Theresa McDermott (born c. 1967) is a postal worker from Edinburgh who has been involved in the Free Gaza Movement.
During 2005-06 she was detained by Israeli authorities while trying to attend a conference in the West Bank on non-violent resistance. Her MP, Mark Lazarowicz, raised this issue in Parliament.
In 2009 she was detained by the Israelis in Ramleh when she was captured taking part in an attempt to break the siege of Gaza on board a Lebanese freighter.
In 2010 she was among those captured by Israel in the Gaza flotilla. Just before all electronic communication with the convoy was cut off, she managed to get a text message to Sandra White MSP.
On 6 June 2010 an interview with her by David Pratt appeared in the Sunday Herald. In it she gave an eyewitness account of the Israeli assault on the Free Gaza aid flotilla, detailing the violence perpetrated on the activists, including herself, by the Israeli Defence Force.
During 2005-06 she was detained by Israeli authorities while trying to attend a conference in the West Bank on non-violent resistance. Her MP, Mark Lazarowicz, raised this issue in Parliament.
In 2009 she was detained by the Israelis in Ramleh when she was captured taking part in an attempt to break the siege of Gaza on board a Lebanese freighter.
In 2010 she was among those captured by Israel in the Gaza flotilla. Just before all electronic communication with the convoy was cut off, she managed to get a text message to Sandra White MSP.
On 6 June 2010 an interview with her by David Pratt appeared in the Sunday Herald. In it she gave an eyewitness account of the Israeli assault on the Free Gaza aid flotilla, detailing the violence perpetrated on the activists, including herself, by the Israeli Defence Force.
Pineboarding is a recreational activity in which a participant rides down the pine-needle-covered slopes of pine forests on a skateboard deck (without trucks or wheels).
Boards
The preferred pineboard is an old school style, highly-concave skateboard deck like those that were popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The edges of concave decks are raised, which provides a much smoother ride. Modern skateboard decks have relatively low concavity and their edges tend to dig into the pine needles and sand while riding.
The underside of the deck is sandpapered down to remove any paint or varnish that it may have. This paint or varnish layer tends to inhibit a smooth ride, as it makes the board stick to the pine beneath it. Floor or wood polish, such as Pledge, is sometimes applied to the underside of the board to provide a more slippery surface.
Another board that has proved itself on this terrain is the Stikboard. This is an all terrain board made out of rotational molded plastic and of a similar size to a skateboard deck. It's lightweight and robust and ideal for grass, sand, snow, and even pine needles.
Looking for a Slope
The pine slopes which are the most sought after are usually those that provide a few clean lines: That is, long sections of slope which provide clear runs without obstacles such as trees, boulders, bushes etc. (a 'run' in pineboarding is simply a single movement from one part of the slope down to another).
Cleaning
Once an agreeable slope has been found, the run or runs have to be 'cleaned'. 'Cleaning' involves removing rocks, small stones, branches, pine cones, and other debris from the run. This is a once-off job so it is important to choose a good slope beforehand. Uncleaned slopes may cause damage to your board, especially from rocks and small stones. It is also nice to know that when you wipe out you'll be landing on soft pine needles and not rocks.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions are important to take into account before heading to the forest.
If it has rained during the previous week or so, the pine-needles and the underlying sand will still, most likely, be damp. This seriously inhibits the board's ability to slide over the pine-needles. Although these conditions are not preferable, it is still possible to pineboard in such a situation if one applies ample polish before each run.
Movement
Unlike most boardsports the movement of a pineboarder is largely determined by the features of the slope. In skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding and mountain boarding, pressure placed on the edges of the board cause it move accordingly. A pineboard can be directed in this same way, but to a much lesser degree; the primary method is, instead, to adapt one's own movements (degrees of weight distribution on either foot, stance etc.) to the slope.
Safety
Proper protection should always be worn, such as a helmet and elbowpads. Because the boarder is moving at high speeds down a steep slope, it can be dangerous if footing is lost or any mistake is made on a trick, i.e. losing the board on a shove-it. This can cause the rider to bail, and on a steep slope, this can cause injury. Bails can also result from hidden obstacles such as rocks and fallen trees. If the rider bails it is important for her/him to get up to a crouching or standing position and stop as quickly as possible.
Tricks
The run itself and responding to the features of the slope (such as steep angles, corners and drops etc.) is the primary pineboarding experience; but there are a few simple tricks inspired by skateboarding and snowboarding which are performed:
Rotations
90, 180, 270 or 360 degree rotations: these are performed by swinging the upper-body or lower-body in the intended clockwise or counter-clockwise direction while the feet are in contact with the board and the board is in contact with the slope (a simple move on a snowboard but far more difficult on a pineboard).
Shove-its
A shove-it in pineboarding is basically the same movement as it is in skateboarding. The feet kick the board into a 180 or 360 degree rotation. The board stays in contact with the slope but the feet are in the air above the board as it rotates (originally a skateboarding move).
Ramps
Ramps are made by building up a mound of sand next to a tree stump. The mound is shaped to give a smooth transition from the slope to the top of the tree stump. The transition slope is then layered with pine needles. Shove-its are performed on the top of tree stump before dropping off the other edge. Cutbacks are performed on the edge of the stump or on the transition slope.
Spin-it shoves
This is almost a cross of a rotation and a shove it. One spins the board under his/her feet and jumps up at the same time thus the board spins under them and the person either spins the same way as the board or in the reverse direction if they want to be fancy.
Rail Sliding
In pineboarding, thick branches or tree trunks (with diameters ranging from 10 cm to 50 cm) are used to make rails for rail sliding. Fresh branches or trunks are preferred for the slippery riding surface they provide when the bark is removed. Sometimes a little floor polish is applied to rails which have become old and dry.
A pineboarding railslide requires a rail that one can slide directly onto from the slope, i.e. the rail can't be above the ground as it sometimes is in skateboarding and snowboarding. The reason for this is that most pineboards don't have straps or bindings to hold the feet against the board, as in snowboarding. One can't ollie onto a rail as in skateboarding because of the nature of the riding surface and the board.
Grabs
Board grabs are done the same way as in snowboarding. They are perform from a ramp or drop off. Simply grab the edge of the board on either side. These are performed much more easily if the board has been equipped with bindings.
Bindings
Many pineboarders now use bindings. It allows for more tricks, including large jumps and better rotations, and more stability. However, bindings do not allow the rider to perform shove-its, and there is more freedom of motion without bindings. Bindings can be made from towstraps to cover the front of your foot. Shoelaces attached to the board can be tightened over the top of the back of your shoe to keep it from slipping out.
Boards
The preferred pineboard is an old school style, highly-concave skateboard deck like those that were popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The edges of concave decks are raised, which provides a much smoother ride. Modern skateboard decks have relatively low concavity and their edges tend to dig into the pine needles and sand while riding.
The underside of the deck is sandpapered down to remove any paint or varnish that it may have. This paint or varnish layer tends to inhibit a smooth ride, as it makes the board stick to the pine beneath it. Floor or wood polish, such as Pledge, is sometimes applied to the underside of the board to provide a more slippery surface.
Another board that has proved itself on this terrain is the Stikboard. This is an all terrain board made out of rotational molded plastic and of a similar size to a skateboard deck. It's lightweight and robust and ideal for grass, sand, snow, and even pine needles.
Looking for a Slope
The pine slopes which are the most sought after are usually those that provide a few clean lines: That is, long sections of slope which provide clear runs without obstacles such as trees, boulders, bushes etc. (a 'run' in pineboarding is simply a single movement from one part of the slope down to another).
Cleaning
Once an agreeable slope has been found, the run or runs have to be 'cleaned'. 'Cleaning' involves removing rocks, small stones, branches, pine cones, and other debris from the run. This is a once-off job so it is important to choose a good slope beforehand. Uncleaned slopes may cause damage to your board, especially from rocks and small stones. It is also nice to know that when you wipe out you'll be landing on soft pine needles and not rocks.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions are important to take into account before heading to the forest.
If it has rained during the previous week or so, the pine-needles and the underlying sand will still, most likely, be damp. This seriously inhibits the board's ability to slide over the pine-needles. Although these conditions are not preferable, it is still possible to pineboard in such a situation if one applies ample polish before each run.
Movement
Unlike most boardsports the movement of a pineboarder is largely determined by the features of the slope. In skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding and mountain boarding, pressure placed on the edges of the board cause it move accordingly. A pineboard can be directed in this same way, but to a much lesser degree; the primary method is, instead, to adapt one's own movements (degrees of weight distribution on either foot, stance etc.) to the slope.
Safety
Proper protection should always be worn, such as a helmet and elbowpads. Because the boarder is moving at high speeds down a steep slope, it can be dangerous if footing is lost or any mistake is made on a trick, i.e. losing the board on a shove-it. This can cause the rider to bail, and on a steep slope, this can cause injury. Bails can also result from hidden obstacles such as rocks and fallen trees. If the rider bails it is important for her/him to get up to a crouching or standing position and stop as quickly as possible.
Tricks
The run itself and responding to the features of the slope (such as steep angles, corners and drops etc.) is the primary pineboarding experience; but there are a few simple tricks inspired by skateboarding and snowboarding which are performed:
Rotations
90, 180, 270 or 360 degree rotations: these are performed by swinging the upper-body or lower-body in the intended clockwise or counter-clockwise direction while the feet are in contact with the board and the board is in contact with the slope (a simple move on a snowboard but far more difficult on a pineboard).
Shove-its
A shove-it in pineboarding is basically the same movement as it is in skateboarding. The feet kick the board into a 180 or 360 degree rotation. The board stays in contact with the slope but the feet are in the air above the board as it rotates (originally a skateboarding move).
Ramps
Ramps are made by building up a mound of sand next to a tree stump. The mound is shaped to give a smooth transition from the slope to the top of the tree stump. The transition slope is then layered with pine needles. Shove-its are performed on the top of tree stump before dropping off the other edge. Cutbacks are performed on the edge of the stump or on the transition slope.
Spin-it shoves
This is almost a cross of a rotation and a shove it. One spins the board under his/her feet and jumps up at the same time thus the board spins under them and the person either spins the same way as the board or in the reverse direction if they want to be fancy.
Rail Sliding
In pineboarding, thick branches or tree trunks (with diameters ranging from 10 cm to 50 cm) are used to make rails for rail sliding. Fresh branches or trunks are preferred for the slippery riding surface they provide when the bark is removed. Sometimes a little floor polish is applied to rails which have become old and dry.
A pineboarding railslide requires a rail that one can slide directly onto from the slope, i.e. the rail can't be above the ground as it sometimes is in skateboarding and snowboarding. The reason for this is that most pineboards don't have straps or bindings to hold the feet against the board, as in snowboarding. One can't ollie onto a rail as in skateboarding because of the nature of the riding surface and the board.
Grabs
Board grabs are done the same way as in snowboarding. They are perform from a ramp or drop off. Simply grab the edge of the board on either side. These are performed much more easily if the board has been equipped with bindings.
Bindings
Many pineboarders now use bindings. It allows for more tricks, including large jumps and better rotations, and more stability. However, bindings do not allow the rider to perform shove-its, and there is more freedom of motion without bindings. Bindings can be made from towstraps to cover the front of your foot. Shoelaces attached to the board can be tightened over the top of the back of your shoe to keep it from slipping out.
Disney V.I.P. Dolls are celebrity dolls based on characters in Disney Channel and their own TV series. They were released by Mattel in Fall 2011. They are no longer in stores. The characters are Alex Russo (played by Selena Gomez), Sharpay Evans (played by Ashley Tisdale), Rocky Blue (played by Zendaya), CeCe Jones (played by Bella Thorne), Hannah Montana (played by Miley Cyrus), Chyna Parks (played by China Anne McClain), and Teddy Duncan (played by Bridgit Mendler).
Fashions
The Disney V.I.P. doll fashions are very true fashions worn by the character on the TV show or movie. The patterns are designed to look like that particular outfit worn and are used with a much smaller fabric. The dolls that were released were Hannah Montana, Alex Russo, CeCe Jones, Rocky Blue and Sharpay Evans. The dolls were released in various sets. Alex, Sharpay, and Hannah were released on July 2011. The dolls also had two accessory packs released. The bonus fashion accessory packs contain two extra outfits with necklaces, bracelets and shoes. All packs come with a mini-magazine about the fashion the doll wears. The packs were for Alex and Hannah.
History
The V.I.P. dolls were first spotted in a brochure from the DVD of Hannah Montana Forever and the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure DVD. There were six dolls - Hannah Montana, Alex Russo, Sharpay Evans, CeCe Jones, and Rocky Blue, plus a Sonny Munroe doll, The Sonny doll was shelved when Demi Lovato quit the series Sonny with a Chance.
Sharpay, Hannah Montana, and Alex Russo were released in July 2011. CeCe Jones and Rocky Blue were released in October 2011, but only a limited amount of them were produced and the two are not available in most stores today. The second wave of dolls was released February 2012. The dolls were Alex, Rocky, and CeCe in different outfits. Rocky Blue had a minor change. She had a new makeup palette. These CeCe and Rocky are much less rare than the first, and are available in most stores. During July 2012, the website announced that a third wave was coming. The third wave included Chyna Parks and Teddy Duncan, officially replaced Hannah and Sharpay.
The dolls are frequently compared to Monster High dolls having a similar body and height. As of Christmas 2014, Disney V.I.P. Dolls were discontinued.
Codes
Hannah: Secret Superstar, Alex: Style Wizard or Wizard, Sharpay: So Fabulous, CeCe: Dance It Up or CeCe Style, Rocky: Jazz It Up or Rock the Moves, Teddy: Big Sister, Chyna: Music Genius.
Releases
2011
*Hannah Montana doll
*Sonny Munroe doll (unreleased)
*Sharpay Evans doll
*Alex Russo 1st edition doll
*CeCe Jones 1st edition doll
*Rocky Blue 1st edition doll
*Hannah Montana fashion pack
*Alex Russo fashion pack
2012
*CeCe Jones 2nd edition doll
*Rocky Blue 2nd edition doll
*Alex Russo 2nd edition doll
*Chyna Parks doll
*Teddy Duncan doll
2013
*CeCe Jones Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Rocky Blue Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Sharpay Evans Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Alex Russo Get Glam doll (unreleased)
Website
In the website, each V.I.P. Doll has a personalized card, which you can enter the code on the back online and unlock exclusive online content.
Fashions
The Disney V.I.P. doll fashions are very true fashions worn by the character on the TV show or movie. The patterns are designed to look like that particular outfit worn and are used with a much smaller fabric. The dolls that were released were Hannah Montana, Alex Russo, CeCe Jones, Rocky Blue and Sharpay Evans. The dolls were released in various sets. Alex, Sharpay, and Hannah were released on July 2011. The dolls also had two accessory packs released. The bonus fashion accessory packs contain two extra outfits with necklaces, bracelets and shoes. All packs come with a mini-magazine about the fashion the doll wears. The packs were for Alex and Hannah.
History
The V.I.P. dolls were first spotted in a brochure from the DVD of Hannah Montana Forever and the Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure DVD. There were six dolls - Hannah Montana, Alex Russo, Sharpay Evans, CeCe Jones, and Rocky Blue, plus a Sonny Munroe doll, The Sonny doll was shelved when Demi Lovato quit the series Sonny with a Chance.
Sharpay, Hannah Montana, and Alex Russo were released in July 2011. CeCe Jones and Rocky Blue were released in October 2011, but only a limited amount of them were produced and the two are not available in most stores today. The second wave of dolls was released February 2012. The dolls were Alex, Rocky, and CeCe in different outfits. Rocky Blue had a minor change. She had a new makeup palette. These CeCe and Rocky are much less rare than the first, and are available in most stores. During July 2012, the website announced that a third wave was coming. The third wave included Chyna Parks and Teddy Duncan, officially replaced Hannah and Sharpay.
The dolls are frequently compared to Monster High dolls having a similar body and height. As of Christmas 2014, Disney V.I.P. Dolls were discontinued.
Codes
Hannah: Secret Superstar, Alex: Style Wizard or Wizard, Sharpay: So Fabulous, CeCe: Dance It Up or CeCe Style, Rocky: Jazz It Up or Rock the Moves, Teddy: Big Sister, Chyna: Music Genius.
Releases
2011
*Hannah Montana doll
*Sonny Munroe doll (unreleased)
*Sharpay Evans doll
*Alex Russo 1st edition doll
*CeCe Jones 1st edition doll
*Rocky Blue 1st edition doll
*Hannah Montana fashion pack
*Alex Russo fashion pack
2012
*CeCe Jones 2nd edition doll
*Rocky Blue 2nd edition doll
*Alex Russo 2nd edition doll
*Chyna Parks doll
*Teddy Duncan doll
2013
*CeCe Jones Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Rocky Blue Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Sharpay Evans Get Glam doll (unreleased)
*Alex Russo Get Glam doll (unreleased)
Website
In the website, each V.I.P. Doll has a personalized card, which you can enter the code on the back online and unlock exclusive online content.
In engineering, compensation is planning for side effects or other unintended issues in a design. In a more simpler term, it's a "counter-procedure" plan on expected side effect performed to produce more efficient and useful results. The design of an invention can itself also be to compensate for some other existing issue or exception.
One example is in a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO), which is normally affected not only by voltage, but to a lesser extent by temperature. A temperature-compensated version (a TCVCXO) is designed so that heat buildup within the enclosure of a transmitter or other such device will not alter the piezoelectric effect, thereby causing frequency drift.
Another example is motion compensation on digital cameras and video cameras, which keep a picture steady and not blurry.
Other examples in electrical engineering include:
* A constant voltage device compensates for low or high voltage in an electrical circuit, keeping its output the same within a given range of input.
* Error correction compensates for data corruption.
* Gray coding compensates for errors on rotary encoders and linear encoders.
* Debouncing compensates for jitter in an electrical switch (see Contact Bounce section in Switch article).
* A resistor or inductor compensates for negative resistance in gas-discharge lighting.
* Frequency compensation is used in feedback control systems to avert oscillations.
There are also examples in civil engineering:
* Expansion joints in sidewalks, buildings, and bridges compensate for expansion and contraction.
* Various devices between a structure and its Foundation compensate for earthquake movements, either actively or passively.
Railways
* On railways, steep gradients on sharp curves have an equivalent gradient slightly steeper than the stated value. This is because of extra friction of the wheel on the rails, and because wagons stretch out on the chord rather than on the arc, and may thus cause trains to stall. To compensate, the gradient of ruling grades is slightly reduced from say 1 in 50 to 1 in 53.
One example is in a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO), which is normally affected not only by voltage, but to a lesser extent by temperature. A temperature-compensated version (a TCVCXO) is designed so that heat buildup within the enclosure of a transmitter or other such device will not alter the piezoelectric effect, thereby causing frequency drift.
Another example is motion compensation on digital cameras and video cameras, which keep a picture steady and not blurry.
Other examples in electrical engineering include:
* A constant voltage device compensates for low or high voltage in an electrical circuit, keeping its output the same within a given range of input.
* Error correction compensates for data corruption.
* Gray coding compensates for errors on rotary encoders and linear encoders.
* Debouncing compensates for jitter in an electrical switch (see Contact Bounce section in Switch article).
* A resistor or inductor compensates for negative resistance in gas-discharge lighting.
* Frequency compensation is used in feedback control systems to avert oscillations.
There are also examples in civil engineering:
* Expansion joints in sidewalks, buildings, and bridges compensate for expansion and contraction.
* Various devices between a structure and its Foundation compensate for earthquake movements, either actively or passively.
Railways
* On railways, steep gradients on sharp curves have an equivalent gradient slightly steeper than the stated value. This is because of extra friction of the wheel on the rails, and because wagons stretch out on the chord rather than on the arc, and may thus cause trains to stall. To compensate, the gradient of ruling grades is slightly reduced from say 1 in 50 to 1 in 53.