We apply QCD effective theories to study the physics of jets and quarkonium production. The thesis contains work in the following two related directions.
The first direction is jet physics (chapter 3 of the thesis). We introduced a function called fragmentation function to a jet (FFJ) to describe inclusive jet production from a parton and studied FFJs in different phase space and momentum regions. One of the limits we investigated was where the jet radius r was small, which lead to large log(r) corrections that need to be resummed. Another limit was the large z limit, where z was defined to be the fraction of energy carried by the jet from the mother parton. Here log(1-z) can appear and is due to the gluon radiations that are both collinear and soft (described by collinear-soft fields). We formulated factorization theorems and used renormalization group techniques to deal with these types of logarithms. Phenomenologically, both the small jet radius and large z limit are important for comparing precision calculations with experimental data.
The second direction is quarkonium production in jets (chapter 4 of the thesis). This direction naturally combines jet physics with quarkonium production. Since quarkonium production in a jet is inclusive in the jet, we can still use inclusive quarkonium fragmentation functions that are perturbatively calculable based on the Non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization formalism. We did both analytic calculations and Monte Carlo simulations and compared them with the recent LHCb measurement of J/psi production in jets. We found that currently existing event generators are not sufficient to study quarkonium production in jets and we proposed modifications (e.g., to PYTHIA). Both our analytic calculations and the modified PYTHIA agreed reasonably well with the LHCb data. Our study indicates that the detailed dynamics of quarkonium production in jets can help us better understand quarkonium production mechanisms. We also studied other observables related to quarkonium production in jets that could have the potential power to clarify quarkonium production mechanisms.


text:
Biden's promises to Northeast Asian allies
By Donald Kirk
U.S. President Joe Biden projected a superficial image of firmness in defense of America's Northeast Asian allies during his five-day mission to Korea and Japan while trying not to inflame regional tensions.
His assurances delighted South Korea's newly inaugurated President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Always soft spoken, Biden pleased both of them with comments that might have appeared tough but maybe were not.
While playing up "strategic deterrence" in Seoul and Tokyo, he stopped carefully short of seriously deepening the chasm between America's friends and enemies. His goal was not to inflame tensions but to brace up alliances that Donald Trump during his presidency had compromised.
The most important takeaway from Biden's visit to Seoul was the affirmation made jointly with Yoon that the U.S. and South Korea would talk about resuming joint military exercises.
In other words, fulfilling the promises made during Yoon's campaign for the presidency, military planners from both the U.S. and South Korea should map out the war game that commanders believe are essential to the alliance. They say games played on computers are fine, but there's no substitute for troops in real-live action.
If that understanding seems like an escalation, however, it's really not. South Korean and American forces were operating together, on the ground, in the air and at sea, for years before Trump, in one of the dumbest moves of his presidency, arbitrarily canceled them hours after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore nearly four years ago.
I have watched the closing days of several of these exercises, an impressive display on training grounds not far below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas.
Assuming Biden and Yoon were serious about resuming the war games, I can imagine seeing them again in a reversion a few years ago when both the U.S. and South Korea looked realistically at standing up to North Korean threats.
In that context, it's important to remember that the joint statement signed by Trump and Kim in Singapore was a vacuous whiff of fluff that promised only to work toward "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae-in, never got anywhere in three summits with Kim. Demanding an end to sanctions imposed after his nuclear and missile tests, Kim refused even to see Moon after the failure of his summit with Trump in Hanoi in February 2019.
Ultimately, all the hard work that Moon had invested in bringing about reconciliation resolved nothing. His dream of an end-of-war declaration to be signed by all sides in the Korean War is now on the shelf along with so many other futile efforts to bring about South-North rapprochement.
The goodwill engendered by Biden's meetings with Yoon was not necessarily the highlight of his Northeast Asian odyssey, at least to judge from the publicity over Biden's affirmation in Japan of the U.S. "commitment" to defend Taiwan.
The rulers in Beijing have never stopped declaring China's sovereignty over the island province, to which Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist forces fled as Mao Zedong's Red Army was taking over the mainland in 1949.
Biden recognized there's only "one China," as the U.S. has been doing ever since it transferred diplomatic recognition of China from Taiwan to Beijing in 1978 when Jimmy Carter was president. How then would U.S. forces fight for Taiwan?
A Chinese attack on Taiwan would not be "appropriate," said Biden. It would be "similar to what happened in Ukraine," he said, but he did not say whether the U.S. would respond with air and naval power or troops on the ground. The name of the U.S. game is "strategic ambiguity."
Still, Biden's remarks on Taiwan were what Kishida wanted to hear. The Chinese have been alarming everyone by sending warplanes over Taiwan's air defense zone. They seem to want to keep their adversaries on edge.
It's hard to believe, however, they would be so stupid as to invade Taiwan, 100 miles across the Taiwan Straits. Considering China's stupendous balance of trade with the U.S., the Chinese would risk killing the golden goose from which they've been profiting immensely for decades.
Until Biden dropped his remarks on Taiwan, the most important aspect of his visit to Japan was the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a successor to the Trans-Pacific Partnership from which Trump withdrew the U.S. in one of the first misguided moves of his presidency in 2017.
The framework, binding the U.S. and a dozen other nations, is short on specifics. What counts is how or even if they strive for the framework's goals of fair and resilient trade, supply chain resilience, infrastructure and clean energy, tax reform, and the impossible dream of cleaning up corruption.
In Seoul, visiting the Samsung Electronics plant near Osan Air Base, Biden stressed the need for resiliency in the smooth flow of semiconductors to manufacturers in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In practical terms, the economic goals of Biden's mission are as important as the military. No one quite imagines war breaking out right away whereas trade never stops.
The bottom line is that Biden, firming up America's role in visits to Seoul and Tokyo, asserted America's support for both these crucial allies while undoing much of the damage done by Trump.
Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com) has been covering the confrontation of forces in the region for decades.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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So doing that and now I know why.
Studying on a sphere has never been so satisfying to look at.
The size of these crocheted animals is unbelievable.
A soup to try this weekend.
About time to think TV as a design element in the house.
Digging this minimalistic table mirror.
How about getting your place designed by the pros while you get to see the 3d proposal in VR? Decorilla has got you covered!
Books without words look like this. Interesting!
Cutest kids chair that doubles up as dollhouse. Cool!
Those are very excellent. Thank you so much.


When we formed Redline Guiding we wanted to be different, and to go above-and-beyond when it comes to caring for our guests. That's why we came up the "Ready Pack" concept. Which, by our definition, is a complete day hiking pack to include high quality, seasonally-rated outer- and mid-layer-wear, emergency items, traction and other seasonal essentials, even food and water, all put into a comfortable well fitted 45-liter pack — and all at a very low price point to encourage use.
BD Hot Forge hybrid midlayer.
Poncho or Mountain Hardware hardshell set.
Whistle (attached to pack strap).
Food for the day, plus extra.
Water for the day, plus extra.
BD trekking poles with full grips.
All in a compactor-bag-lined modified 45L Ozark pack with integrated cover.
Including food and water the cost of our normal Ready Pack is $45/person/day. Without our food and water rations the cost drops to $30/person/day. This is a great deal considering the hundreds of dollars worth of quality gear contained within. The combined weight of this gear, including the pack itself, food, and water, is only 14 pounds (between 9-10 pounds without food and water). The weight is calculated based on the XL-sized kit.
It is really worrisome when we see people on Mt Washington and they lack proper clothing, especially if they're in a guided group. We wanted to make sure we're never that group and have gone to great lengths to protect our guests from the sometimes unimaginable cold that grips that mountain in the winter and the winds that scour its barren tundra. It's a small but mighty wasteland and it commands respect. People love that, and we want them to be safe seeing it firsthand.
Black Diamond Cold Forge parka.
Mountain Hardware hardshell pants and jacket.
Outdoor Research overmitts with liners.
Light hiking gloves, too, for five useful combinations.
Hot packs (some like them).
MSR mountaineering snowshoes, if needed.
BD rock helmet, under some conditions.
Including food and water the cost of our Alpine Ready Pack is $75/person/day. Without our food and water rations the cost drops to $60/person/day. This is a great deal considering the value of quality gear contained within is over $1000. The combined weight of this gear, including the pack itself, food, and water, is less than 24 pounds (between 18-19 pounds without food and water). The weight is calculated based on the XL-sized kit.
Wool or poly baselayers (winter).
Hiking pants (shells in winter).
Alpine Touring (AT) ski boots.
Also note that the mountaineering boots and ski boots on the list above may be rented locally as "outsourced gear" if we don't have your size (mountaineering boots only). We can even rent them on your behalf (though not recommended due to sizing), but this option does carry an up-charge of $40.
To protect the gear that protects you, Gear Insurance is also available. For the Ready Pack and all its contents, the insurance for the "Ready Pack" in $10/person/day. The insurance amount for the "Alpine Ready Pack" is $20/person/day. To learn more about how our gear insurance works, please review our policies.
Alpine Ready Packs — including snowshoes and trekking poles — shown in use on South Moat Mountain.
These are items that should be in the group or, better, carried individually.
In addition to our "Thirteen Essentials," shown above, these items are also important.
Backpackers should add the following items to their kit.
In the winter months, especially if entering the alpine zone or into avalanche terrain, it's important to carry and know how to use even more gear, as needed.


What type of tents do we sleep in?
You'll be sleeping under the stars in a custom Campo A Frame canvas tent. Our tents are crafted from untreated spruce wood and durable canvas. They're simple, durable, and spacious (you can even walk around in them!).
When you stay with Campo, you'll have access to all of the camping essentials. This includes everything you need for a comfortable sleep, quality camp cooking, proper trash disposal, a rinse station, and, to answer the most pressing question in your mind - a camp toilet & TP.
Are there other campsites nearby?
Well, yes and no. Each Base Campo has it's own plot and, while there are other tents around the property, you aren't packed like sardines like the typical campsite. Each site is unique and cater to a range of needs - accessibility, groups, and rugged seclusion. If you want to connect with the other Campers, you can come to our communal area or sign up for group events.
Campo's Camp Manager, Caroline, lives in the farmhouse on the premises and is always available to give insider knowledge, recommendations, or answer any questions for you.
What about, um... the loo?
Ah, yes. Our campers affectionately named our loo "poo-topia". We provide camp toilets with river views in the common area. Upon check-in, the camp manager will explain how the system. It's pretty simple stuff. Basically, it's a no-water toilet, but don't worry - we take care of the cleanup. If you're in need of a quick rinse, help yourself to the outdoor camp shower (fresh spring water)!
We have parking on site that is a 3-10 minute walk away from your tent, depending on your site.
Our test site doesn't have any cell service. We do have custom guides, maps, and instructions that are even better than anything google could give you, though. For those that really need to connect, wander over to our dedicated wifi area.
How does cooking work at the site?
You'll find all cooking essentials at the communal camp kitchen. To keep you and the wildlife safe, we ask that all food and cooking is kept to the communal camp area. To stock up on grub, head to the grocery just a few miles from camp or purchase some basic camp food at our on-site camp store.
Will I have access to water?
We live in the watershed and have access to plenty of amazing mountain spring water. Plus we have swimming ponds and a beautiful creek that runs through our campground. We keep plenty of water in our camp kitchen for rinsing dishes and more. However, to be safe, we ask all campers bring their own potable water as our water is not treated.
Does Campo allow group camping?
To keep the quality of experience high, we limit our tent occupancy to 2 people (or 2 adults and a child). If you'd like go camping with more friends, you can book our group site (4 people, 2 tents). To request a large group or an event, please send an inquiry to hello@go-campo.com. Please note: Campo is a place to unplug from everyday city life and reconnect with nature and a simple way of living, not the place for rowdy gatherings - sorry!
As you'll be camping, you'll not have access to outlets or electricity hookups on your site. We do provide solar lanterns and solar-powered portable charger with USB hookups. If you need access to an outlet, contact Campo at hello@go-campo.com and we will try to meet your needs as best we can!
We have a camp manager on site 24/7 and make rounds twice a day to make sure our campers are safe and happy. We are also available 24/7 through call, walkie-talkie, or WhatsApp, our primary on-site communication platform. For your own safety and the safety of the land, please read our terms & conditions.
We do our best to provide everything you need for an awesome camping experience, but there's some things that are best left in your hands. You'll want to bring: Overnight essentials, a sleeping bag liner & pillow case (also available for rental on-site), specific medicine, sunblock, a swim suit & towel, and camp food.
Note: If you have any strong allergies (peanuts, bees, pollen) please, please bring the necessary medicine or emergency treatment!
One of our most common questions! If you aren't a car owner, we have put together some of our favorite options for transport in a nifty little page (click here)! Basically, we recommend either taking a Car2Go from Manhattan/BK, a Toro from NJ, or doing a clever mix of Metro North x Enterprise. We find these to be the cheapest, most flexible options out there.


We had almost another day in the colorful town of Colmar as our bus back to Zurich was at 5:25 pm. There is a direct bus route operated by FlixBus from Colmar to Zurich, actually, the route started all the way from Frankfurt making multiple stops en route to Zurich. FlixBus is a cheap way travel by bus at only €11 one way, much cheaper than rail as you know train ticket in Switzerland is expensive! I found the company thanks to Rome to Rio website at: https://www.rome2rio.com/. You can search and buy FlixBus ticket at: https://www.flixbus.com/. I'll have a review of the bus ride later in this post so stay tuned.
It was super cold that day, the temperature dropped to the 40's but my excitement of discovering this charming village gave me some heat. We were the only two tourists there, well even the locals were not out yet. The village was quaint and decorated with Easter decorations as like in Colmar, we had so much fun photographing!
The village square (Saint-Leon square) and we were the only two people there…….pretty cool! While we were in the square, we constantly heard this loud sound from like a big bird, we looked up and saw this giant white stork who flew back to its huge nest on top of the church. Look closely in the photo below, can you spot the two huge nests? It was the first time we saw huge nests like that right on the top of the roof of houses!!! If I am a stork, I would pick this colorful village as my home too!
The color combinations are storybook-like…..don't you think?
And this shades of green!
Lavender as my favorite color, I love how this plant is part of the decor!
It started to rain and snow so we hide under an entrance of a staircase to wait for it to pass. We waited around 15 minutes and thankfully the rain and snow stopped and didn't came back! We continued on to walk around the village and photograph many pretty houses and shops. Their store signs are absolutely cute!
We walked into the more residential area of Eguisheim and the cobblestone roads are curved…we stopped at almost every other house to take a photo! It was so pretty at cloudy and cold day so I can't imagine how beautiful it is at sunny day!
This narrow house adjoining two streets take cuteness to another level!!!! And that pink house right next to it, oh heaven!
The bicycle too, not sure if it's for decoration, but picture perfect!!!
We ended up back to the tourist office and we didn't realize that the village is designed in a circular layout until we saw the map of the village at the tourist office. WOW, it is amazing how they designed it, it was the first time we ever in a circular village like this!
We sat in the tourist office to read brochures and a video about the history of the village, very interesting, and highly recommend if you have time to watch that video. It was fascinating to learn that the village used to be a dull and boring looking village and turned out to be today's colorful village! The clouds finally cleared out a little and at some small interval, the sun peeked out! We ran back out and took more photos, most are re-takes but you can see the difference with the colors!
We were starving so we had to stop and "waste" some time for lunch 🙁 We searched TripAdvisor and found Caveau Heuhaus, the amount of decorations in the restaurant is unbelievable!
I ordered my favorite foie gras again, it was tasty!
Look at the beautiful plate! Is it for sale?
I couldn't resist but to take a photo with the plate LOL!
I ordered the Alsace Hot Pot, I was really interested with the name "hot pot". It is a traditional Alsatian dish, three types of meats: beef, pork, and lamb slow cooked with vegetables in a ceramic pot. I was expecting more sauce/soup but it was pretty dry too bad!
The blue sky was waiting for us….please stay a little longer! Love Eguisheim!
We are back to this street again, recognize that beautiful flowering tree?
Every turn, every angle is pictureque!
See the colorful tiles on the rooftops? Now it's obvious with sunlight!
It was time to head back to Colmar so we walked back to the tourist office and ask the lady in the office to help us call that taxi driver. He said he'll need 45 minutes so we asked if she has another taxi driver. She called this one and he said will be here in 15 minutes…we waited and waited….no one show up yet. As we were waiting, I ran out to have one last look of this postcard-perfect spot!
We had an hour to go so we have our last look of Colmar…..re-take photos again!
Oh beautiful Colmar and Eguisheim, I will miss you!
I wish we had more time in that region and with a car to visit the other villages, I am sure they are charming as well. It was worth the taxi ride to Eguisheim; a smaller version of Colmar but it has its own uniqueness and charm.
We headed back to our hotel, checked out, and as we were about to walk out, Jason received a text message that the bus is delayed half an hour due to traffic. We got back to the hotel and hang out in the lobby to wait. Jason walked over to the train station to buy some sandwiches for our bus ride – 2 hours 40 minutes. Half an hour passed and we walked out toward the bus stop according to the map, we didn't see any FlixBus sign hum…..and then I spotted the FlixBus logo at the bus station across the street. We dragged the luggage across the street and waited for the "Line 108" bus.
It was so cold….after half an hour..another text message that the bus delayed again. Jason hide behind this tree trunk to block some wind LOL!
The bus finally came and it was an hour delayed! The bus driver checked our boarding tickets and our passports and we got on the bus. The bus was half full, new looking coach bus, seats were comfy, and have free wifi (although not fast). When we were crossing the border to Basel, Switzerland, the bus pulled over at border control and the office came on the bus to check our passports, it was a quick process.
We arrived Zurich almost 10 pm, walked over to the main train station, bought tickets, and took the train to Zurich Airport. Once we reached the airport, we walked to the hotel shuttle bus stop to wait for our shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Zurich Airport. The hotel's shuttle arrived in 10 minutes and the driver was crazy with some passengers (not sure if they were his friends or not) but they made the van like a party bus – loud Spanish music! We got to the hotel in 10 minutes, check in was fast, and the room was simple and small like other Switzerland hotels, it was only for a night stay. However, we were surprised on how high quality their towels are, very plush better than 5 stars hotels! I spent the night looking for alternatives and in the worst case, re-route our itinerary and Chefchaouen was one of the main highlights of the trip to Morocco!!! I found like 5 places with AirBnB and contacted each host so hoping for luck because even the property is listed it might not be available, will need confirmation by the host….and none of those 5 places look pretty at all in pictures sigh 🙁 I tried to be positive by looking at the beautiful pics we took in Eguisheim and Colmar!
Love your photos and your comments. I learn more from you than from some guidebooks! Thanks for keeping me on your list.
Did you plan colmar & eguisheim in April? If yes does it normally rain & snow in mid april? I am planning for 2 night stay in Colmar in April.
Hello, we were there in mid-April but I don't know if it was normal for snow; but the days before and after our stay, the forecast was sunny although still cold! Pack layers and enjoy the beautiful Colmar!
Previous Post My quest to search for the most colorful places in this world continues in Colmar, France!


When we held our February 1999 live auction at Chelsea Town Hall in London, one of the stars of the show was a collection of bound volumes of The Thriller detective story papers from the late 1920s which contained stories by Agatha Christie, Leslie Charteris, Edgar Wallace and John Creasey. In very fine to near mint grades, the first twelve volumes enclosing issues 1-308 sold for £1,745.00. These same volumes were consigned to our June catalogue where, offered as one lot, they reached an impressive £2,500.00 before travelling half way around the world to occupy a prominent position in the library of their delighted new owner.
The early Beano comics continue to be strongly contested and after the world record price for number one in our December 2002 auction; a shabby number two reaching over £900.00 in March; it was no surprise that a number three in fine grade would do well in June. In fact it sold for £1,650.00 from a catalogue estimate of £1,200-1,500.
At the other end of the grade spectrum, a worn Dandy Monster Comic first issue from 1939 was offered with "extensive doodling" to the annual's back and front inside boards. To be precise, mummy's little darling had taken a paint brush and some bright red paint inscribing "THE BEGINING" (sic) and "THE END" in capitals somewhat bigger, but not quite as neat as these! We graded the annual as [good] and it finally sold for £1,210.00, the new owner not in the least bit concerned about its childish defacement. By contrast, there is a high grade version of Dandy Annual No 1 consigned to our September catalogue so it will be interesting to chronicle the bidding at this more rarified level. The last time we offered a high grade copy was in March 1996 when a fine plus example sold for £3,611.00, a record price which still stands today.
Over at Space Fleet HQ, our Eagle No 1 in very fine grade took a reasonable winning bid of £550.00. Eagles are still widely available; the first print run was reported to be 900,000 copies, a huge amount in 1950, and many collectors hung on to them. The highest price we have recorded for a first issue is over £800 some years ago, but recently the early issues from 2-10 have begun to climb in value in a range of £25-40 each, but only in higher grades.
Reginald Heade's artworks for sleaze paperback publisher Archer Press continue to find a strong following in the US and "Wild Youth" was no exception, his seductive cover commanding a £1,530.00 winning bid from New York state.
Talking of US interest, our Captain America #1 reprint by UK publisher L. Miller (actually a complete reprint of US Cap America #77 in black and white) was contested to £123.00, an English collector finally triumphant over some concerted American bidding for this [vg] copy. With the obvious scarcity of the Golden age originals, the UK reprint market is an area set for expansion and an American collector acknowledged this by picking up our reprint Human Torch #2 (U S #38) for what may well be seen as a bargain £35.00. By comparison, over in the US section of our catalogue, a war-time Human Torch #7 with Alex Schomburg cover art of Yank-pummelled Japs fetched the upper end of its estimate, £198.00, with ease. The spine was restored and the centre pages were loose and edge-taped. Similarly, a good graded copy of Superman #4 (1940) with detached cover and tape pieces to its spine made an above estimate £364.00. In their way these complete and enjoyable Golden Age low-grade keys represent good value for money as in high grades you could easily add a zero to these figures. Puts the L. Miller UK reprints into perspective, doesn't it?
I wanted to write some more about UK reprints and stuff but my ten-year-old nephew has told me that the few people who might actually read this report would be feeling quite tired by now and it's high time we got organised for the Hulk movie which is in our local cinema next week. Truthfully, it's me who wants him there as credible cover as we debate with the ticket seller the advantages of armchairs up at the back (tick), or neck-ache and deafness at the front (cool).
Whatever happened to the one-and-nines, the National Anthem and that bloke who played a big piano…?
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text:
Prof. Ivko Radovanović (Gdinj, 1878. – 1938.) je hrvatski zaslužni humanist, slikar, pjesnik i društveni radnik. Njegova kćer Tatjana Radovanović je afirmirana hrvatska pjesnikinja koja piše na čakavskom narječju. Sestra je likovnog umjetnika Ive Radovanovića.

Izvori

Hrvatski pjesnici
Hrvatski slikari
Životopisi, Gdinj

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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The Nicklaus Design Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta Overview Page
Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy opens at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
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The Nicklaus Design Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta News
Jack Nicklaus Golf Academies, which continues to reinforce Jack's mission to grow the game worldwide and do so with quality instruction, has opened a new facility in Mexico. Located at the Nayar Vidanta course in Nuevo Vallarta, the Nicklaus Academy is the third in Mexico and one of 24 training facilities in nine countries under the Nicklaus Academy banner, with as many as eight scheduled to open in the next 18 months.The academy opened in July to dazzling reviews from PGA pros, avid golfers and weekend players whose games stand to benefit most from the elite instruction and training program. Tucked inside sprawling Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, which boasts the Grand Luxxe, Grand Mayan and five more resorts, the academy gives visitors the added luxury of shaving strokes off their score while vacationing in paradise.
"I think I have found heaven... and in Nuevo Vallarta of all places," said Leon Shwetz, a visiting golfer. "The new Nicklaus Academy is unbelievable. I now have a place to come to get out of the cold or the heat, and just work on my golf game as much as I can stand."
Golfer Mark DeWald took a 2-hour flight from Phoenix for the grand opening, and he wasn't disappointed.
"I came here with the expectation of seeing another driving range with some teaching aids and the standard stuff," he said. "That wasn't the case. The range is huge with all sorts of targets and trees to hit at or around. The short game area was one of the largest I have seen. But the really cool part was the climate-controlled coaching studios that allow you to escape the heat, sun or rain while taking a lesson."
The academy experience includes tactical evaluation, on-course instruction and mental and physical evaluation and training programs. The lighted driving range is designed with seven strategically placed target greens, complete with bunkers and palm trees, creating a realistic visual for the golfer working to cut strokes off his or her score.
"You feel like you are on a course," said Mike Malaska, the Nicklaus Academies' Worldwide Director of Instruction and the PGA of America's 2011 National Teacher of the Year. "The backdrop from the tee is the [Sierra Madre] mountains. Not the golf course, buildings or houses, but a mountain. This is the perfect setting to work on your full swing, your short irons, and your complete game."
Ted Simons, Executive Vice President and COO of Nicklaus Academies, called the new facility "one of the best I've seen anywhere in the world."
"The short game training and practice area is a dream come true," Simons added. "The oversized putting green, and the oversized chipping, pitching and bunker areas provide the opportunity to practice virtually any shot you might come across during a round of golf. The practice areas are complete with a variety of uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. Anyone interested in developing a solid and consistent short game area does not have to go anywhere but here."
The facility's Director of Instruction is Bruce Summerhays, Jr., a PGA professional from Utah whose father Bruce played on the PGA and Senior PGA Tours.
"This academy is really more of a golf experience than a practice area," Summerhays said. "The beginner can not only enjoy the incredible atmosphere, but can feel confident that he or she is receiving the best quality instruction."
Summerhays said the early feedback from guests has been encouraging. One visitor from California emailed Summerhays to thank him for changing his family's attitude toward golf.
"I have been trying to get the rest of my family involved in golf. A lesson with you has everyone excited about playing."
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Thorin's Take: The Superlative s1mple
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev is not just the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player in the world but his career form and now seemingly endless peak, spanning over a year, see him on a firm trajectory to become the greatest player in history, with some already debating whether or not he has reached that status. Nobody, arguably in any version of Counter-Strike, has ever been as good as s1mple at his peak and, as such, the gap between him and whoever others would put up as second in line is greater than for any other world number one yet seen.
Only one other CIS region player has ever been considered the consensus world number one in the Counter-Strike franchise and that was markeloff, who played for arguably the best team in history and was on a streak of winning an unparalleled four majors in a row from 2010 to early 2011.
Having already wowed audiences and fellow professional players alike for the better part of half a decade, s1mple, the still only 21 years old prodigy, has shown a level of individual excellence, on bad and good teams alike, which already establishes him as one of the Mount Rushmore players of the game.
His team accomplishments have begun to catch up, but this is the one area in which he is lacking in contrast to most of the other G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All-Time) candidates. Were he a poor team-mate still, that could be held against him. With the exception of kennyS's ill-fated prime on Titan, over the latter part of 2014 and early 2015, no player close to s1mple's level has ever had less help in the quest to lift trophies. Now considered one of the best ambassadors for the game, most acknowledge s1mple's excellence in spite of missing championships only further cements his dominance over the game.
There has never been a player like s1mple and there likely never will be again. Miss his prime, if this proves to be it, and you will regret it for a life-time. Such are the masterpieces this young maestro paints.
Terms like "prodigy" and "genius" are thrown around all too often and with little reverence in today's media-driven narratives, so it bears emphasising that I use those terms sparingly in the context of both Counter-Strike and esports as a whole. A prodigy is not simply a player who is good when he is young and a genius is not merely a very good player who excels. To call s1mple a prodigy was once provocative, but now seems practically academic and provable by many metrics.
It's no exaggeration to state that s1mple came into the professional scene at a world class level, individually, and has not only maintained such form but improved upon it year on year to his current peak. Nobody in history has had as ridiculous a debut and seemingly unending rise.
s1mple in HellRaisers (Credit: Adela Sznajder)
Having just turned 17, s1mple was defeating the world number one FNATIC, winners of the previous three international LANs, on mirage, one of their strongest maps, at his first major. At 18 he took a North American team to a major final for the first time in history, all with broken English and a poor attitude towards his team-mates which as since been repaired.
On his 19th birthday he was decked out in the colours of Na'Vi, at last, and helped them win both their first $250,000 or more prize pool tournament, then a marker of the most prestigious events, and the first of Hall of Fame level star and team-mate GuardiaN's career. GuardiaN weeps on stage as s1mple comforts him. At age 20 he leads Na'Vi to his second major final.
ppl thought I was hyping him, but s1mple is on a trajectory to becoming not just the best player in the world, but of all-time.
— Thorin (@Thorin) October 20, 2016
Now, at 21 years and five months old, he stands before the greatest to ever play Counter-Strike and measures up favourably.
The perfect carry
s1mple's natural ability, as precarious a concept as that can appear, was clearly one of the highest CS:GO has ever seen even early on. Combined with a machine-like work ethic and drive to improve, he has crafted a seemingly perfect Counter-Strike carry. His aim is absurdly precise, his reflexes peerless and his audacity to attempt normally impossible shots and hit them is legendary.
s1mple has hard carried teams in a manner so brute force that it even exceeds the Herculean efforts of kennyS, during his prime with Titan. It's no exaggeration or blatant disrespect to suggest that this Na'Vi line-up, now having been together for a lengthy 16 month span, would likely not even be a top five ranked team in the world if s1mple was even 5-10% less dominant individually.
If we wind the clock back to the first four to five months of the team being essentially solo carried by s1mple, as new recruit electronic had yet to be adequately implemented into the team structure to shine in his own right, they might not even have been ranked in the top 10. Hell, after electronic's stellar summer run, where he displayed individual form worthy of being considered one of the best players in the world himself, he has finished six of the last eight offline events with a pedestrian 0.6X FPR (Frags Per Round average).
Despite such circumstances, s1mple had Na'Vi ranked second in the world in seven of the 12 months of 2018 and putting together a streak of top four finishes at their first nine events with this line-up, taking them as a team into the rarefied territory of some of the greatest line-ups in history, despite not passing the eye test of being one themselves.
The perfect arsenal
s1mple at IEM Katowice (Credit: ESL)
It's entirely fair to describe s1mple as being extremely good with every meaningful weapon in the game. All of his pistols create nightmare save round scenarios for opponents. With a rifle in his hands he is still the best player in the world and a threat to carry any round, as many an enemy has discovered on a Na'Vi force-buy round. This all in the context of being one of the most disgustingly dominant and unstoppable snipers in history. There have been a number of elite riflers who displayed a hybrid skill-set and could pick up the AWP when their form was hot, the situation demanded it or their team lacked an AWPer. Even so, you don't need many fingers to count the number who were legitimately in contention for best AWPer in the world.
"s1mple is kind of still a young player, but he's maybe the most talented player in CS history"
GuardiaN on s1mple (SlingshotEsports, November 2016)
As an AWPer, s1mple has every shot in the book and then some. He is notorious for hitting unlikely noscope shows and beloved by fans for his almost unreasonably aggressive playing style which pressures opponents. His firing style is a barrage of constant flick shots, from any point on his screen to the enemy, and yet he does not suffer from the erratic hit-rate common to that kind of AWPer, but rather has one of the most consistent ever seen, more in line with the slower style tracking aim snipers.
Said latter style of AWPer typically achieves their consistency not just from their firing technique but also playing around a specific position and re-peeking opponents conservatively. s1mple again defies expectations for what is possible, as he is infamous for moving around the map constantly and attempting seemingly any shot into any player and still hitting.
How do you beat a player with that arsenal? Apparently you don't, most of the time, and so you must beat his team instead.
From precocious to undeniable
As far as s1mple's playing style goes, his skillset allows him to create and take advantage of situations even many other great players would not attempt. He is perhaps the most aggressive force in history and this, along with the lack of trophies won, stood out as a primary point of criticism for many onlookers even up to the end of 2017.
While more ignorant fans would sometimes mischaracterise s1mple as an "all aim and no brain" player, due to his wild flicking style and unusual crosshair placement when moving around, the more nuanced and eloquent analytical version of said criticism was to suggest he was a very strong individual player who sometimes pushed the boundaries of the possible too much and should discipline himself more. Some experts even suggested s1mple give up the AWP to team-mate GuardiaN, who was one of the best in history but not as good as s1mple during their time playing alongside one another.
Such theorising was firmly put aside last year, as s1mple pushed his game past its perceived limits and into uncharted territory. He is simultaneously an incredibly aggressive player early in rounds, opening up rounds with kills and taking duels, and yet also one of the best clutch round players in the game, closing out even disadvantageous scenarios for his team.
A reason he is able to find himself in late round scenarios, despite being so aggressive early, is born out in his impossible statistical dominance. Here is a player who can frag at a higher frequency than anyone else to ever play this game and yet at the same time record fewer deaths than even some of the best conservative stars we've seen over the years.
Na'Vi makes use of s1mple's entry talent by often equipping him with a lone rifle when attempting weak force-buys, knowing he can create something from nothing at any moment and break them back into the game and a playable economic state. "s1mple, go kill" is almost not even a joke when it comes to Na'Vi's playbook in such circumstances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qED0IMBESBk
s1mple's statistical performances have worn down even the most ardent of critics, as 2018 saw him reach a level where his best performances set new standards for what a super-star could accomplish and his worst events still being near career best levels for other top 10 players in the world at that time. s1mple's ability to put kills on the board is so established, his carrying so routine and his skillset so phenomenal that every big series could seemingly be turned into an impressive mini-movie highlight reel.
In fact, when a movie-maker set out to create a highlight movie for each of the top ranked players of 2018, he made most less than 15 minutes long, yet s1mple's reached a running time of 45 minutes, half of the average running time of a typical Hollywood blockbuster.
Rivalled only by history
s1mple's peak has been so unbelievable that it can only be contrasted in CS:GO by the early dominance of GeT_RiGhT, whose NiP team were the first world number ones for more than a year to open the circuit. Beyond that, one must look to the finest players CS 1.6, a previous title in the franchise, to find comparable super-star form. s1mple can legitimately be put up against NEO and f0rest, the consensus greatest 1.6 players, and arguably even exceed their overall peak.
NEO in 1.6 (Credit: SK Gaming)
NEO was a famously consistent player, ever able to carry a large fragging load, yet didn't have the skill peak s1mple has displayed. f0rest had arguably the best skill peak in 1.6, but not the same consistency over his whole career of NEO and s1mple. Certainly, f0rest had a few years, 2006-2008, where he was both dominant and consistent, but s1mple has legitimately been excelling for the better part of half a decade now, though not always against the same tier of competition at the same frequency, taking into account the early years.
As someone who has seen every meaningful big Counter-Strike 1.6 and Global Offensive match in history and obsessively studied all of the great players, I imagined nobody could ever exceed NEO and f0rest. Yet I find s1mple's career irresistible in its individual dominance. I can't tell you the 1.6 greats were better, because what I've seen with my own eyes defies making such a statement with any certainty and the possibility of s1mple continuing to excel and exceed expectations is too intoxicating.
s1mple was the first player in CS:GO history to break HLTV.org's near iron clad rule that the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of an event had to be playing for the winning team, taking half of his MVP honours at tournaments his Na'Vi side did not win. To use this metric of winning MVPs from a single authority figure in the community to contrast s1mple with the historical greats and his current peers shows how far ahead he currently is and has been for the last 15 months or so.
s1mple's six MVPs in 2018 tie him with GeT_RiGhT for second most ever won in a calender year, and GeT_RiGhT was playing on the most dominant team in the world for that year. The only player to have won more in a year was device last year and that came with the context that he won most of his MVPs by a small margin over his team-mates and lost MVPs to s1mple at events device's team won. It is telling that despite device breaking the record for MVPs won in a single year, a year in which his team seemed to win everything, that there were very few credible figures calling for device to be considered the best player of the year.
s1mple in 2018
With such a seemingly flawless skillset, impossible peak level and consistent form, it's understandable why Na'Vi, despite their problems, managed such a strong run of top four finishes early.
Work hard; carry harder
Due to such prodigious talent, many onlookers frequently mistook s1mple for a player who relied upon his innate ability as almost a crutch in the game, especially during the time in which he was criticised for his extreme aggression. What they missed was that one of the most talented players in history had also reached such an uncanny peak of performance through being one of history's hardest workers too.
Those who have been s1mple's team-mates over the years or watched his streams will attest to his relentless work ethic and obsessive focus on improving. Back in 2015 this player would have Steam names like "aspire to be the best". Upon landing on American soil to play for Team Liquid in his first tour with them he immediately got online and began crushing the local talent.
"When he first joined [Team Liquid] […] I remember playing online matches with him and he was almost falling asleep playing some of the American opponents. It just seemed like it was so easy for him. Especially playing FPL […] it just seemed like it was a cake-walk for him. Like 'this so easy', 'these guys are so bad'."
Hiko (Reflections, July 2016)
Near the end of CS 1.6, when GeT_RiGhT had been the superior player over f0rest, on teams they shared spots in no less, the two Swedes were often setup as contrasting tales of talent and drive. Where f0rest was incredibly skilled but known to slack in practice hours, at least for periods of time, GeT_RiGhT was the less skilled player who worked harder than anyone else to improve and eventually surpass f0rest for a time.
f0rest in 1.6
I often wondered what might be if a player with the skill level of f0rest adopted the work ethic of GeT_RiGhT. It seemed easy to write that off as a fantasy, as an abundance of natural ability has often led to such players not feeling the need to practice as much as those who can only shine with much effort expended in the polishing process. I no longer need wonder or speculate on such a marriage of skill and will, as s1mple embodies both harnessed in one individual.
As such, the seemingly drastic mentality change s1mple eventually underwent as a team-mate and competitor can be traced by to this singular drive to be the best. Where in the past it was channeled into frustration at team-mates and his circumstances, now it has become a wholly positive force pushing him to newer heights of excellence.
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
The first years of s1mple's career saw himself establish himself as a notoriously poor team-mate almost as much as a ludicrously talented player. Individually, he was excellent, but in his attitude to those on his side he scored poor grades. Not only would he critique and chastise players during live official matches, but he was infamous for rude behaviour to team-mates and opponents in pick-up games with Europe and North America's best alike.
"In a world of CS:GO stars, s1mple has earned the title of super-star. If he can continue to play great Counter-Strike, he will end up as one of the 10 best to ever grace this game, should his personality allow it."
Thorin (DotEsports, June 2015)
s1mple in FlipSid3 (Credit: Adela Sznajder)
An early incident of note came when, following an ESWC 2015 at which he had seemingly made history by helping carry the lowly FlipSid3 past NiP and to a top four finish, he departed from his team and publicly stated that that would be his "last tournament with this team", clarifying that "Either that or I will not play some of the players anymore".
With the team containing not much individual ability, but legendary veterans names of the region like B1ad3, the first great IGL of Ukrainian CS, and markeloff, the aforementioned once-upon-a-time best player in Counter-Strike, s1mple's statements seemed entirely disrespectful. FlipSid3 and their players came out and expressed happiness at no longer playing with s1mple themselves, highlighting his troublesome attitude as a team-mate.
The trend continued when Team Liquid flew him over to be their monster hired gun. Team-mates complained about his poor attitude, with the likes of adreN, nitr0, EliGE and JDM all publicly admitting that he was a nightmare team-mate who most of them would prefer not to play with again. Even team-mate and friend Hiko, whose bond in and out of the game went back further, acknowledged that s1mple was near intolerable as a team-mate and that he played with him due to wanting so badly to win and knowing s1mple was the likeliest path to glory.
Indeed, I have myself been privy to audio recordings of Team Liquid during their practices in 2016 and heard the hostile, argumentative and unrelenting attitude s1mple displayed. Hence my own admonishment that his personality and interactions with team-mates were all that was holding him back from accomplishing anything he could desire, in terms of team success.
As 2017 came and went, a new s1mple began to emerge. Again stuck carrying a team performing far below his level, though not as poor relative to the top tier as FlipSid3 had been, s1mple seemed to have mellowed as a team-mate and now understand that his fellow players simply could not do the things he could in the game and that his expectations of them must be attuned accordingly. It was for s1mple to carry and the others to contribute where they could. Such a mentality birthed the monster carry that ravaged 2018.
"There are lots of problems in Na'Vi and many tough decisions to be made in the future, but s1mple is not one of those problems and the decision to keep him and build around him is an easy and obvious one."
Thorin (DotEsports, February 2017)
Despite so many tournaments last year in which s1mple was the best player in the field but did not lift the trophy, he did not appear angered by his team-mates or openly critical of them. Perhaps the most startling highlight of the Ukrainian's new found attitude came after Na'Vi's finals defeat to Astralis at Dreamhack Masters Marseille, where s1mple could be seen standing off to one side of the stage and applauding the Danes who had beaten him as they celebrated with the silverware he had hoped would be his.
From an obnoxious troublemaker to one of Counter-Strike's best ambassadors, improvement across the board has been seen in s1mple's career.
Fabulous feats despite defeats
Considering s1mple has only amassed three big international tournament titles over his otherwise stunning career, it is not so easy to write him off as a great player who couldn't win. As previously mentioned, nobody has carried as hard or as long and on as relatively poor teams as s1mple, in the context of having championship winning capabilities. Nay, this player's feats litter his entire career.
As previously alluded to, s1mple helped HellRaisers win their group at Dreamhack Winter 2014, the fourth CS:GO major, and in doing so set FNATIC up with the quarter-finals match-up against LDLC which infamously decided the fate of the champion of that tournament, following the notorious "olofpass boost". Playing for Team Liquid, he took them to heights they as an organisation had never come close to, twice taking them to not just the play-offs of majors but a minimum of the semi-finals, in his two appearances with them.
North America's best ever major run prior to that had been when Hiko's previous team of compLexity had reached the semi-finals of Dreamhack Winter 2013, the first major. s1mple's monster carry performances against Na'Vi and FNATIC, two of the best teams of the year, pushed TL into the first major final for a North American CS:GO team.
s1mple carries Team Liquid in 2016 (Credit: Helena Kristiansson)
In between his two spells in Liquid, s1mple took a team of semi-pros he was friendly with and formed "Worst Players", a mix team to attend the StarLadder i-League Invitational #1. There s1mple's men played series against only Virtus.pro, one of the game's legendary line-ups; SK Denmark, who had reached the final of CEVO-P S9 Finals less than a month prior; and GODSENT, pronax's new project which had nearly made the final of Dreamhack Masters Malmo a month before.
Despite this calibre of opponent and the lack of star names on his team, s1mple dominated the event individually with a mindblowing stat line of 0.97 FPR to 0.68 DPR (Deaths Per Round average) and a +61 differential.
s1mple is a monster. One day he will be the best player in the world.
— Thorin (@Thorin) October 3, 2016
Winning ways and MVPs
Playing in Na'Vi, months after his epic Cologne run with Liquid, s1mple helped them win their first ever $250,000 or more prize pool event, taking the ESL One New York 2016 title by defeating a Virtus.pro in the final who were ranked number two in the world. Following a fairly barren 2017, filled with runs which ended too early to see Na'Vi contend for titles and eventually even bottom out and outright flunk events, s1mple stormed 2018 to push Na'Vi to numerous memorable performances, even in circumstances where the opponent was expected to win.
s1mple carrying at StarSeries S4 (Credit: Starladder)
Na'Vi failed to win StarSeries S4 early in the year, an event with a stacked field a highly large sample size format of Bo3 (Best-of-3) Swiss system and stacked with the best teams in the world, but s1mple's individual performances was arguably the best any player has ever put up in history, over that sample size and against that quality of opposition. Na'Vi came close to taking the final in the second map of the final against mousesports, as s1mple exploded for 42 kills in an eventual over-time loss in which captain Zeus managed only a measly and practically game-losing eight kills.
Even as he top the scoreboard in all metrics on the deciding map, s1mple could not force Na'Vi over the finish line and saw mouz take the crown. Nonetheless, the performance earned him the first HLTV.org MVP award ever granted to a losing player in CS:GO.
Later in the year, with Russian star electronic finally integrated as a power player in his own right, s1mple came back to the next season of StarSeries and dominated again to this time take the title. Along the way he not only got revenge on the very same mousesports line-up, frustrating them in a close semi-final, but butchered the SK Gaming core who had beaten him at the majors in 2016. Facing such legendary names as coldzera, former world number one; fer and FalleN, s1mple posted almost 100 kills over the three map quarter-final and died only 46 times, the least of any player in the server.
Finishing with an obscene +48 differential for the series, s1mple outlined the gap between himself and the other top players in the world, as coldzera kept apace on the first map but was outfragged heavily over the last two maps, going from 42 kills to s1mple's 41 in the opener to 25 kills over the last two maps contrasted with s1mple's 52.
That title, Na'Vi's first big title of this line-up's time together, sparked their run of three trophies won over the summer, taking the much smaller CS:GO Asia Championship and then besting world number ones Astralis and underdogs BIG to grab the ever prestigious and storied ESL One Cologne crown, with s1mple finally winning that event after three straight years of reaching the semi-final and two finals appearances in total.
Na'Vi wins ESL One Cologne 2018 (Credit: Helena Kristiansson)
Major carrying
The primary accomplishment missing from s1mple's career and which makes him the odd man out in the typical list of CS:GO G.O.A.T. candidates is of course that elusive major. Yet a look at the context of s1mple's career again shows that what might initially be perceived as a weakness can, when studied, counter-intuitively emphasise how impressive s1mple's feats have been. s1mple has reached the final of the major twice and the semi-finals a total of five times. Those seven deep runs come in only eight major appearances.
s1mple was not a top pro for the first three majors, could not participate in either ESL major in 2015 due to a 1.6 ban on his record and failed to qualify for Dreamhack Cluj-Napoca to close the year's majors out. From 2016 on, s1mple has played at every major, failed to make the play-offs only once and made all of those deep runs over that two and a bit year time span.
A glance at his teams' rankings prior to some of those majors also tells a different story than simply stating that he failed to win the trophy. Prior to MLG Columbus 2016, Team Liquid were ranked 18th in the world and yet lost only in over-time on both maps of the semi-final to a Luminosity Gaming who ended up being the team of the year. At ESL One Cologne 2016, Liquid were ranked 11th and yet made it all the way to the final. Finally, at ELEAGUE Boston, Na'Vi were ranked 14th but reached the semi-finals nonetheless. Such has been s1mple's history of defying the odds and pushing his team to exceed expectations.
s1mple at IEM Katowice (Credit: TalkSport)
At the last two majors, Na'Vi have been one of the biggest players and their rank of #2 prior to FACEIT London was matched with a runners-up finish and their #3 ranking prior to IEM Katowice also saw them correspondingly finish at an appropriate 3rd-4th, even if they were upset by an underdog in that last series. It seems unfair to harshly criticise s1mple for failing to win a major without ever having been anywhere close to a favourite prior to the last two. Of those eight majors attended, s1mple lost to the eventual champion of the major four times in the play-offs and a finalist a total of seven times.
s1mple has never played on the number one ranked team in Counter-Strike.
Collision course with history
Taking into account s1mple's incredible ramp up in performance year on year, all he lacks to complete his case as the greatest is more team success and perhaps a continuation of his great form. A strong case could be made that, on the basis of individual play alone, he could already be called CS:GO's best ever player.
If I was starting a franchise tomorrow s1mple is the player I would choose to build around. If I had the opportunity to sign a free agent for any other top team than Na'Vi, s1mple would be the first name in mind. Do not mistake s1mple's life for a charmed one in which greatness followed him around, as has sometimes seemed the case in the careers of legends like shox and f0rest, but rather see him as someone who has overcome more than any other legend to stake his claim as the best to ever do it in a Counter-Strike server.
It's said one man can't beat you every time in this game, but it has frequently taken five to beat this one. There will never be another player like him. It's that simple.
s1mple (Art: @PapieroweDrzewo )
Header image artwork: @Chris_LC_Art
Related Topicsnatus vincerenavis1mpleflipsid3


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It must be quite a challenge to style a garden themed party held indoors, but event stylist Ava's Cakes & Partyshop successfully created a charming indoor garden look for Elise's Garden themed baptism with lots of fresh flowers and greenery. The hanging birdcages adorned with beautiful flowers are just lovely, don't you think? To give the party that shabby chic vibe, white wooden panels, lamps and lanterns, and floral teacups and boxes were thrown in to the mix.


Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway outside of Quitaque in the Texas Panhandle seems to catch fire as the first light of the sunrise hits the red canyon walls. The crimson sandstone escarpment looks like rugged palisades protecting some hidden fortress.
The park is on a transition zone where the flat grasslands of the High Plains drop into the wrinkled hills unfurling toward the Gulf Coast. The red cliffs are a result of oxidation of iron in the sediments at the edges of an ancient sea. Veins of white alabaster gypsum indicate periods when seawater evaporated and deposited the sparkling minerals.
Maybe not as dramatic as its neighbor, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Caprock Canyons is no less beautiful. The mixture of blue sky, green vegetation, and red cliffs in the wide canyon is stunning.
Despite its remoteness – about a 7-hour drive from Austin – the park is seeing an uptick in visitation. The Official Texas State Bison Herd has nearly free range of the park's 15,313 acres, which attracts a lot of visitors. In addition to trails in the park, there is a 64.25-mile former railroad right-of-way turned into a trail from South Plains to Estelline that passes through the bat cave at Clarity Tunnel.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is one of the most beautiful and rugged state parks. The park has four campgrounds, a small lake for fishing and swimming, a nature center, and a prairie dog town.
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ISLAMABAD: The Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said that ensuring national security and safeguarding national interests was the responsibility of the state.
Talking to the media outside the Accountability Court and Punjab House here Tuesday, she said that to preserve national interest, a sacrifice had to be offered and consequently the law minister resigned in the larger interest of the nation.
She said that the people of Rawalpindi & Islamabad heaved a sigh of relief over the ending of the sit-in which had ended chaos and anarchy that prevailed in the country during the last two days. She added that the country could not afford such circumstances and all of them would have to move forward collectively so that the country never faces similar circumstances again.
She also urged the media to play its role in that regard.
Responding to a question, Marriyum said that during the last two days, the country was faced with a deplorable situation which was very difficult to deal with. She added that it was the time to look ahead and stop looking back because it could take the country back by decades, which the future generations could not afford to inherit.
The minister said that the party which was obstructing the passage of the electoral bill was not being fair to Pakistan and the posterity. She reiterated that the delay in the elections would not be in the interest of the country and all the political parties had to play their due role in ensuring timely passage of the bill.
She further said that the National Assembly had approved the amendment bill and the Senate was meeting in the second week of December. Therefore, she added that it was incumbent upon all the political parties to deliberate on the issue.
She also expressed hope that the elections would be held on time in 2018.
Marriyum pointed out that everyone knew the circumstances of the country when the former prime minister assumed power in 2013, and also where the country stood when he was disqualified in 2017. She said that it was a developing, shining and rising Pakistan where peace was fast returning and the curse of terrorism had been checked in its tracks.
In regards to the deliberations of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) consultative meeting, she said that the forum discussed the circumstances that prevailed in the country during the last two days and other important issues. The minister added that the former prime minister appeared before the NAB court in spite of the false allegations against him.
She went on to say that the Nawaz Sharif had made a pledge to the people to uphold the sanctity of law and the Constitution. She further stated that the public rallies of the PML -N would be held according to the given schedule and the participation of the Nawaz in the public meeting at Quetta was very much on the cards.
She said that Nawaz's wife was sick and under treatment in London and he had to visit her frequently to be by her side. She added said that it was a very difficult situation for him, adding that he would go to London when he felt like going.
Marriyum lamented that whenever Nawaz Sharif left for London, an impression was given that he would not return, which was very unreasonable. She also confirmed the meeting between the former prime minister and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.


You may have heard that we had a nice morning jolt here in Los Angeles – 4.4 earthquake! It was the first one for both boys, though only Monkey really got that something was going on. (Not that he was scared, mind you. If you ask him what he's afraid of, he always says, "Not anyfing!") Anyway, I woke to the windows rattling and the bed moving around, sat up and realized it was a fairly sizable quake and grabbed the baby and ran out to the dining room. We have a big, solid table that we agree is the safest place to be in an earthquake. Until the MM is a year old (next month!), we sleep in separate beds on either end of our condo – me and the MM in the boys' room and DW and Monkey in our room. So we met at the table with both boys and got underneath. Monkey laughed so hard! It was pretty funny – I didn't have my glasses on, so I was blind as a bat and I put the MM on the breast to keep him from being so squirmy. All is well – no damage, no big aftershocks. Still, I freaking HATE earthquakes and even more so now that we have kids. Ugh. This was a good reminder to get our earthquake kit up-to-date. We have one, but I'm sure all the food items have expired and there probably aren't the right size diapers or anything like that in there. We also need to move it to a better location.
So how have things been going here? Decent, with some ickiness thrown in. Monkey is back to his old ways of getting up super early every day (anywhere between 4AM-5:30AM). Ugh ugh ugh. It seems like it coincided with potty training, interestingly enough. He stopped napping about a month ago (even though he still needs it) so he is drop-dead tired by around 6. We start bedtime at 6:30 and he's out by 7. Then up for the day ~5AM. We are kind of at the end of our rope with this situation (again). The baby would sleep until probably 7-8AM. I say probably because we don't really know. I get him up when I hear DW and Monkey are up and put baby in his swing, where he sleeps until around 7-8. DW and I take turns sleeping. This results in far too much screen time for Monkey, too, which I hate. But we have like 4 hours to kill before school (and we are too tired to do much with him at that time of day), so TV/iPad time is too generous. I can't believe we are still having these sleep issues 3+ years later. When will it end????
Baby F is also having a bit of night trouble lately, but I think it's because I started working again on Monday. I work from home, so he sees me frequently and nurses throughout the day, but he was used to being with me so much and now he's mostly with DW. He is having a little trouble napping (goes to sleep easily but wakes too soon) and he wakes with what seems like gas pains frequently overnight when used to pretty much sleep through. He also spits up a lot. He has his 4 month appt. next Wednesday, so I'll be sure to mention all of this to his doctor and see if there's any issue. Other than that, he is still a sweet, unfussy little dude. Even the overnight wakings are quickly resolved with a cuddle and shushing – he goes right back down. He is smiling up a storm and just started giggling a few days ago. He is grasping toys and showing an interest in books.
Upcoming stuff: We are going to San Diego for Labor Day weekend. Sun and surf! Then my parents are coming for a visit in mid-September, so DW and I will probably do a date night while they are here. Woot woot! We are also going to visit them in early December. That will be baby F's first time on a plane (he'll be 7 months) and our first time flying with 2! Also the first time with a lap child. Monkey flew for the first time at 18 months and we went ahead and got a seat for him. Doesn't seem necessary with a 7 month old, right? It'll save us ~$400, so we'll rough it.
Baby F had his two month appointment this morning (he'll actually be two months on 6/29). He weighed in at a whopping 14 lb., 15 oz.! In terms of percentiles, he is "off the charts" on weight. His height is 23.5″ (65th percentile). The nurse referred to him as a marshmallow. Ha! Poor guy had to get an oral vaccine as well as 3 shots. This displeased him, but a little time at the breast afterward helped calm him down.
He is one big baby. He is also beautiful, healthy, and happy. He has started giving us gummy grins lately and he is much more alert and has more awake time as well. F still sleeps like a champ – generally going to bed around 7:30 and then I get him up when big brother wakes up (around 5AM – GROAN!) and change his diaper and put him in his swing, where he'll sleep until about 9-9:30AM. He is an easy, unfussy baby. We are very thankful.
We are still very much in our "babymoon" phase – just loving our little guy and having fun spending the whole summer together as a family. I go back to work when Monkey goes back to school (mid-August) but I work from home, so it'll be a much easier transition than last time around. We still need to work on getting F to take a bottle. We've only tried it once or twice and he didn't want it either time. Sigh. I don't really mind, but it's a problem when I need to get my hair done or have an appointment that isn't conducive to having an infant with me.
Big brother Monkey has started getting a bit aggressive toward his little bro. He is still sweet and gentle most of the time, but he will lash out on occasion, so we're having to monitor him a bit more closely. Monkey has also stopped napping, even though he really still needs that nap. He goes to bed these days around 7PM and is still up for the day between 5-6AM. It's only been a couple of weeks, so we are still hopeful that he might squeeze in a bit more sleep in the AM.
Monkey also started soccer last Wednesday and is doing really well with it. It is the first activity that he's been involved in that he hasn't gotten bored and run off within 15 minutes. He sticks with it and seems to be having a great time. We tried one-on-one swimming lessons earlier in the summer, but it didn't go very well. We are going to try again with group lessons and see how it goes. We have a pool at our condo complex and he loves it, so we just have to find the right instructor/lesson type and I think he'll be good to go.
And in closing, how incredible was that SCOTUS ruling yesterday??? We are now legally married in the state of California and in the US. Now to get these rights across the country. I feel pretty confident that it will happen fairly quickly. Here's hoping!
He seems to really love it – I showed him the picture and he was so excited. I asked him if he wanted to sleep in the firetruck bed all by himself and he said, "Yes!" It's not crazy expensive (in fact, it's on sale on Ama.zon right now), but it's also not cheap so I'm not sure if we should go for it or not. Have any of you tried something like this and did it work?
I know it is early and I have no idea how this new guy will be sleep-wise but I'm spending a lot of time lately worrying about our future sleep situation. We currently co-sleep with Monkey in our bed. We have a queen and he sleeps in between the two us. He goes to sleep there a few hours before we do and we use bedrails during that time. I'm having a hard time imagining what the new arrangement will be once the newbie is here. We have already resigned ourselves to buying a king size bed prior to his arrival, so that will help. I'm just wondering where everyone will be while the baby is really small. Monkey on the outside, between DW and the bedrail with baby on the inside right next to me? With Monkey, he basically slept in my armpit (between my body and my arm) and didn't really move at all during the night. Who knows if this guy will be the same? Maybe he will be fine in the co-sleeper and we won't have to do anything different (Monkey was not – he would only really sleep in bed with us, hence the co-sleeping).
I'm also trying to imagine bedtime. Sure, early on the baby will just hang with us until we go to bed and Monkey will do his usual routine. But when it's time for baby to start a schedule, then what? Put baby down first, then Monkey? Will baby sleep through Monkey's bedtime shenanigans? Maybe put baby down in the soon-to-be boys' room and Monkey in our bed, then bring baby into our room when we go to bed? And what about when the baby wakes to nurse in the night? Will this wake Monkey and have us partying for hours in the middle of the night like we do now when, God forbid, he happens to wake?
By the way, I'd have no problem trying to transition Monkey to his own "big boy" bed in the new room prior to the newbie's arrival, but DW is not on board. Sigh. Maybe if she were pregnant and trying to sleep with baby knees in her back she'd be more open to the idea 😉 I'm also having a hard time picturing me getting any sleep at all when I am hugely pregnant with Monkey in the bed. It's a little terrifying.
Another concern I have, though it is super temporary, is how Monkey will do with my parents while we are in the hospital after the birth. He has never been away from us overnight before and no one has ever put him down except one of us. Are my parents up to the task? My sad heart is picturing him crying all night long, inconsolable at us not being there. Argh. This parenting thing is so hard! I'm just trying to prepare however I can (like buying the bigger bed) and hoping that it will be a non-issue because the new guy will be a perfect sleeper. I can dream, right?


text:
Ian Ruthven
n Ian Ruthven; born September 28, 1948, died August 1, 1996
THERE was a time when Edinburgh's restaurants in general were unimaginative and dull places, with the average menu and wine list offering little variety. To a very great extent it was Ian Ruthven, latterly the proprietor of the Waterfront Wine Bar in Leith, who single-handedly transformed this situation.
Born in Edinburgh, he attended Burghmuir School, leaving at the age of 15. Later he trained in art at Duncan of Jordanston College in Dundee before transferring to Edinburgh College of Art. He then settled for teaching at the Wester Hailes Education Centre. In 1973, he married Helen Gould, proposing to her three weeks after their first meeting. They had three sons, Aidan, Patrick, and Nicholas.
In the early 1970s, the once-prosperous port and town of Leith was a run-down place. Many of the old buildings had already been bulldozed to the ground or lay derelict. In those days Leith was certainly not considered a fashionable place to live, let alone dine.
Yet there were those who realised the potential, Ian among them. He had already successfully restored a church in the East Lothian village of Temple for a friend, and in doing so had acquired a certain knowledge and expertise.
At a time when the revival of Leith was just being contemplated, he and Helen paid #600 for a run-down former pub, tucked away facing a dockside. As a student he had rented it as a studio, paying #1 a week, but now he had other plans. In 1979, having completely renovated the building, he launched Skippers Restaurant, specialising in fish dishes.
Simple furniture, the boldly painted walls hung with prints, photographs and fishing memorabilia, Ian created the atmosphere of a French coastal bistro. His gourmet tastes and enthusiasm for good food and fine wine launched a revolution among the restaurateurs of Edinburgh, transforming Leith into a centre for eating out. Skippers was an immediate success, and continues to be so, 17 years later, with much of the original character retained by the current owner.
However, Ian's flair for inventiveness was ever restless and searching for new challenges. Next came the adjacent Waterfront Wine Bar which, more than anything else was to lead to the successful imagery and marketing of the district as ``Leith sur mer''. For the first time, during the summer months, diners in Edinburgh were able to eat out-of-doors. During the winter, log fires cast flickering patterns on the panel-work interiors.
In 1983, Ian and Helen bought a group of buildings at Seton Mill, East Lothian, and it was here that the family made their home. On the banks of the River Yyne at Haddington, he restored a row of derelict cottages transforming them into the Waterside Restaurant, another success story.
Ian Ruthven was a true renaissance Scot with a warm personality. He enjoyed the good things in life, but also delighted in sharing them with others.
He had a wide knowledge of Scottish art, literature, architecture, and music, and his early death robs both Edinburgh and Scotland of a man of remarkable taste and vision.
An appreciation by RODDY MARTINE
Commments are closed on this article


To celebrate the centennial year of Jerry's birth (1911) the authors dug into the archives of Jerry's secret stash to present something different. These are precision line drawings, some with light color - the final finished step before cutting stencils. Grouped in tracing paper pads from the late 1940s-early 1950s, with notations by Sailor Jerry Collins. Hundreds of the images, many never seen before, that formed the paragon of mid-twentieth century tattooing.
11 x 14, Softcover, 92 pages.


Line-group tests have proven themselves in determining the visual resolution values. According to the system being proved, these tests are obtainable in various spatial frequency ranges and in different steps.
For the testing of intensifying screens, tests are adequate whose line groups are arranged in only one direction: system errors in various directions are not to be expected, since the tests are laid directly on the cassette, directional-dependent errors of geometry do not have an effect.
For image-transmission systems in which, because of the specific imaging errors different resolution values are to be expected in the tangential and meridional direction (for example in the I.I. systems), it is advisable to use tests with line groups which lie close to one another and which are orientated perpendicular to one another.
To avoid false readings due to the so-called pseudo-sharpness, care must be taken that the recognizable number of test-group bars in the image agrees with that of the test. The besom test with its continuously varying spatial frequency represents a special form of the group test. It advantage lies, above all, in the certain avoidance of reading errors as a consequence of pseudo- sharpness.
When using a scattered radiation grid, it must be taken into account that the line-groups are arranged, if possible, at an angle to the strips of the secondary radiation grid which is less than 45°, in order to avoid moire effects.


text:
package org.immutables.value.processor.encode;

import org.immutables.mirror.Mirror;

interface Mirrors {
  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding")
  @interface Encoding {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Naming")
  @interface Naming {
    String value();

    boolean depluralize() default false;

    StandardNaming standard() default StandardNaming.NONE;
  }

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Of")
  @interface Of {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Expose")
  @interface Expose {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Impl")
  @interface Impl {
    boolean virtual() default false;
  }

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Copy")
  @interface Copy {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Init")
  @interface Init {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Builder")
  @interface Builder {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.Encoding.Build")
  @interface Build {}

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.EncodingMetadata")
  public @interface EncMetadata {
    String name();

    String[] imports();

    String[] typeParams();

    EncElement[] elements();
  }

  @Mirror.Annotation("org.immutables.encode.EncodingMetadata.Element")
  public @interface EncElement {
    String name();

    String type();

    String naming();

    String stdNaming();

    String[] tags();

    String[] typeParams();

    String[] params();

    String[] thrown();

    String code();
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
zAstonMartin.Com
News About the Number One Luxury Car on Earth, the fabulous & astounding Aston Martin
AstonMartin News
Will Mazda transform the CX-5 into a full-fledged luxury car?
01 Dec 2020 By Isabella
Mazda's next-generation CX-5 will graduate from premium to luxury to bolster the firm's upmarket push, according to a recent report. It will again take the form of a crossover, but it might spawn a fastback-like model.
Japanese magazine Best Car learned from company insiders that the next CX-5 will be comparable to the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. If that's accurate, the people-mover will receive substantial upgrades in the coming years, because the current model is not as big, not as luxurious, and not as quick as either of those SUVs.
According to the same source, the CX-5's transformation will be made possible by two key elements. First, it will ride on a new rear-wheel-drive platform that it will share with the next Mazda6, though all-wheel-drive will also be offered. Using this architecture will allow stylists to increase the dash-to-axle ratio, which will in turn expand its footprint. Second, the space between the extra sheetmetal will be occupied by a new straight-six engine whose existence has already been confirmed by Mazda. It will get SkyActiv-X technology, and it will be available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Elsewhere in the world, Mazda will release a turbodiesel variant of the six-cylinder.
Adopting rear-wheel drive and a straight-six engine will put the CX-5 in the same league as the Germans; on paper, at least. Mazda will undoubtedly ask its stylists to give the model a suitably stylish appearance, and Best Car added the range could include a new four-door fastback possibly called CX-50 and aimed at the X6.
Mazda's next CX-5 is expected to make its debut in 2023, so it might not arrive on our shores until the 2024 model year. We'll see the next Mazda6 a little sooner, and it will give us a good idea of what's next.
Source: AutoBlog.com
Posted in AstonMartin News
Aston Martin Is Losing The Electric Race
Bentley introduces tweed interior trim option for all models
Top Car News Of The Week: Here Are The Main Headlines From The Week Gone By!
Tesla asks NHTSA to declare metric speed display issue inconsequential
Stellantis is official: FCA and PSA merger finally sealed
BMW plans to double battery electric car sales this year


text:
4426 Реріх (4426 Roerich) — астероїд головного поясу, відкритий 15 жовтня 1969 року.

Тіссеранів параметр щодо Юпітера — 3,341.

Названо на честь Реріха та його сім'ї

Примітки

Див. також
 Список астероїдів (4401-4500)

Посилання

 Інформація про малі планети на сайті minorplanetcenter.net

Астрономічні об'єкти, відкриті 1969
Головний пояс астероїдів


1190 DENARIUS VHC Under 1 as? That's wrong anag. & lit.
1174 DINGLE-DANGLE First Gelded nag, nil ——? anag. & lit.
1134 TOVARICH VHC Queer actor with HIV, intimate companion for Nureyev, perhaps anag.
1013 ALVEARY VHC Swarming without one always contains queen al(i)ve + R in ay, & lit.
891 CAT VHC What sailors could expect, caught doing unnatural act c at, anag.


This weekend was the third and final Davis Island J70 winter event.
We were able to get two more MarkSetBots down to Tampa this weekend for the final J70 Porch Series event. We had one down there all winter. So, we had three for this event.
The MarkSetBots acted as both ends of the starting line and the weather mark. After the start, we used the app to make the start in to a gate with just a touch of a button. A very cool use of the technology. Took no effort and about 30 seconds to move them in to place.
Brian Malone from North Sails acted as PRO of the Porch Series and allowed us to run the bots from his RC boat (for the third time).
With the series coming to an end, thanks need to go out to the people involved in the series that allowed us to be involved. Judy Hanlon, Karen Rumptz, Kat Malone, Ed Furry, and Ian Moriarty were all a big help.
Mark Allen needs a special thank you for handling all the transportation between Detroit and Florida (and back). Literally door to door service. Without his help, we would not have been able to get the two extra bots down to Tampa.
The biggest thank you of all goes to Jim Thompson. He has spent several hundred hours helping on the MarkSetBot and put in another 10 hours last week converting Beta bots to Production bots.


text:
André Höhne (also spelled Hoehne; born 10 March 1978 in Berlin) is a German race walker.

He finished 14th in the 20 kilometres walk at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, crossing the line with a time of 1:21:59.

Achievements

External links

1978 births
Living people
German male racewalkers
German national athletics champions
Olympic athletes of Germany
Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics


Stunning combination of gemstones, turquoise, jade, carnelian, tigers-eye and coral. All handmade copper links make up this gorgeous piece and uniquely individualizes each gemstone bead.
Make a entrance with this wonderful mingle of gems; measures approx. 19in and has a copper toggle fasten.
The center round turquoise bead measures over an inch in diameter and the largest round gemstones in the front of necklace range from 8-10mm and the coral and other turquoise beads are a half inch long.


I nearly scrapped this project as I was not happy with the images. When I returned to it I was very inspired and have made 3 versions. This remains my favorite.
Commissioned by a French Hotel owner. The sky was cut away and the tops of the building.


text:
DCR 97.4fm
Radio Shop
Royal National Mod
Listen Online Now
MAGGIE REILLY TOUR IN DUNOON
Written by Archie Fergusson on 22/05/2017
Maggie Reilly is the Scottish singer best known for her collaborations with the composer and instrumentalist Mike Oldfield. Most notably, she performed lead vocals on the Mike Oldfield songs "Family Man", "Moonlight Shadow", "To France" and "Foreign Affair", all of which were international hits in the early 1980s.
In 1992, she released her debut solo album Echoes,from which the singles "Everytime We Touch", "Tears in the Rain" and "Wait" were the most successful. A series of solo albums have been released since.
She has also worked with many other artists, including Mike Batt (on his Hunting of the Snark album), Jack Bruce, Dave Greenfield & Jean-Jacques Burnel, Nick Mason & Rick Fenn, Michael Cretu, Lesiëm, Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention, Stefan Zauner of Münchener Freiheit, Runrig, The Sisters of Mercy, and Smokie. "Moonlight Shadow 2k14″ (Michael Fall remix) was released on the German label ZYX Music.
Listen during the week as Derek McIntyre chats to Maggie in a special recorded interview for 97.4FM DCR
Archie Fergusson
Sammy's Pop-Pourri
All the good stuff
Sammys's Pop Pourri live every Sunday.Included in Sammy's live show will be his 2 from 1 (2 songs from one artist), the ODD ONE OUT, Listeners List (listeners favourite tunes!)
Support us while you shop on Amazon
Just click the pic above and log into your Amazon account as usual.
Every time you shop on Amazon using this link, we get a few pennies here and there. It doesn't cost you anything and it all adds up for us!
DCR97.4FM & CMR95FM @CELTIC CONNECTIONS
CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2020 IS ABOUT TO START –ARE YOU READY ?
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR LISTENING FROM ALL AT DUNOON COMMUNITY RADIO
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IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO TODAY THE CHIEFTAIN CAME TO………………. | DCR 97.4fm on Cowal Gathering Update
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CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2020 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES NOW AVAILABLE
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On 3 July 2012 a group of 22 intrepid (if not sprightly) OUS tourists met for a day in Burdigala (as it was first called in 300 B.C.) to sample its delights by land and from the water. We enjoyed perfect summer weather as we toured the city by open-top charabanc, lunched in a shady square, and sailed (well, motored) beneath the seven Bordeaux bridges while receiving a comprehensive commentary in French and English.
The day was immaculately organised by Marion Tempé, to whom we extend our appreciation for a difficult job well done.


Base lubricating oils are the main component in lubricants for motor vehicles and a wide range of other applications. These base oils or 'base stocks' are defined by their quality and fall into either Group I, the lowest quality, Group II, a mid range base stock, or Group III, the highest quality that can be produced from minerals.
Over the last decade there has been a steady increase in the use of Group III lubricating oils in passenger car motor oil. The quality of this grade of base stocks allows blenders to create motor oils that are specifically engineered to meet automakers'specifications for performance and durability.
In North America, the demand for Group III base oil is approximately 20,000 barrels per day and growing. However, only about 4,800 barrels per day are produced in North America, with the balance imported from Asia and the Middle East at a high cost.
Gen III's Bowden facility will contribute over 30% more capacity to the North American Group III market, providing lubricant blenders with a better alternative to foreign imports.


70% of profit (income-delivery fees) are going to the Prizes: 30% (N Prize), 20% (X Prize) and 20% (T Prize).
30% dividends to the Shareholders (Owners of MegaLotto Assets (ID: 15134071718475327250)).
The N prize of the lottery will go to NXT Address with higher number of xLotto Points at Draw Block Height.
The X prize of the lottery will go to NXT Address with higher number of xLotto Tickets at Draw Block Height.
The T prize of the lottery will go to NXT Address with higher number of xLotto Blocks Age at Draw Block Height.
xLotto Points: Sum (Number of xLotto Tickets purchased * (Draw Block Height - Block Height of purchase transaction)) .
xLotto Block Age: Sum (1 transaction * (Draw Block Height - Block Height of purchase transaction)) .
Number of xLotto Tickets purchased on transaction 1: 100.
Number of xLotto Tickets purchased on transaction 2: 300.
Draw Block Height of xLotto1 Tickets: 222'000.
Only Tickets with purchase transactions from official Seller are valid.
Sounds pretty cool, well done.
I hope it was useful to increase transactions number, to use DGS, AE, etc... And to win money!
Do you think the Prizes Percentages are right?
To enter to the battle of N Prize 5'400 Tickets are necessary (10'800 NXT + Fees).
To enter to the battle of X Prize 5'016 Tickets are necessary (10'032 NXT + Fees).
To enter to the battle of T Prize 5 Transactions are necessary (10 NXT + Fees).
Sorry I have had to stop the draw because I must to increase the prices of the tickets to balance T Prize competition with N and X.
The NXTs have been returned to players (fees included).
I am going to study the problem and I hope new Draw xLotto2 starts at Block Height 218'000.
My apologies and any suggestion is welcome!
Whatever man,this is cool,i really hope you can make it!i wii support you!
Also it would be good include 2'000 NXT reward or 10% reward every 2000 blocks to higher Block Age to encourage the participation.
It seems that not many people are interested ... Probably I will cancel the experiment.


I actually got teary eyed this morning filling out requests for transferring of files from the kids' pediatrician to our new health provider, Kaiser. I couldn't just send the forms in the mail, so I sent the doctor this letter. He really has been all that.
It is with sadness that I am requesting the release of records on my three children, Eldest, Daughter and Youngest, to Kaiser Permanente. Financial constraints have forced me to sign on with Kaiser through my employment, and while I am sure I will be satisfied with the care the kids receive through Kaiser, I know that we will never find a kinder and more attentive physician than we have found with you and your colleagues.
I am particularly grateful for your guidance a number of years ago when Daughter was four years old. Your intervention and attention then laid the groundwork for her to become a most fabulous newly minted teenager. I will never forget your help then.
I know I can't express adequately how much I appreciate the care you've provided my kids. I will leave it, then, with a simple thank you.
While losing your kids as patient is not a good thing, I would bet this letter of appreciation makes his day.
I love our family doctor too. I agree, ending the letter is a wonderful gesture.