text:
CALTECH / U. TEXAS-AUSTIN (US)—New computer algorithms allow for the first time simultaneous modeling of the earth's mantle flow, large-scale tectonic plate motions, and the behavior of individual fault zones. The result is an unprecedented view of plate tectonics and the forces that drive it.
A paper describing the whole-earth model and its underlying algorithms will be published today in the journal Science and also featured on the cover.
The work "illustrates the interplay between making important advances in science and pushing the envelope of computational science," says Michael Gurnis, a professor of geophysics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a coauthor of the Science paper.
To create the new model, computational scientists at the University of Texas at Austin pushed the envelope of a computational technique known as adaptive mesh refinement (AMR).
Partial differential equations such as those describing mantle flow are solved by subdividing the region of interest (such as the mantle) into a computational grid.
Ordinarily, the resolution is kept the same throughout the grid. However, many problems feature small-scale dynamics that are found only in limited regions.
"AMR methods adaptively create finer resolution only where it's needed," explains Omar Ghattas, professor of geological sciences and mechanical engineering at Texas. "This leads to huge reductions in the number of grid points, making possible simulations that were previously out of reach."
"The complexity of managing adaptivity among thousands of processors, however, has meant that current AMR algorithms have not scaled well on modern petascale supercomputers," he adds.
Petascale computers are capable of one million billion operations per second. To overcome this long-standing problem, the group developed new algorithms that, says research associate Carsten Burstedde, "allows for adaptivity in a way that scales to the hundreds of thousands of processor cores of the largest supercomputers available today."
With the new algorithms, the scientists were able to simulate global mantle flow and how it manifests as plate tectonics and the motion of individual faults. According to research associate Georg Stadler, the AMR algorithms reduced the size of the simulations by a factor of 5,000, permitting them to fit on fewer than 10,000 processors and run overnight on the Ranger supercomputer at the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Texas Advanced Computing Center.
A key to the model was the incorporation of data on a multitude of scales.
"Many natural processes display a multitude of phenomena on a wide range of scales, from small to large," Gurnis explains.
For example, at the largest scale—that of the whole earth—the movement of the surface tectonic plates is a manifestation of a giant heat engine, driven by the convection of the mantle below. The boundaries between the plates, however, are composed of many hundreds to thousands of individual faults, which together constitute active fault zones.
"The individual fault zones play a critical role in how the whole planet works," he says, "and if you can't simulate the fault zones, you can't simulate plate movement"—and, in turn, you can't simulate the dynamics of the whole planet.
In the new model, the researchers were able to resolve the largest fault zones, creating a mesh with a resolution of about one kilometer near the plate boundaries. Included in the simulation were seismological data as well as data pertaining to the temperature of the rocks, their density, and their viscosity—or how strong or weak the rocks are, which affects how easily they deform.
That deformation is nonlinear—with simple changes producing unexpected and complex effects.
"Normally, when you hit a baseball with a bat, the properties of the bat don't change—it won't turn to Silly Putty. In the earth, the properties do change, which creates an exciting computational problem," says Gurnis. "If the system is too nonlinear, the earth becomes too mushy; if it's not nonlinear enough, plates won't move. We need to hit the 'sweet spot.'"
After crunching through the data for 100,000 hours of processing time per run, the model returned an estimate of the motion of both large tectonic plates and smaller microplates—including their speed and direction. The results were remarkably close to observed plate movements.
In fact, the investigators discovered that anomalous rapid motion of microplates emerged from the global simulations. "In the western Pacific," Gurnis says, "we have some of the most rapid tectonic motions seen anywhere on Earth, in a process called 'trench rollback.' For the first time, we found that these small-scale tectonic motions emerged from the global models, opening a new frontier in geophysics."
One surprising result from the model relates to the energy released from plates in earthquake zones.
"It had been thought that the majority of energy associated with plate tectonics is released when plates bend, but it turns out that's much less important than previously thought," Gurnis says. "Instead, we found that much of the energy dissipation occurs in the earth's deep interior. We never saw this when we looked on smaller scales."
The work was supported by the NSF, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and—at the Caltech Tectonics Observatory—by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
More news from Caltech: http://media.caltech.edu


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About me
My name is Andreea Dumitru Parcalaboiu Esq.. My professional title is Attorney at Law at Andreea Dumitru & Associates, P.C.
The firm specializes in immigration law, family law, wills and trusts, contracts, and real estate.
I received my Juris Doctorate in 1997 from Romania.
While in the United States, I studied at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.
I am currently involved with The American, The New York and The Queens Bar Association.
I am drawn to and passionate about charitable organizations such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
My hobbies and interests include reading, helping out the community, and spending time with my family.
Tag: Andreea Dumitru Parcalaboiu, Law, Attorney at law, Justice, Law Firm, Civil law, Justice clothing, Advocate, Lawyer, Immigration, Harassment, Discrimination, Arrest
Andreea Dumitru & Associates, PC is a law firm that provides a wide range of legal services in the areas of immigration, trusts & estates, family law, real estate, business, fashion and sports & entertainment.
Our firm was founded by Ms. Dumitru Parcalaboiu in 2010. Together with associates, support staff, and expert consultants, we offer our clients a wide array of professional services. We are inter-connected and cooperate with law firms from different states and countries on different areas of practice, as well as with foreign embassies and consular sections into the United States.
Located in Sunnyside, Queens, a very diverse community in New York City, our firm has provided legal advice to private and institutional clients with various backgrounds. A particular asset of our firm is the close ties to the Romanian community and the long history of providing Romanians with legal assistance ranging from immigration, to real estate, and trust & estate planning. If you have a simple concern or a complex legal issue and you need experienced legal assistance in understanding your options and the risks involved, please contact us in order to arrange a consultation. Identifying the best course of action and the proper strategies to manage potential legal exposure is something that we are very proud with.
Ms. Dumitru Parcalaboiu, whose background includes in-house legal work in the corporate sector, is Romanian and she has been living in New York for nearly 20 years. She received her Law degree in Romania, and an Master in Law at Cardozo Law School in New York. She is admitted to practice in New York State. Ms. Dumitru Parcalaboiu is a member of the American Bar Association, New York Bar Association, Queens Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Board member of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce, New York Chapter, and National Association of Professional Women.
Our practice
We offer our clients a wide array of professional services. We are inter-connected and cooperate with law firms from different states and countries on different areas of practice, as well as with foreign embassies and consular sections into the United States.
Estate Planning
Estate Tax Planning
Guide clients, who possess property in the U.S. and/or overseas, through the process of estate planning—coordinating financial affairs to secure the greatest economic security for clients and their families. A well-designed estate plan provides not only for the orderly transfer [Read more]
WILLS: Assist individuals to draft a will. Each state has statutes which establish the requirements for a valid will. Most states require that a will be written or typed, signed by the testator, and attested by two or three witnesses [Read more]
Assist clients to create trusts. A trust agreement is a document which describes the wishes of an individual for property held in trust for his beneficiaries. Common objectives for trusts are to reduce the estate tax liability, to protect property in [Read more]
Health Care Proxy
Assist clients to prepare a health care proxy. A Health Care Proxy allows a person to appoint someone — for example, a family member or close friend – to make health care decisions on their behalf in case the person [Read more]
Power of Attorney and Guardianship
Assist clients to create a Power of Attorney. A POA is a legal instrument that is used to delegate legal authority to another on your behalf to make property, financial and other legal decisions. A person can give another person [Read more]
Family Law
Agreements and Settlements
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS: Assist clients by drafting a prenuptial agreement— a written contract created by a couple before they are married. The contract usually lists the property owned by each member of the couple (as well as any debts) and specifies [Read more]
Contested/Uncontested Divorces
Represent clients in contested and uncontested divorces (divorce is the final, legal ending of a marriage by court order). A divorce is contested if either member of the couple does not wish to get divorced, disagrees about the grounds (legal reasons) for [Read more]
Child Custody, Visitation and Support
Representing clients in protecting children rights. With or without a divorce children's rights must be protected. There are 3 main issues when it comes to children: custody, visitation and support [Read more]
Real Estate
Commercial and Residential Leases
We assist clients by drafting either commercial or residential leases. Each state has its own rules and regulations on commercial and residential leases. A residential lease agreement is a contract between an individual tenant and the landlord to use of property for [Read more]
Closings and Title Searches
Assist clients who are purchasing property by: Arranging for a title search—prior to the closing— to ensure that there are no problems with the title and that the seller really owns the property [Read more]
Board Applications
Assist clients, interested in buying a co-op apartment, to prepare a board application to submit to the building's board of directors. Without approval from a building's board it's impossible to purchase a co-op. A typical board application includes a detailed [Read more]
Business and Corporate Law
Business Formation
Assist clients who wish to start a business to determine which legal structure is best for their needs (the decision has important legal and tax consequences) and guide them in establishing the business. Each state has rules and regulations [Read more]
We assist clients in applying for business licenses to operate in New York City. Such as: a general vendor license (to sell or lease goods or services in a public place that is not a store); a tow truck driver [Read more]
We assist clients who need contracts drafted for deals between owners of a business entity.
Stock Transfers
We assist shareholders to sell stocks, either back to a company or to other individuals.
Sports and Fashion law
Sports Law
We assist clients —who are athletes— by securing, negotiating and drafting contracts on their behalf. A contract is a legally binding agreement which represents a union of the parties viewpoints. Sports contracts are subject to the same principles of contract formation [Read more]
Fashion Law
We assist clients who are fashion designers or fashion industry professionals and we advise fashion and accessories businesses. We negotiate and draft: Licensing agreements – licensing is the process of "renting" a fashion company's intellectual property (generally trademarks) to another [Read more]
Andreea Dumitru and Associates P.C. – By Appointment Only
200 Park Avenue, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10166
Tel: 718 424-6412
Andreea Dumitru and Associates P.C.
Andreea Dumitru and Associates P.C.
By Appointment Only
200 Park Avenue, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10017

subset: commoncrawl


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Republican 2012 Candidates Court Iowa Voters at Religious Forum
Six Republican candidates in the race to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012 dove deep into how their religious faith influences their public life, during a forum before a large, influential audience of social conservatives Saturday.
The event comes as evangelical conservatives, a powerful force in Iowa's caucuses -- the first major electoral event of the nominating process -- and they still have yet to rally around a more conservative alternative to presumed front-runner Mitt Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor, who is a Mormon, has not courted this segment of the voting bloc aggressively in his second bid for the Republican nomination.
At an event sponsored by an Iowa Christian group, the candidates tried at times to gain a political edge with potent Iowa conservatives. But some of the discussion turned uncharacteristically personal, with the would-be presidents tearfully revealing formative chapters that shaped their faith.
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose recent rise has renewed scrutiny of his two divorces, admitted taking the advice of a recovering alcoholic to soothe the demons he had treated for years with his own national ambition.
Businessman Herman Cain, accused of sexually harassing four subordinates more than a decade ago, didn't address the accusations which he has denied vigorously. But he acknowledged not being home enough during his career's meteoric rise to the top of a national restaurant chain.
And former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has campaigned aggressively for the support of evangelical conservatives in Iowa, tearfully confessed to have resisted loving his severely disabled daughter.
The event, a sharp departure from the 10 Republican debates that have already been held in the 2012 campaign, also included Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Instead of the rapid questions and timed answers of the televised debates, Saturday's forum was held around a large dining table on a stage with fall themed decorations, aimed at resembling a family dinner.
Also missing was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who is focusing his early-state campaign on New Hampshire, where his moderate positions on gay rights are not as glaring a liability.
Santorum was the most aggressive in trying to establish political edge during the event, arguing that the president must be a cultural warrior pushing for social change that reflects the nation's Judeo-Christian heritage.
A recent Des Moines Register poll showed 37 percent of likely Republican caucus participants described themselves as born-again Christians. They are an influential bloc, and rallied to oppose the retention of the three Iowa Supreme Court justices on the ballot a year ago after the court's unanimous 2009 decision to nullify the state's statutory ban on gay marriage.


text:
You work hard during the year. Now it is time to treat yourself
to a well deserved vacation
for your body, soul, and spirit. Imagine waking to the sound of
the waves crashing against the shore, breakfasting on fresh pineapple
and coconut, practicing yoga to enliven your senses and eliminate
the stress, toxins, and kinks of daily life. Swim in the ocean,
feel the warm sand beneath your toes, tour the arts and culture
of the town, and dine on local delicacies. Take an afternoon siesta,
luxuriate at the spa with a massage or soak. Then drift into a
blissful sleep after a rejuvenating day.
Unique Yoga Retreats provides
a wide array of yoga experiences
in combination with other
diverse and complimentary activities.
These programs take advantage of the seasonal sports, cultural
celebrations, and climates around the globe. Attend a scheduled
retreat, or a customized program
for your group. Let us create yoga breaks for your conference attendees, or
a complete cultural immersion yoga adventure incentive program
for your corporate group, association meeting, or special gathering.
We also design yoga programs for resorts to implement.
As a Certified
Meeting Professional, the
company's founder, Gail Lampert, CMP,
has over twenty years of producing and marketing events of all
kinds. She scouts out locations that provide comforting nurturance,
healthy and delicious meals, peaceful and artful surroundings,
spice and relaxation for the soul, colorful and serene ambience,
and culturally intriguing sites.
Gail is joined by top yoga, dive
and surf instructors for the
courses, and specialized
tour guides, chefs, and artists for the other activities.
© Copyright 2005, Unique Yoga Retreats. All rights reserved.


text:
Amber Stutzman and Alan Tataleba were married Oct. 6 at Trinity United Church of Christ, Berlin.
The bride is the daughter of Joni Stutzman. The bridegroom is the son of Robert and Kathy Tataleba.
Samanatha Zellem was the matron of honor. The bride's attendants were Nicole Wolk, Hope Stahl and Melissa Gallagher.
Tucker Meyers was the best man. The groomsmen were Steve Platt, Matthew Glessner and Tom Sanner.
The reception was held at Penn Scenic View.
The bride is an LPN at Meadow View Nursing Center. The bridegroom is a press brake operator at Leiss Tool and Die and an EMT for Berlin Ambulance.


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Bleary-eyed and looking over my shoulder every step of the way, I struggled back through the Field Ward with the rest of the group. Having met outside the city walls near the shaman's lair and taken care of the threat to Waterdeep, we were headed back to meet Lord Neverember. I faintly hoped his son would be there, while at the same time fearing to be seen in this state. Krovaxis is a constant torment. (No one must know. My House's reputation is poor enough at the moment.)
After a small altercation with the guards we were let in to see Lord Neverember. One of the Masked Lords watched us as we passed, whispering to a guard. (I would have eyed us askance too. The githzerai sketching everything, the tiefling acting as if it was all his due, and the other two assessing the value of everything that wasn't nailed down.) My nerves were on edge, but the rest seemed not to care about the prestige of having a meeting with the Open Lord in the main audience chamber of Castle Waterdeep. He seemed pleased that we had handled the situation for him, and was able to determine something (What, exactly, I don't know) from fishing around inside the decaying head.
Hobnobbing a bit more with Lord Neverember, we learned that ghosts have been seen in the City of the Dead. Rumors say that the ghosts were released when dwarves and gnomes started excavating beneath Waterdeep to build their new neighborhoods, but no one knows for sure. Lord Neverember offered us an additional reward and the possibility of a "position of power" if we investigate for him. We agreed, and that was the end of the audience.
My darling Renaer arrived just as we were leaving, but he was too intent on speaking with his father to notice that I was with the group on our way out. (At least that hussy Laraelra wasn't with him.) I couldn't help but overhear a portion of his argument with his father… something about Renaer ending up like Samark. (I hope that whatever he's getting up to, he knows what he's doing…)
After leaving Castle Waterdeep, we all went our separate ways for the evening. The Amnian was interested in staying at one of the nicer inns in the city, so I suggested that we head to the Gentle Mermaid in the North Ward. (I only recommend the best, after all.) I spent the rest of evening playing Three Dragon Ante and ended up winning. I hoped my luck at cards meant that things were looking up, but I was mistaken. (Nightmares of fire and blood. Searing pain from my brand. I woke up screaming. Good thing the walls are thick.)
After a quick breakfast, I rejoined the others outside the castle gates and we all headed to the Trades Ward to the celebration for Lliira's Night. The other two humans spent some time dancing with the twin daughters of the head of the church of Lliira while the tiefling looked on. (I'm not exactly sure what was going on with those three, but it couldn't have been anything good, judging by how quickly they dropped the joybringers afterwards.)
Shortly before Lord Neverember's speech was to begin, we made our way up to the dais and sat at the empty table reserved for us. While I studied the group at the table across the dais from us, where my darling Renaer was sitting, the githzerai started sketching (again) and the Amnian struck up a conversation with Vajra Safahr. Lord Neverember made a pretty speech with the intention of raising the city's morale, and led Talana out to begin the dancing. Vajra, intending to start the fireworks, must have imbibed much more than it appeared and miscast the spell, creating an explosion of Blue Flame!
Several buildings nearby quickly ignited, and the ground nearby cracked to reveal skeletal hands reach up from below. We (quite heroically) fought off the undead while Renaer and the others evacuated the area and burning buildings. Afterward, Lord Neverember approached us and requested that we head to the Warrens that evening to investigate the "undead problem." After participating in a ritual cast by the leaders of the church of Tymora (except the tiefling… suspicious) we headed to the tunnels beneath the district.
After a few dead ends and wrong turns, we found a set of doors carved with symbols of Tempus. Judging from the tombs inside, we had entered the lower levels of the City of the Dead. Cautious of my surroundings, I made sure to stand well away from the group. I have to hand it to the Amnian, however, since he seemed to know just where to look to safely disarm several traps. I can't say as much for the rest of the group, though they are useful in other ways. Like fights. Against blazing skeletons. (Maybe they will be my ticket out of the city after all..)
I also discovered that I'm horrid at jumping across chasms and that Krovaxis doesn't like being kicked. More on that later…
~excerpt from the journal of Lina Thann, 7th of Flamerule, 1479 DR


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Of the two players the Phoenix Suns are receiving in exchange for Jared Dudley, one has been to a pair of All-Star games.
And of the two players, only one has an NBA Championship ring.
His name is Caron Butler, and supposedly he's the "throw-in" in the deal that also brought in Eric Bledsoe. Yet, he's actually so much more.
"You can tell who the veteran is because he's got the orange tie, he's got the orange shirt," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby mused at the introductory press conference for the two players Thursday. "He's a pro."
Fashion sense notwithstanding, the Suns wanted Butler for a variety of reasons, chief among them the leadership he brings to the table.
"I always admired his toughness and professionalism," Suns GM Ryan McDonough said. "When I was with the Celtics and we had our good runs in the playoffs he was a guy we were constantly trying to acquire."
Now, a couple years and a different team later, McDonough has finally landed the player with career averages of 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Butler, 33, comes to the Suns following a pair of productive seasons with the Clippers, and he's entering the third and final year of his contract. Set to make $8 million in 2013-14, he will have to adjust to the challenge that comes with going from a contender to a team that is rebuilding.
It is made easier, Butler said, by the Suns' desire to land him.
"It was rather flattering to find out that I had a guy that had a man-crush on me for so many years," he said, smiling. "So once I found that out I was extremely excited about just coming here."
Noting the transition has been easy, the veteran said his job is to come in and set an example for the younger players — which isn't really much of a change for him.
"Just continue to do what I always have been doing throughout my career, setting an example on and off the court," he said. "Arriving to practice early, leaving late, talk to guys about basketball, about life, family, everything."
Throughout their rebuilding process, which will by some counts be entering year four, the Suns have maintained a desire to have quality veterans on the roster to help guide the younger players. Butler would seem to fit the bill, but his role will likely stretch well beyond essentially being an extra coach or someone to lean on.
While not what he once was, the 6-foot-7, 217-pound Butler averaged 10.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game last season, while shooting .424 from the field and .388 from three-point range. A small forward, he is joining a team that is not exactly set at the position.
"Just his ability to score in isolation situations," McDonough said of what Butler can do on the floor. "He can shoot, he can post (up), he's got good size.
"He's a veteran scorer, scored a lot of points in this league over the years. So that was one of the things I thought our team was a little bit lacking."
The hope is Bledsoe well help there; the expectation is Butler will.
After all, he's done it before.


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How to Actually Rid Your Apartment of The Things You've Decided to Donate
Marathon runners will tell you that the last mile is the toughest. And so it goes (in, admittedly, a lesser way) for organizing your apartment. The journey from kitchen or closet to a box by the front door might feel like a mission in itself, but getting that box out to a donation center, resale shop or just to the recycling—that might be even harder.
So step five of The Great Small Space Cleanout is dedicated to just one thing: Picking up and sorting through the things you've decided to clear out and, perhaps most importantly, taking them where they belong. It's a plan to empower you to make the best and most sustainable choices with your unwanted things to keep your well-meaning piles from becoming a burden.
From Step 1: Paperwork
You should have two things left over from paperwork day: your "To Shred" and "To Recycle" piles.
To Shred
Anything that feels semi-confidential (like a letter from your bank without any account numbers on it) can be torn three or four times and tossed with the recycling. Everything else that absolutely requires shredding should be taken to a company that offers a proper shredding service (your local FedEx is one). If you happen to have a shredder or shredding shears at home, that will work too, just know that thinly shredded paper can't be recycled by most programs, so just drop the shreds into the trash.
To Recycle
If you don't have a recycling pick up in your neighborhood, Google "[your city] recycling" to find a recycling center nearby. You'll need to do a bit of sorting first, though. You need to check with your municipality or local recycling program for a complete list of what can and cannot be recycled where you live—but here is a quick cheat sheet of things you might find in your paper pile that may not be recyclable:
- Wax paper
- Wrapping paper
- Paper or cardboard lined with plastic (i.e. bubblewrap envelopes)
- Waxed/waterproof cardboard
- Dirty/greasy paper
- Sticky notes
And don't forget to remove staples and paperclips!
From Step 2: Kitchen
Your donate box should be the only thing left over from step two in the kitchen, filled with things like canned soup you weren't going to eat, or pots and pans you almost never use. You have two options with these things: Give them to friends, or give them to charity.
A Quick Note on Resale: Selling your in-good-condition items is always an option, of course. But I find that most people, once they've decided that resale is the route they'd like to go, tend to procrastinate on taking photos and actually getting their listings up. Decide for yourself if the money or the time is more valuable to you.
If you know friends who could use your extra plates or kitchen tools, pass it on to them, of course. But if not, here are a few places you can take your donation items from day two:
Search for a nearby food bank via the Feeding America website or AmpleHarvest.org.
Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army would love to take your gently used kitchen gear from you, or search Zealous Good to help connect you to specific charities that are in need of exactly what you're offering. From the Zealous Good website: "Many charities are in need of kitchen items including Friends of the Bessemer Bears, Child Link, Facing Forward to End Homelessness, Matthew House, Inc., and Street Level Youth Media."
From Step 3: Bathroom
After spending step three in the bathroom, you should have one or two things to sort through: A donation box, and possibly some "trash box" medicine that needs to be disposed of properly.
Bath and Beauty Products and Tools
The donate box from step three in the bathroom might contain items like unopened makeup, toiletries, styling tools or extra towels. Again, you can pass these off to friends, or donate them to charitable organizations. If you decide to go the donation route, homeless shelters and women's shelters are a great destination for these sorts of goods. If you don't know of one nearby, the Homeless Shelter Directory and WomenShelters.org can help.
The other thing you're left with after step three is potentially some expired or just unused medicine to get rid of. Many medicines include instructions on their packaging about the best way to dispose of them. If not, consult this resource from the FDA.
From Day 4: Wardrobe
Handling step four's stuff might just be the easiest. The result of your wardrobe cleanup is three bags of clothing, each with its own predetermined destination. Gather up your dry cleaner, tailor and shoe repair bags and load them into a car to be carted off to the professionals.
There's a reason that we scheduled "get rid of it"-day to fall on a Friday: You can and should take the weekend to make sure that everything you've cleaned out from your apartment ends up where it's meant to go. This final step is a key moment in the whole process—it's the dot of the "i" and the cross of the "t" which helps you to close the book on your cleanout and finally relish in your neater, more organized space.
At the end of the weekend, when everything is out of the apartment and on its way to people who will appreciate it far more than you did, I'd love for you to come back and share your thoughts about The Great Small Space Cleanout with me and the rest of Apartment Therapy's readers!


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Marina and the Diamonds has unveiled a brand new album track online.
The singer, whose real name is Marina Diamandis, posted about the song on her Twitter account today.
The song, titled 'Homewrecker', is an ethereal electro-pop tune in which Diamandis sings: "I belong to no-one... I'm a home wrecker."
It will be available for download from Diamandis's website on Monday morning.
The new track will be featured on Diamandis's forthcoming album, for which the single 'Primadonna' was announced earlier this year.
Marina and the Diamonds has also announced a UK tour, which will feature brand new material from the forthcoming album.
Electra Heart is set for release on April 30.
Listen to 'Homewrecker' below:


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MILLTOWN, NJ - Even though forecasts look as though Joaquin will head out to sea, New Jersey will still be dealing with some unpleasant weather this weekend. The wet and windy forecast has forced the cancellation of some favorite events.
The 19th annual Milltown Day was called off yesterday. Stacey Waters from the Milltown Revitalization Committee posted on the Milltown Day website that the imposing inclement weather forced officials to call off the popular community-wide event for the first time in the town's history.
Waters explained in the post that due to a combination of a number of factors, Milltown Day could not be scheduled for a later date. However, she did announce the dates for next year. Milltown Day 2016 will be held on October 1 at Boro Park with a rain date of October 2.
Another popular Garden State event, the NJ Zombie Walk in Asbury Park was also canceled. The walking dead will have to wait another week to make their annual crawl along the Asbury Park Boardwalk. It will now be held on Saturday, October 10 with pre-walk fun beginning at 10 a.m. The zombie walk will begin at 4 p.m.
The Woodbury Fall Parade where the Spotswood High School Pep Band was scheduled to perform on Saturday, October 3 has also been postponed to next weekend. The parade will also be on Saturday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m.


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3 Tips For Getting Warm on Cold Mornings
These days I live in mild San Francisco, but I spent the first 23 years of my life in Chicago, a city where a windchill of -20ºF (that's -29ºC) turns waiting for the bus into an extreme sport. I've learned a few things over the years...
1. Start the day off right.
I like to keep my apartment as cold as possible while I'm sleeping, but even if you don't, the transition from under-the-covers to real world can be a brutal one. To remedy this, when I get undressed for bed, I fold up my pajamas and robe or leggings and sweatshirt and tuck them under the covers with me, off to the side or at the foot of the bed. They're never in the way, but when it's time to get up in the morning, they're nice and toasty, warmed by my body heat. Yes, I get dressed and make the bed while I'm still in bed.
2. Trap that heat.
I've been a swimmer for many years, and walking two miles home from the pool during my college winters taught me a few tips. Mainly, you have to trap your heat. Be your own Hot Pocket! Take a hot shower, dry off as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and dress as quickly as possible. In this way, all of your precious body heat will be kept close to your body. You're holding in heat, rather than letting yourself chill and then trying to warm up again.
3. Let yourself be cold, for at least the first 5 minutes.
Psychologically, this is the hardest one. When it's truly cold outside, your body can make very convincing arguments for staying indoors: It's warm! It's cozy! It's where the cheese is! But outside is where the fresh air, exercise, errands, and jobs are, and those are good things. Even if you've bundled yourself properly for the weather, chances are good you'll still feel cold the first five minutes — and this is how it should be. If you step out into serious winter and feel comfortably warm, once you start moving and acclimating, you'll be sweating buckets! And that works against you in so many ways. It's much better to feel a bit of a chill at first, then get moving, get your heart rate up — and maybe even unbutton a button or two..
Please note: I am not a doctor! I'm just a Midwestern girl who loves getting out of the house but hates being cold. Please add your tips!
*Re-edited from a post originally published on 1.25.13 - AB


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Beheaded journalist faked illness to hide faith from ISIS
SLAIN: Sotloff was Israeli citizen who pretended to be ill to fast
An Israeli official has confirmed that slain American journalist Steven Sotloff was also an Israeli citizen.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Paul Hirschson wrote on his personal Twitter feed: "Cleared for publication: Steven Satloff was Israel citizen RIP," misspelling the journalist's last name.
There was no further comment from the ministry. Israel's military censor office cleared the information for publication, suggesting Israel had tried to conceal the news to protect Sotloff (31).
Sotloff's Israeli citizenship did not appear to have influenced his fate.
Sotloff, a Miami-area native who freelanced for Time and Foreign Policy magazines, vanished a year ago in Syria and was not seen again until he appeared in the video that showed Foley's beheading.
Dressed in an orange jumpsuit against an arid Syrian landscape, Sotloff was threatened in that video with death unless the US stopped airstrikes on the Islamic State.
In the video distributed on Tuesday and titled, A Second Message to America, Sotloff appears in a similar jumpsuit before he is apparently beheaded by a fighter with the Islamic State, the extremist group that has conquered wide swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq and declared itself a caliphate.
At the end of the video, a third captive from Britain, David Cawthorne Haines was threatened with a similar fate. It was not immediately clear who Haines was. Officials with the British Foreign Office have declined to comment.
In Israel, friends and colleagues remembered Sotloff as an adventurous man who was fascinated with the Middle East. His death and connection to Israel made top news in the country.
His Jewish faith had been kept secret during captivity but the details can now be made public. His mother Shirley, who explained how she had studied the tenets of Islam when she made her emotional video plea for his life, is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and teaches at a Jewish school in Miami.
Her son took Israeli citizenship when he studied in the country.
New York magazine has also added further detail about his subterfuge to observe holy days.
"Former captives said that he continued observing Jewish holy days and praying while in ISIS custody. One told a Hebrew-language paper that he fasted on Yom Kippur by pretending to be ill, and prayed toward Jerusalem by observing the direction in which his Muslim captors prayed."
The release of the grisly video showing his death sparked a steely reaction from US President Barack Obama (inset) who has promised to "degrade and destroy" the Islamic militant group. Obama vowed the US would not forget the "terrible crime against these two fine young men".
"We will not be intimidated. Their horrific acts only unite us as a country and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists," Obama said.
"And those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget, and that our reach is long and that justice will be served."
Obama also sought to clean up the damage from his statement last week that "we don't have a strategy yet" for dealing with the Islamic State group in Syria. Republicans quickly seized on the remark to argue the president lacks a coherent approach to fighting the extremist group.
"It is very important from my perspective that when we send our pilots in to do a job, that we know that this is a mission that's going to work, that we're very clear on what our objectives are, what our targets are," Obama said.
"We've made the case to Congress and we've made the case to the American people, and we've got allies behind us so that it's not just a one-off, but it's something that over time is going to be effective."
Vice-President Joe Biden said America will follow the terrorists who posted videos showing the beheading of two journalists "to the gates of hell".
Biden said the Islamic State militant group responsible for beheading James Foley and Steven Sotloff won't intimidate the United States.
"The American people are so much stronger, so much more resolved than any enemy can fully understand," Biden said. "As a nation, we're united. And when people harm Americans, we don't retreat, we don't forget."
In the Sotloff video, a masked militant warns Obama that as long as US airstrikes against the militant group continue, "our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people".
Obama responded that the airstrikes have been effective in blunting the militant threat and he will continue to battle the "barbaric and ultimately empty vision" that the Islamic State represents.
"Our objective is clear, and that is to degrade and destroy ISIL so that it's no longer a threat - not just to Iraq, but also the region and to the United States," he said.


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5.0 Mustang & Super FordsHow To Chassis Suspension
Maximum Motorsports Suspension Setup
You've bolted on your new Maximum Motorsports suspension--here's how to set it up for the first time
Followers of our open-track project car know we've previously detailed the installation of nearly the entire Maximum Motorsports catalog on our "stripe" car. Torque arm and Panhard bar; K-member and lower control arms; springs, shocks, and adjustable sway bars; subframe connectors and strut-tower brace; caster-camber plates--you name it, we've got it.
This month we're not bolting anything on the car; rather, we're doing the last bit of shop work associated with installing these hard-charging suspension bits--setting them up. That really boils down to aligning all the suspension parts and getting them square to each other so the car runs straight and the suspension moves in symmetrical arcs.
Nearly all this setup work is new to most Mustangers. In fact, it has basically been the domain of dedicated chassis specialists. But while the terms and procedures may seem foreign, they are absolutely required when installing a torque-arm-and-K-member-type suspension.
Level Ground
For chassis setup, a level working area is a must because a few key set-up steps use the ground as an assumed level starting point. By level, we mean truly level, an area where a bubble level will at least try to keep the bubble inside the target window. Typically a smooth concrete garage floor will do the job.Furthermore, besides having this level spot to work off, you'll also need some way of supporting the vehicle at an under-car working height, but still with the car sitting on its tires, and still level. It can be something of a trick unless you have four platform stands (typically custom made) or a dual ramp-type hoist as preferred by transmission shops. Chassis shops prefer the platforms, as hoists typically cover up too much under the car to be convenient.
What You're Doing
Chassis work is one of those abstract subjects that takes 10,000 words to describe but comes quickly once you have the parts in front of you. Having a limited number of words at our disposal, we can only touch on the brightest highlights of setting up the Maximum Motorsports gear here, but be advised their installation instructions are comprehensive, probably some of the best in the industry. To get started, here are the required jobs, in order, for chassis setup.
1) Configure the car as it will run (half tank of gas, empty trunk if a track car, and so on).
2) Square the K-member side-to-side.
3) Center the steering rack on the K-member.
4) Center the moving portion of the steering rack relative to the rack housing.
5) Set the ride height.
6) Square the rear axle to the rear control arm pivot bolts.
7) Square length-adjustable rear control arms in the second plane.
8) Set pinion angle.
9) Set camber, caster, and then toe.
10) Bumpsteer the front suspension.
11) Reset the toe.
12) Scale the car with driver.
13) Reset the camber with driver in the car.
14) Recheck the toe.
15) Adjust the sway bar end links so there is no preload (with driver in car).
Obviously, this is a considerable amount of work. Luckily, most of it need be done only once. For example, after the K-member, steering, and so on are square to each other, they won't move unless swatted heavily in an accident, so you won't have to worry about them as maintenance items. However, as with any car, setting the alignment (caster, camber, and toe) needs to be done occasionally. Furthermore, if yours is a track car, you may wish to fiddle with corner weights and alignment depending on track configuration. That's fodder for another article, so we'll cover that next time. Now that we've outlined the jobs, let's get to the details.
Configure car as it will run.
Weight and ride height are important to getting the new suspension parts precisely located. Therefore, the car must be configured to how it will normally run. For track cars, this means removing any items normally not used at the track. This is always the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and so on, and maybe even the passenger seat. Maximum likes to run Mustangs with a full tank of gas to put weight over the rear axle, in which case the gas tank should be full. Use the correct tires and inflation.
Setting up a street car is more fraught with compromises, because you may or may not run with passengers. Do what you can. Most people still set up the car for just the driver, and street/track cars should be set up for where it is most important. Ours is a track car that can venture onto the street in search of the next track, so it gets aggressive alignment settings. Most owners will be happier with less extreme settings.
K-member squared side-to-side.
The new K-member must be installed squarely relative to the rear axle. This is because the K-member locates the front suspension, and you definitely need the front wheels square to the rears!
The technique is to measure from the K-member's lower-control-arm mounting holes to the rear lower-control-arm pickup mounting holes on the chassis. This is done both front-to-rear and diagonally.
As it is quite awkward to measure directly between these points, it is best to attach a plumb bob to the pickup points at the rear and mark a spot on the ground. Then the plumb bobs can be hung from the K-member and measurements taken between the marked points and the plumb bobs. Marks on the ground have the advantage of not swinging around like a plumb bob, which always happens when someone bumps the car or after kicking the plumb bob while thrashing around under the car. Furthermore, you need only two plumb bobs this way.
By just snugging the K-member mounting bolts, the K-member may be "adjusted" with a rubber mallet, prying, and so on until the K-member is square to the rear suspension.
Center steering rack on K-member.
Because the steering rack is mounted on studs projecting from the K-member, this step is all about ensuring any offset rack bushings are set up perfectly straight up and down. In other words, you want the "pupils" in the offset "eyes" to be right at six o'clock, not wobbled around like Moon Eyes. This is done with straightedges and bubble levels, the only complication being the steering rack is always in the way, so you need to use the straightedges to move the bubble level out into the clear.
As an aside, life is easier here if small marks are made on the outer edge of the offset bushings before the bushings are installed. These marks should indicate the centerline of the bolt hole in the bushing. Since the bushings are visible after the rack installation, a simple check with a straightedge and level will quickly tell if they are straight up and down. It's a pain to nudge these bushings around, but even if you have to pull off the rack to get things equal, it's necessary to get the bumpsteer the same side-to-side later.
Center moving portion of rack to rack housing.
OK, the idea here is to center the steering rack relative to the steering-rack housing (the aluminum casting). Combined with the previous step, this will put the inner tie-rod ends symmetrical side-to-side in the car for bumpsteer purposes. In reality, this step is almost always a check against someone having removed the steering wheel and replacing it a spline or two off on the steering shaft. With airbag-equipped Mustangs, this is a rare thing; with earlier non-airbag cars, it happens when a lazy alignment technician decides to move the steering wheel on the shaft rather than center it using the tie-rod-end adjustments.
To center the rack, center the steering wheel by turning it lock-to-lock and then taking it halfway in between. While under the car, measure how far the rack protrudes from the rack housing. Be careful not to include the outer tie-rod ends in this measurement as they are adjustable and are bound to be dif-ferent lengths.If the steering rack is not centered, center it using the steering wheel, then remove the steering wheel and replace it in a square position on the steering rack.
Set ride height.
Coilover-equipped cars such as ours have easily adjustable ride height. By rotating the spring perch collars around the threads on the outside of the shocks, the coil springs can be raised or lowered, thus changing the height of that corner of the car.
Cars with stock-type coil springs require a height adjuster--commonly available for the rear springs--to change the ride height.
Clearly, the car must be supported on its tires for this task. The idea is to ensure the suspension is supporting the chassis level with the ground. This is important with the Panhard bar, as the bar swings in an arc. If the car isn't level, the arc will be different in suspension compression and extension.
The ride height should be set with the passenger load expected for the Mustang's normal duty, which typically means two people for street cars and just the driver for track cars. But, if you commonly give track-based thrill rides, then you might want to set up with a passenger.
Square rear axle to rear control arm pivot bolts.
Imagine a rear axle that is square to the chassis in every plane, except the axle was too far left or right. In other words, viewed from directly behind the car, the left rear tire was buried far inside the wheelwell, while the right rear tire was hanging out in the breeze. By adjusting the length of the Panhard bar, the axle can be centered relative to the chassis. You can also check the Panhard bar height now; it should be parallel to the ground.
Measure from across the tire to the lower control arm front pivot. Use a straightedge across the wheel to get a square measurement. Sometimes the tire protrudes from the rim, in which case you can measure off the tire, but beware the straightedge doesn't end up in the seam in the tire sidewall. You can feel the seam with your fingertips--it's a small indentation, and sometimes you can even see it. When adjusting the Panhard bar, also loosen the torque arm crossmember mounting bolts so the front of the torque arm can shuffle along with the axle as it moves sideways in the chassis.
Squaring length-adjustable rear lower control arms.
Imagine looking down on the rear axle in plain view using your Superman X-ray vision. If the axle is cocked sideways relative to the chassis, the car will dog-track down the highway and exhibit different turning characteristics left-to-right.This relationship is adjustable if you have adjustable-length control arms. Simple tape measurements will tell the tale and turning the adjusters will move the axle.
Set pinion angle.
By design, torque arms set the rear pinion angle. This is fine-tuned with the Maximum Motorsports torque arm with shims placed between the front of the differential and the torque-arm mount. The pinion angle is measured using a straightedge and protractor, both at the differential flange and at the transmission. The straightedge is necessary only to transfer the measuring surface away from the crowded torque-arm-driveshaft-differential interface. In the photo, the point where the shims go is just behind the measuring device.
Camber, caster, and then toe.
Racers and chassis enthusiasts use small, handheld, bubble-level devices held against the front wheels to measure the traditional front-end alignment values of caster and camber. The toe is set by measuring the front and rear of the tire centerline relative to a known distance marker. Traditionally this distance marker is a length of string rigged to run along the side of the car.
We don't have enough room here to detail the installation and use of the string or the caster/camber gauge, so we'll leave that to the Maximum and gauge manufacturer instructions. We can note, however, that the string is easily set up once you have some small stands or tripods dedicated to the task, along with a length of contractor's string. The actual suspension adjustments are done with the caster/camber plates and tie-rod ends as always.
In the photos, you might see a white triangle. It's a piece of card stock Maximum cut to a 20-degree angle. Set against a known straight line scribed into the platform stand and then turning the tire until the sidewall is aligned with the 20-degree side of the card stock, this simple device allows accurate measurement of the camber at 20 degrees of steering.
Ah, the mysterious bumpsteering process. It would take an entire article to detail bumpsteering a front suspension. In a nutshell, the process involves measuring the amount of toe change the front suspension goes through as the suspension is cycled through its travel, then doing what you can to reduce the toe changes to a minimum.
The toe changes come from the geometry differences between the steering and the rest of the suspension. The usual culprits are the outer tie-rod ends and how they are angled relative to the steering rack at one end and the steering knuckle at the other. While we tend to think of the tie-rod ends as the bad guys, they're simply caught in the middle of a bunch of other parts. But that's where bumpsteer thinking usually centers.
Bumpsteer adjustments are made by adjusting the height (typically lowering) of the tie rods where they mate with the steering knuckle, using bushings or washers. Pushing the steering rack around with offset bushings is also useful, and swapping spindles can help as well. Luckily, most of this is taken care of by the mounts built into the Maximum K-member and so on, so only fine-tuning of the bumpsteer is necessary. You want to go to the trouble, as too much bumpsteer makes the car less predictable whenever the suspension moves up and down. It is often felt as imprecision, vagueness, or nervousness in the steering.
Measuring bumpsteer is actually a specialized form of measuring toe. As you can see in the photo, Maximum uses a humble but accurate bit of plywood and a dial indicator to measure the toe while the suspension is jacked up and down with a floor jack (the spring must be removed or slacked so just the suspension moves and not the entire car).
Reset toe.
After fiddling with the bumpsteer toe changes, the static, baseline toe may have wandered off somewhat, so it is rechecked at this point.
Scale car.
Now it's time to find out how much weight each corner of the car is carrying and try to even out those weights. There is only so much that can be done with a front-heavy production car such as a Mustang, but every bit helps as the tire contact patches are most efficiently employed when the weight is evenly spread.
The job is to set the car on level ground on four scales (one under each tire). All suspension preload must be removed, so disconnect one end of each sway bar and adjust the tire pressures. Have the driver sit behind the wheel (with helmet, if that's how the car is run), and then read the corner weights.
Specialized four-pad scales for this purpose are widely available from racing supply houses. That's what Maximum uses, but you can do the job with any sort of scale that will take the weight--our '96 GT had 1,014 pounds on the left front tire--and can be practically employed without upsetting the level too much.
Coarse adjustments are made by moving components around the car (relocating the battery to the right rear corner). Fine adjustments, as are being checked here, are done by changing the preload on the springs. This is easily done with coilovers.
Most of the time, an even set of corner weights is desirable. However, some tracks have a particularly large number of either left or right turns, or one turn that is especially difficult and important to lap times. The weights may be skewed to favor those conditions.
With driver in car, reset camber.
OK, now we're gilding the lily. This step is only necessary at this point on fine-tuned road-racing cars. Street cars and almost all open-track cars can skip this step.
Recheck toe.
Everybody, however, should recheck the toe.
Adjust sway bar preload.
With the driver still in the car, reconnect the sway bars, making sure there is no preload on the links. That is, the end links should swing freely onto the sway bar so there is no load on the bar while the suspension is in its neutral position. With Maximum's adjustable rear sway bar, this is simply done with the turnbuckle-like ends. The stock front sway bar is adjusted when wrenching down on the end links.
Well, that's the bum's rush on adjusting a newly installed Maximum Motorsport suspension. The majority of this work is done only one time, as the event-to-event and at-track adjustments are typically limited to checking the alignment--especially the toe--and working with shock tuning and spring preloads. Or, if you're like us, you have so much fun driving the blasted thing you won't even stop for lunch, much less adjusting things! 5.0


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|High School:
Detroit Catholic Central High School
Professional Basketball (1997-2000):
European Professional Leagues: Gijon, Spain
European Professional Leagues: Tenerife, Spain


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So here I am doing something unbelievably unusual and supernatural for me. I would even call it a miracle.
Many who know me might associate me with words and technology (due to my last job working on the webzine iamnext.com). To these people, it might seem that starting a blog would be a natural thing for me. Yet I remember when I first discovered reading blogs, I subconsciously swore to myself I would never have one of my own. I figured it was too much commitment and too hard to keep regularly updated. All the more recently I continue to unearth the depth of my phobia of commitment and maintenance. I can barely keep a regular (handwritten) journal of my own; I can barely stay on top of responding to the emails in my inbox (despite the fact that I compusively check email several times in an hour). What makes me think I can keep up with blog entries regularly?
But hey, things change. I think technology (among other things) is changing the way I think and live. Like the way it has changed the way I write... I used to have to do a pencil-on-paper draft whenever I wrote a paper or article. Now, that's been excluded from my writing process. Now, I can't even conceive of handwriting a first draft. I can only compose text while at a keyboard. So technology has changed the way I write in a short time.
While my overly pragmatic entries in my handwritten journal (i.e. "This is what I did today, this is who I saw, etc.") , bore me enough to drop it for 11 months of any given year, I've recently found myself thinking differently about the possibility of online journals. I've found that I've been more observant of things I see throughout my day -- whether it be on public transit, on television, online, or in conversations. Some are things that I wonder if others have thought about. Some are things I wish I could share with my friends about perspective in life. Others are simply inane things I might get a kick out of reading several years later. I think technology, specifically the concept of blogging, is changing the way I think about and process life.
And so here I am, doing a totally supernatural thing for me -- starting a blog. Do expect that the frequency of my entries will match my personality -- extremely on and regular vs. extremely off and silent. Nevertheless, I hope you'll enjoy the ride with me.


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I have recently found I explain this concept over and over to people, so I want to have a reference.
Most modern languages comes with a "dependency manager" of sorts that helps manage the 3rd party libraries a given project uses. Rust has Cargo, Node.js has npm, Python has pip and so on. All of these do some things well and some things poorly. But one thing that can be done (well or poorly) is "support forking skip-level dependencies".
In order to explain what I mean, here as an example: our project is PlanetLocator, a program to tell the user which direction they should face to see a planet. It depends on a library called Astronomy. Astronomy depends on Physics. Physics depends on Math.
- PlanetLocator
- Astronomy
- Physics
- Math
- Physics
- Astronomy
PlanetLocator is a SaaS, running on our servers. One day, we find Math has a critical bug, leading to a remote execution vulnerability. This is pretty bad, because it can be triggered via our application by simply asking PlanetLocator for the location of Mars at a specific date in the future. Luckily, the bug is simple — in Math's definition of Pi, we need to add a couple of significant digits.
How easy is it to fix?
Well, assume PlanetLocator is written in Go, and not using any package manager. A typical import statement in PlanetLocator is
import "github.com/astronomy/astronomy"
A typical import statement in Astronomy is
import "github.com/physics/physics
..and so on.
We fork Math over to "github.com/planetlocator/math" and fix the vulnerability. Now we have to fork over physics to use the forked math, and astronomy to use the forked physics and finally, change all of our imports to import the forked astronomy — and Physics, Astronomy and PlanetLocator had no bugs!
Now assume, instead, we had used Python. In our requirements.txt file, we could put
and voila! even though Physics' "setup.py" said "install_requires=['math']", it will get our forked math.
When starting to use a new language/dependency manager, the first question to ask is: will it support me forking skip-level dependencies? Because every upstream maintainer is, effectively, an absent-maintainer if rapid response is at stake (for any reason — I chose security above, but it might be beating the competition to a deadline, or fulfilling contractual obligations).


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Rustic Taps and Catering offers mobile bartending services featuring a 1954 Chevy pickup truck set up with the coolest enclosure using cold plate technology and 10 beer taps.
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Gladys Goud, 94, died on April 15 in Dunedin, Florida.
She was born in Rye, N.Y., on September 17, 1916. She met and married Charles Arthur Goud in New York City. They had two daughters, Patricia Kim Force and Pamela Jean Costantini. As a family they visited Edgartown in summers, and she had many friends all her years visiting and living on the Vineyard.
She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia Kim and Pamela Jean, and her grandson, Christopher Costantini.
She was a compassionate, strong, and beautiful woman who was determined to live to be 100. This and her enthusiasm for life contributed to her positive outlook and long life, and her ability to encourage with grace the lives of others.


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Want to know how to choose a Cognac? Read this article and learn everything about it!
By age:
VS or 3 stars: the Cognac has been aged for two years in oak barrels. It stops maturing once bottled.
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale): the Cognac has been aged for five years.
Napoleon or Reserve: the Cognac has been aged for an average of seven years.
XO (Extra Old): the Cognac is over ten years old. The youngest eau de vie used in the blend must have been aged in oak barrels for six and a half years.
Extra, Hors d'âge, Ancestrale, Très vieux, etc.: Much older than XO, these Cognacs are often over 20 years old.
By Terroir
The Cognac region covers 75,000 hectares (185,000 acres) divided into six crus.
-La Grande Champagne covers 13,000 hectares around Segonzac. Premier cru of Cognac which produces the finest and most delicate eaux de vie. These can be aged the longest.
-La Petite Champagne: 15,000 hectares south of Grande Champagne. The Champagne land is so named because of a high chalk content on a par with the Champagne-growing region around Reims.
The blend of Grande Champagne (50% minimum) and Petite Champagne produces Fine Champagne which is an AOC (registered designation of origin).
-Les Borderies : the smallest cru at just under 4,000 hectares. Renowned for its round and smooth eaux de vie with a violet nose.
-Les Fins Bois: the largest of the crus, 31,000 hectares (characterised by red, stony soil) surrounding the first three crus. Round and smooth, eaux de vie which reach rapid maturity.
-Les Bons Bois: fewer than 10,000 hectares survive on this sandy soil which produces smooth eaux de vie with a distinctive maritime flavour.
Les Bois de terroirs or Bois ordinaires: more than a thousand hectares mostly concentrated on Ile de Ré and Ile d'Oléron where these eaux de vie take on a marked maritime flavour. They are mostly used for making Pineau des Charentes, where the same year's production of grape juice and Cognac are blended before ageing in oak barrels, just like Cognac.
By Producer
Cognac Houses: Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin and Courvoisier dominate the world's Cognac market, accounting for just under 90% of sales or more than 150 million bottles. The leading brands buy up eau de vie from wine growers and then blend cognacs in their cellars.
The superbly presented products benefit from sophisticated marketing techniques as well as extensive know-how on the part of the cellar-masters.
Cognac from "bouilleurs de cru": this term covers those wine-makers who distil their own grapes. They age their own eau de vie in cellars and may produce their own brands. Often little known and produced using traditional, small-scale methods, the end products are highly original and authentic. These Cognacs capture the very essence of the crus from which they originate.
Read moe about Cognac on Cognac Fans


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Hi everyone,
I wrote an app for Android called Quiz Bowl Score Keeper. Essentially, it is a simple app that allows you to keep score on your phone instead of writing it down. I wrote it keeping standard NAQT rules in mind. The app does all the math for you and makes it easy to go back and fix the score (it automatically updates everything after if something is changed). You can keep track of individual player score as well.
Check it out at https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... corekeeper. Please give it a go; feedback and suggestions are appreciated for future updates.
EDIT: I recently updated the app, making it look nicer. It now supports different formats of quizbowl. I also added a help menu since a few people had trouble figuring out some of the functionality.
Quiz Bowl Score Keeper: An App for Android
The scariest thing of all is Protobowl
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Accent your recessed lighting with this set that includes a repositionable recessed ceiling medallion and a Juno 5" white baffle recessed trim.More Details >
This repositionable designer ceiling medallion comes with a 5" Juno white baffle trim and is perfect for use with recessed lighting. Based on original hand-painted artwork, the medallion is printed on canvas using printers used for fine art reproductions and has a European Renaissance inspired pattern. To install, peel the medallion from the backing, position around the recessed can opening, and reinstall the can baffle trim. Made with a sticky backing, the medallion can be installed and removed dozens of times. The white baffle trim helps in absorbing stray light and features deep lamp shielding for maximum brightness control and a tapered baffle trim. Trim to be used with Juno Lighting IC New Construction, Non-IC New Construction and Non-IC Remodeling recessed light housing. Takes one 50 watt PAR-30 bulb (not included).


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It's fall, and time to celebrate soups! Celery root (celeriac) is in season in the fall, and if you haven't used it yet, you really ought to give it a try. It's an ingredient with substantial body, and a mellow, celery flavor. This low amine soup recipe is a sure crowd pleaser.
1 celery root (about 3 C, chopped)
1 lb white fish such as cod
6 C chicken broth
4 C water
1 bulb garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2 C chopped Italian flat leaf parsley, packed
1 red onion, chopped
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 bay leaves
1 big pinch saffron
1 tsp ascorbic acid
3 Tbsp safflower oil
- Peel celery root and slice into thin pieces about the size of a nickel.
- In a large stock pot, add oil and saute chopped onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add all other ingredients except fish. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add fish, cut into a few large pieces. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with finely minced parsley.
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- Shredded Beef with Cumin and Cilantro (aminerecipes.com)
- Shaved Fennel and Celery Root (Celeriac) Salad (low-amine, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, paleo) (aminerecipes.com)
- Fennel Leek Soup (low-amine, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, low-fat, low-carb, paleo, vegetarian, vegan) (aminerecipes.com)
- Quick Get-Well Soup (low-amine, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, nightshade-free) (aminerecipes.com)
- Pumpkin Apple Dressing (aminerecipes.com)


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Faith in Action is seeking to expand its services to meet the growing demand of the local senior citizen and disabled population.
The group is searching for volunteers with new ideas to help revitalize this program. The volunteers help senior citizens remain in the homes they have lived in for years and help them with simple activities, such as shopping.
Meetings are monthly on the fourth Monday evening of each month. The group will meet Monday at 5:15 p.m. at the REACH Center, 140 W. Franklin St., Suite 300, Hagerstown (enter at the rear of the building, next door to the WIC Office.)
All are welcome.
Free parking is available in the rear and west parking lots of the Aspiring to Serve Building.
For more information, call Kevin Collins at 301-733-2371, ext. 100, e-mail him at email@example.com or go to www.reachcaregivers.org.


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- I didn't have quite enough honey in the cupboard so used 200g honey, 50g golden syrup and 50g black treacle.
- I couldn't bring myself to chop up 400g of stem ginger (about 3 of those little jars!), so only used one which gave me 150g of gingery nuggets which I actually felt was more than enough.
- I forgot to add the grated stem ginger, but the cake was still delicious though I probably would try to be less forgetful next time.
This was a definite success - gingery, moist and obviously so, so good for you. My Mother-In-Law's ginger soup is the stuff of legends when anyone is feeling unwell in our family. I might have to add this cake to the 'feel better soon' list of things to cook.
|Could there be a healthier cake?


text: Fantastic story on Cult of Mac today featuring some very tech-savvy orang-utans at the Milwaukee County Zoo, who have their very own iPad 2s to play with! Apparently the whole thing first started as a joke between Scott Engel, who is responsible for setting up the iPad Enrichment Program at the zoo for the orang-utans, and one of the zoo keepers, as a result of a story in UK tabloid, The Sun. According to Cult of Mac, Engel visits the orang-utans for 20 minutes, three or four times a week, and shares his iPad 2 (brave man!) with two orang-utans called MJ and Mahal. They are not allowed to play with the tablets unsupervised, however, as they are strong enough to snap one in half in an instant, according to Richard Zimmerman, executive director of Orangutan Outreach. For the most part, the orang-utans are allowed to play with the iPads through their cage doors, and apparently they have various favourite apps, including DrawFree finger painting, and the interactive book, The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore, which is a big favourite. They also like to watch TV on the iPads. And, best of all, they like to watch wildlife programmes, including ones about orang-utans, with Engel being convinced that MJ has a crush on David Attenborough because she just stares at him whenever he's on the screen! Aw! The scheme has been so successful that Zimmerman intends to extend it to other zoos, such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Honolulu. Source: These Orangutans Just Love Playing With Their iPads | Cult of Mac


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4 comments so far
Mr. McNeil, Hello, well I'm glad something may come about that will be in our favor. I am looking forward to it. I know David Myrland and Chris Chapman have been woking on something also that is going to Supreme Court this year sometime Hopefully with you and Mike Ellis's case and the case above something will shake things up, they have a call in show on Talkshoe Radio, now them guys are bringing up IRcode section 83, either way other people will listen yo your show and some will listen to their show, so it will be that many more people getting educated and maybe start waking up and start demanding answers. I am curioius if you or anyone you know has used Postal Form 8165? There is a column on that form that has a spot for Tax, well we know every time they've sent a letter demanding you owe an amount of of money that should be considered fraud. Maybe a bunch of us should start using that form and have the Postal Inspector General check into it, just a thought. Well have a great day and I'll be ready for your show. Yahweh Bless, Roy
I am excited to think that someone is running that actually wants real change for the Constitutional good of our country. I would like to see you in office. I think it would do our country good and hopefully get the Senate moving in the right direction.


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When you talk to anyone about being stuck in Johannesburg traffic, you can immediately see their anxiety levels rise when they start recollecting long traffic jams.
Remind them about February and March of 2014 and the heavy rains across Gauteng and they start getting heart palpitations.
There is no escaping traffic in Joburg especially when it rains. Traffic light signals go down and potholes appear out of nowhere, causing major disruptions to the lives of thousands of commuters.
Traffic delays not only cause frustrations to motorists but they also costs the economy millions in lost productivity and damage to vehicles.
The truth is that Johannesburg has had explosive growth in the last three decades. As Africa's economic hub the city is fast approaching a population of 5 million people.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is responsible for most the city's transport infrastructure. In total Joburg has 2 114 traffic lights, 10 000 km of roads and has a budget of R192 million for the 2014/15 financial year.
But with this incredible growth we have also seen massive challenges in maintaining this infrastructure efficiently.
Joburg citizens also have frustrations in reporting problems. Often call centres are difficult to get through to in order to report infrastructure problems.
The JRA is hoping to change this by launching an innovative app in order to streamline the entire process and encourage residents to report issues as they see them. The Find and Fix mobile app aims to create a partnership between the city and its residents and foster a culture of "Active Citizenry" by encouraging Joburgers to report problems.
The Find & Fix app is designed to work with smart phones and will enable users to report potholes, faulty traffic light signals, storm water drains, manhole covers, and other infrastructure issues that fall under the JRA's responsibility.
"The launch of this new smartphone app forms part of the JRA's turnaround strategy and service delivery drive", says Skhumbuzo Macozoma, JRA Managing Director, "The organisation is committed to becoming more accessible to citizens and road users and to developing itself into a centre of engineering excellence with enhanced service delivery and satisfied customers".
The JRA's aim is to make the agency accessible to all. The JRA already has touch points with the public on email on twitter (@MyJRA) and on Facebook.
The Find & Fix app is incredibly easy to use. Once downloaded users will need to register before using it. The app opens app to a really simple menu with six choices:
- Traffic Light
- Pothole
- Signage
- Stormwater
- Manhole
- General Issue
When you click on one of the icons a separate page opens up that geolocates you using the GPS functionality of the smartphone and users will then have an opportunity to also include a picture of the problem and make relevant comments.
As soon the issue is logged the JRA will receive the information on their user interface along with the exact coordinate of the problem.
The whole process is aimed at streaming the entire process by enhancing the efficiencies thus increasing productivity. It also takes away pressure from the call centre.
It will also enable the JRA to focus on hotspots and also discover trends in where urgent maintenance is needed.
Currently the app geolocates users at the point where they want to report a problem, making it difficult to report something while driving. The JRA is hoping to find a solution to this issue in the future by allowing users to add the location of the problem on the map within the app.
The app only covers Johannesburg for now, but there are plans to extend the range of the app into other municipalities like Ekurhuleni, Mogale City and Tshwane.
The JRA Find & Fix app is available for Windows Phone devices, Android phones and there is an iOS version for Apple users, which will be coming in the next week.


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M is for Monster.
I lucked up and found face stickers with eyes, mouths, and noses for $1 during all of the back to school sales.
For the monster body I let her scribble on some paper and then I cut out her shape. We glued it with the scribble side down. Besides the stickers we also used pom-poms.
Posted by Annie on Monday, August 27, 2012
Labels: Alphabet Book


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This being my first official post on YAvengers, I'll stick with something I know a lot about. Keep it low-key, you know? We all know what happens when I get excited.
So. What do I know a lot about? Smashing.
(No, it's not going to be about science this time, guys. I'll save my lecture on being a physicist and how to avoid gamma radiation for another post.)
I've smashed a lot of things in my lifetime (including some puny gods, I might add), but a how-to guide on 5-Ways-to-Smash-Aliens probably won't help you. (We Avengers should have dealt with them before they get to you.) I settled for something just as annoying. Writer's Block.
Stop. Thinking. About. Your. Writing.
2. Do something physical
Take a walk. A swim. Do yoga (this works wonders with anger-issues too). Go on a bike ride. Run up and down some stairs. Defeat some aliens. Rearrange your bedroom. Clean – clean everything. Cook a triple layer chocolate cake (better take the run afterwards). Drink some water.
But don't try to think about writing while you're outside gulping some air. Just relax. Enjoy yourself.
3. Talk through the block
Sometimes, when you're talking it out, you'll end up spurting the answer yourself.
Pull up a fresh document on your computer. Grab a notebook and favourite biro. Just write as if you were talking to someone.
4. Read a good book
You can only pour out what you take in. As a writer, it's important to read. It's pretty easy to get caught up in your own work and forget to read. But you have to refill your creative tank!
Who cares what it's about? This isn't for your book. No one's going to see it. It's not for publishing. This is for you. Go for however long you want. 5 minutes. 15 minutes. Maybe even a solid 20. If you're intimidated by the idea, start small and work up.
Get back into the groove of your fingers hitting keys and forming words and sentences and paragraphs. Create. You're a writer, so that's what you love, isn't it?
Do you have some tips you can share with me? What helps you break through writer's block?


text: Snail Game USA launched Age of Wushu early this month and now they are preparing for new gameplay features. Heroes in Jianghu need new skills to protect the innocents, and heroes need romance, too. Coming to the Wushu world includes new competition, new instance, new rage skills, and wedding system.


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Laptop Projections Logo Ident!
With this editable template you can present your brand as a tech-savvy business with a variety of qualities.
Features :
- No Plugins Required
- After Effects CS4 and above
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- PDF FAQ Guide
If you like the sound effect used in the preview video you'll need to purchase it from the following link : http://audiojungle.net/item/elegant-corporate-logo/152077


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So many women are wearing the wrong size bra, and the high street gives very few options to get measured properly to fit modern bras. This calculator uses our algorithm to offer a starting size to then try bras. Using this, and our fit guides, you can try on bras knowing what should be happening to get your best fit.
Your Suggested Starting size is
For a fit check or further information about your suggested starting size, please visit us on Facebook
|Band Size :
|Cup Size :
With clothes and bra off, measure underneath your bust and measure it so tight that you think that the tape might snap. This is your Tight measurement.
With clothes and bra off, measure underneath your bust tightly but still be able to get two fingers under the back. This is your Snug measurement. If you look at two fingers together, that's no more than an inch.
Whilst standing up, measure around your nipples without squishing them, whilst ensuring the tape is level all the way round. This is your Standing measurement.
Lean over so that your boobs are dangling at 90 degrees. Measure around the nipples, again without squishing them. This is your Leaning measurement.
We adjust our sizing method if you are pregnant to ensure you have space as your body grows.
We adjust our sizing method if you are under 18 to account for a growing body


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The effect of crops and farming practices on earthworm communities in Soummam valley, Algeria
TypeJournal Article
Review statusPeer-reviewed
AccessibilityLimited Access
MetadataShow full item record
Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44162
The response of earthworm communities to farming practices was assessed in 33 farms of the Soummam valley (Algeria). Market gardening was the most intensive practice with frequent tillage (94% farms), application of chemical (94%) and organic (70%) fertilizers and pesticides (70%). Orange tree plantations also received organic fertilization (42% of farms), NPK (95%), pesticides (71%) and tillage (95%) whereas in Olive plantations only 30% farmers used fertilizers and pesticide application was rare. Earthworm communities comprised 5 species: the ubiquitous Apporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea, Allolobophora chlorotica and Microscolex dubius and the native Octodrilus complanatus. Average density decreased from market farming areas (176 ± 27.6 ind m?2) to olive tree (149 ± 10.4 ind m?2) and orange tree plantations (73 ± 9.2 ind m?2). Biomass followed a slightly different order with a maximum of 44.0 ± 10.2 g fw m?2 in market farming areas followed by orange plantations (38.3 ± 8.0 g fw m?2) and olive plantations (35.6 ± 2.78 g fw m?2). Earthworm populations were comprised of 90% A. rosea and A. caliginosa. A. rosea favored market garden and olive systems while A. caliginosa did not show any clear preference. O. complanatus were abundant in market gardening sites with organic fertilizers whereas M. dubius was absent from orange tree plantations. Communities significantly covaried with farming practices and not with soil characteristics. In general, the density of all species was affected by intensification although the native species O. complanatus benefited from organic fertilization. Farming practices in the valley maintain rather high earthworm activities in spite of significant uses of chemical inputs. Further intensification might however affect these communities that showed clear sensitivity to all chemical inputs and tillage.
AGROVOC Keywords
SubjectsSOIL HEALTH; FARMING SYSTEMS;
RegionsAFRICA; NORTH AFRICA
- CIAT Soils [228]
- CIAT Articles in Journals [2374]


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Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of the Brazos Valley Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of the Brazos Vall...
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
Mission Statement
To provide meaningful and significant volunteer opportunities that enrich the lives of individuals age 55 and older, that meet the social and economic needs of the community, maximizing resources and building the capacity for the benefit of all citizens of the Brazos Valley.
For the past 28 years, RSVP has served as the Volunteer Resource Center for the seven-county Brazos Valley region. Which covers Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington Counties. RSVP staff provides support to local non-profit agencies, service organizations, schools and government offices by maintaining a listing of volunteer needs. RSVP then works to promote these needs and assist potential volunteers with finding the job that matches their skills and interests.
This information
Might be out of date
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Request administrator status and update its information!


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It's actually fairly simple to embed Google Documents in a Blogger blogpost or page.
How to embed a Google Document
- Open your Google Document for viewing
- Click View, then Full Screen
- Copy the URL of the Google Document from the address bar of your browser
- Go to Blogger, create a new blgopost or edit an existing one
- Switch to HTML view
- Paste the URL that you copied in Step 3 anywhere in the code (this is only temporary)
- Copy the following code, and paste it into your HTML where you want the document to be embedded.
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GVBowL69OnrHbNLwnFGJDiNuoS1Fs712tpdQkfu9DDc/" width="480" height="520"></iframe>
- Replace the highlighted URL above with the URL that you copied in step 3.


text: Somerset Squall 565 Posted January 6, 2010 After battling for several days through high shear, 98S has finally become a tropical cyclone named Edzani, with intensity at 35kts. Convection is persisting over a tightening LLC. However, Edzani is still moving in conflicting conditions; on the one side, waters beneath the cyclone are warm, and equatorward outflow is good, and on the other, shear is still high, which is still displacing the bulk of convection on the western side of the LLC. Shear is expected to gradually ease, and outflow is expected to improve radially. This should allow at least some steady intensification of Edzani over the next few days.Edzani is moving southwestwards and will move generally west southwestwards over the next few days steered by ridging to the south. This track keeps Edzani away from land for now as it is a long way east (around 80E), but it still needs watching, especially as MeteoFrance are being particularly agressive with strengthening, bring Edzani to "intense tropical cyclone" status. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Five, born in the Grove, is growing up on the Hill. But its focus remains, reflecting the Italian heritage of the neighborhood and its owners, the Devoti family. Son Anthony dances lead in the kitchen, as he has for its lifetime. Five is roomier than it was, and seems quieter, even on a busy evening early in the week. The Art Deco paintings in the style of Tamara de Lempicka now hang on dark green walls, and the servers are attentive to the needs of guests, whether regulars or newcomers.
In the current economy, bread baskets are one place that restaurants often have often cut back. Not here. Extremely fresh foccacia arrived with seasoned olive oil, the combination particularly tasty for reasons we couldn't quite put our finger on at first. Then we realized that there was just a little truffle oil brushed on the bread, providing the wow factor to kick things off.
A charcuterie platter showcased housemade prosciutto, tender and sweet, rather than deeply salty, and another, an unnamed and unrecognized piece of cured pig, was chunkier and saltier, and extremely tasty. Alongside was a small brick of pate, subtly seasoned and studded with what seemed to be hazelnuts. Even the pickle appeared homemade, not so tart and small as a French cornichon. Coarse mustard marked the plate, a small container of mixed olives, and perhaps best of all the selections, a cherry and shallot chutney that was absolutely irresistible. Eggplant soup, with a hint of celadon green in its color, sported a swirl of creme fraiche, but the main feature was the lovely flavor of the eggplant itself, which often is distant and elusive. A generous serving at a proper temperature, it brought considerable satisfaction.
We could have been happier with the grilled salmon. It arrived cooked to medium, which is not unreasonable, and it was of satisfactory quality. But the freshly cooked fish sat on a bed of timidly flavored, room-temperature tomato sauce, alongside some various green beans. Various, because some were crisp and others quite tender. On the other hand, the pork shop was rave-worthy. Faintly pink inside, a little less than an inch thick, it was moist, tender and utterly delicious, worth picking up to gnaw the last bits off the bone. It rode on a puree of crowder peas, something we don't ever recall seeing in a restaurant that has a wine list. Crowders are related to black-eyed peas, and the puree was earthy and yet delicate. Some diced turnips hung around for the fun, as did a little napa cabbage, all homey-seeming vegetables gone upscale.
Maybe we've just had bad luck with desserts, but they've always seemed to come in second to the savory dishes here. The best we found this time was a sampler of sorbets, which included a very impressive cantaloupe that captured the melon's flavor very well indeed, some nice tart plum and a blueberry that was pretty good. The chocolate sampler had been sold out, so the chef had subbed a fruit sampler. A blackberry panna cotta had the toughness that comes after gelatin has been sitting for more than a day or so, and lacked sufficient flavor, a blackberry-cinnamon ice cream that was mostly cinnamon and merely okay, and what was called a shortcake with peach preserves. The crumbly scone-like biscuit was unexciting, although the peach preserves perked things up considerably. Overall, the course lacked the excitement the meal had provided to that point.
The wine list is strong on Italian varieties, with many moderately priced choices that will be pleasant companions to the dinner selections.
All in all, the new location is a definite step up, the service kinks have been eliminated and Anthony Devoto is hitting his stride in the kitchen.
5100 Daggett Ave.
Dinner Tues.-Sat.
Credit cards: Yes
Wheelchair access: Fair
Smoking: No
Entrees: $23-$26


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Admittedly, I don't read a ton of sportswriting. That said, I can hold my own in a conversation about most major sports (except basketball, yuck), so I'd like to think I'm not a total moron. And so I say with some confidence that Dan Shaughnessy is an outstanding sportswriter. Want proof? Check out his article in yesterday's Globe about bringing the Olympics to Boston. It's a must-read for anyone in the city.
The subheading "Idea is preposterous," pretty much sums it up perfectly. But, if numbers are more your style, try this one: "Think the Big Dig was bad? This would be the Big Dig times 10." Or, if music is more your beat, here you go: "Transportation? We can't get from Dorchester to Nantasket Beach on Friday afternoons in July. Try to imagine Boston in summer with the Olympics in town. Charlie Cards all around. Everyman would 'ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston' and be 'the man who never returned.'"
I love the Olympics, and my eyes have been on Brazil for the World Cup and London for Wimbledon just like the rest of the world's, but I couldn't agree more.


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Fitness on Delivery is a fitness and nutritional coaching company committed to helping others have a healthier, happier life.
Whether you are training for weight loss, general health or sport specific, we can help you reach your goals with an honest, no nonsense approach to a life of wellbeing. By integrating small changes into your life on a weekly basis you can make a huge impact on your overall lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed. Life is too short to not have a piece of cake but as the saying goes "in moderation".
We recognize that proper eating, weight loss and fitness can be an intimidating process for many people. We pride ourselves in the personal relationships we develop with our clients. We work together to achieve your goals through a variety of fitness and nutrition plans customized to your individual needs.
It's not about having time
It's about making time
How are we different?
* Affordable and flexible training and nutritional plans and programs
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* Unlimited email/text support (we're there when you need us)
* Certified and accredited professionals
* We 'walk the talk'
* Our focus is on your success - not ours
* We care!
Photo Credits: Natalie Cranston


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Retaining the double dimension of species diversity: Application of partially ordered set theory and Hasse diagrams
- Published
- Accepted
- Subject Areas
- Biodiversity, Ecology, Mathematical Biology
- Keywords
- Hasse diagrams, richness, evenness, Diversity indices, Partial ordering
- Copyright
- © 2014 Kampichler et al.
- Licence
- This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ PrePrints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Cite this article
- 2014. Retaining the double dimension of species diversity: Application of partially ordered set theory and Hasse diagrams. PeerJ PrePrints 2:e474v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.474v1
The measurement of species diversity has been a central task of community ecology from the mid 20th century onward. The conventional method of designing a diversity index is to combine values for species richness and assemblage evenness into a single composite score. The literature abounds with such indices. Each index weights richness and evenness in a different fashion. The conventional approach has repeatedly been criticized since there is an infinite number of potential indices which have a minimum value when S (species richness) = 1 and a maximum value when S = N (number of individuals). We argue that partial order theory is a sound mathematical fundament and demonstrate that it is an attractive alternative for comparing and ranking biological diversity without the necessity of combining values for species richness and evenness into an ambiguous diversity index. The general principle of partial ordering is simple: one particular assemblage is regarded as more diverse than another when both its species richness and its evenness are higher. Assemblages are not comparable with each other when one has a higher value for species richness and a lower value for evenness. Hasse diagrams can graphically represent partially ordered communities. Linear extensions and rank-frequency distributions reveal the potential of partial order theory as a means to support decisions when assemblage ranking is desired.
Author Comment
This was a side project that we submitted, unsuccessfully, back in 2010, and which we don't have time to update and resubmit. This is the definitive version.