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I've been meaning to get a netbook and that orange one certainly appeals to my gaudy tastes...
Samsung has never been a supplier of cheap and cheerful netbooks, and the consumer-oriented N310, which expands the range beyond the more seriously styled NC10, NC20 and N120, still comes in with a suggested price of a pound under £400. For that, you'd expect something very special. Samsung N310 The N310: you'd never guess …
All those big rounded corners and bright colours had me hoping they'd designed a neoprene or silicone covered netbook that could take a tumble. A ruggedised model would go towards justifying that price.
But as J 3 says above, wake me up when there's something new...
...you know radical stuff like higher resolutions or more than 1Gb RAM, or a browser that thinks it's an operating system ;)
Apart from a few honourable exceptions, the quick break for freedom and revolution when the first netbooks appeared has been all but stomped out by the jackboot of monopoly (not sure whether it's Intel's or Microsoft's - or both?!), restricting the hardware specs to pretty much identikit machinery...
Needs an Atom 330, Ion graphics and wireless N. Not to mention one of those nice higher res displays. And a 6 cell battery.
And at least 2 gigs. And Windows 7.
Then we'll talk.
(Oh, and a pony.)
I'm liking the vaguely utilitarian chunky design, though. So, that's something, I suppose.
Show a few pictures.
Write the somthing similar to the following;
"Samsung has released a new "Netbook". It is exactly the same as all other current netbooks with the following exceptions:
1) It has a crap battery life.
2) It comes in four colours.
That is all.
The majority of this article was totally superfluous, especially the benchmarks. It is a netbook, not an uber l33t gaming rig FFS.
A NetBook was a cheap, lightweight 'laptop' which could do enough to keep you happy when about town or on public transport. They sure had limitations but they were compensated for by cheapness and weight. And, TBH, they were not as under-powered as they seemed when compared to what we were using as desktop PC's a decade ago.
Then the potential user's who "didn't get it" started moaning that it didn't run Windows Vista, had no 7-core processor, hadn't got 4GB of Ram nor a 1TB disk drive and wouldn't allow them to edit their DVD's in real time while rendering fractals and streaming HD video. Well d'uh !
Sadly, the manufacturers saw a market for a NetBook-Plus, with bumped-up capabilities and attached a well bumped-up price tag, and left those who "did get it" out in the cold while they pandered to the 'Laptop with NetBook name tag' market. After all, there's more money to be made, and it seems everyone has jumped ship and true NetBooks are now long gone.
To me - and I suspect many more - price was the key element of a NetBook. I am sure there is still a market there. It's a shame that it's not being supplied. I guess the "maximise profit" motive will ensure that continues. After all, profit comes above satisfying needs.
Wake me up when the sub-£150 NetBook is back on sale. I can buy any £300+ Laptop anywhere.
Absolutely - my eee701 does'nt run Vista, or paintshop, and it won't edit videos.
It is, however, cheap, rugged, very portable, surfs beautifully and handles gentle office tasks.
The netbook must be one of the best, shortest lived niches in history - its gone from a brand new concept to boring notebook alsoran in what? 18 months? :(
I had been pining over a Dell Mini 10v, mostly for the 1366x768 screen, but then I added the better CPU, bluetooth, and before I new it I was close to Samsung money.
Then an email arrived from eBuyer for an Aspire A150 for under £150 all in. I installed my MSDN XP Pro on it and I've not looked back. As others have mentioned the spec is completely adequate (1.6Ghz/1Gb/120Gb).
I needed the harddrive to install the apps I use and also to card music + video about. I completely accept the battery hit. I just wish it could boot off of one of the SD slots so I could fall back to Linux to squeeze that life back. Oh and built in 3G would be nice...


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When do you need SR22 insurance in Springfield
The SR-22 is simply the technical name of the insurance certificate or liability document required by those who do not qualify for a regular car insurance policy.
It is most relevant if a person is found guilty in the case of car accident responsibility with an uninsured car or after a belief about a DUI change (driving under influence). In this case, the insurance company assumes they are at greater risk than the unmarked individual in their records. Therefore, to offset the greater risks they may need to meet when they insure you, the insurance company usually requires a cash deposit or other security form as evidence of financial liability. It acts as a barrier against ongoing irresponsible behavior by vehicle.
When do you need SR22 insurance in Springfield
SR22 Insurance in Springfield VA is required when someone submits SR22 instead of cash deposit or other security. SR22 is used to effectively monitor these high risk riders. If they repeat their violation, SR26 is issued by an insurance company that effectively stops coverage on top of their vehicle, so they are personally liable on a legal level in respect of any damage or injury they may have caused while driving their vehicle.
SR22 also ensures that the insurance policy covers the minimum coverage specified by third parties for certain state-operated companies. Many insurance vendors offer services to get cheap SR22 insurance in Springfield VA. This ensures that many individuals who are otherwise denied responsibility by another company can now insure their vehicle with the approval of the Department of Foreign Affairs and get around it with full legal protection afforded to him under the constitution. When do you need SR22 insurance in Springfield
Getting cheap SR22 insurance in Springfield VA is however the best stop gap measure. SR22 is not a substitute for making a positive change in your life. While the relatively easy and fast availability of SR22 insurance in Springfield VA may make it seem otherwise, it still becomes a fact that you need SR22 in the first place because you have been irresponsible with motor vehicles that were in your control in the past. That behavior not only endangers you, but also your fellow citizens without their own fault. Such behavior can even lead to loss of life or limbs; A motor vehicle is much more than just a means of transportation. It has the capacity to cause enormous dangers as well.
Therefore, just because you can take advantage of SR22 insurance does not mean you get a moral negligence for regret or self-improvement. You must identify yourself and fix the mistakes first. If you have been convicted of a DUI and you know you are guilty, you owe it to yourself not to be behind the wheel of a vehicle unless you are sure that you are not endangering anyone's life. You have been given the opportunity to make changes within you and you must seize the opportunity with both hands. Better yourself and be a responsible citizen in this country and society. Your friends rely on it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Reaching the world with the truth of the Full Gospel
8,027 sermons are available for audio streaming or download from some of the most anointed ministers to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Millions of visitors from all over the world have accessed this site since Oct 2010.
Matthew 10:8 ...freely ye have received, freely give.
Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed recordings to this site and for sharing in a desire to spread the Gospel to a lost world that might not hear the full truth otherwise! Please pray that the Lord will use these messages to reach hungry souls through out the world!
We appreciate you visiting our site and hope it is spiritually uplifting to you.
Free streaming or downloads of all messages
Messages are available in MP3 audio format.


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35.81 - Acquisition of Radioactive Materials
- Position: Environmental Health and Safety Director
- Email: email@example.com
Last updated: August 18, 2005
A. General. Radioactive materials may be obtained by several methods. The major source of radioactive materials is the purchase of radioisotopes and sealed sources from commercial vendors. Other sources include, but are not limited to, surplus or donated radioactive materials, neutron activation material, the transfer of materials from one user to another, and the transfer of material from another institution or organization to the University of Idaho.
A-1. Regardless of the method used to acquire radioactive material, users must have authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee or written permission from the radiation safety officer before they can obtain radioactive material [See FSH 1640.71 and FSH 6120 H-3] . Please refer also to the university's 1996 Radiation Safety Manual.
A-2. The use of radioactive materials and radiation producing equipment on UI property is subject to the terms and conditions of the university's Broad Scope Radioactive Materials License No. 11-27382-01 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The terms of that license require adherence to procedures outlined in the 1996 Radiation Safety Manual. The university is subject to significant penalties, as well as potential loss of its broad license, for violations of procedures specified in the Manual.
B. Process. The process of purchasing radioactive materials requires the use of a requisition, similar to other types of purchases, and a valid "Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials" form. The radiation safety officer or designee approves the "Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials" form and Purchasing Services processes the requisition. All other methods of acquiring radioactive material require approval from the radiation safety officer or designee.
C. Procedures. Personnel at the Moscow campus who have received authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee to use radioactive material can order materials by complying with the following steps (procedures for obtaining and receiving radioactive materials at university facilities located outside of Moscow shall be determined by the Radiation Safety Committee at the time of authorization):
C-1. Procedures for Ordering From a Commercial Vendor.
i) Complete a requisition describing the radioactive material(s) to be ordered. Type "RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS" on the first line in the Description section of the requisition form. Departmental Purchase Orders (DPOs) may not be used to order radioactive materials.
ii) Complete the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M and attach to the requisition.
iii) Obtain the signature of the radiation safety officer or designee.
iv) Follow the normal procedures for processing a requisition.
v) It shall be the responsibility of Purchasing Services to ensure all requisitions are accompanied by a completed Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M before issuing a purchase order.
vi) The purchase order must show the following as the "ship-to" address:
Name of Authorized User c/o Radiation Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety University of Idaho 1108 West Sixth Street Moscow, ID 83844-2030
vii) For those departments processing requisitions electronically, complete the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M, obtain the radiation safety officer or designee's signature, and forward the form to Purchasing Services. Purchasing Services will match the requisition with the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials form.
viii) Before processing an order for radioactive materials, a vendor must have in possession a valid copy of the university's radioactive materials license. Please contact the radiation safety officer or designee to verify if a vendor has a current copy of the university's radioactive materials license on file or requires a copy.
C-2. Procedures for Obtaining Surplus or Donated Radioactive Materials. Personnel obtaining surplus or donated radioactive material must obtain approval from the radiation safety officer before acquiring this material. The radiation safety officer shall ensure the university is licensed to possess this type and amount of radioactive material and shall determine whether or not it is in the best interests of the university to accept this material.
C-3. Procedures for Obtaining Radioactive Material by Neutron Activation. Users must obtain a release form from the radiation safety officer or designee before obtaining irradiated materials at Washington State University's nuclear reactor. Irradiated materials must first be brought to the Environmental Health and Safety Office after arriving on campus for check-in and monitoring requirements.
C-4. Procedures for Transferring Radioactive Materials.
i) Radioactive materials may be transferred from an authorized user to the radiation safety officer for waste disposal.
ii) Radioactive materials may be transferred from one user to another upon written approval of the radiation safety officer or designee, providing the receiving user is authorized to use the materials being transferred.
iii) Approval from the radiation safety officer or designee shall be required before transferring radioactive materials to or away from the University of Idaho.
C-5. Procedures for Obtaining Uranium-and Thorium-Containing Materials.
i) Possession of 125 grams or less of uranium- or thorium-containing material will not require authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee. However, this material will require registration with the radiation safety officer to ensure compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations.
ii) Possession of more than 125 grams of uranium- or thorium-containing material will require authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee.
C-6. Exempt Radioactive Materials -The Radiation Safety Committee does not consider any radioactive materials used for research or teaching purposes as exempt. All planned acquisition of radioactive material must be reported to the radiation safety officer. Certain commercially available sealed products (including items such as timepieces, static eliminators, lock illuminators, thermostat dials and pointers, night compasses, exit lights, and smoke alarms) may be exempt from authorization requirements. The radiation safety officer or designee may be contacted for further clarification.
D. Information. For further information, consult the 1996 Radiation Safety Manual or call the Environmental Health and Safety Office, (208) 885-6524.


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Oakland, California – Much has changed within OS X since PhotoUpLink was first released in 2006, and the introduction of new security features brought even more changes to the Aperture and iPhoto plugin architectures. PhotoUpLink is being rewritten to account for these changes, and version 1.8.1 of PhotoUpLink for iPhoto and Aperture is the first released build of the new code base. Prior releases of PhotoUpLink on the Mac have been discontinued and are no longer available for download.
PhotoUpLink for iPhoto 1.8.1 is a universal 32/64-bit Intel build for iPhoto '11 version 9.4.3 and requires Mac OS X 10.6.3 or newer. PhotoUpLink has been tested to work with the OS X Mavericks GM and the new iPhoto '11 version 9.4.7 running in 64-bit mode. To use PhotoUpLink in iPhoto, select an album or a group of items, then go to the File menu and choose the Export menu item. PhotoUpLink will be displayed in the Export panel. PhotoUpLink for iPhoto supports image and video uploading.
PhotoUpLink for Aperture 1.8.1 is a 64-bit Intel build for Aperture 3.4.5 and requires Mac OS X v10.7.5 or newer. PhotoUpLink for Aperture has also been tested to work with Aperture 3.4.5 when running on OS X Mavericks. PhotoUpLink for Aperture supports exporting of image versions or originals. To use PhotoUpLink for Aperture, first select a group of images, then go to the File menu and highlight the Export sub menu item. Select PhotoUpLink for Aperture in the sub menu that appears.
The FTP function of PhotoUpLink runs in a separate process from the host application and can be terminated at any time, preventing any FTP server or connection issues from freezing the main application. PhotoUpLink's responsive modal dialog box provides accurate feedback of the upload process, displaying per file and total upload progress information.
Pricing and Availability:
This alpha preview release of the PhotoUpLink FTP export plugin for Mac iPhoto and Aperture is available for a limited time. During this trial period, 5 items can be can be exported. Unlimited exporting is enabled when the full version is purchased at the introductory reduced price of $4.99 (USD). This single user license is valid for all builds through to the feature complete 2.x release. For additional information and to download all platform versions, visit PhotoUpLink online, part of the uplink.to network.
App Icon
Mark S. Morris is an independent software and 3D printing developer in Oakland, California. PhotoUpLink is part of the uplink.to network. PhotoUpLink is (R) and (C) Mark S. Morris 2013. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac OS X, iPhoto and Aperture are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.


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Reflecting on 2013 with my #family. Biggest things personally have been making my second #gurdy, moving to Iceland and meeting+working with all the great people over here. Lots of #indieweb and #taproot progress, including a great indiewebcamp in September.
Looking forward to 2014: more cooking, more indieweb progress, seeing more of Iceland, going to some gurdy festivals, improving hardware hacking abilities, connecting my gurdy and other devices to the web and each other.


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LIBREVILLE, Gabon – A spokesman for rebels mounting an offensive against the government of Central African Republic says the fighters will observe a one-week cease-fire amid peace talks in Gabon.
The rebels have seized a dozen towns since Dec. 10, although they have not moved toward the capital, Bangui, since agreeing to the negotiations.
In Gabon on Thursday, Rebel Col. Frange Florian N'djadder-Bedaya said the cease-fire would let the rebels "test the good will" of President Francois Bozize, who they accused of stationing mercenaries in the capital.
Troops from South Africa as well as neighboring nations Chad, Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon are in Central African Republic to help stabilize the country as it faces its most serious rebellion in years.


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The tale of Homo floresiensis – aka the hobbit – is beginning to read less like a Tolkien epic than an Agatha Christie whodunit.
Two studies add a new twist to the plot. One claims that the skeleton's ape-like feet push back its ancestry near the dawn of Homo. Another argues that the hobbit is a later offshoot of Homo erectus, dwarfed by aeons of island isolation.
"Either answer is pretty damn exciting," says William Jungers, a palaeoanthropologist at Stony Brook University in New York, who led the analysis of the foot. "It's telling us something pretty amazing about human evolution."
Hobbit skeleton
Researchers unearthed the hobbit's 18,000-year-old skeleton in Liang Bua Cave on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003. Then in 2004 partial remains from at least a half dozen individuals were uncovered.
Much subsequent research has focused on the skull, which encased a 417 cubic-centimetre brain – about the size of a chimpanzee's and a third the size of a human adult brain.
Since island species, separated from their mainland kin, tend to shrink over evolutionary time, the main thrust of the "hobbit as separate species" arguments have focussed on its small brain. However another theory holds that the skull is simply that of a diseased Homo sapiens.
Lack of resources could select for smaller and smaller bodies, and some researchers argue that power-hungry brains can shrink even more drastically than the rest of the body.
Island dwarf
"It might be advantageous to the animal not to invest in such a large organ," says Eleanor Weston, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum in London, whose new study contends that H. floresiensis was an insular dwarf of H. erectus.
But even scaled down to the hobbit's 1-metre, 30 to 40 kilogram frame, H. erectus would boast a brain of 500 to 650 cubic centimetres – small but still too big to explain the Hobbit skull.
However, Weston contends that such figures underestimate the dwarfing of mammalian brains that actually occurs on islands. She and colleague Adrian Lister compared two extinct species of dwarf hippopotami found on Madagascar with the modern, full-sized beasts found only on the African mainland.
True brain size
The dwarf species went extinct in the past 1000 years, and they diverged from mainland hippopotami sometime between 50,000 and two million years ago, Weston says.
Using more than 30 full-size hippopotami of varying age and size as reference points, Weston and Lister calculated the scaled-down brain size of 24 dwarf hippos. These models consistently overestimated the true size of the dwarf's brains by about 24 or 30 per cent.
"If Homo floresiensis really had undergone this process of dwarfing, potentially something like Homo erectus could be the ancestor," Weston says.
Applying a scaling factor to a dwarfed H. erectus comes up with Hobbit-sized brain that's between 378 and 493 cubic centimetres, depending on the H. erectus specimen used.
Bizarre foot
"My problem with that is that it doesn't speak to the rest of the skeleton," says Jungers, who also presented his analysis of the hobbit's bizarre foot at an anthropology conference last year.
For starters, the feet of H. floresiensis are far longer than would be expected of 1-metre tall H. erectus or H. sapiens. The resulting need to drag its feet back high with each step to avoid kicking the ground would have limited its ability to move swiftly. It also has unarched feet. "It's never going to win the 100-yard dash, and it's never going to win the marathon," Jungers says.
Both features also point to an ancestor that predates fleet-footed H. erectus, Jungers says. "If in fact human evolution redesigned the bipedal foot in some way, these guys missed the train."
A closer inspection of the bones in the hobbit's nearly complete left foot reveal both modern and archaic characteristics. Its short big toe resembles that of an australopithecine like Lucy, while the shapes of the toe bones appear human. "It's definitely a head-scratcher," Jungers says.
He speculates that the hobbit's closest relative is a species of human more ancient than H. erectus, with a smaller brain – perhaps H. habilis.
Satisfying theory
Robert Martin, a palaeontologist at Chicago's Field Museum not involved in either study, says Jungers' explanation is more satisfying than the idea of a H. erectus, dwarfed by island-life. "That could explain the small brain without requiring any major reduction," he says. But adds that there is no indication in the fossil record that any human species older than H. erectus travelled beyond Africa.
However, Martin still thinks the hobbit is an unusually small human that suffered from a developmental disease, possibly microcephaly.
"This needs to be confirmed by some fossils," says Jungers, who hopes a five-year excavation of other spots in Flores that's in the works will determine what the ancestors of the Hobbit looked like.
Journal reference: Nature (DOI: Weston's study: 10.1038/nature07922 and Junger's study: 10.1028/nature07989)


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And Friday is Flower Day! I have three small hydrangea plants out front. There was a total of one flower from all three last year, but all are producing this year. Every once in a while, when I think of it, I dump the coffee grounds 'round the base of the plants.
Yes, I was flat out on the lawn -- on the side of the house that has neighbors, no less -- to take the lily of the valley going-to-seed photo. The neighboring house is for sale, but I don't think it's because of the lunatic knitter/photographer next door -- although it could definitely be because of the neighbors on the other side. No love lost there; in fact, the police have been called and a summons has been served, but I just listen when I have to and nod/shake my head a lot and really try to stay out of it, thankyouverymuch.
My favorite wild bellflower -- I'll have to look that one up again. Most people would consider it a weed, but it's definitely a wildflower to me and I look forward to seeing it every single year. ; ) Heh, my espalier crabapple will definitely be getting a haircut this weekend!
I was dog tired last night and went to bed early. I didn't knit a single stitch, but would have if I'd have been able to locate my knitting! Y'all are right about summertime and knitting socks, and I just happen to have at least two pair underway -- but I couldn't find them! That's the problem with "organizing" the stash and WIPs. I spent whatever energy I could muster on searching, and I kept opening the same drawers, disbelieving that my sock bag wasn't there... It's GOT to be here! I just SAW it here! Finally, I opened the lid of a sewing stand that's never held anything but knitting (usually, all my Lamb's Pride, but it's recently outgrown the space) and there it was. I think I'll work at finishing the second Celtic Braid, but Bayerische is riding shotgun and may get a turn, too.
Happy Weekend!


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Encoding and Decoding for WindowsUUDeview is a program that will help you to transmit and receive binary files over the Net. It includes both an encoder and a decoder. The decoder automatically detects the type of encoding used, offering MIME Base64, yEnc, and BinHex as well as the popular uuencoding and the less frequently used xxencoding methods. The encoder runs the other way around and encodes a binary file for transmission by e-mail or over the newsgroups. The decoder is particularly powerful; it was designed to fit the needs of news readers. To be precise, it is a smart multi-part multi-file decoder. You simply save a bunch of articles from your newsreader into a single or into multiple files, and then fire up UUDeview. You do not need to edit the article files at all. Note: UUDeview is not an encryption or decryption program. It handles converting binary files to and from ASCII format for transmission through e-mail or the newsgroups. Download UUDeview version 1.4This version introduces a few improvements and changes, the most important of which is support for the yEnc encoding algorithm which is growing more popular in the newsgroups. If you want to quickly and simply upgrade your existing version 1.3
installation of UUDeview, you can replace your current To install a fresh copy of the new version, use the standard installer.
Stay informedIf you want to receive e-mail notification when UUDeview is updated, fill out the form below and click the button:
Questions and More InformationPlease start by looking at the UUDeview Help page. If you need more information, you can go to the official UUDeview Web Page: http://www.fpx.de/fp/Software/UUDeview/ In the last extremity, you can send mail to:
Last revised: 24 September 2002 |


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As state legislators consider Sen. Howard Stephenson's Senate Bill 45 and Rep. Craig Frank's House Bill 75, they should recall the words of Thomas Jefferson: "It is better for the public to procure at the market whatever the market can supply; because there it is by competition kept up in its quality, and reduced to its minimum price."
Put simply, if the private sector does it already, government probably shouldn't do it itself.
Now just imagine Jefferson's reaction to The Salt Lake Tribune's Feb. 3 editorial ("Privatization: State targets local government services," Our View) using government-run golf courses and skating rinks-both commercial operations commonly run by private sector businesses – as examples of "an excellent use of tax dollars."
This might be true in a fictional world of unlimited tax dollars and no fiscal constraints. But in a world with serious challenges, maintaining and modernizing our critical infrastructure, keeping our streets safe, and educating our children, does it really make sense to spend taxpayer dollars on running public golf courses, servicing vehicle fleets and running print shops?
Often, this government "mission creep" goes unnoticed by citizens because public officials do not draw a bright line between those activities most appropriately performed by government and those that can be performed by private-sector providers.
If enacted, HB75 and SB45 would require governments statewide to draw that bright line.
Under the bills' provisions, the state and the largest cities and counties would conduct a regular inventory of government activities to determine whether each activity is "inherently governmental" (i.e., is it a job only government can do?) or "commercial" (i.e., is it a service or good that can normally be obtained from private enterprise?).
The bills would help citizens see how much government activity is devoted to performing non-core functions. And government agencies would be equipped with the necessary information to allow them to concentrate on their core functions, while exploring new opportunities to seek more efficient and effective means of service delivery by partnering with the private sector for commercial services.
Applying similar thinking, the Republican Congress passed and President Clinton signed the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act in 1998. Federal agencies perform these inventories annually, and have identified many activities like data collection, administrative support and payroll services that could be provided by the private sector. A similar, state-level inventory undertaken by Virginia in 1999 identified 205 commercial activities being performed by the state.
HB75 and SB45 do not require governments to privatize government services, as opponents will try to claim. Rather, the bills ask public officials to itemize and categorize what their agencies and departments are doing with our tax dollars. Some officials could opt to outsource an activity after reviewing the inventories. But as long as the officials protect the public interest by negotiating performance-based contracts that generate cost-savings and ensure an equal or higher level of service quality, taxpayers will be better off.
What was true in Jefferson's day is equally true today: Government should focus on performing core functions well. Every day families and businesses have to evaluate their spending priorities and make economic trade-offs to take care of first things – mortgage payments, payroll, and health care – first. Government should, too.
This article originally appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune.


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Concentrate Your Forces
Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.(more)


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Scootershop.gr is the internet store for the distribution and sale through the World Wide Web of the products of the company with the name "SCOOTERSHOP" (Internal Revenue ID No: 16169045, Department: ST' Thessaloniki, Greece), which is located in Thessaloniki, Greece (Address: Solonos 3 & Psaron, 54644 Thessaloniki, Tel: +302310869097).
The main object of our company is the declaration of terms, which establishes the rights and obligations of scootershop.gr towards all of you, who visit its website, and which serves the purpose to inform you of your rights and obligations, and to assist you in your search and purchase of our products.
Access to and use of this site are subject to the following terms and conditions and all applicable laws. Please review these terms and conditions on a periodic basis, as they are subject to modification, alteration, or update at any time and at the sole discretion of Scootershop. If you do not agree to any term or condition, you should not use this site.
Copyright: The website scootershop.gr and all of its content, including but not limited to the text and images used herein and their arrangement, is copyright of Scootershop.
Restriction of Use: No permission is granted for the use of the materials, information, text or graphics, and/or to hyperlink other websites with this website, or to use the materials on your website in any way or for any reason without prior specific authorization from Scootershop. Scootershop reserves all rights not expressly granted herein.
Limitation of Liability: Scootershop is not responsible for any infections, delays in operation or transmission, line failure, errors, omissions, or interruptions, arising out of the use of its website or with respect to the material provided and/or contained on this site.
In no event shall Scootershop be liable for any special, direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages of any kind, resulting from whatever cause, including but not limited to loss of use, loss of profits, or loss of data, whether in an action under theories of contract, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise, arising out of or in any way in connection with the use of or inability to use the information or materials on, or accessed through the website scootershop.gr.
In order to initiate the transaction with you, it is necessary to provide us with certain personal information. During the placement of your order, you will be asked to provide your full name, your shipping address, your landline telephone number (or any other telephone number you wish to give us), which is going to be used to better your service, and your email address.
The company and scootershop.gr, which faithfully follow the principals established by the relevant laws and international treaties for the protection of personal data, will not use such data in an unlawful way and without your prior consent. Scootershop.gr does not disclose, publish, sell, or trade personal data and information that collects from its customers. Exceptionally, your personal data collected by the company may be disclosed to the government, courts, etc. provided that all procedures established by law have been followed.
In addition, you are free at any time, when needed, to modify the personal information you have provided us with by submitting the relevant e-form.
Scootershop.gr will not store your credit card information, provided that choose to use a credit card for your purchases. Your transactions will be completed through the system win paycenter of Piraeus Bank, which uses protocol SSL with a 128-bit encryption (the most powerful encryption thus far) for secure online commercial transactions. All your personal information including your credit card number, name and address are encrypted this way in order not to be read or altered during their transmission through the Internet.
Today, the protocol SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the universal standard for certification of websites and for data encryption between Internet users and Internet servers. An encrypted SSL communication requires all the information exchanged between a user and a server to be encrypted by the forwarding address and to unencrypted by the accepting address, thus, protecting all personal information during the transmission. Furthermore, all information transmitted via the SLL protocol are protected through a mechanism, which automatically checks if any data have been altered during the transmission.
All product pricing includes sales tax (24%).
Methods of Payment
To accommodate and service all of our clients, who desire to purchase from our store, we offer the following methods of payments:
Method and Cost of shipment in Greece
All of our products will be shipped to you at the shipping address provided via the Greek Post Office (delivery in 3-6 working days) or via Courier (delivery 1-2 working days; islands and remote areas require additional time). Saturday delivery is not included.
Free shipment via the Post Office if your order exceeds 400€.
Post Office Cost (regular delivery)
1 kg: 3.10 € Additional Kg: +0.60 €
In case of COD payment, the additional cost is 2.30 €
ACS Cost (payment by credit card) Up to 3 Kg: 6.00 € Additional Kg: +2.00 €
In case of COD payment, the additional cost is 2.30 €.


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Kip Moore Is 'Still Hurting' From Celebrating No. 1 Song as He Gears Up to Play CMA Music Festival
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, Kip Moore was mingling with fans at the CMA Music Festival, some familiar with him and some not. Well this year, Moore can't walk into a room without fans going crazy.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Moore topped the charts for two straight weeks with his latest single 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck,' and tonight (Saturday, June 9), the singer will take the stage at LP Field in Nashville as part of the music festival's Nightly Concert series.
Playing for packed rooms and arenas is nothing new for Moore, as he just came off a tour with David Nail and Billy Currington, and earlier in the week (Wednesday, June 6), he performed a snippet of 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' at the 2012 CMT Music Awards. But playing LP Field has him a bit nervous.
"I'm playing two songs acoustic," Moore tells. "I've never been in front of that many people until I played the CMT Awards, but that went over real well."
CMA Music Festival is winding down this weekend with the final events, signings and concerts ending on Sunday (June 10). Like the fans, Moore also enjoys the week-long festival that brings all of his buddies into one zip code. "I really like this week because I get to kind of see friends who I came up through the ranks with," says Moore. "I was able to stop and talk with Jake [Owen] for a while [at the awards]. We kind of came to town at the same time. Same thing with [Thompson Square's] Keifer and Luke [Bryan]. We've all been through the same trenches; they're further along in their trench than I am."
But Moore is well on his way to being right along side of them, especially after his multi-week No. 1 hit under his belt. Which makes us wonder… has he had the chance to celebrate the accomplishment yet?
"I've been in such a whirlwind with touring and being gone, that I just celebrated two nights ago for the first time," he says with a sheepish grin. "I woke up with one shoe and mustard on my shirt. I have no idea where the mustard came from … I'm still trying to figure that out [laughs]! I'm guessing it was a hot dog stand somewhere, and I must have stopped at it. I know I was at [Nashville bar] Losers, and that's never good. I remember thinking it was like 11:30. Next thing I know they were cutting the lights on in the place and kicking everybody out. I was thinking, 'I'm that guy … I'm that guy tonight!' [laughs] I think I'm still hurting from that."
Earlier Saturday, Moore played a short set at the Riverfront Stage in Nashville as part of CMA Music Festival, and tonight, look for him to take the stage at LP Field around 9 PM local time.


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In the spirit of Earth Day, all week I'll be featuring crafts that can be made from items in your recycling bin so today I have egg carton crafts! Later this week will be ideas for boxes, cardboard tubes, newspaper and some miscellaneous. Remember to add pictures of your creations to The Crafty Crow Flickr group so everyone can see how
brilliant you are!
The flower wreath can be found at
Free Kids Crafts.
grass caterpillar :: Lottie Lulu
flower garland :: Super Cozy
alligator :: Miss Mary's Preschool Ideas
flowers :: Craftbits
roses :: Fem Manuals
owls :: Cider and Faun
eggs :: Craftastica
furniture :: Mom Zone
bug :: Family Fun
ladybug :: Pace Farm
caterpillar :: Fem Manuals
dump truck :: DLTK Kids
kitty :: StorkNet
crab :: Free Kids Crafts


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Interesting... Better than a good .22?Uuuh, no.
Nothing is better than a good .22, although lots of things are better suited for a particular task. I like my .22s, but they're not much good at 100 yards, and not much good past that, where I'm learning that the little .17 HMR is good out past 100 yards, even out past 200 yards for some types of shooting.
The .17 HMR is a necked down .22 magnum case stuffed full of L'il Gun powder. The 17 grain bullet leaves that barrel at something over 2500 fps. On my deer lease, it's fashionable to take a .17 HMR to the stand to watch over the food plot. In the absence of venison, a swamp rabbit is liable to sun himself amongst the greens and the .17 HMR can take him at ranges that might prove inconvenient for the .22 LR.
Also, that little .17 caliber bullet is very frangible. It's going to disintegrate if it hits anything. I've talked about the over penetration of the .22 LR and the .17 isn't capable of much penetration with the varmint bullet.
The short answer is that it'll never replace the .22 LR in my battery. It also won't replace the .243, or the .30-06. However, if I'm asked to snipe at crows, or if I'm forced to do varmint work when raccoons are depredating the muscadines, I'll probably pick the .17 HMR. I know that it's fast enough to do the job and I know that the bullet isn't going to ricochet into the next parish.
When I'm squirrel hunting, I'll take the .22s. Nothing much beats a .22 LR for the squirrel woods. The .17 is a caliber I'll use as a step between the .22s and the .243s.
But no, nothing is better than a good .22.


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New Argento work honors his late wife
Dominick Argento sits at a baby grand piano in the second-floor music studio of his Minneapolis house. He shared this home with his wife for nearly 40 years.
He opens the score to his latest work and plays a simple and delicate melody. He jokes that it's even simple enough for him to play.
The tune is a prayer written to be sung by boy soprano. It comes near the end of Argento's new work for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra, "Evensong: Of Love and Angels."
The work was commissioned by Washington Cathedral Choral Society. The group's conductor Reilly Lewis contacted Argento in 2005 and asked the composer if he'd be interested in writing a piece to commemorate the Washington National Cathedral's 100th anniversary.
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What Lewis didn't know was Argento's wife, Carolyn, was suffering from a mysterious neurological ailment. Argento says he told his ailing wife that he turned down the commission.
"She was rather unhappy about that," he remembers. "She was a minister's daughter in Baltimore and as a child her father had taken her on a day trip to Washington to visit the National Cathedral. It was a big deal and she never forgot it. So she thought it would be very sweet for me to write this piece. I told her I'd do it when she got home and recovered and I had the time to compose again. But she did not recover."
Carolyn Bailey Argento died in February 2006. A soprano, she had premiered many of her husband's works. During 51 years of marriage she was his advisor, critic and muse.
Dominick Argento, who is considered one of America's leading composers of lyric opera and choral music, credits his wife with helping him learn how to write for voice. After she died he says he felt adrift.
Conductor Reilly Lewis renewed his request for a new work, but Argento told him that he wasn't interested in writing music anymore.
"He turned the tables on me," Argento says. "He said, 'I know you are probably not in the mood to write anything happy or celebratory, but what about writing something in honor of your wife?' I gave that a lot of thought and decided that, yes, I could do that."
Dominick Argento began writing "Evensong: Of Love and Angels" on his wedding anniversary in September 2006. He finished the work on the same date a year later.
Argento's close friend and colleague Philip Brunelle, artistic director of the choral group VocalEssence, has read through the score. He says it's a beautiful, contemplative work.
"It's going to be a piece that gives a great deal of serenity to the soul," he says. "I just think that people are going to be very uplifted and taken by the whole experience of this piece."
The score of "Evensong: Of Love and Angels" uses original texts by the composer along with excerpts from scripture and the Book of Common Prayer.
Throughout the work's nine sections, Argento finds ways to use his wife's initials: C, B, A.
"Rather than just go down the scale I raised the last note up an octave and added another," he explains. "The final three chords concluding the piece are also based on those letters. Those are the things that make composing fun. I enjoy doing things like that, burying those little signals, those little icons, all through a piece. For me, that's part of what the art of composition is about."
Dominick Argento says this work means more to him than anything else he's ever written.
Cathedral Choral Society music director Reilly Lewis says he's glad he was persistent in asking Argento to compose a work for his choir. He felt Argento was the right composer at the right time.
"I, frankly, when I learned the details of his wife's illness was drawn even more to wanting to encourage him," he says. "It became a kind of quest for me. This is a love story. It's also a life's work. It's unique."
Lewis says he's been deeply touched by the experience of working with Dominick Argento in the commission of "Evensong."
The 80-year-old composer says this work written in memory of his wife is the best he's capable of doing.
"This wouldn't be a bad way to end a career," he says. "Considering my age, I don't expect to have many more works. I don't know that I'd want to continue writing where I never have the kind of impetus, inspiration and desire to write a piece as strongly as I had with this work. In a funny way, I think everything I write after this will be a let down."
Dominick Argento's "Evensong: Of Love and Angels" will be premiered by the Cathedral Choral Society Sunday afternoon at Washington National Cathedral. The performance will be recorded for CD release.
Argento has a couple commissions for large choral works waiting, but he says he wants some time following this weekend's premiere to decide whether he'll write them. He says sometimes he feels that it would be right for "Evensong" to be his final work.


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Kaloo is a French brand that began with a dream, here is the story: "A father's dream, to invent different soft toys for his little boy. As a modern father, his vision was softness and comfort using innovative materials in a rainbow full of colours. His aim was to create the doudou his little boy had dreamt of. A little bear, an emotional symbol for all toddlers, was then chosen as the brand's emblematic animal. Because dreams can come true, Kaloo came to life one beautiful morning in late 1998. Kaloo, whose name was inspired by this one little boy, Lucas…Because a child's everyday life should be filled with wonder and softness to encourage their evolution, Kaloo, with its' modern design and innovative themes creates a complete world for children to revisit timeless classics."
First impressions of this toy are amazing! The little chubby bear is extremely well presented in a gorgeous round gift box which has been well thought out with decoration to suit each range of Kaloo toy. The little bear we were sent comes from the Kaloo 1-2-3 collection which is new for 2011. The bear itself is the small size and is very cute and colourful with blue arms and a green coloured body that has a little crocodile on it. You can purchase these Kaloo toys in small, medium or large so a size to suit everyone. These toys are also perfect for new born babies as they are incredibly soft and snugly and as your baby grows these bears will help them to explore new textures with their hands and their mouths.
This little chubby bear screams quality with immaculate stitching and material so soft you'll want to stroke it for hours never mind giving it to your baby to play with. Logan isn't a massive fan a cuddle toys but this bear was small enough so that he can carry it around and throw it about so I think he quite liked it for that.
These Kaloo toys would make and excellent gift for a "Maternity Leave", "Baby Shower" or "New Born Baby" present and it's something which will last and be treasured for years to come.
You can purchase your very own Kaloo 1-2-3 Chubby Bear from John Lewis RRP £19.95.
Overall an amazing toy and product which is perfect to give as a gift or to buy for your own little one. A little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for as these Kaloo toys are brilliant quality.
Logan's rating - 8/10
Mummies rating - 10/10
Please visit www.kaloo.com for more products and information.


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When the movie Son of God surpassed expectations and earned $26.5 million on its first weekend, it was once again clear that the Christian community has power over the box office. Not surprisingly, non-Christian skeptics criticized the movie, but they weren't alone in some of their criticism.
Many Christians, for various reasons, have issues with how the Bible was adapted for screen in Son of God. They rightly compare what is shown in the movie to the Holy Scriptures and point out where the movie has deviated. This is beneficial, for Acts 17:11 calls us to be like the Bereans, searching out the Scriptures to find out what is true. No Christian wants to see the Savior misrepresented on screen.
Sadly, however, some Christians are accusing a valid representation of Christ in Son of God and claiming it represents a false gospel. This isn't true. Instead of addressing each and every difference between Son of God and the Bible, I'd like to make a few points in defense of Son of God and the many Bible movies that are to come.
While the Bible must be held in the highest regard and treated with the utmost respect, we should never treat any rendition or adaptation of the Bible on par with God's revealed Word. Son of God is meant to point people to the Bible, not replace it.
Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who developed The Bible television miniseries andSon of God, have been outspoken about their faith and love for Jesus. Marketing material for The Bible encouraged people to explore Scripture, and the Son of Godwebsite is full of resources to help walk people through the movie from a biblical worldview.
No on-screen version of the Bible ever has or ever will represent the life of Jesus 100 percent. Creative choices will and should be made to make a movie as good and as compelling as it can be. One can question whether certain choices are good, and even Movieguide has pointed out several missing components that would have strengthened the movie in our review of Son Of God. The most important thing to remember is that the movie does present a proper Christology.
Movieguide's founder and publisher, Ted Baehr, listed nine crucial components needed in a orthodox Christology. In his full article that can be read here, he writes:
"An orthodox Christology requires at least:
"A real ontology (which means that reality is real, not just a great thought or something else).
"A real epistemology (which means that a person can really know that reality is real).
"A real soteriology (which means that Jesus really saved us).
"A real resurrection.
"A real divinity (Jesus Christ is "very God of very God," which is how the Council of Nicea resolved the Homoousian conflict that Jesus was of the same essence, or substance, as God the Father, and so there is only one God).
"A real incarnational theology (Jesus Christ was "fully God and fully Man," which resolves the Gnostic and Arian heresies that Jesus was only one or the other).
"A real history (Jesus Christ's death and resurrection were actual events in history; thus, they are more than historical, but not less than historical).
"A real morality (Jesus died once for the sins of all).
"A real victory (Jesus Christ's death was not a defeat but a triumph)."
While the Gospel of Mark may omit details that the Gospel of Luke describes fully, the Gospel of Mark isn't any less the gospel or Good News. Also, the Gospel of John offers a completely unique perspective of Jesus that the other three gospels don't have, including many wonderful, vivid descriptions and even metaphors of who Jesus really is and what He represents.
Similarly, the many movies based on Jesus Christ are important because they can each focus on one aspect, attribute or perspective of Christ, but only if God is represented as He should be.
Before calling Son Of God "anemic" or "false hope" as some Christians have, be gracious enough to consider whether or not you've misinterpreted the images on the screen. Calling something heresy is a serious claim. See if your "evidences" are extrabiblical or antibiblical, and most of all, see what kind of fruit is being produced from the movie or TV show. God's sacrifice as shown on screen in Son Of God is moving people to Scripture, where they are finding true salvation.
Movieguide has received numerous stories of lives that have been changed by Jesus movies like Son of God, The Passion of the Christ, Cecil B. DeMille's 1927 silent movieKing of Kings, and many more adaptations. Let's be careful that we aren't hindering the gospel in the name of a narrow definition of truth.
The words of Jesus in the New Testament are not like an audio recording on Memorex. They are a literary description of historical events. No filmmaker, pastor or evangelist is perfect, yet God still uses us, in our imperfections, to share His glorious truth and magnificent love to a hurting world.
Ben Kayser is managing editor at Movieguide.
Source: http://www.charismanews.com/
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University of Granada researchers have developed a 3D imaging system that scans 3D models of historical buildings using data obtained from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)–an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. This is the first 3D imaging system to combine the use of UAVs, image-based 3D modeling technologies, and virtual representation of models to produce a realistic modeling of 3D objects from images.
The endpoint of this project is to obtain a 3D model of a historical building façade –as a cathedral–without any human intervention and at a lower cost than other technologies currently available (as 3D scanners). To date, UAVs have been used in many research fields, as they are fast and they can overfly abrupt areas, avoid large obstacles and provide information from multiple sensors.
No Scaffolding or Cranes
While UAVs autonomy is limited, they can descend for an operator to change the battery (an operation requiring just a few seconds), and then resume its task. This way, the object can be scanned in record time without the need for scaffolding or cranes.
As regards 3D-digitalization technologies, they can provide a realistic modeling of 3D objects from images obtained from sensors, stereoscopic cameras, multiple geolocated images obtained from different angles, etc. Finally, virtual reality technologies produce realistc high-quality 3D images (similar to those on 3D movies).
The multiple applications of this technology are evident, as they offer an autonomous device that in just some minutes can scan a façade with as much or a higher precision than 3D scanners. It is noteworthy that this device can get close to the object up to a few inches to obtain the smallest and unreachable details.
This project focused on façade 3D imaging is intended to prove the applicability of this new technology to any type of architectural model: buildings, monuments, etc. What these objects have in common is that digitalization is performed in vertical parameters and that objects are geolocalized.
Financing from CEI BioTic
Different University of Granada research groups have participated in this project: the Grupo de Modelos de Decisión y Optimización (MODO), the Grupo de investigación en Informática Gráfica (GIIG); the University of Granada Virtual Reality Laboratory and the companies Intelligenia Dynamics and Virtum Graphics, which are University of Granada spin-offs and are aggregated to the Biotic Campus of International Excellence (CE). In fact the CIE will support this research project.
Finally, this Project is also supported by the Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife an CETURSA Sierra Nevada S. A, which belongs to the Junta de Andalucía.
By University of Granada. For more information visit www.canal.ugr.es.


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'The Eyes of Freedom'
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 24, 2013
ROCKWELL — "The Eyes of Freedom" traveling exhibit, dedicated to the men and women who have served, fought and died for the United States in every branch of the armed forces, will make a two-day stop in Rowan County in early October.
Powles Funeral Home of Rockwell is sponsor for the exhibit, which will be open to the public at no charge the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6, and the morning and afternoon of Monday, Oct. 7.
Rockwell will be one of only two stops of the exhibit in the state of North Carolina.
"It's a very moving experience to see," said Doug Bare, a funeral director at Powles. "It's so lifelike it's unbelievable. It really shows the sacrifice those guys gave."
Bare and Russ Roakes, another funeral director at Powles, are encouraging individuals, veterans and groups from churches, schools and civic clubs to attend the self-guided exhibit.
"It's an amazing event to come and see," Roakes said.
The Eyes of Freedom consists of eight large panels and life-sized portraits of 22 Marines and a Navy corpsman who belonged to the Lima Company of Ohio, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment.
They lost their lives during the war in Iraq in actions between May and September 2005. Lima Company, based out of Columbus, Ohio, was a rifle company comprised mainly of young Marine Reservists, who had been called to active duty in January 2005.
The losses in Lima Company hit residents of Columbus and Ohio hard. Artist Anita Miller, working with the surviving families, painted the panels, which were unveiled in the Columbus statehouse in 2008 and remained there for six months.
Miller has said she awoke in the middle of the night, not long after a roadside explosion in Iraq killed 14 members of the Lima Company, with a vision for the exhibit and its standing in the statehouse rotunda.
Miller worked on the paintings for two-and-a-half years, and a non-profit organization, the Lima Company Memorial, was created to support her work.
After the display at the Ohio statehouse, the paintings went on a tour of other museums and events. The Eyes of Freedom now travels the country, transported in a tractor-trailer furnished by R+L Carriers of Wilmington
Mike Strahle, a Marine who fought alongside the men of Lima Company, has taken over from Miller in overseeing the exhibit.
"Everyone's welcome," Bare stressed of the two days in October.
An opening ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 6 and will include the Rowan County Veterans Honor Guard.
The Eyes of Freedom then will be open from 2-7 p.m. Oct. 6; from 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 7; and 2-7 p.m. Oct. 7.
Patriot Guard Riders will meet the tractor-trailer carrying the exhibit's panel at the Salisbury Mall the morning of Oct. 6 and escort the memorial from there to Rockwell.
Roakes said the escort plans to leave the mall parking lot at 10:30 a.m., proceed down Statesville Boulevard and pass through the heart of downtown Salisbury on it way to Rockwell, in case anyone wanted to see the procession that morning.
The exhibit's panels measure 6-by-9 feet.
Weathering permitting, the opening ceremony will be held outside, but the exhibit itself will be in the funeral home's chapel.
While The Eyes of Freedom depicts the fallen of Lima Company, it is meant to honor all the people who have answered the call to service in the military.
"We're proud to bring this to Rockwell," Roakes said.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.


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Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, turnips, cabbage, mustard greens, oh my! I get asked, "so, how hard is that to grow?" a lot. I made this infographic to answer that question, as I see it, with regards to my favorite winter vegetable family, brassicas.
This is based on my experience in a maritime climate that is generally excellent for growing cole crops, except for the pesky cabbage root maggot and cabbage moth caterpillar, both of which tend to plague Northwest gardeners.
Quick version: Kale – easy. Chinese cabbage – hard.
Full massive resolution PDF available for personal use under Downloadables or click through for the mother of all JPEGs (might take a minute to load). Please don't rehost the PDF or the full size JPG – send people back here to download their own copy – but please do share this post and brag to all your friends and to us in the comments about how far up the brassica difficulty ladder you've climbed!
What's hardest for you?


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Lucy Liu
Born: 12/2/1968
Birthplace: Queens, New York
Though she made her television debut in 1991 as Courtney, the Peach Pit waitress on Beverly Hills 90210, it wasn't until 1998 that Liu's career really took off as the brash, in-your-face lawyer Ling Woo on the hit TV show Ally McBeal. Like most of the characters she plays, Liu exudes confidence, independence, and intelligence. She graduated from New York City's prestigious Stuyvesant High School and later earned a degree in Asian languages and cultures from University of Michigan. Other roles include Jerry Maguire (1996), Payback (1999) and Shanghai Noon (2000). Also in 2000, she was able to show off her proficient martial arts skills as Alex in the major motion picture hit, Charlie's Angels and it's less successful sequel Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. She plays one of the would-be assassins of Uma Thurman in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. I (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004). Liu has been busy, with three films out in 2006: Lucky Number Slevin, The Cleaner, and Rise.


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This article is more than 1 year old
US 'space warplane' may be spying on Chinese spacelab
Is X-37B's secret mission watching Heavenly Palace?
The US Air Force's second mysterious mini-space shuttle, the X-37B, could be spying on China's space laboratory and the first piece of its space station, Tiangong-1.
Amateur space trackers told the British Interplanetary Society publication Spaceflight that the black-funded spaceplane seemed to be orbiting the Earth in tandem with Tiangong_1, or the Heavenly Palace, leading the magazine to speculate that its unknown mission is to spy on it.
"Space-to-space surveillance is a whole new ball game made possible by a finessed group of sensors and sensor suites, which we think the X-37B may be using to maintain a close watch on China's nascent space station," Spaceflight editor Dr David Baker told the BBC.
America has refused to come clean on exactly what the X-37Bs are meant to be doing up there, but the line on the plane has always been that it's a test prototype of a reusable spacecraft that can carry experiments into and back from space.
According to the Air Force's fact sheet on the project, which was funded from the classified budget:
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Based on NASA's X-37 design, the unmanned OTV is designed for vertical launch to low Earth orbit altitudes where it can perform long duration space technology experimentation and testing.
Upon command from the ground, the OTV autonomously re-enters the atmosphere, descends and lands horizontally on a runway.
As well as being winged for re-entry, the OTV also has a strong heat shield, both perfectly in tune with the (vaguely) stated purpose of the craft.
However since people don't even know how much the things cost, exactly where either one was headed and with what payload when they took off in April 2010 and March 2011 respectively, or for how long they're supposed to be up there, it's assumed the spacecraft have naturally been assigned some sort of clandestine military purpose.
The doomsayers in the Iranian media dubbed the X-37B a "secret space warplane" before the first one went up, adding that it was the first generation of US space Predator drones that would build up the US' space armada.
Slightly less alarmist is the hypothesis suggested by El Reg and others that the mini-space shuttle's purpose has something to do with spy satellites. That could be a spot of sat-napping - grabbing or disabling other countries' satellites while leaving the owners to assume some sort of space accident. Or it could be picking up their own eye-poppingly expensive sats for repair or recycling back at home.
This newest theory, that it might be spying on Tiangong-1, is also a possibility, but it does have a couple of holes in it.
First off, the Chinese spacelab wasn't launched until September 2011, some time after the second X-37B hit Earth's orbit. Of course, the USAF's gizmo is supposedly reprogrammable from the ground so they could conceivably have sent it off in search for the lab once the Chinese got their gear up, but that doesn't explain what it was doing before that.
Secondly, you'd have to wonder why it's worth spying on the Tiangong-1. The lab is unmanned for the moment, so all there'd be to study is the technology of the craft and what experiments it's doing. Still, the US is hugely suspicious of China's space endeavours, so it's more than possible that they'd want to get a look at Tiangong-1 just in case it's doing anything unexpected.
Brian Weedon, a technical adviser to the Secure World Foundation and former orbital analyst with the USAF, told the BBC he thinks that the X-37B is spying on the Middle East and Afghanistan, possibly with new kinds of sensors.
"A typical spy satellite is in a polar orbit, which gives you access to the whole Earth," he said.
"The X-37B is in a much lower inclination which means it can only see a very narrow band of latitudes, and the only thing that's of real interest in that band is the Middle East and Afghanistan.
"Is it spying on Tiangong-1? I really don't think so. I think the fact that their orbits intersect every now and again - that's just a co-incidence. If the US really wanted to observe Tiangong, it has enough assets to do that without using X-37B," he added.
Wilder theories have also reared their heads, such as that both Tiangong-1 and the second X-37B spotted "something else" in space and went to have a look at it - but that seems a little bit like wishful thinking from ET-loving dreamers.
The latest edition of Spaceflight, complete with the X-37B hypothesis, will be published this weekend. ®


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Carriers are starting to look more like cloud companies, turning to standard hardware, virtualization and machine learning for rapid development of new services.
AT&T helped drive that trend on Wednesday by releasing ECOMP, the operating system of its software-defined network, as open source through the Linux Foundation. Like Linux, ECOMP will become a codebase that many different companies and developers – potentially even AT&T's rivals – collectively create and define into the future.
AT&T is evolving from a traditional carrier with a limited menu of services to an agile service provider that can quickly adapt to customer's needs and constantly tune its own systems for reliability and performance. Its virtualized, software-defined network, among the first of its kind at a telecommunications carrier, is the engine driving that change. The big data that the company collects about the use of its network helps it to improve the network and add features, AT&T says.
At an event in San Francisco on Wednesday, AT&T introduced the latest version of the network, which it calls Indigo.
Going from hard-wired to software-based networks can help enterprises as well as the carriers that sell them services. AT&T's FlexWare systems, introduced last year, pare down the equipment needed at a business customer's site -- from several separate boxes, like routers, firewalls and load-balancers, to one standard x86-based system the size of a pizza box.
Network functions become pure software, so the customer can swap out one flavor for another. It's also possible to spin up and take down the resources for a special event like a virtual-reality meeting on the fly, said Chris Rice, senior vice president of AT&T Labs.
AT&T isn't alone. Orange, the multinational carrier based in France, already uses software-defined networking with commercial components. It thinks ECOMP is the most mature platform for achieving agility and savings, said Laurent Leboucher, vice president APIs and digital ecosystems at Orange. The company is evaluating ECOMP in a trial at Orange Poland,
"Using ECOMP only makes sense if it is open source," Leboucher said in an interview Wednesday.
Like giant webscale companies, AT&T sees a role for big data and machine learning to constantly improve its services. Artificial intelligence systems can sense and analyze problems and eventually learn to predict and prevent them. Someday customers will never need to call a support line, said Mazin Gilbert, vice president of advanced technology at AT&T Labs.
The carrier is also strengthening security and privacy in the network with new authentication and encryption tools, Rice said. Partners, like companies and agencies involved in a smart-city initiative, might do more if they could combine their data, but without strong authentication they don't consider it safe, he said. One possible authentication tool AT&T brought up at Wednesday's event was Hyperledger, a blockchain project of the Linux Foundation.
AT&T is releasing ECOMP under an Apache 2 license. It's essentially the framework for a catalog of services, but doesn't include AT&T's own services or policies, Rice said.


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Northern Visions (or NvTv) is a not-for-profit community community digital media and arts centre. It has an Ofcom license to transmit a free-to-air, analogue television channel across Belfast via a 500W transmitter.
It is very disappointing to learn that at a time when digital media is on the up - and at a time when the barriers of entry for communities should be at their lowest - that two of Northern Visions' normal funding streams (Arts Council of Northern Ireland and NI Screen) have pulled the plug and no longer see NvTv as fitting their funding remit.
Skilling up communities to tell their stories is a key part of a shared future in Northern Ireland. Telling and sharing the stories of marginalised groups, older groups, interface communities, special interest groups should be part of enriching our understanding of each other.
At a time when the UK government is wanting to develop the mostly overlooked community TV sector, it is a disappointing that Belfast's existing community TV station and digital media centre is facing closure.
I hope that the DCAL minister as well as OFMdFM (wearing their Cohesion, Sharing and Integration hat) will work with arms length funding bodies to ensure that no stone is left unturned in assessing whether Northern Visions can be kept going as a viable and increasingly valued community asset.
Northern Visions are collecting statements of support over on their website. Update - their feedback form sends your comment to DCAL and OFMdFM. OFMDFM are replying to say that
"the issue you raise relates solely to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) ... we trust that they will respond to you in due course."
Two and a half years ago, along with a number of other disreputable characters, I took part in a series of Blog Talk programmes - somewhat unusually taking the online world of blogging onto Channel 62 of Belfast television sets! (To be fair, the episodes were also available to view online.) Imagine my surprise when a few months later I met my previous next door neighbour and she said that she'd seen me on television. TV? No, not me. I was flicking channels and there you were sitting on a sofa talking about politics. Ah ... they must be showing Blog Talk again.
One BBC producer even admitted to me that she flicked through the Northern Visions archive to look for potential community contributors.
Northern Visions are not alone. Other arts organisations are in the process of announcing the results of substantial funding cuts. In the current economic climate, with reduced public funding available, it is inevitable that organisations will have to scale back and in some cases close: good organisations as well as bad ones.
Update - Northern Visions have issued a press release along with statements of support.


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One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of being a solopreneur is the need to be constantly learning. Of course, every day has its own lessons to teach—trial and error is the heartbeat of solopreneurship, after all. Sometimes, though, we need to turn to proven mentors and leaders who can offer wisdom from experiences that reach beyond our own.
When we run into these situations, books seem like the obvious first choice. Indeed, there's a book out there for any problem you may encounter, whether procrastination, apathy, branding, or crippling self-doubt. Besides, shouldn't we be reading like fiends anyway? It's common knowledge that the most successful business leaders all share a ravenous appetite for good books.
But what solopreneur has time to read a book every week? Between brainstorming and producing and networking and marketing, it can be hard enough to make time to eat breakfast. Granted, reading is still a great habit to develop, but it may not be your primary mode of on-the-go education.
Thankfully, the world invented podcasts.
If you are already well-versed in the ways of podcasts, you can skip on to the list below; if not, you've been missing out on one of society's greatest gifts to busy solopreneurs.
- Have a long commute today? Podcast.
- Need to hit the gym or go for a jog? Podcast.
- Catching up on some household chores that you've left to pile up all week? Podcast.
While books may be able to explore a topic in greater depth, regularly updated podcasts can keep you current on new strategies for an ever-changing market, which is essential for a solopreneur on the cutting edge.
Below is our list of the top ten podcasts for solopreneurs. These are podcasts that have given many folks the information and inspiration to take their solopreneurship to the next level. So, what are you waiting for? Google these great podcasts, and start listening!
1. The Solopreneur Hour
We would be remiss if this were not the first on our list. Hosted by Michael O'Neal, The Solopreneur Hour releases multiple episodes each week, all filled with actionable strategies for success as a solopreneur. O'Neal invites business leaders from a wide variety of industries to share their inspiring stories and tidbits of wisdom on the show, making this a podcast you don't want to miss.
2. Life Skills That Matter
Host Stephen Warley is convinced self-employment is the new job security. In Life Skills That Matter, he talks to other successful solopreneurs and thought leaders about what success means for a solopreneur and how to achieve it. In addition to these frequent interviews, Warley posts brief weekly lessons with tips and tools for the solopreneurial life.
3. Love Your Work
David Kadavy is a best-selling author and creative entrepreneur who shares tools and inspiration for creators and solopreneurs. He interviews business leaders and behavioral scientists on matters of motivation, creativity, productivity, and everything in between. These weekly episodes range anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes, so you can find episodes in the archives to fit any commute.
4. How I Built This
An official NPR podcast hosted by Guy Raz, How I Built This interviews some of the world's greatest innovators and entrepreneurs about their journeys to success. Though it may not be jam-packed with actionable steps for success on the small scale, Raz's questions lead to intimate conversations about the difficulties of striking out on one's own and the triumph of overcoming obstacles. Plus, at the end of each episode, Raz highlights a listeners' solopreneurial endeavors. In sum, this weekly podcast is an inspiring look at success and the struggle that leads there, which is something every solopreneur can use from time to time.
5. Working Without Pants
As the title may suggest, this podcast is unapologetically casual in tone, but that doesn't diminish its value in the slightest. Jake Jorgovan interviews creative freelancers and consultants on how to attract clients and deal with the inevitable solopreneurial hiccups. New episodes are typically released a couple of times a month, making this a good show to save up and binge when you've got a particularly long list of chores to get done.
6. Being Boss
Co-hosts Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon focus on business from a female perspective. Weekly interviews with successful businesswomen mingle with special "minisodes" to offer tips, support, and inspiration to other enterprising women—and men, too!
7. Screw the Nine-to-Five Podcast
Jill and Josh Stanton quit their jobs and started a skincare website together in 2012. Now they run Screw the Nine-to-Five, a successful entrepreneurial lifestyle brand complete with online courses, live events, personalized coaching, a blog, and this podcast. Featuring candid interviews, business advice, good-natured humor, and the occasional curse word, these weekly episodes will help you turn your grueling nine-to-five into the solo career of your dreams. If you don't mind the language, this is definitely a podcast you should be listening to.
8. The Side Hustle Show
Another podcast for folks who are not quite out of the woods on their day job, The Side Hustle Show reveals exactly what it took for successful solopreneurs to turn their own side hustles into careers. Host Nick Loper and his guests explore practical tools for making the jump, with weekly episodes covering topics from taxes to imposter syndrome.
9. Smart Passive Income
Pat Flynn supports his family with a six-figure salary he earns by working just a few hours every week. In Smart Passive Income, Flynn shares his strategies for optimizing the internet to do your work for you so you have time and means to do what you love. Regardless of the specific goals for your solopreneurial endeavor, you will undoubtedly learn many useful tips from Flynn and his guests in these weekly episodes.
10. The GaryVee Audio Experience
Hosted by successful author, speaker, and CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, this podcast finishes off our list with a little something for everyone. Daily episodes could be anything from keynote speeches to interviews to "Surprising a Fan on Twitter with a Call." Even with the occasional dip into silly or self-promotional content, Vaynerchuk makes it all worth it for solopreneurs, offering actionable advice, valuable information, and the inspiration you need to "crush it."
Copyright © 2023 SCORE Association, SCORE.org
Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.


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Over the last two years, the Obama administration has approved a whopping $34.4 million in compensation to the top six executives of the financially troubled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage giants while lacking basic protections to ensure such compensation is warranted, a federal watchdog found.
The largesse flowed to the six executives even though the two companies they run struggle to staunch billions of dollars in losses, remain in government conservatorship, and are required to repay taxpayers for assuming the companies' liabilities during the mortgage crisis. Fannie and Freddie are tapping Treasury Department funds each quarter to help pay 10 percent dividends owed to the U.S. government.
"The need for effectiveness, integrity, and transparency in FHFA's programs and operations cannot be overstated," said Inspector General Steve Linick, a former Justice Department prosecutor confirmed by Senate last year to watch over federal housing programs. "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received almost $154 billion in taxpayer funding to support the still-fragile housing market. In addition, they own or guarantee about $5.4 trillion in residential mortgage obligations."
Fannie and Freddie, which support the housing market by buying mortgages from banks, were on the brink of collapse in September 2008 when they were taken over by the government. As conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) oversees operations at Fannie and Freddie as Congress works on a new housing finance blueprint that will decide the fate of the two companies.
Linick, FHFA's inspector general, is the government's newest watchdog for federal fraud, waste and abuse. The job was created last year by Congress. The office's first semiannual report to Congress included some details of executive compensation at Fannie and Freddie.
Linick said the FHFA rejected his recommendation that it test and independently verify the annual pay packages, which are set by the boards of Fannie and Freddie and approved by the agency in consultation with the Treasury Department.
The FHFA "lacks key controls necessary to monitor the enterprises' ongoing executive compensation decisions under the approved packages," the inspector general wrote. "FHFA has neither developed written procedures to evaluate the enterprises' recommended compensation levels each year, nor required FHFA staff to verify and test independently the means by which the Enterprises calculate their recommended compensation levels."
Further, the agency "lacks independent testing and verification of the Enterprises' submissions in support of executive compensation packages," the report said.
An FHFA spokeswoman told iWatch News the agency had no immediate comment. A Treasury Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.
The FHFA has defended executive pay at Fannie and Freddie in the past by saying the salaries were necessary to recruit and retain talented executives who can run big, complex companies.
The high pay is also important to offset the short-term nature of the jobs at Fannie and Freddie, which would be phased out of business under proposals from both Republicans and Democrats, the FHFA told the inspector general earlier this year. In a March 29 letter to the inspector general, the FHFA said under its management, Fannie and Freddie are paying an average of 40 percent less to employees than before 2008.
"We continue to review the comparability estimates of consultants hired by the Enterprises and their compensation committees. And we also review comparability data that we have purchased independently," FHFA Chief Economist Patrick Lawler said in the letter.
GOP wants to curb pay
Republicans said the new report added to their concerns about Fannie and Freddie.
"Fannie and Freddie are government sponsored enterprises, not government sponsored enrichment programs. As long as they are backstopped by U.S. taxpayers, executives should be compensated on par with government officials. If these executives want to earn Wall Street paychecks they should work on Wall Street," Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and government Reform Committee, said in an email to iWatchNews.
Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said there was no attempt by FHFA to justify the high pay. "It makes you wonder whether the conservatorship is accomplishing anything on behalf of taxpayers," Grassley said in an email.
Another senior Republican, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus of Alabama, recently introduced legislation that would suspend existing compensation packages for top executives at Fannie and Freddie. The bill, which was approved by a subcommittee on a 27-6 vote, would also put all Fannie and Freddie executives on the much lower federal payscale used by Ginnie Mae, the government-owned corporation that guarantees payments on mortgage-backed securities.
The current head of Fannie Mae, while still highly-paid by most Americans' standards, is earning significantly less than the $14.4 million package Daniel Mudd had as chief executive in 2006 during the peak of the housing market.
Fannie Mae's chief financial officer, David M. Johnson, was paid $4.6 million in 2009 and 2010. The company's general counsel, Timothy Mayopoulos, had a compensation package of $4.5 million for the two years, the inspector general said.
At Freddie Mac, Chief Executive Charles Haldeman had a two-year compensation package totaling $7.8 million in salary, incentive awards and deferred pay. Freddie's chief financial officer, Ross Kari, was paid $4 million and its general counsel, Robert Bostrom, took home $5.2 million, according to the inspector general.
Although none of the men were named in the report, the compensation packages were identified by each executive's title.
Legal costs, quarterly dividends
Fannie and Freddie have long been criticized by Republican lawmakers, who blame the mortgage giants for the financial crisis.
An iWatch News story in January, however, found that Fannie and Freddie didn't take as many risks and played a secondary role to Wall Street in the mortgage meltdown. Government data shows mortgages financed by Wall Street from 2001 to 2008 were more than four times more likely to be seriously delinquent than mortgages backed by Fannie and Freddie.
Another source of complaints about the two companies – known as "government-sponsored enterprises" although they once traded on the New York Stock Exchange – is the soaring legal expenses of their former executives.
In February, the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee questioned some $160 million in legal fees that taxpayers have footed since 2008 for former executives of Fannie and Freddie. The FHFA's acting director, Edward DeMarco, told lawmakers then that the government was obligated to pay legal fees to defend the former officers in lawsuits, but blamed court delays and a large amount of litigation for running up the bills.
Fannie itself is still losing money, although losses have narrowed in recent quarters. But to pay the required dividends to the U.S. government, it must borrow additional money each quarter from the Treasury Department. For the first quarter of 2011, Fannie reported a net loss of $6.5 billion, and said it will have to pay about $10 billion in dividends this year to the U.S. government.
Freddie, meanwhile, managed to report positive net income of $676 million for the first quarter, a big improvement from its $6.7 billion loss in the year-ago period.
Freddie paid a quarterly dividend of $1.6 billion to the U.S. government in the first quarter of 2011, and said it will owe $6.5 billion in dividends to the government for all of 2011. Freddie also said it "expects to request additional draws" from the Treasury Department in the future, mostly to pay dividends owed to the government.
On Wednesday, DeMarco told a House subcommittee that he would not ask for a cut in the hefty 10 percent dividend rate the two companies are required to pay. "Even if the dividend rate were reduced, the Enterprises would have to overcome a significant number of hurdles to exit from conservatorship without further legislative action," DeMarco testified.
Before nominated by President Barack Obama to the FHFA inspector general job, Linick was a respected career federal prosecutor who oversaw the Justice Department's National Procurement Fraud Task Force and also was involved in pursuing contract fraud cases related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The government agency overseeing money-losing Fannie Mae rejected a watchdog's recommendation to independently verify that top Fannie executives deserve their multi-million-dollar paychecks. Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated Press


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A 7 nights / 8 days holiday in west Crete that offers a rich mix of activities and experiences to keep the family excited. There is a balance between time in the charming town of Chania and time in the rural countryside and the beach, with a scenery that is wonderfully varied. Soft adventure days that include hiking, biking and kayaking are combined with visits to museums, monasteries, local markets, farming estates, villages and welcoming family-run tavernas, offering a gentle insight into local culture. The itinerary features two privately guided day tours, participation in two of our regular small group tours and two days with car rental for you to explore on your own, if you wish. It is designed for families with children aged 8 and up but activities can be adjusted to suit younger kids too. The tour starts / ends in Chania.
- Air tickets Athens - Chania (Crete) - Athens
- 8 days / 7 nights in the selected or similar hotels*
- Private transfer from Chania airport to chania town on Day 1
- Orientation welcome at your hotel upon arrival
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome & farewell dinners
- Private Walking tour of Chania on Day 1
- 1 day car rental group B (Nissan Micra or similar) for the full Day 2
- Chauffeured mini bus and guide on Day 3
- Biking tour with all equipment required, as a part of Day 3
- Lunch on Day 3, at Milia
- Small Group tour to Samaria Gorge on Day 4
- Entrance ticket to Samaria Gorge
- Boat tickets from Agia Roumeli to Loutro
- Boat tickets from Loutro to Sfakia on Day 6
- Chauffeured mini bus and guide on Day 6
- Cooking class on Day 7
- 1 day car rental group B (Nissan Micra or similar) from pm on Day 6 to pm on Day 7
- Private transfer from Maheri village to Chania airport
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
*2 bedroom suite in Pandora Suites, 2 adjoining double rooms at Porto Loutro, 2 bedroom apartment in Kamares Retreat
Arrival in Athens. Connecting flight to Chania in Crete. Upon arrival in Chania airport you will be transferred to your hotel, situated by the Venetian port of Chania. After your check in, our assistant will be at your disposal to go through the week's program in details. In the late afternoon we have a private walking tour around the old town to visit its main sites but also plenty of hidden spots off the beaten track, which reflect the mix of influences that has given Chania its very unique atmosphere. Dinner will follow, at a picturesque and cosy local restaurant. Overnight in Chania.
In the morning you will have a car rental delivered at your hotel for the day, so you have the flexibility to take it as you please, from a day at leisure by a nearby beach to a full day tour to Knossos Palace in the east. What we suggest - presented in details by our assistant upon arrival - for the day is the short drive towards the Akrotiri peninsula, for a good combination of scenery, culture, hiking and beach. Your first stop will be the Monastery of Agia Triada. Built in the 17th century, with a majestic cruciform church, it is set on a wonderfully overgrown landscape of olive groves and cypress trees. The monastery is still flourishing and is well known for its intensive agricultural activity. Their produce includes wine, award-winning organic olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and green soap, which you could buy at the store in premises. Driving further into the hills on a narrow and winding road you will reach the smaller and older Monastery of Gouverneto, that resembles to a castle. From here you can set off for a nice hike. This can be as short as the 1 /2 hour footpath for you to only visit the Bear's cave – named after a stalagmite that looks like a crouching bear – and the abandoned chapel of Katholiko. Or you can continue further through the Avlaki gorge, in a wild and beautiful landscape, till you reach a tiny, deep cove with aquamarine waters. You can end your day with a swim at the beautiful sandy beach of Marathi, and a delicious sea food lunch at its waterfront taverna. If you do not feel like driving, you have the option to organize the day with mini bus transfers instead, and could also add a private guide. Overnight in Chania.
You will meet your guide and driver in the morning and depart the hotel for an exploration of Kissamos, the westernmost part of the island. Our first visit will be at an olive oil producing estate. It is an ecological prototype farm cultivated by 5th generation owners that promote the traditional way of organic olive oil production – the olive oil is stone milled and cold pressed. We will be guided around premises and have an olive-oil tasting. We then will get our bikes and helmets and start our cycling through scenic countryside, with olive fields and picturesque villages. The route is easy, on asphalt road, addressed to anyone with biking experience. The biking part lasts approximately 1 ½ hr and a support vehicle is following you. Our mini bus will then take us to the original hamlet of Milia, a retreat of traditional stone structures, carefully restored to naturally blend in with the surrounding environment and ecosystem. We will be guided around the premises and then enjoy our well earned lunch, prepared by the resident family with fresh local produce. Late afternoon return at the hotel. Evening free. Overnight in Chania.
Early morning departure for Omalos plateau, to hike the spectacular Samaria Gorge, stretching from the White Mountains down to the Libyan Sea. Samaria Gorge is the largest gorge in Europe and one of the most beautiful ones. You will join a small group tour, escorted by a qualified hiking guide. The walk is on a well maintained path, through an impressively changing scenery. After a 18km walk in total, we reach the small coastal village of Agia Roumeli, where we can relax and enjoy a swim before catching the evening boat to Loutro. This 45min sail along the coastline offers some great views of rugged beaches. Your luggage will have arrived in Loutro in the early afternoon. Overnight in Loutro.
Day free at your own leisure. Overnight in Loutro.
We depart Loutro in the morning, for an exploration of the sparsely populated region province of Sfakia, to take in its rugged and unforgiving landscape lying from the south to the north, where places seem untouched by time and life continues in the traditional old ways. Our route will take us the ghost village of Aradena, abandoned in the 40's because of a vendetta, with notable examples of Cretan architecture, then to the fertile plateau of Askifou, and the gorge of Imbros, through which in May 1941 stumbled the exhausted soldiers of the Allied armies, on a desperate retreat to the port of Sfakia. In the early afternoon we will reach our hotel for the next two nights, located in the heart of the small preserved village of Maheri, in Apokoronas province. Kamares is a traditional retreat of restored Venetian houses whose exemplary and long restoration was carried out with respect and love for traditional and environmental values The luxury of harmony and simplicity, the opportunity to sample authentic Cretan village life with your five senses, the chance to get in touch with nature are the keynotes of Kamares. A car will be delivered at the hotel, to be at your disposal for the rest of this and the coming day. Overnight in Maheri.
In the morning you can explore the surrounding countryside and villages. Your stops can include the archaeological site of Aptera to explore the exciting Achaean and Roman ruins, set on an impressive position with great vistas, the Byzantine chapel of Agios Nikolaos in Kyriakoselia, with its remarkable frescoes, the beautiful Gavalohori village with its charming folk museum. In the afternoon, we will have a fun garden-to-table cooking class in our small inn, preparing a number of typical dishes and learning a list of delicious recipes to bring back home. Dinner will follow. Overnight in Maheri.
Transfer to Chania airport for your flight to Athens
Optional Tours
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