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The risk of bleeding complications is high in patients with bone marrow failure and severe thrombocytopenia. Although supportive evidence is scarce,1 prophylactic platelet transfusion is routinely performed in these patients before vascular and surgical interventions.2–5
The threshold platelet count and the timing of transfusion remain controversial among clinical studies.6–8 Moreover, many patients suffer from bleeding despite prophylactic platelet transfusion. Therefore, platelet function testing could be important in assessing the therapeutic responses to platelet transfusions. A few studies have addressed this issue,9–12 but to our knowledge, no study has comprehensively evaluated the time-dependence of platelet function after transfusion.
It seems obvious that platelet transfusions enhance both primary and secondary hemostasis by increasing the number of platelets. However, some studies indicate that platelet function is diminished in patients with hematological diseases,13–15 and that enhanced coagulation observed after platelet transfusion are only partly explained by increases in platelet count.9 To further clarify the impact of platelet transfusion, we performed a prospective observational study on patients with bone marrow failure who were scheduled for prophylactic platelet transfusion before the insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC). The aim was to measure the coagulation enhancement at 1 and 4 hours after transfusion using thromboelastometry (ROTEM®; EXTEM® and FIBTEM®), multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) (Multiplate®; adenosine diphosphate [ADP], collagen [COL] and thrombin receptor agonist peptide [TRAP], and flow cytometry.)
This study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Lund (registration number 2011/626) and included 39 consecutive adult patients at the Department for Intensive and Perioperative Care, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden from September 2011 to March 2013. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before inclusion.
The inclusion criteria were thrombocytopenia <50 × 109/L due to bone marrow failure (chemotherapy, malignancy, or both) and scheduled platelet transfusion for planned CVC insertion. Exclusion criteria included patients with hepatic or renal failure, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and those receiving mechanical ventilation or anticoagulant therapy (except for thromboprophylactic low molecular weight and unfractionated heparin [subcutaneous]).
The indication for CVC insertion was chemotherapy in all patients. The CVC was placed either in the subclavian or internal jugular vein at the discretion of the performing physician. All patients received 1 therapeutic unit of platelets, containing approximately 260 to 270 × 109/L platelets. One therapeutic unit of platelets could be either whole blood pooled buffy coat platelets from 4 donors or apheresis platelets from 1 donor (Table 1). One therapeutic unit contained approximately 300 mL of which 75 mL was plasma in the blood pooled buffy-coat platelets, and 100 mL was plasma in the apheresis platelets. Samples for bacterial culture were taken from each therapeutic unit on the first day after collection and were proven negative before the unit was transfused in a patient. All transfused platelets were ≤7 days old and leukocyte reduced to 0.001 × 109 leukocytes per unit.
Blood sampling was performed using a vacutainer system (BD, Plymouth, UK) before the platelet transfusion, 1 hour, and 4 hours after the completion of transfusion. The 1-hour sampling point was chosen according to the recommended Hemovigilance protocol,16 and the sampling at 4 hours after transfusion was the extended time limit to perform analyses during office hours. Pretransfusion blood samples were collected from a peripheral vein within 4 hours before the platelet transfusion. Posttransfusion blood samples were collected from the CVC after the pertinent catheter was flushed with normal saline, and after 10 mL blood was discarded. No heparin or fibrinolytic drug was administered through CVCs.
Blood samples were analyzed at each time point by conventional coagulation tests; prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelet count, and fibrinogen along with ROTEM and Multiplate. The flow cytometry analysis was performed in the last 17 of 39 patients. Blood samples for ROTEM and flow cytometry analysis were collected in a 4.5-mL tube containing 0.109 M citrate (BD, Plymouth, UK). Blood for Multiplate analysis was collected in a 3.0-mL tube containing recombinant hirudin (Dynabyte GmbH, Munich, Germany).
Conventional Hematological Tests
PT/INR, aPTT, fibrinogen and platelet count analyses were performed at the accredited hospital laboratory. PT/INR was performed using a combined thromboplastin reagent (Stago prothrombin complex assay, SPA+, Stago). The Owren PT assay was calibrated using INR calibrators certified by the Swedish external quality assessment organization (Equalis, Uppsala, Sweden). The reference range for PT/INR is 0.9 to 1.2.
APTT was analyzed with an aPTT reagent from Actin FSL (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) Plasma fibrinogen concentration was measured using the Dade Thrombin reagent (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. CS-5100). The reference range for aPTT has been established locally to 26 to 33 seconds and for fibrinogen to 2-4 g/L.
Platelet counts were measured using the Sysmex XE 5000 cell counter (Sysmex Corp., Kobe, Japan). The locally determined reference range for platelets is 165 to 387 × 109/L for adult women and 145 to 348 × 109/L for adult men.
(ROTEM; Pentapharm, Munich, Germany) was used for viscoelastic evaluation of clot formation in the recalcified whole blood at 37°C. The test was performed within 2 hours from blood sampling. Tissue factor was used to trigger coagulation for EXTEM and FIBTEM. Thrombin-mediated platelet activation and fibrin polymerization are reflected on EXTEM, while fibrin polymerization is selectively shown on FIBTEM by inhibiting platelet–fibrin interactions using cytochalasin D.17 The latter correlates with plasma fibrinogen levels.18 The limited number of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors due to thrombocytopenia results in decreased platelet–fibrin interactions, and reduced clot formation time (CFT, seconds), α angle (°), maximum clot firmness (MCF, mm).19,20
Multiple Electrode Aggregometry
Multiplate (MEA, Roche, Rotkreuz, Switzerland) was used to measure an agonist-induced platelet aggregation. Hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood was stored at room temperature before analysis within 0.5 to 3.0 hours of blood sampling. The analysis was performed in duplicate at 37°C. The extent of platelet aggregation was measured by resistance (impedance) changes between 2 electrodes and is depicted as a graph. The area under the curve (AUC) is the best measure of platelet function. Three test assays were performed: ADP test (platelet aggregation in response to adenosine-5’-diphosphate), COL test (platelet aggregation in response to collagen), and TRAP test (platelet aggregation in response to thrombin receptor agonist peptide).
Flow Cytometry Analysis
Platelet function analysis using MEA is dependent not only on platelet function but also on platelet count.21–23 Therefore, increased platelet aggregation in response to agonists in blood from thrombocytopenic patients could be due to either improved platelet function, increased platelet count, or both. To address this, we performed flow cytometry that assessed the functional status of individual platelets independent of platelet count.
Flow cytometry analyses were performed within 2 hours after blood samples. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was obtained by centrifugation at 140g for 10 minutes. PRP 50 μL was incubated with 5 μL CD41a-PerCPCy5.5 (BD, cat no 333148) or 5 μL CD42b-PE (Dako, cat no R7014) for 15 minutes at room temperature. To activate the platelets, 10 μL labeled PRP was incubated with 40 μL ADP (final concentration (FC) 5 μM), CRP-XL (cross-linked collagen reactive peptide; FC 0.2 μg/mL), TRAP (2.5 μM) or HEPES-bovine serum albumin (BSA) buffer (20 mM Hepes, 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl2, and 1% BSA) (resting platelets) for 10 minutes at room temperature. To detect activation, PRP labeled with CD41a-PerCPCy5.5 was subsequently incubated with 5 μL CD62P-PE (Beckman Coulter, cat no IM1759) and PRP labeled with CD42b-PE was incubated with 5 μL PAC-1-FITC (BD cat no 340507) for 15 minutes at room temperature. As control 5 μL MsIgM-FITC and 5 μL MsIgG1-PE was incubated with 10 μL of resting PRP in 40 μL HEPES-BSA buffer. The samples were subsequently diluted in 2 mL Isoflow (Beckman Coulter, Bromma, Sweden) and run directly on flow cytometer, Gallios (Bio-Rad Laboratories Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK). In the Gallios, the laser setting W2 was used. Thresholds for forward scatter and side scatter were set to 2 and with live gate on CD41a-PerCPCy5.5 or CD42b-PE positive events. Forward scatter, side scatter, and fluorescence channels were set at logarithmic gain and live gate on CD41a-PerCPCy5.5 or CD42b-PE positive events were used. For MsIg-controls, no live gate was used, and platelets were defined according to their forward scatter/side scatter characteristics. The flow cytometry data were analyzed using the software Kaluza Flow Cytometry Software. Activation was expressed as a percentage of positive platelets, where a positive gate was set using the MsIg control antibodies (2% false positive).
Local hematomas were evaluated daily by trained staff on the hematological ward and documented on the electronic charts under set headings. Bleeding was classified according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Version 4.0),24 where grade 1 bleeding is characterized by mild symptoms. Grade 2 bleeding may require minimally invasive evacuation or aspiration. In grade 3 bleeding, transfusion, radiologic, endoscopic, or elective operative intervention are indicated. Grade 4 is life-threatening bleeding, and grade 5 is death.
A power analysis was performed using ROTEM-CFT and MCF changes from the previously published data in the same type of patients at our institution.10 The sample size requirement was lower with the MCF-based calculation, and thus, CFT was used for the final sample size. Based on the change of CFT of EXTEM (CFTEXT) from 181.5 to 123 seconds after platelet transfusion with a SD of 144 seconds, the required minimal sample size was calculated to be 35 with an α level of 5% and a β level of 50%. Differences between laboratory results before, 1, and 4 hours after transfusion were calculated using 2-tailed, Wilcoxon matched pairs signed test. Correlation coefficients were calculated using Spearman rank correlation method. All variables were considered nonparametric (Gaussian distribution not assumed), and all distributions are summarized using the median with 25th and 75th percentiles Q2 (Q1 and Q3). P values < 0.01 were considered significant.
To address the risk that the increased values seen after platelet transfusion are caused by regression to the mean, we performed 3 different tests on platelet count (for details see Supplemental Digital Content, http://links.lww.com/AA/A878).
- Regression analysis baseline versus 1 and 4 hours after transfusion.
- Modified Bland-Altman plot. Baseline versus Δplatelet count 1 and 4 hours after transfusion.
- Median split analysis.
Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 6.03 for Windows, GraphPad Software, La Jolla, California.
Demographic data of the subjects are shown in Table 1. In terms of types of transfused platelets, 2 of 39 platelet transfusions were blood pooled buffy-coat platelets, and 31 of 39 platelet transfusions were ABO-matched (Table 1).
Because gender differences did not affect the results after the preliminary analysis, all data are presented in aggregate form. All patients received a single-lumen CVC. Twenty-six CVCs were inserted in the subclavian vein and 13 in the internal jugular vein. Four grade 1 bleeding events occurred, but no grade 2 to 4 bleeding events were detected.
Conventional Hematological Tests
Platelet count increased from 24 × 109/L (18–32) at baseline to 42 × 109/L (31–50) at 1 hour after transfusion (P < 0.0001). The count was 40 × 109/L (29–50) 4 hours after transfusion (P = 0.047 vs 1 hour after transfusion) (Table 2 and Fig. 1). PT-INR, aPTT, and fibrinogen were unchanged after transfusion.
MCFEXT was increased from 38 (32–45 mm) before to 46 (41–52 mm) at 1 hour after transfusion (P < 0.0001) and did not change 4 hours after transfusion (P = 0.06). The increase in platelet count after 1 hour (ΔPLC) correlated statistically with the increase in MCFEXT (r = 0.56, P < 0.0002) (Table 2 and Fig. 2).
Clotting time EXTEM (CTEXT) was decreased from 58.5 (50–78 s) before to 53 (45–61 s) at 1 hour after transfusion (P = 0.0006) and was 57 (52–70 s) 4 hours posttransfusion (P = 0.025, vs 1 hour after transfusion). CFT EXTEM (CFTEXT) was changed in a similar manner. The α-angleEXT was not significantly changed at any time (both P > 0.04). Similar to plasma fibrinogen values, FIBTEM results were not affected by platelet transfusion (both P > 0.74). Fibrinogen level correlated well with MCFFIBTEM (MCFFIB) (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) (Table 2 and Fig. 2).
All Multiplate analyses were significantly increased after 1 hour and were not diminished at 4 hours after the transfusion (Table 2 and Fig. 1).
There was no change in the expression of CD62P in any of the samples. The binding of PAC-1 after ADP-stimulation showed a small but significant decrease 1 hour after transfusion. After stimulation with CRP, the binding of PAC-1 did not change after transfusion compared to before transfusion (Table 2 and Fig. 3).
This prospective observational study in thrombocytopenic patients with bone marrow failure evaluated the duration and mechanisms of changes in coagulation induced by prophylactic platelet transfusion. We found that platelet transfusions increased platelet count significantly by 74% at 1 hour after transfusion, and that this increase persisted for 4 hours after transfusion. When evaluating coagulation using thromboelastometry (ROTEM), we found that MCFEXT increased 1 hour after transfusion, and that this increase persisted for 4 hours. Platelet transfusions also accelerated the onset of tissue factor-induced coagulation (CTEXT). CTEXT is a sensitive parameter to detect the initiation of the coagulation cascade. One therapeutic unit of platelet transfusion contains about 100 mL plasma, which may also accelerate CTEXT onset. This effect may partially explain the transient decrease in CTEXT observed 1 hour after transfusion. Platelet aggregation in response to 3 different agonists on Multiplate also demonstrated steady increases in aggregation throughout the entire time of observation. These results indicate that hemostatic effects of platelet transfusion last up to at least 4 hours and suggest that an optimal window for performing an invasive procedure in patients with bone marrow failure would be 4 hours. Although the hemostatic improvement may last longer, we were limited by office hours and sampling volumes for further measurements.
Flow cytometry analyses showed that after platelet activation, expression of the granule protein CD62P on the surface of the platelets was unchanged after stimulation with different platelet activators (see Methods). Given that almost every other platelet in the blood samples after transfusion was a transfused platelet, this finding suggests that transfused platelets were functioning as well as the patient’s own platelets.
Still, after platelet activation with ADP, we observed a slight decrease in the expression of PAC-1. Overall, the nonsignificant changes in platelet function from flow cytometry indicate that the increase in hemostasis after transfusion is not explained by better functioning platelets but rather by an increase in the platelet count.
We found no significant bleeding complications but did identify 4 cases of grade I bleeding events. These findings suggest that the carefully designed clinical practice at our institution is safe. However, our study was not sufficiently powered to make a conclusive statement on this clinical end point.
Patients in our study had fibrinogen levels in the upper part of the reference range, well correlated with MCFFIBTEM (Fig. 2). Lang et al.25 suggest that low clot firmness in thrombocytopenic patients, measured with ROTEM, may be restored with high fibrinogen levels. Velik-Salichner et al.26 performed a study on thrombocytopenic pigs and showed that high-dose fibrinogen administration improved clot firmness more than platelet transfusion and that fibrinogen concentrate stopped induced bleeding faster than did platelet transfusion. Whether the high fibrinogen levels noted in our study resulted from an inflammatory process, or if they were a compensatory mechanism for low platelets, is unclear. Further clinical studies are needed to verify whether platelet transfusions can be avoided in thrombocytopenia if fibrinogen levels are high. There was a statistically nonsignificant increase of plasma fibrinogen (3.7 g/L) at 4 hours compared with the baseline and 1 hour after transfusion (both, 3.3 g/L; Table 2). This increase could have been an inflammatory reaction secondary to the CVC procedure in itself or a reaction to the transfused platelets. Because the effect was more pronounced after 4 hours as compared with 1 hour after platelet transfusion, it was unlikely to have been caused by plasma contained in platelet concentrate.
A limitation with the present study is that analyses were not performed immediately after completion of the platelet transfusion. The coagulation enhancement immediately after transfusion might have been even greater than the improvement that we observed 1 hour after transfusion. However, current recommendations state that if refractoriness to platelet transfusion is suspected, a new platelet count should be measured 10 to 60 minutes after completion of the transfusion.3,16 Our study complied with this recommendation. Another limitation of this study is that platelet function assays were done under minimal shear so that platelet function under higher flow conditions, which is influenced by hematocrit and von Willebrand factor, could be assessed.27
Neither ABO-matching nor the age of the platelet transfusions affected the coagulation enhancement in this study. This relationship has been shown in other studies,3,28 but our study was underpowered and not designed to detect these effects.
The present study is an important reappraisal of hemostatic effects of platelet transfusion in thrombocytopenic patients. There is a paucity of evidence for prophylactic platelet transfusion in the threshold for bleeding and the dose for hemostasis.3–6 Furthermore, it is unclear whether prophylactic platelet transfusion before an intervention is superior to a strategy of therapeutic transfusion only.7,8 The threshold platelet count of ≥ 50 × 109 at our institution was safe in a recent retrospective analysis29 but is arbitrary and not based on large randomized trials. Another retrospective study30 showed that a platelet count as low as 20 × 109/L did not increase bleeding complications during CVC insertions in patients with acute leukemia. On the contrary, 2 independent studies, 1 prospective audit,31 and 1 retrospective analysis32 indicated that a platelet count <50 × 109/L increased the risk for hemorrhagic complications. Furthermore, the site of CVC insertion is important. If the bleeding site is compressible (e.g., the internal or external jugular vein), the need for normal hemostasis is not as high as if the insertion site were noncompressible (e.g., the subclavian vein). Other factors of proven importance are the caliber of the inserted catheter, the experience of the operator, and the use of real-time ultrasound guidance.33 Taken together, prospective studies are needed to define optimal transfusion trigger(s) for platelet concentrates in thrombocytopenic patients due for a CVC.
This study adds information about how a platelet transfusion contributes to the coagulation system, how its effect may be measured, and the duration of this measured coagulation enhancement.
Prophylactic platelet transfusions given to thrombocytopenic patients with bone marrow failure improve hemostatic variables by increasing the number of platelets, and not via enhancement of platelet function. Improved clotting parameters as measured by thromboelastometry, and platelet aggregation on MEA appear to persist between 1 and 4 hours after transfusion.
Name: Thomas Kander, MD.
Contribution: Thomas Kander contributed with design and conduct of the study, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Attestation: Thomas Kander approved the final manuscript and also attests to the integrity of the original data and the analysis reported in this manuscript and is the archival author.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Name: Kenichi A. Tanaka, MD, Msc.
Contribution: Kenichi A. Tanaka provided help with data analysis and manuscript preparation.
Attestation: Kenichi A. Tanaka approved the final manuscript and also attests to the integrity of the original data and the analysis reported in this manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest: Kenichi A. Tanaka has served on the advisory board for the TEM International, Munich, Germany (the company was not involved in the manuscript preparation).
Name: Eva Norström, MD, PhD.
Contribution: Eva Norström contributed with design and conduct of the study, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Attestation: Eva Norström approved the final manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Name: Johan Persson, MD, PhD.
Contribution: Johan Persson contributed with study design and manuscript preparation.
Attestation: Johan Persson approved the final manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Name: Ulf Schött, MD, PhD.
Contribution: Ulf Schött contributed with study design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Attestation: Ulf Schött approved the final manuscript and also attests to the integrity of the original data and the analysis reported in this manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
This manuscript was handled by: Avery Tung, MD.
We would like to thank the assistant nurse, Lena Åkesson, who contributed with the collection of samples. We also like to thank 2 technicians, Eva Johansson and Anette Ingemarsson, who performed the flow cytometry analysis as well as Olof Axler, MD, PhD, and assistant professor, Sven Björnsson, for useful discussions.
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2. Apelseth TO, Bruserud O, Wentzel-Larsen T, Hervig T. Therapeutic efficacy of platelet transfusion in patients with acute leukemia: an evaluation of methods. Transfusion. 2010;50:766–75
3. Blumberg N, Heal JM, Phillips GL.. Platelet transfusions: trigger, dose, benefits, and risks. F1000 Med Rep. 2010;2:5
4. Estcourt LJ, Stanworth SJ, Murphy MF. Platelet transfusions for patients with haematological malignancies: who needs them? Br J Haematol. 2011;154:425–40
5. Stanworth SJ, Dyer C, Choo L, Bakrania L, Copplestone A, Llewelyn C, Norfolk D, Powter G, Littlewood T, Wood EM, Murphy MFTOPPS Study Group. . Do all patients with hematologic malignancies and severe thrombocytopenia need prophylactic platelet transfusions? Background, rationale, and design of a clinical trial (trial of platelet prophylaxis) to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic platelet transfusions. Transfus Med Rev. 2010;24:163–71
6. Slichter SJ, Kaufman RM, Assmann SF, McCullough J, Triulzi DJ, Strauss RG, Gernsheimer TB, Ness PM, Brecher ME, Josephson CD, Konkle BA, Woodson RD, Ortel TL, Hillyer CD, Skerrett DL, McCrae KR, Sloan SR, Uhl L, George JN, Aquino VM, Manno CS, McFarland JG, Hess JR, Leissinger C, Granger S. Dose of prophylactic platelet transfusions and prevention of hemorrhage. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:600–13
7. Stanworth SJ, Estcourt LJ, Powter G, Kahan BC, Dyer C, Choo L, Bakrania L, Llewelyn C, Littlewood T, Soutar R, Norfolk D, Copplestone A, Smith N, Kerr P, Jones G, Raj K, Westerman DA, Szer J, Jackson N, Bardy PG, Plews D, Lyons S, Bielby L, Wood EM, Murphy MFTOPPS Investigators. . A no-prophylaxis platelet-transfusion strategy for hematologic cancers. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:1771–80
8. Wandt H, Schaefer-Eckart K, Wendelin K, Pilz B, Wilhelm M, Thalheimer M, Mahlknecht U, Ho A, Schaich M, Kramer M, Kaufmann M, Leimer L, Schwerdtfeger R, Conradi R, Dölken G, Klenner A, Hänel M, Herbst R, Junghanss C, Ehninger GStudy Alliance Leukemia. . Therapeutic platelet transfusion versus routine prophylactic transfusion in patients with haematological malignancies: an open-label, multicentre, randomised study. Lancet. 2012;380:1309–16
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10. Flisberg P, Rundgren M, Engström M. The effects of platelet transfusions evaluated using rotational thromboelastometry. Anesth Analg. 2009;108:1430–2
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12. Samama CM, Djoudi R, Lecompte T, Nathan N, Schved JFFrench Health Products Safety Agency (AFSSAPS) Expert Group. . Perioperative platelet transfusion. Recommendations of the French Health Products Safety Agency (AFSSAPS) 2003. Minerva Anestesiol. 2006;72:447–52
13. Leinoe EB, Hoffmann MH, Kjaersgaard E, Johnsen HE. Multiple platelet defects identified by flow cytometry at diagnosis in acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 2004;127:76–84
14. Leinoe EB, Hoffmann MH, Kjaersgaard E, Nielsen JD, Bergmann OJ, Klausen TW, Johnsen HE. Prediction of haemorrhage in the early stage of acute myeloid leukaemia by flow cytometric analysis of platelet function. Br J Haematol. 2005;128:526–32
15. Mittelman M, Zeidman A. Platelet function in the myelodysplastic syndromes. Int J Hematol. 2000;71:95–8
16. Kerkhoffs JL, van Putten WL, Novotny VM, Te Boekhorst PA, Schipperus MR, Zwaginga JJ, van Pampus LC, de Greef GE, Luten M, Huijgens PC, Brand A, van Rhenen DJDutch - Belgian HOVON cooperative group. . Clinical effectiveness of leucoreduced, pooled donor platelet concentrates, stored in plasma or additive solution with and without pathogen reduction. Br J Haematol. 2010;150:209–17
17. Lang T, Toller W, Gütl M, Mahla E, Metzler H, Rehak P, März W, Halwachs-Baumann G. Different effects of abciximab and cytochalasin D on clot strength in thrombelastography. J Thromb Haemost. 2004;2:147–53
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domain: medical


With the help of the Export NWC command, the Revit user can export multiple 3D views to Autodesk Navisworks Cash file format (.nwc) in one click.
Starting The Command
- In the ribbon, navigate to the BIMrx tab >> BIMrx Core panel >> Export NWC command:
- You will be presented with a dialog with options to select the 3D views to be exported along with the export path and the internal Navisworks exporter options:
Export NWC Dialog interface:
- Export Active 3D View toggle. If the active view is not a 3D view, the info panel will report that, and the Export button will be inactive.
- Export Selected 3D Views in The Project Browser toggle: If there are no selected 3D views in the project browser, the info panel will report that, and the Export button will be inactive.
- Export 3D views with names starting with a Prefix toggle: If there are no 3D views with names starting with the prefix defined in (4) the info panel will report that, and the Export button will be inactive.
- Prefix field
- Path field: Here you can input the desired file saving destination, if the path is not defined, the Export button will be disabled.
- Browse button: Displays a folder select dialog to update the Path field.
- The Info Panel displays information about the files to be exported depending on the selected option, it also indicates if there is any missing information or errors.
- Navisworks Export Options Panel: This panel displays the export options for the internal Navisworks exporter. These options will vary slightly depending on the Revit version. These are the same options found in the Navisworks Revit file reader options page (see Autodesk's Navisworks Help Documentation)
- Export... exports the current settings to a XML file that can be imported into other Revit models
- Import... Imports a previously exported settings file.
- The Export NWC button will dismiss the dialog after exporting the selected views to the specified directory. The exported files will have the same names as the views. The selected options will be saved to the Revit model for easy retrieval.
- The Cancel button will dismiss the dialog without exporting the files nor saving the options.
- Selected views in the project browser that are not 3D Views will be ignored.
- The settings Import... and Export... functionality is compatible with the Navisworks Revit file reader options exported from Revit's native NWC export options dialog, however it is not compatible with XML settings files exported directly from Navisworks, as the two formats are natively not compatible.


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Plot: Jack (Adam Sandler) has a mind for the world of ads, but his latest task seems like a tall order even for his promotional skills. Dunkin’ Donuts wants to stay with Jack, but they need a big campaign and if he can’t deliver it, they will take their business to someone who can. While he has a keen ad sense, Dunkin’ Donuts wants Al Pacino in a commercial to promote their new Dunkaccino drink and of course, Jack can’t imagine a world where Pacino would agree to that. Meanwhile, his twin sister Jill (Adam Sandler) has just arrived to visit and while she loves her brother, he seems bothered to have to deal with her at all. After a series of clashes that him eager to see her return home, she manages to catch the attention of Pacino and by turn, Jack sees a chance to land the commercial of a lifetime. But can he put aside his bad attitude toward his sister or will it cost him his biggest account?
Entertainment Value: If there was a hall of fame for bad movies, Jack and Jill would be a first ballot contender. This is just an outlandish, mind boggling cinematic experience, the kind of movie that seems destined to be a cult classic, as it just throws every rule out the window. While most of Adam Sandler’s career is comedies that are more reunions for his friends than attempts at effective movies, Jack and Jill seems beamed from another planet, even by his standards of wackiness. The movie centers on Sandler playing twins and it is the laziest approach to this concept ever, with Sandler in a cheap wig and some minor makeup in the second role. But it is so ludicrous, it starts to work at times and the movie really goes for broke in chasing humor that is manic, terrible, and even fairly unpredictable, as it is often so random. Al Pacino’s presence alone makes this a must see, regardless of your taste for bad movies, but the slapdash writing, baffling sense of humor, and outright nonsensical elements ensure that for those who dine on terrible, outlandish cinema, Jack and Jill is a feast. This is a terrible movie, but it reaches peaks of awfulness few bad movies can even imagine, so to me, it earns its stripes as a bad movie hall of fame pick.
He might be one of the all time great actors, but Al Pacino can stink up the joint with the best of them. He has rattled off some outrageous performances in his career, chewing scenes and wringing scripts dry, but he channels pure madness here as a twisted take on his real life persona. As outlandish as his performance is in general, it is the Dunkaccino segment that rockets Jack and Jill past mortal bad movie into the stratosphere of jaw droppingly terrible. I love Pacino in this movie and his ridiculous presence has to be seen to be believed. Adam Sandler is his usual self here in one role, then just hams it up beyond belief as the twin sister. This is shrill, lazy, and just Sandler shouting all of his lines, a turn so horrible it becomes surreal at a certain point. Katie Holmes is in the middle of this nonsense and gives a warm, sincere performance, which is quite a contrast. The cast also includes David Spade, Nick Swardson, Eugenio Derbez, Tim Meadows, John McEnroe, Norm MacDonald, Shaq, Allen Covert, Dana Carvey, and of course, Subway’s Jared Fogel.

domain: artistic


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On Tuesday 30 June NPM Principal Investigator and University of Waikato academic Professor Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe) was awarded the top Science Communications Prize from the Royal Society Te Apārangi at the Prime Minister's Science Awards.
NPM congratulates Rangi on this outstanding achievement and award, recognising his excellence in research and science communications, engaging communities in mātauranga Māori, Māori research and insights.
NPM Deputy Director Professor Poia Rewi (Ngāti Manama, Tuhōe, Tūwharetoa) was farewelled from the University of Otago in late June and welcomed in early July to his role as chief executive of Te Mātāwai, the agency that promotes the use of Te Reo Māori.
An MBIE review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) system (together with the Australian Research Council and the Australian Bureau of Statistics) has created new divisions for Indigenous research in Socio-Economic Objectives (SEO) and Fields of Research (FoR) classifications.
There was a high level of involvement from the research sector throughout the review process with almost 500 submissions, and as well as the new divisions for Indigenous research, it also resulted in the translation of all the Māori codes into Te Reo.

domain: news


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Faculty and Staff Directory
|Title:||Graduate Student Coordinator and Coordinator of Community Programs
|School of Visual Art and Design|
|LinkedIn:||My LinkedIn profile|
Anna Toptchi is the Graduate Student Coordinator for four degree programs in the School of Visual Art and Design. She is also the Coordinator of Community Programs and organizes visiting artists, student exhibitions, and SVAD’s Artist Residency Program through Stormwater Studios.
She holds an M.A. in the History of Art from NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Florida. She’s a writer on critical, environmental, and activist art and believes in the power of art to formulate questions, challenge power structures, and champion a better world.


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Aperture Science Spatially Challenged Companion Cube
Perfect. Cut one out as a laser cutting 'party piece' for our open day at the school.Thanks for the instructable.
A nearly invisible Tyrannosaurus Rex made on a laser cutter
Ridiculously Heavy Table
Hipmunk Bathroom Status Indicator Sign
Thanks for the file. I made it easily.
Space Invader Vinyl Cutouts
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Exciting day today Ladies! Maggie Sottero’s Fall 2013 collection is officially being released in September but since we are a premier retailer, we are getting first dibs on their new line! Take a look at the 3 gorgeous new gowns from their Fall 2013 line that arrived today!!
Introducing the Valerie! Glimmering sequins lend a magical sparkle to this fantasy inspired fit and flare gown. Gentle ruching on the bodice is accented with a Swarovski crystal motif. Finished with strapless sweetheart neckline and signature corset back closure. Stunning!
Welcome Marianne!This stunning gown has beautifully embellished lace that adorns this dramatic fit and flare. With a sweetheart neckline and subtle sparkle, this gown is sure to win you over. It is finished with signature corset back closure.
Lastly we have Veda! Elegant and refined is this Alencon lace over Romance Satin fit and flare, featuring a plunging V-neckline. Complete with illusion short sleeves and grosgrain ribbon belt with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Finished with alluring open back and signature corset closure.
These three gowns are gorgeous! Call us at (718) 332-4385 to make an appointment to try on the gowns!!

domain: design


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Imagine if every time you opened a new tab in your web browser it instead opened an entirely new window on your desktop. It would basically mean living like an animal, right?
However, while we have long since gotten used to being able to easily switch between tabs while browsing the internet, things aren’t always so straightforward if you’re using other apps — be it Maps, Keynote, Pages, or some other third-party app.
Fortunately that’s all changing thanks to the new tabs feature on macOS Sierra. Here’s what you need to know if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.
macOS Sierra has a ton of neat features that’ll change the way you work using your Mac. The ability to play videos inside Messages probably isn’t one of them, but it’s certainly a nice touch that makes chatting to your friends and sharing content that much better.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.
Apple Watch is getting a ton of new features this fall for fitness freaks, giving wearers the ability to not only track their own fitness better than ever, but also go head-to-head with other Apple Watch-loving friends.
With iOS 10 and watchOS 3, Apple Watch owners can share their Activity rings to view each other’s progress and compete to be fittest person in the clique. Here’s how to get started:
Unless you’ve been snoozing like a Snorlax, you can’t have escaped the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go. The smash hit instantly revolutionized mobile gaming (and rejuvenated Nintendo’s fortunes), and it’s also helping Pokéfans around the world get in shape.
You see, Pokémon Go is more than just a game: It is actually a fitness app in disguise. And with the help of these top tips from a Pokémon Master, you can ensure you are maximizing your fitness gains while you pocket the best Pokémon at the same time.


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TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
The book with two halves, two front covers, two beginnings and no back page.
Have you ever looked at something and then taken a second look because you are not quite sure of what you have seen? This unique edition of MYSTIFY YOUR MIND is full of images that need that second look.
For example, in this edition you will come across what appears to be an image of a lake, surrounded by country hills. The image is so clear that the lake appears to be there. The twist is; there is no lake. What seems to be a lake is a wall. Also in this quirky edition, you will experience how camouflage on an animal’s fur can really deceive the predator in its environment. There are quite a few animal illusions in this edition.
This edition of MYSTIFY YOUR MIND is a little quirky compared to the other editions. This book has two front covers, two beginnings, no last page or back cover. Also, to add flavour to this book, the images on the two middle pages can be looked at from two different perspectives, depending on which side of the book you’re looking at them from.

domain: library


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Winds Of Plague
From: Upland, CA, United States
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Winds Of Plague News
Below is our complete Winds Of Plague news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
DevilDriver today kicks off the "Bound By The Road" North American tour, featuring support from Death Angel, Winds Of Plague, The Agonist and Azreal. Dates and venues for the trek are as follows:
2/8 - Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory
2/9 - Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater
2/10 - San Jose, CA @ The Ritz - San Jose
2/12 - Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
2/14 - Chicago, IL @ Portage Theater
2/15 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
2/16 - Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
2/17 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
2/18 - Reading, PA @ Reverb - w/ Hed PE, Death Angel, Motograter & The Agonist
2/19 - Patchogue, NY @ The Emporium
2/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
2/21 - Dayton, OH @ Oddbody's
2/23 - Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live
2/24 - Mcallen, TX @ Sofie's Saloon
2/25 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
2/26 - Austin, TX @ Grizzly Hall
2/28 - El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
3/1 - Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
3/3 - San Francisco. CA @ The Regency Ballroom - no Winds of Plague
3/4 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre - no Winds of Plague
3/5 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven - no Winds of Plague More...
SoCal groove metal outfit Devildriver will headline a 19+ date North American tour, dubbed the "Bound By The Road" tour, beginning February 8th, 2017 in Santa Ana, CA. The tour will feature support from special guests Death Angel, Winds Of Plague, The Agonist, and Azreal.
Tickets will go on sale this Friday, December 16 at 10:00am local time. Check your local venues for ticketing information.
Devildriver frontman Dez Fafara states, "Devildriver is heading out on our first headline run in over three years with a killer set list and full production, AND we are bringing some heavy bad ass bands along with us! Get your tickets early and come out with some friends, 'cause this tour is going to be a monster banger!" More...
Enterprise Earth premieres a new music video for "Amid Vultures", taken from the band's latest album "Patient Ø", out in stores via Attila frontman Chris Fronzak's Stay Sick Recordings.
Check out now "Amid Vultures" below.
The band will be out on the "Time To Reap Tour" next month with Winds Of Plague and Rings Of Saturn. Check out all dates below: More...
The Southern California metal titans from Winds Of Plague today signed a record deal with Entertainment One Music (eOne) / Good Fight Music. The band is also announcing a first headlining tour in two and a half years, with Rings Of Saturn as direct support.
Vocalist Johnny Cooke comments: "Over two years ago Winds Of Plague played a show at Chain reaction in Anaheim with Bleeding Through on their farewell tour. While I was walking off that stage I was certain that would have been the final show for us as well. We had an amazing 10 year run, played some wild shows, met a lot of great people and now it was time to focus on ourselves as individuals and let the band fade into the background.
"However, I was wrong. Now, in 2016 we find ourselves grounded and in a place to return to the stage. After playing a handful of SoCal shows, the fire and passion is raging harder than ever and we are very excited to announce our first run of headlining shows in years. The run of shows takes us to Texas and back accompanied by hard hitters Rings Of Saturn and Enterprise Earth. More...
Winds Of Plague has issued the following announcement about cancelling upcoming tour dates:
"Due to unforeseen circumstances involving the health of one of our members we are unable to make this upcoming tour. We will make it up to you in the near future.
"We were really looking forward to coming and playing to old and new fans. Please go to the shows and support our friends in Unearth and Texas In July." More...
When a very attractive, scantily clad young woman claims she loves metal, get a second opinion.
Yeah, I said that.
And I’m not claiming you’re all fakes, female metal fans. I know you’re out there. Most of us can personally attest to that. I’m talking about the posturing selfie types.
You know the ones. They lurk online, Facebooking, Tweeting, posing in metal-looking gear with an Impaled Nazarene logo prominently displayed, skin showing, pouty siren’s call etched across the face.
Sometimes they actually go to the lengths of posting music videos, and when they go there, they go big. “ROOOOTS, BLOODY ROOOOTS <3 METALCHICK FOR LIFE <3 DEATH TO ALL BUT METAL” and so on. Methinks the ladies doth protest too much.
With a few exceptions, these girls do this for one primary reason: they know how to attract men via the path of least resistance. Make that ZERO resistance. Metal is an overwhelmingly male-dominated genre, fostering a “homoerotic relationship between bands and their fans,” as former Sepultura merchbabe Marta Svetek puts it.
So when such a photo goes up, the hungry dogs swarm for their scraps, as it were. You don’t even need to read the Tolstoy-length comment thread to guess its simple pig-swooning gist. How could some girls resist?
A female musician I spoke with, who wishes to remain anonymous (more on that later), recalled of playing with her former metal band:
“Crowds of girls would come into the club between sets and prey on all the guys, then go outside for nearly the band’s entire set, probably blasting Miley or One Direction in their earbuds. I actually remember talking to some girl about a band whose T-shirt she was wearing. She said, ‘Oh, this band? I just thought the shirt was cute.’”
This tactic has suckered many a metalhead, and many enterprising folks have seized on it. Why else would countless popular metal sites and blogs hire “spokesmodels” to push their merchandise? Why else would niche custom fashion lines like Toxic Vision gain such a mammoth following? Why else would 70,000 Tons Of Metal hire “pool girls?”
Why, in other words, does metal culture virtually have to IMPORT hot women like Julius Caesar providing for the appetites of his legions?
Simple: because metalheads (i.e., dudes) like to stare at girls’ tits and asses, and some girls, spurred on by the “hot groupie fantasy,” (in Svetek’s words) like to provide such sights. Capitalism, baby.
I’m not saying I’m above all this, and I’m not exactly judging the arrangement. I believe in the free market. However, I don’t have to embrace everything the market produces, and one very dubious aspect of this Budweiser-ad approach in metal is when it manifests in the music itself. More...
Online classroom creativeLIVE has announced its next "Music & Audio" course, "Advanced Bass Production," whcih will be hosted by Winds of Plague bassist and Sound Temple Studio founder, Andrew Glover.
The two-day workshop, free to watch live, will begin February 24th at 9 AM PST. The class marks creativeLIVE's first-ever two-day course dedicated to the art of recording, editing and mixing great modern bass tones. For more information, and to enroll today, head over to this location.
"Bass guitar is one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern rock recording, but it is the foundation to a great mix," commented Glover. "In this class I'll be covering and expanding upon a lot of the basics to recording bass, as well as teaching you some advanced techniques to take your bass sounds to the next level." More...
Winds of Plague released latest album "Resistance" in late 2013 and has been on the road ever since.
The band has also finished a new lyric video for "Left For Dead" that features footage from a recent live performance. Check it out below, courtesy of Artist Direct.
After releasing a music video for "Say Hello To The Undertaker," Winds of Plague is now also streaming the full new album "Resistance" online.
Winds of Plague has posted a music video online for the track "Say Hello To The Undertaker," which is taken from the album "Resistance" released via Century Media Records.
The band has teamed up with Purevolume.com for the video release, which can be found below. "Say Hello To The Undertaker" was directed/produced by Shan Dan.
Winds of Plague will be releasing the new album "Resistance" next week on Century Media Records. The band will then hit the road on the farewell Bleeding Through tour starting November 1st and will appear at Rob Zombie's Great American Nightmare on Saturday night in Pomona, CA.
You can now check out the premiere of the lyric video for "Sewer Mouth," courtesy of our friends at Revolver Magazine, in the player below.
Winds of Plauge has been busy with the recent release of avideo for "Open The Gates of Hell" (still available for viewing (right here) and preparing for an upcoming tour with Bleeding Through.
The band's new album "Resistance" will be in stores on October 29th, just in time for the tour. Now you can also check out the new single "Say Hello To The Undertaker" in the player below, courtesy of Lambgoat.com. More...
Winds Of Plague have emerged as one of the leaders of the new generation of heavy music. With their innovative and high energy style, the band has captivated audiences across the US and overseas. The new album, "Resistence," which was produced by Will Putney (Asking Alexandria, Chiodos) is set for release on October 29 via Century Media Records.
Check out the first video for the song "Open the Gates of Hell" which was premiered over at Alternative Press's website at this location. It can also be viewed in the player below:
Look for the band to take their war on the road this fall on Beeding Through's farewell tour. Confirmed dates w/Bleeding Through & Oceano & Gideon & Sworn In: More...
Bleeding Through has checked in with the following announcement about performing a farewell tour:
"Our Farewell to the United States Tour starts this November! Come say goodbye with us and our friends Winds of Plague, Oceano, Gideon and Sworn In!!
"VIP tickets are now on sale, general admission tickets will be on sale Monday, September 9th AND we have a few more dates to be announced!"
Dates are as follows:
11/1 Denver, CO at The Summit Music Hall
11/3 Minneapolis, MN at Skyway Theatre - Studio B
11/4 Joliet, IL at Mojoe's
11/5 Louisville, KY at Expo Five
11/6 Pittsburgh, PA at Altar Bar
11/8 Detroit, MI at The Majestic Theatre
11/9 Milwaukee, WI at Wisconsin Metalfest
11/10 Cleveland, OH at Ohio Metalfest
11/11 Allentown, PA at Crocodile Rock
11/12 Clifton Park, NY at Upstate Concert Hall
11/13 Sayreville, NJ at Starland Ballroom
11/14 Springfield, VA at Empire
11/15 Greensboro, NC at Greene Street
11/16 Jacksonville, FL at Roc Bar
11/17 Atlanta, GA at Masquerade
11/19 Houston, TX at Walters
11/20 Dallas, TX at Trees
11/21 San Antonio, TX at White Rabbit
11/22 Lubbock, TX at Jake's More...
Winds of Plague has finished work on fourth studio album "Resistance," which is the follow-up to "Against The World."
"Resistance" is set for release October 29th on Century Media and comes just in time for the band's tour with Bleeding Through (see dates below). More...
Wreckfest is an all-ages metal & hardcore festival taking place in Southern Oregon at The Provolt Festival Field this July 12th and 13th.
The festival’s main stage will be host to more than twenty bands over the course of the two day event. A “campfire sessions” stage will host half a dozen pop-punk, indie, and alternative acts late Friday night for patrons who have purchased camping passes.
The first lineup announcement has now been made and consists of the following bands:
A Skylit Drive
Destruction of a King
I Declare War
To Each His Own
Winds of Plague
Additional Wreckfest festival information can be found at Facebook here.
Spectral Blasphemy has posted a new 35 track compilation album online, which is currently available for streaming or name-your-price download. Check out the release in the player below or over at Bandcamp here. The track listing is:
1. The Bridal Procession - Pillage the Scavenger 06:29
2. To Envy The Horrid - The Red Squall 04:34
3. The Breathing Process - The Living Forest (Part I).mp3 04:05
4. Bloodshed By Reality - Obliterated Centuries 02:58
5. Betraying The Martyrs - When You're Alone 03:52
6. Daarchlea - Qhilav 05:07
7. XisForEyes - Nomorial 02:52
8. Illuminations - Crippling Stillness 04:20
9. Before The Harvest - Demise-Intro 03:13
10. Darkness Before Dawn - Undeserved Hatred 04:00
11. Centipede - Me Against Me 02:46
12. Lorelei - Godfather Death 06:15
13. Ophelia's Breath - Become Stronger 03:55
14. Perdition - Throne Of Exile 04:56
15. Xenobiotic - Covenants 04:45
16. Tears Of The Martyrs - Anyone Unnecessary Fate 02:54
17. Knights Of The Abyss - Juggernaut 02:28
18. Winds Of Plague - Monsters 03:47
19. Birthing the Aftermath - Overture 02:28
20. Holod - Atlantis 03:25
21. Bow Prometheus - Burned 03:22
22. Dead Silence Hides My Cries - Soul Has A Price 03:03
23. Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom 06:34
24. Descend the Gods - Etheric Impregnation 03:26
25. Maelstrøm - Misanthrope 03:36
26. One We Created - Facade of Truth 03:38
27. Majesty - Shadows 05:09
28. Ovid's Withering - Oedipus Complex 06:25
29. Rosewood - Wetheapocalypse 04:17
30. Shag Harbor - Dreamland 03:50
31. XisForEyes - The Crow Road 04:25
32. Serpents - The Chasm 05:17
33. Betraying The Martyrs - Man Made Disaster 04:12
34. Before The Harvest - Lazarus Pits 03:15
35. Beware The Lobster - Blood Sparkle 05:09 More...
Killswitch Engage will be headlining the upcoming California Metalfest. It's a special gig for the Grammy-nominated, Massachusetts metal band celebrating its 10th anniversary of 2002's "Alive or Just Breathing." To commemorate the album, KSE will play the album in its entirety, from start to finish, as well as other more recent tracks.
The sixth annual California Metalfest will be held at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA on Saturday, November 24th. Ash Avildsen, founder of California Metalfest had this to say: "Alive or Just Breathing is one of the most important and timeless albums for this era of heavy music. KsE's special headlining set combined with the rest of the line-up is going to make for an incredible day of metal and memories. Having all these bands in the same place on one day is really exciting both as a fan and as a festival producer."
WWE Superstar "Mankind" Mick Foley will be hosting the festival along with several other stars TBA who will be doing signings and appearances. There will also be many carnival style prize games where fans can win special, limited edition band merch and memorabilia instead of stuffed animals. More...
Winds of Plague has officially parted ways with drummer Art Cruz due to creative differences and the band wishes him all the very best in his future endeavors.
"After many years of having Art Cruz with us we have decided its best for both parties involved to go our separate ways," states vocalist Johnny Plague. "Art is a great drummer and I'm sure he will be back behind the drums one way or another soon."
Art Cruz adds, "I'm very thankful for the experience. I love those dudes. I will continue to play drums and on the business side, I am currently pursuing artist management. To keep up with what I'm doing, follow me on twitter at twitter.com/artimusplague."
Winds of Plague is currently holed up in the studio working on the follow-up to "Against The World." The band comments, "We just finished recording our new album in which we recruited long time friend Brandon Gallindo to record as well as fill in for The All Stars Tour starting this week! See you soon!" The All Stars Tour kicks off on August 3rd. A full list of dates is below. More...
Amazon is celebrating March the right way with the March is Metal Month campaign. Lasting for the whole month, the promotion features a number of metal albums all available digitally for under seven dollars.
Included in the digital promotion are twenty-one albums from Century Media artists. A full list of albums can be seen below so be sure to take advantage of this sale by clicking one of the purchase links below!
Aborted - Global Flatline
Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions
Architects (UK) - Here And Now
Deicide - To Hell With God
Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
ICS Vortex - Storm Seeker
In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading
In This Moment - A Star-Crossed Wasteland
Insomnium - One For Sorrow
Intronaut - Valley of Smoke
Krisiun - The Great Execution
Napalm Death - Utilitarian
Sleeping Giant - Kingdom Days In An Evil Age
SS-Kaliert - Subzero
Suicide Silence - The Black Crown
TesseracT - One
The Devastated - Devil's Messenger
The Great Commission - Heavy Worship
Vallenfyre - A Fragile King
Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder
Winds Of Plague - Against The World

domain: entertainment


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The Reading Festival 27 – 29 August 1976
It was August Bank Holiday 1976 and I was back at Reading for the annual festival. By now a group of us went every year, usually traveling down in the back of a hired transit van. The line-up for this festival wasn’t as strong as previous years, and included a mix of reggae, classic rock, underground and heavy metal bands. Punk was on the horizon, but yet to break through. The other memories I have are of rain (some, but not lots in 1976, as I recall), mud, lots of drunkenness (by us, and every one else as I remember), and lots (and I mean lots) of can fights, which seemed fun at the time, but were probably actually pretty dangerous. If you got a half-full can of Watney’s Red Barrel on the back of your head, you really knew about it, and several people must have come home from the festival with pretty nasty cuts and scars. The festival was moving from a friendly, hippy vibe to a drunken, laddish, almost aggro vibe. This also matched the way the line-up and the music would develop, as it moved more to heavy metal in the late ’70s. The main attraction for us this year was Rory, who was the man, and a hero to us all.
Friday’s line-up consisted of Stallion (don’t recall who they were), Roy St John (American pub rock), U Roy (reggae), Supercharge (a Liverpool band fronted by singer and sax player Albie Donnelly, who had quite a bit of success in the mid-70s and played a lot up and down the country; I remember seeing them several times), Mighty Diamonds (reggae), Mallard (Cpt Beefheart’s original Magic Band, and pretty good too) and headliners the hippy, trippy and quite weird Gong. I remember watching Mallard and Gong, who were both pretty good.
Saturday had Nick Pickett (a folk singer, who I’d seen supporting Curved Air a few years earlier), Eddie & The Hot Rods (classed as pub rock as much as punk at this stage), Moon, Pat Travers (ace guitarist), Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum, Sadista Sisters, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Van Der Graaf Generator, Phil Manzanera and the 801 band, Camel and Rory Gallagher. Stand outs for me were Van Der Graaf who played an amazing extended version of Killer (John Peel: “Bloody marvellous, Van der Graaf Generator. Come on let’s here it for them”), Manfred Mann, and Phil Manzanera and the 801 band, which was seen as a pretty big deal at the time as Phil had assembled a stella line-up of himself (guitar), ex-Roxy compatriot Brian Eno (keyboards, synthesizers, vocals), Bill MacCormick (bass, vocals), Simon Phillips (drums), Francis Monkman (ex-Curved Air, piano and clavinet) and Lloyd Watson (ace slide-guitar, vocals). The 801 band released one album, and a live lp which was recorded at one of three gigs that they played, at the Festival Hall. They played a great version of the Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows. But Rory was the highlight of the weekend. We were all massive fans, and made our way to the front of the crowd for his set, which was just amazing. A recording of Rory’s set that night exist which shows that he played: Take What I Want; Bought and Sold; Everybody Wants To Know; Drinkin’ Muddy Water; Tattoo’d Lady; Calling Card; Secret Agent; Pistol Slapper Blues; Too Much Alcohol; Souped-Up Ford and Bullfrog Blues. The Rory Gallagher band was Rory (guitar, vocals), Lou Martin (keyboards), the great Gerry McAvoy (bass) and Rod de’Ath (drums).
Sunday featured: Howard Bragen; Aft; The Enid (who got the crowd singing along with Land Of Hope And Glory and became a festival favourite), A Band Called ‘O’; Back Door (very jazzy); Sassafras; Brand X (featured Phil Collins on drums); AC/DC (one of their early UK appearances, and just blew everyone away; Angus and Bon Scott on top form); Sutherland Bros & Quiver; Ted Nugent (had some arguments with the crowd who were throwing cans at him); Black Oak Arkansas (Jim Dandy to the Rescue 🙂 ) and Osibisa (who were billed as special mystery guests, which seemed a bit of a let down, but got the crowd going and went down well).
Another fun time had by all 🙂
Note; for the first time there was an official glossy programme, as well as the newspaper programme, produced by the local Evening Post. Both are pictured here.
Archive for the ‘Ted Nugent’ Category
The Reading Festival 27 – 29 August 1976
Ted Nugent in concert 1976, 1977 and 1980
Ted Nugent is, to say the least, outspoken and holds some strong views. When I first went to see him he was proclaiming: “It ain’t Rock’n’Roll if it ain’t loud” and “If its too loud you’re too old!” and indeed, loud he was. This was at the time of his “Free For All” and “Cat Sratch Fever” albums. He arrived in the UK just as punk was breaking. Now if Ted Nugent is anything, he sure ain’t punk rock. Ted plays straight ahead rock’n’roll and some pretty neat guitar. I first saw him at the Reading Festival in 1976, and then at Newcastle City Hall in 1977 and Newcastle Mayfair in 1980. Ted was wild and crazy on stage, with a massive mane of hair. One memory from the Mayfair gig, that my mate Norm reminded me of. Remember this was at the time of punk rock, when certain elements of the crowd would spit at the band. Well for some crazy reason a guy in the Mayfair crowd tried spitting at Ted. Ted didn’t take too kindly to this and had it out with the culprit, threatening to come down onto the dancefloor and sort him out. Ted played a big Gibson guitar, and wore lots of leather. Ted also had a big ego and would say some quite outrageous things, and continues to do so today. Some Ted quotes from the 1977 tour programme: “The sounds I make are all power, you’ve got to feel it when you’re blowing your rocks off. People think I’m deranged but it’s all about sex and audible, physical and visual recreation.” “There’s a ringing in my ears and I think that’s it the call of the wild. I got ears, I can hear it. The kids are going crazy, foamin’ at the mouth, ready to tear the legs off the security guards…and I should be modest?” “I can play real tasty too, all the time in fact. Sure I’m a show man, I’m the best entertainer of them all but listen to the classy way I do it”. “People were writing all kinds of shit about me. How I’d raped too women – one of them a nun. How I ate raw meat. It was vindictive. The only people I ever beat up were journalists.” and there’s more…”There’s no one to overshadow me, there ain’t nobody who can outdo me at my own game. I mean have you ever heard anyone who sounds like me?”.
And a few more I found on the internet: “Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians – except for the occasional mountain lion steak.” “Americans have the right to choose to be unarmed and helpless. Be my guest.” “I am the Great White Buffalo and I play an American-made Gibson guitar that can blow your head clean off at 100 paces.” “Gibson has been making the finest electric guitars the world has ever witnessed for over 70 years. They are as American as God, guns and rock and roll.”
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/ted_nugent.html
Typical Ted Nugent setlist from 1977: Stranglehold; Just What The Doctor Ordered; Free for All; Snakeskin Cowboys; Cat Scratch Fever; Wang Dang Sweet Poontang; A Thousand Knives; Dog Eat Dog / Stormtroopin’; Hey Baby; Great White Buffalo; Hibernation; Motor City Madhouse.
The late Mick Farren reviewed Ted’s Hammersmith Odeon show for the NME, 12 March 1977, and said: “We’ve heard a great deal lately about how Ted Nugent abjures drugs and alcohol. Perhaps that’s his mistake. The occasional soul searching high might have produced some kind of sensitivity in him. Sensitive this boy is not. Compared to him, Lemmy and Motorhead seem positively pre-Raphaelite.”
I found a flyer for the Steve Gibbons band in my programme for the 1977 gig, so I guess they must have been the support act that night.


text:
The new Mustang GT500 has only been previewed with flashes in the video
The 2010 Shelby GT500
A still from Ford's video announcing the new Shelby GT500
Ford has capped an action-packed Detroit Show by revealing an all-new, super performance Mustang Shelby GT500, reviving a model it stopped selling in 2015 and greatly enhancing the performance of the outgoing car.
The new Shelby edition, revealed in a cryptic video (below) at the end of the second show preview day, is claimed to have around 700bhp, and to be the most powerful street legal Mustang ever offered. It is more than twice as powerful as the first-ever V8 performance model of 1967.
The video shows the car with wide longitudinal body stripes, and with two lights set centrally into the grille.
Ford is believed likely to build a limited run of GT500s, and to put the build in the hands of a specialist company, but the company won’t specify the size of the batch.
Sales are due to begin in 2019, but the car is unlikely to be sold in the UK. The recently launched (but slower) high performance model, the GT350, didn’t cross the Atlantic either. However, the GT500 looks a strong candidate to appear on US racetracks, like so many of its Shelby predecessors.


text:
April 3 - Heiner Murmann has been appointed to the management board of Schenker AG. He will be responsible for the global air and ocean freight business of DB Schenker Logistics.
Murmann will start the role on May 1, 2013.
Logistics provider Ahlers will open a warehouse in Orientir Park in Moscow, Russia.
OMA Group has made a trio of appointments to strengthen its operations in West Africa.
Svitzer Africa, Middle East and Asia (AMEA) has appointed Tina Benjamin-Lea as regional chief operating officer effective May 2, 2021.
Austria-headquartered heavy lift and transport specialist Prangl is establishing a business unit in Stockholm, Sweden.
Portugal-headquartered Laso Transportes has opened a branch in Slovenia.
DSV Panalpina has acquired South Africa-based courier Globeflight Worldwide Express.
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domain: economics


text:
Man arrested in connection with 2017 deadly shooting
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting that happened in Baton Rouge in 2017, documents show.
Authorities said Patrick Carter, 39, was arrested on Friday, Jan. 20, on a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Lorenzo Dixon, 32.
Arrest documents show the shooting happened on Winbourne Avenue on April 22, 2017, and Dixon died six days later.
The documents indicate Dixon was shot while in the driver’s seat of a Honda Accord. He was able to crawl out of the vehicle but was allegedly shot several more times at close range, according to the documents.
Since Dixon’s death, investigators said they were able to find a witness who claimed to have heard the confessions first-hand of those responsible. The witness told police that Dexter Deon Collins and Carter confessed to shooting and killing Dixon, according to arrest documents.
Collins was arrested in 2020 and charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in the shooting.
The arrest documents indicate the witness claims Collins admitted that he was paid $2,000 and two ounces of heroin by Martrell Harris to kill Dixon. Collins claimed that he and Carter were also instructed by Harris to shoot and kill Jornell Keelen, according to the arrest documents. The documents state Keelen lured Dixon to the scene of the deadly shooting.
According to arrest documents, the witness also claims to have seen or heard an argument between Collins and Carter in which Collins was angry at Carter for shooting Dixon after Collins had shot him and for not killing Keelen.
Harris has been investigated by several law enforcement agencies in the past, according to arrest documents. They state that Harris is accused of being the head of a group of large-scale drug dealers. The group is allegedly responsible for multiple drug-related murders in the Baton Rouge area, according to the arrest documents.
Click here to report a typo.
Copyright 2022 WAFB. All rights reserved.

domain: law


text:
Apple, Microsoft, and Google are part of 113 companies that make up CDP’s 2015 Climate A List, a list of companies identified as making strong actions to mitigate climate change.
The list is part of not-for-profit organization CDP’s annual Climate Change Report, released this week. Nearly 2,000 companies submitted information to be independently assessed against CDP’s scoring methodology, with only 113 making the A-grade list — featuring the three largest companies by market capitalization, Apple, Microsoft, and Google, among many others.
“The influence of the corporation is mighty,” said Paul Dickinson, CDP’s executive chairman and co-founder. “The momentum of business action on climate change suggests we have reached a tipping point, where companies are poised to achieve their full potential. They need ambitious policy at both a national and international level that will support them in this regard and will catalyze participation from industry at scale.”
CDP’s Global Climate Change Report 2015 “offers analysis of the current state of the corporate response to the causes of global warming.”
“The case for corporate action on climate change has never been stronger and better understood,” the authors of the report write. “With the scientific evidence of manmade climate change becoming ever more incontrovertible, leading companies and their investors increasingly recognize the strategic opportunity presented by the transition to a low-carbon global economy.”
The report also found that nine out of ten companies now have activities in place that are intended to, and are succeeding at, lowering the company’s carbon output. This compares with less than half of companies in 2010, showing the recent trend towards sustainable awareness that has exploded over recent years.
“We must take swift and bold action to address the root causes of climate change,” said Meg Whitman, President and CEO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, formerly Hewlett-Packard, which also has achieved A List status this year. “This means disrupting the status quo – changing the way we do business, holding ourselves and others accountable, and creating innovative solutions that drive a low-carbon economy.”
The full climate list can be seen as part of CDP’s Global Climate Change Report 2015
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Electrifying Industrial Heat for Steel, Cement, & More
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...


text:
You certainly brought it this time.
-The game was fun and got directly to the point.
-It had a sort of "frantic-ness" that made the gameplay entertaining.
-The deviation in the bullets kept it fresh without totalling pissing me off.
-Has a "wow" factor. Levels 3 and 4 certainly did their job making me run away from 10+ guys.
-Good music, I love good music in games and yours went well with the game.
-No reaction with the targets, it would have been nice.
-The store should have been in between rounds, i can understand how many people would have missed it on the front page.
Other than that, the game was pretty solid! Although there are a handful of games that are at a little better quality than this i.e. (Endless Zombie Rampage, and other zombie games) you certainly gave it your best try.
it takes way too many
direct hits to kill these guys.
i liked it tho needs some work.
firstly its a game u just cant get very far the first time u play it.. which is a let down because u just know while playing it the first.. second.. third.. fourth.. fith.. etc etc that u WILL have to play it again and again and again and again just to get enuff upgrades to play it.. once again and again and again.. do u see the patern? once u unlocked everything its no longer exciting and u have no desire to replay it again, so yea its fun at first tho it lacks some excitment when u play it several times and starts to become a bore,
another thing i noticed is that some enemies hit u when they are around 1 inch away from u.. (on screen) which i beleive is a bug.
pesonally what id sugest to make this more exciting is to well.. firstly allow for visual customisation of the player.. colour/shape etc etc
secondly id say to add in several weapons.. shotgun/pistol/machinegun etc etc even some landmines/grenades
umm maybe allow the player to change the backround or have it change every wave.. white is a little dull after a while.
maybe possibly add in some objects such as explosive barrels/walls or even some traps which could kill a few.
and then hmm id say to maybe up the acuracy and power of the gun at the start.. yes u need to upgrade it to get better anyways but the acuracy and power from when u first play it is awful and i can see it deter people.. almost made me wanna stop after 5 minutes.
im not sayin this is a bad game.. its decent.. tho with some more work it would be front page material :)
In options u can select which wave ud like to start on so you dont technically have to start back at the begining.
The collision detection isnt really a bug its just that all the enemies share the same collision box. Thanks for pointing that out tho.
Im glad you liked it and thanks for the feedback, it was very helpful!
you guys say theres none but you gotta click store on the main menu. Although ti should be more obvious
at least one person had the balls to enter the store and find the upgrades lol I guess ill have to put that somewhere more obvious
ehhh, its ok
it says "upgrade and kill your way to the top", but theres no upgrades, at all, so, the game gets a 4, if it avtually had upgrades i think it could be very good
check the store for the upgrades

domain: game


text:
God: A Biography (Paperback)
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
What sort of "person" is God? What is his "life story"? Is it possible to approach him not as an object of religious reverence, but as the protagonist of the world's greatest book—as a character who possesses all the depths, contradictions, and abiguities of a Hamlet? This is the task that Jack Miles—a former Jesuit trained in religious studies and Near Eastern languages—accomplishes with such brilliance and originality in God: A Biography.
Using the Hebrew Bible as his text, Miles shows us a God who evolves through his relationship with man, the image who in time becomes his rival. Here is the Creator who nearly destroys his chief creation; the bloodthirsty warrior and the protector of the downtrodden; the lawless law-giver; the scourge and the penitent. Profoundly learned, stylishly written, the resulting work illuminates God and man alike and returns us to the Bible with a sense of discovery and wonder.
About the Author
Jack Miles is a writer whose work has appeared in numerous national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, the The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, where he served for ten years as literary editor and as a member of the newspaper’s editorial board. The recipient of a Ph.D. in Near Eastern languages from Harvard University and a former Jesuit, he has been a Regents Lecturer at the University of California, director of the Humanities Center at Claremont Graduate University, and visiting professor of humanities at the California Institute of Technology. His first book, God: A Biography, won a Pulitzer Prize and has been translated into fifteen languages. Currently senior advisor to the president of the J. Paul Getty Trust, a foundation supporting art and scholarship, Dr. Miles lives with his wife and daughter in Southern California.

domain: literature


A new technique for low temperature CVD TiN is introduced as a barrier/glue layer for sub 0.5 micron applications. Excellent conformity (> 70%) is achieved while maintaining good electrical performance and reliability. The films are shown to be polycrystalline TiN with no preferred grain orientation. In addition compositional analysis shows significant amounts of carbon in the film presumably between the grains. The electrical properties of the CVD film were evaluated at the via and contact level. The contact and via resistances of tungsten plugs using CVD TiN glue layers are shown to be comparable to plugs using sputtered TiN. The barrier performance of the film was also evaluated at the contact level. The superior junction leakage data indicate that the CVD TiN film should have wide application as a barrier metal for sub 0.5 mm applications.


text:
Comments from the author about writing: My favorite poem is Every Time I Climb A Tree, because I spent my summers high in the treetops of our river poplar. I also read a lot as a child, and feel honored to be a children's author now that I'm grown up. I also started writing songs when I was eight, and my first book rhymes, just like a song, I try to keep my stories short and sweet.
My first picture book was just published by the Ames Public Library, with all proceeds going to the library. It is coming out in conjunction with the Grand Reopening of the library Sept. 14, 2014. My first traditionally published book is BOOM BOOM, which comes out Nov.11. I also have a book coming out Summer 2016 with Dial. I have also published articles in Highlights For Children, including a historical piece on Kate Shelly, Iowa native. I have also written poems that are in Lyrical Iowa.
Book Types: Fiction
Audience Types: Children
Genre: Picture Books
Are you willing to do programs for schools, libraries, or other groups? Yes
If you are willing to do programs, will you charge a fee? Yes, transportation costs, overnight stays, and for half or all day.
E-mail Address: email@example.com
Author's Web site: http://www.sarvinder.com
Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette
Books By This Author
- Boom Boom! Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster, 2014.
- Dog Tales Too: Old and New, Ames Public Library, Ames, Iowa, 2014.
- Blue Sky forthcoming by Dial press 2016.


New York Yankees Off Season Outlook, Part 2: Infield
Last time I went over the New York Yankees’ outfield situation and contracts that will make it harder to find new talent before the 2016 season.
If you missed that here is the link.
Now, in part two of our off-season outlook, I’ll take a look at the infield which does have more room for change, but it’s still a complicated matter. Unlike the outfield, the infield’s biggest problems were mostly based off lack of performance. Injuries came here and there, but the only significant one came to Mark Teixeira (just their luck).
Mark Teixeira: 8 yr $180,000,000/Expires in 2017
Chase Headley: 4 yr $52,000,000/Expires in 2019
Stephen Drew: 1 yr $5,000,000/Expires in 2016
Brendan Ryan: 2 yr $5,000,000/Expires in 2017
Dustin Ackley: 1 yr $2,600,000
Didi Gregorius: 1 yr $553,900
The main issues with this group:
- Will Mark Teixeira be able to continue the success he had this past season and STAY HEALTHY?
- Will Chase Headley find the success he had in the last half of the 2014 season?
- Who is going to play second base?
Oddly enough the player who has the easiest situation in the whole infield is Didi. He started off slow, but then showed why he was a great acquisition (to this point), and why he’ll be here moving forward.
Now to the questions
Mark Teixeira was the team’s MVP last season before he was injured. Greg Bird filled in nicely, but Brian Cashman made it clear with Tex and Alex Rodriguez still under contract, Bird will likely be in Scranton to start the season. With that being said, a lot of pressure will be put on Teixeira once again to prove he can remain healthy and conssitent. This is still a win now team, and Teixeira is a big factor in the ‘win’ part of that. Is asking Teixeira to do what he did last season again too much to ask? He could’ve very well slow down like most of the team did in August/September, but then again, he could’ve led the team further than they got with Carlos Beltran right by his side. One thing that’s for certain is Teixeira definitely made the organization feel better going into next season. He does still have that power, and I also saw him being a smarter hitter with the shifts. Teixeira was a .230 hitter for the start of the year with a lot of home runs, I saw an old dog re-learn some old tricks in going for contact in situations that called for it. He and Brian McCann started doing more of this as the season went on and I hope to see it right off the start (when needed) next season. I understand they’re both two of the more power guys in the lineup, but they’re also two of the best hitters in the lineup, and if needed getting on base is what matters. Contact hitting is what the Yankees couldn’t do in 2015 and they must get it figured out by next season.
I’ll save the second base circus for last and go to the third base situation; Chase Headley simply had an awful year in 2015. The defense got better as the year went on but for a veteran that shouldn’t be a problem to begin with. The Yankees had nearly no one to plug in at third behind Headley except Brendan Ryan and now it seems like they should. Third base is not a position the Yankees have a lot of options at so they’ll have to hope Headley finds the defensive talent the Yankees know he has this off-season once again. This might be an overreaction to a bad year, but it’s no understatement as to how much it effected the Yankees getting out of innings. The fact that fans had to hold their breathe every time he got a chance to throw doesn’t leave a good feeling heading into next season. The only thing that did is the Wild Card game in which Headley made a couple of very good plays to keep them in it. He did also lead the team in hits this season, and the amount of times he got an at-bat with the bases loaded was almost unbelievable. In general though, it wasn’t a good year for him, and going into next year he’ll be another ‘question mark’ added to a long list.
Now to the fun part.
In September I wrote up about the Yankees’ second base situation and it’s still as confusing as it was then. Stephen Drew was non-existent in September due to a serious injury, but I find it hard to believe that was the only reason. I think the Yankees finally got their heads right and went to a platoon of Ackley and Rob Refsnyder. Ackley was a target for the Yankees years ago when Robinson Cano left, and now he’s here. Ackley was primarily playing left field with the Mariners, but with the Yankees outfield being log jammed the Yankees will definitely move him to second base and let him compete with Rob Refsnyder for the starting job. Of course this can all change if one of the two are traded in the off-season, but that’s rather here nor there.
Drew gave the Yankees 17 homers and good defense, but home runs aren’t what they need and it appears they’re going to sacrifice that defense for contact hitting in Ackley or Ref. Another possible option is Jose Pirela who as the other two doesn’t have the defense they want, but is very fit for Yankees stadium and his hitting seems to be above the Triple-A level. It’d also be good to have a bat in the lineup who can get on base and be a threat to run. Of course the fan-favorite is Refsnyder and he did show more promise as he got more playing time in September. If the Yankees didn’t want him he would’ve been traded for Ben Zobrist, yet he’s still here. Also, if you’re looking for a free agent option, there’s is not a very good option of second baseman in the MLB, and the ones that are above-average players are locked up. It’s very likely Ackley will be the starting second baseman, and whether or not Refsnyder is in the mix too will depend on his development this off-season.
More from Yanks Go Yard
- Yankees swipe intriguing minor-league FA lefty flamethrower from Braves
- What does Carlos Rodón’s new jersey number mean for Domingo Germán?
- 3 lefty relievers Yankees can still sign without breaking the bank
- Red Sox living in different financial ‘galaxy’ than Yankees Killer Rafael Devers
- Yankees slice surprising fan favorite off roster to make room for Tommy Kahnle


Q. What is Paragliding?
A. Paragliding is a form of unpowered flying and uses the same principles as gliders (sailplanes) and hanggliders. The engine here is the gravity, which makes all of them descend (less than 1.5 m/s) through the air but also flying ahead (with more than 60 km/h). In still air a 1000 meter descent/gliding with a paraglider results in 9 km flight.
Q. So far so good but where is the Miracle?
A. The miracle is the SUN. Because of the energy it contributes to the earth’s surface and because of the wind’s energy (which is also result of the Sun’s activity). In the real atmosphere, during our gliding (and descending) flight, we meet surprisingly often and surprisingly many areas of lifting air. When this air is rising faster than the glider’s descending rate we can gain height of hundreds and even thousands of meters, this can extend the duration of our flight (6-7 hours and more) and aids cross-country flights of several hundred kilometers. Just like birds -without a drop of fuel and engine noise – only because of the free Sun energy!
Q. What is a Paraglider?
A. A Paraglider is actually the wing that gives us the freedom of unpowered flying. It consists of ram-air, aerofoil canopy and manylines (strong thin ropes/cords) and risers on which the pilot is suspended in his comfortable harness. The first paragliders were developed from parachutes and looked like a modern, steerable, skydiving canopy. Thus came the name paraglider (a gliding parachute), paragliding (gliding/flying with parachute). The shape, profile and characteristics of modern paragliders change and develop but will always use the same aerodynamics’ principles as the wing of any airplane.
Q. What are the main components of a Paraglider and how does it fly?
A. The canopy consists of two surfaces, connected with ribs, which divide it into 40-70 cells. There are openings at the leading edge, while the trailing edge of the canopy is closed. During the flight, part of the passing air fills and maintains a pressure in the cells (thus maintaining the wing-like shape of the canopy), while most of the air passes around both surfaces creating lift force. Because of this lift force we descend gently -not fall like a stone.
Q. How does a Paraglider launch?
A. Unlike the parachutes where you jump from an airplane or high object (rock, bridge, building – BASE jumping), you inflate and launch a paraglider whilst on your feet -after few steps running against the wind and down a hill (mountain) or towed by a winch or vehicle in flatlands.
Q. How do you control and land a paraglider?
A. Two “brake” lines/cords are controlling each half of the trailing edge of the wing. Pulling one of them deforms the same half of the trailing edge, creates drag and makes the wing turn the same direction. When landing we pull both brakes which reduces the speed of the paraglider, this converts most of its kinetic energy into potential (slower descent) and we land as soft as standing up from a chair.
Q. What is the difference between a Hangglider and a Paraglider?
A. A Hangglider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone position. The Paraglider canopy shape is maintained only by air pressure and the pilot is suspended in a sitting or supine position. Paragliders folds down fast (5 minutes) into a package the size of a large rucksack and can be carried easily (10-15 kg). Conversely, a Hangglider is bigger(3-6 meters), heavier (30-50 kg) and needs a vehicle with a roof rack for transportation to and from the flying site, as well as appreciable time to set-up and strip-down (20-30 minutes). Despite some advantages of hanggliders (faster air speed, better turbulence resistance, higher gliding ratio), it’s also somewhat easier to launch, land and learn to fly a Paraglider.
Q. Is Paragliding Safe?
A. With proper training and equipment, paragliding is one of the safest forms of personal flying. But like any other adventure sport, paragliding has its associated risks. In order to practice it safely everyone must strive at all times to minimize those risks. The most important pre-requisites to learning to fly safely are: pilot attitude, competent instruction, and safe equipment. If these conditions are met, the slow speeds and inherent stability of paragliders can provide a safe and easy way to fly.
Q. Can I teach myself Paragliding?
A. Paragliders are the most simple of aircraft. Most people can learn to launch, turn, and land in about an hour and a half of instruction. This is partly possible because we control the situation, assess the conditions and make safety decisions for our students. What cannot be taught in this period of time, however, are all the things necessary to make flight decisions on your own. In order to do this safely, it is necessary to have a comprehensive knowledge of aerodynamics, weather, equipment and safety procedures and most importantly anti-collision rules and air law. The pilot training program encompasses these things and is the fastest and safest possible way to learn Paragliding, while initial self teaching needs much more time and is the main reason for most accidents.
Q. How much does a Paraglider cost?
A. This varies between manufacturers, models, and mainly the countries it is sold. New paraglider cost from 1500 to 3000 €. Don’t forget that you also need a harness (4-600 €), a reserve parachute (4-600 €) and a helmet (100 €). Gloves, flying suit, good boots, sunglasses, variometer, GPS, radio, etc. are not obligatory but make flying more comfortable. The second hand equipment is much cheaper but an experienced pilot should choose it.
Q. How long does a Paraglider last?
A. General wear and tear (especially the latter) and deterioration from exposure to ultra-violet light, usually limits the useful lifetime of a canopy to somewhere in the region of 4-6 years. This obviously depends strongly on how much use and the exposure to UV light.


text:
Hawaii and the Pacific Islands Face Unique Challenges During the COVID-19 Crisis
The agriculture community in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands is feeling the same impacts from COVID-19 as the mainland. But in addition, the islands face the added challenges of remoteness and having tourism-dependent economies. The loss of tourism is a huge impact for all of the food system. Restaurants rely on tourists and the local […]
Supporting Agriculture in the Pacific Islands
Western SARE's 2019 Extension Project
Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
This book can help agricultural professionals, ranchers, and others on the Navajo Nation to identify typical range plants and maximize rangeland ecology, productivity, and sustainability. Use the Index to find plants sorted by Common Name, Scientific Name, Habitat, Growing Season, Flower Color, or Livestock Special Considerations. Also includes the Navajo names of the plants.
Business Management Capacity for American Indian Agricultural Businesses
A curriculum on money and business management targeted for Native American participants.
Integrating Traditional Foods with Aquaponics in the Desert Southwest
Claudio Rodriguez takes you through the basics of aquaponic growing at Arevalos Farm in McNeal, AZ. Project partially funded by Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
People of the Land
This Extension educator curriculum focuses on successful strategies for increasing the adoption of sustainable practices on reservation lands.

domain: agronomy


All food scraps must now be composted in Vermont to save space in landfills and reduce methane emissions
Composting is not only popular in Vermont, it’s now the law.
As of July, it is now illegal to throw food waste/scraps in the trash.
The law is part of the state’s larger goal of cutting the amount of waste sent to the landfill in half, by banning the disposal of recyclable and compostable items.
Food waste makes up about 30% of a typical Vermont family’s waste, according to the state’s Agency of Natural Resources.
Left to rot in a landfill without oxygen, food waste is a significant source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas about 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the earth.
“If it was once part of something alive, like a plant or animal, it does not belong in the landfill,” says a press release. “Food scraps and yard debris (leaves, grass, brush clippings, etc.) will need to be managed separately from trash.”
Citizens have the option of composting food scraps in their backyards, feeding them to animals, dropping off at a composting facility or using a composting pickup service. Many of the state’s trash services already offer compost pickup.
Trash companies that service commercial or apartment buildings will now be required to offer composting services.
The state won’t be looking through citizens trash bags to make sure there aren’t any food scraps or recyclables, but with 72% of Vermont’s citizens already composting voluntarily, the vast majority are expected to cooperate.


text:
Not true peppers, pink peppercorns are dried berries from a small mastic tree related to the rose bush. They are called peppercorns because of their similarity in shape, size, and even flavor. The flavor is most similar to that of the black peppercorn, but it is milder and more acidic with a hint of sweetness. They go well with many rich meats and are commonly used to flavor delicate sauces to accompany seafood and pork. Not only is the flavor great, they add a pop of vibrant color to an otherwise pale dish.
Try it in this recipe:
Gluten-Free. Additive-Free. Salt-Free. Vegan.
Country of Origin: USA
Net Wt.: 0.6 oz. (1/4 cup jar), 1.2 oz. (1/2 cup jar), 2.0 oz. (polybag), 4.0 oz. (large polybag)

domain: food