text:
Essays from the Mojave House
Where the Rocks Turn Red
We left at 5:30 a.m., passing a bobcat before sunrise in Mojave Trails National Monument, to make it to Escalante's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Inter-agency Visitor Center before closing. We made it, and, still shaking from nine hours on the highway, I rehearsed my planned series of micro-actions that would settle me into this vast landscape I'd wanted to explore since I first saw it miles beyond the Bryce amphitheater.
I'd heard that the rangers at the visitor center were crusty and unhelpful. Ever since the national monument's boundaries were nominally reduced, along with most of the park staff, rangers allegedly took a "figure it out for yourself" attitude toward the many hidden gems in the park. I prepared to negotiate.
Happily, my designated forest service employee was a kindly, talkative older gentleman with the bearing of a slightly svelter Kris Kringle. I mentioned that I planned to camp in Lower Calf Creek Falls, but he advised that Escalante's Petrified Forest State Park would be warmer, with more amenities. Lower Calf Creek Falls was already winterized, with no water, meaning no flush toilets. Always one to plan the dive and dive the plan, with unparalleled pit toilet experience and utmost faith in my Accuweather research, I brushed that suggestion off, and moved on to my gem-hunting itinerary. What hoodoos and slot canyons could I get to with dogs?
Long Canyon slot. It's 11.2 miles on Burr Trail in Long Canyon. Right off the road. There's a turn-out right there, at 11.2 miles. Set your odometer. I confirmed this, cross-referenced it with the numbers on my map, and saw that Burr Trail appeared to be the natural extension of Scenic Route 12, which instead twisted 90 degrees up through Boulder. Long Canyon slot was many things - beautiful, accessible, and 11.2 miles in, but not marked. I found myself listening to people saying things like "it's easy, just…" so I asked for clarification. Were there any other markers that would let me know I was in the right place?
"It's where the rocks turn red," another ranger piped in. I could not tell if she was being serious or dismissive, but it didn't matter. Those were directions I could work with.
We pitched camp at the bottom of a canyon around dusk, and soaked up the surrounding orange as the sun set far above us. The ground turned from pasty to coral to the color of blazing hot coals, creating deeply phthalo blue shadows. I checked the forecast on the campground's bulletin board, and it was chillier than expected by about 20 degrees. So much for my research. Curled up for bed, I lasted 45 minutes before the frigid air seeped through, and it was only 9 p.m. We bailed to the car, where my 43-lb dog woke me up to curl inside my mummy sleeping bag. The inside of the windshield froze with ¼ inch of ice, but we stayed surprisingly comfortable.
The next morning we set off on our mission to find Long Canyon Slot, up out of the frozen canyon and back onto the ridge that marks a spectacular scenic byway sponsored through the Adopt-a-Highway program by the Human Rights Campaign. Over Hogsback ridge we went, a rainbow of buttes and mountains to our left, and pastoral ranch land punctuated by otherworldly boulders from a giant's castle on our right. Where the road bent left at the tiny town of Boulder, we continued straight. Straight into the largest, fastest, wooliest ram I have ever seen, barreling straight for us. A girl in an open flannel shirt sprinted 50 yards after him to no avail, losing ground as her oversized shirt tails flew behind her in the wind, like a living, moving statue of Artemis.
My two Central Asian shepherds seized their moment. Sasha, teeth baring, barked as loud as she could, snarling as the sheep approached. The ram caught her glaring eyes and sheepishly slowed, looking away like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and turned 180 degrees to trot right on into his yard, then into his pen.
As a city-dwelling dog owner, 50 percent of my anxiety comes from fearing what people will say about my barking dogs, and I was mortified that this nice girl whose God-fearing ranch people permitted my California plates onto their backroads would judge me. As we slowly drove past her, she had stopped, panting, with her hands on her heart, elated, thanking me and my dogs for sending her petulant sheep home. I was reminded that my backwoods shepherd dogs were built for this environment - this is the type of place they belonged, the type of work they were meant to do, and they, along with the ranchers, knew it.
She was the last person I'd see for four hours. The Burr Trail canyons were white, with striations that looked like someone doodled all over them in an office meeting, punctuated by an occasional conflagration of red hoodoos. Reading the designs was like reading shapes in clouds, a bird here, an arrow there, and royal crown of hoodoos. Old mesquite trees guarded the jewels like sentries. As we neared a winding creek, golden trees arced over the road to greet us in a precious colonnade of splendor. The brush along the road glowed neon green. Nine miles, 10 miles, then after a blind descent into a canyon we turned to the right to face spectacularly pure red walls. Long Canyon Slot, where the rocks turned red.
I watched my odometer while keeping an eye out for a turn-off, and imagined what a short 20-yard trail to a slot canyon might look like. Nothing at all was marked on any of my three maps - one topo that I'd purchased myself, and two from the Visitor's Center. Yet, here was a pull-out, leading to a cattle trail into the creek, with orange banks of clay abutting the steep outer face of a canyon. If there were an entrance into those walls, it may be our slot canyon. I left a howling dog in the car while I investigated, walking what was actually a very well-maintained hiking trail along the creek. The scenery was so beautiful, but pastorally lush rather than stark and rocky. I continued a few hundred yards, checking every nook and cranny in the orange bank of 12-foot high clay, to no avail. Returning to the car, I decided to continue another mile or two, then backtrack.
Not a quarter mile later, a sliver of light bust through the solid wall of redrock on our left, illuminating a turn-out. I pulled over, grabbed my camera equipment, and ran into it. The angle of the sun had just begun streaming into the narrow slit of rock, and it illuminated the walls, ground, and two or three bushes through a prism, so that everything glowed in an otherworldly kind of way that you can usually only find in artificial stage lighting. This, however, was full-spectrum. My footsteps echoed on the soft floor as I stepped gingerly, reminded of the hallowed entrance to the Batu Cave temples near Kuala Lumpur. I wondered whom I should worship, and I supposed it would be the light. Looking up at it, I felt as though nothing were between me and the face of the sun. I felt compelled to speak to the canyon, which was warm and welcoming, bidding me to sit and stay a while to notice the way the light shifted.
It was shifting fast. I walked in, I walked out, using different lenses to capture the magic, checking my voice to hear an echo, pausing gratefully in wonder. And in minutes, upon egressing, thinking I had what I needed, but wondering if I should try another lens, I turned back at the entrance and the scene was flat. The light had risen beyond the canyon's tiny portal, and Long Canyon Slot was again hidden from the road, blending flatly into the uniformly red, swirling rock.
I'm Nicole, and I launch adventures from a house I bought in the desert.
Hi-desert


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Because we are a member of the National Safety Council, our employees get safety tips from Safety+Health magazine . Click on a headline to read the full tip.


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Rudy Molard (Cofidis) claimed stage 3 of this year's Tour du Limousin today, after emerging victorious in a 9-rider sprint finale that managed to hold-off the rest of peloton during today's hilly 185.9 kilometer stage from Saint-Dizier-Leyrenne to Aigurande.
Indeed, the French rider beat Florian Vachon (Bretagne) and Julien Antomarchi (Roubaix), in a mad dash for the line, while Jesus Herrada (Movistar) succeeded in defending his overall lead, after following in the main field in 30th place – at four seconds back.
A 9-rider breakaway group eventually got underway during today's frantic start to the race.
From there, the escapees for the most part remained together and out front for the duration of today's stage.
Only two of the original escapees were dropped along today's stage, however, during the final 2 kilometers, Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Quentin Pacher (Armee) managed to bridge their way to the lead group – once again restoring it to a 9-rider breakaway.
As the race headed into the final kilometer, despite holding only a mere 10 second advantage over the chase, the escapees managed to hold-off a charging peloton right to the line, with Molard taking the sprint victory.


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In The Studio With Rain Light Fade
on Aug 15, 2019 Aug 15, 2019
One afternoon recently I got a message from Dane Vance Creek of Rain Light Fade.
"We're headed into the studio; would you like to catch up and check out what we're doing there?
I couldn't resist. Of course, I told him! It was a great opportunity to sit down with the guys and talk about music – while listening to their all-new material. Rain Light Fade consists of Dane on Vocals and Guitar, Ian Tomlinson on Guitar and Backup Vocals, Ira Merrill on Guitar and Vocals, Eric Vickers on Bass, and Steve Gale on Drums.
I met Dane at Earwig Studio – formerly Jupiter – in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. We sat down together in the recording area to talk. Duff McKagen and The Posies are just a couple of the big names that have recorded in the same room in the past. Engineer Don Farwell comes highly recommended and has been recording music now for two decades.
As we started talking in the room, Ian walked through to re-record some guitar tracks. "You mind if we hang out here while you play?" Dane asked him.
"If you don't mind hearing me swear when I mess up," Ian replied.
This type of banter is common with these lifelong friends. They had been playing for a long time together as Rain Light Fade; I had seen them no fewer than three times since 2013, and by then they were already seasoned show veterans with a strong following. But the guys needed time away to focus on other things.
RLF took a break for nearly two years.
"There came a point," Dane told me, "Where we thought less of being a band and more about being friends. And being with family. It was becoming a grind. The earlier work was dark, but the feeling belied the strong friendships we had created over the last decade."
"Besides," Ira added while smiling. "We weren't angry enough to play as dark as we did."
"Yeah, we didn't get to be ourselves," Dane replied.
The guys are tight-knit and supportive of each other. Their conversations were on the verge of being in code. But it wasn't like an exclusive club; it was more like "friend code" because they had known each other so long. When I had questions, I got honest answers and was welcomed warmly.
During the break, the guys still talked and hung out, while families grew and their lives got back on track. Steve and Dane discussed the future of the band and got to brainstorming. "We never had a chance to do a full-length album," Dane said. This seemed like an honest goal for everyone. But during their time off the type of music they wanted to record had also changed.
"We dumped the loops," Dane explained. "We like them but they're too complicated. We wanted to strip it down. Make it less dark. We wanted something organic – a bass-driven groove rock. It would give us an opportunity to play together as friends."
They got back into practicing.
They admitted to being a bit rusty, but really it didn't take long to dial in.
"Practice is a matter of keeping the muscles limber," Dave explained. "We're pretty tuned in to each other after all this time. We practiced once a week and committed to one show per month."
When they got into the studio, they maintained the organic feel by playing together in the same room – like they would on stage. Occasionally a track would need to be re-recorded. But this is where Don's skill at the board was truly evident; he was able to isolate what needed to be replaced and set the timing perfectly for the new track.
Dane and I moved into the sound booth, where the rest of the band was sitting to watch Don craft his magic.
A huge comfy couch lined the back wall, opposite of the sound board. It was a smallish room for all the guys who were hanging out. One of them was eating a sandwich.
"Where'd you get that?" one of them asked.
"At the gas station over there." he waved his hand vaguely towards the west.
The guys all looked at each other back and forth. "Uhhh….dude…."
"I got sick on one of their sandwiches a while back," one of them said.
"Aww man..I'm halfway done!" He dug into the chips on the coffee table instead.
Then they all started laughing. Scared him. Like I said: Lifetime Pals.
On the wall was a project grid – showing the track names and numbers vertically on the left, and columns to the right that were labeled with the steps that needed to be done. The songs were not recorded in order; on the day I visited they started working on the first track – "The Beginning" – with a vocal track being the next step. Dane gave me a rundown of what was happening.
"What you're gonna hear is just the basic vocal and band. We haven't added any of the lead color stuff yet. You'll get an idea of how it comes together."
"YOU'LL GET AN IDEA, ALRIGHT!" one of the guys in the room said in a Cockney accent while everyone else laughed. Pals to the end.
When the tape rolled, I was treated to Ian's guitar on heavy grind. The fuzz was joined suddenly by Steve's drums in a surprise wall of sound. Eventually, Dane's vocals came in – haunting, heavy, strong, crammed with the signature tone that is all him. The groove they wanted was the groove I heard. Since the bass solo track hadn't been recorded yet, the band pretended by making bass sounds from the couch until Dane's vocals started again.
Soon the wall of sound returned as Ian and Steve carried the song into its dying embers – fading in a long fuzzy sustain. As the song faded out, the band discussed what they wanted to do that the end. I heard the essences of Sweetwater, Alice In Chains, Tool, and tasty RLF licks in this one track, and it was fantastic. The notes played went exactly where my brain expected them to go, a fully satisfying experience that for me is hard to explain. Quite honestly, this track was great listening as-is in its unfinished state. I can't wait to hear the completed track after the mix was fine-tuned.
I wish I could share my recording from the booth, but I've been sworn to secrecy!
Next, they worked on the last track – "New Star." That day the goal was to get a "Scratch Track" built so the band could start playing to it. First, a click track was created. Then Ian recorded a scratch guitar track. Third, Dane went into the booth and recorded a scratch vocal. Ian jokingly made up lyrics for Dane from the couch. With this basic foundation, Don would be able to start establishing the layers necessary to get the final recording "in the can." It was refreshing to have people share with me how the process worked. It all made a lot more sense after I watched them create music. Of course, they made it look seamless.
But it's clear to me that a ton of work and love went into this album – which is being released on Friday, September 20th!
I urge you to attend the Rain Light Fade Album Release Party at Louie G's Pizza that night; they are headlining with some excellent support from Lust Punch, Watch Rome Burn, and Celia. This will be a night to remember and, I'm absolutely certain, you'll be blown away by new material as much as I was.
And I'm looking forward to catching up with them yet again to hear that magic at full volume!
Features, Local Access, Reviews, Seattle Sound
cd release party, earwig studio, in the studio, interview, making music, rain light fade
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Mr. Page is the director of the Prehospital Care Research Forum at UCLA and active field paramedic with Allina Health EMS in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. He has over 30 years of continuous EMS street experience.
Mr. Page holds a Master of Science degree in education from Minnesota State University. He is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer and PhD candidate at Monash University, in Melbourne, Australia. He helped create, coordinate, and served on the Faculty of Inver Hills Community College's paramedic degree program for 24 years. He is a site visitor for the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Programs, and senior facilitator for the NAEMSE/CoAEMSP evaluation workshop, and NREMT Scenario Development workshop.
A native of Mexico, Mr. Page continues to be involved in the development of EMS internationally. Current projects include work in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, and others. He is co-creator of FISDAP, an international web based EMS tracking, research and testing project. Mr. Page authors a monthly research review column in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) has been running continuously since 2011. He authors the Cases with a Twist Column in EMS World magazine, and is the editor-in-chief of the Spanish edition of that journal. Mr. Page also serves as the editor-in-chief for the free, peer-reviewed online publication: EMSreference.com.


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Responsibility:a clean environment provides health and well-being. Thereby, in cocoon medical, we think about its preservation, applying recycling and awareness processes throughout the workplace.
In cocoon medical, we create the latest technology applied to human body. Clinical Unit's mission is the continuous development and investigation through clinical proofs in order to offer to our customers, devices of maximum security and effectiveness.
Firmness, experience and exclusivity. These are some of the aspects that cocoon medical wants to communicate with its brand, something intangible that defines in a perfect way the values of our company and products.
cocoon medical's aim is the satisfaction of the customer. In order to achieve this objective, we work every day for improving our processes and offer the best quality in our developments.


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Tom Brady Risked Everything Just to Shade Roger Goodell in His Super Bowl Ad
The G.O.A.T. filmed a Super Bowl commercial with his fifth ring before he'd won it.
By Clay Skipper
If you live on Earth, then you know by now that Tom Brady led his New England Patriots to the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time, besting the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime after falling behind 28-3 midway through the third quarter. It was Tom Brady's fifth Super Bowl win (the most all-time by a single quarterback), which means he will be getting his fifth Super Bowl ring. Shortly after the victory, this commercial hit the air:
And because it's highly unlikely Tom Brady filmed that in the several minutes between winning the Super Bowl and the commercial's airing, that means Brady, in what is a boldfaced tempting of karmic fate, filmed a commercial with his fifth ring before he had won his fifth ring. In fact, as The Big Lead points out, the earlier version of this commercial—without the mention of the fifth ring—was posted to YouTube on October 5. Considering Tom Brady didn't even play an NFL game this season until October 9 because of his four-game Deflategate suspension, that means he had the audacity to film this spot before he even played a snap.
Tom was gracious as could possibly be accepting the Lombardi trophy from Commissioner Goodell last night, and then again at a press conference with the Commish this morning. But the fact that he risked the ultimate jinx by filming this commercial just to get in a rather corny "Roger that!" dig at the man who suspended him for four games shows the ire hiding (not so deep) beneath that perfectly dimpled chin. Of course, when you can do what Tom Brady did in 23 minutes last night, you can afford to take risks no one else on Earth would dare. Greatest Ever, indeed.
Inside Tom Brady's Routine:
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm not going to be able to write much today, given how late it is. I now go to get 250 words down before I go to bed. I don't feel good at the end of a day unless I've written something. And no, this blog doesn't count.


The hexadecimal color code #25296f is a medium dark shade of blue. In the RGB color model #25296f is comprised of 14.51% red, 16.08% green and 43.53% blue. In the HSL color space #25296f has a hue of 237° (degrees), 50% saturation and 29% lightness. This color has an approximate wavelength of 465.6 nm.


MFi Manufacturing License, a symbol of the best quality and compatibility with Apple products such as iPod, iPad, iPhone, and AirPlay audio accessories, guarantees the products pass the certification tests specified by Apple to meet Apple's performance standards. With this license, Brickcom can not only legally manufacture the electronic accessories related to Apple, but provide the products with the reliable high quality for the customers.
In addition to producing IP cameras, NVRs, and network accessories, Brickcom is dedicated to offering a wide variety of solutions, including cloud service, smart home application, and end-to-end security solutions in order to give customers much more complete and reliable service. Being a member of the MFi program, Brickcom will strive to be the top and create a promising future for the customers.


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Dave Graney
by Paul Cashmere on July 6, 2012
Back in 1979, Dave Graney and Clare Moore formed the post-punk band The Moodists. The group was critically acclaimed. Various members all went on to other things, Mick Turner with Dirty Three for example but Graney and Moore have always stayed together.
They dabbled as pop stars for a moment in time with Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes.
Now their latest project is Dave Graney and the MistLY. MistLY is the new, improved name for Dave and Clare's Dave Graney and The Lucid Yello Mist.
Dave Graney joined us at Noise11.com to talk about the new album and a career dating back to 1979.
Listen to the Dave Graney Noise11.com Sessions featuring songs from Dave Graney and the MistLY.
Tagged as: Dave Graney, Dave Graney and the MistLY
Dave Graney To Reform The Coral Snakes For A Couple Of Nights Of The Wolverine
Dave Graney and Clare Moore will reform Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes for a performance of the 1993 'Night Of The Wolverine' album.
Dave Graney To Tour New Solo Album
Dave Graney, Australia's "Cryptic Rock Voyager" will release his new album 'Fearful Wiggings' on May 2 and then take the show on the road across the country.
The Moodists To Reform for Hoodoo Gurus Dig It Up
The Hoodoo Gurus talked Dave Graney and Clare Moore into getting The Moodists back together for Dig It Up.
FIRST LISTEN: Dave Graney And The mistLY Flash In The Pantz
Dave Graney has returned with Dave Graney & The mistLY and a brand new song 'Flash In The Pantz'.
Gotye And Wagons Score At The EG Awards
Gotye and Wagons win big at Melbourne's EG Awards, and the Hoodoo Gurus become Hall Of Famers.
Rockwiz First Three Seasons To Be Released On DVD
Madman are set to release the first three seasons of Rockwiz, uncut, on DVD.


It's a distortion pedal that was built by our friend Rob Skinner here in Seattle -- it was modeled after the Zvex Fuzz Factory (I think Rob calls his pedal the Fuzz Face). Anyway, he let me borrow a prototype model, which is a big unmarked silver box with two switches and four knobs. It makes the craziest, out of control distortion and squealing feedback, which quickly made me a pariah with the rest of the band anytime I even made a motion toward it. I discovered that if you plug in an instrument cable into the input, but *don't* plug in an instrument into the cable, the box itself becomes a tone generator. This is how I got all those squealing "Defender" (remember the original Defender video game? anyone?) sounds in the second verse of the "Carjack Fever."


This entry was written by Liz, posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:55 pm, filed under beauty, focus, reflection. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback.


Rangers from the Manas National Park in India discovered Rhino 17 and immediately began searching for her calf, who had been sighted for the first time just a few week previous. The rhino calf was found about 3km away from where his mother was killed. The rangers knew that he was still to young to survive on his own, so in hopes of saving the exhausted and dehydrated calf, they darted him and transported him to a rescue facility.
It's been about two months since park rangers and WWF staff stepped in to save the orphan, and he is doing great! He is growing leaps and bounds in a specially built enclosure where he is hand fed eight times a day.
The Assam Forest Department is even thinking about bringing little 17 a friend, who is another orphaned calf about the same age currently residing in India's Kaziranga National Park. Little 17 is one of 3,200 greater one-horned rhinos left in the wild.


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Carmen is an opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875, where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences. Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon; the "Habanera" from act 1 and the "Toreador Song" from act 2 are among the best known of all operatic arias.
The opera is written in the genre of opéra comique with musical numbers separated by dialogue. It is set in southern Spain and tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery gypsy Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen's love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage. The depictions of proletarian life, immorality, and lawlessness, and the tragic death of the main character on stage, broke new ground in French opera and were highly controversial.
Carmen – Maria Callas
Don Jose – Nicolai Gedda
EMI – 1964
Geroges Pretre – conductor
; Georges Pretre, conductor
Roberta Peters
Roberta Peters Tribute Arias
Helen Traubel
Die Walkure: Du Bist Der Lenz
Die Walkure: Fort Denn Eile
George London
Boris Godunov Excerpts
Columbia Symphony; Thomas Schippers, conductor George London


Maniac is created by Patrick Somerville, and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. The A-list cast includes Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Sally Field, "Ex Machina" actress Sonoya Mizuno, Julia Garner, Jemima Kirke and Justin Theroux. The "Superbad" co-stars Hill and Stone will also be pulling double-duty as executive producers for their first television series regular credits.
With the trippy first trailer below.


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Preview of EHF Champions League Main Round, Round 3
Reigning champions Budućnost Podgorica and Romanian title holders Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea in the make-or-break clashes.
The third weekend of the Women´s EHF Champions League Main Round is pivotal for two teams clutching straws in their bids to avoid an early exit. As always all four matches will be shown live on ehfTV.com.
Reigning champions Budućnost Podgorica and Romanian title holders Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea have both lost their opening two games and hence face make-or-break clashes against tough opposition in their efforts to keep alive any hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.
Budućnost are at home to Randers, who also have two defeats out of two, while a star-studded Oltchim outfit entertain Russians Zvezda Zvenigorod on home court.
Meanwhile, high-flying Györ and Larvik will lock horns in a top of the table clash in Group 1, with the winners likely to have one foot in the last four.
Krim Mercator and Ferencváros, who both have a maximum four points in Group 2, are also set to provide an entertaining encounter with two valuable points at stake for both teams.
Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) vs Randers (DEN)
Sunday, 19:00 hrs local time in Podgorica
Winning the trophy of the European premier club competition was always going to be a hard act to follow for the holders, whose youthful and revamped outfit did well to reach the Main Round in the first place.
Last weekend Budućnost lost a gripping and physical home tie to former champions Larvik, whose steely defence confined the Montenegrins to just 18 goals as the competition's top scorer Milena Knežević netted just four times.
"So far, we have only played two matches, but it is obvious that we are going to need some points now. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to take two in Montenegro against Budućnost on Sunday. They are also under pressure and still having to deal with huge expectations from their home crowd," Randers coach Jan Leslie said.
Larvik (NOR) vs Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN)
Saturday, 17:45 hrs local time in Larvik
What a clash of the titans this promises to be. While Larvik are looking to add more European silverware to their trophy cabinet, Györ will be eager to win their first title in the continent's elite club event.
Defeat will not spell disaster for either side as they share the top spot in the group with a maximum four points each, but there is everything to play for because the winners will have made a huge step towards the semi-finals.
Larvik coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad was beaming with confidence after his team's hard-fought 20:18 win at Budućnost, avenging a crushing 10-goal defeat by the same opposition in the return leg of last year's semis.
"Of course now we are very happy. Two points from this game are very important and the win puts us in a good position," Gjekstad said.
Gjekstad's compatriot Heidi Løke, Györ's line player who faces an emotional encounter with her former team mates, made it clear in no uncertain terms what she expects against her close friends from the Norwegian national team.
"The group has shaped up in such a way that Larvik will be our toughest rival in the Main Round, they have a very strong team," Løke said.
Group 2:
FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) vs Krim Mercator (SLO)
Sunday, 15:15 hrs local time in Dabas
Both teams have been a surprise package in the Main Round so far quite simply because both have beaten group and competition favourites Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea to boost their chances of reaching the last four.
But FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria will be sorely missing their Spanish star Nerea Pena, who is out for the rest of the season after tearing her right knee cruciate ligaments in a dramatic 35:34 home win over Russians Zvezda Zvenigorod.
It will be a bitter blow to the Hungarian side after Pena scored 10 goals in the opening away victory over Oltchim and her team will now have to rely on the shooting prowess of back court sniper Zsuzsanna Tomori, who scored 10 of FTC's opening 22 goals and versus Zvezda.
The towering Tomori finished with a whopping 15 goals to stay the competition's second highest scorer on 60, but Ferencváros coach Gábor Elek acknowledged Pena's absence could have a telling impact in the remaining Group Matches.
"Nerea's injury has made our task difficult. Thank God Bettina Dajka was a fitting replacement because she was one of the best players against Zvezda," Elek said.
Krim, on the other hand, are flourishing after their injured stars returned to full fitness and will hope that Croatian left back Andrea Penezić can repeat her majestic performance against Oltchim, when she rifled in 11 goals against the Romanian champions.
Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea (ROU) vs Zvezda Zvenigorod (RUS)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs local time in Vâlcea
Having suffered two shock defeats after losing middle back Cristina Neagu to injury, EHF Champions League favourites Oltchim have no more margin for error if they are to avoid what would be an embarrassing exit for a team aiming for the trophy.
Montenegro right back Katarina Bulatović rediscovered her shooting form in a 28:24 defeat at Krim, scoring 10 goals against the Slovenian side, but her valiant solo effort was not enough and Oltchim's other players will have to step up to the plate in order to chalk up their first win in the second group stage of the competition.
Zvezda can count themselves unlucky to have lost at FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria in a high-scoring encounter and will hope to produce a similar kind of gutsy performance in Romania.
TEXT: Zoran Milosavljević / br


Formulation 0.2 micron filtered solution in tris buffered saline, pH 7.5 with < 0.100% sodium azide.
Lee Biosolutions is the leading producer of human cord serum Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) for clinical diagnostic manufacturers and research uses.
Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein that is normally only produced in the fetus during its development, and its measurement during pregnancy has been useful to detect certain abnormalities. Elevated levels, if found in amniotic fluid, can indicate a developmental defect in the baby, and is a valuable diagnostic tumor marker.


text:
Nominations Open For The Scottish Mountain Bike Awards
by David Hayward 4 years ago 0
Nominations are now open for the Scottish Mountain Bike Awards, run by the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS). The event will be on the evening of the 16th of November, at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow. If you want to read more about the categories, or apply to try and win an award, you can find out more on their website. If you think you or your business should be a nominee, click on the categories to the left to find more information on each, plus application forms. Deadline is October the 12th, and there's no fee to apply.
If you want to attend, you can also buy tickets through that link. £25 tickets are pretty cheap for an award show – in some industries, awards are run as an (eye-wateringly) profit-making business and charge many thousands for a table. Hats off to MTBCOS for making their awards show accessible to people and companies who aren't rich.
Last years awards. L to R: Moira Forsythe (Scottish Enterprise and board member of MTBCOS), Andy Parker (Flaer), Nick Muddle (Flaer).
So what's the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland? They describe themselves as "Scotland's national centre for mountain biking innovation and excellence". It's not a trail centre, and almost (but not quite) complicated enough to require a flow chart, but it's basically a combination of Edinburgh Napier University and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), working with a host of funding bodies. Together, they've helped build £2.5 million worth of new trails, as well as promoting existing ones. Behind all that though, one of their primary aims is to support mountain biking related businesses in Scotland to develop new products and services. The trails up there obviously comprise a very important part of that, but there's all sorts of business support that also needs to happen before rubber hits the trail – and that's what they do.
The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland has a number of contributing organisations.
Full release from Edinburgh Napier University:
Scottish mountain biking and its links with business and entrepreneurs will be celebrated next month at the annual Scottish Mountain Bike Awards.
Organised by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), in conjunction with the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCoS), the evening of celebration – which will take place on 16 November at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow – will recognise those that contribute towards making the sport world class in Scotland.
Nominations are now open, with award categories covering numerous areas including tourism, clubs, riders, accommodation providers, product manufacturers and community groups.
The awards will also celebrate the sector's best innovations and collaborations with universities throughout the country.
Last year, Edinburgh Napier University took home the Best Scottish Business Collaboration with a University award after its work with Flaer was recognised.
Academics from the University worked with the company to develop the world's first chain performance system for mountain bikes. The system automatically applies fluid to the chain as you ride, giving maximum power transfer to the wheel and smoother gearshifts.
The technology has continued to be developed and was recently used by the ORICA-SCOTT GreenEdge professional road cycling team throughout the season, including during this year's Tour de France.
Professor Geraint Florida-James, lead academic of the MTBCoS, said: "We are delighted to again be involved with these awards to recognise all the great work and expertise going into developing the mountain bike industry. The work that we do at the MtBCoS supports companies who are developing innovative cycling products and services and this will be a great opportunity to recognise the talent we have on our doorstep."
Danny Cowe, business development executive for MTBCoS, said: "We see these awards as another method of highlighting the great progress of Scottish companies and celebrating the fantastic scene in Scotland. We had a great response last year from Scottish businesses and we would urge any Scottish registered company with a mountain bike product or service to fill in an application form and take part in these awards."
Graeme McLean, project manager at DMBinS, said: "Mountain biking brings increased participation – helping us to become a happier and healthier country alongside giving Scot's the opportunity to succeed on the world stage along with brings economic benefit, often to some of our more remote areas.
"These awards will highlight and celebrate examples of great practice in these three areas which will help Scotland maintain its reputation as one of the leading countries in the world for mountain biking."
The Scottish Mountain Bike Awards were devised last year, with 11 different categories, more than 3000 public votes and more than 50 applications. This year, the public will also choose the top Scottish mountain bike riders of the year and the Scottish event of the year.
Full details on the awards and its categories can be found at http://www.dmbins.com/developing/scottish-mtb-awards-2017/


SECOND Republic Governor of Kano State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, has picked holes in the principle of rotational presidency between the South and the North.
Rimi said the idea is undemocratic but counselled Nigerians who are yearning for the unity of the country to be ready to chew this bitter pill for another 48 years.
Reacting to PDP's decision that the North should hold on to the Presidency till 2015, Rimi told The Guardian in Kano that it was in order because it would engender the needed peace and order in Nigeria.
Recalling how the PDP adopted the rotational principle in 1999, Rimi said: " We started doing this at the level of the party leaders at that time and by 1999, it affected elective offices. That was how former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from Abeokuta, Ogun State emerged the first president under the platform of the PDP. He was there for eight years and nobody complained until he wanted to extend his tenure illegally.
"And now, there is this understanding that after President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has spent his two terms of eight years, power would go back to the South again but I am sure that the South West would not vie for it because Obasanjo was there from 1999 to 2007.
"The next time, it is supposed to go to either the South-East or the South-South and through this rotational presidency idea, every part of the country would have produced the president of the country and this would augur well for the country.
"I have always argued that the rotation principle is undemocratic but in our type of country that is heterogeneous with several ethnic groups divided along regional sentiments, we have to allow this for sometime. I believe that by the time each of the geo-political zones of the country have a taste of the presidency for eight years apiece, Nigeria would have matured enough to stop the zoning system. I expect that after 48 years from now, Nigerians would be more patriotic to look for anybody who can work for the country without sentiments attached. We have seen this happen in the United States (US) where an intelligent African American, Barack Obama, was elected on his own merit and competence in a white-dominated society. I see this happening in Nigeria one day."
Asked whether PDP's position was in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, he retorted: "The PDP has a constitution, which every of its member must adhere to. We have a situation where in countries like Togo, Libya, Uganda and Gabon, where their presidents have ruled for as long as 40 years and we don't want that in Nigeria in the name of democracy and authoritarianism. We just wanted every part of the country to be carried along."
On whether the PDP's position is fair to the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, Rimi said the issue doesn't arise in the first place in view of the fact that both Jonathan and the ailing Yar'Adua were elected on the same ticket. "The president and the vice president were elected on the same day. In a situation where the president is indisposed, what is wrong in asking the vice president to act? Whenever the president is fit and well, he comes back to take his seat. That is why I say this confusion about succession is caused by the media."


Slips over any work boot.
For safety reasons, you need to keep your work boots on while working inside peoples homes. Plus, by wearing these clean boot covers, you never walk the dirt inside the home or leave boot marks behind.
SHOW YOU CARE by Wearing a Pair of Tidy Clean Boot Covers!
When working in big expensive homes, I used to think it was professional to take off my boots before entering the clients home, but was reluctant to do so for safety reasons. Plus I didn't like being caught out wearing my old socks. Imagine the clients smile, when they open the front door and see me wearing a pair of Clean Boot covers. Now I always get nicely greeted and I feel safer keeping my boots on. Highly recommended!
"Tony at Tidy Tradie has been helping us deliver great customer service with his mats and boot covers, all our customers love them!
Tidy Tradie delivers absolutely fantastic service ...my orders are usually dispatched the same day and never take more than a couple of days to arrive.
Gill - DCM PLUMBING & DRAINAGE"
Boot Covers, Overshoes, Shoe Covers. If you don't wear them in your client's home, you could dirty their carpet & your reputation. Cleanboot Covers allow you to keep your safety boots on, while keeping your client's happy. Something to seriously consider for improving tradie customer service.
Not like those blue hospital grade shoe covers, which were never made for tradies.


A lobbying campaign has been launched to seek to get the retrospective element of S58 amended so the legislation only applies from the date it was announced in Budget Note 66 published on 12th March 2008.
2) to assist promoters with Tax Tribunal appeals, Europe etc.
For more details, visit the campaign website.
Please join the members area and make a donation to fund the campaign.
See previous thread for outcome of earlier court cases.
All the main promoters Montpelier, Steed, deGraaf and PwC are now collaborating.
It is likely that test cases will be heard at 1st-tier Tribunal late 2012/early 2013. Precise details of the grounds of appeal etc. have yet to be confirmed.
Steed applied to ECtHR in Strasbourg in January 2009. Their application is still in the system.
It is understood that enquiries are being made to see if Montpelier & PwC can be included in this application.
What a great way too end the week.
Last edited by Emigre; 20th April 2012 at 14:10.
Good Luck DR and All.
(And put the website in your sig, DR ).
And thanks to CUK for making it possible to open up the 2nd front!
When you register you may find that the registration email containing your Username and Password goes into your Junk folder.
or it doesn't contain your Username and Password !!
Could the problem be with registering a username with spaces included ?
Last edited by moira under the stairs; 20th April 2012 at 14:49.
Looks like registration form timed out.


Centric Apartment Picasso offers accommodation in Barcelona, a 15-minute walk from La Pedrera and 1.4 km from Casa Batllo. The property features mountain views, plus is 1.9 km from Tivoli Theatre.
The 2-bedroom apartment features a kitchen with a dishwasher and a bathroom with a shower.
Plaça Catalunya is 1.9 km from the apartment. Barcelona El Prat Airport is 12 km from the property.
Early check-in before 15:00 carries a surcharge of € 20, subject to availability.
Late check-out after 11:00 is available upon request, subject to availability and carries a surcharge of € 20.
This apartment has a fireplace, microwave and sofa.
Rate: € 1000.00; select dates below to get current rates.


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The MFC-J5620DW complies with the strict ENERGY STAR, German Blue Angel and Nordic Swan environmental standards.


text:
use exonum::{
    helpers::{Height, Round, ValidatorId},
    merkledb::ObjectHash,
};

use crate::{
    messages::{Message, Service},
    sandbox::{
        sandbox_tests_helper::{make_prevote_from_propose, NOT_LOCKED},
        timestamping_sandbox,
    },
};

#[test]
fn approving_skip_propose_normal_workflow() {
    let sandbox = timestamping_sandbox();
    let propose = sandbox.create_skip_propose(
        ValidatorId(2),
        Height(1),
        Round(1),
        sandbox.last_hash(),
        sandbox.secret_key(ValidatorId(2)),
    );
    sandbox.recv(&propose);
    let propose_hash = propose.object_hash();

    // Since the node has all 0 transactions from the `Propose`, it should vote for it.
    let our_prevote = make_prevote_from_propose(&sandbox, &propose);
    sandbox.broadcast(&our_prevote);

    // Receive prevotes and precommits from other nodes.
    let prevotes = (2..4).map(|i| {
        let validator = ValidatorId(i);
        sandbox.create_prevote(
            validator,
            Height(1),
            Round(1),
            propose_hash,
            NOT_LOCKED,
            sandbox.secret_key(validator),
        )
    });
    for prevote in prevotes {
        sandbox.recv(&prevote);
    }

    let block = sandbox.create_block_skip();
    let block_hash = block.object_hash();
    let our_precommit = sandbox.create_precommit(
        ValidatorId(0),
        Height(1),
        Round(1),
        propose_hash,
        block_hash,
        sandbox.time().into(),
        sandbox.secret_key(ValidatorId(0)),
    );
    sandbox.broadcast(&our_precommit);

    let precommits = (1..3).map(|i| {
        let validator = ValidatorId(i);
        sandbox.create_precommit(
            validator,
            Height(1),
            Round(1),
            propose_hash,
            block_hash,
            sandbox.time().into(),
            sandbox.secret_key(validator),
        )
    });
    for precommit in precommits {
        sandbox.recv(&precommit);
    }

    sandbox.assert_state(Height(2), Round(1));
    assert_eq!(sandbox.node_state().blockchain_height(), Height(1));
    let our_status = sandbox.create_our_status(Height(2), Height(1), 0);
    sandbox.broadcast(&our_status);

    // Check that the epoch is preserved across node restarts.
    let current_time = sandbox.time();
    let sandbox = sandbox.restart_with_time(current_time);
    sandbox.assert_state(Height(2), Round(1));
}

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
enum MessageType {
    Propose,
    Prevote,
    Precommit,
}

fn test_approving_skip_propose(sequence: &[MessageType]) {
    let sandbox = timestamping_sandbox();

    let propose = sandbox.create_skip_propose(
        ValidatorId(2),
        Height(1),
        Round(1),
        sandbox.last_hash(),
        sandbox.secret_key(ValidatorId(2)),
    );
    let propose_hash = propose.object_hash();

    let mut prevotes = (1..4).map(|i| {
        let validator = ValidatorId(i);
        sandbox.create_prevote(
            validator,
            Height(1),
            Round(1),
            propose_hash,
            NOT_LOCKED,
            sandbox.secret_key(validator),
        )
    });

    let block = sandbox.create_block_skip();
    let block_hash = block.object_hash();
    let mut precommits = (1..4).map(|i| {
        let validator = ValidatorId(i);
        sandbox.create_precommit(
            validator,
            Height(1),
            Round(1),
            propose_hash,
            block_hash,
            sandbox.time().into(),
            sandbox.secret_key(validator),
        )
    });

    for &message_type in sequence {
        match message_type {
            MessageType::Propose => sandbox.recv(&propose),
            MessageType::Prevote => sandbox.recv(&prevotes.next().unwrap()),
            MessageType::Precommit => sandbox.recv(&precommits.next().unwrap()),
        }

        // We don't care about intermediate messages in this test, but need to poll them
        // in order for `recv` not to panic.
        while let Some((_, msg)) = sandbox.pop_sent_message() {
            if let Message::Service(Service::Status(status)) = msg {
                let our_status = sandbox.create_our_status(Height(2), Height(1), 0);
                assert_eq!(status, our_status);

                // Remove remaining messages from the queue.
                while sandbox.pop_sent_message().is_some() {}
                return;
            }
        }
    }

    panic!("Haven't reached new epoch by the end of the test");
}

#[cfg(test)]
mod skip_proposes {
    use super::{
        test_approving_skip_propose,
        MessageType::{Precommit, Prevote, Propose},
    };

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_a() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Propose, Prevote, Prevote, Precommit, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_b() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Prevote, Prevote, Propose, Precommit, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_c() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Prevote, Prevote, Precommit, Propose, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_d() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Precommit, Precommit, Prevote, Prevote, Propose]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_e() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Propose, Precommit, Precommit, Prevote, Prevote]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_f() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Prevote, Propose, Precommit, Prevote, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_other_precommits_a() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Precommit, Precommit, Precommit, Propose]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_other_precommits_b() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Precommit, Precommit, Propose, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_other_precommits_c() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Propose, Precommit, Precommit, Precommit]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn approve_skip_propose_other_precommits_d() {
        test_approving_skip_propose(&[Propose, Precommit, Precommit, Prevote, Precommit]);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Pricey Pixies Tickets, or Can Critics Complain About Concert Costs?
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The United States Men's National Team beat rivals Mexico last night thanks to a solitary goal from Tyler Adams. Unfortunately, the game was marred by homophobic chants coming from the Mexican fan base, El Tri.
Despite homophobic chants taking place, and not for the first time, many people took issue with Matt Miazga's on-field 'banter' rather than what can only be described as outdated abuse which has no place in soccer, or society for that matter.
It was in the second half when Matt Miazga looked to frustrate and anger the opposition as he made fun of Diego Lainez's height. This isn't the first time it has happened in soccer and it certainly won't be the last. The fact that people are offended by it and are trying to make it into an issue really does make me laugh.
Miazga was sitting on a yellow card as the incident unfolded so he showed real intelligence when he didn't react to the Mexican players' response.
Above is one of the tweets I was left dumbfounded by. Blaming and taking issue with one race in particular and comparing playground soccer antics to Donald Trump… Ironically, he has 'social justice' in his bio but failed to condemn the homophobic chants. He just wanted an excuse to push his political agenda and slander white people.
Some people really think that because Miazga made fun of an opponents height, he must believe that any player who is short happens to be bad at soccer… Listen up everyone. Lionel Messi, the best player ever in my opinion and five-time Ballon d'Or winner is, erm, 5ft 7. I bet Matt thinks that he is terrible (facepalm).
This "Haha, you're smaller than me" style of banter is here to stay, so get used to it soccer snowflakes. It was deployed in an attempt to anger and frustrate the Mexican team but it also left the whole fan base red in the face.
Job done. Well in, Matt Miazga.