques from the study of what's known as "topology" can help reveal a deeper understanding of the brain's functioning. This same guiding principle of using topological techniques on big data also has applications in drug development and other cutting-edge endeavours...
Millions of years ago, evolution was confronted with a similar problem. DNA in cells is a molecule composed of two coiled up chains. Each chain is a very long wire, built up from a sequence of small molecules called nucleobases. When a cell divides, these wires unwind, replicate and then coil up again. But just like wires in a bag, the strands of DNA can become tangled, which prevents the cell from dividing and causes it to die.
Read more...
Source: The Conversation - UK


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Real Deal Apple Pie
Total TimePrep: 35 min. Bake: 70 min. + cooling
Makes8 servings
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
- 5 medium Braeburn apples (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/4-in. slices
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/4-in. slices
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Dash ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 to 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in two portions so that one is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
- Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger portion of dough to 1/8-in. thick circle. Transfer to a 9-in. pie plate, trimming even with edge. Fill with apple mixture, mounding in the center. Dot apples with butter. Lightly brush rim of pastry with some of the beaten egg.
- Roll out remaining dough to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in pastry. Brush top with egg; sprinkle with superfine sugar. Place on a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan.
- Bake 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°. Bake 50-60 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts1 piece: 526 calories, 28g fat (17g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 337mg sodium, 66g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 4g fiber), 5g protein.
Recommended Video
Jan 10, 2015
This recipe was very easy and delicious. I used store bought refrigerated pie crust, but followed the recipe after that. The apples were done, the filling was not runny, and it was spiced just right. I would recommend this recipe.
Jun 21, 2013
This is the first time I've ever made an apple pie. It came out great. I did deviate from the recipe and used Gala apples instead of Braeburn & Granny Smith. I did have a lot of difficultly with the crust and had to add a significant more amount of water to get it to form into a ball. I did manage to make it work though and it came out great. The whole family loved it. I will definitely make this again though at some point I might use a different crust recipe with it if I find one that works better.
Apr 3, 2013
Triple AAA - Awesome!
Mar 23, 2013
I have made this pie over a dozen times and it always turns out great. I use Jazz apples instead of Braeburn and I also allow the apples to sit in a strainer over a bowl for a few hours to release as much liquid as possible, this way you do not end up with the air pocket at the top of the pie. I then use the released liquid in the pie crust.Great recipe!
Dec 10, 2012
I made this pie exactly as the recipe stated. The filling was bitter and needed more sugar and some of the apples turned mushy. The crust turned out fine. I will not make this recipe again.
Jun 13, 2012
Best apple pie I ever made! Everyone enjoyed it so much all I took home from the party was empty pie plate!


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#2 Patrick Miller
|6' 1"
|Hales Fransiscan HS
Major: Accounting
2012-13 Preseason All OVC Team
2012-13 All-OVC First Team
2012-13 Boxtorow HBCU Second Team All-American
2012 OVC All-Tournament Team
2010-11 OVC Freshman of the Year
2010-11 All-OVC Newcomer Team
2012-13 - Junior Season
Broke a school record with 195 assists… Was the only Tiger to play in and start every game… Joined the 1,000 point club on Jan. 26 against Morehead State… Set a school modern-era record with 1186 minutes played… Named OVC Player of the Week on Dec. 31… Finished third on the team in points per game, averaging 14.8… Made the second-most threes on the team (42)… Is now sixth all-time in school history with 340 made free throws… Led the OVC in assists per contest with 5.8… Swiped a team-high 55 passes… Scored a career-high 28 points against Eastern Illinois (Dec. 29)… Had double-digit points in 28 of 33 games… Had five double-doubles... Finished two points shy of a triple-double on Jan. 19 against Belmont, setting career-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (12)… Tied a career-best with two blocks against Eastern Illinois (Dec. 29)
2011-12 - Sophomore Season
Enters the 2012-13 season just 300 points shy of the 1,000 points club. Only 74 made free throws short of reaching the school's top-8 all-time list...Has a current streak multiple assists in 26 consecutive games...Finished second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg), field goals made (119), minutes played (1,102) and steals (50)...Led the Tigers with a 118 assists (3.6 per game) and 104 made free throws (3.2 per game)...Scored a season-high 11 points in the win over Morgan State (Nov. 25)...Reached double-figures in 20 games, including eight straight from Nov. 20 until Dec. 17...Tied a season/career-highs with eight rebounds and seven assists against Murray State in the OVC Championship game on March 3...Had a career-best two blocks in the regular season win at UT Martin (Jan. 26). Tied a career-high with seven made field goals in the win over the Skyhawks...Connected on a career-best three triples in the loss to Belmont on Dec. 6. Played a career-high 48 minutes in the double-overtime victory against Eastern Kentucky on Jan 28.
2010-11 - Freshman Season
Named OVC Freshman of the Year and selected to the All-Newcomer team...Led all freshmen in scoring in the OVC...Named OVC Freshman of the week three times, more than any other OVC freshman...Started 30-of-30 games playing 1032 minutes, averaging 34.4 mpg...Averaged 11.4 points per game, connecting on 107-of-282 field goals shooting 38 percent from the field...Hit 25-of-85 shots from 3-point range for an average of 29 percent and 103-of-151 from the free throw line for a 68 percent average...Pulled in a total of 96 rebounds averaging 3.2 boards per game...Recorded a total of 89 assists and 42 steals...Garnered season highs in assists (7) and steals (6) against Murray State (02/03/11)...Scored career highs with 22 points and 12 free throws versus Tennessee Tech (01/22/11).
Hales Fransiscan HS
Voted 2009-2010 Chicago Catholic League Player of the Year...Named two-time Chicago All-Area...Selected to IBCA, Journal Star, and Associated Press Class 2A All-State First Team...Chicago Sun-Times Top 50 Player...Rated 73 on ESPN College Basketball Recruiting...Helped team to a 28-4 record winning the Regional and Sectional Championships...Senior season averaged 22.6 points and 3.8 assists per game in 32 games played...Team leading scorer with 614 points...Scored 20 or more points in 17 games, 30 or more in four games and posted a career high of 42 poins against Bishop McNamara (12/09/09)...Listed as the game's leading scorer in 20-of-32 games played...Collected 93 rebounds for a 3.3 average also averaging 3.3 steals per game and .5 blocks...Shot 48 percent from the field, 44 percent from the three-point range and 79.5 from the free-throw line...Named two-time IBS All-State... Voted ESPNChicago.com Athlete of the Week (3/11/10)...Nominated for McDonald's All-America Team.
Son of Michelle Adams...Born May 22, 1992.


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!! History Commons Alert, Exciting News
Waco Tribune-Herald headline for its 'Sinful Messiah' series, with a photo of Davidian leader David Koresh. [Source: Pyreaus (.com)]The Waco Tribune-Herald begins what it calls the "Sinful Messiah" series of articles on Branch Davidian leader David Koresh, formerly Vernon Howell (see November 3, 1987 and After). Based on interviews with former members of the sect, the series accuses Koresh of being a "cult leader" who physically abuses children and takes underage brides, even raping one of them. [Waco Tribune-Herald, 3/3/1993; XTimeline, 7/2010] Two weeks into the standoff, Newsweek will publish an article on Koresh and the Davidians that draws heavily on the Waco Tribune-Herald series. [Newsweek, 3/15/1993] An August 1992 investigation by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) found no evidence of such claims (see April 1992). Sexual Abuse Claims - Koresh, the series claims, advocates polygamy for himself, declaring himself the husband of multiple females of the community. The articles say he claims to be entitled to 140 wives or more, can legitimately claim any of the women in the community, has fathered at least a dozen children, and that some of his brides are as young as 12 or 13. The sources claim that Koresh annulled all the marriages among the Davidians, and told the men that they would receive their "perfect mates" in heaven. For the time they are on Earth, he told them, only he would have wives. Koresh keeps the men and women rigidly separated except during Bible studies. [Waco Tribune-Herald, 3/3/1993; XTimeline, 7/2010] Physical Abuse Claims - The articles claim that Koresh beats children as young as eight months of age. Former Davidian Michelle Tom testified in a Michigan court custody case that Koresh beat her daughter Tarah Tom with a wooden spatula until the girl's bottom was bruised and bloody. The girl had cried when placed on Koresh's lap, Tom testified. A former Davidian who refuses to be identified confirms Tom's story, saying that the little girl's "bottom was completely black and blue." During the same court case, Tom and other former Davidians claimed that Koresh was particularly harsh with his own son Cyrus. When Cyrus was three and living with Koresh (then Howell) in Pomona, California, Koresh once tied him to the garage for the night, after telling him that there were rats in the garage who liked to eat children. Tom and others recall hearing Cyrus scream as his father beat him. Bringing the Apocalypse - Koresh, according to the articles, claims to be the Lamb of Heaven whose mystical task it is to open the Seven Seals of the Biblical Apocalypse, thus bringing about the end of the world. The Davidians, according to the articles, intend to slay all non-believers (whom Koresh calls "the Babylonians") once the Apocalypse begins, and Koresh's male children will rule at his side thereafter. Koresh says: "If the Bible is true, then I'm Christ. But so what? Look at 2,000 years ago. What's so great about being Christ? A man nailed to the cross. A man of sorrow acquainted with grief. You know, being Christ ain't nothing. Know what I mean?… If the Bible is true, I'm Christ. If the Bible is true. But all I want out of this is for people to be honest this time." The sources say Koresh uses "mind control" techniques to indoctrinate his followers, including marathon sermons and Bible study sessions lasting up to 15 hours at a stretch. One former member who refuses to be named says of the sessions: "You don't have time to think. He doesn't give you time to think about what you're doing. It's just bang, bang, bang, bang, bang." Other methods employed by Koresh include confusing, rapid-fire discourses about abstruse Biblical topics, and a propensity to force community members to listen to sermons at odd hours of the night. Another former member, also refusing to be named, says: "You felt like you were in the know. Others in the world might consider you average. Let them. They were unbelievers. But you knew something they didn't—something that put you into the ultimate In Crowd, the ones who wouldn't be taking a dip in the Lake of Fire." Sources - The sources for the article include Australians Marc Breault, described as a former "confidant" of Koresh's who has spoken against Koresh since 1990; Breault's wife Elizabeth Baranyi; and Jean Smith. Breault, an aspiring musician, admits to feeling resentment towards Koresh—he joined the group in hopes that he and Koresh, himself an accomplished musician, would form a successful rock band, an aspiration that would not be fulfilled. They are joined by former Indiana disk jockey David Jewell, who was never a member of the sect but who sued his ex-wife, Davidian Sherri Jewell, for custody of their daughter Kiri. Breault and other former members say Sherri Jewell was one of Koresh's wives. Kiri lives in Michigan with her father, while Sherri remains with Koresh. (In 1995, Kiri Jewell will testify that she was raped by Koresh between the ages of 10 and 14—see July 21, 1995). Other sources include Robyn Bunds, one of Koresh's first "wives" among the community (married to him at age 17, she says, when Koresh and his small group of followers lived in Pomona and La Verne, California). Bunds claims that Koresh told her he raped the 12-year-old sister of his wife Rachel Howell, who, Bunds says, crawled into bed with him to "get warm" and was forced to have sex with him. Koresh has denied the story, and claims to have had only two children, Cyrus and Star, both with his wife Rachel. However, birth certificates for many Davidian children are incomplete; the sources say that Koresh is the father of many of the children, and routinely has the mothers leave his name off the certificates. Bunds tells reporters: "When Vernon came along, he… said you had to give him all your money. You had to live on the property. You had to give up everything else. You had to give him your mind… your body." She claims her parents gave well over $10,000 to Koresh's sect and bought a house in Pomona for $100,000 in Koresh's name (then Howell). She admits to having been jealous over having to share Koresh with his other wives, and says Koresh is the father of her son Shaun, whose birth name was Wisdom Bunds; she says Shaun is terrified of Koresh because he beat him. (Koresh says Bunds, not him, beat her son, an allegation which she admits, though she says Koresh also beat the child.) She says she left Koresh in Pomona after he began having sex with her mother Jeannine, and when he attempted to kidnap Shaun and raise him among the Waco Davidians. Jeannine Bunds is also a source, having left the Waco community shortly after her daughter left Koresh. (Don Bunds, Jeannine's husband and Robyn's father, remains in Waco with the Davidians.) Another source is Karl Henning or Hennig (the article uses both spellings), a Vancouver teacher who lived with the sect for two months. He says Koresh holds a "truly amazing accumulation of knowledge." Also, the article relies on the recollections of Bruce Gent, a former Davidian who says he allowed Koresh to sleep with his teenaged daughter Nicole. Yet another source is Barbara Slawson, a member during the time of Koresh's predecessors Lois and George Roden, who says she was never impressed with Koresh and left during the time he was solidfying his grasp on the leadership of the group. Slawson says she has two grandchildren in the group. "My primary reason for trying to help is the children," Breault says. "They have no one else to help them. If people say we were stupid, well, that may be true. But the children aren't." Breault says he finally left the group after Koresh had sex with a 13-year-old Australian girl he had brought to Waco merely for sexual purposes. "I realized it wasn't a matter of Biblical anything," Breault later testifies during the Jewell custody case. "He just wanted to have sex with her." Koresh says that Breault sees himself as a rival prophet attempting to convince his followers to join with him against Koresh, and says that Breault is the source of the stories of his alleged sexual relations with underage girls. Breault admits telling Australian Davidians that he, too, is a prophet, though he says he eventually confessed that he had lied to get the Davidians away from Koresh, and that for a time he attempted to create a breakaway, rival sect of the Davidians. Emotional Control - Jeannine Bunds says Koresh does not physically restrain his members. "I'm over 21, intelligent," she says. "I could have walked at any time. I chose to stay. He doesn't keep you. You can leave. What you have to understand, though, is he keeps you by emotion. When you're down there, it's all so exciting. You don't know what he'll come up with next. I guess everyone is looking for Utopia, Shangri-La. You don't want any problems. It wasn't all bad times, you know. The people in this are great. They'll give you the shirt off their back. They're nice, like everyone else in the world. Except they believe this." Newspaper Asked to Hold Off Publishing Stories - Tribune-Herald managing editor Barbara Elmore says the newspaper put eight months of research into the stories, and held off printing them after federal authorities asked her "not to run anything." The head of the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) task force investigating Koresh (see June-July 1992) says the stories did not influence the agency's decision to raid the Davidian compound near Waco (see 5:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. February 28, 1993). [Waco Tribune-Herald, 3/3/1993] After the BATF raid, Tribune-Herald editor Bob Lott defends his newspaper's decision to publish the story, saying: "We'd been working on this story for eight months. It contained a lot of information the public ought to know. We decided it was time to let the public know about this menace in our backyard.… I'm under siege. There has been the suggestion that somehow we are responsible for this tragedy." BATF spokeswoman Sharon Wheeler says the bureau has no complaints about Lott or the Tribune-Herald, but an unidentified BATF agent has allegedly said part of the responsibility for the deaths of four BATF agents during the raid rests on the local press. The bureau asked Lott to hold off publishing the series a month before the raid; the newspaper gave the bureau a day's warning before running the first installment. [New York Times, 3/1/1993; Newsweek, 3/15/1993]
Entity Tags: David Jewell, Bruce Gent, Star Howell, Sherri Jewell, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Waco Tribune-Herald, Cyrus Howell, Barbara Elmore, Shaun Bunds, Barbara Slawson, Branch Davidians, Bob Lott, Sharon Wheeler, Tarah Tom, Rachel Howell, Elizabeth Baranyi, Don Bunds, George Roden, Robyn Bunds, Jean Smith, Jeannine Bunds, David Koresh, Kiri Jewell, Nicole Gent, Karl Henning, Michelle Tom, Newsweek, Lois Roden, Marc Breault
Timeline Tags: 1993 Branch Davidian Crisis
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The X-Tra Clean dirt barrier mat got a high-quality processing quality and can be used in the interior area. The hard-wearing velour surface not only beautifies your entrance area in petrol, but the 7 mm / 0.27" high pile also fully keeps dirt, dust and wetness. The rubberised vinyl back provides enough safety on slippery grounds with a secure foothold. The door mat got a 1,5 cm / 0.6'' wide rubber edge, can be washed by 30°C and is suitable for floor heating. The German brand product is available in five more colours.


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What do a wrecking yard, a rock concert and your front door have in common? They each use electromagnets, devices that create a magnetic field through the application of electricity. Wrecking yards employ extremely powerful electromagnets to move heavy pieces of scrap metal or even entire cars from one place to another. Your favorite band uses electromagnets to amplify the sound coming out of its speakers. And when someone rings your doorbell, a tiny electromagnet pulls a metal clapper against a bell.
Mechanically, an electromagnet is pretty simple. It consists of a length of conductive wire, usually copper, wrapped around a piece of metal. Like Frankenstein's monster, this seems like little more than a loose collection of parts until electricity comes into the picture. But you don't have to wait for a storm to bring an electromagnet to life. A current is introduced, either from a battery or another source of electricity, and flows through the wire. This creates a magnetic field around the coiled wire, magnetizing the metal as if it were a permanent magnet. Electromagnets are useful because you can turn the magnet on and off by completing or interrupting the circuit, respectively.
Before we go too much farther, we should discuss how electromagnets differ from your run-of-the-mill "permanent" magnets, like the ones holding your Popsicle art to the fridge. As you know, magnets have two poles, "north" and "south," and attract things made of steel, iron or some combination thereof. Like poles repel and opposites attract (ah, the intersection of romance and physics). For example, if you have two bar magnets with their ends marked "north" and "south," the north end of one magnet will attract the south end of the other. On the other hand, the north end of one magnet will repel the north end of the other (and similarly, south will repel south). An electromagnet is the same way, except it is "temporary" -- the magnetic field only exists when electric current is flowing.
The doorbell is a good example of how electromagnets can be used in applications where permanent magnets just wouldn't make any sense. When a guest pushes the button on your front door, the electronic circuitry inside the door bell closes an electrical loop, meaning the circuit is completed and "turned on." The closed circuit allows electricity to flow, creating a magnetic field and causing the clapper to become magnetized. The hardware of most doorbells consist of a metal bell and metal clapper that, when the magnetic charges causes them to clang together, you hear the chime inside and you can answer the door. The bell rings, the guest releases the button, the circuit opens and the doorbell stops its infernal ringing. This on-demand magnetism is what makes the electromagnet so useful.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at electromagnets and discover how these devices take some pretty cool science and apply it to gizmos all around us that make our lives easier.
The History of Electromagnets
The relationship between electricity and magnetism wasn't thoroughly studied until 1873 when physicist James Maxwell observed the interaction between positive and negative electrical charges [source: Mahon]. Through continued experimentation, Maxwell determined that these charges can attract or repel each other based on their orientation. He was also the first to discover that magnets have poles, or individual points where the charge is focused. And, important for electromagnetism, Maxwell observed that when a current passes through a wire, it generates a magnetic field around the wire.
Maxwell's work was responsible for many of the scientific principles at work, but he wasn't the first scientist to experiment with electricity and magnetism. Nearly 50 years earlier Hans Christian Oersted found that a compass he was using reacted when a battery in his lab was switched on and off [source: Gregory]. This would only happen if there were a magnetic field present to interfere with the needle of the compass, so he deduced that a magnetic field was generated from the electricity flowing from the battery. But Oersted gravitated toward the field of chemistry and left the research of electricity and magnetism to others [source: Mahon].
The granddaddy of electromagnetism is Michael Faraday, a chemist and physicist who architected many of the theories later built upon by Maxwell. One reason Faraday is so much more prominent in history than Maxwell or Oersted is probably due to his being such a prolific researcher and inventor. He is widely heralded as a pioneer in the area of electromagnetism, but he is also credited with discovering electromagnetic induction, which we will discuss later when we explore some real-world applications. Faraday also invented the electric motor, and besides his influential work in physics he was also the very first person to be appointed the prestigious position of Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Not too shabby.
So what did the work of these men uncover? In the next section, we'll look at how electromagnets work.
The Sticking Power of Electromagnets
As we mentioned in the introduction, basic electromagnets aren't all that complicated; you can construct a simple version of one yourself using materials you probably have lying around the house. A conductive wire, usually insulated copper, is wound around a metal rod. The wire will get hot to the touch, which why insulation is important. The rod on which the wire is wrapped is called a solenoid, and the resulting magnetic field radiates away from this point. The strength of the magnet is directly related to the number of times the wire coils around the rod. For a stronger magnetic field, the wire should be more tightly wrapped.
OK, there's a little more to it than that. The tighter the wire is wound around the rod, or core, the more loops the current makes around it, increasing the strength of the magnetic field. In addition to how tightly the wire is wound, the material used for the core can also control the strength of the magnet. For example, iron is a ferromagnetic metal, meaning it is highly permeable [source: Boston University]. Permeability is another way of describing how well the material can support a magnetic field. The more conductive a certain material is to a magnetic field, the higher its permeability .
All matter, including the iron rod of an electromagnet, is composed of atoms. Before the solenoid is electrified, the atoms in the metal core are arranged randomly, not pointing in any particular direction. When the current is introduced, the magnetic field penetrates the rod and realigns the atoms. With these atoms in motion, and all in the same direction, the magnetic field grows. The alignment of the atoms, small regions of magnetized atoms called domains, increases and decreases with the level of current, so by controlling the flow of electricity, you can control the strength of the magnet. There comes a point of saturation when all of the domains are in alignment, which means adding additional current will not result in increased magnetism.
By controlling the current, you can essentially turn the magnet on and off. When the current is turned off, the atoms return to their natural, random state and the rod loses its magnetism (technically, it retains some magnetic properties but not much and not for very long).
With a run-of-the-mill permanent magnet, like the ones holding the family dog's picture to the refrigerator, the atoms are always aligned and the strength of the magnet is constant. Did you know that you can take away the sticking power of a permanent magnet by dropping it? The impact can actually cause the atoms to fall out of alignment. They can be magnetized again by rubbing a magnet on it.
The electricity to power an electromagnet has to come from somewhere, right? In the next section, we'll explore some of the ways these magnets get their juice.
Putting the "Electro" in "Electromagnet"
Since an electrical current is required to operate an electromagnet, where does it come from? The quick answer is that anything that produces a current can power an electromagnet. From the small AA batteries used in your TV remote to large, industrial power stations that pull electricity directly from a grid, if it stores and transfers electrons, then it can power an electromagnet.
Let's start with a look at how household batteries function. Most batteries have two easily identifiable poles, a positive and a negative. When the battery isn't in use, electrons collect at the negative pole. When the batteries are inserted into a device, the two poles come into contact with the sensors in the device, closing the circuit and allowing electrons to flow freely between the poles. In the case of your remote, the device is designed with a load, or exit point, for the energy stored in the battery [source: Grossman]. The load puts the energy to use operating the remote control. If you were to simply connect a wire directly to each end of a battery with no load, the energy would quickly drain from the battery.
While this is happening, the moving electrons also create a magnetic field. If you take the batteries out of your remote, it will likely retain a small magnetic charge. You couldn't pick up a car with your remote, but maybe some small iron filings or even a paper clip.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Earth itself. By the definition we discussed earlier, an electromagnet is created when electrical currents flow around some ferromagnetic core. The Earth's core is iron, and we know it has a North Pole and a South Pole. These aren't just geographical designations but actual opposing magnetic poles. The dynamo effect, a phenomenon that creates massive electrical currents in the iron thanks to the movement of liquid iron across the outer core, creates an electrical current. This current generates a magnetic charge, and this natural magnetism of the Earth is what makes a compass work. A compass always points north because the metal needle is attracted to the pull of the North Pole.
Clearly, there's a wide range of electromagnet applications between small, homemade science experiments and the Earth itself. So, where do these devices pop up in the real world? In the next section, we'll take a look at how our everyday lives are affected by electromagnetism.
Electromagnets All Around Us
Many electromagnets have an advantage over permanent magnets because they can be easily turned on and off, and increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity flowing around the core can control their strength.
Modern technology relies heavily on electromagnets to store information using magnetic recording devices. When you save data to the hard drive in your computer, for example, tiny, magnetized pieces of metal are embedded onto a disk in a pattern specific to the saved information. This data started life as binary digital computer language (0s and 1s). When you retrieve this information, the pattern is converted into the original binary pattern and translated into a usable form. So what makes this an electromagnet? The current running through the computer's circuitry magnetizes those tiny bits of metal. This is the same principal used in tape recorders, VCRs and other tape-based media (and yes, some of you still own tape decks and VCRs). This is why magnets can sometimes wreak havoc on the memories of these devices.
Electromagnets also paved the way for really harnessing the potential of electricity in the first place. In electrical appliances, the motor moves because the current flowing from your wall socket produces a magnetic field. It's not the electricity itself powering the motor, but the charge created by the magnet. The force of the magnet creates rotational movement, which means they rotate around a fixed point, similar to the way a tire rotates around an axle.
So, why not skip this process and just use the outlet to power the motor in the first place? Because the current required to power an appliance is quite large. Have you ever noticed how turning on a large appliance such as a television or a washing machine can sometimes cause the lights in your home to flicker? This is because the appliance is drawing a lot of energy initially, but that large amount is only needed to get the motor started. Once that happens, this cycle of electromagnetic induction takes over.
From household appliances, we're moving up to some of the most complex machinery ever built to see how electromagnets are being used to unlock the origins of the universe. Particle accelerators are machines that propel charged particles toward one another at incredibly high speeds in order to observe what happens when they collide. These beams of subatomic particles are very precise and controlling their trajectory is critical so they don't go off course and damage the machinery. This is where electromagnets come in. The magnets are positioned along the path of the colliding beams, and their magnetism is actually used to control their speed and trajectory [source: NOVA Teachers].
Not a bad resume for our friend the electromagnet, huh? From something you can create in your garage to operating the tools that scientists and engineers are using to decipher the origins of the universe, electromagnets have a pretty important role in the world around us.
Ready to try out some electromagnetic experiments of your own? Click over to the next page for some fun ideas.
DIY Electromagnets and Experiments to Try
Electromagnets are easy to make; just a few pieces of hardware and a power supply gets you on your way. First, you'll need the following items:
- one iron nail, at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length
- a length of 22-gauge insulated copper wire
- one D-cell battery
Once you have these items, remove the insulation from each end of the copper wire, just enough to provide a good connection with the battery. Wrap the wire around the nail; the tighter you can wrap it, the more powerful the magnetic field will be. Finally, connect the battery by attaching one end of the wire to the positive terminal and one to the negative terminal (it doesn't matter which end of the wire gets paired with which terminal). Presto! A working electromagnet [source: Jefferson Lab].
Can't get enough of hands-on electromagnetic experiments? We have some more ideas for you to try:
- What is the magnetic power of a single coil wrapped around a nail? Of 10 turns of wire? Of 100 turns? Experiment with different numbers of turns and see what happens. One way to measure and compare a magnet's "strength" is to see how many staples it can pick up.
- What is the difference between an iron and an aluminum core for the magnet? For example, roll up some aluminum foil tightly and use it as the core for your magnet in place of the nail. What happens? What if you use a plastic core, like a pen?
- What about solenoids? A solenoid, you remember, is another form of electromagnet. It's an electromagnetic tube generally used to move a piece of metal linearly. Find a drinking straw or an old pen (remove the ink tube). Also find a small nail (or a straightened paper clip) that will slide inside the tube easily. Wrap 100 turns of wire around the tube. Place the nail or paper clip at one end of the coil and then connect the coil to the battery. Notice how the nail moves? Solenoids are used in all sorts of places, especially locks. If your car has power locks, they may operate using a solenoid. Another common thing to do with a solenoid is to replace the nail with a thin, cylindrical permanent magnet. Then you can move the magnet in and out by changing the direction of the magnetic field in the solenoid. (Please be careful if you try placing a magnet in your solenoid, as the magnet can shoot out.)
- How do I know there's really a magnetic field? You can look at a wire's magnetic field using iron filings. Buy some iron filings, or find your own iron filings by running a magnet through playground or beach sand. Put a light dusting of filings on a sheet of paper and place the paper over a magnet. Tap the paper lightly and the filings will align with the magnetic field, letting you see its shape!
For more on electromagnets and related topics, check out the electrifying links on the next page.
Related Articles
- "Electromagnets." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. (Sep 23. 2011) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/183188/electromagnet
- "Ferromagnets." Boston University. (Sept. 21, 2011) http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py106/MagMaterials.html
- Grossman, Lisa. "Tube Full of Plasma Creates Solar Eruption in Lab." Wired Magazine. Aug. 31, 2010. (Sept. 26, 2011) http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/solar-eruption-in-a-tube/
- Mansfield. A.N. "Electromagnets – Their Design and Construction." Rough Draft Printing. July, 2007.
- NOVA Teachers. "NOVA ScienceNOW: CERN." (Sept. 23, 2011) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/viewing/3410_02_nsn.html
- Underhill, Charles Reginald. "Solenoids, Electromagnets and Electromagnetic Windings." Nabu Press. March 20, 2010


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Kathy Ireland is the third celebrity to get the boot on "Dancing With the Stars."
The lifestyle expert and entrepreneur was eliminated from the ABC reality competition on Tuesday evening, taking professional Tony Dovolani with her.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 9: Week 2 Highlights
"There is so much to take away from this experience," Kathy said as she learned the news.
Although she was eliminated after just two weeks of competition, Kathy said she learned quite a bit.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 9: Week 1 Highlights
"I wouldn't change a moment of it. The fact that I got to learn how to dance from world champion Tony Dovolani, it's been so much — the entire experience," she said.
Kathy's elimination follows Ashley Hamilton and Macy Gray who were kicked off last week.
The "Dancing" result's show, which lasted just one hour, featured a repeat performance of the jive by Mya and Dmitry Chaplin as well as musical performances from Selena Gomez, Joss Stone and the USC Trojan Marching Band, who Tweeted from backstage.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 9 Class Portraits
"Tom Bergeron just said that our guest starring role on DWTS will be 'The most elaborate Macy's Stars of Dance performance ever,'" a band member wrote of their storming performance, which featured acrobatic dancers. "Watch it!"
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Did Aaron Carter Call Himself The 'Dancing With The Stars' Favorite?
PLAY IT NOW: 'Dancing' Recap: Aaron Carter & Mya Take The Lead (September 28, 2009)
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Dancing With the Stars - Kathy Ireland - Reality TV - TV - Selena Gomez


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Beckett transformed himself from power pitcher to deceptive hurler after a winless, injury-plagued season ended with surgery.
He still dominates, but in a different way.
Beckett pitched the first no-hitter of his stellar career and the first in the majors this season, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 Sunday.
"You don't think at this point of your career that you're going to do that," Beckett said.
Certainly not after a miserable 2013.
Beckett was nearly derailed by a nerve condition that left him unable to feel his fingertips. He even had to learn to hold the steering wheel with his left hand because he couldn't feel his right hand.
Now he's healthy and pitching like a guy with three All-Star games, two World Series rings and a World Series MVP award on his resume.
On this day, he was downright nasty.
"For him to be able to do that is nice," manager Don Mattingly said. "Just for everything that he's been through with us, the surgery last year, he just seemed to change himself as a pitcher and is using the breaking ball more."
Beckett stuck out six, walked three and didn't come close to allowing a hit against a lineup that included two former NL MVPs and four former All-Stars. The 34-year-old right-hander threw 128 pitches. He fanned five-time All-Star Chase Utley on a called strike three to end the game.
Figuring Utley wasn't expecting a fastball with a no-hitter on the line, Beckett fired a 94 mph heater right down the middle.
"I was trying to think along with him," Beckett said.
Beckett mixed a sharp fastball with a slow curve that kept hitters off-balance while retiring 23 straight batters in one stretch. He pitched the Dodgers' first no-hitter since Hideo Nomo beat Colorado at Coors Field in 1996, and the 21st in franchise history. Sandy Koufax threw four.
"I knew he had something special going early," catcher Drew Butera said. "I was a nervous wreck from the fourth inning on when he said he had never taken one this far. He's a guy who is going to keep it loose and he didn't want anybody to be thinking about it."
Beckett pitched the first no-hitter in the majors since Miami's Henderson Alvarez did it against Detroit on the final day of the 2013 season.
Beckett also became the first visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Philadelphia since Montreal's Bill Stoneman stopped the Phillies on April 17, 1969, at Connie Mack Stadium.
All of the defensive plays behind Beckett were routine. Domonic Brown had the hardest out, a liner that left fielder Carl Crawford ran down near the warning track in the fifth.
Beckett sat at the end of the bench, next to a security guard, as the Dodgers batted in the ninth inning, before taking the mound in his bid for history.
"It was awesome. You think about it pretty much from the fourth on. I'm not one of those guys that carried a lot of no-hitters deep into games," he said.
Beckett's longest previous bid was 6 2-3 innings before allowing a single to Detroit's Curtis Granderson on June 3, 2009.
Beckett retired pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. on a popup to shortstop to start the ninth. Speedy Ben Revere followed with a grounder that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez fielded, and he flipped to Beckett covering the bag for the second out.
"It was the most excited I've ever been playing defense," Gonzalez said.
Jimmy Rollins was up next, and Beckett walked him on a full-count pitch. That brought up Utley, and when the count when to 3-2, Butera went to the mound to talk to Beckett.
"It was what it was, and if I threw one, great. If not, I have healthy kids and a healthy wife, and that's the main goal," Beckett said.
A pitch before striking out, Utley took a few steps toward first base when he thought a 3-1 delivery was ball four. Instead, it was strike two.
Utley left the clubhouse before reporters arrived.
"He had real good stuff right down to the final batter," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Our best hitter not swinging at the last two strikes is an indicator right there."
Beckett walked off the mound, pumped his fist and was mobbed by teammates. He got a standing ovation from the crowd of 36,141 at Citizens Bank Park on his way to the dugout.
Beckett gave the policeman he chatted with throughout the game in the dugout one of his bats. The Phillies gave him the pitching rubber before he left the ballpark.
"I'm really touched by that," Beckett said. "The Phillies showed what a class organization they are by getting that to me."
Last July, Beckett had a rib removed in thoracic outlet syndrome surgery to fix a condition that was affecting his right arm. He went 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight games in his first full year with the Dodgers following a blockbuster trade with Boston in 2012.
Beckett helped the Red Sox with the 2007 World Series, but fell out of favor with fans before his departure. He was considered the ringleader after reports of players drinking beer and eating fried chicken in the clubhouse during games surfaced following the disastrous end to 2011.
Beckett (3-1) started this season on the disabled list with a thumb injury, raising more doubts about how effective he would be for a team with postseason expectations.
"I just wanted to help the team," he said. "You always want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."
Beckett was the MVP of the 2003 World Series for the Marlins, capping their championship run by pitching a five-hit shutout in the clinching Game 6 at Yankee Stadium.
Roy Halladay has the only other no-hitter at cozy Citizens Bank Park, doing it for the Phillies in a 4-0 playoff win over Cincinnati on Oct. 6, 2010.
In 1988, Pascual Perez of the Expos held the host Phillies hitless for five innings at Veterans Stadium before the game was stopped because of rain. A Major League Baseball committee later ruled that no-hitters of less than nine innings didn't officially count.
Beckett walked Utley in the first and Marlon Byrd in the second before retiring 23 straight.
Beckett threw a one-hitter for the Red Sox at Tampa Bay on June 15, 2011. He allowed an infield single to current Phillies utilityman Reid Brignac in the third inning of a 3-0 win.
Phillies righty A.J. Burnett (3-4) allowed four earned runs and 11 hits in seven innings in a matchup against his former Marlins teammate. Burnett is 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in his last four starts.
"What was good for him today was he was able to throw his changeup and his hook for strikes in fastball counts," Burnett said.
Marlins manager Mike Redmond, who caught Beckett in Florida, sort of predicted success for Beckett this season.
"When we were in LA, we talked about some things and I said, 'Man, this might be your best year because you're just going out and enjoying it,'" Redmond said.
A no-hitter sure makes it fun.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez remained out of the lineup because of a sore calf. ... Dodgers CF Matt Kemp, the 2011 NL MVP runner-up, wasn't in the starting lineup for the third straight game. Mattingly said Kemp will start playing some LF.
Beckett pitches no-hitter, Dodgers stop Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Beckett transformed himself from power pitcher to deceptive hurler after a winless, injury-plagued season ended with surgery.


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By Ryan Mack
Now that you have hopefully taken a good look at what you are meant to do for your career, you have a springboard for your job search. No matter what type of job you are hoping to get, you will need to step up your resume and figure out some creative ways to help you stand out, especially if you do not have as much experience in the field or industry as your competitors do.
It can be an obstacle to overcome some of the job qualifications or requirements that the company is looking for. It's really about the right mix of qualifications, personality, and the ability to rise to the challenges of the job.
Let's look at some ways you can gear your resume for the job you really want — while bypassing whether or not you are qualified — because you should only be applying to jobs that you really feel that you can meet the challenges of:
Pay attention to the qualifications the company wants. Once you know exactly what they want, you can then write your resume with that in mind. You may already have some of the qualifications that they are looking for, but if you don't, that's okay. Just be sure to address those qualifications another way, but honestly. Recruiters will appreciate and be impressed that you actually took the time to take a look at all of the qualifications and it will show your attention to detail.
All of this can be covered in a brief summary of qualifications before you go into your job experience. In your summary, be sure to actually use the keywords that were used in the job posting as the qualifications needed. This is because most resumes go through an applicant tracking system before they get to an actual person.
Use core competencies to your advantage. Even if you are underqualified, you can find some very creative ways to show why you would be great at this job using skills you have learned over your lifetime. Look back into your past for core competencies that you have gained throughout your lifetime, and then highlight the ones that will be most useful in the job you are applying for.
Again, you can put this in your beginning summary by simply stating these very helpful traits and how you can discuss them further in an interview. You don't want to get to detailed — rather, peak their interest in how you gained these traits.
Be honest. After you take a look at your experience and core competencies that make you qualified for the position, make sure that you can cover the parts of the job that you do not have adequate experience in and tell them why this will not be a problem for you. This is your dream job for a reason, and you would not want to learn every aspect of it if it were not, so try to get your passion for the job to come through in your resume.
Tweak your resume as needed. You may be applying to several jobs that fit within your picture of a dream job, so be sure to tweak every resume to show that you are paying attention to what each job is looking for specifically. It will take a little extra work, but it will be worth it.
Show some creativity. After you have gotten all of the text onto the page, how can you make this document stand out to a recruiter once it has made its way into their hands? Apply the skills that they are looking for, if at all possible. If they want a graphic designer, for instance, make a visual infographic out of your resume to show them what you are capable of. Or, if they need someone with some skills in Photoshop, put a transparent background of their company building in a cool creative way. Just be innovative!
If you want your dream job, take the time to create a great resume that conveys your passion for it in order to land it. Go the extra mile wherever you can — and never give up on your dream!
How will you change your resume to make yourself standout?
Other articles in this series: New Year, New You: How to Jumpstart Your Career Search & Why It Begins With You
Ryan Mack is a partner at TruYuu, an online service that helps people present themselves as more than just a resume to employers. You can connect with Ryan and the TruYuu team on Facebook and Twitter.
Read more posts on Come Recommended »


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One thing is for certain when you talking about infrared sauna benefits. People enjoy saunas as part of relaxation. There are a number of special benefits that saunas can be used for like weight loss, medical treatment, relaxation, purifying of the body through increased release of toxins, and mental health and wellness.
Before discussing the specific infrared sauna benefits in the different areas it is important to know some basic information about saunas. One thing to remember is that there are many different types of saunas available. These different types of saunas include saunas intended for medical or health treatment, those intended for home use, indoor versions and even outdoor versions.
No matter what type of sauna you choose be sure to consider one of the newer versions with the infrared technology. Infrared saunas are considered to be much more useful ins some instances. The difference is that instead of air heating the sauna the heat comes from an infrared light source.
The main advantage of the new infrared technology for saunas is that it is better on your respiratory system. The air that is breathed is a better quality. This is because in a traditional sauna the respiratory system is exposed to hot temperatures which is not the case with the new technology.
When it comes to the overall quality of the sauna, one of the biggest infrared sauna benefits is that the heat is able to reach much deeper into the skin and body. The heat is therefore more effective. This means that the new infrared saunas can actually be used like medical saunas for medical treatments.
Some of the other infrared sauna benefits are that that the sauna is hot enough to help your body get rid of toxins more quickly. Some of the other stuff that can be moved through your body more quickly includes alcohol, nicotine and metals. The possibilities are endless when you consider that the quicker you get stuff like alcohol and nicotine out of your body the quicker you can stop being dependent upon them.
There are a number of specific medical conditions and symptoms that the infrared sauna can help to alleviate or make better. It has been proven that exposure to the sauna can help people get over the feelings of fatigue. Plus you will find that it is a great way to be able to help relieve muscle pain.
In addition to the infrared sauna benefits that you have read above this technology can actually help you with goals of weight loss. You will find that it will be easier to lose weight since you actually burn more calories then running for the same amount of time. Plus cellulite will become less apparent.
The infrared sauna is also good for mental health and wellness. You will feel happier and better about yourself. Plus the relaxation benefits with this will help.
With the new infrared sauna benefits from the new science and technology there are a number of different things that you will notice. You will feel better physically and mentally. Plus you might actually be able to have help with reaching a needed goal like to stop drinking or smoking or to lose weight.


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Freight line
Robust and reliable rail lubrication systems
Freight lines are heavy loaded and used by long trains with many wagons. They require much more lubricant than other lines. Further, it is desirable to run a couple of lubrication cycles during the passage of one train. The wayside systems need to be larger in scale but also very reactive in terms of getting the lubricant quickly to the gauge faces.
Therefore, SKF developed a range of robust and reliable systems, which can store up to 360 kg of lubricant. There are two types of systems: one for applying a grease to the gauge faces (GF) and another for applying a friction modifier to the top of rail (TOR).
For further information, please visit: lincolnindustrial.com


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- This event has passed.
Body Project
Event Description
Ever want to help yourself, or the women you love, feel more comfortable in their own skin? Would you like to learn better ways to respond to negative body comments? If so, check out the Body Project, a leadership and healthy body image program for college women at Illinois State University. The Body Project is a peer-led program designed to help women learn how to combat the unrealistic, ultra-thin ideal portrayed by the media. Participants will develop strategies for stopping ?fat talk? in conversations with friends and loved ones, develop a positive relationship with their bodies, and learn about Body Activism. At program completion you will earn a certificate of completion and credit towards the ISU Leads Certificate.
Pre-registration at http://Counseling.IllinoisState.edu/Outreach/Body_Project.shtml is required.
For more information, please contact Dr. Jenni Thome, Student Counseling Services, at email@example.com, or Jim Almeda, Health Promotion and Wellness, at email@example.com.


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'96 Turbo Dodge Neon ACR
The Hows And Whys Of One Of The Fastest, Streetable FWDs Ever
Dodge Neon and Emap USA go all the way back to the beginning. Our sister magazine Super Street's first project car was a '96, last seen somewhere on the east coast getting a quad throttle body upgrade. (If anyone has seen it lately, kindly let us know of its whereabouts.) They never did manage to get much serious speed out of it, and in light of the Honda crowd making street-driven ten-second quarters a stark reality, it's nice to know that they at least had the right idea.
Len Ayala, the owner of this Neon, turned to turbo power and the knowledge of Hahn Racecraft in nearby Oswego, Illinois. Bill Hahn, who's had his hand in some of the hairiest Dodge Vipers known to man, as well as some nutso sportbikes that pump out 450 hp per liter, got to work. Hahn started by using an Eclipse bolt-on turbo system (previous-generation non-turbo Eclipses and Neons shared the 2.0L), but things quickly got out of control from there.
Said Hahn,"The Neon was new to me, but the concepts behind making one go fast were not." Hahn, one of the top importers of Mitsubishi turbo units in the country, specced out his own turbo, the Super 20G-N, built by Mitsubishi to take the additional abuse of nitrous; Hahn claims that they work fine at 30 to 35 pounds of boost and has yet to see one fail in competition use.
"The only thing we had to learn about was drivetrain approach. The Neon uses a New Process A578 transaxle, and we're running ours stock save for the Quaife differential. Distributing the power load enhances durability, and since the axles can be considered 'fuses,' the diff helps even things out. We also cannot sidestep the clutch off the line. Front drivers can't take the initial shock loads without axle attrition. The key is to use the drivetrain without abusing it. We don't do speed shifts either since these also lead to heavy high-momentary shock loads."
The turbo got Len into the 11.30s; with the 100hp shot of juice Len is going solid 10.50s at nearly 140 mph. The head, incidentally, is stock--no porting, polishing, valve job, nothing. The sole change is a set of adjustable cam gears (Hahn swears they're set at the factory specs--for now). And it drinks premium pump gas on the street.
And when it's there, it's a sight to behold. Len reports: "I lock the e-brake and burn out in Second gear till the car drags itself out of the water box. I pre-stage, manually revving motor up and down so it's racing. Soon as stage hits, I rev to the limiter (4,500 rpm at idle), and drop the hammer as soon as it turns green. Redline is 7,500 rpm and I shift there. The turbo kicks in at around 3,000-3,200 rpm, and the higher it revs, the harder the power comes on. On a dyno sheet, the power curve almost looks exponential."
Traction, as you might imagine, is another matter altogether. Switching from 3.94s to 3.55s was a start (and made the trip through the lights more pleasant as well). But. "My biggest traction problems come at the top of First gear," says Len. "The car has so much power it overpowers the tires even after it's rolling. To prevent this, I run a pair of 62-inch long wheelie bars to help keep the car from shifting its weight back. Also, the rear coilovers in back are set to full hard."
So, how does the engine stay together? Len swears it's all in the tuning. "As long as the air/fuel ratio is happy, the car responds well. I'm constantly monitoring it. Plus, Bill has always tuned it toward the safe side, I think, so there's probably more left in it. It's survived 28 pounds of boost and a 100-horse shot of nitrous."
OK, so it goes. Better still, the Neon doesn't advertise. Len (who is in his mid-30s) has wisely avoided the typical graphic nightmare and gone with basic black, big rims for the street, with silver and black accents inside to go for a sedate, adult feel. Not even a wing on the back. Sort of an ADM (American Domestic Market) approach, if you will. If you can't bring yourself to think of it as attractive, we can at least agree that the treatment it's been dealt has minimized the damage.
One of Len's more perverse delights in telling the story of his Neon is the pricing: after all the tweaking has been done, this car can be replicated for about the cost of a new Integra Type R, go faster, and have cheaper insurance to boot.
Len claims that he's at the car's streetability limit now; there's more in it, but he'll have to turn his Neon into a full-on gutted race car. That bums us out a little, that such a fine example of a 10-second street car will be forced to give up its streetability, but we're encouraged that research and experimentation will continue. Len claims he wants to pilot the first 200 mph FWD quarter-mile run. Sound impossible? He's come this far. Will anyone bet against him? We sure won't.


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By Byron Buckley
"AND THE Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked him, 'Do you agree with the law of Moses that she should be stoned to death?' And Jesus, looking at the promiscuous woman, was full of contempt and scorn for her. Full with righteous indignation, he commanded the crowd to stone the trembling woman to death, himself casting the first stone."
This is, of course, a corruption of the incident recorded in the eighth chapter of the gospel of St John. But that could have been the outcome if Jesus had reacted differently to the taunting and entrapment of the religious leaders of his time. And based on the utterances of some contemporary religious leaders about homosexuals, that is how they would expect Jesus to react!
Indeed, one of the society's low points in 2012 was the mob-incited beating of a suspected gay student by security guards at an institution of higher learning. It's not the first and only incident of violent attack on persons suspected to be other than heterosexual in Jamaica. In fact, this year a mob in Trelawny killed and maimed relatives of a person alleged to have buggered two boys found dead. These are all sad and tragic incidents that point to the urgent need for the disparate elements of the Jamaican society to come together to address our general tendency to resort to violence and, in particular, against sexual minorities.
My prayer and wish for the new year is that the heterosexual majority - especially members of the faith-based community - and members of sexual minority groups will embrace, rather tolerate, each other going forward. Each side will have to respect each other's sensibilities and coexist. It's not a zero-sum game: it's not practical for straight people to cleanse the society of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). We can't kill off all the 'b-man dem'. Likewise, the LGBT community should not expect people to abandon their deeply held values about sexual correctness, for example, the non-public display of sexuality. The gay lobby must not make the tactical error of equating the legal/values system in the United States with what obtains in Jamaica.
In the coming year, we have to begin the conversation about ending discrimination of sexual minorities and produce a home-grown solution - one that reflects Jamaica's proud international record of championing the fight against racial discrimination in Apartheid South Africa, one that underscores the spirit of our national motto: Out of Many, One People. In the 1970s, we ended discrimination against children born out of wedlock -'no bastard no deh again'. Forty years later, we should be able to end discrimination and stigmatisation of sexual minorities.
The stance and role of the Christian community is critical in finding a solution to the straight-gay conundrum. The Jamaican church community, it appears, doesn't want to be seen as being soft on homosexuality, so it frequently preaches vehemently against the practice. Some clerics utter hateful sentiments against gays as DJs of spurious moral standing do. The Church has been largely reactive, rather than proactive, in the gay-rights debate.
There are some lessons from how Jesus dealt with the case of the woman caught in adultery.
Firstly, he pointed out that her sin of adultery WAS NOT more reprehensible than the sins of persons accusing her. 'If any of you are sinless, cast the first stone', Jesus challenged the religious leaders and congregants in the temple. Many Christians, using flawed theology, make homosexuality a special sin - one that deserves special condemnation as evidenced by the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Except for references to anal sex and bestiality, which it prohibits, the scriptures classify homosexuality as fornication or sexual promiscuity. As grotesque as the act of anal sex is, morally it is no worse than other sins to God. The prophet Ezekiel explains that it was a slew of sins that triggered God's fiery judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah, including pride and not taking care of the poor and needy. In fact, an overarching Judaeo-Christian value, as the prophet Isaiah pointed out, was to "rebuke the oppressor, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans and provide for widows". These have high weighting on God's moral scale.
By proclaiming homosexuality as a special sin, Christians are guilty of feeding stigma and discrimination. The Church must stop this now, as a first step towards finding a national solution to the peaceful coexistence of the heterosexual and LGBT community.
The second lesson from Jesus' handling of the accusation against the woman caught in adultery is that he did not condone her behaviour ('go and sin no more'), but neither did he condemn her to a lost, irredeemable fate. An important point to note is that if Jesus had agreed to her death, he would be supporting injustice and a kangaroo trial, because the law requires her and the husband she was caught with to be both stoned. By not bringing the offending husband to book, the religious leaders were guilty of gender discrimination.
It is these principles of fairness, justice and nondiscrimination that I expect the Church to champion as the society seeks to work out a solution for the harmonious coexistence of the sexual majority with sexual minorities.
Byron Buckley is associate editor at The Gleaner. Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com