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Internships are a fantastic way to meet new people, learn about a chosen industry and discover what your dream job is really like. There are a number of things that you can do to make sure you're getting the most out of your internship experience. Because if your friends are hanging out at the mall over the summer while you're in an office cubicle somewhere, you'll want to make sure the choice was worth it!
A word of warning: not all internships are created equal. Some will be very structured and, if you're conscientious enough, it should be fairly easy to have an enjoyable and enriching experience. Others will have next to no structure, so it's important you take the lead. The first two weeks of an internship are crucial in setting expectations and your trajectory for success or failure.
1. The basics
These are things which, if you've had an internship before, you probably already know, but we'll list them just to be sure:
- Dress appropriately (and don't assume Fridays are casual).
- Watch the language you use.
- Don't bitch, whine, complain or moan.
- Don't hit on your cute coworker—or, worse, your manager.
- Do not get drunk at the welcome drinks ( or happy hour).
Now, on to some of the lesser-known tips…
2. An internship is a six-week interview
Many internships will offer some full-time jobs to recent graduates at the conclusion of the internship program. So if you think you want a permanent role in the company, your internship is the best time to prove to your managers that you're the right choice. Even if you don't get a job straight away, you can still build up contacts for later down the road.
3. Failing to plan is planning to fail
The internship will be over before you know it, so it's important you plan exactly what you want to get out of it. By letting your manager know upfront what you want to do, it will be a lot easier to design a program tailored to your interests. Be firm, but not demanding; they might not give you much "real work," but at least you can let them know which types of roles you want to oversee.
Try to set up brief weekly catch-ups with your manager so you can update them on your progress or flag any concerns you have. Use this time to steer the direction of your internship if you feel it's getting off track.
4. Be realistic about what you want to achieve, and have a daily plan
It'll be impossible to deliver a major project in such a short amount of time, but you should look to add value in any way you can. Tagging along to meetings is a great way to find out what your manager actually does all day, what problems they face and how they deal with them. Offer to take the minutes and send them to your manager afterward. This will help keep you in the know and will get you well-acquainted with the different stakeholders and the steps required to complete a project at the company.
5. Be social (but not at your desk)
Sure, eating out every day can be expensive and unhealthy, but imagine you're the only one who brought lunch and you're sitting in the lunch room by yourself while everyone else is out. Next thing you know, everyone is calling your manager "the dolphin" and you have no idea why. Hanging out with your colleagues during non-work hours is an essential part of getting to know their personalities and how to best work around them, so don't be the one left behind!
6. Don't just hang out with your intern friends
It's great to make friends, but make sure you also spend time getting to know your managers and teammates, their backgrounds and the team culture as they're ones you'll be working with in the future. Being an intern, people will generally be more lenient when it comes to you asking questions and poking your head into different parts of the business.
Use this to your advantage and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions about how different divisions work together or whatever else you're interested in. Most people love to talk about themselves—they just don't have an audience! By asking how your colleagues got to this stage in their careers, you can see what skills you need to acquire in order to get to the same place.
7. Your manager is not your friend
An internship is a mighty short time to build strong, professional rapport with your colleagues and your manager, so always make sure you act professionally in the office. Even if they say it's cool to take a two-hour lunch break, it probably isn't. The same goes with sharing too much personal information.
This doesn't mean you have to act like a robot with no feelings or personality; just make sure you're showing your best self during this time. Also, don't be too concerned about sucking up to high-level managers! Often it's your immediate manager or middle management who will have the last call about hiring you.
8. Don't come with problems; come with solutions
Instead of asking, "What should we do about XYZ?" say, "I think we should do [insert activity] for [insert project]. What do you think?" This will test your own analytical skills and also show your manager that you're thinking about the problems, not just waiting for instructions to be dropped in your lap. People who follow instructions without adding value are easily dispensable. Always have a go at finding a solution before asking your manager; they want to work with people who can think on their own, not people they have to micromanage every step of the way.
So, there you have it! Eight simple steps to getting the most out of your internship. Keep your head up, and great job taking charge of your career!
How do you make sure you get the most out of your summer internship? Share your tips in the comments!
This post originally appeared on Levo League.
Michele Lim is a Digital Marketer all the way from Sydney, Australia. Her passions lie in creative word of mouth marketing campaigns—anything that starts a conversation! She studied a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in Economics with sub-majors in Marketing and Accounting. Her hobbies include performing standup comedy, watching B-grade hip hop dance movies and helping people find their rightful place on Easy Street. Follow her on Twitter @mayorofeasyst.
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Calling it an "amazing opportunity," the president of Cristo Rey Columbus High School is upbeat about the potential move to the former Ohio School for the Deaf in downtown Columbus.
Calling it an "amazing opportunity," the president of Cristo Rey Columbus High School is upbeat about the potential move to the former Ohio School for the Deaf in downtown Columbus.
The Catholic school's board of trustees on March 19 was expected to approve the $1-million purchase of the facility from the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
"It's an amazing opportunity when you think about it," said Jim Foley, president of Cristo Rey Columbus. "The location is going to put education right at our front door -- not just the library but the entire Discovery District."
In January, CML paid $2.16 million for the Deaf School, 400 E. Town St. Last week, the library approved the sale of the facility to Cristo Rey, now located at 840 W. State St. on the Near West Side.
"I certainly think this is a transition that's in the best interest of the school," Foley said.
He said the 88,000-square-foot building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will require significant renovation.
"We're still working on the price tag," he said. "It will be a very substantial amount of money."
Foley said the school will apply for state and federal tax credits to offset the cost of the renovation.
Cristo Rey will open in the temporary State Street location with just a freshman class this fall. Foley said the Deaf School building is expected to be renovated by the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, when a freshmen and sophomore class will enroll. A class will be added each of the following two years, bringing the eventual total of students to 400 to 500 and the staff to 60 to 65 members.
CML will retain about a half-acre of land between the Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave., and Topiary Park, connecting the library to a significant outdoor asset and green space.
That breaks down to about $60 a square foot, said Gregg Dodd, a spokesman for the library.
"We think that is a great deal for CML," Dodd said. "Had we kept that building, the initial estimates were up to $6 million for renovation costs. So while we're selling the building for $1 million, the Columbus Metropolitan Library doesn't own the building and isn't responsible for the rehab costs."
The favored plan for the new outdoor space calls for creating a terrace area that overlooks the park, which is owned by the city of Columbus. Officials hope to select architects by June to do the initial design work.
"We think it will take about a year to work through the design," Dodd said, noting that by late 2014, library officials hope to break ground on the eastward expansion, and anticipate wrapping up the project by 2016.

subset: commoncrawl


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Top Five Gifts for Cruise Gourmetsby Paul Motter | 12.14.12
A selection of food-related gifts for your gourmet-cruise cuisine enthusiast
The Wüsthof Knife Selection
I know what you're thinking. The best gift to give a cruise devotee would be a boarding pass for a two-week cruise on a six-star ship. Okay, that was a moment. Now, back to reality. In case that concept isn't in this year's budget, here is the next-best way to please friends and family who live to eat and love to cruise. Take it from me, one who does both. I wouldn't live without the following in my landlocked kitchen. They ensure that my food-and-beverage is luxury-level cruise ship, even when on land.
One of the biggest treats when cruising is nonstop access to frothy cappuccinos. On most luxury lines like Seabourn, they are complimentary any time of day. (Often, servers fashion a cinnamon "S" to float on the foam.) Crystal Cruises serves terrific complimentary cappuccino in their two ships' Bistro - where I first got addicted to a perfect cup in the first place.
Nespresso Citiz and Milk is the best home substitute. Unlike most such machines on the market, the espresso capsules are made from stellar coffee and not laced with artificial ingredients.
Making cappuccino is a no-brainer. Drop a capsule of choice into the machine, push a button and out comes bracing espresso with perfect crema (the sign of great espresso, a thin layer of foam formed on top). Pour nonfat milk into the accompanying Aeroccino, push a button and warm rich froth is whipped in seconds. Buy top-notch Vietnamese cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Close your eyes and you'll swear you're onboard a dream ship. Especially if you shape the cinnamon into an 'S.' (nespresso-us.com)
These machines are like blenders on steroids. They have the torque of an M series BMW. They're what many cruise ship chefs use to chop, blend, cream, puree and more. Smoothies, soups and frozen desserts are just some cooking tasks that become a snap with a Vitamix. Nut butters, spreads, dressings, batters, grinding flours - this machine does it all. Plus, Vitamix is one sturdy critter; buy one once and it should outlast you. And here's one for the home team; they're made in the USA with at least 70-percent American components.
The company makes four different models; Classic, Professional, TurboBlend and Creations. TurboBlend is a great gift for those following raw, vegan or vegetarian lifestyles and is the lowest-priced. I have had the Classic Series for years, which has held up well. The Vitamix comes with a cookbook filled with easy recipes to get maximum use of your purchase. For Vitamix, and other holiday gift suggestions in this article, shop around. Check discount warehouses and online stores for the best prices. (vitamix.com)
All-Clad is the Bentley of cookware. Each piece is handcrafted with a proprietary recipe of metals to provide ultimate performance. The company, which has its own mill in Pennsylvania, uses American craftsmen and American-made metals to produce their superior cookware. Okay, that's not Bentley, but you get the idea. Highest quality standards. Superb equipment. This company is so good, it partners with swanky hotel and restaurant collection Relais & Chateaux - which also has a relationship with Silversea Cruises.
For those who care about giving green gifts, All-Clad is manufactured to the most stringent environmental standards. Nearly every ounce of unused material is recycled, even the metal dust generated during the sanding process.
What makes cooking with All-Clad so great? Each piece is made with a pure core of aluminum, stainless or copper - not just on the bottom, but all the way up the sides - which distributes heat evenly and provides professional-level results.
The 18/10 stainless steel interior-cooking surface will not react with food, and cleans easily. Long stick handles stay cool to the touch and are ergonomically designed for comfort.
If you are buying just one piece, check out a large sauté or saucepan. There are several different models, such as stainless, copper core and d5 brushed. The latter is the newest version. It has a patented inner core of premium stainless, guaranteeing 20% more even heating, virtually eliminating any hotspots. It's also optimized for induction cooking and was years in development. I own both stainless and copper core and love both. Stainless is the original, has lifetime durability and is All-Clad's most popular cookware. (all-clad.com)
These round little guys - just a few inches high -- are so cute. Made in France of enameled cast-iron, they are often used on cruise ships for serving sides of fancy vegetables or potatoes in specialty restaurants. Mini cocottes are also great for baking individual crisps and cobblers; going straight from oven to table. They come in different colors like red, sapphire blue and basil and are sometimes sold in sets of four. Oprah and I must think alike; they made her "Favorite Things" list in December 2011. Hey Oprah, guess what? They're still fabulous a year later. (staubusa.com)
You can't be a great cook without proper pots and pans. But pots and pans without great knives are like peanut butter without jelly. You have to slice correctly to cook well. That's where Wüsthof comes in. In my book, this German company makes the best knives. The company began in 1814 and is now in its seventh generation of family ownership. Some 300 workers in two state-of-the-art facilities follow strict production rules for forging.
Each knife series has a different ergonomic handle design and is forged from one piece of specially tempered high-carbon steel to ensure outstanding endurance. The extraordinary sharpness (which actually makes knives safer; dull knives are the dangerous ones) is easy to maintain. Of particular note; the Ikon knife has an African blackwood handle that is most attractive. The two newest are the Epicure collection, sold only at Sur La Table, and Precision, jointly created with Williams-Sonoma. (wusthof.com)


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Ritz-Carlton Showcase Apartment by Javier Martín Muriel
The mantra of Javier Martín Muriel's design was "modern, livable luxury"
In this luxury apartment in Chicago's Ritz-Carlton Residences with a stunning view of the city skyline, the mantra of Javier Martín Muriel—who lives in Spain—was "modern, livable luxury."
Because Chicago's a very architectural city, Javier says, he created a design with structure and style. The look is modern, but grounded in tradition. A muted palette based on white is exemplified by white Belgian linen upholstery. As with the other residences in this showcase, the designer used items that he designed himself. His Baltus Collection integrates contemporary lines with the generous spaces it enhances. Here, Paul Templeman-Holmes (who works with Spanish-speaking Javier on his Baltus Collection) discusses Javier's inspiration and artful execution of this stylish Chicago pied-à-terre.
TH: Explain how you were able to incorporate the Baltus Collection so well into the design of the apartment.
PTH: Our approach is always the idea of modern, livable luxury. We try to crate a space that is extremely unique, focuses on our custom pieces, but it's not too precious. It's somewhere you can live on a day-to-day basis, you can entertain, and you don't have to worry about the surfaces being too delicate. Everything we do and design is developed to be something that really adds to your everyday life.
One of the things about modern furniture that people often misunderstand, especially when it comes to luxury modern furniture, isn't how hard it is to design a chair. It's adding those details that don't detract from the simplicity of the piece, that really set it apart and make it stand out. That's one thing I think Javier has done amazingly well with the Baltus line. When you look at the coffee table in this room, the deep reverse bevel on the tabletop is incredible, and the asymmetrical base really adds something as well. In the den, the Verona cabinet, the way the drawers aren't completely flush, the two-tone finish…it's all blended together and it gives a tactility that you don't get with a lot of other modern pieces. It warms those items up. It gives them a human element. Everything that we design has to be practical, useful, and comfortable. A lot of modern furniture is hard, cold, all for looks. We try extremely hard that even our jewel pieces have a livability about them.
TH: How did the city impact Javier's vision of this space?
PTH: I think when you see the architecture of Chicago, especially in this building, the views are absolutely incredible, and the city is the star. Our Baltus pieces really lend themselves to this kind of environment. It's a very architectural city, and so are our designs. There's a lot of structure, a lot of style, a very definitive point of view. I think that's something that we really wanted to bring to this building. I think Chicago, being in the Midwest, sometimes gets unfairly pigeonholed as being a bit too traditional or very Americana. One thing we wanted to emphasize is that's not what Chicago is at all, or not entirely. It's a multi-faceted city when you look at it architecturally, historically, socially, everything about it. We really wanted to bring that modern element into the interior space. The thing that keeps it grounded, and keeps our interiors from being dated, is that it's all based in the principles of traditional classicism when it comes to scale, proportion, the way things sit together. That's what really makes the pieces applicable and versatile for lots of different types of environments.
TH: What effect were you hoping to accomplish with the apartment's palette?
PTH: The palette is very fresh, very muted. It's obviously based around white with pops of color. The upholstery is white Belgian linens. Then we have a few lacquers in here, a fabulous marble coffee tabletop, the woven camel leather that we have on the bench that's set off with the black table. We really create a simple, restful, peaceful environment that has pops of color. The accompanying artwork, accessories, rugs, and so on add that little bit of life and personality that stop it from being too cold.
TH: With a mostly neutral color palette, how were you able to accomplish such distinction between each room?
PTH: The dining room is probably the most intimate space in the apartment. And that's one thing that we wanted to retain, that classic idea of formal dining. It's a smaller space, with tall ceilings and a relatively small window. Although the pieces are quite large and grand in scale, we've got seating for eight, the materials and finishes that we used add a softness to it. That matte lacquer paired with the rustic beech wood legs, there's almost like a modern farmhouse sense about it in an extremely urban environment—it works beautifully in the space. And then there's that amazing chandelier, which is dramatic, but very light, very airy, very modern. It adds real visual interest and draws your eye up into the room and stops it from becoming too much of a square box.
The kid's room is really the fun part of the apartment, but the pieces are still sophisticated. They inject that lively personality that you get when you have kids living somewhere. It's still city living, but it has that friendliness, that openness that children crave, so it's a little bit of an escape from the hustle and bustle of Chicago life. The colors we chose are definitely geared for a younger child, but you can do them in any one of our finishes, and they can be easily updated for a tween or a teenager. As with everything we do, there has to be a practicality. There has to be utility, especially for kids.
The master suite is a respite from day-to-day life. One thing I really like about it is the proportion. We rather like the European idea of a suite of rooms: You've got a balcony, a beautiful relaxing spa-like bathroom, that fabulous built-in closet, and entrance vestibule. Though its not an enormous the space, the architecture of the apartment as a whole is really infused with elements of grandeur. In the bedroom, that sense is reflected in the high ceilings, the beautiful but simple moldings that go around the ceilings, and that incredible view. It was absolutely important to us that the furniture complemented that, and didn't detract away from it. And there's that little bit of drama that comes through with the metallic-infused headboard.
TH: You have also injected the space with so much unique artwork. How does that add to the overall aesthetic?
PTH: The artwork is one of the highlights of the apartment. It's all produced by Javier's son, Javier Martín. He was already a quite successful artist in Europe. When Baltus came to the USA, we thought we should really be representing his art. So we've moved forward together, and sort of wrapped Javier Martin's art into the Baltus brand and the vision that we have. It just pairs so beautifully. It's really nice to see that familial lineage in terms of design and vision. It brings something human to the brand. It's a little whimsical, and there's definitely a sense of political sarcasm behind most of the pieces. They're intelligently created pieces, an unusual format, and they're quite varied as well: collage, digital prints, oil on canvas, charcoals—he's not restricted to one particular medium. And I think that also gives the apartment a sort of dynamism and life, and keeps it crackling from room to room.
Photography: Werner Straube
Produced by Hilary Rose & Jo Ann McVicker
Builder: Prism Development Co., 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611; 312/782-6700, prismcompany.com.
Interior designer: Javier Martín Muriel, Baltus Collection, 3925 N. Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33127; 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Kitchen designer: Mick De Giulio, De Giulio Kitchen Design, 1121 Central Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091; 847/256-8833, degiulio.org.
Flowers: H. Bloom, 312/846-1194, hbloom.com.
Window shades ("Basketweave 90"/Oyster): Lutron, 888/588-7661, lutron.com.
Paint ("Gardenia" #AF-10): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667, benjaminmoore.com.
Sofas (by Sofa Riconera in White #TP0928-00); coffee table ("Mesa Centro Templo"/marble top and brushed steel); chair ("Butaca Rocio"/White); pair of sofa end tables ("Mesa Auxiliar Iris"); table beside chair ("Mesa Auxiliar Aura"); art between windows (Armonia del Papel, oil and paper); portrait by sofas (Blindness Air 2, oil and paper, mixed); sculptures on coffee table ("Sand Dollar"): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Floor lamp behind chair ("Talek LED Floor Lamp" #TAL0101-LED): Y Lighting, 866/428-9289, ylighting.com.
Javier was trained as an engineer, and it shows. His projects feature pure lines, with proportions sharing center stage with light and texture.
We love the classic spindle arms and legs on this otherwise ultramodern chair from the Baltus Collection.
Open shelving with sculptural accents and a neutral scheme give this area a Zen quality. "Chicago is a working city, a city of traders, brokers, realtors, that sort of thing. So it was important to have a place to be with your family in your home and still get some work done," says Paul on behalf of Javier.
Bookcase (Estanteria Pena Praga); desk (Escritorio Lyon); desk chair ("Silla Oz); area rug; urns on floor: Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Lamp on bookshelf ("Nelson Lantern Lamp"): Jonathan Adler, 800/963-0891, jonathanadler.com.
The variety of the art—collage, oil on canvas, digital prints —keeps the space crackling from room to room.
Daybed ("Pouf Acero"); round table (Mesa Auxiliar Esferas"); long cabinet ("Aparador Verona"); lamp; large silver chess pieces (by Forestier): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Daybed leather ("Grand Panama"): Dedar, 800/493-2209, dedar.com.
The handmade look of this rug, along with the oversized stitching, makes it an interesting accent.
A mesh table has a see-through look. Along with accents in sky colors, it subtly references the panoramic view.
Round end table between sofas ("Mesa Auxiliar Esferas"): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com
In the master suite, a quiet color scheme also focuses attention on the view. The airy chandelier is by Design Within Reach.
Headboard; 3-drawer cabinet ("Aparador Turin"); chair ("Mansion Arm Chair"); chair leather ("Croc-Print Leather"); art (Blindness, Woman, Clip 1): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Table lamp ("Miss K Table Lamp" #FU625500): Y Lighting, 866/428-9289, ylighting.com.
Chandelier ("Random Light" #6621): Design Within Reach, 800/944-2233, dwr.com.
The metallic-infused headboard has glints of silver for a touch of glam.
It's a challenge to make a children's room read sophisticated but youthful. Javier met the challenge with bright colors and simple lines. The "Miss Sissi" table lamps are by Phillipe Starck for Y Lighting.
Orange headboard ("Cabecero Icaro"/ Orange Glossy, by Baltus Kids): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Table lamps ("Miss Sissi" #FU625009): Y Lighting, 866/428-9289, ylighting.com.
Elephant art (#106197); hippo picture (#106359); talking animal alarm clock ; stuffed orange toy ("Suddy Ugly Doll"): stuffed blue toy ("Big Toe Ugly Doll"): Land of Nod, 800/933-9904, landofnod.com.
Javier designed this space to transition easily to a teen or adult room. The lemony chairs have a classic shape. Sassy stoneware animals are by Jonathan Adler.
Bookcase ("Red Atlanta Bookcase/Red Glossy, by Baltus Kids); blue case ("Blue Atlanta Bookcase"/Blue Glossy, by Baltus Kids); chairs ("Butaca Picasso/Yellow): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.
Tower of Babel boxes: Land of Nod, 800/933-9904, landofnod.com.
Giraffe and lion stoneware on blue bookcase: Jonathan Adler, 800/963-0891, jonathanadler.com.
Sure to bring a smile is this glossy orange headboard by Baltus Kids.
The most intimate space in the residence, the dining room, has tall ceilings and a smallish window. The pieces are large and rather grand in scale, underscoring the room's importance. The "Big Bang Chandelier" is by Y Lighting.
Click here to see more exquisite apartments from the Ritz-Carlton Showcase.
Chandelier ("Big Bang Chandelier"/White #151007-10): Y Lighting, 866/428-9289, ylighting.com.
Table; chairs; art (collage, digital and mixed on paper "New Old" No. 1-4): Baltus Collection, 305/575-2620, baltuscollection.com.


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Meditation in the Christian Tradition
As it is a human quality to be able to switch into different modes of being, many of the things I have said apply not only to meditation in the Christian tradition but also to the form of silent, attentive prayer as found in other main religious traditions.
Let's therefore take a moment to remind ourselves what makes our meditation Christian.
In his teaching Jesus is concerned to help us become again aware of the Kingdom, the Presence of God and he recommends silent, interior prayer. We find the essence of meditation/contemplative prayer - silence, solitude and interiority – in his words in the Sermon on the Mount: 'But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your father, who is there in the secret place; and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you. (Mat 6,6). Cassian explains this as follows: 'We pray in our room when we withdraw our hearts completely from the clatter of every thought and concern and disclose our prayers to the Lord in secret, as it were intimately. We pray with the door shut when, with closed lips and in total silence, we pray to the searcher not of voices but of hearts.'
Blaise Pascal, a 17th century French scientist, writer, philosopher and Catholic theologian was of the opinion that all our miseries stemmed from a single cause: our inability to remain sitting alone silently in a room and he felt that this would ultimately lead to our ruin. Unless we, as John Main said, take the searchlight of consciousness off the ego, and enter interior silence, we cannot glimpse the light of our true Self nor become aware of our link with Ultimate Reality and 'have life in all its fullness'. Laurence Freeman in discussing meditation in 'Jesus, the Teacher Within' highlights this needed shift: "prayer must be rooted in the sincerity of the true Self rather than in the ego's self-consciousness." This he bases on Jesus' saying: 'Be careful not to make a show of your religion before men; if you do, no reward awaits you in your Father's house in heaven.'(Matt 6,1) Laurence Freeman continues: Whenever we find security or take pleasure in the approval of others the authenticity of prayer is compromised." Jesus extends this detachment of the needs and desires of the ego to ordinary life: 'I bid you put away anxious thoughts about food and drink to keep you alive and clothes to cover your body.' (Matt 6, 25)
The use of a short word or phrase is also emphasized in the teaching in this Sermon: 'In your prayers do not go babbling on like the heathen, who imagine that the more they say the more likely they are to be heard.' (Matt 6:7-8) Later in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer, Jesus recommends the tax-payer's way of prayer, who just constantly repeats the phrase: 'O God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am.' (Luke 18: 10-14).
Our meditation is therefore Christian, as it is based on our faith and belief in Jesus' teaching.
Kim Nataraja
For further help with setting up and leading groups, please look HERE.


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4 flounder fillets, 6 to 8 ounces each
Salt and pepper
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons heavy cream
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup dry white wine
fresh parsley, finely chopped or dried
1 lemon, zest and juiced
3 tablespoons capers optional for us
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Beat eggs with cream. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet, add 2 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks. Dip the fish into the egg and cream mixture and cook on both sides until just golden, 5 to 6 minutes total. Transfer fish to an oven proof dish, cover and put oven on lowest temperature to keep warm.
Add wine to the pan and reduce by half, 1 minute, then add 1 tablespoon butter and a handful of parsley to the pan. Stir in the lemon juice and zest and the capers if using. Turn off heat. Pour sauce over fish. Spinach is a nice side dish for flounder.
|For recipe click on " Spinach" above


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They saw a nonplayer come onto the field, assumed ........... "Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I get it, but what else you gonna do? Stop the game and interrogate him? "Excuse me, what are you doing out here?" Or you a coach, attendant, trainer? Or just a casual fan? If you're the former, I'm throwing a flag, if the latter, it's all good. Let me get the clock reset..." I just don't think it's as simple as some would like to believe. To be sure, it's one of those "you had to be there" type of calls. Having said that, what did the guys who were there do? And why?
5- Most valuable Jackass Award given to the kid who's act, likely effected the outcome of the State Championship game.
KWH you be correct! I simply threw that out there to make people think
Why did the clock start on the snap? Seems a logical conclusion to end an interruption caused by a totally illogical, unusual behavior. The notion to combine the interruption with a sanctioned, normal and appropriate "water break" is a practical application of combining the interruption with a sanctioned break, eliminating the need to generate a separate interruption, to satisfy the intent of the required "water break".Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


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March 31, 2007
Click Here!
'What Apple Gets Right and Why Linux Keeps Slippin
OSNews writes "The founder of the Open Graphics Project writes: "Good design and usability are very important. I haven't paid enough attention to the discussions between Linus and GNOME developers, so I can't address it directly. But what I can say is that a learning curve is not a bad thing. While it's good to think about the total novice, it's even more important to have consistent and logical mechanisms. This way, if someone has to learn something new to use the computer, they have to learn it only once. This is why I think it's good that Apple and Microsoft have UI development guides that encourage developers to make their apps act consistently with other apps in areas where their functionalities conceptually overlap. And this is where I start to get disappointed with GNU/X11/Linux systems.""
Link: OSNews
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The 4 Biggest Nutritional Hoaxes
I believe the four foods and beverages below have enjoyed an unwarranted nutritional halo for too long.
While not equivalent to soda and trans fat-laden fast food, they are nevertheless not the nutrition all-stars we have been made to believe. The time for an objective analysis has come.
In no particular order:


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When a rice field can be safely drained without sacrificing yield is a topic that has generated a lot of discussion.
The University of Arkansas recommends draining rice when it has passed physiological maturity to prevent water stress during grain-filling. According to predictions by the rice DD-50 computer program, that is normally 25 days after 50 percent heading for long grain varieties, 35 days after 50 percent heading for medium grain varieties, and 40 days after 50 percent heading for short grain varieties.
However, 10 to 14 days after rice has headed, farmers may consider turning off well pumps to prepare for harvest if there is an adequate flood on the field to prevent drought stress during grain fill.
This only means turning off the well, not draining the field. If temperatures are hot with little chance of rainfall, continue pumping for five to 10 more days, particularly on sandy fields that do not hold water well. Removal of the flood prior to this stage may result in grain yield and milling yield reductions.
Research conducted in Arkansas by Paul Counce, a university researcher, suggests that draining earlier than 25 days after 50 percent heading may be done safely under the right circumstances. He reported that rice yield and quality were reduced by draining at 50 percent heading in small-plot studies conducted at Stuttgart, Keiser and Pine Tree.
However, draining two weeks after 50 percent heading did not reduce yield or quality. However, the practice of early termination of irrigation (draining before 25 days after 50 percent heading) has had little testing in commercial rice fields.
A major advantage to early termination of irrigation lies in maintaining good soil conditions for the next crop. Fields that do not dry quickly, primarily heavy clay fields, are less likely to be rutted during harvest if irrigation is terminated early. This reduces the number of tillage passes across the field, which in turn reduces costs associated with producing the next crop.
Many producers have invested significantly in precision land forming to improve water management on their farms. However, if fields don't dry sufficiently for harvest, farmers must make a decision to either wait past the optimum harvest time for the rice or rut the fields to get the crop out.
Both scenarios cost producers money.
Farmers tend to know their fields better than anyone else. If you create tire ruts during harvest because the soil is not dry enough, these fields are probably good candidates for early irrigation termination. While the process may result in some monetary savings in the right years, be sure to weigh the risks.
The decision for early irrigation termination should be based on individual field conditions. This should be done on fields that have an adequate flood established, slow drying potential because of weather, soils such as clay that hold water or fields that do not dry quickly after draining.
If you're interested in early flood termination, try it on a single field before committing the whole farm.
Charles E. Wilson Jr. is the Extension rice agronomist at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. e-mail email@example.com.


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Holiday Shipping Promotion
We are happy to help! If you have questions or would like assistance with your order, just call, chat, or email.
Promotion Details & Exclusions
Promotion applies to standard shipping within the U.S. only. For free shipping, order must total $199 or more before shipping and taxes. Free or flat rate shipping is not available for bass drums, bass drum cases, or bagpipe services. Promotion applies to orders placed on or after November 29. Offer ends December 14, 2012.


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Oscar Hammerstein II - Out of My Dreams
Oscar Hammerstein II - Out of My Dreams Previous Broadcasts
KQED 9: Fri, Mar 21, 2014 -- 10:30 PM
An entertaining look at the innovative genius who created musical theater as we know it today. His career spanned almost 40 years, from operettas such as "Rose-Marie" and "The Desert Song," to the groundbreaking "Show Boat," to the legendary musicals he wrote with Richard Rodgers - "Oklahoma!" - "Carousel" - "South Pacific" - "The King and I" - "Flower Drum Song" - and "The Sound of Music."
Repeat Broadcasts:
- KQED 9: Sat, Mar 22, 2014 -- 4:30 AM


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I have been waxing poetic on how great the Ball was, and now I seem to have convinced someone else over here in North America to attend the 2018 AGM.
And their next question was "when?"
What is the date for the 2018 BB?
May 11-13?
I have not received the latest Gazette, must be stuck in the mail, on a slow boat across the Atlantic or something.
inquiring minds and all that...


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It would be nice to be able to chose starting positions for your squad.
Something like: "Stat Window" being able to chose which unit is in defensive line and who is in offensive one. And maybe middle line.
Or being able to switch between units first turn.
What you say ?
Starting positions according to custom stats
For general discussion of Frozen Cortex.
Moderator: Admins
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I Am R2-D2 Ladies' Tunic Tank
What's old is new again.
Your friends will think you so fashion forward when you sport this droid-era tank, reminiscent of fashion from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Everyone in fashion is looking for the next big thing. You want cool. You want modern! What could be cooler (seriously, he is made of metal) and more modern (although, actually it happened long ago in a galaxy far, far away) than this R2D2 Ladies tunic tank! Basically, it makes you look like you are Artoo. People will be so fooled. SO FOOLED.
95% cotton and 6% spandex white colored tunic tank with R2D2 print in the front.Please note that this tank is listed in juniors sizing. Please refer to the size chart below. We recommend ordering up a size.
|34 to 36 in.
|36 to 38 in.
|38 to 40 in.
|40 to 42 in.
|32 in.
|34 in.
|36 in.
|38 in.
|40 in.
|42 in.
|44 in.
|46 in.
|Front Length
|28 in.
|29 in.
|30 in.
|31 in.


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Narcissism and hypocrisy are damaging the U.S. Congress and America. It allows people to suffer. It allows the millionaires in Congress to allow our economy to decline or limp along. Ignorance, poverty, and disease are the enemies of America and Congress ignores the growth of these enemies in America. President Franklin Roosevelt did not support the New Deal because he just wanted to help the poor. He recognized that the survival of the nation depended on changing the great divide between the very wealthy and the vast poverty during and after the Depression. The unrest among the unemployed and the poor was a growing concern of FDR�s for the nation�s democracy. We face almost the same disparity today. The wealthy top (10 percent) have padded their wealth by over 200 percent in recent years but the majority�s wealth (90 percent) has remained stagnant and there is an unhealthy rate of unemployment-underemployment among the young and minorities.
There are very few in Congress that show they are empathetic and caring leaders, very few. As Chris Hedges states, the notion that, �profit-making is the essence of democracy, the notion that economics is divorced from ethics, the notion that the only obligation of citizenship is consumerism, the notion that the welfare state is a pathology, that any form of dependency basically is disreputable and needs to be attacked� is spreading like a plague. This was also a message the Pope Francis was trying to state recently. Many resented the truth. The wealthy deserve the fruits of their hard work, but they got those fruits because of the sweat and labor of millions of workers. The workers who sweated and used their hands to build the infrastructure that allowed the commerce which created the wealth. A democracy cannot survive without a strong middle class. Taxes on the very rich used to be in the 90 percent range and are now 15 percent on average, and the wealthy did not do without luxuries when they paid the higher rate.
I am outraged by the disgusting cuts to the poor � food stamps, SNAP, veterans care, education and unemployment benefits while corporate welfare handouts continue to oil and other major companies. The Great Society is now the Greed Society.


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Welcome to Cyber Aware where you can learn how to protect yourself, your family and your business from cyber crime.
Be Cyber Aware in three simple steps...
'Ave a word with yourself about your cyber security
Cyber crims will hack into your devices any chance they get, which could put you at risk of identity theft.
So watch your back, right?


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Things have been relatively quiet with SCO lately. The suits it has filed against IBM and Novell have moved ahead slowly, in no small part due to SCO's numerous requests for postponements and dragging out the discovery process. However, the Novell case could get interesting rather quickly, as Novell has filed a reply in the case which appears to seriously undermine SCO's claims about owning the copyrights to Unix.
At the heart of this case is whether the Santa Cruz Operation acquired Unix copyrights along with the right to market and develop versions of Novell's UnixWare. SCO claims it did. According to its Reply in Support of Novell's Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint, Novell did not transfer of any of its UNIX copyrights with the transaction. The minutes of a September 18, 1995 meeting of the Novell Board of Directors show that the Board approved the agreement with the Santa Cruz Operation with the understanding that Novell retained all of its Unix copyrights. From the minutes (PDF):
Novell will retain all of its patents, copyrights, and trademarks (except for the trademarks UNIX and UnixWare), a royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license back to UNIX and UnixWare for internal use and resale in bundled products, Tuxedo and other miscellaneous, unrelated technology.
If Novell never transferred the Unix copyrights to the Santa Cruz Operation, there is no basis for SCO's legal action against Novell (and Autozone). The result of this and some other recent filings that SCO has made in the case could very well be a summary judgment in Novell's favor. Either way, SCO's prospects for a victory are looking grim. While they were able to finally sign an agreement capping their legal fees at US$31 million (plus a percentage of any awards), their stock price has continued to slide.
If Novell is successful in having the case dismissed this time around, or even gaining a summary judgment, it would be a huge blow against SCO. Without any Unix copyrights, SCO is exposed as being "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."


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To add CGI programs to the server, do one of the following:
Store the program file in a CGI directory (if any exist).
Give it a file name that the server recognizes as a CGI program and put it in any directory at or below the document root directory if CGI file type recognition has been activated.
On UNIX platforms, make sure the program file has execute permissions set.


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Road range: Friday fun on all sides
Monticello Road
at Fridays after 5
August 27
Though making brothers and sisters for only about two hours once a week, the Fridays After 5 concert series on the Downtown Mall is a sort of group bonding ritual for our diverse community– where people of one sort can be reminded that there are other sorts just a cul-de-sac away. Free tunes and cheap beverages create back and forth bemused gazing among the crowd's members, groups watching each other in a unspoken dialectical exchange.
The rootsy-rockers Monticello Road were performing August 27 at the free concert, and I showed up to see what changes two years have wrought on the act since I last checked in with them.
Back then, the group was a solid pop-rock band, nothing fancy, but nothing to be ashamed of either. Since then, the boys seem to have become country-fied, with an alt country twang infecting most of their set. Better? I'm not really sure, but I will say I do miss the group's more strident pop leanings.
I arrived in time for a country-walker with a "Hallelujah" chorus, sung by the group's acoustic guitarist. Besides this gentleman, the group consists of a lead guitarist (a Les Paul or facsimile), a bassist, a drummer, and keyboardist– the standard bluesy-rock setup. A guitar and a keyboard solo later, I came to the conclusion that they were both great at their respective instruments, though the song was not one I'd necessarily write home to mama about.
The next number, sung by Les Paul to Acoustic's right, was a meta song– you know, a song about writing a song, or in this case, how hard it is for the writer to write a song. "So many things to write about / So few words to choose from" sang vocalist #2 for the night, in a slightly dour tone. Instrumentally, the song seemed ripped from the Guns N' Roses playbook, for though the vocals did not reference Axel, the guitar parts– churning power chords and spinning lead work– reverberated from the Use Your Illusion era.
Acoustic took up the vocal duties for the next few numbers and brought back images of Bryan Adams– although something of the honeyed words of that merry man were lacking.
My most enjoyable moment of the show was when the beat and the delayed guitar of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" signified the beginning of a song that turned out not to be what I expected. Similar chords and drum crescendos got me singing along to the '80s classic, though Acoustic took the song in a different lyrical and melodic direction.
All in all, I enjoyed the sights and sounds around me more than the one on the stage, but Monticello Road did provide a good beat for some hilarious dancing from some of the sights in question. [See Photophile, page 40.]
Monticello Road rules the Fridays stage.


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US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to do more, saying it was time to "find a way forward." Obama brought together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas for their first three-way meeting.
"Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations," Obama said. "It is time to move forward."
Obama used the occasion of a U.N. General Assembly session to arrange the get-together. Neither Netanyahu nor Abbas spoke during the brief appearance before reporters as the meeting got under way. According to the AP, the three-way sit-down started about an hour late, after Obama had met individually with both men.
Obama said everyone has "worked tirelessly" but still not done enough. To Palestinians, he said they must build on progress on halting terrorism and "do more to stop incitement."
As for Israelis, he hailed their moves to increase Palestinians' freedom of movement and their discussions about freezing Jewish settlement-building in the West Bank. But, said Obama, Israeli officials "need to turn these discussions into real action."
Despite all the obstacles, Obama said, "We have to find a way forward."


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Have you ever needed to speak directly to a different team at your club? Well now you can. We've added a new messaging feature allowing you to start up chats with any member of your club.
For example, if you're a first team member and you need to speak to someone from a different team, you can set up a chat with them and talk fixtures, results, upcoming events and even post videos and photos.
Key features:
- Start a new individual group message with any member
- Post videos or photos
- Add or remove members from a group
- Get notified when there are new messages
Where you'll find the new messaging feature:
First, download the new Pitchero club app and log in.
Head to 'messages' at the bottom of your activity feed.
Select the player/players from the team you want to start a chat with.
Download it on iOS and Android for FREE now.


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As you may or may not recall, Skype for Windows Phone officially does not run on Windows Phone "Tango" hardware--devices with 256MB of RAM or less--like the Lumia 610 and ZTE Orbit. But Justin Angel from Nokia called up our podcast from his Lumia 610 using Skype and it sounded great, what's more Nokia themselves seemed okay with it too.
Then two days ago, word came out that Nokia with withdrawing support for Skype and the Lumia 610, causing even more confusion i.e. so is it available at least for those who want to run it?
Truth be told it's not available to download. As can be seen in the image above, users are given a notice that they cannot download the app. However, if we sideload version 1.1 of Skype onto our 610, it works just fine as you can see in our video below.
So what's the deal? We'll take Nokia's word that there are performance issues (we tested over WiFi and it seemed fine) and that's the reason why users won't have access to it. However, to us Skype for the Lumia 610 appears to be okay, at least from our limited testing.
What we're hoping for is with a version 1.2 or later, Skype and Microsoft can hammer out any performance problems and get the app on to Tango hardware. Because to us, it seems like they're very close to achieving just that making this a temporary problem with the platform.
See our hands on and unboxing of the Lumia 610 here.


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If the members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins really do celebrate each year when the last undefeated team loses, they can pop the champagne now.
The Falcons are undefeated no more after falling to the Saints 31-27 in New Orleans today, a game when Atlanta got off to a great start but New Orleans held tough to make a strong statement that they're still NFC playoff contenders.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw an interception on his first pass of the game, but after that he was excellent, finishing 21-for-32 for 298 yards and three touchdowns, with no more interceptions after that first one. The Saints also got a big game from running back Chris Ivory, whose 56-yard touchdown was one of the best runs in the NFL all season.
Matt Ryan was great for the Falcons, completing 34 of 52 passes for 411 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, but Atlanta got a dreadful game from running back Michael Turner, who had 15 yards on 13 carries. The Falcons' offense also suffered an early blow when Julio Jones left the game with an ankle injury, but Jones ended up toughing it out and returning to the field to finish the game.
The Falcons may still be title contenders, but after winning several close games over the first half of the season, they've now finally lost one. And the Saints, who had such a disastrous start to the season, are back in the hunt.


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U.S., South Korea complete free-trade deal
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 3, 2010; 8:52 PM
U.S. and South Korean negotiators agreed Friday to a free-trade deal that the Obama administration hopes will increase American exports by billions of dollars annually and create momentum for a broader push on free trade in 2011.
The pact is the administration's first major foray into the arena of free-trade politics, and officials said it may be followed by efforts to have Congress approve pending deals with Panama and Colombia, and reinvigorate the larger Doha round of global trade talks.
The deal marks a victory for President Obama, who was widely criticized after failing to secure the pact during his Asia trip after last month's midterm elections.
"Today's agreement is an integral part of my Administration's efforts to open foreign markets to U.S. goods and services, create jobs for American workers, farmers and businesses, and achieve our goal of doubling of U.S. exports over five years," Obama said in a statement Friday night.
The South Korea agreement was first negotiated by the George W. Bush administration, but during follow-up negotiations the Obama administration won further concessions considered important to American automakers. Those include a slower reduction of U.S. tariffs on imported South Korean vehicles and a provision under which South Korea will exempt up to 25,000 of any American company's cars from its strict safety standards, as long as they meet similar U.S. regulations.
In a concession to South Korea's internal politics, a U.S. demand for unfettered access to the South Korean beef market was set aside for now, leaving in place that country's ban on the import of older U.S. meat. Linked to an earlier scare over mad-cow disease, the beef restrictions are emotionally charged in South Korea, but the existing limits are of little economic importance to a U.S. cattle industry fighting to regain a market largely lost to Australian producers in recent years.
The changes, coupled with the promised elimination of stiff South Korean tariffs on U.S. farm products and the prospect of a more open market for U.S. financial, engineering and other service companies, was enough for Obama to decide to try to win congressional approval of the South Korea agreement next year.
Announced on a day when the U.S. unemployment rate ticked higher, the agreement sets the stage for a debate in Congress over whether free trade with a major Asian nation could deliver the promised benefits or would instead drain U.S. jobs.
It is a sensitive matter at a time when concern is high over China's huge trade surplus with the United States, allegations of unfair trade practices on its part, and a sense that Asian nations have reaped benefits of free trade without truly opening their markets.
In South Korea's case, the Obama administration says the agreement will add in excess of $10 billion annually in U.S. exports and create employment for thousands. South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and a free-trade agreement between the two would be the largest such deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement in the early 1990s.
Business groups quickly rallied around the pact. Ford Motor said it was satisfied that it will help balance the lopsided trade in motor vehicles between the two countries. Tens of thousands of South Korean cars are shipped to the United States each year, but only a few thousand U.S.-made vehicles move in the other direction. Ford had been the most vocal corporate holdout on an agreement that was pushed aggressively by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and major American companies.
"These new provisions provide Ford greater confidence" that South Korea's car market, heavily dominated by national champions such as Hyundai, will be more open, Ford chief executive Alan Mulally said in a statement.
As a candidate, Obama was highly critical of existing free-trade agreements - including the then-pending South Korea pact - and said that as president he would ensure that future trade treaties did more for U.S. workers and include stronger labor, environmental and other safeguards.
The financial crisis and recession fueled doubts about those agreements and their value to blue-collar America, but also prompted Obama to refocus on trade as a way to generate jobs. His administration has set a goal of doubling exports, and groups such as the Chamber have pushed in particular for a deeper trade engagement with Asia. The region is growing rapidly, its middle class is expanding, and trade agreements are being signed at a furious pace.
One factor pushing the South Korean-U.S. negotiations was the recent approval of a trade pact between South Korea and the European Union and the prospect that manufacturers in Germany and elsewhere would soon see lower tariffs and other advantages over U.S. competitors.
Critics, however, say the administration has reneged on its campaign line and argue that the agreement should include stricter labor and investment rules.
"I had hoped for more from this White House, which campaigned on a need to change the way we negotiate trade agreements," said Rep. Michael H. Michaud (D-Maine), head of a House trade policy group. He pledged to work to defeat the deal. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) expressed disappointment over the remaining barriers to U.S. beef and said he would continue to defend American ranchers' interests.
Leaders of the two countries had hoped to finish the negotiations during a November meeting in Seoul. The talks foundered, an embarrassment to both Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. But administration officials say the outcome vindicated their strategy of holding out.
"We were willing to walk away from what we thought was an insufficient package," said a senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "What we have achieved is not just coming to an agreement, but coming to one where you will have prominent Democratic, Republican and labor support. It changes the games with the U.S. reasserting itself."


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The New School to Present RECONSTRUCTION 3.0 Inspired by Louis Vuitton, 2/14
As an exciting conclusion to New York Fashion Week, students from Parsons The New School for Design, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and the Joffrey Ballet School's Jazz and Contemporary Program will debut Reconstruction 3.0: Life is a Journey, an evening of live performances featuring original music, dance and fashion inspired by Louis Vuitton and its heritage of travel. The invitation-only performance will take place on February 14 at the Manhattan Movement and Art Center, just a few blocks from the tents at Lincoln Center.
This cross-disciplinary initiative began this past fall with five teams each consisting of a Parsons fashion designer, a New School Jazz composer, and Joffrey Ballet School choreographer. These teams were tasked to develop a live performance consisting of an original music score, choreography, and conceptual garments that reflect the theme "Life is a Journey." The garments are reconstructed from previous Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear and textiles.
"Reconstruction 3.0 represents our third collaboration with Louis Vuitton, and once again we've pushed the boundaries-this time bringing together our students with composers and choreographers," said Simon Collins, dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons. "It has been amazing to work with such great collaborators as Louis Vuitton, New School Jazz and the Joffrey Ballet School. The inspiring results reflect the richness and originality of this effort."
The performances will be reviewed by a panel of experts from the worlds of dance, music and fashion. This includes Simon Collins, Lanessa Elrod, Vice President of Merchandising for Louis Vuitton North America, choreographer Gus Solomons Jr., composer Laura Kaminsky, and Zanna Roberts Rassi, senior fashion editor at Marie Claire. One team will be awarded a trip to Paris to experience craftsmanship and artistic expression first hand at Louis Vuitton's atelier and the historic home of the Vuitton family in Asnières, France.
"The collaborative works presented as part of Reconstruction 3.0 reflect a wide range of dance, music and design approaches," said Michael Blake, director of the Jazz and Contemporary program at the Joffrey Ballet School. "Elements of jazz, classical, and contemporary styles and techniques are complimented and juxtaposed in the music, costume, and dance of each team's conceptual ideas of 'Life is a Journey'."
"The New School Jazz composers were so excited to take part in this collaborative adventure," said Jane Ira Bloom, an acclaimed Jazz saxophonist and composer, who is a long time faculty member at New School Jazz. "I encouraged them to embrace the ambiguity and surprise that accompanies all innovative collaborations. They and their creative partners in dance and fashion took to the process with an ease that speaks to a cross disciplinary openness completely natural to their generation."
Parsons The New School for Design is a global leader in art and design education, with programs that span the full range of disciplines. With the launch of its fashion design program in 1906, Parsons is credited with the birth of Seventh Avenue, the epicenter of American fashion. Parsons offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design, Associate Degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing, and a Master of Fine Arts Program in Fashion Design and Society that was initiated through the support of Parsons alumna Donna Karan. Parsons has educated generations of leading American fashion designers, including Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Narciso Rodriguez and Anna Sui; and rising talents Prabal Gurung, Derek Lam, Ohne Titel, Thakoon Panichgul, Proenza Schouler, Vena Cava, Alexander Wang, and Jason Wu. For more information, visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.
The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music is the musical manifestation of The New School and its legacy. Steeped in progressive tradition while moving forward into new frontiers of sound and experimentation, New School Jazz is a rarity among conservatory music schools. With instructors who are active, professional musicians and the backing of a major university, the school provides its students with the leeway and encouragement to break through artistic barriers, the counsel of veterans in maneuvering through the terrain of the music world, and a solid academic foundation to sustain and enrich their efforts and evolution. For more information, visit www.newschool.edu/jazz.
The Joffrey Ballet School fuses multiple styles of balletic training to create a curriculum that is uniquely Joffrey. In more than fifty years, the Joffrey Ballet School has remained on the forefront of American dance education. Graduates of the school have gone on to dance for major classical ballet companies, as well as for numerous contemporary companies, both in the United States and abroad. The Joffrey Ballet School is the only ballet school in New York City that offers a well-rounded dance curriculum that includes serious training in both classical ballet (technique, pointe, variations, adagio, men's classes) and contemporary ballet (technique, improvisation, partnering), as well as modern, character, choreography, dance history, music, pilates and yoga. To learn more visit: www.joffreyballetschool.com.
Founded in Paris in 1854, Louis Vuitton is synonymous with the art of travel. Its iconic trunks, luggage and bags have accompanied journeys throughout time. With the arrival of Artistic Director Marc Jacobs in 1997, Louis Vuitton extended its expertise to ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, watches and jewelry, available in its exclusive network of stores located all over the world. Since 1987, Louis Vuitton is a part of LVMH - Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy Group. Find out more about Louis Vuitton at www.louisvuitton.com.


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Three Lancaster Super Speedway drivers are headed to Elkin, N.C. for a special race Saturday.
Lancaster Super Speedway drivers planning to compete are the Extreme 4 driver trio of David Laney, Brad McManus and Tommy McManus.
Friendship Motor Speedway, located on 11420 NC-268, Elkin, N.C., 28621, will be hosting 'The Toys For Tots' Thanksgiving Bash 155.
A pair of Carolinas tracks are slated to host racing events this weekend.
Sumter Speedway will hold championship night Saturday along with a full racing program.
Sumter Speedway is honoring its division champions.
Divisions racing Saturday night will be Crate Late Models, Super Street, Street Stock, Stock V8, Stock 4 and Extreme 4.
Admission prices are $20 for the pits and $10 for the grandstands. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Sumter Speedway is located on 3150 Wedgefield Road in Sumter.
Lancaster area drivers posted a strong showing at the annual Turkey Day race at the Sumter Speedway on Saturday.
In the Extreme 4 race, driver Brad McManus captured the win in his heat race in his first-ever visit to the Sumter track.
Chris Baker also made his first-ever visit to the historic race track.
When the green flag dropped, McManus and Baker proved they would be factors in the race for the win. McManus ran second the whole race, trying to run down race leader Rusty Harrelson.
A fall racing tradition is ready to unfold this weekend.
The Sumter Speedway will host its annual Turkey Day race, a major event for Sumter Speedway.
The race usually produces the largest car count every year for the historic track located on 3150 Wedgefield Road in Sumter.
The 2016 race should produce another great car count with Crate Late Models paying $2,000 to win, Super Street $800, Street Stock $300, Stock V8 $300, Mini Stock $700, Bomber/Extreme 4 $400 and Mini Late Models.
The Dirt Track at Charlotte will host the Bad Boy Off Road World of Outlaws World finals this weekend. Racing at Charlotte will be The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, World of Outlaw Late Models and Big-Block Modifieds of the Super DIRTcar Series.
For more details, go to http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/bad_boy_off_road_world_of_...
u Harris Motor Speedway, located on 921 Jack McKinney Road, Rutherfordton, N.C., Carolina, is hosting racing tonight and Saturday.
Gates open at 5 p.m.
Lancaster Super Speedway drivers had a tough time at the OneDirt.com World Short Track Championship at the Dirt Track at Charlotte over the weekend.
In the SECA Crate Late Model races, Chris Steele and Travis Steele had a strong showing all weekend at Charlotte, but came up short in making in the A-main.
Timbo Mangum was the lone Lancaster driver to make the A-main in the SECA Crate Late Model division. Some 28 drivers started the main event and Mangum came home with an 18th-place finish. Some 60 SECA Crate Late Models for the entire weekend competied at Charlotte.
GASTONIA, N.C. – "The Gambler" is King of the Carolinas in racing.
Sage driver Brandy Baker, "The Gambler," is finally King of the Carolinas after capturing an exciting Street Stock win at Carolina Speedway.
Baker was on the front row for the Street Stock main with Tyler Hyatt. When the green flag dropped to start the race, Baker, Hyatt, Ronnie Mosley and Andy Blackwood battled for the lead entering turn one.
Lancaster Super Speedway drivers are focusing on this weekend and the King of the Carolinas race at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C.
Some of the LSS drivers competing in the events include Ben Watkins, Josh Langley, Timbo Mangum, Brandy Baker, Andrew Baker, Benji Knight, Bill Knight, Pebo Johnson, Hank Taylor, Travis Mosley, Brent Hodges, Andy Hodges, Kyle Norwood, Rocky Phillips, Stevie Totherow, Travis Steele, Pat Linsday, Alexus Motes, Mike Baucom, Jacob Catoe, Brady Kirk, Travis Payne and Justin Fite.
Lancaster Super Speedway drivers are preparing this week for this weekend's King Of The Carolinas race held at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C.
Some of the LSS drivers who will be competing in the events will be Timbo Mangum, Brandy Baker, Andrew Baker, Benji Knight, Bill Knight, Pebo Johnson, Hank Taylor, Travis Mosley, Brent Hodges, Andy Hodges, Kyle Norwood and Rocky Phillips.
Lancaster Super Speedway drivers are preparing their cars for the fourth annual King Of The Carolinas race at Carolina Speedway in Gastiona, N.C.
Lancaster drivers have held their own throughout the years at the KOC races and will be seeking to do the same this year. The Carolinas' best dirt track drives will come to the track known as "The Action Track," Oct. 13-15.
Copyright © 2019
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


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Ant sperm swim as a team
Bundles wriggle faster, may fertilize eggs better than solo gametes
D. Monteyne and D. Perez-Morga/Pearcy et al
A sperm swim team could make a desert ant a reproductive winner. A study published June 10 in Biology Letters finds that grouping sperm together in many-cell masses makes them swim faster, with possibly better reproductive results.
Reproduction is tough for the male desert ant Cataglyphis savignyi. He dies soon after mating, and the female he mates with will quickly take many other partners. After mating, the female stashes sperm from several males in a specialized organ called a spermatheca before using some of the stored sperm to fertilize her eggs.
With that kind of competition, the male desert ant has evolved a teamwork approach to be the first to get sperm into storage. He releases sperm in bundles of about 50 to 90 bound together at the head with caps of sticky proteins, Morgan Pearcy and colleagues from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium found.


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Marketing told us: 'Justin Bieber is a fad. He's not going to last.' – Company formerly known as RIM
Plus: 'There is no way to make your Xbox One backwards-compatible'
Quotw This was the week when former senior BlackBerry bod Vincent Washington claimed the Canadian company turned down an offer from Justin Bieber to be the firm's brand ambassador back at the peak of its popularity.
He said:
One thing we missed out on was that Justin Bieber wanted to rep BlackBerry. He said: 'Give me $200,000 and 20 devices, and I'm your brand ambassador.' And we pitched that to marketing: Here's a Canadian kid, he grew up here, all the teeny-boppers will love that. They basically threw us out of the room. They said: 'This kid is a fad. He's not going to last.'
I said at the meeting: 'This kid might outlive RIM.' Everyone laughed...
This was also the week that a financial house that numbers its dollars in the oodles spammed a Reg reader with thousands of bankers' private data.
The anonymous chap was minding his own business when The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which handles the vast bulk of stock and securities transactions for the US, started sending him a load of diagnostic emails with session IDs, transfers, and account details for executives at big-name customers in them.
He said:
I got a bit twitchy when I saw lots of different bankers logging in: I'm studying Internet Crime, so I've been doing a lot of researching on, well, internet crimes.
I know one thing, from when I worked at an ISP, if this leak happened there we'd have done a complete strip down: new user IDs, passwords (for systems and software), new host names, new IP ranges, new everything! Anything and everything that went outside the core IT staff would be pulled and set up as new, especially if it went to some random person's email.
And DTCC pulled out the old human error excuse:
These messages were inadvertently sent out as a result of human error. We have confirmed that this was an isolated incident and that no other individuals received this or similar information.
We have identified the situation quickly and taken steps to protect our client's information. We are also working with the individual who received these messages to resolve any remaining issues.
Speaking of leaks, MPs are warning that the UK's borders have potentially been letting gangsters slip through as they rely on twenty-year-old IT systems. A report from the Public Accounts Committee found that private jets were being let into Britain without adequate checks on who was inside, while lorries arriving in the country were are able to motor in without inspections to reveal whether illegal immigrants were hiding in them.
Margaret Hodge, head of the committee, said:
There are worrying gaps in the intelligence data available to the Border Force and its IT systems are not up to the job.
The force neglected to examine freight for illicit goods, neglected to check lorries in Calais for concealed illegal entrants, and failed to check passengers coming into Britain on private planes or boats, potentially letting billionaire gangsters off the hook.
While the report said:
The Border Force's IT systems are inadequate and its future development plans seem to be unrealistic. Frontline staff rely on an unstable data system — the Warnings Index — to carry out checks at the border. This system is at risk of collapse, but it is unclear when or how this system will be replaced.
Also this week, Microsoft has been warning Xbox One owners that following 4chan's instructions to make your Xbox One backwards-compatible could actually brick the brand new box. Director of programming Larry Hryb said:
To be clear there is no way to make your Xbox One backwards compatible & performing steps to attempt this could make your console inoperable.
And separately, the firm has promised to make software licensing a bit less of a torturously complex minefield; something that business clients would definitely welcome. The company is proposing the Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA), which aims over time to consolidate all licenses onto a single master agreement, regardless of business size or type.
One channel partner said that the fix couldn't come too soon, but it would be easier said than done:
When I speak to customers they always moan that buying software, particularly with Microsoft, is too complex. I agree with the sentiments [of MPSA] but the sentiment is easier [to get right] than the execution.
And Martin Thompson, analyst at the ITAM Review, was similarly sceptical of the announcement:
There is little substance to their statement. Flexibility equals more options and choice, so it's a contradiction to suggest both flexibility and simplicity.
Younger, agile competitors are offering good software with a few clicks and a credit card. Why is it I need to speak to a licensing rocket scientist every time I want to buy software from Microsoft?
Simplicity and frictionless commerce shouldn't be underestimated.
In the latest NSA revelations, it has emerged that spooks infiltrated the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft in a bid to tackle info-swapping terrorists. The agency reckoned that online games were a "target-rich communications network" that allowed terrorists to meet and communicate securely and they weren't the only ones who thought so. At one stage, there were so many spies in online gaming, the NSA talked about a "deconfliction team" to ensure they weren't just spying on each other.
The document said:
Al-Qaeda terrorist target selectors... have been found associated with XboxLive, Second Life, World of Warcraft, and other GVEs [Games and Virtual Environments]... Other targets include Chinese hackers, an Iranian nuclear scientist, Hezbollah and Hamas members. GCHQ has a vigorous effort to exploit GVEs and has produced exploitation modules in XboxLive and World of Warcraft. After beta testing, they expect reporting to begin in April 2008. The FBI, CIA and the Defense Humint Service all have HUMINT operations in Second Life and other GVEs and are very interested in forming a deconfliction and tipping group that would be able to collaborate on operations.
And finally, also in the US, one of Google's employee buses was held up by anti-gentrification protesters in San Francisco this week. The activists are trying to raise awareness of the widening inequality in the city, brought about by an influx of tech-generated wealth. They claim that the hefty pay packets of the tech luminaries is driving up rents and driving other folks out.
Googlers attempted to stick up for themselves on Twitter, with one saying:
I agree with you that SF isn't for sale, but don't hate on me for my job. You think I LIKE commuting to Mountain View? this protest is dumb.
And one bloke – whom it later transpired that he was not the Google employee he appeared to be – jeered:
I can pay my rent, can you pay your rent? Well, if you can't, why don't you go to a city where you can afford it.
Get a better job.


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2011 Wabash Day - Indy, Fall Creekby Josh Tatum '03 • October 17, 2011 Share:
A group of Wabash College alums, family and friends painted (the second-story interior) for the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation. See a photo album here.
David Hensel '79
Hamilton Hensel
Harrison Hensel
Scott Jones '81
Josh Tatum '03
Trent Hagerty '09
Linda Roepke
Ron Tatum
Nancy Tatum


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Goalkeeper Tumua Anae, a former Corona del Mar High standout, and attacker Kelly Rulon, a Newport Beach resident, are on the U.S. women's senior national team roster for the 2013 FINA World Championships that begin Sunday in Barcelona Spain.
Anae and Rulon were among 13 athletes selected and two of eight returners from the team that won gold at the 2012 Olympics.
Recently, Team USA took home bronze from the FINA World League Super Final and then followed that with a second-place finish at the Dutch Trophy last week.
Team USA will open competition at the FINA World Championships against Greece on Sunday. The Americans will then meet Canada and Great Britain to close out group play. The United States finished sixth at the last World Championships in 2011.
Team USA has won three FINA World Championships (2003, 2007, 2009).
— From staff reports
2013 FINA Women's World Championship Roster
1. Betsey Armstrong - Goalkeeper (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC)*
2. Lolo Silver - Attacker (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
3. Melissa Seidemann - Defender (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford)*
4. Rachel Fattal - Attacker (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL)
5. KK Clark - Defender (Menlo Park, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
6. Maggie Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo)*
7. Courtney Mathewson - Attacker (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC)*
8. Kiley Neushul - Attacker (Goleta, CA/Stanford/SBWPF)
9. Jillian Kraus - Attacker (Santa Ana, CA/UCLA/SOCAL)
10. Kelly Rulon - Attacker (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC)*
11. Annika Dries - Center (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)*
12. Kami Craig - Center (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/SBWPF)*
13. Tumua Anae - Goalkeeper (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SOCAL)*
Alternate - Kelly Mendoza - Defender (Danville, CA/USC/Diablo)
*2012 Olympic Gold Medalist


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Gravitational Theory
Conformal Methods — Dynamical Relativity — Numerical Relativity — Relativistic Astrophysics
Astrophysical relativity is the field of exploring general relativity in its observational aspects with the aid of analytical methods. The aim is to better understand relativistic gravitational phenomena and to make precise quantitative statements in the weak- and even strong-field perturbative regime of general relativity.
A particular emphasis of our research is on the analytical and semi-analytical modelling of sources of gravitational waves which is carried out in the framework of the German research network SFB/TR 7 "Gravitational Wave Astronomy".
The group is lead by Prof. Gerhard Schäfer and currently includes 2 postdocs, 1 PhD student and 1 diploma student.
We aim to provide theoretical constructs that should be useful to a number of communities that try to prove, both theoretically and observationally, relativistic gravity. In particular, we explore, using Einstein's theory for gravity (General Relativity), astrophysical scenarios that are required to develop Gravitational Wave Astronomy in the near future.
The current investigations focus on
- efforts to analyze and solve Einstein's field equations in the strong-field regime, useful for numerical relativity,
- accurate and efficient source modeling of gravitational waves, relevant for both ground- and space-based gravitational wave observatories like GEO600, LIGO, VIRGO and LISA,
- general relativistic inputs required by the collisional N-body simulations, and
- efforts that should be useful for the Square Kilometer Array.
Interested and motivated students, who are familiar with General Relativity and scientific computing, are encouraged to contact Prof. Schäfer to participate in any of the above projects.
PhD Students


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Make America Great Again
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Holy smokes. 200K didn't vote in Florida because of ridiculously long lines.
You should not have to sacrifice half of a work day when you can't afford it to vote.
This demands reform. All states across the board should, at the very minimum, allow for early voting.
Analysis: 201,000 in Florida didn't vote because of long lines
By Scott Powers and David Damron, Orlando Sentinel
January 23, 2013
Analyzing data compiled by the Orlando Sentinel, Ohio State University professor Theodore Allen estimated last week that at least 201,000 voters likely gave up in frustration on Nov. 6, based on research Allen has been doing on voter behavior.
His preliminary conclusion was based on the Sentinel's analysis of voter patterns and precinct-closing times in Florida's 25 largest counties, home to 86 percent of the state's 11.9 million registered voters.
"My gut is telling me that the real number [of voters] deterred is likely higher," Allen said. "You make people wait longer, they are less likely to vote."
Around the state, nearly 2 million registered voters live in precincts that stayed open at least 90 minutes past the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time, according to Sentinel analysis of voting data obtained from county elections supervisors. Of those, 561,000 voters live in precincts that stayed open three extra hours or longer.
And two of the five counties with the worst lines were in Central Florida. In Orange and Osceola counties, as many as 48 percent of those who cast votes on Election Day live in precincts that closed at least 90 minutes late, the analysis showed.
Elections supervisors have blamed the long lines and delays on the cutback of early-voting days from 14 to eight that was ordered by the 2011 Legislature, a record-long ballot that included 11 lengthy constitutional amendments and a 71 percent turnout for a hotly contested presidential election. Indeed, Gov. Rick Scott said last week he'd back legislation restoring the early-voting days and restricting ballot length.
But the Sentinel analysis also showed that even in the worst-performing counties long lines were the exception rather than the rule. In Orange and Miami-Dade, for example, more than half the precincts, including many large ones, closed before 8 p.m.
And some of the state's largest counties notably Duval (Jacksonville) and Pinellas (St. Petersburg) reported almost all precincts were closed by 8:30 p.m.
"As a whole and totality, with 8.5 million voters, I have to say Florida did a good election," said Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner. "But in isolated areas, I think we find there were some management issues that could have been improved upon."
Still, according to Allen's analysis of the data, the lengthy lines lowered actual turnout by roughly 2.3 percent per hour of delay.
Said Jennifer Bitz, who said she waited more than five hours to vote at her Cape Coral precinct, "I must have seen 15 people, at least, just give up and leave off the line. I was absolutely livid. People [in line] were saying it was some sort of conspiracy."
Lee County, where she lives, ranked worst in the Sentinel analysis. Its last precinct didn't close until 2:54 a.m. Wednesday nearly eight hours late. In all, 54 percent of the county's voters were in precincts that stayed open past 8:30 p.m and half, or 27 percent, voted in precincts still open at 10 p.m.
"It was clear we didn't have enough scanners," said Virginia Jones, a Sanibel Democrat who spent eight hours in line and didn't vote until 11:20 p.m.
In documents provided to the state, Lee elections officials conceded its resources were inadequate, and "what we deployed on [Nov. 6] turned out not to be sufficient." Despite a 70,000 increase in registered voters since 2008, the county slashed its number of polling places from 136 to 88 and dispatched fewer ballot-scanning machines.
"The biggest surprise is that people waited so long," Allen said of his review, saying he would have expected the length of the lines to discourage even more voters. Overall, the 201,000 voters he indicated gave up equaled 2.3 percent of the Election Day turnout.
In Florida, he concluded, the lost voters appeared to favor President Barack Obama. Of the 201,000 "missing" votes, 108,000 likely would have voted for Obama and 93,000 for Republican Mitt Romney, he said.
This suggests that Obama's margin over Romney in Florida could have been roughly 15,000 votes higher than it was. Obama carried the state by 74,309 votes out of more than 8.4 million cast.
Allen's first analysis of the impact of long lines at the polls was done in 2004, when he estimated that long lines in Ohio's Franklin County, where Ohio State is located, discouraged at least 20,000 voters from casting ballots in the razor-close contest between President George W. Bush and Democrat John Kerry. He has continued his research in every election since.
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Flooring Cape May NJ — flooring, Cape May NJ eco-friendly flooring, Cape May NJ floor remodeling,
Local Companies
When it comes to flooring, you don't have to give up style and aesthetics to turn your home green. In fact, many of today's homeowners may find themselves choosing eco-friendly flooring options primarily for visual appeal, with the green and healthy aspects of their selections pleasant side benefits.
Options for good-looking wood- or plant-based flooring that don't deplete natural resources are plentiful, with many of the raw materials coming from unlikely sources and places, such as fresh-cut trees of many species from well-managed forests, responsibly harvested plants from around the world, beams and timber from pre-1900 structures and logs reclaimed from river bottoms.
Reclaimed Wood
The most common reclaimed wood for flooring is heart pine. Once abundant in the Southeastern states, longleaf heart pine, which is as hard as or harder than oak, was a primary source of construction lumber for buildings, bridges and ship keels during the 1800s. The slow-growing trees, which matured in 150 to 450 years, reached heights of up to 170 feet and widths of up to 5 feet.
Typically, forest tracts were cleared all the way to riverbeds, where the logs were stripped of branches, tied and strung together into large shipments, and floated downstream to sawmills. By 1900, the virgin longleaf heart pine forests were nearly extinct.
The heart pine recovered from rivers in the Southeast by Goodwin Heart Pine, a reclaimed-wood flooring manufacturer based in Micanopy, Fla. was cut between about 100 and 200 years ago, loaded on rafts for transport to mills, then lost to river bottoms when the logs rolled off the rafts on the trip downstream. The dense logs settled in the river depths, where the cool water temperature and lack of oxygen acted as natural preservation, precluding deterioration of the wood.
The company also salvages antique heart cypress from rivers and antique heart pine from the beams and timbers of old warehouses, textile mills and other old buildings. In addition, it offers flooring made of cherry harvested from sustainable forests in the South.
Mountain Lumber, located in Ruckersville, Va. also specializes in producing flooring from reclaimed wood. Founded more than 31 years ago to salvage chestnut wood from barns in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, the company expanded into reclaiming wood from century-old commercial buildings and other sources around the world.
About a dozen years ago, while bicycling in France, the company's founder encountered workmen dismantling a «retired» French National Railway boxcar and bought the wood. International sources since then have included a 15th-century elm from China, a 60,000-gallon vat used to age Guinness beer, and oak originally scheduled for use over 100 years ago on a trans-Siberian railroad that was never built; the wood has since sat untouched in a warehouse.
Wine-barrel flooring, from Fontenay Woods, is made from the heads (tops and bottoms) of disassembled reclaimed wine barrels. To make the hardwood flooring, the company, based in Stanton, Calif. dries the heads and mills the wood (typically French and American white oak) into two distinctly colored boards.
One, naturally blond-colored, is representative of the outside of the barrelheads. The other features the wine-infused red color representative of the inside of the barrel. Homeowners can mix the two colors to create a parquet-type floor, points out company owner Rick Merwin. Often, the flooring retains a bit of the aroma of the original barrel contents. The flooring is frequently used in wine rooms, and in dining rooms and elsewhere as an inlay into another type of wood floor.
Lyptus and Bamboo
A relatively new type of green flooring is made from Lyptus, a renewable, high-yield exotic hardwood harvested from fast-growing Eucalyptus trees grown on responsibly managed plantations in South America. The trees typically grow to harvest size in 14 to 16 years, much faster than comparable hardwood species in colder climates.
Developed by Weyerhaeuser, an international forest products company based in Portland, Ore. Lyptus compares favorably with many hardwoods in density, strength and technical properties. In appearance it rivals cherry and mahogany. It is available three ways: as high-grade hardwood and plywood, as solid flooring and as engineered flooring.
Lyptus engineered flooring uses the solid-sawn face of the Lyptus hardwood and features a smooth finish. Engineered wood flooring products consist of a durable wear surface over a manufactured substrate, which usually is made of plywood-based strands glued in different directions to minimize expansion and contraction. Engineered wood products can be glued down, nailed or floated, and can be installed directly over concrete or below grade. They are widely available in textured or smooth finishes that mimic high-grade traditional wood flooring.
Another sustainable flooring option is bamboo, a rapidly renewable species of grass that matures in five to six years but can be harvested in as early as three years. To make bamboo flooring, the round hollow shoots are cut into strips, which are then boiled to remove the starch. The dried strips are laminated into boards and milled into planks for flooring. Though glue is typically used in the manufacturing process, it is usually low in or devoid of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can affect a home's indoor environment.
Bamboo flooring varies in hardness from as soft as fir to about 15 percent harder than North American Oak. Generally, the closer to maturity the bamboo is harvested, the harder the resulting flooring.
Typically, manufacturers offer bamboo flooring in two colors: natural, which is blondish yellow, and carbonized, which is a darkened shade achieved through applied heating. The boards, which can be glued or nailed down, may feature horizontal or vertical graining.
Solid bamboo flooring from EcoTimber, a flooring manufacturer in San Rafael, Calif. is derived from plantations that grow the crop without pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. The product is available finished and unfinished. Another manufacturer, Teragren, based in Bainbridge Island, Wash. notes that it harvests bamboo, grown in Zhejiang Province in China, when it reaches maturity in five to six years, which results in harder fibers and ensures that plants left behind can quickly send out new shoots.
Cork and Natural Linoleum
Cork flooring is quiet, resilient, durable and easy to maintain. And because it has lots of cells that can trap and hold heat, it is also a natural insulator. Cork comes in light and medium shades, which are natural, and darker colors achieved by controlled burning of the cork during the manufacturing process.
A rapidly renewable resource, cork is harvested from cork oak trees that grow primarily in Portugal. Typically, the cork bark is initially peeled off a cork oak tree after about 17 years. After that, «the tree naturally sloughs off the bark every nine years,» explains Randy Gillespie, marketing manager at Expanko, a cork-flooring manufacturer in Coatesville, Pa.
Expanko's cork flooring is made from cork left over after other products are manufactured from the harvest. The cork is ground up and pressed, with a small amount of water-based adhesive, into blocks that can then be milled like wood to make cork tiles of various dimensions, with the density of oak. When the tiles start to show wear, they can be refinished in a manner similar to a wood floor.
The company's engineered cork floating floor system, Expanko Vallarex, features top and bottom cork layers sandwiching a high-density fiberboard core that adds strength and durability. The system, which installs without glue or adhesives, is available in nine 12-by-36-inch patterns in several natural cork shades and two stained colors. It is suitable for applications over many hard surfaces, including concrete, plywood, vinyl and hardwood floors installed over plywood.
Wood and sometimes cork powder are components of natural linoleum, a flooring option for well over 100 years. The main ingredient is linseed oil, which is derived from flax plants. Other ingredients include resins and ground limestone.
Though much of linoleum's place in the home (most notably in kitchens and playrooms) has been usurped over recent decades by newer products, it is now enjoying a renaissance and can be an attractive option among ecologically minded homeowners because it is made from sustainable products.
Natural linoleum can last upwards of 40 years. It is biodegradable, does not emit harmful gasses and has antistatic properties, so dust doesn't easily cling. Colors are achieved through the use of organic pigments that extend through the product. Exposure to air hardens the product, increasing its durability and antimicrobial qualities.
Most linoleum sells as sheeting, in traditional marbled patterns, vivid saturated solid colors and contemporary flecks. Typically, the backing is made of jute (an abundant, renewable fibrous plant), which helps absorb sound and cushions the surface for comfortable walking.
Marmoleum, natural linoleum by Forbo Flooring, a Hazleton, Pa. manufacturer, is available as sheeting in 128 colors and as glue-down, 13-by-13-inch tiles in 30 colors. Also available is Marmoleum Click, an engineered product available as 12-inch squares and 12-by-36-inch panels, which have a 2-millimeter wear layer of natural linoleum over high-density fiberboard with a bottom layer of cork.
Armstrong World Industries, based in Lancaster, Pa. also makes natural linoleum flooring, called Marmorette Genuine Linoleum. Available as sheeting in 58 colors, it affords homeowners design flexibility to create patterns with multiple colors or custom designs incorporating cuts from multiple sheets. It's just one of the many green, healthy and good-looking flooring options available to savvy homeowners.
William and Patti Feldman write frequently for Smart HomeOwner. They're based in New York.