text:
Maserati and its values
Tales of GranTurismo
Maserati Club
Maserati Store
Maserati Events
Maserati News
Maserati PELLETESSUTA™ Interior
Fearless: A History of Determination, Defiance and Distinction
It was on December 1, 1914, in Bologna that the Maserati brothers founded Maserati, a marque destined for greatness in motoring history. From the start, the Maserati business was a workshop, operating in Bologna, at No. 1 Via de' Pepoli. Here the Maserati brothers began working on their own car designs from the outbreak of the First World War.
Once World War I was over, Alfieri was determined to get his dream back on the road. He found a vacant bottle factory in the Pontevecchio district, at number 179, Frazione Alemanni, Bologna. The new premises were large enough for the Maserati brothers to move there with their families, and it was here that the business acquired the name of Officine Alfieri Maserati SA. In the meantime, during the war, Alfieri Maserati had also opened a spark plug factory in Milan under the name Fabbrica Candele Maserati; this also moved to Bologna in 1919.
During the 1920s and '30s, the Maserati garage continued to turn out racing cars for sale all over the world, while also producing road cars with all the marque's distinctive elegance combined with formidable performance achieved on the racing circuit. In 1937, when the Orsi family took over management of the company, Maserati moved from its original headquarters in Bologna to a location in Modena, on Viale Ciro Menotti, where some of the marque's key sports and GT cars are still designed and built today.
1900-1920: The early years
1900 – A family passion
The Maserati story began during Italy's period as a monarchy, with railroad worker Rodolfo Maserati, his wife, Carolina Losi, and their seven children. Rodolfo was, in a certain sense, a man of the future, and from him the Maserati brothers would inherit their passion for speed. By the turn of the new century, the family was complete. Youngest son Ettore was born in 1894, while eldest son Carlo, born in 1881, had already begun his career.
1900 – Carlo Maserati: From bicycles to engines
Eldest son Carlo Maserati designed his first single-cylinder engine at the age of 17, and before the end of the year was hired by Fiat as a test driver. While in Turin, he designed a new single-cylinder engine in his spare time, which he put into a wooden car chassis. This could be considered, in some respects, the birth of the first Maserati.
1903 – Carlo Maserati aims high
Carlo Maserati left Fiat in 1903 and was hired by Isotta Fraschini as a test driver and assistant in the test center. While he was there, he brought in his brother Alfieri, who was only 16 at the time. When Carlo finally left Isotta Fraschini in 1908, Alfieri remained. In 1908, in his Isotta Fraschini number 41, Carlo participated in the Gran Prix des Voiturette in Dieppe. He finished in 14th place, first among the four-cylinder cars.
1908 – The death of Carlo
In 1909, Carlo Maserati founded his own company. He had not lost his passion for cars, of course, but the goal of this new business was the design and production of a superior airplane. Carlo immediately began working on this project, but in 1910, a lung illness put an end to his life and his dreams. The loss was devastating for his brothers, but Carlo remained a shining example who would never be forgotten. At this point, responsibility fell on the shoulders of Alfieri.
1913 – Alfieri's first workshop
On December 1, 1913, Alfieri moved to Bologna, where he started a service center for Isotta Fraschini. But soon, following in the footsteps of Carlo, he decided to go it alone, involving his brothers in his new business. The result was the founding of Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati, a car garage with an attached workshop at No. 1 Via de' Pepoli. Five months later, Italy was at war. Alfieri and Ettore were enlisted for military service.
1914 – A new address for the Maserati workshop
When the war ended, Alfieri sought to kick-start activities. He found a bottle factory in July 1914 and moved the production of spark plugs there, having begun producing them in Milan during the Great War. At last, a sign above the three large windows now officially declared that the Officine Alfieri Maserati SA was in business.
1915 – War doesn't stop the Maserati brothers
When Italy entered the war, the Maserati brothers were conscripted but remained well behind the battle lines. In fact, by designing and producing special spark plugs for aircraft engines, the army benefited from their technical expertise.
1918 – D'Annunzio flies with Maserati spark plugs
Spark plugs patented by Alfieri with mica insulation were used on the SVA planes. On August 9, 1918, poet Gabriele d'Annunzio flew one of these planes when he famously attacked Vienna, a feat that greatly contributed to his legendary status.
The beginning of a dream
At the beginning of the 20th century, engines were not at all reliable and a large proportion of malfunctions were caused by their electrical systems. In 1907, Carlo Maserati changed the voltage of his Bianchi electrics, thereby solving ignition failure inside the combustion chamber. This improved reliability considerably, giving better performance and more continuous power output.
Alfieri went on to discover that some of the problems with the spark plugs were due to their poor insulation, so he developed a new model using mica insulation, a special mineral that allowed engines to perform much better, improving their reliability considerably.
1920-1940: Rivals and records
1920 – The Trident: Mario Maserati's creation
Alfieri, Ernesto and Ettore worked intensely on the creation of the first Maserati. However, their brother Mario, an artist who knew nothing about engines, was called in to design the logo. Mario chose to use one of the most iconic symbols of Bologna: the trident from the statue of Neptune in Piazza Maggiore, a symbol of strength and vigour. He also adopted the red and blue from the banner of the city of Bologna, which to this day remain the colours of Maserati.
1922 – Alfieri takes Diatto to victory
After completely redesigning its engine, Alfieri won the Susa-Moncenisio race in a Diatto at the extraordinary average speed of 69 km/h. Teamed with Ernesto, he repeated the feat shortly afterward in the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo run.
1925 – Diego de Sterlich: A noble friend
Alfieri Maserati went back to racing in 1920, first in a SCAT model and then later in a four-cylinder Nesseldorf. The results were not exceptional, but they made him all the more determined to create the first real Maserati.
1932 – Racing world mourns Alfieri
In 1932, Alfieri died during surgery at just 44 years of age. Following a serious accident in 1927, his only remaining kidney had been weakened. In an effort to save it, doctors attempted a drastic operation, but unfortunately to no avail. Bologna came to a standstill. Those present at the funeral procession included the most notable drivers of the era, from Nuvolari and Nazzaro to Minoia, Borzacchini, Campari and the Marquis de Sterlich. The huge loss was widely felt, particularly by the Maserati family and the company. Bindo Maserati left Isotta Fraschini to rejoin his brothers, who appointed him company chairman. The young but talented Ernesto would undertake technical responsibilities. The new Tipo V5 made its successful debut and the brand continued to prosper despite a difficult economic situation.
1933 – The great Nuvolari
In 1933, Tazio Nuvolari arrived at Maserati. Having fallen out with Enzo Ferrari, who did not want him as an equal partner, the legendary driver decided to race for Maserati. Driving the 8CM, he won the Belgian GP, the Ciano Cup, the Nice GP and the Tourist Trophy. The 8CM was the evolution of its predecessor, the 8C, with suspension redesigned by Ernesto Maserati. The front chassis was made more rigid on the suggestion of the driver. They kept on working together until 1934, although Nuvolari never became part of the official team. He bought a car instead, and with Ernesto supplying technical assistance, continued to race as a private driver.
1937 – Partnership with Orsi
Maserati was under sustained pressure from the new German entries, Mercedes and Auto Union, strongly supported by the government of the Third Reich. Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo understood that the company needed a decisive change of direction, and they welcomed the collaboration of famous Italian entrepreneur Adolfo Orsi. In 1937, Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo sold the entire company to him. However, they continued to assume various management responsibilities in the two separate companies.
1939 – A win at Indianapolis
The first product of the Orsi-Maserati era was unveiled in March 1938. This was the 8CTF (8 Cylinder Fixed Head). Maserati saw its first American victory in 1939 with their 8CTF model, renaming it "The Boyle Special." Maserati was the first Italian manufacturer to win the prestigious title, and they succeeded in repeating the feat the following year.
Innovation, from the beginning
Maserati has always focused on developing innovative engineering solutions. One fundamental factor behind its race victories has been research into ultra-light alloys. Since the beginning, Maserati has constantly been on the lookout for stiffer, lighter materials to improve the dynamic performance of its cars, first on the track and then on the road, giving customers unrivalled sports handling and sheer enjoyment.
1940-1960: Worldwide acclaim
1940 – New headquarters, new opportunities
By the outbreak of the Second World War, Maserati had left Bologna for Modena. However, for the duration of the war they had to forgo race-car production and concentrate on producing spark plugs and other items critical to the war effort. In this period, Maserati Spark Plugs and Batteries continued to supply Maserati Auto with the batteries it needed for its electric vehicles produced between 1940 and 1945.
1946 – Maserati A6: The first Pininfarina Gran Turismo
At the beginning of March 1946, the prototype of what can be considered the first GranTurismo, the first Maserati destined for daily use and not for racing, was unveiled at the Geneva Car Show. It was christened simply A6 in honour of Alfieri and 6, denoting the number of cylinders. Its design and originality were immediately appreciated by the public and production began in earnest. In 1948, at the Turin Motor Show, Maserati exhibited the first A6 1500 model, with incredible styling by the renowned designer Battista Farina.
1946 – Victory in Nice and the end of an era
The Maserati victory at the Grand Prix in Nice in 1946 carried a huge symbolic value, as World War II was finally over. The civilian world was working again. Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo Maserati left the company and returned to Bologna. They opened a new company, O.S.C.A. (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili—Fratelli Maserati S.p.A.), where they dedicated themselves exclusively to the design, development and construction of racing cars.
1950 – dawn of Formula 1
1950 marked the start of what, four years later, would become Formula 1. Maserati was there from the very first race, though based upon the rules of the series' first phase, Maserati's cars were still classed as F2.
1954 – The Fangio era
Juan Manuel Fangio won both the Argentinean and Belgian Grand Prix races in 1954. Following this, the Argentine driver, already racing for Mercedes, returned to Stuttgart and then to Ferrari. But the crowning achievement of his career was yet to arrive, and it would be behind the wheel of a Maserati. In 1954, the World Championship rules changed, and Maserati was once again out in the lead with the 250F. Its debut saw an immediate victory.
1956 – The great Ferrari-Maserati duel
In 1956, Formula 1 became a family duel between the rivals from Modena: Ferrari and Maserati. Modena was a city divided, half rooting for one team and half rooting for the other. On Sundays the cars squared off on the track. On Monday mornings, the winning fans enjoyed bragging rights in the bars and under the colonnades in the city center.
1957 – The big turnaround
After Maserati's huge win in 1957, a series of financial challenges forced Adolfo Orsi to close down certain parts of his industrial empire, including the sports division. It was an enormous sacrifice, but heralded the beginning of a turnaround which would focus exclusively on the automobile sector.
1957 – most spectacular victory
The famous Juan Manuel Fangio came back to Maserati in 1957. He won four of the eight Grands Prix needed to win the world title: Argentina, Monaco, France and, most importantly, Germany. It was in fact on the Nürburgring circuit that, on Sunday, August 4, the extraordinary Argentinean pilot recorded the biggest victory of his career to become world champion for the fifth and final time.
1960–1980: La dolce vita and presidential status
1960 – The White Lady and the Shah of Persia
The Dama Bianca, or White Lady, as the first prototype of the 3500 GT was known, was Maserati's answer to the luxury sports-car market during the economic boom years. Maserati soon launched the GTi, a fuel-injected version of the GT, in 1961. The Shah of Persia was impressed by the White Lady, but he wanted something even more exclusive. The famous engineer Giulio Alfieri took up the challenge by putting the V8 engine of the 450 S into a GranTurismo. The "Shah of Persia" is still considered to be one of the most desirable cars of its era by collectors and car historians. With its gold and precious wood finishes, it was the most exclusive and luxurious car in the world.
1961 – Another Maserati win
Even though Maserati had abandoned the race track, the desire for racing remained in its blood. It was at this time that engineer Giulio Alfieri created the legendary Tipo 60. Known by its nickname "Birdcage," it did not appear in official races under the Maserati name, though it was used by the most prestigious racing teams and won important races, with two consecutive wins in 1960 and 1961 at the Nürburgring 1000 km, as well as other, even more important victories in the USA.
1961 – The Birdcage chassis
Maserati's chief engineer Giulio Alfieri developed an absolutely revolutionary chassis, designed to be lightweight but extremely rigid, delivering outstanding performance and superb handling. Called the Birdcage chassis, it was an ingenious structure that made the new Maserati race cars extremely competitive. This chassis provided the basis for five different cars, the Maserati Tipo 60, Tipo 61, Tipo 63, Tipo 64 and the modern Birdcage 75th.
1963 – Success of the Quattroporte at the Turin Motor Show
The idea of mounting a Maserati race engine into a luxury sedan was suggested to Commendatore Orsi by journalist Gino Rancati. At the Turin Motor Show in 1963, Maserati stunned the auto world with the introduction of the Quattroporte, the fastest sedan in the world. In the same year, the lightweight, sporty and powerful Mistral was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. It was the first Maserati to be identified with the name of a famous wind.
1965 – Pavarotti at the wheel of the Sebring
The Sebring evolved from the 3500 GT. Fresh from his latest success at Covent Garden in London, Luciano Pavarotti, the young tenor from Modena, treated himself to a Sebring. It was the beginning of a lasting relationship between Maserati and the great Maestro.
1967 – The Ghibli, Giuguaro's first masterpiece
From the mid-1960s, Maserati would become famous for its association with well-known Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. His first project, the V8-powered Ghibli, was launched at the Turin Motor Show in 1966 and was an instant success. Maserati originally planned to produce only 100 cars but production was immediately increased to 400. In fact, it remained in production until the end of 1972, and a total of 1,295 examples were made, both in Coupé and Spyder and versions.
1970 – An era of big changes
The Orsi family decided to invigourate their company by taking on a new partner, Citroën. The company was reorganized and became more structured under the influence and corporate example of the French carmaker. Many other changes occurred during the 1970s. The Orsi family finally withdrew and Citroën sold their stake to Gepi, an Italian state-owned company directed by the Italo-Argentinean entrepreneur Alejandro de Tomaso.
1971 – The Maserati Bora: Giugiaro does it again!
Renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro created his new masterpiece, the Bora, in 1971. Similarly unforgettable was the Merak, described by Adolfo Orsi Jr. as the "little sister" of the Bora. At the Geneva Motor Show in 1972, Giugiaro presented a futuristic looking coupé called the Boomerang. Although never put into production, it is still considered one of his most celebrated and "irreverent" concept cars in Maserati's history. The Boomerang was an extremely futuristic design, conceived to look far into the future, launching a wedge-shaped form which would later be used on several other cars. It featured daring lines and a body that was very low, wide and aerodynamic. It was a real racing car conceived for the road.
1978 – The presidential car
In 1978, Sandro Pertini, the Italian wartime resistance fighter who had become Head of State, chose the Quattroporte Royale as his official car. It was in use until 1985. President Pertini always rode in this car, even during a notable visit to Maranello when Enzo Ferrari refused to meet the presidential Maserati upon its arrival, in acknowledgment of the long rivalry between the two famous companies in Modena.
1980–present: Then and now
1980 – Always the protagonist
The Maserati Quattroporte was considered to be synonymous with elegance and style, so much so that it appeared in many films in the 1980s. Sylvester Stallone chose it as boxer Rocky Balboa's car in Rocky III (1982) while it was used by David Cronenberg in two films, The Fly (1982) and The Dead Zone (1983).
1981 – The success of the Biturbo
The Biturbo was the most symbolic car of the 1980s, and would end up being the most widely produced Maserati of all time. In its multiple versions and evolutions between 1982 and 1993, approximately 37,000 were built.
1993 – Ferrari, from rivals to partners
For Maserati, the future began in 1993 when the company was acquired by the Fiat Group. Giovanni Agnelli, with incredible foresight, understood the enormous potential of this still-small Italian icon of excellence. The company was headed by Luca di Montezemolo, president and CEO of Ferrari. The partnership between the two most famous car manufacturers in Modena was destined to become even more famous than their old rivalry.
1998 – 3200 GT, Giugiaro's new coupé
The first achievement of the Ferrari management was to push for the completion of an ongoing project. The 3200 GT was a coupé designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro that had originally been launched at the Paris Motor Show of 1998. However, it was immediately decided that the coupé would be upgraded with an engine produced in Maranello. From this revolutionary concept, the Spyder was born, the car which marked the return of Maserati to the United States.
2001 – Conquering the USA
After a 12-year absence from the American market, Maserati returned to the United States in 2001. A car manufacturer able to pass the quality and safety tests in the USA was ready for any challenge, and it is no coincidence that this return was celebrated in great style during the gala evening at the Italian American Cancer Foundation. The Maserati Spyder, the first real Maserati with an engine from Maranello, was the star of the charity auction. The winning bid of $130,000 was made by an Italian banker based in Milan and New York.
2003 – Maserati celebrates the return of Pininfarina
After the release of the first GranTurismo model almost half a century earlier, famous Italian designer Pininfarina returned to create a new Maserati Quattroporte. The arrival of the Quattroporte completed the Maserati range and significantly increased sales. The Quattroporte boasted a further claim to fame when a second Italian president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, chose it as his official state car.
2004 – World champions, again and again and again
In 2004 Maserati returned to winning on the track with its extraordinary racer, the MC12, which amassed an impressive haul of trophies. Maserati's participation in the FIA GT from 2005 to 2010 was crowned with 14 titles and 19 victories. These included two Manufacturers Cups (2005 and 2007), five Driver Championships (Bartels-Bertolini in 2006, Thomas Biagi in 2007, and Bartels-Bertolini in 2008, 2009 and 2010); six Team Championships (uninterrupted since 2005, by the Vitaphone Racing Team); one Citation Cup in 2007 by gentleman driver Ben Aucott, JMB Racing; in addition to three absolute victories in the Spa 24 Hours (2005, 2006 and 2008).
2005 – Birdcage 75th concept car
This concept car was created in 2005 to celebrate the 75th birthday of Sergio Pininfarina, using the name and imitating the innovative character of the iconic Maserati Birdcage cars that played such a starring role in 1960s motorsport. A dream car, it showcased futuristic technical features including a dome to protect the occupants, which gave an extremely streamlined look and a design that immediately earned a place in the history books.
2007 – GranTurismo becomes a huge success
Following the Quattroporte, famous designer Pininfarina created a new coupé which would have a profound impact on the history of Maserati. Incredibly beautiful, the GranTurismo won acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007.
2013 – Maserati Ghibli
A perfect combination of design, sports performance and comfort, the Ghibli sedan featured simple, elegant lines, enhanced by the use of exquisite materials. Defined by sculpted lines, its form generated a sense of motion. A grand-tourer with unmistakable refinement and unrivaled performance, the Ghibli was quick, responsive and luxurious, drawing on all of Maserati's experience and history.
2013 – Maserati Quattroporte
The sixth-series Maserati Quattroporte came from the great Quattroporte tradition, maintaining an unmistakable, timeless silhouette in a larger, even more capable design. Conceived from a fresh, modern perspective, it combined the luxurious soul of a limousine and the spirit of a grand-touring sports car.
2014 – Alfieri Concept Car
The Alfieri Concept Car, debuted at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show, presented more than just a concept. It was a statement; further proof of Maserati as a sporting marque to its very core, and paving the way for the continuation of Maserati's racing legacy.
Visit the Maserati eStore
Every Maserati is like a work of art constructed with the care and attention that only the human hand can provide. Commission your very own Maserati and customize it to fit your needs.
Ghibli S Q4
Starting from $ 99,000
Acceleration (0-100 km/h)
4.7 sec 1
Levante S
Starting from $ 103,500
Levante GTS
Levante Trofeo
Quattroporte S Q4
GranTurismo Convertible Sport
GranTurismo Convertible MC
Access your own Maserati using your unique configuration ID.
Recall by VIN
© 2019 Maserati Canada, Inc. All rights reserved. Maserati and the Trident logo are registered trademarks of Maserati SpA.
Maserati North America strives to ensure that its website is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Should you encounter an issue accessing any content on Maserati.ca please contact our Customer Service Team at https://www.maserati.ca/maserati/ca/en/contact-us or 877-696-2737 for further assistance or to report a problem. Access to Maserati.ca is subject to Maserati North America's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Some images may show European models.


American Girl Wardrobe Closet. There are bunches regarding wardrobe design ideas wonderfully designed in order to cater the particular needs of today's generation, beside for the storage needs it can in addition be used for the reason that outfitting table by adding the mirror into the section with the wardrobe. Wardrobes have got been a necessary part regarding visually boosting the beauty of the room. Typically the design of your almirah might go hand in palm with the interior in addition to décor theme of the actual room for a lovely finish.
If you are looking for American Girl Wardrobe Closet, take inspiration from our gallery of beautiful american girl wardrobe closet plans, to make the most of your compact American Girl Wardrobe Closet. Try these American Girl Wardrobe Closet and layouts to make the most of your space.
This post published on Sunday, February 25th, 2018 . Read Bedroom Wardrobe Cabinets or find other post and pictures about Wardrobes.


text:
Habits of Excellence Weekly Newsletter
Hacking the Habit Loop.
Cue + Routine = Reward
"A habit is a formula our brain automatically follows: When I see CUE, I will do ROUTINE in order to get a REWARD." - Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
When someone joins Alcoholics Anonymous, they are actively hacking the habit of drinking.
Every habit, as Charles Duhigg lays out in his book The Power of Habit, contains a Cue, a Routine, and a Reward. By going to meetings instead of a bar, alcoholics are substituting a different Routine into their Habit Loop.
From The Power of Habit:
The most often-cited Cue for the habit of drinking is a feeling of loneliness.
When an alcoholic feels lonely (Cue), they go out to a bar to get a drink (Routine), and are able to socialize with other people (Reward).
Many alcoholics say they do not drink for the physical intoxication, for the loss of motor reflexes, or for the slurred speech. Even the brilliant dance moves - not a reward for heavy drinkers. The real reward is a connection with other people, which is something that the meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous provides.
By having regular meetings, where people can socialize and share their stories, and by assigning every new member to a Sponsor, the Reward of human interaction is preserved in a new habit.
Now, when an alcoholic feels lonely (Cue), they can go to a meeting (Routine), and have social interaction (Reward).
By replacing the Routine of a habit, you can use the same Cue and Reward to hack the habit loop.
[clicktotweet]
"Simply understanding how habits work - learning the structure of the habit loop - makes them easier to control," says Duhigg. "Once you break a habit into it's components, you can fiddle with the gears."
This is enormously useful if you are having trouble breaking a habit.
Instead of stopping the habit entirely, identify its Habit Loop (Cue, Routine, and Reward) and substitute the Routine you want to change with something else, a new Routine that has the same Cue and Reward.
This way, when the Cue presents itself in the future, you can institute a different Routine along the same neural trackways laid down by your previous habit. The new habit will be easier to implement than quitting your bad habit cold turkey, and gives you an immediate direction in which you can displace your cravings.
What's one habit you are trying to change? Take a moment right now to write down the Cue, Routine, and Reward in this Habit Loop. Select a different Routine for this habit, so when the Cue happens in the future, you will be ready.
CAELAN HUNTRESS
Father of 3. Blogger. Parkour athlete. Digital media producer. Former superhero.
Follow me on Twitter and Medium.
Subscribe to the Habits of Excellence weekly newsletter.
Copyright © 2015 Habits of Excellence, All rights reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


You can support the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation through donations and charitable giving. The most common forms of giving are cash, but there are other types of assets that may be donated. Planned giving options have favorable financial and tax benefits. Your tax-deductible gift may be given in the name of someone that you want to honor or memorialize.
Your tax deductible contribution positively impacts the lives of thousands of people and builds support for and awareness of public art. Public art project sponsorship offers significant philanthropic and marketing opportunities.
Public art contends with a complex urban environment full of unpredictable activities: frequent use, pollution, little security, and the power of natural elements can contribute to wear or damage. While public art may pose myriad conservation challenges, its enhancement of civic life more than justifies the effort to preserve it in public spaces. Our public spaces are critical to a civic life that honors and celebrates our humanity and history. The public art conservation program is built on three basic components: assessment, maintenance, and treatment. It needs your support to ensure that public art continues to enrich our environment, prompt us to ask questions, and feed our imaginations.
Your gifts to this fund support the public art conservation program. Art conservation involves the examination, interpretation, analysis, conservation and care of public art projects. The GDMPAF works with professional conservators to understand the creation and production of public art in order to ensure its preservation for future generations.


According to the press release, Stratasys will pay up to $295M for Solid Concepts, a company with $65M in revenue in 2013. Solid Concepts has six service centers within the US and another based in Shenzen, China, meaning Stratasys' acquisition of the company will give them even greater reach and brand recognition among engineers and designers looking to use state-of-the-art 3D printing technology.
In addition to Solid Concepts, Stratasys will acquire Harvest Technologies, a smaller but equally adept service bureau based in Belton, Texas. While the terms of the Harvest deal have not been disclosed, Stratasys stated the new firms will form a conglomerate with Stratasys' existing Red Eye service bureau to better meet customer demand for AM design solutions.
With both bureaus capable of manufacturing via laser sintering, SLS and SLA, their acquisition might offer Stratasys greater insight into the people and technologies of this still evolving industry. Having an arm of the company that can serve an AM customer's every need can only help their larger business plan.


HYDE Joined Twitter & Instagram | VKH Press – J-Rock & Visual Kei Coverage Worldwide!
HYDE fans, we have good news for you!
You are finally able to follow him on Twitter and Instagram since he started his own accounts back in August!
Moreover, his tweets and photo descriptions are in Japanese as well as in English, so foreign fans shouldn't have any problems to understand his messages.


text:
About Junior Judo
Junior Judo is taught and personally supervised by George Kerr. Classes take place in specially designed, purpose-built premises at The Club, West Bowling Green Street.
Classes are small, and take place weekly. Boys and girls of all abilities are welcome. We have a class for every age from 4 to 15.
Whether the aim is to simply to explore and enjoy the exhilarating physical activity of judo in a safe, controlled setting, or to progress through the sport to competitive level, all can be assured of the very best teaching available anywhere in Scotland.
Teaches confidence while building strength and flexibility.
A sport for all: no special skills or abilities needed.
A great way to keep fit and maintain healthy weight.
Rewards achievement with progress through judo grades.
The JJ Club Team
Our experienced coaches for all levels
George Kerr
About George Kerr with link to personal page here...
Roger Bornowski
Instructor - 3rd Dan
Rodger has been active in Judo since the early 1970s. He achieved his 1st Dan "black belt" in 1977, an active competitor for almost 20 years he has won medals at every level. Rodger has extensive knowledge of Kata which he has demonstrated on many occasions with George. In 1988, he took part in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Budokwai Judo Club, demonstrating Kata at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Rodger achieved his 3rd Dan in May 2013. Rodger has a background in fitness and training, along with all the Judo instructors he is a fully qualified first aider.
Oscar Di Domenico
Got my black belt when I was 15, and was the first member from the club to get it. Been in team GB since I was 17, first and only from the club and was in the u21 British team when I was still u18 Represented my country all over the world, Russia, Japan, Brazil etc Represented team gb in Brazil for a pre Olympic event televised in Brazil reaching over 15 million people European cup medalist Top ranked player in Britain at -81kg for u21
Liam Mckay
One of our young and enthusiastic coaches… •	Started training with George at the age of 5 at George's hillside terrace club and moved here to The Club with George •	Was offered a coaching position at the age of 17 to fulfil a desire to follow a path in coaching rather than performance or competitive judo •	Achieved an HNC in Fitness, Health and Exercise at Edinburgh College and is currently studying and HND in Coaching and Developing Sport •	Currently takes 3 of our junior classes under the supervision of George •	Liam quote - "Believe in yourself and your abilities, and there will come a day when you succeed"
Frank Taylor
Instructor - Level 2
Frank has been an active Judoka since his early 30s. Now a level two coach, he competes regularly in World Master Events. In 2003 in competed in the World Masters in Japan, in 2004 he won bronze in the European Masters, in 2006 in the Commonwealth Masters Championships he won silver. Between 2008 and 2012 he has four further bronze and silver medals. In 2011 he was invited by Kosei Inoune, World and Olympic Champion, to train at Tokai University for a month. Frank now works with George at the Junior Judo Club and is responsible for the new Senior Judo practice.
Club Gallery
Have a look at our facilities


The NSA is collecting e-mail and instant messaging contacts from people worldwide in an attempt to keep an eye on relationships that suspects have with others, the USA Today reported.
The idea is to identify any troubling relationships.
"You need the haystack to find the needle," said Gen. Keith B. Alexander, NSA director, as saying in defense of the bulk collection.
Many of the email contacts are from Americans.
NSA officials couldn't be reached for comment.
Posted: 10/15/13 at 8:34 AM under News Story.


text:
Aeolian Islands Expedition 2018
The Aeolian Islands are group of volcanic islands located in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily. Here, emblematic species like the loggerhead sea turtle, sperm whale, swordfish and bluefin tuna can be found swimming in its waters.
Story Map
HomeExpeditionsAeolian Islands Expedition 2018
The final video Aeolians 2018 from Oceana on Vimeo.
Italy's Aeolian archipelago is a group of seven volcanic islands located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, to the north of Sicily. The waters here are home to emblematic species like loggerhead sea turtle, sperm whale, swordfish, and bluefin tuna, and to rare habitats, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents. However, deep-sea areas in the Aeolians remain relatively unexplored, and little is known about the marine organisms that live on the underwater volcanic slopes and seamounts.
In contrast, we do know about the environmental impacts that affect the islands: overfishing, bycatch of threatened species, pollution… Every year the islands are visited by more than 200,000 tourists and the number of yachts anchoring on their coasts are also growing. These pressures threaten both the marine biodiversity of the area, and the livelihoods of local people who depend upon marine resources.
Such pressures on marine life are typical across most of the Mediterranean. This sea is one of the planet's major biodiversity hotspots, but protection of vulnerable and important areas – particularly deep-sea areas – is lacking. One major reason why deep-water areas have not been protected is because of limited scientific information.
To address this lack of data and to contribute to the protection of this special area, we will be using the Ranger — which previously sailed through these waters in 2007 and 2008 — and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), with the ability to film videos, take photographs, and collect samples down to a depth of one thousand metres. The results of the expedition will be used in the scope of the Aeolian Islands Project of the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) in collaboration with the Aeolian Island Preservation Fund, which are working towards the designation of a marine protected area in the Aeolians, alongside sustainable fisheries and development.
The Ranger sailing near the Aeolian Is. off Stromboli (2007)
This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of IF International Foundation, Pictet Charitable Foundation, SmileWave Fund and several individual donors.


text:
Bengals' play is arresting
A month or so ago, it looked like the Cincinnati Bengals might finish with more player arrests than wins this season. OK, so that might not change, but it's only because the Bengals' winning has matched their arrest record.
That's not exactly a franchise goal, but one reason their eighth player arrest of the season has been muted is because the Bengals are playing so well. They have won four straight and only one has been within a touchdown.
Though two of the wins have come against Cleveland and the Raiders, the Bengals also beat New Orleans by 15 and won a defensive battle with Baltimore.
Contrast that with Indianapolis, which has lost two straight after a 10-1 start. And the Colts enter this game with major questions about their defense, having allowed 44 points and 375 yards rushing in a loss at Jacksonville last week.
Suddenly, the questions again are being asked about quarterback Peyton Manning and if his legacy will eventually revolve around an inability to win a Super Bowl. Of course, Manning can't play run defense and that's the Colts' biggest problem.
Indianapolis has the NFL's 18th-ranked defense, but the Colts are last against the run. However, they are No. 2 against the pass. If they can jump on a team early, the game tilts in their favor. But if it's a tight contest, or a low-scoring affair, the Colts could be in trouble.
Part of the problem on the ground is that the Colts want their ends to rush the passer. So they line up wide, creating gaps inside. And the linebackers aren't stout against the run. Thanks to injuries, backup safeties are trying to help, with no success.
But the Bengals have not turned their season around because of the run. Quarterback Carson Palmer looks healthy again; he has posted a passer rating of at least 90 in each of the past five games.
The big question for Cincinnati is this: Has the defense really turned it around? The Bengals have largely been horrible this season under coach Marvin Lewis and still rank 26th. But in the four straight wins, they have posted one shutout and allowed a combined 33 points in the other three wins.
Other Sportssports
Wallenberg bounces back
For one night, it came together


We deliver word-perfect script/screenplay translations with a deep understanding of idiom, context and colloquial expression from and to American-UK-Australian-Canadian-S..African English and " High" or "Common" Dutch. We make sure your written or spoken intent is never lost in translation. Click contact for pricing by project..


text:
Gore Campaign NPR's Melissa Block reports from Clinton, Iowa, on the campaign trail with the Democratic ticket of Vice President Al Gore and Sentator Joseph Lieberman. The two are taking a bus trip along the Mississippi River. Last night, Gore helped his wife Tipper celebrate her birthday.
Gore Campaign
August 20, 200012:00 AM ET
Only Available in Archive Formats.
Real Media
NPR's Melissa Block reports from Clinton, Iowa, on the campaign trail with the Democratic ticket of Vice President Al Gore and Sentator Joseph Lieberman. The two are taking a bus trip along the Mississippi River. Last night, Gore helped his wife Tipper celebrate her birthday.


Kristine's photographic diary: Get it Wrong, Get it Right..
Get it Wrong, Get it Right..
Get it wrong, get it right by Feist.
Get it right, get it right, get it right"
Today I drew a mustache on my hand.
Posted by Kristine N. Andersen at 11:49 a.m.


INA PAP3040P10 Bearing is one of our main products. You are welcome to consult us about INA PAP3040P10 Bearing. You can contact us by calling the hotline at the top of the page, emailing, . We have a very high degree of professionalism, you are welcome to become our partner.
We export high quantities INA PAP3040P10 Bearing and relative products, we have huge stocks for INA PAP3040P10 Bearing and relative items, we supply high quality INA PAP3040P10 Bearing with reasonbable price or we produce the bearings along with the technical data or relative drawings, It's priority to us to supply best service to our clients.
XC7020-C-T-P4S FAG XC7020-E-T-P4S FAG PAP3040P10 INA B7220C.T.P4S FAG bearing tomorrow morning (aka overnight or next day air) on your desk, 2, 3 days or more.
Bearing a is a leading online supplier and distributor of over 1,000,000 bearings and ancillary products, from some of the world's most trusted brands including SKF, FAG, NTN, NSK, Timken, INA, IKO cheap INA PAP3040P10 Bearing bearings for sale.


text:
Campus Life / May 9, 2017
Building a Commitment to Learning and Teaching
St. John Center Opens With Grand Ambitions for How Classrooms Work
"It's exciting that the vision for a space that will transform the classroom experience and shape the way faculty teach has
come to fruition."
–Edward St. John '61, D.P.S. '12 (HON.), Founder and Chairman of St. John Properties
When Edward St. John enrolled at the University of Maryland 60 years ago this fall, he remembers classes following a formula: A professor lectured to a room of hundreds of students. Those students listened. The end.
Faculty or students using the campus's newest building will enjoy a much different experience.
University officials say the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center, which officially opens May 11 and is named for the 1961 alumnus and real estate developer and philanthropist who gave a $10 million leadership gift for the project, will serve as a national model of collaborative learning.
The 187,000-square-foot space features labs, informal study spaces, group study rooms and tech-enhanced TERP Classrooms (short for Teach, Engage, Respond and Participate) with built-in flexibility such as tiered seating, mobile desks and swiveling chairs that encourage active and group learning.
"It's exciting that the vision for a space that will transform the classroom experience and shape the way faculty teach has come to fruition," says St. John. "This center will create a new and innovative standard of teaching that accelerates interactive learning and will impact the education of more than 12,000 UMD students each day for years to come."
"Having a facility like this center with his name on it is a wonderful legacy."
– Sharon Akers '78
A Baltimore native, St. John came to Maryland initially as a path to become a test pilot for the Air Force. He showed up at the Armory to register for his fall classes as a freshman, asked the Air Force ROTC representative the most popular major for cadets who became test pilots, and just like that, an electrical engineering student was born. With that same direct outlook, he learned that he needed a 2.0 GPA to graduate, and left four years later with a 2.01 and a diploma.
St. John's father, meanwhile, had owned three modest companies, in manufacturing and distribution of building materials, and he had built five small buildings in the Pimlico neighborhood. He died when St. John was only 16, and St. John was still a Maryland student when his mother took him aside: "She said, 'If you don't stop this flying foolishness, I'm going to sell the family businesses.'"
He and two fraternity brothers from Delta Tau Delta took the natural next step: They went to the old dive bar at Town Hall on Baltimore Avenue, and over a six pack decided that flying airplanes was overrated and that he should take over his father's businesses. First, though, he shed two of them: "I hated manufacturing and I despised distribution and I loved the real estate end."
Since then, he's grown St. John Properties from 50,000 to more than 18 million square feet of office, flex/research and development, retail and warehouse space in Maryland and seven other states.
In 1998, he also started the charitable Edward St. John Foundation, which focuses on educational funding primarily related to schools. More than $60 million has been contributed and pledged through donations by the foundation, St. John and his company to over 850 educational and other nonprofit organizations.
While he was building up his real estate firm, St. John sent two of his three children (Kellay '88 and Edward "Trey" '89) to Maryland, but he hadn't much of a connection to the campus until he met newly hired university President Wallace Loh in 2010.
Loh, he remembers, spoke of his interest in a constructing a forward-looking new classroom building that would be part of his efforts to elevate the entire institution. St. John openly says he was captivated by the new leader's vision.
"He had a dream of the new University of Maryland and I wanted to be part of that dream," St. John says.
The ceremonial groundbreaking was held less than a year later. The first building to rise on McKeldin Mall in 50 years, it incorporates Holzapfel Hall and houses the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC), the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Division of Information Technology's Academic Technology and Innovation team.
While St. John was firm that the exterior architecture should match the traditional style and red brick of other structures on the Mall, the inside is modern, light and airy, and the TERP Classrooms throughout the center are outfitted with state-of-the-art technology and highly configurable furniture.
"It's going to enable the transformation of student learning in a fundamental way," says Ben Bederson, associate provost of learning initiatives and the TLTC's executive director.
Sharon Akers '78, vice president of corporate relations for St. John Properties, executive director of the Edward St. John Foundation and a trustee on the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, says she's inspired to see the innovations in teaching and learning since the time she and her brother went to school here.
"With our foundation and with Ed's emphasis on supporting education and the feeling that education builds strong lives and strong communities," she says, "having a facility like this center with his name on it is a wonderful legacy."
Learn about supporting the St. John Center by contacting Veronica Meinhard, Senior Executive Director for Principal Gifts, at meinhard@umd.edu or 301.405.3677


Date : Thu., November 03, 2016 9:00 am to 2:15 pm Category : FPRI in D.C.
We hope you will join us for this timely and important conference.
This event is open to press and on the record. Follow along on Twitter at #RussiaFactor.
Sanctions Regime: Should it be Maintained?
US Russia Policy for the 45th President: Containment, Restraint, or Engagement?


Camino de Santiago – For those trying to authentically follow Jesus.
The luxury of the night is that I have a room to myself, without 20 or 40 people sleeping in the same room. Tomorrow I will share the journey in words, today I share a few pictures of the Cathedral of Saint James!


Yesterday, armed with this picture of Audrina Patridge's fishtail-braid/mohawk hybrid hairstyle and a whole lot of hairspray, I offered my hair up to try the new Web-cam-based beauty tutorial service HiLove.ly. The idea behind the service is that for $30, users can sign into a Web chat with a beauty pro who'll walk you through a 30-minute DIY process of your choice (3-Step Polished Eye, Makeup Bag Intervention, Lips & Cheeks, Foundation & Contouring, or Hair Updo, for example). Here's what happened.
First, before my appointment, I was sent a list of nine suggested products to have on hand before we started, including hairspray, bobby pins, dry shampoo, and a curling iron. Since my artist didn't know what look I was going to ask for, having a bunch of stuff at the ready was key. I gathered up the supplies and signed on.
We both entered the chat room pretty easily (it's just a matter of clicking on a link and signing in). Then we had a quick consultation during which I showed her a picture of the hairstyle using a very sophisticated method called "holding my phone up to my laptop Web cam."
After asking a few questions about my skill level, my pro quickly assessed that a fishtail was going to take a lot of time and struggle and asked what I thought about keeping the vibe but changing the braid to a French braid. I agreed. I like to keep frustration low when I can.
Then, she proceeded to not just talk me through the steps but to show me every single one by doing it on her own head, allowing me to mirror her. She had me tease the front and pin it, then create a French braid down the middle of my head before going back and using a hairpin to pull sections out to make it puff up a bit down the back of my head.
Not quite an exact replica—mine has a little hint of a Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm vibe to it. And, yes, you can see some of my bobby pins. But it's not bad for a hairstyle created by the two hands of a non-professional in a half an hour in a phone closet in her office at 2 P.M. on a Tuesday! And although I think I could have managed something similar without instruction, having her reassurance that everything I was doing was going to be OK was worth the price of admission alone. And, true story, I got compliments on it all day long. Overall, I found the whole thing really fun and helpful, and I'd be really into it the next time I have to create an updo for a weekend wedding in the middle of nowhere.
—Having as many products on hand as possible can be helpful, but the artists are very creative in a pinch. When I didn't have texturizing spray on hand, mine improvised by having me mist my hair with hairspray before teasing it.
—Positioning your computer in front of a mirror is key. I didn't think to do this, so my only method of seeing what I was doing was via the image projected by my Web cam. Not the best.
—Though it's great if you have sometime specific in mind, you really don't have to come with ideas. I found my artist really creative and fun—and she even offered to just brainstorm hairstyles I might like.
—As mentioned above, they offer their services for makeup too, and you can get time slots seven days a week.


text:
Varsity Boys Basketball Winning Big
Jared White, Staff|February 5, 2016
The Lisbon Varsity Boys Basketball team is off to a great start this year with 15-1 overall record and 5-0 in league play. The Devils only loss was in the East Liverpool Potter Classic. They made it to the championship game of the tournament and lost to the East Liverpool Potters with a score of 81 to 76. The Blue Devils leading scorer for that game was Josh Craig, who scored 23 points for the night.
The leading scorers for the Blue Devils this season consist of Josh Craig, Avery Andric, and Austin Rutecki. Josh Craig had his highest scoring night in the Blue Devils win against Western Reserve, at Western Reserve, in which he scored 24 points. Avery Andric scored the most points of this year's season against Crestview, at Crestview, where he scored 20 points on the night to lead the Devils to another win.
Austin Rutecki scored 29 points against Struthers, at Struthers, in the Hope Classic to march the Blue Devils to another victory. The Blue Devils have six games remaining before tournament play, with four home games and two away games. Also, three of the games are league games against Wellsville, Leetonia, and Columbiana. Good luck to the team as they finish the season strong and head into the tournament!
We Want to Know…
New Season, New Sports
FREE BRITNEY: Will She Ever Get Justice?
Back to Normal?
The History of DAHS and Our Team Name
Our school was established in 1916 and while it may not seem like much, it happens to be a great school for everyone in the community. ...
Lady Blue Devils Shoot For A Successful Remainder of the Season
Basketball and COVID-19 with Adam Spencer
Then and Now: The Difference
Best Spirit Week Ideas
Fashion Trends of 2021
Balancing School Sports and Extracurriculars
All The Students' Voice Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest


The Hawaiian holoku is a traditional Hawaiian wedding dress dating back to the 1820's. It is still seen in many Hawaii weddings and formal events, including the annual Holoku Ball. A beautiful throwback to this incredible gown.
In a Hawaiian wedding, a holoku is part of the heritage and worn with grace and style. They are traditionally high waisted, loose fitting, with long sleeves and a high neck, very conservative. Today you will see many beautiful adaptations of this dress.
Many wedding dresses stay with the long train and high or no waistline. It is common to see short sleeves and sleeveless versions today. They still are commonly seen in comfortable fabrics which are perfect for a wedding dress: lace, cotton and eyelet. These are equally beautiful in a garden, church or beach.
Here is one of my favorite Hawaiian wedding dress designers. When you order from them be sure to enter the code hiwedguide for 10% off of your purchase. They have a large variety of dresses but are traditionally Hawaiian in design.
This is the Queen Kaahumanu wedding dress. If you are interested in traditional Hawaiian holoku wedding dresses this will fit the bill nicely. Beautifully designed and with great detail you will have a uniquely Hawaiian wedding dress but that is a throw back to the traditions of Hawaii. Enter code hiwedguide for 10% off of this incredible holoku wedding dress.
This is the Kawehi Hawaiian wedding holoku. A very beautifully updated version of a traditional Hawaii holoku. A backless and strapless design that has a satin lining, ruffled train and a gorgeous white on white design. This will look beautiful in any location or venue for your wedding. Remember to enter hiwedguide for the code to receive 10% off of this incredible dress.
This is the Kuuipo Hawaiian wedding holoku. Another beautiful updated version of a traditional holoku. High neck with a beautiful neck clasp this wedding holoku will allow the sun to kiss your shoulders. Fully lined and a ruffled hem, this gown is gorgeous! You will feel beautiful in this dress. Use the code hiwedguide for a 10% discount on your beautiful gown from this Hawaiian company.
Don't be surprised if you decide one of these classically updated or very traditional Hawaiian wedding dresses is perfect for you. There are many more incredible choices on their website so if you see one you like be sure to use our gift to you. The code hiwedguide gets you a 10% discount on your wedding gown.
A Hawaiian holoku is a perfectly beautiful choice.


January is National Bath Safety Month, so we'd be remiss if we didn't throw our towel in the tub! Bathing is a habitual thing which means we don't have to put a lot of thought into it, making these bath safety tips all the more important. Use these reminders for different ages and stages of life to prevent bath time injuries for yourself and your loved ones!
First and foremost, daily bathing isn't necessary and can be counterproductive, drying out baby's skin. Plain sponge baths are recommended until the umbilical cord stump falls off. After that point, try bathing in two inches of warm (not hot) water and make it brief; notice when your baby isn't ready yet - it's okay to go back to sponge baths until she's fully ready. Conversely, if she's enjoying it, it's good to let her splash around some to acclimate to water.
Healthychildren.org recommends always keeping both eyes and at least one hand on your newborn baby during bath time. If you must walk away, even for a second, take your infant with you.
Recommended infant bathing techniques involve providing full support and working from the top down, rinsing soap away from already clean areas. For your baby's face, use a warm, soft washcloth - don't forget behind the ears! Infant hair doesn't need to be washed often but, if you feel it's warranted, tilt your baby's head back slightly to rinse. Lift and separate any folds in your baby's skin to thoroughly wash hidden areas. Rinse any soap from the baby's hands quickly as he is guaranteed to head directly to the mouth or eyes.
Pro Tip: Avoid upright bath seats as they can tip over. Stick with an infant bathtub, as recommended by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Your home's water heater should be set to a maximum of 120 degrees to lessen the risk of scalding water. If that isn't an option or in addition to, there are anti-scalding devices called Temperature Activated Flow Reducers (TAFR) that screw into the faucet. While you're at it, you might also consider a rubber cover to protect your little ones from hard, sharp edges.
Pro Tip: Fill the tub completely before putting your kids in it as the temperature can fluctuate greatly during fill time.
Those 65 and older are the highest risk for injuries from falls and bathrooms pose the highest danger. It's easy to lose balance especially on a wet floor or a slippery tub. Urge your elderly loved ones to take caution and set out all bathing supplies to prevent reaching.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study on nonfatal bathroom injuries for those 15 years old and older. Bathrooms were found to be common area for hazards and, although the risk is higher the older a person is, all people are at risk. U.S. emergency departments treated approximately 234,094 for nonfatal bathroom injuries in just one year. Their advice is the same for everyone: install grab bars, place nonslip mats in and outside of the tub area, be sure the area is well-lit and lower your risk of scalding hot water.
Pro Tip: Use only OSHA recommended ground fault circuit interrupters in the bathroom and keep electrical outlets and switches a safe distance from water sources.
Bonus Tip: Take a bath before bed (add Epsom salts for additional benefits)! Studies show your quality of sleep will improve.
Now that these bath safety tips are top of mind, you can go back to enjoying your bathing rituals - safely. Remember, staying Per Mar protected throughout your home isn't limited to keeping burglars and fires at bay; we always have your best interests at hand!


Luxury mill living, just minutes from Providence.
Welcome to Slater Cotton Mill Apartments!
Your new home at Slater Cotton Mill awaits you. Conveniently located in historic Pawtucket, just minutes outside of Providence, Rhode Island, our pet-friendly community features all the amenities that you're looking for, with close access to Route 95.


Welcome to the website of Covington Theological Seminary. I'm delighted that you are considering Covington to further your theological education. For thirty five years now, Covington has provided solid Bible training for thousands of students across the United States and around the world. Our commitment is to meet you where you are in your calling and ministry motivations and to design a quality program of study to address your individual and specific needs. It will be our delight to help you realize your dream in education and ministry needs.


A new paper is just out in which all the characters have been covered previously in this blog, but not as parts of a single story. It describes an interprets the relationship between the mysterious conulariids and trepostome bryozoans in the Katian and Sandbian (Upper Ordovician) of northern Estonia. The authors have all made appearance here, including lead author Olev Vinn (Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia). Andrej Ernst (Institut für Geologie, Universität Hamburg, Germany), myself, and Ursula Toom (Institute of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia). It was a fun team to work on, and Olev led it masterfully.
There are numerous trepostome bryozoans in the Upper Ordovician of Estonia that grew up and around the bases of conulariids, which are extinct cnidarians. This is, in fact, an example of bryoimmuration as covered in my last post. The puzzle is what was the relationship between these two groups. Were the conulariids parasites on the bryozoans? Did they gain protection from predators by embedment in the bryozoan calcitic skeleton? Were the bryozoans prime real estate for the conulariids because they were hard substrate islands on a muddy seafloor? We think the answers are probably yes to all these questions.
The top composite of images is Figure 3 in the paper. The caption: A, Two conulariids Climacoconus bottnicus (Holm, 1893) in Diplotrypa bicornis (Eichwald, 1829) from Haljala Regional Stage, northern Estonia, note the slightly elevated apertures of conulariids (GIT 720-4). B, Longitudinal section of Diplotrypa abnormis (Modzalevskaya, 1953) with conulariid Climacoconus bottnicus (Holm, 1893) (GIT 537-1822) from Haljala Regional Stage, northern Estonia. C, Longitudinal section of completely embedded Climacoconus bottnicus (Holm, 1893) in Esthoniopora communis (GIT 537-1656) from Haljala Regional Stage, northern Estonia. D, Conulariid in Mesotrypa expressa Bassler, 1911 from Oandu Regional Stage, northern Estonia; note the depression around the conulariid's aperture (GIT 770-7). E, Conulariid in Mesotrypa expressa Bassler, 1911 from Oandu regional Stage, northern Estonia; note the malformation of a zooid near the aperture of the conulariid (GIT 770-92). F, Conulariid in Esthoniopora subsphaerica from Rakvere Regional Stage, northern Estonia; note the strongly elevated aperture of the conulariid (GIT 537-1760).
This work is another product of Wooster's generous research leaves program that has supported many trips to Estonia.
Vinn, O., Ernst, A., Wilson, M.A., and Toom, U. 2019. Symbiosis of conulariids with trepostome bryozoans in the Upper Ordovician of Estonia (Baltica). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 518: 89-96.
I'm pleased to link to a new paper that has just appeared in the journal Lethaia. My wonderful coauthors are Caroline Buttler (National Museum Wales) and Paul Taylor (Natural History Museum, London). The paper explores the role calcitic bryozoans play in preserving molds of aragonitic shells, a process we call bryoimmuration. In the image above we have two views of a single specimen from the Cincinnatian (Upper Ordovician) of the Cincinnati, Ohio, region. It is a trepostome bryozoan that encrusted the exterior of a bivalve shell. The bivalve shell was aragonitic and thus dissolved away during diagenesis. The bryozoan skeleton is calcite, a mineral that does not dissolve as easily as its cousin aragonite. The surviving bryozoan skeleton thus preserved our only record of the now-dissolved bivalve shell. The larger concept of one group of organisms affecting the preservation of another we call taphonomic engineering. Below are cross-sections of these bryoimmuring bryozoans, with the original caption.
Fig. 3. Acetate peels of bryoimmuring bryozoans cut perpendicular to basal growth surface (longitudinal); all from the Upper Whitewater Formation (Katian) near Richmond, Indiana (locality as in Fig. 2). A, heterotrypid bryozoan that grew across the ribs of an ambonychid bivalve. Note the thin zooecial walls in the early fast-growing stage, later thickening upwards (CW‐148‐92). B, very thin sheet of a trepostome bryozoan that encrusted an ambonychid bivalve (CW‐148‐93). This bryozoan did not develop an exozone and is thus impossible to identify. C, heterotrypid bryozoan that developed a thick exozone while growing on an ambonychid bivalve shell (CW‐148‐94). The shell later dissolved and sediment took its place. D, multilaminar growth of a heterotrypid bryozoan on an ambonychid bivalve (CW‐148‐95). The bryozoan colony overgrew itself.
This research was supported by an award from the Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship at The College of Wooster. Nick Wiesenberg helped with the fieldwork. It was a fun project.
The Invertebrate Paleontology class at Wooster had its annual field trip today to the Upper Ordovician (Katian) Cincinnati Group (Upper Whitewater Formation) in eastern Indiana. The weather looked terrible as the remnant of Tropical Storm Gordon worked its way into the Great Lakes region. Three to five inches of rain were forecast for our field area just south of Richmond, Indiana (locality C/W-148). For all I know, that massive amount of rain actually fell today — but not while we were there! As you can see above, we collected treasures in the dry. In fact, the specimens were nicely washed for us, with the fossils standing out better than I've ever seen.
Here's a random image of the rubbly limestone we examined. Count the bryoimmurations! This is perfect material for beginning paleontology students. Each one made a representative collection to clean, prepare and interpret in our cozy Wooster lab the rest of the semester.
We've certainly had better weather here in past years, but I'm not complaining about today. We slipped by a ghost.
Tallinn, Estonia — This morning Bill Ausich (Ohio State University) took the bus from Tartu to Tallinn to finish one more research task and then prepare for the long journey home. Above is the view from my hotel room towards the Old City section of Tallinn.
After getting settled, we visited Ursula Toom at the Department of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology. She and Bill (above) exchanged crinoids, and then Ursula discussed with me a wide variety of Ordovician borings as part of her dissertation work.
This is a small part of the various mystery specimens Ursula shared with me. There are some fantastic undescribed borings in this lot.
Afterwards Bill and I had an early evening dinner in the Old City, beautiful in the setting sun.
Our research in Estonia is done! Tomorrow we pack up and then walk around Tallinn taking in the sights and culture. On Friday we fly home. I hope to describe the results of our work soon in this blog.
Tartu, Estonia — Bill Ausich and I started our last full day in this city at the University of Tartu Natural History Museum, finishing our work with the marvelous Mare Isakar, pictured above. Mare quickly found the specimens we needed, and many others she knew we would find interesting. She did nearly instant registration of specimens, greatly speeding up our taxonomic progress.
We finished photographing museum specimens for our future reference and possible publications. Bill concentrated on Silurian crinoids and I worked on the Ordovician rhombiferan Echinosphaerites.
This is one of Öpik's Echinosphaerites aurantium specimens. Two roundish encrusting brachiopods are visible, along with sheet-like bryozoans. Shockingly, there are gouges in the bryozoans as if someone tried to scrape them off!
Most of the rhombiferans are filled with sediment and/or calcite crystals, but Bill found this hollow one in the collections. Note that it was still able to resist sedimentary compaction. Also note the bryozoans on the broken edge.
This broken specimen shows sediment in the bottom of the skeleton and crystals in the top half. This is known as a geopetal structure where the sediment shows what was the lower part of the skeleton when it was filled. Here's another example.
Mare found even more specimens of Echinosphaerites today, so there is much to do on a later trip! Thank you again to Mare Isakar and our other friends in Tartu. Tomorrow we travel to Tallinn for a bit more work before heading home on Friday.
And now for something darker — the KGB Cells Museum in Tartu. It is a horrifying place of pain, anguish and hopelessness, yet today is surrounded by a vibrant, free city and country. This museum, in an actual KGB prison, is both disturbing and ultimately inspiring. It is a history we avoid at our peril.
A cell door near the entrance to this basement complex of "the grey house". These dungeons were used by the Soviet secret police for detention, torture and executions in the 1940s and 1950s. For a brief interval (1941-1944) the Nazis took over and did the same beastly activities. The victims were almost entirely Estonians.
A hallway of cells. The exhibits inside the rooms include many Soviet artifacts, along with stories of Estonian resistance.
A KGB mannikin at the end of a hallway. A sound track of a harsh Russian voice plays in a loop here, along with inevitable screams and moans. The brutality of the place is quite evident enough, thank you.
Finally, before you leave, why not dress up as a Soviet KGB officer and pose with Stalin? I don't understand why anyone would do such a thing, especially in such a tragic space.
Tomorrow it is back to science as Bill and I take the bus to Tallinn. The countryside of free Estonia is beautiful.
Tartu, Estonia — As a sign we're near the end of our work in Tartu, there are no crinoids in this post. Instead, above is an Ordovician bryozoan from Estonia that encrusted the aragonitic shell of a nautiloid. The aragonite dissolved away, giving my favorite underside view of a bryozoan attachment from its ancestrula. We've seen this more than once in this blog. The bonus here are the just-visible chains of little crystalline teardrops across the surface.
These are the zooids of the cyclostome bryozoan Corynotrypa. They are encrusted right-side-up, meaning that they grew across the exposed attachment surface of the big bryozoan. The nautiloid shell thus dissolved between the two encrusting events — very early on the seafloor. Classic calcite sea dynamics.
After sorting out the specimens used in our crinoid studies, and doing some last microphotography, we finished our work for this season at the University of Tartu Department of Geology. A small and happy garden party followed.
Bill Ausich and some of our Estonian colleagues and friends. From the left is Oive Tinn, Mare Isakar, Bill, and Viirika Mastik. Great conversations. It actually got a little chilly outside, so we ended in Oive's house (see below).
Tartu, Estonia — Bill Ausich and I returned to the Natural History Museum today to tour the public exhibits. It was hard to not make it into a study trip, though, for our research. I suppose since our "work" is so enjoyable it is difficult to separate it from a holiday. Above, for example, is a display of our favorite rhombiferan, Echinosphaerites aurantium of the Estonian Upper Ordovician.
There is a display about the Kalana Lagerstätte that we are studying.
Here is the museum description of the Lagerstätte.
And a close-up of some crinoids ("meriliilia", sea lilies) from the Kalana.
It is a fun museum with a very thorough geology section, including meteorites you can touch (a favorite of mine). It has what is now an old-fashioned style of emphasizing actual specimens that Bill and I appreciated. There is a large biology section with much taxidermy and mounted skeletons. One of the featured exhibits is a rare "rat king" (see below), which you must look up!
Tartu, Estonia — Today Bill Ausich and I began our work in the University of Tartu Natural History Museum. Our most knowledgeable and helpful host is chief geology curator Mare Isakar. This museum is just a short walk from our hotel.
This is one of the collections rooms in the paleontological research part of the museum. Here is where I examined Ordovician bivalves and gastropods for bryoimmurations.
One of our goals is to study encrusters on specimens of the nearly spherical Late Ordovician rhombiferan echinoderm Echinosphaerites aurantium. Mare Isakar kindly set out dozens of specimens for us to study, a small subset of which is shown above.
Here is Bill at work scanning through a drawer of Echinosphaerites.
One of the encrusted Echinosphaerites skeletons. The black, branching, carbonaceous encruster is the graptolite Thallograptus sphaericola ("sphere-dweller").
Posted in the museum is this figure by Öpik (1925) showing his idea of an Echinosphaerites community with encrusting graptolites. We want to test his hypothesis that the graptolites encrusted living rhombiferans as shown. My hypothesis is that the graptolites lived instead on dead, cemented skeletons. Armin Aleksander Öpik (1898-1983) was a prominent and productive Estonian paleontologist. Like many Estonian scientists of his generation, his career was bifurcated by World War II.
Several characters from Estonia's scientific past watched us work. This is Constantin Grewingk (1819-1887). Ohio paleontologists will recognize him as the namesake of the rugose coral Grewingkia.
Here is Friedrich Schmidt (132-1908), considered the founder of Estonian geology. Both Grewingk and Schmidt were Baltic Germans.
The public part of the museum includes this exhibit on "Secrets of Ancient Sea". You may recognize some familiar Ordovician characters in this scene. Bill and I intend to visit the public exhibits here on Sunday.
Thank you again to Mare Isakar for setting us up so efficiently for our research!
The black mountain icon indicates the location of Helvellyn in the Lake District.
During the last two weeks of May, Dr. Alley and were in the UK. Part of the experience involved complaining about the inadequate width of UK roads, but there was also some undeniably beautiful geology. One such location was Helvellyn, in the Lake District of England. This is one of the "top walks" in the UK, but note that the term "walk" has a very loose definition in British English. Really, this is a hike, with a climb of nearly 3000 ft in about 4 mi. If you're a fan of glacially carved, open landscapes, it deserves the hype.
The exposed rocks of the Helvellyn Range are part of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. The volcanics here transitioned from primarily intermediate lava flows (andesite) to more silica-rich magma that resulted in pyroclastic flows and ignimbrite deposits. This all occurred around 450 million years ago (Ordovician) — around the same time as the Taconic Orogeny in North America (most notably in New England).
That's the raw material for the terrain, but the carving is much more recent. Glaciers from the last glacial advance have gouged out the sides of these mountains into deep u-shaped troughs with steep sides and wide bottoms. Below Helvellyn sits a deep bowl called a cirque. This is where a large mountain glacier once originated, digging out a hole from which it later advanced.
Look back at Helvellyn Cirque from Birkhouse Moor.
If you go up into the cirque today, that depression has been filled with a small lake called a tarn. Tarns sits at the headwaters of watersheds, and the outlets are often some of the cleaner water you can find (although they may be turbid from lots of sediment). This tarn, though, had a large number of sheep around it. So I'd be a little more suspicious.
Actually, the sheep are a more important aspect the the geology than you might think. Looking down from Helvellyn, you can see the "Striding Edge". This is an arête, a sharp ridge that, thousands of years ago, was the boundary between two parallel glaciers. The glaciers would have been flowing away from you in the image below.
View eastward from Helvellyn overlooking Striding Edge (an arête) and Red Tarn.
Finally, when walking along the northwest side of the mountain, you go by the Greenside Mine. In the 19th century, veins along a normal fault through the mountain were mined for the mineral galena (PbS), which also contains impurities of silver.


text:
NYC Reporter Gets the Advantages of Commercial Modular Construction
On Thursday I posted an article from Crain's New York Business about NYC Architects "Slamming" Commercial modular factories. It talked about the industry needing to supply cheaper alternatives and looking overseas to get it.
Several questioned that logic of modular being a cheap alternative to real construction including Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of MBI, the largest commercial modular association in the United States. Here is excerpt from his comment to that article:
I'm growing very tired of the construction community as a whole simply assuming that modular is the "cheap" alternative. If you can get the same code compliant building, in half the time, why do you expect it to also be cheaper? The savings really is on the schedule.
As if to back up Hardiman's statement, Tim Fleischer (no relation) wrote a story and produced a video for ABC TV 7 yesterday that tells of the successes NYC is having with conventional modular produced here in the US. Cheap imports VS American Made. America wins.
NEW TYPE OF MODULAR HOUSING MOVING INTO NEW YORK CITY
By Tim Fleischer, EYEWITNESS NEWS, ABC 7
Thursday, February 05, 2015 06:17PM
It's amazing to watch: a new type of housing that goes up quickly and is affordable. This way of living is moving forward, and now a couple of buildings are up in New York City.
It could be a new home, where you just lost a home. It could be a home where there is a need for more moderate income housing.
Two new modular, prefabricated housing units.
"In the last two years in New York there has definitely been an upswing in development," said editor in chief Amanda Dameron of Dwell Magazine.
A new seven story apartment building called "The Stack" is the first multi-family modular building in the city, developers say, providing moderate income housing.
Built entirely at the Deluxe Building Systems factory in Pennsylvania, the 56 modules were constructed and outfitted in a controlled environment.
They were shipped to the site and after the foundation and first floor supports were constructed, the modules were hoisted into place in just 19 days.
"There was a demand for it, even though it didn't exist yet and so the modular played into that because it gave us the quality of construction and shorten the time frame," said architect Thomas Gluck.
Gluck's firm is the designer, one of the co-developers and construction manager on the project.
"This courtyard opens up into that courtyard and make it feel twice as big," said Gluck.
A two bedroom, two bath unit rents for about $2900 a month. Most of the units are rented and 20% of them are affordable.
"Actually eager now to take our experiences now and apply them again," said Gluck.
The prefab modular industry is being closely followed by Dwell Magazine.
"Now that it is built, how is it going to age? How is it going to work with the neighborhood context? But it's a great example of moving the ball forward," said Dameron.
Over in Brooklyn, a three-stor modular unit was built and is being evaluated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management as potential urban housing after a disaster with one goal:
"How to build the best quality housing, for the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time," said housing recovery manager Cynthia Barton.
Garrison Architects Design was selected and built, and the seven modules were assembled in just two days with emergency management employees like James McConnell living there for a week.
"They get the feeling of spaciousness, a lot of storage space, all the basics that you would ever need," said McConnell. And the one and three bedroom units could be used as permanent housing.
"If you can give people the chance to experience a well-designed environment, not elaborate, they immediately respond to it. That's something I'd like to live in," said architect James Garrison.
"It continues to offer a promise of living that we think is exciting, and we hope in an optimistic way is possible," said Dameron.


text:
Donors and Advertisers
Posts about: Victoria Lyras
Emmy-winning choreographer collaborates with Indianapolis Ballet on 'New Works'
My first encounter with choreographer-director Joshua "Josh" Bergasse was when I did a phone interview a few years back to ask him about working with Indy native Cory Lingner, who at the time, was an ensemble member in "On the Town," a 2014 Broadway revival... read more
Indianapolis Ballet Debut Residency Triumphs
From the moment I walked into the IMA lobby at Newfields Friday night on my way to the Tobias Theatre, aka "The Toby," I could feel the undeniable energy in the air. It was opening night of Indianapolis Ballet's debut residency and excitement and anticipation... read more
Professional ballet returning to Indy thanks to Lyras and company
Ballet fans are rejoicing because professional ballet is returning to our city with the Indianapolis Ballet debut residency featuring three performances February 16-18 at Tobias Theatre at Newfields. The program will include "Raymonda– Act III," the concert version of George Balanchine's "Who Cares?" and Stravinsky's... read more
Indianapolis Ballet is launched at fundraiser held at Newfields
Sunday was a momentous day for the Indianapolis arts world and, indeed, the entire community with the launch of Indianapolis Ballet at "Two-Piano Fundraiser" at Newfields, the new name of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The event was hosted by the Indianapolis School of Ballet,... read more
Get notified by email when new articles post
© 2019 Tom Alvarez. All rights reserved.


text:
Done Deals
Paper Talk
World Cup: All the best facts & figures from Brazil 2014
It's certainly been a World Cup to remember. From drama and disappointment to goals and glory, Brazil 2014 will live long in the memory. With the help of our friends at Opta, here and just some of the facts and figures behind a very special World Cup...
Fill 2 Copy 11 Created with Sketch.
Wednesday 16 July 2014 13:36, UK
Who became the first player since the 1970s to score in his first five World Cup games? Who is now the oldest ever World Cup player? How many players have now won the European Cup and the World Cup in the same year? All that and lots more with Opta's World Cup facts...
The 2014 World Cup saw a joint-high number of goals scored (171).
James Rodriguez became the first player to score in his first five career World Cup appearances since Peru's Teofilo Cubillas (across the 1970 and 1978 tournaments).
There were more goals scored by substitutes in this World Cup than in any previous edition (32).
13.3% of shots have been scored at these finals; a higher proportion than in any other World Cup tournament since records began in 1966.
There were only three direct free-kicks scored at these finals, the fewest since 1986 (3). In 2010 there were five scored, while in 2006 and 2002, nine were scored.
The only World Cup to see more own goals than this tournament (5) was the 1998 finals (6).
More from World Cup 2014
World Cup: Brazil forward Neymar admits they have fallen behind
World Cup: FIFA lifts Nigeria suspension
World Cup: Confederation of Brazilian Football confirms Luiz Felipe Scolari departure
World Cup: Sepp Blatter and Maradona surprised by Lionel Messi's Golden Ball award
World Cup team of the tournament: Look at our experts' choices and have your say
World Cup: Luiz Felipe Scolari dismissed as Brazil coach according to local media
Image: Tim Cahill: Scored again
Tim Cahill has scored in three World Cups for Australia; no other Australian has done so in more than one tournament.
Ghana's Asamoah Gyan (6) overtook Cameroon's Roger Milla (5) as all-time top scoring African player at a World Cup.
Algeria became the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup game when they beat South Korea 4-2.
Keisuke Honda became the first Japanese player to score at two separate World Cups.
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri scored the first entirely left-footed hat-trick at a World Cup (1966-2014). His treble was also the 50th hat-trick in the history of the World Cup.
Clint Dempsey's goal (29 seconds) vs Ghana for the USA was the fifth fastest in World Cup history.
Faryd Mondragón became the oldest player to ever make an appearance at a World Cup finals when he came on for Colombia v Japan (43y 3d).
Image: Keylor Navas: Numerous saves
Switzerland's Diego Benaglio was the only goalkeeper to register a shot at the 2014 tournament, thanks to a late effort vs Argentina.
Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi created two goalscoring chances for the Foxes; only three of his team-mates managed more in the tournament.
Costa Rica's Keylor Navas saved 21 of the 23 shots on target that he faced at this World Cup (91%).
Tim Howard made 15 saves in the USA's round of 16 defeat to Belgium – no goalkeeper has ever made as many saves in a single World Cup game (1966-2014).
Three of the last four teams to win the World Cup have gone out in the following group stage (France 2002, Italy 2010, Spain 2014).
Italy have exited at the group stage in their last two World Cups. The last time they managed this was in the 1960s (1962 and 1966).
All eight group stage winners progressed to the quarter finals stage for the first time in World Cup history.
Honduras have now played nine games without a win at the World Cup (D3 L6). They have played more matches at the World Cup without winning than any other side (New Zealand, El Salvador and Bolivia – all six).
Ghana went out in the group stage for the first time ever (in their third World Cup). Now only three teams have never exited in a World Cup opening group stage: Germany, Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.
Image: Holland produced a comeback to leave Mexico tasting last 16 heartbreak again
Mexico have been knocked out of the World Cup finals at the second round stage in all six editions since 1994; no team has been knocked out at this stage as often as this.
Nigeria have lost all three of their World Cup second round ties (0-2 v France in 2014, 1-2 v Italy in 1994 and 1-4 v Denmark in 1998).
The Netherlands progressed to the semi-finals for the third time in their last four World Cups.
Argentina have progressed from all four of their World Cup semi-finals.
Costa Rica knocked out Italy, England, Greece and beat Uruguay, four sides placed in the top 12 positions of the FIFA Rankings (Uruguay – 7th, Italy – 9th, England – 10th, Greece – 12th).
A look at the statistics to see what players and teams have stood out during the 2014 World Cup.
UEFA have won the last three World Cups, the first time a single confederation has won three in a row.
Only six European nations made it to the last 16; a joint-World cup low since the Round of 16 was introduced in 1986.
This was the first time that three sides from the CONCACAF region made it out of the group stages and into the last 16 (since the format began in 1986).
GERMANY GLORY
Germany have reached the World Cup final for the 8th time; more often than any other side in the history of the competition.
Germany have scored 18 goals in these finals – the last team to score as many in a World Cup tournament was Brazil (also 18) in 2002.
Miroslav Klose became the top scoring player in World Cup history with his strike against Brazil in the semi-finals (16 goals).
Germany are the first European team to win the World Cup in the Americas.
Germany's 7-1 win was the biggest margin of victory ever seen in a World Cup semi-final and they were the first team to score this many goals in the semi-finals.
Image: Germany: Four-time winners after becoming the first team to score seven in a semi-final
Against Brazil in the semi-final, Germany were 5-0 up faster than any other team in World Cup history (29 minutes).
By losing 4-0 to Germany, Portugal conceded four goals in a World Cup for the first time in their history.
Thomas Muller has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in just 13 World Cup matches.
Mario Götze is the first substitute to score a winning goal in the World Cup final.
Mario Götze is the youngest scorer of a goal in a World Cup final since Wolfgang Weber in 1966 (22 years, 33 days).
Sami Khedira is the 10th player to win the European Cup/Champions League & World Cup in the same season.
With their destruction of Brazil, Germany became the top scoring nation in World Cup history (223), overtaking Brazil in the process. Germany ended the tournament with 224 goals, three ahead of Brazil.
ENGLAND AND ALL THAT
One point was England's lowest-ever haul in a World Cup group stage.
Image: England: Only one point
In fact, this was the first time that England have been eliminated from a World Cup at the group stage since 1958.
Luke Shaw was the youngest player to play at this World Cup finals, when he played for England v Costa Rica (18y 348d).
England's Wayne Rooney recorded his first World Cup assist in his teams opening game vs Italy and his first goal in their game vs Uruguay.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart made only one save in two World Cup games.
Germany scored two more goals vs Brazil than England have in their past two World Cup campaigns combined.
SORRY SPAIN
Image: Spain: Sorry defence
Spain conceded 5+ goals in an international (1-5 vs Netherlands) for the first time since losing 6-2 to Scotland in June 1963.
A four goal margin is the biggest losing margin by a defending champion at a World Cup.
In his 126 minutes of World Cup action, Diego Costa failed to muster a single shot on target (only five shots in total).
In winning Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012, Spain conceded a total of six goals, one fewer than they did in their three matches at World Cup 2014.
BELEAGUERED BRAZIL
Nine of the 14 goals Brazil conceded in this World Cup came in the first 30 minutes of their games.
Image: Brazil: Humiliated at home
The 7-1 defeat to Germany equalled Brazil's all-time biggest margin of defeat (lost 6-0 to Uruguay in 1920).
Brazil conceded 10 goals from 14 shots on target conceded in the semi-final and third place playoff game combined.
Neymar scored the 100th goal of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil's 100th game in World Cup finals history.
Brazil's 7-1 defeat to Germany was the biggest losing margin by a host nation at a World Cup.
Brazil committed 31 fouls in their quarter final win over Colombia; the most fouls that they had made in a single World Cup game since records began in 1966.
Brazil have topped every group they've played in at a World Cup from 1982 onwards.
Image: Alex Song: Sent off
There were fewer red cards at the 2014 World Cup (10) than any other edition since 1986 (8).
But Alex Song picked up Cameroon's eighth red card in their World Cup history. His relative Rigobert Song is one of only two players (along with Zinedine Zidane) to be sent off twice at World Cups, meaning the Song family is responsible for three of Cameroon's eight reds.


text:
What Is The Difference Between Killing A Bull Or A Mosquito?
A priori, the question may even seem a bit stupid, although for the bull and the mosquito it is a question, literally, of life or death.
If we analyze it more carefully, however, and with critical thinking, we can discover that this question leads us to a much deeper and not fully discussed place.
That deeper place is the one that has to do with the intentions behind our actions, i.e., a higher purpose.
What is the intention behind the act of killing a bull or a mosquito?
From the point of view of the mosquito, that may seem superficial but it is not since many more people die every day from mosquito bites than from all bull horns or shark bites combined, it could be argued that it is a matter of survival, yes, survival of the fittest.
From the point of view of the bull, it would also be a matter of survival but, in addition, it would be necessary to ask ourselves why or for what purpose was the bull raised to begin with?
Like everything alive, regardless of the reason for its upbringing, sooner or later, all living things have to die, i.e., transform themselves, since, according to the 1st law of thermodynamics, nothing is created nor destroyed, only transformed.
In the end, the survival of the fittest would seem to be the fundamental reason for the existence of all species and the entire universe. But this would be an extremely narrow-minded and shallow perspective.
Nowadays, it is no longer merely a matter or physical, economic, or mental aptitude but, above all, it is a matter of ethical, moral, and spiritual aptitude.
Here is the big difference between killing a 500-plus-Kg. bull or a tiny mosquito from a purely mundane point of view: None!
However, from a philosophical perspective, or an ethical, moral, and spiritual point of view, the difference between killing a bull or a mosquito is based on the intention behind this act and the moral authority of the person doing the killing.
The present and immediate future of humanity must be governed by those fittest in terms of ethics, morals, and spiritual fitness, namely, the most morally fit!
The survival of the fittest must no longer be a matter of brute force, mental, or economic power.
It must be a matter of being able to transcend the vain, the bane, and the mundane. The human clumsiness, short-sightedness, and corrupt nature.
Transcending, therefore, time and space, thus becoming more divine.
Just a glimpse at the moral authority of the so called "Son of the Carpenter" who, by the way, didn't even have a profession, hence his being referred to as the son of the carpenter Joseph, his putative father, provides us with infinite and marvellous possibilities. Though he was just known as the son of the carpenter, he was also called "Master" by his disciples and even "King of the jews" by others, yet he had no kingdom, and more than two thousand years later, his moral authority remains as immaculate as ever, despite the corrupt nature of his followers or, perhaps, precisely because of it.
In a world that enjoys unprecedented levels of wealth, health, and technological advances, how can it be that we are still witnessing on a daily basis unspeakable crimes and pervasive corruption even within institutions that are supposed to do good?
Isn't it about time we humans take more seriously the calling of the Son of the carpenter and the power of his moral authority to leave behind our corrupt nature and start developing our own moral authority and divine nature?
About the author: Dr. Wandemberg is the Dean of Woxsen School of Arts & Design and an international consultant, professor, and analyst of economic, environmental, social, managerial, marketing, and political issues. For the past 25 + years Dr. Wandemberg has collaborated with corporations, communities, and organizations to integrate sustainability through self-transformation processes and Open Systems Design Principles, thus, catalyzing a Culture of Trust, Transparency, and Integrity.
Note: The comments presented here are the full responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of Sustainable Systems International or Woxsen School of Arts & Design.
Moral Authority
Sleeping Woke: Cancel Culture and Simulated Religion
Alexander Beiner in Rebel Wisdom
Kierkegaard and the Silence of Faith
Laura Nelson
When Heraclitus inspired J.M. Borges
Antonis Ch
But I Don't Think o
Jared Louw
What you can learn from the most unlikeable man in Ancient Greece
Stephanie Porfiris
To the liberal supporters of Jordan Peterson
TaraElla in The Hit Job
Simplicity, Autonomy, and Reconnecting with Nature
Wesley Matlock in eNotes
I Upgraded My Self Discipline Using These 13 Hard-Headed Quotes From Jocko Willink
Emeka Nwanedo in The Ascent


text:
Equalizing the Burden of Military Service |
Israeli Panel Votes to Excuse 1,800 Elite Yeshiva Students From IDF Service
In first significant step toward equalizing burden of military service, Knesset's Perry Committee submitted its report on IDF reforms; Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has two years to draft amendments on which yeshiva students will be eligible for exemption.
Gili Cohen
Jonathan Lis
The Israeli panel tasked with finding a way of equalizing the burden of military service voted Sunday unanimously in favor a clause exempting 1,800 elite yeshiva students.
Panel Fails to Approve Military Draft Reform
Lapid Threatens: If ultra-Orthodox Don't Share IDF Burden, This Government Will Fall
Haredim in Army, Pariahs at Home
Haredi Draft Bill Faces Delays
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has two years to draft a series of amendments to determine which yeshiva students will be eligible for exemption. The rabbis of a particular yeshiva will be able to participate in the selection should they opt to coordinate with the state on the matter.
The Knesset's Perry Committee submitted its report on the Israel Defense Forces reports last Thursday to the Cabinet Secretariat, in the significant first step toward implementing a new draft arrangement for the army.
The proposed new law obligates every Jewish 17-year-old male to undergo registration and examination procedures upon receiving the first call-up order, and provides for the establishment of an IDF intake center for the ultra-Orthodox. At the same time, religious men can opt for a yearly postponement for purposes of Torah learning until they are 21.
Postponement of service will require at least 45 weekly hours of learning at a yeshiva and vocational training under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. After that, the yeshiva learner will be required to report for duty under the Military Service law. At that time the Israel Defense Forces will decide whether to conscript him for military service or to transfer him to a civilian service framework.
Prior to the deliberations on Sunday, Habayit Hayehudi and Yisrael Beiteinu have coordinated a demand that legislation to draft ultra-Orthodox Jews into the Israel Defense Forces require the drafting of Arabs as well.
Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi ) said his party would not support the plan proposed by the Perry committee on the issue unless the bill included as many Arabs as ultra-Orthodox. He said making demands on one group was "unjust and improper."
The Perry committee is expected to hold a marathon meeting Sunday night and to vote on the bill's clauses. Officials on the committee said they expected the vote to take place despite Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's request to postpone the vote for two weeks because his office had not had a chance to examine the proposals closely.
Habayit Hayehudi is flexing its muscles because of its opposition to another recommendation by the committee - to extend the service of hesder yeshiva students from 16 months to two years. Hesder yeshiva students combine yeshiva studies with military service. If the demand stays, the party will vote against the bill, Ariel said.
Despite the heavy pressure by some factions on the panel, a senior committee member said Saturday that "if there are no unexpected political moves, the vote on the bill will pass smoothly in the committee."
The only member of the Perry committee likely to oppose the bill is Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu ), at the behest of his party chairman, MK Avigdor Lieberman. But Habayit Hayehudi may vote for the plan when it is presented with a compromise plan to gradually extend the service of hesder yeshiva students.
If the committee approves the bill today at its preliminary stage, it will move on to the Justice Ministry for 21 days to let the ministries and public respond. Only then would it go to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation for a vote.
Haredi men at an IDF induction center.Credit: Nir Keidar
Ultra-Orthodox