Wheelchair ramps offer wheelchair users freedom if constructed properly. But as can be seen in the photo below, some wheelchair ramps are difficult to use or even dangerous. This article offers several hints and tips about what to look for when selecting a wheelchair ramp. It is not a 'how to build a wheelchair ramp guide' and does not discuss building specifications or requirements. If you are considering building a ramp, we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with wheelchair ramp design plans and local building requirements. Some resources are offered below.
Portable wheelchair ramps (usually for vehicles or small obstacles such as doorway thresholds).
"I have designed ramps for over 3,000 people and the majority of them are surprised to learn that the ramp has to be longer than they expected. Some of them believed they really could put a piece of plywood over their existing steps and have a usable ramp. In my experience, people do not have the information needed to know how long their ramp should be. They understandably want to save money and space, and some have installed ramps that were too steep. They learned the hardway that too steep a ramp is no help at all".
Degree of incline: As can be seen from the quote above, the most important factor for the wheelchair ramp is how steep it will be. For a permanent wheelchair ramp for public access it is usually best to use the lowest slope possible, which means, build the longest wheelchair ramp that you have space for. Why? A steep wheelchair ramp is difficult to climb and can be very dangerous because of the risk of tipping backwards.
The absolute maximum acceptable incline for a wheelchair ramp intended for public access is 1:12. This means that for every 1 foot in height the ramp must be at least 12 feet long or more (or for 2 feet in height the ramp must be at least 24 feet long, or for 1 meter in height it must be at least 12 meters long. See drawing to the right) and 1:18 is often recommended for the elderly. Even that will be too steep for some. In very wet or icy climates, less steep wheelchair ramps and rougher surfaces may be required to prevent wheel slippage. The ramps A, B and D in the photo below are much too steep to be of use as wheelchair ramps.
If the wheelchair ramp is for your personal use, try a few wheelchair ramps and find one which you are comfortable with. Then calculate the steepness of the wheelchair ramp by measuring the difference in height from top to bottom of the ramp and then measure the length of the ramp. For example, if you are most comfortable with a ramp that is three feet high and is 60 feet long, then the wheelchair ramp you need will have an incline of 3:60 or 1:20. If the height of your ramp must be 2 feet, you will need a ramp 2 x 20 = 40 feet long.
Landings: flat surfaces or level landings are necessary at the bottom and top of the wheelchair ramp. A landing at the top will allow the wheelchair user to open the door at the top of the wheelchair ramp. If there is no level landing at the top, it will be nearly impossible for the user to open the door. A landing at the bottom may be important for the user to stop the wheelchair before making a turn so they don't end up in the bushes. If the length of the ramp is very long, include level resting platforms in the middle so that users may take a break if they get tired. In the photo, ramp C has no level landing at the top. It will be nearly impossible for a wheelchair user to open the door unassisted.
Transition to Landing: Usually it is necessary to provide a beveled (or gradual) transition from the wheelchair ramp to the landing. This is particularly important at the bottom of the ramp. Wheelchairs are designed so that most of the weight rests on the large rear wheels. But when going downhill, the weight is transitioned to the small caster wheels in the front, which is very unstable. Without a transition at the bottom of the ramp, when the front wheels hit the landing, the wheelchair may come to a sudden stop and the wheelchair user can be thrown forward to the ground. Alternatively, a ramp with no transition to landing at the bottom of the ramp, may have a 'lip', that is, the ramp may be raised from the ground. This may be an uncomfortable bump for the wheelchair user or even a dangerous tripping obstacle for a caregiver or other unsuspecting pedestrian. It is always recommended to have a smooth transition to landing at the bottom and the top of the ramp. In the photo above, ramps B and D have no transition to landing.
Weight specifications: Some ramps are designed for manual wheelchairs, some for electric wheelchairs, some for unoccupied wheelchairs and others for occupied. Be sure to check the weight specifications of the ramp to make sure that you are covered. Too often, people buy inexpensive wheelchair ramps, only to find out that they were designed for unoccupied wheelchairs.
Handrails: If the wheelchair ramp will be only used by one person, that person can decide if they are likely to need handrails. But if the ramp is for the general public, handrails are a must. Not everyone will be able to push themselves up a wheelchair ramp. Handrails which are reachable by both hands give wheelchair users the option to pull themselves up or to rest if they get tired or steady themselves if they feel insecure. The position of the handrails will also be very important, as pediatric users will usually have a lower seat height than adult users and two sets of handrails may be required for public ramps. Handrails made from wood need to be finished carefully to avoid splinters. Handrails for ramps are different than handrails for stairs, because stairway users generally require the handrails for balance while wheelchair users may use the handrail to pull themselves up. Therefore the risk and severity of injury from splinters is much, much greater. In the photo, ramps A and D have no handrails at all.
Edge protection: Wheelchair ramps must have a raised edge on the side to keep people from falling off. Different users will require different heights, but by all means make sure the wheelchair ramp has a good sized edge protector. Ramp D is very steep and has no edge protection at all making this ramp particularly dangerous. The edge protection in ramp B is not high enough.
Track Ramps Wheelchair Ramps A and B use tracks, one for each wheel. This assumes that every wheelchair has the same width which is not reality. Wheelchair width vary dramatically and a public ramp with tracks will only be helpful for some users. Track Ramps may be fine for personal use if you don't think your wheelchair width will change much, but they should not be used for public purposes.
Materials: Aluminum is an excellent material because it is resistant to corrosion, strong as well as lightweight. But aluminum is expensive and very lightweight aluminum may be flexible and bend or wobble. Make sure that the aluminum ramp meets the requirements for the weight of the wheelchair with an occupant in it. Unfinished, untextured aluminum may be slippery when wet. It must have a textured finish or material that will grip tires well. In the photo above, ramp A is made of untextured aluminum, and as you can see it has been raining. This ramp will be very slippery and very dangerous.
Steel is heavier than aluminum but also maybe less flexible, more secure and less expensive. However, unprotected steel can rust or corrode. Galvanized steel is chemically coated with zinc to keep it from corroding. A texturized surface is important to prevent slippage. Galvanized steel maybe less expensive than aluminum. But the zinc coating may wear off and when it does corrosion can result.
Concrete with a rough textured surface is possibly the ideal material for a permanent wheelchair ramp, though very expensive.
Find a volunteer organization to build a wheelchair ramp for you.
- The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) has developed Accessibility Guidelines for wheelchair ramps used for public access, with clear specifications and requirements. Many US states have adopted International Residential Code which cover ramps for private residences. Frequently, you will be required to obtain a building permit before installing any kind of ramp. Check with your State Building Inspector.
- Minnesota Ramp Project has developed a design manual with instructions on how to build a wheelchair ramp for your home.
- Dallas Ramp Project has a step by step slide show demonstrating a home ramp being built.
Contract a company to build the wheelchair ramp for you: If you can afford it, your best option maybe to have an experienced company build a wheelchair ramp for you. Do NOT use a contractor inexperienced in building wheelchair ramps for this tasks. Use only a builder experienced in working with disability projects and complying with ADA or local standards. Ask for references and check them.
what happens if the modular wheelchair ramp does not work for your needs?
Will you be able to return it?
Will there be charges for shipping or repackaging?
Do company brochures state that their ramps comply with all ADA (or local) requirements? If not, ask for this in writing.
If you are unable to assemble it, will someone from the company be able to assemble it for you?
Before installing a modular ramp, check with your building inspector or local authority to see if you need a permit.
Funding: Some states provide funds to help modify homes of disabled people. Ask your local Center for Independent Living to see if they know of a funding source for which you may be eligible. Click here to find a database of Center's for Independent Living. As an example of state funding, click to see details of the program for Delaware.
Platform Ramps: Usually large and flat allowing the chair to roll over a large surface area, these may be folding or non-folding.
Track Ramps: Long and narrow, track ramps come in pairs, one for each side of the wheelchair. Track ramps may be one long unit or telescoping (composed of 2 or more units which slide inside each other like a telescope) or rollup (composed of multi-hinged units which fold into a compact roll).
Degree of Incline: Wheelchair ramps for vans are often considerably steeper than ramps for houses in order to make it practical for parking as well as easier for the caregiver to handle. Many electric wheelchairs have enough power to climb steep ramps. Check your owners manual to determine the maximum gradient that the manufacturer recommends but always test various ramps to determine the maximum incline that is safe for you. However, never exceed the recommended gradient for your wheelchair. For doorway thresholds and other obstacles that are less than 3 inches (7.5 cm) high, the ADA guidelines allow ramp inclines of up to 1:8. For any height above 3 inches (7.5cm) the same recommendations hold as discussed for permanent ramps above.
Weight capacity: Typically ramps should have a minimum carrying capacity of at least 550 lbs or 250 kg, but make sure that the ramp you buy has a minimum capacity exceeding the weight of your wheelchair plus your weight. Many ramps are designed ONLY for use in unoccupied wheelchairs! Be sure your ramp is designed to carry your wheelchair with you in it.
Material: Portable ramps are generally made out of aluminum, but occasionally other material such as fiberglass is used. If you buy a ramp from material other than aluminum, make sure that like aluminum it is lightweight, strong and corrosion resistant.
Connection to Vehicle: Some ramps attach permanently to the interior of the vehicle and fold out. Others connect to the lip of a sliding van door when open. Be sure that the connection offers a stable platform and flush transition from ramp to the vehicle's interior.
Track vs Platform Ramps: All wheelchair ramps should have edge protectors on the side so that the wheelchair does not fall off of the ramp, though many ramps do not. The edge protectors of track ramps make a 'U' shape that the wheels of the wheelchair fits into forming a 'gutter'. If track ramps have gutters that are too narrow they may not allow the wheelchair casters (front wheel) to move freely and a caster may get stuck if a castor suddenly turns sharply. This can be very dangerous for the user, since if the caster gets stuck and the back wheels keep turning, the wheelchair can get thrown off of the ramp. The gutter should always be larger than the diameter of the caster and the edge protectors should be high enough to prevent the wheel from going over. In the drawing to the right the track is too small for this caster and this could be dangerous.
Some track ramps have only one edge protector per track, with the one side open, in order to prevent the caster from getting stuck. These should only be used when the distance of the ramps are fixed and properly set otherwise there is a risk that the wheelchair could fall off of the ramp. A disadvantage of any track ramps is that unless one end of the track is fixed, for example, attached to the back of your van, it might be difficult to place the tracks in the correct position everytime. If you mistakenly place the tracks in the wrong position the wheelchair may drive off the side of the ramp.
Caregivers often prefer track ramps above platform ramps because they are easier to handle and carry. Another advantage is that the caregiver can walk between the tracks in order to push or assist the wheelchair users. Wheelchair users usually prefer platform ramps because these require less effort and concentration when driving up or down. One piece platform ramps are more popular than folding ramps with electric wheelchair users as they feel more stable than folding to telescoping units. But due to the size, they may take up alot of room in the vehicle.
Always check ramps for sharp edges or burrs as this can damage the wheelchair tires, or injure caregivers. Many inexpensive ramps can have a poor finish and these should be avoided.
Folding ramps can pinch fingers. Use caution when opening and folding.
Ramps should have a level end platform designed for easy transfer from ramp to the street.
All wheelchair ramps should have edge protectors to prevent the user from falling off the side.
There should also be a simple to use locking mechanism to prevent the ramp from moving when in use.
Pay attention to the location of handles and locking mechanisms as this can make a big difference in the ease of handling for caregivers.
"I would emphasize that when a caregiver is assisting a person in a wheelchair on a ramp they should always place themselves between the wheelchair and the bottom of the ramp - pushing it up and leading it down. That way if they lose control they are still in place on the downside of the slope protecting the person in the wheelchair."
For those in the UK, consider this company which distributes UK wheelchair ramps.
The content of this article is copyrighted. It may not be reproduced without permission of the owners of Wheelchair.


text:
Disciotis venosa (Pers.) Arnould, Bulletin de la Société Mycologique de France 9: 111 (1893).

Descrizione della specie

Corpo fruttifero
A forma di coppa concava, poi espansa, margini irregolari, più o meno rugoso e bruno scuro internamente, biancastro, leggermente furfuraceo, grinzoso e crostato esternamente.

Gambo
Molto corto, col quale è ancorato al terreno.

Carne
Fragile, biancastra, insignificante.

 Odore: spermatico, odore di cloro (ricorda l'odore delle piscine).
 Sapore: spermatico.

Microscopia
Spore ellittiche, pluriguttate, bianche in massa, 19-25 x 12-15 µm.
Aschi 230-350 x 16-24 µm, non si colorano di blu con il Reagente di Melzer.

Habitat
Cresce in primavera, sul terreno o tappeti erbosi dei boschi.

Commestibilità
Commestibile, solo dopo bollitura.

Etimologia
Dal latino venosus =  venato, per la presenza di venature.

Sinonimi e binomi obsoleti
 Discina venosa (Pers.) Fr., Systema mycologicum (Lundae) 2(1): 46 (1822)
 Peziza venosa Pers., Synopsis Methodica Fungorum (Göttingen): 638 (1801)

Bibliografia

Altri progetti

Morchellaceae
Funghi commestibili con riserva

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Hyundai Merchant Marine to Put Replacement Ships into Europe Routes
HOME News Industry
Minimization of Cargo Crisis
By Jung Min-hee
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) decided to deploy replacement ships on Asia-Europe to substitute vessels affected by Hanjin Shipping's receivership.
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. (HMM) confirmed its plan to deploy replacement vessels on the European Line after the Americas on September 29.
The company announced on the 21st that it decided to deploy replacement ships on Asia-Europe to substitute vessels affected by Hanjin Shipping's receivership.
First, HMM will deploy one 4,000-TEU container ship and it will begin sailing on the 29th, departing from the port of Busan and passing through Chinese ports, including Shanghai, and calling at Spain in the Mediterranean and other major ports in the North Europe, such as the U.K., the Netherlands and Germany.
However, the will company will decide whether or not to deploy additional ships on Asia-Europe services according to the demand for cargo services in the future.
Meanwhile, HMM's Hyundai Forward left the port of Busan on the 9th to sail a route to the Americas, while Hyundai Platinum began to sail on the 18th. Hyundai Forward arrived at Los Angeles on the 20th (local time). An official from HMM said, "Cargo shippers are encouraging HMM's proactive measures to minimize the cargo crisis. As the national shipper, we will make an every effort to stabilize the marine shipping services with a heavy responsibility."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Secret Codes, Secret Messages, Decipher
5 Weird Secret Codes Found In Unexpected Places
by Ian Fortey
Remember in the movie A Christmas Story when Ralphie finally gets his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, and then he's able to decipher the secret message from Annie herself, and it turns out to just be some filthy corporate pandering to the Ovaltine conglomerate? Weak as hell, yo. But that's what code breaking is sometimes. Sure, you can find cool stuff like the video we made to show you about deciphering utility graffiti codes, but a lot of other times the codes and secrets you find out in the world are kind of straight up bizarre. They can't all lead to hidden treasure or Nic Cage's house.
The 11th Century Viking Secret Message
Imagine how cool it would be to discover a secret message from Vikings, carved into a piece of wood that dates back to the 11th century. The wood is clawed and scratched up like some kind of ancient, woody armor, and the scratches look like Freddy Kreuger took a whack at your shingles:
ThisIsColossal.com
"Is your refrigerator running? Because those haven't been invented yet."
The runes are part of a secret code that Vikings used to keep messages on the downlow for their Viking buds. What could it mean? Who can tell us? Who, damn you?!
The answer, of course, is a runologist, which is totally a real thing you can Google. But the secret code of the Vikings is probably a lot less violent hammer-smashing Thor stuff than you'd hope for and more the kind of nerdy crap you did in the 6th grade.
One particular ancient rune was deciphered and translated as "kiss me." No greater message or even cool Viking swearing. Just "kiss me." Why the heck would a viking ever encode that message? Because apparently, encoding messages was a thing that bored Vikings did to pass the time and mess with people.
He's not even mad. He's just screaming for entertainment.
There are many examples of various coded runes that have been cracked over the years -- and others that people are still working on -- but nothing earth shattering has been discovered in them. Some even just make fun of the people cracking the code. We don't have examples of those, but we assume they were message like, "I carved this with my junk."
Props on Melrose Place Were Actually Masked Political Statements
If you watched TV at all in the 90s, we're so sorry. But also you probably remember Melrose Place, which was a show about the places Melroses go. Very gripping stuff. And while most people might have dismissed the show as forgettable prime time drama with cool, sexy folks, there was more than meets the eye on set.
An artist named Mel Chin got permission from the show's producers to work with a team of students, teachers and other artists to replace regular, unassuming props with conceptual artworks as a way to sneak secret messages on screen. That way, they could make political statements without having to trouble the actors or writers with having opinions.
So what kinds of statements were they making? In an episode in which a character is revealed to be pregnant, she knits a blanket that the keen eyed might notice had a peculiar pattern on it:
CBS / Paramount
That would make an awesome tattoo.
It's a visual representation of the chemical structure of RU-486, an abortion drug. Back then, most networks would never address the subject of abortion, but this was a subtler than subtle way of acknowledging the issue without the censors spontaneously bursting into flames.
In another episode, the cylindrical pattern on a character's sheets were actually condoms, because the idea of sexual health and safe sex was certainly something characters on a sexy soap tend to not discuss.
There were all manners of weird and interesting secrets -- from paintings, depicting houses where famous people died, to a crater shaped like a bottle of Absolut vodka in the side of a building as a dig about alcohol advertising. So what appeared on the surface to be a bit of a vacuous show about pretty people doing pretty things hid a good deal of secret, subversive messages, if you knew where to look.
Ikea Product Names Are All Codes
Remember a few years ago, that well-dressed monkey that ended up at an IKEA? Man, that was awesome. This relates in no way to that monkey, other than it's about IKEA ... but that monkey was awesome, and we could all do well to remember that. Once that's been taken care of, you can take a moment to ponder the way in which IKEA names their products. Because there is a story behind it, and it's a lot weirder than just "Swedish words are funny."
The person behind IKEA's names is Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the company, but not for the reason you'd think. Kamprad apparently suffered some severe dyslexia, and trying to keep the names and numbers of standard catalog items organized was utterly impossible for him. So he devised a system of naming the products in a way that would make it immediately apparent to anyone who understood the system what those products were. Because you can't just call everything "bookshelf" or "crap with too many pieces left over when you're done building it."
The womb of every future college dorm.
If a product is named after a boy or an occupation, it's a bookcase. A Danish or Swedish town? That's a rug. A flower? That's bedding. If you're in the market for outdoor furniture, you have to find an island. It helps if you know Swedish too, probably.
With this naming system (there are a handful of exceptions, like the few items that are just named after what they do) all of them make sense ... as long as you know the code for why they were named that way. Suddenly the mystery of IKEA has opened up like a book, and now you can master the entire store! Or just know that your sheets are named after a plant of some kind, whatever.
EasyJet Flight Attendant Signals
EasyJet is a budget airline most famous for being the British version of Spirit Airlines. Well, more or less. They fly you places in a way that's faster than walking there, and that's all. But doing so is no easy task, and the flight crew needed to find a way to make things a little simpler when it came to communicating in the cabin. You could just shout from one end of the plane to the other, but that's not very British, and these people like to be polite whenever possible. So they developed a secret code.
Essentially, the EasyJet code was a way for flight attendant A to get a message to flight attendant B across the plane without causing too much of a ruckus. And while they probably have cool signals for things like, "A wing fell off" or, "Help me, Steven Seagal is here," most of the signals are for simple things like, "This passenger needs a ham sandwich," or, "We need a pillow up here. It's for Steven Seagal, so make it a huge one."
There's actually a training video that EasyJet employees watch to familiarize themselves with the system, which was initially born out of convenience for the crew but later adopted by the company. It just made sense and kind of makes the flight more fun. Everyone likes a fun flight, right?
Disney Codes
Of all the places in all the world that might use a secret code, Disney World is both the least expected and the most obvious. At first, you might think, "Why would a place based around cartoons ever need to engage in subterfuge?" Until you recall for even half a second what human beings are like out in the wild. Then it becomes clear.
Disney employees aren't particularly allowed to tell a nasty customer where to go and how to get there, nor can they even say anything particularly negative. The illusion of happy fun-time perfection has to sit on everything like a damp carpet at all times. So how do you let Goofy know that someone puked on his foot? You tell him there's a "protein spill" and call in a "Code V" to get it cleaned up.
The soulless gaze of a broken mind.
If someone calls out a "signal 25," you know there's a fire in the park somewhere. A "signal 70" means someone lost a parent. You can't use the word "lost," though; it'd be too unsettling. A "code 101" means something broke down somewhere, while "102" means you got it working again.
And then there's the "White Powder alert," which is in no way related to cocaine ... which is unfortunate, because that would make more sense than the reality. A White Powder alert refers to someone trying to ditch Grandpa's ashes on Space Mountain or whatever ride they felt would help usher them to their eternal rest. There's no data on how often people want to scatter ashes at Disney World, but assume it's more often than you'd think, since they had to come up with a code to address it.
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Tagged: Ian Fortey, Viking code, secret messages, Kiss Me code, Melrose Place, Melrose Place Props, Mel Chin, Ikea, Ikea code, EasyJet, EasyJet hand signals, EasyJet code, Steven Seagal, Disney, Disney World, Disney World Codes, Disney World ashes, Space Mountain
5 Crappy Toys That People Hacked Into Awesomeness
5 Real, Creative Punishments The Law Handed Out To Morons


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Oregon - June 2019
Over the last few decades, the Pacific Northwest has become one of the most dynamic wine- producing regions in the United States. Characterized by mountainous and rugged terrain, cooler nights, and varying soil types, this corner of the world is remarkably special when it comes to viticulture. For this month's TGT, I want to take us on a journey through Oregon's vibrant winemaking scene, where innovation, sustainability, and good wine are in no short supply.
First, a little history. Wine has been made in Oregon for about 175 years, but production really became significant during the mid-20th century. As with most domestic winemaking, two World Wars and a thing called Prohibition put a serious dent in the region's viticultural growth. Although it eventually began to revive in the 1960s, by 1970, only five commercial wineries operated within the state. However, 10 short years later, Oregon established some of the country's first AVAs. The 1990s presented some interesting viticultural challenges, including the potential threat of phylloxera, but winemakers acted quickly, switching to resistant rootstocks to prevent infestation. Today, Oregon is the fourth largest wine-producing state in America, boasting over 725 wineries.
More than 1,050 vineyards across three major growing areas comprise Oregon's viticultural scene. . The Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon AVAs are both fully contained within the state's borders, but the state's third major growing area, the Columbia Gorge, straddles the border between Washington and Oregon. In total, more than 11,000 hectares in Oregon are dedicated to vines, producing about 3 million cases of wine annually. For a relatively young wine region, the rapid rate of growth the state has seen is pretty impressive!
Regionality plays a huge role in understanding Oregon's winemaking culture. The Willamette Valley has pretty much become the state's claim to viticultural fame, spanning from the Columbia River in the north to Eugene in the south. The region is surround- ed by a slew of mountain ranges and is dominated by rather mild temperatures year-round. Winters are cool and wet while summers are dry and hot, and volcanic, basalt-based soils line the vineyards. The region is divided into six sub-AVAs: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Van Duzer, and Yamhill-Carlton District. As a whole, the Willamette Valley is home to about two-thirds of Oregon's wineries, making it the most concentrated AVA within the state.
Southern Oregon is comprised of just two sub-AVAs: the Rogue Valley and the Umpqua Valley, the latter of which is the oldest post-Prohibition growing region within the state. The Rogue Valley is about 60 miles long and is known for being Oregon's warmest and driest viticultural zone. The Columbia Gorge AVA straddles its namesake river, encompassing both Hood River and Wasco counties.
Here, strong winds and low rainfall (due to its location within the rain shadow of Mount Hood and Mount Adams) create an insane number of microclimates, making it one of the most diverse growing regions in the Pacific Northwest.
There's no denying that Pinot Noir has become the state's sweetheart variety, garnering serious praise from industry professionals worldwide. As much as I love the unique, soil-driven expressions of Oregon Pinot, the state's vibrant viticultural scene goes so much further than that. Growers statewide are putting out insanely delicious bottles of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling, all full of texture, complexity, and terroir-reflective qualities. Gamay is also seeing a renaissance in the state, and for those who love Gewurztraminer, Muller- Thurgau, and other cool-climate varieties, looking to Oregon is a pretty safe bet. Even Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and other European red varieties are finding a home here!
Because of its latitude, soil types, and overall growing conditions, Oregon is often compared to Burgundy, but I prefer to appreciate it for the one-of-a-kind place that it is. Optimal growing conditions make it a hotbed for good wine production, with organic farming, sustainability, and minimal intervention remaining at the forefront of production. I couldn't be more excited about what's going on in Oregon and I truly hope you enjoy exploring the magic of the PNW via this month's box.
Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier
Love & Squalor Riesling 2015
Love & Squalor was founded by Matt Berson and Angela Reat in 2007 with the mission to highlight the Pacific Northwest's younger growing regions. Determined to produce something different than Europe or California, the duo firmly believes in flexibility, vintage variation, and honest winemaking, affirming that wines should reflect both the place and year from which they come. Fruit for their 2015 Riesling comes from multiple vineyards in the Willamette Valley, and is vinified dry in steel tanks with native yeasts. Cooler evening temperatures preserve loads of natural high acidity within the fruit, though an overall warmer vintage helped it to reach a juicy, ripe potential in 2015. The final wine shows flavors of stone fruit, green apple, and melon, and is marked by lip-puckering acidity.
PAIRING IDEAS: The high acid and fruit-driven notes in this Riesling make it the perfect match for crunchy salads, fish tacos, and raw bar favorites.
Ovum Wines 'Big Salt' 2018
Founded in 2011 by Ksenija and John House, Ovum Wines specializes in white wine production across Oregon, creating site-specific wines with a low-intervention mentality in the cellar. Fermentations are always done with native yeasts, followed by extended lees contact and aging in neutral barrel or cement eggs. 'Big Salt' is an aromatic blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc, co-fermented together in a combination of steel and oak. The vines' breezy seaside location adds a tropical, salty texture to the wine's juicy flavors of white flowers, tropical fruit, and wet stones.
PAIRING IDEAS: The pronounced aromas and savory saltiness within this wine make it extremely versatile on the table, pairing gorgeously with fresh seafood, sushi, and vegetable pad thai.
Brooks 'Runaway Red' Pinot Noir 2017
Jimi Brooks, a Portland native, established Brooks just 20 years ago, focusing on organic and biodynamic farming across eight hectares in the Eola-Amity Hills. After an inspiring trip to Beaujolais, Brooks decided to dedicate his life to holistic farming, tapping into Oregon's unmatched potential for complex Pinot Noir. Jimi's work lives on through his son, Pascal, as well as his longtime friend, Chris Williams. The 2017 'Runaway Red' shows flavors of dark cherry, blood orange, and herbs, with earthy, mushroom-driven undertones that leave a zesty, lingering finish.
PAIRING IDEAS: This energetic bottle of Pinot pairs perfectly with chicken marsala, grilled veggies, and a variety of roasted poultry dishes.
Buona Notte 'Centro Per Cento' Sangiovese 2017
Buona Notte is a small family project located in Hood River that's spearheaded by winemaker Graham Markel. Inspired by childhood moments in his mother's Tuscan culinary school, as well as past positions working at Antica Terra and Hiyu Wine Farm, Graham eventually set out on his own to explore the many microclimates and growing conditions within Oregon. The 2017 'Cento Per Cento' is a varietal Sangiovese, fermented in tank and aged in a combination of steel and barrel. Light and easy-drinking, the wine shows flavors of tart red fruit, spices, and earth.
PAIRING IDEAS: This zesty, fruit-forward red is perfect for serving alongside pizza, pasta, and charcuterie boards. The wine shows its best when served slightly chilled!


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2016-17 FTT theatre season features Frankenstein, student-written plays, Christ's passion, and teen drama
From the first flicker of life in Frankenstein's monster to the spark of unexpected connection between two high school students, the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre's 2016-17 theatre season features an array of diverse, compelling productions.
The department will present two student-written plays, In Paradisum and The Pink Pope, followed by an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Lauren Gunderson's I and You, and Christ's Passion: Medieval Mystery Plays.
"What ties this season together is the idea of the creative impulse at its most fundamental," said Associate Professor Kevin Dreyer, director of theatre in the department. "What does it mean to create something out of nothing, to breathe life into emptiness, to resurrect the dead? We're excited to explore these questions."
The season begins with FTT's annual ND Theatre NOW production, in which students have the chance to take on roles—writing, directing, and producing—that are usually given to professionals.
Tori Babcock
In Paradisum, written by senior Tori Babcock, and The Pink Pope, by creative writing graduate student Taeyin ChoGlueck '14, will be presented together from Sept. 29 to Oct. 9.
"It's an amazing opportunity," said Babcock, an honors mathematics and FTT major. "I never imagined when I wrote it my sophomore year that it would actually be put on by the University."
Both are products of a playwriting class taught by Anne García-Romero, the Thomas J. and Robert T. Rolfs Assistant Professor of Film, Television, and Theatre.
Directed by senior Jean Carlo Yunén Aróstegui, In Paradisum follows two friends growing up in a seemingly utopian world and the decisions they must make as they take a more critical look at their society.
The Pink Pope
Directed by senior Mary Patano, The Pink Pope offers a satirical take on the role of women in the Catholic Church and features an all-female cast.
Mary Patano
"This play really digs deep into issues that not many people talk about," said Patano, an FTT and marketing major. "And there is something exciting and challenging about working with a completely new piece."
This is Patano's second experience directing, after leading a production for Notre Dame's Student Players last year. She has also acted in four FTT shows, including a previous ND Theatre NOW production.
The hallmark of the department is its open, welcoming environment, Patano said.
"You don't have to be a major to be involved. Most people in the shows aren't theatre majors," she said. "The department just encourages people with diverse talents to come together for this passion they have. And they all bring something new and different to the table, which makes it so much fun."
Patano will also be joining the eight-person cast of Frankenstein, which begins on Nov. 9.
The classic tale of a doctor obsessed with creating life and the disastrous consequences of his actions has been adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly. This version is true to Mary Shelley's 1818 novel while also appealing to today's audiences, said guest director Chuck Gessert.
"In its time, Frankenstein was a very scary tale. But it is tougher now to scare a live audience," Gessert said. "We're focusing more on the humanity of the tale, the relationship between the doctor and his creature, and the discovery of re-animation. There will be tension and suspense, but probably not the fear it evoked nearly 200 years ago.
"It's well-written, and we've got a strong cast lined up. It's going to be a very enjoyable show."
I and You
In March, the department will present Lauren Gunderson's acclaimed drama I and You.
Winner of the American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award in 2014, the two-character show focuses on 17-year-old Caroline and her classmate Anthony, brought together to work on a project about Walt Whitman.
Caroline, confined to her home with a serious illness, views Anthony as an unwelcome visitor. But as the pair spars over Leaves of Grass, they begin to build a relationship—even as the fast-paced show builds toward a breathtaking twist in its final moments.
"There's a real authenticity with the language that allows us to engage with the characters and draws us into the story," said FTT faculty member Carys Kresny, who will direct the show. "Gunderson creates a tangible world filled with honesty, poetry, and humor."
Christ's Passion
The season's final production will run from April 5–12, as a prelude to Easter. Christ's Passion: Medieval Mystery Plays presents a complete Biblical journey from creation to doomsday and will be directed by Professor Anton Juan, who will also teach a course on medieval theatre in the spring semester.
Mark Pilkinton, FTT professor emeritus, developed the play at Notre Dame from surviving medieval English and Cornish texts and directed the first production in Washington Hall in 1996.
"The English cyclic dramas told the history of the universe, with a huge emphasis on the Christian story," Pilkinton said. "What could be a more relevant story on this campus?"
Categories: Faculty News, Arts, Undergraduate News, and General News


I haven't watched too frequently lately, but what used to be a fairly happy, multi-topical show is now a dour mess. Gary Williams tries to pull off this weird serious anchor role with minimal success. Charlie isn't funny and has become less interesting over time. Paige is ok, but very LPGAcentric. Damon Hack is actually punchable. What the **** happened to this show? Is it just because of NBC's involvement?
I haven't noticed a change. Still beats having no coverage in the mornings. Disappointed that I can't steam the show in their app any longer. Don't know why. Does anyone else have this issue? It just shows "Schedule not available" in the Listen Live section. I am logged in through my provider.
i appreciate their commitment to the show. hard to film show that early everyday.
I'll always miss the early, modest days. Gary Williams is the only polished and bearable member of the current operation.
That's a pretty solid assessment. It's unwatchable.
I don't think its the personalities as much as who is directing and scripting the content.
More humor and informality would be recommended.
I haven't noticed a change. Still beats having no coverage in the mornings. Disappointed that I can't steam the show in their app any longer. Don't know why. Does anyone else have this issue? It just shows "Schedule not available" in the Listen Live section. I am logged in through my provider.
It seems as if the entire content on the Golf channel is suffering. Quite a bit of repeat showings of lame golf movies.
Yes! Their scheduling is very odd now. Not to mention (whether you liked him or not), the loss of Breed leaves a huge hole to fill. After watching one episode of Spieth's coach, I can say that it isn't the answer.
In the internet age I'm not sure why shows of this nature are even needed any longer.
I watch it for tour coverage and that's it. The rest seems scripted and lame.
It was on today when I was at the gym so I got to watch the whole thing. My favorite part was when Trevor Immelman said that amateurs should take more time over their ball. Yeah, that's exactly what golf needs ammy's spending more time over their ball! Sheesh!
Let's see . . . . the first time someone complained with a thread about Morning Drive was . . . the first time it aired, lol.
Still bad, but our snow is still white (well, except for where the puppy visits). He senses when he is being talked about!
"This wedge is terrible!"....no Damon, you are teeeible. And yeah, he is very punchable on Morning Drive. They pretty much all are.
Except for the only tolerable one on the network.
What a beautiful Setter. I'd watch him instead of Morning Drive any day.
Any of the good shows on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio are better than Morning Drive. They need to scrap it and start over. It's not bad, but it's just meh.
Too much social media ****.
Too much non-golf segments like the NBC Business Report.
So...what happened? How'd it get to be this bad?
Paige McKenzie needs to go away. She struggles putting a coherent thought together, doesn't have good insight or thoughts and is really just terrible.
Ginella is ok, can occasionally talk down to the viewer but he should realize how incredibly lucky and fortunate he is given his job. Hack is god awful, probably the worst on there.
I like Rymer and Williams, they make it worth tuning in. Damron has gotten better and isn't too bad. Immelmann has not gotten better. Wish he'd resume playing full time so he's not on tv anymore.
Cara Robinson occasionally lets her accent get a little too thick and is hard to understand.
Mrs Chamblee makes Paige look like a professional broadcaster. If something isn't written down for her on cue cards, like it wasn't when they were at the PGA show last week, she is not good at all.
All in all though, it's not horrible, just wish they'd revise the on air talent.
Holly leaving didn't help. Paige and Cara aren't as good.
From what John Feinstein has said, they have a new person in charge at the Golf Channel. I think they are limping along and using cheap programming until the PGA Tour takes them over.
The best programming that the Golf Channel has is live golf. Then anything with Brandel and the guys he's with. You can disagree with Brandel, but he is so good at prepping and making engaging, forceful points. Morning Drive has no star power. For the show to improve, they need that. But I can't see them paying for it. I would really love for the Golf Channel to pick up a podcast like No Laying Up and give them their own show, kind of like what ESPN tried to do with Barstool.
I'll stick with Golic & Wingo.
I watch. It's golf in the morning.
Charlie is OK. Seems like the big, harmless, likeable neighborhood kid.
Like Paige and Kara (not sure on her spelling).
Lauren Thompson is solid (but cut the LT ****, call her Lauren) as is Gary Williams.
Damon Hack? I just don't get why he is even on there. He doesn't add anything to the show (excep volume).
But it's still the best golf show that's on in the morning.
Curious to see how long that show last , I think golic is the same rehashed garbage .
I'm an addict. Any show about golf is better than any other show that's not about golf.
Except for the movies. When "The Squeeze" comes on for the 479,823rd time I hit the remote control like the morphine button at the hospital. It's a cynical substitute for a test pattern.
And I agree about Spieth's coach. It's better to hit in the center of the clubface than off the toe or heel? Holy revelations, Batman! But I'm an addict, so if that's what's on when I have time, I'll watch.
I love golf but I cannot watch this show; Charlie and Damon are honestly so horrible I can't imagine the decision-maker at NBC watches that show and doesn't want to get rid of them. It's unwatchable.


text:
Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan on Moira, Mercy's troubles, and fixing toxicity
Mike Minotti@tolkoto	 November 3, 2017 8:15 PM
Jeff Kaplan.
Image Credit: GamesBeat
GamesBeat: The new map, Blizzard World, is a theme park based on other Blizzard games like Warcraft and StarCraft. So Blizzard is canon in the Overwatch universe?
Kaplan: It is! Or, well, it already was. D.Va was a pro StarCraft player. Blizzard existed. Now, Overwatch is not a part of the Blizzard canon. That would be super weird. But Hearthstone exists, Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, Heroes of the Storm, they all exist in the Overwatch universe.
Above: I'd go to Blizzard World.
Image Credit: Blizzard
GamesBeat: I see a little bit of Walt Disney World. I even saw a Jaws reference, to the old Universal Studios ride. Are you drawing from a lot of different theme parks for these ideas?
Kaplan: For me personally, growing up in Southern California — Team 4, the Overwatch team, the development team behind the game, we're stationed here in Orange County. We have amazing theme parks all around us. There's no point in working on all these great properties if you don't stop and think about, "What would it actually be like?" Can you imagine the theme park where you walk in through the gates of Stormwind, but then there's a StarCraft Nexus right across in the next area? I don't know if they've shown it yet, but we have this awesome map — we did a map of Blizzard World. I think they're going to sell a lithograph of it here at the show. But it's really cool. It's just a fun fantasy experiment to do. If you really love these universes, could you imagine what the theme park would be? The Overwatch team doesn't build theme parks, but we do build maps, and we said, this could be it. Let's show everyone how cool and how fun to play in the environment it could be.
GamesBeat: Do you make geometry for a level and then think about what to theme it with? Or does the theme idea come first, and then you start putting in the blocks that become the map?
Kaplan: This map was built by our assistant game director, Aaron Keller. Aaron — it was actually one of our concept artists, Peter Lee, a long time ago he drew this picture. But it showed that shot at the gates of Stormwind as a theme park. Aaron Keller fell in love with that. Aaron is an amazing world builder. He just convinced the team. This would be the most killer Overwatch map ever, we have to do it.
The amount of love that the team poured into this — every little detail — I can't wait for people — they have it here to play on the show floor, but I can't wait for it to go up on the PTR next week, because then they can just run around the empty map and explore. You can shoot those drones out of the sky. Even the little balloons. The balloons, if you shoot the strings, they start floating up, and if you shoot the balloons themselves, they pop. But all the little Blizzard Easter eggs — we have the voice actors. Deckard Cain is all over this. Uther. The Adjutant from StarCraft. We have all these little sound triggers. The actual actors from the other properties — it's really fun.
GamesBeat: A lot of people talk about Hanzo's Scatter Arrow, complaining about that. As a Hanzo main, I'm always worried you guys will hear that feedback and nerf it. You talked about this before — maybe Scatter doesn't feel great to die to, but it's not like Hanzo is in an overpowered state right now.
Kaplan: I don't think there's a world where we remove Scatter Arrow without doing significant other changes to Hanzo to get him to a good place. Hanzo has never — I think he's one of the most fun characters to play. I love the way the bow feels. I think obviously everything is very subjective when it comes to hero choice. There's chocolate and vanilla. For me, if I'm playing a sniper, I'd much rather play Hanzo than Widowmaker. I just love how the bow feels. But Hanzo's never been considered a powerful meta character. In fact, sometimes your team actually questions why you're playing Hanzo. We need something different right now.
You've never seen the team say, well, if we're gonna win this match, we better have a Hanzo in the comp. Someone switch Hanzo! We'd like to get him there. With that said, Scatter Arrow gets a lot of flak. I said recently on the forums, one thing that annoys me is when people say it's a no-skill shot. It's a very well-placed, highly aimed shot.
Above: Smile, Hanzo.
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
GamesBeat: Why is it that people can accept getting headshotted by Widowmaker, but if you aim at their feet for a one-hit kill, everyone loses their mind?
Kaplan: There's a fantasy and an expectation. We have a Blizzard design value that we call "What is the fantasy?" I think Hanzo betrays that in some ways. It's acceptable when you see the kill cam and Hanzo or Widowmaker has that perfectly placed headshot from 40 meters across the map. You're like, "Okay, I gotta give that to you." You earned that. There's something emotional about, "I got shot in the feet and I died." Especially when tanks are taking it and getting one-shotted. That's a problem. I would like to get Hanzo to a more meta place, to a place where I think he's overall a more accepted character, without changing how great that bow feels. How does Scatter Shot factor into that? I'm not really sure at this point. I don't think there's such a thing as just nerfing Scatter Shot. That's not the correct thing to do with Hanzo. You have to look at Hanzo holistically, in the same way that we look at someone like D.Va or Symmetra or Mercy more holistically. You don't just tweak a number and then that character's fine.
GamesBeat: Earlier in the year, you made a video talking about player toxicity and urging people to be nicer. Since making that plea, have you noticed any changes, any improvements in player behavior? Anything tangible?
Kaplan: We did. First of all, there were a lot of anecdotal stories that players posted. A lot of people were just annoyed with me in that developer update, and then there were some people who said, "Yeah, I was annoyed with Jeff, but then I actually — I know I'm a toxic player. I went and tried to be nice to people and here was my experience." We started to see those stories come out. I always think of the multiplicative effect when you're talking about something like Overwatch. We have more than 35 million people playing. Even those few anecdotal stories — in every match, they touch 11 other players. If that's getting out there and affecting more people, that's a big deal. Internally, we're doing other stuff. We don't usually talk about a lot of this stuff or go into detail, but we've been ramping up the penalties. We've been really trying to weed out the bad behavior as much as possible from the game.
We're also doing a lot more things in terms of manual searches, just manually kind of trolling through the database and finding outliers. Well, this person didn't quite trip the automatic sensors that we have in place, but this person is clearly exercising bad behavior. Let's make sure they get a penalty, and it's a stiff one, to dissuade them. We had other things going like that pilot program, where we were emailing people. It didn't reach everybody. We don't have email addresses for our console players, so we can't email them. We couldn't email based on every report type. There were some report types where — we were just mainly experimenting. Does this get positive feedback? I'm really excited.
I think either by the end of this year, or early next year, the reporting feedback will now be in the game itself, so we won't even have to send you an email. When you've reported somebody and it's had an effect, they've gotten an action, you'll get a message that says, "Hey, thank you, we can't give you the details obviously, but somebody that you reported was actioned." I've been trying to restore faith for our players that the reporting actually does do a lot. The more that they report, the more it helps us identify and [punish] people who are exercising bad behavior.
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High Quality American White Oak External Door Frame Complete With Cill. *PLEASE NOTE THIS FRAME COMES WITH WEATHER SEAL ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE FRAME. CHOOSE THE FRAME SIZE THAT MATCHES YOUR DOOR SIZE. "This frame is for people who want an American White Oak Frame". TOP TIP: Only buy this frame if you want to clear varnish the door and frame to match otherwsie save your money and buy the Malaysian oak frame!" Frame Will Come Flat Packed And Will Require Assembly. This frame set will suit doors up to 2134mm x 914mm.


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text:
Rezultati hrvatskog kupa u vaterpolu u sezoni 2006/07. Branitelj naslova je zagrebačka HAVK Mladost.

Izlučna natjecanja

U izlučnim natjecanjima za Kup RH, igrat će dvije skupine, u Zagrebu i u Dubrovniku.

Skupina u Zagrebu

Sudionici su: zagrebački klubovi Mladost i Medveščak, splitski Mornar i riječko Primorje.

Skupina u Dubrovniku

Sudionici su: dubrovački Jug, splitski POŠK i Jadran te Šibenik.

Poluzavršnica

1. susreti (11. studeni 2006.)
Jadran - Mladost 9:11
Mornar - Jug     7:19

2. susreti (15. studeni 2006.)
Jug - Mornar 14:8
Mladost - Jadran 13:5

Završnica

1. susret, 13. prosinca 2006.
Jug - Mladost 13:5

2. susret, 23. prosinca 2006.
Mladost - Jug 10:9

Osvajač hrvatskog kupa za sezonu 2006/07. godinu je vaterpolski klub "Jug" iz Dubrovnika.

2006


COLOGNE, Germany, April 15, 2016 – The new 600 horsepower Ford Focus RS RX debuts this weekend piloted by factory-backed team Hoonigan Racing Division in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Portugal.
Featuring all-wheel drive and a 0-60 mph launch time of less than two seconds, the Focus RS RX vehicles are optimised for rallycross battle. The Focus RS RX development was a global collaboration between Ford Performance, Block's Hoonigan Racing Division and U.K.-based M‑Sport.


text:
DU Home » Latest Threads » unhappycamper » Journal
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unhappycamper
unhappycamper's Journal
Member since: Wed Mar 16, 2005, 10:12 AM
Number of posts: 60,364
Body of suspect found on Mount Rainier
Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. AP Photo
In this undated photo provided by the Pierce County Sheriff's Dept., Benjamin Colton Barnes, is shown. Officials said Barnes, the suspected killer of ranger Margaret Anderson, was found dead in Paradise Creek at Mount Rainier on Monday.
CRAIG HILL AND DEBBIE CAFAZZO; Staff writers
Published: 01/02/12 9:55 pm | Updated: 01/02/12 10:11 pm
A man suspected of shooting a ranger to death was found dead Monday in Mount Rainier National Park, likely defeated by the mountain his victim worked to protect.
A day after 34-year-old ranger Margaret Anderson was shot by a driver who ran through a safety checkpoint, the suspect's body was found partially submerged in Paradise Creek about a mile from the scene, authorities said.
Benjamin Colton Barnes, 24, appeared to have died of exposure to winter conditions, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. The medical examiner was on hand to examine and remove the body and will make the final determination of cause of death. No determination had been made as of Monday night.
~snip~
Barnes served two years, seven months in the Army before receiving a less than honorable discharge in November 2009, said Maj. Chris Ophardt, an Army spokesman.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/02/1967042/body-of-suspect-found-on-mount.html
Posted by unhappycamper | Tue Jan 3, 2012, 06:56 AM (10 replies)
Panetta's plan for cuts will detail shrinking military
© January 3, 2012
By Elisabeth Bumiller and Thom Shanker
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is set this week to reveal his strategy that will guide the Pentagon in cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from its budget, and with it the Obama administration's vision of the military that the United States needs to meet 21st century threats, senior officials said.
In a shift of doctrine, Panetta is expected to outline plans for carefully shrinking the military - and in so doing make it clear that the Pentagon will not maintain the ability to fight two sustained ground wars at once.
Instead, he will say that the military will be large enough to fight and win one major conflict, while also being able to "spoil" a second adversary's ambitions in another part of the world while conducting a number of other, smaller operations, like providing disaster relief or enforcing a no-fly zone.
Pentagon officials are in final deliberations about potential cuts to virtually every important area of Pentagon spending: the nuclear arsenal, warships, combat aircraft, salaries, and retirement and health benefits.
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/panettas-plan-cuts-will-detail-shrinking-military
unhappycamper comment: Here's my suggestions:
* Stop spending $2+ billion dollars a week on the Afghanistan adventure.
* Stop building $5 billion dollar Zumwalt-class destroyers.
* Stop building $5~$7 billion dollar Virginia-class submarines each and every year.
* Stop building the $40 billion dollar Ford-class aircraft carriers.
* Stop building the not-ready-for-prime-time quarter of a billion dollar F-35.
Posted by unhappycamper | Tue Jan 3, 2012, 06:45 AM (0 replies)
Past lingers for company formerly called Blackwater
By Bill Sizemore
As it goes about the complicated task of putting its past behind it, the Moyock, N.C.-based company once known as Blackwater is going through some lean times.
Nevertheless, its reach has never been wider. Its workers have deployed to more than a dozen countries around the world, many of them hot spots of civil unrest.
That should be no cause for alarm, the current owners say, because the old company is no more. Blackwater - some of whose security operatives were accused of killing civilians in war zones, and several of whose top executives face felony firearms charges - is dead and buried, a stake plunged into its heart.
The urgency of outrunning the Blackwater legacy is apparent in recent revenue numbers.
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/past-lingers-company-formerly-called-blackwater
US Military Buys New Coin Aircraft For 'Only" $18 Million Dollars a Pop
http://defensetech.org/2011/12/31/embraer-wins-usafs-light-attack-contest/
Super Tucano Wins USAF's Light Attack Contest
The air service is buying 20 Super Ts from Embraer and its U.S. partner, Sierra Nevada Corporation, for $355 million, according to an announcement that Embraer released last night. Remember, a couple of years ago the Air Force planned to buy dozens of cheap, turboprop-driven COIN aircraft that could be used to provide light air support and ISR for troops fighting insurgents in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. The planes were supposed to take the burden for such unglamorous missions off of jet fighters like the F-16, which cost far more to operate. However, the draw-down from Iraq combined with shrinking defense budgets forced the air service to dramatically reduce the program. Now, the service will use the small fleet of turboprop planes to help build up the nascent Afghan air force, and "other nations." Those last two words leave the possibility open for more Super T sales beyond those to the U.S. Air Force and Afghan air force.
Posted by unhappycamper | Sun Jan 1, 2012, 09:06 AM (8 replies)
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Five top radio stations cut the music to talk about opioids and fighting the drug crisis.
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) -- Five radio stations across the state are taking a stand against opioid addiction. Beasley Media Group hosted a radio forum with state and city leaders called Fayetteville Fights Back.
The organization stopped playing music for one hour during their busiest time of day to have a conversation about the crisis.
In a room full of leaders working on the front lines against opioid abuse in healthcare, law enforcement, and city and state government. The radio forum broadcasted throughout 14 counties on five radio stations with an audience of about 900,000 people.
"About a year ago, we were seeing 100 to 125 patients a month overdosing. This year, it's been 200 to 250," said Dr. Michael Zappa with Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
The age ranges for those patients are between 18 and 25. Attorney General Josh Stein is worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to implement a new statewide policy called the Stop Act.
"It sets a limit on how many pills they can prescribe if you break your arm or get your wisdom teeth out. Fewer pills in the medicine cabinet. Fewer people will get addicted," Stein said.
North Carolina has identified four cities as national hot spots for prescription opioid abuse. Fayetteville ranks in the top tier. That's something that's not hard to believe for Capt. Robert Ramirez with the Fayetteville police department.
"Three years ago this day we decided to remove my first born daughter from life support due to an overdose," Ramirez said. "I love her and miss her."


Native Americans say there is magic in the red rocks of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, an energy vortex springing from intersecting ley lines below the earth. It is a place so serene and yet so alive, so ancient yet full of possibility, one feels grounded and winged simultaneously. These dusty paths led Jennifer Elsner to her essential self, musing to the rocks themselves.
As Henry Miller excellently opined, "One's destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things." For Elsner, Land Arts kindled an artistic renewal that is taking her in a new direction in 2015.
That direction? Her true North.
Jennifer Elsner lives and works in the shadow of St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA, the site of Virginia's second legislative convention and Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. The traditional façade of the 1895 row house she shares with her husband, David Shields, also a designer, and son Sam, belies its interior, which has been opened up, painted white and graced with art, pops of vibrant color and a rescued Shiba Inu. The rooms have a spare yet ebullient feel, not so much decorated as collected by people who care very much about the spirit of where they live.
If it's a bit like a livable gallery, know that its two creative principals, Elsner and Shields, are the dynamic graphic design duo behind Viewers Like You, founded in 2001. Since relocating to Richmond from Austin, in 2012 for Shields to assume the head of the Graphic Design department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Elsner has done the heavy lifting. With clients as diverse as Aveda, Arthouse at the Jones Center and TEDx, she brings years of pedigree to the table.
"Since Viewers Like You was established, everything has been pretty much word of mouth," says Elsner, who graduated from Alfred University then the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art, where she met Shields. Her first job was as a receptionist for Giorgio Armani, opening doors to work for Frédéric Fekkai, Eileen Fisher and Martha Stewart, to name a few.
In recent years, Elsner has become even more select.
Think of that Yo-No as her yin-yang, a philosophy inherent in her work approach. Open and inquisitive, combing her resources for new ideas, images and sounds, but select when it comes to channeling those into talents and time. Potential clients evaluated not just on how she can serve and effect their business, but how they might expand her. It seems not so much a pro-con list as a gut reaction, but it's a commitment she sticks to: once she's brought a client onboard she is all in, there, present, constantly seeking the a-ha! solution to a niggling problem. Even when those relationships hit sour moments, she hangs in, like a marriage. For better or for worse.
Creative, genius, intuitive, sophisticated, fun, curious. Sensitive, loyal, wise, essential, iconic. New York go-go-go. These are the words clients use to describe her. Her husband adds beautiful.
And though there is definitely an Elsner sensibility, her designs are also individual, each telling their own tale. Some are soft, some are spunky, some packed with information and others over the top with images. Some are all that, and more. They emote: serious, playful, spiritual. And they work.
"I don't copy myself, ever. That would bore me," says Elsner.
"Design is optimistic, helping people do something. Much of what happens with clients doesn't end up on paper. It is the ability to fail along the way, to fix things, propose things, try things out, as opposed to art, which is subjective," says Shields, who met Elsner at Cranbrook Academy of Art and shared design space in Brooklyn with her even before cohabitation.
The two share not just a domestic and professional collaboration but a true running dialogue on design. It is just one of the ways the creative runs through Elsner's entire life, is not just her day job. Like her home, with the clever transplant of an original pocket door, repurposed in a new master bath, and painted hot pink. Like her friends, also designers, for whom a doughnut run is not just an epicurean treat but a chance to discuss art, community and aesthetic. And like her mastermind group of serious entrepreneurial women, holistic, edgy and bold.
But this next venture, jenniferelsner.com, is totally hers, and hers alone.
What she's offering may sound curious, for a graphic designer. Except for a handful of hand-picked Design Commissions, she will not be making "graphic design." Instead, she'll lend her talent to push clients to the next level, through Creative Direction ~ and how will differ depending on their goals. Elsner acts as an idealist for her clients, a visionary and advocate scoping all aspects of a business to make them cohesive, aesthetically impactful and meaningful. Creating high standards, and holding them up, whatever that takes.
Elsner acts as an idealist for her clients, a visionary and advocate scoping all aspects of a business to make them cohesive, aesthetically impactful and meaningful. Creating high standards, and holding them up, whatever that takes.
"I want the freedom to express what I think is right and beautiful and answers the problem," says Elsner. She is one moment subdued, listening with expressive eyes and nodding encouragement, as if willing your ideas birth. The next she ignites with insight, her hands punctuating her thoughts. Everything about her seems unedited yet chic, unintentionally striking, like the way she habitually pulls back her curly hair as she talks, and her shiny yet practical red Jetta wagon.
By all accounts, working with Elsner is much like a courtship. Once the love match is made, there is discovery: favorite color, hopes and dreams, sharing bread and wine, maybe a walk through town, or a grassy field ~ she rocks the walk and talk ~ mining feelings, emotions, penchants and predilections.
For Holli Thompson, a nutritionist who hired Elsner to help build a brand, the union began by spending a weekend at her northern Virginia farm, laden with design inspiration, books, magazines and Pinterest board creation.
The intake can take many forms, but it is always a dialogue, easy for some and for others, who are not used to sharing information – or their workload – not so simple.
Elsner pockets that information and lets it marinate, giving her the inspiration she needs to build from there.
She will often budge, but go to the mat for choices she believes in (though usually still says please). She eschews hard sell, favoring information, utility, and emotion.
When Elsner does return, it is with one solution. In years past she sometimes offered a bevy of them, but has come to think that more in service to her ego than the client, proof she had done the hard creative work. What then often resulted was a hybrid, "a Chinese menu of ideas," serving no one. Decisions are what she is hired to make, not offer.
Not everyone likes this, and some try to sway her. She will often budge, but go to the mat for choices she believes in (though usually still says please). She eschews hard sell, favoring information, utility, and emotion.
Success is as individual as each design. Some chart their outreach, like Carrie Contey, a parenting coach. Her site features an online video series and other resources, plus, the added offering of EVOLVE, a year-long, online program for families ~ that has tripled her business in the past four years. Along the way they've become BFFs.
For many clients, it is the platform she creates for them. Holli Thompson says Elsner cautioned her against finding opportunities to sell in favor of creating a dialogue on her website. After her book, Discover Your Nutritional Style, was published, readers wanting more of her insight found her website a bountiful place to land, and traffic soared.
Some clients tout pure measurable revenue, like 10 percent per year growth in sales of Blueberry Diapers.
McClure is one client Elsner takes on the new journey. She fits the profile: smart, powerful, aware women, many in the wellness and fashion arena.
"Females who vibe high on self-awareness, risk takers who are curious and hungry, and above all, able to release responsibility," explains Elsner.
And don't forget the primary condition: she wants to inhabit their world. Talk to them weekly. Understand their needs and be there to come to their aid.
Like a best girl friend, her proposals come with image, words, emotion and even sound ~ a link to a mix tape crafted for each individual. She will Photoshop unwanted parts from a profile picture, find the perfect dress for a television appearance, and take over correspondence when grief sets in. And she walks her walk, championing other designers and professionals she hires.
Elsner is a fine writer herself. It's just one more facet of her creativity, Scholars may fume that the rise of e-mail correspondence eclipses a primary source of history, and writers mourn the end of full sentences, but Elsner's missives are fully formed, often rapid-fire reports, thoughtfully crafted, witty, and direct, sometimes nerdy with detail ~ cordially signed: with grace and aplomb, Jennifer.
And once the match is made, she will add: xo, je.
Buckle up. Trust the process. Now the fun begins.
Lydia Strohl is a storyteller using print, video and design to spin tales in venues from Reader's Digest to America's Most Wanted. After years blogging on local food she's traded her spatula for a passport and known traveller number, and has recently learned to surf and just enough html to be dangerous. See for yourself at lydiastrohl.com.


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