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Meteor Acquires YC Alum FathomDB for Its Development Platform (techcrunch.com)
55 points by arbesfeld on Oct 7, 2014 | hide | past | web | favorite | 16 comments
simonw on Oct 7, 2014
"... there are now plenty of companies that have raised more than $7 million each that run almost completely using the Meteor framework ..." - anyone know who some of those companies are? I'd love to see some large-scale examples of Meteor running in the wild.
primigenus on Oct 7, 2014
Off the top of my head, Lookback.io (https://lookback.io) raised $2.2M and Workpop raised $7.9M (http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/16/workpop/).
Lots more: http://www.quora.com/What-are-some-startups-using-Meteor
tsmash on Oct 7, 2014
Wait, MeteorJS was funded? I'm starting to think investors are strangely out of touch with the projects they throw money at. Famo.us is the one that stands out the most to me; I have no idea how they got funding or were able to pay employees. Now Famo.us is open source, like it should have always started as, with nowhere to go for investors. Meteor seems like a similar thing, a web framework of sorts with no concrete way to monetize, also in a very weird niche space (Famo.us for people who think they can get away with not making native apps, Meteor for people who think they can get away with undocumented voodoo in their web development). Now Meteor somehow has enough money to purchase a database company? It seems like the only exit they could have is sell their souls to enterprise. Look at Django, which is a complete, robust, mature framework compared to Meteor's collection of magic. Django is a non-profit entity, which makes sense for this type of software. We've all built a web framework or animation library in our spare time, since when did investors start dishing out cash thinking these things were monetizeable?
To me this just smells of bubble, of too much money for too small projects / markets. Of course Meteor could start expanding to new products and do something unrelated to an MVC framework, but there's no mention of that right now.
> Of course Meteor could start expanding to new products and do something unrelated to an MVC framework, but there's no mention of that right now.
Visit http://meteor.com/about and you will find this:
> [...] a new platform for cloud applications that will become as ubiquitous as previous platforms such as Unix, HTTP, and the relational database.
Meteor is not "an MVC framework", it is a platform for creating applications. The investment seems to reflect the ambition described on this page and after having watched them execute over the past two years, I'm glad they're funded, because it clearly enabled them to continue working on this without running out of steam and having to go back to their old jobs.
They have also been quite open about their future plans for making money, such as in the post announcing their funding back in 2012: https://www.meteor.com/blog/2012/07/25/meteors-new-112-milli...
> Eventually, we plan to make a commercial product too, called Galaxy. Galaxy will be a product that the operations department at a large company might buy. It'll be an enterprise-grade, multi-tenant hosting environment for Meteor apps.
aikah on Oct 8, 2014
The success of this future plateform obviously depends on the success of their core product.
argonaut on Oct 7, 2014
It's pretty obvious you haven't even bothered to do any research. Famo.us doesn't have a particularly good product, but it totally makes sense why they've been able to get funding - one of the cofounders of Famous sold a company for $100M. So to any VC it's a no-brainer to invest in him again.
Meteor has some really really smart people working on it, and they've repeatedly stated that they plan on monetizing by providing hosting/deployment services (a la WordPress). WordPress is a billion dollar company, in case you've forgotten.
vqc on Oct 7, 2014
I believe one of Meteor's intended, future revenue streams will be as a service provider for Meteor applications. If you take a look at the Meteor trello-board (https://trello.com/b/hjBDflxp/meteor-roadmap) it is listed as Galaxy.
As a Meteor developer, I would pay for a solution that allowed me to use Meteor's collection of magic on a platform that was built specifically to take advantage of said magic.
iguana on Oct 7, 2014
This is long term/platform play. Think wordpress. The problems they are solving are not easy to solve. They are executing well! Worst case, one of snoozefest enterprise shops will just buy the whole thing.
d0m on Oct 7, 2014
So meteor is a long-term thing and I see a lot of ways for them to make a lot of money. And so far they've been executing amazingly well and they're focusing on the right audience for this time.
lacker on Oct 8, 2014
The popularity of Rails proves that there are many developers who "think they can get away with undocumented voodoo in their web development".
taternuts on Oct 8, 2014
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like every meteor site I see just feels a little ....off, for some reason, or just not as polished. Like the http://lookback.io site, the location of the navigation items at the top shifts slightly between pages, and completely when jumping from 'explore' to anything else. I've messed around with meteor and really like it, but I'm still waiting to see a "Made with Meteor" site that blows me away.
huckyaus on Oct 8, 2014
The change in navigation position you're seeing when navigating between pages other than Explore is caused by the browser displaying a scroll bar. The nav bar on the Explore page (for whatever reason) has an entirely different style applied.
hawkice on Oct 7, 2014
This article is surprisingly light on details, and their websites seem to have few others. Does this mean that Meteor will support SQL databases for the 1.0 release?
saadshamim on Oct 7, 2014
It says in the article "the team isn't so much excited about Fathom's NoSQL and MySQL capabilities, but about its ability to watch how data changes and then push those changes out to users." At the moment meteor polls the db every 10 sec to see the changes which isn't very efficient or does oplog tailing if your mongodb has replica sets enabled, which can be much better for scaling (though more expensive/or more work). However, oplog doesn't really work for other dbs, i.e mysql,so I'm guessing FathomDB has been working on a better implementation then simply polling over the last couple of years. My guess is that they will try to abstract out the db layer, which is really tightly baked into meteor, so more dbs can be supported, though I think that will prob take quite a bit of time since its not in v1 release plan and they will most likely need to change how their packaging system works and some of their core system.
aioprisan on Oct 7, 2014
I hope that to be the case as well. The way the data model works is pushing data updates back to the client through the mongodb cursor and this db solution should be able to provide that data update functionality
brentjanderson on Oct 7, 2014
Experiments with Redis and other databases have been done, so SQL support will almost certainly arrive at some point.


For a map and driving directions to 64 Fillmore Ave in Buffalo please scroll down and click the link under the map to "View Larger Map". You have found the business name and address for Tlr Interiors Inc. It is located at 64 Fillmore Ave in Buffalo. We have many other merchants in the Trades or Contractors categories similar to Tlr Interiors Inc. Just click the links above. To write a review for Tlr Interiors Inc in Buffalo please click on the "Review this Merchant" button on the right of this page. If you find the business is not located at 64 Fillmore Ave and/or the phone number is not (716) 821-1524 please click the "SEND" button below.


28 Jul 1809 a part of a large fleet which departed from the Downs, with troops, with the aim of demolishing the dock-yards, and arsenals at Antwerp, Terneuse, and Flushing, often known as the ill-fated Walcheren Expedition.
Portsmouth 10 Jan 1810 departed for a cruise off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 12 Jan 1810 Put back from a cruize off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 29 Apr 1811 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 8 Aug 1811 arrived from off Cherbourg.
6 Sep 1811 Royal-Oak detached to the east of Barfleur the Barbadoes and Goshawk to intercept gun-brigs expected at Cherbourg : these were attack on the 7th and chased into Calvados, driving one of them on shore.
Portsmouth 23 Sep 1811 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 27 Sep 1811 departed for off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 1 Oct 1811 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 3 Oct 1811 departed for Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 8 Oct 1811 departed to cruise off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 21 Oct 1811 arrived from off Cherbourg, to be coppered.
Portsmouth 22 Oct 1811 Came into harbour to be docked.
Portsmouth 2 Jan 1812 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 5 Jan 1812 departed for off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 6 Jan 1812 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 8 Jan 1812 departed for off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 22 Jan 1812 departed to resume station off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 27 Jan 1812 arrived from off Cherbourg.
Portsmouth 12 Feb 1812 arrived from off Ushant.
Portsmouth 12 Mar 1812 departed for the Downs.
Deal 2 Apr 1812 departed last night for off Flushing.
Deal 9 Oct 1812 departed for off the Texel.
Deal 8 Dec 1812 departed for Portsmouth, to refit.
Portsmouth 1 Jan 1813 Is ordered to be fitted for foreign service, with all possible haste.
Portsmouth 10 Jan 1813 departed under sealed orders.
Falmouth 7 May 1813 Spoke with the Duke of Montrose packet on the 5th in lat 48.32 long. 7. 28, from off the Western Isles, bound to Plymouth.
Portsmouth 15 Jul 1813 departed on a cruise of the Western Island.
Portsmouth 6 Oct 1813 arrived from a cruise.
The Garonne 31 May 1814 At anchor.
2 Jun 1814 Royal-Oak departed with a squadron with troops from the mouth of the Gironde, arriving Bermuda 24 Jul.
Aug 1814 a portion of the prize money resulting from the various actions in the Chesapeake became due for payment on 1 May 1835 : namely a dividend from the estate of the bankrupt agent Henry Abbott : no doubt one of the many fraudsters who ripped off matelots in those days : both officers and ratings being fair game.
6 Sep 1814 The Royal-Oak and troop-ships departed from the Patuxent to the entrance of the Patapsco river, in preparation for an attack on Baltimore, which was subsequently aborted after some early sparring.
19 Sep 1814 the fleet, including the Royal Oak, Asia, Ramillies and Ætna remained at anchor in the river Patuxent until 27th when it moved to the Potomac where shore operations were re-commenced from 3rd to 14th Oct., following which the fleet departed for Negril bay, Jamaica.
14 Dec 1814 distribution of head-money arising from the capture of American gun-boats and sundry bales of cotton, [per London Gazette of 26 Jun 1821].
Portsmouth 18 Apr 1815 Passed by for the Downs with troops from America.
Portsmouth 30 May 1815 arrived.
Portsmouth 29 Dec 1825 departed for Bermuda, where she will be employed as a convalescent ship.
20 Mar 1841 Carpenter Henry Visick, appointed to the Royal Oak.
20 Dec 1848 Receiving ship, Bermuda.


South Sound Beaches With Sand!
Over the sprayground? Had it with barnacles?
Here's a round up of area parks from north to south and beaches where you can find actual sand!
One note: You won't find as much sand at lake front parks these days. Fish and other creatures need those native, grassy plants, which is why many parks have less sand than you might remember.
This picturesque park has a large swimming area with sand and an additional gravel beach. There is also a spectacular playground and plenty of grassy knolls to set up for the day, play frisbee, or have a nap! Be sure to check out our Lake Meridian Playground Report.
This is a riverfront park with access to a swimmable (well, splashable) area of Green River with a small area of sand. The water reminded me a bit of splashing in a mud puddle, but the boys enjoyed it. There are lovely, shaded picnic areas, walking trails, and a small, albeit fun, play structure.
This is another popular park with a sandy beach area. You'll have to pay to park. Allan Yorke Park is on the south side of Lake Tapps and also has a swimming area and playground.
Unless the tide is up, you can find some sand on both sides of the fishing peer. The boardwalk is a great 1/2 mile walk one way, although it is currently (as of 03/01/15) closed due to storm damage. In the summer time, be sure to show up for the free lunch for kids. They also have very skilled guides out from the Highline MaST Aquarium who will guide the kids in beach combing, activities in the aquarium, and crafts.
This is a very popular park with a brand spanking newly renovated HUGE kids' playground. There are plenty of picnic tables, and a swimming area with sand.
This gem is hidden away in a neighborhood and is super private. You may also get to watch skim borders. Downside: It's more tide dependent. At high tide, the sand areas will be minimal. Also, a reader pointed out that Dumas Bay is a heron sanctuary, so dig is a no-no. If you just want the feel the sand between your toes, go for it! This beach is also featured in our list of Ten South Sound Nature Walks for Young Hikers.
While this park requires a Discover Pass, it is a South Sound treasure! There is so much sand here, you can even bring your skim boards if you're adventurous. The best part? The beach is far from the hustle and bustle of the city, so you really feel like you have gotten away from it all and can relax. Read more about Favorite Beach Outings in the South Sound.
Wait? Two Dash Points? Yes! This one is a MetroParks Tacoma park just down the street from Dash Point State Park. It requires no Discover Pass! It also has a newly renovated playground, bathroom facilities and a beautiful view of the Sound.
Most Tacoma area beaches are better for beach combing than sand play, unless the tide is out. The section of Ruston Way next to Jack Hyde park (where the sundial is) almost always has some sand. Read my full review of Jack Hyde Park.
This park includes a boat launch, a swimming area with a small sand area, picnic tables, and a playground. This is a busy, popular park. There is usually a life guard on duty keeping things safe and having all folks stick to the rules.
The lake has a swimming area with a small section of sandy beach. Parks and Rec staffers suggest parking in the D or C lot. In addition to swimming, check out the playground, paddle boat rentals, and trails. There are parking fees in the summer.
Facebook reader Cindy recommends Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley. Lake Wilderness Arboretum is an easy, kid friendly hike.
Reader Deanna says that Priest Point Park or Burfoot Park in Olympia have sandy shores. We have a reader review with great pics of Burfoot Park here!
Several readers also listed the beautiful and sandy Sunnyside Beach in Steilacoom. We have pics and a review of Sunnyside Beach here.
If you're willing to go a bit out of South Sound territory, you might consider Gene Coulon Beach in Renton. If you want to make a day trip to Seattle, you can't beat Alki Beach. Or, just load everyone up and head out to the Washington coast. It's not Maui, but there is plenty of sandy beach and optimal kite flying locales!
It's totally possible I've missed somewhere sandtastic, so please don't be shy about leaving a comment!
PS If you're new here, I hope you'll subscribe to our weekly newsletter or join us on Facebook or your other favorite social media.
Long Lake does not have any sand, it is a pea gravel shore… For tide dependent sandy shores you can go to Priest Point Park or Burfoot park both just past Olympia's downtown area. But both areas are very rocky when the tide is high.
Thank you very much, Deanna!
Something to consider is that Dumas Bay is actually a wildlife sanctuary (or something similar), and so they actually have "no digging on the beach" signs posted. However, at low tide this is a wonderful place to go to see lots of live sand dollars.
I knew you weren't supposed to collect any, but I wasn't aware you couldn't Dig…I'll have to dig into that some more-lol! Thanks for the comment, Kim!
We go to Tolmie State park all the time and we love it!!
there are tons of shady hiking trails and there are two beaches. one of then is made from the gravely sand you're talking about.. but the other beach has all sand and its an amazing place to swim. i would highly recommened gong there!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Melony. It's going on our list for sure!
Des Moines Creek Park which is just north of the marina and the fishing pier. They also have Concerts in the park during the summer months.
We really enjoy Titlow, especially for tide pooling. I've only seen sand at low tide, though. Maybe I just need to time it better?
Fort Warden State Park in Port Townsend is one of the biggest and best sandy beaches up here that is not on the coast. You may know this beach from the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman". There are bunkers to explore, a light house to tour, a marine science center, trails galore that even lead to more bunkers and to another great beach called North Beach. If you go to North Beach at the right time in the morning while the tide is real low, you can walk to Glass Beach where you will find all sorts of colors of beach glass along with different types of china. Port Townsend is a wonderful place to visit in the summer time. And in the winter time it's great for whale watching season.
It's a bit out of my normal, "Territory," but you're right that it's a great destination. We'll have to do a daytrip/road trip post on Port Townsend soon. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
We love going to Owens Beach at Point Defiance in North Tacoma. it has a long sandy beach, kayak rentals, snacks and picnic areas with grills.
It's definitely a fun spot, especially if you like a, "Beach scene," in the summer! Thanks for adding that one!


text:
Interview: Gretchen Gales
Spotlight: Gretchen Gales
Interview by Dr. M. Leona Godin
@drmlgodin
Image by Alexander J. Clark
*Editor's Note: This interview project was created to help you as readers get to know our writers as well as the Quail Bell Crew to get to know each other better. This interview was conducted by "Distill My Heart" columnist Dr. M. Leona Godin and focuses on managing editor Gretchen Gales.
How did you become associated with Quail Bell?
A friend invited me out to an "Art Walk" near my college campus. Basically every first Friday of the month, the local art galleries put out new art and other fun activities. Founding editor Christine Stoddard was outside tabling with our anthologies. I bought both of them, started reading them, and desperately wanted to have my own work in Quail Bell. I had a lot of luck in the writing department while I was in high school, winning a county-wide literature award and getting two poems published in the literary magazine after three years of rejections.
But once I started college, nothing I submitted to my college literary magazines were accepted. I got an acceptance twice from one, but then they never published the material. I submitted a poem I had recently written and expected the typical "Thanks, but no thanks." The next morning I got an acceptance from my predecessor Deniz Ataman. A month later I applied to be a contributor or to at least inquire about possible internship opportunities. Suddenly I was a part of the writing crew and wanted to prove I was a reliable and capable writer. Anytime a topic was suggested, even if I had no interest in writing about it, I volunteered to write something for the topic. I knew if I wanted to be a writer, I had to show I was willing to work with any topic given to me and to do it well. And now I'm managing editor. Funny how things happen.
Interview: Archita Mittra
Spotlight: Archita Mittra
Interview by Melanie Bikowski
*Editor's Note: This interview project was created to help you as readers get to know our writers as well as the Quail Bell Crew to get to know each other better. This interview was conducted by assistant editor Melanie Bikowski and focuses on fellow assistant editor Archita Mittra.
How did you become associated with Quail Bell?
I think it was in the final year of high school. I was starting to take my creative writing seriously and was looking for places to submit and I stumbled onto Quail Bell Magazine and fell in love with it. I loved the Photo Tales, the mix of the real and the unreal, and the whole thing just resonated with me so much -- it was exactly the kind of 'zine I was looking for. So I sent an essay and a few poems and got an email after a few weeks saying there was a problem opening the Word attachment and could I please resend them, which I did. Then two or three days later, I checked my email, again and there was my acceptance letter waiting for me, from [former managing editor] Deniz Ataman, praising my work and comparing my writing to Rainer Maria Rilke. I was absolutely overjoyed and although I wasn't familiar with Rilke's work then, he's become one of my favorite poets now. After that, I sent an internship query and before I knew it, I was added to the Facebook group and was uploading my articles directly onto Weebly. It's been such an amazing experience -- knowing and interacting with so many creative, talented and positive people!
Welcome to our staff blog, where you can learn more about The Quail Bell Crew.
Christine Stoddard conceived the idea for Quail Bell in late 2009 after writing a children's story by the same name, and launched the website as a college blog in 2010. In June 2013, Christine and former art director Kristen Rebelo officially launched Quail Bell Magazine as a global web magazine. Read our editorial mission statement to learn more.
The QB Crew
Christine Stoddard, Founding Editor
Art, media, and language have enchanted Christine Stoddard since the days of her early upbringing in Arlington, VA. While still a mere fairy flutter from D.C., Christine dove into creative activities, hoping that her artistic talents would distract her teachers from learning of her mathematical inability. Luckily, her plan worked. Her non-math skills have been recognized by regional and national organizations. In October 2011, Style Weekly Magazine named her one of the "Top 40 Under 40" in Richmond, VA, while she was still a VCUarts student. Christine currently lives and works in her native Virginia. Email her at: cstoddard@quailbell.com.
Gretchen Gales,
Though Gretchen first dedicated her life to being a veterinarian and a best-selling writer on the side, her lack of technical abilities helped guide her towards a literary and art career. Gretchen has published work in Ms., Bustle, The Establishment, and over 30 other publications. She also has been interviewed in Dear English Major and Her Campus. More of her work can be found at writinggales.wordpress.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Photographs in the Transition series were taken at DIY skateparks in Indiana and Texas over the last 5 years. The DIY skatepark, a skatepark built illegally by local skateboarders, is a phenomena that has spread across the country and the world in the last 10 years. The title Transition has a double meaning-- it is the word skaters use to refer to the part of a ramp that connects the horizontal plane to the vertical plane, and also a reference to the way these disused urban spaces change when a DIY park is built. They go from being an abandoned place to being an inhabited place, from a place with no name to place with one, from being nothing to being something. The central figure in this series is a concrete embankment (a quarter pipe) added by the skaters to a corner of the lot. I consider the material, formal, and conceptual qualities of this object and the gesture it represents emblematic of a sophisticated spatial practice at work: through a few minimal concrete additions an entirely new vision of what a place is for and what can be done there is manifested. The skaters had transitioned a commercial ruin into a space of free expression and autonomy. In these photographs I adopted the same mentality as the skaters, discarding the precepts of photographic representation the way the skaters had discarded the precepts of the urban space. In an attempt to learn from this form of creative consumption, this project is an ongoing experiment that blurs the lines between documentation and participation, where each image is a reflection of one set of circumstances and the initiation of another.


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Francis Crick's Nobel Prize to see $500,000+ with Heritage
The Nobel Prize award presented to Francis Crick for his co-discovery of the structure of DNA has been consigned to auction from the Francis Crick Family Trust Collection.
Crick's discovery was made under Sir Lawrence Bragg, who had won the Nobel Prize himself in 1915
The auction will take place on April 10-11, though UK collectors will be able to attend an exclusive viewing in London on March 4. The medal is expected to sell for $500,000+ when it finally crosses the block in New York.
It was Englishman Francis Crick and his partner James D Watson who first revealed the famous double helix structure of DNA, the molecule that contains much of the information used in the development and function of all living organisms.
This fundamental development, published in 1953, has since led to countless important scientific discoveries, and for their efforts Crick and Watson were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962, together with Maurice Wilkins, who had also worked on the project.
The medal itself was designed by Swedish artist Erik Lindbergh and minted in 23 carat gold. Weighting almost 200 grams, it features a portrait of Alfred Nobel and was presented to Crick by King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden.
Also featuring is the cheque that Crick was awarded as part of his Nobel Prize win. Made payable to Doctor Francis Crick for the amount of 85,739 Swedish krona, it sports a fine example of his signature and is in good condition, with just a very small tear to the bottom edge and some small areas of staining.
Scientific collectibles are rare, but those that do come to the market almost always see strong results, such as Fahrenheit's original thermometer, which sold for $107,802 at Christie's last year. PFC Auctions is currently offering a fascinating series of correspondence from Albert Einstein to the prominent socialist philosopher Corliss Lamont.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic autographed document from Edison as head of the Edison Spanish Colonial Light Company.


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St Xaviers- College- KCA Cricket Ground – Trivandrum
Thumba St. Xaviers's College Cricket Ground
The stadium was built by KCA in association with St. Xavier's College.The stadium, situated in a 6.3 acre land, was built on land leased from the college for 10 years. Once the lease gets over the ground will be handed over to the college authorities. The ground was built as part of KCA's mission 20-20 – a plan to build 14 stadiums in the state.The stadium is modelled on the cricket stadia in Australia and England. It is the first ground in Kerala to have nine wickets. Two wickets in the centre are for first class matches and the others would be given for district-college-school-club level matches. Boundaries are about 79-82 metres from the centre, which is indeed long considering any Indian ground. Trees have been planted around the stadium – infact about 600 of them.
KCA Cricket Stadium at St. Xaviers College, Thumba
Arial View


text:
Goop's Guide to Aspen 2016
Writer Sonya Falcone recently visited Aspen for a ski trip with Aether showcasing the opening of Aethermtn, its fourth retail location in the country. Falcone's fabulous Aspen Guide write-up for Goop.com includes a thoughtful review of The Nell after spending time here during her stay, described below:
The Little Nell is famously the most luxurious of Aspen's resorts, so it follows that it's also home base for the ritzy see-and-be-seen scene the town is known for. Still, it's perfectly possible to have a discreet stay, if only because the rooms themselves—designed by LA-based Holly Hunt and turned out with Fili d'Oro down, heated marble bathrooms, cozy fireplaces, and mountain views—are so exquisite. You'll also be grateful for the impeccable service, which makes every activity from skiing to making a dinner reservation blessedly simple. In the hotel's two restaurants, element 47 and Ajax Tavern, take advantage of the over-the-top wine list from Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, a relative youngster for the wine world who's already earning top stars for his management of the hotel's deep wine collection. Art lovers, take note: The Nell is also home to a legendary collection of contemporary art, which occupies all of the hotel's hallways, restaurants, and guest rooms.
Goop.com is a weekly lifestyle publication, curated by Gwyneth Paltrow, offering exclusive collaborations, recipes, travel notes, and more. Visit Goop.com for the full Aspen Guide.
CATEGORY: Accommodations, Art, Food & Beverage, Skiing
TAGS: Aether, Aethermtn, Ajax Tavern, Carlton McCoy, Element 47, Goop, Goop.com, Gwyneth Paltrow, Master Sommelier, Sonya Falcone
Summer Adventures
Winter Adventures
Follow The Nell!
Meet JC – Our Bartender for the Apres Ski Cocktail Classic Pub Crawl
Vote in Valrhona's Easter Contest


Did you notice that May seems to be communion season? I painted and did tattoos at a lot of communions this year, it was pretty fun! Kids that age are great. At one particular one held at the Indian Trails Club in Franklin Lakes, I was hired for solely temporary tattoos. I did a ton!
This one young girl who was so shy she refused to talk to me came back for SIX tattoos. We were able to communicate without her saying a word. Thankfully, it wasn't a rushed event, and we had the time. My favorite of the designs she got was this coexist. How cool is that?
She wanted neon rainbow, which I think turned out great.
Some of the boys decided to challenge me, and I got to pull out my inks and brushes too. I was out of NY Yankee stencils, but was able to do 'em anyway.
I'm only annoyed I didn't get photos of the New Orleans Saints freehand tats I did.
Every June, some friends and I have one of the best and most rewarding gigs of my year, the Valerie Fund Walk in Verona, NJ. We meet so many great people who benefit from the fund or just make this their cause. Really a terrific bunch all around.
I was so busy beginning to end that I only took one photo this year, because I was happy with my daisies.
Almost as cute as the girl sporting them.
I still have more looking back to do with you, but in the meantime, I'll post photos from my paintings at a country club party - Indian Trails club in Franklin Lakes, NJ.
These two were funny. I had a run on camo faces, and then a trendsetter who wanted "rainbow camo." If he hides in a Crayola factory, no one will see him for sure!
The one fun adult who showed her family how to really party!
And this was just too hilarious. This young man got a Viking balloon hat & cutlass, then asked for a beard!
Back in June, I painted at a high school graduation party. I was originally hired to entertain the smaller kids there, but everyone was having so much fun, I was asked to stay longer. What a great group!
That was my first ever attempt at Tweety. Not bad, I think.
You may notice that this is different from my typical Joker. The tech-savvy kids at this one pulled the face painting of another artist, and asked me to replicated it. Yikes! I didn't have that much time to make it really stellar, but it was fun to try mimicking someone else's work! Made me appreciate their talent, too.
I think the best, though, were the teens.
Last Friday evening, I painted a bunch of well-behaved, appreciative, and cute girls at a birthday sleepover party in Westwood, NJ. It was a blast!
The birthday girl asked to look like her orange striped cat.
Meanwhile, I was shown a medium-haired, fluffy cat in tabby colors and asked for a rendition of that too.
In addition to a few more cats, I also had a couple of dogs, of course.
Only one more species at this party, bunnies!
The funniest and most creative request, though... a chocolate chip cookie. With a bow. And moustache.
I've been so lax about posting what I've been doing! So rather than start at the beginning, I'm going to start with this past Saturday and work my way backwards for a bit. This past Saturday, I painted at a corporate picnic for Brown & Caldwell.
What a great group! I know I say that a lot, but this bunch was really fun. And they didn't even make fun of me - much - when a gigantic cicada landed on my leg and freaked me out, sending me dancing around like a rather shrill lunatic.
So... on to the painting.
My very first request was for a zebra. I wish I'd known it at the time, but this girl actually had a zebra print dress, complete with tail, and a headband with zebra ears! It was terrific! My lament is that by the time I saw her and realized, I was painting others and really couldn't go tackle her for another photo since she was off and running.
Then, another very specific request. This one wanted to look like her yorkie. Who can resist that?
This great kiddo said "cow." Okie doke! So here you see what I believe is my first ever cow face painting. His mom cracked up when I started painting the straw. To do it, I googled cow images and came up with this guy.
I think it's a fair rendition, right?
It was hot out, so the arm art was understandable.
If you don't recognize that last guy, it's an Enderman from Minecraft. You may remember the Creeper I once painted. I'm starting to think I should get to know all the Minecraft characters; it is not an unpopular game!


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Manufacturing an Isle of Man success story
Posted on 29 Jul 2015 by Jonny Williamson
Jonny Williamson travels to the Isle of Man to uncover the initiatives giving local aerospace businesses added thrust.
The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster provides a support structure for the Island's aerospace sector to pursue even greater global recognition.
Flying over Douglas bay it strikes me that there's a slight juxtaposition to the Isle of Man's (IoM) reputation. On the one hand you have an island internationally renowned for offering unique outdoor experiences, combining adventure, heritage and culture – not least of which is the annual TT races, the world's longest-running high-speed motorcycle event.
The stunning landscape on display – encompassing rolling hills, picturesque farmlands, dramatic coastal scenery and secluded glens – seems to be at odds with the Island's other distinction, being a hub for high value, niche, precision engineered components.
But for many, this thriving status is of little surprise as engineering is most definitely in the Manx (native islanders) blood. There are numerous examples of the Island's rich engineering history at sites such as the world famous Great Laxey Wheel, and associated working mechanisms, which drive the pumps that once cleared the surrounding mines of water.
This industrial legacy isn't a feature buried in the Island's long distant past, the innovation and skill on display today is just as striking, if not more so. The creation of the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC) in 2006 builds on this legacy and provides a support structure for the Island's aerospace sector to pursue even greater global recognition.
Adrian Moore, Chairman, Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster
Chairman of the IOMAC, Adrian Moore tells me that the Cluster drives forward a sector which has had a presence on the Island for more than 60 years and whose members have a direct customer order book related to aerospace design, manufacture and service provision.
"The Cluster is a partner to every major civil and military aerospace product programme in the world today, including the Airbus A380 and A350; the Joint Strike Fighter; the Rolls-Royce Trent Engine Family, and the Curiosity Mars Rover," he says.
A key early achievement of the IOMAC was the forming of a strategic partnership with Europe's largest aerospace cluster, the North West Aerospace Alliance – headquarted in Preston, Lancashire. According to Moore; "This provides access to one of the most dynamic and important aerospace clusters, and though IOMAC contains several significant companies, this partnership has proved particularly beneficial for the smaller firms in the cluster."
Having been established on the IoM in 1955, Manx Engineers falls into the former category. Following a management buy-out in 2009 and supported by Government machinery and training grants, the company has achieved an impressive growth rate in excess of 30% a year.
Manx Engineers is one of the founding members of IOMAC and its assertive investment programme has seen new Citizen and Mazak CNC millturn machines being installed and paying dividends. A similar proactive approach to staff development has seen the company achieve an average employee age of 35 – far lower than the industry norm.
The company's Martyn Perkins says that being part of IOMAC allows the group to punch well above their individual weight, as well as pooling information and disseminating intelligence that members otherwise wouldn't be aware of.
As well as being an engineer – a tool maker by trade, Moore is also engineering and space development manager for the Isle of Man's Department of Economic Development. "I understand our member's culture, business and, importantly, the challenges they face," he says.
"The Government works with each business to ensure they stay ahead of the competition curve, and one of our most successful Government programmes ever has been the Financial Assistance Scheme. Governments providing money to companies may not be a new concept, but what makes ours unique is that it's based on deep relationships and the fact that it isn't a one-hit initiative, rather a long-term partnership."
Moore goes on to say that UK Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), for example, have to consider bids with outcomes measured on a much grander scale, such as the creation of dozens, if not hundreds of new jobs. The IoM Government focuses more on stability, protecting the jobs which already exist and creating sustainable jobs moving forward.
The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster forums take place every quarter.
Thanks to this level of Government financial support, recent years have seen IOMAC invest in lean cellular manufacture, flexible manufacturing systems and in its R&D capability.
Rolls-Royce's business improvement programme, Journey to Process Excellence, is currently being rolled out across the Cluster, and members have also benefitted from a number of joint purchasing agreements, enhanced marketing support, and increased purchasing power.
Government support is also what Nigel Brown, managing director of RLC Ronaldsway, cites as being the biggest opportunity the IoM offers. Having recently joined the aerospace manufacturer and system integrator, Brown notes that the IoM Government genuinely wants to help businesses develop and grow, and is keen to hear ideas to that effect.
When questioned about the biggest challenge facing business on the Island, Brown says that firms have to be prepared to invest in the training and development of their current workforce, alongside engaging with the local community to encourage the next generation through. [See Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre box]
RLC Ronaldsway is typical of many IOMAC members, with around 70% of its output going into the UK, versus 30% going elsewhere. Brown describes the current relationship with the UK as important to the business, but anticipates that this will change with a number of new contracts expected to be signed imminently. One of which is worth £2.5m a year to supply into Poland and Germany.
With the aim of swelling the Cluster's numbers, Moore explains that the focus isn't explicitly on aerospace. "We called it IoM Aerospace Cluster, but we could have just as easily called it the IoM Precision Engineering Cluster as the vast majority of work undertaken is aero-related, but not every member is an aerospace company," he describes.
Ultimately, it came down to the international standards for which aerospace is regarded, with the sector lauded as being one of the pinnacles of engineering. "If you can manufacture components for aerospace, you can supply almost any other sector. We chose Aerospace Cluster as we are working to that criteria and helping our members to understand that philosophy," Moore continues.
When asked whether the stretch of water – narrow though it may be – that separates the IoM from mainland UK poses any issue, Moore is assertive in his reply. "Logistically we are rock solid, we wouldn't be thriving as an island today if that wasn't the case. The water can be a slight inconvenience, but the components IOMAC produces are high value, low volume and low mass, so shipping costs are typically a miniscule fraction of overall costs.
Manx Engineers is one of the founding members of The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster.
"The other consideration is that it's far quicker to fly something from the IoM to London than it is to ship the same product by road from Glasgow because it goes direct," Moore adds.
With the Cluster rapidly approaching its tenth anniversary, the questions remains – has it been successful? According to the latest IoM Government figures, more than 880 people are directly employed by the IOMAC, an almost 40% rise since the Cluster's inception in 2006.
"With a five year strategy for growth in place, the Cluster has thrived because of its agility and adaptability. We have a clear vision and are committed to remaining a partner in excellence with our customers," Moore concludes.
Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre
In 2006, IOMAC, the Chambers of Commerce and the IoM Government realised that they were facing a potential shortage of skilled engineers. Like many other nations around the world, the first task was to address the negative perceptions associated with engineering (and manufacturing).
The William Kennish Building machine shop.
The first step was to sponsor a Skills Champion who – since 2007 – has been holding sessions with every year group, in every school on the Island discussing what modern engineering is; what the industry means to the Island and to the world; what qualifications are required; what the typical starting salary is, and what opportunities such a career presents.
Dubbed Awareness of Careers in Engineering (ACE), the programme has been highly successful, perhaps too successful. Within three years of it starting, a company who was typically receiving 20 applicants for its six annual apprenticeship positons unexpectedly received 175 applicants.
The company filled its six places, but a large number of students who had shown a desire to become engineers had been left disappointed. As a result, the Island has recently unveiled two new advanced engineering training facilities, representing a combined Government investment of £6m.
The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre – located just outside the heart of the capital, Douglas – is dedicated to creating the next generation of precision machinists and engineers. The William Kennish Building concentrates on other areas including electronics; mechanical engineering; fabrication, and mechatronics.
The new Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering offers 36 people each year the opportunity to study full-time for two years and enter a third year based in industry well-equipped to take on the challenges of this most demanding and dynamic of industries.
Thanks to increasing the range of vocational pathways offered by the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education – including a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering which takes students through the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre – there are now enough talented young engineers being produced to fulfil immediate demand, as well as helping to meet future demand based on retirements, projected growth and inward investment.


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Morrison's religious obsession a worrying sign for out of touch Liberals
The government's focus should be on convincing voters it is working in their interests. Instead, Scott Morrison is obsessed with placating the far right.
For a government that desperately needs to convince voters it is actually focused on their needs rather than internal Liberal party feuds, the sight of Scott Morrison on a far-right talk show promising to introduce new religious discrimination laws should be very worrying.
It's bad enough that the prime minister of the country skipped cabinet to grace Sky News' after-dark goonfest, occupying a spot sometimes graced by frolicking fascists, but his apparent obsession with the issue of religious freedom signals a man with priorities other than the concerns of ordinary voters.
Voters are concerned about stagnant wages, especially in the private sector where workers have been going backwards. They're concerned about health services. About housing. About whether their kids will have a lower standard of living than they will. But for Morrison the priority is "preventative regulation and legislation to ensure your religious freedom in this country".
Note the term "preventative". Morrison actually admits that none of the problems he wants to regulate against actually happen in Australia. Prevention is, apparently, the best policy — albeit not in relation to climate change, which the government has no policy of any kind on, preventive or otherwise. And not in relation to wider rights protection beyond religion, such as via a bill of rights.
What Morrison doesn't admit is that existing anti-discrimination laws indulge religious institutions to an extraordinary degree already, allowing institutions to discriminate against and punish people for who they are and what lifestyle choices they make, in a manner entirely unacceptable in ordinary business and workplaces.
[Ostentatious religion could make a bad situation worse for ScoMo]
Morrison's bizarre views on the need for preventive religious freedom protection might be related to his own faith. More likely, however, is that he is keen to shore up his support within the right of the Liberal Party — the sort of people who actually watch Sky's goosestepping parade, and who have the sense of victimhood of powerful white people terrified that their privilege is under threat. But this focus on the concerns of a small minority comes with an opportunity cost in an electorate convinced the Liberals — and, for that matter, all politicians — don't serve the interests of ordinary voters but of the influential, the connected, the political donors.
Morrison also professes to be concerned about freedom of speech: "Issues of freedom of speech, I've seen where they've gone over the last 10 years. I'm not quite sure I'm pleased with the trajectory."
Well, Prime Minister, you're in luck, because you could strike a big blow for freedom of speech this very minute. Pick up the phone, call your Attorney-General and tell him to revoke his approval for the vexatious and malicious prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery for the "crime" of embarrassing the Howard government, Alexander Downer and ASIS, and doing so entirely legally.
That would demonstrate that you believe in freedom of speech even when you don't like what's being said, even when it's embarrassing, even when it reveals your own side behaved badly.
But perhaps Morrison, like pretty much every free speech supporter on the right, only likes free speech when people like him want to use it to criticise people they don't like.
University funding cuts to reignite campus free speech war, with One Nation leading the charge
Humiliating backdown over media bill a lesson in fickle government
The academic freedom of speech list. Feel free to argue with it
Marcus Hicks
Tell you what, Scummo, you Tongues-talking loon, when churches pay taxes or no longer receive tax-payer funds of any kind, only then should they get a say in *our* secular democracy, or by exempt from *our* secular laws. Instead of trying to allow them to discriminate against gay people, why not get them to obey our laws in regards to reporting sex offenders?
kyle Hargraves
Reply to Marcus Hicks
I've only just seen this post; perhaps it was embargoed but it does possess similar sentiments to other posts. It occurs to me that you may have undertaken a bit more reading than the others so hence my reply is directed to your post.
Firstly *our* secular democracy contains all-sorts – and that written by an atheist. Secondly, there is a very real sentiment, much more evident in the USA and India than in Oz, that would argue that you have the cart in front of the horse. "They" argue that on particular matters there is only "one true way". Its not a matter of logic or even fairness but of belief.
Extending the theme the more acute elements morph into fundamentalist theology and besotted Hindus are no more rational than besotted Jews or Muslims or Christians. Their entire objection is with modernity in any of is manifestations. You (and others) may elect to be dismissive but you you fail yourself miserably when you pretend that the perspective against modernity may be safely ignored.
Writing as you (and others do) has had no effect in recent decades; if anything such statements encourage the religious Right in their convictions against the decadent. Tactics require other approaches.
klewso
Years ago there was Richard (the Lionheart) and his Crusades – fast forward 850 odd years and now we have to put up with what lies at the core of this Dick and his crusade?
Reply to klewso
Ha klewso, a crusade to shout look over there and try to keep the god botherers happy at the same time. Gotta give the bloke an e for effort.
I think you will find that the 1st Crusade had more to do with Urban II than Richard I. Population had increased over the 11th century and there were a lot of young blades all over Europe wondering just what to do. Recovering the Holy Land seemed to be a good idea at the time – closely followed by the Children's Crusade.
Reply to kyle Hargraves
Theft, lust for power and probably sex with just a touch of genuine psychosis hiding behind the facade of godly righteousness were all in the mix. Not much has changed really.
Reply to Vasco
True enough. The Crusaders obtained some practice on the way by pillaging Jewish communities.
braddybear
the imbicilic morrison, the dumb as shit Abbott, and the moronic dutton and joyce are self explanitory as to why the coalition is collapsing, these bastards are that dumb they cannot work out why the voters are deserting them in droves, egged on by the redneck shock jocks and news limited they leap lemming like over the political cliff.
Arky
But Bernard, this is why the far-right replaced Turnbull in the first place.
And Morrison was always part of the far-right set (the idea of Morrison as a moderate or deserving a clean slate, where do journos get this stuff, had they ever heard him speak?). He was temporarily banished from the table for helping roll Tony Abbott, but he did that to gain the Treasury Portfolio and the best possible position from which to launch an eventual leadership challenge himself, not out of some conversion to Turnbullism.
Renewing the culture war on religion, on "safe schools", on unions etc etc, these are the answers to why Morrison is Prime Minister and why he wants to be Prime Minister.
Mick Donohoe
It will be interesting if the RC into aged care comes up with cases of religious aged care facilities, running on government money, discriminating against people because of the religious organisation own views. For example Catholic ran aged care facilities might not allow unmarried couples, let alone same sex couples, to share a room, even if they had been together for years. I don't mind religious freedom, believe in any god or gods you like, but I care very much about freedom from religion, if an organisation takes money from the government it should provide the services the government is paying for to anyone who is qualified to receive those services. We, the tax payers, should not be paying for discrimination.
Reply to Mick Donohoe
Good point Mick.


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Honda has a modular EV plan for the US
Japan reportedly pushes 'international network for cryptocurrency payments'
Google officially closes 'Dragonfly,' its controversial Chinese search project
Latest in America
America's love affair with firearms bleeds into gaming culture
ISPs barred from telling users they're under FBI investigation
Germany confronts Russia over election hacking
International Telecommunication Union: worldwide mobile subscriptions hit six billion in 2011
Jamie Rigg, @jmerigg
Last year, the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) told us there were five billion mobile subscriptions worldwide at the close of 2010, and now it's reporting that at the end of 2011, that figure hit a staggering six billion. China and India account for one billion a piece, and it brings us ever closer to having the equivalent of one subscription for every person on the planet. (According to the CTIA, there are already more cellular plans in the US -- around 322 million -- than there are inhabitants.) In a stat-heavy release from the ITU, it also ranked the most advanced telecoms countries, with South Korea placing first, Japan eighth and countries in Europe filling the remaining spots.
Interestingly, the number of global mobile broadband subscriptions now outnumbers fixed ones by two to one, and mobile internet services showed the biggest growth rates in 2011: 40% worldwide and 78% in developing markets. The ITU attributes the latter figure to the relatively high price of fixed access in these countries, and the increasing availability of mobile alternatives. The CTIA also commented on mobile broadband use, reporting that from July 2011 to June this year, Americans consumed 104 percent more data -- no doubt due, in part, to people taking advantage of expanding 4G coverage. As usual, we've given you the cheat sheet, so if you'd like the full reports and have got a thing for statistics, there's plenty more in the source links below.
[Image credit: Chris Jordan]
Via: Ars Technica
Source: ITU, CTIA
In this article: America, cellphone use, cellphone users, cellphones, CellphoneUse, CellphoneUsers, China, ctia, europe, global, India, international telecommunication union, InternationalTelecommunicationUnion, ITU, japan, mobile broadband, mobile data, mobile data use, mobile internet, mobile internet use, mobile phones, mobile use, MobileBroadband, MobileData, MobileDataUse, MobileInternet, MobileInternetUse, MobilePhones, mobilepostcross, MobileUse, report, south korea, SouthKorea, telecommunications, un, un itu, united nations, UnitedNations, UnItu, usa, worldwide


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USC&GS Thomas R. Gedney, originally USCS Thomas R. Gedney, was a survey ship in service in the United States Coast Survey from 1875 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1915.

Service history
Thomas R. Gedney was a composite wood and iron steamship built by C. H. Decameter at New York City in 1875. She entered service with the Coast Survey that year. When the Coast Survey was reorganized in 1878 to form the Coast and Geodetic Survey, she became part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey fleet. She served along both the United States East Coast and United States West Coast, and operated a great deal in the waters of the Territory of Alaska. Future rear admiral Uriel Sebree briefly served as her commanding officer in 1879.

In October 1903, Thomas R. Gedney was operating in Alaska when found the steamer Farallon anchored in Frederick Sound with a broken propeller shaft and more than 100 passengers were on board. She towed Farallon to Tonka Cannery in Wrangell Narrows, where Farallon transferred her passengers and got further assistance.

On 12 July 1905, Thomas R. Gedneys chief writer, P. H. Coning, drowned when the ships whaleboat capsized off the coast of Alaska. She suffered another tragedy on 30 May 1908 when a Quartermaster Gunderson fell overboard and drowned.

Thomas R. Gedney twice came to the assistance of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company 1,503-gross register ton,  steam schooner SS Curacao in 1913. On 29–30 April she joined the Coast and Geodetic Survey launches  and Launch 117 in helping to pull Curacao off Boulder Spit on Fish Egg Island in the Territory of Alaska. On 21 June, Curacao was wrecked on an uncharted rock on a reef – thereafter known as Curacao Reef () –  west-southwest of Culebra Island in Tonowak Bay in Southeast Alaska; Thomas R. Gedney rescued everyone on board – 39 passengers and 51 crewmen – and took them to Ketchikan, Alaska,  from the scene of the wreck.

On 16 January 1915, Thomas R. Gedney was at Seattle, Washington when a fire broke out on the docks there.  She assisted in fighting the fire, but suffered slight damage and was unable to move because she did not have steam up. The Coast and Geodetic Survey survey ship , which had steam up, towed both Thomas R. Gedney and the survey ship  to a safe location. On 12 June 1915, Thomas R. Gedney came to the assistance of the fishing schooner Polaris, which had run aground on Klawack Reef at the north end of Fish Egg Island in Alaska, and helped to refloat Polaris. Thomas R. Gedney was retired from service later in 1915.

References

NOAA History, A Science Odyssey: Tools of the Trade: Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships: Thomas R. Gedney
NOAA History, A Science Odyssey: Hall of Honor: In the Line of Duty 1846-1936
NOAA History, A Science Odyssey: Hall of Honor: Lifesaving and the Protection of Property by the Coast & Geodetic Survey 1845-1937

Ships of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
Survey ships of the United States
Ships built in New York City
1875 ships

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Must see this Huntington Harbour area condo. 24/7 guarded gate community. Large master bedroom with fireplace, walk-in closet, vaulted ceiling, custom bay window and attached master bath with sky light over shower. Extra large 2 car garage. 3 tennis courts, pool and spa. Just east of PCH across the street from Sunset Beach.


text:
namespace TheCsprojLibrary.ItemTypes
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            UnevaluatedInclude = original.UnevaluatedInclude;
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        public bool? IsKeyOutput
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        public string FinalOutputPath
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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India is one of the five fragile economies: US official
Identifying India as one of the five fragile economies of the world, a senior US official has predicted an uncertain outlook for its future in view of the next year\'s general elections. \"The big question about India now is what happens in the election next year and who will be the new government. That\'s a very complicated question,\" Assistant Treasury Secretary for International Finance Charles Collyns, said. \"India\'s the world\'s largest democracy. It has a multiple of political parties. There\'s one party on the right, the BJP, which would certainly try to push forward pretty aggressive reforms. (Also Read: India eyes $15 bn subsidy costs rollover into next budget ) \"On the other hand, that party\'s also been associated with less positive social policies, and it\'s not clear whether they will actually gain power even if they become the largest seat holder in Congress,\" Collyns said at the George Washington University\'s Elliott School of International Affairs. \"On the other hand, if you had a coalition of regional governments, which is another possibility, that would probably be pretty negative for reforms. So it\'s an uncertain outlook,\" Collyns said. Collyns said India is one of the five fragile economies of the world. The other four being Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and South Africa, he said. \"The \"fragile five\" are fragile because they have large current account deficits and they\'ve relied heavily on portfolio capital to finance those deficits. The \"fragile five\" suffered particular steep depreciations in the exchange rate. So gradually over the summer there was a clear discrimination between the most fragile and other economies,\" Collyns said. The Treasury official aid, the fragile economies had to take a pretty strong policy response to stabilise their foreign exchange markets. \"Three of them actually had to increase their policy rates. Brazil, India and Indonesia raised their policy rates. But the policy response was much broader than just raising interest rates, as shown in this chart here,\" he said. \"The countries under pressure took a number of steps. They hiked their interest rates, they took measures to tighten liquidity, they intervened in the market, they provide foreign exchange swaps, they provide hedging against foreign currency risks. They took steps to encourage capital inflows to try to stir up to protect their position,\" he said. Collyns said India is a country that\'s allowed its current account deficit to widen quite sharply recently.


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State faces revenue shortfalls as budget process resumes
Partly cloudy. Low 19F. Winds light and variable.
Colby Ghidotti rings up a customer's order at Dwyer's State Line Beer & Wine in Pownal on Friday. According to the Joint Fiscal Office forecast, general fund revenues, which come from income taxes, corporate taxes, and taxes on meals, rooms and liquor, among other sources, are expected to decrease by 13.8 percent, to $1.41 billion.
David LaChance - Bennington Banner
By Greg Sukiennik, Bennington Banner
MONTPELIER — The consensus forecast for Vermont's major revenue funds warns of continued significant shortfalls for the next two years and points to troubling job losses in key economic sectors, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Emergency Board.
While the projected revenue losses are not as large as they were the last time the board met, they're still significant, and pose a hurdle for the administration and lawmakers to overcome when the Legislature returns next week to hash out the remaining three-fourths of the state's Fiscal 2021 budget.
The report, based on the work of administration economist Jeffrey Carr and Legislative Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) economist Tom Kavet, forecasts reductions across the board in the general, transportation and education funds. These funds are major sources of revenue which, with the addition of federal aid, pay for schools, transit infrastructure, social services, and a host of other programs.
The Emergency Board includes Gov. Phil Scott and lawmakers who chair the Legislature's budget and tax committees. It meets twice yearly to review the state's finances.
The consensus forecast now calls for the General Fund to lose $181 million in fiscal 2021. That's a good deal less than the $266 million the Emergency Board expected the general fund would lose when it last made projections in the spring.
For the Education Fund, a loss of $62.7 million in revenue for fiscal year 2021 is projected, followed by revenue decreases of $38.8 million in FY 2022 and $14.6 million for
fiscal 2023.
The consensus transportation fund forecast expects a revenue decline of $29.3 million for fiscal 2021, a smaller decline of $15.5 million revenue decline in FY 2022, and a $7.4 million downgrade for fiscal 2023.
Members of the state House and Senate Appropriations committees are scheduled to get to work Tuesday, with meetings that can be watched on live streaming video.
The House Appropriations Committee is expected to hear from witnesses including Finance & Management Commissioner Adam Greshin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, followed by Vermont National Guard Adjutant Gen. Gregory C. Knight and Education Secretary Daniel French.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet with witnesses including Greshin and Susanne Young, the state Secretary of Administration, starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The full Legislature is due to convene virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
What budget guidance will lawmakers hear from Greshin? Governor Scott wasn't quite ready to offer specifics Friday.
"I think you'll see a balance of efficiencies ... with using some one-time money," Scott said Friday during his regular COVID-19 briefing. "We're not at this point looking to dip into our reserves but that doesn't take it off the table."
If the pandemic had not hit, Scott said, the state was on target to run a surplus in Fiscal 2020 which could carry over into the next budget year. As it stands, the state is fortunate to have rainy day reserves it can call upon, he said.
According to the JFO forecast, general fund revenues, which comes from income taxes, corporate taxes, and taxes on meals, rooms and liquor, among other sources, are expected to decrease by 13.8 percent, to $1.41 billion.
The JFO forecast also estimates losses of $103.8 million for the fiscal 2022 and minus $36 million in fiscal 2023 in the general fund. Those figures include health care revenues, which separated out are expected to increase from a loss of $11.2 million in fiscal 2021 to growth of $3.9 million in fiscal 2023.
The report also cited jobs loss data that showed the severe damage COVID-19 did to the state's economy:
- Vermont saw a 14.4 percent decline in total payroll jobs from June 2019 to June 2020, and a 15 percent decline when factoring only private sector payroll jobs.
- The state's reliance upon travel and tourism, manufacturing and health services led to job losses of 22.9 percent between February and April, compared to a national average of 14.5 percent.
- On a sector-by-sector basis, the leisure and hospitality industry in Vermont saw a nearly 50 percent reduction in payroll jobs between June 2019 and June 2020, a 27 percent reduction in construction jobs between June 2019 and June 2020, and an 11.2 percent decline in manufacturing jobs over the same period, according to the report.
The projections are perilous, the report said, because the federal government has yet to weigh in with a second round of COVID-19 relief for the states.
"If federal fiscal policymakers are unable to reach agreement on further, significant stimulus measures (within the range of than $1.0 trillion to $1.5 trillion), the likelihood of a second dip to the COVID recession increases significantly," the report said. "This is because federal fiscal policy would likely turn contractionary by the late Fall-Winter timeframe and it is expected that the U.S. recovery by that time will not have had enough time to builds its own, unassisted level of forward momentum to avoid a second dip — likely resulting in a so-called "double dip recession."
Friday, Scott said the uncertainty in Washington on a second pandemic relief bill leaves the state not knowing if more aid is on the way, or if restrictions on the use of CARES Act funds will be lifted.
"We're going to present something [to the Legislature] in real time but it could change based on what they do [in Congress]," Scott said. "If they appropriate more money we'll be able to do more."
As of Friday, that second relief bill remained stalled in the U.S. Senate.
Greg Sukiennik covers Vermont government and politics for New England Newspapers. Reach him at gsukiennik@reformer.com.
A look back at the top news stories of 2020


First, thank you to everyone who participated in my Fit Mob sponsored Athleta gift card giveaway. The winner is Amie from @runandrepeat! Amie, I will be emailing you to get your mailing address so Fit Mob can get you the card.
This past week was tough for training. I was coming off the Long Beach Half Marathon yet also would be unable to run all weekend because of Asia and Jeremy's wedding festivities, so I had to balance recovery with getting some quality mid-week miles in before the weekend. If you can believe it, as of yesterday we are only 7 weeks out from the big race. This last week probably didn't increase my fitness too much but I'm hoping that some of the time off provided some recovery so that I can get after it for the next 4 weeks before taper begins!
I basically feel like I have 5.5 weeks left to make gains before the race and I plan to make the most of it. Although I was a bit iffy about my performance at Long Beach, and honestly that, along with hearing about some people's Chicago marathon experiences (some achieved their goals, some who I thought would did not – a reminder that anything can happen on race day) rocked my confidence a bit. However, after reflecting a bit more on my race, I am at peace with the outcome given the circumstances. I have quite a few solid weeks planned including 3 key long runs which include a lot of miles near race pace, and the result of those runs will give me a better indicator of my potential for CIM.
Rest day to recover from the half marathon. I went for a walk with Mike in the evening but that was about it!
AM: 6 easy recovery miles along the coast in the morning. My legs were tired, but sore at least. Just tired. I was happy that Asia wanted to run with me because this was a tough run to get out of bed for. This was the last run with Asia before her wedding!
PM: 25 minutes of yoga – DoYogaWithMe.com Injury Prevention for Runners. Lots of stretching and I added some foam rolling at the end. My IT bad was still really tight and a bit achy at this point.
AM: 8.4 miles moderate. I kept the effort basically in Zone 2 (my heart rate monitor is on the fritz again….probably needs new batteries but I don't think my heart rate actually was 220 at any point on this run). At the end of the run I added 6 x 30 seconds of pick-ups, which due to the heavy legs, ended up being in the low 8s.
AM: 16 mile long run, moderate effort. I was SO happy when Mike said he'd join me for this long run before work. I knew I would not be able to get in a long run on the weekend so I got up early and got in this run before work (I went into work late). Toward the end of the run, my legs definitely weren't happy with me, but I got it done, no matter how slow it was!
AM: 5 miles, easy effort. These miles were SLOW. The only reason I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30 for the 4th consecutive day is because I told myself I wouldn't make myself run on Sunday after the wedding, when I'd likely be tired and hungover. Somehow this rationale worked and I ran in the dark by myself for the majority of this run, moving at a snails pace.
Friday afternoon I headed down to the US Grant hotel in downtown San Diego to kick off Asia and Jeremy's wedding festivities. I stayed with Asia on Friday night in her suite after the rehearsal dinner.
Asia and Jeremy's wedding was wonderful! It was so much fun and It was such an honor to be Maid (or Matron I suppose) of Honor. I was super anxious about my speech but the nerves disappeared when I started to talk and I'm proud to say I delivered it without the use of notes! Asia looked absolutely gorgeous and there was so much love in the room. The band was a hit and we danced our faces off!
Mike & I Ready to Go!
Sunday we attended the brunch hosted by the bride and groom and then went over to Mike's parents house to have lunch, go in the jacuzzi and lounge on the couch while the Chargers lost. I actually napped for half the game on the couch! I was exhausted!
Now I'm just amped up to get to business. Time to put my head down and focus – it's go time!!! CIM I'm coming for you!
How do you alter your training if you have to go out of town for the weekend?
Congrats to Asia and Jeremy! The couple photos I saw on your IG (and here) are gorgeous! Glad you took a couple days off to just enjoy the festivities!
And wow- kudos for a 16 miler before work! So nice Mike did it with you.
I think the wedding was actually perfect timing to give you a little break before the last few weeks of tough training.
Thanks! I barely got any good photos because I was so involved in the fun! I'm sure there will be some good professional photos!
I agree – good timing for a break!
I just wanted to drop you a note as I feel like I know you as I've been reading your blog for as long as I can remember! I just ran my 17th marathon this past weekend and not only did I beat my goal time but I qualified for Boston. I am still awe struck and shocked! I so relate to your posts and it was worth the journey! I will see you in Boston 2016!
Woohoo!!!! Congratulations!!! And I'm so glad you finally commented. It always makes me happy to learn of long time readers!
Hoping to meet you at Boston 2016!!
Gorgeous photos from the wedding! Definitely have had to adjust workouts due to other things going on during the weekend, usually I'll shuffle the week around and do key workouts on different days so I make sure if any runs are missed it isn't a big workout or long run.
I am so so happy you were my MOH and thrilled that we got to spend the entire weekend together! I know you're going to qualify for Boston at CIM. I can just feel it. I think the extra rest days were good for the mind and body (and the bride.) 😉 Love you!
Thank you friend! Love you too!
And yes I'm gonna do it!!!


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Nadezda Nikolova-Kratzer (b. 1978, former Yugoslavia) is a photographic artist presently working with wet plate collodion photograms – a historical technique dating back to the 1850s which uses light-sensitive salts to cover a glass plate before exposing it to the light in a portable darkroom. Her practice is informed by an experimental approach to early photographic processes and her interest in the image as an object. Captivated by the fluidity of wet plate collodion, she manipulates the medium while simultaneously courting chance intrinsic to handmade photography: "I spray, dab and brush on the chemistry in a performative enactment rather than an image capture. (Sometimes, the brush strokes leave physical marks on the emulsion.) In essence, I am negotiating with the chemistry, guiding it. But only to a point. The chemistry has a say in the final image."
"My aim with this work is to record something about the landscape without the camera's capacity to transcribe it. The photogram, as the most rudimentary photograph, allows me to look for the essence of the place by using simplicity and abstraction – to chisel away the layers in search for the core."


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from django_extensions.management.jobs import DailyJob
from product.models import ProductPriceLookup

class Job(DailyJob):
    help = "Update the pricing lookup table."

    def execute(self):
        ProductPriceLookup.objects.rebuild_all()


text:
Foreign minister builds on strong Hungarian-Serbian relations
The foreign minister said mutual respect forms the basis of friendly relations between Hungary and Serbia, with bilateral trade reaching 2.5 billion euros last year.
Péter Szijjártó Hungary-Serbia Relations
The foreign minister has highlighted how Hungarian-Serbian relations are at peak strength on the political, economic, trade and investment fronts.
Following a meeting of the Hungarian-Serbian mixed economic committee in Budapest, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, noted that Serbia is Hungary's top partner in the Western Balkans.
According to MTI, the minister added that mutual respect forms the basis of friendly relations between the two countries, with bilateral trade reaching 2.5 billion euros last year.
Goran Knežević, Serbia's economy minister, revealed that Hungary is Serbia's sixth most important trading partner and its 13th biggest investor.
Minister Szijjártó noted Hungarian oil and gas company MOL's over 110 million euro investment in Serbia, and acquisition of a Vojvodina bank and the Serbian subsidiary of Société Générale by OTP, Hungary's leading bank.
The minister said the government has also provided a HUF 46 billion (EUR 138m) grant to support Hungarian farmers and entrepreneurs in Serbia's northernmost Vojvodina province resulting in investments worth HUF 86 billion forints.
Finally, Hungary's Eximbank has opened a 110 million euro credit line to finance bilateral business cooperation, 50 million of which has already been laid aside for the upgrade of the Szeged-Subotica railway line.


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Age of Torment is a modern metal band, who's saw the daylight in early 2009, formed by Shaun Van Calster (LENGTH OF TIME / RESISTANCE / ex-BLOODSHOT ), on lead guitars & vocals.
Around october 2009 AOT jumped into the studio with Phorgath (Enthroned) @ Blackout Multimedia studio in Brussels, to record the first concept full-length, "Dying Breed Reborn". On this record several guests such as Miqe (In-Quest) & Ross (Length of Time, Angel Crew) added their flavour to the music.
The band signed on ULTIMHATE RECORDS in early 2010, for the first release, available wordwide on may 21st 2010. The first effort has been received very warmly on own soil and all over Europe comparing the band to bands such as Channel Zero & Spoil Enigne.
In 2013 the band jumped into the Noise Factory studio together with Nico Lomartire to record the second full length album "I, Against" released by Spinal records in BENELUX and Wormholedeath for the rest of Europe.
After numerous shows and a whole lot of positive feedback in the press, A.O.T. keeps on touring to promote the latest album during 2013-2014.
As we speak the band is working on new material to release a third album in 2015 with a new beater behind the drums Charles D.
Prepare for negative mayhem like you've never heard before. A.O.T. angrier, darker and stronger than ever before.
Krypteria Die Mannequin Guns N' Roses Stormrider Vallenfyre Damn Your Idols


Have been waiting for grand Nokia comeback in India? The moment has arrived!
What really set these three smartphones from the competition is stock Android Nougat and promise of fast updates.
In terms of specification, the Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia falls behind in the line when compared with their counterparts in the same category.
The Nokia 6 features a metal unibody design. It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display which is layered with Corning Gorilla Glass on top.It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage which can be expanded up to 256GB.
For shutterbugs, the Nokia 6 features a 16MP primary camera with PDAF, f/2.0 aperture, and dual tone flash. Up front, there is a wide-angle 8MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. It draws juice from a 3000mAh battery with micro-USB charging port.
Nokia 6 comes with a home button embedded fingerprint scanner. It supports Dolby Atmos audio that pours out of its dual speakers.
The Nokia 5, on the other hand, is a compact and trimmed down version of the Nokia 6. It too boasts of a metal design like its bigger counterpart. It comes with a 5.2-inch HD IPS display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass on top. As per the company, it can go 500 nits bright which should ensure good sunlight legibility.
It runs on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset which is mated to 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable storage (up to 128GB). Optics-wise, the Nokia 5 comes with a 13MP rear camera with PDAF, 1.12um pixel size, f/2.0 aperture and dual tone flash. Up front, there is an 8MP, 1.12um pixel size, f/2 aperture and 84 degrees field of view.
Unlike Nokia 6 and Nokia 5, the Nokia 3 budget smartphone is draped in plastic exteriors. It comes with a 5-inch 720P HD display which gets 2.5D Gorilla Glass protection shield on top. As per Nokia claims, it can achieve 450 nits brightness. The Nokia 3 is powered by 1.3Ghz MediaTek MTK 6737 quad-core chipset. It sports 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, which can be bumped up to 128GB via microSD card. It features an 8MP camera both sides of (front and back), however, the rear camera is assisted by a LED flash.
The Nokia 3 goes on sale on June 16 at the offline stores. The Nokia 5 pre-booking starts on July 7. Online exclusive – Nokia 6 registration starts on July 14. Amazon Prime members will get Rs. 1,000 as Amazon Pay cashback if you buy during the first sale.


CHAMPAIGN — Illinois took a step forward in a pair of 2019 recruitments in the last 24 hours, landing in the top four for five-star center Oscar Tshiebwe and top eight for four-star forward Anthony Walker Jr.
That includes Uplift point guard Markese Jacobs, a former Kansas commit who's back on the market. Beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey has the latest on Brad Underwood's recruiting efforts and has updates on former Illini like Michael Finke and Maverick Morgan in his weekly podcast.
That includes Uplift point guard Markese Jacobs, a former Kansas committ who is back on the market and received an Illinois offer Saturday.
Tshiebwe trimmed his list of eight teams to four Sunday, keeping Kentucky, West Virginia and Baylor in the mix along with the Illini. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Kennedy Catholic (Pa.) product is ranked as high as No. 19 in the 2019 class by 247Sports — a jump of 53 spots in last week's rankings update.
Tshiebwe, who eliminated Virginia, Ole Miss, Georgetown and Kansas in the most recent cut to his list, put up a dominant spring and summer on the adidas Gauntlet circuit. He averaged 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 61 percent from the field.
Walker's finalists — first reported by 247Sports' Evan Daniels — also include Boston College, Kansas, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island and VCU. The 6-8, 205-pound forward will reportedly take an official visit to Illinois starting Sept. 6 at the same time Tshiebwe will be on the Illinois campus.
Walker teamed with current Illini freshman Anthony Higgs at Perry Hall (Md.) and helped the Gators win consecutive state championships. The consensus four-star prospect, ranked as high as No. 95 in the 2019 class by Rivals, will spend his senior season at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. Walker averaged 14.3 points and 4.4 rebounds and shot 61 percent this year on the adidas Gauntlet circuit.


We would like to express our thanks to all patients that have taken part in our Patient Participation Group survey.
The doctors and staff at The Park Medical Centre in Small Heath are proud to offer the highest standard of patient-centred healthcare.
We run many clinics for the management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes and offer a wide variety of other medical services including antenatal and postnatal care, minor surgery, childhood vaccinations.
We are pleased to announce that our practice has joined Birmingham Smartcare Federation which consist of a group of 16 practices who are planning to work more closely together as a joint alliance or federation. Our practices are within Washwood Heath,Small Heath, Sparkhill, Moseley, Kings Heath and Druids Heath area with 3.5miles radius.Our joint list size is currently around 77,000 patients. We hope to develop general practice at scale with opportunities for efficiency and better access but still provide personal care and retain continuity.
We listen to our patients and from our patient survery we have decorated our waiting rooms and corridors, installed non slip flooring, and new seating.


Has your home got 'Kerb Appeal'?
As a leading installer of Pattern Imprinted Concrete driveways, paths & patios, our approach is based on providing the finest quality products along with excellent customer service. This video is an introduction to the services we can provide for Pattern Imprinted Paving, Refurbishment and Maintenance. It also shows the process we use in providing a quality finish that will be the first thing people see when visiting you and will add value to your home.
We are leading installers of high strength Pattern Imprinted Concrete, Patterned Concrete and Stamped Concrete with over 20 years professional experience in the domestic and commercial market. The surfaces we provide are weed free, stain resistant, durable, fade free, jet washable and frost resistant and are suitable for driveways, patios, pool surrounds, paths and parking areas. We also can supply over 25 patterns in over 25 colours to enhance the look of your home with decorative curved borders that will soften the appearance.
We do not provide block paving although we do offer a service of paving refurbishment & maintenance for this material.
Before laying your new pattern imprinted concrete paving we will excavate your existing paving or soil areas and secure a solid foundation. A special formula of high strength ready mix concrete containing millions of reinforcing fibres is poured and leveled to a specified depth. The concrete is then impregnated with our own U.V stable colour and hardener. This is then imprinted as it is setting using a sequence of moulds. Once set your new paving is sealed with a penetrative acrylic coating designed to repel oil, petrol and dirt. It will also resist algae moss and frost.
In addition to our main services paving refurbishment & maintenance can be anything from high pressure jet washing of existing block paving or reviving pattern imprinted concrete and tarmac surfaces. Once cleaned a new coating of acrylic sealant will enhance the colour and protect against staining and weathering.
Badly faded paving can have the colour revitalised with our specialist bonded colour tint process.


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Calcium Element Facts
The chemical element calcium is classed as an alkali earth metal. It was discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy.
Classification: Calcium is an alkali earth metal
Color: silvery-gray
Atomic weight: 40.078
Melting point: 842 oC, 1115 K
Boiling point: 1484 oC , 1771 K
Neutrons in most abundant isotope: 20
Electron shells: 2,8,8,2
Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
Density @ 20oC: 1.55 g/cm3
Show more, including: Heats, Energies, Oxidation, Reactions,
Compounds, Radii, Conductivities
Atomic volume: 29.9 cm3/mol
Structure: ccp: cubic close packed
Hardness: 1.75 mohs
Heat of fusion 8.54 kJ mol-1
1st ionization energy 589.8 kJ mol-1
2nd ionization energy 1145.4 kJ mol-1
3rd ionization energy 4911.8 kJ mol-1
Electron affinity 2 kJ mol-1
Minimum oxidation number 0
Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) 1
Polarizability volume 22.8 Å3
Reaction with air vigorous, ⇒ CaO, Ca3N2
Reaction with 15 M HNO3 vigorous, ⇒ H2, Ca(NO3)2
Reaction with 6 M HCl vigorous, ⇒ H2, CaCl2
Oxide(s) CaO
Hydride(s) CaH2
Chloride(s) CaCl2
Ionic radius (2+ ion) 114 pm
Thermal conductivity 201 W m-1 K-1
Freezing/Melting point: 842 oC, 1115 K
Calcium metal stored under an argon atmosphere. Image by Matthias Zepper
Rome's Colosseum, resisting the ravages of time (okay, there are one or two missing pieces…) with the aid of calcium oxide based cement. Photo: David Iliff.
Stalactites – Mainly Calcium Carbonate.
Discovery of Calcium
Dr. Doug Stewart
People have used calcium's compounds for thousands of years – in cement, for example.
Limestone [calcium carbonate] was called calx by the Romans. The Romans heated calx, driving off carbon dioxide to leave calcium oxide. To make cement, all you have to do is mix calcium oxide with water. The Romans built vast amphitheaters and aqueducts using calcium oxide cement to bond stones together. (1)
Despite the long history of calcium's compounds, the element itself was not discovered until electricity was available for use in experiments.
Calcium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 in London. In a lecture to the Royal Society in June 1808, Davy described his experiments that year, which produced tiny amounts of metal, at best. He could not find any way to produce more calcium metal until a letter from Jöns Berzelius in Stockholm pointed him in the right direction.	(3)
Davy learned that Berzelius and Magnus Pontin had used a battery to decompose calcium oxide at a mercury electrode and they had obtained an amalgam of mercury and calcium. (Berzelius, the great Swedish chemist, exchanged a great deal of information with Davy. Berzelius had earlier learned from Davy that potassium could be dissolved in mercury to form an amalgam. Berzelius had extended the method.) (3),(4)
Davy made a paste of slaked lime [calcium oxide, slightly moistened to form calcium hydroxide] and red oxide of mercury [mercury (II) oxide]. (3)
He made a depression in the paste and placed about 3.5 grams of mercury metal there to act as an electrode. Platinum was used as the counter electrode. Davy carried out the experiment under naptha (a liquid hydrocarbon under which he had found he could safely store potassium and sodium).
When electricity was passed through the paste, a calcium-mercury amalgam formed at the mercury electrode.
Davy removed the mercury by distillation to reveal a new element: calcium.
Davy used the same procedure to isolate strontium, barium, and magnesium.
He named the metal calcium because of its occurrence in calx.
Interesting Facts about Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant of the metallic elements in the human body. The average adult body contains about 1 kg or 2 lb of calcium, 99% of which is in the bones and teeth. Only oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen are more abundant in our bodies than calcium.
Calcium not only builds the structures that support our bodies, many of us also live in homes built using structural concrete or cement made with lime (calcium oxide). Snails and many shellfish use another calcium compound – calcium carbonate – to build their own homes too – their shells.
Modern humans were not the first people to make use of calcium to build things. Egypt's pyramids were built using limestone blocks. Limestone is crystalline calcium carbonate. In the later pyramids, the blocks were held together with gypsum or lime based mortar. Gypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate and lime is calcium oxide.
Have you ever wanted to be 'in the limelight?' Lime is calcium oxide, which produces a brilliant, intense light when burnt in an oxyhydrogen flame. It was used to light the stage in theaters during the 1800s until electricity took over – hence the saying.
Cells in animals and plants must communicate with other cells. This is called signaling. Calcium ions are the most important messengers between cells in living things and are absolutely vital for the existence of multicellular life forms.
Calcium metal burning in air to form calcium nitride and calcium oxide.
Calcium metal reacting with water, producing calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Non-toxic and an essential metal for living organisms.
Calcium is reactive and, for a metal, soft. With a bit of effort, it can be cut with a sharp knife.
In contact with air, calcium develops a mixed oxide and nitride coating, which protects it from further corrosion.
Calcium reacts easily with water and acids and the metal burns brightly in air, forming mainly the nitride.
Uses of Calcium
Calcium forms alloys with aluminum, beryllium, copper, lead, and magnesium.
It is used in the manufacture of other metals such as uranium and thorium.
Calcium is used to remove oxygen, sulfur and carbon from alloys.
Calcium from limestone is a vital component of Portland cement.
Quicklime (CaO) is used in many applications in the chemical industry, such as treatment of drinking water – especially for water softening and arsenic removal, animal waste and wastewater.
Abundance earth's crust: 4.2 % by weight, 2.2 % by moles
Abundance solar system: 70 parts per million by weight, 2 parts per million by moles
Cost, pure: $20 per 100g
Cost, bulk: $ per 100g
Source: Calcium occurs in nature in various minerals including limestone (calcium carbonate), gypsum (calcium sulfate) and fluorite (calcium fluoride). Commercially it can be made by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride, CaCl2. The pure metal can also be produced by replacing the calcium in lime (CaCO3) with aluminum in hot, low pressure retorts.
Isotopes: Calcium has 19 Isotopes whose half-lives are known, with mass numbers 35 to 53. Naturally occurring calcium is a mixture of six isotopes and they are found in the percentages shown: 40Ca (97%), 42Ca (0.6%), 43Ca (0.1%), 44Ca (2%), 46Ca (0.004%) and 48Ca (0.2%).
The Secrets of Roman Concrete (pdf download)
John Davy, Memoirs of The Life of Sir Humphry Davy., Vol 1, 1836, p395, Longman.
John Davy (Editor), The Collected Works of Sir Humphry Davy, Vol V, 1840, p111 Smith, Elder and Co. Cornhill.
Jaime Wisniak, Jöns Jacob Berzelius A Guide to the Perplexed Chemist., Chem. Educator, 2000, 5, p343-350.
Calcium
Calcium Element Facts
"Calcium." Chemicool Periodic Table. Chemicool.com. 04 Oct. 2012. Web.
<https://www.chemicool.com/elements/calcium.html>.
Shea s says
How much does calcium cost? Please answer.
Chemist says
If you scroll up the page a little you'll see… Cost, pure: $20 per 100g 🙂
Joe Day says
Where can it be purchased?
carter says
what is the difference between calcium that is found in our milk and calcium the metal?
Doug Stewart says
Hi Carter, Calcium metal is made up of calcium atoms. The calcium in milk consists of calcium ions.
What is calcium most commonly used for?
Hi Marie, Metallic calcium's most common use is in steel manufacturing. Calcium reacts or joins with impurities in molten steel during the manufacturing process, which allows the impurities to be easily removed.
the boy named neo says
Calcium also makes up a great percentage of our body because it makes up our bones and teeth.
Does it have an odor?
No, calcium has no smell.
Suzy says
I was wondering… What is Calcium's weakness? You know like, The things calcium has to stay away from.. to prevent any poison or toxic stuff
What 3 elements along with calcium do you think would be like the Fantastic Four i.e.. to make a 4-element superhero team? Thanks.
Hmm. Since the fantastic four are fictional characters, you're looking for fictional elements. How about elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 — ununtrium, ununpentium, ununseptium and ununoctium. IUPAC doesn't think they exist. 😉
What 2 physical and chemical properties does calcium have?
Look at the Data Zone. You'll find lots of properties. Melting point, boiling point, density are examples of physical properties. The reactions calcium takes parts in are examples of its chemical properties.
Lilly says
About how much is in the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere in percentages?
Maya says
What is the conductivity ????? And the flammability