text:
Q & A: Professor Richter on Retirement
By Ellen Frye
Horst Richter first came to Thayer School from his native Germany as a visiting researcher in 1972, then joined the faculty in 1975. During his 33 years of teaching, he chaired the department, initiated exchange programs with the University of Aachen and Bundeswehr University in Hamburg, Germany, and created one of Thayer School's first courses for non-engineers, ENGS 2: The Technology of Sailing. He retires at the end of spring term.
How does it feel to be retiring?
It's bittersweet. As one would say in German, I have "one smiling and one teary eye." I will have more time to travel with my wife and spend time with the children and grandchildren. But Thayer School is such a wonderful place that it is hard to leave.
Will you still do any engineering?
I still want to do a little research. There is still some work to be done in thermal spraying. I think it is great that Thayer School is starting a new initiative on energy, and I would like to be involved in some way, maybe only as an observer or have maybe half a foot in the door.
What drove your research interests at Thayer?
The first research I was involved in was nuclear reactors with Graham Wallis. We worked with emergency core cooling systems. I had the largest lab Thayer School ever had — next to the Dartmouth power plant. We had a pressure vessel that we used to test the emergency cooling nozzles of reactors. And we needed a lot of steam from the power plant. We had fun. Later I worked on improving power plant efficiencies. Then I got more interested in computational fluid dynamics. One thing about Thayer School is that you can do the research you want to do. You are not constrained by a sign on the office that says "Energy." If there is research worth doing, you can do it.
How did you get involved in doing computational fluid dynamics for America's Cup yachts?
After the U.S. lost the America's Cup in 1995 I met with a good friend, the preeminent American yacht designer Olin Stephens. He had designed at least five America's Cup boats that all won. He lives in Hanover, so we meet frequently and talk about boats. At the time, we were contemplating why we lost the Cup. He thought that more attention should have been paid to the performance of sails. I mentioned that we could use computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the optimum sail shape. So we approached Young America, one of the new syndicates for the America's Cup 2000. We wrote a proposal, and they provided us with money to study sails. I had two grad students working with me. I learned a lot and it was exciting.
Are you still involved with the America's Cup?
The America's Cup is underway in Valencia, Spain, right now. We did some work for the American boat. As soon as the Cup is over, a new design cycle will start, and I hope to get involved again. On other sailing issues, I am working with the Sailing Yacht Research Foundation to try to improve handicap rules. Big boats sail against small boats. How do you handicap them? The critical issue is the performance of sails under various wind conditions. Further, I would like to publish a paper on computational fluid dynamics for sails in a more scientific sailing journal — and show some good graphics about the air flow around sails.
As you look back on your career, what advice would you give students who are starting theirs?
My students ask me: What should I do? Where should I go? I tell them, get a job where you can have fun because if you don't have fun, you waste your life. It's not the money that makes you happy, it's the fun you have in your work, which will reflect on your whole life, the "pursuit of happiness."
Categories: The Great Hall, Q&Acomments powered by Disqus


text:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands -- Many consumers want to increase their intake of heart-healthy n-3 fatty acids, found naturally in fish and fish products, but find it difficult to consume the levels recommended by the American Heart Association. Scientists at Virginia Tech have demonstrated that it may be possible to achieve the suggested daily intake in a single serving of a savory-flavored yogurt, providing an easily incorporated dietary source for these valuable fatty acids. Their work is detailed in the April issue of the Journal of Dairy Science.
"The international popularity of yogurt and the health-promoting properties associated with probiotics, minerals, vitamins, and milk proteins suggest yogurt could be an excellent vehicle for the delivery of n-3 fatty acids," says lead author Susan E. Duncan, PhD, Professor and Director of the Macromolecular Interfaces with Life Sciences Program, Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech. "Recent innovations in exotic yogurt flavors provide innovation opportunities. We tested different levels of fish oil in a savory chili and lime flavored yogurt, and found that a 1% concentration of fish oil, which provides more than the suggested daily intake, could be acceptable to a large proportion of the general population, and have a potential market among health- and nutrition-conscious consumers."
In a preliminary study, tasters could not differentiate between low levels of fish and butter oils in unflavored yogurt, but they could discern yogurt flavored with oxidized fish oil, which has a strong fishy taste. A second panel underwent 6 hours of training so that they could accurately describe and measure lime, sweet, heat, acid, and oxidized flavor attributes. They found the fish flavor more pronounced than the lime and acid characteristics in a chili-lime flavored yogurt fortified with 1% oxidized fish oil, compared with yogurts containing .43% or 1% fresh fish oil. The oxidized flavor was higher in chili-lime yogurts containing oxidized fish oil and a high level (1%) of fresh fish oil.
In a second study, 100 untrained consumers who were generally nutritionally motivated and aware of the health benefits of n-3 fatty acids evaluated the overall acceptance and flavor acceptance of chili lime yogurt enriched with butter oil or fish oil. Fifty percent of the tested group rated chili-lime flavored yogurt fortified with 1% butter oil or fish oil in the positive end of the scale ("liked extremely" to "neither liked nor disliked"). Thirty-nine percent reported they would be highly likely or likely to consume the chili-lime flavored yogurt on a regular basis. The low overall acceptance of the product by the remaining 50% of the tested group may be attributed to the chili-lime flavor or the lack of sweetness in the product.
These studies demonstrate the potential for consumption of the entire suggested daily intake of n-3 fatty acids in a single serving of savory-flavored yogurt, providing an alternative and easily incorporated dietary source of these heart-healthy fatty acids.
"Innovation of unsweetened, savory flavoring in combination with the powerful health functionality of n-3 fatty acids and dairy components is of interest to a large segment of the health- or nutrition-aware population. A potential market exists for this population," Dr. Duncan concludes.
|Contact: Verity C. Kerkhoff
Elsevier Health Sciences

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Facebook announced that it will be purging the social network of bots posting counterfeit "likes."
While the social network said this is actually less than 1 percent of all of its "likes," it nonetheless is going gunning for them with a high-powered automatic system. From the announcement:
These newly improved automated efforts will remove those Likes gained by malware, compromised accounts, deceived users, or purchased bulk Likes. While we have always had dedicated protections against each of these threats on Facebook, these improved systems have been specifically configured to identify and take action against suspicious Likes.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
For users, this may be a complete non-issue, according to AllThingsD. I mean, who really cares if there are some fake likes? Well, Facebook does because it uses likes to show businesses it's doing well in customer outreach. If fake likes are in the picture, then that negates the entire system, and Facebook needs to keep its advertisers happy if it wants to keep the revenue flowing.


text:
We're using windows live writer for our blog and therefore we're using the metaweblog.ashx. But after the upgrade from CKS 2.0 to CKS 3.0 there is an error when calling metaweblog.ashx.
The error is:
An error occurred during the compilation of the requested file, or one of its dependencies. The type or namespace name 'Components' does not exist in the namespace 'CommunityServer' (are you missing an assembly reference?)
What should I do to get the handler up and running so that we can use windows live writer?


text:
Show off your iPhone 6/6s while keeping it safe with the blue Crash Guard from Rhino Shield. This slim bumper is made with Egg Drop technology, which covers the edges of your device with a custom polymer shaped into a honeycomb structure. Within the honeycomb, compartments filled with pressurized air act as airbags, absorbing impact energy and redirecting it into the honeycomb instead of into your phone.
The Crash Guard adds minimal bulk to your device. It measures less than a tenth of an inch thick and weighs 0.4 oz. Its exterior's matte finish resists scratches and improves grip, and a 0.02″ lip lifts the device up and away from dust and grit when placed on flat surfaces. The buttons remain fully accessible, and oversized port openings accept most headphone jacks and third-party chargers.


text:
We are still loving, loving, loving the Olympics!!
Making Olympic rings is a fun little craft to do in celebration of the Olympics! So easy, so simple!
Supplies needed:
Paint (red, blue, yellow, green, black)
Paper towel or toilet paper roll
For my little man, I just gave him a little cup of paint and let him stamp his paper with the paper towel roll.
For Anna (age 3 1/2), we talked about the Olympic rings and how they symbolize the Olympics. She called out the colors used and helped me pick them out. Initially she just wanted to stamp the paper, which was fine. Together we made the five Olympic rings on the bottom of the paper.
Love them both!


text: You name it, this watch has got it—it's greedily made from platinum, gold, titanium and carbon fiber, and has three mechanics in the analog watch face that align to make the time look digital. Further details on just how much this digital-pretender will cost have sadly been cloaked in secrecy, for now. [Wired UK]


text:
|Cyclists on La Septima.
The mayor's pedestrianization of the stretch of Ave. Septima between 19th and 25th streets has gotten lots of criticism: some shopowners say that it's reduced sales, made taxis scarce and brought more trash and beggars. Informal vendors have invaded the street and sidewalks, they complain.
But, I walk and bike that street every day, and I'm not convinced that these are real problems - or at least that they can't be addressed.
|Pedestrians walk down the center of La Septima,
passing in front of the Teatro Gaitan.
What is clear, is that in many ways La Septima has turned into a much more pleasant, dynamic place. It's become pleasant to walk, skate and bicycle on this part of the street, now that you're not imperiled by chaotic traffic and gassed by fumes. It's also opened the street to art and music, which were near impossible with vehicles honking and screeaching a few yards away.
|Bikes to lend on La Septima. But the program
only covers these six pedestrianized blocks.
Mayor Petro is studying the viability of expanding the pedestrian corridor all the way south to Plaza Bolivar. But I wonder about the
|City workers arrange planter boxes in the street.
impact on the city's historical center when all of Ave. Septima's traffic is forced thru old town's narrow streets.
The city government has some ideas to make the car-free Septima more amenable, such as permitting shops to set up umbrellas and chairs on the wide sidewalks.
|An informal concert in the evening.
Pedestrianization has potential to make downtown, now full of pollution, noise and traffic jams, more humane and liveable. But that will take real reform of the city's transport system, including a planned light rail line on La Septima.
|Books for sale on the sidewalk.
|In the evening the sidewalk turns into a literal sales floor for random stuff.
|This sidewalk was not invaded by vendors...during the day.
|While this sidewalk, on a non-pedestrianized part of La Septima, was invaded by vendors.
|A cyclist carries his kid home down the middle of La Septima.
|Planting trees in the planters would improve the street.
|As would cleaning up trash and graffiti.
|A man places a poster amidst graffiti. A lot could be done to improve the street's appearance, such as hiring some talented street artists.
|I took these photos a few blocks south on La Septima. Pedestrianization does not fill the sidewalk with vendors.
By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours


text:
The NXC2620-ICE is a powerful and flexible JTAG Debug Interface (JDI) for NXC2620 MIPS CPU product development and debugging.
The JDI can be used for in-system Flash/EEPROM programming, and device driver and OS low-level in-circuit debugging.
The debugging function of JDI is designed or OS low-level programs — not application programs. The OS provides a mechanism (e.g. gdbserver) for application program debugging.
Lead time: 1 week


text:
David Spates Presents Cockblocking #5 "Thats Just Wrong" [Comedy Webisode]
David Spates reports "David Spates & JohnOllie are still at it in their constant battle of cockblocking. It's just wrong! Check out some of David's other videos like "Chris The Crack Thief 3" "The Black Cat In The Hat- Christmas", "CockBlocking 3", , and many others ". Featuring: Kathryn J. Taylor, Nikki Brown, & Christy Gamble
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Second Opinion Program at Columbia Department of Surgery
The Department of Surgery welcomes the opportunity to provide medical second opinion consultations upon request. Our surgeons are committed to helping you make the best choices regarding your diagnosis or a recommended course of treatment. Obtaining a second opinion from a qualified surgeon at one of the nation's leading medical centers may be instrumental in this process.
The Department of Surgery strives to accommodate patients with rapid access to appointments. Please note that the Division of Colorectal Surgery offers same-day or next-day appointments.
To start your second opinion consultation by phone, please call: 855.CU.SURGE (855.287.8743)
Educational Programs
For Patients
For Patients
Our Locations
Milstein Hospital Building »
177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032


text:
It is not hard to go into any grocery store these days and see at least one product that advertises low or no carbohydrates on the package. The world seems to have embraced the idea that no or low-carbohydrate diets are good for us. It is a common misconception that carbohydrates are fattening. Because of this misconception the dieter may begin to avoid carbohydrates, leaving protein and fat for calorie intake. Remember that fat, carbohydrates, and protein are the only sources of calories in the diet.
The most popular diets today are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. These diets do work. However, the danger of having a high-protein, and low-carb diet is that when the source of the protein is meat, the meat is usually also high in fat and has higher calories per mouthful than a high-carb diet. One of the reasons that a high-protein, low-carb diet works is that the fat in the food slows down digestion quite a bit, so you feel satisfied with less food.
Another reason for the seeming effectiveness is that high-protein consumption tends to cause loss of body water. If you lose 10 pounds on a high-protein diet, two to three of those pounds may be by dehydration. Later your body reabsorbs the water and you regain that portion of your weight, making the diet less effective than it seems.
But this is not the major criticism of a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carb diet. The big danger is that this diet is conducive to muscle loss and degeneration of muscle tone and efficiency. In a well-balanced diet, the carbs in the meal are used for glucose production, leaving the protein available for muscle repair. The net result of a high-protein, low-carb diet is that the muscles break down and are not repaired, with a consequent loss of lean body mass. It is possible to lose as much as one pound of muscle for every pound of fat lost on one of these diets.
Wasting syndrome, also referred to as loss of body mass or lean body mass, is an AIDS-related complication and can be life threatening. If this kind of diet produces muscle loss among non-HIV-positive people, there is all the more reason for HIV-positive people to pay attention to a balanced diet.
What Happens When You Eat Too Much Protein?
When there is protein (amino acid) in excess of the body's requirements for it, it is sent to the liver and converted to fat. This process is called deamination and can be stressful if your body has to do a lot of it. During the deamination process, the nitrogen that is released from the amino acid is converted into ammonia, which is then changed to urea. Urea is very toxic, but to a lesser extent than ammonia. To be eliminated from the body, it must be diluted in the urine. In a normal balanced diet your body can very easily rid itself of urea. Yet, when you increase your intake of protein you increase the need to rid your body of urea and more fluids are required to dilute it. You may drink a lot more water but it won't necessarily be enough to adequately hydrate your body, and your body will inevitably take water from its own tissues. You now have suddenly put a very stressful burden on your kidneys, which are working overtime to get rid of the urea. Some HIV medications are hard on the kidneys and double taxing is not a good idea.
How Can You Be Sure You're Getting Enough Protein in the Diet While Also Getting a Good Balance of Carbohydrates and Vitamins?
A reasonable rule of thumb is to eat two servings daily of three ounces of a meat product or a meat substitute, like tofu for example. In addition, have two servings, one cup each, of nonfat or low-fat milk or milk substitute such as yogurt. Balance these high-protein foods with carbohydrates by eating four servings of fruits or vegetables each day and four servings of high-fiber breads and cereals, which are grain products.
While it's important to balance your diet with adequate amounts of protein and carbohydrates, you do not have to worry about getting enough fat. It is almost impossible not to get fat in the foods you eat. Even if you decided to eliminate all products that are high in fat, you would still get fat in nuts and other seeds, including wheat germ.
It is important to remember that before trying any new fad diet to talk to your healthcare provider and find out if the diet is right for you before ever beginning.
The bottom line is BALANCE.
Shelley is a treatment educator at Babes Network in Seattle, Washington.


text:
Hey mom, what's for breakfast? When it comes to feeding 19 children, the Duggars say it's all about meal planning -- and buying in bulk. They spend about $3,000 a month on groceries, Michelle Duggar told TODAY's Savannah Guthrie, who visited for breakfast Monday. They do one big monthly grocery shopping, plus weekly shopping to tide them over.
Here's a grocery list for the food it takes to feed the Duggar family for one -- yes, one -- typical day.
Duggar shopping list:
3 dozen eggs
5 lbs turkey bacon
20 biscuits
10 oranges
4 lbs. grapes
3 loaves whole wheat bread
4 lbs sloppy joe meat
3 lbs. green beans
3 lbs. potatoes
2 watermelons
2 family size bags lettuce
4 lbs. spaghetti noodles
3 loaves french bread
2 pans brownies
1 gallon vanilla ice cream
The Duggars, who live in Arkansas and star in the TLC reality series "19 Kids and Counting," have 19 children aged 2 through 24: Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie. (Savannah remembered all their names... could you?)
More stories about the Duggars:
The Duggars talk about their miscarriage, next pregnancy
Why are people so obsessed with the Duggars?


text:
In his latest post Rob Allen seeks to answer the question "what problem does dependency injection solve?":
Zend Framework 2 comes with a dependency injection container (DIC), as does Symfony 2 and Aura, along with many other PHP frameworks that target PHP 5.3 or hight nowadays. This article attempts to explore the problem that a DIC tries to solve.
He gives an example (somewhat based on the same structure of his Zend Framework tutorial) showing how you could use DI to inject the Artist object into the Album object. This allows for more flexibility if more Artist types are added (extending the main Artist, of course). His second example shows how to use a DIC to hold album information.


text:
via press release:
(Silver Spring, Md.) -Paul Brown and his intrepid Gallery 63 crew in Atlanta are back for an all-new season of Discovery Channel's AUCTION KINGS, returning Wednesday, April 25 at 10PM ET/PT.
Paul brings big energy and a sharp, well trained eye to the auction floor as a wide range of rare treasures and off-the-wall objects cross his path this season. Paul's the go-to guy for buyers from across the U.S. and around the world who seek a range of extraordinary items that can only be found at a Gallery 63 auction.
Season three opens up with two back-to-back episodes featuring exciting and entertaining auctions of items ripped from the headlines of pop-history, including a commemorative John Wayne gun collection, a 1917 Model T Bucket Roadster, an Omnibot 2000, and a circa 1890 Iron Maiden. Are they real? What are they worth? Who are the buyers and sellers? What's the winning bid? Each week Paul and his AUCTION KINGS crew, Cindy Shook, Jon Hammond, and Delfino Ramos, assist in digging into each item's history with the help of experts, breathe new life into some objects, and answer all these questions, and more!
Joining AUCTION KINGS this season is Jamie Breese, the audacious and cheeky London-based authenticator and collectibles expert seen regularly across the UK on networks and programs that include BBC, ITV and GMTV. He's the author of the one stop best-selling antiques guide, Make a Mint, and provides indispensable knowledge of all things collectible. Also joining the series are pickers Ernie and Steve Garrett, aka the Garrett Brothers, an outspoken and outlandish duo who venture around the country and hunt down overlooked treasures from out-of-the way places.
Other historic and mind-blowing items that can be seen on AUCTION KINGS this season include an authentic Elvis Presley gold and diamond bracelet, a document signed by President Abraham Lincoln, a French and Indian war cannon, a 1955 mint condition Ford Thunderbird, a 1960s Barbie doll, a rare Harley Davidson bicycle, a 1985 Rolls Royce, an 18th century ship's cannon, a Hudson automobile, a 1923 Martin 0-18 guitar, an authentic confederate sword, and boxing gloves signed by legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Also this season there will be an auction for Oliver North's Navy dress sword, with a special appearance by Oliver North.


text:
Authorities investigating the death of a 3-year-old Russian boy adopted by a West Texas couple found more than 30 bruises on his body and signs that he routinely hurt himself.
An autopsy report released to the Odessa American says that Max Alan Shatto had abrasions, bruises and scars all over. Pathologists could not find the specific injury that caused the internal bleeding leading to the boy's Jan. 21 death.
According to the report, Max's parents, Alan and Laura Shatto, told authorities Max injured himself several times before and had behavioral problems.
The latest news from around North Texas.
His death was ruled to be accidental. A grand jury declined to indict the Shattos.
Russian authorities have blamed Max's parents for his death and used the incident to justify a ban on all American adoptions.


text:
Sioux Falls Bishop Paul Swain Saddened by Pope's Resignation
SIOUX FALLS - The head of the Diocese of Sioux Falls says he's saddened by Pope Benedict XVI's announcement to resign.
The pope announced Monday that he will resign Feb. 28. The 85-year-old said his advanced age undermines his ability. Benedict is the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years.
Sioux Falls Bishop Paul Swain says Benedict is a teacher at heart who has "taught us to contemplate the higher things and to defend truth."
Swain had been appointed by Benedict.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text: If you like chicks with a lot of junk in the trunk, then you've got to check out Ashli Orion getting her juicy butt stuffed with cock on screen. Ashli Orion has always had a massive appetite for dick, but this whooty starlet says that working in porn has awoken a bottomless appetite for fucking, and made her hungrier for fat rods than ever before. For Ashli, the porn set is an adventure, and a place to enjoy her wild side with some of the best cocksmen around. She's been nominated for a whole host of porn awards for her raunchy onscreen performances, and it's not hard to see why. When this slutty starlet performs, she gives it her all. She works up a sweat, and pushes back on the cock until it's buried all the way to the hilt in her hungry ass.


text:
First up is my card for the latest Moxie Fab challenge, which happens to be a color one. The colors in the challenge include purple, tangerine, dark red, and white. I am actually not sure if it was supposed to be white or gray...but I went with white because that is what the sample cards looked like to me. Tee hee! I think I'm close enough. It is also based on the current contest at BBTB2, to make a valentine's project using your Cricut and the color purple. And this is one of the newest stamp releases by Gina K Designs, and illustrated by none other than my favorite sketch maker, Tami Mayberry! I love this little heart set, and there will be much more to come this week! So, keep your eyes peeled!
Instructions: Fold purple cardstock in half to make card base, and round the bottom corners. Emboss a white cardstock block using a Cuttlebug and Love Languages embossing folder. Round the bottom corners and adhere to the front of the card. Cut the rainbow and its layers from black, white, and glittered cardstock at 3 1/2" using a Cricut Expression and Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge. Layer the cuts together on the front of the card. Stamp three hearts to white cardstock using pigment ink, and cut out. Adhere to the right side of the rainbow using dimensional adhesive. Add the jewel flourish between the hearts. Add the letter stickers to the left side of the cloud, and finish off with the stamped words. Punch tiny hearts from red and orange glittered cardstock and adhere in a scattered affect across the rainbow, and the sentiment. Accent the left end of the rainbow with three matching jewels.
This next card is the current color challenge from Embellish Magazine.com. The colors in this challenge are purple, brown, and kraft.....and you also had to use stripes. I don't have any purple paper with stripes, so I decided to make my own! And I kind-of like that I didn't use patterned paper on this one....it works here. I am normally not a fan of purple, but I think I have found that I like it when I use multiple shades, including some lighter purple.
Instructions: Fold kraft cardstock in half to make card base and round the bottom corners. Punch a scalloped border to a strip of brown cardstock and adhere to the bottom. Cut three strips of purple cardstock, each one slightly thicker and darker than the first, and adhere to the front. Stamp the word "forever" right above the last strip of purple cardstock using violet ink. Accent around it with brown colored pearls. Cut the rings from purple shimmer cardstock at 1 1/2" using a Cricut Expression and Designer's Calendar cartridge. Adhere to the left side of the card and accent with a jewel. Attach the chipboard letters to the front to finish the sentiment.
And this last card is based on the current sketch at Clean & Simple, FTL74, and on the latest SPCC color challenge. The colors on this one are saffron, vanilla, and orange. This card is actually a money holder, but I could figure out a good way to photograph the inside of it. I got frustrated and decided to quit for the day. I can't fold the top half over because of the ribbon, and it just falls back down. So, if you have any thoughts...let me know. If I do end up getting it photographed....I will add it to the post. The inside sentiment says "Just because".
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design
Instructions: Fold cardstock in thirds to make the money holder, and round the right hand corners of the top side. Round the corners and ink the edges of a block of flower paper, and adhere to the front. Tie ribbon around the left side, and attach a button to the bow with twine. Stamp the images to a block of grid paper and add a strip of scalloped paper frill to the right side. Add the sentiment with letter stickers, and accent the stamped images with jewels. Adhere to the front of the card with dimensional adhesive. Inside: (not shown) Punch a scalloped border to the inside flap, and then stamp the images to the right side. Add a strip of dotted paper to the front, and adhere the sentiment to it. Accent the stamped images with jewels. Fill with money. :) Tee hee!
I hope you like my cards today! So, in life stuff. ♥ I finally took down my Christmas decorations today. {blush} I do have winter themed decorations, so it isn't too big of a deal leaving them up this long. We didn't have a chance to do it before going out of town last week, and Josh finally had some time to bring up the boxes and containers that I needed. It is pretty amazing how quickly they come down. It took me an entire week to decorate the house....and just a couple hours to take it all down. Craziness.
And now I can start decorating for Valentine's day! I have a few cute ideas for decorating, and I can't wait to get started on them! I don't go crazy decorating for these smaller holidays....but I do like the house to look festive as much as possible. Plus....its fun! I will share photos when I get things done.
Hmmm....I don't think I have any photos to share with you today. Oh, wait. I didn't post this cute one of me and my little bro at my birthday dinner!
So, Josh and I watch this show all the time on the travel channel. Do you ever watch it?
And I am going to leave you with this video, because we all laughed our butts of the other night watching it on AI.
My dad had it stuck in his head forever....he even texted it to all of us the next day. Hmmm...I forgot to ask if he found a way to add it into his sermon on Sunday. I'll have to find out. Tee hee! Have a wonderful start of your week tomorrow! ♥
Until later,


text:
When a message from the New York University's Bursar's Office was accidentally sent to nearly 40,000 students (with their email addresses all publicly displayed in the message's "send to" field) ridiculousness ensued.
Sophomore Max Wiseltier touched off a firestorm of emails Monday when he spammed the entire campus with an email to his mom according to NYUlocal.com:
College students being, well, college students, could resist further snarky reply-alls and the emails kept smartphones buzzing all night, though it was kept pretty civil, according to one student I know.
Tech editor Ben Zweig explains how this could happen in the first place:
"NYU uses something called E-Mail Direct for most mass emails. That system is meant for one-way emailing." E-Mail Direct does not allow for reply-alls, therefore you cannot respond to most mass emails. Several NYU departments still rely on the older, discussion-based ListManager program, however. ListManager also sends mass emails, but allows discussions (in the form of reply-alls), unless the settings are adjusted, disabling group discussions and only permitting emails from admins." (read more)
Subsequently a NYU employee has since fallen on his sword and admitted to kicking off the fiasco in yet another email.


text:
Winter is here and, with it, cold season. To arm themselves, many people purchase over-the-counter drugs, which are those that don't require a doctor's prescription. Taken as directed, over-the-counter cold medications like cough syrups are safe and can help relieve annoying cold symptoms that interrupt our lives.
However, some teens are abusing these otherwise safe medications. NIDA scientists refer to this dangerous practice as "robotripping."
What Is Robotripping?
Named in reference to Robitussin, one of the most common cold medicines, "robotripping" describes the act of abusing cough and cold syrups by taking more than the recommended dose on the label. The active ingredient in cold syrups, Dextromethorphan (DXM), is a drug that suppresses coughing. Like many other medications, when DXM is abused—taken in high doses and for the wrong reasons—the consequences can be extremely dangerous.
Someone who consumes more than the recommended amount of DXM is likely to experience hallucinations or dissociative "out of body" feelings for up to 6 hours. These side effects are similar to the hallucinations people experience when they abuse an illegal drug like PCP.
But feeling detached from your body and hallucinating is just the start. Ingesting more cough syrup than recommended on the label can cause impaired motor function, numbness, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, permanent brain damage, and even death. Find out what else NIDA has to say about DXM.
yeah really we have to have the medicine as directed by the doctor . Its really not to good good sign to have ever cough.
[commercial link removed, per guidelines]
It just is amazing how there are so many things out there that can turn dangerous when abused. The FDA would rather try to ban creatine than some of the stuff that is available to everyone.
[link deleted, per guidelines]
yah its nice one that in cough we have to take medications as directed only you can find more information on
[commercial link removed, per guidelines]
Did you know that someone actually makes a syrup that you drink just to "trip"?
whoah this weblog is magnificent i like studying your articles. Stay up the good work! You realize, a lot of people are searching around for this information, you can help them greatly. [link removed, per guidelines]


text:
Product Details:
Payment & Shipping Terms:
|Product Name:
|Safety Net
|More Than 10 Years
|Green, Blue, Grey, White
|Business Type:
|1X10, 1.5X10, 1.8X10, Any Size
Durable Nylon/ HDPE Scaffolding debris mesh safety netting
It is used in construction,work high above ground, installation,power station, ship, water construction etc.To prevent the people or articles from falling down, or to avoid possible harms caused by falling articles and to protect the workers in high places and the passing pedestrians, also to keep the site clean.
|Original HDPE with UV
|green, bule, white, or Customized
|Service life
|4 - 8 years usually
|Customized, 50gsm - 240gsm.
|Any size is available for width below 12 meters.
|Rolls on cardboard tubes or wrapped in plastic bags with label, or customized.
|Supply capacity
|300 tons monthly
|Delivery time
|15 - 35 days after deposit comfirmation
|America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Japan, India, etc.
Scaffolding net/ safety net is used to prevent people or objects falling, to avoide or reduce falls and
physical damage,safety for workers and pedestrians walking near the base of a scaffolding structure.
Hot sale 100% virgin new HDPE round wire building scaffold safety net is made of HDPE, with the advantages of high strength, light weight, heat insulation, ventilation, fireproofing, dust prevention and noise reduction. It has been widely used in many aspects, especially in construction site to prevent harm and danger from falling, in order to form a healthy and safety environment.
Specifications can be customized.
payment term:
1).100% irrevocable L/C at sight.
2).30% T/T prepaid and the balance against the copy of B/L.
3).30% T/T prepaid and the balance against L/C
With 10 more years exporting experience, we understand what our clients cares and demand greatly, and can supply a suitable solution for your business. Our products are popular in European, North America, the Middle east, Australia, Africa, and lots of Asia countries.
Our professional sales and after service team with around 10 years exporting experiences and international working experience, who are looking forward to be your friends and long lasting reliable partners in China.
Q.:Are you a factory or trading company?
A.: We are a factory and manufacturer.
Q.:How does your factory do regarding quality control?
A.:We pay much attention on quality controlling from very beginning to the very end. Fully check and test takes before shipment.
Q.:Where is your factory located? How can I visit there?
A.:Our factory located at Shandong, China.You can fly to QINGDAO international airport directly. We will arrange to pick you up.
Q.:What's service life?
A.: 3-5 years
Meet customers' requirements and exceed customers' expects. We wish to found long-term cooperation with your company.


text:
FYI Tips For Filling Out Your SBA Disaster Loan Apps
The Minority Limousine Operators of America association offers some real-time practical advice on handling the obstacles and frustrations operators are encountering.
TRENTON, N.J. — A bill that would repeal New Jersey's onerous sales tax on limousine service was sent back to square one just before it was supposed to get a vote on the Assembly floor in the New Jersey Legislature this week.
A3755 was scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Budget Committee and put up for a vote on the "lame duck" Assembly floor by Monday, Jan. 9. A Senate version, S680, passed in 2011 on a 37-0 vote after successful lobbying from the Limousine Associations of New Jersey.
Related Topics: Barry Lefkowitz, COTA, distracted driving, LANJ, limousine safety, Matt Daus, National Transportation Safety Board, passenger safety
The Minority Limousine Operators of America association offers some real-time practical advice on handling the obstacles and frustrations operators are encountering.
Operators and vendors can benefit from listening to leaders with long-range perspective.
The Greater California Livery Association renewed and boosted vital connections with legislators during its annual legislative lobbying day.
The association is prepping for one of their biggest events of the year that promises to bring about change.
A preliminary report should be available within two weeks, although a final report detailing the cause of the accident could take up to two years.
While efforts were cut short, the enforcement actions provided valuable insights to everyone involved.
In the next phase of the case, the TNC will try to convince a judge AB5 violates guarantees of equal protection under the federal and state constitutions.
While state laws have turned favorable to luxury ground transportation operations, business owners must stay on top of the ones that apply to everyone.
The changes come after 20 people were killed in the October 2018 crash, including 18 people inside the limousine and two pedestrians.
The changes come in response to AB5, which makes it more difficult for employers to classify workers as independent contractors.
Fresh off California's AB5 passage, the trade group now goes deeper into what the new rules mean for ground transportation operations.
The ride-hailing structure depends on the gig economy, where workers are hired as subcontractors rather than employees with full-time benefits.
New York law does not now require stretches to have seat belts in the back seat.
The TNC is attempting to push back against a California law aimed at turning independent contractors into employees.
The Greater California Livery Association's annual holiday event took on a more festive tone as the industry stands to benefit from measures that will ease business operations.
The world's No. 1 online marketplace and trader for professional chauffeured and chartered vehicles, including all types of motorcoaches, buses, vans, stretch limousines, sedans, SUVs, exotics, and classics. New and used vehicles are available from sellers across the nation.
The best online networker to find quality affiliates worldwide and market your company.
Click on any state to see the latest industry news and events in that region.
Get the latest news and most popular articles from LCT delivered straight to your inbox.
We respect your data and privacy.
By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Media's Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent.
Current newsletters:


text:
Gov. Palin Congratulates Jim DeMint and Supports His Choice of Tim Scott
Posted by Dr. Fay on December 6, 2012
Tweeted by Governor Palin a little earlier:
We look forward to Jim DeMint's new leadership at the Heritage Foundation, and we're all grateful for his past leadership in the Senate.
A great choice! RT @PeterHambyCNN DeMint has made it known in Columbia that he wants Tim Scott to be appointed to his seat, sources tell CNN
Mike Flynn at Breitbart.com has the story:
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, often the conservative conscience of the Senate, will resign his seat next month and assume leadership of the Heritage Foundation. He will replace long-time Heritage President Ed Fuelner.South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will name a successor. She could name herself to the seat or tap a rising conservative figure like Rep. Tim Scott. DeMint's replacement will then have to run for election in 2014. The state is already shaping up as a major battleground race for conservatives, with many grass roots organizations contemplating a primary challenge to Sen. Lindsay Graham.The state is now set to have two marquee Senate races in 2014. Depending on who Haley names to replace DeMint, it could have a profound impact on political calculations in the state. Politicians who may have contemplated challenging Graham in a primary may instead focus on defeating DeMint's successor.
Twitchy has the reaction on Twitter and Senator DeMint's press release:
December 6, 2012DeMint to Leave Senate to Lead the Heritage FoundationWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced that he will leave the Senate at the beginning of January to become the next president of The Heritage Foundation, the largest and most respected conservative think tank in America."It's been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it's time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America's future."I'm leaving the Senate now, but I'm not leaving the fight. I've decided to join The Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas. No organization is better equipped to lead this fight and I believe my experience in public office as well as in the private sector as a business owner will help Heritage become even more effective in the years to come."I'm humbled to follow in the footsteps of Ed Feulner, who built the most important conservative institution in the nation. He has been a friend and mentor for years and I am honored to carry on his legacy of fighting for freedom."My constituents know that being a Senator was never going to be my career. I came to Congress as a citizen legislator and I've always been determined to leave it as citizen legislator. South Carolina has a deep bench of conservative leaders and I know Governor Haley will select a great replacement."One of the most rewarding things I've done in the Senate is work with the grassroots to help elect a new generation of leaders who have the courage to fight for the principles of freedom that make this country so great. I'm confident these senators will continue the legacy of conservative leaders before them."Jim DeMint was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 after owning a successful advertising and market research company for twenty years. DeMint left the House after limiting himself to three terms and then was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 and re-elected in 2010.During his time in office, DeMint has been tireless advocate for Americans taxpayers. His goal has been to support and defend the Constitution, which was written to preserve liberty by restraining the federal government. Toward that end, he authored legislation to balance the budget, ban earmarks, replace the tax code, and reform our entitlement programs. He also led the fight against unconstitutional power grabs like the Wall Street bailout and Obamacare.


text:
Mention Italian food, and pasta immediately comes to mind. While pasta is a staple in every part of Italy, pasta and pasta dishes vary from region to region. Many northern regions of Italy use all-purpose flour and eggs, while Southern Italy traditionally uses semolina and water.
By Italian law, all dried pasta (pasta secca) must be made from 100% semolina. Fresh pasta (pasta fresca) can be made with slightly different ingredients. The silky texture of fresh pasta is a joy on the tongue; the flavor is thought by many to be richer, most probably due to the inclusion of eggs and olive oil in the dough.
Making homemade pasta requires only a few simple ingredients and basic techniques, but the result is far from ordinary. As is the custom from the northernmost tip of Piedmont to the southernmost tip of Sicily, pair your pasta with the freshest of seasonal ingredients to serve up a true taste of Italy.Buon Appetito!
Farfalle with Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, and Vine-Ripe Tomatoes


text:
Building anything on the Web that was animated and/or interactive used to mean utilizing Adobe Flash, but here in 2010 and beyond, there are some cool tools to replicate those interactive developments without Flash while simultaneously offering some additional advantages.
jQuery is a free and open JavaScript library that is ever-evolving. It allows you to do some amazing things to make your web sites and individual landing pages come alive. If you use the web, you've probably already experienced its power at sites like Google, digg, CBS, Netflix, and even at our very own iContact. Some of the more simple actions jQuery offers include hiding and revealing elements (text, images, etc), expanding and contracting elements and horizontal or vertical scrolling elements, to name a few.
Sure, each of these things can already be done gracefully within Adobe's Flash program, but with jQuery, you've got a couple of really cool advantages:
- No Extra Licenses/Program – Adobe Flash means you have to own the Flash desktop application to create any sort of Flash piece. But, with jQuery you can build and design using your existing tools you already use to build your website.
- Search Engine Optimized – While search engines are getting better at being able to read content within some Flash, everything within jQuery is setup as text, meaning it is completely readable to all the search engines spidering content out there, exposing all your keyword-rich content.
- Agile – Another advantage of jQuery being setup as all text, is that it makes it very easy and quick to edit its content. Flash means opening its program, adjusting the content, exporting the file and uploading. With jQuery, a typo is a matter of editing the text file and uploading. Expanding text can be as simple as editing the file and possibly some CSS.
- Open Standard – It's nice to support open standards. The jQuery project is open source, and is part of the Software Freedom Conservancy, a non-profit supporting open source software. Flash, on the other hand, is a closed for-profit system, owned by Adobe. While open source doesn't mean better, it does mean more people have their hands in developing, fixing and improving the product, all in the name of a better product – not a better profit.
Another thing that made jQuery so easy for me to dive into and embrace was that as a web developer/designer, I was already familiar with part of the way it works. The jQuery library utilizes IDs and classes that are part of CSS. To target specific elements on a page, you use the same class and/or id selectors CSS users already know and use.
A good place to get started with jQuery is by reviewing their tutorials page.
While this blog post is meant as an introduction to what jQuery is, there is a lot more to cover, especially about specific implementations. Stay tuned for more posts about jQuery, focusing on real world uses that can wow your website's users, while simultaneously making it accessible to search engines, mobile platforms and much more.
Written By:
Ryan Keefer, iContact Web Developer/Designer


text:
I'm kind of on a roll here with natural mouth care, so why stop now? Personally, I prefer not to use alcohol-based mouth washes that permeate the market and either make my own, or use 'more natural' mouthwashes such as those made by Tom's of Maine. Happily however, recipes abound for making your own mouthwashes. You can use witch hazel in mouth wash blends too, but try to obtain the natural witch hazel distillate rather than commercial witch hazel made with ethyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).
In the recipe below, peppermint and anise seed freshen breath. Myrrh tincture/extract helps strengthen the gums, and is also antiseptic and also mildly preservative. The tincture/extract may be made with grain alcohol (but a very small amount in the recipe) or vinegar.
Recipe #1:
1 cup boiling water
2 tsp dried peppermint
1 tsp anise seed
1/2 tsp myrrh tincture
Pour the boiling water over the peppermint and anise seed. Cover and steep until cool. Strain and add the myrrh. Store the mouthwash in a bottle and shake before using. This will keep for a week or so if stored in the refrigerator.
Recipe #2:
This recipe avoids even an alcohol extract in favor of sage-infused vinegar. To infuse, simply fill a small jar with sage, fill with warmed apple cider vinegar, and allow to steep for 2-6 weeks. Alternatively, you could heat-infuse the herb in a non-metal (non-reactive pot) and allow to infuse (so that vapors are coming off of the vinegar), covered, for 30 min-1 hour. Again, try to btain the natural witch hazel distillate rather than commercial witch hazel made with ethyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).
1 cup witch hazel distillate
1/2 tsp sage-infused vinegar
1 tsp peppermint
1 tsp spearmint
Recipe #3:
1 cup water
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 tsp aloe vera juice (ingestible!)
6 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix the ingredients together and store in a covered container, using within a few days. Peppermint essential oil helps fight odor-causing bacteria, and aloe soothes gums
REF: Laurel Vukovic


text:
Blessed William Southerne
- 30 April
- 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
- 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Studied in Lithuania, at the English College at Douai, France, and the College of Saint Alban, Valladolid, Spain. Priest. Returned to England to minister to covert Catholics, mainly in Northumberland. Arrested while celebrating Mass, and condemned to death for the crime of priesthood. Martyr.
- hanged, drawn, and quartered on 30 April 1618 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
- 10 November 1986 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
- "Blessed William Southerne". CatholicSaints.Info. 29 April 2017. Web. 9 July 2020. <>


text:
Viktor Kovtun's Flying Table Home and Office Furniture
Viktor Kovtun Illustrates The Flying Table Home and Office Furniture
Viktor Kovtun, the project leader of the highlighted project Flying Table - home and office furniture by Viktor Kovtun says, Unique furniture, which bring joy. Simply to produce. Give the movement illusion. No another analogue for these furniture. At the first sight, one can imagine that the table will not stand and will immediately fall down, but, combining the three main details: metal frame, cabinet with drawers and table top, the construction became stable and hard. This idea can be used with cabinet, capboard and other things. All the products will bring the flying illusion..
Viktor Kovtun's Flying Table Home and Office Furniture Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Award Winner homepage.


text:
If you prefer to complete a paper application, or are unable to apply online, please download the Employment Application or request a paper application by visiting us at:
Judicial Council of California
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 5th Floor
San Francisco, California 94102-3688
Need TDD access?
You can call our TDD line at 415-865-4272.
Need Help?
For help, review the Tips for Job Applicants for guidance.


text:
Wedding Proposal Of The Week: Rooftop! (So Much Swag)
Rooftop Proposal "Ashley from the fabric department gets a bit of a surprise when she goes to the roof for a company photo. " - American Apparel
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Greetings, everyone. As you might have guessed, there hasn't been much time to write lately because Grandma Jellyspoon skipped town this week, after almost a month of service above and beyond the call of duty. She arrived here by train on April 28 and spent every night on the floor wedged in the corner of Robert's bedroom, on a leaky old air mattress that I had to re-inflate every night. And all the while, she made Mary Poppins look like Nurse Ratched by keeping us 1) fed, 2) clean, 3) organized, and 4) up to our expanding waistlines in baked goods. Number 4 was especially shrewd, given her twofold agenda. One, it kept Robert engaged for hours in an activity he loves (I often came home to find him coated in flour and proudly asserting, "I made something for you!"). Two, that something was usually a few dozen chocolate-chip cookies or a pie made with fresh produce from the Farmers' Market.
Sure, you're thinking, she sounds like a dream mother-in-law. But all that help must have come with a price, in the form of tons of smothering, unsolicited parenting advice.
Nope. Not a syllable.
When I found a moment to thank her for all she had done for us, she said she was blessed, because so many grandmas don't get the chance to be a part of their grandchildren's lives (or for that matter, to be the first pair of hands they feel outside the womb). At this point I forgot every word in the English language and just backed away, genuflecting as I left the room.
So this is our first weekend on our own with two children, one of whom is suddenly steadfastly opposed to setting foot outdoors. Instead, he'd rather enjoy extended Naked Time and build small Lincoln-Log/MegaBlok cities that he deems obsolete approximately 90 seconds after completion. He then attacks his creation with cacophonic gusto until it crashes to the floor and startles a dozing TwoBert. This is more of a drag than you might think, because TwoBert is struggling with a case of reflux that is pushing my gas-removal skills to the limit. It's hard to get a good nap in when you're stuck in a constant cycle of nurse-fuss-burp, nurse-fuss-fart.
So thank you, Grandma, for everything, from the bottom of my heart. You're a true MILILF. *


text: There are many techniques, tips and methods you can adopt to lose weight fast. There are also a wide range of foods that can help you shed pounds quickly. Moreover, with the never-ending development of technology, a lot of applications have been developed to reach your goals. Here are 5 best free apps for weight loss that you can try now. 1. Lose It! The Lose It! is available on Android and iPhone. This free app is designed for counting calories and logging exercise . You can add food to the database and track nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates. You can also enter your exercise totals for the day and the Lose It! will display how many calories you have remaining. The popular application helps monitors your food and fitness, thereby helping you lose weight. Besides, it features a free barcode scanner as well as a comprehensive database of food and activities . There's even an online support community where people like you can encourage and hold each other accountable. 2. Endomondo The Endomondo is available on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. With this free app on your phone, you can track your running, cycling, walking and other sports. It will track your route via Google Maps, distance, duration as well as calories burned. With a very clean and modern interface, the Endomondo is not only fun and social but also motivating. Especially, you can upgrade the popular app to work with special Polar heart rate monitors as well. 3. The Eatery The Eatery is another great app for weight loss. Like the Lose It!, this application is also free and includes the meal-tracking features. However, it takes things a step further by allowing other users to decide whether your meals are fit or fat. You just need to upload images of your meals to the app's site where those users rate the healthiness of the meals. You can also grade pictures that other people upload, too. The Eatery app is exactly the right one for you if you're seeking to eat healthier or lose weight. 4. Weight Watchers Mobile If you follow the Weight Watchers diet, the Weight Watchers Mobile app is a great way to keep track of your points on the go Antarctica Email Lists . This free app has a database with more than 30,000 foods with their corresponding points value. It also provides you with daily recipes, success stories and useful tips. It displays how many points you have remaining for the day, too. 5. Fooducate The Fooducate is free and available on iPad, iPhone and AndroidAntarctica Email Lists . The app helps you create healthy grocery lists by spotting tricky non-healthy foods quickly. It lets you scan the barcode on food products and gives you a rating for the food scanned based on amount of excess sugar, calories counts per serving and processing techniques Antarctica Email Lists . More interesting, apart from the rating, the Fooducate application offers better options to help you make a smarter selection.


text:
Fire Marshal 'pleased' with free pizza promo
A creative smoke detector promotion by Albemarle County Fire Department yielded free pizza for lucky–- and safety conscious–- Domino's Pizza customers last week. The October 7 promotion promised customers of the Seminole Trail store a free pizza if a county firefighter riding along with the delivery driver determined that all of the home's smoke detectors were functioning.
Barber says three firefighters teamed up with three delivery drivers from 4-7pm and served up about a dozen free pies.
"I would have liked to have gotten more houses, but overall I'm pleased," says County Fire Marshal James Barber, who adds that the department deliberately limited the scope of the promotion because it was their first attempt and they didn't know how strong response would be. Barber expects the department to repeat the promo in about six months, and says that "hopefully, it'll be expanded."
Despite the relatively low number of pizza calls, to the firefighters' delight, the detectors were working at almost every home they visited. "We replaced two batteries," says Barber, "but every home we went to, the detector basically was functional."
Barber says the firefighters answered residents' questions about detectors, including about the different types of detectors–- ionization and photoelectric. As the Hook has reported on extensively, ionization detectors–– the type found in at least 90 percent of American homes–– are actually flame detectors and, in our test, as in many others conducted around the country, appeared woefully inadequate at detecting the smoke from a smoldering fire, the type of fire most likely to kill people while they're sleeping at night. The other type, photoelectric detectors, are fastest at detecting smoke from smoldering fires and have the added benefit of being less prone to false alarms, which are the leading cause of people disabling their detectors.
Although the International Association of Fire Fighters in August passed a resolution in favor of photoelectric detectors and condemning ionization models, Barber maintains he doesn't believe ionization poses a risk to homeowners. "They work differently," he says.
Boston Deputy Fire Chief Jay Fleming agrees that no one should throw away their ionization detectors unless they're ready to replace them immediately with photoelectric models (or, if they prefer, with combination models, like the ones given out by the city and county through their free detector programs. Combination detectors, Fleming points out, are still susceptible to false alarms). And while he agrees that ionization detectors are better than no detector, he likens them to another type of safety device.
"An ionization detector is like a seatbelt that works 50 percent of the time," he says. "That seatbelt would be considered an unacceptable device for life safety. "
Fleming says he applauds the County's efforts to raise fire safety awareness, but he believes promotions can go a step further in educating the public.
"We're into our 30th year of convincing the public to use smoke detectors," he says. "I'm not saying that that message is bad; I just think the public deserves the complete package now."
3 comments
you lost me at Domino's
To ask a rich to remove a turban is like asking a woman to be naked.
Richbrau Brewing is full of idiots.
To ask a Sikh to remove a turban is like asking a woman to be naked. Sorry for the typo.


text:
Don't Give up on Ground Pearls
Ground pearls represent one of the most unusual turfgrass insect pests that grounds managers experience. They are a type of scale insect, a group of bugs more typically associated with problems on ornamentals. Ground pearls live in the soil, are for the most part not very mobile and are small in size; yet, they can cause serious damage and even death to the turfgrass and have proven to be a difficult pest to manage.
Ground pearls are members of a unique family of scale insects, and several species exist in the United States alone. However, they are found worldwide and are often associated with acidic soil. They not only cause problems on turfgrass, but damage crops such as sugar cane in Australia, for example. There are two major problems associated with ground pearls in turfgrass: the first is the early detection and proper identification of the problem; the second — and perhaps the most challenging — is the difficulty in providing any level of control.
To better understand the challenge of ground pearl management, it is important to initially review the biology and ecology of this pest. Ground pearls are found from the Carolinas in the East all the way across the West into southern California. At least one species is probably native to the United States and another one may have been accidentally introduced from Australia.
Ground pearls attack the roots of a wide range of warm-season turfgrasses, including bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass. Damage is most severe on centipedegrass and bermudagrass. The immature ground pearls suck plant juices from the roots, causing the plants to turn first yellow, then brown and usually die in the fall or winter. The ground pearls most likely inject a toxin with their saliva that may speed the death of the plant. The impact of this pest is most pronounced during dry spells. Damaged turfgrass rarely recovers and areas of dead turf frequently are replaced with a variety of weed species.
The life cycle of ground pearls is quite simple. There are three life stages: the egg, nymph and adult. Adult females are pink, almost sac-like small-scale insects that rarely exceed
The ground pearl lays pinkish-white eggs in small clusters. The eggs are covered with a white, waxy substance. The eggs hatch into a nymph called a crawler. Subsequent nymph stages are a hard round "pearl" shape that is a yellowish tan color. As the nymphs grow, they increase in size from less than
The life cycle of the ground pearl is not clearly understood and the exact timing of stages appears to have a lot of variation, even within one site of infestation. In general, the females mature in the spring and early summer. During this time, you can often see the pink, slug-like females crawling over the soil surface. The adults are mobile for only a short period of time (less than two weeks) and then secrete a waxy substance that covers their body. The adults are typically 2 to 3 inches deep in the soil when this occurs and once they are inside the waxy coat egg laying usually begins in the summer. The females can reproduce without mating and can lay up to 100 eggs. Eggs hatch in 9-15 days.
Once the nymphs hatch, they move to the roots of the turf. When they begin feeding on roots, the ground pearls soon develop into the globular cyst stage. Most ground pearls probably complete their development in one year. Previous studies indicate that under unfavorable conditions, the pearls may take more than one year to complete their development. Ground pearls have been found as deep as 10 inches in the soil.
Various predators, such as ants, probably play an important role in suppressing ground pearl populations. As such, unnecessary applications of a broad-spectrum insecticide could potentially increase a ground pearl problem by eliminating some of their natural enemies. Spreading ground pearls from one area to another probably occurs when you move soil, sod, plant materials and possibly as adults "hitch rides" on people and animals.
The challenges presented by ground pearls are numerous. Ground pearls are hardy insects that can tolerate unfavorable conditions for an extended period of time. There are cases where grounds managers killed turfgrass with an herbicide application one summer and then reestablished it the following year only to have it attacked again by ground pearls that survived during the period when no host turfgrass was present. In other instances, grounds managers removed the upper 4 inches of topsoil and replaced it with new "ground-pearl-free" soil and sodded or sprigged only to have ground-pearl damage show up the following year. Because ground pearls can be found almost a foot deep in the soil, the removal of a few inches of topsoil is not adequate.
Centipedegrass may be the most aggressively attacked by ground pearls simply because it is a less-competitive and less-vigorous turfgrass compared to bermudagrass. Death in centipedegrass from ground pearl infestations is quite common and the area infected seems to increase each year.
Efforts to develop effective control measures for ground pearls have been frustrating and produced only modest success. Research has revealed that ground pearls appear to emit an acidic substance and are commonly found in centipedegrass, which grows best under acidic conditions. Studies indicate that liming the soil may create a less-suitable environment for ground pearls. However, the major limitation in these studies is the persistent nature of ground pearls and their ability to survive for years under adverse conditions. Experiments to test this method yielded no improvement in the turf quality and no reduction in ground pearls present in the soil. It may be several years before significant effects of such cultural practices are evident.
Current research is investigating the use of general broad-spectrum insecticides, such as chlorpyrifos (Dursban), on ground pearls during periods when the adults are at or near the soil surface. Although this proves to kill the adults, there are no short-term benefits to this approach and the number of treatments required to cover the time period when adults are present makes such a practice economically and environmentally unsuitable.
Research indicates that even good cultural practices (fertilization, irrigation, etc) simply slow down the inevitable. These seem to have the greatest impact in grasses (such as bermudagrass) that have the capacity to respond to increased nitrogen and moisture. Some grasses (such as carpetgrass and bahiagrass) appear to be less susceptible to the chronic decline and death seen in centipedegrass.
Recently, some success has been achieved in Australia on bowling greens with the use of a mixture of imidacloprid (Merit), a horticultural oil, and wetting agent applied twice a year. Our researchers at North Carolina State University have looked at this program in several locations over the past two years. While we were not able to document a reduction in ground pearls in the soil within a year, we did see a slight increase in turf quality in highly managed bermudagrass. This is not to say we have found a highly effective program, but rather to suggest that in the future some combination of treatments may prove useful in reducing the impact of this pest.
Due to the difficulties in studying ground pearls and the lack of promising results, there are few studies underway on this pest. However, there are at least two points that you should consider if you are forced to deal with ground pearls. A broad range of insecticides and nematicides have been somewhat ineffective for ground pearl control. The problem is not necessarily associated with the toxicity of the pesticide, but rather the hardiness of the pest. The waxy coating of the nymph most likely contributes to its ability to survive almost everything you throw at it.
The second issue is that, in many situations, when all efforts to address a ground pearl infestation fail, the only viable option is to redesign the landscape without turf. Options may include the use of raised beds, ground covers, mulches, shrubs or trees. Keep in mind that the pearls will exist several feet outside of the defined line of damage. These may not be your desired approach, but in some situations they are better than looking at yellowing and dying turfgrass or bare patches of soil inhabited only by a few weeds.
Ground pearls remain one of the most troubling insect pests of warm-season turfgrass. The distribution of ground pearls ranges from the Carolinas to California, but fortunately is generally sporadic in most locations. If it occurs in the turfgrass for which you have responsibility, then it is a serious problem.
Don't discount well-timed insecticide applications in the late spring and early summer when adults are present because they may have long-term benefits. Good turf management practices can also help. Other than that, we can only wait and hope that continued research will come across a cost-effective approach that is practical.
Dr. R.L. Brandenburg is a professor and extension turfgrass entomologist at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, N.C.).
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2020 Penton Media Inc.


text:
Credits for May Terms are included in students' Spring Semester enrollment. Students who are enrolled for 18 credit hours or less during the Spring Semester pay no additional tuition charge for May Term courses. Students enrolling for more than 18 credit hours pay a May Term tuition fee. Earlham-funded financial aid is not available for May Term. Additional costs should be expected for off-campus May Term courses; these could include an enrollment fee, plane fare and other personal expenses. Be sure to read the Fees and Registration Policies section.
For more information, contact Patty Lamson, director of International Programs.


text:
- About Linde Engineering
- Executive Leadership Team
- Executive Leadership Team
- Linde Engineering Dresden
- Linde Engineering Schalchen Plant
- Selas-Linde GmbH
- Linde Kryotechnik AG
- Cryo AB
- Cryostar SAS
- Linde CryoPlants Ltd.
- Moscow Representative Office
- Linde Engineering Rus, OOO
- Linde Engineering North America Inc. - Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Selas Linde North America
- Hydro-Chem
- Linde Engineering North America Inc. - Houston Office
- Linde Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.
- Linde Engineering (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
- Linde Engineering (Dalian) Co., Ltd.
- Linde Arabian Contracting Co. Ltd.
- Linde Engineering Middle East LLC
- Linde Engineering Korea Ltd.
- Linde Engineering South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
- Success Stories
Our Moscow Office team is the first port of call for existing and new customers. Drawing on our broad expertise base, we will be happy to put you in touch with the Linde Engineering experts in Germany who have the skills and competencies best suited to your individual project. This ensures you have instant, effortless access to Linde's full range of core competencies.
Working with our colleagues at our worldwide hubs, we can advise you on the right technologies and equipment for your project, and help you find the solutions that best match your business and budgetary targets.
Our team speaks both Russian and English.


text:
The Georgetown and UMich FT/ST numbers are based on their bridge fellowships (Georgetown's is called the "Entry into Practice Fellowship" and is similar to the MLaw Bridge Fellowship)GFox345 wrote:I've gone through the T-14 in an attempt to get some other FTST Job Totals, and these were my results.
Michigan 5.93% (21)
Chicago 2.56% (5)
Cornell 2.09% (4)
Duke 0.96% (2)
Berkeley 0.72% (2)
Harvard 0.51% (3)
Yale 0.50% (1)
UPenn 0.41% (1)
Northwestern 0% (0)
Columbia 0% (0)
Stanford 0% (0)
Based on this, the schools for which these FTST PI and Gov Jobs represent a significant portion of the class are: GULC, Michigan, Chicago, Cornell, and Duke. Thoughts?
I want to give students a realistic look at: What schools offer me a good chance at FT/LT PI/Gov employment? You can disagree with this, and that's fine. I'll be the first to defend the concept of school-funded fellowships, but I won't defend a subset that are essentially padding the employment stats of schools (such as bridge fellowships). These are people who, if not for the bridge funding, would be unemployed. Let's not forget that we should all be happy that they are at least getting some money, but let's not also pretend that this is the outcome that: (1) they wanted, or (2) prospective students want.


text: The last couple of weeks have been pretty prosperous for those that like freemium offerings. RPG fans can indulge in Inotia 4: Assassin Of Berkel, the fourth installment of the action / RPG series from international developer Com2us. You do, of course, have the option of outright buying the game which will automatically eliminate the ads and give you some in-game currency, but IAP can take care of that as well. If you like a little strategy with your action there's Castle Master 3D, a combination of Action / RPG and castle defense. This game boasts battles of 300 soldiers on each side, but you can expect to run it on nothing less than the latest generation of devices. If you prefer something a bit more lighthearted and focusing on twitchy timing you'll get a kick out of Cannon Cat (TMA Review). A daredevil feline, a mess of fish trapped in bubbles out in space, and some vicious penguins with helicopter "wings†make this whimsical offering a lot of fun.


text:
From the busy, lonely halls of post-Valentine's Day winter comes a project about 'two people in two places living together while apart.' 'IN Network' is a collaboration between bi-coastal conceptual sweethearts Michael Mandiberg (New York) and Julia Steinmetz (Los Angeles). Presently unable to live in the same city, they opt to occupy the same routines, which they synchronize and electronically relay to each other through sets of camera phones and microphones. Powered by a phone promotion that allows for unlimited airtime between clients who are 'in network,' Mandiberg and Steinmetz are in touch 24/7. During the month of March, Turbulence.org will host webcasts, podcasts (audio broadcasts distributed to hardware via software subscription), and a moblog (blog of mobile phone photography) to transmit to an online audience the constant correspondence that describes their fused existence: 'driving to/from work, eating dinner, giving lectures to students, going for walks, having cocktails, reading books in silence, falling asleep and waking up.' This sharing of lives, though consisting of the mediatized and mundane, is less entrenched in data and detritus than it is in the lives of, and new possibilities for being, people. - Kevin McGarry
Painting by Ones And Zeros
'Daria,' a project by Brian Lee Yung Rowe, is something like what you would get if the evil computer Skynet from the Terminator movies mated with Bob Ross. Daria is a new category in relation to media creation: the 'art(ist)'; both creation and creator, 'she' is a fully-operating artistic personality--complete with her own style that varies based on her moods, and her own personal needs (what would any 'artistic personality' be without arm-twisting demands for sponsorship?). Daria's website keeps a catalogue of her works, and visitors can commision new art pieces from her, imputing the title of the work they want and waiting as she culls material from the internet and pieces it together before their eyes. The results are psychedelic landscapes captioned with often nonsensical bits of text. While Daria's portfolio to date doesn't exactly give the human artistic community any reason to fear a Skynet-style coup anytime soon, the complex web of programming resources that go into making up Daria's intelligence is enough to give an exciting new twist to the idea of 'painting by numbers!' - Ben Davis
Who? What? Where? When? And Why?
Judging solely from 'How Scandinavian of Me,' to be quintessentially Scandinavian is to be a blond-haired guy who goes all over the world barefoot and standing on piles of Danish wood chips. Apparently, Scandinavians constantly dress in t-shirts and pajama pants, too. Artist Lars Vilhelmsen has been photographed in the tourist snapshot style in front of some important non-Scandinavian sights including Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam and sights in Malaysia, Berlin, and Iran. The web-photo album has aesthetic antecedents in British artist Gillian Wearing's photographs as well as the tradition of lawn gnome snatch-and-snap. In addition to a whirlwind horizontally scrolling tour around various locales, are individual HSOM 'edition's.' Notable is 'Doing the Flamingo - Environmental Entity," where the artist lost the wood chips and gained what appears to be a warehouse full of dancing flamingos. Another, 'Paris,' portends the end of this party: in the only photograph not featuring the artist or the title of the project or both, there is a wonderful picture of a hard-frosted cake in the hands of a Parisian baker. - Sara Greenberger
To All the Players
Some say that we are living in the golden age of gaming. Rhizome.org's 2005 commissions--all seven of which were produced within the last year--prove the rumors to be true. Each work pushes the boundaries of gaming by creatively developing a unique virtual world that holds an insightful relationship to the real one. Several works modify archetypal gaming models. Carlo Zanni's Average Shoveler adapts the graphical landscape of Leisure Suit Larry (1987) to the East Village (2005) and replaces its libidinous anti-hero with a hipster who shovels hopelessly amidst a barrage of newsbytes falling--in the guise of snowflakes--onto the ground. Reminiscent of America's Army in its vivid, 3D war-scape, Media Blackout by c-level member Michael Wilson enlists players in the 'psychological operations of our time' through tactical conflict with religious fundamentalism, military aggression and corporate interest. Other works provide training grounds for real-life situations--such as Warren Sack's Agonistics: A Language Game, which visualizes the actions that comprise a democratic discussion with avatars propelled by comments posted onto a public, online forum. The full array of commissions, also including work by Jason van Anden, Paul Catanese, Luis Hernandez Galvan and Kabir Carter, is accessible on the Rhizome site. Get addicted today! - Lauren Cornell
Bound in Buffalo
Media-studies graduate student Chris Barr eschews his Palm Pilot every Thursday in March and April this year in favor of appointments made over his website by YOU; or, rather, mostly by people who are familiar with Mr. Barr and his Buffalo environs. Users are invited to 'Schedule Something,' and many people have taken the man up on his offer. Having completed two Thursdays thus far, Chris seems to be living the life of an average college student: hanging at the bar, engaging ladies in beer-drinking photo ops, painting a woman's toenails, Blockbuster rentals, drinking games, perusing students' iPods at the lunch hour (yes, as predictable as one might expect), and bumming smokes. If you are lucky enough to have your birthday fall on one of these days, join the others by ordering yourself a tribute. Tune in March 24, when Perry Garvin has Chris Barr apply glue to his lips in their local café. - Sara Greenberger
Relatively Remote
Once upon a time, it took 5 weeks to travel from New Zealand to Europe; today, our remoteness has a different quality. On Saturday, March 19th, New Zealand artists are invited to ponder the impact of geographical isolation in the wired world at re:mote, a one-day experimental festival exploring remoteness and technology. Organized by r a d i o q u a l i a and ((ethermap, re:mote features artists and commentators from London, Newcastle, Helsinki, Rotterdam and Sydney presenting via live video stream, alongside presenters from around New Zealand and keynote speaker Tetsuo Kogawa (Tokyo). Participants will analyse how digital technologies can augment collaborations across geographical and cultural distances, and ask questions like 'Is remote a relative concept?' As New Zealanders have a lived understanding of remoteness, it's appropriate that we host this event--the first in a series that is planned to travel around the world. - Helen Varley Jamieson.
Calling All Net Artists!
Are you an artist looking for fine financial fertilizer this growing season? Time is running out to apply for a 2005-2006 Rhizome.org Net Art Commission. Construct a web-based proposal explaining your project and submit it to Rhizome by March 23 (that's next Wednesday!). Winners will be selected by May 1 by a jury of new media experts (Rachel Greene, Francis Hwang, Eduardo Kac, Melinda Rackham, and Jemima Rellie), as well as by the Rhizome.org community through a democratic, online voting system. Visit Rhizome.org to learn more about how to assemble a proposal, submit it, and view the recently completed 2004-2005 commissions! - Rhizome.org
Why Art Needs a Hole in the Head
Since 2000, the online journal Drunken Boat has been describing wayward contours through an intermedia landscape at least as strange as the one evoked by the 'Bateau ivre' of French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Issue #7 is dedicated to the neurological condition 'aphasia' and those whom it afflicts and inspires. It is the Drunken Boat's editors' contention that aphasia, a result of the brain's inability to match sensory input and linguistic expression, has the potential to realign the way we think about creativity. There is an ensemble of approaches to the subject, sometimes tangential, at times personal and head-on, from poets, essayists, film-makers, sound artists, and an opera singer. Sound files, text works, images and videos abound. Digital artist Christina McPhee's Aphasia + Parrhesia figures a link between neural nets and the internet via the cyborg body and the metaphor of access to/denial of speech. Drunken Boat's excursus into the murky terrain of brain disorder eschews pathos and 'idiot savant' triumphalism alike. Instead, it opens up the sealed circuit of silence and fear to a rich and skewed speech at the borders of the possible. - Marina Vishmidt
Common Places
The Dutch cahier Open, from the publishers NAi, describes itself simply as a publication about art and the public domain. The conciseness of the description defies the enormity of the political, economic, technological, and legal threads of the public domain discussion. In this format, adopted within the last year, Open represents a laudable effort to creatively address the question of 'public space' in the context of intensifying pressures of control and stadardization. Each issue works off of a chosen theme and balances the theoretical discussion with documentation of web-based art projects, installations and other assorted images. The most recent issue, Open 7: (No)Memory, is a reflection on the condition of collective memory in contemporary culture as it relates to and is transmitted by new methods of digital archiving, the creation of alternative sites of compiling and storing information and the implications of ownership in the context of theses new and old formats. For example, media theorist Geert Lovink's interview with Tjebbe van Tijen regarding his Ars Memoria System, provides an account of an individual labor to gather and organize information within idiosyncratic methods and a vigorous effort to reclaim material and information for public use. Unique in its stated focus, Open provides a new resource for those inventively trying to rearticulate the commons in the digital world. - David Senior
What a Tangled Web
While viewers of net art are used to layered reading and articles enhanced by visual and interactive components, Vectors, a new online journal published by The USC Annenberg Center for Communication in Los Angeles, is one of the first to introduce complex interactions into academic writing. While each of the eight projects presented in the inaugural issue of Vectors has a unique look and approach to the subject of Evidence, all are linked--graphically and conceptually--through numerous thematic threads. These threads are explored in the 'Vector Space,' an interactive section of the journal where viewers can draw lines on the screen to illuminate where the various contributions intersect. There are numerous ways to enter into, explore, and visualize Vector's and although those who would rather download a text may be disappointed, those enthusiastic about expanding forms and of academic discourse will find Vectors a winding and welcome addition. - Jody Zellen


text:
Europe Tours & Travel | Small Group Tours, Cruise Tours, Independent Touring
Small Group Europe Tours - Maximum Group Size 20! Why not travel on one of our European Tours? Europe is a continent full of history, stunning scenery, world-famous museums, pristine beaches, delicious cuisine and so much more! Ancient and modern Europe will amaze you at every turn. With our Europe Tours, you'll see all the great highlights of this extraordinary destination. We have many different types of holiday options on offer, including our small group tours, cruise and tours and independent tours.
Book a small group tour today and discover all that this historically rich and fascinating destination has to offer!
Small Group Tour:Flights Included
- Alpine Discovery23 Days
- Best of Egypt & Turkey 2019/2023 Days
- Best of Egypt & Turkey 2020/2121 Days
- Eastern Europe21 Days
- England, Scotland & Wales25 Days
- Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan22 Days
- Greece in Depth22 Days
- Italian Discovery24 Days
- Jewels of Dalmatia21 Days
- Moroccan Discovery20 Days
- Moscow to Prague26 Days
- Northern Italy, Slovenia & Croatia26 Days
- Northern Spain & Portugal25 Days
- Scandinavian Discovery25 Days
- Southern Italy, Sicily & Malta24 Days
- Southern Spain & Morocco23 Days
- Spain in Depth22 Days
- Spain, Portugal & Morocco27 Days
- Turkey & Greece24 Days
- Turkey in Depth20 Days
Airfares Included
Unlike most tour companies, Bunnik include international flights from Australia in a majority of our tour packages.
There are several reasons for this, all designed to ensure you have a better holiday experience and receive the best possible value.
We Save, So You Save
By negotiating in bulk across our entire tour range, we've secured preferred wholesale fares with the world's leading airlines. We pass these savings on to you so that you receive unrivalled value for money.
We Do The Work
There are literally thousands of airfare options today, with dozens of different airline alliances. Our airfare experts have done the research to ensure you'll be at the right place at the right time - so you won't miss a minute of your tour.
We're With You Every Step
Ash clouds, cancelled flights and schedule changes are an unfortunate part of modern air travel. Whilst we can't eliminate them completely, it is reassuring to know that our expert team is behind you every step of the journey.
Our airfares have built-in flexibility so you're able to extend your stay, fly out of other cities or even upgrade your flights to Business or First Class.


text:
Lara Stone — Crush of the Day [PICTURES]
Lara Stone is our crush today for proving that no one, not even a ridiculously paid fashion model, is perfect looking. Lara has more than a few physical flaws, which shall now be discussed, just to feel better about our own grotesque imperfections. Lara is an example to all young women that beauty comes from the inside. Unless you're ugly on the inside, then, it can be masked by beauty on the outside. If you're ugly both inside and out, you're probably S.O.L.
Lara is know for the trademark gap between her two front teeth. She is also known for her odd runway walk, thanks in part, to the teeny size 7 feet on her 5'9 frame. Despite these huge, glaring deficiencies that would crush the soul of the normal human, Lara managed to survive and climb to the top of the modeling industry mountain. Lara is currently ranked as the world's number one fashion model by the international modeling site models.com. Models.com is currently ranked the 4th most likely website to run a feature in which models are ranked. Lara ranked number 7 on the Forbes' 'World's Top-Earning Models' list this year with estimated earnings of $4.5 million. That piece of information was ranked 1st on a list of "things that kind of tick us off today."
Lara was featured on the August 2009 cover of W magazine, who declared her 'Fashion's It Girl.' We have no idea what that means and only hope it involves a giant game of tag played only by fashion models. "Stop running so fast Giselle! I haven't eaten this week."


text:
"Improved cattle prices, excellent production and high government payments have helped our producers," commented a South Dakota agricultural lender responding to the Minneapolis Fed's fourth quarter agricultural conditions survey. This comment reflects the attitude of many farm lenders, as survey results indicate a significant improvement in farmers' financial situation from both last quarter and last year.
Farm income and household spending increased significantly in the November 2000 survey compared with the August 2000 and November 1999 surveys. Also, agricultural producers are making more loan repayments, and fewer are extending loans. Farm borrowers at their loan limit decreased 5 percentage points from last year, and land prices continue to increase.
Farm income and spending
"Government dollars are contributing strongly to local profits," said a Minnesota agricultural lender. This comment reflects the estimated record government assistance in 2000 that has contributed to increased farm income and spending. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents reported average or above-average farm income in the fourth quarter of 2000, a 28 percentage point increase from the same period last year. This increase in income has benefited farm household spending, as nearly three of four lenders reported average or above-average household spending in the current period compared with only two of four lenders a year ago.
Not everyone's doing well, however, as a third of lenders reported that agricultural producers earned below-normal farm income, due mostly to higher operating costs, lower dairy prices and natural disasters. The hardest hit area of the district is western Wisconsin, as all lenders report below-average income because "milk prices have been very low for close to a year," as a Wisconsin lender reported.
Even though income is up for most producers, capital spending remains depressed. Nearly three of five lenders report below-average levels of capital spending, compared with four of five lenders a year ago. Again, the hardest hit area was in dairy country, as all western Wisconsin lenders reported below-average farm capital spending.
Farm loan volumes
"Demand for cow-calf loans is up with continued improvement in feeder calf prices," said a Minnesota lender. This comment reflects the general mood of lenders as four of five reported average or above-average loan demand for feeder livestock. Meanwhile, demand for other types of loans have returned to more normal levels, as two-thirds of lenders report normal demand for other intermediate loans and over four of five report average demand for other operating loans.
Machinery loans and real estate lending remain subdued. Half the lenders reported below-normal levels of machinery loans, although this is an improvement from a year ago when 71 percent of lenders reported below-normal levels. Meanwhile, nearly half of lenders reported real estate loan volume as below normal, a 5 percentage point deterioration from a year ago. Montana lenders reported the biggest decrease in real estate loans; 63 percent of lenders reported below-average levels this quarter compared to 38 percent a year ago.
Bank credit conditions and liquidity
The increase in farmer profitability has helped farmers repay loans. Normal and above-normal levels of loan repayments were reported by 85 percent of lenders, a 17 percentage point increase over last year's results. Renewals and extensions decreased, as 11 percent of respondents indicated above-average levels, compared with over a quarter of the lenders in fourth quarter 1999.
Moreover, the number of farmers at their debt limit decreased from 33 percent in the fourth quarter of last year to 28 percent in the fourth quarter of 2000. However, "we are noticing an increase in accounts payable on dairy operations," noted a Wisconsin lender. Availability of funds does not seem to be a problem: Only 5 percent of lenders reported refusing to make a loan due to shortage of funds.
Land values, collateral and interest rates
Land prices continue to rise. Cropland prices increased over last fall's prices from an average of 2 percent in Montana to 7 percent in western Wisconsin. In addition, pasture land price increases ranged from an average of 3 percent in North Dakota to 13 percent in western Wisconsin over those of a year ago. Collateral levels remained normal, as 82 percent of lenders reported average levels of required collateral. Meanwhile, interest rates for farm loans have decreased about 10 basis points from the third quarter of 2000.
"We expect lower farm income to return in the future when less favorable weather conditions return, government payments decline and low commodity prices continue to plague our customers," said a South Dakota lender. Others shared this view, as 37 percent of lenders expect below-normal income levels in the next three months, while only 19 percent expect above-normal income. The outlook for capital spending is even less bright: 58 percent of lenders expect below-normal capital spending over the next three months.
|Fixed Interest Rates *
|Feeder Livestock
|Real Estate
|4th Q '99
|1st Q '00
|2nd Q '00
|3rd Q '00
|4th Q '00
|* Average of reported rates in mid-November 2000.
Facts about the survey
Each quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis surveys agricultural bankers in the Ninth Federal Reserve District, which includes Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In November, 99 bankers responded regarding conditions during the fourth quarter 2000.