Corey writes about this pic...
"Coming out of a tunnel to cross the Tobin Bridge into Boston at rush hour, the sky is filled with operatic blackened clouds, impish lightning and, suddenly, an immense amount of rain. The whole city, with all its different people and stories, enclosed in one giant, thundering, subaquatic dream."

Visit this and other exquisitely captured beautiful things at her pixtress photo blog or visit www.coreykohn.com.

I could have gotten great footage this week because town is packed.  There are tourists everywhere. I have seen people do things with their cars that I didn't think were possible.  But I don't dare drive and film with all the traffic. I barely talk on my cell phone while driving.

I THINK WE PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED ALL THAT RESEARCH DONE TO FIGURE THIS OUT. YOU LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROADWAY AND BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

This is a true story.  I saw one woman go up a one way on the left hand side with her right blinker on and go straight. WTF?

Now we come to Dumbass confessions.  I locked the keys in my car with the car running when I went to the grocery store with my brother. I still don't know how it happened.

NOTICE HE CALLED HER MA'AM AND DIDN'T EVEN SPELL IT RIGHT.

I had forgotten to return a propane tank so I told my brother to wait in the car and I would go do it.  I decided to start the car because it was really hot in it and I wanted my brother to have the air conditioner on.  My brother hadn't gotten into the car yet.  He was returning his shopping cart.  I leaned into the car, started the engine, closed the door and all the doors to the car were now locked. I went into the store to get a broom and sneak it through the window, which I had left cracked.  My plan was to use the broom handle to press down on the lock on the opposite door and it would open.  My brother decided he could fit his arm through the window faster than what I was doing and he managed to get his arm in and unlock the door.  Only now his arm was stuck in the window.  Talk about a dumb ass.  He asks me how is he going to get his arm out.  Well I said " Duh, I'll open your door and roll down the window".  He said "Oh".

Then I thought, why wasn't I filming all this drama.  Duh, my camera was locked in the car.

So I guess I should just start filming myself doing dumbass stuff.

ME AT THE BEACH.  YOU CAN SEE THE BRIDGE IN THE BACKROUND.

PRACTICE VIDEO #4

A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last!

For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.

Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'

Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we don't do anything ourselves.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Frogs

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.

The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'

Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pretty Lady

Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river.. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river. The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept quiet. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her.

All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'

This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous .. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away.We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river, that is after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.

Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.

CONTRA dat la nivele joase de licitaţie(cel mai frecvent), de obicei la prima ocazie de a licita, cere partenerului să liciteze o culoare neanunţată până atunci.

Condiţii:

- mână de deschidere

- distribuţie care să suporte orice culoare licitată de partener (plecând de la optimul 4441, cu scurtime în culoarea adversă) sau

mâini tari (16+ sau sub 4 perdante) cu (aproape) orice distribuţie

- lipsa unui alt anunţ adecvat

Decizia de a apela trebuie să ţină seama de urmatorii factori:

- vulnerabilitatea

- rangul culorii de deschidere adverse

- poziţia la masă

- forţa şi distribuţia

 Contra la nivel de 1 necesită 12+ PO, iar acest minim creşte pentru contrele pe tricurile 2,3 sau 4.

 Contrarea unei deschideri minore poate fi făcută cu ceva mai puţin (cu o distribuţie cât mai apropiată de 4441), iar a deschiderii de 1♠ cu ceva mai mult.

 Contra la nivel de 4 în direct necesită o mână mai tare (15+), pregatită să joace acel contract contrat(de altfel se cere partenerului să liciteze doar cu distribuţii excentrice)

CONTRA din poziţia de reveil are mai puţine restricţii şi se poate folosi cu 8+ PO, la nivel de 1.

CONTRA de apel după licitarea a 2 culori de către adversari trebuie să promită cel puţin 4-4 în celelalte 2 culori fără să garanteze prea mult ca forţă:

1x - PAS - 1y - CONTRA - promite 4-4 în culorile w şi z, în funcţie de vulnerabiliate, distribuţie şi tric putând începe de la 7-8 PO.

Mâinile ce nu respectă această distribuţie NU vor intra în licitaţie (cel puţin în primul tur) ORICÂT de tari ar fi (adversarii sunt în situaţie forcing).

De altfel contrele date unor adversari în situaţie de forcing trebuie să arate o anumită distribuţie sau să indice un atac şi nu implică tărie.Evident mâinile tari, balansate se vor păstra în afara licitaţiei.Dacă a 2-a culoare se anunţă cu salt şi arată o mână slabă sau medie, CONTRA redevine tare.

CONTRA la 1 FA forcing e apel scurt în culoarea de deschidere şi respectă principiile de bază.

CONTRA după ce adversarii s-au fitat (reveil) se face de obicei la nivel de 2 şi se bazează pe principiul conform căruia prezenţa unui fit la adversari creşte mult şansa de a avea la rându-ne unul, astfel încât necesită o forţă mai redusă (sigur, dacă adversarii au fit de pică ar fi indicat să avem o mână mai ... decentă)

E de remarcat că în secvenţa 1M - PAS - 2M - CONTRA poate fi considerată deja reveil.

RĂSPUNSURILE partenerului la CONTRA dat la nivelul 1

- când partenerul deschidentului a pasat -

CULOARE la nivel minim, mână slabă, uneori culoare în 3

1 NT - 8-10 PO, balansat cu un stop în culoare adversă, fără majoră în 4 (de obicei)

SALT SIMPLU ÎN CULOARE - 8-11 PO, majora poate fi în 4

2 NT - 11-13 balansat, dublu stop, fără majoră în 4

CUE-BID - 11+

3 x - culoare lungă, decentă, cu tărie suficientă pentru a realiza acel contract în cazul unui contreur minimal

PAS - cu 5-6 cărţi solide în culoarea de deschidere

- când partenerul deschidentului a recontrat -

Obligaţia de a licita dispare, pas-ul nu înseamnă acceptarea contractului recontrat ci lipsa unui anunţ potrivit.

Licitarea simplă sau cu salt a unei culori arată nivelul la care poate juca mâna respectivă.

- când partenerul deschidentului a licitat o culoare diferită la nivel de 1

Cum şi în acest caz obligaţia de a vorbi dispare, orice vorbire de culoare e constructivă, sugerând nivelul ce poate fi jucat faţă de un contreur minimal.

1FA promite STOP în culoare deschidentului (cca 9-10 PO balansat)

CONTRA indică cel puţin 4 cărţi în culoarea contrată

CUE-BID ieftin - re-apel cu 8-11 PO

CUE-BID scump - re-apel cu 12+ PO

- când partenerul deschidentului a licitat o culoare diferită la nivel de 2 sau 3

Aici CONTRA e penalizare, celelalte tipuri de răspunsuri trebuie să ţină cont de tric(licitând la nivelul ce poate fi jucat cu un contreur minimal)

- când partenerul deschidentului a licitat FA

CONTRA - penalty

CUE-BID - apel cu 8+

CULOARE - culoare decentă, mână potrivită tricului ales

- când partenerul deschidentului a dat fit

 v. Responsive Double

RĂSPUNSURILE partenerului la CONTRA dat la nivelul 2

În cazul deschiderilor slabe de 2, cea mai acceptată variantă presupune folosirea convenţiei Lebensohl.

În lipsa ei se folosesc principiile standard de la nivelul 1.

Această schemă de răspunsuri e cea clasică, existând numeroase variaţii ce pot fi agreate de parteneri.

III. RESPONSIVE DOUBLE

Utilizată ca răspuns la contra de apel a partenerului când adversarii s-au fitat direct şi explicit la tricul 2 sau 3.

Promite o mână adecvată tricului respectiv, cu cel puţin 2 culori jucabile.

În varianta iniţială, propusă de Fielding-Reid , dacă adversarii sunt fitaţi într-o majoră, promite suport în ambele minoe, dacă fitul lor e minor, presupune suport în ambele majore.

Cu o singură culoare NU se va folosi acest CONTRA, ci se va licita natural, iar cu mâini mai bune sau/şi mai distribuite se poate utiliza cue-bid-ul.

Anunţul de 2 NT e natural în acea formă iniţială (actualmente are diverse semnificaţii, de pildă Lebensohl).

1♣ - CONTRA - 2♣ - CONTRA

 (promite 6+ PO, ambele majore). Caroul se licitează direct.

1♥ -  CONTRA - 2♥ - CONTRA  (promite 8+ PO, ambele minore). Picile se licitează direct

1 ♠ -  CONTRA - 2♠ - CONTRA (promite 9+ PO, ambele minore). Aici, cum cupa ridică tricul pt. a o numi, se preferă să fie promisă şi ea

prin contra.

1♣ - CONTRA - 3♣ - CONTRA (promite cel puţin 2 culori)

Se acceptă un  contra responsive de obicei până la 4 ♦

În secvenţe  de genul:

2♠ - CONTRA - 3♠ - CONTRA e responsive dacă există o înţelegere între parteneri

Ea poate fi folosită şi în cazuri precum următorul:

1♦ - 1♠ - 3♦  - CONTRA (promite celelalte 2 culori şi toleranţă de pică)

Iată câteva situaţii când contra NU este responsive:

1♦  - CONTRA - 1♠ - CONTRA (pro-penalty)

1♣ - 2♠(slabe) - 3♣  - CONTRA (penalty)

1♦  - 1NT - 2♦ - CONTRA (de stabilit)

Sementara itu, untuk cabor bridge yang dilaksanakan di Tarakan, Jawa Timur hanya tampil sebagai penonton setelah gagal pas ajang Pra-PON yang diselenggarakan sebelumnya di Mataram. Bridge memperebutkan 6 medali emas, untuk kategori Pasangan Campuran, Putra, Putri serta Beregu (patkawan) Campuran, Putra dan Putri.

Nyaris tidak ada kejutan yang berarti, selain partai final beregu putra antara Jabar versus Sulut. Babak final ini memainkan 6 segmen yang ditayangkan secara langsung melalui vugraph di situs bridge base online (BB0). Saat penulis bergabung menjadi salah satu kibitzer alias penonton pada waktu itu, babak final itu dicermati oleh hampir 500 orang dari seluruh penjuru dunia yang menyaksikan secara online.

Jabar sempat leading, namun Sulut yang diperkuat salah satu pemain legendaris dunia, Henky Lasut - Eddy Manoppo, menunjukkan kesolidannya. Partai yang cukup menarik. Apalagi banyak penonton dari manca negara yang sengaja menonton kehebatan pasangan Lasut/Manoppo. Sayangnya hampir tak ada media cetak nasional yang memberikan liputan yang cukup berarti.

Berikut adalah parade peraih medali cabor bridge PON XVII-Kaltim (sumber: milis ina-bridge):

1. PASANGAN CAMPURAN

Emas : Conny Sumampouw – Denny Sacul [ DKI ]
Perak : Fera Damayanti – Santje Panelewen [ JATENG ]
Perungu : Syf. Nurhasfiani – Zend Hermond [ KALBAR ]

2. BEREGU CAMPURAN

Emas : DKI JAKARTA
Lusje Bojoh - Robert P Tobing
Conny Sumampouw - Denny J Sacul
J Joice Tueje - Taufik Gautama Asbi

Perak : SULAWESI UTARA
Elvita Lasut - Henky Lasut
Lanny Liem - Bill Mondigir
Mila Angkouw - Tommy Rogi

Perunggu : JAWA TENGAH
Fera Damayanti - Santje Panelewen
Kristina Wahyu - Anthony Soebroto
Suci Amita Dewi - Stefanus Supeno

3. PASANGAN PUTRA

Emas : Henky Lasut – Eddy Manoppo ( SULUT )
Perak : Taufik G Asbi – Robert P Tobing ( DKI )
Perungu : CH Nurhamidin – Bill Mondigir ( SULUT )

4. PASANGAN PUTRI

Emas : Lusje Bojoh – J Joice Tueje ( DKI )
Perak : Irne Korengkeng – C Sumampouw ( DKI )
Perungu : Fera Damayanti – Riantini ( JATENG )

5. BEREGU PUTRI

Emas : DKI
Lusje Bojoh - J Joice Tueje
Conny Sumampouw - Irne Korengkeng
Winda Sumenge - Elita Sofyan

Perak : JAWA TENGAH
Fera Damayanti - Riantini
Suci Amita Dewi - Kristina Wahyu
F Ariyani - R Andhani

Perungu : SULAWESI UTARA
Elvita Lasut - Lanny Liem
Mila Angkouw –Riane Kawet
Nur Nurahma -Lida Au

6. BEREGU PUTRA

Emas : SULAWESI UTARA
Henky Lasut – Eddy Manoppo
Tommy Rogi – Octa Wohon
CH. Nurhamidin – Bill Mondigir

Perak : JAWA BARAT
Priatna – Paulus Sugandi
Ong Keng Hin – Very Pangkerego
Murphy Sumampouw – Vicky Manoppo

Perungu : JAWA TENGAH
M Bambang Hartono – Stefanus Supeno
Santje Panelewen – Franky Karwur
Anthony Soebroto - Kamto

Dengan demikian DKI tampil sebagai juara umum untuk cabor bridge pada PON kali dengan 4 emas dan 2 perak. Sulut di tempat kedua dengan (2-1-2). Jateng (0-2-3). Jabar (0-1-0). Kalbar (0-0-1). Sedangkan: Bali, Banten, Kaltim, Sulsel, Sulteng, dan Sumbar belum berhasil mendapatkan sekeping pun medali.

Selamat buat kawan Lida Austina Aufa, salah satu alumni ITS Bridge Team yang memperoleh medali perunggu  untuk kategori  beregu putri bersama tim Sulawesi Utara.

Selamat buat seluruh pemain dan khususnya untuk penyelenggara yang memungkinkan  cabor bridge dapat dinikmati melalui online sebagai pengganti ketakmauan media cetak nasional memberikan liputan yang cukup berarti bagi salah satu cabang olahraga yang mampu mengerek nama Indonesia di level dunia.

[kkpp, 18.07.08]

This is where i retreated yesterday, Couchville Lake, Long Hunter State Park....2 mile loop....

And he [the Lord] said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind and earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

-- I Kings 19: 11-12 (KJV)

There is this tiny little town in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest about 20 miles from Granite Falls named Silverton (an old mining town). If you blink you'll miss it. If you get out of your car to look at it you can basically throw a rock across it. The town has a quant bridge across a river with vacation cabins on the other side. As we drove through the town we encounted the Big Four Mountain pass (home to ice caves) and another breathtaking mountain range with the moon appearing above. A fitting end to our weekend road trip. If you want to drive the Loop or check out some of the beautiful hikes off the highway here's the mountain-loop-highway-map for your next adventure.

I. CONTRA DE PENALTY

Se presupune că o CONTRA e DE PENALIZARE când:

- se contrează un anunţ natural de FA
(desigur, dacă nu atribuim o altă semnificaţie acestei contre)
- oricare din axă a licitat anterior FA natural
- oricare din axă a contrat anterior de penalizare sau a transformat o contra de apel
- oricare partener a folosit anterior o contra ce arată o mână maximală sau a recontrat
- am făcut pe parcurs o licitaţie de baraj fie deschizând ori intervenind, fie susţinând culoarea partenerului sau după ce am răspuns printr-o schimbare de culoare cu salt (de obicei partenerul contrează, dar dacă acesta a făcut o licitaţie ce arată forţă avem libertatea de a contra în anumite cazuri)
- am contrat mai devreme o licitaţie convenţională
- nu mai există culoare de apelat (sau mai există doar una , dar acest caz are numeroase excepţii)
- am fi putut contra mai devreme (şi aici sunt excepţii destule) sau dacă avem prima posibilitate de a licita de la 4♠ în sus şi avem la dispoziţie alt mod de a apela (de pildă 1♠ - p - 4♠ - CONTRA, dacă folosim 4FA pentru apel )
- am găsit deja un fit (şi avem paliere de trial sau am atins deja contractul dorit, ori în anumite secvenţe de PAS FORCING)
- partenerul celui ce contrează şi-a descris cu acurateţe forţa şi distribuţia

Variaţiuni pe aceeaşi temă

1. CONTRA dat la FA natural

a) după deschiderea cu 1 NT, de obicei contra e de penalizare, dar se folosesc diverse variante, dependente de înţelegerea cu partenerul (de pildă dacă e vorba de o deschidere slabă contra e penalizare, dacă e una tare contra arată un monocolor)
Pentru a contra de penalty în poziţie directă e nevoie de o forţă mai mare decât cea maximă presupusă la deschident (şi nu egală...) sau de o culoare solidă, rapid aducătoare de levate.
Partenerul e bine să paseze de obicei (tendinţa de a licita e cu atât mai mare cu cât deschiderea e mai slabă - pentru a contra 1 FA tare partenerul trebuie să îndeplinească nişte condiţii mai stricte, astfel că şansa de a scrie un rezultat bun e mai mare).
Contra din poziţia 4 nu ar trebui să fie de penalizare, ci să promită 11-12 PO nevulnerabil (evident cu mâini puternice, balansate e de preferat a pasa în poziţia a IV-a, mai cu seamă dacă adversarii sunt vulnerabili.
b) după intervenţia adversă cu 1 NT natural, fie în direct, fie de reveil, contra dată de oricare din axă e o puternică invitaţie la a pasa. (anumite distribuţii sau tării permit deschidentului să liciteze, totuşi, după contra dată de repondent)
c) când adversarii intervin în "sandwich" cu 1 NT (pentru a arăta un bicolor în culorile nelicitate), CONTRA e de penalizare, în lipsa vreunei alte înţelegeri
d) când adversarii relicitează sau răspund 1 NT
Poziţia cea mai clară e cea în care contrăm de apel deschiderea cu 1 la culoare, adversarul răspunde 1 NT şi partenerul contrează, aici fiind vorba de penalizare fără dubii:

1 ♦ - CONTRA - 1NT - CONTRA

Dacă adversarii continuă să liciteze, orice contra e penalty.
Dacă am contrat de apel şi deschidentul reanunţă 1 NT, o nouă contra e 100% penalizare dacă partenerul si adversarul din stânga pasaseră contra de apel sau dacă partenerul a licitat o culoare liber (peste licitaţia repondentului) şi arată 17+ PO dacă 1 NT a survenit după un răspuns advers în culoare sau un răspuns forţat al partenerului:

1♠ - CONTRA - pas - pas
1 NT - CONTRA (penalty)...

1♦ - CONTRA - 1♥ - 1♠
1 NT - CONTRA (penalty)

1♦ - CONTRA - 1♥ - CONTRA(recomandabil penalty)
1 NT - CONTRA (penalty)

1♦ - CONTRA - 1♥ - PAS
1 NT - CONTRA (INFORMATIV, PRO PENALTY)

1♦ - CONTRA - PAS - 1♠
1 NT - CONTRA (INFORMATIV, PRO PENALTY)

Alte situaţii trebuiesc discutate în axă, de pildă:

1♦ - PAS - 1♠ - PAS
1 NT - CONTRA

Aici poate fi vorba de un pas anterior având carouri (evident CONTRA e penalizare, atunci) sau un apel întârziat (mai rar şi nerecomandabil ţinând seama de forţa necunoscută a repondentului)

1♦ - PAS - 1NT - PAS
PAS - CONTRA(penalty)

În secvenţe de genul:

1 m - PAS - 1NT - PAS
PAS - ?
contra - ar trebui s-o folosim ca penalizare
cue-bid-ul - apel
iar după
1 M - PAS - 1NT - PAS
PAS - ?
- contra - 2-way (cue-bid-ul poate ridica prea mult nivelul licitaţiei) - partenerul pasează cu 0-1(2)sau 5+ cărţi în majora deschidentului sau evită pasul cu (2)-4 cărţi

e) CONTRA de apel la 1 NT
Secvenţa
1 x - PAS - 1NT - CONTRA
e cea mai comună şi e vorba de un apel scurt în culoarea deschidentului.(Dacă 1 FA survine ca răspuns la o majoră şi e FORCING semnificaţia contrei poate varia în funcţie de stilul axei, dar mai util pare să o folosim tot ca apel)
1 x - PAS - 1 y - PAS
1 NT - PAS - PAS - CONTRA,
în schimb, ar trebui să fie penalty (se putea apela anterior)

2. CONTRA după ce axa proprie a licitat FA

a) ca deschidere sau ca răspuns NATURAL la o deschidere
În lipsa unei înţelegeri prealabile, cea mai simplă variantă e să utilizăm CONTRA ca fiind penalizare ori de câte ori am licitat FA natural pe axă.
A doua opţiune ar fi să folosim factorul poziţie: dacă suntem plasaţi înaintea intervenientului CONTRA să fie de apel iar dacă suntem după el să fie penalty

1 NT - 2♥ - CONTRA (penalty, desigur dacă nu folosim Lebensohl, Rubensohl sau alte convenţii)

1 NT - 2♥ - PAS - PAS
CONTRA (apel)

1 NT - PAS - PAS - 2♥
CONTRA (penalty)

1 NT - PAS - PAS - 2♥
PAS - PAS - CONTRA(apel)
Aici, dacă intervenţia a fost 2♠, CONTRA ar putea fi tratată drept penalty şi 2 NT ca apel

1x - PAS - 1 NT - 2y
CONTRA (penalty)
şi
1x - PAS - 1 NT - 2y
PAS - PAS - CONTRA (apel)
sau
1x - PAS - 1 NT - PAS
PAS - 2y - CONTRA (penalty)

Pentru secvenţe de genul:
1 NT - 2x(artificial), e necesară o înţelegere prealabilă.

Câteva exemple ar putea fi folosite ca ghid:

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti,orice monocolor) - CONTRA (APEL, recomandabil) - PAS -
PAS - 2x - CONTRA (penalty - factor poziţie favorabil)

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti,orice monocolor) - CONTRA (APEL, recomandabil) - PAS -
PAS - 2x - PAS - PAS
CONTRA (APEL)

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti) - PAS - 2x(NATURAL)
CONTRA (penalty)

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti) - CONTRA - 2x(NATURAL)
PAS - PAS - CONTRA(APEL)

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti) - PAS - 2♦(RELEU)
PAS (sau CONTRA) - 2x - CONTRA(penalty)

1 NT - 2♣(Cappelletti) - PAS - 2♦(RELEU)
PAS (sau CONTRA) - 2x - PAS - PAS
CONTRA(apel, poziţie nefavorabilă)

1NT - 2 x (bicolor cu culoarea numită) - CONTRA (penalizare pt culoarea numită;dacă pasezi şi deschidentul contrează culoarea iniţială sau o alta, APEL)

1NT - 2 x (bicolor cu ambele culori cunoscute - de pildă 2♣, ambele majore) - CONTRA(arată o mână cel puţin invitaţională cu intenţia de a penaliza ulterior, apelul făcându-se printr-un cue-bid)

b) după răspunsul de 1 NT FORCING

1 M - PAS - 1 NT (F) - 2 x
CONTRA(MAXIMAL)

1 M - PAS - 1 NT (F) - 2 x
PAS - PAS - CONTRA(APEL)

c) după reanunţ de 1NT

1x - PAS - 1y - PAS
1 NT - 2z - CONTRA (penalty)

1x - PAS - 1y - PAS
1 NT - PAS - PAS - 2z
CONTRA(penalty)

1x - PAS - 1y - PAS
1 NT - PAS - PAS - 2z
PAS - PAS - CONTRA (?)
Aici există mai multe variante - factorul poziţie ar indica un apel - dar licitându-se deja 3 culori
tendinţa de penalizare creşte. Dacă a patra culoare poate fi jucată la nivelul 2 se poate accepta ca apel, cu condiţia ca acea culoare să nu fi fost negată deja de deschident, de pildă:

1♦ - PAS - 1♥ - PAS
1NT - PAS - PAS - 2♣
PAS - PAS - CONTRA (pica nu o poate avea deschidentul, penalty)

1♣ - PAS - 1♦ - PAS
1NT - PAS - PAS - 2M
PAS - PAS - CONTRA (penalty, deschidentul neagă majoră în 4, în majoritatea sistemelor)

1♥ - PAS - 1♠ - PAS
1NT - PAS - PAS - 2 m
PAS - PAS - CONTRA(opţional)

1♦ - PAS - 1♠ - PAS
1NT - PAS - PAS - 2♣
PAS - PAS - CONTRA (opţional - se poate juca tricul 2, cupa nu e negată la deschident, poziţie nefavorabilă)

3. CONTRE întârziate

Dacă adversarul a licitat o culoare pe care am avut ocazia s-o contrăm de apel, dar nu am făcut-o, in schimb contrăm la următoarea ocazie, se poate presupune că vrem să penalizăm:

1♥ - PAS - 1NT - PAS

2♥ - CONTRA(penalizare)

1♥ - PAS - 1♠ - PAS

2♥ - CONTRA (penalizare)

1♦ - PAS - 1♥ - PAS

1♠ - PAS - 2♥ - CONTRA

1♦ - 1♥ - PAS - 1NT

PAS - PAS - CONTRA

În alte cazuri nu e chiar aşa de clar:

1♦ - 1♥ - PAS - 2♥

PAS - PAS - CONTRA

(aparent pas de penalizare, dar prezenţa fitului trebuie să pună pe gânduri, cel mai bine e să considerăm şi această CONTRA drept 2-way)

1♥ - PAS - 2♥ - PAS

PAS - CONTRA (2-WAY)

O observaţie e de făcut - aceste CONTRE 2-WAY trebuie privite cu mare atenţie când adversarii au fit, mai cu seamă de cupă, şi mai curând ar trebui tratate ca simple REVEIL-URI (În caz de fit la pică problema e mai simplă, apelul în reveil fiind 2 NT)

1♥ - PAS - 1NT - PAS

2♣ - CONTRA (mai degrabă apel cu scurtime de ♣)

4. CONTRA după ce am arătat anterior o mână tare (prin CONTRA sau RECONTRA)

 Cel mai comun exemplu e:

1♥ - CONTRA - RECONTRA - ...

Plecând de la premisa că recontra arată o mână de deschidere ce NU promite fit şi intenţionează să penalizeze ulterior, e clar că orice contra dat pe axă e de penalizare

Dacă s-a contrat o licitaţie artificială ce arată un bicolor (MICHAELS  de pildă), o nouă CONTRA e de penalizare:

1♥ -2♥ - CONTRA  - PAS

PAS - 2♠ -  CONTRA(penalizare)

E posibil ca unele axe să prefere ca un CONTRA dat unui cue-bid să promită onor sau fit, iar PAS urmat de CONTRA să fie penalty, dar astfel apar confuzii mai frecvent, se oferă paliere suplimentare adversarului şi  ilustrează adesea incomplet mâna.

5. CONTRA când oricare din axă a contrat anterior de penalizare sau a transformat o contra de apel

 Am stabilit că în aceste cazuri orice contra ulterioară e de penalizare:

1x - 1 NT - CONTRA

1♠ - CONTRA - 2♥ - CONTRA(penalizare)

1♠ - 2♣ - PAS - PAS

CONTRA - PAS - PAS

6. CONTRA după ce am găsit un fit

După o susţinere simplă a culorii de deschidere, adversarul intervine.

Se presupune că un CONTRA dat de deschident e penalty când are palier pt. a face un trial şi e trial în lipsa altui palier disponibil:

1♠ - PAS - 2♠ - 3♣

CONTRA(penalty)

1♠ - PAS - 2♠ - 3♥

CONTRA(trial)

1♣ - 1 ♠ - PAS - 2♠

3 ♣ - CONTRA(penalty)

Acest tratament se poate extinde şi pentru repondent:

1♠ - PAS - 2♠ - PAS

PAS - 3♣ - CONTRA(penalty)

7. CONTRA după ce partenerul (sau ambii) şi-a(u) descris mâna

1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠  - PAS

2♣ - 2♥ - CONTRA (penalty, deschidentul are mâna descrisă)

1♣ - 2♣(ambele majore) - 3♣ - CONTRA(penalty, partenerul a arătat intenţia de a juca pe majore, puteam alege una)

1♣ - PAS - 1♠ - CONTRA(apel egal în celelalte 2 culori)

2♣ - CONTRA(penalty)

1♥ - 3♠ - 4♥- CONTRA(penalty - partenerul si-a arătat mâna - de altfel am amintit că un CONTRA e de penalizare după ce unul din axă a barat)

1♦ - PAS - 2♦ - 2♥

CONTRA (penalty, partenerul a descris mâna negând pica iar deschidentul avea alternative destule pentru a încerca o manşă)

My current city of Barcelona boasts some beautiful buildings. This bridge near Placa St. Jaume is one of the most impressive. It's gothic design was something I always wanted to capture on canvass and as soon as I moved into my new studio, I did.

The bridge had been cleaned around the time I painted this, so the curves and shapes were easily captured. It looked as fresh on the day I sketched the original drawings as it must have when it was first built.

This painting is one I would never like to sell as it has so much personal meaning. Right now it has pride of place my living room and whenever I see it it reminds me of the beauty of the city I live in.

Bridge Footwear has just restocked its collection of deadstock older releases, some of which are pictured above; over 150 pairs of kicks in 45 styles have been updated on the website.  Including a number of great Air Force 1’s, the DJ Clark Kent Pack (as well as the QK re-release of the Air Max 95 Neon, the inspiration for said pack), and a few Air Jordan V’s, this is definitely a big re-release.........I need the fucking Brooklyn jointz

Cliff swallows nesting on the underside of a bridge that carries the Blue Ridge Parkway across the James River in Virginia.

The gregarious Cliff Swallow nests in large colonies on buildings, cliffs, and under bridges. The gourd-shaped mud nests can number up to several hundred or thousand in a single location.

Nest is a covered bowl made of mud pellets, with a small entrance tunnel on one side, Lined with grass. Nest placed on a vertical wall, usually just under an overhang.

When a Cliff Swallow has had a hard time finding food, it will watch its neighbors in the nesting colony and follow one to food when it leaves. Although sharing of information about food at the colony seems unintentional, when a swallow finds food away from the colony during poor weather conditions it may give a specific call that alerts other Cliff Swallows that food is available. By alerting other swallows to a large insect swarm an individual may ensure that the swarm is tracked and that it can follow the swarm effectively.

When young Cliff Swallows leave their nests they congregate in large groups called crèches. A pair of swallows can find its own young in the crèche primarily by voice. Cliff Swallows have one of the most variable Juvenal plumages, and the distinctive facial markings may help the parents recognize their chicks by sight too.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/

© 2008 D L Ennis, All rights reserved.

NOTE: Permission for the use of my images is granted for personal websites and blogs but is to include a link back to this site and proper credit given to me, D L Ennis. Link to be used...(Visual Thoughts http://dlennis.wordpress.com/)

NOTE: Commercial use, and the creation of prints, must be purchased! For more information you can contact me here.

Within the space of 24 hours...a rather firm action with a two pots of paint, that it wasn't true love, after all.

În varianta iniţială arăta o mână bicoloră (minim 5-5), sub deschidere, fără a preciza vreo culoare.

Actualmente ea implică cel puţin o culoare majoră (deci bicolorul minor este exclus).

Folosirea ei (când e permisă!), împiedică, desigur, utilizarea celebrei "Multi"(care are avantajul de a fi acceptată fără restricţii de WBF), dar frecvenţa de apariţie e mai mare.

O bună idee e de a folosi varianta Multi-Wilkosz, care include şi mâinile regulate tari de 22-23 P.O. 

Răspunsuri  

            - Cu pici, deschidentul le anunţă (repondentul poate pasa, sau alege cu 2 NT o minoră, ori poate anunţa el însuşi o minoră, dacă are 6 cărţi + cel puţin 3 cupe)

            - Cu mână balansată tare deschidentul va licita 2 NT

2♠ - fără toleranţă de cupă           

            - Având cupe, deschidentul va anunţa minora.

            - Cu mână balansată tare deschidentul va licita 2 NT

2 NT - Releu tare

            - 3♣, trefle (3♦ de la repondent cere majora, 3♥/♠ natural, forcing)

            - 3♦, caro-cupă

            - 3♥, ambele majore

            - 3♠, caro-pică

            - 3 NT, balansat tare

3♣, natural, non forcing

            - 3 NT, balansat tare

3♦, invitant la manşă cu ambele majore

            - 3 NT, balansat tare 

3♥, baraj cu suport în ambele majore

3♠, tricolor tare, scurt de cupă

            - 3 NT, cupe cu o minoră, pentru a juca

            - 4 NT, balansat tare

3NT pentru a juca, fără stop de cupă (altfel trece prin 2 NT)

            - 4 NT, balansat tare

4♣ Splinter, fit într-o majoră şi în caro

4♦ baraj (alege majora)

4♥ baraj (suportă cupa şi orice minoră)

4♠ baraj (suportă pica şi orice minoră)

Răspunsuri după intervenţie

- după contra -

PAS - 3+ carouri

RECONTRA - fără toleranţă de caro

2 NT - releu tare

2♥/2♠/3♣ - culoare proprie, nonforcing

3♦/4♦, baraj, alege majora

3♥/4♥, baraj în cupă sau orice minoră

3♠/4♠, baraj în pică sau orice minoră

- după 2M -

CONTRA - pas/corect

2 NT - releu

ORICE - natural, nonforcing

- după 3x -

CONTRA - penalizare

CULOAREA RELEU - cere descriere

           - se licitează economic

3 NT - pentru a juca

ALTE CULORI - natural, non forcing

Sethusamudram and its National and Global Impact

Location

The canal is located along the South Eastern coastline of the Indian peninsula between the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Northern Sri Lanka.

The proposed canal consists of two main sections. The first part connects The Gulf of Mannar to Palk Bay by cutting across the Adam’s Bridge or Rama’s Bridge. This is a shallow region between the Dhanushkodi on the Pamban island of India and Talaimannar on the Mannar island of Sri Lanka. The second part cuts through the shallow areas in the Palk straits towards the Coromandel Coast. The total length of the two channels is 89 kms.

Conception and Implementation of the Project

The first proposal to cut a canal across the Palk straits came from A.D.Taylor, a commander of the Indian Marines, in 1860. Apart from this, there were eight other proposals with various modifications suggested between 1860 and 1922 by the officers of the British colonists. They were never seriously considered as the project was thought to be unviable.

Since independence, there have been four official assessment reports on the feasibility of the project. They are:-

• The Sethusamudram Project Committee Report – 1956. Committee headed by Sir A. Ramaswamy Mudaliar.
• Nagendra Singh Committee Report – 1967. The committee was set up by the Union Government to examine the feasibility of the project.
• Lakshminarayan Committee Report – 1981
• Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services (PTCS) Report – 1996

Each of these reports found the project viable. The first three weren’t acted upon by the Government, possibly due to lack of sufficient funds for the project and lack of political will. During the 1990s, the Indian economy grew rapidly and the Government was generally optimistic about investing in the country. The PTCS was asked to submit a project feasibility report by the State Government in 1994. The report, apart from suggesting various changes to the proposed canal routes, made suggestions regarding improvement of infrastructure of the canal in order to facilitate easier movement of traffic. After studying the report, the Ministry of Surface Transport appointed the Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) as the nodal agency to implement the project. The Ministry, in July 1997, asked the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, to prepare the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for the Project. The report from NEERI suggested the canal posed no significant threat to the environment. However, the report recommended a particular alignment of the canal along the Pamban Island in order to minimize the damage on the environment.

The project, as most other major ones in India, was really slow to kick off. In the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, the alliance led by the DMK completely whitewashed the opposition party in Tamil Nadu and became a key constituent of the Central Government. The DMK thus managed to garner many crucial ministries including the Ministry of Ports and Transport. With the DMK, a vociferous supporter of the project, controlling the ministry of Ports, the project really took off and the ground work for the project started at fever pitch. TPT hired M/s. L&T-Ramboll Consulting Engineers in 2004 to provide a detailed project report. The report made a strong case for the project. The Union Government mobilized a plan to implement the project and it was inaugurated on June 2, 2005 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The construction work is currently going on in full swing and the canal is all set to open in 2008.

Economic Benefits

The canal is slated to reduce the transit time between the west and east coast of India by 24 hours on an average. Currently, ships plying between the west and east coast have to circumnavigate Sri Lanka. Thus, the canal helps in reducing the transit distance by 335.3 nautical miles on an average. Ships using the canal will save around one day of transit time and fuel costs.

The canal, once completed, is expected to bring huge revenues to the Union and State Governments and transform the regional economy. The Government is investing heavily in the major ports of Chennai and Tuticorin and upgrading existing infrastructure anticipating increased traffic once the canal is completed. It is also developing 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and Kanyakumari. This will lead to an overall improvement in infrastructure of the State and thus bolster international and domestic maritime trade and bring in greater foreign investment. There will be a great boost to local industries as export costs will be reduced.

The canal is also expected to benefit the fisheries industry of the state as fishing boats will be able to navigate through the Palk Strait which is not possible now. The State Government is building many fishing harbors along the coastline.

The canal is near the East-West International sea-route, one of the busiest navigation routes in the world. Ships sailing between the mid-east and Japan and China now pass between the Maldivian islands, circle the Sri Lankan coastline and then turn north east and sail through the Malacca straits. The canal would create a by-pass and thus divert the huge traffic of ships through India’s own waters. The revenue generated from the toll paid by these ships will be enormous and contribute greatly to the country’s revenue. The Tuticorin Port will become a major nodal port, similar to Colombo or Singapore.

Security and Strategic Benefits

Till recently, the Government largely ignored security of India’s naval waters due to lack of funds and persistent problems in the mainland. However, there is an increasing emphasis being given on controlling the waters of the Indian Ocean by the defense planners in New Delhi. This is largely due to reactionary thinking prompted by two major events : The acquisition of Diego Garcia by the US as a naval base in the Indian Ocean and the commissioning of an aircraft carrier by the US as a show of support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh War. Since the fall of the USSR, India could no longer rely on Soviet support in case of a showdown with US. Thus there was an urgent need to secure and control the country’s waters. The canal, along with planned forward bases in the Lakshadweep and Andaman islands, will play a key role in India’s plans to dominate the waters of the Indian Ocean. The canal helps by saving transit time between the west and east coasts and allows for easier and more secretive patrolling of the waters by the Navy.

The canal will also help negate the growing Chinese influence among South and South East Asian countries, most importantly, Sri Lanka. China, since the 1980s, has begun an ambitious project to build a series of naval bases extending from mid-east to its own coast in order to ensure its energy security. This project is popularly known as ‘The String of Pearls’. This involves building of forward bases and docks for Chinese ships in Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. The first of these forward bases is the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. The port is located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in the mouth of the strategically important Straits of Hormuz and right in India’s backyard. Chinese efforts to gain access to the Trincomalee port in Sri Lanka was thwarted due to Indian pressure on Colombo. The canal will allow India to guard it’s waters much more effectively, reduce Chinese influence in the region and give India a strategic leverage over China.

The canal will lead to a much greater and more effective Indian presence in the surrounding waters including around the crucial Straits of Malacca. The Government has invested heavily in building a forward marine command and developing a port in the Andaman and Nicobar anticipating the increase in maritime traffic in the region. The forward base will allow it to gain control over the Straits of Malacca. Over 80% of Japan’s oil needs and 60% of China’s is sourced through these straits. Thus, the building of the canal and the base in the Andaman and Nicobar islands will give India huge strategic muscle against China, Japan and the entire international community.

Finally, the increased security along the canal will help control the growing influence of the LTTE’s naval arm, the Sea Tigers, in the coast between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka and prevent any Sri Lankan Tamil nationalist elements from spreading their influence in Tamil Nadu. It would also provide cover for fishing boats from Tamil Nadu against attacks by the fast attack crafts of the Sea Tigers.

Opposition to the Project

The greatest amount of opposition to the project has come from the environmentalist quarters. The canal is located very near the Gulf of Mannar National Biosphere Reserve.

This reserve has an immense variety of sea life and corals and is one of the most important bio-diversity hotspots in the world. The proximity of the canal to the reserve puts the reserve under grave risk. Oil-spills or releasing of effluents into the waters by the ships would result in an environmental disaster of enormous proportions. Also, coral reefs are extremely sensitive to temperature changes in the water. Even if the water temperature were to change by 1degree Celsius, the entire reef would perish. The dredging of the canal and the ships passing through may p