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You're viewing a comment by Paul and its responses.
AWESOME article; outstanding solutions for just about everything except the power set problem.
Here's an idea for a future article: associative array operations in unix shell
MANY developers jump to perl the moment a problem seems to require associative arrays; I've never understood this; it seems to me that similar strategies to the ones you've employed for sets could be employed for associative arrays
Thanks for your efforts to keep the UNIX way alive and well.


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A Conversation with Astronaut Suni Williams
September 12, 2007 at 4:00
Local resident and astronaut Suni Williams, who recently returned from nearly seven months aboard the International Space Station, will visit Woods Hole to share her experiences of living and working in space. She holds the record for the longest spaceflight (195 days), the greatest number of space walks (four), and total time spent on spacewalks (29 hours and 17 minutes). On Wednesday, September 12, astronaut Suni Williams will share her
experience of living and working in space at a public talk in MBL's
Lillie Auditorium at 4 p.m.
The event will include:
- Slides and video of Suni's journey to the International Space Station,
- A special presentation by Tim Shank of the WHOI Biology Department, who participated in the first ever phone call from the ISS to Alvin, and
- A question and answer session
Sponsored by the WHOI Women's Committee, Women's Technical Staff, Communications and Development Departments and the MBL.
Related Resources» Directions to MBL and Lillie Auditorium
» More about Suni Williams
» More about Tim Shank
» From the Seafloor to the Space Station
» WHOI's Women's Committee
» National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
» Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)

subset: commoncrawl


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New features :
- RTL support
- Widgets at homepage featured content toggle area
- WooCommerce Ready
- Light Version
- German language available now
- New social media icons
Matrix is a responsive, intuitive tile-based theme which is inspired by Metro design. The tiles can be made 'live' to display more information on the screen without occupying more space.
This WordPress theme comes with 10 pre-defined colours and an advanced but easy-to-use admin panel. It is highly customizable to suit the needs of every user. Unlike conventional designs, each tile can be customized to create any design you can imagine!
All the files are coded with valid HTML5 tags and CSS3, and are Search Engine Optimized (SEO) using valid HTML5 semantic tags for each section and are written in decreasing order of importance down the page. For instance, the title and content of an article comes before the comments and sidebar within a HTML file, and titles are enclosed in h1 tags to signify their importance.
The theme is also optimized for speed. It is faster than most of the top-selling themes in the WordPress category here. With WooCommerce compatibility, you can sell your products to millions of website visitors with this blazingly fast theme.
Main Features
- Responsive
- 'Live' tiles
- iframe video embedding ready – A link is all you need to embed it
- Ability to define video aspect ratio – No ugly black borders for any video
Supports major post formats
- Gallery
- Link
- Audio
- Video
- Quote
- 4 different tiles for archives
- List – currently used in the live preview
- Large
- Medium
- Small
- AJAX pagination at main page – Can be disabled
- More than 25 shortcodes – All inserted as buttons / dropdown in post editor
- Unlimited slider
- Unlimited layout options
- High customizability
- Advanced admin panel – See below for more information
- Working Contact form with jQuery validator
- Detailed documentation
- 10 default colours
- Unlimited colour settings
- 10 default social icons
- FlexSlider 2 ready
- Custom Twitter widget – uses API V1.1
- Coded using valid HTML5 and CSS3
- SEO and speed optimized
- Localization ready – Comes with .po / .mo files
- WooCommerce ready
WOW . I'm not easily impressed on Themeforest but this is very well done. Superb job! And it's responsive! soichi, Matrix HTML Template
This is very beautiful work, so well designed and cool and trendy. Robbie2010, Matrix HTML Template
This looks so magnificent. nexorrr, Matrix HTML Template
You're amazing. That worked perfectly. I love having both options. Thank you! Your template is going to put me way ahead of my writing peers. Harrietinthecity, Matrix HTML Template
Hi! Your theme is awesome! Best of the Metro like desing WP themes! When the Wordpress version would be avalible? I'm the first buyer of this theme!!! xorpi, Matrix HTML Template
21/08/2015 Release of V2.2.1 scripts/new-mce4.js -- Fixed a bug which causes the WordPress TinyMCE editor to stop working 19/08/2015 Release of V2.2 archive-large.php archive-medium.php archive-small.php content-tile.php ---- Fixed an issue where audio post format lightbox template is not retrieved if post type is Portfolio rtl.css -- RTL support /images/navitemrtl.png -- Background for RTL menu /css/style-{colour}.css -- Added support for RTL menu functions.php -- Fixed WP_Widget error in WordPress V4.3 /plugins/social-bartender.zip -- Fixed WP_Widget error in WordPress V4.3 /woocommerce -- Updated template files 30/04/2015 Release of V2.1.1 style.css -- Fixed a new visual bug at Twitter button in posts -- Fixed visual bug at tabs and tables /plugins/class-tgm-plugin-activation.php -- Updated to version 2.4.2 25/04/2015 Release of V2.1 NEW feature : Support widgets at homepage Featured Content area style.css -- Modified to support WooCommerce update changes functions.php -- Added widget area at homepage, IE8 support removed as a result of this -- Fixed no fullscreen bug for iframe embeds -- Fixed query results for archives -- Updated TGMPA code index.php -- Added widget area -- Fixed a bug which causes toggles not to display correctly /woocommerce -- Modified / removed some files to support WooCommerce update changes /plugins/class-tgm-plugin-activation.php -- Updated to patch XSS security vulnerability 09/02/2015 Release of V2.0.2 style.css -- Added new styles to support WooCommerce 2.3 -- Fixed issue with small font size for ordered list in posts and pages scripts/wc-quantity-increment.min.js functions.php -- Add support for quantity buttons in WC2.3 header.php All files in /css folder -- Added new styles to support WooCommerce 2.3 06/01/2015 Release of V2.0.1 comments.php -- Fixed a bug which occurs to visitors when comments can only be posted by logged in users. 19/12/2014 Release of V2.0 NEW feature : WooCommerce compatibility functions.php -- Fixed Twitter widget problem caused by Twitter OAuth plugin -- Improved pagination -- Changed query method for displaying custom post types in archives -- Added auto-cropping for tile images. Featured image will be shown on tile if no tile image is set. style.css -- Fixed body overflow in mobile -- Added styling for WooCommerce scripts/javascript.js -- Updated code to accommodate for WooCommerce content-tile.php -- Automatically show featured image as tile image if none specified header.php -- Added styling for WooCommerce index.php -- Added category filtering and custom number of tiles lightbox-{post-format}.php -- Fixed translation problem search.php -- Changed pagination function sidebar.php -- Updated code to accommodate for WooCommerce footer.php -- Fixed social_bartender All files in /css folder -- Added styling for WooCommerce 06/10/2014 Release of V1.5.5 functions.php -- Fixed TinyMCE problem style.css -- #page-img modified to prevent image overflow -- Fixed 3rd level nested dropdown scripts/new-mce4.js scripts/mce-style.css -- Fixed a problem with switching between Visual and Text views in editor -- New method to enter certain shortcodes (e.g. Buttons, Infobox etc.) -- Minor style changes index.php -- Fixed a problem with Highlighted Text area not disappearing when there's no content 13/05/2014 Release of V1.5.4 Removed support for WordPress 3.4 and older versions functions.php -- Fixed bug of Matrix Latest Posts where only 'Posts' are shown in single posts -- Fixed a bug of other post types not shown in categories / tags pages (under function query_post_type) -- Fixed TinyMCE dropdown missing in WP3.9 problem archive-list.php -- Fixed an issue where the archive list image might not display under certain conditions style.css -- .mainpage modified to fix homepage toggle jump issue scripts/customcodes-mce4.js -- To fix TinyMCE dropdown missing in WP3.9 problem 12/08/2013 Release of V1.5.1 /admin/assets/js/smof.js -- Fixed a bug with adding person in Theme Options 11/08/2013 Release of V1.5 NEW for WP 3.5 and above : archive.php,author.php,category.php,footer.php,header.php,index.php,search.php,tag.php,template-about.php,template-contact.php -- Changed $data to $smof_data jquery.fancybox-1.3.4.js -- Fixed possible lightbox problem when opening for second time /admin/ -- Updated Theme Options admin panel functions.php -- Uses new Media Uploader in Post Editor header.php, /admin/functions/functions.options.php -- Added more settings for logo and site name in Theme Options For all versions : index.php -- No 'foreach' error when there is no slides style.css -- Fixed table width not showing at 100% problem -- Fixed Facebook 'Like' button not showing up problem header.php -- Fixed viewport meta syntax content-tile.php -- Default to 'small' when new posts are imported 04/03/2013 Release of V1.3.2 functions.php, style.css -- Upgraded Twitter Widget to use API Version 1.1 25/02/2013 Release of V1.3.1 functions.php (Light Version) -- Fixed a bug which will crash the website 21/02/2013 Release of V1.3 New Features : style.css -- Added 3rd level drop-down menu -- Added styling for new widget functions.php -- New 'Random Posts' widget Fixes : -style.css ---- Fixed about page excerpt size on small screen ---- Fixed author page font size problem ---- Fixed wrong fonts appearing on Mac ---- Fixed lightbox problem in search.php ---- Added blockquote tag support in post content -functions.php ---- Accordion, Table, Tabs shortcode fix ---- Edited pagination size ---- Fixed errors when adding / editing posts ---- Fixed some bugs in search pagination -index.php ---- Fixed errors when there is no slider / featured content at homepage -search.php ---- Fixed some bugs in pagination -scripts/javascript.js ---- Changed Facebook like count retrieval method -archive-small.php, archive-medium.php, archive-large.php ---- Fixed bugs causing tiles not to link to lightbox / destination link properly 16/11/2012 Release of V1.1.2 -update_notifier.php ---- Fixed 'Undefined' error (both versions) ---- Fixed 'Insufficient Permission' bug (light version) -index.php ---- Lower toggle will now disappear when there is no featured content 15/11/2012 Release of V1.1 New Feature : Light Theme New Feature : New social media icons New Feature : German language .po/.mo - Thanks to Holger Kelm for translation! File Changes : -scripts/javascript.js ---- Fixed FB incorrect count ---- Fixed archives masonry width -functions.php ---- Fixed matrix_slider order problem ---- Load translation fix -archive-large.php -archive-list.php -archive-medium.php ---- Date now show according to checkbox -style.css ---- Made lightbox to be more compatible ---- Fixed menu cut-off ---- Fixed video poster image gap -social-bartender ---- Added YouTube and G+ 18/10/2012 Release of V1.0
Known LimitationsDue to certain browsers' incompatibility, there are some minor features altered in these browsers :
- IE8 / IE9 – Like and Tweet buttons in single item page are made shown permanently without hovering
- IE8 / IE9 – No transition effects on hover
- IE8 – Tile fading effect on hover has been disabled
- Safari 5 for Windows – Flipping tiles might flicker on hover. The fix to the problem is mentioned in the documentation
- AJAX Pagination has been disabled in IE8 and self-hosted audio / video will not work when using this feature.
CreditsThanks to all these great individuals :
- Preview theme dark version background image by bulliver
- Preview theme light version background image by Charles Henry
- Preview theme tile images by Mads Berg
- Preview theme about page image by || UggBoy?UggGirl || PHOTO || WORLD || TRAVEL ||
- Preview theme about page images by mac_filko
- Preview theme contact page image by Rev Dan Catt
- Icons by dakirby309
- Icons at windowswiki.info
- Tutorials at net tuts+
- Tutorials at CSS Tricks
- Community at Stack Overflow
- Social Bartender plugin by Sawyer Hollenshead
- Update notification script at wplift
- SMOF by sy4mil
- css3-mediaqueries by Wouter van der Graaf
- hoverintent by Brian Cherne
- jquery.easing by George Smith
- jquery.fancybox by Janis Skarnelis
- FlexSlider by WooThemes
- jPlayer by Mark J Panaghiston
- jquery.validate by Jörn Zaefferer
- jquery.masonry by David DeSandro
- MetroJs by Drew Greenwell
Once again, thanks for checking out this theme. I hope you like it and I appreciate any feedback regarding this theme, even if it is a criticism


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We have used Gary for a number of years now. He has undertaken various internal projects for us, most recently making our downstairs living area completely open space (removing walls, moving an external...
We used Hood and Joy to create a large open plan kitchen from a warren of small rooms and passageways, and to convert a number of small rooms into a utility room and bathroom. They did exactly what they...
Outstanding quality craftsmanship, punctual and reliable. I will certainly recommend Gary to friends and family and I will use Gary's services in the future.
We were very pleased with the finished job on our new kitchen roof / Velux window which Gary and team finished quietly and efficiently to a high standard.
Gary from Hood Carpentry was polite, considerate clean and tidy, he kepy to budget and did an excellent job. Highly recommended!
Gary converted a small loft for us. We were over the moon with the finished article. Couldn't recommend him highly enough.
I have used Hood Carpentry for a number of years, His work is always a superb standard, he is a helpful and honest man, who is extremely trustworthy and polite. He always works with such care and always...
In order to sell our house the surveyor suggested that we needed to place a steel supporting beam in the roof. I contacted Hood and Joy, who were so helpful in managing the whole project, from the recommendation...
Great service as always. Always make me feel at ease whilst having treatment.
Lovely dental practice! Lovely people! I would definitely not go anywhere else!
Wonderful dental practice. All the staff are friendly and welcoming. Appointments are always on time.
Welcoming staff that make you feel at ease. Dentist explains treatment fully so I know what to expect.
Always happy with the service I have received at Harbour Dental Care. Excellent in every respect.
Excellent dentists. I am always able to get same day appointments when in pain.
I particularly like the efficient, fast service. No time to think about it.
Lovely staffs, always make you feel comfortable. I used to be a very nervous patient but now I don't worry about coming to the dentist.
It was easy to make an appointment. The reception area is a calming atmosphere.
Friendly dentist, good with excellent communication, which helped me to understand the treatment and overcome my fear.
This is the best dental practice I have ever been to. Thank you and well done.
Had a really good service at Harbour dentist. Staff are always happy and happy to help if there are any problems.
Very good service, polite staff & excellent dentist. Very reasonably priced.
The dentist was so reassuring and made me very calm. Very professional. I would give 5 stars and come again. Thank you.
Good service, pleasant people, soft hygienist, all round a good experience.
A very good experience, made me relax and not nervous, so thank you for your help.
Really lovely people, who always make me feel special. Lots of information.


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|Episode Description
|Friday, Jul 26, 2013 - 7:00 PM
"Should Genetically Engineered Babies Be Prohibited?"
Imagine a world free of genetic diseases, where parents control their offspring's height, eye color and intelligence. The science may be closer than you think. Genes interact in ways that we don't fully understand and there could be unintended consequences, new diseases that result from our tinkering. D
|More on WORLD (MT)
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42 U.S. Code § 6923 - Standards applicable to transporters of hazardous waste
In case of any hazardous waste identified or listed under this subchapter which is subject to chapter 51 of title 49, the regulations promulgated by the Administrator under this section shall be consistent with the requirements of such Act and the regulations thereunder. The Administrator is authorized to make recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation respecting the regulations of such hazardous waste under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and for addition of materials to be covered by such Act.
Not later than two years after November 8, 1984, and after opportunity for public hearing, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations establishing standards, applicable to transporters of fuel produced (1) from any hazardous waste identified or listed under section 6921 of this title, or (2) from any hazardous waste identified or listed under section 6921 of this title and any other material, as may be necessary to protect human health and the environment. Such standards may include any of the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) as may be appropriate.
[1] See References in Text note below.
Section 6922(5) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), was redesignated section 6922(a)(5) of this title, by Pub. L. 98–616, title II, § 224(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3253.
The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), probably means the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92–532, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052, as amended. Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1411 et seq.) of chapter 27 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1401 of Title 33 and Tables.
In subsec. (b), "chapter 51 of title 49" substituted for "the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (88 Stat. 2156) [49 App. U.S.C. 1801 et seq.]" on authority of Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.
1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–616 added subsec. (c).
1978—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 95–609, § 7(g)(1), inserted provision relating to title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–609, § 7(g)(2), substituted "Administrator under this section" for "Administrator under this subchapter".
For transfer of certain enforcement functions of Administrator or other official of Environmental Protection Agency under this chapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see note set out under section 6903 of this title.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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- Twitter took off near the beginning of 2009, and continues to be an item for discussion both outside and within the genealogical community. The mailing list of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) had a number of discussions about the ethics and legalities of "tweeting" during a genealogical presentation. It remains somewhat difficult for me to determine what significant impact, if any, Twitter will have on genealogical research. Twitter's strengths seem to come out during live events, so we may expect it to be used during genealogical conferences, especially for attendees to let others know where they are and what they are doing.
- Genealogy Wise (I'm often tempted to write it as a single word, due to the way that it's logo kerns the "W" so close to the word "Genealogy"), affectionately known as "GW", exploded into existence in the summer of 2009, and as I write this, it has more than 16,000 members. It's an ideal replacement for those who want something similar to Facebook without all the non-genealogy aspects, although I'm sure that many people use both Facebook and GW. When I find more time to work on my personal genealogy, I expect that I'll start spending some time on GW, so that I can network with the other genealogists working the same geographic areas.
- Google teased us all with a presentation of Google Wave at a developers conference in late May 2009. But it wasn't until early November that I received my own invitation to try Google Wave, and during the November-December time period, I actually used it with a number of my library colleagues to plan and implement a new website for the USF Tampa Library. It was certainly a learning experience! What worked best was that it took all of the communication away from my overburdened e-mailbox, and made it possible to mix synchronous (real-time chat-style) communication with asynchronous (e-mail/message board-style) communication in the same threads. I really see this one as an interesting and useful tool for small groups, such as genealogy society boards/committees, genealogy event planners, and researchers working the same person/lines.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Looking back at 2009
It's been almost a year since I completed the manuscript for Social Networking for Genealogists, but of course during that year, the world didn't stand still. Existing social networking tools continued to develop, while new ones appeared and genealogists began to use them.
Posted by Drew Smith at 10:01 AM
Labels: Genealogy Wise, Google Wave, Twitter
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Cute young girls love anal sex from guys with big cocks


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Long-Term Review
2013 Mazda CX-5: Good Looks and Cool Features
I haven't driven our 2013 Mazda CX-5 for more than a month. When I finally got behind the wheel the other day, I was pleasantly surprised. Even after driving more expensive cars, the CX-5 still comes across as well-built and of a higher quality than other small SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.
Both the CR-V and Forester are compelling in their own ways, but when it comes to interior, I like the Mazda. A few years ago, that would not have been the case.
I'm also really liking the CX-5's automatic wipers. Essentially, you leave them in the Auto setting and they come on and adjust speed automatically based on how hard it's raining.
Rain-sensing wipers cost extra for sure, but some higher priced, nicer SUVs don't even offer the feature as an option.
Our time with the 2013 Mazda CX-5 is almost up, and I totally understand why I see so many on the road. Essentially, it's a small SUV that has the spirit of Miata handling, has useful interior space and costs about $35 to fill up. On occasion, we're getting better than 21 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. Our CX-5 has the smaller engine. If I were personally buying this car, however, I'd get the newly available 2.5-liter engine.
I also think the Mazda CX-5 looks sharper than the RAV4 and CR-V. If you're shopping for a small SUV, do not skip the CX-5. It deserves a test drive at the very least.


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BPSF grant caravan surprises staff, student
The Beaumont Public Schools Foundation delivered happy surprises to select Beaumont Independent School District staff and one student Thursday, Dec. 19, during the foundation's fall grant caravan. Seven grant winners for fall 2013 received more than $6,600 in requested materials necessary for innovative classroom projects.
Vincent Middle School teacher Cindy Ashcroft received materials amounting to a $998.33 grant for an herb garden for her students. Ashcroft requested a greenhouse, tiller, gardening tools and herb seeds for about 200 Family Consumer Science and Agriculture students who will be growing the herbs for utilization in laboratory experiments. The cross-curriculum "Cultivating Minds" project is to show students how to use scientific and mathematical methods and vocabulary in relation to successful herb growth.
Marshall Middle School teacher Michael Black received $999.20 in materials for magnifying eye-loupes and a digital microscope for his students. With "Project Magnify!" close to 260 seventh-grade Life Science students will be able to observe and capture images of microscopic objects in their environment and, using the "Private Eye" curriculum, will be able to record their observations.
Sharon Yee, a teacher at Regina Howell Elementary, received materials totaling $969.02 for a "Wormwatcher Indoor Composting System" project. Students will use an indoor composting kit that uses red wiggler worms to create compost from leftover fruits and veggies, newspaper and other items often discarded. The system includes acrylic worm bins to allow for observation of the squiggly wigglers in action. The compost is to be used for outdoor box gardens at the campus, and students will grow seedlings in the classroom.
Charla Bergeron received materials totaling $998.75 for her Lucas Pre-K project "Jump & Jive Gym Time." Bergeron requested educational gym equipment including a basketball hoop, hula-hoops and alphabet and number jumping mats for the entire campus, approximately 250 students, to help the children learn words and learn to count while developing their motor skills. Bergeron received her surprise grants during a student Christmas assembly at Lucas Pre-K. She thanked the BPSF board and staff and told the children gathered all about the new equipment. The Lucas Pre-K choir performed with custodian Rudy Patnett playing horn and librarian Alfreda George backing them up on keyboard.
"I am so excited!" Bergeron said when presented with the new gym equipment. "This is so fun! Thank you Beaumont Public Schools Foundation."
Student Shanquaishia Edwards received the Bennie Hickman Math & Science Award and a grant totaling $761.99 for equipment for his project "Investigating Sustainability through Environmental Interactions." Edwards plans to investigate the interactions of organisms in ecosystems utilizing equipment including air, weather and water systems. Materials for the ecosystems include gravel, soil and sand. Organisms such as fish, red belly toads and crickets will live in the habitats.
Teacher Gina Martin of Ozen High School received a grant for specialized character masks for her project "Mask-erade: Commedia dell'Arte in the Classroom." Ozen drama students will use the masks from Italian theater for character development for years to come.
Odom Academy middle school teacher Will Humber won a grant from BPSF for gardening equipment for his "Gardens Galore" project. Humber previously received a grant for equipment including an incubator used to hatch baby chicks, a shelter for the birds and a shelter for the goats they planned to get in May 2013 at the time of the BPSF Spring caravan. Now, they have the goats and have expanded the gardens at the campus by approximately six times, so the Humber is in need of gardening equipment for his students. He received supplies including shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, water hoses, all-natural fertilizers and insecticides, potting soil and seed trays.
Since 1993, BPSF has distributed more than $195,000 in grants to certified staff and students of BISD.


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Many kids have to deal with difficult bus commutes to and from school, but one toddler's ordeal might just take the cake. 3-year-old Levi Vidal, an autistic pre-schooler from Brooklyn, has been made to endure repeated trials that would be difficult even for fully-grown adults.
The Daily News reports that Levi's first day of school concluded with a bus drive of five-hours, without any bathroom breaks, food or even water in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record. By the time he finally got out, "he was delirious, starving and in his full diaper," said his mother, Serena Vidal.
It wasn't a one-time occurrence, either. Though Levi's mother picked him up at school the next day (the drive took only 40 minutes), the day after he took the bus again and sat through an only slightly-less-grueling three-hour commute. When he got off, Serena discovered that the bus matron had given Levi's bag to another student by mistake.
Levi's story isn't unique. The coverage has exposed numerous similarly heartbreaking stories. Sofia Shapiro's son Efraim, another special-needs child, has to sit through three-hour bus rides after school. The Daily News writes, "the boy, who does not wear diapers, urinated on himself twice on the way home the first day, and was dropped off wet and shivering." Efraim's mom made the same drive in 20 minutes.
PLUS: A Letter to My Special Needs Son's School Principal
The situation for New York's special needs school-goers is beginning to change, but unfortunately only after widespread coverage brought attention to the issue. Affected parents have formed a Facebook group to raise awareness and create a support network for one another.
Do you have a school bus horror story, or insight into the challenges faced by special-needs children? Let us know in the comments.


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Solution X
Gr. 2/3, 15 - 36 kg, from approx. 3 up to 12 years
Solution X car seat
Award winning safety
The car seat Solution X was awarded top marks from leading European consumer organisations such as Germany's leading independent consumer organization Stiftung Warentest, ADAC and Autobild.de.
- Patented reclining headrest
- Linear Side-impact Protection (L.S.P. System)
- 11-position height-adjustable
- Received a 1.9 by Stiftung Warentest (06/2008)
The unique safety concept behind the Solution X car seat protects children optimally in any kind of collision. It includes the CYBEX patented reclining headrest that prevents the childs head from falling forward when asleep and the revolutionary L.S.P. System (Linear Side-impact Protection).
3-position reclining headrest
The 3-position reclining headrest cleverly prevents the child's head from falling forward while asleep.
The CYBEX patented 3-position reclining headrest guarantees optimal protection in the case of a side-impact. This revolutionary technology safely shifts the balance point of the child's head slightly back and prevents it from falling forward when the child is asleep. In the case of a side-impact collision, the child's sensitive head remains within the safety zone of the seat, ensuring optimal protection. Furthermore, our patented 3-position headrest offers a more comfortable sleeping position for a safe and peaceful journey.video
L.S.P. System
Linear Side-impact Protection
The Linear Side-impact Protection (L.S.P. System) provides extra safety in the event of a side-impact collision.
The Linear Side-impact Protection System (L.S.P. System) systematically absorbs the force of a side-impact collision in a linear series of reactions through the use of the shoulder and head protectors. At the same time, the body's kinetic energy caused by the impact is absorbed at a very early stage and the head is actively led into a safe position.
11-position height-adjustable
Head and shoulder protectors grow with the personal space requirements of the child
11-position height-adjustable for the perfect fit and maximum safety.
The 11-position height-adjustment allows the seat to grow with the child and offers extremely long usability. The head and shoulder protectors grow with the personal space requirements of the child.
Kathrin R.: " I do recommend the Solution X, because it has a fantastic design while still making safety top priority."
Reclining backrest
Comfortable seat cushion
length / width / height : 410 / 450 / 640 mm
weight: 5.7 kg
UN R44/04, Gr. 2/3
Fabric covers machine washable at 30°
Engineered and designed in Germany
Compatible Cars
Is this the right seat for my car?
This child seat is approved for universal use and can be used on all vehicle seats with standard 3-point belt. However, we always recommend a test installation at a qualified retailer to confirm individual compatibility. Especially the length of the vehicle belts may vary, even during a production run of a car manufacturer.
Downloads: manuals
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Can I fit the ISOFIX Connect System onto a car seat which doesn't have the ISOFIX connectors?
Car seat models without ISOFIX (ISOFIX Connect System) cannot be retrofitted into seats with ISOFIX. Please do not adapt or tamper with car seat models to make them fit, as the authorities do not allow any technical changes to them.
- What does L.S.P. system stand for?
The abbreviation L.S.P. stands for Linear.Side-Impact.Protection. The L.S.P. system is responsible for the shoulder and head protectors systematically absorbing the forces of a side impact in a linear chain reaction. The kinetic body energy triggered in an accident is absorbed and the head and upper body moved in a safe position. Especially the sensitive head and shoulder area is protectively locked inside the safety zone of the seat. The L.S.P. System Plus features additional side protectors.
- Do child seats equipped with a backrest perform better than booster seats?
The main problem with booster seats is the missing side protection. A child seat with a backrest has side protectors that prevent the child from hitting the window in the case of a side impact collision. Additionally, the routing of the seat belt can not be adjusted to the height of the child causing possible health hazards. Therefore, compared to seats with a backrest, booster seats do pose a higher risk of injury.
- Which is the normal position for the reclining headrest?
The patented reclining headrest, a passive safety feature of the CYBEX Group 1/2/3 car seats and the Group 2/3 seats for older children, is one of the central CYBEX safety technologies. In its reclined position it prevents the head from falling forward when the child is asleep keeping head and upper body within the safety zone during the ride. Adjusting the headrest to the front position when the child is awake it keeps the head in an upright position.
- Can I use the child seat on rearward facing car seats like those found in vans or minibuses?
You can use this child seat on rearward facing car seats as long as the vehicle seat has a homologation for use by adults and a 3 point belt. The headrest of the vehicle seat should not be removed when the child seat is mounted.
- Can I use the child seat on lateral facing car seats?
It is not permissible to use the child seat on lateral facing car seats.
- Is it ok to install the seat on the passenger seat?
CYBEX Group 2/3 seats can be used in all seats of the car with a three-point emergency locking retractor belt. However, we recommend generally using the seat in the back of the car. Statistically, the front seat poses a higher risk of injury for your child. In exceptions, however, the seat can be used in the passenger seat as well. Please note the following: If the car has an airbag, put the seat as far back as possible. However, you should pay attention that the upper part of the seat belt stays behind the running of the belt.
- What can I do if my child´s head drops forward while sleeping in spite of the reclining headrest?
If the child safety seat is attached to the car seat in too upright a position, causing your child to be seated vertically, some children´s heads may fall to the side in their sleep. Should this occur, the seat should be pulled forward slightly. If your seat is designed with the ISOFIX Connect System, simply release the connectors by one or, at most, two settings. It is also possible to use a children´s neck cushion, which stops the child from slumping while asleep. This prevents the child´s head from leaving the protection zone.
- When I fasten my child´s safety belt, the belt no longer automatically retracts. What can I do?
The wide range of vehicle seats means that, in some cases, the safety belt may not run smoothly to the child safety seat. If this is the case, first check whether the height of the safety belt can be adjusted in the car. If possible, adjust the height of the belt so that it runs straight and smoothly through the child safety seat´s belt positioner. Alternatively, the problem may be alleviated if the vehicle seat can be adjusted horizontally, vertically and/or at an angle.
- Is it normal that the seat's backrest is not completely locked and has a bit of room to wiggle when the seat is not installed in the car?
The reclining backrest is part of the CYBEX safety concept. Thanks to the automatic adjustment mechanism, it adapts perfectly to any car seat. In the worst-case scenario, the backrest moves slightly forward with your child, and is thereby able to 'catch' the body at an earlier stage. The seat and backrest are connected to each other, but are not rigid and don't lock into place.
- Can I use this seat on a flight?
No, this seat is not approved for use on an airplane.
- Can child seats equipped with ISOFIX Connect System also be used in cars that do not have the connectors?
CYBEX car seats that are designed with the ISOFIX Connect System can also be used in cars that are not equipped with ISOFIX. Simply rotate the ISOFIX connectors 180° and then push the connectors in, as far as possible, into the booster seat.
- Can I attach Isofix to a child car seat which does not have the Isofix connectors?
Car seat models without ISOFIX (ISOFIX Connect System) cannot be retrofitted into seats with ISOFIX. Please do not adapt or tamper with car seat models to make them fit, as the authorities do not allow any technical changes to them.
- Is it ok to keep using a seat after an accident?
We at CYBEX strongly recommend that you replace a seat after any kind of accident. This is because tiny hairline cracks, which may not be visible to the naked eye, can appear in the plastic parts of a seat after an accident. These cracks can pose an increased risk to safety.
- My car seat is faulty, how can I get it repaired?
Please refer to the retailer where you bought your CYBEX seat. They will deal with the matter on your behalf.
- Where can I get replacement parts for my product?
You can order replacement parts from a specialist retailer near you. To find a store near you, simply go to the store locator on our website: http://cybex-online.com/de/retailer.html


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|Blog is down...but the report must go on! Graspop 2013
Road Reporter
Posts: 1729
Location: Baltimore, MD
|Hi folks: I have been trying for hours to get onto the blog without success.
So here you go...
I'm speechless.
Oh, of course not! Really, you couldn't possibly believe that, now, can you?
The fans, road crew, band and yours truly kept repeating one word in the moments to follow Twisted Sister's performance at Graspop last night, and that word was: EPIC.
The dictionary defines "Epic", the adjective, as "extending beyond the usual or ordinary, especially in scope or size." Twisted Sister has never once been ordinary, and truly, the scale and intensity with which the Sisters performed yesterday evening clearly exceeded well beyond the boundaries of normal conventions. it was, my babies, Epic. Cold rain, wind and mud did not stop the 40,000+ (according to the Graspop facebook page) fans from rocking hard to Twisted Sister, and there they remained from the opening riff until the last final note hung in the air. The late Michael Jackson may have been the "The King of Pop," but Twisted Sister has once again reclaimed the crown: "The Kings of Graspop."
And it tribute to the literary form of epic, I bring you this brief interlude of epic poetry:
This road report will praise the epic fight.
For Twis-ted Sis-ter's conquest has dethroned
Ev'ry metal band that dare to claim
The Graspop crown is ours, who earned it right
Let it be known it now the kids are back
I said it loud, this band is world renown
Putting all the poser rest to shame
All hail to those who don the pink and black!
Yes, my babies, it's time now. What other tour blog in the world brings you a concert review in Iambic Pentameter? None, I tell you! Do you think that Rolling Stone magazine delivers the goods in a Shakespearian sonnet? Mais non! Will the New Yorker share with you the nuances of European port-a-johns? Don't be absurd. There can be only one place where you will read all of the concerts details you simply must know, along with plenty of things you'll wish you never knew-- the one....the only....
Official Armadillo Road Report for Graspop Metal Meeting 2013, 28-June, 2013: the epic edition. And as any archetypal epic journey, this report will be filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, intrigue, adventure, tragedy, comedy and most of all...so long you may have to read it in installments. I may have to create a Cliff Notes version for those of you with the attention spans of gnats.
While Hellfest left all of us on an emotional high, there was the teeniest, tiniest bit of doubt that our boys in pink and black woud be able to top last year's remarkable performance at Graspop. Last year's show was arguably one of the best shows of their Twisted careers, and so with that came a certain amount of pressure to do something even greater and more extraordinary. With Hellfest under their studded belts, the band and crew scattered to the four winds for an uncharacteristic 7 days of R & R. (Rest and relaxation, for those unfamiliar with the term).
I elected for 3 1/2 of those days in Paris, a rather mixed adventure that involved: 4 hours of reflection in the Louvre, an assortment of some excellent if not fragrant cheeses, more crepes than even my piehole could handle, a sunset trip to the top of the Eiffel tower, miles on foot down the Champs D'Elysees and two unfortunate nights in what turned out to be one of Paris' less finer crack houses. Now a few hundred Euros lighter (and minus a rather nifty and somewhat costly Rick Steve's clothesline) courtesy of said hotel's sticky fingered staff, I took in the last night at a clean and rather pleasant hostel where I swear to you, the front desk attendant looked exactly like David Carradine, I was just waiting to hear, "Ah. Your room is ready, but are you ready for your room, Grasshopper?"
The band, crew and your faithful road reporter all converged in Antwerpen, Belgium, a place that I simply adore for it's slower pace (well, slower than Brussels, at least), friendly locals and excellent, reasonable cuisine. The staff at the hotel remembered us from last year (I mean, really...once you meet the Twisted family and entourage, it's hard to forget them!) and provided us with top notch, extraordinary service--after my Paris stay, I felt as if I could finally relax and let down my pores. (I'm assuming that is what bald people do.)
My first day in Antwerpen afforded me a delightful stroll through one of their many beautiful and well-maintained parks, including one called "openbaar park." [A park with an open bar? Now that's rock and roll!] The always interesting Mr. French accompanied me, and as we contemplated and debated our philosophies on randomness, coincidence and the concept of divine intervention, we came upon a gem of a little restaurant in the park called: Dikke Mee. Truly....how can I resist a place with a name like that? For the record, the name refers to the loose translation of "fat grandmother," referring to the plentiful shapliness of the restaurant's original matriarch and founder.
After Jay Jay and I went to Dikke Me.....oh... wait a second...perhaps I should rephrase that a bit. Afer Jay Jay and I dined on lunch at Dikke Mee...that's better.... (shout out to Bastiaan, Twisted Sister fan, Graspop attendee...and our graciously polite waiter), we reunited with the band and crew now all making their way into Belgium. We learned that this year's performance was going to hold many surprises, that NOT surprisingly meant many intricate logistics. The road crew and a few band members headed over to Graspop a day early to visit with the stage manager and plan out the details. But more on those exciting developments later. No spoilers here.
[I understand from a previous road report, there may have been some slight confusion--so for clarity's sake, here you go: I have been incorporated into the road crew-- my role is part sherpa, part runner for crew and band, and of course, first and foremost, tour blogger. I happily and gladly continue my service as a grateful volunteer who flies on his own dime. It is absolutely an honor and privilege to be able to have this level of trust and access, as it allows me to bring you, my fellow fans, an aspect of rock touring that your average reporter cannot. With that in mind, please do understand that band memorabilia, passes, business decisions, intimate details, private conversations, hotel names etc. are all well beyond my scope. And I've been sworn to secrecy. Whoever said "you can't take it with you," never lived in the world of rock n' roll.]
Alright. I digress.
So with the logistics of the next day's show well underway on the planning boards of the production team, we retreated for a charming dinner at a local Italian bistro--our passionate, Italian head chef described one dish including the line "then the pasta and butter make love in the pan." Anything that makes love and involves butter is okay in my book.
Many of us were too wired to sleep--I became engaged in watching the "Iron Maiden" documentary "Flight 666" that was being shown on local television, in all likelihood no coincidence, as they are the closing headliner this year. After breakfast, it was off for a very long day at the festival grounds.
For those unfamiliar with Graspop, it is not called a "festival." Instead, it is referred to as "Graspop Metal Meeting" or "GMM" for short, and consists of three days of mid-morning to late into the early morning hours of heavy metal, death metal, thrash and some punk thrown in for good measure. With few hotels in Dessel and intense congestion on the roadways, 20,000 spaces and portable facilities are afforded at nearby fields designated as Graspop campsites. The road from Antwerpen to Dessel is a beautiful rural ride through the Belgian countryside, complete with agriculture and farms, cows and horses, and the occasional heavy metal hitchhiker making his way to the metal holy grail.
Dessel itself is a charming, sleepy small town, with adorable picturesque square brick houses and virtually one primary road in...and out, which is typically sufficient for the less than 10,000 inhabitants. That is, of course, until the 40,000 to 80,000 each day who make the trek for Graspop. The road to Dessel was packed with happy metal pilgrims, hiking their way to the campsites of their mecca.
Graspop itself is something of a marvel, rivaled in size by the other European festivals, it is an entirely self-contained compound with hundreds and hundreds of staff who work tirelessly to ensure that everything runs on schedule. From the main gate to the artist entrance was a muddy one-mile hike. One main stage, two still moderately large stages to the sides, and one smaller stage called "the metaldome," allow for continuous, uninterrupted metal from morning until the wee hours of the next morning.
Envision, if you will, a huge open straw and mud covered field. On both sides, large, festive purple and yellow circus tents housing concessions, carnival rides, merch (glorious, glorious merch!) and various other goods and services. An entire tent complex was devoted to Belgian beer, and a strip of tents and temporary kiosks stage right housed rock magazines, radio stations and the Brussel's equivalent of bull riding--except it was ride the oiled muscled mannekin. No, I'm not making this up. Only in Europe, my babies. And I'm not telling you who won, either.
What road report would be complete without a commentary on commodes? I was dumbstruck by huge rows of outside urinals--a brilliantly designed tri-pod like invention in which three men could somewhat privately find relief simultaneously-- a row of 10 of said portables allowed thirty men to eradicate the Belgian beer all while under the stars, out in the plain view of the festival. It was the oddest thing I've ever seen-form follows function-definitely something that would never fly in the states. Anyhow...the backstage area was an enormous maze of portable buildings housing the dressing rooms, bar and restaurant--absolutely top notch. The Twisted Sister dressing room was complete with a wall size photograph of Twisted Sister from last year's Graspop concert. (pictured above)
The GMM staff were absolutely wonderful--we recognized many of the excellent, conscientious security staff and skilled, hardworking stage crew from the previous year. A gracious shout out to Michel, our transport driver.... and a very special road report shout out to the wonderful, ever gracious and always lovely Cindy in the hospitality office and her entire staff, who always maintained a smile and sense of humor throughout. (and thanks for the hot cocoa mix--it was delicious!) This event has such a high volume of artists, visiting VIPs and fans--it takes hundreds to pull off something this large and make it look effortless. Kudos to all of you!
First, a bit of a spoiler alert but since it was announced on-stage, I can announce it here. Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, Mark "Animal" Mendoza suffered an unexpected knee injury that as tough a man as he is, it rendered him unable to play. He sends his truest regrets to all of his fans, and I know you all join me in wishing him a speedy and full recovery. We hope to see him soon at the Osh Kosh WI concert! Get well soon Animal!
While Mark's absence was unanticipated, Twisted Sister does have a private list of those who the band trusts to serve as fill-in's during emergencies. Some of you may recall when Eddie had emergency back surgery hours before the Philadelphia Christmas show. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you Mr. Russ Zutto, who bears a striking resemblance in some ways to Animal, except that he observedly seems to throw fewer objects and doesn't not growl as much. Mr. Zutto joined our own Mr. Pero and Mr. French for a quick last minute rehearsal in the dressing room for a jam that was one of my utmost favorite Twisted Sister moments ever. With A.J. not having the luxury of a drum kit backstage, but wanting to be sure that Russ knew all of his drum cues, our sound of thunder created a drum kit from the catering tent consisting of dishes, glasses, a stack of silverware (for the cowbell) and the top of a jelly jar. It was absolutely brilliant.
[SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want the surprise now, skip ahead to PART IV!]
What happened next was another one of those extraordinary moments in rock and roll that was so fascinating and special, I almost welled up in tears that I was allowed to stay in the background to observe. In preparation for an onstage surprise during the show, Asking Alexandria--all five band members--held a heavy metal pow wow right there in the dressing room, in which they did brief introductions band-a-band, and then each TS artist briefly filled in their AA counterpart: Dee gave a quick rundown on vocals and then went off privately to meet; Jay Jay and Eddie gave the run down on their solos, and so on. It was incredible to witness the creative process in action, and just built even more excitement for the show itself.
It was about this time that the heavens let loose. You know, I think Dee told Mother Nature to "fuck off" just one too many times--it may be a vicious cycle. The temperature dropped and it rained cats and dogs. I don't know if there's a Flemish equivalent of that phrase...it was raining fries and waffles? It absolutely poured. I was absolutely astonished to look out into the enormous crowd....and see....and enormous crowd. These fans just love their metal, and a bit of rain, cold and mud was not going to dampen the mood. Twisted Sister wasn't due to take the stage for another hour, and yet, from the dressing room door, I could hear something in the distance: it was the Graspop fans, to keep their spirits up, singing "We're Not Gonna Take It" as the rain poured down on them. Graspop fans, I salute you.
Which...by the way...there WAS a show. This is an EPIC remember? Like Homer's Odyssey. I'm getting to it. It's a journey.
Here it comes, baby...
After running the last of many errands for the day, the sun set and 23:30 hrs rolled around (that's 11:30 pm for you non-military, U.S. folks) The rain was absolutely pouring down at this point, but when the stage went dark, the eruption of crowd cheers reassured me that out there in the Dessel darkness, there were at least 40,000 waiting to have their proverbial asses kicked.
There is one moment of perfection at every show. It's a simple moment--one of pure anticipation and adrenalin--it is exquisitely simple and if you fail to appreciate it, it fleetingly slips through the parted fingers of your consciousness. Hardcore S.M.F.s will know exactly what I'm referring to here: the split second pause between the lights going out and the opening chord of "Long Way to the Top." There is absolutely nothing like it.
The energy this night at Graspop was palpable and raw--not unlike the cold, wet environment--as Twisted Sister, our metal gladiators--took to the stage. These fans had been literally outside for at least an entire day (for some who arrived at camp early, even longer) and had endured some truly miserable conditions outside. But when Twisted opened the show with "You Can't Stop Rock n' Roll," it has never seemed more appropriate. Wind, rain, cold and mud were no match for the love and drive of metalheads. Although I'm not sure "warmed up" would be the exact turn of phrase, these fans were ready! "You Can't Stop Rock n' Roll" was a fast and a little loose-- the perfect way to play this anthem that can sometimes have almost bluesy undertones during the bridges. A great start.
Unlike Hellfest, the number of crowd surfers were not as many, and I didn't see a mosh pit this year, but I'll attribute that entirely to the weather. Ponchos are not exactly conducive to crowd surfing, an as for moshing, I can personally tell you that the "textured floor" that the festival lays down in the front section for this purpose was remarkably slick. Moshing would have been close to impossible this late in the show as it was a solid coat of mud. I did observe a few fans dressed as Teletubbies and two in the front wearing banana suits. [Anyone else observed the European obsession with bananas? Just an observation.]
From the opener, it was an almost immediate launch into "Shoot 'em Down." I'll give Russ some more props here--he really did Animal proud. Great bass line throughout! Although I confess, I kept singing to myself "Pouring Down...Pouring Down..."
"Stay Hungry," for some reason, for the third consecutive show, seemed to coincide with the release of inflatable objects. What is it about "Stay Hungry" that says, "Release the Helium!"?? Does the song promote loftiness...or just gas? One may never know. In any case, it was a nice rendition with a clean solo by Jay Jay, and the audience vocals on the refrain could clearly be heard, even above the deafening amps.
Dee was in RARE form last night, let me tell you. He admitted that he may have previously pissed off Mother Nature by calling her a [excuse my French] " fucking bitch" when it rained on Twisted Sister shows. He then, "apologized," saying: "Mother Nature...I didn't mean to call you a fucking bitch..... You're a FUCKING WHORE!" I promptly made sure I wasn't touched anything metal in anticipation for the lightning strike. Dee then expressed his admiration for all the "crazy fuckers in the rain," who I can personally attest, were packed in like sardines, even in spite of the weather.
They hit the opening notes of "The Beast" and with minimal prompting, fists emerged from rain ponchos and before us was a sea of fists and hands, perfectly synchronized to each and every beat. At this point, the rain was even heavier, Dee was completely soaked head to toe--and yet...still having a pretty good hair day in spite of it all! Eddie's solo was right on the mark--filled with emotion and feeding off the crowd frenzy.
After a rousing version of "The Kids Are Back"--I don't think anyone had any doubt--the Boys in Pink and Black are back and more badass than ever--Dee did a twirling (and I do mean, twirling) rain dance in a puddle on the edge of the stage--and began to sing "Singing in the Rain." What's more remarkable? The audience picked up on it, and began to sing it as well. Another Twisted first, Ladies and Gentleman!
It was then that Dee explained Mark's absence, but once again, we cannot thank Russell Zutto enough--Dee launched into a brief rap that was so biting, I'm not going to even paraphrase it here, but for those of you who read "Shut Up and Give Me the Mic" may recall the chapter in which Dee says that he's got such a talent for verbal dismembering people that they no longer allow him to participate in the ribbing the bandmates give one another? I can see why. Wow. That Dee has a sharp tongue!
"I Believe in Rock n' Roll" gave us more tight guitar work, including a fantastic Eddie solo. One clap from Jay Jay and the entire crowd--I swear all 40,000+ ponchos and all--began to clap in unison. Now THAT'S an audience. Dee welcomed them all into the now infamous Church of Twisted Sister...our lady of perpetual chaos...and in order to send a special message to mother nature, band and fans sung extra loud!
"We're Not Gonna Take It" always brings down the house. Sometimes I think this would actually make a great closer because the fans just go absolutely insane when they hear those first familiar drum beats. The crowd began to jump--and before long, as the stage lights gave me a glimpse out onto the crowd--I could see this entity. The crowd became one giant, pulsating organism. Heads bobbing, fists flying, red cowboy hats airborne (no idea. I think it was some sort of beer promotion) it was....dare I say it? EPIC! Even the teletubbies crowd surfed for a few bars. The crowd refused to stop. Long after the last chord, the crowd kept singing the refrain, over and over again. And just in case Mother Nature didn't get the memo, Dee joined the audience in one final refrain, complete with tens of thousands of middle finger salutes skyward.
Next on the docket was surprise #1. My slamboard readers were well informed of this one several weeks ago. S.M.F. Guus popped the question in front of the entire assembled audience—the poor lad was shaking so badly that the audience drowned out his proposal—clearly they were well aware of what was about to happen! Guus presented her a beautiful ring in a very classy pink ring box, adorned with a silver TS logo. She said "YES!" of course—although it took a little prompting from Jay Jay to ensure we had the answer—the best line of the night went to Guus, however. When asked by Jay Jay what he would do if she said 'no', he responded: "Then 80,000 fans will buy me a beer." Well done, Guus. I'm sure you all join me in wishing many healthy and happy years to the new couple.
With surprise #1 complete, the show must go on! It seemed a bit ironic to play "The Fire Still Burns" while the rain continued to saturate us all, but it was an excellent performance of it. The drums absolutely mammoth, nicely paired with Eddie's solo. I enjoyed the lighting for this song as well—a mix of red and yellow spots—(which made for an interesting contrast with the glowing blue neon of the uber euro urinals a glow in the distance).
With so much more left on the bill, the boys accelerated right into "We're Gonna Make It," one of my favorite live songs. Jay Jay and Eddie played this one fast and tight—worked well with Russ' solid bass line—I realize that I have complete bias about Twisted Sister's music, but really—this song TOTALLY rocks out.
"Under The Blade" seemed to have a lot more meaning knowing that our own Animal was going under the blade—Russ' contribution to this rendition was excellent. I was a bit disappointed that the mosh pit that materialized last year during "Under The Blade" didn't happen this year, but slick conditions made moshing next to impossible.
And now for something completely different….
"The Price" is always a special moment in the show, but this year, in Graspop, the audience was invited to become a part of the entertainment. Thousands in attendance downloaded the light matrix app from the Twisted Sister website. This app connected each cell phone to a specific Twisted Sister instrument, such that part of the audience was connected to the drums, some to guitars, some to the bass etc. The phones illuminated with a solid color of light, and as the instrument played, the display changed in accordance with the beat. So if your phone was aligned with the drums, each time A.J. hit the drum, your phone displayed changed. The bass phones were mostly blue…then changing to green and white. Eddie's guitar solo during "The Price' vibrated green to blue to pink…A.J.'s were strobing so many colors it was hard to tell. Kudos to Elijah and Jordan—two young, bright programmers who engineered this project. Absolutely fascinating! Thanks to all the fans who downloaded the app to give Graspop 2013 that little something extra this year. (and if you catch it on YouTube, one Deeism sharper than the cheese. Took a real dig at another rocker that made my jaw drop!)
More treats to come…including something we haven't heard in a while…an honest to goodness DRUM SOLO! I can't remember the last time I heard a full length drum solo! After a killer "Burn in Hell", A.J. let loose an incredible drum solo that you could feel in your bones. Absolutely mammoth—and well worth the wait!
And then….the big surprise of the night! The amps parted like the red sea, and a small army of road crew staff pushed a full drum riser into place….ran cables all over the place…and to the delight of the crowd, the entire band of Asking Alexandria took the stage to join Twisted Sister with a version of "I Wanna Rock" that we'll never forget. If you think it rocks when TS plays it, imagine it with two drum kits, 2 basses, 4 guitars, 2 lead singers and 80,000 backup singers. It was old school meets new school—classic heavy metal meets the next generation of rock and roll! Afterwards, Dee summed up what we were all thinking, "That was fucking awesome!" There were high fives and hugs all around, and the audience said 'thank you' by breaking into more verses of "We're Not Gonna Take It."
For the last song of the night (minus the encores) Dee announced that they would play a song that they've been doing for more than 35 years—and the original author who penned the song reportedly vomited upon hearing Twisted's version…(is that true? Really?) "It's Only Rock N' Roll" and Dee doesn't just LIKE it…he LOVES it! Dee asked the audience to "give us everything you've got…" and damn if they didn't! Not only did the audience jump….and sing….and throw their fists in the air…they provided their own pyro! Fireworks suddenly broke out during the final verse—from the side of the stage, I had the pleasure of watching a mini fireworks display as Twisted said "good night!" Dee was so awestruck—he gave the audience a mic drop!
We had two encores—the first of which was "Come Out and Play." Absolutely incredible—the stage bathed in green light, the guitar lines galloping feverishly. I could see the fans who mistakenly started to leave….now making a rapid return back to watch the encores. Even more amazing—the crowd that heard the opening nights…never left. Twisted Sister could have played three more hours and those hardcore folks wouldn't have budged! S.M.F. almost put the crowd over the edge—this was the performance that legends are made of. It was…..EPIC.
It takes a great band to headline at the Graspop Metal Meeting. It takes an extraordinary band to engage an entire crowd for a full 90-minute set at the Graspop Metal Meeting. But for an extraordinary band to kick 80,000 asses in a cold rain….and leave them wanting more….that is EPIC. No one rocks harder, louder and better than Twisted Sister live!
And with that, my babies, I conclude our journey together through the Graspop Metal Meeting 2013.
Say it with me, one more time: EPIC!
This is Armadillo, signing off to check on my cats. Something my catsitter failed to do for the past ten days….Til July, my babies.


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Japan's Monetary Base Up 11.8% In December
Japan's monetary base rose in December compared to that in the same month last year, indicating that the monetary easing policies are leading to an increase in the amount of currency in circulation which in turn results in reviving economic growth.
According to the data released Monday by the Bank of Japan, the country's monetary base, which measures the change in the total amount of domestic currency in circulation and current account deposits held at the central bank, advanced 11.8 percent in December from a 5 percent rise in November and above the analysts' expectation of 5.3 percent. An increase in the supply of money is expected to lead to additional spending, which in turn results in inflation.
This data come amid the reports that the policymakers in Japan were under pressure to further loosen the monetary policy to revive the economy. The Bank of Japan decided to raise the ceiling on its asset purchase program by 10 trillion yen ($120 billion) to 101 trillion yen. The central bank came under political pressure to announce the stimulus measures after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a landslide victory in the general elections Dec 16.
With Japan's manufacturing activity contracting to a 44-month low in December, investors feel that there is an urgent need to take measures for enhancing the growth potential of the economy. According to the data released by Markit/JMMA last month, the headline Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 45 in December from 46.5 in November. Any index number below 50 indicates an economic contraction. The continued shrinking of the country's manufacturing activity would increase the likelihood of a sharp contraction in the economy.
The continuing debt crisis in Europe and the strength of the yen have also hurt the demand for exports, the key driver of Japan's economy. It was revealed last month by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry that Japan's industrial production, which measures the total inflation-adjusted value of output from manufacturers, mines and utilities, fell 1.7 percent in November compared to a 1.6 percent rise in October.
Market players sense that more measures, other than the currently available stimulus measures, will be required to revive the growth momentum. Investors see a critical need for the policymakers to evolve measures that strengthen the growth potential of the economy, which many expect to be announced this year.


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Continuing on my classy streak with a dinner pairing from the versatile 500 Vegan Recipes, which is by two lovely ladies I dig: Tofu Marsala and Sesame Kale
It just may be the week of marsala.
My variations from the original entrée recipe were the use of cremini mushrooms vs. button, and the addition of a wee bit of minced garlic. The meal was oh so elegantly paired with a glass of black currant juice.


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Havelock running back Derrell Scott is known for his speed and quick moves that leave defenders grasping at air.
Havelock running back Derrell Scott is known for his speed and quick moves that leave defenders grasping at air. Against White Oak on Friday, the Ram senior proved he�s also a good mudder.
Scott ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns, eclipsing 5,000 career rushing yards in the process, as Havelock defeated the Vikings 54-0 on a rainy Friday night in Jacksonville.
�You just really have to emphasize ball security,� Scott said of playing in the rain. �You just have to really try to get north and south and not try to do too much. You�re just trying to get what you can get and take care of the football in weather like this.�
Rain began falling before Friday�s kickoff and continued through the third quarter. The Rams struggled offensively in a scoreless first quarter, but after stopping White Oak on fourth down inside the Ram 10-yard line, Havelock turned to Scott.
The senior took a handoff up the right sideline for 78 yards, switching field position and setting up Havelock�s first score of the night, a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Travis Sabdo to Matthew Boykin.
Scott scored from 12 yards out in the second quarter, and with the Rams leading 21-0 in the third quarter, he basically put the game away with a 65-yard touchdown run. On the play, Scott went over 5,000 rushing yards in his Havelock High career and now stands at 5,042 yards on 553 carries with 76 touchdowns.
The humble Scott wasn�t aware of the mark and took no credit for the achievement.
�Really, I give all the credit to the offensive line,� he said. �They give me big holes, and I just try to get vertical as quick as I can, try to make somebody miss and lower my shoulder at the next defender and hopefully break something.�
Scott is being recruited by just about every top college football program in the country, and speculation about his future follows him everywhere he goes. Various recruiting websites and magazines list what are said to be his favorites but Scott is quick to point out that he has not made a decision. He�s trying not to let all the hype and attention affect him.
�(College) coaches are always telling you how good you are and how much they want you to come and play for them,� Scott said. �But, I�ve got good parents around me to keep me humble.�
Scott said he wasn�t sure when he would make a decision, and that he has planned recruiting trips to South Carolina and Florida and to see N.C. State play North Carolina.
He said all the attention hasn�t become overwhelming.
�I try not to think about it a whole lot,� he said. �I try to focus on my team and what we have to do each and every week.�
This week, that focus is on West Carteret, with the Rams traveling to Morehead City for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
For Scott, he�s just enjoying playing football.
�I just thank God for everything,� he said.


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Did Stephen A. Smith drop an N-bomb on ESPN First Take?
During a discussion about Kobe Bryant's foot injury on ESPN First Take Thursday morning, Stephen A. Smith said something that has the internet buzzing. It wasn't completely audible so we cannot say for sure, but it certainly sounded like Stephen A. said "n**ga please" in the middle of one of his rants.
The video was called to our attention by The Big Lead, and they are unsure of what they heard as well. We've seen him flip the bird during discussions on TV before, so you can't completely rule out that Stephen A. had a slip of the tongue. It's also not the first time he has been accused of using the "N" word on TV.
As expected, Smith tried to explain the incident later on Thursday during another television appearance. Rather than apologizing or giving an explanation of what he actually did say, Stephen A. simply said he speaks too quickly and that results in people like us hearing things.
ESPN has apparently accepted the explanation and will not discipline Smith in any way. That would seem to indicate that they believe he did not drop an N-bomb, but The Big Lead pointed out that they scrubbed the word out when First Take was aired again later in the day. Can anyone explain that?
For whatever reason, Smith is allowed to get away with doing and say inappropriate stuff while other ESPN employees are fired for writing things like this about Jeremy Lin.
Video via @c gar
Audio below:[audio: https://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/stephen-a.mp3]