My Asolo Stynger boots are the best pair of hiking boots I've ever owned, and by far the most comfortable.
I've worn them on rugged terrain: in snow, rain, sand, and mud, and they're still going strong! Because the upper of the boot is constructed of a mix of synthetic materials and leather, they are lighter than most backpacking boots that are full leather. Plus, the shank is less stiff than some other boots, which is perfect for moderate hikes and backpacking trips.
The toe and heel are reinforced with rubber, which I have found to be helpful when hiking in rocky areas.
Plus, the Gore-Tex keeps my feet dry (and I've crossed many streams, and been caught in more rain than I would have liked). On extremely hot summer days they can get warm, so I wear wicking wool or synthetic socks to avoid blisters.
I have worn mine to the top of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental 48 states!), on numerous backpacking trips, scrambling over rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, exploring Catalina Island, you name it!
My Asolo hiking boots have taken me to the tops of many mountains!
Thanks for the insight Liz. Glad you have boots and insoles that work for you :). Happy trails!
I"ve worn the Stynger and other Asolo models for years. I have narrow, low volume feet and ankles that have been repeatedly injured. I find these boots are very supportive, rugged, and comfortable. I very much agree with the recommendation to get footbeds that support the natural shape of your feet and arches. For me, there has been some collapse over the years, but not just at the primary arch.
Yes, Asolo's tend to run slightly narrow. If your feet are medium width I'd still try them. If you have wide feet, then I'd try some New Balance hiking shoes. Happy trails!
I really want a pair of these for my rolling ankle… But i keep reading they run narrow. Any thoughts on that? Or an alternate option?
Great question! Check out Zappos – they have 2 brands (Five Ten and Scarpa) that have size 11.5. Just search for size 11.5 women's, athletic shoes, then choose "hiking shoes", and you'll see a few options. I like ordering shoes on Zappos because they do not charge shipping on returns. Order a couple of pairs and return the one that doesn't fit! Good luck!
HELP!!!!!!!! Who is making a size 11.5 women's low ankle hiking boot these days? I just outgrew my Merrill Siren Sport this month, which I have worn for lightweight backpacking with huge success (25 pounds 4 days max) and now my feet are an 11.5 and I cannot find a lightweight, supportive medium to narrow width hiking boot in my size. Need I go to a mens shoe which is wider and bulkier? ARGH!!!! Thanks for any information. BTW, I am a woman in my 50's and only 5'5″ tall and 130 pounds but my feet just seem to keep growing!
Hi there Val – great question! I actually would not recommend the Styngers for snowshoeing. They are wonderful for backpacking, but I use a separate pair of boots, the La Sportiva Glacier Evos for snowshoeing.
You could also wear a pair like these Keen Hoodoos.
Thanks for your review of the Styngers! I am sure they are the boots for me, but have one hesitation before buying – I'd like to use them while snowshoeing sometimes, and I worry that the heel of the boot is too smooth and ridge-less to hold up the heel strap of a snowshoe without it slipping down. Is this something you might be able to advise on? Thanks!
Hi Lesley, It sounds like you're taking a lot of the right steps!
I use the blue superfeet in my Asolos.
I definitely recommend that you try wearing liner socks. Also be sure to use this boot lacing technique in order to prevent heel blisters.
I've been trying to break my Asolo Stynger GTXs in since late May. I keep experiencing hot spots on the bottom of my big toes and the ball of each foot. I've tried a variety of different socks, although, I haven't tried liners with these boots yet. It's been so hot this summer I didn't want the extra layer. I think I'll try them out next weekend. I've noticed the hot spots usually start hurting around mile 3. Yesterday, I tried the Berry Superfeet to see if the extra cushion would help. I also changed out my socks before mile 3. This time my right foot didn't hurt but my left foot still hurt a little, although nothing as painful as in the past. Unfortunately the added height to the heel area caused new problems…blisters on the back of both heels. I was curious as to which version of Superfeet you used in your Asolos. I think if I could get the cushion without the added heel height I'd be set. I have just under 7 weeks before traveling to Nepal to hike to Everest Base Camp…I don't have much time to get this boot situation figured out. I've even tried several other boots out in the store (REI) but none of them feel better than the Asolos.
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm sorry to hear about your blisters. Definitely try the toe sock liners as well as the boot lacing technique I show in this video. That will help if you ever get heel blisters.
Good luck, and I'd love to hear what ends up being the cure to your blister issue.
In college I bought my first pair of hiking boots: Vasque Sundowners. LOVED these boots. Since I bought them at 17, I outgrew them by half a size by age 21, and had to give them away. Owned a pair of REI brand boots that gave me blisters and rarely hiked for about ten years. SAD. Did not repurchase Vasque Sundowners due to reviews of poor construction in recent years.
I bought the Asolo's a few years back based on a mountaineering store in Boulder, Colorado's recommendation for narrow feet. Unfortunately developed blisters. Saw a custom boot fitter, got insoles, and the problem persisted. So sad because I LOVED the orange color. Stopped hiking in boots, wore trail shoes.
Last summer bought Oboz Yellowstone II boots from the Denver REI and hiked quite a bit in them last fall in Canada with no problems.
Back to hiking this summer and all was good on rainy, chilly days with moderate inclines. Wore them this weekend on a hot day ascending Sentinel Pass in Banff and got horrible blisters. Not very happy at the moment.
What I'm noticing is that I get the blisters on hikes with serious inclines, especially on hot sweaty days. My wool socks were soaked after saturdays hike. So I need to tie my boots better and get the toe liners that you recommend. I might also re-evaluate insoles. Love your website! I'm bound and determined not to let blisters get in the way of hiking !!!!
All of us just have different feet so it is important to keep trying different boots until you find the ones that work best for you.
I bought these boots, and I honestly do not like them, either!! I did not get blisters from them, but found them to have little to no traction… Perhaps we are hiking on different terrain. After doing more research, read these are great mountain hiking/climbing boots. I live in MN, and we have large hills w/ lots of mud/dirt… Saving for when I go to the mountains ;).
Did you put in inserts? when I use inserts, I don't need mole skin until 8-9th day of hiking trip. (hike 10-30 miles a day).
Thanks for your comment, and I'm really sorry to hear about your blisters! Were they heel blisters or on your toes? I've definitely done many 8 mile+ days with these and my feet love them. Hope you can find a style of hiking boots that works for your feet! I'd love to know what you're wearing now.
My experience with these boots was horrible. But it may just be my feet. These boots gave me serious blisters; I use to wrap my feet in moleskin and duct tape. They also made the bottoms of my feet hurt really bad if I hiked more than 8 miles a day with a heavy pack.
Thanks for your comment, Jerry. In my experience I have found that if I buy boots that are my street shoe size, I don't have enough space for my insoles, liner socks, and thick hiking socks. I agree that the key is to get measured and then try on the boots at a store using your own insoles and socks combo that you prefer.
No, do NOT buy a size larger than you need. Hiking boots are designed to accomodate thicker socks and swollen feet. Get your feet properly measured, especially if you haven't for a while, and buy that size. Unless you have monstrously thick feet, this should be fine. Buying boots too large will cause you grief as your foot slides around in them, and you'll find your stability will suffer for it.
Yep, I use Superfeet is my Asolo Styngers and trail running shoes. Here's more info I've written on insoles. Mole skin should be used to prevent blisters if you have hot spots on your feet. Insoles provide better support for your feet and therefore legs, and don't do anything for blister prevention or blister treatment. Hope that helps!
Thanks!! Do you put insoles in too?? I haven't, but thought might be better than mole skin??
Yes, ALWAYS get 1/2 size larger so your feet have room to expand at altitude and your toes have space on the downhills… the last thing any hiking "lady" wants is black toenails 😉 Have fun on the trails! Great question.
Do you recommend buying a 1/2 or 1 size larger?? I love Keen's, but go through them every 6 months… Looking for a good boot to last a thousand miles at least.


text:
namespace Automapper.Tests.TestClasses.Domain
{
    public class CurrencyPair
    {
        public string Symbol { get; set; }
        public Currency Base { get; set; }
        public Currency Counter { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)
Where Women Work showcases the impressive work and achievements of women, while shining a spotlight on the companies supporting them.
Taking place annually on 23 June, International Women In Engineering Day (INWED)celebrates the achievements of outstanding women engineers, and aims to inspire a new generation of females entering the profession.
At a time when the UK needs to produce thousands more engineers, as women only make up 9% of the engineering workforce - International Women In Engineering Day helps drive interest in future jobs opportunities in the engineering sector.
Top companies like AECOM, GKN, Schneider Electric, Diageo and Rio Tinto and more are celebrating this important day on 23 June and are helping to and support the achievements of the many impressive women engineers working within their organisations. These companies are also actively encouraging more girls into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through various outreach programmes and projects.
AECOM is encouraging more girls into engineering
In support of International Women in Engineering Day, AECOM is hosting some great events to inspire and support girls who are interested in STEM subjects and forging a career in engineering.
AECOM's Buildings and Places CEO, Peter Flint, will be on a panel at the impressive #9percentisnotenough conference in Birmingham on 23 June.The event is held by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and is aimed at those whose role it is to recruit, retain and develop women in STEM.
AECOM is also involved in organising and sponsoring a series of exciting events being hosted by the ICE and IMechE. These events include a live webinar that will involve a debate to reach out to school children across the country, chaired by Roma Agrawal from AECOM's London Structures team. There will also be a fascinating "Museum Lates" at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. This event will see stalls at the museum by a number of universities and companies as they showcase impressive work by their female engineers, and there'll also be a number of keynote addresses impressive speakers.
AECOM's Nayera Aslam describes how she was inspired to become an engineer by her father helping her to believe that being female should never restrict her ambition. Since joining AECOM, Nayera has pushed boundaries and forged her engineering ambitions.
Natani Gourneau, a facilitator of Operation Dam Excellence at AECOM feels that it's imperative to have more women on construction sites and in the industry due to their specialised skills. "Every chance I get, I encourage the younger generation of women to do what challenges them and ensure that they understand there are no boundaries to what they can do to make it happen!" she says.
As a civil engineer, Sue has managed numerous infrastructure improvement projects during her 31 year career, and her extensive experience has proved beneficial in her work as Aviation Director at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest international airports.
We'll be also be hearing about the different career journeys from women at this leading global engineering firm, AECOM, and we'll soon be featuring this experience in some upcoming insightful pieces published here soon.
GKN is actively recruiting women engineers
GKN is well aware that the engineering sector faces particular challenges in recruiting and developing women to achieve their full potential, and they're very committed to promoting gender parity.
In an engaging video that will soon to be launched to celebrate INWED - we'll meet GKN employees from across the world discussing the importance of their roles, what brought them to GKN in the first pace, and why they feel valued working for this top employer for women.
Senior Vice President Anna Keeling at GKN Aerospace describes why she thinks diversity can spark new ways of thinking. "I have always loved adventures. Through having a mobile life and career, I have gained wide experience of different people and cultures, and the way business is done around the world," says Ann. "I was attracted by GKN's public commitment to diversity, as well as its ability to continuously evolve and innovate throughout its long history. I wanted to be a part of this legacy and more importantly play a key role in GKN's long term sustainable future."
Karin Feuerbaum, Finance IS/IT Director Shafts & Services at GKN Driveline is aware there is a gradual shift in gender representation in engineering, but that there is much work to be done. "Male attitudes towards women are changing for the better but women still have a way to go before we achieve true equality. We have to support women to change this, motivate them to develop their career and show by example that this is an interesting area to work in," she says.
"I always loved maths and, inspired by my cousin, wanted to travel the world working as a marine engineer," says Shih Chyi Chak, a manager at GKN Driveline Birmingham and is graduate from Imperial College with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. And when it comes to encouraging further women in STEM areas, Shih comments "As far as giving advice to young professionals who might be interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), I would say, always follow your passion; be willing to learn, take action, reflect, adapt and try again. Be focused and do whatever you are doing well, you will naturally be successful. Also, remember to always respect others."
Read what further impressive women working at GKN have to say about their thriving careers.
Schneider Electric is transforming cities
Working to create connected technologies that reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives - the work by women at Schneider Electric is truly impressive.
Understanding the importance of a diverse workforce, Schneider Electric has many initiatives supporting the advancement of women's careers through to executive level including diversity days, maternity leave policy, network activities, women leaders events, gender workshops for leaders, a women in leadership programme and more.
Nicola's career has thrived at Schneider Electric, a clear demonstration that when organisations reward and nurture top talent, great things can happen! Nicola offers some excellent advice for women in STEM looking to launch a career in engineering. "My three top tips would be to be persistent, be resilient and to be yourself. Don't feel you have to change to fit into a preconceived world of engineering, there's room to be yourself," she says.
Claire Dowsett's career has seen her work on a variety of exciting and innovative projects in the fast growing Energy Sector. Claire explains why she chose Schneider Electric, and how this diverse company has helped her grow into the successful professional she is today.
Highly commended for its focus on diversity and inclusion, Schneider Electric is paving the way for a new generation of engineers. Hear Tanuja Randery, Schneider Electric's CEO of UK & Ireland, discuss why it's important to have influential women working in the UK engineering sector, and read about their current initiatives underway.
Diageo encourages more women and girls into their sector
To celebrate INWED, global drinks company Diageo is inviting aspirational female students who hold an interest in STEM careers to an inspiring event that will be held in conjunction with Moray Skills Pathway.
With a tour of a Scottish Diageo distillery, a bio energy plant and a maturation plant, students will be given deep insight into the engineering roles available within Diageo and their drinks supply division based in Scotland.
Diageo is working hard to broaden women and girls' understanding about the wide variety of jobs available within their industry and local communities. By encouraging more female students to recognise the exciting range of careers and pathways available to them, they hope to help increase the number of women working in engineering. Over 120,000 people work in the engineering industry in Scotland (and just 22% of those are women), so there's still a long way to go until we reach gender parity in the sector.
Global company Rio Tinto employs many impressive women engineers
Rio Tinto is a global leader in the mining and metals sector with over 60,000 people operating across six continents in more than 40 countries.
From their operations to their work with communities, everything they do is with the future firmly in mind. They're committed to sustainable and innovative ways to do business, deliver results and build a great work environment. They invest in women over the long term. They do this by fostering diversity, offering challenging and exciting work and development opportunities, rewarding good performance, and providing quality leadership at every level. And exploration and discovery have certainly been at the heart of their business for over 140 years.
"Women support each other in more ways than we're aware. It's as simple as a presence, a smile, and a 5 minute check-in with other women that creates a supportive environment that we can all thrive in," says Emma Biggs who works as a Superintendent in Rio Tinto's Production Planning.
Here Hannah a mechatronics engineer at Rio Tinto discusses the importance of studying maths and science and where it can take you in your career.
Anne Wittmeyer is a Research Scientist, at Rio Tinto Alcan's Arvida Research and Development Centre in Quebec's Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region. She did a PhD in chemistry in France at Université de Strasbourg and post-doctoral studies at Université de Sherbrooke. Anne appreciates the fresh vision and dynamics that interns bring to her research team at Rio Tinto.
"I love how broad my work is. It brings different people together and builds links between education and the business. It enables me to make an impact for the future of the company, the Traditional Owners and the region," says Rio Tinto Archaeologist, Eloise Hoffman.
More women in engineering are certainly needed
So there's clearly still a great deal of work to be done in educating and inspiring young women to fully understand what the engineering sector can offer them as a vocation.
With exceptional global companies actively supporting women to enjoy tremendous thriving careers, there has never been a better time to consider engineering as a profession.
Capgemini HR Director Frances Duffy shares her HR predictions
Medtronic pledges to take action against opportunity gap
Important work and words from Capgemini's Amanda Gosling
NTU lecturer Dr Kate Stewart authors article on ethical veganism
HCL Consultant Kristy: Adopting an incident manager approach
McDonald's has a strong focus on global diversity, equity & inclusion

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sandy was a successful professional nearing retirement who was unsure about this next phase of her life. She had spent the last four decades working and building her career and was the primary breadwinner of the family. Having saved a substantial amount for retirement, she was financially ready to retire but not quite there mentally or emotionally. For Sandy, it was stressful to think about taking the leap into retirement.
We met with Sandy and Jay and talked about how retirement is both a financial and an emotional transition. We talked about their hobbies, trips they'd like to take, and life outside of work. Sandy ended up reducing her hours and slowly transitioning to retirement on a timetable that was comfortable for her. We were by her side during this important transition, helping with non-financial and financial matters alike. We did "run the numbers" as part of their retirement analysis and were able to give them the financial peace of mind that they were looking for.
We've been able to help Sandy and Jay with an assortment of financial matters over the years – inheritances, Social Security claiming strategies, Roth IRA conversions and cost basis analysis to name a few. But more than that, we've developed a trusted partner relationship.


Munich, October 30, 2017 – Businesses will soon face a 'war for talent' and struggle to attract employees to fill the pending skills gap, according to a whitepaper produced for Fujitsu by leading independent European research firm Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). Fujitsu warns that unless companies start planning for the workplace of the future by embracing the so-called 'boundary-less' business, they will face growing talent recruitment challenges.
Fujitsu commissioned PAC to investigate the elements that will reshape the workplace over the next eight years. The resulting whitepaper 'Workplace 2025' outlines the recommended steps that businesses should start taking, in order to remain competitive. One key area that businesses will need to respond to is a radical change in business structure, where organizations' boundaries of all types will become increasingly fluid, in terms of layers of management and flexible working practices, while traditional industry models will be broken down, driving new models of collaboration.
The focus for workplace strategies will widen from driving individual user productivity to enabling prolific collaboration and co-creation on both a small and industry-wide scale, while also supporting health and wellness. To appeal to future employees with the right skills, Fujitsu advises that businesses must ensure they are moving towards an environment that provides contextual, personalized workspaces aligned to the individual needs of users. At the same time, they should plan to encourage enhanced peer collaboration by implementing technologies such as augmented reality. The Workplace 2025 report foresees that today's organizational structures will become more agile, adapting to constantly-changing economic conditions, competitive landscapes and customer demands.
Today's familiar, rigid hierarchies and departments will be replaced with small, collaborative networks of teams composed of internal and external freelancers, connected via unified communication platforms and supported by intelligent assistants. Individual employees will no longer be defined by a single role, since their contribution and workstyle will dynamically adapt to meet shifting requirements on different tasks. Furthermore, businesses will need to overhaul traditional office layouts to incorporate more collaborative spaces, using virtual and augmented reality to enhance meetings. And when the workplace is no longer tied to a physical location, biometrics will play a more prominent role in securing access to enterprise data and applications, allowing people to seamlessly access applications from any device, anywhere.
This increased fluidity will affect not only the types of skills required, but also the recruitment process to secure the right talent. The whitepaper predicts that, in 2025, the fastest-growing businesses will be those able to instantly identify and tap into skills from a truly global talent pool. The process of finding the right workers will transition from placing individuals in defined roles, into the global crowdsourcing of freelance skills. Online platforms will match employers with freelancers as the primary channel for recruitment, and businesses will increasingly lean on advanced artificial intelligence and its sophisticated algorithms to identify individuals with the right skills for each project.
The constant process of rapidly building teams of all sizes requires a robust but flexible technology platform that enables workers to be rapidly authenticated, using biometric data, and authorized to use relevant tools and systems.
Forging and extending these networks will place fresh demands on the technology required to support this new order, as systems will need to span organizational boundaries to open up core business applications to external partners. Managing inter-company file sharing to enable a higher level of collaboration will require enhanced security to ensure the protection of intellectual property.
As a result of these changing demands, Fujitsu expects technology partners to play the role of helping businesses manage these new, wider ecosystems, while also handling other challenges such as security and financial risk management. Companies will require the technology foundations of a platform and need a framework to rapidly plug in to the available services and skills. This model of digital co-creation carries the potential to deliver much greater business value than the rigid contractual models that dominate the market today.


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"Murderball" Playing in NYC
Thread: "Murderball" Playing in NYC
I haven't seen this movie but heard it's getting great reviews..
Murderball at Lincoln Center
(please use USB code when posting long URLs: KLD)
[This message was edited by SCI-Nurse on 03-25-05 at 09:08 PM.]
RyanRuss
I saw this movie last night in Portland and it was great. Its just not a good movie about quad rugby, but its also great in showing the life of someone in a wheelchair. Its really a good movie. I suggest seeing it.
This film won the Audience Choice Documentary Award at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan. Hopefully this will help it get some distribution, at least at the art theaters.
MZack
I can't wait to see this movie! Call me weird but I love a good documentary, especially if I can relate to the subjects of the film. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to wait til its on dvd. No release date yet but its already in my Netflix queue.
fuentejps
is it on dvd yet or will it be
"Man is bound to follow the adventurous promptings of his scientific and inventive mind and to admire himself for his splendid achievements" Carl Jung
Not yet, but have to assume it will be as it is listed on Netflix. You can reserve it there now (it is already in my queue), but it says "unknown" for the release date. They will try to get some commercial release in theaters before releasing on DVD.
-scott-
maybe it's coming out in theaters... trailer was posted on apple.com today:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/murderball/
They have been playing the trailer at our local Landmark (art) theaters for the last two weeks, so I am guessing it will be out here by early July.
I believe Murderball won best film at Sundance this year.
It won the audience prize at Sundance and I believe it's coming out July 8th. I can't wait!
Babies, before we're done here, y'all be wearin' gold plated diapers!
Quick Navigation Recreation, Sports, Travel, & Hobbies Top


Bulford Camp is a military camp on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Established in 1897, the site continues in use as a large British Army base. The camp is close to the village of Bulford and is about 2¼ miles (3.6 km) northeast of the town of Amesbury.
The camp was built as a mixture of tents and huts in 1897. In 1906 the Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway was extended from Amesbury into the camp. The station within the camp was the terminus for personnel while a goods track extended into Sling Camp. This extension was removed in 1933; the whole line closed to passengers in 1952 but goods services continued until 1963.
The section called Sling Camp was occupied by soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The New Zealanders left their mark by creating the Bulford Kiwi, a large mural on the hillside. At the end of the war, the camp was the site of the Battle of Bulford, when New Zealand troops staged a brief mutiny.
The site also included a hospital and this was passed to the jurisdiction of the Australians who established it as a specialist hospital for venereal diseases, becoming known as 1ADH. At its peak 1ADH was able to accommodate over 1,500 patients, some of which were under guard. Security however was not tight and going absent without leave relatively simple. Eventually criminal patients were treated at Lewes Prison in Sussex.
For a list of soldiers who spent time in this camp, please visit the page for 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital.
Around 15 per cent of the entire AIF contracted VD.
This page was last edited on 27 January 2019, at 14:41.


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The Rest of the Story: Tobacco and Alcohol News Analysis and Commentary
...Providing the whole story behind tobacco and alcohol news.
California Legislature Considering Bill to Ban Smoking in Cars with Young Children; Arguments Supporting Bill Reveal Flawed Justification for Policy
The California state legislature is considering legislation (Assembly Bill 379) which would prohibit smoking in cars with children under 6 or below 60 pounds. If it enacts the legislation, California would become the third state to ban smoking in cars with children present. According to the Sacramento Bee article about the bill: "Violators would be subject to a base fine of up to $100, which could rise to more than $350 through penalty assessments for courts, jails, trauma centers and other programs."
The chief legislative supporter of the bill - Assemblyman Paul Koretz - revealed the reasoning behind the proposed policy: "If you're too stupid to recognize that [secondhand smoke is dangerous] on your own, then we have to pass a law to tell you, 'Don't be an idiot, don't smoke with your small kid in the car with you.'"
The only organization mentioned in the article which is apparently supporting the bill is the American Lung Association, which was quoted as stating: "Think of the image. Young children, strapped into a child safety seat, unable to roll down a window or really control their environment at all -- and they're being exposed to harmful levels of air pollution."
According to the articles, two of the major tobacco companies have taken no position on AB379: "The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA, two of the nation's largest cigarette companies, have taken no position on AB 379. John Singleton, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds, said the company opposes smoking around children but that legislating such a ban can 'present some enforcement challenges.' 'I think it just puts an additional burden on law enforcement to make judgments when they already have, most people would say, a pretty full plate,' Singleton said."
If there was any solid policy justification for imposing car smoking bans, supporters of such a policy have destroyed it by revealing the poor reasoning behind their support for it. The purpose of the law, apparently, is to legislate against people being stupid idiots and smoking in a car in the presence of children under age 6.
This is flawed reasoning.
If it is stupid to smoke in a car with children present and this stupidity needs to be banned, then it is even more stupid to smoke in a home with children present and that stupidity would certainly need to be banned. Children are exposed to secondhand smoke for many more hours in the home than they are in a car. By Koretz' reasoning, it's far more stupid to smoke at home around your children than in your car. So the legislature should be banning smoking not only in cars with children, but in all homes and apartments as well. How could the legislature possibly allow such stupid, idiotic behavior?
Moreover, if it is stupid to smoke in a car with children under age 6 present, then isn't it also stupid to smoke with a child of age 6 present? How could you be a stupid idiot because you fail to wait until your child reaches age 6 before you smoke in a car? Or, alternatively, how could you be a stupid idiot for smoking in your car if you have a 5-year-old, but be a reasonably smart citizen for smoking in your car with a 6-year-old?
And if we're going to legislate against idiocy that puts children at risk, there are a host of other things that we should probably outlaw even before smoking in cars. How about drinking, for starters? Or screaming at kids? Using curse words or foul language in front of them? Having an extra-marital affair?
As much as I may loathe the American Lung Association's description of the young child, strapped in the car safety seat, who cannot escape the smoke, this hardly justifies a policy of banning smoking in cars when children age 6 and under are present. The image, while compelling, is not particularly meaningful. If the child weren't strapped in the safety seat, would she be any less trapped in the car. What is she supposed to do? Jump out of the car if the parent starts smoking?
And how is a young child in a home any less trapped? Is a 2-year-old supposed to know enough to walk out of the house if his parent starts smoking? And what is a poor 9-month old supposed to do? Crawl their way over to the door and wait for someone to open it so she can crawl out and have an escape?
I'm sorry, but the reasoning in support of this policy just doesn't add up. It's flawed, and I don't see a way that it can be repaired.
The most important aspect of the rest of the story, however, is not the flawed reasoning that has been revealed in supporting car smoking bans. It is the way that smokers are being seen by legislators. Clearly, they are being seen as stupid idiots.
Smokers are stupid idiots because they expose their children to an increased risk of ear infections, respiratory infections, or asthma. But are parents who don't wear a seat belt stupid idiots for increasing the risk that they will leave their children parentless? Are parents who drink alcohol excessively stupid idiots? What about parents who don't remove the lead paint from their apartment?
If you really analyze each of us, you'll find that all of us parents are indeed stupid idiots. We all do things that knowingly put our children at increased risk of adverse health effects or other adverse consequences. By this reasoning, we are a nation of stupid idiots. It's just the smokers who are being singled out. Because smoking is true idiocy. But all the other vices, addictions, and poor health behaviors are smart ones.
Posted by Michael Siegel at 7:29 AM
Michael Siegel
Dr. Siegel is a visiting professor and researcher in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine. The views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Tufts University. Dr. Siegel has 32 years of experience in the field of tobacco control. He previously spent two years working at the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC, where he conducted research on secondhand smoke and cigarette advertising. He has published nearly 70 papers related to tobacco. He testified in the landmark Engle lawsuit against the tobacco companies, which resulted in an unprecedented $145 billion verdict against the industry. He teaches health communication theory and social mareketing in the Masters of Public Health program.
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Out-of-This-World Experiences in National Parks
Launch into these 8 sites for an otherworldly adventure
Lassen Volcanic National Park
There are certain places that seem to belong to another world altogether, landscapes so strange that it's hard to believe they exist on Planet Earth. Lucky for us, many of these have been preserved as national parks, allowing us to enjoy the feeling of being transported to another time or place. These distinctive national parks are truly out of this world.
Exploring this Californian park feels like witnessing the Earth in its primordial infancy, when the landscape was still being shaped by volcanic forces. At Lassen Volcanic National Park, Bumpass Hell surprises visitors with its sulfuric smell and acres of colorful boiling mud pots. Named after an early settler who burned a leg after falling into a pool, Bumpass Hell's landscape is painted with mineral-stained orange, green, and yellow soils and contrasting aquamarine waters. With 150 miles of trails, this national park gives visitors the chance to explore its otherworldly forests, meadows, and rocky volcanic peaks in the area.
Tom Chiakulas, Share the Experience
When you look out across the desolate landscape of Death Valley National Park, it's not hard to see why it was chosen as a filming location for "Star Wars." The park's barren salt flats are the hottest, driest, and lowest-elevation place in North America. Covering nearly 200 square miles, the delicate crystals in Badwater Basin create an environment too harsh for most plants and animals to survive, leaving a giant tract of bizarre-looking plates of salt across the desert basin.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
The fossils found at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument represent more than 40 million years of evolution, and the landscape of this Oregon park is perhaps just as strange today as it was all those eons ago. From the blue-green claystones of Blue Basin to the multicolored rock formations of the Painted Hills, this place is filled with wonder.
Famous for its fossilized forest frozen in time for millions of years, Petrified Forest National Park also offers unique vistas of undulating rock formations and meandering canyons. Backcountry hiking trails give you the opportunity to explore the seldom-seen corners of this Arizona park, including the Red Basin Clam Beds, which was only recently opened to the public.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Montana, Wyoming
Eric Burns/NPS
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is stunning in the daytime, but you should see it at night. With minimal light pollution, this park has exceptionally dark, clear night skies, which lend an even more otherworldly atmosphere to the spectacular land formations below.
Congaree National Park
You'll find an otherworldly landscape of a different kind at South Carolina's Congaree National Park, the largest section of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The forests and wetlands here are wild, untamed, and almost impenetrably thick, accessible only by the Congaree and Wateree rivers and the occasional hiking trail. If Yoda appeared from out of the trees, it would hardly be surprising.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Few places on the surface of Earth are as strange as what lies below it. The bizarre cave formations of Utah's Timpanogos Cave National Monument are mesmerizing – stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, cave popcorn, and the strange hollow, spiraling straws of calcite known as helictites.
In the northern Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, White Sands National Monument is home to a dramatic landscape unlike any other place in the world. Dunes of rare white gypsum sand engulf 275 square miles of desert, drifting as fine and white as snow for as far as the eye can see. The park has been used as a shooting location for dozens of films over the years, from science fiction movies to westerns.
From lush marshlands to stark deserts, these unique national parks preserve some of America's most incredible and unearthly landscapes. Be sure consider these out-of-this-world spots for your next national park vacation!
The Bighorn Canyon is so absent of artifical light that you can se to infinity. Great place to stargaze! Janice Love
Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 08:15
Congaree NP is in South Carolina, not North Carolina.
Good catch. Fixed!
Monday, August 21, 2017 - 16:16
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In a comment after my last post, my always astute (and caring) friend Mary Smith wrote that the word "carer" is used in England instead of caregiver. I looked at the word on the screen and had an aha moment of Yes, that's exactly who I am.
But then she added "there is a movement against it, saying it is a patronising way of describing the relationship between the individuals involved." Damn it.! I thought, bemused to say the least.
Language is such a tricky business these days. I don't care about the "movement" or if I am being regressive. I love the term carer for the layers and nuance it holds. Getting rid of giver or partner, we are left with that fascinating, almost self-contradictory word care.
There is the the noun. Care as worry. The cares we carry with us daily. And must surmount. Actually the first definition that came up just now in my Webster's Third (a wedding present way back when) for the noun care is "suffering of mind." Wow. Forget those who may or may not be suffering duress from mental or neurological problem; suffering of mind sums up almost everyone I know who follows the news these days.
To care about someone or something means that person or thing or issue matters. Is important to the carer.
To care for can be physical and practical. That's the meaning caregiver implies, at least to me. It is how I feel about myself sometimes when I have done a good job of maintaining a steady comfort level for Ralph and me. Also when I am exhausted after managing issues in Ralph's life I don't want to or when I am struggling not to react to him with impatience or annoyance (more often than I want to admit).
A carer has cares. A carer cares for and about others whom he/she may also take care of.
So basically CARER pretty much sums up Ralph and me and our situation–the good, the problematic and the bittersweet.


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Elmo är en docka i den amerikanska barn-TV-serien Sesam. Han är röd, har falsettröst och tycker väldigt mycket om att kramas. Från 1984 spelades han av Kevin Clash, fram till dess att han sade upp sig i november 2012.

Historia
Elmo beskriver sig själv som tre och ett halvt år gammal och hans 3 och ½-årsdag infaller alltid 3 februari. Utmärkande för Elmo är att han undviker pronomen och alltid pratar om sig själv i tredje person (exempelvis "Elmo är glad" istället för "Jag är glad").

Från början förekom Elmo bara i bakgrunden och spelades av olika dockspelare. I början av 1970-talet spelades Elmo av Caroll Spinney, mellan 1979 och 1981 av Brian Muehl, och från 1981 till 1984 av Richard Hunt. I dokumentären Being Elmo berättar Kevin Clash hur en av dockspelarna var trött på Elmo-dockan, slängde den ifrån sig och sade att man inte kunde göra något med den. Kevin plockade upp den och testade en ny, pipig falsettröst. Den nya rösten gav Elmo en helt ny personlighet och han utvecklades till en av de mest älskade TV-figurerna i USA och stora delar av övriga världen.

Efter att ha utgjort en återkommande gäst i The Rosie O'Donnell Show började Elmo att besöka en mängd andra pratshower. Han har gästat bland annat Martha Stewart Living, The Tony Danza Show och The View. Elmo har även besökt The Oprah Winfrey Show, då tillsammans med Kevin Clash.

År 1996 visades TV-filmen Elmo Saves Christmas och 1999 hade långfilmen Elmos äventyr i Grouchland premiär.

Referenser

Noter

Externa länkar

Mupparna
Fiktiva figurer introducerade 1972

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Have been on a sourdough binge since the purple cabbage post (waffles last Sunday, bread, pictured above, by dinnertime) and loving Carri's ratio of 1 part starter : 1 part water : 2 parts flour with 1% salt by weight, though I back off by about 20% on the water because it's been so humid. I usually make a dough that's between 30 and 40 ounces total weight.
I've noticed various differences in the loaves and because I've put up the BLT From Scratch Challenge, I thought I should go over the 5 key steps of making bread, whether you're using sourdough or commercial yeast.
Mixing/Kneading:Mix or knead the dough to the point that it can be stretched to translucency. This ensures that it will adequately trap the gas being released. Not mixing enough will fail to develop the gluten that makes it elastic; overmixing can break up the gluten network. Mixing flour, water, salt and yeast is the first pleasure of making bread–I like my hands in the dough and always finish the kneading by hand (I'm not a fan of the no-knead bread—it diminishes both fun and flavor; but then again, I have a mixer to do most of the labor).
The First Rise:Sometimes called fermentation, allowing the yeast to create gas and flavor, and good elasticity in the dough, but not so much that it becomes slack from over rising. It should roughly double in size, and it should not spring back when you poke it with your finger.
Shaping:After it's risen, knead it again to force out as much gas as possible and redistribute the yeast. Let it relax a little so the gluten doesn't work against you, then shape it as you wish, into a baguette, into a boule. Make it as tight as possible.
The Second Rise:The second rise allows the yeast to get back into action, aerating the dough into the shape and interior structure. It should take about an hour at room temperature. In my opinion this is the most important step. You can also refrigerate it for up to 24 hours to develop more flavor. If you do, let it warm up a bit at room temperature for an hour or so.
Baking:Start it in a very hot oven. You can turn the oven down if you think it's making the crust too dark. I cook my bread till the interior is about 200 degrees.
That's really all there is too it. There is of course more in Ratio, but these are the basics.
One last thing though. Jim Lahey, via Mark Bittman, introduced baking a boule in a Dutch oven. This is a fantastic idea. Moisture released while it bakes remains trapped in the the pot, resulting in a fantastic crust. Highly recommend this if you're making a bread for your BLT. Highly recommend anytime you're making bread.
Great bread at home is not a mystery or a science, it's simple a matter of recognizing the key steps above and paying attention to them.
Great Post, Michael! I was wondering how your soudough trials had been going…I can see you've got it down! I can think of no other additions other than the fact that you can refridgerate the dough right after mixing, too, for the first rise. Then let come to room temp, form the loaves, and so on…Thanks again for all the bread fun!
Looks like you've come a ways from the bread I saw coming out of Thomas's oven in Clevelend. That photo is beautiful.
I really like the dutch oven idea. I've done something very similar for an Italian loaf baked in a cast iron cocotte. It too produced a lovely crust.
Also, Donna, That is a beautiful photo!
I've been on a pita bread kick lately – they are so much fun to watch "puff" and are way tastier than the store-bought variety. And WAY cheaper to make at home. I am very excited to try your sourdough starter technique!
Gorgeous photo! Bread baking was one of my favorite pastimes when I was between jobs, because no matter how successful I was or wasn't in job hunting that day, at least I had a gorgeous loaf of focaccia to serve at dinner.
You hit me in my sweet spot — I'm drooling all over my computer.
For home cooks, I'd reccomend using an oven preheated with a pizza stone in it, or even putting two baking sheets together and letting them preheat, then sliding the bread in over them with a paddle.
If you're concerned about sticking, and don't want to dust with cornmeal, just cut a piece of baking paper to slightly bigger than your loaf, and place your loaf on that paper as soon as you have formed it. Let it rise on the paper, and slide the whole thing into the oven. Remove the paper almost immdediately after baking.
I actually would reccomend this method even if you are using a convection oven. Of course, if you own a deck or brick oven, you're already getting the effect.
Very nice loaf Michael. Great oven-spring. Great bread is like great beer … just a very few simple ingredients put together with great skill.
or go to Blackbird Baking Company. Eastsiders can go to On the Rise.
Making bread at home may not be a mystery, but science it is.
When making boule, a la Jim Lahey, the lovely and talented Jaden from Steamy Kitchen taught me to put parchment paper on the bottom of the dutch oven when cooking bread.
Michael would you comment on DelGrosso's remark about the cabbage starter?
He makes some interesting observations and I know I'm not alone in wondering how it worked out!
don't know the answer other than that there is indeed sprightly yeast on the cabbage.
Another inspiration to take my starter out of the refrigerator, feed it and make some bread, pizza and pancakes this weekend during our cool spell in the N.W. If you're ever in the bay area be sure and seek out bread from a place called Semifreddis, multiple locations around Berkeley. Best darn bread anywhere, and good people making it that will gladly give you tips and recomend reference material to read.
Oh, I disagree. Okay, not really, but if you add the difficulty of "you can't use gluten," then it does become a mystery and a science.
There is no true substitute for gluten. Xanthan gum, guar gum, eggs, methylcellulose, etc. can all trap gas, but they don't stretch. I'd love to be able to make a loaf like that.
that looks so good… I love making bread, seriously, I thought it was really daunting at first but after you make it once, it just comes naturally.
I've made the lean dough in ratio several times. If you'd like to see the results, visit my blog.
If you don't preheat the dutch oven, you can put the dough in while it's cold and the dough won't stick. If you preheat the dutch oven, it will need a small amount of lube.
How does the La Cloche compare to the dutch oven? Has anyone done a comparison?
But I would note Lahey did not come up with the dutch oven trick — it's been around for awhile and Elizabeth David in her famous "English Bread and Yeast Cookery" talks about how the English used to bake in overturned flower pots, with coals piled outside. She recommends putting the flower pot in the oven, though haven't tried it yet.
You can also put the dough in the refrigerater for the first rise, after about 1 hour with sourdough. Shape the loaves when the dough comes out.
And if you're up for it, try my baguette recipe http://tinyurl.com/oo68jv that has just a hint of sourdough.
Picture and bread are beautiful! I've been making yeast-risen doughs for many years and have tried spraying oven, stone tiles, dutch ovens, pan of water in oven, etc., etc. The no-knead recipe makes great bread and does well in ceramic casseroles, steel or aluminum or cast iron dutch ovens or stone ware cloche type. Regular process bread dough the same – the crust texture is incredible with either dough when baked in a covered container (just make sure handle/knob ovenproof). I usually preheat the container before adding the dough unless making sandwich loaf or rolls and never had any stick.
A longer rise, (less yeast, rest in refrigerator, whatever it takes), I believe, is the key to enhanced flavor with bread dough whether organic or nonorganic bread flour, whole wheat, all purpose or with added seeds and nuts or butter or eggs or all of the above. When bread is so easy to make and so satisfying to bake and to eat when homemade, don't understand those who consider themselves good cooks but not willing to try.
oh, nice try Michael.. real bread doesn't look like that!. It's wax or plastic…hmmm.. right?
I find no knead to add flavor to the bread… shows you how badly my bread program is hurting.
I know blame it on " EL NINO ". Sure has messed up our weather down here in paradise. Hey next time I will throw in a slice of whatever veggie is rotting in the pantry. But the kneading is the challenge. Machine or no machine Bob del Grosso is right. there are a lot folks out there with gadgets they don't know how to use.
It has always amazed me to see that Americans find making bread to be something complicated. I lived in the States for a year, and people were extremely impressed that I was able to make bread without using a recipe.
Norwegians are on average no better cooks than Americans, and lots of Norwegians wouldn't dream of making tomato soup or lasagna from scratch. But make bread we all do. Without recipes. After all, there is no mystery to it, and even ratios are not needed. One just adds enough liquid to obtain the right sticky consistency.
I cannot imagine a yeast bread without kneading, but there are a number of yeastless breads, such as the Irish Soda breads, that call for no kneading at all.
Going on a tangent, what are your thoughts about the whole gluten-free fad that has spread nationwide? By and large, it strikes me as another case of Americans deciding they have to be afraid of their food (and reveling in that fear)… but there was one lady at the store who was quite genuine, and indeed had serious problems digesting gluten. While she agreed that her doctor was right, in her case, and that she feels healthier now, she also lamented how much she missed the wheat-based foods. "They say it's just as good, but it just doesn't taste the same!" she sighed. I think I've had one other customer, whose kids have been taken off gluten, where the prescription has been genuine, but that doesn't explain the masses of other people who are insisting that gluten is bad for everyone else as well. Nor does it explain why the makers of Rice and Corn Chex are now proudly proclaiming their products as gluten-free on the boxes – what the bloody hell is up with that?
the dutch oven bread from Ratio, is probably my favourite recipe in the whole book. It's my go to bread in the summer at the cottage when I don't want to mess with stones and steam and things.
When I first read Nancy Silverton's account of making her starter (this was quite a few years ago now)she described using grapes in cheesecloth, slightly smashed and I remember thinking, "How interesting is that". I will be trying carri's method soon.
Oh, I almost forgot. to reference marlene's post above I have a pizza stone at home that I bake all my bread on and it works magnificently!
What a gorgeous picture! Baking bread in a dutch oven is my all-time favorite method–I just love that crust that it develops without losing the wonderful interior texture and flavor.
I can almost smell that loaf from here! It's beautiful.
I'm wondering, as an aside, if you have a favorite bread knife?
Any monarch would proudly wear that loaf as a crown.
One book I remember as having loads of bread info was (the old) Laurel's Kitchen. I think I tossed it because other than the bread, it was horribly sexist.
Though not until after dinner.
…a serious problems digesting gluten.
I guess my question is…why do Americans have limited knowledge of different kinds of flours and how to use them?
There's an array, and I think it's quite exciting to be able to experiment with them!!
aha… i should have caught up earlier.
Now try to do all this gluten free…..
I do my "no knead" sourdough in a round, covered Corningware casserole dish. We keep our cast iron Dutch oven in the basement and I got tired of carrying it upstairs. The covered casserole dish works great. I appreciate the tip about lining the dish with parchment paper and will try that.
Just smoked our first bacon yesterday! Tomatoes are going gangbusters and lettuce hasn't bolted yet. I bake tomorrow and will send in my submission for the Scratch BLT Challenge!
I am a big fan and did not know you had a typepad blog! Just re-reading one of your books -=- and having a fantasy of heading to the CIA as an academic to learn about academics in a new environment as I am obsessed with food. . . but that is not my profession. . .
Just got my red cabbage starter going tonight, and because I just watched the Joe Ortiz episode of Baking w/Julia, I am trying his method using some cumin. I have had great results with the Dutch oven baking method – spectacular crust.
Hi Michael, Do you have any advice about tools to use at home for scoring breads? Also, I think that Dutch oven idea is really fantastic, I think when I try it I will finish off the last five minutes of the bake with the lid off (once the crust is developed) to dry out excess moisture – which we have in abundance here in New York City.
lauren, i use a sharp knive or a straight razor to score bread. and I leave the top off for at least fifteen to thirty minutes to brown crust.
After 48 hour I sure do have a starter. I am so, so excited!!! I am going to attempt to replicate your "boule" tomorrow with the dutch oven suggestion. Wish me luck.
Would you mind sharing the recipe for waffles? I'd absolutely love to make sourdough waffles!!!
I found your blog very interesting.I love reading blogs/articles that tells about cooking,baking tips,baking cookies,pies,cakes etc.I like that brown-crusty bread,perfect for my hot chocolate!
Thank you for sharing those information.
I tried the starter with the cabbage leaves and it worked amazingly well. In fact it's only been about 36 hours and it's reached the brim of the good sized bowl I am using.
Tomorrow I will work up a loaf using MR's ratio recipe and try his dutch oven technique.
The last loaf I tried was one of Shirley Corriher's recipes. This seems much easier. And has the satisfaction of being all from scratch!
This is the time that we have to eat fresh food.For that we have to make breads at home and eat it at the time of breakfast.For eating fresh bread we have to make it at home and this blog is on that.


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ACHA opens 107 new homes in Oban
Sandy Neil Updated: 17/11/21, 12:10 pm
One November in 1785, in a field by Mossgiel Farm in Ayrshire, 'The Ploughman Poet' Robert Burns turfed up a tiny mouse's nest, which it needed to survive the coming cold and wet West Coast winter.
Moved, and still at the plough, Burns composed his poem To A Mouse, including the now world-famous line: 'The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley.'
Burns' words rang true again this November in Oban, at the slickly choreographed opening of Argyll Community Housing Association's (ACHA) 107 affordable homes in Glenshellach.
Dignitaries from the august partnership that funded and built the £15.4 million project, including the Scottish Government (£6.8 million), ACHA (£6.7 million) and Argyll and Bute Council (£1.9 million), lined up to celebrate its successful conclusion seven years after it began.
The opening, delayed from November 2020 due to Covid, offered yet another boon for Oban's city status bid. Everyone knew what to say, when, and where. A press release was locked and loaded, ready to be fired into The Oban Times' email inbox half an hour after the event.
Everything was going to plan. However, for once, it was not 'man's dominion' that broke 'Nature's social union'. This time, it was nature that foiled man's best laid schemes – or, more accurately, a call of nature urgently pressing upon Timmy the dog.
With precision timing and lead trailing, Timmy broke free from his owner's grasp, joined the party of officials poised to unveil the Achnaba granite stone and plaque, and cocked his leg over it, to the cheers and groans of the crowd.
After the opening 'ceremony', the dignitary Timmy had beaten to the task, Argyll and Bute MSP Jenny Minto, could not resist giving the dog a friendly head scruff.
Timmy the dog stole the show, despite ACHA's best laid plans.
Proceedings quickly got back on script. Ms Minto, ACHA chairperson and Oban councillor Roddy McCuish, and a new tenant, 11 year-old Evie Paterson, planted a native tree, which Timmy, now in a firmer grip, mercifully left alone.
Councillor McCuish said: 'This development, which is ACHA's largest in Oban to date, meets much needed housing need, provided 75 jobs throughout the seven years of its development and, at a personal level, I am so proud to see decent affordable homes for our community here in Oban. I hope these houses become homes for generations to come.
'Housing is the most important thing for stable communities. If you don't have a decent home at the base of the pyramid, other things fade into perspective. We have the challenge of an overpriced housing market, which means it is increasingly difficult for many young people to buy a first home. We need to keep our young people, we need to arrest population decline, and housing plays an integral part along with decent jobs and opportunities to deliver that.
'People have asked me why did ACHA name streets after places like Sunderland, Stranraer, and Catalina. During the Second World War, the Catalina, Sunderland and Stranraer flying boats operated out of Oban Bay to protect the convoys in the fight against Nazism and fascism. Service men and women from all over Britain and beyond were based in Oban, and used this glen to practice to defend us all.'
Councillor McCuish then asked one of the world's finest pipers, Benderloch-born Angus MacColl, to play Donald McLean's Farewell to Oban, 'in memory of those who left here and never came back'.
Angus MacColl played the 4×4 march, Donald McLean's Farewell to Oban in memory of the Second World War airmen killed in the Oban RAF base's Sunderland, Catalina and Stranraer flying boats, after which the estate's streets are named.
Glenshellach
ACHA chief to retire
Oban's welcoming Christmas tree lit
Minister visits Oban home energy project


Pete Davidson dyed his hair platinum blonde, and is this another tribute to Ariana Grande?
Not only are Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande rocking matching tattoos, but it seems that the couple's style is syncing up as well. While we're still recovering from news of the couple's whirlwind engagement, Pete and Ariana are steadily moving on with their lives. The latest update? Pete has gone platinum—blonde, that is.
That said, this hairstyle works with Pete's fun-loving personality. And since it's summer, this is the perfect time to play with hair color and go light. We're kind of getting major '90s/early aughts vibes, too. Pete's hair color looks like a mix between Eminem and Sugar Ray's hair color back in the day.
Davidson gave us a glimpse of his new blonde hair on Instagram.
From the looks of this cuddly pic, we have a feeling Ariana is totally on board with Pete's throw-back style. We're loving this youthful and carefree look, and we can't wait to see how Pete styles his new 'do.


Every resident of the commune of Beckerich can buy the Night Card for an annual fee of 15 € until the age of 25 and for an annual fee of 50 € from the age of 26 on.
How much does the journey with the Night Card of the commune of Beckerich cost?
The commune covers the cost of transport for all customers who hold a Night Card of the commune of Beckerich. The only condition is that either the departure point or the destination of the journey is in the commune of Beckerich*.
In order to use the Night Rider for free with your Night Card, please enter your Night Card code (e. g. "BECK12345") which you find on the front of your card in the "Night Card" box of the reservation form.


As the heat continues to increase here in Rochester we're going to have to to depend more and more on our home's air conditioner again. If it's important to avoid an expensive AC repair during the year's hottest months you have to plan ahead. Like any other intricate machine, your AC needs routine maintenance to make sure it's operating the way it's supposed to: keeping your family cool so you can enjoy all the great summer activities to come.
In Rochester, air conditioning is a amenity most don't want to go without. But you can't have a "set it and forget it" mentality. Much like your car, your air conditioner is built to give you many years of comfort in your home, but some standard AC repair is part of the deal. Routine air conditioner service will make sure that your air conditioner avoids a major malfunction. It's not your job to know everything about your air conditioner and you shouldn't attempt any kind of AC repair on your own, which is where the experts at Strogen's Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning come in handy. An HVAC expert from Strogen's Service Experts can spot inefficiencies and fix them before they become an expensive repair.
The team at Strogen's Service Experts also has your air conditioner's efficiency top of mind. A winter's worth of sitting idle can take a considerable toll on the component parts of your air conditioner. In order to guarantee all the parts of your air conditioner are working together you should call an expert to come out to your home and have a look. Guaranteeing your home's air conditioner is performing at maximum efficiency means that you will be receiving the lowest possible energy bill in the mail each month, and it will be less likely that your system will suffer a serious malfunction.
If you don't remember your last air conditioner service, it's time to schedule one. In contrast to the "set it and forget it" mentality mentioned earlier, AC repair should be approached with an "apple a day" mentality. Scheduling regular AC tune-ups with your experts at Strogen's Service Experts will protect the health of your air conditioner as the days get longer and hotter, and ensure your family's comfort throughout the summer months. Give us a call at 603-923-4570 or schedule an appointment online.


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Home » 152: Top 4 Prepping Concerns for 2023 with Dale Goodwin
152: Top 4 Prepping Concerns for 2023 with Dale Goodwin
Last Updated January 5, 2023|Brian Duff
https://traffic.libsyn.com/mind4survival/M4S152_Top_4_Prepping_Concerns_for_2023_with_Dale_Goodwin.mp3
In today's episode, Dale and I discuss what we see as the four most concerning situations for 2023. These four scenarios to prepare for in 2023 are:
Economy / Supply Chain Issues
The economy is a definite concern moving into 2023. In our opinion, it requires that people plan that the economy is going to be as difficult as it currently is and possibly worse than it is now. We are at one of the worst economic points in modern history. Whether it's food, fuel, etc., people should be prepared to experience increased prices or decreased supplies. By preparing to whether economic struggles
Among other problems, the creation and implementation of the Digital Dollar make you and your digital money insecure. The ability of governments as happened in Canada and China, the governments shut off people's ability to access their money. Likewise, that spills over to the government's ability to turn off your digital dollars from purchasing supplies over a threshold set by those who control the digital side of the dollars. You have to shift your mindset to align with the preparedness challenges of the digital dollar. Bartering perhaps?
Power Grid Failures
We know our power grid has major issues. If the Texas ice storm and power outage taught us anything, it's that wide swaths of our power grid are vulnerable to prolonged outages. Moreover, the power grid is, as the recent grid downings to small arms fire have shown, very vulnerable to human-caused damage. In other words, each person needs to be their own best preparedness advocate when it comes to power outages and maintaining their energy needs.
Civil Unrest
With the economy, supply chain shortages, energy problems, and the upcoming 2024 election, the potential for civil unrest in the next two years is increasing. People across the spectrum of the US population are tired, worn out, and stressed from the craziness of 2022 and the few years before.
In the end, the system takes care of itself, and you are your own most dependable aid when things go wrong. The better prepared you are to survive without outside assistance, the freer you are. The minute you become reliant upon others, you become subject to their whims, policies, and orders.
Preparedness = Freedom!
tigger on January 5, 2023 at 11:31 am
senior here, dont understand the digital dollar thing….can you give some examples of how to prepare for that one? what to do now before its implemented? and how about gold and silver, dont know a thing about it….get that too? coinage or bars? so confused with whats coming…know I might not have much longer, but what I do have I want to prepare for as well as I can….. thanks
can you do an article on these questions?


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