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(132 Reviews)
(132 Reviews)
Jul 9, 2021
Now I understand how data mining, API's and dumping and retrieving data from a database works. Excellent course to start understanding how python can be used to work with data sources on the internet.
Apr 28, 2020
Now I understand how data mining, API's and dumping and retrieving data from a database works. Excellent course to start understanding how python can be used to work with data sources on the internet.
By Aaron P•
Aug 9, 2019
I already expressed this to Coursera, but I'll reiterate here. This was a terrible ending to the specialization.
Let me make this clear, I loved all of the previous courses before this one. This time around I noticed very untypical characteristics.
For one, the teaching staff was very rude. In this course, the came off as argumentative with sarcastic undertones to virtually EVERYTHING posted in the discussion board. Two of the staff members in particular, Tamara Brunnock and Stephen Catto, were very unapproachable and combative. I remember asking for someone to take a look at my assignment for grading, to which I was met with Tamara commenting "Did you not read the assigned reading? You need to allow up to three days for grading. Is 5 hours three days?"
What kind of a response is that? In fact, I wasn't even asking for a staff grade, I was asking for peer grading! To which she ARGUED back "I doesn't say that anywhere in your post."
The interactions in this course are VERY unsettling. If I feel shy or feel as though I'll be verbally punished for asking a QUESTION, what does that say about this organization?
This is a course I sacrifice finances and time for, so I expect quick ANSWERS to my questions, not arguments or sass.
By Morgan S•
Apr 6, 2016
If this entire specialization were a bag of potato chips, the Capstone would be that bland chip that didn't get any salt.
The introduction to the Capstone promises that we'll "build applications" utilizing what we've learned so far with optional assignments for delving deeper. However, none of the required assignments involve even the most primitive of problem solving skills or code writing abilities. If you can download a file and take a screenshot then you've got what it takes to pass this class.
The optional assignments are far too focused around a new piece of video sharing technology that the instructor and associates have developed. Unfortunately, the technology adds almost nothing beneficial to the class and is probably to blame for the sheer lack of quality in the rest of the class.
In fact, the entire Capstone feels like it was so haphazardly put together that it can only be described as the most contrived beta-test I've ever been a part of. Such a disappointing ending to what was otherwise an enjoyable specialization.
By Brendan C•
May 2, 2019
Very poor quality course, both from a content perspective as well as from an implementation perspective.
This final class in the specialization is not a programming course. You are instructed to run someone else's code and screenshot the various stages of running these scripts. You don't modify their code and it really takes a step back from the previous courses in this specialization as the instructions and the course staff's direction are significantly misaligned.
I was evaluating this course for use in my organization, but cannot suggest taking the capstone as it provides no value and is simply a waste of time.
My suggestion to improve the course would be to align the staff direction with the instruction given in the course. Additionally if you read through the forums you can see them get frustrated like they are volunteer staff working for free in a hostile environment.
By Alex S•
Jul 20, 2018
No code writing required to complete the course.
By manish v•
Feb 14, 2019
peer grading for mentors very slow.
By Christopher L•
Feb 25, 2020
I am extremely disappointed with how this class was setup. Basically, you had to do next to nothing to earn the certificate for this class. There is a single 26 question quiz (taken in week 1) that just covers basic Python information from the previous 4 classes in the specialization. There's no class videos or assignments other than the single quiz to gain the class certificate. The question set was not challenging and it didn't deal with much of the detailed concepts that were presented and learned in the previous 4 classes. What is the point of doing this???
Now this class is a 7 week class and there is a separate optional honors program (with a note on your final certificate saying that you completed the honors content) that requires the completion of 3 additional peer-graded assignments. There are some videos covering a little new material and some reading but no quizzes. I really don't get it. What makes a fellow student, learning this material like me, capable of fairly assessing my work on larger scale programs that should be part of a capstone course? And what makes me capable of assessing the work of others fairly? Obviously, I'm not a big fan of the peer-grading concept, I feel it is just an excuse for the course creators to excuse themselves from grading which is an important component for learners. I've completed the class and got my certificate and the certificate for finishing the Python for Everybody specialization. But I really don't feel all that good about this since I was required to learn nothing new nor complete any capstone work to receive the certificates. For my own well being (and to help me with future Python work), I'm in the process of finishing all of the honors work now so at least I'll have gained something from this class.
There is also a push by the class creators to pressure students into working together and that's the reasoning they've given for leaving this class so open-ended. I get that (and agree there is some importance to that concept) but this is supposed to be a capstone class, where you put many of the aspects of your previous learning to work on some more real-world problems. And to get some guidance on how best to apply your new skills to real problems. How can you get the class certificate without doing that? I feel all of the optional honors content should be mandatory and the class structure (quizzes & assignments) should be similar to the other 4 classes in the certificate program. Make sure the students you graduate are ready for the work that lies ahead. You wouldn't want it any different if you were the student.
I also feel this setup diminishes the value of this class and the associated specialization certification because students are required to do next to nothing in this last class (which should be a milestone and help lock in all we've been exposed to throughout the first 4 classes). So when possible employers see that you've completed this specialization, there's got to be a question whether you actually did any capstone work and put some programs together using all of the skills learned. In my opinion, the capstone work is a very important part of your completed specialization and should be a required component for everyone who completes the specialization.
By ali s•
Aug 4, 2018
This should not be called a capstone. It is way too complicated to understand which is why the assignments have been kept to simplistic (this is reasonable). A bunch of small programs testing smooth amalgamation and application of the learnt concepts would have been more fruitful.
By Hanyani M•
Nov 15, 2018
Didn't learn as much as the previous chapters. Markers are slow to mark, my subscription actually expired before they marked, not
By Jeffrey B•
May 29, 2016
I thought this was poor. It was basically a re-hash of the previous module with slightly different tasks. Given that I had to wait three months for the capstone to be ready, I found it a bit rich that my deadline to finish it was a couple of weeks! Don't waste your money/time on this particular module.
By Stuart O Y M•
Feb 17, 2019
Instructions for assignments not clear. TA not helpful with providing clarity on completing the assignments.
By Spencer H•
Jul 10, 2018
Honestly not a very good course. The first 3 courses in this specialization were great. We were really challenged to write our own logic and learned a lot of python. The last two courses, however, were disappointing. We essentially just ran pre-written code to "see how a complex app works." It would have been much more useful to have us write our own code.
By Misha S•
Nov 29, 2018
Absolutely wasting time & money course. Python for nobody. Whole specialization can be merged in 1 course Python intro. A lot of redundant video & same tasks.
By Zhisheng Y•
May 6, 2019
For some reason, I lost my motivation so I don't think I'm going complete the capstone. But it is a good course, and the instructor is good too. It might take you some time if you try to comprehend every line of codes. I don't think I would recommend you to enroll this one if you just want to skate through and get the certificate like me. If you are passionate about data science, please enroll. Cheers.
Update: I think I may want to finish the capstone. Good luck to everyone.
Update: I completed.
By Paras K•
Jun 27, 2019
Need harder assignments which involve editing code and get the user thinking more about what is going on in the videos.This course is basically running premade code and taking screenshots. The optional element is a bit confusing as there is no focus given. I still haven't decided what data to use and what analysis to perform. All in all, Capstone is a waste of time, do first 4.
By Christopher H•
Mar 15, 2019
Great to see how Python can be used for data visualization; however, in my opinion, most of the code is way above the heads of students at this level.
By Ponrajadurai S•
Feb 11, 2019
My expectation was I will do the coding (get my hands dirty) based on the suggestion or ideas from the instructor. I didn't expect to run the code that was written by the instructor and share the screenshots. It would had been good, if the course involved in working on a project.
Week 3, week 5 and week 7 of this course should be made compulsory - my opinion
By Brannon C•
Apr 29, 2020
Now I understand how data mining, API's and dumping and retrieving data from a database works. Excellent course to start understanding how python can be used to work with data sources on the internet.
By Navid M M•
Mar 26, 2019
This course was not at all productive. It was a collection of samples that the professor didn't care to go over in depth. I would have preferred if he had spent all of the time on one code so we could know everything about it. The whole course was just attempting "python3 code.py". The homework was vague according to the points that were taken off by the instructor. Once I get "you should have taken a photo from the beginning of the process" and once I get something else which was not asked clearly in the homework. I loved the other 4 courses in the specialization but this one was just a waste of time and money. Sorry for being so frank but I expected a lot more from the teaching staff and coursera itself.
By Z S•
Jul 7, 2020
The course content is great. But I have a serious compalin to make fro coursera:
In this courses there are several peer assignments, you need to get enough reviews from the peers to get the grade, in order to complete the course. But there are bot enough peers to review my assignments(not means my assignments are wrong). I tried to asked help for both coursera help center and in the course forum, but still did not get enough peer grade.
Because of this I did not finish the last course of the specailization, and have being charged for extra 5 or 6 month......
It's really makes me very upset and now I decided to cancel this course in order not to be charged again and again, and did not get my specailization cetificate, even i finish all assignments...........
By Justin C•
May 26, 2017
I found this course a little bit easier that some of the previous courses, however, it allowed me to gain experience managing a larger projects that encompass several languages and multiple programs.
By Steven F•
Jul 30, 2019
I did not learn anything from this course. The administrators are very slow at grading and very arrogant about taking their time to grade. It says 2 to 3 days to grade, but it took 4 days for them to grade on 2 assignments.
By Mohamed E•
Jul 16, 2020
Not really sure the point of a course with nothing but optional assignments. Should be replaced with a required final capstone project.
By Anne N N T A•
Aug 29, 2019
It's a good course to summarize all topics learnt in the specialization.
Since the course relies on quite a bit of peer-graded as well as instructor-graded assignments, you need to leave ample time (up to a week while course is running) for grading completion. Some instructors may be unfriendly when asked to expedite. Do not attempt this course if you have some sort of deadline and are short on time.
Nevertheless, considering the quality of teaching materials, lectures and assignments, the course is very well-designed.
By Jeffrey R•
Jul 7, 2020
I loved the other courses in this specialization but this one just really didn't make sense with the others. Before we were learning skills at basic levels and combining them to make bigger and bigger code. I was excited to write a more in-depth program for the final project especially since it said we would make something using our own datasets. It turns out it just meant running already complete code on targets of our choice. The videos were just basically reading line by line complex blocks of code larger than anything we have made, lots of glossed over stuff like java script files, very confusing naming of variables in the python code. It's like we just learned how to drive and then someone put us in the passenger seat of a racecar and is like "look at you you're a professional racer!"
By Rogier v G•
Jun 26, 2020
No clue what the logic is behind ranking the URLs. For the first time during the course I was completely lost. Counting the number of outbound-URLs? Where can I find outbound-URLs on a site? Next to this it seemed a kind of magic to 'calculate' ranking.
Not a way to finish this course where all the other assignments were doable and a lot of times too easy.


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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Now Playing: A Moment Of Silence Is All We Can Bear
Posted by Rot at 7:58 AM
Labels: ambient, awesome, jon glassett, music, now playing
2 comments:
- bean said...
Seriously...I NEED a whole cd of his music.
- April 28, 2011 at 10:33 AM
- crudedoodle.com said...
agreed on that CD.
I just downloaded this track. i can't wait to listen to it on my entire ride into work tomorrow.
- April 28, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What does it mean to be sane? According to Google's dictionary it refers to a) a person who is "of sound mind; not mad or mentally ill," or b) an undertaking or manner which is "reasonable; sensible." That's all fine and good, but who gets to judge?
The obvious answer is a doctor. But before that can happen, someone has to take, encourage, or direct said insane person to the doctor in the first place. Because chances are that the truly insane person doesn't know he or she is insane at all. Not, of course, to put down anyone with mental illness. But for example, I had to be the one to decide to take my Autistic son to the doctor to get checked out. I was the judge in that case.
Moving on…
I often wonder about my own sanity. Considering some of the things that come out of me in my fiction, I think anyone in their right mind would. The thing is, I have no idea where my darker, twisted imagination stems from. I had no significant trauma (that I can remember) in my childhood. I was loved by my parents until my father passed away at the tender age of 49, when I was fourteen. So where's the psychology in it? Okay yes, I've been reading Stephen King since I was fourteen, but can he have influenced me that greatly? No, in fact I don't think he did.
I've had the imagination of a writer since I was very young. I'm talking four or five years old. I remember coming up with stories that, not having the skill to spell, revolved over and over in my head. Some of them even then involved a certain level of torture and sex. So how? Could I have been remembering another life? You may be thinking what I poor child I must have been to have such imaginings, but I grew up with a healthy sense of right and wrong, with empathy, without anxiety or nervousness, and with an understanding of humankind that has prevented me from hating a single soul on the planet. It's an understanding that has enabled me to write relatable characters. It's an understanding of everyone else but me.
But then, does anyone really understand themselves? Or does everyone but me?
This questionably "Sane" prompt is brought to you by John W. Howell at Fiction Favorites. Please click on the link to visit his blog, and follow him if you aren't already!
To find the rules for Just Jot It January, click here and join in today. It's never too late! And don't forget to ping back your January 10th post here!


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I suspect that many people have never tried it, and that those who saw manioc root for sale didn't take it home, because it looks too strange and intimidating. That's all quite sad, because it means they're missing this: the Brazilian version of french fries.
For many Brazilians, "mandioca frita" is even better than french fries. I know, it sounds heretical, but trust me – once you try it you will be hooked. Crunchy outside, creamy inside, with a flavor that can only be described as addictive. I won't lie to you, mandioca frita takes some effort. But if you follow my instructions you won't regret it.
Manioc, also known as cassava and yucca, is a major ingredient in many cuisines of the world. You can read all about it here.
To cook the manioc, you first must peel it, a task that requires a good quality veggie peeler. The root is often sold covered with a thin layer of paraffin, but don't worry about it, just peel the brown skin to reveal the white root underneath (Don't even consider feeding the peel to your garbage disposal – you've been warned!).
Here's a before and after shot…
Next, using a big, sharp knife and some caution cut it into pieces: it's a reasonably tough root….
… now you're ready to begin cooking. Fill a large pan with slightly salted water, and place the pieces of manioc inside. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and allow the pieces to cook until they're tender, easily pierced with a fork (the time is somewhat unpredictable, anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes). Some pieces might burst open; just remove them from the water. In this photo you can see what they look like when ready.
Cooking manioc is a labor of love. Not all the pieces will be ready at the same time, and some pieces might never become tender. In Brazil, "mandioca" is sold in street markets as well as grocery stores, and similar to what happens in France, once you establish a relationship with a particular seller in your neighborhood, you'll always have great quality mandioca. 😉
Once you cook it, you'll notice a tough "string" in the very center of the root: remove it before frying. It's too tough to eat, although it won't hurt you if you don't remove it.
Here in the US I've found excellent manioc root in Asian markets, but as you can see from the next photo, in the same batch I had a mixture of varieties (white and yellow), something that never happens in Brazil, because they would be sold separately. Their taste is almost identical, although in my family you might witness heated discussions defending the qualities of one kind over another. To avoid taking sides, I pledge endless love for both.
At this point you can fry them right away or save them for later. I normally cook a large batch, fry as many as we want for dinner, and then freeze the rest. If you have a vac-saver system, you can use it to store the cooked manioc root. When you want to fry them, simply remove from the freezer and let them sit for half an hour; no need to even completely defrost them, although I wouldn't go straight from frozen into the hot oil.
To fry the cooked pieces, add 1/2 inch of vegetable oil to a large skillet and heat it until the manioc sizzles when it touches the oil. Fry as many pieces as will fit without crowding, and allow the first side to brown before moving them around, or they'll get a bit greasy. When finished frying, put them on absorbent paper and add some salt to taste.
Now, close your eyes, and dream of a tropical beach, coconut trees, a hammock, and perhaps a refreshing "caipirinha" with your mandioca frita!


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A few weeks ago I finally yielded to the raves of several friends and gave Fox's hit show Glee a try. Over the past few weeks, my husband and I have raced through all of Season 1 on Netflix. It's everything my friends said it would be: funny, charming, musical, a bit campy. What struck me immediately was that amid the knowingness and too-smart-to-be-anything-but-cynical vibe that defines everything in our generation, this show stands out as relentlessly cheerful. I searched and scrutinized for the "we're being so happy ironically angle," but my search was in vain. This really was earnestly chipper. Je savais what this je ne sais quoi was: it was high-octane Mormon.
That's right, if BYU-TV thinks they have a patent on happy-go-lucky "see the good in the world," it's past time for their lawyers to initiate a barrage of cease and desist letters to Fox headquarters. Yet the litany of reasons why Glee re-runs won't be syndicated on BYU-TV anytime soon is lengthy and pointed.
[Read more…]


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Boeing's 787 is supposed to revolutionize air travel. It just needs to get out of its own way first.
The new plane is undoubtedly Boeing's most visible. It's built from composites instead of aluminum and comes with the promise of the most comfortable ride in the sky. At $200 million each, 787s are an important part of Boeing's future, even though it will be a while before it makes money on them.
But this sophisticated piece of transportation wizardry hasn't been behaving as designed. Just this week one caught fire, and another suffered a fuel leak. The 787 was delayed for three years, so Boeing's investors and customers notice each time one has a problem. Boeing asserts such growing pains are typical for new models.
The 787's chief engineer said Wednesday that he has "extreme confidence" in the Dreamliner — Boeing's nickname for the plane — even as federal investigators try to determine the cause of the fire on board an empty, parked Japan Airlines plane on Monday in Boston. Officials have said one of the plane's lithium ion batteries burned.
The 787 is the first Boeing plane to use lithium ion batteries, which charge faster and can be moulded to space-saving shapes compared to other airplane batteries. The liquid inside them is flammable, putting the battery at more risk for a fire than previous airplane batteries, the Federal Aviation Administration has found.
After Monday's fire, the big question for Boeing will be whether the issue is a manufacturing defect, which can be fixed relatively cheaply, or a design flaw, which might require expensive redesign and rework on existing planes, said Citi analyst Jason Gursky.
Boeing has delivered 50 of the 787s, starting in late 2011. It has almost 800 more on order. To get through the backlog, Boeing is ramping up production to build 10 787s per month in Washington state and South Carolina by the end of 2013. By comparison, it cranks out more than one 737 every day. The 737 is Boeing's bestseller, and the company has been building the smaller plane for decades.
In November, Boeing said it had begun making five 787s per month. But if any major manufacturing changes are needed to fix the electrical problems, the company could fall further behind in deliveries.
New planes like the 787 take years — and hundreds of millions of dollars — to develop. The roots of the 787 go back to 2003. Boeing has not said how much the research cost. It has estimated it will need to deliver 1,100 of them to break even by some accounting measures.
"It's definitely the most expensive plane program that they've ever developed," Gursky said.
No customers have cancelled a 787 order following the fire, and several airlines have been reported saying they are confident in the plane.
"If airlines are worried, they sure aren't showing it," said Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner in a note to clients.
Investors rallied behind the company Wednesday, sending shares up by 3.5 per cent to $76.74. That followed a two-day drop of 4.6 per cent. Boeing shares had gained 11 per cent in the three months prior to Monday as investors anticipated a growing flow of cash from Boeing's faster production of its big planes.
Besides the fire, another Japan Airlines plane leaked 40 gallons of fuel at Boston Logan on Tuesday. The airline said an open valve caused one tank to overflow through a vent. Last month a United Airlines 787 flying from Houston to Newark, N.J., diverted to New Orleans because of an electrical problem with a power distribution panel.
Japan's All Nippon Airways, meanwhile, said it cancelled a domestic flight to Tokyo on Wednesday after a computer wrongly indicated there was a problem with the Boeing 787's brakes.
Boeing insisted on Wednesday that the 787's problems are no worse than what it experienced when its 777 was new in the mid-1990s. That plane is now one of its top-sellers and is well-liked by airlines.
"Just like any new airplane program, we work through those issues and move on," said Mike Sinnett, the 787 chief engineer. He added, "We're not satisfied until our reliability and our performance are 100 per cent."
Sinnett didn't say so, but other new planes have had their own issues, including the Airbus A380 superjumbo. Small cracks have been discovered on the wings, and in 2010 a Rolls Royce engine on a Qantas flight exploded in mid-flight.
He said the nature of lithium ion batteries means no fire extinguisher system will stop them from burning once they start. The NTSB said it took firefighters 40 minutes to put out Monday's fire.
Sinnett said Boeing has no plans to replace the lithium ion batteries with another type. If he had to re-do the choice to go with lithium ion, he said, he'd make the same choice today.
AP Airlines reporter Scott Mayerowitz in New York contributed to this report.


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Lonesome Lake Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail.
10 miles roundtrip, Lonesome Lake overnight.
Our hike started as a group effort -- our good friends were visiting from Massachusetts, and they accompanied our family up to Lonesome Lake. Here are Figgy (the dog), Noelle, Alex, Thomas, Sage, Hugh, Alexander and Tim. Sage had fallen asleep in the car and was awoken just before this picture was taken...one can tell she would rather be sleeping...
Hugh and I took turns carrying Sage up to the Lake. Keeping a very sleepy Sage happy took most of our efforts, so the trail itself was a blur. My fleeting impressions were that it was moderately steep and relentless. Noelle took my pack and carried it for me (now THAT'S a friend!!!) so I could take better care of my youngest -- I can't imagine how tough it would have been with my pack AND with Sage. It was tough on Hugh too, for the same reasons -- if anyone wants to make a hike a lot harder than it needs to be, wake up your sound asleep 3 year old just before you start and then proceed to carry the understandably cranky child most of the way.
Alex wanted to take the "junction" pictures. Here's Sage, myself and Thomas underneath the sign at the intersection of the Lonesome Lake Trail and the Hi-Cannon Trail.
And here's the sign itself...
We reached the Cascade Brook Trail, and Alex agreed to let me take her picture with the boys while Sage now happily ran about (she was now finally, fully awake).
Alex took the following picture of the neighboring trail signs.
She then asked for us all to gather round, so she could take our picture. Here's our motley crew, the angel Noelle among them...I am forever grateful to her for carrying my pack to this point!!
Our friends went ahead of us, curious to see the hut. We took a water break, then continued onward. Sage was chipper at this point, and she happily ran on the flat planks of wood that were covering the muddy sections of the trail. 0.3 miles later, we came to the Fishin' Jimmy Trail.
We continued onward, over a short little bridge toward the hut.
Here's the sign pointing up to the hut itself.
And...we're there!
The hut was lovely, much more intimate than Lakes of the Clouds. We went to our (private!) room. Here's the view from just outside our door.
Here's our bunk room, with two cheerful girls inside it.
Happy sisters (which is how they are 90% of the time, we're very blessed)...
Our friends came up and visited for a bit, then they headed back down toward the campground and their car (they weren't staying the night). After they left, we went down to Lonesome Lake and relaxed until it was time for dinner.
Alex took a couple of pictures...
Sage wanted to take a picture too...
Dinner was scrumptious. Pumpkin soup (very yummy!!), turkey and rice with gravy, salad, corn, and apple pie. We went right to bed afterward.
The kids slept eleven straight hours, and only truly woke up about halfway through breakfast (a filling meal consisting of Cream of Wheat, pancakes, and bacon).
After we finished eating, Alex and I bid Hugh and Sage adieu. Here we are at about 7:45, about to head up the Fishin' Jimmy Trail toward the Kinsman summits.
Now I had heard and read all kinds of nasty things about this trail, and I had relayed this information to Alex. So when we began, we both fully expected a gnarly, rough roller coaster. We had mentally prepared ourselves for a terrible time. So imagine our surprise when the first half was very, very tame. The initial .3 miles are practically flat.
The remainder of the first half has three or four very minor ups and downs, no big deal (compared to what we had been imagining). Here's one minor "up"
and its subsequent "down."
Alex took this nice picture of a heart-shaped rock, which we found immediately after the above-pictured "down."
After the little ups and downs, we came across this lovely mossy brook.
We ambled along, then crossed another brook which roughly marks the halfway point of this trail. Immediately afterward, the climb became steep.
Steep, steep, up up up. That's the last half of the Fishin' Jimmy Trail. Provided quite the work-out -- but Alex and I moved quickly, having mentally prepared ourselves for something much worse than what we actually faced.
Way, way faster than I had anticipated, we found ourselves at the top of this trail, near the Kinsman Pond campsite.
We had gone up the 1.8 miles of Fishin' Jimmy in an hour and a half. I was amazed at ourselves.
We continued onward, now on the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
The final few tenths of a mile to the North Kinsman summit were quite steep. Felt like more of the Fishin' Jimmy. Views were opening up though, so at least we had some nice scenery.
And here we are, at the nondescript North Kinsman summit.
Just past the high point, there's a ledge where one can enjoy a nice view of the Franconia Ridge.
There's an even nicer viewpoint a teeny bit further down from where we stood at that point, but we didn't check it out until the return trip. Those pictures will come later in this entry.
Onward we went toward South Kinsman. The ridge trail went down steeply for a few tenths of a mile, then was flat for a bit, then went moderately up for another few tenths of a mile. Here we are, on the false summit of South Kinsman.
Some 20-30 yards further onward, there's a summit cairn. Actually, depending on which guidebook you read, either one of these points could be the actual summit. Doesn't matter to us, since we visited both. And -- we made it to this cairn at exactly 11am. Which means it only took us 3 and a half hours to ascend both summits from the hut. That's practically book time! Seems like both of us are getting faster as our hiking experience grows.
Lovely 360 degree views here.
We ate some cookies...
and then Alex took a couple of pictures...
We chatted with a few other hikers who showed up at the summit while we were snacking, and then we headed back toward North Kinsman. I snapped this photo of North Kinsman while we descended into the col.
Once back at North Kinsman, we decided to check out a ledge we had not yet visited. We stepped out onto it, and there was Happyhiker taking a rest. It was really nice to see her. I took a few pictures of the views, and then Alex did the same. The following pictures are some of the ones she took.
Up to this point, Alex and I had been mostly affectionate with each other, but there had been a few instances of typical limit-testing behavior from Alex. My patience was waning with my energy, so I began snapping at her. This, in turn, caused her to react in a natural (not-so-positive) fashion. So unfortunately for Happyhiker, Alex and I had some cranky moments with each other on the hike back down. My apologies, Happyhiker. You experienced some lovely examples of mother-daughter static, and I'll take the blame -- I should have been much more patient and not snapped at her so much.
We made it back to the trailhead in fine shape, though I must admit I was more worn out than Alex. Next year I may have some serious trouble keeping up with her.
Alex wanted to take our picture, but I made her wait until I had taken pictures of everyone first. In retrospect, that was stupid and selfish on my part -- I should have let the kid take the first picture...instead I got myself involved in a power struggle....bad mom. Anyway, her expression below is a reflection of her annoyance at my telling her to wait and take the last photo.
Here's Alex's picture of Happyhiker and myself.
Except for the last half of the descent (mother-daughter static), this was a great hike. I'm very proud of both of us, we did this much faster than I thought we would. Happyhiker was a great addition to our descent.
Alex and I spoke with each other at length later that evening and worked through our various feelings. As a parent, sometimes I've no idea whether I'm being too lenient, too harsh, or spot-on. We do talk a lot after tense moments have passed, though...I think that helps.
Back to hiking -- we look forward to the next one! Alex always asks when the next hike is .. even with banal mother-daughter issues she still loves to get out there with me. She's a great kid, and I'm lucky to have both her and Sage.
Monday, October 13, 2008
North Kinsman (#16) and South Kinsman (#17), Lonesome Lake overnight, Oct.11-12, 2008
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Avatar's Sam Worthington Arrested
TV Guide
Avatar star Sam Worthington was arrested Sunday night after getting into an altercation with a photographer, CNN reports.
According to the New York Police Department, Worthington is accused of punching photographer Sheng Li after Li reportedly kicked Worthington's girlfriend, Lara Bingle, in the shins. Worthington was issued a desk appearance ticket and was released while the photographer was held for arraignment.
TV shows we're losing this week
In 2012, Worthington was arrested for getting into a fight and charged with disorderly conduct, though the charges were dismissed in court after the complaining witness failed to appear.
View original Avatar's Sam Worthington Arrestedat TVGuide.com


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Floors are taken for granted – we walk all over them every day, but can you imagine your life without them? Flooring is ubiquitous and a vital part of the home, office value. Whether you are talking about new construction or renovation or upgrade to an existing building, the experts who install floors are typically from floor laying services. In some cases, when floors do not need to be replaced, but refinished merely or refurbished to give them a new look, floor refinishing and resurfacing services may be the ideal contractors to call. In both cases, these companies have the personnel, knowledge, skill, and tools to remove old floors, prep the floor area, install new floors, or resurface and refinish existing floors, leaving you with spectacular new or like-new flooring results. In this article, we'll talk about the differences between floor laying services and floor refinishing and resurfacing services, highlight the typical roles, tasks, and skills of floor laying services, do the same for floor refinishing and resurfacing services, and spend some time on the benefits of floor refinishing and resurfacing over installing entirely new floors.
First, it is important to differentiate between floor laying services and floor refinishing and resurfacing services. In some cases, these companies may be one and the same – that is, floor laying services may also offer floor refinishing and resurfacing services as part of their typical service offerings. As there is a limited amount of overlap in expertise, equipment used, etc., more often they may be found as separate entities.
Floor laying services are typically focused on removing old floors and installing new floors, or directly installing new flooring in new construction situations. It may or may not include subflooring – in many jurisdictions, subflooring construction, at least for new building projects, must be completed by the builder, leaving the more aesthetic aspects – such as the installation of carpet, tile, or wood floors – to the floor laying services.
On the other hand, floor refinishing services typically don't remove existing floors or install new floors. Instead, they work with some specific types of flooring, to remove contemporary finishes and any damage, blemishes, etc., and resurface the existing floor. That is most commonly with hardwood floors, and some concrete or slab-style floors, and may include re-staining, texturing, sealing, and similar.
Floor laying services often engaged with the installation of new flooring, or they may be responsible for removing existing flooring, prepping the subflooring, and then installing new flooring. In almost all cases, they specialize in most types of flooring that are available – carpet, tile, hardwood, vinyl/linoleum, and similar. They may offer concrete flooring options, as that often falls into a more specialized category all its own. They usually do not deal with basement or foundation slabs, which are typically the responsibility of the home or office builder rather than a service like a floor laying service.
In the case of existing floors that are going to be replaced, homeowners will typically be required to remove all removable appliances, furniture, and other items before the arrival of floor laying service pros.
Then, floor laying services perform floor preparation. Exactly what kind of prep is needed varies greatly depending on the type of flooring to be installed. That can include padding, insulation, adhesives, or other types of prep work. If the floor laying service company is going to replace the flooring, before prepping the site, they must first remove the old flooring. It may add extra steps and cost to the process, as often there will be significant physical work to remove the existing floor, and remediation work underneath, such as stripping away current adhesive residue.
The flooring material is then usually installed, the exact process and techniques used vary by used material, of course. In most cases, except carpet, the floor is then left to sit for a while, before the floor laying services company completing the final floor installation tasks.
If finishing tasks are required, they have performed after the flooring installation. Don't shift, warp, expand, contract, or otherwise adjust flooring until adhesives, sealants dried. Then they can complete the finishing steps, such as installing guards where the floor transit to another flooring type, ensuring that the floor is secure, and no other sealing/finishing tasks needed that may be necessary depending upon the material.
By contrast, floor refinishing and resurfacing services tend to have a much less set of involved tasks to carry out. They are not generally involved with a new home or office construction, as their role is mostly to refurbish existing floors. Floor refinishing and resurfacing services are mainly concerned with working on existing floors, usually, hardwood or sometimes concrete, that have experienced wear-and-tear from heavy traffic, regular use, or occasionally specific damage, that has resulted in a need to refurbish the floor and make it look "like new" again.
Much as with floor laying services, property owners will need to remove all furniture, appliances, and similar from the work area before the arrival of the floor refinishing and resurfacing services personnel.
Once on-site, the floor refinishing and resurfacing services will generally chemically or physically strip the sealant, coatings, or finish from the existing flooring. Depending on the material, that may be achieved with a chemical stripper that is applied, allowed to sit, and then cleaned off with a wet vac, or via physical means such as a sander/grinder type tool. In all cases, the goal is to strip off any sealant and finish from the flooring.
When the base is exposed, the actual refinishing and resurfacing process can commence. In the case of hardwood, this usually involves sanding and then straining the floors, perhaps with multiple coats, and often ending with a water-proofing sealant layer. The overall tone, color can be like what was already present, allowing a refresh of the flooring without the need for refitting interior décor.
In the case of concrete-type floors, refinishing involves pouring or applying a new, top layer of concrete, or merely painting and sealing the existing concrete, which will now be a lower level than it was before. Colors, styles are changeable – the application of a new layer of textured concrete finishing is often desirable for improving the design. Regardless of the options chosen, floor refinishing and resurfacing services before work commencing, will ensure that the colors, textures, and other choices have been thoroughly considered and tested in place.
After the sealing, staining, painting, or after new textured concrete top layer laying, the floor refinishing and resurfacing services pros will perform and finish tasks that are necessary.
Most people are choosing floor refinishing and resurfacing services over new floor installation, and for a good reason – it is far more cost-effective. For wood or concrete floors, if there is no physical or underlying subfloor damage, then it is not necessary to entirely replace floors – unless you are looking to change the type of flooring completely.
Concrete and hardwood floors are meant to last for quite a long time. Most signs of wear and tear from high traffic and daily life that occur on the hardwood and concrete floors are only cosmetic. Floor refinishing and resurfacing services provide that cosmetic and aesthetic refresh or rejuvenation. Since no expensive and complicated ripping up, subflooring, cleaning, prep of the subfloor, and installation of new flooring required, it's only natural that floor refinishing and resurfacing services generally run consumers far less in costs than complete floor replacement. That means less money spent, and you still get a beautiful, like-new, possibly very different color or texture of the floor. And what's more, you tend to get your home back quicker as well, as refinishing and resurfacing tasks usually take far less time than laying a new floor.
In the end, whether you wish to rejuvenate your existing wood or concrete floors, or have new flooring of almost any type installed, the experts from floor laying services and floor refinishing and resurfacing services can provide the aesthetic and material options to fit your budget. New floor installation, or existing floor refurbishment, can be accomplished relatively quickly, and for competitive prices. Removing an existing floor will cost more, but it's all well worth it – new, sparkling flooring that fits your interior design and aesthetic preferences can add tremendous value to a house, and last for many years of enjoyment.
One of the critical parts of any home or office building is the flooring. After all, without a floor, you can't call it home – you have nowhere to stand, and nowhere to place furniture, fixtures, appliances, or anything else. Flooring tends to be reasonably permanent, with average home or office owners replacing flooring once, on average, in 20 or 30 years. Therefore, having flooring installed correctly, by experts who know what they are doing, is extremely important. Flooring installation service companies and flooring installers are those professional experts. They often are affiliated or run a showroom with various types of flooring that they install, allowing consumers to choose from carpet, tile, vinyl, concrete, hardwood, and other materials, in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures.
Flooring installation services and flooring installers will work with consumers to prep the home, remove existing flooring (if necessary), and install the new flooring. While flooring installation services and flooring installers may work on the new house construction, these services are usually hired directly by a builder or development manager and are therefore mainly outside the scope of this article. The processes and considerations, however, are mostly the same.
In this article, we'll look at what flooring installation services and flooring installers do – mainly, the services they offer. We'll also walk through an overview of typical flooring installation processes, which generally apply to all types of flooring installations regardless of material type. We'll touch on why you should use a flooring installation services company or flooring installer services rather than attempt to install floors yourself and highlight some of the essential criteria to consider when choosing a flooring installation service company or flooring installers for your project.
We should notice at the outset that we mostly use the term flooring installation services and flooring installers interchangeably throughout this article. There may be some small distinction in some areas, wherein flooring installation services tend to be larger, possibly offering additional services, whereas flooring installers are more often used to refer to smaller firms, but this is not universal. For our purposes, no matter what they call themselves, the professionals from these companies are what we're discussing. If you have any concerns about the abilities of an individual company in your area, there are a multitude of resources to do your research before approaching them for a job.
Flooring installation services and flooring installers can offer many different services in the flooring area. Not all flooring installation companies, flooring installers provide all services, but typically, these companies:
The flooring installation process (again, assuming existing flooring is in place) generally begins with a homeowner or business owner's decision. Usually, many flooring installation services and flooring installers offer a wide range of flooring materials and may have a showroom associated with their business in which to showcase these choices. Alternatively, many big home improvement equipment stores also sell flooring and have associated flooring installation services companies and flooring installers on contract to perform the flooring installation.
Regardless of the source, experts will often walk customers through the pros and cons of different flooring options, their durability, material warranties, colors, textures, and other options available. Once a flooring solution has purchased, the next step is arranging the flooring installation.
In almost all cases, the working area must be cleared, all appliances, furniture removed, etc. to allow the flooring installation services and flooring installers to have free access to the floor and the room.
Once the flooring installation services, flooring installers arrive on-site, they will set to work on removing the existing flooring. Depending on the age, type, material, and other factors, this may be a quick or lengthy process. This process can take a day or more on its own before any new flooring installation can take place. Especially in the cases with old floorings that were adhered to or cemented in place, as residue must be removed and the subflooring cleaned before any new flooring installation.
After cleaning the subflooring, flooring installation services pros, flooring installers will inspect it for any structural damage or defects, such as holes, rot, insect damage, or otherwise compromised supports, and in some cases undertake remediation efforts, or advise consumers to make a full repair or other tasks before starting the flooring installation.
If no problems found, flooring installation services will then go ahead and start installing the new flooring. The exact methods and techniques vary considerably based upon the type of flooring but generally involve laying down some underlying material between the subfloor and the top layer of a new floor, applying adhesive, tack tracks, or other binding materials, and then installing the top flooring layer. In some cases, the new flooring may need a coat of sealant or some other type of top coating. It is also typical that flooring will then need to set and cure for a day or so before walking, moving appliances, furniture back into the place.
If there are any additional tasks necessary to finish the flooring, such as the installation of guards, retaining strips, or other hardware, flooring installers will undertake these tasks, and perform a final inspection before completing the job.
In this modern age of home hardware stores that offer DIY classes, YouTube tutorials, and web resources, it is often tempting to try to complete home renovation projects on your own. While some experienced DIYers may be able to complete some flooring installation tasks on their own and even do a good job, this is one of the jobs that advisably leave to professionals. Experts from flooring installation services, flooring installers will typically have experience with many installed floors. They'll know what to do, how to do it right and efficiently for each type of flooring material, and have the skills, equipment, and knowledge to ensure the job is done correctly, expeditiously, and without flaw.
Aside from the potential cost savings of doing it yourself, there's not a good reason to attempt the project. It likely will take far longer than leaving it to the professionals, and without some of the specialized, expensive, sometimes heavy equipment that they use, it may be a tedious, frustrating, and time-consuming task. What's more, most quality flooring installation services and flooring installers will offer warranties on their work, and possibly on the flooring materials as well, so if something does go wrong and a problem shows later up, you have a warranty to fall back on. Flooring installations are not something you undertake frequently and are meant to last for decades or longer in some cases, so better should be managed by professionals from flooring installation services companies and flooring installers.
Not all flooring installation services companies or flooring installers are equal. While you generally won't have a choice of which company hired when a builder is calling the shots on the construction of a new home or neighborhood complex, the choice of the service provider for a replacement installation or consumer-directed renovation/construction is mainly up to you. Therefore, the customer should know what to look for, to ensure making an informed choice of the best flooring installation services or flooring installers in your area.
In conclusion, installing new flooring in your home or office can be a welcome renovation project, that can bring new colors, textures, and modern interior design possibilities into space. The experts from flooring installation services companies, or flooring installers, are best suited to complete these tasks, including removing old flooring, preparing the area for new flooring installation, and accomplishing the new flooring installation. There are some criteria to consider when choosing a flooring installation services company or flooring installers for your job, but with a little research, you can find a company that will offer you quality service at an affordable price.
One of the most critical parts of any home or office is also often overlooked – the floor. A solid, quality floor that will hold up through years of wear and tear is critical from a functional standpoint as well as concerning preserving the resale value. There is a multitude of different options for flooring in today's market, including wood, tile, and laminate, but the choice that has become most popular of late is concrete flooring, typically installed by concrete flooring contractors or concrete flooring installation services.
When many of us think of concrete flooring, no doubt we think of bland, grey slab cement floors. While that indeed is one type, especially in office environments, today's concrete flooring contractors can provide options for color and style choices to suit any design criteria. The experts from a reputable concrete flooring installation service are skilled in techniques like acid-staining, painting, overlays, textures, and patterns that will take the traditional idea of a concrete floor from drab to fab!
Concrete flooring has many benefits and advantages compared to other flooring options. These include:
Unlike some projects that fall into the category of "do it yourself," installing a concrete floor requires knowledge, skill, and equipment that is out of reach of the average handyman. Masons with experience in concrete flooring installation, such as those found at concrete flooring installation services or concrete flooring contractors, are best suited to walk customers through their options, explain the process and timeline, and supervise the concrete flooring installation itself.
One cannot get the decorative concrete floor installed in a few hours like carpet or linoleum, but the trade-off in long-term durability, cost, and overall look more than makeup for the extra up-front time investment. It is yet another reason to use concrete flooring contractors or a concrete flooring installation service with considerable expertise – taking some extra time and care up-front to choose the best concrete flooring contractor can make or break a project.
With so many design options available, as well as the semi-permanent nature of concrete flooring, it is crucial to understand what a concrete flooring contractor or concrete flooring installation service does and to research the expertise and offerings of a given concrete flooring contractor.
Selecting a professional concrete flooring installation service company is essential. Most experts agree that consumers should focus on six key considerations to help them choose the best concrete flooring contractor for their project.
The actual concrete flooring installation process that a concrete flooring contractor will follow can vary significantly from job to job-based on the factors specific to that individual build. Key considerations and estimates are a must that one should discuss with the concrete flooring installation service for clarity of expectations. The primary drivers of the timetable include:
Concrete flooring is a cost-effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing option for both home and office. From design to installation, it's a job best left to a well-trained concrete flooring contractor or concrete flooring installation service to obtain the best results. A thorough understanding of what a concrete flooring installation service does, and what factors a customer should consider when choosing a concrete flooring contractor, will help smooth the process of installing a new concrete floor that can be enjoyed for decades to come.


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Interesting observation at DawgSports:
… I personally think that you create a problem on a team by holding one unit, the defense to a standard of excellence, and another, the offense, to a standard of less than excellence. It's a disservice to the players on the defensive side of the ball who have to shoulder more of the burden to win a game, and a disservice to the offensive players who don't realize their potential.
I bet if I ran a poll on the subject, most readers here would agree with that. Funny thing, though – I bet LSU's players and coaches wouldn't after winning the SECCG running a Neanderthal offense straight out of the eighties. (Don't forget which offense in that game finished the first half with less than 20 yards and zero first downs.)
When you get down to it, this season's critique about overly conservative playcalling boils down to a dislike of winning ugly. Should that matter? How many games can you point to in 2011 that Georgia lost because Bobo pulled in the reins? By comparison, how many did Georgia lose because of poor special teams play?
Over the years, I've been as frustrated as anyone over the mysterious way Bobo approaches playcalling. This year, though, not so much. The emergence of a first-rate defense under Todd Grantham has let Mark Richt go back to what's comfortable for him – getting a lead and controlling the game with field position and defense. What's complicated things and made that strategy dicey at times has been abysmal special teams play and the occasional untimely turnover. (If anything, that tends to make Richt pull the reins in even tighter. Notice how much punt safe Georgia played in the second half of the season?) But that's not Bobo's fault.
This is what Richt wants and this is what Bobo is charged with carrying out. The idea that Richt – an offensive guy who's been used to adding his input on that side of the ball for twenty-plus years now – would suddenly be open to going hands off with that side of the program and hiring an offensive coordinator with a different philosophy to run the offense as he sees fit makes no sense to me. If Mike Bobo didn't exist, Mark Richt would have to invent him.
There's no question that Bobo's still got a ways to go, although it's hard to say how much he was hampered by personnel issues this year. There were times he managed to rise above it in a fairly spectacular manner; let's not forget that as ugly as Saturday's game got, Georgia's offense, which lacked any depth on the offensive line and was a complete mess at tailback, managed to score more points against LSU in a half than Arkansas' or Alabama's did in a game. No doubt the glimpses we see of what Bobo is capable of make the misfires all the more frustrating, but he's not the guy dictating strategy, just the guy implementing it, with whatever resources (and however well those are functioning) he has at his disposal.
I'm not married to the guy. Dumping him (which I don't think is within the realm of possibility, honestly) isn't going to upset me. But the idea that if such were to happen we'd see a new era of offensive strategy is a fans' daydream. If the last eleven seasons have told us anything, it's that Richt expects very different things from his offensive coordinator than he does from his defensive coordinator. That ain't changing.
And that's why I'm snarky about the blame game, at least when it comes to the offense.
On the other hand, if you want to talk blame for the disastrous fall off in special teams this season (Georgia beats South Carolina and plays a very different game against LSU if the special teams had lived up to preseason expectations)… yeah, now that's a discussion worth having.


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Previous Lesson
Complete and Continue
How to build a rock star personal brand
How to build a rock star personal brand
Why are we here? What's in it for you? (7:05)
What have I personally gained? (2:11)
What has changed? (3:02)
Trust is the cornerstone of everything (3:50)
In the age of authenticity, where are we engaged? (4:28)
Let's take a quick look at content marketing (5:32)
Stepping into employee advocacy (5:13)
Personal branding (5:00)
Getting to the heart of success (7:03)
Let's talk about focus (5:20)
Curating great content is central to success (3:44)
Where do you find great content to share? (4:45)
Digging into curation a little more (3:46)
Finding your companies great content (5:13)
Where should you be present? (4:52)
First job - spend time looking fabulous (4:16)
Let's focus on title and summary
What else should I do on LinkedIn? (3:34)
What else, what else? (5:13)
A quick look at Twitter (5:55)
Getting set up on Twitter (4:11)
What else should you focus on with Twitter? (5:36)
Lists, Tweetdeck and what do you Tweet (5:46)
Are you ready to get started blogging?
Where should I blog, on what? (7:07)
Wrapping up this chapter in personal branding (10:04)
First job - spend time looking fabulous
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Reviewed By: blackraven
After doing in home Auditions of all 3 Van Alstine DAC's I thought I would post a review on each one.
VA offers a Solid State DAC called the Insight for about $900, an all Tube DAC called the T8 for about $1400 and a hybrid tube/ss DAC called the Ultra for about $1700.
Let me say this first. I liked all 3 and they all had a similar sound to some extent because they use many of the same electronics. Frank VA's philosophy is to produce music as naturally as possible without distortion or coloration and this can be found in all his equipment. In addition, his equipment does not come with all the bells and whistles that you may find on other brands. He keeps things simple as possible.
Now for the reviews-
1. Insight SS DAC - Price:Â $999
This DAC is a real bargain. It produces excellent tight bass with out muddiness. Treble and high frequencies are crisp and clear with out any congestion. Midrange is very smooth. It has great transparency and presents a large sound stage. It sounded much better than my Cambridge Audio 840c CDP which was my reference player. I was able to directly do AB comparisons. Out of the 3 DAC's, this one produced the deepest bass and most pronounced treble but it did not have the same depth of transparency, resolution or sound stage as the other 2 DACs. The sound was very neutral and natural. There was no grain, digital glare or fatigue.
2. Transcendence Eight DAC -Â Price:Â $999
This was the most analog sounding of the DAC's but it was not overly warm. It still had more of a neutral sound but was definitely warmer than the Insight. It had greater transparency and a larger sound stage than the Insight but treble was softer as you would expect from an all tube design. Bass was tight but not as powerful (but not anemic by any means) as the Insight. The sound was very smooth and liquid with good detail and resolution. You could listen to this DAC all day and not get tired of it. My only complaint about it is that I like more prominent treble. This would be a great DAC if you had a brighter system or you liked to listen to a lot of older Cd's that tended to be on the bright side.
3. Ultra Hybrid DAC – Price:Â $1699
This is the most expensive of the 3 DAC's and is well worth it. It gives you the best of the other 2 DAC's. Its a neutral sounding DAC with a hint of warmth. It has tight bass, better than the T8 but not as pronounced as the Insight. Treble is excellent, not as soft as the T8. It is also extremely liquid. The virtues of this DAC are its dynamics, clarity, resolution, detail, quietness, huge sound stage and transparency. The sound stage is so large that I thought I was sitting in a concert hall listening to music. It also has the most transparent sound that I have ever heard. You feel as if you could reach out and touch each instrument. It also had the most natural sound and made music sound live. Now part of this could be my Magnepan MG1.6′s which make just about all music sound like a live performance, but all 3 DAC's, especially this one, made the music sound like a live performance.
One last comment, I got an email from a guy on the Audio Circles forum the other day asking me about my Magnepans. We got to talking about DAC's and CDP's. He owns the Insight DAC. He said he had owned the Benchmark DAC, the PS Audio Digilink III DAC and the Cambridge Audio 840c CDP but that the Van Alstine Insight DAC blew them away. I still have his Email if any one is interested in talking to him.


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The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors. Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass. The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions. The following evening the discussion was renewed.
"My dear colleagues," said Barbicane, without further preamble, "the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight. It is probable that we shall end by giving it gigantic dimensions; but however great may be the difficulties in the way, our mechanical genius will readily surmount them. Be good enough, then, to give me your attention, and do not hesitate to make objections at the close. I have no fear of them. The problem before us is how to communicate an initial force of 12,000 yards per second to a shell of 108 inches in diameter, weighing 20,000 pounds. Now when a projectile is launched into space, what happens to it? It is acted upon by three independent forces: the resistance of the air, the attraction of the earth, and the force of impulsion with which it is endowed. Let us examine these three forces. The resistance of the air is of little importance. The atmosphere of the earth does not exceed forty miles. Now, with the given rapidity, the projectile will have traversed this in five seconds, and the period is too brief for the resistance of the medium to be regarded otherwise than as insignificant. Proceding, then, to the attraction of the earth, that is, the weight of the shell, we know that this weight will diminish in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance. When a body left to itself falls to the surface of the earth, it falls five feet in the first second; and if the same body were removed 257,542 miles further off, in other words, to the distance of the moon, its fall would be reduced to about half a line in the first second. That is almost equivalent to a state of perfect rest. Our business, then, is to overcome progressively this action of gravitation. The mode of accomplishing that is by the force of impulsion."
"There's the difficulty," broke in the major.
"True," replied the president; "but we will overcome that, for the force of impulsion will depend on the length of the engine and the powder employed, the latter being limited only by the resisting power of the former. Our business, then, to-day is with the dimensions of the cannon."
"Now, up to the present time," said Barbicane, "our longest guns have not exceeded twenty-five feet in length. We shall therefore astonish the world by the dimensions we shall be obliged to adopt. It must evidently be, then, a gun of great range, since the length of the piece will increase the detention of the gas accumulated behind the projectile; but there is no advantage in passing certain limits."
"Quite so," said the major. "What is the rule in such a case?"
"Ordinarily the length of a gun is twenty to twenty-five times the diameter of the shot, and its weight two hundred and thirty-five to two hundred and forty times that of the shot."
"That is not enough," cried J. T. Maston impetuously.
"I agree with you, my good friend; and, in fact, following this proportion for a projectile nine feet in diameter, weighing 30,000 pounds, the gun would only have a length of two hundred and twenty-five feet, and a weight of 7,200,000 pounds."
"Ridiculous!" rejoined Maston. "As well take a pistol."
"I think so too," replied Barbicane; "that is why I propose to quadruple that length, and to construct a gun of nine hundred feet."
The general and the major offered some objections; nevertheless, the proposition, actively supported by the secretary, was definitely adopted.
"But," said Elphinstone, "what thickness must we give it?"
"A thickness of six feet," replied Barbicane.
"You surely don't think of mounting a mass like that upon a carriage?" asked the major.
"It would be a superb idea, though," said Maston.
"But impracticable," replied Barbicane. "No, I think of sinking this engine in the earth alone, binding it with hoops of wrought iron, and finally surrounding it with a thick mass of masonry of stone and cement. The piece once cast, it must be bored with great precision, so as to preclude any possible windage. So there will be no loss whatever of gas, and all the expansive force of the powder will be employed in the propulsion."
"One simple question," said Elphinstone: "is our gun to be rifled?"
"No, certainly not," replied Barbicane; "we require an enormous initial velocity; and you are well aware that a shot quits a rifled gun less rapidly than it does a smooth-bore."
"True," rejoined the major.
The committee here adjourned for a few minutes to tea and sandwiches.
On the discussion being renewed, "Gentlemen," said Barbicane, "we must now take into consideration the metal to be employed. Our cannon must be possessed of great tenacity, great hardness, be infusible by heat, indissoluble, and inoxidable by the corrosive action of acids."
"There is no doubt about that," replied the major; "and as we shall have to employ an immense quantity of metal, we shall not be at a loss for choice."
"Well, then," said Morgan, "I propose the best alloy hitherto known, which consists of one hundred parts of copper, twelve of tin, and six of brass."
"I admit," replied the president, "that this composition has yielded excellent results, but in the present case it would be too expensive, and very difficult to work. I think, then, that we ought to adopt a material excellent in its way and of low price, such as cast iron. What is your advice, major?"
"I quite agree with you," replied Elphinstone.
"In fact," continued Barbicane, "cast iron costs ten times less than bronze; it is easy to cast, it runs readily from the moulds of sand, it is easy of manipulation, it is at once economical of money and of time. In addition, it is excellent as a material, and I well remember that during the war, at the siege of Atlanta, some iron guns fired one thousand rounds at intervals of twenty minutes without injury."
"Cast iron is very brittle, though," replied Morgan.
"Yes, but it possesses great resistance. I will now ask our worthy secretary to calculate the weight of a cast-iron gun with a bore of nine feet and a thickness of six feet of metal."
"In a moment," replied Maston. Then, dashing off some algebraical formulae with marvelous facility, in a minute or two he declared the following result:
"The cannon will weigh 68,040 tons. And, at two cents a pound, it will cost----"
"Two million five hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and one dollars."
Maston, the major, and the general regarded Barbicane with uneasy looks.
"Well, gentlemen," replied the president, "I repeat what I said yesterday. Make yourselves easy; the millions will not be wanting."
With this assurance of their president the committee separated, after having fixed their third meeting for the following evening.


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"This is the best game ever!" my friend exclaimed as she pulled out her iPhone and started to show me how to play Angry Birds.
"That's the best game ever?" I thought to myself, "you're just flinging birds at pigs!"
Fast forward two months and I finally purchased the iPod Touch, one more month and I finally downloaded Angry Birds — the free version.
Then I downloaded the paid version.
Flinging birds at pigs has never been this fun! And I'm not the only one who thinks so! Angry bird is popping up all over the place! Let's see, there is …
Playable Angry Birds Cake:
Edible Angry Birds Cake Toppers:
Real life Angry Bird game from Mattel:
Angry Bird Plush Toys:
And of course, the most recent Oatmeal Comic: The Likability of Angry Birds.


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The Bamboo Coco Ono maternity/nursing top in deep garnet by Mothers En Vogue. The Coco Ono Long Sleeve Top is a versatile piece from the X.tended collection that can be worn from pregnancy through to nursing and beyond. Designed in a relaxed yet shapely fit, this feminine and effortlessly chic top drapes nicely.
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text: HomeAbout Us FacilitiesTryoutsCamps and ClinicsContact UsTeam StoreCoaching Staff DELAWARE SPRING 2023 MAKEUP TRYOUTS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Why Swarm? Our program aims to teach players the game of basketball through fundamental skills. In addition to teaching fundamental skills, we will guide our players to reach their highest potential as an individual player as well as a teammate. Players will understand terms such as respect, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and commitment. In the end, it's our hope that each player will get maximum growth as a player and a person; and additionally, grow to love this great game of basketball. Swarm System Developed by former college coaches, our Swarm System has been designed to maximize the potential of our athletes while creating consistency throughout our program. Each coach emphasizes the importance of fundamental work while exposing their players to high level skills and drills when appropriate. We believe that mastering the fundamentals is paramount and is the foundation to any great basketball player. At the Swarm, we have a unique method of incorporating skill sessions with team, strategy, and conceptual instruction. We approach skill work with focus and enthusiasm, stressing to our players that development takes time and commitment. The vast majority of our coaches have extensive playing and coaching experience, some at the professional and collegiate level. We attribute our unparalleled player retention rates to our system and our drive to provide the best basketball experience for our players and families. College Placement We are committed to helping every athlete in our organization achieve his or her goals while in our program and beyond. Many of our players aspire to play college basketball and we are committed to working with our players and families to find the best college fit for each student-athlete. We currently have players at the NCAA Div. I, II, and III levels at a wide range of academic institutions across the country. Our coaches and directors are frequently in touch with prep school, junior college, and college coaches. History Delaware Swarm will began running out of the 76ers Fieldhouse in August of 2019. The 76ers Fieldhouse is one of the most pristine facilities on the East Coast. The Swarm and the 76ers Fieldhouse are excited to share their vision of providing a positive and rewarding sports experience for all youth. USA Basketball Every coach in our organization is USA Basketball Certified, undergoing educational and safety training provided by USA Basketball. Coaches are guided by the rules and regulations of the organization and strive to uphold the highest possible standard of professionalism. USA Basketball and Swarm Club Basketball are committed to teaching proper skill development in a positive and inclusive environment. Basketball Philosophy The Swarm Club Basketball program was founded upon the principle of teaching young athletes the fundamentals of the game while helping them grow into successful players and people. We create environments around the country that are conducive to learning and developing young players. From the CEO down through the organizations coaches, staff, and players, we strive to improve every day through an unwavering commitment to hard work. We believe that our constant pursuit of expanding our education, confidence, skills, and personalities makes us the best program in the country. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Sponsors and Partners Balian Family Dental ©2021 SWARM CLUB BASKETBALL 508-731-6770 Copyright © 2021, 3STEP Sports. All Rights Reserved. – Privacy Policy


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Cover Design: Prezidential Visions
Release Date: August 16, 2017
What is the one thing you shouldn't do when your wife leaves you? Sleep with your best friend's sister. It's too bad Roan Reddick never got that piece of advice before he fell into bed with Mia Cavalano. She's smart, sassy, and sexy as hell. She's also the only woman to flip his world upside down since his wife. And she's leaving for college in two days, which is good considering he's not looking for a relationship, not now, not with the agony that lives inside him from his past. But Roan can't kick the craving he now has for Mia. One choice changed everything. After years away, Mia realizes she and Roan just aren't meant to be. So she vows to keep her focus on her career and forget about the one-night stand that rocked her world so long ago. But when work transfers her back to Boston, a place that holds so many memories, she has no choice but to go. All she has to do is stick to her plan and keep her focus on work, which should be easy, right? Besides, in a city of half a million people, how hard can it be to avoid the perfect bastard?
One of Five ARCs of The Perfect Bastard by LK Collins
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d119/?
About the AuthorLK Collins is the naughty alter ego for the husband-and-wife duo behind multiple bestselling and international bestselling novels. This real-life couple is downright dirty in the bedroom, which bleeds through the pages of their steaming hot stories. While LK writes the books, Mr. Collins, the tattooed god himself, is the mastermind behind so much of the page-turning sexiness. If you are looking for a scorching read with chemistry so intense it jumps off the pages, then an LK novel is for you. From standalones to series, their stories will have you blushing and panting, ready to reread them the moment you've finished. The heroes are alpha, demanding, filthy-talking men that will do anything for their girl…or to get them. Check out our website for new releases, author updates, and the latest sales: www.authorlkcollins.com.
Connect with LK Collins
Website: www.authorlkcollins.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/by1yOj
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November 2018


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- Adventure
- Tips and Advice
Adventure Town: Eastsound, Washington
Plan a long weekend getaway with our Eastsound adventure guide, featuring great outdoor escapes, where to stay, and where to eat.
Pop. 4,182
Eastsound, on the north bend of Orcas Island, is a sort of Nantucket of the West, with a style a bit more Birkenstock than Sperry Top-Sider. As the largest city on the largest island in the archipelago, Eastsound is a good jumping-off point for exploring the San Juans.
The 5,000-acre (2,023-hectare) Moran State Park has over 30 miles (48 kilometers) of hiking trails, just minutes away from Eastsound. Start with Mount Constitution Trail, which climbs 2,400 feet (732 meters) above sea level for 360-degree views of the San Juan Islands, the Cascade Range, the Whistler Mountains, Vancouver, and Victoria (www.parks.wa.gov). Hikers also have the 1,578-acre (639-hectare) Turtleback Mountain Preserve, recently opened after a stunning $18.5 million fundraising effort by San Juan Preservation Trust; take the South Trailhead, off of Deer Harbor Road, to catch a glimpse from the other side of the island to pastoral Crow Valley (www.sjpt.org). Or rent two wheels from Eastsound's Wildlife Cycles and hit Orcas Island's well-paved roads. For a longer cycling jaunt, hop on the ferry to explore Lopez or San Juan Islands; the ferry is free for cyclists ($30 for a one-day road-bike rental; www.wildlifecycles.com). Paddlers can explore the Puget Sound's countless bays and inlets with Shearwater Adventure. On a three-hour guided kayak tour, you could even catch a glimpse of the island's namesake Orca whale. ($60 per person; www.shearwaterkayaks.com).
Rose's Bakery Café is a casual eatery housed in Eastsound's old firehouse. They have a stellar wine selection and use fresh, local ingredients for their homemade bread; the olive-rosemary buns are worth the trip alone (+1 360 376 5805).
- Nat Geo Expeditions
Turtleback Farm Inn, a 19th-century farmhouse turned cozy B&B, affords views of Crow Valley, Turtle Mountain, and the surrounding fir and maple forests. Breakfast picks include homemade pastries and granola with fresh-picked wild berries (doubles from $100; www.turtlebackinn.com).


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U.S. ties France in Under-20 World Cup
The United States improved its chances of reaching the knockout stage of the Under-20 World Cup, tying France, 1-1, on Monday on an 85th-minute goal by substitute Daniel Cuevas.
"I feel like they were confused," he said. "They couldn't get the ball out and luckily it took a bounce my way and I got to push it in."
With France and Spain having won their openers, the U.S. needs a victory in its final match against Ghana to advance outright. But it could still advance as one of the four best third-place teams.
"Our team is very united and we are always together and pushing forward," Cuevas said. "If things don't go our way, we keep trying and keep trying until they do. Luckily we got the tie."
In the other early game in Group B, Nigeria defeated Cuba 3-0, with Aminu Umar scoring twice in four minutes.
France appeared set to beat the Americans win and advance after Yaya Sanogo scored his second goal of the tournament. His penalty in the 48th minute came after Dimitri Foulquier was sideswiped by America's Javan Torre in the penalty area.
"I don't think we had a great control of the game tonight," France coach Pierre Mankowski said. "It feels a bit strange because the U.S. team was hardly dangerous. But they had situations they should have never had. We conceded a penalty and a free-kick, which led to their goal."
The U.S., which lost its opening match to Spain, had few chances and missed those it did have – the worst when Luis Gil's penalty was easily saved in the 65th. But the Americans grew more confident toward the end and it paid off when Cuevas pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area.
"Our team is very united and we are always together and pushing forward," Cuevas said. "If things don't go our way, we keep trying and keep trying until they do. Luckily we got the tie."
U.S. coach Tab Ramos was a "little disappointed" with the lackluster play early on but happy to come away with a draw.
"In a game like today we should have gotten all three points," he said. "At the end of the day, it was great courage, effort by our team."


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Leah Remini Leaves Church of Scientology Over Growing Discontent
Actress Leah Remini, best known for her leading role on CBS's "King of Queens" from 1998 to 2007, has left the Church of Scientology. Her discontent with the church leadership reportedly stems from an incident that occurred during Tom Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes in 2006.
The New York Post's Page Six was the first to report the news on Thursday that Remini, a long-time Scientologist, was fed up with church leader David Miscavige's "interrogations" and "thought modification" procedures. According to the paper's source, Remini decided to quit "because of policies that don't allow parishioners to question Miscavige's management or the reported abuse of members of its Sea Org religious order — and for forcing followers to 'disconnect' from family members branded as 'suppressive persons' if they choose to leave the church."
As for any fear of retribution, the Post's source added, "She's from Brooklyn. The church can't hurt her ... they don't have her family, that's all that matters to her."
The Hollywood Reporter later corroborated the report that Remini was leaving the church. The trade magazine also points out that Remini's is the latest in a series of high-profile celebrity departures from Scientology, a list that includes Tom Cruise's three ex-wives, Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman, and Mimi Rogers, as well as film director Paul Haggis and singer Lisa Marie Presley.
Omg! contacted the Church of Scientology, which issued the following statement: "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member."
Omg! also reached out to agents for Remini (she does not currently have a publicist), but has not heard back from her camp as of yet.
News of Remini's departure first surfaced last Friday, in a report from longtime Scientology critic Tony Ortega. On Monday, Ortega (a former editor-in-chief at The Village Voice) followed up on his original report with several new details from his sources about why Remini was leaving. He writes on his website that during Cruise's wedding to Holmes in Italy in 2006, Remini asked Miscavige why his wife, Shelly Miscavige, was not in attendance. Shelly has reportedly not been seen by any church members since 2007, but at that time, it was unusual that she wasn't present at such a high-profile event. Remini was told "to shut up, as if the question itself was out of line," according to Ortega's source.
This action led to the perpetually outspoken Remini later writing a "Knowledge Report" for the Church that included several criticisms of Miscavige as well as other high-level leaders and media handlers. Remini's report allegedly accused the church of lying to the press about its "disconnection" policy and excessive interrogations of members. She was then reportedly ordered to visit the church's "Flag Land Base" at its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, for a "thought modification" process, and was later forced to rescind her report.
Ortega writes that throughout this ordeal, Remini's family — themselves high-ranking "Operating Thetan" church members — have vowed to stand by her.
Another church critic, former member Mike Rinder, who says he has known Remini for many years and refers to the actress as "one of the most down-to-earth, honest, and truly caring celebrities I came across in Scientology," also wrote on Monday about her departure. He adds that church spokespeople Tommy Davis and Jessica Feshbach also played strong roles in the events that eventually led to Remini's departure. Rinder adds that Remini "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard's work, but will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church. Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with."
Following her decision to leave the Church of Scientology, Remini released the following statement:
"I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world. I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support."
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On re-reading Stewart Homes The Assault on Culture (Aporia Press & Unpopular Books, 1988, London).
Maybe I should have been reading Grail Marcus Lipstick Traces instead as it is better written and covers the same trajectory as Homes does in The Assault on Culture. Homes follows the history of the various post-war utopian art movements: Cobra, Lettriste, College du Pataphysics, Nuclear Art, the International Movement for the Imaginist Bauhaus, Situationists, Fluxus, Auto-Destructiove Art, Dutch Provos, Kommune 1, Motherfuckers, Yippies, White Panthers, Mail Art, Punk, Neoism, up to Class War in 1985.
Homes published his shorter book a year before Marcus – it is shorter and physically lighter than Marcus's tome. There are other physical differences between the two books – there are no illustrations in Homes, no soundtrack CD – just a densely written history.
Homes declares in the preface that he is writing for the insiders first and others second – Marcus is clearly writing for the others. Also in the preface Homes scorns Andre Breton's interest in mysticism and magic whereas Marcus brings magic, heretics and, even, God into his preface. Although Homes can't ignore the historical connections with Lollards and Anabaptists, he didn't have to worry, the tradition can be traced further back to the completely non-mystical Cynics of Ancient Greece – Diogenes pissing and throwing plucked chickens like the punks – so we don't have bring religion or magic into it.
Homes might be able to ignore the mysticism but he couldn't ignore the music and it is the music that provided a focus for Marcus. The music of the Sex Pistols is the beginning and the end for Marcus. So Marcus leaves out Neoism, Mail Art, Fluxus and other groups.
This history could be continued with groups like Negativeland, Survival Research Labs and the Church of the SubGenius and the street art movement. Home's careful distinction between groups and movements becomes clearer with these examples; Negativeland is clearly a group with a few members whereas street art is a movement with thousands of participating artists.
Why include street art with these utopian political art practices? It is a hard case to prove, as there are thousands of disparate artists involved with no leaders writing street art manifesto to quote but the trace elements (to use Marcus's metaphor) are there. From the Letterist International street art has the love of letters and the continuation of an urban exploration and reinvention. The linage between political stencils and street art stencils is clear from Crass and other punk bands. And some street art is an opposition to the contemporary gallery art.
"Down with the abstract, long live the ephemeral" – a Situationalist slogan from 1968 that could be the slogan of street art.


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Posts tagged 'gardening'
Garden Treats
Having snacks growing at the garden is a good motivation to get down there. Fresh green beans, tomatoes, peaches, plums and blueberries await the gardeners at various times of the year.
In order to maximize energy and space in the garden, many gardeners choose to co-plant multiple crops together in the same field. In the Beach flats garden, corn beans and squash are planted together in various formations according to each gardener's experience and traditions. Corn beans and squash co-planting is known as a three sister garden and is common in many indigenous planting traditions. There are two ways in which corn and beans are commonly co-planted in the Beach Flats Garden. The more common method involves planting the corn 1 to 2 months ahead of the beans, so the corn has time to grow. This method produces a larger yield from the corn in exchange for a smaller quantity of beans. The other method involves planting them at the same time and allowing the beans to climb over the corn as it grows. The bean yield is greater while the corn is reduced. As the beans grow they feed the soil to the benefit of the corn beans and squash in the parcel. The third sister, squash, can be seen growing in the rows. The squash plants reduce evaporation and weed growth by making shade in the parcel. Vine squash can be trained to grow down the rows to maximize the effect. However a gardener chooses to plant, if the garden has corn beans and squash, its a happy garden.
Sugar Cane
Sugar cane or caña is a fun garden treat. A large bush of this tropical plant grows by the north fence of the garden by the banks of the San Lorenzo River. They are harvested periodically and used as a tasty snack on a hot summer day. Short pieces of the cane are peeled and cut to be enjoyed by the gardeners and their friends. I took some on a recent trip to the lake.
Angela's Squash
My sister Angela grew an impressive squash this year in San Lenadro, California. The variety is trombetta di albenga, and it is a long curved light green summer squash. While not grown at the Beach flats garden, I thought it was an impressive display of gardening.
Support your beans
Beans are generally a prolifically growing vine that will climb anything they can get their tendrils on. The more they have to climb, the more they will grow, and there are many ways to provide support for them. Planting beans with corn is an ancient and sacred way to co-pant these staple crops. The corn supports the beans and the beans nourish the soil as they grow; both plants benefit from the others presence. Also, a gardener can plant them next to a fence and they will climb it. A trellis or other structure can be custom built for the season if no fences are available. Some poles stuck in the ground with or without wires running between the is a good way to row crop beans. A tipi is an easy and sturdy way to make a very tall structure to maximize space. Finally, a gardener may choose to plant bush beans instead, these beans are self supporting and need no structures.


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Flowering Cactus
Spectacular array of lupine and poppies on Figeuroa Mt.
Giant Coreopsis in various stages of bloom
A field of sunflowers below the majestic Mt. Hood
Emerging cactus blooms
Dead thistles
Red sunflower
California wild flowers
Large lavender
Poppies & Lupine on Figeuroa Mountain, Santa Barbara country, CA
Swallowtail feeding on Giant Coreopsis
Blue eyed grass
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Lancaster, CA


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Right this minute I am en route all the way over to the West Coast for the Dole Banana Summit! I am looking forward to meeting up with old friends & making new ones (follow along on Instagram / Twitter / or Facebook).
I'm especially excited, though, because the hubs is joining me! We are extending our stay through the weekend so we can hop on over to Huntington Beach to Relax, Beach it up, Visit with friends, see the sites, enjoy the food, and… Surf.
Ya, the last one is for the hubs – not me – You guys know that would be a disaster considering my athletic ability (or lack thereof)!
I'll be the one laying in the sun/sand… 😉
So as I travel to learn about bananas… I thought I'd give you another fall Recipe: CHOCOLATE. CHIP. PUMPKIN. BREAD.
Pumpkin bread is basically the fall version of Banana bread. And Chocolate Chip? Well… that's simply because everything is better with a little chocolate. Amen?!
PLUS: Because it's a bread… it's perfectly acceptable to eat it for breakfast OR dessert. Love. It.
Ugh… there I go again with my over.usage.of.periods. SORRY!
Can't. help. myself.
I love me some em-PHAS-is… (yah, that's only funny if you've seen A View from the Top)
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Yield: 2 loafs
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Total Time: 40-55 minutes
A classic Spiced Pumpkin loaf with mini chocolate chips... because... well... mini chocolate chips make everything better!
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly bean
16 ounces canned unsweetened pumpkin
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray two 9"x5" loaf pans with Baker's Joy (or butter it and sprinkle with flour). In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat together sugar and oil. Add eggs one at a time (incorporating each one before adding the next). Next add the pumpkin and beat until combined.
In a separate medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Alternate adding dry ingredient mixture and water into the pumpkin/sugar/egg mixture. Lastly, fold the mini chocolate chips into the batter and then evenly divide between the two prepared loaf pans. Bake 30-40 minutes (or a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center). Allow to rest for 10 minutes before carefully removing from pans.
Minimally Adapted from: Cathy Lowe via
Food Network
Click here to print.


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Here are some tools and inspiration for you!
Having a natural vaginal birth with twins is possible, here is an amazing video with many moms of multiples who had natural births to inspire you.
Here is another inspirational video from a mom who had a homebirth with her twins.
Hypnobabies has a wonderful CD with 2 scripts on it for moms of twins.
Birthing My Twins Naturally-CD
Having Twins..and a vaginal birthing?? (YES YOU CAN!) By popular demand, we have created a CD just for YOU, with 2 tracks to enhance your pregnancy and easy vaginal twin birthing.
Track # 1 – Birthing My Twins Naturally is a deep hypnosis session with many enhancements: bringing your babies' movements into your hypnosis session as deepening and comfort techniques, suggestions for carrying your twins to full term, and your babies *both* being head down and in the perfect position for an easy, comfortable, vaginal twin birthing. There are many confidence building suggestions and cues for you to use as you prepare for your babies' entrance into the world, including a visualization of the birth itself, and one for being much more comfortable and relaxed throughout your twin pregnancy.
Track # 2- Twin Birthing Affirmations. This wonderful track has no hypnosis inductions – it was designed for you to be able to play it anytime – in your car, while falling asleep at night, during the day…. at any quiet time. The purpose of affirmations of any kind is to keep positive, affirming statements coming in from the outside, at the same time deep hypnotic suggestions are training your inner mind with a new belief system (track # 1). Affirmations neutralize any negative thoughts, comments or influences that you may be exposed to on a daily basis, allowing your confidence level to increase every day, which is *so* important as you prepare for your babies' vaginal twin births.
This is also now available as an MP3 download!
Here is a link to a great birth story of a mom who used the Hypnobabies Home Study and had her twins in a hospital.
Here is a link to another positive twin hospital birth story too!
Hopefully all this information can encourage you to do the research and find a care provider who is supportive of your desires for a natural birth!