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text:
Celtic Silver Plated Ring
- Brand: Hamilton & Young
- Product Code: HY-9155
- Availability: In Stock
A highly attractive Celtic Ring featuring a traditional Celtic knotwork design.
Crafted in the finest Silver Plate, it will delight lovers of all things Celtic, and the unique history of the Celts and their influence on our lives today.
Shipped to you in an attractive black velvet pouch, it will make an ideal gift, and a lasting memento, for yourself or for someone you love.
Available in sizes 6 to 10. Please select the size you want from the drop down menu.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|60 23/64 inches
|37-40.6 oz.
|39 3/8 inches
|4 high torque MG 9g servos
|Any 4 or more channel featuring V-tail programming
|4 channel compatible with the trabsmitter
|Turniby Nano-tech 3-cell 3300mAh LiPo
|70mm with 2223 3400kv brushless outrunner motor
|Fan Unit:
|5 Blade
|55A with BEC
|Available From:
I sought out the opportunity to review this plane because of its design and its many interesting claims in the promoted features, including the actual construction of the Zephyr's parts, the claim of super compressed EPO foam and the use of carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforcement. EPO foam is a popular building material for RC planes but for high performance it requires some method of stiffening to obtain acceptable performance. Different companies have come forward with different methods of obtaining the increased strength and stiffness needed for a high performance plane, and I find these methods very interesting. I also like the design looks of the Zephyr and am interested to see how she performs as a glider. I can imagine her performing well at the slope in the right wind conditions but will be interested to see if I can get her to climb in a thermal. I have several sailplanes of the same approximate wingspan that perform well but they are significantly lighter than the Zephyr. Lots to explore and discuss in what appears to be a fun to fly plane. Reminder: Double click on any picture to see an enlarged version.
Kit Contains
Required Building Supplies
The following list contains the features promoted on the Zephyr in ads and on the HobbyKing website. I will discuss some of these promoted items in more detail later as part of this report.
Promoted Features
Required Items not Supplied with Kit & Assembly Tools
Before starting assembly I gave all of the included parts from the kit a detailed visual inspection. I found all of the molded parts to be in good condition, clean, white and well-molded to shape. The foam felt like it was much more highly compressed then my other EPO foam planes, as advertised, and this made the wing feel stiffer then one might expect for how thin it was. Overall, the decals were nicely applied and smooth at the edges with just a couple of bubbles.
At first I thought the wing assembly came completed but further examination showed I had a couple of small things to do. Although the two aileron servos came installed in the wing and already connected to the ailerons with control rods, my servos were not glued into place so I did that with CA. The same was true for the plastic covers over the aileron control rods at the servos. I secured them in place with a little bit of CA. I loosened the control rods and bent the ailerons up and down about 20 times each to help loosen up the hinge line without weakening it (this is an important step to get proper aileron movement). Each wing half had the aileron servo wire running down inside a groove cut in the wing ending near the wing's center section. With the wing halves together, I plugged in the supplied aileron Y-harness into both aileron servo wires and ran the wires in the grooves in the foam and then up through the slot in the wing under the fuselage for the single connection wire. The Y-harness receiver connector was now on the top of the wing and ready to be installed into the fuselage when the wing was connected to the fuselage. I decided to secure the wires in place in the bottom of the wing using clear 3M plastic tape over the wires. I set the wing aside at this point and worked on installing the V-tail pieces onto the fuselage.
There were three small bubbles and one medium size bubble in the black decals on the bottom center of the wing (As seen above), and I corrected this situation with a pin. I made a small hole in the bubbles and pushed out the trapped air as can be seen below. The supplied wires and control rods all appeared to be in good condition.
I had two main foam tail pieces that serve as stabilizers and elevators/rudders. I loosened up the hinge line by bending the control surfaces up and down about twenty times each (again, don't skip this step). I then trial fitted the tail pieces into the back of the fuselage and came up with my plan for securing the tail pieces to the fuselage. The V-tail pieces get individually glued onto the fuselage itself and onto two plastic fins extending out to the sides from the fuselage. To make my final bond as strong as possible, I covered the back of the fuselage and sprayed the fins individually with kicker and let the kicker dry. At this point I checked the tail servos and saw that they were secured in place with screws into the fuselage.
When the kicker was completely dry I used medium thick regular CA and spread it onto the portion of one side of the V-tail that rests directly on the top back of the fuselage and on the molded outline on the piece that will be in contact with the plastic fin extending out the side of the fuselage. By using medium thick CA I had some working time with the tail assembly. I fit one V-tail piece in and pressed it firmly against the top of the fuselage and held that with one hand and then squeezed the fin extension and the tail piece together. Thanks to the Kicker I got a nice tight bond with the extension immediately. I held the top of the fin down so that the bottom of the fin was pressing firmly onto the top of the fuselage and held that for about a minute to make sure that the CA had a good bond. I then applied some CA to the foam where it was in contact with the carbon fiber piece that runs through the fuselage. I repeated the process with the other half of the V-tail only this time I had the medium CA on the bottom of the fin that would be against the fuselage and the side of the fin that would touch the first fin piece installed. When the second fin piece was properly installed, I sprayed on some Kicker and wiped away the excess. The tail pieces were now securely and properly fastened to the fuselage.
With the tail pieces now glued onto the fuselage as described above I used the supplied control rods to connect the servos in the back of the fuselage to the control surfaces on the V-tail. For the wing I held the two haves together and slipped the aileron servo Y-connector into the molded hole for it on the bottom of the fuselage. I then slid the two mounting posts into the holes for them on the front of the wing saddle and then secured the wing to the fuselage at the back of the wing with two supplied bolts as shown in the pictures below. The servo wires from the V-tail controlling servos came secured into slots in the side of the fuselage. I checked for any loose fittings and applied a drop of CA to secure a loose wire into place. I removed the screw holding the front of the fan cover in place and pulled the cover off. In addition to the screw it had four magnets holding it in place. I removed the cover to give me better access to the aileron Y-harness wire which I snaked into the back of the cockpit. I then reinstalled the fan cover. The wing is secured to the fuselage on the bottom of the fuselage. The wing was secured to the fuselage with two pins on the wing going into mounts on the front of the wing saddle and then two bolts in back going up through the wing into the fuselage. I have been leaving the Zephyr assembled and transporting it ready to fly. However, if I had to transport it in two pieces the wing is pretty easy to remove and reattach at the field. I plan on leaving the wing halves assembled together even in storage. Time to install the receiver and program my transmitter.
I used a six channel receiver in my Zephyr but only used 4 of the channels. I connected the ESC wire to the throttle channel, the Aileron Y-harness to the aileron channel and one rear servo to the elevator channel and one to the rudder channel. There is very little wire in the cockpit from the tail servo so 3" extensions can be used to make the connecting to the receiver easier. A friend had used a short Y-harness in his Zephyr to connect both of the rear servos together into the elevator channel and flies his Zephyr with just three channels using throttle, elevator and ailerons. As stated above I used both the rudder and elevator channels on my receiver and then programmed my transmitter for V-tail. The programming was very easy.
Getting the plane properly balanced front to back for the proper C/G is very important. Selecting the right size and weight of battery is important in achieving this proper balance. I am using a Turnigy Nano-tech 3-cell 3300mAh size battery pack and it is a very tight fit in the cockpit. As shown below in pictures I glued a strip of Velcro that I supplied to the bottom of the cockpit. I placed the matching Velcro on the edge of the battery as the battery pack is too wide to fit in flat in the small cockpit. I had to add a small piece of weight with the battery pack to balance on the C/G. I have the receiver in the very back of the cockpit and I have the ESC secured to the side of the cockpit as shown in the pictures below. I have decided to stay with a 3-cell pack in flying my Zephyr. I am happy with the performance I am getting. I have two Turnigy Nano-tech battery packs that fit the Zephyr. I would have to add a lot more ballast to the cockpit if I tried to use my 3-cell 2200mAh packs.
A friend in Modesto is using a four cell pack to get more speed but at full throttle in a dive he gets a lot more flutter in his wings than I get with my Zephyr and that battery may require motor replacement at some point due to the higher voltage being used.
I have set my plane up for four channel control with throttle, ailerons, rudder and elevator using V-tail mixing. I am using a three cell battery as that is what the plane was designed for and high speed runs on one using four cells was causing wing flutter while I have had very little flutter and only in high speed dives. I have balanced my plane on the recommended C/G making certain the balance point was not in back of the C/G position as tail heavy can cause problems (Better a little nose heavy then tail heavy.).
With no wheels all flights have been at fields with some grass. The instructions strongly recommend against tossing the Zephyr forward with the motor off in hand launch. They recommend full throttle for launch. I am already hearing impaired so I put cotton in my right ear before running up the motor and making a strong forward hand toss at or just slightly above half throttle. I do not throw my Zephyr up I throw it level forward level with the ground with the wings level as well. I do not lightly toss my Zephyr. I throw it hard and level. Once I get my right throwing arm back on the transmitter I climb to altitude. If I have a friend with me I ask him to throw or hold the transmitter while I throw the Zephyr forward nice and hard. Following these steps launching the Zephyr has been without problems. One launch for shooting the video the throttle was not on full, and we had an immediate landing.
For my landings I use a three leg approach just as I would when flying a full size plane. I fly downwind, crosswind and then turn onto final slowly lowering speed and bringing her down smoothly to a slide on the grass landing with a very slight flair just before touchdown with power going off at that time. Most of my slides have been nice and straight but some have had a wing tip on one side catch a bit and turn my Zephyr but so far without any damage. I very strongly recommend against making any turns really near the ground when landing. Smooth and level is the way to land the Zephyr. This is more important then with many other planes as the Zephyr's wing is the bottom of the plane and there is no fuselage to slide on while holding up the wing. Thus having the wing level is key to a good landing. There are built in slides front and back but even next to a runway I prefer to land on the grass.
What is different about the Zephyr from a lot of propeller powered Warmliners is the material used (super compressed foam), the way it is constructed, the use of an EDF to power it and where the fan is located. Powered with the recommended three cell battery it performs very well. It does nice climbs, can perform small and large loops and does nice rolls. With the motor off it glides well and in an eight mile an hour breeze at the slope she flew very well for as long as I wanted to fly. She does slow down nicely but when I tried to fly her too slowly and she waddled before she stalled so she gives tells to turn on the motor or drop the nose and let her pick up speed. In breezy conditions when detecting thermals is more difficult in the first place I had trouble detecting the thermals or getting much lift from them if I did fly into them. On a calm day I did thermal and climbed several hundred feet on ONE (1) occasion. A more skillful sailplane pilot would probably due better than I did but I suspect most pilots would find thermaling this plane on a regular basis to be difficult. I would say that once launched she is an easy plane for the intermediate or better pilot to fly with power turned on. She has a wide speed range with lots of power but not enough for me to classify her as a Hotliner. She flies great at the slope as a glider but as described a challenge to thermal regularly.
That said, I have to admit I find her very fun to fly! She looks different and to my eye is very pretty in the air. Others seem to find her very interesting as I had a lot of people who wanted to buy her at our club's Jet Rally and they had only seen her sitting on a table at that time. Several people ordered their own Zephyr are examining mine and one or two more after seeing her fly.
This promoted feature is true and it also makes stunning turbine type sounds. I am hearing impaired and so I put ear plugs or cotton into my right ear when launching the Zephyr. Even though the launch is over with quickly It is loud at full throttle when right by the ear. My precaution may be excessive but I am already saying: "What?" far to often. I recommend that pilots NOT run up the motor on the ground with children present or have them close to the launching of the Zephyr. I recommend pilots use precaution for their hearing when launching the Zephyr or any hand launched EDF plane. My concern as to hearing is ONLY with the launch when the plane is right by the ear.
No! This plane is for the intermediate or better pilot. I do NOT recommend this plane for a beginner. The pilot needs to know how to land with the wings level and the plane tracking in a straight line and that rules out beginners. I DO recommend this plane for intermediate and better pilots.
As discussed above the construction of the plane is very different. There is a carbon fiber piece in the fuselage from the motor/fan area to inside the V-tail area. The foam is very compressed, more so to my touch than any other EPO foam plane I have examined. The decals on the wing and fuselage help protect much of the foams surface and were pleasing to my eye but you can certainly judge that for yourself by looking at the pictures. As discussed above I found the plane met all of the advertised claims made about the Zephyr in the advertising and on HobbyKing's website. The cockpit is very cramped and I am using the recommended size battery. I have seen the Zephyr flown with a four cell battery pack and the motor was much louder on four cells, the Zephyr was faster and the wings had a good deal more flutter in those high speed runs on four cells. As stated elsewhere I am happy with the performance using the recommended three cell pack. However, If I felt the need for more speed and went to four cells I would upgrade to stronger servos in the back of the fuselage and tape the wing with strapping tape to give it more strength.
Finally assembly was very quick with the Zephyr. Programming for the V-tail was a snap. The best part is how much fun she is to fly and she has proven to be a real attention getter. Everyone that has seen her feels she is well worth the money with the included motor, ESC and four servos. If she were a movie I would give her two thumbs up and I would buy the DVD because she is fun to watch over and over in the air.
Finally, She really is like nothing I have seen before!
I want to thank to my friends Dick, Al and especially Jose (the potential blackmailer) for their help with the media for this review and my thanks to our editor, Angela for her assistance. A special thanks to HobbyKing and Durafly for supplying this plane for this review.Last edited by Michael Heer; Nov 15, 2012 at 12:34 AM..
|Thread Tools
Great write-up and beautiful pictures!
I think we all appreciate that you're being fair here...so many of these reviews gloss over the negative aspects but it seems like you were genuinely giving us the whole picture. Thank you.
Good input on the "compressed EPO!" Sounds great. How does it compare to the denseer versions of the Multiplex Elapor (as seen in the Blizzard and Funjet Ultra, etc)?
You mentioned the main reason that I have skipped this plane- the flutter in high speed dives (or with more power). IMO, if it doesn't thermal well, can't be hotrodded, can't exploit high speeds from a dive, my interest is lowered.
That said, it sounds like you enjoyed flying it and that it certainly has other virtues.
Good stuff all around.
I do enjoy flying her! She does have a great WOW value at the field and is a fun plane to fly as a warmliner and with that understanding I think she is a good value and most pilots will enjoy flying her. A couple of my friends have placed orders for one. I consider her a plane that glides well rather than a soarer. I get a long flight time climbing to altitude with the motor on and gliding down and she has a relatively fast glide. Thus fun at the flying field and at the slope with a good breeze but in heavy wind I will still go to a lead sled. Thanks for the nice comments MRGTX. Mike Heer
So its really more like a hotliner than a powered glider? Great revier by the way!! I have been looking at this for a while but I really wanted it to soar better than you guys are reporting. Still might get one looks like fun to fly....I just miss my 40 minute flights with my Miss Stik.....
One aspect of flying the zephyr that need to be emphasized is that while the Zephyr will snap and spin -- it must be done with extreme caution. The zephyr very easily will get into a perfectly flat spin with rotation about the fan/Cg. This is next to impossible to correct unless the pilot knows about severe spin correction.
1. cut throttle
2. wait for the nose to drop
3. correct for rotation (counter so there is no rotation)
4. throttle up
5. pull up... but not until sufficient flight speed is attained.
6. restore normal breathing.
The zephyr requires over 100 feet for flat spin recovery and that's a long time for one to hold their breath.
One item that was not covered in the review -- because it was not experienced -- is the poor design of the shipping container.
If you look at the photo of the open box - you'll see the fuselage spans the entire length of the box -- with only mm's of crush space on either side. I've purchased two Zephyrs -- the first arrived in pristine shape. I traded that one to a jealous pilot for a nearly new AddictionX (great trade for me) and ordered a second Zephyr. I then joined the club of those that received a box without external signs of distress, but a fuselage that was broken inside from crush pressure on the sides. In my case the tail section and hatch broke.
If hobby King had parts they could replace the broken parts -- but I received an email yesterday that said parts were 2-3 months out. They offered me $40 store credit for my inconvenience. A week ago Durafly told me via Facebook that parts were about a week away from delivery to Hobby King -- so who is right?? Who knows.
In any event -- if you look at the photo of the unboxing of the model you can see where ordering a zephyr is a roll of the dice. As it was single boxed - -not double boxed all it took was the pressure of other stuff stacked on top of it to collapse the hatch, crease the foam and break the tail bracket.
EDIT: close examination of the photos above and you can see a crease in the foam packing near the tail - and a dimple by the nose.. which sort of illustrates what I'm talking about.
I am sorry yours turned up damaged but I can't agree that the packaging is poor, very few Zephyr's have suffered any sort of damage in transit, the model is packed into a proper molded styrene holder that is shaped for the various components and the outer box is very sturdy.....basically, any model will get damaged if some idiot courier or postie treats it badly enough.
Looking at Michael Heer's picture of the packaging, I see what Scott Page is getting at... I think we need more feedback from people who have received them Scott Page might have just been unlucky...but his point is valid, especially about the replacement part availability.
When you look closely at the photo from this review https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/atta...mentid=5184713
The photo reveals that the fuselage has been pressed into both ends of the foam -- a clear dimple at the nose and also cracking int he packing at the tail. Picture the box placed on end with a stack of other boxes above it in a shipping container. That fuselage becomes a supporting pillar. This crush pressure is evident from undamaged model.
This is not the result of an idiot courier (for once) - because the damage is consistent in each case (not that there are not others) rather than a random hole here and broken part there. This damage could as easily have occurred between the manufacturer and Hobby King's loading docks, or when stacked their warehouse as while int he post as there was no external signs of damage. The fuselage is simply not designed to support weight like a pillar, which is apparently what's happening.
Hopefully Hobby King will double box future shipments (both of mine were single) so there is adequate crush space on the ends.
EDIT: I'm not going to respond further except to report when replacement parts are received. I don't appreciate flames or duels in the forums, and won't participate in one. The bottom line is the Zephyr is a great aircraft -- perhaps the model of the year. :-) No corners were cut with them model itself, it's just a shame that container does not offer more protection.
EDIT#2: Hobby King did replace my damaged merchandise with a new Kit.
Last edited by scott page; Dec 04, 2012 at 11:18 PM.
Staying up, off power with the Zep is not impossible, but a stiff breeze is mandatory!
Maybe I should take a few grams of lead out of the nose??
I really hate it when I'm right!
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Healing Iraq has the results of a poll of Iraqis. The poll seems to be pretty broad-based, although it can't be very scientific; for one thing, 81% of the respondents were men.
For the most part, the Iraqis' responses were pretty predictable. 59% said their reaction to Saddam's capture was "overwhelming joy." 56% want Saddam executed. 73% think Saddam's capture will either decrease the resistance or terminate it altogether. Here is how Iraqis evaluate various of Saddam's actions and policies. See if you notice a pattern:
A) The Iraq-Iran war:
Crime 77%
Justified action 23%
B) Invading Kuwait:
Crime 79%
Justified action 21%
C) Attacking Israel in 1991:
Crime 18%
Justified action 82%
D) Mass graves:
Crime 81%
Justified action 19%
E) Gasing the Kurds:
Crime 87%
Justified action 13%
F) Forced deportation:
Crime 82%
Justified action 18%
G) Killing religious and national figures:
Crime 83%
Justified action 17%
It appears that attacking Israel is the only thing Saddam ever did that is still popular. Along with Iran's irrational response to Israel's offer of earthquake aid, this illustrates how deeply delusional the Arabs have become.
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|Lexington, MA
|High School:
|The Winsor School
2011-12: Part of the varsity eight that finished sixth in the petite final at the NCAA Championship and fourth in the grand final at the Ivy League Championship.
2010-11: Member of the varsity eight that finished second in the petite final at the NCAA Championship and fourth in the grand final at the Eastern Sprints.
2009-10: Part of the second varsity eight that placed sixth in petite final at NCAA Championships… Won a bronze medal in second varsity at Eastern Sprints.
2008-09: Sat in the No. 5 seat in the second varsity that won the grand final at the NCAA Championships... Won a silver medal in the second varsity at the Eastern Sprints... Helped the second varsity to an undefeated regular season.
Before Yale: Started rowing in the spring of her sophomore year at The Winsor School... In the summer of 2007 rowed with CRI and raced at the Canadian Henley, finishing second in the Junior Eight... Played basketball at Winsor... In her junior year, the basketball team went undefeated and won the league championship... Captain of both her basketball team and crew team at Winsor.


text:
The elegant ambiance of the spacious Traube Spa is the ideal transition to the Black Forest.
Our outdoor pool, heated to a comfortable 32 degrees (C°), offers an unparalleled view of the Black Forest and is surrounded by a spacious terrace where our guests relax and dream. Two freshwater pools are located indoors for swimming laps or just relaxing. We also have a kids' pool, three whirlpools and a bright fitness room with premium Technogym equipment.


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1st Annual Expedition Trophy - Overlanding in ArizonaPosted in Ultimate Adventure on January 12, 2008
Arizona. The Wild West. Ghost towns, saloons, old mines, and open spaces. During our three-day adventure, we found all of the above as well some great 4WD action along the way. Our group of 10 vehicles had just participated in the 1st Annual Expedition Trophy (www.expeditiontrophy.com) and had made time to explore the New River area and the Bradshaw Mountains, covering over 100 off-highway miles in the process.
Our adventure began at the Bloody Basin turnoff from Interstate 17 with a short climb to the east onto Perry Mesa. The road is wide and graded, allowing our group to make good time to the Tonto National Forest. From Bloody Basin Road we took a quick detour to an old Hohokam Indian pueblo site situated on the edge of Silver Creek Canyon. While the ruins were a nice find, it was the view that was most impressive. The strategic positioning of their dwelling provided the Hohokam people commanding views to the north and of Copper Mountain.
2PhotosView Slideshow
While the Bloody Basin Road provides excellent views and instills one with a sense of exploration, it is its access to remote and challenging terrain that creates the greatest appeal. Several challenging trails head to the north, including FR44 and FR18, which require Low range and good clearance. Our group was ready for a challenge, so we left the improved surface and headed into the heavily eroded washes and decomposed granite hills of Mesa Butte. FR44 is a 2.5-rated trail, favoring a flexible suspension and lower center of gravity. The area had been ravaged by fire and flooding, which created deep cross axle holes, washouts, and severely cambered traverses.
As the trail left Copper Creek Wash and turned northeast, we came across our first major obstacle -- a 25-degree cambered traverse. The drivers of the taller trucks used additional caution, progressing slowly across the shelf to minimize any shift in stability. Even the tall FJ40 with an AutoHome Roof Tent did well, and each truck passed without any problems. The trail climbs to a saddle, with little challenge except for the close brush. The hilltop seemed otherworldly, with the blackened and leafless trees standing among the hollowed shells of cactus. But new life was blooming. The recent rains had driven tall grass up the watersheds and it covered the southern slopes. Small groups of wildflowers provided contrasts of purple and yellow against the blond rye.
The trail turns east at the base of Goat Peak and drops quickly into Bishop Creek with a series of challenging descents. An optional spur is heavily eroded and tilts the passenger toward a 6-foot drop. Despite the short wheelbase, one of our group's members, Brian, did a great job moving his modified Wrangler through the rut, allowing the Jeep's excellent articulation to keep the tires firmly planted. Several others tried the challenge without any issues, and we made quick time to the stock tanks and windmills at the canyon bottom.
6PhotosView Slideshow
The trail became easier on its route back to Bloody Basin Road, but a few washouts tested the breakover of the longer Tacomas. A series of narrow, rutted climbs provided a few wheel lifts and spinning tires as the open-differential trucks searched for traction. Fortunately, the trail took us back into an unburned area near Wright Cabin, with huge oak and sycamore trees lining the track. After 6 miles, our detour on FR44 ended, only whetting my companions' appetites for more adventure.
That evening, we made camp on a huge rock outcropping overlooking Lime Creek. Surrounded by stone spires and a deep erosion trench, the location was perfect. The campfire and talk of adventure burned on into the night.
Morning promised new adventure and different terrain. The day's trail would be FR41, which leaves FR24 into the curiously named Magazine Springs. The area is a beautiful, healthy section of the Sonoran Desert containing thick, tall saguaro and dense stands of mesquite. We engaged 4-Lo and were soon enjoying OFF-ROAD Magazine Springs (sic). The trail begins with little challenge, but the sweeping views occupy the driver and provide a reward for all of the miles traveled. We encountered several water crossings as our group dropped into New River Canyon. The water crossings were taken with caution due to the submerged boulders and poor traction. Several optional climbs kept the more adventurous drivers entertained and allowed the less inclined members of the group to document their efforts. Soon the trail was over, terminating at a ranch and a short drive to I-17.
10PhotosView Slideshow
The last section of our journey was a 60-mile trek into the Bradshaw Mountains. While not particularly challenging, the history and scenery is incredible. Anyone with a stock 4WD and a little sense of exploration could wander these mountains for years. The route begins at the Bumblebee turnoff of I-17 and winds northwest into the old mining town of Cleater. From Cleater, the dirt road begins climbing in earnest, gaining 2,000 feet in a few miles, with a series of switchbacks terminating at nearly 6,000 feet and Poland Vista. From there, it is a short drive to the dusty little town of Crown King. What Crown King lacks in size and amenities, it makes up for in style and character. A one-pump gas station also serves as the market and post office, and the original bar and brothel is still in operation... well, at least the bar is still in operation. You can't leave town without pulling up to the century-old wooden bar and ordering a Crown King Ale. A surly glare from one of the hardy locals makes it all worth it. We made camp just outside of town and settled into more talk of lockers, suspensions, and the merits of a fridge to keep a layer of ice on your favorite brew.
1PhotosView Slideshow
The morning air was crisp at 6,500 feet as we packed up camp and made the short trip back into town for a few supplies. Our little expedition would take the group farther north, along the old Senator Highway. Fortunately, the route is hardly a highway, and within a few miles of Crown King, turns into an unimproved trail. The track stays high along the hillsides and mesas, allowing for excellent views in all directions. Deep, rugged valleys drop off from the trail's edge, with large stands of pine and old-growth forest carpeting the horizon. The Senator Highway is also the location of Palace Station, the midway point of the route, which provided shelter and supplies to stagecoaches passing through here. The station is still in great shape and is used as living quarters for the Forest Service.
Due to the remoteness of the trail, the area was rich with wildlife, boasting deer, black bear, and several species of birds of prey. The trail surface starts to degrade slightly after entering Spence Creek, where granite and limestone make up the track's surface. Mines with names like Alligator, Mount Union, and Starlight dot the side of Yankee Doodle Peak and speak to this route's importance in the area's development.
After crossing the headwaters of the Hassayampa River, the trail improves, becoming graded, with cabins and homes indicating the arrival of civilization.
We hit pavement just south of the historic district in Prescott, which seemed a fitting end to this great adventure. Arizona rewards the remote traveler with some of the greatest terrain diversity in the country -- we traveled through Sonoran desert, high plains, and mountain forests. With a tank of fuel and some camping gear, a basic 4WD can transport you and your family to the most amazing places. So get out and explore!


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Greg just had a great idea. Port the browser (Chrome) based on the browser (safari) that is based on the browser of KDE(konqueror) back to KDE again. Chrome coming home to KDE again would be a great thing. A native, fast browser that can really compete.
I think the code has been improved a lot since the beginning and as KDE is already running on Windows, OS X and Linux, it's an idea that Google probably could have followed from the beginning.
IMHO Google should the very least do everything to help the KDE community to achieve that port, as without them and KHTML they would never have come this far as quickly.
Porting Chrome back to KDE
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Become A Special Education Teacher
Not all students learn at the same rate or with the same ease. Many require special attention from an education professional who is well-versed in the struggles the students face in the classroom and beyond.
These educational professionals are called special education teachers. Their duty is to work with and educate students affected by a broad range of emotional, psychological, physical and learning disabilities. They help students adapt to lessons and often build specific lessons to instruct these students in the most conducive and efficient manner. They often cover a wide array of subjects, such as math, writing and reading and may also teach life skills and communication techniques to students with more acute disabilities.


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Despite his last name, Gregg Chillin isn't a rock star--or a rapper.
"I've been in a couple of British urban films about gangs, and some people thought I was a rapper coming into rap for a bit," the British actor told me during a phone interview. "They think I must be like Emcee Chillin and I'm like, 'No, no, no, no. I'm an actor and it's Gregg Chillin. Nice to meet you.' "
The 25-year-old's character in "Da Vinci's Demons," the new Starz adventure series about the life of 20-something Leonardo da Vinci, kind of looks like a rocker with his open shirts, dark good looks and devilish nature. Zoroaster probably thinks himself a rock star, too. He's da Vinci's best friend and confidante--a thief, hustler and, as Chillin put it, "a master of all underhanded trades" who robs graves to supply his buddy's studies of the human body.
Based on actual Renaissance era scoundrel whose real name was Tommaso Masini, Zoroaster is what show creator David S. Goyer calls "da Vinci's bad influence." Goyer has written in his production blog for the show that Masini and the real da Vinci were close enough friends to travel together, and he is thought to have helped da Vinci work on the "Battle of Anghiari" fresco in 1502.
In the series, which premieres at 9 p.m. CT Friday, Zoroaster and da Vinci (Tom Riley) like to party hard, which gets them and da Vinci's young apprentice, Nico (Eros Vlahos), into a lot of trouble with the powers that be in Florence, Italy, where the show's action takes place.
"I just love his freedom," said Chillin, probably best known in the U.S. for his role as Owen in the British version of "Being Human." "He knows exactly what his position is within Florence. He's got no ambition to rise above his station. But he just lives life absolutely fully, whether it be wine, women, men, sex, food, danger. He just goes along for the ride."
"He's open-minded. He's adventurous. He's a bit off the wall, which is obviously very, very fun to play."
Born in 1988 in Cambridge, England, to parents of Armenian and English descent, Chillin was as adventurous as Zoroaster sometimes. "Show-off" is the term he used, adding that he was "one of those awful little kids that you think, 'Oh, just shut up. Stop being a little monkey.'"
A fan of the film "Crocodile Dundee," he used to slay pretend crocs with a plastic knife. Later, his love of the film "The Bodyguard"--"this really embarrassing," he said--led him to pretend to be a bodyguard around his house.
His first big stage appearance occurred during a holiday trip with his family when he was four years old. Possibly having seen his imitation of opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, the entertainers at the hotel where his family was staying brought him on stage.
"I just said, 'I want to wee-wee,'" Chillin recalled, laughing. "Everyone erupted, so I think my parents knew that maybe I would be looking to go into some sort of entertainment."
His mother saw an ad for the Sylvia Young Theater School, and soon enough the scholarship student was commuting with his dad to London on a daily basis. By age 11 he had completed his first professional job--a commercial for a drink called Robinson's Fruit Chute in which he played the caption of a football (soccer) squad, which pleased his football-loving father.
"As I got older I realized that all I wanted to do was just act, act, act," he said. "So I stopped everything else and just concentrated on the acting."
His feature film debut came at age 18 in Ridley Scott's "A Good Year," in which he played "Hip Hopper No. 1," which leads us back to another question related to his last name. Can he rap?
"Oh, no. Not properly," he said, then reconsidered--"I could probably, yeah"--before answering with finality. "No, the answer is definitely no. I cannot rap."
Read more from Chillin after the first episode below.
What do you think about Zoroaster? Give me your take on the character.
Well, he's sort of the master of all underhanded trades. He's a thief, hustler, grave robber. He's always looking for an angle in any situation that can benefit him. ... He sort of serves as Da Vinci's connection to the underworld. It's a great little part to play. It's very, very fun. He's a bit of a live wire. I have a friend like that who influences my decisions in some things having been in a pub with my crazy friend.
So you're not really basing it on him but you're thinking about the trouble that friend has gotten you into.
Yeah, I've just seen the way he acts when he's had a few bottles of wine. I'm just influenced by real-life experiences also, it's such a fun sort of off-the-wall show. There are no set rules to anything really. I can kind of go wherever I want to with it. It's just that kind of show. It's great.
And was that the thing that you like the most about the character probably?
I always see him as kind of like the luckiest guy in the world who can't believe his best friend is someone like Leonardo Da Vinci. [Laughs.] You just wouldn't put the two together. He's like the luckiest guy in the world. He gets in these mad situations. But ironically he also becomes the voice of reason in some of the situations that da Vinci gets himself into. He's that guy that keeps him grounded. They always say it's only your best friend who can tell you to shut up and, "You're being an idiot." And you'll take it because you respect them and trust their opinion and know that they're not angling for anything, you know. It's genuine.
There's a moment where Zoroaster asks him why he wants him to do something. He says, "Because you reek of dishonesty." Zoroaster seems kind of proud of that.
Yeah. Yeah. [Laughs.] It's the highest compliment you could pay him. I mean, Zoroaster's thoroughly aware of how cheeky, how deeky, how naughty he is. By Leo confirming that, he can't help but sort of smile. It's like, "Yep, that's me, baby." You know? It's that kind of thing.
How does he feel about getting swept up in the political trouble of Leo's? There's a point where it seems like he's a little tired of it, but then other times he seems to revel in it.
Because he's not that smart [laughs]--I mean, no one's that smart if you put them up against Leo--but I think the only times he really does get concerned is when the threat from various people of status comes into play. It's not his world.
And there is something that, whilst he is completely free and a jokester, when stuff does get kind of too close to home he thinks it's unnecessary and can't relate or understand why Leo enters into these things. I think that's the only time that he really thinks, "Well, why can't we just have some fun?" You know, "Let's not get too serious."
But I think as the episodes progress, I think he kind of raises his game in that respect. He kind of gives into the fact that this is going to happen and he devotes himself to Leo and anything that he might need help with. There's a little journey there. It's fun. It's cool.
Both Zoroaster and Leo make comments that suggest they've enjoyed dalliances with men as well as women. I like they're not defined as gay or bi, but just sort of free-wheeling.
Yeah, he's just freewheeling. He's open to everything. He has no boundaries. Yeah, he doesn't see things one way or the other, everything's a possibility. And da Vinci can't be confined, so the show embraces his many complexities and stuff.
So have he and Leo and Zoroaster been together do you think? Were you working under any assumption?
No. We're working under no assumption. [Laughs.]
So let's talk a little bit about the challenges of the role. Was it hard to walk around wearing your shirt open all day every day?
[Laughs.] That was easy. That was the easy part. The only thing was, we got these belts with our swords on them. I think Zoroaster's quite cool; I'm not particularly that cool, which I say because there are going to be bloopers of me tripping up on my sword when I stand up and stuff.
That was a bit difficult, but I think I really lucked out with my costume. It's like a kind of Batmobile. That's what it feels like. When I put on the big Zoroaster sort of shoulder pads and gear I find that it just helps me get into the role.
I have to say I'm doing something in the UK at the moment and I didn't really appreciate just how much freedom I have in "Da Vinci," how much freedom I was given by David and by all the writers and the directors to really sort of play around and improvise and just play. That's all an actor really wants to do. I started this job and it's very, very specific and very, sort of, confined to what I can and can't say. That's what one of the joys of playing Zoroaster.
What kind of sword training did you do, or did you already know all that?
Yeah, I did some sword fighting training. I did some horse riding. Yeah, I mean, it was great. It's that kind of job where you think, "Oh, maybe I could learn to horse ride." And like, "Wow, I feel like an actor today, like I'm actually working." I love it. I absolutely love it.
Is he based on a real person named Zoroaster?
There may be. Obviously we're in a historical fantasy, so some characters are loosely based on actual figures and some aren't. I'm not too sure either way. I haven't been deliberately told. But who knows? Everything's so wide open I don't know who they are.
How do you feel about shows that fictionalize historical people? Some people kind of feel that it should be strictly historical and not with the fictional stuff in there. How do you feel about it?
I'm open to anything. I think you always have to look at what type of show something is. Obviously if something labels itself as being absolutely to the fact then that's absolutely what I would expect. If something's openly coming out and saying that it's an adventurous, historical fantasy then I just embrace it. You have to embrace things like that. And that's what I love about "Da Vinci." I just think it's so fun and so open and, you know, the possibilities are endless. As an actor I really enjoy these really precise depictions of real-life characters. But I'm also completely open and I have far more much fun watching these shows that just sort of take an idea and run with it and things are influenced by things that happen. And then it swells up in another direction and adds another dimension. I think I'm game to all of it.
And hopefully people will embrace you and just love it. And there's not a better guy to really take the reins and do that than David Goyer. I would absolutely sit down, shut up and watch it because I think I'd be in for a ride.
I remember disliking you a lot as Owen in "Being Human."
Oh, yeah. [Laughs.]
I think that might be the most--in the U.S. here--the most people will probably recognize you from that one maybe. What was that esperience like?
It was great. I mean I was quite young really when that came my way. And it was just another new show, but on one really knew it would take off. I mean it's got a massive sort of cult following over here. I think they just finished their fifth series. We were all in kind of new territory and I had no idea that Owen was going to have this amazing kind of journey. I was told that I killed Annie by the creator, but I wasn't allowed to tell any of the other actors that I'd actually done it. And it was great, really; they sort of wrote it as we went along and it was a great, nasty little part to play. So that was great fun actually.
Everybody tells me that playing villains is the most fun, but it seems like the Zoroaster might be just as fun as a villian.
Yeah, because he's kind of the hero and the villain, depending on what situation it is. I'm kind of playing both, which is great. Villains are fun, but it's also fun to be kind of likeable as well and have the audience hopefully on your side. Then when you do bad things maybe they're rooting for you or they can at least kind of appreciate and understand where you might be coming from. I think they all have their pros and cons.
Tell me something that no one in the States probably knows about you that you want them to know.
Uh-oh. That's a terrifying question. I don't know. I don't know if I want them to know this but if they don't know it I did the voice of Ron Weesley for the first four ["Harry Potter"] videogames, the Playstation, Xbox, the whole shebang. I did the voice of Ron Weesley because he was obviously busy doing the films and getting tutored when he wasn't working. And when I was a bit younger our voices seemed to kind of be very, very similar so it was, "Blimey, Harry" for about four years.
Want more? Discuss this article and others on Show Patrol's Facebook page.


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MANHATTAN BEACH — After a graphic video was posted to YouTube of a swimmer being bitten Saturday by a young great white shark near the Manhattan Beach Pier, many expressed anger at the actions of the fishermen in the video.
A group of people fishing from the pier can be heard laughing while they watched the shark make contact with a group of swimmers. One of the swimmers, Steven C. Robles, was bitten and can be heard screaming in the background of the video.
According to reports, a fisherman had kept the hooked shark on his line for 30 to 45 minutes before eventually cutting it loose. Many of those who watched the video, felt the shark had been agitated by the fisherman causing its aggressive behavior.
Having trouble viewing this on a mobile device? Read the full story here: https://storify.com/sarahbatcha/manhattan-beach-great-white-shark-attack-video-rea.
WARNING: The videos included contain graphic evidence of the shark attack on Saturday at Manhattan Beach. The videos also contain profanity.


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richard white needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 36 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
Good Green Neighbors
we are an eco-friendly lawn care business
we are in our 6th year of business
we only use organic fertilizers and no pesticides
we use alternative fuels to run our mowers and other machines
we recycle and compost everything
we are down to earth and very friendly
we are experienced and offer flexible service to fit our customers needs
we live off our word of mouth and small amounts of advertising
we are original, creative, laid back and we think we are pretty cool, and we would like our logo to show that
we want anyone who is interested in green lawn care
and quality service
tree huggers with disposable income
but we don't want the logo to be too hippie
so that it would turn off any other types of people
we want to expand on our existing market
our typical account is in there mid 30's to late 40's
cool people with a few dogs and kids
or people who are looking for a little zen in there yards
we are not looking to make a logo the looks like everyone else
we don't do fancy lawns , no rolling estates , just normal folks
with normal size yards
we are ok with using images of trees or leaves and things of that nature but we don't want to look like everyone else
i would like to see the word green in the color green and the OR capitalized in the word neighbORs possibly
we really want a creative COOL logo
the logo must be creative and cool
we are not looking for just our name and then a leaf
it must display an image of being cool, neighborly, green , eco-friendly
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text: Languages are very beautiful things, as we all know, and sometimes a phrase or word just strikes you as beautiful. So, post them here! You can do it in any language you want. French: I don't know a lot of vocabulary in French, but I love the way 'Ce dont j'ai besoin...' rolls off the tongue (and rhymes too). English: I like the word 'annexation' right now... I can't really explain why. 'x's are good I guess.


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All of our products are delivered by road freight (curtain side lorry) and set off at the most accessible location by Tailgate and Pallet truck. Please ensure your delivery location has Level area with no sharp inclines/declines, No Grass or Gravelled areas as pallets cannot be moved and Open access for Curtain sided lorries.
Red Smooth Paving Flag (400x400mm) 30 Pieces
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text:
March 23, 2013
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– The 34th FSU Relays came to a premature conclusion Saturday at Mike Long Track when inclement weather brought the competition to a halt midway through the schedule.
Only five collegiate events were completed on a day that included a 2 ½-hour weather delay in the morning.
"It was really a good meet for high schools and colleges and unfortunately we couldn't finish it," … "We were disappointed we couldn't take advantage of it the meet and get our work it. It is a credit to our facilities staff that we got any competition in."
Florida State senior Jeff Pelage delivered the Seminoles their third win of the two-day meet, capturing the discus with a throw of 48.85 meters (160-3). Junior Stargell Williamsalso placed seventh (45.53m/149-4).
Beyond Pelage's victory, two FSU women delivered encouraging performances. Freshman Stacey Drillingregistered her collegiate-best performance in the high jump, placing second after clearing 1.63 meters (5-4.25); her best showing indoors or outdoors in seven meets.
Redshirt junior Izehi Ileso, a former junior college national champion in the triple jump, came through with her best effort in five meets as a Seminole. Ileso's leap of 12.00 meters (39-4.50) was good for a fifth-place finish.
The Seminoles failed to place runners in either the men's or women's 200-meter dash events.
With the abbreviated home performance behind them, the Seminoles will split up for two of the most prestigious meets in the nation this coming week, with the sprinters and field event athletes heading to the Texas Relays. The distance teams will travel to the Stanford Invitational.


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Yokefellow will become the managing and fiscal agency for LEOS, a full-time 24-7 homeless shelter located at 1129 West Avenue. The shelter is planned to open winter 2014. The City of Lenoir is renovating the building and installing essential equipment into the building. Community partners and the community will be called upon to complete the interior construction. The City of Lenoir will maintain ownership of the facility and has agreed to provide utilities and major repairs. Yokefellow will be contracted to provide the human services and operational management associated with running an emergency shelter.
The materials will be available at the Open House and are posted on Yokefellow's website. Please make plans to attend us on July 22nd, 5:00-6:30 at the shelter. Feel free to pass along to community members and engage in conversation about how to give to LEOS. You will find a blueprint of the shelter. Also, you will find the PIT (Point in Time) count taken in January 2014. It indicates that Caldwell County has 65 sheltered homeless and 23 completely un-sheltered homeless individuals in Caldwell County. Sadly, we have 150 homeless children accounted for in the Caldwell County Schools.
In order to build LEOS, we must raise a total of $175,000.00. Yokefellow is asking the faith community to contribute $25,000.00. How can your family or business or civic group help to support LEOS? We must start construction in August to open for this winter, and need your monetary support to purchase materials. We need your support to make it happen.


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text:
Media April-June 2005
|News Release: June 27, 2005
|View Printable PDF Version
|Docket Number: PL05-11-000
Commission outlines policy to support formation of independent transmission companies
In an effort to remove barriers to the formation of independent transmission companies (ITCs), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today clarified its policy on passive ownership of ITCs by signaling a more flexible approach to passive equity ownership of ITCs by market participants.
To improve the performance and efficiency of the grid's operation, the Commission has spotlighted the critical need to expand the nation's transmission grid system and increase power-grid investment. Today's action is another step toward policies that will encourage development of a more reliable transmission grid for the nation's consumers, the Commission said in spelling out its more flexible approach to independent transmission ownership.
Chairman Pat Wood, III said: "In recent Congressional testimony, I underscored the need for additional investment in the nation's grid system. We need a more robust transmission system to support growing demand. This policy will provide the flexibility to accommodate diverse proposals, stimulate new transmission investment and provide more regulatory certainty for the electric power industry." News Release | Testimony Summary | Full Testimony | Grid 2030 Report
The Commission's policy statement complements Congressional legislation, the Jobs Creation Act, signed into law late last year by President George W. Bush, which provided for companies that sell transmission assets to an independent transmission company to realize their taxable gains over an eight-year period, Chairman Wood noted.
Independence is important because it helps eliminate the incentive for market participants that own or control transmission assets to discriminate against other potential system users. In determining whether an applicant could qualify as an ITC, the Commission would consider proposals involving passive participation of up to 49 percent ownership by a single market participant. The Commission would also consider proposals in which multiple market participants own greater than 49 percent of the applicant's equity.
A non-exclusive list of factors which the Commission would consider when evaluating whether market participants are passive equity owners include:
- The percentage ownership held by market participants;
- Composition of the board of directors and the responsibilities;
- Corporate governance structure of the applicant;
- Nature of the applicant's capital investment planning and policies;
- The relationship, if any, of capital investment policies with those governing capital contributions or dividend reinvestment by passive equity holders;
- The role of executive compensation agreements and other management incentives in shaping independent operation and investment decisions; and,
- The nature and strictness of limits on contractual service and legacy relationships with ex-affiliates that are market participants.
In January 2003, the Commission proposed an incentive pricing policy to help boost needed investment in the transmission grid by adopting certain return on equity (ROE) incentives (Docket No. PL03-1-000). After extensive review of more than 100 comments responding to the proposal, a subsequent technical conference held in April 2005 and supplemental comments received after the technical conference, the Commission had a substantial record before it. There is also pending Congressional legislation (Senate energy bill S.10) that would require FERC to initiate a formal rulemaking to establish transmission rate incentives. However, the Commission believes that policy guidance and additional regulatory certainty on passive ownership by market participants could be useful at this time.
The Commission will evaluate the merits of proposals for consideration by stand-alone transmission companies with passive market participant equity ownership to decide if they qualify as ITCs on an individual basis. In past instances, the Commission has allowed innovative rate treatments to foster independent transmission companies and to stimulate transmission investment. Included among these rate treatments are: enhanced return on equity; recovery of deferred income tax liabilities; cost deferrals; construction-work-in-progress (CWIP) in rate base; and accelerated book depreciation. The Commission would consider further incentives for ITCs, including proposals for allowance of up to 100 percent CWIP treatment for new transmission investments, 100 percent recovery of abandoned plant cost and accelerated depreciation.
The Commission will also consider ownership structures that promote participation by municipalities, cooperatives and other transmission-dependent users of the grid. The Commission noted that it has approved the creation of a stand-alone transmission company, Pewaukee, Wis.-based American Transmission Co., which is jointly owned by investor-owned utilities and public power customers.
The Policy Statement Regarding Evaluation of Independent Ownership and Operation of Transmission is available at www.ferc.gov. It takes effect immediately.
|View Printable PDF Version


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By Scott Pukos
CANANDAIGUA � To support its proposed $100-million residential/commercial lakefront project, Morgan-LeChase Development has approached the city of Canandaigua to seek Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) financing. Additionally, the developers requested that the city sign a confidentiality agreement before it shares �certain confidential information� with the city. This information is to help the city decide whether to grant the�tax abatements�to the developers, officals say.
The confidentiality agreement was signed by City Manager David Forrest this week, Forrest confirmed.
The development � known as the North Shore project � will be on 21 acres on the north side of Lakeshore Drive, across from Kershaw Park. Sketch plans are scheduled to be reviewed by the city�s Planned Unit Development (PUD) Committee in October, and Morgan-LeChase executives are aiming to begin construction in summer 2014.
According to the agreement, confidential information includes trade secrets, business strategies and financial records that are in connection with the PILOT. Confidential information does not include�information that was�previously disclosed to�the city, is currently in or has entered public domain, was received by a third party not under obligation of the agreement, or if an item is approved for public release by Morgan-LeChase.
In terms of Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the contract requires the city to notify Morgan-LeChase within five business days of a request. The agreement does not allow the city to withhold any information that falls under FOIL, said City Attorney Michele Smith. Any information that falls under an exemption of FOIL, does not have to be disclosed.
According to the United States Department of Justice, �information that concerns business trade secrets or other confidential commercial or financial information� is one of the FOIL exemptions.
Smith noted that the agreement�s clause on FOIL is not different than the city�s normal policy.
�This is more of a safety net for Morgan-LeChase,� Smith said.
The agreement was proposed to council members during�Tuesday's Finance Committee meeting � it was the first that members saw the document. Councilmembers and Mayor Ellen Polimeni voted 7-1 to allow the city manager to sign the document, which he did later in the week.
At-Large Councilmember Maria Bucci voted against it, and Ward 2 Councilmember David Winter was absent from the meeting. Previously, City Council approved a consolidated fund application that would help cover infrastructure costs for the first phase of the project. The application is for state grants that would cover about $4.7 million of curbing, sewer, water, roadwork and pavement for the first phase of the project.


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In today's uncertain economy, the health field is probably a good choice. As long as there are people, there will be a need for care providers. Samuel Merritt University has been providing registered nurses in California since the early 1900's.
To keep up with modern times, there are two undergraduate degrees available in nursing. There's an accelerated Bachelor of Science program and a more traditional way of getting the same degree.
The accelerated program is for perspective students who have a prior bachelor's degree in any subject. The student has already got their general education courses out of the way. The next step would be to take the prerequisite courses for science and foundation courses.
"So this program requires students to have a bachelor's degree. They apply and once they get accepted, they are in this program, which is 12 months and what they do is they go strictly into the health sciences courses, related to nursing," said Lily Marquez, who works in the financial aid office.
The university also offers the traditional route of earning a bachelor's degree in nursing sciences. They have four sister schools that include St. Mary's College of California, Mills College, Holy Names University, and Notre Dame de Namur University. Students have the opportunity to attend the institution of their choice to complete three years of general education courses. If they have at least a 3.0 GPA with a good academic standing, they will be guaranteed admission into the university for the next two years, during which they do all of their science foundation classes and clinical practicums. In this program, the university also accepts juniors from community colleges.
"We have very solid clinical experiences," said Marquez. "We're located in an area in which we have Alta Bates (Summit Medical Center), we have Sutter hospital, and we're close to Kaiser Hospital. So it's really convenient for students to have clinicals in different areas."
Samuel Merritt University also has a simulation lab and dummies that can breathe. Sometimes, students practice on each other and eventually deal with real patients. During the clinical experience, they're charting and getting evaluated while building relationships with the hospital staff.
"Once students prepare to take the test and they successfully pass it, then they become licensed registered nurses," said Marquez.
Samuel Merritt University is changing their institutional scholarship criteria. They look to increase their numbers with inclusive diversity. They have been able to secure a $100,000 grant through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support students.
"It's rare that students have a hard time securing funding for their tuition, but for the most part, we're able to give students a combination of federal, state and institutional dollars for their tuition and fees," said Marquez. "Our default rate is zero, so students who have borrowed federal loans, end up paying them back and not a lot of colleges and universities can say that."


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An Ogle County official voiced his elation Tuesday over the state's decision last week to purchase a portion of the former Sinnissippi Forest Christmas tree farm southeast of Oregon.
"I think it's great for the Oregon area and the county," said Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker. "I think it shows the state realizes the value of this area. It's a great endorsement of our are that the state would spend the money."
The state has bought 64 acres of the former tree farm for $450,000 and is adding the parcel to Lowden-Miller State Forest.
The purchase, one of four land deals meant to boost public access to hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and outdoor recreation, will provide access to the eastern part of the forest, Gov. Pat Quinn's office said in a news release Feb. 20.
The retail sales area on Lowden Road, which served as the centerpiece of the tree farm, was included in the purchase.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will use the buildings on the site for satellite offices and equipment storage, Director Marc Miller said.
"Sinnissippi Forest has already been a great asset for the area and this just enhances that," Gouker said. "It's a great area to preserve. Gov. Lowden believed in conservation and this will continue that."
The state forest is named for Illinois Gov. Frank Lowden, an advocate of reforestation who was responsible for planting 500,000 trees.
Warren Miller (no relation to Marc Miller) is a former owner of the Christmas tree business and Lowden's grandson.
"Twenty years ago, my late wife Nancy and I took great pleasure in the creation of Lowden-Miller State Forest, knowing that the people of Illinois would now be able to enjoy this magnificent part of the Rock River Valley," said Miller. "When we reluctantly closed our Christmas tree operation after the 2009 season, it was always my hope that this tract could be added to the state forest, and I am extremely pleased that we've finally been able to do so."
Named in recognition of the contributions to Illinois forestry by Miller's parents and grandparents, Lowden-Miller State Forest, now encompassing more than 2,350 acres, was originally part of a large and diverse farming and forestry operation owned and operated by former Governor Frank O. Lowden and his wife, Florence Pullman Lowden.
Following Gov. Lowden's death in 1943, their eldest daughter Florence and her husband, Dr. C. Phillip Miller, assumed responsibility for Sinnissippi Forest until the 1970s, when their sons Phillip and Warren became the third generation to oversee the property, which was the first officially-recognized Tree Farm in Illinois.
The land just acquired by IDNR has been in the family since its purchase by the Lowdens in 1899.
The state also bought a Pike County parcel for $1.8 million; Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in McHenry County for $511,000, and Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County for $25,000.
They were bought through the Illinois Open Lands Trust, which is funded by Quinn's 2009 Illinois Jobs Now! capital program – money set aside for long-term infrastructure improvements but unavailable for state government operating expenses such as catching up on $9 billion in overdue bills.
The newly acquired parkland, once open, will have operating expenses, but IDNR Director Miller said a $2 increase in license plate fees that Quinn signed into law in December will produce as much as $25 million a year for park upkeep and repair when receipts start arriving in Springfield later this spring.


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As a swimming coach, Kate Lundsten is in the business of encouraging hopes and dreams. Still, when she considered the goal Rachel Bootsma had just put in front of her, Lundsten couldn't help but think her star pupil had gotten way ahead of herself.
At age 13, Bootsma had already set Minnesota age-group records. Her first coach had predicted she would become a state champion. But to reach her aim of making the 2008 Olympic trials in the 100-meter backstroke, she would have to cut two seconds off her time in short order. "I told her, 'That's a great goal,'" Lundsten recalled. "And I was thinking, 'There is no way this little 13-year-old is going to make it.'"
That would be the last time Lundsten would doubt her. Bootsma competed in those Olympic trials as a starstruck, petrified teen, one of the youngest swimmers at the meet. In June, the senior at Eden Prairie High School will return to the trials as one of the most heralded backstrokers in the United States.
Now 18, Bootsma knows her latest goal -- making the U.S. team that will swim at this summer's London Olympics -- is every bit as daunting as the one she set four years ago. But she has become stronger, wiser and more experienced since then, while maintaining her unquenchable desire to win.
To make the team in her signature event, the 100-meter backstroke, Bootsma must finish first or second at the trials in a field thick with talent. Her rivals include Natalie Coughlin, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 back, and Missy Franklin, the 2011 U.S. champion and winner of three gold medals in last summer's world championships.
But Bootsma's growing résumé is plenty impressive, too. By finishing second to Franklin in the 100 backstroke at the national championships, she won a place on the U.S. team for last fall's Pan American Games, where she won gold medals in the 100 back -- in a meet-record time of 1 minute, 0.37 seconds -- and the 4x100 medley relay. In 2010, she set the national high school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 51.53 seconds.
A six-time state high school champion, Bootsma skipped her senior prep season to concentrate on training for the Olympic trials. Though she has been called one of the best backstroke sprinters in the world, she understands that her drive, confidence and years of grueling training do not guarantee a place on the team.
"If I make it, it would be incredible and amazing and everything I could ever ask for," said Bootsma, who will join the swim team at the University of California, Berkeley -- famous for developing backstrokers such as Coughlin -- in the fall. "If I don't, it's only 2012. I still have 2016 and hopefully 2020. It would be great, but people don't realize it's almost an impossible task."
The adults in her life, however, know better than to sell her short. The summer she made her first Olympic trials, her father, Rob Bootsma, thought she might have reached her peak.
"She swam a 1:03 to qualify," he recalled. "We were at another meet, and I commented that she may never swim a 1:03 again. That might have been her day, her race.
"Of course, she did. We're not really surprised any more by how much she can achieve."
Built for success
A member of the national team for the past two years, Bootsma also competes in freestyle sprints, the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 individual medley. She has qualified to swim five events at the Olympic trials, which begin June 25 in Omaha.
At 5 feet 8, with a long torso and ultra-flexible shoulders, she is built for the backstroke. Her career-best time of 59.65 in the 100 back is about three-fourths of a second shy of Coughlin's American record of 58.94, and it is the fastest ever swum by an American girl in the 17-18 age group. In both the 50 and 100 backstroke, Bootsma is among the swiftest American women of all time, while her 100-yard backstroke time of 50.76 makes her the third-fastest woman ever in that event.
Jon Foss saw it coming. An All-America swimmer at St. Olaf College and founder of Foss Swim School, he was marveling at the advanced skills of 5-year-old Katie Bootsma when he got a look at her little sister. At age 4, Rachel had graduated to the school's highest level faster than any child ever had.
A few years earlier, Foss had coached another young swimming phenom: Kris Humphries, who set national age-group records and beat Michael Phelps long before he moved on to the NBA and the Kardashian household. Foss knew talent, and he was convinced Rachel would be in the same class as Humphries.
"She had the backstroke technique when she was 8, and her kick was world-class at a very young age," he said. "I thought, 'This is the mother lode.'
"When she was 4, I walked over to her parents during a lesson and said, 'This girl will be a state champion. You must put her on a swim team someday.' Three years later, she came on the team when we started the Aquajets, and she qualified for the state meet in her first swim."
Not bad for a girl who learned to swim just so she wouldn't drown in the ocean. Rob and Jan Bootsma lived in Florida when Rachel and Katie were toddlers; concerned about their safety around the water, they started the girls in lessons at a YMCA.
Expecting them to be tall and lithe, Jan thought they might follow her path to basketball or volleyball. Rachel did play basketball briefly and had a longer fling with soccer. Despite her ability to quickly absorb swimming's technical complexities, she recalled losing several races in her first year of competition and considered quitting.
Her parents told her she would not be setting up residence on their couch. Bootsma stuck it out, and at age 10 she broke her first state record when she set an age-group mark in the 50-meter backstroke. Two years later, she quit soccer, committed herself to swimming and decided to concentrate on the backstroke.
The competition began to get much more serious around age 13, meaning Bootsma could no longer show up at the pool a couple of times a week and still collect medals. Lundsten expected her in the water six days a week, for practices that lasted two to three hours. Her current workload includes the same amount of time in the pool; thrice-weekly weightlifting sessions that begin at 6:30 a.m.; and indoor cycling workouts twice a week.
She initially put in the time but not necessarily the effort -- until she set a meet record to win the 100-meter back at the junior national championships in Minneapolis, which opened her 14-year-old eyes to previously unthinkable possibilities.
"It was hard for me," Bootsma said. "I didn't like that all my friends were at home hanging out, not having to focus as much as I was after school every day. [The junior nationals] were the turning point for me. I wanted to work hard, and I wanted to get better and see where I could take myself."
Defining the dream
She already had been thinking about the Olympics, though getting there seemed incomprehensible. Bootsma finished 35th in the 100 back at the 2008 Olympic trials and swam a personal best, even as she gaped at idols such as Phelps and Coughlin.
As her times continued to drop, Bootsma made the junior national team and began traveling to meets all over the world. It became clear to her parents that she and Lundsten had begun ratcheting up their ambitions, though Rachel did not talk about it. She had become increasingly serious and focused late in 2010; she began working with a personal trainer and completely revamped her diet, cutting out school lunches and eating only healthy foods.
Finally, near the end of the year, Bootsma felt ready to say it out loud. She wanted to make the 2012 Olympic team, and Lundsten believed she was primed to take a major step toward that end.
"We knew from the training regimen she was setting up that she was working hard for something," Jan Bootsma said. "But she didn't tell anybody until she felt she could put it out there and it wouldn't be laughed at or wouldn't set her up for greater risk. She and her coach, that was it. When she said it, it was a relief, because you could actually talk about it and not dance around the whole concept."
The road to London
Bootsma had already dipped her toes into the waters inhabited by the world's best swimmers. In her first year on the U.S. national team, she competed in the 2010 Pan Pacific Games, dusting herself off after poor swims in two events to earn a tie for the bronze medal in the 50 back.
With each new experience, Bootsma became more familiar with the protocol and atmosphere of her sport's highest level. She was no longer speechless in the presence of her role models; now, when she saw Phelps or Coughlin, she greeted them as teammates. Just being there, however, was not enough.
The closer Bootsma got to her ultimate goals, the harder she wanted to work. In November 2010, she set the national high school record in the 100-yard back at the Class AA state meet, which drove her to see whether she could swim even faster. Four months later, in a performance Foss described as "bone-chilling," Bootsma lowered her time to 50.76 -- a half-second better than the winning time at that spring's NCAA championships.
That swim came at the 2011 junior nationals, where Bootsma earned a record nine gold medals. She jumped back in with the big fish at the U.S. championships that summer, when Lundsten got a new appreciation for how determined Bootsma had become.
Compromised by anxiety and inadequate rest, Bootsma swam poorly in her early events, then slipped on the start of her preliminary heat in the 100 backstroke. Instead of crumbling, she pulled herself together and made the finals, then won the silver medal with a personal-best time.
"She was a second and a half behind the field," Lundsten said. "I sat there thinking, 'Oh, no, what is she going to do?' She fought back. And I thought, 'Man, that kid's tough.' It's just not in her makeup to quit."
Katie Bootsma, a freshman on the swim team at Miami (Ohio), said she loves bragging about her sister. In October, she invited several friends to her dorm room to watch Rachel swim at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Gathered around a computer screen, they cheered and hollered as Rachel won her first international gold medal. Months later, Rachel still struggles to articulate what it meant to her to stand atop a podium, hearing her national anthem as her country's flag was raised. Stunned by her victory, she tried to smile and wave at a raucous crowd while choking back tears.
Though that feeling is not easily explained, it is impossible to forget. With the Olympics now coming into view, Bootsma said she has never felt more motivated to train.
Her parents frequently are asked whether she will make the team. They patiently explain that it will come down to one race in June, a 60-second sprint likely to be decided by a fraction of a second, with a phenomenal field chasing only two Olympic berths. Rachel already has told them she will be unbearably intense in the weeks before the trials, prompting her mother to joke that she doesn't expect to notice any difference.
Bootsma anticipates she could have her best shot at the Olympics four years from now, fortified by the strength, wisdom and experience yet to come. The past year, though, has given her license to dream.
"For me, making it to this point is a big enough accomplishment that I could walk away and be proud of myself," she said. "Everyone asks me, 'Oh, when are you going to the Olympics?' People don't realize that getting first or second at the Olympic trials is unreal.
"Deep down inside, I have that drive. I want to win. But I'm focusing on what I can do to make myself better and ultimately make myself a better person through this experience, knowing I gave every ounce of energy I have. And if I come out first, second, third, I can't complain."