text:
The 550th episode of Armin van Buuren's radio show is being celebrated with a big world tour, covering 6 shows in 5 countries during the month of March. Now that the first 3 events have taken place, the worldwide impact of A State of Trance 550 is revealed. In addition to the weekly amount of 20 million listeners, broadcasted on 60 stations (satellite & FM) in 48 countries these special live broadcasts of the shows produced another ten-thousands of views via YouTube, tweets via Twitter and views via www.astateoftrance.com.
During each event, an average of 3 tweets a second using 'hashtag' #ASOT550 are being sent, resulting in more than 90.000 tweets per event. During the first ASOT550 show in London, #ASOT550 became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter for 6 hours, and was the most used term on Twitter. On top of that, nearly all DJ's that played during the show, also became trending topics on Twitter. After the shows in London, Moscow and Kiev, the amount of page views hit nearly 1 million for www.astateoftrance.com. The amount of YouTube views of Armada Music, the label behind Armin's releases, rose by 3.5 million views within one week, reaching nearly 600 million total views.
With another 3 events to go, in Los Angeles, Miami and Den Bosch, the amount of tweets, views and hits will continue to grow. Each show will be broadcast live via www.astateoftrance.com. For the final edition, March 31st in Den Bosch, The Netherlands, there are still tickets on sale via the website.
For the final and biggest edition, March 31st in Den Bosch, The Netherlands, the last tickets are now on sale via the www.astateoftrance.com/tickets. The edition in the Brabanthallen, Den Bosch is the biggest indoor Trance-event in the world, with 40 dj's all to be seen live via the website.


text:
I'm Free!
By Rev. Andrena Ingram
August 29, 2013
I have finally announced to my congregation and to my Facebook peeps that I have quit smoking, that I am on the patch and that I would appreciate their prayers!
I can't begin to tell you how LIBERATING and FREEING that was! I began smoking at age 15...and have smoked for 43 years. I did have one successful year in seminary when I stopped smoking, but picked up again, after a relationship went sour. Contrary to what folks may believe, I don't know that most smokers actually LOVE it. It's an addiction. Nicotine is harder to kick than alcohol and most drugs!
My doctor had been encouraging me to stop smoking for as long as I have been in Philly -- but it has always been one thing after another. I have a very stressful life. Very stressful life issues, and I just kept putting it off. I just was not ready. When I began therapy about 2 months ago, I bought up the idea with my doctor again and she wrote a prescription for the patches...TWO MONTHS ago! I don't know why, CVS never had them ready. I had actually forgotten all about them; until 26 days ago, when I went to pick up my regular meds and there they were -- nicotine patches!
As of this writing, I quit smoking 25 days, 12 hours and 18 minutes ago. I haven't smoked 383 cigarettes and have saved $124.37. (They even have an iPhone ap for folks who stop smoking!)
I am so grateful! Grateful to be free of that last monkey on my back and for the extra years added on to my life. As well as all the other "health benefits": healthier heart, healthier lungs...breathing the air...actually feeling my chest open up. Grateful to get more "time" in my day, usually spent smoking. Grateful that I most likely will not get bronchitis this year! It was total INSANITY to have bronchitis and at the same time light up a cigarette.
I am grateful that I don't stink anymore! People can hug me, and smell a light fragrance of lavender or whatever I decide to wear, instead of that damn tobacco! However, when I pass by someone on the street, I do find myself lingering just a bit -- to catch a whiff of the cigarette, and then say in my head: "I bet that person stinks".
I am grateful that I don't have to hide my smoking in my community (although there were a few that knew), or have to constantly be on my guard when smoking outside of my community -- wondering who was going to be driving through whatever area it was. Grateful that I no longer have to step in an elevator and watch the faces of those around me, because they smell the smoke, or enter a meeting/gathering place and sit down at a table smelling like a tobacco factory.
I am grateful for another testimony, for what God is doing in my life!
I know ... I know ... it is only 25 days.
As with drugs and alcohol (from which I have been clean for 25 years), I can only comprehend doing this 1 day at a time. And that is how I am getting through. I am 12 stepping this process, and it makes it a little easier.
I began with the 1st step: "We admitted we were powerless over our addiction -- that our lives had become unmanageable." It certainly felt as though I was powerless over this addiction...and my life had certainly become unmanageable. Once the patches were in my possession, I embraced the decision...and am happy about it. It is a day by day process, sometimes hour by hour.
Am I uncomfortable? Yes! Especially at night! My freezer is loaded with Popsicle sticks to get me through the cravings. During the day, ministry keeps me busy enough. Soon, I won't mind at all, except perhaps for the weight I will probably be putting on. I think a good hula hooping a couple times a week and maybe walking will take care of that. I do still have urges, but the urges are shorter and shorter and I keep the "Soup Nazi" image and voice (No soup for you!) in my head: "No Cigs for you! -- I am free"... take a deep breath...and keep it moving!
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Is the Ribbon Enough?
Rev. Andrena Ingram
Reverend Andrena Ingram (also known as "Pastor Andrena" or "Pastor Ingram") has become a strong advocate for those living in the margins, as she once was. She is an activist in the HIV/AIDS arena, herself living openly and unabashedly with the HIV virus for over 22+ years.
Raised in South Jamaica, New York, Reverend Ingram served seven years of active duty in the U.S. Army. She would later move to the South Bronx, where she attended Transfiguration Lutheran Church with Pastor Heidi Neumark as her pastor and mentor -- empowering her to rise up out of herself and her life challenges, which seemed to her, at the time, insurmountable.
Reverend Ingram is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, with a Master of Divinity. She has been the pastor of St. Michael's Lutheran Church on Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., for the past four years.
Reverend Ingram can frequently be found speaking about HIV/AIDS, encouraging everyone "to know your status, get tested, and be informed." Silence = Death.
Follow Pastor Andrena on Twitter! @aftertheribbon
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Recent Posts:
November 22, 2016 - We Are Here, and We Are Tired: A Challenging, Amazing, Undetectable Year -- A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram
January 28, 2016 - Disease-Free, Clean and What? A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram
January 25, 2016 - Frankly My Dear ...: A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram
December 9, 2015 - Fighting HIV Stigma Through Support Groups, Friendship: A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram
December 1, 2015 - Surviving HIV: POZ 100 Long-Term Survivors List -- A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
March 11, 2013 – Harbor Freight Tools continues to fan out with new tool stores across the country, providing incredibly low prices at convenient locations. New Harbor Freight stores are sprouting up with unprecedented frequency– especially in these tough economic times– and there's no slowing down in sight! This Wednesday, March 13, at 8:00 a.m., the doors will swing wide at the newest Harbor Freight Tools location– this time in Blackwood, NJ!
"We are very excited to be opening the 13th Harbor Freight Tools store in New Jersey and look forward to being a member of the Blackwood community," said Eric Smidt, President of Harbor Freight Tools. "Our business model is simple: earn our customers' business by offering quality tools at ridiculously low prices. In difficult economic times, our Business and Do-It-Yourself customers are more cost-conscious than ever and Harbor Freight is here to help. Our tools are made in the same factories as many of the high-priced famous brands, but we cut out the middleman and sell them at a fraction of the price."
The Blackwood store, located at 5200 Black Horse Pike (aka: Route 42) in the Ganttown Plaza Shopping Center, will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:00am, hosted by the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce.
"We are extremely excited that Harbor Freight has chosen to open their newest location here in Washington Township. We look forward to having a long and successful working relationship with Harbor Freight. They are one of the largest tool and equipment retailers in the United States" states Tom Fletcher President of the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce. "We are happy to have them be part of the community and wish them much success."
Harbor Freight Tools is a traditional favorite of contractors, government agencies, schools, fundraisers, and industrial and auto shops, as well as tool enthusiasts and DIYers looking for deals on a good selection of tools.
The exciting Blackwood store grand opening celebration will feature huge discounts at up to 80% off. Come browse the enormous selection of quality tools and hardware, take advantage of the incredible specials, or just come by and say "hello!"
Store hours are MON-SAT 8:00AM-9:00PM and SUN 9:00AM-6:00PM.
See you there!


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Scientists from the Tsuji Lab Research Institute for Science and Technology at Tokyo University of Science believe they may have discovered the cure for baldness that has long baffled experts (and 7m follically-challenged men) – and it's all down to this tuft of hair that has sprouted from a bald mouse.
Japanese researchers investigated whether stem cells could create pigmented hair follicles by testing on a group of bald-bred lab mice.
Scientists started by growing two different types of skin stem cells until they began to grow immature hair follicles and then implanted them into the mice.
Within three weeks, the mice began to sprout tufts of hair. Scientists later used the same stem cell technique to grow whiskers.
More significantly, scientists also used human stem cells (obtained from the scalp of a balding male) during the study, and had the same result as when they used stem cells from mice.
The research team hope their positive findings could lead to effective baldness treatment on humans in as little as three years.
"We expect that our technologies will help to restore colour to grey hair. We think that the person's natural colour will be reproduced by our technology in the future," a spokesperson from the study said in a statement.
This breakthrough follows a separate study by the University of Pennsylvania, which claimed to have found the root of the problem that causes baldness – and a way to treat it.
After analysing the potential biological causes of male baldness, scientists discovered high levels of a key protein, called prostaglandin D synthase (PDG2), present in bald areas of the scalp. This protein was not located in any 'hairier' areas on the body.
Drugs designed to block PGD2 have already been created to treat asthma, but scientists are hoping that they could be used to treat male baldness within the next five years.
Take a look at our round-up of gorgeous bald celebrity men who have no problem embracing their hairless heads...
Watch a video featuring the bald mouse here...


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Lord Mandelson. It *is* a villainous name. He's a slimy horrible member of the undead. He just keeps coming back...
As Frankie Boyle [wikipedia.org] said recently on Mock the Week [mocktheweek.tv], "Who made this guy a Lord, the Sith?"
My other favourite was, "Mandelson's back from his summer vacation - what they don't tell you is he stopped on his way back to visit his parents
It does sound like a villain name out of a cheesy crossover between James Bond and DC comics, doesn't it?
Actually, his name reminds me of THIS [youtube.com].
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_j4BAix7ZCvo/SOYJHrk2bdI/AAAAAAAACB8/pYhHHwrYP1I/s1600-h/Mandelson+moustache.jpg [blogspot.com]
Peter Mandelson with hairy worm under nose.
and controlling as Heinrich Himmler was. I think if Mandelson ever got anymore political power, He would create a nightmare country with him at the center of power.
Welcome to Mendelsonia.
Population: *Your security code isn't high enough to access that information*
Himmler is close, but both I and Mandelson himself [timesonline.co.uk] think that Stalin's henchman Lavrentiy Beria [wikipedia.org] is a closer fit:
"You're a kind of Trotsky figure," said a fellow guest.
"Oh no," said Lord Mandelson. "I'm far more of a Beria."
Beria is the nasty version of Himmler, as you will find if you read about his activities as Stalin's secret police chief. What sort of man would find a comparison with mass murderers like Trotsky and Beria flattering and amusing? A former member of the Young Communist League, perhaps? [bbc.co.uk] But I'm sure he abandoned the Marxist ideology years ago, just like the rest of New Labour. You know, when they became "right wing" like the BBC says. <Hollow Laughter>.
Baron Mandelson, 679, of Transylvania, [today.com] smiled for the cameras, only having to reconstitute himself twice when the flashes dissolved him into dust. "I only enter where I am invited," he said in sepulchral Eurocratic tones. "When I am called upon, I shall return."
Labour MPs rushed to greet the chief architect of New Labour, many carrying wooden stakes, garlic and crosses.
Mr Mandelson has had a chequered career in office. Previous Cabinet terms have ended with unfortunate resignations due to being beheaded by angry villagers, burnt at the stake, wrapped in chains and thrown to the bottom of the Volga and, in one case, nuked from orbit.
What constantly astounds me about Mandelson is the lack of furore about the fact that he's unelected. We didn't vote for this man. How the hell did he get to be running the country?
He's running the country because everyone else has swine flu
What constantly astounds me about Mandelson is the lack of furore about the fact that he's unelected. We didn't vote for this man. How the hell did he get to be running the country?
This is Britain, not a democracy, why does he need anyone to vote for him? No-one voted for Brown, and two-thirds of the country voted against the ruling party in the last election yet they were returned with a large majority.
You've never needed an electoral mandate to rule this country, what are you so surprised about?
Put slimebag Mandelson into perspective...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/471585.stm [bbc.co.uk]
"Mr Mandelson resigned from the Cabinet in December last year after it was revealed he took a secret £373,000 home loan from his ministerial colleague, Geoffrey Robinson, who also resigned over the affair."
Pulled in a few favors and got away with mortgage fraud on the mortgage application form by not declaring the secret loan. Anyone else would be in prison for that fraud.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1210506.stm [bbc.co.uk]
"Peter Mandelson and Europe Minister Keith Vaz have been cleared of wrongdoing by the Hammond inquiry into the Hinduja passport affair. The inquiry into the circumstances that led to Mr Mandelson's resignation in January accepted that he had not deliberately lied about making a call to a Home Office minister. Secondly it found there was no connection between the Hindujas' donation to the Dome and their successful applications for citizenship."
Pulled in a few favors, got away with arranging a passport for a Labour donor, whitewashes inquiry into affair.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205049/Lapping-sun-super-rich-friends--Mandy-man-whos-supposed-running-country.html [dailymail.co.uk]
Story seems to have been strangely deleted and not in anyone's cache about Mandelson living it up on a rich benefactors behalf.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207060/Mandelson-met-Gaddafis-son-Corfu-ahead-Lockerbie-bomber-release-talks.html [dailymail.co.uk]
"Lord Mandelson faces the prospect of a sleaze investigation after he met Colonel Gaddafi's son days before it emerged that the Lockerbie bomber was to be freed."
Now reports that the alleged bomber may be freed on compassionate grounds.
Interesting that you should mention a vanished newspaper article that criticised Mandelson.
A while back I tried to find a quotation from Mandelson in which he said that "we now live in the post-democratic age". It was reported in a newspaper. He said it while working as a European Commissioner.
Weirdly, the original quotation is nowhere to be found. It turns up on blogs and so on, but there's no source.
I guess I must have been mistaken in ever believing that it existed. The Commissar vanishes. The lie become [newseum.org]
The data would be anonymous, but serious repeat infringers would be tracked down through their computer ID numbers.
This must be some definition of the word 'anonymous' that I was not previously aware of.
The data would be anonymous, but serious repeat infringers would be tracked down through their computer ID numbers.
This must be some definition of the word 'anonymous' that I was not previously aware of.
Yes, quite. The whole thing is pure fascistic lunacy, that appears to have been drawn up by corporate lobbyists and Whitehall bureaucrats with no awareness of either the technical or legal ramifications of what they are doing.
Also, since the rate of progress of technology nowadays is so much faster than big business and government can respond to it, this scheme will be obsolescent by the time that it gets implemented.
I recently wrote [peter-b.co.uk] to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in response to the pre-legislative consultation documents [berr.gov.uk], and I would encourage other technically-literate Brits to do the same.
You wrote to the UK authorities and expect anything other than a response to say "We're right, shut up" ?
I've given up after many times having had to wait for months for a reply and then have it made quite, quite clear to me that not only have they not taken on board my concerns, they haven't even bothered to read them.
you say the word lobbyist as if it is a bad word.
What do you think democracy is? The interested parties lobby to get their way.
What you have a problem with is not lobbying.... but the fact that lobbies you do not like are successful.
Corporations are a lobby.
Public sector unions are a lobby.
Lawyers are a lobby.
You could easily form your own lobby with whatever you wish. Get some names. Get people out there to care about the issue, and you too can influence government.
In any case. I do not believe in
The data would be anonymous, but serious repeat infringers would be tracked down through their computer ID numbers.
This must be some definition of the word 'anonymous' that I was not previously aware of.
It's a typo. They meant the data would be an oni mouse; i.e.: A mouse that travels through an optical network interface.
It's a faunization of the truck analogy.
The data would be anonymous, but serious repeat infringers would be tracked down through their computer ID numbers.
This must be some definition of the word 'anonymous' that I was not previously aware of.
The correct term would be pseudonymous, I guess. It is not directly personably identifiable information, but stands for it. Idealy it would not be reversible by itself, but could allow for identification upon further downloads. Think of a one-way hash.
Copyright infringments are not in the criminal code, at least not in civilized countries where the criminal code is reserved for laws "against the general population". Things like murder, rape and arson are in there, where you may assume that someone doing it is posing a threat to anyone and everyone, not just to a selected group of people, or that someone is posing a threat to life and wellbeing of a person, a group or everyone.
In general, these things are prosecuted by the state without you requiring to sue (it's one of those things where the cases are called "the people against "+$name.
The alternative is the civil code. Here, you have to sue if you care about someone doing something. Here you have things like slander or trespassing. I could maybe not care if someone told everyone I have a romantic inclination towards fish, or I could probably not care that my neighbor constantly walks through my yard. I have the right to make them stop, if necessary by legal force, sue them and I will get my right, but the state and attorney couldn't care less until I make the first move.
What's been done by the RIAA (and its local counterparts) is to push copyright towards the criminal code. The idea is simple: Save money, and have you, the taxpayer, pay to protect their rights.
Copyright infringments are not in the criminal code, at least not in civilized countries
By that definition, the world is rapidly running out of civilized countries.
Not that I disagree with you.
But theft (physical theft) is considered a crime in civilised countries. Theft bears no damage to the general population, yet we still use public servants like policemen to chase down offenders, public servants like judges to prosecute them, and public facilities like prisons to punish them.
I believe the reasoning behind theft being a crime is that it serves as a deterrent, and allows people to receive justice without having to dedicate an infeasible amount of time and resources into finding the prosecutor
Physical theft is considered a crime, because it deprives someone of a good...
Copyright infringement on the other hand, does not deprive anyone, and it is impossible to prove that something would have been purchased had it not been available for free.
Infact, it has been shown that copyright infringement has actually increased sales of various things, as it increases the product exposure, at least assuming the product is any good... If the product is really lousy, then people might tell their friends how cra
No, illegal and criminal are not the same things. Not everything illegal is criminal. Sometimes when you violate a law it's not a crime, just a civil offense.
But yet, like you, I'm confused about the word "criminalize" in the title. Adding ludicrous measures against somebody doesn't equate criminalization, and when I read that something is criminalized I expect that either the police would get involved in chasing the offenders, or that it can result in jail time. There isn't anything like this mentioned in
Replying to myself.. but I wanted to thank those that cleared up that misconception that I had where anything violating a law was criminal.
Copying is stealing.
The very fact that we're willing to accept that sentence for discussion shows how far things have come. Stop and think about it, taken out of context. How Orwellian it sounds!
Now that every uninformed member of society believes that copying is a criminal act, well of course it should be criminalised. That only makes sense.
I do believe that artists and creators need to be rewarded. But more and more I'm coming around to the notion that we should scrap the whole bloody slab of law that covers IP, and start again with something sensible.
That won't happen of course. It seems that preserving industry and building capital is the single only motivation for existence in this brave new Labour world.
What ever happened to the notion that money is not valuable in and of itself, but only as a means to the ends we choose?
It deprives us from works becoming public property long after they cease to be economically feasible, being held hostage by the 'rights owners' who refuse to let them go into PD and be renewed, to serve as a foundation for new work, new art, as it has been so many times before. We are deprived from the same rights that authors and musicians during the times enjoyed, to look at what was, rethink it, rephrase it and wrap it in new clothes. Think of all the plays and movies that are based on the basic idea of Romeo and Juliet (and I'm not talking about cheezy works like the one movie with Leonardo), something that could not be done if Shakespeare lived and worked today.
How many songs have been written that used classic tunes and parts thereof as their base, rearranged and reworked to fit the tastes of today? Have you ever heard Vanessa Mae play Toccata and Fuge? If Bach lived today he could demand that his work is to be played with organs only and we would never hear this goosebump-creating work of violin again. Ever.
You see how easily that argument is turned around? Why shouldn't we spin "copyright is stealing" in return?
How is the parent a troll? Did someone just look at the subject and assume the post says the opposite of what the post actually says?
The aggressive anti-piracy clip on pretty much every DVD release in the UK really, really pisses me off. It horribly misinforms and outright lies to the public in an effort to FUD us into compliance. For those who don't know it, it goes something like this:
*Cue jarring, aggressive music, quick & jerky camera cuts*
You wouldn't steal a car.
You wouldn't steal a handbag.
You wouldn't steal this movie.
Piracy. Is. Theft.
Theft. Is. A Crime.
Quite apart from the conflation of downloading a film with stealing
You wouldn't steal a baby.
You wouldn't kill a policeman, and steal his helmet.
You wouldn't go to the toilet in his helmet.
You wouldn't then send the helmet to the policeman's grieving widow.
and THEN steal it again.
If you haven't seen it watch it. I think of it every time I watch a legally purchased DVD and am forced to sit through their propaganda and smile.
I think every
Incidentally, when the scary PIRACY message comes up in the cinema, I get a little thrill from going "Yaaarrrr!" in my best piratey voice. Doing so before Pirates Of The Caribbean got an especially good reaction.
I use xine and skip the FBI warnings. I don't think the FBI have much jurisdiction in Europe anyway.
Don't forget this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRVHUbrbEUA [youtube.com]
[Hitler's] primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.
It's the Big Lie technique, through and through. Do you really expect otherwise from these mooks?
It's starting to look like the war is over, and the lobbyists won. I doubt they even have to work that hard any more. The perception of the population has been changed.
Copying is stealing.
Pfff, that's a minor victory.
They won't be happy till they reach:
Copying is GENOCIDE!
They're already preparing the scripts for the movies about the rise and fall of the pirate nazis; how killing jews opened the door to more heinous crimes like downloading songs or installing their games in multiple pcs.
P.S.: Yes, I am very proud of my best Goodwin yet.
Bullshit. Its acceptance by the mainstream media shows the irrelevance of the mainstream media. The fact that a behaviour casually classed as 'criminal' by newspapers is engaged in by such a large portion of the population shows they haven't won anything. Furthermore, the proportion of the population that does engage in this 'criminal' behaviour is disproportionately young.
But the mainstream media aren't irrelevant.
Those of us reading
Sure that doesn't stop people copying, any more than a notice in the Times about casual theft in the workplace would stop Joe Bloggs from taking home a few ballpoints or a ream of paper.
But the damage is done. Yes, even those kids who download anyway believe that it is stealing. They
The perception of the population has been changed.
I doubt it, most (online) polls I've seen show very little acceptance for the ip lobbyist view.
Further, vpns and f2f networks are already getting wider deployments all the time. VPNs bypasses the snooping, and once the move to f2f becomes prevalent it'll all just be encrypted friend-copies-to-friend which is basically untracable and unmonitorable.
start again with something sensible.
Without a doubt. It's not very hard to construct sensible systems of reward f
The Reg covered it yesterday [theregister.co.uk] and noted that Mandelson denied this report -- given they're due for an election in less than a year I can't believe they'd go out of their way to alienate voters.
Offtopic, British lords are so hilarious. There's a secretary of transport called Lord Adonis [guardian.co.uk]. Had to chuckle at that.
Mandelson denied this report
Well, that's that settled then.
"given they're due for an election in less than a year I can't believe they'd go out of their way to alienate voters."
I guess you don't know much about British politics. The ruling Labour party has spent the last few years doing just that, this is why they've lost every local council election and took a severe blow in the European parliamentary elections in the last year or two.
They've been in power 12 years and lost sight of what the public care about, that doesn't matter to them anymore, they believe they
Capitalism is socialism for the rich
Mining had to die, because 'the market' said so. Manufacturing, shipbuilding, all the other things had to go to. But when industries that the ruling classes have deep interests in, such as media or banking, start losing money - they must be saved to 'safeguard jobs' and 'protect creativity'.
Twas ever thus. The market promotes self-interest, and self-interest distorts the market for its own benefit. Capitalism always does this.
Like those companies which abuse the GPL and release media STB but not the source code for them? Oh, like Humax for their Foxsat-HDR box as (and I directly quote them) "the consumer can't update the firmware so there is no need to release the source code we use".
Thats just as much a breach of copyright as someone downloading a TV show off a torrent site.
So will Mandelson remove their net connection
Has this appeared on gpl-violations.org yet? Given that Humax is a German company I'd have thought that Harald Welte would be interested.
whatever happens in Airstrip One will probably follow here in Oceania
So we have more camera surveillance than anywhere else.
We have more regulations than most places. And now we are going to help out the big money companies by criminalizing use of the internet.
Why are we helping a business model that doesn't work and is being flogged to death. UK industry used to be innovative and groundbreaking. Now instead of encouraging evolution of business, we are actively saying we will help you keep your outdated methods and kick the people who innovate.
We should be telling the record/movie industry to move with the times and only help when they have proven they have made changes that are compatible with the customers of the day.
Yes I know about iTunes and other services. but the pricing models applied to them are often the same (or worse) than physical media. And with all the DRM pain when the industry failed again to move forward, these methods have a bad name.
Things are changing and people *are* still buying music and movies. the losses the industry report assume that the downloaded tracks would have been bought (which is rarely the case) only a small preparation of downloaded music would have ever been bought. the rest would have been borrowed (taped/copied) from physical media as has been going on for many years. I don't ever remember a lawsuit over the sale of a dual tape deck that could copy between two tapes.
More interestingly, downloaded music can lead to more sales as bands that are not mainstream are discovered and shared.
I don't condone illegal music downloads. I do condone the use of laws to fund outdated industries that have big enough pockets to buy politicians.
So we have more camera surveillance than anywhere else.
if you aren't doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear.
--Standard Overlord Answer book, revision 1, chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 1.
Why are we helping a business model that doesn't work and is being flogged to death.
the model worked for decades: it's the damn pirates that broke it.
--Standard Overlord Answer book, revision 13, chapter 12.
UK industry used to be innovative and groundbreaking. Now instead of encouraging evolution of business, we
Get a law passed that criminalizes The leakage of private information by Govt or its supreme "Yes, Minister" servants.
That way, the next time some MP or minister or a civil servant loses a hard disk containing private information, he/she faces hard time in a Federal Prison: for 10 years or more.
Why doesn't someone get the stupid ministers to pass a law like this?
Get a law passed that criminalizes The leakage of private information by Govt or its supreme "Yes, Minister" servants.
That way, the next time some MP or minister or a civil servant loses a hard disk containing private information, he/she faces hard time in a Federal Prison: for 10 years or more.
Why doesn't someone get the stupid ministers to pass a law like this?
There already is such a law - the Data Protection Act forces organisations to keep data secure and a major mortgage company were fined for losing a laptop which had a whole lot of personal information on it. (They later announced that they'd pass this fine on to customers because they "didn't think it was fair" to pass it onto the executives, and nobody raised a stink. Go figure.)
There is the minor issue that AFAICT the only thing they can do is fine an organisation - and of course there's only one place g
According to the article, this is "a practice engaged in by one in 12 of the population".
If that large a portion of the population think that something should not be illegal (and it's reasonable to assume that most people consider behaviour they indulge in should not be illegal), then perhaps their views should be considered rather than having them declared criminals.
Or perhaps they just think they're unduly entitled to free stuff because they don't want to pay for it
1) Anyone is allowed to share any infinitely-reproducible item which they are able to reproduce, for any price.
2) After any such distribution, the copyright holder has a length of time equal to the term of their copyright to request a share of the gross price charged.
3) Everyone making a claim gets an equal portion of the gross price. If three people make a claim, the gross price will be divided evenly four ways (one part to each making a claim, and one part to the distributor), etc. If someone makes a clai
@3: what about those who've spent thier share of teh money and can't afford to come up with it later. This could be problematical, if someone asks for thier money years after everyone else has forgotten about it
Isn't it redundant to "criminalize" something that is already illegal? Isn't that sort of the definition of "illegal?"
Funny, I thought they were synonymous.
Firstly, this sounds like a Daily Mail [wikipedia.org] [wikipedia.org] article, but nevertheless.....
How do the government propose than ISPs determine whether content being downloaded is pirated or not? What is the difference between your browser downloading a copyrighted image on [insert name of favourite photo library site] for viewing and downloading an MP3 file? You and I may both download [copyrightedsong.mp3] but I may have permission from the publisher and you may not. How will the ISPs determine this? What if our connections were encrypted, encoded or used IPv6?
I could go on. And on. And on......
The fact is that apart from monitoring visits to [downloadyourillegalaudiofilesandfilmshere.com], there's absolutely sod all that anybody can do which is even remotely effective.
Now, on the other hand, if the government were brave enough to stand up to the music/film groups and come up with some sensible laws which benefit both the citizens and the music/film groups.... well, if that happend, I'd be living in cloud-cookoo land.
They do what they already do, join BitTorrent swarms, note down the IP addresses in the swarm, see which ISPs they belong to, if the ISPs are UK ISPs, contact them to get their details, or get them via court order, then they sue.
The problem is that BitTorrent is by default weak to this type of attack - you have to connect to a public tracker for a specific piece of content.
If you use USENET to just download off of newsgroups on foreign servers using SSL then you should be safe to all government legislation
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Biodiesel is about the only fuel which really can be produced from crops/tanks of sludge.
The USA should be encouraging diesel engines for all it's worth, not making things difficult.
But California's under the mistaken belief that NOx emissions are the source of their smog problems, except in a VOC rich environment (basically any environment with a heavy percentage of gasoline cars,) smog is [b]reduced[/b] but NOx emissions, especially those from diesels.
But, they don't seem to quite get that, and public perception is that diesels are dirty, so...
They have fixed the problem by creating affordable and effective catalytic converts for diesel.
Check out VW's new TDI they just released for the US. Way more low end torque than gasoline and almost 50 mpg. I have no idea why the US hasn't fallen in love with diesel yet.
I actually have a 140 HP VW Diesel engine in my car, and I love it.
It's a VW, just cheaper and with a different badge.
Likewise, except I had mine remapped so it should be more like upwards of 160HP (bear in mind that this is at about 4000RPM and you get a better idea of the torque involved), and I am averaging 37mpg despite regularly accelerating like a lunatic
I have no idea why the US hasn't fallen in love with diesel yet.
Well, I have. I just bought one of the Jetta TDI wagons and it's amazing. I can get 50 MPG in mixed city/highway driving plus intermittent AC with some mild hypermiling techniques (fixed consumption hill climb, engine braking, anticipating traffic ahead; no pulse/glide or unpowered driving) and I expect that the fuel consumption will go down measurably as the engine breaks in (peak compression increases by 20% over the break-in of a VW TDI engine). All this in a car that's big enough to fit five people plus cargo.
Awesome to hear... I'll probably be trading in my full sized pickup for a TDI Sportswagen this fall as I move from rural Washington to Seattle.
Great to hear people are getting way over what the EPA suggested and still have room for carrying a bunch of crap.
...fixed consumption hill climb...
Translation: You slow down on hills.
Result: You impede traffic and cause more fuel to be consumed because you have now caused a traffic jam and everyone is now in stop-and-go traffic.
I live in the San Francisco bay area, and nearly every highway that has even a small incline gets backed up because people don't know how to keep a steady speed while climbing a hill. Now, maybe you don't do this in high-congestion areas, which is OK. But for the love of God, DO NOT do this in high traffic areas.
I live in the San Francisco bay area, and nearly every highway that has even a small incline gets backed up because people don't know how to keep a steady speed while climbing a hill.
A study a few years ago showed that the major cause of traffic jams was caused by people automatically hitting their brakes as they go over a hilltop, no matter how small. And then the person behind them will break harder, not knowing how hard the person in front of them breaks. And so on, for at least half a mile back. This is a psychological phenomenon, and it's unlikely that there are any good remedies, except for removing anything that could be perceived as a hilltop.
Actually, this does not cause a traffic jam. Gently slowing and accelerating as required by terrain and traffic uses less fuel than sharp braking and accelerating. I have never had a problem with gently slowing up a hill, and gently applying the throttle as required while climbing, but mileage decreases dramatically by using "standard" techniques (as in me-first-driver techniques).
Gently climbing hills without flooring it and therefore using too much fuel doesn't automatically mean "driving below the limit" or any such thing. It simply means good technique. If traffic jams up, it's because people are following too closely (the two-second rule: are you obeying it?) or failing to otherwise ensure that there is sufficient space around them to 'take up' the variation in speed of vehicles ahead (and there will always be a variation to some extent; again, use the two-second rule, at LEAST).
Stop blaming other motorists and fix your driving habits so that you don't HAVE to slam on your brakes (and cause, or be a part of, a cause-and-effect wave behind you).
Peak power isn't really a useful number unless you intend to go ridiculously fast.
Diesel is different from gas in that the torque is where you want it, at the low end, so driving is still fun.
That "mistaken belief" comes as the product of a lot of research into particulate emissions.
Still, Ford misses another opportunity to do good, as the emissions of this econobox are said to be decently low-- in the face of amazingly bad gas guzzlers throughout the state.
Remember that fuel in the EU runs between 8-11euros per gallon, adjusted. The car sell will sell well there, and we need to rebalance the trade deficits away from the Chinese for a change.
But, they don't seem to quite get that, and public perception is that diesels are dirty, so...
That public perception is backed up by decades of diesels smelling like hell and belching soot. It's not really so crazy.
This shouldn't matter since clean diesel was implemented nationwide in the U.S. in 2007. It requires both the fuel and the car to abide by the clean diesel standards set forth, and is about 90+% cleaner than old diesel:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/how-clean-diesel-fuel-works.htm [howstuffworks.com]
Clean diesel fuel just means it's possible to put a $2000 particulate filter and another $1000 (or so) NOx trap on a car, it doesn't make those parts cheap.
I've seen car commercials talk about how their car is environmentally safe because it uses diesel. I've always thought, WTF? It must be some scam. All too often, I've found myself behind a diesel that was belching out so much smoke that you couldn't see around it. I'd have to roll up all the windows and hold my breath until I was able to pass it.
Now I see that it's simply a poorly designed vehicle combined with a poorly refined fuel. That the newest diesels don't have this problem if you can find clean diesel. Now if only diesel wasn't the most expensive price at the pump. I suppose they have to pay for the new refining techniques.
I remember reading once that diesel engines were most efficient when run at their top RPM. Are there any vehicles that take advantage of this, by combining a diesel engine, generator, and electric motor? I believe that's how diesel locomotives work.
Fair enough, but there still is way too much hype over European diesels.
1) The NEDC (New European Drive Cycle) is more lax than the revised EPA drivecycle -- lower speeds, less aggressive accel, etc. It more fits typical European driving. A rough conversion from the NEDC MPG to the revised EPA drivecycle is to divide by about 1.15
2) Diesel is simply a denser fuel. A gallon of diesel represents about 15% more petroleum and emits about 15% more CO2 when burned. To compare apples to apples, divide all diesel mileages by 1.15 before comparing to gasoline mpgs.
3) Sometimes when people list European car mpgs, they use miles per imperial gallons. An imperial gallon contains 1.2 times as much as a standard gallon, so divide by 1.2
In this case, the 65mpg is per US gallon, not imperial, so the equivalent US, gasoline mileage is 65 / 1.15 / 1.15 = 49mpg. You can cross-check comparisons between vehicles by comparing CO2 g/km. Since it's mainly cars sold in Europe from where we get these figures, they're almost always from the NEDC, so no need to convert. In this case, the Ford Fiesta Econetic gets just a touch under 100 g/km, while the 46mpg Prius gets just a touch over 100 g/km. So, that matches up. Lastly, an additional thing to keep in mind is that not all vehicles are the same. In this comparison, for example, the Prius is a larger, more powerful car than the Ford Fiesta Econetic. Without any changes to the body or the technology of the drivetrain, you could always downsize an engine and get better fuel economy. But of course, that's not an equivalent comparison.
To sum up:
1) All "gallons" are not created equal (if all you cared about was how many miles you got per "whatever gallon" of "whatever fuel", you might as well run a car on Zarnathian Supergallons of beryllium slurry). One shouldn't compare different-sized gallons or gallons of different fuels without a conversion factor.
2) All drivecycles are not created equal (and this includes peoples' individual driving styles), and one shouldn't compare non-equivalent drivecycles without a conversion factor.
3) All vehicles are not created equal, and one should keep this in mind when comparing vehicles (although it's still fair to compare non-equivalent vehicles so long as the difference is noted).
Biodiesel is about the only fuel which really can be produced from crops/tanks of sludge.
Without getting into the details, diesel itself has advantages and disadvantages but biodiesel is snake oil. There is not enough cast-off high-energy crops/sludge to cover any significant usage and purpose-made biodiesel is made at a net loss. Just like ethanol, it's a nice idea that has no chance of working. Even worse, ethanol has the evil corn lobby behind it.
Biodiesel is about the only fuel which really can be produced from crops/tanks of sludge.
The USA should be encouraging diesel engines for all it's worth, not making things difficult.
For the love of God, no! As an urban cyclist in a country whose tax laws strongly favour diesel vehicles (as various taxes are based on CO2 emissions alone), I can tell you that encouraging diesel use, at least in cities, is a terrible idea. Japan understands this: they've banned many diesel vehicles from Tokyo due to the harmful emissions [wikipedia.org] they put out. And you do realise that burning 'tanks of sludge', e.g. used cooking oil, stinks, right?
My point is that cities are much better off with petrol vehicles pumping out CO2 that's non-toxic in low concentrations than they are with diesel vehicles pumping out genuinely toxic particulates.
They're correct in that there are business reasons.
For example, they don't want the bottom to fall out of the market of their other cars, because they know that this would be their top #1 seller, and most of their other cars would become a lot less popular.
Also, there's probably some kind of collusion going on. We could make a 45mpg car that has decent numbers back in the 80's, but we can't make anything comparable now? Bullshit. There's something behind the scenes.
Also, there's probably some kind of collusion going on. We could make a 45mpg car that has decent numbers back in the 80's, but we can't make anything comparable now? Bullshit. There's something behind the scenes.
Could it be that the cars today have tighter emissions and safety regulations, which cost efficiency and weight, respectively?
Ok. My 1998 can get 50 MPG. My friends 2003 can get 50 MPG. VW (and the rest of the germans) have made 50 MPG cars for ages and all that meet safety regulations.
Oh, the other "problem" is that it is manual transmission. Slushboxes suck up fuel economy like most people don't even believe.
As someone else pointed out if California wasn't so anal about the NOx more diesels could be let in. Most of the NOx is the 'good' kind (NO2 or NO3, I forget) and not the 'bad' kind. But somehow a 8 MPG hummer is Ok.
I once heard an argument between two people the other day about the "new" V6 some company released that only has 245 HP while some other company's V6 can get 255 HP. I drive a 90 HP turbodiesel. It tops out at around 125 MPH. Most on ramps are long enough to get me up to 80-90 MPH. We have some huge hills around here and it's one of the only I4s I've been in that can accelerate you up the hill (torque rocks).
Diesel is much quieter on the road. Where gassers are turning 3000+ rpm I'm around 2000, and at peak torque, no downshifting.
And on the subject of "safety regulations" I've heard countless people talk about buying or riding their motorcycles more in the name of 'fuel economy.' How safe are those things? Most people don't understand there can be a middle ground between an awesome MPG motorcycle and a tank of an SUV? Personally I'd take something 100x safer than a motorcycle that got me 50 MPG even if it was only slightly less safe than an SUV.
Simply put. Most of my American brethren are absolute idiots.
Yup, I can't count how many times I've been stuck behind some slow poke getting onto the freeway in their 200-300HP V6 or V8. I don't know why they need such a big engine when I am barely using the 120hp in my VW's I4.
Hmm... NOx versus CO2.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/hlth.html [epa.gov]
NOx causes smog, acid rain, breathing problems, and may contribute to global warming.
CO2 may contribute to global warming.
It would obviously depend on the quantities, but I can understand why you'd want to limit NOxs.
I ride a motorcycle to work every day in the name of fuel economy. When I changed jobs last and was no longer employed at the same place as my wife, I knew I needed a vehicle (we shared hers for a few years... it's amazing how well that works once you get over the initial bump).
Before long, I was looking at motorcycles. I had never ridden one, but I took the safety courses, got licensed, and purchased one all within a few weeks. I absolutely love it. Not only was the new bike cheaper than most used cars, my insurance is a measly $40/mo and I fill up my tank for about $9 every three or four weeks. My total transportation costs are negligible.
Fortunately, I live in a climate (southern California) where it's dry and warm enough to ride all year long. I also only have to travel a few miles each way using suburban roads (no highway). I feel as safe on my bike as I do driving a car... if not safer due to the added awareness and fewer distractions riding a motorcycle gives you.
(As a side note, my employer used to be about 12 miles away and recently moved much closer... had I known that was going to be the case, I would've simply gotten a bicycle, but alas... at least I can easily get around town for groceries and the like)
45mpg is about average in Europe, and most of the average cars come from American manufacturers.
Anyway, does it matter to Ford which one of their cars is the no. 1 best selling car, as long as it is a Ford car. If they don't put out what people want, then Honda or Toyota will.
They're correct in that there are business reasons. For example, they don't want the bottom to fall out of the market of their other cars, because they know that this would be their top #1 seller, and most of their other cars would become a lot less popular.
The article states that the engines are made in Britain and would be costly to import. Making the engines in the Americas may not have a good enough ROI since they'd need to make a new factory when they currently don't have the resources to do it right now (losing billions during the fiscal year probably doesn't help).
Also, there's probably some kind of collusion going on. We could make a 45mpg car that has decent numbers back in the 80's, but we can't make anything comparable now? Bullshit. There's something behind the scenes.
Yes there are: tighter emission standards, higher safety requirements, America's penchant for higher performing engines. There's really no incentive for us here the USA to buy more fuel efficient vehicles. Over in Europe they have 2 things that drive the sales of smaller cars: 1) much higher fuel prices and, 2) more taxes to pay on larger engines.
Can't they refit some of the SUV / truck lines in the US to produce the ECOnetic? I realize there are still refitting costs involved but it would readjust their production output to more closely match market demands and result in higher revenue.
Large, automatic transmission cars are a damn lot more comfortable than the small city-cars.
This seems to be one of the reasons that the American motor industry is so focused on hybrids: because they can make large, comfortable and lumbering cars that use as much fuel as a small one. In Europe, people have been used to small cars for a long time, but give the driver of a Crown Vic a Renault Clio and watch as they complain. Add that to the fact that the American commute can be as long as an European holiday, and it begins to seem that although diesel compacts are the most fuel-efficient technology, a car to truly be popular in the US should be a medium-large sedan with an efficient drivetrain.
Add that to the fact that the American commute can be as long as an European holiday
I thought it was the other way round - most people I've spoken to in the US never do more than five or ten miles at a time in their cars. Most are pretty surprised to hear that I often rack up a couple of hundred miles a day, and that's not uncommon up here.
Yes there are: tighter emission standards, higher safety requirements, America's penchant for higher performing engines.
Americans seem to believe that we have higher safety requirements - but its simply not true. The transportation research board http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/teepa/pdf/TRB_Safety_1-03.pdf [lbl.gov] (see page 17) shows that import cars are consistently safer for the occupants than are american vehicles. Typical response at this point is, "But we've got SUVs on our roads, of course the foreign cars have better safety numbers" This data is for import vehicles. that is, they were driven on the same roads, with the same conditions, with the same other vehicles, and came out with significantly better safety numbers. How do you say the US has higher safety standards AND say that SUVs create a more dangerous environment to drive in? Real safety standards would improve the safety of everyone.
45MPG isn't such a big deal. You could probably pull it off with little more than a lawnmower engine and a bicycle. The difficulty is achieving 45MPG+ in a package that meets safety, emissions, and financial limitations. I would imagine that the fact that it is diesel is the largest issue. Also, I imagine it is being assembled by cheaper labor, with cheaper raw materials, and lower taxes/fees. Perhaps it wouldn't be cost effective here in the US... remember, diesel averages 20 cents per gallon more her
"There's something behind the scenes"
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity [wikiquote.org].
I can't tell you why Ford is so stupid. Like my 3rd grade-teaching niece says, "I don't speak retard".
What's going to happen is Congress will give their CEO buddies a handout, they'll continue with business as usual meaning the Japanese and the Chinese will make inroads, then Detroit will whine about "unfair" competition and get even more money, and you and me, the people will get it in the ass.
It won't matter who's elected in November by the way. They all work for corp America - that's where the money comes from.
Well, that's a big, big reason. Why would I buy a diesel car that has better mpg if diesel fuel now costs a dollar and a half more than gasoline (more in the winter, when they start refining more heating oil)?
Where's your math on this? Still a lot cheaper than a gas car only getting 22mpg. Even if you had a car that got over 30mpg it's still cheaper. Why wouldn't you?
Uhm... but the difference between 30 mpg and 50 mpg easily makes up the difference in fuel costs... I owned a VM tdi and easily got 50 mpg on the highway.
Out of a thousand miles, you'd buy 20 gallons versus 33 gallons (assuming 30 mpg gas and 50 mpg diesel). The price difference (even using the inaccurate figure of $1.50 more per gallon means you save about $10 dollars. For a more reasonable 5% difference in price, means you save about $35 per 1000 miles total.
Anyway, I'm sure you can find plenty situatio
Yep the MINI Cooper Diesel is rated at 72mpg and from the forum posts I've read gets between 56 and 60 mpg. Keep in mind that this Ford will get less than the factory rated 65mpg. Yes, astonishing for the US but not so for Europe. Europeans have far more options on the fuel efficient spectrum that Americans do.
They are not willing to take any chances, even when their backs are up against the wall. They were completely dependent on gas guzzling behemoths like the F150 and their various SUV's. Yet when the opportunity comes up to do something unique and become a market leader, they are too risk averse to do it.
They could import these cars, selling them in relatively small quantities for a small profit, and then later do things to bring the costs down. Move the engine manufacturing to the US/Mexico. Use that famous lobbying ability that kept SUV's viable to reduce diesel taxes.
The Japanese companies didn't become as successful as they are overnight. Ford will not be able to compete with them until they take a long-term approach. Instead of burning through cash trying to maintain their current business model, how about investing that in new facilities that will create the next generation of cars. Focusing only on quarterly reports is what got them into this mess in the first place.
The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.
Some people may remember that in the 70s and 80s, the big three were making several diesel-powered sedans for the American market. Some of these vehicles are still operating, because the diesel engines have very good longevity.
However, it is the negative publicity that those old diesels attained that keeps diesel relegated so low in the US. Those cars in the 70s and 80s made terrible mileage (they were most if not all 8cyl diesels). They spewed noxious exhaust enough to make coal power plants look clean. And they accelerated like Mack trucks propelled by hamsters.
Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of the progress that diesel engines have made in the past 30 years. And it would seem some of those uninformed people are working for the big 3 automakers.
Check this out:
http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20060621 [epi.org]
CEO's make 262 times what a worker makes, up from 24 times in 1966. Where's the money going? Not into plant and equipment. Check this guy out:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/05/news/companies/ford_execpay/ [cnn.com]
I wish I could make that sort of money for destroying a company.
Why shouldn't the workers get a piece of the pie too? After all, isn't that the American dream?
BTW, who decides what cars to build? Who decides how to market them? Who decided to stick with SUVs for far too long? Who decided to kill the electric car? Who fought off increasing CAFE standards? Management.
I'm not saying Unions were innocent little angels, but blaming them for everything is wrong. Personally I feel that far too long we have a had a confrontational relationship between management and labor. They both need to realize they need each other and that they both have the same goal: to make money.
That's ok, but pretty much the norm these days for a small diesel car. The Ibiza Ecomotive does 74 mpg.
... One reason they can't sell them in the US is because they put the steering wheel on the wrong side - Idiots.
* It's an F'n joke.
If you can't be bothered to RTFA, please read this.
Ford makes the engines in Britain. The British pound is high compared to the dollar, so the cars would cost more than a Prius; their best case is that a diesel tax credit might make the car cost only slightly more than a Prius. Their market research indicates that Americans prefer a hybrid gasoline car (such as a Prius) to a diesel, so they don't think the car would sell at the price they would have to charge. It doesn't help that diesel is taxed more than gasoline and thus costs $0.40 to $1.00 more per gallon. Ford could reduce the cost if they start building the diesel engines in Mexico, but they will lose money unless they can sell at least 350,000 diesel engines per year; given their bleak financials they are reluctant to take that risk right now.
Note that VW is selling Jettas with diesel engines, and several other auto makers are introducing diesel models. If American consumers go for these new diesels, Ford may reconsider their decision.
1) The Duratorq engine used on this model of the new Ford Fiesta doesn't come close to meeting the EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standard for internal combustion engines, which is necessary for 50-state sales of the vehicle.
2) Ford did a number of "tricks" to get that very high fuel economy number, notably using very high gearing, low-rolling resistance tires, and removing a number of accessories considered standard for a modern car. As such, you'll have to forgo air conditioning and put up with sluggish acceleration, both of which are unacceptable to American drivers!
If Ford does offer the Duratorq turbodiesel engine on the North American-market Fiesta, it will likely be a larger displacement unit (1.6 liters) with modern emission controls to make the engine meet EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 standard. It may also use the new Powershift six-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is starting to become available on European-market Ford Focus models. Sure, it won't get the extreme fuel economy of the ECOnetic Fiesta, but fuel economy approaching 50 mpg with the current EPA highway fuel economy test may be possible.
"Americans see hybrids as the darling," says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, "and diesel as old-tech."
Replace "Americans" with "American auto companies" and they will get it right. VW just rereleased the Jetta TDI in limited quantities and it is selling like hotcakes.
%DCL-MEM-BAD, bad memory VMS-F-PDGERS, pudding between the ears


text:
For 34 years, Fernando Farias and Victor Campos have played music every Monday night at nursing homes in the Lower Valley.
This past Monday night the pair was at Prestige Care & Rehabilitation in Sunnyside along with several other volunteer musicians, playing for a small but appreciative crowd.
Farias said that Campos has been at it even longer than he has, starting in about 1979 along with Trinidad Marquez of Mabton. Farias joined the pair after learning that Marquez wanted a different instrument to accompany their violins.
"My wife was chatting with him at work and learned he wanted someone who played bajo sexto," said Farias. "She said 'my husband plays that' and he said 'I want to meet that man!'"
As it turned out, the two had known each other previously when they both lived in Texas in 1943. Once reacquainted, Farias joined the group with his 12-string instrument. The bajo sexto is a uniquely Mexican musical instrument that resembles a guitar.
For years the trio performed at nursing homes in the Lower Valley, often joined by as many as 15 other volunteer musicians. Some came consistently, others intermittently, but they continued to provide memories for people living in the homes.
"One woman asked us to play 'Double Eagle' for her," said Farias. "We had never heard of the song. She had first heard it when her family was camped next to the river and while it played they saw two eagles in the sky, so she knew it by that name."
Farias said Marquez figured out what the song was and the group performed it for the woman.
"She was so happy," he said. "She was young again."
Marquez passed away in 2003 at the age of 97. Farias and Campos decided to continue the tradition of playing at nursing homes.
"I became the leader because I speak English," said Farias.
Every Monday night they are either in Sunnyside or in Grandview at Prestige Care & Rehabilitation, playing Spanish Christian music alone or with other musicians. Farias said he and Campos have gone every Monday, no matter what.
"We are always there," he said. "The others come and go."
He said he enjoys watching the elders who sit in and remember while listening to the music.
"They may not clap or respond, but you can see they are remembering," he said. "We do this for the people."
Farias recalled a time a woman was playing the piano just before they arrived, but abruptly stopped as they entered. Later in his performance he asked if anyone could play. The woman didn't speak up, but another resident pointed to her.
"I asked her to play, but she said she didn't know the songs," he said. "The usual excuses. We said we'd follow her. She got up and despite hands twisted with arthritis, she played."
Farias wiped away tears at the memory.
"You'd be surprised how many of them are professional musicians," he said. "They love to hear us play."
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Youth hold the key to Somalia's future | Sima Bahous
28 Sep 2012
For decades the world has heard only bad news from Somalia. Lawlessness, famine, piracy, and conflict have shaped our global view of this small, Horn of Africa country. The recent slaying of a member of Somalia's new parliament underscores the severity of its challenges.
Beyond the headlines, though, Somalia shows tremendous promise—it is strategically located, it has a promising agricultural sector, and recent estimates show that it may have a good deal of oil as well. But a better future will be driven neither by its location nor its natural resources: It will be driven by the country's people—and Somalia's hopeful youth hold the key.
UNDP is today releasing its Somalia Human Development Report 2012, which focuses on the enormous potential that lies in empowering Somali youth to become an engine of peace-building and development in this country of stark contrasts.
Today, 73 percent of Somalis are under 30, making theirs one of the world's youngest countries. Typically, young people in conflict or post-conflict zones are viewed as either victims or aggressors, and indeed for decades Somali youth have known more than their fair share of violence and despair. Many young Somalis have never set foot in a schoolhouse— and still fewer can remember a functioning state.
But the Arab Spring reminds us that youth can be a driving force for hope, and the UNDP Report sheds light on the fact that despite the challenges they face, young Somalis are standing up in their own ways to build a better future for themselves, their communities, and their country.
Across Somalia, youth organizations have become more active in promoting peace and stability. Many youths are much better educated than the previous generation, and girls are catching up with boys in literacy. Their appetite for mainstream economic activity is strong. Some 80 percent of young Somalis are hopeful about the future.
Last month Somalia reached a turning point with the election of a new president. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has pledged to build a representative national government and prioritize peace-building, job creation, and economic recovery for all Somalis.
UNDP is working with the new government, civil society, and international partners to ensure that youth are at the center of national and local plans for peace and development.
Talk to us: How can we ensure peace and prosperity in Somalia?


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Summer reading program
BUDA — Mason Memorial Library in Buda will host its summer reading program, "Have Book - Will Travel," in July for children in grades K-5. The programs, which include stories, crafts and games, will be from 1 to 2:15 p.m. July 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Festival 56 production
PRINCETON — Festival 56 will present the comedy "Completely Hollywood (abridged)," June 21-29 at the Grace Performing Arts Center, 316 S. Main St., Princeton. The three-man cast makes a dizzying attempt to do the impossible – present in one performance a complete summary of the greatest and most popular films of all time. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and 2 p.m. on June 23. Tickets are $26, $24 for seniors and $13 for students under 18. For tickets, call 815-879-5656 or visit www.festival56.com.


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Since the last update I cannot connect to my BT mouse; starting BT from system settings I get:
No Bluetooth adapters have been found
In other distris there is a command to activate the adapter, but in SL Terminal as root:
Code: Select all
sabayon ~ # hid2hci --method=dell --vendor=413c --product=8156
bash: hid2hci: command not found...
Last update: I can' t remember a relevance concerning BT. So what could have happened?
How to solve? Any similar command?


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Animal Rescue of Tracy and Petfinder.com are trying to place cats and dogs into foster homes by Christmas for the national Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays program. All supplies and veterinary care will be provided.
Animal Rescue of Tracy and Petfinder.com are trying to place cats and dogs into foster homes by Christmas for the national Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays program. All supplies and veterinary care will be provided.
Information:(209) 642- 4324.
Golden 1 Credit Union will have collection bins for nonperishable food items, diapers, baby formula and other necessities to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank through Nov. 30. Stockton locations are 850 W. March Lane, 941 W. March Lane and 4321 E. Morada Lane. Tracy location is at 3202 W. Grant Line Road.
Information: golden1.com.
The American Association of University Women's Calaveras Scholarship Trust is accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors attending colleges or vocational schools and women older than 25 who will be starting or returning to college for a degree. The deadline to apply is April 1.
Information: (2090 728-8905 or firstname.lastname@example.com
The Margaret K. Troke Branch Library will host a make-and-take holiday craft program at 6 p.m. today at the library, 502 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton.
A selection of crafting books will be available for check out.
Information: (209) 937-8221 or (866) 805-7323; ssjcpl.org.
The Maya Angelou Branch Library will host a video game event at 3 p.m. today at the library, 2324 Pock Lane, Stockton. Test your skill at various electronic games and enjoy snacks with other videogamers.
Information: (209) 937-8221 or (866) 805-7323; ssjcpl.org.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Stockton will hold its 43rd community dinner Saturday for those who might otherwise not have a Thanksgiving meal.
Members of the church at 444 N. American St., will serve the meal from noon to 2 p.m.
Information: (209) 464-1936.
The Stockton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold a general membership meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 445 N. San Joaquin St., Stockton. The 2012 election of officers will take place, as well as input for the San Joaquin County health planning and needs assessment.
Information: (209) 430-5587 or stocktonnaacp.org.
The Iota Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi at University of the Pacific will hold its 11th annual Red Dress Gala at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Waterloo Gun & Bocci Club, 4343 N. Ashley Lane, Stockton.
The event features a formal dinner and a silent and live auction. Tickets are $55.
The gala's featured speaker is Dr. Amardeep K. Singh, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Donations gathered through auctioned items and wine purchases will go directly to the Alpha Phi Foundation and St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton.
Information: Shelly Zeiser, email@example.com.
Jean Bling 3, Coalition for Higher Learning Inc.'s annual fundraiser, will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Brookside Country Club, 3603 St. Andrews Drive, Stockton.
Tickets are $50 per person. Proceeds help sponsor future scholarship recipients in the area.
Information: (209) 481-5387.
Catching the talent-show craze, Lodi is preparing for its first Lodi Has Talent, scheduled for Jan. 19.
The city will still hold its annual Senior Follies, but this event will showcase younger talent. Auditions are set for 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 11 for youths 5 to 17, and from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 for adults 18 to 54 at Hutchins Street Square Charlene Powers Lange Performing Arts Theatre.
Organizers are looking for people those who can sing, dance, play a musical instrument or perform some other talent. Acts auditioned must be those planned for the show, and performers are responsible for costumes, props, accompaniment or necessary music.
Information: (209) 333-6800.
New Melones Lake will have a geocaching event - also known as a treasure hunt using GPS devices - starting at 10 a.m. Sunday at the equestrian staging area at the Peoria Recreation Area. Rangers will hide trinkets along the trail on the way to the Dam Overlook, and will provide the coordinates. Participants must bring their own equipment. The event is a moderate three-mile roundtrip hike.
Information: (209) 536-9094, ext. 236, or email email@example.com.
The Tracy American Chronic Pain Association will hold a meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Black Bear Diner, 2351 Toste Road, Tracy. The group will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. All are welcome, but an RSVP must be made no later than 10 a.m. Monday.
Information: (209) 833-3330, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or visit theacpa.org.
To submit a brief, email firstname.lastname@example.com with "LENS briefs" in the subject line. You also may fax information to (209) 943-8570, attn.: LENS briefs. Submissions must be received at least two weeks before the event date and must include the address of the event and a telephone number in case The Record needs to contact you.


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Sterling Police
Clifford J. Saxby, 22, of Sterling; 10:30 a.m. Monday, 600 block of Sixth Ave.; Ogle County warrant on a traffic offense; posted cash bond.
Christopher K. Nelson, 40, of Sterling; 5:59 p.m. Monday; retail theft less than $300; given notice to appear.
Lisa Murrutia, 41, of Sterling; Monday, Whiteside County warrant for failure to appear on obstructing a court order; posted cash bond.
Dixon Police
Jacob A. Hey, 38, of Belleville; 9:31 p.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of Palmyra Avenue; driving with a suspended license, no insurance; posted bond.
Andre Montgomery, 35, of Dixon; 1:23 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of South Hennepin Avenue; Ogle County warrant for comtempt of court for driving with a suspended license; taken to Lee County Jail.
Tyler Insley, 20, of Dixon; 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Dixon Police Department for an incident earlier in the day at Walmart; disorderly conduct; posted I-bond.
Lee County
Brandon M. Frey, 26, of Nelson; 2:15 p.m. Thursday; possession of marijuana; given notice to appear.
Kara J. Fox, 26, of Freemont, Ohio; 11:34 p.m. Saturday; driving with a suspended license.
Susan E. Emmole, 44, of Dixon; 6 p.m. Saturday; warrant – failure to appear on no insurance, expired registration, failure to give information; given notice to appear.
Karly Rose Hoscheid, 20, of Arlington; 11:14 p.m. Sunday; consumption; given notice to appear.
George A. Boyas, 33, of Sterling; 3:28 a.m. Monday; warant – failure to appear on battery, driving with a suspended license; taken to Lee County Jail.
Polo Police
Jeffery A. Gusloff, 45, of Polo; 6;17 a.m. Dec. 19; no insurance; posted I-bond.
Bradley D. Barnhart, 38, of Colesburg, Iowa; 4:35 p.m. Dec. 19; speeding; posted I-bond.
Logan A. Gear, 19, of Polo; 4:56 p.m. Dec. 19; speeding; posted I-bond.
Brandt C. Boel, 34, of Polo; 10:20 p.m. Sunday; domestic battery; taken to Ogle County Jail.
Ogle County Sheriff
Quantrell Starks, 28, of Rockford; Friday; driving with a suspended license, speeding; taken to Ogle County Jail.
Charles Gray, 58, of Rockford; Saturday; warrant on failure to appear on driving with a suspended license; taken to Ogle County Jail.
Kimberly Ziglinski, 42, of Milwaukee; 12:37 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 39; driving with a suspended license, speeding; taken to Ogle County Jail.
David Skinner, 18, of Varna; Saturday on Interstate 39, near Monroe Center; driving with a suspended license; taken to Ogle County Jail.
Glenn White, 44, of Dixon; Sunday in Oregon; two warrants for failure to appear, contempt; taken to Ogle County Jail.
Barnabas O. Israel, 35, of Rockford; 12:54 p.m. Sunday in the 7000 block of north state Route 251; no valid driver's license, no insurance; given notice to appear.


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Submission + - This Gadget Keeps Bees in Even the Smallest Apartm (inhabitat.com)
greenrainbow writes: Philips(TM) just unveiled a new concept for an urban beehive that would allow anyone to become an amateur bee keeper – even those who live in apartments with no backyards. Best of all you pull a little string and all the fresh honey you want comes out. Hopefully no bees come with it!


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Seven games remain, and the Astros will have to win all of them to finish .500. Pirates win 6-4.
*When the Astros left on their ten-game road trip with a 72-77 record and had six coming up against the Nationals and Pirates, you were probably like me, and felt pretty good about their chances to finish .500. And you are probably like me, and have a hard time believing that the Astros are currently 2-4 against the Nationals and Pirates.
*The Astros are now 11-3 against the Pirates. But at PNC Park, they're only 2-3.
*Bud Norris' line: 4.2IP, 7H/5ER, 6K:3BB. His ERA is currently right at 5.00. His ERA was below 5.00 for four starts this season, and went up from 4.85. He has allowed 5ER in three of his last six starts.
*Norris OPS-against in nine starts at home: .718. On the road: .803. He has allowed 61 hits in 75.1IP at home, and 87 hits in 72.1IP on the road.
*It went south when Norris allowed a three-run homer to Pedro Alvarez with two outs in the 3rd inning. It's the 18th homer Norris has allowed this year, and three of them have been three-run shots. Eight of them have come with runners on.
*This was the second loss the Astros have put up in a Bud Norris start since July 23 (10-2).
*The top of the lineup for the Astros (Bourgeois-Keppinger-Pence-Lee): 1x15, 2K:1BB. Michaels-Johnson-Manzella-Quintero: 6x15, 4K:1BB, 3RBI.
*The offensive stars of the game were Humberto Quintero - who was 2x4 with a two-run double - and Chris Johnson - who was 2x4 with an RBI. In the last five games he's started, Quintero is 7x19 with 7RBI.
*Carlos Lee was 0x3 with a walk. He's now gone 16 PAs without a hit, and has one hit in his last 22 PAs.
*The Astros also had four pinch-hitters: Blum, Anderson Hernandez, Matt Downs, and Bogusevic. Hernandez drew a walk and Bogusevic got himself an RBI double. Three of Bogusevic's five hits this season have been doubles, and he has 3RBI.
*The Astros got the leadoff man on base three times. Only Jason Michaels (who led off the 2nd with a ground-rule double) scored. The Pirates, however, got the leadoff man on four times, and he later scored in three of those innings.
*In each of the four losses on this road trip, the Astros have - for however fleeting a time - held the lead at one point in the game. And last night was the 40th game the Astros have lost when they led the game at any point.
*Pitch Count Hero: Jason Michaels (1x4) - 18 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Bourgeois (0x4), Johnson (2x4), and Quintero (2x4) - 11 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Jeez, I don't know. Quintero?
*Goat of the Game: Carlos Lee
Sunday, September 26, 2010
From the Office of the County Clerk - G155: Astros @ Pirates
Labels: Carlos Lee, County Clerk, Humberto Quintero, Pittsburgh Pirates, Recap
2 comments:
I thought the Bourgeois RoE in the first inning should have been ruled a hit, and most baserunners don't get the extra base he took. Made a couple nice defensive plays too. So I wouldn't give him the goat.
How about Carlos Lee with his third consecutive hitless game? He drew a walk, but he also failed to pick that ball causing Manzella an error on a nice play.
Of course I'm just looking to pin the goat on Lee at every possible opportunity.
- September 26, 2010 at 10:16 AM
- The Constable. said...
Can't argue with that. *Changed.
- September 26, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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THE 19-year-old Forest Reefs bull rider who was crushed by a 680 kilogram bull at a rodeo in Orange last month has spoken publicly for the first time about the event that changed his life forever.
In a wheelchair and paralysed largely from the neck down, John Crasti told Fairfax Media he doubts he will ever ride a bull again.
"I've been in the ICU (intensive care unit) for eight days," he said, speaking from the spinal ward at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.
Recounting the horror of the events that led to his injuries, Mr Crasti said he doesn't remember much from the night he was crushed by a bull inside the bucking chute.
"I don't remember all of it but what I do remember wasn't real pleasant ... just seeing legs come down and hearing everyone yell out 'open the gate'," he said.
"The [bulls] front legs were over the gate so he couldn't open it immediately and then the back legs squashed me a bit.
"Then I blanked out for roughly 30 seconds and woke up and it was still squashing me.
"And then the front legs ended up getting back off the gate on the ground and then they could open the gate to let it out."
Mr Crasti said he was lucky he had a helmet and vest on when the incident occurred.
"I was first sent to Orange then I was airlifted down here by helicopter."
Mr Crasti is now in a stable condition and undergoing rehabilitation treatment in Sydney.


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From ForensicsWiki
WetStone Technologies offers Digital Investigation products and training. Our products include:
Our trainings include:
- Hacking BootCamp for Investigators™
- Live Investigator Training™.
- Steganography Investigator Training™
Industry Awards
In both 2007 and 2008 WetStone was named Best Computer Forensics Solution from SC Magazine and the 2007 Innovator
External Links
Official Website blogs/ forensictools.html trainings.html
This category currently contains no pages or media.


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Cordon Bleu Potato Soup Recipe
Popular Videos
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 cup diced fully cooked ham
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 can (5 ounces) chunk white chicken, drained
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- In a 2-qt. microwave-safe dish, combine all the ingredients. Cover and microwave on high for 5-8 minutes or until heated through, stirring twice. Yield: 4 servings.
Reviews forCordon Bleu Potato Soup
My Review
Average Rating
"Made it as close to the recipe as on-hand ingredients would allow and cooked it over the stove; everyone loved it. Even my Dad gave his star of approval!"
"I have no problem with rating and commenting on recipes. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What irritates me is people who rate a recipe then leave a long detailed comment about all the changes they made. They're not rating the recipe because they have created their own. Let's be fair people to the ones that post these recipes!"
"This has been an old standby for my family of 6. I usually have at least 2-3 chicken breasts that I have stewed at sometime for other recipes just for this soup. I also have a bag of other ingredients in the freezer just for this soup. As another person says...if you don't like the canned stuff...use your own ie stewed chicken NOT IN A CAN...make your own cream of potato soup etc."
"very tasty and a quick supper"
"I have made this 3 times so far and love it - with my heavy modifications. I kept the canned soup for convenience, but would prefer to start from scratch. I do add 4 cups of potatoes because I'm feeding 4 hungry kids. Instead of canned chicken (YUCK!!) I grill 4 boneless breasts and cut them up. I double the Swiss cheese and ham. I actually use a ham steak and dice that up, it rocks. I use 1.5 cups whole milk and lose the mustard. I then add a half teaspoon of paprika and a whole teaspoon each of Thyme, Oregano, and Sage. The kids scarf it up and make me scared that I won't have enough left to take for lunch at work the next day.My mods take this to 7 servings if you're fairly hungry. I serve with cornbread."
"I'm with Stovie--canned chicken? No way!"
"i'm surprised to see this recipe in Taste of Home, it really is quite dreadful and nothing but a glorious mixture of canned stuff. Hate to think what the sodium content must be. IIt's not difficult to make your own soup and especially not to prepare a potato soup from scratch, Nothing cordon bleu about this recipe and one I most certainly will not make."


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|SitePoint Sponsor
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Thread: Dotted "S" thingy
Mar 19, 2003, 23:20 #1
Dotted "S" thingy
Hello, im in the process of creating a website, and im not sure how to do a certain thing with my logo. My site is "yoursitestuff.com" and ive made the logo with a big "s" in it, but i want to make it out of circles, like the old sitepoint "s" used to be. Could someone direct me to a tutorial or show me how to do it?
BTW I use photoshop 6.
Thanks in advance,
Mar 20, 2003, 00:09 #2
- Join Date
- May 2001
- Location
- Vancouver, BC Canada
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- 502
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umm..how hard could it be? type a letter S, use that as a guide, then make cirlces and place 'em around the path of the 'S'. Once you've finished adding the circles, remove the letter S. poof! you're done.


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My rank.
15. Miami Marlins
14. Cubs
13. Rockies
12. Diamondbacks
11. Mets
10. Padres
9. Brewers
8. Pirates
7. Phillies
6. Cardinals
5. Dodgers
4. Braves
3. Giants
2. Reds
1. National
Central wise, no one scares me. The cardinals haven't really improved, and have lost a few minor pieces here and there. Plus they are aging.
The pirates, again, there a team that will rely on how far andrew mccuthchen, and there star pitching prospects take them. I'm not concerned with them either.
Everyone else in the central isn't a contender in my opinion.
NL West is intersting. Giants basically remain intact, and bring Brian Wilson back into the closing mix. They already had a great bullpen with Sergio Romo and closer, so the mix of Romo and Wilson should definitely be a powerful duo.
With the dodgers I remain skeptical. On paper there team is quite strong, they obviously have a great rotation with Kershaw, Greinke, Beckett. They have a great lineup with Gonzales, Kemp, Crawford and the likes..but I still think that you can't simply buy a team either. I think they'll be hot out of the gate once again, but injuries, and an underperforming beckett and greinke will be there downfall.
Arizona actually has regressed. They haven't made any improvements in my opinion so far, and were absoultely FLEECED in the indians/reds 3 way trade.
There GM, Mr. Towers should be fired if you ask me. Awful, awful, awful trade for them. The very Definition of clueless gm.
NL East should be a great place to watch. I really do think that the Nationals are the crowning jewel of the NL. They have an incredible staff with straussburg, gio, and haren and company, and have added a great lead off hitter in denard span.
There bullpen took a minor hit, but I'm sure they could make a move to shore that area up.
The braves are interesting, though besides BJ Upton, they haven't really done much to improve themseleves. With them losing Chipper Jones, I sort of expect to see a team that sort of needs guidance, and will be a bit mediocre in performance. To note, look how the team performed when Chipper was out of the lineup and on the DL with that strain. The team went like 5-15 without him...I expect them to be middle of the pack.
The braves did though improve there bullpen with aquiring Waldo from the angels. There bullpen will be lights out with Kimbrel and company following.
Phillies...they should be better, considering they underperformed mightly in 2012....and the moves they've made like adding Micheal Young aren't awful either.
NY Mets, I think they'll start off strong, and will quickly fade. Losing Dickey will probably result in a huge loss to there rotation. I expect them to battle the Marlins for cellar dweller seats.
Miami Marlins will be the Astros of 2012. 100 losses ahoy.


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Buy Together
Customers Also Bought
Product Description
- With 2.4 GHz wireless data transmission, this PS3 game controller is also support DVD wireless remote control
- This PS3 game controller can be continuous used for 30 hours
- This PS3 game controller puts the intensity of your favorite PS3 games in the palm of your hand
- Vibration feedback of the wireless game controller lets you experience the rumble of the hits, crashes and explosions on the screen
- You can plug and play the PS3 with this game controller
- This is a NON-OEM product
- Transmission Frequency: 2.4GHz
- Battery Service Time: 30Hours
- Compatible with: SONY PS3
- Making for a wider variety of user operations and a more compelling interactive realistic experience, such as racing, sports and action games etc.
- This PS3 game controller make you feel more comfort with ergonomic designed
- The operating performance of the PS3 game controller is very good, use the USB line connected with the PS3 host can be charged
- This best game controller makes every impact feel like you're really in the game
- There are some instruction on the back of the package, so that is easy to use
How to Use Wireless Controllers for PS3?
- Ensure your PS3 is properly set up and connected to your television, and that it's functioning properly. If you can't get your PS3 to start and display its start-up graphics, something isn't hooked up right. You'll need to fix it before you can use your wireless controller
- Plug the power cord for the PS3 wireless controller into one of the USB ports on the front of the PS3
- Plug the other end of the power cord into the access port on the top of your wireless controller
- Allow the wireless controller to charge, leaving it plugged into the PS3 undisturbed for several hours to gain a full charge
- Disconnect the PS3 wireless controller from the power cord. Press the PS button to start up the PS3. The PS button is in the middle of the controller. It is clear and displays the PS logo of a letter P and a letter S molded together into one shape
- Use the wireless controller to control the PS3, exactly as you would have with a corded controller for earlier PS
How to Charge a PS3 Game Controller?
Most new PlayStation 3 consoles ship with one wireless controller included in the box. While there is a braided USB cable included to charge your controller, this can be unplugged once it is fully charged for a true wireless experience. However, you don't necessarily have to use your PlayStation 3 to charge your wireless controller. In fact, you can charge it using a variety of methods
Using Your PlayStation 3 Console to Charge:
- Plug the large end of the USB cable into one of the USB ports on your PlayStation 3 console
- Plug the small end of the USB cable into the back of your PlayStation 3 wireless controller
- Turn your PS3 on and you should see four red lights begin to flash on your wireless controller
- Check the status of your wireless controller's battery by pressing the "PlayStation" button on your controller. Three bars indicate a fully charged battery
- Unplug the USB cable once the four red lights stop flashing and turn into one solid red light, as this means your wireless controller is fully charged and ready to use. Note that you can still use your controller to play games on your PlayStation 3 while it is charging
Using Your PC:
- Locate an available USB port on your PC. USB ports can typically be found on the back of your PC, though many include USB ports on the front as well
- Make sure your PC is turned on before you start. Just like when charging from your PlayStation 3, the wireless controller needs a power source in order to charge
- Plug the large end of the USB cable into the open USB port on your PC.
- Plug the small end of the USB cable into the back of your PlayStation 3 wireless controller
- Unplug your controller when the four red lights stop flashing and turn into one solid red light. This means your controller is fully charged and ready to use
Using a PlayStation 3 Charging Station:
- Plug your PlayStation 3 wireless controller charging station into a wall outlet via the included AC power cord
- Place your PlayStation 3 wireless controllers directly onto the charging station to begin charging them. Depending on the charger's make and model, you may be able to charge anywhere from two to four PlayStation 3 wireless controllers at the same time
- Remove your PlayStation 3 wireless controllers from the charging station when the four red lights stop blinking and turn to one solid red light. When charging multiple controllers, one may charge quicker than the other
Package Included:
- 1 x Game Controller
If the order has not been shipped; please contact DinoDirect Live Support for order cancellation.You will get your refund within 24 hours.
If the order has already been shipped; you may return the item to us postmarked within 30 calendar days of delivery. Before that, please contact our Live Support to inform that.
In that case we will refund you the payment excluding actual shipping fees already incurred.
If the item is defective, please contact DinoDirect Live Support and send an email to us at email@example.com attached an image or video file clearly showing the defect of the product. And we will give you a response within 24 hours whether we will resend the item or refund the payment to you for compensation.
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• If the order has not been shipped; please contact DinoDirect Live Support for order cancellation.You will get your refund within 24 hours.
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