If you are a SneakerHead, this is definitely something that you should have! Our KicksOnFire.com x Sneakerhead wristbands are top quality silicone bands and are the same quality as the "Livestrong" x Nike bands. As a token of our appreciation, we'd like to offer all our KicksOnFire readers, followers and fans a chance to order samples for FREE before we start the final production (packaged / sealed) which will be selling in stores for $5.99+.
Everyday, we cater to almost 200,000 sneakerheads. We only have a ultra limited quantity. We will be mailing out around 2-3 bands ($18 value) in each envelope. They will be mailed out on a first come first served basis.
Note: We are currently unable to ship internationally. US only.


text:
Q: class undefined property in php maybe this is a possible duplicate, i have search here some questions like this but i have tried all the answers, but i still got this error
Notice: Undefined property: User::$_pdo in D:\xampp\htdocs\pengun\classes\DB.php on line 32

and this error
Fatal error: Call to a member function prepare() on a non-object in D:\xampp\htdocs\pengun\classes\DB.php on line 32

this is my DB class
<?php
class DB {

    private $_pdo, $_query, $_result, $_count, $_row;

    public function __construct($host, $dbname, $user, $password) {
        $this->host = $host;
        $this->user = $user;
        $this->password = $password;
        $this->dbname = $dbname;

        try {
            $_pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=' . $this->host . ';dbname=' . $this->dbname, $this->user, $this->password);
        } catch (PDOException $e) {
            die($e->getMessage());
        }

        $_pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
    }

    public function select($fields, $table, $where = array()) {
        if(count($where) === 3) {
            $operators = array('=','>','<','>=','<=');

            $column     = $where[0];
            $operator   = $where[1];
            $value      = $where[2];

            if(in_array($operator, $operators)) {
                $sql = "SELECT {$fields} FROM {$table} WHERE {$column} {$operator} {$value}";
                if($this->_query = $this->_pdo->prepare($sql)) {
                    $this->_query->execute();
                    $this->_row = $this->_query->fetch();

                    print_r($this->_row);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

can someone please tell me what is the problem with my code? thanks in advance.

A: Because in constructor, you are assigning new PDO just to local variable accessible only inside constructor. You have to use:
$this->_pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=' . $this->host . ';dbname=' . $this->dbname, $this->user, $this->password);
...
$this->_pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);

A: You are assigned PDO object to local variable in constructor. You must set class variable!
Change
$_pdo

to
$this->_pdo

in lines 13 and 18.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


No, not the environmental kind, the color!
A second baby generally goes uncelebrated - at least as far as showers are concerned - but I felt making a whole new human being warranted some happy occassion, no? So I invited just close friends and put up the party gear.
I usually go all out for these occassions but this was a lot more low key. So I picked a color (the easiest way to make any party look cohesive if you ask me) and got to work. I purchased paper laterns and other green things to hang from every available surface.
And I couldn't have a party without some small quirky detail. I added little glittered paper glasses in the same style as the guest of honor to some of the "ladies" of the house.
I worked the green into whatever I could. Green apples? Check. Green drink bottles? Check. Green sanding sugar on cupcakes? Check.
The sun even peaked out a few times to make the day more festive!
Could you be any cuter with those glasses?! So fun! Everything looks wonderful as usual...I wish we were friends so you could have a little party for me!
How adorable! I did the same thing with my parents party when I couldn't find what I was looking for, for a theme. It just brought everything together, like yours!
Love the all the "little" details!
It looks beautiful! I love all of it. You are such a sweet friend!!
Wow. You really know how to throw a party. I love the little green eye glasses!
Those green apples look delicious, and love the glasses on the "ladies".
Love it! I am going to use your party as inspiration for my daughter's high school graduation party!
Beautiful! You are such a thoughtful friend.
I love the twig bowl holding the green apples. Do you recall where it's from? Thanks!
the lanterns and other green things are amazing. did you order online or find them somewhere in NYC?
Love those glasses and love what you did with the bust in the birdcage... I recently found a great little wire birdcage that was a total steal and have been looking for great ways to use it! As always you have the best idea I've seen so far!
Amazing work, Brooklyn! You are always so positively inspiring and sensational!
I love all the green- what a perfect celebration for baby #2!
I love it! So sweet to celebrate no. 2 as well! Great job!
Gorgeous! I love all of the little touches. You are totally showing me up on the baby shower I'm throwing on Saturday.
What a fabulous party theme. The chartreuse green is so fresh. Perfect for spring.
The paper lanterns are great covering your pendant lights. I might have to make a trip to Pearl River Mart and see if I can find some in that color!
Lindsay: The brass twig bowl thing came from the Pottery Barn outlet.
Mojito: The laterns came from Pearl River Mart in Soho. They were a few dollars each and come in a billion colors.
I can't believe you call that Not going all out! It looks amazing.
Color is a great way to make the party feel cohesive. I love the tissue decorations in front of the mirror. And such a vibrant happy green is fresh and fun. What a lucky mama. Best wishes for her!
So cute, great way to celebrate!
The glasses on the "ladies of the house" make me giggle... loving all of the green!
Love the theme. Green is my favorite color and the shade you chose is my absolute favorite in the green family! The spectacled ladies are a fun touch. You are so good with the little details that make a party unique & special.
You are just one classy lady..............this is your version of "not going all out"? Whoa-- your talent shines!!
I agree about the color - this looks GREAT.
Love it! And loved that you put the paper lanterns over the bulbs in your kitchen's pendant lights.
It all looks so purty !
Love that color of green too.
Green is my favorite color so I am loving this. The glasses, priceless.
One color for a party - great idea... So simple but I am sure very cost effective and fun to put together. My friends have been bothering me to host a house warming party (more than one year after moving in ha) and I could just pick a color and make the party look cute, rather than a specific theme. THANK YOU for the great idea!
You are so funky. I love it.
Aww, I agree! A second and even third baby deserves recognition! So pretty!
You are so talented and creative. I love everything that you do!
You can't go wrong with poofs. Really charming!
So cute....love the green theme, xv.
I really wish we knew each other well enough so that you could've thrown my baby showers :) So so pretty. And, so not baby-ish, which I love!
you are just to good!
I'm loving the green motif. It is very cool to the eye.
Greenilicious! Love the addition of the glasses everywhere!
yay, green is one of my favorite colors. what an awesome spread. the punches of color went a long way. I especially loved your whimsical touches...i.e. the glam green sunglasses...you are so clever.
Beautiful.....love the vibrancy of the green!!
On another note. I know you put your laundry machines in a closet. We are doing the same, any tips or advice you could offer?
Seriously Stefanie - you could give Martha a run for her money!!! This looks so fab, I'm sure the mama-to-be was just thrilled to be showered like that. My fave touches are the paper lanterns on the pendants (clever!) and the glittered glasses on all the ladies (super cute). Way to go!!
Love it! Your parties always look so chic! Another success, Mrs. L!
I love this low key look and what a refreshing change for a Baby Shower. You and I must think alike...I always think simplicity is key to understated elegance. You certainly achieved that here.
Sending to DIL she's expecting in August, little girl named Archer. Wonderful idea!!
I love your creativity and the green glasses on the painting are hilarious. I'd love to feature this on my blog and link back to you. Let me know if this is a problem.
Can you PLEASE tell us where you purchased that AMAZING green picture frame in your first pic?
Really cool decor. Quite fun!


Who knows the island of Kauai so well? Is it Kauai resident or visitor of Kauai?
After part-time residents of Kauai, Khenpo and Ariel took me to the beautiful stupa here on Kauai, I thought the one who knows Kauai the best is a part-time resident of Kauai....This is just like a teaching of Buddha….Middle way is the best way. The part-time resident can be both visitor and resident.
usually written by tourists, not residents of the place. Because residents know too much about the place and people, and as a result, they are not interested in these things as a part of life. On the other hand, because tourists don't know much about the place and people, they can be interested in whatever they don't know before. That is why tourists can write good guidebooks.
But tourists have problems. In order for them to know more of the place, they need to stay longer. So the best one is the visitor who has a place to live, called part-time resident.
Anyway I was able to visit the stupa for my first time, thanks to dear friends.
According to Khenpo, these colorful flags are called, Lung-ta, meaning "Wind Horse" to keep out evil spirits and at the same time it's a symbol of Dharma spreading over the world. Interestingly, there are five colors, representing five elements of universe.
These flags are called, "Darchor" and I learned red flag is Amida (Amitabha) Buddha which reminded me the five Tathagata flags in Japan.
For a long time, I didn't know the meaning of these five colors flags but now I know they are related to Lung-ta and Darchor. I also knew if flags are blown by the wind, it has the same merit of chanting sutra!
Interestingly, the first streamer of Koi Nobori has five colors (blue, white, red, green and yellow)!!!! I now believe this has a connection with Tibetan Buddhism.


text:
Byrne & Jones Sports Construction Receives Five ASBA Awards in 2022
The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has announced the winners of its annual awards. Awards are presented each year to facilities built by ASBA members, which display construction excellence.
Awards are presented in various categories: Tennis Courts, Running Tracks, Sports Fields, Pickleball Facilities and Track & Field Facilities. Within some categories, there are divisions; for example, the Sports Field category recognizes single- and multiple-field facilities.
Members of the Byrne & Jones Sports Construction team made their way out to Palm Desert, California where the winners of awards were announced at the Association's 2022 Technical Meeting. Byrne & Jones Sports Construction was honored to receive the following awards:
Rantoul Family Sports Complex – Gold Medal Distinguished Multi-Field Sports Facility
Seneca Athletic Complex – Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
Westville Athletic Complex – Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
Howard Fellows Stadium – Distinguished Single Field Facility
Plummer Family Park – Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
View All 14 ASBA Awards
View Our Completed Projects
Rantoul Family Sports Complex | Gold Medal Multi-Field Distinguished Sports Facility
Among the winners was The Rantoul Family Sports Complex, located in Rantoul, Illinois, for Best Multi- Field Facility. Byrne & Jones Construction completed the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Spring of 2021. The outdoor Sports Tourism Complex includes 10 ball diamonds and 8 multi-use fields for contact sports. The all-synthetic turf facility recently ended their second season and has seen nearly one million visitors in 2022, hosting play for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football, ultimate frisbee, and numerous community events. Mayor Chuck Smith states, "We are thankful to the ASBA for this year's special honor and recognition. We are proud of our leadership team and also our partnership with Byrne and Jones Sports Construction of St. Louis, Mo. If you haven't had a chance to visit our facility, I encourage you to visit soon. I am confident that you will find a wide selection of sports options, along with a first-class sports center, located in one of the fastest growing communities in central Illinois."
The 2023 season begins in late March with the Rantoul Township High School Baseball Invite and will extend well into November. Director of Operations Ryan Reid said, "This award is a true honor. With the leadership of Byrne & Jones, dedication from their subcontractors to see construction through during a tough 2020, and the collaboration between the different departments of the Village of Rantoul, we had the best team for this project. Special thanks to Mayor Smith, our Board of Trustees, Administrator Eisenhauer, and Recreation Director Luke Humphrey for moving this vision forward."
Seneca Athletic Complex | Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
Seneca School District hired Byrne & Jones through TIPS Cooperative Purchasing early in January of 2021. The project consisted of an 8 lane running track, a new baseball stadium, and a synthetic turf baseball field. The new athletic facilities solved many issues for the district.
Superintendent Dr. Brandon Eggleston said the impressive features are sure to have virtually everyone in this Southwest Missouri town of about 2,500 residents swelling with pride about this project. "The track is an eight-lane stand-alone track. The new multi-purpose facility will have locker rooms, bathrooms, a storage area and a concession stand. The track will also be open for the public to use." Eggleston went on saying, "Our previous baseball and softball fields were in a flood plain and flooded frequently. And with the new location, we do not have to worry about flooding. We did not even have a track to practice on, so that is significant for our student-athletes. We now have a complex that can host any size track meet and a baseball/softball field that will be a state-of-the-art facility. The complex will be a point of pride for our community. It is a place where our student-athletes can compete that is safe, high quality and reliable."
Westville High School | Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
Westville's renovations posed a particular challenge only fit for the most experienced design-build sports contractor. They needed to entrust someone to redesign and shift the location of their existing stadium to fit a new concrete plaza and fitness building, and expanded bleachers, in the extremely limited space they had available.
Having saved capital funds for years and having one shot to get it right, Westville entrusted Byrne & Jones with this huge responsibility. Not to mention the tight schedule it needed to be built within – the project was approved in November 2020, design was completed by January 2021, construction started in February and the new stadium was ready for play by August of 2021, along with a full new turf baseball and softball field. The great success of this project was also awarded the project spotlight in TIPS Purchasing Cooperative's quarterly newsletter.
La Salle Peru High School | Distinguished Single Field Facility
One of the most historic football stadiums in Illinois, Howard Fellows Stadium was originally constructed during the Great Depression with funding from FDR's New Deal incentives. LaSalle-Peru (LP) High School has called this field home for over 80 years, and through thoughtful and proper upkeep and restoration projects, have been able to keep the stadium current while maintaining its historic legacy. The most recent of these upgrade projects was a severely important one – upgrading the playing surface. Having been plagued by poor drainage and dirt runoff, the stadium field had slowly become a surface full of ruts and puddles.
LP ran an internal analysis of their options to renovate the field, including a full strip, regrading and re-sodding of the field, and installing synthetic turf.
Ultimately, LP decided that installing synthetic turf was the proper decision due its consistency as a safe playing surface, as well as improved drainage for the site and far less maintenance expenditures. And this wasn't any ordinary turf field – LP opted to install a field that rivals most NFL stadiums, choosing the highly resilient IronTurf Woven product from Greenfields, resting on top of a Brock concussion safety pad. In order to accomplish this, LP sought out the best sports construction team in the business and hired Byrne & Jones directly through a purchasing cooperative to get the job done. Byrne & Jones successfully delivered their project on time and on-budget.
Plummer Family Park | Distinguished Multi-Field Facility
Plummer Family Park opened in Edwardsville, IL, in August of 2020 and is already becoming a regional destination for tournaments and traveling athletes. The 83-acre, $12.8 million park includes four baseball/softball diamonds, six multi-purpose fields, 12 pickleball courts, concession stands, restrooms, a shared-use path, and parking for 821 vehicles, including 22 ADA-compliant spaces. Additional ball diamonds, a community park space, and additional parking are planned for a future phase.
Byrne & Jones Sports Facilty Construction
If you are interested in learning more about designing and building a world-class athletic facility you can reach out to us at  (314) 254-9766 and ask to speak with a member of our Sports Division. We have completed over 1300+ athletic facility improvement projects across the Midwest since 2010. By combining our in-house design team with certified track and field builders, we can help our clients build their dream facility. From start to finish, we will be with you every step of the way. We are now the winners of 14 ASBA awards – which you can view here.
Follow us for more
13940 St Charles Rock Rd

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Snohomish couple robbed at gunpoint by men claiming to be federal agents
A senior-aged Snohomish County couple told KIRO 7 they were robbed at gunpoint by two masked men who broke into their home and pretended to be undercover federal agents.
By: Michael Spears
Updated: October 29, 2018 - 11:56 AM
SNOHOMISH, Wash. — A senior-aged Snohomish County couple told KIRO 7 they were robbed at gunpoint by two masked men who broke into their home and pretended to be undercover federal agents.
Carolyn Dent, 75, said she believed the men came into their Yew Way home through an unlocked door Friday around 11 a.m. Her husband, Jim, 77, said he was zip-tied and pistol-whipped by the suspects, who demanded money.
Carolyn told KIRO 7 she was upstairs getting dressed when one of the men suddenly appeared in her bedroom doorway.
"I said who are you? What are you doing here?" said Carolyn. "He said, 'I'm a federal agent.'"
Carolyn said she reached over and pulled part of the suspect's mask off, but isn't sure she'd be able to recognize him again.
She said he reacted by covering his face again and allowing her to walk out of the bedroom.
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"I said, 'help Jim, I need help,'" said Carolyn, who described calling for her husband at the stairwell.
Her husband Jim was downstairs in the restroom.
The suspect allowed her to walk downstairs.
"When I got down there, there was a second fellow," said Carolyn.
Her husband Jim said he walked out of the restroom and went to the kitchen where his wife and the men were. They elaborated on their lie.
"We are in pursuit of a felon on your property and we need to search the house," Jim described one of the suspects as saying.
Jim said he tried to call 911 and then the suspects pulled guns, pistol-whipping him and zip-tying his hands in the hallway.
The couple showed KIRO 7 one of the black zip-ties apparently left behind by the suspects who they said then demanded money and left Carolyn alone.
"I made a beeline to the TV room," said Carolyn, who went for her cellphone.
She said one of the suspects found her, took the phone, then left her alone again.
"Well, I got up and used the landline," said Carolyn.
This time, she said, her 911 call got through. One of the suspects ended the call but also left her alone and she ran out of the house onto Yew Way.
"Trying to flag someone down!" said Carolyn.
The couple said the suspects searched their room for valuables and went through a jewelry box that was already empty.
"He immediately came down the stairs then, reached in my pocket, pulled my keys out," said Jim.
The couple said the suspects got away with their cellphones and a white Ford pickup truck. Deputies responded but didn't find the suspects.
"I was concerned, but I was not terrified," said Carolyn.
"I did not know whether they had taken her," said Jim.
Jim told KIRO 7 he was able to get out of the loose zip-tie and went for a gun.
"Came out looking, because I was ready to do some serious damage if I had to," said Jim, visibly emotional.
The couple is now left feeling unsettled in their longtime home as investigators search for the two suspects.
The Dents said this is the fifth time their home has been broken into, though they weren't previously robbed at gunpoint.
"It could happen to somebody else, it could happen to us again," said Carolyn.
KIRO 7 called the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Sunday and a lieutenant would only confirm they're investigating but had few details available for release.
The Dents said deputies recovered one of their cellphones and a glove left behind by the suspects on their property.
Contact the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office with tips related to this investigation.


Arrange the wings on a baking rack without overlapping them. Place the rack in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to dry the wings. Alternatively, you may dry the wings thoroughly with a paper towel.


In Guy Trebay's world, nophobia would manifest itself sartorially. The New York Times reporter's outlook on ethnic dress at the Olympics seems to ignore the fact that clothes have evolved along with global cultures. There's a reason Queen Elizabeth is seen in outfits and hats by in Hardy Amies and John Anderson rather than the intricately adorned dresses and jewelry associated more with the other Queen Elizabeth.
Trebay's complaint that "regional costume is vanishing from the planet, kept alive at the opening ceremony of each new Olympics and on the it's-a-small-world ride at Disneyland" is rooted in traditions and ideas that started years ago, in a pre-Internet age. The big problem with the Disney ride is that it portrays other cultures and ethnicities as Disney saw them in 1966, not how they saw themselves.
His assumption that "traditional garments like saris, dhotis, lungis, kimonos and sarongs are on their way out," is off-base too. The opening ceremony uniforms aren't just a way to tell a nation apart, it's a great opportunity for native brands to get some recognition. That's why Ralph Lauren (USA), Lacoste (France), and Suitsupply (The Netherlands) readily outfitted their respective national teams. And why Japanese retailer Matsuzakaya carried the torch for Japan's modern prep-inspired uniforms.
Trebay's missive that Japan's uniforms resembled "Anglicized schoolboy clothes smart Parisians bought for a century at Old England, a now defunct shop near the Paris Opera" completely ignores the fact that the Japanese have a long, storied history of adoring preppy style. In the '50s, Kensuke Ishizu's VAN introduced Japanese youth to a modern way of dressing inspired by American Ivy League schools, which spread widely in the '60s. Preppy style got so popular that photographer Teruyoshi Hayashida made the book Take Ivy, a treasured tome documenting Ivy League style in America that predated modern testaments to classic style like Free & Easy.
Prep clothes are just as ingrained in Japanese culture as they are in America. The image of the suited-up salaryman is a pop culture trope there, so much so that Japanese band World Order has made the look into a a very dapper uniform. To say that the style isn't Japanese is like saying wingtips aren't American. Both styles originated elsewhere (we can thank the Scots for brogues) but have nevertheless become an indelible part of our respective sartorial cultures. It's just plain ignorant to assume traditional costumes and uniforms are all a country can wear to define itself.
Even today, lauded brands like J. Press and Thom Browne—two spectrums of modern, prep-inspired style, are owned by Japanese companies, and they're not alone. Take for Kamakura for example, the Japanese shirt brand we recently featured, known for its affordable oord button-down collar shirts with a perfectly rolled collar. On the global stage, countries should be able to sartorially express themselves in a way that represents them as they are now, not how some out-of-touch spectator thinks they should be. The only way to break stereotypes is face them head on, tearing through them like desperate bobsledders trapped in Sochi bathrooms.


text:
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helpin…g them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.
All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.
Latest from Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Content Type: ARTICLES
Topic: CXO
Type: ARTICLES
Restart issues after installing MS10-015? Microsoft wants your help!
If you are having restart issues after installing update MS10-015 (which may or may not be malware related), Microsoft wants your help!
February 15, 2010 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
Strike hits Chinese screenmaker
Workers at a factory making screens for consumer electronics giants such as Nokia and Apple have walked out on strike in protest over bonuses not being paid and exposure to toxic chemicals.
January 19, 2010 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
Android's doing a pretty good job of keeping up with the iPhone
Web tracking firm NetApplications has published data comparing Android and iPhone browsing usage share from launch date and covering the first six months. The trends show that initially Android kept pace with the iPhone initially, but now seems to be losing ground.
May 31, 2009 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
Intel delays Core i5 launch
I'm getting reports from insiders in the motherboard industry that Intel has delayed the launch of the Core i5 "Lynnfield" processors, pushing the launch back from July to September.
Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for May/Jun 09
Welcome to the updated and revamped Hardware 2.0 "Very Best Kit List" for May/Jun 09. Here I've put together a list of the best high-end and mid-range and budget components currently available. So if you're thinking of buying, building or even upgrading a PC, this list is a must-read for you!
May 7, 2009 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
What do you want from your next computer?
The big name OEMs spend millions of dollars on ads which try to tell customers what they want from their next computer. You need this processor, or that much RAM, a certain amount of disk space, so many hours of battery life or a a screen that's so-and-so across. But what do you want from your next computer?
July 16, 2009 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Sep/Oct 09
Welcome to the updated and revamped Hardware 2.0 "Very Best Kit List" for Sep/Oct 09. Here I've put together a list of the best high-end and mid-range and budget components currently available. So if you're thinking of buying, building or even upgrading a PC, this list is a must-read for you! This time around sees the addition of several new categories, such as netbooks, notebooks, all-in-one PCs, ad wireless routers. I've also added new products to some of the existing categories too.
August 20, 2009 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
eBay scammers try to scam security expert
If Bruce Schneier can't sell a PC on eBay without scammers trying to get one over him, what chance do the rest of us have?
June 22, 2009 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO
Windows 7 - The missing bits
Windows 7 certainly seems set to become the best incarnation of Windows yet. But despite all the updates and tweaks that I've seen in Windows 7, I still feel that this OS is missing features that I think should be part of a modern OS.
Symantec shows Microsoft how to do UAC
Security company Symantec has released a tool that helps to make Vista's UAC (User Account Control) feature clearer and less of a pain to use.
October 10, 2008 by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes in CXO


Mineral water bottling plant which confirm to the standards set by B.I.S. (Bureau of Indian Standards).
Reverse Osmosis Plants for High Purity Process Water used in Industrial Applications.
Water Treatment for Air Conditioning Plants/ Cooling Towers, Boiler Feed Water etc.
Hard water conversion to soft water / Highly Pure Drinking Water Units.
Iron / Pesticide removal from Bore well water.
Effluent and Sewage Treatment Plants as per Pollution Control Norms.
THE BOREWELL TO THE END PRODUCT IS AUTOMATED.


text:
Biography◬
Chronology◬
Court Records◬
Directories◬
Land & Property◬
Language & Languages◬
Merionethshire Parishes
Manors◬
Military History◬
Names, Geographical◬
Names, Personal◬
Periodicals◬
Politics & Government◬
Population◬
Probate Records◬
Religion & Religious Life◬
Social life & Customs◬
Taxation◬
"The County of MERIONETH is 108 Miles in Circumference, contains about 500,000 Acres, & divided into 6 Hundreds; in the North are 3 Market Towns, but none of them nor any other Town in this County, are represented in Parliament; has 37 Parishes & about 2590 Houses. The Air is very sharp, the County being full of Mountains, & barren, so extraordinary steep, that Persons may discourse from ye Top of one Mountain and be heard by those that stand on ye other. Here are great Flocks of Sheep, & Goats, Herds of Cattle, Deer, Fowl, Fish of all sorts, cheifly Herring in their Season." [Emanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta, 1720]
Gwynedd Archives Service - Includes Gwynedd Archives' On-line Catalogue service.
The National Library of Wales
The National Archives has details of many archive repositories in the UK with links to their web sites, if any.
A Merionethshire Bibliography - Books of General Interest for Family Historians
Gwynedd Family History Society have an online listing of their extensive library of books
Gwynedd Family History Society have published a selection of Memorial Inscription indexes
The UK BMD web site "provides 2556 links to websites that offer on-line transcriptions of UK births, marriages, deaths and censuses. A wide range of other indexes and transcriptions are also available for most counties, these may include parish records, wills, monumental inscriptions etc."
There are census transcriptions on the following parish pages;- Barmouth 1901 (Llanaber); Betws Gwerfil Goch 1851,1871,1891 ; Corwen 1851, 1871, 1891 ; Dinas Mawddwy 1851 ( Mallwyd ); Dolgellau 1871, 1891,1901; Gwyddelwern 1851, 1871, 1891 ; Llandanwg 1851 ; Llandderfel 1851, 1871, 1891; Llanddwywe 1841; Llandrillo 1851,1871,1891; Llanelltyd 1841, 1851, 1871, 1891; Llanfachreth 1891; Llanfair 1851 ; Llanfor 1851, 1871, 1891 ; Llangar 1851, 1871, 1891 ; Llangower 1851, 1871, 1891; Llansaintffraid-Glyn-Dyfrdwy 1851, 1871, 1891 ; Llanuwchllyn 1851, 1871, 1891; Llanycil 1851, 1871, 1891; Llanymowddwy 1901; Trawsfynydd 1841, 1851.
Gwynedd Family History Society have published a selection of census indexes
Welsh Chapels & Churches
Gwynedd Family History Society have a map of the ecclesiastical parishes of Merionethshire (Publications) on which there are links to photographs of some parish churches.
Joyce Hinde has supplied a list of Parish Registers held at Merioneth Record Office.
Alwyn Humphreys has transcribed the Bishop's Transcripts for various years for these parishes; Dolgellau / Dolgelley, Llanelltyd, Llanfachreth, Trawsfynydd
Parish register copies (Merionethshire) in the library of the Society of Genealogists.
Gwynedd Family History Society have published a selection of Baptism and Marriage Indexes
National Library of Wales An online searchable index of Marriage Bonds and Allegations. It contains details of some 90,000 marriages by licence which took place in Wales between 1616 and 1837. In early 2016 the NLW made changes in its online catalogue and now the only apparent method of finding these bonds is to search the main catalogue
Listings of (present-day) Clerics, Benefices, and parishes of the Dioceses of Bangor and St Asaph
Brett Langston has provided details of the Registration Districts in Merionethshire for the period 1837 to 1974 and certificates of birth, death and marriage can be obtained from the Superintendent Registrars at local District Register Offices:
North Wales BMD Births, Marriages and Deaths on the internet. Clwyd and Gwynedd Family History Societies, and Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society are collaborating with the local Registration Services to make the indexes to these records freely searchable via the Internet. Although the indexes are not yet complete for all years and districts, it is hoped that the database will eventually cover all North Wales births, marriages and deaths for the years 1837 to 1950.
The UK BMD site "provides 2556 links to websites that offer on-line transcriptions of UK births, marriages, deaths and censuses. A wide range of other indexes and transcriptions are also available for most counties, these may include parish records, wills, monumental inscriptions etc."
A Vision of Britain Through Time. "This site contains information about your home area from the 2001 census -- and from every earlier British census back to 1801. It can present this information both as maps of the whole country and as graphs showing change over time in your area. It truly offers a Vision of Britain through time"
Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England and Wales to 1516. The Gazetteer compiled by Dr Samantha Letters is a catalogue of markets and fairs in medieval England and Wales. This is the first comprehensive national survey.
Merionethshire - on wikipedia
On Caryl Williams's site - Passenger list for the ship 'Higginson' sailing from Caernarfonshire with 141 Welsh Emigrants on board and arriving in New York May 18th 1850. Most of these 141 passengers were Welsh people from Merionethshire and the County of Anglesey, six were English. The Ship left Caernarfon on April 9th with 141 passengers and arrived at New York with the same number.
Tallis's Topographical Dictionary of England and Wales, published in 1860 in six vols, editor E. L. Blanchard.
See Welsh Family History Archive for all the excellent county maps (showing the hundreds) and the alphabetical gazetteer
From the preface;
"In the following pages will be found fully described the past history and present aspect of every place of any significance in England and Wales, forming a work of permanent importance to the commercial world, of ready service to the tourist of the day, and of constant interest to the general reader, who may derive from this source a large supply of entertainment, as well as of information for the amusement and instruction of a leisure hour."
Researchers may be interested in the Merionethshire GenWeb pages.
GenP genealogy program have a Timeline of the county of Merioneth
Gwynedd Family History Society have a history of Wales feature on their site (Publications)
Castles Wales site - Medieval Gwynedd and The Early Welsh Kingdoms, Gwynedd
Map of Merionethshire in 1833 - Copied from the original in "A Topographical Dictionary of Wales" by Samuel Lewis 1833
Gwynedd Family History Society have a diagram of the ecclesiastical parishes of Merionethshire (under Publications) - with some links to photographs of parish churches
Welsh county maps on the UK Genealogy Archives site
Survey of 20th century Welsh Seafarers for North-West Wales Papers - details of extant records on Archives Network Wales "The Welsh Seafarers for North-West Wales project recorded the careers of twentieth century seafarers. Forms were distributed via the Caernarfon, Dolgellau and Anglesey Record Offices, with help from local maritime museums and individuals"
Lighthouse Personnel in England and Wales and the Channel Islands 1841-1910. Includes;- Table of Keepers; Table of Stations by county; Location map of the lighthouse sites.
Welsh Mariners by Dr Reg Davies---includes a searchable database of over 17,000 Welsh born (or Wales resident) Master mariners, mates and engineers who held certificates of competency or service; in practice it is an index of men active from 1850 to 1945 in the merchant navy.
Gwynedd Archive Services have a substantial collection of the following publications;
Yr Arweinydd Baner ac Amserau Cymru Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald Caernarfon - Llyn Chronicle
Cambrian News Y Cymro Y Dydd Y Ddraig Goch
Eco'r Wyddfa Y Genedl Gymreig Goriad Yr Herald Gymraeg
Illustrated London News Llais Ogwan North Wales Chronicle North Wales Weekly News
Y Rhedegydd Y Tyst Yr Udgorn
People's Collection Wales - Working Lives, mines and quarries
Slatesite - history, communities, photographs etc
The manganese mines of Merionethshire "Manganese ore was mined in two main areas of the former county of Merionethshire: in the uplands east of Harlech and Barmouth, and in the east of the county in the Arenig area between Trawsfynydd and Bala. In addition, there were a few mines in the north of the county on the southern slopes of Moelwyn Bach and some trials in the area to the south of the Mawddach."
The Workhouse - on Peter Higginbotham's site
The Blue Books of 1847. An inquiry into the state of education in Wales - on the NLW's site
Day Schools in Merionethshire in 1847. This database consists of day schools which existed in 1847 included here within an alphabetical list of parishes
It contains the names and types of day schools listed in the Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales published in 1847
Gwynedd FHS
This county is maintained by Gareth Hicks with help and information provided by a number of other volunteers.
Last updated 9 January, 2020 - 20:30 - maintained by Gareth Hicks


text:
Dej Loaf on Exclaim! TV's Sweet 16s
When asked how important it is to include personal subject matter in her lyrics, DeJ Loaf responds with a rhetorical question: "What would music be without it?"
The Michigan native is quick to say that writing comes much easier to her without the need to fabricate lyrics or concepts. This attitude is only part of the reason why she's the latest rapper to grab the Motor City spotlight.
For the inaugural episode of Exclaim! TV's Sweet 16s (which is filmed in partnership with Reign Media), we caught up with the rising Detroit emcee before a recent performance in Toronto to hear what she considers to be the best 16 bars she's ever written.
Prior to treating us to a few rhymes from "Bird Call," taken from the 2014 mixtape $ell Sole, DeJ Loaf spoke to Sweet 16s host King Reign about the relationship between her personal life and her lyrics, as well as representing her home city of Detroit in her music. She further revealed that her love of writing developed at a young age, moving from scribbling out information from textbooks in the third grade to writing music and lyrics later in life.
Watch Dej Loaf spit her sweet 16 in the player below. You can also read our recent interview with the rapper here.
Hosted by King Reign
Filmed by Katherine Kwan and Roberto Granados-Ocon
Audio mixed by Kyle Laurin
Edited by Katherine Kwan
EXCLAIMTV
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Todd Taylor Made His Grand Ole Opry Debut with The Legendary Oak Ridge Boys
Fri Aug 09, 2019
Todd Taylor is an American five string banjo player. He held the Guinness Book of World Records title for "world's fastest banjo".
He has played and toured with other notable bluegrass players including Bill Monroe, Carl Story, Jim & Jesse. Taylor became the first banjo player to take the Banjo to the Rock-n-Roll worldwide Top-40 countdown, with his remake of the classic rock tune "Free Bird". Taylor is a four-time Grammy Award nominee.
It's a dream come true for the six-time Grammy Award nominee, who first became interested in playing the banjo when he was 6 years old. He travels to Nashville on Monday to get ready for his performance at the iconic venue where many country legends have played.
"My friendship with The Oak Ridge Boys started about seven years ago," Taylor said. "Those guys are true guys. What you see is what you get. They are legends."
Taylor, 52, joined The Oak Ridge Boys on stage for a performance of the song "Bobbie Sue," first released by the country and gospel vocal quartet in 1982.
When Taylor isn't on tour, he practices about five hours each day. His love for playing the banjo has remained strong throughout his career. He was the first solo banjo player featured on the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 program in the 1980s for his arrangement and performance of Lynrd Skynrd's "Freebird."
Taylor later released his album "Something Different," which showcased him playing classic rock hits.
"I got my own style," he said. "If it hadn't been for me doing rock and roll on the banjo, I wouldn't be in the music business today. Those who are trying to get a start in the business may sound good, but you have got to find something totally different and believe in it and stick with it."
In 2018, the South Carolina Legislature designated March 14 as "South Carolina Banjo Day" in recognition of Taylor's contributions to music. He's played for Gov. Henry McMaster in Columbia and will be travelling to Washington in August to play at the White House.
"I thank God for what he has done for me and I am still able to do what I do," Taylor said. "I am so thankful to be able to play with The Oak Ridge Boys at the Grand Ole Opry. It seems like it isn't real but I am ready to be there and do it."
In 2007, Taylor was the first to set the Guinness World Record for fastest banjo by performing both parts of "Dueling Banjos" at 210 beats per minute. In 2012, Gov. Nikki Haley presented Taylor with the Order of the Palmetto. In 2018, the State Legislature of South Carolina designated March 14 as "South Carolina Banjo Day" in honour of Taylor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqQjWonl_DA&feature=youtu.be
Todd Taylor
Cashbox Canada Features Archive
BTW-Extreme, River Drivers, Steel City Rovers, Humble, Jesse Cook, Ilja… Jan 17
We Need a New Top Chart Jan 17
Eagles: Before the Band – The History of the Iconic Rock Jan 17
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Free Spirits Release Single "The Power of Our Love" From Debut Album 11.1 Jan 10
Crooner Micah Barnes Puts His Own Stamp on Classic "When In Rome (I Do As The… Jan 10
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The History of Cashbox Magazine Jan 10
BTW-Partow, Sitar Fusion, Oblyx, Wayne Hussey, Morning Bells, Betty Moon,… Dec 20
Singer/Songwriter Mauve Releases a "Brand New" Video Dec 20
Season's Greetings and Merry Christmas from Cashbox Dec 20
Danny Thomas Sound of Thunder Dec 13
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Yes You Are A Failure! Dec 13
Liona Boyd Welcomes the Holidays with a Winter Fantasy Concert Special Dec 13
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Royal Prospect – Lights Out! Dec 06
Month: Nov 2019
BTW Leahy, Black Puma, Good Lovelies, Jay Douglas, Kaia Kater, Tush,… Nov 29
Cashbox Caravan Indie Week Wraps Up with Two Nominations for EMG Artists Nov 29


Associate with good partners and create a winning campaign plays a major factor in the mind of the advertising genius. The partners that play vital roles are the publicity agents and the event management firms in addition to freelance players as well. The ad agency Toronto after the discussion with the major corporate / company / industrialist or celebrity (to name a few) seeks the assistance of affiliate partners. The companies who build up the momentum for the new product are the PR agencies, market research and the event firms together with the ad agency Toronto. Many a time re- launching the old product with a new caption is what the ad agency Toronto has to promote. Once the entire process has been approved by the client and debriefing sessions with the associates has been ironed out, the process begins. All work together to create a media frenzy. Churning and building momentum so that the product or launch plays on everyone's mind is the mantra.
The ad agency Toronto works on the creative element ponders on the artwork and collates information from various sources within and outside the agency. The market research firm brings in the final surveys and discusses various other parameters with the ad agency Toronto that have not been worked on and once approved they go out and bring in more information. However, there are advertising agencies that have their in-house market research teams and other affiliate teams too. Nevertheless when the volume increases and the bandwidth limited for the ad agency Toronto the best option is to outsource work from the professional players affiliated with the agency.
Publicity campaigns with the event management firms bring in a zest and new ideas.
Brainstorming sessions with both creative teams brings forth the snazzy element, keeping the client's requirement on top. Publicity awareness through road shows, concerts, flyers, etc are the planning and executive concept that the event management firms associate themselves with along with the ad agency Toronto. The exercise here is well organized time management along with the associated network.
The public relations firm takes over as well interacting with the press and ensuring mass media allowances but keeping the ad agency Toronto abreast of any development. The PR agency educates the media about the client's business, their plans, products and services. The idea is to make sure that positives are generated in the minds of the media and to the public at large. With new releases, press kits, public launches, on-on-one meets, feature articles across the gamut – in periodicals, social media networks –Twitter, Facebook, and other networks, with the objective that they maximize every bit of public appeal. Feature articles spanned across ensure that the nature and approach of the clients business is clean and they project a very positive outlook together with the ad agency Toronto. Working in tandem with the advertising agencies to understand the media planning approach, the PR agencies and the event management firms build up momentum about the product. The idea is to get everyone to try the new service and or product without negative publicity. Positive publicity is adopted across the entire process from the ad agency Toronto, market research and PR agencies along with the event management firms.


text:
← Day 699: Is This Me pt. 2
Day 701: Is This Me (Self-Forgiveness) →
Day 700: This is Me pt.3
Continuing from Day 699: Is This Me pt.2
At a milestone of 700, in which I wouldn't believe that I would make it this far, if you would have told me back then when I really first started, being that my track record shows that I never made it to far, because it was like I was trying to drive without wheels on a car, that didn't go no where because the messages weren't real, but only incited a discussion and debated in fear, being that we like to talk about things that we don't know, and in the end look at each other like I really don't know, so one thing after another I started and quitted it, and started and quitted it, until I got sick of it, but kept the search go on without giving up, on Me even when it felt like that I was stuck, and couldn't find my way up so just laid there for a while, like laying in a pile of leaves when I was a child, looking up to the sky with a smile on my face, until reality came and smacked Me dead in the face, telling Me you're not done and have no time to waste, so get to it life awaits you in the end, which is a New beginning of a New world my friend, with you and all Life in it, in which will take a process to achieve, so get up, stand up and wipe off your knees and start walking.
I've become partial to praise now and really don't want to hear it, and even if it's genuine I still don't want to hear it, because of the old pattern I existed as, that I now need to let go, with the rest of my past unconditionally for sure, and condition Me to stand as who I am now, to accept it when it's real and investigate when it's not, to stop the energy behind this acceptance and just be, to live responsibly as only the real Me can, and Man up when the thought comes up that I can't.
This is Me, but at times it seems hard to be that, being that I have given mind a direct pass, unconsciously, while consciously following the thoughts around, that I'm worthless and useless, then tell myself man these thoughts are useless, when the true is, I've been down that road before, that lead me to Here and back at the same door of being bored to deaf of repeating the same thing, like repeating the same mantra and waiting for a feeling that'll never comes, then experience the placebo effect, as if I did something that had a positive affect on my life, that only really caused me strife and longsuffering, while asking myself "This is Me right"? but it wasn't and only create negativity in my Life, while the real Me I just pushed and shoved aside, that would eventually come to the forefront and show itself right now, because all I've working on is Me right now.
I've stopped trying to change others and started changing myself, so others can look in and see that I'm changing myself and do the same, then this world will change for the better, with No bets to be made in a moment of being clever, but whether or not you change Ima stand my ground, right next to you equally and share Me frequently, as an example of what changing you can do, but don't get Me wrong, I'm still changing Me too, to reach my utmost potential, that's still a bit of a blur right now, but only when I get to it I'll show you how, but for now I really really, got work to do, because This is Me and this Me is not about you or against you, so thanks for reading and self-forgiveness to come, as a correction to the new Me, before it's all said and done.


Prom is just around the corner! We are now running an awesome special… When you rent one of our limousines for five hours, you receive two extra hours free, for a total of seven hours! This allows you to keep your limousine for the entire evening – from dinner and pictures, all the way to taking everyone home safely after the dance. Reserve your limousine today for prom memories that will last a lifetime! Contact us today for rates and booking.
We offer many different sizes of vehicles that can offer seats for 8-16 passengers. If you are needing to transport a very large group consider our new Limo Buses that hold up to 25 or 35 people. Our Limo Bus comes complete with 4 flat screen TVs, an amazing sound system, and a spectacular light show! It's a great way to celebrate in style.
Take one of our H2 Hummers out for a memorable evening. Our largest Hummer holds up to 16 passengers, has a flat screen TV & light shows.


For the buyer with an artistic eye, fused glass décor pieces offer a unique insight into the work of fine craftsmen. This beautiful clock is created with multiple layers of glass and colour pigments. A fresh and fun floral design in white is offset by a background in tones of green and blue The little buds are raised up from the glass adding texture and depth. Perfect for a bedroom, study, kitchen nook or TV room. Size 30cm diameter.


Oh you have to be kidding on this. And its refurbished too?
here's all the useful linkage, comparison engine links, necessary for this one… if only it were 1998… imagine how sweet this woot would be… … plus its un-new-ish… perfect.
Hm, refurbished, but Uniden's are known to hold up well… A decent price, if not good. Might be worth a woot!
I have this model. I love it. It does everything a cordless set should. Volume is adjustable, range is good, and it's packed with features.
Is this unit expandable or can it be used with the previous Uniden's offered from woot ?
People still use land lines? Do you need special service for those?
Haha, woot wins with the ANTM mention!
Does this phone mess with wifi?
I've sold several Uniden phones at my retail store, over half came back with a problem or lousy connection. Uniden is a hit/miss deal, good luck.
You'd know if you read the description.
What a weird large cell phone. What's this answering machine thing? Is it like voicemail?
I have purchased a lot of Uniden phones - new and refurbs (some from w00t!) - and this is the only model I have had problems with (static when I'm more than one room away from the base). But at $16 it's hard to argue against it.


text:
Report: U.S. Reaches World Trade Organization Deal with Russia
Russia's finance minister said Russia and the United States had reached a deal on one of the key sticking points holding up an agreement on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, and a final deal would be signed within the next two days, news agencies reported Thursday.
RIA-Novosti quoted Alexei Kudrin as saying that U.S. and Russian negotiators had reached an agreement that will allow foreign insurance companies to open branches in Russia, but not foreign banks.
"We have agreed to the opening of branches of foreign insurance companies but have insisted that no branches of foreign banks will be opened in Russia," he was quoted as saying.
Kudrin spoke a day after U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab arrived in Moscow for talks with Economics Minister German Gref and other top officials.
A spokeswoman for Gref's ministry said earlier that talks had been extended into Friday, but would not comment on whether progress had been made. The U.S. Embassy said that Schwab and Gref were "actively negotiating."
Talks have been slowed by disagreement over rules governing access for foreign financial services firms, agricultural subsidies and Russia's enforcement of intellectual property rights.
However, Russian newspapers reported Thursday that two big deals that could stand to benefit U.S. companies had been brought into play.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported that the U.S. was prepared to cave in on its demands for tougher intellectual property enforcement and drop demands that U.S. banks be allowed to open branches directly in Russia without having to go through a Russian-registered, and Russian-regulated, subsidiary.
For its part, Russia would allow foreign firms greater access to its insurance markets as well as lower agricultural subsidiaries. The paper suggested that Russia would also offer U.S. firms a role in tapping its giant Shtokman natural gas field in the Barents sea.
Gazeta, meanwhile, reported that Russia would not agree to lifting barriers to U.S. farmers or insurance companies, but as well as a part in the Shtokman project it would agree to update its commercial air fleet with U.S.-made Boeings rather than European Airbus airliners.
Categories: International NewsTopics: Agricultural, Russia, United States
N.Y. Court Takes Contrary Position on Insurers' Right to Recoup Defense Costs


text:
Q: ¿Cómo hacer para que df.dtype devuelva el tipo de todas las columnas en python? Estoy intentando ver de qué tipo es cada columna de mi dataframe en python, por lo que ejecuto lo siguiente: df.dtype
Lo que me devuelve (en spyder):
Out[7]:
ID                      int64
NUMERO_CUESTIONARIO     int64
OLA                     int64
AEROPUERTO_ORIGEN      object
PAIS_DESTINO           object

SITUACION_LABORAL       int64
INGRESOS                int64
PERSONAS_HOGAR          int64
TRIMESTRE              object
PESO                   object
Length: 175, dtype: object

Pero mi dataframe contiene muchas más columnas de las que aparece en la salida, así que me gustaría que la salida mostrara todos las columnas y no solo las 10 que aparecen en la salida
¿Cómo puedo mostrar todas las columnas y sus tipos con dtype?

A: Observas menos columnas por la configuración que tiene pandas al importarla. Puedes al momento de importar setear:
pd.set_option('display.max_rows', 200)

...y luego df.dtypes debería mostrar todas las columnas.


J. Howard Finch has been named dean of Samford University's Brock School of Business, effective July 1. He also will have the faculty rank of professor, pending final approval of his faculty status by the university's board of trustees.
Finch's appointment was announced by J. Bradley Creed, Samford's provost and executive vice president. The selection follows a nationwide search to replace Beck A. Taylor, who resigned in May 2010 to become president of Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash.
Harry B. Brock Jr., the veteran Birmingham banker and Samford trustee for whom the business school is named, echoed Creed's assessment of Finch.
Finch currently is Alico Chair of Financial Management and Planning at Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, where he has taught since 2000. He previously was associate dean of FGCU's Lutgert College of Business and department chair in economics and finance. Earlier, he was on the faculty of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he taught finance and was executive director of the M.B.A. program. Before his teaching career, Finch worked in the corporate sector as a sales representative and financial consultant.
A native of Dothan, Ala., Finch was raised in Decatur, Ga. He holds a bachelor of business administration degree from North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega. He earned the master of business administration degree from Mercer University in Georgia and master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees in finance from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
Finch also has been widely published and is a frequent consultant and speaker on the regional and national levels.
Samford business professor Jennings Marshall chaired the 10-person advisory committee that assisted with the search process. Committee members included business school faculty, staff, students and alumni representatives, as well as other university representatives.


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Se refiere a una de las cuatro ciudades norteñas de las que se dice que provinieron los Tuatha Dé Danann, el quinto grupo de habitantes de Irlanda según la tradición de Lebor Gabála Érenn (libro de las invasiones). Se menciona que en Finias, Gorias, Murias y Falias. Fue donde los Tuatha Dé Danann aprendieron las artes mágicas y por sus habilidades inusuales se les representa como dioses Irlandeses Goidelicos; aunque los redactores cristianos los redujeron a reyes y a héroes históricos.

En la cultura popular

 En el video-juego Mabinogi Fantasy Life, se la representa como la ciudad de los dioses, de la mitología celta en una interpretación propia de los desarrolladores del juego, así como una referencia similar al Olimpo griego.

Enlaces externos

 mabinogi.com (sitio oficial corea del sur)
  (sitio oficial Norte América)
 http://gorseddjaguar.own0.com/t153-las-ciudades-misticas-murias-falias-findias-y-gorias

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Cake and birthdays go hand in hand. This invitation features an elegant tiered birthday cake. Add your wording with MS Word (Mac & PC) and Pages for Mac. Templates print on 8.5 x 11 card stock for easy printing at home or take to a local copy shop for duplication.


I built this Moosie in Jan - Feb 2006. It´s a OOB build, no aftermarket set was used, the only replacement was the canopy because I brooke the original, I used one from Falcon.
The kit is Tamiya in 1/48 scale. It was a fantastic & very enjoyable project. Fit of all parts was perfect, I didn´t find troubles and practically no putty was used (just a little in the wing to fuselage join). The level of detail is very good. The cockpit comes with all the interior details, I just added the seat belts made of lead foil.
To paint this model I used Model Master Enamels & the flat overall coat is Model Master Acrylic. Decals are from the kit.
I higly recommend this kit to everyone, specially for those who loves the Moosie.
Do you have any idea where I might purchase it?
Excellent work. I'm just starting to build models again and love WWII aircraft. Faves are the Mosquito, Hurricane and FW190.


In what has become a tradition, Larry Stebbins, the pied piper of vegetables in Colorado Springs, will present our January library lecture. Come hear how Queen Elizabeth I almost poisoned her guests by serving the wrong part of a vegetable. Learn what color carrots were three hundred years ago. Do you know what vegetable was found in Montezuma's garden in 1519 by the invading Spaniards? All of this and more will be included in this light-hearted but informative presentation. It will be a guaranteed good time for fun and old alike.
This entry was posted in Events and tagged garden lecture, garden presentation, larry stebbins by careymoonbeam. Bookmark the permalink.


If one wanted to lower the onerous cost of college, you could offer more grants to replace loans, provide bigger subsidies to colleges or pull federal research money from colleges that don't lower tuition and fees.
There is a fourth way: Offer a generous state and federal tax credit to those who pay for college or take on loans, but the House GOP tax bill veers in the opposite direction, which will drive up the total cost of college. It will cost families some $71 billion over the next decade, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
In addition to hurting retirees and working people, GOP education tax policy is unusually hostile to those paying or borrowing for college.
Passed last week by the GOP majority, the tax bill crafted by Republicans scraps tax breaks for those with college debt. It will ultimately raise the total cost of college for those who borrow.
"Getting rid of the deduction would cost borrowers more than $21 billion in the next 10 years. More than 12 million people took advantage of the deduction in 2015, according to the Internal Revenue Service. That's about 3 in 10 of the 44 million Americans with student loans."
The GOP House bill would also change other modest college credits. Although they were small relative to the cost of a year of a four-year degrees, they also offset tuition expenses.
"Millions of Americans also take advantage of the three higher-education tax credits — the American Opportunity Tax Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit and Hope Scholarship Credit — that House Republicans want to consolidate. The government would get $24.1 billion in revenue by repealing the Lifetime Learning Credit. But that money would come at the expense of graduate students who under the proposal would be largely shut out of the consolidated tax credit."
Why this assault on tax breaks for college at a time when college debt, at more than $1.4 trillion, trails only mortgages as the biggest source of consumer loans?
One rationale is that the GOP wants to cut consumer tax breaks to pay for massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. It's also part of a pattern to pare back consumer protections for student borrowers.
The Department of Education under Secretary Betsy DeVos, a huge proponent of private education and charter schools, has actively moved to peel back borrower protections put in place by the Obama Administration. She's favored giving a free hand to often-abusive for-profit colleges and eliminating forgiveness on college loans for public service employees.
DeVos has braked a Department policy, for example, called "The Gainful Employment Rule" that disclosed when for-profit colleges saddled students with excessive debt while failing to find them decent-paying jobs.
That's left any meaningful student protection and enforcement to state attorneys general, who are suing DeVos over failure to enforce the rule.
"From delaying student loan forgiveness to exposing students to misconduct by abusive schools, Secretary DeVos and the Department of Education have put special interests before students' best interests," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.
"Failing to implement the Gainful Employment Rule leaves students vulnerable to exploitation and fraud. If Washington won't defend students against predatory for-profit schools, we will."
As if the Trump Adminstration's and GOP tax policy wasn't enough of a bitter pill for indebted students and families, there's more turbulence on the horizon.
The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Protection (CFPB), Richard Cordray, said he's resigning to run for Ohio Governor. Cordray has been a fierce defender of borrower rights. His agency has been the lone federal watchdog on student loan abuses.
There's no love lost between the GOP, President Trump and the CFPB. Republicans have publicly stated numerous times they want to eliminate the consumer agency, which has saved Americans some $12 billion in recovered fees from rapacious lenders. An interim CFPB chief, who is likely to be largely endorsed by Republicans, may move to dismember the bureau.
Yet nixing the CFPB, its budget or its mission, will not help student borrowers. More than 40 million are chafing under extraordinary debt. Their loan balances that will continue to grow under a punishing tax "reform" plan, which deserves a swift demise in the Senate.


Colin is one of our newest agents and will be joining us in our Wash Park office. Welcome, Colin! We're so excited you are part of the Madison team.
I've had a very diverse career history so I've see seen all kinds of corporate cultures. I was drawn to Madison because of a strong commitment to building a real sense of community among brokers to work together to service the needs of clients. The collaborative environment and opportunity to learn from experienced brokers paired with industry leading resources gives a new broker, like myself, the the tools to focus on building a successful business.
My passion for real estate and architecture stems from years of working in construction and property management so joining a great company like Madison and Company is a dream come true. Since deciding to join Madison I've really been impressed with the reputation the firm has in the Denver area. I've told colleagues, friends, and family of my new endeavor and all of them recognized the Madison brand as a leader in the Denver market, which has really added to the excitement of working here. Working in concert with brokers at the top of their field is thrilling and I'm proud to spread the news that I've joined an industry leader that demonstrates their ethics and integrity with every client and transaction.
Over the last few years I've lived in LoHi, West Wash Park, Platt Park, and finally found my home in Harvey Park. Through these experiences I've really come to appreciate the different atmosphere each area has to offer. I'll be focusing on the Denver urban close neighborhoods on the city's south and west sides. My background in managing properties across the metro area will be a great asset in assisting clients, regardless of where they choose to buy or sell.
I may have grown up in Littleton but I actually consider Westcliff, CO my childhood home. My family has owned a cabin in Custer Country since I was in 2nd grade and I still manage to get down there 1-2 times a month. Its a wonderful escape from reality to get back to my little trout ponds,and other hidden gems in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A long day of hiking and fishing in the mountains of Colorado with friends and family is really what living in this state is all about.
Posted on February 18, 2016 March 2, 2016 Author Katy OwensCategories Denver Community NewsTags denver metro area, Denver real estate, Madison & Company, new agentLeave a comment on Welcome to Madison!


What is the hex bar and what purpose does it serve to every-day gym go-ers? First, let's give some context to why it serves any purpose at all.
Everyone knows the regular straight-bar deadlift. You have seen huge weightlifters walk up to the straight-bar with 400 pounds on the sides, bend down, and pull up while also holding good form. For experienced bodybuilders with tons of practice, this is usually not a problem. But what some lifters do not understand is that unless you are efficiently stretching before, after and using textbook deadlift technique (hint: many typical lifters you see at the gym, and especially younger ones, are not), this exercise can put an excessive magnitude of stress into your back's joints, ligaments, and muscles which over time causes damage.
So, one day in the early 1980's some of the top bodybuilders wanted to find a more efficient way to get the results of the deadlift without the pain and damage. Enter the hex-bar deadlift. Once invented for bulking up traps, the hex-bar has found new life in lifting circles. Even for more experienced lifters, this has transitioned into the go-to deadlift exercise for many reasons.
First, it reduces lower back stress. Looking at the picture above, the weight is placed directly over the hips and the back is straight with the head looking up. This is the optimal loading position for the back. Relative to the straight-bar deadlift, which shifts the weight forward and ramps up the compressive forces on the lower back, this exercise is much better suited for the human body and its functionality.
Second, the weight is distributed more evenly around the body allowing your body to more efficiently uses its muscles. A research study cited in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (you can see more details on it by clicking here)found that lifters could deadlift fifty more pounds on average using the hex-bar compared to the straight-bar. For those lifters who care about how much weight you can put up, this should be an immediate incentive to implement this into your leg routine.
Third, non-athletes or less-experienced gym go-ers can easily add this to their routine without any worry of a learning curve. The motion is simple, as shown below. Simply bend down and pull straight up while keeping your abdominal muscle tight. This is especially helpful for busy professionals and adults, as this exercise hits all major muscles groups in the lower body including abdominal muscles. This finding is expounded upon in a major comparative medical study that you can read here.
This means that the hex-bar deadlift could take the place of a variety of smaller lower-body exercises taking up excess time. As with any new exercise, start low and increase weight only when you feel comfortable.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you learned a new thing or two about lifting. Feel free to leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts or any questions/comments you might have!
Check back early next week for another article keeping you up to date with the health and fitness world!


text:
Here's How Microsoft Can Save Itself Amidst Disappointing PC Sales
Matt Rosoff
Oct. 14, 2010, 11:43 AM
Yesterday's third-quarter PC sales data from IDC and Gartner showed unit growth to be slower than expected.
This is bad news for Microsoft, which reports quarterly earnings on October 28.
Despite all the new businesses it's entered, nearly half of its revenue and a majority of its profit comes from sales of Windows and the desktop Office suite. And most of those sales come when businesses and consumers buy a new PC.
Both reports blamed sluggish consumer demand in the United States, and Gartner specifically blamed the iPad, noting that consumers who buy an iPad are less likely to buy a new PC. This should be obvious by now, but it still bears repeating since Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer seems to change the subject every time it comes up: the iPad is a real and immediate threat to Microsoft's core business.
There's no short term answer. But looking out two to three years, Microsoft's effort to push business customers to the cloud might just save the company's bacon.
Subscribing to Exchange Online requires a company to pay Microsoft a subscription fee of $60,000 per year.
The reason: business customers who subscribe to Microsoft's online services, such as Exchange Online for e-mail, will over the long run pay Microsoft far more than they would if they simply bought the company's software once. In theory, many customers should agree to this equation because the extra amount they pay Microsoft is more than offset by the IT savings of not having to run Exchange on-premises.
Here's a very simple test case. Assume a company with 1,000 employees, interested in core e-mail and calendaring functions, but not interested in advanced Exchange functions like journaling, legal holds, and so on.
Running Exchange Server on-premises requires the company to buy software licenses costing $72,666 at the time of purchase, plus an optional extra $18,279 per year for a guaranteed upgrade program called Software Assurance. Depending on the company's needs, it might upgrade to a new version of Exchange in five or six years, which could start the revenue cycle over again.
Subscribing to Exchange Online requires the company to pay Microsoft a subscription fee of $60,000 per year.
There are lots of caveats and assumptions in this test case. (If you're interested, you can read them below.*) But the basic takeaway is that after the first year, Microsoft collects far more revenue per customer from online services than it does from software licenses.
There's also an added benefit: lock-in. Unlike the case with on-premises software, Microsoft doesn't have to return to its customers every two or three years to try and push the latest upgrade to start the revenue cycle again. Online customers need to keep paying the subscription, year in and year out, just to keep getting e-mail. The upgrades are delivered automatically.
Profit margins are much harder to evaluate--online services have ongoing operational costs, but supporting mid-size businesses as they try to roll out and update and patch Exchange Servers is probably a cost center for Microsoft (they charge for support, but not enough to make a profit). And as you get to huge scale, operational costs don't look so bad. It's not software, where every sale past the cost of development is 100% profit, but it's pretty nice.
This is why Microsoft is pushing business online services so hard this year.
Next Tuesday, we're expecting to hear an announcement about the next version of Exchange Online and its brethren. (Collectively referred to by the memorable acronym BPOS, which stands for Business Productivity Online Suite. Hopefully they'll come up with a new name.) After that, Microsoft's sales teams and partners are going to hit the ground running, trying to spur businesses of all sizes to move to the cloud. Their success or failure could determine Microsoft's growth prospects for the next decade.
*Now for the caveats:
1. All software license prices are Open Business or Select A, which is a standard discount level for a mid size company doing a one-time purchase. Large enterprises will get discounts but will probably need higher-priced versions of the products so it kind of washes out in the end. Large enterprises will also probably buy Software Assurance as part of an Enterprise Agreement, so annual payments are almost guaranteed.
2. Licensing costs don't include the Microsoft software (Windows, Outlook) that is generally required or recommended on the client PCs.
3. Other costs, such as hardware and IT staff, make up the majority of IT-related costs. They're not measured here.
Get the latest Microsoft stock price here.
More: Gadgets Cloud Computing E-Mail Big Tech


I HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE. I care too much.
I grew up thinking I was going to be a teacher. While at University of California, Irvine, I was encouraged by one of the Deans to take a course that was taught "just like law school, I think you'll like it." He was right! I knew at that point that I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of pursuing justice on behalf of real people with real problems.
Teaching is great, and I still enjoy working with eager students. But they move on, year after year. Clients, on the other hand, become like "family" for me. I stand in the gap for them, explain the options when things look horrible and the future is uncertain. I am the buffer between pain and justice. I am the one that can help make order out of chaos.
Over the years, I have represented all types of people and business of all sizes, with all kinds of problems, in various types of cases. Each case is different and presents its own challenge for the client and for the lawyer. I find enjoyment and satisfaction while working with clients to sort out the facts, apply the appropriate law, and seek the result that works fairness in that particular situation. I accept the trust given to me by my clients seriously and consider it a great privilege and high calling to serve within the justice system.
What Makes Me Uniquely Qualified to Represent You?


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J.K. Rowling Reveals 'Intense' Sexual Relationship Between Dumbledore and Grindelwald Characters
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Famed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has decided that there is a "sexual dimension" to the relationship of two of her key characters, Gellert Grindelwald and Professor Albus Dumbledore.
The characters are two of the senior leaders of J.K. Rowling's wizarding universe populated by teen-aged hero Harry Potter and his cohorts Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The writer's revelations will form part of Rowling's comments for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, according to Complex.com.
"Their relationship was incredibly intense. It was passionate, and it was a love relationship," Rowling says in her commentary "But as happens in any relationship, gay or straight or whatever label we want to put on it, one never knows really what the other person is feeling. You can't know, you can believe you know."
"So I'm less interested in the sexual side — though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship — than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationship," the author added.
On the Blu-ray, Crimes of Grindelwald director David Yates is also enthusiastic about the sexual dimension to the characters. "This is a story about two men who loved each other, and ultimately have to fight each other. It's a story for the 21st century," Yates gushed.
LGBTQ activists were unhappy with the previous Fantastic Beasts film because it did not delve into the homosexual relationship between the two characters. The 2016 hit, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, avoided the topic completely.
This is not the first time that Rowling has assigned sexual motives to Dumbledore. In 2007 after her last Harry Potter entry was published, J.K. Rowling claimed that Dumbledore was gay.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
EntertainmentAlbus DumbledoreFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldGellert Grindelwaldharry potterJ.K. Rowlingjk rowlinglgbtqSame-Sex Couples
Nolte: Bernie Sanders Jumps to National Lead over Joe Biden


Well, t hey've done it!!!! Against all odds (bureaucracy, indifference, fatalism, pessimism and hostile goat barons) on Sunday, September 24, more than 40 young local people gathered on the mountain and after several hours of hard work, they secured an area of 8.000 square meters around the old mountain shelter on Ammoudia plateau with a long line of welded wire mesh panels.
They 've done it! Look at them at work! You can tell from the pictures which are all first quality, the feelings of joy and fulfillment shared by the participants. I am so glad I've helped in my own small way to this project. If things go well -and I have every reason to thnk they will- in less than 3 years, instead of that depressive, although sometimes also impressive, goat desert, we will have an oasis!
Notice: The gallery above is made up of 56 pictures I discovered in three posts at the OPS Ikarias Google+ page. They redirected me to three of their facebook posts: the first one, containing 12 pictures taken by my friend Angelos, the second and the third one containing a total of 44 pictures, taken by our friends from Italy, Paola and Ivo, founders of the association «Η 'δική μας' Ικαρία».
with our strange island and its strange problems.
Two days ago and I'm back in Ikaria and I am taking part in my own cleansing ritual as always early in the morning and after that I put something on and lie on the sand and I am tired and I drowse off and although it was cold earlier, now the sun rises higher and I wake up from the heat, and I think I'm dreaming 'cause next to my waist, and my left thigh small black creatures emerge from the sand hot babes and they look as if made of rubber and they are six or seven (maybe there were more while I was asleep) and they crawl and paddle towards the sea – because they are newly born baby sea turtles!!!
And I open the lid of the lens and I finally take three good shots!!!
I felt you were my own little brats!!!
Now in case some of you thought I am some kind of animal enchanter ☺ – according to latest records, loggerhead sea turtles are not uncommon in the eastern Aegean islands, including Ikaria, and that in spite the fact that we don't have many appropriate sandy beaches. Several friends have seen nests and even witnessed mothers laying eggs.
But I think I was the first person on the island that baby sea turtles hatched and crawled out of the sand right under my body!
You cannot conceive the beauty or the ugliness of this world when you are observing it from a distance. You have to approach, dive into its depths and explore… It is only then that awareness and objectiveness are acquired.
Green growth was introduced to Greece round the early '80s, when E.U. directives applied to Greek Government energy policy led to the installation of the first wind farm. Since then the number of wind farms has been increasing at an immense rate. The incentive for this investigation was the observation of wind turbines being inconsiderately dispersed across invaluable regions of the mainland and the islands of Greece, in the name of clean, "green energy".
The main objective of this documentary is to shed light on the environmental, financial and social consequences of this policy and the aftermath of the so-called "high priority" investments supported by huge subsidies.
While following this objective numerous questions were raised. Is this energy policy the essence of green growth and if so, could this be considered a truly sustainable form development?
Which are the spatial criteria for selection of areas of installation?
Under what kind of environmental assessment sites like forests, conservation areas, sites near traditional settlements or historic sites are approved as suitable?
Why are those environmental assessments carried out mostly by private companies and not by scientists, and how are their results validated?
Which are, if there are any, the obligations of the wind farm owners considering the removal of the turbines and the restoration of the environment and who sees that it is actually carried out?
In other words, is this really a strategy or a predatory way of harnessing renewable energy sources? Could green energy under these circumstances ever be actually "green"?
Such an obvious lack of strategic planning raises more questions considering the financial aspects of the matter.
Whom do these "strategic investments" really serve?
Under what legislation is the constitutionally defined meaning of sustainability being annulled, when permits are being issued inconsiderately and subsidies are given out to one-person companies and affiliates of the same key companies in the energy field?
Why isn't there any consideration whatsoever of the actual energy needs of the country?
Why aren't those companies fined when they are not meeting their dept to land owners?
Or, why is the ownership status scouted?
Why are all the above taking place while communities around Greece are provided with no official information at all?
Why are the views of Municipalities totally disregarded in decision making? Why are their arguments, protests, petitions passed by?
Is this really where the birthplace of Democracy ended up to?
Δεν μπορείς να συλλάβεις την ομορφιά ή την ασχήμια αυτού του κόσμου όταν τον παρατηρείς από μακριά. Πρέπει να τον πλησιάσεις, να βουτήξεις μέσα και να τον εξερευνήσεις… Μόνο τότε αποκτάς πλήρη συναίσθηση και αντικειμενικότητα. Ο όρος και η πρακτική εφαρμογή της πράσινης ανάπτυξης εμφανίστηκαν στην Ελλάδα τη δεκαετία του '80, όταν η ενεργειακή πολιτική των Ελληνικών κυβερνήσεων, καθοδηγούμενη από τις Ευρωπαϊκές οδηγίες, συναίνεσε στη δημιουργία του πρώτου αιολικό πάρκου. Από τότε ο αριθμός τους αυξάνεται με φρενήρη ρυθμό. Η παρουσία πολυάριθμων ανεμογεννητριών που αλόγιστα φυτεύονται στο όνομα της «πράσινης ενέργειας» σε ανεκτίμητες περιοχές της ηπειρωτικής και νησιωτικής Ελλάδας, αποτέλεσε το έναυσμα της έρευνάς μας. Ο κύριος στόχος του ντοκιμαντέρ είναι να φέρει στην επιφάνεια τις πραγματικές περιβαλλοντικές, οικονομικές και κοινωνικές συνέπειες της εφαρμογής αυτής της πολιτικής και τις «παρενέργειες» τον αποκαλούμενων «στρατηγικών επενδύσεων» που επιδοτούνται αδρά.
Η προφανέστατη έλλειψη στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού λοιπόν, δεν μπορούσε παρά να γεννήσει ακόμα περισσότερα ερωτήματα, ειδικά σε σχέση με το οικονομικό καθεστώς που επικρατεί στις «επενδύσεις» αυτές.
You know that my blog likes interviews and this one… well, it's a good one because it's like a documentary! I mean that you can just stare at the photos (loads of them) streaming over the questions and answers, only that I thought that the context was interesting too, so I got into the trouble to translate the whole thing in English and then I sent it over to be added as subtitles to the video on youtube. Which video is an illustrated version of an interview to my good Ikarian friend, Angelos K., founding member and representative of the Mountain Climbing and Hiking Association of Ikaria (OPS Ikarias), by Babis Kokosis for «The Hiking Trails of Greece» a regular radio show on «The Voice of Greece», the international Greek state Radio (ERA 5). Unlike what you might have expected, the pictures do not show landscapes and trails and maps and stuff like that but people!
***Find button to turn on "subtitles". Seen best in full screen mode!
«Today we will visit Ikaria, an island that has managed, in spite of the growing tourist development, to maintain a big part of its cultural traditions.
The natural particularities of Ikaria are many. They are shaped by the geographical features and the position of the island in the Aegean Sea. Ikaria consists of a long mountainous mass stretching from east to west forming a ridge with heights over 1000 m. and separating the island in two sides: the northern side with mild slopes, forestlands and abundant waters, and the southern side with stony grounds and steep slopes. Therefore, it displays an impressive variety of landscapes and natural sights which the visitor can discover by following its numerous trails while getting in touch with its history and the legendary particular way of life of its inhabitants.
And if you are a Greek reader you can check out the original transcript in this link.
I WANT MORE OPS Ikarias Videos!!!
The same as last year it's again time to review for you my blog posts of 2015. I wasn't counting but now I can see they were actually twelve, one for every month! If you are too lazy to scroll, you can just click on the image on the left and you will be directed to Google Image Search to see a gallery of random pics from my posts of 2016. But if you like things to come one after the other, go ahead and scroll below my gaping mouth 🙂 I have set my posts in order of appearance: a book, two maps, a guiding woman, a group of friends, a cook, a craftsman and a crazy girl, a food gathering man, a survival manual, yoga in the wild, hikers in the wild, my river and me, mushrooms, and finally, amazing landscapes in winter. I hope 2016 will be as rich with good subjects as 2015. I hope,..
I am in Ikaria now and it feels like in a lifeboat: heading for the unknown but safe and calm.
Seeing pictures of those new girls as they went around and posed proudly in the wild nature of Ikaria last summer, I said: «Hey, young ladies! We were there long before you!» Not that -goes without saying- we were the first. We don't claim a title which righteously belongs to the hippies. But we were the first who took photos and shared them with the world. Retracting my memories, I had even made a drafty webpage in 2004 where I described the magic of one of those places -the best in my opinion in the whole island. «Hike Chalares, canyon of my heart», was the title, if I am not mistaken. I had received critisism for that page, critisism of the kind, «You shouldn't give out secrets» and so on. But I was sure of my step. Wonders of nature shouldn't be kept secret. The same goes for «pockets of freedom», they shouldn't be kept secret either. But this is not the issue today. The issue today is that, twelve years after that day of September when we walked up bravely for almost the whole length of that river, today that I am not as young and posy as I was in 2003, I am sharing again with the world some of the material stored in the poor memory card of our obsolete Casio Exilim which could contain no more than 20 hi-res shots. But first let me review a few stories about the river – the scenery where these shots where taken.
♦ ♦ ♦ As I said, in 2003 we visited the canyon to survey the location and take photos. Besides sport and fun, our purpose was to a evaluate: «Was it as beautiful as they said? And if so, what kind of threats to the environment were there?».
♦ ♦ ♦ Having proven that Chalares was an amazing place, having shown that inspite it was September, there was plenty of water and the vegetation was lush, having warned that the sides of the hills were infested by disastrous free-grazing goats, I suggested that a hiking trail was created in order to put in value the beauty of the canyon and hopefully promote its protection.
♦ ♦ ♦ My appeal was heard and in 2005 a large trail network spread in the area. In addition, the large river pool which appears in the photos below was chosen for a very interesting experiment: the construction of a small environment-friendly semipermeable dam, meant to slow down the flow of the river and give new strengh to the vegetation.
♦ ♦ ♦ But though in the coming years the canyon got to be more and more known, visited and enjoyed, the main threat to its environment was not treated. Unfortunately the goats were always there. As a matter of fact, for reasons that don't concern this review, there were even more! As a result, exactly five years ago, in October 18, 2010, when a torrential rainfall hit the western part of the island, the overgrazed, barren and unstable sides of the lower part of the canyon collapsed. Tons of earth and rocks were carried by the water smashing the trees and wiping out all vegetation, leveling the lakes, transforming what used to be a detailed natural handiwork into a flat highway of gravel and sand.
Today is the black anniversary of that disaster. For older girls like me it is a bitter reminder that it takes much more things than just good intentions for paradise to happen. For younger girls I hope it is a lesson to be learned, I am afraid, only through experience. I am spreading my winds (which have started to turn grey) over their pretty heads and I am dedicating to them seven pictures from that blissful day of 2003 in the river when it was rich, when it was green, when it was mine. For better or worse it's their turn now.
The following photos were heavily processed using different methods in different periods of time. In this entry, as they always should, they appear their real «order taken», which is «in order of feelings»: curiosity, worry, happiness, pride, relaxed bliss, anxiety, humility. Their titles in Flickr are different but if you move your mouse over each picture, you will be able to know which is which.
That's all. Let the old show begin again!