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Plummer: Shanny firing "was past due"
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Re: Article Discussion: Plummer: Shanny firing
by joered on January 30th, 2009, 10:41 am #650240
some people respond negatively to jake plummer because they didn't like him as a quarterback or his style or whatever. so naturally, they react the same way to this article. the comments re. shanahan's era having passed seem almost obvious in retrospect. the statements plummer made seem insightful and accurate including comparisons of cutler to jeff george. both have strong arms but can they play the game? can they win? george never did and cutler lost in college and now with the broncos. most of the comments from bloggers here regarding plummer are irrelevant and reflect more on the messenger than on the message. jake plummer tells it like he sees it and regarding shanahan, the way pat bowlen must have seen it too.
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Re: Plummer is right
by PA on January 30th, 2009, 10:47 am #650257
lax65 wrote: anyone who thinks that Shanahan was right when he benched Plummer for Cutler during the middle of the season is a moron who should be banned from this site. Plummer had this team 7-4 and in the playoff hunt after a 13-3 season with a playoff win. Shanahan benched the guy and we didn't get to the Playoffs. that was Shanahan's most horrible decision in his entire tenure. you don't bench a guy who went 10-6, 10-6, 13-3 with a playoff win, and had the team at 7-4 for a rookie!!! Shanahan should have been fired for that! have we been to the playoffs since?? not even close. don't hate on Plummer because we lost the AFC title game due to Shanahan's inability to adjust the game plan against the Steelers Blitz schemes. 24-24 since Plummer was gone speaks for itself. i love Jay Cutler, he can be great, but it wasn't his time to take over a team during a playoff push. and that spelled doom for that season. thanks to Shanahan and his ego. he was so in love with Cutler that he had to bench a winner during a playoff push. anyone who defends Shanahan on this knows nothing about football. NOTHING.
Benching Plummer was a tough call. And maybe that ended the Broncos playoff hopes. Clearly, Cutler wasn't ready to assume the lead role on the offense. But do you remember how bad Plummer played? He was the joke of the league. It was the defense that had the team at 7-4. They were great early in the season. But when injuries struck, and defensive players just wore down, and maybe other teams just figured out the Broncos defensive schemes, the bottom fell out there too. Shanahan had to do something. The Broncos had to score some points. They weren't with Jake. I think putting Cutler in was a desperate move by Shanahan. He saw his offensive house of cards coming down. But make no mistake, this was Mike Shanahan's house of cards. He set them up...
We don't know if Plummer would have come alive in the last part of that season. I doubt it. Defenses seemed to have his number. As as others have stated in earlier posts, Plummer was a one-trick-poney. Contain him and the Bronco offense died. Also, Plummer seemed to have lost his motivation. He looked like he was going through the motions. And you've got to also consider the Shanahan end-of-season fold factor; the start strong, end weak MO of his post Elway coached teams.
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by flips_220 on January 30th, 2009, 10:57 am #650279
I like all our QBs. I miss Jake Plummer, he was my favorite QB at the time he was playing for the Broncos. But that's probably cause I had no choice, what with me being a Broncos fan and all... but I also think Cutler is awesome too. So yeah. That's really about it. I'm not going to make any comparisons or try and say who's better, because there's no point to that. All I know is I miss that grizzled bastard out there on the field. I think maybe Cutler should grow a beard.
Last edited by flips_220 on January 30th, 2009, 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Article Discussion: Plummer: Shanny firing "was past due"
by wildmaann12 on January 30th, 2009, 10:59 am #650286
I disagree with Plummer completely. If you look at the Broncos when they went 13-3 they did it with the running game and defense. The Broncos used Plummer only when needed because the guy would play like a rookie QB even though he had been in the league for sometime. Do you guys not remember those bad throws that would result in interceptions? When he got benched he was doing it much more acting like a little baby because the broncos drafted Cutler. Shanahan the GM made mistakes, lots, but not as a coach. If the broncos had a D this year they would have had a great record with the offense they had. I thought Shanahan was taking them to the right direction. Oh well, now with a new inexperienced coach from the bad Pats coaching pool.
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Re: Article Discussion: Plummer: Shanny firing "was past due"
by JK80906 on January 30th, 2009, 11:00 am #650290
rrman wrote: Plummer needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.
So does Cutler.
I once was banned, but now I see.
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by wideeyedraven on January 30th, 2009, 11:00 am #650291
First of all, Plummer was an older more seasoned player when he came to Denver. I liked Plummer, I did. I liked his style and his play; he was free and loose and played hard. Shannahan prefers (almost demands) strong armed quarterbacks because he likes to stretch the field on offense. I think he took out his frustrations with Jake in ways that hurt the team: limiting playbook, humiliating Plummer and shrinking the investments on Defense.
Cutler is a much better natural talent and he has fire in his belly. To those who think 'he lost at vandy, he's losing now': you have to look at these teams. The defenses are truly horrible in comparison to the standard (college or pro). THe running games were nearly non-existent for entire stretches of the season. I think Cutler is going to be the best quarterback in football in short time. He needs a Josh McDaniels: a smart, expert on his position and one who can, in this era, construct offensive gameplans that get us points. I think the team is better off.
Defensively: I hate to say this but we are going to suck for some time. Our only player who could step in on any great D (Pittsburgh, Baltimore) is champ and he is not long for the league, maybe four or five years tops. He will slow but he is canny and will be the anchor back there. Denver will have to draft and draft well for a couple of years, stay committed to a defensive philosophy and teach it till it's instinctive in 24 players. Period. Cutler is going to go through the tough times here, we might even go pretty far in the next two years but remember those Elway superbowl blowouts? Having no defense or discernible running game causes that.
Here's hoping we have the patience to become great
wideeyedraven
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by Miss_Sin_Link on January 30th, 2009, 11:04 am #650296
Say what you want about Plummer, folks, but the guy calls a spade a spade. What he says just confirms what I had come to believe about Shanahan over the several years: that he had lost his ability to motivate his players. Two out of the last three seasons, his team lost the last "play-in" (win and you're in) game of the season -- and this year any one win out of the last three would've done it. If you can't get your guys motivated for that, you're washed up.
Shanny had always gone on record as saying "hey, these guy are professionals, it's not my job to motivate them". But they are not just interchangeable stiffs out there, they're real flesh-and-blood individuals with guts, brains, and emotions that need the right psychological mind-set to have success. My feeling, especially after reading the illuminating book "A Few Seconds of Panic" was that Shanahan had become tyrannical and megalomaniacal, and had lost that human element of his coaching. I agree with whoever said that he started to believe his own press clippings about being "The Mastermind" and stopped really innovating. (BTW, in that book, I really like the way Plummer comes across -- seems like a hell of a guy to have as a teammate.)
Don't get me wrong. Mike Shanahan is a legend of the game, and I'm an in awe of his past accomplishments. No one can take those away. But he'd gotten stale and complacent while becoming ever power-hungrier over the years in Denver. Bowlen did the right thing in shaking things up here. I'm sure Mike will excel again in his next (Cowboys) coaching job, and I wish him the best there...
As for the 2005 Championship Game... I was there, and all day watching it, it was clear that it was the D that lost that game -- they had no answer for anything the Steelers did on the field that day. Plummer and the O were put the unenviable position of just having to make something, anything happen. Plus, I agree completely with mahatma gandhi (bronco beer) that Shanny was outcoached that day -- he made no adjustments to handle that Pitts blitz package.
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mrthrifty wrote:
dchris wrote: "It is funny how Plummer chooses to compare Cutler to George."
The comparison is spot on valid. Jeff George, like Cutler, was touted as the next great QB...rocket arm, all the tools. But never materialized in the NFL, one can even say they were comparable in their p*ss poor attitudes. See, you can have all the tools in the world and not be a winner. Jake may not have had Cutler's tools, but all the guy did was WIN. Cutler's never even done that, not even in college. Plummer won games, period. Until Cutler does, he's just another Jeff George.
how convenient of you to fail to mention that both the defense and special teams were far superior on the teams Jake played on compared to Cutler.
if Cutler had the same defense and special teams talent Jake was blessed to have, the Broncos would be contenders every year - and that's a fact.
And the reason that Cutler doesn't have a good defense and special teams is 100% due to Shanahump's miserable drafting and his even more miserable selection of coaches - and that's also a fact.
by St. James Bronc on January 30th, 2009, 11:10 am #650308
TRAVISTY07 wrote: 1.) What would the Denver Broncos record have been THIS YEAR if Jake plummer was the staring Q.B.??????????????
Travis, my guess, to answer your question, is 4-12 at best.
You know things are slow at the DP when they feel the need to get the Bronco Nation jacked up. You'd thing that during SB week they could find something more important to write about than what Plummer thinks about anything. What's next Klis, an interview with Al Davis and his opinions regarding Coach Shanahan? Unfortunately this is going to continue for many years.
Plummer will fade into oblivion...Shanahan will not... I just hope he stays out of the AFC West.
Brian in Evans. Great posts today.
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by Broncosin08 on January 30th, 2009, 11:40 am #650373
Cutler can scramble almost as well as Plummer and has the arm of Jeff George with greater accuracy. Jeff George was a sitting duck in the pocket. There is no way you can say that they are the same type of player.
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by DeimosJB on January 30th, 2009, 11:57 am #650410
Plummer left because he wanted to. He was offered the chance to compete for a starting position in multiple NFL cities after Denver, and he turned them down. He's obviously at peace with his decisions and where he is in life, and there's no reason to think that he's speaking out of bitterness. Rather, he seems to just be airing his opinion - something that alternately won him praise and irritation during his time here. Treat this interview like what it really is - the honest opinion of one former player.
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by sixshooter on January 30th, 2009, 12:40 pm #650484
Your right DeimosJB, Plummer did leave because he wanted to and he could have played for the Bucs but by not returning, he all but proved to most fans that he had no competitive blood and had lost his desire to play the game of football which he proved both his final year with the Broncos and if anything, should have been benched sooner than later.
For those that remember and understand the game, the reason the Broncos did not make the playoffs was not because of whom was playing QB but because the defense let the mighty 49ers offense drive right back down the field after Cutler drove his offense down the field and scored in the fourth quarter putting them in position to win the game and go to the playoffs. All the defense had to do was stop the 49ers offense who were not that good at all but they were not able to keep them from scoring.
A healthy Al Wilson would certainly have made a difference not only in that game but the second half of the season but ironically, he got hurt in the same game which Cutler got his first start against the Seahawks. The defense has not been the same since they lost their Captain. That night after the 49ers game they also lost another great, inspirational and upcoming defensive player in Darrent Williams. Those two tragedies have had a lasting affect on the defense there is no doubt about it. I don't think some fans will every really understand just how much Al Wilson meant to that defense.
I really don't know why some can criticize the decision to bench Plummer when his attitude was shot and his desire to play the game was non-existent. His flipping off the fans and throwing fits on the sidelines days were coming to an end. And if that guy had one ounce of competitiveness in him, he would have played for the Bucs and made every attempt to prove the team wrong for letting him go but instead he decided to walk away blaming everyone but himself, hiding from all and avoiding any competition in the NFL.
Yes, Plummer had a choice to play again but I really feel that he knew that he did not have the heart, the desire or the ability to play any longer in the NFL. He was very classless especially during his last year in Denver and is not one I would want on my team as he seems to be the first one to point a finger when he is not successful. Maybe if he accepted that he was not pulling his weight and put the extra time in improving his game, he just may have been able to leave with some pride but instead he chose to throw his teammates under the bus and hold the offense back because he did not have the talent to utilize the whole playbook.
I don't know of too many fans or teammates that were sad to see him go when he was traded. All we heard about was this new kid Cutler that has a huge arm, a desire to play the game of football and the work ethic to make him great and enable the team to once again open up the offense. I don't think those comments were exaggerated a bit based on what we have seen so far from Cutler.
Last edited by sixshooter on January 30th, 2009, 12:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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by nebroncofan on January 30th, 2009, 12:46 pm #650497
The Broncos could use half of their playbook when Plummer was here. If a team stopped him from rolling out he was dead in the water and would do stupid things like throw with his left hand from the end zone. Asking Jake Plummer about coaching styles is like asking the drive-thru guy at McDonald's about chefs. He was exposed to such quality coaching in Arizona. Yes, Shanahan's time was up in Denver, but Jake Plummer should be the last guy jumping on the pile. Without Shanahan he truly would be Jeff George (with a weak arm).
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by PhxBroncoFan on January 30th, 2009, 1:13 pm #650566
I find it quite amusing that Plummer bashes Shanahan when Shanahan was the one that brought the best out of Plummer by understanding just what he could and could not do. Look at Plummers stats in AZ, then look at what he did in Denver. Now if I am not mistaken, Plummer should be kissing Shanahans butt! How dare Plummer say that Jay is a loser because of his record, Jay has a better record through his 2 and a half seasons as a starter then Plummer did his first 2 and a half seasons! Plummer is more like Jeff George only with a weak arm!
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by Milehigh_7 on January 30th, 2009, 1:17 pm #650576
40-18 That says it all.
Whatever you want to say about Jake, he won games.
Bet we would like to have a QB that could actually win and not just throw hard now.
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by bronco beer on January 30th, 2009, 1:18 pm #650579
R8R_H8R Brian in Evans
i think it depends on what part of the career of jackson you are talking about
i am talking about the first 2 seasons he was with the team
i went to maybe a dozen training camp sessions in greeley and the player i saw had his teammates quite excited and his enthusiasm was so much greater than grieses
his arm was stronger and he had much quicker feet as well
he was coming off the mvp season he earned in the european league so he was hardly a slouch
it was pretty obvious to everyone including stevie wonder about who had the most talent and heart
sure it was undeveloped but i think with more reps with the first team and under the guidance of kubiak and shanahan he would have clearly shown it over time
now if you are talking about the jackson that was pretty much kicked to the curb and ran the third team and the scout teams in practice and had scrub time in the last 10 minutes of the preseason games in his last season with the broncos then yes i would say you were right
jackson was obviously discouraged and had nothing in the tank by then
but that first year especially jacksons raw talent was clearly better than grieses
you could just see it on the practice field and by the way the team looked when he was in there
shanahan never did impress me much by his judge of talent over the years
i'd say he missed a helluva lot more than he hit
if griese was so special why was he run out of town and plummer brought in?
if anyone can answer that one truthfully i'd sure love to hear it
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How ironic that Plummer tends to either forget or overlook his pathetic record with the Cardinals. Thank goodness that the Cardinals finally have a great QB! Go Cardinals! Go Broncos in 09!
by ESB on January 30th, 2009, 1:19 pm #650581
Termite wrote: Once again Jake Plummer displays his customary lack of class.
how is it a 'lack of class' to give an honest opinion of a coach and a situation after you are no longer on the team and no longer playing the game? it's not like he called Shanahan a rat-faced jack-_...are you displaying a lack of class by saying Plummer has no class? especially when you know a lot less about the situation then Plummer does? just curious about your logic...
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by sixshooter on January 30th, 2009, 1:37 pm #650603
The "lack of class" comments do not come just from this one article but several of his actions and words over the last 3 or 4 years. He was quick to point the finger at others whether it was his middle finger or his index finger. He had his lil' immature fits on the sidelines and during some of his interviews. His work ethic and dedication to the game was lacking to say the least. He was not a team player. I was a big Plummer fan for a few years and was hoping he would come to Denver when they decided to get rid of Griese and the Broncos were playing the Cardinals the last game of the year and the fans were yelling for Plummer to come to Denver but his attitude over the last couple years has cause me to lose all respect for the guy.
I also agree with the comment about his record of wins vs losses. If he was the reason for all those wins, then where were all those wins before he came to play for the Denver Broncos???? He was not necessarily a winning quarterback but rather a quarterback on a winning TEAM.
sixshooter wrote: The "lack of class" comments do not come just from this one article but several of his actions and words over the last 3 or 4 years. He was quick to point the finger at others whether it was his middle finger or his index finger. He had his lil' immature fits on the sidelines and during some of his interviews. His work ethic and dedication to the game was lacking to say the least. He was not a team player. I was a big Plummer fan for a few years and was hoping he would come to Denver when they decided to get rid of Griese and the Broncos were playing the Cardinals the last game of the year and the fans were yelling for Plummer to come to Denver but his attitude over the last couple years has cause me to lose all respect for the guy.
i get what you're saying and won't argue with your points...and i'm not some huge Plummer advocate...my only point is that nothing he said is that bad or THAT insulting to Shanahan...he simply stated an opinion about the state of the team when he was here...and he has more of a right to that a opinion than anyone posting on these blogs since he was actually in the locker room and in the meetings...good post tho, seriously...
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Q: Normalize file path with WinAPI
Possible Duplicate:
Best way to determine if two path reference to same file in C/C++

Given two file path strings with potentially different casing and slashes ('\' vs '/'), is there a quick way (that does not involve writing my own function) to normalize both paths to the same form, or at least to test them for equivalence?
I'm restricted to WinAPI and standard C++. All files are local.

A: Depending on whether the paths could be relative, or contain "..", or junction points, or UNC paths this may be more difficult than you think. The best way might be to use the GetFileInformationByHandle() function as in this answer.
Edit: I agree with the comment by RBerteig that this may become hard to impossible to do if the paths are not pointing to a local file. Any comment on how to safely handle this case would be greatly appreciated.

A: May I suggest PathCanonicalize?

A: I found a blog posting with the most thorough, even elaborate, function I have ever seen to solve this problem.  It handles anything, even horrible corner cases like V:foo.txt where you used the subst command to map V: to Z: but you already used subst to map Z: to some other drive; it loops until all subst commands are unwound.  URL:
http://pdh11.blogspot.com/2009/05/pathcanonicalize-versus-what-it-says-on.html
My project is pure C code, and that function is C++.  I started to translate it, but then I figured out that I could get the normalized path that I wanted with one function call: GetLongPathName().  This won't handle the horrible corner cases, but it handled my immediate needs.
I discovered that GetLongPathName("foo.txt") just returns foo.txt, but just by prepending ./ to the filename I got the expansion to normalized form:
GetLongPathName("./foo.txt"), if executed in directory C:\Users\steveha, returns C:\Users\steveha\foo.txt.
So, in pseudocode:
if the second char of the pathname is ':' or the first char is '/' or '\', just call GetLongPathName()
else, copy "./" to a temp buffer, then copy the filename to temp buffer + 2, to get a copy of the filename prepended with "./" and then call GetLongPathName().

A: There are odd cases.  For example, "c:\windows..\data\myfile.txt" is the same as "c:\data.\myfile.txt" and "c:\data\myfile.txt".  You can have any number of "\.\" and "\..\" in there.  You might look into the Windows API function GetFullPathName.  It might do canonicalization for you.

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The ferry was uneventful and we arrived on time to HKIA's Sky Pier.
As an added bonus, since you're "transiting" through HKIA and not departing (Macau is a separate region) you'll also receive a HK$120 refund of your departure tax! We then used the currency exchange desk at the airport to convert it to U.S. Dollars at a very fair rate.
We hadn't eaten breakfast yet so we headed to the lounge once again before going to our gate a few minutes before boarding. The U.S. requires Hong Kong to further scrutinize U.S.-bound passengers so allow time to show your passports again before boarding for LAX.
This flight was less crowded than the one going to Hong Kong. I had a whole row to myself and Tara had an empty seat next to her.
Even though it was a different month than when we left, the IFE had most of the same movies as we had on the way in. I re-watched "Hidden Figures" while waiting for lunch.
I chose the traditional menu item of fish with rice and vegetables. It was surprisingly tasty, once mixed together. The salad also complemented the meal well. HKA served an orange/chocolate mousse for dessert, which tasted great.
My expectations were high for the midflight snack, too. Sadly, it was disappointing. Flight attendants served a miserable pizza. It was topped with tomatoes that made the whole thing soggy. Thankfully, some snacks in the back held me over to the final meal, about two hours prior to landing.
As we saw our second sunrise that Thursday, I selected my final traditional meal.
It was supposed to be a "dim sum variety," which after tasting amazing dim sum for the last week, was a bit of a let down, but still good for airplane food. It was an average large dumpling and some noodles with a croissant and yogurt on the side. The smaller dumpling was very good, though.
Soon, we were landing at LAX almost 40 minutes before schedule. Thanks to Global Entry, we cleared customs well before the bags arrived. I'd be lying if I didn't say I had some fear that my bags would somehow miss the ferry or plane. Thankfully, they came out toward the end of the baggage drop. A few minutes later, we were on our way to the Hertz lot to get our rental car and drive home.


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ROH PPV update June 26
Otherground Art Vandelay's Pro Wrestling Ground
Art. June 13, 2011, 3:52pm #1
Updated ROH Best in the World 2011 I-PPV Card
Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.13.2011
Set for June 26th…
- The ROH Best in the World 2011 I-PPV takes place on June 26th, and the following title matches have been announced…
* ROH World Title Match: Eddie Edwards © vs. Davey Richards
* ROH TV Title Match: Christopher Daniels © vs. El Generico
* ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin © vs. The Kings of Wrestling vs. The Briscoes vs. The All Night Express
* Steve Corino w/Jimmy Jacobs vs. Michael Elgin
* Jay Lethal vs. Mike Bennett
* Rhino will be there to protect Prince Nana from Homicide
Details on ordering the I-PPV are available here.
RKing85 June 13, 2011, 4:15pm #2
I was watching ROH Take No Prisoners 2008 last night. Good stuff.
Winky_is_Wright June 13, 2011, 6:24pm #3
I was actually present in Chicago at the last ppv.
2nd ROH show i've been to this year, and it'd def as good as advertised.
A lot of people on this board have doubt to whether or not they can transition to an all around wrestling promotion once they land on broadcast... with JC at the top, I have faith in them.
Interested to see whether or not its finally Davey's time.
That 4-way will be loaded with spots
Good point Davey. I hope they do well too.
grizz632 June 13, 2011, 10:41pm #5
It's Jay Lethal's big return to ROH and they give him Mike Bennett?? Ugh...
Really looking forward to that 4 way tag though. All those teams have really been on point lately and it should be outstanding.
MMAConsulting June 17, 2011, 11:16am #6
LIVE at www.GFL.tv
June 26th Live from the Manhattan Center, New York, NY
- ROH World Champion Eddie Edwards
- ROH World Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin
- El Generico
- Homicide
- the return of Jay Lethal
TtoMyJ14 June 20, 2011, 9:46pm #7

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Remember this passage throughout the month when you feel any lack of momentum. There are times of high productivity and times to conserve your energy. Your ruling planet stations retrograde on July 25, initiating a time to pause, reflect, and take care of some personal matters. If you know that going into the month, you can designate time accordingly and avoid worry or frustration. After all, there will be a time for work and activity soon after the retrograde.
The Solar Eclipse on July 12 highlights your social life. This would be an excellent time to host a party, family reunion, or gather friends for a dinner party. At the beginning of the month, you might feel led to volunteer to help a cause or contribute to an organization. Another way to give back is to mentor or teach. You will receive intangible (and tangible) rewards for anything you do to become more involved in your community at this time.
Between the solar eclipse on July 12 and the lunar eclipse on July 27, the intensity builds, and you might want to shake things up in your life. However, this month is not a great time act on impulse, especially in your relationships. Instead, it's a time to gather information and make a strategic plan for moving forward in new ways. Venus helps with romance after July 9 as it enters your sign. Your confidence gets a boost, and that could help you attract someone special into your life if you are single and ready for love.


Previously, wholesale gifts CA businesses which offered products that were dropped shipped were offering substandard quality products This however is not the situation currently. A number of such companies are now making available dropshipping services offered to clients.
For webmasters running special interest forums, blogs and websites, we opportunities have opened due to the new opportunities available to them today with the dropship opportunity. The wholesale gift ware business enables webmasters to promote their items ( using data and product images from your supplier's site) independently websites and automatically pass customer orders to the business directly which in turn will fill the transaction and send the product or service directly to the customer. Being a webmaster you won't be worried about providing customer care, making postal service trips or anything like that.
Given the best product, a webmaster can get a computerized system that will need little intervention on his part The theory here's to offer quality products that connect with the theme of your respective web or blogsite. Previously it was not possible to receive drop ship services from any quality drop ship companies.
Within recent times containing changed and now is an excellent time for it to end up in such a relationship if you are promoting products by yourself website. No longer will be the dropshipping of wholesale gift simply for e-commerce and e-bay webmasters. You may add good quality products to you personally website or blog and hopefully receive members support for your site. Your members are visiting your website since they already have an interest in the site's offering, so you will probably now to promote related products in their mind. Your internet site might be about poodle dogs, you may well be able to offer them doggie beds to acquire through a dropshipping arrangement you have established having a wholesale gift company.
The idea is always to add interested related what to you site without minimizing the worth of the web page. A crucial point out remember facing suppliers; since the supplier is delivering the products and providing support for your benefit they could keep you on their set of dropshipping clients that pay a greater markup. Don't be alarmed as of this. These are freeing you in the have to do customer care, to enable you to target the marketing and selling of one's site.


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WELCOME TO BRANCH 38
BRANCH EVENT SCHEDULE
A to Z TOOLS & RESEARCH
GRIEVANCE FORMS & TOOLS
FORMS VAULT
CITY CARRIER ASSISTANTS
BRANCH PHOTOS
RETIREES AND THE GREAT STRIKE OF 1970
E-MAIL BRANCH
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
NALC BRANCH LINKS
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION
SF FORMS
LETTER CARRIER HEROES
LETTER CARRIER POLITICAL FUND
JOSEPH S. RUTKOSKI III
jrutkoski@branch38.org
Belvidere - Budd Lake - Franklin
Hackettstown - Hamburg - Mount Arlington
Newton - Sparta - Succasunna
Sussex - Washington
Joe started his carrier in the Mount Arlington Post Office as a letter carrier in 1985. He became the shop steward in 1991. Early in Joe's union career, he served as a route examination observer, and was also an OJI Instructor for many years. He took a special interest in the legislative issues affecting the USPS, and became involved in the NJSALC legislative department. He was appointed to serve as the New Jerseys 5th Congressional District Liaison in 1998. He was appointed to the position of Executive Board Member of the NJSALC in 2010 by State President Tony Massa, and elected to that position in 2011. In 2017, Joe was elected by acclimation to the position of Secretary of the NJSALC.
Joe is a graduate of the 10th NALC Leadership Academy, and also serves as the New Hire Coordinator for the Northern NJ District. He has been responsible for signing up newly hired letter carriers to join the NALC since 2005. He graduated Arbitration Advocacy Training in 2007. Joe advocates arbitration cases for all of Region 15, including Branch 38.
In 2008, Joe was asked by Branch 38 President, Pete Maglio to join his staff and begin to work for the branch as a Part-Time Area Representative. Of all the different jobs Joe has held in the union, he says that the job of a Branch 38 Area Rep is by far the most rewarding. "It is a job of long hours and hard work, but when you can help a brother or sister carrier out of a problem they are having, it is incredibly rewarding. I have found working for the union, and particularly working for Branch 38, a great honor." Joe was elected by acclimation to the position of Treasurer in 2016
Joe resides in Warren County NJ. He married his wife Lynne in 1992 and they have two sons, Ryan and Jonathan.


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ethiopia travel requirements what you need to Know Planning Holiday ethiopia
PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION GUIDE TO ETHIOPIA
In this note you will find useful travel facts, background information and our suggestions, that will help you prepare for and enjoy your travel. In this pre-departure guide we have covered details from currency and visas to suggest reading and responsible travel tips. Please note that things change rapidly in Ethiopia, so you should use this document as a guide containing information which is subject to change.
LOCATION Ethiopia is located in north-eastern Africa, between latitudes 4 and 18 north. It is a ruggedly mountainous country, covering 1,251,282 km. It is surrounded by Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti.
The capital city is Addis Ababa.
Prior to 1974, Ethiopia's government was more of a feudal empire, headed by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, who was overthrown and killed in the 1974 revolution, whereupon a military dictatorship known as the "Derg" (committee) was installed. In 1987 a leader of the Derg, Mengistu Haile Maryam, established the Workers' Party and a new constitution, making Ethiopia a one-party republic with himself as the formal President. He was ousted in 1991 by two rebel movements and a transitional government was installed. The transitional government, made up of an 87-seat Council of Representatives lead by chairman Meles Zenawi, established a new constitution and a more democratic and federal form of government. The new constitution (1994), decentralized the government, and subsequently the country has been divided into eight regions and three city-states, with borders based on ethno-linguistic lines. The regions are guaranteed political autonomy in most aspects of internal government, while the central government is responsible for national and international affairs and policies.
Ethiopia was among the first independent nations to sign the Charter of the United Nations, and it gave moral and material support to the decolonization of Africa and to the growth of Pan-African cooperation. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, both of which have their headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Its territorial extent has varied over the millennia of its existence. In ancient times it remained centered around Aksum, an imperial capital located in the northern part of the modern state, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Red Sea coast. The present territory was consolidated during the 19th and 20th centuries as European powers encroached into Ethiopia's historical domain. Ethiopia became prominent in modern world affairs first in 1896, when it defeated colonial Italy in the Battle of Adwa, and again in 1935-36, when it was invaded and occupied by fascist Italy. Liberation during World War II by the Allied powers set the stage for Ethiopia to play a more prominent role in world affairs.
Unique Ceremonies, Festival and Rituals: There are many great national and local holidays and celebrations throughout the year and all over the country. Every one of the 54,000 parish Churches and the 800 monasteries of the Orthodox Tewahido Church all have at least one minor monthly and one major annual festival.
These may share origins with Christian, Moslem and tribal festivals elsewhere in the world, but have unique indigenous characteristics in Ethiopia.
January 19 - Timkat (Epiphany)
February 8 (date varies) - Ramadan
March 2 - Battle of Adwa
April 17 - Il Al Adha (Arefa)
April 25 (date varies) - Ethiopian Good Friday
April 27 (date varies) - Ethiopian Easter
May 1 - Labor Day
May 5 - Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day
May 28 - National Holiday (Downfall of the Derg)
July 17 (date varies) - Birth of the Prophet Mohammed
September 11 - Ethiopian New Year
September 27 - Maskal Day (Finding of the True Cross)
The main airport, with international connections to most parts of the world, is Bole Airport, just 8km from the center of Addis Ababa. Domestic services fly to all regions and most tourist sites.
Entry Requirements A valid passport is required by all visitors and a visa is required for all foreign visitors, except for citizens of Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan .Visas may be obtained by application to the nearest Ethiopian diplomatic
Visas are also available upon arrival at the Bole International Airport in Ethiopia (for citizens of the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, China, Japan, Korea, Israel, Kuwait, Russia, the UK and most other European Union nations). Please bring with you $20.00 in cash. If you opt for this method, application forms will be handed out to you on your international flight. You must complete these and take them to the counter to pay and get the visa stamped into your passport. You then proceed to baggage claim.
If you intend to get your visa on arrival please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry to Ethiopia and that you have at least 2 blank pages (both sides) per country to be visited.
Photocopy of picture page of passport showing number, etc. Keep this in a separate place in your baggage. If for any reason you lose your passport, this will expedite the process of replacing it enormously.
On the plane you will be given an Arrival Card to complete. After going through Immigration, you will collect your baggage and pass through Customs. Personal effects are admitted free, and a duty-free allowance of 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes and X liter of perfume is permitted. If you have a computer, video camera or major electrical equipment you will need to declare them. You will also be expected to have those with you when you leave.
Flights within Ethiopia
Ethiopian Airlines operates an extensive and generally efficient and reliable domestic air service, but cancellations and delays do occur. Traveling by road allows visitors to experience Ethiopia's wonderful scenery, but road conditions are generally poor, and mountainous topography in the north will cut speed. The hour flight to Lalibela for example takes nearly two days by road.
Baggage weight restrictions within Ethiopia:
On all light aircraft domestic flights within Ethiopia the baggage weight allowance is 20 kgs per person including camera equipment and hand luggage. Flights to more remote areas, such as Gambella, may still impose a 10 kg limit depending on the plane being used. Only soft bags (no hard suitcases can be transported as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft) will be accepted and no excess baggage is allowed. Ethiopian Airlines does perform luggage and body searches. If you are carrying anything that could be perceived an antiquity, it will be confiscated, unless you produce a receipt.
The local currency is the birr. Notes are printed in denominations of birr 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1; and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent coins are minted. The birr is one of the strongest currencies in Africa. In general, the currency is not available outside of Ethiopia. The rate of exchange fluctuates moderately.
Traveler's Checks are not easily cashed outside of the larger cities, and many smaller towns have no bank at all. We would be remiss to not warn you that there is no way to replace Cash if it is lost or stolen. If you are carrying US dollars, bring plenty of 10's and 5's as they are needed for tipping and change is not always possible to get. In addition, whether you decide to bring Cash or Traveler's Checks, it is advisable to take small denominations and exchange only small amounts of money at a time. It is a very complicated and time-consuming exercise to change birr back to a hard currency so this should be avoided if at all possible, especially as US Dollars are accepted as readily as birr. In order to change birr back to dollars on leaving the country, visitors will be asked to produce bank receipts so if you think you might need to change money back please be sure to keep your bank receipts.
Credit cards are accepted in certain hotels and lodges and some shops. Be sure to ask if a commission is being added to your total.
BANKING HOURS
Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM- 03:00 PM; not closed during lunch hours.
Saturday: 08:00 AM- 03:00 PM;
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) at the Bole Airport is open every day of the week.
Ethiopia is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and 11 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Relatively close to the equator; there is an almost constant twelve hours of daylight. In Addis Ababa, the sunrise and sunset start at around 6:30am and 6:45pm respectively. Apart from a different calendar Ethiopia reckons the day in two 12 hour cycles (as in much of East Africa). Therefore midday could be 6 o'clock.
Lying between the Equator and the Tropic of cancer, Ethiopia's seasons are reversed: spring begins in September; summer runs from January to the middle of March. The first rainy season lasts from February to April; a more substantial rainy season lasts from June to September. The average rainfall between June and August is 39 inches, while the northeast and eastern plains receive less than 19 inches. The average rainfall in Addis Ababa is 49 inches.
The major portion of the country consists of a high plateau, which gives Ethiopia its mild, sunny climate. There are months of guaranteed sunshine, yet the altitude keeps the climate pleasant with upland temperatures rarely rising above 77 degrees Fahrenheit nor falling below 45 degrees. In Addis, the average temperature consistently remains around 59 Degrees throughout the year; however, you should not underestimate the intensity of the equatorial sun- it is essential to bring plenty of sunscreen, sun glasses and a hat.
While clothing will depend on the time of the year, it is best to remember that Ethiopians are fairly conservative in their dress, suits and ties being standard in offices. For tourists light cotton clothing with sunglasses and a hat will be required in the warm lowlands, while in the highlands light or medium-weight clothing is appropriate. During the rainy season a light raincoat and umbrella are essential, and a sweater is best for chilly evenings. The sun can be very strong in high altitudes, so a strong sunscreen is important.
Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques-for getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches airline socks are very useful. Dress is less conservative in Addis Ababa, where most people dress in Western fashion.
Because of its elevation, temperature rarely exceed 25C (80F) in most of the country, although in some of the lower lying areas (Awash, Omo and Mago parks) it can get considerably hotter, 90F - 95F. Pack light clothes for the daytime and a jacket or sweater for the evenings. A good pair of comfortable walking shoes is advisable.
COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR HOME
Ethiopia has a good internal and international post service, which celebrated its centennial in 1994. Mail between Addis Ababa and most of Europe takes approximately one week, but it can take longer (2 weeks to a month) to reach elsewhere in the world. International postage rates in Ethiopia tend to be significantly less than elsewhere in Africa.
There are telecommunications centers in most towns, as well as functional phone booths. Ethiopia's telephone service is decent; however, expect to wait 10 minutes to an hour for your call to be placed. International phone rates are inexpensive from Ethiopia.
Internet and email
Reliable internet cafes are located throughout Addis Ababa and major cities outside of the capital. Elsewhere in the country, internet usage and access is rare, and slow..
CULTURAL CUSTOMS
Recognition of traditional courtesies is important when visiting another country. While Ethiopians are well aware of the form in other countries, they tend to be conservative at home. A handshake greeting is normal, with a pleasant discussion on personal matters before getting down to business. The offer of tea or coffee is normal, and time is not that important. Smoking is not popular amongst traditional people, or in front of priests.
Remember that you are a "guest" of the country and we encourage trip members to respect the indigenous cultures and customs. Also we want to underscore that trip members should respect the privacy of individuals (especially when taking photographs) and not make promises unless they fully intend to fulfill their obligation. In the same vein, bargaining is a serious matter in most countries and it is really not fair to bargain unless there is a genuine interest in buying. For example, if you are not interested in buying something then simply say "No" because in many places "Maybe" means "Yes".
85% of the population get their livelihood from the land. Coffee (the word originates from the name of the province Kaffa, in the south west of Ethiopia) provides 65% of foreign currency earnings.
The opening up of the economy since the overthrow of the previous government in 1991 has created more favorable grounds for development of Ethiopia's resources.
Ethiopia is the "water tower" of the region (the Blue Nile contributes to 85% of the main Nile flow) and plans are now in progress to better exploit the country's water resources both to boost agricultural production and for power generation.
Mineral exploration and mining has stepped up in recent years-there are reserves of natural gas, coal, Gold, copper, tantalum, potash, zinc, iron ore, marble, precious and semi-precious stones.
The export of livestock, skins and hides (Ethiopia has the largest domestic livestock population in Africa) oilseeds, pulses and animal feed makes up the rest of Ethiopia's foreign currency earnings, with tourism set to make an increasingly important contribution.
As a result of the 1998-2000 Ethiopian-Eritrean war, development of services and infrastructure suffered, as did foreign investment. Landlocked Ethiopia now uses the ports of Djibouti, connected to Addis Ababa by rail, and to a lesser extent, Port Sudan in Sudan. Of the 23,812 kilometers of Ethiopia's all-weather roads, only 15% are asphalt. Mountainous terrain and the lack of good roads and sufficient vehicles make land transportation difficult. However, the government-owned airline is excellent. Ethiopian Airlines has 42 international destinations, and is one of the largest airlines in Africa.
ELECTRICITY/VOLTAGE
Electricity in Ethiopia is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Ethiopia with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Outlets in Ethiopia generally accept 2 types of plug: Three round pins arranged in a triangle, or two round pins. If your appliances plug has a different shape, you will need a plug adapter.
Please be aware that the electricity service can be erratic. You should always travel with a flashlight and spare batteries, and do not rely on an electric razor or hairdryer.
Ethiopia's land is dramatic, with altitudes ranging from the lowest point on the continent of Africa (the Denakil Depression at 125 meters below sea level), to the fourth highest peak in Africa (Ras Dashan at 4533 meters). Thus, the ecosystems of Ethiopia are diverse and varied, ranging from arid badlands to extensive indigenous rainforests. Ethiopia has a large variety of indigenous plant and animal species. In some areas, the mountains are covered with shrubs such as pyracantha, jasmine, poinsettia, and a varied assortment of evergreens. Caraway, carcade, cardamom, chat, coriander, incense, myrrh, and red pepper are common.
The number of mammal species present in Ethiopia is not comparable to countries like Kenya and Tanzania; populations are generally lower and they tend to congregate in the most remote areas. The lakes in the Great Rift Valley region abound with numerous species of birds. The birds in Ethiopia are abundant, with over 800 species including 16 endemics as well as Palaearctic migrants and residents that are rare further south in Africa.
Most of Africa's predators have become endangered. This is a result of limited space in the farmer's constant search for agricultural and grazing lands. It almost goes without saying that you should not collect or purchase any items made from endangered plant or animal species.
Addis Ababa has three 5 star hotels: the Hilton, Sheraton and Radisson Blu Hotel-and a growing number of tourist class hotels.
Standards vary outside the capital (the hotels in the north are generally better than those in the south), but apart from the Omo and Mago areas where camping is unavoidable it is generally possible to get relatively clean rooms with en suite toilet and shower.
A traditional Ethiopian meal involves a gathering of people, who eat together from one large circular plate. The choice morsels of meat are placed in front of the guests. Guests wait to consume the meat until they have first filled up on injera and sauce. The most common meat eaten is beef (cooked, dry or raw). Mutton is eaten in the high altitudes, while camel and goat are eaten in the lower altitudes. Cooked and dried fish is also consumed in the coastal regions. Along with the traditional Ethiopian meal, one would typically drink either t'ej, a type of honey wine, or a local beer called t'ella. Ethiopia produces its own wines: Dukam and Gouder are dry reds; Crystal is a dry white; and Axumite is a sweet red.
You eat with your right hand, and you should wash your hands ahead of time. Typically, a jug of water and a bar of soap are brought to you for that purpose.
Some local specialties of Ethiopia are:
Injera: a flat, sourdough pancake made of the indigenous grain called t'ef, is the country staple. The injera is typically served with either meat or vegetable sauces. To eat it, you tear off a bit of injera and use it to pick up pieces of meat or to mop up the sauce.
T'ef: a grain containing 2-3 times the iron of wheat or barley. The calcium, potassium and other essential minerals are also many times what would be found in an equal amount of other grains. T'ef is the only grain to have symbiotic yeast. Like grapes, the yeast is on the grain, so no yeast is added in the preparation of injera. T'ef is milled into flour and made into a batter. The batter is allowed to sit so the yeast can become active. When the batter is ready, it is poured on a large, flat oven and allowed to cook.
Berbere: the blend of spices that gives Ethiopian food its characteristic taste, can be quite hot. A popular food called wot is a hot spicy pepper sauce, which is eaten with basic ingredients like vegetables, meat and chicken. Kotcho, another popular food, is a pancake made of "ensete" stem and root.
Vegetarians should try "fasting food" (for devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast days make up nearly half the year), a colorful spread of Salads, vegetables and pulses, devoid of all meat and animal products.
The food served at hotels, lodges and tented camps is almost exclusively continental cuisine, and universally ample and healthy.
Everything being so completely different from what you are used to, can sometimes be as daunting as it is fascinating. Trying Ethiopian national foods and drinks may be a case in point.
Ethiopia supports a diverse mix of linguistic groups. Amharic is the official language, while English, French and Italian are widely spoken, especially in business and academic circles. There are over 80 different languages with 200 dialects spoken around the country. The many languages can be broken down into four main groups: Semitic, Hametic, Omotic and Nilo-Saharan.
The Semitic languages are related to both Hebrew and Arabic. They are mostly spoken in the Northern and Central parts of the country. The principal Semitic language is Amharic. The Hametic languages are found mainly in the East, West, and South. Of this group, Oromiffa is the predominant language. The Omotic languages are spoken in the Southwest and have been given that name in recent years because they are spoken in the general area of the Omo River. Finally, the Nilo-Saharan languages are spoken in a wide area along the Sudan frontier.
Some of the written languages use the Ge'ez alphabet, the language of the ancient Axumite kingdom. In fact, Ge'ez is the only indigenous written language in all of Africa. Today some of the written languages in Ethiopia are using the Latin alphabet.
UNIQUE LANGUAGES AND WRITING
In 1582 when the rest of the Christian world adopted the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia stayed with the Julian calendar. With the passage of time, seven and a half years have somehow dissolved in the intervening centuries. It is now 2001 in the Ethiopian calendar.
It is not only its calendar that differentiates Ethiopia from its neighbors. Ethiopia is the only civilization on the continent with its own alphabet, chronology and calendar system and religious art.
FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS
Ethiopia prides itself for having its own lexicon of knowledge, especially in such celestial matters like astronomy, cosmology, mystical theology and the art of healing. These come, of course, with their own strongly distinctive symbols, arts and crafts and decor.
Ethiopia today possesses some 250,000 ancient books on parchment; some nearly 1000 years old (e.g. Ritu Haimanot from Narga in Lake Tana). Among them are very important works that Ethiopia shares with other traditions but copies of which were found only in the country's ancient liturgical language, Ge'ez': The Book of Enoch is a good example.
ETHIOPIANESS
Ethiopia's unique character, its "Ethiopianess", makes it a fascinating destination. There are more than 80 ethnic groups and as many languages.
A proud, ancient and living history Ethiopia has the most extensive historic sites in Sub - Saharan Africa. Experts estimate that perhaps as little as 5% of the total has so far been discovered and excavated. The oldest hominid remains (Australopithecus ramidus, a new species, 4.4 million years old) were found here.
Some 1600 years before his counterparts in Europe, Ethiopian Saint Yared devised a musical notation in the 6th century for his stupendous repertoire of sacred music with finely choreographed sacred dance to go with it.
To this day, highland Ethiopian secular music and dances are based on Yared's legacy. The most common folk dance, the esskista has basic elements running through the traditional dances of all the various highland peoples. Mostly based on shaking shoulders, its combination of the religious, fetish and sensuous is as confusing as it is fascinating. The somersaults of the Welaita and the coquettish theatrics of the Omo people are in sharp contrast to this.
HANDICRAFTS AND SOUVENIRS
It has been ascertained that the gold with a platinum content used in Tutankhamen's statue could have only come from either Ethiopia or South Africa. Indeed, the legendary King Solomon's mines may have their origins in the Horn of Africa.
The oldest traditional gold mine in the world is supposed to be in the Nejo area of Western Ethiopia. The Dorze people of the Omo Basin still carry out the ancient iron working industry by melting iron from iron ore.
Though you will find Ethiopia to be rich in spirit and culture, in an economic sense it is far from that. We ask you not to give money, candy or gifts indiscriminately to children as this encourages begging. If you wish to do something for the children you meet, we suggest you bring pencils, pens, crayons, erasers, simple English books, "magic slates" etc. and give them to your guide who will distribute them to local schools where they will be much appreciated and of greater overall benefit to the community.
When it comes to shopping for rare gift articles and genuine souvenirs from Ethiopia there is an amazing selection of religious icons, crosses, antique jewelry of various metals, gold and silver jewellery, leather goods of all kinds and pure cotton textiles to choose from.
Ethiopia's population is thought to be nearly 82 million people. There are more than 78 ethnic groups in Ethiopia, with 69% of them found in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' State. The highest population percentages (according to the 1994 census) are Oromo, 32%; Amhara, 30%; Tigray, 6%; Somali, 6%; Guragie, 4%; Sidama, 3%; Wolaita, 2%; Afar, 2%; Hadiya, 2%; and Gamo, 1%.
For most photographers, lenses in the range of 135-300 mm are perfectly adequate, together with a good supply of 200 - 400 ASA film. Whatever you decide to bring, please make sure you have a decent bag which will protect your gear from the elements.
Ethiopia on the whole is fairly relaxed about photography, and apart from a few museums and sensitive government and military installations, you can photograph virtually everything. However, please note that flashes damage artifacts. Except in general street and market scenes, it is not appropriate to photograph people without permission. As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before photographing individuals and in many parts of the country, particularly among the Afar and among the ethnic groups living by the Omo River, people will demand a fee. In some sites (Blue Nile falls for example) there is a charge for video photography. Most will agree for a small payment (birr 5 is an accepted "fee"). Please respect the privacy of the local people, especially in remote areas, and do not intrude unduly with your camera. Use discretion and you should return with some marvelous photographs.
For security reasons, do not take pictures of military installations and personnel, airports, aircraft, bridges and government buildings.
Airport X-ray machines in Africa are not always "film-safe" so it is best to carry film separately and ask for it to be hand-checked, or store it in an X-ray resistant bag.
A good pair of binoculars is essential, particularly for bird watching.
The predominant religions in Ethiopia are Ethiopian Orthodox (or Monophysite Christianity) and Islam. Other religions that are also practiced include Judaism and Animism. The Animist faith is found mainly in southern regions of Ethiopia. Further south in Somali and surrounding areas, Islam is practiced. Christianity is more common in the northern and central parts of Ethiopia, where Judaism and Islam can be found as well.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL While both doctors and dentists are available throughout many areas of the Country, the major hospitals are located in the main towns. We recommend that visitors bring sufficient supplies of any drugs that they need regularly. A valid vaccination certificates against yellow fever, and vaccinations against hepatitis is recommended.
Malaria: in many sites malaria is not a problem because of the elevation - this is true of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela for example, but it can occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy season and after unseasonable rains. Chloroquine resistant strains have been identified in some areas so you should consult your doctor about the prescription. Alternatively, you can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays. (Climatic changes and phenomena such as el-Nino has meant the appearance of Malaria at unseasonable times, and its spread to areas previously malaria free)
Visitors should take a simple first aid pack, which would include: different size plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, sun barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is strong) and anti diarrhea tablets such as Imodium for emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control the symptoms). Generally, visitors should take out standard holiday health insurance in their home countries.
SECURITY AND CRIME
Ethiopia is generally a very safe country; however, casual theft and pick-pocketing are fairly commonplace in parts of the country. As a precaution, we recommend a lightweight passport pouch that can be worn under your clothing, either around your neck or waist. The pouch should hold only your passport, air tickets, a credit card and most of your travelers' checks. Be alert when in the cities, police are obvious in their uniforms.
In medium to large towns, you will find stationary shops, good pharmacies, music shops and general stores. Even in small towns you will find kiosks selling items such as batteries, pens, paper, soap, biscuits and bottled drinks. Most towns and villages have markets. In larger towns these will be open daily, but the main market day throughout the country is Saturday. Buying from markets rather than shops puts money directly into the hands of the local community.
Many antiques cannot be exported and may be confiscated if found in airport searches. The National Museum in Addis Ababa can issue a clearance certificate.
Some unique items to buy:
-Hand woven silk and cotton textiles
-Hand- made wooden furniture
-Gold, silver
Consular Information Sheet
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1113.html
Africa Guide: Ethiopia
http://www.africaguide.com/country/ethiopia/index.htm
Travellers' Reports on Ethiopia [Lonely Planet]
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/ethiopia
Ethiopia [Ethnologue Database]
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Ethiopia
Ethiopia [INCORE Internet Country Guides]
http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/services/cds/countries/Ethiopia.html
Ethiopia [Visible Earth]
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_set.php?categoryID=2064
The Addis Tribune Home Page
http://www.addistribune.com/
Ethiopia [Foreign Affairs Canada]
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/africa/ethiopia-en.asp
Embassy of Ethiopia
http://www.ethiopianembassy.org/
Currency Exchange Rates:
http://www.ex.net/ucc/
Resource for determining correct times anywhere in the world:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com
Electricity around the World:
http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm
World Weather:
http://www.weatherbase.com/
Zierer Visa Service:
http://www.zvs.com


text:
Totenberg on Barnett on ACA and Precedent
Now comes the Obama health care overhaul, known as the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, a law under full assault by the modern conservative movement. Some, like Georgetown Law Center professor Randy Barnett, the architect of the challenge, say openly that they believe many of the New Deal cases were wrongly decided.
"They are well settled precedents and are not likely to be revisited in my lifetime," Barnett says. "But I do think that, according to the original meaning of the Constitution, they were wrongly decided."
Barnett is similarly skeptical of some conservatives' insistence that judges defer to popularly-elected legislatures. "I don't think the court should simply defer to what Congress wants, especially when the issue is the scope of Congress' own power," Barnett says.
Barnett argues that the health care law can be struck down without undoing 75 years of judicial precedent. "Nothing about existing Supreme Court doctrine needs to change for us to prevail in this case," he insists.
But his critics, including George Washington University law professor Jeff Rosen, contend that Barnett's claim is disingenuous, and that the real goal here is to achieve what has not been achievable even by conservative Republican presidents and Congresses: rolling back major economic regulation.
"Let's not pretend that this is just a modest case of applying existing precedents," Rosen says. "The question is: Are you going to reverse decades of judicial deference in economic matters?"
Nina is pretty fair here.


Would simply knowing how much we individually consume be enough to change the way we act? On the next Your Call we welcome Mathis Wackernagel, the executive director of the Global Footprint Network. Based in Oakland, but working around the world, the Global Footprint Network helps governments monitor how much nature we have, how much we use, and who uses what as closely as they monitor the stock market. Could ecological budgets and resource bank accounts make sustainable living more than a dream? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.
Executive Director Global Footprint Network and co-creator of the concept of the Ecological Footprint.
I heard a bit of this and there were some good ideas presented by you and callers. However, I must take issue with you about "not eating meat" to reduce global impact. I know that you didn't want to get into the health issues but you and your guest slyly alluded to it. I had been a vegetarian then vegan for a combined five years (for "health" reasons) and found I ruined by body--I became anemic, harmed my digestion, and contributed to my current morbid hypothyroidism because of it. I have found that I need to eat fresh meat and fish to maintain a healthy body and metabolism and actually produce antibodies (allergic reactions) to most grains, beans. Meat and fish are the most efficient means to get protein for some people. The problem lies in consuming too much of it. This over-consumption attitude is THE basic problem with global impact. This is based on a profit-motivated society that urges us to buy more and more because of planned obsolescence, entrenched outdated methods and interests, and clever marketing to create new niches for useless stuff. Please leave out the high-handed, self-righteous attitude and educate yourself thoroughly before you make generalized statements that affect the basic health of people. By not doing so, only weakens any stance you wish to take and makes one discount anything you have to say.


text:
Over half of Guyana's adult female population exposed to violence
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud (DPI photo)
–Minister Persaud says
MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Tuesday, reported that an alarming 55 per cent of Guyanese women are exposed to violence.
She made the disclosure during a panel discussion held at the Guyana Women's Leadership Institute (GWLI), Cove and John, as part of the ministry's 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
Minister Persaud reiterated the ministry's commitment to ensuring essential programmes and initiatives are implemented to grapple with the growing issue.
"In our own country, the numbers remain worrying. We have 55 per cent of women who would've experienced some form of violence in their life, usually in a relationship setting.
"We will not rest, we will continue to work tirelessly until we manage to deliver effective, efficient services and we manage to provide the kind of support that is needed for those persons that experience violence and abuse," Dr. Persaud said.
As a result of non-existing support systems, poor kinships and financial dependency, many victims of violence stay in life-threatening relationships, Dr. Persaud stated.
She said the ministry is engaging the public to spread awareness of the opportunities and support systems available for victims of domestic violence.
Spreading awareness through broachers on violence (DPI photo)
Among the initiatives implemented to render aid is the 914-emergency toll-free hotline. The 24-hour helpline was created to propel Guyana into reporting mode and enable persons to report acts of abuse in confidentiality.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative Programme Officer and attorney-at-law, Anuradha Persaud, spoke of the legal aid accessible to women and victims of violence.
According to her, statistics show that it may take a woman nine tries before she leaves an abusive relationship. However, most times that woman dies at the hands of her abuser before the ninth attempt. She said the law offers protection to victims of abuse.
"The Domestic Violence Act is an Act to provide protection for you. A protection order basically is an order by the court ordering the perpetrator or anybody who enables the perpetrator to stay away from you.
"There are also other things they can order them to not do, if you live in the same house, they can order them to not verbally abuse you, sexually abuse you, financially abuse you," Persaud said.
To ensure victims who come forward are safe, the ministry trained and employed survivor advocates to provide victims with the support and help needed to overcome their experiences.
Survivor advocates are accessible to persons through the 914 hotline and have the responsibility of informing victims of their rights and services available to them.
To further assist persons, temporary housing is available through shelters and half-way homes until they are able to provide housing and basic living essentials independently.
Additionally, the ministry is set to launch a gender-based violence app, compatible with all smart phones in the coming year. The app will send the location of persons exposed to violence or in need of help to the ministry through the 914- hotline.
The ministry will further use this period to amplify the work of the 914-hotline number as an important part of its fight against domestic violence.
Other activities planned during the 16 days of activism can be found on the ministry's Facebook page. (DPI)
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Okay, we got some weirdness. This is on Centos7.6. 64bit This same hyp2000_mgr passes the memphis test just fine.....but when I run it on a production HVO lashup it fails with this -83 code.
20190322_UTC_13:48:00 hyp2000_mgr: HYPINV returned -83 while executing <LOC>.
20190322_UTC_13:48:00 hyp2000_mgr: Nonfatal error(s) locating event.
Okay, so this issue was a case where we had a misconfig in the hyp2000_mgr.d. aka operator error!!!
The SeparatePRTdir setting was a directory that did not exist!!! A definite misconfig and no-no....the upshot was that hypoinverse couldn't write the PRT file and stopped there before writing out the ARC file.
The older code seems to have been more forgiving about this sort of failure to write the PRT file.....not so now.
No, the previous version of hyp2000 was not more forgiving. It was wrong. It deceived you by silently continuing after the OPEN failed, instead of notifying you. At HVO you probably see one of those fort.nn files created, like you did on Solaris, instead of the PRT files that should have been created.
In ticket #696, hyp2000_mgr does not work on solaris 10, the OPEN failures on Solaris were due to Fortran code that was acceptable on the other platforms, but was rejected on Solaris. However, the other defect ticket #696 revealed was that hyp2000 improperly continued executing when that happened—silently—without emitting an error message or returning an error code to HYOPEN.
r7828 fixed OPENR/OPENW in allsubs.f to use standard Fortran 90 syntax for the OPEN statements. It also fixed HYOPEN to pass back OPEN failures to its caller. Error codes -81 through -84 were added to hyp2000 for those new failure situations. What you have encountered is the new code which reports back OPEN failures to HYOPEN. HYPINV passes the error code back to hyp2000_mgr and exits.
Unfortunately, you did not see more than the -83 error code in the hyp2000_mgr error message because I neglected to add explanatory text for those new error codes to LogHypoError?() in hyp2000_mgr.c. I will fix that.
The defect you are reporting is really in hyp2000_mgr. It does not validate the options in its configuration file.
This was fixed by Stefan in r7969.
Note that I added a fix to the hyp2000_mgr.c code to actually check for the existence of the PRT directory now...the program exits if the directory doesn't already exist.
FYI. The mod in r7969 is necessary, but not sufficient. That code checks for the existence of the SeparatePRTdir file, but does not verify that it is a directory. You have to add more code to check that the S_IFDIR bit is set in the st_mode field in struct stat statbuf.


A unique holiday venue providing wheelchair accessible self catering holiday accommodation, which is fully accessible for groups, organisations and families whose members have special needs. The Centre sleeps up to 16 people and is fully accessible to wheelchair users. We are open throughout the year for long or short stays.
The Centre is a single storey building, awarded Accessibility Grade 2 (suitable for wheel chair users with assistance) It can accommodate 16 people in 9 bedrooms.
The bedrooms are divided over two wings of the building, making it suitable for larger or smaller groups .
Contains a fully equipped kitchen with cooking range, fridge, freezer, microwave oven and dishwasher.
Dedicated laundry room/drying facilities. Linen hire service available.
Patio deck with outdoor furniture . Separate BBQ area.
Three bathrooms: one drive-in for wheelchair users, one en-suite shower room and a purpose-built bathroom with overhead hoist, grab rails, air bath, roll-in shower, with powered shower/changing bed.
One of the bedrooms has an electrically powered profile bed.
One of the bedrooms has a double bed and en suite facilities.
Prices are for the hire of the whole centre up to 10 people.
Additional persons - �5.00 per person per night.
Situated in the small village of Ciliau Aeron, just three miles from the picturesque harbour town of Aberaeron.
The holiday centre is set amongst mature woodlands on the banks of the river Aeron. An abundance of wildlife and nature can be seen from property.
There are wonderful, safe outside spaces, with a designated barbecue area and a large patio area with outdoor dining tables and chairs.
to the most unique part of the this holiday centre, the �Secret Garden�.
Guests have unlimited access to the beautifully restored Gardens and Adventure Playground which is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
The highlight of your holiday at Ty Glyn has to be the secluded magical walled garden. Set set within a beautiful woodland area alongside the River Aeron it has been developed specifically for people with special needs.
Its south facing productive terraced kitchen garden overlooks herbaceous borders, orchard and ponds with child orientated features and surprises amidst unusual shrubs and perennials. Newly planted fruit trees selected from a former gardener's notebook.


text:
export.arXiv.org > quant-ph > arXiv:2011.07992
physics.data-an
Title: Modeling and evaluating quantum measurements via quantum polyspectra: A unifying approach to the strong and weak measurement regime
Authors: M. Sifft, A. Kurzmann, J. Kerski, R. Schott, A. Ludwig, A. D. Wieck, A. Lorke, M. Geller, D. Hägele
Abstract: Quantum polyspectra are introduced as an uncompromising approach to the evaluation of general continuous quantum measurements covering the full range between the strong and weak measurement regime. Both measurements dominated by quantum jumps and time-traces with a strong white shot noise background, respectively, are analyzed directly via their polyspectra of the raw detector output. As an example, expressions for quantum polyspectra are derived from the stochastic master equation of a model system and compared to higher order spectra (power spectrum, bispectrum, trispectrum) calculated from experimental telegraph noise of a quantum transport experiment. The tunneling rates and spin relaxation rates of a single quantum dot are obtained from simultaneously fitting 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-order spectra. The evaluation scheme reveals the same system properties as previously gained from an analysis of the same data in terms of factorial cumulants of the full counting statistics and waiting time-distributions. In addition, the evaluation of time-traces via quantum polyspectra is demonstrated to be feasible also in the weak measurement regime even when quantum jumps can no longer be identified from time-traces and methods related to the full counting statistics cease to be applicable. Quantum polyspectra therefore provide a unifying approach to the evaluation of general quantum measurements from diverse fields as nano-electronics, circuit quantum electrodynamics, or quantum optics with applications in quantum sensing and quantum information.
Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability (physics.data-an)
From: Markus Sifft [view email]


text:
Part 2: Human Revolution Chapter 20: Encouragement for Youth [20.12]
Chapter 20: Encouragement for Youth [20.12]
20.12 Our Workplace Is an Important Stage for Our Human Revolution
President Ikeda offers warmhearted advice to young people about work based on his own experience and the guidance of President Toda.
Concerns about work can occupy a big place in the minds of young people. They may wonder what kind of work they are best suited for, or if their present job is the right one for them.
I had many of the same concerns when I was young. When I began working for Mr. Toda's publishing company, I started out as the editor of a boys' magazine. It was something I'd always wanted to do, but the company's business declined and the magazine was discontinued. I was then transferred to the kind of work I liked least, involved with finance. Additionally, there was a period when I didn't even receive my monthly salary. I couldn't buy an overcoat when winter came. But I never uttered a single word of complaint. My sole wish was to overcome the crisis facing Mr. Toda's businesses, and I worked single-mindedly toward that end.
Mr. Toda offered this advice to young people who were struggling with regard to their work:
"There are three criteria for selecting a job—beauty, benefit, and good. Everyone's ideal is to get a job they like (beauty), that is financially secure (benefit), and where they can contribute to society (good). But the real world is not always that accommodating. Very few people find the job of their dreams from the very beginning. In most cases, we have to do work that we never expected we would do."1
For example, our job may provide us a secure livelihood and contribute to society, but isn't something we enjoy or really suits us temperamentally. (It provides benefit and good, but not beauty.)
Or we may have a job that we enjoy and contributes to society, but it may not provide us with enough money to support ourselves. (It has beauty and good, but not benefit.)
Or our job may pay extremely well and be enjoyable, but have a negative effect on society. (It has benefit and beauty, but not good.)
As we can see, it can actually be quite difficult to attain all three values of beauty, benefit, and good. In the today's trying economic times, in particular, it is increasingly difficult to find a job at all.
What should we do then? Mr. Toda advised:
"In times such as these, young people should not be discouraged. Just put all your energy into your present job and become an indispensable person there. By chanting earnestly to the Gohonzon and continuing to strive your hardest, not letting disagreeable tasks or assignments deter you, you will eventually find a job that you enjoy, offers financial security, and produces good for society. This is the benefit of faith.
"And that's not all. When you look back at your less than satisfactory jobs, you'll find that none of your hard work was wasted, but that it has all become a valuable asset for you. You'll come to understand that everything had meaning. I can assure you of this from my own experience. Our faith is expressed in our lives and in society. That is the power of Buddhism."2
Mr. Toda was a leader of unparalleled genius. I know from my own experience that what he says about work is true.
The important thing is to strive to win where you are now.
Buddhism teaches that our lives are inherently and eternally endowed with Buddhahood and that this suffering-filled saha world in which we live is itself the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light [the Buddha land].
Therefore, shine where you are. By throwing yourselves into your work rather than avoiding it, you will definitely open a way forward in the best possible direction. Eventually, you will come to appreciate that all your efforts up to now had meaning, and everything you have experienced is a treasure for your lives. And when you do, you will be victors.
Young people who uphold the Mystic Law are happy. They will lead lives of satisfaction and fulfillment without fail.
I would like you to develop a life state where you can declare: "I am a truly fortunate youth. All my struggles are themselves a source of happiness."
The true nature of such a person's life will reveal itself in their outward appearance and actions, in accord with the principle of the true aspect of all phenomena.3
As long as you are lamenting your situation, looking gloomy and downcast, you'll be miserable and no one will recognize your abilities.
You're far better off being upbeat and active. It will open the way to new possibilities. Your attitude determines everything.
I want each of you to be successful in your respective fields. You can't be a success if you make halfhearted efforts. You need to follow through on your chosen path to the very end.
To do that, look at your job as your place of training where you build and develop yourself as a human being. This place of training as a human being is also your place of Buddhist practice, the place where you put your faith into practice. If you can adopt this outlook, all your complaints will disappear. Nothing is more pitiful than a person who is always complaining.
From a speech at a Soka Gakkai Headquarters leaders meeting, Tokyo, June 28, 1995.
*1Translated from Japanese. From a lecture on the Lotus Sutra by President Toda to a group of youth division members who were students at Tokyo University, on April 18, 1953.
*2Ibid.
*3True aspect of all phenomena: The ultimate truth or reality that permeates all phenomena and is in no way separate from them. Through the explanation of the ten factors, the "Expedient Means" (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra teaches that all people are inherently endowed with the potential to become Buddhas, and clarifies the truth that they can tap and manifest this potential.


The 36th annual Cooperative Education Recognition Dinner was held on Tuesday, April 9th, and recognized three exceptional individuals that demonstrated excellence in cooperative education.
Dr. Eric Johnson, Ph.D., was named Faculty Coordinator of the Year. Dr. Johnson has been working with the Mount's Co-op program since 2011. His Biology and Chemistry students have worked at locations such as Q Laboratories, UC Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and many others. His favorite course to teach is General Chemistry.
The Cincinnati Reds were named Employer of the Year, for going above and beyond in their dedication to student advancement. The Reds have been working with MSJ students since the summer of 2015, and the students they have hired have been extremely happy with the training, the culture, and the networking opportunities they have received. The Reds have also given back to the Mount in a number of ways, including conducting mock interviews, presenting to professional development courses, and participating in First Friday events.
Nick Sjulin, a senior majoring in graphic design, was recognized as Co-op Student of the Year. Nick spent one semester of co-op at Seton High School and three semesters in the Mount's University Communications division. Nick's supervisor, Greg Goldschmidt stated, "Nick has repeatedly demonstrated his value to the team. I regularly receive positive feedback on his work and professionalism." Nick's faculty coordinator, Kurt Grannan stated, "Working with the vendors and production on the MSJ Athletics bus wrap ended up being a great learning experience to help Nick with his design thinking for his Healthy Moms and Babes projects in Brand Identity Design." After graduation, Nick will be enrolling in the Mount's MBA program.
The dinner also provided an opportunity to recognize the students who achieved Gold level in the Talent Opportunity Program (TOP): Toria Black, Tyler Britton, Aaron Carter, Riley Ferguson, Emma O'Dell, Matthew Paluga, Ryan Pinckney, Deanna Wilson, and Angelique Woodward.


HomebrewandBeer.com forum • View topic - Soft Pretzels.
Hey all, I've been asked to share this recipe, it's not mine, it's Paul Mecurio's.
It is a great recipe and goes well with your homebrew. Easy to make and great to eat.
I have found that its a good use for the yeast from a coopers kit....what else are you going to do with it anyway !?!?!
Just a little tip, my 3 year old son had a great idea, he said he wanted honey on his pretzels, so we tried it. Freshly cooked pretzels with a little honey to dip in.
Combine the milk and the hot water into a glass jug, the mixture should be warm but not hot. Add the sugar, yeast and the butter to the warm milk /water mixture and give it a stir then set aside. After about 5 – 10 minutes the yeast should be active and you will see lots of yeasty froth sitting on top of the liquid.
Using a cake mixer with a dough hook put 2 cups of flour into the mixing bowl and turn the mixer on. Give the yeast mixture a stir and then slowly add it to the flour and mix. The flour will come together but will be quite wet still so add some of the extra flour a handful at a time until the dough begins to form a ball. You do not want this dough to be too dry or stiff, it is very soft and slightly sticky dough. Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and give it a knead for about 5 or so minutes until the dough texture changes to a more silky character. Put the dough into a floured glass bowl – I usually spray some oil around the inside of the bowl and then sprinkle flour around it as this stops the dough from sticking to the glass. Cover and set aside for an hour or two or until the dough has at least doubled in size.
Once it has doubled turn the dough out of the bowl onto a floured surface and shape it into a log. Cut this log in half and then each half in to three pieces. Roll each piece out to be about 30 cm long how ever there is a trick to this and that is – leave a fatter bit in the middle. Imagine a snake has swallowed a football (or an oblong shape) and that shape is sitting in the middle of this 30cm long snake. This fatter section is probably about 6 cm long. As this dough is quite soft you probably won't be able to roll it on the bench so the easiest way to roll it is to pick it up and hold it between your hands – palms together thumbs pointing to the roof, and make like you are rubbing your hands together to warm them. Allow the dough to hang down and as you rub your hands together the dough will slowly fall down towards the bench as you stretch it out with the rolling action. This all makes perfect sense when you DO it. Let the dough drop to the bench and then repeat the process starting from the other end of the dough. In order to get the fatter bit in the middle start the rolling motion 4cm past the centre of the dough and when you turn the dough and do the other side start that 4 cm past the middle section and voilà you will end up with a 30cm long piece of dough with a fat section in the middle. With practice comes perfection!
To make a pretzel shape have your rolled 'snake' lying on the bench in front of you. Pick up either end and hold it above the bench so it forms a big "U" shape now cross your hands in a circular motion so that the "u" swings, turns and twists around itself and then lay it flat on the bench still holding on to the ends. Place one end on top and to the side of the fat middle section and the other end on the other side. Wet your finger and dab where the two ends rest on the fat section to seal them down.
In a fry pan bring the four cups of water and the Bi-Carb to the boil and then dunk a pretzel into the boiling water for about 10 seconds before turning it over and letting it sit for another 10 seconds. Remove from the boiling water and place on an oven tray that has a sheet of baking paper on it. Repeat with the other pretzels. Sprinkle the pretzels generously with the salt and put in to the preheated oven. Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes or until pretzels are a dark golden brown.
Remove and try and wait until they are a little cooler before you devour them. Of course eat with your favourite beer.
Actually I think you'll find we wanted you to share your pretzels, not the recipe!


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