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Analysing radiocarbon dates using the rcarbon package
basic principle of the radiocarbon dating method: by measuring the remaining 14C s M. Stuiver, P.J. Reimer, E. Bard, J.W. Beck, G.S. Burr, K.A. Hughen, B. Kromer, . where the (or , which is not clear) calibration curve has. sources, while for Asian Scythian cultures radiocarbon dating has been C DATING METHOD. Definitions. The naturally occurring isotope 14C ; Stuiver and Reimer, ). . present (Lanting and van der Plicht, /94). Records 26 - 50 Radiocarbon dating underpins most of the chronologies used in archaeology for the last behind the controversy over the term 'calibration' (van Andel ). 1 .. ), CALIB (Stuiver & Reimer ), CalPal (Joris.
Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Effect Carbon 14 or radiocarbon is continually being formed in the atmosphere. Theoretically, the radiocarbon concentration in the atmosphere is the same in oceans and the biosphere through equilibrium.
Due to marine reservoir effect, the radiocarbon content of terrestrial organisms is not the same as marine organisms. Marine reservoir effect correction factors for different oceans in the world have been established and recorded in a database. The basis of radiocarbon dating includes the assumption that there is a constant level of carbon 14 in the atmosphere and therefore in all living organisms through equilibrium.
Carbon 14 is a naturally occurring isotope of the element carbon and is called radiocarbon. It is unstable and weakly radioactive. Another characteristic of carbon 14 is that it is continually being formed in the upper atmosphere as a product of the reaction between neutrons produced by cosmic rays and nitrogen atoms.
Marine Reservoir Effect, Corrections to Radiocarbon Dates
These carbon 14 atoms then instantaneously react with oxygen present in the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide formed with carbon 14 is indistinguishable from the carbon dioxide with the other carbon isotopes; hence the pathway of carbon 14 into the ocean, plants, and other living organisms is the same as that of carbon 12 and carbon It is also assumed that there is equilibrium between carbon 14 formation and its decay, thus there is a constant level of carbon 14 in the atmosphere at any given time in the past up to the present.
The assumptions, however, do not paint the real picture. There are several factors that need to be considered because they affect the global concentration of carbon 14 and therefore that of any given sample for radiocarbon dating. Global Radiocarbon Cycle The atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere are radiocarbon reservoirs of varying concentrations.
Radiocarbon formed in the atmosphere is dissolved in oceans in the form of carbon dioxide and contemporaneously assimilated by plants through photosynthesis and enters food chains. This is how terrestrial organisms take in carbon 14 in their systems. Marine organisms and those who consume them take in carbon 14 from the exchange process of carbon 14 in the form of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the ocean or any body of water. However, carbon 14 content is not the same at the surface mixing layers and that in the deep ocean; hence, not all marine organisms have the same radiocarbon content.
Marine Reservoir Effect There are many factors to consider when measuring the radiocarbon content of a given sample, one of which is the radiocarbon content of the plant or animal source when it was alive and its local environment. This is especially true when comparing samples from terrestrial organisms and those that assimilated radiocarbon from the marine environment.
Oceans are large carbon 14 reservoirs. Surfaces of oceans and other bodies of water have two sources of radiocarbon — atmospheric carbon dioxide and the deep ocean.
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Deep waters in oceans get carbon 14 from mixing with the surface waters as well as from the radioactive decay already occurring at their levels. Studies show that equilibration of carbon dioxide with carbon 14 in surface water is of the order of 10 years. The degree of equilibration of carbon dioxide in deep water remains unknown. Radiocarbon dates of a terrestrial and marine organism of equivalent age have a difference of about radiocarbon years. A normal distribution is shown at left; this is the input data, in radiocarbon years.
The central darker part of the normal curve is the range within one standard deviation of the mean; the lighter grey area shows the range within two standard deviations of the mean. This output can be compared with the output of the intercept method in the graph above for the same radiocarbon date range.
The resulting curve can then be matched to the actual calibration curve by identifying where, in the range suggested by the radiocarbon dates, the wiggles in the calibration curve best match the wiggles in the curve of sample dates.
This "wiggle-matching" technique can lead to more precise dating than is possible with individual radiocarbon dates. Wiggle-matching can be used in places where there is a plateau on the calibration curve, and hence can provide a much more accurate date than the intercept or probability methods are able to produce.
Calibration of radiocarbon dates - Wikipedia
Unless the samples are definitely of the same age for example, if they were both physically taken from a single item a statistical test must be applied to determine if the dates do derive from the same object. This is done by calculating a combined error term for the radiocarbon dates for the samples in question, and then calculating a pooled mean age. It is then possible to apply a T test to determine if the samples have the same true mean.
Once this is done the error for the pooled mean age can be calculated, giving a final answer of a single date and range, with a narrower probability distribution i.
For example, if a series of radiocarbon dates is taken from different levels in a given stratigraphic sequence, Bayesian analysis can help determine if some of the dates should be discarded as anomalies, and can use the information to improve the output probability distributions.


Experience the Unforgettable
Embark on a magical journey of music and emotions as Nevada Business Chronicles proudly presents Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert. As a leading provider of business and consumer services in the consulting and analytical services category, we aim to offer unique and extraordinary experiences for our audience.
A Musical Extravaganza
Celine Dion needs no introduction. With a career spanning decades, she is an icon in the music industry. The Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert is your opportunity to witness Celine Dion's remarkable talent up close and personal. Prepare to be mesmerized by her powerful vocals, soulful melodies, and captivating stage presence.
During the concert, Celine Dion will perform her greatest hits, as well as songs from her album "Taking Chances." From heartwarming ballads to energetic anthems, her repertoire covers a wide range of musical genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
An Unforgettable Evening
Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with music, passion, and pure entertainment. The Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won't want to miss. Bring along your friends, family, or colleagues and immerse yourself in the magic of this extraordinary musical event.
The concert will be held at a prestigious venue known for its exceptional acoustics, ensuring that every note reaches your heart. Immerse yourself in the beautiful ambiance and let the music transport you to another world. Prepare to be amazed by the stunning visuals, choreography, and overall production value of this spectacular show.
Book Your Tickets Now
Make sure to secure your tickets for Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert. Tickets are selling fast, and you certainly wouldn't want to miss out on this momentous event. Visit our website or contact our customer service team to book your tickets today.
At Nevada Business Chronicles, we are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our valued customers. Through our consulting and analytical services, we strive to bring you the best in the business and consumer services industry. Join us for this unforgettable concert and let Celine Dion's incredible talent leave you spellbound.
Join us for an Unforgettable Evening
Experience the magic of Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert with Nevada Business Chronicles. We invite you to be a part of this extraordinary musical journey that will touch your heart and soul. Witness an incredible performance by one of the greatest singers of our time and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Book your tickets now and get ready for a night of pure musical bliss. Come and see why Celine Dion's Taking Chances World Tour – The Concert is the talk of the town. Join us as we celebrate the power of music and the spirit of entertainment. We look forward to welcoming you to this unforgettable event.


King Ganam (country, polka)
Born Ameen Sied Ganam, King Ganam began his musical career at the age of nine, when he began learning the fiddle from old-time fiddlers and playing at dances in his hometown. In 1942, he formed Sons of the West in Edmonton, and went on to perform on CBC Radio's “Alberta Ranch House”, winning the 1950 World Open Western Band Competition in Vancouver. This led to a recording contract with RCA Victor and to the creation of Ganam's nickname “Canada's King of the Fiddle”. King Ganam is one of the original inductees to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, having also received the Saskatchewan Country Music Association's Legend and Legacy Award in 1990. King Ganam passed away on April 26, 1994 at the age of 78.
Ridin' The Fiddle With... - 1955
Square Dances - 1959
King Of The Fiddle - 1965
Reels And Rags - 1968
Ridin' The Fiddle - 1968
Help support Rock My World Canada! with a one-time donation - paypal.me/rockmyworldcanada


Efforts continue to revive Mahatma Gandhi's Tolstoy farm in South Africa
"Once Tolstoy Farm is rehabilitated completely, we should connect with other Gandhian organisations in India to make a Gandhian Circuit, like we have a Ramayana Circuit and the Buddhist Circuit, which connects India and Nepal," Consul General of India in Johannesburg Anju Ranjan said
- Efforts are afoot with the support of NGOs and the Indian mission to revive Tolstoy Farm
- At the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, visitors saw an orchard, a library building and a community centre on the premises
- Projecting Tolstoy Farm this way will give a boost to community development and tourism programmes
Johannesburg: Efforts are afoot with the support of NGOs and the Indian mission to revive Tolstoy Farm, once a thriving self-sufficient commune established by Mahatma Gandhi here in early 1900's.
"We have been able to install large busts of Gandhiji and Mandela, and most recently well-wishers and NGOs brought in scores of trees, pledged to improve security and repair the generator and borehole on the premises," said Mohan Hira, co-founder of Mahatma Gandhi Remembrance Organisation (MGRO).
Hira said he also spent money from his own pocket to restore the site, which was completely vandalised a decade ago.
At the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, visitors saw an orchard, a library building and a community centre on the premises.
Speaking at the event, Consul General of India in Johannesburg Anju Ranjan said the venue should turn into a centre, which benefits the local community.
"Once Tolstoy Farm is rehabilitated completely, we should connect with other Gandhian organisations in India to make a Gandhian Circuit, like we have a Ramayana Circuit and the Buddhist Circuit, which connects India and Nepal," he said.
"Gandhjii is the connecting link between India and South Africa because he developed his Satyagraha theories while he was here. So, we should connect the places of Gandhian importance in both countries. This will lead to Tolstoy Farm becoming more relevant," Ranjan said.
The diplomat said the ultimate objective should be to get Tolstoy Farm declared a heritage site as has been done with the Phoenix Settlement near Durban, where Gandhi had started a commune as well.
Many educational and empowerment projects for the surrounding communities are run at the Phoenix Settlement by Mahatma's granddaughter Ela Gandhi and others.
Projecting Tolstoy Farm this way will give a boost to community development and tourism programmes, Ranjan said.
Ranjan said it would an emotional moment to leave South Africa when her term ends in December because she had been intimately involved in Gandhian projects since her arrival three years ago.
"I may not be physically present here but Tolstoy Farm will always remain in my heart and I will always try to do as much as possible back home by trying to persuade the authorities and connect with the right people, who can make this project viable," Ranjan said.
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According to some UK media reports, Sunak is mulling a crackdown on foreign students bringing dependents and studying...
Argentina came into the game under a lot of pressure, thanks to their opening game defeat to Saudi Arabia.
An Action Hero song Aap Jaisa Koi: Malaika Arora owns the dance floor as she recreates Zeenat Aman's item number
The song has been recreated by Tanishk Bagchi and the modified lyrics have been re-sung by Zahrah S Khan and Altamash...
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Sun, Sea & Natural Beauty: 6 Irresistible Outdoor Adventures in St. Pete/Clearwater
Emerald-green waters and cool Gulf breezes. Sugar-white sand islands that appear and disappear with the tides. That wonderful, free feeling of seeing birds soar overhead. The gentle sound of water dripping from your paddle. All waiting for you in St. Pete/Clearwater. Come and hike our lush nature parks, paddle our pristine waterways and explore our beautiful gardens. You'll come away refreshed and care-free.
Watch Our Best Outdoors Videos
Spending time in nature - whether that's on an island, at a beach, or on a visit to one of our gorgeous parks - is the perfect way to relax.
Explore Scenic Waterways
Ever kayak in the company of a cormorant? How about playful dolphins and gentle manatees? Paddling adventures in St. Pete/Clearwater often come with some wild entertainment along the way. Rent a kayak near the Dunedin Causeway to reach pristine Caladesi Island State Park, where you can explore lush mangrove tunnels, then beach your boat for an almost-deserted island experience. Visit gorgeous Fort De Soto Park with its stunning beach and two-mile paddling trail. Head to Weedon Island Preserve in north St. Pete to explore Riviera Bay and the South Paddling Trail with its mangrove canopy.
Discover Why Being on "Island Time" is the Best Time of All
You don't have to go far away to have that "tropical island" feel. In fact, we have some gorgeous islands just waiting for you to explore. Start with Honeymoon Island State Park, where you can search for shells along four miles of soft beaches or hike a three-mile trail through a virgin pine forest. From the park, take the ferry or rent a kayak to reach nearby Caladesi Island State Park, treasured for its uncrowded beaches and amazing birdwatching. Take a day-trip to beautiful Egmont Key, with its nearly deserted beaches. Or rent a boat to discover mysterious islands that appear and disappear with the tides.
Walk Shaded Trails and Listen to Birdsong
Looking for ways to find some zen? St. Pete/Clearwater has gorgeous parks and preserves that fit the bill. Find stunning boardwalks at Boca Ciega Millennium Park, Sawgrass Lake Park and Weedon Island Preserve. At Boyd Hill Nature Park, walk shaded trails, enjoy views of Lake Maggiore and visit a sanctuary for rehabilitated birds of prey. Looking for a waterfront picnic spot? Try St. Pete's North Shore Park or Vinoy Park, both with views of the new St. Pete Pier. If you'd like to spend time among the trees, explore little-known Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs to enjoy its nature center, wildflower-decorated trails and stellar birdwatching (tip: arrive when the park opens to have the trails all to yourself).
Stroll in a Garden
Experience a Nature Lovers' Delight
If gorgeous blooms make your heart go all a-flutter, St. Pete/Clearwater has two beautiful botanical gardens for you to explore. Visit Florida Botanical Gardens to see 12 different themed areas, including a native plants garden, a wedding garden and a butterfly garden. It's the largest free botanical garden in Florida! St. Pete's small-but-very-special Sunken Gardens is more than 100 years old - and the canopy of enormous trees and exuberantly flowering plants inside the garden attest to its maturity. See flamingos and other tropical birds as you take a leisurely walk through the garden.
Camp at the Beach
Set Up Camp with a Sunset View
Fort De Soto Park is (yes, we'll say it) practically world-famous among camping aficionados. After all, who wouldn't want to to camp waterfront in Florida with great amenities (restrooms, showers, laundry, camp store) and access to one of the most stunning beaches in the country? Reserve early, friends! Several local parks and preserves, such as Anclote Key and Shell Key offer primitive beachfront camping, if you aren't someone who requires a lot of creature comforts.
Take a Tour or Explore on Your Own
It's a zoo out there: Alligators glide in still waters, ospreys soar overhead, dolphins play in the waves, and bright-pink birds (roseate spoonbills, not flamingos) wade in the shallows. Our wild areas are also home to white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises, armadillos and many more interesting creatures. The best way to see them? Go early or late, when it's cooler. Move slowly and quietly. Take a few moments to be completely still. Stay a safe distance. If you're a birdwatcher, explore some of the sites on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. To see marine animals, take one of many dolphin or wildlife watching boat tours.
Explore Our Favorite Parks
Here are some of the top places in St. Pete/Clearwater to hit the trail, go paddling or just get some fresh air.

domain: travel


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Rayon Challis - Royal Floral
Rayon Challis is one of the loveliest fabrics for tops, dresses, and skirts. It's light as a feather, with fluid drape. It washes like a dream, and packs down to nothing in your suitcase.
This one is 60" wide, and has a beautiful peachy and teal floral design on deepest royal blue background.

domain: artistic


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A week into my Seattle visit, I moved from the downtown City Hostel to the confusingly-named Hotel Hotel Hostel in the Fremont neighborhood. (The very same neighborhood I had visited with my friends a few days prior.) The streets were quiet and a little quirky, the nearby water gently lapped at the shoreline, and the smell of chocolate followed you down the street. It felt a little like being on vacation. (Of course, having a fantastic gastropub down the street helped. Did I mention I hate the word “gastropub”? It sounds like somewhere you go to cleanse your body of toxins. But I digress…)
I found myself on the same side of the canal as the University of Washington, one of my favorite university campuses. It was raining when I first visited many years ago, turning the entire Red Square into an enormous skyward mirror. The sun was defiantly shining this time around, but the architecture was no less spectacular.
I spent maybe a little too much time wearing my metaphorical beret.
Fortunately, a sign on the nearby wall helped ground me in my present reality.
Turned out the University had a wonderful foot trail that went right along the Montlake Cut, which connects Portage Bay and Lake Washington. I spent a while watching the boats ebb and flow beneath the nearby bridge.
Lots of people were out that day sailing and enjoying the weather.
As the coda to my Seattle adventure, I payed a visit to the Smith Tower. It might no longer be the tallest building in town, but it’s one of the oldest skyscrapers in the US, if the guides are to be believed. After taking a ride in a vintage elevator (operator and all!), I spent a lovely hour wandering around the airy observation deck and and soaking in the full panorama of the city, 400 feet above the ground.
All in all: great city, fast shipping, A+++, would visit again.
Next: paying a visit to to the land of
milk curds and honey gravy!
December 5, 2013

domain: geography


Modeling a Multi-Modal Megaregion: Arizona's Sun Corridor Sheds Light on What Drives Industry and Freight
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
BACKGROUND AND CHALLENGE
The Arizona Sun Corridor megaregion encompasses portions of five counties that include the regions served by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and the Pima Association of Governments (PAG). This region is home to approximately eight out of ten Arizonans and includes one of the busiest freight ports on the U.S.-Mexico border. State and local transportation planners in the region have been maintaining state-of-the-practice truck transportation models for many years. However, these models focus primarily on specific metropolitan planning areas. As such, they lack the capability to provide a description of freight flowing through the megaregion.
To improve the megaregion's ability to describe and analyze freight flows, MAG, PAG, and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) collaborated to research behavior-based freight modeling and develop a regional model that can be integrated into area and statewide travel forecasting models. The project team worked in close coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies, and received input and support from both a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and a team of consultants. Major project objectives included:
- A comprehensive review of freight data sources with emphasis on accessible data and analysis.
- Development of innovative models.
- Development of an operational, multimodal freight model for the megaregion.
- Emphasis on a behavioral approach to model development, to inform coordinated policy development and serve as an effective tool for identifying means to improve freight operations.
- Consideration of an activity-based passenger modeling framework for MAG data in order to facilitate future integration of the models.
The model was developed in three hierarchical "layers" that covered financial, logistical, and transportation networks. Interaction between these layers is shown in Figure 1.
Source: Xu, Hancock, and Southworth (2003).
The project team also developed a series of models to represent each of the three layers:
- The financial layer is represented by a firm synthesis model, which looks at production, consumption, the evolution of freight buyers and suppliers (i.e., firms), and the various factors that influence the birth, growth, location, and dissolution of these firms. The purpose of this model is to estimate how firms change over time and space.
- The logistics layer is represented by a supplier selection model that determines the "behavior" of goods movement between entities. This layer generates a view of the "buyers" and "suppliers" of all shipments.
- The physical transportation layer is represented by two models: a supply chain model that describes how goods are moved from origin to destination and a truck tour model that captures behaviors (i.e., making multiple deliveries in a single day) exhibited by trucking patterns in the region.
BENEFITS AND IMPACTS
Key elements that contributed to project outcomes and subsequent impacts include:
- An existing working relationship between project partners.
- Existing relationships with relevant freight stakeholders in the region.
- Close collaboration among members of a large consultant team.
- Expertise in freight data collection and modeling.
Outputs generated by the project include:
- A comprehensive review of freight data sources.
- The products of data collection, data acquisition, and data analysis.
- Innovative, state-of-the-art models illustrating:
- Firm synthesis.
- The supply chain.
- Truck touring patterns (including separate models for different user classes).
- An operational, megaregional freight model readily available to support statewide and regional transportation planning processes.
Benefits realized from this project include the ongoing use of the resources it created as well as the changes it may influence in stakeholder behavior. Specific outcomes are listed below:
|Enhanced ability to perform scenario planning.
|Traditional travel demand models do not typically allow planners to estimate impacts due to supply chain changes. The agent-based, multimodal nature of the new model provides for development of advanced application scenarios. The new model provides insight into supply chain decisions, including distribution channels, models, and shipment sizes. This capability allows planners to better understand the effect of potential mode shifts due to various scenarios, such as the development of a new regional distribution center.
|A consistent planning platform for the region.
|Benefits of this project align directly with the overall goals of the SHRP2 program, because freight planners and decisionmakers can now more consistently evaluate transportation projects impacting freight movement. The new model bridges separate models previously maintained by agencies in the region and provides a single framework for multiple agencies to work within the same temporal and spatial constraints to coordinate projects and policies.
|Improved capability to leverage data across multiple planning applications.
|The project improved and expanded the team's knowledge base, enabling next steps and opportunities that will provide the Maricopa Association of Governments, Pima Association of Governments, and Arizona Department of Transportation with a wider range of modeling and forecasting applications. Planners in the region can use the new model to identify and implement solutions to address current and future challenges.
|Improved stakeholder awareness of the product.
|Stakeholders in the region, as well as audiences nationwide, received presentations by the project team that expanded knowledge of the process and its product.
|Well-documented, new freight data.
|Through the in-depth review and analysis of existing freight datasets, the project produced a detailed list of potential assets that can be used in the model, including a description of how each can be used and where data gaps exist. Over the course of the project, new freight data were also collected.
Impact measures are the ultimate benefits of using a product. These are longer term, value-added impacts of the product related to saving time, money, and lives.
|Advancement in the state of the practice for behavior-based freight modeling.
|Among improvements to the state of the practice are the addition of a firm synthesis model that uses a well-known match algorithm and is able to estimate changes in firm demographics over time and space. The project also produced a truck tour model that includes separate models for different user classes.
|Possible future uses of the model outside the realm of transportation planning.
|Maricopa Association of Governments is evaluating future integration of the behavior-based freight models with regional economic models to provide further insight into how goods movement affects the region's economy.
|Ability to estimate the movement of all goods, not just trucks.
|The project produced a multimodal model that is an improvement on the region's existing truck-based freight model.
MAG plans to continue and refine the model by advancing the stop identification algorithms in truck Global Positioning System data, incorporating land use and other criteria, and completing light truck data collection to improve the model's accuracy for that vehicle class. MAG also intends to fully integrate the freight model with regional transportation forecasting models. MAG hopes to develop new model functionality and future application scenarios as well as new visualization tools to use with outputs.
Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) – Led overall project management; assisted in model development; and served on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
Pima Association of Governments (PAG) – Provided technical support and input to the project; served on the TAG.
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) – Provided technical support and input to the project; served on the TAG.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – Provided coordination support as well as technical and administrative guidance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
System Analysis Program Manager
Maricopa Association of Governments
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Freight Management and Operations
Learn more about the SHRP2 program, its Capacity focus area, and Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement (C20) products at www.fhwa.dot.gov/GoSHRP2/
The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) is a partnership of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Transportation Research Board (TRB). TRB completed the research, and now FHWA and AASHTO are jointly implementing the resulting SHRP2 Solutions that will help the transportation community enhance productivity, boost efficiency, increase safety, and improve the reliability of the Nation's highway system.
STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials – Transportation Research Board
1 Xu, J., K. L. Hancock, and F. Southworth. (2003) "Simulation of Regional Freight Movement with Trade and Transportation Multinetworks," Transportation Research Record 1854. [ Return to note 1. ]


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Perfection is often boring. Flaws or slight imperfections add a bit of character to things. This applies to so many things that I don't believe it's important or even necessary for me to expound on it. Despite my having said that I will offer at least one example. Imagine you see a woman (or a man, given your preferences) who is perfect. Your mind automatically tries to find a small flaw so as to make you believe you belong in that relationship. Conversely, a small imperfection can be sweet, even endearing. I've met females who are quicky, nerdy, and sarcastic. I've found these slight things added to them.
This is merely an aside, however.
Elle Varner first came to my attention with a hit song featuring J. Cole called "Only Wanna Give It To You". Her voice was different and eclectic. It didn't hurt that's she was pretty as well. "Refill" also grew on me.
Elle titled her debut album Perfectly Imperfect. Maybe it's a nod to her quirky sound or what I was elucidating on a moment ago. I'm personally inclined to believe the former.
The album is rhythmically sound and one great song after another. For the sake of the rest of the album, the two aforementioned songs won't be examined. Here we go...
"Leaf" was a welcome surprise for me. It begins with Elle's vocalizations and a smooth sound. This song is about a good woman who has the back of a good man. Here she compares herself to a leaf in his pocket and the air, something so light that you barely know it's there until you look. This was a clever bit of writing. Everyone, be it man or woman, wants this. This is why the song is so amazing and so relatable.
"Oh What A Night" is a story of a drunken night that sounds like it was one of those amazing nights people often have when drinks are involved. I love the progression of the story through Elle's voice and the drums. The hook puts you in the mind of dancing drunk with the whole bar. It was also really smart to add a slight bit of slurring in the track to denote inebriated conversations. If memory serves correctly, I've had a few nights like this.
"Stop The Clock" strikes me as the other woman's last straw. In this one she speaks of how she holds on for him only to have her hopes dashed time and time again. When I took a moment to listen I had an instant where I saw some of that in myself, me taking on the role of the man as opposed to Elle's (or the girl in question's) role. After finally reaching her wits' end she stops the clock and moves on from him. What I love most is that it's a break-up song that isn't overly bitter or disgusted, rather introspective and intuitive to the situation. This one is probably my favorite on the album.
I also suggest tracks like "Welcome Home" and "Soundproof Room".
Imperfectly Perfect is certainly worth the price of admission solely based on what is presented here for listeners. Although the album consists of only eleven tracks, Elle Varner manages to put so much into the short forty-one minute running time. Everything about this album is perfect...or is it imperfect?

domain: entertainment


Proper Nomenclature Beneficial to Cross-Strait Relations
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
February 9, 2011
In his Chinese New Year speech, President Ma Ying-jeou gave government officials specific instructions. In all future documents, they must refer to the other side of the Taiwan Strait as "the Mainland," or as "Mainland China." They must not refer to it as "China." This would avoid confusion over the issue of sovereignty and "two Chinas." It would ensure that cross-Strait relations are based on the constitution. His remarks elicited different reactions from the Blue and Green camps. But in fact this was a simple matter of law, and fundamental to cross-Strait relations. It was what the government should have been doing all along.
Under the provisions of the ROC Constitution, the current cross-Strait situation is one in which "the nation has yet to be reunified." Therefore the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been classified as the "Free Region" and the "Mainland Region." Article One of the "Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Region and the Mainland Region" states that "This article has been specially crafted to ensure the safety and welfare of people in the Taiwan Region prior to national reunification, to regulate exchanges between the Taiwan Region and the Mainland Region, and to deal with such legal matters as may arise," The article explicitly defines the Taiwan Region as Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and any other areas under the jurisdiction of the government. The Mainland Region is defined as "sovereign territory outside the Taiwan Region belonging to the Republic of China." The competent authority in charge of cross-Strait affairs shall be the "Mainland Affairs Council."
Everything, from the constitution, to the law, to government entities, explicitly refer to the other side as "the Mainland." Logically speaking, official documents are the same as the law. Naturally they must accord with the law. They can hardly use concocted names. President Ma reiterated the government's position. He stressed that this was a description of the status quo. This status quo was derived from amendments to the constitution, and from the "Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Region and the Mainland Region." It has not changed since the establishment of the MAC, despite two changes in the ruling party.
DPP legislators have alleged that President Ma Ying-jeou's declaration demeaned our sovereignty. Their allegations are groundless. When the DPP was in power, then Premier Yu Shyi-kun was questioned in the Legislative Yuan. Yu ordered the various government agencies to refer to the other side as "Mainland China" or "the Chinese Communists." Yu Shyi-kun had no choice. As the chief executive of the Republic of China, he was duty bound by its constitution and laws. Besides, the other side refers to us as "Taiwan." We refer to it as "the Mainland." Who can complain? We have not repudiated the Beijing authorities' jurisdiction. But neither have we recognized their sovereignty. How exactly have we "demeaned" ourselves?
Following the five cities elections, the DPP held lively debates, in which they discussed new cross-Strait policies. Former DPP chairman and premier Frank Hsieh proposed "One Constitution, Different Interpretations." He proposed a return to his long held "One China Constitution." The DPP may refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus. But it can not avoid the spirit of "One China, Different Interpretations" when dealing with cross-Strait affairs. The ROC Constitution, after all, implies "One China." On Taiwan, the term "China" means the Republic of China. On Taiwan, this is the lowest common denominator regarding cross-Strait policy.
Scholars have commented on President Ma Ying-jeou's declaration. They consider it a gesture of goodwill toward the mainland. They also think it may appeal to swing voters. The two may go hand in hand. Official documents are law. They represent the government's position, When government officials prepare official documents, or are questioned by legislators, they must do so in accordance with the law. They must refer to the other side as "the Mainland" or "Mainland China." Basically they must reaffirm the Republic of China. They must not repudiate the policies of the Republic of China "prior to reunification." The Mainland fears that Taipei's attempts to assert its sovereignty may pave the way for Taiwan independence. The government must dispel any such concerns. On the other hand, the government must firmly uphold the Republic of China's sovereignty. This is its public responsibility. The government must not neglect national sovereignty, merely because it is attempting to strengthen cross-Strait relations.
For the public on Taiwan, the constitution should be treated like air and water, essential to our national survival. It is not necessary to pay it constant lip service. But cross-Strait relations are increasingly intimate. Historical disputes over the two sides' sovereignty have yet to be resolved, If repeated declarations reduce controversy, why not? Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan spoke of Taiwan's seven major interests. But she failed to stipulate "under the framework of the ROC Constitution." As a result, scholars wondered whether her proposal was "unconstitutional." People were incredulous. Beijing characterized this as a "minor matter." Just to make sure, Ma Ying-jeou reiterated the government's position, He gave Lai Shin-yuan support. Cross-Strait exchanges are currently in full swing. The various ministries may be forced to deal with cross-Strait matters. The Lai Shin-yuan incident may become a problem for all government officials.
Cross-Strait exchanges have been going on for 24 years. People to people exchanges are warmer than ever. People refer to the other side using all sorts of names. These include China, the Peoples Republic of China, the Beijing authorities, the Mainland, Mainland China, even the Chinese Communists. The man in the street may not understand the distinction between "jurisdiction" and "sovereignty." The government is not about to tell private citizens what terms they should use when referring to the other side. Take the calendar for example. The private sector has long used the Western calendar for publication dates. But the government is not the private sector. All official documents must use "Year of the Republic" dates. When dealing with cross-Strait affairs and policy, the government must abide by the same laws. Only then can it avoid misusing words and generating controversy within a complex political environment.


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I’m now about halfway done with the Lace Jacket. I don’t have a picture to show you – it still looks like a bunch of different sized holes that, if you squint, kind of looks like rows of triangle shapes randomly scattered around. But while I can’t exactly see the finished product emerging (yet), I can tell you that I’ve learned a LOT these last few days while knitting it.
I think the most surprising thing is how very close I’ve become with the project. I don’t usually have this kind of relationship with my WsIP, but this one demands 100% attention at all times. Between deciphering the chart, knitting at the loosest gauge I can manage, and constantly counting stitches… LJ is a stern taskmistress. I’m exhausted after 4 rows. I’m exhausted just thinking about 4 rows.
Despite giving LJ all my attention, mistakes occurred. Many… mistakes… occurred. And I didn’t weave in any lifelines. Did I rip the whole thing back and start again? Hell no. I’m thrilled to report that I was able to find every mistake by examining the pattern, examining my stitches, and examining this extremely helpful forum on Ravelry. It took a lot of patience – patience I usually don’t have for knitting or anything, really – but I experienced that wonderful and elusive “A-ha!” moment where everything suddenly made sense, the pattern and I started speaking the same language, and the mistakes became much easier to find and fix. Without being too melodramatic, it was as if everything around me just faded away, leaving me and LJ in perfect harmony, perfectly synched.
Luxury laceweight beaded yarn? $50.00. 3 new sets of circular needles to ensure proper gauge (HA!!!)? $70.00. Hard-fought, well-earned confidence in your knitting, tinking, chart-reading, and plain-old observation skills? Priceless. Truly.


A composite is any material made of at least two other materials. There are a lot of composites around you. Concrete is a composite. It's made of cement, gravel, and sand, and often has steel rods inside to make it stronger. Those shiny balloons you get in the hospital when you're sick are made of a composite, which consists of a polyester sheet and an aluminum foil sheet, made into a sandwich.
These are composites made from polymers, or from polymers along with other kinds of materials. One of the most common types is fiber-reinforced composites. These are materials in which a fiber made of one material is embedded in another material. Why would we do this? Let's find out...
One of the first fiber-reinforced polymer composites made by humans was a raincoat, created in the middle of the nineteenth century, by a Scottish fellow by the name of Charles Macintosh, who came up with a clever idea...
He took two layers of cotton fabric and embedded them in natural rubber, making a three-layered sandwich like the one you see on your right. (Remember, cotton is a form of a natural polymer called cellulose.) This made for good raincoats because, while the rubber made it waterproof, the cotton layers made it comfortable to wear. To this day, a raincoat in Britain is referred to as a "macintosh", or just a "mack" for short.
You see, that's why we make composites: to make a material that acts like both of its parts. In this case, we combine the water-resistance of rubber and the comfort of cotton.
Composites are usually made of two parts, a fiber and a matrix. The fiber can be glass, Kevlar, carbon fiber, or polyethylene. The matrix, which is the stuff that holds the fibers, is usually a thermoset like an epoxy resin. The fiber is embedded in the matrix in order to make the matrix stronger. Fiber-reinforced composites have two things going for them. They are strong and light. They're often stronger than steel, but weigh much less. This means that composites can be used to make automobiles lighter, so they use less fuel.
Composites can also be used to imitate natural materials, like in musical instruments where use of wood is common. But wood can be expensive such as in a nice violin, or it can be unpredictable, like in a wood reed for a saxophone or clarinet. Composites made of straight fibers surrounded by special epoxy resins can look and act a lot like wood; they may also last longer and perofrm better.
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Mushroom manchurian recipe – Popular Indo chinese manchurian using white button mushrooms. Indo Chinese foods are a favorite among many and this mushroom manchurian is very popular on the restaurant menus. To make this recipe, mushrooms are batter fried first until crisp and then added to manchurian sauce.
Most times I prefer not to fry mushrooms as they are a power house of nutrition and can be consumed in much better ways like stir frying or in curry etc.
But sometimes I get tempted to make these fried appetizers as they taste much better when made at home with good quality ingredients especially oil and sauces.
This mushroom manchurian just happened on a random evening and turned out great. I decided to make it again to share with you all.
This mushroom manchurian tastes best when served hot. If you do not have time to make some noodles or fried rice, then simply double the sauce in the recipe and add some cooked noodles or al dente rice.
You will end up with a good mushroom manchurian noodles or fried rice.
I have made this mushroom manchurian very much the same way other manchurian recipes are made. Here are some
1. Ensure the mushrooms are at room temperature before using them in the recipe. Using cold mushrooms (from fridge) to fry will result in splashes of hot oil. So rinse them and pat dry with a kitchen tissue. Slice them when you are about to fry.
2. Pour ¼ to ½ cup oil to a deep pan or kadai and heat it on a medium flame.
3. Add 3 tablespoons white cornflour (corn starch), ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or wheat flour), ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and ½ teaspoon red chili powder to a mixing bowl.
4. Pour ¼ cup water & begin to make a batter that is of thick pouring consistency. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time and make the batter. Check my video for batter consistency.
5. This is the consistency of the batter. It must not be too thick nor too thin.
6. Add the sliced mushrooms to the batter.
7. Mix well and coat them with batter.
8. Check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small amount of batter to the hot oil. The batter must rise and not sink.
9. When the oil is hot enough drop the mushrooms one after the other.
10. Fry them on a medium high heat until crisp and golden.
11. Remove them to a kitchen tissue. Set this aside.
12. Make a slurry of the cornflour and water. Mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with ½ cup water in a small bowl. The slurry should be lump-free. Set this aside.
How to make mushroom manchurian
13. Add 1 tbsp oil to a pan and heat it on a high flame. Add ½ to ¾ teaspoon chopped ginger and ½ to ¾ teaspoon chopped garlic. Fry for a minute without burning.
14. Add ¼ cup spring onion whites and fry for a minute.
15. Add ¼ to ½ cup chopped capsicums and fry for 2 mins.
16. Pour 1 ½ tablespoons soya sauce. Do use naturally brewed or organic soya sauce.
17. Add 2 tablespoons tomato sauce/ ketchup. You can use more or less than mentioned to suit your taste.
18. Pour the cornflour mixture we made earlier. Mix well and boil on a medium heat.
19. Add ¾ to 1 teaspoon sugar, very little salt salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Check the taste if needed add vinegar to make it slight tangy. If needed you can also add 2 to 3 tbsps more water to bring it to a pouring yet thick consistency.
20. When the sauce turns thick, turn off the heat. Allow it to cool down a bit for a minute or 2, then add the fried mushrooms.
Garnish mushroom manchurian with spring onions and serve hot.
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 200 grams button mushrooms (1 & ¼ cup sliced)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or wheat flour )
- 3 tablespoons white corn flour ( corn starch)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water (more to adjust the consistency)
- Oil for frying
- 1 tablespoon oil (any)
- ½ to ¾ tablespoon garlic (minced)
- ½ to ¾ tablespoon ginger (minced)
- ¼ cup spring onion whites, chopped
- ¼ to ½ cup capsicum chopped / bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon corn flour (corn starch or arrowroot powder)
- ½ cup water (you may need little more, use as needed)
- 1 ½ tablespoons soya sauce (use naturally brewed or organic)
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce or ketchup
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon vinegar (optional, if needed)
- salt as needed (use only if needed)
- 2 tablespoons Spring onion greens
- Ensure mushrooms are at room temperature before using them in this recipe. Using too cold mushrooms to fry will result in splashes of oil.
- Add corn flour, all-purpose flour, salt, pepper and chilli powder to a bowl.
- Pour ¼ cup water and mix to make a free flowing batter. Add more water, a few tablespoons as needed to adjust the consistency. The consistency has to be moderately thick, not too thick or too runny. (check video)
- On a medium flame, heat oil in a deep pan for deep frying. You will need about ¼ to ½ cup oil depending on the size of your pan.
- Rinse the mushrooms and pat dry with a paper napkin. There should be no traces of moisture. Slice them slightly thick.
- Check if the oil is hot enough by gently dropping a small portion of batter to the hot oil. If the temperature of oil is right, the batter will come up without browning. If the batter does not rise then it means oil is not ready yet.
- Add the sliced mushrooms to the batter only when the oil is almost hot. Coat them well.
- Gently slide the mushroom slices one after the other to the oil. Deep fry on a medium high heat without disturbing them for a few minutes.
- Stir often and fry until golden and crisp. Remove them to a steel colander.
- Add 1 tsp corn flour to a bowl and pour half cup of water. Mix and make a lump free slurry. Keep this aside.
How to make mushroom manchurian
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a wide pan. Regulate the flame to high.
- Add ginger and garlic. Saute for a min.
- Add spring onion whites and fry for a min or two.
- Next add capsicum and saute for another minute.
- Pour soya sauce and tomato sauce. Stir the corn flour slurry once and pour it to the pan.
- Stir well and cook to make a sauce. Add more water if required.
- Reduce the flame to medium and add sugar, little salt. Stir and check the taste of the sauce.
- Add pepper and vinegar if needed.
- Allow the sauce to turn thick. Turn off the flame. Allow to cool it a bit. Do not add hot mushrooms to the manchurian sauce.
- Add the fried mushrooms and coat them well in the sauce
- Garnish with spring onion greens.
- Serve mushroom manchurian hot as a appetizer or with noodles or fried rice.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes

domain: food


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Wow, this is more like it! Bora Bora is the exotic island with pristine turquoise waters, a gorgeous deep lagoon and the small village-like atmosphere that I had envisioned. It has the perfect south pacific “heavy jungle” look, and two beautiful volcanic peaks reaching skyward next to the lagoon:
Around the island are luxurious resorts with bungalows on pilings jutting out into the ocean. What a fantastic place it would be to stay, but big $$$$!
On this stop we were tendered ashore again, two trips for us since we had reserved two excursions – and both were awesome. After breakfast we took the “Aqua Safari” tour, an optional excursion we had to check out. Then after returning to the ship for a quick lunch we went back to the island for the included excursion, a covered boat ride around part of the island and lagoon.
This activity was even cooler than we had imagined. We were lowered to the seafloor wearing 80-pound helmets connected to the boat via pressurized air hoses. It’s in only 10′ of water and in a small roped off area with some small coral formations, but it does give the feel of scuba diving. I’m a certified diver, and although this was nothing like moving freely around a large reef, it was pretty cool and Mona Liza was grinning from ear to ear the whole time we were down.
Once on the bottom, we were surrounded by parrot fish, butterflies, clowns, morays, and more. A diver/photographer took several pictures of everyone, which can be purchased. Everybody was thrilled with this excursion, don’t miss it if you get a chance to go!
80 lb helmets
…I’m going down!
Bora Bora Boat Cruise
Another winner, this is a cruise in a covered boat around part of the island and then through the lagoon and back to the dock. Teva, our captain/guide (who played the ukulele for us during the longer stretches) gave us a lot of information about the history of the island, and especially the culture and languages of Polynesia. We were interested to learn that there are no cemeteries here because residents bury their deceased in the front yard. That means if you buy a house where some of the family members are buried, well, you get them with the house!
We made a quick stop at a shallow area where various stingrays were swimming all over the place. Teva got in the water to lift one to the surface to show us, but he was unable to grab one so we had to be content to just watch them swim around in the crystal clear water:
After cruising past a big group of bungalows (and a couple of homes) on stilts stretching out over the water, we headed back. On the way as we crossed the lagoon, we got hammered by a downpour. The cover over the boat didn’t help at all, but it was a joy ride as we got soaked while speeding through the storm.
Bluefin tuna was the fresh fish of the day, the first time I’ve tried it. Delicious! After dinner we went to a show featuring session guitarist Louie Shelton playing with the ship’s band. Then off to bed, a couple of tired puppies!
This stop surpassed our expectations, and we had a wonderful time!


$75 to $100
Crimson-AV A37F Articulating Mount for 13-37 Inch Flat Panel Screens
The multiple joint arm holds screen 2" from walls when retracted and 14.6" when fully extended. Smooth tilt adjustments of +15°(forward) and -5°(back) provides a variety of viewing angles. Just hang the screen and turn the pre-assembled securing screw to lock in place. Built-in cable management for a stylish look.


I make a living telling clients that consumers are just too smart to fall for branding claims that aren't substantiated by real corporate behaviors, and then AP/Ipsos goes and conducts a poll that finds 1/3 of Americans believe in ghosts.
Worse, almost one in four report having actually seen one.
This is particularly disheartening to me, what with my being the advocate for consumer intelligence, integrity, and respect.
People aren't terribly trusting of companies (or brand marketing) these days. The availability of information and shared experiences on the Internet means that they tend to believe less and less in the claims companies make about products or services. So it just makes sense to reconfigure branding strategies to address this reality.
But then those pesky consumers go and get all unreal on me.
How is it that people won’t believe, say, an automaker's claims about the performance characteristics of a car -- all testable and provable, presuming anyone was interested in doing so -- yet a goodly number will believe that spirits walk among us or, as one respondent reported in the poll results, lived in his closet (and not under his bed, in an interesting touch that just smacks of veracity).
I bet not 1 in 10 viewers who stay up late enough to witness a direct response TV offer for a combination salad chopper and paint-by-numbers device believe it will actually work, yet three in 10 have awakened believing they sensed a "strange presence" in the room.
It's unlikely that you could randomly select a group of people and find any agreement on their expectations for an insurance company making their lives easier, oil companies caring for the environment, or cosmetics actually reducing the incidences of age. Yet almost 1 in 5 believe in the power of spells or witchcraft.
And in an age when so much marketing and branding doesn't seem to work or have any of the desired effects on its targets, almost 50% of people believe in the power of ESP.
Were it only true, eh?
I think it's interesting that we work so hard to figure out what makes our target consumers tick. Branding is all about awareness, mental states, and the potentiality of action based on what gets incorporated into the world views of people to whom we market. The AP/Ipsos poll is a haunting reminder that the black box of human consciousness is anything but linear or, ahem, sensible.
This is why the behavioral marketing online is so refreshing, as it involves none of this peering into peoples’ souls, but rather the absolutely objective and measurable actions they take when they point and click. Does someone think that clicking on the buy now link also rewards an angel with her wings? Who cares, as long as they do it?
Perhaps there's more we can learn about applying this behavioral approach to the rest of our communications.
If almost a fifth of consumers believe in UFOs, maybe it's just too much work (and hope) to think that they're going to think anything dependably useful to you about your product or service. So while you hope they're thinking about your toothpaste brand or travel website, folks are also thinking about goblins, apparitions, and visits by little green men.
Perhaps the branding strategy should be to get people to do things -- not just think or be aware or them -- as you might not really want to know what they think about.
Just a few spooky thoughts for you on this Halloween.


On Sept. 18 at 7 pm, Door Community Auditorium (DCA) will present an evening of enchanting folk-roots music from folk quintet Elephant Revival and bluegrass duo Mandolin Orange.
Elephant Revival, a Colorado-based band that has developed a loyal Door County following after multiple appearances at DCA, returns to Fish Creek with its vast repertoire of original folk pieces, traditional-style ballads, Celtic fiddle tunes, psychedelic country, indie rock, powerful reggae grooves, 1940s jazz standards, and an occasional hip-hop beat. The band’s prodigious instrumental skill and genre-bending originality make their live performances hum with all the electricity of an old-fashioned tent revival.
Elephant Revival consists of Bonnie Paine (stompboard, washboard, djembe, musical saw), Charlie Rose (pedal steel, banjo, cello, trumpet, trombone), Dango Rose (bass, mandolin, banjo), Daniel Rodriguez (banjo, guitar, vocals) and Bridget Law (fiddle).
Elephant Revival will be joined by Mandolin Orange, a Chapel Hill, North Carolina bluegrass duo that makes “honest music, shot through with coed harmonies, sweeping fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic guitar” (American Songwriter). Together, Mandolin Orange’s Andrew Marlin (mandolin, guitar, banjo) and Emily Frantz (fiddle, guitar) enchant, bringing their deep understanding of traditional music to bear on their own timeless, heart-worn lyrical sensibilities.
Tickets range from $22 to $44. Advance reservations are recommended. For tickets, call 920.868.2728, visit dcauditorium.org or stop by the box office at 3926 Highway 42 in Fish Creek.


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Kimberly-Clark Corporation has approved $30 million for expansion and improvements to its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex.
The two-year project will focus on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency, and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.
“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” said Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”
“Henderson County is very proud to support Berkeley Mill’s expansion, said Michael Edney, Chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. “Kimberly-Clark is a legacy employer in our county, and we are proud to play a key role in the company’s future. We look forward to many more years together.”
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 146-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
For more information on the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and its role in protecting and building a strong local economy, visit www.hcped.org .

domain: economics


text:
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FiveThirtyEight’s highest traffic often comes on the day just after major events, like debates or key presidential primaries. Everyone wants to know how those events are going to move the polls. We’re sometimes happy to speculate about that, when we think the answer is obvious enough. But the problem is that there usually isn’t any data that soon, since the polls will take a few days to register any effects.
In fact, it’s rare to see pollsters release results at all in the first day or two after a debate. So you usually end up with a weird mix of polls. The daily tracking polls don’t stop publishing, but they’re an outlier-y set of polls this year that usually aren’t worth getting too worked up about. Someone decided to publish a Tennessee poll today? Hey, that’s cool, I guess. About the only number of any real consequence on Thursday was a Suffolk University poll that showed a tied race in Ohio — not a bad result for Donald Trump, except that he’d been up 3 percentage points in Suffolk’s previous poll of the state.
Therefore, our forecast is largely unchanged, with Hillary Clinton having an 87 percent chance of winning the presidency according to our polls-only model, and 84 percent according to polls plus. To repeat: None of the polls yet reflect any potential effects from the third presidential debate on Wednesday, so our forecast doesn’t account for the debate either.
So let’s use today’s Election Update as an excuse to talk about something else: the effect that likely-voter models are having on the polls. Every pollster has its own method for determining who’s a likely voter, although I generally think of likely-voter models as falling into two categories: “soft” likely-voter screens that simply ask voters whether they’re likely to vote, and “hard” likely-voter screens like the one that Gallup employed that use a longer battery of questions, including voting history. I won’t go into too much more detail on methodology here, but there’s a great primer on likely-voter models at the old Mystery Pollster site if you’re into that kind of thing.
Typically, likely-voter models help Republican candidates, since their voters are older, whiter and have higher socioeconomic status, all of which correlate with higher turnout. (Although, note that the latter variable may not hold with Trump because his support has collapsed with college-educated voters.) But the effect varies from election to election. In the 2010 midterms, there was a severe difference between likely-voter and registered-voter polls, with likely-voter polls being a net of about 6 percentage points better for Republicans. And the likely-voter polls basically turned out to be right: Republicans had a great year, underperforming their polls in a couple of close Senate races but winning even more House seats than expected.
The difference between likely-voter and registered-voter polls tends to be smaller in presidential election years. In fact, it probably should be fairly small since most registered voters — somewhere north of 80 percent, according to the Current Population Survey — turn out to vote. In 2008 — a year of profound Democratic enthusiasm behind Barack Obama — there was almost no difference between registered- and likely-voter polls. In 2012, there was a gap, with Mitt Romney gaining a net of about 2 points in likely-voter surveys. Given that likely-voter polls underestimated Obama’s performance in the end, however, perhaps that was too much.
This year, there also isn’t much of a gap. We keep diligent track of polls like this one that release both registered- and likely-voter numbers, since they’re used to calibrate the likely-voter adjustment that our models use. So here’s a summary of every such poll we’ve found. In the table, the “weight” column indicates how much influence the pollster has on the likely-voter adjustment, which is a function of the number of polls it has conducted and its pollster rating.
|POLLSTER||STATES||WEIGHT||CLINTON GAIN||TRUMP GAIN||NET TRUMP GAIN|
|ABC News/Washington Post||US, VA||5.40||+2.4||+3.4||+0.9|
|Fox News||US, various||4.88||+1.4||+2.3||+0.9|
|CNN/Opinion Research Corp.||US, various||4.34||+0.7||+2.5||+1.8|
|NBC News/Wall Street Journal||US||2.48||+1.0||+0.5||-0.5|
|Public Religion Research Institute||US||2.43||+0.4||+2.8||+2.4|
|Franklin & Marshall College||CO, PA||2.11||+2.6||+2.7||+0.1|
|CBS News/New York Times||US||1.52||+1.0||+3.0||+2.0|
|University of Mary Washington||VA||1.00||+2.0||+4.0||+2.0|
|Utah Valley University||US||0.98||+1.9||-0.9||-2.8|
|U. of Massachusetts Lowell||NH||0.87||+2.0||+3.0||+1.0|
|TargetSmart/William & Mary||OH||0.85||+0.0||+0.0||+0.0|
|Middle Tennessee State U.||TN||0.77||+6.0||+4.0||-2.0|
A couple of things to point out here. First, while we usually talk about a likely-voter screen as helping the Republican — or, occasionally, as helping the Democrat — technically speaking they usually help both major-party candidates, as both gain votes from the undecided column (and sometimes from third-party candidates). It’s just that the Republican usually gains a little more.
That’s true this year also, but the difference is minor. Trump gains a net of 2.5 percentage points in likely-voter polls, as compared with registered-voter polls. But Clinton gains 1.7 points. So the net gain for Trump is only 0.8 points.
And second, there’s actually quite a bit of agreement among pollsters about the likely- vs. registered-voter gap this year, at least when you look at each firm’s polling in the aggregate. Most show somewhere between a 1-point gap favoring Clinton and a 2-point gap favoring Trump. Individual polls can sometimes show larger gaps, especially if a pollster is using “hard,” Gallup-style likely-voter screens. (Those “hard” screens can sometimes introduce artificial volatility into a poll.) But taken as a whole, the consensus is that there’s at most a modest advantage for Trump in the likely-voter electorate, somewhat less than a Republican candidate would typically receive.
That makes a certain amount of sense. Trump voters may be more enthusiastic, although the data has been a bit mixed on that, and voter enthusiasm can vary with events on the campaign trail. And his voters are certainly older and whiter than Clinton’s. But Trump’s reliance on voters without college degrees — especially men without college degrees — could disadvantage him because they turn out at lesser rates.
Then there’s Trump’s lack of a turnout operation, which may or may not be reflected in polls. If Clinton’s campaign is more successful at persuading low-propensity voters to go to the polls, those voters may make it through the “soft” likely-voter screens but may be incorrectly screened out by “hard” screens that rely on past voting history. The effect of Clinton’s ground game on the polls — and the eventual outcome — is one of the big unanswered questions about the race, but presents some further downside risk for Trump.

domain: news


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Earth science professor Glen Mattiolo featured in WFAA earthquake story
UT Arlington professor of earth and environmental sciences Glen Mattioli was featured in a WFAA/Channel 8 story about earthquakes in Johnson County. Mattioli said scientists can't predict earthquakes, but they're trying to learn more about them. He will be leading an international effort to put more GPS monitoring sites in the Caribbean, for better monitoring of ground movement. The story also ran on KTBS/ABC 3 (Shreveport).
UT Arlington officially joins the WAC for 2012-2013
UT Arlington officially joined the Western Athletic Conference this weekend but will be a member for only a year in the wake of several defections that left the conference on life support, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Mavericks sports programs will join the Sun Belt Conference in July 2013.
UT Arlington athletic training program director featured in stories about concussions, former pro football players
Paul J. Krawietz, director of the athletic training education program in the department of kinesiology at The University of Texas at Arlington, was quoted in a HealthDay story about a UT Dallas study of ex-professional football players that was presented at the National Athletic Trainers’ Association conference last week. Krawietz said concussion sufferers need to understand that even the mental exertion required in the classroom can be detrimental to getting better. The story also appeared on numerous websites, including U.S. News & World Report, MSN Health, Philly.com, GoodHealth.com, Yahoo! News and Medical Daily.


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I must apologize. I should have posted an update a week or two ago. CaptainCon happened. The last two weeks have been a blur. It seems like every day was consumed by “what about this”, last minute stuff.
A couple of weeks ago, I started working on Thyra. I looked at the studio photo a lot. Then I asked a couple of Menoth players about assembling her after painting the parts. That seemed like the way to go. I pinned the arms, the banners and the head. I drilled all the holes in the body before I primed it. Five of them. The body was pinned in one foot and I used some hemostats on that. The little part at the bottom is part of the skirt that attaches in the back. That was basecoated then glued on, then finished with the body.
I did the Sanguine Base and Ironhull Grey first. Just a solid basecoat. I pulled out the Forces of Menoth book and followed the gold Recipe. Next was an Armor Wash on the grey. I cut the IronHull with Morrow White to add highlight and details. Back to Forces of Menoth to do the Sanguine. I tried to do a lot of shading on the cloth. The Menoth symbols on the skirt and swords have some Morrow White to accent them. The sword blades and the small areas of chain-mail are Cold Steel with Quick Silver and Radiant Platinum accents. There was an Armor Wash in there too. This was on the body, both arms, the banners and the head.
I was really careful with the head. I attached the arms and banners, then I painted the face. I used the same guide I posted in the last post. I was careful with the eyes. I am falling in love with the Ichiban GnG kickstarter brushes. I used Midlund Flesh as the base, Khador Flesh and Ryn Flesh for shading. Some Sanguine Base on the lips. Thamar Black and Morrow White for the eyes.
Her hair is based in Bloodstone and highlighted with Bootstrap Leather. I am really happy with the face. I think it took 10 minutes to do. I attached her head and did the final touch-ups.
The photos below are in direct sunlight, a little bright, but I think you can get the idea.
An interesting thing happened at CaptainCon. I ended up with Saturday and Sunday 4am -8am shift. Not enough volunteers. So I pulled my big bag o stuff out of the car and started assembling, basing and priming models for Grey Muffin.
So, everything is on a base with Crackle plaster. The Cavalry horses got, assembled, putty and plastered. Choir got assembled, plastered and primed. Dervishes and Vigilant got assembled and plastered. I forgot to bring the Sanctifier. I started the conversion of a metal crusader into Blood of Martyrs. Some of the Daughters had been based. I pulled the arms off of all of them. I have specific ideas on how I want to mix and match the arms. I am ordering some replacement arms too. All the daughters are primed and plastered. Today I primed the Cav horses, the Dervishes and Vigilant, and finished the Mod to make the Blood of Martyrs. Next is back to work on Ambidextrous Toucan. Not sure what.
Until Next time.
Just do it…


Much ink has been spilled about those Intel Thunderbolt ports on Apple’s new MacBook Pros, but according to a story by X-bit labs, AMD doesn’t share the enthusiasm. In fact, an anonymous spokesperson quoted by the site suggests AMD doesn’t see much of a point to Thunderbolt at all.
"Existing standards offer remarkable connectivity and together far exceed the 10Gb/s peak bandwidth of Thunderbolt. These solutions meet and exceed the bandwidth utilization of many peripherals," the spokesperson reportedly stated. He (or she) went on to note that DisplayPort 1.2 already supports bandwidth of "up to 17Gb/s," and that total per-channel Thunderbolt bandwidth "is only 20% higher than one PCI Express 3.0 lane and about 52% higher than a single USB 3.0 port."
Now, fair enough: 10Gbps is probably overkill for most devices, and the DisplayPort 1.2 standard indeed supports greater bandwidth, which means Thunderbolt could be a curse rather than a blessing by limiting output to 10Gbps.
My geek sensibilities are slightly offended by some of the numbers quoted, though. A single PCI Express 3.0 lane can push 1GB/s, or 8Gbps, per direction, and USB 3.0 maxes out at 4.8Gbps. That would make Thunderbolt 25% faster than a PCIe 3.0 lane and a whopping 108% faster than USB 3.0—not exactly small potatoes. Of course, with few—if any—Thunderbolt devices available on the market, that point may be moot right now.


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Hayward, Elijah, 1786-1864
Dawson, Moses, 1768-1844
Hayward, Elijah, 1786-1864; Hammond, Charles, 1779-1840; Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845; Presidents; Elections; Politics and government
Letter from Hayward (Washington City) to Dawson (Cincinnati, Ohio) regarding Dawson's nomination to Senate; Hammond's evidence against him; intervention of President; need for material for defense; election to Supreme Court of Ohio.
United States; Ohio
MS-001 Moses Dawson Correspondence
University Archives and Special Collections, Xavier University Library, Cincinnati, Ohio
[Identification of item], MS-001 Moses Dawson Correspondence, University Archives and Special Collections, Xavier University Library, Cincinnati, Ohio
This item is in the public domain.

domain: politics


text:
Man Utd to profit from huge financial boost after avoiding penalty clause
Manchester United have qualified for the Champions League next season – and will now reap the financial rewards.
In addition to receiving TV money to feature in Europe's premier competition, and for finishing in a higher place in the league, the Red Devils' avoided a penalty clause.
The clause is contained within the club's 10-year kit deal – which worth a whopping £75million-a-year – with sportswear giants Adidas, and sees Man United incur a 30 per cent pay cut every time they fail to qualify for the Champions League for two successive seasons.
The huge cut would result in the Red Devils missing out on a huge £22.5million – and at a time when clubs are tightening their purse strings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But by beating Leicester City on the final day of the Premier League season, United confirmed their place in next year's competition.
And the good news doesn't stop there.
There is much money to be made from performing well in Europe, with last season's winners Liverpool earning a staggering £100.87million, according to ESPN.
Champions League qualification has also gone a long way to securing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's position as Manchester United boss.
There were question marks over the Norwegian early on in the season as United looked unlikely to qualify.
But Solskjaer – buoyed by the signing of Bruno Fernandes – rallied his troops and secured an impressive third-place finish.
* Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip
Source: Read Full Article


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BEIJING (AP) - China said it sent warplanes into its newly declared maritime air defense zone days after the U.S., South Korea and Japan all sent flights through the airspace in defiance of rules Beijing says it has imposed in the East China Sea.
NEW YORK (AP) - Revelers at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gave thanks for the giant balloons that flew above the city streets Thursday after a blustery storm accompanied by high winds nearly grounded them for only the second time in the parade's 87-year history.
NEW YORK (AP) - Stores are hoping holiday shoppers will gobble their turkey on Thanksgiving afternoon, but save the pumpkin pie for later.
RAMOS ARIZPE, Mexico (AP) - In Mexico's booming auto industry, the cars rolling off assembly lines may look identical, but how safe they are depends on where they're headed.
SAO PAULO (AP) - World soccer governing body FIFA said it was assessing the extent of damage to the stadium hosting the 2014 World Cup opener as officials inspected the grounds Thursday to determine what may have caused the deadly accident, just weeks before all stadiums for one of the biggest events in world sports were scheduled to be completed.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Annmarie Klein knows she's blessed to have survived the tornado that leveled her family's central Illinois home, and she understands most of the things they lost - the Jacuzzi, 60-inch TVs, diamond jewelry, the convertible and other vehicles - can be replaced.
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Thursday named his top assistant to look into the work of two commissions of inquiry he set up last summer to investigate the finances of the troubled Vatican bank and Holy See administration.
BEIJING (AP) - The state news agency is reporting that China has sent warplanes into its newly declared maritime air defense zone.
CHICAGO (AP) - Small businesses interested in buying marketplace health insurance plans for their workers will have to purchase them from agents, brokers or insurance companies for the next year, rather than through the government website.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - A gunman fired several shots at a pair of police officers, hitting one, and held two hostages for nearly nine hours - but all came away from the standoff without serious injuries.
NEW YORK (AP) - The big balloons soared along with the crowd's spirits Thursday as the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade made its way through the streets of New York City.
CHICAGO (AP) - In a short ceremony inside their Chicago apartment, two beaming brides made Illinois history Wednesday as they became the first gay couple to wed under the state's new law legalizing same-sex marriage.
SAO PAULO (AP) - With one thunderous crash, Brazil's troubled preparations for the World Cup are thrown in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, just as soccer gears up for the high-profile setting of the schedule for next year's big event.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Police on Wednesday were poring over a journal they say a 17-year-old girl kept while she and her two younger sisters were imprisoned by their mother and stepfather in their Tucson home for up to two years.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Space will serve up a banquet of activities on Thanksgiving, featuring a comet kissing the sun, a zero-gravity freeze-dried feast in orbit and a rocket launch attempt:
NEW YORK (AP) - In a city piled high with ambitious architecture, a seven-floor structure off the beaten path boasts a distinction of its own: It's billed as the first multistory, modular-built apartment building to open in the nation's apartment capital.
JERUSALEM (AP) - Escalating their ground offensive, Israeli troops backed by tanks and warplanes battled Hamas militants in a crowded neighborhood of Gaza City early Sunday. The fighting, including heavy Israeli tank fire, killed scores of Palestinians, forced thousands to flee and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes.
TOREZ, Ukraine (AP) - Rebels in eastern Ukraine took control Sunday of the bodies recovered from downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, and the U.S. and European leaders demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin make sure rebels give international investigators full access to the crash site.
NEW YORK (AP) - Few actors could register disbelief, exasperation or annoyance with more comic subtlety.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry is visiting Iowa for the fourth time in eight months, hoping for a second chance to win over Republican voters who delivered him a stinging caucus loss when he ran for president two years ago.
HRABOVE, Ukraine (AP) - International monitors moved gingerly Saturday through fields reeking of the decomposing corpses that fell from a Malaysian airliner shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine, trying to secure the sprawling site in hopes that a credible investigation can be conducted.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - Boko Haram extremists have killed more than 100 people and hoisted their black and white flag over a town left undefended by Nigeria's military, just 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the northeastern state capital of Maiduguri, a civil defense spokesman and a human rights advocate said Saturday.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A YouTube video that shows Kacy Catanzaro, a 5-foot, 100-pound gymnast, breezing through an obstacle course where others twice her size often fail has garnered more than 6 million views since she competed in the "American Ninja Warriors" TV show.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dwayne Johnson says he considers New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "a buddy" despite making Christie take down an online video that featured the Hollywood star.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Big Baby is staying with the Los Angeles Clippers.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - A U.S. drone fired several missiles at a sprawling compound in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, killing 11 militants, two Pakistani intelligence officials said.
PHOENIX (AP) - Showtime Shoni had quite the All-Star debut.
MADRID (AP) - Spanish police have arrested one of Colombia's most-wanted criminals, a 40-year-old man nicknamed the Rat who is one of leaders of a ruthless drug cartel linked to 400 murders and the shipment of largest amounts of cocaine to Europe and the United States.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli bulldozers on Saturday demolished more than a dozen tunnels the military said were being used by Hamas gunmen to sneak beneath the southern border of the Jewish state and carry out attacks on its soldiers and civilians.
FRESNO, California (AP) - While police in the Northern California city of Stockton searched Saturday for an accomplice in a bank robbery that led to a police chase and deadly shootout, investigators said Saturday they suspect the same men carried out other area bank heists, including one at the same branch hit this week.


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Urban Educators conduct more jobs in one day than some people conduct in a year. However, the present state of education in the media would have you to believe that most educators are no good. I formed Young Leaders of Atlanta with the intentions to tell the story of the Urban Educator to the world. Why? Because an educator who is acknowledged, respected, and celebrated for his/her commitment and passion for working with underrepresented youth, is an empowered educator. An empowered educator is an effective educator, and an effective educator changes lives.
Young Educators of Atlanta is on Facebook, LinkedIn, and MeetUp. It is a subsidiary of The PrOOF Project, Inc.

domain: sociology


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Thessaly (Greek: Θεσσαλία): landscape in northern Greece.
In a brief digression in his account of Xerxes' invasion of Greece, the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus notes that Thessaly might as well have been a large lake:note surrounded on all sides by mountains, its rivers would have filled the basin if it would not have had an outlet throught the Tempe canyon. This is correct. In the north is Mount Olympus; in the west are the Pindos mountains with the sources of the rivers Peneius, Pamisus, Onochonus; in the south is the Othrys with the sources of the Apidanus and Enipeus; in the east is the Ossa, which touches the Othrys behind Iolkos (modern Volos) and is separated from the Olympus by the Tempe.
So, Thessaly was a basin, but there was an outer circle: the Magnesian peninsula with the Pelion mountains, stretching into the Aegan Sea like a big tail, Achaean Phthiotis, and Malis. The outer borders were, therefore, the Olympus, Pindus, Thermopylae, and the Aegean Sea.
- Early settlement: Sesklo (Neolithic)
- Mycenaean: Dimini, Iolcus, and Petra
- Echoes from this age in later Greek mythology, like the stories about the Argonauts
- After the demise of Bronze Age Greece, probably several migrations
- The inhabitants of Thessaly spoke the Aeolic dialect, also known from Boeotia, Lemnos, and the Aeolian towns in Asia Minor
Archaic and Classical Age
- Seventh century: conquest of Perrhaebia in the north, the Magnesian Peninsula, Achaean Phthiotis, and Malis (the perioikoi, "those living around")
- Towns with aristocratic governments: Pharsalus (under the Echecratids), Larisa (under the Aleuads), Crannon (under the Scopades), etc.
- Unlike Central Greece, where hoplite warfare becomes the important, Thessaly maintains cavalry
- Sixth century: intervention in Central Greece (First Sacred War) and temporary control of Phocis
- Cooperation with the Pisistrads in Athens
- The Aleuads, the leading dynasty of Larisa, reorganize Thessaly; large parts of the population are unfree penestai (not unlike the helots of Sparta); the leader of the united Thessalian aristocrats is a magistrate called tagos
- c.500 BCE: After a battle at Thermopylae, the Thessalians lose Phocis, but retain four votes in the amphictyony of Delphi, plus control of the amphictyony of Anthela
- After the Persians have conquered Macedonia, the Aleuads offer earth and water to the Persians; they are forced to cooperate wit Persia after the Greeks are unable to defend Greece at Tempe
- 480 BCE: Xerxes can proceed through Tempe, passes through Larisa, crosses into Achaean Phthiotis, visits Halos, and proceeds to Thermopylae.
- The Persians retreat from Central Greece in the winter of 480/479 and remain in Thessaly; in 479, they are defeated at Plataea
- After the Persian War, the Spartan king Leotychidas leads an army to the north to punish the Aleuads for collaboration and puts an end to their seizure of the tageia. The Echecratids of Pharsalus now start to dominate Thessalian politics. They conclude an alliance with Athens.note
- In the Thessalian League, the tagos loses import;ance; there is a new office, the polemarch; during the Archidamian War and Decelean War, Thessaly usually supports Athens, although some aristocrats support Sparta and allow Brasidas' expedition to the north
- In the fourth century, there is a new Thessalian power: Pherae, with its leader Jason. In 375, he concludes an alliance with the other rising power, Thebes.
- 370: Assassination of Jason of Pherae; confused situation; Thessaly is taken over by the Macedonian king Philip II, who acepts the Thessalian cavalry in the Macedonian army and proceeds to interfere in Central Greece. After the Third Sacred War, he is in control of Delphi.
- 338/337: Thessaly becomes an independent member of the Corinthian League and supports Alexander's attack on the Persian Empire
- Although Alexander's empire desintegrates, Thessaly remains dependent on Macedonia; attempts to regain independence are prevented by Polyperchon and Demetrius Poliorcetes
- 294: Demetrius builds a new capital near Iolcus, Demetrias
- 283: Death of Demetrius, who is succeeded by Antigonus II Gonatas
- The Galatians break through and are defeated by Antigonus
- Brief reign of Pyrrhus of Epirus, who seizes power and guarantees the independence of Thessaly, but is killed in Argos (272)
- In the end, Antigonus Gonatas is capable of making one kingdom of Macedonia and Thessaly
- 239: Death of Antigonus, outbreak of the Demetrian War (r.239-229): the Aetolian League and the Achaean League try to conquer Thessaly.
- Antigonus' successors Demetrius II (r.239-229), Antigonus III Doson (r.229-221), and Philip V (r.229-179) retain control of Thessaly
- After the Second Macedonian War, in which the Romans defeat Philip V of Macedonia (Battle of Cynoscephalae, 197 BCE), Thessaly becomes independent again but loses Magnesia, which becomes independent
- A new constitution: in Larisa is one annual magistrate called strategos and a council
- The Thessalian marble quarries are opened; they produce the type of marble that is known as verde antico
- King Perseus of Macedonia tries to regain control in Thessaly, but the Romans intervene and defeat him in the Battle of Pydna (168 BCE)
- 148: The Romans annex Thessaly and Magnesia and add them to their newly created province Macedonia
- 48 BCE: In the decisive battle in Rome's Second Civil War, Julius Caesar defeats his rival Pompey the Great near Pharsalus
- Generally speaking, the Roman age was quiet. An interesting sketch of daily life in the Roman age is Apuleius' The Golden Ass
- 254: Looted by a Gothic army that was finally defeated at Thermopylae
- In the age of Diocletian (r.284-305), the province of Macedonia was broken up and Thessaly was divided into two successor provinces, which are known as Thessalia Prima and Thessalia Secunda.
- In the Byzantine age, many towns were fortified and Thessaly became one of the main areas of monastic life (Meteora)


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BreakfastThis is one of few homes in this area that has this feature.
The Chester A Arthur B&B is located at Logan Circle, NW, walking distance to the Convention Center & White House. The Smithsonian Museums are a short ride on public transportation. Enjoy a private room w/bath & a home cooked breakfast each morning
Laptop friendly workspace
1 king bed
Check-in is anytime after 2PM
Check out by 11AM
We are a reservation service for many DC area Bed and Breakfast's and Vacation Rentals. We have been service the Washington DC area for 30 years. Let our experience work to help you enjoy the best of the city. We have many properties throughout the city-- let us find the right on…
Response rate: 100%
Response time: within an hour
Always communicate through AirbnbTo protect your payment, never transfer money or communicate outside of the Airbnb website or app.


text:
There are many loan programs available - too numerous to cover them all, we've highlighted the programs more commonly offered today. Characteristics of each loan program are unique, so consult your mortgage professional for more information and to become familiar with the details of the programs available to you.
To help determine the best loan program for you, consider the following:
- How important is payment certainty? If knowing that your payment will be the same every month is important, consider a fixed-rate mortgage.
- How important is rapid equity buildup? If rapid equity buildup is a factor, consider a shorter amortization period, such as a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage.
- Do you anticipate increasing or stable income? If income growth is anticipated, you could take advantage of a lower start rate on an ARM or a temporary buydown.
- Other factors to consider include:
- ability to qualify at market rates for loan amount selected
- anticipated term of occupancy
- possibility of significant rate changes
- existence of up-front costs
Click here to view some of the commonly used loan programs.
Owning your own home provides several benefits. In addition to the satisfaction of being a homeowner, you can build equity, enjoy tax deductions*, say "good bye" to your landlord and take control of your living environment.
Whether you are a first-time home buyer, renter, or are purchasing a new or second home, we have an assortment of tools and loan programs to meet your individual financing needs. Use our easy-to-navigate site, or contact us by phone today.
You can assure sellers of your viability and negotiate more effectively when you're pre-approved. Find a loan officer now to apply online to be pre-approved.


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Updated: Aug 26, 2019
The Teide National Park is located in the heart of the island of Tenerife, which comprises the stratovolcano of the same name and the enormous volcanic caldera of Las Cañadas that surrounds it. The harsh and extreme climate of the park creates an environment that favors speciation. The arachnids are the most well represented invertebrates of the park: of the 101 species present, 70 are endemic and 22 are exclusive of the park. The Teide tiger spider is included in this last group.
The attractively patterned Teide tiger spider (Aculepeira annulipes) is characterized by the oak leaf mark on its abdomen and its banded legs, hence the specific name (Latin: «annulus», "ring" and «pes», "foot"). They build their spiriform webs of remarkable resistance on plants of Spartocytisus supranubius. They can be found in abundance during the spring, when a large number of arthropods –and their predators– are attracted by the bloom. They prey on a wide array of arthropods, from bees and butterflies (Cyclyrius webbianus) to robber flies and other spiders (Thomisus onustus).
The sexual dimorphism is very evident and cannibalism is a common behavior. For this reason, during the courtship, the small male approaches the female while vibrating the silk with caution to be recognized by her. In case she confuses him with prey, he would be devoured without regard.

domain: biology


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Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has designed a 4.5ha, off-grid island for British active wear brand Vollebak.
Vollebak Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, is accessible by boat, kayak or a 1.5km swim. It has no power supply and no running water. Instead, it relies on offshore wind turbines, solar panels and ground-source heat pumps to generate energy, which is stored in Tesla powerwalls.
The main accommodation will take the form of the Earth House – nine interconnected buildings constructed from natural materials such as thatch, seaweed and hempcrete and centred around a 6m-long fire pit.
There will also be a Wood House, a sunken annex built from the island’s trees, a Boat House made from seaweed and a Green House, made from emerald glass bricks, which will grow food for the island.
Bjarke Ingels, BIG’s founder, said: “Vollebak is using technology and material innovation to create clothes that are as sustainable and resilient as they are beautiful. In other words, the fashion equivalent of BIG’s architectural philosophy of hedonistic sustainability. For Vollebak Island, we incorporate local tradition elevated by global innovation in a self-sustained man-made ecosystem.”
Next month, auction-house Sotheby’s will sell parts of the island as “living art”.
Simon Shaw, Sotheby’s Global Fine Arts vice chair, said: “Vollebak Island represents the intersection of architecture, design, art and lifestyle – and is quite literally, a livable piece of land art that stands alongside the great projects of Robert Smithson, Andy Goldsworthy, Michael Heizer, Christo and Jeanne-Claude.”

domain: design


text:
You are here
Mead Library Poetry Circle
Join the Mead Library Poetry Circle with Karl Elder, Professor Of Creative Writing and Poet in Residence at Lakeland University. Bring along poetry from any time period to read and discuss, including your own works. All are welcome! Free program, funded by the Friends of Mead Public Library.

domain: library


Ron Perillo / 47 mins ago
Finally Available in EU and NA
HTC‘s standalone Vive Focus VR headset is finally available in Europe and North America. This follows a year after its announcement in the Chinese market.
The standalone design means that the VR headset does not need to be connected to a phone or PC to run. Furthermore, the Vive Focus VR headset offers 6-degrees of freedom. Enabling users to not only look around, but actually lean in and step into the VR environment.However, the current controller does not offer the same freedom.
Inside, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, similar to Facebook’s Oculus Quest. As for the display, it has a 3K AMOLED screen with 2880 x 1600 resolution (1440 x 800 per-eye), matching their high-end Vive Pro headset.
As for the software, it is running on HTC’s own Vive Wave platform based on Android. Unlike the Oculus Quest, HTC is not targeting gamers with this headset. Instead opting for entertainment and enterprise use. Which probably explains why its controller is not as advanced as the Oculus’ fully-tracking controllers.
How Much is the HTC Vive Focus VR Headset?
The HTC Vive Focus has an MSRP of $599 USD. Although there is also a $749 enterprise “Advantage” version. Users can opt for either the Electric Blue or the Almond White version.
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