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Falcon's Eye: The Making-Over of Nethackby Howard Wen
Nethack is one of the oldest
and most acclaimed games in the history of open source software. It's
also, quite frankly, dull looking. This single-player, Dungeons &
Dragons-inspired game presents immersive dungeons, though it
represents walls, monsters, items, and everything else with simple
ASCII characters. Your player character, for example, is
Enthusiasts of NetHack with programming skills have devised various
graphical overlays to enhance the game's look. These "windowing
interfaces" essentially replace each ASCII characters with a bitmapped
image. Your
@ becomes a graphic of a warrior or wizard,
and the various keyboard symbols that comprise a map are replaced with
colorful tiles to form what actually looks like a dungeon layout. Most
of these interfaces perform a make-over of NetHack with flat, 2D graphics, but some
also present a pseudo-3d look.
Falcon's Eye aims for a much more sophisticated transformation, visually and otherwise. It overlays the ASCII characters with detailed graphics presented in an isometric 3D perspective -- accompanied with animation, sound effects, and music -- for the dungeons, player characters, creatures, and items. This particular windowing interface also adds mouse support, tooltip information for creatures and items, shortcuts for several keyboard commands, and many customization options. Falcon's Eye coats NetHack with so much eye candy that it makes the visually minimalist game look, sound, and play almost like a commercially produced role-playing title.
NetHack's steep learning curve and crude non-graphics turn away many users. That motivated Jaakko Peltonen, the 25-year-old from Finland who created Falcon's Eye. He works as a researcher of neural networks at Helsinki University of Technology. "Text-based games may not seem so appealing to computer gamers nowadays. On the other hand, I knew that NetHack's game content was varied and interesting," says Peltonen. "It seemed natural to upgrade the graphics, in order to better appreciate the game play."
Working with NetHack's Friendliness Toward User Interfaces
Peltonen originally developed a self-standing engine for displaying isometric graphics, then grafted it onto NetHack so he could incorporate his other creative skills -- drawing and sound composing. Falcon's Eye has, thus far, been solely his work in terms of its design, artwork, and programming. However, many people have sent him suggestions, bug reports and fixes. Others submit art and sound effects, which are usually added to the latest releases.
While there are several patches available which alter NetHack's game play, Falcon's Eye itself doesn't provide such changes. It does add some helpful features, like a path-finding "autopilot" algorithm to help the player character navigate long distances, but the windowing interface remains strictly compatible with the official releases of NetHack. "If Falcon's Eye were to have changes [to NetHack], they might be redundant or contradict other modifications. NetHack has been developed over many years, so many people prefer the game play in its current form," says Peltonen.
He was pleasantly surprised to discover how well NetHack's code had been arranged to accommodate different user interfaces. NetHack assumes very little about the user interface: the game tells which dungeon maps and messages to display and what to ask from the player, but leaves the implementation details to the interface. "This versatility helped a lot to create Falcon's Eye," says Peltonen. "If NetHack had been tied to a character-based interface, I might have needed to work around it a lot. Thankfully, this was not the case."
Like NetHack itself, Falcon's Eye is programmed in C, except for a few system-dependent functions that require C++. It uses various graphics, sound and input libraries: SDL for the Linux and BeOS versions and DirectX for Windows. Aside from linking with these libraries, the code of Falcon's Eye is original.
One challenge in designing Falcon's Eye was making its code "system-independent" as much as possible, so it could be used under different operating systems. "[Achieving] this is often difficult with game programs, since they use graphics and sound extensively," says Peltonen. "As a result, Falcon's Eye has 'wrapper functions' for all the graphics, sound, input tasks it needs. These then call DirectX, SDL or whatever is needed."
Peltonen managed to narrow down such system-dependent code to a few files. To port his NetHack GUI to another operating system, you only need to create new versions of these files, instead of having to rewrite everything.
Implementing the mouse interface was another programming challenge. The NetHack game control scheme is oriented toward the keyboard, so Falcon's Eye's code has to incorporate work-arounds to make mouse inputting work. "If you right-click an in-game creature or item, Falcon's Eye opens a context menu with possible actions, such as 'Open' or 'Kick'. NetHack doesn't have built-in support for such menus, so Falcon's Eye creates them on its own, and translates your choices to keyboard commands," explains Peltonen.
It's Another Way to Look at NetHack
In future versions, Peltonen plans to add more options for user-customization of Falcon's Eye. The current release allows you to configure the keyboard commands and add sound effects without the need of programming skills. But he wants to make it so players can also create their own graphics for the game.
Some have reported difficulty compiling and installing Falcon's Eye, which its creator admits should be a simpler process. This is because NetHack has several options available for its installation, which, combined with Falcon's Eye's own, can make getting the game up and running more complicated than it ought to be. "The default settings are often enough, but I still hope to make the installation and customization easier in the future," says Peltonen.
As dazzling as his Falcon's Eye is, he doesn't mean for it to replace the other, more established NetHack windowing interfaces. Instead, he sees it as another novel method for players to see and interact with NetHack. Though he's not working on such a thing, Peltonen envisions that an application or patch for NetHack which would enable the NetHacker to switch from Falcon's Eye to another NetHack GUI would be beneficial to the NetHack community.
"Ideally, one could switch between these various interfaces at will during the game, much like some computer programs have changeable 'skins,'" says Peltonen. "That way, players who are accustomed to one interface could still view how a particular game situation would look in the other interfaces. Currently, this isn't possible, but hopefully it will be in the future."
Getting Away from the Heart of NetHack?
Falcon's Eye doesn't just show a different "view" of NetHack. Though the game play itself is technically the same, you have to keep reminding yourself of this as you play because it simply "feels" different from NetHack. This raises the question of how much the candy-coating alters a player's perception of the game. NetHack's ardent fans love it for focusing squarely on game play. In a way, it's a reduction of computer gaming to its basic elements, right down to the ASCII symbols. With GUIs like Falcon's Eye, how much becomes too much, detracting from the heart of NetHack?
"One could in theory create a full 3D interface with a rotating/zooming view and so on," says Peltonen. "Would such additions improve or harm game play? The overall experience is what matters. I believe the graphical overlays are a useful middle ground, each with different amounts of changes. All [of them] leave room for the player's imagination as well."
Howard Wen is a freelance writer who has contributed frequently to O'Reilly Network and written for Salon.com, Playboy.com, and Wired, among others.
Return to ONLamp.com.
Good article!
2003-01-17 16:01:31 anonymous2 [View]
I think it is a great idea having pluggable interfaces...
2003-01-17 15:29:59 anonymous2 [View]
NetHack - Why here?
2003-01-07 23:36:00 anonymous2 [View]
NetHack - Why here?
2003-01-09 16:18:04 chromatic | [View]


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Caught the infamous Florida "Hot Dog Hatch" Sunday:
Which ended as quickly as it began...
Caught the infamous Florida "Hot Dog Hatch" Sunday:
Which ended as quickly as it began...
In the scouts we called that a hatchet knot.
Been there done that. I take the kids from church out at least once a year. It happens at least once a trip. Fun stuff!
Looks like a good time was had by all. As a young dad I had to learn taking the kid fishing wasn't about fishing it was about the kid having a good time. One of the easier lessons learned.
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. Mark Twain
That's why they sell fishing line in 100 yard or larger spools, LOL. And why there are line nippers, nail clippers, etc, with every fisherman.
Looks like they had fun before the hatchet knot jumped in the lines
Great pics! can't wait till my grandsons are a couple years older
I have six grand kids i feel youre pain
Dueling fish poles? All good fun!
US Veteran and concerned citizen

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Houston Astros on Tuesday acquired pitchers Alex White and Alex Gillingham from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for pitcher Wilton Lopez and a player to be named later.
Lopez, who was reported last week to be part of a deal with Philadelphia until the results of a physical squashed further talks, went 6-3 with 10 saves and a 2.17 earned run average in 64 appearances for the majors' worst club in 2012.
In four seasons with the Astros, the 29-year-old Nicaraguan right-hander was 13-13 with 11 saves, and 3.14 ERA in 213 appearances,
White was 2-9 with a 5.51 ERA in 23 games (20 starts) for the Rockies last season, and has gone 5-13 over 33 appearances with Cleveland and Colorado in two pro campaigns.
Gillingham was 6-8 with a 3.66 ERA in 19 starts with Class-A Asheville last year.


text:
Mars One's Red Planet foray is still on – but not until 2018
Lockheed Martin, Surrey Satellite signed on as technology partners
Mars One, the not-for-profit foundation dedicated to establishing a human colony on Mars, won't be able to launch its first mission to the Red Planet until later than originally planned.
In an announcement issued on Tuesday, the group said it now expects to send an unmanned mission to Mars in 2018, rather than in 2016 as it had previously stated.
"This 2018 mission will be a demonstration mission and will provide proof of concept for some of the technologies that are important for a permanent human settlement on Mars; the ultimate goal of the non-profit Mars One foundation," Tuesday's release explained.
Mars One added that it has entered into partnerships with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and Lockheed Martin – which has previously participated in nearly every NASA Mars mission – to build the equipment necessary for the effort.
The first component will be a robotic lander, which will be built by Lockheed based on designs it used for NASA's 2007 Phoenix Mars mission. Among the lander's tasks will be the acquisition of soil samples and an experiment designed to extract water from the Martian soil. In addition, the lander will carry equipment specified by the winner of a university challenge that Mars One plans to launch in 2014.
The second component of the mission will be a high-bandwidth communications satellite designed and built by SSTL, which will be placed in synchronous orbit over Mars while the lander descends to the surface. Video cameras on the lander will record continuous live imagery of the mission and relay it to the satellite, which will then beam it back to Earth.
Mars One said that having selected its key partners, it opted to delay the launch for two years to give it time to build the spacecraft and its satellite and to work with students and universities on aspects of the mission.
Don't kid yourself; it won't be easy on Mars, but at least you'll be a TV star (Source: Mars One
The foundation's long-term plan is to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars, with six groups of four people to be chosen from a pool of some 20,000 who have already applied for the chance to receive a one-way ticket off-world.
None of the group's efforts are to be funded by government sources. Rather, Mars One says that both the 2018 mission and the eventual colony mission will be supported by "sponsorships and exclusive partnerships," although no specific sponsors have been confirmed so far.
The eventual human colony will be given the reality TV treatment, with viewers on Earth tuning in to see the latest exploits of the Mars colonists – plus advertisements, naturally.
For the unmanned 2018 mission, Mars One says it's also launching an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to give individuals a chance to help fund it.
"Landing the first humans on Mars should be everyone's mission and not just the mission of one country or organization," Mars One cofounder Bas Lansdorp said in a statement. "Our 2018 mission will change the way people view space exploration as they will have the opportunity to participate. They will not only be spectators, but also participants. We think it is important to involve people from all over the world in what we're doing, and crowdfunding and crowdsourcing activities are important means to do that." ®
Sponsored: Minds Mastering Machines - Call for papers now open


text:
Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site.
LOWELL -- It's the list no toy-maker wants to be on this holiday season: children's toys that are called out as dangerous for being too loud, a choking hazard or for containing hazardous chemicals.
The consumer-advocacy organization MassPIRG (Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group) released its 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report on Tuesday, a reminder to Black Friday shoppers that some children's toys on store shelves could be dangerous.
"Policy should protect the most vulnerable consumers in society, our children," said Dan Budris, campus organizer for MassPIRG's chapter at UMassLowell.
Budris displayed a few of the toys labeled dangerous during a stop at Children's Corner, a preschool on Pawtucket Street. A "Dora the Explorer" backpack made by Global Design Concepts has chemicals called phthalates, which are used to soften plastic and vinyl but can be harmful if chewed on or given to prolonged skin exposure. Health effects can include reproductive defects, early-onset puberty and lower sperm counts, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Phthalates pose a pretty serious danger to children," Budris said.
Another toy, the "Super Play Food Set" made by a subsidiary of Toys R Us, has a few dozen pieces of plastic meant to look like pizza, pies, doughnuts and other food. While they are slightly larger than the threshold for a choking hazard -- the width of a toilet-paper tube -- they may still be dangerous if children put the objects in their mouths, Budris said.
The set is marketed for ages 3 and older.
Excessively noisy toys are also a hazard, Budris said, displaying a Dora the Explorer electric guitar made by Fisher-Price. Hearing experts say toys can be harmful to children at more than 80 decibels. PIRG says the guitar registers at 85 decibels.
Budris said magnets are also harmful if swallowed because they can cause serious harm to the intestines if two or more of the objects are stuck together.
Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site.
MassPIRG is advocating for stricter enforcement of noise levels, a change in the choking standards to include slightly larger objects, and a national requirement that any toys that include phthalates disclose that fact. The only state that now does so is Washington, according to MassPIRG.
The toy list has prompted at least 150 recalls over the years, MassPIRG said.
The Toy Industry Association, which represents about 85 percent of the domestic toy market, released a statement defending its practices in response to the annual MassPIRG report.
"PIRG has issued another of its needlessly frightening reports," Joan Lawrence, vice president of safety standards for the association, said in a statement.
"Its headlines cry for caution, but the fine print clarifies that most of the products on their list actually comply with the strict toy-safety standards that are already in place in the U.S. After searching high and low, they found what we already knew ... toys are safe."
Children's Corner hosted the dangerous-toy announcement to make sure parents are aware of the potential health and safety problems, said Chris Hunt, the early-learning director for Community Teamwork Inc.
"With the holiday season upon us," he said, "we want to make sure they know what is safe for toys."
Follow Grant Welker on Twitter @sungrantwelker.


text:
On Thursday August the 15, 2013, there will be a meeting held by the Muskoka Parry Sound Genealogy Group from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Huntsville Public Library, Huntsville, Ontario.
The topic will be British Home Children, and the speakers will be Bernardo Homes by Carol Black and Quarrier Homes by Dona Crawford.
The Muskoka Parry Sound Genealogy Group was formed in 1985, and it covers both the Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts of Ontario, Canada .
On their site they have maps of Muskoka Townships, and Parry Sound Townships,
Cemetery Databases online.
Their website is www.mpsgg.com


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SYDNEY – An Australian film about a woman in need benefiting from the kindness of others won top honours at the world's biggest short-film festival.
"We've All Been There" director Nicholas Clifford received the Tropfest first-place award Sunday from judging panelist and "Avatar" actor Sam Worthington.
Worthington said earlier about judging the festival, "It's not about budget, it's not about box office, it's about pure entertainment and that to me is what film should be about. Not all that other junk."
Clifford joked later that he gets grief about resembling Worthington, so their meeting "is going to give everyone a bit more ammunition to throw at me."
His film's star, Laura Wheelright, was named best actress while Nick Hamilton was named best actor for the time-travel tale, "Time."
For his first-place win, Clifford gets $10,000 cash, a trip to Los Angeles to meet with film executives and other prizes.
The outdoor film festival held since 1993 has grown to a large-scale event attracting thousands to a park near Sydney's central business district.
The next Tropfest will be Dec. 8 in Centennial Park — an advanced date and new location to accommodate larger crowds and to attract fans and VIP attendees without having to compete for attention with the Oscars and other international film events in February.


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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Someone fired multiple shots into a home on East Loudon Avenue early Tuesday morning, as a family slept inside.
The homeowner told WKYT's Sean Evans that he and his family were asleep when they heard the shots. He said the shots were followed by what sounded like someone trying to kick in the back door of their home. The family says that bullets hit their washing machine and hot water heater.
Police did make an arrest shortly after responding to the shots fired call. Investigators tell WKYT they saw a man walking near the home carrying a bag. When officers stopped to talk to him, they say he ran off. They caught him a short time later, on nearby York Street.
Police tell us the man is 19-year-old Tevin Williams.
Police say they also found the bag he was carrying. In it, they found several guns, a knife, and duct tape. That man was charged with fleeing and evading, criminal trespassing and had an outstanding warrant. At this time, he has not been charged in connection to the shooting at the home on Loudon. Police say they are interviewing him about the incident.
This shooting happened just more than a block from where another family had shots fired in their home during a home invasion. Right now, Lexington Police say it's too early to tell if the two shootings are related.


text:
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text:
Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, my lurker friend!
|Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, an unparalleled Subaru community full of the greatest Subaru gurus and modders on the planet! We offer technical information and discussion about all things Subaru, the best and most popular all wheel drive vehicles ever created.
We offer all this information for free to everyone, even lurkers like you! All we ask in return is that you sign up and give back some of what you get out - without our awesome registered users none of this would be possible! Plus, you get way more great stuff as a member! Lurk to lose, participate to WIN*!
* The joy of participation and being generally awesome constitutes winning
** Not an actual guarantee, but seriously, you probably won't regret it!
Serving the Subaru Community since May 18th, 1998!
pictures of the "lifted imps!"
Posted 10 April 2005 - 01:21 PM
Posted 10 April 2005 - 01:47 PM
Posted 10 April 2005 - 07:31 PM
I'm going out in a few minutes.Call me if you have time,please.
Posted 10 April 2005 - 09:23 PM
Posted 10 April 2005 - 09:37 PM
Eric,please let me know when is a good time to tall about this little project.I can toss my lifted EA82 thoughts out the window now.
I'm going out in a few minutes.Call me if you have time,please.
I'll try to call you tomorrow p.m. sometime. My little one is back in the hospital for a couple days after the entire last week.
My only time to check this is when I rush home for a minute to feed the dog. . .
Posted 10 April 2005 - 09:46 PM
Posted 11 April 2005 - 01:19 AM
Posted 11 April 2005 - 01:32 AM
Just pulling your leg, they look awesome!
Posted 11 April 2005 - 12:23 PM
Zap...not exactly "ozified" anymore are we?
Just pulling your leg, they look awesome!
Not exactly OZIFIED anymore indeed. . . Just consider the license plate an advertisement. That and once you buy a Personalized plate in WA, it's yours. Not the car's. Only 30 bones a year to keep it. So, sooner or later when I am sporting an ea81ish rig with a PK lift, I can just transfer the plate onto that car.
What's the clearance under those things?
I'd guess Austin has about 11 inches under the rear diff and 10 or so under the y-pipes. That's adding an inch and a half to the clearance under mine.
The cool thing about these new gens, that so many of us die hard oldshoolers often hate, is that they have camber adjustments at all four corners. You can buy aftermarket plates or bolts to get even more. We can feel free to push the wheels down instead of lifting the body off of the suspension. The cvs aren't really stressed either, the angle isn't very bad at all.
Lots of lift with the ride of a stock Forester/Outback. Still have lots of down travel. I'll be looking to get fid of my 18mm sway bar to gain better travel in the rear.
Posted 04 May 2005 - 12:28 AM
Posted 04 May 2005 - 01:24 AM
BTW Austin what kind of adhesive did you use to restick your URABUS letters? and How long has it lasted?
Posted 04 May 2005 - 10:45 AM
Here's an impreza for ya
That picture is years old. . . He's also in Australia. We're doin' fine, workin at getting taller. Mine will be 2 inches taller than the pics seen so far. It's in the garage with the new sprngs, all ready for reassembly.
Posted 04 May 2005 - 12:00 PM
Are the AZ ones geared? as in D/R?
Lookin Good,
82 SubaruHummer--lifted and geared!
01 Forester--needs lifting and gearing
Posted 04 May 2005 - 01:05 PM
hope when i finally get the outback struts swapped into my legacy,it looks that good.also gonna have to see about ob tires an wheels.
by the way,those that have legacys,imprezas,etc
would you do the strut swap or lift kit(when an if available)
Posted 04 May 2005 - 04:48 PM
And here's what the rear looks like now. Approx. 12 inhes under the rear diff,
but the angles on the axles are totally tollerable.
Posted 04 May 2005 - 04:50 PM
by the way,those that have legacys,imprezas,etc
would you do the strut swap or lift kit(when an if available)
If the lift kit becomes available, I'll add that too.
Posted 04 May 2005 - 04:50 PM
edit: I think I have those same tires on the jeep I'm driving right now... they're sweet and cheap!!
Posted 04 May 2005 - 04:55 PM
looks like you need to introduce your family of fenderwells to my friend..... BFH!!
Already been introduced. Got to meet my other friend the Sawzall too.
There's no rubbing at all, lock to lock, or at full (lol) flex.
Posted 05 May 2005 - 01:32 PM
Posted 05 May 2005 - 03:28 PM
Posted 05 May 2005 - 05:24 PM
You're right Eric. Looks as good or better than any lifted EA82 wagon. Now we just need to swap in a D/R.
Posted 05 May 2005 - 05:26 PM
Easy Tex...
Posted 15 May 2005 - 08:24 AM
In a related note, anyone need forester rear strut assemblys?
Posted 15 May 2005 - 01:23 PM
Posted 15 May 2005 - 01:48 PM
this question maybe have been answered before... but which assembly will give you more lift? Legancy struts, or Outback struts? my instinct's telling me the outback struts... because everyone uses them
Or Forester struts?
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These are my new favorite Thai noodles, wowza. I am in love with these noodles. They are a perfect, no- fuss dinner that the whole family will love. Tone down the red pepper flakes if you are serving to children, and add a little more peanut butter. All I had to tell my kids was that the sauce was made out of peanut butter and they that they could put peanuts on top of their noodles and they thought it was a really special treat. They looked at me like I had just told them they could eat cake for dinner. Anyway, if you like Thai food TRY THESE. And if you don't like Thai food we can no longer be friends. Just kidding, but seriously I can't imagine someone not liking these scrumptious noodles! Totally added this to our meal rotation. Also a good option for Fridays in Lent when you are sick of fish:: you can still get some of the protein without the meat.
- ¾ cups sesame oil
- 1-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 6 tablespoons honey
- 1½ tablespoons peanut butter
- spaghetti noodles, cooked
- ⅓ cup green onions, chopped
- 3 shredded carrots
- ⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
- ¾ cup of peanuts, chopped
- Combine crushed pepper and sesame oil in a pan, heat over medium for about 3 minutes.
- Strain pepper flakes out of oil.
- Pour remaining oil into a medium mixing bowl.
- Whisk honey, soy sauce, and peanut butter with remaining sesame oil.
- Mix sauce with cooked noodles.
- Stir in green onions, carrots, cilantro and half of the chopped peanuts.
- Use the rest of the peanuts for topping, serve warm.
Recipe adapted from : here.


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Valerian is a small genus of flowers with a long tradition of herbal medical usage. The name of the herb is derived from the personal name Valeria and the Latin verb valere (to be strong, healthy).
Used since at least the times of ancient Greece and Rome, sixteenth-century Anabaptists (a decidedly dodgy bunch) prescribed valerian tea for the sick.
Indeed, Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen recommended it to cure insomnia.
A medicine used across Europe, in medieval Sweden it was placed in the groom's wedding garments to ward off 'envious elves'.
Along with treating insomnia and other sleep disorders, valerian addresses anxiety and gastrointestinal pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
Other uses include reducing nervous tension, excitability, stress, intestinal 'colic' or cramps, and as a muscle relaxant.
Not a great recommendation, but apparently Hitler was fond of this drug.
Interestingly, Derbyshire was a traditional centre for the harvesting of valerian for herbal medical use.
The plant concerned would be the common valerian or valeriana officinalis, found in wet woods, marshes and today, in gardens too.
There is another species, the marsh valerian (valeriana dioica), which is a rare species of marsh and bog and, in a different genus, the red valerian (centranthus ruber).
This last plant is a native of the Mediterranean, introduced to Britain before the 1600s. By the late 1700s, it was noted naturalising on old walls, cliffs, and rock outcrops in Devon and Cornwall.
The flowers are stunning and range from the most common, which is bright red, to white.
The blooms are fragrant but nowhere near as delightful as the common valerian, which has a heavy, heady fragrance.
Habitats are different too, and the red valerian thrives on exposed, dry walls and rocky areas.
I first found this species naturalised in Sheffield in the Shire Brook Valley in the 1980s. Established from garden throw-outs, it looked very exotic. It was still not so common here even as a garden flower, but today it is very popular in cultivation.
From gardens across the region, it has made the break and is spreading everywhere in suitable places.
Escape is through people throwing garden waste into woods and hedgerows, and increasingly from the prolific wind-blown seeds.
This year seems particularly good and the flowers are brightening up many places on roadsides and wastelands, on walls and other exposed, dry spots. The prolific flowers in sunny locations are great for insects such as butterflies, bumblebees, hoverflies and moths.
Hawk moths, in particular, seem to relish the species and both humming bird and bee hawk have visited in my garden.
n Sightings: With the good weather, it is a busy time of year for the region's birdlife.
My spies in Holmesfield tell me of a successful pair of barn owls, even giving views of owls plus prey like mice and voles, in local gardens!
Let me know if you have seen them.
In my own garden at Norton, I had glorious views of adult and juvenile chiffchaffs with the parent birds feeding the youngsters.
Elsewhere, such as at Longshaw, listen for great spotted woodpeckers feeding noisy young at nesting holes. Around lowland wetlands expect good numbers of breeding waterfowl and young, for example with great crested grebe, gadwall and pochard at Catcliffe Flash.
Upland sites like Morehall Reservoir have anxious pairs of common sandpipers with juveniles close by.
n Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer and broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues, is contactable on email@example.com; follow 'Ian's Walk on the Wildside', www.ukeconet.org for more information.


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Red Bull have announced their circuit, formerly known as the A1-Ring, will once again host Formula 1 from 2014.
Now called the Red Bull Ring, the circuit set on a hillside in the Austrian alps last hosted a F1 race back in 2003.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Red Bull announced a deal with Bernie Ecclestone for a July 6th race in 2014.
It said: "Dietrich Mateschitz [Red Bull owner] and Bernie Ecclestone have reached an agreement to the effect that Formula 1 will come back to Styria next year."
Red Bull are major players in F1 owning two teams and are the current triple world champions. Speculation had linked a possible return to the Austrian venue, Red Bull bought a few years ago.
Indeed negotiations had said to have taken place to host a race there this year after the New Jersey race was delayed until 2014, though nothing came about.
The return of Austria means three new venues will be on the 2014 calendar as New Jersey and Sochi in Russia are set to join the schedule.
Should no other races be dropped it would mean a record 22 races next season though speculation over the future of the Korean Grand Prix as well as the readiness of New Jersey could drop the number of races back down.
The Red Bull Ring was one of the most popular tracks on the calendar as well as one of the most unique.
The circuit features only eight corners but has plenty of long straights into tight corners, a feature that would become a mark of all Hermann Tilke designed tracks.
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UH Academy for Creative Media Develops Online Coral Reef Game for Elementary School Students
Game serves as fun tool for educating young children about the marine ecosystemUniversity of Hawaiʻi
Keveh Karden, (808) 956-5302
Academy for Creative Media
HONOLULU — Hawaiʻi's keiki can swim with the fishes in a virtual coral reef. There they can maintain the balance between fish and algae, clean up alien algae and keep an errant ship from damaging the coral when it drops anchor. It's all in a new online game from Hawaiʻi's Living Reef Campaign developed by University of Hawaiʻi students.
"We wanted to create a computer game that was fun for kids and scientifically sound as part of our larger public education campaign, so we worked with the University of Hawaiʻi's Academy for Creative Media to develop a game for elementary students," said Peter Young, Department of Land and Natural Resources chairman.
Kaveh Kardan, chief technologist and instructor in computer animation and game design for the UH Academy for Creative Media, worked with UH Mānoa students Melissa Bolosan and James Steele to build the game, and with Kapiʻolani Community College student Solomon Enos to develop the artwork. The students designed the game using Macromedia Flash.
"The big lesson for the players of the game is to recognize that there is a relationship between number of fish and quantity and quality of algae in the reef ecosystem," said Kardan.
The Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Initiative Research Program, a partnership between the university and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, funded the project. This included support for the purchase of new media equipment and student positions.
Prior to developing the game, designers Bolosan and Steele met with UH Mānoa marine experts including botany professor Celia Smith and biology professor Cynthia Hunter to develop the game's concept. After consultation, Bolosan and Steele worked with Enos to create artwork for the game.
The game can be found online at www.hawaiireef.net. The site also features an events calendar, educational resources for teachers, and reef facts.
Hawaiʻi's Living Reef program was initiated by the Coral Reef Outreach Network, a consortium of various state, local, nongovernmental and private entities working together for coral reef conservation. The goal of the program is to raise general public awareness of the importance and interconnectedness of the coral reef ecosystem to Hawaiʻi's lifestyle and to teach and encourage positive behaviors that will protect and nurture this life-giving natural resource.


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Photo Gallery:
2012 Buick Verano
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
Click Image to Enlarge
Built on the same chassis as the Chevrolet Cruze comes the new 2012 Buick Verano — not to be confused with the much older Daewoo-designed Suzuki Verona, which was a sister car to another Chevrolet, the Epica.
The new Verano gives Buick a compact luxury car, and with a starting price of just $22,595 it competes with everything from a standard compact like the Honda Civic to luxury models like the BMW 1 or 3 series.
Click Image to Enlarge
My tester, of course, is not a base Verano, which is unfortunate as I would like to know what the basic model looks like. Rather, this one is fully loaded with the leather package, which makes this car eerily similar to the Regal I test drove a few weeks back.
Powered by the same 2.4-litre engine used in the Regal, I expect the Verano to feel more lively, achieve better fuel consumption and, overall, feel more balanced than that larger model. One does have to remember that this is a compact sedan, though, and as a result, the back seats do seem rather tight at first glance.
But, for less than $30,000, my tester has all the goodies, including leather, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, sunroof, cruise, automatic climate control, automatic headlights, a six-speed automatic transmission and push-button start.
2012 Buick Verano
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $28,720
For more information on Buick and the Verano visit GM Canada
For even more on this car FOLLOW James on Twitter


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Hearty Cheese Tortellini Recipe
Popular Videos
- 1/2 pound Johnsonville® Ground Mild Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- In a small skillet, cook sausage and beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the marinara sauce, tomatoes and mushrooms. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until heated through.
- Prepare tortellini according to package directions; stir into meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Yield: 6 servings.
Reviews forHearty Cheese Tortellini
My Review
Average Rating
"This was very good and filling! I, personally, would use less pasta of any kind. The flavors of the sauce should be enjoyed. This is a keeper! I've been losing my ability to taste food, so the spices really helped me enjoy this dish."
"So good and so easy! Made it yesterday for last nights dinner! Made it exactly as written, only change is I doubled it. Froze half the meat mixture just before adding the tortellini. I love these crockpot meals. Yes, this could easily be made on the stove top, but for me it was my day off and I always feel when I use the crockpot I have time off from cooking! Served it with a mixed green salad, garlic bread and bottle of wine. Perfect meal! Thank You Christine for sharing!"
"My husband does NOT usually like tortellini but loved this dish! Great meal, I will definitely keep this on hand!"
"Grandkids approve this recipe! We love this recipe. easy to make. Thanks for sharing"
"I've made this several times and my son just LOVES it!!!"
"My husband loves tortellini, and this is now this favorite tortellini dish. It has easy, inexpensive ingredients, perfect budget meal!"
"Yummy!!! Followed exactly and loved it, hubby wants to know when we can have it again while he finished off a second helping."
"This was delicious. Any pasta could be exchanged for the tortellini.. Not sure I would add the mozzarella to the slow cooker. Perhaps put it on after serving."


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Posted on November 26, 2012 in Miscellaneous
Now that the turkey has been eaten and the shopping season has kicked off, let's take a look at some of our staff's picks for the season. We asked them to pick which racquet, string, shoes, apparel and one "wild card" they would like to get as gift this year. Check out the entire Staff Picks. Below, Brittany explains her choices.
I was excited to playtest this updated version of the Pure Drive because it was like reuniting with an old friend. I used a previous version about five to eight years ago, so when I got the new Babolat Pure Drive in my hands I was not disappointed. Between the sleek new black cosmetics and the power and feel, this racquet is my pick for 2012. It is the perfect racquet as well as gift for a variety of players and game styles.
The Nike Lunar Speed 3 was a highlight shoe for me this year. It was super light and comfortable (after a break-in period) and came in a wide range of fun, bright colors. I have been waiting for years for Nike to come out with a black women's shoe, and the Black/Volt colorway was worth the wait. Worn by No. 1 WTA player Victoria Azarenka, this is perfect for the competitive player who wants to feel lightning fast on the court.
Strings have never been my forte. Now that I have worked at Tennis Warehouse for more than two years, I have learned so much about strings. The Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution 17 string has been a go-to for me this year. First, I will start by saying I love the awesome blue color that looks great in every racquet. Secondly, this soft feeling poly, gives me the perfect combo of power and spin as well having great durability.
I love practicing in shorts. Growing up, the Nike Statement Short was my all time favorite. I had it in a variety of colors and updates and was super excited when Nike came out with the new Nike Tie Break Short this year. It is the perfect short for practice as well as match play. With tons of colors to choose from, the short also features built-in compression shorts and a super cute elastic waistband that folds over to read "Love Tennis."
For my miscellaneous category, I thought long and hard about a funny or creative product to pick. After considering many options, I realized that a product that I used frequently this year that is extremely functional is the Nike Dri-Fit Head Tie. It comes in a variety of colors and is the best product I found to keep both the sweat out of my eyes and my hair out of my face (without having to wear a visor or hat). I am also not going to lie that I feel pretty badass wearing it!


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WWF: ICAO Forgoes Immediate Emissions Reductions for Promise of a Future Global Plan
MONTREAL (October 3, 2013) – Delegates to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) today promised to start work on developing a global, market based measure (MBM) to reduce aviation emissions beginning in 2020, but in doing so missed the opportunity to start reducing emissions immediately and contribute to closing the ambition gap before 2020."The science is clearer than ever - 2020 is too late," says Samantha Smith, WWF leader of the Global Climate & Energy Initiative. "Right after the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) release, this was the first chance for governments in ICAO to take decisive action, and they failed."
The world has waited 16 years for ICAO to demonstrate its serious commitment to reducing aviation emissions,says Jean Leston, Transport Policy Officer of WWF-UK. "What we got today seems a very small return for that effort. We expect a lot more ambition and commitment from ICAO over the next three years if a global, market-based mechanism is ever going to materialize."
ICAO delegates and the airline industry will be crowing about the significant progress they have made this week, the reality is that today's decision does nothing to reduce emissions in the short term. By essentially restricting the EU's Emissions Trading System for aviation to its own carriers and airspace, ICAO has handicapped the world's leading legislation to put a price on aviation pollution and once again allowed skyrocketing emissions to continue climbing.
Today's decision commits delegates only to the possibility of an MBM agreement in by 2016. "There is no guarantee. At a time when the world's leading climate scientists are telling us that that climate change is real and is happening faster than expected, international leaders must capitalize on every immediate opportunity to ratchet down emissions," says Leston.
For more information please contact:
- Christopher Connor Christopher: email@example.com
- Mandy Jean Woods: firstname.lastname@example.com / @climateWWF
- Samantha Smith: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Drinking Coffee Before the Alcohol?
CNN has an article today claiming that California researchers believe that drinking coffee can help prevent liver damage. According to the study, drinking coffee can reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver by 22 percent per cup each day. I have no idea what those numbers mean, but they sound good to me. I do love two other parts about the article, though: 1) that the reporter seems to be suggesting that Irish Coffee could be the perfect drink in the teaser then has to deny it later, and 2) the warning that researchers give at the end of it. "Even if coffee is protective, the primary approach to reduction of alcoholic cirrhosis is avoidance or cessation of heavy alcohol drinking."


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No Great Rotation Out of Bonds Seen
Investors aren't rushing out of bonds into stocks, but they are pulling money off the sidelines and reallocating within their bond portfolios.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... report ... the rotation a cure to be greatly exaggerated ... investors are making shift their portfolios but the big shift from bonds to stocks doesn't appear to be happening ... again as the leading says WSJ's Daisy Maxey ... today what is happening ... well we didn't think that you know some people among them on to moving into stocks is definitely a lot more interest in equities might now ... seem to have a great run ... but it's not the rest of us about sixteen point nine billion ... when into the U S equity Mitchell funds in the year through March thirteen according to the Smith ... Institute ... at the same time about sixteen point four million went into bond mutual funds ... so clearly it's not on at the expense of stop and stocks at the expense of arms ... I need to be and has come out of money market funds according to Investment Company Institute so ... clearly a lot of money came out of ... cash like assets city but anyway off the sidelines then they're also taking their bumpers of history ... that's made a massive ten were seen this year in a big way and it's been going on for some time ... they're looking for anything that can protect them from the ... eventual rise in interest rates ... at the same time trying to find yield which is a difficult path ... solid and moving a lot of different areas with floating rates on the lot of money that money invested refunds ... on funds this year ... on into the short-term altar short-term and world bond funds and those are all areas of tech ... the investor from the ... eventual rise in US interesting ... that there is a bit and rest intervals bond portfolio ... that's right there there's more rest and I talked to Jim Holtzman resentment and financial advisors and tells me that ... his plans are still interested in bonds ... they still understand the help stabilize a portfolio in the turbulent time ... but he's investing in some kind of alternative assets to them I think loan funds and ... oh he's investing in a fund that invests in non agency bonds which offers a higher coupon shorter duration ... and preferred securities which have a higher coupon he says ... they also introduce More brisk into the portfolio some peace and finds ... yet the balance that out in your overall portfolio ... is also trying to reset expectations in terms of performance the next ... five to ten years I'm not can it be like the last five to ten years when it comes from confidence in place ... a CP thinking about it ...


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Tin [1]
Most of the elements on Earth were created in the stars. A good example is tin, a metal that was forged by nuclear reactions in the hearts of red giants -- aging stars that are bigger, brighter, and cooler than the Sun.
A couple of red giants are on fine display tonight. Aldebaran, the "eye" of Taurus, the bull, is high in the south at nightfall. And Pollux, one of the "twins" of Gemini, is in the east, well above the planet Mars. Both stars look orange, which helps them stand out.
The nuclear reactions inside a red giant can release neutrons -- subatomic particles with no electric charge. When the neutrons strike the nuclei of iron atoms deep inside the star, they stick. That makes the iron nuclei grow heavier. Some of them become so heavy that they form tin, which is about twice as heavy as iron.
Because this process occurs slowly, scientists call it the s-process -- "s" for "slow." The s-process created most of the tin that's present on Earth. It also created some of the other heavy elements, like lead.
Some of these heavy elements enter the red giant's outer layers -- its atmosphere. At the end of its life, a red giant casts this atmosphere into space, like a dandelion going to seed. The tin, lead, and other elements the star has manufactured escape into space -- ready to enrich the clouds of gas and dust that give birth to new stars and planets, which inherit these heavy elements for their own.
Script by Ken Croswell, Copyright 2009
- Aldebaran [2]
- Chemistry of the Universe [3]
- Nuclear Fusion [4]
- Pollux [5]
- Red Giants [6]


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The AM-1 series accurately adjusts, maintains and limits the hot water temperature to a desired setting selected by the user.
|Connection Type:
|Other Info:
|Easy To Install
|Trade Tools:
|Mpn #
|1.50 lbs.
4.5 out of 5 rating is our rating for PlumbersStock, we got that rating because we have lots of experience and great people with expertise in plumbing. BUT WE WANT YOUR HELP. This product doesn't have any reviews yet, and we don't want to write our own reviews. It is more valuable to us that the customers get to share their experience with our products. Please, if you have any experience with this product, take a moment to share and help someone else who is trying to make a decision. Thank you!


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Hawaii Business magazine gives Shidler College of Business $50,000 for scholarshipUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Shidler College of Business
Martha Hanson, (808) 956-3716
UH Foundation
HONOLULU — The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa received $50,000 to establish the Hawaii Business Magazine Endowed Scholarship. The initial $25,000 gift was matched one-to-one through the Shidler's Matching Gift program to total $50,000. The scholarship is for undergraduate students majoring in business with exceptional promise and ability to make a significant contribution to Hawaii's business community.
Hawaii Business magazine Publisher David Tumilowicz commented that Hawaii Business supports the development of new local business leadership by investing in the education of promising students. "An overwhelming number of Hawaiʻi business executives are educated at the University of Hawaiʻi, many at the Shidler College. This is where our future business leadership will come from, and it is important that the community supports this vital resource."
In addition to providing the scholarship, Hawaii Business hopes that "the recipient of our scholarship will contact Hawaii Business to pursue opportunities for networking and introductions to business leaders in Hawaiʻi," said Tumilowicz.
PacificBasin Communications President John Alves states, "Hawaii Business clearly understands the value of supporting the Shidler College of Business in attracting highly qualified students who will become the business leaders of tomorrow. We are proud to be a partner in this program."
PacificBasin Communications is the locally owned publisher of Hawaii Business, HONOLULU, Hawaii
Home+Remodeling, and Hawaii magazines. The company also is the contract publisher for General Growth properties' Ala Moana Shopping Magazine, Ward Centres magazine, and Whalers Village magazine.
"We're grateful to John and David and everyone at Hawaii Business magazine for their support in establishing a scholarship endowment at the College," said V. Vance Roley, Dean of the Shidler College of Business. "Both of our organizations have similar endeavors: to sustain a healthy business community
in Hawaiʻi, and to educate and inspire future generations of business leadership. Therefore, it's no surprise that we continue to seek new ways to partner with one another."
UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said, "Hawaii Business has shown a strong commitment to higher education with the establishment of the Hawaii Business Magazine Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will provide financial support to students who are exploring a business career in Hawaiʻi and
also provide them with an opportunity to learn leadership skills from Hawaiʻi's top business professionals."
Established in 1955, Hawaii Business magazine is the nation's oldest regional business publication offering a unique perspective and insight into doing business in Hawaiʻi. Through its mission to "inspire, and be inspired by, business people in Hawaiʻi," Hawaii Business seeks to exert a positive influence on the business community and to improve the quality of life for all residents.
In 2006 and 2007, Hawaii Business, was the principal sponsor of the Shidler College of Business Hall of Honor Awards, and works with the College to provide subscription benefits to students and alumni.
About the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Established in 1949 as the College of Business Administration, the College was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. The Shidler College of Business is renowned for its expertise in international management education and is consistently ranked
among the nation's top 25 graduate schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the College is a professional school, offering a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The College places a strong emphasis on the development of management skills, entrepreneurship and the management of business information technology. The UH Shidler College of Business is the only graduate program in the State of Hawaiʻi accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu.
About the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation
The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is an independent, university-related, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawaiʻi and approved by the Board of Regents. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides
a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all 10 UH campuses. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.
For more information, visit: http://www.shidler.hawaii.edu


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Someone needs to give this place a kick up the arse !!
Here goes the covers thread - a thread for covers that absolutely fookin smoked the originals....
1) Otis Redding - Satisfaction
danny1 wrote:welcome back andy!
2) All along the watchtower. Original by Dylan. Cover by Jimmi
Chris F wrote:Any Nouvelle Vague cover, but especially this
I think the french accent does it for me, Zut Alors!
Return to Chat (Non-Surf Related)
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


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June 12, 2008
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Senior guard Alex Harris of the UC Santa Barbara men's basketball team earned UCSBGauchos.com Male Athlete of the Year honors for the second consecutive year, it was announced Thursday. Harris edged men's water polo star Ross Sinclair by three votes to become the first two-time winner in school history.
In the closest balloting ever, Harris finished with 115 votes to Sinclair's 112, a margin of 27.4% to 26.7%. Men's soccer player Chris Pontius finished with third with 34 votes, and baseball pitcher Mike Ford was fourth with 33 votes.
Harris led the Gauchos to a school record 23 wins in 2007-08, setting a school record for scoring in a career with 1,696 points. He was named Big West Player of the Year after averaging 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He also made 74 three-point baskets as UCSB tied for the Big West's regular season title and advanced to its first postseason appearance since 2003. In addition to Big West Player of the Year honors, Harris was named First Team All-Big West for the second straight year, and Second Team All-District 15.
Sinclair was an Honorable Mention All-American after leading UCSB to a 19-14 overall record and a national ranking of sixth. He finished as the Gauchos' leading scorer, notching 55 goals and 36 assists for 91 points. Sinclair was also accorded Second Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors.
Pontius was the Big West Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Gauchos to another league soccer title and NCAA Tournament bid. Ford was the baseball team's number one starter, earned Second Team All-Big West recognition, and guiding the UCSB baseball team to its best record in seven seasons.


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Euro crisis shows ratings agencies are a problem
26 July 2012
If every crisis requires a hero and a villain then where do ratings agencies fit on that scale, judging by their performance during Europe's sovereign debt disaster?
While it may be a sexier headline to call for political leaders' scalps or lay blanket blame on whole populations' work ethics, rating agencies have been complicit in compounding the turmoil and yet have largely escaped blame.
Plainly, ratings agencies have got it wrong in their evaluation of the crisis and have made battling economies' woes greater.
Firstly, their methodologies have failed to grasp how the distinction between internal and external public debt has narrowed in Europe as increasing amounts of debt have been issued in the same currency.
Consider Greek debt. According to the International Monetary Fund's Global Financial Stability Report published in April, Greece's general government debt is 153.2 percent, of which 87.5 percent is classified as external and 65.7 percent as internal.
If Greece had been issuing debt in its old currency the Greek government would have had the option of creating the means to service the debt. The ability of a sovereign to do this is what makes sovereign debt, issued in its domestic currency, nearly risk-free.
Euro zone countries lost this ability at the same time as they became able to issue both internal and external debt in their domestic and common currency. Further, the European Central Bank exacerbated the problem when treating sovereign debt issued by euro zone countries as the same regardless of the underlying fiscal positions and debt structures.
This "new look" debt should have been recognised by ratings agencies for what it was. However, ratings agencies have shown inflexibility in their ratings systems in separating debt used to help the bailout and troublesome debt.
Sovereign ratings are typically constructed by credit ratings agencies as "through-the-cycle", that is, they take a long-term view when evaluating a sovereign's ability and willingness to pay.
It is not surprising that rating agencies did not detect problems earlier, as their "through-the-cycle" methodology focuses on long-term performance. However, it ought to have been apparent to rating agencies that governments' balance sheets have been taking a hammering as a result of attempting to salvage the global financial system.
Rather than recognise this special situation and work more closely with international organisations, such as the IMF, to devise a strategy to not aggravate the situation, ratings agencies downgraded and generated even more instability.
Although this is not new behaviour from the rating agencies, it has slipped under the radar of the academic community, media, governments and other entities charged with safeguarding the public interest.
Moreover, the rating agencies' criteria for evaluating government economic management are strikingly similar to the policy recommendations of the Washington Consensus. For instance, the Washington Consensus recommends fiscal discipline through balanced budgets, freely floating currency regime, less trade restrictions, tax reform and market-determined interest rates, privatisation, deregulation of industries, and so on.
Standard & Poor's Financial Services' Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions reveals that a strong sovereign rating is awarded to countries that demonstrate their governments are "able and willing to reduce general government expenditures in the near term despite economic, social or political effect (in other words, fiscal discipline), has a freely floating national exchange rate regime, is a market-oriented economy, has deep financial markets with market-determined interest rates, etc".
Conservative vested interests
From a political economic perspective the rating agencies have stepped into a role as whips on behalf of conservative interests who have long desired to reduce the ability of governments to influence the economy by severely curtailing expenditure and what is left of their social safety nets.
In this light, calls for regulation and oversight of the processes of ratings agencies appear superficial.
Even if national government agencies are created to oversee the ratings industry, and adequately funded to perform their tasks, simply monitoring the processes of the operations of rating agencies will not fully resolve the externalities caused by moral hazard and fee-based payment incentives.
Further, it is apparent that the policies the Washington Consensus supports, with the support of mainstream macro-economic theory, are not achieving the desired social outcomes. Hence, allowing rating agencies to act as whips for this program - instigating financial instability as they enforce short-sighted changes to fiscal policies at a time when economies need support - should not be tolerated by those charged with protecting the public interest.
Rather than simply increasing regulation and supervision of the agencies' processes, governments ought to create national public credit rating agencies which, among other functions, routinely validate the accuracy of sovereign ratings and, by doing so, maintain the focus of rating agencies on "through-the-cycle" assessments.
Dr Susan Schroeder is a lecturer in political economy in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Sydney.
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The First Art Newspaper on the Net
Established in 1996
United States
Sunday, May 27, 2018
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Judd Foundation Announces It will Now Be Represented Exclusively by David Zwirner
Donald Judd at Wateri Gallery, Tokyo, 1977. Judd Art © Judd Foundation. Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Courtesy Judd Foundation Archive and David Zwirner.
David Zwirner
announced its exclusive representation of Judd Foundation.
Judd Foundation was created by the artist Donald Judd to maintain and preserve his permanently installed living and working spaces in New York and Marfa, Texas. The Foundation promotes a wider understanding of and appreciation for Judds artistic legacy by facilitating public access to his spaces, archives, libraries, and works.
David Zwirner will be Judd Foundations exclusive commercial gallery. In this role, David Zwirner will promote and further the legacy of Donald Judd through curated exhibitions at its gallery spaces; the development of new scholarship on the artists work through publications and international exhibitions; and through the sale of artworks consigned to the gallery by the Foundation. The gallery is preparing a historical survey exhibition of Donald Judds work, planned for 2011.
Judd Foundation originates from 1977 with the first formation by Donald Judd of a foundation to permanently preserve his work. Formally organized in 1996, the Foundation owns and maintains the artists historic home and studio at 101 Spring Street, in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City, and 15 buildings that comprised his private living and working spaces in Marfa, Texas. In addition to its ongoing programs, the Foundations recent initiatives include the launch of a major restoration of the 101 Spring Street building. Estimated for completion in 2013, the restoration will allow for greater public access to permanently installed works by Donald Judd and his contemporaries. In addition, the Foundation recently announced a comprehensive catalogue raisonné project, managed by Katy Rogers, to document Donald Judds work. The Foundation has also digitized the artists personal library in Marfa, making it available to the public online on its website; and its Advisory Committee on Conservation and Restoration has initiated a series of publications devoted to promoting guidelines for the care and handling of works by the artist.
Donald Judd (b. 1928 Excelsior Springs, Missouri; d. 1994 New York) was an American artist recognized for his ground- breaking achievements in art, architecture, and design. One of the most significant artists of the postwar period, he radically expanded the possibilities for sculpture, developing a rigorous formal vocabulary and employing industrial materials to produce singular objects that not only addressed form, material, color, and scale; but which also emphasized the relationship between the work of art, the viewer, and the surrounding space.
During his lifetime, Donald Judd was affiliated with a number of historically significant galleries in the U.S., including the Green Gallery, New York, where he presented a seminal exhibition of his early specific objects in 1963; and the Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, which represented the artist from 1965 to 1985. Judd then worked with Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, where he had a number of solo shows, and PaceWildenstein, which represented him through the end of his life. The artists work has been exhibited internationally since the 1960s and is included in numerous museum collections. A survey exhibition of the artists work was organized by the Tate Modern, London, in 2004, and traveled to the K20 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein- Westfalen, Düsseldorf, and the Kunstmuseum Basel. Permanent installations of the artists work can be found in Marfa, Texas, at Judd Foundation spaces and at the neighboring Chinati Foundation; his work is also on long-term view at Dia:Beacon, New York.
David Zwirner is a leading contemporary art gallery active in both the primary and secondary markets. Since 1993, when he opened his first gallery in New York, Zwirner has helped foster the careers of some of the most influential artists working today, including Luc Tuymans and Neo Rauch, who had their U.S. debut exhibitions at the gallery. The gallery has maintained long-term representation of artists as varied as Francis Alÿs, Stan Douglas, Marlene Dumas, Chris Ofili, Raymond Pettibon, and Thomas Ruff, in addition to the Estates of Alice Neel, Jason Rhoades, and Al Taylor, among others. In the secondary market, the gallery has become known for presenting historically-researched exhibitions and publications devoted to the work of modern and contemporary masters.
With the addition of Donald Judd, the gallery continues its goal of promoting the legacy of Minimal and new abstract art by significant artists that came to prominence in the 1960s. The gallery represents the artists On Kawara and John McCracken and the Estates of Gordon Matta-Clark and Fred Sandback; in 2009, the gallery announced its exclusive representation of the Estate of Dan Flavin. Recent exhibitions presented by the gallery include Dan Flavin: Series and Progressions (2009), an ambitious survey of the artists work in fluorescent light; Edward Kienholz: Roxys, which presented a seminal installation by the artist; Primary Atmospheres: Works from California 1960-1970, a critically-acclaimed survey of West Coast Minimalism (both 2010); and John McCracken: New Works in Bronze and Steel, which will be on view through October 23, 2010.
David Zwirner
Judd Foundation
New York
Today's News
October 6, 2010
For the First Time Ever, The Museo del Prado Exhibits Treasures from Its Library
Preserved Feathers and Scales of a Giant Penguin Fossil Gives Evolutionary Clues
Damien Hirst Fills the Paul Stolper Gallery with 120 Framed, Foilblock Butterfly Prints
First Exhibition in 45 Years Devoted to Renaissance Master Jan Gossart on View at Metropolitan Museum
Tiny Footprints from Poland Show that First Dinosaurs Walked on Little Cat Feet
Magnificent and Rare Collection of Mezzotints Acquired by the Art Fund for the British Museum
Record Number of Visitors this Summer for the United Kingdom's National Museums
Biennale of Sydney Announces Joint Artistic Directors for 2012: Catherine de Zegher and Gerald McMaster
Robert F. Kennedy-Owned Emancipation Proclamation Up for Auction
Nazi Praise Sparks Switzerland's Rethink of Modernist Architect Le Corbusier
Judd Foundation Announces It will Now Be Represented Exclusively by David Zwirner
Teotihuacan's Emblematic Monument, The Sun Pyramid, Still an Enigma for Archaeologists
£769,250 Achieved at Sotheby's for Rediscovered Paintings Depicting Tipu Sultan's Victory over the British
DeCordova Announces the Rappaport Endowment Fund and the Winner of the 11th Rappaport Prize
Completely Renewed, the National Museum of Cultures to Be Reopened
France 1500: Between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance at the Galeries nationales Grand Palais
New Work by Turner Prize Nominated Artist, Cornelia Parker, Loses Wing in Cuts Campaign
Sotheby's First-Ever Evening Sale of Islamic Art Realises £7 Million - Well Above Pre-Sale Expectations
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Texas A&M Galveston professor explores depths of West Texas cave
Updated 2:43 pm, Monday, March 4, 2013
Tom Iliffe may know more about the nation's deepest underwater cave than any other explorer, but he and his associates say they still haven't reached the bottom or discovered all the mysteries that lie in the Phantom Springs cave.
A Texas A&M Galveston professor of marine biology, Iliffe led a group of explorers in January who plunged into the West Texas underwater system for the second time. He said when searching underwater caves, a diver doesn't know how long or deep it may wind up being.
"You never absolutely know what's around the next corner," Iliffe said. "One day one cave will be the deepest and another day, you can find a cave that's even deeper. It's basically an ongoing challenge."
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Iliffe, 64, who studies the biology of underwater caves, has navigated the depths of caves in places like the Bahamas and the Yucatan Peninsula. But it was in a small West Texas town with a population of about 400 where he has now twice led teams to explore the depths of the deepest and longest underwater cave system in the United States.
Iliffe dove into the Phantom Springs Cave near Balmorhea, doubling the depth explored just the previous year. On the Jan. 8 exploration, the team was able to plunge 462 feet into the cave without finding a bottom. This is the record depth for any underwater cave in the United States, according to Iliffe and an associate. In January 2012, a team explored the cave to about 230 feet in depth.
"There's really no telling how deep it is or how far the cave goes," Iliffe said. "Divers have been exploring this cave for more than 30 years, but there are still parts of it that no one has entered."
The cave is on land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and required a scientific permit to explore. Few have been allowed to explore the cave because of the endangered pupfish that live in the system's external pools. Iliffe and his team are among the few who have obtained a permit.
U.S. deep-cave record
During the exploration, the team, which consisted of 10 experts from Texas, Florida and Tennessee, set up sediment traps, collected water quality data, surveyed more than 8,000 feet of cave and shot hours of video and still photos.
Curt Bowen, president of the ADM Foundation, the nonprofit affiliated with the trip, helped take the photos and videos of the discoveries along the way.
"The most interesting thing was it beat the U.S. deep-cave record," Bowen said. "I didn't think it was going to go that deep when it started dropping."
Another view was expressed by Chuck Noe, director of the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project,. He said in 2008 a team completed a dive to a depth of 515 feet at Goodenough Springs and described that as holding the record for the deepest cave dive ever conducted in the United States. He characterized it as "a very monumental moment." He said the depth of the cave (at the point of the deepest penetration) was 515 feet underwater. "That fact can be ignored but not disputed.," he said. The cave lies about 160 feet underneath a lake..
The Phantom Springs project was supported by Karst Underwater Research of Florida and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in addition to the ADM Foundation, according to a Texas A&M press release. In 2012, Texas A&M was able to provide partial funding for the exploration, but this year the grant expired, Iliffe said. Last month's trip was entirely self-funded, he said.
Bowen, who lives in Florida, also went on the 2012 trip and said he had a feeling the cave would drop even lower. "Another trip back and we might be deeper than 500 feet," he said. "I didn't know there were cave formations in that part of Texas, especially underwater ones."
Iliffe said the cave water is significantly warmer than what would normally be expected for this area, which suggests the water originates from deep below the Earth's surface. He is interested in the types of animal life present in the caves, which exist in total darkness and have adapted to live only in caves.
"The best way to find new animals is to go to new caves," Iliffe said.
Feeds into Balmorhea
The team also discovered that the cave feeds into Balmorhea State Park, which is known as an oasis with its popular natural spring in the middle of the mountainous, desert land. They placed dye in the cave and it showed up six days later in the park's spring.
Iliffe and Bowen said the team hopes to return to Phantom Springs sometime later this year to continue mapping and exploring the cave and to identify various types of cave-adapted organisms.
"We're going places no human has been, and we have no idea what's around the next corner," Iliffe said. "This is true exploration because we have no idea what we will find. Exploration is the only way to find out."
This story was updated to add comments from Chuck Noe, director of the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project.


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Designed and constructed by the Bucknell Outing Club, the Climbing Wall features over 1200 square feet of indoor climbing. Located in the southwest corner of Gerhard Fieldhouse, "the wall" measures 22' tall and 32' wide and features a wide array of bouldering and lead routes.
Spring 2018
Monday - Thursday 6-9 p.m.
Friday 3-6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Located in the field house — last racquetball room past squash courts.
The following links are virtual breadcrumbs marking the 27 most recent pages you have visited in Bucknell.edu. If you want to remember a specific page forever click the pin in the top right corner and we will be sure not to replace it. Close this message.


text:
California Department of Transportation
Headquarters - Public Affairs Office
Tamie McGowen
(916) 657-5060
May 8, 2007
Sacramento – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today awarded the contract to reconstruct the I-580 upper connector deck to Rancho Cordova construction firm CC Myers, Inc.
"Caltrans promised the public a swift response to the MacArthur Maze collapse, and we are delivering," said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.
Based on the seven bids received, Caltrans awarded the contract to the lowest bidder, CC Myers, in the amount of $867,075. The project will reconstruct the eastbound I-80 to eastbound I-580 connector ramp that collapsed on Sunday, April 29, 2007.
CC Myers is the contractor that successfully completed the reconstruction of the I-10 following the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles.
Contract bids were opened at 10 a.m. today, and the contract was awarded at 3:30 p.m. Work on the structure will begin tomorrow, and the target date for completion is June 27 as identified in the contract.


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LIVE from the NYPL: Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, featuring Lee Siegel
Watch video on your iPhone or iPad
Viewing videos on NYPL.org requires Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher.
Is the Internet "the first social environment created for the asocial individual?"
That's what Lee Siegel argues in his new book, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. Siegel believes that the web and its cultural correlatives and by-products such as the dominance of reality television and the rise of the bourgeois bohemian have turned privacy into performance, play into commerce, and confused self-expression with art.
Even as technology gurus ply their trade using the language of freedom and democracy, we cede more and more control of our freedom and individuality to the needs of the machine that confluence of business and technology whose boundaries now stretch to encompass almost all human activity.
Join Lee Siegel, Nicholson Baker, Heidi Julavits, and Paul Holdengräber, moderator, in a blistering and wide-ranging discussion of Siegel's critique of the Internet and the social and cultural conditions from which it sprang.
Lee Siegel is the author of the essay collections Falling Upwards and Not Remotely Controlled. Siegel has been the television critic for the New Republic, book critic for The Nation, art critic for Slate, staff writer at Harper's and Talk, contributing writer for the LA Times Book Review, associate editor of ARTnews, and associate editor of Raritan. In 2002, Siegel received the National Magazine Award for Reviews and Criticism. His new book is Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob.
Nicholson Baker attended the Eastman School of Music and Haverford College. He has published six previous novels and three works of nonfiction, including The Size of Thoughts and Double Fold. His new book is Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization.
Heidi Julavits is the author of three novels, most recently the Uses of Enchantment. Her fiction and non-fiction have appeared in Harper's, Time, and The New York Times among others. She is a founding editor of The Believer, a monthly magazine published by McSweeney's, and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Paul Holdengräber is the Director of Public Programs now known as "LIVE from the NYPL" for The Research Libraries of The New York Public Library.


text:
Home > Eyeglasses > Just Cavalli > JC0748 (047)
JC 0748 is available in 3 additional attractive styles
New Releases
Size and availability
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JC0748/047 Eyewear
As a customer of Edel-Optics, you are totally aware that eyewear can crown your style. This accessory makes you look very smart when you are out and about and convincing in the office and in your leisure time. Would another colour not be a better match for your favourite outfit? Check also the other styles of JC0748in our 2017, and 2018 Just Cavalli range.
Expressive lines add character to the classical approach, making the glasses a must-have for women. Wearing full rim eyewear, you make it unmistakably clear that you are going the whole hog. The square frame is a classical shape, highlighting the straightforwardness of the personality. Plastic frames like these combine durability and are comfortable to wear. The JC0748 is a very snug fit on the ears and nose. Brown is currently a trend colour and also an absolute timeless classic. The colour provides a nice contrast ratio between the skin and the colour of the eyeglass frame. Thus, the transition from eyeglasses to the face is harmonious and unobtrusive.
With the help of our digital dispensing optician, your prescription lenses can be configured according to your own requirements. Anti-reflective and cleaning coatings, antistatic and lotus effect are included as standard for plastic lenses.
The model has already been ordered and will shortly be back in stock. If you order now, you will get the reduced price and once the goods arrive, we will send you your new Just Cavalli on the same day. And because Edel-Optics is a paradise for bargain hunters, you can get this top model at an incredibly low price. What is labelled as "in the sale" at other online shops, is for us "all-day-everyday" prices.
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text:
Jump to navigation
Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Program Type
RPA certified
Project Director:
Project Description
Skeletal remains within cemeteries and individual burials have proven to be an invaluable source of information in archaeological endeavors. The wealth of knowledge obtained from burial assemblages provides insights into culture; migratory patterns; contact and trade; social complexities and population dynamics; familial relationships, and ancestral health. Archaeology attempts to reconstruct the particulars of past populations through their material remains and, complementary to it, bioarchaeological studies comprise a deeper understanding of past populations through skeletal remains and integrates this understanding with adaptive changes to environment and culture.
The main theme of this project will be to use these approaches to produce a working body of knowledge about the Gepid populations in Transylvania (3rd -5th centuries CE). This period in history represents a poorly understood socially and politically dynamic exchange of power structure in the Balkans: namely the advent of the Hunnic state, the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Plague of Justinian, and the ushering of the Middle Ages.
For the 2013 field season, we will be examining and analysing skeletal remains belonging to the Gepid culture, excavated from the Northeastern plains of Transylvania. All analytical work will take place in the National History Museum of Transylvania (MNIT), located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. If available, students will also have the opportunity to experience bioarchaeological fieldwork.
In addition to the analytical component, lectures will be given by TBRG archaeological and museum staff on:
Students are not necessarily required to have any bioarchaeological/osteological experience but those who do will be in good stead to complete the course. Academic credit is available at no extra charge but paperwork must be initiated with the home university by the student.
Although the focus of this field school is core bioarchaeological investigations of the Gepids in Transylvania, we are open to a limited number of collaborative research inquiries by those wishing to conduct post-grad research on other themes or cultures.
Please do enquire by e-mail to email@example.com if you wish to apply, have any questions, or would like to be put in contact with past students.
Period(s) of Occupation: Late Roman/Early Medieval
Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 5 weeks
Room and Board Arrangements
The cost of the field includes 3-star accommodation with wi-fi at Pensiunea Brici for 5 weeks, airport transfers to and from Cluj-Napoca International Airport, and incidentals including materials and lab fees. Students are responsible for their own meals but will have a private kitchen at their disposal.
Optional field trips will be offered at an additional low price to explore the beautiful Transylvanian countryside, caves, archaeological sites, and glacial lakes. Of course a trip to Dracula's real castle and birthplace will be available too!
Academic Credit
Will be assigned upon acceptance


text:
AS DEBATE rages over the future of Lance Franklin, the man drafted ahead of him, Jarryd Roughead, is confident the champion forward will remain at Hawthorn.
Roughead, Franklin and midfielder Jordan Lewis were all taken in the 2004 national draft and have played an instrumental role in the rise of Alastair Clarkson's Hawks.
Franklin has put off negotiations on a new contract until the end of the season, despite the Hawks offering what is believed to be a four-year deal worth more than $4 million.
As he enters his ninth campaign and reflects on the changes he has witnessed in the game, Roughead is hopeful he can eventually retire alongside Franklin, a restricted free agent, and Lewis.
''From what he [Franklin] said, I don't think he has any intentions to leave,'' Roughead said.
''With free agency, it's a business. You look at the American sports and it's not like there is going to be a mid-season trade where we have to get rid of him because we are not going to get anything from him.
''You would like to see us all finish our careers together. I don't think it's not going to happen. He said it [contract discussions] are going to happen at the end of the year.''
Roughead is a major supporter of the US National Basketball Association, and has more than 40 player singlets, not to mention naming his young golden retriever ''Melo'' after New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.
Roughead, off contract after the 2014 season, says free agency is a good thing but acknowledges it has changed the dynamic between player and club.
''You only have to look at the States. That's where it might end up eventually, with mid-season trades,'' he said.
''It's interesting because, as a basketball fan, you are always on the internet to see what is happening with the trade deadlines [midway through the NBA season] in February.
''I don't think it [the AFL system] is going to be a full on as that. Clubs still preach a lot of loyalty but unfortunately with free agency coming in that might get swept under the carpet a bit compared to previous years.''
Roughead, having recovered from off-season ankle surgery, is set to again be one of the AFL's most versatile players, whether that be playing as a forward, in the ruck or attempting to win the ball on the ground at stoppages.
He was also sent to defence at times last season, but that may now change with full-back Brian Lake aboard.
Among the benefits the Hawks hope the former Western Bulldog brings is taking the glare off young defender Ryan Schoenmakers.
''To Schoey's credit, he fought so hard last year. The games that everyone seemed to kick a stink up about was when the opposition had big gorillas - [Tom] Hawkins and [Kurt] Tippett and [Travis] Cloke and guys like that,'' Roughead said.
''The games we didn't come up against them, he performed very well, not saying he didn't perform well against those bigger blokes.
''When we had those games against the Bulldogs in '08, '09 and '10, [Lake] was one of those blokes we tried to avoid kicking it high and long to because we knew he was such a good mark and a good defender. He's a two-time All-Australian, that is pretty impressive stuff.''
Another man pleased to see the 195-centimetre Lake arrive at Waverley Park is defender Josh Gibson, who is keen to have a role free from guarding the game's monster full-forwards.
''In terms of that tall defender, I'm rapt,'' Gibson said.
''He's going to take on some of those gorillas, which is helpful.''
Gibson said the team didn't take long to get over the 10-point grand final loss to the Swans, adding they were ready to reload for another shot this season.
''You want to play at the top and play in grand finals, and obviously they're not all going to go your way,'' he said.
''You have to deal with the losses [but] there's a lot of other teams that were wishing they could play.
''You lick your wounds, you review the game, and you come back in 2013 and do what you can to try and give yourself another chance of playing in a granny again.''
With aap
Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.
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text:
Dear all,
I am relatively new to this topic, so the question may be too primitive, sorry for that.
I am working on diagonalizing huge matrices with the use of ScaLAPACK PDSYEVX subroutine. My problem is that I read the matrix from the file without parallelizing this process, so in MPI run every processor reads the full matrix and only then the matrix is being redistributed after I create the processor grid. And as soon as my matrix grows big enough, the program stops, since, as far as I understand, the local processor memory is exceeded, or the overall node memory is exceeded due to every processor on the node reads the matrix.
My question is what would be the best way to solve the problem: read the whole matrix only on one processor and then redistribute the local arrays to other processors, or read only the needed parts of matrix by each processor from the beginning? The latter seems a bit more complicated for me, since the matrix is stored not even in it's full form (only non-zero elements), although I know the algorithm to retrieve the whole matrix out of it. Or may be there are ways of using shared memory at MPI parallelization (like OpenMP parallelization) so that I can read the whole matrix once but it will be accessible to all the processors on the node?
Thank you very much in advance,


text:
WASHINGTON — Important clues about what drove Adam Lanza to mass murder probably sit on the computer the reclusive, technically minded 20-year-old used as one of his main contacts with the world, authorities said.
Lanza attempted to destroy his computer's hard drive, the device that stores and retrieves data, before the killing rampage in Newtown, Conn. Police have declined to provide information on damage to the drive, but investigators remain hopeful that it can be repaired. Specialists, however, said any effort to recover data may be thwarted if the drive's magnetic platters are shattered. If the damage is less severe, or if there are multiple platters, investigators may be able to glean information. Such efforts are slow and costly.
The computer was taken to the Connecticut State Police computer crimes unit, which has more than a dozen technicians focused on gathering digital forensic evidence.
The FBI has offered to help.
Authorities know that Lanza was the shooter but are pursuing the case as an active murder investigation until they understand what happened and why. At least three search warrants have been filed. Two can be unsealed Dec. 28, and one can be unsealed Dec. 30.
The computer search will include obvious things like websites visited and photos downloaded. Other data include every location a laptop has been used, the timing of activity, and technical ''artifacts'' computers maintain as a matter of course. Even some deleted material can be retrieved with relative ease if the damage to the hard drive is not too severe.


text:
March 7, 2013
Four Senators -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- introduced a bill yesterday to ensure that the Purple Heart, awarded to troops wounded in combat, takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medal for drone operators and cyber warriors proposed by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last month.
The Senate bill mirrors a similar House bill introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter, D-Calif., on Feb. 26. Both bills also call for the Distinguished Service Medal to rank lower than the Bronze Star.
Sponsors of the Senate bill are John Boozman, R-Ark.; Dean Heller, R-Nev.; Joe Manchin III, D-W.V.; and Jon Tester, D-Mont. "The proposed ranking of Distinguished Warfare Medal above medals like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star blurs the line between the risk that is taken by those who are serving directly under enemy fire and those who are not," Boozman said.
Tester said, "The front lines of conflict are changing, but the folks who serve directly in the theater of war are at greater risk and we should fully acknowledge the risks that their service brings." Contrasting the experience of drone pilot who operate from facilities in the United States with that of deployed troops, Manchin said, "Awards earned in combat for heroism, patriotism and a commitment to make the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day should not rank below a medal earned in relative safety."
John E. Hamilton, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a combat wounded Marine Corps rifleman who served in Vietnam, applauded the bipartisan Senate bill: "It is very important to properly recognize all who faithfully serve and excel, but this new medal -- no matter how well intended -- quickly deteriorated into a morale issue.
"Our only disagreement is the medal's placement," said Hamilton, who discussed the issue with President Obama in the Oval Office last week.
March 7, 2013


text:
Screen Message displays a given multi-line message as large as possible, fullscreen and black on white. You can specify the text when launching sm, or edit it while the program is running. It is useful to send messages across a room (e.g., during a university lecture). For fast startup, it is recommended that you bind it to a key in your Desktop Environment.
StabieDraw is a simple 2D vector drawing program for creating illustrations in PDF format. The program is based on an IC layout editor and the interface will probably be most familiar to people in the IC industry. It has a Tcl interface for creating and modifying the shape objects as well as a traditional interactive GUI, though it is almost required to put the window manager into focus follows mouse mode to use this program. Objects include rectangles, paths, polygons, circles, donuts, references, and programmable objects.
FIM (Fbi IMproved) aims to be a highly customizable and scriptable image viewer targeted at the users who are comfortable with software like the Vim text editor or the Mutt mail user agent. It is based on the Fbi image viewer and works either in the Linux framebuffer console or in the X system. It features the ability to filter the list of images with regular expressions, Vim-like autocommands, command line autocompletion and history, completely customizable key bindings, external/internal scriptability, and much more.
xgrk provides the possibility to change keyboard mapping with alt-shift or meta-shift combinations or by clicking on the flag image. You will be able to write greek in X programs like netscape or xedit. Keycodes are auto-loaded on startup so it should work with all unices and keyboard layouts. Fonts are not included.