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A noxious puff-word. Since it does nothing that good old use doesn't do, its extra letters and syllables don't make a writer seem smarter; rather, using utilize makes you seem either like a pompous twit or like someone so insecure that she'll use pointlessly big words in an attempt to look sophisticated. The same is true for the noun utilization, for vehicle as used for car, for residence as used for house, for presently, at present, at this time, and at the present time as used for now, and so on. What's worth remembering about puff-words is something that good writing teachers spend a lot of time drumming into undergrads: "formal writing" does not mean gratuitously fancy writing; it means clean, clear, maximally considerate writing.
A paradoxical noun because it refers to a kind of beauty but is itself one of the ugliest words in the language. Same goes for the adj. form pulchritudinous. They're part of a tiny elite cadre of words that possess the opposite of the qualities they denote. Diminutive, big, foreign, fancy (adj.), classy, colloquialism, and monosyllabic are some others; there are at least a dozen more. Inviting your school-age kids to list as many paradoxical words as they can is a neat way to deepen their relationship to English and help them see that words are both symbols for real things and real things themselves.
An adjective, not synonymous with the noun mucus. It's worth noting this not only because the two words are fun but because so many people don't know the difference. Mucus means the unmentionable stuff itself. Mucous refers to (1) something that makes or secretes mucus, as in "The next morning, his mucous membranes were in rocky shape indeed," or (2) something that consists of or resembles mucus, as in "The mucous consistency of its eggs kept the diner's breakfast trade minimal."
As an adj., myriad means (1) an indefinitely large number of something ("The Local Group comprises myriad galaxies") or (2) made up of a great many diverse elements ("the myriad plant life of Amazonia"). As a noun, it's used with an article and of to mean a large number ("The new CFO faced a myriad of cash-flow problems"). What's odd is that some authorities consider only the adjective usage correct — there's about a 50-50 chance that a given copy editor will query a myriad of — even though the noun usage has a much longer history. It was only in 19th-century poetry that myriad started being used as an adj. So it's a bit of a stumper. It's tempting to recommend avoiding the noun usage so that no readers will be bugged, but at the same time it's true that any reader who's bugged by a myriad of is both persnickety and wrong — and you can usually rebut snooty teachers, copy editors, et al. by directing them to Coleridge's "Myriad myriads of lives teemed forth."
This is one of a class of adjectives, sometimes called "uncomparables", that can be a little tricky. Among other uncomparables are precise, exact, correct, entire, accurate, preferable, inevitable, possible, false; there are probably two dozen in all. These adjectives all describe absolute, non-negotiable states: something is either false or it's not; something is either inevitable or it's not. Many writers get careless and try to modify uncomparables with comparatives like more and less or intensives like very. But if you really think about them, the core assertions in sentences like "War is becoming increasingly inevitable as Middle East tensions rise"; "Their cost estimate was more accurate than the other firms'"; and "As a mortician, he has a very unique attitude" are nonsense. If something is inevitable, it is bound to happen; it cannot be bound to happen and then somehow even more bound to happen. Unique already means one-of-a-kind, so the adj. phrase very unique is at best redundant and at worst stupid, like "audible to the ear" or "rectangular in shape". You can blame the culture of marketing for some of this difficulty. As the number and rhetorical volume of US ads increase, we become inured to hyperbolic language, which then forces marketers to load superlatives and uncomparables with high-octane modifiers (special - very special - Super-special! - Mega-Special!!), and so on. A deeper issue implicit in the problem of uncomparables is the dissimilarities between Standard Written English and the language of advertising. Advertising English, which probably deserves to be studied as its own dialect, operates under different syntactic rules than SWE, mainly because AE's goals and assumptions are different. Sentences like "We offer a totally unique dining experience"; "Come on down and receive your free gift"; and "Save up to 50 per cent… and more!" are perfectly OK in Advertising English — but this is because Advertising English is aimed at people who are not paying close attention. If your audience is by definition involuntary, distracted and numbed, then free gift and totally unique stand a better chance of penetrating — and simple penetration is what AE is all about. One axiom of Standard Written English is that your reader is paying close attention and expects you to have done the same.
Focus is now the noun of choice for expressing what people used to mean by concentration ("Sampras's on-court focus was phenomenal") and priority ("Our focus is on serving the needs of our customers"). As an adj., it seems often to serve as an approving synonym for driven or monomaniacal: "He's the most focused warehouse manager we've ever had." As a verb, it seems isomorphic with the older to concentrate: "Focus, people!"; "The Democrats hope that the campaign will focus on the economy"; "We need to focus on finding solutions instead of blaming each other". Given the speed with which to focus has supplanted to concentrate, it's a little surprising that nobody objects to its somewhat jargony New Age feel — but nobody seems to. Maybe it's because the word is only one of many film and drama terms that have entered mainstream usage in the last decade, e.g., to foreground (= to feature, to give top priority to); to background (= to downplay, to relegate to the back burner); scenario (= an outline of some hypothetical sequence of events), and so on.
A beautiful and expressive word that combines the phonological charms of verve and fever. Lots of writers, though, think fervent is synonymous with fervid, and most dictionary defs. don't do much to disabuse them. The truth is that there's a hierarchical trio of zeal-type adjectives, all with roots in the Latin verb fervere (= to boil). Even though fervent can also mean extremely hot, glowing (as in "Fingering his ascot, Aubrey gazed abstractedly at the brazier's fervent coals"), it's actually just the baseline term; fervent is basically synonymous with ardent. Fervid is the next level up; it connotes even more passion/devotion/eagerness than fervent. At the top is perfervid, which means extravagantly, rabidly, uncontrollably zealous or impassioned. Perfervid deserves to be used more, not only for its internal alliteration and metrical pizzazz but because its deployment usually shows that the writer knows the differences between the three fervere words.
A totally great adjective. Feckless primarily means deficient in efficacy, i.e., lacking vigor or determination, feeble; but it can also mean careless, profligate, irresponsible. It appears most often now in connection with wastoid youths, bloated bureaucracies — anyone who's culpable for his own haplessness. The great thing about using feckless is that it lets you be extremely dismissive and mean without sounding mean; you just sound witty and classy. The word's also fun to read because of the soft e assonance and the k sound — the triply assonant noun form is even more fun.
This medical noun signifies an especially icky ulcerous infection of the mouth or genitals. Because the condition most commonly strikes children living in abject poverty/squalor, it's a bit like scrofula. And just as the adj. scrofulous has gradually extended its sense to mean "corrupt, degenerate, gnarly", so nomal seems ripe for similar extension; it could serve as a slightly obscure or erudite synonym for "scrofulous, repulsive, pathetically gross, grossly pathetic"… you get the idea.
There are maybe more descriptors for various kinds of hair and hairiness than any other word-set in English, and some of them are extremely strange and fun. The more pedestrian terms like shaggy, unshorn, bushy, coiffed, and so on we'll figure you already know. The adj. barbigerous is an extremely uptown synonym for bearded. Cirrose and cirrous, from the Latin cirrus meaning "curl" or "fringe" (as in cirrus clouds), can both be used to refer to somebody's curly or tufty or wispy/feathery hair — Nicolas Cage's hair in Adaptation is cirrose. Crinite means "hairy or possessed of a hair-like appendage", though it's mainly a botanical term and would be a bit eccentric applied to a person. Crinose, though, is a people-adj. that means "having a lot of hair", especially in the sense of one's hair being really long. The related noun crinosity is antiquated but not obsolete and can be used to refer to somebody's hair in an amusingly donnish way, as in Madonna's normally platinum crinosity is now a maternal brown. Glabrous, which is the loveliest of all hair-related adjectives, means having no hair (on a given part) at all. Please note that glabrous means more baby's-bottom-hairless than bald or shaved, though if you wanted to describe a bald person in an ironically fancy way you could talk about his glabrous dome or something. Hirsute is probably the most familiar upmarket synonym for hairy, totally at home in any kind of formal writing. Like that of many hair-related adjectives, hirsute's original use was in botany (where it means "covered with coarse or bristly hairs"), but in regular usage its definition is much more general. Hispid means "covered with stiff or rough little hairs" and could apply to a military pate or unshaved jaw. Hispidulous is mainly just a puffed-up form of hispid and should be avoided. Lanate and lanated mean "having or being composed of woolly hairs". A prettier and slightly more familiar way to describe woolly hair is with the adjective flocculent. (There's also floccose, but this is used mainly of odd little hairy fruits like kiwi and quince.) Then there are the pil-based words, all derived from the Latin pilus (= hair). Pilose, another fairly common adj., means "covered with fine soft hair". Last but not least is the noun pilimiction, which names a hopefully very rare medical disorder "in which piliform or hair-like bodies are passed in the urine". Outside of maybe describing some kind of terribly excruciated facial expression as pilimictive, however, it's hard to imagine a mainstream use for pilimiction. Tomentose means "covered with dense little matted hairs" — baby chimps, hobbits' feet and Robin Williams are all tomentose. Ulotrichous, which is properly classed with lannate and flocculent, is an old term for "crisply woolly hair". Be advised that it is also, if not exactly a racist adj., certainly a racial one — AC Haddon's Races of Man, from the early 1900s, classified races according to three basic hair types: leiotrichous (straight), cymotrichous (wavy) and ulotrichous.
Now go do the right thing.
This is an edited extract from "Both Flesh and Not", by David Foster Wallace, published by Hamish Hamilton at £20.
"Twenty-Four Word Notes" was originally published in the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus Copyright © 2004, 2008, 2012 Oxford University Press


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Nearly 200K still without power in Northeast as utility crews continue post-storm restorations
By Clarke Canfield, APSunday, February 28, 2010
Nearly 200K without power after Northeast storm
PORTLAND, Maine — Nearly 200,000 homes and businesses were still without power Monday as restoration efforts continued days after a slow-moving storm battered the Northeast with heavy snow, rain and high winds.
More than 83,000 utility customers still lacked electricity early Monday in New Hampshire, the hardest-hit state. New York had about 87,000 outages, and Maine had about 16,000.
At the peak of the storm, more than a million utility customers throughout the region had lost power.
Hundreds of utility crews from as far away as Michigan and Maryland continued removing trees that knocked down power lines and replacing utility poles that snapped during last week's storm.
Dozens of shelters provided warmth and food at fire departments, schools and other places.
Even after spending three nights at a shelter in New Paltz, N.Y., 28-year-old Keith Crum of Marlboro, N.Y., said he was understanding of the ongoing power outage. He recently moved back to the area from South Carolina, where he worked cutting trees away from power lines.
"They're trying to do the best they can with the power," he said. "You got to take into account there are a lot of lines down."
Bryan Bush lost electricity Thursday, but he used a power generator he owns to turn the lights back on in his home in Kittery, Maine. Neighbors without that option have been stopping in for showers, warmth and cups of coffee.
But with three utility poles still down in front of his house and wires crossing his driveway, he wasn't too confident about getting power back anytime soon.
"I wouldn't expect much before the middle or the end of the week," he said.
Deep snow in New York has made it hard for people to get around.
"A lot of people cannot honestly get out of their house and get to the shelters," said John-Anthony Bruno, executive director of the Ulster County, N.Y., chapter of the American Red Cross.
"A lot of people are resourceful," she added. "If their neighbor has power, they go down the street rather than shelter with us."
In southern New York, the weather was linked to a death in Warwick, where a 60-year-old man was found dead after he went outside to shovel snow on Friday, said Walter Koury, the Orange County emergency services commissioner.
Governors in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts visited storm-struck areas Sunday to meet with emergency responders and view storm damage. Officials said it could be several days before power is fully restored in New Hampshire, while Maine's largest utility hoped to restore power to all of its customers by the end of Monday.
In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch activated 50 National Guard members who went door-to-door in Allenstown on Sunday to check on residents without power.
"This continues to be a difficult situation for many New Hampshire families and I continue to urge people to put their safety first," Lynch said.
The storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow in New York, dropped 8 inches of rain in southern Maine and brought wind gusts of up to 92 mph off the New Hampshire coast.
Another storm, this one from the east, was expected to bring more snow and rain into parts of New England on Sunday night into Monday.
Maine stood to get the brunt of the latest front with 3 to 6 inches of snow expected in much of the state, and lesser amounts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, said Michael Cempa, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Gray, Maine.
Associated Press writers Cristian Salazar in New York City; Stephen Singer in Hartford, Conn.; and Glenn Adams in Augusta, Maine, contributed to this report.
Tags: Geography, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, North America, Portland, Power Outages, Storms, United States, Winter Weather

subset: commoncrawl


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Bart Scott's tumultuous relationship with the New York media took another strange turn Friday.
According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Scott and reporter Dan Leberfeld had to be separated in the Jets' locker room. A New York Jets PR staffer had to step between Scott and Leberfeld after the reporter took a cell-phone picture of the linebacker. Leberfield also tried to take a picture of Scott on Wednesday.
After the puffed chests, Scott, who hasn't talked to the media since Week 1, apparently threatened to "smack the (expetive) out of Leberfeld, who responded: "I'll sue you!"
Scott responded by saying, "I don't care" and calling Leberfeld another choice term we can't repeat here. Leberfield told The Associated Press he never felt truly threatened.
"I don't think a player would be that stupid," he said. "A player would be suspended or have legal issues, so I don't think a player would ever do that."
The Jets later released a statement regarding the incident, which also will be reviewed by the NFL.
"We work hard to foster an appropriate working environment," the Jets' statement read. "We regret this incident occurred and are reviewing the matter."
This would be an eye-opening story in a lot of cities with a lot of teams. With the Jets, it's called Friday.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


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Rihanna's hair is an ever evolving feature. She's gone long, short, dark, light. And remember when she went red? But why shouldn't she have some fun with her hair. She's young, she's creative, she's got the best in the business fiddling with her follicles. Well, she's made another drastic change… except this one is a bit more traditional than you might expect from Riri.
On Saturday, she was blonde a la Goldie Hawn, but yesterday posted a pic of herself on Instagram with her hair back to black. Personally, I love it. I know it's not as crazy as some of her other 'do's, but it much more flattering to her skin tone and really brings out her beautiful features. Hey, blonde isn't for everyone. Isn't that right, Sisqo?
What do you think? Better blonde or brunette?


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Property taxes become delinquent in the year following the payable year. Interest and penalty accrue on a monthly basis. The property is put into judgment and the forfeiture process begins. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer's office at 763-765-4350.
Show All Answers
For further information contact us Auditor / Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
If your property tax payment is not showing up on the Beacon website or if you have a question about your payment, please contact Property Tax for the most current information at 763-765-4350 or 800-438-0575.
If you have not received a property tax statement by the statutory mailing deadline, it is your responsibility to contact the Property Tax Division of the Auditor /Treasurer's Office to have a duplicate statement sent to you.
Contact the Assessor's Office in writing with the correct address information.
The Auditor / Treasurer's Office computes your property taxes by multiplying the value of your property by the total tax rate of the district in which your property is located. Classification rates are set by the Minnesota State Legislature. The value of your property is determined by the County Assessor's Office, and the classification is based on use. For more information, contact the Assessor at 763-765-4350.
Property tax dollars are distributed to the county, school district, municipality, and other special taxing districts in which your property is located.
The Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer's Office accepts payments of more or less than the exact amount of a tax installment due for the current year. If the accepted payment is less than the amount due, it is applied first to the penalty accrued for the year that the payment is made.
If there is an over payment on your current taxes, a refund will be issued. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
If you pay your tax after the tax due dates, a penalty will be added. The later you pay, the greater the penalty. For details, check the back of your property tax statement or refer to the schedule of penalties for late payment of property tax.
The Truth - In - Taxation notice (TNT), also called the Proposed Tax Notice, is mailed to property owners during November each year. This notice indicates the anticipated property tax you will pay the following year if your local jurisdictions approve the budget amounts they are considering. Property owners are invited to attend meetings held by their local jurisdictions to express their opinions on local budgets. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
Yes, for the following reasons:
For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
A number of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts have been created within Sherburne County TIF is a program which allows the increased property taxes generated by a development to pay for development costs.
Tax Increment Financing is not an additional tax. Tax Increment Financing does not affect the calculation of the tax amount. Rather, it affects the distribution of tax. The tax due is calculated the same as for a property that is not in a TIF district, but money that would normally go to the County, City, school and special taxing districts is instead diverted to a TIF district. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
Special taxing districts in Sherburne County include local economic development authorities, local Housing and Redevelopment Authorities. The Regional Rail Authority is also a special taxing district. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
A special assessment is an improvement (such as streets, etc.) which directly benefits the property. It is shown as a separate amount on the property tax statement. The amount is based on how much the property benefits from the improvement and the cost of doing the project. It is not based on the value of the property. For more information, contact the Auditor/Treasurer at 763-765-4350.
If you owned and occupied this property on January 2 of this year as your homestead, you may qualify for a property tax refund. In addition, Minnesota homeowners whose property taxes increased by more than 12% over last year may be eligible for a special property tax refund. To determine if you are eligible for the Minnesota property tax refund and/or the special property tax refund, read the Form M-1PR Instructions and fill out the Form M-1PR.
Your state income tax booklet may contain the Form M-1PR and instructions. If not, you can download forms from the Minnesota Department of Revenue or request forms by calling the state at 651-296-4444, or by writing to:Minnesota Tax FormsMail Station 1421St. Paul, MI 55146-1421


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$ 69.00
Experience the magic of riding your very own Unicorn Horn Dildo. This Unicorn Horn has all the shape and texture of the real thing *wink, and will leave you in a fantasy world all your own. Hand poured from the best silicone available, this smooth soft horn will let you experience orgasms only heard of in fairy tales. Hurry up and get one of these magical toys today before they're gone!
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Made in the Split Peaches Peach Pit Laboratory. All of our dildos are USA hand made with the highest quality body safe Platinum Silicone available.
* All Split Peaches toys are hand made and the color may vary slightly from the picture.


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"Leader Bank provides modern banking with a personal touch. Data is how we execute on that vision." -- Andrew, Head of Data & Marketing
To maintain a competitive edge, community banks need to have a deep understanding of customer behavior and preferences. For Leader Bank, the path to success was marred by fragmented systems and disjointed data, hindering their ability to provide efficient customer service and targeted marketing efforts. This is where OneSix stepped in, bringing innovative Customer 360 solutions to address these challenges and transform Leader Bank's operations.
Offered Free by: OneSix
See All Resources from: OneSix


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Whoever, having kindled or caused to be kindled, a fire in or near any forest, timber, or other inflammable material upon any lands owned, controlled or leased by, or under the partial, concurrent, or exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, including lands under contract for purchase or for the acquisition of which condemnation proceedings have been instituted, and including any Indian reservation or lands belonging to or occupied by any tribe or group of Indians under the authority of the United States, or any Indian allotment while the title to the same is held in trust by the United States, or while the same shall remain inalienable by the allottee without the consent of the United States, leaves said fire without totally extinguishing the same, or permits or suffers said fire to burn or spread beyond his control, or leaves or suffers said fire to burn unattended, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Quick search by citation:
18 U.S. Code § 1856 - Fires left unattended and unextinguished
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 788; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 107 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 53, 35 Stat. 1908; June 25, 1910, ch. 431, § 6, 36 Stat. 857; Nov. 15, 1941, ch. 472, § 2, 55 Stat. 764).
Words "without hard labor" which followed "six months" and preceded "or both" were omitted as unnecessary. (See reviser's note under section 1 of this title.)
Enumeration of applicable condemnation statutes was deleted and section extended and made applicable to all lands in process of condemnation by the government. This does no violence to the intent of Congress and clarifies the section considerably.
Other changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $500".


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Gould & Goodrich
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Gould & Goodrich seeks to provide elite operators with the gear they need to defend themselves and their country and to preserve peace and freedom. It's a tall order, but since 1985, the company has delivered. Based in North Carolina, Gould & Goodrich has spent decades manufacturing first-rate holsters and duty gear. The company holds itself to rigorous standards in terms of the materials and designs of its holsters. Gould & Goodrich puts the needs of its users above all else–if the gear doesn't hold up in a challenging situation, then it isn't worth making. Law enforcement professionals, military personnel and citizens who carry all can find dependable gear from Gould & Goodrich.


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"Visceral storytelling. Shot through with moments of pure theatre, graced with vivid, moving performances by an excellent young cast. A stirring opening statement from this exciting new theatre group." Jez Butterworth on Phoenix
Who we work with
The Big House works with young people who have been through the care system and are finding life difficult. We provide a platform for them to participate in the making of theatre and to have their voices heard.
Our commitment
We are committed to unlocking our members' potential and enabling them to lead positive and fulfilling lives.
The inspiration for our plays are the stories our members share with us.
Who we collaborate with
The Big House collaborates with theatre industry professionals who are excited by our highly disciplined work and inspirational membership, to help us create theatre of the highest standard.
"Maggie Norris' work with young people at risk is innovative and exciting. I have no doubt that her ideas for The Big House will continue to be just as exhilarating and rewarding. Our communities need projects like this. Please help in any way you can." Kathy Burke
"Knife Edge…the most exciting theatre event of the year." Pip McCormac, Red Magazine


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Sony Biotechnology Inc.'s New Technology for Science Provides Researchers Results in Color
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Biotechnology Inc. ("Sony") today announced the launch of the new Sony SP6800 Spectral Analyzer (SP6800). Sony will be exhibiting and taking orders for this system at CYTO 2013, which will be held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, from May 20 - 22.
The SP6800 Spectral Analyzer is Sony's second analytical system, incorporating commercial audio-visual technologies into new and novel functionalities for the immunology, oncology, and other areas of cell research. This system includes the compact Spectral Analyzer, a free-standing fluidics cart, and Microsoft® Windows® 8, 64-bit supported software.
Developed in conjunction with its affiliate, Sony Corporation in Japan, the system provides up to 15-color analyses with only 2 lasers and no filters, and also is able to collect a sample's full emitted fluorescence spectrum, from 500nm to 800nm, in a novel 32-channel linear array PMT detector. With this new functionality, the SP6800 Spectral Analyzer has the ability to determine the spectral profile of a cell's autofluorescence and then automatically remove it from a stained sample, thus improving signal-to-noise and data accuracy. Combing the 32-channel linear PMT and new "virtual filters" feature, the SP6800 delivers the capability to fine-tune the detection system to adjust for staining inadequacies as well as marker density challenges.
Another unique function, adapted from DVD and Blu-ray laser tracking technology, offers the researcher distinctive information for each sample component (i.e. cell or event) by determining its location within the flow cell. This, in turn, can then be used in analysis to decrease variability and improve coefficients of variations for the total sample or individual populations needed for some applications, e.g. Cell Cycle Analysis.
"After working with collaborators throughout the world, we are excited to see such positive results from complex applications, like 12-color hematopoietic cell transplantation chimerism analysis, 11-color lymphocyte lymph-node replacement kinetics, and 7-color pediatric leukemia signal transduction," says Dr. Allen Poirson, CEO of Sony Biotechnology Inc. "The SP6800 provides fundamentally new technology for science, especially in the areas of autofluorescence and event location analysis, giving researchers their results in color."
About Sony Biotechnology Inc.:
Sony Biotechnology Inc. is a leading innovator of cell-based research analytical systems. Product offerings include flow cytometers for analysis and cell sorting, a spectral analyzer, software, reagents, and an experienced and dedicated team of professionals to support these products. These systems provide some of the most productive solutions for cell researchers throughout the world.
SOURCE Sony Biotechnology Inc.
For further information: Lisa Gephardt, Sony Corporation of America, 212/833-6826, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Rapunzel 2 – Paper Cut Light Box File - Cricut File - 20x26cm - LightBoxGoodMan
You can buy material to made HERE
The digital files include ( 1-5 Zip file):
- Size of foam board frame depth 8mm ( PNG & PDF )
- Instructions file ( PDF )
- SVG files ( vector files, can edit like original designs files )
- PDF files
- PNG files
You can either print and hand cut it or use a cutting machine (Silhouette or Cricut die cutting machines). After that you just have to assemble everything by following the step-by-step tutorial (links below), and insert it in a shadow box frame where you'll attach an LED strip.
What you need:
- Printer
- Art knife (Silhouette or Cricut machine)
- A4 size paper 160-250gsm
- Foam board
- Shadow box frame 22x28 cm , depth at least 8cm
- RGB LED strip with power supply
Watch the instruction video:
Instruction video with English subtitles:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00qICdJKnuU&t=8s
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZOXIcCxtCs&t=2s
- All of our templates and tutorials are for personal use only.
- We do not offer refunds, returns or exchanges for digital files.
- Template images and files may not be redistributed in any form.


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The NY Times headlines a topical pro-Hillary revelation in a new book by a former CIA official and buries a pro-Bush tidbit.
First, getting us ready for Hillary:
Ex-C.I.A. Official Rebuts Republican Claims on Benghazi Attack in 'The Great War of Our Time'
By David Sanger
WASHINGTON — The former deputy director of the C.I.A. asserts in a forthcoming book that Republicans, in their eagerness to politicize the killing of the American ambassador to Libya, repeatedly distorted the agency's analysis of events. But he also argues that the C.I.A. should get out of the business of providing "talking points" for administration officials in national security events that quickly become partisan, as happened after the Benghazi attack in 2012.
The official, Michael J. Morell, dismisses the allegation that the United States military and C.I.A. officers "were ordered to stand down and not come to the rescue of their comrades," and he says there is "no evidence" to support the charge that "there was a conspiracy between C.I.A. and the White House to spin the Benghazi story in a way that would protect the political interests of the president and Secretary Clinton," referring to the secretary of state at the time, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
But he also concludes that the White House itself embellished some of the talking points provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and had blocked him from sending an internal study of agency conclusions to Congress.
Yeah, whatever - IMHO the Republicans should move past Benghazi and focus on the broader question of Hillary's role in the bizarre "plan" to topple Qadaffi with no credible plan to replace him.
And speaking of what might be thought of as a lesson of Iraq (Wasn't winning the war with no plan to win the peace Bush's mistake?) the Times has this Iraq flashback:
Mr. Morell is gentle about most of the politicians he dealt with — he expresses admiration for both Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama, though he accuses former Vice President Dick Cheney of deliberately implying a connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq that the C.I.A. had concluded probably did not exist. But when it comes to the events leading up to the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq, he is critical of his own agency.
Mr. Morell concludes that the Bush White House did not have to twist intelligence on Saddam Hussein's alleged effort to rekindle the country's work on weapons of mass destruction.
"The view that hard-liners in the Bush administration forced the intelligence community into its position on W.M.D. is just flat wrong," he writes. "No one pushed. The analysts were already there and they had been there for years, long before Bush came to office."


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When 'Women in Rock' features are really, really bad, they're horrid. So, when DiS asked me to write something from a female perspective, I thought I'd stick to pure reportage and use this chance on the soapbox to communicate illuminating true-life stories (are you listening Oprah?). In search of an alternative perspective to the well-trodden 'LADS ON TOUURRR' trope, I collected tour tales via email round-robin from some of the bonniest lasses that I have crossed musical paths with. Here are their responses, combined with some of my own experiences. From the mouths of babes…
KH: Do you ever feel like 'domestic/home' you and 'tour' you are two different people?
Mary Kate Geraghty, Fight Like Apes: I think my friends and family are very comfortable in the knowledge that the person on tour is not the same person at home. There would be a lot of liver transplants and bleeding if the opposite was the case.
Ellen Waddell, Los Campesinos!: Completely. Tour me tends to make filthier jokes and be more dependent on other people to get from A to B, I turn into a bit of a dependent child looking to a tour manager to tell me what I am doing that day. Having said that, I feel far more confident in terms of everyday life on tour. Off tour I get a bit control-y about my life and can isolate myself at first because you kind of want to reclaim your own space for a while.
Melissa Auf der Maur: Actually no ... but certainly two different lives and sides of myself: the inner and the outer. What's funny though is the touring world is the showcasing the inner world to the OUTSIDE, and home life is dealing with outside reality i.e. cleaning, writing, building, emailing, phone calling, while INSIDE. It's a perfect balance really. I would not want, and have never known, another life. Best of both worlds all in one life!
Rebecca Taylor, Slow Club: Errr, yeah, and no. It depends what's going on in my life, if I'm unhappy and emo then go on tour I lose my mind, as long as there's people to lose it with... But if I'm ok at home and me and Charles just head out the two of us we mainly eat loads and search for Wifi to watch telly on.
I find the musical hobo lifestyle is good for controlling my urge to hoard, I seem to have shed about 75% of my belongings since starting to tour. What's the most freeing thing about touring?
MAdM: Letting go. Once you embark on the journey, there's no stopping (unless a volcano erupts). The absolute liberation lies in the live performance. The shows make the all the work at home, in the studio and the annoying silly business planning, worth it. Seeing how music travels its own journey, and gets into the lives of people in far away cities, that then come with open ears to a music venue- to participate in the ritual of sharing stories and magic- is pretty fucking incredible! Never ceases to amaze me. Music has a life of it's own, and touring is how you track it.
RT: If you've got yourself into a bit of trouble at home with people you can just be like "um well, I have to go on tour now BYEBYE". That's quite good.
EW: You meet fascinating people and see wonderful things and have mind blowing experiences, no two days tend to be alike and you can read your book in a different American hipster coffee shop everyday.
MKG: The realisation that it's your job. It gets hard, boring and frustrating at times but for the most part it's a bit exciting, and there is something very liberating about being part of the whole circuit.
What's the most illuminating experience you've had on tour?
RT: There have been a lot of times, where I've sat back and thought, "wow ok, this is awesome and I'm really lucky". It's usually when you're on some dance floor in some weird bar in Tucson singing "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue karaoke with a girl you just met.
MAdM: That there are romantic and hopeful people everywhere! Really, that keeps me going. Nowadays you can almost feel that on the Internet, but there's nothing better than IN THE FLESH! Proof! Truth! I toured a lot before the Internet and cell phones and it was one of the greatest revelations to me, you can find a friend ANYWHERE (and a Canadian)!
EW: Learning about yourself in new and interesting ways everyday, learning how you operate outside your comfort zone and how you can push yourself
What's the most shocking experience you've had on tour?
EW: Mostly experiences we have when we finish tours and we get hit by the curse on the way home, break downs, tour windows blowing out onto the motorway, a bandmate spilling hot tea on herself and getting third degree burns, the first time I saw a Los Campesinos tattoo...
MAdM: A Viking volcano trapping me in Finland, and it reminding us mere humans that our plans are silly, and that a grand force of nature can stop us in our tracks.
RT: erm, there are too many personally shocking moments with My Brain saying; "really? you're doing this? oh ok..." to recall...
I have a dent in my thigh where Nestor pushed a cymbal into me at a show in NYC. What changes to yourself do you think have been as a direct result of touring?
RT: (This feels like the therapy I so desperately needs btw Harkin) I think that the loss of routine and no Friday feeling is weird. Its obviously AWESOME but I really feel like you can't really plan anything, ever. And if this was a TV programme and if my job was some high flying lawyer or something there would be some emphasis on the way that I don't have time for my friends or family and that I'm just MARRIED TO MY JOB GOD DAMN IT. For all the negatives about touring I could list as many positives though really, if I was honest. So as long as it stays like that I guess it's ok.
MAdM: I'm not sure what came first, but my curiosity about people and their histories has been fed by travelling around the world with music. So had I not been given the opportunity would my curiosities have gotten more or less?
EW: I can become a bit panicky at finding the routine I had in my life on tour whilst not on it, I have gotten really good at having long distant relationships, and I have made more effort with the way I dress (which sounds rubbish but I prefer that) and have become good at turning a small suitcase worth of clothes into three weeks worth of interesting stage clothes.
MKG: I have absolute no regard for my own personal safety. I think this comes from the type of band we are and it's really hard to come back off a tour and suddenly be sensible. I really need to be heavily monitored on a night out.
When on tour have you felt your toughest?
MAdM: When you are many months into the life of touring and you have really let yourself go into the life of a nomad, you feel pretty invincible, cause you don't need anything but the road and your instrument.... feels like you're taping into the ancient tradition of the explorers and troubadours…feels great.
RT: We once loaded out on a Friday night in Birmingham and had a total slag on our bonnet and we couldn't move the van, so I was shouting at her to get her to move and she called me a 'peroxide slut'. I have never been so ready to punch a bitch in my life. I had to be held back. MY. HAIR. IS. NATURAL.
EW When I got stuck in South America by myself because of visa issues, I didn't think I could get myself out of there alone due to being used to having someone else sort that kind of thing out, luckily I did, and once I got over the fear I had a lovely time.
When on tour have you felt your most vulnerable?
MKG: The Prodigy's audience were, how should I say...terrifying. That was a pretty humbling experience but one that makes our own gigs so fucking rewarding.
MAdM Just after you've tapped into the viking blood and spirit, you hit a place of "burn out", and you feel the fire being drained out of you in a major way- and the adrenaline compensating for the exhausted spirit. That's when you start looking for the light at the end of the tunnel and imagining simple things like your bed and kitchen to get by.....
EW: When I have missed loved ones, or when unfortunate things have happened at home (I went through a spate of my cats dying every time we went away) which you cant be there for, or when you just plain old don't want to be on a tour bus for a bit.
RT: I only ever feel it when we get somewhere and the place we have to stay is gross. I just can't bear that. I try not to be a princess about anything else but I just can't stand it.
What's your top tip for touring? (one of mine is always carry a cereal bar and a bottle opener...)
MKG: Mine is always carry plasters and a sober mate around everywhere with you in your pocket.
MAdM Snacks are good. Lots of power adaptors/chargers and all communication tools. Little computer, big computer, post card and letter writing supplies........ and LET GO! Follow the waves of the road! The "it's the journey not the destination" mantra!
RT: A book, even if you aren't interested in it its the best tool to avoid small talk. erm, and drowsy painkillers.
EW: always carry an apple/small bag of food or snacks if your fussy (like I am) about rider, always find space for yourself at times and always enjoy the ride and appreciate it for the chance it is. Always have dry shampoo.
Our American tour manager keeps us in check by hollering "TOUR NOT BORE" in our faces if we ever get moany. It's a pretty good mantra. Any other tour stories you think the world should hear?
EW: We once played in Santa Cruz at this bizarre lodge which had a reputation for being haunted, and its Shining-esque decor did nothing to calm our fears. There was a tunnel and fake rock pool running into the restaurant and apparently a young girl had drowned in it. Anyway when we finished on stage Tom felt a drip on the back of his neck and upon looking upwards he glimpsed a person hiding above the stage, he exclaimed and then there was a clambering of noise within the walls. We immediately were like "GHOSTS OMG" but it turned out the restaurant tunnel actually linked to a real tunnel by a lake nearby and these people had sneaked in during the show, and the drip was their wet bodies. Apparently they hoped to steal our equipment.
RT: OH GOD SO MANY. No, I'm too tired to think cos I'm on TOUR.


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SNOW HILL – The controversial dualized intersection of Routes 12 and 113 has witnessed 14 accidents since opening a year ago, more than one a month, and further improvements lie far in the future.
Four accidents in the first 17 days after the intersection was opened on Dec. 19, 2006, seemed to herald a dangerous intersection, living up to the warnings of some who worried that the median was too narrow for crossing and turning vehicles.
The rate of accidents slowed down after that, but three occurred in a 2 ½-week span in June and two within 1 1/2 weeks in July. Two accidents also happened on the same day in October, the second apparently because of fog and the backup generated by the first crash.
No accidents at the Routes 12 and 113 intersection have been reported since mid-October.
No one has been killed, but at least 17 vehicles have been totaled, including a county dump truck and a Perdue chicken truck.
Only eight accidents were reported there the year before the dualization.
Whether the narrow median and difficult sight lines or whether driver error and inattention caused the 14 crashes is disputed.
"Whether it's the result of the construction of the intersection is not something we're going to say is the cause," said Captain Stuart Murray of the Worcester County Sheriff's Department.
The crash causes have been determined to be failure to yield and failure to pay proper attention, Murray said.
"To my knowledge we've never had a cause for a crash at that intersection that was due to the intersection [construction]," Murray said.
Commissioner Virgil Shockley has been a vocal opponent of the intersection.
"The road doesn't move. Every accident is driver error in one fashion or another," said Shockley.
The County Commissioners have been warning that the intersection would be perilous to drivers since before it was open to public use.
According to Shockley, the commissioners were not shown the plans for the improvements. It was not until gravel was laid during construction that he could see the issues with the intersection, Shockley said.
The median is too narrow to be safe, said Shockley, a school bus driver. The Board of Education has rerouted school buses around that intersection to ensure children have a safe ride to school, making some bus routes miles longer.
"Is it safer than it was? Yes," said Shockley. "Is it safe enough I feel confident driving a school bus full of kids through there? Hell no."
The commissioners wrote several letters to the state, the first in April 2006, eight months before the intersection was opened for use, but no solution was forthcoming.
"The state is supposed to at least listen to your concerns," Shockley said. "Sometimes they act on them, sometimes they don't."
While the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) did not yield to protests before the road opened, the agency has made minor changes to the intersection in the interests of safety. Last winter, yield and look again signs were added, vision blocking poles and guardrails were removed and traffic counts conducted to determine if a stoplight was warranted.
A traffic light is not warranted by the traffic counts, however, SHA District Engineer Donnie Drewer concluded, because there is not enough traffic.
Stoplights on busy highways, especially after 10 miles of no lights, can be hazardous themselves, according to SHA staff.
"If you do it right and do it safe, people don't have to have any accidents to get used to a road," Shockley said. "You need to kill some people. That'll warrant having a stop light there."
There are five stoplights on north Route 113, in Berlin, Shockley pointed out.
"There's no excuse for not having the stoplight except they don't want to put one there," he said.
Shockley wants an overpass at the intersection. While an overpass is planned for that site, the timeline for Route 113 improvements puts it at the end of the project, after all sections have been dualized. Given the delays in the dualization, an overpass could be many years away.
There are few further improvements that could be made, according to Drewer, although he has considered adding J-turns, eliminating left-hand turns entirely, or rebuilding an emergency crossover for u-turns.
The county should have some say in whether the next phase of the Route 113 dualization project is another stretch of road, or the intersection, said Shockley. The sequence of the next phases could be changed.
"We're open to what the order should be," said Neil Pedersen, Maryland State Highway Administrator at the annual Department of Transportation visit to the County Commissioners in October. "It should be based on an analysis of facts and data."
Shockley said the intersection remains a concern for many in his immediate district and elsewhere.
"At what point does your luck run out? What cost is a human life?" Shockley wondered.


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Mercedes-Benz 250C Parts
- Mercedes-Benz
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About Mercedes Benz 250C
Spanning about four years of production, the Mercedes Benz 250C was available from Mercedes USA staritng in 1969 and ended in 1972. Throughout this time roughly 24,000 of these vehicles were produced. They were popular amongst luxury car enthusiasts and Mercedes aficionados alike. With high quality 250C original parts under the hood, it was easy to see that the 250C was a reputable vehicle, worthy of the Mercedes Benz logo. With quality performance, and that luxurious look and feel that could only come from Mercedes, the 250C remains a collectible classic that is appreciated around the world.
Mercedes Benz 250C Parts from FCP Euro
FCP Euro brings you a large selection of Mercedes 250C parts, all designed with the effective reconditioning and enhancement of your classic car in mind. Our selection of Genuine, OEM, aftermarket, and Mercedes 250C original parts has something for someone within every budget. Our easy to navigate online 250C catalog eliminates the hassles of buying the parts that don't fit your vehicle when they arrive at your doorstep. As you browse for parts, simply click the fitment guide tab below the selected product, and you'll have a comprehensive list of the exact vehicles that the part you're viewing will fit. In addition to making your shopping experience with FCP Euro as convenient as possible, we back our parts up with the quality assurance of guaranteed fitment as well as a one year warranty that will bolster your confidence every time you get behind the wheel of your Mercedes Benz. Trust FCP Euro for all your maintenance and replacement parts needs, and let us show you the type of high quality difference our 20 plus years of experience in the euro parts industry will have on your vehicle.


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A local activist was surprised to find out last week that an uptown block of land scheduled to be turned into a Hoboken park has four-story house rising on it. A Hoboken developer is building a home on the corner of the land, officials confirmed.
After public pressure for more parkland, the city of Hoboken bought several acres of land at 1600 Park Ave. in 2006. The land is in between the Park Avenue and Willow Avenue bridges at the city's northern border. In the process, the city made use of grants that require the land be used for a public use open space. Part of the land they bought – two lots on the northern end – is actually in Weehawken, not Hoboken, said Hoboken Director of Community Development Fred Bado. A third lot on the northern end was not purchased, leading some to speculate that Hoboken accidentally missed it. Bado could not confirm whether that was intentional.
Soon after the acquisition of most of the land by Hoboken, one of the principal owners of a Hoboken-based development group, URSA, Mark Septembre, purchased the only remaining lot on the land. He received zoning approvals from both Weehawken and Hudson County to build a four-story house overlooking the potential park, a Weehawken zoning official confirmed.
Noticed building on a run
Jim Doyle, a Hoboken resident and attorney, was one of the activists from HobokenParks.org who lobbied for almost eight years for Hoboken to buy 1600 Park. Last weekend during a leisurely run, he noticed a building permit and some construction equipment on the block.
During the week, he called Hoboken to see whether the city approved any construction there. He was told that no construction was authorized by the city, and he was directed to call Weehawken to find out if they had approved the construction.
Doyle said a Weehawken official told him that the city had issued a construction permit, prompting Doyle to ask whether surrounding properties were given notice of zoning hearings or permit issuance. When developers need to stray from designated zoning, they must appear before a Zoning Board to ask for a variance – which Septembre apparently did. Surrounding properties are notified of which variances the developer is seeking, and they are allowed to object at the hearing. Weehawken Zoning Officer Jill Hartman, who also serves as the city's planner, said last week that notices were sent out.
Bado said he wasn't aware of any notification, although other sources gave assurance that the notices were sent. Bado said the Hoboken City Clerk would receive the notice, although they could not immediately confirm this last week. Jack Curley, Septembre's lawyer, also said that Hoboken was notified.
Not zoned for housing
Hartman said the land is zoned by Weehawken as a special kind of waterfront property that is intended to be used for recreational, commercial, or light industrial uses. She said some variances were granted to Septembre, including a variance for residential use, but and that the city of Weehawken views the new use as an asset. She said that the city likes to have housing near parks so that more people are in the area passively keeping watch.
The 7,500 sq. ft. building is slated to be a four-story factory-style home with an internal garage, officials said, and the top floor will peek over the Park Avenue bridge to provide a Manhattan view.
In center field?
Doyle spent many hours working with city officials to help facilitate the 1600 Park plan. He was perturbed that the city may have overlooked acquiring this last lot, claiming the house could be "literally in the middle of our baseball field."
Bado said no baseball field was planned to be there yet, and that the rest of the land is yet to be cleaned up by the city. He expects that a bond ordinance will be issued by the City Council this summer to cover these and other park expenses. He said roughly $5 million in grant money was used to acquire the site, as was other money from the city coffers.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at email@example.com.


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Information Possibly Outdated
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Superbells perform strongly in hot, Mississippi summers
If you're still looking for a favorite plant for our hot summer landscapes, consider Superbells. I love their funnel-shaped flowers and great growth potential. Their variety of colors can even rival petunias.
Superbells are tough plants with good summer heat tolerance. One of their attributes that I like best is, after a rainstorm, these plants recover and perk up faster than many other summer-flowering annuals, even my vaunted petunias.
These plants look great in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings in landscape beds.
I'm really impressed with the range of colors available in Superbells. Can you believe there are more than 30 gorgeous selections? The petite flowers grace cascading plants that are great in combinations, mono-hanging baskets and raised beds with good drainage. In the past several years, I've grown some in the landscape that have been pretty outstanding performers.
Superbells like Blue Moon Punch feature flowers that play off a purple theme of silvery lavender with a prominent deep-purple center eye. Superbells Yellow has bright, cheerful yellow flowers that look fancy but aren't fussy. The plant is covered all season long with these beautiful blooms.
Holy Moly is one of the best selections I grew last year; it also made the list of plants I wanted to grow again this year. Its name is exactly what I said when I first saw this selection. The flower color is stunning. The bicolor flowers feature variable, mottled yellow and pink with a cherry-red star.
These plants grow up to 10 inches high, and their trailing and spreading growth will hang over the edges of the container. You can plant Superbells in the landscape, but I like them best in containers. If you grow them in the landscape, be sure to plant in raised beds. The landscape soil must be well drained, as these plants don't like to have wet feet.
Feed with a balanced, controlled-release fertilizer to keep the plants blooming all summer. Use a tablespoon in the planting hole to get the plants off to a good start. Regularly apply water-soluble fertilizer to maintain soil nutrition at optimum levels to keep the foliage dark green and the flowering nonstop.
At planting, use sharp scissors to snip the branches a little bit to encourage full-looking growth. The plants may open up a little bit during the summer, so go ahead and give them an overall trim. Superbells respond to this pruning with more growth, so trim any time the plants get a little untidy. Be sure to add fertilizer right after these trimmings.
I greatly appreciate Superbells' heat-tolerant flowering in my landscape, especially in south Mississippi where the petunias start to fade late in the summer. So, start making plans to include Superbells in your garden and landscape this summer season, and you, too, will have blooms all summer.


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Crater Lake
Mt. Mazama was once among a cluster of stratovolcanoes stretching along the Washington and Oregon coast. This cluster of volcanoes includes Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens. The magma chamber under Mt. Mazama took 15,000-40,000 yrs to form.During the few centuries preceding the last, climactic eruption, at least two other large eruptions occurred. Ash and pumice from one of these eruptions extended into eastern Washington and western Nevada.
The last climactic eruption of Mt. Mazama occured 6850 years ago, over a number of months, and produced major outbursts of ash, lava, and hot vapors. Deposits from this series of eruptions have been found in 8 western states and 3 Canadian provinces.
Following the final series of eruptions, the cone of the volcano collapsed into the magma chamber, and Mt Mazama became dormant except for activity which formed a small cinder cone in the center (shown in this picture). The collapsed volcano filled with water and became what we now know as Crater Lake.
The Yakima Indians who lived near Mt. Mazama when it collapsed have a different story of what caused the mountain to fall.


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Dedicated and disciplined nonviolent activists, and in particular military veterans, are being openly invited to join members of Veterans For Peace in a peaceful vigil in New York City that will as likely as not result in their wrongful arrest and prosecution.
The time will be 6 p.m. on October 7, 2012, as the United States and NATO complete the eleventh year of the current occupation of Afghanistan and launch the twelfth. The crowd at the Republican National Convention cheered for complete immediate withdrawal, but the nominee's plans don't include it. The crowds at rallies for President Obama's reelection cheer for both the continuation of the war and its supposed status as "ending," even though the timetable for that "ending" is longer than most past wars, and a massive occupation is supposed to remain after the occupation "ends." Veterans For Peace, an organization dedicated to the abolition of war, is hoping to inject a discordant note into this happy discourse — something that the ongoing reports of deaths just don't seem to manage.
The place will be Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, 55 Water Street, New York City. It was there that some of the same veterans gathering this October were arrested last May First. The memorial is normally open around the clock, but on that day the New York Police Department decided to close it at 10 p.m. in order to evict the Occupy Movement's nonviolent general assembly. Eight members of the Veterans Peace Team and two members of Occupy Faith were arrested for refusing to leave. Since that day, a small metal sign has been posted at the park stating that it closes at 10 p.m. This October 7th, the veterans have a permit for sound equipment lasting until 10 p.m., but they intend to remain overnight.
Vietnam vet Paul Appell says, "War veterans, loved ones of the fallen, and certainly those living in war zones do not have the option of closing down their memories at 10 p.m. There is a good reason why suicide is an attractive option for many. It is truly the only sure way of ending the memories. For a memorial to shut down at some convenient time for the city is an insult to all those who do not have the luxury of shutting down their war memories at a specific time. I know that many want us war vets to go out of sight and not bother them, except when we are needed for some parade. Some of us are not going away at 10 p.m. or any other time. If they do not like it, maybe they should have thought of that before they sent us to war.
Tarak Kauff, U.S. Army, 1959-1962, and one of the organizers of VFP's Veterans Peace Team, says, "We will be there standing together and getting arrested again if necessary for our right to remember the fallen, to oppose and 'abolish war as an instrument of national policy' and to affirm our right to do so in a public place of remembrance that has great meaning for all veterans."
The plan is not for a mass demonstration. In fact, many are explicitly not invited. Non-veterans are enthusiastically welcome, including associate members of Veterans For Peace and anyone else dedicated to ending violence in the world. But "diversity of tactics" is unapologetically rejected. Anyone inclined toward violence, provocation, or threats, including violence to inanimate objects, is kindly asked on this day, to respect the Memorial, the veterans, and the commitment to nonviolence. This event will involve hundreds of activists who intend to peacefully vigil all night, and who will not respond to police violence with any violence of their own.
Speakers at the vigil will oppose a single additional day of U.S. warmaking in Afghanistan. Speakers will include Leah Bolger, Margaret Flowers, Glen Ford, Mike Hastie, Chris Hedges, George Packard, Donna Schaper, Kevin Zeese, and Michael Zweig. Dr. Cornel West has also been invited. At 9:30 p.m. participants will lay flowers for the fallen.
The purpose of this action, which will succeed whether the police interfere or not, is well expressed by several vets planning to take part. Mike Ferner, Navy Corpsman 1969-1973, and past president of Veterans For Peace, says, "I'm coming to NYC October 7th because I need to do more for myself and the world than just get angry at the misery and suffering. Being with my comrades again and standing up for peace uplifts my spirit."
Rev. George E. Packard, Retired, Bishop for the Armed Forces of the Episcopal Church, asks, "How can we, as Americans and compassionate human beings, tolerate even one more day creating a toxic battle environment in that southwest Asian country? We increase the lethality of our weaponry — more drones, more firepower — so we can protect our troops and not face the bad news of casualties at home. But it is a useless scheme and one that sacrifices the lives primarily of Afghan women and children, the real collateral damage. Also, this destruction becomes latent in our culture as the postponed agony of PTSD in thousands of troops extends to their immediate families in the United States. Entire segments of our population are sentenced to living addicted or arrested lives because we weren't wise enough to figure out a more humane and effective foreign policy."
Ellen Barfield, Heavy Equipment Mechanic Sergeant, U.S. Army, 1977-1981, adds, "I will mourn the New York U.S. soldiers dead from Vietnam whose names are there on that wall, and the thousands of U.S. and other soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in these more recent wars, and the millions of civilians who were killed in Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan. But I will also express our right to visit memorials and speak out against wars at any time of the day or night. Sadly, war trauma does not sleep, so setting arbitrary curfews at war memorials is cruel and unjust. We will object with our bodies to the repression of mourning and dissent."
Erik Lobo, Navy veteran, remarks, "I will be at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial because the oath I took — both in the Navy and during 28 years in law enforcement — to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, does not have an expiration date."
David Ross, Vietnam veteran, explains, "Once again I will be honored to stand with my sisters and brothers and our friends regardless of the inconvenience. I owe this and, looking back over 40 years of veteran organizing, the need to take a stand has never been greater."
William P. Homans, a.k.a. Watermelon Slim, Vietnam veteran, says, "I will be returning to the New York Vietnam Memorial to play Taps. . . . I will also be there because the American right to dissent from 'business as usual' is at risk. I was in the anti-Vietnam War movement back in the early '70s when I returned from Vietnam, and I never considered the absolute right to speak and dissent to be threatened. . . . But mostly I will be there to mourn."
John Spitzberg of Ashville VFP, puts it this way: "I speak for those who have died and for those who are so infirm that they are unable to come to New York on October 7th. We are the living and able who rally for you so that your voices are heard and are not in vain. We come to say 'Enough of this travesty of mindless war, mindless mayhem and devastation.'"
Finally, Kauff, who is doing a lot to organize this event, says, "I have a fury inside me against war and those rich fat cats who perpetrate wars and militarism. Yes, I take it personally. These wars are not about defending freedom or democracy. They have nothing to do with that — just the opposite. The top-down leaders, the corporate warlords, the politicians, the Masters of War don't give a damn about freedom and democracy, about the lives and money going from the poor and middle class to fight and pay for these wars. They and their kids don't fight, die and come home wounded in body and soul. No, they make fortunes selling weapons while destroying the world. It pains and angers me deeply, and I want to stop it. On October 7th, while grieving for, remembering and respecting the fallen, I will take a stand for my and others' right to peacefully and nonviolently affirm this whenever and wherever we want to, especially at this hallowed place, where memories and reminders of the futility of war never cease, not at 10 p.m., not at any time."
The website is StopTheseWars.org There you can register to participate, whether you wish to stand with the vets after 10 p.m. or to serve in a supporting role.


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PTZ or Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras have the freedom of mobility to move about a horizontal and vertical axis thereby increasing the field of view for the camera. In fact in some situations one Pan Tilt Zoom Internet camera may be able to perform the work of two or more stationary cameras. In addition, the zoom function allows combinations of lenses to create telephoto enlargements for better clarity of objects that may be too far away from a normal camera lens. These cameras also have the benefit of using the Internet too monitor and control the cameras.
Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras are excellent for use in retail stores where tracking and zooming in on a potential shoplifter may be needed. Depending on the size of the store, the location of the camera, and the type of camera, it may be able to follow the shoplifter the entire route that's made in the store. Considering the high rate of retail theft that's been reported lately especially in the major metropolitan areas, Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras are ideal for this purpose.
Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras are not limited to use in parking lots and retail stores; they have many other useful applications as well. Let's take a closer look at a Pan Tilt Zoom Internet camera.
Pan-tilt-zoom cameras are usually, but not always dome-type cameras. These cameras are usually mounted on the ceiling with the orientation of the dome (and thus the camera lens) downward. They may also be mounted on brackets on a horizontal surface (such as a wall or pole) with the brackets extending away from the horizontal surface just enough to provide clearance for hanging the dome in a downward position.
Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras may be indoor or outdoor models. Outdoor models are basically the same as indoor models but are enclosed in a protective case or cover. The outdoor cameras are normally rated according to the International Electrical code standard for the protection they offer from weather and other environmental elements. This rating, called an Ingress Protection code or IP rating consists of two numbers that represent corresponding protection standards. For an outdoor PTZ camera, look for a rating of IP66 or IP67. Both ratings indicate the cameras are dust tight but the IP66 also indicates that the camera can withstand powerful jets of water from any direction while the IP67 also indicates that it could be submerged in up to 1 meter of water without damage.
Some PTZ cameras are set manually, but the majority of Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras marketed today are remotely controlled. This is normally done by a keyboard or joystick control connected to the processing unit/digital video recorder or DVR. If the camera is connected to a personal computer or the Internet, it may use the computer's keyboard and/or mouse, or may provide software that has graphics that are used to control the cameras.
Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras may also come with software that can be used to preprogram the movement of the camera. Programmable preset points will move the camera to that position and hold it there for a predetermined amount of time (often referred to as a "dwell time"). After moving to each preset point and holding, the camera returns to the first preset point and repeats the cycle over again. Different cameras have a different total number of preset points available. When looking for a PTZ camera with this option, check the specifications to make sure the camera can be programmed for the number of presets you will need.
Most Pan Tilt Zoom Internet cameras also have the ability to detect motion. This is not so much a function of the camera as it is the programming or software that is controlling it. However, once these cameras detect a moving object they have the ability to "lock on" to the object and follow it throughout the total range of view for the camera. If cameras include the zoom option, they can even zoom in on the object while following it. These cameras are usually referred to as "Auto-Tracking PTZ Cameras."
PTZ cameras are incredibly versatile, easy to install, and reasonably priced making them an excellent choice for many business and residential applications. Contact one of our security experts today for more information either via Live Chat or by telephone at 866-573-8878 Monday through Friday from 9AM until 6PM EST.