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A Vicious Overnight Tornado in Illinois Destroyed Homes & Wrecked Cars
Sweet Lenny Published: June 21, 2021
Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
In case you missed, and there's a very good chance you did, a tornado blew through Illinois last night.
It happened while most of us were sleeping in nearby Naperville and whipped through a few other Chicago suburbs too.
THE DAMAGE THE TORNADO LEFT BEHIND WAS UNDENIABLE AND SAVAGE
Incredibly, there have been zero fatalities.
However, it seemed this tornado was picking and choosing which homes and property to destroy.
As of right now, Fox News says more than 30,000 people are without power.
The Daily Mail via MSN says "The tornado touched down near route 53/75th street in Woodridge, DuPage County, around 11 pm ET on Sunday."
INJURIES AND DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE TORNADO
Six people were injured and "at least a dozen homes suffered extensive damage Sunday night." says Fire Chief Mark Pucknaitis.
WHAT KIND OF TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN?
In case you're wondering what type of tornado touched down in the early morning hours, Sam Emmerson on Twitter says it was "likely a strong EF3 based on an impressive 18,000+ ft TDS and a 66 kt Vrot, both remarkable for a QLCS tornado."
The TDS Emmerson is referencing is the Tornadic Debris Signature based on that big number sounds rather large.
Emmerson also mentioned the Vrot. According to US Tornadoes, "Vrot is a simple equation that takes the maximum outbound velocity (red) and the maximum inbound velocity (green), adds them together, then divides that sum by two. Vrot can be measured at any height in the storm, but despite all the capabilities that radars have, they are still limited by physics and geography."
Mike Smith Enterprises Blog dubbed a QLCS tornado as a "Squall line Tornado" and ranked it 2nd on "the hierarchy of tornadoes" just behind a Supercell Tornado. From the sound of things, you don't ever want a Supercell Tornado.
Long story short, while the property damage and injuries are significant enough to report on, it looks like the Chicago suburbs may have dodged a major bullet.
LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades
Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.
Breathtaking Photos of Massive Chemtool Fire from Rockton, Illinois Residents
On Monday, around 7 a.m., a Rockton chemical plant burst into flames. These photos from those that live nearby will make you feel like you were right there.
Filed Under: Naperville, tornado


text:
package org.arsenal.framework.bean;

import org.arsenal.framework.context.Accessor;
import org.arsenal.framework.context.AppContext;
import org.arsenal.framework.context.AppEvent;
import org.arsenal.framework.context.AppEventListener;
import org.arsenal.framework.context.AppObject;
import org.arsenal.framework.context.Registry;

public  abstract class AbstractAppContext  implements AppContext {

	protected AppContext parent;

	protected SimpleAppEventPubliser publiserTarget;

	protected Registry<AppObject> register;

  	protected Accessor<String,Object> accessors;

	public AbstractAppContext(AppContext parent){
		this();
		this.parent = parent;
 		this.accessors = new DefaultSimpleAccessor<String,Object>();
 	    this.register = new RegistryImpl();
	}

	public	AbstractAppContext(){
		publiserTarget = new SimpleAppEventPubliser();
  	}

	@Override
	public AppObject getSource() {
		AppObject val = null;
		if (parent != null) {
			val = parent.getSource();
		}
		if (val == null) {
			val = new SimpleAppObject();
		}
		return val;
	}

	@Override
	public void publishEvent(AppEvent event) {
		if (parent != null) {
			parent.publishEvent(event);
		}
		publiserTarget.publishEvent(event);
  }

	@Override
	public void addEventListener(AppEventListener<AppEvent> listener) {
		if (parent != null) {
			  parent.addEventListener(listener);
		}
	    this.publiserTarget.addEventListener(listener);

	}

	@Override
	public void removeEventListener(AppEventListener<AppEvent> listener) {
		if (parent != null) {
		   parent.removeEventListener(listener);
		}
	    this.publiserTarget.removeEventListener(listener);
	}

	@Override
    public Accessor<String,Object> getDefaultAccessor(){
		return accessors;
	}

	/** 新建一个访问器,并存入数据到当前对象 */
	@Override
	public <T> Accessor<String,T> newAccessor(String id, Class<T> clz) {
		if(getDefaultAccessor().contains(id)){
			return (Accessor<String,T>)getDefaultAccessor().get(id);
		}
		SimpleAccessor t = new SimpleAccessor<String, T>();
		getDefaultAccessor().put(id, t);
		return t;
	}

	@Override
	public  Registry<AppObject> getRegister() {
 		return register;
	}

	public class RegistryImpl implements Registry<AppObject> {

		@Override
		public void register(AppObject object) {
			register(object.id(),object);
		}

		@Override
		public void register(String id, AppObject object) {
			accessors.put(id,object);
		}
 	}

	/** 获取父亲 */
	@Override
	public AppContext getParent() {
		return parent;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Kayla Smith
Flute Performance, Teaching, and More
Studio Policy
Music Trivia
February 25, 2019 February 8, 2019 KSmithMusic
Music's Intellect: Math
Math, science, history, reading, language. Five skills learned in school that researchers and musicians argue are tied to music, especially to those who learn music. A previous post, "The importance of music in schools," quickly goes into these aspects and how they can benefit those five areas of learning. However, this post, as well as future posts titled "Music's Intellect" will dive into how I think each of these skills learned, ties into music and goes beyond. So, how does music tie into math?
Rhythm is the division of short and long sounds or silences. Much like fractions, you have a whole and can break it down into smaller or "shorter" sizes that can still equal the whole. Like a dollar, a whole note (a type of rhythm) is equal to four quarter notes. They equal the same length, but one is one long sound and the other is four shorter sounds. Those that are familiar with music can think of a variety of rhythm combinations that create unique songs.
Another mathematical aspect in music is Tempo (the measurement of time). Some songs are fast and some are slow, all of which is measured by beats per minute. You could have 60 beats per minute, just like 60 seconds, or 120 beats per minute which is much faster.
So math is the technicality of how music is measured. However, it also can create expression as well. One song, played at two different speeds can change the whole feeling of the music. Also, slowing down the speed in certain sections of a lyrical song can tug at your heartstrings, but doing the same thing in a song that is supposed to sound like a racing train, ends up loosing its feeling. Rhythm usually does not change, because the combination of short and long sounds/silences make a song unique to other songs, but the interpretation of the tempo or speed can make a piece of music unique to the performer.
All in all, music is an intellectual pleasure that ties math into technicality and expression. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to give a like and leave your thoughts or ideas of future content in the comments section below.
January 21, 2019 January 14, 2019 KSmithMusic
Why Isn't Band Highly Regarded
It has been a sort of pet peeve to see orchestras highly regarded around the world, while concert band is ignored. Is it because of it's history, diversity, or some unknown reason? Looking at the U.S. alone, many major cities have orchestras that are paid professionally (New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, etc.). However, when trying to think of concert bands who are paid, the only thought that comes to mind are military bands. Why is this? There is plenty of band repertoire that is not march or military oriented. Let's explore some opinions as to why band is essentially swept under the rug.
As far as I understand, concert band, the way we know it, is a relatively new concept. Orchestras have been around for at least four hundred years. Band on the other hand may have only been around for a little over one hundred years. Orchestras have been around much longer and have seen many evolutions to its composition of instruments, band not so much. The first 20th-century band piece was Gustav Holst's First Suite for Band. Maybe this is where concert band gets its march reputation.
Band may also be viewed as amateur. After all, it was not long after band music started emerging that it would be introduced into public schools. In the U.S. bands are usually the music program funded first, likely because of its diversity to play not only concert music, but also marching bands. I think it is because marching bands are viewed as being very "American," but also because they are also often associated with sports, which are highly funded here in the states. Also, many professional orchestras today have band instruments included, so maybe concert bands are viewed as the leftover players who did not make the cut, and are therefore amateurs. This really irritates me though, as there are far more string players per orchestra than winds. There could be fifty violins and three flutes or two clarinets. I understand that there is a balance to orchestra sound, but it is unfair to disregard everyone else and assume they're amateurs.
Finally, maybe its the diversity of band instruments as well. They have been used in folk music, jazz bands, rock bands, and pretty much any kind of music you can think of. Maybe concert band is to close to symphony orchestra to some listeners and their use in other genres is different. Maybe their diversity in these many genres is why they are regarded as amateur. It is difficult to say.
So concert band may not be as regarded because of its history, its education purposes, its diversity, or maybe it just has not got its footing yet in the professional world. After all, there are professional concert bands out there. Maybe, we just need to wait and see.
If you liked this post, be sure to give a like and share with others. If you have your own theories, leave your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.
December 17, 2018 December 10, 2018 KSmithMusic
Why You Should Admire Composers
If you listen to any pop or other popular music in this day and age, you might admire the singer who writes their own lyrics, but the creativity usually stops there. I admire the people who create a memorable tune or even put a creative spin on an old one. I admire the composers and arrangers.
I have arranged a couple of pieces of music, and it sometimes feels very daunting. However, just like any skill, it takes many hours of practice to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about that skill. At least with arranging, the tune is already there, with composing, you have to try to create something original, fresh, unique. So, to do my best to break it down, here are three reasons why composers should be admired.
1. Familiarity
Nearly every developed skill has theories or a set of rules to follow. It is no different with writing music. There are many rules that have withheld the test of time and are used in popular music today. An example of this, is many popular songs using the same chord progression as Pachebel's Canon in D, which was written over three-hundred years ago. One reason for this, is most humans are hard-wired to play it safe, or be surrounded by the "familiar." That's why a song you may have not liked at first, grows on you after hearing it a hundred times on the radio.
2. Uniqueness
When following the rules that breed familiarity, it becomes more and more difficult to come up with something that sounds new, yet aesthetically pleasing. That's one reason I admire composers, not only do they know their theory, but can still create something new using that theory. On the other hand, I also have admiration for the innovators. These are iconic composers, such as Cage, Stravinsky, and Beethoven who broke much of the rules of music theory during their time. These composers' music may have been accepted or ridiculed then, but they created iconic pieces that are still performed and listened to today.
3. Subtle Engagement Strategies
A final acclaim, is the subtle changes made during a piece. In a pop song, this could be a singer singing solo and then the bass dropping in. But, it could also be a change of instruments, an increase of speed like William's Jaws theme, or dynamics like in Haydn's Surprise Symphony, or adding decorative notes to a theme like Mozart's 12 Variations of "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman," (aka. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). All these techniques and more, keeps the music from going stagnate and in turn, keeps the audience engaged.
All in all, great composers are talented writers of music. They are much like great authors, but conveying a story of emotions, feelings, and more without the need of words. They write unique, innovative works that breed familiarity to the listening ear; and engage us through subtle, yet dynamic changes, that can tug at your emotions. Therefore, composers are much to be admired.
November 12, 2018 November 12, 2018 KSmithMusic
Top 5 Favorite Versions of the U.S. National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner is an anthem that encompasses hope, pride, love, and devotion given to the land that fought for freedom. The country known as The United States of America. While it is truly difficult to pick my favorite versions of this national anthem, in honor of those who fought for mine and others freedom, here are my current top arrangements of the U.S. National anthem:
5. Arrangement by Jack Stamp
This band arrangement seems to capture the inspiration that Francis Scott Key saw when he witnessed the sun rise and the U.S. flag waved at the top of the fort during the U.S. victory. It starts soft with the hollow sound of clarinets and slowly builds to a triumphant chorus of the whole band.
4. Epic Star-Spangled Banner
Yes, that is the title of this YouTube video. It was hard to decide whether to even have this in my top 5 list because of the sound effects and wierd videography at times. But putting that aside, I believe this is a great arrangement that starts with the innocent voice of a young girl, which builds into an orchestra and choir that captures the struggles and perseverance people went through for our country. Finally, it climaxes to a triumphant point by using the full diversity of the orchestra, choir, and pipe organ.
3. CWU Marching Band
While I might be partial to this arrangement because it is the same college band I participated in, I never played this Lewis Norfleet arrangement. It is a prideful rendition with powerful brass chords, awesome passing of melody with quick added flutters, and ridiculously high screaming trumpets. It brings tears to my eyes how beautifully bold and powerful this arrangement is.
2. 500 high school students sing the national anthem in a hotel
When I first saw this video I nearly started crying. This hauntingly beautiful performance almost made me start crying. With this powerhouse of a group singing beautifully and on key, in a venue with a lot of reverberation, it almost sounds sacred. To me, this performance captures the feeling of rememberance. Rememberance of those who fought for us, those who will, and the rememberance that we all should come together and treat each other as free people.
Honorable Mention: Malea Emma
It was hard not to include this talented 7-year old in the top five list. The reason I didn't include her was because some of the growling she did took away from her performance; also that technique, as well as the vibrato she uses at such an early age will probably ruin her vocal chords at an earlier point in her life compared to others (I'm not a vocal expert though). However, Malea Emma has a truly amazing voice, Very powerful for such a young age; and talk about that range: do we have another Mariah Carey in our midst? What is also amazing, is the fact that she sang in pitch, accapella the entire time.
1. Whitney Houston
Many would claim Whitney Houston as one of the greatest singers of all time. Another tear jerking performance, her 1991 Super Bowl performance does a great job of encompassing Whitney's beautifully powerful and gentle voice with the wonderful Florida Symphony. You also can't help but feel the spirit of America, it's land, and it's people poring out of this soulful performance.
If you are interested in listening to any of these performances, you may find them on YouTube. Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
October 15, 2018 October 15, 2018 KSmithMusic
How to Have An Entertaining Performance: Beyond the Music
Have you ever noticed the difference between a compelling performance and an inhibited one? Putting on a performance can be exciting and very intimidating, but these three subtle things should help make a captivating performance:
How you present yourself is more than how you dress, it is how you walk, talk, stand, bow, even hold your instrument. There is another word for this, confidence. Your presence begins from the moment you walk on stage; if you shuffle on stage with your head down, maybe arms crossed, and no eye contact with the audience, you show that your either not confident in your playing ability or what you are wearing or you don't want to be here performing for the people that came to watch you. When you walk on stage with a strong stride, your head held up, feet planted on the ground you show that your confident and excited for your performance, and when you glance at the audience, that makes them feel included in the excitement. Keep your feet planted while performing, but allow your body to move with the music. It looks unnatural when you're stiff as a statue, and putting all your weight on one foot could imply unsteadiness. Finally, make a nice bow with your face and torso parallel to the floor, then exit the same way you came in. The thing to remember is that "the whole performance is an act, and when you act confident, the audience feels confident in your ability."
Engaging in the music, ensemble members, and the audience makes a performance that much more entertaining. It can be as simple as eye contact. Now, some people get extremely nervous when they see the faces of audience members, but if you come out on stage and just look in the audiences direction (let's say the back wall), it makes them feel included in this event. Also, taking a little time before the last piece to tell the audience how much you appreciate them being there gives them a positive experience for taking the time to see you perform. Also, when you move your body to the music you're playing, you show that you are engaged with the music you are playing. Finally, when you engage with your accompanist or other ensemble members through eye contact, it not only shows that you're engaged with the music, but making sure your on the same page and acknowledging their participation in the performance.
It is perfectly normal to be at least a little nervous for a performance. Just make sure that you are having fun. Some of my best performances were when I got so into the music and playing with my friends and colleagues, that it almost seemed like the audience was not even there. I'm not saying that you should ignore the audience, but when you are having fun, it eliminates some of your anxiety and manifests a happy, engaging, and entertaining performance that captivates everyone in the room. You worked hard, so have fun with it!
So just remember to present yourself confidently the whole time you are on stage, engage with the music and everyone in the hall, and have fun with the music you worked so hard on. This will spawn an entertaining performance.
This is what I have observed, feel free to leave your comments below.
October 8, 2018 October 2, 2018 KSmithMusic
What I Think of Michelle Khare's Song
Lately I've gotten into watching Michelle Khare and the challenges she takes on and uploads onto her YouTube channel. On there I recently watched "I Trained Like A Pop Star For 60 Days," and found it rather inspiring. This is because of her background, her commitment and relationship with the song, and stepping out of her comfort zone.
Michelle's music background, as far as I know, has been singing in school musicals. She was not musically trained, nor written any music before doing this video. I am a rule follower, and as a classically trained musician, I get caught up in all the rules and steps to follow, that I get to nervous to compose anything of my own. The closest I've come to music writing, is making arrangements of other works or writing cadenzas for a concerto or two. For someone who has as little background as Michelle, it shows me, "hey, maybe I can do it too."
Khare took time to write out a song that would directly relate to a time in her life when she was put down by others. It paints a vivid picture of the scene, but is also vague with how if someone tells her that she can't do "it," whatever "it" is, that she takes those words of judgement and negativity as motivation to do better, and be the winner. This is not only relatable to her, but to anyone who has struggled through something and was not supported by others. It makes the song itself, moving.
One thing that Michelle seems to consistently do that inspires me is stepping out of her comfort zone. Breaking out of my comfortable space is something that I have struggled with my entire life. Khare does it frequently, which results in much knowledge and growth. This is truly inspiring to someone who loves learning and growing as a unique individual, especially on a topic that resonates, such as creating your own song.
Michelle's perseverance throughout the challenge was truly inspiring and motivating. It has inspired me to take the next step in my life and career. You can find her video on her channel and find her song here.
August 27, 2018 August 27, 2018 KSmithMusic
The Importance of Music in Schools
There have been many times when music has been treated as an entertainment class and not an academic. I think it might be because music is one of the earliest forms of learning (think ancient times). Now, as a musician and educator, it might seem biased for me to rant and rave about the importance of music in schools, but I intend on using examples of proven research and experiences to demonstrate music's importance in schools.
Music helps improve performance of other academics. Music has been long associated with mathematics. By learning beat, rhythm, and scales, children are essentially learning how to divide, create fractions, and recognize patterns. I also believe that reading music ties in with reading; when I went into sixth grade, I was at a fourth-grade reading level. This was also my second year of learning flute in band, which started expanding on my musical knowledge. I truly believe that being in band helped increase my reading level to a mid-sixth grade level by the end of the school year. Reciting and reading music also utilizes the memory part of the brain, recollecting short term memory that eventually leads to long term memory. There is also physical memory when learning to play an instrument, as well as basic physics of sound.
Non-music teachers or parents may view the class as a way to entertain the students, this might be because of the social aspects. When you perform music for others, it might bring them joy which brings them closer to you, which might also help with making new friends. If you play with a group of musicians, you share a sense of fellowship. Band was a prime example of this; I had many friends of different ages that I could connect with. Music is a universal language; it helps us connect with people from other cultures when we listen to and appreciate music from that culture, even if we don't understand what is being said.
Music teaches life skills as well. Music not only develops social skills, but also reasoning, self-improvement, emotional development, intellect, creative, discipline, confidence, and teamwork skills. For example, working to create good music rather than mediocre, through consistent practicing, perseverance through struggling parts, recording and listening to improvements, and adding emotion. When you perform, and people praise you for your improvement, skills, and efforts, it instills confidence. When you work with an ensemble, like band, orchestra, or choir, that instills teamwork.
The research is there. Not only is music an entertaining outlet, but it has countless benefits that anyone who has taken several years of music courses would recognize. So, I hope you can appreciate just how wonderful learning music is, and recognize what benefits it could bring, especially to our schools.
August 13, 2018 August 1, 2018 KSmithMusic
Being a Musician vs Being an INFJ
While there is no question that I love making music, it's a part of who I am, I find that some aspects of music making conflict with my personality. See, I am what is known as an "INFJ," which apparently is the rarest personality in the world. An "INFJ," or "introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging" personality is one of sixteen personalities identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I have taken the Myers-Briggs test many times, from multiple sources since middle school and always ended with the same results; it's a very fascinating topic. Now as an INFJ musician, here are some personality traits that conflict or conform with being a musician:
1. Introversion
Many people are aware of what makes an extrovert or introvert. With being introverted, after a day of interacting with people at work, all I want to do is go home to my own, quiet space. And don't get me started on networking; it's a total nightmare. Although, it is much easier to network with friends, especially because networking is really working on relationships. This is also why playing my flute or writing is a much easier than talking to someone I do not really know.
2. Helping Others
INFJ's tend to want to help others that they encounter, experiencing a lot of different emotions while trying to help others be happy. With music being a powerful tool for dealing with or expressing emotions, playing for others is one way I feel that I can help them, and bring joy to them. Teaching music also builds life skills that can help personally and professionally, such as dealing with emotions or teamwork and planning.
3. Not an Open Book
This ties into the Intuitive-Feeling part of my personality. I really dislike being open about myself and keep my thoughts and emotions to myself because I care about what others think and want to be accepted, therefore, I open with people I trust. Consequently, I find it difficult to talk to people I haven't built trust with yet. Even blogging, like right now, makes me feel vulnerable. But, playing music allows me to express emotions that I have experienced in an abstract way.
4. Nonconformist
I tend to look at the deeper meaning behind just about everything, even music. Which is why I don't pay attention most of the popular pop tunes and such you hear today. I just feel that most don't go in depth.
5. Feeling Guilty
I tend to set really high expectations for myself. On top of that, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. So, if I do not post content on my blog, I will feel guilty because I said in an earlier post that I would post each week. I also currently feel guilty because I have not really been sharing my music, you know bringing joy or helping others. However, my perfectionism gets in the way, because I feel that nothing I am working on is performance ready. Conflicting, right?
All in all, I am happy with who I am, even when my brain is full of turmoil. It just sometimes conflicts with the job it takes to be a professional musician. If you are more curious about the INFJ personality, Tempt's "Things Only A True INFJ Would Understand," makes some great points. If you are curious about your own personality, take the free Myers-Briggs test at 16personalities. These two sites in no way sponsored this post.
July 16, 2018 KSmithMusic
3 Reasons Why I Started this Blog
I put up my website about five years ago to show the world that I was taking my professional music career seriously. I started this blog with the idea that it would be more than what I was currently doing with my music performing career, which is what I saw on most musician websites. However, I have hit a few learning curbs along the way, including not posting consistently, or breaking up content. Hopefully, I have learned from my mistakes and people will enjoy reading and watching my content as much or more than I like sharing it. My previous article, "Getting a Face Lift," stated projects that I'm planning on working on, including what kinds of blogs you might start seeing. But, I didn't say why I'm writing them. So, here are three reasons why I'm starting this blog:
Expressing myself through music
Aside from promoting myself as a musician, I have long been passionate with making music because I find it a much easier way of expressing myself and my feelings than talking. Writing is also an easier way of expressing my thoughts and feelings. I'm hoping, that through YouTube videos and blogging, I can express myself and my passion of music.
Sharing knowledge and a Passion for Learning
I may have struggled in school, but I have always had a passion, or a sense of eagerness to learn. Posting articles about composers, ensembles, time periods, as well as informational content, from music enthusiasts to new coming professionals, is my way of sharing knowledge in hopes to spark a curiosity to learn something new.
Connecting our love of music
Why write about other musicians when I should promote myself? Music is as variable and diverse as every individual in the world, yet it can unify us across the world, now more than ever before. So, why not share things about other musicians, their music, and their way of expressing themselves.
If you liked this article, be sure to like it and share your comments.
Blogging and Comment Policy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Psypoke - View topic - Mystery Item?
As I was cloning my Pokemon (which I did correctly and safely) I look into my inventory and find a very strange item. The item was called Terasama and had no description but 3 question marks. I would appreciate a reply.
Terasama is a glitch item that occurs during hacking. I think it appears when you incorrectly try to clone/hack an item.
I forget what Terasama does.
I learned that terasama is acually the gs ball.
A corrupt of the GS Ball, yes.


text:
Spacecraft and Space Missions
Mercury's Polar Ice Defies the Odds
By: J. Kelly Beatty November 29, 2012 11
Scientists with NASA's Messenger mission have announced that they've confirmed the existence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near Mercury's poles.
Today three teams of planetary scientists announced a truly amazing result, something I've been hoping to hear for more than 20 years and expected to hear about 8 months ago. The hellish planet Mercury harbors substantial amounts of water ice — ice! — on the walls and floors of craters near its poles that are never exposed to sunlight.
Taken on October 6, 2008 from a distance of 17,000 miles (27,000 km), this Messenger image of Mercury gives no hint that permanently shadowed craters near its north pole (top) apparently contain lots of water ice.
NASA / JHU-APL/ Carnegie Inst. of Washington
This stunning revelation is detailed in a trio of reports published online today in Science Express. All are based on results from NASA's Messenger spacecraft, which has been orbiting the innermost planet for about 1½ years. I'll delve into those in a moment, but first let's step into the Wayback Machine.
In late 1991, I first got word that a team of astronomers had used one of NASA's big guns, the 230-foot (70-m) tracking antenna at Goldstone, California, to continuously illuminate Mercury with radio energy. Then they listened with the Very Large Array in New Mexico for faint radar echoes, with which they'd create a radar map of the planet.
To their complete surprise, the planet's north pole veritably lit up like a beacon. Water ice was the most likely compound to create such a strong radar echo, but how could that possibly be? "Even the youngest of budding astronomers knows that Mercury is one hot planet," wrote I in Sky & Telescope's January 1992 issue. "Mercury's midday temperatures soar to 825° Kelvin — hot enough to make molten puddles of lead, tin, and zinc."
In this radar image of Mercury's north polar region, yellow areas denote regions of high radar reflectivity. Since their discovery in 1992, these polar deposits have been hypothesized to consist of water ice trapped in permanently shadowed areas.
National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center / Arecibo Observatory
And yet, simple geometry argued that the idea of ice at the Mercurian poles was not crazy at all but actually quite plausible. The innermost planet is so powerfully locked in the Sun's gravitational grip that the angular tilt of its spin axis, relative to its orbit, is virtually zero (just 1⁄30°). So, in principle, any ice that found its way to the floors of deep craters near the poles would never be exposed to sunlight and might well remain for a very long time.
Over the years, support for this notion of snowballs in hell only grew stronger, and Messenger's arrival in March 2011 finally gave scientists the tools they needed to prove it.
One method is to keep count of the neutrons reaching the spacecraft from Mercury. These are created when high-energy cosmic rays strike the surface and interact with atoms in rocky minerals. But hydrogen atoms gobble up slower-moving neutrons like so many atomic sponges, and a drop-off in the count rate would imply the plentiful presence of hydrogen — predominantly in H2O — near the planet's surface.
Messenger's counts medium-speed neutrons fall off at high northern latitudes, closely matching a simulated response in which water ice is assumed to completely cover permanently shadowed crater floors and walls near the planet's north pole.
NASA / JHU-APL / Carnegie Inst. of Washington
That's exactly what early results from Messenger's neutron spectrometer were hinting to its science team (as reported here last March).
Now, after many more months of slowly amassing more neutron counts and also adjusting Messenger's orbit to come somewhat closer to the planet's north pole, the presence of water ice seems inescapable. Although the neutron spectrometer's maps are too crude to resolve individual craters, there's a clear enhancement due to hydrogen in the polar regions, according to lead scientist David Lawrence of Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Laboratory. "We can prove the water's there," he says, and measurements are consistent with the shadowed regions being filled with water ice.
So how much might be sequestered in the darkness, out of sight from the spacecraft's cameras? Lawrence says the layer of ice is at least 20 inches (50 cm) deep and could be much deeper. All told, Mercury's polar regions might hold 100 billion to a trillion tons of ice — somewhere between a Lake Tahoe and a Lake Erie's worth.
Now that scientists have finally mapped the topography surrounding Mercury's north pole (lower panel), they've concluded that the deepest hollows are a near-perfect match to anomalously reflective regions first seen two decades ago by Earth-based radars.
Radar: NAIC / Arecibo Observatory; topography: NASA / JHU-APL / Carnegie Inst. of Washington
A caveat: the neutron-spectrometer doesn't detect water directly; it indirectly detects hydrogen. So might some other hydrogen-rich substance be masquerading as water ice? Unlikely, according to additional results from Messenger's laser altimeter. It sends pulses of near-infrared light toward the surface eight times per second, then carefully computes the round-trip travel time of each reflection to determine the elevation of whatever its passing over. The instrument's science team uses these to build a topographic map of the planet over time. But the laser pulses also illuminate the ground below, and the strength of the reflections reveals how reflective the surface material is — even in the darkest shadows.
One such deep shadow lies in the 70-mile-wide crater Prokofiev, which lies with 100 miles of the planet's north pole. According to investigator Gregory Neumann (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center), a large crescent-shaped area of the crater's poleward-facing inner rim is two to four times brighter than its surroundings, meaning is topped with something as reflective as ice. The real surprise, adds Neumann, is that the icy exposures in Prokofiev and elsewhere are surrounded by very dark material dark. He says these are likely thin blankets of material that lie atop layers of ice.
To make the case ice-tight, researchers led by David Paige (University of California, Los Angeles) used the newfound knowledge of highs and lows in the polar regions to calculate which portions of the polar regions are sometimes roasted by intense sunlight and which are not. They conclude that the floors and inner walls of many polar craters are so deeply shadowed that they never get warmer than -370°F (50 K). Any water that makes its way into these super-cold enclaves could remain there stably for a very long time.
Comets are the most likely source of all this water. Whenever one strikes Mercury, a cloud of water vapor, organic compounds, and other volatiles briefly enshrouds the planet. Some of these compounds migrate to the polar shadows and become "cold trapped" onto the surface. Paige suggests that, over time, space radiation causes the topmost layer of organics to transform into pitch-black goo, which eventually gets thick enough to insulate the pristine deposit beneath it.
How did Mercury get its water ice? Most likely it comes from comets that periodically strike the planet's surface. Some of the resulting water vapor, mixed with organic compounds and other volatiles, become "cold trapped" on the permanently shadowed floors and rims of craters in the polar regions.
NASA / UCLA / JHU-APL / Carnegie Inst. of Washington
Determining whether ice exists at Mercury's poles was actually a high priority for Messenger and its science team, notes principal investigator Sean Solomon (now at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory). He explains that the water-ice hypothesis has now been subjected to three stringent tests — neutron emission, topographic plausibility, and thermal modeling — and it's passed all three. "We know of no other compound that matches [these three] characteristics," he says.
So while it might be a very long while before your local travel agent can book you a skiing vacation on Mercury's polar slopes, it's mind-expanding to think about how all that water ice got there and how its existence alters our view of solar-system evolution. For example, in answer to one rather obvious question at today's press briefing, Solomon rejected the idea that there might be life on the innermost planet. But, he allowed, "Mercury is becoming an object of astrobiological interest.
One might conclude that all the rocky planets received water, and Earth is the standout not for the quantity delivered, but the amount held onto.
That sounds like a reasonable conclusion Peter. On earth old snow piled up along the streets in air polluted cities can turn black from accumulated soot and dirt left behind as the snow melts and sublimates. What's turning the ice black on Mercury? My guess would be hydrocarbons delivered with the comets.
Bruce et al. I pass along this observation.
"Small impacts should have buried the surface if the ice were a billion years old, and the MESSENGER researchers believe it might be much younger than that, perhaps 50 million years old. "The ice deposits we are looking at are not ancient," says Paige. This article is reproduced with permission from the magazine Nature. The article was first published on November 29, 2012."
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ice-confirmed-on-mercury-despite-planets-solar-proximity
My observation - this report supports that the ice reported on Mercury indicates a young age here, especially when compared to the evolution model age of 4.5E+9 years old for the planet.
Ok Rod, I see no problem with Mercurian ice being "perhaps 50 million years old." This also dosen't pose a problem for "the evolution model age of 4.5E+9 years old for the planet." Of cource no volatile ices could have been anywhere on Mercury's surface early in the solar system's history. I don't get too hung up over the word "evolution" either. True, I don't beleive that life arrises by chance and that new forms of life evolve by themselves, but clearly, inorganic objects like stars, planets, mountain ranges, etc. change over time.
Bruce interesting comments. Consider the hollows looking fresh (young), the decaying magnetic field, Messenger spectrometer revealed that the surface had a high abundance of volatile elements like Na, K, and S. These elements contradict the solar accretion model where a hot young sun with strong stellar winds strips Mercury in its youth. Their presence also contradicts the "big splat" model for the origin of Mercury, similar to the giant impact model to explain the origin of the Moon. The volatile elements should not exist in such abundance. We also have no Mercury rocks that are dated either.
Yes 4.5E+9 years old Mercury is a model age and I would not call this model age certain and evident.
Why wouldn't any water/ice just sublimate from the surface & disappear ......like an old tray of ice cubes in the dryness of a freezer? Or is it bonded to the material it is stuck to? I guess if it can be clinging to a comet, it must be able to hide on Mercury in the cold?
No ice ever lasts that long in my freezer Mike, but yeah, you make a good point. And wouldn't sublimation occur faster at low or vacuum pressures? Your observation is lending support to Rod's point that ice on Mercury can't be very old. This also makes me wonder how the bodies that form comets can even grow at all way out in the cold beyond the snow line of our solar system. The key must be in the "dirt", the non H2O and CO2 componets of comets. These must accumulate on the surface (like dirt on old snow) and form a protective crust somehow. And after rereading Kelley Betty's article I quote: "Paige suggests that, over time, space radiation causes the topmost layer of organics to transform into pitch-black goo, which eventually gets thick enough to insulate the pristine deposit beneath it." My conclusion, if we ever send a rover to investigate (which of course I hope we do) watch out for dem dar tar pits.
Ice can exist "forever" in the vacuum of space. Comets are examples of that, until they get close to the sun, and so I don't see a problem with ice on Mercury being very old.
It comes down to physical chemistry. If you google phase diagrams for water, it will make more sense. In a vacuum at very low temperatures, the vapor pressure of water is extremely low, so it does not enter, or sublime, to the gas phase easily unless you get some energy input. For example when a comet gets close to the sun. In the freezer, the ice is about -4C and is at atmospheric pressure plus you open and close the door periodically and let warmer air in etc. At some point the ice cubes are picking up some energy along the surface. Out in deep space or in a permanently shadowed area on Mercury where it's essentially a vacuum, the rate of sublimation will be very low. That would not be the case if for example, the sun were beating down on it.
That was good advice and info MA. So we can take H2O ice sublimation at low temps and pressures totally off the table. That makes the solar system and all its small icy bodies make a lot more sense. Logically, ice in space can last "forever". Thanks MA.
Tony Flanders
Ice can't quite exist forever in outer space, but as Bruce says, it sublimates so slowly that it might as well be forever. Note that ice isn't special in this regard. Everything sublimates in outer space -- rock, iron, you name it. But the rate is sublimation is vanishingly small.
MA should get the credit for pointing out the facts about sublimation Tony. And the more I think about it the more obvious it should have been; consider the extreme case of any solid at absolute zero. Sublimation would have to be impossible at 0 K. But out in the depths of space where cometary bodies form as well as in the inner solar system on permanently shadowed areas of airless bodies like our Moon and Mercury ices should be able to persist and perhaps even accumulate, like frost build up on the walls of our freezers. Tony, could what you are calling sublimation of solids in space be perhaps more correctly called weathering or erosion from energetic particle impacts? It's hard to imagine atoms locked in solids like rock or iron evaporating from surfaces their bound to, especially at the very low temps so common in space.


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Feature Music Pop Culture
"The Guy" Review: History Repeats Itself, and so does M.I Abaga
Posted on August 29, 2022 by Michael Aromolaran
An aged character in John Steinbeck's short story, The Leader of the People, annoys another character by talking about "one thing" all the time. Far from deliberate, the character does this because he is old and, as is wont of the aged, rehashes old stories and jokes, convinced they are new. Working in a genre premised on linguistic invention, rappers, perhaps, are the most wary of repetition, far more than their singing colleagues – Wizkid has no qualms chanting Joro from morn till dusk. In a Young Money Radio episode published in 2020, Lil Wayne tells Eminem that while making a new song, he often has to "Google my old lyrics" to avoid rapping an old punchline; to which the Detroit rapper says, "I do that, too". I wonder if M.I Abaga, Nigeria's premier English-reliant rapper, listens to his old records to ensure a newer one is repetition-proof. In his just released fifth solo album, The Guy, there is a line from the first song that suggests he does not.
The line goes, "some of you no dey ever hear the message, and that's on Glo". It's neither the first nor second time the rapper has invoked telecommunications technology in a verse. In Beg, from The Chairman (2014) album, he raps, "let's link up like telecomm". In My Head My Belle, from his second album M.I 2 (2010), he raps, "if for say things connect like good network". In Shekpe, from the same album, there is, "mo wa connected than Internet router". Of course, like all artists, M.I's references are informed by his environment; and Internet service, as it was in 2010, is still a dicey business in Nigeria. But how about lending new language to old complaints, or avoiding said complaints all together?
Victor Hugo's aphorism comes to mind: "forty is the old age of youth; fifty, the youth of old age". M.I, who is forty, is old and spent, as far as rap technique goes. Not that he has ever been a particularly good rapper, his greatness the result of his ability to blend 'decent' rap lyrics with a sound that — unlike songs by many Nigerian English-based rappers before him — has a distinct Nigerian character. The man knows it, for he raps in The Hate that his "flows been decent". Decent, not paranormal. There is the chance M.I intends decent as a self-compliment, in which case it qualifies as both a self-diss and a weak line, given any dictionary would tell you decent means 'just good enough'.
There are several weak lines in the album, but here are two: in the first song, he raps that he is "PSG of the rap game"; in The Hate, he raps, "my brother's the emperor and you are not even the sergeant". Given the Parisian club is a serial underperformer in club football's biggest event, comparing yourself to PSG is actually a diss, as anyone who watches European football knows. M.I had a more sensible football simile years back, in Action Film: "I'm championship like Inter", a line that was timely, even if not timeless.
And the second line fails as a juxtaposition because an emperor and a sergeant belong to different classes. A better juxtaposition can be found in M.I's Rich, a song in The Chairman. The line: "from buying food inside newspaper/ to the front page of magazine". It works because the key words in the setup and punchline – newspaper and magazine – belong to the same genus.
I have fixated on words. How does M.I fare sound-wise? Like his verses, the album's sonic temperament on the whole is shorn of youth, youth being a catch-all word for boom-bap energy, joy and humour, a triangle of virtues which gives a piece of music a radio destiny. But then, as his last solo album Yxng Dxnzl (2018) proves, the man has since forsworn his pop impulses. While pop music rewards brevity, Yxng Dxnzl has song titles that would compete with any Faulknerian sentence for length. The album's tone, preachily whiny, is anti-radio as well.
Some of his last album's moodiness enters The Guy. M.I is sombre even when he aims to rouse, as in the Tomi Owó-supported Soldier. When he opens the louvres and the fresh air of youth filters in, as in the song Daddy, we catch a transient earful of the humour we have often heard in M.I's old music, like in the melodramatic Igbo gospel-inflected Monkey, from The Chairman album.
A typical M.I album gives you much hubris, some social criticism, and some risqué variety of love. This one gives you much lustful love, some social criticism, and some brags. This reapportioning of themes may have an autobiographical basis. The rapper announced his wedding plans in April, so it may be a case of real-life love demanding more love in the studio. It is as John Updike wrote, "an affair wants to spill, to share its glory with the world". M.I's affair spills so much, it drowns his ego, which usually takes the centre of his albums.
Something else drowns you: Olamide's hook, in the song Bigger, which has the American rapper Nas contribute a verse. It's a shame Olamide did not rap, but his hook is perhaps the most memorable takeaway from the album, which is saying a lot because it's not a particularly great hook, the ear resisting its sometimes off-track melody. Perhaps a younger Olamide, given the chance to record with arguably the greatest rapper of all time, would have liked to rap as well. And perhaps a younger M.I would have been more competitive with his verse, rather than take a kumbaya approach, a choice that conflicts with the song's shouts of vauntful individualism.
If youth breeds ambition, middle age tames it. In M.I's case, not wanting to upstage a personal hero may also have a hand in his tame verse — he did, after all, rap in Short Black Boy (2008) that he sounds "like Nas". His hero has the song's most vicious line — "leaving teeth marks on your soul, Alucard". But then, a reference to a manga vampire character from the 1990s? It doesn't get more dated than this.
albumM.I AbagaReviewThe Guy
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In all things there is healing. Broken hearts, broken lives, there is no way around them. But you don't have to live broken. Maybe broken is all you've ever known, but there is healing. You just have to ask for it. You just have to let the maker of your life clean up your wounds and bring you back to life.
Sometimes after we experience painful situations in life, we have to come to realize that getting past them in our minds completely will just take some time. In this time one thing that is very helpful to allow us to cope and to grieve with the pain of losing someone or something in our lives that we expected to be there forever is that if we work on ourselves, and improve spiritually, emotionally, and physically, we will help ourselves to realize that we are made better because of what we have been through, and that life doesnt stop just because certain circumstances have made their way into our lives.


City Manager, Janice Brathwaite-Edwards announced that plans are in the pipeline for the redesign and improvement of the Sir Olva Georges Plaza.
Speaking on a television program that was aired on 19 August, Mrs. Brathwaite-Edwards disclosed that the idea is to allow the public to determine the format of the design via a competition.
In fact, it was disclosed that the competition will be announced soon: "We are actually getting ready to put out a competition to redesign the Sir Olva Georges Plaza. We want to see what architects, landscape engineers etc come up with as we redesign the Sir Olva Georges Plaza," she said.
Mrs. Brathwaite-Edwards explained that the vision is to ensure that the Plaza becomes an area that has the wow factor and is seen as the welcome into the city of Road Town. "We are trying to encompass the whole ferry dock situation the whole boardwalk promenade situation as you come into there. At the end of the day when you decide to come and wait for your ferry – because they say now – I am understanding that you have to be there for at least an hour which is something that …if I have to be at the ferry for at least an hour I can come down and relax in a green space," she said.


The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) invites proposals for the 2019 a2ru national conference, knowledges: artistic practice as method to take place at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, November 7-9, 2019.
The 2019 theme, knowledges: artistic practice as method is an invitation to explore modes of knowing, especially as arrived through the discovery of artistic practice.
The Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the Ohio State University is hosting a new "Popular Culture and the Deep Past" event on February 22-23, 2019. In keeping with the spirit of past PCDPs, this two-day gathering will include an academic conference as well as a "carnival" of events and activities, focusing on this year's theme of "Fairies and the Fantastic".
The conference is especially interested in this theme in the broadly conceived Medieval and Renaissance periods, but it also looks back to earlier examples of fairy belief and explore the uses of fairies in later popular culture. We have presentations covering approaches from literary, artistic, cinematic, and gaming analyses, to historical and cultural investigations, as well as presentations with broad geographical scope that examine the 'presence' of fairies outside Western Europe–in Scandinavia, Persia, and other parts of the world.
The keynote address of the conference, "The Many Roads to Fairyland," will be delivered by Haunted Ohio author and CMRS alumna Chris Woodyard on Friday night, followed by a reception open to all.
Please make sure to check our website at cmrs.osu.edu, which also contains links to our social media pages, for more exciting updates as well as the full schedule of events. Admission is free and open to the public!
The theme for the 2019 a2ru Emerging Creatives Student Summit is Food + Place. Food is the common language of life. Across the world, people use it to establish and maintain relationships and to celebrate important events. Food also frequently takes on a symbolic dimension in culture, representing everything from love to social status. Differing approaches to its production and consumption profoundly affect our economic systems, public health, and climate. Our connection to food is multi-faceted, inspiring a wide range of creative works.
The Center for Latin American Studies at The Ohio State University is pleased to host the 16th annual Ohio Latin Americanist Conference, to be held on Oct. 20-21, 2017. We invite all Latin Americanists and Latinx Studies scholars, educators and students from institutions of higher education to participate in this annual meeting. Participants do not need to be from Ohio to present or attend.Keynote speaker will be Joel Wainwright, associate professor of geography, The Ohio State University.


Cultural Compulsive Disorder: I Can Not wait To See "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark"!!!
I Can Not wait To See "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark"!!!
I am really looking forward to this film that is written and produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Troy Nixey. Often times you hear of films cutting out scenes to get a lower rating. The complete opposite is true here. Guillermo and the crew had aimed for this one to be rated PG-13, but didn't want to scrimp on the scariness of the film. This lead to an R rating for "pervasive scariness". Yup... sounds like they did their job a bit TOO WELL!!! I can't wait to see this one. Check after the jump for the full length trailer that shows off some of the impressive monsters/creatures from the film. Great poster as well, right? The movie is coming out August 26th.
I was a huge fan of the original Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, and am eagerly awaiting this remake. This is how you do a remake.


Is Your Online Help Helping Your Customers?
Visualizing Problems … and Solutions!
Website: Human Factors International, Inc.
Going from Print to Online?
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Productivity Counts: What if your measure the effectiveness and productivity of your team members?
Distance Learning: Fad or Future?
Can Online Training Save $$?
What Good Is Web-based Help If Customers Can't Understand It?
When are We Going to Stop Talking About Ratios?
JoAnn Hackos & Bill Hackos, Comtech Services, Inc.


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Intestinal health and therapeutic bacteria
Intestinal health and therapeutic bacteria /
Researchers working in Satokari group
Reetta Satokari, PhD, Docent and Principal Investigator
Veera Kainulainen, PhD, Academy post-doctoral researcher
Jonna Jalanka, PhD, Academy post-doctoral researcher
Imran Khan, PhD, Post-doctoral researcher
Kaisa Hiippala, PhD, Post-doctoral researcher
Aki Ronkainen, MSc, PhD Candidate
Anna Hartikainen, MSc, PhD student
Berta Bosch, MSc, PhD student
Reetta's page in Research Portal
Reetta studied biology, microbiology, and biochemistry in the Moscow State University, Russia and in the University of Helsinki (UH), Finland and received her MSc. and Ph.Lic. (Licentiate) in microbiology in 1996 and 1999, respectively from the UH. She then worked as a researcher in VTT Technical Research Centre, Espoo, Finland and did her PhD thesis research on human intestinal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria as a joint-project between VTT and the Wageningen University (WU), The Netherlands, where she worked in 1999-2001. She obtained her Ph.D. in 2002 from WU, NL. As a post-doc she worked in VTT and in the University of Turku, Finland and was involved in several projects on the development of a novel DNA/RNA detection technique as well as in research on intestinal microbiota and probiotics.
In 2008, Reetta was nominated as a docent (adjunct professor) in microbiology. Since 2011, she has been leading her own research group on human intestinal microbiota and host-microbe interactions in UH.
When Reetta is not occupied with science, she likes to make handicrafts with her daughter, enjoy nature in the Turku archipelago and to exercise belly movements in oriental dancing classes.
Veera's page in Research Portal
Veera obtained MSc (2004) and PhD (2012) in general microbiology from the Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki. She has worked as a postdoc in the research group of Docent Reetta Satokari (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki) and in the research group of Professor Riitta Korpela (Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki)
The focus of Veera's research is in studying microbe-host interactions i.e. adhesion of bacteria and binding of the bacterial proteins to components of the human and animal host tissues and bacterial interaction with the host epithelium as well as the effects of bacteria to epithelial barrier function and their anti-inflammatory potential.
Veera's main interests outside of science are sport and gymnastics.
Jonna's page in Research Portal
Jonna defended her PhD thesis in 2014 from the group of Willem de Vos (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine). Her main research area was intestinal microbiota in healthy subjects and how it is effected by disease. She continued as a post-doc researcher with Reetta Satokari concentrating the effect of FMT in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. Jonna later also joined the group of Prof Robin Spiller in Nottingham University for second post-doc period and was awarded an honorary assistant professorship in University of Nottingham.
Currently Jonnas research concentrates on the microbiota changes in different diseases states including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
When not analysing data, Jonna spends her time with her two children and enjoys live music and culture.
Imran's page in Research Portal
Imran did his PhD in Comparative genomics from CIIMAR, University of Porto and he joined as Postdoctoral Researcher at Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki. He received Academy of Finland Postdoctoral research funding for project "Genotype-phenotype mapping of craniofacial development and adaptation in squamate reptiles". Presently, Imran is using NGS approaches to unravel role of Human Microbiome in Intestinal health, disease and therapy. His interest and expertise involve Molecular Biology, Genomics, Epigenomics (ATAC-Seq & ChIP-Seq), Transcriptomics, Single Cell-Omics, Evo-Devo and Human Microbiome. He is Wildlife enthusiast.
Kaisa's page in Research Portal
In 2015 Kaisa gained her M.Sc. degree in Food Chemistry at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki. In her M.Sc. thesis Kaisa studied the effect of different carbon sources on the vitamin B12 production in Propionibacterium strains, which was part of a four-year Academy-project called "Natural fortification of foods: microbial in situ synthesis of vitamin B12 and folate in cereal matrix". Kaisa also carried out a six-month traineeship in 2014 in the UK at the University of Manchester at Institute of Inflammation and Repair studying the effect of probiotic lysates on the expression of ABC transporters in epidermal keratinocytes and intestinal epithelial cells.
Kaisa has worked in Reetta Satokari's group since 2011, first as a research assistant, then as a doctoral student of microbiology and now as a post-doctoral researcher. The focus of her PhD project was isolating and identifying anti-inflammatory commensals from healthy human gut and characterizing the most interesting, anti-inflammatory action exerting isolates in more detail e.g. their adhesion and epithelial cell strengthening capacity.
Besides work, Kaisa is passionate about latin dances, such as salsa, sensual bachata and reggaeton, as well as traveling.
Aki's page in Research Portal
Anna's page in Research Portal
Anna is a PhD Student and she is interested in host-microbe interactions and their study by bioinformatics. Her doctoral research project concentrates on studying the engraftment of bacteria in fecal microbiota transplantation and also the possible changes in functional capacity of the whole microbial ecosystem after FMT.
Before, Anna has worked as a research assistant in Satokari group, and during that time she became fascinated by the microbiome research. She has participated in group's several projects and has worked for example with DNA-based methods in the wet lab. In addition, Anna has worked in other laboratories and she was also a trainee in the Finnish Food Authority.
Berta's page in Reseach Portal
Berta Bosch started on September 1st 2020 as a PhD student in Satokari's group and she will be working on new formulations of microbiome-based therapies. Berta has graduated from master's itinerary in 'Care in Pharmacy and Clinical Analysis' in Pharmacy at the University of Barcelona, Spain. During her studies she has developed a special interest in clinical and microbiology topics and participated in Univ. Barcelona institutional activities related to microbiology. In 2019, she participated in an Erasmus+ program of the European Commission at UH, where she did her Master´s thesis in the Bioactivity Screening group, Fac. Pharmacy. The thesis topic was 'Development of imaging-based assay to assess adherence and invasion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to host cells'.
The aims of her PhD project research arise from the previous studies of the research group and are closely integrated to others on-going research both in the laboratory and clinic. The aims are i) to develop protocols for anaerobic preparation of fecal material and to study its microbiological stability over freeze-storage at -80ºC, and ii) to use the anaerobically processed transplantation material in a clinical trial in Helsinki University Central Hospital. The aim is also iii) to develop formulations for the encapsulation of pure strains of intestinal bacteria, which would facilitate their use as orally administered next-generation probiotics.
When she is not working in her project, she enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, hiking and some other outdoors activities.
Jing Cheng, PhD
Jing Cheng's PhD Thesis The development of intestinal microbiota in childhood and host-microbe interactions in pediatric celiac disease
Ida Pakola, MSc
Ida Pakola's Master's Thesis Tulehdusta hillitsevien suolistobakteerien eristys ja in vitro -testaus (in Finnish)
Maiju Suutarinen, MSc
Maiju Suutarinen's Master's Thesis Clostridium-tyyppisten kommensaalibakteerien eristys ja karakterisointi terveen ihmisen suolistosta (in Finnish)
Hanne Jouhten, MSc
Hanne Jouhten's Master's Thesis Binding of fecal bacteria to Caco-2 cell line as a pre-selection step in isolating commensals with potential to inhibit Clostridium difficile adhesion
Helena Vähä-Mäkilä, MSc
Helena Vähä-Mäkilä's Master's Thesis Ulosteensiirtoluovuttajilta eristettyjen vankomysiiniresistenttien suolistobakteerien identifiointi ja vanB-kantajuus (in Finnish)


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Foundations, Revolutions, & Evolutions
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Washington Square is a many layered time capsule. Centuries of urban development are embedded in its streets and buildings, from even before the establishment of Newport by European colonists in the 17th century to the present day. It has been a place of settlement, of architectural triumphs, of promenades and parades, of shopkeepers and sailors. Change has been ever present in an evolving urban scene. Colonial merchants' houses were repurposed as Victorian businesses. Neon signed stores and diners appeared in the square's 20th century guise. Some things, however, have stood the tests of time. The streets retain their original colonial period layout.
The Colony House (1739) and Brick Market (1762) have remained constant landmarks, witnesses to revolutions, urban renewals and historic revivals. The story of Washington Square is one of an accidental work of urban art. Never subject to a grand vision or master plan, it evolved over the ages reflecting the tastes, temperaments and technologies of each generation. The area was not a formally designed urban space, but evolved from open land eventually referred to in the 18th century as "the Parade." By the early 1760s, the area took its present form as a grand civic space with the completion of the Brick Market, seen at the west end of the square in the images to the left. Following the Revolution, the town rejected references to the British Crown by dispensing with the Queen and Anne Streets, which formed two sides of the triangular shaped park, and renaming the entire urban ensemble Washington Square in 1800. Adjacent to the Brick Market building is Long Wharf Mall, which served as a thoroughfare from the 1680s until urban renewal of the late 1960s, when it was converted into a pedestrian zone.
Views of the square looking east, towards the Colony House
Colonial Settlement
Idealism and pragmatism combined to create Newport when, in 1639, a group of colonists settled at the southern tip of Aquidneck Island. Among the leaders of the group were Nicholas Easton, William Coddington, William Brenton, John Clarke, John Coggeshall, Jeremy Clarke, Thomas Hazard, Henry Bull and William Dyer. These founders provided the place names for various points of land, coves and streets in the new settlement, which occupied lands already occupied and cultivated for centuries by Native Americans.
EXPLORE WHAT THE EUROPEANS FOUND 
Lay out the streets and lands and to keep all sea banks free for fishing the town of Newport.
— Rhode Island General Assembly, 1640
Following the principles established by Roger Williams with the founding of the Rhode Island Colony, freedom of conscience prevailed in the minds and civic affairs of the settlers while water sources and topography determined the placement of the streets and domiciles. The lack of one dominant religious sect in the life of the community, in contrast to nearby Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony, produced no house of worship as the focal point of the town.
Here is a medley of most Perswasians butt neither church nor meeting house, except for one built for the use of Quakers, who are very numerous.
— A Short Account of the Present State of New England, 1690
Wharves and steeples define the skyline of the city in this detail from J. P. Newell's 1884 lithograph, Newport in 1730.
Many of the first colonial settlers built their houses near a spring at the present day intersection of Spring and Touro Streets. Several streams emanated from this water source in the direction of Broad Street, now known as Broadway, and Marlborough Street towards the harbor. In the 1680s several merchants collaborated in the creation of Long Wharf to promote the shipping trade, heralding a burgeoning commercial life. Due to the value of waterfront land, narrow lots ran from the harbor on the west up the hillside to the east. The north/south axis of Thames street extended the entire length of the harbor and every side street terminated at the waterfront.
The sea determined the city's orientation. Shops and residences increased in number, but there were very few religious structures. While multiple denominations met in the homes of congregants, the freedom to pursue business preoccupied the residents as Newport grew into one of the major seaports of British North America. Sturdily built wharves, houses and warehouses defined the streetscapes of the hard working and entrepreneurial colonial city. Yet, it lacked grandeur. With the increasing mercantile wealth of the ensuing century, all of that would change.
Map detail of Long Wharf, Washington Square, and the site of the Spring
EXPLORE THE SPRING
The town had grown to the admiration of all.
— Newport General Council, 1712
Evolution & Revolution
Newport evolved from a modest 17th century community to a mighty 18th century city. In 1712, Newport's governing council commissioned John Mumford to survey the streets of their fair city. These very thoroughfares became the setting for grand architecture as the 18th century progressed. Unlike Williamsburg, Philadelphia or Savannah, which from inception were formally planned cities focused on squares, parks and public edifices, Newport's streets were well established by the time construction commenced on large scale architectural projects. Churches, meeting houses and civic buildings had to take their place among the domiciles of merchants, artisans and laborers. Even within such limitations, the effect was exceptional and created a striking display of public grandeur.
EXPLORE GRAND BUILDINGS 
Portrait of Ezra Stiles by Samuel King, 1771. (Yale University Art Gallery)
The sense of pride in Newport's cityscape is evident in the map (below) drawn in 1758 by the Reverend Ezra Stiles, who gave as much attention to public buildings and shops as to the orientation of streets. This eminent theologian and scholar served as the Pastor of the Second Congregational Church, Librarian of Redwood Library, and, later President of Yale University. His approach to the map was not that of a skilled cartographer but as man of the Enlightenment, as one dedicated to recording his environment.
Newport's system of streets and wharves were fully established by the eve of the American Revolution. Public buildings proclaimed the wealth and increasing cultural sophistication of the inhabitants. This fine metropolis enjoyed the height of commercial success, which came to a drastic end with the onset of war. Occupation by British troops from 1776 to 1779 and the ensuing loss of population substantially impaired the town's maritime economy and associated enterprises.
Map of Newport by Ezra Stiles, 1858. (Redwood Library & Athenaeum)
Washington Square remained the nucleus of a city that was now surpassed economically by Providence and other ports in the post-war years. Few new streets and even fewer grand buildings appeared on the urban landscape, a symptom of economic stagnation. Only in the 1840s did Newport begin to flourish again with its rise as a summer resort. While the colonial seaport diminished in social and economic importance, Victorian era banks, businesses and streetcars would transform the streetscapes of Washington Square.
The Victorian Age
New industrial technology and a taste for the antique played out in the Washington Square of the 19th century. Steamships and trains arrived at Long Wharf while streetcars made their way through the old square. Shops and businesses replaced the grand houses of 18th century merchants in this bustling commercial center. At the same time, painters, illustrators and photographers saw a mythic image of Newport as a romantic place redolent with ghosts of a colonial past and 18th century architecture of noble proportions.
Streetcars were a modern marvel introduced to Newport during a burgeoning industrial age. Not all residents warmly greeted the new form of transportation. The first attempt to establish street rails in the 1860s was a failure, followed by another defeat in 1884. Some summer residents took offense at the incursion the street cars made into their resort enclave. Undaunted, the proponents of mass transit fought on. In 1889, the newly organized Newport Street Railway initiated placement of tracks along Broadway and converging on Washington Square.
It would be annoying to these people to be obliged to move to allow passage of so vulgar and plebian a thing as a horse car.
— The Providence Journal, 1898
Late 19th century photograph of railroad tracks near the end of Long Wharf, looking east towards The Point neighborhood, and a detail of that same area from the 1883 City Atlas of Newport.
While industry and technology introduced modern amenities to Newport's streetscapes in the mid-19th century, painters, architects and writers began to see the city as an historic jewel of mythic proportions. The colonial district, with Washington Square at its heart, appealed to artists seeking the romance of the past in the picturesque assortments of old houses. They took what may rightly be called a "painterly view," extolling in their pictures and words the light, color, shadows and textures of faded Georgian buildings and cobbled streets. This cultural celebration of colonial Newport raised awareness and started an antiquarian movement that would play a vital role in the preservation of the 18th century city.
EXPLORE ROMANTIC VIEWS 
State House and Parade, drawn on stone by John Collins, printed by T. Sinclair's Lithography, Philadelphia.
Life on Washington Square changed through the ages, bringing new types of activities, occupations and events to the place. Some of the grand houses of colonial merchants were adapted as various businesses while others were replaced by banks, commercial blocks, a hotel, a theater and gymnasium. The square became a place of public celebration as parades and block parties filled the streets on holidays.
EXPLORE LIFE OF THE SQUARE 
The Modern Era
The 20th century visited dramatic change upon Washington Square. Economic decline arrived again with the Great Depression, followed by World War II and increased activity with Newport as the primary naval base for the North Atlantic Fleet. Washington Square became home to shops catering to naval personnel with bright lights and neon signs. The grand old Colony House and Brick Market survived, the anchors of the square, but they shared space with centuries of change.
The first city the vestiges of the early settlers..., the second city is the splendid 18th century town with memories of Washington, Rochambeau and Revolutionary glory; the third city contains what remains of a prosperous seaport along the wharves and docks of Thames Street."
— Theophilus North, Thornton Wilder, 1973
Thornton Wilder used the many layered history evident in the city's streetscapes in his novel Theophilus North set in the Newport of 1926. He compared Newport to ancient Troy with its many cities, one built on top of the other, a record of every past era. Wilder infused Newport with a tender humanity as his characters walk the streets, living out their ambitions, hopes and fears.
New construction continued to alter the face of the square in the early 20th century with the addition of the Army and Navy YMCA and the Court House. These buildings, however, were set within the historic framework of the area. By mid-century, the rise of Modernism in architecture and urban planning threatened the very existence of this time-worn urban space. Modernity had no patience for the picturesque effects of decaying buildings and crooked streets so often celebrated in earlier decades. Efficiency ruled the day. History was out. The future was in.
EXPLORE URBAN RENEWAL 
The Colony House and Brick Market, coming after the plan was set, make a focal point for Washington Square, but a square in name only. Instead, the town's important buildings are scattered, presently a most interesting urban scene, and, at the same time, a challenge to the ingenuity of those who are trying to preserve it...surroundings of commercial blight are the rule rather than the exception in Newport.
— Report by Tunnard & Harris, 1960
The pageant of Newport's past and those who shaped it are embedded in the buildings and streetscapes of Washington Square. For over three and a half centuries, the square has thrived, decayed and revived. Many forces influenced the foundation and evolution of the square. The search for a new life, religious freedom, sea trade, revolution, industry, historic preservation and urban renewal all played a role in the creation of the "accidental work of art" that is Newport's great civic space.
This project is made possible by the generous support of Elizabeth "Lisette" Prince and the Buchanan Burnham Endowment for Visiting Scholars. All images are from the collections of the Newport Historical Society unless otherwise noted.


Lauren Conrad for Kohl's: New Spring Styles!
Lauren Conrad just released more styles for Kohl's! After her first round of spring fashion for her LC Lauren Conrad line hit stores in February, the reality star and fashion designer's new lineup of spring-ready dresses, tops, skirts, and cardigans is now available. Prices for the clothes range from $20 to $72—though most are on sale right now—while sunglasses and jewelry accessories are priced as low as $12 (currently on sale for $7.80!). She also debuted new shoes for spring, including her staple black platform pumps, blush ballerina flats, fringe sandals, and more. Click through the gallery to see Lauren Conrad and her fresh darker 'do modeling her latest styles and shoes. The collection is available now on Kohls.com. Tell us what you think of her new looks in the comments!


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Kerri Walsh Jennings will compete in the San Francisco Open this weekend on The Embarcadero. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Pro beach volleyball to hit The Embarcadero
Shannon Cole
Jun. 23, 2016 12:00 a.m.
The country's best beach volleyball stars will hit the sand this weekend at The Embarcadero.
The Association of Volleyball Professionals San Francisco Open returns today after a seven year hiatus, bringing with it Olympic-bound talent mere weeks ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Four-time Olympian and San Jose native Kerri Walsh Jennings enters competition as the top seed with partner April Ross, who was a silver medalist in 2012. This year's Games will be the first for this pairing: Walsh Jennings previously competed with Misty May-Treanor, who retired after the pair's win over Ross and Jen Kessey.
Walsh Jennings and Ross enter the weekend's event as the top seed ahead of southern Californians Lane Carico and Summer Ross. Carico and Ross finished second in last weekend's AVP event in New York.
Competitors for the men include the team of 2008 Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and four-time AVP top finisher Nick Lucena. Additionally, Jake Gibb will compete in his third-straight Olympics games next month with teammate Casey Patterson.
The four-day San Francisco Open will be held on Piers 30-32 with preliminary competition beginning at
8 a.m. today. This weekend's event is is the second-to-last stop of the tour before the Olympics, giving the athletes and coaches time to work out the kinks before international competition.
The AVP Tour, which runs from April through September, is in its 33rd season.
Admission to the event is free with premium seating available for purchase.
SF City FC chips in at AIDS Memorial Grove
Cal's Jaylen Brown selected with third pick


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HomeGet Involved Personal Stories Shakers Jackie Jackson
There's no stopping social worker and activist Jackie Jackson. She lobbies in Washington, DC, and Trenton, New Jersey's state capital, for parking spaces, automatic doors, ramps — an end to any barriers that hinder people with disabilities from gaining access into public and private places. Education is equally important: "I believe if you change attitudes, it promotes inclusion and change," she said. To that end, she regularly teaches sensitivity and etiquette workshops. For her work in making communities accessible, she was named by the National Association for Social Workers as the 2010 National Social Worker of the Year.
A wheelchair user, Jackie said she has struggled to be a regular consumer. "If I can't get into the town hall and pay my sewer bill, that's a problem. At some health-care facilities, exam tables aren't accessible. That's another problem," she explained. "Accessibility means a lot for people with disabilities. It means the right to enter, to communicate and to use. My advocacy work is centered on accessibility because it fosters inclusion and independence. I strive to educate and empower society to treat people with disabilities with dignity and respect — to put the person first."
Seven years ago, Jackie initiated a project called Accessibility Tours, whose purpose is to educate and heighten awareness about barriers to accessibility in the community. She challenges public officials and community leaders, such as mayors and chiefs of police, to "roll with me. I provide manual wheelchairs and they ride around town and experience what I experience on a daily basis. It's eye-opening for them. They become more willing to make changes." In 2009, she partnered with the Society to lead tours of the New Jersey State House and in 2010, on the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, she was invited to the White House to witness President Obama signing an executive order increasing federal employment of individuals with disabilities. (Watch Jackie giving an Accessibility Tour and learn more about her advocacy.) She also sits on the boards of the Society's New Jersey Metro Chapter and the National Association for Social Workers, where she chairs the Disability Special Interest group. Not only that, she's currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, with the ultimate goal of a doctoral degree.
Jackie has two adult children, a son, Caliph, and a recently married daughter, Shahieda, who was diagnosed with MS in 2002. "When I see her struggle with some of the same symptoms I struggled with at her age, it's very heartbreaking," Jackie said.
As for Jackie's MS, "I can be fine one day, then wake up the next and not be able to do anything but lie in bed," she said. "But I don't focus on my disease. I don't let it defeat me. I just press on. You have to have a positive attitude — you can't let MS take over your life."
Especially when she has so many attitudes to change and barriers to demolish.


Thank you for visiting the Danville Little League Past Champions site.
This site is dedicated to providing you with current and historical coverage of the Danville Little League District, Sectional, State, Regional and Special Post Season Tournament results in the all of the age groups. This website is a work in progress and we welcome any additional information you may have regarding DLL tournament championships from previous years.
Going into the 2011 season, Danville Little League is the defending Northern California State Champion for the 11 year-old All Star team, which has won back-to-back State Championships. Given that Northern California has more little league teams than 48 out of 50 full states, the odds of pulling this off are about 140,000 to 1. Additionally, the DLL Majors Yankees are the defending champions of the District 57 Majors Tournament of Champions (TOC).
In 2009 Danville Little League teams completed a rare "double-play" by winning both the 10 year-old and 11 year-old Northern California State Championships. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only time this feat has ever been accomplished in Northern California Little League history. Given there are approximately 468 Little League teams competing for the NorCal State Championship, the odds of two teams from the same Little League winning the State Championship the same year would be over 219,000 to 1. Add to that the District 57 Minors Tournament of Champions banner and DLL won 7 out of a possible 11 NorCal post-season championship banners available to the 10-12 year old All Star teams in that year.


Yes, that's Anni taking a peek behind the curtain to see what is going on in the Pesky Cat Designs studio. Yesterday my mailman delivered two large envelopes that traveled all the way from the Isle of Harris filled with gorgeous Harris Tweed wool. Anni was almost as excited as I was. She preferred to put her head into the envelope after I removed my fabric while I felt each piece of cloth and imagined what I would create with it. I received three different plaids and two barleycorns. That afternoon I cut fabric and created coordinating appliques. Today I plan to sew sew sew. I have to add that it was such a pleasure doing business with Catherine of Harris Tweed and Knitwear . She answered all my emails promptly and shipped my purchase quickly. OK, I'm off to the studio. I can't wait to get started!
Happy sewing! Can't wait to see what you make.
I envy Anni the chance of a sneak peek - I bet the tweed looks gorgeous, their shop is amazing, I never know harris tweed exists in so many colours!
Can not wait to see what you make.
Can't wait to see what you create with your new yummy tweed arrivals!
Ani is beautiful! My cats love poking their heads in envelopes and checking out boxes!
I can only imagine how lovely the tweed is. You must be excited to use it!
I can't wait to see the tweed bag you make!
The Harris Tweed Purse in Plaid is Here!


I am looking for all types of looks for my portfolio. I am very outgoing and easy to work with so I am usually up for anything. I take direction well and I am creative enough to take the reigns also. I thoroughly enjoy unique, original, and fierce ideas... and also new twists on otherwise played out ideas are always appreciated. If you want to shoot with me, let me know and prepare to have a lot of fun.


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The Pixley ka Seme Local Municipality is a Local Municipality in Mpumalanga in South Africa. The council consists of twenty-one members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Eleven councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in eleven wards, while the remaining ten are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the election of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of thirteen seats.

Results
The following table shows the composition of the council after past elections.

December 2000 election

The following table shows the results of the 2000 election.

March 2006 election

The following table shows the results of the 2006 election.

May 2011 election

The following table shows the results of the 2011 election.

August 2016 election

The following table shows the results of the 2016 election.

November 2021 election

The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.

By-elections from November 2021
The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period since November 2021.

References

Pixley ka Seme

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Siena, Ole Miss face off for spot in ESPN Events Invitational final
Two teams that posted wire-to-wire wins to open the ESPN Events Invitational will square off in the first semifinal on Friday when the Siena Saints take on the Ole Miss Rebels in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The Saints (3-2) shot 51.9 percent from the floor in knocking off Florida State 80-63 on Thursday. It was their first win over a Power 5 school since 2014 and their first over an ACC team since 2010.
The Rebels (5-0) had a decidedly harder time. Despite leading Stanford by 10 points with 2:59 to go, they had to hold on for a 72-68 win. Led by Amaree Abram's 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting, Ole Miss shot 50 percent from the floor.
Siena's Andrew Platek scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5 of 6 on 3-point attempts, and Javian McCollum posted 18 points and eight assists. The Saints had 19 assists on their 27 field goals.
Siena jumped on Florida State, building an 11-point lead in the first eight minutes and then fending off the Seminoles when they cut the deficit to two midway through the first half.
"I think at the beginning of the game, we made an emphasis on moving the ball, keeping our motion offense flowing," Platek said after the game.
McCollum is averaging 16.2 points and 5.2 assists per game and Platek is at 15.6 points per game, shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from long range.
The Saints quickly built the lead back to double digits, only to see Florida State score the first eight points after the break to get the deficit back to single digits. Siena answered again, this time with an 8-2 spurt to lead by 15 five minutes into the half. Florida State got no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
"This is the team we can be. Other than the lull at the start of the second half, I thought we were able to kind of dictate the game. That's what you want to do. You want to be the aggressor," said Siena coach Carmen Maciariello.
Ole Miss got a welcome boost from Abram. The freshman had scored a combined 28 points in the team's first four games.
"I'm very effective in practice, and practice translates into the game. I just keep playing with confidence," Abram said.
The Rebels heated up after intermission, shooting 60.7 percent from the floor.
Coach Kermit Davis said his team "ran really good offense in the second half. We really got what we wanted in some key areas. They'd make a play, we'd come down and run good offense."
Jae Brakefield went 5 of 6 from the floor, including hitting both of his 3-point attempts, to score 17 points for Ole Miss. He also hit four straight free throws in the final 16 seconds. Jayveous McKinnis scored 15 on 7-of-10 shooting.
Fair in Gorakhpur


Get a coupon for a free CroisSonic Breakfast Sandwich with any large drink purchase. I just printed my coupon and it doesn't expire until May 18. Please note that you can't use the coupon during the afternoon "Happy Hour" when drinks are half-price. A big thanks goes to Julie for telling me about this coupon offer.
Want more coupons offers from Sonic, just sign-up for the Sonic Cruisers and remember to sign your kids up for the Sonic Birthday Club for their free birthday meal.
I saw this on your twitter, but I can never get the links you post. It always goes to a "we're sorry but something went wrong" page. IS it just me or does anyone else have this problem?


We have been cancelled by public radio, but our podcast gains in POWER!
Welcome to our first radio-free edition of BFN, in which our scientist buddy John Warrenchuk joins us to discuss biologic abnormalities and parasites. Plus, hallucinogenics south of the border, Giant Rats of Fiji, horrible hagfish, the battle with tapeworms, and a cyclops goat.
KTOO may have cancelled us, but our podcast only grows stronger!! BWU-HAHAHAHAHA!!!


It's not much, but it is something, and it could be treated much like the gold generation on base.. the amount of gold earned every 24hrs is based upon how many minutes you maintain ranking... Collectable once per week as a lump sum.
Not sure exactly how much gold earned would be calculated, but it would have to be dynamic since the ladder is constantly changing.. this way it could prevent a sprinter from jumping ahead on the last day.
You'd get more gold for maintaining a decent overall ranking than you would for just final ranking as a result.
I'm down for anything to get more gold and give an incentive for maintaining Raid medals.
Some sort of leaderboard reward system would be awesome.
A modest amount of energon or even gold crystals, or rank crystals (whatever happened to those?) for final monthly ranking would also be something interesting.
A lot of time to get where?
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback on the current Raid rewards and why you'd love to see Gold added to them! We completely understand that gold is a hugely important resource, and although we can't promise any changes to be made, we do appreciate your thoughts on the matter!
Feel free to keep the discussion going! Tell us how much you'd want to see as a reward, or if you'd want to see a gold crystal added to the raid shop! What ever your thoughts are on the subject, feel free to share them.
Anything added to the raid shop for raid chips will be most welcome. Gold crystals, rank crystals, class spark essence.... List goes on.
Store is pretty stale as is, so I hope whatever you guys rotate into there is useful.
However, this topic isn't really about adding more stuff to the store, although that would be nice. It's about creating a reward system for raid rank itself. Currently, there is no real motivation to maintain a high medal count other than the extra points you earn in weekly events such as raid ascent.
If you put a reward system in place, players might actually be interested in putting up a decent base defense instead of what many do now, which is strip down their base to bare minimums.


This cool teapot is rarely found, especially in this era. The function is for making us easier to add tea into glasses. You will only need one hand to hold teapot. And you don't need to hold the cup. Just place it and wait the water reach into the cup. We offer it in a limited color and design.
It's a lovely kitchen design with soft color theme. This lovely kitchen design is given a name contemporary kitchen design. this contemporary kitchen design is designed by Kim Duffin. This contemporary kitchen design comes as one of the Australia's most awarded designers. It is fulfilled by wood material and is dominated by wood color theme. This contemporary kitchen design is suitable for those who love minimalist design and maximalist theme.
This is really an amazing product ever in this world. It is so amazing! It is so great! It is so wonderful. This product is called spoon for all seasons. This is also called a clever spoon since it is really a nifty tool. You can also give your comment about it. And, you will realize how wonderful it is. It is easy to use this spoon.