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Turn to the nation's most objective and informative daily environmental news resource to learn how the United States and key players around the world are responding to the environmental...
By Jessica Coomes and Anthony Adragna.
WASHINGTON, D.C.--New York and environmental groups told BNA June 17 they will not immediately sue the Environmental Protection Agency for missing a deadline to issue a final carbon dioxide performance standard for new fossil fuel-fired power plants, in light of reports that President Obama plans to take action in July to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
New York and three environmental groups--the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Environmental Defense Fund--in mid-April sent EPA separate 60-day notices of intent to sue over the agency missing its statutory deadline for issuing the final rule (75 ECR, 4/18/13).
Although New York and the advocacy groups could begin filing their lawsuits in federal district court in mid-June, they said they do not intend to do so immediately.
"Due to public reports that the President will be announcing major action on climate change very soon, the Attorney General has decided to postpone a lawsuit on this matter for a short period of time," Melissa Grace, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, told BNA in a statement June 17.
Similarly, David Hawkins, director of climate programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told BNA in a statement June 17 that the group "has noted the recent reports that the President may have an announcement soon regarding some significant actions on climate. We want to see what the President announces before we decide what legal steps are appropriate."
At closed-door fund-raisers during the past few weeks, the president has been telling Democratic Party donors that he will unveil climate proposals in July, according to people who have attended the events or been briefed. Final decisions about the specific policies included in the president's package are still being made, according to a person close to the White House.
EPA proposed a new source performance standard of 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour for all new fossil fuel-fired power plants April 13, 2012, and Clean Air Act Section 111 requires the agency to finalize the rule within one year (77 Fed. Reg. 22,392).
Unlike past performance standards, the proposed rule would require all new units to meet that standard regardless of fuel type. While EPA anticipates most new combined-cycle natural gas power plants would be able to meet the standard with no additional controls, it would require new coal-fired units to invest in expensive carbon capture systems. The rule is a priority for many states and environmental groups because finalizing it would trigger a Clean Air Act requirement to regulate emissions from existing power plants as well, the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to New York, several other states and cities sent EPA a notice of intent to sue in April--Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, New York City, and Washington, D.C. It was not immediately clear June 17 whether all of the states and cities plan to join New York in putting the lawsuit on hold.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported June 14 the White House had asked federal agencies including EPA, the Energy Department, and the Interior Department to develop plans for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and for helping communities adapt to the effects of global warming.
The agencies and the White House declined to comment on the report or did not respond to requests for comment June 17.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club told BNA June 17 they have heard the president has been reaching out to federal agencies ahead of the expected July announcement.
"Administration officials have been indicating that the President will soon make an announcement on climate," David Goldston, government affairs director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told BNA in a statement. "If that's the case, then one would expect the White House to be reaching out to the relevant agencies to develop a plan."
John Coequyt, climate policy director for the Sierra Club, said the top priority for the administration should be setting a carbon standard for new fossil fuel-fired power plants, and other priorities should include regulating methane emissions from natural gas infrastructure and releasing "overdue" energy efficiency standards.
"There are several very key authorities that the administration has not used yet that we are very much pushing them to implement," Coequyt said. "Every major Cabinet level agency has a role to play."
Climate action is likely to come from the president himself, Coequyt said.
"We need presidential leadership," he said. "The president has clearly put this on the radar. This stuff is not going to be hiding behind bureaucratic action when it's rolled out."
During his State of the Union speech Feb. 12, Obama called on Congress to pass a greenhouse gas bill, but he vowed to take administrative action if no legislation were passed.
"But if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will," Obama said
The timing of a potential announcement in July is uncertain in light of Gina McCarthy's pending nomination to be EPA administrator. Obama announced her nomination March 4, and a vote of the full Senate is not expected until at least July.
Howard Feldman, director of regulatory and scientific affairs for the American Petroleum Institute, told BNA June 17 that he does not expect the president to make an announcement until after the Senate votes on McCarthy's nomination.
"They don't want to do anything to jeopardize that nomination," Feldman said. "They want to make sure that nomination goes forward before they do anything."
However, Coequyt said the administration's climate announcement likely would happen regardless of the timing of McCarthy's vote.
"It seems that this is going to happen on a timeline that's independent of Gina's nomination," he said.
Contributing to this report was Lisa Lerer
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May 10, 2006
Finding a Small-Cap Strategy
Story Utilities
For small-cap traders, often wrestling with illiquid names, the advent of private crossing networks has been a godsend. That has certainly been the case for John Despotopulos. The head trader of Lee Munder Capital Group, a small-cap manager with $2.5 billion under management, has seen a surge in his desk's use of electronic trading.
In each of the last two years, 40 percent of Lee Munder's order flow has gone through electronic systems, both crossing systems and DMA. Three years ago the figure was 20 percent. With more buyside firms trading electronically, Despotopulos notes, liquidity in small-caps has increased on crossing networks.
"We're always trying to find the other side of a trade in order to reduce the impact," Despotopulos says, "and when there's more liquidity in these systems, we don't have to make that outgoing call to a broker. We can stay anonymous."
Despotopulos, a Lee Munder staffer since September 2000, began his financial career in the back-office of All-America Financial in Worcester, Mass. The buysider traded REITs at AEW Capital Management before moving to straight equities at Lee Munder.
The Boston-based Lee Munder uses Liquidnet, ITG/Posit and Pipeline. Liquidnet has been among the desk's top five brokers for the last two years.
"If you can trade with Liquidnet before going into the marketplace, before showing your hand to anyone else, that reduces the impact right there and lowers the overall execution costs," Despotopulos says.
At the same time that his three-man desk was embracing crossing systems, it was cutting back on its broker list. That's notable because firms that trade small-caps typically have large lists. In addition to the largest Wall Street brokers, Lee Munder uses a range of third-market and regional firms, as well as brokers that have heavy retail flow.
Last year Lee Munder's list included 100 firms, with the top 40 accounting for 90 percent of the volume. In 2004, the desk had relationships with 120 brokers. The top 50 brokers did 90 percent of the volume. Two reasons are behind the consolidation. First, commission rates are falling. And as research remains critical for small-caps, Lee Munder decided to concentrate its trading in order to be more important to the brokers it values most. "We need to get the calls we require from a research and flows standpoint," Despotopulos explains.
The other reason reflects a broader industry trend. "That's where the flow of our stocks has gone. Those top 40 are the more active brokers," Despotopulos says. "It's more of an industry consolidation than a Lee Munder consolidation," he adds.
Whenever possible Despotopulos and his colleagues trade with the research firm that provided the portfolio managers with the trade ideas. When they need to trade elsewhere to obtain best execution, they use stepouts. The firm also has a commission-sharing program with Lava Trading that enables it to pay independent research providers through Lava's sponsoring brokers.
"Relationships and communication remain key," says Despotopulos. "For small cap trading, we simply need the flow of information."
Lee Munder Capital Group Equity AUM: $2.5 billion Desk: 3 Traders Broker List: 100 Firms Avg. Comm.: 2.9 cents OMS: Eze Castle Software Trade Cost Analysis: In-House

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, September 28, 2009
There are a lot of reasons I love living in Tennesse. The mild winters and beautiful mountains definately make the list. But what I love most is Fall Harvest. Fall Harvest time is sort of like month long foreplay to Halloween (the best holiday in the universe). Everyone, from residental homes to local businesses, make spectacular displays of pumpkins, hay bales, and scarecrows. It's a celebration of fall, which is really very beautiful here. I know leaves turn colors across America at this time of year, but honestly, you haven't seen anything until you've seen an entire mountain of trees in all their orange, red, and yellow glory. It blew my mind the first year I lived here, and it still does ten years later. So although this pumpkin is small, we are proudly representing Fall Harvest.
Where'd my scarecrow run off to??
Posted by SillyShelly at 8:33 PM
2 comments:
Oh wait.....we can almost see it....there it is! As for your scarecrow, he'll come back when he is hungry.....they ALWAYS do!
- September 29, 2009 at 6:41 AM
- Poirier Family said...
small but cute. We need to get some pumpkin for our house, but I think we will go bigger!!
- September 29, 2009 at 6:31 PM
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Presenting OUR NEWEST PUBLICATION:
Charles Reynard"s poems are informed by his experience as a judge in the Illinois 11th Judicial Circuit and by his earlier service as State's Attorney (chief prosecutor), in McLean County, Illinois. The 14 poems in this collection present fresh and deeply moving insights into the love, loss, grief, and capacity for compassion and spiritual growth that shape the human condition. Stylistically, they are characterized by economy, clarity, and precision of language.
For more information about The Utility of Heart Break, click here.
Also RECENTLY PUBLISHED:
James W. Rivers is a poet whose keen psychological insights pierce straight to the marrow of human experience. The poems in this final collection, assembled and edited by Rivers shortly before his death, expand on themes that have concerned him throughout his writing life: courage and fortitude in the face of adversity, the enormity of coping with personal loss, and the ironies inherent in the perceptions of reality by divergent worldviews. Rivers accomplishes his poetic affirmations with wit, brilliant metaphor, and a consummate economy of means.
A book we think you'll enjoy and will wish to discuss with others who've read it.
Cadenza - a technically brilliant passage for solo instrument in a concerted musical work.
Suspense! Humor! Puzzles aplenty. This mystery will continually surprise readers with reversals of their assumptions and expectations.
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Visit our Showcase pages for poetry and prose selections from the Pikestaff Forum and Pikestaff Review.
We hope that you enjoy exploring the Pikestaff Press website. We welcome your feedback on its content. Contact us at the e-mail address posted at the bottom of the page.
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4 comments:
Oh lovely things - dresses, a cat, cheese, donuts, more beautiful dresses, polka dots and roses. Love all of it.ReplyDelete
Oh the satchel looks amazing as do the doc martens and the vintage crockery, and those beautiful bargain dresses. I'm drooling over these picsReplyDelete
I love everything - the Crown Lynn, the shoes, the dresses, the op shop list (I'd love a copy), the jewels, the netted basket (snap - I have just blogged about mine).ReplyDelete
Argh, so much amazing stuff I don't know what to comment on. I am super jealous of your cheap Cambridge satchel. The milk bottle brooch is awesome. Milk bottles are my favourite lollies. I love all the dresses. So much pretty.ReplyDelete
Thank you for commenting! If you require a specific answer to a question, you can find our email addresses on our 'about' page. xo


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Personalised care in both the NHS and social care must be the default position
Glen Garrod makes a case for implementing integrated personal budgets for patients with funding from health and social care to ensure an "integrated experience"
Revealed: Hundreds of children wait more than a year for specialist help
Hundreds of young people assessed as needing specialist mental health treatment have been made to wait more than a year, an investigation by HSJ can reveal.
Standalone community trusts meet safe staffing plans more often
One third of community hospitals missed their safe staffing plans every month for at least three years, HSJ analysis suggests.
New chief for mental health trust announced
Nottinghamshire Healthcare has appointed Dr John Brewin as its new chief executive after the retirement of Ruth Hawkins in September.
Trust cancels operations until Easter to 'reset' health economy
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust has cancelled all elective operations until 29 March to try to "reset" its health economy after the region declared a system wide black alert.
Health economy brought to 'complete operational standstill'
The Greater Nottinghamshire health economy has spent the weekend on black alert after bed shortages worsened and rising demand was said to be "worse than it was in January".
Major incident declared across whole health economy
The Greater Nottingham health economy declared a "business continuity incident" yesterday over a lack of beds in community services, which impacted discharges from Nottingham University Hospital Trust.
HSJ Awards 2017: Staff Engagement
The team initiated a culture change programme to improve the working environment for staff, empowering them to provide compassionate and high quality care for patients.
Exclusive: Consultancy firm avoids prosecution over use of restricted NHS data
A large consultancy firm has escaped prosecution over the use of restricted NHS data to win contracts, HSJ can reveal.
NHS funding concerns raised after patient's death
A coroner has raised concerns over the level of funding in mental health services following the death of a patient in the East Midlands.
Revealed: New oversight ratings for every NHS trust
Regulators have published proposed new ratings for every NHS trust that reflect the seriousness of the problems they face.
Bringing together innovation and clinical governance
Easing pressure on hospital and GP services is central to the work of the New Care Models Programme, with the prevention of ill-health top of the list
Hundreds left waiting for vital mental health assessments
Hundreds of patients are waiting more than two weeks to have vital assessments for psychosis treatment, HSJ analysis has revealed.
Out of hours provider to go into administration
An out of hours provider has been forced to end provision of services across the East Midlands after it announced it intends to file for administration.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare to 'buddy' special measures trust
PERFORMANCE: Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust has been appointed to 'buddy' Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, the first mental health trust to have been placed into special measures.


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A place for samplers lovers to meet, chat, share our stitching and Scarlet Letter samplers, support each other and appreciate the reproductions and original designs of Marsha Parker
Friday, 27 February 2015
Mastering Mary
4 comments:
- zenuwpees said...
I like this embroidery very nice Marie-Claire
- 27 February 2015 at 23:31
- Lydia Stevenson said...
Thank you for posting your progress and tutorials. The project is beautiful, and the photos are detailed. I enjoy reading your posts.
- 28 February 2015 at 14:59
- Heritage Hall said...
Splendiforous....You do Mary great
justice...and favor us all with
the tutorials and grand pictures..
Exquisite work....
- 4 March 2015 at 01:44
- Bethany said...
Wow, Nicola,
You are really doing a wonderful job, not only stitching Mary, but helping everyone else with their Mary Master Pieces. I think everyone is doing a wonderful job stitching and following a long.
- 6 March 2015 at 13:05
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Noted film critic David Thomson of The New Republic sets his sites on the small screen with an insightful essay about why Peter Falk as Columbo represents the kind of high quality mystery show that wouldn't stand a prayer of being put on the air today in TV's dumbed-down, politically correct environment. In fact it's impossible to imagine a leading character being allowed to chomp on a cigar without protests that the show was actively endorsing cancer. Click here to read
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By Bryan Smith
We should be suiting up to paddle, but the windows are chattering in their panes, threatening to succumb at any moment to the onslaught of freezing rain driven before a 30-knot gale. So instead of paddling, I push back from the dining room table and waddle to the overstuffed chair with a book. I'm engulfed in the story of a French princess marooned in Newfoundland for two years, perhaps on the same flinty island where I now sit in the comfort of the Quirpon Inn, once a lighthouse built over 100 years ago to guide ships through the perilous Straight of Belle Isle separating Newfoundland and Labrador.
The princess left in 1650, rescued by a surprised crew of European cod fishermen. Centuries earlier, Vikings came by way of Greenland and settled nearby at L'Anse aux Meadows. The Norsemen sailed away too, or else died off, a millennium ago. Today, visitors from Greenland arrive in the form of massive icebergs that dot the horizon each spring.
The four of us came to Newfoundland to paddle among these great ice mountains and record the experience for our new sea kayaking film Eastern Horizons. We've been here for nearly two weeks, focusing on two areas we were most likely to see icebergs—Quirpon Island and Twillingate on Newfoundland's central coast.
We timed our arrival for mid-May, the height of Newfoundland's iceberg season, but also a time when the weather is famously truculent, so we opted for the shelter of B&Bs and inns rather than a cold bivouac. It made for a softer adventure, one that provided a better experience of Newfoundland's renowned hospitality and quirky culture. We took full advantage of the large headlands, exposed coast, clear water and remote, wilderness character. The day-paddling approach also allowed each of us to paddle at our own level, despite very different levels of experience.
We had paddled from the mainland in fine weather four days ago, spending most of our time exploring the six-mile-long island in our sea kayaks. In addition to plentiful icebergs, the island boasts a succession of rugged headlands. And for kayakers who want to play, there are dozens of narrow slot passages, which the locals call tickles. But with the gale gathering force, I'm content to bide my time inside.
We choose to start in Twillingate because the experts said it offered the best chance to find both icebergs and sunshine in May, and as soon as our overloaded minivan crests the hill into town, we see the icebergs standing sentinel, shimmering in the sunlight.
The bergs began life in far-off Greenland, where snow had fallen over centuries and been compressed by its own weight into glaciers. The ice flowed slowly to sea, finally flaking off into the North Atlantic. The bergs then traveled south for three years on the Labrador Current to the Newfoundland coast, where they now sit grounded or bobbing in the swell.
Rising 200 feet above the surface, the larger bergs are more than 1,000 feet wide and weigh nearly half a billion pounds. They look more like islands than pieces of ice, but their remaining days are fleeting. Waves carve relentlessly into their flanks. An iceberg in its death throes is a thousand different shades of white and blue, its surface striped and dimpled and carved.
We hustle into our paddling gear, launching our boats with respect for the giant floating islands of frozen water. Paddling near icebergs is inherently dangerous; their shifting and calving can create falling ice—an obvious hazard—and with it, huge waves thick with debris. The general rule is to stay as far away as an iceberg is wide, or double its height—whichever is greatest. But it's difficult to resist the draw of something so stoic and peaceful. We answer the call of the siren, inching ever closer, and are rewarded with one of nature's eye-popping canvases—of blue ice weaving in and out of itself. The sound is artistry as well. The swell creates deep baritone bellows as it strikes and the melting produces a symphony of ominous sounds, from dripping water to high-pitched pops and hisses. It is a mournful song, as these great bergs are here at the end of their 10,000-year lives.
But the trance is also rudely broken each time we hear a pop or see a chunk fall into the water. Our adrenal glands pump a surge of excitement through our veins, a humbling reminder to keep our distance.
My wife Lise-Anne and I became filmmakers to live an adventurous lifestyle and share it with others. It has allowed me to pursue my passion for paddling for over 10 years, including several extensive expeditions. I like it big, I like it stormy and I don't mind beating into a headwind for 15 miles. Lise-Anne has been paddling for longer than I have—nearly 20 years. Most of her experience is on rivers though; the sea is a new environment for her and despite her rock-solid skill set, she's prone to seasickness. She also hates headwinds.
Our comrades in this venture, Phil Tifo and his partner Chelsea Manley, occupy the other end of the experience scale. He's an adventure photographer who made his name shooting snowboarders. His only experience with the sea comes from sailing and a couple of short kayak excursions in protected waters. Chelsea is a Southern California surfer girl with tons of time on the ocean, none of it in a kayak.
What Phil and Chelsea lacked in experience they made up with enthusiasm and camera skills, and because we were day tripping, we could paddle in places and conditions within their abilities. With paddling variety, cozy inns and noted hospitality, Newfoundland was the perfect destination for our mixed group. But that did nothing to soothe my craving for a long, challenging paddle. We had two weeks. Surely I could build my crew's confidence and notch at least one epic paddle this trip.
We get our chance sooner than that. After two days of perfect weather in Twillingate, the sky darkens and weather moves in. We listen on the VHF to a computerized voice that lists the precise location of 500 large icebergs, but the best information comes from two 50-ish local women we meet in the grocery store parking lot.
The smiling pair stop to enquire who we are, where we came from and to offer advice.
"You're not goin' out tere to toz hicebergs in toz canoes are you?" says the first lady.
"My lord love, you be careful," says the second. "Oh m'deer lord, tat water she's cold you know. And toz bergs are dangerous—tey roll over, ya know." The pair tells us they'd spotted the biggest iceberg either had ever seen, grounded near the town of Durrell not far to the east. We immediately decide to see for ourselves.
The weather report isn't good—rain and southeast winds at 10-15 knots. It suits me just fine though. Rain means a break from filming, and a chance for a longer paddle without being slowed down by cameras. The rest of the team has reservations, but I assured them that the hundreds of islets and tall headlands will provide shelter from the growing wind. We gather around the chart, which depicts a coastline ringed with 100-foot cliffs and a few protected bays to duck into. We decide on a six-mile run to Durrell, with Phil opting to drive ahead in the van for shots from high on the cape.
We shove off just before the rain, with a gentle swell under our keels and the village of Twillingate disappearing into the clouds behind us. I make frequent eye contact with Lise-Anne and Chelsea, and each time they flash bright smiles. For the first time in three days, the cameras are stowed and I can settle into a paddling rhythm. The seas build and the rain begins running down my forehead. We paddle in silence, taking in the coastline, peppered with bright outcroppings of polished granite, and the icebergs floating in the distance.
When we round the last headland before Durrell, we catch a view of the big berg the ladies had told us about, and the weather starts living up to the report. The wind is still building, and I know that the clapotis—standing waves caused by the steep shoreline—will increase considerably as we round the point. Almost instantly, my excitement turns to concern. A strange Newfy voice echoes in my head, "you be careful, oh m'dear lord."
I can tell by her body language that Lise-Anne is hearing the same voice. We group up and quickly decide to turn back to Twillingate. I hail Phil on my handheld VHF and ask him to meet us. The rain picks up and we slog on, our morale sinking and the big berg already a faded memory. When we reach Twillingate harbor we head straight to the pub.
The bar's neon sign flickers the lone word, "Canadian" dimly in the gloom. The other word, "Molson's," has burned out long ago. As we step into the warmth, a boisterous crabber immediately greets us. In our bright dry suits we couldn't be anything but tourists, and he soon invites us to see his boat and asked about our plans. We tell him that we're off to Quirpon Island next, pronouncing it Kweer-pon, which brings on a loud burst of laughter. "Ahh, you mean Khaaaaaaar-poon," the fisherman says, shaking his head at our accents. The owner seats us at a table with a view of the harbor and rattles off a list of options—pan-fried cod, deep-fried cod, halibut, Atlantic salmon and snow crab—all from sea, the source of life and livelihood here.
We stayed in the Twillingate-Notre Dame Bay area five days
and wouldn't have left if we hadn't arranged to meet Ed English, an outfitter, kayaker and owner of The Quirpon Lighthouse Inn on Quirpon Island. So we load four kayaks onto the minivan and drive 400 miles north, following the province's western shore through Gros Morne National Park. Ed, being a good Newfoundlander, is waiting patiently at the entrance to Quirpon, a hamlet of fishermen's houses on the extreme northern tip of Newfoundland.
Quirpon Island lays a short distance offshore. We unload the kayaks and set off for the inn, taking the long way around beautiful headlands, paddling far offshore and enjoying a gorgeous sunset. We land at dusk in a little cove and walk the remaining two miles to the inn, a converted lighthouse at Bauld Point, the northernmost part of the island. The landscape this far north is tundra-like, with low-lying brush and hundreds of little ponds scattered atop tall rocky headlands. The views are incredible both from the water and on shore with rocks tinted ochre to moss green, reflections of the sunset in the ponds, colorful berry bushes and young grasses.
The lighthouse was built in the late 1800s to guide ships through the Straight of Belle Isle separating Newfoundland and Labrador. Automation replaced lighthouse keepers in the 1970s, and in the 1990s, the government sold the buildings. Ed snapped up the magnificent piece of property, assembled a staff of friendly and hard-working folks from the nearby town and turned the battered lighthouse into a busy inn during the summer months.
Between the location and Ed's enthusiasm for the sport, this has to be one of the finest locales on Earth to base a kayaking vacation. Doris, Hubert, and Madonna cook, drive the boats, fix whatever is broken, tidy the house and bring guests whatever they need. Gerry is the inn's resident kayak guide, and becomes a very popular person when the humpback and minke whales arrive in June.
Over the next few days we paddle around a large iceberg, and when a strong offshore wind whips, we explore the sheltered side of the island. Quirpon's deep, clean shoreline allows us to feel the power of the Atlantic as it rises and falls up to 10 feet at time against the cliffs. We dub this phenomenon the "swellevator." The water is deep right to the shore and there is just the right amount of swell. The rides are exhilarating but not dangerous, and the team became more comfortable in the bouncy water. Chelsea, Lise-Anne and Phil are game to explore any swellevator or small surf I probe.
They also are becoming more adept at navigating Quirpon's many tickles, or narrow slot passages. Some of these narrow channels between Quirpon and smaller islands only fill with water during high tide, and the compression of the incoming swell often causes a wave to rise and break in the passage's narrowest point. A kayak is the perfect craft to explore these unique passages, but they aren't without dangers: in many of them, a capsize and failed roll could mean a difficult rescue, or a broken boat. So when Chelsea decides to probe a tickle just south of the inn, I position myself to dash in and help if needed.
After a quick nod my direction, Chelsea makes her move. She paddles forward with the swell, which gathered force. Ready or not, Chelsea begins to surf towards the exit. She executes the classic wobble to the right, wobble to the left, and whoa!-brace on the right. Then the wave passes beneath her and the tickle is calm again. She smiles in slow motion and loops back to try again. We haven't yet gotten all the footage we came for, and I haven't logged the 20-mile days I've been wanting to. But this moment is priceless, as Chelsea's smile told me she was hooked on the thrill and adventure of sea kayaking. That makes all the effort and energy to get here worth it.
The day after Chelsea's surf the storm comes in, and I hole up with my chair and book. The swell is building and the rain was battering the windows with such force it sounds like hail. I look worriedly out the window and Hubert reads my mind.
"Winds gonna shift to the North, means sun I bet by noon," he says with a smile. He's spent his entire life within 50 miles of here, and he's not wrong. After the weather clears on schedule the next morning, we set out on the big trip I've been hoping for.
The four of us and Ed decide to paddle around Cape Bauld to the most exposed section of the coast, where we'll explore a long tickle Ed calls the "whale's back." Phil has been eyeing several unique camera angles to capture the obsidian black conglomerate ridge forming the rock sculpture that resembles a humpback whale. If the team is feeling well, we may paddle a couple of miles offshore to the large, pinnacle-shaped iceberg that has been grounded there since we arrived. There's even the chance of a 15-mile paddle around the cape towards L'Anse aux Meadows, where the remains of sod houses mark the Viking's presence on these shores 1,000 years ago.
Launching from the beach, we instantly feel the power of the Atlantic and the force of the cool northerly breeze. We push on. As we approach the cape, the wind has built to a solid 15 knots, the sky is clearing and the water near the point is covered in whitecaps. I coach Phil through the crux—just relax, I say. Let the boat move under you, breathe deep. We get around the point and move into a narrow tickle. Lise-Anne, Chelsea, and Ed sneak through the slot on a smaller set of waves, while Phil and I wait for a bigger set to clear.
We see a window and go for it, but soon after we pass the point of no return it becomes clear that we've misjudged the waves. A massive roller bears down and rises up as it funnels through the tickle. Phil tries gamely to paddle over the top, but the wave pushes him backwards and flips him violently in the whitewash. I rush in, and as Phil bails out of his boat I shout at him to grab onto my bow and keep hold of his kayak. I back us both out, bracing and back paddling as more waves surge through. On the horizon, I can see another bigger set approach. Phil reads the urgency on my face, and within a minute we've managed an adrenaline-fueled rescue.
Phil, back in his boat, charges back out to the rest of the group. In the quiet on the other side, he looks at us all, his eyes wide and bloodshot and his smile uncontrollable. "I totally get why you guys are so into sea kayaking," he gushes. "I've never explored the ocean as intimately as this. I love it."
We don't make it as far as I would have liked. The weather worsens, the rain returns and we settle for several hours of bobbing around among the icebergs that had eddied out in Grandmother's Cove. The Viking village and the longer missions will have to wait until I return in July. Then the weather will have stabilized, the local kayakers will be out in numbers, the whales will be feeding on the abundant capelin and the coast will be covered in brilliant grasses and vivid wildflowers. For now, we're all content to return to the inn, accept a steaming mug of coffee from Doris and reflect on one of the world's most magnificent kayaking destinations.


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Program Overview
Master of Science in Biology
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a wide variety of programs for students pursuing a Master of Science degree in Biology. Examples include: ecology and environmental biology, cellular and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, genetics, and anatomy and physiology.
The Department of Biological Sciences offers two master of science options: a thesis and non-thesis option. The requirements for each of these programs are different and are described fully in the Degree Requirements link.
In general, the thesis option degree is for students who are research oriented and wish to pursue a Ph.D. or work in a research oriented field upon completion of a Masters degree. Thesis students usually require 2-3 years to complete the degree. The minimum number of credit hours to earn the thesis option degree is 30. Letters of recommendations for Ph.D. programs will only be provided to Thesis option Masters degree students. Students pursuing the Non-thesis option are required to complete 36 credit hours for the degree. Thesis research hours are not required for the non-thesis option.
Available for use by graduate students is cutting-edge teaching and research equipment located in the Biology Building, including molecular biology laboratories, a roof-top greenhouse, plant and animal collections, a vivarium, and a comprehensive electron microscopy center. The Department also maintains a separate Horticulture Center and actively utilizes the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station located on an island in Pass Manchac between Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain.


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Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Imaginary places or the real thing? The Art of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside #Giveaway
13 comments:
When it comes to a setting in a story i prefer an imaginary place.ReplyDeleteReplies
Usually, an imaginary place can be so much more, Linda.Delete
Art imitates life, Brenda! I understand the power of being inspired by our surroundings. Captivating excerpt. This is on my must read list!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you, Ash. I appreciate your comment.Delete
I enjoy both fictional and real settings, especially if the real place is one I've visited. Congrats on your release and wishing you many sales!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks, Ashantay. A well-rounded answer.Delete
Great excerpt Brenda. My daughter went to Flagstaff with the HS school in her Sr. year when we lived in Modesto, Ca and loved it. She said it was very beautiful. I like to choose real places and add my own town so I can design it the way I want to, but my characters sometimes visit real cities or towns in the area too.ReplyDelete
Hope to win!Replies
Good combination, Calisa. And good luck winning!Delete
I love how you've brought the character of the professor to life. He's so creepy.ReplyDeleteReplies
Oh good, Marlow, I want him creepy.Delete
What a good excerpt, Brenda! As far as settings, I like both. If I've been there, I enjoy the reminders. A fictional one allows me to visit a wonderful, imaginary one.ReplyDeleteReplies
The best of both worlds, Barbara!Delete
It was great being here today, Terri. Thanks for hosting me!ReplyDelete


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Location: Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Event: Yowie Sighting
Date: Sept, 2009
At around 5.30a.m. I witnessed some great gorilla/monkey hairy man here near my house. The smell was so strong smelling like fish. He is so huge and fast running, and hairy. I arise every morning at 4a.m and I load the truck early ready to do my run .
I must say he really is so frightening to me. He was eating something at the time of being so close to him, but he dropped what he was eating and ran as fast as the wind.
When it became daylight I thought I would go and look to see what he was eating, but it was gone - he must have come back for it and went again. When I went to look, I could still smell faintly the fishy smell, which indicated he was still around, - but the smell had gone from the actual house.
It was the ugliest monster with such an overpowering feeling I have ever seen, and so hairy, and muscly.
The picture someone else has put on the web is exactly as I seen it, so I will send you that picture, as I couldn't describe it better. I always doubted the reality of anything to do with the 'Pilliga Yowie' as named this as really it is such an unknown what-do-you-call-it.
© Copyright AYR
Australian Yowie Research - Data Base


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Congratulations to the Khronos Group for raising the VR flag to lead the VR industry into a beautiful future. As we all know, now the VR industry, whether hardware or software fragmentation is very serious. For example, there is no optical standard optical. HMD structure design does not have a guiding standard. If you've been to Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen you will understand why Khronos' work is so necessary and urgent.
Yuandian-VR is a start-up VR has two years of the company, at the beginning of the design of VR products, regardless of the optical part of the structural design, or one machine, because there is no reference standard design ideas and inspiration in addition to many Self-correcting in practice comes from Sensics and OSVR, members of Khronos. So there is no such as our entrepreneurial companies so eager to lead the VR industry like Khronos Group bigger and stronger. Truly hope that the Open VR API 1.0 proposal to every one ASAP.


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Barely Conscious Podcast Episode #36 – Content vs. Messenger feat. Josh Johnson
In this episode, Justin talks to Daily Show and Tonight Show writer and comedian Josh Johnson about really examining the content of a message versus just judging the delivery system in which it might be packaged.
You can check out what Josh is up to HERE
And here's Josh performing on The Tonight Show


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Llwyngarreg is a 3 1/2 acre garden in West Wales, right on the Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire border. It was started by Liz and Paul O'Neill in 2000.
Their objective has been to create the right niches (they are both biologists) to grow the plants they admire and to try to do so in an aesthetically pleasing way. They grow a lot of plants which should do well in wet mild West Wales; Rhododendron, Acer, Primula, Bamboos, Meconopsis, Magnolia and some which have been a surprise: Dierama, Agapanthus, Tigridia, and Colocasia. They have grown a lot of plants from seed and continue to do so.
If you visit please do not expect to see a completed garden; it will never be finished! They enjoy making sculptures and structures out of living willow which children can enjoy along with the swings.
Wildlife has increased immeasurably as the garden has developed, most of it welcome, some merely tolerated!
Adults £3.50 and children free.
Well done to Pembrokeshire for securing 12 Blue Flags for 2017! http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/latest-news/may-2017/pembrokeshire-award-winning-beaches-2017/


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At Lyndhurst Infant School we use the 'Letters and Sounds' program as the basis for our phonics teaching. This splits the different aspects that need to be taught into 'Phases'. An overview of what is taught in each phase can be found here. Alongside this, EYFS also use the Letter Land characters and stories to introduce phonics in a fun and exciting way to the children.
In the Summer term, Year 1 children are required to sit the 'Phonic Screening Check'. This is a short reading test made up of phonically decodable words, some of which are real and some of which are 'alien' or made up words. This 'Sound Families Mat' shows the main di- and trigraphs that children will need to recognise and read as part of a word. If your child is currently in Year 1, further information will be sent home.


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With great excitement, we have been waiting for the launch of the New Xophoria™ Cacao Based Neurocosmetic Anti-Aging Cream for men and women. The results are promising and this is the first neurocosmetic skin care cream in the country. Details about the Xophoria™ line came directly from the ColdPressedChocolate.com retail site where you can order. "With Xophoria™, Xoçai® has once again advanced the science of isolating the essence of the cacao bean by creating the first-of-its- kind, cacao-based, anti-aging skin care product line. Xophoria™ is a completely unique system that neutralizes free radical damage, replenishes the skin with essential nutrients, and provides all the natural goodness of cacao and other ingredients to help you look beautiful, enhance your mood, feel more confident, and enjoy a rejuvenation of health and well-being."
My husband and I started using the Xophoria™ anti-aging cream on Saturday, March 30th. The picture below is before Xophoria™, we are taking weekly photos to show the benefits you can expect to see. Join us as we improve how we look and feel. Preferred customers can order the new Xophoria™ for $129.95 shipped. (not including tax) Even better, as a preferred customer you are eligible for a free product every 3rd month for the first year when you participate in the subscription rewards promo by ordering automatically each month. (cancel or make changes at any time)
For those who see the value in a Xophoria™ Home Based Business, please feel free to contact me for the details. I am Lynette Henk, Xophoria™ Anti-Aging Consultant and promoter. I can be reached directly at 941-216-5727, [email protected] or at TiredOfBotox.com. I am looking for a few more Business Builders for our team and will help you set up a free blog, website and more. Don't miss out!
Preferred Customers receive a 20% discount and free shipping on their order at the Xophoria™ Preferred Customer website, ColdPressedChocolate.com. Please call 941-216-5727 for any questions or expert advice.


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adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2
The adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2 is one of the most popular Yeezy shoes ever made. It features an elastic Primeknit upper and a BOOST midsole, while the most recognizable detail is the ribbed midsole. First releasing in September of 2016, the Yeezy Boost 350 v2 has gone on to be the best-selling adidas Yeezy shoe so far, with several colorways having released and restocked to date.
The most recent adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2 releases include the "Triple White" (September 2018), Zebra (November 2018), Sesame (November 2018), and Static (December 2018). The next known release is the "Glow In The Dark", which is set to release sometime in Spring 2019.
price / $220
aftermarket price / $260-$1200 (depending on color)
Yeezy Buying Guides + Info (Check for restocks):
12/27: Yeezy 350 "Static" Buying Guide
Yeezy 350 Release Dates


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Another cute rubber stamp from the "Lovely Lulu" collection from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. This week the challenge on their blog is a sketch. You can see the sketch by visiting the K.K. blog.
I've used a lot of dies on this card. The layering and scroll work are dies by Memory Box. One is called Debutante Frame and the other is Vaudeville Frame. The flowers are a die also by Memory Box (Petal Party). The white frons are a die by Marianne Designs, and the faux crochet border is by MFT. I embossed the black background with a Hearts folder by Darice. It's hard to see it in the picture! The sentiment is part of the Lulu collection. Last but not least the butterfly is a punch by Martha Stewart.
I hope you've been enjoying your week-end. It a balmy 26 C. here, and no humidity!! Thanks for stopping by.
Kraftin' Kimmie – #129 Sketch.
By The Cute And Girly – Spring Is All Around.
Lexi's Creations – #65 Black and White Plus One Color.
Card Makin Mamas – #45 May Flowers.
Crafty Catz Weekly – #133 Let's Hear It For The Girls.
Fairy Tale Challenge – #40 Things With Wings.
Crafty 4 Eternity – #72 Wonderful Wings.
Crafty Ribbons Challenge – #19 Flowers.
Paper Crafting Journey – #9 Black Plus One.
The Sisterhood Of Crafters – May Flowers.


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Monday, November 7, 2011
Giveaway Winner
Kelly. Congrats Kelly!! And thanks for all the lovely comments, I wish I could send something to everyone who commented, but at the moment I just don't have the time or the money. Why do I always forget how busy the lead up to Christmas can be?? Every year I say I will be more prepared next time, and then it sneaks up on me. Next year will be better....
Posted by Rhiannon at 9:24 AM
Labels: giveaway, Month of costumes
1 comments:
- cathy@home said...
well done on all your work everyday a new costume .
- November 14, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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IPF announces telecom rate changes for 2014-15
Sep. 18, 2014
Infrastructure Planning and Facilities will roll out its telecommunication rate changes for the 2014-2015 billing year to its campus customers starting with the September ledger (the telecommunications bill dated Aug. 25, 2014). Many service rates will have increases of less than 3 percent, be unchanged and in some cases will be lower. However, there will be larger increases for some services related to new agreements with both Comcast and AT&T.
Rate increases
Rate increases for all Centrex telephone lines: Centrex is an AT&T hosted phone service with a user-friendly interface, built-in redundancy and 24-hour monitoring and maintenance. IPF anticipates the Centrex rates may increase following the expiration of this new three-year agreement with AT&T in August 2017. IPF will research and explore options to migrate from these services over the next three years and will communicate with MSU departments regarding potential options.
Rate increases that average 6 percent for all Campus Entertainment Television (ETV) outlets: This is due to increased licensing increases from Comcast for the expanded channel line-up and one-time expanded equipment costs required at the campus edge.
Rate increases of less than 3 percent will apply for various services, including campus two-way radios and radio lease (non-800 MHz).
Rates unchanged
Rates that will remain unchanged include:
- Avaya PBX telephone lines
- Local calls
- National long distance
- Various installation/move rates for Centrex lines
Rate decreases
Rate decreases will apply for services, including fiber-optic strand rates.
For more information, contact IPF Telecommunication Systems Customer Support at (517) 353-5515.
MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities builds and maintains the physical environment for Michigan State University's education, research and outreach missions, and directs the university's campus sustainability initiatives and long-term infrastructure planning goals. The unit's experienced team of professionals keeps MSU running 24/7/365, delivering an immense menu of services and providing expert analysis for university objectives. Call (517) 353-1760 for emergency service.


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Friday, 27 March 2009
Life Drawing
The poses range from several 5mins poses up to one 20mins pose.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Luis Cook & The Pearce Sisters
As well as his film he also brought along his brilliant sketchbooks for us to look through. Luis told us he's a big fan of collecting things so his sketchbooks are full of strange collections of clippings and oddities. He also collects 'thumbprint portraits' so we all had a chance to make one for him (dip your thumb in ink, press it down on paper, draw your portrait inside the print). His sketchbooks are full of hundreds of these little portraits and we have the honour of going up alongside Ray Harryhausen who was the last person to do one!
As well as Luis visiting we've also been working on storyboarding for the past 2 weeks; doing lots of different exercises involving floor plans, viewfinders, shot lists, adaptations, etc. as many ways as possible of approaching a storyboard before we begin our own projects next week.
I've scanned in a couple of different things I've done.. First is a panel from our floor plan exercise, the entire board is too big to show but I really like the expression in this panel. The next image is breaking down an already existing film sequence into storyboards and last is a quick sketch I made at Marylebone station.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
NFTS Graduation Films
Yellow Belly End Directed by Philip Bacon
Today Only Directed by Toby Jackman
All the films looked amazing (it's always great to see how they develop from animatics and storyboards through to finished shiny polished films) A big congratulations to all the directors! If your planning on visiting any animation festivals soon then keep an eye for these films.
Also, you can see stills from the other brilliant animation films over at: http://www.nftsanimation.org/departments.htm
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Production Basket & Roald Dahl Museum
On another note we went to visit the Roald Dahl museum yesterday in the village of Great Missenden. Great Missenden is a quintessential English village, with lots of teashops and a tiny post office surrounded on all sides by rolling hills and fields, very relaxing and peaceful. Roald himself used to live there and you can see the influences for lots of his stories in the buildings and countryside. The museum itself is full of memorabilia from Roald and also lots of illustrations from Quentin Blake (another of my heroes) so very inspiring. On top of all that all children over 5 get a free 'Story Ideas Books' full of tips from Roald on how to write stories and technically since I am over 5 I got one as well!
Next week we begin our storyboarding workshops at school so lots of drawing and redrawing to do, I can't wait!


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- Home
- Beer
- Country
- New Zealand
- 8 Wired Brewing Co. Halfway To Whangarei Grissette
8 Wired Brewing
8 Wired Brewing Co. Halfway To Whangarei Grissette
Country: New Zealand
Brewery: 8 Wired
Style: Saison
Format: 500ml Bottle
Collaboration between 8 Wired and Modern Times brewery.
"Halfway to Whangarei" is our interpretation of the Grissette, the classic coal miners beer in 1800's Wallonia. Fermented with our own saison strain, a secondary fermentation from Modern Times' house strain of brettanomyces then given a modern lift from New Zealand Hops.
Strictly limited release.


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Dolphin Airways Flight Attendant Wing 1st Issue
Tampa, FL 1981-1984
When Dolphin Airways began flying in December 1981, it was instantly one of the largest commuter carriers in the Sunshine State. It initially served 14 Florida cities plus Savannah,GA and Charleston, SC. The airline, renamed Dolphin Airlines in 1983, abruptly ceased operations in January 1984, with many of its assets going to PBA.


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Federal University Gashua, FUGASHUA post UTME / admission screening exercise application form for the 2016/2017 academic session is out.
Latest Update: FUGASHUA Direct Entry Admission Screening Form – 2016/17.
Federal University Gashua, FUGASHUA has commenced the 2016/2017 admission processes into her various undergraduate programmes. Interested and qualified candidates are hereby requested to apply by following the process outlined below.
Federal University Gashua Admission Screening Eligibility.
Candidate must have chosen Federal University Gashua as First choice and score not less than 180 point for various faculties/ programmes.
How to Apply for Federal University Gashua Post UTME.
i. Go to the University website (www.fugashua.edu.ng)
ii. Under Prospective Student menu, Click on Apply online and click on Undergraduate or Direct Entry
iii. Enter your UTME/JAMB Number to create an account using a valid email address.
iv. After a successful creation of your account, login with your email address and password
v. Click on Edit Application to continue your application
i. The Screening fee is N2,500.00k and you are required to print your payment invoice from the school portal.
ii. All payment must be made through eTranzact Pin Vending to any branch of First Bank Nationwide.
iii. You will be given eTranzact pin or confirmation number after payment.
iv. Go back to the portal, under Prospective Student menu, select Returning Applicant Login, and enter you Username and Password.
v. Select e-Tranzact Pin Vending then click on "Select and Pay Fee".
vi. Then scroll to the bottom, enter the Invoice ID on the payment invoice and click verify.
vii. Your payment will be verified and you can print your Application Fee Receipt with your "Applicant ID". Please note that you have to quote the "Applicant ID" in all future correspondence with the School as regards your admission.
Payments for the registration start on Monday 29nd August – 16th September, 2016.
Portal for registration and printing of acknowledgement slip will be closed by midnight of 16th September, 2016.
The physical screening exercise will take place from 20th – 22nd September, 2016
Any candidate who fails to register for the screening exercise within the stipulated date will not be considered.
MSG Team.
If you think this post can be helpful to somebody else, please share it on Twitter, Facebook, G+, Whatsapp or Email it to friends. There are buttons below for this (easy to use too)!


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We've been in Mexico nearly a month now, long enough to have allowed the culture to sink in and to formulate some thoughts on my time here.
This isn't the first time I've been to Mexico. I backpacked here for a while a couple of years ago in Mexico City, Guanajuato, Michoacan and the Yucatán peninsula. I did this mostly alone and using mostly local buses and to be honest I didn't read too much into safety issues at the time. I just used my common sense and needless to say it worked out just fine. This time I read a little more and while I like to keep things in perspective wherever I'm travelling, I must admit I did think more carefully about the route we've chosen to take this time.
We crossed at Tecate and after some confusion at the border - basically they let you ride right on through without doing any paperwork, stamping your passport or getting your tourist card if you so wish - headed for Ensenada. It was only because I knew I had to cancel my Esta visa card that I walked back through in the opposite direction, much to the confusion of the US border agents, who promptly discovered I'd been given the wrong visa waiver card in Washington and so added another half an hour to the charade. Our plan was to head down Baja before catching the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan.
Upon arrival in Ensenada my mood went from mildly irritated (mostly because it was so damn hot and just stopping at traffic lights was like sitting in a sauna with five layers of clothes on) but also because all the things that pissed me off about Mexico came flooding back. We haven't been searching out accommodation in advance on this trip, just showing up in a place and looking for a place to sleep. Our timing was totally wrong on this occasion, we'd arrived mid-Baja 1000 race, too late to really see any of it but not too late for opportunistic hotel owners to hike their prices five fold in the hope of catching a few mugs willing to pay. Everywhere we went the neon signs outside shouted between 200 and 240 pesos for a room, yet upon enquiring we were quoted as much as 1400 pesos for a night. This was just about the last straw for me and I turned into bitch from hell (sorry Evan!) until we finally found a nice enough little place on the way out of town for a reasonable price.
A word on where we've been staying - it's a difficult one to get the balance right on when there are two people travelling together. I really like the social side of staying in hostels, but it makes no sense price-wise when there are two people. Pretty much everywhere we've been the price of two dorm beds is significantly more than a motel room. Just tonight for example, we asked first at the hostel by the dock for a price on a private room - 500 pesos with a fan, 700 with aircon. Fifty yards across the road we found a local tienda-owned motel type room with a ceiling fan (admittedly no wifi or toilet seat though) for 200 pesos. And the rather large cockroach on the floor was already dead, which was another plus.
Baja was pretty cool though. Not stunningly beautiful as I was expecting it to be, but it has a charm. We ate fish tacos for most meals and met some lovely people, such as Emma and Glenn from Merritt, BC who we crossed paths with several times, and later Sandy and Denyse with their old car, Edgar, heading back to Kelowna, BC. By day we rode increasingly further south, doing our best to avoid the variety of dead things on the road - tires, horses, cows, dogs, boars, even an armadillo. There were plenty of live versions of a few of those things too and they were a little more unpredictable.
We eventually arrived in La Paz and after three attempts to figure out our ferry crossing to Mazatlan we finally managed to get on a Sunday sailing. On our first visit the ticket office was closed for the day. The second time they had electrical failure in the TVIP issuing office, so we had to sit around for 3 hours to get our import permits, only go discover that the ferry that night had been cancelled due to the impending hurricane. This gave us ample time to explore the rather touristy La Paz and go marvel at the sheer number of shoe shops that occupy it, along with shops selling watches and calculators (?). We checked out the motorbikes for sale in Sears, drank mojitos and ate lots more tacos and very soon were well and truly ready to move on again.
The ferry crossing was OK as ferry crossings go. We left late and arrived even later. The bit in the middle was filled with chatting with the other bikers on board, eating the inclusive meals and watching movies with a disaster-at-sea theme in Spanish. Oh, and sleeping. Another guy, a Canadian on a KLR, kindly offered us a bed in his cabin, which was something of a godsend for Evan who struggled with seasickness from about 20 mins after the boat left port until we docked again in Mazatlan.
From Mazatlan we rode mostly along the free Mex 15 road to Tepic and then on to Jocotepec and then down into Patzcuaro in Michoacan. The plan was to stay here a couple of nights and then head towards the big, bad city to visit some friends but unfortunately we both crossed paths with some dodgy pollo asada on the way to Patzcuaro and ended up unable to be more than ten feet from a toilet for a solid 48 hours. It wasn't pleasant and we still don't feel 100% even after trying half a dozen different remedies and a couple of weeks having passed. It hasn't helped that we both now have very bunged-up heads from the time we've spent in the city, especially riding for hours in traffic fumes. The smog in Mexico City really is awful and coupled with the altitude there, isn't pleasant at all. Luckily we stayed just outside the main city in La Era.
All the way down Baja we met people who looked at us aghast when we said we were going to cross to the mainland, like we'd just announced we were going to throw ourselves to the lions. To be honest, when enough people react like that it does start to make you wonder if you're being too laid back about the risks. What we've found though is exactly what I experienced the last time I was here. Friendly, curious locals who on the whole are happy for us to be here and beautiful countryside. In areas less frequented by tourists a few people eye us suspiciously, but that's fine. If I only had a better grasp of Spanish (something I am trying to resolve) then I'm sure the ice would be easily broken. But contrary to popular belief, no banditos hiding behind every tree or cops chasing us around for easy money. The scariest thing we've encountered so far is a cow standing in the road and a few deceptively high topes!
That said, I'm well aware that the situation in some parts of the country is volatile and can change very quickly, but to the people making comparisons to war-torn countries and exclaiming that people are idiots who risk their lives by visiting Mexico, please don't comment unless you have personal experience. We've found that most of the people dishing out the advice don't. I'll admit that it was a little disturbing to hear of the sad fate of the two Australian surfers a couple of weeks ago just as we arrived, even more so to read about it while we were only 70km away from where their van was discovered on virtually the same route we were taking, but these kind of things happen in every city in the world every day and the full story is rarely known. What we do know is that they broke two of the cardinal rules - they drove at night and they tried to defend their property. To do either of these things in the area they were in was foolhardy in the extreme and sadly for them it didn't work out. I'm glad that we didn't decide to skip the places we've been to, or race through on the cuotas, and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of this country as we head south.
What has surprised me most is how few tourists we've seen. Last time I was there Patzcuaro was full of tourists and this time we saw maybe three non-Mexicans. Same on Janitzio and everywhere else we've been as far as Oaxaca City. It's really sad that people don't come because Mexico has so much to offer.
As some of you may have seen already from a Facebook post I made a couple of weeks ago, riding in Mexico is like being in a real life version of the old Atari game 'Paperboy'. You constantly have to dodge missing manhole covers, dogs, rocks, potholes, even firemen standing in the middle of the dual carriageway collecting donations! And of course the highest, most unnecessary speed bumps you could possibly imagine. They're everywhere, even going up steep hills. Miss one and you can catch air, that's how vicious they are. The skid plates on the bikes have paid for themselves many times over. It's no different as a pedestrian either, you're just playing 'Frogger' instead. The most streetwise creatures on the streets are the dogs - to see them flit between the cars is quite amazing.
I was going to say that the worst we've had it when it comes to riding in urban areas was Mexico City, but actually I think getting out of Oaxaca City was worse. At least in Mexico there are lanes; in Oaxaca it's a free for all, a traffic version of the Black Friday frenzy. Also, we've both been bumped by other drivers since we left Mexico City - Evan by a truck that hit him from behind at a road toll booth and me, by a car that obviously didn't see me at a junction in a little town and pulled out into my side. I accelerated away as I saw him coming at me so he only hit my case before driving off without stopping, but apparently he lost his indicator so he came off worst. Luckily neither of us sustained any damage.
Mexico City was fantastic, as always. I was a bit apprehensive about riding into it, but in actual fact it wasn't so bad, despite a bit of a baptism of fire on the way in. We met Garry, our tentspace host, at a BMW garage just outside the city and a plan was made to follow him the last 45 mins to his house in the south of the city. Not long into the journey, already made more difficult by the luggage we were carrying making it impossible to lane split, we happened upon an accident that was blocking the dual carriageway ahead of us. Patience isn't a Mexican trait, so all at once everyone started turning their vehicles around in the road and heading back the wrong way. Garry and Evan managed to get through but by the time I had space to turn the road was well and truly gridlocked. I squeezed my way through a certain distance and then could go no further. We waited a bit and then everyone decided it might be clear now and started to turn around a second time. This meant that I had to verbally fight my way past several people who had appointed themselves traffic wardens in order to continue heading the wrong way in the hope of finding Garry and Evan again. It wasn't long though before people found the road still blocked and turned a THIRD time! Absolute chaos.
We survived though and went on to spend a fantastic week staying with Garry, his wife Yvonne, son Lloyd, daughter Lesley and granddaughter Emily (as well as pitbull, Olympia, whom Evan got quite attached to). Yvonne's mother lived upstairs, so there were four generations living in the household. We spent the week visiting various museums and historic buildings in the city. We went up the Latin America tower for a view over the city 30+ floors up. We walked the markets, we wore ourselves out.
Perhaps the highlight for me, and it was a totally unexpected one, was the Soumaya Museum. A modern building housing the art collection of one of the richest men in the world, both the exhibits and the building itself were breathtaking. I've never seen so many Dali sculptures in one place, not to mention examples of the work of pretty much every notable European artist/sculptor of the past two centuries. We followed this with an unplanned visit to the Antara Fashion Mall for dinner (actually we were just trying to satisfy a sushi craving). Christmas was in full force there complete with fake snow foam blown from the roof, in fact we could have been in any first world city at that moment in time.
Our week ended with a trip to watch the wrestling with Garry and Lloyd. Great fun, theatre at its best, even if there was no midget wrestling on the bill as we'd hoped. Thanks Garry for your wonderful hospitality. We'd never have been able to do half the things we did if it hadn't been for you opening your home to us as you did.
So now we're on the southern coast of Oaxaca having spent a couple of nights near Teotihuacan and another in Oaxaca City, which was surprisingly bustling for a Monday night. We rode down a horribly twisty road for 250km yesterday and another 200km today to get here, both of which took all day. There were some cool little towns along the way and some stunning views which made it worthwhile, but I'm afraid I'm still firmly of the view that mile upon mile of twists and turns, especially when the road surface is bad, are tedious. I know most other riders will disagree with me on that, but honestly, I can take or leave them. It didn't help that my head is totally blocked up from traffic fumes and I have the promises of a nasty head cold brewing, so I've been feeling very lightheaded all day. Evan still isn't right either after the dodgy chicken episode either so I think we'll hang out here for a couple of days. We've found a cheap little hotel owned by some very sweet people who happily allowed us to ride the bikes through the front reception and park them in the courtyard out back.
Today has been a day of laundry, mailing stuff and generally sitting around dealing with the 32 degree heat and drinking agua frescas. Tomorrow we're going to set off further along the coast in search of beautiful beaches and hopefully turtles. I'm looking forward most to the clean(er) sea air. Who knows what we'll find, but then that's all part of the adventure.


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Chicken breasts stuffed with squash blossoms and queso panela and served with a spicy mango sauce. A great combination of flavors.
Gazpacho is a traditional cold tomato-base recipe from Spain. Here's a recipe based on that concept but using mango as the main ingredient that will keep you cool in the heat of summer.
Chilaquiles is a typical Mexican breakfast made with tortilla chips bathed in green or red salsa and served with eggs, this recipe adds scarlet runner beans
The benefits of eating beans are many. Use them to make different vegetarian dishes such as this bean stuffed zucchini dish.
There's evidence that beans were a fundamental part in the diet of pre-Colombian civilizations. They're still a very important part in Mexico and they can be used in many different ways, such as this risotto dish.
Want a delicious and simple dessert recipe? Try these baked figs with rompope sauce. It is a decadent dessert.
A delicious soup using two very Mexican ingredients: squash flowers and corn.
Delicious meaty and spicy refried beans using heirloom beans.
At around $1 US dollar a piece this chile is almost a luxury in the city. But paying that "high" price is worth every Mexican penny. The flavor is unlike any other chile I've had before. From the moment you pick it up the strong smoky smell (that reminds me of campfires and wood ovens) promises a great taste.
Risotto with a delicious Mexican twist. Poblano peppers add a lot of flavor and mild heat any dish.


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Why selecting the right genetic strain is crucial for your marijuana cultivation success?
Everyone who is cultivating marijuana can be successful but not everyone is successful and why. There are many reasons why people are not successful with their marijuana cultivation efforts. One of the main reasons that makes people less successful in their pot plant cultivation will be discussed here so that you do not make that mistake when you are cultivating your own weeds at home
When people set out to grow their own marijuana, what they fail to do is to first review their needs or have complete understanding of their own preferences. They just blindly go ahead to buy some random seeds and some random strains such as hash strains. You can select any genetic strain of your choice but the selection should be based on some rationale. Why are you selecting hash strains instead of white strains? You should be clear with your reason. Hash strain is good and so are white strains but what is good for one person may not be good for the other person. So it is important to be clear with what you are selecting and why you are selecting.
One of the things that you could do is to first make a thorough research on different genetic strains. When you are going about making such a research, you should pay attention to factors such as the suitability of cultivating cannabis in a specific geographic terrain. All the plants will grow well in a particular setting. You would have noticed what grows well in plans does not grow well in the hill station and vice versa. In other words the geographic settings play a very important role. You will be able to find out such information only when you make an initial research and only when you invest time trying to learn about such factors. Selecting seeds or genetic strains that does not meet your requirements and seeds that do not fit the geographic terrain could result in a disaster. This is where you will need to be cautious and this is what differentiates a successful cultivator of cannabis and someone who is not successful with their cultivation efforts.
If you are too confused and if you do not have time for an elaborate research, what you could alternatively do is to go for mixes & collections when you are buying your seeds. What is the advantage of ordering mixes and collections? You will be able to try multiple varieties of seeds all at once. Instead of growing one genetic strain after the other trying to learn about the characteristics of each type of marijuana, you can speed up the whole process by trying multiple varieties of seeds and gain vast experience within a short span of time.
The point here is to learn how to pick the best suited genetic strain for your needs. The genetic strains that you select should help you get the best yield and also meet your specific taste and preferences.


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Empower people to take control of their personal digital information
James Williams <[log in to unmask]>
James Williams <[log in to unmask]>
Mon, 8 Jan 2018 11:58:25 +0000
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Facet Publishing have announced the release of The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving, edited by Brianna H Marshall
Academics and the general public alike need help managing the digital information they create and save every day. But how can librarians and archivists translate their professional knowledge into practical skills that novices can apply to their own projects? The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving helps information professionals break down archival concepts and best practices into teachable solutions. Whether it's an academic needing help preserving their scholarly records, a student developing their data literacy skills or someone backing up family photos and videos to protect against hard-drive failure, this book will show information professionals how to offer assistance.
Featuring contributions from experts working in a variety of contexts this practical resource will help librarians, digital curators and archivists empower people from all walks of life to take charge of their personal digital materials. Key coverage includes explanations of common terms in plain language, quick, non-technical solutions to the most frequent user requests and guidance on how to archive social media posts, digital photographs and web content.
Marshall said, "From the outset, my intention has been for this book to be used as a primer for information professionals who haven't been quite sure how to approach personal digital archiving (PDA) yet. My hope is that they become not just informed but also excited to pass along critical skills that will help equip members of their communities to have a less painful and more fruitful PDA journey. I am convinced that sharing even simple principles for how to store, share, and preserve digital objects will benefit our users in both their personal and professional lives. The chapters are intentionally practitioner-focused so that after finishing this book, readers will feel ready to start conversations and make amazing things happen within their communities."
More information: http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/title.php?id=302666
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Posted by
Zebra Global
April 14, 2015 at 7:04 AM
Zebra will participate in ISC West, the largest security industry trade show in the U.S. this week, from April 15-17 at Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. What can you expect from Zebra?
Zebra will demonstrate how our technology can help meet today's increasing need for service bureaus and governments to quickly set up and issue secure, reliable forms of identification, while improving the efficiency and speed of large print jobs.
Talk with Zebra's Software PartnersJoining us in our booth this year is Salamander, Intercede and Digion24.
The Salamander solution is a superior auto ID system that accounts for all personnel, verifies identities, and enhances situational awareness at an incident, emergency, or field event. The Intelligent Accountability solutions provide the ability to identify and track all participants of large-scale incidents - responders, victims, and volunteers.
Intercede's MyID® identity and credential management software enables organizations to create and use trusted digital identities for employees, citizens and machines. This allows secure access to services, facilities, information and networks.
Digion24 develops and manufactures contactless proximity encoders for card printers and secure inventory printer cabinets. Digion24's ProxReader II is used as an access control solution for Prox and iClass cards in the ZXP Series.
North America,
Latin America,


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Charleston is the oldest and second-largest city in the State of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline and is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, or, as is locally expressed, "where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean".
Charleston is known as The Holy City, perhaps by virtue of the prominence of churches on the low-rise cityscape.
For the fourth year, the readers of Conde' Naste Traveler voted Charleston the No. 1 U.S. City. Known for rich history, well-preserved architecture, a celebrated restaurant community and mannerly people, the city also ranked #2 in the World by Conde' Nast Traveler 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Let us show you the reasons we love this southern city.
Enjoy Your Day With Holy City Boat Tours Of Charleston. All Tours Available


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In OLAP mode, returns a list of records used to calculate a summary value for the current cell. Allows you to specify the columns to be returned.
Note: This API is now obsolete.
The CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method is obsolete now. Use the CreateDrillDownDataSource method instead.
public PivotDrillDownDataSource CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource(
List<String> customColumns
Public Function CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource(
ByVal customColumns As List(of String)
) As PivotDrillDownDataSource
To obtain the name of a column in a data source to which a pivot field corresponds, use the field's DevExpress.XtraPivotGrid.PivotGridFieldBase.OLAPDrillDownColumnName property.
If you call the CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method while an asynchronous operation is being performed, an exception will be thrown. To determine whether the operation is in progress, use the pivot grid's DevExpress.XtraPivotGrid.IThreadSafeAccessible.IsAsyncInProgress property. For more information, see Asynchronous Mode.
For MS SQL Server Analysis Services 2000, the customColumns parameter is ignored. In this instance, the CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method returns the granularity attributes.
A note for MS SQL Server Analysis Services 2005 and 2008. If the customColumns list is null or empty, the CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method returns the columns corresponding to the current column, row and data PivotGrid fields. In addition, it returns filter fields if a filter is applied to them. Otherwise, it returns the columns specified by the customColumns list.
If a filter is applied to a field, then that filter is taken into account if the corresponding drill-down column was returned from the server by the CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method.
The CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method is not supported for cells corresponding to calculated measures.
If multiple filter items are selected in a Filter Field, the drill-down data source cannot be created due to an MS SQL Server Analysis Services limitation. In this instance, the CreateOLAPDrillDownDataSource method throws an exception.


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As we incorporate technology into the classroom, this question warrants attention. To avoid answering it with a list of tools that a student must master, I propose we look to earlier definitions of literacy.
Walter Ong explains that, in the early stages of literacy, scribes simply translated oral speech into text, and well after printing became prevalent people still read out loud because they viewed reading "as primarily a listening process, simply set in motion by sight" (119). As print technology improved, it "produced books smaller and more portable than those common in a manuscript culture, setting the stage psychologically for solo reading in a quiet corner, and eventually for completely silent reading" (128). With silent reading came a "different relationship between the reader and the authorial voice" (120).
Furthermore, literacy gave "thought different contours from those of orally sustained thoughts" (94). In addition to favoring "left-hemisphere activity in the brain" and fostering "abstract, analytic thought" (89), print produced neatly bound, self-contained products that were seen as "independent of outside influence" (131) and thus promoted notions of originality and creativity.
As we transition into a digital culture, these concepts are once again in flux. "Reading" and "writing" online, which require the fusion of images and text as well as social and collaborative elements, are simply not the same as reading a bound book or writing uneditable text.
In order to answer, "What is digital literacy?" we first need to ask, How is the digital environment changing the relationship between reader and author? How does it change our views of originality and creativity? What kind of thinking and communicating does it foster?


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Bluefly Bingo Sweepstakes
Ended: 11/15/2011 23:59 ET(18+)
Play for a chance to win a daily hook-up & be entered to win a $10,000 shopping spree!
PRIZESGrand Prize is a $10,000 Bluefly shopping spree awarded as a Bluefly account credit.
Instant Win Prizes are $200 Bluefly shopping sprees awarded as a Bluefly account credit.
NOTESAdditional entries are available by referring friends.
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