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mister-wong-s-magic-box
Jan 4, 2023
The Invocation of the World
As I emerged from the valley out ofthe fog into the sunshine…The fire at the edge of the pasture…The potatoes in the ashes…The boat-house far off at the lake…The Southern Cross,The Far East,The High North,The Wild West, TheGreat Bear Lake!The Isles of Tristan de Cunha.The Mississippi Delta.Stromboli.The old houses of Charlottenburg.Albert Camus.The morning light.The child's eyes.Swimming at the waterfall…The first raindrop spots.The sun.Bread and wine.Skipping.Easter.The veins of leaves.The waving grass.The colors of the stones.The pebbles on the creek bed.The white table cloth in the open air.The dream of the house in the house.The person asleep in the next room.Sunday's peacefulness.The horizon.The light from the room…In the garden.The night plane.Biking with no hands.The beautiful stranger.My father.My mother.My wife.My child.
A scene from Wender's 1987 masterpiece showing a dying man propped up against the curb near the crashed motorcycle. We first hear the whisper of the dying man's chaotic thoughts as he tries to make sense of the accident and the impending death. The angel Damiel glides across the bridge, approaches the man, kneels behind him and leans his own head down in order to tune into the deeper thoughts of the dying man's mind. At this point the "Invocation of the World" begins, as Damiel starts drawing from the man all the things that meant the most to him during his lifetime. The man gradually joins the invocation and overcomes the initial confusion and fear as he transcends into the Beautiful, the Good and the Valuable. Extraordinary camera movement accompanies all the scenes, following beautifully the reversal and the revelation of the dying man's spirit.
Looks like what I have been going through the last few weeks ..
There are perhaps several lives in one's lifetime.
Perhaps one dies a few times during this timeframe, seeing your life roll out before your eyes in the last moments as you leave, the things you did right, the things you wish you had done better, etc.
I remember San Francisco, Grateful Dead and Hippie-Ville if ever there were any ( San Francisco 1967 - The Summer of Love ), when the band played a show in town, there were train loads of hippies emerging out from all corners of nowhere, the followers, they went in crowds from Grateful Dead show to Grateful Dead show restlessly, talk about devotion ! playing drums, lying around high by the wallside on the sidewalk, you almost had to climb your way over the Warfield Theater area on Market street, they were all over the place ..
So many roads .. this is an excerpt from the very last Grateful Dead concert. The next month, Jerry Garcia would pass away exactly one month after.
The Grateful Dead had been playing 30 years straight since 1965 and made but few records, but were rather well known for their countless live performances.
The very last show.
As it is played then in the video, this song feels exactly like this, rolling out your life just before passing to the other place ..
Thought I heard a blackbird singingUp on Bluebird HillCall me a whinin' boy if you willBorn where the sun don't shineAnd I don't deny my nameGot no place to go, ain't that a shame?
Thought I heard that KC whistleMoaning sweet and lowThought I heard that KC when she blowDown where the sun don't shineUnderneath the KokomoWhinin' boy got no place to go
So many roads, I tell youSo many roads I knowSo many roads, so many roadsMountain high, river wideSo many roads to rideSo many roads, so many roads
Thought I heard a jug band playin'If you don't who else will?From over on the far side of the hillAll I know the sun don't shineAnd the rain refused to fallAnd you don't seem to hear me when I call
Wind inside and the wind outsideTangled in the window blindTell me why you treat me so unkindDown where the sun don't shineLonely and I call your nameNo place left to go, ain't that a shame?
So many roads, I tell youNew York to San FranciscoSo many roads I knowAll I want is one to take me homeFrom the high road to the lowSo many roads I knowSo many roads, so many roads
From the land of the midnight sunWhere the ice blue roses growAlong those roads of gold and silver snowHowlin' wide or moaning lowSo many roads I knowSo many roads to my soul
Garcia's funeral was held on August 12, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Belvedere. It was attended by his family, the remaining Grateful Dead members, and their friends, including former pro basketball player Bill Walton and musician Bob Dylan. […]On August 13, about 25,000 people attended a municipally sanctioned public memorial at the Polo Fields of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Crowds produced hundreds of flowers, gifts, images, and a bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace" in remembrance. In the Haight, a single white rose was reportedly tied to a tree near the Dead's former Haight-Ashbury house, where a group of followers gathered to mourn.[…] On the morning of April 4, 1996, after a total lunar eclipse earlier that day, Weir and Deborah Koons accompanied by Sanjay Mishra, spread half of Garcia's ashes into the Ganges at the holy city of Rishikesh, India, a site sacred to Hindus. The remaining ashes were poured into the San Francisco Bay. […]
So long Jerry, we love you, man
miralsail
Oct 11, 2022
Road to nowhere sign
The Noland Creek South Trail travels one mile to Fontana Lake, with one mile back to the parking area, whereas the North Trail meanders along the creek with forest and rushing creek views.ĭirections: From downtown Bryson City head north on Everett Street and continue on Fontana Road for about 2.5 miles until you reach the national park entrance called "Lakeview Drive." This scenic drive travels another six miles to the "Road to Nowhere Tunnel. Max And Paddys Road To Nowhere is the much-loved sequel to Peter Kays critically-acclaimed comedy series, 'Phoenix Nights'. These two trails offer epic creekside views and plenty of solitude. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. From the Lakeview Drive entrance, the first pull-off on the left is a scenic view known as "Fontana Lake Overlook."The next pull-off on your left is the parking area for the Noland Creek Trails North and South. Find road to nowhere sign stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Be sure to bring a flashlight on this adventure!Īlong the curvy road, you’ll see the scenic mountainside with occasional views of Lake Fontana. At the road’s end, a mile-long tunnel stretches under rock, which must be traversed on foot to reach hiking trails on the other side, including Noland Creek Trail, the Goldmine Loop, and Lakeshore Trails. A six-mile winding road weaves through the National Forest, with multiple scenic stops along the way to pull off and take in the view of Fontana Lake. Now Canadian author Paris Marx, host of the popular podcast ' Tech Wont Save Us ,' has written 'Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation' where he. Stream songs including 'Lesson I Cant Unlearn', 'Road to Nowhere' and more. Listen to Road to Nowhere by Songs From The Road Band on Apple Music. Steeped in history, the Road to Nowhere is a scenic drive, hiking destination and monument to the past, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sign In Road to Nowhere Songs From The Road Band. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. The thinking was that 'the autonomous car will likely be shared, smaller, lighter. A fixture in the Reno skyline looking east, it sits due south of colorful. Find the perfect road to nowhere sign stock photo. A decade ago, the consensus was that self-driving cars or autonomous vehicles (AVs) would change our cities. One of the most unique areas in Bryson City is found on Lakeview Drive in an area locally known as “The Road to Nowhere,” part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park After the construction of Fontana Dam flooded other access roads, a replacement highway was promised in the 1960s, However, construction was halted due to environmental issues, and the Road to Nowhere was born. The Road to Nowhere Mountain, is a mountain in Washoe County, just east of Reno.
newstfionline
Aug 23, 2021
Monday, August 23, 2021
22 dead, many missing after 17 inches of rain in Tennessee(AP) At least 22 people were killed and rescue crews searched desperately Sunday amid shattered homes and tangled debris for dozens of people still missing after record-breaking rain sent floodwaters surging through Middle Tennessee. Saturday’s flooding in rural areas took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving families uncertain about whether their loved ones survived the unprecedented deluge. Emergency workers were searching door to door, said Kristi Brown, a coordinator for health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools. Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, shattering the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches (8 centimeters), the National Weather Service said. Lines of storms moved over the area for hours, wringing out a record amount of moisture. The downpours rapidly turned the creeks that run behind backyards and through downtown Waverly into raging rapids.
Moving inland, storm Henri drenches Northeast US(AP) Storm Henri weakened into tropical depression Sunday night, as it crawled over the Northeast and continued to unleash downpours over a region already saturated by heavy rain and wind that knocked out power to over 100,000 homes and swamped roads, closed bridges and left people stranded in their vehicles. Henri made landfall Sunday on the coast of Rhode Island, and the National Hurricane Center warned that the slow-moving storm would continue dumping heavy rains on wide swaths of the region. The storm was downgraded from a hurricane before reaching New England, leaving many to breathe a sigh of relief. There were few early reports of major damage due to wind or surf. But the storm’s heavy, sustained rains raised concerns about flooding from the storm that threatened to stall over the region before pivoting to the East and moving out to the Atlantic Ocean on Monday night. Some of the highest rain totals were expected inland.
Civilian air fleet activated for just 3rd time in history to aid Afghanistan evacuation(The Week) For just the third time in U.S. history, the Pentagon is activating the country's Civil Reserve Air Fleet, meaning 18 civilian aircraft from airlines such as American, Delta, and United will be utilized to aid the Afghanistan evacuation in the wake of the Taliban takeover. The planes won't fly into and out of Kabul—the CRAF does not enter war zones—but they will head to U.S. military bases in Germany, Qatar, and Bahrain to fly stranded evacuees elsewhere, alleviating some of the pressure on the armed forces trying to get tens of thousands of Americans and Afghan civilians to safety. The civilian planes are also necessary because the military planes used to carry people out of Kabul don't have adequate restroom facilities or the ability to provide food on longer flights across the Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal notes. The CRAF program was created in 1952, a few years after the Berlin Airlift, an early Cold War crisis that saw the Soviet Union block access from the east to other sectors of the divided city that were controlled by Western powers. Since then, it's only been activated twice—during the Gulf War in Kuwait between 1990 and 1991, and at the start of the Iraq War between 2002 and 2003. The Pentagon only wants to use the aircraft for a week or two, which seemingly lines up with its plan to finish the withdrawal by Aug. 31, though the U.S. is facing calls to extend the deadline.
In Haiti, a brutal reckoning over an all too familiar task: Rebuilding(Washington Post) Hundreds of schools in Haiti were destroyed or badly damaged when the earth shook. The quake damaged power plants, bridges and roads, compromising electric grids and transit. The water supplies for countless communities are contaminated, in some, locals say, because of corpses upstream. Even as Haitians bury their dead, rescue operations continue and bands of desperate victims raid aid trucks. A country of endless crises led by an interim government stepping in for an assassinated president once again faces the arduous task of rebuilding. In the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation—one worn down by repeated natural and man-made disasters—the list of broken infrastructure and housing is an omen of new hardship ahead. Just as it did in 2010 after a more deadly earthquake—and in 2016, when Hurricane Matthew pummeled the same southern communities stricken by the quake now—Haiti is looking to the international community for help. But that hasn’t worked out well in the past. Last week’s quake reopened old wounds from the 2010 temblor that struck closer to the densely populated capital and killed more than 220,000 people. Over $13 billion in aid was allocated by international agencies to respond to the disaster. But mismanagement, a disconnect with local reality and lack of organization led to mistakes that the Haitian government, international agencies and NGOs say they can’t afford to commit again. To avoid the mistakes of the past, the Haitian government is now requesting that aid flow through it. But on the streets, distrust of local and national officials, who victims insist are corrupt and will spread distribute the aid for personal or political gain, is growing.
British military: 7 Afghans killed in chaos at Kabul airport(AP) A panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabul’s international airport killed seven Afghan civilians in the crowds, the British military said Sunday, showing the danger still posed to those trying to flee the Taliban’s takeover of the country. There have been stampedes and crushing injuries in the crowds, especially as Taliban fighters fire into the air to drive away those desperate to get on any flight out of the country. On Saturday, British and Western troops in full combat gear tried to control the crowds pressing in. They carried away some who were sweating and pale. With temperatures reaching 34 degree Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), the soldiers sprayed water from a hose on those gathered or gave them bottled water to pour over their heads. It wasn’t immediately clear whether those killed had been physically crushed, suffocated or suffered a fatal heart attack in the crowds. Soldiers covered several corpses in white clothes to hide them from view. Other troops stood atop concrete barriers or shipping containers, trying to calm the crowd. Gunshots occasionally rang out.
Europe fears Afghan refugee crisis after Taliban takeover(AP) From above, the new border wall separating Turkey from Iran looks like a white snake winding through the barren hills. So far it only covers a third of the 540-kilometer (335-mile) border, leaving plenty of gaps for migrants to slip across in the dead of night. Traffic on this key migration route from central Asia to Europe has remained relatively stable compared to previous years. But European countries, as well as Turkey, fear the sudden return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan could change that. Haunted by a 2015 migration crisis fueled by the Syrian war, European leaders desperately want to avoid another large-scale influx of refugees and migrants from Afghanistan. Except for those who helped Western forces in the country’s two-decade war, the message to Afghans considering fleeing to Europe is: If you must leave, go to neighboring countries, but don’t come here. Even Germany, which since 2015 has admitted more Syrians than any other Western nation, is sending a different signal today. And French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that “Europe alone cannot shoulder the consequences” of the situation in Afghanistan and “must anticipate and protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows.” Greece, whose scenic islands facing the Turkish coast were the European point of entry for hundreds of thousands of Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans and others six years ago, has made clear it doesn’t want to relive that crisis. Turkey is also reinforcing its borders.
Internal displacement crisis looms in Afghanistan in wake of Taliban takeover(Washington Post) As Afghanistan’s neighbors, along with other countries in the region and in the West, brace for the possibility of a large-scale refugee crisis driven by the Taliban’s rapid return to national power, the largest share of the displacement crisis is unfolding within Afghanistan’s borders, aid groups say. As the Taliban took territory in recent weeks, waves of Afghans fled their home provinces on foot and in cars and rickshaws in search of shifting, shrinking government-controlled pockets. In the week before Kabul fell to the Islamist group, tens of thousands of people fled, many of them making their way to the capital, directly or by way of provincial capitals that did not hold out long. Afghanistan already had 3.5 million internally displaced people before the Taliban took over. More than a half-million Afghan civilians have been displaced this year, UNHCR estimates, with about 80 percent being woman and girls. Now that the Taliban has control at the national level, and there are few places to flee its fighters within the country, it remains to be seen what share of people will simply go home.
Israel strikes Gaza after violent protests along border(AP) Israel’s military bombed Palestinian militant weapons sites in the Gaza Strip early Sunday in response to a violent demonstration on the perimeter fence that left an Israeli police officer critically injured, the army said. Saturday’s violence erupted after hundreds of Palestinians took part in a demonstration organized by Gaza’s Hamas rulers to draw attention to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the territory. The demonstration grew violent after dozens of people approached the fortified border fence and threw rocks and explosives toward Israeli soldiers from behind a black smoke screen billowing from burning tires. At least 24 Palestinians, including a 13-year-old, were injured by Israeli gunfire, according to the Gaza health ministry. An Israeli Border Police officer was shot and critically injured. The army said in a statement that in response to the violent demonstrations, fighter planes hit “four weapons and storage manufacturing sites” belonging to Gaza’s Hamas rulers, and that the military deployed additional troops to the region near the border with the Palestinian enclave.
musicallaccess-blog
Oct 8, 2019
An Exclusive Interview With The Pop Trio NoEXIT All About Their Newest Album in 15 Years!
The pop boy band NoEXIT which is made up of Mark Jeremy Barry, Derek Mcnally and Stephen Adel Burns recently reunited after a 15-year hiatus!
Their forthcoming album, “Powerstation” was produced by NoEXIT, Jonathan Radford Mead, Steve Chrisanthou (Corinne Bailey Rae) & Firebox and is set for release this Friday on October 11th via Topanga Creek Records and The Orchard. Pre-order/pre-save is available now.
To coincide with the release of Powerstation, the group has one of a kind, unique items up for grabs on their website. Items on the store include the NoEXIT Vintage Merch Bundle (1 vintage signed postcard, 2 vintage stickers, set of four pins, and three guitar picks), an acoustic video performance of each buyer’s chosen song, a short video message from the band and disposable cameras filled with images taken in the studio, on tour, or around town.
Other exclusive items include a handwritten & signed lyric sheet for one NoEXIT song of your choosing, a signed polaroid photo (no two are alike) of the band and, of course, the new album signed by the band.
NoEXIT are excited to announce new North American & UK tour dates. The tour is set to kick off in San Diego on November 3rd and wrap up on December 16th in Glasgow, UK. The tour, dubbed “Back Here” after their massive 1999 worldwide hit, travelled through such cities as Boston (SOLD OUT), New York, Nashville & Austin, TX this past May.
Their newest video released is for the track “Uncivil War.”
So what motivated the three of you to get back into the studio and create your new album, “Powerstation”?
Well, basically, we obviously remained friends. We still stayed in touch over the years and it was really just over a couple of years ago now that we got together just for a social gathering and we just got a guitar and started jamming and we fell straight back into it.
And I posted the video on my socials and it went crazy. We got two million views and people saying, “Oh, you know, do some more music.” And we did realize how much we actually missed performing together and singing together. So we just started writing and then, yeah. And here we are.
I mean we’ve been approached over the years to do stuff by TV companies and agents wanting us to get back together. But we just didn’t feel like the right time, but this just felt like a real natural time for us to kind of get together and do some more stuff.
What was it like once you got into the studio? Did you approach it any differently than your past records?
Do you know what? I mean, obviously, you know, 15 years is a long time to spend before putting anything out so obviously, we’ve evolved as musicians and we’ve had different experiences. We’re trying a few different things, but ultimately, as soon as we start singing, it just sounds like NoEXIT. We did try a few different things, but I think the fans are going to be really happy with the album. You know, it definitely sounds like a NoEXIT album. So yeah, we’re happy with how it turned out.
Can you talk about some of the inspiration behind some of the songs on this album?
Yeah, I mean, I guess the main thing is, we’ve had 15 years of life experience to kind of … have 15 years of life. So we’ve got a lot more to write about now on the album. So I think, as far as the album, it has definitely evolved. I mean, one of my favorites on the album is Powerstation’s last track of the album. Yeah. It is a nostalgic song about the old days and the future. So yeah, there’s a lot more to write about these days, I guess, on the album.
And how did you go about picking Bullet Train to be the lead single?
Well, Bullet Train was actually the first song we wrote on this new batch of songs for this new album. Coincidentally, we wrote it first and you know, that was a special song for us. And it’s just a very catchy sing-along chorus and we just thought it’s a real good bridging song to bridge the last album, which is awhile ago, to the new album. It’s not a million miles away from the old sound. So yeah, we just thought that was a good one to put out first.
I’m curious how you think that the music industry has grown and changed since you guys have been apart of it? How have you evolved with the times?
I mean, it’s a very, very different industry now since 2000 and 2003. I’ve remained in the music industry all that time and I’ve seen it evolve and change and I think, ultimately, although it’s very different, there’s so much more you can do now and you can connect. That’s gold, to be able to connect direct with the fans.
This time around, we’re definitely embracing social media. You know, we didn’t have social media … it was before Myspace, even, on our last album. So we’re embracing it this time and we are enjoying the … We can speak, we can chat with all the fans and we can directly speak to everyone. So it’s very different, but yeah, you know, it’s also very good, and yeah, we’re loving it. It’s great. It’s just a great way for organizing shows and tours and everything. You can get so much data and stuff now online and diagnostics and kind of analytics. So yeah, it’s really great. It’s a great time to be in the music industry, I think. It’s exciting.
Speaking of touring, I know you did a few shows earlier this summer, right? And then you have a bigger fall tour hopefully planned?
Yes, that’s correct. We did a bunch of shows over on the east coast and that was in May. It was amazing just to get back out on the road. We did 15 shows. It was so much fun. We loved being out on the road together. So yeah, we’re doing some more shows in November.
Have you been surprised at all by the reception from your fans? When you go on tour, are you surprised at how people have welcomed you with open arms?
It’s been incredible. We didn’t know when we came back what it would be like. “We’re like, Is anyone going to remember us?” We literally had to start from scratch again with social media, with everything. We were like, “Let’s just get something out and let’s just start doing some stuff.” We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with the response from people, you know, coming out to see us, coming to many shows and just showing their support and all the people at the NoEXIT street team who’ve been doing an amazing job. We’re really blessed to have such amazing fans.
And now you have the ability to reach those fans that you had back then and their children. That’s pretty cool!
Exactly. I mean it makes me feel old but it’s great. We have a lot of people coming to the shows and bringing the kids. Parents with the kids. You know, introducing them, because then the kids knew all the songs as well, you know?
Because they were singing along because their parents have been playing it to them. So it’s really nice to see that it’s a new generation of people getting to hear the music as well.
And I really think that this is a great time for bands like you to resurface and introduce us to new music because there are so many bands that are coming back and it’s very nostalgic and it’s awesome. It’s a good climate for it all.
Like I said before, we just felt it was the right time to come back with new music. Just because I’m really enjoying it and there’s no pressure and it’s just really nice, you know?
So how did the three of you keep busy during the 15 year gap. I know you said that you were involved with music. In what capacity?
Yeah, I mean, I’ve done many collaborations with the big dance guys, like TST, AvB and others. I had a big hit with TST in 2007, so I’ve been doing a lot of dance music for the past kind of 10 years, really. And also, me and my good friend, 3T, we have a band called /\HTS, and we’ve just been out on the road for seven weeks with Howard Jones, all over America. So yeah, I’ve been up blessed enough to be able to do music for the past 15 years in something I love. Yeah, it’s been an amazing journey so far. It’s been busy, but all good.
What musicians do you think have continued to inspire you over the years? Who was inspiring you back then and who still is today?
Back in the day when I was younger, it was always the bands I listened to as a kid, like the Beatles and the Eagles and the Electric Light Orchestra. All these songs that my parents … Motown I listened to. But in newer times, I guess, I think, bands like U2, who have been around for a long time. Coldplay always seem to reinvent themselves and come back and sound fresh, with great songs. Just some of those big bands really impress me and, bands with longevity who keep knocking out great, great albums, and consistently good, I guess. Yeah.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music?
Ultimately we just want people to enjoy the music as much as we enjoy creating it in the studio. We’ve put our heart and souls into the album. And you know, when it comes to a live show, we just want them to enjoy it because we have so much fun on stage. We genuinely absolutely love every second of it.
So hopefully they can get a bit of that from us and take some of that energy from the shows. But yeah, we ultimately just want people to get enjoyment from it. We get all kinds of lovely letters and messages from people over the years who’ve said how much our music’s helped them in situations or in tough times and stuff and it’s always nice for us to hear. So as long as some people are getting something positive from the music, then we’re doing our job right.
bugsofjapan
Sep 29, 2019
Argiope amoena, (Kogane-gumo) (”Golden Spider”)
“In North America, Argiope aurantia is commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, zipper spider, corn spider, or writing spider, because of the similarity of the web stabilimenta to writing.The East Asian species Argiope amoena is known in Japan as kogane-gumo. In the Philippines, they are known as gagambang ekis ("X spider"), and gagambang pari ("priest spider", due to the spider's body resembling a priest's head with a mitre).The average orb web is practically invisible, and it is easy to blunder into one and end up covered with a sticky web. The visible pattern of banded silk made by Argiope is pure white, and some species make an "X" form, or a zigzag type of web (often with a hollow centre). The spider then aligns one pair of its legs with each of the four lines in the hollow "X", making a complete "X" of white lines with a very eye-catching spider forming its centre.The zigzag patterns, called stabilimenta, reflect UV light.[3] They have been shown to play a role in attracting prey to the web, and possibly in preventing its destruction by large animals. The centres of their large webs are often just under 1 metre above the ground, so they are too low for anything much larger than a rabbit to walk under. The overtness of the spider and its web thus has been speculated to prevent larger creatures from accidentally destroying the web and possibly crushing the spider underfoot.“ --Wikipedia
These garden spiders can grow to intimidating size (as shown above) and can spin webs that span a creek, sidewalk, or garden path, which is as startling as you may imagine for both the spider and the human trying to traverse the sidewalk. However, the Kogane-gumo is a lovely and helpful predator friend who will pick her territory and stick to it, not wanting to run across anybody’s bed at night like her cousin the cheeky Huntsman.
Kogane-gumoare most often found in the summer time after hatching, where they will spread away from their hatching site and set up little webs along the same stretch of road or shrubbery and then grow fat during the warm season.
Further reading: Link
astroxra
Jan 7, 2022
I live in western Washington. We have been hit with many atmospheric rivers in the last 6 weeks and 1 snow storm. Right now all major roads east are closed due to landslides and flooding. This picture is of my kid's school. If you were standing here and turned around you would see a levy. The creeks and rivers are at moderate stage flooding. There are landslides everywhere. Fortunately there was a break in the rain for a bit this afternoon but we're supposed to get another band before 9:30 tonight. There are folks in my neighborhood who have enough water flowing through their house it could be called a creek. I'm okay right now. Our yard flooded and we had about 6 inches of standing water. Nothing came into the house. I am worried about my neighborhood and community. We have 3 ways to get out and 2 are impassable.
bike42
May 6, 2021
Kentucky Derby Weekend April 29 – May 2, 2021
Wednesday evening, we took Sox the cat downtown to Bailey’s condo, then came home to pack (the cat hates to see suitcases). I can pack for a hiking trip with my eyes practically closed, but this kind of trip took some thinking! I had to match shoes, purses and jewelry to all of my outfits, and then of course there was my hat. Since we’d decided to drive the 6+ hours to Louisville, space wasn’t an issue and we were able to load our car with hat boxes, a large bag of snacks, yoga mat, pillows and suitcases!
We were up at 6am on Thursday, anxious to get going, and we were on the road just after 7am. As we were packing last night, Jeff wondered if our iPass was in the new Audi – I thought it was, but we didn’t check. We had decided to travel straight down through Illinois and skip the Chicago madness so I was thinking tolls wouldn’t be an issue anyway. But as we got to Janesville, we recalled we still had the one toll near Rockford, so I checked the glove box – the iPass was not there. It had been in our old Audi, so I thought it was odd that we’d have moved it to the other car – we haven’t travelled to Illinois since February 2020. Then Jeff said he thought he remembered that our new Audi has a built-in toll pass?! I got out the manual and sure enough! It led me through the steps to get it activated, and I was able to get it set up just moments before we hit the Illinois border.
We had rain through most of Illinois, but decent traffic and no major slowdowns even though there was a lot of road construction. We turned east at Bloomington toward Danville, IL which started us reminiscing about our 2013 cycling trip down the length of the state.
The trees were more leafed out than ours and it seemed to get greener with every mile we traveled. As we got south of Indianapolis, we saw our first Waffle House, so we stopped the Waffle House in Taylorsville for our favorite breakfast (regardless of the time of day) when we’re in the south (waffles, eggs over easy, split a side of bacon).
We arrived in Louisville and checked into the downtown Hilton Garden Inn just before 3pm. That left us ample downtime for yoga, naps, catching up email from the day, and showers before our 7pm dinner reservation at Vincenzo’s.
So many experiences already on the trip feel novel, packing last night, a six-hour road trip, and now checking into the nicest hotel we’ve stayed in since February 2020. Once upside to the pandemic and its quarantine is the pure appreciation I have for the ability to travel again!
The restaurant was an easy walk from the hotel, and even though we’d checked the weather app before we headed down from our room, we were surprised to have sprinkles on our faces when we stepped out onto the sidewalk. No worries, Jeff had his rain coat and I had my beautiful poncho that I’d bought in Paris two years ago on a rainy April day.
We had a great leisurely dinner, four courses and a bottle of wine. It was nice to be dressed up and out together again. The staff and service were amazing, and we tried to chat a bit with the gentleman we thought was the proprietor (Vincenzo?), but he seemed to have limited English (or hearing). We’d heard on the local news before going out that that town of Louisville was so excited about this week-end – several hotels and restaurants were booked full – and that’s news!
After dinner, we walked through the Fourth street party area, which was fairly subdued at 6:30pm but we expected it’d be hopping later. There was a friendly guy on the street having a cigarette, he was a beer salesman named Scott from Appleton, WI. He was excited to tell us all about what to expect at the derby, how crowded this area should be right now (in a normal year), all the famous people he’d previously partied with here, etc. He’d have gone on all night, but his wife was calling him from a nearby table telling him his dinner was getting cold!
We had a lazy Friday morning, then we were out on the street at 9am to walk to waterfront park. Our hotel was a great location, and we found it was a beautiful day. It wasn’t long before we were peeling off layers. We walked along the Ohio river, east to the converted railroad bridge called the Big Four Bridge, the headed back. The river itself is muddy and filled with debris, but the Waterfront Park was fabulous. All of the people we encountered were so friendly – many greeting us with “Happy Derby!”
We had tickets to tour the Louisville Slugger factory and museum at 11am, so we walked back along the waterfront and found it in a funky part of old town (Main Street) – the area that had been known as Whiskey Row at the turn of the century. We really enjoyed the tour. Since I’d booked it last week, I had this song lyric with “Louisville Slugger” trying to work its was to the front of my brain. I took to google when we were having lunch later and figured out its from Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “The Bug.” It goes: “sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug … sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger, baby, sometimes you the ball … “
After lunch we wandered into the Evan Williams Experience, where we sampled Peach Mint Juleps – yum. Back to the hotel, we had a nap, then showers – ready for our next event at 3:30pm. This was an event booked by the group where we got our tickets: Princeton Sports Group. It was billed as “Derby Eve at Buffalo Trace,” but we weren’t sure what to expect. We got to the lobby and found we were a busload of people, and we were headed to the Buffalo Trace Distillery, about an hour away in Frankfort! Our guide and driver were great, they plied us with cocktails and information about bourbon and the trip went fast.
When we arrived at the distillery, there were three other packed busses, so we had a wait a bit to get through the temperature screening and get assigned to a guide. The distillery had a policy that everyone wear masks (except when seated in the tasting room), even outside, and some in our group were pretty vocal about thinking that requirement was ridiculous (especially the group from Texas!).
While I enjoyed the tour of the rickhouses (3-4 floor buildings where whiskey is aged after its barreled), and the room where the empty barrels were stored, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to tour the actual distillery – I wanted to see the chemistry! None-the-less, we had an enthusiastic tour guide and it continued to be a beautiful day and we enjoyed the beauty and the history of the property while we waited our turn to enter the tasting room. There we were socially distanced at spots with 5 shots laid out for each of us – a vodka (too strong for me just straight), and three bourbons with progressively better quality: Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton’s Single Barrel (we’d been introduced to that last month by our nephew Calvin, a far superior bourbon). We thought the tasting finished with their Bourbon Cream (like a Bailey’s) which was yummy on its own, but they served it with a shot glass of root beer and when we combined the two – we found heaven! Since it was Derby time, they finished the tasting with a demonstration of making Mint Juleps, and we each were served a large portion of that!
After the tasting, we had some time to shop, so we headed to the store and bought a bottle of their Bourbon Cream (they sell out of Blanton’s as soon as its bottled, or we’d have bought that too). By then we were mildly buzzed and in need of food.
Back on the bus, we travelled about 20 minutes before stopping at Jeptha Creek – an event center where we had dinner, more drinks, dancing to a bluegrass band and playing a little corn-hole in the yard. During dinner, we sat with two couples that had arrived on another bus – also their first Derby experience and we enjoyed trading stories with them.
On our bus back to Louisville, our guide decided it was time for bus Karaoke (using the music on his phone and holding it up to the microphone). One guy, who didn’t seem particularly gregarious, got up to sing, and sang very well as the bus lurched along the interstate. We sang all the way to the hotel, a fun night.
We awoke Saturday morning to another beautiful day, and had a leisurely morning with a hotel room workout and breakfast. We had the local NBC affiliate that had full time coverage from Churchill Downs and we watched the first two races on TV before heading out. The gates opened at 10am, but that felt too early to go, yet there were plenty of partiers already there.
We headed out of the hotel about noon. It was a bright sunny day and neither of us were prepared with sunscreen, so we walked around the corner to the CVS drugstore. As we walked down the street, we were greeted with shouts of “Happy Derby Day,” and nearly every vehicle driving by stopped as asked if we wanted a “shuttle” to the track. Our hotel offered a shuttle for $40 per person (which I thought was excessive), we could have driven our car and parked at the University lot and walked from there, but we’d decided we were going to take an Uber (I really want to think the best of people, but it seemed like a bad idea to jump into a car with someone who’s just taped a “Derby Shuttle” sign to his car for the day).
As we walked into CVS, a confrontation broke out between a store employee and a young black man who was accused of having stashed something inside his coat. You could feel the tension in the store, and it put me on edge too. Other employees were suggesting the manager hold the guy until the police arrived. We grabbed a bottle of sunscreen and went to the checkout, where the clerk was almost too distracted to check us out.
As we walked out the door, the managers had wrestled the man outside and the police had arrived. The scene quickly was surrounded by others that were taking videos on their cell phones. We moved around the corner, and didn’t see how it resolved, but it went quietly. Perhaps the manager was wrong?
Last month, we both got new iPhones, and are still struggling with having to sign into apps we haven’t used!? Ugh. We both really struggle trying to recall passwords that our phones have been so diligent about remembering, or allowing us to use face recognition. After a bit, Jeff succeeded in getting into his Uber app, but then his credit card had changed since we last used Uber, probably in NYC in 2019. My nerves were still on edge, and I was a bit panicked about standing here outside CVS with both of us focused on the phone, Jeff with his wallet in his hand and his credit card out. I pulled out my phone and was able to log into my Uber and my credit card was still active, so I said “I’ll order the Uber and you can work on your account another time!”
We had a great Uber driver, Onfraus. He had a Green Bay Packer emblem on the front of his Jeep. His girlfriend is from Wausau and he knew a lot about Madison. He asked if State Street was still the place to be, and was shocked when we told him of the devastation after “protests” turned violent last year when windows were smashed and businesses looted after the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis. We all agreed it didn’t make sense - the wrong people in the wrong place, with a demonstration of anti-police effort. His calm wonderful manner helped calm my frayed nerves. A lifelong Louisville resident, he was helpful in explaining where he had to drop us, and how to walk to the track from where he dropped us, and also where to find the Uber pickup lot to get our ride back to the hotel after the Derby. It was just over three miles - $45 with tip (surge pricing).
It was easy to figure out the way to the track, we followed the colorful crowd. Lots of young adults - many of them quite drunk already. I was surprised that many people had chairs, headed for the infield lawn which is where the party really happens, we’d heard. We followed the crowd to the gates, went through security, but our tickets wouldn’t read in the scanner - oh no. Our panic was relieved when a supervisor told us we had Clubhouse tickets, and we were at the infield gate, the wrong gate. They led us out and we worked our way against the crowd for a bit, and felt like was walked all the way around the outside of the track until we found our gate. I’d worn shoes for comfort and was glad to be walking before sitting for the next six hours or so.
At the Clubhouse entrance, things were more civilized and the crowd was scarce. In fact, due to COVID, they’re operating at about 40% capacity - so for someone like me that likes my personal space, this was perfect!
We found our seats - the first two seats in a box that was set up for just four, but could accommodate six. Every other box was blocked out with a tarp to maintain physical distance, so we had perfect sight lines to the finish like right in front of us. We were in the covered section, so no need for that sunscreen after all (but we saw quite a few people who could have used it).
There was a race roughly every hour, so we fell into an easy pattern of watching a race, then exploring the grounds in between races. This year for the first time, all food and drink were included in the ticket price, so we grazed on food and I sampled most of the specialty cocktails: Mint Julep, Whiskey Spire (cranberry) and the Lily (vodka and grapefruit).
For me, the neatest part about being onsite was standing at the edge of the paddock. Not only was the people watching amazing, but it gave us a close look at the horses. They’d be led around the circle, some seemed proud to be on display, some were fighting being led around, then they’d pull them into a cubicle where magically the tiny saddle would be strapped to the horse, then another lap or two, photos with the owners / VIP and one last parade past with the jockey onboard. How cool it was to see that up close. I’d never noticed their lightweight boots, and the small stirrups that seemed strung up too high. From the paddock, the procession would move under the grandstand and out onto the track where they’d parade by, before heading around the track to the starting gate (which was out of our view, but we could see it on the large video screen). The only downside to being there in person is the race happens so fast and with the crown noise and the garbled speakers, we couldn’t really tell how the horses we’d selected we’re doing!
We were joined in our box by a dapper young man, Jackson and his girlfriend, Danni, from Miami. Jackson split his time growing up between Middleton WI with his dad (attended Edgewood High School), and Louisville with his mom. He’d been to the derby many times before, but this could have been his first time trying to impress a girl with his knowledge. They were cute.
In the box kitty-corner to our front right, there were Louisville police officers. They primarily spent their time scrolling through their social media feeds on their phones. Later in the evening, two started smoking cigars and snapping photos of themselves. It seemed inappropriate and was noxious to be around, but the smell of cigar smoke was pervasive throughout the day regardless. As we were heading out to explore between races, we stopped to ask them if it’d be safe to walk the three miles back to our hotel after the race. They looked at us like we had two heads!
The actual “Derby” the twelfth of fourteen races during the day. It was the only race we actually bet us, choosing Hot Road Charlie (Jeff pick which finished third), and my pick, Rock Your World, finished in seventeenth place. We’d added the favorite pick of the day, Essential Quality to our trifecta bet (it came in fourth). Almost, but that doesn’t count in horse racing, so we lost our $200 but had fun doing so!
We hung around for a bit, enjoying some last-minute people watching, then joined the stream of people heading out of the main gate. We turned right, towards the Uber lot, which meant we were once again walking against the crowd leaving the infield – many were now very drunk, most were sunburned, and some were being carried. It seemed to be a zoo at the Uber lot, and the app showed our same driver, but it’d oscillate between 20-30 minutes away. The crowd and the noise of the Jesus Freaks yelling at the crowd through bad speakers was making me crazy, so I lobbied to start walking.
We walked with a smaller crowd, but many of them pealed off as we strolled through the U of L campus. We walked past large house parties, still going strong. After a mile, there were only a handful of us still walking towards downtown, but it felt good to move and the neighborhood felt ok. Several people that we’d pass would shout out friendly greetings, and we just kept moving, only slightly creeped out by the recommendation from the police that we don’t try to walk back to the hotel.
It started getting dark as we got close, but by then, it felt like a normal evening stroll. It felt great to get to the room though and jump into the shower to wash away the dirt and cigar smoke from the day! We were probably both sleeping by 9pm!
On Sunday, we were up before our alarm, so we got dressed and finished packing up and we were crossing the Ohio back into Indiana before 7am. An uneventful drive, and great to be home in the early afternoon and still enjoy the day.
stone-man-warrior
Feb 7, 2021
February 6, 2021: 4:41 pm:
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(5:58 pm: date corrected from 2-5 to the correct date of 2-6)
This is not far from what is real, now.
Jesus’ Highway to Tomorrowland, today.
You don‘t see it because you don‘t want to see it, but it’s there, tucked away beneath layers of sitcom 30 minute television programs, pop music on the radio, Twitter news from major news networks, and live, character acting in your neighborhood.
If you have a Walmart in your town, then you have an experimental human surgery center in your town.
If you also have a Walgreen‘s in your town, then you are in a high level command area that oversees other geographic regional terror, public control, and extermination centers, such as your town is when there is a Walmart in your town.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-zsOfHwHD0
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4:55 pm:
This is “Kyle”:
They dressed Kyle up, put him out on a football field, for the pre-game photo op.
Kyle was turned into a Football, for the game, so you could be entertained at the show, in person at the stadium, like Kyle is, or, on TV, watching, betting, waiting for the Budweiser commercial and the Clydesdale’s to entertain you some more.
Kyle is a US Citizen, was kidnapped when the Christian terror army of pirates took control of the school he was going to, and his parents were killed, or taken captive and could be slaves somewhere, or, could also be like Kyle, an experiment. Kyle is part way through his forced surgical procedures. At the condition he is in there in the photo, Kyle is a “Raw Material Specimen“. From there, as Raw Materials to work with, there is a order sheet that is filled out by Screen Actor Guild members who order custom made pet people called “Partners”, “Side-Kicks”, and “Companions”... there are other names, like “Penguins”, and “Seals”.
The order sheet has check boxes, and asks the SAG member for specific arm length, leg length, where the Kyles hands should be reattached and other specifics. There is a place on the order sheet for the SAG member to describe special attributes they wish to have their Partner fitted with, there are no rules, SAG members are encouraged to be very creative with their Partner Order Sheets, so that the surgeons will be challenged to create innovating new technologies and procedures to help advance the art of custom designed slave people.
The Christian terror army has been doing this for as long as I can remember, the first completed Partner I saw was in around 1984, in Thousand Oaks California. I spoke with that victim, who was kept in an attic at a residential house, and she told me that she had gone to Cal Jam, was kidnapped, and was forced to have surgeries such that she looked the way she did, and she did not look like a human being. Since then, I have seen many others, and spoken with a few of them, one was recently, about 6 years ago at Bi-Mart in Oregon, and the Partner victim was held captive by Peter Fonda, who was also at the Bi-Mart along with many SAG members in the store who had brought their Partners to the Bi-Mart for some kind of an event where Partners are used as entertainment for SAG members to enjoy. Peter Fonda’s Partner looked more like an Afghan Hound Dog, than a human being, was not able to speak, and was too frightened to answer what ever it was that I asked at the Bi-Mart, but that person did say something to me, I have forgotten what was said, enough that I could learn more while there that day on my own.
US navy service persons are some of the healthiest, strongest men and women there are, and when the US military bases are taken over, such as Edwards AFB, 29 Palms, and the entire Coronado Island bases of all kinds, the US Service persons are captured, the healthiest, strongest among them, are used as Specimens for Screen Actor Guild Christian Terror Pirate Partner & Penguin Production at places like the two Red Cross floating surgery centers, at Loma Linda University Hospital, at Oregon Health Science University Hospital, at the Veterans Administration Hospital at the OHSU campus, and at underground experimental facilities such as “The Pleasure Dome” located in Medford beneath a neighborhood near the Asante Medical Center there. I have written much about this, it’s extreme danger to expose this kind of reality, and no one is interested in learning about any of it, to stop it from continuing.
Why should anyone be interested, there is big Football game this weekend, so, no one is going to be wanting to do any hard work this weekend, that’s for sure.
US Military service men and women have much in common with Kyle.
They are all Footballs on the field this weekend, enjoy the game, give the players my regards, and support that new female official they put there for you to watch.
“Welcome to Jamaica, Have a Nice Day”
The Bob Sled Team is Olympic Grade there in Jamaica.
==========================================
5:48 pm:
PS: Don’t forget to pick up plenty of Frito’s Brand Bean Dip, Dorito’s, and a party size platter of Buffalo Wings at the Walmart Pre-Game Sale, happening now, at Walmart near you.
==============
9:13 pm:
Local conditions:
Cold, 31 degrees, no wind, clear skies.
Terrorist deadmotherfuckers are waiting to happen at Strong’s terror cell at 3747 Russell Road, are sitting in car, waiting for signals from other deadterroristmotherfucker waiting to happen inside of the Offensive Monroe Surveillance Travel Trailer at 434 Jackpine.
One terror soldier at place called “Car Bridge” ignited and burst into bits in the area behind the Offensive Travel Trailer when I lit my Bic Lighter in defense of poison nitrous oxide airborne gas released from the creek area behind the Offensive Surveillance Travel Trailer at Monroe 434. They are staged at 376 Chartrand, and there are two terror soldiers in the creek while the others are in the car at Strong’s and that other dead bitch is waiting to die inside the trailer.
noteable conditions are that Chapman‘s County Courts terror cell at 3701 Russell is all dark, no lights on at all, is very unusual, so, there are Makepeace terror cell members there right now.
Makepeace is Serena Makepeace and a number of Inbred SDA Cannibal terror soldiers who reside at the nearest house to south of Jess Way on Russell Road, west side of Russell, across from Sunflower terror cell.
I killed John Makepeace in defense many years ago at Ray’s Food Place.
There is also a Jordan, Josh, and Whitney Makepeace, each about 30 - 35 years old.
There are other Makepeace inbred cannibal terror SDA soldiers who occupy the Kelly’s Market & Deli on Jump Off Joe Creek Road about two miles east of here, and at Jump Off Joe Creek Water Fall Camp Ground about three miles east of here.
Makepeace terror cell is also part of the Justin Trudeau terror at the Eastwood Guitars terror Quebec HQ at Hugo Hitching Post General Store, near the corner of Three Pines Road and Hugo Road, at the Railroad crossing.
They also occupy what was once a school in the distant past that is nearby the Hugo Hitching Post Store. Although there is no indication that Eastwood Guitars is anywhere near the Hugo Store, that does not change the fact that the place is closely associated to Eastwood Guitars and Justin Trudeau, and the Quebec specific government Trudeau advances to these parts of Oregon.
Eastwood Guitars = Quebec Canada Government = Justin Trudeau
Find him, give him the Spanish Inquisition Pronto, then, after he talks, take Justin Trudeau and all of his Quebecian terror cell to Easter Island, and drop them off there. Give him one box of band-aids, I’ll cover the costs.
==================================================
9:52 pm:
Recent Twitter terror commands suggest that Makepeace special attack situation is planned, and should not be overlooked. Makepeace terror is among the most gruesome of all.
They specialize in a attack plan based on shock where the situation they present is so horrible, so never seen or considered before, that they are able to overpower many victims by virtue of the reality of the horrific conditions they present to the intended victims.
They do a scenario called “Cabbage Patch Kids”. It is rolled out on a perspective of innocence of appearance that Makepeace cell members are able to do easily. The Cabbage Patch Kids attack requires that they first kill at least one pregnant woman in advance of the attack, and a set-up is required to lure the intended victims to a location where the innocent looking Makepeace terror cell has made preparations with the child of the murdered pregnant woman.
They take the child alive from the womb, kill the mother, then take the child and bury the child alive into the ground at the attack location, where victims are lured. When the attack is to occur, there will be many terror cell members in place around the area. The victims are there, then, Serena Makepeace reaches into the ground and pulls out a live child who somehow is still alive, and begins to make noises of a baby in distress.
That is the moment when the intended victims are taken captive, in that moment of shear horror that such an innocent looking church goer could reach into the ground and pull out a infant child who’s mother was killed, and the intended victims might be people investigating the murder of a pregnant woman.
That is real terrorism, is not the kind you can learn about from news media, however, I do see enough Twitter news that supports the idea that Makepeace has been called on to do a “Cabbage Patch Kids” attack plan.
I survived two of those.
It’s horrible. When I survived, Serena took it to the next level, and made enchiladas with the infant child as I stood there in utter shock and avoided being killed myself.
But, there is a football game this weekend, so, no one is going to pay attention to to any of that.
Joe Biden terror cell is more likely to supply the pregnant woman to Makepeace, than to stop the attack from happening.
“Welcome to Jamaica, have a nice day.”
The bobsled team there is Olympic grade.
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10:19 pm:
There was another attack plan that Makepeace does that my whole family survived once on Christmas Day a long time ago, is also worth a mention.
The Christmas presents under our tree had all been switched out with other packages, but looked the same, were all wrapped the same as the ones that were supposed to be there. It happened at a time before I knew the extent of the terrorism around here more than twenty years ago.
When my daughter opened her gift, inside was the Cabbage Patch Doll I had got for her, but inside the package was a real infant baby, barely clinging to life.
I don‘t recall any more than the horror of seeing that baby in the package, and the horror my daughter experienced that day from a gift from her father, which is what it looked like at the time. All of the gifts under the tree that year were messed up like that.
It all makes me want to go color some Easter Eggs to ready for spring, Easter, and the terrorism it will bring to people everywhere, but no one will know except the victims, momentarily, same as it always has been done.
When victims of Christian terror are killed, there is no death certificate, there is no news report of the murders, there is no police report to review, it all happens quietly, looks like a day at the park in the spring time, and the victims are replaced with Canadians.
2021 years of Christian Pirating has made them professionals who are detail oriented when they mass murder the citizens, and take over the land, and governments, and entire continents.
They are very good at what they do. So good, they are able to weaponize the public safety personnel against the citizens they were supposed to protect, thereby assisting the terrorists in their march toward Global Domination Under the Cross.
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10:38 pm:
Hey look... “Zillow” is trending on Twitter, along with “nobodyissleeping”!!!
It must be a slow COVID news day.
========================
2-7-2021: 11:00 am:
I don’t trust the date stamp on that Tweet.
My read is “Obviously, the best square to hold is ‘suspense’“.
Best to “hang”, is my read.
I am tempted to add “Hang Ten“ from the “freak” wave that sometimes comes from way outside, and you have to paddle your ass off just to stay out of the washing machine.
There is more to it, but, it’s SuperBowl Sunday, and I don’t want to do the hard work today.
There are chips to eat, beer to drink, a television to shout at, and Lady Gaga is around here somewhere, I am sure of it, besides, there is a Pepsi Half-Time Show to watch, have to set the VCR timer for that so I watch again and again and again and again... and again.
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1358127222134046721
There are four 90′s in every square. That’s two 180′s, a drop-in bottom turn, then grab rail on a aerial re-entry slap off the lip.
360 by180 twice.
Just a smooth carve home after that.
Square. Hangin‘ Ten the SAG Twitter news media way at the big show.
WAPO says: “ATM”. They are looking for some big change, freak numbers.
SuperBowl goers need to get some cash to spend at the concessions and souvenir shop area. WAPO has friends at the JP Morgan Chase Bank Digital Banking HQ, they will be scraping some pass codes off the top lip at the aerial re-entry, in your town.
Have a nice day, bring a photo of Kyle to each Super Bowl Player and all the coaches to have the sign an autograph for you while at the game.
COVID = ▄ = a two dimensional screen, is aerial = Screen Actor Guild network Broadcast news media
“Long COVID” = ------------------------ a lineal copper wire where the internet travels through = “Broadband” = Global Internet Service Providers = Google
Watch for the Hail Mary when the receiver goes long today, then look to see what WAPO is up to.
“Have a Cigar” by Pink Floyd: “We’re so happy we can hardly count”
(where is nsa? are they still watching reruns of the Golden Girls?)
“Are You Ready For Some Football?”
========================
2-8-2021: Additional:
This here below from Johnson is more about the “Square of four ninety’s” which is a “square of two turn-a-arounds”.
You do your own math, I have no help, still held captive in my home, so, just the basics is all I want to do.
In here, this Tweet, and, throughout Twitter news today, one thing I can walk away with after reading some news stories is: “Wide Angle” and “Wide Spread”. This from Boris says: “Lateral Flow”, is bad news.
Also, when Boris says “20 Million going like gangbusters” that statement goes back about two years or more to a time when he said he was going to hire 20 thousand police. There is a particular video presentation that should be re-evaluated from a time gone by, where Boris walks through an office area where he works, he is taking about some people seated at desks nearby him in a room that looks like it’s got laundry washing machines around the perimeter of the office. He continues to walk through a hallway, in this old video I am recalling, and talks about hiring 20 thousand police, he talks about fish & chips as he takes his walk in a hallway, but it’s what happens when Boris reaches the room at the end of the hallway that is most important to evaluate, the video ends abruptly, as someone scurries away, out of the room at the end of the hall.
What that is, is Johnson said with that old video that while he was surfing, a big swell came in from way outside, he was able to catch the wave and ride it, rather than be tumbled in the laundry washing machine, however, he was not sure when or where that big wave was going to end, in that room at the end of he hallway.
That old video needs someone else to find it, and surf along with Johnson before those 20 thousand police start gangbusting,
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1358871561516810240
My advice is this:
You need to assume that “Surescreen”, at least in part, is “Bullfrog Sunscreen” is code for “Grommet Female Special nitrous Assassin”.
Then, you have to study the advance set-up work that went into place before Boris presented the Tweeted video presentation above. That set-up work is a story about Hunter Biden moved into a 5.5 Million dollar house in Venice California, was presented 2-7-2021 or 2-6-2021 with a single Tweet somewhere on one of the Twitter major news media Verified Accounts.
There WILL BE a connection to be made between Boris Johnson and Joe Biden at that juncture, somewhere.
Clues to think about are Santa Monica Pier.
A place called “The Frog House” across from the pier many years ago, may still be there.
Robert Fuller of Fulltone Guitar Effects in Santa Monica/Venice.
I suspect the “Derby Arena” is referring to a boxing arena in around San Bernardino area, is old, been there a long time, and that is only there to mention DW Drums, and their proximity to Ontario California International Airport. It’s a “Drum Roll” from Johnson, with use of Aerial War Drums at Drum Workshop, a “Santa’s Workshop” is close to the Vatican Choir high command at Amp Guru on Volcano Island, Kauai Ranch, where Ann Wilson and Rodger Waters rule the world from.
US navy bases at Coronado Island.
The shape of the Venice Canalsneighborhood layout from birds eye view is important in mysterious ways.
Then, after the math is done, that will lead to Pelican Bay Prison, where it’s no longer a prison, but is a terrorists stronghold installation, where at least one submarine is on the beach, buried in the sand out front of the Prison, and is deployed manually with use of earth moving equipment as needed.
One assessment of a complicated mess of terror comm:
That old Johnson video where he symbolically surf’s his way down the hall, avoids the laundry washing machine when the big swell of a freak wave comes in from way outside, and he has some fish taco’s at the Mexican Lunch Truck on Kanan road, and then hires 20 thousand police (1st Point Malibu LongBoarders; RCMP at the Bu, with Rule Sticks)...
That...
Combined with that COVID square derived of this:
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1358127222134046721
from above.
That includes this math:
COVID = ▄ = a two dimensional screen, is aerial = Screen Actor Guild network Broadcast news media
“Long COVID” = ------------------------ a lineal copper wire where the internet travels through = “Broadband” = Global Internet Service Providers = Google
Where the square has four ninety’s that really are two 180′s, needs to be seen visually as two, very wide V shapes, ninety degree ones.
It’s a complicated mess, like I said, impossible to explain on Tumblr.
All of that stuff is in reference to a “Double Cross” to happen at the end of Johnson’s Hallway Ride in that old video. When he gets to that room at the end, someone there in that room leaves quickly, and the video ends, Johnson presumably turns his surfboard around, and paddles back out to wait for more swells to come in.
In English:
There is a sting in place. The White House/Congress/Johnson terror cells are downrange, are the subjects of the sting, but they all are fully aware of the sting and all of the agents who are working on busting the Global Terror. So, the global terror is arranging that those agents are going to find what they are looking for, the evidence will be put there, incriminating the ones who put it there, then, in the excitement, at the sting, the agents will be killed with the “double-double cross” plan. I don‘t know the plan, I only know how it works. It works in the excitement of a job well done at the awards ceremony, and the whole sting agency is taken over, added to the portfolio of the terror army as they pat one another on the back.
One more thing to consider here for the Slam Dunk when that submarine hits the water to sink the Bismark.
Petaluma California, Arm Wrestling Championship of the World HQ. Petaluma is home to the maker of the premier Guitar Amplifier makers of USA, and the world, Mesa Engineering, makers of the famous Mesa Boogie amplifiers.
They used to make a “Holy Grail” combination of the very best amp money could buy, the “Mesa 2:90″ amp, It was a simple tube amp, could be used with a Two Watt setting, or a ninety Watt setting. I think the thing only had two knobbs a I/O and a wattage switch.
That amp combined with another product called the Mesa Triaxis is top grade amplifier. The Triaxis is able to mimic other amps, of other manufacturers, and mimic various speaker cabinet combinations.
The thing about the Triaxis pre-amp, is that those kinds of “Modeling” capabilities were unheard of at the time that the Triaxis was available. The thing was more than ten years ahead of it’s time.
now, you can get a Kempler Profiler amp, is not a tube amp, is different.
You cannot get the Mesa Flagship 2:90 or the Triaxis.
Arms.
Petaluma California
Wrestling.
Holy Grail Power.
Stuff to think about.
========================
This below is in support of an event that targets US Military service persons who are gathered in small groups to watch the Big Game, but, they are “The Big Game”, easy prey for army’s of Christian Pirates armed with poison gasses.
It’s the “Mercy” and the “Comfort”, two floating human hamburger processing centers floated under the guise of US navy Red Cross. I know you don’t see what I see, you are still naive, left in the dark ages with a shroud over your head.
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1358134495933833216
https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1358442663285051395
This woman Brennan is pure evil, she is straight from the Vatican.
This at the 1:00 mark is the same as the WAPO Square that makes the two 180′s that makes the complete ATM turn around slap off the lip aerial on the re-entry toward the smooth carve home.
When it’s Lindsey Graham, it’s about US Military not coming home, every time, at minimum. When Graham is on the news, that is default “US Military are not coming home”, and anything else he says, is all commands for taking out some US Military personnel somewhere, or, orders for making cover of a US Military mass murder, where the US Military are the victims of the murders.
Maybe nsa can help Mr. Graham carve the bird at the feast, if they won‘t help to stop the event from taking place. At least then, they won’t be jacking off for at least a few minutes.
Don‘t forget to wash your hands with COVID hand sanitizer, and wear a COVID Mask, stay One Fathom apart while tying the Knots on your mask.
southeasternbound
Sep 20, 2020
Visit our main website at SoutheasternBound.net. We post history/travelevery Monday, then photos/photo tips each Thursday. Please click the Follow button (below right) for updates on Southeastern Bound.
By JD Byous
My father never stopped at the Grand Canyon. My father would — not — stop. Never. Ever. Never-ever… unless of course, he had to use the bathroom and then it was a Whiting Brothers gas station to fill up and find relief. Cruising down Route 66 twice each year I would drool, yearn and whine that we might turn on Route 64 from Williams, Arizona to see the hole in the ground that I’d been told about in school, read about, and wished to visit. Didn’t happen. Not once. The 120-mile round trip would add almost ten percent to our drive to Eastern Oklahoma and the visit with family. His last trip through was to move there, the destination of all of our trips. He died a few years later.
As the sun rolls past the colors change, just like they are advertised to do. Fabulous.
Well…, not really never-ever. I do remember one side trip. We did stop at Meteor Crater after I had hounded for several hours. I wore them down, I guess. That’s another story, however… That was when my mom made a statement that would place a bookmark on my eighth year of life… “It’s nothing but a big hole in the ground.” She actually used an expletive somewhere in the sentence. However, you think about it, she’s right. But, oh, what a hole in the ground. I was hooked on large, naturally excavated terrain with that viewing.
ButI digress.
Meteor Crater, just a big… hole that I find fascinating. More to come in another blog.
Fast forward fifty-plus years… Okay, make that almost sixty-plus years. But, I am finally here. As always, time is short, and to make it worse the Beckster and I have some kind of bug. I do not feel like touring, I’d prefer to lay in the motel and whine. But, the road calls. Time dictates and demands, “See it now ‘cause you may not be back for a while… or ever.” So we go.
An odd, pockmarked rock on the south rim.
We leave Sedona in the morning heading out on route 89a and up its famous switchbacks that I dubbed, The Hairpins. The road reminds me of a shoestring. It twists and turns and loops, so crooked that, as my father used to say, “You can see your tail lights as you round the bend.” This road is definitely bendy and loopy, not for the faint of stomach. The Hairpins climb from the junction of Pumphouse Creek and Sterling Canyon then past 6,639-foot, Mexican Pocket Mountain then dumps you onto the long plateau that leads to Interstate 17 and Flagstaff. At Flagstaff, we follow US 180 to Arizona 64 and we are here – two and one-half hours later.
Mather Point Overlook. Nice folks, but one must look beyond the spilled drinks and crowds because the beauty is there. It’s worth it. One look and you forget your immediate surroundings.
We are here. Yes, we are. Along with what appears to be half the population of the Western Hemisphere. At Mather Point, we park at the Visitors Center lot. A short walk and we on the overlook. People are scrambling everywhere… I mean, everywhere. Hanging off of the rails to pose for pictures, on outcrops of rocks to our left… posing for pictures, off of the overlook a few hundred yards to the west… posing for pictures.
Selfie sticks flash in the sunlight looking like a rerun of the battle scene on Braveheart. And, children running everywhere, climbing on rocks, climbing on rails. My inner-parental-self stands, stunned and silent. Coffee or some other brown runny substance rolls from a coffee cup on the concrete path ahead. The aroma of coffee wafts up, affirming the contents. I hope that the Beckster doesn’t get a whiff. We’ll be searching for a McDonalds, because, as you know, they make the best coffee. It’s a Beckster thing.
Looking north from Mather Point Overlook. A man in a red shirt hangs near the edge for a prank photo. It HAD to be a guy in red.
Then it hits me. Blamm! The view. It’s 10 a.m. and past the “sweet” light of the morning and it’s beautiful. No, bad example, exquisite. No, not enough, still. Wow! That works, just, wow! Clouds cover the Northern Rim. Rain falls from the patches of blue and white fluff. The red-orange banding along the mass of mesas, cliffs, and side canyons are like a light show in rock. Grab a camera. I alternate between DSLR and smartphone. It’s hard to get a bad shot. I am impressed. I am really impressed. I wish my parents were here. They should see this. They would have liked this big hole.
Looking northwest from the South Rim.
Rain over the Grand Canyon.
Duck Rock is a well-known overlook on the South Rim.
A raven squawked at me for taking his picture. I think he wanted money.
Rain falls over the North Rim. We stay dry.
The afternoon sun changes the mesas and ridges into a paper cut out collage.
The clouds move and the colors change again.
Mary Colter’s Desert View Watchtower marks the end of the view sites on the South Rim Drive.
We no longer feel ill. Somehow the bad has been erased so we point our pickup east along the rim drive. As the sun climbs and the clouds move the scene changes. I had read how the colors change with the day. Oh, my God, what have you done here? This is beyond words. Each turnout and overlook has its own phenomenal view. At one stop, a raven poses for me, then squawks a rebuke when I’ve overstayed my welcome. We move on. If I were shooting film we would have burned through several hundred dollars in emulsion and processing fees. Man, I love digital.
Navajo Jewelry shop Navajo Reservation
Before we know, we arrive at the Desert View Visitor Center, the end of the line. The views and the images are still great. Just one more picture and we need to head back. We’ve burned through the entire day. Down the road we make one more stop, a Navajo jewelry stand. Here a Viet Nam veteran and his wife offer beaded jewelry, dream catchers and pottery. As the sun drops low it is cold so we keep moving, but after buying gifts for the kids and grandkids and earrings for the Beckster. Oh, and something for me, a stone circle pendant. I like it. It’s made by nice people, or at least sold by them. I wish we had time to stay and talk but the road calls.
Mary Colter’s Desert View Watchtower marks the end of the view sites on the South Rim Drive.
It is a great day. I am ready for a nap but we still have to drive the Hairpins after dark. The Grand Canyon? I will be back.
Too bad Dad couldn’t be here.
© J Byous Company 2018, All rights reserved
My father never stopped. The Grand Canyon.Never. Ever. Never-ever... unless of course he had to use the bathroom. Cruising down Route 66 twice each year I would drool, yearn and whine that we might turn on Route 64.. Visit our main website at SoutheasternBound.net. We post history/travelevery Monday, then photos/photo tips each Thursday.
jafreitag
Jun 19, 2020
Grateful Dead Monthly: West High School Auditorium – Anchorage, AK 6/19-21/80
Forty years ago, on Thursday, June 19, 1980, the Grateful Dead played a concert at West High School Auditorium in Anchorage, Alaska. It was the first of three nights – and the band’s only visit to the Yukon State. This post will cover the whole run.
Anchorage High School opened in 1953. It was built during a post-WWII boom period just outside the western edge of the city, and then annexed. The school was renamed West Anchorage High School when East Anchorage High School opened in 1961. Until 1984, the West High auditorium was the largest event space in Anchorage.
The Lichter Brothers (Skip, George, and Andy) ran Northern Stage Company, an Anchorage booker. ” Skip told the Anchorage Daily News in 2017 that he pitched a three-night run during the Summer Solstice to Dead management “to get those guys to experience Alaska.The band was amenable. The Summer 1980 tour started in Tempe, AZ then moved to Boulder, CO for the Dead’s 15th Anniversary shows on June 7-8. After that, they visited Portland, OR (and played Fire on the Mountain as Mt. St. Helens erupted) and Spokane, WA, before making the sojourn North to Alaska.
The Dead arrived in Anchorage a week before the shows. The ADN article has a great description. Here’s an excerpt:
“Looking and carrying on more like a keg-league softball team than members of a rock group, the musicians and their entourage strode unmolested through the airport,” wrote Anchorage Times reporter Bill Kossen.
The Times reported drummer Mickey Hart immediately flew out to go salmon fishing, while Weir and keyboardist Brent Mydland took a flightseeing tour that included Mount Susitna and Knik Glacier. The Times also featured a picture of drummer Bill Kreutzmann gnawing on a big chunk of Columbia Glacier ice.
Lichter said that was just a start.
“We had the band up for a couple weeks,” Lichter said. “We had a lot of activities planned. We had a special dinner where we brought everyone up to the top of Rabbit Creek at Hash Hill and had a special dinner of salmon, halibut and caribou stew.”
Lichter said Weir and bassist Phil Lesh even went up in a radio helicopter to do a wacky traffic report from above Anchorage.
“On Tudor Road headed eastbound, in the area of Muldoon, everything seems to be moving right along, but traffic appears to be going backwards,” Weir reported flatly, according to the Times, adding the recommendation that motorists should “turn on your lights and honk your horn.”
***
Lichter said the band’s prodigious amount of audio gear was hauled up the Alcan in two trucks.
The crush of gear was not lost on [Lewis] Leonard, [a local roadie and] a self-described audiophile who said the walls of the West High auditorium were packed from floor to ceiling with all order of speakers.
“Literally, the room was kind of a speaker in itself,” he said. “It was incredible sound. I was going to drop acid, so I was out on a nice acid trip while I was working and it was really great. It was so good that I dropped acid a second night.”
The three nights are all good. 6/19/80 features an energetic Alabama Getaway opener and solid versions of Cassidy and Althea in the first set. The second set includes oddly placed versions of C.C. Rider and Peggy-O (one of only five ever played after halftime).
6/20/80 features a nice Jack Straw > Franklin’s Tower opener, as well as a unique mid-first-set Let It Grow > Althea pairing. The second set highlight is a typically powerful Estimated Prophet > The Other One.
6/21/80 is the standout. ICEPETAL at the Deadlistening blog even claims that show contains some of the best GD music of the year. There’s more setlist weirdness – a Sugaree first set opener, a Feel Like a Stranger first set closer, a Big Railroad Blues second set opener (only one of two), and a post-drums Truckin’. ECM says that Sugaree, Big River, Loser, Lazy Lightnin’ > Supplication, and Feels Like a stranger are the highlights of the first frame, and Big Railroad Blues, Terrapin Station, Playing in the Band, Truckin’, and Stella Blue are the highlights of the second frame. Ed was kind enough to send pics of the relevant write-ups from the Taper’s Compendium.
ICEPETAL echoes those shouts, and gives an extended description of the second set segment that’s worth repeating:
“As things get started in Terrapin Station, the music sheds all connection to the year in which it is being played. Sounding far more like a slice of 1977, this Terrapin calls to mind that strong sense of being gathered around a campfire as the band tells a story – something generally associated with other songs than this one. Nonetheless, the band is casting its hypnotic spell over everything. Gentle hands with flamed fingers caress our face and beckon us in. The door is shut behind us. We are safe and alone, as a grand journey begins with the solo section marking a point of no return. The music rises and falls on the trails of some great juggler’s balls. They change size and color as they translucently pass each other in the air. It’s a ballet of butterfly music in a dream that defies our ability to concretely retell the story after waking. The song reaches its zenith and crashes thunderously as the melody chases its own tail over and over. It gives nary room for a breath before materializing into the next song, Playin’ In The Band.
The Playin’ jam wastes no time stroking the fibers of the Grateful Dead’s adoring musical muse. Its power is awakened like a room instantly filling with a heady incense that reminds our ancient soul receptors of the essence of the eternal. Broken up into a handful of section, the jam begins immediately to unbind the tightly wrapped petals of the musical flower that held the formal part of the song together. It’s like a flower slowly waking to starlight. While the tempo of the song churns along, there is a widening space between the beats, into which cosmic oceans gently lap to the shore. Garcia goes right for his auto-filter wha pedal and calls up a nearly invisible web of energy that drifts and turns in unseen air currents. Everything takes on a distinctly three dimensional aspect on the audience recording, all of the instrumentation finding its natural place in the landscape around us.
After a short while Garcia’s pace quickens, and he’s running staccato lines in a musically choreographed dance of twirls, swoops, and back bending joy. The energy of the band tightens around Jerry, and everything takes on the sense of wild horses galloping across moonlit countryside, not unlike the energy we hear in Playin’s from 1972. We flow endlessly over hills which quietly rise and fall at random intervals like the deepest ocean shedding a storm’s energy reserves. What seems like hours later, the band emerges into a more subtle pasture where sounds begin to crackle and shimmer like the air around us is condensing into sporadic forms just out of reach. Slowly these sounds, which could have previously tricked our mind as not possibly coming from the musicians, fill all of our aural space, and we’ve somehow been cast a million miles away from whatever concert we thought we were attending. Great suns are rising and setting. Clouds form into mountains, then into lightning, then into thousands of turning flowers. And on and on it goes.
A molten lava-like creature is stirring. It’s skin ripples with glass sharp scales as it transforms to fill our entire field of senses. Blaring a white hot cacophony of wicked colors which gush out like an uncapped torrent, the band drives deeply into a completely frenzied expression of Space, and leaves us powerless to defend anything as we slip into Drums.
The Space which then returns after Drums is breathtaking. It’s as if we have walked right back into the pre-Drum chaos. Nothing sounds done out of routine, whatsoever. By no means is the band just playing some weirdness because this is where it fits in the show. The music is doing things which defy all the laws of physics completely. Steal your face right off your head, indeed. There’s little sense in trying to describe things more accurately. This Space leaves you completely transformed. As it fades off, Phil can be heard hinting at Dark Star (no WAY!). Instead, the band turns on a dime into Truckin’ and the entire concert has returned around you. As if from a wormhole in another dimension, we are dropped back into something far more familiar to our human experience. There are people clapping along, hooting and hollering. The music dances. The band is playing back on a steady 4/4 beat. My God, where were we?
Truckin’ over delivers in most every way imaginable. When they hit the big power chord after the long triplet ramp up section, a shock wave erupts over the crowd. Just before this note there is a fraction of silence, which is common to all Truckin’s at this moment of the song. But it is somehow more this time. Perfectly executed, the entire band absolutely stops together, and hits that chord in perfect unison – a classic moment where we can hear more in the space between the music, than in the music itself.”
After the show, the crowd wandered out of the auditorium and into the daylight. Summer Solstice, indeed.
Alas, the Alaska shows are not official releases, so there’s no Spotify widget. Instead, you can check out all three shows on the Live Music Archive.
Transport to the Charlie Miller soundboard remaster of 6/19/80 HERE.
Transport to the Charlie Miller soundboard remaster of 6/20/80 HERE and the Hunter Seamonds matrix recording HERE.
Transport to the Charlie Miller soundboard remaster of 6/21/80 HERE and the Eddie Claridge matrix recording HERE.
More soon.
JF
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badreturns-m
Sep 16, 2017
American VS Australian Names for Things
lol that title could of been better. basically aussies call things different thinsg to american things and things. things. the list will be as follows:
what an australian calls the thing vs what american call the thing.
hope that makes sense. hopefully i get it right cos americans like yelling at me when i get things wrong. some most of these i also found online cos i dont know everything anything. so lets not shoot the messengeraka ME.
bonnet ... hoodboot ... trunkbumper bar ... bumpermud guard ... fenderwindscreen ... windshieldindicators ... indicators, blinkers, turn signalpetrol ... gasbitumen ... asphaltsealed road ... paved roadgravel ... road metalute, utility ... pickup truck3 or 5 door ... hatch backgive a lift ... give a ridelorry ... big rigcar park ... parking lotbowser ... gas pumpgallon ... gallon (is nearly 20% smaller, 3.8 litres instead of 4.5)overtake ... passpass ... pass each other driving in opposite directions
A4 ... lettersize (lettersize is shorter and wider than A4)foolscap ... legal sizerubber ... eraserblackboard ... blackboard, chalkboardblackboard duster ... blackboard erasersticky tape ... scotch tapeelastic band, lacky band ... rubber bandbiro ... penpost a letter ... mail a letterdisplay on notice board ... post a noticepostman ... mailmandrawing pins ... thumbtackspaper knife ... letter openergolfballs (selectric typewriter) ... elementsground floor ... first floor (Oz floors are US floors less 1)lift (building) ... elevatornotice board ... bulletin boardlavatory, toilet ... washroom, restroom
biscuit ... cookie, crackerscone ... biscuit (nearest equivalent, made with yeast instead of self-raising)lolly ... candy, treaticey pole ... popsicle, ice popplain flour ... all purpose flourwhole meal (bread) ... whole wheatcastor sugar ... confectionary sugarrockmelon ... cantaloupepaw paw ... papayashallots, spring onions ... green onions, scallionscapsicum ... bell peppersilver beet ... Swiss chardpunnet of strawberries ... pint, small basket of strawberriessultanas ... yellow raisinsjam ... jam, jellyjelly ... jellochips ... French friespotato chips ... potato chipsfairy floss ... cotton candyginger ale ... root beerlemonade ... 7-up (not the same but similar)lemon juice ... lemonadetomato sauce ... catsup, ketchuppolyunsaturated margarine ... low cholesterol margarineentree ... appetizermain course ... entreetea (tea in this context, meaning the main evening meal, may be short for high tea, although no one ever says that in Australia) ... dinnertea time, morning tea, afternoon tea ... coffee breakhalf milk, half cream ... half and halfblack or white coffee or tea ... coffee or tea with or without cream, coffee lightserviette ... napkinscroggin ... gorp, trail mixtucker ... grubmeat and salad roll ... hero, dagwood, submarine, hoagie sandwich... blt (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich)make a sandwich ... make or fix a sandwichpacked lunch ... sack lunch or box lunchhundred and thousands ... sprinkles (nearest equivalent)custard sauce ... ---jug of beer ... pitcher of beerschooner, midi, pot ... small, large beerrestaurant bill ... restaurant check, restaurant billshout a round ... buy everyone drinkstin ... canmince steak ... mincemeatchicken, chook ... chickenmeat pie ... ---pastie ... ---pavlova ... ---sausage roll ... ---lamington ... ---pudding ... ---stew ... ---cooked in a pan, a bit like a pieklet ... drop sconea rich confectionary cut into bars ... fudgelike a rich chocolate cake ... brownieclam soup, the most common New England clam chowder is creamy, but there is also a less common red tomato based version ... clam chowder--- ... clam juiceto bake under an open grill, i.e., bake and grill food simultaneously ... broil
bring a plate (Oz) =pot luck (US) adjIn Oz, one might say "All invited. Bring a plate." In the US, it's a "pot luck dinner". In either case, all guests bring a plate or dish of food which can be shared. In Britain it is apparently called "Dutch treat".crumpet (Oz) n1. vaguely like an English muffin, only much better. Commonly eaten in place of toast during winter. 2. woman considered as a sexual object (seldom used now).vegemite (Oz) nWholesome and sharp tasting black spread for toast and crackers. The definitive Australian icon, and there is definitely no US equivalent.University
year 7, year 8 year etc ... freshman, sophomore, junior, senioruniversity, uni ... school, campusat university ... in collegemasters, PhD student ... graduate studentthesis ... dissertationsupervisor ... adviserterm ... quarterautumn ... fallsit in on course ... audit courseprimary school ... elementary schoolmaths ... mathstats ... statsinh, cosh, pronounced "shine", "cosh" ... "sine h", "cos h", hyperbolic sine and cosbeta, pronounced "beeta" ... beta, pronounced "bayta"
flat ... apartmentkitchen tidy ... trash canrubbish bin ... garbage canbucket ... pailtap ... faucet, spigotletter box ... mail boxverandah ... porch, deckfootpath ... sidewalklounge ... sofalounge room, sitting room ... living roomwardrobe ... cupboarddresser, dressing table ... sideboardcutlery ... flatwareknives ... cutleryfreezer ... freezer, iceboxkitchen bench ... kitchen counterdoor frame ... door jam
verge (the grassed area between the footpath in front on your house and the road which you look after as part of your own front yard but which actually belongs to the city council) "You can park on the verge." ... easement (usually used only in legal language), swale (on a property that doesn't have a sidewalk/footpath or a cement curb, the grassy area closest to the road)
laundry trough ... laundry tubclothes hoist ... clothes lineclothes pegs ... clothes pinsbilly (usually a blackened tin pot used on a bushwalk) ... potbilly tea (tea made in a billy on a bushwalk) ...... escrow (the period between offer and settlment when buying a house) "How's the house buying going? We're in escrow."estate agent ... realtorblock of land ... lot of landcubby house ... tree house, play house(baby's) dummy ... pacifierlane ... alleytomahawk ... hatchetcotton wool ... absorbent cottonrates ... local taxestidy up room, house ... pickup room, househeating outlet ... register
bedsit (Oz) = studio apartment (US) nAn apartment with kitchen/living room and bathroom, but no separate bedroom. The US version can be very comfortable (I had one in Goleta, California), while British-style bedsits are often very cramped. A British style bedsit would probably attract the description "toy studio" if found in the US. I noticed the term "studio apartment" in use in Australia (Brisbane) for the first time in 1992, in a real estate advertisement. Obviously it sounded more impressive than "bedsit". In any case, this type of apartment is relatively uncommon in Australia.continental quilt (Oz) nSee doona.doona (Oz) = comforter (US) nQuilted eiderdown with a down or synthetic filling. "Doona" is an Tradename. "Doona" is apparently used in Australia only, and is unknown in New Zealand and Britain, let alone the US.
dill ... foolwowser ... teetotaler, non-gambler etc
jumper, pullover ... sweaterpolo neck (jumper) ... turtle neck (sweater)... jumper (in the US jumper means a loose fitting sleaveless dress worn over a blouse. This is an older British usage - it's in the OED of 1933 - but is not in current Australian usage.)singlet ... tank top, athletic shirtnappy ... diapersanitary towels ... sanitary napkinshair pins ... bobby pinspress studs ... snapstrack suit ... sweat suit, sweatsclothes horse ... clothes rack (?)person who buys lots of clothes ... clothes horsereel of cotton ... spool of thread
spanner ... wrenchtorch ... flashlightoxie welder ... torch
spellings:
ardour, behaviour, colour, honour, glamour, flavour, labour, neighbour, odour, valour, vapour ... no "u"arse ... assanalogue, catalogue ... analog, cataloganalyse ... analyzecentre, litre, theatre... center, liter, theatercheque ... checkcomputer disc ... computer diskenquire ... inquireenrolment ... enrollmentgrey ... grayinstal ... install, instal-ise, -ize (most words which are spelt with the -ize suffix in the US, can be spelt with either -ise or -ize in Australian English, although the -ise is more common) ... izemodeller, modelling ... modeler, modelingprogramme (music etc) ... programsulphur ... sulfur
Pronunciations
beta: "beeta" ... "bayta"quay: "key" ... "kway"sinh, cosh, tanh: "shine", "cosh", "thahn" ... "sine ach", "cos ach", "tan ach"z: "zed" ... "zee"
Measures
Celsius ... Fahrenheit (temperature measure are converted by F = 9/5*C + 32)stone ... 14 lbgallon (= 4.5 litres) ... gallon (= 3.8 liters)metres ... yardskilometres ... milesfortnight ... two weeksSaturday week etc ... a week from SaturdaySaturday last, Saturday next ... last Saturday, next Saturday1 cent, 2 cent etc ... penny, nickel, dime, quarterdollar note ... dollar billthousand million ... billion
Country:
bushwalk ... hikestation ... ranchdroving ... muster, roundupcocky (not derogatory) ... red neck (derogatory) swagman, swaggie (not derogatory) ... bum, pan handler (derogatory)mate (not derogatory) ... sidekick (slightly derogatory)jackaroo ... cowboyjilleroo ... cowgirlwoop woop ... boondocks, booniesbehind the black stump, back of Bourke ... podunkbush bashing ... brush bustingoutback ... ---walkabout ... ---creek ... creek (used in the East by not in California in my experience), streamcreek ... brook
Music
semi-quaver (Oz) = sixteenth note (US)quaver (Oz) = eighth note (US)crotchet (Oz) = quarter note (US)mimim (Oz) = half note (US)semi breve (Oz) = whole note (US)breve (Oz) = double note (US)Note that the American terms "quarter notes" etc are also in use in Australia, but the decriptive words are far more common.Other
barrack for team ... root for teamsport ... sportsstocks (ski) ... polesfootball ... Australian rulesgridiron, American football ... footballhockey ... field hockeyice hockey ... hockeynoughts and crosses ... tic tac toenewspaper cuttings ... newspaper clippingsqueue ... linequay ... wharfbusker ... street artistunreliable ... flaky, flake outhome and hosed ... home freehomely ... homeyplain ... homelyglandular fever ... mono (nuclesis)rsi (repetition strain injury) ... repetitive stress syndrome (less serious), carpal tunnel syndrome (more serious, may even require surgery)doggo ... play deadgalah ... wise guydrongo ... borecinch ... sure thingFather Christmas ... Santa Clausg'day ... hi, howdyta-ta, seeya ... take care, take it easytar, thanks ... thanksgood on you ... good for youblacklist ... --- (now understood)poker machine ... slot machineshaggy dog story ... --- (now understood)lawyer ... lawyer, attorney (lawyer in generic casual use, attorney in professional contexts)aluminium ... aluminumchemist's ... drug storecaretaker ... janitorwarder ... prison guardengine ... locomotiveshareholder ... stockholderplane ticket ("airticket" now used by travel agents in Oz also) ... plane ticket (colloquial), airticket (formal, in travel agency)disembark (from plane) ... deplanetrendoid ... yuppietrendy suburb ... gentrified suburbsus (that's a bit sus) ... suspectsus out (we'll have to sus it out) ... check outonly (he's only covered completely in mud) ...bloody (general emphasis, not polite but not real bad either) ... damnedtick off (items in a form) ... check offtick off (the teacher caught the boy and ticked him off) ... scold, dress downpiss off ... go away, get lost, shove off irritate ... tick off "his bogoted attitude really ticks me off!", miff "That screaming child really has me miffed.", piss off (very common but also vulgar, borderline profane) "That rude sales clerk pissed me off."
dole (Oz) nUnemployment benefits.Father Christmas (Oz) = Santa Claus (US) nAlthough never used when I was a child, "Santa Claus" is now, in 1997, in common use in Australian department stores.funky adj1. Oz and US: eccentric, stylish, pleasant, as in good jazz or folk music. 2. US only: dirty or smelly, as in "the bicycle chain is funky".innings (Oz) = inning (US) nTurn to bat, as in cricket or baseball.gaol (Oz) = jail (US) n, vSame pronunciation.often times (US) advThe emphatic form "often times" in place of simply "often" is virtually never used in Australia, but it's quite common in the US (usually pronounced "offen-times"). The Oxford concise lists it as an older usage in British english.paye-as-you-earn (PAYE) (Oz) vPay income tax automatically at source. Employer deducts a standard amount from each salary or wage payment, and forwards to the tax office.rafferty's rules (Oz) nno rules at all, as of a chaotic contest or organization.reckon (Oz) vIn Oz, "I reckon" translates simply to "I think", but there is no real US equivalent for this very common Australian construction. (September 1999: Kent Parks of Raleigh, NC, writes that "reckon" is also used in the same sense in the Southern US.)
tlatollotl
Jul 23, 2017
For over a month, people wearing neon safety vests have repeatedly inched their way across broken ground in Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood, using technology to survey what's beneath their feet.It's all part of a process experts use to map sites of archaeological significance — though it's a process...
For over a month, people wearing neon safety vests have repeatedly inched their way across broken ground in Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood, using technology to survey what's beneath their feet.
It's all part of a process experts use to map sites of archaeological significance — though it's a process they prefer to use before, not after, development begins on a site holding cultural resources.
But that didn't happen before a Minnesota Department of Transportation construction project disturbed sacred burial grounds of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. In fact, MnDOT failed to consult with the band prior to construction at all.
On May 26, MnDOT halted a construction project along Minnesota Highway 23 at Mission Creek after the band informed transportation officials they had disturbed gravesites. Jeff Savage, the director of the Fond du Lac Band's cultural center and museum, said the oversight is inexcusable.
"There's no excuse whatsoever for MnDOT not knowing that that site was historical. Time and time again, mainstream culture just denies the reality," Savage said. "You're going to get nothing but anger and disgust out of me because it happens time after time."
It's not the first time construction work disturbed the burial grounds. In 1869, railroad construction unearthed bodies at Mission Creek that later were reburied at the Roussain Cemetery in what's now Jay Cooke State Park. The initial construction of Highway 23 disturbed the grounds again, in 1937.
Now, in the wake of the latest damage, geophysicists and archaeologists are using a variety of methods at the site to recover the remains and determine the extent of the cemetery, said Jim Jones, the lead archaeologist for the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.
MnDOT has hired both an archaeology and geophysics firm from Minneapolis to help identify and recover the remains under Jones' oversight. Both firms continue to train and hire tribal members and other local residents to help with the work.
MnDOT hosted an open house on June 14 and answered questions about the steps they would take in the recovery process.
"No question, disturbing the sacred burial sites was an incredibly horrific event," MnDOT Commissioner Charles Zelle told a crowd at that event. "We do take responsibility. ... We're just beginning to understand the pain and the anger that comes from a disruption that we could have avoided."
People in attendance inquired about the processes archaeologists and geophysicists would use to assess the site and recover the remains.
"Please, please, please, treat them with respect," one woman told officials at the open house.
In the disturbance of unplatted burial grounds, state law requires that the Indian Affairs Council assume leadership in the recovery process if the state archaeologist determines that the human remains are of Native American origin. Tribal leadership must then receive possession of all remains for disposition.
"I am working in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Band and tribal elders and community members to make sure that it is done in the most respectful and best way possible," Jones said of the research and recovery work, at the open house in June.
MnDOT continues to cooperate with the band, the Indian Affairs Council and the Office of the State Archaeologist during regular meetings. The agency plans to host a second open house at a date yet to be determined.
Jones hosted a two-day cultural resources training session earlier this month where he explained the relevant laws and shared replica artifacts — objects they would expect to find in the recovery effort.
Eleven people attended the training session, 10 of whom belonged to the Fond du Lac Band. Jones said the training allows band members to help in the current project if they choose, while preparing them for future projects.
"That went great," he said of the training session. Additional training for band members will soon be scheduled.
Non-intrusive methods
During his 30-plus years of working in archaeology, Jones has watched the growth of non-intrusive technologies in assessing historic sites.
Dave Maki of Archaeo-Physics, LLC in Minneapolis said the technologies have caught on for a reason.
"It's non-intrusive as opposed to traditional archaeology approaches," Maki said of methods such as electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar. "We can learn something about the archeology without disturbing it and learn something about the cultural significance."
Electrical resistivity is often used when mapping sites of archaeological significance. Maki and Andrew Wise, a Duluth resident Maki often hires, were two of those figures in neon safety vests who have spent weeks toeing at least 2,000 square meters of the historic burial ground's surface.
Every 25 centimeters, Maki and Wise moved the electrical resistivity meter and poked its two metal stakes about a centimeter into the soil. The stakes on the end of the instrument injected an electrical current into the ground to measure the resistivity of the material, or how difficult it is for electricity to move through an area in the ground.
An area of higher resistivity will show up darker on a map charting the data, Maki said, while less-resistant material will show up lighter.
Maki compares his data to how the known location of a remain appears when it's surveyed, and from that he can get a good idea of what is beneath the surface.
Maki said he almost always uses a second form of technology to verify the results of the first. At Mission Creek, his team used ground-penetrating radar, or GPR.
GPR transmits a high-frequency radio signal into the ground while recording the time it takes for a reflected signal to return. This indicates a target's depth and location in the ground.
On a morning in July, one crew member slowly wheeled a box containing the radar antenna along the ground while another crew member watched as the data came in on the attached computer screen a few feet away.
On that particular morning, Maki had help from two crew members as they surveyed a 50-meter stretch of road surface. Maki likes to "oversample" to improve the data, he said. Every two centimeters the GPR equipment transmits a pulse into the ground, but each transmission averages eight readings per pulse. He calls it data-stacking.
Maki has had three men from the Leech Lake Reservation working with him, all of whom have experience with burial recovery and archaeological work, he said — experience they can use to help mentor others.
The archaeological process
Under Minnesota's Field Archaeology Act, state-owned land is subject to an archaeological survey before construction in order to preserve and protect archaeological matter.
"That's another statute that was kind of missed on this project because it should have had an extensive archaeological review and even a records review," Jones said.
Archaeologists refer to this first review as a Phase One survey because it provides a historical overview and answers whether the ground holds archaeological material before a project begins. Projects that use federal money or are on state land require a Phase One survey.
Sigrid Arnott of Sigrid Arnott Consulting, the Minneapolis-based archaeological firm MnDOT hired this summer, specializes in such surveys and is now serving on-site as the principal investigator. Although she does not do the geophysical work, Arnott often works with geophysicists, including Archaeo-Physics, because the science can inform archaeologists where historical objects are located.
She describes her role as the facilitator of all the project's moving parts.
"It's like building a forensics case," Arnott said. "It's not like you get one source of information that solves it all. You have so many parts to the puzzle, but every time we use a method, it gives us a little more information."
Project officials do not yet know when the project nor the Phase One survey will reach completion, but archaeologists and trained band members will recover the remains for the band to then rebury properly.
For Arnott, this project differs from her other archaeological work. Instead of pursuing a research question, she said, the crew is guiding its decisions based on the band's long-term needs.
"It's probably going to help in the future on other sites," Arnott said. "We're developing new scientific methods, and I think everyone is excited about that. It could have a positive effect in the future, or an outcome that would help other people."
Ojibwe occupied
Fond du Lac Band member Matthew Northrup said he was 10 when his father showed him the burial grounds at Mission Creek for the first time. Northrup is the son of the late Jim Northrup, who was a renowned author and Ojibwe traditionalist. He showed a young Matthew the location of his ancestors.
Now whenever Matthew Northrup drives past the site on Highway 23, he rolls down his window and performs the sacred ritual of burning tobacco.
"I've known forever that there are graves here," he said while visiting the site. "I just didn't know this project was happening."
A couple blocks east of the burial site on Highway 23 sits a historical marker that notes "this was the site of a major Chippewa Indian settlement from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries."
To the northwest, on the other side of Jay Cooke State Park, sits the Fond du Lac Reservation created by the Treaty of 1854 that ceded much of the Ojibwe-occupied Arrowhead region to the federal government for mining use.
The area now known as the Fond du Lac neighborhood in Duluth, along the St. Louis River, has served as Ojibwe gathering grounds since the 1600s, but Native Americans started occupying the area thousands of years before.
"A lot of people think Indian Country is only on reservations, but no, this is all Indian," Northrup said as he waved his hand across the entire landscape in front of him.
the-record-obituaries
Jul 23, 2019
July 24, 2019: Obituaries
Pauline Wells, 75
Mrs. Pauline Catherine Kemp Wells, age 75 of North Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, July 13, 2019 at Rose Glen Manor.
.Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Liberty Grove Baptist Church with Rev. David Sparks officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday evening at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.
Mrs. Wells was born November 8, 1943 in Wilkes County to Paul Lytle and Bessie Lee Jarvis Kemp. She was a faithful member of Liberty Grove Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; John Roy Wells.
She is survived by a son; Aaron Wells and wife Charlene of North Wilkesboro, two grandchildren; Jamie Adams and Zoie Wells, two sisters; Barbara Shatley of North Wilkesboro and Faye Strang and husband Jerry of Chattanooga, TN and three brothers; Michael Kemp of North Wilkesboro, Ricky Kemp and wife Judy of Hickory and Stevie Kemp of North Wilkesboro.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Liberty Grove Baptist Church Fellowship Hall Building Fund, 5899 River Road/Liberty Grove, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Abby Spicer, age 52
Abby Lynn Spicer, age 52, passed away on July 21, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. Abby was born on August 13, 1966 to Barry Spicer and Lenna Miller Spicer. Abby's first years of life were spent in the Austin- Traphill community in Wilkes County, NC.
Abby has lived many places including Washington DC, Alabama, England, and currently resided in Daniel Island, SC. She graduated from Parkland High School in Winston-Salem, NC. She also studied piano and singing at the NC School of the Arts. Abby attended East Carolina University and graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Her career led her to work for many companies and government agencies that required Secret Security Clearance including: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Arthur Andersen, Intergraph, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems, HUD, Freddie Mac, American Battle Monuments Commission, US Department of Labor, a British Military Base in England, and most recently the US Department of State.
Abby was an avid athlete and participated in many sports including: soccer, karate, kickboxing, speed skating, competitive running, and rowing. She received many trophies, awards, and medals for her sporting events. Abby sang lead with many bands and founded Bands of the Triad. Abby was a car enthusiast and started her own car club, 86Charleston. She also enjoyed auto-crossing and racing her Toyota 86 after her cancer diagnosis, receiving multiple trophies.
Surviving are her mother, Lenna Miller Spicer Shew; sister, Heather Shew; brother, Darian Spicer and wife Mercia Spicer; nephew Ryan Spicer; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Proceeded in death are: father, Barry Spicer; step-father, Jack Shew; maternal grandparents, Thomas and Edna Miller; and paternal grandparents, Barney and Ruby Spicer.
Friends and family will be received at Miller Funeral Service at 180 Sparta Road, North Wilkesboro, NC on Wednesday, July 23 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. A funeral service celebrating Abby's life will be held at Knobbs Baptist Church, 8505 Austin Traphill Rd, Traphill, NC, on Thursday, July 25 at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Hanville, 91
Mary Ruth Rounds Hanville, age 91, lately of Moravian Falls, NC passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Alleghany Memorial Hospital. She was born on December 16, 1927 in Schulyer County in the town of Montour Falls, New York to Coleman Judson Rounds and Nellie Merchant Rounds. Mary Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband, Rexford R. Hanville. She was the surviving sibling inclusive of a sister, Janice R. Wright and two brothers, Keith C. Rounds and Clifford F. Rounds.
Mary Ruth Hanville was the mother of five sons; Michael J. Hanville and wife Louise of Moravian Falls, Roy L. Hanville of Cayute, NY, Rexford R. Hanville, Jr. of Elmira, NY, David F. Hanville of Spencer, NY and Terry L. Hanville of Watkins Glen, NY all are living.
Mary Ruth Hanville retired from Cornell University as an Executive Secretary. Recently, when her health permitted, she attended Wilkesboro United Moethodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Wilkes, PO Box 3016, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.
Don Hall, 92
Don Lewis Hall, age 92, of McGrady, passed away Thursday at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born April 24, 1927 in Wilkes County to Daniel and Zina Royal Hall. He was a member of the Church of Brethren and previously employed with American Drew for over 30 years. Mr. Hall was a US Army Veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sible Pruitt Hall; son, Donnie Wayne Hall; daughter, Cathy Marlene Hall; step children, Helen Wyatt, Dellis Huffman, Argilee Absher, F.D. Shepherd, Betty Parker, Dean Shepherd; and siblings, Claude Hall, Ted Hall and Annie Ruth Brown.
Surviving are his step-daughter, Ruby Whitley and spouse Randal of Traphill; step-son, Rex Shepherd and spouse Rita of McGrady; sister, Nellie Rae Wolfe of Statesville; twenty two grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be private. The family has requested no flowers and no food. Memorials may be made to Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Rommy Handy, 81
Rommy Vance (RV) Handy, age 81, of McGrady, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. He was born May 1, 1938 in Wilkes County to Berch and Dorothy Ballard Handy. RV was a member of Zion Baptist Church. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and loved the outdoors. His final words were I wanna go home and meet with Jesus and he was able to tell his wife and family he loved them. Mr. Handy was preceded in death by his parents; and three children, Ricky Vance Handy, Lisa Ann Handy and Debra Diane Bentley.
Surviving are his wife, Linda Nichols Handy; son, Jason L. Handy and spouse Ashley of Hays; daughters, Kathy Huffman and spouse Mike of Mt. Pleasant, Mary Handy, Tina Smith and spouse Matt all of North Wilkesboro, Amber Handy and spouse Jonathan Gambill of Hays; several grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
Memorial service was held July 22, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Brother Albert Handy and Brother Matthew Handy officiating. Memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607 or Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Steve Prevette, 70
Steve Prevette, age 70, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019 at his home. Mr. Prevette was born March 30, 1949 in Wilkes County to Dewey and Hope Jones Prevette.
He was an Ordained Baptist Minister and a member of Faith Christian Assembly in Wilkesboro. Mr. Prevette enjoyed fishing, golf, Bible Study and flying planes.
Surviving are his wife, Jennifer Prevette; children, Michael Prevette and wife Toni, Keith Prevette, John Prevette and wife Rhiannon all of North Wilkesboro, Matthew Prevette and wife Christy of Millers Creek; grandchildren, Adam Moore, Krysta Prevette, Abigail Prevette, Bryson Prevette, Bailey Prevette, Isaac Prevette; brothers, Tommy Prevette and wife Brenda of Mulberry, Doug Prevette and wife Patricia of Lenoir; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was July 21, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. Pamela Wesoloski officiating. Speakers were Rev. Thomas Lee Prevette, Rev. Douglas Kent Prevette, Rev. Richard Little, Rev. Allen Marsh and Rev. Eric Jones. Burial followed in Mountain Park Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted. Memorials may be made to Mtn. Valley Hospice, 688 North Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Park Road, #250, Charlotte, NC 28209.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Pallbearers were Johnny Shew, Adam Moore, Mike Osborne, Robert Doran, Eric Jones, Nathan Prevette. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Call and Danny Church.
Clara Byrd, 98
Clara Handy Byrd, age 98, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at her home. Mrs. Byrd was born March 26, 1921 in Wilkes County to Edward and Dova Wingler Perry. She was a member of Journey of Grace Baptist Church; loved teaching and working ceramic classes out of her home and at the Senior Citizens Center at Mulberry School. Clara was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Gilbert Handy; her second husband, Rev. Richard Byrd; and several siblings.
Surviving are her sons, Charles Handy and spouse Shirley of Wilkesboro, Sam Handy of Moravian Falls; granddaughters, Dr. Sharon Srebro and spouse Ron of Oak Ridge, Patricia Lynn Handy of North Wilkesboro, Heather Jodie Cothren and spouse Phillip of Moravian Falls; five great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
Funeral service was July 20, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tim Pruitt officiating. Burial followed in Mountlawn Memorial Park. Flowers will be accepted. Memorials may be Journey of Grace Baptist Church, PO Box 248, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to Wake Forest Baptist Health and Hospice, 126 Executive Drive, Suite 110, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Sandra Dillard, 59
Mrs. Sandra Jean Roten Dillard, age 59 of Dobson, passed away July 17, 2019 at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.
Funeral services were July 21, at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home with Chaplain Jonathan Casstevens Officiating. Burial was in the Osborne Cemetery.
Mrs. Dillard was born December 3, 1959 in Wilkes County to Robert Lee Roten and Curly Elizabeth Osborne Roten. She was formally employed by Ithaca Industries.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband; Barney Ray Dillard and a sister; Wanda Spears.
She is survived by two daughters; Cassandra
Kay Dillard of Dobson and Elizabeth Ann Kilby of North Wilkesboro, a son; Ray Eugene Dillard of Dobson, five grandchildren; James Ray Dillard, Hailey Madison Foster, Kristalin Hermione Kilby, Dixie Ava Lynn Kilby and Isabella Nevaeh Smith and a sister; Judy Smith of Traphill.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Woltz Hospice Home 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017.
Everette Lee, 79
Everette E. Lee, age 79, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at his home. Mr. Lee was born March 4, 1940 in Johnston County to Luna Belle Lee. He was a member of Arbor Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Lee was a longtime horse rancher and raised beagles and bird dogs. Everette was preceded in death by his mother.
Surviving are his wife, Linda Peacock Lee; sons, Everett Wayne Lee and spouse Helga of Four Oaks, Roger Dale Lee of Topsail Island; grandchildren, Justin Lee, Melanie Eller, Oliver Hudson; great grandchildren, Ashley Eller and Cash Hudson; brothers, William Edward Barefoot and spouse Belinda of Newton Grove, Anthony Barefoot and spouse Donna of Four Oaks; and sister, Barbara Pleasant and spouse Doy of Wake Forest.
Funeral service was July 22, at Arbor Grove Baptist Church off 268 with Rev. Bobby Trott and Rev. Jimmy Holbrook officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to his wife, Linda Lee, 6120 Elkin Highway, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Hazel Handy, 95
On April 30, 1924, it was reported there were twenty-six tornadoes that ripped through the country from Alabama all the way up to Virginia. In Wilkes County, a tornado of a woman, Hazel Higgins Handy, entered this world and was a force of nature to all she knew. She worked hard, played hard, but most importantly, she loved hard. Never having been one to focus on material wealth, she placed her values in those she held dear, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.
She is remembered as a strong, independent woman who had a deep and unconditional love for her family that left a lasting impact on the ones she left behind. She raised more than her fair share of children, and she defended them with veracity of a mama bear. She never failed to give them a home filled with love and her country cooking. Fond memories are filled with family and close friends, sitting around the table playing cards or picking and singing, going to the local auction, or going on a camping trip to Cherokee with her extended family.
Laughter was always abundant with her sharp sense of humor, and she made sure no one left with an empty stomach. She touched the lives of all she met.
From the day she fell sick, she was never alone, surrounded by the family she held so dear.
Her passing was peaceful, and it was a warm, inviting day with a gentle breeze to reflect her kind and gentle soul. She now walks with those who went before her, her beloved husband, Ambrose, her two sons, Vade and Jackie Handy, her sister, Nellie and her brothers.
She will be missed dearly, but for those she left behind, they will carry on with the warmth in their hearts they learned from her. She leaves her younger brother Jim Higgins, eldest son, Wade Handy, daughter, Loretta Henson and husband Curtis Henson, daughter, Rosalee Mastin and husband Alan Mastin, youngest son, Paul Handy and wife Kathy Handy, three grandchildren, Melissa Shrewsbury and husband Jeremy Shrewsbury, Wesley Handy and Jacob Handy, and her two great grandchildren, Chelsee Adams, and Hayden Shrewsbury.
We will be waiting for the day when we can see her once again and feel the warmth of her love fill our souls. Until that day, we celebrate her life and remain thankful for the time we had with her.
A private family service will be held. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Wake Forest Baptist Health and Hospice, 126 Executive Drive, Suite 110, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Buddy Triplett, 60
Buddy Devaughn Triplett, age 60, of Millers Creek, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at his home. He was born August 14, 1958 in Wilkes County to Clarence Robert and Alvesta Walsh Triplett. Buddy was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his wife, Deborah Brown Triplett; brother, Robert Douglas Triplett of North Wilkesboro; sister-in-law, Angela Wagoner and spouse James of North Wilkesboro; brother-in-law, Donnie Brown of North Wilkesboro; five nephews; three great nieces; and three great nephews.
Graveside service was July 22, at Mountlawn Memorial Park with Robert Douglas Triplett speaking. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Matthew Johnson, 28
Matthew Paul Johnson, age 28, of Roaring River, passed away at his home. He was born September 29, 1990 in Wilkes County to Grady Everette Johnson, Jr. and Betsy Wyatt Johnson.
Surviving are his parents, Grady and Betsy Wyatt Johnson; sister, Miranda Lynn Johnson of Roaring River; special nephew, Travis Lee Johnson; special niece, Chloe Marie Billings; maternal grandparents, Arvil and Betty Wyatt of North Wilkesboro; great aunts, Willa Ward, Edna Call and Jean Ward all of Roaring River.
Graveside service was July 20, at Roaring River Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Mark Wood officiating. Flowers will be accepted.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Adams, 90
Ruth Teague Adams, age 90, of McGrady, our beloved momma and grandma went to heavenly home, July 16, 2019. Mrs. Adams was born July 22, 1928 in Wilkes County to Bob and Lillie Watkins Teague. Ruth was a member of Zion Baptist Church on Yellow Banks Road. She was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, Hillary Adams; son, Lance Adams; and daughter, Crystal Anderson.
Surviving are her sons, Clyde Adams of the home; her daughters, Trish Cook and spouse Rick of Wilkesboro, Linda Bivens and spouse Roger of Morganton, Marlene Miller and spouse James of Millers Creek, Darlene Felts and spouse Leon of Hays, Susie Adams of the home; sister, Sue Billings and spouse Bill of McGrady; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren.
Graveside service was July 18, at Haymeadow Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Bruce Rhoades officiating.
The family has requested no flowers. Memorials may be made to Haymeadow Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 232, Hays, NC 28635.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Marie Taylor 94
Mrs. Marie Taylor age 94 of China Grove, formally of Wilkes County, passed away Monday, July 15, 2019 at the home of her daughter.
Funeral services were July 19, at Union Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Faw officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Taylor was born April 7, 1925 in Wilkes County to Hamp and Martha Philips Woodie. She worked for Hanes Manufacturing in the Cutting Department prior to retirement and was a member of Union Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Rufus Eugene Taylor, a daughter; Marion Farmer, a son; Walter Taylor and two brothers; Odell Woodie and Virgil Woodie.
She is survived by a daughter; Christine Morgan of China Grove, a sister; Ellie Hamby of Kannapolis, a daughter-in-law; Claudette Taylor of Millers Creek, four grandchildren; Chris Morgan, Stephanie Frisbee, Susan Trull and Nanette Eller, eight great grandchildren, eighteen great great grandchildren and two nephews; Larry Hamby and wife Pat of Asheboro and David Hamby of South Carolina.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Union Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Lanny South 165 Kingcross Lane Millers Creek, NC 28651.
J.D. Milam, 89
J.D. Milam, age 89, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. He was born October 10, 1929 in Wilkes County to Roby and Clarice Church Milam. J.D. was a member of Freedom Baptist Church. Mr. Milam was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty Jo Shew Milam; and a number of siblings.
Surviving are his daughter, Kathy Smoot and spouse Dewey of North Wilkesboro; sons, Bobby David Milam, Danny Milam and spouse Linda all of North Wilkesboro, Christopher Milam and spouse Connie of Nebraska; grandchildren, James David Milam of North Wilkesboro,
Samantha Jo Milam and Ivan Milam both of Nebraska; and sister, Ruby Rhoades of Waynesville.
Graveside service was July 17, at Mountlawn Memorial Park with Rev. Jason Wiles officiating. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
j-and-b-walkabout-blog
Feb 9, 2017
WEEK FOURTEEN (Feb 2 - Feb 8)
MELBOURNE, VIC, AUS
We've started to begin most mornings with a two mile run if it isn't unbearably hot outside. After running, we took the van to a self-service carwash to get it sparkling like new again since we were going to be showing it later to some interested backpackers. We spent the entirety of the afternoon demonstrating the van's features and allowing them to test drive. It was a strange feeling knowing we were slowly inching closer to the day we'd have to give up our beloved "Voyager" (and eventually leave Australia). Since we had already spent a good portion of our journey road tripping / camping, we figured it had become time to part ways with it and use the money for more traveling and plane tickets back home. Several calls later, we arranged for the van to be inspected on Monday at a local automotive car shop in order to set a fair selling price for both us and the purchasing party.
The next day we took the 8 tram down Lygon Street to the CBD for some more exploration of Melbourne. We walked around, shopped a bit, and ended up sharing a plate of dumplings in Chinatown. Melbourne boasts about being home to the world's oldest Chinatown, however, this claim is based on a technicality. San Francisco's Chinatown was actually established before Melbourne's, but the original SF structures all burned to the ground during the 1906 Earthquake, and needed to be rebuilt. While waiting for the tram to head back home, we witnessed a giant congregation outside the Victoria State Library protesting Donald Trump's presidency and the current refugee ban restricting the inflow of refugees from war torn countries into America and Australia. We decided to pass up our bus, and instead joined the protest for a while before they began to march down Swanson Street in the CBD. It has been difficult being so far away from all the action (marches / protests) back home, so it felt empowering to stand in solidarity with likeminded people against inequality and bigotry.
We had a pretty lazy weekend with the house to ourselves, but we still managed to stay productive. Two loads of laundry were washed and hung to dry, we cleaned the bathroom, and vacuumed / cleaned our bedroom. Our downtime was spent playing guitar, writing, drawing, cooking, and Brittany began preparing the digital scrapbook of our adventures thus far.
Monday finally rolled around, and we drove the van to a nearby mechanic early in the morning to see what repairs were needed before selling the vehicle. We dropped it off, walked home along the Merri Creek Trail, and waited all day for them to call us. By 4:30pm, we still hadn't heard back, so we decided to take a stroll back to the mechanic's, fearing Jed had cited his callback phone number incorrectly. When we arrived, we received a detailed list of what needed to be repaired for safety and ended up leaving the van overnight for them to prepare us a quote. The next day, we waited at home until 2:00pm (mechanic said they'd call 'after lunch'), but not wanting to waste another day inside, we hopped on the tram to Fitzroy for $3 Taco Tuesday specials at "Beach Burrito" on Gertrude Street. We ate lunch in a booth next to an empty skate-able concrete pool inside the restaurant. Jed unfortunately left his skateboard at home, so the only shredding going on was the meat in our beef tacos. Brunswick Street in Fitzroy is full of second-hand clothing and record stores, and is popular among both locals and tourists alike seeking a taste of Melbourne's bohemian culture. After poking around several shops, we headed back to Brunswick East to pick the van up from the mechanic. Once the price of repairs was deducted from our original asking price, we came to an agreement with some French backpackers to sell the van as is, and arranged to meet again on Saturday to hand over the keys.
The weather forecast for Wednesday was predicting quite the scorcher, so we packed our beach essentials and jumped on the tram to St. Kilda Beach. It was so hot out that the woman on the tram's intercom reminded all riders to carry water bottles and stay hydrated. An hour later, we finally arrived at the beach, and swam in Port Phillip Bay. We laid out in the shallow water on partially submerged sandbars to stay cool. After two hours in the sun, we grabbed a bite to eat at "Veludo" on the lively Acland Street in St. Kilda, where we enjoyed tasty food and happy-hour Coronas. The restaurant was situated near the last stop for the 96 tram, so we easily got on and road back all the way to the opposite end of the line in Brunswick East. Since the Queen Victoria "Summer Night Market" happens every Wednesday night from 5pm to 10pm, we took quick showers, changed clothes, and then headed right back out to catch the tram to the markets. Although there are not as many goods vendors as there are in the daytime, the Night Market is much more lively with tons of food stands, seating areas, and musical performers. We waited in line for specialty iced tea, took photo booth pictures, and ate ice cream cones while listening to a Hawaiian band. Everything closed down around 10pm, so as the atmosphere died, we walked to the Melbourne Central to catch the tram back home.
slyke25
Jan 1, 2014
2012-13
Below are the shows I covered from ‘2012-13.
(v) = Video included in review
(p&s) = photos were taken with a point & shoot camera (early concerts)
2013 Favorite Concert Photos (Review)
2013 Favorite Concert Videos (Review)
12.5.2013 MGMT (Orpheum Theatre) (V)
11.22.2013 Devil Makes Three (House of Blues) (v)
11.22.2013 Shakey Graves (House of Blues) (v)
11.20.2013 The Lone Bellow (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
11.20.2013 Aoife O’Donovan (Paradise)
11.17.2013 Chris Cornell (Calvin Theatre) (v)
11.17.2013 Bhi Bhiman (Calvin Theatre)
11.15.2013 Hayden (Middle East Upstairs) (v)
11.15.2013 Doug Paisley (Middle East Upstairs)
11.14.2013 Dr. Dog (House of Blues) (v)
11.14.2013 Diamond Doves (House of Blues)
11.5.2013 James Blake (House of Blues)
11.5.2013 Nosaj Thing (House of Blues)
11.1.2013 The Head and the Heart (Royale) (v)
11.1.2013 Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (Royale)
10.28.2013 Fitz and the Tantrums (House of Blues)
10.28.2013 Capital Cities (House of Blues)
10.25.2013 Phish (DCU Center) (v)
10.20.2013 Father John Misty (Somerville Theatre) (v)
10.18.2013 The Arcade Fire (Brooklyn) - review only
10.15.2013 Pearl Jam (DCU Center) (v)
10.1.2013 Phoenix (House of Blues) (v)
10.1.2013 The Vaccines (House of Blues)
9.30.2013 The Flaming Lips (Agganis Arena) (v)
9.30.2013 Tame Impala (Agganis Arena)
9.18.2013 Jake Bugg (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
9.18.2013 Honey Honey (Paradise Rock Club)
9.8.2013 Boston Calling Day #2 (Bearstronaut, Blg Black Delta, Flume, Solange, Flosstradamus, Wolfgang Gartner, Major Lazer, Kendrick Lamar, Passion Pit (v)
9.7.2013 Boston Calling Day #1 (Viva Viva, You Won’t, Lucius, Okkervil River, Deer Tick, Airborne Toxic Event, Bat For Lashes, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, Vampire Weekend (v)
8.10.2013 The Nines Festival - Devens, MA (Shuggie Otis, Matt Pond, Walk Off The Earth, K. Flay, Delta Spirit, Kid Koala, Dr. Dog, Explosions In The Sky) (v)
7.30.2013 The Black Crowes (BOA Pavilion)
7.30.2013 The Tedeschi Trucks Band (BOA Pavilion)
7.28.2013 Newport Folk Festival #Day 3 (The Wheeler Brothers, Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir, Cold Specks, Tift Merritt, Spirit Family Reunion, Black Prairie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lord Huron, Michael Kiwanuka, The Felice Brothers, Beth Orton, The Lumineers, Andrew Bird, Beck (v)
7.27.2013 Newport Folk Festival Day #2 (Sarah Jarosz, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramlbers, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Langhorne Slim, The Lone Bellow, Houndmouth, Frank Turner, Shovels and Rope, Jim James, Father John Misty, Jason Isbell, Colin Meloy, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers) (v)
7.26.2013 Newport Folk Festival Day #1 (Hey Marseilles, Kingsley Flood, Milk Carton Kids, The Last Bison, Blake Mills (w/ Dawes), Dawes (backing Blake Mills), The Mountain Goats, Phosphorescent, Feist, John McCauley, Old Crow Medicine Show) (v)
6.28.2013 Joe Fletcher (Lizard Lounge)
6.28.2013 Stephen Kellogg (Lizard Lounge)
6.28.2013 Sarah Borges (Lizard Lounge)
6.9.2013 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (State Theatre - Portland, ME)
5.26.2013 Boston Calling Day #2 (Caspian, Youth Lagoon, Dirty Projectors, Ra Ra Riot, The Walkmen, Andrew Bird, Of Monsters and Men, Young the Giant, The National)
5.26.2013 Boston Calling Day #1 (Bad Rabbits, St. Lucia, Cults, Ms Mr, Matt & Kim, Portugal the Man,The Shins, Marina and the Diamonds, Fun)
5.10.2013 The Airborne Toxic Event (House of Blues)
5.10.2013 Kodaline (House of Blues)
5.9.2013 Josh Ritter (Calvin Theatre) (v)
5.9.2013 The Felice Brothers (Calvin Theatre)
4.17.2013 Phosphorescent (Brighton Music Hall)
4.17.2013 Strand of Oaks (Brighton Music Hall)
4.12.2013 Muse (TD Garden)
4.12.2013 Biffy Clyro (TD Garden)
4.10.2013 Houses (Paradise Rock Club)
4.10.2013 Cold War Kids (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
4.9.2013 Green Day (DD Center PVD) (v)
4.2.2013 Caitlin Rose (TT the Bear’s) (v)
4.2.2013 Andrew Combs (TT the Bear’s) (v)
4.2.2103 Haley Thompson King (TT the Bear’s)
3.26.2013 Sigur Ros (Agganis Arena) (v)
3.12.2013 Tame Impala (House of Blues) (v)
3.3.2013 Alt-J (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
3.3.3013 Hundred Waters (Paradise Rock Club)
2.5.2013 Mumford & Sons (TD Garden) (v)
2.4.2013 Y La Bamba (House of Blues)
2.4.2013 The Lumineers (House Of Blues)
2.1.2013 Shovels and Rope (The Sinclair) (v)
2.1.2013 Andrew Combs (The Sinclair)
1.19.2013 Fairhaven (The Met, RI)
1.19.2013 New Politics (The Met, RI)
1.19.2013 Twenty One Pilots (The Met, RI) (v)
2012 Favorite Concert Photos (Review)
12.31.2012 My Morning Jacket (Agganis Arena) (v)
12.31.2012 Preservation Jall Jazz Band (Agganis Arena)
12.9.2012 Band of Horses (House of Blues) (v)
12.9.2012 Jason Lytle (House of Blues)
12.6.2012 Willy Mason (Orpheum Theater)
12.6.2012 Conor Oberst (Orpheum Theater)
11.28.2012 Jeff The Brotherhood (House of Blues)
11.28.2012 Delta Spirit (House of Blues)
11.19.2012 Soley (Orpheum Theater)
11.19.2012 Of Monsters and Men (Orpheum Theater)
11.5.2012 Aerosmith (Boston, MA) 1325 Commonwealth Avenue
10.25.2012 The XX (House OF Blues)
10.25.2012 Chairlift (House Of Blues)
10.22.2012 Joy Kills Sorrow (Cafe 939)
10.22.2012 Admiral Fallow (Cafe 939) (v)
10.16.2012 Way Out (The Met) Providence, RI
10.16.2012 Divine Fits (The Met) Providence, RI (v)
10.5.2012 Morrissey (The Wang Theater) p&s
9.28.2012 Shovels and Rope (Agganis Arena)
9.28.2012 Jack White (Agganis Arena)
9.24.2012 Peter Gabriel (TD Garden)
9.23.2012 Life is Good Festival - Canton, MA (Sarah Jaroszm ALO, The Infamous Stringdusters, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds)
9.22.2012 Port St. Willow (Brighton Music Hall)
9.22.2012 Houndmouth (Brighton Music Hall)
9.22.2012 Dry the River (Brighton Music Hall) (v)
9.21.2012 California Wives (Paradise Rock Club)
9.18.2012 The Lost Brothers (Berklee Performance Center)
9.18.2012 Glen Hansard (Berklee Performance Center) (v)
9.16.2012 The Avett Brothers (BOA Pavilion) (v)
9.13.2012 Bon Iver (BOA Pavilion) p&s(v)
9.12.2012 Bon Iver (PPAC) p&s (v)
9.10.2012 Cymbal Eat Guitars (Paradise Rock Club)
9.10.2012 Bob Mould (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
8.7.2012 The Allman Brothers (BOA Pavilion)
8.4.2012 Gentlemen of the Road Tour Portland, Maine (Apache Relay, The Maccabees, St. Vincent, Dawes, Dropkick Murphys, Mumford and Sons)
7.27.2012 Newport Folk Festival Jane Pickens Theatre (Conor Oberst, First Aid Kit, Dawes, Jackson Browne (p&s) (v)
7.28.2012 Newport Folk Festival Day #1 (Apache Relay, Robert Ellis, Brown Bird, Spirit Family Reunion, Jonny Corndawg, Deer Tick, Alabama Shakes, First Aid Kit, Frank Fairfield, Dawes, Iron & Wine, Blind Pilot, Patty Griffin, City and Colour, My Morning Jacket (v)
7.29.2012 Newport Folk Festival Day #2 (Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, Sara Watkins, Honey Honey, Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons,Trampled By Turtles, New Multitudes, Gary Clark Jr., Of Monsters and Men, Tune-Yards, Conor Oberst, Tallest Man on Earth, Jackson Browne (v)
7.26.2012 Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons (Royale)
7.26.2012 The Head and the Heart (Royale) (v)
6.22.2012 Passion Pit (BOA Pavilion) (v)
6.15.2012 Laura Marling (Berklee Performance Center) (v)
6.16.2012 These United States (TT the Bear’s Place) (v)
6.12.2012 Keane (House Of Blues) (v)
6.8.2012 Phish (DCU Center) (v) p&s
5.29.2012 Radiohead (Comcast Center) (v)
5.25.2012 Kingsley Flood (Middle East)
5.25.2012 Ha Ha Tonka (Middle East)
5.25.2012 Langhorne Slim (Middle East) (v)
5.19.2012 Earthfest 2012 Boston (Twin Berlin, Eve 6, Switchfoot, The Spin Doctors, Third Eye Blind
5.16.2012 Justin Townes Earle (Somerville Theatre) (v)
5.12.2012 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Orpheum Theatre) (v)
5.5.2012 Brown Bird (Brighton Music Hall) (v)
5.5.2012 Horse Feathers (Brighton Music Hall) (v)
5.4.2012 Real Estate (Wang Theatre)
5.4.2012 The Shins (Wang Theatre) (v)
4.25.2012 Mean Creek (House of Blues)
4.25.2012 The Counting Crows (House of Blues)
4.20.2012 The Kopecky Family Band (Cafe 939)
4.20.2012 The Lumineers (Cafe 939) (v)
4.18.2012 These United States (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
4.18.2012 Trampled By Turtles (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
4.15.2012 Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires (Paradise Rock Club)
4.15.2012 Alabama Shakes (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
4.7.2012 Lay Low (House of Blues)
4.7.2012 Of Monsters and Men (House of Blues) (v)
4.2.2012 Peggy Sue (Paradise Rock Club)
4.2.2012 First Aid Kit (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
3.27.2012 Waters (Paradise Rock Club)
3.27.2012 Delta Spirit (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
3.25.2012 The Dirty Dishes (Brighton Music Hall)
3.25.2012 A Classic Education (Brighton Music Hall)
3.25.2012 Cloud Nothings (Brighton Music Hall) (v)
3.18.2012 William Tyler (Great Scott)
3.18.2012 Megafaun (Great Scott) (v)
3.16.2012 Bobby Bare Jr. (Paradise Rock Club)
3.16.2012 New Multitudes (Paradise Rock Club) (v)
3.8.2012 Group Love (House of Blues)
3.8.2012 Young the Giant (House of Blues)
2.3.2012 Adam Arcuragi (P.A.’s Lounge) (v)
businessliveme
Dec 4, 2019
Bring the Kids and Skip the Concierge: Traveling Tips from Hollywood Actor
(Bloomberg) –Busy Philipps is a writer, actor, and erstwhile talk show host. Philipps, who became a season regular on Dawson’s Creek, has been a prime-time staple for almost 20 years. She recently hosted Busy Tonight, her unique riff on a late-night chat fest, on E!, as well as published her memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little.
A self-confessed last-minute traveler, Philipps has also teamed up with last-minute booking firm HotelTonight on a new contest. Together with the Airbnb Inc.-owned company, she’s trying to find the most overscheduled, overprepared travelers in America with the aim of introducing them to the joys of spontaneity. Five winners (plus guests) will receive a surprise, three-night getaway, including round-trip airfare. Philipps will also coach each pair on how to loosen up on vacation and forget needing to know every detail in advance. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
For her own last-minute trips, the mother of two is airline agnostic. She’s pickier when traveling for work—and for good reason. “I fly a lot from Los Angeles to New York, and since my contract says I get first class,” she explains, “I’ll always do American, because they still have the three-class planes to New York.” Even so, she never tallies her annual mileage. “My dad is such a huge points person, so maybe this is the way I’m rebelling against him.”
Read:World’s Most Popular City Destinations in 2019
A location shoot introduced her to one of her all-time favorite places.
I did a television show in Charleston, S.C., almost six years ago—Vice Principals on HBO, Danny McBride’s show. And we just kind of fell in love with the city and have been coming back ever since; one of my daughters has spent five of her six birthdays here. Go to 167 Raw to get the best oysters and lobster rolls. Now you may have to wait on line, because it’s a small space and they don’t take reservations, but it’s really, really worth it, I promise. And there’s an incredible [pan-Asian] place called Xiao Bao Biscuit. For shopping, I always go to Hampben Clothing on King Street. The girl that owns it has the best taste—I end up getting my whole wardrobe there. In fact, I ship clothes back because I buy too many things there and they don’t fit in my suitcase.
Rethink how you treat miles—not as a treat, but as a backstop.
Think of your miles as an emergency fund. We’ve found ourselves in situations where we’re like, “Omigod we have to fly all four of us to the East Coast [at the last minute].” It’s so much easier to know we have those miles saved. Whenever there’s emergency travel around me, I use miles for that. Like if a friend of mine has a situation where they need to go see their family or whatever, I use my miles for that, too. I’m fairly generous with them.
Make a small gesture to sustainability by packing these two items.
It’s always a good thing to try and do better when we travel, find more sustainable options. I appreciate a hotel that seems to be doing more than just paying lip service with the card that says, “Laundry takes a lot of water.” I always pack one of those twisty hair towels that they sell at Bed Bath & Beyond—why? because I hate wasting towels in hotels—and my reusable water bottle. Zero George, which is a great hotel in Charleston, doesn’t have plastic water bottles. They have glass bottles that they refill and put in your room every night. I think a lot of big chain hotels could get rid of the water vending machines filled with plastic bottles and instead install water refill stations for reusable bottles, and then give you one while you’re there. If you want to buy it to take home, like a robe or something, you have to pay $8 or whatever.
Read:Golden trip hacks from a Guinness World Record holder for travel
Forget the concierge. There’s a much better, independent source of inside scoop in every town.
In a new place, I look up an area of town and find a bookstore first—an independent bookstore. The people who work there always know the best things about a city: the cool cultural events that are happening in town, or a concert you might be interested in. And you can pick up a book [about the place] that you can read while you’re there. Back in the day, when I was a young actor going to different cities, I would look for independent record stores in the same way, but that’s changed a little bit over the years.
Traveling with kids can be eye-opening—for them, as much as for you.
Sometimes when people have kids, they’re afraid to travel with them. And I understand that, as you hear all kinds of horror stories. But my feeling has always been different. Every time we travel somewhere with our kids, even if it’s just two hours away, they make developmental leaps. Especially when they’re little, in the early years. From age 2 to 8- or 9-years-old, shaking up their routine a little bit is superinteresting. They see different things, learn different stuff, try different foods. You don’t have to go to Europe. You can go a short drive away, and they will have a whole new world exposed to them.
Don’t assume you’re limited to just one hot towel on any flight.
I work with Olay, so I have brand loyalty to that when I travel, and it produces a mask that’s really easy for traveling because it’s a stick—you just stick it on your face like you would sunscreen, then it’s easy to take off. And flight attendants will always give you a hot towel if you ask nicely and aren’t buggy. Don’t be afraid to do it. I rarely ask for anything on flights, even five-hour ones, so they’re more than happy to give me an extra towel or two.
Even road warriors should carve out time to travel for fun.
My friend Ed Droste is the lead singer of the band Grizzly Bear. He’s one of the best travelers I know. He’s traveled all over the world with his band, and he’s accrued so many miles—but he still takes advantage of lulls in his work and life schedule to travel. And I learned from him that sometimes the inclination when you travel so much for work is that when you get home, you just want to be home. But it’s really wonderful to reconnect with traveling for fun with your friends or partner or family. Because you’re not there for work, it takes the pressure off. You can really take your time.
The joys of being a shopaholic while traveling.
When I was a teenager, I took a summer trip to Europe—one of those ones where you went to 10 countries in two and a half weeks, and you come home and sleep for five days straight. This was the ’90s, the height of grunge, so I got two pairs of boots in London. I remember going back to school in Arizona that September, and even though it was 110 degrees, I was wearing those boots. I felt so worldly. My dad tells that story because he had given me his American Express card for emergency purposes only. And I called him from London, and I said, “I had an emergency dad. It was a shoe emergency.”
The post Bring the Kids and Skip the Concierge: Traveling Tips from Hollywood Actor appeared first on Businessliveme.com.
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itsfinancethings
Oct 26, 2019
October 26, 2019 at 07:00AM
On September 30, 1970, a reporter asked Janis Joplin to explain her fearless sexuality. “It seems to bother a lot of women’s lib people that you’re kind of so upfront sexually,” Village Voice writer Howard Smith told her. Joplin, by then accustomed to such criticism, responded: “I’m representing everything they said they want.… It’s sort of like: you are what you settle for.… You’re only as much as you settle for. If you don’t settle for that and you keep fighting it, you know, you’ll end up anything you want to be… I’m just doing what I wanted to and what feels right and not settling for bullshit and it worked. How can they be mad at that?”
Janis made it sound as if fighting the urge to settle was the most natural thing to her. But deep down inside there had always been the yearning for doing exactly that: getting the house, the white picket fence and the husband. They had been the middle-class hopes of her mother, Dorothy, who herself had fought hard for a life of stability in 1950s Port Arthur, Texas. Janis, her mother’s daughter, was often tormented about leaving that white picket fence behind. “I keep pushing so hard the dream/I keep tryin’ to make it right/Through another lonely day,” she sang in “Kozmic Blues.”
She was born a misfit—a tomboy, a painter, a girl who didn’t accept arbitrary boundaries, a girl with a big voice—but she never stopped wanting to belong. That’s why, years later at the age of 25, it had been so daring of her to leave behind the band that had launched her, Big Brother and the Holding Company. She had joined the group in San Francisco in June 1966 and two months later they were bunking communally in Marin County. Despite technical shortcomings as musicians, they were a dynamic live band with a solid following, and they correctly saw in Janis the element that would elevate them to status similar to their Haight-Ashbury scene-mates Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. Sure enough, Big Brother and the Holding Company broke big in June 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival, signing with Dylan’s manager Albert Grossman, who secured a lucrative deal for them with Columbia Records.
But Joplin was beginning to feel again that part of her that would not settle. Her ambition ratcheted up. She looked more to her heroes Nina Simone and Etta James. Rather than shriek over Big Brother’s blaring psychedelic “freak rock,” Joplin longed to work her voice with more nuance, and explore soul and other musical genres; she envisioned keyboards, a horn section, more sophisticated tunes. In remarkable letters she wrote her parents, she explained, “I have to find the best musicians in the world & get together & work. There’ll be a whole lot of pressure because of the ‘vibes’ created by my leaving Big Brother & also by just how big I am now. So we’ve got to be just super when we start playing—but we will be.” To New York Times reporter Michael Lydon, she admitted: “I’m scared. I think, ‘It’s so close. Can I make it?’ If I fail, I’ll fail in front of the whole world. If I miss, I’ll never have a second chance on nothing. But I gotta risk it. I never hold back…” Anyone who really knew her would not have been surprised by her leap of faith. As a roughhousing tomboy in Port Arthur, she’d exhibited a fierce will not unlike that of her father, Seth, who led a double life as a Texaco engineer by day, and a cerebral bookworm and atheist by night. He and Dorothy adored their daughter, but their showdowns were legend—Janis refusing to do what she was told, damn the consequences. With adolescence came compulsive risk-taking; she was the female “mascot” among a group of outlier intellectual boys, a role that helped set a bold Joplin in motion.
Unlike her father, Joplin would not hide her defiance. She vocally opposed segregation in her high school, which made her a target of bullies and racists. She sought out the hard-to-find music of Lead Belly and Bessie Smith, sneaking out to juke joints with boys, and was accused of sleeping with her male companions. At 17, after a midnight ramble in New Orleans, she crashed her father’s car. She would soothe the shame with alcohol, the first drug on which she became dependent. And then she’d do it all again.
Joplin found temporary solace in traveling, which she’d been introduced to by Kerouac’s On the Road, a game-changer for her. Her first taste of freedom came at 19, when she briefly lived like a beatnik in Venice Beach, California, then hitchhiked alone to San Francisco, before hightailing it back to Texas. She soon cultivated an ardent following of fellow college students in Austin, who clamored to hear her sing blues, country, and folk with her first group, the Waller Creek Boys.
Forever restless, Joplin hitchhiked for the second time to San Francisco the day after her 20th birthday in 1963. Already writing songs and accompanying herself on an autoharp, she floored audiences in the Bay Area, gaining confidence and vocal skill, gig by gig. But after spending the summer of ’64 in New York’s Lower East Side, where she learned to play 12-string guitar, Joplin became addicted to methamphetamines. She returned to Port Arthur yet again, sobered up at the Joplin homestead, and attempted to renounce her life as an artist. But she could not resist opportunities to perform in Houston and Austin clubs, where her voice manifested ever more powerfully, an uncorked siren calling her away from the life of dutiful commuter student and sociology major at Beaumont’s Lamar Tech. At age 23, after sharing a bill in Austin with the 13th Floor Elevators, she split town for Haight-Ashbury yet again. When she wrote her parents to give them her whereabouts, she promised to stay clean.
In just over a year, she achieved much of what she thought she wanted, but chafed at the constraints of Big Brother. As she turned to heroin to soften anxiety and fears of rejection, her urge to rebel—even within the parameters of the counterculture—could not be reined in. “I’ve been doing it for 26 years,” she told the New York Times in 1969, conflating her age and her lifelong iconoclasm, “and all the people who were trying to compromise me are now coming to me, man. You better not compromise yourself, it’s all you got.… I’m a goddamn living example of that…. People aren’t supposed to be like me, sing like me, make out like me, drink like me, live like me, but now they’re paying me $50,000 a year for me to be like me. That’s what I hope I mean to those kids out there… that they can be themselves and win. You just have to start thinking that way, being that righteous with yourself, and you’ve won already.”
Joplin’s great champion Ellen Willis, a rare female rock critic of the era, worried for post-Big Brother Janis in the pages of The New Yorker. “Did Big Brother perhaps give her more than we realized?” she wrote. As often happens with performers, Joplin had to learn in public, so the initial answer to this question was a resounding maybe. Only three months after assembling her back-up players, Joplin was still finding her way, which showed in her two-night stand at New York’s Fillmore East. Joplin didn’t fall back on her usual over-the-top performance techniques, but modulated herself, doing the “kind of things that milk you rather than hammer you,” she said. Willis was one of the few critics who seemed to get it.
Rolling Stone’s Paul Nelson resolutely panned the shows, describing Joplin as “The Judy Garland of Rock” who “strangled the songs to death.” Six weeks later, when she performed back in San Francisco at Bill Graham’s Winterland, her “people” did not call for an encore—a first on her own turf. Afterwards in the dressing room, journalist John Bowers noted, “She is pale, as if in shock, saying, ‘San Francisco’s changed, man. Where are my people? They used to be so wild. I know I sang well! I know I did!’” One of her earliest fans, esteemed jazz critic Ralph J. Gleason, advised her in his San Francisco Chronicle column to “scrap this band and go right back to being a member of Big Brother if they’ll have her.”
Hurt but undaunted, Joplin continued to pursue her musical vision. She recorded her debut solo album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, its title alluding to a persistent existential dread her father had called “the Saturday night swindle.” She’d written new songs including “One Good Man,” a Bessie Smith blues update. Other material ranged from her adaptation of the Chantels’ “Maybe,” a favorite from her teen years, and Rodgers and Hart’s “Little Girl Blue,” inspired by the 1959 Nina Simone recording of the song. (Simone would later applaud Joplin’s version.)
The album debuted on Billboard on October 11, 1969, remained there for 28 weeks and gradually moved up to #5. Joplin’s aching original “Kozmic Blues” just missed the Top 40, hitting #41. Reviews were lukewarm, with Joplin, again, being taken to task—by male critics—for being “bent on becoming Aretha Franklin” and dumping Big Brother. An exception was an insightful Village Voice piece by Johanna Schier (later Johanna Hall, coauthor of the Pearl track, “Half Moon”), who wrote that Joplin “was singing stronger and better… The top of her range is more solid and her vocal control is maturing… She breaks through into greatness by anyone’s standards.” Backed by her Kozmic Blues Band, she would play the biggest venues of her career to date, including a sold-out concert on December 19 at Madison Square Garden.
Bettmann ArchiveJanis Joplin and her final group, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, perform at the Festival for Peace at Shea Stadium in August 1970.
The first year of her brief solo flight, Joplin headlined Woodstock, performing an hour-long set in the middle of the night, singing until her voice gave out. She made her debut on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dick Cavett Show, appeared on the cover of Newsweek (the cover line: “The Rebirth of the Blues”), and toured Europe for the first time, a series of concerts garnering rapturous responses. At London’s Royal Albert Hall, she’d even managed to roust a sold-out, normally staid audience from their seats.
Joplin remained peripatetic, musically speaking, and driven. She’d learned to play and sing Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” and the song opened new doors. Joplin sought a smaller, rootsier-sounding unit to bring it, and other material, to life. She would christen this group Full Tilt Boogie. With them, she would mature as a bandleader and co-producer of her recorded output, all gloriously evident on her final album, Pearl, and in footage of Joplin and Full Tilt Boogie’s live performances. Following her death during the Pearl sessions, on October 4, 1970, “Me and Bobby McGee” topped the charts for two weeks, and Pearl became the most commercially successful album of her career. Despite her kozmic blues and the critics’ initial discouragement, Joplin, of course, had refused to settle for anything less than traveling the road her music took her.
carpetstore0
Oct 13, 2019
Grapevine TX Dallas Flooring Warehouse
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Tile Removal Without Dust
Dallas Flooring Warehouse in GRAPEVINE, TX is now offering premier dust free tile removal services! Removing old tile is normally a very messy job that will fill your house with dust for months to come, but not with our new dustless tile removal service. Our S&H / Dallas Flooring Warehouse location in Gapevine, TX can remove your tile without the hassle and without the mess and get it done in record time. This dust free system means complete dust elimination for floor tile removals, thinset, underlayment, tile cement board and any other type of flooring tile materials. The process is not only cleaner and healthier, but it is much faster than other methods
Remove old tile with no dust and no mess!
Callus for more information about our new dust-free tile removal services.
Grapevine is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, predominantly in Tarrant County and has areas that extend into Dallas and Denton counties.[5][6] Highways SH 26, SH 121, SH 360, SH 114, Spur 97, and FM 2499 run into Grapevine. With its central location in the Metroplex, being approximately 22 to 24 miles from the downtowns of both Dallas and Fort Worth, Grapevine is a suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
The city is part of the Dallas Fort Worth Statistical Area and a significant part of the city limits are mostly within the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, with neighboring cities such as Coppell, Euless, and Irving.
City of Grapevine Official Website
In recent years several wineries have opened in Grapevine, and the city has been very active in maintaining its historic downtown corridor. The city is adjacent to Grapevine Lake, a large reservoir impounded by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1952 and serves as both a source of water and recreational area. Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is within Grapevine city limits, the largest portion of any municipality bordering the facility. In 2007 CNNMoney.com rated Grapevine as one of “America’s Best Places to Live.
In October 1843, General Sam Houston and fellow Republic of Texas Commissioners camped at Tah-Wah-Karro Creek, also known as Grape Vine Springs, to meet with leaders of 10 Indian nations.[8] This meeting culminated in the signing of a treaty of “peace, friendship, and commerce,” which opened the area for homesteaders. The settlement that emerged was named Grape Vine due to its location on the appropriately-named Grape Vine Prairie near Grape Vine Springs, both names an homage to the wild grapes that grew in the area.
The first recorded white settlement in what would become the modern city occurred in the late 1840s and early 1850s. General Richard Montgomery Gano owned property near Grape Vine and helped organize the early settlement against Comanche raiding parties before leading his band of volunteers to battle in the American Civil War. Growth during the 19th century was slow but steady; by 1890 roughly 800 residents called Grapevine home, supported by such amenities as a newspaper, a public school, several cotton gins, a post office and railroad service. The settlement made continued gains early in the 20th century, and on January 12, 1914, the post office altered the town’s name to one word, Grapevine. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, Henry Methvin, an associate of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, killed two police officers, E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy, during an altercation near Grapevine. A historical marker remains at the intersection of Dove Road and State Highway 114.[9]
Grapevine’s population fell during the interwar period as the economy stagnated, though the city was officially incorporated in 1936. Cotton was the primary crop for Grapevine until the early 20th century when it was overtaken by cantaloupe farms which accounted for as many as 25,000 acres. For several decades until the early 1970s, the Rotary Club sign outside of town boasted Grapevine as “Cantaloupe Capital of the World”.[10] Population growth and economic gains resumed to some extent in the decades after the Second World War, and the opening of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 spurred massive development. Prior to the mid-20th century, Grapevine depended heavily upon agricultural production, but transformed into a regional center of commerce because of its proximity to the airport’s north entrance.Grapevine is at 32°56?6?N 97°5?9?W (32.935025, ?97.085784).[11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 35.9 square miles (93 km2), of which 32.3 sq mi (84 km2) is land and 3.6 sq mi (9.3 km2) (9.98%) is water.
Here is the list of surrounding cities, they can also be seen from here.[13]
Center GrapevineNorth Flower Mound (12 miles)Northeast Coppell (4 miles)East IrvingSoutheast Irving (16 miles)South Euless (9 miles)Southwest Hurst (11 miles)West Colleyville (6 miles)Northwest Southlake (5 miles)
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 46,334 people, 18,223 households, and 12,332 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,451 people per square mile. There were 19,685 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 81.1% White, 3.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 4.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 8.0% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.0% of the population.
There were 18,223 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 74.9% over the age of 18, 5.6% from 20 to 24, 13.3% from 25 to 34, 24.7% from 35 to 49, 20.9% from 50 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.5 years.
According to a 2010 estimate, the median household income was $76,040, and the median family income was $93,587.[16] Males had a median income of $66,378 versus $47,995 for females. The city’s per capita income was $38,304. About 5.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Grapevine’s economy is largely centered around tourism. Travelers arriving to and departing from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport make up the majority of the city’s visitors. The Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge stand in a separate class as massive entertainment complexes that offer hotel, convention, and performance space in addition to serving the recreational desires of both locals and tourists.
Nearby Grapevine Mills Mall is a regional outlet shopping center with many amenities, including a movie theater. Many of the top brands in fashion and other retail sectors maintain a space within the mall. Embassy Suites Grapevine and the DFW Lakes Hilton complex also lay adjacent to Grapevine Mills and Bass Pro Shops.
In addition to these areas, Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine is a popular attraction. City Hall, the Grapevine Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, public library, and recreation center are on Main Street in addition to many small businesses. These include antique stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, a park, and many specialty shops. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad follows a scenic route between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards, departing from a station on South Main Street. The city is also the home of several wineries and tasting rooms to include Umbra Winery as well as the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.
Two grade-separated highways run through the city. State Highways 114 and 121 trisect Grapevine south and slightly west of downtown. 121 runs from the south and 114 from the northwest. The highways intersect near Mustang Drive and William D. Tate Avenue and continue together towards the airport before splitting again at the north entrance of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Grapevine’s highways as of 2010 underwent a significant overhaul to improve traffic flow through the area, with heavy construction expected to last until 2014.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the main provider of air service to Grapevine and the region, providing connections to places around the state, country, and abroad. DFW is the main hub for American Airlines, though other major carriers maintain a large presence. Love Field in Dallas is relatively close to Grapevine.
Rail[edit]The Grapevine Vintage Railroad provides service to and from Fort Worth along the former Cotton Belt Railroad right-of-way. The service acts more as a tourist attraction due to its slow speeds. However, the city’s 50-year commitment to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and approval of a half-cent sales tax increase is expected to pay dividends through the introduction of the TEX Rail service to northeast Tarrant County by 2018. New train stations downtown and north of the airport are included in the plans, as is a connection to DART Rail to provide mass transit service to the metroplex’s eastern half.[36]
The closest connections to rail are the DFW airport, Terminal A, DART Rail station and the Hurst station for the Trinity Rail Express. Amtrak passenger service is available in both downtown Dallas and Fort Worth.
The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau operates the Grapevine Visitor’s Shuttle between points of interest within the city. Additional information including stops and pricing can be found here.[37]
The majority of Grapevine’s transportation infrastructure is centered around the automobile, though amenities for bicycles can be found. A bicycle route runs along the length of Dove Road beginning at the intersection of Dove and North Main Street, connecting Grapevine and Southlake. Additionally, the Cotton Belt trail runs parallel to State Highway 26, from the Colleyville city limits to downtown Grapevine. Other bicycle paths can be found at the various city parks, most notably the trail from Parr Park to Bear Creek Park. Off-road trails are also available. Northshore Mountain Bike trail begins at Rockledge Park on the north side of Grapevine Lake and continues into Flower Mound along the shore. Mileage is 22.5 miles broken up into two major loops: East Loops, 1 – 4, which are 12.5 miles and the West Loops, 5 – 7. Horseshoe Trail begins at Catfish Lane, continues to Dove Road, and loops back to the trail head, for a total of 5.4 miles.
Grapevine received the Runner Friendly Community designation from the Road Runners Club of America. The goals of the Runner Friendly Community program are to shine a national spotlight on communities that stand out as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner friendly communities. Grapevine has approximately 24-miles of hike and bike trails that link parks, schools, and businesses. The hike and bike trails have mileage markers that also have GPS coordinates for location identification in case of emergencies. The city also has an indoor 1/8 mile walking/jogging track and several outdoor tracks that belong to the local school district. The city has joint-use agreement with the school district for the use of school facilities.
The hike and bike trails in Grapevine include water fountains, community bathrooms or portable toilets, available parking, signs linking pedestrian networks, mile markers, walk lights at busy intersections, stop signs at residential intersections, and painted crosswalks. One trail in Grapevine links with four other communities, creating an additional 11-mile trail.
The City Parks & Recreation Board has worked with the running club, Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers (LGRAW), over the last 15 years to make the city’s trails runner friendly. The City of Grapevine invites LGRAW club to city sponsored health events to promote running, walking a healthy lifestyle.
The city of Grapevine is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.
Most of Grapevine is served by the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. A large portion of northwest Grapevine is served by Carroll ISD, while very small parts are served by Lewisville and Coppell ISDs.
Public high schools[edit]Grapevine High School has been named both a National Blue Ribbon School and a New American High School. It was ranked by Newsweek as the 41st-best high school in the nation in 2007.
Colleyville Heritage High School also serves a large portion of Grapevine.
The Faith Christian School is in Grapevine.
Grapevine is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Jane Nelson District 12, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Giovanni Capriglione, District 98.
At the federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; Grapevine is part of Texas’ US Congressional 24th District, which is represented by Republican Kenny Marchant.
Dallas/Fort Worth International AirportFellowship ChurchGaylord TexanGrapevine Mills MallLake GrapevineGreat Wolf Lodge GrapevineHistoric Downtown[40]9/11 Flight Crew Memorial[41]B & D Mills
Wood Laminate Flooring
Are you looking to replace your current flooring? Do you want something that mimics the appearance of real wood but without the hefty price tag? Well, if this is the case then you might want to look into getting wood laminate flooring. There are many reasons why it serves as a great alternative to real hardwood flooring and we’re going to enumerate the pros as well as the cons in this article. Shall we get started?
Pros:
Easy installation. Regardless of whether you’ve done it before or not, a person would be able to easily install it in a space sizing 300 square feet within one weekend. There are two types oflaminate flooring, however. The older types would require you to glue each of the pieces together whereas the new ones would have what is referred to as a “click-lock” design. Along with that, it is also used in combination with dry glue to make it more durable.
Durability. Unlike real wood which can actually suffer from dents, scuffs and scratches, laminate flooring is actually more resistant. It is also waterproof because of the “wear layer” which protects it from any potential damage. In fact, manufacturers offer a very generous 10+ year warranty on some of their products thus showing their pride and confidence in the durability of their flooring.
There are no bad pieces. Unlike real hardwood flooring which would inevitably come with certain imperfections, there would be no defects when when it comes to laminate flooring simply because of the fact that they are machine made. If there are any defects spotted, that particular piece would be thrown out and recycled instead. Needless to say, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting a bad piece in your set.
Not real wood. Just that simple fact alone means a lot for many people. The only wood part would be it’s base but the whole thing isn’t. So if you’re concerned for the environment and would rather use synthetic materials then this would be a good alternative to look into.
Cons:
Lower resale value. If you’re planning on selling your home then hardwood or engineered hardwood flooringwould be the better choice.
Non refinishable or sandable. This would be one of the biggest disadvantages that comes with using laminate flooring. Unlike real wood that you can sand and refinish once worn down, laminates would need to be completely replaced if they start showing signs of wear.
Choosing The Right Carpet for Yourself
Did you know that two carpets that seemingly look identical at first look can actually be very different when it comes to price and quality? This is one of the major reasons as to why knowing how to choose the right carpet for your home is imperative. What if this is your first time purchasing a carpet? Well, if this is the case then you should know a few things along with some factors that you need to consider when picking the right variety for your home. After all, there are a number of options. Berber carpeting, Plush Carpetingand Frieze carpeting being the most common.
Even the cheapest carpet can look like it was bought yesterday even after a few years of use if you know how to maintain it properly. The same can be said for a really expensive variety which you weren’t able to maintain accordingly. How you clean your carpets factors greatly into how long they stay pristine. Of course, it is highly recommended for people to get their carpets cleaned professionally but not everybody can afford to do this on the regular. So if you’re cleaning your carpets by yourself, knowing what to do and what not to do would certainly help you a lot. Remember, there are stain resistant carpetsavailable out there.
Some of the things that you would need to consider includes the following:
Yarn Twist – If you plan on getting a cut pile carpet or a plush style carpet, the twist would refer to the number of times the yarn is wrapped around a one inch length. If they are tightly wrapped then you can consider the carpet to be of good quality. This is because if the yarn untwists, the carpet would look worn out. This could also look good with any type of flooring.
Density – This would be the number of different yarns there is in 1 square inch of a carpet. Do take note that the closer the yarns are, the higher the density is. Basically, this means that there would be less space for the yarns to lay down. This type of carpet would also be resistant to wear and tear for a longer period of time.
Carpet Fiber – Carpet Yarns are typically made out of different fibers such as nylon, wool, polyester, polypropylene and olefin. Which one of these is the best? Well, it would depend on the purpose that your carpet is going to serve. Wool is known to be the original carpet fiber and is also very luxurious. Wool also looks best when used for areas with hardwood flooring for their elegance matches quite nicely.
So there you have it, just a few things that you might want to know about carpeting. Do make note of these elements the next time you buy one for your home.
Service Areas:
Denton County, TXDallas County, TXTarrant County, TXGrapevine, TXBedford, TXSouthlake, TX 76092Trophy Club, TX 76262Westlake, TXColleyville, TX 76034Euless, TXLas Colinas, Irving, TXCoppell, TXValley Ranch, Irving, TXFlower Mound, TXKeller, TXNorth Richland Hills, TXDouble Oak, TXBartonville, ILRoanoke, TXWatauga, TXRichland Hills, TXHaltom City, TXElizabethtown, TX 76262Copper Canyon, TXLantana, TX 76226Bartonville, TX 76226Northlake, TXCorral City, TX 76226Highland Village, TXHickory Creek, TX 75065Lake Dallas, TX 75065Argyle, TX 76226Lewisville, TXIrving, TXCarrollton, TX
Located in Grapevine Town Center next to Hallmark)The New SH / Dallas Flooring Warehouse location in Grapevine, TX!
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Dallas Flooring Warehouse8717 Directors RowDallas, TX 75247R486+CW Dallas, Texas(214) 205-0116https://dallasflooringwarehouse.com/locations/dallas/https://carpetingflooringdallastx1.blogspot.comfrom Dallas Flooring Warehouse https://dallasflooringwarehouse.com/locations/dallas-flooring-warehouse-grapevine/from https://carpetingflooringdallastx1.blogspot.com/2019/10/grapevine-tx-dallas-flooring-warehouse.htmlfromhttps://dallasflooring8.tumblr.com/post/188309626981from https://carpetstore0.blogspot.com/2019/10/grapevine-tx-dallas-flooring-warehouse.html
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Oct 13, 2019
Grapevine TX Dallas Flooring Warehouse
Flooring in Grapevine TX – carpet store hardwood flooring installation flooring service professionals
We are your flooring store and carpet store for big savings on first quality flooring and fast professional installation. Dallas Flooring Warehouse Grapevine TX Location.
Flooring Company Grapevine TX
Dallas Flooring Warehouse Grapevine TX Location –Flooring Services Grapevine TX – Carpet Store Hardwood Floor Installation
Dallas Flooring Warehouse has merged with SH Flooring to give you even greater buying power along with top notch quality carpet and flooring installation services.
Dallas Flooring Warehouse
1217 TX-114 #118
Grapevine, TX 76051
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Flooring store Grapevine, TX | Flooring Store GrapevineCarpet Grapevine TX | Carpet Store
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Flooring installation grapevine, carpet grapevine, flooring company grapevine, grapevine hardwood, flooring grapevine, flooring in grapevine tx, grapevine flooring.Grapevine TX carpet and tile, wood flooring installation, hardwood floors, laminate flooring, vinyl plank, travertine, porcelain, WPC wood plastic composite – waterproof core flooring at our flooring and carpet store in Grapevine, TX!
Tile Removal Without Dust
Dallas Flooring Warehouse in GRAPEVINE, TX is now offering premier dust free tile removal services! Removing old tile is normally a very messy job that will fill your house with dust for months to come, but not with our new dustless tile removal service. Our S&H / Dallas Flooring Warehouse location in Gapevine, TX can remove your tile without the hassle and without the mess and get it done in record time. This dust free system means complete dust elimination for floor tile removals, thinset, underlayment, tile cement board and any other type of flooring tile materials. The process is not only cleaner and healthier, but it is much faster than other methods
Remove old tile with no dust and no mess!
Callus for more information about our new dust-free tile removal services.
Grapevine is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, predominantly in Tarrant County and has areas that extend into Dallas and Denton counties.[5][6] Highways SH 26, SH 121, SH 360, SH 114, Spur 97, and FM 2499 run into Grapevine. With its central location in the Metroplex, being approximately 22 to 24 miles from the downtowns of both Dallas and Fort Worth, Grapevine is a suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
The city is part of the Dallas Fort Worth Statistical Area and a significant part of the city limits are mostly within the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, with neighboring cities such as Coppell, Euless, and Irving.
City of Grapevine Official Website
In recent years several wineries have opened in Grapevine, and the city has been very active in maintaining its historic downtown corridor. The city is adjacent to Grapevine Lake, a large reservoir impounded by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1952 and serves as both a source of water and recreational area. Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is within Grapevine city limits, the largest portion of any municipality bordering the facility. In 2007 CNNMoney.com rated Grapevine as one of “America’s Best Places to Live.
In October 1843, General Sam Houston and fellow Republic of Texas Commissioners camped at Tah-Wah-Karro Creek, also known as Grape Vine Springs, to meet with leaders of 10 Indian nations.[8] This meeting culminated in the signing of a treaty of “peace, friendship, and commerce,” which opened the area for homesteaders. The settlement that emerged was named Grape Vine due to its location on the appropriately-named Grape Vine Prairie near Grape Vine Springs, both names an homage to the wild grapes that grew in the area.
The first recorded white settlement in what would become the modern city occurred in the late 1840s and early 1850s. General Richard Montgomery Gano owned property near Grape Vine and helped organize the early settlement against Comanche raiding parties before leading his band of volunteers to battle in the American Civil War. Growth during the 19th century was slow but steady; by 1890 roughly 800 residents called Grapevine home, supported by such amenities as a newspaper, a public school, several cotton gins, a post office and railroad service. The settlement made continued gains early in the 20th century, and on January 12, 1914, the post office altered the town’s name to one word, Grapevine. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, Henry Methvin, an associate of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, killed two police officers, E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy, during an altercation near Grapevine. A historical marker remains at the intersection of Dove Road and State Highway 114.[9]
Grapevine’s population fell during the interwar period as the economy stagnated, though the city was officially incorporated in 1936. Cotton was the primary crop for Grapevine until the early 20th century when it was overtaken by cantaloupe farms which accounted for as many as 25,000 acres. For several decades until the early 1970s, the Rotary Club sign outside of town boasted Grapevine as “Cantaloupe Capital of the World”.[10] Population growth and economic gains resumed to some extent in the decades after the Second World War, and the opening of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 spurred massive development. Prior to the mid-20th century, Grapevine depended heavily upon agricultural production, but transformed into a regional center of commerce because of its proximity to the airport’s north entrance.Grapevine is at 32°56?6?N 97°5?9?W (32.935025, ?97.085784).[11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 35.9 square miles (93 km2), of which 32.3 sq mi (84 km2) is land and 3.6 sq mi (9.3 km2) (9.98%) is water.
Here is the list of surrounding cities, they can also be seen from here.[13]
Center GrapevineNorth Flower Mound (12 miles)Northeast Coppell (4 miles)East IrvingSoutheast Irving (16 miles)South Euless (9 miles)Southwest Hurst (11 miles)West Colleyville (6 miles)Northwest Southlake (5 miles)
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 46,334 people, 18,223 households, and 12,332 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,451 people per square mile. There were 19,685 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 81.1% White, 3.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 4.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 8.0% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.0% of the population.
There were 18,223 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 74.9% over the age of 18, 5.6% from 20 to 24, 13.3% from 25 to 34, 24.7% from 35 to 49, 20.9% from 50 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.5 years.
According to a 2010 estimate, the median household income was $76,040, and the median family income was $93,587.[16] Males had a median income of $66,378 versus $47,995 for females. The city’s per capita income was $38,304. About 5.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Grapevine’s economy is largely centered around tourism. Travelers arriving to and departing from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport make up the majority of the city’s visitors. The Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge stand in a separate class as massive entertainment complexes that offer hotel, convention, and performance space in addition to serving the recreational desires of both locals and tourists.
Nearby Grapevine Mills Mall is a regional outlet shopping center with many amenities, including a movie theater. Many of the top brands in fashion and other retail sectors maintain a space within the mall. Embassy Suites Grapevine and the DFW Lakes Hilton complex also lay adjacent to Grapevine Mills and Bass Pro Shops.
In addition to these areas, Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine is a popular attraction. City Hall, the Grapevine Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, public library, and recreation center are on Main Street in addition to many small businesses. These include antique stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, a park, and many specialty shops. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad follows a scenic route between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards, departing from a station on South Main Street. The city is also the home of several wineries and tasting rooms to include Umbra Winery as well as the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.
Two grade-separated highways run through the city. State Highways 114 and 121 trisect Grapevine south and slightly west of downtown. 121 runs from the south and 114 from the northwest. The highways intersect near Mustang Drive and William D. Tate Avenue and continue together towards the airport before splitting again at the north entrance of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Grapevine’s highways as of 2010 underwent a significant overhaul to improve traffic flow through the area, with heavy construction expected to last until 2014.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the main provider of air service to Grapevine and the region, providing connections to places around the state, country, and abroad. DFW is the main hub for American Airlines, though other major carriers maintain a large presence. Love Field in Dallas is relatively close to Grapevine.
Rail[edit]The Grapevine Vintage Railroad provides service to and from Fort Worth along the former Cotton Belt Railroad right-of-way. The service acts more as a tourist attraction due to its slow speeds. However, the city’s 50-year commitment to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and approval of a half-cent sales tax increase is expected to pay dividends through the introduction of the TEX Rail service to northeast Tarrant County by 2018. New train stations downtown and north of the airport are included in the plans, as is a connection to DART Rail to provide mass transit service to the metroplex’s eastern half.[36]
The closest connections to rail are the DFW airport, Terminal A, DART Rail station and the Hurst station for the Trinity Rail Express. Amtrak passenger service is available in both downtown Dallas and Fort Worth.
The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau operates the Grapevine Visitor’s Shuttle between points of interest within the city. Additional information including stops and pricing can be found here.[37]
The majority of Grapevine’s transportation infrastructure is centered around the automobile, though amenities for bicycles can be found. A bicycle route runs along the length of Dove Road beginning at the intersection of Dove and North Main Street, connecting Grapevine and Southlake. Additionally, the Cotton Belt trail runs parallel to State Highway 26, from the Colleyville city limits to downtown Grapevine. Other bicycle paths can be found at the various city parks, most notably the trail from Parr Park to Bear Creek Park. Off-road trails are also available. Northshore Mountain Bike trail begins at Rockledge Park on the north side of Grapevine Lake and continues into Flower Mound along the shore. Mileage is 22.5 miles broken up into two major loops: East Loops, 1 – 4, which are 12.5 miles and the West Loops, 5 – 7. Horseshoe Trail begins at Catfish Lane, continues to Dove Road, and loops back to the trail head, for a total of 5.4 miles.
Grapevine received the Runner Friendly Community designation from the Road Runners Club of America. The goals of the Runner Friendly Community program are to shine a national spotlight on communities that stand out as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner friendly communities. Grapevine has approximately 24-miles of hike and bike trails that link parks, schools, and businesses. The hike and bike trails have mileage markers that also have GPS coordinates for location identification in case of emergencies. The city also has an indoor 1/8 mile walking/jogging track and several outdoor tracks that belong to the local school district. The city has joint-use agreement with the school district for the use of school facilities.
The hike and bike trails in Grapevine include water fountains, community bathrooms or portable toilets, available parking, signs linking pedestrian networks, mile markers, walk lights at busy intersections, stop signs at residential intersections, and painted crosswalks. One trail in Grapevine links with four other communities, creating an additional 11-mile trail.
The City Parks & Recreation Board has worked with the running club, Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers (LGRAW), over the last 15 years to make the city’s trails runner friendly. The City of Grapevine invites LGRAW club to city sponsored health events to promote running, walking a healthy lifestyle.
The city of Grapevine is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.
Most of Grapevine is served by the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. A large portion of northwest Grapevine is served by Carroll ISD, while very small parts are served by Lewisville and Coppell ISDs.
Public high schools[edit]Grapevine High School has been named both a National Blue Ribbon School and a New American High School. It was ranked by Newsweek as the 41st-best high school in the nation in 2007.
Colleyville Heritage High School also serves a large portion of Grapevine.
The Faith Christian School is in Grapevine.
Grapevine is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Jane Nelson District 12, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Giovanni Capriglione, District 98.
At the federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; Grapevine is part of Texas’ US Congressional 24th District, which is represented by Republican Kenny Marchant.
Dallas/Fort Worth International AirportFellowship ChurchGaylord TexanGrapevine Mills MallLake GrapevineGreat Wolf Lodge GrapevineHistoric Downtown[40]9/11 Flight Crew Memorial[41]B & D Mills
Wood Laminate Flooring
Are you looking to replace your current flooring? Do you want something that mimics the appearance of real wood but without the hefty price tag? Well, if this is the case then you might want to look into getting wood laminate flooring. There are many reasons why it serves as a great alternative to real hardwood flooring and we’re going to enumerate the pros as well as the cons in this article. Shall we get started?
Pros:
Easy installation. Regardless of whether you’ve done it before or not, a person would be able to easily install it in a space sizing 300 square feet within one weekend. There are two types oflaminate flooring, however. The older types would require you to glue each of the pieces together whereas the new ones would have what is referred to as a “click-lock” design. Along with that, it is also used in combination with dry glue to make it more durable.
Durability. Unlike real wood which can actually suffer from dents, scuffs and scratches, laminate flooring is actually more resistant. It is also waterproof because of the “wear layer” which protects it from any potential damage. In fact, manufacturers offer a very generous 10+ year warranty on some of their products thus showing their pride and confidence in the durability of their flooring.
There are no bad pieces. Unlike real hardwood flooring which would inevitably come with certain imperfections, there would be no defects when when it comes to laminate flooring simply because of the fact that they are machine made. If there are any defects spotted, that particular piece would be thrown out and recycled instead. Needless to say, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting a bad piece in your set.
Not real wood. Just that simple fact alone means a lot for many people. The only wood part would be it’s base but the whole thing isn’t. So if you’re concerned for the environment and would rather use synthetic materials then this would be a good alternative to look into.
Cons:
Lower resale value. If you’re planning on selling your home then hardwood or engineered hardwood flooringwould be the better choice.
Non refinishable or sandable. This would be one of the biggest disadvantages that comes with using laminate flooring. Unlike real wood that you can sand and refinish once worn down, laminates would need to be completely replaced if they start showing signs of wear.
Choosing The Right Carpet for Yourself
Did you know that two carpets that seemingly look identical at first look can actually be very different when it comes to price and quality? This is one of the major reasons as to why knowing how to choose the right carpet for your home is imperative. What if this is your first time purchasing a carpet? Well, if this is the case then you should know a few things along with some factors that you need to consider when picking the right variety for your home. After all, there are a number of options. Berber carpeting, Plush Carpetingand Frieze carpeting being the most common.
Even the cheapest carpet can look like it was bought yesterday even after a few years of use if you know how to maintain it properly. The same can be said for a really expensive variety which you weren’t able to maintain accordingly. How you clean your carpets factors greatly into how long they stay pristine. Of course, it is highly recommended for people to get their carpets cleaned professionally but not everybody can afford to do this on the regular. So if you’re cleaning your carpets by yourself, knowing what to do and what not to do would certainly help you a lot. Remember, there are stain resistant carpetsavailable out there.
Some of the things that you would need to consider includes the following:
Yarn Twist – If you plan on getting a cut pile carpet or a plush style carpet, the twist would refer to the number of times the yarn is wrapped around a one inch length. If they are tightly wrapped then you can consider the carpet to be of good quality. This is because if the yarn untwists, the carpet would look worn out. This could also look good with any type of flooring.
Density – This would be the number of different yarns there is in 1 square inch of a carpet. Do take note that the closer the yarns are, the higher the density is. Basically, this means that there would be less space for the yarns to lay down. This type of carpet would also be resistant to wear and tear for a longer period of time.
Carpet Fiber – Carpet Yarns are typically made out of different fibers such as nylon, wool, polyester, polypropylene and olefin. Which one of these is the best? Well, it would depend on the purpose that your carpet is going to serve. Wool is known to be the original carpet fiber and is also very luxurious. Wool also looks best when used for areas with hardwood flooring for their elegance matches quite nicely.
So there you have it, just a few things that you might want to know about carpeting. Do make note of these elements the next time you buy one for your home.
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Located in Grapevine Town Center next to Hallmark)The New SH / Dallas Flooring Warehouse location in Grapevine, TX!
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rolandfontana
May 13, 2019
America’s Drug Problem Hits Home for North Carolina’s Cherokee Tribe
Samantha Brawley got hooked on painkillers after high school, an addiction that stole nearly a decade and cost her most of the savings that were supposed to help improve her life.
Finding her next Percocet, and the next, was easy on the Qualla Boundary, the Cherokee reservation home to roughly 8,000 people in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina.
“I began taking two or three a day for a year, maybe two years,” said Brawley, 30, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
“Then it was as many as I could afford. I’ve done 10 a day.”
Samantha Brawley, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, right, hugs a woman who was celebrating a milestone in her addiction recovery during a peer support group at Webster Baptist Church in Sylva last year. Photo by Travis Long/ [emailprotected]
She says she’s been off drugs for two years now. Today, Brawley helps lead a drug-recovery program in hopes of reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs and heroin.
The Qualla Boundary was one of 10 locations across the country identified last year as a “high intensity drug trafficking area” by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In September, federal authorities arrested 76 people and seized opioids valued at more than $1 million during a raid on the reservation.
The number of patients diagnosed with a drug-related condition at Cherokee Indian Hospital increased 300 percent between 2012 and 2018, according to hospital spokesperson Sheyashe Littledave. Last year, more than 4,500 patients received such a diagnosis.
Now the tribe has joined a federal lawsuit that accuses several drug makers of contributing to the opioid epidemic through corrupt practices, such as shipping too many drugs into the region.
Drug companies are responsible for reporting suspicious orders of opioids to federal officials, said Chief Richard Sneed.
Drug Firm ‘Complicity’
“There’s complicity in this national epidemic because the drug companies were not doing what they were supposed to do,” Sneed said. “By not reporting the predatory numbers it led to more people becoming addicted.”
The plaintiffs want the drug companies to pay for the economic burdens opioids have caused — medical care for addicts and babies born to drug-dependent mothers, counseling and increased needs for law enforcement.
When the U.S. government ordered the Cherokee tribe from its western North Carolina land in the 1830s as part of the Trail of Tears, thousands were forced to march to Oklahoma, where they formed the Cherokee Nation.
Roughly 800 Native Americans stayed behind on the 56,000-acre Qualla Boundary and became known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Now the tribe’s 16,000 members — many of whom live outside the reservation — make up the largest federally recognized tribe east of the Mississippi River.
Many tribal members live along the banks of the Ocanaluftee River, or in coves and valleys of the mountains. Motorists can see fog rising like steam from the river while driving along curving, narrow roads dotted with flea markets and military surplus stores. In the summer, roadside signs tout watermelons, peaches, strawberries and tribal wares.
It can be hard to imagine that a place so rich in history has become saturated with drugs.
The tribe’s crisis mirrors a larger epidemic: More than 46,000 people in the United Statesdied of opioid-related overdoses in 2017, more than double the number in 2007, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In North Carolina,fatal overdoses increased more than 22 percentin 2017 compared to the prior year, marking the largest jump of any state except Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Western North Carolina has been hit particularly hard by opioids. An eight-county region that includes the Qualla Boundary saw 17.7 unintentional overdose deaths per 100,000 people between 2012 and 2016, state statistics show. That compares to 12.2 overdose deaths per 100,000 people statewide.
Using revenue generated by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has spent millions on medical facilities in an effort to combat opioids.
Tribal leaders opened an $80 million hospital in 2015 and a $16 million residential treatment center last year called Kanvwotiyi, or “a place they go to be healed,” said Casey Cooper, chief executive officer of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority.
Meanwhile, the tribe’s old hospital building is being transformed into a “crisis stabilization unit” that is expected to open next year for patients with mental-health issues and members who need immediate detox services.
Brawley shows the NARCAN nasal sprays and Fentanyl test strips that she carries while traveling in and around the Cherokee Indian Reservation where she offers support to people struggling with addiction. Ten percent of the tribe’s members received a substance-abuse diagnosis in 2012, the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority reported in 2017/ Photo by Travis Long/News & Observer
In 2017, after learning that more than 600 people living in the Qualla Boundary had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, tribal leaders approved a syringe-exchange program. More than 300 people are enrolled, Sneed said.
“There are so many different areas,” Cooper said. “The opioid crisis has really motivated tribal leaders to invest in the best health and treatment services.”
Sneed said the tribe in 2002 took over the administration of health care from the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service and created the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority.
“It has worked out tremendously,” said Sneed, adding that the decision was especially important because North Carolina lawmakers have so far declined to take part in the federal expansion of Medicaid. “We found the resources to take care of our people.”
‘Perfect Storm of Addiction’
Tribal leaders say they became aware of the opioid issue about a decade ago when members started dying from prescription drug overdoses. As tighter industry controls were put in place to make prescription drugs less accessible, many people turned to heroin.
“It was a perfect storm of addiction,” Sneed said. “Many of our members became addicted by legal prescriptions. … This is a small, tight-knit community. One death impacts the entire community.”
The tribe noticed a spike in overdoses in the months when per-capita payments were dispersed, said Jeffrey Long, a tribal member who works with the Western North Carolina AIDS project. Adult members of the tribe can receive between $5,000 and $7,000 each December and June, their share of revenues generated by the casino.
When many people received payments last June, Long said, “we had a cook-out to give people something to do, somewhere to come, so they won’t get their first fix.”
Children also get money, which is put in a trust. Until about five years ago, the money was handed out in a lump sum when they earned a high school diploma or turned 18, said Mike McConnell, interim attorney general for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Now the funds are distributed in increments at age 18, 21 and 25.
“The tribe determined that was probably not the wisest thing to do,” McConnell said about the single large payment. He added, “Hopefully, people can make wise choices with the money given them.”
Brawley estimates that about half of the $60,000 she received when she turned 18 went to drugs.
Attorneys for the tribe filed a complaint January 2018 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The lawsuit claimed that drug companies conspired to target the tribe through deceptive marketing practices and persuaded doctors to prescribe highly addictive painkillers.
The tribe’s lawsuit became part of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, which includes more than 400 federal lawsuits filed by cities, counties and Native American tribes against the largest opioid manufacturers, companies that distribute opioids and pharmacy chains that sell them.
More than 50 North Carolina counties and several cities — including, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Winston-Salem — are listed as plaintiffs in the litigation, according to the state attorney general’s office. The case will be heard in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, who has made the opioid crisis a focus for his office, is helping to lead the case. Stein said he wants to crack down on those who are responsible for fueling the epidemic — not only in the streets, but also in boardrooms.
In late 2017, Stein filed lawsuits against against drug manufacturer Insys Therapeutics, Inc. alleging the company fraudulently marketed a spray form of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Months later, Stein sued drug manufacturer Purdue Pharma, which makes the painkiller OxyContin.
“We want to hold drug traffickers accountable,” Stein said, “but we also believe in corporate accountability.”
‘Praying for a Miracle’
One afternoon in late August, Brawley sat along the banks of Soco Creek in front of her friend’s home high up in the mountains. Dressed in jeans, with a silken blue and pink shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she talked about how opioids have affected her community.
“So let’s see, right now over 15 people I knew personally have died from overdoses,” she said. “One boy died last week. He was 15. That same day we celebrated a recovery, we buried a person on the reservation. The same day we had a recovery rally in July, we buried a girl who had died from opiate use — heroin. She was like 21.”
Brawley said she quit drugs when she got pregnant by her dealer.
“I had been praying for a miracle and I got pregnant,” she said. “And my grandmother had been praying for a miracle. She knew I wasn’t going to stop for … these treatment centers. And I got pregnant and I believe to this day that it was my grandmother who spoke that truth. I have this beautiful child who saved my life.”
Liam was born in 2014. When Brawley relapsed just before her son’s first birthday, she sought treatment at the Mary Benson House, a year-long program in Asheville where children can stay with their mothers. She completed the program in nine months.
“Having your child there gives you a sense of motivation and more determination to do something different,” she said.
Brawley now works as a peer support specialist with Meridian Behavioral Health, an outpatient service in Sylva. Each day she visits clients who are still addicted. She relies on Suboxone to beat back her own cravings, and she said Dec. 30 marked two years of sobriety.
Tribal member Charles Beam, 24, said he was in his late teens when he became addicted to opioids and alcohol. He said he’s been off drugs for more than three years and alcohol-free for a little over a year. Beam and Brawley have been co-leaders at Celebrate Recovery, a volunteer program, for nearly two years.
“She speaks at all the recovery rallies,” Beam said of Brawley. “She’s a big spokesperson for Cherokee and all of the surrounding counties. She’s an awesome role model. She’s come a long way.”
It was important to Brawley to stay on the reservation instead of starting a new life elsewhere. And she echoed the commitment of her tribe’s leaders in their battle against opioids.
“I got high here, I got clean here,” she said. “And I can give back here.”
Thomasi McDonald is a 2018 John Jay/H.F. Guggenheim Justice Reporting Fellow. This story was written as part of his fellowship project. The full story and a video report is available here.
America’s Drug Problem Hits Home for North Carolina’s Cherokee Tribe syndicated from https://immigrationattorneyto.wordpress.com/
captainblogger100posts
Oct 13, 2018
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends http://www.nature-business.com/nature-death-at-the-crossroads-a-ragged-limo-an-anxious-driver-and-17-friends/
Nature
SCHOHARIE, N.Y. — It was supposed to be a surprise.
Axel Steenburg had been planning a birthday party for his wife, Amy, for a while. But the ever excitable Mr. Steenburg was notoriously bad at keeping secrets and, somehow, she found out.
“He would try to hide it from you and then you would see him biting his cheek. It was so obvious,” his mother, Janet Steenburg, said. “And then he would say, ‘You’re not going to believe what I have for you.’”
Mr. Steenburg coordinated a passel of friends through a group chat, arranging for a tour and tasting at a popular upstate brewery and renting a party bus to make sure that anyone drinking would not be driving. He even set aside two spare bedrooms in his home in Amsterdam, N.Y., a small city northwest of Albany, in case someone was not sober enough to drive home. But the bus broke down before picking them up, so he booked whatever he could find at the last-minute: a white stretch limousine.
It fit 18. They were 17. That would do.
Behind the wheel of the 2001 limousine was a husband holding down a part-time job as a driver for a company whose vehicles made him worry for his safety.
About 25 miles to the south, a professor and his father-in-law were out celebrating a family wedding and pulled over at a roadside country store to take a break from driving.
All 20 would soon be dead.
Their lives were cut short in a violent limousine crash in Schoharie, N.Y., this month, that has left in its wake a collection of mourning families, a clutch of young orphans and state and federal officials trying to piece together what went wrong.
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Nauman Hussain, left, the operator of the limousine company that provided the limousine in the crash, was charged with criminally negligent homicide.CreditNathaniel Brooks for The New York Times
On Wednesday, the operator of the limousine company, Nauman Hussain, was arrested by the State Police and charged with criminally negligent homicide as a result of renting out a vehicle — a hulking 2001 Ford Excursion — even though it had repeatedly failed inspections, including of its brakes, and had been deemed not road worthy by state officials.
Mr. Hussain, 28, pleaded not guilty. Just 10 miles away, hundreds of people filled a gymnasium in Schoharie to mourn the dead and families throughout the area planned funerals.
The toll of the crash has been particularly acute because of the connection between the 17 young people — all 24 to 34 years old — who had climbed into the limousine, bound for a Finger Lakes brewery, Ommegang, a popular attraction known for its bands and its beer.
They were a tight-knit gang of friends and family: Among them were four sisters, two brothers and two sets of newlyweds. They hung out regularly, gathering for game nights on Saturdays at Axel and Amy Steenburg’s home on a peaceful street overlooking a reservoir in Amsterdam, a Mohawk River city about 25 miles north of the crash site. Ms. Steenburg would have turned 30 on Wednesday.
Why the limousine ended up at that spot — speeding down a mile-long hill, across a busy highway, clipping a parked car and hitting two pedestrians before careening into an overgrown creek bed — is one of many mysteries. The brewery was far to the west of the crash site.
Whatever the reason, it was at that intersection that the lives of the limousine’s passengers, its driver and the two pedestrians collided, a random convergence that resulted in the country’s worst transportation-related accident in nearly a decade.
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Axel J. and Amy Steenburg
A last-minute change of plan
That Axel Steenburg would take charge of planning his wife’s birthday was no surprise, according to a neighbor, Missy Davison, who had watched with sweet awe as the young Steenburg couple had nested in the modest two-story home on Pleasant Avenue, next to Bunn Creek.
“They were so ambitious and so in love,” said Ms. Davison, who recalled the young couple moving in two years ago and immediately helping neighbors with errands. “They were going places.”
The couple had married over the summer and their social set was guided by blood — Mr. Steenburg’s brother, Rich, was also a close friend, and Amy had three sisters in the area — and the type of life’s misadventures that bond young people. Ms. Davison remembers a group of Mr. Steenburg’s friends trying mightily to hoist a king-size mattress through a second-floor window. (They succeeded, eventually.) There were also quiet evenings watching deer and wild turkeys in a fenced area around the reservoir across from their home.
On Saturday, the plan was for guests to meet at the couple’s house and take a party bus from there. But at some point that day, Mr. Steenburg received word that the bus had broken down, so he scrambled to find an alternative. He ended up booking a ride from a business called Prestige Limousine, which operated out of a budget motel in Wilton, N.Y. It was run by Mr. Hussain.
When the replacement vehicle showed up, it was a disappointment: a ragged stretch limousine, an S.U.V. on steroids, so dismal that its owner didn’t care if people smoked in the back. Ms. Davison remembers the limousine idling in front of the Steenburg’s house shortly before 1:30 p.m., about a half an hour before the accident.
“I thought it was a wedding,” Ms. Davison said. “I didn’t get a chance to ask.”
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Scott Lisinicchia
The limousine driver’s name was Scott T. Lisinicchia. He lived in a quiet wooded neighborhood south of the resort town of Lake George, N.Y.
Mr. Lisinicchia, 53, had suffered both tragedies and self-inflicted wounds: his brother, Anthony, had died in 2017, at 42; Mr. Lisinicchia had had two drug-related arrests, making his own life more difficult. The job driving for Prestige was part-time, and perilous, according to his wife, Kim, who told CBS News that he worried about the safety of its fleet.
“There were a few times where he told me, like I overheard him say, ‘I’m not going to drive this, like this, you need to give me another car,’” Ms. Lisinicchia told CBS.
State officials have said that Mr. Lisinicchia did not have the proper license to drive the limousine involved in the crash. But Ms. Lisinicchia disputed that he was unqualified, saying he had driven tractor-trailers. “Even if he didn’t have the proper license,” she said, “this still would’ve happened.”
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A candlelight vigil was held in Amsterdam, N.Y., where many of the victims of the crash lived.CreditStephanie Keith/Getty Images
Before the crash, the Hough family’s ‘best day ever’
Brian Hough dug rocks. An assistant professor of geology at the State University of New York at Oswego, Mr. Hough, 46, taught courses about all things archaeological — stratigraphy, geology and paleontology — but also liked getting outdoors: hiking, biking, and yes, rock climbing.
“This past summer was a great one for his family,” his mother, Artra Hough, said. “He and his wife and son went to the Grand Canyon and other national parks out in the West. They were climbing on rocks, going down into the canyon — all the things you do at Yellowstone.”
He also had a way with children, according to his brother, J.T. Hough. In August, J.T. Hough had visited his older brother’s home in Moravia, N.Y., near Syracuse, and Brian Hough had taken the family to the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, N.Y.
“My kids, they all loved their Uncle Brian,” Mr. Hough said. “He was one of the best uncles you could ever possibly imagine — always the goof ball, wrestling with his nieces and nephews, pretending to be Frankenstein, a real kid at heart.”
During that trip, Brian Hough mentioned a family wedding coming up in October, his wife’s cousin getting married nearby.
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Brian HoughCreditJim Russell/State University of New York at Oswego
So on that Saturday, Mr. Hough, his wife, Jaclyn Schnurr, and their eight-year-old son, Ben, along with other relatives, were caravaning in several cars; J.T Hough said Ms. Schnurr told him that the family “was having the best day ever.”
Just before 2 p.m. the group decided “to stop and stretch their legs and maybe get something to eat,” said Mr. Hough’s mother. They parked near the Apple Barrel Country Store, which was bustling with visitors who had flocked upstate for its scenic fall foliage and apple-picking.
The red-roof country store sits at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 30A, a T-shaped junction that had long unnerved residents as a frightening stretch to navigate. Route 30 is downhill as it veers toward Route 30A, a busy byway that runs east to west. There is nothing but a stop sign to slow down motorists.
Ms. Schnurr’s brother took Ben into the store. Mr. Hough lingered near the car with his father-in-law, James Schnurr, 70. Ms. Schnurr was standing nearby.
Up the hill, a white limousine began its descent.
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From left, Allison King, Abigail Jackson, Amy Steenburg and Mary Dyson.CreditVanessa Wheeler and Eric Rustin/All Occasions Photography
Growing apprehension inside the limo
When the 17 friends began piling into the limousine and cramming into its tan leather seats under its mirrored roof, they never fathomed that the sunny afternoon would be their last.
Just the night before, Rich Steenburg had gotten together with friends in his trailer home for a Friday night ritual — eating pizza and playing Dungeons and Dragons. His wife, Kim, had planned on going to the outing on Saturday, but stayed behind after falling ill while babysitting her niece. The couple had recently been approved for a house and were closing the deal next month.
“Rich was so in love with the house,” his mother said. “When he found out they got approved they were so ecstatic.”
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Patrick K. Cushing and Amanda D. HalseCreditKarina Halse, via Associated Press
The day before the crash, Patrick Cushing, who played for Team USA dodge ball, and his girlfriend Amanda Halse, a waitress at a restaurant in a senior living community, had watched the Red Sox beat their beloved Yankees in the playoffs. They had been looking forward to the postseason rivalry — and the trip on Saturday, too, his father, Kevin Cushing, said.
“Both my son Patrick and his girlfriend Amanda took every day as an opportunity for an adventure,” he said.
Rachael Cavosie and Amanda Rivenburg, friends of the group, were also in the limousine. Matthew Coons, who had competed in fitness competitions with Axel Steenburg, had joined and brought his girlfriend, Savannah Bursese, who was saving up money to pursue a law degree in Texas.
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Amanda RivenburgCreditCathi Butryn/Living Resources Corporation, via Associated Press
Amy Steenburg’s inseparable sisters — Mary Dyson, Abigail Jackson and Allison King — were also in the car, along with two of their spouses, Robert Dyson and Adam Jackson.
Ms. King, however, wasn’t as enthusiastic about the celebration. She had been abstaining from drinking to support her fiancé’s decision to give up alcohol, her mother, Linda King, said.
“Allison wasn’t crazy about going,” said Mrs. King, who saw her daughter for the last time that Friday afternoon when she dropped off a dozen eggs from her chicken coop.
And Michael Ukaj, the quiet one of the group, was also in the limousine — coincidently, it was his 34th birthday.
Image
Michael Ukaj
An avid collector of arcade games, Mr. Ukaj had spent part of the previous night playing on a pinball machine he had bought for himself as a birthday present. Mr. Ukaj, a former Marine, had driven down from the forested foothills of Adirondack State Park in Caroga Lake, where he lived alone in a house that he had inherited from his grandmother and was fixing up.
“One thing that Mike was is responsible,” his brother, Jeremy Ashton, said. “He would always throw in the caveat that if you’re going to drive don’t drink. If you’re going to drink don’t drive.”
So they didn’t.
Yet they knew nothing about the limo’s failed inspections or about its owner, a man with a checkered history, including a past life as a government informant. They had no way of knowing that the Ford Excursion had been listed for sale on Craigslist for $9,000 just two days before. The listing read, “Dot Ready full serviced,” referring to the Department of Transportation.
But they swiftly found reasons for apprehension as the limousine rattled south from Amsterdam, past the beat-up barns along the winding curves of Route 30.
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Erin R. and Shane T. McGowanCreditValerie Lynne Abeling, via Associated Press
Erin McGowan, who was there with her new husband, Shane McGowan, texted her best friend at 1:37 p.m., about 18 minutes before the crash. The texts were jocular, but in retrospect eerie. It was no “luxury limo” and it was making a racket, she wrote.
“The motor is making everyone deaf,” wrote Ms. McGowan, adding five emojis of a grinning face shedding tears from laughing so hard. “When we get to brewery we will all b deaf.”
Minutes passed and some of the messages sent from the limousine only grew more ominous.
At 1:40 p.m., 15 minutes before the crash, Allison King texted her fiancé.
“She said the brakes were burning and they were coasting,” her mother said.
Four minutes before the fatal accident, Ms. Jackson texted her mother-in-law who was taking care of her daughters, Archer, 4, and Elle, 16 months.
“She was checking to see how the girls were doing,” according to her mother.
The stretch of road heading toward the site of the accident is an unbroken, mile-long decline from the top of a ridge north of Schoharie. A family farm sits at the crest, with a pond and a paddle boat. Signs warn about its steepness and no trucks are allowed. About halfway down, the road narrows and curves.
Traveling down might take a minute at the posted speed limit: 55 miles per hour. But it is easy to pick up speed — brake lights are on for most drivers going down the hill. There’s a final turn where the Apple Barrel comes into sight, a steady line of traffic on Route 30A going east and west. There is an oversize stop sign, to help prevent accidents.
But on that day, the limousine never stopped.
Image
The approach to Route 30A from Route 30. Residents have long considered the intersection dangerous.CreditKyle Adams for The New York Times
Waiting for news
Sometime after 2 p.m., Linda King saw a breaking news message on her Facebook feed about the limousine accident.
“But they said the limo was carrying a wedding party so we weren’t immediately concerned,” her husband, Tom King, said.
Hours later, investigators flooded the quiet residential street where Axel and Amy Steenburg lived. Under moonlight, they tried to match the license plates of the many cars outside their home with the victims killed inside the limousine that lay ravaged in a ravine, some 25 miles away.
Inside the couple’s white clapboard home, Lady, their Bull mastiff, waited for her owners.
Two gifts sat on the kitchen counter. They were Mr. Steenburg’s last unspoiled surprises: two bottles of Amy’s favorite wine and a birthday card, all strategically positioned so they would have been the first things Amy saw when they returned to the house that night.
The unopened bottles are still there.
Susan Beachy contributed reporting.
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/13/nyregion/limo-crash-upstate-ny.html |
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends, in 2018-10-13 20:41:59
magicwebsitesnet
Oct 13, 2018
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends http://www.nature-business.com/nature-death-at-the-crossroads-a-ragged-limo-an-anxious-driver-and-17-friends/
Nature
SCHOHARIE, N.Y. — It was supposed to be a surprise.
Axel Steenburg had been planning a birthday party for his wife, Amy, for a while. But the ever excitable Mr. Steenburg was notoriously bad at keeping secrets and, somehow, she found out.
“He would try to hide it from you and then you would see him biting his cheek. It was so obvious,” his mother, Janet Steenburg, said. “And then he would say, ‘You’re not going to believe what I have for you.’”
Mr. Steenburg coordinated a passel of friends through a group chat, arranging for a tour and tasting at a popular upstate brewery and renting a party bus to make sure that anyone drinking would not be driving. He even set aside two spare bedrooms in his home in Amsterdam, N.Y., a small city northwest of Albany, in case someone was not sober enough to drive home. But the bus broke down before picking them up, so he booked whatever he could find at the last-minute: a white stretch limousine.
It fit 18. They were 17. That would do.
Behind the wheel of the 2001 limousine was a husband holding down a part-time job as a driver for a company whose vehicles made him worry for his safety.
About 25 miles to the south, a professor and his father-in-law were out celebrating a family wedding and pulled over at a roadside country store to take a break from driving.
All 20 would soon be dead.
Their lives were cut short in a violent limousine crash in Schoharie, N.Y., this month, that has left in its wake a collection of mourning families, a clutch of young orphans and state and federal officials trying to piece together what went wrong.
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Nauman Hussain, left, the operator of the limousine company that provided the limousine in the crash, was charged with criminally negligent homicide.CreditNathaniel Brooks for The New York Times
On Wednesday, the operator of the limousine company, Nauman Hussain, was arrested by the State Police and charged with criminally negligent homicide as a result of renting out a vehicle — a hulking 2001 Ford Excursion — even though it had repeatedly failed inspections, including of its brakes, and had been deemed not road worthy by state officials.
Mr. Hussain, 28, pleaded not guilty. Just 10 miles away, hundreds of people filled a gymnasium in Schoharie to mourn the dead and families throughout the area planned funerals.
The toll of the crash has been particularly acute because of the connection between the 17 young people — all 24 to 34 years old — who had climbed into the limousine, bound for a Finger Lakes brewery, Ommegang, a popular attraction known for its bands and its beer.
They were a tight-knit gang of friends and family: Among them were four sisters, two brothers and two sets of newlyweds. They hung out regularly, gathering for game nights on Saturdays at Axel and Amy Steenburg’s home on a peaceful street overlooking a reservoir in Amsterdam, a Mohawk River city about 25 miles north of the crash site. Ms. Steenburg would have turned 30 on Wednesday.
Why the limousine ended up at that spot — speeding down a mile-long hill, across a busy highway, clipping a parked car and hitting two pedestrians before careening into an overgrown creek bed — is one of many mysteries. The brewery was far to the west of the crash site.
Whatever the reason, it was at that intersection that the lives of the limousine’s passengers, its driver and the two pedestrians collided, a random convergence that resulted in the country’s worst transportation-related accident in nearly a decade.
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Axel J. and Amy Steenburg
A last-minute change of plan
That Axel Steenburg would take charge of planning his wife’s birthday was no surprise, according to a neighbor, Missy Davison, who had watched with sweet awe as the young Steenburg couple had nested in the modest two-story home on Pleasant Avenue, next to Bunn Creek.
“They were so ambitious and so in love,” said Ms. Davison, who recalled the young couple moving in two years ago and immediately helping neighbors with errands. “They were going places.”
The couple had married over the summer and their social set was guided by blood — Mr. Steenburg’s brother, Rich, was also a close friend, and Amy had three sisters in the area — and the type of life’s misadventures that bond young people. Ms. Davison remembers a group of Mr. Steenburg’s friends trying mightily to hoist a king-size mattress through a second-floor window. (They succeeded, eventually.) There were also quiet evenings watching deer and wild turkeys in a fenced area around the reservoir across from their home.
On Saturday, the plan was for guests to meet at the couple’s house and take a party bus from there. But at some point that day, Mr. Steenburg received word that the bus had broken down, so he scrambled to find an alternative. He ended up booking a ride from a business called Prestige Limousine, which operated out of a budget motel in Wilton, N.Y. It was run by Mr. Hussain.
When the replacement vehicle showed up, it was a disappointment: a ragged stretch limousine, an S.U.V. on steroids, so dismal that its owner didn’t care if people smoked in the back. Ms. Davison remembers the limousine idling in front of the Steenburg’s house shortly before 1:30 p.m., about a half an hour before the accident.
“I thought it was a wedding,” Ms. Davison said. “I didn’t get a chance to ask.”
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Scott Lisinicchia
The limousine driver’s name was Scott T. Lisinicchia. He lived in a quiet wooded neighborhood south of the resort town of Lake George, N.Y.
Mr. Lisinicchia, 53, had suffered both tragedies and self-inflicted wounds: his brother, Anthony, had died in 2017, at 42; Mr. Lisinicchia had had two drug-related arrests, making his own life more difficult. The job driving for Prestige was part-time, and perilous, according to his wife, Kim, who told CBS News that he worried about the safety of its fleet.
“There were a few times where he told me, like I overheard him say, ‘I’m not going to drive this, like this, you need to give me another car,’” Ms. Lisinicchia told CBS.
State officials have said that Mr. Lisinicchia did not have the proper license to drive the limousine involved in the crash. But Ms. Lisinicchia disputed that he was unqualified, saying he had driven tractor-trailers. “Even if he didn’t have the proper license,” she said, “this still would’ve happened.”
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A candlelight vigil was held in Amsterdam, N.Y., where many of the victims of the crash lived.CreditStephanie Keith/Getty Images
Before the crash, the Hough family’s ‘best day ever’
Brian Hough dug rocks. An assistant professor of geology at the State University of New York at Oswego, Mr. Hough, 46, taught courses about all things archaeological — stratigraphy, geology and paleontology — but also liked getting outdoors: hiking, biking, and yes, rock climbing.
“This past summer was a great one for his family,” his mother, Artra Hough, said. “He and his wife and son went to the Grand Canyon and other national parks out in the West. They were climbing on rocks, going down into the canyon — all the things you do at Yellowstone.”
He also had a way with children, according to his brother, J.T. Hough. In August, J.T. Hough had visited his older brother’s home in Moravia, N.Y., near Syracuse, and Brian Hough had taken the family to the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, N.Y.
“My kids, they all loved their Uncle Brian,” Mr. Hough said. “He was one of the best uncles you could ever possibly imagine — always the goof ball, wrestling with his nieces and nephews, pretending to be Frankenstein, a real kid at heart.”
During that trip, Brian Hough mentioned a family wedding coming up in October, his wife’s cousin getting married nearby.
Image
Brian HoughCreditJim Russell/State University of New York at Oswego
So on that Saturday, Mr. Hough, his wife, Jaclyn Schnurr, and their eight-year-old son, Ben, along with other relatives, were caravaning in several cars; J.T Hough said Ms. Schnurr told him that the family “was having the best day ever.”
Just before 2 p.m. the group decided “to stop and stretch their legs and maybe get something to eat,” said Mr. Hough’s mother. They parked near the Apple Barrel Country Store, which was bustling with visitors who had flocked upstate for its scenic fall foliage and apple-picking.
The red-roof country store sits at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 30A, a T-shaped junction that had long unnerved residents as a frightening stretch to navigate. Route 30 is downhill as it veers toward Route 30A, a busy byway that runs east to west. There is nothing but a stop sign to slow down motorists.
Ms. Schnurr’s brother took Ben into the store. Mr. Hough lingered near the car with his father-in-law, James Schnurr, 70. Ms. Schnurr was standing nearby.
Up the hill, a white limousine began its descent.
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From left, Allison King, Abigail Jackson, Amy Steenburg and Mary Dyson.CreditVanessa Wheeler and Eric Rustin/All Occasions Photography
Growing apprehension inside the limo
When the 17 friends began piling into the limousine and cramming into its tan leather seats under its mirrored roof, they never fathomed that the sunny afternoon would be their last.
Just the night before, Rich Steenburg had gotten together with friends in his trailer home for a Friday night ritual — eating pizza and playing Dungeons and Dragons. His wife, Kim, had planned on going to the outing on Saturday, but stayed behind after falling ill while babysitting her niece. The couple had recently been approved for a house and were closing the deal next month.
“Rich was so in love with the house,” his mother said. “When he found out they got approved they were so ecstatic.”
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Patrick K. Cushing and Amanda D. HalseCreditKarina Halse, via Associated Press
The day before the crash, Patrick Cushing, who played for Team USA dodge ball, and his girlfriend Amanda Halse, a waitress at a restaurant in a senior living community, had watched the Red Sox beat their beloved Yankees in the playoffs. They had been looking forward to the postseason rivalry — and the trip on Saturday, too, his father, Kevin Cushing, said.
“Both my son Patrick and his girlfriend Amanda took every day as an opportunity for an adventure,” he said.
Rachael Cavosie and Amanda Rivenburg, friends of the group, were also in the limousine. Matthew Coons, who had competed in fitness competitions with Axel Steenburg, had joined and brought his girlfriend, Savannah Bursese, who was saving up money to pursue a law degree in Texas.
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Amanda RivenburgCreditCathi Butryn/Living Resources Corporation, via Associated Press
Amy Steenburg’s inseparable sisters — Mary Dyson, Abigail Jackson and Allison King — were also in the car, along with two of their spouses, Robert Dyson and Adam Jackson.
Ms. King, however, wasn’t as enthusiastic about the celebration. She had been abstaining from drinking to support her fiancé’s decision to give up alcohol, her mother, Linda King, said.
“Allison wasn’t crazy about going,” said Mrs. King, who saw her daughter for the last time that Friday afternoon when she dropped off a dozen eggs from her chicken coop.
And Michael Ukaj, the quiet one of the group, was also in the limousine — coincidently, it was his 34th birthday.
Image
Michael Ukaj
An avid collector of arcade games, Mr. Ukaj had spent part of the previous night playing on a pinball machine he had bought for himself as a birthday present. Mr. Ukaj, a former Marine, had driven down from the forested foothills of Adirondack State Park in Caroga Lake, where he lived alone in a house that he had inherited from his grandmother and was fixing up.
“One thing that Mike was is responsible,” his brother, Jeremy Ashton, said. “He would always throw in the caveat that if you’re going to drive don’t drink. If you’re going to drink don’t drive.”
So they didn’t.
Yet they knew nothing about the limo’s failed inspections or about its owner, a man with a checkered history, including a past life as a government informant. They had no way of knowing that the Ford Excursion had been listed for sale on Craigslist for $9,000 just two days before. The listing read, “Dot Ready full serviced,” referring to the Department of Transportation.
But they swiftly found reasons for apprehension as the limousine rattled south from Amsterdam, past the beat-up barns along the winding curves of Route 30.
Image
Erin R. and Shane T. McGowanCreditValerie Lynne Abeling, via Associated Press
Erin McGowan, who was there with her new husband, Shane McGowan, texted her best friend at 1:37 p.m., about 18 minutes before the crash. The texts were jocular, but in retrospect eerie. It was no “luxury limo” and it was making a racket, she wrote.
“The motor is making everyone deaf,” wrote Ms. McGowan, adding five emojis of a grinning face shedding tears from laughing so hard. “When we get to brewery we will all b deaf.”
Minutes passed and some of the messages sent from the limousine only grew more ominous.
At 1:40 p.m., 15 minutes before the crash, Allison King texted her fiancé.
“She said the brakes were burning and they were coasting,” her mother said.
Four minutes before the fatal accident, Ms. Jackson texted her mother-in-law who was taking care of her daughters, Archer, 4, and Elle, 16 months.
“She was checking to see how the girls were doing,” according to her mother.
The stretch of road heading toward the site of the accident is an unbroken, mile-long decline from the top of a ridge north of Schoharie. A family farm sits at the crest, with a pond and a paddle boat. Signs warn about its steepness and no trucks are allowed. About halfway down, the road narrows and curves.
Traveling down might take a minute at the posted speed limit: 55 miles per hour. But it is easy to pick up speed — brake lights are on for most drivers going down the hill. There’s a final turn where the Apple Barrel comes into sight, a steady line of traffic on Route 30A going east and west. There is an oversize stop sign, to help prevent accidents.
But on that day, the limousine never stopped.
Image
The approach to Route 30A from Route 30. Residents have long considered the intersection dangerous.CreditKyle Adams for The New York Times
Waiting for news
Sometime after 2 p.m., Linda King saw a breaking news message on her Facebook feed about the limousine accident.
“But they said the limo was carrying a wedding party so we weren’t immediately concerned,” her husband, Tom King, said.
Hours later, investigators flooded the quiet residential street where Axel and Amy Steenburg lived. Under moonlight, they tried to match the license plates of the many cars outside their home with the victims killed inside the limousine that lay ravaged in a ravine, some 25 miles away.
Inside the couple’s white clapboard home, Lady, their Bull mastiff, waited for her owners.
Two gifts sat on the kitchen counter. They were Mr. Steenburg’s last unspoiled surprises: two bottles of Amy’s favorite wine and a birthday card, all strategically positioned so they would have been the first things Amy saw when they returned to the house that night.
The unopened bottles are still there.
Susan Beachy contributed reporting.
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/13/nyregion/limo-crash-upstate-ny.html |
Nature Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends, in 2018-10-13 20:41:59
themegamenarablr
Sep 25, 2018
Places To Visit On Wine Tours Dahlonega GA
By Harold Baker
Sonoma county in California is almost always the first thing that pops into people's minds when they think of a United States destination for wines. While this is definitely a great destination, it is far to go for east coasters and can be quite crowded. If you want something different, consider taking Wine Tours Dahlonega GA for your next vino fix rather than traveling to California or beyond. Nestled in the foothills of northern Georgia, the Dahlonega area is known for its fertile valleys, which allow for the perfect weather for growing grapes. There are six wineries in all, and even more tasting rooms all over the area carrying the many bottles and labels from these local makers. Overall, there are 100 acres in the area growing grapes. The smallest of these wineries is Cavender Creek, located at 3610 Cavender Creek Road. They focus mostly on quality rather than quantity, producing about 1,400 cases per year, compared to thousands more that other local wineries do. The quality is evident in their American Nortons, cabernets sauvignons and petit Manseng bottles that they produce. If you want views, try out the Kaya Windery & Vineyard, which used to be called the Blackstock Vineyards. This destination is the largest vineyard in the area, and has facilities fit for a 300 person wedding or other event. You can often find a live band playing on 2,000 square foot covered patio. If you prefer indoors, the tasting room has 12 feet tall windows that give you the best views in the entire area of the local foothills as you sip on new vintages. Montaluce Winery & Estates, 501 Hightower Church Road, has a whopping 25,000 square foot facility that is shaped like a Tuscan villa to give you a real sense of place. They can hold weddings and other events, and have daily wine tastings and free tours of the grounds for visitors. Located at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, the Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery is not just about the vino. They also have world class food that makes foodies travel here from all over, along with the expert wine pairings you would expect. They specialize in both European and southern cuisine, so you get a real feel for two different worlds. Their vintages have won over 150 medals from competitions across the country, including for their famous Champenoise sparkling wine. The Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery is located at 439 Vineyard Way. One of the biggest reasons it is a destination is the crash pad deck and rock wall patio, both unique experiences that are better with a glass of wine. Each vintage they make produces up to 4,000 cases, some of which are poured at the many weddings they host on the 184 acres of land. TurnerSouth once voted them the Best Winery in the South, which is quite a big deal when you consider how many vineyards are popping up across the region. For lots of selection, look no further than the 25 grape varieties grown at Frogtown Cellars, 700 Ridge Point Drive. Though smaller than others at 57 acres, it packs a punch, having a tri-level flow winery and a huge event facility for parties and weddings. It is also the most awarded vineyard in the area, meaning you always get a quality pour.
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naturecoaster
Aug 31, 2018
Chipco Creek String Band featured at September 21 Pasco Historical Society meeting
The next meeting of the Pasco County Historical Society will occur onFriday, September 21, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village at 15602 Pioneer Road, Dade City, Florida, 33523, in the Mabel Jordan Barn at the museum facilities.The presentation for theSeptember 21, 2018meeting of the Pasco County Historical Society will bethe dynamic Chipco Creek String Band who will present an array of historical music. Back by popular demand, the Pasco County Historical Society enjoyed the wonderful historical music and bluegrass, and requested that the band return to present at the meeting. Guests are welcome.The band’s name, Chipco Creek refers to an old grist mill that was on a small creek in the Chipco area of eastern Pasco County. The wooden mill vanished years ago. There was old grist stone in the creek north of Saint Joe. It was the only reminder of this bygone era.Old Time music is a homogenization of tunes and ballads from Ireland, Scotland and England, using fiddles from Europe, banjos from Africa, and guitars from Spain. It is the music the early American settlers living in Appalachia played on their front porches and for their Saturday night dances. As America grew so did the music. As folks moved west new playing styles emerged identified with fiddlers from the mid-west, Missouri, and Texas. Then in the 1930’s a group of musicians put a new spin on the music, today that is called Bluegrass. The Chipco Creek String Band honors those early settlers of America, trying to keep the music close to those original roots.The Chipco Creek String Band is made up of four musicians that have been playing Old Time Music for many years. The band consists of Bill Reynolds on fiddle, Ernie Williams on 5-string banjo, as well as Wayne Sweat and Steve Cox on guitars. Guests are welcome. A carry-in dinner precedes the program, so bring a dish to share as well as cutlery for your personal use, plate(s), (disposable is fine) and your beverage of choice.The museum is located 1.3 miles north of downtown Dade City, at the corner of US 301 and Museum Road, turn east onto Museum Road and cross the railroad tracks.Special thanks to the Florida Pioneer Museum & Village that allows the Pasco County Historical Society to hold meetings at their facilities. Stephanie Black, Executive Director and the Board have been gracious in allowing the historical society to meet at their wonderful facility which honors the history of Pasco County.CONTACT: Madonna J. Wise, (813) 782 0246 or Email: [emailprotected]Read the full article
blogwonderwebsites
Aug 25, 2018
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ http://www.nature-business.com/business-hurricane-lane-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-we-dodged-a-bullet/
Business
As Hurricane Lane inched toward Hawaii on Friday, its outer bands bringing landslides, floods and power failures to parts of the archipelago, the mayor of Maui found himself hoping for the last thing he expected to want this weekend: rain.Three fires had broken out in West Maui, he said, possibly caused by downed power lines and likely stoked by the whipping winds. By the afternoon, two fires were completely contained but still burning, and the third, affecting about 1,500 acres, was about 40 percent contained.“We were expecting flooding, high winds, big surf — we weren’t expecting very little rain, heavy winds and a big fire,” the mayor, Alan Arakawa, said. “We’re hoping for just enough rain to put out the fires, not enough rain to have mudslides after that.”But officials caught a break amid the chaos: By late afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded Lane to a tropical storm, an intense downshift from the Category 3 hurricane it was just 24 hours earlier.
5pm: #Lane has weakened considerably through the day today thanks to strong shear near the islands. Lane is now a Tropical Storm with max winds of 70 mph and still poses a threat for flooding through tomorrow. A Tropical Storm Warning has replaced all Hurricane Warnings. #hiwx pic.twitter.com/A0WSc6LEBZ — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) Aug. 25, 2018
The storm, which was traveling only a few miles per hour, was expected to continue weakening. But the agency warned that the tropical storm would continue to pose a risk for flooding and could still hurl winds of up to 70 m.p.h.Photo
Fires in Kaanapali, Maui.
Credit Social Media/Reuters
“We dodged a bullet,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu said at a news conference. But he added that “doesn’t mean it’s over.” Continue reading the main story
“We’re going to have rain and wind and local flooding — and we need to be vigilant,” he said.Between the storm’s lumbering speed and Hawaii’s countless microclimates, it was difficult to predict would happen throughout the day Friday. Forecasters warned that the storm was still dangerous, and island residents and visitors, surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, were mostly stuck to watch and wait.“You go to higher ground, hunker down with stored water and canned food, because there’s nowhere else to escape,” said Ron Matayoshi, a volunteer at the McKinley High School emergency evacuation center in urban Honolulu.Gov. David Ige said he had received a phone call on Friday from President Trump, who pledged the support of federal agencies to help the state.
Hurricane Lane Map: Tracking the Storm’s Path Toward Hawaii
By Friday morning, Hurricane Lane had weakened to a Category 2 storm, but the storm continued to dump heavy rainfall on parts of Hawaii.
Forecasters expected the storm to keep moving north before making a westward turn on Saturday, and it was expected to past close to the central islands by Friday night.Alison Nugent, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said the storm was losing strength as the wind shear, which typically weakens hurricanes before they get to Hawaii, finally showed up.But even a weak hurricane could be unpredictable and destructive, Professor Nugent explained, because of the way storms interact with Hawaii’s mountainous and varied topography. Wind can speed up as it flows down a mountainside or through the gaps between the islands. And moist air produces more rain when it hits the side of a mountain.“On one side you may see lots of rain; on the other side you may see lots of wind,” Professor Nugent said. “It’s so localized, valley to valley, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house just in terms of what the impacts may be.”Tropical Storm Lane’s slow speed means that it is likely to dump large amounts of rain. Lingering hurricanes can cause devastating flooding and billions of dollars of damage, as Texans learned last year when Hurricane Harvey stalled over the state.Photo
Credit Jessica Henricks, via Associated Press Professor Nugent said she had considered fleeing the state, but by the time she looked at ticket prices earlier this week, flights were too expensive. On Friday, airports were open but there were delays and cancellations across the state. American Airlines canceled flights in and out of Kahului. Hawaiian Airlines said that some West Coast to Maui flights were delayed and that some inter-island flights were canceled.Nearly all of Hawaii’s commodities come through a harbor in Honolulu, which has been closed by the United States Coast Guard, said Maj. Gen. Arthur J. Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. But he said locals need not worry about running out of food and supplies: Full containers were ready to be moved and ships were on call to be deployed when the harbor reopens.“I feel very confident we’ll keep the supply chain moving,” General Logan said.Throughout the day, it was as if different islands of Hawaii were experiencing different storms.On the Island of Hawaii, torrential rain continued. At one point, Saddle Road, the main east-to-west thoroughfare on the island, was blocked by a landslide. The city of Hilo and other parts of the island’s east side were on their third day of flash-flood alerts, and Rainbow Falls, which is usually a peaceful place, was gushing rivers of brown water. Five tourists from California were rescued from a flooded vacation home in Hilo on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.It all meant that Randy Bruner’s driveway in Pahoa, on Hawaii Island, looked like a rushing creek. “When it’s pouring down rain, there’s a river running through where I live,” Mr. Bruner said.Photo
Employees of a Honolulu hotel filled sandbags in preparation for the storm.
Credit John Locher/Associated Press On Maui, the fires left one woman burned and in need of an air evacuation to Oahu. Officials said more than 900 people were taking shelter in the county, although at one point, a hurricane shelter had to be evacuated because of flames in the area.Victoria Monroe, a tourist from Orange County, Calif., was sheltering in place at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina, with a view of two of the fires.“It was at the top of the hill and it went all the way down toward the ocean,” Ms. Monroe said of one fire. “I thought it was a volcano erupting.”Her vacation was alternating between hellish and picturesque. “It’s still really pretty out here,” she said, hours before an alert in her hotel instructed people to go inside because of “dust storms.”And on the Island of Kauai, residents were still waiting for the winds to pick up, anxious that the storm could lead to a repeat of the flooding that devastated part of the island in April. Those floods breached a major highway in four places, closing it to all but local resident traffic. Tourists were banned.“We’ve been through so many disasters that you have to love it or leave it,” said Teri Tico, a lawyer who lives on the beach in Haena but left ahead of the storm.Mike Kuntz, a Haena resident who is staying put, said he had to console his daughter as the storm approached. “I want to get out of here,” he recalled her saying, “but I have nowhere to go.”Continue reading the main story
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/us/hawaii-hurricane-lane-updates.html | Jess Bidgood
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’, in 2018-08-25 05:53:38
internetbetterforall
Aug 25, 2018
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ http://www.nature-business.com/business-hurricane-lane-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-we-dodged-a-bullet/
Business
As Hurricane Lane inched toward Hawaii on Friday, its outer bands bringing landslides, floods and power failures to parts of the archipelago, the mayor of Maui found himself hoping for the last thing he expected to want this weekend: rain.Three fires had broken out in West Maui, he said, possibly caused by downed power lines and likely stoked by the whipping winds. By the afternoon, two fires were completely contained but still burning, and the third, affecting about 1,500 acres, was about 40 percent contained.“We were expecting flooding, high winds, big surf — we weren’t expecting very little rain, heavy winds and a big fire,” the mayor, Alan Arakawa, said. “We’re hoping for just enough rain to put out the fires, not enough rain to have mudslides after that.”But officials caught a break amid the chaos: By late afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded Lane to a tropical storm, an intense downshift from the Category 3 hurricane it was just 24 hours earlier.
5pm: #Lane has weakened considerably through the day today thanks to strong shear near the islands. Lane is now a Tropical Storm with max winds of 70 mph and still poses a threat for flooding through tomorrow. A Tropical Storm Warning has replaced all Hurricane Warnings. #hiwx pic.twitter.com/A0WSc6LEBZ — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) Aug. 25, 2018
The storm, which was traveling only a few miles per hour, was expected to continue weakening. But the agency warned that the tropical storm would continue to pose a risk for flooding and could still hurl winds of up to 70 m.p.h.Photo
Fires in Kaanapali, Maui.
Credit Social Media/Reuters
“We dodged a bullet,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu said at a news conference. But he added that “doesn’t mean it’s over.” Continue reading the main story
“We’re going to have rain and wind and local flooding — and we need to be vigilant,” he said.Between the storm’s lumbering speed and Hawaii’s countless microclimates, it was difficult to predict would happen throughout the day Friday. Forecasters warned that the storm was still dangerous, and island residents and visitors, surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, were mostly stuck to watch and wait.“You go to higher ground, hunker down with stored water and canned food, because there’s nowhere else to escape,” said Ron Matayoshi, a volunteer at the McKinley High School emergency evacuation center in urban Honolulu.Gov. David Ige said he had received a phone call on Friday from President Trump, who pledged the support of federal agencies to help the state.
Hurricane Lane Map: Tracking the Storm’s Path Toward Hawaii
By Friday morning, Hurricane Lane had weakened to a Category 2 storm, but the storm continued to dump heavy rainfall on parts of Hawaii.
Forecasters expected the storm to keep moving north before making a westward turn on Saturday, and it was expected to past close to the central islands by Friday night.Alison Nugent, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said the storm was losing strength as the wind shear, which typically weakens hurricanes before they get to Hawaii, finally showed up.But even a weak hurricane could be unpredictable and destructive, Professor Nugent explained, because of the way storms interact with Hawaii’s mountainous and varied topography. Wind can speed up as it flows down a mountainside or through the gaps between the islands. And moist air produces more rain when it hits the side of a mountain.“On one side you may see lots of rain; on the other side you may see lots of wind,” Professor Nugent said. “It’s so localized, valley to valley, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house just in terms of what the impacts may be.”Tropical Storm Lane’s slow speed means that it is likely to dump large amounts of rain. Lingering hurricanes can cause devastating flooding and billions of dollars of damage, as Texans learned last year when Hurricane Harvey stalled over the state.Photo
Credit Jessica Henricks, via Associated Press Professor Nugent said she had considered fleeing the state, but by the time she looked at ticket prices earlier this week, flights were too expensive. On Friday, airports were open but there were delays and cancellations across the state. American Airlines canceled flights in and out of Kahului. Hawaiian Airlines said that some West Coast to Maui flights were delayed and that some inter-island flights were canceled.Nearly all of Hawaii’s commodities come through a harbor in Honolulu, which has been closed by the United States Coast Guard, said Maj. Gen. Arthur J. Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. But he said locals need not worry about running out of food and supplies: Full containers were ready to be moved and ships were on call to be deployed when the harbor reopens.“I feel very confident we’ll keep the supply chain moving,” General Logan said.Throughout the day, it was as if different islands of Hawaii were experiencing different storms.On the Island of Hawaii, torrential rain continued. At one point, Saddle Road, the main east-to-west thoroughfare on the island, was blocked by a landslide. The city of Hilo and other parts of the island’s east side were on their third day of flash-flood alerts, and Rainbow Falls, which is usually a peaceful place, was gushing rivers of brown water. Five tourists from California were rescued from a flooded vacation home in Hilo on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.It all meant that Randy Bruner’s driveway in Pahoa, on Hawaii Island, looked like a rushing creek. “When it’s pouring down rain, there’s a river running through where I live,” Mr. Bruner said.Photo
Employees of a Honolulu hotel filled sandbags in preparation for the storm.
Credit John Locher/Associated Press On Maui, the fires left one woman burned and in need of an air evacuation to Oahu. Officials said more than 900 people were taking shelter in the county, although at one point, a hurricane shelter had to be evacuated because of flames in the area.Victoria Monroe, a tourist from Orange County, Calif., was sheltering in place at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina, with a view of two of the fires.“It was at the top of the hill and it went all the way down toward the ocean,” Ms. Monroe said of one fire. “I thought it was a volcano erupting.”Her vacation was alternating between hellish and picturesque. “It’s still really pretty out here,” she said, hours before an alert in her hotel instructed people to go inside because of “dust storms.”And on the Island of Kauai, residents were still waiting for the winds to pick up, anxious that the storm could lead to a repeat of the flooding that devastated part of the island in April. Those floods breached a major highway in four places, closing it to all but local resident traffic. Tourists were banned.“We’ve been through so many disasters that you have to love it or leave it,” said Teri Tico, a lawyer who lives on the beach in Haena but left ahead of the storm.Mike Kuntz, a Haena resident who is staying put, said he had to console his daughter as the storm approached. “I want to get out of here,” he recalled her saying, “but I have nowhere to go.”Continue reading the main story
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/us/hawaii-hurricane-lane-updates.html | Jess Bidgood
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’, in 2018-08-25 05:53:38
blogparadiseisland
Aug 25, 2018
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ http://www.nature-business.com/business-hurricane-lane-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-we-dodged-a-bullet/
Business
As Hurricane Lane inched toward Hawaii on Friday, its outer bands bringing landslides, floods and power failures to parts of the archipelago, the mayor of Maui found himself hoping for the last thing he expected to want this weekend: rain.Three fires had broken out in West Maui, he said, possibly caused by downed power lines and likely stoked by the whipping winds. By the afternoon, two fires were completely contained but still burning, and the third, affecting about 1,500 acres, was about 40 percent contained.“We were expecting flooding, high winds, big surf — we weren’t expecting very little rain, heavy winds and a big fire,” the mayor, Alan Arakawa, said. “We’re hoping for just enough rain to put out the fires, not enough rain to have mudslides after that.”But officials caught a break amid the chaos: By late afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded Lane to a tropical storm, an intense downshift from the Category 3 hurricane it was just 24 hours earlier.
5pm: #Lane has weakened considerably through the day today thanks to strong shear near the islands. Lane is now a Tropical Storm with max winds of 70 mph and still poses a threat for flooding through tomorrow. A Tropical Storm Warning has replaced all Hurricane Warnings. #hiwx pic.twitter.com/A0WSc6LEBZ — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) Aug. 25, 2018
The storm, which was traveling only a few miles per hour, was expected to continue weakening. But the agency warned that the tropical storm would continue to pose a risk for flooding and could still hurl winds of up to 70 m.p.h.Photo
Fires in Kaanapali, Maui.
Credit Social Media/Reuters
“We dodged a bullet,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu said at a news conference. But he added that “doesn’t mean it’s over.” Continue reading the main story
“We’re going to have rain and wind and local flooding — and we need to be vigilant,” he said.Between the storm’s lumbering speed and Hawaii’s countless microclimates, it was difficult to predict would happen throughout the day Friday. Forecasters warned that the storm was still dangerous, and island residents and visitors, surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, were mostly stuck to watch and wait.“You go to higher ground, hunker down with stored water and canned food, because there’s nowhere else to escape,” said Ron Matayoshi, a volunteer at the McKinley High School emergency evacuation center in urban Honolulu.Gov. David Ige said he had received a phone call on Friday from President Trump, who pledged the support of federal agencies to help the state.
Hurricane Lane Map: Tracking the Storm’s Path Toward Hawaii
By Friday morning, Hurricane Lane had weakened to a Category 2 storm, but the storm continued to dump heavy rainfall on parts of Hawaii.
Forecasters expected the storm to keep moving north before making a westward turn on Saturday, and it was expected to past close to the central islands by Friday night.Alison Nugent, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said the storm was losing strength as the wind shear, which typically weakens hurricanes before they get to Hawaii, finally showed up.But even a weak hurricane could be unpredictable and destructive, Professor Nugent explained, because of the way storms interact with Hawaii’s mountainous and varied topography. Wind can speed up as it flows down a mountainside or through the gaps between the islands. And moist air produces more rain when it hits the side of a mountain.“On one side you may see lots of rain; on the other side you may see lots of wind,” Professor Nugent said. “It’s so localized, valley to valley, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house just in terms of what the impacts may be.”Tropical Storm Lane’s slow speed means that it is likely to dump large amounts of rain. Lingering hurricanes can cause devastating flooding and billions of dollars of damage, as Texans learned last year when Hurricane Harvey stalled over the state.Photo
Credit Jessica Henricks, via Associated Press Professor Nugent said she had considered fleeing the state, but by the time she looked at ticket prices earlier this week, flights were too expensive. On Friday, airports were open but there were delays and cancellations across the state. American Airlines canceled flights in and out of Kahului. Hawaiian Airlines said that some West Coast to Maui flights were delayed and that some inter-island flights were canceled.Nearly all of Hawaii’s commodities come through a harbor in Honolulu, which has been closed by the United States Coast Guard, said Maj. Gen. Arthur J. Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. But he said locals need not worry about running out of food and supplies: Full containers were ready to be moved and ships were on call to be deployed when the harbor reopens.“I feel very confident we’ll keep the supply chain moving,” General Logan said.Throughout the day, it was as if different islands of Hawaii were experiencing different storms.On the Island of Hawaii, torrential rain continued. At one point, Saddle Road, the main east-to-west thoroughfare on the island, was blocked by a landslide. The city of Hilo and other parts of the island’s east side were on their third day of flash-flood alerts, and Rainbow Falls, which is usually a peaceful place, was gushing rivers of brown water. Five tourists from California were rescued from a flooded vacation home in Hilo on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.It all meant that Randy Bruner’s driveway in Pahoa, on Hawaii Island, looked like a rushing creek. “When it’s pouring down rain, there’s a river running through where I live,” Mr. Bruner said.Photo
Employees of a Honolulu hotel filled sandbags in preparation for the storm.
Credit John Locher/Associated Press On Maui, the fires left one woman burned and in need of an air evacuation to Oahu. Officials said more than 900 people were taking shelter in the county, although at one point, a hurricane shelter had to be evacuated because of flames in the area.Victoria Monroe, a tourist from Orange County, Calif., was sheltering in place at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina, with a view of two of the fires.“It was at the top of the hill and it went all the way down toward the ocean,” Ms. Monroe said of one fire. “I thought it was a volcano erupting.”Her vacation was alternating between hellish and picturesque. “It’s still really pretty out here,” she said, hours before an alert in her hotel instructed people to go inside because of “dust storms.”And on the Island of Kauai, residents were still waiting for the winds to pick up, anxious that the storm could lead to a repeat of the flooding that devastated part of the island in April. Those floods breached a major highway in four places, closing it to all but local resident traffic. Tourists were banned.“We’ve been through so many disasters that you have to love it or leave it,” said Teri Tico, a lawyer who lives on the beach in Haena but left ahead of the storm.Mike Kuntz, a Haena resident who is staying put, said he had to console his daughter as the storm approached. “I want to get out of here,” he recalled her saying, “but I have nowhere to go.”Continue reading the main story
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/us/hawaii-hurricane-lane-updates.html | Jess Bidgood
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’, in 2018-08-25 05:53:38
computacionalblog
Aug 25, 2018
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ http://www.nature-business.com/business-hurricane-lane-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-we-dodged-a-bullet/
Business
As Hurricane Lane inched toward Hawaii on Friday, its outer bands bringing landslides, floods and power failures to parts of the archipelago, the mayor of Maui found himself hoping for the last thing he expected to want this weekend: rain.Three fires had broken out in West Maui, he said, possibly caused by downed power lines and likely stoked by the whipping winds. By the afternoon, two fires were completely contained but still burning, and the third, affecting about 1,500 acres, was about 40 percent contained.“We were expecting flooding, high winds, big surf — we weren’t expecting very little rain, heavy winds and a big fire,” the mayor, Alan Arakawa, said. “We’re hoping for just enough rain to put out the fires, not enough rain to have mudslides after that.”But officials caught a break amid the chaos: By late afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded Lane to a tropical storm, an intense downshift from the Category 3 hurricane it was just 24 hours earlier.
5pm: #Lane has weakened considerably through the day today thanks to strong shear near the islands. Lane is now a Tropical Storm with max winds of 70 mph and still poses a threat for flooding through tomorrow. A Tropical Storm Warning has replaced all Hurricane Warnings. #hiwx pic.twitter.com/A0WSc6LEBZ — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) Aug. 25, 2018
The storm, which was traveling only a few miles per hour, was expected to continue weakening. But the agency warned that the tropical storm would continue to pose a risk for flooding and could still hurl winds of up to 70 m.p.h.Photo
Fires in Kaanapali, Maui.
Credit Social Media/Reuters
“We dodged a bullet,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu said at a news conference. But he added that “doesn’t mean it’s over.” Continue reading the main story
“We’re going to have rain and wind and local flooding — and we need to be vigilant,” he said.Between the storm’s lumbering speed and Hawaii’s countless microclimates, it was difficult to predict would happen throughout the day Friday. Forecasters warned that the storm was still dangerous, and island residents and visitors, surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, were mostly stuck to watch and wait.“You go to higher ground, hunker down with stored water and canned food, because there’s nowhere else to escape,” said Ron Matayoshi, a volunteer at the McKinley High School emergency evacuation center in urban Honolulu.Gov. David Ige said he had received a phone call on Friday from President Trump, who pledged the support of federal agencies to help the state.
Hurricane Lane Map: Tracking the Storm’s Path Toward Hawaii
By Friday morning, Hurricane Lane had weakened to a Category 2 storm, but the storm continued to dump heavy rainfall on parts of Hawaii.
Forecasters expected the storm to keep moving north before making a westward turn on Saturday, and it was expected to past close to the central islands by Friday night.Alison Nugent, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said the storm was losing strength as the wind shear, which typically weakens hurricanes before they get to Hawaii, finally showed up.But even a weak hurricane could be unpredictable and destructive, Professor Nugent explained, because of the way storms interact with Hawaii’s mountainous and varied topography. Wind can speed up as it flows down a mountainside or through the gaps between the islands. And moist air produces more rain when it hits the side of a mountain.“On one side you may see lots of rain; on the other side you may see lots of wind,” Professor Nugent said. “It’s so localized, valley to valley, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house just in terms of what the impacts may be.”Tropical Storm Lane’s slow speed means that it is likely to dump large amounts of rain. Lingering hurricanes can cause devastating flooding and billions of dollars of damage, as Texans learned last year when Hurricane Harvey stalled over the state.Photo
Credit Jessica Henricks, via Associated Press Professor Nugent said she had considered fleeing the state, but by the time she looked at ticket prices earlier this week, flights were too expensive. On Friday, airports were open but there were delays and cancellations across the state. American Airlines canceled flights in and out of Kahului. Hawaiian Airlines said that some West Coast to Maui flights were delayed and that some inter-island flights were canceled.Nearly all of Hawaii’s commodities come through a harbor in Honolulu, which has been closed by the United States Coast Guard, said Maj. Gen. Arthur J. Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. But he said locals need not worry about running out of food and supplies: Full containers were ready to be moved and ships were on call to be deployed when the harbor reopens.“I feel very confident we’ll keep the supply chain moving,” General Logan said.Throughout the day, it was as if different islands of Hawaii were experiencing different storms.On the Island of Hawaii, torrential rain continued. At one point, Saddle Road, the main east-to-west thoroughfare on the island, was blocked by a landslide. The city of Hilo and other parts of the island’s east side were on their third day of flash-flood alerts, and Rainbow Falls, which is usually a peaceful place, was gushing rivers of brown water. Five tourists from California were rescued from a flooded vacation home in Hilo on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.It all meant that Randy Bruner’s driveway in Pahoa, on Hawaii Island, looked like a rushing creek. “When it’s pouring down rain, there’s a river running through where I live,” Mr. Bruner said.Photo
Employees of a Honolulu hotel filled sandbags in preparation for the storm.
Credit John Locher/Associated Press On Maui, the fires left one woman burned and in need of an air evacuation to Oahu. Officials said more than 900 people were taking shelter in the county, although at one point, a hurricane shelter had to be evacuated because of flames in the area.Victoria Monroe, a tourist from Orange County, Calif., was sheltering in place at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina, with a view of two of the fires.“It was at the top of the hill and it went all the way down toward the ocean,” Ms. Monroe said of one fire. “I thought it was a volcano erupting.”Her vacation was alternating between hellish and picturesque. “It’s still really pretty out here,” she said, hours before an alert in her hotel instructed people to go inside because of “dust storms.”And on the Island of Kauai, residents were still waiting for the winds to pick up, anxious that the storm could lead to a repeat of the flooding that devastated part of the island in April. Those floods breached a major highway in four places, closing it to all but local resident traffic. Tourists were banned.“We’ve been through so many disasters that you have to love it or leave it,” said Teri Tico, a lawyer who lives on the beach in Haena but left ahead of the storm.Mike Kuntz, a Haena resident who is staying put, said he had to console his daughter as the storm approached. “I want to get out of here,” he recalled her saying, “but I have nowhere to go.”Continue reading the main story
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/us/hawaii-hurricane-lane-updates.html | Jess Bidgood
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’, in 2018-08-25 05:53:38
onpointwildlife
Jun 9, 2018
Vero Beach Vs Port St Lucie
Contents
Sat dec 15
Defending back-to-back state champion
Who are trying
From for its year-round cultural close
Inside the loews hotel
PSL BOUND in Port Saint Lucie, Florida said: As far as the new Lab, You may be ..... Move to Sebastion, Vero, Jenson Beach or Stuart, Not PSL or Fort Pierce)!
Asked by Gerry Figueroa, Port Saint Lucie, FL • sat dec 15, 2012 .... You can enjoy drive to Vero Beach, Sebastian and the pleasures of the Treasure Coast in ...
Home / Select Cities / Comparing Vero Beach, FL vs. Port St. Lucie, FL ... Vero Beach is 10% less densely populated than Port St. Lucie. People are 22.7% more...
Shorecrest Prep, ppd. Southeast vs. Palmetto, ppd. to Aug 27th. St. John Neumann vs. Keswick Christian, ppd. to Aug 28th. St. Stephen's Episcopal vs. Windermere Prep, ppd. Tampa Bay Tech vs. Armwood, ppd. to Aug 28th. Tampa …
(Video by J..C. Carnahan) The defending back-to-back state champion West Orange softball team defeated Port Orange Spruce Creek 3-0 on Friday to advance to the Class 9A state tournament in Vero Beach for the third time in a row. …
... from the Treasure Coast News. Home ; ... PORT ST. LUCIE — The Port Saint Lucie High School JROTC cadets were excited to ... Vero Beach girls finish 5th at ...
Lake Placid vs. St. John Neumann, ppd. North Fort Myers vs. Riverdale, susp. Northside Christian vs. First Baptist, ppd. to Aug 27. Ocala Trinity Catholic vs. Admiral Farragut, ppd. Palmetto Ridge vs. Lehigh, ppd. Port Charlotte vs. Lemon …
Sep 4, 2006 ... Top things to do in Port Saint Lucie · See all ... Vero Beach Press Journal will link you to Tc Palm & the St. Lucie jobs section. Good luck.
July 4th Fireworks in Jensen Beach, Stuart FL, Fort Pierce, Port St Lucie, Jupiter, Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast. 4th of July Schedule of Festivals, Celebrations and Fireworks including Shuckers Fireworks on the Beach, live entertainment, events, live music, bands and festivals including Jensen Beach, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Port St ...
Call Port St. Lucie estate planning attorney Robert Kulas at 772-398-0720 for help with wills, living trusts, and Medicaid services.
Finished 6-of-12 shooting for 19 points and six rebounds in A-Sun championship game vs. Jacksonville ... softball team defeated Port Orange Spruce Creek 3-0 on Friday to advance to the Class 9A state tournament in Vero Beach for the …
Photo Galleries for Indian ... PrepZone on the Road visits Port St. Lucie high school; vero vero beach fl Beach City Council looks at ... Jensen Beach High School vs. St. Lucie ...
Sebastian Fl Things To Do Contents With more fun-filled things Off every day Almost 40 years For all ages She was last seen wearing The loews hotel We know that the people who are trying to do their work … to make it clear that … Museums & Entertainment. McKee Botanical Garden 350 US 1 Vero Beach, FL 32962 Tel:Vero Beach Restaurants Contents Over vero beach Animals. some courses Enrichment for the For july interpretive loop According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, the husband of Assunta (Susy) Tomassi last saw her Friday, March 16, at the Quilted Giraffe Restaurant near the South Vero Plaza. She was last seen wearing black pants, a white and blueSebastian Fl Hotels Contents Beautiful breathtaking beach holiday getaway. reserve Which are both Service recorded over Vero beach from for its year-round cultural close to 10,000 succulent oysters are expected to be served at Friday’s Oyster Bash at the Lure Fishbar inside the loews hotel … does serve a variety of Florida oysters, but they’re from the east
Original Site Here: Vero Beach Vs Port St Lucie
from On Point Wildlife Removal - (321) 423-2713 - Feed https://onpointwildlife.com/indian-river-county/vero-beach-vs-port-st-lucie/
foresthillsirisgardens-blog
Jun 3, 2018
The Eaton House, a Victorian home in the Union Main Street Historic District
First National Bank of Union Building (historic name, 1881)
Union Rexall Drugstore.
🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃
Motto: "City of Victorian Heritage"
🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃🌱🍃🌿🍃
History
Union was platted on November 11, 1864 along the Oregon Trail.The name references the Union states, or Northern States, of the American Civil War.
La Grande was named the county seat when Union County was created in 1865.
Due to the Thomas and Ruckle Road going through Union, it elected the county seat in 1872, but when the railroad was built it was put through La Grande instead of Union. La Grande became the bigger town within the county and regained the county seat in 1902.
J. W. Shelton, a local attorney, chartered the Union Electric Power and Light Company in March 1890 to bring the railroad from Union Junction (2.5 miles away) to Union itself.
The company was renamed the Union Railway Company in July 1890, and the rail spur was built into Union by August 1892.
Shelton planned to build more lines, had a fight with his company partners (the Hutchinsons), then two competing firms were formed: Shelton's The Union Railway in January 1893, and Hutchinsons' Union Street Railway and Suburban Railway.
Both companies competed to buy the Union Railway Company. Shelton maintained control until August 1905, when The Union Railway was renamed to the Union, Cove and Valley Railway. This company was bought the following year by a timber company from the East Coast.
During the 2006 November elections, Kyle Corbin, an 18-year-old college student, was elected mayor after a successful write-in campaign. He had promised to bring an end to the political chaos that had plagued the town for the last two years, which included three councilmen and mayor Deborah Clark being removed in recall elections. "I know the procedures and rules," he told an Oregonian reporter. "I've run a meeting with a bunch of high school kids." Since then, one newspaper reports that "talk around town about whether the young mayor will succeed ranges from skepticism to sunny optimism."
Geography
Union lies in the extreme southeast corner of the Grande Ronde Valley near the western edge of the Wallowa Mountains. Oregon Route 237 runs through the city between Cove to the north and North Powder to the south. Oregon Route 203 also passes through Union, linking it to La Grande, about 20 miles (32 km) to the northwest. Catherine Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River, passes through the city.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.50 square miles (6.47 km2), all of it land.
The World Rushed In: Northeastern Oregon
Contact and Settlement
Losing the Land
The Cayuse, especially, resented the growing number of settlers coming across the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and the Whitman missionaries, whom they blamed for an outbreak of measles. When some Cayuse killed a dozen people associated with the mission in 1847, it touched off the first Indian war in the Pacific Northwest. Willamette Valley volunteers often attacked Indians indiscriminately. After two years of conflict five of the Cayuse who had participated in the initial killings turned themselves in and were hung. The Cayuse ceded much of their land, then joined the Umatilla and others in the Yakima War that began in 1855, which also ended poorly for them.
The Nez Perce managed to avoid warfare for several decades. Some continued to practice agriculture and Christianity even after their mission closed in 1847, and most lived on the reservation that opened in 1855. They had reserved 7.5 million acres of land in the treaty of 1855, including most of what would later become Wallowa County, but this land base was reduced to less than a million acres in the early 1860s when gold was discovered in the area. Much of the land removed from the reservation was occupied by Chief Joseph’s band, a traditionalist group that lived in the Wallowa Valley. Although they tried to avoid contact with whites, this proved more and more difficult as settlers moved into the valley in the 1870s and the federal government insisted that they move to the much reduced reservation. These Nez Perce decided to flee to Canada in 1877 after several of their young warriors killed some white settlers. This remarkable fighting retreat, the Nez Perce War, led by just 150 men over 1,300 miles, stalled in Montana just short of the Canadian border, where Chief Joseph (Hin-mah-too-yal-lat-kekht) proclaimed that he would “fight no more forever.”
Groups who signed treaties with the federal government sooner rather than later generally received much better treatment. Hallalhotsoot, whose negotiating skills prompted whites to call him the Lawyer, led a contingent of about 3,000 Nez Perce who in 1855 had signed a treaty providing a reservation that included part of their original territory, and he provided the U.S. with warriors to help fight other Indian nations—though many years would pass until promised goods and services finally flowed to the reservation. The seminal 1855 treaty council also created the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla nations relinquished more than 90 percent of their more than six million acres, though they retained the right to hunt, fish, and gather on their traditional lands.
Chief Joseph and the ragged band of 350 Nez Perce who surrendered late in 1877 were promised a reservation close to home. The government instead sent him to Kansas, the Indian Territory in Oklahoma, and then to the Colville Indian Reservation in eastern Washington.
Most of the conflicts of the Columbia Plateau took place outside the boundaries of what would become Oregon. But several skirmishes in the Cayuse War of the late 1840s occurred along the south side of the Columbia River, and Cayuse and Umatilla warriors were among the combatants in a fight in the Blue Mountains in 1856, part of a series of battles in the drawn-out Yakima War.
The major forts were also located outside northeastern Oregon, at The Dalles and Walla Walla. But several short-lived camps or forts were established in the area, such as Camp Watson, near Mitchell, erected in 1864 by Oregon volunteers to protect a road from Snake Indians.
Many territorial and federal soldiers moved through northeastern Oregon. The white militia of the Cayuse War came largely from the Willamette Valley. Subsequent soldiers were usually part of the U.S. Army, though local residents also participated. Through force of arms and treaties, the federal government removed Native peoples from nearly all of the land that white settlers coveted—then surveyed that land and granted it to settlers.
After 1863, the Nez Perce Reservation lay just east of Oregon, in Idaho, and the Warm Springs Reservation was located in central Oregon, south of The Dalles. So the Umatilla Indian Reservation, established by the 1855 treaty and located east of Pendleton, was the only one in northeast Oregon. Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla peoples began moving there in 1860.
The reservation quickly shrank as white farmers and townspeople demanded that it be “opened up.” The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 both divided tribal land into individual allotments that Indians sometimes sold and made the non-allotted land available to non-Indians. By 1890 only a little over 150,000 acres remained, and much of that was lost in the coming years or was rented to non-Indian farmers. The reservation had about 1,000 residents in the late nineteenth century, many of whom kept gardens and cattle while also engaging in fishing, hunting, and gathering. Catholic and Protestant schools educated their children and white teachers tried to get them to dress, speak, and act as Caucasians.
The Indian wars and the seizing of Indian land were dramatic episodes in a tradition of outsiders bringing rapid change to northeastern Oregon, a tradition that would continue to shape the area’s history.
Heinmot Tooyalakekt (Chief Joseph) (1840-1904)
Motto: "I Will Fight No More Forever"
Heinmot Tooyalakekt (Thunder Rising to Loftier Mountain Heights), also known as Chief Joseph, was a prominent figure among the Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce. He is best remembered as a leader during the Nez Perce War of 1877. Although his role in that conflict is much misunderstood, Joseph participated significantly in events leading up to the war, and his shrewd leadership afterward was critical to the Nez Perces’ successful return from exile to the Pacific Northwest.
Joseph was born in 1840 in the Wallowa Valley of eastern Oregon. His father, Tuekakas, or Old Joseph, was the head chief of the largest of many independent Nez Perce bands living in Oregon, central Idaho, and southeastern Washington. Like many Nez Perces, Joseph had relatives among the Cayuses, Walla-Wallas, Palouses, and other groups of the Columbia River Basin.
In 1871, when Joseph took over leadership of his band upon his father’s death, the Nez Perces were increasingly divided and in crisis. After first welcoming whites to the region in the 1830s—Old Joseph himself briefly converted to Christianity—many Nez Perces had become disillusioned and wary at the flood of settlers into the Oregon Country. Alarm grew in 1855 when Washington’s territorial governor Isaac Stevens pressed on them a treaty, followed by a calamitous gold rush into lands of the Idaho bands in 1860-1861.
Union was platted on November 11, 1864
Most disturbing was a highly suspect treaty in 1863 that demanded the surrender of 90 percent of tribal lands. Joseph’s band, which never agreed to the treaty, was one of several that the federal government ordered to abandon their home country and crowd in with all other bands onto a small reservation.
GOLD!
BAKER CITY, Ore. — Back when Seattle was striking it rich by supplying fortune hunters during the Alaska Gold Rush, a smaller rush was booming closer to home. As early as the mid-1800s, prospectors were panning and digging around the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon.
Many Nez Perces—eventually a majority—moved to the reservation; but a large minority resisted, and Joseph emerged as their leading spokesman. In meetings and councils from 1874 to 1877 with army officers, Indian agents, and a delegation from Washington, D.C., he argued persistently that the resistant Nez Perce bands were not bound by the 1863 treaty. As a follower of the Dreamer religion of the Columbia Plateau, he pleaded as well that his people were intimately bound to their homeland and could never leave it and that to become farmers, as the government insisted, would violate the Earth Mother.
Tall and broad-shouldered with a wide, handsome face, Joseph impressed his white adversaries and managed to forestall a showdown until spring 1877. At a council on May 15, General Oliver O. Howard, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific Northwest, insisted that all resisting bands report to the reservation within a month. Joseph, seeing no choice, favored compliance.
On the eve of the deadline, however, warriors from other bands killed about eighteen white settlers, and the Nez Perce War began. After fighting for a few weeks in their home country, the Nez Perces fled eastward to Montana, passed through the newly created Yellowstone National Park, and moved northward toward refuge in Canada. They eluded or defeated their pursuers over and over, only to be caught forty miles short of the U.S.-Canada border at the base of the Bear’s Paw Mountains near present-day Chinook, Montana. At that place, Joseph once again spoke for the bands, in a brief speech of surrender C.E.S. Wood recorded that reportedly ended with “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.”
At that time and afterward, Joseph was called a military genius who had led his people on a remarkable fighting odyssey, but he was never a war leader. He was, rather, a diplomat and a negotiator, and he made his greatest contribution in that role after the war.
Despite a promise that they could return to Idaho, the Nez Perces were sent to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) and told they must remain there. In a visit to the national capital, in presentations in the national press, and in visits with agents and politicians, including President Rutherford Hayes, Joseph played brilliantly on his widely admired image to argue that the Nez Perces had been wronged. Now, accepting defeat, they asked only to return home.
After eight years in exile, the bands were sent back to the Pacific Northwest in 1885. Some returned to the reservation in Idaho, but Joseph and more than half of the rest were sent to the Colville Reservation in north-central Washington Territory. Joseph continued to petition to resettle his people in eastern Oregon. He traveled east several times, meeting with high officials and once riding in the parade at the opening of Grant’s tomb. Nevertheless, except for two brief visits, he was not allowed to return to the Wallowas.
Joseph died in his lodge on the Colville Reservation on September 21, 1904, probably of a heart attack or stroke. His grave, marked by a large monument, is in Nespelem, Washington.
Further Reading
Greene, Jerome A. Nez Perce Summer, 1877: The U.S. Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis. Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2001.
Josephy, Alvin M. The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
McWhorter, Lucullus V. Yellow Wolf: His Own Story. Caldwell, Id.: Caxton Printers, 1995.
Thompson, Scott M. I Will Tell of My War Story: A Pictorial Account of the Nez Perce War. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2000.
West, Elliott. The Last Indian War: The Nez Perce Story. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/chief_joseph_heinmot_tooyalakekt_1840_1904_/#.WxSEN4oh0_5
travelinglifeshighways
May 31, 2018
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
Lawton, Oklahoma
Sunday/Monday, May 27-28, 2018
Clear, 97°
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” —Marcel Proust
Another surprise Traveling Life’s Highways, on a blue line highway off the beaten path in southwest Oklahoma, is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Refuge Marker
It is a one-of-a-kind destination located near Cache and Lawton. The refuge spans over 59,000 majestic acres and is home to free range buffalo, Texas longhorn cattle, prairie dogs, elk, wild turkeys, deer and other wildlife.
Free Range buffalo grazing
There are hiking trails all over so hikers and photographers are astounded by the amount of incredible scenery offered within the refuge.
On the drive to the top of Mount Scott, which stands 2,464 feet above sea level, each turn around the mountain gave a different view of the surrounding area. There are several hundred wind generators to the east, lakes to the south, and toward the west you can see the buffalo and Texas Longhorn cattle grazing in the meadows and fields below. There is a parking lot at the top of the mountain, so you can get out, walk around and enjoy the view.
Additional things to see within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge include the Holy City of the Wichita’s, Quanah Parker Lake and the Parallel Forest.
The Parallel Forest, which consists of large cedars planted exactly six feet apart from one another, stretches as far as the eye can see. Located just over one mile north of the intersection of Cache/Meers Road and Meers Road, the entrance to the Parallel Forest has a small parking lot near the edge of the forest. The trees were originally planted in the early 1900s, but before they were large enough to harvest the area became a refuge.
Arriving in the Refuge there were several events taking place for the Memorial Day weekend. One was the “America’s Run for the Fallen” who were making their way across the refuge among the bison and longhorns grazing nearby.
The America’s Run for the Fallenteam will blaze a tribute trail across our nation, covering 5 months spanning over 6000 miles from San Diego to Arlington National Cemetery, recognizing nearly 20,000 fallen service members since the USS Cole. They left April 7th from California and will arrive in Washington on August 5, 2018
Runner
In one of the most comprehensive tributes ever organized this run will honor every service member who died while serving or as a result of serving since October 12, 2000. Calling each hero’s name out loud mile after mile, every stop will represent a unique chronological date of death.
RV’s supporting the runners
The men and women being honored include every service member who died during the War on Terror while on active duty or as a result of active duty, including all branches of service and all causes of death.
The other was the Tour de Meers, an annual bicycle ride of varying length through the Refuge. Bicyclists can choose routes of varying lengths depending on if they want to ride 10, 22, 36,57 or 62 miles. The longer routes go through the wildlife preserve, where riders can see bison, longhorns, elk, deer, birds and several other species up close.
Tour de Meers, one of the region's oldest and most successful bike rides, is a must-ride for cyclists looking to pedal through a national wildlife refuge, a wind farm and the historic town of Medicine Park, which holds a music festival the same weekend.
Medicine Park was full of people walking through the vendor kiosk areas as well as people hitting the “swimming hole” where Medicine Creek comes down over a waterfall and flows into the swimming hole. There was music most of the day as people milled around town and just before dark the live band music cranked up with many people sitting in their folding chairs to listen as the sun went down and a full moon rose over the mountains.
Lake
It was a beautiful backdrop for a warm May night. This little known area drew in quite a few locals and people drove out from Ft. Sill Army Post in Lawton, Oklahoma to enjoy themselves.
Seeing all of these wonderful animals was a nice surprise as I did not know the buffalo and Texas Longhorns were there. I expected to see deer, elk, and maybe a turkey or two but to see these magnificent animals up close was nothing short of amazing.
Deer moon
There are many herds that number from five or six to over thirty or more scattered over the Reserve.
Buffalo herd
They seem to have daily migration patterns as they moved along about a two mile area crossing the roadway.
Buffalo moon
The Texas longhorn cattle seemed to have similar patterns as they wandered; grazed and crossed to different areas as they moved.
Longhorns by lake
The Longhorns were introduced in 1927 and today, the herd is maintained at about 600 head.
Longhorns crossing road
It felt great to see the buffalo making a comeback from near extinction. Between 1830-1880, the American bison or buffalo was reduced in numbers from 60 million to a mere handful. By 1900 there were but two small wild herds in all of North America, numbering only 550 animals. President Theodore Roosevelt who was concerned for the buffalo, Congress created the Wichita National Forrest and Game Preserve in Oklahoma.
Found the Original marker
The first buffalo came from the New York City Zoo in 1907. There were fifteen loaded on a train, and today are maintained at approximately 600 head. Surplus buffalo in excess of the refuge needs are sold live at public auction. Since 1907, more than 6,000 animals have been removed from the range by sale or donation in order to preserve the high quality of the Wichita grasslands. (Some information from the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge brochure)
magicwebsitesnet
Aug 25, 2018
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’ http://www.nature-business.com/business-hurricane-lane-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-we-dodged-a-bullet/
Business
As Hurricane Lane inched toward Hawaii on Friday, its outer bands bringing landslides, floods and power failures to parts of the archipelago, the mayor of Maui found himself hoping for the last thing he expected to want this weekend: rain.Three fires had broken out in West Maui, he said, possibly caused by downed power lines and likely stoked by the whipping winds. By the afternoon, two fires were completely contained but still burning, and the third, affecting about 1,500 acres, was about 40 percent contained.“We were expecting flooding, high winds, big surf — we weren’t expecting very little rain, heavy winds and a big fire,” the mayor, Alan Arakawa, said. “We’re hoping for just enough rain to put out the fires, not enough rain to have mudslides after that.”But officials caught a break amid the chaos: By late afternoon, the National Weather Service downgraded Lane to a tropical storm, an intense downshift from the Category 3 hurricane it was just 24 hours earlier.
5pm: #Lane has weakened considerably through the day today thanks to strong shear near the islands. Lane is now a Tropical Storm with max winds of 70 mph and still poses a threat for flooding through tomorrow. A Tropical Storm Warning has replaced all Hurricane Warnings. #hiwx pic.twitter.com/A0WSc6LEBZ — NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) Aug. 25, 2018
The storm, which was traveling only a few miles per hour, was expected to continue weakening. But the agency warned that the tropical storm would continue to pose a risk for flooding and could still hurl winds of up to 70 m.p.h.Photo
Fires in Kaanapali, Maui.
Credit Social Media/Reuters
“We dodged a bullet,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu said at a news conference. But he added that “doesn’t mean it’s over.” Continue reading the main story
“We’re going to have rain and wind and local flooding — and we need to be vigilant,” he said.Between the storm’s lumbering speed and Hawaii’s countless microclimates, it was difficult to predict would happen throughout the day Friday. Forecasters warned that the storm was still dangerous, and island residents and visitors, surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, were mostly stuck to watch and wait.“You go to higher ground, hunker down with stored water and canned food, because there’s nowhere else to escape,” said Ron Matayoshi, a volunteer at the McKinley High School emergency evacuation center in urban Honolulu.Gov. David Ige said he had received a phone call on Friday from President Trump, who pledged the support of federal agencies to help the state.
Hurricane Lane Map: Tracking the Storm’s Path Toward Hawaii
By Friday morning, Hurricane Lane had weakened to a Category 2 storm, but the storm continued to dump heavy rainfall on parts of Hawaii.
Forecasters expected the storm to keep moving north before making a westward turn on Saturday, and it was expected to past close to the central islands by Friday night.Alison Nugent, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said the storm was losing strength as the wind shear, which typically weakens hurricanes before they get to Hawaii, finally showed up.But even a weak hurricane could be unpredictable and destructive, Professor Nugent explained, because of the way storms interact with Hawaii’s mountainous and varied topography. Wind can speed up as it flows down a mountainside or through the gaps between the islands. And moist air produces more rain when it hits the side of a mountain.“On one side you may see lots of rain; on the other side you may see lots of wind,” Professor Nugent said. “It’s so localized, valley to valley, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house just in terms of what the impacts may be.”Tropical Storm Lane’s slow speed means that it is likely to dump large amounts of rain. Lingering hurricanes can cause devastating flooding and billions of dollars of damage, as Texans learned last year when Hurricane Harvey stalled over the state.Photo
Credit Jessica Henricks, via Associated Press Professor Nugent said she had considered fleeing the state, but by the time she looked at ticket prices earlier this week, flights were too expensive. On Friday, airports were open but there were delays and cancellations across the state. American Airlines canceled flights in and out of Kahului. Hawaiian Airlines said that some West Coast to Maui flights were delayed and that some inter-island flights were canceled.Nearly all of Hawaii’s commodities come through a harbor in Honolulu, which has been closed by the United States Coast Guard, said Maj. Gen. Arthur J. Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. But he said locals need not worry about running out of food and supplies: Full containers were ready to be moved and ships were on call to be deployed when the harbor reopens.“I feel very confident we’ll keep the supply chain moving,” General Logan said.Throughout the day, it was as if different islands of Hawaii were experiencing different storms.On the Island of Hawaii, torrential rain continued. At one point, Saddle Road, the main east-to-west thoroughfare on the island, was blocked by a landslide. The city of Hilo and other parts of the island’s east side were on their third day of flash-flood alerts, and Rainbow Falls, which is usually a peaceful place, was gushing rivers of brown water. Five tourists from California were rescued from a flooded vacation home in Hilo on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.It all meant that Randy Bruner’s driveway in Pahoa, on Hawaii Island, looked like a rushing creek. “When it’s pouring down rain, there’s a river running through where I live,” Mr. Bruner said.Photo
Employees of a Honolulu hotel filled sandbags in preparation for the storm.
Credit John Locher/Associated Press On Maui, the fires left one woman burned and in need of an air evacuation to Oahu. Officials said more than 900 people were taking shelter in the county, although at one point, a hurricane shelter had to be evacuated because of flames in the area.Victoria Monroe, a tourist from Orange County, Calif., was sheltering in place at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina, with a view of two of the fires.“It was at the top of the hill and it went all the way down toward the ocean,” Ms. Monroe said of one fire. “I thought it was a volcano erupting.”Her vacation was alternating between hellish and picturesque. “It’s still really pretty out here,” she said, hours before an alert in her hotel instructed people to go inside because of “dust storms.”And on the Island of Kauai, residents were still waiting for the winds to pick up, anxious that the storm could lead to a repeat of the flooding that devastated part of the island in April. Those floods breached a major highway in four places, closing it to all but local resident traffic. Tourists were banned.“We’ve been through so many disasters that you have to love it or leave it,” said Teri Tico, a lawyer who lives on the beach in Haena but left ahead of the storm.Mike Kuntz, a Haena resident who is staying put, said he had to console his daughter as the storm approached. “I want to get out of here,” he recalled her saying, “but I have nowhere to go.”Continue reading the main story
Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/us/hawaii-hurricane-lane-updates.html | Jess Bidgood
Business Hurricane Lane Downgraded to Tropical Storm: ‘We Dodged a Bullet’, in 2018-08-25 05:53:38
rivermeanderlust-blog
Oct 7, 2017
Off-season
It has begun. It is fall in the Tetons, and while the cottonwoods are slow to catch on, almost all the other leaves in the Jackson Hole valley are finding themselves new shades of yellows, oranges, and reds.It’s the time of year where most of the skids are waxing their skis and cleaning their boats for storage. Many have purchased their ski passes for the winter back in August, and are traveling to the deserts of Utah to climb, camp, or bike to chase a couple more weeks of summer.I’m no exception to this law of seasonal employment. Recently, a group of friends, tried to chase after an extra week of summer by heading west into the heart of the Frank-Church Wilderness in Idaho, going for a 6 day long river trip down the Main Salmon.Days before we left Jackson, the weather was beautiful in town. 60 and even a few 70 degree days graced the valley, but the weekend before leaving, the weather began to change. Snow was forecasted for the mountain tops, rain in the valley, and that storm front was moving east, coming to us after making a pit stop in the very heart of Idaho where we were to depart.No amount of page refreshing the NOAA website would yield a better forecast. It seems that instead of chasing down summer, we would be rowing headlong into fall. “It’s okay,” we said. Most of us were just excited at the prospect of exploring a new river, some excited for their first multi-day river trip ever, and one excited to go on their first multi-day trip in at least a decade.Upon our arrival in Salmon, ID (a town I could easily see myself retiring in) our group took a quick vote, and we all decided that we would rather brave the comfort of a Super 8 for one last night, rather than camping near the put-in, which was our initial plan. It rained all night, and the clouds lingered on the surrounding mountains for a majority of the next morning. We lingered around the continental breakfast, drinking their coffee, and staring at the weather channel, hoping for improvement. The good news, we wouldn’t be getting snow at the river level, the bad news, we weren’t going to get much sun.We stopped and finalized our supplies, some groceries, propane, beer, and a wicked bottle of Idaho Silver vodka. Then we were off to North Fork, to meet with the ranger on duty..The ranger was sweet and informative. I had never thought about what river etiquette might have to look like with jet boats moving both up and down stream, but she was patient with our group, and informed us of the necessary moves to make when we would eventually encounter that situation. She also informed us of the abundance of poison ivy (a theme that developed in the spring when most of us took a trip together down the Dolores River in Colorado and Utah) which she stated would be around every camp, at the hot springs, and scouts. She also lamented the fact that we didn’t have a dog with us to scare the bears away (alas other rivers with less forgiving dog rules have me convinced I will never have the time for a fido friend).After confirming our numbers and that we had all the required gear (next time we need a shovel bigger than a garden trowel), we were off down the dirt road towards Shoup, past the confluence of the Middle Fork, and arriving at the Cache Bar boat ramp usually reserved for people taking off the Middle Fork. We patiently waited for a group of forest service folks to take out before bringing our shitshow down the the river. I’ve had a fair amount of experience rigging boats, and yet I feel, no amount of rigging experience can expedite this process. Finding homes for all of the gear can definitely become taxing. We also don’t tend to be the crew to pack light. Cases of beer are dutifully duct taped together, food stored in rockets, and dry bags lined on shore. Eventually, as the sun began to wane and a new onslaught of rain began to fall, we ended up just throwing all of the beer in the back hatch of our tiniest boat (Miss Frizzle reporting for duty), with all the chairs on top. We gravity rigged the rest (or rigged to party), to float off the ramp and to the little beach we would call home.The next morning, launch day, altered between rain and almost sunshine. We re-rigged the gear that had been casually thrown in boats, and figured out homes for the rest. After a quick team meeting and a 10am beer start, we made our way to the boats and pushed away from our faithful cars and into the unknown.It may not seem a big deal, but this trip I finally had faith in myself to bring my friend Sarah on board. We have been friends for closer to a decade than not, and the ideas that I might possibly ruin our friendship over our silly adventures have terrified me for years. Twice, I pawned her off onto more experienced oarsmen’s boats, and now, I felt I could bring her on board. What she might not have realized at first though, is besides our paddle cat, my cataraft would be the splashiest ride in the group, the waves, coupled with the rain, left her wet every afternoon by the time we got to camp.Every afternoon, it seemed the weather had a special treat of a rain storm before we got to camp. So every camp’s first task was to set up the party tarp, and try to get a fire going to dry out our soggy socks and our soggy souls. Luckily, we had prepared for this weather, and an awning for the kitchen to keep the cooks and food dry too. In hindsight, I am grateful for the fact that the rain at least stayed rain and did not turn to snow or hail.The Main Salmon is so beautiful, and even through the misery of rain and hangovers, I could absolutely appreciate our surroundings. Granite walls which are black and polished smooth, Ponderosa Pine trees towering higher than almost any tree in Wyoming (my favorite of the pine trees), water clear enough to see the bottom, and friends to indulge and endure all of it together. The rapids flowed by, giant marker rocks and holes in the bigger rapids, and big wave trains in the smaller rapids. Scouts were spicy between crawling on that same smooth granite, and trying not to use the poison ivy hand holds, it wasn’t necessarily easy going. Black Canyon, Bailey Creek, Big Mallard, Elkhorn, and Vinegar Creek rapid were all fun and spicy rapids. Vinegar Creek was arguably the most technical, if only for the reason that we didn’t scout it and the only clear notes were, DON’T HIT THE BIG HOLES.POSTLUDEI never could have predicted this is where I would end up. Enjoying the miserable weather of spring and fall river trips. Rolling cam straps and collecting a mountain of adventure gear. Tossing buckets of money into being an owner of 4 rafts (although only 2 of them are totally ours). And maintaining an on going list of things to continue purchasing to make the dreams keep coming. I never could have guessed that this would become a passion. Collecting sand in sleeping bags, dry bags, socks, pants, buttcracks, and loving every second of it. Losing my hairbrush EVERY FREAKING TRIP. Packing more clothes than necessary and not wearing half of them.
This is my dream. This is passion. This is what I live for!
My boating family means a lot to me, and even though I manage to find a way to be the hottest of messes, I think that mostly they love me back. I am counting down the days until permit season when I can hopefully get the band back together. Alas, next year, we are splitting our time, some doing a spring Grand Canyon trip and some doing a fall Grand Canyon trip, and that future is unknowable. I only hope that they look forward to our next trip as much as I do!
lindoig
Sep 23, 2017
Days 148 to 150
Thursday, we got back on the road again. We loaded up the car with all the things we had salvaged from the van over the previous few days, topped up our fuel at a discount bowser we found out about last time we were in Kununurra (17 cents a litre cheaper about 5km out of town), collected our van with its nice new axle, adjusted the tyre pressures all the way around and headed for Timber Creek.
We were almost 100 km back over the border into the NT when we were flagged down by a young German couple with a flat tyre. They had bought an old Jeep Cherokee from a dealer in Perth for their Australian travels, but each wheel has a security nut on it and the dealer hadn't given them the corresponding spanner to remove it. We tried to help, but nothing in any of our boxes of gear fitted, so we lent them our sat phone to call the RACWA for help. They were only basic roadside service customers so we are not sure what their exact entitlements were, but after about an hour on the phone with frequent dropouts and restarts, they gave up and decided that the guy would hitchhike the 126km back to Kununurra for help while his girlfriend stayed to guard the car. I hope things worked out for them. It was very hot, but it was near a station gate so I suggested that the car might be safer (and she would attract less attention) if they drove the car the 50 metres off the road so it looked like the farmer's car, rather than someone broken down and potentially vulnerable. I asked them to email us how they got on, but haven't heard anything yet.
We had been on these roads not long ago and had already made most of the detours along the way so we just kept going, made good time and just fuelled up (both diesel and greasy comestibles) in Timber Creek and kept going to the Victoria River Roadhouse where we camped overnight. This was well over 300 clicks for the day, a little surprising given our Good Samaritan hour or so with the German tourists and losing 90 minutes when we crossed the border into the NT.
Friday, we were up early enough, but enjoyed the air conditioner while we did an hour or so editing photos for our blogs before braving the heat and heading for Katherine. We had spent more time in Katherine on both of our compulsory stays earlier in our trip, so apart from buying some lunch, we just kept going, intending to camp ar Mataranka (or the Roper River Stockcamp that we enjoyed so much last time). As it turned out, we were there before mid-afternoon so just kept going and camped at the Hiway Roadhouse instead, where we stayed on our way back from Borroloola. Burketown and Camooweal a couple of months ago. Did just over 500 clicks for the day - a big day for us this trip.
Now we had a choice: to return home via Alice Springs and perhaps detour around the Eyre Peninsula or the SA/Victorian coast, or to head east and return through outback Queensland and NSW.
As it turned out, we decided to do a bit of both. On Saturday, we drove 350 kms south to Three Ways just short of Tennant Creek, then turned east on the Barkly Highway and did the 190 km along there to the Barkly Homestead Roadhouse where we camped on Saturday night. It was an uneventful drive with few stops and not a lot to look at. One interesting thing though is that there is still a lot of fuel reduction burning going on with huge columns of smoke, a lot of haze and a sniff of smoke in many places. The fires seem to generate quite a few willy-willies and it has been interesting to watch the black swirls turn orange and back to black again as they laze their way across areas of blackened earth and unburned areas still red with natural dust. Sometimes we have seen bands of red and black in the vertical swirling mass as different strata are drawn higher into the vortex. When we arrived at the Roadhouse, a young guy came up to me and asked if we got caught in the wind. He said they drove through an hour or two ahead of us and encountered winds so strong that he had trouble keeping his car on the road. They stopped, but then couldn't get the car doors open because the wind was so strong it kept the doors from opening. I am glad we didn’t get caught up in that: I'm not sure how our caravan or the stuff on our roof rack would have coped with it.
Not quite sure of the rest of our route home, but to avoid rough roads, it is probably Camooweal, Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Winton for a start.
chemdrykawarthas-blog
Sep 17, 2017
NDP Leadership 2017: The Rebel Yell Of Charlie Angus
Their round faces and bright brown eyes dot the bookshelves of Charlie Angus' Parliament Hill office.
The Northern Ontario MP knows each of their names, where they were from, and how they died. Most are from his TimminsJames Bay riding.
Courtney Koostachin of Attawapiskat died of a rare cancer, probably from the benzenes that contaminate her school's grounds.
Sheridan Hookimaw, 13, died by suicide. She lived in a two-bedroom, mould-infested house with 20 relatives in Attawapiskat, suffered several health problems, and was being bullied at school.
Sylvain Noel of Timmins died of cancer.
Trina Martin died in house fire in Kashechewan, a community that had no fire truck or fire-fighting equipment.
Christine Ellison of Wahgoshig First Nation died by suicide.
So did Chantel Fox and Jolynn Winter, both 12, from Wapekeka First Nation.
Months before the pair's January deaths, Ottawa had denied emergency funds for the Wapekeka First Nations to address a suicide pact it discovered among its youth. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal later found that the federal government had acted so slowly in responding to Indigenous health-care needs that it had squandered "any chance of preventing" the tragedy.
Then, there is Shannen Koostachin, who died after a car accident outside of New Liskeard where she was attending high school. Koostachin lived with Angus and his family for a year while she studied.
A passionate advocate for the right to quality education for First Nations children living on reserves, she began a campaign that drew national attention. After her death, Angus continued "Shannen's Dream" to end chronic underfunding of Indigenous education; it culminated in a parliamentary motion and a new school in Attawapiskat. Koostachin's fight is the subject of one of Angus' seven books: Children of the Broken Treaty: Canada's Lost Promise and One Girl's Dream.
These boys and girls are some of the people Angus is best known for fighting for. Their struggles and their communities' struggles for clean drinking water, safe housing conditions, and access to education are the images that come immediately to mind when Angus' name is mentioned, former MP Libby Davies noted Friday in endorsing him for the party's leadership.
"I landed with Charlie because, well, he has this common touch, and smile, and fierceness that draws me along the political path ahead of us," she said.
Angus is not your typical MP. The former punk rocker-turned journalist-turned activist likes to note in his campaign material that he didn't own a suit until Jack Layton - the revered late leader of the NDP - asked him to join the party.
He bought one, for $100, and then ran and won a seat in 2004. That's when he became the voice of a blue-collar, rural, largely Indigenous riding that "had been abandoned by the insiders in Ottawa."
Having sat out the 2012 leadership contest to replace Layton (he backed a friend, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar), Angus said that he joined the race this time because the party needs an authentic voice.
"To me, the fundamental issue of our time is that more and more people are tuned out of politics. They don't believe that politicians speak for them," he said in an interview on HuffPost Canada's politics podcast, Follow-Up. "More and more people feel they are being written off the political and economic map ....
"I really believe the 2019 [election] will be [fought] over the question of who is the authentic voice for Canada, and that's where New Democrats have to place ourselves."
Listen to Follow-Up podcast: The Rebel Yell Of Charlie Angus
Angus is known as that MP who vigorously defends his people and his positions. He is partisan and isn't afraid to throw barbs, from calling Trudeau "Trump's poodle" to telling New Democrats he would have no trouble defeating a Liberal government, even if it meant giving the Conservatives power.
"I didn't get into politics to carry the plates of the Liberal dinner," he told New Democrats at the party's Saskatoon debate this summer.
He is passionate. He speaks plainly. And instead of getting into the weeds of policy, he tells stories about the people he is fighting for.
Matt Dub, a Quebec MP who is staying neutral in the race, said Angus brings something to the race that a lot of people can appreciate: "A more human side."
Angus' campaign prefers a simpler slogan: "I've got your back."
* * *
Charles Joseph Angus was born on Nov. 14, 1962, in Timmins, Ont. He was named after both his paternal grandfather, Charlie Angus, who died on the shop floor at the Hollinger gold mine six months before his birth, and his maternal grandfather, Joseph MacNeil, who broke his back underground at the McIntyre gold mine.
Angus was the second child. Kathleen, his oldest sister by a year, died this August. They have two younger siblings, Mary and Michael.
They all shared a house with their parents and paternal grandmother.
"It was a typical dwelling in Timmins, Ontario - a cramped, poorly insulated house built for the families of miners. My parents were born into such housing and probably thought they would die in such housing," he recounted in an article in "Compass: A Jesuit Journal" in 1997.
Money was tight and, as children of miners, university had been out of reach for his parents. Angus' father, John, left school at 16 or 17, on the advice of a math teacher who believed he could be spared working in the mines. Instead, he joined a brokerage office selling penny stock - work that Angus compares to working the local lottery system.
His mother, Anne-Marie, left school at 15 to work as a telephone operator. She took correspondence courses at night and became a secretary.
In 1964, the Kidd Creek mine, the biggest base-metal deposit in the world, was established outside of town. As luck would have it, Angus wrote, his father was friends with the crew that mapped out the primarily copper and zinc ore body, and he invested what little savings the family had into the mine.
"It was a good move. To celebrate, we moved into a new split-level modern home."
His father invested the rest of his earnings in a university education. At age 40, he went back to school, and became an economics professor at Seneca College, giving the family a "legitimate toehold into the middle class." They moved to Toronto in 1973, when Angus was 11.
Musical childhood
Angus describes his childhood as one fuelled by traditional music and sing-alongs.
The Angus were Scottish. The MacNeils were from Cape Breton. Both sides of the family loved music and kitchen parties.
On Saturday nights, Joseph MacNeil would host ceilidhs at their house in the Italian "Moneta" district of Timmins. The neighbours - francophones, Italians, and countless Scots and Cape Bretoners - would come over with food, Angus recounted.
"The deal was, we could stay up as long as we could keep singing. I learned all the old Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton songs."
That tradition followed them to Toronto. "It still forms the central event of any family get-together. At my recent sister's funeral, we sang in the church, sang at the grave site and then went back to my brother's, where we sang a long list of Celtic songs."
His paternal grandmother also followed the family to Toronto. It was "Granny Angus" who took Angus under her wing and taught him everything about politics.
"[She] was radicalized and traumatized by the First World War. She told vivid stories of the trenches and the wholesale slaughter of the young men from her tenement neighbourhood. 'You must always watch out for politicians who send boys to die,' she used to lecture me.
"She was a gifted storyteller and had developed tough working-class politics. She liked a good scrap. She was so worried about me going to school in Timmins as a little boy that she taught me how to box. Her uncle had been a bare-fisted boxer on the docks of Dundee. Turns out I wasn't much for the physical fights of schoolyard existence, but I learned how to use my wit and facility with language to survive the school yard."
Clash album was 'ticket out'
Angus hated Toronto. He vividly recalls the 12-hour bus ride from their beautiful home in Timmins to a small row house in Scarborough where seven family members would now live on top of each other.
"For my parents, our new home was just a more modern version of the housing they had grown up in. For my siblings and me, however, it was a major shock."
It was very loud in the house and then, when Angus was 15, he discovered his first Clash album.
"That was my ticket out. Because [of] the punk movement, suddenly there was colour in the world of beige and black and white, and it made me think, you know, maybe it is possible to just do something completely different."
He formed a punk band with a neighbourhood friend, Andrew Cash, and made a plan to quit school and go on the road. At 18, one year shy of graduation, Angus and Cash began touring with their band, L'etranger, a tribute to Albert Camus' novella.
"We were young intellectuals," he explained. They toured with the Dead Kennedys, Billy Idol, Violent Femmes.
They organized youth movements, participated in projects such as "Rock Against Racism, speaking out against the neo-Nazi movement. They sang to protest against apartheid in South Africa. They were rockers with a social conscience.
At the end of August 1982, Angus met Brit Griffin, a university student from Edmonton who had come to one of his shows. Sparks flew. They moved in together three months later, and married three years after that. "We are best pals," he said of his wife of more than 30 years.
In 1985, after three albums with L'etranger, Angus quit the band and opened a Catholic Worker house for the homeless in Toronto's east end.
He and Griffin were inspired by the story of Dorothy Day, a Catholic social justice advocate. "We dealt with men coming out of prison, runaways, refugees, drug and alcohol addictions. We had no background. No experience and no money. But we managed to raise the funds to put a down payment down and ran the house for five years until we moved up north."
In a Hill Times article soon after his first election, Angus recalled being robbed 10 times when he ran the house and having a man once threaten to murder him. "Every time we were robbed, the money would miraculously appear," he told the Canadian Catholic News.
While in Toronto, Angus joined another band, the Juno-nominated Grievous Angels, with whom he still performs occasionally today.
In 1990, Angus and Griffin moved to Cobalt in northern Ontario, "just as all the mines were shutting down, and the grocery store was shutting down, and the French school was shutting down, and everyone was saying it was a dying mining town, and said, 'Well, here we are.'"
By then, they had two daughters: Mariah, born in 1988, and Siobhan, who arrived that year. Lola followed in 1998.
They moved up north for "an adventure," Angus told HuffPost. "To raise our kids in a different place. And we fell in love with Cobalt. It is a wild, different place."
First, he worked as a chimney sweep and a roofer, despite being terrified of heights. Then, he and Griffin built barns.
"Then I decided I didn't want to do that, so we started a magazine. And so we ran the magazine for about 10 years and I became a journalist."
In 1995, the couple started the bi-monthly HighGrader magazine, devoted to Northern Ontario stories. A year later, they wrote a book about the struggles of the working-class community they now called home: We Lived a Life and Then Some: The Life, Death and Life of a Mining Town.
Angus went to work as a freelance journalist for the CBC and TV Ontario. "And then I ran the blockade on the Adams mine, and that was it. I was done. I was done on TV. I was done on CBC. [They] fired me that day."
In 1999, Angus started covering a proposal to dump Toronto's garbage and toxic waste in the closed-down Adams Mine near Kirkland Lake, Ont. He became a key organizer in stopping the project, which many feared would contaminate the area's groundwater.
The intense fight against the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris, who had amended environmental assessment legislation to help greenlight the project, taught him a number of "street lessons."
"I learned how to investigate. I learned how to study the opposition really well. We hired a private eye to follow Mike Harris to a meeting in a big Italian restaurant in North Toronto. Photographed all licence plates to find out who was at the meeting with him. And then we released it to the media," he said, laughing. He wrote about his experience in another book, the critically acclaimed Unlikely Radicals: The Story of the Adams Mine Dump War.
Blacklisted from traditional news outlets, Angus went to work with the Timiskaming First Nation on their land claim project. Then the Algonquins of Barriere Lake hired him as their negotiator in talks with Quebec's Parti Qubcois government in their battles to protect their territory.
I learned how to study the opposition really well.Charlie Angus
All the while, he was leading protests, manning roadblocks, and using HighGrader to mount opposition to the Adams Mine project.
In 2004, the proposal was finally dropped and the garbage ended up going to Michigan.
"The lesson I learned," he said, "is that we won those bottles because we built community. Bringing farmers and First Nation people together. Bringing blue-collar workers and urban environmentalists. Like, people who'd never work together .... I learned how to build on the smarts that ordinary people have."
It was during the Adams Mine protest that Angus met Layton.
"Jack kept asking me to run."
Eventually, Angus relented.
Angus has been frequently cited as one of the best and most effective members of Parliament. Soon after he was first elected, he helped expose the water crisis in Kashechewan First Nation. In 2005, he received national attention when, in the middle of the same-sex debate, the Roman Catholic diocese in Timmins threatened to deny him communion for supporting the Liberals' legislation.
"I never did go back to the parish ... but I have been welcome everywhere else," Angus told Power & Influence magazine earlier this year.
He won his seat in 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015. After the NDP's disappointing third-place finish in the last election, Angus was one of the first MPs calling for a rethink.
"We have to start a complete rebuilding of the party, the brand and our identity," he told The Globe and Mail back in 2015.
Now, Angus is running on a platform to do just that.
"I don't believe status quo is good enough with our party, and I think we really need to have a vision, to talk about why we exist and where we're going," he told HuffPost.
"If we made one huge mistake in 2015, it was a belief that that it was our time. It's never your time. It's only your time if you make it your time. I think we were a little too careful."
The party became very centralized in Ottawa, he said, and very bureaucratic.
"We lost touch with our grassroots, and if there's a difference between the social democratic party and the other parties, it's [that] we really have to always be very tuned in to the grassroots, to the ordinary members, and we lost that."
The 2016 election of Donald Trump in the United States was a wake-up call, he said. He doesn't want to cede ground to "political arsonists on the right," he added, but blue-collar workers and the working class need an advocate who is in tuned with their priorities.
"The danger for the New Democratic Party is, you know, we love our policy and we love the latest issues and that, but back home, people are struggling to get by, their kids can't pay for their university, people who once had secured work are being downsized to permanent part-time and permanent contract work, and they're saying 'yes, so what do you guys have to offer?'
"I think I'm the person who can bridge the gap between the northern blue collar, the industrial blue collar, plus a lot of urban young people who are almost creating their own economy because they don't have the the possibility of permanent work ....
"I want to be a leader of a party that's fiery and feisty but also offering solutions to move us forward," he added.
Some of his key proposals include:
Reinvest a $4-billion surplus from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation into housing needs across the country (co-op projects, affordable housing rentals, new social housing)
A new national low-income housing benefit to provide low-income Canadians with financial assistance towards rent in non-subsidized buildings. He also pledges to end homelessness.
An Indigenous children's ombudsperson who can initiate investigations, respond to complaints and compel the federal government to act
A full audit of the Indigenous Affairs department and Health Canada's indigenous programs. Shift decision-making powers to Indigenous communities.
Legislative national caps on greenhouse gas emissions and a national carbon budget council that would advise the government on what those caps should be.
A new Crown corporation to help fund green infrastructure that would replace the Liberals' infrastructure bank.
During the leadership race, Angus has been criticized for not clearly stating where he stands on the Kinder Morgan pipeline. He has raised concerns about the approval of the project but hasn't said he opposes it. He told New Democrats at a debate in Vancouver that he is concerned about the transition away from heavy crude and what it means for those employed in the sector.
"How do we do that without just simply laying off 60,000 workers overnight, because that's not going to get us to our goal ... either," he said.
On another flash point, Quebec's Bill 62 - proposed legislation that would prevent women wearing the niqab or burqa from both providing and accessing government services - Angus has also walked a fine line.
He's "very wary of trusting politicians to tell women how to dress. Politicians will exploit these issues, exploit fears, exploit examples that are very, very rare to strike up fear." At the same time, he's sensitive to Quebec's experience of secularism arising from the province's Quiet Revolution.
"As national leader, I will certainly express my concern, but I also want to participate with progressive movements in Quebec," he said about any opposition that might build towards the legislation. "Let's see what these solutions are, and let's make sure that they are Charter-compliant," he said.
Angus said he's unsure why challenger Guy Caron, the lone Quebec MP in the race, decided to make it a leadership issue.
"We do respect the jurisdiction of Quebec, but Quebec respects the jurisdiction of the courts, and all laws have to be compliant with the Bill of Rights and the Charter," he said.
Of course, the province can always decide to invoke the notwithstanding clause.
'Leaders have to be bridge builders'
This week, Quebec NDP MP Pierre Nantel wrote an open letter saying the new NDP leader needs to respect the will of the National Assembly. The proposition Layton made to social progressives in Quebec when he asked them to join the New Democrats was based on that understanding, he told reporters gathered in Hamilton, Ont. for the party caucus and leadership showcase.
"I think it's important to recognize [that,] yes, Quebec went through a lot of trauma under the church, and, hey, I know what that's like," Angus said, referring to his troubles with his local parish. "I'm hopeful that the conversation in Quebec will play out in a way that is respectful of minority rights. And not using minority women for blaming for fear, and now that's my one concern and that's where I'll speak up.
"... Leaders have to stand up, and leaders have to be bridge builders. That's a huge responsibility, and that's something I'm trying to do in my campaign."
houstonlocalus-blog
Aug 9, 2017
Dirty Mouth: The Best of The Week
Lil Yachty, Photo: Capitol Records
It’s still hot as Hell outside, but that’s okay because the summer tours are still rolling through town. This week we’ll get visited by the likes of Lil Yachty, White Denim and Rod Stewart, to name a few, while locals like Pecos Hank, LACE and Mojave Red will round out the week. Houston, here’s your road map for the next seven days.
Wednesday you can begin at Raven Tower when Houston-born and Austin-transplantBuenos Diaz returns to perform on the back patio. Diaz has an infectious sound that’s kind of like if Elvis Costello was born here in Texas. His latest release, Buenos Diaz, is full of songs you can’t help but love, and his live sets are a mix of fun and rock energy. The all-ages show gets going around 7:30 pm and it’s free.
On Thursday, you can head to the greenroom at Warehouse Live for the dirty rock-and-roll of Austin’s Fair City Fire. Supporting last year’s The Simple Truth, these guys sound like their bluesy grooves might be worth making it out for. The rock of Houston’s Londale will be on as direct support, while the indie folk noise of Virginia Beach’s Feral Conservatives will go on prior. The ambient rock of Houston’s East of Eado will open the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.
Bert Kreischer, Photo: LEG Management
Over at Improv, a weekend of laughs with Bert Kreischer will kick off. Kreischer may be best known for his stories of growing up in Russia, or perhaps the nickname “the machine,” but he’s seriously one of the funniest comics going. Host of Travel Channel’s “Trip Flip,” he’s been on Letterman, WTF with Marc Maron, and is a globe-trekking comic that regularly sells out his shows. Two of Houston’s better up and comers will be on as host and feature acts for the 18 & up shows. The Thursday set has doors at 7:15 pm and tickets between $25 and $25.
At White Oak Music Hall upstairs, the hip hop of Seattle’s Ryan Caraveo will be on full display. Caraveo made his name as a positive force through his infectious tracks — but that doesn’t mean that he’s soft. While his music contains electro-pop elements, his latest,Maybe They Were Wrong,is as catchy as it is legit. The electronica of Houston’s MIEARS will be on hand as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.
Substance, Photo: Josh Robicheaux
Rito’s Bar will have the feminist punk of Illinois’ PRYSS. Rumored to be an intense band to catch, their album Sisyphus is pretty heavy and dark. The crazy rolling-on-the-floor-punk of Houston’s Substance will provide direct support, while FRISK will play for the first time beforehand. The show is seemingly all-ages and gets going around 8:30 pm with a $5 or pay what you can cover.
Friday you could start off at Cactus for the Author Session for the book Women In Punk Vol. 1 from Houston’s David Ensminger. Of course, Ensminger plays drums for The Hates and performs in other bands, but music history is really where he shines. There will be performances from Screech of Death, No Love Lessand Mel Hell and the Texas Mod Crushers as well. The free all-ages event gets going around 6 pm, and there should be gratis beer for the adults.
St Joseph Professional Building, Photo: Jordan Asinas
Insomnia Gallery will have a pretty cool show called Through The Viewfinder. Featuring photography from the likes of Jordan Asinas, Daniel Jackson, Scott Holleman, Jorge Luna and many, many more, the show should offer a glimpse ofwhat photographers see in the everyday world. There will be a DJ, food trucks, and some form of donation based “bar.” The all-ages event gets going around 7 pm, there’s more information available here, and the $5 cover goes towards the showcase for the following year.
At Satellite Bar, the New York-born and Austin-transplanted indie folk pop of Sherry will be on full display when the band performs their set. Sherry blends acoustic pop with garage undertones all over their latest,Not Brandy, Not Whiskey, which came outthis year. The dream pop of Houston’s Such Marvelous Monsters will be on as direct support and openers for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and a free cover for the adults or $7 for the kiddos.
Washed Out, Photo: Paradigm Agency
At White Oak Music Hall downstairs, you can get down to the chillwave sounds of Washed Out. Best known for his song “Feel It All Around,” or the theme to the show Portlandia, this guy makes songs that make you wanna get down or make out — or both. His latest drop, this year’s Mister Mellow, keeps the jams flowing, and it should make for a legit live show. There’s no word of support or openers, but that could change on the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $18.50 and $22.
Stereo Live will host the always fun and groove-heavy sounds of Laidback Luke. The popular producer, hailing from the Netherlands, brings plenty of heat to his live sets, and his latest single, “With Me,” keeps the temperature high. So get ready to get down! The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets for $15.
Pecos Hank, Photo: Jay Dryden Photography
Continental Club will have a barn burner when Pecos Hank and Craig Kinsey stop by to perform. Hank has been going strong between storm chasing and releasing a full-length as well as just releasing a video for “Drive Under the Moon.” Kinsey has been holed up outside of town living a more bohemian life, but his last release,The Nylon Sessions, is a true tour de force. The two are definitely worth making it out for on the 21 & up show that has doors at 10 pm and a $10 cover.
On Saturday, you could begin at Satellite Bar for the ATX vs. HOU Punk Fest. The all-day affair will feature sets from Austin acts like Yikes and All Opposed as well as many others. The Houston side of things features Dead to The World, Patterns, Revels and many more. There’s more information available here for the all-ages event that has doors at 3 pm and a $12 cover.
Later on at Smart Financial Center, rock legend Rod Stewart will bring his soulful voice to the Sugarland venue. Of course, with The Faces, Stewart rivaled acts like the Rolling Stones. As a solo artist, he’s racked up hits like “Maggie May,” Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “All For Love,” and many, many more. His last album, 2015’s Another Country, proved that the singer hasn’t lost his touch. His live shows are pretty impressive for a guy his age. Eighties pop star Cyndi Lauper will be on as opener and direct support for the all-ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $94.50 and $154.50.
Of course, I’d guess most of you would be at Warehouse Live in the ballroom,where Lil Yachty will bring his hop hop to town. Supporting his latest,Teenage Emotions, the Atlanta rapper will be worth making it out for, as he’s been popping off as of late. There’s no word of support or openers, but that may change. Every prepaid ticket receives a physical CD of the new album on the al- ages show with doors at 6:30 pm with tickets between $29.50 and $35.
Mark Drew, Photo: Henry McRae Dillard
Over at House of Blues, Houston’s Mike Jones will return with his chopped and screwed era hip hop. That’s not to say that Jones has been sleeping, but he’s also due for a new record, as his last album was over eight years ago with The Voice. Doeman will bring his heavy hitting rap on as direct support, while the mic prowess of Genesis Blu will go on prior, as will the skills of T2 The Ghetto Hippie. Mark Drew will come from behind the mixing board to drop a set as well, while Chain$mokewill get the all-ages show started. The doors are at 7 pm and carry tickets for $15.
Walter’s will host the indie-emo-goodness of Rome Hero Foxes. While their least release, this year’sI/O, was an acoustic, stripped down album, the previous one from last year,For When You’re Falling Backwards, is a pretty impressive one. Full of hooks and catchy melodies, their live shows are definitely worth making it out for. The alt rock of Houston’s Shalva will be on as direct support, while the surf rock of Sleepy Dog will go on beforehand. Peach Creek will open up the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
Mojave Red, Photo: Dani Willie
Continental Club has the cassette release party for Houston psych rockers Mojave Red. While they’re definitely stretching their legs with their latest, “Fading Out,” teaming up with new label Wallflower Records is definitely a step in the right direction. Mix in their solid live sets and you have a nice recipe for success. Austin’s Summer Fires will be on as support, while the high energy of Houston’s texture:Yellow will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.
Over on William Street, you can get your groove on for the Dog Daze show. With a headlining set from NYC’s J. Albert and performances from Miguel Flaco back to back with Noey Lopez, this should be a burner of a show. Kona FM will bring her DJ jams on as well, while Collin Hedrick will go on prior. DJ Naomi will open things up with doors at 9 pm and a $10 cover for the BYOB show.
Zack Palmer, Photo: Jordan Asinas
On Sunday, you could roll by Little Dipper for some afternoon weirdness from Zack Palmer and Andrew Sainz of Walter’s fame. The two will drop DJ sets of music you probably won’t hear anywhere else, and it should make for a nice way to cool off in this Summer heat. The 21 & up event starts at 3 pm and runs until 6, and it’s free to attend.
Later on at Walter’s, the dark punk of Philadelphia’ Blank Spell will swing through to perform. Like taking the elemental darkwave and new wave elements and placing them on punk, this three piece is an act you should see, as they rarely roll through our city. Their latest release, this year’sMiasma,is pretty legit. The post punk of Pennsylvania’s Haldol will be on as direct support, while the hardcore of Houston’s LACE will go on beforehand. Rough Sleepers will open things up for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm with an $8 cover.
Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble, Photo: Olia Eichenbaum
On Monday, Walter’s will host France’s Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble over for a very rare performance. Sadier, best known as lead singer for the ’90selectro-pop group Stereolab, has been carving out a respectable solo career for the past fifteen years. While this year sees her solo efforts coming to full force with Find Me Finding You, the release is one of the most beautiful and intriguing electronic works you can hear. Almost like a modern day version of “The Girl From Ipanema,” this is definitely a show you won’t want to miss because it doesn’t come this way very often. Heather Trost of Neutral Milk Hotel will be on as direct support, while Houston’s El Lago will bring their dreamy indie rock on as openers. The all-ages show has doors at 8 pm and a $12 cover.
Tuesday in the greenroom at Warehouse Live, Whitney Flynn of the band Days N Daze will kick off her solo tour. While I’m not certain what that will sound like, I’m sure it’ll be worth making it out for. The Celtic punk of The Real McCoys will be on as direct support, while the trippy pop of Motion Hotel will go on prior. The hip hop of Baytown’s Virgil Wolfe will get things started on the all-ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets for $5 or $8 for the kids.
Over at Rudyard’s they will host Grown-Up Storytime, the popular show series from Bootown.Of course, you probably know about the story reading series because it’s become a well-known thing for visitors to our city. What you may not know is that both of these shows at 8 pm and at 10 pm can easily sell out. So if you want to attend the 21 & up shows with a $5 cover, you should get there early.
That’s about it around town this week. No matter what you do and where you go, please remember that a safe ride home is just an app away.
Dirty Mouth: The Best of The Week this is a repost
vivianbates
Jul 28, 2017
Coyote Wall in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Take a drive through the Columbia River Gorge and you’re sure to be impressed by a diagonal band of cliffs on the Washington side of the gorge that rise from the river toward the mountains above. These grand and daunting cliffs are called Coyote Wall or the Syncline. A network of single-track trails and old jeep roads extend up alongside the columnar basalt ledge. Coyote Wall is quite popular with mountain bikes and is a howl for hikers too. One of the many possible routes (described here) ascends 1,575 feet on a 5.8-mile partial loop, using Little Maui Trail, Little Moab Trail, and Coyote Wall Trail to reach Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint and excellent views of the wall and Columbia River Gorge.
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The trek begins from Coyote Wall Trailhead located, just off Highway 14 beneath the basalt cliffs. A United States Forest Service kiosk welcomes you to “Coyote Wall and Catherine Creek Trail System” and provides a map of all the trails you’ll be hiking (Little Moab Trail #4424, Little Maui Trail #4425, Old Ranch Road Trail #4426, and Coyote Wall Trail #4428). Have a look up Coyote Wall and take stock of your legs adversary for the day. Fortunately for your legs, you’ll walk around the bottom of the wall, rather than climb up it. The hike starts out with a quick easy walk, heading east along a paved surface. Follow Old Highway 8 for 0.45 miles. To the right, you can look out across the small body of Locke Lake toward Highway 14, a rail line, and the Columbia River. On your left, the road passes the bottom of Coyote Wall. Lichen-decorated rocks tower over the road. A few fallen boulders will put a swerve in your step. In the early months of the year, water can cascade over the side of the cliffs.
Water pours from Coyote Wall
As you pass the end of Coyote Wall, come to the first junction, which is marked with a sign and old wooden fencing. Turn left up Old Ranch Road Trail, leaving the pavement. This trail, which grows wider, rises a long way up the slope east of the cliffs, passing both ends of Little Maui Trail and Little Moab Trail below Coyote Wall Trail. Though you could follow the Old Ranch Road for 1.82 miles, gaining 700 feet up to Coyote Wall Trail, hikers will probably prefer to check out the single tracks instead. Little Moab Trail goes along the edge of the wall and is more rocky and rough than the long switchbacks and easy curves of gradual Little Maui Trail. It is easier hike up Little Maui Trail and explore Little Moab Trail on the descent.
Old Ranch Road Trail leaves Old Highway 8
Hike a hundred yards up Old Ranch Road Trail to an unmarked split. To the left, a shortcut trail rises through outcroppings to the junction where Little Maui Trail leaves Old Ranch Road Trail. Taking the shortcut shaves about 0.15 miles off the hike, but is definitely steeper. Unless you’re punishing yourself, save the shortcut for the descent and continue to the right up Old Ranch Road Trail.
Old Ranch Road Trail rises above Old Highway 8 at a nearly parallel angle, offering nice early views across the Columbia River Gorge. Look east up the river toward Stacker Butte. As you go around a bend to the left, spot an alluring area of basalt formations just to the east. You’ll get a closer look at this area, known as the Labyrinth, from Little Maui Trail.
After a quarter mile on Old Ranch Road Trail, come to a marked junction with Little Maui Trail. Turn right to proceed up the Hawaiian side of Coyote Wall.
Little Maui Trail rises to the north, ascending a grassy bowl between volcanic formations. Cross a creek after 0.15 miles on this trail. Farther up, Little Maui Trail borders cascades along this creek and crosses the creek once again to return to Old Ranch Road Trail.
Looking east toward the Labyrinth and the Columbia River
Head east from the first creek crossing and weave up switchbacks with picturesque views up the Columbia River. The volcanic playground of the Labyrinth draws wandering eyes to the east. Cross over a rise and return to the creek alongside a string of cascades. Proceed up the trail through a long switchback to the east before coming to the creek alongside more cascades. Again, a switchback to the east takes you away from the creek and then pulls you back. Duck under a low tree branch as you pass through a pocket of oaks by the creek.
Cascades along Little Maui Trail
Head east on one last switchback with views over the Labyrinth. At the end of this switchback, after 0.95 miles on Little Maui Trail, the trail splits. Take the highroad to the left or bear right to curve up the bottom of a depression. Either way, the paths soon come back together and head west to approach the creek for a final time. Cross the creek and proceed another 100 yards up a slope to the top of Little Maui Trail. After 1.2 miles on Little Maui Trail and 1.9 miles from the start of the hike, meet Old Ranch Road Trail and turn right to head uphill.
Bikers at the top of Little Maui Trail
As soon as you get underway on Old Ranch Road Trail, it curves to the left and heads southwest up a grassy slope. Sun-drenching wildflowers show their colors on these slopes in the spring. Around the next bend to the right, pass the top of Little Moab Trail. If you turned left down this trail, that would result in a 3.6-mile hike. For now, keep curving to the right and in a few more steps you will come to another marked junction at the bottom of Coyote Wall Trail.
Turn left up Coyote Wall Trail. To this point, you will have ascended 750 feet over 2.13 miles. Approximately 825 feet remain in the ascent to Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint and you can reach the vista in 0.85 miles, 1.2 miles, or somewhere in between. This is because Coyote Wall Trail is actually two trails. A double-track jeep trail heads basically straight up the grassy slope a short distance from the lip of Coyote Wall. An overlapping single track, also known as Crybaby Trail, passes closer to the edge of the cliff. Ascending the single track seems like the best option, giving your better views of the wall on a more gradual ascent, while saving views looking out across the gorge for the direct descent. You can also mix the two trails to form your own route. It would be hard to get lost and the views are spectacular.
Just above Old Ranch Road Trail, come to the first split and bear left on the single track to approach the edge of Coyote Wall. The views looking over the lip of the wall will unnerve anyone afraid of heights, but the surroundings are as beautiful as they are daunting. The contour of Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail near the Mosier Twin Tunnels can be see across the river to the west.
The single track along the edge of Coyote Wall
The single track crosses the wider straight trail four times in the early goings. You can clip off the farther-from-the-cliffs curves if you prefer something a bit more direct. The single track then runs along the bluff for a stretch without intersections. When the singe track curves back to the wide trail again, there is no trail on the other side. Instead, join the wide trail and head up the slope.
The trail runs just behind some rises along Coyote Wall. Cross under some large power lines, about 0.4 miles up Coyote Wall Trail. Afterward, you can branch off to the left on the single track again. Cross the wider trail twice and then rejoin it. After coming back together, pass a marker for the land survey grid, located just off the left side of the trail. The trails team up for about 0.2 miles. As you approach a steeper slope, bear left on the single track again to curve along the edge of the bluff.
Coyote Wall
After saving you from the steepest pitch, the single-track trail delivers more off-the-wall views before it meets the edge of the forest on top of Coyote Wall. Unless you wish to hike farther up into the forest (loosing the open views), this is a good place to turn around. Angle toward a tall ponderosa pine standing apart from the others. This is the spot known as Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint, labeled as McMahon on U.S. Forest Service maps.
Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint
Take a break beside the tree near the edge of Coyote Wall. Having hiked 3 1/3 miles, you’ve earned a moment to relax and take in the views. Coyote Wall curves to the west, rising even higher. Below you, the wall descends to the southeast on an impressive run down to the Columbia River. Look across the gorge toward Oregon and landmarks like Mount Hood.
When its time to go, walk south from the summit. In 100 yards, you’ll pick up a wide jeep trail. The old road rises into the forest to the left. Stay to the right to proceed down the trail and over the steep slope. Descend Coyote Wall Trail through several junctions with the single trail. The wide trail is easy to follow on the descent, freeing hikers to enjoy panoramic views across the Columbia River.
Hiking down Coyote Wall Trail
When you return to the bottom of Coyote Wall Trail, turn right down Old Ranch Road Trail. Quickly reach the next junction and proceed straight onto Little Moab Trail while Old Ranch Road Trail curves to the left.
Enjoy 0.7 miles of awesome, rugged hiking along the edge of Coyote Wall as you descend Little Moab Trail. Are you romping through southeast Utah? No, but its easy to see how mountain bikers could draw that comparison. Little Moab Trail has excellent views up and down Coyote Wall. Look over the edge of the wall to see the trailhead far below.
Little Moab Trail
Coyote Wall from Little Moab Trail
When it runs out of wall, Little Moab Trail angles east and descends a draw with scattered trees and nice gorge views. Come to a junction with Old Ranch Road Trail at the 5-mile point of the hike. Bear right down Old Ranch Road. Descend around a switchback and head east toward the junction at the bottom of Little Maui Trail. Unless you feel compelled to linger on Old Ranch Road Trail, turn right at the intersection on the shortcut that dissects the lowest switchback on Old Ranch Road Trail.
Turn right at the bottom of the shortcut and walk a hundred yards down to Old Highway 8. Turn right to make your way back to the trailhead and complete this scenic 5.8-mile hike with 1,575 feet of elevation change.
Dogs and bikes are welcome. Dogs can be off leash from July to November, but must be on leashes the rest of the year. The grassy slopes on Coyote Wall may be wind swept and cooler than the trailhead, so pack layers. A toilet is located at the start of Old Highway 8. Although the trailhead has a decent amount of parking, the spaces do fill up on weekends. No permit or fee is required for this hike in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
The basic directions for this hike are:
Leave Coyote Wall Trailhead by heading east on Old Highway 8
Turn left up Old Ranch Road Trail (0.45 miles)
Stay to the right past a shortcut path (0.5 miles)
Turn right up Little Maui Trail (0.7 miles)
Turn right onto Old Ranch Road Trail at the top of Little Maui Trail (1.9 miles)
Stay to the right past the top of Little Moab Trail (2.1 miles)
Turn left up Coyote Wall Trail (2.13 miles)
Follow the single-track trail to Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint (3.33 miles)
Take the wider, more direct trail down to Old Ranch Road Trail and turn right (4.27 miles)
Bear right onto Little Moab Trail (4.3 miles)
At the bottom of the trail, turn right down Old Ranch Road Trail (5 miles)
Meet the bottom of Little Maui Trail and turn right down a shortcut trail (5.25 miles)
Rejoin to Old Ranch Road Trail and turn right (5.3 miles)
Descend to Old Highway 8 and turn right (5.35 miles)
Return to the trailhead (5.8 miles)
To get to the trailhead: From the intersection of Interstate 205 and Interstate 84 in Northeast Portland, take Interstate 84 east for 55.4 miles to exit 64 in Hood River, following signs for Mount Hood Highway toward White Salmon and Government Camp. At the end of the offramp, turn left to head north on Route 35. Pay a toll of a couple bucks to cross the Hood River Bridge. On the other side, turn right on Highway 14. Travel east for 4.6 miles and turn left onto Courtney Road. Make an immediate right into the Coyote Wall Trailhead Parking Area. Pass an old cattle chute on the left to find the start of the hike at the end of the lot.
Trailhead address: Coyote Wall, Old Highway 8, White Salmon, WA 98672Trailhead coordinates: 45.7006, -121.4012 (45° 42′ 02.2″N 121° 24′ 04.3″W)
from hikespeak.com https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/coyote-wall-columbia-river-gorge-washington/
wayneooverton
Jul 27, 2017
Everything you need to know about visiting Canmore, Canada
My name is Marta and I am the voice behind In A Faraway Land. A travel website dedicated to providing information on outdoor activities and photography tips via my New Zealand, Iceland and Canada Travel Guide.
I moved to Canada on a Working Holiday Visa last year and headed straight for the mountains. After road tripping for a few months in the fall last year I decided to base myself in Canmore, a little town tucked in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It was without a doubt the coldest winter I have ever experienced with temperatures sometimes reaching -45 celsius (<40f). However with the cold came some beautiful Albertan winter landscapes so I can’t complain too much.
Enjoy the read and hope to see you in the mountains soon and enjoy my best advice to visit Canmore Canada.
Watching the first rays of sunlight on top of Ha Ling Peak
Situated in the proverbial shadow of the world-famous mountain town of Banff, Canmore isn’t somewhere that should be overlooked whileplanning your road trip to the Canadian Rockies. Don’t get me wrong Banff and Canmore aren’t exactly Yin and Yang. They are both located in the Bow Valley, around an hour east of the closest international airport of Calgary in Alberta, are similar in size, and they both share an infectious eclectic adventurous spirit.
20 photos that made me love Alberta
I lived in Canmore for 6 months whileplanning and researching for my outdoor guide to Canada. I found it to be much more stable than Banff, still touristy for sure, but nowhere near the level of its neighbor. Banff is like a steroid-crazed body builder talking smack whilst bench pressing twice his body weight whilst Canmore is the mixed martial artist, planking in the corner, quietly confident, biding their time.
Canmore is more sophisticated; it isn’t tacky souvenir stores, overpriced steak restaurants and two for one jäger bombs. It’s local craft beer and artisanal bakeries, if you are catching my drift. Much more up my alley, you know?
Looking down the Bow Valley toward Calgary from the East End of Mount Rundle
When Calgary had the opportunity to host the Winter Olympics in 1988, back then, the little mountain town of Canmore was suffering as the mining industry had just collapsed in the previous decade, but it soon saw a huge development and a sharp increase of world class athletes, that later became permanent Canmorons.
Yes, you read that correctly.
It’s not something I came up with myself however, the term ‘Canmoron’ must have been the self-deprecating humorof founding few that was carried forward over time. The official terminology however is Canmorite which I personally find a little predictable. This influx of new Olympian Canmorons, and the installation of many multimillion dollar world class facilities, coaxed the rest of the town into exploring the outdoors.
Today Canmore has skiing of all types, mountain biking, snowshoeing, dog sledding, rock climbing, ice climbing, a bunch of lakes and a myriad of some of my favorite hiking trails in Canadaplus loads more. Additionally, Canmore has the best access to Kananaskis Country and there’s a big possibility that it might bid to host the Winter Olympics again in 2026.
The Windtower, one of the most distinguishable peaks in the Kananaskis Range
Kananaskis Country is an amalgamation of over 10 provincial parks that surround the town.
However (and thankfully) Canmore isn’t inside any of these parks so doesn’t have to comply to the building cap that such places like Banff do. For locals and visitors alike it means cheaper accommodation, better supermarkets, more outdoor activities and less government interference.
My two favorite activities, photography and hiking, dance gleefully hand in hand around this place. Some of the best photos I’ve ever taken have been from here, especially those from the eventful time I decided to hike up Ha Ling Peak for sunrise.
The rays of light tickling the snow on Ha Ling Peak
Ha Ling Peak, in Kananaskis Country, is the most popular trail here and for good reason. It starts 8km south west of Canmore on the Smith Dorien Highway (742) at the Goat Creek Trailhead. The trail is a semi steep series of switch backs which takes the average hiker 2 hours to summit.
From the top you’ll be able to see east over Canmore to the peaks of Mount Lady McDonald and Grotto Mountain, situated on the other side of the Bow Valley, north toward the 7 peaks of Mount Rundle, south into the lake ridden Spray Valley and west toward Mount Lawrence Grassi, which Ha Ling peak is actually a part of.
Ha Ling peak is one of my favourite day hikes not only in the Kananaskis country, but it’s high up on the list of all day hikes I have completed in the Canadian Rockies!
From right to left, Ha Ling Peak, Mount Lawrence Grassi and then The Three Sisters. Taken from the Rundle Forebay.
Ha Ling peak as seen from the East End of Mount Rundle.
Further into the heart of Spray Valley down the Smith Dorien Trail (742) lies an expansive wilderness area. A true drive into the Canadian wilderness. It’s a gravel road, but during the summer any car can manage it.
In the winter make sure you have decent snow tiresor better yet snow chains and please drive carefully. When I was based in Canmore I saw at least 20 car crashes in the winter, every single one of them on this road! If you are visiting Canmore in the Winter, the Spray Lakes Road is where you can become a musher and go dog sledding! I had the opportunity to participate in a tour and it was one of the best winter experiences of my life. The cool air blowing through your hair, chocolate brownies by an open fire and the sound of over 100 excited huskies!
I went with a company called Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours, one that supports humane mushing and takes extremely good care of their dogs. I only did a two hour tour, but if I could have afford it I would have seriously considered joining one of their overnight tours! Here’s a picture of me with one of the dogs on my team, the goofball Hugo.
Hugo and I having an awesome time.
My team in business mode.
Taking a break on the frozen pond.
Even if you don’t feel like dog sledding or decide to visit the Rockies in the summer, you can still go and play with the pups! In the summer Snowy Owl offers kennel tours. You can go and play with the dogs and learn all about the life of a musher.
Dogsledding in Alberta, Canada
If you are lucky you may even see puppies! OMG.
This is little cutie named Megadeath at around 2 months old. *Note: That years litter was named after metal bands!
Further down into Kananaskis Country, past the dog sledding is an excellent chance to see moose, eagles, elk, wolves, cougars, coyotes, lynxes, weasels and in the summer black and grizzly bears. Just promise me to respect all wildlife and never approach any large mammal as they can be unpredictable.
NEVER FEED any of the animals either.
Thankfully there’s a hefty fine if you get caught, like $25,000 hefty!!!! And with good reason too, in my eyes. If bears, for example, become habituated and used to being fed by humans, they pose a threat in all future human interactions and have to be euthanized. Basically if you feed it, you kill it. Don’t be that person.
The border between Kananaskis Country and the stunning Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is one of three central hubs in the Canadian Rockies where mother grizzly bears favour raising their offspring.
Grizzly 152 grazing in a roadside field of dandelions on Highway 40.
Mount Assiniboine reflecting in Sunburst Lake.
On a lighter note back to hiking!
Another mountain close to Ha Ling Peak is Mount Rundle, which runs parallel to the Trans Canada Highway all the way from Canmore to Banff. The East End of Rundle (EEOR), known as the Eeyore (like Winnie the Pooh’s friend), is the end closer to Canmore. Certainly a harder hike than Ha Ling peak, it can take up to 6 hours to complete, even though it’s only 6km long.
However the views are much more frequent becauseyou’re in the trees less of the time compared to its counterpart Ha Ling on the other side of White Man’s Pass.
The summit views are spectacular.
I have personally attempted three times to summit EEOR, twice being interrupted by bad weather conditions. But as they say, third time is a charm and I finally got to witness both sunset and sunrise from the top of EEOR, involving camping on a very narrow ridge line at the top.
Mount Rundle which stretches around 20km from Canmore to Banff.
A hiker experiencing the ridgeline of Mount Rundle at sunset.
If you’re a little more extreme then you might consider hiking the Pocaterra Ridge. It’s tougher than Ha Ling and the East End of Rundle but the views are out of this world.
Myself tackling a snowy section of the Pocaterra Ridge.
If one of the many peaks around doesn’t give you your fill of exercise, or it happens to be raining that day, then Elevation Place should be your next port of call.
The newly built, architectural masterpiece offers a huge climbing wall, a full aquatics centre including a sauna, a gym, an award winning library, a café and a small art gallery which showcases the work of local artists. Hopefully one day my work will be hanging there!
Playing on the ice near the Policeman Creek.
The town of Canmore is named after Malcolm III of Scotland. It was his nickname and translates to “Big Head” in Gaelic which is quite contradictory of the aforementioned colloquialism “Canmoron”. That always cracks me up inside.
Growing up the town was a popular mining destination and was once inside the perimeter of Banff National Park. When inside the National Park however logging and mining could not continue to flourish and after significant pressure from the big coal corporations in 1902 Banff National Park shrunk and Canmore was excluded. Mining continued to grow and coal production was eventually ceased in 1979.
It’s location next the Bow River, then the Canadian Pacific Railway and then the Trans-Canada Highway meant that tourism in the area has always been rife but it’s only in the recent years that Canmore has begun to blossom into your next holiday destination. You may now wonder, when’s best time to come?
The smallest of Three Sisters, Hope, on the right. Mount Peter Loughead on the left. Taken from the summit of Mount Lady MacDonald at sunrise.
The best time of the year, in my opinion, is summer and fall ranging from June to early October, with September being my favorite month. That’s when most of the hikes are accessible and not covered in snow.
No promises about the snow though. It could be there at any time of year!
The mild alpine climate boasts average summer time temperatures of a whopping 15C/59F (with highs of normally around 22C/72F). However the weather here is unpredictable and very tempestuous, it’s possible to have extreme high’s breaking into the early thirties (more than 90F).
Mount Rundle and the Trans Canada Highway. Taken from the summit of Mount Lady MacDonald.
The winters are also a very nice time to visit. Snowshoeing, cross country skiing and dog sledding are very popular. Temperatures at this time of year can be brutal though, especially in January.
On extreme cold nights the temperature can go as low as -50C (-58F) and the monthly average is a bone-chilling -9C. Thank the heavens above for the Chinook Winds.
Exploring the meadows close to where the Revenant was filmed.
If you haven’t heard of Chinook Effect before, it’s basically a really really warm wind that comes over the mountains, known as Föhn winds in the rest of the world but Chinook Winds in North America. Chinook Winds occur when moisture rich coastal air coming in from the west coast is forced upward by the mountains, it drops its moisture by the means of snow or rain, and then falls down the eastern slopes.
The adiabatic warming of downward moving air causes these warm winds. And trust me they are warm. They can raise the temperature of the entire town by easily 20C/68F in just few hours and maybe even 30C/86F for a strong one. The strongest Chinook world wide was experienced just south of Canmore in Montana in the US, where the temperature rose from -48C to +9C or -54F to +49F. A change of 57 degree celsius, or 103F, in 24 hours!!!
Winter becomes summer for maybe a few hours, snow melts for maybe a day or two before returning to normal.
When Leo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy were down in Kananaskis Country filming the incredible movie The Revenant a Chinook blew through and melted a lot of snow, it forced the entire production to move down to Ushuaia in Patagonia. DiCaprio was later heard blaming the problem on global warming even though this phenomenon has existed since the mountains were erected by Mother Nature, a good 300 million years ago.
Leo you’re beautiful, and you’re right about global warming but not about this one sorry!!!
The scree slope that marks the final ascent of Mount Lady MacDonald with Canmore and The Three Sisters in the background.
However dark and cold winter is I can’t complain too much, I used it as an excuse to drink multiple hot chocolates a day, stay at home, bake cinnamon rolls and lounge in front of the fire.
When I couldn’t be bothered to make myself treats I became an expert on all the local eateries around town. The best café without a doubt is the Bagel Co.
There are two of them in Canmore but my favorite is the one on Main Street (8th Street). It’s got a great atmosphere and it has the best goodies and a really wide selection of freshly made sandwiches.
Communitea is another great place if you are tea lover like me!
The Three Sisters reflecting in Policeman Creek.
My favorite place to drink was The Wood on the corner of 8th and 8th, lots of local craft beers, 4.50$ per poundof chicken wings on Mondays and 10$ steak on Tuesday.
For a place as expensive as the Bow Valley, the deals came as a welcomed change. I still must have spent a small fortune in there though. Well in between there and the Grizzly Paw Brewery I probably spent enough money to invest into a property
Mount Peter Loughead in the Kananaskis Range at sunrise. Taken from Mount Lady MacDonald.
When I wasn’t stuffing all manner of pastries into my face or double fisting 2L pitchers I was out taking photos.
Most of the time I took pastries with me too but regretfully couldn’t take the beer because I was driving.
There’s so many photography spots in Canmore, some of which are roadside stops, some of which are huge mountains. I was lucky enough to visit many photography spots in the Canadian Rockies but the one’s around Canmore stood out amongst the rest (maybe apart from the jaw dropping Icefields Parkway). Canada is pretty beautiful, especially in the Rockies.
Canmore’s topography includes everything a photographer could ever dream of. Rugged mountains, alpine lakes, wild flowers in the summer and mesmerizing ice formations in the winter.
Myself worried about an incoming squall on the Pocaterra Ridge.
All in all, Canmore is stunning and you should visit, that’s a fact and I hope when you will be planning your Canadian Road Trip Itinerary , that you will add Canmore to your list of places to stop, at least for a few days.
As always feel free to like and share and I’ll try to answer all the questions you may have about Canmore and the Bow Valley. Happy travels!
Have you ever been to Canmore or Alberta? Have any of your own tips to share? Spill!
The post Everything you need to know about visiting Canmore, Canada appeared first on Young Adventuress.
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travelinglifeshighways
Apr 18, 2018
Appomattox, Virginia Where our Nation Reunited
Appomattox, Virginia – Where our Nation Reunited
Sunday April 15, 2018
As a Civil War history person I have always been fascinated with how the war played out on so many fronts throughout the South. There were different campaigns with General Sherman’s “March to the Sea” from Chattanooga to Savannah including the Battle of Atlanta where I searched out the different markers or monuments in my youth learning their history then going to the old Cyclorama then in Grant Park to see where different battles were fought then going out in the city to explore the area depicted in the diorama inside the Cyclorama. The battles of Kennesaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek were my favorites but the story of “The lone confederate soldier” in the Battle of Stone Mountain still gives me great laughs. (Lewis Grizzard – look it up on YouTube).
Arriving in the general area of Appomattox, Virginia you can start to sense the history there. The many open rolling hill fields where battles were fought give the impression of horses, cannons, and troops from both sides being in these fields. The actual site of the Appomattox Courthouse was a mini-village with a handful of houses scattered about the grounds. There was a small general store, lawyer’s office and a tavern making it the county seat. General Grant took made his headquarters to the west about a mile up the road next to a stand of trees.
General Robert E. Lee’s surrender bringing an end to the Civil War on April 9, 1865 including his Farewell Address, also known as General Order No. 9to his Army of Northern Virginia. The day after he surrendered the Confederate army to Lt. Gen.Ulysses S. Grant, Lee's surrender was instrumental in bringing about the end of the American Civil War. The text of the order, which were written and drafted by Col.Charles Marshall, edited and finalized by Lee, was issued as follows:
Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, 10th April 1865.
My friend Terry Edwards recites this speech in the band Cullowhee’s song American Trilogy, a touching and moving piece of American history.
General Order No. 9
“After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.
But feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.
By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.
With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.” — R. E. Lee, General, General Order No. 9
Skyline Drive – Shenandoah Valley
I am sitting on a mountaintop in Big Meadows campground tonight as a squall line of thunderstorms roll through towards the coast. This is a no hookup facility so all I have is the battery power in my laptop and a flashlight to write by. Almost like the olden times. Driving up the Skyline Drive I would like to say it’s really pretty with many overlooks and stopping points to look off the mountain to either the east or west but about a mile from the southern entrance the road climbed into the clouds and fog so there was no distant vistas to see or standing in awe to look over and see.
It was a pretty drive like driving through an enchanted forest as there were ghost trees on either side with their branches and limps hanging over the roadway. Visibility was down to just several car lengths as the road made its way up, down, and around the mountaintops. The fog rolled in over the trees and through the gaps alongside the road racing their way down and vanishing in the mist.
Coming around one curve there was a single red brake light which we discovered was a motorcyclist slowly making his way through the fog on the curvy road. He was hugging the center-line and wiping his visor every thirty seconds or so trying to maintain his lane in the roadway. We followed at a distance till there was a passing area and cautiously made our way around him in the fog.
Skyline Drive is the only public road through the Shenandoah National Park, the only national park in Virginia. The road has a north/south direction and is 105 miles long that stretches from Front Royal on the north end to the Waynesboro-Charlottesville area at the southern termination. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the park on a clear day but with the many overlooks and stopping places I would plan for it to take a little longer. The maximum speed limit is 35 mph. There are deer, black bear, wild turkey, and a host of other wildlife that call Shenandoah home and regularly cross Skyline Drive. Watch carefully for these animals, which may dart across your path without warning. They were at the edges of the roadway and did not move as the RV drove past. They were usually in groups of two to four every mile or so until we pulled into the campground since it was almost sundown and in their feeding time.
Mileposts along the side of the road help you find your way through the park and help you locate areas of interest. The mileposts begin with 0.0 at Front Royal and continue to 105 at the southern end of the park. These were harder to see than the Blue Ridge Parkway markers so you had to pay attention to not miss them if you needed them.
There are 75 overlooks that offer stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the rolling Piedmont to the east. Wildflowers put on a show all year long - in early spring, look for trillium peeking through the grass. June’s display of azaleas is spectacular. Cardinal flowers, black-eyed Susan’s, and goldenrod keep the color vibrant right into fall, when the leaves begin to change and put on their own fall foliage show.
It was a shame that you couldn’t see anything off the mountainside with the fog but after this front passes and the thunderstorm/tornado warnings are over hopefully the road north tomorrow will be a little more scenic.
Traveling Life’s Highways in northern Virginia, a wet stormy goodnight before my battery runs out. Goodnight all, I hope it is a wonderful evening for you! I plan to listen to the sounds of popping corn on the roof of the motor home during this rain.
Monday morning, 4-16-18 – 7:30 am
I got my wish to hear the rain on the roof of the camper as it rolled in strong about sunset but did not gain its full fury until later in the night. The park ranger knocked on the door just after midnight to alert us there were tornado warnings for this area and the bathroom was the best shelter. The weather turned pretty nasty for the next several hours as the rain pelted the camper, lighting flashed and the sound of thunder could be heard. Luckily it was in the distance as the sound was at least eight to ten seconds after the flash of lightning.
The rain continued to four in the morning or so and now a slight foggy mist covers the campground. The tent campers must have had a pretty miserable night as one close to us moved their tent up by the restrooms while others bailed out of the tent and back into their car.
There is no cell service here and my laptop battery is almost dead so that is the update until later.
Brennen’s Campground, Pennsylvania – 10:07 pm
The drive finishing the upper half of the Skyline Drive was a crazy mixture of snow, fog, and some rain. Mainly it was light snow along the crest of the Blue Ridge and quit when we drove off the parkway in Front Royal, Virginia. As the drive over the many foothills in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania were beginning to wear me down it was punctuated with the hills filled with wind generators spinning away in the blustery afternoon. It was hard to maintain your driving lane with tractor-trailer trucks speeding past with both of us trying to maintain our lanes in the howling winds.
As we drove down the winding road leading to campground the ice/snow pellets were starting to fall once again. Started the day snowing and will end it the same way. What a contrast these last 48 hours from the pleasant heat around 75 degrees to the rainfall, the winds and tornado watch, waking up to it snowing, and then driving in the snow/fog on the mountaintops.
Drove through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania today, one does not think of Maryland stretching across west to West Virginia and was surprised to discover that. One typically thinks of Maryland along the Chesapeake coast or around the Washington DC area not the foothills around West Virginia.
Anxiously awaiting new discoveries tomorrow; from rural Pennsylvania, Goodnight.
trailcatjim-blog
Aug 9, 2015
Welch Peak, Cheam Range
August 7-9, 2015
Welch Peak (8000′+)
I revisited the Cheam Range in British Columbia last weekend with Fay, Eileen, and Stefan. Since Fay and Eileen had climbed Welch Peak---the highest of the Cheam summits---last summer, they had their sights set on nearby Foley Peak. And since I had climbed Foley Peak last summer, I had my sights set on Welch Peak. I brought Stefan along as my "climbing date." Naturally, he had his both peaks in his crosshairs.
Day 1: Fay, Eileen, and I drove up to the town of Chilliwack and continued on back roads to the Chipmunk Rapids - Foley Creek turnoff. The dirt road going around Foley Lake was as badly potholed as ever but was easily handled by Fay's Jeep "Trail Hawk" rig. We crossed over the head of the lake and proceeded up the steadily deteriorating old logging road that switchbacks toward Williamson Creek. Just before the road got really horrible, Stefan caught up to us in his trusty Honda CRV. He immediately parked his rig, gave us his backpack, and then pulled out his mountain bike to finish the road climb (he planned to come out earlier than us).
Fay and Eileen and I continued driving up the road and managed to reach the upper parking lot with only a moderate amount of nervous wheel spinning. From there, things improved greatly. We were surprised and delighted to find that the climbers path to Williamson Lake had been partially brushed out and re-bedded in the past few months. Stefan caught up to us near the path's midpoint, and we finished the hike together. Attractive little Williamson Lake (1.7 hours from parking lot) was completely snow-free, as was the couloir leading up to the Welch-Foley col. We set up camp on the heathery lakeshore, just out of view from two other nearby campers. Welch Peak loomed overhead.
Day 2: The weather forecast called for rain showers to move in around midday, but we awoke early to clear skies. Stefan and I headed out of camp at 5:30am in hopes of beating the rain. As we ascended the big talus couloir, morning sun highlighted the spectacular peaks of the Canadian Chilliwack, American Chilliwack, and Nooksack mountain ranges.
After groveling up loose, rubbly talus for 1000 vertical feet, we started traversing to the left (westward) on steep heather and gravel. Our traverse took us to the most improbable route feature on Welch Peak: a narrow ledge that cuts diagonally across the lower south face. From a distance, this ledge appears to be nothing more than a thin sawcut through the cliff band; however, I knew from a reconnaissance last year that the improbable ledge actually provides an efficient---albeit exposed---line to the south ridge. Soon, we arrived at a 7300' step in the narrow ridge crest (1.6 hours from camp).
The lower and middle parts of the south ridge offered up very enjoyable Class 2-3 scrambling on fairly solid rock. We roped up and belayed at a couple short, steep rock steps, but each of these steps turned out to be no more than Class 3 or 3.5. Whenever the scrambling got a little more difficult, we merely traversed out to the right (east) on easier ledges, then worked back to the crest.
The lower and middle parts of the south ridge offered up very enjoyable Class 2-3 scrambling on fairly solid rock. We roped up and belayed at a couple short, steep rock steps, but each of these steps turned out to be no more than Class 3 or 3.5. Whenever the scrambling got a little more difficult, we merely traversed out to the right (east) on easier ledges, then worked back to the crest.
From the false summit, we could look straight across at the Foley Peak. It seemed so unlikely that there would be a reasonable Class 3-4 route up this incredible spearpoint of rock. Wow! We wondered where Fay and Eileen were in their Foley quest.
Up close, the true summit of Welch Peak appears as a leaning horn of rock, with steep cliffs on the left and down-sloping slabs on the right. Fortunately, the ridge crest goes nicely. We teased out a pleasant Class 3 route the whole way.
We topped out at 8:20am (2.8 hours from camp). I couldn't remember whether I had ever summited a peak at such an early time! Even the normally taciturn Stefan seemed pleased with our progress, and we spent nearly an hour chatting and snacking on the summit.
Clouds and fogged drifted in during our summit stay, gradually obscuring our views of the nearby Cheam peaks. Thankfully, the forecasted rain never came.
We could not find a summit register, but someone had left a horseshoe for good luck. "On belay?" "Giddy-up!!"
An unusual feature of Welch Peak is that you can look down from the summit and see your basecamp tent and approach vehicle lined up perfectly. I can't think of any other peaks like this.
Although most of our descent was in thick fog, Stefan had no trouble finding an easy route down. I always envy climbers who have such a good memory for terrain features. If left to my own devices, I would probably still be up there scratching my head.
We down-climbed the entire ridge unroped except for the final rock step at 7300', where I requested a belay. This put us right on the improbable ledge leading across the south face. Once back at the talus couloir, Stefan headed up to climb Foley Peak and, perhaps, to hook up with Fay and Eileen.
After parting company with Stefan, I slowly headed down the talus couloir to Williamson Lake, where I arrived just before noon (2.6 hours from summit). This was another rare event for me; I've pulled into camp at midnight far more times than at noon!
My afternoon was spent relaxing in camp and enjoying the refreshing water of Williamson Lake. Meanwhile, Fay, Eileen, and Stefan were engaged in a battle with the scrappy east ridge of Foley Peak. They rolled into camp at 4:30pm, but I'll let them tell the story of their afternoon adventure.
Stefan packed up and headed back to his car in the late afternoon. The rest of us spent another night at Williamson Lake and contemplated our successful Cheam weekend. We'd each had a different "high" and "low" during the trip, but we all were thankful that we never had to drive up that horrible approach road again!
Approximate stats: 6 miles traveled; 4600 feet gained and lost.