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Tape is still alive, or at least in conversations and discussionsPosted by gregschulz in Greg's Blog on Feb 3, 2013 2:39:51 PM
Depending on whom you talk to or ask, you will get different views and opinions, some of them stronger than others on if magnetic tape is dead or alive as a data storage medium. However an aspect of tape that is alive are the discussions by those for, against or that simply see it as one of many data storage mediums and technologies whose role is changing.
Here is a link to an a ongoing discussion over in one of the Linked In group forums (Backup & Recovery Professionals) titled About Tape and disk drives. Rest assured, there is plenty of fud and hype on both sides of the tape is dead (or alive) arguments, not very different from the disk is dead vs. SSD or cloud arguments. After all, not everything is the same in data centers, clouds and information factories.
Fwiw, I removed tape from my environment about 8 years ago, or I should say directly as some of my cloud providers may in fact be using tape in various ways that I do not see, nor do I care one way or the other as long as my data is safe, secure, protected and SLA's are meet. Likewise, I consult and advice for organizations where tape still exists yet its role is changing, same with those using disk and cloud.
I am not ready to adopt the singular view that tape is dead yet as I know too many environments that are still using it, however agree that its role is changing, thus I am not part of the tape cheerleading camp.
On the other hand, I am a fan of using disk based data protection along with cloud in new and creative (including for my use) as part of modernizing data protection. Although I see disk as having a very bright and important future beyond what it is being used for now, at least today, I am not ready to join the chants of tape is dead either.
Does that mean I can't decide or don't want to pick a side? NO
It means that I do not have to nor should anyone have to choose a side, instead look at your options, what are you trying to do, how can you leverage different things, techniques and tools to maximize your return on innovation. If that means that tape is, being phased out of your organization good for you. If that means there is a new or different role for tape in your organization co-existing with disk, then good for you.
If somebody tells you that tape sucks and that you are dumb and stupid for using it without giving any informed basis for those comments then call them dumb and stupid requesting they come back when then can learn more about your environment, needs, and requirements ready to have an informed discussion on how to move forward.
Likewise, if you can make an informed value proposition on why and how to migrate to new ways of modernizing data protection without having to stoop to the tape is dead argument, or cite some research or whatever, good for you and start telling others about it.
Otoh, if you need to use fud and hype on why tape is dead, why it sucks or is bad, at least come up with some new and relevant facts, third-party research, arguments or value propositions.
You can read more about tape and its changing role at tapeisalive.com or Tapesummit.com.
Ok, nuff said.
Cheers gs


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Inventor of the Workmate dies
Also designed the Lotus Elan
Ron Hickman, the inventor of the Black & Decker Workmate, has died in Jersey, where he had a design factory. Hickman died after a long illness that followed a serious fall five months ago.
Hickman, who lived in Jersey, was 78. His design for the wood-and-steel foldable workbench and vice was rejected by several tool companies that believed the bench wouldn't sell.
Tool company Stanley told him the device would sell in the dozens rather than hundreds, while other companies told him the design would not sell at the necessary price. It has since sold about 30 million units around the world, and 60,000 were sold in the UK last year alone.
Hickman sold the benches himself when he couldn't find a backer through trade shows direct to professional builders. Black & Decker saw the light in 1973 and began producing them. By 1981 it had sold 10 million benches.
Hickman designed the iconic lotus Elan too... Pic: Wikimedia
He came up with the design when he accidentally sawed through an expensive chair while making a wardrobe. He had been using the chair as a workbench.
The design was copied by many other companies and Hickman successfully defended his patents in court.
Hickman had a life-long love of cars, and also famously designed the original Lotus Elan, the Lotus Plus2 and the Europa. He was a member of the Jersey Old Motor Club. ®
Sponsored: Detecting cyber attacks as a small to medium business

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, 14 January 2011
Rouge Bunny Rouge Eye Khol Vera
Priced at £17, the khol's have a creamy texture so there is no tugging, they have great pigmentation and last very well.
I've been using it as a liner and on the outer lid, with Spun from Sunny Seawater on the main lid and a bit of Sleeping Under a Mandarin Tree on the inner lid to highlight, to finish I tightline with Black Pepper Jay to add some more depth.
I think the paring of Vera and Spun from Sunny Seawater gives an almost peacock feathered shade.
I've swatched it with my other RBR khol's: L-R Vera, Calypso, Selene
There are very few brands I like for pencil liners but RBR it one of the best I have come across.
RBR is exclusive to Zuneta.com
Disclaimer: Vera was sent to me for free.
10 comments:
Oh, that's beautiful. I have Lola and Delilah, and they are my favourite eyeliner pencils. Vera is definitely on my wishlist.ReplyDelete
That's a really pretty eye look on you too.
- Anonymous14 January 2011 at 13:15
This is beautiful - definate peacock wing or maybe scarab beatle hue. This makes me want to try these - I like all the colours. Thanks, I just wish I had the eyelids to do them justice. Jan xReplyDelete
I like these type of blues, my first eyeliner was a blue similar to this. I haven't tried the RBR eyeliners yet, they're another item to add to my ever-increasing RBR wishlist.ReplyDelete
OMG your eyeshadow looks amazing. What great liner. I haven't heard much about the line. Is it a small company?ReplyDelete
Hi Grace,ReplyDelete
Thanks, they are lovely pencils. Did you order any of their new cream shadows? x
Hi Jan,
I just did a google image serach for scarab beatle after reading your comment and feel a bit traumatised now, they are so big! ;)
Hi Meeta,
Yes, a list worthy item, I think I am trying to work my way steadily through their entire collection :)
Hello FunnyFaceBeauty,
Thanks, I don't think they are that well know as yet, more within the blogger community, they started in Russia in 2006 and I think maybe based in London/moscow now. They are one of my top 3 brands and I think once you try them you won't look back, Zuneta ship worldwide incase you feel the temptation :)
Wow, they are really beautiful complex colours. I would probably use them as an eyeshadow like you did.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great review :)
oh dear. Now I remember why I didnt end up buying from Zuneta- 50pounds for shipping to Australia. They don't have the economy option.ReplyDelete
Boo hoo hooo.....
Hi Jen,ReplyDelete
Thanks! Wow that is high, would you qualify for free delivery if you spent over £65 though?
Gorgeous color!ReplyDelete
Hi Musing on Beauty,ReplyDelete
Thanks for stopping by :) I can see myself using this colour a lot!


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Floatopia Hawaii 2012 was expected to draw more then 1,200 folks today at Magic Island on Oahu and the cops were well aware of it this year:
The biggest spring break party in Hawaii is less than two days away and while law enforcement and city emergency officials have not officially been invited to Saturday's rager, they are well aware of it…
Well the cops showed up in full force at Magic Island… only to be outsmarted by the "Floatopia" who moved the party to an undisclosed location.
A brief scan of the Floatopia facebook and twitter feeds shows that the new location was suppose to be at Kaimana Beach.
Well now nearly 4 hours after the huge event was supposed to happen it looks like less then 100 folks actually got out in the water.
…This year, police, ocean safety lifeguards, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Emergency Medical Services personnel were all at Magic Island, with police telling would-be partiers to party responsibly, and particularly not to drink on the beach.
"Part of this is part of an educational and an enforcement site," Borges said. "We're gonna talk to them first and let them know what the laws are. And if they don't comply, then we'll take appropriate enforcement action."
Some who arrived at Magic Island were disappointed with the police presence. "Yeah, especially if they're driving up behind you and warning you already, I mean, when you haven't done anything," said Krysta Seiwert-Vassallo as she scanned the empty beach…
I got the pictures for this post from the Floatopia 2012 Facebook page and as you can see… It wasn't nothing but a "G Thang".
Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Comedy, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Hawaii, Kids, Oahu, State Affairs, Unexplained Phenomenon | Tagged: 2012 Hawaii Floatopia, Floatopia, Kaimana Beach Park, Magic Island | Leave a comment »


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Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 09:01 PM
Posted by Mirabella Guitars
Posted by Mirabella Guitars
Mirabella Guitars will be returning this year to the Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase in Woodstock New York, October 24th, 25th, and the 26th.
In addition to having several instruments on display, I am excited and thankful to have the talents of Paul Asbell to perform in a mini concert showcasing the abilities of the Mirabella instruments at 11:50am on Saturday the 25th.
I do hope you might consider coming to this incredible Show of custom acoustic handmade instruments and amazing music. And please, stop by the booth to say "hi" if you do!
All the Best!
Paul Asbell and the Mirabella Crossfire "Sagittarius A"
view entry ( 4656 views ) | permalink | print article | related link | ( 2.9 / 4522 )


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If you're looking for a natural remedy for a specific health condition, chances are primary care physician Dr. Elizabeth Vaughan has the answer.
If you have a question for her, contact her at her office at 1301 West Wendover Ave. in Greensboro. You can also call Vaughan Medical Center at (336) 808-3627 or visit her website, vaughanmedical.com.


text:
ihamer needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 39 designs submitted by 22 freelance designers.
Clean, no nonsense design. Professional look.
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Contact us if you need any additional info. This is a brand new project and company so we are not committed to any existing materials. Â
Our website is similar to dice.com, careerbuilder.ca, monster.com, working.com in function but we want to build a distinctive brand.Â
Tag line is 'The latest innovation in online employment'
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Material displayed on newzealand.travlr.com have been collected from a wide range of resources, people and partners including but not limited to free websites, newsgroups and other sources and are believed to be in the 'public domain'. Our site respects the intellectual property of others.
If you are the rightful owner of any material posted here, and object to them being displayed or are not correctly accredited – please contact us [email protected] and it will be removed or adjusted immediately. We want to share information on this beautiful country and want to thank those who submit photos to us to help promote this beautiful place.
For any concerns, please contact us at [email protected] with the material title and your cause for concern, whether it being a photo we have shared that you would like the accreditation changed or if we have misspelt someones name / website or if you would like content removed.
If you find something explicit, un-ethical, inappropriate etc. When we read your email we will assess it and if it deems fit we will delete the material immediately.


text:
Last Minute Iftar Ideas – Crispy Chicken Tacos
Its almost the end of Ramadan and I cannot imagine how fast this month has gone through. Feasting on delicacies and indulging in sinful meals this month, has seen what you'd normally need a whole year to go through. Its never … Readmore +


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VAN PETTENĀ –Ā Running a town is hard work. It's a little easier, though, when the town has only two residents.
Dave and Babe Brandon, both 77, are the sole proprietors of the 130-acre town of Van Petten, just east of Rock Falls in rural Lee County.
The couple, who live in a farmhouse at 52 on Van Petten Road, have tended their kingdom much of their adult lives.
If you look hard enough when passing by the house, you can make out two small green signs – one on a telephone pole and the other on the barn – inscribed with the words "Van Petten – Population 2."
"That's something we just had to put up," said Dave. "It's not often that you make up the entire town."
The Van Petten administration is pretty streamlined – If ever there's a problem in the town, the Brandons take it up with each other. And every 6 months, they take turns being mayor.
Right now, Dave's in charge.
"When she turns 78 in May, it's her turn," he said. "Then in November, when it's my birthday, I get to do it."
Don't be fooled by its size – Van Petten has many of the things a town needs. If there should be a fire, for instance, the Brandons are in luck: Years ago, Dave bought Harmon's first fire truck.
They don't have a police car. They do, however, still have Babe's first car, a Ford Model A, that her father bought for her in 1949 for only $100, she said.
And the Brandons don't just pay taxes on their farm – they pay town taxes, too.
"The people in Dixon ask why we don't just pay taxes on our home," Babe said. "I pay those taxes because I want the town."
A family legacy
The little village has been in Babe Brandon's family for years.
Her father, Leroy Henry, bought Van Petten in 1936. The original farmhouse was built across the field from where the Brandons' house now sits. Babe, brother Pat and sister Peggy grew up there.
In years past, Van Petten had a general store, a grain company and a railroad station, allĀ long gone now, Babe said.
She and Dave met as kids in the 1930s and often played together growing up. Then Dave bounced around between schools in Dixon, Tampico, Morrison and Sterling and the two lost touch.
His senior year, though, Dave transferred to Dixon High. The second he set foot in the school, Babe said, "I'm gonna get that little bugger."
Dave remembers that meeting differently. "This gal grabs me and pulls me back into the bushes," he said, breaking out in a huge grin.Ā
They married in 1950, when they were both 19, and bought the farm from Babe's father 4 years later. At the time, Babe was studying in Rock Island to become a nurse.
In 1978, they moved to Montana, where they ran a small grocery store and an apple and cherry orchard. Twenty-eight years later, they came home.
They have four children – David Jr., 58, of Morrison; Stan, 57, of Franklin Grove; and adopted daughters Tracy, 57, and Kim, 45, both of Washington.
Any time any one of them want to put down roots in Van Petten, Mom and Dad have them covered.
"If they wanted to live here, all they have to do is pick out whatever lot they want," Babe said.
Van Petten is for tourists, too
Dave, a blacksmith for almost 30 years and a member of the Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association, has a shop in the barn where he holds "hammer-ins," inviting people to get hands-on experience. He had a similar place in Montana.
Van Petten also has a museum of sorts. Babe is a collector, and she has a treasure trove of more than 800 trinkets, souvenirs, toys, military helmets and memorabilia. She keeps a log of all her items – complete with drawings and descriptionsĀ – in a large notebook.Ā
Her godfather served in the Army in World War I, in Germany and France, and sent Babe match boxes from the places he served.
"I've been collecting all my life," she said. "I was 8 or 9 when I got those match boxes, and my collecting just kind of took off from there."
One of her favorite items, she said, is a World War I helmet her uncle wore in the war.
Babe also runs the Van Petten kinda public library: 6,000 volumes shelved on the museum's second floor that Babe has collected over the years.
It's open "by invitation only," Dave said – visitors to his "hammer-ins" are invited to check out books during their stays.
Through the years, all visitors have been invited to sign their names on the gregarious couple's big white board.
"We like to invite people in and let them see what we have," Babe said.
"The wall is a reminder of the fun times we've had."
To visit
If you want to learn more about the history of Van Petten or tour the farm, call Babe and Dave Brandon at 815-359-4378 at least 2 days before visiting.
If you're interested in blacksmithing, the next hammer-in is Feb. 21. Visit www.umbaonline.org to learn more. See photos from a recent event on C1.


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These are all the Logan History Blog posted in November, 2012.
Friday, 30
Local History Digital Projects
Some users of our website may notice that we have a number of small digital projects going. The staff of the Virginia Hanson Special Collections will continue to add content to our digital collections. However, as we've proceeded we've realized that we really need to change the online interface.
Starting yesterday, you will begin to see some gradual changes that will make our digital content more usable. In the short term, some of the content may not be available as we make the changes. Please be patient with us!
As always, please feel free to come in and speak to us or contact me.
~ Jason, Special Collections Librarian
Posted By Logan Library - Logan History at 11:49 AM / Category:Announcements / News
Friday, 16
New Mendon History Book
As I was recently sharing our collection of local history books with a patron of the library, she made me aware of a new history of Mendon and Petersboro. I then began to hunt for a copy of this book for our special collections.
Written by Rodney Sorensen, perhaps the finest historian of that corner of Cache Valley, the book is extremely well done. It's filled with wonderful history, including photographs and personal tidbits for various past residents of Mendon. The book is well written and crafted and should be a useful to researchers well into the future.
If you would like to see the book, come on into the Logan Library! The materials in the Virginia Hanson Special Collections are available for anyone to use here in the library, regardless of residency.
~ Jason, Special Collections Librarian
Posted By Logan Library - Logan History at 3:02 PM / Category:New Materials
The Latest Tidbits!
Jul 17, 2018
» Logan Chapter - Service Star Legion Mar 15, 2018
» New Artwork Donation Sep 14, 2017
» Founding of Brigham Young College


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Friends,I thought it was weird, but in the lather of the debate on Woody's Wank, didn't think much of it.
Last Friday, my colleague John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke in great detail about Canada's principled foreign policy, including our efforts to promote basic freedoms around the world, and to take a stand against the persecution of gays and lesbians, and against the marginalization of women in many societies. I made similar remarks in my speech last November to the global conference of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where I raised the particular plight of gay and lesbian refugees.
As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I believe that Canada should always be a place of refuge for those who truly need our protection. That is why we continue to welcome those fleeing persecution, which oftentimes includes certain death, including on the basis of sexual orientation.
We are proud of the emphasis our Conservative Government has placed on gay and lesbian refugee protection, which is without precedent in Canada's immigration history. We have increased the resettlement of gay refugees living abroad as part of our refugee programs. In particular, we have taken the lead in helping gay refugees who have fled often violent persecution in Iran to begin new, safe lives in Canada. We are also helping community groups like the Rainbow Refugee Committee to sponsor gay refugees for resettlement to Canada.
Please click on the web-links below for more information. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Calgary Southeast
September 15, 2012 - Canada a haven for persecuted gay Iranians, Kenney says
By: Tobi Cohen, Postmedia News
September 14, 2012 - Address by Minister Baird at Montreal Council on Foreign Relations Luncheon
February 4, 2012 – Kenney responds to immigration story; argues systemic changes will not harm gay refugees
January 23, 2012 - John Baird points finger at gay rights abuses in African, Caribbean countries
By: Jeff Davis, Postmedia News
March 2, 2011 - Government of Canada to help gay and lesbian refugees fleeing persecution
December 11, 2009 - Canada Urges Uganda to Reconsider Draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Until I saw this.
Yesterday I signed a petition vs. bill #M312. Today got an opportunistic "I LOVE GAYS" ad email from Jason Kenney. Never contacted him b4.— eightbitempire (@eightbitempire) September 21, 2012
After that, I saw a few more people wondering how Jason Fucking Kenney got their email addresses for this 'I LOVE GAYS' message.
I want to know. Who else got this?
And how did Kenney's office get our email addresses?
So I just replied to the email and asked.
What the hell? How did you get my email address? I have never
communicated with you or your office and have no desire to.
Seriously, I expect a reply to this question: Where did you get my
email address?
Was Leadnow hacked?
Or does Vic really know everything?
AND: I was just talking to sweetie. He got it too. And he signed onto the LeadNow M312 auto-email too.
UPDATE: LGBT targetted. As well as prochoice people?


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Let's face it. Some of the stuff of Kundalini yoga is pretty daunting: three minutes of stretch pose, nine minutes of the pranayama Breath of Fire with Lion's Paws, thirty one minutes of Sat Kriya. If you're like me, it takes some internal convincing to gear up to do one of these strenuous, challenging feats. So, I tend to appreciate the practices that are easy-to-do but nonetheless effective. Right and left nostril breathing exercises are in this category. They can be done anytime, anywhere — free of dread.
Breathing solely through one nostril can change your energy and mood. The yogis say that right nostril breathing is associated with sun energy, vigor, and alertness; while left nostril breathing is connected to moon energy, calmness, and sensitivity. If you experiment with these simple techniques from the indispensable book Praana, Praanee, Praanayam, you'll enjoy immediate benefits from just a few moments of focused effort.
• Energizing: Increasing Solar Energy (p. 106) – If you're feeling tired and slow moving, give this pranayama a try. Sitting in easy pose, block the left nostril with the thumb of the left hand and keep the other fingers straight and pointing up. Take 26 long, deep breaths through the right nostril. That's it!
• Energy Boost (p. 108) – If you're feeling really, really tired, use the same seated posture and hand position as above, but perform breath of fire through the right nostril. Continue for three to five minutes, and then give yourself a few moments to allow the energy to circulate. (I often use this one right before it's time to pick up the kids at school, so I can keep up with them in the afternoon.)
• Soothing: Increasing Lunar Energy (p. 107) — If you're feeling anxious and nervous and want to relax, you can use this breath exercise. Sit in easy pose, block the right nostril with the thumb of the right hand, and take 26 long, deep breaths through the left nostril. It's that easy! (This is great to do just before bed.)
As with anything in Kundalini Yoga, the experience of these breath exercises can be enhanced with music. I enjoy listening to the mantra "Pavan Guru," which means "the breath is your Guru." At the moment, my favorite song featuring this mantra is Sat Kirin Kaur Khalsa's Angelic Version on her album Ignite Your Light. The music beautifully underscores what I'm feeling in the moment as I block one nostril and change my energy: the breath is so powerful.
Editor's Note: Praana Praanee Praanayam is an excellent resource for any Kundalini yogi's library. If you are interested in going deeper with the practice of right or left-nostril breathing (or any other sort of breathing!) it's a must-have!


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The Rundown
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Adaptive Resistance-Welding Control
Full-service metal stamper PTM Corp. has been on a "wild ride" the last few years, according to the company's sales and marketing director Mark Cross. Specializing in design assistance, prototyping, four-slide and progressive-die design and build, as well as short- and long-term production, PTM has been on a mission to become a turnkey project manager. Some 70 percent of the firm's business falls under the heading of automotive, the rest for customers in the aerospace, medical and other industries.
Cross explains how the firm's most recent capital investment—an adaptive resistance-spot-welding (RSW) system—fits into its expanding core competency of prototyping and low-volume short-run production:
"Many of our customers, particularly in automotive, request that we provide documentation that illustrates all of the steps we take to develop optimal weld schedules during prototype development," Cross says. "The new adaptive control system streamlines the documentation process, by reducing and in some cases eliminating the need to develop and track new weld schedules for every combination of workpiece material and joint thickness. That, in turn, dramatically reduces the amount of documentation we need to develop, and the time spent on maintaining weld schedules. In the end we realize a sizable savings in labor, which we can pass along directly to our customers."
The adaptive weld-control system Cross speaks of is the MFDC 560, supplied by Aro Welding Technologies Group, a French company with U.S. headquarters in Chesterfield Township, MI. PTM added the Aro system to its newly formed advanced engineering center in mid-2011. The center, born in 2009, focuses on prototype and short-run production and occupies a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility in Frazier, MI. It's soon moving to a new 57,000-sq.-ft. facility under construction on PTM's 72-acre main campus in Fairhaven, MI—also home to the firm's 125,000-sq.-ft. main production plant. The new prototype/ small-lot production facility, due to open in mid-2013, will house five- and three-axis laser cutting and welding machines, a handful of stamping presses, coordinate-measuring machines, six manually operated resistance-welding guns and a few pedestal RSW machines.
On the Docket: 82,500 Spot Welds
Manufacturing engineer Chris Gastmeier led PTM on its mission to take its RSW capabilities to the next level. The impetus for the investment: a new wheel-housing assembly program directed to the company early in 2011 from a large automotive-OEM customer. The program, which kicked off last October, required PTM to assemble 300 prototype wheel housings—150 each of left- and right-hand assemblies. Each comprised 18 stamped components assembled via 275 spot welds—300 assemblies, 275 welds each, amounts to 82,500 welds. Some welds join two sheets, others join three sheets; some joints contain adhesive and a few of the parts are of galvanized sheet. Material thickness ranges from 0.023 to 0.085 in.
Completing the variety of welds throughout the assembly requires a PTM operator to manually move a welding gun from spot to spot. Without the Aro adaptive controller, he typically would set the system up for one programmed weld schedule and move around the fixtured assembly to complete like welds (same or similar weld-joint thickness and surface condition). He then would have to stop welding, put the gun down and move to the controller to call up the next weld schedule needed to complete another set of like welds. Then he would pick the gun back up and complete those welds, and so on. That process would require excessive and repetitive movement around the assembly. It also would inhibit weld productivity, as the operator would waste time moving and adjusting the weld control, sacrificing actual welding time.
Bring the Heat
Using the Aro, the process becomes streamlined since the control, in real time, measures resistance in each weld joint and adjusts the weld schedule accordingly. The operator can move quickly from weld to weld regardless of joint thickness or other variables, with little to no wasted movement. Thus he makes welds based on proximity and convenience rather than on the required weld schedule. No need to worry about galvanized or bare steel, two- or three-times sheet thickness or the presence of adhesive in the joint. And, the control can sense changes to the process as the welding electrodes wear, making the appropriate weld-schedule adjustments to ensure good-quality welds.
"The Aro adjusts the three key process variables—current, time and force—in real time to generate precisely the amount of heat needed for each weld," says Gastmeier. "It can adapt for any condition that affects the resistance in a given weld joint.
"By eliminating all of the operator's wasteful moves around the assembly," continues Gastmeier, "and freeing him up from having to call up new weld schedules periodically, we reduced cycle time per wheel-housing assembly by 25 to 30 percent. That's a huge savings over the 300 assemblies we produced, savings that we again passed along to the customer."
PTM completed the wheel-housing job in January 2012, releasing completed assemblies to its customer in lots of 25 to 30.
In addition to making speedy work of each assembly's 275 welds, the adaptive control also makes fast work of the daily startup procedure the operator follows to verify that the welder is properly functioning. Before bringing in the Aro system, this every-morning startup procedure entailed performing coupon tests of every variation of sheetmetal type and joint thickness that would be welded that day. That verification process consumed at least one hour every morning.
"With the Aro," says Gastmeier, "the startup procedure has been reduced to just 5 min. We perform just two or three material stackup tests and we're ready to go."
A Common Gun Body and Interchangeable Arms
Accompanying the adaptive control to PTM was a pair of new Aro Ergoflex welding guns. One control can manage both guns and two operators simultaneously—another time saver for the company. The Ergoflex design employs a central gun body to which the user can affix any of several available sets of arm styles and sizes. PTM uses guns with 30 in. of reach and a 20-in. jaw opening."I've been aware of the Aro adaptive system and flexible style of welding guns for a few years," Gastmeier adds, "having seen it in use in other prototype facilities and even in some OEM plants. I've als thought it would be a good fit for us, and landing that big wheel-housing program presented the perfect opportunity to make the investment. Now, as we bring in more resistance-welding work for our newly upgraded cell, we'll look to expand—additional arms, and perhaps another controller. I can definitely see the need for arms with longer reach and opening, for example, to enable us to take on larger assemblies and improve weld-joint access." MF
See also: Aro Welding Technologies Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation, Welding
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January 28, 2014
Bill Would Restrict Homeschooling to "Exceptional Circumstances"
Families actively oppose bill through worldwide petition
Brittany Paist
HSLDA Legal Assistant
UpdateAction no longer need! The proposed bill was withdrawn on March 11, 2014 by its sponsor. Thanks to all who signed the petition against SB 245.
A bill in the French Senate seeking to restrict homeschooling would significantly alter the landscape of homeschool freedom not only in France but all of Europe. Senate Bill 245 would effectively ban homeschooling by allowing only children with physical or mental disabilities to be educated at home.
French homeschool and family groups quickly coordinated a petition to oppose the bill, calling the proposed legislation an "attack against families."
Michael Donnelly, director of international relations at HSLDA, said this bill is the most recent in a string of attempts across Europe to impose even more state control over children.
"The 'exceptional circumstances' language in Senate Bill 245 is disturbingly reminiscent of the education law enacted in Sweden in 2010 that effectively banned home education in that country," Donnelly explained. "In proposing this bill, France is aligning with countries such as Sweden and Germany that ignore the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children. The assumption behind this bill is that the state knows best and parents do not."
Focus on Socialization
Senators from the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party introduced the bill on December 18, 2013 and rely heavily on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and arguments that homeschooled children are not socialized. The bill text argues that education "requires a collective dimension" and narrowly defines socialization as interaction with peers as justification for restricting homeschooling.
An article on Der Blaue Brief, a blog about freedom of education written by German homeschooling father Jürgen Dudek, calls the bill a "drastic curtailment of parents' rights" and notes that the proposed law has "already provoked public resistance."
The French petition against the bill makes it clear that the proposed law threatens decades of history in France where freedom of education has been protected.
"In France, homeschooling is legal and this choice of instruction belongs to the parents," the petition reads. "It is a constitutional freedom which is registered in the European Convention on Human Rights … This proposed law aims to reduce individual freedoms … and is once again an attack against families in their life choices. We have to oppose it firmly to continue to be able to choose the best for our children."
Another French website states, "We do not want our children to be forced to go to school. It is a choice."
Attack on Parental Rights
As HSLDA has previously reported, in many countries such as Botswana, Britain, Bulgaria, Scotland, Sweden, and others, the UNCRC has been used by governments as rationale to diminish parental rights, especially in the realm of educational freedom.
"The idea that only public schools can adequately provide students with a 'comprehensive and objective' view on all subjects and issues is a twisted view of reality," stated Donnelly. "Experience shows that government schools seek to impart their own state-approved worldview to children. It is pure totalitarianism to deny parents the freedom to homeschool their children simply because the government believes it can do 'better'."
Donnelly also notes that the public perception that homeschooled students are isolated and unsocialized is demonstrably false.
"In the U.S., studies show that homeschooled graduates excel in college and career environments," said Donnelly, "They are well-developed, responsible citizens who are productive members of society. In large part, this is because homeschoolers have the opportunity to socialize with many different groups and ages, not just with their own peers in a traditional school setting."
You Can Help
French homeschoolers have asked for help, noting that this attack on homeschooling freedom comes from an unexpected source.
"What is unusual," said one homeschool leader, "is that this bill has been initiated by the right wing (UMP). The left wing has tried many times to pass such a bill in the past."
Jürgen Dudek notes on Der Blaue Brief that politicians are often "inspired by … ideas abroad." He writes, "The 'idea' of collective schooling by force is a genuinely German invention."
The Wunderlich family are the latest victims of this mindset—the family's four children are currently being forced to attend a government school. In a recent ruling, a German judge effectively made the family prisoners in Germany, denying their request to emigrate to France in hopes of homeschooling in freedom.
"Please sign the petition and remember French homeschoolers in your thoughts and prayers," Donnelly requests. "The proposed bill has the potential to significantly impact French families—as well as the Wunderlich family and other German families seeking freedom—and would mark a significant departure from a strong history of freedom of education in France. Your help is needed to stand together and show French officials that families around the world oppose Senate Bill 245."
Protect Your Family
If you aren't yet a member of HSLDA, consider joining today! HSLDA's work benefits homeschooolers in the United States and around the world. We invite you to participate in our ministry to the homeschool community. Join now >>


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BLOOMINGTON, MN—The Pentagon announced Monday that Camp Snoopy, the largest indoor family theme park in America, is one of 34 major bases scheduled for closing as part of a vast military repurposing and realignment designed to save almost $50 billion.
"We never enjoy having to close a base," said Anthony Principi, chairman of the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure Commission. "But Camp Snoopy is a relic of America's Cold War past. Everything in the facility—from the Petting Zoo to the Extreme Trampoline to the Pepsi Ripsaw Roller Coaster—was conceived at a time when America's primary military threat was the Soviet Union. After careful evaluation, we determined that the only thing Camp Snoopy was enabling our soldiers to fight was boredom."
According to an official Pentagon statement delivered Tuesday by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, most of the 300 men and women stationed at Camp Snoopy will be honorably discharged in a ceremony to be held in front of the Rock 'N' Wall.
Camp Snoopy Gen. Manager Craig Freeman said the camp's decommissioning "came out of nowhere."
"Certainly these last couple years have brought drastic changes in the national attitude toward combat readiness," Freeman said. "But we thought our location in America's northern defensive tier, combined with our many indoor roller coasters and log-flume rides, would shield us from the military's increased emphasis on small-unit tactics. I suppose that was naive."
Ranking managers and others in highly trained positions will be posted at other bases in the Mall of America.
"I heard a rumor that I'm going to be shipped out to the Lego Imagination Center," Coordinating Concessions Manager Steve Voorhies said. "I'm still in shock. I had a distinguished food-service record here—a record I could be proud of—and now some desk jockey at the Pentagon sends me to the mall's South Avenue quadrant? It's bullshit."
"Well, I guess I knew when I signed up that they could do whatever they wanted with me," added Voorhies, who has applied for a transfer to Jillian's Hi Life Lanes in the mall's Party Central.
The camp closing, scheduled for November 2005, is expected to be a major blow to the local civilian economy.
"We've been supplying them with everything from disposable paper goods to uniforms," said Debra Czynsci, the chief military and entertainment sales liaison for the Cedar Fair Management Corporation. "That was close to half a billion dollars annually pumped into the Twin Cities economy. Now, with this facility shutting its gates, we're going to have massive layoffs of our own."
The Pentagon said that the Lego Imagination Center, the Underwater Adventures Aquarium, A.C.E.S. Flight Simulators, and various other Mall of America attractions made Camp Snoopy "redundant."
Insiders, however, suggest that misappropriations issues involving Cedar Fair, which was once investigated for charging Camp Snoopy $479 per case of Thirsty Linus FunCups, factored heavily into the decision to decommission Camp Snoopy.
Brig. Gen. Roy Haemer, who oversaw the Pentagon's Midwest base-closing study, denied suggestions that the camp's closure was politically motivated.
"It may seem counterintuitive to close bases during wartime," Haemer said. "But not a single member of the forward-line units operating in Iraq and Afghanistan trained at Camp Snoopy. Tens of thousands of them visited the park, but the fast-paced gaming environment of the Ultimate Zone has little or no bearing on squad-level combat in a desert environment, and maneuvering around the Kite-Eating Tree will do nothing to prepare a soldier for the arid scrub of the Afghani steppes."
Haemer added that California's Camp Snoopy at Knott's Berry Farm is being kept open primarily due to the Red Baron Ride, which he described as "a real hoot."


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The much-hyped Grantland – the new site from ESPN's Bill Simmons – launched today.
So what does everyone think?
Judging by the reaction online, first impressions are mixed. Hardcore fans of Simmons and co-conspirator(?) Chuck Klosterman seems delighted, but quite a few people are underwhelmed by the first day presentation.
Some of the early snags:
The lack of content: There are only four new pieces available on launch day. One is Simmons' long Editor's Note. The second is an essay by Esquire's Chris Jones, which appears to be a longer re-write of a blog post he wrote for that other website back in March. (The story is mostly new, but many of the opening details are recycled.) A third is re-hash of a reality TV concept discussed many times on Simmons podcast.
Speaking of the podcast, there's a section for them, but no new ones have been recorded. There is space for two new "blogs" ... that have no posts on them. Even the much-talked-about stable of new writers that Grantland very publicly hired don't get their names on the masthead.
"Editors" Dave Eggers and Malcolm Gladwell? Nowhere to be found. Seems a little light for a site with such a long lead up.
The design: A matter of personal preference, but a few Twitter users have criticized the sparse design, with a giant Klondike/Subway ad smack in the middle. The pagination of longer stories won't win any fans. (Particularly those to Simmons' ESPN ramblings.)
Other than that, there's not much to talk about – because there's not much there. Personally, there were four stories and we didn't even finish three of them because of the length (and some lack of interest.)
Perhaps the one we did finish – the editor's note – sums up the biggest issue Grantland has to face? Why does it exist? Simmons himself doesn't even seem to know.
Of the four goals he spells out, two are essentially the same thing – hire good people, which is a means not an end – and the third is "make money."
Four is to make use of the freedom and format that ESPN.com doesn't allow, but Simmons doesn't seem to have thought about (or can't articulate) in what that freedom means or in what way it should be exercised.
Nowhere in his opening essay does he provide a clear vision or even a justification for Grantland existence. His other statements on the matter have been less than gung-ho about the project.
Perhaps he didn't have to think about it, because for him, there's almost nothing riding on this. The investment is all ESPN's and the writers who left day jobs to come work for him. He says he wants to focus on quality over quantity, as if none of his bosses will be keeping track of pageviews. At least he'll have plenty of time to figure it out.
From what we gathered so far, he basically likes hanging out with his (occasionally) famous friends and talking about stuff. Good for him, but will there be enough people who wants to join in that conversation.
There's no comment section, by the way.
UPDATE: Grantland has added two more posts this afternoon. Even though Simmons says he doesn't want "one person to check ten times a day; I'd rather have 10 people check once."


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I know there've been a bunch of posts on this topic before, but I didn't see anything at a glance related to my specific situation: my urologist isn't recommending botox to me for bladder control, but to prevent future kidney disease, and I'm curious what folks (and the SCI nurses here) think of this.
I had a urodynamics done two years ago which showed good pressures up until ~330cc, with borderline compliance at 15.5, and another one done again recently, with similar numbers: pressure starts to build up around 300cc, and compliance around 14 (which my doc said isn't a notable difference and can essentially be considered the same as two years ago).
However, this year, she suggested that I start doing botox to lower the risk of kidney disease/damage in the future, since botox would help reduce bladder pressures (and increase compliance), recommending injections every 3 months. Alternatively, if I don't want to go the botox route yet, she said I should move forward with annual urodynamics.
What do folks think of botox for this reason? I'm a little hesitant because not only does it seem like a huge hassle (admittedly, less a hassle than kidney damage), I imagine it'd be a little costly as well (probably less so since I likely won't need anesthesia since I haven't needed it for cystoscopies at T-11/T-12). But annual urodynamics also sound like a hassle, and I'd like to reduce my exposure to X-rays as well.


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The holiday season is a great reminder for us all to give back, and one local resort and spa is looking to stretch that happy cheer all year long.
The SiSpa at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island recently announced plans to continue their Give Back Program into 2013.
The Give Back Program, which launched in March 2012, encourages three selected charities (per quarter) to "compete" to see who can raise the most donations.
For the first quarter of 2013, from January 1 to March 31, SiSpa will donate a portion of all proceeds purchased from their 50-minute Oxygen Facial, their 80-minute Warm Stone massage, and waxing services, to the program.
The four organizations that receive the most Give Back treatments purchases during the year will share the title of "Official Give Back Partner 2014," and receive all of the donations from their quarter.
Guests who purchase any of the three treatments can specify at checkout which non-profit charity they would like their treatment to benefit. The first three organizations of the year all benefit our four-legged friends– the Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Passion for Paws, and Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Additional charities slated to participate in the Give Back Spa Program 2013 include Autism Speaks, Junior League of Palm Beaches, H.O.W Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper Palm Beach, A Rhea of Hop Foundation, Look Good…Feel Better Campaign from American Cancer Society, Rebuilding Together of the Palm Beaches, Adopt-A-Family, and Food For the Poor.
To date, SiSpa has raised more than $10,000 for charity.
For additional information please visit www.marriott.com/pbisg or call 561/340-1755.


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PAUL WEERTZ lives less than 10 minutes from downtown, but the view from his window is anything but urban. On a warm day this fall, the air was ripe with the smell of fresh-cut hay and manure. In the alley behind his house, bales of hay teetered and listed where garbage cans once stood. Chickens scratched in the yard, near a garage that had been turned into a barn. Mr. Weertz drives a Ford -- not a sleek sedan but a rebuilt 1960 tractor.
''My sisters and brothers gave me a pig for my birthday,'' Mr. Weertz said, referring to his newest barnyard resident. ''I am not sure what I am going to do with it.''
After decades of blight, large swathes of Detroit are being reclaimed by nature. Roughly a third of this 139-square-mile city consists of weed-choked lots and dilapidated buildings. Satellite images show an urban core giving way to an urban prairie.
Rather than fight this return to nature, Mr. Weertz and other urban farmers have embraced it, gradually converting 15 acres of idle land into more than 40 community gardens and microfarms -- some consuming entire blocks.
Mr. Weertz, a science teacher, turned to farming 10 years ago to give his students a hands-on understanding of the food chain. Other Detroit farmers work for food banks, churches and community organizations hoping to sow seeds of urban renewal.
Staking claims on abandoned lots, they produce about six tons of produce a year, said Ashley Atkinson, head of the Detroit Agriculture Network, a loose coalition of 230 growers and volunteers.
''People really don't believe it until they see it,'' Ms. Atkinson said. ''I have friends who say, 'You are joking me, right? This doesn't really exist in the city.' ''
Actually, it exists in nearly every major city. The population here has dropped to less than a million today from nearly two million in 1950. After the 1967 riots destabilized the city, families left in droves, leaving 40,000 lots vacant. The Department of Public Works says it spends $2.2 million a year clearing debris and weeds from the lots, which are periodically auctioned for as little as $250.
''Detroit has been abandoned by everything, including grocery stores,'' Ms. Atkinson said, suggesting that in a city where many do their shopping at ''party stores,'' liquor stores that sell some convenience items, community farms are more than a symbol of environmental awareness.
Mr. Weertz has scattered his farm over 10 acres in seven locations. It churns out not only hay but also alfalfa, honey, eggs, goat's milk, produce and the occasional side of beef, which is butchered at a vocational school. About 100 students work as volunteers.
On three vacant lots in northern Detroit, 500 volunteers are helping the Capuchin Soup Kitchen to plant, pick, pack, can and distribute a ton of produce a year: tomatoes, kale, cabbage, wax beans and more than a dozen other vegetables, leafy greens and herbs. Proceeds from sales, roughly $2,000, barely cover irrigation and other expenses, said the Rev. Rick Samyn, who coordinates the operation.
Urban farmers face a number of challenges, from finding water (renegades tap into fire hydrants, Brother Samyn said) to eliminating broken glass, concrete and unsavory contaminants like lead from the soil. Hayfields, mistaken for ''ghetto grass,'' have been mowed down by the Department of Public Works just as they are ready to be cut and baled. Greenhouses are sometimes claimed by the homeless, and pilfering is a fact of life.
None of the farms are profitable, and all depend on students and volunteers -- more than 1,000 citywide, Ms. Atkinson said. Members of her network have received about $300,000 in grants and donations, she estimated, including a few grants from the United States Department of Agriculture normally aimed at rural growers.
Advocates often say profits are secondary to building a sense of community. ''It's a means for people to take control of their neighborhoods and get tangible results that they can see and eat,'' said Yamini Bala, coordinator of Detroit Summer, a youth gardening group.
In 2000, frustrated by stadium-building and other traditional means of drawing business downtown, a group of growers, architects, urban planners and activists collaborated on an alternative city plan focused on neighborhoods called Adamah (Hebrew for ''of the earth''). Drafted by architects and students at the University of Detroit Mercy, it proposed converting four and a half square miles on the east side into a self-sustaining village, complete with farms, greenhouses, grazing land, a dairy and cannery. For irrigation, Adamah proposed tapping an underground creek (now used as a sewage main).
Some of Adamah's elements are already taking shape in northeast Detroit, where John Gruchala, an electrician, and his neighbor Tris Richardson, a carpenter, began farming nearly an acre of vacant land six years ago.
Today, working with neighbors, they produce a ton of tomatoes, cabbage, kale and peppers a year. They are converting an auto body shop into a community center with a cafe, a cannery and a greenhouse.
Mr. Gruchala says such a center could encourage other small businesses to invest in the neighborhood. ''Growing vegetables is just a vehicle for other kinds of change,'' he said.
He and others would like farming to become a permanent part of the Detroit landscape. But much of what they do falls below city officials' radar. The chief city planner, George Dunbar of the Planning and Development Department, was surprised to learn that some farmers had claimed plots as large as an acre.
''Outstanding,'' he said. ''If that's the case, then I commend the individuals who do that, but I tell you, if we advertise the property and it's city-owned land that we can get a housing development on, then I'll take that. I am always trying to increase the tax rolls to keep city services going.''
In fact, earlier this year the city tried to use eminent domain to build an athletic field on nine lots farmed by Mr. Gruchala and Mr. Richardson, only six of them owned by Mr. Gruchala. The farmers worked out a compromise that will enable them to continue farming on all nine of the lots.
Others have been less fortunate. Three years ago Kami Pothukuchi, an assistant professor in urban planning at Wayne State University, dug a garden at a busy corner in southwest Detroit owned by a community group. A year ago, the group sold the lot to a developer. A convenience store is now planned for the site, Ms. Pothukuchi said.
In the absence of a citywide vision of a new kind of Detroit, of farms perhaps entwined with new businesses, nature continues to run its course.
As frost settles on Mr. Weertz's farm, it's not uncommon to see rabbit warrens or pheasants. ''It's a totally surreal experience,'' Mr. Weertz said. ''You are in this urban area, and you are seeing this whole natural transformation that you'd normally have to go miles away to see.''


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Source: Yahoo! Games , August 29, 2013
by Joshua Davis - Game|Life wrote:How a Near-Death Experience in the Jungle Inspired a Blockbuster Zombie Game
Dean Hall was close to death in the jungles of Brunei. It was December 2010 and the officer cadet in the New Zealand army was alone on a survival-training mission. Given only two days' worth of food for 20 days, he supplemented his diet with raw fish and ferns. He slept on a bed of sticks, and by the end of the mission he'd lost 44 pounds from his already lean frame. There were other trainees out there, and he started to plot raids on their food supplies. He thought of himself as an honorable person, but he was too hungry for honor. As he approached one man's camp, the guy spotted him and tossed him some rancid ramen. Hall boiled the noodles and wolfed them down.
That night, as water pooled around his bed and ramen roiled his stomach, he imagined himself inside his favorite videogame, a military simulation for PCs called Arma 2. He had been playing it since its release in 2009 and often spent three to four hours a day on the game. Now, lying on the jungle floor, his feverish imagination turned Arma 2 into something different. He visualized a new kind of game, one in which there were no missions, no objectives, and no ability to simply be respawn when killed. You had one life, and if you lost it, you lost everything.
Physically, Hall was a mess when he emerged from the jungle — he underwent emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage. But intellectually, he was energized by his visions and inspired to build a new Arma 2 modification. Amateur game mods have been popular since the 1990s, when players adapted first-person shooters like Wolfenstein 3D and Quake to create entirely new games. Mods can't run on their own — they operate in conjunction with the underlying game — and are usually given away online by the \0xFCberfans who code them. The high-water mark came in 1999, when two gamers turned the science fiction world of Half-Life into a terrorist-versus-soldier battle zone called Counter-Strike. It was so popular, gamemaker Valve bought it in 2000 and released it as a stand-alone title, eventually selling more than 25 million units.
A savvy programmer, Hall had created lots of Arma 2 mods, adding new weapons and vehicles to the game, and even new missions. But what he had in mind now was fundamentally different. Typically, games try not to frustrate players; if your character is killed, you aren't forced to start over from the beginning. But Hall thought this stripped gaming of emotion and drama. He wanted to reproduce what he had experienced in the jungle, something filled with agony, frustration, and fear. "I wanted it to be brutal," he says.
In a hotel room in Singapore, Hall began coding. In his new game, players would begin with almost nothing, stranded in the middle of a barren land, forced to hunt for supplies. If they were killed, they'd lose everything and have to start over. The only mission: Survive.
Eventually he hit on the idea to replace Arma's terrorists with zombies, but the undead would actually be the least of a player's concerns. Hall was designing the game as a social experiment: Every time a player logged in, they'd be pitted against other players also hunting for supplies. Players would compete for limited food, water, and weaponry, and their anxiety would make them more deadly than the brain-eaters. The gameplay re-created his feeling of isolation in the jungle, surrounded by dozens of starving strangers, any of whom might be plotting to steal his meager supplies just as he was plotting to steal theirs. Hall wanted the possibility of dying and losing everything to drive players to kill other survivors in order to steal their rations. He would call the game Day Z, a twist on D-Day.
Bohemia Interactive, the Czech company behind Arma 2, actively encourages fans to mess with its game, so there were already hundreds of Arma 2 offshoots. When Hall was building a mod, he would frequently contact a Bohemia developer named Ivan Buchta, usually with an esoteric code question. But after returning from the jungle, Hall had become bored, and this time, while working to finish Day Z in his spare time, he wrote to ask whether Bohemia was hiring. "I was impressed with the mods he'd made in the past," Buchta says. "We needed help on Arma 3, so we agreed to bring him on."
It wasn't a great deal for Hall. He'd have to buy his own ticket to the Czech Republic, take a leave of absence from the New Zealand army (which allows two-year absences), and be paid less than he had been making as a lowly second lieutenant. But he took the job; he was thrilled at the prospect of being in the birthplace of his favorite game. It was like a die-hard Star Wars fan getting hired by Lucasfilm.
Still, when he arrived at Bohemia, he decided not to tell Buchta or anyone else about what he was working on. "I knew they'd think zombies were stupid," he says. "They're all hardcore realism military junkies, so I kind of felt embarrassed that I was making a zombie mod." He decided just to put Day Z online. He figured a few hundred people would play and no one else would notice.
Within weeks, though, players flocked to the game. By the end of its first month, Day Z had attracted 10,000 users, and Hall decided he'd better mention it to Buchta. Sure enough, Buchta was dismissive. The company was gunning to finish its latest Arma release. He didn't have time for zombies.
But days later Buchta loaded Day Z to check it out. The game placed him near an old warehouse. He had a baseball cap and not much else. He quickly found an old handgun with no bullets. There were zombies in the distance and the threat of other players killing him for his gun. The scenery was just like Arma 2, but everything seemed different. "I felt really naked," he says. Most first-person shooters equip newbies with guns and enough ammo to survive a sustained firefight. Now Buchta was scrounging for bullets and counting them carefully. "I'm a professional game developer, but I was immediately scared and tense," he says. "Games don't usually work like that on me."
In Day Z, players traverse a bleak landscape, dodging zombies and one another. The only mission: Survive.
Buchta messaged Marek Spanel, who co-owned Bohemia with his brother Ondrej, and told them to try the game. The brothers had formed the company in 1999 and spent most of their lives playing videogames together. Now they spawned into the game simultaneously and discovered that they'd been placed miles apart. They began to move toward each other, dodging zombies and other players. It took more than an hour of nail-biting evasion to rendezvous. "Walking for half an hour in a game would usually be boring. But just doing that, I felt stronger emotions than I'd ever felt in Arma," Marek Spanel says.
To play Hall's game, users had to buy Arma 2 for about $20. At that point, Arma 2 had been out for three years and was nearing the end of its life cycle. Arma 3 was supposed to jump-start the company's sales, but suddenly purchases of Arma 2 started ticking up. By June, around 20,000 players were using Arma 2 to play Day Z. By early July, there were 405,000 users, and it didn't stop there. In August more than 1 million people were playing Day Z. Arma 2 was suddenly a top-selling PC game. In the three years before Hall put Day Z online, Arma 2 had sold 1 million copies. Now it sold a million more in just a few months.
The guy who'd arrived at the company as a junior designer five months before now seemed to hold the keys to its future. Bohemia, meanwhile, had raked in millions from the boom in Arma 2 sales, and Spanel wanted to build on that success. So when Hall said he wanted to turn Day Z into a stand-alone game, Spanel offered him a promotion from junior designer to project lead, the top spot.
Hall was ecstatic. He now had a large team of people implementing his every idea. He requested a discharge from the military and started refining the Day Z world. Originally supplies appeared in the open, lying on the ground. Now those necessities were harder to find, hidden in cupboards or under beds. He also populated the game with hundreds of public domain books like War of the Worlds and Moby-Dick. Maybe players would find a quiet place to read away from the zombie apocalypse.
He had been in the Czech Republic for only a few months — he was still living out of a suitcase — but his signing bonus gave him enough money to buy a house. The problem was, he wasn't sure where he might settle. His military discharge was pending — he could go anywhere. Plus, he was powerfully interested in collecting experiences that might inform his gameplay. In 2006 he had climbed Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, and thought that it would be interesting to explore the idea of coding a mountain-climbing game. He also felt he was capable of much more than the lowly 12,316-foot peak, so he decided to pay $100,000 to climb Mount Everest. "Dean is part crazy," Spanel says. "In the middle of the most successful project of his life, he leaves for two months to climb Everest."
Using a Sabre portable satellite modem he brought to Nepal, Hall approved design changes and budgets and IM'd with the coders building the game. "So here I am, at Everest Base Camp," he posted to the Day Z development Tumblr on April 15, 2013, and then, from 17,717 feet, offered a rundown of the new features his team was coding into the game: The world would look more battered, there'd be radios for communicating with other players, and the zombies' movements would be more, um, realistic. Though he'd arranged the mountaineering trip in a burst of enthusiasm, he tried to convince everyone otherwise. "Although the timing is poor for my sabbatical, it is not something planned on a whim and involves nonrefundable costs of up to $100K."
On May 16 he began his summit attempt. The weather was clear, and he made good time: By 12:01 am on the 21st, he was less than four hours from the peak. The Hillary Step, a 40-foot wall of rock and ice and the last obstacle before the summit, loomed ahead. He started to move toward it when he heard a distress call from his climbing partner up above. "There's a guy dying here," the voice crackled over the radio. "What do I do?"
Hall ascended to the dying man's position; it was a Bangladeshi climber from another group who had been left for dead. He was clipped into the same rope they were ascending, and he wasn't moving. Hall's sherpa grabbed the man's hand. It was limp; he couldn't tell if the man was breathing. "His position and posture symbolized absolute desperation and sadness," Hall wrote later in a blog entry.
They were only an hour from the summit, and they debated whether to abort their climb to try to save the man. Hall's partner was distraught — he wanted to help even if that meant abandoning the climb. Hall had no such ambivalence. "I thought I would have reacted differently, but when I looked at him, I realized that there was just nothing we could do," Hall says. "I felt really sad, but I figured he was dead or he was about to die." Hall persuaded his partner to keep moving, and they scrambled past the dying man. "It was a Day Z moment," Hall says grimly. The man died, and his body was left behind, encased in snow and ice.
An hour later, Hall reached the summit. "The sight was so breathtaking it was like being slapped in the face," he recalled on the blog. "I immediately started crying … I've thought a lot about how to summarize that feeling, and the best I can do is to say that if there is a God, then it's like looking upon his face."
Four days later he was back in Prague, funneling the experience into the haunting, morally fraught environment of the new Day Z. The game, he hopes, will force others to confront their own humanity. It comes out this fall.


text: In Vancouver we basically have two seasons: wet and dry. Now that we're heading into the wet season, I find myself craving comfort foods: hearty stews, creamy casseroles, and satisfying soups. My comfort food craving combined with my want to cook more seafood at home led me to a Batali recipe for zuppa di pesce, or fish soup.


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Blueberry chocolate truffles are an easy and elegant party favor.
To celebrate the upcoming arrival of her new little baby boy, a few friends and I have gotten together to surprise our friend Amanda of {i am baker} and {i am mommy} with a virtual baby shower. So that we can all celebrate together despite the distance between us, we have each posted a recipe today that represents what we would make for her shower since we couldn't be there to throw her one in person.
Amanda is the sweet and very talented baker behind {i am baker} and an absolute genius when it comes to cakes and cookies. She creates art with butter, sugar and flour, and her blog is full of her awe inspiring creations. Behind all this talent is a woman with an enormous heart and an incredibly generous spirit that I am truly grateful to call a friend.
I decided to make chocolate truffles because in my mind no celebration is complete without chocolate, and truffles are an easy and elegant party favor. They can be served in individual paper cups or packed in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon to be distributed to the guests at a shower. The truffles can also be made ahead of time and keep well for weeks in the refrigerator.
There is something undeniably gratifying about offering a gift with such an intense hit of chocolate, and yet is thankfully easy to make. That's what these chocolate blueberry truffles are – silky, creamy and dense, studded with tiny bits of chopped dried blueberries and lightly coated in cocoa powder.
The inspiration for the additions of blueberries came from an incredible flourless chocolate cake I'd recently eaten at a local patisserie. The cake was a rich torte with a thick, fudge-like interior similar to a dense souffle that came with the unexpected surprise of tiny little blueberries in each silky bite. The combination of the rich, dark chocolate and blueberries was memorable and I was eager to recreate it in truffle form.
Chocolate truffles start with ganache. Ganache is simply an emulsion of chocolate and cream to which flavorings are added. It is the ratio of cream to chocolate that determines the consistency of the ganache and what it is used for. An equal ratio of chocolate to cream (by weight) is considered a ganache of medium consistency, 2 parts chocolate to 1 part cream is considered a ganache of firm consistency, and soft ganaches have more than 50 percent cream.
For the centers of these truffles, I made a medium-hard ganache – utilizing more chocolate than cream to produce a somewhat dense filling that would firm up just enough to hold its shape for rolling truffles.
Heavy cream is heated with finely chopped dried blueberries and a touch of honey. The hot cream and blueberries are then poured over the finely chopped chocolate, and left to sit for a minute to start melting and bring down the temperature of the mixture to allow for better emulsification. After the resting period they are gently stirred together in a slow, circular motion from the inside of the bowl towards the edges until silky and smooth and very soft butter is incorporated to the mixture to increase the butterfat percentage and add richness to the filling. The result is intense.
What would you make for a baby shower?
Serves makes about 30 depending on the size of the truffl
Chocolate truffles flavored with blueberries and a touch of honey.
30 minPrep Time
3 hr, 30 Total Time
- 8 oz (225g) dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa solids)
- ¼ tsp fleur de sel
- ½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons (150 ml) heavy cream (double cream) (35-40% butterfat)
- ½ cup (92g) finely chopped dried blueberries
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) honey
- 2 Tablespoons (28 grams) softened unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (it's important that the butter be very soft)
- Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling
- Chop the chocolate as finely as possible to allow it to melt quickly and easily. Place the chopped chocolate and fleur de sel in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, finely chopped dried blueberries and honey and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand undisturbed for about 1 minute to begin melting the chocolate. Using a spatula, gently stir the mixture from the center outwards mix until all of the hot cream is incorporated and the ganache is homogenous.
- Whisk in the soft butter one piece at a time until incorporated. The ganache should be slightly thick and shiny. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the ganache until set, about 2 to 3 hours. As it cools, it will firm and thicken; it should be firm, but soft enough to scoop out and roll into balls.
- Remove the truffle mixture from the refrigerator and using a melon baller or small scoop, scoop up a scant tablespoonful of ganache for each truffle. Roll each portion into a round in the palm of your hand and place onto a parchment lined sheet. Put the formed truffles in the fridge for about 15 minutes or until firm.
- Sift enough cacao powder to coat the bottom of a shallow plate or pie pan. Toss each truffle in the cocoa powder so that it is well coated, then carefully toss the truffles between your hands to shake off the excess or roll the truffles around in a sieve to shake off the extra cocoa.
- The truffles can be served immediately or can be stored tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve the truffles at room temperature.
Gluten-free, Grain-free, Vegetarian NOTE: You can substitute any chopped dried fruit you like for the dried blueberries.
Be sure to check out everyone's contribution to the baby shower:
- TidyMom – Ducky Bath Punch
- Confessions of a Cookbook Queen – Homemade Butter Mints
- GoodLife Eats – Cucumber and Watercress Sandwiches
- Bake at 350 – Baby on Board Cookies
- Bluebonnets & Brownies – Mini Fruit Pizzas
- My Kitchen Addiction – Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
- What's Cooking with Kids – Hamentashen cookies
- Add a Pinch – i am baby Shower Punch
- Simple Bites – Spring Crudité, Buttermilk-Black Pepper Dip
- A Farmgirl's Dabbles – {i am baby} cakes
- Food for My Family – Baby Shower Macarons
- Wenderly – A Bundle of Bebe Cards for the Bundle of Joy
- She Wears Many Hats – "B" is for Boy – Itty Bitty Baby Cupcakes
- Dine & Dish – Stuffed Mushrooms
- My Baking Addiction – Crab Rangoons
- Smith Bites – Strawberries w/Brown Sugar Dip
- Bakers Royale – Baby Shower Cupcakes


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This week on Roundtable, the panel delved into the practicalities of adoption scrapbooking, and also talked about some influential scrapbookers we know!
To listen to this week's episode, you can click here.
Show Notes:
This episode of Roundtable is sponsored by Big Picture Scrapbooking! Click here for a promo code for Paperclipping Roundtable listeners to use to save 10% on any class at Big Picture Scrapbooking!
The Panel
Picks of the Week
As it turns out, the Fiskars trimmer that I picked is a new CHA Summer 2010 product release. I had just noticed it on Amazon and at Michaels in the past week or two and wasn't sure how long it had been out – apparently it is brand new! Glad I snatched one up when I saw it in the store because I really love mine!
- Fiskars 12″ Portable Cutline Paper Trimmer [Amazon|Scrapbook.com|Two Peas]
- The Book of Awesome: Snow Days, Bakery Air, Finding Money in Your Pocket, and Other Simple, Brilliant Things
- CuteTape.com
- Prang Semi-Moist Water Colors [Dick Blick Art Materials|Amazon]
- Aleene's Original Tacky Glue [Scrapbook.com|Amazon|Dick Blick Art Materials] and Aleene's Tacky Glue Clear Gel [Amazon|Dick Blick Art Materials]
- The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Potential
- Double Rainbow Video (see below)


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A tatse of Sam's Club: Sample holiday menu options near you! | Events
Title (Max 100 Characters)
With the holidays just around the corner, many of us are scrambling for great recipes to top our tables this season, and Sam's Club is here to help!
According to a release sent out Friday, Sam's will host 'A Taste of Sam's Club' from November 16 through November 18 from noon to 5 p.m.- where they say customers may "try before you buy."
What's on the menu? They say they will offer appetizers, main courses, side dishes and desserts from their Gourmet to-go options. All of the offerings are said to be delicious, as well as easy to prepare!
Check out the map below to find a Sam's near you:
View Sam's Club locations to host 'A Taste of Sam's Club' in a larger map


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In response to some of the criticisms I've seen leveled in Teleread comments and quite inaccurate blog posts from those more sympathetic to the publisher side, I have been interested in the numbers but hadn't made time to pull stats because that just isn't something I work with normally– my libraries' fantastic Collection Development team has that thoroughly under control.
However, I got motivated very quickly after seeing Jason Griffey's post on the subject which left me unsettled for two reasons:
1. I feel like it could be misrepresented as undermining the library case.
2. It samples from an institution that is in no way representative of the institutions most affected by the Harper Collins decision. Public libraries serve those who can't afford to go to college period and those who are no longer in school. It is the effect on these populations that drive us to be concerned about this recent attack on a necessary public good. And while I am not the best at keeping up with publishers, it appears to me that Harper Collins' target market isn't primarily academic.
I also think Jason is absolutely right that treating the digital like the physical is insanity of the highest order though. We need new models and perhaps by pulling together data we can have some better conversations on what the future could and should look like.
So, thanks to the help of our Collection Development Librarian and Horizon master extraordinaire, Logan Macdonald, I have some numbers to compare.
My public library system has 7 branches and a bookmobile and serves a large county in a mixed urban and rural setting. We have a pretty good mix of demographics in nearly every category you could think of. Because of funding and philosophy changes in the last 3-5 years, much of our collection is new and so these numbers don't typically represent materials that have been in circulation for 20-50 years. These are almost exclusively materials purchased since 2007.
Logan has this to add, "As a percentage, our numbers are probably low compared to other libraries due to our 'popular browsing' collection development policy. We usually weed things before they get old enough to have more than 26 circs."
Once I subtracted the CDs and DVDs from the circ numbers he gave me, I found 7566 items in our collection that had circulated 27 or more times. Just for kicks and giggles, I also identified that 942 items had circulated 53 times or more (we would have had to buy them twice).
Jason ends up with a number of $12.99 average for an item, and although I agree with one of the comments on the post that $25 is probably a more accurate number, for argument's sake I'll use 12.99.
If we were to have to replace these materials under a 26 use policy, this would cost our library system $110,518.92. A number Logan tells me is very close to our total adult nonfiction budget for 2011.
That's why public libraries are concerned. To give you an idea of how large of an impact this is– our collections budget was $1,135,664 in 2009, according to the statistics from Colorado's Library Research Service. Throughout the state of Colorado for 2009, materials budgets ranged from $4,577,200 for the Denver Public Library system to a mere $232 for one small rural library. (Yes, you read that number right– TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TWO).
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I believe that despite some assertions that we don't matter economically to publishers– it's clear by their actions that we do. It's easy for librarians to say, "3 or 4% doesn't matter", but to a business person 3 or 4% is important, especially when you're talking about a number in the millions of dollars. (And others agree).
So let's compare numbers– what does this look like in your library?
ADDENDUM: I was asked to add some information to this post, so here's what else I've got: Our total number of items is 383,353 (288,793 excluding CDs and DVDs) and our total number of circs in 2010 was 1,715,538 (1,111,850 excluding CDs and DVDs). As far as age for our circ data– it goes back to when we automated in 1969, but as I mentioned almost all of our materials are less than 3-4 years old. An additional problem with dates for us is that Horizon does not store statistics per item on an annual basis unless the period is set up ahead of time, and right now the only periods are pre-Horizon and post-Horizon.


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Baseball Hall of Fame 2014: Greatness of Glavine, Maddux, Thomas is clear
Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Frank Thomas are the first trio of first-ballot Hall of Famers since George Brett, Nolan Ryan and Robin Yount in 1999. But aside from that, there is no overarching theme to the 2014 Cooperstown class, a sign of just how difficult the voting process is to get a handle on.
Glavine and Maddux were 300-game winners. Thomas is in the 500-homer club. A great year for the mythic numbers of the game? Well, Craig Biggio missed out by two votes, and we know that statistical plateaus have been obscured by the steroid era, with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa all falling short of election again — and Rafael Palmeiro dropping off the ballot altogether after he got only 4.4 percent of the votes, shy of the 5 percent requirement to be eligible for election next year.
HALL OF FAME: TV coverage | 75 classic SN covers | Hall's 75th anniversary | Voting results
Maddux was third among this year's candidates in career WAR, behind only Bonds and Clemens. Glavine was fifth and Thomas was eighth. A victory for advanced stats? Not quite. Mike Mussina had a WAR edge over Glavine despite pitching in 145 fewer career games, and Curt Schilling and Jeff Bagwell had higher WAR figures for their careers than Thomas. Mussina got 20.3 percent of the vote, Schilling 29.2 and Bagwell 54.3.
Jack Morris, the standard-bearer for the old-school crew, saw his vote percentage slip from 67.7 to 61.5 in his final year of eligibility. Tim Raines, the sabermetric crowd's 1980s favorite, went from 52.2 percent to 46.1.
Trying to affix labels like that is a mistake, because there are no voting blocs, no grand debates, no campaign platforms — only 571 voters who have been members of the Baseball Writers Association for 10 years. Each voter has his or her own personal opinions, and while the statistics of each player are concrete figures, checking off names on the ballot is a highly subjective process. For instance, would anyone argue the point that performance-enhancing drugs are the only thing keeping Bonds and Clemens out of Cooperstown? So, why is it that Clemens got 202 votes, but Bonds only 198? How could anyone say yes to one, but no to the other? Because Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice and Clemens was acquitted of perjury charges? That's a hypertechnical reading of the Hall's character clause if there ever was one.
— Sporting News selects Public Enemy No. 1 for every MLB team
Instead of trying to decipher the indecipherable, better to celebrate the careers of three very deserving new Hall of Famers, who will join Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre — elected last month by the Expansion Era Committee — for an induction weekend that should be infinitely more fun than last year's enshrinement of Hank O'Day, Jacob Ruppert and Deacon White, all of whom died during the Great Depression.
Maddux, who got the highest percentage of this year's BBWAA vote at 97.2, is the headliner of the class because his career is in a class by itself — he is the only pitcher in history with at least 300 wins (355), 3,000 strikeouts (3,371), and fewer than 1,300 walks (999). Maddux was the first pitcher to win four straight Cy Young Awards, a feat later matched by future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, and from 1994 to the end of his career, he issued only 492 walks in 496 starts. Maddux also won 18 Gold Gloves, the most of any player in history.
Glavine won the Cy Young twice, and while the 1990s Braves were chided for coming away with only one World Series title, the southpaw did some of his best work in the Fall Classic, with a 0.909 WHIP in eight starts that included three complete games. Since the start of divisional play in 1969, the only other pitchers to go the distance three times in the World Series are Morris and Dave McNally. The resume that Glavine put together in the regular season is the reason that he is in, and Morris is not.
Thomas is the first Hall of Famer who played the majority of his games as a designated hitter, and could he ever hit. Five times, he hit 40 or more home runs, and he missed by two homers when the 1994 strike prematurely ended the season. The Big Hurt also led the American League in on-base percentage four times, and in an era where strikeouts became not just acceptable for power hitters, but expected, Thomas had only three 100-K seasons. From his debut through 2000, Thomas had a 1.018 OPS and a .321 batting average. Thomas suffered a torn triceps in 2001, and while he was set for a decline at the age of 33, that year is a clear demarcation in his career — from then on, thomas hit .276/.376/.507 with 177 home runs, which still is excellent and includes a fourth-place finish in the 2006 MVP vote, but also serves as a reminder of what could have been an even more lofty final mark on the game.
All of this year's inductees are worthy, and it's hard to believe that Biggio, Bagwell, and Mike Piazza won't all have their day eventually, after getting votes from more than half the electorate. Just don't expect the reasoning for why or when to be clear from 571 distinct and disparate voters' voices.


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Hours after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dissolved its stay on gay marriages, Paul Katami and partner Jeff Zarrillo, a Burbank couple who were plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case, headed to Los Angeles City Hall to be married in a ceremony officiated by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
They were the second gay couple to be married after the U.S. Supreme Court decision, with the two lead plaintiffs, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, marrying earlier Friday at San Francisco City Hall.
Wearing white roses pinned to their lapels, Katami and Zarrillo exchanged vows in the press room on the third floor of City Hall, a site normally reserved for city budget and hiring announcements.
Both men wiped away tears as Villaraigosa officiated the three-minute ceremony. Cheers went up as Villaraigosa announced the couple, who have been together 12 years, were married.
"I don't know if you have a word or can describe how equal feels," Zarrillo told reporters. "My parents have been married for decades, and my grandparents before them for decades, and this is just an amazing feeling."
The couple intend to fly immediately to San Francisco to celebrate with others involved in the Proposition 8 case, they said. The couple said the sudden order Friday by the 9th Circuit surprised them.
The marriage ceremony marked one of Villaraigosa's last high-profile acts as mayor of Los Angeles. The 60-year-old mayor, who spent Friday on a farewell tour of the city, leaves office Sunday. Before the ceremony started, Villaraigosa said he had done a few marriage ceremonies over the years. "But never have I been as joyful as I am today," Villaraigosa added.
"Your relationship is an inspiration to us all. Your bravery in the face of bigotry has made history," Villaraigosa said.


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The Office of the Registrar is the primary campus resource for help with state and federal veterans' education benefits. Please see the Veterans Benefits Web site at the Office of the Registrar.
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides undergraduate and graduate students with resources about types of financial aid and student employment.
FAFSA School Code: 003863
Questions or for more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid


text:
Tom Kha Kai
This cold and flu season has been murder. But it gave me a chance to finally perfect this soup I love, but never found a good at-home recipe for.
There used to be a small thai/chinese restaurant near my old office, and on cold days we'd get their chicken soup with coconut milk and kafir lime leaves–Tom Kha Kai. It was a light but rich dish, chicken stock with sweet coconut and sour lime, sour but sweet and salty–and a bit spicy–all at the same time. Really warmed you up–and cleared any stuffy noses with its spice. A perfect cold-day, sick-at-home soup.
I'd tried it lots of other places–on travels and at any new Thai restaurants–but none were quite as good as that little strip-mall hole-in-the-wall version. I looked for a good recipe, but could never seem to get all the exotic ingredients–coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce, kafir lime leaves–on hand at the same time. Then I stumbled on one over at Tasty Kitchen, tried it, tweaked it and… yum. I've been eating it all season. And some of my peeps asked me to share. So here ya go.
Tom Kha Kai (Chicken soup with coconut and lime)
whole chicken or wings/thighs (or whatever parts you like) and the basic ingredients to make chicken stock (water, carrot, onion, sage, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper)
cooked cut up chicken PLUS 5/6 c. chicken stock/broth
2 T butter OR 1T butter, 1T veg oil OR 2T olive oil
1 onion, chopped fine
mushrooms, chopped (8 oz can or 1/2 pkg fresh)
water chestnuts, chopped (6-8 oz can or as many as you like)
2 t curry paste (red or green, you can even use curry powder though it'll taste a bit different)
2 T fish sauce
1/3 c sugar
1 can coconut milk (16 oz.)
3-4 kaffir lime leaves OR a bit of lime zest
1/4 t basil (dried) or a bit of fresh chopped basil or cilantro
1/4 t red pepper flakes (more or less, depending on your heat preference)
wedges of lime (for serving)
1. Make chicken stock, if you're going that route. Remove the meat and vegs from the stock; cool and pick meat off bones. Reserve vegs in enough stock to cover for another use, strain/de-fat stock (or however you like it prepared) and set it aside. You'll want about 5-6 cups of liquid; feel free to use stock and chicken broth, just chicken broth, or even bouillion if that's what you have.
2. Sautee onion in butter/oil. When it's soft and see-through, add the mushrooms, then the water chestnut, cook till shrooms and onion are done but not brown. (If you've only got uncooked chicken–like chicken breast or boneless, you could brown it here, then add the liquid to simmer it till done–so many different ways to make soup!)
3. Add 5-6 c stock/broth and give it a good stir. Add the curry paste or powder, fish sauce, sugar, coconut milk, lime leaves, and pepper flakes. Bring it to a very low simmer and let it cook an hour or two. Add the pre-cooked chicken meat, and let it simmer another :30 or so.
4. Squeeze a wedge of lime into each bowl, or serve with wedges of lime to be added at the table. Another suggestion is to serve this soup with a bowl of hot, cooked rice. Add the rice to the soup and it's an even more filling meal.