text:
describe("luga.data.XmlDataSet", function(){

	"use strict";

	let testRecordsStr, noUrlDs;
	beforeEach(function(){
		testRecordsStr = jasmineFixtures.read("data/peopleXml.txt");
		noUrlDs = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({uuid: "noUrlDs"});
	});

	afterEach(function(){
		luga.data.dataSourceRegistry = {};
	});

	it("Is the XmlDataSet constructor", function(){
		expect(luga.type(luga.data.XmlDataSet)).toEqual("function");
	});

	it("Implements the luga.data.HttpDataSet abstract class", function(){
		const MockDs = function(options){
			luga.extend(luga.data.HttpDataSet, this, [options]);
		};
		expect(noUrlDs).toMatchDuckType(new MockDs({uuid: "duck"}));
	});

	describe("Its constructor options are the same as luga.data.HttpDataSet and also contains:", function(){
		it("options.path", function(){
			const ds = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({uuid: "myDs", path: "myPath"});
			expect(ds.path).toEqual("myPath");
		});
		it("options.path default value is: '/'", function(){
			expect(noUrlDs.getPath()).toEqual("/");
		});
	});

	describe(".contentType", function(){
		it("Is: application/xml", function(){
			const xmlDs = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({uuid: "myXmlDs"});
			expect(xmlDs.contentType).toEqual("application/xml");
		});
	});

	describe(".getPath()", function(){
		it("Returns the XPath expression to be used to extract data out of the XML", function(){
			const ds = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({uuid: "myDs", path: "test"});
			expect(ds.getPath()).toEqual("test");
		});
	});

	describe(".getRawXml()", function(){
		it("Returns the raw XML data", function(){
			noUrlDs.loadRecords({
				responseText: testRecordsStr
			});

			expect(noUrlDs.getRawXml()).not.toBeNull();
			// This fails on IE11
			//expect(noUrlDs.getRawXml()).toEqual(luga.data.xml.parseFromString(testRecordsStr));
		});
		it("Returns null if no data has been loaded yet", function(){
			expect(noUrlDs.getRawXml()).toBeNull();
		});
	});

	describe(".loadData()", function(){

		let peopleDs, peopleObserver;
		beforeEach(function(){

			jasmine.Ajax.install();
			jasmine.Ajax.stubRequest("mock/people.xml").andReturn({
				contentType: "application/xml",
				responseText: testRecordsStr,
				status: 200
			});
			jasmine.Ajax.stubRequest("mock/people.txt").andReturn({
				contentType: "text/plain",
				responseText: testRecordsStr,
				status: 200
			});

			peopleDs = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({
				uuid: "loadDataUniqueDs",
				url: "mock/people.xml",
				path: "//ladies/person"
			});

			const ObserverClass = function(){
				this.onDataChangedHandler = function(data){
				};
			};
			peopleObserver = new ObserverClass();
			peopleDs.addObserver(peopleObserver);
			spyOn(peopleObserver, "onDataChangedHandler");
		});

		afterEach(function(){
			jasmine.Ajax.uninstall();
		});

		describe("First:", function(){

			it("Populate .rawXml", function(){
				expect(peopleDs.rawXml).toBeNull();
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleDs.rawXml).not.toBeNull();
			});

			it("Extract records out of the fetched XML data based on the current path", function(){
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleDs.getRecordsCount()).toEqual(7);
			});

			it("Records are extracted even if the HTTP's Content-Type is not text/xml (as long as it contains an XML document)", function(){
				const txtDs = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({
					uuid: "uniqueDs",
					url: "mock/people.txt",
					path: "//ladies/person"
				});
				txtDs.loadData();
				expect(txtDs.getRecordsCount()).toEqual(7);
			});

			it("The nature and amount of records may vary depending on the path", function(){
				peopleDs.setPath("//jazzPlayers/person");
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleDs.getRecordsCount()).toEqual(4);
			});

		});

		describe("Then:", function(){
			it("Triggers a 'dataChange' notification", function(){
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleObserver.onDataChangedHandler).toHaveBeenCalledWith({dataSource: peopleDs});
			});
		});

		describe("If the path has no matches inside the XML data:", function(){
			it("No record will be added to the dataSet", function(){
				peopleDs.setPath("invalid");
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleDs.getRecordsCount()).toEqual(0);
			});
			it("The 'dataChanged' event will not be triggered", function(){
				peopleDs.setPath("invalid");
				peopleDs.loadData();
				expect(peopleObserver.onDataChangedHandler).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(peopleDs);
			});
		});

	});

	describe(".loadRawXml()", function(){

		describe("Given a string", function(){

			it("First calls .delete()", function(){
				spyOn(noUrlDs, "delete");
				noUrlDs.loadRawXml(testRecordsStr);
				expect(noUrlDs.delete).toHaveBeenCalled();
			});
			it("Then calls .loadRecords()", function(){
				spyOn(noUrlDs, "loadRecords");
				noUrlDs.loadRawXml(testRecordsStr);
				expect(noUrlDs.loadRecords).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
					responseText: testRecordsStr
				});
			});

		});

	});

	describe(".loadRecords()", function(){

		describe("Given an XHR response", function(){

			describe("First:", function(){

				it("Set the .rawXml property", function(){
					noUrlDs.loadRecords({responseText: testRecordsStr});

					expect(noUrlDs.getRawXml()).not.toBeNull();
					// This fails on IE11
					//expect(noUrlDs.rawXml).toEqual(luga.data.xml.parseFromString(testRecordsStr));
				});

			});

			describe("Then", function(){

				it("Calls luga.data.xml.evaluateXPath() to extract the nodes from the XML", function(){
					spyOn(luga.data.xml, "evaluateXPath").and.callThrough();
					noUrlDs.loadRecords({responseText: testRecordsStr});
					expect(luga.data.xml.evaluateXPath).toHaveBeenCalled();
				});

			});

			describe("Finally:", function(){

				it("Calls .insert(), passing the relevant data", function(){
					spyOn(noUrlDs, "insert");
					noUrlDs.loadRecords({responseText: testRecordsStr});
					expect(noUrlDs.insert).toHaveBeenCalled();
				});

			});

		});

	});

	describe(".setPath()", function(){
		it("Set the the XPath expression to be used to extract data out of the XML", function(){
			const ds = new luga.data.XmlDataSet({uuid: "myDs"});
			ds.setPath("test");
			expect(ds.getPath()).toEqual("test");
		});
	});

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
I Took a Road Trip in a Supercar
When you take a Lamborghini Aventador SV on a 700-mile drive, you plan on a few things: the speed, the thrill, and the constant attention. But nobody mentioned the back pain.
By Ezra Dyer
For some reason, the digital clock in the gauge cluster reads September 20, 2000. Factory glitch. This is appropriate, because the Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce is a time traveler of sorts, a car that evokes a bygone conception of an exotic: the definitive Lambo. Like its predecessors—the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago—the Aventador SV is an impossibly wide, ridiculously low-slung blade of a car, with doors that scissor skyward and a huge V-12 behind the seats. That is the formula. On the cover of his album Mack Daddy, Sir Mix-A-Lot poses with a Diablo, its open door pointed to the heavens. That was in 1992, but it could've been 1982 or 2002, because the top-flight Lamborghini is always on the scene, so long as that scene demands a commitment to shameless decadence. It's a car for all ages. Except, maybe, this one.
The Superveloce seems like a vehicle that should no longer exist. In an era when Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren build plug-in hybrids, the Aventador gets 13 mpg. While a Volkswagen GTI uses a silken dual-clutch transmission, the SV crashes through the gears with a single-clutch automated manual. Long ago, the Acura NSX proved that comfort and performance are not mutually exclusive, and yet this half-million-dollar Lamborghini includes no stereo, cruise control, or carpeting. It's just a bundle of muscle thrumming with anger, and that's before you even start the thing.
The only reason I notice that nobody set the clock—which would be annoying in a Lexus but is somehow charming in a Lambo—is because I have plenty of time to gaze about the Aventador's stripped-down cabin en route from North Carolina to Miami. An 11-hour road trip in a car that prioritizes speed above all else should be interesting. And, in many ways, challenging. A full day in a Superveloce forces you to examine your own passion: How much do you really love cars?
I don't dare complain about my plight, but let me explain the ways in which the Superveloce is ill-suited to a super-long voyage. The seats are carbon-fiber shells covered in the barest suggestion of padding, with no adjustment except for back and forth. It's like sitting in a melon scoop. The lack of a radio isn't really a problem, since you wouldn't be able to hear it anyway over the constant thrum of road noise. Visibility out the back is nearly nil, and there's no rearview camera. There's also no USB port, which means if you forgot your charger, like I did, using Waze to navigate and find the inevitable cops will quickly drain your phone. In the language of Lamborghini, there are 50 words for speed and no word for cup holder. It's almost as if they never expect anyone to drive this thing 700 miles on the highway.
I try to avoid the interstate when I can, because highway travel denies you the opportunity to meet the fans. And this car has fans wherever it goes. Early on, I'm driving back roads when an Accord pulls up next to me at a light and the woman at the wheel informs me she's been following me for 20 miles just to find out what this car is. In Charleston, South Carolina, a school bus full of kids looks like it might tip over, so fast do they all rush to one side to gawk at the Lamborghini. At a Starbucks in Florida, I walk in and the guy at the counter informs me, "There are two women in here who want a ride in that car. So far." You grow accustomed to glancing out the window and seeing phones pointed at you. You don't want to pick your nose in an Aventador Superveloce. Someone will get it on video.
By the time I get to southern Florida, I have the posture and gait of a wizened mountain hermit emerging from his cave.
The constant attention is on my mind every time I get the urge to let 'er rip. And that urge presents itself seemingly every mile or two, each time there's a gap in traffic and a cop-free sight line. Superveloce means "super fast" in Italian, and it's not false advertising. The 6.5-liter V-12 revs so fast that you really need to use the transmission's automatic mode for full-throttle upshifts—using the paddles, it's a fine line between upshifting early and banging into the rev limiter as the engine flashes past 8,000 rpm. I air it out a few times, but never for long. This car can do zero to 186 mph in 24 seconds, so flattening the accelerator is an exercise in willpower, a game of chicken against the oncoming specter of bad consequences. My personal high score, top-speed-wise, is 206 mph, and the SV could obliterate that pretty easily. Are there any salt flats or dry lakes en route to Miami? Because that's what I need. If you can afford $493,095—taxes and delivery included!—then perhaps you can afford to book a facility where you might test Lamborghini's top speed claim, which is "faster than 217 mph."
By the time I get to southern Florida, I have the posture and gait of a wizened mountain hermit emerging from his cave. But I've grown fond of the Aventador in spite of its brutal demands. I now know how to back it up while sitting on the sill with the door open, like I've seen the factory test drivers do in Italy (thus solving the visibility issue while looking preposterously badass). I know that the fuel-saving cylinder deactivation works only up to 87 mph. I know how to play the exhaust note like an instrument, using the paddle shifters and accelerator. Most modern supercars adapt to their drivers, but in the SV that situation is reversed. It makes no apologies for its Lambo-ness. Presumably, you knew what you were getting into.
And what I'm getting into, down in Miami, is a Porsche 911. Three of us are going out to dinner, so I pile into one of the Porsche's backseats. It is, without exaggeration, more comfortable than the Superveloce's driver's seat. We head out into traffic, and nobody looks twice.
This story appears in the February 2016 issue of Popular Mechanics
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Word frequency not accurate after text stemming Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Newbie here and this here is my first R script with some sample data.
library(tm)
library(hunspell)
library(stringr)

docs <- VCorpus(VectorSource('He is a nice player, She could be a better player. Playing basketball is fun. Well played! We could have played better. Wish we had better players!'))

input <- strsplit(as.character(docs), " ")
input <- unlist(input)
input <- hunspell_stem(input)
input <- word(input,-1)

input <- VCorpus(VectorSource(input))
docs <- input

docs <- tm_map(docs, content_transformer(tolower))
docs <- tm_map(docs, removeWords, stopwords("english"))
docs <- tm_map(docs, removePunctuation)
docs <- tm_map(docs, stripWhitespace)

dtm <- TermDocumentMatrix(docs)
m <- as.matrix(dtm)
sort(rowSums(m),decreasing=TRUE)

This returns the following results:

character0 48       better 3  play 3 basketball 1 description 1
  fun 1         head 1        hour 1 language 1 meta 1 min 1 nice 1
  origin 1 well 1 wish 1 year 1

Expected results:

better 3  play 3 basketball 1 fun 1         language 1 nice 1 well 1
  wish 1

Not sure where these words are coming from (character0, description, meta, language, etc) and if there's a way to get rid of them?
Basically what I'm trying to do is apply stemming on a corpus (data source sql server table) with hunspell and display them in a word cloud later on. Any help would be appreciated. GD

A: Here's why the example in your comment fails:
library(tm)
library(hunspell)
hunspell_stem(strsplit('Thanks lukeA for your help!', "\\W")[[1]])
# [[1]]
# [1] "thank"
#
# [[2]]
# character(0)
#
# [[3]]
# [1] "for"
#
# [[4]]
# [1] "your"
#
# [[5]]
# [1] "help"

And here is one way to make it work:
docs <- VCorpus(VectorSource('Thanks lukeA for your help!'))
myStem <- function(x) {
  res <- hunspell_stem(x)
  idx <- which(lengths(res)==0)
  if (length(idx)>0)
    res[idx] <- x[idx]
  sapply(res, tail, 1)
}
dtm <- TermDocumentMatrix(docs, control = list(stemming = myStem))
m <- as.matrix(dtm)
sort(rowSums(m),decreasing=TRUE)
  # for help! lukea thank  your
  #   1     1     1     1     1

This will return the original token if there's no stem, and the last stem if there are multiple stems.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Indaloblog: Race and IQ. Science's last taboo.
Race and IQ. Science's last taboo.
Channel 4 are to air a controversial programme, 'Race and Intelligence: Science's Last Taboo', challenging the scientific proposition that the IQ of different races varies, from the Australian aborigines at the bottom of the pile to the most intelligent from North Eastern Asia; people from Japan, parts of China and Korea.
This is sure to upset those whose sensibilities are hurt by any form of racist comment or suggestion. Am I upset that, as a European, I am not as bright as a Japanese person? Are my Human Rights infringed by these revelations? Not a bit of it and neither should anyone else be upset by the findings, even IF they are true.
I, however, wouldn't be surprised if it's true. Never mind intercontinental variations, I find that there's a huge variation in IQ within, say, the British. From the super intelligent people like Stephen Hawking to the Neanderthal like creatures that cause so much mindless trouble trouble in town centres.
To test whether there is any validity to these findings I have devised a short test for you, the readers. Please answer these questions with a 'yes or 'no' answer.
1. Can you identify an indigenous African winner of a Nobel Science Prize?
2. Can you name one indigenous African composer whose work has been performed at the Proms or broadcast on Classic FM?
3. Can you name any indigenous African artist whose work has appeared at a major art gallery.
If you record three 'nos', I suggest that either the proposition has some validity or that I've chosen the wrong questions.
Now, in case you think that the latter is correct, I want you to repeat the questions but this time in place of 'indigenous African', I want you to insert the word, 'female'.
There are no prizes for giving Marie Curie as a female Nobel science Prize, she won it in successive years, but I suspect you can think of no others. Nor will I accept Tracy Emin in the third category on the grounds that she isn't accepted as a 'Master'.
I wonder if Channel 4 have the nerve to ask the same questions?
For those of you who think that I'm being unfair, please be consoled with the fact that I can't think of one North East Asian person that answers the questions either.


text:
Home » Giving Back: Solid Start "Think Pink" Helps Promote Early Breast Cancer Detection
Giving Back: Solid Start "Think Pink" Helps Promote Early Breast Cancer Detection
Peter Suciu
As the National Breast Cancer Foundation has noted, breast cancer can't be prevented, and sadly today, there is no cure. However, detecting breast cancer early can make all the difference in the world — it can literally save lives. Yet, a rapidly increasing percentage of women simply cannot afford the screening tests.
For these reasons Solid Start/True Brand, a female-owned and operated business, has chosen to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to help provide free, life-saving, early detection screenings to women in need all across the country. The NBCF partners with medical facilities across the country and provides free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services.
Solid Start/True Brand is a proud supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. In addition the company offers its Fuel Juels, a specially-branded premium product, in year-round packaging to promote breast cancer awareness.
Very Personal Cause
For Solid Start's Amber Kossak, chief executive officer, and Crystal Mathews, vice president, cancer is something that has touched them personally.
"This is a very important cause to us," Mathews said. "We've been affected directly. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and it is a horrible disease. We knew we wanted to do something as a way to give back."
Six years ago, the company reached out to the NBCF, as Kossak and Mathews agreed this was something that could have a great impact on many women today.
"We know there are many great organizations that are working on a cure, but we felt that what the NBCF was doing with early detection was making a difference," Mathews explained. "Instead of money being spent for a cure that will hopefully be found one day, it pays for mammograms for women who can't afford it. The truth is, right now the only cure is early detection. We felt we wanted to put our money into helping women now. To us, this is helping save women's lives now."
The inspiration to brand Fuel Juels year-round in a specialty pink bottle came about for another personal reason.
"We had a sales representative who died from testicular cancer, and we did think about supporting research into that disease but as a women-owned business we opted to support the NBCF," Kossak, who has more than 20 years in the automotive service industry, said. "This product has been special to us, and we know there are different products out there that are similar, so we wanted to make this stand out to honor this cause."
"We designed the packaging for Fuel Juels around our support of NBCF," Mathews explained. "This is the same design that we use year-round, and since we're already advertising the product every month, none of this adds to the costs."
For October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company is touting the powerful message, "Together, we have the power to make early detection for women in need possible." But even when November arrives and the media and public awareness subsides, the pink bottles remain as a way to continue to spread the message.
Branding Fuel Juels in pink year-round ensures that money isn't wasted for a Breast Cancer Awareness Month-only promotion by rolling out special packaging or branding. This ensures that instead of spending money on bottles, more of the proceeds can go to those who truly need it.
"We wanted to make sure the money would be well spent," Kossak said.
"We also believe this is our best product, and we felt it was really worth it to support such an important cause," Mathews said.
To that end, the company has started a special "Fuel Juels Friday" on social media platforms, including Facebook. Those who like the promotion are entered for a chance to win a free bottle of Fuel Juels as well as a Fuel Juels trucker hat, and those who share the post automatically receive an additional entry.
In the six years that Solid Start/True Brand has supported the NBCF, the response has been very good, Kossak confirmed.
"There are many men who have been affected by breast cancer, as they've had loved ones who have been diagnosed or worse," she added. "For us, it just makes sense to support this throughout the year. We pull out the stops in October, but want to remind everyone all year. We hope our customers will also spread the word."
"Breast cancer, unfortunately, affects women all year long," Mathews said. "The least we can do is help with the awareness, and help women get screened — because the only cure is early detection."
Recent Articles by Peter Suciu
How to Market to People Not Like You
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Jiffy Lube's Patrick Southwick Talks Innovation and Evolution of the Industry
Giving Back: Henley Enterprises Helps Wipe Away Cancer
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Costa Oil Puts the Quick Back in Quick Lube


text:
News • Princely Family • Sports • Water sports
Princess Charlene announces teammates for Mediterranean Water Bike Challenge
Lola Senoble	- 11 August 2020
© Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
On 12th and 13th September 2020, Princess Charlene of Monaco will take part in "The Crossing: Calvi-Monaco Water Bike Challenge", a race organised by her Foundation. We can now reveal the identity of two athletes who will join her in this challenge.
Team Serenity will be led by Princess Charlene. Team Notorious will be led by Gareth Wittstock, the Princess' brother and General Secretary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. On the occasion of this sporting challenge organised by the Foundation, the siblings will compete with each other to cross the Mediterranean. Eight athletes divided in two teams will go up against each other, relaying over a distance of 180 kms between Calvi (in Corsica) and Monaco. The race will be run on water thanks to water bikes.
A Great day racing the water bikes with Princess Charlene of Monaco. A phenomenal athlete and Olympian, we are teaming up for a 180km voyage in September to raise awareness in water safety. I cannot wait! We will be utilising my training under the McGregor F.A.S.T program to excel on these mounted water bike devices, which are incredibly good! It is like Freedom out there! Thank you for the great day for my family Your Highness. In aid of the Princess Charlene of Monaco foundation ❤ 🇲🇨
A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jul 20, 2020 at 7:19am PDT
Joined by a three-time swimming champion and an MMA champion
It has been revealed that the French swimmer Yannick Agnel, who is also an ambassador for the Princess' Foundation, will join team Serenity. An expert in both indoor racing and medium distance open water, Agnel won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and has been crowned world swimming champion three times. While his participation has not been officially confirmed, it is also highly likely that the MMA champion Conor McGregor will join the challenge. McGregor was spotted training with Princess Charlene in mid-July.
"The Crossing: Calvi – Monaco Water Bike Challenge" aims to raise awareness about drowning prevention and to highlight the programmes run by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation which centre around this very same theme, such as "Learn to Swim" and "Water Safety".
Meet Mélanie Dupuy, the new President of the Junior Chamber International Monaco
Artcurial to organise four prestigious auctions
Antiquorum to auction fine timepieces at Monaco Yacht Club
Covid: the health pass extended to new categories
Follow Monaco Tribune


Those bloody fingers of hers' sting really bad, I reckon she must soak them in some kind of chemical to harden them up !!!
Never let it be said that Miss leaves a job half finished, I now have three hours to get my paperwork up to date.....OR ELSE !
Miss Jeanies' House (a fantasy continued).


text:
10 ATV Trails in Kentucky Better Than The Bourbon
Posted on Last updated: January 1, 2021
Categories ATV Riding
The Bluegrass State of Kentucky is best known for its horses and its Bourbon, but did you know the rolling hills and glacial features also make it a popular destination for ATV trails? Stretching from Illinois in the West to West Virginia in the East, there are dozens of thrilling ATV trails in Kentucky.
From National Forest trails to privately-owned ATV parks, these are some of our favorite ATV trails in Kentucky.
ATV Riding in Kentucky
Before you hit these ATV trails in Kentucky, you may be wondering what to expect.
In general, ATV's are not street legal in Kentucky.
They may only be ridden on public roads when it's necessary to cross a road to stay on the trail, or in other special circumstances.
Protective headgear is required at all times, and your age will dictate the permitted engine size of your machine.
Anyone under the age of 16 may not operate more than a 90cc engine and must be under the supervision of an adult at all times.
Daniel Boone National Forest
Explore more than 150 miles of multi-use trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
The forest encompasses 21 counties of Southeast Kentucky, with over 700,000 acres of land set aside for recreation and preservation.
The forest has more than 150 miles of trails that are open to OHV traffic and is split into four distinct ranger districts.
A pass is required for OHV trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Cumberland District
This is the northernmost district of the Daniel Boone National Forest and includes the very popular Cave Run Lake.
The town of Morehead has local services, while Lexington is just an hour away.
This district also has loads of other recreation opportunities, such as camping, boating, and hiking, in addition to one OHV trail system.
White Sulphur OHV Trail System – 17 miles of trails formed by Forest Service roads and hiking trails are open to OHV's from May 1 through November 30. The trails are well-maintained, making them mostly beginner-friendly.
London Ranger District
The Central part of the Daniel Boone National Forest has the largest selection of off-road trails and trail systems.
Laurel River Lake is one of the most popular spots for recreation enthusiasts visiting the London Ranger District.
Goodwater OHV Route – a 3-mile loop best for intermediate riders
Renfro OHV Route #302/302A – a 5-mile loop from the S-Tree Campground, suitable for beginners and intermediate riders
Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail – this entire trail is nearly 300 miles long, although only certain sections are open to OHV traffic. Trail #100 has several sections and connector trails you can explore on ATV.
Redbird District
This section of the forest is closest to the Virginia and West Virginia borders with four trails to choose from.
With over 100 miles of trails, this is probably the best area to find ATV trails in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest.
Redbird Crest Trail #801 – three trailheads offer access to this lengthy trail system
Gilbert Creek/ Elisha Loop Trail #802 – a 14-mile loop trail for vehicles 50" or less
Left Fork of Elisha Creek #803 – a 7-mile loop near the ranger district office
Stearns District
The southernmost district of the Daniel Boone National Forest is home to several OHV trails and trail systems.
This is also home to two designated Wild Rivers, Rock Cree, and Cumberland River.)
Rock Ridge OHV Trail – sections 506 and 506A offer nearly six miles of difficult terrain with sharp turns and steep hills.
Straight Creek OHV Route – sections 501 and 501A have two miles of easy, flat trails that are perfect for beginner riders
Yellow Cliff OHV Route – this 2.25-mile trail is fairly easy, with a couple of narrow spots along a ridge.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Along the border of Kentucky and Tennessee, Land Between the Lakes has 170,000 acres of land set aside for recreation.
It's a popular spot for boaters, hikers, campers, and fishermen. For OHV's and ATV's, there's the Turkey Bay OHV Area.
Here you'll find over 100 miles of OHV trails, just waiting to be explored.
All trails are marked for difficulty, and there's even a "turkey trot" trail for those 16 and under to practice their riding skills.
For overnight visitors, the OHV area contains two 24-hour generator camping areas, and there are several campgrounds within the Land Between the Lakes Area.
For those seeking a hot shower and a bed at the end of the day, Paducah is just 30 minutes away, while Nashville is only 90 minutes from Land Between the Lakes.
Rush Off-Road
This private ATV park near the West Virginia border has over 100 miles of trails scattered across 7000 acres.
Rush-Off-Road is open to ATVs, side by sides, motorbikes, and 4WD vehicles.
Trails range from beginner to challenging, with roll cages and helmets required for the most extreme trails.
Trails are open from mid-May through the end of December, and you can expect a lot of mud and ruts during rainy periods.
Single-day passes, one-week passes, and an annual pass is available.
Camping is available on-site, although there are no hookups or showers available at this time.
There are several private cabin rentals and campgrounds in the nearby vicinity, while the river town of Ashland, dozens of hotels, and restaurants just 30 minutes from Rush-Off-Road.
Wildcat Adventures Offroad Park
This family-friendly off-road park offers over 2,000 acres of forested land in Southeast Kentucky.
Wildcat Adventures has over 100 miles of trails, with something for every experience level.
With affordable daily and weekly passes, this is a great spot for the whole family.
The trails are well-maintained and clearly marked, so even beginner riders can have a blast.
The park features a fully-equipped campground, with 42 RV sites that have water, sewer, and electric hookups.
Primitive campsites are also available if you want to rough it.
There are eight furnished cabins or homes for rent on the property, and they sleep anywhere from four to 14 people per cabin.
There's usually food concessions, too, and the town of London is just 15 minutes away.
Hollerwood Park
Near Kentucky's famed Red River Gorge, Hollerwood Park has 2,500 acres of scenic trails.
This is some of the best scenery in Kentucky, and some of the most challenging OHV trails.
Everything from mud pits to rock climbs, and they even have night riding at Hollerwood.
If you forgot something at home, or need a cool souvenir, the on-site store has you covered, and a food truck for when you get hungry.
There are shower houses for men and women, but only primitive camping on-site.
Between the Red River Gorge Geological Area and the Natural Bridge State Resort Park, there are plenty of other camping and lodging options in the area.
In addition to many small towns in the area, Lexington is just an hour away.
New to ATV Trails in Kentucky? Take a guided tour with Backwoods' Off-Road Tours!
Wrights Area 252 Riding Park
Located along the scenic Kentucky Great River Road National Scenic Byway, Wrights Area 252 Riding Park has12 miles of trails on the Mississippi River, just outside the town of Burkley.
There are a mud pit and a wide variety of difficulties in the trails.
This park is on the smaller side, and it's only open on the weekends, but it's also one of the few free ATV trails in Kentucky.
It's also growing, so there may be more trails added by the time you visit again.
The Area 252 Trading Post has drinks, snacks, and some riding gear.
While Burkley is a small, unincorporated town, there are several towns in the area, and Paducah is less than one hour away.
Shawnee National Forest is about an hour away, so you can also explore some ATV trails in Illinois while you're in the area.
Dirty Nasty Off-Road Park
This park near Morehead Kentucky has 600 acres for all kinds of machines to explore.
Dirty Nasty Off-Road Park is one of Kentucky's newer ATV parks, and it's only open on Saturdays.
The park is known for fun events like scavenger hunts, races, and obstacle courses.
You can make a weekend of it by camping overnight at the park.
At this time, camping is primitive, but there are plans to expand with hookups and showers in the future.
You're also really close to Cave Run Lake and the Cumberland District of Daniel Boone National Forest, so there are tons of camping and lodging opportunities nearby.
Blue Holler Off-Road Park
Not far from Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, Blue Holler Off-Road Park has over 1000 acres to explore.
You'll see all kinds of machines here, exploring caves, mud, and waterfalls.
The park is known for fun events like the Redneck Rave and they also side-by-side rentals if you're looking to try a new machine.
Blue Holler has clean bathrooms and showers, too!
Camping is available nearby in Mammoth Cave National Park, as well as several small tourist towns in the area.
Nolin Lake is another popular recreation area just north of the park, and Bowling Green is less than one hour away.
Dirty Turtle Off-Road Park
About 45 minutes from Louisville, Dirty Turtle Off-Road Park has nearly 300 acres of off-road trails for ATVs, Side-by-Sides, buggies, Jeeps, and RZRs.
The park has a family-friendly atmosphere, with trails for all levels of difficulty.
There are campgrounds, camping cabins, a general store, and a fun calendar of events to check out.
The Ohio River town of Carrollton is just 15 minutes away, with several hotels and restaurants.
Black Mountain Offroad Adventure Area
For a good time on the ground and in the sky, head to Black Mountain Offroad Adventure Area.
Rated the #1 Offroad area in Harlan County, this park has over 200 miles of trails.
OHV trails range from easy to extreme, many of them repurposed from old mining and logging roads.
They even offer guided tours if you want to get a better lay of the land before setting off on your own.
In addition to some of the best ATV trails in Kentucky, Black Mountain is also home to the Thunder Zipline.
Take a two-hour canopy tour 400 feet above the forest floor.
There are primitive campgrounds throughout the park, as well as two RV campgrounds near the park.
The town of Harlan is a tourism hub just 15 minutes from the park, with several lodging choices.
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Best Places To Travel In March [In The US]


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BoardGaming.com> Games> Board Games> Homesteaders
Tasty Minstrel Games | Published: 2009
🔍 READ REVIEWS on AMAZON !
The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed Americans to claim 160-640 Acres of undeveloped land by living on and farming it for 5 years.
Also in the 1860s the Transcontinental Railroad was built across North America, linking rail networks between the east and west coasts. The development of the railroads accelerated the spread of Homesteaders colonizing the west and lead to the rapid cultivation of new farm lands.
Become a Homesteader with a new claim and help develop a Township into a thriving City! The player who contributes the most will be declared the winner and have the city named after them!
Description of Homesteaders
Homesteaders is an auction and resource management game in which players bid on the right to build certain types of buildings, and then build their desired building of that type. Each round features an income phase, where players acquire resources, and an auction and building phase, in which players bid for available land, and then spend their resources to develop a building on that land.
Each piece of land that is available for auction is suitable for certain types of buildings, such as:
Residential land for buildings such as Farms, Housing, and Ranches.
Industrial land for buildings such as Steel Mills, Mines, or Forges.
Commercial land for buildings such as the General Store, a Bank or a Train Depot.
Special land for buildings such as a Rodeo or Fairgrounds.
In each round, the auctions determine what land is available, and players will bid to acquire the type of land appropriate for the building they wish to build that turn. Players who do not acquire a piece of land will instead contribute towards the development of the railroad.
The game is played over 10 turns, made up of 3 stages. Turns 1-4 comprise the Settlement stage, turns 5-8 comprise the Town stage, and turns 9-10 comprise the City stage. The buildings which are available for development vary through the stages, as buildings that were important when the settlement started, such as Farms and Markets, are no longer needed and new buildings become important as the city grows, such as a Train Station and Railway Terminals.
After the final round is over and the City is built, players assess their contribution by counting the victory points earned during the game, as well as bonuses from buildings they have in play, and subtract a penalty for unpaid debt. The player with the largest score has contributed the most to the thriving city, and will then lend their name to it as well, as they are declared the winner of the game!
Fez {Avid Gamer}
"New Fun in the Old West"
Homesteaders is an excellent combination of bidding, resource management, and yes even a bit of civilization building –all wrapped up in an old west theme that works well and doesn't feel "pasted on."
The bidding mechanism is much like "Vegas Showdown" — folks bid for one of three types of lots (we are "homesteaders" building up a new town) in order to develop that lot. If you are out bid you may continue to bid on another lot or bid higher. Those who drop out are rewarded with a tech advance which helps with resources.
The resources in the game are fun and challenging –as there are quite a variety and they are represented by a nice, colorful assortment of bits (ranging from cows to apples to money…).
The game moves quickly as players vie for key lots so that they can build what they need and is tense and tight –but not too much. There is a lot of game in this box and everything is done in less than 2 hours. I highly recommend it.
Note on Components:
The first edition had some production issues due to failures by the manufacturer (Tasty Minstrel's Michael Mindes documents all his frustrations with this process on his blog) but the bits and the cards are great. The board and player screens were subpar. The second edition addresses all this and more and is fantastic. So get the 2nd edition if you care about such things. If you don't then you are in luck, because lst edition copies are floating around at excellent used prices and the game is great either way.
Macabee {Avid Gamer}
"Not only a great game, but it has Cowples!!!"
This game is right in my wheelhouse: an economic building game with multiple paths to victory and gorgeous bits. I have the first printing, bought directly from Michael Mindes at BGG two years ago, and fortunately had no problems with my copy, other than the misaligned counters. I hate the cardboard, and absolutely love the wood. None of that really matters, as the gameplay is the true star of this rodeo.
The game centers around two phases each turn: income/auction bidding, then resolution and building. The auction scales with the number of players, but I think it works best with four players. There is always one auction available less than the number of players (so one to three possible auctions per turn) and all bidding is concurrent: bidding begins with the starting player, and continues clockwise. When it's your turn to bid, you basically pick an auction and place your marker on the bid that you make. You can only bid if you have no bid down, or have been outbid; if you have a current bid you are locked into it. If you don't want to bid, you can pass, and advance of the tech track for your compensation, where you get something for nothing: ranging from a Trade token, through a railway, a resource of your choice, up to three VPs.
When all bids are locked in, you resolve each auction in turn. Winner of the first auction is the next starting player. Pay your bid, taking loans or selling goods as needed, then do what your auction bought you: generally each auction is for a zoning permit to build a building type: residential, industrial, commercial, or special. There are other types, or bonus options, but it's quite simple to figure out.
Most of the strategy, other than the auction bidding (and passing), is in exactly what building you choose to bid, and what economic engine you strive to build up.
There are many ways to get VPs: high end resources are worth two each at the end of the game, building can be worth VPs when you build them, others generate VPs during income, you get a VP for every good you sell; heck, you can even get VPs by passing!
There are some nice synergies that you can get with different combinations of buildings. Really, I find this one of my perfect games, and I love introducing new players to it.
kamus73 {Avid Gamer}
"Frequently Requested by All"
I think the thing I like most about Homesteaders is that on the edge feel, that each move by yourself and others can effect gameplay. It is that edginess that really delivers on the "homesteader" experience. You can just imagine Pa with his family and wagon heading out to the undiscovered country to scratch out a living on virgin soil. With nothing but options ahead of Pa, what does he do to ensure the survival of his family?
I think of Homesteaders as a slow burn. This is not a game with big moves that have big consequences. In this game, each round builds upon the last and leads to a very satisfying conclusion, even if you are not the victor.
The components are of excellent quality, and I even got one of the moisture damage copies. Still it has held up through repeated gameplay.
My group found it a bit of a challenge to learn, but after a play or 2 it is steady as she goes. There is a fair amount of set up (though not as much as some games), and for the sake of future plays I am always very careful about how I put it away. Nonetheless, these minor issues do not take away from the excellent experience. It is often requested by my gamer friends, and always delivers.
Jackieboy37 {Avid Gamer}
"Good bidding/worker placement, just a little dry..."
I'll start with this: I've only played a friend's copy of Homesteaders and the copy he got may have been an older print, but the original print of this game (I know that there was a second printing on the horizon) is kind of a mess. Apparently, they got the components made for cheap in China and so not only do a large number of copies have mold on a lot of the wooden pieces, but it has the cheapest game board I've ever seen. The wooden pieces are nice, and as it's been said, there are sweet cow pieces, but the printing/cutting/all around manufacturing of this game was of the cheapest quality. But we all know that getting a game made and published isn't easy, so I chose to look at the game as having character. If you're interested in Homesteaders, make sure you get the newer printing.
Best part about this game: it's got lots of euro strategy and only takes an hour. Or less. The rounds are short, and it doesn't take 20 min for each player to plan their move. I learned and played my first game in under the estimated playing time. Basically you have a worker placement phase, a bidding phase and then a buying phase. Really simple. If you've played Cyclades, the bidding feels a lot like that.
All in all, I enjoy Homesteaders, but its largest drawback to me is the theme- or lack thereof. It barely feels present. I know I'm supposed to be bidding on properties, but I just felt like I was bidding on cardboard. Just one more step up in production value might have done it for me. Homesteaders is fun, it has good strategy elements, but it's not one that I'm overly eager to play unless I'm looking to fill an hour.
turok12 {Avid Gamer}
"great brainburner in about an hour"
I have played a few times and absolutely love this "little" game. I say little because it seems so unassuming, in a smallish box, no flashy components, no real gameboard except the tiny auction board, and yet there is a surprising amount of depth to this game. The choices can instill analysis paralysis in some gamers easily right from the get go. I have not mastered this game at all, and each time have tried varying staregies with differing success. What I also love is that it plays so quickly. We generally finish in just over an hour, which I always find astounding because of the depth and number of decisions to make, as well I always love auctions in a game because it adds that unpredictable element that can vary a lot from game to game, depending on your group.
Overall, I really love this game. There is a reprint coming shortly, so if you missed it first time around, be sure to check it out, (considering the reprint should have substantially improved component quality, i cobnsider this a must buy)
Yehuda Berlinger {Power Gamer}
"Nearly Perfect"
I expected a lot from Alex Rockwell, famed strategy maven for Puerto Rico, and he managed to somehow exceed my expectations. While the game comes with a large but finite number of buildings, the possibilities, paths, and gameplay vary immensely. I've played 10 times or more, and I've come nowhere – nowhere – near to exploring the game space, and nowhere near formulating a perfect strategy. Yet, the game still rewards experience.
The pieces are mass produced but cute. The game requires a lot of resource swapping and can get a little finicky as it comes to an end. The board and player shields are a tad flimsy, which may be my only negative comment.
I absolutely love this game.
Tinman {Strategy Gamer}
"A good solid auction game."
The game is based around the auction mechanism. You are building towns in effect. Each turn you bid for the right to build a particular type or types of building and possibly to earn a game bonus such as an extra worker, etc… The number of options available is 1 less than the number of players playing so someone will always have to drop out. Money and/or trade tokens are needed to perform most actions and are of course always tight. There were no real surprises in terms of new mechanisms in the game, but it was put together well and the components are colorful and fun. If you like auction games you will like this one. I play games with my son who is an avid gamer and as a casual gamer I would say this borders on my limit for how "serious" a game I would ever play. It plays in about an hour and was not overwhelming me with rules and strategies.
Dave Peters {Avid Gamer}
"Dry and crunchy."
But like a nice cookie (biscuit in the UK) rather than an unappealing crust of stale bread.
The game presents a tight little optimization problem: each turn there's an Amun-Re-style auction for a building permit; the game arc comes from a gradual change in the structures available to build. Buildings provide various opportunities for your corner of town. The trick is getting the synergies right – or, at least, more right than your opponents managed. Money, workers, and resources are pretty tight.
All told, it's pretty cool – if a bit on the penny-counting edge of the game spectrum.
1 of 28 gamers found this helpful
J. Shoenberger
"Great, but not played much."
We really like this game, but it can be a bear for some of our friends. We don't play it too much, but we always love it when we do!
Add a Review for "Homesteaders"
Auction/Bidding, City Building, Economics, Resource Management
Avid Gamer, Casual Gamer, Power Gamer, Social Gamer, Strategy Gamer
🔍 Homesteaders
1 Rulebook
1 Auction Board
53 Building Tiles
30 Auction Tiles
4 Player Screens
1 Start Player Marker
4 Market Reference Tiles
8 Player Markers
25 Cowboy Worker Meeples
14 Wood
14 Food
14 Steel
10 Copper
10 Livestock
Debt, Rail, Silver, Trade, and Victory Point Tokens


Well, it seems I am capable of learning.
Last September, when I was working on my first Tea Leaves Cardigan, I was living and breathing that sweater. I knit in the morning between school drop-offs, I knit at the dentist's office, I knit while waiting for an oil change, I knit in the school pickup line, and I knit at night in front of the TV. So desperate was I to finish before the Sweater Weather gave way to Heavy Coat Weather, that I sacrificed all of my leisure time to that cardigan.
I finished it before the end of September. And I was so excited. And I had plenty of time to wear it. Like months of time. Like so much time that people started to notice how much I was wearing it. Like, "gee, that sweater looks familiar" amounts of time.
I needn't have rushed. Because even if it gets cold right away in October (which it won't), there's still all winter and much of the spring, where a cardigan will be appreciated. So what if I need an overcoat? It's not like I won't take the coat off when I get where I am going.
So here it is, September again, and I've once again given in to the Tea Leaves Cardigan itch. Only this time, I'm obsessing slightly less. I do grab the knitting bag to take with me for school pickup, but it's not the only way I am spending my free moments.
There's one other thing I am doing differently this time: customization. That's last year's sweater on the left, and the in-progress sweater on the right.
Who would have thought, three years ago, when I was still hesitant about knitting with needles at all, that I would not only be doing it, but I'd be making my 6th sweater? And changing the pattern on the fly? Not me.
The jury is still out on whether this change will be a good thing, but I am hopeful. I'll go into details when I have a finished sweater to show you, but essentially, I am replacing the garter stitch edges on the bottom and on the sleeves with a 2×2 rib. My goal is to make the sleeves less bell-like, so they don't get in the way when I'm trying to cook, work with clay, or anything else that requires my hands. Wish me luck!
I have both sleeves and the button band left to do, and then I'm done.
Wow! 6 sweaters in only 3 years? That's impressive. I haven't even completed one. This sweater is on my to-do list though. I look forward to seeing how your changes look on the finished sweater.
Well, two of them were with bulky yarn and one was sleeveless, so they didn't feel like as big of a deal as these Tea Leaves ones do. I have considered frogging three of my previous sweaters, in fact – they just aren't that good, LOL!
That's great. A bunch of us are starting on a project where we make a sweater in 8 weeks. But a month is super impressive.
Ooh, that sounds like fun! I should try a KAL sometime. I always am knitting alone.
I suspect this sweater will take more than a month in the end, but I'm trying to not be impatient and to be ok with that!
The first sweater was beautiful I can't wait too see the second.you may even inspire me to take on a larger project.
Thank you 🙂 It's funny, until I tried it myself, I never thought I could have the patience for a long-term project. And now I'm looking ahead to making more sweaters even before I am finished with this one, LOL!
I can still here the tap, tap, tap of my mother's knitting needles…..
I have done 2-at-a-time sleeves, and I agree it's great for consistency and for avoiding Second Sleeve Syndrome, but I don't like that I can't try the sweater on as I go. I have a tendency to get impatient and quit knitting the sleeves before they are really long enough for me. If I don't try it on first, I will end up with 3/4 sleeves, LOL!
I'm impressed by your prolific sweater creation. Really, 6??? It's not as if knitting is your only craft.
PS Green is my favorite color so I love your sweater choices.
Well, when you think about it, that's two per year: one in the fall, and one in the winter after Christmas. And the first few weren't very good, LOL!


text:
Diving Excursions
Cavern Tour
Cave Tour
Cave Courses
ABOUT CENOTES
A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Especially associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, cenotes were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings. The term derives from a word used by the low-land Yucatec Maya – ts'onot – to refer to any location with accessible groundwater. Cenotes are common geological forms in low latitude regions, particularly on islands, coastlines, and platforms with young post-Paleozoic limestones that have little soil development.
Cenotes are surface connections to subterranean water bodies. While the best-known cenotes are large open water pools measuring tens of meters in diameter, such as those at Chichén Itzá in Mexico, the greatest number of cenotes are smaller sheltered sites and do not necessarily have any surface exposed water. The term cenote has also been used to describe similar karst features in other countries such as Cuba and Australia, in addition to the more generic term of sinkholes. Cenote water is often very clear, as the water comes from rain water filtering slowly through the ground, and therefore contains very little suspended particulate matter. The groundwater flow rate within a cenote may be very slow. In many cases, cenotes are areas where sections of cave roof have collapsed revealing an underlying cave system. Cenotes around the world attract cave divers who have documented extensive flooded cave systems through them, some of which have been explored for lengths of 200 km (124 mi) or more.
That falls into the water below is slowly removed by further dissolution, creating space for more collapse blocks. The rate of collapse increases during periods when the water table is below the ceiling of the void, since the rock ceiling is no longer buoyantly supported by the water in the void. Cenotes may be fully collapsed creating an open water pool, or partially collapsed with some portion of a rock overhanging above the water. The stereotypical cenotes often resemble small circular ponds, measuring some tens of meters in diameter with sheer drops at the edges. Most cenotes, however, require some degree of stooping or crawling to access the water.
In the north and northwest of the Yucatán Peninsula, the cenotes generally overlie vertically extensive voids penetrating 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft) below the modern water table. However, very few of these cenotes appear to be connected with horizontally extensive underground river systems, with water flow through them being more likely dominated by aquifer matrix and fracture flows. In contrast, the cenotes along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula (within the state of Quintana Roo) often provide access to extensive underwater cave systems, such as Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Sac Actun and Sistema K'oox Baal.
The Yucatán Peninsula contains a vast coastal aquifer system, which is typically density-stratified. The infiltrating meteoric water (i.e., rainwater) floats on top of higher-density saline water intruding from the coastal margins. The whole aquifer is therefore an anchialine system (one that is land-locked but connected to an ocean). Where a cenote, or the flooded cave to which it is an opening, provides deep enough access into the aquifer, the interface between the fresh and saline water may be reached. The density interface between the fresh and saline waters is a halocline, which means a sharp change in salt concentration over a small change in depth. Mixing of the fresh and saline water results in a blurry swirling effect caused by refraction between the different densities of fresh and saline waters. The depth of the halocline is a function of several factors: climate and specifically how much meteoric water recharges the aquifer, hydraulic conductivity of the host rock, distribution and connectivity of existing cave systems and how effective these are at draining water to the coast, and the distance from the coast. In general, the halocline is deeper further from the coast, and in the Yucatán Peninsula this depth is 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft) below the water table at the coast, and 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft) below the water table in the middle of the peninsula, with saline water underlying the whole of the peninsula.
The Yucatán Peninsula has almost no rivers and only a few lakes, and those are often marshy. The widely distributed cenotes are the only perennial source of potable water and have long been the principal sources of water in much of the Yucatán Peninsula. Major Maya settlements required access to adequate water supplies, and therefore cities, including the famous Chichén Itzá, were built around these natural wells. Some cenotes like the Sacred Cenote in Chichén Itzá played an important role in Maya rites. Believing that these pools were gateways to the afterlife, the Maya sometimes threw valuable items into them. The discovery of golden sacrificial artifacts in some cenotes led to the archaeological exploration of most cenotes in the first part of the 20th century. Edward Herbert Thompson, an American diplomat who had bought the Chichén Itzá site, began dredging the Sacred Cenote there in 1904. He discovered human skeletons and sacrificial objects confirming a local legend, the Cult of the Cenote, involving human sacrifice to the rain god Chaac by ritual casting of victims and objects into the cenote. The remains of this cultural heritage are protected by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
SPELEO ZONE MEXICO
David Dusek
david@speleozone.com
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© Copyright - Speleo Zone, Made by AGG 2016


I will heading out this weekend for a camping trip and thought I'd share a motivational photo to help me get prepared for sleeping on the ground for a couple evenings here in the mountains.
This entry was posted in Black & White, Brevard, Camping, Hiking, Landscape, Leica, Leica M-E, Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 pre-ASPH, Mountains, Travel and tagged B&W, Landscape, Leica M-E, Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 pre-ASPH, mountains, Photography, Shower, Travel. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush transferring to UCF
Written By Thomas Lott
(Getty Images) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/omnisport/1f/d3/wimbush-brandon-usnews-090118-ftr-getty_1ec2h3asxndh51gckl9l6xwj8l.jpg?t=-1747666251&w=500&quality=80
Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush is transferring to Central Florida.
The grad transfer announced on Instagram on Tuesday he will be playing for the Knights next year.
The journey continues on... A sincere thank you to Notre Dame for giving me endless opportunities on and off the field. Words truly can not describe what this incredible University and the PEOPLE mean to me and always will mean to me. I'm truly thankful. Cannot say it enough. With that being said, I am excited to announce that UCF has granted me an awesome opportunity to play my last year of collegiate football for their great University. Thank you to Coach Heupel, and Coach Lebby for this incredible opportunity. Looking forward to winning em all! #GoIrish #GoKnights
A post shared by @ brandon_wimbush7 on Jan 15, 2019 at 8:37am PST
"The journey continues on," Wimbush wrote. "A sincere thank you to Notre Dame for giving me endless opportunities on and off the field. Words truly can not describe what this incredible University and the PEOPLE mean to me and always will mean to me. I'm truly thankful. Cannot say it enough.
"With that being said, I am excited to announce that UCF has granted me an awesome opportunity to play my last year of collegiate football for their great University. Thank you to Coach Heupel, and Coach Lebby for this incredible opportunity. Looking forward to winning em all!"
Vols legend Tee Martin returning to Tennessee as coach, report says
Former #NotreDame QB Brandon Wimbush announces on Instagram that he will graduate transfer to UCF. pic.twitter.com/wli1EyIBSr
— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) January 15, 2019
Wimbush led the Fighting Irish to a 10-3 record in 2017 as the team's starter. During that campaign, he threw for 1,870 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 804 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He started 2018 as Notre Dame's QB, but was replaced by Ian Book in Week 4 of the season.
Central Florida returns two quarterbacks with starting experience in McKenzie Milton and Darriel Mack, but Milton is recovering from a serious leg injury toward the end of the season. Mack started in place of Milton during the last part of the year.
Since Wimbush is a grad transfer, he can play immediately upon arriving to Central Florida.


When the boxes are shipped to the fixed out-feeds, the electrical control system will drive the cylinder to change the boxes direction. Than the boxes will go from straight line to the side out-feeds. When the boxes go out of the system, the pop-up wheels go back to the fixed station and receive the next box.
For different shapes of goods, the sorting efficiency is different. In theory the pop-up wheel sorting efficiency is 3500 pieces per hour. But cause of the difference of productions and the beat match of the system, suggested efficiency is 3000 pieces per hour.


Show your team pride with the Nike Manchester City 2018/19 Vapor Match third Short-sleeve Jersey, featuring next-generation VaporKnit technology.
Boasting official club details, the Nike Manchester City 2018/19 Vapor Match 3rd SS Jersey uses VaporKnit technology to wick sweat away from the body to keep the shirt lightweight and dry, while open-knit cooling zones aid breathability.
Manchester City FC crest and away-game colors show your team pride.


Rich in collagen and the healing properties of turmeric (anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory) this broth is badass for beautiful skin, hair and healthy joints. The secret ingredient may surprise you.
After that I was left alone, and I always did sell more skincare products than the other salespeople.
Nice skin is partly due to genetics, but lets not forget that we alter our genetics with daily choices we make; so beautiful skin is a choice.
Your skin is your largest organ, mostly made up of water, fats and protein. It is also a major detoxification pathway, so you never want to put anything on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth. Harsh chemicals can enter your bloodstream through the skin as well.
Collagen is the most plentiful protein in the human body and it provides strength and structure to your skin. Some types of collagen are stronger than steel ounce for ounce!
Collagen also aids in skin healing, but most collagen molecules are too large to pass through the skin. Supplementing with collagen, along with a healthy diet and toxin free lifestyle is a great way to help support healthy skin.
Chicken feet are so rich in collagen that this broth takes the consistency of gelatin when refrigerated. It will return to liquid state when reheated. Do not microwave.
Boil chicken feet in non-reactive pot filled with approx. 12 cups filtered water. Add onion and turmeric. Skim foam from top and reduce to slow boil. Add sea salt to taste. Simmer for 2 hours. Ladle into bowls and garnish with cilantro, green onions and minced ginger. My daughter likes it with fresh limes.
Where can I get organically raised chicken feet?


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Medindia » Lifestyle News
Gossiping With Your Friends is Actually Good for Your Health
by Dr. Trupti Shirole on May 5, 2015 at 7:46 AM
Do you love gossiping with your friends? Do not shy away from the habit as it is actually good for your health. A new study revealed that the act of keeping a secret exerts not only an emotional toll, but also physical damage. It is similar to carrying physical weight which can sap you of your energy.
Michael Slepian, assistant professor of negotiations at Columbia Business School, New York City and co-author of the study said, "Being preoccupied by a secret at work can be demotivating. The burden of secrecy can make things around you appear more challenging and if you're less motivated to tackle these challenges, your performance can suffer."
Malicious Gossips and Ostracism may Benefit the Society
The general notion about gossip and social exclusion in groups is that they are always malicious, undermining trust and morale.
Researchers carried out a series of experiments to assess the effect secrets had on a subject's ability to judge the steepness of a hill. Contrary to the assumption that women cannot wait to disclose the secret, it is men who are first to spill the beans. Thanks to social media, men no longer wait to see their friends in the pub and typically share a secret within three hours. While almost 50% of men admit to passing on the information within minutes of first being told about it, women will keep it to themselves for at least three and a half hours before passing it on.
Slepian said, "This is the same kind of outcome we see when people are carrying physical burdens, seeing the world as more challenging, forbidding and extreme."
Gossip in Beijing Targets Government and the Rich
A good number of rumours in Beijing usually target government officials and the rich, the state-run media said
'Positive' Gossip can Foster Self-reflection, Growth: Study
Researchers in a new study have studied the effect positive and negative gossip has on how the recipient evaluates him or herself.
Nearly 15 Percent Of Work Mails Made Up of Office Gossip
According to a new study from Georgia Tech it is estimated that average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day and about one out of every seven of those messages can be called gossip.
Gossiping With Your Friends is Actually Good for Your Health Personalised Printable Document (PDF)


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Nintendo Will Dominate 2019
E3 2019: Luigi's Mansion 3 Preview
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Link's Awakening Nintendo Switch Preview -- Game of the Show
Breath of the Wild 2 Trailer Analysis: Return of Ganondorf
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Wyatt Paulk
News, Video Games
E3 2019: Luigi's Mansion 3 Preview
E3 2019: Pokemon Sword and Shield Preview – More of The Same
Dr. Mario World Comes To iOS And Android This July
Hunter Ginn
Link's Awakening Nintendo Switch Preview — Game of the Show
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Metaphor for Life
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Featured Cosplayer: Chevalir Cosplay
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Underrated Anime: Sword of the Stranger
Underrated Anime: Ghost Hound
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Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5 Plot Summary
Game of Thrones Season 8 Ending Leaked – A Song of Ice & Fire
Game of Thrones Season 8 is Sexist
Rumor: Game of Thrones Season 8 Spoilers Leak Entirely
Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4 Leaked via Amazon Prime
The Last Jedi Tickets Go on Sale October 9
Film, News
Rumor: Rey's Parentage in The Rise of Skywalker Revealed
Star Wars Saga Blu-Ray Giveaway
The Genius of George Lucas – Visual Parallels in the Star Wars Saga
5.0Fantastic
Avengers: Endgame Review – A Cinematic Achievement
Paul Lopez
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Square Enix E3 2019 Recap
morgan.lewis@vgculture.com
If there's one word that encapsulates this remake of the GameBoy classic, it's endearing. I was seven years old when Link's Awakening came out for the GameBoy. Watching the opening cinematic of the game in fully rendered HD (and color) gave me chills down my spine and set the tone for yet another magical Zelda (and Nintendo) E3 experience. I played through the demo three times, meaning I had 45 minutes hands-on with Link's Awakening (possibly more than anyone at E3). My first playthrough, I explored a bit, tried to see what was the same, and what may have changed. On my second and third playthroughs, I tried to b-line to the dungeon and finish as much as I can. I didn't beat the dungeon, but I got fairly close, which is pretty good considering I haven't played it since I was a kid. That being said, I had a fairly full experience with the game. This may be the best game of E3 2019.
Link's Awakening Nintendo Switch Preview: Return to Koholint
The first thing that instantly popped out at me was how vivid the characters are. Link, Marin, Tarin; the artstyle allows them to be more expressive than ever before. It's a nice contrast to the melancholic tone of the story. The game is reminiscent of The Wind Waker in that sense; now that style has been translated into 2D space. The characters look adorable! Koholint Island has always been one of the more unique Zelda locales, even moreso than Termina, and the world has finally been brought to life. Exploring the overworld is continuous; there are no transitions. The depth perception is very cool; things far off in the distance are blurry but get sharper and clearer as you approach. Your sword and shield are equipped automatically, unlike the original game, so the two equip slots are freed up. The map allows you to set markers, like in Breath of the Wild, so you can easily remember to return to any given area.
Can you steal?
During my first playthrough, I simply wanted to explore and soak in the experience. The map is the same, beat for beat, but for the first time, it's alive. It's magical. This is how Koholint was always envisioned. The music is orchestrated with some incredible arrangements, namely with the Saxophone. As we were waiting in line, they played various arrangements from the soundtrack; it brought me to tears. The very first thing I did is to go down to the shore and get the sword. I passed the two boys playing and the BowWow in the yard. So nostalgic. After that, there was one thing I had to find out: can you still steal from the shop? Well, the answer is yes, but it is much more difficult than the original. I remember stealing all the time from the shop, returning, only to have the shopkeeper go all "Emperor Palpatine" on me. As a seven-year-old kid, that actually scared me! I couldn't steal, but the Nintendo reps assured me that you could, but only a handful of people had done it. I didn't want to waste my time, as I only had 15 minutes until the demo timed out.
Link's Awakening Nintendo Switch Preview: Classic Zelda
I was enamored..
The new Koholint is so immersive. It cannot be stressed enough. You can run around, talk to people, go fishing, explore, go to the dungeon, play minigames, etc., all within the span of this demo. While the world is bright and expressive, the tone of the game is melancholic, which is a sharp contrast. I have personally always maintained that Link's Awakening is darker than Majora's Mask. Link's Awakening is vintage Zelda, which is a breath of fresh air. Classic items and dungeons are back. Dungeons and puzzles have always been my favorite aspect of Zelda, and Link's Awakening has some of the best to offer in the series.
Link's Awakening Nintendo Switch Preview: Hoot!
A melancholic tale..
My path took me to the forest. As a test of my memory, I was able to get the dungeon key rather quickly with minimal help (I wanted to get to the dungeon!). In Link's Awakening, you have to obtain a key to enter each dungeon. Going through the dungeon was nostalgic, but at the same time refreshing. Puzzles are my favorite aspect of the Zelda series, and those were somewhat lacking in Breath of the Wild. The first dungeon isn't too hard, but with a 15-minute time limit, it's hard to complete. I was able to get the feather (one of my favorite Zelda items), which allows you to jump, and I almost got to the boss but failed to on my last attempt. My mistake my second playthrough is I didn't get the compass; I thought I could skip it and b-line through the dungeon. I was wrong. I did get 45 minutes hands-on with Link's Awakening though, so by my final run, I was fully acclimated.
Game of the Show
I've never gotten this far..
Link's Awakening for the Nintendo Switch was the best game that was playable at E3 2019. After going hands-on with the game for 45 minutes, I can say definitively that it will be the best 2D Zelda game ever made. The game is unmatched visually, the characters are expressive, the world is vibrant, and Koholint Island finally feels alive. The depth perception is incredible and everything on-screen is continuous. The best part about this demo is that you could do anything you want. For instance, you could play the crane minigame or go fishing. I chose to do neither. Everyone's experiences differed based on what they wanted to do. I'm lucky; I'm an E3 veteran and I know how to play the lines, so I played three times. Freedom is what Link's Awakening is all about, and the demo encapsulates this.
There was so much to take from a simple 15-minute demo. We haven't even played the dungeon-maker mode, which promises to be a whole new Zelda experience. Link's Awakening for the Nintendo Switch is shaping up to be the surprise game of the year. It may not win any Game of the Year awards, but, It's my most anticipated game of the year. It was by far the best game on the show floor at E3 this year, and I played roughly 25 games or so. Between Link's Awakening for the Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild 2, it seems that Nintendo really wants to keep the Zelda momentum going.
Link's Awakening is the perfect Zelda game to introduce to a brand new generation of fans. It will be adored by old and new. September 20 cannot come soon enough!
Founder/Editor-in-Chief
Morgan Lewis is a Video Game Journalist and is the Founder, Owner, and Editor-in-Chief of VGCultureHQ. He has been writing about games for over five years and has written over 1,500 articles during that timespan. He first fell in love with gaming when he received A Link to the Past for Christmas when he was six and is the guywazeldatatt. He also loves anime and anything that has to do with gaming culture and Tetsuya Takahashi games. He is also a huge anime and Star Wars fan.
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Gymnastic Classes
Hours & Holidays
Fit Kids Gymnastics Center
310-297-9550 Parent portal
Serving the community of El Segundo, we have two convenient locations in North Redondo Beach and Torrance.
Welcome to Fit Kids Gymnastics Center, where we serve the community of El Segundo while ceaselessly pursuing our mission of developing "healthy, successful, confident children." Your child's well being and development always comes first at Fit Kids, as we focus on building your child from the inside. Whether your child is enrolled in our gymnastics classes, tumbling classes, or summer gymnastics camps, our unique environment and fun loving teachers allow us to proudly proclaim: Fit Kids, "where learning is fun!"
For nearly 20 years, Fit Kids Gymnastics Center has been your best choice for all of your gymnastics needs:
Gymnastics Instruction
Cheerleader Tumbling
Tumbling for Dancers
Gymnastics Team
Summer Gymnastics Camps
School Holiday Gymnastics Camps
Fit Kids puts a priority on supporting the areas of:
And Surrounding Areas...
Contact Fit Kids Gymnastics Center for Gymnastics Instruction in El Segundo, Cheerleader Tumbling in El Segundo, Tumbling for Dancers in El Segundo, Gymnastics Team in El Segundo, Summer Gymnastics Camp in El Segundo, Birthday Parties in El Segundo, School Holiday Gymnastics Camp in El Segundo, Tumbling Classes in El Segundo, and in surrounding areas.
Below is some general information about El Segundo:
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. El Segundo, from Spanish, means The Second in English. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. The population was 16,654 at the 2010 census, up from 16,033 at the 2000 census.
he El Segundo and Los Angeles coastal area was first settled by the Tongva (or Gabrieleños) and Chumash Native American tribes hundreds of years ago. The area was once a part of Rancho Sausal Redondo ("Round Willow Patch Ranch"). Rancho Sausal Redondo extended from Playa Del Rey in the North to Redondo Beach in the South. Originally a Mexican land grant owned by Antonio Ygnacio Avila, the rancho was later purchased by a Scottish baronet named Sir Robert Burnett. After his return to Scotland, the property was purchased by then current manager of the rancho, Daniel Freeman. Daniel Freeman sold portions of the rancho to multiple owners. George H. Peck (1856–1940) owned the 840 acres (3.4 km2) of land the Chevron Refinery now sits on. Peck also developed land in neighboring El Porto where a street still stands to his name. The city earned its name ("the second" in Spanish) as it was the site of the second Standard Oil refinery on the West Coast (the first was at Richmond in Northern California), when Standard Oil of Californiapurchased the 840 acres (3.4 km2) of farm land in 1911.
The company was renamed Chevron in 1984, and the El Segundo refinery will soon enter its second century of operation. The city was incorporated in 1917.
The Douglas Aircraft Company plant in El Segundo was one of the major aircraft manufacturing facilities in California during World War II. It was one of the major producers of SBD Dauntless dive bombers, which achieved fame in the Battle of Midway. The facility, now operated by Northrop Grumman, is still an aircraft plant.
In 2006, El Segundo won an Eddy award for being the most business-friendly city in L.A. County. El Segundo is in transition from being a predominantly blue-collar 'company town' to being a 'corporate' town where the tax base relies on a non-resident working population. Pollution and toxic waste cleanup remain issues as El Segundo converts industrial sites to shopping malls and sports facilities. The north and south boundaries of the town are the LAX airport and Manhattan Beach, with the Pacific Ocean as the western boundary. Aircraft noise from LAX is a major issue for residents on the north side of El Segundo. Residents are currently active in tree-planting along Imperial Highway.
El Segundo is located at 33°55′17″N 118°24′22″W (33.921313, -118.406233).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14 km2), over 99% of which is land.
Information Source: El Segundo in Wikipedia
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Re: What does Open Source mean to you?
What does Open Source mean to you?
Open Source is more than just a technical product, we would love to hear your thoughts on what Open Source means to you!
This can be a technical description, leadership style, development workflow, mission, personal definition, thought process, etc.
This question is part of the 100K Member Contest - don't forget to kudo the original contest post to be entered.
AlexonOliveira
Flight Engineer
OpenSource instinctively embodies the concept of community, and that's why OpenSource for me is contributing, or giving back, to the community everything that the community gives me. And in general, it's being able to contribute to the world of technology, and all that it provides to the rest of the world, in a collaborative way.
Alexon Oliveira
Psehgaf
Open source has become a movement and a way of working that reaches beyond software production. The open source movement uses the values and decentralized production model of open source software to find new ways to solve problems in their communities and industries.
• ╚╬╦╬Psehgaft╬╦╬╝ ◦
Shubham_Chavan
Open Source is a contribution of all the creators and developers who work to resolved issue community facing without hoping for fruit.
Josh-K
Open source to me is a philosophy, a way of life. It's about being open, transparent, honest, collaborative, "growth" as opposed to "fixed", embracing failure and success - which includes the success of others! Open source is standing on one another's shoulders, instead of behaving like crabs in a barrel.
B4UCDi
It drives the world forward.
Yukio123
I think it's a great world of software engineers who can not only learn about the Open Source for free and copy left, but also the idea of source code and design ideas.
Open source is a powerful community where we can read, inspect and modify the source code as per our requirements.
AgustinGarciaRo
Is a place where we can be free to create and modelate new needs, if we are capable to imagine we also are able to code and share.
wengkee
Open Source is a way of working, an attitude, a way of advancing as a whole. Imagine a world without Open Source, we wouldn't be as advanced as we would like to be. Open Source harness the strength of communities, and achieve great things together. Open Source is a way of living, and it changes everyone's life forever.
Sandeep555
Couldn't find a better one than the official lines "Open-source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit."
Share your 2022 Learning Goals
RHLC June Challenge: What career did you want as a child and what are you doing now?
Configuring your shell environment