Thursday, July 30, 2009

Portmeirion Buys Spode and Royal Worcester



From Kovel's Komments:

PORTMEIRION BUYS SPODE AND ROYAL WORCESTER

The Spode and Royal Worcester brand names and trademarks, patents, etc. have been purchased from Royal Worcester Spode by Portmeirion Potteries for $5.27 million. Portmeirion plans to continue making the brands' products and some patterns. Portmeirion's chairman says some of the brands' patterns, including Spode's Blue Italian (shown here) and Christmas Tree and Royal Worcester's Evesham, will be "reinvigorated."

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Quote Of The Day


"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."

Abraham Lincoln

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Penny and Doug
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

HAM Cyclist, 80, Completes 100 Mile Ride


Cyclist, 80, to ride 100 miles
Ricki Barker Staff Writer
The Albany Herald

ALBANY - For his 80th birthday on Saturday, retired nephrologist Eugene Clark plans to ride his bike on a 100-mile trip from Quincy, Fla. to Albany, GA with family and friends.

On Sunday, he plans to bike back to Quincy. "This is my birthday party," laughed Clark. "I'm just hoping I will be able to complete it."

According to fellow cyclist and friend Ritaann Becker from Havana, Fla., Clark should have no trouble with this course. "He has done it before and he is in great shape," she said. "He goes to the gym and he did a bike ride across Georgia to prepare for this." Becker said that she met Clark on the same trip that they will be taking Saturday for his birthday. "I met Gene in April 2005 across the lunch table in Whigham, Georgia," she said. "It was on an organized ride from Quincy to Albany." Becker said that she was impressed by Clark, describing his determination to complete the ride as inspirational. "On the way into Quincy there was a big hill that we had to climb," she recalled. "He was one of the last ones to finish, but he made it. His toe strap had broken on one of his shoes, but he made it." Becker, who works as a massage therapist and part-time in a bike shop in Tallahassee, said that after Clark's first ride from Quincy to Albany he came in and bought a bike from the shop where she worked. She said that throughout the years she and Clark have developed a genuine friendship and have remained in contact via e-mail and telephone calls. She said that she was excited about the trip, which she will be making with Clark Saturday, because she hadn't seen the retired physician in over two years. "He is so inspirational and I am so honored to do this," said Becker. "I get to finally meet his wife, Catherine, and his family in person who will be riding sag with us throughout the trip." Clark said that "sag" means that his wife, along with his daughter, Sally, will be riding in a car from point to point, providing refreshments to the riders. "It comes from 'sagging,' " explained Clark. "If somebody sags, you can pick them up." Becker said that the 10-hour ride will certainly be interesting and fun. "It's at Gene's pace," she said. "Sunday is going to be tough because of the heat and the hills, but the key is to keep going."

Clark said that he got the idea for his birthday ride a few years back. "It's going to be fun," he said. According to Clark, his son Bob will be joining him on the road on Clark's old bike. "I bought me a new one so he will be riding the one I got in Tallahassee," he said. Clark's partner and fellow nephrologist Dr. Hasan Rizvi will also be riding with him. Clark said that he is looking forward to his birthday ride and says that he feels he is in better shape at 80 than he was when he was practicing medicine. "I am way stronger than I was when I quit my practice," said Clark. "I realized that between 70 and 80 you can gain muscle mass and strength." He said that although he rides regularly and feels he can successfully complete the ride, the heat and the hills might pose a problem. "That one in Quincy is a pretty good hill," said Clark. "I'll do what I can. We (cyclists) don't call it quitting, we call it cross-training when we have to get down and walk. I will finish it though."

The retired nephrologist said that he is also excited about the birthday cake his daughter made for him. "Caramel cake, it is my favorite," said Clark. "I feel kind of guilty that I have been the center of attention this week and I am so grateful that I have such great friends and family." He said that the key to growing old gracefully is to exercise and to try and be happy. "I am a happy person," Clark said. "I have my problems but I still try to be happy."

The cyclist said that he will continue riding bikes as long as he is able, but has no wheeling plans yet for future birthdays. "I hope I can still ride," he said.

Becker said that Clark remains an inspiration to her and that he has touched many lives. "Gene's the man," she said. "He shows me what you can do at that age."

Clark said that he is grateful for his friends and his family and the ability to spend his birthday with them. "I'm grateful and God has blessed me in so many ways," he said. "I'm in this stage right now and I can't wait for what is in the future."

In addition to riding with the Pecan City Pedalers, Clark also serves as the section manager for Georgia Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARRS), which he says is his "real passion."

He is credited with opening the first dialysis center in Southwest Georgia in 1976 and in February the Clark Home Training Center on the 1200 block of North Jefferson Street was dedicated and named in his honor.
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For more information about Amateur Radio, see our Squidoo Lens at: Amateur Radio

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

He Offers Thanks For Soldiers



The Washington Post
By John Kelly
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Scott Kreger thought he had a good idea, but how could he be sure? How would people react when his idea -- so simple, so heartfelt -- finally made the journey from imagination to reality?

What would the world think of the way Scott had decided to thank the men and women fighting in our nation's two wars?

His idea is to give every veteran who did a tour of duty in Afghanistan or Iraq a white oval bumper sticker inspired by those we see at the beach. But instead of saying "OBX" or "OC," they would say "AFG" or "IRQ." Underneath would be the words, "I served."

A marathoner, he has a "26.2" sticker on his car. Why not show a different kind of solidarity?

The Germantown resident had a few stickers printed up and late last week launched a Web site -- I Served Sticker-- inviting veterans to request them. The e-mails started pouring in.

"I have served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and I would like to request one of each sticker," wrote a veteran living in Nevada.

"Currently serving in Baghdad Iraq for a SECOND time!" wrote a man from Florida requesting an "IRQ" sticker. "Missing my wife and family lots."

"I will display it proudly," wrote a soldier from Pennsylvania.

A mother from Oregon: "This sticker is for my son, a wounded warrior from Afghanistan."

A grandmother from Illinois: "This is for my grandson."

Scott, 44, is an investment adviser at RBC Wealth Management in Rockville. Like a lot of us, he doesn't have much contact with soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines. In this era of the all-volunteer military, war can be an abstraction and the people fighting, just faces on the evening news.

"I felt like I was not giving back," Scott said. "I'm sitting there in my air-conditioned office, and people are dying for this country."

It costs 6 cents to make a sticker.

"I guarantee you're going to have at least one person come up and thank you for your service. I think that's a good investment for your 6 cents."

Scott said a million soldiers could eventually funnel through Iraq and Afghanistan. "These soldiers are coming back to a bad economy, not many jobs and they need to communicate with people. They need to communicate with each other. What better way?"

A million times 6 cents comes to $60,000. Postage is another expense. He thinks $100,000 should cover everything. He's soliciting contributions on his Web site. He doesn't want a few big donations, though. He'd rather have many people making small donations. He wants kids digging into piggy banks. He wants children excitedly pointing from the back seats of cars saying, "Daddy, there's one of those things we paid for!"

He wants conversations started. He wants the simple stickers to inspire heartfelt expressions of thanks: at red lights, at rest stops, at gas stations.

"Look, if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket, every single person who requested one is going to get a sticker. I have no problem paying for 150,000 stickers," Scott said. "Where it gets to be a problem is if I have to pay for a million stickers. I'd probably have my wife walking out the door."

All the money is going toward buying and mailing the stickers. Once every soldier who wants one has one, the project is over. A neighbor who is a pastor, Mark Wilkinson, is letting Scott use his church's PayPal system. Joe Clark, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel whom Scott met at a party, has helped open a few official doors.

And the e-mails continue to pour in, from every state in the union, plus from members of coalition forces from overseas.

Said Scott: "A lot of parents, a lot of wives and brothers and sisters are saying, 'My brother, my husband, my son is serving right now, and I would like this to give to them when they get back.' What does that do for these people? It gives them hope that they'll come back."
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For more info on supporting our troops, see our Squidoo Lens at: Support Our Troops

Penny and Doug
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Monday, July 27, 2009

July Sale At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry




July Sale At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry is almost over!! Order before July 31st!!

From July 1 through July 31, all of our Jewelry items in our catalogue are 10% off.

See these sales and other specials at our CHShops Online Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Pictured above: Wedgwood Jasperware Egyptian Pendant

New listings this week:
1. Men's Jimmy Connor Tennis Shirt
2. Men's Black Leather Wallet, Never Used
3. Ladies Brass Plated Sleeve Holders
4. John Deere Wind Chime, New in Box
5. Mirrowed Vintage Glass Earrings, Rainbow Colors
6. Tupperware Pie Plate


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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Petit Crest Villas At Big Canoe, GA




This week we are highlighting Petit Crest Villas At Big Canoe Timeshare Resort.

Petit Crest Villas at Big Canoe, Georgia, is a wonderful mountain, golfing, fishing and swimming resort located in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes northeast of the Atlanta Airport and approximately 45 minutes south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Petit Crest Villas include individual 3 bedroom rustic pedestal cabins that have a master bedroom, a guest bedroom and a loft bedroom, and a sofa sleeper in the living room with fireplace, full kitchen and dining area. The cabins have a porch off the master bedroom and the dining area for your enjoyment. Units sleep 8. Amenities on property include outdoor pool, spa, health club, VCR/DVD cassette players, radio/CD players, washer/dryer in unit. Some amenities do require a fee for use. Petit Crest Villas offers both weekly rentals and ownership. Visitors can rent a week or a weekend for reasonable rates. The resort has a Friday to Friday check in procedure with a 2 night minimum stay. The rates are comparable to hotel rates but visitors get much more for their money ! There are many hiking trails, 3 nine-hole golf courses, beautiful lakes for fishing and swimming in season. Petit Crest Villas also offers an inside pool and health club.

Weekly/Weekend Rentals,2Br/2Bath Max 8 Occupancy. Amenities available; Golf, Tennis, Fitness Center with Indoor Pool, Seasonal Outdoor Pools, Fishing and Boat Rentals. Call for amenity fees. Nearby attractions include Historic Dahlonega, Amicalola Falls, Pumpkin and Apple Barns (in season), Kangaroo Conservation Center, Blue Ridge, North Georgia Premium Outlets, and Ellijay. Nearby activities include horseback riding, canoeing, golf, hiking, and trout fishing. Phone 706.268.3600

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For more information on timesharing, see our Squidoo Lens at: Need A Timeshare Vacation?

See our summer timeshare rental at: Summer Timeshare Rental

Penny and Doug
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Friday, July 24, 2009

The Tupperware Story



A Legendary Saleswoman Named Brownie Wise And The Tupperware Success Story

The Tupperware story is the story of an ordinary product sold in an extraordinary way. It is the story of a wonderful re-direction of focus and courage to do things differently. Had this business gone the same way as other normal business went, this too would have bitten the dust in about 5-10 years of existence after making some profit, some name, some niche in the market, and then die of a natural death.

The Tupperware product was then, as it is now a product of a very high quality. The plastic was excellent; the container models were and are till today extremely well researched and designed to give the best possible way of storing in the minimum possible space.

The product is bought and sold through the world, and today it is recognized as one of the most successful business stories in the world. A lot many other businesses modeled their style of marketing and selling on the Tupperware model and they succeeded, too.


See entire article at: TupperBoy

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Pictured Here: Tupperware Roast Flavor Saver

See our available vintate Tupperware at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
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Friday, July 17, 2009

Quote of the Day


"As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions."

--James Madison, National Gazette Essay, March 27, 1792

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See our Squidoo Lens at: AnnieAmerica Get Your Gun

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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Joke Of The Day




From The London Times:

Outside the Bristol Zoo, in England , there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 coaches, or buses. It was manned by a very pleasant attendant with a ticket machine charging cars about $1.40 and coaches about $7.

This parking attendant worked there solid for all of 25 years. Then, one day, he just didn't turn up for work.

"Oh well", said Bristol Zoo Management - "we'd better phone up the City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant . . "

"Err . . . no", said the Council, "that parking lot is your responsibility."

"Err . . . no", said Bristol Zoo Management, "the attendant was employed by the City Council, wasn't he?"
"Err . . . no!" insisted the Council.

Sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain (presumably), is a man who had been taking the parking lot fees, estimated at 400 (about $560) per day at Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years. Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 3.6 million ($7 million - or $ 280,000 every year for 25 years)!

And no one even knows his name. Talk about flying under the radar!!

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Wednesday, July 08, 2009

July Jewelry Sale At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry




July Sale At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry


From July 1 through July 31, all of our Jewelry items in our catalogue are 10% off.

See these sales and other specials at our CHShops Online Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Pictured above: Wedgwood Jasperware Egyptian Pendant

New listings this week:
1. Ladies Embroidered T-Shirt
2. Hand Carved Plaque Hofbrahaus Munchen
3. Men's Leather Wallet New
4. Mobile Charger for Cell Phone


Penny and Doug
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Monday, July 06, 2009

July 2009 Amateur Radio Hamfest Calendar


July Amateur Radio Hamfest Calendar

We hope to see you there! Did we miss one? Do you have one to add? Let us know!

July 4 - Harrisburg RAC, 3107 North 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA.
July 5 - Livermore ARK, Livermore, CA
July 5 - Triangle ARC, 1218 Northside Ave., East Liverpool, OH
July 5 - Murgas ARC, Wilkes-Barre (Dallas), PA
July 11-Monroe County ARC, Tompkinsville, KY
July 11-Pen-Bay ARC, Union, ME
July 11-Straits Area ARC, Petoskey, MI
July 11-North Carolina Alligator Group, Salisbury, NC
July 12-Kankakee Area Radio Society, Peotone, IL
July 12-Sussex County ARC, Augusta, NJ
July 17-18 Milton ARC, Milton, FL
July 18-Ozone ARC , Slidell, LA
July 18-Sugar River AR Festival, Newport, NH
July 19-Radio Central ARC, Farmingville, NY
July 25-26 Deuel County ARC, Clear Lake, SD
July 26-Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society, Timonium, MD

For more info on HAM Radio, see our Squidoo Lens at:Amateur Radio and Hamfests

Penny N6HWB
Doug N3DAB
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Sunday, July 05, 2009

Electronics History




1947 William Shockley invents the transistor. First popular use will be the transistor radio. Electronics become smaller.

The first transistor was invented at Bell Laboratories on December 16, 1947 by William Shockley (seated at Brattain's laboratory bench), John Bardeen (left) and Walter Brattain (right). This was perhaps the most important electronics event of the 20th century, as it later made possible the integrated circuit and microprocessor that are the basis of modern electronics. Prior to the transistor the only alternative to its current regulation and switching functions (TRANSfer resISTOR) was the vacuum tube, which could only be miniaturized to a certain extent, and wasted a lot of energy in the form of heat. Although video was possible with vacuum tube equipment, as was the case with the Ampex VRX-1000, without the transistor video products would never have gotten very small.

The picture on the left above shows the first point contact transistor built by Walter Brattain. It consisted of a plastic triangle lightly suspended above a germanium crystal which itself was sitting on a metal plate attached to a voltage source. A strip of gold was wrapped around the point of the triangle with a tiny gap cut into the gold at the precise point it came in contact with the germanium crystal. The germanium acted as a semiconductor so that a small electric current entering on one side of the gold strip came out the other side as a proportionately amplified current.

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See our Squidoo Lens at: Amateur Radio and HamFests

Penny N6HWB
Doug N3DAB
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