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Beech Nuts
A correspondent wrote, from Hamburg, Germany, to ask about beechnuts -- specifically looking for "proper recipes, not sprinkling it on top." As beechnuts are not an ingredient with which many of us are familiar these days, we thought a little background would be in order.
The Latin name of the genus, Fagus, is derived from the Greek word for "to eat," phagein. We think it's always a good sign when the scientific name for something suggests that it might be tasty. American Beech is F. grandifolia (or F. Americana), which just means it has big leaves; European Beech is F. sylvatica, meaning the trees grow in the forest -- not much of a surprise there. Beechnuts, too small for modern tastes, not to mention too inconvenient for mechanized harvesting, are tasty enough to have been worth gathering for ages; Pliny -- referring to them as one of "thirteen varieties of acorn" -- wrote:
That of the beech is the sweetest of all; so much so, that, according to Cornelius Alexander, the people of the city of Chios, when besieged, supported themselves wholly on mast*. The different varieties cannot possibly be distinguished by their respective names, which vary according to their several localities...
The acorn of the beech is similar in appearance to a kernal, enclosed in a shell of triangular shape... The leaves are also very fattening for dormice, and good for thrushes too [both Roman delicacies, but outside the scope of this article]. Almost all trees bear an average crop but once in two years; this is the case with the beech more particularly.
*"Mast" is a term that refers to all forest nuts -- such as acorns and beechnuts -- that provide food for wild animals.
Beechnuts are small, less than half-inch in diameter, but sweet and similar in flavor to chestnuts -- though they are richer (their fifteen percent of fat, by weight, is nearly four times that of chestnuts). They contain 19.4-21.8% protein, 18-20.3% carbohydrate, and a whopping 50-53.5% fat (the numbers vary according to the analyses of different scientists).
They have never been a major product, commercially, in part because the trees bear nuts erratically, often skipping years between fruitful yields. The biggest consumers of beechnuts are wild game (deer, bears squirrels and gamebirds -- such as turkeys and grouse -- love them), and as feed for domestic animals; pigs have been freed to forage beneath beech trees for over two thousands years. Pliny said, "The acorn of the beech, when given to swine, makes them brisk and lively, and renders the flesh tender for cooking, and light and easy of digestion." Beechnut cake, left behind after the oil is pressed out, is also included in feeds for non-free-range pigs, goats, rabbits and poultry.
The nuts should not be eaten raw (at least not in any significant quantity), as they contain a toxic substance, a saponin glycoside, which -- while not fatal -- can cause gastric problems.
Fortunately, heat destroys the toxin -- and, like most nuts, roasting enhances their flavor.
Because of their high fat content, beechnuts have provided cooking oil and butter substitutes in Germany, and salad oil in France (the French have also roasted and ground the nuts as a surrogate for coffee). Ten pounds of beechnuts yield about a quart of oil that has better keeping properties than olive oil. Native Americans used beech meal -- made by grinding the nuts and drying the resulting paste -- as flour.
While the beechnut has sometimes been relegated to the category of survival food -- as with Pliny's citizens of Chios, or treated as patriotic duty (during two world wars, children in southern Germany were given holidays from school to collect beechnuts after the first frost released the kernels from their husks).
Beechnuts have rich sweet flavor that belies practicality. The following recipe is from the Spring 1948 issue of The Countryman:
Beechnut Cake (a Tramp's Recipe)
After scalding the nuts and peeling them like almonds, pound them and mix them with the flour, eggs and butter or margarine you would use for an ordinary cake, putting one part of beechnuts to two parts of the other ingredients. Or, in practical language:
Prepare a cake mixture from eggs, butter, flour, according to your favorite recipe, and add to it a quantity of scalded, peeled and pounded beechnuts, which should be as much as half of the cake mixture. Then bake it, and your cake will have a 'nutty' flavour and be richer in fat.
Linda and Fred Griffith's cookbook, Nuts, offers a somewhat more elegant and savory loaf:
Coarse-Grain Bread with Hickory Nuts and Beechnuts
1 Cup Cracked wheat
1/2 Cup Lavender honey
2 Tbsp. Unsalted butter, plus more
1 2/3 Cups Boiling water
2 Tbsp. Active dry yeast
1 Cup Warm water
5-7 Cups Unbleached flour
1 Cup Mixed hickory nuts and beechnuts, chopped and lightly toasted
In a small bowl, combine the cracked wheat, honey, sea salt, and butter. Pour boiling water over them and stir until the butter is melted, then let it cool.
While the mixture is cooling, proof the yeast by combining the yeast with 1/4 cup of the warm water. Stir to dissolve the yeast, then set aside in a warm place.
When the cracked wheat mixture has cooled and the yeast is bubbling, combine the two mixtures. Add the remaining 3/4 cup water.
Combine the whole wheat flour and 5 cups of the unbleached flour in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle. Pour cracked wheat/yeast mixture over the flour then blend. Then blend in the nuts.
Change to a dough hook and knead for 10-20 minutes on the lowest setting, adding flour as needed to make a dough that is a bit tacky but not sticky.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and gently knead it by hand for 5 additional minutes. Transfer the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
Punch the dough down, divide in half, and form into 2 loaves by patting each half into a flat oval. Then fold each oval in half and flatten them down on the seam, tucking the ends under. Place each piece in a well-oiled loaf pan that is 9x5 inches.
Cover pans with plastic and let the dough rise for 1 hour, or until it reaches above the top of the pans. At the same time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake loaves for 50-60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 210 degrees F. Immediately brush loaves with melted butter and let them rest for 5 minutes.
Then remove loaves from pans and place on racks top cool.
Makes two 9x5-inch loaves.
Beechnuts can be substituted for chestnuts or hazel nuts in other recipes if you want to begin experimenting with them. Assuming you don't have access to a grove of fruitful beech trees (even if it is a good year for them), or you don't have the time to go out and collect the tiny nuts yourself, it may be possible to purchase them. They are, clearly, an unusual food item, but they are sometimes available from:
Wild Pantry
Coker Creek, TN 37314
Duke, James A. CRC Handbook of Nuts. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1989.
Elias, Thomas S. and Peter A. Dykerman. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide. New York: Sterling Publishing, 1990.
Griffith, Linda and Fred Griffith. Nuts: Recipes from Around the World that Feature Nature's Most Perfect Ingredient. New York: St Martin's Press, 2003.
Loewenfeld, Claire. Britain's Wild Larder: Nuts. London: Faber and Faber, 1957.
Bostock, John and H. T Riley (trans.). The Natural History of Pliny. Vol. 3 of 5. London: George Bell & Sons, 1892. (excerpts from Book xvi, Chapters 6-8)
Rosengarten, Frederic Jr. The Book of Edible Nuts. New York: Walker & Co., 1984.
posted by Gary Allen at 11:33 PM
leena! said...
Good, informative post, Gary. I am curious to try the sweet beech nut now!
Thanx... did you ever find a supplier of the nuts (the one I mentioned doesn't always have them)?
The first time we purchased milk in these new containers (from Costco), my wife and I both commented on how difficult it was pouring milk into our cereal bowls. It seemed that some re-education or training was in order if we were to learn how to pour without spilling.
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If you're travelling north from Fort Augustus this is your first chance to get out into the forests overlooking Loch Ness. The trail follows the Allt na Crìche burn, with its charming waterfall, through mixed birch and pine woods and rises steeply to a series of viewpoints and benches. Take a rest and admire the vast watery expanse of Loch Ness and the solid stone towers of Fort Augustus Abbey.Take a look at our guide map to explore Allt na Criche and other forests in this stunning area.
An invigorating climb up the cascades of the Allt na Crìche burn is rewarded with some marvellous views over Loch Ness.
Firm gravel surface, with some earth sections that are narrow, rocky and muddy in places. Long steep slopes. Includes several sections of boardwalk and some steps.
The extraordinary views over Loch Ness include Loch Ness's only island – tiny Cherry Island (or Eilean Muireach; Murdoch's Island). It may seem natural but it's actually the remains of a crannog – an artificial mound built from wood and stone that once had a castle on it.
The nearest public toilets and places to eat are in Fort Augustus, about one mile (1.6 km) away.
From the centre of Fort Augustus head north towards Inverness on the A82. You'll see the car park signposted on your left, about one mile (1.6 km) from the village. The car park is at grid reference NH 390 108.
PH32 4BL is the nearest postcode, a little before you reach the car park heading north on the A82.
The Inverness to Fort William bus service stops in Fort Augustus, about one mile (1.6 km) from the start of the trails. See Traveline Scotland for details of bus services.


I need to pick one, eep! Now which one looks most library board-ish? Thanks to Jontisha Graves of What Once Was photography for these! As always, a delight to work with her.
Grey sweater. Books in the background.


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Modern Studio George Square
Ondříčkova 5
Praha, 130 00
info@prague-apart-hotel.cz
Jiřího z Poděbrad Square
The square is located in the central part of Vinohrady and was founded in 1896.
It was originally called King George's Square. The current name of the square has been bearing since 1948.
It has the character of a city park. Along its perimeter there are apartment buildings
the ones that form the southern side of the square belonging to Vinohradská Street.
Wenceslas Square
One of the city's most historic squares, Wenceslas Square (Václavské nám.) was formerly the horse market (Konský trh). The once muddy swath between the buildings played host to the country's equine auctioneers. The top of the square, where the National Museum now stands, was the outer wall of the New Town fortifications, bordering the Royal Vineyards. Unfortunately, the city's busiest highway now cuts the museum off from the rest of the square it dominates. Trolleys streamed up and down the square until the early 1980s. Today the half-mile-long boulevard is lined with cinemas, shops, hotels, restaurants, casinos, and porn shops.
The square was given its present name in 1848. The giant equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas on horseback surrounded by four other saints, including his grandmother, St. Ludmila, and St. Adalbert, the 10th-century bishop of Prague, was completed in 1912 by prominent city planner J. V. Myslbek, for whom the Myslbek shopping center on Na Príkope was named. The statues' pedestal has become a popular platform for speakers. Actually, the square has thrice been the site of riots and revolutions -- in 1848, 1968, and 1989. At the height of the Velvet Revolution, 250,000 to 300,000 Czechs filled the square during one demonstration.
According the archeological research and the old written sources it is more likely that the Prague Castle was founded around the year 880 by Princ Borivoj of the house of Premyslides.
In the medieval times the castle side was fortifed with a moat and rampart of clay and stones.
The first walled building was the church of Our Lady. Other churches, dedicated to St. George and St. Vitus, were founded in the first half of the 10th century.
From the 10th century Prague Castle was not only the seat of the head of state, the princes and later kings, but also of the highest representative of church, the Prague bishop. The first convent in Bohemia was also founded in the grounds of Prague Castle, a convent next to the church of St. George for the order of Benedictine nuns.
The period of the rule of King and later Emperor Charles IV. (the middle of the 14th century) was a time of prosperity for Prague Castle, for then it first became an imperial residence, the seat of the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The royal palace was magnificently rebuilt and the fortifications strengthened. Building began on the Gothic church of St. Vitus on the model of French cathedrals.
The adaptation of the Castle came to its height in the second half of the 16th century, during the rule of Rudolph II. The emperor settled permanently in Prague Castle and began to turn it into a grand and dignified centre of the empire. And he founded the northern wing of the palace, with today's Spanish Hall, to house his precious artistic and scientific collections.
The Prague defenestration in 1618 started a long period of wars, during which Prague Castle was damaged and robbed. It was used by the country's ruler only exceptionally and temporily
In the second half of the 18th century the last great rebuilding of the Castle was carried out, making it a prestigious castle-type seat. But at that time the capital or the empire was Vienna, and Prague was just a provincial town. The Castle gradually became dilapidated and its art treasures were impoverished by the sale of the remains of the Emperor Rudolph's collections.
It is the Oldest bridge in Prague and also one of the most beautiful on the world.
Originally called Stone bridge or Prague bridge and from 1870 Karluv Most (Charles Bridge). On his place was originally Roman bridge, called after wife of King Vratislav I. (1140-1172) bridge of Judita. It was built 1158-1171 and in year 1272 was seriously damaget by flood and the rest of the bridge was taken down by the ice, wood and other things which was bring by another flood in year 1342. It was considered that time like national disaster.
July 9th 1357 in 5 am 31 min the king Charles IV (Karel IV) laid the basic stone of the new bridge. The date and time was pick by the Kings astrogist as the best time for the new project. (conjuct between the Sun and Saturn)
The bridge is long 520 m, wide 10 m. The Charles Bridge was used until 20th century as very important way between the Old Town of Prague (Stare mesto) and Lesser Town (Mala Strana) on which were carry goods, and people.
St. Vitus's Cathedral (Chram Svateho Vita)
St. Vitus's Cathedral is the most important munument in Czech republic. Apart from divine services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in it. The remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops are interred here. About the year 925 Prince Vaclav I founded a Romanesque rotunda here which after 1060 was converted into a triple-naved basilica with two steeples. The importance of the cathedral grew especially after the establishment of the Prague bishopric in 973 and the founding of the body of canons - the St. Vitus chapter, which later became an important cultural and administrative institution. In 1344 Charles IV began the construction of a Gothic cathedral. Its first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler, built the choir with a ring of chapels, St. Wenceslas's Chapel, the Golden Portal and the lower part of the main steeple. In spite of the endeavours of some sovereigns to secure the continuation of the construction work the cathedral remained uncompleted for whole centuries.The main steeple was crowned with a Renaissance helmet and the music choir was built. The facade of the cathedral was provisionally closed. It was not until the latter half of the 19th century that the Union for the Completion of the Building of St. Vitus's Cathedral began the repair of the original part and the completion of the building of the cathedral in Neo-Gothic style. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated in 1929. Its interior was subjected to adaptations even in later years. Visitors enter the cathedral through the portal in the western facade, opposite the passage-way between the Second and Third Courtyards of Prague Castle. Its bronze door is decorated with reliefs with scenes from the history of the cathedral and from the legends about St.Wenceslas and St. Adalbert.
The Neo-Gothic part of the cathedral consists of the main nave and the narrow side aisles, lined with chapels, and the northern wing of the transverse nave. The chapels have stained glass windows. The construction of the large southern steeple was started by Peter Parler, but he did not complete it. It gained its originally planned height after being provided with a Renaissance helmet in the 16th century. St. Wenceslas's Chapel partly reaches on to the area of the transverse nave. The different conception of its architecture and its magnificent decoration emphasize its importance as the central point of the cathedral as a whole. The solemn entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Portal, affords access to the chapel from the Third Courtyard.
Apartments Wenceslas Square | Accommodation in Prague center

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What to wear at the job interview.
Colors tell according to Tove Steinbo, who has advice for when you go to that all important first meeting.
The Swedish career net community Shortcut picked up an old favorite book, "Fargene forteller" (Colors tell) by Tove Steinbo, when analyzing what to wear (and not) for the job interview. According to Tove Steinbo, what you wear on that interview can make or break you.
Here's her advice: Red signals strength and bravery – not a good color to wear, as it might frighten your prospective employer. Red can make you look a bit difficult. Orange is best if you're looking for a more creative job, as it shows you have a sense of humor and that you have a practical kind of creativity. Yellow is for teachers, lawyers, and scientists as it is the color of the intellect. But too an intense kind of yellow may cause a headache, so watch out! Green means empathy and care. Perfect for you if you're looking for a job in health care. It is also the color of nature, the environment and sustainability. Blue shows you are a serious and reliable individual. Great if you're in the banking business. Blue is almost always a safe bet. Turquoise is appealing and youthful and great for jobs that have to do with hygiene and health. But don't overdose on it. Pink is not a good color for a job interview. It is too unfashionable and too feminine. If at all you use it, do so with care. Black has gone from being a symbol of sorrow to utter elegance, it is never wrong but chances are you won't stick out. So if you wear black, make sure you use accessories in other colors. Never dress all in white – white's a color that doesn't say much about you. But a crisp, white shirt is always OK and shows you take your work seriously. Brown and beige? These colors emanate confidence and can be easily combined with other colors. If you want people to think of you as reliable and down-to-earth, then wear brown or beige. Grey, the most depressing color of all, has no character and should never be worn for a job interview.
Tove Steinbo whose book, book, "Fargene forteller" (Colors tell) offers advice on what to wear for the job interview.


Figure 1–4 shows a typical topology for a SONET network. This topology is a dual ring. Each ring is an optical fiber cable. One ring is the working facility. The other ring is the protection facility, which acts as a standby in the event of fiber or system failure on the working facility.
End-user devices operating on LANs and digital transport systems (such as DS1, E1, etc.) are attached to the network through a SONET service adapter. This service adapter is also called an access node, a terminal, or a terminal multiplexer. This machine is responsible for supporting the end-user interface by sending and receiving traffic from LANs, DS1, DS3, E1, ATM nodes, etc. It is really a concentrator at the sending site because it consolidates multiple user traffic into a payload envelope for transport onto the SONET network. It performs a complementary, yet opposite, service at the receiving site.
The user signals (such as T1, E1, and ATM cells) are converted (mapped) into a standard format called the synchronous transport signal (STS), which is the basic building block of the SONET multiplexing hierarchy. The STS signal is an electrical signal. The notation STS-n means that the service adapter can multiplex the STS signal into higher integer multiples of the base rate. The base rate is 51.84 Mbit/s in North America and 155.520 Mbit/s in Europe. Therefore, from the perspective of a SONET terminal, the SDH base rate in Europe is an STS-3 multiplexed signal (51.84 x 3 = 155.520 Mbit/s).
The terminal/service adapter (access node) shown in Figure 1–4 is implemented as the end-user interface machine, or as an add-drop multiplexer (ADM). The ADM implementation multiplexes various STS input streams onto optical fiber channels. The optical fiber channels are now called the optical carrier signal and designated with the notation OC-n, where n represents the multiplexing integer. OC-n streams are demultiplexed as well as multiplexed with the ADM.
The term add-drop means that the machine can add or drop payload onto one of the fiber links. Remaining traffic that was not dropped passes straight through the multiplexer without additional processing.
The digital cross-connect (DCS) machine usually acts as a hub in the SONET network. It can not only add and drop payload, but it can also operate with different carrier rates, such as DS1, OC-n, E1, etc. The DCS can make two-way cross-connections between the payload and can consolidate and separate different types of payloads.
The DCS is designed to eliminate devices called back-to-back multiplexers. As we learned earlier, these devices contain a plethora of cables, jumpers, and intermediate distribution frames. SONET does not need all these physical components because cross-connection operations are performed by hardware and software.
The topology can be set up either as a ring or as a point-to-point system. In most networks, the ring is a dual ring, operating with two or more optical fibers. As noted, the structure of the dual ring topology permits the network to recover automatically from failures on the channels and in the channel/machine interfaces. This is known as a self-healing ring and is explained in later chapters.


Shrewsbury and Atcham Labour Party have found that many fewer people are registered than previously, and there are always people in any election find out too late that they have no vote. Every person has to register individually. The easiest way is to go to Shropshire Council website, or request a form by email (elections@shropshire.gov.uk) or by phoning 0345 678 9015. You will need your National Insurance Number, or another form of identity if you have not got one.
If you would like someone from the Labour Party to check whether you are on the electoral register or help you with registering to vote, please contact us here.
Although the Conservative government has taken a political decision to sacrifice everything for an austerity policy, it has made Councils take the blame by underfunding those essential services, which arguably affect women most. As a result, to pay for social care, libraries, buses, youth clubs and many other areas have been devastated. It does not have to be like this.
The fight for all men and women to be able to vote is a matter of history. This Conservative government has made it slightly more complicated to register. It is an essential democratic right. We hope that the new Councillors have a strong democratic mandate, shown by a large turnout of voters.


Aktuell hat Garmin eine neue Firmware für die Oregon- und Dakota-Geräte zur Verfügung gestellt.
* Added brightness adjustments for BirdsEye imagery.
* Improved speed, trip odometer, and stopped/moving time data fields while in low velocity.
* Fixed issue with map POI's showing twice for a single point.
* Fixed elevation profiles to always use the most detailed DEM data loaded.
* Fixed future plot with tracks that have no elevations in them.
* Fixed issue with calculator % function.
Added brightness adjustments for BirdsEye imagery.
Improved speed, trip odometer, and stopped/moving time data fields while in low velocity.
Fixed issue with map POI's showing twice for a single point.
Fixed elevation profiles to always use the most detailed DEM data loaded.
Fixed future plot with tracks that have no elevations in them.
Fixed issue with calculator % function.
Wie man hier im Forum nachlesen kann, hat sich scheinbar auch die GPS-Genauigkeit erhöht, was mich natürlich sehr freut, denn in den letzten Wochen ist mir Aufgefallen, dass die Genauigkeit etwas zu wünschen übrig gelassen hat.
Dieser Eintrag wurde veröffentlicht in Allgemein und verschlagwortet mit beta, firmware, garmin, GPS, oregon 550, update von Oliver Muenk. Permanenter Link zum Eintrag.


Knight Squad is free for anyone with Xbox Live Gold until the middle of December, and weighing in at a whopping 573 MB of a download, you could practically install it while we're setting up!
Same time as always - Saturday, 21st November, 6 PM American Eastern. Be there!
The game is rather entertaining, worth a play with some friends.


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christao408
The adventures of an expat American who moved to Bangkok for his husband.
Your First Visit to Bangkok? See This
Bangkok Hotel Suggestions
Bangkok Restaurant Suggestions
Bangkok Shopping Suggestions
Construction Continues Unabated
Posted on 10 June 2010 by christao408
This week I spent about six hours over the course of two days dealing with the Ministry of Labor, renewing my work permit. That, about US$100, and the non-immigrant visa I received last summer while in the US, was enough to clear my way for another year of legal residency in Thailand.
I guess in the big picture this is a small price to pay to live with my husband, but it seems to me that people shouldn't have to jump through so many hoops on an ongoing basis in order to live with their spouses. Jumping through hoops initially for immigration purposes, I can understand that. But every year from now to eternity? Rubbish.
Anyhow, at least I received a full year on the work permit instead of only ninety days at a time, which is usually the case. However, with the type of visa I have, I still need to do a border run (leave the country) once every ninety days, despite having a full year visa. Try to figure that one out.
One sign that life is back to normal in the City of Angels is that construction continues unabated. In the picture above, you are looking northwest at the Asoke Road / Sukhumvit Road intersection towards the new Terminal 21 mall. I wrote about this construction project in November, when they were laying the ground floor after a year of work on the foundation and understories. Six months later they are on the ninth floor, which is as high as the mall portion will go.
Another view from the Asoke Road side. Pretty soon the street will be shaded in the afternoon, once they add just a few more stories. The back portion of the property will have highrise component which will include a service apartment complex and office space. Do we need another mall in this city? Probably not, but at least it is further east than most of the malls, which are in the Siam Square area. This provides an option for those of us on the Sukhumvit corridor to avoid going all the way into the city.
I'm actually surprised by the amount of construction going on in this city, especially new condos. A few weeks ago I drove from our house at Sukhumvit 53 to the Nissan dealership at Sukhumvit 101/1. This is about six stations down the Skytrain line, only three of which are currently operational, the remaining ones scheduled for operation at the end of 2011. Around every single station, both the current and future ones, there are three or four large construction sites where highrise condos are being built.
Can there be that much demand? It must represent investors' confidence in Thailand.
From highrises to sidewalks, inane utility work continues in Bangkok like it does in much of the world. Why is it that there never seems to be any coordination among respective agencies? A new sidewalk is built and neatly paved and then as soon as that is finished, a utility department comes along and digs it up.
The same is true along Asoke at the entrance to Soi Cowboy, where there was a large backhoe parked on the sidewalk for several days (anyone want to walk in the gutter?) as about five meters of the sidewalk was dug up and water mains were repaired.
I felt bad for these guys, the ones doing the actual work. What a messy job. As you can imagine, there's not much rhyme or reason to the way utilities are laid out in this city. Sometimes they don't even bury them, but lay them on top of the existing sidewalk and just spread some asphalt over the top, a snake running along the sidewalk, waiting to trip you.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Asoke, Bangkok, Construction, Sukhumvit, Terminal 21, Thailand, Utilities by christao408. Bookmark the permalink.
0 thoughts on "Construction Continues Unabated"
SolidStateTheory on 10 June 2010 at 00:59 said:
Yeah, I would feel bad for them too. There's no way that can be construed as fun.
Dezinerdreams on 10 June 2010 at 02:51 said:
If you think that is unorganized- wait till you see this city!
ClimbUpTreesToLookForFish on 10 June 2010 at 04:41 said:
I am happy that prosperity and stability returns to Thailand.
Passionflwr86 on 10 June 2010 at 06:21 said:
If you don't mind me asking – could you apply for full citizenship, in Thailand? Do you want to? Seems like it'd be simpler than continuing what you're doing, if you're planning to stay forever.
murisopsis on 10 June 2010 at 07:37 said:
It must be universal – the utilities work. Here they worked for years to get an extention of a road done to connect north and south. They paved and oops! had to dig it up – forgot some part of the sewer tile connection… by the time the road opened it had multiple patches from having been dug up..
ElusiveWords on 10 June 2010 at 08:23 said:
I'm still scratching my head over the border run with the full year visa. It's kinda sad to see towering developments that rob the city streets of sunlight.
yang1815 on 10 June 2010 at 10:47 said:
@Passionflwr86 – Ditto.
paperblanks on 10 June 2010 at 15:21 said:
It is interesting to see how other parts of the world are developing. I find that utility infrastructure is usually haphazardly thrown together when the city is in the beginning stages. Kind of wish they'd do it right and plan it all properly the first time, since down the road… it'll be quite a headache for future developments.For example, when I worked with the region of Niagara (Niagara falls area), they were finding old sewer lines that weren't documented anywhere, and they have no clue where they were going, or what they were connected to… but they were running anyways.
TheCheshireGrins on 10 June 2010 at 16:07 said:
I still think that the "border runs" are too funny. That's odd that you still have to do them even with getting a year long visa…
christao408 on 10 June 2010 at 21:56 said:
@Passionflwr86 – @yang1815 – I don't mind you asking at all. Full citizenship is a near-impossibility and permanent residency would require something like the following (as described to me once by a lawyer): You can have lived here fifteen years, be married to a Thai, have half-Thai children, own a large company that employs many Thais, work with many charities, have recommendations from Thais in powerful places, speak, read, and write Thai fluently, and maybe… MAYBE you will have a shot at permanenet residency. That said, if I could get permanent residency, I would. However, in another ten and a half years I will be 50, thus eligible for the retirement visa which makes it pretty easy to stay here.@TheCheshireGrins – Welcome to the pretzel logic of the immigration department…@AzureRecollections – Wouldn't it be nice if they could have a Paris- or Washington DC-like moment where a large swath of the city is all planned at a single time?@ElusiveWords – As strong as the sunlight is along that particular stretch of street when I walk to my Thai classes two afternoons a week, I'm actually thankful for a little shade! I know, not the right answer from an urban development standpoint, but there hasn't been anything green on that stretch of road for years, so it isn't like the sunlight does anything but absorb into (and reflect off of) the pavement.@choyshinglin – Well, I hope it has returned for a lengthy stay…@Dezinerdreams – Yeah, anytime I write about something kind of chaotic or strange here, I remind myself that there's always India. Incredible India!@Paul_Partisan – They were really friendly, though, smiling for some of the pictures I took.
Redlegsix on 10 June 2010 at 22:58 said:
You do not have a corner on stupid construction projects!!We are currently in the midst of the annual 'Orange Cone Season" and this year they have taken over the entire road from the point that I turn out of my neighborhood, until the point that I turn into the parking lot at work!!! The "estimated completion date" for this project was May14th…I ASSUME they meant May 14th 2010…but who knows!!! Ruth Ann
@Redlegsix – Important for them not to state a year. That way they have a lot more flexibility!
@christao408 – Yikes didn't know it's that hard to become a permanent resident/citizen there.
lcfu on 11 June 2010 at 17:19 said:
omg the last picture… yeah i always have the faith for thailand 🙂 at least all the best till i am back next year =p haha
@lcfu – In the end, it always seems to work out here, doesn't it?@yang1815 – Truthfully, it is a near impossibility. That's one reason I've been a bit agitated over the slow pace of change in immigration and marriage laws in the US. Would like to have a place where we can live without any false pretenses.
ZSA_MD on 11 June 2010 at 23:58 said:
i am sorry that you have to hop on to some other nation every three months just so you can continue to stay there. It just doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone here help you there, like a congressman or something, who could perhaps talk to some of the authorities to let you get your permanent residence there? That would bug me no end.I am glad that the city is beginning to look up. I hope every thing will be more or less done by November, when I plan to come there on my way to India.
@ZSA_MD – November would be good timing. I think my parents will be here around then, too! As for the visa, unfortunately all the lawmakers can do is pass a law overturning the Defense of Marriage Act or include domestic partners / civil unions in the immigration reforms.
@christao408 – No kidding. *sigh* It would be nice if you and Tawn moved to KC though! :DOr Omaha?!


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The Most Common Causes of Frame 6 Turbine Failure – TC&E
by TC&E Team | Oct 25, 2019 | Topics
At TC&E, we are asked many questions about issues concerning turbine systems, specifically Frame 6 gas turbines. In our experience—both working with customers on site and in the field—many of these questions are related to reliability issues concerning large-frame gas turbines, steam turbines, and controls and electrical issues across all turbines. What should we be doing? What are we overlooking? How can we make our units more reliable? When and why do failures or issues occur?
What we tell our customers is that the turbine control system is only as good as the inputs. Put it this way: Imagine you had no feeling in your fingertips. You wouldn't know if you were touching a hot stove. But if you do touch a hot stove, your immediate reaction and response is to jerk your hand away. Similar to the human body's biological nervous system, the electronics and instrumentation in a Frame 6 turbine system tell the control system what to do.
In many cases, the problems don't arise from the control system itself, but with the cables, insulation, and the instrumentation that feeds the control system. This makes regular maintenance on these components incredibly important—and one of the most commonly-overlooked aspects of regular maintenance.
In this article, we will discuss what the most important parts of a Frame 6 system to look at is, as well as the components within them that are most often overlooked, and why they shouldn't be.
What is the Most Important System Components to Look At?
We get asked this question every day. I believe it should be your turbine system, however, the truth is it could be anything… Anything can bite you on any day, costing you thousands and thousands of dollars in lost production time.
Never underestimate the importance of your thermocouples. Thermocouples should really be changed every five years. You should replace a full set of thermocouples for steam turbines, a full set of wheels space, your steam path stuff, as well as your exhaust and condenser thermocouples.
Additionally, you should have a matching set of thermocouples. To get these, simply call the manufacturer to order a full set of thermocouples that are plus or minus 1 percent of one another.
Thermocouples have about a good five-year lifespan. However, keep in mind that exhaust thermocouples run up to 1100 degrees and your wheel space thermocouples run up to 900 degrees. All these things will fail and they are 100 percent guaranteed to drift over time. And when they do, they will affect the overall performance of your turbine.
Other Instruments and Components
In addition to checking your thermocouples, it's also important to look at your other instruments, such as the calibration of pressure switches, pressure transducers, and transmitters. These are all critical components in your control system, which all tie into the overall performance and operation of your turbine unit.
All of those need to be looked at annually to ensure that you are preventing dry rot, failures, and that you are getting the best performance out of your unit.
Failure Can Happen At Any Time
Remember, anything can fail at any time. Failures will happen on a 99-degree day during the middle of August, generating up to $1,000 to $2,000 in megawatts. Therefore, it's important to ensure your unit and components are all running and operating as efficiently as possible, preferably during the spring and fall seasons. We help people out over the phone during the summer, giving them maintenance tips and other ideas to ensure their systems are running as they should.
If you need help with maintenance from third-party guys like us, our team does a lot of consulting and perform on site maintenance and performance checks. For example, our team will look for leaks in the components, and any evidence of corrosion or dry rot inside the controls and electronics.
Give our team a call today for some tips on how to ensure your Frame 6 system is running as efficiently as possible.
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Join us and industry leaders at our Mortgage Market in Scotland Seminar on Thursday 7 March 2019, in partnership with Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP.
The Seminar will explore the challenges and opportunities in the developing landscape of the Scottish housing and mortgage markets in 2019. The agenda includes topics covering regulatory interventions in the mortgage market; private housebuilding; private renting; and the current heritable securities (mortgages) project.
If you still haven't booked your ticket to attend the Mortgage Market in Scotland Seminar, now is the time – as we're delighted to offer a complimentary ticket when you bring a colleague. With this two-for-one offer, when you buy a Seminar pass for yourself, you'll get another completely free for your colleague. To take advantage of this offer, all you need to do is provide your colleague's name and email address when you book your ticket.
Hosted at the Law Society of Scotland in central Edinburgh, this half-day event brings together key senior stakeholders, government representatives, industry professionals and experts from across the UK Finance membership to exchange knowledge, insights, and innovative ideas.
We will hear from industry experts on the latest mortgage industry issues, market trends and updates, regulatory changes, and threats and opportunities facing the Scottish economy. Each session will provide an opportunity for delegates to ask questions and comment. The event concludes with a networking drinks reception and provides an ideal setting for delegates to continue to connect and share knowledge.
Scotland Mortgage Market Overview: what does the future hold?
Mortgage Introducer is essential reading for the mortgage professional. The knowledge gained from our magazines, websites, and events help our readers make a success of their business. That is our core objective and is the reason why we offer the Mortgage Introducer brands free of charge to our readers. The brands and networking events we provide, along with the latest information, news and views of what is happening in the industry, give our readers the tools to continue their CPD, make a difference to their business and ultimately make a difference to their clients.
Shepherd and Wedderburn is a Scottish headquartered, top 50 UK law firm with office in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and the City of London, providing comprehensive multi-jurisdictional commercial legal advice across all sectors and the full range of private client services. Widely regarded as the 'go-to' firm for specialist advice, Shepherd and Wedderburn has an impressive track record advising clients across all industries and sectors, in particular across real estate, energy and natural resources and the financial and banking sectors. The firm advises FTSE and AIM-listed companies, large corporates, family-owned companies, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs and public service organisations.
With the short-term outlook for the UK still hugely uncertain, this session will look at how the Scottish mortgage market has fared, focusing on the trends in lending for Scotland versus the wider UK. First time buyers, home movers and PRS investors are facing differing challenges and opportunities, and lenders, brokers, and other actors in the marketplace need to be well-informed – James will discuss the opportunities, risks, prospects and affordability north of the border. Finally, delegates will be provided a helicopter view of Scotland as a whole, with a focus on whether there are hot spots of activity or risk as we look forward to an eventful year.
This session will provide a holistic view of Scotland's economic outlook, with some specific analysis of the implications for property markets.
To what extent have regulatory and tax changes driven PRS landlords to re-evaluate their commitment to the sector?
Is there evidence of landlords leaving the industry in Scotland and, if so, what could be the effect on government policy to see a vibrant and sustainable market for Scotland?
Have regulatory changes by Scottish Government in the PRS had a beneficial impact for landlords in improving quality, standards and professionalism, and driving-out rogue operators?
12:35 Scotland Mortgage Market Overview: What Does the Future hold?
An analysis of the current housing market in Scotland in the context of house prices in Scotland including housing market trends and performance, and the impact of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.
Is the Scottish government is sufficiently attuned to the evolution of the private rented sector?
How has the experience of letting in Scotland changed as a result of the new model tenancy, and changes to registration and regulation of letting agents?
Do other government policy priorities, such as Rent Pressure Zones, energy performance and enhanced fire safety standards present unsustainable cost challenges for landlords?
What does the picture look like for private housebuilding and delivery?
This session will provide an overview of the key regulatory issues that lenders should be aware of and their possible implications.
This session is chaired by John Marr, Principal, Devolved Government & Social Housing, UK Finance who will be joined by Andrew Kinnes, Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn, and Dr Andrew Steven, Commissioner, Scottish Law Commission.
This session will take an in-depth look at the law (Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970) as it stands, and its aftermath. They will consider the creation and enforcement of Security over Land and any scope for reforming the law including the review process.
With an expectation from the FCA for lenders to take action on customer vulnerability, this session takes a closer look at what this means in practice. We will review the factors that can create vulnerable situations for customers in the mortgage market; and the key challenges for lenders around identification of vulnerable situations, use of data, compliance and staff training. Sharing insights, learning and case studies from over 10 years of work and research on customer vulnerability we will look at practical steps lenders can take to support these customers.
Becoming Homes for Scotland (HFS) Chief Executive on 1 February 2016, Nicola Barclay has direct responsibility for managing the Executive Team, delivering business strategy and meeting the wide-ranging needs of member companies. With a career spanning over 20 years in the home building industry and stretching over sales, land acquisition and planning, Nicola is ideally placed to take the organisation forward at what is a pivotal time, not only for the organisation but also for housing in Scotland in general.
John leads the Rettie & Co. Research Team, providing a cutting-edge research and consultancy function. His work informs clients on sales, lettings, investment and development opportunities. He also analyses the current status of property markets and assesses how they are likely to change. Over the last 15 years, he has worked for all of the major house builders in Scotland, the Scottish Government, many local authorities and investors. He led the Scottish Government's study into the 5-year Review of the Home Report. He sits on Homes for Scotland's Policy Advisory Group and is a member of the Society of Property Researchers.
Douglas Cochrane has worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 40 years in a variety of senior retail management and relationship positions, currently specialising in the new-build and affordable housing markets having started his career in the then Halifax Building Society in Glasgow. He is chair of UK Finance, mortgages, Scotland policy committee and a member of the NHBC's Scottish Committee and their National Council. Douglas is a regular contributor to debates on housing supply and quality at central and the devolved government.
Clydesdale Bank's dedicated intermediary business was established in 2004. Our primary focus is to provide higher value mortgages through the intermediary market I joined the bank in 2007 . With a strong banking background and over 30 years in the industry I am responsible for leading a team of UK relationship partners that handle our mortgage broker business. I am also responsible for managing our telephone based broker sales operation in Glasgow. I am currently a member of the UK Finance Scotland Committee and a member of NHBC Scottish Committee.
Andrew Kinnes is a partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn. His broad banking and finance practice has included many years of experience of drafting proforma and specialist securities over land, of amending, transferring and enforcing those securities, of origination systems for such securities and of treasury and financing transactions backed by such securities. He is a member of the Scottish Law Commission's Advisory Group on its current heritable securities (mortgages) project.
Malcolm is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and the Chartered Institute of Building, with 40 years of experience in the construction and house building industries. His broad career includes Quantity Surveying, Building Control, Building Surveying and Project Management. He was appointed NHBC's Director in Scotland in 2001 and is Senior Vice- Chair of RICS Scotland, he sits on the RIAS Energy Certification Board and is a founding Member of Parliaments Cross Party Group for Construction.
John Marr joined the former Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in January 2012 and transferred to UK Finance when it was formed in July 2017. As Principal, Devolved Government and Social Housing, John leads our mortgages and housing policy work in the UK nations, as well as our work on low cost home ownership and government schemes to support home purchase. John also leads our work in relation to commercial funding and investment in the housing association sector, which is key in helping to meet government targets for new affordable and social housing delivery. Previously, John worked on housing policy at the Local Government Association.
Dr Andrew Steven has been a Scottish Law Commissioner since 2011. He led the Commission's substantial project on moveable transactions, which led to a report published in 2017. He is now responsible for the heritable securities (mortgages) project. Dr Steven is also a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Edinburgh.
James Tatch is Principal, Analytics for UK Finance with lead responsibility for UK Finance's statistics and data work.
James has worked in economics and statistics for more than 20 years, the past 15 of which have been at UK Finance (and previously CML). Working first in academic research, James then moved to the public sector before finally settling in the private sector within financial services.


I knew not to expect a great story prior to seeing this movie. Much like The Expendables there were jokes made at the "old guy", but I grew up watching the Die Hard franchise.
This one had the poorest story line but was filled with plenty of action that made John McClane seem like a superhuman.
The movie had plenty of laughs and the most destruction to a city other than from the comic movies or Transformers.
I have to break this up into 3 categories – action a 5 out of 5, humor a 4 out of 5. Story line 2.5 out of 5 overall I say a 2.75 out of 5.
I like action no matter how cliche I'd pay another 6 bucks to see this again.
This was a really good movie, for what it was suppose to be. I was totally confused by the Rotten Tomatoes "critics" rating of 17%, before I went to watch it.
fullest extent. The "sappy" scenes were a little awkward, but I think they were suppose to be, what else can you expect John Mclane to be in those kinds of intimate situations?
The Rotten Tomatoes score sorta bugged me before seeing this, because the trailer was just so epic!
And of course… I'm a huge Die Hard fan.
So, that gave me hope because critics are full of themselves sometimes.
Anywho, this movie is a straight up action movie. Action beats in every situation.
I'm sure if John McClane had to drop a deuce they would've found a way for him to do so at 10,000 feet, going 400 mph, with guns blazing… and on fire.
But yeah, definitely don't go walking into this movie expecting Oscar or "smart".
Of all the Die Hards, this one is probably at the bottom of my list BUT still a good time.
Hell, sometimes you just want to see stuff blow up.
Summary: Loads of action. No Story. Yippee Ki-Yay!


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"Vampire Acedemy" Movie Review
February 21, 2014 by Archived posts Leave a Comment
By Carly Woolley |Staff Writer|
An enriching tale of an elite breed of vampires has arrived.
"Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters" hit theaters on Friday, Feb 7.
"Vampire Academy" was originally an American best-selling series of six young-adult romance novels by author Richelle Mead before it was transformed into a movie.
This is an enchanting tale of Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir, two teenage girls who attend St. Vladamir's Academy, which is a hidden boarding school for Moroi (peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (half-vampire/half-human).
Lissa is a royal vampire princess and Rose is her guardian-in-training and lifelong best friend.
Lissa and Rose decided to run away from St. Vladamir's Academy in suspicion that their lives would be in jeopardy if they remained there.
Unfortunately, they were captured and taken back to the Academy where they're instantly thrown back into their old lives and Lissa struggles to reclaim her social status while Rose trains to ensure her rightful place as Lissa's permanent guardian.
Rose feels she is the only person who can fully protect Lissa and she constantly proves that she will sacrifice everything to protect Lissa from those who wish her harm from within the Academy as well as the Strigoi (evil vampires) who hunt her kind from outside of the Academy.
Classifying "Vampire Academy" into a single genre of film is quite rough seeing how it consists of parts of high school drama, action, adventure, romance, and paranormal activity that have all been combined into a great vampire tale.
St. Vladamir's Academy can easily be compared to a Hogwarts style of school for vampires that houses the Moroi, the Strigoi, and the Dhampir.
These are just a few of the many complex terms that were constantly being used within the film yet, subtitles were used to explain these terms which instantly made it easier for the audience to follow the complex plot.
The narration was remarkably engaging and overall helpful to the audience.
I found the main character, Rose, to be a complete breath of fresh air when it came to a stereotypical vampire role. She was fearless, outspoken, and all while being exceptionally witty and entertaining.
The performance of the rest of the cast may not have been memorable, but in the grand scheme of the film, they didn't need to be.
This was truly a vampire movie unlike any other.
The script was written with such mystery and excitement that it kept the audience continually wanting more.
No previous vampire tale has gone into so much depth of a story and made it likable and relatable to this day and age in a way that this one did.
The production quality including set design, focused lighting, and cinematography played an excellent role in setting the correct mood for the film.
Although there was an enlightening love story involving the two main characters and their unlikely love interests, this was in no form a typical love movie.
Overall, Director Mark Waters' "Vampire Academy" was a strikingly witty and original film that will not only satisfy its previous fans of the book series but it will also satisfy its new and future followers.
Academy Awards, the highly esteemed nominees
Fireside Chat with Martin Lastrapes
Filed Under: Arts and Entertainment Tagged With: academy, book series, Dhampirs, elite vampires, enchanting, engaging, Moroi, origional film, Strigoi, teenage, vampire


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Papers of Louise McNeill (Pease), 1911-1993, of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, noted twentieth century Appalachian poet and author, poet laureate of West Virginia from 1979 to 1993, and professor of history and English. Though most well-known for her lyrical poetry about the history and spirit of West Virginia, McNeill also wrote articles, short stories, essays, and her memoirs. Includes biographical materials, letters, writings, poems, photographs, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and personal materials documenting Louise McNeill's career as a poet and author and her personal life, chiefly from the 1970s to her death in 1993. Biographical materials include awards and certificates, biographies of McNeill, clippings, curriculum vitae, and other genealogical materials. Letters are from literary figures, political figures, family and friends. Prominent correspondents include Maggie Anderson, Rene de Chocour, Marion Havighurst, Walter Havighurst, and John D. Rockefeller IV. Writings and related materials include manuscript and typescript drafts of McNeill's books, loose poems, and other writings as well as book reviews, press correspondence, and marketing materials. Audio-visual materials consist of photographs of Louise McNeill, her family, and friends, and tributes to and interviews with McNeill on audio and video cassette. Collection also contains publications, artifacts, and personal materials.
Series 1. Biographical Materials, 1860s, 1930s-2004 and undated, include awards and certificates; biographies of McNeill; newspaper clippings; curriculum vitae; genealogical materials related to the McNeill and Pease families; tributes to McNeill; and other items that record the history of McNeill's personal and professional life.
Awards and certificates document McNeill's status in West Virginia and include honorary degrees and programs from ceremonies honoring McNeill.
Newspaper clippings contain articles about some of McNeill's speaking engagements and her literary achievements (1961, 1972-1973) as well as poems that appeared in various newspapers from 1960 to 1982. Folders containing the original newspapers are followed by photocopies of each clipping.
Curriculum vitae from the early 1970s to 1992 trace the evolution of McNeill's teaching career and lists the publication of her poems and other writings. Several versions include handwritten annotations and revisions and also include the career of her husband, Roger Pease.
Genealogical materials include newspaper clippings, photographs, obituaries, military information, and other records about various members of the McNeill and Pease families. The items have been arranged by specific family members, including G.D. McNeill, James McNeill, Marietta McNeill, Thomas McNeill, Roger Pease, and Douglas Pease. Genealogical charts and information relating to the history of the McNeill family is filed under the family name. While most of the materials date from the 1940s to the 1980s, this section also includes James McNeill's Civil War diary.
This series also includes biographies of McNeill written by two graduate students; a transcript of a 1985 West Virginia Public Radio interview with McNeill; and McNeill's address book, library card, and blank writing materials.
Series 2. Incoming Letters, 1936, 1950s-1993 (bulk 1970-1993), document Louise McNeill's personal relationships, career as a poet, and the importance of poetry and writing in her life. Letters are almost entirely those sent to McNeill; only a few letters penned by the poet are scattered throughout the series. Also includes greeting cards, sympathy cards, holiday cards, and birthday cards. This series contains only a few letters before 1970, including a photocopy of a 1936 letter from Louis Untermeyer about publishing Louise's poems in American Mercury and a letter from Jesse Stuart in 1967 also supporting her poetry.
Letters are chiefly from 1970 to 1993 and fall into two primary categories: letters relating to writing and Louise's poetry and those written from relatives and friends that largely contain news about family members, social activities, and health issues (although they also may comment on Louise's poetry). General incoming letters are arranged in chronological order. Letters sorted and grouped by Louise McNeill and undated letters from Louise's parents can be found at the end of the series.
Many letters from 1970 to 1993 comment on McNeill's poetry and on her published works, particularly Paradox Hill in 1979, Milkweed Ladies in 1988, and Hill Daughter in 1991. Louise's most frequent correspondents include her friend Rene de Chocour; Maggie Anderson, a friend and editor of Louise's books; and Marion and Walter Havighurst. Anderson writes often about Louise's work, their relationship, and her own poetry. Walter Havighurst was Louise's mentor and a lifelong friend. He typically writes about Louise's poems and career as well as about his own work and family. Letters from these people span these three decades.
Letters from the 1970s also include one or two items from Jack Beard, John McCulloch, Archibald MacLeish, Wilbur Schramm, and Jimmy Carter (1976). In addition, letters and cards from 1977 and 1979 offer congratulations to Louise on being West Virginia Daughter of the Year in 1977 and on becoming Poet Laureate of West Virginia in 1979.
Materials from the 1980s also include letters from Stephen Vincent Benet, Devon McNamara, Arch A. Moore, Robert C. Byrd, and John D. Rockefeller IV, a long-time friend of McNeill's after both were honored by West Virginia in 1977.
Letters from 1990 to 1993 also provide additional documentation about Louise's career and role as poet laureate of West Virginia. They contain information about her participation in poetry anthologies, speaking engagements, and a radio production of Gauley Mountain as well as her payment as poet laureate and her reappointment in 1990. Items from this time include letters from Gaston Caperton, Larry Groce, Kirk Judd, and John D. Rockefeller IV.
Louise McNeill sorted some of her correspondence in manila folders. This original folder order has been maintained. Any information written on the envelopes has been photocopied and included at the front of each folder. Folder titles reflect the content but not necessarily the exact wording found on the envelopes.
The folder "Friends, Students, Faculty," contains letters from those groups of people and are almost entirely from the mid-1970s. Topics include Louise's poetry, Paradox Hill, G.D. McNeill, and personal news from family and friends. Of note are two letters from Robert Byrd in response to Louise's queries about impeaching Richard Nixon; notes and a letter written by Louise about Nixon; and a letter from Adlai Stevenson.
The folder "Precious Letters" contains a handful of letters about Louise's poems and her published books. Includes letters from Jesse Stuart, Archibald MacLeish, Rene de Chocour, and Marion Havighurst.
Series 3. Writings and Related Materials, 1931-1993 and undated, includes drafts of published collections of poetry and memoirs, an unpublished book, loose poems, and other writings. It chiefly contains drafts of three published books, Milkweed Ladies (1988), Hill Daughter (1991), Fermi Buffalo (1994), and the unpublished essays, "Three Shades of Blue." Drafts are both manuscripts and typescripts, some of which have handwritten annotations. This series also includes related materials such as book reviews, correspondence with the University of Pittsburgh Press, dust jackets, marketing materials, and notes for these books as well as a few such items for Mountain White (1931), Gauley Mountain (1939), and Elderberry Flood (1979). Drafts are organized in chronological order where possible.
Materials related to Milkweed Ladies date from the 1970s to 1987 and include early versions of the memoirs, when it was titled "Appalachian Heart." This subseries contains handwritten drafts, typescripts with annotations, a July 1987 typescript with comments on each chapter by Maggie Anderson, an August 1987 typescript, and related materials. Hill Daughter materials date from 1990 to 1992 and include both handwritten drafts of the included poems and McNeill's 1990 typescript copy of the publication. Materials related to Fermi Buffalo date from 1984 to 1993. This collection of poetry, which was published after McNeill's death in 1993, was initially called "Tumblebug." This subseries also includes science articles that may have influenced McNeill's work.
This series also contains drafts of an unpublished book of essays titled "Three Shades of Blue." While there is one draft of the introductory section, this subseries consists almost entirely of handwritten notes and typescript drafts of the two main sections, "Lorenzo Waugh" and "Lt. Glen Vaughan" and includes comments by McNeill about the work. Almost all of the material is undated, but seems to have been written in the early 1990s.
Also included are manuscript and typescript poems, composition books, and groups of poems organized and reviewed by McNeill. Loose poems are arranged in alphabetical order by title. Poems in folders 4-14 of box 9 were sorted into envelopes and labeled by Louise McNeill. Poems have been removed from the envelopes, but any information written on the envelopes has been photocopied and included at the front of each folder. Folder titles reflect the content but not necessarily the exact wording found on the envelopes. Within each folder poems are arranged alphabetically by title with untitled poems and scraps at the back of the folder. Almost all of the poems are undated. Since copies of the same poem may appear in multiple places, researchers are encouraged to review all folders that contain loose poems.
Series 4. Audio-Visual Materials, 1900-1993 (bulk 1930s-1993), consist of photographs, audio cassettes, and video cassettes. Photographs date from the early twentieth century to the 1990s and are arranged by subject and then by date when possible. Photographs include black-and-white and color photos; snapshots and portraits; and many unidentified people and places. They have been loosely arranged in the following categories: Louise McNeill (1930s-1990s), McNeill with family members (1942-1981); the Pease family (1965-1979); the McNeill family (1900, 1918, 1940s and 1981); identified and unidentified friends and family members, including Walter Havighurst, Robert Frost, and Louis Untermeyer (chiefly 1970s-1990s); homes and landscapes; and Navy battleships (1907).
Audio and video cassettes, 1975-1992 and undated, are related to McNeill's writing career and include both tributes to and interviews with McNeill. Topics discussed during the various interviews include McNeill's poetry and rural imagery, her life and family, and her teaching. The undated interview with Topper Sherwood focuses on McNeill's PhD from West Virginia University. McNeill speaks about her classes, her professors, teaching, and her poetry. This series also contains a video of the 1989 WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni induction ceremony, which includes an introduction of Louise McNeill and McNeill's remarks.
Series 5. Publications are chiefly books related to West Virginia and poetry, and include several of McNeill's own works. Each book is listed individually in the full inventory. Works written by McNeill are Gauley Mountain, Hill Daughter, and Milkweed Ladies.
Series 6. Financial and Legal Materials, 1981-1992 and undated, contains materials related to McNeill's expenses as an author. Documents include royalty and honorarium invoices, receipts, phone bills, and other records of her costs. Materials were gathered in preparation of income tax returns, but do not include official tax documents. Legal materials include deeds and information related to McNeill's will. Access to this entire series is restricted without curatorial permission.
Series 7. Artifacts consist of several items belonging to Louise McNeill: binoculars, a name stamp, a Golden Horseshoe winner ribbon, and two handkerchiefs embroidered with her name. Artifacts have been stored separately in an oversize box.
Series 8. Oversize Materials include two honorary degrees, a copy of the West Virginia Hillbilly that featured McNeill's poems, a McNeill family genealogical chart, and a framed photograph of a cabin.
Louise McNeill sorted and organized many papers in manila folders. The original folder order has largely been maintained. Any information written on the envelopes has been photocopied and included at the front of each folder. Folder titles reflect the content but not necessarily the exact wording found on the envelopes.
Box 7; Folder 18; 'Three Shades of Blue'--'Lorenzo Waugh'--Typescript with revisions; 1992: July?
Box 8; Folder 8; 'Three Shades of Blue'--'Lt. Glen L. Vaughn'--Typescript; 1993?
Requires signed form, since special access restriction applies.
Louise McNeill was born on 9 January 1911 on the family farm in Buckeye, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, the daughter of Marietta Grace McNeill (1879-1961) and G.D. (George Douglas) McNeill, both also of Buckeye. Marietta McNeill was a teacher. G.D. McNeill, an author, historian, and teacher, was born on the family farm on 23 May 1877, the son of Confederate captain James M. McNeill and Fanny Perkins McNeill. He joined the U.S. Navy in the early nineteenth century, and served with the Great White Fleet in 1907 on the SS Glacier. G.D. McNeill received an undergraduate degree from Concord College and earned a master's degree from Miami University in Ohio. During his career in education he served as a high school principal; superintendant of Pocahontas County schools; and professor at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. G.D. and Marietta McNeill were married on 29 February 1903 and had four children: Ward K. McNeill, James W. McNeill, Louise McNeill Pease, and Elizabeth McNeill Dorsey.
Louise McNeill grew up on the farm that had been in her family since 1769 and attended the rural school house nearby. She graduated from Marlinton High School in 1927 and taught in the Pocahontas County schools during the 1930s. McNeill began to write poetry as a child, and as a young adult began publishing her work in national journals such as American Mercury, Atlantic Monthly, Christian Science Monitor, Farm Journal, Good Housekeeping, Harper's, Ladies Home Journal, Saturday Evening Post, and Saturday Review of Literature. Her first book of poetry, Mountain White, was published in 1931 in a limited edition of two hundred copies as a prize awarded by poetry magazine Stardust.
McNeill continued to write poetry and to further her education. She received a bachelor's degree in English from Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, in 1936 and then earned a master's degree in creative writing from Miami University in Ohio in 1938. Gauley Mountain (1939) served as her thesis. McNeill worked with Walter Havighurst at Miami and formed a lifelong friendship with both Walter and his wife, Marion. That same year, McNeill won an Atlantic Monthly poetry prize scholarship to the Bread Loaf School of English in Middlebury, Vermont, and she attended the school during the summer of 1938. Her third book of poems, Time Is Our House, was published in 1942 as part of the Bread Loaf Poets Series.
McNeill met her future husband, Roger W. Pease, while in Vermont. They were married in 1939 and had one son, Douglas M. Pease, in 1940. Roger W. Pease (1898-1990) was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, on 2 August 1898, the son of Reverend C.B.F. Pease and Jessica Cole Pease. He attended the Loomis Preparatory School (now The Loomis Chaffee School) in Connecticut and then began studies at Yale University. He left the school to serve in World War I and returned to finish a degree in agriculture at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1922.
Louise McNeill Pease and Roger Pease both attended the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop in the late 1930s and then the couple moved to Aiken, South Carolina, where he served as assistant headmaster and she taught at the Aiken Preparatory School from 1941 to 1946. Louise McNeill and Roger Pease returned to West Virginia after World War II and McNeill began her more than twenty-five year career as a professor of English and history. She also earned a Ph.D. from West Virginia University in 1959. McNeill taught at Fairmont College (1947-1948); West Virginia University (1948-1953); Potomac State College (1959-1962); Concord College (1962-1967); and Fairmont State College (1969-1973). She retired in 1973.
McNeill's poems regularly appeared in local and national publications throughout her adult life, but it was not until the early 1970s that she began publishing new collections of poetry. From a Dark Mountain was published in 1972 and was followed by Paradox Hill: From Appalachia to Lunar Shore (1972), Elderberry Flood (1979), and Hill Daughter: New and Selected Poems (1991). McNeill's memoirs, Milkweed Ladies, was published in 1988.
McNeill received numerous awards and prizes during her lengthy literary career. These include an Atlantic Monthly poetry scholarship, 1938; the Bread Loaf Publication Award for Time Is Our House; the West Virginia Library Association Annual Book Award for Paradox Hill; the Appalachian Gold Medallion award in 1988; and honorary degrees from Fairmont State College and West Virginia University, 1989. McNeill was also inducted into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 1989.
Louise McNeill was also honored by her home state of West Virginia. In 1977 she was named West Virginia Daughter of the Year with Governor John D. Rockefeller IV as Son of the Year. This was the beginning of a lasting friendship between the West Virginians. In 1979, Rockefeller wrote the introduction to Elderberry Flood and named McNeill the second poet laureate of the state. McNeill also earned the honor of West Virginian of the Year in 1985.
Louise and Roger moved to Connecticut in 1985 to live with their son, Douglas, and his family. Roger Pease died after a long illness on 24 September 1990. Louise returned to West Virginia. She completed a new book, Fermi Buffalo (1994), and was working on a book of essays on American history that she called "Three Shades of Blue" when she passed away. Louise McNeill Pease died in Malden, West Virginia, in June 1993.
A&M 3201, Louise McNeill, Poet, Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries. https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/resources/1510 Accessed April 21, 2019.


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Gentle Soul - Gentle Soul (1968 us, charming baroque folk psych, Sundazed expanded remaster)
Sundazed have done a fantastic job in reissuing the lost 1960s folk rock gem that is The Gentle Soul. Thriving in the vibrant mid to late 1960s folk rock movement, Pamela Polland and Rick Stanley of The Gentle Soul hung out with the likes of Neil Young, Jackson Browne (there's an early tune written by him as one of the bonus tracks here), The Byrds, and Tim Buckley, and worked with the likes of Terry Melcher, Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder (whose incredible guitar playing is throughout this cd), Van Dyke Parks, Larry Knechtel, Jerry Cole and Hal Blaine. Amongst this incredible scene of creativity, The Gentle Soul released one album and a handful of singles, but never had the push they needed or any luck with sales. Their recordings became more and more scarce through the years, the album even becoming a collector's item with a 3 figure price tag.
Thanks to Sundazed, we've got the entire recorded output of The Gentle Soul, as well as three previously unissued sides all on cd for the very first time. The cd has the entire album first, then the singles and unreleased tracks, so it doesn't play chronologically. The singles (tracks 12-14, 17-18) have a slightly more rocking sound then the gently orchestral album, but the singles are by no means rock-n-roll.
Tell Me Love is an incredible single which has an alternate take too, both arranged magically by Jack Nitzsche. Both mixes are quite different and shed a different feel on the melodic celtic lilt. The single mix has a harder hitting sound, but the alternate version has a fuller, modern sound. The first single's b-side, You Move Me, has that coffee house folk rock sound and Mamas and Papas styled harmonies and is tremendous.
The second single, Our National Anthem should've been a hit, and it's a astonishing it was not. It's also got that Mamas and Papas anthemic folk rock feel, but maybe it's the fact that the chorus is not as out right sing-a-long-able is what kept it off the charts. It's still a catchy as heck folk rock number. Song For Three, its b-side has a Dylanesque melody about a girl named Wendy. The final single, 2:10 Train has a more country folk sound and is a bit meandering, sort of like Linda Ronstadt and The Stone Poneys.
The Gentle Soul album (tracks 1-11) are wonderful orchestrated folk rock. Pamela Polland and Rick Stanley combine incredible vocal harmonies with some great original tunes, which are only improved upon thanks to the production of Terry Melcher and instrumentation from the likes of Ry Cooder and Van Dyke Parks. Songs like Renaissance or Love Is Always Real (which also has an alternate take as a bonus track) are baroque and orchestrated with harpsichords and flutes.
The melodies they came up with just enhance the whole proceedings. Generally speaking the songs with Pamela singing come out on top and remind me at times of the Michelle album Saturn Rings. At times this album reminds me of Belle and Sebastian or their side project Gentle Waves (rather fitting) - if they were more inspired by traditional folk music instead of Nick Drake. If you want to hear Ry Cooder at his most pronounced, check out the instrumental album opener Overture or the haunting song Reelin'. If I were to pick a favorite song, it would have to be See My Love - which to me sounds like it could be straight off a Belle and Sebastian album with it's melody, piano and Pamela's light as air lead vocals. It's the closest they come to rocking out.
I was very glad when I learned that Sundazed were going to reissue The Gentle Soul album. I'm glad that more than just the collectors can hear the magic held in this delightful folk rock album. Hopefully, it can find a place in your collection too.
by Patrick Gullbuy
1. Overture - 4:34
2. Marcus (Pamela Polland) - 2:54
3. Song for Eolia - 2:16
4. Young Man Blue (Rick Stanley) - 2:34
5. Renaissance - 3:14
6. See My Love (Song for Greg) (Pamela Polland) - 3:59
7. Love Is Always Real - 2:59
8. Empty Wine (Woods of a Song) - 2:39
9. Through a Dream - 4:00
10.Reelin' (Pamela Polland) - 3:20
11.Dance (R. Stanley, N. Wynn) - 3:27
12.Tell Me Love (Rick Stanley) - 2:27
13.Song for Three (P. Polland, G. Copeland) - 3:00
14.2:10 Train (T.C. Campbell) - 2:55
15.Flying Thing (Jackson Browne) - 3:18
16.God Is Love - 2:22
17.You Move Me (Pamela Polland) - 2:16
18.Our National Anthem (Pamela Polland) - 2:31
20.Love Is Always Real (Pamela Polland) - 3:05
All songs by Pamela Polland and Rick Stanley except where indicated
*Pamela Polland - Vocals, Guitar
*Rick Stanley - Vocals, Guitar
*Tony Cohan - Tabla
*Ry Cooder - Guitar, Mandolin
*Mike Deasy - Guitar
*Van Dyke Parks - Harpsichord
*Paul Horn - Flute
*Sandy Konikoff - Drums
*Larry Knechtel - Organ
*Gayle Levant - Harp
*Ted Michel - Cello
*Bill Plummer - Bass
*Riley Wildflower - Guitar
*Jerry Cole - Guitar
*Joe Osborne - Bass
*Hal Blaine - Drums
Posted by Marios at 10:08 PM 7 comments:
Gentle Soul - Gentle Soul (1968 us, charming baroq...