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Dear R.L.,
Do you have any suggestion/recommendation about traveling during festival season? It can be music festival, cultural, or food. Is it worth the money to go see the festival and buy the festival ticket or is it overrated and overpriced?
Dear P,
A festival can be an enriching event, or it can be a waste of time and resources. At the very least, it could be a great place for networking with likeminded fellows who share your particular interest. But as with anything else, before you spend a fortune on anything, do some research first.
Make sure you know what you're getting into. Read the festival website to get a sense of what the festival is about. Observe the programs, read the speakers bios, google its participants. See if the festival format allows you to achieve your objectives.
For example, are you going to be able to enjoy the performances in a music festival, if they're spread out in several stages in two days? If it still sounds like your cup of tea, trawl the blogosphere to read reviews of said festival. Read up people's experience on the festival, and compare notes. Is the festival well organized? Do they offer the audience enough interaction with the speakers? How is their safety record, ease of access? Etc, etc.
If you manage to tick off most of your checklist, and you have the funds, by all means, go. And enjoy.
Happy travels!
*Photo by Adam
Follow R.L.'s adventures through her Instagram account @stelivena.
Send your travel-related questions -- in English or Bahasa Indonesia -- to [email protected] with the subject 'The Ahasuerus Files' or tweet us @the_magdalene


text: On Feb 2, 2005, at 9:31 AM, Jason Davies wrote: > is there a way to make several documents into one pdf without buying > something like Acrobat? can I do it in LaTeX? have only found how to > concatenate several tex files in my searches ..TIA for any help... > I'm sure there is a better way, but you can print them to ps files then use psmerge (part of ghostscript.) Joe --------------------- Info --------------------- Mac-TeX Website: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/ & FAQ: http://latex.yauh.de/faq/ TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq List Post: <mailto:MacOSX-TeX at email.esm.psu.edu>

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- For Sale
- Dubai
- District 1 - Residence
Facts and Features
For Sale
Key Features
- Prime location – Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, Dubai
- District 1 - Residence - stunning contemporary apartments that overlook the Crystal Lagoon
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment, located on ground level of Residence 15
- Internal Area: 708 sq. ft., External Area: 451 sq. ft. total Area: 1159 sq. ft.,
- The development Comprising of low and mid-rise towers spanning four to sixteen stories from the ground up
- The Residence offers stunning panoramic views of the Water Body and neighbouring lush green corridors.
- A 8.4 km picturesque cycling and running track
- Only a few minutes away from many of Dubai's world-class attractions, including Downtown Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Airport
- The Residence features modern architecture and complemented by world-class amenities and premium facilities for a comfortable life
- Leisure facilities include bicycle track, jogging track, kids play area, health centre, boardwalk, community hall, high-speed internet, smart home technology, video security, common courtyard, common garden, garage, restaurant
Located at Muhammad Bin Rashid City, District One luxury and environmentally sustainable residential community comprises of low and mid-rise buildings offering a collection of one, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
The apartments are finished with the utmost precision and are complemented with world-class facilities and amenities. All the residences are nestled amidst picturesque surroundings offering a perfect ambience for a wonderful time out in the natural atmosphere.
Spanned over 1,159 sq,ft, the superlative 1 bedroom apartment features ultra-luxury and elegant interiors and completed with high-end finishes.
The apartment has open plan layout and complemented with neutral colour palette, further enhanced by floor-to-ceiling glass windows to allow the natural light stream in and bathed the entire apartment.
An expansive balcony spreads ahead of the bedrooms to allow the residents have views of the Crystal Lagoon and the lush green forest around.
District One offers an array of excellent amenities and a myriad of retail and dining options in close proximity. The residents will also have access to the best healthcare facilities around and some of the best educational institutions.


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Colin and Dorothy Robinson of Timsbury who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on the 11th October 2019 being presented with gifts from the Society by President, Graham Jeffery. Mr & Mrs Robinson are members of the Society and Colin Robinson is an ex-employee who was Manager of Timsbury store when he retired.
Golden Wedding Presentation
16 October 2019


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Tottenham are Testing the Limits of Their Business Model
The Lily Whites of Tottenham have made tremendous strides in recent years. From struggling to break into the top four, always looking on from the sidelines as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool consistently represented England in the Champions League, they have now firmly established themselves as Champions League participants during the last four seasons.
A revamped pedigree
They challenged Leicester and Chelsea for the top spot in the Premier League table in 2016 and 2017, ultimately failing in their quest for a first league title since 1961. Spurs also impressively topped a group containing seasoned European contestants Real Madrid and Dortmund in the Champions League last season, before bowing out in heartbreaking fashion to Juventus in the round-of-16.
Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy deserve tremendous credit for the roles they've played in revamping Tottenham's pedigree. They have transformed hitherto unknown players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Heung-Min Son, Kieran Trippier and Christian Eriksen into world beaters and regular internationals.
The club has achieved this transformation by maintaining a strict spending culture, not giving in to the temptation of following the path towed by other clubs in spending their way to success. Instead, Spurs focused on scouting and developing young talent from around England and Europe, with their fans able to relate to the club's identity and players.
A limit to Tottenham's model
As much credit as the club deserves for achieving relative success on this frugal business model, the bottom line is that there is a limit to how far they can go with this, and they have seemingly reached that limit.
Despite consistently making it to the top four and getting to the latter stages of a few cup competitions, they have ultimately come up empty-handed, and have no rewards to show for their efforts (much like Arsenal in the last decade of Wenger's reign).
To genuinely take the next step into becoming contenders, Tottenham needs to completely overhaul its frugality. The club has a wage net cap of £100,000, and only Hugo Lloris in the current first team earns over that amount, pocketing £120,000/week, with reports also suggesting that Kane's new deal is worth £ 200,000/week.
Measly sums
Only three players in the Tottenham first team earn up to £100,000/week (Harry Kane, Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris), compared to Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea who have 11 each and 13 players raking in six figures every week respectively.
This is a rather appalling situation when you consider the amount of quality players Spurs have in their ranks. It gets even more shocking, as one of the world's premier creative midfielders in Christian Eriksen gets a 'measly' (by today's football standards) £75,000/week when across the London divide at Chelsea, Danny Drinkwater who is neither a starter at the club nor an international regular earns almost twice that amount.
Harry Kane has been one of the most consistently lethal finishers in Europe over the last four seasons, and won two consecutive Premier League Golden Boots, missing out on Salah last season by one goal due to an unlucky injury. Romelu Lukaku, who did not score up to half of Harry Kane's Premier League goals last season, earned double what the Tottenham striker took home every week prior to his new contract.
Legitimate criticism
It can only be for so long that players condone this disparity to their peers at other clubs before they start to feel agitated, and it has begun to happen already. Kyle Walker transferred to Manchester City last season and is earning two times what he did at Tottenham as well as collecting two trophies from his first season at the Etihad.
Danny Rose complained about this last December, and fell out with Pochetino, losing his first-team spot to Ben Davies. Toby Alderweireld also made his grievances known, lost his starting spot, and was very close to leaving the club in the just concluded window.
As much as I do not support the practice of players coming out in the open to criticize their club's policies, their actions were justified. It is a rather pathetic situation that Danny Rose who is a regular international, and one of the premier left-backs in England earns just £30,000/week.
Tottenham needs to reward their players in accordance to what is obtainable at other clubs, to pacify them and keep them focused on taking the club to the next level, while also spending the required amounts to fortify their squads in the transfer market.
New stadium, new model?
In the last transfer window, Tottenham saw their rivals strengthen significantly, with Chelsea, the Manchester clubs and especially Liverpool spending big in the market to bolster areas of weaknesses, but Spurs were characteristically quiet, and were the only team from last season's Champions League and this season's EPL who failed to make any new addition to their squad.
Football is extremely big business at the moment, massive investments running into billions have been made into the game, and results are needed immediately, leading to most clubs spending large amounts of money in the transfer market to deliver titles.
Hitherto non-spending clubs like Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and coaches like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have dropped their age-long traditions of promoting youth players and nurturing them into world-class players in favor of spending hugely to bring in ready-made players.
The spending big model has worked in the past for clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid, and more recently for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. Other clubs and coaches have realized that to remain competitive in this age of demand for instant results, they need to tow the same line and Tottenham must do the same.
As impressive as Tottenham's trajectory has been in recent seasons, to get to the next level, they must curb the limits placed on their financial dealings to keep their best players and strengthen them with quality additions. Otherwise, they risk getting left behind as their rival's progress, in a similar way that their North London rivals Arsenal did under Arsene Wenger in the last ten years.


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Today on September 25th 2014 I checked on the Portland Mercury news website to see if anyone responded to my posts I made the day before and I tried to post again today and discovered I AM ONCE AGAIN BLOCKED from posting on that local news website!
Apparently ONLY cops and their girlfriends and their buddy's are welcome to report crimes, because everyone else is blocked from reporting crimes cops and their girlfriends commit!
Terry Wagar


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Sniki Wiki: Your Social Media Encyclopedia
About Review- Gourmet Food Online For Reasonable Prices by Chris Brogan
Posted: 02 Nov 2008 10:35 AM PST
Personal Chef To Go I can't remember who reached out to me about Personal Chef To Go, a place where you can order fresh gourmet cooking and have it sent to your house to eat when you're ready, but boy am I grateful. Chef Gene Castelluccio and Chef Blair Grossman have sent me a sampling of meals for the family. As I'm typing this, a grilled chicken and broccoli pasta bake is coming out of the microwave, and four dinner rolls are just about ready to pop back out of the oven.
The directions were simple: put the meal in the microwave and the bread in the oven. My house smells like a four star restaurant already.
The website, PersonalChefToGo.com has three different categories of dining: busy singles, couples on the go, and family favorites. This obviously plays to portions, but also the kind of food you can order. The family meals were a lot more likely to appeal to your children's tastebuds as well as yours. The menu changes every week, by the way. If you're not 100% sold on a particular week, wait and see what comes up next time.
personal chef website The pricing is kept fairly simple, too. Our meals were a "half order" which consisted of two portions of four meals (or 8 dinners in all), which cost $85 for the food, plus $12.75 for FedEx. So, just shy of $100 for 8 humans worth of food (shipping included). $12 a head, all in for the efforts of award winning chefs? Cool!
The Food
I'm munching the dinner roll, which came out crispy on the outside and doughy inside, with just a taste of brown sugar maybe? (Don't know, but it's delicious.) The pasta dish was delightful. It's clearly family-friendly as the spices aren't over-stated, and the chicken is just perfect. The broccoli was fresh. NOTHING about this meal felt like eating a frozen dinner. It's delicious, fresh, and wonderful.
As we're going into a time where people might not be eating out as often, and where budgets have to stretch a bit, families and couples might be able to use something like this service as an alternative to dining in a restaurant. Because it's so easy, because I can order it online, and because it's probably a savings over my typical restaurant bill for two adults and one kid, I think I'm going to let two chefs cook for my once a month.
About The Review
Personal Chef To Go sent me this food to see what I thought, but sure didn't pay for my recommendation. What I like about this model: finding bloggers who might be willing to try something and share their experience, is that, provided the blogger discloses the relationship, and especially if the blogger decides a product or service isn't worth it, or otherwise is willing/free to give a negative review.
What's your take on that?
As for the food, I'm excited that I have three more meals from Personal Chef To Go in my fridge still.
External Links
Sniki Wiki is your encyclopedia for Social Media, Tracking Tools, and Online Campaigns. Click here to Join Sniki.


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We're halfway between Belo Horizonte and Miami, 3am. I'm still struggling to get some sleep on the American Airlines seat. To help me out there is a small kid having the same trouble, two rows ahead of me. However he have not decided between crying practice or performance crying. Long night.
Longer than the night seems to be the new distance between us and family, friends and loved ones. The boys have already felt that and the farewell was very emotional.
When we left Belo Horizonte for the first time, we went to São Paulo. We're just the two of us our boxes haven't filled have of a small truck. The distance were shorter, just one hour flight. The farewell was almost non existent. I remember my friend Rodrigo helped me removing the lamps which we used in the newly rented apartment in São Paulo. We left at a sunny morning in our Fiat, featuring air conditioning, toward the big city.
We stopped at Tietê station as soon as we entered São Paulo to buy a local guide and Carina ticket back to Belo Horizonte, for the next day. She had come so I hadn't had to drive by myself. I'd have to wait two more months until she was able to move with me. We arrived at the hotel and I still remember the feeling of looking through the window and think "we're are moving ahead". It took us less than 1 hour to welcome Alda Márcia as the first visitor, who has become a regular one for the next 5 years.
Since then a lot has changed. We are now at the second hard city move. When we moved back to Belo Horizonte, we left a part of our hearts with the friends who have welcomed us, took care of us, walked by our side at the hard and good times we had there. We've created strong bonds, eternal ones. Now we are leaving again and removing the BandAid, as my friend Lika says, is harder. Maybe being the process slower, some overthinking, had made the farewell harder. There were many farewell parties: from school friends, work friends, family, church, friends, home and even pork belly. While we weren't at the airport, though, anxiety and adrenalin were masquerading the pain. soon the time has come and it was painful to look at the crying boys, the many suggestions to abort the plan and the too many questions. Maybe having 20 hugs before checking in has made it all harder, emotional.
Of course had not been anyone there would've been worse. Felling loved comforts us. Maybe the pain comes from the paradox we could read from each one look. If for one they were happy by the sized opportunity, on the other hand the price everyone was paying was high. Maybe the pain came from realizing how special each one there was, how important they are in our lives and how much we'll miss them. While we don't have new laughters to add up to our memories, the farewell stamp will shine in our memories. Goodbyes taste bad.
I remember I was saying good by to contractors on our (at the time) new house in Belo Horizonte when Lucas e Ana arrived to visit us. We come up with some borrowed mattresses for the weekend together in our new house. Thanks God they have already bought ticked to visit us in US. Let visitors come!
And the boy in the row ahead decided he is going to cry for good. Wise decision.


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Brad Mohon
I am a long time resident of Rogers County. I specialize in rural and agricultural properties. I have over 10 years experience as a real estate agent. I also have 11 years experience as a real estate appraiser. I also have experience in residential construction and capable to assist you in the purchase of your next home. I would be glad to assist you in your next real estate transaction.


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Athlete: Ben Petrella
Year: Senior
School: Liverpool High School
More From Runner's World
Location: Liverpool, NY
Mile PR: 4:20.71
3200m PR: 9:05.07
3-Mile Cross-Country PR: 14:32.90
Key Workout:
• 15–20 minutes warmup, plus dynamic drills
• 4 x 1600 in 4:45, plus 1 x 1200 in 3:30 on the track with equal recovery
• 15–20 minutes cooldown, plus static stretching
After his stunning victory last Saturday at the New York regional qualifier for Nike Cross Nationals, Ben Petrella hopes to contend for this week's NXN championship and lead his Liverpool team onto the podium in Portland, Oregon. Petrella, an 18-year-old senior going to West Point, ran the Bowdoin Park 5K course in 15:31.4 to triumph by 18 seconds in the fourth-fastest time ever on the hilly route. Sizing up his chances for Saturday's NXN finals, Petrella said, "I don't want to dream too big, but at the same time the possibility of victory is not out of the question."
Rapid Regionals: In the regional, Petrella went after the 15:27.0 course record. On a drizzly, bone-chilling day, Petrella attacked the hills in the first half of the race and used the downhills to pull away from the runner-up, Aiden Tooker of Saratoga Springs, who ran 15:49.3. Petrella said that while missing the record felt "bittersweet," securing the Liverpool victory and a top-two automatic team qualifying berth at nationals was his main goal.
Team Standings: Liverpool's next four scorers behind Petrella packed within 34 seconds as the Warriors scored 77 points to defeat their central New York rival, Fayetteville-Manlius, by 30. F-M ran without its top man, Peter Ryan, who was nursing a tender hip. He is expected to compete in Portland. On November 7, Liverpool edged Fayetteville by four points in the Section 3 state qualifier.
Portland Prize: In Petrella's first trip to NXN as a team qualifier in 2013, he was a sophomore new to the whirlwind social agenda on the Nike campus. "I probably had too much fun," he says. Petrella placed 121st as Liverpool took 20th in the field of 22 teams. Last year, conserving energy in the prerace build-up, Petrella and his teammates combined for a fourth-place finish as Liverpool missed the podium by 13 points. Victory went to Fayetteville-Manlius (which won the girls' title as well, for the eighth time in nine years), giving central New York, specifically the Syracuse area, a dominant showing.
Open Season: In what looks like a wide open NXN boys individual field, Petrella, 19th in 2014, should be a gold medal threat. Last Saturday, with the Northeast Regional held right after the New York Regional at Bowdoin Park, Perella had the faster time of the two boys winners by 14 seconds. Two weeks earlier, on Nov. 14, Petrella captured the New York State public schools class A title by 16 seconds over Tooker, who is the nation's fastest returning 3200 runner at 8:51.52 from last spring. The state course, at Monroe-Woodbury, was rated even tougher than Bowdoin Park.
Building Strength: After building a summer base of 60–70 miles a week, Petrella got his season off to a fast start with a 14:32.90 three-mile course record victory at the McQuaid Invitational in Rochester in early October. The next week at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Petrella suffered his only loss of the season, finishing fifth in the Manhattan Invitational Eastern States Championships.
Pivotal Workout: On his official visit to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Petrella used the Army track to do his favorite workout of the season—4 x 1600 meters in 4:45 followed by a 1200 meters in 3:30. "I was by myself," he said. "And I really pushed myself."
Tough Minded: Petrella says that when it comes to coping with the stress of racing, he considers it fun "to see how much pain I can put myself through without cracking." Last Saturday, Petrella, 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, showed consummate focus in the last 1,000 meters. "I might look tough out on the course," he said. "But deep down I'm just having a good time."
Emotional Rescue: In the regional, Petrella had one moment where, he said, "I cracked a little." He was halfway up the steep switchbacks when he felt himself give way for a couple of strides. Then, noting his position out front, he told himself, 'You're in the lead right now. Don't blow it.' After that, I was on my own."
Good Driver: "Ben's always been driven," says Liverpool track and cross-country coach Tracy Vannatta. "He has terrific strength, mentally and physically. We have a big strength-training program: plyometrics, lifting, core work, circuits. Ben buys into that. Pound for pound, he's one of the strongest runners out on the course."
Balancing Act: Petrella's sense of priorities seems the equal of his athletic prowess. "There's more to running than practice and racing," he said. "My lifestyle is based around running. But I find a way to have a social life, get good grades, and eat as healthy as I can."
Top Student: Academically, Petrella ranks second in his class with a 99.5 percent GPA out of 100. His college visits included Harvard. He chose West Point because of its young team and "opportunity to serve my country."
Track Times: In 2016, Petrella will be looking for his first state track title and a sub-9-minute 3200. Last winter, Petrella ran indoor track for the first time after being on the school swim team. Dealing with a foot injury, he ended up sixth in the state 3200. Outdoors, Petrella's 3200 PR of 9:05.07 in his state sectional got him third place and a school record, but he just missed qualifying for the state meet.
Fast Start: Petrella started running in sixth grade. After placing fourth in a district fun run, the middle school coach encouraged him to join cross-country. Confused, young Ben turned to his father and said, "Dad, what's cross-country?"
Marc Bloom's high school cross-country rankings have played an influential role in the sport for more than 20 years and led to the creation of many major events, including Nike Cross Nationals and the Great American Cross Country Festival. He published his cross-country journal, Harrier, for more than two decades.


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Christmas, a joyous season that excites the young and old, is here. The excitement is contagious: drinking cocoa by a warm fire, decorations illuminating the tree, and sharing time with family and friends. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, well, except for the bombardments of advertisements that tell you what your dearest one needs, the expectation of giving, of needing to make a list for others to buy for you, etc., etc. I feel like Charlie Brown this time of the year, cheapened by the dark side of the holiday, the commercialization that steals the joy of Christmas.
As I attempt to live more simply, I find that the modern Christmas norms juxtapose my belief system on gifting. How do you express love without gifts, and how do you lovingly say no to those who lavish with presents? This has been a delicate subject that my husband and I have waded through with our families each year, as we attempt to set out desires for our lifestyle to be de-cluttered by more and more "stuff." The conversations are not always easy, but they are beneficial as a tool to discuss lasting values and impacts.
What is the hardest part about even breaching this topic? Feeling spoiled with a "first world problem." In some ways, yes, it seems ungrateful, but when something challenges the values that you seek, take it into careful consideration. When you have people in your life that express their love in gifts, it is hard to ask them to change. Fortunately, our families are patient with us, and over time have listened to our desires. We forgive them when they overdo it (who doesn't enjoy occasionally being spoiled), and best of all, we have found an avenue to fully express our appreciation for them, homemade gifts.
Canned Gifts for Readymade Meals
My go-to gifts are canned goods that I have made in the summer and fall. Canning takes lots of time and energy, especially if you have planted the seeds in the ground.
It is such a pleasure to watch the transformation from garden to table, and to be able to share that warmth with your loved ones during the coldest time of the year. Now all that needs to be done is to decorate the jars with cute holiday fabric, bows, and ornaments. Voila — instant gift. Gift baskets with a sampling of your canned flavors make quick decadent presents.
If you haven't been canning this year, don't despair; you can assemble gifts in a jar, like the Oatmeal M&M Cookie mix here.
How to Make Wooden Ornaments
Another simple project we worked on this year is stamped wooden ornaments. Supplies for this include: thin wood slices (also called tree cookies), stamps, ink, and eyehooks. We made our own tree cookies by cutting a small branch 1/4-inch thick, sanded each piece, then added a layer of clear varnish for the finished look. When dry, they are ready to be stamped. Be careful to let the ink dry before touching, else it will smudge. The last touch is to add the eyehook. Rustic and beautiful, here is another quick and easy homemade present to be proud of.
Be creative. Choose something that's inspiring for you and meaningful for your loved one. Take up a new hobby in 2015. Projects are great ways to force you into learning something new, like this knitted scarf for my niece.
It is far from perfect (that's why you get the distant view), but I know she will cherish the energy that her aunt put into it far more than a toy from the store.
May we enter Christmas with a spirit of gratitude for the special ones in our life, and the upcoming year to choose more wisely and sustainably. Nothing says "I love you" like spending time on someone.
All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Best Practices, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on the byline link at the top of the page.


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Airports are vital to provide safe, reliable and efficient air transport. The aviation industry is growing rapidly: worldwide passenger figures have doubled within the past 15 years and will continue to evolve by 3.5 percent annually over the next 20 years, according to ICAO and IATA. This growth is leading to capacity constraints and infrastructural needs at airports to provide state-of-the-art and reliable operations. Flight delays and thus disruption costs are rising due to limitations of infrastructures and in collaboration with system partners; according to SITA the aspect of mishandled baggage alone globally accounts for U.S. Dollars 2.4 bn in financial burden. The individualization of airline product demands and passenger expectations for a seamless travel experience require airports to adapt operational excellence measures.
Our experts at Lufthansa Consulting are envisioning continuous improvements in operations to tackle current industry challenges. We are looking to turn these challenges into success factors empowering airports to grow profitably while ensuring customer satisfaction and enabling dynamic advancements to infrastructural and capacity needs. To better understand the latest developments and perspectives of airports in relation to operational excellence Lufthansa Consulting has created an online survey on this relevant issue.
We would like to invite airport managers (Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Operations Directors, Operations Excellence Managers and Heads of Operations Control) to take part in our research by 31 March 2020.
The survey focuses on Operations Steering and Performance Management, Data Analytics and Organization as well as Partnerships and Services. Areas of research range from the use of data to forecasting tools, the presence of operational excellence programs and cover particularly topics such as the state of digitalization in operations and collaboration with joint partners.
The questionnaire consists of 30 questions and will take less than 20 minutes to complete.
If you would like to participate or have any questions, please click here, fill in your details and put the word "SURVEY2020" into the message.
Your Benefit: The outcomes of this anonymous study will be published in spring 2020 allowing you to benchmark your airport with the industry and identify your individual strengths and areas for development. You can also select to identify your company and receive a more detailed individualized report about the status of your operational excellence.


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Saturday, May 24, 2014
Memorial Day Weekend
The older I get, the more I look behind me and the less I look to the future.
I suppose that's natural, the road behind me is a lot longer than the road ahead. But that's alright. I have very few regrets.
Memorial Day weekend. Three days away from work. It's nice. A whole lot of really good folks paid for this weekend. For me. For you.
Some of them I knew. Most of them I did not. But I served with men and women just like them.
I believe they would want us to go out and enjoy ourselves. Have a cookout, have a beer (or two) and generally savor life. If they could, they would be right there beside us. Watching the ball game, flipping that steak on the grill, opening another beer, perhaps sharing a secret smile with someone special.
But they can't.
All we can do is remember them, perhaps pause, tip your drink to the sky and just say "Thanks." They would do the same for us.
So enjoy yourselves this weekend. Have a great time. Live your life to the fullest.
They would.
If they could...
2 comments:
Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...
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The fuel that could be the end of Ethanol
FORTUNE — In 2007 we reported on biobutanol, a biofuel with the potential to solve many of the problems associated with ethanol. Since then, industry players like BP have been seeking ways to make a cost-efficient transition to the "advanced biofuel," and now a scientific breakthrough might finally make that possible.
Butanol trumps ethanol in several ways: Adding ethanol to gasoline reduces fuel mileage, but butanol packs almost as much energy as gas, meaning fewer fill-ups. Butanol also doesn't damage car engines like ethanol, so more of it can be blended into gas. And because butanol doesn't separate from gasoline in the presence of water, it can be blended right at the refinery, while ethanol has to be shipped separately from gas and blended closer to the filling station.
But with 200 plants already up and running in the U.S., ethanol is firmly entrenched. Modifying those plants to produce butanol from corn instead of ethanol costs roughly $15 million for each facility. Converting ethanol into butanol could be cheaper, theoretically, but the industry has been looking for a chemical catalyst capable of doing it efficiently. Until now, the conversion process produced too little butanol and too many unwanted products that had to be separated out. The process was "certainly too expensive to be competitive as a fuel molecule," says Duncan Wass, a professor of chemistry at the University of Bristol in the U.K.
MORE: 8 PCs that want to bring sexy back
At the annual American Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans, Wass presented research — funded by BP (BP) — on a family of new catalysts that produced 95% butanol in the lab. "They hold the prospect of being able to convert ethanol to butanol in high yield, high selectivity and at large-scale," Wass says.
It will still be some time before we'll start seeing butanol produced with Wass's catalysts at the pump — it takes several years just to design, build, and test new fuels at scale in a pilot plant. Wass estimates it will be six years to commercialization if the next steps go off without a hitch.
But at that point, won't we just be trading one food-based fuel for another, taking corn out of the mouths of babes? Says Wass, "The beauty of these catalysts is that they can use all sources of ethanol biologically derived from any crop." Corn stalks, wood, leaves, and switch grass are all being studied as sources of non-food biofuel.


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Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse University student made a plea for her illegal immigrant parents today at a rally for immigration law reform outside the federal building in Syracuse.
Her mother and father have lived in fear that they'll be deported for nearly 20 years. They fled their native Colombia in the early 1980s because it was not safe, she said. Since then, they've worked selling condoms wholesale and paid taxes every year using a phony taxpayer ID number, she said. They've never received tax rebates owed to them because that would've exposed them, and they will never receive government funding such as Social Security benefits or Medicare, she said.
The SU student, who requested her name be withheld, said she hopes the proposals for immigration reform, which have stalled in Congress, can get her parents the American citizenship they deserve. If that means they have to pay a fine of $5,000 or $10,000, so be it, she said.
"As long as they can stay where they belong, where their home is, where my sister and I are," said the 18-year-old woman, who was born in the U.S. along with her sister.
She would not give her parents' names or hometowns.
The rally was held to welcome a caravan of demonstrators making its way across the state to push for immigration reform. The caravan was stalled in Albany by a snowstorm, and hadn't reached Syracuse 45 minutes after the scheduled start of the rally.
Others who were not at the rally say immigration laws should be strictly enforced.
"It always comes down to the American taxpayers paying money for people who aren't our citizens," said Bart Bonner of Watertown, who formed a local chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to patrol New York's border with Canada. "They have no business in our country, particularly with the job shortage. We understand there's a lot of poverty in the world. But it's not our responsibility to solve it."
John O'Brien can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 470-2187.


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Mine is Buddy rich because well he is Buddy Rich.influenced of many great drummers.
My favorite drummer is me.
Not for the drumming aspect, It's just that I like myself more than any other drummer.
I was actually the most impressed with his playing on the Tenacious D stuff.Dave Grohl.
I remember watching Nirvana play on MTV before I was interested in the drums and thinking he looked cool as hell. Now as a drummer, his drumming on the Queens of the Stone Age record Songs for the Deaf is the epitome of rock drumming, and his work is Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, etc, speaks for itself.


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Back to Business English Courses
Back to English for Special Purposes Courses
The English for Business Communications examination is a realistic and innovative examination that places the student in a the role of a business person responding to a set of authentic-looking communications. The student wiil have to write suitable replies to emails, business letters and business communications as well as brief reports following instruction.
This test recognises learner's ability to read and write the complete range of business communications from emails to letters.
The English for Business Communications test is available in 3 different levels covering different levels from Elementary to Proficiency.
Level 1 (Access) - Beginner / Elementary (A1 / A2, Common European Framework)
Level 2 (Communicator) - Pre-Intermediate / Intermediate (B1 / B2, Common European Framework)
Level 3 (Mastery - Upper Intermediate / Advanced / Proficiency (C1 / C2, Common European Framework)
The examination is available on-demand therefore students can sit for the exam on the date of their choice.
|Suitable for:
|Non-native speakers of English who use English in the workplace as a formal recognition of their ability
|Course options:
|20 lessons per week (a lesson lasts 45 minutes)
30 lessons per week (a lesson lasts 45 minutes)
|Lesson times:
|20 lessons per week: 11.00am-12.30pm, 1.00pm-2.30pm
30 lessons per week: 9.00am-10.30am,11.00am-12.30pm,1.00pm-2.30pm
|Course content:
|20 lessons per week: 2 lessons a day English for Business Communications Preparation, 2 lessons a day General English
30 lessons per week: 2 lessons a day English for Business Communications Preparation, 4 lessons a day General English
|Class size:
|English for Business Communications Preparation lessons: 10 students maximum
General English lessons: 15 students maximum
|Start days:
|Any day of the week from Monday to Friday
|Course duration:
|We recommend a minimum of 4 weeks
Courtesy of City & Guilds
For more information about these examinations please contact us.


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Book Blitz Sign Up: Painting Sky by Rita Branches!
by Rita Branches
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 25th 2016
Summary from Goodreads:
Nobody ever said life was easy...
People pleaser, Jane Skylar wants nothing more than to earn her art degree, start her life, and bask in the bliss of living with her boyfriend.
But things don't always go as planned...
Struggling with her creative side, Jane finds herself in turmoil, often confiding in her roommate - another, more talented art student, Keith Hale. Keith just so happens to be her boyfriend's older, brooding brother. After a devastating breakup, Jane turns to Keith for comfort. But when the lines blur between roommate and lover, Jane's life becomes more complicated than ever before.
When Keith's past comes back to haunt him, their lives all get turned upside down, forcing the truth to surface. Now Jane must fight for what she wants--even if it hurts everyone she loves.
During a Limited time only, Painting Sky is on sale for $0.99!
Buy Links:
About the Author
Hi! I'm Rita Branches. I was born and raised in in Portugal and I'm going to independently publish my debut novel in the Spring of 2016, Painting Sky.
I am so happy that you decided to take a look at my work.
Little bit about myself: along with being a writer, I am also a landscape architect. I started writing to bring 'to life' the stories that my mind created.
I LOVE to read. It was and always will be my passion.
Author Links:


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If you're looking for something a bit different to entertain you on your trip to the south east, then Brighton is the place to go. There are many reasons why this famous city by the sea attracts so many holidaymakers from the UK and beyond, but we're going to take a look at one of Brighton's more obscure attractions.
The Brighton Hidden Mysteries Tour is the perfect choice for those looking for a quirky, out-of-the-ordinary adventure on the south coast. If you have a mild interest in conspiracy and the occult, enjoyed Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code or just simply like to be amused by good storytelling, then this tour is going to be right up your street.
But what is it? The Hidden Mysteries tour takes visitors on a fascinating journey into the magic and witchcraft folklore of the city. It promises to reveal the extraordinary, unseen history lurking around every corner in Brighton's historic streets, and share stories of the strange goings-on, hidden places, and rituals that this city is secretly home to.
You need not be a believer in the supernatural, however, to enjoy this tour. The entire tour is presented with tongue firmly lodged in cheek, and ample doses of comedy to boot.
Run by the hugely knowledgeable – and entertaining – Lee Sillitoe, the tour begins at the Old Steine, weaving through the grounds of the Royal Pavilion, taking in the symbolism of the historic building, and the streets and buildings around the city centre. Words like alchemy, paganism, Knights Templar and Illuminati all come up more than once!
Sillitoe takes his audience through his spellbinding research, spinning yarns and drawing links between ancient civilisations, conspiracies and magic, the facts always dancing and interweaving with fancy and fiction. You are left to draw your own conclusions as to the veracity of what you've been told.
The tour goes on for two hours, with a small section being considered unsuitable for children. For that bit, you are welcome to leave the tour and rejoin after, though it is down to your own parental guidance. You know what your kids will enjoy, and what is likely to scare them out of their wits!
The tour is very popular, running weekly throughout the year, every Friday night at 7pm. Perhaps the best time to go on the tour is over Halloween, at the end of October, when the supernatural elements take on a whole extra resonance. It's also the time of year it's probably going to be a good idea to book in advance, because of the seasonal quality.
At only £8.00 per person, the Hidden Mysteries tour is an affordable way to spend a memorable and entertaining evening in Brighton. As the evening streets glow with autumn light, and the chill sea breeze whips up your hair, the sheer evocativeness of the content and mood of the tour is simply delightful. And once it comes to an end, you can warm up with a mulled cider or local Sussex ale in one of Brighton's many lively, comfortable pubs.


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Meet With a Probate Attorney in Midlothian to Create Your Will
Do you have a will? Most people don't. In fact, 64% of Americans don't have a will.?
The reasons why vary, but what will happen if you suddenly pass without a will won't. Which is why you should schedule to meet with a probate attorney.
They can help guide you through the process and plan ahead. But before you speak with one, here are a few things you should know first.
Why Hire a Probate Attorney
A probate attorney is also known as an estate lawyer. This means that they are a licensed professional has the legal education and experience to advise Executors and beneficiaries of an estate on how to settle final affairs.
Here are just a few things an estate lawyer in Midlothian can help you with:
- Assists with sale of property
- Collecting life insurance proceeds and retirement plans
- Addresses income taxes as well as inheritance and estate taxes
- Settles disputes among beneficiaries
- Locates all assets
- Prepares and files all appropriate documents
Dealing with a deceased person's estate a long and difficult process. Also, there are so many considerations most people don't think about.
Types of Documents Probate Attorneys Prepare
Here are the four main types of documents that an estate lawyer will help you prepare:
1. Will
Plans for the distribution of your property upon your death.
2. Living Will
Helps you plan for possible future health care calamities that may come up where you can no longer speak for yourself. Often this has to do with life support and organ donorship.
3. Health Care Surrogate
Should something happen to you and you can't speak for yourself, a healthcare surrogate acts as your decision maker.
4. Power of Attorney
This designates someone to act on your behalf for all legal and financial decisions should you become unable to.
How to Plan Ahead Before You Meet with a Probate Attorney
Luckily, there are steps you can take before you meet with an estate lawyer. Here is how to prepare:
Take Inventory
What are your assets? What about your liabilities? By taking proper inventory before you meet with an attorney, it will save money and ensure everything is properly covered.
Designate Beneficiaries
Who do you want to receive your money, assets, and property? How will they receive it? Outright or in a trust??
Designate an Executor
Who will manage all of this? Will you designate an attorney or a member of the family? What about someone to make decisions for you should you become incapacitated?
What Can Happen When You Choose Not to Use an Estate Attorney
Many younger people feel there is no need for a will. However, that can be a huge mistake.
If incapacitated, you can't speak for yourself. What's worse, is often there's been no conversation at all regarding your wishes.
Children and pets may not be cared for according to your wishes. If you have young children, it's imperative to have a will. Otherwise, the courts decide what happens to them.
Each state differs on their laws regarding what happens to your belongings without a will. Still, it's easier and smarter for you to make those decisions yourself.
While it can be scary to think and plan for your own death, working with a trusted lawyer makes the process easier. We offer a free 30-minute consultation, so call today for peace of mind.


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While meeting Tom Hanks always proves to be a memorable experience, the Oscar-winner gave two fans an extra special moment on Saturday, November 4. During his sold-out talk at the Texas Book Festival, the 61-year-old actor helped a couple get engaged! The magical moment, which seemed straight out of one of the star's romantic comedies, came toward the end of his question-and-answer session. The A-lister remarked that he was bored of being asked questions, saying that he wanted to instead pose one himself. "Here's Ryan's question, and it's for Nikki Young," the talent said with a grin. "Nikki, will you marry me?" At this, Ryan McFarling, who sat in the front row with his girlfriend Nikki, got down on one knee.
scroll down for video
Tom Hanks helped one lucky couple get engaged while promoting his new book in Texas Photo: Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage
Nikki Young was stunned after hearing the celebrity pop the question on behalf of her boyfriend. She, of course, said "yes," as the crowd of over 1,000 attendees cheered around them. Tom ushered the couple on stage where he happily gave them hugs and took photos with them. "We can all agree," Tom said motioning to Ryan. "This is one lucky man."
RELATED: Tom Hanks photobombed wedding photos in Central Park
On the heels of this unforgettable moment, HELLO! caught up with Nikki, who is a self-proclaimed "fangirl" of Tom. "Everyone close to me knows how much I love Tom Hanks and have quite the collection of Tom Hanks movie memorabilia," she told us. "I am typically the planner and producer - not this time. I had no idea! I was already stoked just to get to go to the event!"
Ryan proposed to Nikki with the help of Tom Hanks Photo: Facebook/Texas Book Festival
"Ryan worked out the planning with Chris Rios of Texas Capital Bank, who coordinated with the Texas Book Festival folks who coordinated with Tom Hanks and his folks," the bride-to-be said of her now fiancé. "Both Ryan and I are romantics so getting to have an opportunity to have Tom Hanks star in our love story is the best gift ever!"
Nikki Young was shocked when her idol Tom Hanks helped with her proposal Photo: Ryan McFarling
The Forrest Gump star kept it real with the couple: "Tom Hanks told Ryan he was pretty ballsy and told me I could say no if I wanted to," Nikki said laughing. She also touched on what it would be like to have him officiate or even just attend her special day. "That would make this fangirl forever grateful if that could happen!"
Tom was at the festival in downtown Austin to read from his collection of short stories, titled Uncommon Type, with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lawrence Wright. The actor's highly-anticipated appearance was already the biggest draw for the festival's opening day. The premier weekend event also featured a discussion with former President George W. Bush's famous daughters: Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, who presented their book Sisters First in a session moderated by Brooklyn Decker.


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Complete range of Motorcycle Safety Helmets
At Premjis we place a great emphasis on rider safety and we carry the widest range of motorcycle helmets built to ISI 4151 specifications. In addition to reputed Indian brands such as Aaron, Ergo, Safe, Steelbird and Vega we also carry internationally reputed brands such as LS2.
Full Face Helmets
Full face helmets provide the most protection of all types of helmets and are the preferred choice of most aware two wheeler riders. We offer a wide variety of Indian and imported full face motorcycle helmets with a range of features such as tool less quick detach visors, washable padding, and ventilation.
Open Face Helmets
Open face motorcycle helmets offer similar skull protection as a full face helmet but do not offer any protection to the chin area. Our range of open face helmets also offer fixed or optional visors and peaks.


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When your donation is received, it is separated into individual components with a machine called a centrifuge. The different components are red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Each and every one of them can be put to a different use.
Red blood cells
her main function is to distribute the oxygen to our body tissues and to carry the carbon dioxide back to our lungs.
Red blood cell transfusions are used in cases where the patient has lost a lot of blood, like in trauma or surgery or childbirth but also in cases of severe anemia when the bone marrow does not produce enough of them like in chemotherapy, leukemia and thalassemia.
The red cells are filtered to be separated form the white blood cells, and they have a life of 35 days from the day the donation was made.
White blood cells
The function of white blood cells is to fight infection; they are part of our body's defense system. White cell transfusions are needed for patients suffering from life threatening infections and whose natural defense mechanisms don't respond well to antibiotics.
Platelets (also known as thrombocytes) are formed in the bone marrow. These fragments of cells help the blood to clot. When the platelet level is low, you tend to suffer a lot from bruising and bleeding.
We tend to think that red is the color of blood, but as a matter of fact it is only the color of the red blood cells that make it appear that way. When removing all the cellular components of the blood, we are left with plasma: a yellow fluid that carries all the blood cells.
Generated by the white blood cells, these protective antibodies form when the patient is recovering from an infection or after having received some immunization. When these antibodies are formed, they protect the body from future attacks of that same infection.


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Blog Archives
Take 2
This is the third blog post I'm writing today. The first one was lovely, until it wasn't. I started somewhere and ended up doing a writing catharsis exercise. No one needs to read that. Self indulgence happens sometimes. It generates ideas sometimes. It generates beautiful tortured poetry sometimes. This time it needed to be put aside so I could move on.
Blog post number 2 was perfect. I took my theme and ran with it. I had photos all cropped and pasted just where I wanted them. I had a message, love, family and all that. I also somehow managed to create it as a page rather than a blog post. I set it aside and ran off to a doctors appointment thinking I could fix it when I got back. Nope. Somehow I managed to erase all but the first and last sentence. Irretrievable.
So here I am again thinking it's Monday after Mother's Day and I really "should" put out something. Orion promised me he was looking forward to reading what I wrote while he was at his day program. Haha. (I think he just wanted to see the photos he was in.) But now I'm tired and crabby and the sun has disappeared behind the clouds.
In the post I lost I talked about gardening and spring and after I wrote it I was looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt this afternoon. Given the sudden shift in the weather, and the fact I still have some writing to do, I don't think that's going to happen.
Some days just go like that. Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow.
Some Assembly Required
We went from 2 feet of snow to 85 degrees up here in Minnesota. It's crazy weather and has me behind in the yard. I'm always behind in the yard, but this year that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. The consensus up here is that it's now summer and we had 1 beautiful day of spring.
Some of the season's work isn't actually in the yard at all. I took a load to Goodwill. I took my car to the car wash. I'm trying to figure out what to do with all the "stuff" I've brought back from my parents house. It's not easy keeping motivated.
One day this weekend I threw my hands in the air and bought one of those outdoor storage benches. I wanted to get the yard furniture cushions out of my dinning room. I expected to shove a bin in the back of my car. Silly me. Instead it was a box, and directions.
Apparently the current world view is that pictographs are much easier to follow than words. That's only true if you're in translation with a bad editor, but hey. I was more than half way through the project before I got to the step that said, this step requires 2 people. I DON'T HAVE 2 PEOPLE! But I am determined and managed despite having "inadequate tools" for the job.
I seem to be in the one step forward two steps back mode. (I know, it's supposed to go the other way around but it sure doesn't feel like it.) I did 5 minutes of trimming brush before I got wacked on the head with a buckthorn. Little branch, hit me just right. Thorn cut the skin, head wound, lots of bleeding but actually no big deal. Still, it made me much less ambitious about the project.
I did give myself a reward by making a lovely dinner. If only I could figure out how to use the grill….
May Day 2017
Happy May Day! We've been having snow flurries, which makes it a little difficult to get into the spirit of the season. I suppose I could go on about the history of labor unions and all the benefits we take for granted because of the work that they did back in 1886 and beyond. But you all have Wikipedia for that.
In Wicca this is also Beltane and a celebration to bless the animals and the fields with fertility. Wicca tends to work with a male/female balance honoring the fact that union is how we all came about. In this day and age that makes much of our ritual look particularly heterosexist and decidedly gender binary.
The thing is that many of the Gods in the Pagan pantheons are rather gender queer. There is room in Paganism to express and celebrate fertility in many other ways. But working in a tradition, and a Wiccan tradition in particular means honoring and holding to rites and ritual formats that, when they were written, probably do have an intentional hetero-cis bias.
Like snow on May Day, the reality is often a lot more complicated than the theory. In Minnesota a May snow, or at least a frost is not at all unusual. Our "late frost" date is May 15th. But in Wicca, and through much of Paganism this is a festival about flowers and early fruits.
Traditionally, this festival is not a calendar based festival, but one that honors the actual season in the area. It is a time when the fields are ready for planting – not the same date every year at all. It is marked by the white blossomed trees (usually rowan) coming into bloom (also not a calendar dependent event.) In Minnesota this year we are having a remarkably early spring. The ground has been thawed for some time. In microclimate areas some of the fruit trees have started blooming. Historically that just doesn't happen until mid May and even that is early.
So snow is unexpected this year and seems out of place. Our weather reporters carry on about "below average" temperatures. Technically that is true, but if you graph 100 years of spring temperatures and do the statistics you get at least a 15 degree standard deviation. That means that "normal" is plus or minus 15 degrees. To really be "below average", remarkably warm or cold, we'd need to be outside of that 30 degree swing and we are not. At least not today.
I have actually put some things into the garden already. Cold hearty crops like radishes and peas. I did sprinkle some spinach and lettuce seeds and I'm trying my hand at carrots again. Tomatoes and basil are still a month out. The weather is supposed to get warmer from here out so I'm hoping to get back into the dirt later in the week. That will be a celebration in itself! In the meantime, I'll just take things as they come and enjoy the cool while it lasts.
Previous Posts on May Day or Beltane:
Fertility Spring May Beltaine (even I don't spell it consistently)
Rainy Days
Both Orion and I had doctor appointments last week. I was going to take photos and write all about our busy week. But doctors offices are boring. The appointments were too. How many times in one week can you hear "make another appointment and we'll deal with it next time." without feeling a little like you're wasting your days?
The weather was all over the place last week. We desperately need the moisture. We didn't have enough snow cover and the lakes and rivers are exceptionally low for this time of year. I swear one day we had rain at 40 degrees, snow at 32, and then sunshine in the 50's! (And in that order!)
It's too early to get to planting anything up here. Our "last frost" date is May 15th, so we've got a wait. It feels like we should be out digging though, and the ground is warm (warmish). The nursery's pansies (which are very hearty) are out, but not much else.
I did get out and start cleaning up around my peonies. There's plenty of yard work to do before planting can happen. I'm just not in shape for it. I try to get out a little bit every day (when it's not raining, or snowing). It doesn't take much to make me worn out, but I've hopes of building up my stamina. It's nice to be able to get out at all.
It's nice to be able to get down on the ground and get up again. It's nice to not be afraid to be outside without my phone in easy reach. (Just in case I can't get up!) It's nice to be digging in the dirt and feeling the sunshine warming my joints. It's nice to be able to come back in and soak in the tub. Last year I couldn't do much outside and soaking in the tub isn't allowed for 6 weeks post surgery.
I'm enjoying the rainy days. I catch myself singing. I'll keep trying to take advantage of the sun when it shines. Seems like a good plan.
Stir Crazy
This is the time of year when cabin fever really starts to set in. Imbolc, Groundhogs day, Candlemas the mid-marker festivals of the season. For much of the country 6 more weeks of winter sounds like a lot, but it's countable. For us it's 6 more weeks before we can even start counting! Mid-March is a great time to start seedlings indoors where I live. There is no hope of planting even peas and kale until May. (Well, sometimes we get lucky and risk takers will put a little something in at the end of April, but it's rare.)
These winter holidays are very important for us. They provide a break in the routine, a chance to get out of the house and socialize. Another Monday when schools and roads are closed because it's too cold and too windy. Blizzard conditions make getting out of the house seem a little like a pipe-dream. But we do it. It is -20F this morning (with a windchill below -40. Do you know that -40 is the temperature when Celsius and Fahrenheit meet? When you live someplace where that temperature is a reality you learn that kind of trivia.)
They're talking highs at 20F on Wednesday. We've been up and down that 40-50 degrees a lot this year. It's hard on a body. To us that 20F will feel like a heat wave. Minnesotans will go out to the mailbox without their coats. They'll leave hats and gloves in the car. A friend on Facebook said "you know it's been cold when you're out shoveling at 15F and need to take your coat off because it's too warm!" We're a little crazy that way – stir crazy.
Another really perverse factoid about the winter weather here is that when it's cold it's usually really sunny. The snow reflects that sunlight and so it's bright enough to need sunglasses. Those festivals all celebrate the return of longer days, the return of the light. The sun rises noticeably earlier and sets noticeably later. The further north you go the more dramatic those differences are. Minneapolis is on the 45th parallel. That's half way between the equator and the top of the world (or the bottom if you're not Northern Hemisphere biased). About this time of year a typical office worker begins to notice that they are driving to and from work in daylight rather than darkness. A nice change of pace. But being able to see the light sometimes makes you want it even more.
Wikapedia says: When experiencing cabin fever, a person may tend to sleep, have distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail. Maybe that's why we have a winter carnival with ice castles, kite flying on frozen lakes, winter witch camp (which is actually in Wisconsin, but if you fly in Minneapolis is the closer airport), and parks that rent cross-country skis and snowshoes.
Today the University is closed because the weather is so bad, but the Metro Mobility buses are running. Orion got bundled up and sent of to his day program and we'll make it to adaptive Yoga tonight. We're getting ready to celebrate Imbolc this coming weekend and in the meantime working on staying warm and not getting too stir crazy.
When we think about spring the images that come to mind are bright and fresh. Tulips and crocuses and daffodils come in a range of happy colors. New shoots of grass, fresh buds on the trees, robins with their red breasts all evoke a feelings of hope and joy. Even in the worst of our spring images April showers bring may flowers.
Nowhere in the lexicon of spring imagery is the reality of grey ugly snow that refuses to melt. Those April showers in our imagination look more like a warm summer rain than like sleet beating against the roof. Gentle spring breezes of the mind are rarely underlined with cold northern gusts that carry the cold damp through all the layers. Winter hangs on tightly with icy fingers.
I do understand that all of this is the nature of where I live. There are areas of the country where planting is underway. Real planting, not starting seedlings indoors. I know there are places where snow is a rare thing that never overstays its welcome. I recognize that this weather we've all been complaining about is actually pretty normal for us this time of year.
I look back fondly on Groundhogs Day. Where I come from it really doesn't matter what Punxsutawney Phil does. We are getting at least six more weeks of winter. When six weeks starts stretching into eleven it's easy to become a little frustrated and impatient. Cabin fever and spring fever get all bundled up together in a grey haze and we don't know what to do with ourselves.
To combat the malaise I'm making small efforts. Spring cleaning happens in fits and starts, even though it's too cold to open up the windows. Hot house tulips bought at the grocery store are stuffed in vases. I'll even splurge on asparagus, trucked in from who knows where.
I'll light a fire in the fireplace and dream of campfires. I'll make soup out of the asparagus ends and throw snow peas in the salad. I'll tend those indoor seedlings and sharpen my gardening tools.
Or maybe, like the groundhog I'll go back to bed. I'll stick my head under the covers and stay warm until the sun decides to come out. Maybe in May? I have my fingers crossed.
You all thought I was going to write about gun legislation didn't you. I'm not. I'm trying to look at packing as a metaphor. It seems like a better approach than looking upon it as a chore.
We use the term baggage a lot to talk about all the "stuff" we carry with us through life. I suspect the reference is effective in part because so many people tend to over pack. In the era of weighed checked luggage where we pay $25 + per bag, that overpacking issue gets tackled head on.
I think about the ways people have packed in the past. Traveling by ship with steamer trunks is a little different than flying with a carry on tote. On the other side of it we're going the distance for a weekend when back then it could be a month or more before even arriving at your destination. I look at old movies and watch actors skip down the road swinging those old suitcases. I've seen those suitcases in thrift stores. They're tiny. They're heavy!
Of course the actor has an empty suitcase, if it's not a piece of plastic painted to look like one. But even back in those days most people had the clothes on their backs, one set to wash and one for church on Sunday. There were no shoes in those suitcases. If there were books it was probably just one small Bible. Jewelry for common people wasn't particularly abundant either. I wonder how often they changed their underwear?
Those small suitcases (and this goes for carry on bags) are an issue as well. I'm not a small girl. I'm 5'10" and grossly overweight. For any one piece of clothing I get into my bag my daughter (5'8″ and fit) or my son (weighing under 100 lbs) can pack 2 or 3 of the same. Either of them can wear vintage clothing (although with my daughter it's tougher for the height and shoulders). It speaks to that old fashioned luggage, people were smaller. I'm lucky if I can wear a vintage hat. ($25 to check that hatbox Ma'am.)
Then there is the issue of seasonal travel. The Twin Cities in Minnesota has the largest temperature range for its population density in the world. Any time of year the "average" temperatures give or take 20 degrees. It's hard to pack one outfit that's reasonable for both 75 degrees and 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Temps in that entire range are common any day in 6 months out of the year, and possible in all of them. (Well maybe our highest temperature ever in January was 69 degrees but our lowest in July was 24!) When traveling to multiple climate zones (or a crazy place like Minnesota) layers are essential and that means less room in the luggage. A sweater takes up a lot more space than a swimsuit!
I've done enough traveling that I do pack well and can travel lightly. I have trouble lifting or carrying a bag that weighs as much as that 50 lbs excess baggage limit. Still I'm often amazed at what I choose to include on any given trip. How much of my "good intentions" packing (sure I'll work on that project while I'm away) do I ever really get to do? Other than reading on the plane, do I find myself reading in hotel rooms? How much of what I run to Target to grab before I go would be just as easy to pick up once I arrive?
I'm still reaching for the metaphor. I'm not sure what packing says about me, about us. I do feel better about doing it. Packing as a meditation……….
Thanks for listening.
I really can't get over the weather this spring. We had some snow yesterday, flurries in the cities and more up north. The general reaction was surprise. "This isn't normal." Actually it is. Not only is it normal for April, but it's not unheard of even in May when the trees typically are in blossom and the bulbs are blooming.
I've lived in the area all my life and I was raised to be aware of the weather. We did a lot of camping, even locally, and that of course helped. I grew up fascinated by thunderstorms and tornadoes. I watched from my basement window as the tornadoes that destroyed one of our neighboring suburbs went past. I was out on the lake with my father and grandfather when a storm came in and we sat out the accompanying tornado under the boat pulled up on someone's lakeshore back yard. I've ridden through tornado weather in a tent, occasionally the only one left standing in the campground the next morning.
In the fall of 1985 I announced that I was getting married on May 10, 1986 and that there would be apple blossoms and fresh lilacs for my bouquet. I was told I was crazy. First off that the lilacs followed the apple blossoms, they did not bloom at the same time. Secondly that here in Minnesota neither the apple nor the lilac bloomed that early in the year. I was adamant.
Although it was early I knew down to my bones that it was possible. I'd been watching for years with an awareness that I wanted those flowers when and if I ever got married. Yes the lilacs usually follow the apples, but sometimes for a couple of days they can be in bloom together. Yes the spring is often later than that second week of May, but early springs had happened almost that time of year.
I got married on May 10, 1986 under a blossoming apple tree with lilacs in my bouquet. I had to bring the lilacs in the night before and put them in warm water to force the blossom from the bud, but I was a happy bride. This is why I keep insisting that we are a full month ahead on the season. We really are. The fruit trees are blossoming and the lilacs are starting to bloom. In mid April. Even before the taxes were due.
In my lifetime, my fathers lifetime and my grandfathers lifetime this weather pattern was unheard of until this year. Everyone loves it. I love it, it's beautiful. It's also SO wrong. There is no predicting if it will hold or if we will loose all the fruits from these early blossoms. There is no predicting if we will have and earlier or longer or hotter summer. There is no predicting what may happen in August.
The weather forecasters and climatologists are using models based on data that is no longer applicable. They are assuming that the weather patterns will hold true as they move to more northern latitudes. Unfortunately there is no data that indicates that is an accurate theory. The tornado systems that have plagued the midwest already this year (much too early in the season) are not typical of Texas springs.
Most of us have become very urbanized. We are dependent on the shipping of our produce from "wherever it might be growing." We have lost our sense of how the climate affects the crops, affects the prices, affects anything beyond our daily comfort. That's why we are loving this weather, this early spring.
I can't say I've had much conversation with the local farmers. Our farmers markets typically don't even open until after Memorial Day and there's rarely much produce until mid June. I suspect they are as torn as I am. Enjoying the early and dry spring as it allows for early planting. Worried about the lack of rain rather than the over abundance springs often bring. Not at all sure what they are risking by planting early, or what the potential for gain may be if we have an extended season.
In all my life I can not remember ever taking the weather truly one day at a time. I've always seen the patterns. I've always had a climate norm that I could relate to. I've always laughed at the weather forecasters who compare "today's temperatures" with the mean average, knowing that our "typical" temperatures in the spring are plus or minus 15 degrees.
I guess I'm just going to have to get used to the weather as it comes. We all will. Let's hope the surprises Mother Nature has in store for us are things we can survive.


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In this episode I address the growing surveillance state and how it will impact both criminal behavior and the behavior of innocent Americans. I also discuss the recent positive economic news and I show how the numbers differ from the Obama administration numbers.
Show Notes:
- This piece details some of the tools of surveillance which were used in the Austin bombing case and what it means for you.
- Jeff Sessions is dropping the hammer on the FBI.
- This piece exposes the troubling behavior of former CIA Director John Brennan.
- Donations to the NRA have tripled.
- Is Facebook listening to you?
- Terrific new economic numbers to report.


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Transitional Area Rugs Collection
What is the difference between an antique or vintage rug and a transitional rug? Rugs referred to as transitional are those that blend styles and designs of vintage rugs from times past with modern trends of today's decorative rugs. These rugs allude to a specific yet versatile style that provides the timeless elegance of traditional rug patterns while incorporating less formality and more eclecticism associated with contemporary rugs.
Transitional rugs blend smoothly and freely with all kinds of décor or ambiances. Esmaili's fabulous showcase of transitional rugs for sale online offers the same comfort, culture and quality found in vintage and antique rugs.
Unrivalled Elegance with Transitional Rugs in Dallas
We provide an impressive selection of transitional rugs to our clients that combine awe-inspiring elements of enduring traditional and modern designs and styles. Transitional rugs deftly reconstruct traditional rug patterns into fresh, contemporary designs incorporating fashionable colors and trendy features. You will find some of our transitional rugs for sale online bursting with bold shades of yellows, blues, reds and greens paired artistically with clean lines and emphatic patterns. You will also discover transitional rugs making quiet statements with neutral tones highlighted by impactful, yet elegant details.
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Color palettes of transitional rugs evoke serene, dusk-like atmospheres offering depth and texture with the addition of browns, ivories and grays. Seamless blends of peaceful colors, simply delineated lines and the use of warmth and light artfully combine to create the highest quality transitional rugs you will find anywhere. Esmaili's online transitional rug collection contains dozens of rugs perfect for completing your interior design scheme requiring harmonious elements, an eclectic touch and hint of traditional charm.
Utilizing post-modern fashion trends and classic motifs also allows transitional rugs to acquire a uniquely minimalistic appearance while retaining a historical richness meant to pay tribute to the fascinating history of rug-making. Transitional rugs give you full reign to conceive a completely individualized look without being confined to one specific era of rug weaving history.
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Floral rugs are a mainstay in home decorating, but not everyone likes a crowded country spread design. If you enjoy flowers, herbs, and nature motifs, but don't care for European Country style; a botanical transitional rug might be just what you need. These rugs offer a mixed bag of stylized, dense, sparse and even Zen-inspired layouts. This gives you the freedom to add a splash of botanical or floral design without shifting your room's theme.
Brighten A Room with Modern Floral Area Rugs in Dallas
Transitional floral rugs use color schemes not usually found in other styles, since many styles tend to be rooted in tradition. Transitional rugs also make use of little-seen plants as often as popular ones. Lush fern branches, often overlooked in European floral designs, are ready to take center stage. You won't find modernistic cherry blossoms on other types of rugs, but a design like that on a transitional rug is ready to bloom in any room. A good transitional rug is all about blurring boundaries and trying new things, without being tasteless.
Classic Area Rug Size Guide
- 5x8
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Mandarin-influenced transitional rugs feature peonies, bamboo, orchids and other Asian flowers, but without excess ornamentation. You might also find an almost retro-style repeated plant pattern or a modern bamboo forest done in hot new colors to create a
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Horns end regular season on high note, beating Cloudland 15-1
Having lost a narrow game against the Sullivan East Patriots, the JCHS baseball team was back on the field at Milligan College for their second round in the District 1 AA conference tournament. This time the Longhorns faced off against the Sullivan North Golden Raiders and their pitcher Chase Arnold.
With lead pitcher Ryan Mahala making his first appearance in the tournament it became an intense battle on the defense. Mahala went all seven innings, striking out nine batters with only three hits. The Longhorns had just as much trouble with Arnold, and even those hits that did get through were often cut short by strong plays from Norths infielders. There was some pretty decent pitching, said Head Coach Pete Pavusek. Ryan Mahala pitched very well. He was a little wild but effectively wild. They threw Chase Arnold and he threw pretty well. In all Johnson County had nine actual hits, but only four of those actually resulted in runs and all of those in the fifth inning.
The Raiders could not mount much of an offense either, although they were able to bat in one runner in the second and another in the fourth to gain the initial lead. Despite some strong plays, there were also several weak moments on both sides, resulting in several defensive errors. According to Pavusek, It was sloppy. There were four errors for both sides and we scored four runs in one inning and that was it. It was enough, but we only scored in that one inning and we struggled again hitting, like weve done all year. We left a lot of base runners on and had a lot of opportunities we let slip away.
The four successful runs came mainly from the teams senior lineup, including Judd Hammons, Jacob Henson, and River Cazire. The fourth actually went to freshman Alex Tressler who filled in as a courtesy runner. While these were the only complete advances, there were several other big hits including one from Daniel Helm that earned him an RBI.
As a double elimination tournament, both Johnson County and North already had one loss behind them; meaning that whichever team lost this game would effectively be out of the tournament. Because of this added pressure, the Raiders put everything they had to regain the lead coming into the sixth. Mahala was once again able to stop North before too much damage could be done, letting just one runner squeak through.
To read the entire article, pick up a copy of this week's Tomahawk.


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Communication is one of the most difficult challenges faced by scientists. Explaining highly technical research to people who don't have a scientific background is not only very challenging, but vital to the continued support of research being done.
Naowarat Cheeptham is a professor of microbiology at Thompson Rivers University and is currently researching cave microbials in an effort to find new bacteria with anti-microbial properties that could be used in future vaccines.
"As a scientist I'm responsible for communicating at different levels, so I thought, how can I show people that not all bacteria are bad," Cheeptham said. "I want to communicate to a larger audience about the work that I do and how it's relevant. Art is this vessel of communication that allows me to reach that."
The collaboration of art and science may seem strange to some, but to Cheeptham it is a natural extension of the research they are doing.
"Over the year I have collected lots of scanning electron micrographs, and they are so beautiful," Cheeptham said. "Today we label people, if you're a scientist you're a scientist, if you're an artist you're an artist, but our brains have two sides, scientist and artist, I want to show my students that it's OK to explore."
The exhibit has artwork by students, a poem by a TRU faculty member, and pieces by an artist from Victoria.
"Each of them would get inspired by these scanning electron micrographs and produce visual art in different forms," Cheeptham said. "The main goal of this is to communicate about cave microbial research we do at TRU to public sectors."
Cheeptham believes that this art exhibit will have real implications for her classes at TRU as an added benefit.
"I'm foreseeing that if I have this project, hopefully I can make students more engaged, I want to make my microbiology courses that I teach relevant to them," Cheeptham said. "I can make them see through this that it actually is relevant, that being a scientist can actually have an impact on their lives
The opening reception for the exhibit is Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kamloops Art Gallery. The exhibit will be there until March 22.
Cheeptham plans on holding the exhibit for the next three years and is currently looking for anyone interested in participating for next year.


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McCarthy eager to get early start on Packers camp
Coach Mike McCarthy burst through the door of the Packers media room like a fullback bulldozing through the line of scrimmage, eager to get training camp started in Green Bay.
The eighth-year head coach is making a few tweaks this summer following the sting of back-to-back, second-round playoff losses - which for the perennial Super Bowl contender counts as a big disappointment.
''Our goal never changes. It's always the same,'' McCarthy said Thursday. ''We have a theme and it's obviously an illustration of how I see this football team and the path that we're going to take.''
He didn't get into specifics. The players will get that speech first Thursday night in a team meeting.
But the expectations don't change, not for a franchise that's won four Super Bowl titles and 13 NFL championships overall. There's a reason they call this place Titletown, after all, and not just for the two straight NFC North crowns.
So it's up bright and early Friday for a first day of practice that starts at 8:20 a.m. The earlier start is typical for the regular season but not as much for camp.
''One of the strengths, I've always felt, particularly when you're dealing with group dynamics, is get `em up early. Get your heavy lifting done in the morning. And so we were always doing that in-season,'' McCarthy said. ''We go to the night schedule in training camp for other reasons. The (morning) practice schedule is definitely one of those topics ... that I feel will help us as a football team as far as battling potential fatigue injuries, what every team is threatened by in a training camp schedule.''
The Packers last year finished 11-5 after overcoming a 2-3 start. They beat the Vikings in the playoffs before falling to the 49ers.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the receivers filled up the highlight reels, but a subpar running game was one of the Packers' biggest problems after finishing 11th in the NFC in rushing (106.4 yards per game). General manager Ted Thompson replenished the backfield in the draft with Alabama's Eddie Lacy in the second round and UCLA's Johnathan Franklin in the fourth. Alex Green, DuJuan Harris and James Starks are also back.
Maybe one of those backs will be Green Bay's first single-game, 100-yard rusher in almost three years.
''Big letters - that's adamant, OK? Hey, we need to run the ball better. That's fact of the matter,'' McCarthy said. ''We put a lot of points on the board. It falls in line with our goal each and every week, and each and every day ... We're about winning and quality of play.''
Of course, it helps to have one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in Rodgers and a receiving corps led by Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones that is seemingly strong enough to withstand the departure of veteran Greg Jennings (Vikings) and retirement of Donald Driver.
But it's awfully helpful to have a consistent running game.
''Running the football is a collective effort. There has to be commitment from the play-caller,'' said McCarthy, referring to himself. ''It's something we need to do a better job of and I'm confident that we will.''
The opening day for the veterans was all about player testing, introductory meetings and getting settled in. The Packers also officially welcomed rookie defensive end Datone Jones after signing the first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-4 Jones, who had career-best 62 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks last year for UCLA, will be counted on to help a defense that gave up too many big plays in 2012.
He's sure to be received heartily by McCarthy, a football lifer who has impressed Thompson so much in his nine years in Green Bay that the boss told team shareholders this week he ''thanked God every day'' that McCarthy was the head coach.
''The offseason to me is all about the preparation for today,'' McCarthy said. ''If you're in this league long enough, (you have a) chance to be away with your family and take a break, and then the Fourth of July comes, the fireworks go off and it just seems like that's the time you start looking (at the calendar), `When do things start?'''
Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP