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ROBIN HOOD (2018) was part 2 in my "have to be out of the apartment during certain hours but THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB starts too late" programming series. I probly shoulda just seen CREED II again, but you know how it is. Sometimes you want to see ROBIN HOOD.
Taron Egerton (LEGEND) plays Sir Robin of Loxley, a reverse Kingsman raised as a "spoiled toff," he later fights with the commoners against the government, without his fancy clothes. The movie opens with a narrator bragging about how this is not the "bed time story" you know, and it kinda plays as a super hero origin story (in fact it was originally announced as ROBIN HOOD: ORIGINS). It's a Robin Hood trained by his mentor John (Jamie Foxx [STEALTH]), a Muslim P.O.W. who, in an act of defiance, he freed during the Crusades, even though the dude had almost killed him. Through some decent training montages (sadly lacking in Stan Bush songs) he gets even better at shooting off a whole bunch of arrows real fast, including when whirling through the air in slow motion. Which I am in favor of. Much of the action (which includes exploding carriages and what not) is shot a little shaky to remind you of that not-a-bed-time-story thing, but luckily they can't resist the occasional slow motion leap or rope swing. (read the rest of this shit…)
VERN has a new action-horror novel out called WORM ON A HOOK! He has been reviewing movies since 1999 and is the author of the film criticism books Seagalogy: A Study of the Ass-Kicking Films of Steven Seagal and Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer!: Writings on Bruce Willis, Badass Cinema and Other Important Topics as well as the crime novel Niketown.

subset: commoncrawl


text: 0 By Jennifer Master Movers In Before & After You MovePosted July 24, 2017Apartment Move-Out ChecklistYour apartment has been the center of your life. Over time, it may seem that every nook and cranny of that space has been used, and you've made your mark during your time there. But now you're [...] READ MORE


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Beryl Nelson
- Born inUnited States
- Studied inUnited States
- Lives inPoland
From EWM Newsletter no. 20 (2012/1)
Beryl Nelson gained her undergraduate degree in Math at MIT and went on to obtain an MS in Biology at the University of Utah with an NSF Graduate Fellowship. Still in Utah, she moved in 1981 to the Department of Computer Science as a programmer in the Symbolic Computation Laboratory. From there, she moved into a career in industry, first with the company Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as a software engineer and manager, working primarily in computer languages. One notable early success at DEC was being deeply involved in the release of version 1 of Common Lisp, which was released the same month as Guy Steele's book, Common Lisp: The Language (to which she is also a contributor).
In 1995, Mrs Nelson moved to Tokyo, Japan, where, after a short career break to look after her young children, she joined the company Epos as Chief Software Designer and Head of Software Department. There, her most important project was an automated integrated circuit tester. In 2004, the Nelson family moved to Hyderabad, India. Amongst the many and varied projects that she was part of in India, she is most proud of NuVia, an artificial intelligence project related to health care, at the company GHX. In 2009, Mrs Nelson began working for Google in Hyderabad, on the engineering productivity team. It is from there that she was offered her current position at Google Krakow, as an Engineering Manager for one of the teams in websearch.
In addition to her main work, Mrs Nelson has also become interested in the published research on the data on diversity within business and its practical applications.
She has designed and co-presented diversity sessions at Grace Hopper India and Grace Hopper US, at the ACM India conference 2011 and internally within Google.
She has three daughters: the twins are 17 and the older one is soon to be 22.
EWM: Why has Google chosen to support the EWM activites in 6ECM Krakow?
BN: The main reason is to support an event addressed to the female community in science and technology, and to support and increase the participation of women in these types of events. For this reason, we are also taking part in the grant program, in order to increase the participation of young women of eastern European countries at 6ECM. We also would like to introduce the Google Engineering offices in Poland and to raise awareness of the professional opportunities in Google for the female community.
EWM: How does a background in mathematics help with a career in a company like Google?
BN: Google does hire some mathematicians, and these people are particularly successful if they like to talk with other people and explore ways to get large impact by applying their knowledge to other Google problems. These are often, but not exclusively, in statistics, combinatorics, and operations research. More commonly, software engineers use mathematics in statistical estimations of large scale, simulation and so on. It is most easy for mathematicians to be effective at Google if they can also write code for their ideas.
EWM: Does Google have any specific policies or programs in place to support women?
BN: Google has a deep and long-lasting commitment to building and maintaining a diverse organization. We believe that in addition to hiring the best talent, having diversity of perspectives, ideas, and cultures leads to the creation of better products and services. This is visible from the top down, from the founders all the way through the organization. Our Women@Google employee resource group is a global network with more than 30 active chapters throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Through this, we are able to create rich opportunities for women to connect across the organization, as well as to provide learning and development opportunities that meet the unique career needs of women. In addition, our SVP Alan Eustace helped to found and continues to support the Anita Borg Institute, which holds the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, and other initiatives. There are many examples, but one event in which I participated for International Women's Day this year can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0eF5O1pj7Y
You can read more about diversity at Google here: http://www.google.com/diversity/
EWM: How would you compare your professional experiences in Asia (India), Europe (Poland) and the USA?
BN: Each of those, plus my professional experiences in Japan and some schooling in Germany, has shaped the person I have become. The work culture and lifestyle in each place is different, with varying strengths within each culture. I thought I was an open-minded person before moving to Asia in 1995. I now realize how wrong I was, and continue to learn by working side by side with people from other backgrounds. I believe that this sort of experience can make one more innovative. In terms of the strengths of each culture, there is probably not room within a short article, but to encapsulate a few: in Japan there is a very nice custom, both in raising children and in the workplace, of starting responsibilities gradually and increasing them over time. In schools the basic attitude is that anyone can learn, given the proper decomposition of a problem. This is really nice. I also learned a lot about consensus building. There are many meetings in Japanese society, as is well known, but generally, they confirm a decision already made. One talks with people individually beforehand, so there are no surprises in the larger group. This is a very useful technique, I have found. India is amazing because it has fast forwarded into use of new technologies in a very short time, so today's young work force is dealing with a completely different situation than their parents did. My husband is from India, and he tells of how each trip back surprised him — the time he came back and all of a sudden, everyone had TVs, for example. I am most impressed by the drive to learn in young people. I have only been in Poland for a year, so I have much to learn, but I have felt really at home. There is a kind of courtesy to strangers, which is very nice, and attention to details, also very appealing. My colleagues are very committed and intelligent, with great skills.
EWM: As a successful career woman, how do you create a healthy work-life balance?
BN: Let me say first off that definitions of success and balance are highly personal, and many would question whether I have either. However, I would definitely call my life satisfying. In the case of balance, let me use an analogy from child nutrition. I read a study when my first child was young that is relevant. As it recall, it said that if you give children a lot of healthy options to eat, they don't choose a balanced diet for most meals, but over the course of a day, it is totally balanced. This ability to self-regulate is destroyed by insistence on eating at particular times, and by the introduction of sugar and salt. It is more appropriate in my own case to think of balance in the long term than the short term. That is, at different times, I have concentrated on different needs. I have worked full time, part time, at home; I have left work for several years and come back. I have alternately worked as an engineer and a manager, back and forth a few times. This is a very personal issue, but for me, in sum, I would say that developing these has been important:
– Deep self-knowledge, which helps you to prioritize.
– Skillset, which you continuously grow.
– Passion for your work and play.
– Supportive partners at home and work, and with complementary skillsets.
– Being able to create and make use of options, even if they are unconventional or risky.
Above all, you must keep yourself happy with your life and the options you have chosen. To that end, I feel that it is essential to have a really deep self-knowledge: of what is important to you, which helps you to set priorities; of what options you want to keep open; that helps inform your vision of what you want your life to be. I chose to quit working when we moved to Japan, in order to concentrate on helping my children learn about the society we had moved into, and I learned a great deal myself. When I was asked to join a company again, I said only on the condition that I would come when the children were in school. This worked because I had a skill they really needed, so it is essential to continually build on your skills. It also worked because I loved the work, so I would be thinking about the problems when I got home, and just had to code up the solutions when I got to work. I prefer to work on high impact and challenging projects, on which I can learn. How you select a partner is very important. This will affect the kinds of risk you are able to take, and your support system at home in every way. I am sure I would not have thought about taking as many risks if my husband had not suggested and encouraged me on some of them, and that has been extremely valuable. Having him in an academic job and my work being in industry has also been very helpful. Your partners in the workplace are also extremely important: you want to work with intelligent and dedicated people who have complementary skills, so that you learn from each other, and whom you respect. Having financial options is also important. It turns out that renting makes us much more flexible; home ownership makes moving more complicated. Living in less expensive countries (like India and Poland) has made it less important for both of us to be working at the same time, and that also gives us more freedom to try out risky work options.
A huge benefit of living in multiple countries is that our children have become world citizens: bilingual, multicultural, independent thinking people. They all learned to read in Japanese first, and English later, and know a bit of some other languages. The twins just turned 17 (they were 8 months old when we moved to Japan) and for their spring break went for 10 days to Japan, just the two of them, to see many friends. They loved it. This summer they plan a fair amount of travel, including a trip to India with their dad. The older daughter (she was 5 when we moved to Japan, soon to be 22 now) is a grad student getting an MS jointly from the U of Trento (Italy) and the U of Osnabrück (Germany); she is currently in Namibia for a second 2-month internship, studying dolphin behaviour for her thesis. She is applying for a PhD at least to universities in the Netherlands and Japan.
EWM: You have been very active concerning women in computing. Do you think that your experiences there (in particular with being involved in the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing) could be helpful to the EWM? Do you think it worthwhile to build more bridges between STEM organisations for women with broadly similar aims?
BN: Yes, of course. I have been pleasantly surprised at the depth of research that has been done related to the benefits of diversity, as well as some of the challenges that face us in making diverse teams effective. I like to think of this more broadly than just as about women, but women in technology is certainly an example that I can relate to personally. I have been committed to increasing awareness of the research on unconscious bias, stereotype threat, and some of the steps that can be taken to reduce their effect, and I think this applies to any women in science/tech situation. There are differences in the kinds of career options open to mathematicians and computer scientists, of course, and the skill sets needed, so not all computing support activities will necessarily be relevant to mathematicians — except for those who also want to increase their CS literacy.


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This month I received a commission for a birth illustration from my youngest-ever customer, Sarah. Only twelve-years-old, Sarah has used her birthday money to commission from me a bespoke illustration. I was delighted to receive this work, as I have known Sarah for many years. I had asked Sarah to think about what elements she would like included in the picture and if she had a particular colour scheme that she wanted me to work to. Having had her bedroom freshly decorated, Sarah provided me with a piece of the colourful wallpaper that she wanted to match her illustration with. Elements that were required were, "lots of pugs and girly things". That was a good brief…I knew exactly where I was going.
I sketched out the illustration last week and set to colouring it this week. I have enjoyed drawing the pugs, which are a breed of dog that I have not drawn before. I wanted to have these little canines in various positions and doing what dogs do if left unattended for too long! So, the picture includes chewed shoes, tampered with make-up and a string of sausages that are being wolfed down in haste. I also wanted to do the pugs various sizes, so they looked like a family unit.
Matching the coloured-pencils to the wallpaper (above) was interesting, as I had to blend some of the colours to get the required hues. I had to write down the combinations of these colours, and I also gave them imaginative names such as 'Acapulco Sunset' (orange), 'Mushy Peas' (green), 'Pretty Polly' (pink).
At the time of uploading this blog post, Sarah hasn't seen the final piece of artwork, but I do hope that she will be happy with the commissioned artwork and that it will go admirably in her new and fashionable bedroom. Thank you, Sarah.


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Continuity of Vision: Reclaiming a Founding Vision 1
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Before leaving on my sabbatical, I preached a sermon from Genesis 12 entitled "Reclaiming a Founding Vision." In Genesis 12 God covenants with Abraham and Sarah, promising to bless the nations through their descendants. That is, I believe, our founding vision. In Christ we become children of Abraham so that we might be a blessing to the nations.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the business of religion that we forget our calling. Fortunately, God remains faithful to this covenant, and has a way of rekindling that vision in our hearts. The title of that sermon, "Reclaiming a Founding Vision" served as theme of my sabbatical. Since pastors are tempted to get focused on the mechanics of the institution rather than the vision that guides us a congregation, the sabbatical provided me the opportunity to remember and reclaim that vision for my life, so that I can lead this congregation in fulfilling our calling to be a community of blessing to the nations.
For the next seven Sundays I'm going to share insights that I gleaned from my sabbatical journey. The first two sermons will lay the groundwork for what follows. This week the focus is on the way in which this founding vision gets passed on down through the ages – from Abraham and Sarah, through Jesus, and on to us. Next week the focus will be on resetting our compass when we lose sight of that original vision.
Although Protestants tend to resist the idea of "Tradition," it is through Tradition that the vision gets passed down from generation to generation. The problem isn't Tradition. It's "traditionalism."
You may have heard me share Jaroslav Pelikan's distinction between the two: "Tradition is the living faith of the dead, while traditionalism is the dead faith of the living." The danger that Tradition presents is that it can easily become an idol, and it becomes an idol "when it makes the preservation and the repetition of the past an end in itself" (The Vindication of Tradition, p. 55). You've heard it said – "we've never done it that way before." Or "this is the way we've always done it." That's "traditionalism." Tradition, on the other hand, is a treasury of encounters with the living God, which have been passed down to us through scripture, through story, through liturgy and sacraments, through art, and even in stone. Tradition is a living witness to God's covenant of blessing, made first with Abraham and Sarah and then passed on through time to us.
During my sabbatical I had several opportunities to connect with these life-giving Traditions. I'll be sharing some of these encounters with you in the sermons and also at our February 22nd retreat.
The first stop of my sabbatical adventure took me to England. Since my scholarly interests and my spiritual roots are connected to the Anglican Tradition, I decided to start there. Among the highlights of my trip was the opportunity to explore ancient churches and cathedrals. I got to step back in time and experience the rich heritage that is encased in stone. Some of the churches I visited go back to Anglo-Saxon days – back before the Eleventh Century. One of the things you notice as you walk through these churches are the monuments to people long since deceased. At Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, where I worshiped on four occasions, you'll find many of these monuments. There's a marker for the burial site of the philosopher John Locke. There is also a marker reminding us that John and Charles Wesley were ordained to ministry in that church. As I contemplated the monuments and the shrines, I felt the presence of the great company of saints joining with us in the worship of God. And when I went to the altar to receive communion in Oxford and at St. Paul's, I took a journey that thousands of others have taken down through the centuries.
We don't bury people within the walls of this church. There are, of course, little monuments to people whose lives are connected to this congregation, but do you feel the presence of God's saints now departed standing with us as we worship together in this space?
When we gather for worship each Sunday we share in an inheritance passed on through time. Margaret Bendroth puts it this way in her book The Spiritual Practice of Remembering:
When twenty-first century Christians gather to sing and pray, when they practice the sacraments of baptism and communion, they are not making up those forms on the spot. All of those are an inheritance from centuries of Christian belief and practice. (The Spiritual Practice of Remembering, p. 9).
In a few moments we will gather at the Lord's Table. Written on the Table are the words: "In Remembrance of Me." As we take bread and cup, we are invited to remember that God is revealed to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This service of the Table isn't a funeral. The one we come to remember isn't dead. Instead, Jesus seeks to meet us at the Table so that we might be nourished and fed for the journey ahead, a journey that brings blessing to the nations.
The text for today comes from Deuteronomy 6. It is also a call to remember. In this passage we hear the Shema pronounced. The Shema is the confession of faith that every Jew is to take to heart. There is but one God, and you shall love God "with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
The people of God are directed to not only remember this confession of faith, but they're to pass it on from generation to generation.
Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
In other words, don't just send them off to Sunday School, but make these commands the centerpiece of your lives together as a family. Help your children incorporate this faith tradition into their own lives, so that they too might come to know the living God.
As I thought about this passage, a song from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young came to mind. You might know it – it's called "Teach Your Children Well." One of the verses offers us this word of wisdom:
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.
There is a rather constant refrain that I hear among Disciples, and many other Progressive Christians. That refrain is that beliefs don't matter. From my experience, however, beliefs do matter. Beliefs matter because what we do in life reflects what we hold to be true. Our beliefs express our sense of trust in God. So, "teach your children what you believe in." If you're a Disciple and a follower of Jesus, then teach your children about Jesus, so that you might "make a world that we can live in."
Unfortunately, many Baby Boomers didn't heed the words of this song. When it came to matters of faith, many parents decided to let their children decide for themselves. In other words, they didn't make any effort to recite these commands to their children. As a result, many younger adults have had little exposure to the Tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. So it's no wonder that the fastest growing religious group in America is one that chooses not to state a preference. Now I'm not encouraging coercive parenting, but it is important to share that which is most dear to our lives with our children.
That's the bad news. The good news is that God is faithful. There is a Tradition that continues to be passed on from generation to generation, even if it is being left to a remnant. That's okay, because that remnant has the opportunity to reclaim the founding vision.
It's a bit like medieval Europe, during that time when literacy began to fade. The monks kept busy copying ancient manuscripts, including biblical texts, so that later generations might have access to these riches. We are the inheritors of these traditions. They needn't become idols. Instead, they can be and are witnesses to the ongoing presence of God in our midst.
And as Paul puts it in 2 Thessalonians –
For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. (2 Thess. 2:14-15 NRSV).
Or as Ruth Duck puts it: "'tradition' is not an unchanging heritage but a never ending process of passing on faith in ever-changing ways" (Worship for the Whole People of God: Vital Worship for the 21st Century, p. 265).
As we come to the Table this morning, may we look back to that founding vision that God planted with Abraham and Sarah. It is a vision that God rekindled in the ministry of Jesus. It is a vision that has been passed down to us through the ages, so that we too might share in this ministry of blessing to the nations.
Preached by:
Dr. Robert D. Cornwall, Pastor
Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Troy, Michigan
1st Sunday after Epiphany
January 12, 2014
Preached by:
Dr. Robert D. Cornwall, Pastor
Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Troy, Michigan
1st Sunday after Epiphany
January 12, 2014


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Steve Leonard is a veterinary surgeon and television presenter. Over the last 18 years he has travelled the globe filming some of the world's most enigmatic wildlife. During the same period he has continued to work as a veterinary surgeon. He currently works at Leonard Brothers Veterinary Centre in Cheshire and Shropshire, with his brother Tom. Steve has a keen interest in dog & cat internal medicine and is studying for a post-graduate certificate in this subject. Steve lives in Cheshire with his wife Cathy, their baby daughter Severn and their pet cat Bruce.
Over to Steve….
Well, another Christmas has passed full of food and good company. New Year has started with the usual promises to ourselves to become fitter, healthier and spend more quality time with those we love. Thankfully, all those things can be completed together when you own a dog. Now the winter solstice has passed, we're over the hump and looking forward to the return of the sun. The winter period can seem dark and miserable but it still offers moments of brilliance with clear blue skies and frost on the floor. Great days for crunching over mud rather than wading through it and soaking up the miles to work off the Christmas calories!
At this time of year it's also an opportunity to think about calories going in as well. The festive period tends to result in lots of 'naughty' treats finding their way into doggie diets, sometimes slipped off a plate by a guilty visitor or sniffed out and unwrapped prematurely by the dog themselves. Raisins were the big issue for us at the practice this year with lots of tasty mince pies and puddings being snaffled by hungry four legged burglars. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and their kin are relatively newly discovered toxins to dogs. We are not sure which dogs will be affected so there isn't a safe dose we can ignore. All dogs exposed have to be made to vomit (we have an injection for this) as soon after ingestion and then they are given intravenous fluids to protect their kidneys. If treated promptly the prognosis is good and all of our patients have been thankfully totally fine.
Having healthy, safe treats as part of a well balanced, calorie controlled diet is an important part of training and rewarding a pet. It's also good to be able to give that relative who insists on giving in to those big brown eyes a little something to pass on to ensure ongoing devotion.
Adjust the rest of the diet accordingly and get out in that winter sunshine – just like the photos I took just after Christmas on a walk with friends in the Shropshire hills, which should get you motivated!


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Makes Sense
You really wouldn't want to buy your penis pills from a small provider. Surely you'd want to get them from the people with the biggest operation you could find. Someone who has been in business a long time and is always ready and willing to deliver the performance that keeps you and your partners satisfied.


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More Whanganui dogs are getting a second chance at life thanks to animal-loving volunteers and a receptive district council. Rachel Rose has been doggedly following the slow change at Whanganui's pound.
The Whanganui district pound is a dangerous place for a dog.
Last year, 41 per cent of impounded dogs were destroyed at an average of 26 dogs every month.
But determined efforts by council staff and animal welfare volunteers are paying off, with euthanise rates half what they were 12 months ago and more dogs heading to a new home.
That's cheering news for dog lovers, but should be welcomed by ratepayers also — every dog euthanised costs the council $65, plus the cost of its feed and care for at least seven days prior.
But when a dog instead goes to a new home, the adoption fee covers the cost of its keep — and council receives its registration fee.
The dog will also be microchipped and desexed if necessary (or if a puppy, the cost of desexing is pre-paid). That means fewer unplanned litters and a fast reunion with an owner if a dog is lost ... and so, down the line, fewer impounded dogs.
Animal management officers (AMOs) are happy to have fewer charges in their care. Just 33 dogs were impounded last month, nearly half the rate a year ago.
The majority were dogs found wandering, two were removed and seven were surrendered by their owners.
Over 90 dogs have been surrendered to the Whanganui pound so far this year. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, like the 10-year old dog reluctantly handed over by his owner who had become homeless.
Pressure on tenants is a key reason for dogs being surrendered. Rents are increasing in Whanganui as property availability declines, and people with dogs are finding it more difficult to find rental accommodation, according to senior AMO Bernie Compton.
Others hand in a dog because they say they can't afford to feed it or can't deal with the issues that are arising — barking, escaping, acting aggressively or simply being high energy.
According to experts, these issues often arise because dogs have not been properly socialised or trained, or are being left alone for long periods of time and are lonely, bored or anxious.
Local ARAN Animal Rescue NZ representatives are passionate about saving dogs who would otherwise die. It's a registered charity focused on rehoming dogs out of pounds.
ARAN's relationship with agencies like the council and local SPCA can sometimes be tense.
ARAN founder Anna (she does not disclose her surname) was sharply critical of several cases this year where under-aged pups were housed in the unsuitable facilities at the council pound and not taken in by the SPCA.
Whanganui District Council acknowledges its pound facilities are not compliant and a new facility is planned that will include specialist housing for pups and nursing mothers)
In August, Anna's persistent intervention saw four Catahoula X pups transferred from the pound to the SPCA before ARAN organised their transport out of town.
Anna started ARAN 10 years ago to rehome dogs from the Ruapehu pound and, since then, has rehomed more than a thousand dogs.
It relies on foster care rather than running its own shelter. Fosterers will take a dog into their own home, often for months, until a "forever home" is found.
ARAN connects with its supporters via social media and email lists — 13,000 people follow the organisation on Facebook alone — and people help in many different ways.
Donations reliably arrive when appeals to pay the vet bills mount up, while drivers transport dogs around the country for a range of reasons — sometimes it's because a dog has been rescued from abuse or neglect and it's safer for the dog to be in a new town where it won't be recognised.
Other dogs with special needs, like Minnie, a deaf Sharpei cross, are matched with fosterers with specialist experience.
Fostering provides a dog with a home environment away from the stress of a pound and it can be more fairly evaluated.
"Some dogs just bounce in to the pound, bounce around and bounce out. Other dogs absolutely cannot cope in that environment — they might go into freeze mode or a fear-aggression response," says Anna.
"It depends on their previous experience and the nature of the dog."
Feedback from foster parents provides prospective owners with detailed information about a dog's needs and the kind of home it would suit.
ARAN signed a memorandum of understanding with the Whanganui council in December, setting out the terms by which they work together on rehoming pound dogs.
It's taken longer to get established on the ground than Anna would have liked, but results are showing up now. Only eight dogs were put down in September, compared to July last year when it hit a high of 44.
ARAN's reach and experience pays off — take the case of Frankie (a fox terrier) and Mandy (a border collie x foxy), who were handed in for rehoming by the pound earlier this year.
"They were both very nice, easy dogs," Anna recalls. "Both had been advertised as pound pooches in the press and neither got a home.
"If they hadn't come to ARAN, they would have been euthed.
"Within 24 hours of me listing Mandy on Trade Me, I had over 20 applications and had to pull the advert. Once the applications had been processed, I had a shortlist of six excellent homes.
"She now lives in Auckland. Frankie also had at least 15 excellent applications."
Almost all dogs it rehomes go out of town — "Whanganui is saturated with dogs and there are not a lot of homes available," Anna says.
Anna has been urging the council to up its game with its own rehoming efforts and she's pleased to see its Facebook page "Whanganui Adopt A Dog" (@Whanganuipooches) up and running after a false start. It's quickly gathered momentum since its relaunch on October 1.
Recent posts about wandering dogs saw them swiftly reunited with their owners and a chocolate lab handed in for rehoming prompted a flood of inquiries from around the country.
Some dogs are hard to rehome — large dogs, brindles, unneutered teenagers with lots of attitude and the "boof-heads", dogs with the large blocky head typical of bull breeds.
Despite this, Anna is quick to point out that ARAN has never failed to find rehome a dog it's taken on, whatever its looks or problems.
Ruby is one of those boof-heads, a timid bull-mastiff cross still languishing at the Whanganui SPCA.
She was moved to Whanganui from Levin, which is a large shelter located next to the pound.
"She was displaying obvious stress. The environment wasn't suiting her at all, and we had to get her out of there," says Danny Auger, SPCA's area manager.
Now the SPCA is operating as a single organisation, it is easier to move dogs between different centres, giving them a better chance at adoption.
The SPCA plays a role in rehoming dogs (and cats ... many hundreds of cats) but Danny says it is not its primary role.
"We don't want to be used as dumping ground. Surrendering a dog to the SPCA should be a family's last resort, not first.
"Our main priority is animals that are sick, injured, too young, elderly or abused.
"If there is room after that, we will absolutely help," he says.
Whanganui SPCA has three paid staff, including manager Francie Flis. It bustles with volunteers in the morning before it opens to the public — between eight and 10 show up each day, including students from Ag Challenge and UCOL.
Another smaller group of volunteers come and go during the day to exercise dogs and provide "enrichment activities". That means toys and games, recognising that mental stimulation is also important. Other volunteers foster dogs and cats.
Dave Croll began volunteering at the SPCA last year and within a few months was showing up every day, cheerfully tackling whatever tasks needed doing, says Francie.
The former dairy farmer's last dog died 18 months ago and his circumstances don't allow him to have another.
"If I could have a dog, they'd be out of a job here," he offers. He's a quiet man who likes working alone with the animals; Ruby is a particular favourite.
"Our end goal is to make ourselves redundant, to make a world where we're not needed," says Francie. Animal rescue volunteers around the country would surely agree.
*Rachel Rose is a writer, gardener, fermenter and fomenter.
Council has to juggle its duties
ARAN has a single focus on rehoming, but council and the SPCA juggle multiple responsibilities.
Council AMOs are also responding to public complaints ranging from nuisance dogs to dangerous ones and following up on dog registration.
Warrick Zander, council compliance operations manager, is working hard to help his team be more proactive — a fence at the top of the cliff rather than an ambulance at the bottom.
Staff turnover has been a headache — his team has been short-staffed for years — and he's now faced with recruiting a replacement AMO again.
But the free desexing for pitbulls programme promoted by the council has been very well supported and is expected to reduce unwanted and problem dogs.
Warrick's successfully argued for funding for a new education officer, who should be on the job by Christmas. She or he will run classes on safe and responsible dog ownership and be a visible presence at community events.
"We're not going to duplicate what is already happening, but we'll try to plug the gap," he says.
"It means if an incident happens, we can refer the dog owner to the education officer. We want to get in early to prevent problems escalating."


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I never saw our kids do this with Legos. Maybe I was naive.
According to an article in the Christian Post, "Sam's Club stores are no longer selling The Brick Bible: A New Spin on The Old Testament, which tells Bible stories through 1,400 images of toy Lego pieces, after 'numerous concerns' were received about some of the book's content."
Sam's Clubs stores said they were responding to complaints from parents who found many of the Lego depictions of Bible stories objectionable. The Lego dioramas in the book portray nudity, sex, and violence (well, Lego nudity, sex, and violence) that many find too graphic for children.
The book's illustrator, Brendan Powell Smith, says he was not necessarily creating a book for young children, despite the use of Lego blocks. "From the start, my goal was to create an illustrated Bible that stood out from all others – not just because it was illustrated in LEGO, but because I would be using only direct quotes of scripture to retell the stories just as the Bible tells them. I also endeavored not to water down the stories or censor them for content. If it was in the Bible, my thinking was, it was worth illustrating. That decision has meant, though, that not everyone considers The Brick Testament appropriate for all children, since the Bible is chock full of graphic violence throughout, and contains a few stories with sexual content."
He has stated he thinks it should be up to parents whether or not they share The Brick Bible with their children.
Smith also claims that his publisher offered to remove any sexual illustrations from the book at the request of representatives from Sam's Club and Walmart.
You can view the illustrations and access books, posters, and other materials that use his Lego art at "The Brick Testament".
[Psst…Wait 'til you see Bathsheba. Va va va voom! Hottest Lego chick I've seen.]
There is a clear content notice on the site that reads:
The Bible contains material some may consider morally objectionable and/or inappropriate for children. These labels identify stories containing:
Question: Why don't publishers post the same notice on the covers of regular print Bibles?


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HOUSTON, March 14 (UPI) -- Tony Parker scored 28 points, including San Antonio's final nine, to lead the Spurs to an 88-85 victory Saturday night over the Houston Rockets.
The Spurs lead the Rockets by 2 1/2 games in the Southwest Division.
Michael Finley had 17 points and made five 3-pointers for the second straight game for the Spurs, who have won four of their last five games. Tim Duncan had 15 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio.
Ron Artest had 21 points and nine rebounds for Houston. Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming each scored 18 points for the Rockets and Ming also had 11 rebounds.


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"Secret of the Three Super-Weapons!": While on a holiday from school, Wally West rushes out of the house and changes into Kid Flash in order to try to solve a mystery he stumbled upon recently. He has found that by running at super-speed he's been picking up pieces of some kind of telepathic mes
The Flash #135 is an issue of the series The Flash (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1963.
Appearing in "Secret of the Three Super-Weapons!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Makryds from the 16th Dimension
Other Characters:
- three Makrydian super weapons: (Destroyed)
- super-power induction device
- ultra-paralysis machine
- super-scanner ray
- Makrydian denigration rifles
- Korydonian inter-dimensional letter dispatcher
Synopsis for "Secret of the Three Super-Weapons!"
While on a holiday from school, Wally West rushes out of the house and changes into Kid Flash in order to try to solve a mystery he stumbled upon recently. He has found that by running at super-speed he's been picking up pieces of some kind of telepathic message. By attaining a certain vibrational frequency, Kid Flash manages to get a clear connection the image of a woman materialized before him. The woman calls herself Ryla, and explains she comes from the dimensional realm of Korydon in the 16th Dimension. Opening his mind to her, she shows her images of her people's mortal enemies the warlike Makryds who plan on conquering his world. She tells that her people invented three super-weapons to help them stave off the Makryd invasion however the items were transported to Earth's dimension but were lost to them. She asks Kid Flash for his assistance in recovering the weapons so that her people can defend themselves against the Makryds.
Finding such an undertaking too much for he himself to tackle on his own, Kid Flash decides to seek out the help of his mentor the Flash and races off to Central City. There he overhears a radio report about how scientists have uncovered a mysterious super-scientific device and have asked the Flash to research it and try to determine its origin and function. Realizing that this must be one of the items that Ryla has charged Kid Flash with finding, Kid Flash races off to the special laboratory that has been setup for the Flash.
At the lab, the Flash is tinkering with the device when it suddenly charges him with a strange electrical energy. When Kid Flash rushes into the room, a bolt suddenly fires out from Flash's body that envelopes Kid Flash and changes his costume into a totally different design. After pondering the strange situation, Flash explains that he was coming up with a costume redesign for Kid Flash's uniform to avoid confusion between the two and deduces that the device endowed him with a temporary mind-over-matter ability, making his thoughts of Kid Flash's new costume a reality. Kid Flash then explains to Flash his meeting with Ryla and how this is one of devices that she is seeking out to save the Earth from the Makryds. Flash agrees to help Kid Flash find the remaining two weapons and the duo race around the world to find them.
Flash finds one of the items in Northern Europe, while Kid Flash finds the other in South America. Taking them back to Central City, they learn that one device is an ultra-paralysis machine and the other a super-scanner ray. Deciding to try out the super-scanner, the Flash learns that the Makryds have just learned of their success in recovering the weapons, and fire an energy bolt across the dimensions that destroys the three weapons. Undaunted by this turn of events, the Flash sends Kid Flash to gain access to Ryla's dimension and collect replacement weapons, while he goes off and warns the world of the impending invasion.
Kid Flash returns to the glade in Blue Valley where he first established contact with Ryla. However, this time instead of contacting her directly he finds himself transported to her dimension. There he finds the city of Korydon and finds that the Makryds have invaded and taken it over, and that Ryla is a prisoner. When Kid Flash attempts to rescue her, Makrydian soldiers attempt to stop him with their denigration rifles. Kid Flash makes short work of them. Freeing Ryla and her allies, Kid Flash agrees to accompany them to the Makryds' weapon depot on Korydon to secure more super-weapons, then to stop the invasion of Earth. Using his super-speed to get himself and Ryla past the base's defenses, they secure additional super-weapons and transport them to Earth, this time with Ryla and Kid Flash following them to make sure they don't get lost a second time.
While on Earth, the Makryds sends their invasion fleet though the dimensional barrier and are met with opposition from the Flash and the US Military. Despite the best efforts of both, the Makryds superior technology prevails; both Flash and the military are immobilized. Kid Flash and Ryla arrive soon after with the super-weapons and with the combined power of said weapons and the super speeds of both Flash and Kid Flash, the Makryd invasion is easily stopped. With the invasion quelled, the United Nations allows Ryla to take the captured Makryds to stand trial in her native dimension. Before departing, Ryla thanks Kid Flash for all his help and leaves him a goodbye present. That night, back home in Blue Valley and in his civilian guise, Wally uses the gift, an inter-dimensional letter dispatcher, muses how he's probably the only boy in the world that has a pen pal from another dimension.
- This issue is reprinted in The Flash Archives Vol. 5 and in DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #22.
- No trivia.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- The Flash Recommended Reading


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Here's my recent analysis originally published for BullBear Traders members on 1/15/11 and updated through 1/26/11:
Thusfar markets have proceeded pretty much as my analysis had anticipated. US equities are now fairly well confirmed to be in a major Wave 3 advance. Increasingly, signals are indicating that the 10 year long lateral bear market is over. The primary fundamental is the secular reallocation of capital from safety of bonds (and the risk of the public sector) to equities. Other safe haven assets, such as gold and the Japanese Yen, appear ready to go into bear markets. Notwithstanding the "sentiment surveys", market psychology is only just now turning somewhat bullish as the majority of participants gradually wake up to the unfolding bull market. The public remains entirely on the sidelines waiting for "the crash". The current wave could see a bit of an acceleration next week as earnings results confirm that corporations are doing well, providing investors with the excuse needed to take the plunge into stocks. While we cannot entirely discount the bearish scenario, it is becoming stretched to nearly the breaking point. As BullBears, we'll need to keep one eye on the mouth of the cave to see if he is stirring in his lair, but chances are pretty good the bear is in hibernation and will be for some time.
The US Dollar and the Euro continue an ongoing epic battle royale. I'm not betting on either at this time, but I am leaning in the direction the world reserve currency. In addition to a good technical and contrarian case, the dollar will also be in big demand as the economic build out of 2/3 of the planet proceeds over the next decade.
Commodities look set for a C wave correction as the dollar strengthens. I am not anticipating a bear market in commodities, but it is possible that as a group the best days are in the rear view mirror. Individually, there is quite a range of possibilities. Select commodities may continue in bull mode in all time frames while others go into bear mode.
Safe haven markets appear to be entering bear markets. This includes bonds, precious metals and precious metals stocks. The bond bear market is well along but the gold bear market is as yet unconfirmed. There is yet hope for the gold bull, but it's fading. There are many reasons to think that a major top is in place for gold. I'll be detailing that in a forthcoming special report. In the meantime I am short from 1368.
SPX is our benchmark for US and world equity direction. It's our weathervane. And right now it is telling us that springtime has come for stocks. I am long multiple SPX buys off the September bottom with the last coming this week at SPX 1268.
Here's the preferred wave count:
This puts it in an ultra bullish iii of iii of (3) mode. Note the long term bull cross of the 50 EMA over the 200 EMA. It's a major technical event that has been entirely ignored. Such a cross often acts as a flash point, particularly in the context of such a very bullish setup. Even so, many pundits continue to try to call intermediate and long term tops here.
Here's a shorter term view:
Several Fibonacci projections cluster in the 1340 area. That may be a level we can look at for a short to intermediate term top. It may be potentially a place to take some profits or just buy the dip to add to the position. In either case it should be a resistance zone.
Another short term view has a short term top potentially in place.
A close below 1280 might mean a correction is underway.
A much longer term view shows a potential roadmap going forward.
There is an intense cluster of Fibonacci targets in the 1315-1350 area which also corresponds with the August 2008 high and lateral price resistance from 2007, making this a likely short to intermediate term topping area. The full wave 3 has targets at the 2007 highs.
The bearish scenario is still somewhat plausible. Let's have a look:
The 78.6% Fibonacci retracement of the fall from the 2007 top could make a good C wave high to complete the ABC corrective Wave 2. I'm not leaning that way because too many other factors argue for the bull scenario.
TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE PLEASE GO HERE: http://www.thebullbear.com/profiles/blogs/...-report-january
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January 2011 BullBear Market Report
Started by Steven Vincent , Jan 28 2011 06:53 PM
No replies to this topic
Posted 28 January 2011 - 06:53 PM
Steven Vincent
Need help staying on the right side of the markets? Join me at BullBear Traders at TheBullBear.com.
Need help staying on the right side of the markets? Join me at BullBear Traders at TheBullBear.com.


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About Kate
I have been a global citizen serving hundreds of families in birth throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia since 2003. South Korea is now my home.
The seed that held my path to midwifery was planted when my Yia Yia (grandmother) gave birth to my mother. This seed sprouted when I was a child listening intently and with curiousity to the birth stories of women in my family. In my 20's I volunteered in a busy acupuncture clinic in San Francisco and often worked with pregnant clients. I was awed by the mystery and beauty of every pregnant woman who walked through the doors with her baby to be nourished by Chinese medicine. In between taking out needles, measuring herbal medicines, and drinking copious amounts of green tea in the clinic's kitchen, I was deeply touched and transformed by the power of acupuncture, the smell, and energy of herbs, and the wisdom of ancient healing.
In my early 30's I moved to Washington, DC and worked full-time as a program analyst in the White House and moonlighted as a yoga teacher and began massage therapy school. Through a conversation with a midwife in my yoga class I discovered the art of the birth doula. I trained and certified (DONA) with Penny Simkin in 2002. Two years later, my husband and I moved to Bangkok, Thailand, to begin a new chapter in our lives.
I started a busy doula and pregnancy yoga and massage practice, ran a prenatal support group for Bangkok Mothers & Babies International (BAMBI), co-created and taught prenatal yoga teacher trainings, became a certified hypnotherapist/Hypnobirthing practitioner, and attended my first 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat at 30 weeks pregnant with my first child.
My midwife-attended home birth on The Farm with our first child in 2007 inspired me to study midwifery. Between 2009 – 2012, I completed three midwifery apprenticeships at Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) in Ubud, Bali. I graduated from a nationally accredited midwifery school in the US and am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).
My heart sings, whether serving families in villages or in cities, in hospitals or homes, and I serve women no matter where or how they live and birth. My approach starts here.
As a birthworker, my philosophy is kindness, I advocate for informed choice, and I share easy-to-use mindfulness techniques that deepen the mind-body connection and facilitate the changes that arise in pregnancy, birth and parenting. I bring 14 years of birth experience, a compassionate heart and an open mind to the families I am honored to work with, as I provide individualized, evidence-based care.
Family birth stories I heard as a child taught me how much birth matters and gave me a deep respect for the family life cycle and for the profound transformation of becoming a parent. I continue to grow along with the families whose birth stories I witness and for each one I am forever grateful.


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What a difference 12 months makes. Last year Sebastian Vettel entered Yas Marina as a championship long-shot, but left as the sport's youngest ever world champion.
Now he returns with a second garland around his neck, the championship having been decided long ago. The German remains the only man to win a grand prix on the Yas Marina circuit, and with 11 wins from 17 races this season the numbers do little to suggest the run will be halted this weekend.
When a champion has been as unstoppable as Vettel, focus invariably tends to shift to fights further down the order. Finishing second also becomes worth chasing, and after a spectacular run in the past seven grands prix Jenson Button can seal the accolade if he finishes comfortably clear of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, the second and third parts of last year's three-way championship decider, in Abu Dhabi.
While such battles may provide interest heading into the weekend, in truth the real test will be whether the Yas Marina circuit can produce a decent race. For all the glamour, extravagance and opulence of the nearby surroundings, the circuit itself has failed to live up to its lustre, and was derided in some quarters following a damp squib of a championship decider when Alonso saw his title hopes evaporate behind the rear of Vitaly Petrov's car.
Alonso famously spent lap after lap behind Petrov last year © LAT
There are reasons to be optimistic of course. Two independent DRS zones, the first on the long back straight and the second on the following kinked straight, should make a significant difference to overtaking prospects. But where a modicum of tension was maintained last year by the championship implications, the early settling of the title this year means the Yas Marina layout will come under serious scrutiny should the quality of on-track action not improve.
If that is to happen, it seems inevitable that Lewis Hamilton will have some involvement. The Briton has found himself in the headlines both by design and through mistakes throughout 2011, and he goes into Abu Dhabi as something of a wildcard. The easy question of whether he and Felipe Massa can actually avoid each other aside, Hamilton hinted at a return to something near his best when he became the first non-Red Bull driver to qualify on pole in 2011 in Korea. He would have been on the front row again in India but for a practice penalty to drop him down to fifth - and put him in the position from which he later clashed with Massa. A polesitter at Yas Marina in 2009, and with the fastest lap from last year's race, Hamilton needs a strong result to prove he has put the mistakes which blighted the middle of his season well and truly behind him.
While Hamilton is under pressure over mistakes, there are also a host of drivers facing the stress of the Formula 1 'silly season'. Force India team principal Vijay Mallya should confirm before the race weekend which two of Paul di Resta, Adrian Sutil and Nico Hulkenberg will be retained for next year. With Williams also openly eyeing bringing Kimi Raikkonen back to Formula 1, two of its more senior stars in Sutil and Rubens Barrichello could find themselves out of a drive. Renault meanwhile continues to wait on the fitness of Robert Kubica, whose potential absence could open up a seat alongside Petrov.
Force India and Toro Rosso are locked in battle © LAT
Alongside driver line-up concerns, teams will also be fretting over the 2011 constructors' standings. Renault could yet be overhauled by Force India for fifth, but Sauber remains in the mix and Toro Rosso's recent surge suggests it too could be a threat. Williams looks assured of ninth, but behind it's a three-way fight for the lucrative 10th spot. Team Lotus provided a strong signal of its intentions by choosing not to put Karun Chandhok in for a one-off appearance in India, and will be hoping to capitalise should the prospect of a shock top 10 finish raise its head.
Although it only made its F1 bow two years ago, the Yas Marina circuit is a fairly well-known quantity for teams, who have learnt from last year in particular that overtaking is at a premium. Two DRS zones, located between Turns 7 and 8 and going into the Turn 12/13/14 complex, should help alleviate some of the issues, but good grip and traction on corner exits will still be vital in order to overtake.
Pirelli meanwhile will bring its soft and medium compounds to Abu Dhabi, meaning the short hard-rubber stints we saw in India may not work as effectively. Instead the key will be keeping the Pirellis together, and a three-stop strategy, employed to perfection by Button and McLaren on the same compounds in Japan, could once again prove the optimum.


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Steven Weber (I)
Actor | Producer | Soundtrack
STARmeterTop 5000
Up 883 this week
This Queens-born actor has certainly proven himself adept at everything from quirky comedy to flat-out melodrama. Steven was born on March 4, 1961, to Fran (Frankel), a nightclub singer, and Stuart Weber, a nightclub performer, and Borscht Belt comic and manager. He was already appearing in television commercials by elementary school age. He later ... See full bio »
Born:in Queens, New York City, New York, USA
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro


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|Project by SheriDi
|posted 09-16-2010 12:02 AM
|3041 views
|12 times favorited
|17 comments
I built two of these with the hope that at least one would turn out good. Both are veneered Spanish Cedar. The first is Pommele Sapele with Wenge, and the second is Waterfall Bubinga with Purpleheart.
Finishing for me was, as usual, a painful process. I'd give just about anything to be able to do a mind meld with Bob Flexner et al. Until then I'll continue to experiment. The sapele box is finished with 3 coats Watco oil applied with increasingly finer sandpaper. After that I applied Liberon wax which just did not do it justice. So I removed the wax with mineral spirits, and took the advice in one of my latest woodworking magazines (not sure which), and applied several coats of shellac and rubbed it out with mineral spirits and 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 grit Abralon pads. While my technique surely needs some practice and fine tuning, and I think next time I'll try to spray the shellac, I'm really pleased with how this humidor looks. For now this is my favorite finish.
The Bubinga humidor was a guinea pig for spraying a finish. This was my first foray into HVLP spraying and while it definitely has it's advantages, I'm going to have to practice some more. I can see doing most of my finishing with an HVLP sprayer in the future. It is several coats of precatalyzed lacquer, which I let cure for 2 weeks and then rubbed out the same as above. It came out pretty good too, but the finish does not have that glass fell like the shellac finish does, and it appears to be cracking. I can't feel the cracks but I can see them in the right light.
Basic joinery and all in all a pretty basic project until I got to the hinges. What a PIA!!! Now that they are in though, I'm glad I spent the money and time and headaches to install them.
Thanks for looking!
-- A Veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. That is beyond honor
17 comments so far
#1 posted 09-16-2010 12:30 AM
they both look really good from here!like the shot of the gleaming top on one the pieces. Lovely work!
-- shavins
#2 posted 09-16-2010 12:42 AM
#3 posted 09-16-2010 12:55 AM
Superb workmanship. And your finishing is just beautiful!
-- Al, Culpeper VA
#4 posted 09-16-2010 12:59 AM
Beautiful wood, great project.
#5 posted 09-16-2010 01:29 AM
beautiful work. combination of craftsmanship, wood selection, and finish combined to really make these boxes outstanding.
-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...
#6 posted 09-16-2010 01:29 AM
Those are two beautiful projects!
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio..... http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodenfrogWoodenProd
#7 posted 09-16-2010 02:20 AM
Wow! If there's something wrong with that finish, I'd sure like to know what it is! Beautiful work!
#8 posted 09-16-2010 02:25 AM
You are your own worst critic… as I am Mine… feel proud that you have accomplished something most people aspire to…
-- Don't drink and use power tools @ lasercreationsbylarry.com.au
#9 posted 09-16-2010 02:28 AM
Beautiful Grain, Great Craftsmanship, what is your substrate?
#10 posted 09-16-2010 02:51 AM
You can send either of them my way, they both look gorgeous to me !
-- Scott "Some days you are the big dog, some days you are the fire hydrant"
#11 posted 09-16-2010 04:06 AM
Thanks all for the kind comments, and yes degoose aren't we all our own worst critics?
Deucefour, the substrate is Spanish Cedar.
-- A Veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. That is beyond honor
#12 posted 09-16-2010 01:39 PM
The stunning appeal of Sapele Pommele, is only seconded by Elm burl. in my opinion, your finishing techniques are up there with the best of us , LJs. (not that I'm included) I'm a few dollars short of owning a HVLP spray system, but before I begin to use it on completed projects, I plan on spraying anything and everything, to practice every aspect of the process. (Just don't get carried away and spray the cat to stop shedding and hairballs). I would be proud to own any of your projects. Great post.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford. Wood-a-holics unanimous president
#13 posted 09-16-2010 02:03 PM
These are two beautiful boxes. Superb woods and the time and effort you spent on the finishing has more than paid off. This post has made my day a whole lot better.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
#14 posted 09-16-2010 02:15 PM
Those look fantastic.
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
#15 posted 09-16-2010 02:23 PM
Thank you for sharing. The boxes look great. I think the finish looks very good. I just started sampling different woods with a oil and shellac. I am now going to try with the pommele sapele for my next project.
-- Dan, Naperville IL, I.G.N.
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Craig Smith
Sponsored By
Watch: Somehow, Predators' Craig Smith Blocks His Own Point-Blank Game-WinnerSmith's stick blocked his own attempt at a game-winning shot.
Toews' Goal In SO Lifts Blackhawks Over Predators 5-4
Rinne, Predators Beat Blackhawks 3-1Pekka Rinne made 24 saves for his ninth straight win and the surging Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 Tuesday night in the teams' final game before the All-Star break.
Preds Player Misses Open NetNashville Predators forward Craig Smith missed an open net near the end of their game with the Maple Leafs.


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Discussion in 'Human Science' started by arfa brane, Jun 30, 2018.
I love watching dogs lie...
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...is that why they've got large noses, because they lie?
I know a dogs lips move when it reads.
Watch their eyes. Not Pinocchio, but politicians.
Joke: What happens when you give a lawyer Viagra?
They get taller.
If too many had that attitude society could fail, it's a good thing rest of us believe we can still better our selves.
What happened to the other 37?
You cannot change the past Gawdzilla Sama.
One question that never really struck me until now, as I prepare to make a Titus Crow spoiler joke, is why cockroaches.
But that leads to another question: Why would anyone repeat the mistake of coming out of the sea? (With humans gone, the water is going to get a lot better.)
• • •
More directly to the topic:
The Information Age, or perhaps the Data Age.
Toward that end, we are also in an interesting period history will likely record as Dark.
The thing about paper is that it can last for a long, long time. The thing about hard drives is that they will decay comparatively quickly. When we pushed toward a paperless society, we essentially condemned ourselves. Which raises an alternative: The Market Age. The thing about marketplaces is that it is not, traditionally or historically as such, their concern whether or not certain effects of their success are detrimental to their operating environment, i.e., society, until those effects return as a societal phenomenon harming the marketplace; short form: "Paperless" was a bad idea but made for an interesting business pitch, and it's just bad for business to worry about what might happen or not some thirty years down the line, and it will be society's duty to save not only itself, but, by priority and right, and again, as customary in historical tradition, the marketplace itself first and foremost.
Coming out on land gave us access to fire. That is the first, biggest step in transforming our world. Without fire, we would still be using elk antlers (or the undersea equivalent) to dig our homes.
It was a good move.
Separate names with a comma.


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Blockchain infrastructure for the Advertising & Publishing Industry
Blockchain infrastructure for the Advertising & Publishing Industry
Varanida is a decentralized advertising network made for users who want a better Internet experience, publishers who want to maximize revenues, and advertisers who want guaranteed performance.
"In its early days, the Internet was supposed to be a place where we could access the world's information, share our knowledge, and be more connected. While some companies have lived up to that promise and improved our daily lives, most have turned into revenue obsessed advertising-machines focused only on their revenue streams to the detriment of their users.
As advertising has taken over the Internet, users are the ones who suffer under its increasing load, both literally and figuratively. Advertising and targeting scripts slow down page load speed, congest bandwidth, and collect massive amounts of user data. Increased advertising supply has decreased the revenue generated per page, so publishers fight to stay alive by adding more and more advertising to their pages, and making that advertising more and more invasive, degrading the user experience even further.
Since the famous "Don't Be Evil" slogan debuted in 1999, advertising networks have mutated into privacy and profit sucking vampires as they compete for ad dollars. In 2017, more than $228 billion was spent on digital advertising globally, but Internet users and publishers received only a small portion of that value, while creating most of it. Advertisers are also being abused, estimation are reporting that ads fraud are costing up to $12.5B in advertising budget.
But what if we could take back the power? What if Internet users, publishers, and advertisers could work together to create a better advertising network, without going through centralised, greedy, fraud and nosy companies?
This is what Varanida is all about: enabling a new era for the Internet, where all parties are fairly compensated for the value they bring to the whole ecosystem.
Varanida will pursue that mission with three areas of focus:
In its first iteration, Varanida's decentralized and transparent advertising ecosystem will be powered by the VAD (Verified Ad Token), an ERC-20 token running on the Ethereum blockchain. Following that first iteration, we plan to release the Varanida Protocol, creating a new opportunity for all stakeholders to build applications and engaging content with a win-win approach.
Those include but are not limited to:
We are launching Varanida in the hope that a community of like-minded users will join us in our mission to change the way the world sees advertising and consumes digital content.
What is Varanida?
Varanida is a transparent and decentralized digital ecosystem.
Our mission is to improve the Internet through a better distribution of value among users, advertisers, and publishers.
We also want to create a system that respects the rights of users to control their own data
Who is the team behind Varanida?
The experienced team that is building Varanida is working hard to build a better Internet.
You can meet the team here: https://www.varanida.com/about-team/ or drop us a line if you want to get involved.
Can I transfer my VAD tokens to other currencies? (BTC, etc.)
At the moment, the Varanida tokens (VAD -- ERC-20 tokens) are virtually created and stored in your Varanida Wallet.
Later this fall, after our ICO, we will hold a KYC (know-your-customer) procedure. Then we will hold our Token Generation event.
2 to 3 weeks after the Token Generation Event, you will be able to export your VADs, transfer them to a different ERC-20 wallet, go through an exchange, or use them with applications built on top of the Varanida Protocol.
Where are your offices located?
Our main office is in France, 55 rue de la Villette, 69003, Lyon. We're a distributed team, with people working all around the world.
What can I use Varanida tokens for?
When the Varanida Protocol is released, VAD will allow users to access premium content on certain sites.
Additionally, advertisers will be able to offer exclusive product promotions or offers that can be redeemed by using VAD.
VAD can also be traded on various exchanges, just like any ERC-20 token, though details of that process will be announced at a later date.
What are the benefits of using Varanida?
Users who install the Varanida browser extension can use it to block (or allow) advertising as they browse the Internet.
In the future, users will be rewarded for their attention when they see advertising, and they will also be able to control how their data is shared (sharing is always done in an encrypted way), or prevent their data from being shared if they want to remain private.
Publishers can use the Varanida network to display advertising that is relevant to their content, and be compensated fairly for doing so.
Advertisers can use the Varanida network to promote their products and services, and improve the performance of that advertising by allowing more budget to go towards ad performance, as Varanida doesn't take a commission on advertising spend.
Advertisers who use Varanida will be part of a transparent and trustworthy decentralized network.
Anji co-founded DOZ.com, a marketplace for marketing campaigns, thus he has over 10 years of digital marketing experience. He is also an early blockchain enthusiast who bought his first Bitcoin in 2012. Anji is also an investor and advisor in few blockchain projects.
Faouzi co-founded DOZ.com, a marketing software. Faouzi is a Network & Infrastructure architect and full-stack Engineer, who contributed to many open-source and blockchain related projects. He also worked four years at Michelin as a Technical Lead.
Thomas was Co-Founder, CFO, and later CEO of Infogrames/Atari, managing a company of 3,000+ people and $1B+ in revenue. He also founded Prozone, which launched SUP, a leading software for sports team analytics that was sold in 2014. He was also President of the soccer club 'AS Saint Etienne'.
Mickael has over 6 years of experience in managing complex technical infrastructures at Amazon. He has been involved in blockchain development and crypto-assets mining since 2012.
Pierre-Antoine is an Engineer with an electronics, IT, and signal processing background. He has worked on various Internet projects and browser extensions. With a strong interest in cryptography, financial engineering, and monetary theory, he has closely followed the development of blockchain technology since its inception.
Marc is an Engineer with an artificial intelligence background. He is now focusing on blockchain problematics such as elliptic curve cryptography applications and game theory. Marc has signed his first transactions on the Bitcoin Mainnet back in 2012.
Jon spent the last 12 years in Ad-tech service businesses, and most recently at the global performance marketing leader Criteo. Prior to this, Jon spent eight years managing international sales and account teams at TradeDoubler.
Steve is a successful Senior Manager at Comcast NBCUniversal. He has over 10 years experience in finance and strategy, reviewing long term trends in the media industry. Steve is also an accredited investor and has supported multiple blockchain projects.
Kevin has a Master degree in Finance & Audit (ESCP Europe). He has over 10 years experience in the financial field; first as senior auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers, then as a Financial Director at Catalyst Capital.
Cory is a Full Stack Marketer with 10+ years of experience in the marketing and advertising industry. He worked for leading San Francisco agencies, creating digital marketing strategies for companies of all shapes and sizes to help them tell their story in a better way.
Carine is an avid Marketer, specialising in marketplaces. In her career she has worked for international companies and startups, and has experience managing various types of customers, including agencies and ad groups.
Thibault is a Digital Marketer who specializes in helping companies grow in an organic, ethical way, through community and customer care. He has worked with startups, agencies, and brands all around the world, and bought his first Bitcoin in 2013.
Lina is a Social Media and Content Marketing Specialist. She has been involved in DOZ community management for more than two years. Lina speaks four languages fluently.
Beginning of DOZ
Varanida was born
Team Varanida
Prototype release
Token Generation Event
Varanida Protocol
Varanida Blockchain
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Each day thereafter, new MTN tokens will be sold in a DPA at the rate that is the greater of 2,880 MTN per day.
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Today on the trail I thought about:
-Spring! It's on it's way. I can see it on the trees, and smell it in the air.
-How horrible women can be to one another especially on public forums.
-How painful and sore my hands feel. OUCH.
-How awesome my legs are for carrying me wherever I ask them.
- Charlotte, she will be turning three soon.
-How much I love hiking.
-My father-in-law Boss Nielson; who had heart surgery.
-How much help I need from the Lord daily.
-How giving up is never an option.
-How I need to find more patience and goodness in my heart.
-Learning how to forgive.
-How I can serve more effectively.
-Having more faith.
-The faith I need to know that God will provide and reveal
the answers I'm looking for if I stay faithful and true to my covenants.


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Wood floor restoration experts
To restore your floors, we ensure that we are building on solid foundations. At Mark Antony and Sons, before restoring your floor, we will check the boards and thicknesses to ensure the floors are suitable to be sanded. we can also replace damaged joists and make repairs if requested.
Wood floor restoration made easy in Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Upon an initial consultation, we will assess any damage or wear to the floor and the repairs we can make to help restore it to its former glory. We can source similar woods to fill any gaps and make larger repairs if necessary. How to gap fill and draught proof a floor is a question often asked . This can be achieved using three different methods and we will advise on the best option during our visit. Please get in touch if you would like us to visit and discuss your floor restoration needs.
What Our Customers Are Saying About Us!
"Mark, Simon and George laid a new oak floor through the downstairs of my house which is lovely. They were very efficient and accommodated the work quickly as the furniture was out of the house being recovered. That was very helpful."
"First Class workmanship, no hesitation in recommending, we have used Mark Anthony & Sons many times for laying floors and sanding and will continue to do so within our group of Chapel Hair Salons and our personal homes. Friendly and very helpful team who have a full understanding of their craft and deliver the highest standards within the tight deadline we allow them."
"We're extremely pleased with the genuine oak parquet Mark fitted recently. He recommended we use solid blocks rather then engineered and the overall effect is exactly what we wanted, authentic and period looking."
Mr Lamb


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Welcome to our student testimonal page. Here you will be able to view videos and read written testimonies of how C-N students sharing how Counseling Services was a useful resource for them.
"The Counseling Services here at Carson-Newman University really helped me during my senior year. During my last year here at Carson-Newman, I was experiencing some feelings of sadness and frustration, due to my thoughts and being so hard on myself. The counselors here were really able to understand me and help me in the process of changing my thoughts. Through many worksheets and meetings, I can honestly say that my mindset is now a lot more positive than it was whenever I first met with them a year ago. My thinking is also not as perfectionistic anymore, and I don't tend to be so hard on myself when things aren't "perfect." Finally, the counselors were also able to help me in how I would approach a situation with my father. I have not talked to my father in eight years, so it was good to be able to talk to someone about that situation. After our talks, I now have the confidence and desire to attempt to restore this relationship this summer. Something that I would like to say to Carson-Newman students still here is do not be afraid to go to Counseling Services. We all have problems in our lives, so why not let those burdens go with the help of some caring counselors." Luke


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Running time approximately 40 minutes
Perfect for younger children
Whilst you're here
With your help we can continue to engage, educate and entertain audiences young and old for years to come.
Be part of our story. Please make a donation today.
Tour Dates
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What's on page for the current tour...


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At Alise Black Photographic Studios, we create beautiful pregnancy photography that is nurturing and pampering. Many of our clients have likened the atmosphere and surroundings to a day spa, perfect for pre-birth pampering.
Our maternity photography is carefully created and you are gently guided by your female team of artists. We recommend 6 to 7 months as the ideal time to capture the perfect baby bump.
Our pregnancy photography Sessions in our Sydney & Melbourne Studios offer 2 different styles of photographic shoots. Some ladies like to do the Session individually and others as a couple. We offer a wide mix of styles, from a conservative classic natural look, formal and stylised, to an intimate lingerie and/or semi nude style. The choice is yours and we design the shoot to your comfort.
Alise Black has more than 20 years experience and is a formally trained, professional photographer. Alise is guaranteed to be your photographer on the day. We have worked with people from all walks of life and our all-female team, provide absolute professionalism to ensure you are comfortable creating your intimate pregnancy photography.
We offer a beautiful day spa like environment which is climate controlled. Your experience with our studio will be relaxing, private and personalised to your comfort.
Pregnancy photography is about capturing intimate photography of a woman in the later trimester of her pregnancy. Either clothed or semi nude, pregnancy photography portrays the early connection of the impending birth between a parent or parents.
Our Sydney & Melbourne studios are unique and offer clients a personalised, private photographic experience.
Alise's technical skill and training ensure even our most shy clients love the experience. We personalise your pregnancy photoshoot to your comfort and take the time to find out what style of images appeal to you.
You will work with Treia, our highly experienced Stylist. Once you book, you will be provided with a styling guide, colour and makeup consultation and provided assistance with selection of your garments. If you like the styles you see on our gallery, you will be thrilled with the results.
We create 2 different photoshoots including changes to the photographic style and studio setting.
Professional hair and makeup artistry is provided and essential to create a polished look to the images. Our professional hair and makeup artists create a polished style. Some clients experience changes in their skin tone during pregnancy, we will create a flawless look to your comfort level.
Alise Black will curate your Session to your best Collection of images. Once the shots are selected, a first round of natural retouching is applied. Then on the same day, you simply order the products you want once you see the results.
You will be guided every step of the way as our all female team creates beautiful lifelong memories over a pampering three hour session.
Private 3 hr hire of our unique studios in Melbourne or Sydney. Professional studio & lifestyle shoots are combined to create a stunning collection.
Styling expertise & lots of shoot preparation to help you create empowered, beautiful images that suit you.
2 different photoshoots are created as designed by Alise Black.
Experience high definition photographic makeup, altered 2 times, with hair styling to diversify your pregnancy photography. Essential to a polished, professional Collection.
Alise Black has 20+ yrs experience. Step by step direction is given during your shoots.
Editorial retouching is applied to the final Collection of shots before you see them!
Alise will use her expertise to shoot, edit & retouch your best Collection of images for you to view & order on the same day. Simply order the products you like once you see the results.
"Before meeting Alise Black, I had no idea what to expect but now I can confidently say, I expect nothing but excellence. Naturally shy, I was very uncomfortable standing in front of a camera but Alise helped made me feel completely at ease. Alise and her team will really look after you right from the moment go and ensure you have a great time. Thank you Alise and the team for a great time and stunning photos. You really have captured the moment in time for me!"
Peelie Poon True Local – 5 Star Review
Write to us
or call our studio mobile: 0403177814
We would love to create your Pregnancy photo shoot!


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These two canister vacuums from Dyson -- the DC49 and DC54 -- are pretty much aimed at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, where the latter is a powerful & large canister vacuum intended for those who want to clean a big areas to extremely high standards whereas the the DC49 is about being ultra compact (fitting on a single A4 sheet of paper), practically silent & being as close to featherweight as you can get with a vacuum. This comparison account takes a look at each individual aspect & contrasts of them both with one another -- providing you with a clear idea of what each canister model can offer you & ultimately which is better suited to your cleaning needs & preferences.
Cleaning Power & Performance
The DC54 is now considered pretty much the most powerful vacuum that Dyson has in its range with it also being the only vacuum to be fitted with its state-of-the-art Cinetic technology (at least so far) -- that basically incorporates 54 mini highly efficient cyclones that generates incredibly high centrifugal forces (more so than any other vacuum cyclone system) that forcefully separates debris, dirt & dust particles from all floor types. This DC54 model is a significant leap in this regard on its replacement the Dyson DC39 which produces 280 AW of constant suction power in itself.
The DC49 in contrast is powered from a Digital Motor (V4) which is what they use within their cordless models & in their Airblade systems -- but very impressively (given its miniature size) it can conjure up 180 AW of constant suction with integrated Radial Root Cyclone technology. So don't by any means dismiss the DC49 as not being powerful enough -- as it will perform a more than adequate job around your home on any type of flooring.
Both technologies also afford them the two benefits of operating on a bagless mechansim (saving you the running costs of constantly having to replace them and knowing instantly when the bin needs to be emptied) as well as not suffering with a loss of suction (whereas with some vacuum cleaners the greater build up of debris, their suction power tends to diminish - not so with a Dyson vacuum).
Mobility & Manoeuvrability
Moreover, the DC49 is actually Dyson's smallest ever vacuum (dimensions: 25.3 x 38.2 x 20.1 cm -- obviously great for those with limited storage e.g. on a caravan, motor home) & lightest at just 4.9 kg as well as coming with an integrated Dyson Ball (allowing it to essentially turn on a dime instantly) makes the DC49 of course as you can imagine amazingly easy to use. Pretty much like its not even there in truth & that you are just moving round cleaning with its carbon fibre turbine head.
In contrast, although the DC54 is a bit of a larger beast (dimensions: 36.8 x 26.1 x 50.7 cm) &with it weighing in at 2.7 kg more (i.e 7.6 kg), it still features the Dyson ball technology -- making it again (especially in comparison to many other canister vacuums that operate on a rigid wheel mechanism) both incredibly agile & easy to manoeuvre in and around the house. Both machines are obviously superb options for those who have comfortable & ergonomic use as being a vital aspect of the vacuum (for instance those with mobility issues or are elderly etc.).
Practicality Specifications & Features
Not only is the DC49 both the lightest & smallest vacuum that Dyson have ever produced it is also the "quietest" vacuum with it being acoustically engineered with sound dampeners, sound improvements & various other acoustic engineering. However, it is rather limited in practical term given that it only has a maximum reach of 13.52 metres (telescope length of 8.52 metres + 5 metre cord length) and is hence only intended for cleaning very small cleaning spaces. The DC54 on the other hand is packed with extensive specifications as it is intended as a family vacuum & cleaning a mid to large sized home with a reach of 16.5 metres (10 metres telescope reach + 6.5 metres cord length) & a fitted 2 litre bin capacity.
They do however, share the same attachments -- the combination tool (primarily used for powered dusting & getting into tight gaps) and the stair tool (which can also be used for upholstery). Moreover, if you get the Animal version of the DC54 -- you also get a specifically engineered attachment: tangle free turbine tool, which effectively & efficiently picks up pet hair.
Further Information
They have both covered with a 5 year warranty that covers both parts & labour.
Moreover, the DC49 has a specialised filter system that prevents allergens & dust from being expelled into the air. The DC54 works on a similar premise but the Cinetic technology allows it to actually carry out the same but have no need for filters (saving you the maintenance cost of cleaning them & replacing them) -- see the video below on how it works.
Conclusion: Which Should You Buy the DC49 or DC54?
Which model you choose obviously depends on the cleaning situation you want a canister vacuum for. If you are very tight on space and/or you are wanting a particularly quiet vacuum as well as being incredibly light and easy to carry around -- then obviously the DC49 model is the one you should opt for. However, if you are wanting a cleaning machine that you intend for cleaning the entire house, then DC54's power & cleaning performance along with its fitted practical specifications obviously make it the more suited candidate.
Let me know which model you choose. Also, if you have any questions, comments, concerns regarding either the comparison article 'DC49 Vs DC54' or about either model specifically then please do not hesitate to make them in the comments section that you will find just below and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.


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Touring Tip: Protecting the Space Between Your Ears, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how vital the human brain is for doing even the simplest tasks in our everyday life. We also noted how easily the brain is irreparably damaged from head trauma and that wearing a motorcycle helmet is key to mitigating the risk of brain injury in a motorcycle accident. In this final installment we review the benefits and risks posed by wearing different types of motorcycle helmets, what some of the safety designations mean, and how to obtain a proper fit.
Helmet Types: Although most of our readers may already know much of this information, here are the main types of helmets, ranked in descending order of safety:
Full-face Helmets: Covering the entire head, full-face helmets offer the highest level of protection, because a significant percentage of motorcycle crashes involve impact to the face, chin, and jaw area. Full-face helmets also provide the best rider comfort and protection when weather conditions turn nasty.
Modular/"Flip-up" Helmets: These helmets provide basically the same benefits as a non-flip-up full-face helmet, but with the added convenience of being able to lift the lower section of the helmet up for talking, taking photos, eating, drinking, etc. Because of the internal hinge mechanism, these helmets tend to be a little heavier than a comparable regular full-face helmet. Riding with the chin bar of the helmet in the up position obviously compromises protection to the face and chin.
Off-road Helmets: With their elongated visor and chin bar and partially open face, off-road helmets are designed to give riders extra protection while wearing goggles and unhindered airflow during the physical exertion associated with this type of riding.
Open-face or ¾ Helmets: While this type of helmet provides the same rear protection as a full-face helmet, they provide little protection to the face. On the two occasions when I've personally had to rely on my helmet in a crash, the point of impact was in the front. Because I was wearing a full-face model, no injuries were sustained.
Half or "Shorty" Helmets: Because of their limited coverage area, these helmets offer little protection to the front, rear, or sides of a rider's head. As with the open-face model, riders are well advised to use some type of additional eye protection, such as goggles or wrap-around sunglasses, to prevent injury from bugs and road debris.
Novelty/"Brain Bucket" Helmets: These types of helmets are usually just a thin plastic shell, without any expanded polystyrene foam or internal lining materials designed to absorb impact in a crash. Novelty helmets do not meet the designated safety standards of the DOT, Snell, or any of the other motorcycle helmet testing bodies. In terms of protecting a rider from traumatic brain injury in a crash, these helmets are a joke—a bad joke!
Primary Helmet Safety Standards/Designations: Although helmet safety standards vary by country and there's an alphabet soup of accompanying acronyms, here are the most prevalent ones for U.S. riders:
- DOT: The U.S. DOT standard is a self-certification by helmet manufacturers. They conduct the required tests of their helmets in their laboratories and, if a helmet meets the prescribed standard, it can be sold with the DOT sticker attached to it. Annually, the Department of Transportation conducts compliance testing to determine if helmets being sold in the U.S. actually meet the Federal standard. Results are posted by the DOT on its website (www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218) in a pass/fail form. Visual clues for spotting a DOT compliant helmet include: approximately one-inch of polystyrene foam, a sturdy chin strap with solid rivets, a weight of around three pounds (unsafe helmets often weigh a pound or less), nothing extending more than two-tenths of an inch from the helmet, and, of course, the DOT sticker (although some unscrupulous sellers attach DOT stickers to non-qualifying helmets).
- Snell/ANSI: Private non-profit helmet certification organizations, such as the Snell Memorial Foundation and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), also may have stickers attached to the inside (or back) of a helmet. The Snell certification sticker indicates that a helmet's chin bar also has been tested.
- ECE 22.05: The Economic Community of Europe (ECE) 22.05 is the most common international certification. One of the advantages of this certification is that it requires mandatory batch testing of each helmet production run before they leave the factory.
While testing protocols vary under the different standards, and since it's not possible to anticipate and simulate every impact dynamic of a motorcycle crash, the combination of DOT and ECE 22.05 certifications on a full-face helmet provides street riders with a high level of impact protection. And there are even higher levels of protection specified for helmets worn at many track events, such as the UK's Auto-Cycle Union Gold standard.
Obtaining a Proper Fit: Without a proper fit to the rider's head, however, a helmet won't provide the expected level of protection. An ill-fitting, uncomfortable helmet also compromises the pleasure a motorcyclist feels during a ride. Here are key steps for obtaining that all important exact fit:
- Measure Your Noggin: Start this process by measuring the widest part of your head, which is usually just above the eyebrows, over the ears, and around the back. It's probably a good idea to take several measurements and average the results. A helmet size conversion chart will translate inches, centimeters, and hat size into the most common helmet sizes, which generally run from XXS to 2XL.
- Try Several On: Because head shapes and sizes can vary among both people and helmet manufacturers, it's critically important to try helmets on for fit and comfort. Here are the key steps and things to look for:
- Slip the Helmet On: The fit should be tight, but not binding, and there shouldn't be any pressure points or gaps between your head and the helmet's padding. On a full-face helmet your eyes should be at, or very close to, the middle of the eye port. Lean toward a helmet fitting too tight versus too loose, because most helmets will loosen slightly as they're broken in.
- Fasten the Chin Strap: Move your head back and forth in all four directions to make sure the helmet does not slide or roll. A proper fitting helmet will cause your skin to move as your head moves.
- Slip the Helmet Off: Any residual soreness indicates that the helmet has pressure points, which can cause headaches over longer periods of wear.
- Repeat: Continue trying on different brands, shapes, and sizes of helmets until a comfortable properly fitting one is found.
In making your final helmet selection, it's important to remember that price isn't necessarily an accurate indicator of comfort, proper fit, or safety. In the final analysis, protecting the most important organ in your body really is … so to speak … a no-brainer: it's a helmet that fits properly, is comfortable, covers your entire head, and, at a minimum, meets U.S. Federal safety standards.
Missed part 1? Read it here:
Protecting the Space Between Your Ears, Part 1