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So, on January 1st I hit the ground running with that lovely, frosty ride.
After that, things did a nose dive. The 2nd and 3rd of the month, I didn't ride because of work naturally.
On Sunday (Jan 2nd), while at work, I planned out my goals for the month. I need/want more miles in this January than I had last if aiming to make 2017 the new 'Best Ever Distance Year', obviously. At 87.98 miles for January 2016, I decided to aim for the nice round figure of 100 miles. Breaking the month of January into four 7-day blocks, I would need 25 miles per block.
I knew, with the weather and how slow I've been of late, not to mention the parade of colds, it could be a tight schedule, but at least I have the 3 'extra' days that don't fit into the nice, neat 7-day blocks which I could use for make up or just 1 or 2 (dare I even think 3?) extra rides for the cherry on top.
The 4th, out I went, sticking to schedule as it were!
I can't remember why nor did I mention the ride on Facebook as a reminder, but the ride was only 2.12 miles, a bit shorter than my usual dash from the apartment back to the storage. The ride did that, but mostly, it was just doubling around. I did a very short out and back past the mosque as if I'd meant to go toward the grave mounds, but changed my mind. I guess I must have felt really weak or perhaps there was so much snow to push through. Something that just slowed or bothered me too much to be endured.
After that pitiful ride, there were no additional rides for that first 7-day block of the month. A bitter disappointment, but we had insane amounts of snow fall and then days where the highs were in the single digits. Low 20's or perhaps even into the high teens I've adapted to, but single digits?! Not yet. Maybe one day. On one of the warmer (temps in the teens), Jens tried to talk me out for a ride, but I said I wanted to wait. He persisted, asking what waiting another day was going to get me. I pointed out that riding on a plowed road was much easier than trying to pedal the trike through 5 or more inches of untouched snow. I wanted at least the streets plowed.
The reason the city was so laggardly about plowing was mostly because of 12th Night holiday that Sweden observes in its secular fashion.
Of course, once they did plow, the temp dropped.
The first week of January finished with a whopping (sarcasm) 11.18 miles.
Then Sunday (Jan 8th), the temp crept back up until barely freezing and I watched as it sorta snowed through the windows of the shop at work. Monday (Jan 9th), was more of the same, except the temps did a huge jump into the 40's and it was mostly a drizzling rain in place of the snow. It triggered a major flash thaw that turned the streets into rivers and lakes.
I woke at 5:30 am on January 10th. The thermometer showed above freezing (34 F) and the forecast said it would be cloudy, but warm for Sweden in January and dry.
I pulled on layers for what I thought would be good enough for for mid-20's to account for any windchill. Loke bounced around as I made sure I had my phone and Garmin, plus everything else in my handlebar bag.
We stepped out the door and I immediately stopped to hang my head with a sigh. The forecast was wrong again. Rain. I stood there a moment, evaluating, before deciding the precipitation was light enough that it wouldn't do more than dampen my outer layers in the hour or so I'd be out. Determinedly, I marched to the car.
Loke was thrilled to be out after 6 days of having nothing but walkies. The first half mile stretch of road was slush, but the furball's sheer exuberance pulled us into a brisk 9 mph as he ran happily through the pools of light of the lamps in an otherwise, inky dark morning.
The cycle paths were wonderfully clear and so were most of the other roads of my River Loop hamster track. One of them was hard frozen enough it could have been used for a crude skating rink, but offered plenty of grip for husky paws and studded tires. Once, the Garmin displayed 28 F, but mostly it hung at about 29.7. The rain got lighter if anything so I never felt any chill from that at least.
As for me, I felt pretty strong at the start of the ride, which was a nice change from weak and sluggish of many of the last few rides. My stamina petered out rather quickly, but given how few rides I've had since the beginning of November, that's hardly surprising. Gives me hope though.
It was annoying that I didn't have time to ride more than I had, but the car had to get back to Jens for him to go to work.
Another annoyance pricked at me through the duration of the ride. My little fairing started to list over to the left. A few times during the ride, I had to kick my left foot out of the straps to push it back to the right. I was baffled, because I was absolutely certain, it had been wrenched it down good and tight when remounted. I would have tightened it as soon as I noticed it moving, but had left the tool at home.
Slow as I was and with the fairing slouching over bit by bit with every bump, I had plenty of time to ponder the problem.
One explanation of course was that I'd not tightened it down as much as I thought. Another though, was when I'd removed the fairing the last time, the powder coating paint of the bar that gets clamped by the removable part of the fairing mount just flaked off in one piece. Maybe the unpainted metal of the inside of the fairing's bar with the uncoated metal of the part on the trike offered too little friction to keep it from moving.
Wobbly fairing, rain and general slow speed, we got through the ride and all before there was even a hint of dawn in the sky.
Then Loke and I were off to his vet appointment. He's been stiff so much of late, as well as needing a renewal on his prescription of anti-inflammatory medication.
The vet said he's mostly stiff and uncomfortable in his feet and ankles, so just a continuation of what the podiatrist he saw last year commented on. She did have a recommendation about a treatment though. A series of injections over 4 weeks with boosters to be given every 3 to 6 months that supposedly would help lubricate the joints. She said there's been good results. I said I'd think about it.
As for the spot on the nose, she said it just looked like a little abrasion. Nothing lumpy or particularly threatening about it. Still, she took my word about its persistence as well as the fact Loke doesn't seem to be rubbing at it. She recommended I see a dermatologist about it.
I told her I'd arrange it since we have a dermatologist as it were.
Turns out, no we don't. I called the wonderful woman who helped us stem the flood of infections Loke used to have and get him stable, only to find she's no longer at the Stockholm clinic. She moved to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Since the clinic there still seems to have the best collection of animal dermatologists, I booked a time with one of the others. The earliest they had was January 26th. The receptionist told me to keep an eye on the spot and if it starts looking dramatically different, she'd fit us in with the one GP vet that works there to at least start tests for cancer.
Later in the day, one of my bosses/co-workers called to ask what other days of the week I was scheduled. Gave me a pang of frustration as I can't really afford to keep harassing my husband's family with my job, not to mention Loke needs more than walkies. I'd say, he does best with a minimum of 3 outings with the trike a week. Less than that and he starts getting bored and annoying. More is better when I can swing it.
I answered that no further shifts been scheduled so they asked for Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday, I had laundry scheduled and it was desperately needed, but I unbent enough to say I could work 2 to close on Wednesday. That would still give me a chance to run Loke with the trike in the morning, he could be left alone for the 5 hours I worked without anyone else needed to come walk him, and since I had the car, I could drive myself.
When I originally started working at the shop, Charles had put it forth that I work just 1 day a week, Sundays with emergency shifts when needed. Sunday is the shortest shift with the store open just from Noon to 5 pm. He knows about my stroke and respects whatever physical limitations I might have, yet would give him and his wife time with the family.
I felt a bit rough for the first couple weeks, but hung in and actually improved. Charles would call and ask if I could fill in other days. I soon built up better stamina though so offered them another day a week. I picked Monday. It's a day that seems to be easiest on my husband's parents to come walk Loke around 2 pm when Jens and I are at work. Having it as a set day, means they always know it's on Monday and don't have to continually scramble their schedule around my job.
Now, it another partner seems more in charge of the Uppsala store and if there's an expectation for me to work more days of the week when it's not an emergency, it could get complicated. I can't and won't further burden other people with my job. It's not fair to them and losing outings with the trike isn't fair to Loke or to me. My weight has already gone up. I'll admit that could be mostly down to colds, weather, and other such cutting my rides short, but still, losing those two potential days to ride can't help.
So, when I went out for a ride on Wednesday, Jan 11th, I felt stressed. Before my co-worker's call, The plan had been to tackle a nice 15 mile ride on Wednesday. Instead, I had to keep an eye on time to be sure I had time to get ready for work. Time, time, time. Two rides and both of them dictated by restrictions of forces other than my own strengths and the weather.
Still, with work only starting at 2 pm and being awake so early, I thought about at least tackling my 10 mile Vaksala Church loop to give Loke more exercise as well as try to make up the miles I lacked in the first week of the year. While dressing and lookout out at a world entirely devoid of sunlight, I decided to wait for dawn. The previous day's ride had been undertaken completely in artificial light sources. Might have been a nice change to do it daylight even if it was a gray sky.
So, about 9 am we were at the storage. I had remembered the tool and tried tightening the clamp on the fairing, but even when I'd wrenched it until it wouldn't budge, the fairing still wanted to wobble. Electrical tape to the rescue!
The later start meant I had to forego the 10 mile ride so, River Loop again.
The ride was much like the previous day's. Slush at the start, mostly clear cycle paths, but in murky gray daylight instead of dark. Oh, and wind. The. Wind. Any time I was riding near clusters of trees, they rocked and swayed with creaking limbs as the torrent of air in the branches sounded like rapids of a river. Little bits of twig and even thin branches were scattering about. It made the ride even harder as it seemed no matter which way I rode, the wind was in my face.
My Garmin said it was about 34 F even with windchill. Generally at that temp, my feet would have been happily snug in their boots with cushy wool socks and the fairing, but that wind found ways around the fairing and stripped away any bit of warmth. By about mile 3, my left toe actually became uncomfortable, bordering on painful from the cold. Naturally, my footwarmers' batteries had decided they didn't have a charge in spite of spending most of the night plugged in. At least the rest of me was perfectly dressed even against such blustering air.
Because of the cold toes, I skipped the extra 2 miles I had planned to add before starting the 'get ready for work' scramble. 4.5+ miles. Once we were back home, Loke's spent the entire time following me around and staring at me pitifully. I think he knew he was going to be all by himself for a time. Or maybe he's was trying to tell me he wanted more than a pitiful, shortened River Loop.
Thursday, Jan 12th, was laundry day. In the hopes of getting an early start on the wash, there was no ride.
Friday, the 13th. The first one of only two we'll have this year. What a muck up it turned into.
After the first two rides of the week being such stressful, time constrained things, I'd fully planned to to just head out and go for a ride WHEN I wanted, HOW I wanted, and for as LONG as I wanted. The only time issues I'd allow for it would be sunset and how long I could endure the cold.
Though I wasn't entirely convinced it was true, the forecast was excellent. 35 F, not supposed to be much in the way of wind, and at least partly sunny.
Normally, I don't hold much stock in the Friday the 13th thing, but UGH! It seemed to be in high form on that day.
It started out well enough. Waking early, I plotted a tentative route out through the countryside with my hubby's offer to come get Loke and I at the end of it, rather than worrying about a loop. Though the ground wouldn't entirely be new, after about 4-5 miles, it would at least not be 'Hamster Track' ground. I had the way mapped in good time… and everything fell apart when I started trying to print the maps.
First, I couldn't copy the screen view of my monitor and get it to paste into Photoshop. Finally, I had to bully the hubby out of bed to figure out what was wrong with it after beating my head against that for almost an hour. Then, Plotaroute.com wasn't printing its maps like it should either. That ate up almost another hour. Then I started to get dressed and discovered I couldn't find my camera which was another 20 minutes or more tearing around the apartment in desperate searching. Finally I remembered I'd left it at the storage.
After all that silliness, it was coming up on 11 am, less than 4 hours of day light left. Probably would have had to pack up and go home about the time I got off the Hamster Track and into more interesting ground. Just wasn't worth it.
The hubby grumbled when I said I'd do just another river loop, but out Loke and I went.
The fuzzy was thrilled and enthusiastic. Pulled like mad for that first half mile and happily charged down the long hill toward the river after going across the overpass. There was a bit of sun and blue skies as we followed the cycle path beside the Fyris River north of Uppsala, Sweden. Clouds were coming though, in interesting bands across the north eastern horizon.
We were on the return half of the loop when Mother Nature started calling. Actually, she kinda skipped calling and went right down into screaming. Fortunately, by the dog yard at the beginning of the Grave Mound path is an outhouse. The 150 yards/meters between the outhouse and the intersection was rock hard, slick ice. For the first 100 yards or so, I'd guess I pedalled the equivalent of 200 yards with so much tire slipping.
34 F ambient temps aren't ideal for an uninsulated outhouse where one can see day light between the floor boards, but any port in a storm.
When I stepped back out, Loke was staring mournfully past me at the dog yard where fellow canines ran and played. Unfortunately, since Loke doesn't play well with other dogs, we moved on.
Silly me, we should have just skidded back the way we came. For some reason the ice armored path up a hill called to me. I should have let the previous 150 yards of path be a warning. At first it wasn't too bad. Lots of tire slipping, but still we inched forward. Finally I found there was enough room to the far edge of the path where I could put the rear wheel for more traction and still give Loke enough space to walk. Then it was all ice across as we slid in a rattling glide down the hill we climbed. The next hill was just a little bump and yet I absolutely got _NOT_ get any traction. The ice was laughing at me and thumbing its figurative nose at my studded tires.
Finally, I had to give up. The last 200 yards of that portion of path, I got up, turned the trike around, and started dragging it. Loke was NO help. He kept pulling off in random directions for sniffing, dragging the trike. Finally, I was stuck walking in the crunchy snow beside the path with the rear wheel in one hand and Loke's collar in the other just to be able to make any progress.. He kept shooting me reproachful looks.
Finally under a bit old oak, was a big patch of bare gravel of the path where it intersected another. I plopped the trike down, turned it and then sat down to continue. The rest of the way off that end of the burial ground path was flat, so even though the tire spun, I didn't have to walk the trike.
Every now and again, I need that little reminder that ice on unpaved paths and roads is in a whole different class than anything on paved surfaces.
We made it back with 7.19 miles and a bit of minor adventure on ice. As I finished the ride, it occurred to me that after all the aggravation of trying to plot things earlier, it was Friday the 13th. Guess that might explain some things, though at least it mostly stopped that silliness once I was on the trike. Unless one counts the ice, but that was completely self-inflicted rather than Friday the 13th style happenstance.
Loke was an immediate pest once we were back home. It seemed that 7+ miles was barely more than a stroll around the block though I certainly felt all that hard work in my legs. Not only was the furball giving me a bit of a hard time, but so was Jens. Mostly on my husband's part it was because when Loke wasn't harassing me with woofs and pitiful looks, he was attempting to bully Jens. So, the generally wonderful man in my life kept asking me, 'Are you riding tomorrow? Maybe for the longer one? Are you?' while the fuzzy one kept woofing at him or even jumping up to paw at his shoulder as if trying to pull him out of the chair.
I steadfastly answered, 'I don't know. I'll see how I feel in the morning.'
It turned out I didn't feel so bad after all.
I still waffled a bit about heading out to tackle the longer ride that had been so thwarted the day before. On January 13th, the temps had been in the mid-30's. On the morning of the 14th, the window thermometer and various weather apps showed 21 F. Throw in windchill just from rolling the trike, it would go easily into the mid-teens if not colder. Still having some foot challenges, so it made me wary.
Jens assured me he'd come pick us up even if less than an hour into the outing. So, bitterly cold or not, I decided to go. I took special care pulling on the layers though, adding medium weight wool leggings under my heavy weight leggings under my tights. A first for this winter.
Though the forecast was for cloudy, it was delightfully clear as Jens dropped us off at the storage just a few minutes after sunrise. An earlier start would have been nice, using the murky light of pre-dawn to get through the places ridden the most, but that's what I get for swinging back and forth with indecision.
Loke was soooo confused when we went straight out from the parking instead of whipping around to follow the street in our usual direction. He kept looking at me in bafflement as we rolled toward the area with our apartment. Rather than taking my usual way toward the river which would have meant riding away from the area that was my focus. Slow as I've been, it would have been ridiculous to waste time on the hamster tracks that wasn't needed. I was aiming for Vaksala Church by the shortest, most direct route I could think of that didn't involve busier roads.
The change perked Loke up more than he otherwise would have been, I think. We were still on over done ground, but rolling in the opposite direction along the paths than we typically do.
As for the temperature? The numbers on my Garmin kept dropping. The previous lowest I could remember was about 16 F last year before I had to call my husband for rescue at Storvreta because my toes felt like they were being twisted off.
I kept waiting for the chill to set in, but it didn't happen. I would have turned around then if so, but nope. Feet were all snuggly and warm feeling even without turning on my undependable footwarmers. I really should get around to replacing them.
Loke was really excited about time the Garmin displayed a whopping 13.8 F. It had nothing to do with the temperature though. He knew the wooded stretch we rolled along quite well and the direction we were going in revved him up. It's probably the way my husband walks when he goes on foot with Loke to his parents' apartment. There's a cycle path that cuts through the heart of the complex where their building is.
I felt a twinge of guilt as my furball was absolutely convinced that 'Grandpa', the man with unemptying pockets of goodies was so very close… only for us to roll right by the proper turn off. Loke's tail came down and he kept twisting his head to look back over his shoulder. Finally, he sighed and gave me glances of mournful reproach.
I gave him an apologetic pat as I pushed on toward the new section of road/cycle path that runs along the edge of the ever growing sport complex. The sidewalk/cycle way beside the road was lightly uphill and the thin crust of crunchy snow made it more of a workout and even slower going. While Loke still cast hopeful glances back toward Grandpa's house, we passed a jogger who greeted me with a cheery, 'God morgon!'
As I reached the round-about and scooted across the busy road to the next cycle path at the intersection, it struck me how much archaeology there was so recently cleared away in progress. For years, I rode by these empty fields in cars, not knowing about the runestones and stone-setting burials there. Now, I do know and it's all gone. Dug up, bulldozed flat and paved over. Sad, but in human terms, progress is destruction though many would disagree. Of course, there's practically no where in this part of Sweden where one can build without destroying some hint of long past inhabitants.
In the new shopping area, I did a little detour to dash across the mostly empty and quiet parking lot to head for a new playground recently built there.
It's Uppsala in miniature! The burial mounds at Gamla Uppsala. The heart of Uppsala with the swan pond, the river with the mill-turned-museum, cathedral, and of course the palace. Even the eye-sore of the concert hall. All the major landmarks laid out in playful scale on rubberized surface for kids to tumble around on. The river, hidden under frost, is just blue painted rubber as is the swan pond, but still there. The playground has enchanted me from the moment I realized what it was.
Photos taken, I headed out to the nearest cycle way to rejoin the one out toward Vaksala church. I had a bit of an argument with myself as I pushed on. Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate or not?
The internal debate raged on as I stopped to photograph a bit of burial ground I've driven by hundreds of times, though ridden past only a few occasions. I've always suspected it was one, but now I have confirmation.
I decided against the hot chocolate as I pedaled on by the Granby Mall. I didn't want the complications it would cause later in terms of calls of nature.
Loke was finally over his disappointment and happy to walk or slowly jog along at the creeping pace that seems to be my new speed of late. We scooted across the 288 and paused there for me to take more photos.
In the field to my right, which was also a burial ground as I've long suspected, the low morning sun was doing amazing things to the frosted wisps of grass that had somehow managed to stay upright in spite of the past heavy snows. It gave the impression that a white-gold mist hovered above the snow. Sadly, my camera couldn't quite seem to catch the magic of it.
I came up to the entrance to Vaksala church and turned in to take a quick break at the restroom there.
I have to say, while out riding in it, I didn't feel cold at all. Once I hit the heat of the delightfully warm little stone building where the church's restrooms hide, it was clear I was actually a bit chilled.
Still, I didn't linger long. I wanted to do at least a little riding in places that aren't considered part of my hamster tracks. My pace was incredibly slow, not helped in the least by the frequent photo stops. Lounging around next to a radiant heater wouldn't have sped things along at all.
We moved on a bit quicker as it's a bit downhill from Vaksala church to the road crossing just south. As we emerged from the trees around the church and vicarage, I was startled by the view off to my left. A heavy finger of clouds reach off toward the south. I cast a glance behind me and the entire northern horizon was dark with the approach of the weather front. Quite dramatic looking really.
No way to outrun it, but at least it was cold enough that it would be some kind of extremely freakish weather phenomenon for it to be rain. Though I guess ice storms are proof it could happen.
We scooted across the road and continued down the cycle path running through the residential area. Another quick stop to photograph a mini-burial ground with 4 circular stone settings. I was racking up the burial ground count fast. All of them ones that I've ridden by on my hamster tracks countless times or driven past even more. Even just going to the mall is visiting what was once an burial ground. Quite a major one was apparently built and paved over when the mall was built.
The clouds arrived fast and soon were covering the sky overhead and threatening the southern horizon where the sun calls the winters home in Sweden.
The progress of the clouds sweeping in from the north coincided almost perfectly with my shift from 'hamster track' ground to 'not so frequent' territory. We toodled through at not-great-speed through the last of the cycle paths through the residential area and reached the first little road that began the transition to 'country lane' as it were. Under all the houses there, it seems was once a rather significantly sized activity stretching from the Stone Age right through to the Middle Ages.
While writing this up, I've also found several burial grounds that I missed within about half a mile of the area. I may have to ride through again to collect those. It seems runestones and churches were my obsessions (and still are), chasing burial grounds has joined the fun. I've always been thrilled to find them when I've done so, but as my archaeology map website is proving, they're a lot more tricksy than churches and runestones. Well, except for runestone fragments hiding among tumbled stones in woods.
Loke had already been fairly interested in our surroundings. After all, it wasn't the River Loop. Yet, once we pushed free of the little houses with their postage stamp sized backyards with little fences and hedges, he perked up even more. He likes trees and fields, places with slightly more open views where he might catch a glimpse of some small creature in the distance.
The sheep we passed? He couldn't have cared less. I'm not even sure he glanced at them though they watched us with intense suspicion. Perhaps it's that ancestral memory of the whole sheep/wolf conflict and it's been remarked on occasion how much like a wolf Loke resembles.
Somewhere around and perhaps even a bit before the sheep were, you guessed it, burial grounds. I missed 2 of them as I was abruptly dazzled by ground I've not seen a dozen times in a single year.
The 3rd one was more obvious. It was the big standing stone that called my attention to it and reminded me of my fascination. The lighting wasn't the best, what with it being off to the south and there still being a thin band of brighter light where the edge of the clouds hadn't quite reached the distant horizon.
It was amazing. Though I was still as slow as 'turtles stampeding through peanut butter' (an favorite phrase to describe me at times), I felt so much freer. Things to notice that I'd not seen in just about every conceivable non-disastrous condition on my rides. Examples being fire, flood, asteroid impact, or zombie apocalypse, but I think I can do without seeing the scenery near my apartment in those conditions. Not once had I set eyes on the Fyris River! That in itself was cause for joy.
The landscape opened up for the final push to cross the busy 282 for the push for Danmark Church. Rather boring stretch really. There's hints of archaeology described on my map site, but all of it is lost to vast stretches of plowed fields as well as the E4. About the time we emerged from the trees, the clouds that had blanketed the sky except for the bare edge of the southern horizon finally proved to be carrying precipitation after all. Snow.
Not big fluffy swirling flakes mind you. More of a grainy, blowing dust wasn't even really enough to accumulate any where in spite of the fact that it made distant tree-lines into misty shadows. A kind of sandstorm but with tiny grains of ice.
It was a bit unpleasant along that open stretch as we pushed on and had a bit of a faster charge to go under the E4. Utterly flat and nothing to break the wind for 100's of yards if not a mile or more in some directions. Even on days where it's generally not that windy, such open spots seem to encourage it. Though at least my Garmin was displaying 23 F instead of 13 F.
Finally, we scooted across the 282 when someone was nice enough to stop which made traffic easier to navigate since I only had to worry about one direction instead the both. I made sure to give them a big smile and cheery wave as I passed the bumper of their car.
Back in among the trees, it was more pleasant going as we sloooowwwly cranked up the little hill by the vet where Loke had surgery years ago. It didn't appear Loke had any recollection of the horror of that experience. He was focused in getting us up that hill.
The scenery was much more interesting again among hills and with patches of woods to break up the areas of crop fields and pastures.
I admit, by this time, there was a sense of aggravation. A petty one, to be honest. The sheer number of things I wanted to photograph was slowing me down. Rather, what was slowing me down most wasn't just grabbing the phone or the Canon from my handlebar bag, but arguing with my hand covers.
It started to feel like, pedal for 100 yards, stop, pull off my windproof Gore Tex mittens with wool glove liners, grab photo device, take picture, put away device, pull on glove liners, pull on one mitten, fight with too long thumb on mittened hand to get a grip on other mitten to pull mitten over glove liner. Repeat 2 minutes later. Taking the photo was generally less than 30 seconds. The mitten wrestling took almost 2 minutes, in part because there's not a mitten or glove in existence that fits me proper. My current mittens, a bit oversized to fit with my glove liners has almost an inch and a half too much thumb. Even the old mittens which the width of my hand without glove liners had better than half an inch too much thumb.
Gloves, don't even GET me started on gloves. I'm apparently a freak of nature when it comes to fingers. I've toyed with the idea of finding a professional seamstress (seamster if male?) to alter gloves and mittens with more skill than my hack and whip-stitch fashion could manage.
If not for the fact that it felt so incredibly, bitterly cold, I would have just left the gloves off. Bizarrely, it felt so much worse at 24 F than it had earlier with the record setting 13 F for a ride. Maybe it was sunshine. Maybe it was plenty of warm blood since it was the start of the ride. Could also be a matter of humidity levels. Don't think it was really any more wind than when I started, but I could be wrong about that. All I do know for sure is that early in the ride, glove liners were enough. Later, I needed the mittens over them.
Upon reaching Danmark church, I debated calling Jens for pick up. I was feeling cold and started to worry about my feet getting chilled. Still, it wasn't even noon yet and my feet, while a bit cool, didn't feel bad and I'd not even turned on my warmers yet.
I decided to push on. It was so early and glove/photo annoyance aside, I didn't feel too bad. I wanted a bit more than 8 miles. I mean, I can get 8 miles with just a few minor additions to the River Loop.
Of course, Loke was happy to keep going. Our pokey pace was barely enough to get his heart rate up if I had to guess. A few downhill stints where we might have hit 9 mph, but little more than that. Much of the rest of the way was 5 mph at best and often less. My heart rate, on the other hand, was probably up quite a bit. Felt like I was working for every foot I rolled. I didn't feel weak or sluggish. Just felt like the trike weighed about 1000 lbs rolling through sand.
I had optimistically plotted roughly 20 miles for the ride. While hopeful I could make it, I didn't really expect to. At least it gave me plenty of distance with guidance for chasing down the burial grounds, runestones, or ruins that might be lurking around the area. Not to mention other medieval churches.
So, it was the next church on the route I hoped to hit before needing to call the ride. It was less than 5 miles way, which I was fairly sure was possible before sunset.
Alas. It wasn't to be. Not long after I left Danmark and plodded on, the cold abruptly got to my feet even with my footwarmers working. To alleviate the discomfort, I had to stop every 15 minutes or so to walk around for 3 or 4 minutes to get the toes to stop aching and warm up. Then it was every 10 minutes for 5 minutes of warm up. Wasn't going to get anywhere at that rate.
Between my toes and perhaps my annoyance with the mitten tussle for every photograph, I got sloppy and passed by quite a few landmarks without noticing. Tsk-tsk on me.
I called Jens to come get me at Linnaeus' Hammarby, an open air museum celebrating the Swedish national hero who developed the method of categorizing plants, animals, and fungus in Latin.
The cold had a good grip on me by then. I had to keep stopping to put my hands under my arms to stop the harsh sting as I worked to dismantle everything to hurry along getting the trike loaded when Jens arrive.
Loke was disappointed, I think. So was I really. We'd just managed 9.99 miles. It was barely 1 pm. Just couldn't take the cold any more.
Still, it had been nice to have about half the distance, or a bit more, off the hamster track. Not exactly new ground, but somewhere I'd not been in the better part of a year at least.
And here, I'll end the post as 6500 words is a bit overlong as it is.
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New Delhi: India's largest telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd -- formed after merger of Vodafone and Idea -- announced Saturday the consolidation of its radio network integration in Jammu & Kashmir.
"With this, J&K is amongst the first nine circles to complete integration in the world's largest network integration exercise which is currently underway in India. J&K circle integration was completed within a short span of two months," Vodafone Idea said in a statement.
Vodafone Idea coverage is now available across 110 towns and 3,301 villages in Jammu & Kashmir. 4G coverage has expanded to over 23.6 per cent population in the region covering 9 districts, including 48 towns and 526 villages in the region, for customers of both the brands, the statement said.
It further said 4G services stand enhanced for both Vodafone and Idea customers in cities such as Jammu, Katra, Rajouri, amongst others.
"The teams of Vodafone Idea and network partners worked in difficult conditions in the Himalayas, in peak winter season, to ensure that integration happens smoothly without disruptions," it said.
Commenting on the development, Sudhir Pradhan, Business Head Punjab, J&K and HP, Vodafone Idea said the consolidation of network in J&K circle will enable over 13 lakh customers of Vodafone and Idea to enjoy a unified network experience on 2G, 3G and 4G.
In other circles, network integration is taking place on a cluster-by-cluster basis, it said adding that post integration customers will enjoy improved 4G services with faster connectivity.

subset: commoncrawl


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Recomendado por Hostelworld
Nós adoramos este hostel! Ele recebe o nosso polegar levantado devido à sua constante alta classificação e excelente nível de qualidade
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Nissos Ios Hotel
We are just front of the main beach 'Mylopotas'; it's one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyclades.
Only 5meter to the beach !
*Rooms facilities*
Air conditioning
Private bathroom
Hair... mais...
Princess Sissy Hotel
A1 Princess Sissy Ios Hotel & Hostel is situated upon a hill, in the middle of the old walking main path (with steps), that connects the port and the Chora (Ios village) and is just 300 meters awa... mais...
Flisvos Hotel Ios
Flisvos Hotel offers basic amenities, along with amazing views of the port and town. The rooms are big and simple, and all feature nice balconies to hang out on. Decorated in traditional Cycladic simp... mais...
Maria's View
Situated on the top of Chora, Ios in a quiet area, Maria's View is one step from where are all the shops and the night life. Close by is the bus and taxis station to take you all around the island bea... mais...
Hotel Hermes Ios
The hotel is situated on the main street between Ios village and only 2km from the famous Mylopta Beach. It is also only 500 meters from Hora, in the region of Agios Ioannis. Hermes is the first-cl... mais...
Markos Village
Na bonita ilha de Ios, nas Cíclades, com as suas extensas praias douradas, o Markos Village está construído num o estilo tradicional, num local único, com vistas panor&acir... mais...
Blue Sky Hotel
Rooms with refrigerator, air conditioning, hair-drier, Wi-Fi and amazing view of the island and the sea, only two steps from the town and a five minute walk from the beach of Mylopotas. 24 hours warm... mais...
Armadoros Hotel/ Ios Backpackers
The hotel's accommodation consists of 55 rooms,8 apartments and 4 studios.All they have private bathrooms,with plentiful hot and cold water 24 hours.They also contain a tv,fridge and air-conditioning.... mais...
Golden Sun Hotel
The Golden Sun hotel is located 300 m from the port and the Yialos sandy beach .The Golden Sun is 15 minuttes walk from the main town Chora.,
The Golden Sun hotel is a clean, friendly, family pla... mais...
Pension Irene
Nestled in the heart of the port, Pension Irene is a family-run hotel offering quality inclusions for a memorable holiday.
Conveniently situated, the charming port area offers authentic restaurant... mais...
Galini Pension
Galini Pension is a family run business,all standard rooms are well equipped with modern facilities, WiFi,air-con, tv ,fridge,hairdryer and en-suite.We also have some studios with kitchens inside, al... mais...
Villa Mata
Villa Mata is a family run, traditionally built pension, located at the edge of the picturesque Port of Ios and only 50m from the sandy Yialos beach and 800m from the main village of Ios.
Fully re... mais...
Skala Hotel
Skala Hotel is only 200 m. away from the centre of Chora, 100 metres of the ancient open amphitheatre (with the best view of Milopotas beach-Santorini and Crete) and the biggest modern mueseum of all... mais...
Hotel Aegeon
he rooms are spacious and feature balconies with view. Each unit is air conditioned and equipped with satellite TV, refrigerator and coffee making facilities.... mais...
George and Irene Hotel
The George and Irene Hotel comprises of 12 spacious and sunlit units that offer comfortable and relaxed accommodation. All units have private bathroom, refrigerator, telephone, music and air condition... mais...


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Nibbler by Insoft is a remake of an old classic arcade game called Nibbler, were you navigate a snake threw a maze collecting all the apples before progressing to the next level. It has a retro look and feel to it.
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By: Tom Nappi
Tuesday Night was a great night to be a Medway Mustangs fan. The Mustangs celebrated Senior Night with a dominant 67-29 over a good Bellingham team. Bellingham had beaten Medway earlier in the season by a final of 44 to 38 and the Mustangs served up some sweet revenge on their senior night.
The night started off with the Medway Mustangs celebrating their 10 seniors on the roster including: Mike Ertmann, Andrew Burton, Kyle Regan, Matt Kaplan, Nick MacDonald, Drew Plunkett, Ryan Johnston, Andy Way, Matt Peterson and Jack Palos.
After the Senior night festivities, Matt Peterson showed that in addition to being a key contributor on the court, he can also sing a wonderful National Anthem.
The game went back and forth in the 1st quarter but the frame ended with Senior Captain, Drew Plunkett hitting a buzzer-beater 3 to give the Mustangs a 14-13 lead.
In the 2nd quarter, all momentum quickly shifted towards Medway. The Mustangs outscored Bellingham in the quarter 27 to 4. Matt Kaplan(SR) struck for 5 points while Ryan Johnston(SR) added 6 and Jack Palos(SR) added another 5. It was a 41-17 Medway lead heading into the half.
The 3rd quarter was more competitive but 5 points each from Kyle Regan, Matt Peterson and Jack Palos helped Medway outscore Bellingham in the frame 17 to 8. Medway lead 50-25 heading into the 4th quarter, the Mustangs took their time with possessions and managed to outscore Bellingham 9 to 4 in the 4th and took the game 67 to 29.
Medway improves to 15 and 2 on the season while Bellingham falls to 14 and 5. Both teams will be heading into the playoffs.
Medway Point Totals
Mike Ertmann – 2, Andrew Burton – 6, Kyle Regan – 9, Matt Kaplan – 8, Drew Plunkett – 8, Liam Harrigan – 3, Ryan Johnston – 11, Andy Way – 3, Matt Peterson – 7, Jack Palos – 10.
Bellingham Point Totals
Michael Gamble – 6, Tyler Warren – 4, Tate Pike – 9, Justin Crayton – 4, Jack Buckley – 2, Bradle Chausse – 4.
Awesome National Anthem by @MedwayAthletics boys basketball player Matt Peterson. A dominant 67-29 win over @BhamAthletics on @MyFM1013 pic.twitter.com/8k11alRHgj
— Tom Nappi (@TheRealTomNappi) February 12, 2020
Final:@MedwayAthletics 67@BhamAthletics 29
Scoring Leaders:
Ryan Johnston – 11
Drew Plunkett – 8
Kyle Regan 9
Jack Palos 10
Tate Pike – 9
Michael Gamble 6
Tyler Warren 4
Our Next Broadcast:
Thursday Feb 13th: Girls: @NHS_Mustangs @ @MedwayAthletics 6:30pm
— MyFM1013 (@MyFM1013) February 12, 2020


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Polybius: Peace is a blessing for which we all pray to the gods
Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
Greek and Roman writers on war and peace
Polybius: The bestialization of man by war
Polybius: Diplomacy versus war
From The Histories
Translated by W.R. Paton
Peace is a blessing for which we all pray to the gods; we submit to every suffering from the desire to attain it, and it is the only one of the so‑called good things in life to which no man refuses this title. If then there be any people which, while able by right and with all honour to obtain from the Greeks perpetual and undisputed peace, neglect this object or esteem any other of greater importance, everyone would surely agree that they are much in the wrong. Perhaps indeed they might plead that such a manner of life exposes them to the attack of neighbours bent on war and regardless of treaties. But this is a thing not likely to happen often and claiming if it does occur the aid of all the Greeks; while to secure themselves against any local and temporary damage, amidst a plentiful supply of wealth, such as will probably be theirs if they enjoy constant peace, they will be in no want of foreign mercenary soldiers to protect them at the place and time required. But now simply from fear of rare and improbable perils they expose their country and their properties to constant war and devastation.


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Distance Marathon
Rescheduled to 06 Nov 2020
Previous date: 20 Mar 2020
The event will include several tracks – marathon (42.2 km), half-marathon (21.1 km), 10 km race, competitive 5 km race, popular 5 km race, family 1.7km race and an 800 m community race. This is one of Israel's largest marathons, with 30,000 participants of which hundreds are elite runners and runners from abroad.
The various tracks pass by fascinating historical sites that illuminate 3,000 years of the history of Jerusalem, Israel's capital.
The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon combines physical endurance with exquisite landscapes, fresh mountain air and unique culture and heritage sites such as the Israeli Knesset, Machane Yehuda Marketplace, Mount Scopus, the Old City, David's Tower, Haas Promenade and more.
It is guaranteed to be a challenging, thrilling and unforgettable experience for all runners.
Water stations situated along the route.
Prizes will be awarded at the end of the race, bonuses will be awarded to the marathon winner only.
Marathon – 6 hours after start time. Half marathon – 3 hours after start time.
14 March, 2019
I ran the half marathon in 2017. It was seriously tough, but beautiful. It is hilly and it takes its toll, but the route is inspiring and certainly has a lot to take in. A great race!
17 March, 2016
Half marathon
Israel's parliament
Sacher Park
The Jerusalem Winner Marathon held in Israel's capital is one of the most unique marathons in the world, combining history with a challenging racing experience. The various tracks trace 3,000 years of history in this fascinating city that is holy to the world's three monotheistic religions. Tens of thousands of runners, representing different religions and countries from all over the world participate in the marathon each year and experience Jerusalem's cultural and historical landmarks, the city's unique routes and landscapes (see course map) and an inspiring and unforgettable athletic experience.
The starting point of the marathon is Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in the western part of the city. Runners thence loop around the Giv'at Ram campus of the Hebrew University, pass alongside the valley of the cross, and cross through various neighborhoods on their way up to Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus in eastern Jerusalem. The route then descends to the Old City, taking runners through Jaffa Gate and the Armenian Quater and out Zion Gate, on their way to the Jerusalem Forest. The race's finishing point is Sacher Park. Jerusalem's hilly terrain makes the marathon especially challenging. The religious and ethnic diversity of the Jerusalem Marathon led one Haartez reporter to describe the race as "the most cosmopolitan event around."
Half-marathon races had been held in the city prior to the first official Jerusalem Marathon in 2011, but it was not until Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat pushed for a race conforming to international standards that the municipality made the full marathon an official annual event in the city.
The race information has been found on the official website of the event or through publicly available sources. Always refer to the official website the latest race information. Please let us know if any data is wrong or missing, by emailing us.


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GPS systems and more. Anything that charges via USB could be connected to the lightweight energy bank for additional demand, lowering the risk of your customers every running their batteries flat while on the road in the future.These goods are value for money and when you look at the price, you are able to like a great get back on your own expense moving forward. Remember that you're buying the promotional power banks to boost your model, improve attention and encourage your visitors to get from you.
Power banks have become an essential lifeline today. The present day telephones as we realize them are becoming so powerful and this really is correct with each launch. The use of power in addition has increased. Organizations put features and you can find so many apps that will consume your power. That takes a toll on the battery too. There are a few features that truly use your power even though the device is not being used. With this specific in mind, a private charger is a critical thing in our lives today https://toptenproductreview.com/best-20000mah-power-banks .
On the quest to get the most remarkable mobile charger there is, the solution does not really have to be really technical. It is about being practical. It is true there are archetype power banks that offer of high-end specifications. But, at the end of your day, it'll always redound to how of use those requirements are going to be to the user.Of class, apart from ensuring these batteries, circuits, and cords may have the desired effect, these portable chargers were developed to operate safely. Added protection nets are the different certifications that some power banks have that attest with their quality. These quality get a handle on methods do not only guarantee that these gadgets are safe to utilize for device
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LongevityMap Gene
Gene details
- HGNC symbol
- Aliases
- Common name
- A-kinase anchoring protein 10
- Description
- This gene encodes a member of the A-kinase anchor protein family. A-kinase anchor proteins bind to the regulatory subunits of protein kinase A (PKA) and confine the holoenzyme to discrete locations within the cell. The encoded protein is localized to mitochondria and interacts with both the type I and type II regulatory subunits of PKA. Polymorphisms in this gene may be associated with increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. [provided by RefSeq, May 2012]
- Cytogenetic Location
- 17p11.2
- UCSC Genome Browser
- View 17p11.2 on the UCSC genome browser
- 604694
- Ensembl
- UniProt/Swiss-Prot
- Entrez Gene
- 11216
- UniGene
- 642676
- 1000 Genomes
- 1000 Genomes
Homologs in model organisms
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- rgs-5
- Danio rerio
- akap10
- Drosophila melanogaster
- pkaap
- Mus musculus
- Akap10
- Rattus norvegicus
- Akap10
Studies (1)
Significant/Non-significant: 1/0
- Longevity Association
- Significant
- Population
- American (Caucasian)
- Study Design
- Male (n= 4766) and female (n = 6202) divided into young (18-39 years) and old (60 years) groups were examined for polymorphisms
- Conclusions
- A polymorphism that results in an amino acid change from Ile to Val showed the strongest correlation with age. The Val variant was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the length of the electrocardiogram PR interval. An A to G polymorphism in the 3'UTR of D-AKAP2 showed a significant decrease of the G allele in the older sample of both genders. Additionally, the I646V polymorphism was found to be significantly different between young and old in both males and females.
- Indentifier
- Reference


text: Waterguns.io by isiogames · Published August 19, 2018 · Updated September 21, 2018 Spread the love 0.0 00 Full Screen Waterguns.io is a beach arena shooter io games stile Minecraft .you are on the nice beach, you have a water gun, and try to wet other players. control Waterguns.io Use the WASD keys or arrow keys to move. Right click to shoot.


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Meet the Kanga Poucher: an automation system that can produce up to 20 products per minute. It comes with a FANUC CR-7iA/L Collaborative robot to complete the project. The robot automatically loads products into the Kanga Poucher with its feeding tool. The system can handle a variety of materials.
Must see 🚁 racing & photography drone courses
The Kanga Poucher has a smaller footprint than comparable equipment on the market. The FANUC CR-7iA/L is safe to use around humans and stops upon operator contact.
*some of our articles have aff links. Please read our disclaimer on how we fund Exxponent.


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Car batteries have various roles in different cars. They are the main source of power. Batteries in electric cars replace the need for refueling that is constant, and certainly will be charged when not being used. Batteries in conventional cars are utilised to start the vehicle.
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Generate along with increase your online existence during some time by submitting social bookmark content. Obtain smart as well as actionable suggestions to improve your results.
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Project Description
CDU Series Free Installation Cylinder -XHNotion can offer you air cylinder, barrel is made of anodised aluminum, piston rod is made of chromed carbon steel. – Light weight and compact. Easy for installation. Position of both side ports are changeable. Strong transverse load capacity and torque capacity.
- Barrel is made of anodised aluminum
- Piston rod is made of chromed carbon steel
- Light weight and compact
- Easy for installation
- Position of both side ports are changeable
- Strong transverse load capacity and torque capacity.
Axially mounted
Longitudinally mounted
|Motion pattern
|Double acting; Single acting, spring-in; Sing acting, spring out
|Working medium
|Max working pressure
|0.7 MPa
|Operating temperature range
|5 -60 ℃
|Both end with rubber gasket cushioning
|Stroke Tolerance
|+1.5 mm
|Installation Type
- XHnotion has single rod air cylinder, rodless pneumatic cylinder, twin rod pneumatic cylinder, tri-rod pneumatic air cylinder, thin type air cylinder, miniature air cylinder, finger cylinder, gripper cylinders, rotary cylinder.
- Pneumatic cylinders come in thousands of variations. Our engineers are familiar with how to calculate force, speed, and air consumption, available options. We can help you to choose right cylinder and help you design pneumatic system.
- Repair kits are imported from Taiwan.
- XHnotion customs cylinder as drawing or sample.
- 100% leakage testing under low pressure and high pressure.
- 1 year quality assurance after shipment.
- After sales technique support.
- Transparent plastic bag + neutral box + neutral carton + pallet
- Custom packaging are available, XHnotion brand packaging are available
- Export port: Ningbo or Shanghai, China
- Shipping way: by sea, by air, by courier
- Delivery time 3 days to 30 days depends on actual orders.
Payment Terms:
- We accept T/T, L/C, Paypal, western union,etc.
Samples Policy:
- For regular item 1 piece, free samples against your courier account or you pick up from us.
- For custom items, we will discuss by email.
Return Policy:
- We assure you 1 year policy after shipment. If there is any problem during this period, please contact us
for support.


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Lifelike, Potted Artificial House Plants | Artificial Plants Unlimited
13in. Salvia Plant w/ Pot
For more color or to add charm to a room, use the artificial Salvia Plant with pot included from Artificial Plants Unlimited. The artificial Salvia Plant was expertly crafted to give it a realistic look. The height of 13 inches makes the small Salvia plant the perfect addition to a tabletop or desk. Take to your office or place the fake Salvia plant in your home to bring more life to a drab room. Instead of watering a real plant regularly, you can bring the same atmosphere with a natural looking artificial Salvia plant. The included pot allows you to set this plant wherever you would like. The faux Salvia plant can also be used for adding additional plant life to a dull arrangement in a large planter.


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Justice League Animated TV Series Download
Season 1
Buy: Amazon.com
Pahe.in; Mega link 1; link 2; link 3; link 4(30.6G);
In the very beginning I just wanted to watch Bats solo cartoons. As time goes by I realized that it was not enough or realistic for me to watch solo cartoons to know about Bats in cartoon world.
Episode Recommendation: E18-19, E24-26
Season 2
Buy: Amazon.com
Pahe.in; mega link 1; Link 2(37.89G key: !Ib5esX6FMIf2nhdw_I2RNw)
Episode Recommendation: E05-06, E11-12, E19-20
Season 1
Buy: Amazon.com
Pahe.in; mega link 1; Link 2(18.82G, key: !wpOIEnlnymOpBjEjqvy2Wg);
Episode Recommendation: E25, E26.
E25: Wally saves the day. This episode shows the coolest Wally West in the whole DC Animated Universe and other animated movies. I think one of the reasons why E25 made so much impression on me is that usually Wally is not so powerful and he looks more like an assistant than a member of the Original Seven.
Season 2
Buy: Amazon.com
Pahe.in; mega link 1+ mega link 2; Link 3(13.83G, key: !8NDoB01GXAmm7-fvNRgiZA);
All Seasons: link 1; link 2; Link 3(30.25G); link 4(7.89G)


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It's hard. It's hard to stop paying for features you don't use in your CRM. Unless your CRM is a 'modularised' CRM you can't only pay for just what you need. Let's take a hypothetical scenario…
Super Duper CRM – tons of FEATURES
Super Duper CRM has invoicing. It has quotes. You can manage your customers. You can send them SMS messages. Wow you can do so much. To do this they want $20 a month, for each user. But wait. You don't invoice your 'Customers' you sell them products via WooCommerce. You don't need to invoice them. But Super Duper CRM has all these PRO invoicing options. Pay invoices using PayPal. Pay them using Stripe.
But you don't need all those features – yet you're still paying for them.
Try this. Send Super Duper CRM an email – ask them to only charge you $5 per user per month – you don't use all their software.. (don't do this – super duper CRM isn't real). When using software that's catered for all. Software that comes with a monthly price tag. You'll do well to pay less than the asking price because you "may not use all features". It's like asking to pay less into a Nightclub because you'll only listen to the dance music.. and ignore the R&B.
How do I stop paying then?
Stopping paying for features you don't use is simple. First choose a CRM that is free to use. Our Zero BS CRM is free to use. For as many users as you want. It comes with a bunch of features included which should cover the need for any small business.
- Start with a free CRM
- Extend it with the features you need
- Purchase any premium extensions you may need
- STOP paying for all those extra features that a monthly CRM offers.
I've tried Zero BS CRM – it doesn't have what I need – let us know here please.
Free CRMs don't have every feature I need!
Maybe they don't. If they don't make sure to reach out and let them know about it. Our CRM has a growing suite of Extensions which may make the CRM do what you're after. In the CRM there's the 'Extensions' tab. In this tab there's a group of Free Extensions (such as front-end Lead Generation forms) and some premium extensions.
Too many features! Is there such a thing?
Having too many features surely is a good thing? It means the CRM can do everything I need right now. Plus everything I may think I might need in the future. That may be something you want. It's not something we agree with though for the following reasons:-
- You may not need them for 2 years (or more) yet you're paying for them now. $20 a month for 2 years is $480 wasted.
- It might put your staff off – if you have staff – from being able to use your CRM efficiently
- It makes the user experience harder. Where do you start.
So stop paying money for features you do not use. Start using a CRM which lets you pay for just what you need (if at all). Your customers will thank you for it.
No Bullsh*t here
Learn how to make the most of our FREE No Bullsh*t CRM. Stop paying monthly for features you hardly use and start taking back control.


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3 Reasons Why Taking Time For Yourself Is Important
Whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you live, you're going to want a respite from life every now and again. In fact, what with all of the pressures that life throws at you daily, a little time for yourself is not just something that you want, it's actually something that you need. It is for this reason why you should never feel bad about having a timeout.
To find three reasons why taking time for yourself is of the utmost importance, make sure to carry on reading.
It will help you to clear your mind
Without anyone or anything else around to distract you, taking time for yourself provides you with the perfect opportunity to clear your mind. By merely taking a little bit of time out of each day to relax on your own, you'll be able to run through all the things that are bothering you mentally. It could be problems that have been going through your mind about work or general worries you have about your family's future. Regardless of what it is, that has been plaguing your mind of late, being on your own is the perfect way to combat and then remedy your anxieties. Afterwards, your mind will feel clear, and you'll be a happier, all-around better person to be around.
It will help you to combat burnout
Being by yourself is also a preventive medicine in the war against burnout. This is because alone time acts as a sort of reset button; it gives you the chance to take heed of what has gone before, relax, and prepare for what is yet to come. Without time spent on your own, then, you'd find yourself becoming tired and moody far more often, and what good would you be to anybody, both at home and at work, if that were to be the case?
It will gift you the opportunity to do what you want to do
When there's nobody around to tell you what to do, you can do whatever you want. If that's not a reason for taking some for yourself, then what is?
If you have particular habits that your loved ones do not like or appreciate, then you can get away with enjoying them without disturbance while you are the only one around. This could involve vaping, and being on your own would give you the chance to explore the different e-liquid flavours that Ultimate Juice. Or this could involve sitting around in your sweatpants watching TV! Whatever it is you like doing, being on your own offers you the opportunity to do it in peace.
You could be single or married, young or old, a famous star or Joe Public — no matter who you are, what you do, or where you live, you need to take some time for yourself from time to time. As you can see from all the reasons listed above, this is one of the most important tasks you can undertake, if not the most important.


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A Philippine town mayor who was linked by the president to illegal drugs was fatally shot in his office Wednesday in the latest brazen attack on local officials. Four gunmen barged into the Ronda municipality's town hall in Cebu province early Wednesday and repeatedly shot Mayor Mariano Blanco, who was sleeping in his office, police said.
The men fled in a van. A police report said the gunmen ordered two watchmen to lie on the ground at gunpoint, rushed to the town hall, and then "a burst of gunfire was heard from the mayor's office." The watchmen later found Blanco dead and notified the police. President Rodrigo Duterte had included Blanco in a list of officials allegedly linked to illegal drugs.
The mayor had denied any wrongdoing and had been alternately sleeping in his office and his nearby house after reportedly receiving death threats, officials said. Last year, Blanco was stripped of control over the local police due to his alleged links to illegal drugs. Blanco's nephew, Ronda Vice Mayor and lawyer Jonah John Ungab, was shot and killed in his car by motorcycle-riding men in February after attending a court hearing for a client, a suspected drug lord, in central Cebu city. (AP)


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Our School's Documents
- AERIES Parent Portal Data Confirmation printout - Please access your Parent Portal account here https://parentnet.tustin.k12.ca.us to complete the required "Data Confirmation" process for annual updates to your child's information. Log into your account, click on the "Student Information" tab and then, "Data Confirmation" tab. Review and update all information on each of the Data Confirmation tabs and complete by proceeding to "Final Data Confirmation." If you have multiple children, click the "Change Student" tab and repeat the process. Complete, print and sign the Data Confirmation Signature form (if you do not have a printer, a friend, relative or public library may be an option). Student will not be registered without the Data Confirmation Signature.
- Registration purchases
- Tdap Form (7th Grade only) - English / Spanish


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The basics:
Whether you think they're handsomely hairless or eerily ET, there's no denying the Donskoy is a show-stopper. Their suede-like, wrinkly skin may not be the first thing you think about when considering a new furry friend, but you'll have a hard time finding a more affectionate, people-friendly breed. The Donskoy is extremely loyal, and loves to be handled and held. Inquisitive and intelligent, you'll also find yourself with a curious companion that will try to include themselves in your daily activities.
The Donskoy, also known as the Don Hairless, Russian Hairless, or Don Sphynx, originated in Russia in the city of Rostov-on-Don, near the Don River. Rescued from a group of cruel children, her savior originally thought the small female cat was losing her hair due to stress or infection. When she later had kittens, they also started losing their hair, and a genetic link was suspected. This fortunate feline became the foundation for two Russian hairless breeds: the Donskoy, and the Peterbald.
Don't be fooled by the Donskoy's lack of hair – they actually require quite a bit of extra grooming. Oils build up on their skin, and dirt sticks to the oils, necessitating frequent wipe-downs, or baths. Their nose, nail beds, and ears seem to be particularly susceptible to dirt, and should be kept clean. In addition, the Donskoy should not spend much time outside, but when they do, they'll need sunblock – their hairless skin burns easily.
Appearance / lifespan:
The Donskoy is a medium-sized cat with a fairly strong-boned, muscular build. They have a broad chest, and a peculiarly rounded belly, as if they've just eaten a big meal. Some have speculated that the extra belly fat is there to keep them warm, but regardless, it is a trait of the breed, and not necessarily indicative of over-eating. The tail is medium length, tapering towards the tip with a whip-like appearance. The Donskoy has web toes, which some think contribute further to their alien-like appearance.
The head is a rounded wedge-shape with a flat forehead and chiseled cheekbones and eyebrows. The head is longer than it is wide, with a medium length muzzle, slightly rounded. The flat-nose is described as "Roman", and seen in profile, there is no downward curve from forehead to tip. The Donskoy's whiskers may be long, or short, sparse or even absent, and may be curly or thick, and prone to breakage. The eyes are medium to large, almond-shaped with an upward slant. The Donskoy's naked skin is "elastic" with plenty of pronounced wrinkles, especially on the cheeks, jowls, and under the chin. There will also be wrinkles on the forehead, above the eyes, at the base of the neck, the base of the tail, and on the under belly. Wrinkles are considered a valued trait in the Donskoy.
Though the Donskoy is characterized as a hairless breed, that definition is not as simple as it seems. The Donskoy may be born bald with soft, wrinkly skin, or they may be born with a "velour" coat, in which their body is covered in wavy, soft fur that usually disappears within the first year. With the velour coat, they may be born with a bald spot on the top of their head, and as they lose hair over the rest of their body, some residual hair may remain on face, legs and tail, though that has usually disappeared by 2 years of age. In addition, the Donskoy may be "flocked", in which they appear to be hairless, but have a very fine peach-fuzz coat. And finally, some hairless are not very hairless at all, and are born with bristly, wiry fur over the whole body, with only a bald spot on the head, upper neck, or back. The Donskoy are currently accepted and bred in all colors. patterns and eye colors.
The Donskoy is largely a healthy cat, though they are prone to skin conditions including acne, rashes, and sunburn. Because they lack hair to absorb the oils produced on the skin, they may need to be bathed or wiped-down frequently.
Behavior / temperament:
If you're not intimidated by the look of such an unusual cat, the Donskoy is a truly loveable, good-natured, and social breed. They value relationships with both the people and other animals around them, and are not happy if left alone for a long time. It's not uncommon for owners of the Donskoy to keep two cats for the added company they can give one another. Without a warm coat, the Donskoy gets cold easily, and having a buddy to curl up with will feel ideal to them. The Donskoy is the type of cat who will happily greet you at the door when you come home.
Intelligent, active, and irrepressibly curious, the Donskoy will be your own personal assistant, eager to take part in everything you do. They're fairly athletic, and though they may explore every cupboard top and bookcase, they are not the "climb the curtains" type. They respond well to training, and enjoy the chance to interact. The love to be held, touched, and petted.
The Donskoy is very sensitive to temperatures, and does best in a warm, dry environment. If you've always wanted to dress your cat up, the Donskoy gives you a good reason: particularly during colder months or when the air conditioning is going, they may need a little t-shirt or sweater.
bald appearance, gentle cat, loving lap cats, sweet little ball
high maintenance cat, ear cleaning, frequent baths
Rid Your Cat of Hairballs
It is a well-known fact that most cats do not drink large amounts of water. When examining their urine, we find they concentrate their urine greatly- confirmation of smaller amounts of water intake. When pets take larger amounts of water, they produce more urine that is more dilute. In order to encourage water intake, some owners feed only wet (canned) cat foods. There is more water in canned food than dried kibble, thus increasing the water intake. Other owners may elect to add a small amount of salt to the diet. This can increase the thirst and therefore increase the amount of water taken. Another option may require some investigative work. Owners observe their pets closely, I have discovered. They find their cat's water intake preferences. These include fresh water during the day, use of fountains for water intake or faucets. Some cats only like to drink outdoor and some only indoor. There are challenges with each pet. Finding a great way to increase water intake helps moisten the stool in the end and therefore helps prevent constipation - a goal for every cat owner. .
From T Lee 533 days ago
Physical exam before beginning treatment
A comprehensive physical exam is a must before beginning any treatment for a "behavior problem." Any sudden changes in your cats behavior may indicate an underlying medical problem. Your veterinarian will do a complete physical exam to check for any obvious signs of pain or injury. Also, they will check a temperature to ensure there is no fever. Another important indicator is checking the weight of your pet. Unexplained weight loss or weight gain may indicate an underlying metabolic disorder. Based on their physical exam, the vet may recommend bloodwork as well to check the kidney, liver, and thyroid functions of your cat. They may also need this information before starting medication for your cat as a baseline, so that the values can be monitored if your pet is on behavior-altering medications long term. .
From sat14 574 days ago
Adopt a Donskoy from a shelter near you


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Author: Markus Euler
Published in Communities Magazine Issue #148
In university I was already keenly interested in issues of power and authority, but my studies of these topics have become much more real since I started living in community. Now, rather than focusing on academic questions such as how power comes into existence and what legitimizes authority, I care more about coming to terms with power differences in specific structures and clarifying existing problems on this basis.
Strangely, sometimes I feel just as powerless in my community as in normal society. At these moments, I think I am just a lonely voice crying in the desert with no power to change anything. Since the population in my community is much smaller than in the society as a whole, my voice should have more weight here.
And probably it does. One out of 60 (in ZEGG) is certainly more than one out of 80 million (in Germany). But that does not mean that I actually feel this way. What I say to myself is important in relation to how powerful I feel.
I noticed this when we had a small kitchen crisis in our community. We are organized so that every community member belongs to a cooking group which is in charge of the kitchen once a week. Each group has about 10 people who distribute among themselves whatever tasks have to be done. When new members arrive, or old members leave the community, we always try to ensure that the number of people in cooking groups remains the same. However, because of a big fluctuation, once only five members remained in one of the cooking groups and could therefore no longer handle the workload efficiently. They were still somehow able to keep things running through heroic self-sacrifice, but it was pretty unfair since people in well-staffed cooking groups had to work significantly less.
Though it was obvious to all that this group needed more people, attempts to lure members from other groups failed. This happened partly because people did not want to leave their familiar group and partly because the other groups feared that they would become too small. It became clear to us that we could come to a solution only with the entire community. Thus, we called for a Plenum in order to try to resolve this problem. In our community, a Plenum is a meeting to which all community members are invited and where all those who attend are entitled to make a decision.
Not everybody was present at the Plenum. This happens often in our community, since our members are usually very busy. We decided to set up our cooking groups in the room. Thus, all those who belonged to a cooking group stood together and the names of the missing people were written on slips of paper and placed at the appropriate groups. It became immediately obvious that one group was much smaller than the others. The attempts to shift people back and forth so that all groups could have the same number of members failed once more, for the same reasons as before.
I kept myself out of the whole process. I thought I could not contribute anything to the solution. My cooking group was still big enough. Although I was not really happy in this group, there was nothing that particularly bothered me. Above all, I did not want to move to a smaller group. When the situation started looking really hopeless, I felt powerless to do anything. At some point, however, following a spontaneous impulse, I said: "I would really like to cook with people I like." The statement was well received, but still no one had any idea how it could bring us closer to a solution. The whole process had come to a standstill.
We were all aware of the problem, but there was no one who had the power to solve it by decree—for example, by compelling some members to change groups. Since it was clear that nothing had helped, and also that things could not continue as they were, we decided to start considering crazy solutions as well.
Then a community member said: "I think Markus' idea is really interesting." I was intrigued that she described my statement as an idea, as I myself would have never perceived it as such. I had simply expressed my own needs, but did not wish to stand in the way of the overall process. But all at once it occurred to me that it was actually by not expressing my needs and by not going fully for what I wanted that I had stood in the way and inhibited the problem-solving process.
I would call this an example of empowerment at the right time, and what happened next showed that she was right to support me as she did.
I looked around the room. Unfortunately, none of the people that I would have liked to have in my group were present. However, their names were written on slips of paper. So I plucked up all my courage, authority, and power and I simply took the papers I wanted and put them around me. Immediately, a new cooking group was formed and I was inevitably its manager. The remaining people, including the papers with names that were left over, quickly found their way to other cooking groups without any major difficulties.
For me, this experience proved several truisms that one hears again and again in communities.
First: If everyone takes care of oneself, then everyone is taken care of.
Second: Everybody has something to contribute to a solution, even if she or he does not think so.
Third: Sometimes it takes a nudge from the outside, so that you do what you wanted to do anyway.
The process I just described took place about two years ago and our cooking groups still work perfectly. For me, this process symbolizes that when someone in our community wants something and the time is ripe for it, then things can change completely.
We are open and free enough to implement even crazy solutions.


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Every customer journey begins with content.
Customers need to read and digest content before they buy, they trust brands that educate and inform them, and people rely on effective content to steer them through the information seeking and buying cycles.
There is a wealth of content types available for businesses to deploy, and more data at marketers fingertips than at any other stage of human existence, yet one of the biggest pain points for business is creating content that works.
I've worked on thousands of integrated content and marketing campaigns over the past 15+ years, and there are 5 common content fails that appear the most. These content fails and the fixes for them are covered in this post.
1. Going on gut feel
There is a place for instinct, experience and gut feel within marketing and creating content, however, you need to pair this off with some degree of sanity checking and proving (or disproving) that your hypothesis warrants time, resource and money.
Gut feel alone cannot be the litmus test for creating effective content.
If you require a little more persuasion that gut feel is not the best approach for creating content, a recent survey from ahrefs cited 91% of content created receives no traffic at all from Google Organic Search!
The fix…
All businesses have access to free and meaningful data sets plus analytics packages (Google; Analytics and Search Console are great places to start), which can be used to drive your content creation approach and fuel it by what your users want, need and are looking for.
If you have a business culture of creating content that you feel is right, and limited data experience or expertise to justify it, you should start looking at gaps within your indexed search engine content (type into Google `site:your-domain` to see your indexed pages and refine based on topic – e.g. `site:your-domain inurl:topic`) and filling these with expert-driven content.
You can complete the same test on your top online competitor sites too, and use tools like SEMRush and Ahrefs (plus others) to identify and build content that has a justified reason for adding to your website.
2. Nobody knows your content exists
If you spend one-day writing, refining and adding new content to your website, you should spend at least half a day promoting the content in front of relevant, engaged and interested audiences.
Most of the pages on your website will have zero external authority, awareness, buzz or social sharing associated with them.
According to my content marketing colleague Jo:
"The biggest challenge is getting results from content. Just about every brand is publishing on a regular basis these days, so it's difficult to get your content seen, let alone clicked and engaged with."
An important aspect of the solution for this dilemma is pushing the content out effectively with targeted content marketing.
Creating content but failing to support it through content marketing (paid, organic and social promotion) means that you are the silent voice in a room full of shouting people.
The fix…
Dedicate some time and budget to getting your content seen and promoted in the right places.
To help support ROI from this, look at the content which has historically driven the most traffic, leads, revenue, and promote that content as a rehearsal and strategic refinement exercise.
Set aside a budget to trial paid social promotion on your business social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn et al) and support this with organic posts and updates too.
Take snippets of the key insights and ensure that you have your key staff (experts) to credibly share these by answering relevant questions within active forums, microblogging platforms, plus other niches tied to the topic and industry in question.
3. Missing the latest trends
The content creation and marketing ecosystem is ever-changing, meaning that what works now is unlikely to be the same tactic to employ next year.
The same can be said to various degrees for content types, topics, search behavior and other areas.
Trend awareness is crucial if you want to act on new opportunities and avoid potential competitor threats by missing the trend or being too late to the opportunity.
Trends can be technology specific, for example, the growth in voice search based on home assistant adoption and increased mobile phone searching with consumers, creating the search demand increases with 'near me', 'close by' plus location-related content needs.
Trends can also be other drivers like; new media coverage, political and economic change, new products/services and seasonal (among other areas).
The fix…
Proactively allocate recurring time each month for identifying and acting on the latest trends, and build into your business a culture of knowledge sharing plus a passion for what's new.
Some quick tips include:
- Sign up to industry news and aggregator sites
- Attend industry events and exhibitions
- Read and cultivate a reading culture
- Listen to podcasts and webinars on the move
- Take time to ask your customers what matters to them
- Keep an eye on the competition
- Look at what your data is telling you
- Embrace change and encourage people to challenge the status quo
As a business, you should also build interest and practical awareness of using tools like Google Trends as part of ongoing content building actions:
4. Giving content one chance to succeed
This is without a doubt the most prolific content failure seen by most businesses.
Consider this process:
- You identify a new content opportunity through trends
- Then justify the resource needs with data
- You make the content live
- Some initial social sharing and link building is completed
- You check the performance 4-6 weeks later
- The content failed to deliver on expected traffic, impression or conversion goals
The fix…
Revisit your existing content and ensure that every piece of valuable content you create includes within your process a stage for review and refinement.
You will have untapped potential within your website spanning 10-20% plus of underperforming content which can contribute more.
Tactics to consider will include:
- Updating the content title, heading and supporting headings for increased CTR and content relevancy
- Adding deeper content based on what the data tells you (FAQs and summary items work well)
- Seeding in core terms that you now know the content is associated with and appearing for Organically in search
- Internal linking to the content from related pages to help pass and distribute topically relevant authority
- Re-promote, share and link build more thoroughly to the content
5. The content is not good enough
In fact, this point really covers a few areas:
- You have expectations that are too high compared to what you are creating
- What you create does not stand up to the competing alternatives
- You are competing against some huge budgets and big brands
- You are not leveraging SEO in your content process
- You are not creating expertise, authoritative, trustworthiness (EAT) content
The fix…
The content you create needs to be better – harsh, but true.
Anything that goes onto your website should include some (even a very basic level of) SEO involvement. This will ensure that you are giving your content a greater chance to succeed, that the terms you are using reflect the audience being targeted, and that there are no technical impediments preventing your content from being discovered or ranking in the search engine result pages (SERPs).
It's important that you have realistic expectations on the performance of your content and awareness of the external environment in which your content is competing. This will help set and manage the intended outcomes for your content, and ensure that you don't write off effective tactics that may take longer to deliver business impact.
Each piece of content needs to go through some level of an editorial process. This will help with spelling, grammar, readability, interest, and web-readiness.
Whilst everyone in your business may not be able content writers, many of them will have credible opinions and voices that can be captured for fantastic EAT content pieces.
What's Next?
If any of the above points are familiar fail points for your business, take time out to assess the practical next actions and the suggested fixes in this post.
Be as objective as you can be – it will be the strongest criticisms that will have the largest positive impact on making your current content work harder, and your new content deliver increased results.
Try to be logical and fair with the setting, managing and delivering to content expectations.
Don't forget, there is more content being created than ever before, so for your content to succeed you need to think creative, leverage every bit of your data, and promote the content (spending at least half the time you spent writing it pushing it out to interested people).


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|Kapitel 98
The Form of Love
|General information
|Volume number
|Chapter number
|Number of pages
|Cover Phrase
|Finally, is it time for revival...!?
|Cover Character(s)
|Anime counterpart
|Chapter guide
| Preceded by
Kapitel 97
| Followed by
Kapitel 99
Kapitel 98: The Form of Love is the ninety-eighth chapter overall, third chapter of volume 17 of the 07 Ghost manga series, and second-last chapter of the series.
Eve is revealed to have become 'invisible love' mixed with the lives and hearts of humans after her death.
A flashback shows that at the age of fourteen, while attending Dalia Barsburg's coronation ceremony, Dalia's unsealing of the Eye of Raphael caused Ayanami to remember that he is Verloren, and become a [[Warsfeil. Unable to bear the scandal, his family decided to execute him. Ayanami, then known as Krowell, escaped to Barsburg with Yukikaze, and on the way there, changed his name to Ayanami. Yukikaze's death is revealed to have reminded Ayanami of Weldeschtein Krom Raggs's and Eve's deaths.
Back in the present, Ayanami is gravely injured and dying as a result of being impaled by Verloren's Scythe. Teito tries to save him, but he calls Teito a fool and forcefully separates himself from Teito so that Teito won't be devoured by the darkness.
In the afterlife, Verloren is pleasantly surprised to see white feathers all around him, signifying that he is forgiven by the Chief of Heaven.
Quotes from this chapterEdit
- "I have been here ever since I fell from heaven. All these lights are me." (Eve's explanation)
- It is revealed Verloren is reunited with Eve in the afterlife, and they are shown reaching out to each other to touch hands, implying that Verloren's touch is no longer fatal.
Characters in order of appearanceEdit
- Barsburg Armed Forces soldiers
- Teito's paternal grandparents


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22 Dec Tips & Tricks For Your Fujifilm X Series Camera
Source: Fujifilm Insider
The Fujifilm X Series Cameras are quite unique in their operation and look of the images they produce. Here are some tips I have picked up from my time with the Fujifilm X-Pro2. Most of the tips will apply to all of the X Series, but some may be more specific to the X-Pro2.
Setting Lightroom Defaults specific to your Fuji camera
Where the X cameras really shine and beat out the competition is in their colour rendition. It is mentioned in nearly every review you read and it was the primary reason I gave Fuji a shot in the first place. The different film profiles give you more options and creativity when shooting but you will notice that if you are shooting RAW, you lose those profiles once you import them to Lightroom.
This is because Lightroom is applying it's own Camera Calibration/colour profile by default when you import your Fuji files and is disregarding all of that hard work that Fuji has put into their colour rendition. There is no automatic way to retain the specific colour profile you chose when shooting but at the very least you can set your default profile to Provia (or whatever profile you shoot most in) so that you are at least starting from one of Fuji's bases and not Adobe's Standard.
Tips & Tricks For Your Fujifilm X Series Camera posted on Fujifilm Insider on .


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door ninja
I haven't written about my oldest son in a while. He's sweet and funny and talented. And, he's eight. He looks out for his younger brother, without me asking. The word "technically" finds its way into all of his conversations. He wants to be a famous, drummer, hockey player or football player. While he's mostly quiet and reserved, his closest friends get to see his outgoing and goofy side.
I asked him what plans for the summer are. His response: sleepovers with cousins, aunts and grandparents, eating out at noodles and company, and taking pictures with his ipad.
He puts himself in other people's shoes. He goes out of his way to hold the door open for everyone, something he's done since he could walk—calls himself the "door ninja." He cares about people's feelings. He writes plays and stories and recently, he started taking photographs with me. He has strong political views and asks lots of questions about the election. Even though he's the most obedient kid I know, school gets tough for him because he has trouble conforming to some of the rules. From speaking up in class to the "short" lunch breaks, in his mind, there's never enough time to eat and have fun with friends.
It's getting better as he gets older. Hopefully summer break will allow him to enjoy a few slow lunches at Noodles and Company and some long get-togethers with friends.
About this entry
You're currently reading "door ninja," an entry on taraisarockstar's blog
- Published:
- July 2, 2016 / 7:37 pm
- Category:
- parenting, photography, portraits, scenic photography, shyness


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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The One Where I Can Pinch Your Backside And There's Nothing You Can Do About It At The Moment.
Dear Lover,
I dreamed about England last night.
And a closet full of 1930's style dresses.
My hair was twice as long.
There were rolling hills and bluebells.
And pints in mugs, set on long wooden tables outside of pubs.
I dreamed you wore a stone green pullover made from sheep's wool.
And I said, "Let's hurry love, back to the flat."
"I've got these ideas just exploding in my head, and I don't want to forget."
So you swallowed your remaining ale, and the last of mine.
And you climbed onto a bicycle for two.
Steadied it so I could climb on too.
Took the long way home down a tree lined avenue.
Saying over your shoulder, "Tell me about these explosions, and I'll remember them for you."
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The measure. Variety is the spice of life; it has no measure, but this is the measure of great taste. We want you to have a different taste and a different dining experience.
In the cozy, cool and calm setting of Yardstick you can order servings of your favorite quality dishes. Classical a la carte style. And guess what…they will be steaming fresh and delicious.
We assure you there's nothing like it. It's completely off the hook!


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City clothing represents one thing distinctive in that it comes from the streets, however has been adopted by high fashion. Dressier shorts, like the Bermuda, are a basic type that want a close fit the leg and crotch (the seat) and comply with tapered down towards the knee. That is the home territory for cargo pants: nature. So we all know that cargos are informal, however we need to draw a line between searching gear and leisure attire.
Add a large white belt over black capris and a colored blouse , and the outfit was exactly like what style icon, Audrey Hepburn, would put on. So profitable, in fact, that retailers and shoppers alike are championing shorts because the jaunty foundation of a spring wardrobe, one as useful as denims, but with a shock hint of refinement.
Jean shorts, sizzling pants, linen shorts… You get the idea. Shorts are an off-the-cuff piece of menswear – no arguments. There are two types of pants that the Fifties are most identified for: capri and cigarette pants. The '40s and '50s obsession with all issues Western life extended into girls's pants.
Using our handy categories, you may divide your search for men's shorts into modern, traditional, avenue wear, and surf and skate types, so you will be offered manufacturers that supply the lacking link to your favourite fits. Although camouflage pants (camo pants) are in vogue every so often, you need to never put on this sample.
A somewhat similar garment worn by males in Australia known as " stubbies ". "Shorts" is used unqualified in British English to refer to sports shorts, athletic shorts, or casual shorts: the final is nowadays commonplace in warm climate in the UK.


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On the 8th of October, Dr. Rebecca Pope will be the key note speaker on our AI event, organized by KPMG Belgium. As KPMG UK's Lead Data Scientist she sheds some light on the current 'hot topic' of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – of which she is an expert.
What does AI really mean?
It is all the hype, but what does AI really mean? Rebecca describes AI as the ability of computer programs to learn from data. This means that computers can learn to complete tasks without being explicitly pre-programmed, unlike the traditional conceptual framework of computing. "The issue is that a lot of terms are put in the same melting pot – including robotics, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence and machines…I think we need to be very careful when we are having these kind of debates about job loss and creation, and really be clear in what we are talking about."
Will computers or AI replace humans in the labor market?
The question on all of our minds: will AI replace human labor? Rebecca shares that AI is limited to learning a single domain and doing it very well. She points out that AI systems can recognize faces as accurately as humans, but that it is a very specific task and what we need to understand is that human labor is multifaceted… "A job is a culmination of tasks that do not exist independently – and AI will allow us to augment our intelligence."
A job is a culmination of tasks that do not exist independently – and AI will allow us to augment our intelligence.
For Rebecca, it is clear that AI "it is not about replacing human beings, but allowing them to make the most effective, data-driven decisions." And that "it will act as an opening the scope of information that humans receive and can use to make an informed decision." It is clear for Rebecca that AI, for these reasons, will not replace human jobs but ameliorate human capacities in our everyday work.
In our recent CEO Outlook - 80% of Belgian CEO's believe that AI will create jobs rather than destroy them. Is this too optimistic?
"It is interesting that Belgian CEOs have a significantly higher than global viewpoint of around 60%." She reiterates that this is all in how we conceptualize a job. "We need to think about it as a linking of many different tasks that together to form an occupation". Rebecca refers to research done looking at US census results from years 1950 to 2010. Findings show that only 1 of 270 occupations no longer exist – the 'lift operator'. Meaning that "no one job is defined by a single task and that a job is compiled of multiple elements that can only be made more efficient". She continued to explain that "AI is speeding up processes and reducing inefficiencies. It is a far more nuanced question than a binary: yes or no. This optimistic view we are seeing with the captains of Belgian industry is perhaps an understanding that a job is not simply a series of static tasks, and that the 'occupation' will continue to adapt to changing times."
This optimistic view we are seeing with the captains of Belgian industry is perhaps an understanding that a job is not simply a series of static tasks, and that the 'occupation' will continue to adapt to changing times.
How should education deal with AI?
How should we adapt? Rebecca's concern is that "we are seeing more and more digital and artificially intelligent applications at the center of numerous industries, and people don't necessarily have the skills to be able to fully interact, understand or evaluate the output of these system, which could prove dangerous. If you don't understand what you are interacting with, however fancy, the value of AI for a business is zero. If it people do not understand the output of the AI system they simply won't use it". She suggests that we need to consider "as a society how we are educating from a grass roots level, on how we are preparing our youth to enter the work landscape."
And continues on the current system that when education is based on Reading, Writing and Arithmetic a fourth element that centers on computer literacy needs to be added– and should be added globally. She describes that "in Japan, we are seeing mass adoption of artificial intelligence and robotics. But adoption and growth is facilitated by Japan's Governmental commitment to educate young people about coding, data and algorithmic decision making. I predict that Japan will witness huge economic gains from this educational investment in the future when the fourth industrial revolution really gets going…" and suggests we create an environment where employees and CEOs alike are encouraged to continually reskill – much like we do at KPMG. "This needs to be the fabric of our work. We must have a workplace culture where employees are able to constantly pivot and learn new skills."