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Let's say you live to age ninety.
How many days do you have left to live? Take your age now and subtract it from ninety, then multiply that number by 365.
That's pretty finite, isn't it?
It might seem like you have plenty of days left (especially if you're younger than 40 or so), but remember that most of your time is taken up with work, sleep, and the tasks of just living. Those things alone account for 18-20 hours of every day, with a few more free hours on the weekends.
That doesn't leave much time for the good stuff — the stuff you're working so hard for. The stuff you dream about — the adventures, the relationships, the memories, and goals that are important to you.
Most people get to the end of their lives never really living. They never do those important things they always planned on doing. Somehow time slips away, it seems too costly or impossible to achieve. Other things keep getting in the way and jumping to the top of your priority list.
Then one day you look back with regret at all of the things you wanted to accomplish but never did. "If only I'd taken the time to . . ."
It takes planning, saving, and determination to make these things happen. If you don't want to look back with regret, you must create your bucket list and start checking things off, month after month, year after year.
Want some ideas?
Here are 575+ bucket list ideas to live a no regrets life:
Travel for Fun, Adventure, and Learning
Visit the most beautiful cities in the United States.
Although I love traveling to other countries, there are so many beautiful places to visit in the U.S. The 20 cities consistently listed as the most beautiful include:
Asheville, North Carolina
San Francisco, California
San Diego, California
Seattle, Washington
Santa Barbara, California
Boston, Massachusetts
Honolulu, Hawaii
Savannah, Georgia
Charleston, South Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Monterey, California
Napa, California
New York, New York
Key West, Florida
Maui, Hawaii
Carmel-by-the Sea, California
Breckenridge, Colorado
Portland, Oregon
Laguna Beach, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Asheville, North Carolina (my home town!)
Visit the 59 national parks in the United States.
The national parks in the U.S. are identified as such because of their natural beauty, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. I've been to ten of them so far, but I definitely want to visit many more. Here's a list of all of the national parks.
From the Grand Canyon to the wildflower fields at Mt. Rainer, national parks have some of the most coveted natural landmarks in the country. There are 76,000 archeological sites and nearly 2,500 national historic landmarks.
Glacier National Park
National parks are also home to some of the most stunning landscapes like The Redwood National Park in California which has the tallest trees on Earth and the 2,000+ natural stone arches at Arches National Park in Utah.
These are amazing travel destinations not only for the scenery and outdoor activities, but also because they are extremely affordable. A day pass to visit any national park is $20 while an annual pass is only $80. Renting a campsite can be as cheap as $15 a night.
Visit the most beautiful cities outside of the U.S.
If you love international travel and want to see some of the most beautiful cities in the world, you definitely don't want to miss these 20 destinations:
Paris, France
Venice, Italy
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
London, England
Rome, Italy
Athens, Greece
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Berlin, Germany
Oia Santorini, Greece
Singapore, China
Sydney, Australia
Edinburgh, Scotland
Mont Saint-Michel, France
Prague, Czech Republic
Florence, Italy
Copenhagen, Denmark
Budapest, Hungary
Bruges, Brussels
Vancouver, Canada
Zurich, Switzerland
Travel to lesser-known but still jaw-dropping destinations.
One of my favorite trips of all time was to Acqui Terme (Acqui what??), Italy. One of my dear friends owned a stunning bed and breakfast in the quaint but chic town in the Piedmont (wine country) region in Northern Italy. Here's an article she wrote about Acqui.
There are thousands of these unique gems around the world, but here's a great list of 20 unique and lesser traveled destinations in Europe. Here are some cool locales as well to check out.
Plan an adventure vacation.
Do you have an adventurous spirit and love trying new and daring things? If so, make your next vacation a real adventure by planning a trip that involves action and excitement. Need some ideas?
Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Go whale watching in Alaska.
Try zip-lining in Costa Rica.
Go dog sledding.
Climb the Heavenly Stairs in China.
Take a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.
Go on an African safari.
Swim with dolphins.
See the Northern Lights in Alaska.
Run with the bulls in Spain.
Go snow skiing in Whistler.
Grab your pole for some fly-fishing in Montana.
Go glacier walking in Iceland.
Cycle your way through Tuscany.
Check out 50 more adventurous travel ideas in this article. Also be sure to check out REI Adventures (a division of REI Outdoor) for some of the most amazing adventure trips I've seen. They handle everything from A to Z and get consistently high reviews for their trips.
Go on a learning excursion.
Tahoe Expeditions Academy
Are you a life-long learner and love the idea of combining travel with learning? There are numerous learning excursions, weekend events, and even cruises where you can enjoy the benefits of travel while increasing your knowledge in an area of interest. Check out some of these:
Cooking in Tuscany
Space Camp for Adults
Language Learning Vacations
Photography tutorial expeditions with National Geographic
Small cruise ship educational lectures
Wine immersion in Napa Valley
Creativity Workshops in Europe and New York
Conservation and Preservation Adventures with REI
Personal growth retreats in Arizona
Go on a Vipassana meditation retreat.
If you want more ideas for learning excursions, check out Road Scholar for some amazing learning trips around the world.
Find and Live Your Passion
Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She wrote a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing in which she chronicles the most common regrets expressed to her by the people she had cared for.
The most common regret was this: "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
Too many people never check this off their bucket list. They work in careers they hate or jobs that are unfulfilling, doing what they think they are "supposed" to do rather than what they love.
Living my passion was my #1 bucket list pursuit when I created my list years ago. I left my public relations career and started over as a coach, writer, author, and online entrepreneur — a career that allows me freedom to work from anywhere and tons of flexibility all while doing work I love.
Do you know what your life passion is? Are you transforming your life so you can live it before you look back with regret? If you don't know what your passion is or you feel confused about how to live it without giving up financial security, check out The Path to Passion Course and follow the steps leading you to a new and more passionate life.
Write and Publish Your Book
Did you know that over 80% of people want to write a book but less than 1% actually do?
So many people who have important things to write about, things that could help and inspire other people.
YOU are one of those people, even if you've never considered writing a book before. You have a wealth of experience, interests, and ideas accumulated through a lifetime that other people could benefit from. There are people all over the world searching for the knowledge you could share with them.
Self-publishing has changed the entire playing field, and now anyone who has a book inside of them can get it out, publish it, and sell it. It's not as intimidating or confusing as you might think. In fact, it's really fun and very rewarding. I've written over a dozen books that I've published through Amazon.
Whether you want to write a novel, a non-fiction book, or your own autobiography, you can learn the skills of self-publishing and write several books a year if you put your mind to it.
If you need help deciding on a profitable book idea and knowing how to get started with self-publishing, grab a copy of this free Bestseller Checklist: 46 Actions to Turn Your Idea Into a Bestselling Book. It details every step you need to take to get your book written, formatted, designed, published, marketed and sold.
Change The World
Do you want to leave a positive legacy for your family, friends, community, and even the world?
You don't have to donate millions of dollars or start your own non-profit in order to create your legacy. There are so many ideas for making a positive impact and enjoying yourself at the same time. Here are some ideas:
Plant a garden.
Adopt an animal from a shelter.
Be a mentor to someone.
Get involved in a cause that means something to you.
Spend time with an elderly person.
Teach someone to read.
Habitat for Humanity
Be a foster parent.
Clean up your neighborhood or community.
Join the Peace Corps.
Serve at a food bank.
Share your expertise.
Declutter and donate your stuff.
Build a Habitat for Humanity.
Send letters and care packages to deployed soldiers.
Cut your hair and donate to Locks of Love.
Be a Big Brother or Big Sister to a child in need.
Get CPR and First Aid certification.
Learn Something New
The great thing about learning new skills is that you can continue to add them to your bucket list as you accomplish them. You should never stop learning and expanding your skills and knowledge.
Here are some of the learning bucket list skills that intrigue me, and maybe you'll want to include them on your list as well:
Learn a new language.
Learn how to meditate.
Learn an instrument.
Learn how to change a tire.
Learn how to start a blog.
Learn how to be a gourmet cook.
Learn public speaking skills.
Learn ballroom dancing.
Learn how to draw or paint.
Learn to drive a manual transmission car.
Learn how to defend yourself.
Learn how to play bridge.
Learn how to code.
Learn digital photography.
Learn yoga.
Learn a new sport.
Learn how to communicate more effectively.
Be Daring
Former President George H. W. Bush marked is 80th, 85th, and 90th birthdays by skydiving from an airplane. Sister Madonna Buder, an 86-year-old nun, is the oldest woman to ever complete an Ironman triathlon. Fred Beckey, an American rock climber, mountaineer and author, continues to make climbs in his 90th decade.
George H.W. Bush skydiving
Is there a daring feat you've wanted to add to your bucket list? You don't have to wait until your golden years to cross it off the list. If you want to do something a little edgy that pushes you out of your comfort zone, here are some ideas:
Take a ride in a fighter jet.
Go bungee jumping.
Sell your possessions, take a year off, and travel the world.
Go whitewater rafting. Check out these 25 whitewater destinations.
Ride in a hot air balloon.
Learn how to windsurf.
Finally quit your job.
Test drive a Lamborghini or Ferrari.
Go skinny dipping in the ocean.
Make a speech in front of hundreds of people.
Tour the country on a motorcycle.
Try hang gliding.
Take a ride on the steepest, craziest rollercoaster near you.
Buy a ticket today and fly off for an impromptu vacation.
Audition for band or theatre group.
Organize a flash mob.
Chase a tornado (with professionals).
Conquer your biggest fear.
Make Amazing Connections
Remember the top five regrets of the dying I mentioned earlier? Three of those five relate to spending time with the people we care about: 1) I wish I hadn't worked so hard (and spent more time with family; 2) I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings; 3) I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends.
You don't want to look back on your life wishing you'd been more engaged with the important people in your life, or that you didn't try to build new connections with amazing people throughout your life. Think about adding these ideas to your bucket list:
Say "I love you" every single day to your spouse or partner, and children.
Write your parents a letter to tell them everything they did right and how much you appreciate it.
Throw a party for you friends to celebrate them.
Set aside the time and money to visit a friend or relative you care about who lives far away.
Surprise your spouse or partner with something truly unique. (100 ideas for her and 100 ideas for him)
Organize a memorable girls' or guys' weekend in a big beach house.
Go on a road trip with your bestie.
Have a completely tech-free week in your family.
Take each of your children on a special date for one-on-one time every month.
Learn about your family tree and share it with your family.
Join a group or social club of like-minded people to expand your circle.
Go on an REI trip or Road Scholar's trip by yourself to meet new people.
Organize a big family reunion.
Take your Mom or Dad on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Reach out to someone you admire and get to know them.
Start a new family tradition.
Ask your spouse relationship-building questions.
Get a couple's massage.
Read to each other in bed.
Go to a cooking class with your spouse.
Check out these 30 ideas to meet new people.
Change It Up
Sometimes life becomes so predictable, and we get stuck in our ruts. Maybe it's time to shake things up, or at least add some change-it-up ideas to your bucket list. I'm sure you've dreamed of making some changes in your life. Why not add your ideas to your bucket list to make it more real?
Here are some fun ideas to consider:
Do something totally, unexpectedly different with your hair.
Sell your furniture and start over with a new decor.
Get a tattoo.
Finally buy the car of your dreams.
Become a minimalist. Pare down to the essentials and free yourself from things.
Move to a new city.
Let go of people who drag you down.
Challenge all of your beliefs about religion, politics, and life in general for a new perspective.
Go a full week without TV and do something with your hands.
Try eating a cuisine you wouldn't normally try.
Play hooky from work and go on a day-long adventure.
Leave your job and go on a year-long adventure.
Improve Your Health and Fitness
Every year we make resolutions to exercise, become healthier and more fit. This is a bucket list goal that tends to get pushed to the bottom of the list over and over again.
You want to have a long and healthy life so you can complete all of the items on your list, and fitness is essential to enjoying a long life. If you have trouble developing fitness habits, check out my Sticky Habits program that shows you how to commit to your habits starting with 5 minutes a day.
Check out these fitness bucket list goals:
Learn to exercise with a rebounder. It is THE most fun exercise I've found.
Add one more daily vegetable to your diet.
Remove one bad-for-you item from your diet (soda, chips, sweets, etc.)
Train for a marathon or half marathon.
Begin the day with one full glass of water.
Start strength training with free weights.
Get a bicycle and bike a few miles every day.
Lose one pound a week until you reach your goal weight.
Set up your own home gym so you have no excuses.
Give up sweets for a month.
Become a vegetarian.
I've Always Wanted To Go To . . .
We all have those events we've wanted to attend, but we put them off because of the cost, our busy schedules, or just thinking we can do it next year. It's time to add them to your bucket list and determine a day, time, and budget to make it happen.
Here are some bucket list events I've always wanted to go to:
A Radio Head concert (or some other concert that you'd enjoy)
Wimbledon to see a tennis match
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Nutcracker with the New York City Ballet at the Met
A live TED talk
The Kentucky Derby
The Westminster Dog Show
Rio Carnival
St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland
New Year's Eve in Time Square
Cannes Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival
The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert
Just For The Heck of It
Here are a few more great bucket list ideas to put on your list:
Make $1 million before you die.
Start your own blog.
Drink a rare bottle of wine.
Ride an elephant or camel.
Run naked in the rain.
Meet a world leader.
Complete a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
Enjoy a white Christmas.
Surprise a friend in another city at their door unexpectedly.
Pay the bill for everyone at a bar.
Ask a guy in a kilt what he's wearing underneath.
Get another degree.
Have a recommitment ceremony with your spouse.
What would you add to these bucket list ideas? Share your goals and dreams and how you intend to make them happen.
The post 575+ Bucket List Ideas To Live A No Regrets Life appeared first on Live Bold and Bloom.


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(Limited edition, hand signed by Tim Dodd)
On August 27, 2019, SpaceX successfully flew their Starship prototype known as Starhopper from their launch pad at Boca Chica Beach just outside of Brownsville, Texas. The vehicle only rose to about 150 meters, but was the longest flight of their Raptor engine, a full flow staged combustion cycle engine that runs on liquid methane.
This photo was taken from about 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the launch. I'm guessing those birds were in for quite a surprise.
Photo by Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut)
Image is printed on professional semi glossy photo paper.
11" x 17.25" (292 mm x 438 mm) (looks good either matted in a 12x18 frame or slightly trimmed in an 11 x 17 frame)

subset: commoncrawl


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- Courtesy
- Flexibility
- Innovation
- Environment friendly
- Care for the animal welfare (our ritual equipment is Halal certified)
Our Stand at IFFA: Hall 9.1, Stand D79
Also this year, just like for the previous 5 editions, COGEMAT Srl was one of the many companies taking part in the each three years trade fair held
in Frankfurt in the month of May.
As in all the previous editions, the technical and commercial staff have made and will continue to make, remarkable efforts to offer solutions to your requests (technical and not) which highlight the abilities that are characteristic to our company:
- Availability
- Flexibility
- Innovation
- Environmental awareness
- Animal wellness (the machinery used for ritual slaughtering are all certified by Halal).
Visit us in Hall 9.1 Stand D79.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.


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Council tax support
The previous council tax benefit where people on benefits had some or all of their council tax paid was stopped by the Government in April 2013. It was replaced with the council tax reduction scheme that was mainly funded by a Government grant.
A new council tax support scheme started on 1 April 2017. Pensioners and people receiving the following benefits will be a 'protected group' when we're calculating council tax claims:
- Disability premium
- Enhanced disability premium
- Severe disability premium
- Disability premium for dependants
- Enhanced disability premium for dependants
- Disability earnings disregard
- Council Tax disability band reduction
- Employment support allowance (any rate)
- War disablement pension
- War widows pension
- Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
Working age people who aren't receiving the above benefits may receive less help towards their council tax than they do at the moment.
You may be able to get help with your council tax bill if you are on a low income or claim benefits. The help you could receive will depend on:
- your circumstances (eg income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
- your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner's income
- if your children live with you
- if other adults live with you
Apply for Council Tax support
If you haven't been able to apply for benefits immediately we may be able to backdate your application. You may also be eligible for further help with housing costs.
Deciding applications
We aim to decide complete applications within 14 days. If we need further information to support your claim we will write to you. We will notify you once your claim has been assessed.


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For years, the practice of traveling with alcoholic beverages has been regulated by the airlines to differing degrees. While checking spirits on airlines is allowed, the relatively delicate nature of some wines means that special care should be taken when packing valuable or sensitive bottles on your plane trip.
Carry-On Not Allowed
In the past, many airlines allowed passengers to bring one or two bottles of wine on board a flight with them to ensure the proper handling of expensive bottles. Since the 2001 overhauling of safety regulations governing liquids, however, this is no longer feasible. Most outside liquids in containers larger than 3.4 oz. cannot be transported through airport security checkpoints and onto the plane, and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent may confiscate the contraband. An exception to the carry-on rule is made for wine and other spirits purchased in duty-free stores beyond security checkpoints.
Checked Bottle Limits
While beverages with an alcohol content of greater than 70 percent are prohibited and those with an alcohol content between 24 and 70 percent are limited, there is no TSA-regulated quantity limit on beverages with less than 24 percent alcohol, such as wine. Airline-created checked baggage limits still apply, but passengers are free to use the entirety of their quota for wine transport.
Packing Wine in Luggage
For passengers looking to transport only a bottle or two of wine, transporting the bottles within existing luggage often is the best option. Packing bottles tightly within clothing helps minimize the vibrations that can negatively affect wine and protects the bottles from rough handling by airport personnel. When packing bottles in your luggage, it's most important to keep them from shifting. One of the best techniques is to slide a bottle into a sock and then wrap it tightly in a shirt or other garment. For extra protection against potential breakage, seal the wrapped bottle in a water-tight plastic bag before nestling it firmly at the center of the luggage.
Specialty Containers
A number of companies produce special wine sleeves to facilitate packing bottles on the plane. These sleeves are water-tight, extremely well-padded, resistant to temperature flux and easy to carry. Although not strictly necessary, passengers who often find themselves packing a bottle or two of wine home from a trip may find that the $20 to $50 sleeves are a worthwhile investment.
Direct Shipping
Due to air travel regulations, many wineries have taken on the responsibility of facilitating transport themselves. If packing a bottle or two for your flight seems like a lot of trouble, one option is having the winery or wine shop ship your purchase. Many can set up overnight transport to your destination or home, so the wine is waiting when you arrive. Some wineries will even waive the shipping charge.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Photo Credits
- Louis-Laurent Grandadam/Photodisc/Getty Images


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Restaurant MARIA
Meals representing a variety of European as well as traditional Armenian cuisine are offered to our guests. The high quality service and pleasant atmosphere will take you away from routine.
Karaoke Bar
Maria Resort Karaoke Bar is a favorite hot spot among guests. Enjoy the exciting nightlife at Our Karaoke Bar.
Come down and play a game of billiards or chess in your spare time; Armenian backgammon (nardi) is offered as well. Guests can also enjoy a variety of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and a cigar while listening to music and relaxing.
Open Air Restaurant
When the weather is nice our gusts can enjoy their breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the outdoor restaurant. A taste of Armenia is always offered in additional to international dishes.
Outdoor Swimming Pool
Enjoy our beautiful pool in the summer with comfortable trestle beds and umbrellas providing optimal relaxation. There is always a professional lifeguard monitoring the pool for your peace of mind. The territory of the pool is equipped with cloakrooms, changing rooms and showers for your use.
Pool Bar VITAMIN
Cold drinks and snack food are served, helping our guests stay refreshed during the hot summers. Beach volleyball facilities Playground for children. Parking.


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NEW ONLINE STORE! Stock up on hygiene products today
Asset Maintenance Services at CMBM
Maintenance: We take care of everything
CMBM specialises in building maintenance services. Our skilled client service managers ensure you receive value for money by instigating preventative maintenance plans to increase the life cycle of equipment, reduce capital expenditure, save on expensive repair costs and associated downtime costs and inconveniences.
Most of our clients are not experts in judging the standards of the complex trade services that every building needs, or are not physically able to check that work has been done to a high standard. We check all work supplied by CMBM and if requested, from other service providers as well. We guarantee our services completely.


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Google killing Allo messaging service, sending iOS users elsewhere
Allo, once the vanguard platform of Google's plans for messaging, will officially shut down in March 2019.
Until April people will be able to export any existing conversation histories they have, Google said in a blog post. Allo was originally launched in September 2016, and blended in machine learning technology such as Google Assistant.
The platform never gained widespread popularity however, and features like Smart Reply, GIFs, and desktop support were eventually wrapped backed into the Android Messages app. Development efforts will now concentrate on Messages.
Allo is available for both iPhone and Android. On the former, Allo users will have to switch to alternatives like iOS Messages, Signal, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger.
GIFs and desktop clients are now fairly common for messaging platforms such as Apple's. Google's Smart Reply is still fairly unique though, suggesting common ways of responding to someone based on contextual information.
Google is dependent on iOS customers not so much for app reach as search and advertising. The company is believed to have paid Apple $9 billion or more to remain the default search engine in Safari, exposing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to its ad network.


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Pampers has developed its smallest nappy yet, the Pampers Preemie Protection Size P3. Designed specifically to meet the needs of the tiniest little fighters, the Size P3 nappy is three sizes smaller than a regular newborn nappy and is suitable for babies weighing as little as 1.8lb (800g). Pampers partnered with Bliss to help get the nappies to the babies that need them.
Together Bliss and Pampers aim to support the littlest fighters in the Neonatal Unit and those who care for them. Caroline Lee-Davey, CEO of Bliss said, "We were thrilled to hear about the new range of Pampers nappies for premature babies, which will make a real difference to the lives of babies and those that care for them. Caring for such a small and fragile baby can be daunting, but Bliss knows that getting families more actively involved in caring for their premature baby aids development, creates valuable bonding time and helps babies get better faster. The nappy change is one way parents can take a lead and nappies that are fit for purpose will make this so much easier."
"The happy and healthy development of every baby, including the tiniest little fighters, is our priority, that is why when nurses asked us to design a nappy for the most vulnerable babies, we rose to the challenge" said Ian Morley, Commercial Director at P&G. "It took us three years and over 10,000 hours of research to develop the new P3 nappy, which is designed to provide comfort and protection for the smallest babies. As a parent of two preemies myself, I am extremely proud that we have created a nappy which meets the very unique needs of premature babies and those that care for them".
Pampers Preemie Protection nappies are available in sizes P1 (<5lb/ 2.7kg) and P2 (<4lb/ 1.8kg) and P3 (<1.8lb/ 0.8kg) and will start to be donated to hospitals from Summer 2017.
If you want to find out more about placing an order for your unit please email firstname.lastname@example.com
To support the launch of the range Pampers launched a national TV campaign which gave Bliss the opportunity to raise awareness of babies born premature or sick and helped the general public know that we exist and we are there to help every baby born into neonatal care.
This partnership was shortlisted for the Third Sector awards "Corporate partnerships of the year award". Pampers are continuing to support us through sponsorship of the Bliss Baby Charter Conference and helped Bliss deliver baby cards to parents for World Prematurity Day in 2017.
We are excited to see how the partnership continues to develop and grow.


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My first trip to the US took me to the foot of the Rocky Mountains instead of one of the big towns on the East or West coast. I am glad, that it did, because as it turns out you can eat and drink exceptionally well in Denver. Consequently, this article is about going out in the "Mile High City".
Before my visit to the States I informed myself about where to eat and drink in Denver via Thrillist and the excellent photo gallery on StarChefs. Besides great inspiration for drinks, StarChefs always provides pictures of bars, breweries, coffee roasters, distilleries and restaurants for every major city in the US and even some abroad. So, I came up with a plan and even manage to stick to it mostly.
After the long-distance flight I was very exhausted on my first night in Denver, but nevertheless I pulled myself together and went out. My choice for dinner fell on Dio Mio, a modern pasta restaurant. They are famous for their homemade pasta and this is exactly what I ordered. After the noodles I had on the plane, which should not even be allowed to call themselves pasta, the fettuccine with black pepper and parmesan at Dio Mio were like heaven! To go with it, I had a light and very refreshing white wine from Casal Garcia.
After dinner, I just went down the street, passing a winery (?!) and sat down at Bar Fausto. This classic cocktail bar with a modern twist has rows of liquor lined up behind the bar and also a great Amaro selection. After consulting the more than friendly bartender my choice fell on the #64. This combination of E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon, unaged Tariquet Armagnac, Strega and Peychaud's Bitters was just perfect for a (early) night cap.
2,25 cl Tariquet White Armagnac
2,25 cl Liqoure Strega
¾ oz Tariquet White Armagnac
¾ oz Liqoure Strega
Stir – strain – chilled Old-Fashioned glass over large ice cube;
Garnish: Lemon Peel;
The next day, I went to Avanti after the welcome reception at which I had a great local Amber Lager. Avanti has an interesting concept: You order your drinks with a waiter and then get your food at one of the seven different kitchens. I took the house-cheeseburger which includes a grass-feed beef patty. It was just the right thing to have, after a mini-burger at the reception and accidentally biting into a crab-burger. – I do not like anything that comes out of the water, except algae. –
Next I wanted to visit Williams & Graham, probably the most famous bar in Denver. However, after reserving a seat via phone from Germany did not work, I had to wait for half an hour, before I could get in. During that time I had another local pale ale at the neighboring bar Postino, which has a great beer and wine selection.
When I finally managed to grab a seat, Valerie one of the most awesome bartenders I ever met, made me a spirit-forward Boulevardier variation. It consisted among other things of Knob Creek Single Barrel, Cynar and Campari. Forgive me, but my memory is a little fussy, because the "Boulevardier" was followed by a Hanky Panky and an Old-Fashioned variation also including Knob Creek Single Barrel. What I do remember though is the great night I had with Valerie entertaining the whole crowd at the bar!
After that evening I took it slow the next days, but not without following up on a tip of the Bar Fausto's bartender. So, on my final-to-last evening in Denver, I went to Union Lodge No. 1, which may just be best pre-prohibition bar I ever been to.
My first drink that night was a "Saratoga", a "lighter" Manhattan variation including Rittenhouse Rye, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, Angostura, Peychaud's Bitters and Benedictine. On top of that, the latter three ingredients were also barrel aged together. Next I tried a sip of Old Forester Bourbon exclusively bottled for Union Lodge and as a night cap I had a bartender's choice Amaro cocktail. This chocolatey concoction consisted of Averna, Bigallet Viriana China-China, S'Fumato, dry Tio Pepe Sherry and Bitters.
3 cl Pierre Ferrand Coganc
3 cl Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
1 oz Pierre Ferrand Coganc
1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
Stir – strain – chilled Old-Fashioned glass over large ice cube;
Garnish: Lemon Peel;
All in all, I had a great time in Denver which is a city you should not overlook! You would be missing out on a lot of friendly people, nice drinks and great food!
Next up is an article on my next stop during my travels. So, get excited on a review of Chicago's bar and drinking scene!


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By Joseph KahnNew York Times
September 14, 2000
This South Pacific archipelago is best known for its fine-grained white beaches and cloudless vistas of cobalt sea. But a cockscomb range of steep-sided mountains divides the main island of Viti Levu, and nothing looks the same on the far side.
The rains come two days out of three in the southeast, dumping 10 feet a year. Suva's hills have a rain-forest coat of green — bamboo, palm, cocoa, eucalyptus and, most temptingly and troubling for Fiji, more than a hundred thousand acres of high-grade mahogany, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
A coup here a few months ago toppled the government. For a relatively bloodless political uprising in a small island nation of 830,000, the event attracted some attention. Many accounts told of how ethnic tension involving Fiji's natives, ethnic Melanesians, had once again exploded into a public confrontation with Indo-Fijians, who trace their roots to indentured laborers the British brought here from India a century ago, when both India and Fiji were crown colonies.
But behind the cries for ethnic solidarity and native Fijian supremacy was a struggle over land, money and mahogany, a competition that involved American and British as well as local business interests.
Like diamonds in Sierra Leone and oil in Nigeria, Fiji's mahogany helped prompt a struggle for political power, inflicting damage to the nation's economy and political system well in excess of the riches the commodity once promised.
Fiji's struggle began with two men, who each searched for a pot of gold and wound up stirring a cauldron of ethnic discontent.
Marshall W. Pettit, a Seattle-area real-estate developer drawn three years ago to Fiji by its forests rather than its resorts, said that he aspired to transform the way developing nations manage their forests — and make a tidy profit. He also plunged into Fijian politics to fight the former government's opposition to his plans, though there is no evidence he backed the coup.
Mr. Pettit did, however, have ties to the Fijian who led the revolt, an American-educated, bald-headed former government forest manager named George Speight. The two men had once worked together to shake up the local timber industry — and were so close that Fiji police are investigating whether Mr. Pettit paid bribes to Mr. Speight. Both men deny the allegations, saying the payments were for legitimate business expenses.
When Mr. Speight stormed the parliament building and overthrew the elected government last May, he carried not only an AK-47 rifle but his own blueprint for becoming Fiji's timber king.
"Some people used the mahogany issue to raise the emotions of landowners and as an excuse to topple the government," said Anup Kumar, who was ousted as minister of commerce in the coup. "They thought they could get rich from green gold."
Mr. Pettit, 57, is tall and silver- haired, with courtly manners and a tendency to talk in 15-minute spurts, like a salesman wary of letting a customer interrupt him. He has spent most of his career financing real estate projects in California, Texas and Washington State.
He says that it was a missionary impulse, more than money, that prompted him to search for timber investments abroad. He wanted to provide poor nations with the capital and the technology to make the most of their forests, reducing their reliance on multinational companies that do not have their best interests in mind.
"Our big companies tend to take the resources of developing countries without giving them any value," Mr. Pettit said in a breakfast interview near his Seattle home. "It's the last vestige of colonialism in my opinion."
The 'Laboratory' Landowner: Ire Finds an Audience
Mr. Pettit said he had explored doing business in Russia and Africa. But when a group of Fijian landowners contacted him in 1996 through a mutual friend, he found what he called the perfect laboratory: a poor but seemingly stable nation with little foreign investment, a place where a small American businessman could make a big splash. But as he weighed in, Mr. Pettit found that his prospective partners were drawing him deeply into a domestic struggle over land rights. The landowners wanted to buy out government leases on their ancestral lands, letting them harvest the timber and get rich turning it into veneer and furniture.
Nearly all the land in Fiji belongs to familial groups of indigenous, ethnic Melanesians, much as crown property in England belongs to the queen. Though land is often leased long-term for public and private uses, the holdings are a birthright of native Fijians, a situation that sets them apart even from multigeneration Indo-Fijians, who represent half the population and who dominate Fiji's commercial sector.
In the 1950's and 60's, the British colonial administration leased land to plant trees, including pine, which is a fast-growing softwood, and Honduran mahogany, a slow-growing hardwood. The leases paid landowners only a nominal rent — an average of about 4 cents an acre each year — for what was seen as an experiment. Many, but not all, of the leases gave landowners the rights to share profits if the planting proved successful.
When the pine began maturing in the 1980's, a decade after the British left, the new Fiji government established its own company, Fiji Pine, to harvest the trees. But the company mostly shredded the logs into chips and exported the chips to Japan at low prices, usually at a loss.
Landowners, after realizing no profit from pine, scrambled to make sure they made money on mahogany, which is just now ready to start cutting.
Fiji has 125,000 acres of high-grade hardwood, probably the world's largest stock of the species. And, unlike Brazil and other countries with a lot of indigenous mahogany, there are no environmental limits on harvesting from tree farms.
Mr. Pettit agreed to help, by proposing to sell tens of millions of dollars in bonds to finance the development of a forest-products industry, then repay the bonds from the proceeds of the sales of the timber products. If carried off, it would have been Fiji's first bond sale of any kind. It would also have earned Mr. Pettit millions in fees before a single tree was felled.
There were obstacles from the start. The biggest one was that Mr. Pettit met resistance from Fiji Pine, which had no interest in seeing landowners buy back their property and set up a competing business.
The setback might have prompted some people to withdraw — Mr. Pettit said that he considered "just getting out." Instead, he and his partners began a private investigation into the operations of Fiji Pine, compiling a report that claimed to show how powerful officials had used dubious accounting to profit at landowners' expense.
And Mr. Pettit rallied landowners to do something about it. "I told them, 'You people have to get up and take on your own system or it will never get fixed,'" he said.
The Alliance: An American Finds A Local Partner
Mr. Pettit, an American outsider, soon recruited an ally in his fight. Through his local partners, he met George Speight, then the managing director of Fiji Heath, an insurance brokerage firm. The two discussed insurance — any bond deal on the trees would require an insurance package — but also timber politics.
Mr. Speight, in his early 40's and trained in business at Andrews University in Michigan, was a protégé of powerful native Fijian political figures in the then-ruling party. Burly, boxer-chinned and full of loud charm, Mr. Speight lived in a small apartment above JJ's, a bar and nightclub that he partly owned and had turned into a gossipy watering hole for local businessmen and government officials.
Unlike anyone else Mr. Pettit met in Suva, Mr. Speight understood financial markets. And unlike the Americans, Mr. Speight could communicate those concepts in Fijian.
"He's a godsend," Mr. Pettit wrote in a memo at the time. He committed to a broad arrangement with Mr. Speight, agreeing to pay his company a monthly fee for a variety of services, including insurance advice, office space and consulting.
When Mr. Pettit visited Fiji, Mr. Speight became his key contact and his liaison with landowners. Mr. Pettit said that he and Mr. Speight developed a shared vision for a unified timber industry, stripped of turf-conscious bureaucrats who did not understand American finance.
Before long, Mr. Speight was hooked on timber. He was boasting to friends that government patrons had secured him the leadership post at Fiji Hardwood, a new, government- owned entity set up to exploit the maturing mahogany plantations. By late 1998, Mr. Speight was also appointed chairman of Fiji Pine, the first step toward fulfilling his ambition to unite the timber industry.
By early 1999, the deal of Mr. Pettit's career seemed within grasp. Mr. Speight had shaken up Fiji Pine, clearing out many bureaucrats opposed to Mr. Pettit's plan. Mr. Speight also selected Mr. Pettit's company, Timber Resources Management, as one of two finalists seeking to harvest the mahogany groves.
If both deals materialized, the underwriting commissions, management fees and long-term profit sharing to Mr. Pettit's team would total, by some estimates, $100 million.
In March 1999, as both deals hung in the balance, Mr. Speight submitted an invoice to Mr. Pettit on his own letterhead that asserted he was owed $26,000 for rent and consulting services over several months in 1998. He specified a personal Australian bank account for payment. Mr. Speight had sought compensation before, but Mr. Pettit, while acknowledging he owed some past-due bills, said he held off paying. He disputed Mr. Speight's estimates and questioned why Mr. Speight asked to be paid to his own bank account instead of to Heath. Mr. Pettit also acknowledged that Mr. Speight's demand came at a difficult time — after Mr. Speight had assumed powerful government posts.
Despite those qualms, Mr. Pettit said he paid Mr. Speight $10,000 himself and arranged for one of his partners in Fiji to pay another $5,000. Those payments, shy of what Mr. Speight had demanded, are currently under investigation by the Fiji police.
Whether the payments might have swayed Mr. Speight to award the timber contracts to Mr. Pettit is not known. Not long after the issue arose, the party that backed Mr. Speight lost parliamentary elections to a coalition headed by Mahendra Chaudhry. Within a short time, Mr. Speight lost his government posts.
The Politics: Sugar Interests Are An Unseen Player
Mr. Chaudhry's new government promised a quick decision on timber sales. Even without Mr. Speight's help, Mr. Pettit felt he had the superior bid. His main challenger was the Commonwealth Development Corporation, a British concern with a 40-year track record in Fiji. But Mr. Pettit had a much more ambitious proposal that valued the mahogany crop at $210 million versus about $65 million for the British company.
What Mr. Pettit apparently did not know at the time was that Mr. Chaudhry, the first ethnic Indian prime minister in 13 years, needed the backing of Fiji's former colonial patron in negotiations with the European Union over export supports for sugar. Sugar is Fiji's No. 1 industry and a business dominated by ethnic Indians; Britain could help with sugar subsidies, but the British wanted Commonwealth Development to get the timber concession. Moreover, the new Fijian government — unlike Mr. Speight — seemed to have an instinctual distrust of foreign bonds.
As promised, Mr. Chaudhry decided the matter quickly. He told the British company that it was the "preferred bidder," subject to final talks. Mr. Pettit, having already invested about $2 million in Fiji, sensed disaster. He recruited the American Embassy to intervene.
After repeated diplomatic requests, Mr. Chaudhry agreed to reconsider the American plan. He also agreed to send a group of top government officials to visit Fahnestock & Company, the Wall Street investment bank Mr. Pettit had signed up to underwrite the bond. The State Department paid for the trip.
The intervention appeared to work. Two of Mr. Chaudhry's cabinet members overseeing the mahogany bid wrote a glowing report after the New York visit that signaled strong support for the Americans. But by late 1999, the action in Fiji had started to shift outside Suva, to villages scattered among the mahogany plantations. There, Mr. Chaudhry's initial support for the smaller British bid had inflamed landowners already fuming about not being consulted on land-use issues. Mr. Pettit said he hoped the landowner unrest would help him. After all, he had been lured to Fiji by disgruntled landowners representing 250 village chiefs, many with both pine and mahogany on their land. He cultivated support, drawing up tables showing how landowners could pocket far more from his plan than the British alternative.
At the same time, Mr. Speight was fanning landowner discontent for his own purposes. Stripped of his positions, he had returned to his family farm but he had not abandoned his plan to unite — and run — the timber industry. He crisscrossed the main island, Viti Levu, mobilizing landowners to form their own company, with him as the head. Their demand: full control of plantations be returned to ancestral chiefs.
Mr. Speight's plan found a receptive audience. "My response was, 'Get the government out of this. This is my land,'" said Ratu Nd Tawakelevu, 69, the chief of Naimasimasi Village and a mahogany landowner. Mr. Tawakelevu, whose modest home is built on mahogany stilts, said the chiefs had named Mr. Speight executive of a new land trust.
The Coup: From Parliament To an Island Prison
Events came to a turning point last spring. Mr. Chaudhry, who had included projected revenues from a timber deal in the government's budget for the year, pushed for a decision on a foreign partner. Going into a decisive cabinet meeting in March, Mr. Pettit believed he had won the concession. But Mr. Chaudhry surprised some members of his own administration when he swung firmly behind the British company, participants in the cabinet meeting said. That set off a dizzying succession of charges and countercharges that made mahogany front-page news in Fiji for weeks.
Shortly after the cabinet decision, the American ambassador, Osmand Siddique, went public with a scathing broadside, complaining in a speech about a "government reversal" that he called "nontransparent," and warned that unless the decision was revoked, American investors would flee Fiji. A local consultant who had earlier worked for Mr. Pettit also stirred things up, accusing the Chaudhry government of selling out landowner interests to curry favor with the British and protect sugar cane farmers.
To complicate matters, Fiji TV in April reported on Mr. Pettit's payments to Mr. Speight. Though both denied the money was a bribe, the report gave Mr. Chaudhry, who sensed a growing political threat from landowners, ammunition to support his mahogany decision. He accused Mr. Pettit of being a carpetbagger with a scheme to extract grand profits from timber but no money of his own to invest. "You will not be able to develop the mahogany industry on hot air," he scolded.
But the uproar in the capital seemed to solidify landowner opposition to Mr. Chaudhry. Some 10,000 indigenous Fijians marched through Suva in late March, calling on the government to cease making decisions on two key land issues: the mahogany and renewal of leases on land used to grow sugar cane.
Mr. Speight's landowner coalition was encouraging the protesters, in language that became overtly racist. They asserted that ethnic Indians could not be trusted to reach crucial decisions on native land matters.
On May 19, landowners again marched on Suva, this time 20,000 strong. While the march degenerated into a riot that destroyed some ethnic Indian-run businesses, Mr. Speight took over the parliament building with seven paramilitary troops and captured Mr. Chaudhry and his cabinet. The rebels held them as hostages for almost two months.
The coup was haphazard, with disparate supporters and a changing list of demands. Fijians speculate on the identity of its mastermind, often dismissing Mr. Speight as a front for powerful political interests. But it does seem likely that Mr. Speight intended to emerge from the coup as the mahogany king. While he kept the Chaudhry administration locked up, he ordered supporters to fan out and gather signatures of village chiefs on a "Deed of Sovereignty," according to people told to do that.
The deed would have abrogated government leases and vested control over Fiji's natural resources in a Speight-led entity. Had the army not turned decisively against Mr. Speight in late July — its officers eventually arrested him despite having earlier granted him amnesty — his plan might have come to fruition, the police said.
Mr. Speight is now in prison on the tiny island of Nukulau off Suva, surrounded by shark-infested waters and awaiting trial, charged with treason. Mr. Pettit, who has given up all hope of reaching a timber deal in Fiji, has filed half a dozen lawsuits in local courts against the government to recover some of the money he lost. He is also waiting for the Fiji police to decide whether to take action on his payment to Mr. Speight.
The coup left just one physical monument in Suva. On the third night of the hostage-taking, Speight supporters raced down Gladstone Road in four-wheel-drive vehicles and threw gasoline bombs into Fiji Hardwood's headquarters.
Whether intended to cover a theft of documents or simply as a symbolic act of terror, the fire left the twisted tin roof of the colonial-era building resting precariously on a few charred timbers.
More Information on the Dark Side of Natural Resources


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6th and Final, folks. Usual disclaimer: characters not named Tess are not mine, I'm not making any money off this...and comments are always welcome. Hope this puts a smile on your faces...well, at least by the end.
Kaylee spun around in Simon's small room, showing off the flirty little skirt of the dress Tess had given her. These were the few things that were practical for the engine room and yet showed off the right amount of leg. She was showing off for Simon, who had taken a break from sorting through the antique books that were now added to his collection.
"These were some of my favorite dresses from when I was healthy," Tess had explained, handing them to Kaylee. "Wear them and feel as beautiful as you truly are."
Simon, meanwhile, had been given free rein in Percy's library. Tess had smiled, claiming someone ought to enjoy the tattered, yellowing old pages the way Percy had. Simon had chosen a modest selection, but was now discovering Tess had secreted away some of the more rare copies in his mattress while the crew had slept in the vast house during their stay.
Now, Simon took Kaylee's hand and admired her closely before kissing her deeply...and began the process of removing the dress from her person...
* * *
River sat on the couch outside the infirmary, gleefully admiring the way the light caught the crystals Tess had bequeathed her. They had been the only thing River had seen and wanted. Tess had been more than happy to pass them on to someone who had been so understanding and kind to her. River's mind flitted to the other thing she had been given - the deed to Tess's house on Shadow - she knew she was to hand it to Zoe once the baby was born...but only if Zoe wanted to have a stable set of walls and dirt under her child's feet. Otherwise, the deed would be passed on to the child, for a sense of roots. Tess had entrusted this task to River because Zoe was not ready to think of leaving Serenity...but River had known Zoe was thinking about planet-side stability anyway.
She twisted the crystal earring in the light again and watched the light play across the floor...
* * *
Jayne ran a loving hand over the knife before placing it lovingly next to Vera. Percy had bought it for Tess when they had visited Ariel some years before while visiting the hospital for a new treatment. The polished ivory hilt had been carved into a twisting white flame. Tess had told him that the idea of a white flame erupting from a wound had given her the perfect mental picture of the feelings the needles gave her. She had told Percy of the image and he had searched high and low for someone to design it. The blade was silver, etched with gold leaves...that had been Percy's touch. He had wanted the pain to have some meaning...rebirth and growth. It had been the last thing he'd given her.
"You'll get so much more use out of it that I ever will," Tess had smiled. Jayne knew better, but didn't have the heart to tell her.
He named it Tess...
* * *
Zoe hummed softly as she folded and sorted the tiny gowns and jumpers. They smelled faintly of Tess's house. Tess had admitted to Zoe one night that she had found herself pregnant with Percy's child long before her blood's poison had been detected. She, like Zoe, had chosen to keep the child's gender a surprise and so had prepared for every event. Until the miscarriage, brought on by her illness, that was. She had told Percy she'd given away all the baby clothes, despite the fact she had hoped she might be able to conceive again. She had folded them and put them away. And now they belonged to Zoe.
"Someone should have use of these old things," she'd laughed. Zoe had accepted the few things gratefully and had allowed Tess every possible moment to feel the babe kick. They had grown close...Zoe respected and admired Tess. She thought of the child within, now only a few days from the expected arrival. This child would have Wash's light-hearted sense of humor and, with any luck, a joyful spirit.
"Hoban, if it's a boy," she murmured softly. "And, if it's a girl...Tess..."
* * *
Mal, after watching Shadow fall away from his life again, made sure the course for Bellerophon was set properly, switched over to autopilot and left the bridge.
He had expected to feel a heaviness, a sadness clinging to him, as he had when he'd left his homeworld before. There had been a grave then, too, but with his mother, she had already been dead and buried for some time. There had been release with Tess's passing. And unlike his mother, Tess had died surrounded by peace and love. Despite her arguments and best efforts to send them off, Mal and the crew had remained on hand to keep her from over-exerting herself in what she called 'household chores.' Still, she had seemed tired and drained more with each passing day until finally her body had let go.
Mal knew the pain had kept her from sleeping comfortably, and so she had wandered the property at all hours, often taking one of the crew's offers for company. Many nights, Mal himself would be the one to carry her back to the house. He had even seen Jayne tenderly lift his Baby Girl and cradle her in his arms as they returned. Zoe, Kaylee, Inara and River would remain close by, where they could call for help when needed. Simon had done his best to keep the pain at bay, but Tess was never one for needles.
When she was finally committed to remaining in bed, she had called Inara to her bedside. They had spoken for hours before Mal was allowed in. Inara had said nothing of Tess's words. Tess only asked Mal to remain nearby.
He held her hand during her last breath.
Mal found Inara in the shuttle bay, wearing the soft pink gown he loved on her. She always seemed to wear it when he was in pain, and the sight always warmed his heart...almost lessening the hurt by seeing her look so beautiful. He didn't know she saw the way his eyes lingered that much longer on her when she wore it. He didn't know she wore it for him.
She was standing on the upper deck, staring at nothing, looking for all the world as though she was trying to remember where she was going. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Mal," she said, obviously startled. "I was just..."
"Wanted you to know we're on our way to Bellerophon," he said, trying to spare her flustered words. "Tess asked us to handle the estate-selling and whatnot there. I believe she asked you to contact the right people."
"Yes," Inara answered, recovering her calm. "She gave me a list of people Percy had been in business with. I'm glad she trusts us so well. After all, she only met most of us but a few weeks ago."
"She was a good judge of character," Mal nodded. "Well, 'cept where it came to Jayne."
Inara smiled warmly and visibly relaxed.
"She was a pleasure to have around," Inara admitted. Mal watched her intently. He could see the smile start to fade and desperately wanted to pull her into his arms. He spoke instead.
"Yeah, well, it was a real pleasure to wake up and find all my gear missing and replaced by cotton prairie dresses," he grunted, watching Inara's eyes light up with the memory. She looked to him with that dazzling smile of hers.
"We did think you looked quite flattering in the lilac one you chose," she laughed. "I think it brought out your eyes."
"See, this is why I never told any a'you about Tess," he said, rolling his eyes. "I knew she'd somehow convince you to play tricks, same way she convinced me."
"Although childish pranks and sneaking about is not normally my habit," Inara conceded, "It was a rare joy to experience."
"You looked quite at home, though, I must say," Mal chuckled. Inara and Tess had laughed for hours while Mal had conducted himself as though nothing was out of the ordinary. It had been worth it, if only to see the two women sharing in the joy.
"So did you in that lilac dress," Inara remarked casually, her eyes glittering. Mal couldn't bear it anymore. He took her hand in his and turned it palm up. With his other hand, he placed his mother's locket in Inara's palm and closed her fingers over it.
"This belongs to you," he said tightly.
"I don't understand," she responded slowly. He still kept his hand on hers, keeping the locket tightly within her grasp.
"'Nara," he began roughly, searching for the right words. "I... I don't belong in your world and I can't ask you to try to feel at home in mine, but...I need you near me. I need you near me t'help me see where I been and...what I have that's good in me." He still held her hands in his as he stared into her wide eyes.
"Mal," she began. He cut her off.
"There's no way we can ever have what some do," he admitted gruffly. "But why can't we have it here, where it don't matter? Here, between you an' me an' Serenity..."
He saw the unshed tears glittering in her eyes, as she let his words soak into her skin and mind and heart. He lifted one hand to her face, to touch her cheek and she turned to it, closing her eyes as she did so. She let her lips brush against his callused palm with the faintest of kisses. He pulled her to him.
"Here," he whispered. "To hell with Serenity, jus' between you an' me is good enough."
Their lips met. He let go of her hand and pulled her even closer to him. She wrapped her arms around him in return, clutching the locket in her hand as she did so...
* * *
Jayne found River smiling as the crystal played with the light.
"Where's the Cap'n?" he asked.
"Where he belongs," River answered.
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Editor: An open letter to Professor Christine Blasey Ford, Ph.D.: First, I apologize for the recent events that have obviously been stressful on you, your husband and sons.
An open letter to Professor Christine Blasey Ford, Ph.D.:
First, I apologize for the recent events that have obviously been stressful on you, your husband and sons. When you gave an anonymous lead to your state representative a couple of months ago, you hoped to remain anonymous and relied on your elected representatives to do their job of investigating your allegations.
It is truly sad that instead of using your concerns as intended, the letter was secreted for weeks and then used for political purposes rather than your purpose of advancing justice.
The bits and pieces of information leaking from your legal team and politicians exacerbate rather than assuage the situation. The only fact that seems indisputable is that what happened was almost four decades ago without repetition.
History gives us a litany of luminaries, men and women, who have transgressed in their formative years and have grown into respected leaders. The thread of the fabric in each of these cases has been "forgiveness."
One of your peers, Professor Robert Enright, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, suggests a wronged person for their own benefit should say: "I will not be defined by the injustices against me. I am more than this. I am someone who endures pain and is a conduit for good to others."
The Mayo Clinic found that forgiveness has benefits of healthier relationships and even healthier blood pressure.
This seems to have been your mantra until recently. Despite the incident in your past, you have thrived. You have unloaded the mantle of victim and have achieved decades as a survivor. You did what you thought was your duty. You should be applauded, not denigrated nor used for political purposes.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote: "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
Reflect on the past decades. Seems timely to forgive.
Eskil S. Danielson


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text: Never in my life have I seen three viruses descend upon the planet all at the same time. Is there any hope for humanity? Only for the true Christian is their hope, because no matter what happens at least he is assured of eternal life free from all the pain that's coming upon the world. I am afraid that the coming Antichrist and his New World Order will use each of these viruses as a means to their end to establish total control over all of humanity. These viruses will unleash an unimaginable fear to have ever fallen upon the entire world. No, this is not a plot for an upcoming horror movie nor is it the vain imagination of a would be prophet. Perhaps it's only reality in the making that simply needs to be unmasked. Only time will prove or disprove what I am about to write. The order in which these viruses are unveiled should in no way elevate their importance or the magnitude of their destruction. What is important however is that they all work in tandem to frighten the entire world into total submission to its new world leaders. Continue reading The Three Viruses (Ebola, ISIS & Global Addiction)


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How to Restore Ceramic Cooktop Discoloration
Ceramic cooktops add a stylish touch to your kitchen. The pieces come in different styles, colors and patterns, which allow the design to fit with both traditional and more modern kitchens. Discoloration occurs when food stains sit on the surface. The natural oils and acids in the food leave behind dark or light stains on the ceramic. Restoring discoloration from a ceramic cooktop involves proper cleaning.
Step 1
Apply a specialty liquid ceramic cooktop cleaner once the area cools. Rub the cleaner on the cooktop with a paper towel. Rinse with fresh water and look for any signs of discoloration.
Step 2
Pour more of the cleaning product on the stains and let it sit for several minutes. Rub the scrubbing pad over the surface, rubbing deep into the stain. The abrasive nature of the scrubbing pad helps release the stain and removes the discoloration.
Step 3
Rub a small amount of cream cleaner on the discolored area and let sit until the stain absorbs the cream. Slowly scrape a razor blade over the surface, using the edge of the blade to lift off any food or debris causing the discoloration. Wipe the area with a wet paper towel.
Step 4
Sprinkle baking soda over the discoloration. Dip a kitchen sponge in warm water and squeeze out the excess liquid. Rub the sponge over the baking soda, using the motion to gently lift away any debris and reveal the natural color of the cooktop underneath.
Step 5
Scrub the discolored area with bathroom cleaner if other methods don't work. The cleaner lifts stains off ceramic and glass surfaces without leaving streaks or scratches. Wipe the cleaner off the cooktop with a damp paper towel.
Things You Will Need
- Ceramic cooktop liquid cleaner
- Paper towel
- Scrubbing pads
- Razor blade
- Baking soda
- Kitchen sponge
- Bathroom cleaner
- Contact the manufacturer of your cooktop for advice on products. Most manufacturers, including General Electric, recommend specific cleaning products for use with ceramic cooktops.


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Fat halo sign (inflammatory bowel disease)
The fat halo sign (in colonic imaging) refers to a feature seen on CT abdominal scans, and represents infiltration of the submucosa with fat, between the muscularis propria and the mucosa. It is characterized by an inner (mucosa) and outer (muscularis propria and serosa) ring of enhancing bowel wall along with a non-enhancing middle layer (submucosa).
It should not be confused with the fat ring sign of mesenteric panniculitis (which is also sometimes known as the fat halo sign).
The submucosal fat halo used to be considered nearly pathognomonic of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis) or less commonly due to cytoreductive therapy and graft versus host disease.
However, a retrospective review of 100 consecutive CT exams performed for reasons other than gastrointestinal disease found the fat halo sign in 21% of subjects, leading to the conclusion that "in the absence of clinical or radiological evidence of inflammatory bowel disease, the presence of the fat halo sign may represent a normal finding that is possibly related to obesity." 1
Differential diagnosis
target sign
- the fat halo sign is separate from target sign which is due to submucosal edema and should be readily differentiable in most cases
- on occasion it may be necessary to measure the attenuation of the halo which should be around -10 HU for fat halo sign and in the positive range in cases of target sign
See also
- fat ring sign: in mesenteric panniculitis
- 1. Harisinghani MG, Wittenberg J, Lee W et-al. Bowel wall fat halo sign in patients without intestinal disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;181 (3): 781-4. AJR Am J Roentgenol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Ahualli J. The fat halo sign. Radiology. 2007;242 (3): 945-6. doi:10.1148/radiol.2423041600 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Aina Venkatasamy, Quentin Minault, Francis Veillon. Fat halo sign. (2018) Abdominal Radiology. 43 (9): 2533. doi:10.1007/s00261-018-1492-5 - Pubmed


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VIP: Deathwish Skateboards
Deathwish Skateboards Pros Neen Williams and Taylor Kirby spent a week here at Woodward Camp kicking it with the kids and landing everything pretty much first try. Can't wait to have these guys back next year! Edited By: Nick TredinnickFilmed By: Evan McCormick, Nick Tredinnick, Tristan SacharThumbnail Photo By: Bailey Schreiner
In This Video Skateboarding
Location Go To Camp


text:
A month ago, my wonderful friend Sara posted about recycling cardboard boxes into gift bags. Seriously y'all, what a great idea. And I just love the thought of munchkins painting up a cereal box and turning it into a beloved treasure.
Only problem is, I am sans munchkin. And until Lola picks up a paint brush (this is entirely possible, people)…I needed to do my own variation.
Enter: fuzzy stickers.
If you saw the post about making your own custom tape, you probably already know how I made the polar bear. Just get yourself some double-sided adhesive paper and some faux fur and go to town.
Tip: It's easy to draw silhouette shapes when you use your computer as a light board. Just enlarge the image on your screen , lay the double-sided adhesive paper on top, then trace with a marker. You may need to temporarily adjust your monitor brightness/contrast settings, but it sure beats using messy carbon paper or cutting and recutting templates. Works great for all y'all hardcore freezer paper stencilers out there; we're talking animal shapes, monograms, profiles of your children…just about anything with a strong contrast line can be easily converted into a sticker/stencil/template. I picked up this tip from a friend whose 10-year-old son uses this technique to trace Japanese comic book characters. He is such a smarty pants!
Disassemble and reconstruct the box (consult Sara's original post to read how it's done properly)….then stuff it with a gift and give it away!
Hooray for polar bears!


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_ "Let no one deceive himself. Spain has an existential challenge. We have to respond with votes"
_ "The votes that Spain needs to respond to this challenge are the votes which must go to the PP and which, from now on, I ask for the PP"
_ "Only a strong PP guarantees the change. Not a potential change. Not a change with a confusing objective"
_ "We do not only have a great president in the PP; we also have a great leader without tutelage, who can, wants and knows how to unite and build support"
_ "Nothing worthwhile has been done by dividing but by building support. The July Congress was an example of renewal, integration and support-building"
_ "Let us not renounce plurality. Let us reaffirm our majority vocation"
_ "We know what it is to govern. We are far from the strident political fashions, from the shouting of the troublemakers and from the arrogance of simplists"
_ "Almost 30 years ago, in Seville, we got it right. And now we are right to commit ourselves to unity, to Spain and to Freedom, by addressing that great central current of society"
_ "Let's not ask for the fear vote. The vote that the PP has to ask for is the vote of hope and patriotism"
_ "Let's not leave behind what identifies us as the great integrating political force that has brought progress and stability to Spain"
_ "Pablo Casado had the courage and wisdom to step forward when the match needed it, and we know he won't step back"
_ "More and more Spaniards are going to recognize in Pablo Casado the best reason to find their place again in this great common house settled on Spain and freedom"
_ "We have reached a point almost impossible to imagine, but real: a government that makes the budgets dependent on a fugitive from justice and a preventive prisoner for rebellion"
_ "For the same reasons the socialists removed their secretary general, today he has to be removed at the polls"
_ "Andalusia has shown that the PP has not been enough for the change, but without the PP the change would not have taken place. Congratulations to those of you who have made it possible"
_ "This Convention is a decisive step for the future of this party. It is going to be a success for the PP, and it has to be a success for Spain"
The former President of the Government and president of the FAES Foundation, José María Aznar, has intervened today in the National Convention of the Popular Party "España en libertad" (Spain in freedom), where he has assured that "the PP has the responsibility to lead and call for political change against those who bet on the failure of Spain and against those who receive the support of these." "Let no one be deceived. Spain has set itself an existential challenge. And we have to respond with votes," said Aznar, who added that "the votes that Spain needs to successfully respond to this challenge against its historical continuity and its future are the votes which should go to the Popular Party and which, from now on, I ask for the Popular Party." "Only the PP and a strong PP guarantee the change. Not a potential change. Not a change with a confusing objective. Because what needs to be changed is the government, not the Constitution," he stressed.
Before the plenary session of the Convention, José María Aznar said that "nothing worthwhile has been done by dividing but by building support. That's why in the July Congress, the PP gave an example of renewal, integration and support-building." "Let us not renounce plurality. Let's reaffirm our majority vocation," he claimed, recalling that "almost 30 years ago, in Seville, this party met under a commitment: 'Centred on freedom.' Today we meet under a slogan that says 'Spain in Freedom.' There is not much difference. We were right then, and we are right now to commit ourselves to unity, to Spain and to Freedom, by addressing the great central current of society that forms its backbone."
In his opinion, the task of calling the Spaniards "to resume a great project of success for the Spanish Nation" is going to fall, to a large extent, on Pablo Casado. "I want you to know, Pablo, and everyone to know, my confidence that you will know how to respond to this great commitment," he said to Casado. "We do not only have a great president in the Popular Party; we have a great leader, a leader without tutelage, a man who can, wants and knows how to unite and build support," stated the former president of the Government, for whom "more and more Spaniards are going to recognize in Pablo Casado the best reason to find their place again in this great common house built on the two pillars of our past and our future: Spain and freedom."


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Hot Topics in the News!
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Monday Morning Mailbag: Minicamp Takeaways, Depth at WR, More
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EAGAN, Minn. — Sid Hartman and Bud Grant — two Minnesota icons — have enjoyed interconnected lives since first crossing paths on the campus of the University of Minnesota in 1945. Their paths that...
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By Kabrione Coleman, For Vikings.com EAGAN, Minn.– Head Coach Mike Zimmer invited special guests to the final minicamp practice. Vikings Legends gathered to watch practice and enjoyed some BBQ aft...
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Emergency-Stop button
Emergency-Stop is now state-of-the-art, providing safety for Man and the machine. Eaton offers a wide range of Safety Components for the protection of Man, machines and production goods in emergency situations.
It is the purpose of an
Emergency-Stop device to deflect or minimize the risk as quickly as possible and
optimally in the event of an emergency arising. In accordance with the Machine
Directive IEC/EN60204-1, an Emergency-Stop device must be fitted on all
with the exception:
- of machines on which an Emergency-Stop device would not reduce the risk,
- i.e. machines carried and operated by hand.
Emergency-Stop button from the RMQ-Titan or RMQ-16 ranges
Both these ranges offer a number of different Emergency-Stop buttons with a high degree of protection for practical application. These Emergency-Stop buttons are tamper-proof.
Illuminated buttons in particular increase the safety since visual recognition of the Emergency-Stop is even quicker and shortens the reaction time.
|Further information about the RMQ-Titan
|Further information about the RMQ-16
|Product description on the moeller.net
|Product description on the moeller.net
|Practical tips from the wiring manual
|Practical tips from the wiring manual
Foot and palm switches FAK
Foot and palm switches FAK have a particularly large actuator surface, as well as being tamper-proof. Actuation can be effected using the hand, the arm, the foot, etc. The simple and versatile mode of operation makes for quick reaction in case of emergency. The FAK is exceptionally impact resistant, with a very high degree of ingress protection, IP 69K, i.e. it is the ideal device for application in harsh environments.
Further information about the FAK
Product description on the moeller.net
Emergency-Stop buttons and Position switches LS-Titan
The position switches LS-Titan and the Emergency-Stop button from the RMQ-Titan range provide the ideal link to
the Emergency-Stop actuating element. These devices are quick and straightforward to fit, as well as being highly
reliable in operation, -properties that are critical for use on machines and systems.
They have degree of protection IP 66, which allows them to be used in a wide range of applications.
Further information about the Emergency-Stop buttons and Position switches
description on the moeller.net
Practical tips from the wiring manual
AS-Interface Emergency-Stop button
The Emergency-Stop button available in every system can be safely connected by an AS-i slave to an AS-i network. The electronics are located in the device, or clipped-on as an AS-i safety adapter to conventional components of the RMQ-Titan range to suit their design features as a surface mounting enclosures or flush mounting devices.


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Adrienne Clune imagined life on the late 19th-century Montana frontier as romantic, quiet and slow-paced. She thought of her grandmother's uncle, P.J. Brophy, who left Ireland in 1876 and a few years later started a grocery store in Butte, Mont. Sure, life on the frontier was tough for him in the beginning, but he became quite successful and well-liked in the booming mining town. When she applied last year to participate in the new PBS reality series "Frontier House," Clune thought that five months on a re-created 1883 homestead would allow her plenty of time for quilting, sewing and bonding with her husband and three children.
Once she began her life as a "homesteader's wife," however, those romantic ideas were plowed under by reality. Milking cows, churning butter, cooking three meals a day on a wood stove, laundering clothes with a washboard — the time-consuming, monotonous chores of everyday survival didn't leave much time for quilting or anything else. "It was an endless work day, from sunup to sundown," Clune says after returning to life as a stay-at-home mom in her comfortable California home. "For women, particularly mothers, [frontier life] was brutally tough, full of hardship. There was so little time to do the things I'd like to do."
Clune was one of 13 people from three families who accepted the "Frontier House" challenge: Take over a 160-acre homestead and live a historically accurate 1883 lifestyle from June to October 2001. All the while, a television crew from Thirteen/WNET New York caught every move on tape, including "video diaries" that captured each participant's individual experience along the way. There was no "tribal council" where participants voted each other off the show; instead, the three families occasionally came together to share common problems and solutions, such as raising livestock. No one won $1 million at the end; the only prize for participants was the richness of the experience.
"I'll never be the same person I was before," says Karen Glenn, another "Frontier House" participant. "I have a deeper understanding of what's essential: the family." Glenn, a school nurse from Tennessee, decided to try out for the show as a tribute to her father, who grew up in a log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland and died several years ago at the age of 81. "I wanted my children to see and feel and understand their grandparents' and great-grandparents' lives," she says.
So how did they do it? The producers couldn't just plop three 21st-century families into the 1883 Montana wilderness and say "Go for it!" Instead, they took the approach of a previous popular PBS series, "The 1900 House," in which a modern British family spent three months living as Victorians. That show relied on a number of experts to re-create the life of a middle-class family in 1900 London as accurately as possible. The "Frontier House" producers hired a domestic skills consultant, an animal handler, two historical consultants and a building specialist, all with expertise on the time period and region of 1880s Montana.
Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, the show's historical consultants, wondered how accurate the experience would end up being for participants. After meeting with the production crew, however, they realized "they were serious," Smith says. "This was not 'survivor.'" Peavy and Smith, who co-authored several history books on women and the West, came up with probable "scenarios" for why each family might have come to the frontier in 1883. They also decided what personal items the families would have brought in a trunk, which the family members got to open at the end of a "boot camp" of training for frontier life. During the two-week period, the families learned how to build a cabin, start a fire in a wood stove, milk a cow, plow a field and many other skills they would need on their own homesteads.
In the end, all three families survived. They took on the challenge of their ancestors and succeeded. You can witness their pain and progress when the show begins airing in late April, and get an idea of what your pioneer relatives might have gone through. "Frontier House" consists of six one-hour episodes, with two episodes airing per night on April 29, 30 and May 1, from 9 to 11 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). For lots of background information and behind-the-scenes scoop, check out the Web site companion to the show at <www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse>. "You'll feel dirty and tired, you'll feel their triumphs and joy," Smith says. "You'll feel the homesteader experience, which you've read about but never seen actually experienced."
Land, Ho!
Most of your frontier ancestors headed west to obtain land made available by the Homestead Act of 1862. The act allowed a person to file for a quarter-section of free land (160 acres), as long as certain requirements were met at the end of a five-year period. This included building a house, digging a well and plowing 10 acres.
The Homestead Act attracted a high number of emigrants. Jameson says the frontier had a higher population of foreign-born than New York City — at times as much as 25 to 29 percent. The frontier became home to Germans from Russia, Scandinavians, Greeks, Mexicans, Jews and even Japanese who settled in western Nebraska to work on the sugar beet crop.
Homestead land records can be searched online at the Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office site <www.glorecords.blm.gov>. The database contains records of land transferred from the federal government between 1820 and 1908. Search the land patents by choosing the state your ancestor homesteaded in, and then filling in at least a surname to begin the search. Land records include the name of the person the land was transferred to (patentee), the legal land description, the land office that had jurisdiction over the title transfer and the congressional act or treaty under whose authority the land was transferred. The site also contains scanned images of many of the original patents. (At press time, the Bureau of Land Management's site was temporarily offline due to a federal court order. Meanwhile, the Department of Interior is improving its computer security to protect Indian trust funds. It's unclear when the site will be back up.)
Round Up Other Records
Many of the "frontier states" gained statehood fairly late in the 19th century. As a result, you don't have the luxury of searching the decades of census records available for Eastern and Southern states. Territorial census records do exist pre-statehood, though you may have to search more than one territory's records, since boundary lines changed. For detailed information on federal, state and territorial census records for your frontier state, visit the Ancestry.com State Resources Web site <www.ancestry.com/search/locality/main.htm> and select a state. Click on the Sources tab, and a fact sheet will list the dates and types of census records available.
Once you know which frontier state your ancestor pioneered, your first online stop should be USGenWeb <www.usgenweb.com>. There you'll find resources galore for each state and county. County resources vary, depending on the volunteer coordinator's efforts, but will always include a query page and a list of surnames being researched. Be sure to check the surname list — even if there's no one searching for your surname, you may find the surname of a neighbor or in-law.
USGenWeb pages frequently contain biographies, county histories, obituaries, newspaper articles, maps and cemetery data. You may also locate a list of people who will do free lookups in county reference books. Some sites have a countywide search engine. On the Lincoln County, Kan., site <skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/lincoln>, for example, a search for Hendrickson returned 75 hits. Many of them refer to my frontier family who moved into Kansas following the Civil War. Several listings were from the book Indian Raids in Lincoln County, Kansas, 1864 and 1869 — a book I've since bought and frequently use as a reference.
While on USGenWeb, make it easy for other family researchers to find you by posting your queries and surnames in each county your ancestors settled.
Don't know where your frontier ancestor is buried? You may be able to find her grave site using an online database. Sites such as Cemetery Records Online <interment.net> and Cemetery Junction Directory <www.daddezio.com/cemetery> contain millions of cemetery records. Another source of cemetery records is the US-GenWeb's Tombstone Transcription Project <www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery>. Often, local genealogical societies publish cemetery transcriptions in their newsletters or special publications. The Red River Valley Genealogical Society <www.fargocity.com/~rrvgs>, in Fargo, ND, sells cemetery records for both North Dakota and Minnesota, for example. Others sell publications containing census data and land records.
To locate a genealogical society in the area where your ancestor lived, search the online directory provided by Ancestry.com and the Federation of Genealogical Societies at <www.familyhistory.com/societyhall/main.asp>. Many societies have Web sites containing a list of their publications.
From 1936 to 1940, more than 300 writers working for the Works Progress Administration compiled life histories of everyday Americans. These histories are personal recollections of pioneers and homesteaders. Although you may not find a history of your own family, you will learn about daily life on the frontier. Among the histories, for example, is that of Kansas homesteader Hernon Kyle. His narrative includes stories about wild game hunting, community activities and local humor. The life histories are searchable by keyword or state at <lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/wpahome.html>.
If you're lucky, your pioneer is mentioned in a county or township history book, or in a collection of biographical sketches. Although most of these books are out-of-print, there's a chance of locating a copy on one of the many online bookstores specializing in rare or out-of-print books.
I found Indian Raids in Lincoln County, Kansas through Advanced Book Exchange <www.abebooks.com>. Here you can search by title, author or keyword. Once your search is completed, the system will display all of the booksellers who have a copy of the book, along with the price. Prices vary greatly depending on the book's age and condition and whether it's a first edition. Other excellent online sources include Alibris <www.alibris.com> and Amazon.com <www.amazon.com>, which recently partnered with Bibliofind.
County histories are invaluable sources of information — both genealogical and historical. Even if they don't mention your ancestor, you can read about economic conditions, local gossip, folklore, local customs and all those tidbits that put flesh on names and dates.
Your frontier ancestors were the last true American pioneers. They fought harsh weather, withstood the Indian wars and toughed it out long enough to keep their homesteads. In many instances, their heritage may have deep European roots, but their legacy is uniquely American.
Manifest Destiny became a reality by the beginning of the 20th century — thanks to the homesteaders, trappers, soldiers, cowboys, ranchers and schoolmarms who tamed the American frontier. Your ancestors.
From the June 2002 issue of Family Tree Magazine


text:
Reducing Risk, Creating Compliance With GDPR
Understanding The Worldwide Effects On BusinessAdd bookmark
We respect your privacy, by clicking "Download Your Copy" you will receive our e-newsletter, including information on Podcasts, Webinars, event discounts, online learning opportunities and agree to our User Agreement. You have the right to object . In addition, you agree to having your details passed onto the sponsor who may promote similar products and services related to your area of interest subject to their privacy policy. For further information on how we process and monitor your personal data click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a mandate from the European Union (EU), will go into effect May 25, 2018. The regulation is comprehensive insofar as protecting data and information security practices at the enterprise level.
Those who are not compliant run the risk of receiving steep fines. Its effects will likely be felt worldwide, as any business that handles data from EU citizens falls within its jurisdiction. The measure also poses a real financial threat to the enterprise. This report breaks down the loaded regulation and what quick-fix measures you can take to become compliant before the May deadline.
In this report, entitled "Reducing Risk, Creating Compliance With GDPR," we'll examine the regulation, and you'll also learn:
- Best practices with regard to the pervasive new mandate
- How the GDPR stacks up against other international measures on compliance
- The delineation between compliance and security within the enterprise
Download the full Market Report to learn about the sweeping regulation and, generally, the state of compliance. You'll gain insight from cyber experts and end-users, as well.


text:
Saying that the approaching winter storm is going to be "quite a bit stronger and faster," Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday let non-emergency state employees leave work at 3 p.m. and encouraged private businesses to do the same.
City and school officials from Greater Boston canceled school for Wednesday and instituted parking bans on major roadways as an overnight storm approached the area.
Taking no chances, many cities and town declared snow emergencies and parking bans hours before the first flakes fell.
Parking bans and snow emergencies took effect Tuesday evening in many communities including in Boston, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville and Quincy.
Somerville said in an alert that its snow emergency went into effect at 3 p.m. Parking is allowed on the odd side of the street only, unless otherwise posted. Municipal parking lots and some school lots will be available for parking, the city said. Somerville public schools were also closed Wednesday.
In Cambridge, a snow emergency and parking ban goes into effect at 8 p.m.Medford said that a snow emergency goes into effect at 6 p.m.
Patrick also postponed his scheduled State of the Commonwealth address set for 7 p.m. Tuesday.
On Monday, the forecast called for Greater Boston to receive only up to 4 inches of snow, but those estimates were soon increased and the forecast on Tuesday called for Boston to get up to 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow showers and blowing snow were expected to remain in the area until about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Areas south of Boston and on Cape Cod were expected to get about a foot of snow.
In Boston, Mayor Marty Walsh met with his cabinet and in an afternoon news conference announced that Boston Public Schools would close Wednesday and that a parking ban would take effect at 6 p.m.
"Our city is prepared. Our crews are ready. I just ask you once again for all of the public's cooperation so that we can get all of our crews out there to help clean up the streets," Walsh said.
More than 500 pieces of snow removal equipment were being sent out onto Boston's streets Tuesday night, Walsh said. Trucks began pre-treating the roadways at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Boston police were helping school buses get home ahead of the storm and anticipated traffic.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.


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💕 ☆☆☆ ANNABELLE: A Ghostly Texas Tale 💕 ☆☆☆
Woohoo! It's Brand New, Gorgeous & Available to give in time for Christmas! (Thanks to Disney artist Scott Seeto & Yvonne Parks of Pear Creative for ANNABELLE'S A-Mazing cover.) Hats off to Disney Artist Scott Seeto & Yvonne Parks of Pear Creative for ANNABELLE'S Gorgeous cover! A once-grand house, neglected…
An Encouraging Word From Our Heavenly Father
Seems pretty cheeky to say one can hear from God and even cheekier to share it with others. But if there's a chance of this soothing hearts and encouraging us to trust God when we're discouraged, then I'm sharing. Feel free to pass this on if it resonates with you….
You Be About MY Business, & I'll Be About Yours
"You be about MY business, and I'll be about yours." Those were the words in my head this morning when I popped wide awake at 5:30 am after too little sleep. We're in the middle of a house hunt with several Open Houses on the agenda but God made sure…
Grieve, Mourn & Wail–Joy is On the Way
So often I go through day after day kinda forgetting that I'm surrounded by people who are dying and moving toward an eternity without God.
When the reality of that fact breaks through, even a moment, its unbearable.
The Way Is Open
The way is open. He who defeated death and walked out of the grave blew the door of death off its hinges. He lives, will never die again, and keeps the way open. The way is OPEN. His arms are open wide to YOU. Come as you are. Step…
Web or Net?
The Internet. The World Wide Web. Digital Streaming. Our modern world is a flood of information, into every household with a power source, into every hand with a mobile phone, and most of that flood is divisive, fear-filled, degrading, addictive filth that appeals to the very basest of human inclinations…
Cover Reveal & Rock Star: part deux Update!
DRUMROLL PLEASE! Cover Reveal! Major kudos to Yvonne of www.Facebook.com/pearcreative and to hubby, Mark of www.facebook.com/markkeeferdrums. Couldn't do this without you! Also:A general announcement to very sweet, patient, wonderful, forgiving, grace-filled fans of One Night With a Rock Star. Due to circumstances beyond my control–is life ever in our…
Three Books, One Plan
This morning, God gave a very sweet gift of insight that left me blubbering.
For the past ten years of praying and writing, I've gone with God's leading. I've laughed off the fact I'm an author genre-jumper, thus a publisher's nightmare. This morning God gave a little glimpse of the blueprint He's had in mind the whole time—
My friends, I don't know what else to do but try to type even though my hands shake so hard I can hardly do it and I can't stop bawling. In prayer this morning God hit me so hard with the following. Honestly don't know what to do with it besides weep a ton.
Old & New Testament Bracelet!
This Christmas I made several of what are called "Jesus Bracelets" for family and friends. One morning in prayer I was bemoaning the fact I couldn't make one for a dear Jewish friend. God whispered to my heart, "It's the same story." My mind started spinning.