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Big Changes in Small Packages
By Tom Jackson
This is the year most construction equipment manufacturers roll out engines that will meet tough new Tier 4 Interim emissions standards, Caterpillar included. But the company's Building Construction Products division also used the emissions deadlines to engineer a number of design changes and improvements, resulting in series upgrades for five different small equipment categories.
What do Cat skid steers, compact track loaders and NFL linemen have in common? They're both getting bigger, faster and stronger.
We don't know what they're feeding linemen these days but the new Cat 272D skid steer and 299D compact track loader are taking to the field alongside a new pair of high performance teammates, the 272D XHP and 299D XHP. Cat product engineers say the XHP stands for "extra high performance," or "extra hydraulic power," or "extra horsepower." But whatever you call it, it means more powerful engines and hydraulics – the largest and most powerful Cat has built in this category yet. (See chart below).
The base powerplant is an electronically controlled Cat C3.8 engine with a high-pressure common rail fuel system, a Cat NOx reduction system and a diesel particulate filter for emissions reduction. Net horsepower increases for the new D-Series models range from 5 to 18 percent and flywheel torque goes up 13 to 27 percent compared to previous models.
Large lift cylinders on all four machines boost lift capacity 19 percent, and a simpler, electrically activated quick coupler replaces the hydraulic coupler of the C-Series, eliminating numerous hydraulic lines, connectors and valves.
Cat's new Intelligent Leveling System (ILEV) has an electronic dual self-level feature that levels the load when you are raising or lowering the bucket. The return-to-dig feature takes the bucket back to a preset angle, and the work tool positioner allows attachments to return to a preset angle even after the machine has been repositioned.
The XHP models are equipped with a 40-gpm high flow hydraulic system putting out 4,061 psi and 94 hydraulic horsepower to handle high demand attachments such as cold planers.
The five new E-Series compact radius excavators have more efficient hydraulics, boom cushioning and a beefed up cooling package compared to the previous D Series, and sliding access doors on cab models for entry and exit.
The excavators also sport Cat's COMPASS (complete operation, maintenance, performance and security system) control panel and a redesigned control layout. COMPASS is a big, in-cab digital display that monitors and controls a variety of machine functions on a touch screen. Its anti-theft system requires the operator to punch in a five-digit alphanumeric password to start the machine. On the COMPASS display you can also select the economy mode to lower rpms and reduce fuel use by as much as 20 percent on the
3.5- to 5.5-ton size classes. You can also select a continuous-flow feature, which maintains the selected flow to the auxiliary hydraulics without operator intervention.
Adjustable auxiliary flow is also new and you can adjust the main and auxiliary hydraulics on a scale from 1 to 15 on the COMPASS monitor. Preset flow levels for a variety of work tools come pre-programmed on the machine to take the guesswork out of using attachments.
An electric fuel filter priming system makes changing fuel filters quicker and easier and reduces the likelihood of contamination. The new Tier 4 Interim engines keep their cool with a high-ambient cooling package. Since they are below 75 horsepower the new mini-excavators can meet the emissions standards without a DPF and the maintenance required for that.
New ergonomic joystick controls on the E-Series offer rearranged functions. The two-speed travel switch was moved to the blade lever, the secondary auxiliary hydraulic engagement goes to the left joystick and the manual pattern changer has moved from the floor to the COMPASS monitor.
An end-damping system in the boom and stick cylinders reduces shock loads and spillage, and the E-Series sticks are thumb-ready, with brackets welded in place and relief valves built into the main valve.
The largest of the five, the 308E CR SB is a swing boom configuration with enhanced stability and optional counterweights. Compared to its D Series predecessor, it gets a 17-percent boost in power for faster hydraulic response and travel speed. It is available only in a cab configuration. The four smaller E Series models offer the choice of cab or ROPS.
The three new K-Series loaders use a step-less, four range hydrostatic drive system that gives you independent control of ground and engine speed. There's also a creeper control that lets you continue to work hard even at ground speeds down to one mile per hour. Additional ground grabbing power comes from an operator managed rimpull control system that reduces wheel spin and tire wear, and a front differential lock.
Fuel is conserved in several ways. Dedicated load sensing, variable-displacement pumps for implement control and steering reduce the horsepower draw. And the Cat 6.6 engine has a rated speed of 1,800 rpm (down from 2,415 for the H-Series), which significantly cuts fuel consumption. The lower rpms also reduce engine wear and sound levels from 74 decibels down to 66 decibels. An engine idle shutdown saves additional fuel. For emissions control, the K-Series loaders use a diesel particulate filter.
On the working end, an optimized Z-bar loader linkage gives you the power of a Z-bar design with the parallel lift finesse of an integrated tool carrier configuration. The new linkage is available in standard and high-lift models, accepts pin-on tools and a Cat Fusion coupler or an ISO coupler that's compatible with competitive work tools.
To make operators more productive and comfortable, kick out functions for boom lift, lower and tilt come standard and can be set by merely pushing and holding a button on the soft touch panel. Electronic snubbing acts as a hydraulic cushion at the end of a cylinder's range or the kick out position to eliminate jarring and operator stress. The display can also be set up to show views from an optional rear view camera. The newly designed cab has a heated rear window with intermittent wiper and a seat-mounted joystick with integrated controls for auxiliary hydraulics, directional shifting and differential lock.
Cat upgraded three backhoe sizes to F-Series and gave them greater lift capacity, more bucket breakout force and increased control while retaining the load-sensing/closed center hydraulics, four-speed powershuttle transmission and excavator-style boom of the previous models.
The Cat C4.4 engine powering these models uses electronic controls, a high-pressure common-rail fuel system, a diesel particulate filter and the Cat NOx reduction system. Horsepower stays the same for the 416F and 420F, but increases for the 430F. Rather than use a fuel burn to regenerate the DPF on the new backhoes, Cat uses a backpressure valve which increases the velocity of the exhaust going into the DPF to burn off soot, thus improving fuel efficiency.
A more aggressive torque converter puts additional pep into the 420F, and the 416F gets an upgrade to hydraulically boosted brakes. The 420F and 430F get a new electronic pump torque limiter to improve power management and hydraulic performance. Precisely tuned spools in the backhoe valve improve controllability.
On the loader end, new lift arms for the single tilt and integrated tool carrier models increase maximum hinge pin height by 5 percent and dump height by 7 percent. Bucket breakout force gets a boost up by as much as 9 percent and lift capacity at maximum height rises 13 percent.
A composite fuel tank resists rust and helps prevent condensation, and a new hydraulic tank incorporates a suction strainer and a larger, cartridge type filter. The new hinged cooling pack opens up for easy cleaning and improved access. Cat moved the battery compartment to the nose of the backhoe, which opened up space for a right hand storage box and an easily accessible jump-start port.


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Congress, with much to do, takes 5 weeks off
After a final day of partisan battles over drought relief and cybersecurity, members of Congress streamed out of the Capitol looking forward to five weeks of vacation and a fall fraught with decisions on the political and economic future of the country.
Most lawmakers were headed home to make their party's case for who should be entitled to tax cuts, how the government should avoid automatic cuts to defense and domestic programs and who should be the next president. Many will drop by the Republican and Democratic presidential conventions in Tampa, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C., respectively.
The last day, Thursday, saw lawmakers fall short in finding agreement on two pressing problems: how to help livestock producers suffering from the widespread drought and how to protect critical industries from cyberattacks launched by terrorists or other enemies.
The GOP-led House narrowly approved a bill that would revive expired disaster relief programs for cattle and sheep farmers who have seen the price of feed soar because of drought damage to corn and other crops. But the Senate, controlled by Democrats, sidestepped action on the bill, saying that it was insufficient and that the House should instead consider a comprehensive five-year farm policy bill that the Senate passed in June.
The Senate also reached an impasse on legislation to bring the government and businesses together to protect the nation's infrastructure from cyberattacks. The main stumbling block was the role the Homeland Security Department and other federal agencies should play in protecting U.S. businesses.
Republicans blocked further consideration of the Senate bill, supported by the White House, saying it would lead to Washington imposing a heavy hand on the private sector without substantially reducing risks. Both parties said they were committed to approving a final bill when they return in September, although bridging differences in their approaches will not be easy.
Congress also highlighted differences on taxes that will dominate the congressional scene this fall. The Senate Finance Committee, on a bipartisan vote, approved a $200 billion-plus package to renew dozens of tax breaks for businesses such as biodiesel and wind energy producers. On the other side of the Capitol, the House voted mainly along party lines to pass legislation putting the House on record in support of tax reform that would lower the top income tax rate to 25 percent and end some of the types of special interest tax breaks included in the Senate measure.
Senate Finance Committee members defended their actions, saying they had succeeded in eliminating almost 20 existing tax breaks. Among those being allowed to expire was a tax credit for ethanol producers. The annual package of special interest tax credits had grown from 42 items in 1998 to 154 last year.
Taxes will take center stage this fall when Congress must decide how to handle the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year. The Senate has joined President Barack Obama in calling for the termination of those tax cuts for people earning more than $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000.
The House on Wednesday voted to fully renew the expiring tax cuts.
Also on the agenda is what to do about $110 billion in automatic spending cuts to the Pentagon and domestic programs that will occur in January, the result of the failure of the congressional supercommittee commissioned last year to come up with a deficit-reduction plan. Economists worry that the inability of Congress to find common ground on the tax cuts and the automatic spending cuts could force the nation over a "fiscal cliff," driving the economy back into recession.
The Senate Appropriations Committee, meanwhile, approved a $604 billion defense spending plan for next year that is $29 billion less than current spending but reverses proposed Pentagon cuts in Air Force personnel and equipment. The committee rejected a Republican proposal that would have required defense contractors to send out notices of possible job layoffs related to the automatic cuts just before the November presidential election.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., were able to put off one impending disaster when they reached an agreement last week on extending federal programs for six months, averting a possible government shutdown when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., issued a statement that, if the Senate was willing to go along, the House was prepared to bring up legislation in September to approve permanent normal trade relations with Russia. Russia is set to join the World Trade Organization on Aug. 22 and unless Congress removes current trade restrictions, U.S. businesses will not be able to take advantage of lowered trade barriers that will accompany Russia's entrance into the WTO.
The House also began its day Thursday on a united if somber note, voting by voice to reprimand one of its own, California Democrat Laura Richardson, for forcing her congressional staff to do campaign work and violating codes of conduct for government service.


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Pints for the People, Wednesdays at Upslope Brewery
Speaking of new(ish) establishments in Uptown Boulder, there's Upslope Brewing Company. Located way up there at 1501 Lee Hill Road, "Boulder's Newest Brewery" joins Oskar Blues in offering microbrew in the can, not just because they can, but because today's on-the-go biking-jogging-mountainsporting afficionado/a of hand-crafted ale demands no less! As their website puts it,
The teaming of fine ales in cans allows Upslope's products to be mobile and easily part of an active lifestyle. Shared with friends after a long mountain bike ride, enjoyed at the end of skinning up and skiing down a snowy trail, or ordered in a local pub, Upslope is a natural fit for the active beer consumer living in the Front Range and Western Slope of Colorado.
(Put together Upslope with Amante, and it seems North Boulder is developing into the main intersection between sports and fine alcoholic products.)
But the reason I'm bothering telling you so is not just because I only just discovered Upslope (though that is exciting!), but because of the circumstances under which I discovered it. I got a Facebook invite to their ongoing Pints for the People event. Every Wednesday, Upslope will donate a dollar for every pint sold to a local non-profit organization. This month (July, 2010), that organization will be There With Care.
Our mission is to provide a range of practical services for children and families facing critical illness in order to ease the burden of life's day-to-day obligations during a medical crisis. We do this by building strong relationships with local hospitals, business owners, professionals, and community volunteers, who share in the care of the entire family during emotionally, financially, and physically challenging times.
A good brew makes benefits easy. Raise your pint in the knowledge that you're helping a good cause. If I may be forgiven the pun, that's truly "putting your money where your stout is."


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This beautiful octagon Eagle Flight Stained Glass Suncatcher is hand-painted with vibrant colors to brighten up any room! The shiny metal chain makes hanging this suncatcher a breeze. As light passes through, it makes the bright eagle illustration stand out even more! Makes a great gift idea for the eagle lover in your life.
- Measures 15" x 15"
- Hand painted glass
- Octagon shaped
- Creative eagle design
- Sturdy chain included
Suncatcher 15 - Eagle Flight


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Useful Tips on Home and Auto Insurance Policies
In case you are looking forward to getting in touch with an agency that will fully satisfy your insurance needs, then it is good to take time in your research. The report indicates that a thorough search is the way to go if you want to have all the insurance issues solved once and for all. In case you are asking how, then this article is, therefore, there to have all the quarries with ease. Take a moment to check on reliable sources, and you will find it easy to have all these issues responded. Use credible sources such as the internet, and you will get all that you need concerning hiring the right insurance agency. With internet research, it will become straightforward to get the insurance agency ate the comfort of your home. It will also require one to apply some internet bundles for browsing purposes. You will get it right if you use the online sources during the searching of the best insurance agency. The good thing with internet research is the fact that the client can gain access to a variety of insurance agencies within your reach.
With the application of the online directories gaining access to the essential contact details of the insurance, agencies are done with a fraction of a minute. Getting in touch with an insurance agency that will serve all your needs is, therefore, possible if you decide to shop various carriers for the competitive price and coverage. Take time to get in touch with an insurance agency that offers such rates. The service rates are an aspect you need not ignore if you are looking forward to saving more funds in the long run. Ensure you engage an insurance agency that is known to offer exceptional service as well as pricing for clients from far and wide. You will also need to get an agency that provides a variety of policies, including auto, home, mobile home, auto, motorcycle, among others. The fact that various people require different kinds of auto insurance is an indication that you need to work with the best insurance agency. This will, therefore, mean you need to make the right selection for an auto insurance agency.
Get an auto insurance agency that has policies that best suit all your needs. The fact that price is a significant factor when it comes to finding an insurance agency is an indication that lots of caution is required during the selection process. Making the right final decision, in the long run, is also determined by the kind of an auto insurance agency you choose to work with. On the other hand, it is good to work with a reliable home insurance agency to meet all your needs adequately. You may never joke with your home since it is among the most significant investments one can ever make. This will mean you need to also work with a team of experts to help you in making the right section. The fact that even picking a home insurance policy is a tricky process will mean that lost of seriousness is required during the finding process.
Why not learn more about ?
Finding Parallels Between and Life


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Professor John P. Holdren' tag.
Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) — Harvard University Professor John P. Holdren will be named Barack Obama's top science adviser in the White House, the school said.
Holdren, 64, a professor of environmental policy, will be named to the post in a radio address by Obama tomorrow, Harvard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a statement today. His appointment to Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, as the position is formally known, depends on confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Obama assumes office on Jan. 20.
Holdren is a specialist in energy technology and policy, and global climate change. As president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an advocacy group in Washington, in 2007, Holdren called on politicians to show stronger leadership on climate change, which the group called a "growing threat to society."
"None of the great interlinked challenges of our time — the economy, energy, environment, health, security, and the particular vulnerabilities of the poor to shortfalls in all of these — can be solved without insights and advances from the physical sciences, the life sciences, and engineering," Holdren said in today's statement.
Source: Bloomberg


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NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.
NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.
From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA's products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America's gross domestic product. NOAA's dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.
NOAA's roots date back to 1807, when the Nation's first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters.
NOAA's mission touches the lives of every American and we are proud of our role in protecting life and property and conserving and protecting natural resources.
NOAA's weather programs touch the lives of every American. Every day, decisions are made based on NOAA weather information -- from the mundane "should I pack an umbrella today?" to the most critical and potentially life-saving. With the mission to protect life and property, and enhance the United States' economy, NOAA's National Weather Service is the sole official voice of the U.S. government for all kinds of weather situations.
NOAA protects, preserves, manages and enhances the resources found in 3.5 million square miles of coastal and deep ocean waters. NOAA's National Ocean Service provides products, services and information that promote safe navigation, support coastal communities, sustain marine ecosystems, and mitigate coastal hazards.
More than half of the U.S. population lives in coastal counties - areas that encompass oceans and coasts, bays, estuaries and the Great Lakes. Coastal waters are rich in living and non-living marine resources that sustain prosperity and economic growth nationwide. Coastal areas are hubs of commerce, home to many major American corporations, ports and transportation networks. NOAA protects, preserves, manages, restores and enhances the nation's coastal resources and ecosystems along 95,439 miles of United States' shoreline.
NOAA is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources through scientific research, fisheries management, enforcement and habitat conservation. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is the lead federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the nation's offshore living marine resources and their habitat. NOAA Fisheries manages, conserves and protects fish, whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other living creatures in the ocean.
Nearly 80 percent of U.S. overseas trade by volume travels into and out of the country through our nation's nearly 400 ports. Waterborne cargo alone contributes more than $742 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and is responsible for more than 13 million jobs. NOAA's Office of Coast Survey is an integral part of our overall mission to support the nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient and environmentally sound transportation.
When you watch the news and see pictures of weather from around the United States or the world, you are seeing data from NOAA's environmental satellites. NOAA's environmental satellites provide data from space to monitor the Earth to analyze the coastal waters, relay signals from life-saving emergency beacons, and track tropical storms and hurricanes.
NOAA provides timely and trusted climate science information that saves lives, protects property, and boosts the economy. Our services help people plan for and manage climate-related risks and opportunities in their lives, businesses, and communities.
Which communities should be evacuated before a hurricane makes landfall? Should particular regions prepare for extended droughts in the future? Can a tornado warning or a tsunami warning be issued sooner to give people more time to seek safety? Preeminent research underpins NOAA's ability to provide accurate weather forecasts, to protect and manage the nation's coastal and ocean resources, and to enable society to plan and respond to climate change.
We find ourselves at a crossroads where many of our Nation's most critical scientific and environmental challenges are occurring when we are not well prepared to address them. Changes to the Earth are real threats to the American economy and way of life. At the same time, America's youth continue to fall further behind their global peers in science and math. NOAA has a broad mandate to educate the public about ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship. NOAA embraces this opportunity to expand the public's understanding and stewardship of the Earth's natural systems.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an Operating Unit of the Department of Commerce.
We are committed to the privacy of our visitors. We collect no personal information about you when you visit our Web site unless you choose to provide that information to us.
The appearance of external links on this World Wide Web site does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.


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Ask, and ye shall receive.
That's how I operate around here.
When you guys want something, I do my best to accommodate 🙂
Some of y'all had a bright idea about a "writing contest in February to break up the winter doldrums"…
…and far be it from me to deny your heart's desire…
…so here we go!
You know how in October we do the Halloweensie Contest – weensie because the entries are not very long and written for little people?
Well, prepare yourselves for the First Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Contest! 🙂
Valentiny because it's also not very long and also for little people 🙂
Halloweensie and Valentiny – a match made in… well, okay, maybe not heaven, but definitely in the hare-brained scheming mind of Yours Truly 🙂
Due to the fact that this is a new contest being put together on short notice, it is just possible that the people in charge around here haven't worked out all the details quite yet (i.e. there's a certain amount of scrambling for prizes for y'all… still working on that!) (Also there is the link list difficulty to sort out…) But here's what we've got so far!
The Contest: since writing for children is all about "big emotion for little people" (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is grumpy! Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone grumpy (can be the main character but doesn't have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 🙂 You can go under the word count but not over! Title is not included in the word count.) No illustration notes please!
Post your story on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Monday February 8th and Friday February 12th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my February 8th post. There will be no Would You Read It that week, and no PPBF, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it's up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: over the weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we'll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday February 15th or Tuesday February 16th (depending on how many entries we get.) The winner will be announced on Friday February 19th. (And there will be no WYRI or PPBF that week either so that everyone will have time to read and vote and so that we don't confuse PPBF with announcing winners.) If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If we get a large turn out, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it… like I said, there's a bit of prize acquisition and organization to be accomplished yet! But since this is a new contest, there may be a smaller number of entries… we shall see 🙂
Judging criteria will include:
- Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
- Creativity in using grumpiness and success in making us feel the grumpiness!
- Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
- Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics
- Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 🙂
The Prizes: yeah… I'm still working on the prizes 🙂 Feel free to chime in in the comments if there's something you'd particularly like to win! 🙂 Or if you have clout with anyone who could offer a good prize please contact me at once! 🙂 But so far prizes will include:
Enrollment in Julie Hedlund and Emma Walton Hamilton's Complete Picture Book Submissions System!
I Heart Picture Books – a 5-pack of Valentine picture books including A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger, Love, Ruby Valentine by Laurie B. Friedman, Zombie In Love by Kelly DiPucchio, Love, Splat by Rob Scotton, and Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood PLUS 3 Endangered Species Chocolate Bars!
(Don't worry! – I promise I'm working on rummaging up more prizes! :))
So sharpen your pencils!
Get your butt in that chair!
See what amazing, knock-your-socks-off story you can dream up!
It's a chance to hone your writing skills, practice your craft, write to specifications and a deadline, win amazing prizes, AND get to read and enjoy the wonderful stories written by all your fellows 🙂
Many, many thanks to Julie and Emma for their very generous prize offering!
I literally cannot wait to read your stories!!! 🙂
Have a Marvelous Monday everyone! 🙂


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Vick to attend Miami's rookie mini camp: WTF?
why is this "WTF?" You know it's Marcus Vick and not Michael, right? I don't even follow football like I do baseball, but after reading the article, it seems to make sense. Ma.Vick is undrafted and unsigned, they're having a rookie camp, he's going to audition with no promises from Miami, Culpepper tore up his knee and could not be ready for the start of the season. Seems pretty straight forward... I could just be a newb, but what am I missing here?
posted by jerseygirl at 02:23 PM on May 02, 2006
They already have 3 QBs and the wee Vick isn't really that great. Vick also has a reputation that scares off some prospective employers.
posted by HATER 187 at 02:28 PM on May 02, 2006
I don't get the "WTF" either. He hasn't even been offered a contract.
posted by rcade at 02:32 PM on May 02, 2006
He should really go to teh Bears- they could really use a talent like him. and btw, "wtf" isnt really justified, and this article isnt even that big of a deal.
posted by redsoxrgay at 02:37 PM on May 02, 2006
Err, we do have 3 QBs, Hater, yes, but two of them are Brock Berlin and Cleo Lemon - an undrafted piece of pocket change from the efforts to shift AJ Feeley out of Florida and a passer who isn't exactly tearing things up in NFL Europe with three scores, six picks and a sub-fifty per cent completion percentage. Excuse me while I heartily support the Dolphins bringing in anyone who can throw the ball.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:48 PM on May 02, 2006
Yeah, it costs them nothing to bring him in and have a look. If he doesn't work out, the Dolphins are out a few meals. No big deal. And hey, if Nick Saban can get a good year out of Ricky Williams, then Marcus Vick isn't an impossibility.
posted by chicobangs at 03:03 PM on May 02, 2006
i'd like to see what happens if he tries to stomp on willie mcginest's leg after the whistle.
posted by ninjavshippo at 04:27 PM on May 02, 2006
The Dolphins haven't given him a contract so nobody should have a problem with it. While his personality problems may extend over the horizon, he also has a good deal of potential. While I wouldn't want him on my team, Miami is smart in seeing what he can do.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:50 PM on May 02, 2006
ok... to justify the contested WTF. Dolphins are heavy on so-so qbs, nothing has indicated that vick will be any better than just so-so. they have been virtually drafting a copy of Joey Harrington's contract already, which would just add another log to the fire. I mean, how many back up qbs can a team have right? Also, I would think with the latest on Williams, that Saban would be gunshy about bringing in known problem players. So... WTF?
posted by everett at 04:53 PM on May 02, 2006
WTF? Niners have at least 4: 2 Palmer, Jesse QB 6-2 255 Florida 3 Pickett, Cody QB 6-3 227 Washington 7 Dorsey, Ken QB 6-4 218 Miami 11 Smith, Alex QB 6-4 212 Utah
posted by irunfromclones at 05:01 PM on May 02, 2006
Alex smith has the potential to do something, no one knows yet really. He's accurate as hell, and he's not slow. we are yet to see whether or not hes an NFL starter.
posted by everett at 05:08 PM on May 02, 2006
You could say that about all four of those guys. (Well, maybe not Jesse Palmer.)
posted by chicobangs at 05:10 PM on May 02, 2006
posted by everett at 05:12 PM on May 02, 2006
Ok, so Miami have two and one in to see what he can do, while SF have three. WTF? Stupid Niners. Harrington has agreed a contract with the Dolphins, but Miami have yet to agree a deal with Detroit for his services, so right now he isn't a Dolphin. If he was, I'd still expect Saban to bring in Vick and anyone else who might improve the roster.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:14 PM on May 02, 2006
Being new at this and assuming WTF stands for what I think it stands for, I would have to say WGAF what that loser does. He was a disease in college and any team that signs him deserves a clap... I mean the CLAP!!
posted by PGHTOS at 05:21 PM on May 02, 2006
Bad choice Marcus....why didn't you go to the Vikings...they need a QB for the future...
posted by chemwizBsquared at 05:28 PM on May 02, 2006
I say what the heck what can it hurt to take a look at the kid. Even if a deal is made with detroit, who is joey harrigton anyway.... a flop thats who? one of the many would be nfl greats who was a bust.
posted by nicoli51 at 05:47 PM on May 02, 2006
Marcus in Minnesota.... land of a thousand lakes and a chance for Marcus to "loveboat " on every one. Wouldn't Oakland be a better fit? I mean, who would notice one more criminal?
posted by irunfromclones at 05:51 PM on May 02, 2006
Until a contract is offered to Marcus I have to view this as a no story. The guy has enough talent to play in the NFL, but not start.
posted by millertime at 06:58 PM on May 02, 2006
The Dolphins lose a pot-addicted moron and add another loser. Hopefully this blows up in their face, too.
posted by dyams at 07:03 PM on May 02, 2006
Marcus Vick and Ricky Williams............. Maybe Lawrence Phillips and Mark Chamura are available too.
posted by lightman at 07:15 PM on May 02, 2006
what did mark chamura ever do?
posted by tommybiden at 07:49 PM on May 02, 2006
Lawrence Phillips actually played for the Dolphins, Lightman. I think he managed the total of two games before being cut for pleading no contest to an assault charge*. As for Mark Chmura. *Dredged from hazy memory - could be wrong charge. There were a few.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:03 PM on May 02, 2006
I have a couple things to add. Harrington was on a team with a ton of offensive talent at the WR position and he failed. Culpepper has not been any good since Moss left. Lets face it you need some weapons at the WR position to be successful in this league. I do not blame the dolphins for looking at Vick. I am not saying that he will be better than Culpepper or Harrington, But it does not cost them anything to take a look.
posted by jer at 08:33 PM on May 02, 2006
Don't forget about Chris Chamber's on the Dolphins. He looks like he might have a real good year. He could become a very good weapon for Culpepper.
posted by sublime4390116 at 08:35 PM on May 02, 2006
I agree, but he is no Moss.
posted by jer at 08:41 PM on May 02, 2006
Lets face it you need some weapons at the WR position to be successful in this league. Seriously, where would the Patriots be without their cadre of All-Pro...wait a minute...
posted by Venicemenace at 09:34 PM on May 02, 2006
Marcus Vick and Ricky Williams............. Maybe Lawrence Phillips and Mark Chamura are available too. Ummm....there is a big difference between various forms of criminal violence and Ricky's pot use. Thanks for contributing to the moral panic over marijuana.
posted by smithers at 08:42 AM on May 03, 2006
i'd like to see what happens if he tries to stomp on willie mcginest's leg after the whistle. posted by ninjavshippo at 4:27 PM CDT on May 2 That just might be the last stupid thing that this moron would ever do in football. Wouldn't you like to see this idiot try doing that sort of crap in the NFL? After they removed the pile of defensemen off of him, he would never throw right again. GET 'EM, WILLIE!!!!
posted by grabofsky74 at 08:54 AM on May 03, 2006
yo.....bismark....you're SINKING......your link detailed the AQUITTAL of chmura of ALL charges.
posted by tommybiden at 09:05 AM on May 03, 2006
Forgetting all else, why are we assuming that Marcus is going to play QB in the NFL?
posted by MW12 at 09:25 AM on May 03, 2006
In response to the Raiders getting Vick. They could have had Lienart if they wanted. Not good when the new head coach does not even know his name, called him Michael Lienart. Maybe he would think it would be Michael Vick, who knows. The Raiders season is over before it begins!
posted by BrownDuck at 09:57 AM on May 03, 2006
Thanks for contributing to the moral panic over marijuana. Unless this comment was meant to be funny, as far as I know, marijuana is still illegal, whether some either enjoy (smoking) it or agree with it. The Dolphins bringing Ricky back on the team, and him ultimately failing yet another drug test and being booted from the league, makes the team look like fools. If Vick continues his questionable behavior while being affiliated with the team, it will prove once and for all they could care less about the character of a person, just what they can do with a ball in their hands. In any case, rest up your fingers so you'll be able to type responses to the thousands of future topics of NFL players being arrested, assaulting people, testing positive for banned substances, sexually assaulting and beating up females, etc. I'm beginning to seriously believe the NFL doesn't want to eliminate this type of behavior by it's players.
posted by dyams at 11:28 AM on May 03, 2006
Hoho, chalk up another in the badly-spelled battleship joke column. I made no accusation about Chmura, I simply posted a link to what I presumed Lightman was talking about. I did manage to read as far as the headline in the link I posted. I know of no other charges against Chmura. You should feel free to chip in if you do.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:39 AM on May 03, 2006
Thanks for contributing to the moral panic over marijuana. Unless this comment was meant to be funny, as far as I know, marijuana is still illegal, whether some either enjoy (smoking) it or agree with it. You do, however, understand the rather huge distinction between smoking marijuana (a misdemeanor) and being charged with a felony as the other guys you mentioned were. Marijuana, while devastating for the Miami Dolphins, doesn't quite rise the level of sexual assault, brandishing a firearm and assault, which involve violent, criminal behavior. In fact, Ricky Williams has never been charged with any crime related to his marijuana use. Besides, someone who smokes marijuana on a regular basis isn't some social deviant that would provoke our moral outrage. So, the comparison of Ricky Williams to those other guys is over-the-top.
posted by bperk at 11:53 AM on May 03, 2006
Lighten up, was just joking about the whole marijuana thing. No kidding there is a difference between a felony and weed. My point being...... You need your team focused on ball, not distractions. Vick, Williams = distractions. Personally, I could give a sh**, not a Dolphins fan.
posted by lightman at 12:51 PM on May 03, 2006
You need your team focused on ball, not distractions. Vick, Williams = distractions. Exactly. I'm not saying anything about which one is worse, because that's obvious. My point is they all take away from individuals being able to play football, and such behavior makes these teams (and the entire league) look bad. Marijuana is banned, and any jackass that continues to smoke it, knowing they'll be tested, needs to be out of football and kept out of football. The same should go for idiots who are always being arrested, charged with things, or are constantly in trouble. There is always at least one team stupid enough to bring a guy with a ridiculous past onto their team, and those teams keep this ridiculous problem going on and on.
posted by dyams at 01:29 PM on May 03, 2006
That's fine, but Ricky Williams should hardly be the poster boy for bad behavior. Pick someone else. From the Dolphins, I nominate Randy McMichael. He had two assaulting his wife incidents within one year (one bloodying her nose, the other while she was pregnant), and the Dolphins signed him to an $18 million extension a month after he got probation.
posted by bperk at 01:54 PM on May 03, 2006
what bperk said...
posted by smithers at 03:30 PM on May 03, 2006
Who said anything about being a "Poster boy" for bad behavior? Ricky Williams was and is, the poster boy for letting his teammates and fans down on a constant basis. To me, that qualifies as poor, immature, self-centered behavior. And yes, I do realize he's not Ted Bundy.
posted by dyams at 05:40 PM on May 03, 2006
Sound like Miami could have potential, they could go all the way !!! Sure? But not with a Damn POTHEAD running back and a Gangsta ASS QB, give me a break. I dont think Miami should even have Vick there,they cant even get Ricky to stop smoking pot for MILLIONS of dollars!!! worthless nonsense to me. DER DAH DER Whatever????
posted by LonghornFaN at 06:01 PM on May 03, 2006
Yeah but do either of them smoke PCP and eat babies like Joey Harrington?
posted by lilnemo at 06:07 PM on May 03, 2006
Oh Yeah ,I think I did hear that lilnemo, thanks for reminding me. LOL
posted by LonghornFaN at 06:38 PM on May 03, 2006
they cant even get Ricky to stop smoking pot for MILLIONS of dollars The latest positive wasn't for marijuana. The NFL won't come out and say what it was, but Ricky hasn't tested positive for marijuana in nearly two years.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:52 PM on May 04, 2006
Come on dude u get the point, but how do u really know if they dont say what he tested positive for.You might EAT thoughs words black hand. Ricky is still F**ckin RETARDED I have NO respect for him at all F**ckin grow up
posted by LonghornFaN at 11:11 PM on May 05, 2006
But the latest test apparently involved a drug other than marijuana.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:42 AM on May 06, 2006


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Scientists Create First Robot With Emotions (Also, It Can Dance)
The recently-unveiled Nao robot, seen here demonstrating its superior dance skills, is the first robot in the world that can "develop and display emotions"—including sadness, happiness, fright, and, hopefully, guilt, which could prevent it from killing us all.
Nao, who was developed by a group of European (of course!) scientists, is modeled on young children, who show emotion through non-verbal clues like posture, gesture and movement, rather than "facial or verbal expression." Like a one-year-old, Nao can learn from its interaction with humans, remember faces, and develop a distinct "personality" (more like robot-ality, am I right?!). As Nao spends time with specific people, it begins to develop attachments to them, learning their moods and reporting back to its robot masters the best way to incapacitate them. (Kidding! I hope!)
The hope is that the technology developed in Nao can be used in a variety of applications—with the elderly, with children, and apparently even for help ordering groceries online. (Upon reflection, I can say that my Fresh Direct experience would be vastly improved if a robot was involved.) It has already made a great deal of progress with chimpanzees:
Chimpanzees, which provided much of the data for the emotional responses Cañamero used in her work, have already benefited from some of the work that has gone into programming emotional robots. "Lots of them live in sanctuaries and research institutes and they're miserable," said Cañamero. "They're living in enclosures and they behave in non-natural ways. They enjoy interacting with robots. One of our colleagues put a robot outside the enclosures and the chimpanzees went to fetch their friends to look, and they got excited and motivated to move around."


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Management regulation is part of open public regulation and contains the management methods, regulations, and rules that federal government systems are required to follow. Furthermore, it lays along with the extent and enforcement power of federal government regulators. This law offers entry to information associated with government departments.
Admin legislation, while less accessible to an evaluation in comparison to illegal and civil legislation, offers an operation of overview. Management regulators primarily overview judgments on open public rights taken by disciplinary bodies and nonprofit companies, and the like.
Another purpose of admin rules is to cope with federal government establishments involved in management, including tribunals, profits, and boards. These authorities entities are authorized to consider decisions in different job areas, such as taxation, business, transmitting, work, and environmental issues.
Administrator Law: Basic Abilities of Federal government Authorities
Administrator rules govern the steps of administrative body involved in rulemaking, rule enforcement and adjudication. The regulatory administrative laws are relevant mainly to general public officials and agencies.
Authorities regulators motivated under the admin legislation are qualified for capabilities, including issuing makes it possible for, certificates, undertaking investigation, and offering comfort against grievances. These respective authorities may also be motivated to observe the measures of your authorities and issue orders placed for adherence to rules.
In many countries around the world, you will find professional management courts at the same time. These happen to be set up to analyze the selections of govt body. Admin law judges are open public officers who happen to be empowered with quasi-judicial abilities. They are permitted to undertake hearings, matter requests of concurrence, and results of truth.
The management technique is slightly distinct from procedure for judicial review. Under judicial overview, a legal court evaluates the processes combined with the administrator companies to achieve one last determination. Within the administrative method, the dedication of validity in the final decision is evaluated.
Inspired by: ezinearticles


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The third edition of Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, the Police and You booklet is now available for download.
This series of publications answers general questions about Australia's anti-terrorism laws, including an explanation of the extended powers and functions of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Through the generous funding of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, the UTS Law Faculty and the UTS Students' Association, we are now able to produce translated versions in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Urdu as well as the original English. This new edition includes minor corrections to some of the finer legal points and includes updates that describe the latest changes to the laws, including: the association offence, secrecy provisions, control orders, preventative detention and stop and search powers.
Click here to download


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About Hotel Ayush Phata, Kedarnath
If you are looking for hotel in Phata than Hotel Ayush Phata is best choice for budget travelers, who located in close the route of Phata Helipads. One can just spend hour's scrutiny in heavenly enjoyment the belongings of the heavens and a remarkable view of the Himalaya. Enjoy the environs within the grounds which have wonderfully landscaped.
The Hotel Ayush Tourist Lodge in Phata also known as Good Budget Hotel in Phata is situated in the main town offering scenic views and serene environs.
Hotel Ayush Tourist Lodge is a budget hotel located in the Phata village of Rudraprayag district of Uttrakhand. The hotel has all the basic facilities available in the room which comprise of comfortable beds, chairs, TV with cable connection. The rooms are spacious with the two double beds and the attached bathrooms are fitted with the geyser for 24 hour hot and cold water. The hotel has room service and desk service available anytime for guests. Also, the laundry service, telephone facility and doctor on call facility are available here.
If you are looking for an economical Hotel in Phata then the Hotel Ayush could be a good option for you. Large rooms with two double beds are suitable for the family or any travelling group to stay together without expending much. You will get the moderately good variety of vegetarian food in the restaurant.
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Hotel Ayush Phata Room Information
Hotel Ayush Phata is one of the best located hotel of Phata on Kedarnath Highway. It is basically a budget hotel in phata . The specialty of Hotel Ayush Phata is 4 bedded rooms and rest of the rooms are 2 bedded . The attach bath facility with hot and cold baths are hotel. All the activities of Hotel Ayush Phata are managed in a discipline manner.
Hotel Ayush Phata Tourist Lodge Tariff Rate Card
|Room Type
|Twin Sharing
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Hotel Ayush Tourist Lodge Phata, Kedarnath
Hotel Ayush Phata Online Booking and Reservations
Note: The costing is for Indian Nationals only. Additional charges will apply for Foreign Nationals due to permits and camping/entry fees.
Peak Season Dates: The above rates are not applicable for Peak season dates. Revised rates will be applicable for May/June/October months, New Year and Christmas, Long Weekends and Festival Holidays.
Hotel Ayush Phata Details: Booking Rooms in Hotel Ayush Phata at Afforable Price Online & Best Deals & Offers on Phata Hotels Reservation & Phata Tour Packages, Address, Amenities, Facilities, Distance from Railway Station, Distance from Bus Stand, Photos, Map,Hotel Ayush Phata Reviews, Uttarakhand India
Dining in Hotel Ayush Phata
Hotel Ayush Phata has Kitchen and provides Basic North Indian, Chinese, Garhwali meals to the guests. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are served at the dining area with Tea & Snacks are served.
Facilities, Services in Hotel Ayush Phata
- Room Amenities: Attached Bathroom with Hot/Cold running water, Room Service, Comfortable beds, Blankets, Table, Chairs, Room Service.
- Facilities: Doctor on Call, Car Parking Available, Luggage Storage, Telephone Facility, Front Desk, Room Service, Travel Desk.
- Recreational Facilities and Activities: Sightseeing.
- Dining in Hotel Ayush Phata: The hotel has a restaurant which serves variety of delicious dishes to its guests
Activities Can be Arranged at Hotel Ayush Phata
- Trekking – Nearest Sites being Chandrashila, Bashukitaal, Devriyataal, Madhmeshwar, Tungnath, Phata to name a few.
Location of Hotel Ayush Phata
Hotel Ayush Phata is located on Kedarnath Road, about 2 km from Phata Helipad at Phata village in Ukhimath Tehsil of Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. Nearest airport from the village is Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun, which is about 210 km away. Rishikesh railway station and Haridwar railway station are the two nearby major railway station that are situated at a distnce of about 194 kms and 218 kms away respectively. Nearby tourist locations to visit from Hotel Ayush Phata : Manikarnik Kund, Kalimath, Vishwanath Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Ukhimath, Chopta, Gaurikund.
Getting There
By Road (Approx 12 Hours):
Delhi – Roorkee – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Augustmuni – Guptkashi – Phata – Hotel Ayush Phata
By Train : Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, just 200 kms from Phata, from there you can take taxi to reach Alpine Camps.
Hotel Ayush Phata Address
Hotel Ayush Phata
Phata Village, Near Market,
Phata, District: Rudraprayag,
246471, Uttarakhand India
Hotel Ayush Phata Address on Map | Find Area, Location Route Map of Hotel Ayush Phata From Uttarakhand.
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Other Hotels in Phata, Uttarakhand
All the Hotels in Phata under are a listing of Budget, Deluxe, Luxury, guest houses and resorts that our reservation team has chosen to be your best. One can see these Phata hotels and let us know exactly what your particular needs are. Our Phata Hotel Booking Team will do our best to make our stay as pleased as possible in Phata Hotels.
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So, if you are among those opportune Uttrakhand Tour who are planning for spending some Best days at Uttrakhand Holidays, below here are the best notch Uttrakhand hotels choices for you. Chardham hotels Or Hotels in Uttrakhand are being grouped impressively into various grades including the budgetary, standard, luxury as well as deluxe hotels. Find your choice as per your comfort and get benefited with the acceptable services received during the Holidays in Uttrakhand.


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"Look out! When interest rates rise the markets will get hurt and bonds will lose their value."
You've probably heard this warning many times over the last couple of years. While there is certainly some truth to the statement above, it's at best incomplete and misleading.
At the behest of our investment committee, our research department did some digging and learned that since 1980, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates 67 times. In the two years following these rate hikes, markets (as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index) rose 60 out of 67 times — nearly 90% of the time. In other words, there is nothing in recent history to suggest that a rise in interest rates will cause a bear market or significant prolonged correction.
With regards to bonds, yes it's true — price and yield have an inverse relationship. Therefore, as interest rates rise, prices will come down. But that isn't universally true. While I certainly believe that prices of long-term Treasurys and corporate bonds will decline over the coming years, a collapse is very unlikely. Moreover, short-term high-yield bonds and short-term to intermediate term (less than seven years) municipal bonds could be decent performers, as they haven't risen nearly as much as Treasurys.
Most significantly, bonds remain a key component of a well-diversified portfolio. While I continue to favor high-quality dividend-paying stocks to generate a reliable income stream, it would be foolish to shun bonds all together.
As the Federal Reserve continues its asset purchase tapering and moves closer to a date when they will begin raising interest rates — I believe at a very slow pace — investors should examine the components of their portfolios. If you own bonds, make sure that have a shorter duration. Selling some of your longer-dated bonds and keeping the money in cash is likely a wise move. Keeping the money in cash will help keep your portfolio risk down. Moreover, if rates rise more quickly than I believe, the cash will become useful as yields on CD's and other ultrasafe instruments will become more attractive.
If you are retired and on a fixed income, rising rates will ultimately prove beneficial to you. But only if you've taken the proper steps to help insulate your portfolio from some of the negative side effects and stay disciplined enough not to let short-term events derail your long-term strategy.
Read our latest research report, "Rising Rates and Changing Policy: Will they derail the bull market?"
Oliver Pursche contributed to this article.
Confused about bonds? You're not alone


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Tornado chase: Disappointing Day 8
Tuesday began with the storm chasers in an upbeat mood as weather conditions were extremely favorable for tornado development.
Our motel in Guthrie, Okla., turned out to be the jump-off point for several "chaser" groups, including the Tornado Intercept Vehicle. The TIV is a specially-built vehicle designed to penetrate an EF3 tornado. The TIV is featured in the new IMAX movie "Tornado Alley."
Our group left our motel around 11 a.m. We drove for an hour then stopped for a delicious barbecue lunch. The original plan was to stay in the Tulsa area and wait for a super cell to develop. However, a decision was made to drive further west to get closer to the "dry line." This would turn out to be a bad decision.
We did spot a super cell on radar; unfortunately we could not catch up to it as it was moving to the northeast at 40 to 45 mph. The remainder of the day was spent trying to catch up with other super cells that were developing to our east.
The day ended with a disappointed group of storm chasers. We arrived around 9 p.m. at our motel in Independence, Kan.
Meet David Balfour
I want to introduce you to a storm chaser who has traveled many miles to see a tornado. He is David Balfour of Red Hill, England, about 25 miles south of London. Dave is a salesman for a high-value manufacturer of machine tools.
"I first got interested in tornadoes after satellite TV became available," David said. He indicated that once he learned he could actually take a tornado tour he decided to become a storm chaser.
Wednesday, will be a tough day to see a tornado since ideal conditions have moved east into Missouri. The area is covered with trees that tend to hide the horizon, making it difficult to spot tornadoes.
My storm chaser team, however, remains hopeful that our luck will change.


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Title: St. Brigid's Day, February 1, marks the start of Celtic spring
Author: Irish Central
Full Text & Source: http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/st-brigids-day-1st-february-marks-the-start-of-celtic-spring-189211061-237561961.html
The Internet, Online, 1/02/2016
Sample Text:
Imbolc, also known as the Feast of Brigid, celebrates the arrival of longer, warmer days and the early signs of spring on February 1.It is one of the four major "fire" festivals (quarter days, referred to in Irish mythology from medieval Irish texts. The other three festivals on the old Irish calendar are Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain (Halloween).The word Imbolc means literally "in the belly" in the old Irish Neolithic language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes.In ancient Irish mythology, Brigid was a fire goddess. Nowadays, her canonization is celebrated with a perpetual flame at her shrine in Kildare.
t. Brigid represents the Irish aspect of divine femininity in her role as patron of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle farmers, children whose parents are not married, children whose mothers are mistreated by the children's fathers, Clan Douglas, dairymaids, dairy workers, fugitives, Ireland, Leinster, mariners, midwives, milkmaids, nuns, poets, the poor, poultry farmers, poultry raisers, printing presses, sailors, scholars, travelers, and watermen. Here's a busy saint!One folk tradition that continues in some homes on St. Brigid's Day (or Imbolc) is that of the Brigid's Bed.
The girls and young, unmarried, women of the household or village create a corn dolly to represent Brigid, called the Brideog ("little Brigid" or "young Brigid"), adorning it with ribbons and baubles like shells or stones. They make a bed for the Brideog to lie in.On St. Brigid's Eve (Jan 31), the girls and young women gather together in one house to stay up all night with the Brideog, and are later visited by all the young men of the community who must ask permission to enter the home, and then treat them and the corn dolly with respect.Brigid is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. Before going to bed, each member of the household may leave a piece of clothing or strip of cloth outside for Brigid to bless. The head of the household will smother (or "smoor") the fire and rake the ashes smooth.
In the morning, they look for some kind of mark on the ashes, a sign that Brigid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes or strips of cloth are brought inside, and believed to now have powers of healing and protection.
Read more: Why Irish women should follow St. Brigid, not just St. Patrick.
On the following day, the girls carry the Brideog through the village or neighborhood, from house to house, where this representation of the saint/goddess is welcomed with great honor.
Adult women — those who are married or who run a household — stay home to welcome the Brigid procession, perhaps with an offering of coins or a snack. Since Brigid represents the light half of the year, and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter into spring, her presence is very important at this time of year.
Neopagans of diverse traditions observe this holiday in a variety of ways. As forms of neopaganism can be quite different and have very different origins, these representations can vary considerably despite the shared name.
Some celebrate in a manner as close as possible to how the ancient Celts are believed to have observed the festival, as well as how these customs have been maintained in the living Celtic cultures. Other types of neopagans observe the holiday with rituals taken from numerous other unrelated sources, Celtic cultures being only one of the sources used.


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By Simon Johnson
The Obama administration saved the deeply troubled megabanks in the United States in early 2009 with a bundle of rescue measures that, compared with similar financial crises elsewhere, stands out as extraordinarily generous – particularly to the bankers at the epicenter of the disaster.
The banks responded to this magnanimity with – by all accounts – extraordinarily generous support for the Republicans leading up to this week's midterm elections. Why would they do this?
The answer is straightforward: The Republicans have promised generally not to tighten restrictions on the financial sector, which means specifically that they will seek to make the recent Dodd-Frank financial regulatory legislation less effective.
The Dodd-Frank Act is not strong legislation to start with. The administration started with overly modest goals, and the banks then devoted considerable effort to weakening the bill as it passed through the House. But some pieces that survived have the potential to make a difference – including the Volcker Rule, which in principle would force big banks to get out of the business of betting their capital in ways that can bring down the entire financial system.
Paul Volcker came up with the ideas and helped shape the original proposed rule. This provision was pushed hard by Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Carl Levin of Michigan, who prevailed against the odds in getting it into the bill, but now find regulators less than uniformly enthusiastic about applying the rule.
This brings us to the details – where all relevant devils reside. That your eyes may glaze over, is, as far as the banks are concerned, a desirable feature, not a bug. Comments to the Financial Services Oversight Council on implementing the rule are due tomorrow; a few are already in, and more may be submitted at the last minute, in the hope of deterring rebuttal. (The banks can also rely on more private channels to make their views known.)
You can view the request for comment or search for the public submissions; when the site opens, click on the box for "public submissions" and a list of them will appear.
One comment, from State Street (on behalf of itself, Northern Trust and BNY Mellon), is instructive with regard to both substantive issues being debated before regulators and the broader political debate going forward.
The State Street argument is that the relevant section (§619) of Dodd-Frank could prevent a bank "from providing traditional directed trustee or similar services to its pension fund and other institutional clients."
The issue, State Street points out, is "potential banks' support for the investment performance of the fund" – that is, whether a bank would feel obliged to prop up the performance of a fund that is struggling. The problem with such propping up is that it will help a fund show better performance on average – and therefore help it attract more money – but it would also mean a bigger collapse, with much more devastating consequences, should subsequent problems arise (which is not so uncommon). Propping up is a fairly common phenomenon around the world.
State Street and its co-signers argue that banks such as themselves frequently do not have investment authority over plans for which they are trustees. But this is not the issue.
The real question is whether a custodial bank of any kind would have the incentive to prop up performance of a fund (of any kind). This is the way that banks can find themselves committing capital, whether they originally intended to or not. The sounder relationship between bank and fund is that when bad things happen, the bank is content to let the fund fail (or just show disappointing performance).
State Street and the other big banks mostly just want to be left alone. "We're big boys and we can take care of ourselves" is their refrain – and you will now hear this echo far and wide, at least in the House of Representatives as we head into 2011.
This was exactly the operating philosophy of Alan Greenspan, circa 1997: "As we move into a new century, the market-stabilizing private regulatory forces should gradually displace many cumbersome, increasingly ineffective government structures" (quoted in "13 Bankers").
The new century has not, so far, gone well, precisely because "market-stabilizing private regulatory forces" turns out to be an oxymoron.
And the specifics at stake here are far from hypothetical. Remember that Citigroup had large "off-balance sheet" housing-related liabilities that it ended up bringing back onto the balance sheet – thus absorbing the losses and forcing itself closer to insolvency. And even State Street had to prop up some of their "stable value funds".
The designers of the details of the Volcker Rule – and their political masters – should not repeat Mr. Greenspan's tragic and costly mistake. We need a real firewall between custodian banks and the funds with which they are connected in any form. The Volcker Rule, if properly and rigorously applied, can do just that.
An edited version of this post appears this morning on the NYT.com's Economix blog; it is used here with permission. If you wish to reproduce the entire post, please contact the New York Times.


text: The discussion is working. Should I send my preschool-age group of young children to preschool or would they do it at the same time in the home? Let's examine several factors then your best selections depend on each child's mother and father. These considerations happen to be in no specific buy. One essential consideration in… Continue reading Is Preschool Necessary?


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Health Watch: Alphabet Soup
If you're someone who tries to stay on top of the latest recommendations about your health, you may have found the news about vitamins and supplements more confusing than helpful in recent years. Where's a concerned, health-conscious person to turn?
To your doctor, of course. Practitioners like Amy Cantor, assistant professor of ob-gyn and family medicine at the OHSU Center for Women's Health, base their recommendations on the same research that the media reports on. But while a news outlet may sensationalize a headline in an effort to draw in readers ("Supplemental calcium leads to heart attacks!"), doctors have the expertise and the resources to explain research findings to patients (supplemental calcium may be associated with heart attacks in some people; more research is needed).
When reviewing scientific research, Dr. Cantor notes, it is important to understand how the research was conducted: Was it a self-reported survey? Was there a control group? "If you just happen to be Googling for health news, you can be overwhelmed," she says. "Go to the source." She recommends reading the study itself and looking for dot-gov sites like the US Preventive Services Task Force to find reliable information.
One supplement with enough proven effectiveness to earn Dr. Cantor's wholehearted recommendation is folic acid for pregnant women. She recommends this B vitamin to all of her patients who have the potential to get pregnant. Half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned, and to reduce the risk of neural tube damage from folic acid deficiency, supplements should be started at least one month before getting pregnant. Besides food sources like leafy greens, any prenatal vitamin and some multivitamins will provide an adequate dose (0.4 to 0.8 mg).
What about women in other stages of life? Generally, Dr. Cantor says, healthy, premenopausal women eating a balanced diet will not need to supplement, although she won't keep anyone from taking a multivitamin, which has not been shown to cause any harm and may be helpful.
Some older female patients have been advised to take low-dose calcium supplements to prevent bone fractures, but in June the Preventive Services Task Force released a recommendation against the practice, based on a lack of evidence that it does any good and citing an increased risk of kidney stones. Calcium can also come from a good diet.
Some supplements Dr. Cantor would consider recommending to patients with specific conditions, but not to the general population. Fish oil, in conjunction with dietary changes supervised by a doctor, can help with high cholesterol, and menopausal women struggling with hot flashes may find relief through black cohosh. Women with an iron deficiency, which can develop from heavy periods or pregnancy, may need extra iron.
The risk of overdosing on vitamins is low, but people do need to be careful about drug interactions. Dr. Cantor cautions against taking any supplements without talking to your doctor about the other medications you're taking.
Like those of us looking for the latest in health care news, Dr. Cantor keeps an eye out for health reports. "There's a lot of information out there, and it's hard to know what's accurate," she says. "Helping patients navigate that is part of my job."
Womens Health Annual


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Hounds beat Incarnate Word in 4 OTs
SAN ANTONIO — The Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds erased a three-point deficit in the fourth overtime with a 6-0 run and held on to beat Incarnate Word 91-89 on Saturday night.
It was believed to be the longest game in terms of overtimes in the history of either school.
ENMU (5-3) extended its winning streak to three games — all on the road, by a combined total of four points — and is responsible for the only two losses sustained by the Crusaders (6-2) this season. The Hounds beat Incarnate 76-62 on Nov. 18 at Greyhound Arena.
Senior forward-guard Garland Coleman scored 22 points and dished out a game-high seven assists for Eastern, while forward Travazz Buckley tallied 21 points and grabbed a game-high 11 points in his first game for the Hounds. Buckley, who transferred to ENMU at midseason a year ago, gained his academic eligibility this weekend.
Kennis Green added 17 points and Irshaun Pinckney scored 12, including 1-of-2 free throws with no time on the clock to tie the score 84-84 at the end of the third overtime.
Senior forward Robert Tovar led four Crusaders in double figures with 27 points, and hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth OT. With UIW down 90-89, Tovar fouled out with one second left and Coleman converted the first of two free throws for the game's final point.
Anthony Jackson scored 21 points, D' Hudson 15 and Chris Johnson 13 for the Crusaders, who had won five in a row since their loss at Eastern.


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This nighttime movie of the depths of the north pole of Saturn taken by the visual infrared mapping spectrometer onboard NASA's Cassini Orbiter reveals a dynamic, active planet lurking underneath the ubiquitous cover of upper-level hazes. The defining feature of Saturn's north polar regions -- the six-sided hexagon feature -- is clearly visible in the image.
Here, brightness indicates the amount of 5-micron (seven times the wavelength visible to the human eye) radiation, or heat, generated in the depths of the warm interior of Saturn that escapes the planet. Clouds at a depth equivalent to 3-Earth-atmospheres pressure block the light radiating from below, revealing themselves in dark silhouette against the background thermal glow of the planet. These deep clouds lie some 75 kilometers (47 miles) underneath the typical ammonia hazes and clouds seen in visual imagery and are likely composed of ammonia-hydrosulfide, although some may be composed of water, as on Earth. A prominent feature seen in this polar view is a strange hexagon wave feature circumscribing the north pole.
This nighttime movie was acquired over a one-hour period on Nov. 10, 2006, from an average distance of 1.03 million kilometers (621,000 miles) above Saturn's clouds.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer team is based at the University of Arizona, where this image was produced.
For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm. The visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team homepage is at http://wwwvims.lpl.arizona.edu.


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I bow to no one in my love for the good old days of journalism. But everyone trying to take journalism back to the good old days should understand some basic truths:
- You won't find the future by retreating to the past.
- Whatever comes next in journalism can't and shouldn't be built to replace either the best or worst of current or historic journalism. You build the future on the technology and opportunities of the future in the context of the future.
- Watchdog reporting performed by professional journalists is absolutely part of journalism's future, and I don't know anyone discussing the future of journalism who doesn't plan and hope for a successful future for professional watchdog reporting.
- Journalism of the past doesn't look as strong on closer examination as it does through your nostalgic filter.
I worked at the Des Moines Register in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Time magazine named it one of the 10 best newspapers in the United States. I was there when Jim Risser won his second Pulitzer Prize and when Tom Knudson wrote the series that won his first Pulitzer. I was there when our coverage of the 1980 and 1984 Iowa caucuses made us an important player in national political coverage. If someone had a magic wand to turn back the clock to the early 1980s, I would be sorely tempted to wave that wand and throw over my current career with Digital First Media. It all looks so rosy through the glasses of nostalgia.
But if I waved that wand, I would have to relive the death of the Des Moines Tribune, the afternoon newspaper our company folded in 1982. And I would relive the disappointment and embarrassment that the journalists of that day did not shine the light brightly enough to prevent the savings and loan crisis that rocked the economy and cost the taxpayers more than $100 billion.
Nostalgia is fun and it's warm, and for journalists today, it's seductive and dangerous.
I ignore most of the nostalgic rants wishing journalism could somehow wave that wand. They are too plentiful and pitiful to waste time with. But I will respond to the "Confidence Game" rant by Dean Starkman for two reasons:
- He smeared my friends in the piece. The five people Starkman cited as contributing to the "future-of-news (FON) consensus" include John Paton (my boss as CEO of Journal Register Co. and Digital First Media), Jay Rosen and Jeff Jarvis (members of the JRC and DFM advisory boards) and Dan Gillmor (who was a reporter working for me at the Kansas City Times in the 1980s and remains a friend). I have not met Clay Shirky, the fifth person Starkman cited, but I admire him and have praised him on this blog.
- For reasons that escape me, the Columbia Journalism Review published the Starkman rant. I don't know many people who still read CJR, but it has a respected name in journalism. I'm sorry to see that CJR published such a
misguided diatribeweak, wandering blast from the past, but I am moved to respond.
Starkman's premise is essentially that the digital-first vision that "Future of News" advocates are spinning is dangerous and misleading and that if we follow this path, we'll never have another Ida Tarbell. Seriously, the first nine paragraphs of a piece about journalism's present and future are about Ida Tarbell, who died in 1944. Does no one edit these things? (I doubt he'd agree with my characterization of his premise, but I will be inviting him to respond, and will publish the response if he does.)
This is what Jay Rosen has described as replacenik nonsense: the notion that the future of journalism must be a replacement for what comes before.
Ida Tarbell was a great journalist and I salute her, along with all the giants of investigative journalism. And I am delighted about how many people are working to secure a healthy future of investigative journalism. Starkman gives no attention at all to the innovative investigative newsrooms that are showing outstanding results and limitless potential, organizations such as Texas Tribune, California Watch and ProPublica (already a Pulitzer winner).
Starkman laments the emphasis that the FON gang places on community engagement, as though it were the complete opposite of watchdog journalism. But Homicide Watch, a community blog by Laura Amico, does a better job of tracking crime in the District of Columbia than any traditional newsroom. And the Fort Myers News-Press demonstrated in its Cape Coral water coverage (and many journalists since have confirmed) the power of crowdsourcing as an investigative tool.
Investigative journalism also is important to the plans of Digital First Media as we seek to lead newspapers to a healthy digital future.
Starkman praises the Guardian's dogged investigative reporting by Nick Davies on the phone-hacking scandal, but doesn't mention that the Guardian's other recent investigative coup was the crowdsourced project on expense accounts of Members of Parliament.
Starkman praises the Boston Globe's 2002 investigation uncovering a widespread cover-up of sexual abuse by priests. But he doesn't note that the abuse and cover-up went on for decades without being uncovered by journalists (and, we could note, it appears the same could be said, on a smaller scale, about Penn State football).
You can tick off scandal after scandal (Enron, subprime mortgages, weapons of mass destruction) in which journalism failed to sound the warnings that would help us steer our country away from icebergs. In a perfect metaphor for the news industry of our time, the sole voice noting the bogus intelligence about weapons of mass destruction was the Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau, just a few years before Knight-Ridder was sold to McClatchy. McClatchy's stock, trading at $50 before it bought Knight-Ridder, is going for $1.27 today.
Starkman apparently isn't even paying attention to what's happening in the news business:
It pays to remember that the most triumphalist FON works were written in 2008 and 2009, during journalism's time of maximum panic. But now, panic time is over.
If you think legacy news organizations have stopped panicking, you read different news and data than I do. I suggest that he read Paper Cuts to stay current on layoffs in the newspaper business (not yet at the pace of 2008 and 2009, but already more than last year's total). Or check the Newspaper Association of America's print advertising revenue figures, which show declines of 9 percent the first two quarters of this year, continuing 21 quarters of decline. If the news business is not panicking, it's because of exhaustion, not confidence.
I want to honor Ida Tarbell and the other giants of journalism's past by helping to find the path to a prosperous future, not simply by lauding their achievements. I'm certain that path leads forward, not back.


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It's been a rough road for Mitch MicDeere. Now, it's come to an end — at least on NBC. The Firm has been cancelled after one season of 22 episodes.
The Firm picks up years after the young attorney (Josh Lucas) made his deal with the mob to take his old crooked law firm down. He and his family have come out of hiding but their problems haven't gone away. The show also stars Molly Parker, Callum Keith Rennie, Juliette Lewis, Natasha Calis, Tricia Helfer, Martin Donovan, Shaun Majumder, and Paulino Nunes.
The series represented one of NBC's biggest launches of the season but it misfired right from the start. The two-hour premiere brought in a dismal 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with just 6.32 million viewers.
When The Firm moved to its regular timeslot on Thursdays a few days later, the numbers got even worse. Week two dropped 29% in the demo and the ratings kept falling in subsequent weeks. After hitting an embarrassing low for a primetime show — a 0.8 demo rating with 2.97 million viewers — NBC sent it packing to Saturday nights.
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The numbers have been awful since that move — even for a Saturday night show. It's frequently outperformed by movies and crime drama reruns on the other networks.
To date, The Firm has an average of a 0.7 rating in the demo and 2.10 million viewers. On our NBC Ratings Report Card, which measures the relative demo success of shows on the network, the show has a "D-" grade — even after low viewership is taken into account.
On the positive side, NBC's deal for The Firm is unique and a bit more like the one the network had for Merlin, the supernatural drama produced by the BBC.
Sony and eOne partnered to produce The Firm, primarily for the overseas market. Thanks to pre-sales and Canadian production tax credits, the cost of producing the series was already paid for and NBC was able to pick up the show for a greatly reduced licensing fee, just like any other secondary buyer.
Not surprisingly, The Firm won't be back on NBC (according to TVWise) because the network has opted not to renew its deal with Sony and eOne. The series could continue to be produced for other markets however and even possibly be picked up by a cable channel here in the US. There's been no word on the show's fate beyond NBC so, for now, we'll have to wait and see.
There are 22 episodes in the first season of The Firm and tonight's marks the 17th. Right now, the finale is slated for June 23rd. If a second season isn't going to be produced, hopefully the last episode will supply enough closure for the few million faithful viewers who've kept watching.
What do you think? Are you sorry that NBC isn't continuing the show? Would you watch on another channel or purchase season two on DVD?
Image courtesy NBC.


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'We're making a "k" for "kite",' says Tadpole, her voice a half-yawn. This would be true if her bed wasn't an extra short lit évolutif from Ikea, which I really should lengthen one day soon, as Tadpole is tall and willowly. My (shorter, stumpier – do I sound jealous yet?) legs are currently bent at the knee, so even if she is lying in a sort of sideways 'V' shape, with her bottom nestling against my tummy, we're making a special sort of K. With a tail.
I glance at the Miffy wall clock, which reads 7.43. Almost half-time.
My morning routine (on weekdays) goes something like this:
7.15: Alarm clock sounds. It's actually the alarm on my landline phone, and whenever I'm in a shop or restaurant that uses the same ringtone, it sends icicles down my spine.
7.20: I press snooze.
7.25: I press snooze.
7.30: I press stop.
7.32: I get up, walk along the corridor, raise the blackout blinds in Tadpole's room, then climb into her bed.
7.32 – 8.02: We snuggle. She tells me what she has been dreaming about. Or I guess. It can be one of four things: mermaids, princesses, fairies or unicorns, so the odds are not exactly stacked against me.
8.02 – 8.25: She eats cereal, we get dressed, I drink my first Cloonette of the day.
8.25: We run to school, slipping inside just before the doors close, at 8.30.
I realise that this may not seem like the best time management policy, but try as I might, I can't bring myself to change any of the above.
'So, what did you dream about today?' I ask, my voice muffled by her curls, which are also tickling my nose.
'I did dream that I was a princess, in a castle,' Tadpole begins. So far, so predictable. 'And you were the queen, mummy… and grandma was the maid…' Chuckling, I make a mental note to tell my mother about her demotion to the servants' quarters. I wonder whether granddad made an appearance in Tadpole's dream, perhaps as the court jester, but wisely hold my tongue. We will be visiting England in a few weeks' time and Tadpole can always be relied upon to repeat precisely those phrases she shouldn't. ('Mummy says I shouldn't eat my spaghettis like that because I'm not a piggy like you.' Ouch.)
But there is to be no mention of granddad. Instead, Tadpole swivels around so that she is facing me and we (almost) form a triangle. 'In my dream,' she says, looking at me intently, 'my daddy was the king and he did live in the same castle as us.'
'Did he now?' I say, reflecting that although my daughter may not look much like me, we've both inherited the recessive subtlety gene. 'But mummy already has a king, doesn't she? And she can't have two… I mean, I've never seen a castle with two kings in it, have you?'
Tadpole shakes her head, seemingly satisfied with my explanation. I glance back at the Miffy clock. It is only 7.53, but I decide to make breakfast early.
'So,' I enquire, 'did the princess in your dream eat special K with chocolate pieces in for her breakfast?'


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Die-Cut Color Chart * Print Color Chart
Most decals can be made in any color you want.You can have your mascot decal / sticker in black and white as shown in the main image. Or pick any two colors you want used to match your school / team colors. If you want to get really creative, you can add as many colors (or patterns) as you want. Just be sure to choose the 3+ color option and put your details in the comments box on how you want the colors laid out. The two colors you choose from the pull down menu can be the colors that will be most used. You may also want to order a Proof to be emailed to you to ensure the decal will look identical to what you are expecting. We can make changes as needed.
See the Pirate diagram below for reference on how to layout your colors:
Need a custom logo or mascot not shown? Email us your logo along with details of what you are wanting and we will get it set up for you. Vectorized .eps or .ai file preferred but we can work with all different kinds of files. We can also add custom lettering to your mascot too (see below). The options are endless.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need more information about this product using the form below.
Our decals and stickers can be installed on any smooth, clean surface like glass, wood, metal, walls, and painted surfaces. They work great on cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, side-by-sides, ATVs, helmets, motorcycles, laptops, phones, windows, etc.
Our decals are made from commercial quality vinyl that will last several years in harsh outdoor conditions. See color chart and/or material chart (if a full color print) for outdoor life expectancy for your particular design.
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Each design can be made in any size and are measured LEFT TO RIGHT. (*Except Stick Figure Decals). You choose the size in STEP 1 when ordering.
Our decals can be made in any color or pattern found on the color chart.
The white rectangle the design is shown on is not part of the decal. Your decal will not have a background; most decals are die-cut around the shape of the design unless otherwise shown. *Some FULLCOLOR decals will have white within the design. See BELOW for more information.
You may also choose to have a Shadow, Outline or Contour in an additional color. Click here for additional information.
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Is the design shown above close to what you are wanting but not quite perfect? Use the "Ask a question" tab (above) to let us know what needs to be done to make it perfect for you. Or you can simply order and note in the comments box the change needed. We will make the change and email you before we ship if there are any questions.


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The MIT Kerberos Team announces the availability of the krb5-1.6.3 release. The detached PGP signature is available without going through the download page, if you wish to verify the authenticity of a distribution you have obtained elsewhere. This is primarily a security fix release, but includes preliminary support for PKINIT. For a complete list of changes, please see this list in our RT bugtracking system.
Major changes in 1.6.3 include
Please see the README file for a more complete list of changes.
You may also see the current full list of fixed bugs tracked in our RT bugtracking system.
Known bugs reported against krb5-1.6.3 are listed here.
Please note that the HTML versions of these documents are converted from texinfo, and that the conversion is imperfect. If you want PostScript or GNU info versions, please download the documentation tarball.
You may retrieve the Kerberos 5 Release 1.6.3 source from here. If you need to acquire the sources from some other distribution site, you may verify them against the detached PGP signature for krb5-1.6.3.


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Posted by Editoress on 11/20/05
Last night the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) held its annual Cycling Celebration. Lori-Ann Muenzer was the keynote speaker, with Sue Palmer-Komar and Gord Singleton assisting her in the handing out of numerous awards. Lori-Ann gave an inspirational talk at the start of the ceremonies, outlining the difficulties she overcame on the road to her Olympic gold medal, and the thoughts that went through her mind during the Olympic competition.
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