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February 11, 2012 - 2:51pm
Driftmoon is a roleplaying game that tells the story of the Pendant of Life, and how it was reforged. It is also a tale about how Robert lost everything but his bones, but that didn't stop him. And it is a story about the little firefly who wanted to be a big star, but was stuck in a crypt.


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Browse-Mediated Succession by Deer and Elk 40 Y After a Clearcut in Northern Lower Michigan. The American Midland Naturalist. 181(1):81.. 2019.
Carbon–Mercury Interactions in Spodosols Assessed through Density Fractionation, Radiocarbon Analysis, and Soil Survey Information. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 83(1):190.. 2019.
Controls of Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Forest Floor Food Webs. Environmental Science & Technology.. 2019.
Effects of experimental harvesting of an invasive hybrid cattail on wetland structure and function. Restoration Ecology. 27(2):389-398.. 2019.
Exploring the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in soil carbon dynamics. New Phytologist.. 2019.
A national approach to leverage the benefits of tree planting on public lands. New Forests. 50(1):1-9.. 2019.
Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds as the Major Source of Formic Acid in a Mixed Forest Canopy. Geophysical Research Letters. 46(5):2940-2948.. 2019.
Seasonal dynamics and exports of elements from a first‐order stream to a large inland lake in Michigan. Hydrological Processes.. 2019.
A Test of Two Spatial Frameworks for Representing Spatial Patterns of Wetness in a Glacial Drift Watershed. Vadose Zone Journal. 18(1). 2019.
The detrital input and removal treatment (DIRT) network: Insights into soil carbon stabilization. Science of The Total Environment. 640-641:1112-1120.. 2018.
Effects of canopy structure and species diversity on primary production in upper Great Lakes forests. Oecologia. 18842211098218217142537632627632815132609242981265014892535430649351639730292051897617728313279669172151496619199815257(2):405-415.. 2018.
Effects of experimental harvesting of an invasive hybrid cattail on wetland structure and function. Restoration Ecology. 36(21). 2018.
Feeding in fear: Indirect effects of predatory fish on macrophyte communities mediated by altered crayfish foraging behaviour. Freshwater Biology. 68:1523-1533.. 2018.
Forest aging, disturbance and the carbon cycle. New Phytologist. 11520893601651821063897135849211621871824561134551414214063216481771017273619659947400305. 2018.
Forest structure in space and time: Biotic and abiotic determinants of canopy complexity and their effects on net primary productivity. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 250-251:181-191.. 2018.
Great lakes double-crested cormorant management affects co-nester colony growth. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 8217284698719535715636198275835291410371453430965182836323840(1):93-102.. 2018.
Impacts of experimentally accelerated forest succession on belowground plant and fungal communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 125:44-53.. 2018.
Moderate Disturbance Has Similar Effects on Production Regardless of Site Quality and Composition. Forests. 95067Volume 32(2):70.. 2018.
An omnipresent diversity and variability in the chemical composition of atmospheric functionalized organic aerosol. Communications Chemistry. (1). 2018.
Shifting conceptions of complexity in forest management and silviculture. Forest Ecology and Management.. 2018.
Short-term responses to warming vary between native vs. exotic species and with latitude in an early successional plant community. Oecologia. 187(1):333-342.. 2018.
Spatial Variation in Canopy Structure across Forest Landscapes. Forests. 950(8):474.. 2018.
Tree taxa and pyrolysis temperature interact to control pyrogenic organic matter induced native soil organic carbon priming. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 119:174-183.. 2018.
Ubiquitous influence of wildfire emissions and secondary organic aerosol on summertime atmospheric aerosol in the forested Great Lakes region. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 18(5):3701-3715.. 2018.
Coupling Fine-Scale Root and Canopy Structure Using Ground-Based Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing. 920155(2):182.. 2017.
Mechanical Harvesting Effectively Controls Young Typha spp. Invasion and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Data Enhances Post-treatment Monitoring. Frontiers in Plant Science. 831315671683433672843319314918389302912489816422430302319361088311696037119153711652813211924193674181793422. 2017.
Mimicking natural systems: Changes in behavior as a result of dynamic exposure to naproxen. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 135:347-357.. 2017.
Open-top chambers for temperature manipulation in taller-stature plant communities. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.. 2017.
Physiographic factors underlie rates of biomass production during succession in Great Lakes forest landscapes. Forest Ecology and Management. 397:157-173.. 2017.
Scaling to the Organism: An Innovative Model of Dynamic Exposure Hotspots in Stream Systems. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. (2922). 2017.
Bird Friendly Beaches: Evaluating dog and human interactions with Great Lakes piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) and other shorebirds. M.S.:72.. 2016.
Chronic nitrogen deposition alters tree allometric relationships: implications for biomass production and carbon storage. Ecological Applications. 26(3):913-925.. 2016.
Coarse woody debris and the carbon balance of a moderately disturbed forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 361:38-45.. 2016.
Detecting Precontact Anthropogenic Microtopographic Features in a Forested Landscape with Lidar: A Case Study from the Upper Great Lakes Region, AD 1000-1600. PLOS ONE. 11(9):e0162062.. 2016.
Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on tree seedling growth: quantifying the parasitism–mutualism transition along a light gradient. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 46(1):48-57.. 2016.
Evaluating forest subcanopy response to moderate severity disturbance and contribution to ecosystem-level productivity and resilience. Forest Ecology and Management. 376:135-147.. 2016.
Immovable food storage facilities, knowledge, and landscape in non-sedentary societies: Perspectives from northern Michigan. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. 42:37-55.. 2016.
Multisite analysis of land surface phenology in North American temperate and boreal deciduous forests from Landsat. Remote Sensing of Environment. 186:452-464.. 2016.
Shedding Light on Photosynthesis: The Impacts of Atmospheric Conditions and Plant Canopy Structure on Ecosystem Carbon Uptake. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. :145.. 2016.
Typha invasion associated with reduced aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance in northern Lake Huron coastal wetlands. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 42(6):1412-1419.. 2016.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers ( Sphyrapicus varius) alter sap well locations in response to experimentally induced tree damage. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 128(3):619-623.. 2016.
Atmospheric N deposition alters connectance, but not functional potential among saprotrophic bacterial communities. Molecular Ecology. 24(12):3170-3180.. 2015.
Behaviorally-selective chemoreceptor lesions reveal two different chemically mediated orientation strategies in the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 35(6):753-762.. 2015.
Benthic algal response to invasive mussels in Saginaw Bay: a comparison of historical and recent data. Journal of Freshwater Ecology. :1-15.. 2015.
Biomass harvest of invasive Typha promotes plant diversity in a Great Lakes coastal wetland. Restoration Ecology. :1-10.. 2015.
Changes in heron and egret populations on the Laurentian Great Lakes and connecting channels, 1977-2009. Avian Conservation and Ecology.. 2015.
Chemical Orientation Strategies of the Crayfish are Influenced by the Hydrodynamics of their Native Environment. The American Midland Naturalist. 173(1):17-29.. 2015.
Chick mortality leads to male-biased sex ratios in endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers. Journal of Field Ornithology. 86(2):103-114.. 2015.
Cross-scale impact of climate temporal variability on ecosystem water and carbon fluxes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. :n/a-n/a.. 2015.
Differential responses of total and active soil microbial communities to long-term experimental N deposition. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 90:275-282.. 2015.
Distribution, diversity, and traits of native, exotic, and invasive climbing plants in Michigan. Brittonia. 67(4):350-370.. 2015.
The effect of biotic interactions on latitudinal range expansion of plant species in response to climate change. School of Natural Resources and Environment.. 2015.
The Effects of Biodiesel and Crude Oil on the Foraging Behavior of Rusty Crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 69(4):557-565.. 2015.
Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on tree seedling growth: quantifying the parasitism-mutualism transition along a light gradient. Canadian Journal of Forest Research.. 2015.
Embryotoxicity of maternally-transferred methylmercury to fathead minnows Pimephales promelas. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.. 2015.
Evidence for assessment disappears in mixed-sex contests of the crayfish, Orconectes virilis. Behaviour. 152(7-8):995-1018.. 2015.
Exotic earthworm community composition interacts with soil texture to affect redistribution and retention of litter-derived C and N in northern temperate forest soils. Biogeochemistry.. 2015.
Forest-atmosphere BVOC exchange in diverse and structurally complex canopies: 1-D modeling of a mid-successional forest in northern Michigan. Atmospheric Environment.. 2015.
Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification. Aquatic Ecology:i-ii.. 2015.
Herbicide management of invasive cattail (Typha × glauca) increases porewater nutrient concentrations. Wetlands Ecology and Management.. 2015.
Improved global simulations of gross primary product based on a new definition of water stress factor and a separate treatment of C3 and C4 plants. Ecological Modelling. 297:42-59.. 2015.
Increase in mercury in Pacific yellowfin tuna. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 34(4):931-934.. 2015.
Influence of air mass origin on aerosol properties at a remote Michigan forest site. Atmospheric Environment. 107:35-43.. 2015.
Isotopic study of mercury sources and transfer between a freshwater lake and adjacent forest food web. Science of The Total Environment. 532:220-229.. 2015.
Joint control of terrestrial gross primary productivity by plant phenology and physiology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. :201413090.. 2015.
Knowing The Territory: Landscape Ecosystem Classification and Mapping. The Michigan Botanist. 54:34-41.. 2015.
Landbird Stopover in the Great Lakes Region: integrating habitat use and climate change in conservation. Phenological synchrony and bird migration: climate change and seasonal resources in North America. :17-46.. 2015.
The match and mismatch between photosynthesis and land surface phenology of deciduous forests. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 214-215:25-38.. 2015.
Melanic individuals in color polymorphic Enallagma damselflies result from phenotypic, not genetic, variation. International Journal of Odonatology. 18(1):3-14.. 2015.
Mercury Isotopes as Biogeochemical and Ecological Tracers: Assessing Mercury Sources and Exposure Pathways in Food Webs. Earth and Environmental Sciences.. 2015.
Mercury Isotopes as Biological and Ecological Tracers: Assessign Mercury Sources and Exposure Pathways in Food Webs.. 2015.
Modeling forest carbon cycle response to tree mortality: Effects of plant functional type and disturbance intensity. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. :n/a-n/a.. 2015.
Modeling plant-water interactions: an ecohydrological overview from the cell to the global scale. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water. :n/a-n/a.. 2015.
Moderate forest disturbance as a stringent test for gap and big-leaf models. Biogeosciences. 12(2):513-526.. 2015.
Net primary production of a temperate deciduous forest exhibits a threshold response to increasing disturbance severity. Ecology. 96(9):2478-2487.. 2015.
Observations of stem water storage in trees of opposing hydraulic strategies. Ecosphere. 6(9):art165.. 2015.
Phonotactic behaviour and vertical sound source localisation of the parasitoid fly Emblemasoma auditrix (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Ecological Entomology. 40201412120951091261751872619328266103841020845175204193193581792024185108210753351941467467(6):707-716.. 2015.
Population viability analysis and the effects of light availability and litter on populations of Cirsium pitcheri, a rare, monocarpic perennial of Great Lakes shorelines. Biological Conservation. 187:82-90.. 2015.
Quantifying canopy complexity and effects on productivity and resilience in late-successional hemlock–hardwood forests. Ecological Applications. 25(3):834-847.. 2015.
Reconstruction of the Pollution, and Limnological History of Douglas Lake (Michigan) using Biomarkers. Earth and Environmental Sciences. :1-131.. 2015.
Snowpack-atmosphere gas exchanges of carbon dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxides at a hardwood forest site in northern Michigan. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. 3:000040.. 2015.
Soil bacterial communities are shaped by temporal and environmental filtering: evidence from a long-term chronosequence. Environmental Microbiology. :1-11.. 2015.
Trade-offs in female signal apparency to males offer alternative anti-harassment strategies for colour polymorphic females. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.. 2015.
Use of Catalogued Long-term Biological Collections and Samples for Determining Changes in Contaminant Exposure to Organisms. Environmental Contaminants: Using natural archives to track sources and long-term trends in pollution. 18. 2015.
Variations in the influence of diffuse light on gross primary productivity in temperate ecosystems. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 201:98-110.. 2015.
Age-specific survival and recruitment of piping plovers Charadrius melodus in the Great Lakes region. Journal of Avian Biology. (5):437-449.. 2014.
Atmospheric N Deposition Increases Bacterial Laccase-Like Multicopper Oxidases: Implications for Organic Matter Decay. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 80(14):4460-4468.. 2014.
Behavioral decisions in sensory landscapes: crayfish use chemical signals to make habitat use choices. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 34(5):559-564.. 2014.
Can EVI-derived land-surface phenology be used as a surrogate for phenology of canopy photosynthesis? International Journal of Remote Sensing. 35(3):1162-1174.. 2014.
Changes in soil nitrogen cycling in a northern temperate forest ecosystem during succession. Biogeochemistry.. 2014.
Colonial waterbird site occupancy dynamics reflect variation in colony site environments in the U.S. Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 40(4):956-963.. 2014.
Denitrification in a Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetland invaded by hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca). Aquatic Sciences. 76:483-495.. 2014.
Dispersal limitation structures fungal community assembly in a long-term glacial chronosequence. Environmental Microbiology. 16(6):1538-1548.. 2014.
Effects of fine-scale soil moisture and canopy heterogeneity on energy and water fluxes in a northern temperate mixed forest. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 184:243-256.. 2014.
Effects of soil nutrients on the sequestration of plant defence chemicals by the specialist insect herbivore, Danaus plexippus. Ecological Entomology.. 2014.
Exotic Earthworm Communities as Drivers of Soil Carbon Dynamics in Northern Temperate Forests. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. :164.. 2014.

subset: commoncrawl


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For months, I have stood idly by, drumming my fingers on my desk and waiting for a story that could really turn journalism on its head; a story that could really change the world as we know it. Here I am thinking of Woodward and Bernstein reporting on Watergate, or Matt Drudge breaking the Lewinsky scandal. "Those guys took down a president," I think to myself. "I want a story like that." Well, fortunately, I've finally found it: I'm going to write about how a valet scratched my car. For those of you on the Pulitzer Prize committee, that's D-E-M-U-R-O, with a capital "M."
Before I get into the real meat of this story, though, I think it's important to explain valet parking. I do this for the benefit of people reading from places like Idaho, who might not understand why the simple act of going to a meal requires letting a stranger drive your car.
Well, you uncultured swine, that's just the way it is, and you should really get used to it if you ever plan on visiting a big city. And so, for those of you out there unfamiliar with the valet parking process, here is a general overview:
1. You show up at a nice restaurant that serves dishes "braised," which I believe is a fancy way of saying "cooked."
2. You open your own car door, because the valets are arguing about football, or, if you are in Los Angeles, hairstyles.
3. The valet hands you a ticket, which can be used later to retrieve your car, assuming the valet has not "lost" your keys by dropping them in a storm drain.
4. You enjoy a nice meal, completely oblivious to the fact that, while you calmly sip braised tap water, the valet is engaged in a reverse-gear drag race between your car and a Honda Pilot.
5. After the meal has ended, you come out to collect your car.
6. The valet has lost your keys by dropping them in a storm drain.
The theory behind valet parking, I think, is that it's supposed to make things easier. It's as if the restaurant is saying to its customers: There there, sir. No need to go through the trouble of parking your vehicle, which we know can be a difficult, exhausting experience, right up there with modern challenges such as clearing your throat, or blinking. Instead, we'll leave all that to a 19-year-old who's wearing shorts and SnapChatting with his girlfriend for some naked selfies.
And that leads us to my experience.
On Sunday evening, I went to a certain Atlanta restaurant that I've been advised by a lawyer not to name, on the theory that they may retaliate by showing up at my door and making me eat more of their food. Like every other customer at the restaurant that night, I handed over my vehicle to a valet, since there's absolutely no street parking in the vicinity of this place. And then, like every other customer at the restaurant that night, I walked inside and spent the next hour shouting at my friends in a vain attempt to communicate despite the restaurant's insanely high noise level. I am told there was also a meal.
At the end of the night, I picked up my SUV and gave the valet a seven-dollar tip, which I think is a fairly reasonable sum for a) driving approximately 50 feet, and b) changing my seat position. In fact, if the valet had taken my seven dollars back inside, he could've gotten himself some sort of braised appetizer, assuming the waiter could hear him place the order.
Anyway: on the drive home, I discovered that little silver horse on my Ferrari key was missing. That's annoying, since the key isn't cheap to replace – but I chalked it up to a valet mistake and poor materials. The key is, after all, Italian, which means it was probably manufactured with the same attention to detail as a frat party bonfire. I moved on, left the restaurant, and didn't think about it again.
Or, at least, I didn't think about it again until the next morning. That's when I noticed the damage in the cover photo: two scuffs, a deep scratch, and a shattered – and missing – tail light cover.
Now, this may seem like a minor accident to most of you out there in readerland. But for those of us who have experience with body shops, here's what happens: first, they replace the tail light, which costs something absurd like $950. Then, they replace the panel, which is another $950. But then they see a scuff on another panel. And another panel. And another panel. And before you know it, they've replaced your entire car, and your Carfax report shows that you were in a serious rollover accident that severely compromised the structural integrity of the vehicle; especially the part where you crushed that small child under the C-pillar.
Knowing this, I immediately drove back to the restaurant, where I encountered two employees who weren't working the previous evening and had no knowledge of me, my car, or my situation. They were innocent restaurant workers, untarnished by evil, just trying to accept some morning food deliveries. Unfortunately, none of this stopped me from causing a loud scene and walking around like a raving lunatic, insisting that "they would be responsible" for my damage. At some point, I think I threatened to sue the chef.
The restaurant employees, to their credit, were pretty good about defusing the situation, and they had me calmed down pretty quickly. Or, at least, they almost did, until they uttered the following memorable sentence:
"Well, sir, the valet is a separate company."
Over the last 24 hours, I've thought long and hard about things that upset me more than this sort of pathetic buck-passing, and I've only come up with three: genocide, pedophiles, and people who bring huge signs to sporting events. I would be less upset by, for example, home invaders. "Take what you want," I'd tell the invaders. "But don't tell me your getaway driver works for a separate company."
Because the thing is, the valet isn't a separate company. It's part of the entire experience that makes the restaurant what it is, from the moment I arrive until the moment, several hours later, when I'm vomiting my braised appetizers into the toilet. Of course, I'm aware that the valet is technically a separate company. But so is, say, the meat vendor. If I had an issue with the steak, would the restaurant tell me to direct my complaint to their meat supplier? Would they tell me to go directly to the cow and ask why it tastes funny? Of course not. They would ask me to repeat myself, because it's so loud that they can't hear me.
Fortunately, I didn't bring up all of this with the restaurant, because I probably would've become enraged a second time and threatened to sue the wall decor. Instead, I ran out to the parking lot and began searching for shards of my taillight cover while the restaurant employees dialed the valet company.
Speaking of the valet company, they were the only silver lining to this whole story. After collecting a few details, they told me to take the car to a body shop right away and get an estimate so I could get it back as quickly as possible. They also apologized profusely and assured me they'd pay for every penny of the damage.
Unfortunately, "every penny" is going to be rather pricey. I haven't gotten the estimate back from the collision shop, but I'm guessing $2,000 total for a new taillight, a new panel, paint, and labor – and another $2,000 in diminished value from a hit on the Carfax report. Call it the $4,000 mistake. Or $4,007, if you include the tip.
But the mistake isn't what annoys me most. What upsets me is that the valet didn't see fit to tell me he had damaged the car, leaving me to discover it on my own, the next day. If you tell me right then, it's an accident. Accidents happen to everyone, including me. Just ask my former employer. But if I find out later, it's a malicious cover-up; the result of a valet who's scared for being fired when a SnapChat-while-reversing session didn't go as planned.
And that's why, from this moment forward, I will never turn over my car to a valet again. Oh, sure, I will visit restaurants with valet parking. But I will bring my Nissan Cube, in all its scuffed, scraped, dog-smelling glory. A valet could damage that thing and I'd never notice. I might even thank him.
@DougDeMuro is the author of Plays With Cars. He owned an E63 AMG wagon and once tried to evade police at the Tail of the Dragon using a pontoon boat. (It didn't work.) He worked as a manager for Porsche Cars North America before quitting to become a writer, largely because it meant he no longer had to wear pants. Also, he wrote this entire bio himself in the third person.


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This serene lakeside watercolour scene with flocks of birds flying across misty water and reeds makes a stunning contemporary backdrop to any room.
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On the internet only a small number of people actually participate in any social capacity. In a forum you might have seven lurkers for every three participants. Of thirty participants you might only have three who stick around as regular members of a community. Of those who stick around you might only have a precious handful that drive the majority of a forum's discussion. This is evidenced clearly in other Three Kingdoms forums, and to an extent here as well. I think SoSZ has done quite well in terms of community participation. My massive post total is only a small percentage of the whole entire forum, for example.
That said, we're looking for people in that small portion of our community (and down the road through Kongming's Archives) to contribute and edit articles. I would be thrilled if we churned out one solid quality article every week. That would be awesome to me. There's no reason why we couldn't churn out a quality article every two days, but there's also plenty of precedent for this project to produce an article only once a month. It is just how these things work.
Right now the concept is new and I'm sure folks here are looking at it. It may be a little confusing, though, because it is new and I have not documented all of what we are up to yet (although people are welcome to just start contributing even if they don't know any of our little markup code). Once I outline our custom BBCode tags we may have a little more interest. Also, it may take a few weeks for some members to get around to joining.
Presently, those of us who are here can create and edit articles. We don't need to worry about participation from others. We can just do our thing and smile as we see them published. Someone else will join up, cautiously create or edit a new article, and as time passes they will become more confident and interested. After a while we'll have a handful of people who are using this section.
Look at the Development Project. It started with only a handful of people and even some of the most active community members showed little interest in signing up. Over time, though, some wonderful people joined the project and started to contribute information. Every time I log on to make a change, now, I encounter something new. On a day-to-day basis progress has not been great, but over time it has turned into something which I see as quite exceptional (if not incredible).
That said, I am going to be adding a few things as time passes over the next little while. I'll also be introducing a few articles which I am not going to be completing from the ground up. I hope some of you will jump in and help with their editing and, perhaps, even their completion.
In short, I agree with Taishi Ci 2.0.


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Knoxville, Tenn. – The Vols have learned a lot this season, sometimes the hard way, but they are ready to translate those lessons into action.
Their next opportunity to showcase their improvement will come on Saturday when they square off with No. 19 Mississippi State in Starkville (9 p.m. ESPN2) and they aren't taking it lightly.
"We've had a good couple of days," Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley said. "This is a big time for our team and I told them that. It's time to go out there and start acting on all the lessons we've learned in these earlier games.
"We just have to go out there and be ready on the road, go out there and finish four quarters and be able to execute the plays you need to execute to win a football game. That is where we are."
The Vols know that the Bulldogs, winners of seven consecutive games, are not going to make it easy on them. Patience will be the key to success, according to Dooley.
"Their philosophy is sound, fundamental football and they grind teams out, that's what they do," Dooley said. "The important thing is that you can't get frustrated and you have to play every play. If you play that way, opportunities will come. When the opportunities come, take advantage of them."
In order to create those opportunities, Tennessee knows that it has to eliminate the defensive breakdowns that have plagued it so far this season.
While they could delve into the details of the defensive scheme, switch personnel or any employ any number of other fixes in an attempt to solve the issue, the Vols know improvement really boils down to the basics – physicality and attitude.
"We have to be clean, we have to be sound, but we want to be multiple," Dooley said. "More than anything it is whipping blockers and running to the football. That will never change in defensive football because you can sit there and say that I have this gap and you have that gap, but at the end of the day it is 11 hats whipping the guy in front of them and running to the football. That will never change and that is what we can't compromise. That is what we worked on in the open date.
"What happens is it is something that you temper when you get really drawn in to where you are supposed to be and then you have to remind them that it can't compromise what matters. We do the same thing on special teams, whether it is kickoff coverage or punt coverage. There are certain fits and places that you need to be relative to the ball and the blockers, but when you are sitting there thinking about where I need to be sometimes you forget about the most important thing which is showing up in a real bad mood at the ball carrier."
Vol quarterback Tyler Bray watches a lot of football. He pours over game film preparing for opponents. He also watches the Vols to see how they can continue to make adjustments.
Bray also watches the NFL and takes notes of what teams are doing. On Monday night he was tuned into the Houston Texans-New York Jets matchup and paying attention to the way one of only two undefeated teams in the league use their offense.
The Vols signal caller took special note of how a former Vol plays a key role in the Texans' potent play-action offense.
"You can run the ball, pound and pound and pound and then the play action is wide open," said Bray. "The Houston Texans game from last night is a great example. They ran the ball with Arian Foster and then they play actioned and then Owen Daniels was wide open in the end zone."
Bray hopes to utilize certain attributes of the Texans offense and knows that the Vols' backfield will play a key role in the success.
"Each week you try to learn," said Bray. "I tried to force the ball down the field a little too much and made some mistakes. So I'm working on checking the ball down, getting it to Rajion (Neal), Marlin (Lane), Devrin (Young), and letting them make plays."
Bray is also trying to be more patient with his game can help the Vols' effectiveness on offense.
"As a quarterback, you feel like you can make every throw every time, regardless if your receiver is triple covered or not, so it takes time to learn to check it down," Bray said.
Experience is definitely on junior wide receiver Justin Hunter's side this season as he continues improving each week.
Hunter has been watching lots of film to prepare for Mississippi State's defense – especially their cornerbacks.
"From what I've seen, I know number 13 (Johnthan Banks) is real physical, he's very long and lanky, just like the NC State corner (David Amerson)," Hunter said. "It will be a good test for me to see if I can get around him. The [corners] wait for you to make a mistake. They wait on the quarterback to get a rush and that's just the schemes they do.
"[Their defense] is a lot of zones," Hunter continued. "They have the defense blitzing a lot. I have to keep my head up high, and I have to think that I can beat him going into the game, otherwise I can't [beat him]."
Hunter is prepared to be one of the central focuses in Saturday night's game in Starkville, Miss. He already knows that being double-teamed by the Bulldog defense is a definite possibility.
"You have to learn techniques to get away from [the double-coverage]." Hunter said. "You're not supposed to let anyone cover you. I don't get too mad when I'm double-teamed, though. [Being double-teamed] is kind of just the norm, now. "
With the help of his teammates, the trio of Zach Rogers, Cordarrelle Patterson and Hunter has been making names for themselves on the field each Saturday. The Volunteer offense is currently standing second overall in total yardage, as well as fourth overall in scoring. The Vols are averaging 506.6 yards per game and 39.4 points per game.
"Zach (Rogers) has been doing a good job for us," Hunter said. "He's out there helping everybody. He goes out there to make the deep passes – it's been him with the deep passes all year."
With the solid spread of wide receivers, it helps each of them have plays off in order to rest and be one hundred percent on every snap.
Hunter knows that the win won't come easy, but he knows what he should expect from Mississippi State.
"I think they just try to mix it up," Hunter said. "They don't want to jam every time and then I just have to figure out how to get around it. They just try to keep me confused.
"They like to be real physical and get up in your face," Hunter said of the Bulldog defense. "It's a lot like Florida; they were one of the most physical defenses that we've seen this year, so at least we have something to compare it to. It's about the kill, shot, tackle, jam, just disrupting your route, everything."
Since the last time the Tennessee football team played in Starkville was in 2007, there are no Vols on the current roster that have experienced the cowbells ringing at Davis Wade Stadium.
But one Vol knows his way around a cowbell. And he can thank his mom for that.
"I have never been [to Starkville]," said offensive lineman Dallas Thomas. "But my mom has a cowbell so I am used to that."
When asked why his mom might own a cowbell, Thomas explained, "She had that cowbell since I started playing football. She told me this is how you know you can find me in the crowd when I played in big games. She would ring it; I would look for it and see her."
His mother actually got the idea from his cousin.
"It started back in high school," said Thomas. "Where my cousin played high school ball they had cow bells at their games so she went and got herself one and kept it."
Now that Thomas knows where his mom is sitting every game in Knoxville, the cowbell isn't as necessary, but Mrs. Thomas brings it to each and every game, and when Neyland quiets down, which doesn't happen often, Thomas can hear the ringing.
Said Thomas, "She's the only Tennessee fan with a cowbell."
The Vols had some fun after practice as quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receiver Zach Rogers decided they would switch jerseys while talking to the media.
Bray who stands at 6-6 and weighs 215 pounds had to squeeze into Rogers' slightly smaller jersey (6-0, 172) for the interview.
Rogers was more than willing to trade.
"We traded roles today," said Rogers. "He's me and I'm him. I tried to get Tyler's hairstyle. I don't' know how it's working out so well."
Bray thought the jersey switch would bring lightness to the media interviews.
"We're just messing around today for interviews," said Bray. "I'm trying to keep things light. Everyone is starting to bare down, so at the end of practice we're trying to still have some fun."
Rogers later commented on Bray's need for a haircut.
"He got to put on the skull cap," said Rogers. "He's got some hair poking out the sides. I've seen better but we're working on it."
Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley started his post-practice media session with a short injury update on Tuesday. This time, however, it was a little more personal.
"I have a little hip issue and I'll keep you updated on it," Dooley said. "" I know I am here, I am working and nothing has changed. That's all that matters."
The injury has slowed him down a little on the field, but not quite enough to get him to don one of the team's non-contact jerseys.
"I wasn't in red, but I wasn't moving like I normally move," Dooley joked.
(On the difficulty of creating pressure against Mississippi State)
"It is always a combination of things. It starts with what are they calling and when are they calling it. They will move the pocket, they have a lot of play action and a good running game that sets it up, and their line does a good job. At the end of the day, their quarterback has a lot to do with it too because there are some quarterbacks who hold the ball and some quarterbacks who, when they get a little heat, they get rid of it."
(On Tyler Bray)
"Tyler's biggest thing is managing the game all the way through. He has shown a lot of progress in that and I think it is understanding when to make those aggressive throws, when you can take a risk and understanding when it is absolutely imperative that you don't risk anything. That is a work in progress, whether it is red area, late in the game, first down, whatever it is, there are times when you can take some risks and there are times when you just absolutely can't do it because it will kill you or kill the football team."
(On Tyler Bray's playmaking mentality)
"I think Tyler is the kind of guy that feels like he needs to make a play. If Tyler would have had three first-rounders around him his first year, he probably would have felt the same way. It is just learning how to let the plays come to you, that is all it is. Some guys are the other way around, they are scared to make a play. There are a lot of quarterbacks out there that are scared and throw it away every time they feel a little heat, and they are driving you nuts too. I'd rather tone down this kind of guy than the other. He just has to learn that we have a lot of weapons on offense. The biggest thing is that when you are having success, there is no reason to change. When you have 480 yards and 45 points with seven minutes to go, we don't have to do anything different. Just keep doing what we are doing."
(On tempering Tyler Bray's aggressiveness)
"It's over and over and over because you are changing something that is sort of the core of who you are. The other thing that is difficult is that he can do it nine times and do a great job, but it is that one play. There is no room for error because everybody is looking. He can show dramatic improvement and people don't realize it, but is that one play."
(On the tailbacks)
"Marlin [Lane] and Devrin [Young] are doing good. They've probably had two really good weeks of practice, [the best] they've had in a while. Devrin did a good job in the game, but he didn't get a lot of touches. We feel good about all three of them."
(On quarterback play around the league)
"I think [experience] is the starting point. That is always the starting point, talent and experience. You look around the league and Georgia's guy is experienced, our guy is experienced, South Carolina has a guy who has a little experience, Alabama's guy is experienced, Arkansas' guy is experienced. It is probably as experienced and talented a group as they have had in this league in a while. Then you have guys like Florida's guy who is extremely talented and learning. He is going to get better and better."
(On Mississippi State's wide receivers)
"They are solid, they are all weapons and they can all make you pay if you don't play well. He has a lot of places to put the ball, that's why they have been successful."
(On what they think about playing such a late game)
"I'm sure you guys heard from Coach Dooley, we'll play in a Wal Mart parking lot, is probably what he said. We'll play anywhere any time, it doesn't matter, we just want to play some football."
(On what he thinks about Mississippi State)
"They have a great secondary. They have a lot of veterans out there. They have one of the best corners in the nation, and we faced in our first game so our receivers are used to it. It's going to be a good game. They're whole secondary is great. They also have a veteran linebacker. They're going to be good."
(On if they try to go after hyped up secondary early to set the tone)
"Everyone here is talking about their DBs and everyone over there is talking about our wide receivers, so it's going to be a great match up."
(On how much it would mean to win on Saturday and get a victory over a ranked opponent)
"It would mean a lot. It does anytime you can get a big win. We just need a win right now. It doesn't matter who we're playing we just need to get a win, and get everyone's confidence back up about this team and then move forward."
(On how he's been able to have a good short term memory)
"As Coach Hinshaw would say, it's a blank sheet of paper, just clear it after you make a bad play, forget about it and move on to the next play and help your team move forward."
(On only giving up three sacks this season)
"We really don't even think about that. We just go out and do whatever play Coach Chaney calls and protect. We rarely think about how many sacks we are giving up."
(On Mississippi State's defense)
"They are a real good defense and they are going to come out after us. We have to come back at them. [Their front four] are all good; I have been looking at film on all of them. They are all a good, big, physical group so you have to come ready."
"They just move around a lot. They will try to confuse us and get us off balance; we just have to be prepared for that. The last team I remember doing that was NC State. They had a lot of movement, but they weren't that bad."
(On the offensive line)
"We are a confident group. We are just focusing in on what plays they call, we are getting our steps down, and just taking our time to do what we have to do to get a good play off."
"I guess because we have been around each other for so long, we know what each other thinks now. We don't have to make calls sometimes we just know what we are going to do. It just clicks like that."
(On knowing the defense)
"That is the biggest improvement we have had. Just to know what the defense is going to do before they get lined up. It's like having the answers to the test. You just know how to step properly, make the proper call and just get everything going the right way."
(On what he worked on individually during the off week)
"I wanted to work on finishing up routes and getting open a little bit more and add contact and deliver more blows. I am pretty sure I have been doing good but I want to do better. Just fighting for the extra yards that I can get."
(On Rajion Neal)
"Rajion is stepping up. He is showing everyone who said the run game is not here. That he could only do it against Akron but can't against an SEC team. We just came out wanting to show to everybody that we can do it against any team playing on the field across from us."
(On the offensive line)
"I feel they just step up every week. The Georgia game it showed that they worked real hard to go out there and compete against an All-American, Jarvis Jones, and it showed that they are All-Americans too and that they are not going to let one man break down the whole offenseive line. They strive every day at practice and I think they are one of the hardest working positions on the field. They don't get any breaks. They are fast-paced all day every day and they have to be in shape to do that and they work hard."
(On keeping momentum)
"I feel we have been practicing well and keeping the momentum going. You can't lose the momentum in mid-season. We just want to get this win streak going."
(On what he expects from Mississippi State)
"We expect them to play hard. They're a tough team. They like to play hard and they're disciplined. We're going to need to be disciplined, play hard and hit harder."
(On how much he thinks his role has expanded this year)
"I think it blew up a lot. Since the NC State game, I've gotten a lot more reps and my role has expanded from just being on special teams to being on defense a lot more."
(On the environment at Mississippi State)
"I looked it up, and the stadium capacity isn't that big but they say it really loud and they have a big jumbo-tron and everyone knows about the cowbell, so I'm sure it will be interesting."
(On improving the defense's technique)
"Technique that is what really good pass rushers are great at. Just using technique, knowing when to throw moves, knowing when to hold back and knowing when to shoot for the quarterback. It depends on what type of quarterback you have. This week we can definitely go after the quarterback. He is pocket sitter and he isn't really that mobile. We can definitely use our technique to do all those things a speed rusher would do to get off the edge and make a good play."
(On the environment in Starkville)
"It will be my first time there but I know there will be a lot of cowbells. It is a loud environment, it is probably not louder than Neyland but we are expecting it to be pretty loud and people to be rowdy. It is a night game there so I know they will be pumped up."
(On the difficult October schedule)
"I love them. This is what I live for. This is the heart of the schedule. I think everyone looks forward to this."
(On the importance of a win)
"It would be very important. It is crucial for us to get a win right now against an SEC team. We have to go out there and finish. We need to minimize our mistakes and go out in the fourth quarter and win the ball game. It is something we are choking on. We need to go out there and do it."
(On the pressure to win)
"I think we all know it. I think everybody knows it, our fan base knows it. It is out there. Tennessee needs to win a ball game, a good ball game. We know we are capable of doing it, other people know we are capable of doing it. We just need to go out there and play our ball and minimize our mistakes that we know we mess up on in the moment because we get too excited or we think we have something that we don't. Play great ball and play for each other. I feel like that will work itself out and we will win ball games."
(On Mississippi State's secondary)
"We are going to get it week in and week out with the SEC and Mississippi State is just another prime example of great secondary play. They have a good group of guys back there. One highly rated corner in Banks. He is a great player and I think he is projected first round. So we just have to go attack them and be confident in what we do."
(On Bray)
"He has gotten better with his short term memory. If you make a bad play, you can't get too down on yourself because you have to come back the next play and do something better. The same with getting too high on plays. You got to come back and rebound and have a steady mind throughout the whole game. That's what [Bray] has done and he has brought us all along."
(On the importance of the Mississippi State game)
"We have a tough stretch and we know that. We've had it every year since I've been here, this tough stretch in October. We have to take it one game at a time. We showed some grit and heart and fight at Georgia so we know we can play on the road and compete against the best.
(On wearing a skull cap)
"I started it in high school and I don't know why I carried it on to here. When I had long hair it was easier to keep in shape, so I just kind of got used to it with my helmet. I actually have convinced Jacob Carter to start wearing it. He has long hair and is going through the same stages I went through so I'm trying to teach him a little."
(On the late kickoff game)
"It's just going to be like another game. We're going out there and we're going to try to get a win as hard as we can and play up to our expectations. If we could get the win, it would be cool."
(On Georgia's defense to block the run)
"They had a little more people in the box and they had one person on me, which left Mychal [Rivera] open. Zach [Rogers] had the most catches, he had five. People are keying in on me and I think our running game is going better. It's bad for them to just try to cover me."
(On reasons the defense allowing big plays)
"On the big plays we've been giving up, it's been something real minor. A guy taking a wrong step or looking at the wrong key and we lose the edge. Miscommunication. We've got to be on our A game as far as communication goes."
(On about what causes the miscommunication)
"Trying to get guys on field. Some guys are still not fully adjusted to the new defense, and Coach Sal doesn't hold anything back. We put new plays in, week in, week out. For some guys, it's tough for them to catch on to things very fast."
(On Mississippi State's quarterback protection)
"We've got to do a good job pressuring him. We've been watching a lot of film from their previous opponents. They do a lot play action to keep a lot of defensive players off the quarterback. We're just going to have to do a good job of getting to the quarterback and just do a good job of communicating."
(On either team establishing an ability to rush the passer early)
"It's going to be a physical game, an SEC game. It's going to be a great matchup. We've got a great offensive line. They have a good offensive line. We're going to go out there and be physically tough."
Courtesy UT Media Relations


text:
A very sad lime tree
Fungus looked similar
I was so proud of my little lime tree that came up as a volunteer. A little over a month ago I noticed a growth on the trunk at ground level. I knocked it off and cleaned it up a bit. Two weeks later it was back. Lorena did it again about a week ago but it was too late. Guess I'll have to dig it up soon.
Soap and water and/or nitrogen fertilizer are suggested ways to kill the fungus but the tree was too far gone by the time I hit the Internet. Gonna have to keep a closer eye on the rest of my trees. It also says to completely dispose of the mushroom or it could spread in the yard. All I did was throw it on the compost. Hope I'm not in for trouble.


text:
Well, it's not just in advertising where that rule applies; it also applies to the world of politics.
We recently received two press releases that awkwardly combined the world of politics with language of athletics.
The first came from Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who according to the first line of her press release claimed she "hit a home run this morning along with a slam dunk." At first we were totally confused, as we weren't exactly sure what sport she was playing, perhaps base-ketball?
But we read on, and discovered that actually she allocated some money to buy equipment for a basketball and baseball program in western Queens, hence the ability to both hit a homerun and dunk a basketball at the same time.
The second came from Comptroller William Thompson, who released an audit that "found the city is striking out by letting the New York Mets slide on $2.5 million the team owes from their rental agreement for Shea Stadium."
We don't know if the use of the word "slide" was intentional or not, but it was very subtle if it was. We would have preferred that the city let the New York Mets "balk" on the money they owe, but we tend to go for the blatantly obvious.
However, our favorite is Thompson's quote, which cleverly incorporates the nickname of the Mets and yet another baseball reference.
"The Mets have done an Amazin' job at skirting their commitment to the city. While we are faced with widening budget gaps and cuts to essential services, the city should be trying to collect every penny we are owed, Instead, City Hall is putting on a minor league performance."
Minor league performance? So, in other words, kind of like the Mets themselves these days.


text:
|The first creme with IntuiGen Technology that knows your skin's needs. This high-performance, multi-action moisturizer dramatically reduces the look of multiple signs of aging: lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, dullness, dehydration. Helps activate skin's own revitalization to reveal a younger and more beautiful look. Tested and proven: Instantly, skin looks smoother, clearer, more radiant. In just 4 weeks, 92% of women showed significantly firmer skin.
Price: $50.0
|Beauty – Estee Lauder – – SKIN CARE


text:
Stocks are closing sharply higher on Wall Street as traders turn their focus back to corporate news from the U.S. and hopes that the Federal Reserve will come up with a plan to jump start the economy.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 96 points at 12,837, the highest in a month.
Microsoft was one of the biggest gainers in the Dow. The stock jumped 3 percent after the company announced a new tablet computer called Surface to compete with the immensely popular iPad from Apple.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 13 points to 1,358 Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite index rose 34 points to 2,930.
About five stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average at 3.8 billion shares.


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Getting to Kyoto from Bangkok involved a very long day of traveling, which seems to be a recurring theme on this trip. First we took a 5-hour flight to Tokyo, then had to hop on an hour-long train to get to the 3-hour-long Shinkansen — where we had to stand in the unreserved smoking car for about 45 minutes before getting seats. We also had a bit of a failure in planning here — we had no baht left to exchange for yen, so we didn't get any in Bangkok. Then we missed the exchange counter at the Tokyo airport, leaving us with 0 yen, and thus no food or drink possibilities. We thought we'd be able to find an ATM at one of the train stations, but that didn't happen, and when we finally got to Yamashina, where we just needed to take a Kyoto subway 4 stops to Daigo, we got stuck. Our Japan Rail passes wouldn't cover the trip, the ATMs we found wouldn't take foreign cards and at 10:30 p.m., we didn't have any exchange options we could see. We were also caught in a thunderstorm. Thankfully, we were able to call the person we were staying with, Ted, to come pick us up. He even had dinner ready for us when we got to his house.
The front gate at Kiyomizudera
We spent our first few days in Kyoto exploring the city — going shopping, eating at vegetarian restaurants and checking out the temples. Kiyomizudera was my favorite, with its pretty trails, beautiful views and quaint wooden shrines. The complex also has a waterfall that people drink from to gain luck and knowledge — we made sure to drink up! We also spent some time in Gion, where we saw a Geisha in her full get-up, with white face makeup and all. Tons of people were snapping photos of her just crossing the road. There were many other women in traditional kimonos, but not many were fully made up.
We visited some other temples in the hills that form the city's border, like Nanzen-Ji, where we walked through an enormous gateway and under a red-brick aqueducts and up into the woods to visit a small shrine by a waterfall. And we walked down the Philosopher's Path, a quiet walkway by a canal, until we found Honsen-In, another temple, which was closed for the day.
A temple garden in Kyoto
We were able to scramble over to the Ginkaku-Ji, the Silver Pavilion, shortly before closing time, but were disappointed to find the structure undergoing a complete restoration — it was basically a shell of a building covered in tarps. The gardens, however, were well worth the visit, with clear ponds, stone steps leading up to a view point, sunny and shady areas, plenty of moss groundcover, and a sand garden shaped to represent Mount Fuji and the sea. We took a second loop around the grounds because we liked it so much.
The rest of the time we were based in Kyoto, we took day trips to nearby cities. Also, we were surprised by how hot Kyoto, and Japan in general, was — the heat and humidity made Thailand feel temperate, and we had to buy little towels to wipe the sweat from our faces. Who knew?
August 11, 2008
First, we took the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, where we visited the peace park. We saw the A-Bomb Dome, the ruins of a neoclassical building that was very close to the hypocenter of the blast, which was eerie — parts are still standing, other parts are totally mangled, and there are Japanese families taking photos giving the peace sign in front of it. From there, we walked on to the island where most of the park is, and saw all the paper cranes that comprise the children's memorial, then went by the eternal flame and the cenotaph, which looks back on the A-Bomb Dome.
The A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima
We also visited the museum, which gave a detailed history of Hiroshima and a good amount of insight as to why it was bombed. It also had a lot of information on nuclear weapons and really showcased the devastation of the city through photos, models and artifacts from the day it was bombed, like warped metal girders, burned clothed, melted roof tiles and some gruesome victim portraits. The museum isn't only a memorial of what happened there, though — it is truly a call for peace and an end to nuclear proliferation. It was very powerful to see such a tragedy turned into a positive mission.
After taking in the museum, we also checked out the memorial hall, a large, echoing sunken space with a fountain at its center and the names of Hiroshima's neighborhoods set around it. Also, we noticed that water played an important role at the peace park — many visitors were leaving water bottles at the memorials — and we learned that it's because many of the bomb's victims died begging for water.
The floating gate in Miyajima
Once we'd toured the park, we were ready for some lighter fare and headed to Miyajima to see the tori gate in the sea. We took a ferry over to the island and were surprised to find lots of deer to greet us. We walked down the coast to the shrine, which was closed because it was a bit late in the day, then watched the sun set pink behind the bright orange floating gate.
August 12, 2008
Our second day trip was to Himeji to see the castle. From the train station, we walked right up the main road until it stopped at the big, scenic moat. We walked across the bridge and onto the castle grounds and went to the main tower — a big, white, multistoried building on a tall stone foundation. There were lots of small spaces for people to throw rocks or boiling water down on invaders, and these came in square, circle, triangle and rectangle shapes. It was also a no-shoes building, so we climbed the stairs to the top barefoot, carrying our shoes in bags. I don't know why they insist in putting metal caps on the ends of the stairs for people going barefoot — it's quite an uncomfortable climb.
Himeji Castle
The view from the top wasn't all that great — Himeji looks pretty industrial — but it was nice to see the castle.
When we returned to Kyoto station in the evening and took the escalators up to the roof garden on top top of the cool modern bulding to take in the nighttime view, then walked across its glass walkways.
August 13, 2008
Our day trips started feeling like doing suicide sprints backwards — we started with the longest, Hiroshima, and just kept on the same train lines, going shorter and shorter distances each day. We definitely made the most out of our JR passes. The bullet train was basically our daily transport, which really helped us get back and forth quickly, though we wish we could have ridden the super-speedy Nozomi trains, which had better, longer routes.
Osaka is only a short ride away from Tokyo, yet it feels quite different. It's much more modern, and much more crowded. We first went to the aquarium, since it was highly recommended. Apparently it was highly recommended to all of Japan, though, since there were some really incredible crowds. There were people blocking every tank and sign and women on bullhorns yelling announcements every few feet. It made for a pretty stressful visit, though we did manage to at least get a glimpse of the dolphins, otters, penguins, rays and whale sharks. The best part was a smallish exhibit with baby otters, which was set apart from the main path and nowhere near as packed.
Looking up at the Osaka Sky Building
Next on our sightseeing tour was the Osaka Sky Building, a transformers-looking structure, with two tall buildings attached at the top, with long escalators running to the roof garden observation point and a thin bridge at the 22nd floor. We made it to the top just in time for sunset, when the clouds and sky turned a beautiful pink over the sprawling city. And riding up to the top in the glass elevator and then taking the glass escalator the last five stories was quite a thrill.


text: If you were limited to just the essentials for tying flies what would make your list? That was my quandary as I prepared to close up our Montana home and head for our winter digs in Arizona. In previous winters I had not carried any fly tying stuff with me but this year I thought I might tie a few flies during those times when I wasn't otherwise engaged. I'm not the type that can sit around and watch TV or even just twiddle my thumbs, and when I find myself at loose ends I tend to fall asleep.


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SoHo Publishing, the publisher of Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple magazines, is issuing a lot of new knitting and crochet titles lately. I've asked my friend, Debbie Procek, to review some crochet pattern books that Soho sent me, and I'm eagerly looking forward to what she has to say about them. In the meantime, I'm going to review two titles today: "KnitAFGHANS" and "KnitSimple knitting workshops." It seems appropriate to combine these two because some of the afghans appear in both books.
Let's start with the "KnitSimple knitting workshops" book. If you are looking for a book with some good basic lessons and lots of colorful illustrations, this is a good one. The lessons described here cover a lot of things every knitter should learn, starting with some simple crochet stitches. Then cabling, basic patterns for hats and mittens and how to adapt them with stripes, embroidery and stranded knitting are described rather well.
I like the way the editors of KnitSimple, who compiled this book, give the reader a series of photos of each topic so that the reader can follow a logical progression. The pages are laid out with a lot of white space to make it easier for the reader to go back and forth between the written page and the project on the needles.
After the mittens come socks. Again, the pages are full of illustrations that teach as much as the written text, helping the reader to conceptualize what she or he is about to do. The socks are followed by scarves and shawls, first triangular and then long rectangular.
The lessons go on from there, and along the way, the editors sneak some more crochet in, including hairpin lace (which I've never tried but have the frames for). Eventually, they get to children's sweaters, women's sweaters, finishing techniques and afghans. I haven't read every word in this book, but by skimming text and following photos, I do think there is a logical progression to the subject matter, and each chapter builds on the previous one.
If you are an experienced knitter, you probably don't need this book, unless you want a pattern for some simple hats and mittens or you like one of the more complicated projects in the book. But at $21.95, it's probably a good, basic reference book for someone who is just starting out. And with all the new knitters out there, this book will be useful to a lot of new knitters. It might even make a good Christmas (or other holiday) present.
And if you are a more experienced knitter who doesn't want all the lessons, just the afghan patterns, you should take a look at the "KnitAFGHAN family favorites" book, which is really more of a large booklet, with 12 afghans to knit. (By the way, if you would rather crochet your afghan, there are some patterns for that in the workshop book).
Two of the afghan designs are in both books, by the way.
The afghans in this book require a variety of skill levels. The striped ones are quite easy. The chevron one is an introduction to lace. There are several afghans made of blocks of various sizes and stitches, and there is one afghan made with Intarsia blocks, each featuring a different sheep. Very cute. The editors say that one afghan is for beginners, two more are easy, three are intermediate and four are for experts.
The cost of this booklet is $9.95. The cover is a glossy cover stock, which should stand up to being carried around in your project bag, and the photos are very nice: large, easy to study, colorful.


text:
Fluvoxamine belongs to the class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps to reduce anxiety and unpleasant thoughts associated with OCD and improves mood by treating depression.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are thought to work by increasing the amount of a neurotransmitter (a chemical found in the brain) called serotonin. Although you may start feeling better within a few weeks of treatment, the full effects of the medication may not be evident until several weeks of treatment have passed.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
Nu-Fluvoxamine is no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under fluvoxamine. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using this medication, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.
The recommended adult dose of fluvoxamine ranges from 50 mg to 300 mg depending on circumstances. A low dose of fluvoxamine (e.g., 50 mg) is usually used to start treatment, with increases in dose every few days as tolerated until the best dose is reached.
Doses of up to 150 mg are taken once daily at bedtime. Doses above 150 mg are taken twice daily, with 150 mg being taken at bedtime.
The tablets should be swallowed whole with water and without chewing.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you forget a dose of fluvoxamine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Do not take this medication if you:
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Bleeding: Fluvoxamine, like other SSRI medications, may cause an increased risk of bleeding, particularly if you are taking acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or other medications that affect how the blood clots. If you notice any signs of bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, or black and tarry stools, notify your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will order routine blood tests to make sure potential problems are caught early.
Bones: Fluvoxamine, like other SSRI medications, may increase the risk of bone fracture, especially if you are a senior or have osteoporosis or other major risk factors for breaking a bone. Take extra care to avoid falls, especially if you get dizzy or have low blood pressure. Your doctor may monitor your bones while you are taking this medication.
Change in blood sugar levels: Changes in blood sugar levels have been reported in the early stages of treatment in people taking fluvoxamine, whether or not they have been diagnosed with diabetes. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using this medication.
If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Some people who take fluvoxamine may become drowsy. Avoid activities that require complete mental alertness, judgment, and physical coordination (such as driving a car or performing hazardous tasks) until you determine how fluvoxamine affects you.
Glaucoma: This medication may cause the symptoms of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) to become worse. If you have glaucoma, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Report any changes in vision to your doctor as soon as possible while you are taking this medication.
Seizures: There have been occasional reports of seizures occurring with fluvoxamine. If you have a history of epilepsy or medical conditions that increase the risk of seizures, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Serotonin Syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Severe reactions are possible when fluvoxamine is combined with other medications that act on serotonin, such as tricyclic antidepressants and certain medications used to treat migraines. These combinations must be avoided. Symptoms of a reaction may include muscle rigidity and spasms, difficulty moving, changes in mental state including delirium and agitation. Coma and death are possible.
If you are taking antidepressants, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Stopping the medication: Stopping this medication suddenly may lead to side effects such as dizziness; abnormal dreams; confusion; burning, prickling, or tingling skin; difficulty concentrating; fatigue; anxiety or agitation; shaking; nausea or vomiting; or sweating. If you are thinking of stopping the medication, check with your doctor first.
Suicidal or agitated behaviour: Adults and children taking this medication may feel agitated (restless, anxious, aggressive, emotional, and feeling not like themselves), or they may want to hurt themselves or others. These symptoms may occur within several weeks after the person starts taking this medication. If you experience these side effects or notice them in a family member who is taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. You should be closely monitored by your doctor for emotional and behaviour changes while taking this medication.
Pregnancy: It has been reported that babies born to women who took medications of this kind during the last trimester of their pregnancy may experience adverse effects (such as breathing problems, seizures, trouble feeding, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying). This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking fluvoxamine, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and efficacy of this medication have not been established for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. The use of this medication by people in this age group may cause behavioural and emotional changes, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
There may be an interaction between fluvoxamine and any of the following:
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2020. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Nu-Fluvoxamine


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The Tampa Bay Times saw daily circulation rise nearly 14 percent from the previous year in new figures unveiled by the company which tracks newspaper circulation nationwide, the Alliance for Audited Media.
The Times ranked 16th among daily newspapers, with a circulation of 340,260 in the six months ending March 31. Sunday circulation for the Times dipped nearly 7 percent in the same time, down to 402,422 from the same period in 2012, ranked 20th.
But current circulation figures are tough to judge, given the wide array of publications which can be counted toward the numbers under recent changes implemented by the AAM, once known at the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Figures now include digital subscriptions or special editions "branded" as an offshoot of the newspaper, including commuter editions. Even with the adjustments, overall circulation for 593 reporting daily newspapers dipped 0.7 percent; circulation for 519 Sunday newspapers dropped 1.4 percent, according to the AAM.
For the Tampa Bay Times, daily figures are boosted by circulation from the free daily tabloid TBT*. Area competition The Tampa Tribune also drops off free editions in select neighborhoods
The Tampa Tribune earned Sunday circulation at 281,086 and daily circulation at 191,477.
The Wall Street Journal emerged as the biggest daily newspaper, with circulation up 12.3 percent to 2.3 million, followed by the New York Times up 17.6 percent to 1.8 million.
In Sunday numbers, the New York Times was tops with 2.3 million, and increase of 15.9 percent (the business-focused Wall Street Journal doesn't publish on Sundays). The Houston Chronicle, which saw its daily circulation drop 5.8 percent, still placed second among daily newspapers.
Chart courtesy of Times staffer Jeff Harrington
Tampa Bay Times 340,260 (+14%) 402,422 (-7%)
Tampa Tribune 191,477 (+33%) 281,086 (+7%)**
Orlando Sentinel 161,070 (-7%) 268,257 (-7%)
S. Fla. Sun-Sentinel 163,728 (-1%) 228,906 (-7%)
Miami Herald 147,130 (-9%) 190,751 (-10%)


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You need to be a member of PlayStation Plus or have a local user account on the subscriber's 'Primary PS4' to play many games online. You can find full details of what PlayStation Plus features you can share with your friends here.
One PlayStation Plus membership allows all local accounts on the subscriber's 'Primary PS4' to play online through their SEN accounts. The PlayStation Plus member does not need to be logged in on the PlayStation 4 for other users to play online.
You can also create a new user on a friend's PlayStation 4 to enable you to play online on their system, but they will not be able to use your PlayStation Plus access to play online, as the console is not your 'Primary PS4'. You can both play online on either PlayStation 4 if you are both PlayStation Plus members.
Online play without a subscription
You don't need to be a PlayStation Plus member to play online on your PlayStation 3 or PS Vita, but we recommend subscribing as it allows you to take advantage of all the extra features you receive when you join.
You also do not need to be a member of PlayStation Plus to play non-synchronous games on the PlayStation 4. Synchronous games are games where two consoles need to be synched up to communicate with each other in real time - for example if you are playing co-op or competition mode on a shooting or racing game. Non-synchronous games mean that the two consoles do not need to be communicating in real time – for example when playing turn based games like chess.


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When I saw the video posted above, I was pretty much aghast. I knew that the current NWA Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce was in the midst of a feud with Colt Cabana, but I was unaware of the level it had escalated to. Setting an opponent on fire is one of those old-school stunts that raises the drama, but let's face it, it's still dangerous. That just goes to show the amount of passion that these two pro-wrestlers have for creating compelling matches and a riveting storyline.
This feud which has been dominating the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) will now come to its stunning conclusion when Adam Pearce and Colt Cabana face off in a "Seven Levels of Hate" match in Australia. According to the NWA, this match will not be sanctioned by the legendary organization because - according to President R. Bruce Tharpe - "the level of violence goes entirely past the accepted rule of sport, and we as a sanctioning body cannot willingly sanction a contest that is sure to push those levels past a point of no return."
How's that for drama?
I was able to get in touch with NWA Champion Adam Pearce before he boarded a plane for Australia. I asked him about how the feud got started; what it's like fighting Colt Cabana; and what to expect in the final stage of "Seven Levels of Hate":
Geek To Me: Last time we spoke, you were the newly crowned NWA Heavyweight Champion! What's happened since then?
Adam Pearce: Lots of time on planes. Canada, England, Germany, and Australia, not to mention most of the lower 48 have felt my wrath.
Geek To Me: I've gotta ask again, what was it like holding the belt that was held by such legends as Ric Flair, Harley Race and Jeff Jarrett? Has it been everything you thought it would be?
Adam Pearce: Best job in the world with the legacies of our industry's elite to live up to. A constant challenge and one that I have relished on five occasions.
Geek To Me: Now you've been involved in a feud with Chicago's own Colt Cabana, how did that come about?
Adam Pearce: He played for Deerfield, I played for Waukegan. We were bound to be enemies at some point.
Geek To Me: Both of you have worn the NWA championship belt, so who do you think wants it more?
Adam Pearce: At this point it isn't even about the 'ten pounds of gold'. It's a battle between two men that have known one another for a literal lifetime over who is better. It's that simple.
Geek To Me: Colt has gotten pretty popular for his podcast "The Art of Wrestling," so which do you think he's best at: hosting a podcast or wrestling?
Adam Pearce: He hosts a podcast?
Geek To Me: Oh snap! Okay, I imagine wrestling Colt is a lot like fighting Spider-Man in that he probably never stops talking during a match. Am I right?
Adam Pearce: Why would you imagine that? It's awfully hard to talk with my size 12 in your mouth.
Geek To Me: Time to talk some smack! Tell me how you are going to end the legend of Colt Cabana at your match in Australia!
Adam Pearce: First, shame on you for calling him a legend. Second, no one truly wins in war. For Cabana and I, "Seven Levels of Hate" has been every bit a war. I'm certain we'll both be glad when its done, but even more certain that neither of us will ever be the same.
You can learn more about the ADAM PEARCE/COLT CABANA FEUD at the NWA WRESTLING WEBSITE!


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Teen dies after fall from moving vehicle
Cody Dayberry hit head after tumble from car's trunk lid
Independence police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy who fell off the back of a moving vehicle.
Cody Dayberry, 16, was riding on the trunk lid of a Nissan Altima in the Highland Manor Trailer Park Tuesday afternoon.
Police said he fell off the car and struck his head on the ground.
He was taken to a hospital for treatment and later transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital, where he died. Family members said his brain was swollen and he suffered multiple skull fractures.
Cody's father, Greg Mastin, said he saw his son just before his fatal fall.
"They passed us and he said, 'Yeah, I'm having fun,'" Mastin said. "I said, 'Get off the car, Cody. What are you doing?'"
He said his son was returning from the neighborhood swimming pool.
"They turned and I guess when they turned his swimming trunks were wet and he slid off the car. He shouldn't have been there to begin with," Mastin said.
He said the car was going less than 10 mph. He said it turned down a street and he heard a thud.
"We didn't know what it was, and I turned and I saw him laying in the road," Mastin said. "I got on the phone and called 911 and my friend got his mouth open and got him to breathe because he had quit breathing."
His parents said they want to send an important message to other young people.
"Don't ride on cars, and that cars are serious. They're not something to be played with, and the person driving the car is responsible, no matter what," said Cody's mother, Susan Dayberry.
They said their son was a kind, loving teenager who liked to play video games with his friends. He would have been a junior at Truman High School this fall.


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There's a new poster floating around from the upcoming "Let Me In" flick and good news, it's French and it's got just the right amount of blood in it! For those of you French speaking readers keeping track at home "Let me In" is Le Remake of the Swedish film Le "Let the Right One In" that I thought was Le Crap!
If you were in Vegas recently and weren't in a drug induced cloud of rage then you might of scored a peak at what David Tennant is going to look like as Peter Vincent in the upcoming "Fright Night" remake. Then again if you were in Vegas and were spending your time looking for horror movie posters then I don't think you deserve to be reading my news. I bid you good day sir... Good day sir!
Maybe I'm out of touch good people at Spike but I've been reading your nominees for the Ultimate Scream category for your 2010 Scream Awards and I'm a bit confused as to why something like "Avatar" is nominated. Does Ultimate Scream mean I should be screaming at my computer while reading your stupid ass nominee list? Cause ya got me!
Want to experience a producer and a director give each other high fives via the written word? You're in luck then! Eli Roth and Daniel Stamm recently sat down with Empire Magazine to discuss "The Last Exorcism", mashed potatoes and fashion. Spoiler! Eli Roth is a charming SOB.
Spike has announced the nominees for the 2009 "Scream" Awards, their yearly genre appreciation show that airs on the cable network. You can cast your votes by visiting the link.
Rebecca De Mornay has signed on to Darren Lynn Bousman's "Mother's Day" remake, as the titular mother. I would make a Seinfeld joke here but every time I do it becomes painfully obvious how old I am.
MTV has optioned the pilot to a "Teen Wolf" television series, and sent out a press release with the most inane executive quotes ever. "It has more of an 'American Werewolf in Paris' feel to it" was my particular favorite. Just start punching yourself in the balls right now.
You know the recent rash of prank calls that's leading to fast food employees doing all sorts of stupid things? Well, if not you can read about it here. My point being, the guy you see in that mughshot is actually smarter than your average fast food employee. Now that's scary.


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World Markets Pop On Summers News
Global markets soared on news that Larry Summers has pulled out of the running to be considered for Fed chairman. Tomi Kilgore has details.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... I sat we had European markets and teachers at me what's going ... to love the ... there was some fear that this summer's coming and would make the Fed pullback in stimulus Lu to faster but I think ... I'm more than that is the word sure exactly how he was in ... response so they assume that but there's also some ... worry that you know if he takes on the Coniston in these press conferences he made ... he might be treated differently A meets a three-year and my FB is artfully run of the other a rash and end it was the uncertainty I think that with the most people right now this continuity that a dear assuming it's going to be on it seems like investors assuming it's going in and they feel that the continuity least they can keep planning the way they've been finding hotels ... and it does seem like one big thing that investors it gets really scary faster check out the side this uncertainty it's here yet you don't have that at least on top of the ... right and that's the big thing when it is still you have defied Syria all these other things the Fed is still the number one concern for them and at least they know that they can continue to plan in the same way that they are writes at three stocks you're looking at this point and I was ... too good to see so many banana Monday so I had acted in corporate America's going to be buying Boise ... I'm ... for one point three billion it's not that huge deal or anything but so was nice to see some ... were jeered ... really there yet and I'm especially in Monday's ... high tech sites in springtime all financial ... yes cuz that though the one of the people from people it been talking about summer they say they know they didn't wanna do anything big that if Summers did come in they might view financials different ... just because ... it might even think that the pullback in Sentosa might slow loan growth ... ASA finances are getting a big boost all this that all the Dow stock of the finance is in the Dow are up over percent new ones coming in October puts it There may I mean these things and looking at is a caveat for its return interest rates are rising it's the little that week of summer are in effect that you know that ... you know this is ... the loan growth might not be hurt by this ... and what they're willing that we don't know what the markets will re ... write that last one is only on Elm filing at the toes into an analyst at Sterne Agee raised the price target of thirty seven percent to one sixty four ... it's based on ... production higher production started in two thousand fifty two this is on the seven eighty seven which was a ... pop for a long time for Boeing in ... and you know that the fact that they start to build Morningstar season could free cash flow from this is you know it's a good sign for


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This story was originally published in the October 2012 issue of Street Machine magazine
MAKING the cut for the Summernats Elite Top 60 means you own one of the most drool-worthy show cars on Australian soil. It's the domain of monster-dollar metal, and if your ride can hold its own in that company, it's truly special. These are amazing machines from which grassroots builders draw inspiration and stimulation. Most rarely see street duties however, and to be fair that's not everyone's cup of tea.
Stephen's stunning HR was a Summernats 25 Top 60 car - and had just 40,000 miles on the clock
But nestled in amongst the unobtainium at Summernats 25 was Stephen Booth's HR sedan. Painted in a Canberran backyard in 1991, it's racked up almost 40,000 miles since and still looks as fresh as a daisy. Its triple SU-fed red six, Aussie four-speed and Banjo diff make as traditional a driveline as you're ever likely to find in a hot-rodded HR, and whilst on paper it seems modest by Elite Hall standards, the car is sensationally detailed, with a charm all its own, and has rightly earned its place amongst the cream of the crop.
Showwheels Streeter wheels and a ground-hugging stance are a winning combination
"The car's won many awards over the years but making the Top 60 at Summernats 25 topped the lot," Stephen says. "I'd promised to take my kids and my daughter's friends for a cruise, so on the Friday arvo I was doing laps of the cruise route with my wife and eight kids in the car. I didn't think I'd made the Elite Hall but I got a call from a mate to tell me that my name had been read out, so it was a mad rush to get it tidied up in time.
"On Saturday morning two blokes were looking at the car and one was telling the other how he'd seen it out cruising the day before. That felt great, because that's what the car was built to do."
Although it's an award-winning showcar, Stephen says his HR was built for cruising
Like so many before it, the story began with a quick tidy that spiralled out of control. Said tidy-up became a comprehensive seven-year rebuild that was completed just in time for Holden's 50th anniversary at Lang Lang in 1998. The body was repaired and prepped by Stephen and his mate Kevin Ferry, then painted by Kevin's son Wayne, a self-taught hobbyist. For the duco to look so good some 21 years after it was applied is a credit to his talents.
Stephen showed, drove and enjoyed the car in that form for a long time, and it remained unchanged until 2011, when he was prompted to update the car out of necessity.
The HR's new look started with big 17in front and 18in rear wheels, prompting further updates to complete the look
"I went to buy a new set of wide 13in tyres and couldn't find them anywhere. That was when I bit the bullet and bought the big wheels for it, and I'm really happy with the look," he says of the 17in front and 18in rear Showwheels Streeters.
That upgrade prompted another mate, Daniel, who owns an upholstery shop, to suggest that fresh interior trim was needed to match the new look.
The tastefully trimmed cabin in red vinyl also features a comprehensive Alpine audio system, making the cruising miles even more pleasant
So Daniel and the crew at Bitch'n Stitch'n created a stunning blend of old and new, retaining original components such as the Premier buckets and dash alongside contemporary touches such as the flat floor, Billet Specialties wheel and Smiths gauges.
The entire cabin was decked out in red vinyl, perfectly complementing the Silver Mink paintwork.
As for the engine, there was never any doubt that the car would be powered by a red six.
"I'm definitely a Holden six nut," Stephen grins. "When I was building the car, I went to a lot of shows to get inspiration and all the early Holdens had V8s — so I decided to stick with the six."
The beautifully detailed engine bay houses a fire-breathing triple-carbed stroker six, stomping out 250rwhp
But while a 186 may have been factory HR fitment back in the mid-60s, this one boasts considerably more poke than Holden ever provided as standard.
The block has been bored 60thou and fitted with a Pro Stroke stroker kit, consisting of a billet crank, H-beam rods and forged ACL pistons. The nine-port head was tickled by Superflow Heads, while the cam is a custom-ground hydraulic item which allows the engine to rev beyond 7200rpm.
"It's only been on a dyno once and that was about eight years ago now, but it pulled 250rwhp which is pretty healthy for an aspirated six," Stephen says. "The next thing I'll do is look at injection, just to make the car a bit more driveable."
His approach to styling the engine bay is refreshing; he elected to detail every item and make each piece a feature, rather than burying it all out of sight.
"I'm not a fan of hiding everything because if something goes wrong you have to pull half the car to pieces to fix it. That said, the engine bay is showing a few signs of wear so I might give it a birthday soon and get rid of a bit of the wiring."
The boot is very practical and was trimmed to match the cabin
Stephen's also got his son in his ear, trying to convince him to spray the underside in body colour and paint the engine and gearbox, but for now he plans to try and get it out and enjoy it a little more. As for son Nathan Booth, he's got his father's genes and recently finished building his HR Ute, which took out the coveted Street Machine of The Year award in 2015.
"It's done about 38,000 miles since it was built and it's held up well. Preparation is everything — do it all properly and it'll last.
"I look after the car well too. I polish, detail and wax it before Summernats every year."


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My own learning ambitions are more modest: in August, I enrolled in Alisa Burke's online class in fabric design, Beneath the Surface. It was a bit of an impulse move for me after a summer of poor health and stalled movement, but I can't recommend it enough. The class was inspiring, accessible to a non-artist, and truly a lot of fun.
It also coincided nicely with the apron project, which I'd always intended to color. I had painted fabric with the kids before, but this class introduced new techniques and more importantly, new ways of combining techniques for a more complex and colorful look.
There was some glue resist and painting with Setacolor:
Regular fabric paint spattered on with a brush tip:
Some stamping:
Some inking. I'm not entirely happy with the final look, but I can think of it as something new I'm learning—and that does make me happy.
Alisa's upcoming class is called Free Motion Graffiti. It looks to be every bit as unique and enjoyable as Beneath the Surface and yes, I'll be taking it. I can't wait.


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Hi Guys – Welcome back!
I had an opportunity to talk with a college recruiter this weekend about golf programs.
I was specifically wondering, what I can do now to be appealing to colleges.
First off, he made a point to talk about grades. He said that colleges won't look at golfers who don't take school seriously. In addition, if you don't have decent grades, you won't be accepted into most colleges anyway.
Second, he talked about athletics. He said that they look for kids who play more than one sport. Lettering in two to three varsity sports shows athleticism, which is not something they can teach.
Third, he spoke about tournament play. He mentioned that high school events are less important than tournaments (unless it is at a state championship level). He said that they mainly look at summer tournaments and want to know about the field of competition. The average scores colleges look at depends on the school.
A top 20 college will want an average score of 72 (for male golfers). A midlevel division 1 school is looking for an average of 75 or better.
While division 2 schools look for an average of 75-80. Division 3 schools can range from 75-85 depending on the program.
For females, division 1 colleges will look at golfers who score an average of 85-90.
A great resource to use is www.collegegolf.com which is the Ping American Golf Guide (online).
There are different levels of membership but it is worth the investment and is considered the bible of college golf. It also has an online score converter that will take your high school scores and convert them to college scores – pretty cool!
So, if you are serious about earning a college golf scholarship or playing college golf, start planning now! Build your golf resume and take notes on every tournament you play.
Till next time!
Danny Divot