text:
Review by Steven G. Gimber, West Chester University
The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: An Untold Story of the American Revolution
By Robert P. Watson
New York: Da Capo Press, 2017. Pp. xiv, 288. ISBN 978–0–306–82552–1.
Descriptors: Volume 2018, 18th Century, Revolutionary War Print Version
Journalist and political analyst Robert Watson begins The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn by reminding readers that, from antiquity to the present, grateful nations have honored their fallen soldiers. But in the United States honoring those who died to establish the nation was not a priority during the Early Republic. In particular, men who died as prisoners of war on British prison ships, including the infamous HMS Jersey, during the Revolutionary War were not honored for many decades. Buried in shallow, unmarked graves on beaches and dunes on the Brooklyn shoreline, their remains were exposed by tides and winds only hours after their hasty interment. Others remained buried, forgotten, and undiscovered for over a century until construction projects in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries exhumed them.
Watson examines the sometimes bumbling, half-hearted, well-intentioned, and politically hijacked efforts to commemorate some eleven thousand unknown men who died onboard HMS Jersey. Only in the first decades of the twentieth century were their remains reinterred and their collective sacrifice recognized by their countrymen. The author tells the appalling tale of POW life on the floating dungeon, drawing on survivors' memoirs and newspaper accounts to contextualize the history of the Jersey, the battles that led to the British occupation of New York City, and the personal stories of young POWs.
Launched in 1736 and armed with sixty cannons, the Jersey began its career in the British navy during the War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–48). Converted to a hospital ship in 1771, it was refitted as a prison ship in 1779 and stripped of its cannons, figurehead, masts, and sails. In spring 1780, it was towed to a new location in Wallabout Bay near the village of Brooklyn and joined a small flotilla of other decrepit hulks serving the same purpose.
Watson recounts the seizure by British forces (under brothers Gen. John and Adm. Sir William Howe) of New York City from the beleaguered Continental Army (mid-Sept. 1776). Besides serving as the location of British headquarters for the entire war, New York soon became a city of makeshift, overcrowded prisons filled with captured enemy combatants, spies real and imagined, and anyone thought to be sympathetic to the American cause or who otherwise ran afoul of his majesty's forces. Conditions in congested temporary jails located in churches of dissenting sects, the buildings of King's College, sugar houses, and other commandeered structures swiftly degenerated as British troops and Loyalist sympathizers brought in more and more "rebels" for incarceration. Neither side had anticipated having to detain large numbers of POWs[1] in what was expected to be a short conflict. But as the war dragged on through 1783, the problem of overcrowded and filthy detention centers became acute. Although not specifically designed to address the POW situation in America, Parliament's Hulk Act of 1776 (renewed every two years) provided British military leaders with a handy solution to the POW problem. The Howe brothers decommissioned, hulked, and repurposed ships as massive buoyant jails. But conditions on the Jersey and other British prison ships soon became far worse than those in land-based prisons.
Watson next sketches the biographies of the young men whose reminiscences are his key primary sources: Thomas Andros, Thomas Dring, Ebenezer Fox, Christopher Hawkins, and Andrew Sherburne. They were mostly New Englanders embarked on privateering voyages for adventure, fortune, and to assist in the American war effort. Such crewmen made up the bulk of the sad denizens of the floating hell in Wallabout Bay.
American POWs on the Jersey and the seven other prison ships endured nearly every conceivable indignity. British jailers treated their former colonial brethren with casual brutality, hostility, and neglect. A thousand or more men packed in the three-tiered hellhole lived in dark, foul spaces, breathing fetid air that reeked of infection, urine, feces, and vomit throughout hot and humid summers and dank and freezing winters. Intentional and unintentional cruelties reduced the inmates to diseased, lice-ridden, skeletal figures clad in filthy rags. Additional torments included innumerable rats, inadequate drinking water, and minimal rations of (often spoiled) food, all garnished with plentiful helpings of verbal and physical abuse.
That anyone lived through such experiences is astonishing. One survivor of the Jersey recalled that often as many as dozen men died daily. Even so, Watson also includes tales of defiant endurance, invincible hope, escapes, near escapes, and even a rebellion. Compounding the prisoners' anguish, the author observes, was the absence of international rules regarding POWs or their exchange; the assumption that warring nations would contribute to the care and feeding of their own captured troops; and the theft of supplies sent by Congress and families for detainees. States, towns, and individuals had to form cartels to pay bribes and negotiate freedom for prisoners, because the British considered dealing directly with representatives of the Congress or Continental Army to be tantamount to recognizing the United States.
While the author skillfully reconstructs the horrific, little known story of the Jersey and its prisoners, he is prone to exaggeration and sensationalism. He suggests, for example, that the prison ship's missing records were likely destroyed by British authorities. But a thorough examination of official British records in the 1960s, proved that misfiled or undiscovered records might still exist in manuscript collections overseas. Jesse Lemisch has suggested that the Jersey's log keepers were "far from faithful."[2] Regardless, records may still exist and, since eighteenth-century royal officials were in no danger of survivors' lawsuits or war crimes trials, why would they purposely destroy reports they were supposed to send up the chain of command?
Watson states that the British provided POWs with insufficient and spoiled rations. While this is true and fits the overarching theme of British cruelty to colonials, the king's soldiers, too, regularly received too few and rotten rations.[3] British administrators saw no need to provide decent food to American POWs, whom they considered the worst kinds of criminals—rebels and privateers—when their own troops had very little wholesome chow. Watson stresses that American POWs had no fresh provisions, then contradicts himself with the stories of two women, "Dame" Grant and Elizabeth Burgin, who sold fruit, vegetables, and notions to both POWs and their guards.
Watson makes a surprising historical errror in writing that "In April 1782, the Continental Congress dispatched John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens to Paris to open negotiations" (206). In fact, Congress had created a joint commission consisting of these men (and Thomas Jefferson, who never joined the group), to negotiate a peace with Britain in June 1781. Moreover, Franklin had been in Paris since late 1776 and Jay in Madrid since 1779. It was Franklin who summoned Jay to the French capital in April 1782. Although Adams arrived in Paris in February 1780, in June, Congress assigned him the task of securing loans from the Dutch. He arrived in Amsterdam in August but returned to the French capital for the peace talks in late October 1782.[4]
The book's subtitle asserts that the story of the Jersey has not been told. But its author's principal contemporary sources—Andros, Dring, Fox, Hawkins, and Sherburne—all published their nightmarish stories, and two excellent present-day histories cover much the same territory.[5] Nonetheless, The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn is a welcome, if not unique, reminder that many unknown patriots suffered greatly and gave their lives to establish the United States and that we should keep their memory alive.
[1] See, further, Ken Miller, Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives and Revolutionary Communities during the War for Independence (Ithaca: Cornell U Pr, 2014), and Daniel Krebs, A Generous and Merciful Enemy: Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution (Norman: U Okla Pr, 2013).
[2] "Listening to the 'Inarticulate': William Widger's Dream and the Loyalties of American Revolutionary Seamen in British Prisons," Journal of Social History 3.1 (1969) 1–29.
[3] See, esp., Arthur Bowler, Logistics and the Failure of the British Army in America, 1775–1783 (Princeton: Princeton Univ. Pr, 1975; rpt. 2015).
[4] The book also has some small proofreading errors. We read, e.g., that "The region [Manhattan and Long Island] had originally been home to the Iroquois [read Lenape], Algonquin, and other native peoples" (76). The index lists Samuel [read Andrew] Sherburne. The bibliography lists John Fanning Watson's 1846 book as Annals and Occurrences of New York City and State, in the Olden [read Older] Time.
[5] Edwin G. Burrows, Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners during the Revolutionary War (NY: Basic Books, 2008), and Larry Lowenthal, Hell on the East River: British Prison Ships in the American Revolution (Fleischmanns, NY: Purple Mtn Pr, 2009).
Purchase The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn


On the 2nd2 day of January2, 20062, a Preliminary Meeting of the Incorporators of a new Illinois3 Corporation to be known as the Exetor4 Corporation was held at 123 Main Street5 in Chicago6, Illinois6. Diane J. Alexander7, (legal counsel), was present. Elmer Dolby8, Richard Snull8, David Hokey8 were present and will serve as incorporators and as members of the original Board of Directors, along with Janet Olson9, Dorothy Bennet9 who were not present.
PURPOSE: At the outset of the meeting, the general discussion related to the purpose of the new corporation which involved the full range of corporate business with particular emphasis on engaging in real estate acquisitions with the principal interest on nursing homes and care facilities10 which will be located at 123 Main Street, Chicago, Illinois.11 The corporate existence begins subsequent to the filing of a Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State12.
RESOLVED: That the new Corporation will be known as the Exetor Company15; Elmer Dolby16 will serve as the Registered Agent for the corporation; the Registered Office for the corporation will be at 123 Main Street, Chicago, Illinois17; the original incorporators will serve as the Board of Directors; and an appropriate set of Bylaws will govern the activities of the corporation. The registered office and registered agent are represented to the Secretary of State in conjunction with Illinois Code18.
BOARD MEMBERS: After the foregoing resolution passed, there was a general discussion relative to the service of Board Members and the individuals incorporating the new business. It was decided that from time to time the members of the Board of Directors would function as officials acting on behalf of the corporation and, in such capacity, the actions of the board should be the sanctioned actions of the company.
RESOLVED: All acts undertaken on behalf of the corporation by the Board of Directors shall be and are hereby ratified as the official acts of the company in order to expedite the organization process.
CAPITALIZATION: The foregoing resolution passed unanimously whereupon the total stock issue and the need for capitalization was reviewed. It was determined that approximately Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000)19 will be needed to start the project.
NO PAR: It was suggested that the total number of shares to be issued by the corporation be at least 1,000,00020 shares. Some discussion related to the value of the stock and its likelihood to appreciate or depreciate over the years. Therefore, it was suggested that the stock be issued at "no par"21. In this regard the following resolution was proposed.
RESOLVED: That the corporation be authorized to issue an aggregate of 1,000,00022 shares at "no par"23.
The foregoing resolution passed unanimously whereupon the next order of business was a discussion regarding the interest of various individuals in acquiring stock in the corporation. In this regard Elmer Dolby24 would likely invest Ten Thousand25 ($10,000)26 each in property interest now held. Richard Snull27 discussed the likelihood of investing Five Thousand28 ($5,000)29. It was anticipated that each of the individuals would share in the investment made. David Hokey30 indicated an interest in investing Five Thousand31 ($5,000)32. At an appropriate time during the next organizational meeting and/or the First Meeting of Directors a resolution would be passed for the issuance of stock in the corporation.
SMALL BUSINESS CORPORATION: It was determined that the corporation would function as a small business corporation with no more than 3533shareholders with a single class of stock and with only individuals, estate and certain trusts eligible as shareholders. Nonresident aliens could not be shareholders.
UNAUTHORIZED ACTS: It is understood that any action taken by the individuals on behalf of the corporation as incorporators are unofficial acts and will remain unofficial acts until the Articles of Incorporation have been filed by the Secretary of State after which a formal Organizational Meeting will be held.
There being no further business, the meeting was declared adjourned.
Dated at 123 Main Street, Chicago, Illinois34 on this 1st day of April 200635.
The form above is an example of how a typical form for the Preliminary Meeting may be completed.
A preliminary meeting of the corporation is not a recognized act of the corporation. It should be particularly noted that until a corporation receives official status through the appropriate filing with the proper government entity (such as Secretary of State), any acts generally undertaken on behalf of the corporation may result in individual liability to the incorporators. In other words, a corporation may not act as a corporation until it has been appropriately and properly filed with the governing authority (example given, Secretary of State in the state of Illinois). Therefore, the purpose of the preliminary meeting is simply to focus the parties on the various acts that they need to complete in order for the corporation to become an official and organized entity.
1. Name of the company.
2. The date on which the meeting was held for the purpose of discussing all matters as disclosed through preliminary meeting minutes.
3. The name of the state in which filing a new corporation.
4. Name of the company.
5. An arbitrary address has been used on these forms.
6. An Arbitrary state has been used on these forms.
7. Generally, it is advisable to have legal counsel present; therefore, a space has been provided for the name of legal counsel.
8. Individuals listed are the incorporators or the people who met for the purpose of incorporating.
9. The individuals who also had planned to be a part of the corporation but who are unavailable for the meeting are listed at this juncture.
10. An arbitrary statement for the purpose of this particular corporation is stated. The parties must state principal purpose of the new company.
11. An arbitrary location has been used on this form.
Incorporation are to be directed upon completion of same.
Elmer Dolby was arbitrarily selected as the Registered Agent for this sample.
14. An arbitrary location has been used on this form.
State or any government entity.
17. The location provided should be the location where all corporate matters can be retrieved and where all corporate matters should be sent.
18. The Registered Office and Agent should be indicated to be in compliance with appropriate state code. Here the state of Illinois was chosen.
case, the amount of $20,000 has been arbitrarily set for as the need for capitalization for this particular company.
20. The amount of one million shares is an arbitrary number for the aggregate or total number of shares that the corporation may issue.
stock. "No par" means there is not an established dollar amount, even though a set amount was used for the purchase of the stock.
number of shares need not coincide with the amount of par or dollar contribution made for the capitalization of the company.
23. Again "no par" was selected, although a dollar amount per share could have been indicated.
24. The identified shareholder hypothetically indicated he would invest a specific amount in the company. This is reflected in the minutes.
25. This amount represents the figure (which again is arbitrary) which the hypothetical investor indicated he would invest.
26. This is the numerical form of the hypothetical investment.
27. This is the second hypothetical individual who indicated an investment interest in the company.
28. This amount represents the figure, which again is arbitrary, as the amount the second hypothetical investor indicated he would invest.
29. This is the numerical form of the hypothetical investment.
30. This is the third hypothetical individual who indicated an investment interest in the company.
31. This amount represents the figure, which again is arbitrary, and which the hypothetical investor indicated he would invest.
32. This is the numerical form of the hypothetical investment.
NOTE: The three investments of the investors total $20,000 as shown on the form.
consulted regarding this, because this figure does change from time to time. This figure of 35 has been arbitrarily set.
35. Arbitrary date and year.
36. Signature of Secretary of the corporation.
37. Signature of President of the corporation.


Experience & Capabilities | American Analytical Services, Inc.
From 1997 to 2002 American Analytical Services, Inc. prepared and analyzed approximately 18,000 samples for lead by ICP method 6010B from yard samples in the Superfund clean-up area. AAS also obtained contracts from Superfund contractors to analyze the clean back fill samples for lead, cadmium, and arsenic for the remediation phase of the project that consisted of an additional 5,000 samples.
From 1999 to the present AAS has provided analysis of water samples from local and regional mines. ICP method 200.7 is used for the analysis of lead, cadmium, manganese, and zinc, method 4500B is used for pH, and method 2540D is used for TSS. These analyses are provided with data validation packages.
From 1996 to the present AAS has prepared and analyzed daily mine and mill samples from local and regional mines. These samples are analyzed by flame-AA for copper, lead, zinc, iron, bismuth, antimony, and silver, as well as fire assay and volumetric methods for silver, lead, antimony, and copper.
From 2006 to the present AAS has analyzed bullion for impurities, and currently performs regular impurities testing on gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullions.
From 2009 to the present, AAS has performed water analyses which monitor the mine discharge water for local and regional mines. These analyses consist of ICP method 200.7 for copper, zinc, and manganese; ICP/MS method 1638 for copper, lead, and cadmium, CVAF method 245.7 for mercury, and method 2540D for TSS.
From 2005 to the present, AAS has performed Total and WAD cyanide analyses of water samples for local and regional mines. Method 4500I (distillation) and method 4500E (colorimetric) are used.
AAS also currently holds water sample testing contracts with local and regional municipalities for their discharge permits.


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"It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)," is the title of a Bob Dylan song and referenced in one of the controversial paintings by the Swedish artist, Liv Strömquist. Paintings like the one above, that recently showed up in the Stockholm subway. And no, the work has not been defaced, those red spots are part of the painting.
The artwork, it seems, was meant to stimulate discussion about and destigmatize, menstruation.
There have been similar advertising campaigns here in the States. The women behind the Thinx company have come up with ads that were all over the New York subway system last year. And now their offshoot, Icon Undies, is coming up with campaigns like the one in this post.
I'm wondering, how do you feel about ad campaigns like these?
This "earring of the day," is by Hannah Keefe and available at the General Store. Even though I happily left California behind when I moved back east, I can't seem to get enough of the particular California style the General Store exudes.
Books, can't get enough of them, can't find a place for them in my apartment. But books are the best gifts ever. If you want to delve into the slow fashion, fast fashion problem, I can tell you I have yet to read a better book than Elizabeth Cline's, Overdressed.


The house is built on three floors around an open courtyard, the house well and an ancient gardenia. The entrance hall leads into the courtyard, edged by a baraza sitting and eating area.
Palm House is designed around an open courtyard. The living and dining areas look onto the courtyard and another small side garden. It is spacious, yet compact – two doubles and one twin bedroom on the first floor, one double master bedroom on the second floor, all ensuite with private balconies.
Peponi is a small hotel on the exotic island of Lamu, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya. Peponi is still run by the Korschen family, who opened the hotel in 1967 and which still retains much of the character and charm that it had then.


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Rabat - King Mohammed VI has congratulated Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdelaziz on his appointment as Crown Prince by his father King Salman Bin Abdelaziz.
Rabat – King Mohammed VI has congratulated Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdelaziz on his appointment as Crown Prince by his father King Salman Bin Abdelaziz.
"During this phone call, HM the King extended to HRH the Crown Prince his heartfelt congratulations for the trust put in him and his sincere wishes of full success in conducting his mission under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques," added the statment.
The King also emphasized Morocco and Saudi Arabia's sincere brotherhood and the distinguished relations based on fruitful cooperation and effective solidarity, noting Morocco's keenness to further strengthen their ties in various fields.
The Saudi Arabia's Allegiance Council voted 31 to 34 in favor of Mohammed Bin Salman, according to the Saudi channel Al Arabiya.
The newly appointed Crown Prince replaces Mohammed Bin Nayef, who held the position of Heir until today's reshuffle. Mohammed Bin Nayef, who is a nephew of King Salman, was dismissed from his positions as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
The newly issued royal decree also named Mohamed Bin Salman Deputy Prime Minister. Before his appointment as heir apparent, MBS was previously deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense and head of an economic council in charge of implementing Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
Prior to becoming next-in-line to the Saudi throne, Mohammed Bin Salman was in charge of his father's royal court when King Salman was Crown Prince.
The reshuffle comes amid an unprecedented diplomatic crisis crippling the Gulf region after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt decided to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar, shutting down all air, land and sea borders with the gas-rich country.


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June's top stories: Iraq crisis, North Korea tests missiles
Iraq is in crisis following attacks by the ISIS Sunni militant group, North Korea test-fires precision-guided missiles and Jinnah International Airport is attacked by militants. Army-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from June.
North Korea test-fires precision-guided missiles
North Korea has announced that it has successfully tested its 'newly developed cutting-edge, ultra-precision tactical guided missiles'.
The tests were reportedly carried out on 26 June in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Xinhua reported, citing the KCNA news agency.
Details about when and where the tests were conducted and what type of missiles were fired were not disclosed.
However, the South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) was quoted by the Yonhap news agency as saying: "The rockets were fired in succession from coastal areas near its [North Korea's] eastern city of Wonsan at around 5pm in a north-eastern direction, and landed in international waters."
Obama approves deployment of US military advisers to Iraq
US President Barack Obama has approved the deployment of up to 300 military advisers to help the Iraqi Government combat ongoing violence from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) militants.
The deployment follows a series of meetings between Obama and his national security team to review options on how to respond to Iraq's request for military assistance to fight against the Syrian-based insurgents.
Obama said that US forces will not participate in combat, but will help train, advise and support Iraqi security forces, as they confront the terrorists who threaten Iraqi people in the region and US interests.
"We will be prepared to take targeted and precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on the ground requires it," Obama said.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard unit deployed to Iraq
Iran has reportedly deployed an elite unit of its Revolutionary Guard to support the Iraq Government in its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), the Sunni militant group that is trying to further destabilise the war-torn country.
ISIS spokesperson Abu Mohamad al-Adnani said the fighters would march towards Karbala and Najaf to 'settle their differences' with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iranian security officials have been quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that two units were sent from Iran's western border provinces on 11 June.
They have been made responsible for protecting Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf, according to Iranian security officials.
Lockheed-led team to study how to link C2BMC with US Army's IBCS system
A Lockheed Martin-led team has begun a feasibility study to identify a way to link the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) integrated command and control system with the US Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS).
The team, which consists of Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics and other companies, is developing command and control, battle management, and communication (C2BMC) systems.
The study will enable the team to determine possible interface changes to link the two systems, which would provide the US with an enhanced air and ballistic missile situational awareness capability.
Raytheon successfully performs first live-fire test of Excalibur S
Raytheon has successfully conducted the first live-fire test of its new dual-mode GPS and laser-guided 155mm artillery projectile variant, Excalibur S, as part of a company-funded R&D initiative.
During testing, the Excalibur S was initialised with a GPS target location and was terminally guided with a laser designator, laser spot tracker (LST) to make a direct hit on a target.
The Excalibur S is integrated with an LST, which not only enables troops to survive the forces of firing from a 155mm howitzer, but also attack moving targets, engage re-positioned targets after firing or change the impact point.
US Army evaluates new blue force tracking system at NIE 14.2
US Army soldiers and marines have tested the joint battle command-platform (JBC-P) during the army's recently concluded network integration evaluation (NIE) 14.2 at Fort Bliss, Texas, US.
A latest incarnation of the army's widely fielded, friendly-force tracking system, force XXI battle command brigade-and-below / blue force tracking, the JBC-P helps reduce the 'fog of war' by providing a complete battlefield picture to enable units to synchronise operations.
Primarily designed for use in vehicles, the capability provides location details of friendly platforms to users as they travel, while allowing them to plot the locations of enemy forces and hazards, including bridges, minefields and explosives.
8th Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion assistant operations officer 1st lieutenant Jeffrey Weinmeister said: "This interface is far more user friendly. It makes it very easy for the first-time user to effectively perform command and control operations."
US to supply additional UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Mexico
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of additional UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and associated equipment to Mexico.
Under the estimated $225m sale, Mexico has requested five UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in standard US Government (USG) configuration, along with designated unique equipment and government furnished equipment (GFE).
The UH-60M helicopters are expected to significantly enhance and strengthen Mexico's capability to provide in-country airlift support for its forces engaged in counter-drug missions.
Indian Army completes Akash missile validation trials
The Indian Army has carried out the final validation trial of the first off-production models of the Akash supersonic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Odisha, India.
During the trial, the domestically built medium-range anti-aircraft missile successfully intercepted the very small and fast-moving unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Banshee, at 30m altitude above sea level, confirming the system's capability against subsonic cruise missiles.
While the low-flying target was continuously tracked throughout its course by the missile's advanced multi-function radar, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-built special algorithms / techniques for overcoming the multiple target reflections coming from the sea worked perfectly in the mission.
The successful trial delivers the surface-to-air missile for induction into the army.
Brazil requests M113A2MK1 upgrade kits from US
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of two potential foreign military sales (FMS) to Brazil of the M113A2MK1 upgrade kits and M109A5+ upgrade kits.
Under the first estimated $131m sale, Brazil has requested a total of 434 M113A2MK1 kits to upgrade the M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the M113A2MK1 configuration, as well as spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, and other related elements of logistics support.
The second $110m sale covers the supply of 40 M109A5 kits to upgrade the 40 M109A5 self-propelled howitzers to the M109A5+ configuration, and other support equipment.
Jinnah International Airport attack kills 23, including gunmen
Heavily armed gunmen disguised as police guards have killed 13 people during an attack at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan.
The militants, who used machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), entered the Fokker building with forged identity cards. They were killed by the Pakistani Army during a night-long operation.
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that it was to avenge the killing of TTP commander Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike in 2012, DAWN.com reported.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Our trip to Marcy Dam was quite an adventure. We left camp at 10:30 am, backpacks filled with our water bottles, clothes, sleeping bags, flashlights and utensils, and our excitement building with every minute. The car ride to the trail was an hour and a half. We stopped by a nice, wild meadow for lunch on the way. Once we got there we we more than ready to go after singing to the radio for an hour and talking about how much fun the trip would be.
We hiked up the mountain, 2.3 miles and all sang and cheered to pass the time as we went. Once we got there we walked along the river for a little and then found a lean to to sleep in. After we had unpacked and set up our lean to we played cards on the rocky beach at the river. While we were playing a hiker passing by showed us the bear tracks of a mamma and cub that he had spotted! It was really cool to see.
At about five we found a clear area and found some logs to make a little campfire circle and started dinner. For dinner we had mac & cheese with sausage. For dessert we had some hot chocolate. We then hung out around our campsite and fell asleep at about ten. We were all super tired from the adventure of the day. We woke up at around eight and had oatmeal with dried fruit for breakfast. We then packed up and headed back down the mountain.
We were back at the van by about twelve and then went to eat lunch at the ADK cafe which was delicious! We are now in the car writing this and will be back at camp in about 20 minutes. The trip was super fun but we are excited to sleep in our beds tonight!


Two mornings a week, during the school year, Front Range Orthopedics & Spine offers a FREE Bump & Bruise Clinic to any St. Vrain Valley student athlete. Student athletes, who are injured during a school sponsored sporting event or practice, are eligible to receive a free evaluation of their injuries (X-rays and physicians are available if warranted).
When: Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 a.m.
You must be a high school student in the St. Vrain Valley School District to be evaluated in the Bump and Bruise Clinic.
You must have sustained an injury during a high school sponsored sport to be seen at the Bump and Bruise Clinic.
The Bump and Bruise Clinic is not open during the summer months.
Front Range Orthopedics & Spine is the proud official medical provider to St. Vrain Valley School District athletes. We provide athletic training services to our local high schools. Each school is provided with an athletic trainer to evaluate athletes' injuries, as well as rehabilitate those injuries to facilitate the athletes return to participation safely. Athletic trainers are on hand at the schools for practice and to cover home events with preference given to those sports with higher injury rates. Physician attendance will be provided at all Home Football games. If your child is unfortunately injured during a high school event, Front Range Orthopedics & Spine will be happy to help in any way we can.
Did you know that each high school in the St. Vrain Valley School District has a Certified Athletic Trainer provided by Front Range Orthopedics & Spine?
A certified athletic trainer (ATC) is a highly skilled and nationally certified allied health professional. Athletic trainers work with physicians and other medical professionals to provide medical care for acute and chronic injuries for all levels of athletes, from elite to recreational. Certified athletic trainers have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree, usually in athletic training. Athletic trainers study human anatomy and physiology, rehabilitation, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition, sport psychology, and therapeutic modalities. They are required to undergo extensive training in clinical and professional settings. This education and training allows the certified athletic trainer to administer immediate emergency medical care, as well as, develop and implement treatment plans for injuries under the direction of a team physician. A large focus of the athletic trainer is prevention of injuries and overall conditioning of the athlete.


As part of a player's Xbox Live Gold subscription, one or more games are offered for players to try out during Xbox Live Gold Free Play Days. The Free Play Days tend to run over a weekend. Xbox Live Gold members can try out MMA simulator EA SPORTS UFC 3.
Give us Fight Night Round 5 or Champion 2 please EA!


Welcome to AMETEK Petrolab Company, the sales and service arm of Grabner Instruments. Petrolab Company offers petroleum and laboratory analyzers for benchtop and field use. Our main product line includes Vapor Pressure, Flashpoint, Distillation and Fuel instruments.
Petrolab Company also provides a complete technical service and support team. The 40,000 square foot service center includes a full engineering staff, sales support personnel and factory trained customer support representatives ready to assist each customer.
Take Charge of Your Crude Oil Quality...Why monitor the quality of crude oil inline?
Calibration and Service Pricing is here.


text:
Q: Objective-J Cappuccino want a list of buttons on main menu, when I click the panel refreshes with UI of button selected Dear all, I am new to objective-j/c and cappuccino not really sure how this all fits together.
The code below is taken from http://github.com/jfahrenkrug/CappuccinoLocations1
What I need to do is:
I need a landing main menu which is a CPView called ie MainView with five or so buttons, when you click on the LocationButton on MainView is replaces MainView by with LocationView, which displays the contents of jfahrenkrug's work. A similar effect will happen with each other button.
What is the correct Objective-c/j way of handling this approach?
@import <Foundation/CPObject.j>
@import "src/Location/LocationView.j"

@implementation AppController : CPObject
{
  LocationView locationView;
}

- (void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(CPNotification)aNotification
{
    var theWindow = [[CPWindow alloc] initWithContentRect:CGRectMakeZero()          styleMask:CPBorderlessBridgeWindowMask],
      mainContentView = [theWindow locationView],
      bounds = [locationView bounds];

[mainContentView setBackgroundColor:[CPColor colorWithRed:212.0 /255.0 green:221.0/ 255.0 blue:230.0/255.0 alpha:1.0]];

locationView = [[LocationView alloc]    initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0,0,920.0,590.0)];
[locationView setCenter:[mainContentView center]];
[locationView setBackgroundColor:[CPColor whiteColor]]
[locationView setAutoresizingMask:CPViewMinXMargin | CPViewMaxXMargin |     CPViewMinYMargin | CPViewMaxYMargin];

var shadow = [[CPShadowView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMakeZero()];
[shadow setFrameForContentFrame:[locationView frame]];
[shadow setAutoresizingMask:CPViewMinXMargin | CPViewMaxXMargin | CPViewMinYMargin | CPViewMaxYMargin];
[mainContentView addSubview:shadow];
[mainContentView addSubview:locationView];

[theWindow orderFront:self];

}

Now we have the locationView.j
@import "LocationsController.j"
@import "LocationListView.j"
@import "MapController.j"
@import "LocationsToolbar.j"
@import "LocationDetailView.j"
@import "LocationDetailController.j"

@implementation LocationView : CPView
{
  LocationsController locationsController;
  LocationListView locationListView;
  MapController mapController;
  MKMapView mapView;
  CPTextField coordinatesLabel;
  LocationsToolbar locationsToolbar;
  LocationDetailView locationDetailView;
  LocationDetailController locationDetailController;
  CPTextField searchField;

  //  id delegate @accessors;
}

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)aFrame
{
  self = [super initWithFrame:aFrame];
  if(self){

    locationsController = [[LocationsController alloc] init];
    [locationsController loadExampleLocations];

    locationListView = [[LocationListView alloc]    initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0.0,0.0,226.0,400.0)];
    [locationListView setContent:[locationsController locations]];
    [locationListView setDelegate:locationsController];
    [locationsController setLocationListView:locationListView];

    var locationScrollView = [[CPScrollView alloc]  initWithFrame:CGRectMake(10.0,65.0,243.0,400.0)];
    [locationScrollView setDocumentView:locationListView];
    [locationScrollView setAutohidesScrollers:YES];
    [[locationScrollView self] setBackgroundColor:[CPColor whiteColor]];
    [self addSubview:locationScrollView];

    mapController = [[MapController alloc] init];

    mapView = [[MKMapView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(510,65,400,400) apiKey:''     ];
    [mapView setDelegate:self];
    mapController.mapView = mapView;
    [self addSubview:mapView];

    coordinatesLabel = [[CPTextField alloc]     initWithFrame:CGRectMake(510,465,200,35)];
    [coordinatesLabel setTextColor:[CPColor colorWithHexString:@"009900"]];
    [coordinatesLabel setFont:[CPFont systemFontOfSize:14.0]];
    [coordinatesLabel setEditable:NO];
    [coordinatesLabel setStringValue:@"-/-"];
    [mapController setCoordinatesLabel:coordinatesLabel];
    [self addSubview:coordinatesLabel];

    locationsToolbar = [[LocationsToolbar alloc]    initWithFrame:CGRectMake(10.0,467.0,226.0,25.0)];
    [locationsToolbar setDelegate:locationsController];
    [self addSubview:locationsToolbar];

    locationDetailController = [[LocationDetailController alloc] init];
    locationDetailController.mapController = mapController;
    locationsController.locationDetailController = locationDetailController;
    [mapController setDelegate:locationDetailController];

    locationDetailView = [[LocationDetailView alloc]    initWithFrame:CGRectMake(510,490,400,90)];
    [locationDetailView setDelegate:locationDetailController];
    [locationDetailController setLocationDetailView:locationDetailView];
    [self addSubview:locationDetailView];

    searchField = [CPTextField roundedTextFieldWithStringValue:@""  placeholder:@"Location" width:200.0];
    [searchField setFrameOrigin:CGPointMake(510.0,35.0)];
    [searchField setDelegate:self];
    [self addSubview:searchField];

    var searchButton = [[CPButton alloc]    initWithFrame:CGRectMake(710.0,37.0,60.0,24.0)];
    [searchButton setTitle:"Search"];
    [searchButton setTarget:self];
    [searchButton setAction:@selector(searchLocation)];
    [self addSubview:searchButton];

  }
  return self;

}

A: I'm not sure I understand your question but essentially a window has a default view called the content view. You get it like so:
var contentView = [theWindow contentView];

To the content view you can add subviews (and buttons).
[contentView addSubview:myLocationView];

The location of those subviews is determined by the 'frame' of the subview.
[myLocationView setFrame:CGRectMake(10, 10, 100, 100)];

You can replace the content view's subviews with something else by either removing the previous views or using the setSubviews message.
[contentView setSubviews:[aButton, anotherButton]];

So essentially if you want to swap out one view for another, call 'setSubviews' on its super view with the new views you want. Hope that helps to get you started.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Genre: Online Multiplayer
Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
Developer: Standing Stone Games
About Steven Mills
PC Review - 'The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar'
by Steven Mills on June 11, 2007 @ 2:10 a.m. PDT
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar will allow players to forge heroic legacies in the War for Middle-Earth.
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Turbine
Evil looms once again in the lands of Middle-earth. Creatures and monsters of Mordor are amassing as the hunt for The One Ring rages on, and all of Middle-earth is threatened by this evil power. In order to stop this evil and bring back peace, all races — Humans, Hobbits, Dwarves, and Elves — must come together and stop this tyranny. Will that be enough? It is up to you, adventurer, to work alone or with others and stop Mordor's forces! The battle doesn't only take place in Mordor, for all the lands of Middle-earth are engulfed in evil as Sauron's forces search for the ring, including Ered Luin, Rivendell, and the Shire. Now grab your sword, bow, or even your staff, and save Middle-earth!
The hottest game genre on the market these days seems to be Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, and titles like The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar are the reason why. The amazing world of Middle-earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the tales set within it, are unknown to few people. Many tales have started as books, transitioned into movies, and are then made into games, but out of those many stories, only few are successful. LotRO is one of those successes.
Upon entering LotRO, you are confronted with the basic storyline and crisis. LotRO takes place before Frodo and his joyous adventures, so the "fellowship" doesn't exist yet. Sauron has split his forces, sending Nazguls to look for the ring, and the rest of his forces have orders to attack the civilizations of the world.
After the introduction, you are prompted to create your character by selecting from four races: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits. Each of those have the option of being male or female, except for Dwarves (but who wants to be a short, hairy female dwarf anyway?).
Along with your race, you can choose from seven different classes: Burglar, the rogue-like class that specializes in stealth; Captain, which uses its leadership abilities to command and aid their allies in battle; Champion, which is heavily focused on combat skills; Guardian, which can take massive amounts of damage; Hunter, which lays traps for enemies and uses bows to deal ranged damage; Lore Master, which uses magic and pets in battle; and Minstrel, which uses instruments and songs to heal and buff their allies, as well as deal light damage to foes. I chose the path of an Elven Minstrel and was given a few options as far as avatar customization goes, but there weren't many possibilities. With my voice attuned to several ballads, I entered my homeland of Ered Luin.
However, all was not well in Ered Luin! Sauron's forces had already begun to attack the city walls, which smoothly segues into your tutorial mission, in which you are confronted by half a dozen goblins. After you've dealt with them, you are shown a cinematic regarding the destruction of the city, and you enter the actual game world, where you can interact and converse with other LotRO players.
Much like any good MMORPG out there, there is no set path for you to follow. You can collect quests around the starting area and complete them while killing a few creatures here and there for the additional experience, or you can find other methods of having fun while completing the quests and leveling up. I personally found that the fastest way to level up was by questing, and grinding yielded very little experience. This is a lot different from most MMORPGs, where there tends to be a lack of quests but plenty of monsters for you to grind on.
This brings me to the PvE, or Player versus Environment, aspect of LotRO. Out of all the MMORPGs I've played, LotRO simply has the best PvE. Not only is it amazingly fun to explore famous sites from Tolkien's lore or doing interactive and exciting quests rather than the typical tasks of "kill X, kill Y," but the sheer number of quests is also amazing. Additionally, the fact that quests level up your character faster than typical grinding makes me feel as if I am affecting the entire game world rather than embarking on my own personal quest to hit the level cap, which is 50 at the time of this writing.
One of the most unique and exciting elements that LotRO brings to the ever-growing MMORPG community is the system of deeds. Deeds are generally split between Racial Deeds, Class Deeds, and Area Deeds. Picture a deed as a goal that is hard-coded into the game and done at your leisure. Need a little bit of experience, but do not feel like doing a quest? Head behind the local inn and slay a few wolves for that Ered Luin Wolf Slayer deed. When you kill about 30, you unlock a reward: a title to display after your name, such as "Geraldo, Guardian of Ered Luin." However, the real benefits are for completing advanced deeds, like slaying 50 or 100 of these wolves. Rewards include an increase to certain stats, a new skill or two, or maybe even a rare title to awe your friends.
From Bree to Angmar to The Shire, Middle-earth in its online game form is simply beautiful. Turbine shaped Middle-earth to look as epic as it did in the movies, and honestly, that alone makes the gameplay very exciting. Pointing out that, "Hey, Frodo lived here," or "Gandalf has been here," makes the experience that much more memorable, and each time you trek to the top of the hill or travel through a forest, you reach the other side wanting to see how gorgeous the next awaiting hill will be. From the highest to the lowest graphical setting, LotRO looks great for an MMO, and without a doubt contains some of the best graphics that I have seen.
The music in LotRO is no different from the movie soundtracks: epic. From the background harmonies to the grunts of me swinging my sword or the tunes of me singing ballads and performing music, everything sounds impressive. Ambience, immersion and combat bring a realistic feel to the gameplay experience.
We know that the graphics and audio of LotRO are out of this world, but what about the actual gameplay? Perhaps the most important feature of a fantasy MMO is its combat system. LotRO uses the well-developed system of targeting and using the number keys to use different skills and abilities. The cool thing is, if you don't have enough room from the "1" key through to the "=" key, you can establish numerous subsets of the numbers with the Ctrl, Shift, and Alt keys, for a total of 48 possible key combinations. As for the actual enemies and monsters you will be fighting, goblins, orcs, deadly spiders and even ogres have been seen in LotRO, and they are eager to beat the snot out of anyone they see who threatens the rule of Sauron.
LotRO certainly isn't the first MMO to have a crafting system, but again, LotRO's is the best by far. Basically, the game has 10 different professions: three gathering (Farming, Foresting, and Prospecting) and seven production (Cooking, Jewel-crafting, Metalsmithing, Scholaring, Tailoring, Weaponsmithing, and Woodworking). Iin essence, you can have three professions — but not any three. The game allows you to choose a single vocation, each allowing three of the possible professions. For example, the "Armsman" vocation can take up the Prospecting, Weaponsmithing, and Woodworking professions, while the "Historian" vocation can take up Farming, Scholaring, and Weaponsmithing.
Perhaps one of the most important features of MMORPGs these days is the Player versus Player, or PVP. Games like World of Warcraft brought such an advanced and enjoyable style of PvP to the genre that it is almost impossible to recreate without making it seem too forced. LotRO's form of Player versus Player is called "Monster Play." At all of the main cities around the world, you can use a Fel Scrying Pool, which enables you to choose from a handful of different monsters — spiders, goblins, and more — all starting at level 50, and enter the area called The Ettenmoors. This is a level 50 area, so your monsters will be on equalt footing with any level 50 players.
You use your monster to fight NPCs and other players' main characters, all while collecting "Destiny Points." These Destiny Points can later be applied to your actual character to create brief time-based perks and bonuses, including an increase to experience gain, speed, and other cool little features. The PvP seems fun, but unfortunately, since LotRO just came out, there weren't many (or even any) level 50 players when I played this. Because of this, I cannot truly discuss the enjoyment of PvP or any balance issues I saw. It does seem to be very fun and different, though.
Another sought-after element of MMORPGs is the end-game Player versus Environment, or end-game raiding. As of now, raiding is non-existent, like it is with most new MMORPGs, but June 13th is just around the corner and marks the first content updated for LotRO. Entitled "Book 9: Shores of Evendim," the content update will feature the entire new area of Evendim, including over 100 new quests and the first raid dungeon: Battle for Helegrod, a raid demanding 24 players in order to succeed. It sounds very entertaining, and will no doubt rank up in the enjoyment of raiding in comparison to other MMORPGs. The content update will also include new armor sets and tweaks and updates to the music system.
Speaking of the music system, that is another fun and interactive element to LotRO. The game features tons of instruments from flutes to bass, allowing you to sit around the tavern all day and amuse nearby visitors; maybe even earn some gold! In the upcoming patch, players will have the ability to compose music offline, upload it to their characters online and play the music they composed! LotRO truly is for both role-players and hardcore gamers alike, and the two balance equally, giving great quality and interaction while at the same time leaving options in the players' hands.
With a great launch and exciting features planned for the near and distant futures, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is certainly the MMORPG of the year so far. Turbine has come out on top once again and proved that if "Lord of the Rings" could be turned into a successful MMORPG, they would be the ones to do it. That they did. Probably the biggest question about LotRO is, "Does LotRO have the potential to surpass World of Warcraft?" The answer is yes. Not only does LotRO take place in the world that created the fantasy theme, but the title is far more polished and ahead of any MMORPG during its release. Only a short time afterwards, Turbine is already releasing a large content update to prove that they are taking things seriously. LotRO is worth a try for anyone who is fans of Lord of the Rings or MMORPGs in general, and it would be your loss to not give it a whirl. In my opinion, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is certainly, one of the best games to hit the shelves this year.
Score: 9.6/10
More articles about The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar


High magick does seem to get quite comlicated with some of their rituals, and when you see things like the Opening or Closing by Watchtower, you may become very overwhelmed indeed!
There is a reason for complexity in ritual…it helps us lose our sense of "self" by losing ourselves in the details and nuance of the ritual. So complexity keeps the conscious mind occupied with appropriate symbols, while the real magick of the ritual happens subconsciously.
So the goal when doing a ritual is not to blindly follow some prescribed ritual, but rather to make sure the ritual is at the right level of complexity for our minds to lose ourselves in. If a spell or ritual is too complex, the opposite can occur, and one can become confused and frustrated–that is NOT a desired level of complexity, in which case the ritual should somehow be simplified.
The goal is to have our rituals at just the right complexity level for our minds. This varies from person to person and even over the course of one's magickal career. That's why some people find Wiccan rituals too "simple" and others find them just right.
In Everything You Want To Know about Magick, I do give a wide range of spell options, from extremely simple spells that are like magickal aphorisms, through medium complexity talisman creation rituals, to complex high magick rituals. Throughout I try to encourage a student to adapt and adjust the rituals to one's own level.
So utlimately the right complexity for a ritual is one that allows you to lose yourself in the ritual, but not so much that you are completely overwhelmed and confused.
And by the way, it is OKAY to use note cards when learning new rituals. You don't have to have everything memorized to practice magick.


text:
layout:     post
title:      "Rainy Days"
subtitle:   "Rainy Days"
author:     "Dinesh Balakrishnan"
header-thumb-img: "img/2015-12-16/RainyDays-LaughingDove-DineshBalakrishnan-thumb.jpg"
tags:       ["Mammal Destinations"]
seo: 		["Mammal Destinations", "Kabini", "BigCat Destinations"]
comments:   true
sharing-img: "img/2015-12-16/RainyDays-LaughingDove-DineshBalakrishnan.jpg"
---

Rainy Days, in a lighter sense

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Model Ship Builder
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Model Ship Builder :: Forums :: Build Logs :: General Build Logs
Constellation a 1:36 scale RC model
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Moderators: Winston, aew, bikepunk
JerryTodd
Mon Jan 09 2017, 08:06pm
Registered Member #1987
Joined: Wed Dec 21 2011, 04:06am
After the Port Expo
click an image to see a larger version - backspace to return
The St Michaels event was moved from the end of May to the first weekend in October in conjunction with their Small-Craft Festival. By the time the weekend came along, a hurricane was blowing up the coast and the event was cancelled because of the flooding it caused.
In the meantime, I worked on a few things...
Then the 2016 Baltimore Port Expo was rained out as well, though they had built a deeper pool this year. There's something to look forward to next time anyway.
The winch drums I made back in 2011 were lost in the move, and still haven't been found. I used the card & wood "test drum" last sail, but I needed a proper set, so I got some thin plastic sheet to make the flanges, cut some new styrene drums, and tried bolting the whole thing together. I actually added two drums for the fores'l and mains'l tacks, making the drums taller.
Concerned with this pulling the assembly to one side, I put a Delrin bearing block on the fairlead plates for the drums to slide against without it all pulling off to one side.
I had a hard time getting the ballast bolted on at Baltimore; I never did get the aft rod all the way in, and the battery hatch lid was askew the whole time. To facilitate that, I added some wood to her cradle to place the ballast so everything would be held and lined up to make attaching the ballast easier.
The bulwarks had mahogany end-boardsfore, aft, and at the entry ports. As far as I was able to find out, they were just wood slabs except for those at the entry ports. What I'm told are her originals since she was built, are in the museum at the real ship.
I made and stained some bass sheet and temporarily glued them on for the Port Expo, but I want to make the carved ones for the entry ports. So I traced a photo of the original boards and scaled it to the model. I didn't have any material that I could carve at this size, like boxwood, so I printed the image on a color printer and pasted them to the plain basswood boards.
I made the Spencer mast steps for the fore and main from my go-to piece of copper sheet...
...and started making the forward opening bulwarks. The ship had a portion of her bulwarks foreward and aft, divided up into panels that could be folded, or removed, so the pivot guns had a clear field of fire. The ship still had the forward "folding bulwarks" in place when she came to Baltimore from Boston in 1955. They were removed as "not being something the frigate would have had" and the bronze hinges were tossed into the hold with the hammock stanchions mentioned above. The panels were held up by iron rods that hooked over an eye in the waterway, much like a hasp for a padlock.
I wasn't going to make all these little panels functional as I was afraid they'd constantly get snagged and bumped, and I'd be repairing them constantly; so I made the panels combined into a single unit, implied the hinged with card-stock and eyes. These eventually would get epoxied in place with brass rod drifts to reinforce them.
I started making hatch gratings for the fore and aft ammunition hatches, the galley hatch, and the main hatch.
I had cut the pin rails you see in the picture some time ago, but wasn't having much luck with the turned posts that held them up.
The main hatch got a ledge installed while the plywood "temporary cover" was framed out and given a lip to hook under that ledge forward. At some poin some form of latch will get installed aft to hold it down, but for now it just sits there.
I opted to simplify the main hatch grating and not do the 7 by 4 arrangement with the corners open for companionways, but just do 7 full-width gratings with spacer beams. Three ships boats will sit on this hatch, and I intend to put a little vignette of figures doing some chore with sea-chests or boxes behind the boats - one of these boxes will disguise the latch that holds down the hatch-cover. The gratings were glued to the framed plywood hatch-cover and sits flush with the top of the combing when in place.
My goal now was to make the model ready to sail in open water, so she could sail in the Miles River at St Michaels this October, instead of bumping around the bottom of the pool again. With the above things done, I got into rigging. This time she'd fly her royals as well as t'gallants, and her courses if I could manage it.
I made a big change in how the squares would be braced. I originally was going to brace the fore course and tops'l yards on one winch; the main course and tops'l yards, with the cross-jack on the mizzen on the other winch. I decided to reduce that to only bracing the tops'l yard of all three masts; main and mizzen on one winch, and the fore mast on the other. Here a cut-a-way drawing of the model shows the routing of the braces and sheets as well as it's internal lay-out.
The first problem was I wasn't happy with my new winch drums. They had gaps between the drum and flange that would snag the braces and cause problems. I searched again for the missing set, but still couldn't find them. Until I could solve this, I opted to link all three yards as before and run them from one winch with the "testing drum" I had used before.
As the event date drew close, I wasn't ready, and there was another issue. It was really not possible for me to get the model into the pool at Baltimore by myself. Getting it from the car to the shoreline and into the Miles River and back again would be pretty much impossible by myself as well, and I couldn't count on having help. I needed a launch cart.
Next up: Bedframes and Launch-Carts
[ Edited Tue Jan 10 2017, 04:53am ]
Bed Frames and Launch Carts
Constellation is a big model. Tip of the bowsprit to the end of the driver boom is 8 feet. On her ballast, sitting on the floor, she's just shy of 5 feet tall. She's got a beam of 13-5/8" and her main yard will be about 32 inches with the stored stuns'l booms on it. Completed, with running gear and ballast she'll weight between 105-115 pounds.
Not the biggest model of her sort, she's as big as I thought I could get to fit in my SUV. When you're dealing with models of such size, transport, launching, and retrieving is a big part of the model even before construction starts. If you can't get it to the water, it's not going to do any sailing.
I got a lot of helpful information, and learned a lot from the models of Steel, Chapman & Hutchinson and the folks that own their models. The cloth for the sails, the servos, the bar/tube ballast as opposed to a fin, plus mods and improvements made by owners I met thought RCGroups forums.
So, when it came to a cart for transporting and launching, I figured on following that lead as well. Why reinvent the wheel?
Ok, that's a bit much, but it's a neat photo and I couldn't resist.
Anyway, here's Ray, a regular at RCGroups, launching his Surprise on the cart that came with the kit. It's basically a plastic handtruck with a big wooden cradle attached at the bottom.
Dan, another fella at RCGroups owns the SC&H Cruiser class brig and also started out with the same cart supplied with the kit.
You may have noticed a couple of things with the handtruck cart right off. When you lean the cart back to move it, it puts you in the rig where things can break, poke you in the eye, etc. Ray also said that the inflated wheels and wooden cradle made the thing float. When you launched or recovered the model, you had to keep a hold on the cart or it would float and fall over, it made things much more complicated.
While the cart itself can be broken down, it's still bulky and takes quite a bit of space, not to mention the time to assemble and disassemble it.
Dan addressed the leaning problem this by angling things so the handle leaned back from the model, but you can see, with the model up-right on the ground, you practically have to bend in half to lean the cart enough to move it. It also doesn't break down so much.
So Dan ditched the cradle on the original cart, laid the cart down, put a handle with a wheel at the top, now front, and basically made it into a boat trailer.
I initially was considering a handtruck type cart, because I thought it would work at low bulkheads, docks, or floating piers. When you think about it you find this really isn't practical, especially when you trying to retrieve the model, and it's exacerbated even more if it's windy and choppy. Even this clever idea using an aluminum extension ladder isn't really as workable as it may, at first, appear. try to figure out how you stop being the counter-weight to go and handle the model before it bashes itself to pieces - you're looking at lugging a hundred pounds or so of sandbags around with you.
There's a few boat-trailer type carts around, and it now being obvious that was the best idea for me, I started doodling plans. Most of what I've seen are wood or PVC pipe, which had the floating problem and lacked strength. I had a old steel L-angle bed frame laying about, and figured that would make a cart that was strong, small for it's strength, and certainly wouldn't float. So I went to my 3D software and cobbled this monstrosity out.
The idea was a channel of two facing L-angles that would support the entire model by it's ballast on a cross-piece of L-angle supporting an axle rod with a couple of 9" grocery cart wheels. The rest of the frame would support the model and serve as guides when retrieving the model.
I looked at this beast and though of my 16' day-sailor sitting on it's trailer just outside the house and thought - IT doesn't need all that frame-work and it weighs more than 4 times as much and travels on the highway!
So I lost the excessive framing and figured since the channel is holding the weight of the model, all I need is something for it to lean against with some padding on it. That reduced the idea to this:
That's about as simple as it gets. No rollers, wheels, bearings, or anything special. Then, while digging through the hard-drive for something else, I came across this pic of the 1:24 scale brig Killingworth on basically the same sort of cart. Though he has some guide wheels on it - it basically confirms what I came up with as workable. So, now with a plan, it was time to saw steel!
Holy carp, I'm so glad I didn't go with the first idea! I don't know what sort of steel bed frames are made of, but that stuff eats reciprocating-saw blades. Cutting one piece took all the teeth off my two used blades, and the next two pieces ate the teeth on two new blades I bought. After those three, I gave up cutting any more of the stuff without a cutting wheel on my arm-saw or grinder.
I maged to cut the two channel pieces and the axle support piece; drill them, bolt them together, and use wire clamp u-bolts to hold the axle-rod on. The wheels came from ACE Hardware online for about $14 for the pair. There's washers on either side of each wheel, and a hole in the end of the axle for a hitch pin which allows me to pop the wheels off or on very quickly without tools. A bit of flat-bar I had was cut in half to make diagonal supports for the axle so the cart wouldn't rack.
Unable to cut any more bed frame, I used chunks of 2x4 at the ends to stabilize the ends of the channel, provide a mount for the handle, and act as skids. I used an old flag-pole holder to hold the handle which is a bit of closet pole rod about 55" long with a 3/4" dowel for a T-handle, and a couple of turk's heads to reenforce it.
The thing got serveral coats of blue paint, and the handle was painted white. The uprights are just some 3/4" white pine bolted to the axle bar and padded with pipe insulation.
It looks like it'll do the job. It certainly made it easier to move the model around. what's more, since I intend to ballast Macedonian in the same manner, the cart will work with her as well.
Next step is to actually launch the boat with it. But there's still some work to do before that.
[ Edited Thu Aug 10 2017, 03:11am ]
Tue Jan 10 2017, 01:12am
Really Sailing
I didn't get the model ready in time for St Michaels, and didn't go to the event. But I still wanted to sail the model before it got cold, and it was getting toward the end of October, so I kept at it.
I rigged the braces routing them as they would be on the finished model.
While bracing the yards around, I found the cheap fuzzy string I was using caused too much friction and made the winch over-work. I walked-up several 12 foot lengths of line made from the Dacron sail thread that the model's permanent rigging will be made of and things ran much more smoothly.
Check out this exciting brace video!
I wanted to bend on the courses, but for them to work I needed to insert a rod into the bottom hem of the sail to act like a Bentinck boom, and I didn't have any long or strong enough. Aside from that, I was ready to sail.
I had a list of goals for this sail:
Test fit in car; she hasn't been in anything as small as my Matrix yet.
Do it all alone.
Test the new launch cart.
With the royals set, she'll be sailing with the most sail she's carried so far.
Test fore tops'l yard brace. Only the tops'l yards are braced, The other sails rely on snug sheets and taught leaches to pull them around.
See how self-tending bowlines rigged on the main tops'l work out.
Actually sail the model in open water instead of bumping the bottom in a shallow pool.
Get some pictures and video of the model sailing.
Collapsed the rig and gingerly got the model into the car. There's no room for anyone or anything else, but she fit. Note the launch-cart broken down to the left of the model.
Took the boat to the Rock Creek boat ramp down the street from Mark's house. He brought his grand-kids and his Son of Erin re-rigged as a gaff-headed sloop. I got the model re-rigged and ready, then rolled her down the very steep hill to the water.
I set up the camera on the tripod to video and launched the boat. The one problem with the cart was the tendency of the model to try and slide off of it. I'm going to install a small ramp that will catch the edge of the PVC caps and hold the model up on the cart. The ramp had broken concrete in the water so that folk's trailer wheels wouldn't sink in the silt, but that was a bit rough for me trying to push the cart in.
I turned the model around and the wind took her out into the creek. She sailed beautifully, better than I expected. Even so I got a lump in my throat every time a gust made her heel. We spent a couple of hours sailing the two models around the creek in the sometimes fluky wind. I did forget one thing, extra batteries for my camera, and after the initial launching video and a couple of stills, they died. Most of the video Mark took with his phone, and a lot of the stills are video captures.
A quick pose of a happy boy and his boat, then to see about getting her back onto the launch-cart. I recovered her on the beach side instead of the ramp to avoid all the broken concrete. Recovery went as smooth as silk. The cart's channel took hold of the ballast tube and guided the model right on-board. I was much more careful than I needed to be, but I was making sure she didn't bump out of the channel and try to turn.
So here's a 16 minute video of launching, sailing, and retrieving the model that day.
So, the test results:
Test fit in car: Worked once I broke off the sticky-outy bits, see above. The point here is that I can take the model out in my car if the van isn't available, but the van is preferable.
Do it all alone: Managed it. Had to wave Mark and his helpful instincts away a couple of times.
Test the new launch cart: Except for the sliding thing, it worked like a charm going in and coming out.
Sailing with the royals set: Worked great, looked great, could not be happier.
Test fore tops'l yard brace: The yards braced around fine and everything was as snug as I could want it - the simplified bracing was a success.
Test self-tending bowlines: I'll explain these in the next installment.
Actually sail the model in open water: She sailed! (see above video). Actually, her first sail could barely be called that. Here, she sailed, responded, was controllable, and looked great.
Get some pictures and video of the model sailing: Thanks to Mark and his phone. It never occured to me to pull my own phone out of my pocket, but I had a lot on my mind.
The day was a great success. Everything worked, nothing broke, and the model is finally, really, a sailing ship.
Next up: Winter Plans
[ Edited Sat Jan 28 2017, 08:23pm ]
Winter Plans
click and image for a larger version - backspace to return
I ordered in some aircraft plywood and made a new set of winch drums. Everything I've used AP on so far has remained stable and solid, so I'm hoping that holds true for these. They're not only glued, but I reused the through bolts and servo attachments from the last set. The flanges are 1/32" ply and the drums are 1/8".
The drums are actually smaller now since I'm only bracing the tops'l yards, but that bottom flange on both of drum is still large so it can reach the Delrin bearing block mounted on the fairlead plate.
I also ordered a bunch of eye-pins and installed the jack-stays on all the yards that still lacked them, which was most of them actually.
I built up the aft folding bulwarks. Instead of making separate parts as I did forward, I built these up right on the model.
All three tops'l yards have wood-lined iron collar parrels and trusses. Here's the actual fore and main collars back when the restoration was underway. I'm told they're original to the ship's construction. I drew up what I'm trying to make.
Using some of my copper sheet I made an attempt that looked like it was going to work, but when I was trying to clean up some of the excess solder, the tubing just popped off. It wasn't strong enough for a working model, so I have to figure out another approach.
The forward bulwark assembies were epoxied on and pinned with brass rod.
Then the rod keepers were installed fore-and-aft.
And that's were things were as of the end of 2016.
There's no heat in my shop, in fact we use it as an extension of the refrigerator over the winter. So not a lot can get done unless we get a couple of warm days. Some items I want to work on indoors or during those occasional warm days over the winter include;
Putting bolt-ropes on all the remaining sails.
Walking up more line, especially the large stuff for shrouds and stays.
Making some headway on chainplates.
Railings and nettings along the back of the mast tops.
Detailing and completing the pivot guns (a separate entry on them from start to finish will get posted here).
Making the capstan and wheel.
Detailing the yards with footropes, blocks, and stuns'l irons and booms.
Regarding the sails...
The royals and t'gallants will be removable. There will basically be hooks on the halyards and sheets so I can easily remove the upper sails, yards and all, to fit sailing conditions.
As mentioned above, a rod will be inserted into the bottom hem of the courses and act as a Bentinck boom. This will allow me to set courses without having to devise machinery to work tacks and sheets. This rod needs to be removable though, because if the wind's a bit much, I want to be able to bunt and clew up the courses to shorten sail.
Basically I'll be able to reduce the model down to the rig she carried on her first sail; tops'ls, driver, and jib. If it's blowing too hard for that, she simply won't get sailed that day.
I've made the fore and main Spencer sails. They'll probably be brailed-up when she sails, but can be shook out for display. Sheeting them isn't worth the effort, they're loose footed and there's the main and mizzen stays running right through either of them - getting the clew over those stays would require more levitation that I care to devise.
I didn't mention that I did install a servo-stretcher on the sail-arm servo that controls the driver and heads'ls. It was in operation during the models most recent sail and worked great. It increases the servo's travel from 90° to as much as 180° and also allows adjusting the center position. If you don't have a transmitter that allows such programming and want to use a 3-arm sheeter like I do - get yourself a Servo-Stretcher from Servo City.
The 3-arm sheeter needs a little refining. I plan to mount sheaves for the sheets on the arms, and use some sort of screw or friction thing for the sheet ends that will allow easier adjustments.
I think 2017 is the year this thing may actually get finished - knock-on-wood.
Tue Jan 10 2017, 01:47pm
Joined: Wed Nov 30 2011, 03:05pm
Slow up Jerry, I've just figured out how your three-arm sheeter works!
Those servo extenders are pricey items, I think I'd now use that as an excuse to use an Arduino - but not in 2011.
The sliding servos are a neat trick - and nicely engineered too.
Don't worry, the logs up-to-date and won't go any faster than me now.
Servo-Stretchers are about $20 and Constellation uses just one, as will Macedonian. I got them in October 2015 because Pride of Baltimore uses two 3-arm-sheeters and 90° travel wasn't gonna cut it.
I have no clue what Arduino's go for, plus whatever else it would require to achieve the same result with it.
Transmitters that allow programming servos, like the Spektrum Dx7 start around $300 or more. I have a lowly little Dx6, so that wasn't really an option for me.
My transmitter and receiver (6ch)cost around £25 and is programable. It's supposedly capable of 120% travel but I had to take a file and a sharp knife to the joysticks to get the standard 1mS (90 degree) range.
You can get an Arduino now for £4 which is about $5
Takes up more room than your extender though!
Sun Jan 22 2017, 02:56pm
Well I'm now up to date.
Quite a work of engineering as well as conventional modelling.
Sat Jan 28 2017, 08:44pm
well, we got some warm days here and there, but just before christmas I used them to make a little shelf thing for the bathroom...
and more recently to start making a pair of built-ins for either side of the fireplace in our den. (the blue cabinets in this rendering).
Poor old Constellation sits on her cart, unrigged, and rolled out on the driveway to make room for me to work. But we'll get more weather over the next couple of weeks warm enough to allow paint and glue to dry, and she'll get some attention again.
Fri Feb 17 2017, 03:27pm
[ Edited Mon Feb 20 2017, 04:50am ]
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text:
Mark Daniels Jr. and Ben Wright Crowned 2013 Federation National Champions on Oklahoma's Grand Lake O' the Cherokee's
High Winds Roll Straight Through Day Two of the 2013 TBF Southwest Division Championship
Conservation Directors Meet at Grand Lake!
By Staff in Conservation News
State Conservation directors from across the country met last week at the TBF National Championship in Grove Oklahoma. Wednesday found the group at the Pensacola Dam where Grand River Dam Authority Biologist Steve Nikkoli gave the group an overview of the GRDA's mission and responsibility. He also demonstrated their water sampling techniques and equipment. The group also toured the generating facility while spending the day at the scenic facility!
AIS decontamination practices were discussed along with the concept of an AIS certification for state federations and individual clubs. The Sea Grant group is assisting the TBF in developing a study guide and test so that Federations and clubs can achieve AIS certification. The objective with this program is to educate not only the anglers but also tournament organizers at both the state and club level.
The group discussed a series of National Issues facing anglers across the country today and took turns highlighting those 'hot items" within their own states.
Due to the special circumstances of the TBF event being in Oklahoma and the final day weigh-in being in Arkansas the group had to decontaminate all of the event boats used during the event. They also went through a series of fish handling procedures to make sure that all fish, water and equipment caught and used in Oklahoma did not come in contact with any fish or water from the state of Arkansas at the Hammonds center in Rogers Arkansas. A process that was much easier said than done!
Gene Gilliland of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation visited the group and enlightened them on the Reservoir Partnership program that helps local groups reestablish much needed habitat in aging reservoirs.
Bobby Keenum concluded the three days of meetings by describing a new soft plastic bait recycling program that allows groups to collect used baits and turn them in for reconditioned baits that can be used for youth programs. It appears to be a perfect combination of good conservation and youth initiative all wrapped into one! I'll have more information on this posted on the site later.
Overall the meetings were very informative and a great opportunity to demonstrate a lot of the AIS techniques that were discussed during the three days of meetings.
Thanks to all the CD's who attended and worked their tails off to make this a great event for our championship anglers.


text:
The Reinvention of Raven-Symone
THAT'S SO... YESTERDAY
Whether she's setting Twitter ablaze with provocative comments on The View or taking on juicy roles on Empire and black-ish, Raven-Symone is sending a message: I'm grown up.
Kevin Fallon
Senior Entertainment Reporter
Updated Apr. 14, 2017 10:48AM ET / Published May. 06, 2015 5:15AM ET
Danny Moloshok/Reuters
Raven-Symoné is just months away from turning 30.
That might be shocking if you're the type who freezes actors at the age of the projects they're most famous for. You might then be stunned to learn that Olivia from The Cosby Show and Raven from That's So Raven is definitively all grown up.
But if you've been watching Symoné during her well-received—and certainly controversial—tenure as a guest panelist on The View, where's she's proven to be free-speaking, popular, and provocative enough to reportedly have ABC "desperately" courting her for a full-time gig, maybe you're not surprised to learn that she's matured.
It's a process she's gone through rather publicly, coming out on Twitter in 2013 and having a candid discussion about being labeled because of her race and sexuality with Oprah Winfrey in 2014. The hot-button candidness of that interview and the reaction it caused certainly could have predicted Symoné's future suitability for The View. I believe Ms. Winfrey's words were, "Oh, girl, don't set Twitter on fire!" (She's since become a bit of a pyro in that way.)
And now Symoné is back in front of the camera as an actress, too, with a juicy guest arc on Empire this past season and, this Wednesday, showing up on black-ish in a bit of pitch-perfect casting as Dre's (Anthony Anderson) gay sister Rhonda, who's as uncomfortable talking about her sexuality with their mother (Jenifer Lewis) as her brother is.
"I am so happy to say that I'm 29 years old," Symoné tells The Daily Beast, laughing. "It feels so good, because it feels like I've been a child forever. And I have."
Maybe we're overdue in coming to terms with Raven-Symoné: nearly 30-year-old, because the star has admirably come to terms with herself, and is eager for you to come along, too.
"People come up to me and say, 'You look so old,'" Symoné continues. "Well I'm almost 30. I am not 12 anymore. People grow up and people want to do different things."
It's taken her a while to get there.
Symoné has never really left the spotlight. But she has, in the past, been more diligent about wanting to control it.
Whether it was her reign on the Disney Channel (Cheetah Girls, Kim Possible, That's So Raven), the family-friendly films she's starred in (Dr. Dolittle, Revenge of the Bridesmaids) or her stint on Broadway in Sister Act, she's admitted that maintaining a particular brand has been important to her.
But whereas she used to pitch the kind of character she wanted to play, a greater sense of herself as she's gotten older has allowed her to give up control, to play more mature roles, to be more open, and to do things like trust Lee Daniels and the Empire showrunners with a character that is very un-Disney-like: Olivia, who fakes a marriage with Jamal (Jussie Smollett) to help him cover up his sexuality when the child she said was his actually belonged to his father. Yay soaps!
"It's age and how I feel about different topics, and that I'm comfortable with them and want to tackle things that are personal to me," Symoné says, about what's changed so that she feels ready to give up controlling her brand. "I can't be that same person anymore, even if I wasn't on TV."
Though she told Oprah in that infamous interview that she lives with her girlfriend, she hates being labeled "gay"—because she doesn't like being labeled at all. It's a mindset that gave her interesting perspective when her good friend and Empire co-star Smollett was the subject of intense media speculation over his own sexuality, because his character was gay and he kept refusing to clarify his own sexuality. (He eventually came out on Ellen DeGeneres's talk show.)
"I'm so proud of him," she says. "In all of his interviews and public appearances he stayed true to who he is and being a positive role model in the community of all people." It's a remarkable inclusiveness that she uses to talk about a show that's made so many headlines for its portrayal of certain divided communities. She goes one better: "I see him as America's boyfriend," she says, not modifying America's sexuality.
In doing things like Empire and Wednesday's "Please Don't Ask, Please Don't Tell" episode of black-ish, she's hoping that maybe she can move past being defined by the roles of her past. "Lee Daniels took a chance on a 'nostalgic actress,' and he gave me the kind of character I've never played before," she says. "Because of it people will see that I can do more than what they're used to."
Her role on black-ish returns her to her comedy roots, albeit in a far different, far more topical environment than we're used to seeing her. "There are some amazing scenes in this episode that can hopefully open eyes to other people," she says. "You get to see other people's pain. And you get to see other people's dislikes and how that affects others."
And if there's anything that's done wonders to change the public perception of Symoné, it's her time on The View, during which she's made headlines for everything from admitting to wearing Spanx since she was 14 to weighing in on a news item in which a TV reporter was fired for making what's been interpreted as a racist joke at Michelle Obama's expense.
She's proven adept at swinging on the energy pendulum needed to fit in with the high-low, fluffy-intense extremes required of a morning talk show host.
To wit, over the course of our conversation she describes her delight at playing "such an impactful character" as Olivia on Empire with a giddy, high-pitched, "I was just like, 'Woohoo!'" Then when talk turns to some of her controversial statements about race on The View, her words are as calm, deliberate, and measured as the weight of the topic requires.
"I didn't say anything that I think my mother would be disappointed by," she says, when the scandal is brought up. (The reporter said a makeup artist who transformed into Obama looked like a monkey. Symoné said she didn't think he was racist because "some people do look like animals…Is that rude? I look like a bird." You can read more of Symoné's defense here.)
"You can disagree with me, but you can just say 'I disagree with you,'" Symoné says. "You don't have to come for my heart and say I must die. We all know that people use freedom of speech. So I try my best to respect people's [freedom]."
Controversies aside, Symoné says she's reveled in the platform The View gives her. "I like being able to speak my mind and tell my side of the story," she says. "I've been in this industry and might be more sheltered than others who have had more drama than I've had, but my drama is equal to what theirs is in my own life."
She realizes that growing up and being unafraid to speak her mind—to seize control of that so-called brand she had carefully maintained for so long—leaves her susceptible to becoming a more polarizing celebrity than she's ever been.
"I've gotten anger from other people because I'm not taking one side or the other, or I'm not taking the side they think I should take. Or that I'm being someone I'm not," she says. "But I'm just trying my best to look at it objectively before I bash someone."
She's keeping mum on the specifics of where her career will take her—The View or otherwise. But she's clear about what she's learned about all of this. And wouldn't you know it? Her takeaways couldn't be more mature.
"We respect one another," she says. "I think that's the ultimate thing all cultures and all races and genders need to do is to say, 'Yeah, we disagree but I respect your opinion. I didn't live your life so I have to respect where you come from, and we can have a discussion.'"
"I don't know what happened, because we stopped respecting each other," she goes on. "And we have to respect each other."


Kuz can tattoo cleaner lines than me! I'm honored to collect this piece bro Thank you so much Should I post the Tattoo I got done?
QUOTES: Kobe Bryant reflects on mentoring Kyrie Irving, and the following championship he obtained with the Cavs. - "I remember sitting on the couch at home after Cleveland came back from that 3-1 deficit and beat Golden State. We're watching the game, we're sitting on the couch. Me and Gianna are there just kind of hanging out. And my phone rings and it's a FaceTime call. I hate FaceTime calls… don't FaceTime call me unless it's my family, but it's Kyrie. I pick it up and Kyrie's in the locker room celebrating on FaceTime like, 'Dude it worked, your advice worked!'" - What a GOAT 🐐 mentor!