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The Shetucket River Valley in south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut is a blank spot on the map—and that's entirely a positive, not an indictment. Look at a night image of the East Coast taken from space, and it's a constellation of artificial light from Washington, D.C., to Boston… except for this mysterious dark void: one of the largest, unbroken tracts of wilderness in coastal New England.
Dubbed the "Last Green Valley," it's somewhat ironically colocated with one of Massachusetts' most-visited and best-known tourist attractions: Old Sturbridge Village. The 230-room Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center was our base for exploring both. This full-service hotel, built around a handsome former optical factory, mainly caters to meeting groups during the week, but it offers some nice package deals to leisure travelers, as well, especially on weekends.
This Unspoiled Region Offers More Than Meets the Eye
Storybook New England Awaits
Even travelers familiar with the Berkshires may not be aware of all there is to explore along the stretch of the Mass Pike (I-90) between Springfield and Boston. That's because this region is decidedly low-key, with its rolling hills and gentle valleys, stony farmlands and sleepy former mill towns—the essence, to many eyes, of storybook New England. For harried New Yorkers and Bostonians, it's a great place to unwind just a few hours' drive from the urban bustle.
Within a few miles' drive along scenic country roads, you'll find thousands of acres of parkland including the Nipmuck State Forest, the Yale Meyer Forest, Bigelow Hollow State Park and the Natchaug State Forest, offering an impressive variety of outdoor activities including camping, hiking, boating, fishing, biking, hunting, horseback riding and night-sky programs. All are part of the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, a federal-state partnership that includes 35 towns in south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut.
Among those towns is Southbridge, Massachusetts: a former center for optical manufacturing with a compact but lively downtown. Red-brick former factory buildings have been converted to hotels and museums, notably the Optical Heritage Museum. It's home to "one of the largest collections of spectacle frames and ophthalmic optics items in the world," and… it's more interesting than it sounds. Exhibits feature antique eyeglasses, vintage ads and precision manufacturing tools—many invented by local companies like American Optical, ZEISS and SOLA.
Tempting Tastes and Bygone Times in the Last Green Valley
Getting into the spirit of fall, we stopped at Brookfield Orchards in Brookfield, Connecticut, to pick apples and sample their famous apple dumplings—a whole, cored apple inside a flaky pastry served with a side of vanilla ice cream. An old barn houses a country store and gift shop, as well as a working apple washer that you can see in action.
If you want to go the full New England, this region offers ample choices to dine in traditional country inns like The Duck in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, or grab a communal breakfast at a locals' spot like Annie's Country Kitchen, also in Sturbridge. But there's fine dining to be had in these hills, too. We had great sushi at 85 Main in charming Putnam, Connecticut, followed by adult beverages and live music at the neighboring Stomping Ground bar. And we lunched the next day on chef Brian Treitman's divine dry-rub barbecue at B.T.'s Smokehouse in Sturbridge.
Brewpubs and wineries are also part of the local mix in the Last Green Valley. Check out Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret, Connecticut, for fine dining and tastings including their delightful Ballet of Angels white table wine. When you're ready to indulge, the Farmer's Cow "Calfe" and Creamery in Mansfield, Connecticut, serves award-winning ice cream made from fresh, local milk.
A New England Must-See
Not to be overlooked, of course, is Old Sturbridge Village: a 200-acre living-history museum that's intriguing to visit any time of year and especially beautiful in the fall, when we dropped in for an afternoon of strolling the pastoral grounds. The attraction is always alive with demonstrations of everyday life in the 1830s including cooking (mind the flies!), blacksmithing and weaving. We especially enjoyed the interactive aspects of the village—a carriage ride or short river cruise will give you a different perspective on the landscape—and appreciated Old Sturbridge Village's efforts to liven up the experience by hosting a variety of special events. An antique car rally is held in June, a craft beer festival in September and the hugely popular Christmas Traditions by Candlelight program on select nights in December.
If you're going… The Last Green Valley Web site and this map and visitors' guide will help you plan a getaway to this unspoiled New England region.


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Since 2010, children's centres have seen a 62 per cent cut in funding. Spending by local authorities on children's centres is now almost £1 billion lower than at the start of the decade. In the last three years, more than a 1,000 centres have not been inspected for quality of services after the government suspended Ofsted inspection.
Reductions in spending have translated into closure and service cutbacks. The Sutton Trust estimates more than a 1,000 centres have closed since 2009. The government's own figures show 548 have closed with a further 722 no longer offering the full range of services they have in the past.
Despite much focus on the number of centres closing there has been less attention paid to how this affects the number of children and families using centres.
Based on a Freedom of Information request our new report, Closed Doors, provides a new, national figure of estimated children's centre use. Our analysis has found the number of children using centres has fallen by an estimated 18 per cent - from 2.2 million to 1.8 million between 2014/15 and 2017/18.
While a fall in use could reflect changing levels of need among children and parents, there is little evidence to suggest this is the case. There has been little change in the number of children in need under-five for abuse and neglect and only a two per cent fall in the numbers on child protection plans. Neglect and abuse are the types of issues that parenting programmes delivered by children's centres are ideally placed to address before they escalate.
Deprived areas seeing the biggest fall in use
With local authorities taking different approaches in how they see children's centres working, there are differences in how the number of children using centres has changed across England.
But what is noticeable is the fall in use amongst the most deprived local authorities. In the last four years, these local authorities have seen a 22 per cent fall in the numbers of children using centres, from 324,327 to 253,370. These local authorities continue to have poorer early years outcomes underlining the importance of those services which are designed to help give children the best start in life.
It is clear that funding cuts are playing a big role. Since 2010, the most deprived local authorities have seen their available funding for children's services fall by 37 per cent compared to a 21 per cent fall amongst the least deprived.
This is notable because the more deprived areas have traditionally reported poorer child outcomes in the early years. Our analysis found, the average developmental gap across those local authorities where usage increased had fallen. Conversely, in local authorities where the number of children using centres in the last four years has increased, the gap between low income children and their peers has, on average, closed. In comparison, those local authorities that have seen a fall in use have, on average,
seen the gap increased. This follows recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which found a link between children's centres and improved health outcomes.
Well used but overlooked by government
Our findings paint a worrying picture. But they also show how popular and effective centres remain even with the fall in numbers. They remain comparable to other early year services. In 2017/18, 1.5 million children received free early year education and an estimated 1.7 million were supported by Health Visitors. Similar numbers to those children under-five using centres.
Despite similar figures on use, children's centres have received far less focus from ministers compared to other early years services. A consultation was announced but never published and current reviews won't focus on funding or national policy.
This must change. We need the Government to show leadership and set a clear direction for children centres. This should include, given the current absence of Ofsted inspections, a new outcomes framework to make the most of a vital local resource
Alongside this we need sufficient resources. With a spending review scheduled for later this year, there is a chance for government to address the current funding pressures driving a fall in the number of children using centres. We need to see additional funding given to local authorities to address the estimated £3.1 billion gap they will be facing by 2025. Failure to address this will only lead to further drops in the number of children using centres in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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The number of people killed in this week's garment factory fire in Karachi, Pakistan, is neither final nor official, but the operative description in most press reports is "at least 289"—which, according to NFPA's Fire Analysis & Research Division, would make it by far the deadliest industrial building fire in history.
That unfortunate benchmark had previously been established by the Kader toy factory fire, which killed 188 workers near Bangkok, Thailand, in 1993. Before Kader, the deadliest such incident had been another garment factory fire: the Triangle Waist Co. fire in New York City in 1911, which killed 146 people and led to sweeping reforms in workplace safety in the United States, including the creation of NFPA's Life Safety Code.
Last year, when I was writing the story for NFPA Journal that marked the 100th anniversary of the Triangle fire, I was struck by the lockstep similarity of many of the deadliest garment factory fires over the last century, which now tend to occur in developing (and often struggling) nations from Honduras to Bangladesh: few accessible exits, locked doors, little or nothing in the way of fire protection systems, lax inspection, non-existent enforcement. Such conditions are part of the collateral danger associated with the global garment industry's so-called "race to the bottom," the ongoing search for manufacturing locations that offer the cheapest labor and the fewest regulatory concerns. Every day, millions of workers around the world walk into garment factories that can accurately be described as death traps.
That description is being widely applied to the Ali Enterprises factory in Karachi, which reportedly produced clothing for American and European labels. Reports estimate as many as 2,000 workers were in the multi-story factory on Tuesday evening when the fire began, but that only one exit was available—the rest had been locked. Most of the building's windows were barred. Some people were killed or injured trying to jump to safety, but most of the casualties were workers who, suddenly confronted by smoke and flame, had nowhere to go.
Early reports suggest the fire was caused by an electrical short, which would present yet another layer of regulatory need. "Wali Muhammad, a former electrical inspector, said that most accidental fires are caused by short circuits in equipment," The New York Times reported. "But since 2003, he said, inspectors had been forbidden by law from visiting factories in Karachi and Punjab; it was not immediately clear why."
Perhaps, but it doesn't require a conspiracy theorist to come up with some plausible guesses—none particularly flattering to factory owners or local officials—as to why such a law might exist.
The sad and unnecessary events in Karachi come at a time when NFPA is working with stakeholders around the world to adopt our codes and standards, and when it is partnering with other standards development organizations to promote the use of the most up-to-date versions of safety codes. If anything, the circumstances around the Karachi fire highlight just how advanced and forward-thinking those efforts really are, while people across much of the planet, for a host of reasons, still face staggering fire risks in the course of something as simple as getting up in the morning and going to work. For much of the developing world, the question persists: What will it take to spur the adoption of relevant codes and standards, and even more importantly, what will it take to ensure even a modicum of enforcement?
Meanwhile, opportunity loves a vacuum. The global garment industry has time and again proven itself predatory, unapologetic, and largely unaccountable for its labor and safety practices, and until it is met with code adoption and the will to enforce those codes, it will continue with business as usual, and at a terrible cost. Yesterday's Triangle becomes today's Karachi becomes tomorrow's new deadliest industrial building fire. As a Triangle survivor once put it, the fire still burns.
(Photo: AFP)


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Food & Drink
Escape to the Outer Banks
By Michael H. Cottman, Special to CNN • Published 12th August 2013
Cruising along the Roanoke Sound, 20 bottlenose dolphins crisscrossed the currents as my family and I toured the Outer Banks of North Carolina in a slow-and-easy, 55-foot pontoon.
On a warm summer evening, we joined Captain Johnny's Outer Banks Dolphin Tours in Manteo, North Carolina, which is across the bridge on Roanoke Island.
There are three simple words that tourists are encouraged to shout once someone spots dolphins: "There they are!" (Even the most cautious adult sightseers can't resist yelling when they see a dolphin skimming the surf.)
Life's a beach at Cape Hatteras
Captain Johnny's
guarantees dolphin sightings on each cruise, and the popular boat tour enterprise doesn't disappoint. Halfway through our two-hour cruise, I stopped counting after spotting about 30 playful dolphins surrounding our boat.
"This is a very active group of dolphins today," our guide told us. "We don't know how many dolphins we'll see each day -- but we do know we'll find them."
The dolphin watch cruise -- a must-do activity for families -- leaves from a bayside dock in Manteo, a quaint waterfront town on the eastern side of Roanoke Island where in the late 1800s every store lining the waterfront had a door to come ashore by boat.
Roanoke Island is part of a string of barrier islands that stretches 200 miles along the North Carolina coast.
Driving to the Outer Banks is a great road trip for families; it's a destination that has something for everyone: inexpensive seaside restaurants serving fresh seafood and burgers, boutique shops and outlet stores, mini-golf, boardwalks, fishing, boat tours, ice cream and fudge shops, jet-ski rentals, hang gliding and a range of hotels, bed and breakfasts and oceanfront rental homes and condos.
There are three popular islands in the
Outer Banks
-- Bodie, Roanoke and Hatteras, each with its distinct charm and history but all with some common features: sandy beaches and spectacular ocean views.
Bodie Island includes the communities of Duck, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. Visit the
Wright Brothers National Memorial
in Kill Devil Hills, where the first flight took off on December 17, 1903.
Stop in Nags Head, home to the largest sand dune on the East Coast, Jockey's Ridge, and check out dozens of gorgeous high-end homes. Also visit
Jennette's Pier
for lunch or dinner, fishing and great ocean scenery. The 1,000-foot pier is the oldest pier in the Outer Banks and a great hangout for children.
Check out
, which boasts seven miles of pristine beaches, bike paths and jet skiing. Be sure to walk through town and pick up a pint of homemade ice cream.
On Hatteras Island, visit the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea at the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters. Also tour
the lighthouse
. The first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was lit in 1803,
according to the National Park Service
. At nearly 200 feet tall, the current structure is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. Take time to climb the lighthouse. It's a fun experience for the entire family.
For maritime buffs, also stop by the
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
in Hatteras Village. Exhibits include evidence of numerous shipwrecks around the Outer Banks, the result of treacherous seas.
If you're a pirate enthusiast, then Ocracoke Island, south of Hatteras, is the place for you. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the Outer Banks was a secret base for pirates. They hijacked Spanish and British ships carrying gold and silver and stashed the booty in the crevices of the Outer Banks.
The most famous pirate of the Outer Banks was Edward Teach, also known as "Blackbeard," who frequented
. Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, wrecked off the coast of the Outer Banks in 1718.
For an evening of entertainment and history, plan to see the theatrical stage production "The Lost Colony," the dramatic story of 113 colonists who mysteriously disappeared on Roanoke Island in 1590. The musical is performed in an amphitheater in Manteo, on Roanoke Island, on a stage that is three times the size of most Broadway productions.
English families first settled in the Outer Banks in 1587, and many descendants of the early British pioneers still live on Roanoke Island today.
Don't miss the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, which features the largest collection of sharks in the state as well as an outstanding interactive exhibit for kids called Operation: Sea Turtle Rescue. The 68,000-square-foot aquarium features the Outer Banks' vast aquatic life, including horseshoe crabs, rays and
One of the most popular exhibits in the aquarium is the "touch room," where children can touch rays, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs and other creatures in a safe and controlled environment.
A real treat for aquarium visitors is the high-velocity Hurricane Simulator that generates wind speeds of 78 mph -- the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane. Adults and children stand in line for this exhibit. Don't miss it. It will blow you away.
Where to stay
We stayed overnight in Manteo -- our base in the Outer Banks -- and drove to other places such as Nags Head, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Kill Devil Hills and Pea Island, the site of the first all-black U.S. Coast Guard life-saving station in the late 1800s.
For couples, the
Roanoke Bungalow
is a charming bed and breakfast on a quiet street in Manteo. This family-owned home, originally built in the 1930s, has been renovated and transformed into a delightful and relaxing B&B. And Cheryl Wiggins prepares an outstanding continental breakfast each morning.
Also try the
Tranquil House Inn
in the heart of town. Our second-floor room overlooked the bay and marina. The wine and cheese reception every evening is a nice touch, and a tasty breakfast is included each morning. Rooms are spacious, and the hotel is within walking distance of most local activities.
Where to eat
For a great meal and a wonderful atmosphere, try
the Tranquil House Inn's restaurant. It's a bit pricey but well worth it. If the mahi-mahi is on the menu, order it. Ask for a table overlooking the marina.
For excellent traditional Latin food try
La Cabana
. It's inexpensive, great food and large potions. Try the empanadas, chicken stew and seafood dishes.
Travel tip
If you decide on Captain Johnny's Outer Banks Dolphin Tours, consider the 6 p.m. excursion: The dolphin tour also becomes a fantastic sunset cruise.
A year of the world's
Best Beaches
There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
Go to the best beaches


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Mrs Gabriella Brussino
MA (Auckland)
- Senior Tutor in Italian,
- Study Abroad Adviser
Gabriella Brussino is co-ordinator of language teaching in Italian. She has extensive experience at all levels of language teaching and was granted a Distinguished Teaching Award by The University of Auckland in 1997, as well as a Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award by the Faculty of Arts in 2010.
Research interests
Flexible learning, distance learning resources, language teaching, computer-assisted language learning methodology.
Research | Current
Gabriella Brussino researches in the fields of Methodology of Language Teaching and Learning, Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Flexible Learning (FL). Her research takes an 'interactionist' approach: the answers to some research questions guide the design of language courses and in turn the experience of using the teaching materials developed is reflected upon and produces further research issues.
Teaching | Current
ITALIAN 100 Introductory Italian Language
ITALIAN 107 Italian Language for Beginners 2
ITALIAN 277 Italian Study Abroad 2A
ITALIAN 278 Italian Study Abroad 2B
ITALIAN 300 Advanced Italian Language
ITALIAN 377 Italian Study Abroad 3A
ITALIAN 378 Italian Study Abroad 3B
ITALIAN 379 Study Abroad - Internship
Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)
- Brussino, G. (2011). An Internet-Based language Task, from Conception to Evaluation. Paper presented at EUROCALL, University of Nottingham, UK. 31 August - 3 September 2011.
- Brussino, G. (2011). Voi siete qui…la mappa dell'interlingua. Paper presented at ACIS Sixth Biennial Conference Italian Studies, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus. 13 July - 16 July 2011.
- Brussino, G. (2011). Designing and implementing a language teaching task: the story of two italian beginner courses. Paper presented at AULLA 36th Congress: Storytelling in Literature, Language and Culture, Auckland, N.Z.. 7 February - 9 February 2011.
- Brussino, G. (2009). Credevo che fosse un errore… e invece era un meccanismo di apprendimento linguistico: l'analisi dell'errore e la nozione d'interlingua. Paper presented at ACIS Fifth Biennial Conference: L'Italia nella Grande Migrazione Australasian Centre for Italian Studies, University of Auckland. 18 February - 21 February 2009.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/16773
- Brussino, G. (2008). Italian Language Teaching in the New Zealand Context. Paper presented at New Zealand and the Mediterranean: 15th annual conference of the New Zealand Studies Association, Florence, Italy. 2 July - 4 July 2008.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/16775
- Brussino, G., & Gunn, C. (2008). Australasian Language Learners and Italian Web Sites: A Profitable learning Partnership?. In F. Zhang, B. Barber (Eds.) Handbook of research in Computer Enhanced Language Acquisition and Learning (pp. 1-19). New York: IGI Global.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/11913
- Brussino, G. (2007). A 'Personal' Approach to FLA Using Progetto Italiano 1,2,3: Blending input-processing and action-oriented theories with affective-motivational methods in the classroom. Paper presented at 4th Biennial Conference of the Australian Centre for Italian Studies, Brisbane, Australia. 10 July - 13 July 2007.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/16776
- Brussino, G. (1999). Culture, communication, navigation and CALL: The role of the user interface and video material in a multimedia program for intermediate Italian learners. In K. Cameron (Ed.) CALL and the learning community (pp. 23-30). Exeter, UK: Elm Bank Publications.
Contact details
Primary office location
ARTS 2 - Bldg 207
Level 5, Room 515
New Zealand


text:
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
* Address: Rua José Maria Nicolau, Lisbon
* Country: Portuguese Republic
* Capacity: 64,000
* Opened: 25 October 2003
* Main use: Football
* Tenants: Benfica (football)
Extra stadium info – Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
The construction costs of the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, which is also known as the Estádio da Luz, were €162 million. It hosted the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship final between the Hellenic Republic and the Portuguese Republic. The Hellenic Republic, also known as Greece, won the European championship for national football teams for the first time in their history after beating Portugal. The venue also hosted the 2014 UEFA Champions League final between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, the first-ever final of the tournament between two clubs from Madrid. 60,000 people attended the match, which was won by the world famous club Real Madrid.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica, also known as Águias (Eagles), use the stadium for home games. They won the European championship for football clubs in 1961 and in 1962. The following years, they lost the final of the European championship several times. Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal became the first three Portuguese sports clubs with 1 million followers on their main social media page. In 1958, Sporting Clube de Portugal became the first club with 10 Portuguese top-flight football league titles. Benfica followed in 1960 and FC Porto followed in 1988.


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Got myself a crazy friday's night.. We got Halal Bi Halal Event right after Eid in my office. Each batch should perform something creative to the audiences. My batch (BDP X) prepared nothing but it turns out to be something for us. All day we can stop laughing, it was a long time ago we did something crazy like this.
|Preparing the manlady :)
|A pose before perform..
|Batch X, gangnam style!!!
|Our madness, gangnam style!!
|Those eyeglasess.. ahahaha..
|We got the 2nd place! yeay!!


text:
QAA (Quality Assurance Agency)
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body entrusted with monitoring and advising on standards and quality in UK higher education.
They are dedicated to checking that the three million students working towards a UK qualification get the higher education experience they are entitled to expect.
The QAA describes its role in the following way:
"We are independent of government and of higher education providers, and act in the public interest, for the benefit of students.
We develop guidance that is accepted by all involved in this important sector of the UK economy, and review higher education providers to check whether they meet agreed UK expectations.
While our review work is done under contract with the funding councils (the public bodies that help fund UK higher education), and our guidance is developed through close working with the providers themselves, we act independently of both the funding councils and the higher education sector."
Further information can be found on the QAA website.


text: Hi, I haven't read anything by Lewis, so Jamie, if and when I get done with what I have, I certainly wouldn't mind proofreading some historical fiction. Regards, Kim Friedman. -----Original Message----- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamie Yates, CPhT Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 1:06 AM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: author request Ok I requested Ship That Flew and Harlot Queen. Those are the only two I can get besides I Am Mary Tudor, which Ellen is going to get. Oh wait, I forgot I can mel request now that my library is open again. I can eventually also get: Call Lady Purbeck Catherine by Hilda Lewis (yes that's the title listed by the library even though it's BY Hilda Lewis) The Gentle Falcon Here Comes Harry A Mortal Malice Wife to Charles II Wife to the Bastard The Witch and the Priest -- Jamie in Michigan Currently Reading: Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately Get a free Redbox rental at: http://redbox.tellapal.com/a/clk/y3rdH Earn cash for answering trivia questions every 3 hours: http://instantcashsweepstakes.com/invitations/ref_link/49497 See everything I've read this year at: www.michiganrxtech.com/books.html


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Federal government web administrators certainly have job security these days.
Federal government web administrators certainly have job security these days – due to the 'Open Government Directive' unveiled by President Obama's administration nearly 3 months ago. The 11-page document requires Federal agencies to take immediate steps in the areas of transparency, participation and collaboration. This initiative is designed to empower the public via the internet.
But what does the Directive mean for local government – the closest form of government to the people?
I expect that many forward-thinking local governments will strive to achieve the standards laid out in the Directive. This reminds me of the local response to Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act. While Federal agencies are required to comply with the standards (which require web technology to be accessible to people with disabilities), responsible local governments are adopting similar accessibility practices as well. Similarly, the Open Government Directive will likely provide the framework for municipal adoption. We don't want to surrender the cornerstone of municipal government legacy in being the 'government closest to the people'.
Looking for the latest gov tech news as it happens? Subscribe to GT newsletters.


text:
How do I Find an Apartment in San Francisco?
Data compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition indicates you need, in 2010, to earn $70,400 annually to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the fair market rent in San Francisco. Two-bedroom rentals in the city go for an average of $1,760, a 24 percent increase from the year 2000. Clearly, price is a major consideration when trying to find an apartment in San Francisco. For many, it dictates how and where they attempt to find a rental.
Focus on neighborhoods that you can afford. The cost of rental housing varies considerably among San Francisco neighborhoods. For instance, according to a database maintained by UC-San Francisco, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the city's Inner Sunset district was $2,106 for the 90 days preceding Sept. 15, 2010. A two-bedroom in Noe Valley averaged $2,886, while the same size dwelling in Nob Hill went for an estimated $3,606. In Russian Hill, the number hit $4,825. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, affordable housings is defined as no more than 30 percent of your monthly gross income.
Limit your selected neighborhoods to ones that fit your lifestyle. Noe Valley and the Mission District are generally sunnier than the Outer Sunset. At the Walk Score website, you can input an address and Walk Score tells you how conducive the neighborhood is to walking on the basis of nearby shops, restaurants, public transportation and other amenities.
Search online apartment listings. Many apartment listing websites allow apartment seekers to filter their results by neighborhood, price, number of bedrooms and pet policy.
Drive around. While viewing an apartment listing on paper is great, nothing beats seeing it in person. You have lots to consider living in San Francisco. Some apartments are situated on top of huge hills. While this can bring a great daily workout, it's not for everybody. While some rentals, such as grand Victorians, exude San Francisco character others are associated with much-maligned time periods, including 1970s' flat-front box-like apartments.
Act fast. Be aggressive, but polite. Historically, San Francisco is a competitive rental market. Savvy renters snap up the best apartments fast. If you like a place, be prepared with cash or a cashier's check on the spot. If you and your prospective landlord hit it off, you might sign a lease at your initial viewing appointment or open house. Offer supporting documents as well, such as a copy of a recent credit report and score, letters from past landlords and check pay stubs or tax returns.
Photo Credits
- san francisco bridge image by W. Briggs from Fotolia.com


text:
Oxford Letterpress Stationery
$ 200.00
$ 0.00
Set of letterpress printed flat cards and envelopes. These cards are 100% cotton, 110 lb paper in pearl white. They measure 4.75"W x 6.5"H (stationery size A6).
Please indicate your specifications while ordering, and you will receive a proof within 3 business days. Orders will ship 4 weeks from the date that the proof is approved.
Lou's is happy to accommodate rush orders whenever possible. If you require rush production, please contact me prior to ordering. Expedited fees may apply.
(Pictured: Blue No. 5 ink color)


text:
FREE P&G Sampler Box (Cascade, Gain and Pantene!)
Are you a P&G Everyday member? If so, hurry and login to request your FREE P&G Sampler Box including Cascade, Gain and Pantene. Remember, you're able to request samples and coupons from P&G brandSAMPLER only 4 times a year ending March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 31, so you may want to wait if you're looking to see if they add more samples. Allow 4 – 6 weeks for delivery!
And don't forget to sign up for FREE Hot Offer Text Alerts so you NEVER miss a hot freebie!
Thanks Holly!


text:
(402) 551-3177
Central Body Company
1401 S 16th St
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (402) 551-3177
Click Here For Directions
Versatile Auto Body Repair Services in Council Bluffs, Iowa
When you get into a car accident, it can be stressful dealing with the repair process, your insurance company, and a rental car simultaneously. The experience can dramatically impact your daily activities and disrupt your life, but at Central Body Company, we know how to make it as palatable as humanly possible.
To ease the drama associated with the repair process and alleviate anxiety, turn to Central Body Company for solutions. Our Council Bluffs auto body shop and collision repair experts will get your vehicle up and running as soon as possible so you can return to your regular routine.
Collision Repair Services in Council Bluffs, Iowa
At our Council Bluffs auto body shop, we specialize in collision repair and are totally dedicated to providing service that stresses quality and efficiency. To this end, we'll restore your vehicle back to its pre-accident condition and guarantee that you'll be completely satisfied with every aspect of our work. If your vehicle has any kind of trouble, our Council Bluffs collision repair mechanics can pinpoint the problem and quickly make the appropriate repairs.
In addition, we offer a variety of other services, including:
- RV body repairs
- Battery services
- Power steering repairs
- Semi-truck repairs
- Bus repairs
- Fleet repairs
A Commitment to Complete Customer Service
At Central Body Company, our Council Bluffs collision repair specialists take each job seriously, no matter how small a task may be. We work as a team here and that's why our president and general manager personally check each repair and service to ensure that the job is done properly and that you'll be happy with our work. So, if your vehicle needs any maintenance or collision repair service, contact our Council Bluffs auto body shop at (402) 551-3177 to schedule an appointment, and then let us do the rest of the work.


text:
Beijing's process of financial liberalisation will release a torrent of capital into markets around the world.
China has embarked on a process of financial liberalisation and the sheer numbers involved mean it will have profound implications across the region.
"We know it will happen, we know it will be large, what is very difficult to predict is exactly how it will play out," three of ANZ Bank's most senior economists say in a report, Caged Tiger: The Transformation of the Asian Financial System.
They point to the striking disparity between the spectacular growth of China's real economy and its share of world output and trade on the one hand, and its relatively underdeveloped - one might say stunted - and insular financial system on the other.
But the Chinese authorities are committed to changing that.
The head of its central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan, said this month that he expected deposit interest rates to be liberalised "within a year or two".
At present deposit interest rates are capped, at levels which often deliver very small, even negative returns after inflation. The ugly name for this is financial repression but it has served to keep the cost of capital, for approved borrowers at least, low.
It has also inevitably encouraged speculative investment in property, and a copious flow of funds into the less regulated shadow banking system.
More broadly China's leaders have committed to moving towards allowing markets to play a "decisive role in the allocation of resources" and towards opening the capital account.
Governor Zhou's New Zealand counterpart, Graeme Wheeler, says opening the capital account, as New Zealand did in the 1980s, is one of the boldest reforms a government can undertake.
"You are basically saying to every producer in that economy, 'If you want to attract savings either from domestic or foreign savers, and capital is free to move, you have to compete against international firms in terms of of productivity and innovation and all of that'," Wheeler says. "It is a hugely powerful reform."
The ANZ economists say the present system, shared by a number of Asian countries, of capital controls and a managed exchange rate, has left trillions of dollars worth of savings "trapped" in official foreign exchange reserves and recycled, traditionally at least, into the rest of the world through purchases of US treasuries and other Governments' bonds.
Reforms which allow Chinese savings to be allocated instead by investors' quest for yield will release a torrent of capital into all sorts of markets around the world.
"The outstanding stock of Chinese foreign direct investment into other countries was around US$500 billion in 2012. This could rise towards US$10 trillion in 2030."
And they reckon Chinese private portfolio flows into global bond and equity markets could increase by US$1.3 trillion a year for the five years following the opening of the Chinese financial system.
To echo US Senator Everett Dirksen's famous comment: a trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon you're talking real money.
"The cost of capital in markets outside of the United States and Europe is likely to fall as they benefit from increased portfolio flows," the ANZ economists say.
On the other hand to the extent it triggers a portfolio switch out of the Government debt of the US and other major western economies it could put upward pressure on global interest rates.
Which would be the stronger effect in New Zealand's case is a moot point.
If the opportunities are big, so are the risks, the ANZ economists warn.
"The international experience with financial system deregulation and capital account liberalisation is replete with examples of capital flow surges creating wide current account deficits, asset price bubbles and large banking system losses."
Remember the sharemarket crash of 1987 and the bailout of the Bank of New Zealand?
"The transition from an economy operating with a relatively rigid and closed financial system to one that allows capital to flow freely between asset markets and across borders is often associated with financial instability. China is facing these issues right now.
"The strains and stresses its industrialisation and urbanisation have put on the banking system run the risk of leaving the banking sector stymied with bad debts, undermining the efficient allocation of capital within the economy into the future."
A particularly wary eye is cast these days on China's shadow banking system.
National Australia Bank economists in a recent note define a shadow bank as a financial institution that provides services similar to those of a traditional bank but lacks the regulatory oversight or supervision that traditional banks receive.
"In most cases, shadow banking activities are completely legal. However the lack of regulation means that tracking the characteristics of loans - such as their size, interest terms and maturity dates - and the flow of funds can be much more difficult."
As an illustration of that opacity, the most recent estimate of the size of China's shadow banking system the NAB economists quote, from the US bank JP Morgan last January, is 47 trillion renminbi (or nearly $9 trillion).
That is three times the estimate the ANZ economists offer.
But even at the JP Morgan level it is comparatively modest by international standards, ranking between Japan and Germany, when measured against the size of the economy.
The concern is rather about the speed with which it has been growing, by 75 per cent in just three years on JP Morgan's estimate.
"In part, the growth in shadow banking ... reflects credit rationing imposed by Chinese authorities to slow bank loans and address overheating in some sectors of the economy such as real estate," the NAB economists say.
It is attractive to small and medium sized enterprises, which face significant disadvantages in both access to and cost of finance when compared with larger state-owned enterprises, and offers savers higher returns than are available under traditional deposits.
One risk is the misalignment of investment horizons - short terms on the funding side but financing long-term things like local governments' infrastructure projects.
Another is moral hazard. The rarity of defaults creates the risk that these savings products are seen as safer than they are.
But if the Chinese Government's commitment to "allowing the market to play a decisive role in the allocation of resources" means anything it must include allowing enterprises to fail - freeing up resources like workers and factory space - and allowing investors and lenders to lose their money.
Defaults are likely to occur within the broader shadow banking sector, particularly in relation to trust loans to industries with poor profitability, such as the coal sector, the NAB economists say, citing estimates by Bank of America Merrill Lynch that the coal industry accounts for around 14 per cent of the top 200 trust products maturing this year and next year.
Should we care? Might China's shadow banking system form the epicentre of Global Financial Crisis II, the sequel?
The NAB analysis suggests not.
"Concerns of financial contagion in response to such a default are not baseless. However with careful management they can be significantly reduced. The vast majority of shadow banking involves domestic counterparties, so the likelihood of a Chinese default spreading to global financial markets is minimal."
China's banks have considerable capital reserves to meet obligations that may result from the collapse of a wealth management product or trust which they back, they say.
"In addition, Chinese authorities have considerable scope to inject liquidity into financial markets. That said, should a default trigger a wave of risk aversion among Chinese investors, attempts to liquidate comparatively risky shadow banking assets could have a significant negative impact on the real economy."
This may be too sanguine a view.
The problem is that this is unfamiliar territory for many Chinese savers.
If a couple of NZ superannuitants lose their life savings in the collapse of a finance company, our sympathy is moderated by thoughts of eggs and baskets, the assumption that they probably own their own home and that in any case their NZ Super will continue.
In the absence of comparable social safety nets it could be a much scarier prospect for their Chinese counterparts.
So the risk of a panic and a credit crunch may be small but it is not zero.
Conscious of that, and of the nexus between financial stability and social and even political stability, the Chinese authorities can be expected to err on the side of caution and proceed gingerly with their liberalisation.
New Zealand's experience of the bull-at-a-gate approach suggests that is wise.


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To Reveal or Not to Reveal
At the heart of every trial involving human subjects, there's a conflict. The investigators design their study to find the most accurate answer to a particular scientific question, be it the efficacy of a new drug or the incidence of disease in a city or state. But the participants in that research likely have different goals: finding a cure for their illness, aiding a good cause (whether its the same cause as the researchers' or not), or obtaining free medical testing and information. Juggling these competing interests is the mission of institutional review boards, or IRBs, panels of scientists and non-scientists charged with protecting the interests of research subjects in human trials.
But how does an IRB located in the United States make decisions about studies conducted in different countries, with different ethical and cultural standards? That was the central question asked by John Schneider, director of global health programs for the Section of Infectious Diseases at the University of Chicago Medical Center, at this week's MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics seminar. Schneider's primary area of research is HIV transmission and prevention in India, a country where attitudes about the disease are profoundly different from those found in the United States. That has a dramatic impact on the researcher-subject (or as Schneider prefers, "researcher-participant") relationship and raises additional ethics questions about how study results should be handled.
Schneider's presentation focused on disclosure of HIV test results to study participants, a trickier issue than one might expect. Typically, the medical information obtained from a subject is made anonymous, usually by assigning it a number rather than a name. This process is meant to protect both the privacy of the patient and any bias that might occur when the results are analyzed by a researcher – it's a conversion of a subject's complex medical status into pure data.
But say an HIV test comes back positive for a test subject who is unaware that they have the disease? Is the researcher then obligated to inform the subject of the positive test? In the United States, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission says Yes, so long as the test results have "significant implications for a patient's health concerns" or "a course of action to ameliorate the condition is readily available." A JAMA paper from 2005 highlighted by Schneider reasoned that "It would be disrespectful to treat research volunteers as conduits for generating scientific data without giving due consideration to their interest in receiving information about themselves derived from their participation in research."
As a result, the NIH requires results disclosure in any study that employs HIV testing, unless the patient chooses to opt out of receiving those results. But that's not so simple in India, where the news of HIV infection can be life-or-death for reasons beyond the direct effects of the disease. Schneider, who spends about 3 months a year living in India and conducting research, said he often sees news stories in Indian newspapers about people being thrown out of their homes or committing suicide after learning of an HIV infection.
"Every day or every other day there's somebody killing themselves based on HIV," Schneider said. "Someone finds out they're infected and they've infected somebody else in their family, or somebody else in their family is infected and has infected their kids…there's still a tremendous stigma."
With that in mind, researchers in India are far less likely to disclose HIV test results to study participants, Schneider found. In a survey of HIV studies conducted in India, less than 35 percent provided test results and counseling to participants who tested HIV positive – though the trend over the last 5 years was shifting towards more disclosure. Currently, Schneider and his colleagues are following up with the researchers behind those studies to record their rationale for releasing or not releasing HIV test results. But the current stance of India's NIH equivalent – the Indian Council of Medical Research – leaves it to investigators to decide whether subjects should informed of their results, Schneider said.
Perhaps those different standards would be inconsequential if researchers only conducted studies within their own borders. But with international collaborations becoming increasingly common, the gap between the guidelines becomes significant. An American-Indian partnership – such as Schneider's work in India – presents a problem: should the IRB of the country where the research is conducted determine proper procedure? And if the conclusion of that IRB disagrees with American standards, what should the American investigator involved in the project do?
As with most ethical discussions, no easy answer could be reached in an hour. Schneider said that, in his own work, he has pushed his Indian collaborators to allow subjects to access their test results when they begin a 2nd round of testing later this year. But others in the audience thought that attempting to push aside the rulings of a foreign IRB in favor of American standards risked a paternalistic attitude toward other countries' ethical systems. Whatever the resolution, Schneider's talk suggested that investigators need to not only acknowledge the conflict inherent in all human studies, but the fact that the rules of that conflict change from society to society.


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Submit An Application
If you would like to submit an application to Roadway Construction Service, please download and fill out THIS PDF and then submit it via the online form below. The hiring manager will receive your application and contact you once it is received.
- Traffic Control Services
- Traffic Management
- Traffic ControlPlanning
- Traffic ControlPermitting
- 24/7 Emergency Response
- Single & Multiple Lane Closures
- Road Closures and Detours
- Freeway Closures
- Two-Way Flagging
- Temp. "No Parking" Sign Installation
- Filming/Special Events
- Long Term Projects
- Traffic Studies
- Traffic Control Equipment Rental
- Temporary Re-Striping
- Concrete & Water-Filled K-Rail
- Job Hazard Analysis & Job Walks
- Traffic Control Consulting
- Traffic Control Planning (AutoCAD)
- Traffic Studies: Speed Surveys
& Traffic Volume Data
- Agency Permit Processing
- Equipment Sales


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EXODUS: Three-Guitar Attack Planned For Belgium's GRASPOP METAL MEETING
As previously announced, former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt will be joining the band's vocalist Rob Dukes, drummer Tom Hunting, bassist Jack Gibson, and guitarist Lee Altus for their appearance at the Scion Rock Fest in Tampa, Florida on June 2 and the group's upcoming European shows. Hunolt will be stepping in for Gary Holt, who himself will be busy filling in for SLAYER's Jeff Hanneman on that band's European and North American dates.
Holt has now confirmed that he will be joining his EXODUS bandmates for their Graspop Metal Meeting performance in Desel, Belgium on June 23 for a special lesson in violence with a three-guitar attack!
Longtime EXODUS fans will recall that Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly-acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". "Murder In The Front Row", the recent photo book documenting the pinnacle of the Bay Area thrash scene, aptly documents Hunolt's tenure in the band.
Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.
Hunolt rejoined his former bandmates at a special concert in celebration of Holt and Lisa Perticone's wedding on September 24, 2011 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California. He also performed with them at "Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance", a special concert which marked the 10-year anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul Baloff's passing. The event took place February 4 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse in Oakland, California.


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(Edinburgh, Scotland, November 2011) – Connoisseurs Scotland's Boath House invites food enthusiasts to join Chef Charlie Lockley, Scottish Chef of the Year 2010, for an exclusive three-day foraging course that delves into the culinary secrets behind the Georgian mansion's Michelin star and 4AA rosettes. Guests spend the first day exploring Boath House's extensive grounds, which includes 20 acres of gardens and wilderness, before getting their first taste of Michelin-starred cuisine with a six-course dinner. Chef Lockley, a keen proponent of the UK's slow food movement, leads guests through the local foraging areas and teaches them how to choose the correct plants and harvest in a sustainable manner; provides a demonstration on how to incorporate the foraged foods into award-winning fare; and introduces guests to local suppliers, including a cheese maker, pig farmer and garlic grower. The program leaves free time for guests to indulge in the wide range of treatments available at the in-house spa or take in the castles, distilleries and wildlife in the surrounding countryside. The course is priced at £675 ($1,077)* and includes three days (May 8-10 or June 5-7) bed and breakfast, all tutoring and instruction, tea on arrival, light lunches and three six-course daily changing dinner menus. Additional nights can be added at a rate of £265-335 ($418-528) per night, based on double occupancy, and include accommodation and breakfast. For reservations, contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
The cooking ethos of Boath House and Chef Lockley is based on their association and involvement in the slow food movement and organic food. The hotel's impressive garden, which was revamped and expanded by the proprietors, provides most of the organic fruits, vegetables and herbs found in their menu, and the honey is derived from their own hives. Other locally-sourced ingredients include high quality seafood, caught and delivered daily by West Coast fishermen, and meats and cheeses from an organic dairy. Using a highly imaginative yet simply preparation, Chef Lockley and his team "let the ingredients do the talking" in their dishes, which always make use of the best seasonal flavors and an expanding range of foraged ingredients.
Connoisseurs Scotland's 27 members include three of the world's finest golf resorts, Gleneagles, Turnberry and Old Course; Inverlochy Castle, recently voted the best hotel in Europe; several outstanding city centre properties including Prestonfield, one of only two 5 Red Star Hotels in Edinburgh, and the recently refurbished Sheraton Grand; a 19th-century castle health spa; a collection of intimate country house hotels; the ultimate luxury train; the finest hotel afloat and an exclusive use property. Five of the members boast Michelin-starred restaurants.
Information on Connoisseurs Scotland, its member resorts, partners and special offers can be found atwww.luxuryscotland.co.uk.


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Casey Kuhns of the University of Northern Colorado Space Grant Team sent in these pictures of their robotic rover, built for the Colorado Space Grant Consortium's DemoSat research program.
We've been getting a lot of work for people creating custom audio components and DJ control panels. DJ Tech Tools user TABS created this excellent control panel using Big Blue Saw. He also wrote a nice review of Big Blue Saw's services.
Our price for a part like this is approximately $25 each, with the price coming down to the $20 range if you order 10 or more.
You may have heard of FarmBot, an open source robot for automatically growing and managing the lifecycle of plants. It turns out that the first FarmBots are being made with parts from Big Blue Saw. Here's what Rory Aronson of the FarmBot project had to say about Big Blue Saw:
At FarmBot.io, we've been fortunate to work with a fantastic water jet cutting service provider named Big Blue Saw. Big Blue Saw is attractive for us to use because they are an online-first service that really caters to their customer's needs. On their website you can upload a .DXF file of your parts, choose your material and quantity, and receive an instant quote for free. If the price looks right, you can place the order right then and there, and your parts will arrive at your doorstep within a week or two!
Here's the FarmBot in action. See if you can spot the waterjet cut aluminum parts.
You can keep up with the latest FarmBot developments on their blog, or follow the project on Twitter. They recently got FarmBot to plant its first seeds!
Fresh out of my e-mail inbox comes this fixture from a customer who wishes to remain anonymous.
(Of course, at Big Blue Saw we keep your designs confidential. We also keep the fact that you're even a customer confidential as well. Many of the things we make end up in finished products, and our customers see Big Blue Saw's service as a competitive advantage. [Many are happy to provide testimonials, thankfully.] )
The structural pieces were waterjet cut by Big Blue Saw from 1/4 inch thick aluminum 6061 and assembled by the customer using off the shelf hardware. The design uses tab-and-slot with the pieces held together with through bolts as in tensioned plate construction.
The customer says:
These are medium-load holding fixtures. Using BBS for these type of fixtures saves us 50%+ on traditional tooling and also allows us to build instrument & medium load machines in a clean office! (No welding, milling, sawing, etc - -just a few fasteners and counter-sinks.) These fixtures are doing the job of machined 1/4" Al C-channel assemblies.
Got any parts you would like to show off or want to tell us how we are doing? Let us know!


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LGBTQ Resources
All advisors in Career and Professional Development have participated in diversity-related training, and many are Safe Zone certified. Any of our advisors would be happy to work with you as you navigate your LGBTQ+ identity in your job and internship search. We encourage you to make an appointment to meet with one of our career advisors.
Books in our Career Resource Center
- Includes topics on LGBTQ issues in the job search and workplace.
- You may search books by keyword, title or category (tag).
Online resources
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC.org)
Working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights. In "Resources" you can find the Corporate Equality Index (CEI): in-depth analysis and rating of large U.S. employers and their policies and practices pertinent to LGBT employees.
- InsightIntoDiversity.com
Connecting diverse professionals to diverse careers.
- LGBTConnect.com
Job postings in a variety of categories.
- National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
Non-profit organization that educates and advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students and professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
- oSTEM + Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Hosts, with NOGLSTP, an annual conference. National society dedicated to educating and fostering leadership for LGBTQA communities in the STEM fields. Began as a single chapter in 2005. The national society has been built by students, for students.
VT chapter of oSTEM established fall 2012.
- OutForUndergraduate.org (O4U)g
Hosts conferences and other events for undergraduate LGBT students.
- OUTForWork.org
Comprehensive resources for LGBTQA students, including:
H.O.T. List: Hiring Out Talent; features LGBTQ-friendly employing organizations.
Internship and job board dedicated to LGBTQA college students.
Annual National LBGTQA College Student Career Conference.
- The Pipeline Project


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CF2 Group
The unifying research theme of the cf2 group, led by Prof. Matteo Pasquali, is the interaction of flow and liquid micro- and nano-structure. Most engineered materials are formed and/or processed in the liquid state; they are complex fluids because they possess intrinsic length scales that are well-separated from the macroscopic length scales of the process (usually tens of micrometers to meters) and the nanoscopic length scales of the solvent (usually smaller than one nanometer). For example, in polymer solutions and melts the intrinsic length scale is the length of the polymer (usually hundreds of nanometers to few micrometers), which is well separated from the finer length scales (solvent diameter in solution, polymer diameter in melts). The large scale microstructural features relax on timescales that overlap the flow time scales; thus, the dynamic morphology can differ dramatically from the equilibrium one, and this changing morphology affects the flow and produced intriguing nonlinear dynamical phenomena that are not observed in flowing liquids of low-molecular weight.
We are continuously looking for exceptional researchers to help us make the world a better place through advances in scientific understanding and technological applications. If you are interested in joining our group as a postdoctoral researcher, please send your CV and a statement of interests to Sonia Lopez. If you are interested in joining us as a PhD student, please visit our departmental recruiting webpage here.


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IFSA wants to challenge our top tier in-flight industry chefs to enter the Annual Chefs Competition - one of the most anticipated and exciting events of the year! This year the competition heads to Long Beach where the IFSA Annual Meeting & Expo will take place. Chefs will showcase their skills in a dynamic arena against the most talented chefs from around the world to see who can take the heat and cook their way to the title of Best In-Flight Executive Chef of 2017. Think you have what it takes? Application deadline is May 19.
IFSA kicked off 2017 with a fantastic Regional Event in San Francisco. With 80 attendees, this was our most successful event yet! Our members enjoyed visiting with colleagues, meeting new members and enjoying donated refreshments. Thank you to our generous sponsors Truitt Family Foods, Real Torino, Rustic Bakery, AMI and Sid Wainer. Please mark your calendar for our next event on June 26 in New York City.
Since its inception in 2000, IFSA Foundation has raised almost $700,000, awarding scholarship money to over 135 deserving students. The scholarships range from $2000 to $10,000 and are open to families of all of our member companies. Whether you or a family member is entering college for the first time, or returning as an adult learner, please take advantage of this wonderful program. The deadline for submissions is April 28.
Ayele Solomon
Founder Winemaker, The Honey Wine Company
Departure City: SFO
Menu Preference: Spicy and well seasoned entrees.
Industry Experience: 7 years in the wine industry and 40+ years of traveling
IFSA Membership: New Member
His job: Fermenting wine and acting as a global brand ambassador for award-winning dry & semi-sweet Bee d'Vine, "the honey wine for wine lovers"
Why IFSA: "Today our wine is served on board Ethiopian Airlines, it's still the national beverage in Ethiopia, going to about 100 country destinations. I found that this international story resonated immediately with the the cosmopolitan members of IFSA - what better way to announce our universal, sustainable, Sonoma County crafted aged honey wine than on aircraft."
Members: Your dues are due!
Please remember to renew your membership by March 1!
International Flight Services Association 2017
Remember Me
1/6/2020December IFSA OnBoard: January Regional Event Information
1/6/2020November IFSA OnBoard: January Regional Event Information, GAEC Update and More!
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Click here to view past events and photos »
International Flight Services Association
3200 Windy Hill Road SE, Suite #600
Atlanta, GA 30335
Phone: 678-298-1187


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by Menka Dimitrovska, Gaming Columnist
Published in Gaming on 6th June, 2018
The core of strategy video games are skillful planning and thinking in order to win.
The challenges are often tactical, strategic and sometimes even logistical. There are many different strategy games which is why they are typically divided into 4 sub-types, depending on whether the game is real-time or turn-based, and whether it's main focus is on tactics or strategy.
Real-time strategy (RTS) is one of those subgenres. RTS games are time-based games that focus on using all the resources in your power to create units and take down your opponent. The units can be used to secure particular areas of the map as well as destroy the opponent's assets.
In RTS games, players need to use their resources, defend their bases and attack their opponents while their opponents are trying to do the same exact things. They can gather resources by possessing particular units or controlling select points on the map.
Real-time strategy means that everything is happening in real time and the action is continuous. That's why players need to make their decisions and decide on which actions to take in a matter of seconds, while their state in the game is constantly changing. They need to build bases, obtain resources, while they organize their attacks.
There is no other video game genre that will make you feel like you're truly in control of your army more than a RTS game. In RTS games you have the role of a commander and you're in charge of managing your army, looking for resources, defeating your enemy and growing your empire. In RTS games you can forge and break alliances and look for different strategies that will give you an edge over your competing armies.
RTS are a great way to pass the time, if you ask me. You can blow off some steam playing them, or simply see them as a means of escapism. They excite and exercise the mind, and succeed in that more than any other video game genre. You can really strengthen your analytical skills and improve your critical thinking, decision making and planning skills as well.
Here are some of the benefits you'll get from playing RTS games:
RTS games are difficult! They are demanding and ask their players to put in a lot of work and energy into winning. Players need to build bases, upgrade their units, gather, balance, and increase their resources and use them wisely, while they go against their opponents using different tactics and strategies to expand and coordinate their attacks and defenses. The most difficult part of all is that they have to do all of that with limited resources and in a limited amount of time.
The first thing you learn when you start playing RTS games is that they can be really hard. They can be so difficult that it's sometimes virtually impossible for a new player not to seek help from senior players. That's why they often watch other players' gameplay analysis, analyze their moves and strategies and try to memorize some of the popular build orders so they can be one step ahead of their opponents.
The most satisfying part of playing RTS games is the moment you outwit, or outmaneuver another player, particularly when that person is possibly as good as you are.
Pressure is the key part of every RTS game. Pressure is actually a big part of the challenge and the RTS experience. The key thing that differentiates RTS games and other genres is the fact that players don't have any control over the pacing of the game, and the time that's available to them. They need to do a lot of things at the same time, and think of new strategies and tactics in the meantime, some of which need a lot of time to be put together.
Let's have a look at some of the best RTS games for 2018:
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is a surprisingly interesting and improved version of the original game. The original game was launched more than 20 years ago, and it was just now revived and refined for 2018. The developers have been working on updating the series for a while now and they even added a lot of new content. The game has been refined and has gotten a lot of new elements such as modern lighting effects, a few gameplay tweaks and new narration.
The game's got a huge selection of campaigns that cover different civilizations, including the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Macedonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Japanese and more. Each of them have the same basic unit types but do differ in sprite design. Age of Empires is a perfect example of achieving a lot with very little. There are 16 civilizations to choose from, and 10 campaigns you need to conquer.
If you're not familiar with the original Age of Empires, here's what the game is basically about.
As a player you are allowed to choose a civilization and act as their leader. You need to advance your civilization through the four ages (Stone, Tool, Bronze, and Iron Age), and as you succeed you'll gain more and more access to new units.
In AirMech players need to control an airborne mech which can all of the sudden transform into a huge murder machine. It's armed with a laser sword and shield, guns and rockets and it patrols the battlefields in an attempt to find explosive scraps and dive into them.
AirMech Strike is and Action-RTS that is available online and can be played both cooperatively and competitively. You can earn kudos and in-battle experience and while you're planning and practicing your perfect strategy you can unlock a collection of AirMechs and Units and get closer and closer to victory.
If you like transforming mechs and playing in a fast paced game world, then this game is perfect for you. It's absolutely unique in its graphic style, and there are tons of new updates that are being released constantly.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 features a unique combination of genre forms and is one of the best RTS games on steam. The original game was released almost ten years after the original game and can be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
The gameplay is set in the exact time period as the original Valkyria Chronicles. Although it's set in the same time period, the gameplay takes place in a different part of the world, and the cast of characters is completely different. The gameplay is set on the continent of Europa, during the war between the Eastern Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation.
The story is similar to World War 2 era games and films. The most interesting part of the game is the fact that it's pretty easy to play at first, although as you get halfway through it, it takes a sudden turn and that might catch you off guard if you're not prepared.
Total War: Arena is a free-to-play RTS game. It features all the great commanders in the history of warfare and presents them in one big brutal package.
Unfortunately you won't be able to find the game on steam, because it's still being developed by Creative Assembly.
In Total War Arena players battle either AI opponents or other human combatants.
Each player leads an army of three units and his job is to work together with another team in order to capture their base or defeat their opponent.
You can choose between: the Roman Empire, the Barbarians, the Greeks and Carthage.
You have tons of different commanders and unit types to choose from, which means that you have tons of different ways to contribute to the overall goals of your army.
Each commander is given three abilities, but can only use one in the beginning. You will need to improve, make progress and rank up in order to get the other two.
Since it's free-to-play, the only way for the game to make money is from microtransactions. There are a few different currencies that you can use in Total War Arena which you can use to unlock new items like swords, helmets, spears.
Surviving Mars combines wonder and science and introduces an interesting new spin on RTS games.
In Surviving Mars your primary mission is to establish a permanent population on Mars.
You'll have tons of new and interesting challenges to overcome. You'll need to focus on your mission and execute a strategy to improve your new colony's chances of survival on the new planet.
If you're ready for some danger and a new challenge then you should give this game a try. Every time you play, you stumble upon a new mystery, like other colonists, black cubes, and real aliens. You'll need to decide which direction to choose for your colony and whether or not you want to explore something or not.
This alien world holds many mysteries that you'll uncover over time. Get ready! Mars is waiting.
If you're looking for games that have stood the test of time, and are still quite popular, you can check out this list of some of the best PC games in the RTS genre:


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Composing the people in your picture can make or break your photograph. I am always reading through different photography websites, and I came upon this artice that I thought was worth sharing. I have taught the importance of the "Rule of Thirds" to my students and friends, but rules in art are only rules, and as we know, rules are meant to be broken. The rule of thirds is valuable to know but if you want to push your compostion and be more creative, this article is great. Click on the link below and read this article.
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If you are a new pool owner then the one piece of equipment you must have is a quality water pump. And if you are an experienced pool owner, you know the difference a reliable pump can make to …Read more »
Ultimate Pentair 011018 Intelliflo Review - The Most Efficient Pool Pump?
Preface - is the Pentair 011018 the cheapest running pool pump on the market? Find out below.… Read more »


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Nice of Natalia to think of us whenever she's in town. She has been one of the fly-in regulars over the years, and she just gets hotter and hotter every time.
Something homey and relaxing this time around, so we just had her lounging around the condo.
You can check out my past shoots with Natalia here and here.
Make-up: Angela Ross
Styling / Model: Natalia Lalonde


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How important is workplace flexibility to working adults? It's important enough that 45% would sacrifice a portion of their salary to get it, according to a Staffing Industry Analysts article citing a Moms Corps survey.
They are also willing to give up increasingly large percentages of their…Continue
Added by Debbie Fledderjohann on September 27, 2012 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment
The myth that workers only become contractors to obtain a direct hire position has been officially debunked by a recent Randstad study.
Over 2,000 employed adults were surveyed for the Randstad Workforce360 Study. The study found that 78% of the…Continue
Added by Debbie Fledderjohann on September 21, 2012 at 9:44am — No Comments
The increased use of contractors over the past few years is more than just a knee-jerk reaction to the recession, according to a recent survey by Randstad.
The Randstad Workforce360 Study found that companies are beginning to view blended workforces - those…Continue
Added by Debbie Fledderjohann on September 18, 2012 at 1:00pm — No Comments
As the number of mobile devices and users increases rapidly, contractors are helping the wireless telecommunications industry keep up with the demand.
More than 3.8 million Americans are employed in this sector, which accounts for 2.6% of all U.S. employment, according to CTIA, the International Association for the…Continue
Added by Debbie Fledderjohann on September 13, 2012 at 8:17am — No Comments
If you are completing I-9s for contractors, you should continue to use the current form despite the August 31, 2012, expiration date listed in the upper right corner of the form, according to the U.S. Citizenship and…Continue
Added by Debbie Fledderjohann on September 12, 2012 at 4:46pm — No Comments


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If you want a keyboard with your CDMA Windows Phone Verizon will not be helping you out on the 26th, when the HTC Trophy arrives.
Sprint on the other hand has your back, and are now offering, for a limited time, the HTC Arrive for only 1p on contract.
The HTC Arrive is a solid Windows Phone 7 handset, which we have reviewed in full here.
The HTC Arrive can be found at Amazon here (Affiliate link).


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Spread mustard evenly on each of 4 slices of bread; top evenly with ham and 2/3 of the cheese. Set aside. Melt 3 tbsp. butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour and cook 3 min. Whisk in milk; bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 min. Whisk in salt, pepper, nutmeg and remaining cheese until cheese is melted; remove from heat. Spread 1 1/2 tbsp. sauce evenly on the remaining slices of bread; sandwich with other halves. Melt 1 tbsp. butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat; cook sandwiches until golden (3-4 min.), turning once. Move to a baking sheet; spread 1/3 cup sauce on the top of each hot sandwich. Broil sandwiches until sauce is bubbling and golden in spots (2-3 min.). While sandwiches broil, melt remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat until foam subsides; crack eggs into skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook eggs, covered, until whites are just set and yolks are still runny (about 3 min.). Top each warm sandwiches with an egg; serve immediately.
Croque Madame
Serves 4
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
8 slices firm white sandwich bread
½ lb. thinly sliced Boar's Head Tavern Ham
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
5 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
3 tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
½ tsp. kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning the eggs
¼ tsp. coarse ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning the eggs
1 dash ground nutmeg
4 eggs


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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
|Application of natural dyes in textile industry and the treatment of dye solutions using electrolytic techniques
|Abouamer, Karima Massaud
|Chaudhary, AJ
Parrick, J
|Anodic oxidation;Commercial dye;Phenothiazines;Colour fastness
|Issue Date:
|Brunel University School of Engineering and Design PhD Theses
|Anodic oxidation of a commercial dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous solutions using an electrochemical cell is reported. Data are provided on the effects of eight different types of supporting electrolytes, concentration of electrolytes, initial dye concentration, current and electrolytic time on the percentage removal of methylene blue. Anodic oxidation was found to be effective in achieving the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions. The optimised electrolytic conditions, for the removal of methylene blue (MB), were applied to the removal of azure A (AA), azure B (AB), azure C (AC), toluidine blue 0 (TBO), new methylene blue (NMB), dimethyl methylene blue (DMMB), thionine (TH), methylene green (MG), methyl violet (MV), Nile blue (NB), neutral red (NR), acridine orange (AO) and resorufin (RS) from aqueous solutions containing sodium chloride. Results indicated that between 84 to 100% of each dye of phenothiazine was removed during 60 minutes of electrolysis. The percentage removals for the phenothiazine dyes followed the following decreasing order: (MG ≈ MV) > (DMMB ≈ AA) > (AB ≈ AC ≈ NMB) > TBO > TH. However, the azine, acridine and oxazine dyes showed between 98 to 99% colour removal and the following decreasing order: NB ≈ NR > AO ≈ RS. Strongly electron withdrawing substituents such as nitro group or carbonyl group increases the degradation of the phenothiazine chromophore, whereas the electron donating groups such as amino and alkyl amino groups decrease the degradation. Anodic oxidation studies were extended to the destruction of eight permitted food colours, with azo and triarylmethane chromophore, from aqueous solution containing either sodium chloride or sodium sulphate as a supporting electrolyte. Again, sodium chloride was found to be the best supporting electrolyte and between 97 to 100% colour removal was achieved after 60 minutes of electrolysis. The percentage removal for the single azo based colourants followed the following increasing order: carmoisine > sunset yellow FCF > amaranth > ponceau 411 > tartrazine. However, the binary and ternary mixtures of food colour showed the following increasing order: blue > green > yellow food colours. The extractions and applications of 54 different types of natural dyes (53 from plants and one from animal origin) are evaluated using simple techniques. The extracted natural dyes were applied in dyeing three types of textile fabrics viz: a) paj silk, b) brushed cotton twill and c) crystallized shimmering satin. The effects of two eco-friendly mordants (alum and iron) on the dyeing process were compared with the dyeing process without mordants. The colour fastness to wash and light (both natural and artificial sun light) of these natural dyes were also assessed. The results showed that out of the 54 dyestuffs studied, 32 plants are potentially able to produce marketable natural dyes. These dyes produced good colour and met minimal performance standards for colour fastness to light and washing. The addition of mordants generally increased the fastness properties. Silk gave the best performance of dyeing uptake and stability. Cotton gave the poorest fastness properties. The overall results showed that, considering molecular associations, the fastness properties were of the order: anthraquinones and tannins> indigoid > flavones> flavonols > flavanols> carotenoids> anthocyanins. Anodic oxidation studies were extended to the destruction of ten natural dyes from aqueous solutions containing either sodium chloride or sodium sulphate as a supporting electrolyte. Anodic oxidation was effective in achieving the removal of green tea (35%), spinach (69%), Langdale yellow and turmeric (95%), carmine, saffron, henna (97%), beetroot, karkade and sumac (98%). However, TOC measurements and the UV analyses indicated that some organic intermediate compounds were formed in the presence of sodium chloride.
|This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University, 25/02/2008.
|Appears in Collections:
|Brunel University Theses
Files in This Item:
|Adobe PDF
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Links to our seed germination data base:
Plant names starting with:
A few simple techniques can go a long way to increase ones success starting plants from seed. A
good soil medium is the foundation for best results, it should be soft and porous, easily wet-able and moisture
retentive. There are a number of good mediums made specifically for starting seed - they might
cost a little more than other potting mediums but the price is very much off set by the much higher
survival rate of your seedlings and young plants . A good medium is soft, pores, water retentive
and non sticking. When it comes time to transplant-out your new plants into larger pots or the
ground - the roots will disentangle from each other more readily in a good medium than a poor
Your medium should be clean and sterile to prevent damping off, I try to use new medium
when starting seeds but some times it's not possible- so a few minutes in the microwave will help
sterilize it- but be careful- if you put moist medium in the microwave it is going to stink. Your time and money is best spent with sterile new medium.
One should not use out-door garden soil when sowing most seeds inside, the problems far out way the money saved. You can make your own medium by using a fine grade of vermiculite and very fine peat moss with some fine grade sand mixed in.
Use a 45/45/10 ratio.
The picture up above is an example of one of the types of media we use. We use this mix with perlite in it for larger seeds (the white specs are the perlite) we also use a mix that has no perlite in it for very small seeds. Small seeds should be sown onto the surface and watered from the bottom.
Once you have your seed medium and seeds, its time to find the most appropriate containers for your seed starting project. The larger the pot the less likely your plants are going to dry out if you miss a watering period, a small pot will dry out much faster than a larger pot. This is the main cause of failure for most people starting plants from seeds. I like to use 5.5 inch square pots and put them in a one gallon clear zipper bag ( picture below). Large trays work well too and fit into a large clear garbage bag but supports are needed to keep the bag off of the seedlings. The bags or domes help maintian a high humidity eviroment, which promote quicker germination but they are not needed to start seeds. With out them, your seeds will still germinate but the germinations will be spread out over a longer period of time.
Once your seedlings germinate they can stay in the bag for a few weeks, but you should open the bags and let the pots "breath" and dry out a little so that the plants become accustomed to normal air humidity.
The plastic bag does a very good job of keeping the humidity high and the medium moist. A one gallon bag works perfect for this size pot, or you can use a one gallon pot and a three gallon bag. For most types of seeds the 5.5 inch pot works well for 25 to 100 seedlings. To best use the plastic bag technique its important to have the appropriate amount of dampness to the medium. If done right, you do not need to water your plants for many weeks after the seeds are sown, but one must be careful not to use to much water or put the bags in direct hot sun light - bright light is good but provide some shading during the afternoon. Under intense sun light the plants will cook in the bag. (If you are using a bright window- check the bags to make sure they are not over heating, once the seeds germinate open the bags to allow the heat to escape, Temperatures higher than 70-85F can kill the seeds or cause them to rot.).
Above is a picture of some Aquilegia seedlings - in the plastic bags you can expect to have greater rates of seed germination and quicker germination, for some seeds it will cut the germination time in half.
You do not want to sow your seeds onto a dry medium, the seed medium should already be moist before you sow your seeds. It also is not a good idea to fill your pots with dry medium and then water the pots - the medium settles and becomes lumpy and water logged. I use a five gallon pale like the one pictured below and pre moisten the seed medium with water and mix it very well with a large fork or spoon. Make sure to break up all clumps and just add enough water to make the medium moist to the touch, when you squeeze it in your hand it should leave your hand moist but the medium should not become a hard ball or "bleed" out a lot of water.
Now that our medium is moistened and well mixed, its time to fill the pots and sow the seeds. Since I start so many different plants from seed I make a label using a six inch long garden tag and a permanent garden marking pen. The labels last for many years and when its time to set the plants out into the ground the tag goes with them, so in the future I know what I have planted.
The tag at the bottom has been in the ground nine years and has suffered from the effects of the sun and winter cold- but I can still read it.
A number of perennial seeds need some pretreatment before they should be sown, we will talk about that later on a different page.
Seed Pretreatment Page
Fill your pots to the top with the seed medium and then very lightly smooth the medium out and lightly tap it down to form a flat surface. The seeds should be scattered evenly over the pot. Once the seeds are sown onto the surface, use your fingers to sprinkle some water over the pots, do this by dipping your fingers in a glass or bucket of water and dabbling the water over the medium or use a misting bottle. You want the surface good and damp but not soaking wet. Do not poor water onto the pot- this fill wash away the seeds and form a hole.
Most seeds that I sow I leave at the surface until they start to germinate at which point I add a thin layer of medium on top of the germinating seeds, if the seeds are real small I forgo the addition of medium. Larger seeds can be covered with a 1/5 of an inch of medium. The majority of seeds will germinate better with exposure to light (some need darkness, but this should be indicated on the seed packet). Time to slip your pot into the plastic bag and find the right place to keep it until the seeds germinate.
Page on cold treating seeds: sent out with seed orders.
After your seeds have germinated and the seedlings are a few weeks old, its time to unbag them. Leave the pot in the bag- it can be used as a handy water reservoir. When you water, poor the water down the side of the bag and use only enough water to wet the soil, the pots should absorb all the water with in an hour or less. Allow the tops of the pots to dry a little before you water again. If you water to much and keep the soil water-logged the roots will begin to rot, roots need oxygen to live and water logging the soil will rob the roots of their ability to exchange gasses with the soil.
Now that your seedlings have a leaf or two its time to give them some fertilizer ,which will give them a boost in their growing, its best to use a water soluble fertilizer with some trace elements in it, use 1/4 the recommended amount on the box label. I am using Miracle-Grow for Roses right now with very good results, it is a 18-24-16 fertilizer with Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc. I just put a few grains in each cup of water.
look below! Our plants are very happy with the fertilizer and after only a few weeks they are large and bushy ( this is not the Aquilegia) and ready for transplanting out into larger pots or the ground.
This brings up a good question. When should I start my seed?
If you have good indoor light you can start your seeds in side, but what makes for good light?
A nice bright window with 6 hours of exposure to the sun works, or a florescent hood with 40 watt bulbs, generally seedlings will need light right away after they germinate and should receive a minimum of 8 hours of good light, with many plants needing at least 12 hours. For some of the plants I start inside I use 24 hours of light under the florescent hoods and when they become large they are moved to a bright window sill or put under the "flood" lights which are on for 15 hours a day.
The best light for growing seedlings is produced from the bright white florescent bulbs, the plant grow bulbs are a waist of money and do not put out as much light., they are meant to be used for plants that are grown inside all the time. Save your money and do your plants the best by using the cheep white bulbs.
Lighting is the next step were many people have problems, more is better, but be watchful that your medium does not dry out, or your seedlings cook under to much heat.
Its no fun to have a nice pot of prized seedlings not make it because they became long and thin do to a lack of adequate light.
I start about 1/3 of my seeds in side and 2/3's out side. Its good to know how fast your seedlings are going to grow and how much room you will have to keep them in good light. One of my biggest failings in raise seedlings is starting to many to so, and not having any place or the time to take care of them and they all suffer. Slow growing plants can be started 10 weeks or more before its time to put them out side, plants should not be put outside if grown inside until the danger of frost is gone.
For faster growing plants that are going to take up a lot of room- you might want to wait until four weeks before they can be put outside to sow them.
When it is time to put your plants out side- find a bright but shaded location to keep your pots for a week, after the week is done move them to more sun. The larger you allow most of your perennials to grow in the pots the better results you will have when its time to plant them into the ground. If you have the space, planting them into pots and growing them out for a while works very well, you can use small single pots and plant one plant in each pot or do what I do and use a larger pot and
plant 4 to 8 plants per pot and grow them out together.
When moving your plants outside- avoid too much sun at first, also avoid frost and drought. You can leave the pots in the plastic bags and put water in the bottom of the bags- but make sure that the bags open and not exposed to direct sun at first.. I move my seedlings at first under a large tree on the shaded side of my house. They stay there for a week or two and then are moved to more sun every week or so.
I let my seedlings grow large in their growing pots before I transplant, I find it's better to lose a few plants do to crowding than to move real small seedlings into the ground were they are least likely to get good care from me or be overwhelmed by weeds and or dry out under the sun.


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Ranger fans are gung-hoe about their team heading into the ALC Friday night, but a lot of the Antler loving people have no idea what the Yankees fans are saying up in New York.
For his entire life, Armen has had to hear the trash talk from his family in the Northeast. Listen in as Armen and Newy go through his voicemails and get a big dose of the inappropriate and over gloating Yankees fan.


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I don't know about you, but my palms start sweating with a simple glance at my December calendar.
Hosting friends and family, shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, not to mention enjoying traditions such as The Nutcracker with my girls, are on tap.
And then there are what I call the "BLEH details".
Doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and tooth flossing.
Is it just me or does tooth flossing seem like a giant waste of time? I hate doing it. I'm sorry. I do it, I just hate it.
Before we all get heart palpitations over the frantic holiday pace, here's an idea for slowing down to savor the season.
My secret to enjoying December
Last December I started a new habit—something that worked so well, I plan to keep the tradition.
As a mom of four, I stick with simple—and this is so simple, anyone can do it! Here's how to prevent holiday burnout before it starts.
1. Grab a journal or notebook
Try to use one that you won't lose so you can keep it for reference in the coming years! Don't think too hard about it though—swipe one of the kid's unused composition notebooks if you have to.
2. Write "December want-to's" on one sheet and "December have-to's" on the other.
Map out traditions you want to establish, Good traditions don't just "happen" without forethought! Getting it all down on paper will help organize your calendar and plan accordingly. Get clear on what you want to do this season. Keeping Christmas Simple; how to plan intentional family activities is a short read that will help. Select a simple Advent devotional to reflect on the meaning of the season.
3. On the following pages, write down each date in December with 3-4 spaces underneath each day.
This is how you'll be able to see where you have time and where you don't.
4. Pencil in mandatory appointments and upcoming events
Don't forget doctor's appointments, school programs, and visits to grandma's house.
5. On the next page, jot down January prep
We tend to forget that there is life after December because we're so caught up in the holiday hustle. But if we don't plan for January and there are deadlines on the docket, we'll enjoy the season even less!
6. Fill in a tentative plan for each day
Now, it's time to return to the dates and spaces and record what needs to happen. After you see it on paper, pencil in some of those activities you really want to experience with your family. This method gives a clear look at how much time you really have and exactly where you can fit in extra activities.
7. Pray about it
The older I get, the more I learn I am just beating the air with my fists when I don't include God in my plans – even the small ones! Before I start each day, I stop to pray over my list. (I don't always succeed at this – but it's a goal of mine!)
If you do these 7 steps – even breaking them up into 7 nights – you will be ahead of the game! You will feel a sense of relief, having put thought into your Christmas activities.
My December "want to's" may not look like yours. I want to bake Christmas cookies and deliver them to the neighbors, complete with caroling with the family. I want to finish my crafting projects for gifting. I want to complete my shopping next week, wrap gifts, and most of all, I want to be like Mary and ponder the message of Christmas in my heart.
Click here to continue reading the full devotion from i.Believe.com on How to Prevent Holiday Burnout


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Best of
the Twin Cities
Officially called the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, designed by important Norwegian-American engineer Frederick William Cappelen, and completed in 1923, the Franklin Avenue Bridge replaced a bridge originally built in 1889, the pilings and foundation of which can still be seen to the south. The Twin Cities' expanse of the Mississippi River has a number of bridges, ranging from historic (Stone Arch) to functional (I-94) to contentious (Lowry Avenue), and the Franklin Avenue Bridge, even with its graceful, 400-foot-long steel-reinforced concrete arches (making it the longest arch of any bridge in the world when it was built), doesn't at first glance seem exceptional. But travel across it in the summer, when the trees along the banks of the Mississippi to the south are lush and green, or in the fall when it's one of the finest places in the city to gaze at the changing leaves, and you'll see why it's special. For the few moments you're crossing the river, you can forget you're in the city. A quick glance to the north, though, reveals a portrait of the downtown Minneapolis skyline and University of Minnesota campus, a reminder of your urban environs that plants your feet back firmly on the ground.


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Adidas Originals has teamed up with Alexander Wang for a limited collection that made its unexpected debut during New York Fashion Week.
The first limited capsule drop, only available through Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang popup truck locations, features nine styles including t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies emblazoned with a graphic appliqué, and a group of Tricots and shorts featuring a co-branded all-over monogram print with an inside-out stitching of Adidas' iconic three stripes.
Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang is an 84 piece unisex apparel and footwear collection inspired by the idea of overturning commonly accepted rules. This concept behind the collaboration is echoed through all points of the partnership starting from design to communication to consumer purchasing.
Flipping branding conventions, Adidas Originals' iconic trefoil and "originals" logos are rotated upside down, becoming newly and defyingly symbolic.
The full collection will be sold globally at the brand's stores, selected retailers as well as online from Spring 2017.