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Top 10 Online Casino Games That Have the Potential to Win You the Biggest Jackpots
Tech and Online Casinos: A Revenue Stream Made in Heaven
The unity between Online casinos, and today's technology is one of the best combinations the world has ever seen since peanut butter and Jelly. A perfect market, which combines the high-stakes, high octane environment of gambling and betting, with today's widespread commodities which have come as a result of the technological advancements which we've seen today.
The online casino business has effectively monopolised this field thanks to these developments, and as a result, there are now a plethora of innovative games available to consumers. Given the current state of technology, where almost everyone has access to their preferred forms of entertainment (with some even resorting to torrents), there is virtually no limit to what Online casinos can provide. In this piece, I'll discuss some of the most played casino games with the biggest jackpots available to play online.
The Basis: Understanding the Basics
Before pondering which game would provide the greatest potential for financial gain, a person ought to first familiarise themselves with the fundamentals of online casino gambling to get an edge within the gambling world. Learn about the different cash back offers and welcome bonuses that are offered by the different casinos, and then pick the one that best meets your requirements. Verify the legitimacy of the casino by confirming that it possesses the appropriate licences from the government of the country from which it operates.
Once you've done your homework on some of the most profitable online casinos, and found one which has both range and a degree of legitimacy, you can go ahead and choose whatever gambling game you think will net you the best profit.
The Best Online Casino Games On The Market
When it comes to the online gaming sector, one of the most prevalent factors would be that of variety. One could easily see that with all of the types of casino games, on all of the different sites available, that there is no shortage of different games one can play to better make a profit on. Below are some of the top casino games, to win big and make a profit.
➥ Gonzita's Quest
When it comes to Fantasy games, there is a high market demand for them. Gonzita's quest, which is a spin-off of the acclaimed slot game, Gonzo's quest caters to these fantasy elements whilst also pertaining to the online casino element, in a monumental way, giving one a good value for their money with some of the best deals. With Jackpots offering a return of almost 97% percent on Investment, why wouldn't you want to dip your toes into the realm of Gonzita's quest?
➥ Book of the Dead
This slot-based casino game offers quite the gaming experience for those who choose to play it. The game features a theme that is reminiscent of Indiana Jones. In the Book of Dead slot machine, you'll find many of the characteristics that make this game such a fan favourite, such as an exotic backdrop, lavish use of gold trim, and exquisitely designed symbols.
This is not the end of the commodities either, as not only the protagonist, but also you, have the opportunity to win the jackpot, which has a return rate of 94.2%.
➥ Bonanza
Bonanza, was the first online slot game by megaways to make waves within the online casino industry, something which led to an emergence of online slots titles worldwide. Volatile but profitable in its nature, Bonanza is one of the best bets to play slots online. After all, it was the one which started it all, and with a jackpot starting at 120,000 coins and ending at double the amount, there is indeed gold in the hills.
➥ Primate King
King Kong fans, this is the slots game for you. Set in an environment reminiscent of Skull island, Primate King offers players a fun and interactive gaming experience with a number of creative symbols and an engaging atmosphere to make your experience a fun one. While the Gorilla may be smashing trees and coconuts, the game is smashing prices with one of the biggest welcome bonuses one could imagine.
➥ Fishin' Frenzy Megaways
Another Megaways classic, an igaming developer which will be mentioned quite heavily on this list, Fishin Frenzy Megaways offers a unique look at online slots by introducing fishing into the mix. With a theme of fishing and marine life, fishin frenzy megaways is visually appealing whilst also offering a number of free spins, with a minimum of two, and a whopping maximum of 50.
➥ Starburst
Due to it being NetEnt's most popular game, starburst needs no introduction, as it is synonymous with players of Online slots. Boasting a low volatility, amazing soundtrack and beautifully vibrant, colourful visuals as well as the potential to win up to fifty grand on one lucky spin, the game is one of the best and one which should not be overlooked on your next online gambling excursion.
➥ The Goonies
Based on the 1980's classic of the same name, the goonies is a licensed slot which offers you the experience to enjoy the beauty of the original film, with the difference of now being able to make real money off of this exciting new game. Keeping in line with the film's imagery and sound effects, the profits one can make from the Goonies is no laughing matter. The rest of the game's well done comedic elements, which have remained faithful to the film on the other-hand? Definitely.
➥ Legacy of the Dead
Continuing the theme of Play N'Go's egyptian-based themes after book of the dead, legacy of the dead continues to uphold play N'go's amazing quality of gaming, through beautiful visuals, artwork that will blow your mind, and intricately designed symbols.
➥ The Naked Gun
Another licensed masterpiece taken from film, the naked gun follows the escapades of Frank Drebin, the protagonist of the original 80's and 90's comedy classics, with his voice being used within the slots game to bring you back to that era of overall comedy. From free spins to multipliers, there is no shortage of features that the naked gun can offer.
➥ Gonzo's Quest Megaways
Gonzo's quest has a strong element of fantasy and action within it, putting you in the shoes of the titular spanish Conquistador Gonzo Pizarro, in his quest to find the lost city of Gold, El Dorado. With a potential of your winning to be multiplied by a whopping 21 thousand, who knows what profit's you'll make off this masterpiece.
Categories News, Tech
Microsoft Warns About Windows Issues Caused By Daylight Saving Time
5 Online Trends That Are Going to Be Hard to Ignore


The Christmas tree and all the decorations are already up at the FYH ranch. Thanks to a late Thanksgiving night Seal Team like Black Friday Raid, we have about 80 percent of the shopping done.
I like this kind of season, because it lets me relax, and enjoy Christmas. Ahead we still have tickets to the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker, and a trip to see the lights at Callaway Gardens. But we can just enjoy.
My wife and I started an interesting tradition about 4 years ago. When you've been married as long as we have, it's sometimes hard to think of inventive presents for each other. That year, we weren't really sure if we could afford to spend much. We don't go into debt for Christmas.
But I got a couple of commissions paid early, and on the morning of Christmas Eve, my wife surprised me. We were out driving ostensibly to pick up a Honey Baked Ham, and she pulled into the parking lot before the ham place.
The only interesting store in that place was a big box sporting goods store. I looked at her with a grin.
I felt like Ralphie. I had wanted a 10/22 for a couple of years, but I'd put it off for some reason or another.
Next, we drove to her favorite shop, and she got to pick out some comparable gifts.
Every year since then, we've gone out on Christmas Eve, and enjoyed ourselves as the other picks some gift that's meaningful, and oftentimes longed for. It's every bit as enjoyable for me to experience my wife's interest and expectation, as it is to open those presents on Christmas.
This year? I've got my eye on a Dillon 550 loading press. That cold steel beauty . . .
On Christmas Eve, we'll see.


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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

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MinimalResidualSolver (SuanShu 1.3.1 API Documentation)
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                SuanShu, a Java numerical and statistical library

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com.numericalmethod.suanshu.matrix.doubles.matrixtype.sparse.solver.iterative.nonstationary

Class MinimalResidualSolver

java.lang.Object
  com.numericalmethod.suanshu.matrix.doubles.matrixtype.sparse.solver.iterative.nonstationary.MinimalResidualSolver

All Implemented Interfaces:
IterativeSolver

public class MinimalResidualSolver
extends java.lang.Object
implements IterativeSolver

The Minimal Residual method (MINRES) is useful for solving symmetric n-by-n
 linear systems (possibly indefinite or singular).

 When the matrix A is Hermitian, the Arnoldi algorithm used in
 GMRES can be simplified to a
 3-term recurrence known as Lanczos algorithm. Thus, the approximate solution
 can be computed without saving all the orthonormal basis vectors generated.

 If A is singular, MINRES returns a least-squares solution with small
 ||Ar|| (where r = b - Ax).

 Only left preconditioning is supported in this implementation.

See Also:
"Anne Greenbaum, "Algorithm 4P," Iterative methods for solving linear systems, ch.8, pp.122."

Nested Class Summary

Nested classes/interfaces inherited from interface com.numericalmethod.suanshu.matrix.doubles.matrixtype.sparse.solver.iterative.IterativeSolver

IterativeSolver.ConvergenceFailure, IterativeSolver.Problem

Constructor Summary

MinimalResidualSolver()

Method Summary

 Vector
solve(IterativeSolver.Problem problem)

          Solve iteratively

 Ax = b

 until the solution is close enough, i.e., the norm of residual
 (b - Ax) is less than or equal to the specified iteration.

 Vector
solve(IterativeSolver.Problem problem,
      IterationMonitor monitor)

          Solve iteratively

 Ax = b

 until the solution is close enough, i.e., the norm of residual
 (b - Ax) is less than or equal to the specified iteration.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

MinimalResidualSolver

public MinimalResidualSolver()

Method Detail

solve

public Vector solve(IterativeSolver.Problem problem)
             throws IterativeSolver.ConvergenceFailure

Description copied from interface: IterativeSolver

Solve iteratively

 Ax = b

 until the solution is close enough, i.e., the norm of residual
 (b - Ax) is less than or equal to the specified iteration.

Specified by:
solve in interface IterativeSolver

Parameters:
problem - the problem of solving Ax = b

Returns:
the computed solution for the problem

Throws:

IterativeSolver.ConvergenceFailure - if the algorithm fails to converge

solve

public Vector solve(IterativeSolver.Problem problem,
                    IterationMonitor monitor)
             throws IterativeSolver.ConvergenceFailure

Description copied from interface: IterativeSolver

Solve iteratively

 Ax = b

 until the solution is close enough, i.e., the norm of residual
 (b - Ax) is less than or equal to the specified iteration.

 In each iteration, the newly computed iterate is added to the
 IterationMonitor for statistics or diagnostic purpose.

Specified by:
solve in interface IterativeSolver

Parameters:
problem - the problem of solving Ax = b
monitor - an IterationMonitor instance

Returns:
the computed solution for the problem

Throws:

IterativeSolver.ConvergenceFailure - if the algorithm fails to converge

      Overview
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                SuanShu, a Java numerical and statistical library

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                Copyright © 2011 Numerical Method Inc. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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Late last month, I dined with the NLM/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) Leadership Fellows on the final day of their program and got more than just lunch. I ended up with an interesting realization about how a sport I enjoy has helped shape how I lead.
The curriculum for the year-long NLM/AAHSL fellowship program includes such topics as power and influence, managing a workforce, and diversity and inclusion. The program inevitably sparks self-reflection for both fellows and their mentors, and though I spent only a short time with the group, it got me thinking, too, about issues related to leadership, personal awareness, and growth. Since then, I've been musing over what has helped me be an effective leader at NLM.
Certainly, having a terrific staff and the support of NIH leadership makes the whole process easier. I'm fortunate to have both.
I've also received words of wisdom from experienced colleagues, gleaned key insights from books, and recalled valuable lessons from management courses I've attended over the years.
But, believe it or not, nothing has prepared me more for senior leadership than squash—the sport, not the food.
A ball sport played by two or four players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. The players must alternate in striking the ball with their racket and hit the ball onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court.
The situational awareness and mental agility needed to pull all this off build important skills for management and those high-pressure, think-on-your-feet moments, but I think no skill is more important than timing.
Precision timing—striking the ball at just the right moment—is key to success in squash. Precision timing is also important for leadership.
One must determine how long to let a conversation proceed before weighing in, or how many emails in a chain should pass before making a statement. One must decide if one has entered an argument on its first round or if it is an old engagement rehashed many times. And importantly, one must be prompt with feedback, good and bad, both to reveal one's values to the organization and to expose one's preferences and pleasures.
But squash has taught me more than getting the timing right.
Power shots in squash send a 2" ball rocketing through the air. And when that ball hits you unexpectedly, on the arm, leg, or even face, you quickly realize that, even though it is very, very small and you are very, very big, it can really hurt. A lot.
Translating this to management, I've seen how a small, seemingly inconsequential statement can serve as the prelude to a major problem, or, on the flip side, how well-timed praise, delivered when the recipient is ready to hear it, can have profound positive impact.
Squash has also taught me to play nice with my partners and observe the rules of engagement on the court. Management situations bring their own rules of engagement, sometimes defined, sometimes not. The unwritten rules can be the trickiest, with rules sometimes changing based on where the engagement occurs. Understanding and respecting protocol, positions at the table, and the tenor of discourse as it varies from office to hall way to conference room are skills worth developing.
And ultimately, in squash as in management, there are always opportunities to improve.
What has influenced your leadership? What makes you a good manager? What makes your manager a good manager?
I even looked up squash courts in my area.
Thanks for your comment! Nothing like timing! If you're returning to squash, great. If you're new, you are in for a real treat!
I'm not sure it made me a better leader but it made me a better worker: figure skating. I learned quickly if you let your mind wander while skating you ended up on the ice, and not in a very graceful manner. A wandering mind at work can also lead you astray. I also learned to look out for my fellow skaters while skating so we didn't run into each other. And adult skaters are quick to help someone who has fallen, just as I helped my fellow employees when they had problems.


Join the Tucson Roadrunners as they celebrate those who wear the badge.
It's a packed night of activities for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out and get your tickets now!
Fire trucks, K9 squads, Swat Trucks, finger prints & more!
& Pima County Sheriff Napier dropping the puck!
1st Intermission: Battle of the Badges: Police vs Fire Hockey scrimmage!
Tickets for this night can be purchased through the link below, which supports the 100 Club of Arizona!


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Nine Arches Reaches Full Kickstarter Funding In Six Minutes
Some good news for the people behind the new tarot game Nine Arches as the game was full funded on Kickstarter and in the works for production. The company launched the crowdfunding effort last month and so far, as of the day we're writing this, they've raised $120k with about 11 days left to go. The game has been designed to use a special deck of cards that helps tell a story throughout the gameplay, with no winners or losers, just an experience to be had as you tell what is essentially a new story every time you open it up. You can hear more about it from the game's creator below as we now wait to see when it will be published.
A look at the box and contents for the game, courtesy of Nine Arches.
"After the pandemic, I think we are all ready to go out and do real things again, but that is not as easy as it sounds," said Geoffrey Gray, the game's founder and a New York Times bestselling author. "We created Nine Arches as a new kind of game for us all to escape the algorithm and do real things that make us feel vibrant and alive. Our time is our treasure, and the idea of sitting around a table for three hours waiting for your turn. I think we are all in the mood for experiences that truly make our lives better, make us healthier and happier, and not sitting in a basement making fun of people. Anyone with a phone is their own storyteller these days, and anyone with a Tik Tok account can become a star overnight. So the idea was, how to create a tool that allowed anyone the chance to become the hero of their own adventure tale. The answer was a game. In 9A, there is no game board. The world is your board, and you don't need a strong wifi connection to get to the next level. All you need is a willingness to do and try new things."
Posted in: Games, Tabletop | Tagged: Nine Arches, Tabletop
Paizo Forms New Board Game Partnership With Gale Force Nine
Paizo announced today that they have formed a new partnership with Gale Force Nine for new board games based on their properties.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Free Shipping & Free Returns Through October. Restrictions Apply
RE:CANVAS
LOOK BOOK <
The Quiet Towel
Taking Shape: Bath Kilims
Sp/Su 2020
Sp/Su '18 Collection
Fa/W '16-17 Collection
Sun Shower Collection
THE WAKE UP
Pete Treiber
When we first met Pete in Brooklyn a bunch of years ago we were shooting Quiet Town in a space connected to his shared art studio, The Invisible Dog. He told us about his family farm on the North Fork of Long Island, about going back and forth between farmers markets and gallery shows. Our pre-pandemic mind couldn't fathom how he managed to balance these seemingly oppositional worlds. But it turns out, for Pete, the two worlds are inseparable. The farm has become a living piece of art and his art is informed by his farm. And it's not just Pete's art, Treiber Farms has opened its barn doors to other artists, chefs, designers and musicians becoming both farm & forum. Treiber Farms is known for its beautiful cedar barn & vintage truck with the American flag painted on it. Something that has sparked the best kind of political conversations covered by the New York Times & locals alike.
Jamesport Sourdough & Coffee
Wendy Schelah
Wendy Schelah gave up city life in Brooklyn for a cabin on the North Fork of Long Island. Her spot is serving as a bucolic pause button while she
figures out what's next. The little house is maybe 350 sq ft (about 1/3 of that is the bathroom) and layered like an 80's casserole (or maybe like a baked
zitti). Wendy's loft bed is spread out above her bathroom, her closet is sandwiched behind the wall of her living room; there's a saucy little secretarial
nook carved out for her computer. As a prop stylist, Wendy is used to building entire worlds by 8am and breaking them down by 5pm so the fact that
it's temporary did not stop her from layering on tons amazing details. Let's check it out!
Indigo & Sunny Fine
The Pandemic turned everyone's world inside-in. Our homes became offices, schools, restaurants, and in our case a photo studio. And the people inside, namely our children Indie & Sunny, our muses. They knew it was just a matter of time before we came knocking on their bathroom door. Open up, The Wake Up is here.
After five months of intense observation, I realized that a 7-year-old girl and an almost 10-year-old boy live very different bathroom lives. Sunny spends a lot of time on hair styles, manicures & makeup (lip gloss). She's also a complete slob. Indie takes his time on the toilet daydreaming he's a spy or has magic powers. All his clutter is in his head. The one thing they both have in common: competitively short showers.
Maya Singer
Maya Singer is in fashion but looking for the next thing. She takes really pretty pictures (35mm film @mayasinger) has a talent for decorating, and is really--I mean, Really-- Nice. Consider this an unofficial reference if anyone has some ideas. Born in Boulder, CO and now living in Altadena, CA which Maya calls "The Boulder of Los Angeles," with her dog Benny and boyfriend, musician Michael Di Francesco. Read on as Maya gives up the goods on her curl specialist and reveals her all-time favorite bathroom is actually in a bar.
Julie Schott
Julie Schott moved to L.A. from New York to launch Starface, her clever brand of little yellow stars that absorb pimple puss (so cool) and chills out inflammation. Her customers love them so much they tell her they can't wait for their next breakout. Amazing idea, right?
Kayla Dalle Molle
At first glance, the most exciting details in Kayla Dalle Molle's 19'th century Brooklyn bathroom were the iconic, mid-century accessories in place of "bathroom furniture" (Kartell & Vitra make so much sense in this space, why didn't we think of that sooner?) Kayla is an art historical researcher at MoMA and modern influences are everywhere in her home. But like I said, this was only my first impression. The more we talked, the more I realized Kayla applied her research skills to every detail of her life. Take her medicine cabinet: Italian floss, Syrian soap, a British hairbrush, Australian deodorant... It seems like wherever Kayla goes, there is a bit of discovery. The international pharmacy score was just a lucky break. My original reason for visiting was to scope out a bathroom for a D.I.Y. design contest we hosted with Remodelista & Clare paint. We hoped to transform Kayla's bathroom with fresh paint and some new Quiet Town accessories.
Alice Bucaille (w/ India & Sol Randon)
Alice and her family live right across the street from us in Mattituck, NY. Every weekend Michael and I see the Bucaille-Randon house burst into early action. The girls are playing in the barn, Thomas is going for a bike ride, and Alice is gardening—in a cute jumpsuit with a Victorian collar peeking out. Two weeks ago I walked across the street to say "Hi". Alice was painting the exterior of her house black while roasting a chicken in the oven…for lunch. This woman can do anything from meticulously steering an American fashion brand to success to making you fall in love with a toilet brush. We love her and think you will too.
Alessandra Olanow
If you follow Alessandra's instagram feed you get the feeling that she lives in a state of introspection fueled by Joy Division, scented candles and good coffee. As an illustrator she uses the medium to share her work. Her posts are clever and quiet featuring line drawings of a "jeans & tee" woman and often her small, fringe-faced daughter. The woman is drinking coffee or laying on the floor or reading a book (one of them is titled "Everything is Going to be OK. And other Lies I Tell Myself"). The little girl is wrapped around her mother's ankle while her mom applies lipstick or she's peeling her mother's eyelids open at 5:26am on a Saturday. You get the feeling that these doodles are direct pull-quotes from Alessandra's morning. Maybe mornings inspired her up-coming kids' pajama line called Dodo Banana (adorable organic, cotton p.j.'s covered in Alessandra's work). Mornings definitely seem to be a theme so...with that in mind, let's check out the room where it all begins for Alessandra & Coco: The bathroom....
Maya Schindler
Maya Schindler is an accomplished fine artist, professor and vintage huntress. But her true super power may actually be harnesser of light. She moved from New York to L.A. and back again, bringing with her a desire to beam as much sun and warmth into a house as humanly possible. 42 windows (I just counted, and my house has 10) and an insane collection of vintage hardware and lighting later, Maya has redeemed her move back east with a home that glows. Here, a quick glimpse at her bedroom and living room before jumping into her geniusly simple and dramatic bathroom…
Keepin' your inbox (relatively) quiet.
#findyourquiettown


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Exorcisms Performed to "Cure" LGBT Indonesians
by Mike Rickard II
Written by Mike Rickard II
While much of my attention to people's stupidity has focused on the coronapocalypse, I couldn't help but notice a story from Indonesia about Muslims performing exorcisms to "cure" people from the LGBT community. A recent story at Yahoo! News reports these exorcisms could become law:
Now, conservative Islamic lawmakers have tabled a so-called "Family Resilience" bill, which critics decry as sexist and anti-LGBT.
Gay and transgender people would be forced to undergo "rehabilitation" — an umbrella term likely to include exorcisms and other "conversion treatments" — to purge what bill advocates say is a sexual deviancy...
Although now a Muslim-majority nation, traditional tribal animist and shamanist beliefs have been incorporated into the cultural and religious identity across the Southeast Asian archipelago, which is home to more than 260 million.
Exorcisms have long been used for everything from tackling mental illness to clearing villages of alleged apparitions.
According to the article, homosexuality is legal in Indonesia except in the province of Aceh which maintains strict Islamic laws. For example, the province's laws sanction public whippings for same-sex relations. If you think that's scary, consider "one 2017 study suggesting more than 80 percent of Indonesians support the country adopting strict Islamic law." Keep in mind that calamities such as the current pandemic sometimes led to religious fanatics attempting to manipulate people into adopting ultra-conservative policies.
Speaking of mental illness, consider this sad account from a woman who shared a terrifying tale:
Dinda says her mother, who is deeply religious, tricked her into visiting for a family reunion — but when the 34-year-old lesbian arrived, she found a Muslim cleric there who performed an exorcism against her will.
"My mom believed I was possessed by ghosts and that if I didn't have an exorcism then the evil spirits would stay with me," recalls Dinda, who asked that her real name not be used.
Her sexuality remains the same but she no longer trusts her mother. "I get shivers every time my mum calls me. And I see the exorcist in my dreams. It left me very scared," she reveals.
The family member's reaction when they got the exorcist's bill.
This woman's experience isn't limited to people living in Indonesian areas dominated by nutjob religious extremists. I've seen and heard some bat-shit crazy things from Christians too. I recall one a minister saying gays are possessed by demons and "smell differently." There are some people with off-the-wall ideas and while it's not limited to the religious (just go on social media for your daily dose of the delusional), my experience is that in some cases, people with untreated mental illness gravitate towards religious extremism.
The late Christiopher Hitchens's book sums up my view on religion
On the plus side, I've had a tremendously positive experience with Christianity. In my prison memoir Laughing All the Way to the Bank (Robbery): How an Attorney Survived Prison I discuss how I found guidance and a moral center, I was sorely lacking before my escapades robbing banks. It also helped me with an addiction problem.
Along the way, I've been able to filter out (at least I hope so) some of the man-made crap i.e. religion that poisons everything. Ultimately, people need to look at whatever sacred text they use in their beliefs and see how it squares with what religious figures say. My argument is that in too many cases, we have self-proclaimed religious figures twisting these texts for what can only be described as some fucked-up thinking.
coronapocalypse LGBTQ religion stupid people
CBS Anchor Caught Sleeping on the Job?
Impact Wrestling Results 5/12/20: #1 con. Tournament Begins
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Why I Hate Air Travel
Mike Rickard II
Retired bank robber and author of "Wrestling's Greatest Moments", "Laughing All the Way to the Bank Robbery, "Flunky: Pawns and Kings," and "Don't Call Me Bush Beans: The Legend of a Three-Legged Cat." Pro wrestling and hockey fan. Hired gun for several pro wrestling sites and a top 10 YouTube wrestling channel. Available in regular and extra-strength.


Some patients may not experience any symptoms from this condition. However, flatfoot tends to worsen over time, especially in patients with a tight Achilles tendon or those who are obese. Athletes are also at a higher risk of developing flatfoot.
Treatment for flatfoot often begins with conservative life changes such as changing shoes, wearing orthotic devices and taking anti-inflammatory mediation to relieve pain. Applying ice to the foot and performing physical therapy exercises are also usually helpful for many patients. In severe cases, or those that do not respond to conservative treatments, surgery may be needed to relieve symptoms and correct the problem. Surgery for flatfoot may involve removing or reshaping a bone or bone spur, or fusing one or more of the bones in the foot together.
Most children are born with flat feet and develop arches as their bodies grow. However, in some children, the arch never develops, leaving the child with inward-turning ankles. While this condition is not usually serious, parents should seek medical attention for flatfoot, as it may cause pain. Some children also experience flexible flatfoot, a condition in which the arch disappears while standing, and then reappears when the child sits or is on tiptoes.
To ensure that your child's flat feet aren't associated with any other problems, the doctor will check for warning signs such as arch inflexibility, calluses, tight Achilles tendons, tarsal coalition (fusion of bones in the feet), pronation (leaning-in of the ankles) and pain or weakness in the feet or ankles. He or she will also examine the child's shoes and ask whether there is a family history of flat feet or neurological or muscular disease. If the condition persists and begins to cause pain, arch supports, physical therapy or casting may be recommended to relieve pain and correct the condition.
For shoes that are comfortable and supportive for growing feet, go to www.pediped.com for all of your child's needs.


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Page Stegner Has Passed Away
Posted on March 16, 2018 by rangerdon
Page Stegner, who knew the Stewarts, was a distinguished and award-winning author with literary interests similar to those of George R. Stewart. Page wrote about the environment and the West, books which have become classics, like American Places, which also included the work of legendary photographer Elliot Porter and Page's father Wallace Stegner. He passed away just before Christmas of 2017, in the quintessenial Western town, Reno, about 30 miles away from where this is being written, in Carson City, in the middle of a "March Miracle" of a heavy snowstorm.
Page Stegner wrote fiction and non-fiction, reviewed books for leading magazines, edited some of his father's work. He also helped run the Peace Corps in Latin America for a time, took his students on river-runs in the west, and played bluegrass. Like Stewart, he was a true polymath.
He was also a great help in the writing of the George R. Stewart biography. When his father was fired at Stanford, the two families often visited each other. Jack Stewart remembered driving from Berkeley to Palo Alto down the rural two-lane highways of the day (the 1940s and 1950s), to the Stegner hamburger barbeques. Jack attended Stanford, sometimes visiting the Stegners while he was there. I wrote his memories into the biography.
Page Stegner was kind enough to answer emailed questions about family visits to the Stewarts in Berkeley. He gave a good sense of those more formal days, when children of academics did not necessarily eat at the same table with parents and thus did not feel themselves a part of the adult world.
During the research for the George R. Stewart biography, we were able to arrange a reunion between Jack Stewart and Page Stegner. The original photograph was included in the biography.
Dr. John H. (Jack) Stewart and Page Stegner reunion at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park
Jack and Page suffered from the same fate – children in the long shadows cast by famous fathers. Yet, Jack and Page were as accomplished as their fathers – Page through his writing, teaching, and other creative work; Jack through his brilliant work as the USGS geologist for Nevada, and as the creative geologist assistant to his father on the writing of some of GRS's novels.
Here's an Amazon link to the books which Page Stegner wrote, co-wrote, wrote the introductions for, or edited:
It was an honor to know Page Stegner. I recommend his books; American Places is one of the best books about this land.
Wolf Willow, for which Page wrote the "Introduction," has a special meaning to me. The book, by Wallace Stegner, is about his boyhood in the town of Eastend, Saskatchewan, which he calls "Whitemud" in the book. Page and other members of the Stegner family were instrumental in helping the town of Eastend, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the nation of Canada, preserve the Stegner House as a Canadian Heritage Site. The Eastend Arts Council manages the house as both a Memorial and a residence for writers and artists. I was fortunate to be one of those selected to work there, I researching and writing the Stegner chapters in the book. Including the climactic chapter, where, during a major prairie thunderstorm, I found the truth of George R. Stewart's life and work.
Grateful for Page's help with the book, I am as grateful for his work on the Stegner House program.
This entry was posted in American literature, California Trail, Canadian literature, Eastend, Saskatchewan, environmentalism., exploration and settlement, Geography, George R. Stewart, Interdisciplinary Thought, Literature, Nevada Geology and Geography, Nevada Literature, Page Stegner, Uncategorized, Wallace Stegner, Western American Literature, Wolf Willow and tagged literature, Page Stegner, Stegner House, Wolf Willow by rangerdon. Bookmark the permalink.
3 thoughts on "Page Stegner Has Passed Away"
Marilyn Armstrong on March 16, 2018 at 12:08 pm said:
I went looking for books, but so far haven't found any. I'll look in used and see what I find. I've been lucky at finding books there.
rangerdon on March 16, 2018 at 12:27 pm said:
Thanks, Marilyn, and good luck. Try local independent bookstores – they can often order used or new. Or there's always the 500-pound Gorilla, Amazon – they're stocking several titles.
I have gotten a lot of things from Amazon's second-hand department. We don't have any local independent bookstores anymore. One in Webster — about 10 slow road miles away — and NONE in Boston. They are all closed.


A drug formulary is a list of prescription drugs used by practitioners to identify drugs that offer the greatest overall value. It represents an abbreviated version of the drug list (formulary) that is at the core of your prescription-drug benefit plan. The list is not all-inclusive and does not guarantee coverage. In addition to using this list, you are encouraged to ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs whenever appropriate.
Benefit designs may vary with respect to drug coverage, cost, quantity limits, step therapy, days supply and prior authorization. Changes may occur throughout the year and plan exclusions may override this list. For more information, please contact a True Rx Customer Service Representative at 866.921.4047.


text:
The National Health Service (Amendment) Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6, c. 93) is an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act safeguarded the independence of GPs, who were allowed to treat private patients. It also proposed prescription charges of not more than 1s. for every National Health Service prescription. However, due to the intense opposition aroused by this proposal, the charges were not implemented till 1952.

The Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, announced on 24 October 1949: "There has been some excessive and unnecessary resort to doctors for prescriptions. This must be checked. A charge not exceeding one shilling, for each prescription will now be imposed. Arrangements will be made to relieve old age pensioners of this charge". The Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, told students at University College, London on 15 November: "Now that we have got the National Health Service based on free prescriptions, I shudder to think of the ceaseless cascade of medicine which is pouring down British throats at the present time. I wish I could believe that its efficacy was equal to the credulity with which it is being swallowed".

Notes

1949 in law
United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1949
NHS legislation

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


In the last post about how 'addicted we are to tech' I shared some shocking statistics including the evidence that reveals constant phone checking makes us anxious. Yet 73% of Brits say they'd struggle to go a day without checking their phone or computer!!
In this follow up post I want to share the many benefits of a digital detox and where to start.
Wikipedia describes a digital detox as" a period during which a person refrains from using electronic connecting devices such as smartphones and computers." It sounds simple, yet when you think about our usual daily lives, how do we make a detox work?
On the surface, it seems such a challenge that most people don't bother. However, let's consider some of the many benefits of staying away from our electronic crutches!
You have more time to chill, destress and recharge our batteries.
It frees up time to connect with family and friends; to talk, laugh, maybe plan a holiday or a weekend get-together.
A detox puts you in control of your time and how you use it rather than reacting and being driven by notifications and being constantly in light or flight mode.
You've more time to think, reflect and be creative.
So hands up, how many of us find ourselves checking our phone when we hear or see a notification flash up while we are talking with someone? Mmm… guilty. When we do this, we're not present for that person, and it doesn't matter if this is your 4-year-old, your mum, partner, colleague or client.
I heard that when US Singer, Lenny Kravitz, is approached by fans for a selfie with him, offers them a 'real moment' with him instead. Sadly, almost all of them opt for the selfie.
It's time to reconnect with people on a human level and give them our full attention. So how do we do this?
If you Google how to do a digital detox (pardon the irony of that comment) you will be inundated with ideas. Here's a few practical suggestions to help get you started.
These resonated with me because they are similar to the kind of goal setting strategies we teach at Excel Communications.
Have a detox buddy: We have a gym or running buddy so why not a digital detox buddy? It's always easier to keep your word and commitment to yourself when you are being supported and held accountable.
Tell everyone what you are doing: Share with colleagues, family and friends and ask for their support. The more people you share your goal with the more you'll want to succeed.
Set realistic 'tech-free' time goals: Using the same principle we teach leaders on our programmes; work with a team member on changing one behaviour at a time, set a goal for one tech device only, then move onto the next.
Decide on how much 'free device time' you will have each day. Will you have a different time allowance on weekends?
Maybe it's about starting with reducing your weekend usage or perhaps it's specific work days – you decide. What's important is that you set yourself up for success.
Switch Off: While you may decide to dare I say, switch your phone or tablet off, a smaller first step would be to turn your notifications off.
Tech-free zones: As well as having tech-free time, you can also designate certain spaces as tech-free. This should certainly be your bedroom (we all know the research around how the light from devices affects sleep quality) and also where you eat is a great starting place too.
I can sense a few objections/excuses may be coming up for some of you, 'but I use my phone as an alarm Rachel', or' but we have an open plan kitchen/diner'.
I hear you guys and here's the thing; buy an alarm clock and make your kitchen/diner a phone free area at meal times.
I heard a story recently of a family who all put their phones away in "the phone box" before they sit down together for dinner. It's the one time of the day when they all eat together and talk. Let's face it, how often do you eat out and see groups of friends or families together with phones out not talking.
If you are serious about taking some steps to reduce your tech time, the first step is deciding you want to do it. Then set a date to start!


ADAM Barlow will be seen packing up his bags and heading off for a few months of travel in Coronation Street next week after Gary Windass discovers girlfriend Sarah Platt spent the evening at Adam's flat.
The revelation comes after a fed up Seb Franklin lashes out at Gary after the builder fires him from his job.
Seb's mum Abi Franklin and Eileen Grimshaw arrive at the builder's yard where they try to talk Seb out of his decision to try and adopt Abi's twins – his half-brother and sister.
Seb – Harry Visioni - is furious and the trio get into a huge row just as Gary arrives with a prospective client.
The unimpressed client tells Gary he's taking his business elsewhere leading Gary to tell Seb he's out of a job.
A furious Seb – who knows about Sarah's evening with Adam – seeks her out and gives her an ultimatum.
Later, following the twins' hearing where Seb lies about having a full-time job, the angry teen finds Gary and rails at him for firing him when he needed a job the most.
Gary – Mikey North - is left stunned when Seb then reveals that a drunken Sarah spent the evening with Adam at his flat. What will Gary do?
Daniel Osbourne then discovers Adam - Sam Robertson - packing his bags.
travelling for a few months.
As Adam heads away from Weatherfield in a taxi, Sarah watches on with a mixture of regret and relief.


text:
Q: Show hide div through checkbox in JQuery JQuery:
$('#chkCaption').live("click", function() {
    if ($('#chkCaption').attr("checked")) {
        $('#divCaption').show();
    }
    else {
        $('#divCaption').hide();
    }
});

But it is not work.Help to find my mistake or suggest the way.Thanks.

A: Instead of
$('#chkCaption').attr('checked')

you may want to try this:
$(this).is(':checked')

A: try this:
$('#chkCaption').live("click", function() {
    if (this.checked) {
        $('#divCaption').show();
    }
    else {
        $('#divCaption').hide();
    }
});

this should be in document.ready.
Instead of Jquery attr or is you can use javascript property checked

A: You just forgot the function declaration parens on show()
$('#chkCaption').live("click", function() {
    if ($('#chkCaption').attr("checked")) {
        $('#divCaption').show();
    }
    else {
        $('#divCaption').hide();
    }
});

A: In jQuery 1.9 .live() was removed. So the actual answers changed, if using javascript .checked:
$('#chkCaption').on("click", function() {
  if (this.checked) {
    $('#divCaption').show("table-row");
  }
  else {
    $('#divCaption').hide();
  }
});

In pure jQuery:
$('#chkCaption').on("click", function() {
  if ($(this).is(":checked")) {
    $('#divCaption').show();
  }
  else {
    $('#divCaption').hide();
  }
});

A: $('#chkCaption').click(function () {

        if ($(this).is(':checked')) {

            //Show div
        } else {
            //Hide div
        }
});

That should do it ;)

A: you are missing (), TRY
$('#chkCaption').live("click", function() {
    if ($('#chkCaption').prop("checked")) {
        $('#divCaption').show();
    }
    else {
        $('#divCaption').hide();
    }
});

DEMO

A: $('#chkCaption').live("click", function() {
    if ($('#chkCaption').is(":checked")) {
        $('#divCaption').show();
    }
    else {
        $('#divCaption').hide();
    }
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Every Pokemon fan know and likely loves the adorable Pikachu. Pikachu is the main Pokemon featured in the Pokemon cartoon series and is quite literally the face of the franchise.
For whatever reason the Pokemon games never make it straightforward to start with Pikachu. Instead, they force the user to pick up one of a group of starting Pokemon. These Pokemon tend to be fairly popular too, but they are not Pikachu! Come on few things in this world are as cute as a Pikachu.
Like most of the games Pokemon Go seems to force users to pick one three Pokemon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle as their starting Pokemon. However, users have found a way to get a Pikachu instead.
If you continually run away from Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur a new Pokemon will appear, a Pikachu! You can capture it and make it your starting Pokemon.
Now if you are a huge Pikachu fan and you did not do this, do not fear. You can still catch Pikachu later on. Also keep in mind the starting Pokemon do not mean all that much in Pokemon Go. I would actually argue that they mean less than in any prior Pokemon game because you do not battle instantly to build them up.
If you want to catch a Pikachu use our tricks for tracking down Nearby Pokemon. A Pikachu will be yours in no time.


text:
Q: Error al conectarme a mi base de datos Tengo instalado xampp en windows y hoy al iniciar Apache y MySQL, veo que al intentar conectarme a la base de datos, me devuelve un error

2013 - Lost connection to MySQL server at 'reading inital communication packet', system error: 0 "internal error/check (Not system error)"

Si intento acceder desde laravel me dice lo siguiente

SQLSTATE[HY000] [2006] MySQL server has gone away

Si reviso el log del archivo my.ini de MySQL, cada vez que intento contectarme sale lo siguiente:

[Warning] Aborted connection 11 to db: 'unconnected' user: 'unauthenticated' host: 'localhost' (This connection closed normally without authentication)

El xampp lo abro y uso todos los días, y hoy sin modificar nada pasa esto, el puerto es el 3306.
Leyendo en foros veo que puede ser un problema del firewall, pero no he encontrado más información
Uso Navicat como gestor de base de datos


text:
SMIC Private School consists of 4 campuses—Private Kindergarten, Lower Elementary (K2-3rd grades), Upper Elementary (4th-5th grades) and Secondary (6-12). The whole school covers 80,293 square meters including:
School Buildings - The Private Kindergarten has three floors and 19 classrooms. The Lower Elementary campus has three floors with 28 classrooms and 7 special classrooms. The Upper Elementary campus has four floors with 29 rooms for student education and use. The Secondary campus has three floors with 35 classrooms and 25 special classrooms, including 4 science labs.
Each classroom is equipped with air conditioning, a ceiling mounted LCD projector, and an air purifier. Our Upper Elementary classrooms are also equipped with interactive white board projectors.
Our school also features four auditoriums, multiple science labs, art and music rooms, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields and running tracks. Our Kindergarten and Elementary campuses include newly renovated playground areas for active recess time.
The Gym is situated on the second floor of the building that houses the school cafeteria on the first floor. It has an approximate area of 1,900 square meters and has a standard-size basketball court. The gym is also equipped with movable volleyball and badminton equipment. The gym is used as a multi-functional sports venue, and students commonly use the place for ball games and competitions.
The Libraries - The SMIC Private School has two libraries; one in the Lower Elementary campus, and one in the Secondary campus. Each branch library has over 45,000 volumes of English books and Chinese books. The collections are open to all students and faculty for their learning, research and recreational needs. Aside from reading materials for students, the library also houses numerous teaching resources for teachers. The SMIC School Libraries offer book fairs and various different reading promotional programs every year. Librarians also work as liaisons to help students and parents to purchase books from Scholastic Book Club.
Computer Labs - There are seven computer labs at SMIC: two located on the Lower Elementary campus, one in the Upper Elementary campus and four located on the Secondary campus. Each lab includes 30 PC computers, one laser printer and an LCD projector. Color printers and photo/document scanners are also shared among the computer labs. Two server rooms host multiple servers to support the school's internet, WIFI/intranet needs, email system, PA system, phone system, security cameras, printers, etc.
Cafeteria - The school cafeteria has an approximate area of 1,900 square meters, which includes the student cafeteria of around 1000 square meters and serves 840 students at the same time. The cafeteria has facilities like air conditioner, hot water, etc.
Transportation - The SMIC Private School has 20 school buses. The school bus service is provided for an additional fee for students in grades 1 to 12, who live within the outer ring, for some Pudong and Puxi areas. Every school bus has safety belts, automobile data recorder, and a school bus teacher to ensure the safety of the students.


text:
The Museum and Café will be closed Monday, Jan. 13-Friday, Jan. 17, for annual maintenance. They will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Please note: The Museum will be OPEN for a special Monday on January 20.
Children's Museum of South Dakota
Play along with us!
Spark imagination and learning through play, creativity, and discovery. We've got all the answers you need to help plan your trip today.
Hours + Admission
Planning Tips + Info
Explore our exhibits and more!
Take a trip down KidStreet, take a class, or support the Museum by eating in our café or picking up a gift.
Play is the best way to learn. And when you play with us, your imagination can be as big as our skies.
Studios + Classrooms
Our Maker Studio offers open exploration for everyone. Check out a class.
Café Coteau
Having fun can really work up an appetite. We've got you covered!
Bring your museum experience home with curated toys that relate to our exhibits.
Map Our Location Get Directions Call Us
Volunteer Open House set for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Volunteers are essential to the ongoing operation of the Children's Museum of South Dakota. For those interested in exploring volunteer opportunities at the museum, an open house is set for Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore the entire museum, including the newest exhibit spaces Connective Construction and the Maker Studio.
Opportunities to volunteer with the museum are numerous ranging from engaging with guests on the museum floor and assisting with one-time events, to being a part of the landscaping and maintenance team.
"As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on volunteers to help keep our costs low, but volunteers bring so much more than financial support," said Charles Stuart, group reservations coordinator and volunteer coordinator. "They become a part of our team. By helping on the museum floor or behind the scenes, they help us create more engaging and meaningful guest experiences."
In 2017 alone, 1,647 volunteer hours were logged and 26 new volunteers joined the program. Volunteers range in age from 14 (minimum age) to 79 and have a variety of backgrounds.
Learn more about our volunteer program:
Registration Now Open for 2020 Winter Camps and Classes
Giving Tuesday: Play is for Everyone!
Top 10 Stocking Stuffers
#playalongsd Children's Museum of South Dakota on Facebook Children's Museum of South Dakota on Twitter Children's Museum of South Dakota on Instagram Children's Museum of South Dakota on Pinterest Children's Museum of South Dakota on LinkedIn Children's Museum RSS Feed
©2020 Children's Museum of South Dakota.
We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.


What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - well - not anymore - excited to start sharing Avnie & Pankaj's e-session. The only day it rained in Vegas this summer - we happened to be shooting. The 100 plus degrees made it tough to shoot outdoors during the day. We all braved the Vegas heat and came up with lot of fun images. More to come soon! Meanwhile enjoy this sneak peek!


text:
https://ftlauderdaleautoshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ftlasvid-converted-with-Clipchamp.mp4
START YOUR ENGINES
APRIL 6TH – 9TH 2023 | BROWARD CONVENTION CENTER
TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON!
International Auto Show
Located in the Greater Fort Lauderdale – Broward County Convention Center -the Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. Now in its 31st year, one of the Ft Lauderdale Show unique features is how the public has the opportunity to test ride popular cars and trucks and to meet with dealers and discuss price and terms right there on the show floor.
Official Opening Day
Thursday April 6, 2023 SHOW FLOOR OPENS AT 2 PM
2PM to 10PM
See all your favorites, go for a test drive or two, and take a walk down memory lane with the classics. It's an auto show, and so much more. Featuring more than 500 of the world's leading cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles, the Ft Lauderdale International Auto Show has become one of the most popular "shopping shows" in the region.
The Broward County Convention Center is located at the northern end of Port Everglades, as part of the world's largest cruise port, Security manages the checkpoints at all entrances to Port Everglades. Parking is conveniently connected to the Northport Parking Garage with covered, air conditioned skywalks. Northport Parking Garage is well-illuminated and security patrolled.
It's fun for the entire family!
Ft Lauderdale Auto Show
It's an auto show, and so much more! See all your favorite sports cars, sedans, SUVs, and minivans, go for a test drive or two, and take a walk down memory lane with the classics. Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County.
South Florida Automobile Dealers Association Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show
625 NE 124 Street North Miami, FL 33161 Phone: 305-981-1448
Thursday, April 6 // 2PM-9PM
Friday, April 7 // 2PM-10PM
Saturday, April 8 // 10AM-10PM
Sunday, April 9 // 10AM-8PM
© 2019 - 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show | Thynks
April 6 - 9, 2023


text:
There was a time when one was expected to know how many Inspectors of Factories there were in the state, apart from their bosses, the Deputy Chiefs, on to Joint Chiefs, and thence to the Chief himself. Considering that the Chief wielded the power to dictate how a factory should be run, he (it has always been he, I don't think Tamil Nadu ever had a woman chief so far) was a shoo-in to have his office in what was once a palace.
The Khalsa Mahal is the southern block of the Chepauk Palace, which was the residence of the Nawabs of Arcot. It was built in 1768 and was acquired by the government in 1850. It is likely that the initial designs were drawn up by Paul Benfield, but in the 1870s, they were expanded by Robert Chisholm. Khalsa Mahal survived quite intact through those efforts, but in recent years, the building has been sorely threatened by fires, and parts have actually been consumed by flames, as well.
The Chief Inspector of Factories may have shifted out of here by now. In fact, there is no more a position called Chief Inspector of Factories. The nomenclature has changed and it is now called Director of Industrial Health and Safety - and the (currently) 48 Inspectors have had their titles changed as Deputy Directors. Wonder if the factories are running ship-shape now!
Labels: building, Chepauk, factory, government


WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China were going well and he would only accept a "great" deal as negotiators hammered out differences ahead of a meeting between Trump and China's vice premier later in the day.
Trump has proven unpredictable in past White House meetings with Liu, openly challenging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in late February over the use of the term "memorandum of understanding" in the talks.
After meetings in Beijing last week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are holding talks in Washington with Liu and a Chinese delegation this week.
The second Trump administration official said that progress was being made on some issues in the talks, but others remained sticking points, such as the removal of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and issues related to enforcement of any agreements.
The United States is seeking reforms to Chinese practices that it says results in the theft of U.S. intellectual property and the forced transfer of technology from U.S. companies to Chinese firms.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow has declined to give a deadline for a deal, saying last week that the talks are "not time dependent" and could be extended for weeks or even months longer.
While some reform pledges by Beijing are largely agreed, including an agreement to avoid currency manipulation, the two sides have not yet settled on an enforcement mechanism to ensure that China keeps its pledges. Another key unresolved issue is whether and when punitive U.S. tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods would be removed.
As the talks reach their final stages, resolving these two issues will be critical in determining whether a deal can be reached, U.S. Chamber of Commerce international affairs chief Myron Brilliant told reporters on Tuesday.


Prepaid companies give customers another option at turning on power without paying huge deposits or having to sign long-term contracts. Today's prepaid companies are full of gimmick rates, hidden fees, and no plan benefits. But there's another way prepaid electricity is done that doesn't involve each one of these hassles or surprises – and that is the Pronto Power way.
Houston Light Companies – Power within the Hour!
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Pronto Power works just that way. When you sign up with Pronto Power, you'll receive daily messages either by email or text (or both, in the event that you like). The message informs you exactly how many kilowatts you have used, and the balance on your account.
As long as your account includes a positive balance over 1 cent (when we bill at 7 a.m.), you could have service. Say you discover yourself in a jam and cannot make a payment. Simply call in before 1 p.m. exactly the same day and look for a free extension.
What separates Pronto Power from all of those other prepaid companies is our plans won't nickel and dime one to paying more. Most companies use gimmicks, tricks, or hidden fees to be competitive. We use old-fashioned customer support and common sense. When we say you receive cheap electricity with Pronto Power, we mean it.
We rely on the 90 days same-as-credit model. Once your account starts, and you go 90 days without a disconnection, we are certain to get you back into monthly billing with no social security number or deposit. And there's no credit check. Bear in mind that with Pronto Power's FREE extensions, there is a constant have reasons to be disconnected again.
Only at Pronto Power we understand if we execute a good work for you, you will refer us. We would like your referrals and we're willing showing you only how much. Our Refer-A-Friend (RAF) 20/20 program, which provides you and the person you refer both $20.


text:
Game of Thrones: Season 7, "Beyond the Wall"
By Aaron Bady, Sarah Mesle
This week on Dear Television:
Aaron Bady and Sarah Mesle get a raven from Eastwatch saying some bad stuff that was obviously going to happen is happening, so they put on their white tailored fur coats, saddle up their dragons, and talk about "Death is the Enemy," the penultimate episode of the seventh season of Game of Thrones. There are spoilers, of course, so don't look directly at the sun during the eclipse.
Previous episode: season 7, episode 5, "Eastwatch."
Following episode: season 7, episode 7, "The Dragon and the Wolf."
LARB's Collected "Game of Thrones" Coverage
by Aaron Bady
Dear Television,
So, let's start with the basics.
Going north of the wall to steal an ice zombie was, it turns out, a really bad plan, as Jon's "I am so, so sorry" moment indicates he now realizes. What happened was pretty much what was obviously going to happen: they found one wight by finding fifty of its friends, which was immediately followed by finding about a million of its friends. And then they were fucked, except what the internet calls "plot armor" intervened. No matter how stupid you behave, the plot will intervene to protect Characters Who Matter To The Plot.
Thus: an indeterminate number of indeterminate red-shirt wildlings were killed, along with one named character — the least engaging person in the party, whose name I can't remember — but, otherwise, the show worked really, really hard to imagine a way for Our Heroes to not be easily slaughtered. Oh, we just happen to be on a little island of stone in the middle of a frozen lake that the night king's wights fall into, creating a perfect standoff. The Night King even chucks his ice javelin at the flying dragon, a much more difficult target, rather than the one who is literally just sitting there, all loaded up with personnel; close call for our heroes!
You can rationalize every decision if you want, and you can figure out, retroactively, how actually it made sense: see, he had to attack the one who was loaded up with fire because that was what killed it, if you rewatch the scene, you can see, etc. But come on: we know that that's never the real reason why things happen the way they do. We are just propping up the show's stupidity. If you watch the knuckle-dragging "inside the episode" featurette, you can actually hear Weiss and Benioff explain just how hard they worked to think of a contrivance to keep everyone alive, which is basically the clearest articulation I've ever seen of this phenomenon: We wanted them not to die, say the creators, so we wrote it so that they don't die. Lucky break for our heroes that they turned out to be the heroes of the show!
I'm tired of this show. I will keep watching it, obviously, because I am much too far gone. (What am I going to do, read a book?) But I'm tired of all the ways George R. R. Martin's vision of a fantasy world where everyone covers their head — because OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD WEAR A FUCKING HELMET INTO BATTLE AND A HAT INTO THE ARCTIC — has become a show where the important thing is that we see our characters' faces. I'm tired of how an "anyone can die!" framework has become a show where, no, the named characters are impervious to hypothermia (Jon) and can also swim underwater with armor (Jaime, Bron) and "rescued at the last minute from out of nowhere" has become the basic narrative move of the show, particularly to save Jon "When Will This Show Let Me Die, I Want To Die" Snow.
(I mean, for god's sake, he tries to GIVE AWAY HIS SWORD IN THE MIDDLE OF A MISSION TO ZOMBIE COUNTRY, HOW CLEAR DOES HE HAVE TO MAKE IT. In a way, the real drama in this show is Jon Snow's increasingly desperate attempts to die and the creator's sadistic refusal to allow him the sweet release of death.)
I'm tired of the tedious haggling over travel times that this show makes us do, after all the work it once put in to make a ludicrous fantasy story feel realistic. It never was, of course, but HBO had good material to work with and they hurled enough money at the problem to make it hold together, just enough; it gave you just enough cover to suspend your disbelief. It was still a fantasy world, but its fantasy people did normal people things like talk, go to the bathroom, stand around waiting, and get killed; you understood that it was contrived artifice — that fantasy wasn't real — but it had a kind of narrative hybrid vigor, where the "War of the Roses" historical fiction blended with the Lord of the Rings high fantasy elements, and all of that produced something that felt newer and more interesting than it ever really was. You knew better, but when you were watching, you didn't care.
For me, that frisson has run out. The "War of the Roses" plots are long forgotten and we're just watching a conventional High Fantasy story about zombies and dragons and Our Heroes in between. But even those elements aren't doing it for me. The show is coasting. It's been burning its furniture to keep warm for a while, but there's a point at which you run out of places to sit, and we are way past that point. I can't even bother to get mad about things like WHERE DID THE NIGHT KING GET THOSE HUGE CHAINS FROM.
I'm tired of all the characters who were briefly important who have subsequently vanished, because the show just doesn't have time to explore what happened to Yara, what Theon has been up to, what Bran is doing, where Meera went, what Grey Worm has been up to, etc etc etc. I'm tired of the show's disinterest in what female power would actually look like, while we see yet another eighty-five ice zombies get smashed up. I'm tired of watching interestingly complex female characters become mean and stupid — the Sansa and Arya thing is interesting, intermittently, but it's also just so damned unnecessary, and requires them both to be maximally petty and mean and lacking in insight or compassion — and I'm SO SO SO tired of seeing Queen Daenerys cheerfully subordinate her entire life's narrative to Jon Snow's extremely not-clever plan on the basis of, well, we don't have a show if she doesn't. But I mean: how can we reconcile the show's "Is Daenerys a Mad Queen in the Making?" question — which makes her cruel, authoritarian, ego-driven, and unpredictable — with the selfless way she puts all of her plans on hold so Jon and the Boys can have their mission, then rescues them, and then is explicitly glad that HER DRAGON-CHILD DIED?
(Well, the answer, you see, is that they are falling in love! And why is Dany falling in love with her nephew? Why is Jon falling in love with his aunt? The answer: because the showrunners want them to. They have to. I mean, what are they going to do, not fall in love? I find it particularly rich to listen to them talk about the two characters who they have written into love as if they, like us, are just watching the show, instead of, you know, literally writing it.)
This show is now pure fan service. Fans have been calling Daenerys "Dany" for years, so Jon uses that name as a wink to those fans; the Gendry rowing joke was translated into actual dialogue, ha ha; Tormund and Brienne's improvised relationship has become something the show will never ever stop doing; and a goofy piece of fan art has become, literally, the actual show. It makes a certain sense, then, if you think about it, that the end of the show merges so seamlessly into those godawful "The Creators Talk About This Week's Episode!" segments, literally at the end of the show itself: the distinction between our reality and the in-show reality is becoming thinner and thinner, the suspension of disbelief increasingly notional. I mean, I like DVD extras as much as the next person old enough to remember DVDs, but the first rule of extras is that you don't put them in the show itself.
But there is no more show itself, it's only extra. This show is no longer Game of Thrones; it's now a tribute to Game of Thrones, like the point in classic rock band's career where you really, really, really don't want to hear any new songs (Euron) because the only reason anyone is paying for tickets is to hear retreads of the old favorites. Season seven is every Rolling Stones tour after Steel Wheels. Or maybe it's a spin-off series where we get to see all of our favorite characters inhabiting an imaginary timeline where George R. R. Martin actually finished the damned books. Wouldn't that have been nice? Just imagine what could have happened!
But he didn't. Instead, we're stuck with HBO pandering to what it thinks viewers like, based on what people on Reddit get most excited about. And this is the result! Shipping and misogyny.
Here's the real ending, the only ending for me: the White Walkers kill everyone. This is the real ending because the White Walkers are a metaphor for Climate Change, and because we are all going to die. Sure, a lot of stuff can happen before that point. We were all, already, going to die anyway — death has a pretty much 100% success rate with all living things, to this point, across the entirety of time as we know it — but climate change is different, existential at the level of civilizations. And in the nineties, when this series of books was first running, global warming was one of those things we really need to get in front of before it gets too late; we need to get our shit together, people, we have the power to stop this!
Twenty-one years of not getting in front of it later, global warming HAS THE BOMB. And while I can't stop watching this show, I find that all I want is to go blind. It's a nice day for the end of the world. So:
LET'S BLOT OUT THE SUN AND STARE AT IT UNTIL WE FIND SWEET RELEASE,
Locked Up, Beaten, and Flung About the Room
by Sarah Mesle
Let's consider the two plotlines of this episode of Game of Thrones.
In one, an appealing, ragtag group of men embark on a thrilling and (the show, frustratingly, wants us to believe) socially necessary adventure through a snowy wilderness displayed through truly gorgeous overhead cinematography. There are zesty conversations, sex talk, and bonhomie! In a moment of crisis, our utterly charming band of men is saved by the one woman in their plotline, who swoops in with fantastic grandeur and in one of this show's best-ever costumes, endures a great loss on the men's behalf, and falls in love with their soulful and damaged leader. There are dragons! And also true love. It's fucking fantastic and, if you can bracket the part about how it makes very little sense, utterly thrilling to watch.
In the other plotline, three women — Arya, Sansa, and Brienne — move tensely through claustrophobic rooms. Unlike the men, who are all at their most charming, all three of the women (even Brienne, I'd say, though I suppose this is debatable) act as the worst and most reductive versions of themselves; they mistrust, hurt, and alienate each other. They do this because their fears and anxieties are not, for the writers' room of Thrones, a source of sympathy or heroism (as the Hound's fire phobia is, for example). Instead, they are tied to their petty childhood dramas. Whereas the one woman in the men's plotline offers sacrifice and support, the one man in the women's plotline, Petyr Baelish, works to break the women down, divide them, manipulate them. Rather than ending with noble sacrifice and grand feeling, united, holding literal hands as are Jon and Dany in plot one, the women don't really end at all: the conclusion of the episode shifts from alternating between the adventurers and the women to alternating between the adventurers and the white walkers. What the women are doing at the end, presumably, is sitting alone and thinking fearful and angry thoughts about each other. The scenes in this plotline were so unpleasant to me that I had to fight the urge to fast forward through them.
What to say?
Last week, I wrote that I was tired of women "providing the ballast of realism" for men's fantastical stories. Am I less tired of it this week than last? Dear Television: I am not. Now that the symmetry of the two plot lines, their clear structural mirroring — outdoor and indoor, masculine and feminine, heroic and fearful, propulsive and restrictive — are formally even more clear, do I enjoy it more? Is the thrill of unpacking a structural logic of gender-segregation-by-genre a kind of compensation for cringing every time plotline two took the screen? Fucking nope.
In fact, as a critic, what I like least about it is how crabby and un-fun pointing all this out makes me feel. I don't want to be the critic who swoops in with my ideology critique — an ideology critique is like the opposite of a dragon, when it comes to swooping in — blowing un-fun all over everyone's viewing pleasure. Because, aside from the structural masculinism, this was a pretty fun episode of television to watch! Everything Aaron says about the plot holes is correct, and I wished they weren't there, but let me come in with a true confession: I don't necessarily care all that much about suspension of disbelief. I gasped, and more than once, and that's a pretty good hour of television for me. Yes, the whole ice/army/dragon plot was incoherent and demanded an absurd amount of rationalization from its viewers, totally true. But there were dragon zombie battles and heartfelt love, and I really go in for all that shit. If Game of Thrones had never been more than this, never more than an icy Pirates of the Caribbean, I would still probably be an avid fan.
(I mean, for real: I spent yesterday's eclipse day thinking loving thoughts about the stellar 1985 fantasy movie Ladyhawke which is about as believable as the ice zombie plotline and which you should all watch immediately; it also shares with the ice zombie plotline the fact that it has only a single important woman character, who gets most things done character-wise with her creature-management and her cheekbones).
And yet, here I am, sighing deeply and furrowing my brow. I do not want to be the one who has to be nattering on about this episode's bad gender politics. Because really, it is not on me, it is not on feminism, it is not on feminist criticism, that this show made such bad decisions about gender: it's not my fault that it put all the fun and pleasure into the plotline about public male heroics and put all the anxiety and frustration into the plotline about private female negotiation. That is fucked up and it puts all of us — critics and viewers too — in the bullshit position of either just sort of going with it for the sake of narrative pleasure or calling the show out on it and then being the feminist killjoys who spoil everyone's good dragon time. What kind of fucked up choice is that? I felt this week that I could either say, "yep, more of the same, let's note yet again how women's relationships are getting the narrative short end of the stick" or I could talk about excitement and battle and pleasure. It makes feminist criticism feel boring and unpleasant, when it is not: in fact, it's just masculinist television that is boring and unpleasant.
Look, I think we can all agree what the best moment of this episode was. It wasn't the zombie dragon resurrection, it wasn't the dragon death, it wasn't #rungendry, it wasn't even Tormund's "Big Woman" talk, although I'd give you that as a strong second. It was Daenerys Targaryan's white winter feather coat and accompanying braid job. Walking to her dragon, Daenerys was fierce and strong and beautiful, and I wanted to watch her walk to that Dragon in that coat all day, and then I wanted to watch her give up on her dumb romance plot and fly straight to Winterfell to talk politics and braids and grain supply with Sansa and Arya and Brienne. I wanted her to go full "dracarys" on Petyr Baelish's tiresome ass.
But instead, Game of Thrones played the oldest trick in the "men write about women" book and took its most beautiful, powerful woman, Dany — all her beauty and strength and feather-coated narrative power — and deployed her in the service of the male heroics she begins the episode by dismissing. The real story of this episode, read that way, what's different between its beginning and its end, is that at the beginning Daenerys thinks that male heroics are stupid, and at the end she has pledged her troth to them. The real romance this episode works to celebrate is not just between Dany and Jon, but between Dany's feminine power and the brooding male heroics Jon represents.
Here, as in so many situations, I feel the best thing to do is to turn towards Virginia Woolf.
Indeed, if woman had no existence save in the fiction written by men, one would imagine her a person of the utmost importance; very various; heroic and mean; splendid and sordid; infinitely beautiful and hideous in the extreme; as great as a man, some think even greater. But this is woman in fiction. In fact, as Professor Trevelyan points out, she was locked up, beaten and flung about the room.
A very queer, composite being thus emerges. Imaginatively she is of the highest importance; practically she is completely insignificant. She pervades poetry from cover to cover; she is all but absent from history. She dominates the lives of kings and conquerors in fiction; in fact she was the slave of any boy whose parents forced a ring upon her finger. Some of the most inspired words, some of the most profound thoughts in literature fall from her lips; in real life she could hardly read, could scarcely spell, and was the property of her husband.
Woolf here writes of the strange experience of comparing "woman in fiction" to "woman in history." But let's here compare "woman in fantasy" to "woman in realism." Or, put differently, let's compare the stories of Daenerys Targaryan to that of Sansa Stark/Lannister/Ramsey, who certainly, like so many women in history and in realism, has been locked up, beaten, and flung about the room. What different space have these two characters been given by the narrative, and why? Sansa has been abused at every turn, and now that she is finally free of husbands, the plot has made her the victim of her femininity in another way: her own sister is still so pissed at her for being good at navigating the strictures of womanhood — so good, with her pretty handwriting, that she even desired those strictures — that while Arya may not kill Sansa, she is certainly aggressively killing any pleasure we may take in her storyline. Rather than moving the plot forward towards its conclusion, Sansa and Arya and Brienne are impeding its path.
Dany, meanwhile has been given power and more power, and now we see why: because her final role will be to rescue Game of Thrones from its own opening conceit. What made Game of Thrones itself was that it was willing to kill its heroes. But now its heroes do not have to die, because Dany and her dragons will rescue them. The love of a good sacrificial woman will save this show from its own genre.
What will happen when this episode's plotlines meet? It's hard not to see the women's plot — which is also a plot of (Petyr's) male agency, don't forget — as, also, in need of rescue. It's hard not to imagine how this plotline gets resolved without some other plotline — Jon and Dany's, probably — rushing in to save it at the last minute. Will they come in on Dany's dragon, I wonder? Once Dany restores Jon as a hero, surely he can go save those sisters of his, too.
What's the point of saying this? What's the point of railing against the machinery of HBO, which clearly wants so badly to be good at gender, and yet just can't pull it off? Shouldn't we be glad that there are all these interesting women characters on this show, and then get back to admiring the battles?
But ignoring Game of Thrones's gender problems, how they're so deeply built into the structure of what this show thinks of as a story, in order to focus on everything I loved about this episode feels sort of like all those times in left politics when women are supposed to defer women's issues — abortion rights, let's say — into some obscure futurity so we can get "centrist" democratic candidates elected. Women are always told: Be patient! Shh! Wait! Look at the big picture. The big picture is so heroic! Let's not get bogged down in these petty details of structural gender bias, these details that constitute this minor stuff, which you, woman, might experience as "your life."
It gets boring being someone who is always yammering on about ideology. I'd like a break from it myself. Virginia Woolf was tired of it in 1929! But then, when I was thinking about this, I also thought of a somewhat more surprising recent feminist advocate, Taylor Swift. Swift, as you might have heard, was just involved in a complicated legal case: she had been sexually assaulted, the man who assaulted her then sued her for ruining his career, and Swift filed a countersuit (she sued for one dollar) which she has just won. If you want to know if the kids are all right, I encourage you to read as much coverage of this trial as you can.
Here is Swift responding when questioned about her feelings about the man who assaulted her and then lost his job: "I'm not going to let you or your client make me feel in any way that this is my fault. …I'm being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are the product of his decisions — not mine."
I'm not kidding when I say that, when trying to decide what to write this week, I took some strength from Swift. With her I want to say: the buzzkill happening here, the one that I'm talking about, is the product of Benioff and Weiss's decisions — not mine. I would like to sue them for one dollar. I would like to reclaim my time.
The enemy always wins, and we still have to fight him, I guess, or we could just do something else maybe,
Game of Thrones: Season 7, "Eastwatch"
Game of Thrones: Season 7, "The Spoils of War"
Game of Thrones, "The Queen's Justice"
Game of Thrones: Season 7, "Stormborn"
Fiery Heaven, Bastard Earth: The Cosmology of "Game of Thrones"
By Jedediah Purdy
The Earth Died Screaming
By Robert Cashin Ryan
Hope Is a Complicated Concept: An Interview with Behrouz Boochani
By Emanuel Stoakes
Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and American Jews
By Peter Dreier
The Proliferation of Profilicity
By Paul J. D'Ambrosio
Navigation Through Longing: On Laurie Stone's "Everything is Personal: Notes on Now"
By Daisy Alioto
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Top / Ayn Rand / Fiction / Atlas Shrugged (MP3 CD Audio Book)
Atlas Shrugged (MP3 CD Audio Book)
Read by Scott Brick
Unabridged, professional reading.
The incomparable novel about the men of the mind on strike against the creed of self-sacrifice.
Ayn Rand's epochal novel, first published in 1957, has been a continual bestseller as well as an intellectual landmark. It is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world--and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies but against those who needed him most--and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world's motor--and the motive power of every man?
Tremendous in its scope, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life--from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction to the philosopher who becomes a pirate to the composer who gives up his career on the night of his triumph to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad to the lowest track worker in her Terminal tunnels.
Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's masterpiece. It is a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.
(MP3 CD Audiobook; 63 hrs.)
Atlas Shrugged (50th Anniversary Edition)
Atlas Shrugged (CD Audio Book)
Atlas Shrugged and America (MP3 download)
Atlas Shrugged as a Work of Philosophy (MP3 download)
Atlas Shrugged Cliffs Notes (Booklet)
Atlas Shrugged on the Role of the Mind in Man's Existence (MP3 download)
Ayn Rand Boxed Set: Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead (Paperback)
Ayn Rand's Ethics: From "The Fountainhead" to "Atlas Shrugged" (MP3 download)
Essays on Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"
Is Atlas Shrugging? (Free MP3 download)
La Rebelión de Atlas (Spanish Edition) [eBook]
La Rebelión de Atlas (Tapa Blanda)
No Tributes to Caesar: Good or Evil in Atlas Shrugged (MP3 download)
The Creation of Ayn Rand's Ultimate Ideal Man: Who Was John Galt? (MP3 download)
The Spirit of Francisco (MP3 download)


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She Said, He Said: Ford Super Duty F-250
Posted on February 27, 2011 by B. Schaffer
Ford's Powerful Power Stroke Diesel
Barbara ? There?s a hint of invincibility that comes with cruising down any road in the new Ford Super Duty F-250 pickup.? Except for the semis and delivery trucks, it?s the biggest thing on the road ? four doors, large deep cargo bed, massive tires and a 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel engine.? I can just hear Tim Allen?s famous ?Awk, awk, awk? chant from his1990s ?Home Improvement? sitcom as he admires the size and power of the Super Duty.
Getting up into the tall Ford requires some work for five-foot three-incher like myself, but once in the cab it?s spacious and comfortable.? On the road, I was surprised to hear none of the diesel noise or even much of the road howl from the 20-inch all terrain tires.? Contributing to the quiet, at highway speeds, is the gearing which has us barely above an idle, 1500 rpms, while traveling 65 mph. However, there is no question that you are driving a diesel when exiting the truck with the engine running, as we discovered when we stopped at the mailbox.
Bill ? I may not be a truck aficionado but if I put myself in the boots of a typical heavy duty truck owner, the new Super Duty certainly appears the kind of vehicle I would want.? The big Ford has a massive, rugged appearance that goes well beyond being a handsome face — it?s designed to handle a 6,520-pound payload or to pull up to 24,400 pounds when properly equipped.
I was especially impressed by the interior, which looks as if it might have been designed by Rubbermaid.? The doors, sections of the dash and parts of the center console are molded from heavy duty plastic.? That?s not a bad thing though, because these surfaces should easily handle scrapes from misplaced muddy boots or a bang from a tool carried into the cab.? Of course, order the upper trim levels and the trucks take on a more luxurious look with some masculine leather and wood surfaces.? Either way there is no question that Super Duty defines a no-nonsense approach to truck building.
The cab is filled with storage spaces to handle all kinds of notebooks, paperwork and tools, plus the lockable center console is large enough to hold a laptop computer. ?Most of the controls are large enough to accommodate gloved hands, but the steering wheel-mounted buttons are a little small and tightly grouped for gloved hands ? at least warm gloves.
Barbara — There?s no confusing the Super Duty Ford with an F-150. In fact, Ford appears to have won the battle over which heavy-duty truck has the largest chrome grill by taking up the entire front end between the headlights.? We haven?t actually measured the grills, but there certainly seems to be a ?bigger is better? mentality between the big three U.S. truck manufacturers.
Bill ? What really makes the difference in the big trucks is the drivetrain.? In this case, the F250 4×4 Crew Cab we drove was equipped with the (optional $7,835) 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine.? That?s a lot of name, but that?s a lot of engine, too.? Rated at a best-in-class 390 horsepower and best in class torque at 735-lb.ft., the engine almost reeks of power.? Without cargo or a trailer, the big diesel feels fast even spinning the rear tires on dry pavement when tromping the accelerator to the floor ? torque is an amazing thing.? On a drive from our home in the Portland area to central Oregon, we averaged 17.5 mpg in mostly highway driving.
Standard engine fare for the Super Duty is an all-new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine also best-in-class with 385 horsepower and 405 ft.-lb. of torque.? The engine has 85 more horsepower and 40 ft.-lb. more torque than the current 5.4-liter V-8 gas engine.? It can also run on the E85 fuel.? Both engines utilize the heavy duty TorqShift? six-speed automatic transmission, which has been optimized for the increased torque of the new diesel engine and the higher speeds of the new gas engine. The new transmission has the SelectShift Automatic? capability which allows the driver to shift manually for better engine control and engine braking.
Barbara ? Like most trucks made by the domestic automakers, the Super Duty has hundreds of available options so each truck is literally custom made to meet the needs of the owner. ?In its base configurations, the Super Duty F-250 is offered in four trim levels (XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch), three cab styles (regular, crew cab and SuperCab), two engine choices, three wheel base lengths, two bed lengths and a choice of two- or four-wheel drive.? Pricing ranges from $29,480 including the $975 destination charge for the two-wheel drive regular cab XL and tops out at nearly $65,000 for the four-wheel drive King Ranch with a diesel engine and all the available options.
I really don?t care for big trucks either, but having spent time around horse people and building contractors, I can certainly appreciate the need for such vehicles.? I was impressed with how quiet and comfortable our XLT test vehicle was.? On the downside, however, it did not have the overhead passenger-assist (OMG) handles I think are necessary when Bill is driving or just for my comfort.? I need something to hold onto, and the handles on the front windshield pillar, is only good for pulling myself into the cab.
Bill ? The Ford is loaded with tech features that make it more user friendly.? I especially liked the 4.2-inch LCD Productivity Screen mounted between the tachometer and speedometer.? It is controlled by a group of buttons on the steering wheel and shows interesting things like position of the vehicle, steepness of hill, how far the front wheels are turned and many other bits of information about the truck.? I also like the very useful built-in tailgate step and grab bar that makes getting into the cargo bed much easier than trying to climb up on a high bumper.? There is also a tow/hall mode that provides the same engine exhaust braking the semis use.
On the downside, I had a problem with the dash lights.? I like to drive with the headlights on during the day on two-lane roads and in bad weather.? I could not see the instruments when the headlights were on during the day, even with the brightness maximized.? I ended up having to fool the system by covering the light sensor mounted in the middle of the dash so it would turn on the instrument lights.? We checked the owner?s manual and could find no other way to make the lights work.
But that?s one small problem, overall, it?s easy to see why the Ford trucks have been the best-selling trucks for 33 consecutive years — they are very, very good.
Books: Roadside Relics: America?s Abandoned Automobiles
Test Drive: 2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD
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2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L: First Look


Making the #GamePlan for gamification is fun! It is starting the same way that ordinary planning flow: define your business objective.
Now here comes the point whether you know the path to reach that objective or it must be discovered. Generally the first option is the case – you know the path – especially when you have steady business. Do not be confused, if your target objective is super challenging it does not mean that the path is unknown but requires extra effort maybe resources to hit. However the easiest way to identify the path is known or not, is the list of required behavior. If you are able to put together the list of required actions (something between 5-10 pcs) then you are on known path. Otherwise you need some experimental action that can be still OK at certain circumstances. All the actions on its own way should support your desired target and can not contain the same phrase as the objective itself, eq: your target is to increase the customer satisfaction rate from 73% to 77%, them "increase the customer satisfaction" is invalid action. Or if your objective is to close 10 more premium deals in the next three months, then "close 10 more premium deals" is invalid too. And of course make sure the actions are measurable. Now you have a list of actions. But wait a minute here… and rethink the list.
If your list of actions is wrong your are steering your team to a muddy, weedy theatre of business but not to the shiny and rewarding targeted place.
Your next challenge is to understand how it fits into your team. If your team is purposeful, who is motivated on goal achievement and the required actions put them into knowledge sharing environment – which is a comfort zone for different type of personality, then team motivation level will be struggling for sure. It is never black and white to identify the characteristic of the team. It is not straight forward, but this makes good managers and leaders. Sometimes we are not aware even of our own characteristic, The good news is that it's not impossible, there are several methods to find it out … just make it happen!
Your at the half point – more or less. Make a decision, which way to move on!
Abstract your KPIs into a story, design the corresponding visuals and implement motivational game mechanics into your defined path and lets get started with fun!
Do not forget, gamification is not a game, it is not a dancing around points, badges and levels it is about to improve employee engagement based on their personality to achieve business goas! Enjoy it!


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· ECOLOGICALLY SOUND, SUSTAINABLE, AND PESTICIDE-FREE MANUFACTURING.
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