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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this action announces that EPA is planning to submit a new Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget. Before submitting the Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.
Comments must be submitted on or before November 29, 2010.
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0682, by one of the following methods:
- www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
- E-mail: email@example.com.
- Phone: (202) 566-1742.
- Fax: (202) 566-9744.
- Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
- Hand Delivery: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Room 3334, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0682. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an "anonymous access" system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.Start Further Info
Mr. Bob Lucas, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-0884; fax number: (919) 541-0246; e-mail address: email@example.com; or Ms. Brenda Shine, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-3608; fax number: (919) 541-0246; e-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information
How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this Information Collection Request (ICR) under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0682, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone Start Printed Page 60108number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is 202-566-1742.
Use www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select "search," then key in the docket ID number identified in this document.
What information is EPA particularly interested in?
Pursuant to Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) section 3506(c)(2)(A), EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). In particular, EPA is requesting comments from small entities (small businesses primarily engaged in refining crude petroleum into refined petroleum as defined by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 32411 whose parent company has no more than 1,500 employees) on examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for small entities affected by this collection.
What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?
Affected entities: Respondents affected by this action are owners/operators of petroleum refineries, all of which are expected to be major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP).[1] Petroleum refineries are facilities engaged in refining and producing products made from crude oil or unfinished petroleum derivatives. Based on the Energy Information Administration's Refinery Capacity Report 2009, there are 152 operable petroleum refineries in the United States (U.S.) and the U.S. territories. We are aware that some refineries have integrated operations between two nearby, but non-contiguous, locations. Therefore, the questionnaire asks the refining companies to identify their refineries according to the definition of "facility" in the Clean Air Act (CAA), which could result in more than 152 responses. Petroleum refineries are located in 35 States, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Texas, Louisiana, and California are the States with the most petroleum refining capacity. The NAICS code for respondents affected by the information collection is 32411.
Title: Information Collection Request for Petroleum Refinery Sector New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Residual Risk and Technology Review.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2411.01, OMB Control No. 2060-NEW.
ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: On March 8, 1974, the EPA issued Standards of Performance for Petroleum Refineries (40 CFR part 60, subpart J) under section 111 of the CAA. On August 18, 1995, the EPA issued NESHAP for petroleum refineries (40 CFR part 63, subpart CC) under section 112 of the CAA. On April 11, 2002, the EPA issued NESHAP for catalytic cracking units, catalytic reforming units, and sulfur recovery units at petroleum refineries (40 CFR part 63, subpart UUU) under section 112 of the CAA. This ICR is being conducted by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation to assist the EPA Administrator in determining the current affected population of petroleum refining processes and the emissions from those processes in order to evaluate whether to revise the existing emissions standards pursuant to sections 111(b), 112(d), and 112(f)(6) of the CAA.
Section 111(b)(1)(B) of the CAA mandates that EPA review and, if appropriate, revise existing NSPS every 8 years. The Standards of Performance for Petroleum Refineries were reviewed in 2008, and EPA promulgated amendments to the existing standards of performance and developed separate standards of performance for new process units (40 CFR part 60, subpart Ja). However, the Agency received and granted a number of petitions for reconsideration related to those standards. Similarly, section 112(f)(2) of the CAA directs EPA to conduct risk assessments on each source category subject to maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards and determine if additional standards are needed to reduce residual risks. The CAA section 112(f)(2) residual risk review is to be done once, within 8 years of promulgation of the MACT standard. Section 112(d)(6) of the CAA requires EPA to review and revise the MACT standards, as necessary, taking into account developments in practices, processes, and control technologies. The CAA section 112(d)(6) technology review is to be done every 8 years.
The proposed ICR has two components: (1) A questionnaire to be completed by all 152 petroleum refineries, and (2) emissions testing to be performed for 92 selected emissions sources. To obtain the information necessary to identify and categorize all units potentially affected by any future revision to a standard, the first component of this ICR will solicit information from all potentially affected units in the format of an electronic survey under authority of section 114 of the CAA. This survey will include questions about the facility and individual emissions sources, and will ask the owners/operators to develop and provide an emissions inventory, submit cost data, provide copies of recent emissions test reports and continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS)/continuous monitoring system (CMS) data, and conduct crude oil sampling and analysis. As previously noted, all refineries are major sources of HAP, so the survey will be submitted to all facilities listed in the Energy Information Administration's Refinery Start Printed Page 60109Capacity Report 2009. The second component will consist of requiring emissions testing, again pursuant to the authority of section 114 of the CAA. A total of 92 individual emission sources will be selected for testing, and the owners and operators of each emission source will be notified of the requirement to test that source in accordance with an EPA-approved testing protocol.
By conducting the CAA-required reviews of both 40 CFR part 63, subparts CC and UUU, and addressing a number of the issues on reconsideration of 40 CFR part 60, subpart J/Ja all at the same time, EPA can make use of a single collection of information to consider control strategies that are the most effective for HAP, which are regulated under CAA section 112, and criteria air pollutants (such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide), which are regulated under CAA section 111, and consider if additional amendments are appropriate to the CAA section 111 standards in light of this information and interaction with the CAA section 112 standards. The data would also allow EPA to evaluate compliance options for startup and shutdown periods, and consider ways to consolidate monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements among the different rules under review. The data may also help EPA conduct reviews of other rules specific to petroleum refineries, including Standards of Performance for Equipment Leaks of VOC in Petroleum Refineries (40 CFR part 60, subpart GGG), Standards of Performance for VOC Emissions from Petroleum Refinery Wastewater Systems (40 CFR part 60, subpart QQQ), and National Emission Standard for Benzene Waste Operations (40 CFR part 61, subpart FF).
This one-time collection will solicit information under authority of CAA section 114. The EPA intends to provide the survey in electronic format. The survey will be sent to all facilities identified as petroleum refineries through information available to the Agency. EPA envisions allowing recipients 90 days to respond to the survey and 6 months to complete emissions testing, if required. Non-confidential information from this ICR will be made available to the public. EPA estimates the total cost of the information collection (for 152 respondents) will be 47,000 hours and $23 million, which includes $912 in operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for postage for mailing hard copy test reports and confidential survey responses to EPA.
The data collected will be used to update facility and emissions source information, develop new estimates of the population of affected units, and identify the control measures and alternative emission limits being used for compliance with the existing rules that are under review. This information, along with existing emission limits, will be used to establish a baseline for purposes of the regulatory reviews. The emissions test data (test reports, CEMS data, and CMS data) collected will be used to verify the performance of existing control measures, examine variability in emissions, evaluate emission limits, determine the performance of the most effective control measures considered for purposes of reducing residual risk, and provide a basis for estimating nationwide emissions from emissions sources for which EPA has little information. Emissions data will also be used, along with process and emission unit details, to consider options for best demonstrated technology under the NSPS review, consider subcategories for further regulation, and estimate the environmental and cost impacts associated with any regulatory options considered.
The CAA requires sources subject to this collection of information to submit the information requested. All information submitted to EPA pursuant to this ICR for which a claim of confidentiality is made, is safeguarded according to Agency policies in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
Burden Statement: The projected cost and hour burden for industry for this one-time collection of information is $23 million and 47,000 hours. This burden is based on an estimated 152 respondents to the survey. This ICR does not include any requirements that would cause the respondents to incur either capital or start-up costs. The O&M costs of $912 are estimated for postage to mail hard copy test reports and confidential survey responses to EPA.
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and use technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is only briefly summarized here.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 152 facilities.
Frequency of response: One time.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 47,000.
Estimated total annual burden costs: $23 million. This includes an estimated burden cost of $7.8 million for the electronic survey component and an estimated cost of $15 million for the stack testing component.
What is the next step in the process for this ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.Start Signature
Dated: September 10, 2010.
Peter Tsirigotis,
Director, Sector Policies and Programs Division.
1. As defined in 40 CFR 63.2, "Major source" means any stationary source or group of stationary sources located within a contiguous area and under common control that emits or has the potential to emit considering controls, in the aggregate, 10 tons per year or more of any hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons per year or more of any combination of hazardous air pollutants, unless the Administrator establishes a lesser quantity, or in the case of radionuclides, different criteria from those specified in this sentence.Back to Citation
[FR Doc. 2010-24424 Filed 9-28-10; 8:45 am]


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The Commonwealth has coordinated efforts across the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office of Education, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, and other secretariats and agencies to support evacuees. In addition, we are working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify all disaster assistance programs and resources available through the federal government.
The attached is a brief summary of the various resources and pathways to support available to evacuees through multiple agencies and programs.

subset: commoncrawl


text: SHARING IS CARING I've been wanting to make a weekly top 10 for a while now that is just a multi genre fun mix for people to enjoy and I really wanted to make it in a classic manner on two turntables recorded live. This is my first installment of my top 10. Track Listing: 1) Haim "Falling" One of my favorite new bands, Haim keeps making fun quality music that has a huge buzz around town. 2) Daft Punk "Random Access Memories" (Dream Logic Remix/L'ordre Cover) It's kind of dangerous territory to remix a Daft Punk record before the official single drops but this remix left the snippet that D.P. dropped on us pretty well intact and the L'ordre cover of it is pretty funky. Can't wait for this Daft Punk album. 3) Disclosure ft. AlunaGeorge "White Noise" I'm really digging Disclosure's production and throwback mentality on the tracks. Here's another groovy tune. 4.) Les Sins "Grind" !2 inch Some easy listening funky soul house and ultimately just DOPE! 5.) Dillon Francis ft. Simon Lord "Messages" Dillon is becoming a favorite producer of mine with key remixes for Justin Timberlake and such, he always seems to be a step ahead of the curve in electronic music. 6.) Scoop Deville "Let's Make Babies" Scoop now famous for his flip of Janet Jackson's "Anytime Anyplace" for Kendrick Lamar's "Poetic Justice" smash, continues to beat up samples for infectious beats. He takes on Prince on this track. He sent me so much dope stuff it was hard to choose what to feature in this mix. 7.) AWOL Nation ft. Kendrick Lamar "Sail" (Remix) Big record, BIG remix! Good to hear Kendrick on records that are out of the Hip Hop norm. 8.) Atlas Genius "Trojans" (Xaphoon Jones Remix) I'm a tad late on this cool remix that Chiddy Bang's Xaphoon Jones produced for the massive tune of Atlas Genius, great remix! 9.) Beyonce "Bow Down" Hit Boy produced and Beyonce goes off, easy choice! 10.) Trishes "Theme from 808″ I'm a sucker for 808′s and soul samples always, just when I thought I couldn't like any more abuse of Roger and Zapp songs one Rodney O sample gets me back into it! Email To A Friend.


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The most important part of a mobile phone's lifespan is when it's hacked to run old video games. Few games are more classic than Everquest, the game that brought the MMO to a mass audience. I think that's fair to say. Anyhow, today's the Droid's lucky day!
Yes, someone has managed to get Everquest up and running on the Motorola Droid, presumably for the heck of it since I cannot imagine playing an MMO on a mobile phone. Talk about torturing your fingers—a full-size keyboard is barely enough for these games.


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LONDON -- We've been getting a few quarterly updates recently for the period ending March 31. But things will be heating up next week as we start to get annual results from companies with March as their year-end. We'll have quite a few FTSE 100 companies reporting throughout the month. Here are three for next week.
Sainsbury (LSE:SBRY)
Wednesday will bring us full-year results from J Sainsbury, and it's looking like they should be pretty decent. In its fourth-quarter trading statement, released in March, the supermarket chain told us that like-for-like sales were up 4.2% for the quarter and 2.1% over the whole year (3.6% and 1.8%, respectively, excluding petrol).
Current forecasts suggest a 6% rise in earnings per share, with a dividend yield of 4.4% on a share price of 386 pence. That would need a 4% rise in the dividend over 2012, and with the first-half dividend having already been lifted by 6.7% to 4.8 pence per share, that seems like a reasonable expectation.
But what of valuation? Well, the shares have gained 25% over the past 12 months, which is pretty good going. But even after that, they're on a P/E of 13 based on these forecasts, and that doesn't look excessive.
Experian (LSE:EXPN)
It's Experian's turn to bring us annual results on Thursday, and the City is expecting a modest rise in earnings this year -- though there's a further rise of about 15% penciled in for 2014. At the third-quarter stage, the information services firm revealed 7% revenue growth and told us it expects "high single-digit" growth for the full year and a modest margin improvement.
The forecast dividend of about 22 pence per share represents a yield of 1.9% on the latest share price of 1,136 pence, and the shares are on a forward P/E of a little more than 20. That might sound a bit rich, but there is clearly some decent growth potential in this kind of business over the next few years, so a high rating is perhaps not surprising.
Those who bought the shares a year ago will be up 15% now, and there's surely a good chance of further worthwhile gains over the next five years.
BT Group (LSE:BT-A) (NYSE:BT)
Finally, Friday will see the release of results from BT Group, whose shareholders have enjoyed the biggest share-price appreciation of the three we're looking at today -- at 280 pence, the price is up about 35% over the past 12 months.
But even after that rise, the shares are only on a P/E of about 11.5 based on March estimates. There's a dividend yield of about 3.4% forecast, which might not be one of the biggest but is ahead of the FTSE average of 3.2%.
At the time of BT's Q3 update, revenue was down 7% for the nine months to December, but pre-tax profit was up 8% to 1.86 billion pounds, and adjusted earnings had risen 9% to 18.4 pence per share.
Finally, dividends can add nicely to your investment returns -- they can be spent or reinvested, according to your needs. Whether you're investing for income or growth, good old cash is always welcome. And that's why I recommend the brand-new Fool report "The Motley Fool's Top Income Share For 2013," in which our top analysts identify a share they believe will provide handsome dividend income for years to come. But it will only be available for a limited period, so click here to get your copy today.


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Your shopping cart is empty!
Prices on this website are quoted in pounds sterling (£, GBP)
Standard delivery charges for UK mainland addresses:
We shall endeavour to dispatch all orders received before 2:30pm the same day. However, depending on the volume of orders, we might still be able to dispatch orders placed after 2:30pm for the next day delivery. Please call us to confirm, if your order is urgent.
Please note that Next Day delivery is not available for certain areas of the UK including the highlands and the Channel Islands.
International delivery
We also offer international delivery (excluding Dentapreg products).
Standard flat rate is £8.50 (Europe) and £9.95 (rest of the world). However, it may be more for larger or heavier items - we would notify you prior to dispatch.
VacStation: please note that we currently can only ship this product to the UK, Ireland, France and Portugal.
Delivery outside the EU may attract additional taxes or customs charges imposed by your country. We do not have control over these taxes and can not be held responsible for any import charges.


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We're glad to offer you new investment alternative for brand spanking new luxury buildings Condominium Lodge G1 and Residence Lodge G2. The object has one part with central physique from an elevator and staircases, surrounded by 6 flats. The rise in each provinces was mainly attributable to increased funding in workplace building building. Once recognized, the builder will probably be provided with advice and/or coaching to make sure their building techniques and materials adjust to the Constructing Code.
An attorney could search adjustments or exemptions within the law that governs the land the place the building can be built, either by arguing that a rule is inapplicable (the bridge design will not trigger a collapse), or that the customized is not wanted (acceptance of dwell-work spaces has grown in the community).
Building and Building Materials also publishes detailed case studies and assessment articles, as well as quick communications and discussions. As a part of the graduate program in Environmental Conservation, we're offering knowledgeable Master's program (M.S.) in the Sustainable Building Systems concentration.
During this time you'll study all about what it means to work within the building and development trade and procure the related skills so that you can turn out to be a completely succesful labourer. As effectivity codes have come into effect in recent times, new building technologies and methods have emerged.
This Act regulates sure conduct of constructing trade members who carry out constructing work. The true economy sector anchors extra on the success of building improvement success. However, all constructing building projects embrace some elements in common – design, monetary, and legal concerns.


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Chase and Roma are fresian x saddlebreds. A very nice young driving pair. Chase is a 8 yr old gelding, 16 hands. He rides, jumps and has foxhunted. He was used a whip horse the 2012-2012 season and the 2013-2014 season. Roma is a 7yr old mare, 15.2 hands. She rides and is very good on the trail. Roma has started jumping and foxhunted the 2013-2014 season. Both are registered with the Friesian Sport Horse Registry. Chase is also registered as a Half-American Saddlebred. Both are working in the four hand and go both as wheelers and leaders.
1st place Preliminary Horse at the Kentucky Classic CDE in Lexington, KY Oct. 2014 (Dressage:Roma/Ritza, Marathon:Chase/Ritza, Cones:Chase/Ritza)
1st place Preliminary Horse Multiples at the Indiana CDE in Edinburgh, IN Aug. 2014
*Chase was High Point Half American Saddlebred at the Indiana CDE
1st place Training Horse Pairs at the Metamora CDE in Metamora, MI June 2013.
2nd place Training Horse Pairs at the Carolina HDT in May 2012.


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sirup –>
1. A thick and viscid liquid made from the juice of fruits, herbs, etc, boiled with sugar.
2. A thick and viscid saccharine solution of superior quality (as sugarhouse sirup or molasses, maple sirup); specifically, in pharmacy and often in cookery, a saturated solution of sugar and water (simple sirup), or such a solution flavored or medicated. Lucent sirups tinct with cinnamon. (Keats) mixing sirup. See the note under dextrose.
Origin: F. Sirop (cf. It. Siroppo, Sp. Jarabe, jarope, LL. Siruppus, syrupus), fr. Ar. Sharab a drink, wine, coffee, sirup. Cf. Sherbet.
sirup –>


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Find cars in the Champaign-Urbana area
Fast. Convenient. Affordable. Environmentally friendly.
With Zipcar on campus, it just got easier to live without a car.
Need a car? Borrow a Zipcar! The university has partnered with the C-U Mass Transit District and the cities of Urbana and Champaign to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. Return the car to the same location where you picked it up.
As a member you get:
Being an Orientation Leader at the University of Illinois means that you're the first person new students will turn to with questions. When they ask how they're going to survive on campus without a set of wheels, tell them about Zipcar. Zipcar is a car sharing service that allows 18+ students 24/7/365 access to shared cars on campus available for reservation by the hour or by the day (gas and insurance included!).
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As an Orientation Leader at the University of Illinois, you'll get tons of questions from students, and you want to have all the answers. When someone asks how they'll survive on campus without a car, tell them about Zipcar. Zipcar is a car- sharing service on campus that allows 18+ students access to cars by the hour or the day, gas and insurance included.


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Gift Box Caramel Corn 15 oz
Packaged in a brown kraft baker's gift box then wrapped in seasonal baker's twine. The Carmazzi Caramel Corn Gift Box is the perfect gift for clients, hostesses, friends, or for any special occasion!
Carmazzi Caramel Corn is a gourmet, upscale snack food popped to perfection. Homemade, with high quality ingredients, each batch is made with real butter, brown sugar and olive oil combined with a watchful eye to create a mouth-watering fluffy popcorn with a light coating of caramel providing the perfect sweet crispy golden crunch. All natural homemade Carmazzi Caramel Corn uses GMO Free Popcorn and is High Fructose Corn Syrup Free, Trans Fats Free, Gluten Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Soy Free. Fresh-popped. No preservatives. Always made in a nut free kitchen.
Additional information
|15 oz


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Our Orange Clove Scented Oil combines the wonderful aroma notes of spicy cinnamon and clove with the bright circuitousness of orange. Boasting a delicious scent, this full body aroma is a great way to wake up the senses
This product is made for the beard, but works wonders as a full body oil. I recommend right after a shower or just before bed, your partner will thank you as well.


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Tuesday, 04 February 2014
By Mickey Rogers of This, That and the Other
As a child, I was the proud owner of two or three pairs of shoes at a time. The everyday shoes were worn until they literally fell apart.
Rainy days were dreaded because the water would soak through the cardboard that covered the holes. The "good" pair was worn only when we visited relatives or friends.
You might think, then, that in an effort to make up for the past, I would now be the proud owner of dozens of shoes. Actually, however, I currently own only six pairs, including my old workshoes.
For me, comfort always trumps fashion. Once I find a pair of comfortable shoes they become my long-time buddies.
My current favorites, a pair of tennis shoes, are among the most comfortable ones that I have ever owned. Therefore, I tend to wear them whenever I go. This has gotten me into some occasional trouble with my better half.
Bev gets especially disturbed when I wear the old reliables to church. I've learned to get into the car first, leave it last and walk behind her. That way she has less of a chance of discovering my transgression.
However, when she does notice, I get a remark such as: "You can't wear those old shoes to church!"
"Why not?" I protest. "God doesn't care. He's just glad that I'm in attendance!"
Her rejoinder is: "Maybe He doesn't care, but I do!"
My two pairs of dress shoes look nice, no doubt in part because I seldom wear them (when forced to wear a suit I will wear the better looking ones). However, after about three hours they simply kill my feet.
The way I look at it, if I need to wear fancy shoes for someone to like me, then that would be a shallow relationship indeed.
One negative side-effect with my tennis shoes is that they squeak loudly whenever the soles are wet. It is rather embarrassing to walk down a crowded aisle at the mall while making such an offending racket but it's a price I'll willingly pay for comfort.
A few months ago I made the mistake of buying shoes simply because they were attractive. They are white with red tips and I must admit, they are easy on the eyes. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that they were not so easy on the feet. As a result they're collecting dust in the bedroom closet.
Whenever my favorite shoes become so ragged that Bev refuses to be seen in public with me, I send them into semi-retirement. Instead of the closet, they take up residence in the basement.
Whenever I wash the car, cut the grass or paint the house these old friends are once more called upon to provide comfort to some old, aching feet.
Interestingly, my shoes are not all the same size. My feet are rather small (you know what they say: small feet, large brain!), so often a size 8-½ fits perfectly. Other times, however, I need a 9 or even a 9-½! I guess they just don't make sizes the way they used to.
My wife has a completely different philosophy when it comes to shoes. She's certainly no Imelda Marcos, who once was quoted as follows: "I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes; I had 1,060."
But Bev is the proud owner of what I would estimate to be around thirty pairs of shoes, which is more than the total that I owned during my first 20 years of life.
With all the different types and colors of shoes on display at the various stores, Bev decries the fact that she has only two feet on which to wear them. She equates buying shoes (and purses, dresses, etc.) with happiness. That's fine and dandy, but I'll take comfort over fashion and color coordination any old time.
For the life of me I don't understand how the ladies can tolerate high heels. The other day I watched an old movie in which a woman was tap dancing in those monstrosities. I give her all the credit in the world; I probably couldn't even walk in them.
Eventually, if we're so lucky, we get to the point where no shoes, no special dress or pants or even makeup will make us as physically attractive as we were in our younger years. When do you reach that point?
The late, great comedienne Phyllis Diller has the answer: "You know you're old when someone compliments you on (your) alligator shoes and you're barefoot."
The best advice: if the shoe fits (comfortably), wear it.
[INVITATION: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Please read instructions for submitting.]
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post
I enjoyed your essay on "Shoes I have Known and Loved", Mickey. Nice writing!
About my shoes; I wear a size 6 but a 7 feels so good I buy an 8.
Good story, Mickey. I favor the cheap flexible models with velcro straps. Much easier to put on when there's no need to bend over and fuss with laces.
Funny how you got all of those wonderful ideas out of a comfortable pair of shoes!
A good story, Mickey, and oh-so-true.
You've probably come across what Ginger Rogers famously said about dancing with Fred Astaire. Which was "I did everything he did but backwards and wearing high heels."
Oh boy, did I laugh? You bet!
Alligator feet and Nancy's comment. I have Mickey's philosophy about shoes and own three pair, oops, four. A pair of black runners, a pair of winter boots, a pair of black "Dawgs" and a pair of Crocs for the garden.
I just sent two pair of Italian leather pumps to the Goodwill. I hadn't put them on in years and when I tried them the dern things had shrunk! It's the dry air here. It's made *all* my clothes shrink!
Nancy, I have always had an awful time buying shoes. For years I had to buy kid's shoes. I wear a four, but with my orthopedics a five felt better so now I'm shopping for five and a half, which is a devilishly hard size to find.
Great story idea, interesting, and funny! I think getting older brings the importance of comfortable shoes. And as my doctor recommended, "Wear the arch supports!"
I also have small feet -- 81/2 D. As as child I had two pairs of shoes; one for school that had to last the whole year and one for dress. Hate to say it, but now I have many more than that...running, golf, hiking, snow, dress, and casual. Somehow my frugality did not wear off on my daughter, who has enough shoes that her friends nicknamed her "Imeda."
Ooops....it was supposed to be "Imelda" after the famous Imelda Marcos and her endless collection of shoes.
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Toledo Estate Planning Attorney
Planning for the time of your passing is not an easy task. Considering your own mortality and the future needs of your loved ones can seem daunting, even depressing. However, it is never too early to create an estate plan to ensure your wishes are carried out, not only following your death, but at a time when you may become unable to care for yourself and those around you.
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Our firm will assist you in creating an estate plan that addresses your property distribution goals as well as your medical and family concerns. We work to ensure your personal matters and financial affairs are handled and structured appropriately. Our knowledge and experience often allows our clients to avoid the process of probate and greatly reduce estate taxes while providing for the well-being of your survivors.
For estate planning assistance from a trusted lawyer, please contact our offices at 419-262-5764 . For your convenience, after-hours and weekend appointments are available.


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Towards an industrialisation and innovation strategy for Suriname
Futures Diamond report to the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Suriname and the Suriname Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Programme
The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Suriname (MT&I) has within its mandate the development of trade, industrialisation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property and competitiveness for economic growth. Furthermore, the ministry plays a key role in improving the investment for climate, growth of the private sector and policy on monitoring and enhancing access to markets in strategic sectors. MT&I does this in coordination with other public institutions and private sector stakeholders in a national, regional (CARICOM) and international environment. In this respect the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8, 9 and 12 have been identified as the primary goals within the UN system in which the MT&I can contribute notably.
- Goal 8: To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- Goal 9: To build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
- Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Based on this mandate the ministry in partnership with the UN agencies, UNIDO, the UNDP financed through the REDD+ programme supported a 3-day workshop, designed and facilitated by Futures Diamond, and aimed to provide key inputs for the development of an industrialisation policy for Suriname through a review and broad consensus of high-level stakeholders upon strategic areas for the development of production and industrialisation by identifying key emerging and future industries, as well as prioritisation of sectors. Due to the extremely active commitment of workshop participants, MT&I and Futures Diamond agreed to extend the original scope of the assignment and schedule in order to promote a much wider stakeholder engagement strategy through an online survey aimed to further validate workshop results and promote a more systematic prioritisation process based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC).
The report integrates and summarizes the results obtained from a foresight workshop and a stakeholder survey aimed to provide key inputs for the development of an industrialisation and innovation policy for Suriname. Overall, the process helped to identify:
- 42 industrial priority areas on agro-food (8), green-growth (4), energy (11), mining (6) and information technology (13).
Among them, the ten most important areas, in terms of economic and social impact/benefit, are:
- Agro-food sector: Rice production; Aquaculture
- Green growth sector: Non-timber forest products; Eco-tourism
- Energy sector: Solar industry; Petrochemical industry
- Mining sector: Green gold mining; Metakaolin manufacturing
- Information technology sector: IT offshoring; Geo-ICT
- 32 sector-specific recommendations on agro-food, green-growth, energy, mining and IT;
- 22 industrial landscape recommendations for better governance, stronger industrial competitiveness, as well as supporting infrastructures;
- Key ISIC sectors and sub-sectors with high growth potential.
The online stakeholder survey helped to validate the results of the stakeholders' workshop and further prioritise key economic activities in Suriname by 2025. All 21 ISIC sectors were rated and 57% of the total score was shared between the Top 5 ISIC sectors expected to experience incremental or radical positive transformations in the future: 20% agriculture, forestry and fishing; 10% manufacturing; 10% information and communication; 9% mining and quarrying; 8% education.
The results and insights included in this foresight report constitute a sound and key input for the formulation of the upcoming Suriname industrial policy. Although the next phase for this foresight process has yet to be agreed, further rounds of sector-specific and industrial landscape-shaping workshops and studies leading to policy and technology roadmaps, capacity building, and investment plans for prioritised areas are recommended.
You can download the report and explore the survey at https://www.futuresdiamond.com/suriname/


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The END of Control
This video was sent to my by a dear friend and I feel that I have to share it with all of you.
Comment of a watcher:
After watching this video I was about to write a post on how everyone should please turn of their stupid TV and please stop following every story coming through the news channels.... but then I noticed something: Why am I so concerned with this? Why do I put my attention on all these people addicted to negative news?
So I decided to turn around and from now on, only focus on those who get it, who are waking up, and who are remembering. There's plenty of those to go around! My attention is put to much better use in things I prefer! And I prefer that ❤
I see so much pain. I see so many wanting to FIGHT. This is the right message, at the right time, for all those who can receive it.
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February 2017


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Community focused and befriending Church located in the strategic place on a cosmopolitan regeneration housing estate.
We are a family of The Foursquare Gospel Church, Great Britain with roots in the North America. Collaborating with statutory and other sectors, we complement as we are also complemented in reaching and relieving hardship of residents and users of our community with special attention to leading people to Jesus Christ, the Living Way, as opportuned.
The Dining Place
7 The Concourse


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*Note: In this post I will be using heterosexual relationships as the main example due to the ultimate point. However, this type of abuse is not discriminatory; it can — and does — occur in all romantic (and sometimes even platonic) relationships.
Coercive Control
Coercive control is a type of domestic abuse in which the abuser uses the following tactics to keep the victim in line:
- Manipulation
- Isolation
- Gaslighting
- Withholding affection as a form of punishment
- Degradation of character
- Stalking
When you search Google for "coercive control", the very first option that comes up is an article from the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. In that article they ask the question, "What is coercive control?" The answer they provide struck me as biased in that it ignores an entire victim group:
"Coercive control is a strategic course of oppressive behavior designed to secure and expand gender-based privilege by depriving women of their rights and liberties and establishing a regime of domination in personal life."
There is no doubt that women suffer greatly from domestic abuse of all kinds. Sadly, it is a very common occurrence in America. More than 90% of women who are victims of homicide are killed by a man that they know. Of those murders, 63% are murdered by an intimate partner.
This article is not meant to trivialize the horrific epidemic that is violence against women; it is only meant to bring awareness to the fact that men can be victims, too. By stating that only women are victims of coercive control, we are perpetuating harmful stereotypes against both men and women and making it even more difficult for men to feel comfortable speaking out.
Normalizing Abuse
This is so pervasive that it is a major part of our TV shows, movies and even commercials. Think about some of the most popular sitcoms in America; the characters in the shows commonly fall under certain tropes, namely the bossy wife and the idiot, "whipped" or childish husband. We see it so often that we have become accustomed to it.
Our society sees controlling wives as the norm and husbands who are treated badly by their wives as weak or dumb. I have two problems with this. First, it is toxic toward women in that it portrays all wives as controlling, manipulative and demanding. Second, it normalizes abuse against men and perpetuates the stereotype that any man who is in a relationship of this kind is not only not a victim, but they are actually lesser of a man.
When we discover that the man in a relationship is controlling, manipulative and/or tears down his spouse to keep them dependent upon him, we immediately call it abuse — because that is what it is.
Yet, when we discover that the woman in a relationship is doing those same exact things, at best we see it as normal and at worst we see the wife as a "bitch", but we do not tend to see it as abuse.
When a man tells his friends that he can't hang out because his wife won't allow it, he is made fun of for being whipped or weak and/or told that's just a normal part of marriage. When a woman tells her friends that she can't hang out because her husband won't allow it, she is told she is being abused and is encouraged to kick him to the curb.
Final Thoughts
Now, I am a firm believer in the idea that if you want a good spouse you have to be a good spouse. There are couples out there where the man doesn't try and the woman is left to do everything. I am not talking about those couples. I'm talking about the couples in which the man does everything right and is still treated like either an idiot or as if he is unfaithful.
It is time for society to catch up and stop perpetuating these stereotypes which are harmful to both men and women. As a feminist, this issue is particularly important to me because I believe that we should treat everyone equally across the board. It is not right to ignore genuine issues that affect men just because they affect women more.
In my mind, abuse is abuse no matter the gender of the perpetrator and injustice is injustice, no matter the gender of the victim.


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BIFF: Batman Arkham City Collector's Edition
"How do you feel about special editions of games, John?" the entire internet asks me at once. Well, let me answer. They're alright, aren't they? While I take issue with any inclusion of exclusive DLC – because that's just so stupid it makes my ears bleed – any old guff they want to stick in an over-sized box is okay by me. And so it is that Batman: Arkham City has revealed what will be inside its bonus box. Although somewhat unofficially, as these details – as Joystiq reveal – have appeared on Gamestop and Best Buy's sites before any proper announcement or press release was put out. Which may also explain why no spec ed has been announced for the PC, which is obviously just an oversight by the online stores, and not Warner being stupid beyond belief.
So what do you get for the eye-blinkingly silly $99 the Americans will be asked to pay for the box? According to Best Buy, it seems to involve some sort of magic spells that will cause the game to leap from your monitor, Last Action Hero-style, into your room:
Collector's Edition includes a premium statue, an art book, Gotham Knight animated content, early access to digital add-on content and more
– Premium statue is produced by Kotobukiya to bring the excitement of the game into the real world
– Flip through the pages of a brilliantly illustrated art book to soak up all the Arkham City content available
– Get a jump on the competition when you receive exclusive access to add-on content before anyone else
– Gotham Knight animated content brings the story to life
I'm a touch disturbed by this notion that the "animated content" brings the story to life. I don't really want the Joker and his criminal buddies running around the Bath area. But I am absolutely taken by the incredibly sweet idea that a statue of something from the game will bring the excitement of the game into the real world.
I have this image of the marketing department sat with the statues on their desks, acting out the game with each other, shouting, "PUNCH! PUNCH! My Batman totally punched your Batman to DEATH." Then they all stop, look into each other's eyes, and sigh, "This is as exciting as playing the game!" It is a good image.
Quite what "exclusive access to add-on content before anyone else" means I'm not sure. Is it exclusive access, or early access? The latter I can live with. The former can bugger off. Presumably they mean "exclusive" in the same way that gaming magazines mean "exclusive" where it means… nothing whatsoever.
And maybe I've wasted your time and mine in telling you about this, because the bastards are only releasing the toys for the console crowds.


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Whether an experienced or novice climber, try your hand at bouldering in the unique forest setting of Fontainebleau, France.
Prices from $595
The forest of Fontainebleau is renowned for being the biggest and best bouldering venue in Europe, if not the world. Its mix of atmospheric forest settings, unusual rock formations and acres of sand, sets it miles apart from other climbing venues. However, the key to Fontainebleau's popularity is its abundance of easily accessible boulders – thousands of them! The forests create a magical, unique and unusual setting for such an adventurous outdoor activity: a peaceful backdrop to simply just enjoy the scenery. Active conservation schemes are also being carried out in this area due to the rich abundance of bird species, mammals and butterflies. Interestingly, it is an area of active erosion, and so boulders are constantly changing shape, making it a site where climbers can return and continually have new experiences, another reason why this destination is so popular.
French alpine climbers have practiced bouldering here since the 19th century and even today it still remains an active sports location. The historical town is located approximately 35 miles south of Paris, a hilly forest full of diversity, culture and boulders. It has continuously remained at the centre of world bouldering since the 1930s, and is within a reachable distance from the UK. It is such an exceptional area exhibiting so many desirable characteristics including excellent soft and sandy landings, a positive and active local environment, historical interests, and a huge potential for development, and yet it is not a well known tourist destination.
This trip is suitable for climbers of all experience levels. If you are travelling from London, the short journey will be fun-filled too, as you get to know and travel along with like-minded individuals.
A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.
Whether you're looking to take the leap from indoor climbing wall to rock, or you're just looking for a fun weekend adventure with a group of climbers, this road trip to Fontainebleau could be exactly what you're looking for!
There is a vast array of bouldering opportunities over a range of difficulties on a variety of circuits. Interestingly it is an area of active erosion, and so boulders are constantly changing shape, making it a site where climbers can return and continually have new experiences, another reason why this destination is so popular.
The organised road trip is a great way to travel with a group of people with similar interests, with your accommodation and travel taken care of. All you have to do is enjoy the ride!
Over the three days, you will be spending your time bouldering and climbing. You will get to experience how sandstone boulders are great for climbing, because they are a fantastic quality and make any unfortunate landings soft! The complex manoeuvre of body positions and foot positions means that your success is a result of a physical workout, leaving you surprisingly satisfied and very addicted, even after such a short trip. You'll also be able to choose a circuit to suit your abilities, with the excitement of changing to a different circuit on day 2. Evenings will be spent relaxing with your group at the campsite.
Please aim to arrive at the Mile End Climbing Wall, by the Regents Canal in London at 6:00pm on the Friday where you will be picked up by the bus. Other pick-up options are available, please speak to your Frontier coordinator for more information. Once everyone has been collected, you will set off for Dover to make the ferry crossing before making your way down to the campsite at Fontainbleau in relative comfort on our luxury coach.
Your accommodation at Fontainebleau will actually be within the luxury coach you travelled on. You will have your own private bunk with privacy curtains, a light, freshly laundered sheets, a duvet and pillow, so bringing your own is not required. This also means that you do not need a sleeping bag or tent, meaning you can pack extremely lightly. Although you will be sleeping on the bus, you will be located within campsites where you can use the facilities, such as a shower and Western-style toilet.
As food is not included, you will be required to buy some on the Saturday morning of your trip when the bus stops at a local supermarket. You will only need to buy enough for 1-2 days. If you so desire, you can also bring your own food from home, as the bus has an onboard fridge and cooking facilities. Cereal and snacks are a good idea for everyone to bring as well!
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2019 dates:
7th - 9th of June
19th - 21st of July
3 days / 2 nights
For detailed information on flights, visas and insurance, click here.
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To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.


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Ebook publishing offers a new lease on life for reprinting old novels but what about short stories and classic anthologies? Successful novels tend to stay in print, but not anthologies. I suppose editors buy rights for a limited time and when the anthology goes out of print they no longer have the rights to use the stories any more. But I'd sure love to have a lot of classic science fiction anthologies on my Kindle.
I like my Kindle best for reading short stories. I've been getting the annual Dozois and Hartwell/Cramer collections for my Kindle for a couple years now and it really works out well. The Dozois book is HUGE with small print, so its much easier to plow through the volume reading on an ebook.
I wished Dozois and the Hartwell/Cramer collections were available on audio, but alas they are not. But I do get The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction series, edited by Allan Kastor, now in it's third year.
So I'm well covered on current stories, but what about classic science fiction short stories?
What if it was possible to reprint classic anthologies, which ones would I want?
Adventures in Time and Space edited by Healy and McComas
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1964
Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 2
Asimov's Great SF Stories (series 1-25, 1939-1963)
The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Judith Merril Year's Greatest (1956-59) and Year's Best S-F (1960-66)
World's Best Science Fiction (1965-1971) edited by Wollheim and Carr
The 1972-1990 Annual World's Best SF edited by Donald A. Wollheim
Best Science Fiction of the Year edited by Terry Carr (1-16)
The Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois 1984-present
This hardly scratches the surface of great science fiction anthologies, but by using the annual bests it systematically covers all the years from 1939 to the present. And we can capture the 1930s with these two collections.
Before the Golden Age edited by Isaac Asimov
Science Fiction of the Thirties edited by Damon Knight
I could go back even further with the Sam Moskowitz collections like Under the Moons of Mars and Science Fiction by Gaslight.
If only all these fantastic collections could be reprinted as ebooks, or better yet, as audio books. I suppose some enterprising publisher and editor could look at the stories in all these collections and seek to get reprint rights and create a new series of anthologies. They could call it Classic Science Fiction for the Digital Age and publish it in a series of volumes for ebooks and audio.
Would there be much of an audience for this old science fiction? I don't know. Project Guttenberg is reprinting a lot of early science fiction in multiple ebook formats that often include the original art. Take a look at this September 1930 issue of Astounding Magazine. It's beautifully laid out for html, but also offers many ebook formats here.
Copyrights will keep modern science fiction, like what's in most of the best of the best-of anthologies above out of these public domain offerings, which is rather sad. It means most of those stories will probably be never read again. Of course, I don't know if there are readers for these public domain reprints. I do wish someone would make an easy to use app to add the Project Guttenberg issues of Astounding to my iPad. I'll have to experiment with this and write about it in a future blog.


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'Japan World Cup 3': Everything's Made Up and the Points Don't Matter
Over the years, Japan has earned a reputation for producing some of the most bizarre and highly entertaining content on the planet. Thanks to games like Japan World Cup 3, it's easy to see why.
Originally released in 2011, Japan World Cup is a computer-generated Web browser game in which players bet on the outcomes of races that feature jockeys riding anything from a Trojan horse to a Yeti. In 2012, these predetermined scenes were compiled into three DVDs (a copy of Japan World Cup 3 can be purchased for $34.49 on Amazon).
To say that the racing sequences are absurd would be an understatement. In May, Hightower and AxialMatt of the Achievement Hunter Community Video channel uploaded a five-minute clip with footage from the third DVD to YouTube. The insanity of the game — which features a horse on its hind legs doing the Charleston as well as a limousine equine with multiple naked jockeys on its back — coupled with the hilarious reaction heard on the voice-overs, is a great recipe for laughs.
On Sunday, the clip was unearthed and posted on Reddit's r/videos, where it has received more than 2,840 karma points and has stayed on the front page of the subreddit.
The redditors' reactions to Japan World Cup 3 were basically the same ones I had.
"I mean, I accept wtf out of Japan on a daily basis, but this… I don't even. How tf is this a 'game'?" asked a baffled fatkiddown.
"Game of the year, all years," added jinxs2026.
"Get DVD, TV, friends, beer," suggested Smachface. "Bet sips of beer (for added fun, create and print Horse Bux in MSpaint for throwing and stacking. Have the best night."
That's precisely what I'll be doing this Friday.
Image: YouTube, AH Community
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This article originally published at The Daily Dot here


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TBR List Declutter, Issue 47
Tangent: Duplicity, or Junior High: You Can Check Out, but You Can Never Leave
The other day I hosted an event at my house. One of those who attended brought a friend who was visiting from out of town. They were the first to arrive, so after we made our introductions, I sat down with them to chat. Watching this person's body language, (turning away from me and towards the other person), vocal volume and direction, and conversational content (inside jokes with the other person), it soon became clear that, although the out-of-town friend seemed willing to include me, this person didn't want me to be part of the conversation.
This confused me, and I pondered the situation after I'd politely excused myself to try to find something to do in the kitchen. This person is someone I see at least weekly, and at those meetings, we speak comfortably to one another. We joke and share stories, and I think of this person as a friend. Perhaps not a "bosom friend" as Anne Shirley would say, but a friend I'd invite to my house for snacks and conversation. It didn't make sense to me that this person would want to talk with me while our children played at the park, but not when sitting in front of me in my living room.
Along these same lines, there have been a couple of occasions with another not-bosom friend here in which I mentioned or asked about something this person had posted on Facebook, and they mumbled and turned away. Their reaction was so confusing to me that I went back to Facebook when I got home and made sure that I'd friended the right person. I guess I can't be entirely sure, but they looked alike, and they had the same name and the same children, so I feel fairly confident this was the same person. So why would they act in a manner that suggested I had the wrong person?
It's like these two individuals are entirely different people in different contexts. My spouse relates it to a need to appear "cool," and maybe it's as simple as that. If being cool is the most important thing, then it makes sense to act differently depending on whom you're with and what you think they would see as cool.
And now I read over that paragraph and the word "cool" seems so 1980's, so junior-high that I just feel blah about the whole situation. If this really is the case, making friends here may well be more difficult than I'd anticipated. Because not only am I not cool (or at least not intentionally cool, which, of course, makes me cool), I am deeply suspicious of "cool." I did enough trying to fit in and especially trying to fit in with the cooler kids during my school years to know that when I try to chameleon my way through social situations, I behave in ways that don't make me proud of myself.
So I've adopted a "what you see is what you get" way of being.
I do my best to listen more than I talk and when I do talk, both to say what I mean and to mean what I say. I try to be who I am in every situation, which I hope is kind or at least not unnecessarily rude, tactless, or offensive, because often when I'm being myself, it's honest, but it's not pretty.
I don't wear makeup, I don't shave, I don't wear Spanks, I get my hair cut once a year, and it's been almost a decade since my last professional "mani-pedi" and even then I only got clear polish. Not that you can't be honest and do these things, just that if I did them, I wouldn't be honest. On me, those things are an act, and since I want to engage with the world from a place of honesty and openness, I avoid doing them.
As a result, I am not good at cultivating an image. I try to write the way I talk, and I try to be the same person on social media I am in real life. And most of my friends are—or seem to be—the same way.
Is this a California thing? My spouse certainly thinks so, and much of the evidence I've gathered seems to point in that direction, but there's other evidence that doesn't support that hypothesis but rather suggests that while a particular culture might support more duplicity or chameleon-like behavior, it exists everywhere. And besides, the two people I mentioned above aren't from California, and for all intents and purposes, I am.
Is it a "stages of life" thing? Is mid-life a reflection of middle school?
And because I'm the common element in these situations, I can't ignore the possibility that it's me. Maybe my insistence on talking with people who don't want to talk with me forces them to be rude and/or evasive to get me to leave them alone. That's not a pleasant possibility, but it's a possibility.
Whatever it is, I'm going to keep on doing my best to be who I am—and hopefully the best of who I am—in all situations, both when people are looking and when they're not.
Visual Interest:
Wondering what this is all about? Check out the introductory post.
Titles 651-670:


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- Community Blog
- Tales of Adventure
Flyin' High
In January, 1999, I received a citation for speeding in the "Land of Enchantment", otherwise known as the State of New Mexico. I was eastbound on I-40, near the Acoma Sky City Casino at the 102 yardstick, when I was pulled over and given this particular "driving award." En route from San Diego, CA, to Altoona, PA, I was draggin' a wagonload of Class 9 lead solder waste across the desert when a State Trooper clocked me at 85 miles per hour. To this day, I keep a framed copy of this citation on the wall of my room, to be read by all who enter, and I cherish this framed copy for the following reasons...
On that fateful morning, I woke with a fierce hangover in the lot of the Flying Hook in Winslow, AZ. Crawling slowly from my sleeper to a greasy buffet table---the kind where Pepto is served as a legitimate beverage---I attempted to placate the hundred-foot tapeworm which dwells in my small intestine. The cholesterol feast proved to be excessively rancid, and my system was no match for it: even the ravenous worm had to back down from this worthy foeman. With stinking breath and queasy stomach, I pushed my fourth plate aside and made my way to a private stall, where I gratefully conducted the "purge phase" before taking a long, hot shower.
Shakily returning to my truck, which was idling away with the A/C cranked to "Max Cool", I flipped a few switches, staggered through my PTI (Pre-Trip Inspection) with hammer in hand, grudgingly updated my "Comic Book" (Driver's Daily Log required by law and falsified on a regular basis), yanked a soda out of my cooler, put the truck in gear and hit the f-----g road... Stepping onto I-40, I wound up the rig until I was in the big hole, eastbound and down, as in HAMMER DOWN, stickin' to the left lane and eatin' company trucks for breakfast while tearing at high speed through the desolation. For personal entertainment, I prepped a tape, keyed my CB mike, and gave the other drivers a dose of Patsy Cline as I blew past: "YOU WALK BY AND I FALL TO PIECES..." Good ol' Patsy, a perennial favorite.
It was a glorious morning, nothing but blue skies and sunshine... apart from my lingering hangover, all was right with the world. This was the second day of a ten-day jaunt, and I had every intention of "trashin' around" at the Hook in OKC before midnight; since this particular assigned truck of mine topped out at 86 miles per hour, the weather was beautiful, road conditions were excellent, and traffic was relatively light, this was a perfectly realistic expectation. On all PA runs, I spent my second night out at the Hook in "Oak City", even though I couldn't "legally" log my arrival until early the following morning. In those days, the Hook in OKC was the Wild West, a classic venue for the "nightly radio comedy programme"---a CB Babylon of @$$hole truckers, dope peddlers, whores slingin' @$$, crackerheads, and assorted fringe elements to whom I collectively refer under the appellation "CIRCUS MAXIMUS."
Ah, yes, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I felt my adrenalin surge as I barrelled through some curves... Truck driving always reminds me of skateboarding, with these subtle exceptions: the "skateboard" weighs nearly 40 tons, it is articulated, and it does well over 100 miles per hour downgrade (if you let it rip). The highest number shown on my speedometer is "85", but when the needle is pegged, an experienced driver knows when he's past the hypothetical century mark. This speed is NOT recommended for rookie drivers: ALL TRAINEES SHOULD OBSERVE THE POSTED LIMIT.
When traveling 86 miles per hour on the flat, a professional truck driver can't be too careful. When I was at the wheel of that [email protected]$$ Eagle, soaring on mechanical wings with my spirit light as a feather, I would constantly scan the road and terrain ahead, alert to developing situations which involved potential danger. Frequently, I would SLOW DOWN TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES, especially vehicles in convoy, wherein some inexperienced or inattentive driver (i.e. one who cannot correctly estimate the speed of an overtaking rig by looking in his or her mirror) might pull out to pass directly in front of me, thereby causing a heller wreck and possibly ending my OTR (Over-The-Road) career. I have no desire to be listed in my obituary as "the filling in a semi sandwich."
Oversized vehicles are another concern. Only a complete f-----g fool runs up at high speed on an oversized rig... better to slow down, hail the driver on the CB and state one's intention to pass, select the safest and most appropriate opportunity (a straightaway with wide shoulders is preferable to a bridge or blind curve), then smoothly accelerate past while giving the other driver plenty of room. If there's no CB in your vehicle, the same rules still apply. I can't believe how many stupid f-----g four-wheelers DIE every year because they don't understand how to pass an 18-wheeler, let alone an oversized rig.
Back to my story... I roared across the New Mexico line and geared down to enter the P.O.E. chickenhouse (Port Of Entry/D.O.T. scale). After a cursory examination of my documents, a D.O.T. bear waved me through and I slowly wound 'er up to roll through Gallup. Blowing out the eastern side of town, I mashed my motor and quickly had my truck up to cruising speed. I had over 300 miles to drive before I hit the next permanent weigh station in San Jon; the D.O.T. in New Mexico has been known to set up portable scales in rest areas and flag down all trucks, but on that beautiful morning my instincts told me this would not happen, thus four-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted driving lay between me and the San Jon chickenhouse. My hangover steadfastly refused to die, and a bold new idea crept into my consciousness, a brazen concept, a brash notion, something which I had never even considered in light of the serious consequences, the enormous responsibility, the tremendous potential for outright f-----g disaster...
Hidden in a storage compartment behind my seat, on the upper left-hand side of my sleeper, was an airtight cylindrical plastic container, the kind made to hold a roll of 35mm film. Inside that container were jammed two fat spleefs of heller chronic, all that remained from an eightball of nuclear weed purchased prior to my last off-duty camping trip (my friends and I took my tractor to the high desert and had a blast). I was saving those fatties for the Hook in OKC---outbound and return trip---but a wild hair prompted me to burn one of those delbers in a last-ditch effort to annihilate my hangover. Groping for the canister, I extracted one reefer and lit the sonofabitch with the truck lighter as I thundered down the highway.
Cracking the wing window, I slowly inhaled and savored the exquisite flavor of that killer ganja. It was "medical marijuana"---one hit was enough to put the user in a friggin' wheelchair. I proceeded to burn the whole damned thing while flying down the interstate; the nearest eastbound vehicle was over a mile away, so I was free to relax and enjoy this forbidden pleasure. My CB radio remained strangely silent... not one word of speed cops or D.O.T. bears was uttered that morning. As I felt the dope kick in, I laughed out loud at the irony of the situation. There I was, a driver who normally observed all safety precautions and rigidly adhered to a drug-free lifestyle (with the exception of alcohol and the rare occasional hit of chronic while camping off duty), FLYIN' HIGH WHILE THUNDERING ACROSS THE DESERT WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF HAZARDOUS WASTE... Yeah, I was sure those boys in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division would be suitably impressed---they probably would have asked for my autograph back at the bear den, right after they emptied my pockets and removed those shiny new bracelets, don'tcha know?
When I had consumed three-quarters of the spleef, I took a swig of soda and ate the live damned roach. I didn't want it stinking up the cab; unlit weed is one thing, but a roach can be smelled from a mile away. I then lit a cigarette and settled comfortably into my air-ride seat, to devote my full concentration to the task of driving under the influence. For the next forty or fifty miles, I was totally locked into driving, focused with intensity and radically attuned to my environment. My perceptions were seemingly heightened by the chronic, and I soared over the terrain like a great raptor, wheeling gracefully through turns and swooping into valleys... each curve or passing maneuver was an exhibition of fluid grace, and the adrenalin coursed through my veins as I drew raw power from that Caterpillar engine. I existed blissfully in a separate reality, far from the hideous blight of "civilization." It was an intense experience, and I shall never forget it.
As I approached the century yardstick, my CB crackled, and a westbound driver told me I "looked good back to Albuquerque." I hadn't seen a single bear since I left the chickenhouse on the other side of Gallup; after reciprocating the westbound driver's "professional courtesy," I turned off my CB and slipped a cassette into my tape player. Albuquerque was still fifty miles away, and I felt like jammin' to music while flyin' high across the desert... since I had never driven high before in an 18-wheeler, I viewed the introduction of music as an experiment conducted solely in the interest of science. The sweet strains of the intro to "Mr. Crowley" raised my consciousness to a new level, and I really began to rock in high gear, cutting off four-wheelers in majestic slow motion while making ninety miles per hour down some pindick grade. Ah, the INTENSITY of it all, with my music cranked to the absolute limit!!! Sound and fury, sweetness and light, pure adrenalin and maniacal laughter...
I was out in the hammer lane, flyin' past the Acoma Sky City Casino at the 102 yardstick, when I noticed "disco lights" in my West Coast mirror. F------G DISCO LIGHTS, when that @$$hole trucker just told me I looked good back to Albuquerque!!! Cursing that d!ckhead for the rookie that he obviously was, I geared down and pulled over at the first safe location, a wide shoulder somewhere near the 103 yardstick. With my flashers on, I waited for the State Trooper to make his way up the shotgun side of my truck, industrial-sized citation booklet in hand. The party was over, and my festive mood was superseded by a mild case of paranoia brought on by the weed. Lifting my sunglasses and looking in the vanity mirror clipped to my visor, I saw that my eyes were bloodshot and my pupils dilated---I was still clearly F-----G STONED TO THE UTMOST COSMIC ELEVATION, and there was nothing to do but brazen it out. I set my sunglasses on the dash: better to tell the cop I was tired, rather than act as if I had something to hide...
Killing my CB and cutting my motor as the State Trooper arrived at my shotgun door, I reached over to unlock the door, swung it open, and invited him to ascend into the cab. By law, an officer must have verbal permission from the driver, probable cause (the sight of empty beer bottles rolling around, for example), or a f-----g warrant prior to entering a commercial vehicle. Since my logbook was in good shape, my documentation in order, and the interior of my cab spotless, I intended to conceal my impaired condition by acting in a friendly manner and cooperating from the start. My commitment to a bold plan served me well, and I didn't dwell upon the fact that I HAD BEEN PULLED OVER BY A FULL-GROWN BEAR WHILE OPERATING A PLACARDED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HELLER CHRONIC. The State Trooper glanced around my cab, nonchalantly declined my invitation to enter and have a seat, and rested one gleaming jackboot upon the lower running board of my truck. A brief exchange ensued:
"Do you know why I stopped you?," he asked, in a mild tone.
"Uh... SPEEDING???????"
"Know how fast you were going?," he inquired.
"EIGHTY-SIX???????" Due to its gearing and rear end configuration, that particular truck topped out at 86 miles per hour on the flat, and I wasn't going to bullsh!t the guy after he caught me fair and square by hiding in the bushes.
"I clocked you at 85," he said, while pulling a pen from his pocket and flipping open his citation booklet. I removed my license from my wallet and foraged for registration and proof of insurance in my permit book as the bear proceeded to make out my "driving award." Several minutes elapsed as he filled in the blanks, and an occasional truck roared past on the interstate. I swigged soda from a bottle and politely waited for him to finish the job. Bracing myself for bad news, I eventually asked the inevitable question:
"Well, what's the damage?"
"Fifty-four dollars."
"FIFTY-FOUR DOLLARS!!!!!!!," I exclaimed, with a broad smile breaking across my face. I was elated, I was ecstatic, I was absolutely overjoyed that this ticket was only going to cost $54, as opposed to $154 or $254. I was also the first @$$hole in the History of New Mexican Law Enforcement to grin like a damned f-----g fool while receiving a driving award, even though I had just been clocked at 85 miles per hour with a wagonload of Class 9 Hazardous Waste. Try that in California (double nickel for trucks) and you'll soon discover a new meaning for the phrase "cell phone."
"FIFTY-FOUR DOLLARS!!!!!!! Damn, that's a BARGAIN!!!!!!! It cost me SEVENTY to go 68 in the Buckeye!!!!!!!" (Ohio is also a double nickel state, or was at the time.)
At this point in our conversation, the State Trooper pulled down his aviator shades, in the style and manner of David Lee Roth, and LOOKED AT ME AS IF I WERE HIGH, WHICH OF COURSE I STILL WAS... I smiled at him, and I could hear the cogs whirring in his brain as he mentally catalogued me as an imbecile. He handed back my documentation, along with the speeding ticket, and I complimented him upon his professionalism. After bidding him farewell, I shut the door, crammed all of the paperwork into an overhead compartment, noted the time for logging purposes, fired up the truck, turned on my CB, looked in my mirrors, waited for the State Trooper to clear the @$$ end of my trailer, checked both mirrors again, eased the truck off the shoulder into the roadway, and GOT THE F--- OUT OF THERE before the bear had a chance to think twice about our encounter...
That was the first and last time I ever smoked dope behind the wheel of a big truck. Five or six days after I received that driving award, I stopped at the Armadillo Walmart (Amarillo, TX) to purchase a cheesy three-dollar document frame. Taking a copy of my citation, I highlighted the boxes showing that I only paid $54 for running 85 miles per hour in a 75 mile per hour zone. In the "Remarks" section, I added: "PULLED OVER WHILE BAKED!!!!!!!" When I hit my "Home 20" of Coronado, CA, I drove directly to my friend's surf shop and proudly displayed my new driving award, cheesy frame and all... not every driver in a [email protected]$$ company truck can PROVE THAT HE DID 85 WHILE STONED ON LEVEL TERRAIN WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF CLASS 9 HAZARDOUS WASTE.
More like this:
- A Classic Footrace — Oct. 13, 2011
- The $300 Gnat — Oct. 12, 2011
- The Blue Angels Of Truck Driving — April 2, 2011
- Internet Rambo!!! — March 26, 2011
- Ice Storm — March 1, 2011
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Ajay Jadeja, the former Indian middle-order batsman, is due to return from the USA without playing in any of the American Pro Cricket (APC) matches. This came about after the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed the players to keep off the event following instructions from the International Cricket Council.
The ICC had clearly said that the only body that they recognized was the USA Cricket Association (USACA), an associate member of the ICC, which would mean that this tournament would not come under their purview.
The Indo-Asian News Service quoted Jadeja's wife, Aditi Jaitly as saying, "Ajay is not playing in the matches over there and he is coming back home within a week. He is coming back because there is no clarity in the instructions issued by the board."
Aditi confirmed that Jadeja had not played in any of the matches in the league. "I was also in the US until June 29, and to the best of my knowledge, he has not played any match of the league. He only played an exhibition match on June 19. Subsequently, he withdrew after the BCCI issued its instructions. But I don't know if there was any written contract between APC and Jadeja."
Besides Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi and Nikhil Chopra - both former Indian cricketers - were also in the USA to take part in the eight-team league, which began on Friday. Whether both of them will be returning along with Jadeja, is not known at the moment.
The same agency reported LK Sanghvi, Rahul's father, as saying, "I don't think he will be returning home soon, but I have not talked to him." The official site of APC, mentions that Jadeja, Sanghvi and Chopra, will conduct a three-day cricket camp for Under-15 cricketers.
However, the BCCI's stance is still unclear and whether this ruling holds for contracted players from the Test-playing countries or for all first-class cricketers is not certain. "The instructions from the ICC were very clear," said SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI. "The contracted players cannot play in the league, and we put that out in a press release last month."
Several cricketers - including Vinod Kambli, Sanjay Bangar and Deep Dasgupta - had initially sought permission from the BCCI to play in the league.