text:
The De Winton 0-4-0 Vertical Boiler, Quarry Locomotive – 16mm scale model kit.
Our curved framed model has the motor placed between the frames, leaving the boiler & water tank free for batteries & RC gear (designed for use with the Deltang receiver units).
Our model also features working crossheads & connecting rods!
This model has been created with a 3D printer using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) techniques. Due to the build process, some degree of hand finishing is required to achieve a really first-class finish to your model.
This kit comes complete with the necessary 3D printed parts, along with wheels, motor & gears. Together with all the screws, nuts and bolts need to complete your model.
All you need to complete the kit is glue (I recommend a Superglue), paint and a filler (body filling is not necessary, but does improve the finish of the model).
To make the locomotive operable, batteries and a switch will also be required. This can be as simple as disposable batteries and an on/off switch, but my models can also be built with rechargeable batteries and radio control operation. This choice is down to the individual builder.
For further information regarding the building of my kits including electronic control, please refer to the BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS page.
I print the kits to order and this can take six to eight weeks depending on the workload at the time of ordering. Once payment has been made, your order will be processed and you will receive an email once the kit is printed and ready to dispatch.
20 to 1 ratio worm gear
Binnie Engineering 29mm wheels
6-15 volt motor
32mm & 45mm gauge
the motor is placed between the frames, leaving the boiler & water tank free for electrics
will need batteries and electrics to operate
32mm gauge only :: £81.50 – inc p+p
(UK postage only, please enquire here for overseas postage costs)
45mm gauge only :: £81.50 – inc p+p
(UK postage only, please enquire here for overseas postage costs)


text:
Dear Straight Talk: The problem is my stepfather. He doesn't walk around in the nude like some parents, but he looks my sister and me up and down, staring at our breasts and crotch in a way that makes us very uncomfortable. If it was just me, I might think I was overreacting or being paranoid, but my sister feels exactly the same way. He usually does it when he's had too much to drink, which is almost every night! We haven't said anything to our mom because he hasn't really done anything, so what do you say? However, we're nervous when we're home alone with him and try to stay in our room with the door locked, feeling like prisoners. What should we do?
— Anonymous in Santa Ana
Kira, 20, Moraga: I would feel uncomfortable too! You must tell your mom, maybe when you are driving somewhere together. If you are close to your real dad, tell him, too.
Brandon, 20, Mapleton, Maine: There are astounding numbers of stepchildren raped by stepparents. His behavior could signal abuse. I don't know your mother. Would she support you? Would her telling your stepfather create a more hostile environment? Older alcoholics and teens often don't mix, so, I would keep riding it out like you have been.
If things get worse, however, you must tell your mother. Or alert the authorities if she's no help. Of course, this could cause repercussions from her. I've met a few girls being abused in similar situations whose only solution was moving out. Do what you need to feel safe and live your life.
Colin, 19, Los Angeles: Being ogled is creepy, especially when the man is older. Usually they just never learned manners. Asking him to stop (in a public setting) is the appropriate response for now.
Justin, 25, Redding: This is not okay! Call a (sober) family meeting and bring up the topic non-accusingly. Something like, "We feel uncomfortable when you look at us. Maybe you don't realize what you're doing." Speaking up, while giving benefit of the doubt, might stop the behavior without making things weirder.
Brie, 21, Santa Barbara: This is potentially very serious. His behavior is wrong and you shouldn't feel like prisoners. Tell your mom now! If it gets worse, it's better she knew ahead.
Dear Anonymous in Santa Ana: Do not discount your intuition. Sexual abuse expert, Dr. Diana E. H. Russell, found that girls whose principal male figure is a stepfather are six times more likely to be abused than those with biological fathers. The ratio is startling: 1 girl out of 6, versus 1 girl out of 40. Serious stuff.
The panel offers a variety of responses, however, in cases of potential sexual abuse — which this is — ALWAYS follow your intuition, even if it feels like overreacting. Girls are conditioned to be polite and make excuses for people — and to fear they will make things worse if they speak up. Abusers know this and rely on this fear.
Your defense is four fold: 1) trust your intuition; 2) make yourself powerful; 3) make it public; 4) ask for help. Without knowing your stepdad, and because he's an alcoholic, I can't recommend confronting him at this stage. But you must tell your mother and several other close adults. Put their numbers on speed dial — along with 911. Buy pepper spray and keep it handy. Enroll in self-defense or martial arts classes (lifelong benefit here). This isn't being paranoid, this is being smart. Finally, make yourself independent as soon as possible with jobs, car, etc.
To find out if he is a known sex offender, search the US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, Family Watchdog, and other free sites.
— Lauren
More from Lauren Forcella:
I recommend martial arts and pepper spray for ALL females and males who feel vulnerable. It is totally okay to harm another if they are trying to harm you. According to the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, and a forcible rape occurs every six minutes in the U.S. I can't stress enough the need to trust intuition and push aside embarrassment about possibly being wrong. You don't get "creepy" feelings from everything out there, so when you do get one, ALWAYS follow it.
I experienced one of these creepy feelings and know how awkward it is to take action based on intuition. I was a full-grown woman with a third-degree black belt (which, trust me, is best not to have to use outside class), on a date in a restaurant with a guy I'd met a few weeks earlier. Nothing negative was happening. Yet I became plagued by a feeling that he planned to rape me later in the evening. The feeling wouldn't go away. There was total war in my brain because I had no rational reason for thinking this, yet there it was!
Fortunately, I did NOT DISCOUNT my intuition — despite my rational, polite self practically stoning me to death to do so. I began by explaining that I had taken sick and needed to leave (I had my own car, but a cab would've worked, too). Our eyes met and one of those hideous where I could see, that he could see, that I could see moments happened. His dark soul and my awareness were both exposed. He instantly became furious (instead of sorry I was sick, right?), which confirmed everything. I made the situation public by calling two wait staff over and announcing loudly that I was afraid of my date and could they please escort me to my car. (A very buff young waiter was quite thrilled to do this.) Needless to say, I shook for the next hour at the thought of what might have happened if I hadn't trusted myself.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Search Results
You searched for: Location Penn State Berks, Thun Library, wyomissing, PA Remove constraint Location: Penn State Berks, Thun Library, wyomissing, PA Object Type Generic Work Remove constraint Object Type: Generic Work Keyword wyomissing polytechnic institute Remove constraint Keyword: wyomissing polytechnic institute Keyword penn state berks Remove constraint Keyword: penn state berks Subject Pennsylvania--History Remove constraint Subject: Pennsylvania--History Subject Pennsylvania State University. Berks Campus--History. Remove constraint Subject: Pennsylvania State University. Berks Campus--History. Subject Penn State Berks--History. Remove constraint Subject: Penn State Berks--History.


text:
Two women, both decked out to resemble filth, lie together on a floor.
"Yes, Dirt?"
"Do you think the two of us will ever find "The One?""
Swiffer asks the tough questions.
"Well," says Mud, "we've been left behind by so many mops and brooms" — image of them being dumped to lie dejectedly on floor — "but we've got...each other." she trails off as Dirt abandons her to cling to the bottom of a Swiffer to the strains of Heart's "What About Love."
But it's okay: by the end, Mud is also clinging to the bottom of the Swiffer, cooing, "You're quite the pick-up artist."
It's called "Dirt Loves Swiffer Sweeper TV Commercial - Nerd Girls" and it's part of the handy-dandy gadget's latest ad campaign. Now, for some time Swiffer's been riffing on the "romance" theme: there was the mop rejected by the human woman; there were the mop's attempts to win her back with flowers; there was the mop finding love with various other objects in the garage to "Who's That Lady." They were cute.
This is perhaps less cute, and it's drawing criticism. Says one outraged Facebook user, "I do not appreciate being portrayed as Nerdy pieces of dirt who are desperate to be picked up!" Adds another,
Swiffer is portraying the dirt on the floor using women as the models for the dirt. The women are lying on the floor all dirty rolling around by the dirty old mop. I don't like this image of women. Please change your commercial. This is derogatory to women.
A litany of "lighten up"-themed comments follow, of course, along with the point that there's a similar ad featuring a dweeby male fleck of dust on a computer keyboard asking, "Will love ever find me?" For that matter, there's also the ditsy snob Mud Girl who declares "I'm really hard to get," before Swiffer sweeps her off her feet. Clearly, the campaign is trading in stereotypes and the concept is fairly uninspired.
And sure, all of these ads are just meant to be silly. But the women-as-sad-sacks, man-obsessed-mud shtick doesn't really make you chuckle, does it? Not necessarily because it's pearl-clutchingly offensive per se (they're not calling women "dirt" any more than they're calling nerdy dudes "dust"), but because the underlying joke is ladies' obvious state of desperation, and that punchline is particularly stupid coming from a company that is ostensibly trying to market to, yes, some women. Oh, and then there's the gratuitous image of a woman abandoning female friendship for the sake of a suitor (er, mop?), which plays on tired cliches in a way that's, well, a little grimy. And tired. Did we mention tired? The overall concept feels more 1963 Sterling-Cooper than 2011 Kaplan Thaler Group.


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Nested Portlets Nested Portlets
Regional Commander Regional Commander
Regional Commander: Karas Region
Comm. Indongo U. David
Tel: +264 63 221 814
Cell: 264 811246389
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Duties Duties
The Regional Commander will be responsible to the Inspector-General:
- The proper distribution of the authorized establishment;
- Assigning members, the allotment of duties and the administration connected there to;
- Control and supervision of members,maintenance of lawand order.
- Prevention and investigation of crime and maintenance of discipline within the region, and the
- Performance of any duty assigned by the Inspector- General.
- The Regional Commander is the Commanding Officer of all members within a region.The Regional Headquarters is the administrative centre a region and, with the exception of a few units; it is also responsible for the Government Property Account.


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That's swing! Yes, sir!
(Swingin' from the time of birth)
Hip thing - gasser!
(Swingin' fit t'shake the earth)
My man! Benny!
(Swing a man for all he's worth)
That's Moten's thing
Swing, that's the thing
Y'gotta dig it
Bust loose 'n give it a try
Go! Go! Go!
Swing it! Swing it! Swing it!
Put some pepper in the pot
'n that'll make it sweet an' hot
'Cause you're swingin', swingin', swingin'
[Guitar Solo]
Swing, that's the thing
Y'gotta dig it
Bust loose 'n give it a try
Go! Go! Go!
Swing it! Swing it! Swing it!
[Violin Solo/Background Vocals:]
Take it Jackson!
Make some action, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up, stir it up Benny
Moten's motion
Makes you feel some, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up
Let the chick steal some - GO!!!
[Steel Guitar Solo]
[Repeat Background Vocals]
Let the chick steal some - GO!!!
[Janis' Solo:]
Aw - shake that pretty little bundle
Til you're poppin' your top
"Cause I'm jus' gittin' in the groove
Baby, please don't stop
Ooh - turn me loose, lemme go, gimme room,
Lemme flow like water downstream
I'm livin' my dream. swingin' like a rusty gate - oops!
That's it, it's the Moten's swing
[Violin solo/Janis' Solo:]
If you ever git it, don't 'cha run wit it,
Benny done did it way back
Yes, sir, Mr. Moten
It's his thing
That's swingin' - He's a swingin' it
Nobody can define it
It's a thing you can't describe in words
It's swingin', it's swingin'
Swing, they call it
Benny Moten does it
Mos' people groove behin' it
Crowdin' every ballroom floor in herds
Jes' swingin', an' swingin's
What they call it
Benny Moten was it
Satchmo from Oliver defined it - Singin'
Basie with Moten, he refined it - swingin'
Now everyone's hip
Everyone's hip to the tip
People say it drives you crazy
Everyone digs that thing
Everyone likes a fling
Everyone likes to swing


text:
We Love Oogave's Agave-Sweetened Sodas
Most people are familiar with the sweet sap of the agave plant as the ingredient that gives tequila its kick, but natural foods fans and picky eaters have also known it for many years as a sweet alternative to processed sugar. When Denver native Estaban Anson decided to create his own bottled and fountain alternative to what he calls the "evil empire" sodas, it was agave nectar he used as a sweetener—and as the basis for his new product's whimsical name, Oogavé.
Bottled since 2005, when it was introduced at Anson's own natural food store, Oogavé has since gone nationwide, rolling out an expanded line with plenty of traditional and unusual flavors. Committed to being the solid citizen of the soda world, Oogavé features as its selling points not only the use of of agave nectar, but also a full range of socially responsible feel-good enhancements. The company is dedicated to transparency in its manufacturing processes; they donate heavily to charities, their product is all-natural, organic, and caffeine-free, and they hype the use of Colorado's clean mountain water with the pride of a micro-brewed beer.
Of course, we here at Serious Eats know that the road to crummy taste is paved with good intentions. Many 'all-natural' sodas are a let-down, either tasting overtly medicinal, standoffish in their evocation of specific tastes, or just boringly indistinguishable from a cheaper, better-known mainstream brand. We headed to Central Market to buy up as many flavors of Oogavé we could find, and see if they'd put their money where our mouth is.
The first two flavors we tried didn't put our mind at ease. Oogavé's Root Beer and Vanilla Cream flavors were perfectly acceptable—nothing to take issue with, other than a perhaps too ambitious melange of spices in the former&mmdash;but they also didn't stand out enough to make us want to give up our normal brands. Oogavé Ginger Ale made us much more hopeful; its flavor was centrally positioned between the crisp sweetness of a mainstream golden ginger ale and the robust, spicy strength of a Reed's. It was a step in the right direction, with a unique flavor that compromised two extremes without offending. The obligatory Cola is good if not great; at the very least, it continues the argument for agave nectar by virtue of providing a sweetness that's not weak or off-tasting, and still manages to make room for familiar flavors.
The real breakthrough came with our next sample of the Oogavé line, Watermelon Cream. Watermelon is a refreshing flavor, well-suited to lighter sodas, but it's also easy to mess up because of the temptation to go sticky-sweet. Here the result so smooth and delicious, not heavy or syrupy, and the taste is remarkably accurate: this is the closest you'll ever come to drinking carbonated juice straight from a melon. The Grapefruit flavor is also done extremely well by Oogavé; it's direct and refreshing, with just a minimum of sweetness to cut into the tartness of the strong citrus flavor, leaving it almost like a summery seltzer.
Mandarin Key Lime is a nice combination of flavors, and one that provides a palatable alternative to the dissipated lemon-lime norm; but Strawberry Rhubarb is another knockout punch from Oogavé—strongly but not overwhelmingly sweet, brightly fruity, and with the rhubarb adding a distinct taste but not overriding the sunny juiciness of the strawberry flavor.
Oogavé has managed to formulate interesting and successful flavor combos in an overcrowded natural soda marketplace, and that's an accomplishment that deserves some recognition of its own. We're just glad the results are delicious.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", usually translated as "Land of My Fathers"...
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales. The title -- taken from the first...
Wish your dear ones a perfect St. David's Day, with this ecard.
Send your warm wishes with this beautiful ecard.
Send this ecard to anyone on St. David's Day to give them a hug.
Wish your family and friends a happy St. David's Day.
welsh national anthem with lyrics
A lovely card for sending wishes to your dear ones!
A warm wish for all your dear ones.
Send this St. David's Day card to all your friends/ relatives.
Send your wishes for lots of joy on St. David's Day and always.
A short video about my day in St. Davids, the smallest city in the whole world.
Wish a grand celebration this St. David's Day.
Wishing you a happy St. David's Day.
Send this lovely ecard to all your near and dear ones.
Please wait...
Please wait...
Get a weekly dose of stories on friendship, love, misadventures and special offers. It's free, read it once and you're hooked!
Read the latest newsletter or Editor Bob's Blog


text:
A 10th-grade student armed with two rifles burst into his Moscow school on Monday and killed his 76-year-old geography teacher and a policeman before being taken into custody, investigators said.
None of the children in School No. 263 at the time were injured, said Karina Sabitova, a police spokeswoman at the scene. The school is for children in grades one through 11, as is typical in Russia.
The student gunman also seriously wounded a second police officer who had responded to an alarm from the school, police said.
Such shootings in Russian schools are extremely rare, but Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called for full review of security systems in city schools in light of Monday's attack.
A school security guard was unable to stop the armed teenager from entering, but managed to hit an alarm before following him to his classroom, the spokesman for Russia's main investigative agency said. It was not immediately clear whether the security guard was armed.
The student fatally shot the teacher and opened fire on police officers who responded to the alarm, Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said in a statement.
Markin said the student fired at least 11 times from a small-caliber rifle, Russian news agencies reported. He said the boy was an excellent student and apparently had had an emotional breakdown. Investigators were questioning him, his classmates and the security guard, the spokesman said.
The student was also carrying a carbine, a short-barreled rifle, Moscow police chief Anatoly Yakunin said, according to Russian news agencies. Both rifles belonged to his father and were legally registered, he said.
Gun ownership is legal in Russia but weapons need to be registered.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Clarifying Disabled Parking in Meter District
Pay to park rules for disabled parking take effect July 1, 2014. Here are answers to frequently asked questions (This page will be updated based on questions and feedback from the public)
FAQ on Portland's disabled parking rules
Q: If I get a permit, do I have to renew a my permit every month?
A: For now, if you have a resident or employee permit, you must renew your permit every month. In the future, we will look at other ways to improve on issuing permits. Currently, when you receive your permit, we include a renewal form for the next month's permit.
Q: If I park in one of the 50 designated disabled parking spaces or 30 wheelchair-only spaces, can I park all day?
A: No. Designated spaces have been installed to improve access for people with disabiilties but they are not meant to be all-day spaces. Please observe the metered time limit and ensure that you and others can use these spaces for their short-term parking needs.
Q: I'm interested in using the scratch-off permit instead of parking at the meter, can you tell me how they work?
A: When you purchase a scratch-off permit, you tell us which time limit you wish: 4 hours, 6 hours or all-day. And you tell us which district you wish to park in: downtown, Central Eastside or Lloyd District. We will issue you a scratch-off card with those choices marked off. When you are ready to use a permit, just sratch off the date and time you need. Individual permits can only be used once. Their price is identical to the parking meter price.
Q: I'm interested in the scratch-off permit, but wish you had one for one hour, two hour or three hour time limits. Do you?
A: Thank you for asking. Because of feedback from the public, we are working on providing shorter duration scratch off permits. We plan on making them available shortly.
Q: I live out of state, do you honor my disabled parking permit?
A: Yes we do. If your state offers a general disabled parking placard, follow the same parking regulations as people with Oregon disabled placards. If your state offers a wheelchair placard, you may park in any metered space 30 minutes or longer without a fee or time limit. You can find those regulations on our main page or in this brochure.
Link to the brochure
Link to PBOT main page on disabled parking
Here is the permit
Here is a map to the new spaces
Clarifying Disabled Parking:
Senate Bill SB716 creates new requirements for disabled parking including:
Two disabled placards: one for wheelchair only, the other for anyone else with a disability that requires a parking accommodation.
- The placards are issued through the DMV http://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/driverid/disparking.aspx
- The City of Portland is not enforcing the placard regulation in regards to on street parking at this time. A task force is looking at the issue.
- The Cities volunteer enforcement group of retired police officers will be issuing citations in off street parking lots, including but not limited to hospitals, malls, shopping centers, restaurants http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/60014
- There have been some challenges with venue's re-striping their lots and making all of the disabled spaces wheelchair only. This is incorrect. According to the matrix of how the disabled spots are allocated, it is roughly one wheelchair only spot for every five disabled spots.
For more in-depth information about the law call or visit the web.
Building Codes Division - For questions regarding the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, Chapter 11 – Accessibility, enforcement of accessible design standards, and inspections, contact:
Steve Judson
Structural Code Specialist
(503) 378-4635
Parking Lots
For business wanting to stripe or restripe their lots, they need to go to the 1900 building and file for a permit on the first floor:
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland,OR97201
To see an in-depth PDF of the matrix:
The following is a limited list of places to but Oregon disabled signs. You can find more resources by visiting the states page above.
Construction Book Express
My Parking Sign
Parking Sign Corner


text:
Recipe from Gayle of TX
1 to 2 lbs hamburger meat
1 pkg of taco seasoning
1 package of Mexican cornbread mix
Preheat your oven to the temperature on the cornbread mix box. Then brown the ground beef. Drain the meat and add in the taco seasoning and water. Allow this mixture to simmer for a bit. Now prepare the cornbread as the packaging suggests. Now spread the taco meat across the bottom of a 9X9 baking pan. Pour the cornbread mix over the meat. Now bake as directed by the cornbread mix. Serve with a side salad or Ranch Style beans. Top with sour cream if desired.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


text:
Phone Accessories
The NavBag from BiKASE is your touring bike's best friend. Not only is the NavBag a spacious handlebar bag, but it also doubles as a map, tablet, or phone holder. No matter what form of navigation you prefer, the NavBag has you covered. • Reversible clear flap for smart phone and tablets • Reflective strips at front and sides • Magnets mechanism for easy operation • Shoulder strap included • PE stiffener structure • Mounts higher on handlebar than normal handlebar bags for less interference with cables • 840 denier nylon/TPU cover • 14 x 3.75 x 6.75 inches • 9 x 5.7 inches • 300 cubic inches
The RunKASE from BiKASE is a versatile and convenient armband that makes a fantastic running partner. • Integrated TPU armband mounting • Weather resistant material • Adjustable vertically and horizontally • Rain cover included • Reflective cord retainer
Turn your Smartphone into the best cycling computer available. With the DriKASE XL from BiKASE, your phone is at your fingertips on your ride. Made of extremely durable urethane, the DriKASE XL will protect your phone from the elements or even your own sweat while still allowing you to use your phone. By having your phone out in front on your ride, you can take a phone call, listen to music, check your location, get directions, and even load one of the popular cycling apps to make your smartphone into one of the best cycling computers around. • Fits 24mm– 32mm diameter Handlebar (some stems) • Fits large smart phone up to 6.5 x 3.5-inch • Adjustable vertically and horizontally • Quick-Release mounting system • Waterproof TPU sealed case • Fits iPhone 6 plus & Samsung Note
Molded with Polycarbonate and Silicone rubber. Mounts to bike frame with rubber oring or use braze ons on bike. The 2 elastic bands will hold a phone, energy bar, pump, or sunglasses.
$29.99 $34.99 14% Off
The Beetle 6 is a larger version of the BiKASE Beetle that has been stretched to accommodate the iPhone 6/6S Plus and other large mobile phones. Storage space underneath phone compartment for energy bar, wallet, keys, or tools. Mounts securely to the top tube using Velcro straps and shock cord around stem. - Pocket fits iPhone 6/6S Plus and other larger smart phones - Clear cover allows device visibility and operation - Mounts to top tube or stem - 2 multi positional straps & shock cord for mounting - Internal lastic stiffener and anti-slip fabric bottom - dual zippers - 8" x 4" x 2"
Page 1 of 1


text:
Learning Hindi in Delhi: Interview with an Intercultural TrainerPosted by Peter Beyes • Friday, February 15. 2013 • Category: Crossing Cultures
Keya Choudhury is a Berlin-based intercultural trainer: She helps individuals and organisations prepare to work in different cultural environments than their own. Taking some time off from her current assignment in Bangalore, Keya recently came to Delhi for a short holiday. Being highly energetic and proactive, sight-seeing and meeting friends proved not fulfilling enough, so she enrolled in a week-long intensive Hindi course with Language Must. In this refreshingly lively interview, Keya shares some of her experiences learning Hindi, living in India and navigating different cultures.
Keya Choudhury, Berlin-based intercultural trainer and Hindi student with Language Must. (c) Keya Choudhury
Continue reading "Learning Hindi in Delhi: Interview with an Intercultural Trainer"


text:
|2009-01-14, 12:10
|Link #1683
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Just finished the serie, and feeling like passing by and giving my opinion.
Well, it was a very good and very emotionnal serie. Many really heartbreaking moments, many funny ones, but also definitely some drawbacks.
Guess it'll be spoilerish, 'cause you can't really talk about what happened without spoiling it ^^
|2009-01-15, 09:58
|Link #1684
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: God only knows
From my point of view, she´s the cutest and honest girl in Kanon 2006.
Her story "toutched" me the most.
|2009-01-15, 11:55
|Link #1685
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
And I'm a guy. Yeah, shameful, but I don't care
|2009-04-17, 22:59
|Link #1689
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Meta-Meta-Meta-Space
Main thing was I was comparing it to the original art backgrounds in the Kanon game for our animation and it also seems to match exactly. It seems Kyoani did a good job of studying the original backgrounds too.
You can see the drawing says 'washitsu'... and less clearly, 'engawa' at the back of the house. (outside traditional wooden porch... is sorta the translation.) It also marks off Akiko's room where you guessed it is.... Also, the floor layout matches what the house sorta looks like when viewed from outside in Kanon 2006... so...
I think this pic is from an official source... but I can't be sure... anyone?
|2009-05-19, 14:22
|Link #1690
Join Date: Jan 2009
I just noticed something from watching AIR.
Episode 2, when Yukito was delivering Kano her bento, he asked three female students from her school; those students were extremely identical to Ayu, Nayuki, and Makoto. Same details and evertyhing, hair, eyes color, bow/hairband, and even Ayu's backpack(beside her and Makato being tall). lol.
This is the first time I've noticed this, even though this is my fourth time watching AIR. Granted, the first three was before I watched Kanon. I've just found it surprising since AIR was made before Kanon but KyotoAni seemed like they were already getting ready to make Kanon after they finish with AIR.
|2009-08-10, 01:29
|Link #1691
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2009
^^ Isn't that what TV Tropes call expy?
Looks like it's confirmed as well:
|2009-10-13, 01:32
|Link #1693
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
No one talking about the Blue Ray release?
Release date: Dec 16. 5.1 audio and English subtitles, one hopes they licensed ADV's translation, it'd be better than the engrish we've seen in some native English subs.
Also hope they have a full-length animated OP like Air did.
|2012-03-02, 14:45
|Link #1694
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
I complained earlier that I found KANON repetitive and sexist and creepy. A couple days ago, a friend told me about playing the visual novel, and that's when I realized where my problems with the series came from. In the game, all the girls' arcs are *separate*. Yuichi only experiences *one* of the storylines in the game, and which one is up to the player. In the anime, Yuichi experiences four of the arcs and bits and pieces of Nayuki's, and that's why the story seems so repetitive in hitting the same beats (troubled girl longs for Yuichi, then vanishes from the series once her arc is over). It isn't sexist to do it once, but doing it four times in a row gives that impression. Also, the game's arcs are meant to be separate as opposed to sequential. Mai, Amano, Shiori and others vanish once the visual novel's plot for them is used up, except the game gets to end there while the anime has to go on without them.
This probably shows how KANON was meant as a game with five separate routes, not an anime with five overlapping plots. That's why the show is so fragmented, why its characters fade in and out, why the emotional beats are repetitive and why the ending is arbitrary and confusing.
Also, I think when they cast a popular actor as Yuichi, they had to design the character to fit the voice. But that meant Yuichi looks too old for the childlike girls in this series. Probably not intentional, but still rather creepy. I thought KANON was a clumsy piece of work, but I guess part of it is that it was never meant to work as an anime series. It was a game and the material didn't always benefit from the adaptation.
|2019-09-23, 23:17
|Link #1695
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
New to the forums. I love Kanon. I have watched it so many times. I think that there is nothing about Kanon that is not absolutely beautiful. I know some people have complaints about the female characters eyes. I can see this but it does not bother me. It is #2 in my top 5. I actually replaced Bleach with Kanon at #2.
|bishoujo, drama, key, kyoto animation, magic, romance, school life, seinen
|Thread Tools


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North Tyneside's premier flat roofing company.
When you choose Bespoke you choose an established and reputable North Tyneside roofer, giving you full peace of mind that the guarantee you receive is a guarantee you can trust. We also offer roofing finance, meaning you are now in a position to choose the best company for the job, and not restricted by what you can afford, after all this is your property. Bespoke do all the work from start to finish.
Professional flat roof service in North Tyneside.
Flat roofs can be problematic for any homeowner. The reason being is when water falls on flat roofs they are notoriously poor at diverting the it especially when the roof is aged or has had poor repair work done in the past. The cost of a flat roof collapsing can be catastrophic depending upon what is beneath, even a basic outhouse collapse can cost thousands in damaged goods and repairs. We have a team of highly skilled and time served roofers who specialise in flat roof repairs and replacements. It's our duty to know the very best methods and latest products which can deliver the very best when it comes to flat roof repairs or new flat roof installs.
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Should you be looking for a company that specialises in flat roofs in North Tyneside, Bespoke are here for you. We have expert knowledge, the right skills, an enormous amount of dedication, and the very best tools available that enable us to complete all jobs in a professional manner. Not only are we passionate about producing the very best results for our clients in North Tyneside, we genuinely care about delivering the highest level of satisfaction available.
When we install/repair flat roofs in North Tyneside, we will:
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- Clean all the mess.
Tips and advice on choosing a flat roofing contractor.
Choosing a roofing contractor is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you want to ensure you get the very best roofing service possible, and of course a roof that will last for many years to come. It can be a confusing and challenging task, and if not done with caution you might end up hiring an under qualified company to do your roofing, which will inevitably result in problems sooner rather than later. The job has to be done by the best contractor to ensure they do the best job. That is obvious. So how do you know which roofing contractor to hire? Here at Bespoke we have decided to share a few tips to help you make the decision:
Price is NOT everything.
Remember...if it's too good to be true it probably is, and you get what you pay for! Generally speaking, something that is cheap can turn out to be very expensive in the long run. Choosing a roofing company based on their prices alone, is simply a bad idea and as mentioned you might end up having problems with the roof very soon. By choosing wisely today, you are likely to save a small fortune tomorrow. To build / fit a roof correctly takes time and expertise. It takes quality materials and workmanship. Compromising on the smallest thing could have a lasting impact - We recommend you don't do it!
Of course we are not saying price doesn't matter. It does. But by doing your research you will gain an understanding on if a price is competitive, as it should be, or simply too cheap and unrealistic. By doing your research (checking independent review websites, such as Checkatrade, and asking for examples of previous roofing work) you gain valuable insight into the roofing company, who they are and how they value their customers. Research is a must!
Get a local roofer with a proven track record.
A local roofer knows the area well, they have experience fitting roofs in the area. They are qualified to recommend the best kind of roofing for your property. Choosing a local contractor also helps safeguard you against poor operating roofing companies, as local people are likely to know the company. The local contractor will have a reputation, be it good or bad, make sure you find out first.
Warranty and insurance.
We keep on saying it, but doing your research when choosing a roofing company is critical. Do they have great reviews on independent review sites? How long have they been trading? Are they established? How long will they be operating? A warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on if the company doesn't exist!
Insurance is a must check for every homeowner who requires a roofing contractor's services. Roofing is not something you can joke around with, or something you can learn overnight. The contractor should have insurance for all the subcontractors and employees. They should also be able to provide you with a copy of an insurance certificate for validation. You are well within your right to request this information and a reputable roofer will have no problem showing you it. Don't feel silly for being smart!
Choose a contractor with expertise in the roofing industry - a specialist NOT a handyman that does a bit of everything and can do you a good deal. A good contractor should be able to give you tips and advice on your roofing solutions and also provide you with multiple examples of their past work.
Choose Bespoke Building and Roofing.
Finally, last but certainly not least - Choose Bespoke Building and Roofing. We tick all the above boxes. We are competitively priced, local, operating throughout North Tyneside, have fantastic independent reviews on Checkatrade and experienced covering you with full insurance and warranty.


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There are more important things in life than art. That's the lesson of the current Whitney Biennial. I think that's the lesson, anyway. Certainly, featured artist Zoe Strauss must know it's the truth. Her untitled video installation projects photographs of the people and environs of Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., documenting what she saw while aiding medical professionals responding to Hurricane Katrina.
Ms. Strauss' credo is: "Social responsibility is inextricable from art making." That's a shopworn proposition favored by those who think good intentions can redeem lousy art. Ms. Strauss' photos of vernacular signage and Mississippi's poorest inhabitants amid heartbreaking destruction are pedestrian in their pictorial intelligence. She's no Walker Evans.
All the same, Ms. Strauss was out there in Katrina's awful wake, outside the privileged confines of the Whitney Museum, providing necessary support to Americans in desperate circumstances. In art, Ms. Strauss preaches to the converted, but in life she makes a difference. That's something to applaud.
It is, in fact, the only thing to applaud in Day for Night, the first Biennial to (a) have a title, (b) have been organized by foreign-born curators, and (c) include foreign-born artists. The show also includes dead painters (Ed Paschke for one), the requisite amount of teenagers with freshly minted MFA's, and significant sculptors who should know better. Richard Serra and Mark di Suvero demean their considerable gifts in the service of puerile anti-Bush screeds. They've got a right to be angry, but has either man put his conscience into action like Ms. Strauss? You've got to wonder.
But what's the difference? One of the great delusions of the art world is that the Biennial has something to do with art. Spectacle, fed by money, is the focus. Art merely supplements the fashionable poses and received resentments of an insular crowd so enamored of itself. The critical huzzahs greeting the Biennial are predictable: Apologists for official culture will do anything to obscure its aesthetic bankruptcy.
As usual, the Biennial is a benchmark, but rather than indicating art's continuing vitality, it is just another celebration of everything wrong with today's self-congratulatory scene.
The Whitney Biennial 2006: Day for Night is at the Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Avenue, until May 28.
Surely He Jests
Any Biennial that neglects the work of Warrington Colescott is a piss-poor excuse for an overview of American art. Who is he, you might ask? I'm still not sure. He lives and works in Wisconsin—you know, fly-over territory to most curators—and he exhibits only intermittently here in the city. On the rare occasions that I cross paths with his pieces, usually an etching of some sort, I leave a changed man. Happier, too—Mr. Colescott is something of a card.
A profound one, I'd quickly add. The Last Judgment: Judgment (1987-88) is an intaglio and color-relief print featured in Artful Jesters, an exhibition devoted to "a growing legion of parodists, satirists, lampoonists, jokers, and caricaturists" on display at the Painting Center. Mr. Colescott more than holds his own among some formidable company, not least among them Trevor Winkfield, Peter Reginato, Gladys Nilsson and Peter Saul.
In the etching, a man's spiritual fate is decided by way of a video presentation. A devil pleads the case to God himself, who's pictured as a sleek, executive type. The Last Judgment is stuffed with pictorial incident and imagery—Mr. Colescott is a printmaker of stunningly soft-spoken means. You've got to love the devil-angel-devil-angel lineup ready to accuse and defend the souls of the newly departed.
The guy whose lot is being determined has got it coming—the this-is-your-life moments seen on the television screens are maliciously over the top. (Vehicular homicide is the least, but not the funniest, of the offenses.) The wonder is the amount of consideration given to the verdict. The word "HELL" appears on God's computer screen. Chin in one hand, his right index finger hovers hesitantly above the "return" key. Clearly, God likes to mull things over.
Mr. Colescott is not a satirist, cartoonist or Red Grooms, though he resembles each. (Mr. Grooms is also included in Artful Jesters.) He's a mischievous humanist with a bottomless appreciation for the absurdities of life and, in this case, the afterlife. He's as many-sided and unsentimental as Twain, Hogarth or Bosch. I suspect his oeuvre contains more sharp insights and cunning amusements than I can begin to imagine; I wish a New York City museum would consider fêting Mr. Colescott with a retrospective. A task like that is clearly beyond the people at the Whitney—their loss as much as ours.
Artful Jesters is at the Painting Center, 52 Greene Street, until March 25.


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Who am I? What special purpose is mine?
I follow winged sparrow, and I yearn, I yearn to soar.
I hear the ocean's thunder. There is pow'r! But what am I?
I see lilies blooming where the winter storms have swept the field. I feel the sun; I feel that by its radiance I see all that God created.
I, too, am God's creation and he knows me as his own.
Tenderly, I know him in my heart.
Who am I? I am a daughter of God.
Text: Elaine Cannon
Music: Margaret Richards
Artist: Cannon/Richards
Album: Music Published in the Church Magazines: New Era
Composition Date: 1982-03-01
More Info: New Era


text:
Debt – for someone it is a heavy burden, but for someone a way to earn.
What category of california debt relief reviews?
What categories of california debt relief reviews are there?
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The most common category of debt is when you owe.
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If the subject is a debtor:
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⬤ other options.
california debt relief reviews must move from one category to another category.


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ICAMCCE is the premier forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of Mechanical, Civil, and Construction Engineering. The conference will bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and scholars in the domain of interest from around the world. Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:
Mechanical Engineering :-
Civil Engineering :-
Construction Engineering :-
Disclaimer: The content of the website is subject to change. The information on hyper linked or referred to web sites is neither investigated nor analyzed by the conference organizers. No warranty or representation, express or implied, is given as to the accuracy or completeness of that information. In no event will the conference organizers accept any liability with regard to the information contained in this web site or any other hyper linked or referred to web sites.


text:
After Rob Parker appeared on a Detroit-based community-affairs show on Sunday and revealed that First Take producers knew exactly what he was going to say when he made his "cornball brother" comments, some speculation ran around Bristol on Monday that his suspension would be permanent.
And today ESPN confirms that. The statement from ESPN PR:
Rob Parker's contract expired at year end. Evaluating our needs and his work, including his recent RGIII comments, we decided not to renew.
Parker probably knew full well that he wasn't returning to ESPN by time he went on the Detroit show. When ESPN suspends talent, they usually go very, very quiet. Parker obviously didn't do that.
Parker recently had been named host of the Saturday edition of First Take. He wound up getting to host that show only once.


text:
The BioLogos Foundation published a popular-level article by old-earth geologists Gregg Davidson and Ken Wolgemuth presenting arguments for an old earth.PDF Download
Despite its popularity, the Milankovitch hypothesis has many problems that are acknowledged even by secular scientists (Cronin 2010, 130–139).PDF Download
Part I of this series presented a number of serious problems with the Pacemaker paper. It is necessary to also understand the Blackman-Tukey (B-T) method.PDF Download
This paper, the first in a series, demonstrates that much of the Hays et al. paper, as originally presented, is invalid.PDF Download
The different dating systems are calibrated to one another: dates assigned to the seafloor sediments are used to date the ice cores, and vice versa.PDF Download
No results found in .
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


text:
New ASP.NET website launched
A few weeks ago we introduced a beta of a freshly designed http://asp.net website. Today we launched it. Jon, myself, and the team that manages the site took lots of your feedback (lots from the comments of the Beta Blog Post) and did our best to incorporate as much as we could. This is just the start, and we've got lots of plans for the future including responsive design, more text content, localization, more HTML 5, HD Video, closed captioning and lots more.
It is a big site with thousands and thousands of pages. However, a lot of those pages were hard to find. We're continuing to try to get folks what they need in fewer clicks.
There's new content for people getting started, including "choosing a technology" videos, the Big Green Button remains with a new download video as well as quick download links for the stuff you're always searching for.
Each top level page (Web Pages, Web Forms, MVC) has a 5 minute app building video and lots more getting stated content. You asked for more text tutorials and we heard you. In-depth tutorials on deployment, working with the Entity Framework, suggested open source projects to check out for each, books, samples, and more. And, you can always find out about the next version of ASP.NET at http://asp.net/vnext.
The home page header is smaller, per your feedback, making room for more Daily Community Spotlight content as well as pinned announcements. There's a cleaned up Community page with easy to access RSS feeds, a quick navigator and lots more fresh community content packed onto the page. Tutorials are more organized like a living book now and are easier to follow. Tutorials can now appear as multi-part tutorials with better navigation. Forums got a nice facelift, as did the Wiki, and Weblogs. Each technology also includes a great free video course from Pluralsight. Feedback is always appreciated.
Videos are larger, video downloads are simpler and links with table of contents are everywhere. All those videos you never could find actually do exist.
The site is still powered by the Open Source CMS Umbraco and we're very happy with it. Jon Galloway worked tirelessly on this new site launch along with TerriM, ScottHu, SridharM, Samir and lots of other folks smarter than I. Jon digs into the new layout and "information architecture" over on his blog so check that out for more details on our thinking.
Also as a part of this process we've gotten the http://facebook.com/aspnet and http://twitter.com/aspnet accounts up and firing on all cylinders. Join us on your favorite social network or subscribe in your favorite reader and we''ll make sure all the fresh Jon Galloway-curated spotlight content is delivered to you as we get it.
I'm also pretty proud of how we're doing in YSlow. The perf on the site is great. The home page is under 100 lines of HTML5, the markup is clean, and we're aiming for similar results in other parts of the site. Soon we'll make the ASP.NET site's personal CDN cookieless and have straight "A's" on YSlow, which is no small feat.
We realize that the #1 piece of feedback from you all is that you don't like the ads. At this point, that's out of my hands, but I'm working with the team on providing less distracting and more reasonably designed ads. Most of the ads are for hosting or controls, and the vendors that get ads are happy with being on the site. We're also working with the bosses on how to ensure that the site is funded appropriately. You don't have to tell me...I get it. Feel free to vote on the ASP.NET User Voice site.
It's never finished, but it's getting there. We're really happy with the improved performance, better navigation, fresher and more relevant content. We've got more in store, so stay tuned.
Hope you like it.
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
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Members of Morenci's Trinity Lutheran Church observed the 60th anniversay of the church Sunday, with former Pastor James Bartz serving as guest speaker.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." –2 Timothy 3:16.
Pastor R.W. Scheele of Grace English Lutheran Church in Tecumseh preached on those words during the first Lutheran service in Morenci on April 28, 1946.
Pastor Scheele had canvassed Morenci during the summer of the last year of World War II.
Attendance at the first service was 40. Together with Pastor C.H. Schmelzer and his son, Edwin, who was then still a seminary student, Pastor Scheele continued to conduct exploratory services both in Morenci and Hudson, until Sept. 22 when they suspended "until further notice."
Pastor A.H. Baer of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church later resumed the exploratory services, but only for the Morenci area. From that first service, worship was held in the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Stephenson Street until Trinity dedicated its own chapel 20 years later.
From 1947 through the summer of 1948, Pastor Theodore Thurow, a recent seminary graduate, served the joint Morenci-Hudson area as the first resident pastor. When he left for service elsewhere, Pastor Baer served as the vacancy pastor until Rev. Adolph Walter Hueschen was installed.
Rev. Hueschen served the church for 15 years, presiding over 35 weddings, 22 funerals, 121 baptisms and 75 confirmations.
Pastor Larry Pautz followed Rev. Hueschen's retirement and presided over the cornerstone-laying service for the present church building.
The construction of the education/fellowship wing came during Pastor Mark Lenz's tenure (July 1969 to July 1972). He was followed by Edward Fredrich (July 1973 to July 1978), Lynn Hukee (July 1978 to Jan. 1981), James Langebartels (June 1981 to April 1990), Arnold Kunde (Aug. 1990 to Jan. 1999), James Bartz (May 1999 to April 2004), James Heffner (Aug. 2004 to Sept. 2007) and Ralph Stuebs (Jan. 2009 to present).


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Complete Story
CableCard Set-Tops Top 22.75 Million: NCTA
By: Todd Spangler, Multichannel News
The 10 biggest U.S. cable operators have deployed more than 22.75 million leased set-top boxes with CableCards since the Federal Communications Commission's integrated set-top ban went into effect in July 2007 -- a rule the cable industry claims has cost more than $1 billion to no discernable effect.
Meanwhile, those same cable operators have deployed approximately 531,000 CableCards for use in retail devices such as TiVo DVRs, according to figures supplied by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association to the FCC Thursday.
The FCC -- which has acknowledged the CableCard regime hasn't achieved the aim of fostering a retail set-top market -- has proposed "fixes" to CableCard rules and tentatively added the issue to its Oct. 14 meeting agenda.
The agency has proposed adding new requirements on MSOs with respect to CableCards, including: "more transparent" billing for CableCards; a simplified installation processes; CableCards that can tune multiple streams; and a streamlined CableCard device-certification process.
The NCTA has argued that the integrated set-top ban should be nixed, particularly because the FCC is looking at adopting an "AllVid" requirement applying to all pay-TV providers that would supersede CableCards. However, the group has maintained the industry will continue to support CableCard-based consumer-electronics devices.
"[T]the integration ban has imposed more than a billion dollars in costs on cable operators and consumers, yet there is no compelling evidence of any correlation between CableCard use in leased devices and the adoption of retail CableCard devices or other consumer benefits," NCTA said in comments to the FCC in June. "But even if there were such evidence, there is certainly no evidence that consumers would receive a commensurate incremental benefit from continued imposition of the integration ban on devices over and above the 20 million CableCard devices cable operators have already deployed."
Source: http://www.multichannel.com/article/457864-CableCard_Set_Tops_Top_22_75_Million_NCTA.php


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Nitrous/Fuel Jet .053 Diameter
Nitrous/Fuel Jet (.053 Diameter)
High quality precision machined jet, price is for single jet. These jets are compatible with nitrous and fuel.
- Precision-machined jets are used for adjusting both nitrous and fuel flow
- Special internal taper minimizes turbulence, resulting in very consistent flow and power
- Packaged individually for ease of ordering


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Responsible Luxury
Journey through the Pink City with planet positive luxury. Over 50% of consumables used are procured locally.
ITC Rajputana has been awarded Platinum rating under LEED® EB (Existing Building) program. Platinum rating is the highest category of certification preceded by Gold, Silver and Certified.
Alert Meets
Alert Meets
Studies have shown the correlation between drowsiness and the overconsumption of specific food designed to generate energy in the body. To counter the spike of the surge that is created by breaking the food into glucose, insulin is released, which helps mop up the excess glucose in the blood to restore the blood sugar and bring it to its normal count. This increase causes the brain to produce more serotonin and melatonin - the two neurochemicals that induce drowsiness. Following this idea, the Alert Meets has prepared a carefully designed menu to keep its guests healthy and focused.
Alert Meets is aimed at enabling its guests the luxury of making informed choices, thereby improving the consistency of the M.I.C.E. experience at ITC hotels. The thoughtfully curated menu selection comprises of a range of deliciously varied organic food which focuses on delicious, hearty and healthful, revitalizing gourmet preparations that use seasonal produce and the finest of ingredients.
Designed to improve blood circulation and blood supply to the brain; key factors in avoiding a condition commonly referred to as 'food coma', or the lethargy and overwhelming urge to nap after a meal, ITC Hotels introduced 'Alert Meets', a menu selection that is masterfully prepared and locally sourced to keep guests mindful and focussed.
Highlights include: VitaSTIX: Skewers of Goodness, NutriJARS: MYO* Muesli & Granola, and India's Super Food Showcase featuring Forgotten Grains Freshly Baked Morning Breads I Rolls I Cakes I Pastries Paired with jams & marmalades, Freshly squeezed in season fruit and vegetable juices that are abundant in antioxidants.
'Choose Wisely' - In association with WWF
'Choose Wisely' - In association with WWF
Globally, overfishing is perceived as one of the biggest threats to marine ecosystems. It is said that today over 80% of the world's fish stocks are either fully exploited, overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion. Based on Responsible Luxury, "Choose Wisely" is a concept focused entirely on empowering and enabling our guests with the 'luxury of choice'.
ITC Hotels is India's first participant in WWF's 'Choose Wisely' Programme - a collaboration with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, aimed at promoting learned choices on fish consumption, whilst leaving the decision making to the consumer. To provide our guests with the 'luxury of choice', WWF has designed visual indicator(s), that have been applied to ITC's restaurant menus to communicate relative fish scarcity in an easy-to-understand format that consumers may follow to make a responsible choice at the point of ordering.
Choose Wisely not only facilitates the luxury of choice to guests but also encourages our Chefs to create sustainable alternatives of marine produce and conceptualise innovative recipes.
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
• ITC Rajputana uses 27% less energy than USGBC's national average for large size Luxury Hotels.
• Usage of non-ozone depleting gases for refrigeration.
• Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system, Thermal system, Water management system and Building Management System underwent retro commissioning to enhance performance efficiencies.
One Bite Wonder
One Bite Wonder
Why ?
With 'Well-being' gaining global prominence and transcending every aspect of our lives, our guests (during meeting, conventions and social event) are looking to connect, converse and network over cocktails without having to manipulate large sizes of unwieldy and hard to manage snacks.
What ?
One Bite Wonders are unique, small tastings of 'Caringly sourced; mindfully prepared' snacks that underscore a well-being philosophy that endeavour to sustain innovative options to enable a distinct positioning for culinary offerings. With enhanced focus on banquets, ITC created offerings under the 'One Bite Wonder' initiative that enables the guests to 'Meet with success'.
How ?
Our chefs have created a repertoire of re-imagined appetiser flights (small tastings) that exhibit eight concepts of presentation styles articulated as Redefined canapés, Impressive cones, Contemplated spoons, Indulgent glasses, Inspired wraps, Curated platters, Inventive tartlets and Flamboyant sticks.
• Sensor operated and waterless urinals, dual flush Water Closets have reduced the water consumption by 32% against USGBC standards.
• Only treated recycled water is used for flushing, landscape, cooling tower and miscellaneous cleaning resulting in further reduction of water consumption.
• Excess treated recycled water is given to an off-site complex
• Reduced water demand in Cooling Tower through automation.
• More than 50% of ongoing consumables used at ITC Windsor are either local or recycled. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood is used for refurbishments and renovations.
• More than 40% of the food and beverage used is harvested and processed locally within 160 kilometers of the hotel.
• Usage of LED lamps that are energy efficient and no mercury content.
• More than 99% of the total solid waste is either reused or recycled through Recycling programs. Organic Waste is converted into manure by Organic Waste Converter.
ŚūnyAqua (ZeroAqua)
ŚūnyAqua (ZeroAqua)
'ŚūnyAqua' (pronounced Shunya (Zero) Aqua), a path-breaking initiative under the 'Responsible Luxury' umbrella includes water, infused with indigenous 'good for you' herbs. ŚūnyAqua tends to enhance the wellness quotient of drinking water at ITC's hotels whilst ensuring a planet positive experience; with the sourcing and bottling taking place within the premises of each ITC luxury hotel.
The two variants on offer in this process include:
Tulsi (holy basil) and Fennel & Cinnamon blend.
• Tulsi or the Holy Basil, known as the 'elixir of life', is highly revered for its divine benefits to enhance memory, purify blood, control sugar level in the body and to help relieve stress.
• Fennel & Cinnamon, on the other hand, together exhibit antioxidant properties, that help deliver warm energy to the body, aiding in vascular health and brain function. This accompaniment for dinner is served in the evenings at all ITC Hotels' speciality restaurants.
ŚūnyAqua, a zero-mile water crafted with a sophisticated in-house Water Purification System includes Ultra filtration through sand, carbon, iron and fluoride, Reverse Osmosis (RO System), Chemical Disinfection, Deionization and UV disinfection that removes the contaminants. The treated water passes through an Ozonator and subsequently a PH correction meter, to stabilize the PH where the infusion of the herb essence takes place and the final pure treated water is sealed after due quality check processes. Researched, perfected and curated with beneficial essential oils extracted from herbs, ITC Hotels' R & D Chefs ensure that the wellness quotient of the water is enhanced for the betterment of the guests.
• 81.7% of associates travel by either public transport or use pooled vehicles.
• The hotel's rain water harvesting capacity is 100% of the peak rainfall. This helps in reducing water demand and run-off.
• Steps have been taken to protect the ecological stability of the immediate surroundings and landscape.
• The building consciously promotes cultivation of native plants (covering more than 25% of building area)
• Exterior landscape is maintained without use of chemicals.


text:
- User Name: RutKiskasca
- Member Since: Friday, April 23, 2004, 2:19 PM
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- Name: Matthew Foldenauer
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82 opinions
[average 119.5 of 231694 opinions; standard deviation 432.2 ]
- Profile: I started doing AMVs back in 2004 when a friend of mine gave me a copy of Adobe After Effects and showed me some videos by Absolute Destiny. I was instantly hooked on them, and I began teaching myself how to edit. I am not sure what version of the READFAG was up on this site back then, but I know that it has grown immensely by then. Even after reading the version that was on the site back then, most of the style and technique of my editing was self taught. God, the things I used to do to make videos....*shudder*
The machines I've used to edit have evolved over the years as well. My first machine was a cannibalized eMachines desktop with about a gig of HDD space, and probably not even a pentium processor. It took all weekend to render a preview. My latest machine was an alienware computer, and it had quad SLi video cards and a terabyte of RAID space. It would render in real time, and I could scrub the timeline as I edited at full resolution.
Right now, I am not doing much AMV editing. I am asked to do a lot of live action editing for work. Everything from cutting B-roll into news pieces, to creating product demos, to music video promos and yearbook style historical videos. The public affairs office supplies me with the equipment. I don't have an editing rig at home, which is why I am not doing much editing. Well, that, and in 2006 someone introduced me to another nerd hobby...world of warcraft. THAT is the cancer that is killing AMVs.
I still love anime, and I still love editing. I still love all the friends I've made on amv.org. In order to return to this hobby, I think I'm going to need to enroll in some formal instruction in video editing. I just can't keep up with the kids. I do have a lot of fun with it, though.
It is doubtful that the profile information on this site will keep current, but you will probably always be able to reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.


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I've done a through-hole kit which, though it has a small target audience, works fairly well (it's a HID device using V-USB). But I think it would be more effective if it used the ATMega32u4 with its native USB capability.
Unfortunately, the 32u4 only comes as an SMD part. And if I'm going to use an SMD part, I almost may as well buy cheaper SMD components for everything, cook the boards on a hot plate, and sell assembled/tested devices.
But then it's not a kit, and I like kits. Kits are cool.
So... is there any sense in partially preassembling boards (placing the hard SMD components like the ATMega and the micro-USB port, say) and leaving the rest as through-hole kit components? Would that be the best of both worlds or the worst? Anyone with numbers having offered both types, fully-assembled and partially-assembled?


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Irish women lose to Baylor in title game rematch
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw took solace in her team's effort in another loss to No. 3 Baylor.
Even though her young yet fifth-ranked Fighting Irish were beaten by the Lady Bears - just as they were in the national title game last season - McGraw thinks her squad offered more of a challenge this time.
The game was tied with seven minutes to go when the Lady Bears (7-1) used a 10-0 run to pull away en route to a 73-61 victory Wednesday night over Notre Dame, which has only two starters back from last year's team.
"We were much better than we were last year with a much younger team and they have the same team. So I was pleased. I think we've gotten better," she said. "I think when we watch the tape we're going to see so many growing mistakes."
Brittney Griner had 24 points and 14 rebounds, three other Baylor players scored in double figures and the Lady Bears dominated inside. They outscored the Irish 36-26 in the paint and outrebounding them 44-35.
The bright spot for the Irish was freshman Jewell Loyd scoring a season-high 24 points. Loyd said she felt comfortable playing in her first big game.
"I just came to the game thinking it was just another home game and I got into a rhythm early," she said.
McGraw knew the Irish were in trouble when Griner, who was 10 of 16 from the floor, started hitting a couple of shots from 15 feet.
"That's what we wanted her to take," she said.
Griner said she let the game come to her.
"Last year I guess I started getting even more patient. I couldn't get my hands on the ball, keep moving. Whatever I can do, I will do. I took it a play at a time, post up strong when I had to. Did whatever I could to help my team out."
The Irish were simply no match for the Bears, especially with All-America senior Skylar Diggins struggling on 4-of-19 shooting and scoring eight points.
McGraw said the loss could give the Irish confidence.
"I think we maybe learned that we're better than we think we are," she said.
Odyssey Sims returned after missing four games with a hamstring injury and added 16 points for Baylor. Coach Kim Mulkey said she thought Sims' play proved she's the best point guard in the country.
"She's played Skylar four times and won every ball game. She's won a national championship," Mulkey said. "Odyssey didn't have one of her best games, either, but she never stopped being tough on the floor and she never stopped guarding people."
McGraw said Sims makes Baylor tougher to play.
"When she's not in the game you don't really have to guard them very much from the perimeter. So just having her on the court stretches the defense to her side a little bit more," she said.
Brooklyn Pope added 14 points for Baylor and Jordan Madden had 12.
Diggins was frustrated by her bad shooting.
"I don't think I hesitated on my shot. It just wasn't going in," she said.
Kayla McBride had 18 points for Notre Dame and Natalie Achonwa 11. No one else scored for the Irish. Mulkey said she was impressed by Loyd.
"She's a tremendous jump shooter. Not many can take it off the dribble and shoot a jump shot. She's a special talent," she said.
Rapper Lil Wayne showed up at halftime, with Diggins walking over to shake his hand at his front-row seat after a timeout. In the front row at the other end were members of the top-ranked Fighting Irish football team, who cheered loudly throughout.
Despite the celebrities and a sellout crowd of 9,149, the Irish couldn't knock off the defending national champions as the men did six days earlier against Kentucky on the same floor.
Diggins said she was happy to see Lil Wayne at the game.
"I think it's great for our sport. Anything that can draw attention to women's basketball is great," she said.


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Shameless Disaster Capitalism: How Companies Are Already Planning to Get Rich Off Superstorm Sandy
Shameless Disaster Capitalism: How Companies Are Already Planning to Get Rich Off Superstorm Sandy
The following article first appeared in the Nation.
Less than three days after Sandy made landfall on the East Coast of the United States, Iain Murray of the Competitive Enterprise Institute blamed New Yorkers' resistance to big-box stores for the misery they were about to endure. Writing on Forbes.com , he explained that the city's refusal to embrace Walmart will likely make the recovery much harder: 'Mom-and-pop stores simply can't do what big stores can in these circumstances,' he wrote.
And the preemptive scapegoating didn't stop there. He also warned that if the pace of reconstruction turned out to be sluggish (as it so often is) then 'pro-union rules such as the Davis-Bacon Act' would be to blame, a reference to the statute that requires workers on public-works projects to be paid not the minimum wage, but the prevailing wage in the region.
The same day, Frank Rapoport, a lawyer representing several billion-dollar construction and real estate contractors, jumped in to suggest that many of those public works projects shouldn't be public at all. Instead, cash-strapped governments should turn to 'public private partnerships,' known as 'P3s.' That means roads, bridges and tunnels being rebuilt by private companies, which, for instance, could install tolls and keep the profits.
Up until now, the only thing stopping them has been the law—specifically the absence of laws in New York State and New Jersey that enable these sorts of deals. But Rapoport is convinced that the combination of broke governments and needy people will provide just the catalyst needed to break the deadlock. 'There were some bridges that were washed out in New Jersey that need structural replacement, and it's going to be very expensive,' he told The Nation. 'And so the government may well not have the money to build it the right way. And that's when you turn to a P3.'
Ray Lehmann, co-founder of the R Street Institute, a mouthpiece for the insurance lobby (formerly a division of the climate-denying Heartland Institute), had another public prize in his sights. In a Wall Street Journal article about Sandy , he was quoted arguing for the eventual 'full privatization' of the National Flood Insurance Program, the federal initiative that provides affordable protection from some natural disasters—and which private insurers see as unfair competition.
But the prize for shameless disaster capitalism surely goes to right-wing economist Russell S. Sobel, writing in a New York Times online forum . Sobel suggested that, in hard-hit areas, FEMA should create 'free trade zones—in which all normal regulations, licensing and taxes [are] suspended.' This corporate free-for-all would, apparently, 'better provide the goods and services victims need.' [For eye-gouging prices!]


text: Our Men & Women in the Military: Wounded Soldier Gets Canine Companion Saturday, June 28, 2008 By Army Spc. Andrew Orillion Special to American Forces Press Service WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 27, 2008 - On Aug. 19, 2006, the life of Army Capt. James Barclay IV changed forever. Army Capt. James Barclay IV bonds with his hunting dog, Bryant. A Williamsburg, Va., trainer donated his services to train Bryant for Barclay, who was wounded in an Afghanistan roadside-bomb attack. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe Laws (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. He was in the lead vehicle of a convoy in a remote area of Afghanistan when a roadside bomb tore through his vehicle. Barclay survived, but suffered burns over 40 percent of his body. Barclay's life changed again June 24, but this time for the better. Marc Illman, owner of The Pet Resort at Greensprings here, reunited Barclay with Bryant, a chocolate Labrador retriever specially trained for hunting. Illman spent the last three months training the dog while Barclay underwent treatment for his injuries. Bryant and Barclay's story began shortly after Barclay started his recovery at the Wounded Warrior Center at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. A long-time outdoorsman, Barclay was eager to return to hunting, his favorite pastime. He adopted Bryant in August, but soon found that his injuries prevented him from properly caring for the pooch. "I had him for about three weeks," he said. "Due to the surgeries, I wasn't going to able to do what I wanted to do with him, and spend as much time as I should with him, so I sent him to my dad's house." In March, Barclay's father, Army Brig. Gen. James Barclay III, former director of U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Center for Operational Analysis, brought Bryant and another pet to Illman for boarding. When Illman found out about the situation, he volunteered to help train Bryant free of charge. "I'm thrilled to do this, and I hope the dog works out for him and his family," Illman said. "These young men in the armed services really don't have a choice. They're where they're told to go, when they're told to go there, and no matter what your political ideals are, they're committed to serve the armed services, and it's important they know that when they come home, as opposed to other wars we've had, that they have some support." Bryant's training began with basic obedience training and socialization. Illman then moved on to more hunting and outdoor-specific training such as running through deep undergrowth and proper reaction to gunfire. He specifically trained the pup to hunt both water fowl and upland birds such as quail and pheasant. Illman said Bryant took easily to the training. "What makes him really special is that, sometimes you have a dog that's great around people [and] becomes a great house dog. We call them 'couch potatoes,' Illman said. "But he also has the ability to switch that off and become a great field-trial hunting dog." The elder Barclay, who recently left JFCom to become commanding general at Fort Rucker, Ala., said he's grateful not only for Illman's help, but also for everyone who reaches out to wounded servicemembers in need. "It's great to have Americans who support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and he is prime example of that kind of support that is willing to give and do things for these kids," the general said. "We've got great Americans out there that show their support in different ways for our kids. I think it's wonderful, and folks like that need recognition." As Barclay reunited with his old friend, the two recognized each other right away and were inseparable from the moment they were reunited. "It really means a lot to see that people here support me and the soldiers out here," Barclay said. "Hopefully, [Bryant will] be my right-hand man." In addition to Bryant, Barclay received a free one-year supply of dog food and a weekend hunting trip at a resort in Montana. With Bryant in tow, Barclay will head back to San Antonio to continue his recovery. He said he hopes to be better in time for the bird-hunting season in the fall. "Once I get back, I'll start working with him right away to try and create that bond you need in a hunting dog," Barclay said. (Army Spc. Andrew Orillion serves in the U.S. Joint Forces Command Public Affairs Office.) Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community. Related Sites: America Supports You Posted by CNBNewsnet on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 02:45 PM in FACE OF DEFENSE | Permalink | Comments (0) | |


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Now in its fourth year of production, the Subaru Tribeca is a solid midsize crossover SUV. About the size of a Toyota Highlander, the Tribeca seats seven. It's loaded with technology, starting with its world-class all-wheel-drive system, and offers a luxurious cabin.
We found the Tribeca a joy to drive, with a roomy, comfortable cabin that has an upscale feel and a modern interior design. From behind the wheel, because of a sloped windshield and short hood, it feels more like a minivan than an SUV. The leather seats in the Limited model could use more bolstering, but it's a practical vehicle with lots of nice features.
The Subaru Tribeca is powered by a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine with horizontally opposed cylinders (called a boxer six) rated at 256 horsepower. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 16/21 mpg City/Highway. All models come with all-wheel drive and a 5-speed SportShift automatic with a manual shiftgate.
Tribeca has good power, and it's smooth and quiet at highway speeds. Subaru is a leader in all-wheel drive technology so the Tribeca boasts one of the best systems in its class, making it a superb choice for foul weather. The handling is sure-footed and agile for a vehicle this size, the all-wheel drive giving it a secure feeling that encourages spirited driving.
Tribeca was launched as a 2006 model. 2008 brought styling revisions, a larger engine and mechanical refinements. For 2010, all Tribecas became seven-seaters, and the Touring luxury model was added. There are no significant changes for 2011.
The Subaru Tribeca comes in three trim levels: Premium, Limited, and Touring.
Tribeca Premium ($30,495) comes with cloth upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, and a four-way power passenger's seat, both with manual lumbar adjustment and heat, 40/20/40-split reclining second-row seats, 50/50 split third row, rear-seat air conditioner with outlets in the headliner and a separate fan speed control, 100-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers and auxiliary input jack, cruise control, interior air filter, fog lights, remote keyless entry, power windows, power heated outside mirrors, power door locks, tilting steering wheel with redundant radio controls, leather-covered shift knob, driver information center, P255/55HR18 Goodyear Eagle LS2 all-season tires on five-spoke alloy wheels.
Tribeca Limited ($32,495) upgrades with leather seating for the first two rows, two-position memory for the driver's seat, HomeLink universal remote, ambient interior illumination, a 385-watt harman/kardon 10-speaker audio system with 6CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, and BlueConnect hands-free Bluetooth capability.
Tribeca Touring ($35,795) adds moonroof, HID headlights, rearview camera with monitor imbedded in the rearview mirror, special trim, seven-spoke alloy wheels.
Options include moonroof ($1,500), navigation system with rearview camera ($2,200), and a rear-seat video entertainment system. Dealer-installed accessories include all-weather floor mats, auto-dimming inside mirror, reading lights, puddle lights, bumper-protection, and roof-rack systems set up specifically for kayaks or bicycles.
Safety features on all models include Subaru's Vehicle Dynamics Control, Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel drive and all-wheel traction control to help the driver maintain control. Brakes are vented discs with antilock (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist. Front seat occupants are protected by dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags and active head restraints, which automatically push forward and up in rear-impact collisions. Curtain airbags insulate the front and second row seats in side impacts. All seating positions get adjustable head restraints, and outboard seats have height-adjustable anchors for seatbelt shoulder straps. Child safety seat anchors (LATCH) are provided for the rear seats. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard. The only safety option is the aforementioned rearview camera.
The look of the Subaru Tribeca hasn't changed significantly since it was re-styled for 2008. It's a nice-looking vehicle. But if the 2006 original went too far in being funky with its Alfa Romeo grille, the current model looks bland with its Chrysler grille.
The near-rectangular grille is swept back and a little wider at the top, like that of so many other SUVs and crossovers. It flows into a gentle bulge at the center of the hood, while the lights to either side curve back and around into the fenders.
Along the sides, the body panels are mostly vertical, though not slab-like; their expanse is broken by mild fender blisters circling properly proportioned tires and wheels. Beginning at the trailing edge of the front door and even with the door handles, a soft crease grows as it moves rearward, giving the rear portions substance before ending in the wraparound taillights. An understated character line etched into the doors and running between the wheel arches draws attention to the matte-black rocker panels on Premium and Limited and subtly reminds us of the Tribeca's 8.4-inch ground clearance. The steeply raked windshield and A-pillars pull the eye up and over the tall glasshouse to a spoiler laid atop an acutely angled back window. The standard alloy wheels, with their five split spokes, look handsomely sturdy.
At the rear, there's a hint of a defining waistline, thanks to that upper-level crease that joins with the rear door handles with the gentle convex peak across the oval taillights. A sunshade-like spoiler trails the rear edge of the roof, and the bumper dips naturally into a step below the one-piece tailgate. It looks good. The tail lamps and shape of the tail gate are the best clues that it's a Subaru.
We like the monochrome look of the Touring model. The monochrome scheme pulls the design together without making the Tribeca visually taller; it also shows off some interesting detail work, particularly at the front. The bright grille, door handles, and roofrails provide just enough flash and contrast to ensure that the Touring looks like a real machine, and not (as with some monochrome designs) an extruded plastic toy. We like the Touring's new seven-spoke alloy wheels: a clean design with just enough three-dimensionality to suggest dramatic tension.
Inside is a luxurious and upmarket cabin. We felt comfortable immediately after climbing in. The organic, almost-wholesome sweep of the dash as it flows into the door panels creates cocoon-like comfort zones for driver and front-seat passenger. It's a stunning styling statement. A little more time behind the wheel revealed that it's not perfect, however. The front seat cushions could be deeper for more thigh support, and back support isn't great, especially in the bolstering, especially against slippery leather.
We found getting in and out easy. We didn't have to climb up into it or down into it. We simply opened the door and sat down. Once underway, the relatively high seating position allowed us to check traffic several cars ahead. Outward forward visibility is slightly compromised by the thick A-pillars (on each side of the windshield); thick pillars are the trend as automakers design vehicles to better protect occupants in rollovers. But the sideview mirrors are excellent, so backward visibility is great.
Once buckled in, we found all the controls easy to locate and operate. From behind the wheel, the Tribeca actually feels more like a minivan than an SUV, because of the sloped windshield and the fact that you can't see the hood.
The gauges and panels tasked with communicating important information did so quite naturally. We liked the large tachometer and speedometer, with their organic white lettering, red needles, and silver rims. The fuel and coolant temperature gauges weren't completely intuitive, tucked away in the lower outboard corners of the instrument cluster and utilizing LEDs in lieu of conventional pointers. Arms and hands rest naturally on nicely textured surfaces. The doors are especially good, with nice long padded armrests and terrific long pockets.
The buttons and levers are where they should be. Steering wheel-mounted supplemental controls are styled into the sweep of the wheel's spokes. The shift lever's SportShift slot, which allows the driver to manually select the desired gear, is properly placed to the driver's side of the primary gate.
The steering column is offset a smidgen to the right, toward the centerline of the vehicle. A lot of vehicles have imperfectly located steering wheels, but we were surprised to find this in a Subaru.
The rounded center stack spreads outward onto the dash like in the shape of a Y. The primary audio control knob is centered within ready reach of the driver and front-seat passenger. The heating and ventilation controls are really cool, with big knobs that feature digital readouts. The front passenger's air conditioning temperature control knob is thoughtfully positioned facing the passenger. The stereo handles MP3 media, and includes an input jack in the center console. An elaborate information screen and (optional) navigation system display are centered in the upper half of the dash with controls that are accessible to both the driver and front passenger.
The touch-screen navigation system includes a rearview camera, a great safety and convenience feature. When the driver shifts the transmission into Reverse, the navigation system's center LCD display shows what the color camera detects within its field of vision behind the vehicle. Reference lines help guide the driver. In everyday use, rearview cameras make parallel parking easier and quicker. A rearview camera can help alert the driver to hazards that are difficult to see otherwise, such as a child sitting on a tricycle behind the vehicle. On models without navigation, the image is displayed on the rearview mirror, but the image is smaller and, we think, less useful.
The second row is more comfortable than it looks at first, which we discovered on a daylong round trip between California's Central Valley and the Bay Area and another extended ride in the back seats around wine country. Later we took half a boys' soccer team to their game, and they loved the ride, totally spacious to them, as they usually squeeze into a coach's old Legacy wagon. The second-row seatbacks can be reclined. Indeed, we never even thought about comfort while riding in the back seat for more than an hour, indicating it was roomy and quite comfortable. The second row is one of the most flexible we've seen in terms of configurations and range of adjustments, as we learned on routine trips to the grocery store, the post office and just generally running around town for a week. A new tip-and-slide function eases access to the third row from either side of the vehicle.
The glove box offers enough space for the owner's manual, cell phones, and garage door remotes. Two cupholders are concealed beneath a well-damped cover in the center console aft of the shift lever. Rearward of this is the padded center armrest covering a respectably sized storage bin. Two more cupholders can be found in the fold-down middle seat center armrest. Space for a water bottle is molded into the map pockets on each of the four doors and into the quarter panels in the cargo area. Storage nets are stitched into the back sides of the front seats. There are four power points: two in the front center console, making for a bit of a stretch for radar detector cords, and two in the cargo area. The sound-insulating subfloor in the cargo area has several different-sized bins molded into its top side.
The Tribeca impressed us in routine, daily use. Flipping up the tailgate and dropping the third-row seat to load up a week's groceries or purchases from the neighborhood hardware store for a weekend's chores quickly became second nature.
Cargo space opens up to 74.4 cubic feet after dropping the second and third rows, and it's a nice, flat load floor. That's competitive for the class, though there are plenty of SUVs with more room. By way of comparison, the Toyota Highlander offers 95.4 cubic feet of cargo room, and the larger Mazda CX-9 has 100.7 cubic feet. On the other hand, the Nissan Murano offers only 64.5. Overall, the Tribeca compares well on utility.
The Subaru Tribeca is enjoyable to drive regardless of weather conditions. It's powered by a 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that makes 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. Subaru's 3.6-liter boxer six delivers competitive performance in a class filled with excellent V6s. Only slight pressure on the gas pedal brings up responsive power, sufficient for passing.
The transmission is smooth and responsive. Shifts up and down are managed almost seamlessly. Even when shifted manually using the SportShift there is only the slightest interruption in the energy flow. When using the SportShift, the Tribeca will shift up a gear automatically at engine redline; it will not, however, drop down a gear without the driver tapping the lever forward. Blips are programmed into aggressive downshifts, like a sports car. We often found it easiest to put it in Drive and let it do its own shifting, since it did such a good job on its own.
Fuel economy isn't a standout feature, however. The Tribeca earns an EPA rating of just 16/21 mpg City/Highway. This is likely due to weight and all-wheel drive.
The more time we spent with the Subaru Tribeca, the more we liked it. Multi-lane, divided highways passed under its impressively quiet tires as smoothly and as rapidly as did winding two-lanes. However the brake feel wasn't linear as we would have wanted.
It's nimble enough, and there's not much body lean, although it's not as precise as it might be, during that type of driving. Generally, better handling comes from a lower center of gravity that comes with that essentially flat engine placed low in the chassis, a trademark Subaru engineering feature.
It's very smooth and quiet in a straight line. Credit belongs to the high degree of refinement Subaru's engineers have achieved in development of the horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine.
All-wheel drive comes standard, and Subaru is a leader in this technology. Subaru's all-wheel-drive system makes the Tribeca an excellent choice when the weather turns foul or conditions become slippery, whether it's snow or ice, or a muddy, unpaved road, or a rainy, oily backroad or on-ramp. Under normal conditions, it sends 55 percent of the power to the rear, to provide a handling optimized rear-drive bias. The system also serves as an active safety feature, even on dry pavement, helping to reduce skidding in corners and aiding the driver in controlling the vehicle. Subaru's all-wheel drive is your friend.
The Subaru Tribeca has all the right feel of control and dexterity, plus impressive hauling capacity for people and things. The 3.6-liter H6 engine delivers competitive performance when compared with other SUVs. Careful suspension tuning and a relatively low center of gravity results in responsive handling that makes driving the Tribeca enjoyable. The engine and ride quality are smooth and comfortable. Subaru's all-wheel drive technology is thoroughly proven.
Tom Lankard contributed to this report following his test drive on the coastal roads north of the Bay Area, with Mitch McCullough reporting from the Wine Country, Kirk Bell in Chicago, John Katz in Pennsylvania, and Sam Moses in the Pacific Northwest.