About myself: got interested in tabletop gaming last year, before that had toy soldiers of russian-warhammer -rip-off when I was a kid. So far played a bunch of games of commands & colors (Battle Cry, Battlelore, Ancients etc), but recently started reading books on Horus Heresy and bought and played Space Hulk. So one let to another and I got the Know no fear starter - now looking forward to assembling painting space marines, learning the rules and figuring out if 40k is my cup of tea. Didnt decide on a faction yet, so going now as ultramarine for a time being.
Reason for joining the forum - I was amazed by amount of 40k people on Sunday at Hobby Bunker, so would like to join the community.
Welcome welcome! Happy to see a new name/face!
If you post that you are looking for a teaching game in one of the "Games this week" threads, there should be a number of people willing to set up a game with you.
Welcome Rostik! Welcome to the hobby!
Welcome! 40k is definitely a big game in these parts, with active communities at the hobby bunker as well as the "Battlegrounds" stores in various locations around Massachusetts. We've got plenty of folks happy to run teaching games, and to help you out as you build/paint your miniatures, we have a copy of the starter set with more primarius marines that you're welcome to use while you're getting started. I think the miniatures in "know no fear" may be the same, but if you wanted to have a few more miniatures to play around with in your lists, feel free to use those for your games, it's what they're there for!
I also encourage you to take your time deciding which faction to collect. 40k has an absolutely ridiculous number, and just because the starter sets contain marines a lot of people tend to ignore the huge number of options available.
Hey welcome to the club! Glad to see someone else interested in Power Armor!!! Like Scott said, before making a decision on what army you are %100 committed to I would take a good hard look at everything available. Their are so many different armies and its a great idea to "commit to your dudes" find which one you like the aesthetic of the best and go crazy!
That being said, out of all of the different factions available Loyalist Space Marines have the most options out of everyone. You can really go crazy with making them unique to you! Looking forward to seeing you around the bunker. Feel free to pull me aside if you have any questions about Marines if you run into me. They are all I have been playing all of 8th edition and i think I have them pretty well down pact at this point.


text:
Jordin Sparks on her New Single, New Tattoo
After covering the Blue Carpet for the 2013 Teen Choice Awards Sunday night, Jordin Sparks chatted with Ryan Seacrest about the event and the latest happenings in life On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
On working on new music:
"I'm so excited and I'm nervous, as well, like are people ready for this?" she admits.
On her new Tattoo:
"Jason [Derulo] and I went on vacation to Bora Bora and you know we both love our ink, so we went to one of the best Polynesian tattoo artists and Jason got a huge one, [but] mine is small and dainty [and] it means 'Unity,' which I really like … Here's a little personal [note] cause Jason and I are definitely working on that, like really trying to come together and make decisions together, and you know try and not argue … so I thought unity was really, really great."
On potentially working with Miguel:
"I've been working on my new music as well and it's been funny because someone I've been working with knows Miguel and I'm like, 'How is it I have not been able to get in touch with him?' So I used the opportunity to be like, 'Hey I've really been trying to reach out to you, I'd love to work with you.' And he said he did as well, so hopefully we can get something done soon here, so I can get it on my record." –
On her new song, "Skipping a Beat:"
"I wanted to give fans a new taste for the new direction I'm going in. It's older, but fun and happy and sexy at the same time."
Jordin Sparks's song "Skipping a Beat" hits iTunes this Wednesday, August 14.
Posted in ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Tags: AMERICAN IDOL, Bora Bora, Jordin Sparks, On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio), Ryan Seacrest, Tattoo artist, Teen Choice Awards, Twitter
Brandy Fixes Elephant Tattoo
A few weeks ago, Brandy showed off the new tat on her wrist. While some people liked the tattoo, others thought the elephant's trunk resembled a penis. TMZ got the scoop on the situation and received pictures of Brandy;s altered tattoo (shown above).
Apparently, when Brandy posted the picture of her tattoo, it wasn't finished. Once Brandy got wind of what was being said about her tattoo, she headed back to have it fixed.
The artist, Peter Koskela, told TMZ the following: "I wanted to fix the offending tip … remove the whole phallic aspect. I told her I'd just swing it upwards.
Pretty big tattoo for her wrist, but at least she got it fixed.
Brandy's Elephant Tat — Now With Less Tip! | TMZ.com
Tags: Brandy Norwood, Elephant, Male reproductive system (human), Mohel, Phallus, tattoo, Tattoo artist, TMZ.com
Jesse James Proposes to Kat Von D
Well is looks like Jesse James has found his rebound match. James told E! Online that he proposed to tattoo artist Kat Von D and she said yes. The two have been dating since last summer. This time last year, James was professing his lover for Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock and now he's professing it to another woman who he claims he will spend the rest of his life with. Here's what James had to say:
"You know, sometimes the public and press gets it wrong," he told People. "This is one of those times. 2010 was actually the best year of my life because I fell in love with my best friend. An amazing woman who stood behind me when the world turned their backs."
And he continued….
"I have never met anyone so kind and loving and committed to making the world a better place every day. My love for her is beyond description. So honored that she said 'yes.' Growing old with her is going to be a f—in' blast!"
James even resurfaced on Twitter, just so he could profess his love for Kat. He has been continuously tweeting to her his feelings. Kat told PEOPLE, "There is no one else for me. He's the one."
No wedding date has been set by the couple. Here's to a leopard changing his stripes, or is spots?
Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b221615_unholy_union_alert_jesse_james_engages.html?cmpid=sn-000000-twitterfeed-365-top_stories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=twitterfeed&utm_campaign=twitterfeed_celebrities_top_stories#ixzz1BbJqZO1T
Tags: Jesse Jame, Kat Von D, los angeles, Monster Garage, Nikki Sixx, sandra bullock, Tattoo artist, Twitter
Gucci Mane's Ice Cream Tattoo Artist Speaks
Last week rapper Gucci Mane made headlines after getting a tattoo of three scoops of ice cream cone on his face. Many thought the rapper was drunk, high or even mentally un-well. Now, the tattoo artist that did Mane's tattoo ( Shane Willoughby) is speaking out on what he witnessed, how Mane acted and his two cents.
Shane Willoughby begins by saying that Gucci was completely sober and he doesn't work on people who are high or drunk.
"I was hesitant like 'Are you sure you want to put that much ink in that area? He came straight to the counter and that's where he pointed. I won't tattoo anybody if their drunk or high because I can't stand the smell of weed. Gucci seemed completely sober. He knew what he was doing. When Gucci said he wanted to do the ice cream thing I said 'Well why don't we do it somewhere else?' But he was like I don't have anywhere else. He said 'I want something rock 'n roll.' There's nothing more rock 'n roll then lightening bolts.. I don't think I'll ever do that again, no matter how successful the celebrity. He was stoked. Had no regrets was jumping up and down. That's the way he rolls
Tags: Gucci, Gucci Mane, Ice cream, Ice cream cone, Rapping, Rock and roll, tattoo, Tattoo artist

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Melt the chocolate and shortening in a double boiler (metal mixing bowl over a small pot of simmering water). Do not let the water touch the mixing bowl.
Dip/roll the strawberries in the melted chocolate and place on a tray covered with wax paper.
Place the tray into the refrigerator and let sit for until hard.


text:
Cork name unchanged team for Munster senior football final
June 18th, 2019 9:43 PM
By Kieran McCarthy
Ian Maguire will captain the Cork footballers on Saturday.
Check out the starting 15 for the big game
RONAN McCarthy has named an unchanged team for Saturday's Munster SFC final against Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm throw-in).
The Cork boss has stuck with the same starting team that obliterated Limerick by 3-18 to 0-6 in the semi-final last month. That means championship debutants last time out, Nathan Walsh, Liam O'Donovan and Eoghan McSweeney, who all played well, will get their first taste of a Munster senior football final this weekend.
From the team that started the 2018 Munster SFC final loss to Kerry, only six start this Saturday night – goalkeeper Mark White, Kevin Flahive in defence, Ian Maguire in midfield, and John O'Rourke, Mark Collins and Ruairi Deane in attack.
Cork team v Kerry: Mark White (Clonakilty); Nathan Walsh (Douglas), James Loughrey (Mallow), Kevin Flahive (Douglas); Liam O'Donovan (Clonakilty), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), Mattie Taylor (Mallow); Ian Maguire (St Finbarr's), Killian O'Hanlon (Kilshannig); Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Ruairi Deane (Bantry), John O'Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Mark Collins (Castlehaven).
Subs: Michael Martin (Nemo Rangers), Kevin O'Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Cian Kiely (Ballincollig), Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Aidan Browne (Newmarket), Ronan O'Toole (Eire Óg), Kevin O'Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Michael Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers), Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarr's).


The fourth edition of this excellent work confirms what many of us have known since the first edition appeared 14 years ago: It is an essential work. The preface to this edition states clearly what is and what is not included in the book, and the authors have been faithful to their own premises. The foreward to the first edition by Professor Donald is repeated, unchanged, and is worth the reader's time.
Published: Ann Intern Med. 1977;87(2):259.


text:
European, American and Japanese approaches to height and density
Okay, I've talked about TOD quite a bit recently, and I may be approaching rambling level... or I may be at the end of a reflection on certain key concepts and specific observations culminating in a synthesis of all the elements I've learned recently. Again, a reminder that I'm thinking out loud, I don't have years of planning studies behind me, I may take a seemingly authoritative tone, but that's just my way of being neutral and self-effacing. I completely agree that I may be mistaken and welcome corrections.
Anyway, here goes.
We often talk about the need for density to achieve sustainable urban areas, but density can take many forms, and indeed, it does. Many different cities across the world may have similar density overall, but the distribution of density is quite different, and that has significant effects on how cities work. To try to be witty "the density of density matters".
Here is what I noticed, with three major models in the developed world.
European Model
Classicism, harmony, order, a wide mid-density center
What defines the European city seems to be its classicist approach to city-building: orderly, based on formal rules to guarantee harmony between buildings and uniformity. The Europeans by and large seem to abhor anything that stands out, they have built remarkably few elevated highways or trains and seem to be hostile to tall buildings, strict height limits aren't rare in European cities, apart from a flirtation in the post-WWII era with "towers in a park" modernism (which may be part of the reason why they have turned against towers). Europeans are also strict preservationist, keeping old buildings around seem to be of prime importance to them.
European cities are also very old, so most have pretty wide old dense downtowns. These downtowns were mostly made in earlier era, when building methods and the lack of elevators limited building height to 5 or 6 stories only. The result is that, for the most part, European city downtowns are extremely similar one to another, if not in the detail, in the generic form they take:
London from the air
Paris from the air
Frankfurt from the air
Stockholm from the air
Amsterdam, from the air
Prague, from the air
As an aside, it's interesting how the traditional European urban bloc is the negative of what a "tower in the park" is. A tower in the park has a green park next to the street, with a tall structure in the middle, the traditional European urban bloc has a series of small or mid-rise structures built wall-to-wall right next to the street, with a green courtyard inside the buildings.
Traditional European Urban Bloc to the left, a small park surrounded by buildings, Tower in the Park to the right, a tall building surrounded by parks
Though old city centers are very similar in all European cities, new developments in the suburbs vary widely. They still tend to be denser than what is seen in North America, either by having plenty of low-rise multi-family buildings (Sweden, Germany) or by having dense rowhouses (UK, Netherlands), or simply by having smaller houses and lots (France). In Eastern Europe, the communist governments liked to build high-rise apartment blocs in parks in the suburbs.
Percentage of population living in each dwelling type
Europe seems to have much the same problem as North America as in that they seem unable to build new neighborhoods like the old ones. All the really dense areas tend to be pre-existing ones, with the new areas being of significantly lesser density.
This model of mid-density spread about a large urban core seems to work very well with walking, European cities have pretty high walking mode shares (source): London and Amsterdam have 20%, Munich has 28%, Paris has 47%, Bilbao has 60%!
For transit, it's a mixed blessing. The urban core, if wide enough, is quite dense enough to support an underground rapid transit system very well, which has also the advantage of being about the only form of transport that can go fast across such an area, even cars are quite slow amongst the narrow streets and frequent intersections. However, go beyond that core and the effectiveness of transit quickly declines because the newer areas are much less dense, much less mixed, and the European style of development means density is evenly spread out rather than concentrated. Furthermore, as the core has no great concentration of density but instead density spread around evenly (but at a high level), you need a tightly packed grid of lines to offer correct service. The result is that, apart a few exceptions (Paris and Lyon), the performance of European subway systems is quite middling per length of track.Which justifies investing in LRT, S-bahns and tram-trains rather than subways.
Another effect is a tendency for housing prices in the urban core, as it is in demand yet struggles to expand, to be quite high. There is also a lack of housing variety in cities, when all buildings are the same, all housing options are the same too.
North American Model
Skyscrapers surrounded by endless sprawl
In contrast to the Europeans, North Americans by and large seem to embrace tall buildings... but also the idea of use separation. So build that skyscraper if you want, just keep it far away from houses, put it amongst its siblings instead. There are a few exceptions, Washington DC is following the European pattern instead, and older neighborhoods like in Brooklyn may sometimes have an European feel, though their origin is different. Whereas old European cores were built for walking, predating mass transit, most similar places in North America are in fact streetcar suburbs, built around streetcar lines.
Anyway, with all the skyscrapers, American downtowns are probably nearly the densest in the world, at least they would be if it weren't for all these parking lots. But as befits the obsession with use separation, over time the old walkable downtowns have been converted into dense office and commercial zones exclusively, like gigantic industrial parks.
Outside these downtowns, apart from a few exceptions built way back, Americans have built sprawl, really low-density areas, mostly single-family homes on large lots. One of the reasons for this sprawl is that density only works if it comes with proximity. Living in an apartment bloc isolated from everything else is far from ideal, to say the least. So as cities sprawled, the new developments built were on the outskirts of everything. What kind of building do you build on the outskirt of a city? Low-density housing of course, that's what makes sense to build as these areas will be the farthest from everything else. But then you'll need to build another layer, and another, each layer being best fit for low-density housing when they are built. And the zoning and use separation obsession means that residents of the older layers will oppose densification of these layers, no matter how pressing it is.
The result is an almost entire lack of walkable neighborhoods in most cities, limited to a few old streetcar suburbs that were spared odious "urban renewal". Even the downtown has largely been converted to a handful of offices and restaurants. Even in transit, this is terrible, as, yes, there is a great density of jobs downtown, but the people going there are spread all over the area in low-density neighborhoods. Subways are out of the question for most of the area. In recent years, some cities like Dallas, Denver and Houston have gravitated towards LRT to fill the gap, but even they seem overwhelmed by the low density and the spread out nature of places of employment, often only connecting a few chosen neighborhoods to a downtown which now has a relatively small share of regional employment.
The one point in favor of the North American model is the skyline, which is easier to see and more impressive due to being an island of high-rises surrounded by an ocean of low-rise developments.
Dallas Downtown
The Northern part of Dallas' Sprawl, an ocean of single-family homes with industrial parks and malls put her and there
St Paul's downtown
St Paul's ocean of SFH
Rational chaos, density where it counts (especially near subway/train stations)
I've already written about Japanese zoning laws, and these seem to represent the Japanese mentality around city-building well: very lax controls and respect for private property rights, high tolerance for building heights and mixing uses. The Japanese are also much more tolerant, if not outright welcoming, of neighborhood changes, and the dominant mentality says that houses with wooden frame ought to last 20-25 years and housing with concrete frame should last 30-40 years, after which they can, and perhaps ought to, be replaced.
The result is very striking in Japanese cities. Density happens near places where it makes sense, so it's not rare for there to be high-rises next to train or subway station, with low-rise constructions a bit further out. Commercial areas like malls will also tend to attract high-rise developments to them.
Whereas both in Europe and North America density tends to progressively fall as one gets further away from the center of the city, in Japan, though the center does tend to be denser, the density of cities tend to extend in ribbons around rapid transit lines.
One of the clearest examples of that is the area around Shinjuku station in Tokyo:
Around Shinjuku station in Tokyo
There are skyscrapers here, but they're massed around the major arterials and the subway stations, less than a kilometer away, you have low-rise areas. This offers a variety of housing that is rarely seen in Europe or North America. It also means that points of attraction (malls, offices, etc...) concentrate around stations, where they are most easily reachable in transit. That is especially important, because if jobs are only accessible by car, then people will have to own cars to get to work, and once they have cars, they have the best incentive to use them.
Sendai, near a subway and train station
Sendai, next to the subway...
...and 800 meters away
Sapporo, near subway station
Sapporo, near other subway station
Sapporo, 1 km away from subway station
Niigata, a city without subway, mall to the right, mid-rise housing across the street
It's important to point out too that low-rise areas in Japan still have relatively high density.
The Japanese model of development is chaotic and organic. Different types of buildings mix, whereas in Europe and North America, types of housing are often clearly separated, stuck in their respective neighborhoods. But there is a rationality to this chaos, high-rises are grouped at important transit nodes or near services and businesses.
If I could sum-up with a few schema, here is how I would represent building height (and correspondingly, density) in the different models:
Distribution of density in European cities
Distribution of density in Japanese cities
Distribution of density in American cities
One of the impacts this has is on transit use of rapid transit lines. The Japanese system tends to gather density around subway lines, so as subways are built, they tend to attract development to maximize the subway line use. In Europe and North America, this attraction is much less present and tend to be the exception (like the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Arlington and the "City Centers" strategy in Toronto of building city centers around subway stations in the suburbs, both of which are planning efforts to do what the Japanese spontaneously do when they have a subway line). Old, dense European cities also offer great potential for rapid transit, but this is piggybacking on ancient density, and so the potential of these networks to expand is relatively weak.
Subway systems by track length and ridership per km
We can notice here that all Japanese subway systems have at least 4 million passengers per km of track, and Tokyo Metro is way up there at 12. European subway systems are all over the map, with those of Paris, Rome and Milan getting exceedingly high ridership per km of track, Rome and Milan despite having very small systems, probably reflective of the very dense old urban cores of these cities. However, many European cities perform relatively poorly, with at least 33% less ridership than equivalent Japanese systems, and that despite the fact that Japanese subway systems are much more expensive for the end-user than the subsidized European systems (Japanese subway systems are profitable, not so for European systems). How much more used would the Japanese systems be if people could buy a 80$-100$ monthly pass that would give them unlimited rides across the network like they do on most European and North American systems? (Most Japanese subway systems have unlimited one-day passes for 8 to 10$, which seems to be the only way of getting unlimited rides across the network, there are commuter passes, but, get this, they only work between two given stations, get one station further out and you have to pay)
North American subways are even worse, and I did not add LRT systems which on average have only 0,5 million passengers per km of track (Calgary and Edmonton top out at about 1,55). In fact, it's interesting to point out that North American subway systems, where they exist, are no less developed than most European systems. The issue with most of them isn't that they are not developed enough, but that land use around the areas they serve leads to sub-optimal use of the lines that exist. Special mentions for Chicago and Atlanta which both have very long networks yet very poor performance, at the level of LRT systems.
European subway systems that leave the old urban core also offer relatively poor performance, London's system being one of the most developed in the world, yet its performance per kilometer is middling at best, being inferior to essentially all Japanese systems and equal or inferior to many American systems (New York, Toronto, Montréal and Boston).
All in all, it means quite a few American and European cities should be trying to reform land use to make better use of what rapid transit they have before thinking of investing billions into adding new lines or extending them further.
The chaos of Japanese cities also show positive results in terms of car mileage. Even when the Japanese use cars to get around, the proximity of density to jobs and services mean that people can use them less.
Average mileage of cars in select countries
Thus, the average car travels 20 000 kilometers in the United States, around 13 000 miles, but only 10 000 km (6 500 miles) in Japan. Europe is in the middle. Truth be told, Japan has a further advantage that on long-distance trips, it is often better to take trains, that are faster, affordable and connect well the country, whereas in North America and even Europe, traveling long distances is more likely to be done in cars. Still, the fact that Japan can do it is often due to density, and thus locations of interest, being built near train stations.
Another criterion to judge cities on is the active transport mode share, the percentage of all trips made by residents taking place on a bike or on foot.
Percentage of all trips made on bike or on foot in select cities, red for Japanese cities, blue for European cities and green for North American cities
Overall, both Japanese and European cities enable active transport thanks to density and proximity, but there is more variation among European cities, whereas Japanese cities all tend to be between 30 and 40%, some European cities reach a low of around 20%. And of course, it's a complete disaster in the North American cities, where decent levels of active transportation in some central neighborhoods get totally drowned by the deserts of sprawl all around them. Use separation is the crucial aspect that kills the potential for active transport.
So these were my observations on the different ways the Japanese, the North American and the (Western) Europeans build their cities. Both the Japanese and European ways of building cities tend to work well to favor alternative transport modes, despite their evident differences, with Japan having chaotic cities with buildings of very different height and shapes and Europe generally preferring orderly neighborhoods of similar buildings. North America is way behind on every metric.
I'd give the edge to Japan for the ability to build functional cities with self-funded transit and to keep building dense, walkable areas, which Europe seems to struggle to do, with transit being quite subsidized and recent cities faring much less well than their old urban cores. Without the preservationist instinct of Europeans for their old cities, they would likely fare much worse.
Posted by simval84 at 6:54 PM
arcady September 21, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Probably the most Japanese-like city in the US is Los Angeles, which has a relatively weak central CBD and secondary clusters of high-rise office towers spread out over a fairly wide area, especially along Wilshire, with plenty of SFR (which is really 2FR, since everyone has an illegal ADU in their backyard) not far away. The best strategy is probably to allow development along the boulevards to intensify to mid-rise densities, let the high-rise clusters keep growing around Metro stations, and keep the SFR (with legalized ADUs) in the remainder.
On a smaller scale, I feel like Boston is also pursuing the polycentric model, with Kendall Square and the Seaport growing up as secondary CBDs in addition to the existing Downtown/Back Bay ones, with the former built around a heavy rail line and the latter around lots of parking and a bus tunnel. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Kendall is more built out, and whether development keeps moving up the line to Central Square.
simval84 September 21, 2014 at 1:04 PM
It's more than being polycentric, many mid-size Japanese cities are not very polycentric at all. When the traditional CBD is saturated, then you see other centers spring up along rail lines.
It's mainly about allowing density near centers of employment and of commerce, so that the largest concentration of population is right next to the largest concentration of jobs, or at least a short transit ride away. If the density of residential areas around subway stations or around CBDs is not significantly higher than the density of residential areas further away, it's not really the Japanese model.
arcady September 21, 2014 at 7:09 PM
Ah, I see. That makes sense. Boston does have that to some extent with high-density residential neighborhoods (Back Bay and the like) around major job clusters, but due to the core city's relatively small size, I think that ends up feeding walking more than transit ridership. I believe Boston has the highest walk-to-work mode share in the US. LA is weird because the transit network just isn't there yet for the most part, and zoning has greatly inhibited the pattern of gradual densification that built most of the inner part of the city.
NickD September 21, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Los Angeles is still the only major American city that is denser than in 1950 though. Most are significantly (half or less) less dense than in 1950.
Anyways, I think some cities in Europe have built a fair bit of dense neighbourhoods more recently. If you take a neighbourhood like Delicias in Zaragoza for example, I don't know exactly how it came to be the way it is, but the buildings appear to be all modernist (post 1930). If you check out the outlying neighbourhoods of many Spanish cities, you'll see a lot of densely packed mid rises that appear to have replaced 1-2 storey row houses.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@41.4987085,2.162244,3a,75y,301.41h,96.67t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDby0JOxjVVYu7TKqpVU71g!2e0
The more recent (housing boom era) neighbourhoods of Spanish cities are not as dense and more cookie cutter and less organically developed, but are still largely 4-6 storey apartments (with some townhouses). Greek and Italian cities seem to have this too.
The per km ridership of the Barcelona metro is towards the lower end of the Japanese range, but it seems to have a more developed rapid transit network than most cities its size. All the Japanese cities that do better have much larger networks and presumably larger populations too. Barcelona only has 20% auto mode share which leaves little room for transit growth.
Alon September 22, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Where are the walk/bike mode share numbers from? I'm asking because the North American numbers seem to be trip-to-work mode shares, whereas the others seem to be trip mode shares. Way less than half of Paris walks to work. The importance of this is that transit users usually take transit to work but walk to other errands, and this means that the transit all-trip share is much lower and the walking/biking share much higher than the trip-to-work mode shares. There's a survey of mode share in Sydney that I can try digging up that cites both numbers, which shows this pattern neatly.
simval84 September 22, 2014 at 10:07 AM
For Europe: http://t.co/FId4cFJfwQ
For Japan: http://t.co/xlJmYKtEAg
For Montréal: http://www.amt.qc.ca/uploadedFiles/AMT/Site_Corpo/L%60AMT/Portrait_de_la_mobilit%C3%A9/Enquete-OD-2008-resultats-presentation(1).pdf
For Vancouver: http://www.translink.ca/~/media/Documents/about_translink/media/2012/2011%20Metro%20Van%20Trip%20Diary%20Survey%20Briefing%201.ashx
For Japan, Montréal and Vancouver, the data is trip survey for all purposes. For the US, I posted the numbers I could find, I've struggled to find explicit trip surveys before I posted this article. Since then, I've found a few more, but I've also learned that the typical methodology in the US currently seems to be a bit weird.
What I mean is, take walking your dog. How do you count that? Is it zero trip (because it's a round trip to go nowhere in particular)? One trip with destination and origin being the same? Or is it two trips?
If I understand correctly, since 2001, the NHTS in the US splits round trips (so says page 6 of this document: http://ejb.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/NHTS_TRB_25Jan2011.pdf). This comparison between mode shares in the US and Germany also had to take American double-counting round trips into account to get similar numbers and pointed out that the American survey prompted people many times to count all their walking trips, unlike the German survey: http://www.academia.edu/5075333/Active_Travel_in_Germany_and_the_USA_Contributions_of_Daily_Walking_and_Cycling_to_Physical_Activity (FTR, the numbers they used showed Germans walking in twice as many trips as Americans and biking 10 times more, overall having active transport mode share three times that of Americans, in line with the numbers on my graph).
This is pretty major. Someone who owns a dog (and from certain estimates, 36,8% of American households do) and walks it 15 minutes every day would, on an average day, have maybe two car trips (to work and back) and 2 walking trips (walking the dog, counted twice), so has a 50% walking mode share. If you ask me, that's a pretty stupid methodology that balloons walk trips without being representative of anything. Which may account for, for example, walk mode share between 2000 and 2010-2012 increasing from 8,4 to 16,6% in California according to the DOT study:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/otfa/documents/CHTS_Final_Report_June_2013.pdf#zoom=85
The US methodology also yields much higher number of trips per person than the methodology used in Canada or in Japan (3,6 versus 2,0-2,5), probably largely due to counting round trips twice.
So I am in a quandary here. The graph is important to show the impact of urban form on active transport as an utilitarian option. However, the comparability of the data is hard to ensure, given the different methodology. I may update it with better data if I can find them, but I am confident that what it shows is quite comparable to reality if not in the particular, at least in the trend, with active modes being 2 to 4 times more frequent in Japan and Europe as in North America, if only because the Canadian data comes from trip surveys that seems to be of similar methodology to that used in Japan and Europe.
George Carty January 5, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Are there any other significantly different approaches to height and density? For example, what about mainland East Asia, or Latin America? IIRC Mexico has an even higher home ownership rate than the USA, in spite of being a considerably poorer country...
Katherine Mills June 11, 2019 at 8:09 AM
Nice review and analysis on whole city trip. People would like to read out this nice post and learn from the analysis.
airport parking deals
Examples of zoning screwing up TOD
Transit and congestion part 2: how congestion can ...
Transit and congestion, part 1: is transit a solut...
European, American and Japanese approaches to heig...
Are transit subsidies justified?
Montréal and Sapporo
The sprawl tax: how sprawl makes us all poorer
Filtering vs gentrification


Case Management On-Demand Videos - No App Needed!
CE and Educational videos accessible from your computer or mobile device. No app need!
Earn CEUs for your Case Management designation direct from your computer or mobile device with IEA's Video on Demand series. Simply purchase your choice of program, then view within 14 days. IEA automatically records your hours and emails your certificate upon completion.
Download Adobe Flash Player to view from your computer. Click here for check orders (minimum of $100).
All registrations are for single user only. No exceptions. Single users have access up to 14 calendar days including testing component or completion of the testing component whichever comes first. Users can purchase more than one video topic at a time. Access duration to each video topic will start at the date of purchase and conclude in 14 calendar days or completion of testing component whichever comes first. Any unauthorized use, participation or reproduction is strictly prohibited. IEA can not be responsible for unauthorized use or fraudulent reporting of unauthorized continuing education hours. Single users may access content for personal use only as intended through the provided functionality of the Service and as permitted under these Terms and Conditions. You can not download, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any content for any purpose without the prior written consent from IEA. IEA will strictly enforce single user restriction. IEA can not be responsible for slow or interrupted internet connections. Videos should be viewed through an uninterrupted high speed connection. Customers using 'dial-up' or 'DSL' connections may experience slow play or interrupted viewing. All sales are final.


The Eden D410XST 8 Ohm Bass Guitar Amplifier Speaker Cabinet has been designed to perfectly compliment any Eden amp head and provide the highest fidelity bass guitar tones possible.
The Eden D410XST features four Eden designed 10" speakers, rated to handle 1,000 watts at 8 Ohms, and a centre-mounted high frequency horn that are all housed in a high quality professional cabinet. This setup produces an amazingly detailed and powerful bass tone with incredible focus and clarity.
The cabinet of the Eden D410XST, or eXtra Smooth with Tweeter, has been specifically tuned and ported to produce a powerful low end that is noticeably smoother than other products in the Eden range. The tweeter and crossover controls have been designed to allow for the perfect level of definition to be easily dialled in.


113The Lord Is a Great God - CME Conductor's Choice ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ through The Lord is the King (Psalm 93) + for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra + vocal score + Performance material is available on a rental basis.
127The Musical Offering and The "Goldberg Variations (A Kalmus Classic Edition) through The Music of James Reese Europe. Complete Published Works. Solo Piano and Voice and Piano.
133THE OCEANS OF THE MOON (composer CAREY BLYTON) through The Only Chord Book You Will Ever Need!
182The Wells Fargo Wagon (from The Music Man) through The Wild Westerns!
221Titanic: Piano Selections through To a Wild Rose, Op. 51/1, arranged for Violin and Piano by Wolfgang Birtel.
292Two Songs Of Praise - L'dor Vador & Psalm 146 through Two Violin Sonatas, No. 5 'Spring', Op. 24 and No. 9 'Kreutzer', Op. 47. Incldes Violin Part and play-along CD.


A record surge in employment calms concerns over the state of the Australian economy. New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistic says that actual employment figures surpassed optimistic expectations.
A report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that employment levels were at its highest in 37 years, reported Reuters.
The report revealed that 121,000 jobs were created in Australia in August 2014 alone and is the biggest rise in employment since records began in 1978. Original expectations pitched this mark at 12,000 fewer jobs than the report showed.
Adding to the positive vibe is that the unemployment rate had also taken a positive turn ending up at 6.1% for August against the July 2014 figures of 6.4%. This figure was helped along by 65.2% unemployed Australians actively setting out to find employment.
While analysts cautioned that these monthly reports, "was notoriously volatile and carried a lot of statistical noise," the upward trend could not be ignored.
"It's really an off-the scale result to get more than 100,000 jobs created against expectations of only about 10-15,000, and is clearly a very big upside surprise," said Stephen Walters, chief economist at JPMorgan.
"It's always a bit difficult to track what's really going on in the labour market just looking at employment on its own, but when you look at the unemployment rate it's actually come all the way back down to 6.1 percent which is where we were a few months ago."
Employment indicators also showed an increase in jobs advertised, with an ANZ survey revealing that job advertisements were rising for a third straight month in August to be up almost 8 percent on the year.
The statistics did show a more than usual rise in part-time employment but added that, because of the unusually strong increase in employment estimates, it had extensively checked the data.
More conservative analysts said that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was familiar with the volatility of this data and recommended that a conclusion on the welfare of the jobs market could only be made after a consistent run of better jobs numbers.


Your Stormbringer-empowered Stormstrikes deal 1972 additional damage. Every 1 seconds, gain Stormbringer.
If there are more than 2 enemies within 8 yards when you cast Stormstrike, you also cast a Chain Lightning on the target, dealing 3,984 Nature damage. Otherwise, you conjure bolts of lightning to up to 2 furthest enemies within 40 yards dealing 3,984 Nature damage.


text:
Home / Unlabelled / Read Philadelphia-area coronavirus coverage here
Read Philadelphia-area coronavirus coverage here
AnnaMarie Dunn had surgery scheduled to stop the spread of her kidney cancer, but as the coronavirus pandemic spread, her doctor decided to push back the surgery. Dunn trusts her doctor, but that doesn't mean she isn't scared. Plus, Pa. reopens its liquor stores, online at least, and patrons were so excited, the website crashed.
NRG pledges $275,000 for Philly regional aid to deal with COVID-19
NRG, the electric utilties company headquartered in Princeton, N.J., on Wednesday announced a $275,000 pledge to the PHL COVID-19 Fund and local hospitals to deal with coronavirus pandemic.
NRG will give $125,000 to the PHL COVID-19 Fund that was created last month to provide money for nonprofits in the region that help vulnerable populations. The company will give the remaining $150,000 to local hospitals with designated COVID-19 assistance funds.
The donations are part of a $2 million national commitment to help charities and nonprofits support first responders, teachers, impacted employees and communities, the company said in a new release.
The PHL COVID-19 Fund has raised more than $8 million in pledges and gifts from regional businesses, foundations, and private donors. The fund launched with a total of $6.5 million committed, including $3 million from the William Penn Foundation and $500,000 from the City of Philadelphia.
Adam Schlesinger, of popular N.J.-inspired band Fountains of Wayne, dead after contracting coronavirus
Emmy and Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Adam Schlesinger, known for his work with his band Fountains of Wayne and on the TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, died Wednesday after contracting the coronavirus.
Schlesinger died at a hospital in upstate New York, his longtime lawyer Josh Grier told the Associated Press. It is not clear where or how Schlesinger, a 51-year-old father of two daughters, contracted the virus. He had been sedated and on a ventilator for several days.
Schlesinger was nominated for 10 Emmys for writing comical songs across several television shows, winning three. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for writing the title song for the 1997 movie That Thing You Do, written and directed by Tom Hanks. The snappy pop ditty was the fictional one hit for a Beatles-esque band called the One-ders, later changed to the Wonders, on a label called Playtone, a name Hanks adopted for his production company.
"There would be no Playtone without Adam Schlesinger, without his 'That Thing You Do!'" Hanks, who is himself recovering from the coronavirus, said on Twitter. "He was a One-der. Lost him to Covid-19. Terribly sad today."
Raised in New York and Montclair, N.J., Schlesinger formed Fountains of Wayne, named for a lawn ornament store in Wayne, N.J., in 1995 with his classmate from Williams College in Massachesetts, Chris Collingwood.
With Schlesinger playing bass and singing backup and Collingwood playing guitar and singing lead, and the two men cowriting songs, the band known for its sunny harmonies and synthesis of pop, rock, punk, and comedy would have hits in 1996 with "Radiation Vibe" and 2003 with "Stacy's Mom." The latter was nominated for a Grammy.
The band was more New Jersey than New York. While most rock bands live for the city, Fountains of Wayne and Schlesinger's writing embraced the suburbs with finely etched tales of lives like a floor installer who's convinced his crush will come back looking for him and a commuter who's sure about his "Bright Future in Sales."
Trinity Health plans to furlough staff across four Philadelphia-area hospitals as coronavirus care depletes revenue
Trinity Health plans to furlough staff across five hospitals in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, including Wilmington, due to a decrease in revenue attributable to the coronavirus pandemic, the Catholic nonprofit hospital chain said Wednesday.
The hospitals impacted, which employ 125,000 people, include: Mercy Philadelphia Hospital in West Philly; Nazareth Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia; Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby; St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne; and St. Francis Healthcare in Wilmington, Del.
"While the majority of our colleagues will continue to work full-time in their current roles, we are preparing to temporarily furlough a portion of our colleagues, while some others may experience a reduction in hours or may be redeployed to different positions and locations in our region. These unfortunate but necessary actions will primarily impact nonclinical colleagues," Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Ann D'Antonio said.
Similar measures will be carried out at Trinity Health's 87 other hospitals across the country, D'Antonio said.
Based in Michigan, Trinity is one of the nation's largest nonprofit hospital chains.
D'Antonio did not specify how many employees would be impacted, and said that those furloughed will retain several benefits, such as health, dental, and basic life insurance.
The loss of revenue is directly tied to state and federal government orders requiring hospitals to stop elective procedures and outpatient services, which subsequently cut off more than 50% of Trinity hospitals' revenues, CEO Mike Slubowski said in a memo to employees.
"Before COVID-19, our health ministry was generating a modest 0.5% operating margin. But today, our expenditures are exceeding our revenues significantly — and we expect that we will lose millions of dollars throughout this pandemic," Slubowski said.
"While we are providing more telehealth visits, our estimates are that, even with the increase in inpatient volumes anticipated with the COVID-19 surge, we will not generate enough revenue to cover our costs," Slubowski wrote.
Don't put trash in your toilet, officials plead
In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, Camden County officials want the public to know that toilets are not trash cans.
In recent weeks, since most people began staying at home all day, the number of clogs, blockages, and other damage to critical infrastructure has gone up, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority said on Wednesday.
The officials asked for the public's assistance to keep systems operating during the coronavirus pandemic by not flushing things down the toilet that are not flush-friendly.
That includes items such as napkins, latex gloves, paper towels, and wipes of any kind.
Toilet paper is still okay, they said.
"We understand that in response to the current crisis involving coronavirus, many of our residents stocked up on disinfectant wipes and other disposables, however we are asking everyone to be especially mindful of how to properly get rid of these items at this time," said Freeholder Jeff Nash, liaison to the municipal utilities.
"Toilet paper is the only product safe to flush without risking a malfunction or other interruption to critical services. Please dispose of all other products properly to allow CCMUA and its dedicated personnel to continue protecting the health of our community during this crisis," Nash said.
https://www.inquirer.com/
Read Philadelphia-area coronavirus coverage here Reviewed by Jessica on 4/02/2020 11:26:00 PM Rating: 5


The Vegan Outreach Blog: Boston Marathoner, Pilot, Amputee....and Vegan!
Boston Marathoner, Pilot, Amputee....and Vegan!
Beyond Meat's Fan Spotlight focuses on Andre Slay, a Boston Marathoner, pilot, amputee, and vegan!
In this short video, he shares his story of how being vegan has contributed to his success.


text:
GOP Now Trying to Rig the Electoral College in their Favor
Last week, a plan was introduced by Michigan state Rep. Pete Lund (R) that would essentially change the Electoral College to ensure wins by Republican presidential candidates in 2016 and beyond.
Proposals like Lund's are popping up in states that usually lean Democratic but are currently controlled by Republicans, who are looking to use their newfound control as a means to rig elections in their favor as they know their time at the top is limited.
Basically every state in the country casts all of its electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the popular vote in that state. As ThinkProgress reported:
"Lund's proposal would change that calculation in the blue state of Michigan, however, while continuing to award each red state's full slate of electoral votes to the Republican candidate for president. If this plan had been in effect in 2012, for example, Mitt Romney would have won a quarter of Michigan's electoral votes despite losing the state to President Obama by nearly 10 points."
The legislation specifically says:
"Michigan would award at least 9 of its 16 electoral college votes to the winner of the popular vote in the presidential election. The top candidate would receive additional electoral votes based on how much they beat the second-place finisher by in one-on-one vote totals. Each 1.5 points above 50 would mean another electoral vote. Remaining electoral votes would go to the runner up. A candidate who finishes third or lower would not receive any."
The problem with this proposal is, as Bridge Magazine explained, that "because of the way the state's congressional districts are drawn, Republicans dominate the vast majority of districts even though overall state voting patterns trend Democratic."
This would only amplify the problem caused by congressional gerrymandering that already exists to help the GOP win elections in districts they normally wouldn't. This proposal would "shift the outcome of the presidential election," ThinkProgress said.
This infographic from the Cook Political Report shows just how much of an effect an election-rigging scheme such as Lund's would have had in 2012.
Amy is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow her on Twitter @AEddings31.


text:
Maria Francesca Pepe | Maria Francesca Pepe has been leading the pack of jewelry designers for quite some time. She has become such a widespread phenomenon, that her name alone is synonymous with incredible pieces of great design details.
Born in Foggia, in the south of Italy, she moved into fashion design after completing a degree in Literature and Philosophy in Milan. After completing a second degree at Istituto Marangoni, she moved to London, where she attended several short courses at the Royal College of Art at Central Saint Martins. A well-rounded artist and designer, she has experienced both the business and the creative side of fashion, and her knowledge spans from pattern cutting to fine drawing, to digital design and sewing. She presented her first collection at the Central Saint Martins MA show, and launched her eponymous label the year after, defining a signature style of statement pieces and avant-garde structures.
The dark mood of her creations adds incredible character to her brand, and skulls, crosses and geometric shapes are popular themes, as well as the cross-contamination between clothing
and jewelry.
Her Spring/Summer collection, titled "Amor Los Une," was inspired by pure passion, with influences coming from sixteenth century engravings, the artist Frida Kahlo, and the shapes and structures of the human body. Clothes and jewelry are complementary in the creation of the designer's "Jewelry-wear," with chains draped over dresses to recreate skeleton structures. For more information visit: mfpepe.com
Coliac | A young brand only two years old, Coliac was founded in 2009 by Martina Grasselli. Born in Reggio Emilia, Italy, after studying Architecture and Interior Design in her native town, she moved to Milan to attend NABA Fine Arts Academy, and to Paris, where she attended classes at the prestigious Duperré Fashion School. She then returned to Milan, and after working for names such as Stella McCartney, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Christian Louboutin, and for Pitti in Florence, she founded her brand, named after her maternal grandmother's surname.
Coliac, her costume jewelry line, is a blend of different material and geometric shapes, hugely inspired by movements such as Russian Constructivism, realism and abstract art; the designer managed to create a powerful signature style in the span of a few collections.
Knotted chains, leather gloves with metallic details, cubes, spheres and bold color blocking are recurring elements in Grasselli's collections. Her style is continuously updated with strenuous research for new shapes and combinations; her references are expanded and Coliac continues growing with each new collection. For Spring/Summer 2011, a series of pieces called "Art Deco" includes gold cuffs with enamel graphisms, necklaces that look like Mondrian's paintings, but also incredible art deco-inspired designs and pieces mimicking a shirt collar and the lapel of a jacket. For more information visit: www.coliac.com
Alina Alamorean | Born in the Transylvanian region of Romania, Alina Alamorean moved to Paris to pursue her dream career as jewelry designer. However, more than designer, she can safely be defined as an artist, with her pieces being very much at home in art galleries and resembling precious sculptures rather than everyday accessories.
Alina's voluminous wearable art is composed of a mix of rough and polished surfaces: silver rings and pendants resembling concrete decorated with metal bursting out with erupting lava effect, polished, almost organic shapes on industrial-looking bars that wrap around the finger, exquisite compositions of elements on precious bars balanced on two chains.
Her inspirations visibly come from the world of architecture with Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright as main points of reference for the bold, precious creations.
With an upcoming exhibition at Galerie BSL in Paris, Alina has confirmed herself as an artist of jewelry, rather than a jewelry designer. "I do not want to adorn anyone," she explains, "I do however aim to inspire a way of thinking, living and breathing." For more information visit: www.alina-alamorean.com
Alina Alamorean
– Rosa Maria Bertoli
Filed under Style | Tags: Alina Alamorean, Coliac, Maria Francesca Pepe, May/june 2011, rosa maria bertoli, style, vol 25.2


Thanks to rising health care costs and better education on the impact of lifestyle on wellbeing, Americans are becoming much more conscious about their health. Not only are individuals interested in taking better care of themselves, workplace health programs are becoming much more common. In fact, more than half of all employers with a workforce of fifty or more utilized workplace health programs in 2013. This sudden rise in popularity makes the job outlook for health coaches very good.
More and more people are looking for guidance, education, and encouragement as they work to live a healthier lifestyle. As a health coach, your ability to provide these things put you in high demand. Expect to find opportunities in businesses, but don't limit yourself to that area. You'll also find demand for your skills in hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government and doctor's offices, and colleges.
Health coach job growth is also being driven by insurance companies looking to cut costs. When people are educated about their health, they are more likely to make healthier choices and to recognize and treat problems before expensive complications occur. Changes in the nation's health coverage standards are adding to this drive, further improving the job outlook for health coaches.
There is not currently an official job growth rate outlined for Health Coaches. However, there is information available for Health Educators, a very similar career. Job growth for this career is expected to grow 13 percent between 2014 and 2024. This is faster than the average for all occupations, making it a desirable career choice.
Your level of education and your ability to work with a specific group of people can help improve your job prospects. Coaches with at least a bachelor degree in a field-related discipline (nutrition, counseling, psychology, wellness, nursing, or health care) are much more likely to find employment. A master's degree or higher will help you stand out even further.
Obtaining a health coach certification is another way to improve your individual job outlook. Becoming certified proves to employers that you meet the standards of that particular certification organization. Certification is a great investment in your future job prospects, and helps your clients and employers feel more confident in your abilities.
Now is a great time to be getting into the field of health coaching. Job prospects are high, and there are many people who are ready to take advantage of your skills. With the right education and certification, you have a great chance at finding a rewarding and fulfilling career.


text:
Opera Rara is a London-based opera company and recording label which specialises in recording and performing forgotten operatic repertoire from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1970 by bel canto enthusiasts Patric Schmid and Don White, Opera Rara's recordings are internationally distributed by Warner Classics. In September 2019, Italian conductor Carlo Rizzi succeeded Sir Mark Elder as Artistic Director.

History
Opera Rara launched in the 1970s with a series of concerts of 19th-century operatic arias performed at the Southbank Centre, St John's Smith Square and Wigmore Hall in London. The company presented its first complete opera - Meyerbeer's Il crociato in Egitto - in 1972 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, marking the first performance of the opera for more than 100 years. It subsequently performed at the Bath Festival, Camden Festival (where its first staged production was Donizetti's Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali) and Sadler's Wells. A rise in pirated recordings broadcast by BBC Radio 3 of Opera Rara performances led to a decision to issue its own recordings. In 1978, it released its first: the world premiere studio recording of Donizetti's Ugo, conte di Parigi starring Janet Price, Yvonne Kenny, Della Jones and Christian du Plessis. The opera itself had been reconstructed by Patric Schmid from the composer's autograph manuscript.

In July 2018 Opera Rara gave the world premiere of Donizetti's L'Ange de Nisida in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. A live recording taken from those performances was released in March 2019. The score had been reconstructed over a period of eight years by Italian musicologist Candida Mantica. The first complete staging of L'Ange de Nisida was subsequently given at the 2019 Donizetti Festival in Bergamo.

The company has also performed and recorded works by other 19th-century composers, including Bellini, Massenet, Mayr, Mercadante, Meyerbeer, Pacini, Rossini and Ambroise Thomas. Under Artistic Director Sir Mark Elder (2011-2019), the company began to explore works by French composers of the same period including Gounod and Offenbach, as well as verismo operas from the turn of the 20th century. In November 2022, Michael Spyres and Ermonela Jaho were announced as Opera Rara's new Artist Ambassadors.

Performances
In recent years, Opera Rara has given annual concert performances of operas either at London's Barbican Centre or The Royal Festival Hall, usually preceded by a week–long recording in the studio. The company has collaborated the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Hallé, Britten Sinfonia and London Philharmonic Orchestra; and with conductors David Parry, Maurizio Benini and Daniele Rustioni. Opera Rara has now worked with Royal Opera House, Covent Garden four times and in addition to past appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival, made its BBC Proms debut with Rossini's Semiramide in 2016. Opera Rara's first international collaboration was in 2019 with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana.

Recordings
Since 1970, Opera Rara has released over 100 recordings including 60 complete operas - many of which are world premiere recordings - an "Il Salotto" series, artist collections, highlights, anthologies and compilations. Its studio recordings have received awards from the International Opera Awards, International Classical Music Awards, Opus Klassik Awards, Edison Klassiek Awards and Oper! Awards.

Over the years, Opera Rara has established close relationships with a number of singers, including Janet Price, Bruce Ford, Colin Lee, Della Jones, Yvonne Kenny, Jennifer Larmore and Nelly Mircioiu in the early years, and in recent years, Joyce El-Khoury, Michael Spyres, Ermonela Jaho, Albina Shagimuratova and Daniela Barcellona. Opera Rara gave its Patron Renée Fleming her first recording opportunity in 1994 with the studio recording of Donizetti's Rosmonda d'Inghilterra.

Publishing
In 2020, Opera Rara announced a new relationship with the Italian publisher Casa Ricordi, making its 46 performing editions of operas available to rent to opera houses and festivals around the world.

The Opera Rara Music Library – now The Foyle Opera Rara Collection – moved to a permanent home at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2018. Comprising more than five thousand volumes, the Collection includes first and early editions of 19th-century Italian opera scores by composers such as Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Mayr, Mercadante, Pacini, Ponchielli, Leoncavallo and Mascagni.

Discography
Below are all the operas, listed by composer, which Opera Rara has produced complete recordings of. The recordings indicated by one asterisk (*) are world premiere recordings:Bellini
Adelson e Salvini (ORC56)*
Il pirata (ORC45)
La straniera (ORC38)*
Donizetti
Belisario (ORC49)*
Caterina Cornaro (ORC48)
Dom Sébastien, roi de Portugal (ORC33)
Elvida (ORC29)*
Emilia di Liverpool (ORC8)*
Francesca di Foix (ORC28)*
Gabriella di Vergy (ORC3)*
Il diluvio universale (ORC31)*
Il paria (ORC60)
Imelda de' Lambertazzi (ORC36)*
La romanzesca e l'uomo nero (ORC19)*
L'ange de Nisida (ORC58)*
L'assedio di Calais (ORC9)*
Le duc d'Albe (ORC54)*
Les Martyrs (ORC52)*
Linda di Chamounix (ORC43)
Maria de Rudenz (ORC16)*
Maria di Rohan (ORC44)*
Maria Padilla (ORC6)*
Ne m'oubliez pas (ORC4)*
Parisina (ORC40)
Pia de' Tolomei (ORC30)*
Rita (ORC50)*
Roberto Devereux (ORC24)
Rosmonda d'Inghilterra (ORC13)*
Ugo, conte di Parigi (ORC1)*
Zoraida di Granata (ORC17)*
Gounod
La Colombe (ORC53)
Leoncavallo
Zazà (ORC55)
Zingari (ORC61)*
Massenet
Le Portrait de Manon (ORC47) (includes Berlioz: Les nuits d'été)
Mayr
Ginevra di Scozia (ORC23)*
Medea in Corinto (ORC11)
Mercadante
Emma d'Antiochia (ORC26)*
Orazi e Curiazi (ORC12)*
Virginia (ORC39)*
Meyerbeer
Dinorah (ORC5)*
Il crociato in Egitto (ORC10)*
Margherita d'Anjou (ORC25)*
Offenbach
Christopher Columbus  (ORC2)
Fantasio (ORC51)*
Robinson Crusoe (ORC7)*
Vert-Vert (ORC41)*
Pacini
Alessandro nell'Indie (ORC35)*
Carlo di Borgogna (ORC21)*
Maria, regina d'Inghilterra (ORC15)*
Puccini
Le Willis (ORC59)
Rossini
Adelaide di Borgogna  (ORC32)
Aureliano in Palmira  (ORC46)*
Bianca e Falliero  (ORC20)*
Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra (ORC22)
Ermione  (ORC42)
La donna del lago  (ORC34)
Otello  (ORC18)
Ricciardo e Zoraide (ORC14)*
Semiramide  (ORC57)
Zelmira  (ORC27)
Thomas
La cour de Célimène (ORC37)*

References

External links
 Opera Rara website
 Opera Base

Classical music record labels
British record labels
Record labels established in 1970
British companies established in 1970

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


What Really Goes Into Nestle Breakfast Cereals?
Do you know your Vitamin A from Wholegrain when it comes to the most important meal of the day? Here is what I found out from my time with the team from Nestle Breakfast Cereals.
One chilly Monday in November, after dropping the girls at nursery, I set off to join a bunch of fabulous bloggers from Mexico, Romania, Poland, Malaysia and the UK for a couple of nights in the Cotswolds at Thyme.
Over the three days with the Nestle Breakfast Cereals team, I was in for a lot of fun. Nevermind the gorgeous location and fantastic meals, I joined my fellow bloggers for an expert cookery course, a food styling masterclass by a world-famous photographer, time with the in-house nutritionist AND a spa experience.
Other than what sounded like a wonderful time away from London, I will tell you what really interested me about this short break.
I wanted to know what really goes into Nestle Breakfast Cereals.
Parents are faced with the overwhelming choice in a supermarket and it is up to us to make sure we know exactly what our kids are eating and using as fuel to keep them going during the day.
A Q&A session with the Nestle nutritionist gave us all a clearer idea of what goes into the Nestle Breakfast Cereals but also what they have been working very hard to take out (i.e. sugar).
I learnt that every box of cereal consists only of wholegrains. This is easily identified by the green banner that sits across the top of the box of all Nestle Breakfast Cereals.
Now, if what goes into Nestle Breakfast Cereals is simple ingredients, then surely it would not be that hard to recreate one of them myself.
Bad decision because those little chocolate balls tool FOREVER to make but they looked pretty authentic in the end. Don't ask me how they tasted because my fellow bloggers will tell you that they were inedible.
Nevertheless, the point was proven. Nestle Breakfast Cereals are made of real ingredients and could be made at home (with much practice in my case!).
On to my success in the Nestle kitchen -Wholegrain Caterpillar Bread!
Again, I took on one of the trickier recipes, but I have never made bread before and its something that I have always wanted to do.
The recipe consists of the deconstructed ingredients of Nestle Breakfast Cereals (i.e. wholemeal flour) plus eggs, yeast etc.
I have to say that I was really chuffed with the end result and it was totally edible.
So a big thank you to Nestle Breakfast Cereals for a fantastic few days. I made great friends with like-minded people from around the world and have a new-found love and respect for Nestle Nesquik Cereal.


This compound bow fills the gap between the beginner and the professional archers. With an adjustable draw weight between 19 lbs. to 45 lbs., this bow caters to need of a growing archers needs for a long time.
Adjustable Draw Lengths from 22"-27"


text:
BASF launches Master X-Seed STE for Indonesia
BASF introduces Master X-Seed® STE admixture for the concrete industry in Indonesia
A revolutionary technology that redefines concrete strength and durability
Expands concrete performance while reducing environmental impact
Jakarta, Indonesia – October 3, 2019 - BASF today launched an innovative strength-enhancing admixture solution for the construction industry, which significantly improves both early and late-age strength development in concrete. The new solution, Master X-Seed STE, also helps make production of concrete more efficient.
The concept originated from BASF's X-Seed, a unique seeding technology used to promote cement hydration and speed up concrete hardening. Master X-Seed STE further enhances concrete's strength development and performance characteristics.
"Specially formulated for Asia Pacific, Master X-Seed STE admixture utilizes calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) nanoparticles, along with other technologies under admixture solutions, to facilitate and improve strength development at all ages of the concrete," said Kiat Huat Seow, Regional Product Manager for Admixture Systems, BASF's Construction Chemicals in Asia Pacific.
"The previous Master X-Seed technology has achieved great success in Europe, America and Asia since its launch in 2009. We continue to bring new innovations to our customers with this unique technology," he added.
Master X-Seed STE enables the increased use of supplementary cementitious materials, thus helping to reduce carbon footprints associated with concrete production.
"Innovation is the key to delivering new and more sustainable to our customers. We will continuously develop our products and solutions with innovative technologies to meet their demand. The launch of Master X-Seed STE will support our customers in Indonesia to overcome construction challenges and to realize their projects," said Mr. Agus Ciputra, President Director of BASF Indonesia.
Master X-Seed STE admixture allows concrete producers to expand the performance space of a given concrete mixture and optimize the cementitious content, by permitting a strength safety factor up to 15%. This allows earlier stripping of forms to improve production efficiency. It is recommended for use in ready-mixed and precast concrete and Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC).
BASF's Construction Chemicals division offers advanced chemical solutions under the global umbrella brand Master Builders Solutions for the construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of structures. The brand is built on more than 100 years of experience in the construction industry. Our comprehensive portfolio encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical solutions for underground construction, waterproofing systems, sealants, concrete repair & protection systems, performance grouts, performance flooring systems, tile-fixing systems, expansion joints & control systems and wood protection solutions.
The Construction Chemicals division's approximately 7,000 employees form a global community of building experts. To solve our customers' specific construction challenges from conception through to completion of a project, we draw on our specialist know-how, regional expertise and the experience gained in countless constructions projects worldwide. We leverage global BASF technologies and our in-depth knowledge of local building needs to develop innovations that help make our customers more successful and drive sustainable construction.
The division operates production sites and sales offices in more than 60 countries and achieved sales of about €2.5 billion in 2018.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of more than €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.


Group of friends sitting around table and waiter serving coffee at cafe. Young people meeting at coffee shop.
Overhead view of couple having morning breakfast in kitchen with woman serving coffee to man.
Waiter serving coffee to young women at restaurant. Two female friends at coffee shop.
Tow young women sitting at a restaurant, with waiter serving coffee. Female friends at coffee shop.


text:
Q: Ruby/Rails: Natural increase of string (succ) I would like to have consecutive invoice numbers, but the succ method sucks (pun intended) in this case.
'427'.succ
> '428' (works!)

'2021-9'.succ
> '2022-0' (does not work)

'2021.9'.succ
> '2022.0' (does not work)

I couldn't find a gem for this, only a gem to sort strings naturally. If no one knows any existing solutions, I will answer this question with a self-programmed method shortly.

A: You could use String#gsub and apply succ on the matched digit:
'427'.gsub(/\D(\d+)$|^\d+$/, &:succ)
# "428"
'2021-9'.gsub(/\D(\d+)$|^\d+$/, &:succ)
# "2021-10"
'2021-624'.gsub(/\D(\d+)$|^\d+$/, &:succ)
# "2021-625"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Furniture DELUXE BOGFRAN is a new modern collection for living room, home office, kids and dining room. Combination of two colors: "larch sibiu" and "oak" looks stylish. The fronts and body are made of high quality laminated chipboard with a high resistance to greasiness and scratches. It is very functional and practical furniture, that additionally can be equipped with LED-lighting, door and drawers soft-close system. Thanks to individual pieces of DELUXE BOGFRAN furniture collection, you can create your own interior.
See all Deluxe Bogfran Furniture photos.


, picks the very best choices together with greatest image resolution exclusively for you, and this photos is considered one of graphics choices in your ideal photographs gallery regarding Birthday Card for Personal Trainer. I'm hoping you may enjoy it.
submitted through admin in 2017-03-07 06:11:35. To discover all photos with Birthday Card for Personal Trainer photographs gallery you should abide by this website link.


text:
Top 10 National Parks in New England
All United States
The 10 Most Visited National Parks in New England
By Kim Knox Beckius
Walter Bibikow / Getty Images
New England's 23 National Parks operated by the National Park Service draw millions of travelers to the region each year. Which parks are the perennial annual favorites, drawing the largest numbers of visitors? Here's a quick look at the way the Top 10 national parks in New England sort out according to attendance figures reported by the National Park Service
Cape Cod National Seashore: Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Thomas Roche / Getty Images
99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667, USA
New England travelers love the beach! The total number of visitors to the Cape Cod National Seashore is nearly double the attendance at the next most visited National Park in the region. This park features 44,600 acres of shoreline and upland landscape features, plus lighthouses and other historic structures, numerous Cape Cod-style houses, six beaches for swimming, 11 self-guiding nature trails for walking and hiking, and a variety of picnic and scenic overlook areas.
Acadia National Park | Bar Harbor, Maine
www.cfwphotography.com / Getty Images
Acadia was the first National Park established east of the Mississippi River. Each year, millions of people flock to this preserved paradise that boasts ocean, mountains, forests and lakes within its confines. Popular activities include driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road to view dazzling scenery; walking, hiking and biking on 45 miles of carriage roads; hiking 125 miles of trails rated from easy to strenuous; fishing; boating; horse-drawn carriage rides; cross-country skiing; snowshoeing and Ranger-led bird walks and other programs.
Boston National Historical Park: Boston, Massachusetts
S. Greg Panosian / Getty Images
Building 5, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02109, USA
Boston National Historical Park is actually a collection of eight historic sites, seven of which are connected by the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) walking tour of a total of 16 sites and structures of historic importance in downtown Boston and Charlestown. The eight sites are the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, Charlestown Navy Yard and Dorchester Heights. A visit to these sites provides an in-depth look at the roots of the American struggle for freedom.
Minute Man National Historical Park: Concord, Massachusetts
© Kim Knox Beckius
174 Liberty St, Concord, MA 01742, USA
Since 1959, visitors to Minute Man National Historical Park have been able to roam the battlefields that served as the opening arena for the American Revolution. Minute Man consists of more than 900 acres of land that wind along original segments of the Battle Road for April 19, 1775. As an added attraction, the park also preserves and interprets the 19th-century literary revolution through The Wayside, former home of three New England writers: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott and Margaret Sidney.
Lowell National Historical Park: Lowell, Massachusetts
304 Dutton St, Lowell, MA 01852, USA
The Industrial Revolution looms large at this park that features guided tours of textile mills, worker housing, 5.6 miles of canals and 19th-century commercial buildings. Boat tours are offered seasonally. Learning about the typical day of a "mill girl" may just make you appreciate your job! All in all, the park covers 141 acres of land.
Boston African American National Historical Site: Boston, Massachusetts
Pierdelune / Getty Images
46 Joy St, Boston, MA 02108-3704, USA
Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood is home to this National Park that is made up of 14 pre-Civil War structures associated with the city's African American history and heritage. The sites, including the African Meeting House (the oldest standing African-American church in the United States), are linked by the 1.6-mile (2.5-kilometer) Black Heritage Trail. Guided walking tours are offered Monday through Saturday seasonally, or visit the sites at your own pace on a self-guided tour.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site: Salem, Massachusetts
Richard Cummins / Getty Images
160 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
New England's seafaring history is celebrated at this nine-acre park that includes 12 historic structures situated along Salem's historic waterfront and the tall ship Friendship (currently away from the site for restoration). Engaging films at the Visitor Center provide an overview of Salem Harbor's role in colonial trade. Visitors to this national park will also find themselves within easy reach of all of Salem's other historic attractions.
Adams National Historical Park: Quincy, Massachusetts
1250 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169, USA
Explore the lives of five generations of the Adams Family. No, not those creepy TV folks, the prominent early Americans who included two Presidents and First Ladies, three United States Ministers, historians and writers. The John Adams Birthplace, John Quincy Adams Birthplace and the Old House at Peacefield are the three historic structures incorporated within this National Park, which nearly tripled its annual visitation when HBO aired its "John Adams" mini-series, based on the book by David McCullough. Now, visitation has plummeted, though, and you really should go. A trolley bus is your time machine that will take you from site to site.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: New Bedford, Massachusetts
33 William St, New Bedford, MA 02740-6222, USA
Where can you see a 19th-century whaling port and hear whaling tales? More than 150,000 people find themselves transported back to New England's seafaring heyday when they visit the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park each year. One of our newest National Parks — created in 1996 — this 34-acre collection of partner attractions features a Visitor Center, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Seamen's Bethel, the schooner Ernestina and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum.
Roger Williams National Memorial: Providence, Rhode Island
fdastudillo / Getty Images
282 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Roger Williams, crusader for religious freedom in America, leaps from the pages of history at the Roger Williams National Memorial, where tens of thousands of visitors each year tour Visitor Center exhibits and explore the site of the original European settlement at Providence.
Hawaii's Stunning Big Island Must-See Attractions
More Than Just P-Town: Enjoy These Gay-Friendly New England Getaways
Explore Washington, D.C. On the Cheap
The 10 Most Popular Fall Foliage Destinations in New England
Boston's Black Heritage Trail: The Complete Guide
October: New England's Best Month of the Year
The Best Things to Do in New England
Bike New England This Fall
The 10 Best Beaches in Massachusetts
Don't Miss New England's Top Events in 2016
Maps of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket
10 Phenomenal Free Things to Do in New England
The Best New England Fall Festivals
10 Interesting Things to Do in New England
The 9 Best Boston Tours of 2019
New England's Top 10 National Parks


Plus Michelle leaves us with three great tips to action straight after this weeks show!
07:57 – How did you discover your 'Why'?
11:02 – What is coming up next for Michelle?
16:18 – What does 2017 hold?
21:32 – What is the future of activity trackers?
The hook to getting people to move more, sleep better and change their diet, is to help them become aware of how they feel in the moment.
When it comes to activity trackers we should be designing algorithms based on the core science of motivation and decision making – rather than just numbers and the future will do this. We will see activity trackers progress from ticks & numbers to feelings and enjoyment.
It is up to the fitness and health industry to help people understand that when they take better care of themselves through physical activity, they will start learning the benefits of, and developing the skill set for prioritising self care behaviour.


Contrary to popular belief, the motor industry is alive and well… and Goodwood Festival of Speed once again proves this point.
This annual automotive extravaganza isn't an out-of-touch bubble of petrol-headed enthusiasts descending on Lord March's estate – it's proof that there's hope for an extraordinary industry.
I'm the first to talk about the future of the business, where incredible technology will deliver a safer and more efficient transportation network, but I'll always counter this with a need for brand individuality and a personal love of driving. Give me autonomous commuting, but hands-on engagement for those twisting back roads. I want to see alternatives to fossil fuels, but silence isn't always golden so deliver the sound of the future, not merely the vision.
I've written enough about Goodwood to avoid repeating myself again, but this incredible event is a sell out every year. Attendees of all ages reminisce about past racing glories, touch the supercars of today and marvel at the concepts for the next generation of characterful transportation.
You won't find bottom-of-the-range city cars – this is about realising potential and dreaming big and it's how the brands with panic in their eyes can best educate future audiences to the benefits of driving and ownership.
A stunning realisation of the future of F1 racing, from the company already bringing us Formula E racers and their own F1 efforts. I hope Formula 1 reaches this level of design thinking before 2027!
Jaguar's smallest offering (until the I-Pace arrives) on steroids. The SVO team has injected 200mph and 600PS into this saloon to deliver 0-60 dash in 3.3 secs and a great looking car. I love the honeycomb face.
Bringing the hyper to hypercar, this automotive project with RedBull Racing looks more like a fighter jet for the road. It's hard not to appreciate the aerodynamic superiority and unashamed nod to the future. Very nearly my number one but the green centre stripe loses a point. It works on a Ford GT, but seems unnecessary here – even if it is a nod to the racing team.
Top spot goes to a car encompassing design, innovation, technology and the future of autonomous racing. This vision of supremely talented British designer Daniel Simon is driving its development alongside the Formula E racing series and ticks all the automotive boxes.
This sporting marque brought the beautiful 8 Series Concept to Goodwood, alongside the hybrid i8 supercar in some adventurous liveries. These halo models continue to filter their design inference down to the rest of the range and push technological development without sacrificing driving pleasure.
A great show for Renault! Not only hitting my top 4 with their R.S. 2027 Vision, but also bringing some EV madness in the shape of their ZOE eSport Concept and the Apline compact supercar. I just wish the Zoe had been equipped with a stunning sound generator for the hill climb. Something to consider for Formula E where everything sounds like Scalextric cars when it has the potential to emulate Star Wars!
Here's to Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018. We don't need to wait to be excited though, these cars are amazing 365 days of the year!


All of out precisions thermometer are closed under extremely high nitrogen pressure while drawing the mercury into the lower portion of the capillary. This Process, when coupled with acid washed tubing and triple distilled mercury, although costly, greatly reduces the frequency of separations in the capillary portion of the thermometer. Nevertheless, though misuse or rough treatment during shipment, separations do occur.
Many instructions for rejoining separations begin with "the mercury can be retracted into the bulb by immersing it in a suitable mixture of dry ice and alcohol".
This statement is not specific enough. We recommend you determine the type of separation from the illustrations provided and proceed according to the instructions outlines below.
Most well-constructed thermometers contain an expansion chamber or blister at the extreme top of the capillary. This chamber serves a twofold purpose. One, to accommodate an overflow of mercury when the thermometer is subject to temperatures in excess of its scale range, and two, as a means of rejoining this type of separation, While holding the instrument in a vertical position, slowly heat the bulb until the separated segments and a portion of the main (intact) column enter the chamber. (Great care must be taken to insure that the mercury does not fill more than ½ to ¾ of the chamber volume: otherwise, breakage of the bulb will result). The nitrogen pressure will force a rejoining of the mercury. Still holding the thermometer vertically, examine the column as it cools and retracts to be sure it is intact.
Separation of the mercury in the contraction chamber is an entirely different problem. Many thermometers contain scale ranges that begin well above ambient temperature. These Thermometers have a contraction chamber or enlargement that prevents the mercury from entering the bulb at ambient temperatures. Heavy jarring of the instrument or thermal shock can cause separation in the chamber. If the separated mercury is in the form of a speck or small amount, invert the thermometer and gently tap it against palm of the hand. This will cause a larger separation, adding additional volume and weight to the separation portion. The thermometer should then be righted and only the tip of the bulb should be dipped in ice water or salted ice water. Remove it from water and gently tap the bulb on a desk blotter and allow the separation portion to fall to the bottom of the chamber and re-join the mercury reservoir. Allow thermometer to warm to room temperature and check to be sure all separations have been removed.
Separations of this type are less frequent and more difficult to repair. There are many variables and no one explanation will cover all types of thermometer. The general procedure is to subject the bulb only to a temperature sufficient to retract all the mercury into the bulb. A slow return to ambient temperature will return an intact column. Our experience has shown that additional problems can be caused in these procedures and we point out the following cautions. Cautions must be taken where a range is such that at the freezing point of mercury -38.8°C (almost the same in °F) mercury still remains in the capillary. If the thermometer is returned to ambient temperatures rapidly after freezing, there is a chance the bulb will crack. This Breakage is caused by the mercury thawing in the capillary more slowly then the mercury in the bulb, thereby creating an impasse to the expanding mercury. To avoid the breakage, great care must be taken to allow the mercury in the bulb to liquefy at the same rate as the mercury in the capillary. While the thermometer is being allowed to return to ambient temperature, extreme care must be taken to insure that it is not jarred or at the slightest angle while the mercury returns to the capillary. Without these precautions, gas bubbles could develop in the bulb and cause inaccuracies. In this case, return the thermometer to the manufacturer.


The southern flanks of Greenstone mountain were the best places to find colored obsidian. The hills and mountains north above Whitewing Lake were rich with glossy black stone, but for the richly colored obsidian in hues of green, red and purple, or even the most rare clear obsidian, a hunter had to look to the slopes and hills that lay between Greenstone Peak and Lookout Mountain. Once there, a knapper could often find fist-sized chunks of the stuff by just walking the mountainside, or by hunting along the creeks and streams running down from the steep slopes. But the very best obsidian was still found the hard way � by digging it up.
Lynx's very last wooden digging stick was shaped of hard oak and had been wrapped in strips of wet rawhide which had then dried hard and stiff for support. It was as thick as his arm, and it lasted longer than the rest Lynx had carried to the mountain. He had excavated most of the badger-sized boulder when the stout tool snapped in two with a crack so loud that Crosscut and Frog both came to peer over the edge of the digging-pit at him. He waved the wolves off and wiped sweat from his face before kneeling to pry at the boulder with the sharp, broken haft of his digging stick. He jabbed at the dirt around its base, so close to digging it free that he could almost taste success.
"How's it going?" he heard Frost call. Moments later she appeared at the same place where the two wolves had been, her long braids hanging down past her shoulders as she looked down at him. Then she sat and swung her legs over the ledge, swinging her feet as she inspected some of the obsidian flakes and chunks she had just gathered from the ravine nearby.
"Nearly got it," Lynx said. He knelt in the mud at the bottom of the pit and applied his shoulder, pushing his whole weight and strength into wrestling the obsidian boulder free. He felt the last resistence give, and the big chunk of rock came free. Lynx knelt where he was for a moment, panting for breath, then hefted the badger-sized boulder up in both arms. He carried it to the branch-ladder that lay at a gentle angle against the wall of the greentstone pit, and began to carefully carry his burden out of the pit.
Frost scrambled to help him, and together they lay the heavy rock on a patch of grass near the pit's edge. Lynx cast himself down to rest, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on his bare chest and arms. Frost's deft fingers stroked the side of his face for a moment, flicking away a swipe of mud, and then she knelt over the boulder, inspecting the result of his labors.
"Oh, this one is pretty!" she said as she wiped away the blanket of dirt and mud to expose the glossy rock beneath. "There's a good bit of green, but there's purple and red stone here as well!"
Lynx pushed himself up onto one elbow to take a closer look. The colored obsidian was just as sharp and brittle as the common black was, but elvish artisians favored it for its relative rarity.Sometimes the large boulders would provide clusters of solid color; sometimes it would be threaded with black, and sometimes it would swirl together. He enjoyed hunting for the boulders simply for the joy of not knowing what the earth would provide him next. And, of course � because his beloved loved the colored stones.
Lynx reached out now and stroked Frost's bare midriff, smiling to know that inside her now, their child of Recognition grew. It would be some months now before their child began to show or shared its soul name. Frost's lips twisted in a smile, and she batted his hand away as it slid north toward her breasts.
"Work first," she said, the sternness of her tone undermined by the promise of her smile. "I want to clean this off and start chipping, to see what all we've got here. I hope there�s more of that purple � I want to make a new knife from it, if there's enough here."
The boulder he had found would likely have enough for a hand of knives or spearpoints, depending on the fault lines within the big stone. And from the process of knapping the boulder down to size and shape would come enough good shards and flakes of obsidian to make a couple of quivers full of arrowheads. He and his mate would camp here in a tree-shelter along the stream course where it trickled out of the ravine, and before they left for home, they would work the boulder down into shards and dust, spear points and knife blades. And they would hunt from the forest, fish from the streams, and make love under the sun and stars � enjoying the mountain that, for a time at least, would be theirs and theirs alone.
They found the old obsidian pit, so overgrown with brambles and berry vines that Brightwood had to coax the greenery aside like a nest of snakes. "Cloudfern and I continued to come here regularly," Farscout said, while Brightwood eyed their discovery. "But when the Painted Faces arrived, we stopped coming so often. The humans make trips out to Greenstone Mountain and the shores of Sky Mirror Lake at least once a year, to collect stone for their own use. So it's safer to gather obsidian along the Clickdeer north from here, where the humans don't go."
"But it's almost all black stuff north of here," Brightwood said. "It seems a shame to leave all of the pretty rocks to them."
Farscout pulled off his quiver, then his leather tunic. "They're not here now," he said, with a smile for his lifemate. "We have time yet, before we have to return from your long walk. Let me fish around and see what there is down there left to be found. If you can shape me some digging sticks..."
Brightwood's smile was instant. Farscout watched as his Recognized, thick-bellied with their unborn child, turned to find a suitable piece of wood to shape for him. He smiled himself. He knew how much his lifemate enjoyed the colored stones, and he was grateful for the opportunity to find them for her again.


Let Great American Casino Tukwila host your next banquet, party or event. Catering is available.
From birthday parties to business lunches, Great American Casino Tukwila offers the perfect space for you next event. We can cater every detail specific to your get-together. Email our Food and Beverage Manager for more details and availability.