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Posts with «gps hacks» label

Handheld GPS Tracks All The Things

With a GPS on every smartphone, one would be forgiven for forgetting that handheld GPS units still exist. Seeking to keep accurate data on a few upcoming trips, [_Traveler] took on a custom-build that resulted in this GPS data logger.

Keeping tabs on [_Traveler] is a Ublox M8N GPS which is on full-time, logging data every 30 seconds, for up  to 2.5 days. All data is saved to an SD card, with an ESP32 to act as a brain and make downloading the info more accessible via WiFi . While tracking the obvious — like position, speed, and time — this data logger also displays temperature, elevation, dawn and dusk, on an ePaper screen which is a great choice for conserving battery.

The prototyping process is neat on this one. The first complete build used point-to-point soldering on a protoboard to link several breakout modules together. After that, a PCB design embraces the same modules, with a footprint for the ESP’s castellated edges and header footprints for USB charing board, SD card board, ePaper, etc. All of this finds a hope in a 3D printed enclosure. After a fair chunk of time coding in the Arduino IDE the logger is ready for [_Traveler]’s next excursion!

As far as power consumption in the field, [_Traveler] says the GPS takes a few moments to get a proper location — with the ESP chewing through battery life all the while — and plans to tinker with it in shorter order.

Not all GPS trackers are created equal: sometimes all you need is a stripped-down tracker for your jog, or to know exactly where every pothole is along your route.

[Via /r/electronics]

Hack a Day 19 Feb 19:31
arduino  esp32  gps  gps hacks  handheld  travel

GPS Tracker Gets SMS Upgrade

In May of 2000, then-President Bill Clinton signed a directive that would improve the accuracy of GPS for anyone. Before this switch was flipped, this ability was only available to the military. What followed was an onslaught of GPS devices most noticeable in everyday navigation systems. The large amount of new devices on the market also drove the price down to the point where almost anyone can build their own GPS tracking device from scratch.

The GPS tracker that [Vadim] created makes use not just of GPS, but of the GSM network as well. He uses a Neoway M590 GSM module for access to the cellular network and a NEO-6 GPS module. The cell network is used to send SMS messages that detail the location of the unit itself. Everything is controlled with an ATmega328P, and a lithium-ion battery and some capacitors round out the fully integrated build.

[Vadim] goes into great detail about how all of the modules operate, and has step-by-step instructions on their use that go beyond what one would typically find in a mundane datasheet. The pairing of the GSM and GPS modules seems to go match up well together, much like we have seen GPS and APRS pair for a similar purpose: tracking weather balloons.

Filed under: gps hacks
Hack a Day 07 Jul 06:00
arduino  atmega328  atmega328p  cell  gps  gps hacks  gsm  sms  tracker

A Beacon Suitable for Tracking Santa’s sleigh?

High-altitude ballooning is becoming a popular activity for many universities, schools and hacker spaces. The balloons, which can climb up to 40 km in the stratosphere, usually have recovery parachutes to help get the payload, with its precious data, back to solid ground safely. But when you live in areas where the balloon is likely to be flying over the sea most of the time, recovery of the payload becomes tricky business. [Paul Clark] and his team from Durham University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation are working on building a small, autonomous glider – essentially a flying hard drive – to navigate from 30 km up in the stratosphere to a drop zone somewhere near a major road. An important element of such a system is the locator beacon to help find it. They have now shared their design for an “Iridium 9603 Beacon” — a small Arduino-compatible unit which can transmit its location and other data from anywhere via the Iridium satellite network.

The beacon uses the Short Burst Data service which sends email to a designated mail box with its date, time, location, altitude, speed, heading, temperature, pressure and battery voltage. To do all of this, it incorporates a SAMD21G18 M0 processor; FGPMMOPA6H GPS module; MPL3115A2 altitude sensor; Iridium 9603 Short Burst Data module + antenna and an LTC3225 supercapacitor charger. Including the batteries and antenna, the whole thing weighs in at 72.6 g, making it perfectly suited for high altitude ballooning. The whole package is powered by three ‘AAA’ Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries which ought to be able to withstand the -56° C encountered during the flight. The supercapacitors are required to provide the high current needed when the beacon transmits data.

The team have tested individual components up to 35 km on a balloon flight from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility and the first production unit will be flown on a much smaller balloon, launched from the UK around Christmas. The GitHub repository contains detailed information about the project along with the EagleCAD hardware files and the Arduino code. Now, if only Santa carried this on his Sleigh, it would be easy for NORAD to track his progress in real time.

Filed under: gps hacks, hardware

Personal Compass Points to Your Spawn Point

A conventional compass points north (well, to magnetic north, anyway). [Videoschmideo]  wanted to make a compass that pointed somewhere specific. In particular, the compass — a wedding gift — was to point to a park where the newlywed couple got engaged. Like waking up in a fresh new Minecraft world, this is their spawn point and now they can always find their way back from the wilderness.

The device uses an Arduino, a GPS module, a compass, and a servo motor. Being a wedding gift, it also needs to meet certain aesthetic sensibilities. The device is in an attractive wooden box and uses stylish brass gears. The gears allow the servo motor to turn more than 360 degrees (and the software limits the rotation to 360 degrees). You can see a video of the device in operation, below.

The compass module may be hard to find, but you should be able to modify it to work with more readily available boards. Since you may not be able to find the exact gears used, your build will probably be a little different anyway.

The brass and wood are decidedly steampunk looking. It reminded us of this GPS project. If you have too much street cred to buy an off-the-shelf GPS, you could always roll your own.

Filed under: Arduino Hacks, gps hacks
Hack a Day 05 Nov 12:00

Navigation Thing: Four Days, Three Problems, and Fake Piezos

The Navigation Thing was designed and built by [Jan Mrázek] as part of a night game activity for high school students during week-long seminar. A night-time path through a forest had stations with simple tasks, and the Navigation Thing used GPS, digital compass, a beeper, and a ring of RGB LEDs to provide a bit of “Wow factor” while guiding a group of students from one station to the next. The devices had a clear design direction:

“I wanted to build a device which a participant would find, insert batteries, and follow the beeping to find the next stop. Imagine the strong feeling of straying in the middle of the night in an unknown terrain far away from civilization trusting only a beeping thing you found. That was the feeling I wanted to achieve.”

The Navigation Things (there are six in total) guide users to fixed waypoints with GPS, a digital compass, and a ring of WS2812 LEDs — but the primary means of feedback to the user is a beeping that gets faster as you approach the destination. [Jan] had only four days to make all six units, which was doable. But as most of us know, delivering on a tight deadline is often less about doing the work you know about, and more about effectively handling the unexpected obstacles that inevitably pop up in the process.

The first real problem to solve was the beeping itself. “Beep faster as you get closer to the destination” seems like a simple task, but due to the way humans perceive things it’s more complex than it sounds. We perceive large changes easier than small incremental ones, so a straight linear change in beep frequency based on distance doesn’t work very well. Similar problems (and their solutions) exist whether you’re controlling volume, brightness, or just about anything else that humans perceive. Instead of encoding distance as a beep frequency, it’s much more effective to simply use beeps to signal overall changes: beep noticeably slower as you move away, but beep much faster as you get close.

A “piezo” buzzer that was assumed to have no significant magnetic field, but in fact contained a magnet.

The other interesting problems were less straightforward and were related to the digital compass, or magnetometer. The first problem was that the piezo buzzers [Jan] sourced contained no actual piezo elements. They contained magnets – which interfered with the operation of the digital compass. After solving that, still more compass problems arose. When testing the final units in the field, the compass readings were not as expected and [Jan] had no idea why.

After careful troubleshooting, the culprit was found: the AA cells on the other side of the circuit board. Every AA cell has a faint (and slightly different) magnetic field, and the proximity and placement of the cells with respect to the magnetometer was causing the deviation. Happily, the fix was simple once the problem was understood: calibrate the compass every time new batteries are inserted.

If you’re interested in the Navigation Thing, check out the github repository. And on the topic of actual piezoelectric devices, piezos are implemented in a variety of clever ways. There are even piezo transformers and piezo vacuum pumps.

Filed under: gps hacks, misc hacks

Punky GPS Gets The Steam Built Up For Geocaching

While getting geared up for geocaching [Folkert van Heusden] decided he didn’t want to get one of those run of the mill GPS modules, and being inspired by steam punk set out and made his own.

Starting with an antique wooden box, and adding an Arduino, GPS module, and LiPo battery to make the brains. The user interface consists of good ‘ole toggle switches and a pair of quad seven segment displays to enter, and check longitude and latitude.

To top off the retro vibe of the machine two analog current meters were repurposed to indicate not only direction, but also distance, which we think is pretty spiffy. Everything was placed in a laser cut wooden control panel, which lend to the old-time feel of the entire project.

Quite a bit of wire and a few sticks of hot glue later and [Folkert] is off and ready for an adventure!

Filed under: Arduino Hacks, gps hacks
Hack a Day 11 Jul 21:00

Track Your Dog With This DIY GPS Harness

Have you ever wondered how far your dog actually runs when you take it to the park? You could be a standard consumer and purchase a GPS tracking collar for $100 or more, or you could follow [Becky Stern's] lead and build your own simple but effective GPS tracking harness.

[Becky] used two FLORA modules for this project; The FLORA main board, and the FLORA GPS module. The FLORA main board is essentially a small, sewable Arduino board. The GPS module obviously provides the tracking capabilities, but also has built-in data logging functionality. This means that [Becky] didn’t need to add complexity with any special logging circuit. The GPS coordinates are logged in a raw format, but they can easily be pasted into Google Maps for viewing as demonstrated by [Becky] in the video after the break. The system uses the built-in LED on the FLORA main board to notify the user when the GPS has received a lock and that the program is running.

The whole system runs off of three AAA batteries which, according to [Becky], can provide several hours of tracking. She also installed a small coin cell battery for the GPS module. This provides reserve power for the GPS module so it can remember its previous location. This is not necessary, but it provides a benefit in that the GPS module can remember it’s most recent location and therefore discover its location much faster.

Filed under: gps hacks, wearable hacks
Hack a Day 07 Jun 21:01

Harry Potter location clock spies on your smart phone

The location clock found in the Harry Potter books makes for a really fun hack. Of course there’s no magic involved, just a set of hardware to monitor your phone’s GPS and a clock face to display it.

[Alastair Barber] finished building the clock at the end of last year as a Christmas gift. The display seen above uses an old mantelpiece clock to give it a finished look. He replace the clock face with a print out of the various locations known to the system and added a servo motor to drive the single hand. His hardware choices were based on what he already had on hand and what could be acquired cheaply. The an all-in-one package combines a Raspberry Pi board with a USB broadband modem to ensure that it has a persistent network connection (we’ve seen this done using WiFi in the past). The RPi checks a cellphone’s GPS data, compares it to a list of common places, then pushes commands to the Arduino which controls the clock hand’s servo motor. It’s a roundabout way of doing things but we imagine everything will get reused when the novelty of the gift wears off.

Filed under: gps hacks

Arduino data logger maps out the potholes on your morning commute

Now you can prove that you have the bumpiest commute in the office by measuring how rough your ride actually is. [Techbitar] calls the project the Bump-O-Meter. It uses an Arduino, GPS, and accelerometer to map out rough roads.

The hardware was built on a breadboard and [Techbitar] goes into detail about connecting and communicating with each module used. Once it’s running, the logger will read up to six sensors and record them to an SD card. In the video after the break he shows the method used to dump and graph the data. He starts by looking at the data in a spreadsheet. There are many fields included in the file but only three of them are needed to graph what is seen above. After narrowing down the number of columns he heads over to GPS Visualizer and uploads the data set which is then automatically plotted on the map.

In a Utopian society all city owned vehicles would have a system like this and the bad sections of road would automatically appear on the road crew’s repair list.

Filed under: gps hacks
Hack a Day 23 Nov 13:01
arduino  gps  gps hacks  graph  plot  pothole  road

Stacking GPS, GSM, and an SD card into an Arduino shield

A few years ago, [Phang Moh] and his compatriots were asked by a client if they could make a vehicle tracking device for oil tankers all around Indonesia. The request of putting thousands of trackers on tanks of explosives was a little beyond [Phang Moh]‘s capability, but he did start tinkering around with GPS and GSM on an Arduino.

Now that tinkering has finally come to fruition with [Phang]‘s TraLog shield, a single Arduino shield that combines GPS tracking with a GSM and GPRS transceiver. There’s also an SD card thrown in for good measure, making this one of the best tracking and data logging shields for the Arduino.

The shield can be configured to send GPS and sensor data from devices attached to an I2C bus to remote servers, or a really cool COSM server. [Phang] is selling his TraLog for $150, a fairly good deal if you consider what this thing can do.

Seems like the perfect piece of kit for just about any tracking project, whether you want to know the location of thousands of oil tankers or just a single high altitude balloon.

Tip ‘o the hat to [Brett] for finding this one.

Filed under: arduino hacks, cellphones hacks, gps hacks


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Kunstformen der Natur (1904) by Ernst Haeckel
Kunstformen der Natur (1904) by Ernst Haeckel

Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits. In this context, Bohemians may be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.

The term Bohemian was first used in the nineteenth century to describe the non-traditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers, musicians, and actors in major European cities. The bohemian lifestyle is often associated with cafés, coffeehouses, drug use (particularly opium), alcoholism, and absinthe. Bohemians were associated with unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social viewpoints, which were expressed through free love and voluntary poverty.

The term emerged in France in the 1800s when artists and creators began to concentrate in the lower-rent, lower class gypsy neighbourhoods. The term "Bohemian" reflects a belief, widely held in France at the time, that the Gypsies had come from Bohemia.

The first usage of the term "Bohemian" [...] has been traced to a popular French journalist and dramatist, Felix Pyat, who wrote a series of essays about "kids today" in a publication called Nouveau Tableau de Paris au XIX Siecle in 1834 [in “Les artistes”]. He described this personality type as "alien and bizarre ... outside the law, beyond the reaches of society ... they are the Bohemians of today."
The term did not catch on in a huge way, though, until 1845 when a writer named Henry Murger, himself a bohemian (and the model for his own character Rodolphe), began producing a series of stories about himself and his friends for a small Paris newspaper called Le Corsaire-Satan. These stories were later collected in book form and staged as a play, Scenes de la vie de Boheme, which was a tremendous hit and an almost unbelievably definitive influence on French society. Today this play is mainly known as the source of the Puccini opera La Boheme, but the opera was not introduced until 1896, when the Bohemian youth movement had already been old news for decades. -- Levi Asher[1]

In the twentieth century, the bohemian impulse was famously seen in the 1940s hipsters, the 1950s Beat generation (exemplified by writers such as William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti), the much more widespread 1960s counterculture, and 1970s hippies.

European bohemianism

Literary "Bohemians" were associated in the French imagination with roving Romani people (called "bohemians" because they were believed to have arrived from Bohemia), outsiders apart from conventional society and untroubled by its disapproval. The term carries a connotation of arcane enlightenment (the opposite of Philistines), and also carries a less frequently intended, pejorative connotation of carelessness about personal hygiene and marital fidelity. The Spanish Gypsy in the French opera "Carmen" set in Seville, is referred to as a "bohémienne" in Meilhac and Halévy's libretto (1875).

The term Bohemian has come to be very commonly accepted in our day as the description of a certain kind of literary gypsy, no matter in what language he speaks, or what city he inhabits .... A Bohemian is simply an artist or "littérateur" who, consciously or unconsciously, secedes from conventionality in life and in art. (Westminster Review, 1862

Henri Murger's collection of short stories "Scènes de la Vie de Bohème" ("Scenes of Bohemian Life"), published in 1845, was written to glorify and legitimize Bohemia. Murger's collection formed the basis of Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème (1896). Puccini's work, in turn, became source material for Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. Like Puccini, Larson explores a Bohemian enclave in a dense urban area, in this case, New York City at the end of the twentieth century. The show features a song, "La Vie Boheme", which celebrates postmodern Bohemian culture.

In England, Bohemian in this sense initially was popularized in William Makepeace Thackeray's novel, Vanity Fair, published in 1848. Public perceptions of the alternative lifestyles supposedly led by artists were further molded by George du Maurier's highly romanticized best-selling novel of Bohemian culture Trilby (1894). The novel outlines the fortunes of three expatriate English artists, their Irish model, and two very colorful Central European musicians, in the artist quarter of Paris.

In Spanish literature, the Bohemian impulse can be seen in Ramón del Valle-Inclán's play Luces de Bohemia (Bohemian Lights), published in 1920.

In his song La Bohème, Charles Aznavour described the Bohemian lifestyle in Montmartre. The film Moulin Rouge! (2001) also reflects the Bohemian lifestyle in Montmartre at the turn of the 20th century.

American bohemianism

American decadents

In 1845, Bohemian nationals began to emigrate to the United States, and from 1848 the wave included some of the radicals and ex-priests who had wanted a constitutional government. In New York City in 1857, a group of some 15–20 young, cultured journalists flourished as self-described "Bohemians" until the American Civil War began in 1860. Similar groups in other cities were broken up as well; reporters spread out to report on the conflict. During the war, correspondents began to assume the title "Bohemian", and newspapermen in general took up the moniker. Bohemian became synonymous with newspaper writer. In 1866, war correspondent Junius Henri Browne, who wrote for the New York Tribune and Harper's Magazine, described "Bohemian" journalists such as he was, as well as the few carefree women and lighthearted men he encountered during the war years.

San Francisco journalist Bret Harte first wrote as "The Bohemian" in The Golden Era in 1861, with this persona taking part in many satirical doings, the lot published in his book Bohemian Papers in 1867. Harte wrote, "Bohemia has never been located geographically, but any clear day when the sun is going down, if you mount Telegraph Hill, you shall see its pleasant valleys and cloud-capped hills glittering in the West..."

Mark Twain included himself and Charles Warren Stoddard in the Bohemian category in 1867. By 1872, when a group of journalists and artists who gathered regularly for cultural pursuits in San Francisco were casting about for a name, the term Bohemian became the main choice, and the Bohemian Club was born. Club members who were established and successful, pillars of their community, respectable family men, redefined their own form of bohemianism to include people like them who were bons vivants, sportsmen, and appreciators of the fine arts. Club member and poet George Sterling responded to this redefinition:

Any good mixer of convivial habits considers he has a right to be called a Bohemian. But that is not a valid claim. There are two elements, at least, that are essential to Bohemianism. The first is devotion or addiction to one or more of the Seven Arts; the other is poverty. Other factors suggest themselves: for instance, I like to think of my Bohemians as young, as radical in their outlook on art and life; as unconventional, and, though this is debatable, as dwellers in a city large enough to have the somewhat cruel atmosphere of all great cities.

Despite his views, Sterling associated very closely with the Bohemian Club, and caroused with artist and industrialist alike at the Bohemian Grove.

Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann and George Frederick Cameron wrote the song "The Bohemian" in the 1889 opera Leo, the Royal Cadet.

The impish American writer and Bohemian Club member, Gelett Burgess, who coined the word blurb among other things, supplied this description of the amorphous place called Bohemia:

To take the world as one finds it, the bad with the good, making the best of the present moment—to laugh at Fortune alike whether she be generous or unkind—to spend freely when one has money, and to hope gaily when one has none—to fleet the time carelessly, living for love and art—this is the temper and spirit of the modern Bohemian in his outward and visible aspect. It is a light and graceful philosophy, but it is the Gospel of the Moment, this exoteric phase of the Bohemian religion; and if, in some noble natures, it rises to a bold simplicity and naturalness, it may also lend its butterfly precepts to some very pretty vices and lovable faults, for in Bohemia one may find almost every sin save that of Hypocrisy. ...
His faults are more commonly those of self-indulgence, thoughtlessness, vanity and procrastination, and these usually go hand-in-hand with generosity, love and charity; for it is not enough to be one’s self in Bohemia, one must allow others to be themselves, as well. ...
What, then, is it that makes this mystical empire of Bohemia unique, and what is the charm of its mental fairyland? It is this: there are no roads in all Bohemia! One must choose and find one’s own path, be one’s own self, live one’s own life.

In New York City, an organization of musicians was formed in 1907 by pianist Rafael Joseffy with friends such as Rubin Goldmark, called "The Bohemians (New York Musicians' Club)".

The term has become associated with various artistic or academic communities and is used as a generalized adjective describing such people, environs, or situations: bohemian (boho—informal) is defined in The American College Dictionary as "a person with artistic or intellectual tendencies, who lives and acts with no regard for conventional rules of behavior."

Many prominent European and American figures of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries belonged to the bohemian subculture, and any comprehensive "list of bohemians" would be tediously long. Bohemianism has been approved of by some bourgeois writers such as Honoré de Balzac, but most conservative cultural critics do not condone bohemian lifestyles.

Laren Stover, the author of The Bombshell Manual of Style, breaks down the Bohemian into five distinct mind-sets or styles in Bohemian Manifesto: a Field Guide to Living on the Edge. The Bohemian is "not easily classified like species of birds," writes Stover, noting that there are crossovers and hybrids. The five types devised by Stover are:

  • Nouveau: bohemians with money who attempt to join traditional bohemianism with contemporary culture
  • Gypsy: the expatriate types, they create their own Gypsy ideal of nirvana wherever they go
  • Beat: also drifters, but non-materialist and art-focused
  • Zen: "post-beat," focus on spirituality rather than art
  • Dandy: no money, but try to appear as if they have it by buying and displaying expensive or rare items – such as brands of alcohol

Maxwell Bodenheim, an American poet and novelist, was known as the King of Greenwich Village Bohemians during the 1920s and his writing brought him international fame during the Jazz Age.

In the twentieth century United States, the bohemian impulse was famously seen in the 1940s hipsters, the 1950s Beat generation (exemplified by writers such as William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti), the much more widespread 1960s counterculture, and 1970s hippies.

Rainbow Gatherings may be seen as another contemporary worldwide expression of the bohemian impulse. An American example is Burning Man, an annual participatory arts festival held in the Nevada desert.

Former bohemian communities

By extension, Bohemia meant any place where one could live and work cheaply, and behave unconventionally; a community of free souls beyond the pale of respectable society. Several cities and neighborhoods came to be associated with bohemianism in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries:

New Zealand
United States

See also

Related terms
Related cultures or movements

Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Bohemianism" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on original research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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5 Secrets To Have An Correct Psychic Reading

November 2, 2020 | Author: | Posted in New Age
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Warranty Policy

Artisan Power warrants its products to be free from defects in material and workmanship:

1.     For a period of up to 12 months from the date of initial invoice. Artisan Power will, subject to inspection,
        repair or replace a defective battery pack with a replacement unit.
2.     A battery pack containing 80% of original capacity, after 12 months of use is considered normal
        and is not subject to warranty replacement.
3.     This warranty is not valid if the lot code or label is removed or if the battery pack has been modified,
        improperly charged, improperly installed, neglected or misused in any way.
4.     Warranty returns must be accompanied by a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number.
        This can be obtained by contacting your Sales Representative our Customer Services Department.
        Safety Shipping Policy must be in place for all shipments back.
        Please see RMA form for more detailed instructions.

International Warranty Information

Warranty coverage for the majority of items we sell is valid only in the USA. Freight charges to return items for warranty service, as well as the return shipping back to your international location is the responsibility of the purchaser. Items returned for service must state "returned goods for repair" on the return air waybill or US import customs duties will apply and will be added to your return shipping bill.


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100 Days of Happiness – Day 3

It’s easy to find sadness each day, but to find a moment of happiness is difficult. Last year, I couldn’t bring myself to finish the 100 Days of Happiness challenge. This year, I am more determined to finish it — Counting down to 2016 with Happiness!

The Happiness of Writing Fiction

100 Days of Happiness – Day 3

Over the last couple of years, my friends have been pushing me to submit for anthologies. They like my writing and feel it’s time I stepped out of my world of blogging and get my stories into print. But as they well know, I tend to procrastinate.

I broke that tendency to drift towards laziness last month when I submitted to an anthology. The story I wanted to write came out soon and the words didn’t break my trust. I wrote around 2500 words then, and in around 3 or 4 hours, which was not just satisfying as a writer, but also pleasantly surprising since I’ve never written that much in that short a time. The results were out last Thursday, and I’m one of the few selected to be published. So that’s a happy news as well.

Today’s happy moment is the first time in nearly 2 years that I’ve broken the 4000 word count barrier. Yes, it’s a submission for another anthology, and I think the story has turned out well. Here’s hoping for good news when that result comes out too.

(© 25th September 2015)

Poetry & writing are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.

12 thoughts on “100 Days of Happiness – Day 3”

  1. Congrats on the first one, I saw you write that story as closely as I could over the net. I am sure the second one will yield as great a result. All the best for that one too.

  2. It’s an amazing thing to be happy at our own efforts. We love breaking barriers and setting new standards for ourselves. That’s a hallmark of ambition. And you have loads of that, Vinay. Hoping for laurels for you with what you are writing now.

    • Yes. It is very satisfying to have broken that word barrier, Sreedeep. 🙂 I hope those laurels come too. I love writing, and it reflects in my stories, and I hope that is noticed too. Cheers!

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Intraday Market Thoughts

Archived IMT (2010.05.18)

by Ashraf Laidi
May 18, 2010 14:40

LOONIE REBOUNDS on a combination of stabilization in global equities and the first increase in oil prices in 5 days. USDCAD breaks below 1.03, looking for declines to as low as 1.0240. Yet, markets cannot ignore the 25% slide in oil prices, which have lifted USDCAD support from parity to 1.0170. Immediate resistance stands at 1.0330 trend line from the May 6 high, a break of which eyes 1.0430. CADJPY garners fresh gains past the 90.20s, facing the trend line resistance at 91.60.

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Tag Archives: The Stranger

February 13th

Hi reader! Here are my blog bullets for this monday spent at Film Buff:

  • Had a great weekend on Salpspring Island, as usual. Interviewed Elizabeth May!!
  • The West Side Story movie  is very racist and mildly sexist.
  • Reader supported newspaper columns are totally amusing. Check out the Valentines in Seattles (only) newspaper The Stranger.
  • Lucky is the first person to spy the biggest muffin out of the oven.
  • Another huge reason I love The Stranger: Savage Love by Dan Savage. I used to really love reading these every time I stepped on the train. I just read every column published in the last year. Another one I really found interesting as hell was Sasha‘s column Love Bites.
  • The US Vs. John Lennon is a great documentary! Watch the trailer here


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Bursting with Pride on the Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast Pride 2015Now in its 7th year, the Sunshine Coast Pride Festival is 3 days of activities, artists, venues, parties and performance, with a diverse line-up ranging from folk to dance musicians, DJs and Drag Queens all celebrating the Sunshine Coast’s GLBTIQ community.

The festival’s theme this year is ‘Love is Love’ which is all about celebrating the beauty of love in all of its many forms. Love does not discriminate, it is boundless, and it is something worthy of celebrating.

The celebration began in 2008 and from its humble beginnings has grown to become a three day Festival, and the largest Pride event outside of Brisbane, with more than 2,000 people attending Fair Day last year.

The festival’s key event is the Sunshine Coast Pride Fair Day held at the Amphitheatre at the Original Eumundi Markets which brings the community together in a fun and supportive environment. Live entertainment includes The Ukulele Sisters, Felicity Burdett, Youthfire, Kristy Apps and the Shotgun Shirleys and more.

The variety of stallholders from businesses, health and other not for profit organisations include Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia (GALTA), Queensland AIDS Council, Dykes on Bikes, Tourism Noosa and the Sunshine Coast Rainbow Network, as well as craft stalls available at the Eumundi Markets.

Other events over the weekend include: Sunny Drake in Transgender Seeking… tonight (Friday 27 February) at the Nambour Arthouse Cinema ; Pride After Party at the Reef Hotel Noosa on Saturday 28 February; and the Pride Chill Out at the Eumundi Amphitheatre on Sunday 1 March.

For more information and full programme, visit: www.sunshinecoastpride.com.au for details.

Image: courtesy of Sunshine Coast Pride Festival

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text: The Avi Maza Orchestra is composed of a talented group of musicians capable of playing all styles of music, from the latest Simcha music to contemporary American popular dance hits, and everything in between. We service a broad specter of clients with different musical tastes and are proud of our reputation for providing top quality entertainment to any audience. Let us customize the band to meet your preferences!


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Some Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare

Health is wealth. The high cost of getting Medicare is getting increasingly worrisome and some of the patients fall into the wrong category of health insurance scheme out of ignorance. If you must live your life to the fullest, then you should have the benefits of an excellent Medicare that will not eat too deep into your pockets. You will easily get such around you if you know what each of the schemes has in stock for its registered members. We shall be taking a look at some of the frequently asked questions in the notch and go on to provide detailed answers to such with the hope of clearing every doubt that hangs around such questions. If you wanted the best of  Medicare Advantage plans, then you must as a matter of priority gets to know answers to all the questions below:

Question: Does Medicare cover dentures?

Answer: The answer is an emphatic no because Medicare has no link with dentures. If it was required before an inpatient procedure for those that are operating Part A, you might be covered here. A very good example is the case of emergency jaw surgery. Even at this, the cost that you will incur after the surgery will not be covered. You will be required to pay out of pocket or get an outside insurance plan.

Question: Does Medicare cover oral surgery?

Answer: The answer here also is no. The only condition that can work in favor of any patient is if the health condition of the patient is at grave risk without such surgery. Another relief comes in if the oral surgery is part of another policy that is covered by Medicare. Where you break your jaw, oral cancer, a tumor, or another ailment- you will be covered by Medicare on account of those critical life-threatening conditions. The coverage ends after the surgery. All other expenses that are incurred will not be covered by Medicare.

Question: Does Medicare cover braces?

Answer: The clear answer here is also a capital no. If however, it was discovered that the braces are deemed to be life-threatening and medically necessary; then the operation will be performed to in order to save a life. The related costs involved here are not taxed deductible. The truth must be told here that insurance rarely covers this area for adults, the best that you can get is payment plans. Funds from a flexible spending account and several others like it to cover the cost.

Question: What dental options are available for Medicare beneficiaries?

Answer: No matter the status of what is your coverage, you will need to get something beyond the coverage of Medicare Part A or Part B. You should enroll in Medicare Advantage plan with the addition of an added dental coverage. You can as well get dental coverage that is different from Medicare is you truly wanted the best results in Medicare Advantage plans 2020

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A visit to la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito – Patricia Belcin

During December 2019 I visited la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism) part of Universidad Central del Ecuador, in the country’s capital, Quito. At 2980m altitude, the beautifully designed brutalist building of the faculty felt like a hidden gem among the other buildings from the university campus, the semi-circular repetitive roof structures transmitted an equilibrium very fitting for a place dedicate to design and architectural education.

While talking to a first year architecture student I understood that in the early stages a big emphasis is put on developing hand drawing skills and the designs are tested through simple hand crafted models. I was impressed of the amount of models the students were producing, and how they were finding enough time to invest in this as the course content was broader than what I had experienced during my Part 1 in the UK.

The main reasons for this were the materials and methods being used. After observing only a few models I noticed that balsa wood is everyone’s favourite material. This soft fibre wood allowed the students to quickly craft sketch models, quick prototypes and many times it was used even for the final presentation models. The ease with which this material can be manipulated allowed the students to recreate the workshop environment in their homes and with only a scalpel and some glue they were constructing a wide variety of models. Sometimes for the final exhibition models the faculty’s laser cutter was used for achieving more precise cuts on fine details.

It’s no accident that balsa is used so extensively as it is a locally grown material which is widely available at a very low price (I noted it was approximately 10% of the price at which we purchase balsa in the UK). Balsa is a native species to Ecuador and the country is the world’s leader in balsa production, with over 90% of the wood being exported all over the world. Because of the county’s altitude, climate and environment, the balsa from the Ecuadorian forests is privileged as it offers a more stable wood in terms of density. Balsa is not an endangered species due to its fast growth and facility of reproduction.

(Information about balsa production: www.euronewsa.com/balsa.html)

This made me reflect upon how we sourced materials during the projects which I undertook at MSA. Few projects asked us to consider the usage of local materials, and when we do consider it, this is mostly seen as a constraint. However, not very often do the students question from their own initiative the provenience of the materials which they use, especially in a world where everything is available at a few clicks away. From my observations gathered whilst visiting the architecture school in Quito, I noticed that the use of local materials is widening the possibilities in terms of modelmaking and construction. By using these materials so often the students developed skills which allowed them to create a wide variety of models by understanding the different properties of the wood.

While visiting an exhibition with projects from the masters of architecture course I noticed several models which used plaster or plywood, therefore being more developed in terms of material complexity, but the combination with the balsa wood was omnipresent. In the project from the below images, the student used a series of volumetric plaster models which were combined with red painted key elements of the design. The red colour was then used in the sectional model of the final design and within the architectural drawings as a highlighting method.

Apart from testing design concepts through models I noticed the importance of the technical side within their architecture degree. An application through modelmaking was the project visible in the images from below, where groups of students tested different types of joints which could be used in creating a geometrical sphere. Several methods of joining the wooden pieces were tested, including connections that used sections of recycled plastic pipes or tubes, as well as using bespoke metal fixings which were screwed into the wood. Regardless of the complexity, these constructions were built with only using basic tools and local materials.

Being exposed to the modelmaking culture of the architecture school in Quito was a good lesson about the importance of valuing local practices and materials and making the most of what resources  you have to hand. Perhaps the ease with which we can access materials produced all over the world here in the UK makes us, unintentionally, a bit ignorant of the energy and effort it takes to produce them. As a result the profession is quite wasteful. It would be an interesting project set out to find the local equivalent of the balsa wood source in Ecuador right here and incorporate it into our models. This would be both convenient and more sustainable, helping to reduce our carbon footprint as we progress through architecture school.

This article was written by Patricia Belcin, Teaching Assistant at B.15 Modelmaking workshop 2019/20.

Modelmaking above Alexanderplatz – Peter Lee at HENN Architects, Berlin

Earlier this summer I visited MSA Graduate Peter Lee at HENN Architects Berlin Office. Located overlooking Alexanderplatz, HENN is an international architecture office with additional offices in Munich and Beijing. They have a wide-ranging experience in work space, culture, health, education and research as well as production and master planning. It’s a great pleasure to see graduates take their modelmaking skills into practice. Where possible I always try to take the opportunities to learn just how these skills are used in their work and this has been one such occasion. Peter has been kind enough to discuss his experience over the last 3 years in practice since graduating from MSA.

After graduating from my masters in 2016 I wanted a bit of a change from Manchester so started applying for jobs in cities that I wanted to live in, mostly abroad, and HENN was the first place that got back to me. The job description was particularly interesting in that it was a mostly model making role within the design / competition team, which suited my skill set pretty well.

On a day to day basis I produce a lot of sketch models, mostly for internal use which really helps with making design decisions. Because of the fast pace of competitions (they generally last a month or two), people are often jumping between projects. Having a model in front of you is a much easier way of understanding site conditions, massings and contextual relationships than working purely with software because it has this tangible quality.

The workshop has a laser cutter, spray booth, hot wire cutters, disc sander, sandblasting cabinet and Ultimaker S5 3D Printer. Mostly we work with foam, card and acrylic – occasionally we get things outsourced or made in the HENN Munich office, which has more machines available for woodwork.

In terms of setup it’s a lot more restricted than what the students have access to at B.15 which is mainly due to spatial constraints. The office is located in a 70s East Berlin tower and there isn’t enough space for more equipment -however, it’s more than sufficient for producing competition / presentation models. It also serves a different purpose as a workshop for a commercial practice – B.15 is more about giving students the opportunity to learn and therefore supports a wider variety of techniques and materials that aren’t necessarily appropriate or efficient for me to use.

Most of my time is spent on massing and context models but it really depends on what is important to the project – it could also be façade models, mock-ups of internal spaces, more conceptual pieces etc.

Around two years ago I produced a sketch model for an office tower competition in Hamburg which we went on to win. The massing was derived by cutting out foam slabs and arranging them to generate a stepping double height void moving up the lower part of the building. When placed in the context model and compared with other designs it was clear that it was the right way forward – while it was more conservative than some options it fulfilled all the masterplan requirements while retaining an interesting spatial logic.

The competition was also a different format from usual in that we had a lot of contact with the client / developer during the design process. People always love it when you turn up with a model, especially if it’s not required – in this case we brought a lot of sketch models which gave an insight into the design process that the client wouldn’t normally see. It’s also more interesting to have something more tactile in front of you instead of being sat in front of slides and slides of presentation, which definitely worked in our favour.

Leading practices at the moment like Morris and Co, Carmody Groarke are really pushing the use of models as an important design tool and it would be good to see that trickle down into the majority of practices. I have had two architectural jobs before this one – the only time models were around was for presentations and they were always built by a specialist model maker. Software is all well and good but I feel you can always make better design decisions if you have a physical representation in front of you.

If I could change anything about my work on a personal level it would be to be a bit more poetic with my model making through abstract / conceptual models and material explorations – most of what I do at the moment is pretty representational. Having said that, I really enjoy my job here. It can be long hours from time to time but it often feels like an extension of architecture school due to the quick nature of competitions and room to experiment. It’s also good to see models being used as a design tool and being able to use my skills to collaborate with other specialists, such as computational designers.

Thank you to HENN for allowing us to share this insight and to Peter for his thoughts, time and continued enthusiasm towards the work we do here in B.15.

– Scott

Peter at work in on his MArch final major project B.15 Workshop in May 2016

Mecanoo B.15 Modelmaking Awards 2017 Winners

For the past three years Netherlands based architects  Mecanoo have generously supported our desire to celebrate the use of models within architectural design. The awards consider not just a single piece of work but each individuals attitude and approach to using physical models as a vehicle to advance the understanding of their design to both themselves and to others.

After a very tough judging session this years Mecanoo B.15 modelmaking awards were announced on Friday evening at the official opening of the Manchester School of Architecture end of year show.

We can’t stress enough how worthy everyone who made the long and short lists were this year so everybody should be very proud of themselves for producing such a high standard of work across the board.

Judging was carried out by:

Mecanoo representatives Laurens Kistemaker, Oliver Boaler and Paul Thornber.

MSA lecturers Dr Ray Lucas and Amy Hanley.

B.15 Staff Jim Backhouse, Scott Miller and Phillipa Seagrave.

The full 2017 shortlist document can be downloaded by clicking here.

This years winners are:

MArch 1st Prize – James Donegan – Continuity in Architecture

MArch 2nd Prize – Samuel Stone – Continuity in Architecture

MArch 3rd Prize – Daniel Kirkby and Vanessa Torri – Urban Spatial Experimentation

BA Architecture

BA 1st Prize – Ghada Mudara – Urban Spatial Experimentation

BA 2nd Prize – Theodoris Tamvakis – QED

BA 3rd Prize – Arinjoy Sen – Common Ground

Sculpting in Plaster – CiA student Sam Stone

This years ‘Continuity in Architecture’ field trip took the group to on of the oldest cities in Western Europe, Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Sam Stone has spent a good portion of his first semester studies experimenting in the workshop and describes his thought and working process for us.

Whilst visiting the city of Lisbon the notion of it’s craft is almost tangible, from the decorative wrought iron verandas to the tessellated azulejo tiles, the manual, hand made implications of making the city are evident throughout it.What impressed me most was the ostentatious display of skill in the stonemasonry work of the manueline architecture in an area of Lisbon named Belém. It intrigued me to understand the depth of knowledge and skill needed to create such profound displays of craftsmanship.

My aim initially was to learn through making, as a direct response to my early research into the various crafts of Lisbon. I started with studies into the processes of stonemasonry (manueline style columns), mimicking the carving and chiseling of stone by using plaster as a more malleable material.Work started off tentatively and without prior experience of carving or sculpting I slowly tapped away at the block removing minimal material. After a while, confidence grew and I became more efficient, quicker and more clinical with my actions. Repetition meant a gradual understanding of the how the material breaks away, how hard to throw the hammer and which way to hold the chisel. What did take me six strikes, now took me one and material would come away precisely where intended, rather than too much or too little.

The resultant studies link back well to my interpretation of Lisbon as a crafted city, and I hope to transfer this knowledge into design/programme at a later stage.

My first three outputs are studies into manueline style architectural elements in stone, each work advancing in difficulty, starting with a simple twisted flute column to a decorative rope knot. I gained a partial understanding of what it means to me to be a craftsman; having a true understanding of material, knowledge and economy of technique and most evidently, much practice and repetition.

img_2684 img_2726

After gaining more confidence with the tools, the material and act of carving, I attempted to produce a concept model and 1:500 site model. I thought these early analytical studies and their method of production, along with site analysis could inform my approach to design later on.

The concept model outlines my approach to design decisions on the site. The block is cast stone plaster with the landscape of the site ‘excavated’ by foam formwork. Protruding perspex rods under the lateral void describe the transient nature of the road that divides both sides of the site. A mahogany piece rests on the stepped landscape as an indicator of ‘place’ I wish to create in the void.

The 1:500 site model was carved out topography from a casted block of pigmented plaster. The excavated, subtracted nature of the landscape suited this method of modelling. Faster methods could include using the CNC machine to mechanically remove material, or making an accurate mold. However, through manually carving away to reveal the site I grasped a deeper understanding of the varied topography and stepped character of the sloped landscape of the site. It also enabled me to interrogate the landscape closer.

dsc06950carved plaster topo 3

If I was to offer advice to anyone wanting to experiment with modelmaking in a similar way I’d say spend time to learn the particular craft or method, its great to learn a new skill and you could find out something unique about your abilities.

Don’t rush it, at times modelling requires close attention and care, mistakes can be difficult to amend (especially in painted plaster!). As always don’t hurry modelling, if you think the model making method could help inform your design decisions later, it’s worth being patient.

– Sam Stone Jan 2017

DSC06977all 5

It’s great that Sam decided to approach his studies in this ‘hands on’ way and especially that he took the time to really improve his understanding of the material. The commitment of time is always a big issue to working this way but in marrying his practical trial and error approach to making Sam has been able to balance other study commitments against the making craft he clearly enjoys.

– Scott

Visit to Mecanoo Architects and the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture

Mecanoo Office and Workshop (3)

Last month we were invited to attend the 30th anniversary celebrations of Mecanoo Architects in Delft, The Netherlands. As part of our visit we were able to tour the Mecanoo office and workshop and conduct interviews with their long-standing head of modelmaking, Henk Bouwer and Modelmaker Laurens Kistemaker.

Our visit was dominated by modelmaking related talk and the promise of future collaboration for our Modelmaking award scheme. We will continue to refine the scheme and Mecanoo are very enthusiastic about increased involvement with the school and award process. More updates on this soon.

The complete video interview with the Mecanoo modelmakers will be uploaded to our blog in the near future.

During the evening event Creative Director of Mecanoo, Francine Houben presented a chronology of the people the have been part of the company with their projects mentioned in throughout. The diverse staff that have come and gone from the company were clearly well thought of and many present during the presentation. Special mention of Henk Bouwers extensive and continued service highlighted the importance models play in the practice as we are well aware following our collaboration with them earlier in the year.

Some of Mecanoos key projects include the TU Delft Library, La Llotja Theatre and Conference Centre in Spain, Birmingham Library and more recently the HOME project in Manchester.

Mecanoo Office and Workshop (24) Mecanoo Office and Workshop (69) Mecanoo Office and Workshop (91) Mecanoo Office and Workshop (92)Mecanoo Office and Workshop (122) Mecanoo Office and Workshop (136)Mecanoo Office and Workshop (126)

In addition to the Mecanoo insights we were able to have two separate tours of the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture. Technician Geert Coumans gave us a full tour of their workshop facility allowing for some obvious comparisons of working practice which left us reassured about our approaches to modelmaking in architectural education. The TU Delft facility has an annual intake of approximately 300 new first year students which is reflected in the size of their combined workshop and studio space. The facility was hastily designed as a result of the unfortunate fire that burnt down the previous school building in 2008. The resulting workspace is vast and lofty with workshop areas divided according to their purpose.

TU Delft (1)Scott Mobile Delft Pics (24) TU Delft (9) TU Delft (18)
TU Delft (21)

TU Delft (50)

TU Delft (60)

In a second tour of the studio and lecture spaces we were shown around by lecturer John Heintz. It was pleasing to see models in every conceivable space around the school during our two visits.Â One fascinating part of the school is an extensive collection of original classic chairs which are housed in a connecting corridor between the two main wings of the school.

Facilities include: Woodworking Machines, two CNC Routers, Spraying and Casting room, three Laser cutters, Powder Printer and an ABS Printer. Interestingly Hand tools are provided only on exchange of a students Driving Licence or Passport as deposit.

TU Delft (73)TU Delft (64)


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Maps and product lifecycle aggregation layers

Maps and product lifecycle aggregation layers

Technological innovation is fascinating. CBInsight Tech Trend 14 trends that shaping tech in 2019 report is full of absolutely crazy examples. If you’re a technological geek like me, take a look – you will find a bunch of interesting things – from smart homes, automated last mile product deliveries, total personalizing of your environment and cars that can be fully reconfigured based on the passenger that gets in.

My favorite tech example is related to maps -Maps become a layer for all kinds of real-world data.

But there’s more potential for maps than just locating nearby happy hour spots — in the future, maps might offer a user bar recommendations based on past preferences, connect them with friends in the area, and even warn them from visiting locations that have high pollen counts. In 2019, maps will begin to become a layer on which we do everything from communicating to compile data.

Here are just 2 examples:

In October 2018, Google rolled out detailed electric vehicle charging station information, including the number of chargers and charging speeds available.

A project last year launched in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and Colorado State University involves adding sensors to Google’s Street View cars so they can track methane leaks as they pass through streets.

It is an interesting opportunity. Because the map can be used by PLM systems connecting virtual and physical space. A map is one of the best contextual filters allowing also to create relevance in information collection and visualization. Working in both aspects, the map can because a layer to communicate about product-related activities. It can help different organizations in manufacturing company from sales to support to provide specific information and help to make intelligent decisions. An entire value chain can be optimized using a map as a communication layer.

Do you think PLM technologies are ready for such a shift. Not really, in my view. Existing PLM technological platforms have deep relationships to a single version of truth inside of the company and have very little to connect outside. An average PLM use case is to extract information to Excel and connect supplier to the PLM database. There is nothing wrong with that, except these technologies cannot be expanded to work across multiple company borders.

What is my conclusion? It is a time for PLM technologies to expand their horizons and step beyond a traditional product lifecycle focusing on data control and change management. Even, this is basic of PLM, it is also a big limitation, which closes PLM technologies to engineering only. Outside of engineering, PLM can be connected to business functions and change the value proposition of product lifecycle business. Digital transformation is a popular word in a lexicon of PLM vendors these days. But digital transformation is impossible without getting outside of engineering and connect to a real physical world. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg

Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM developing cloud-based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups, and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased.

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I am so Excited!

I promise I won't break out in song, but I really want to.  I am so excited to offer a new product to all my clients.  Your own App.  Isn't that cool?  You can have an App* on your phone or tablet with your pictures on it.  It is easy to share and so cool to look at.

Imagine this is your phone with your families pictures on it.
Here is a sample app of my family.  Click on it to see how your app will look.  These apps will be included with your session at no additional cost.  Contact me today to schedule your session.

*Apps will work on all Apple products and the newer Androids.

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French carp venue owner is champ vegetable grower too!

French carping at Old Oaks & Laroussi

He’s at it again! Mehdi with his record watermelon!

Mehdi Daho, the owner of Laroussi & Old Oaks, tells us he claimed another vegetable prize in the summer.  This was for a watermelon, which was a French record, EGVGA record and the best in Europe in 2010.  It weighed a massive 107lb!

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Friday, June 30, 2006

that moustache feeling

we saw this vandalized tribune kiosk outside virago's apartment and had to take a picture for posterity.

disclaimer: i didn't vandalize the kiosk, nor do i know who did.

1 comment:

djempirical said...

and you referenced one of my favorite episodes of the tick, too!


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Archive for the ‘i need 100 dollars now’ Category

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Located on top of this particular page is a short finance document for you to submit. The type is actually secure as well as it puts you under no commitment. It is actually also really brief, asking simply for some general info. You will definitely need to enter your name as well as deal with, details concerning your source of income, your financial information and also a handful of other little bit of probabilities and also sides. It will approximately pair of mins to finish, perhaps less.

Submit Your Loan Form

Once you have actually completed the form, you will certainly be actually inquired to send it. When you carry out, your relevant information will definitely be firmly delivered to the finance system. If approved, a lending institution will definitely send you a car loan promotion. The promotion is going to feature every one of the particulars of the finance whichyou will need to permit. Be actually extensive and also carry out not thoughtlessly merely approve a financing. Be actually an informed consumer and also do not merely concede considering that you need loan now.

Accept Your Financing Provide

If you as if the terms that have appeared to you, you can approve your car loan. When you accomplishthis, the money will be deposited straight into your checking account. This may happen as soon as the following organisation day. Utilize the $100 that you obtained to pay for whatever you need.

Repay Your Finance

On the established time, pinpointed in your car loan deal, your lending institution will definitely withdraw the capital funds and also any sort of costs that were set. If you discover that you can certainly not settle the funding promptly, you must call your creditor immediately. They might have options for you althoughthose options may entail additional fees.

Other Ways To Acquire Amount Of Money

A loan is not consistently the very best selection. You may possess various other choices. Listed here are a couple of things to think about. Some manner ins whichyou might be able to make $100 or perhaps more in a time or 2.

Sell Your Tissue

If you possess an aged phone rotting away in your scrap compartment, you might be resting on amount of money. Certain, it behaves to possess backup phone, however you need $100 at the moment. Look for a mobile phone stock kiosk that are going to offer you cashtoday. There are actually additionally email in services that will allow you to deliver in your phone withpre-paid freight.

Turn In Your Improvement

Have you viewed those coin collecting makers at the convenience store? You might be shocked at simply just how muchamount of money you possess lying around suchas improvement. Take hold of that modification jar as well as clear out the voids in your sofa, gathering modification. It is not rare to locate $100 in adjustment in the normal home.

Donate Your Plasma

Not scrupulous? Good, simply give your blood and you could possibly have the money that you need. You may be able to obtain everything you need in merely one donation even. It relies on your measurements. The muchbigger you are actually, the more you can easily give and the even more you can bring in. Even thoughyou can‘ t receive all your loan in one donation, withplasma you can give up to twice a full week so you are going to get there. You can simply bring in 400 dollars a monthcontributing blood as well as you can do it on a monthly basis.

Ask A Close Friend

What is a hundred dollars between friends? A great deal! Make sure, funds can interpose the very best of good friends however if you are tight withyour buddies and make sure that you may spend the cashback promptly, this could be a wonderful selection.


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What I learned about the writing process from bread baking

Posted by Lucina S. on 11/17/20 12:15 PM

Title_ How to Study Efficiently for Hours On End (With the Help of a Tomato) (25)Working from home means I can adapt myself to the capricious schedule of bread making. Dough waits for no one (and it will not rise more quickly if prodded!). I’ve loved baking since childhood, but I discovered bread more recently.

Full disclaimer: I’m an amateur baker. I’m not nurturing an ancient sourdough starter; I prefer easier breads, especially no-knead varieties that rise and ferment for hours, sometimes overnight. I’ve discovered there are lessons to be learned about the writing process from making even the easiest breads.

If you want to pause and start making some bread before you read on, I’d suggest Jim Lahey’s revolutionary no-knead bread recipe. You can find it here or with a quick search (it’s pretty much all over the internet).

Lesson One: Cultivate patience.

Breads made with yeast require patience. Yeast is a living fungus that takes its sweet time to inflate air bubbles in dough, making it rise. It also makes dough more stretchy and flavorful. In no-knead breads, more water and more time take the place of kneading to develop the gluten network (stretchiness!) in the dough. You’ll get a dense, bland loaf if you bake too early. In the meantime, you’ve got to go do other things—staying glued to the scene is like trying to watch plants grow.

There are parts of the writing process where you need to walk away for a while too.

I find it’s best to take a break between finishing a draft and starting to revise it. If you barrel straight from drafting to revising, you probably won’t make substantive, meaningful changes. After all, you’ve just been staring at the draft endlessly. You’re tired. Sadly, unlike dough, your draft won’t balloon to delicious proportions while you’re away. But ideas will likely ferment in your mind, and when you come back to your writing, you’ll bring in new ideas and a fresh perspective. How long should you take a break? It depends on your preferences and your project.

An overlooked part of the writing process is the very end, and bread has a lesson for us there as well.

Most breads need to cool after you take them out of the oven. I’m always tempted to cut into that warm loaf right away, even though I know the bread is still cooking a little on the inside. When I’m patient, I’m rewarded with a fluffier texture.

Likewise, when I feel like my writing is done, it’s tempting to just submit it and call it a day. In fact, it’s best to do one more read-through (aloud is preferable, even though it’s painful). This way, you can be your own proofreader, checking for any errors or embarrassing typos. Even though there won’t be any drastic changes, this step ensures that your writing is as polished as possible.

Lesson Two: Environment matters.

The way bread dough develops depends on its environment. For example, warmer environments speed up yeast activity, resulting in a faster rise. That’s why I take my bread dough upstairs in the winter (and when it’s especially cold, I’ve even resorted to warming it in the oven). This August, when I was making burger buns, I put them in the greenhouse-like entryway of the house to rise. It was probably too hot, because the dough doubled in size in about half the time that the recipe specified.

Similarly, the environment in which you choose to write matters. If you’re unable to concentrate, then the process could take twice as long.

Many people prefer a quiet place without a lot of distractions (say no to the phone!). I also know people who like to write in places with a lot of ambient noise, like cafés. Whatever your preference, it can be challenging to find an ideal writing environment. You might not be able to go to a public place, or maybe your whole family is sharing space. Even in frustrating scenarios, you can almost always improve your environment with small adjustments. If you’re looking for privacy and quiet, consider wearing headphones, hanging a curtain, placing a screen, or bringing a chair outside.

Lesson Three: Make it your own.

When you’re baking a cake, you often need to follow the recipe exactly to get tasty results. In my experience, bread is more forgiving. I often substitute a mixture of whole wheat and bread flour in place of all bread flour because I love the nutty taste of whole wheat. When I last made focaccia, I spread the dough in a larger pan than the recipe called for so that I could get a thinner crust for my potato topping (I was trying to imitate Roman potato pizza). Not every adjustment works, but experimentation sometimes results in delicious discoveries.

Likewise, I believe that my writing process must be my own. I love to learn how other people write, and I often try out their methods, but I only use those methods that help me bring to life the projects I envision. And though I’m recommending certain practices for writing in this very post, I also think you should feel free to tweak and re-imagine your ways of writing. You can even adjust your writing process from project to project, as different projects have different demands.

Here are some possible experiments. Maybe you will…

…do two small revision sessions instead of one big overhaul.

…free-write before you revise, instead of during brainstorming.

…make a “reverse” outline from your first draft to see the structure of your ideas better.

…record your initial ideas (such as on a voice memo) before starting a project.

…keep a progress log.

…time yourself to write in thirty-minute bursts.

There are general principles of writing; ultimately, though, you’ve got to figure out what works for you. Happy writing, and happy bread baking—I hope!

Cambridge Coaching was founded by doctoral candidates in English, and instruction in reading and writing is one of our particular strengths. Our tutors are published authors, as well as Ph.D candidates from the top English graduate programs in America, with most hailing from Harvard or the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop--or both.

We have a long history of helping high school, college, and graduate students become more astute critical readers and writers capable of producing their own polished academic essays. Many of our students come to us looking for help with basic composition or reading comprehension, but our expert tutors have coached our clients through everything from business English to doctoral dissertations. Whether you need to learn how to tell a participle from a pronoun, or need help making sense of Shakespeare, we can design a syllabus to suit your specific goal.

Contact us!

Check out some other blog posts regarding writing below!:

Betwixt and between: difficult grammar rules explained

Five strategies to improve your writing

It’s All Greek to Me—How to Build Vocabulary from the Ground Up

Tags: expository writing


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Blogs at Free Downloads Center

Gentledraw 1.93

Tilgore Kraut - July 23, 2007

screenshot1.gifGentledraw is software that will make the creation of 3D model fun for the user. The functions are quite easy to use even by a person who only basic knowledge about computers. It enables the user to create simple drawing images, animations and 3D images. The software starts with a ‘Quick Start’ dialog box that gives an idea about how to use the software and what does it do. Essentially the Quick Start as a good learning guide when it comes to creating 3D images.

Easy in downloading this software also gets installed in fewer seconds. Images can be formed with the toolbar shown on the left side having pencil, eraser, brush, etc. The images can be transformed to 3D images instantaneously. The controls allows for easy navigation ease of selecting stored images. The best part involves the ease with which the 3D images can be turned to animations. Simple image diagrams have just two colours black and white. When they are converted into 3D or animation the colour can be readily adjusted according to the choice. The options like ‘Canvas color’ along with ‘Model surface color’ and ‘Border color’ options on the toolbar effectively serve the purpose. The Border dialog’s ‘enable border’ and ‘border editor’ features help to bring changes in the structure of the image. The texture can be adjusted and the canvas image can be set. X Y Z level are available for neatly adjusting size, scalability, and to turn the image as desired.

For creating animations, the color of canvas and background can be changed as per the animation scheme. The place and size can be changed and the image can be rotated as well through the Route dialog options on the toolbar. The timing and size of the animation can also be set. The software does a very decent job of what set itself for doing and has practical utility.

(More Info and Download)

This entry was posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 am and is filed under Animation, Design, Developer, Fun, Games, Shareware, Themes, Windows. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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One Response to “Gentledraw 1.93”

  1. oom Says:

    glad to know ’bout this software

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

When Scott contacted me at the end of the summer for headshots, I was so excited! Scott and I came in as masters students together and we study with the same voice teacher. I remember when I first saw him sing Germont in La Traviata, I was floored by his amazing stage presence and incredible voice and so honored to be in the same studio as him! And then when I got to know him, I was totally taken aback by his genuine kindness. It isn't that one doesn't expect someone so talented to be so nice, but I remember thinking, seriously! He has to be one of the nicest people I've met at this school! I'm not blowing smoke, Scott. It's true.

When he told me he was going to have a cool beard for an upcoming production of Figaro, I could not have imagined the awesomeness of this facial hair. These headshots are striking because he looks so striking and so different in the most wonderful way possible. Way to do your homework, Scott. And he also brought his totally amazing Indian tapestry from home to make a sweet background. And the open bowtie look! Aaah! Love it!

Scott, you look like Brad Pitt.

Scott, thanks for letting me photograph you. It was so much fun. I'm looking forward to doing it again in the future...if you stick around here long enough! :)

  1. I just want to say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE HEAD SHOTS. The lighting, expression, posing, styling is just peeerrrrffect. I'm so jealous!

  2. Thanks Natasha! Scott made my job so easy!


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• Slideshow Widget

    Tuesday, February 17, 2009

    While at the zoo, Benjamin was dicussing exactly why this fish has such a long nose with another nearly 4 year old boy. Benjamin's explaination...

    "Probably because he eats too many hot dogs...and straight things."

    ...Obviously! Haha.

    This was a crazy weekend for us. As I said earlier, Mike was busy with his Winterfest Trifecta activities (see video below) and also was completing any last minute things for the Lace Up Against Breast Cancer race, which was on Sunday.

    Our Valentine's celebrations actually began on Thursday with Benjamin's daycare party. The kids invited their parents to snack time. There were games, a special snack, some crafts and the whole room was decorated in a jungle theme. All the kids wore their pajamas that day as well, which Benjamin always loves. Friday evening Ethan came over to play. The two boys played so well together, they really get along and are so cute together. Benjamin and I decorated the kitchen with hearts and balloons as a Valentine's surprise for Mike on Saturday, however Mike actually surprised US when he came home early from his Stairclimb while we were in the middle of decorating! We were caught red-handed! In the afternoon, Benjamin and I headed out to Foster-Arends lake to watch the Plunge. We were lucky to get there at the perfect time to not only get a seat on the bleachers, but also to get a decent parking spot. When we left, after Mike's group jumped, it was insanity! The weather was cold, but not terrible and it was nice that the sun decided to shine as well. We were both pretty bundled up, so it wasn't too bad. It was a lot of fun to be able to watch the madness.

    Later that evening, we came home and opened up all of our Valentine's Day presents. Benjamin got a Disney cd and a Donald Duck toy (for his "Mickey Mouse thing"), Mike got the new Muppets Show Season 3 dvd set and I got 2 beautiful wall hangings for the basement. That reminds me, I have to get those on the wall before Sunday night, which is our annual Academy Awards party.

    Sunday was the Lace Up Against Breast Cancer race and Mike was out the door early to prepare with his fellow race committee members. Benjamin and I met everyone at the YMCA at around 9am, just as the runners were all gathering together for their run. Mike decided at the last minute to run the 5k race instead of the half marathon because he wanted to be back at the Y to help everyone out before the majority of the runners got back. I manned the food table, which consisted of donated chili, bananas, bread rolls, apples/caramel, and lots of cookies. It was fun seeing all of the runners come through the line for chili. One of our favorite bloggers Steve Stenzel even came down from St. Paul for the race and it was great to meet him in person! Benjamin spent his time munching on snacks and chatting up the runners. He was a really good boy all day. After we all relaxed a bit following the race, Benjamin went over to Ethan's house to play and we were able to celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple. We finally were able to see Slumdog Millionaire, which was outstanding. After the movie we cashed in Mike's silent auction winnings (a Whistle Binkie's giftcard) for our dinner. It was a great evening!

    You would think that after a weekend like that, we would use our day off on Monday to relax, but no way! Benjamin and I drove up to the Minnesota Zoo where we met Grandma Chris and Grandpa Ed, who had the day off for the President's Day holiday (sadly IBM does not celebrate the holiday, so Mike was stuck at work). We walked all around the zoo and because it was a mild day (32 and sunny), we were even able to walk around outside and see the new Grizzly Bear exhibit. Who would even imagine visiting a zoo in mid-February?? That's Minnesota for ya! We also saw an Imax movie called Under the Sea, which was in 3d. It was spectacular and Benjamin was trying to reach out and touch the fish the whole time, so funny. It was a great day and a great chance to take advantage of the fact that Mom and Dad are so close to us now!

    I should be uploading pictures from the Polar Bear Plunge and our Valentine's weekend soon. Unfortunately I forgot my camera at home the day we went to the zoo, which was a huge bummer since I wanted try out some techniques I learned in my class. Bah!

    One Response to “ ”

    Jenna said...

    What a busy weekend! I also was debating taking the kids to the zoo this week...maybe a little early for me yet. I bet the daycare party was fun. I always loved being invited to have snack and to how the kids are in their element.


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Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for October, 2015

Lake Zumbro Hydro Drawdown Draws Near

Monday, October 26th, 2015

The annual drawdown of Lake Zumbro is scheduled to begin on November 1st. The drawdown is necessary for planned maintenance and shoreline restoration work.  These plans are subject to change depending on rainfall and resulting runoff.  RPU’s drawdown plan is as follows:

  • Sunday, November 1st start the gradual drawdown from summer pool elevation 914.5 and continuing releasing water until a target elevation of 911.5 is achieved.
  • Maintain the lake level at or about 911.5 from Saturday, November 7th thru Saturday, November 14th.
  • On Monday, November 14th the lake refilling will begin.  The level would be slowly raised back up to normal winter pool at a rate no more than 0.5 feet per day while maintaining a minimum release of 70 cfs.  We anticipate a minimum of 8 days will be required to raise the lake level to normal winter pool of 913.0 to minimize the impact on downstream resources.

The drawdown plan is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

During the months of November through March, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will attempt to maintain the lake level at the winter pool level of 913.0.

Real-time lake level information, along with Lake Zumbro hydro updates are available on the RPU web site ( For additional information regarding the Zumbro Hydroelectric Facility please contact Tony Benson at (507) 280-1534.

Tips for lake ice safety:

Be extremely careful during winter activities that involve Lake Zumbro such as ice fishing, snowmobiling or just walking out on the frozen lake.

Watch the weather and river flow conditions.

Ice thickness and condition can vary greatly. Be very cautious.

Look out for ice heaves and exposed logs and snags.

Be cautious in the vicinity of the dam. De-icing equipment has been installed along the upstream face of the dam resulting in open water and/or thin ice.

Do not proceed past the warning signs and buoys.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 38,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include smart grid, water sustainability, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

Environmental Achievement Awards Nomination Deadline Approaching!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Do you have a  person, organization, business, or group that you would like to nominate for an Environmental Achievement Award? The deadline for nominations is October 16. Recognize someone today by clicking the link below for full details and directions on submitting a nomination.


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Friday, October 26, 2007

We all loose...

I made no post on Sept. 11 this year. For me it was too horrible to wallow in the sadness and depression of recalling that day. But so much of our lives today is impacted by that day. So much about our country was twisted... So that we almost don't recognize it any more.

In the days after 9/11 a terrible mistake was make. I'm not talking about foreign policy or the start of the war drums. No. A simple mistake was made by a pilot who forgot a radio in his hotel room. Later, a hotel employee "found" the radio in another room. A room where an Egyptian man was staying.

And this is where things went very wrong. This is where men in good faith did something that changed America. The FBI believed they had a 9/11 conspirator. He denied the radio was his, but of course, a terrorist would do that. Never mind that the radio doesn't fit into any terrorism scenario. These were the first few days right after the attack and no one knew how it had been planned or executed. All the FBI agent knew is that an Egyptian national had a radio used by pilots. This was all the proof he needed. But when the Egyptian wouldn't give him what he wanted he threatened to sick the Egyptian Security forces on his family back home.

These guys wouldn't simply make life unpleasant, they would very likely torture those who they suspected might be associated with terrorists. Let me be clear. He didn't threaten the Egyptian with torture, this is before we started sending people to secret CIA facilities where we only used the most human and White House sanctioned torture. He told the man the Egyptians would get his family, and Egypt (A country I love and hope to visit again some day) does not fuck around with terror suspects. Like Israel and Syria they can and will do all the things the Geneva convention forbids. Beating the feet with steel rods, electrical shocks to the genitals, drilling into flesh or worse.

The man was in a catch 22. Confess to something he did not do and his life would be over, but his family might be safe, or insist is his innocence and risk his families torture. He confesses. The radio is his. "Where did you get it?" asks the FBI agent. But the man can't tell his because it wasn't his. He makes up several stories, which only makes him look more guilty.

Then the real owner of the radio showed up. There was no plot. There was no evidence. There was no terrorist. The man was released.

This was the first misstep. But it would be followed by many more. In our zeal to find and punish those we felt were responsible we threw out the investigation play book and started cutting corners. Taking shortcuts to get justice. The War or Terror looks like and episode of "24" where he will break our own laws, ignore treaties, even torture in pursuit of the 'enemy'.

A lot of people talk tough about fighting terrorism. They take that anguish from 9/11 and channel it into a focussed beam of hate and grim determination to do "whatever it takes" to stop it from ever happening again. Give these people a gun and tell them that "that guy over there is a terrorist" and they might well shoot the guy themselves.

"So we made a mistake with this Egyptian guy, it was all sorted out, no harm no foul" you say.

But if the owner of the radio had not come back for it the Egyptian would very likely have been sent to Gitmo , or worse. We would have put an innocent guy and likely his family as well, into the meat grinder we have created and we would have destroyed them.

Only a short time ago almost half the detainees at Gitmo were released. We simply didn't have ANY evidence they were Al Qaida. "Horay! The system works!". But we had imprisoned them in closet sized cells there for YEARS. If they didn't hate America before, they sure as hell do now.

Look, I want to stop terrorist plots just like everyone else. I just don't want to destroy the country I love to do it. I want us to THINK before we act. Political candidates these days are trying to make themselves out as "Men of Action". You know what, we have those guys. They're called Marines. What I want are thinking men. Because action without thought is folly. And when we act like animals we all loose.

What's your opinion?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I am tired of the neocons owning the title patriot. I am a patriot. I love and believe in this country. I believe in our ideals - freedom of thought, action and belief. Why are we trading our liberty for security? When did it become OK in this country to spy, wiretap, arrest, detain, and kill people without the support of law?