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By The Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ralph Wilson, the Buffalo Bills owner who helped found the American Football League in 1960 and played a key role in the merger with the NFL, died Tuesday. He was 95.
Wilson died at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., said Mary Mazur, spokeswoman for the Wayne County medical examiner's office. He had been receiving home hospice care.
Bills president Russ Brandon announced the death at the NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla. Wilson gave up daily oversight of the club on Jan. 1, 2013, when he relinquished the president's title to Brandon.
Wilson was the founder and sole owner of the Bills after establishing the team with the upstart AFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
"Ralph Wilson was a driving force in developing pro football into America's most popular sport," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Ralph always brought a principled and common-sense approach to issues."
Wilson had been in failing health for several years after hip surgery in 2011. Though he spent much of his time at his home in suburban Detroit, he attended Hall of Fame induction weekends. He was a regular at Bills home games since founding the franchise, but had not been there since going to one game in 2010.
"No one loves this game more than Ralph Wilson," Brandon said in a statement. "It's very tough. What he's meant to the entire organization. He's our leader, our mentor our friend. How he loves his players and loved our community. Special guy. They just don't make them like Ralph Wilson."
Wilson was deemed the "conscience" of the NFL for his loyalty to fans and the stands he took against franchise relocation.
"He didn't let anyone pull anything off in him. He was very forceful," New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson said.
Former Kansas City Chiefs president and current USA Football chairman Carl Peterson said Wilson was similar to late Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who helped to found the AFL with Wilson.
"The historic AFL-NFL merger that these men brought to fruition more than 50 years ago helped make the NFL the pinnacle of sports that it is today, capturing our imaginations like little else," Peterson said. "Whether you live in Buffalo, Kansas City or anywhere else, if you love pro football, you owe Ralph Wilson a debt of gratitude. He was the last of the AFL founders and was a true pioneer of our sport."
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank called him a "visionary and pioneer of professional football" whose "lasting impact on the NFL will forever be felt."
Wilson's one regret was the Bills' inability to win a Super Bowl. They came close in the early 1990s, when the Marv Levy-coached and Jim Kelly-quarterbacked teams won four consecutive AFC championships from 1990 to 93, but lost each time.
The Bills, however, have not made the playoffs since 1999, and their drought for 14 postseasons ranks as the NFL's longest active streak.
What Wilson never lacked was his sense of humor.
In 2010, with the Bills 0-5, Wilson began an interview with The Associated Press with an apology. "I want to apologize for this phone system," Wilson said, with a familiar chuckle. "It's almost as bad as my team."
Wilson expressed no interest of leaving the team to his family. He is survived by wife Mary, daughter Christy Wilson-Hofmann, who serves as a Bills consultant. There's also niece Mary Owen, who has risen up the Bills ranks and serves on several NFL committees while working as the team's executive vice president of strategic planning.
Kelly has expressed interest in buying the franchise and has previously said he's assembled a group of investors.
Kelly's health, however, has become an issue this week. He is expected to have surgery for a second time in a year following the recurrence of cancer that his wife described as aggressive and "starting to spread."
Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula has deep pockets and is also considered a candidate to purchase the Bills and keep them in Buffalo.
That doesn't remove the possibility of outside interests making offers and relocating the team to much larger markets such as Los Angeles or nearby Toronto, where the Bills began playing annual regular-season "home" games in 2008. That series was postponed this year.
The Bills' future in Orchard Park is secure for the short term. The team negotiated a 10-year lease in December 2012 with the state and county to continue playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
It's a $271 million deal, of which $130 million will be committed to upgrading an aging stadium that opened in 1973.
The agreement includes a provision that essentially locks in the Bills through the first seven seasons. The franchise would have to pay $400 million if it decides to leave before 2019. The team then has an option of buying out the remaining three years of the lease for $28 million.
Wilson played a key role in helping form the modern-day NFL, along with Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams.
Wilson went as far as to travel to the 1964 Winter Games at Innsbruck, Austria -- where he slept on the floor of a reporter's room because all the hotels were booked -- to help broker the AFL's landmark TV deal with NBC.
Wilson often voiced his opinion against fellow NFL owners in more recent years.
In 2006, he criticized several members of the new generation of NFL team owners -- Jerry Jones of Dallas, Daniel Snyder of Washington and Robert Kraft of New England -- for acting in their best interest and not the league's.
When asked how his views might be interpreted by Snyder, Wilson bluntly replied: "I don't give a damn about Dan Snyder."
As the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis said of Wilson in 2009: "There were a lot of guys saying (Steelers owner Dan) Rooney was the conscience. But certainly, Mr. Wilson was more of a conscience of the league."
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1918, Wilson moved to Detroit three years later when his father, Ralph Wilson Sr., took a sales job at an auto dealership. The father turned to insurance and in the mid-1930s landed a deal with Chrysler Corp.
The younger Wilson graduated from the University of Virginia, where he played baseball and boxed, before completing one year at the University of Michigan Law School. He made his fortune taking over his father's insurance business, but he had a passion for football.
Selling a small share he had in the Detroit Lions, Wilson went off to help form the AFL. After initially being turned down by politicians to establish a franchise in Miami, he chose Buffalo on the advice of a Detroit newspaper sports editor.
He enjoyed the "Foolish Club" label that was applied to him and his fellow AFL owners.
"What a damn fool I was," he told The AP in 2009. "But I didn't care. I just wanted to own a team."
*Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. * Bill Bradley of NFL Evolution contributed to this report.


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The Perfect Pastry
Paris comes to America with these delicious, flaky treats at Flour.
Years before Joanne Chang made a name for herself wooing customers with dense chocolate brownies and gooey sticky buns at Flour, the chef fell in love with a more-traditional dessert while visiting Paris: kouign-amann (pronounced queen-a-mon), a sweet, croissantlike butter cake from Brittany, France. "It's the perfect pastry," Chang says. "You have all the great flavors of a yeasted croissant with real, great butter, and then you have the sugar that caramelizes as it bakes." Add it all up and you get a confection with crisp, sugary edges, a soft, flaky body, and a rich, luscious center. Making kouign-amann, however, is no cakewalk: The dough must be precisely layered with lots and lots of butter — a time-consuming process that once kept the treats off Chang's regular menu. But thanks to a new high-tech dough sheeter at Flour, you can now snap up the pastries for just $3.95 a pop — a whole lot cheaper than a flight to France.
Flour Bakery + Café, 12 Farnsworth St., Boston, 617-338-4333; and other locations; flourbakery.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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When archaeologists discovered a 40,000 year old pinky bone in a Siberian cave, everyone wondered who the bone belonged to. Researchers extracted DNA from the fossil and used it to construct an evolutionary tree to see how the pinky bone's owner was related to modern day humans and Neanderthals. Scientists were surprised by what they found — read more about it in this month's Evo in the news: Making sense of ancient homonin DNA.
Each month, the UCMP's Understanding Evolution website features an Evo in the news article, which focuses on the evolutionary aspects of a popular news story. Click here to browse the Evo in the news archive!


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Cheyenne Hopkins Thursday, 14 March 2013 07:08 PM EDT
Regulators should require banks that hold federally insured deposits to explicitly link positions in derivatives to the underlying risk they are hedging, the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recommended in a 300-page report released Thursday.
The issue of which trades are hedges and which are risky bets that could destabilize a bank is the crux of a stalemate over the Volcker rule, which was adopted as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act designed to rein in systemic risks. The rule, which is in the final stage of drafting by five U.S. regulators, would restrict the kinds of trades permitted by banks holding deposits insured by taxpayers. Editor's Note: Ben Bernanke Bet His Entire Portfolio on This Single Stock
Banks have lobbied heavily against the Volcker rule, arguing that it will restrict market-making and other standard banking practices.
Adding Pressure
The report and its recommendations, issued jointly by the committee's Democrats and Republicans, is expected to increase pressure on regulators to tighten exemptions in the draft Volcker rule. The Volcker rule was one of the most controversial provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, generating more than 18,000 comment letters from the industry.
Bank officials and regulators are scheduled to be questioned on the report's findings in a hearing Friday.
"JPMorgan's chief investment office increased risk by mislabeling the synthetic portfolio as a risk-reducing hedge when it was really involved in proprietary trading," said Senator John McCain of Arizona, the panel's top Republican.
Subcommittee Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan who sponsored the Volcker rule, said regulators should close a loophole in an early draft of the rule that would permit broad "portfolio" hedges.
'Manipulation, Concoctions'
"We're going to continue to work very hard for a final rule that does not allow the kind of manipulation, the kind of concoctions that were created here by the bank to be accepted in the name of hedging," Levin said in a news conference.
The subcommittee released the panel's findings after a nine-month probe into JPMorgan's record trading losses that came to light when Bloomberg News first reported them on April 5. The flawed bet on credit derivatives by a trader in London eventually cost the company more than $6.2 billion and stained Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon's 31-year Wall Street career. The trader was dubbed the "London Whale" because the derivatives positions were so large they moved credit markets.
"While we have repeatedly acknowledged significant mistakes, our senior management acted in good faith and never had any intent to mislead anyone," Mark Kornblau, a spokesman for JPMorgan, said in an e-mail.
Levin and Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, sponsored the measure that eventually became known as the Volcker rule in honor of its original proponent, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and was included in the Dodd-Frank Act. The law bars federally insured banks from proprietary trading, or trading for their own account, while allowing regulators to make exemptions for market-making and hedging.
The subcommittee found that officials at the bank's main regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, expressed skepticism that the trades were a hedge. In a May 2012 internal e-mail, an OCC examiner referred to synthetic credit portfolio as a "make believe voodoo magic 'composite hedge'."
OCC 'Misinformed'
Bryan Hubbard, a spokesman for the OCC, said the agency continues to investigate the matter. As a result of the report's findings on regulators' shortcomings, the OCC has taken steps to improve its supervision, he said.
"We are very disappointed that the bank misinformed the OCC which hampered our supervisory efforts," Hubbard said in an e-mailed statement. "We will take additional action as appropriate."
The subcommittee said the investigation uncovered evidence that bank officials portrayed the losing trades as a hedge when internal communications suggested otherwise.
For instance, in an April 13, 2012, earnings call, former Chief Financial Officer Douglas Braunstein called the positions "consistent" with the Volcker rule. However, two months earlier, the bank made the opposite assessment, the report said.
Proprietary Trading
On Feb. 13, 2012, the bank submitted an official comment letter to its regulators, including the OCC, expressing concern that the credit derivatives trading might be prohibited by the Volcker rule. In the letter, Barry Zubrow, a former risk officer who retired in December, wrote that under the proposed Volcker rule this activity "could have been deemed proprietary trading."
Also, Ina Drew, former chief investment officer for the bank, told Braunstein the day before the April earnings call that the Volcker rule was a "poor fit" with the CIO's credit derivatives trading; Braunstein said the opposite on the call the next day.
Public Misinformed
"Mr. Braunstein's optimistic assessment during the April 13 earnings call may have reassured investors, but that is no justification for misinforming the public about the bank's official position that the Volcker rule might prohibit the SCP as an example of high-risk proprietary trading," the subcommittee report stated, referring to the bank's synthetic credit portfolio.
The report said that Braunstein should have known that his comments contradicted the bank's own 68-page Volcker rule comment letter.
In addition, the investigation found that the bank considered the unit a proprietary trading operation as early as 2007. In November of that year, the bank's internal audit group issued a report characterizing the CIO's credit-trading activities as "proprietary position strategies executed on credit- and asset-backed indices." The report didn't mention hedging as a purpose of the unit. Editor's Note: Ben Bernanke Bet His Entire Portfolio on This Single Stock
Credit Risks
JPMorgan officials told the subcommittee that the trades were intended to function as insurance or to "hedge" against credit risks. Although the original document seeking approval for the synthetic credit portfolio outlined hedging as a goal, the bank was unable to produce documentation over the next five years detailing its hedging objectives, strategies, assets, risks or events it was supposed to hedge.
"The bank was also unable to explain why the SCP's hedges were treated differently from other types of hedges within the CIO," the subcommittee report.
Levin said the findings call for regulators to quickly complete the Volcker rule and strengthen it. Specifically, he said any allowance for banks to hedge should be documented and tied to a specific risk.
"We cannot allow the argument of the banks that they can hedge their entire inventory somehow where we get global hedges," Levin said at the news conference. "If they are going to claim that trades are a hedge, they've got to be able to identify what is being hedged against, what are the assets being hedged and what is the proof that it is a hedge."
'Another Look'
JPMorgan's loss re-ignited the debate in Congress over whether aggregate portfolio hedging is appropriate at all and how to define and spot these trades.
"It has made regulators take another look at hedging and what constitutes appropriate hedging and what may fit within the Volcker rule limits," Satish Kini, co-chair of the Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's Banking Group, said in advance of the report's release.
After the bank disclosed its losses May 10, Levin and Merkley sent a letter to five federal regulators urging them to remove "ill-advised loopholes" from the Volcker draft; regulators have yet to finalize the rule.
Merkley said the PSI report is another reminder for regulators to complete a "strong, simple Volcker firewall."
"JPMorgan's huge losses continue to cast a whale-sized shadow over these extended delays, and remind us once again just how important it is to separate risky, hedge-fund-style trading from the banking system that Main Street depends on," Merkley said in a statement.
Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry said in a June 2012 hearing that the JPMorgan incident was a "risk-management issue, regardless of whether or not the Volcker rule was in play."
"I think our experience here, as it unfolds with JPMorgan Chase, would help inform our views in the final rule-making," Curry said.
The subcommittee will hold a hearing on the findings tomorrow with witnesses from the bank, including Drew and Braunstein, and from the OCC, including Curry.
"The investigation of our Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations into the JPMorgan whale trades opens a window into the hidden world of high-stakes derivatives trading by a major bank," Levin said. "We found a trading operation that piled on risk, ignored limits on risk taking, hid losses, dodged oversight and misinformed the public."
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More Than Just a Basic: Soft Men's T-Shirts
After a long day in a business suit, there is nothing better than slipping on a fresh T-shirt as you kick back and relax. T-shirts are an indispensable part of any wardrobe. This is no surprise, given the variety of ways that T-shirts can be used. You can use one to make an elegant suit look a bit more casual. Alternatively, combining jeans or trousers with a T-shirt is always a good look for your leisure time – whether you go for a crew or a V-neck.
The Cotton T-Shirt
As one of the most important items in your wardrobe, a T-shirt must be comfortable to wear. And it will be with Peruvian Pima cotton: it feels soft against the skin yet is still hard-wearing. Its long fibers also prevent any fluff from forming. As well as classic white, black or gray, you can also buy our T-shirts in blue, navy or khaki.
Sold Online, Made in Europe
All of our T-shirts come from a clothing manufacturer in Portugal. This company was founded in 1982 and has been making quality-conscious underwear for BLACKSOCKS ever since. Quality also means material that is kind to the skin. The Oeko-Tex® label guarantees that all of our products are 100% skin-friendly and allergy-tested.
100% Cotton or Stretchy Material
Our Suzette and Babette T-shirts are made from 100% Pima cotton. The fine-ribbed material feels particularly gentle against the skin. If you want something more flexible, go for a Antoinette or Claudette T-shirt: the addition of elastane (5%) turns the fabric into a well-loved stretchy material that fits any upper body shape.
Buy a Crew or V-Neck T-Shirt
The different neck types come into their own depending on what you are using the T-shirt for. A V-neck has a classic look, a crew neck is more modern, and sleeveless is a good choice for wearing under a shirt. All our T-shirts are available in sizes S to XL, and the white Suzette T-shirt even comes in XXL. Order them quickly and easily via our online shop – as a two-pack or a four-pack.


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Aquamarine Chain Necklace
Aquamarine Chain Necklace
Micron gold plated sterling silver.
48 cm, adjustable.
Comes with a card about it's meaning.
Aquamarine has been used throughout history for a range of purposes, including as a talisman for good luck and protection, as a healing stone, and as a symbol of courage and power.
Compatible Chakra: 5th Throat Chakra – Vishuddha: The ability to express, believe and communicate.
Lucky Culture Guarantee
Lucky Culture Guarantee
Warranty Coverage
Your products are guaranteed against any faults caused by production for a period of 3 months.
In order to start the renovation and maintenance processes, you must apply to our stores with all the documents given to you during the purchase of the product.
For products purchased from our website, just send an email to email@example.com by specifying the order number. We will return as soon as possible.
Please read the Care Label to ensure that the products you purchased have a longer life.
Repair Time:
In accordance with the provisions of the Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection, the maximum repair period of the products covered by the warranty is 30 work days.
After the repair process is completed, necessary information will be provided by phone or email address you have specified.
Repair Procedures Included in the Warranty for 3 months with the Lucky Culture Warranty:
In order for the Lucky Culture warranty to continue, third parties and institutions must not interfere with the products in any way.
If product is misused or accidentally broken or damaged, the product is out of warranty.
In order for the repair to be carried out, it must be possible to make the product back to its original form.
Lucky Culture renews the plating of the products free of charge for 3 months under warranty.
In cases where the warranty period has passed, the product can be taken into paid maintenance if it is possible to replace it after it has been inspected.
Broken Chains:
Chains that are broken or damaged as a result of impact or snagging are not covered by the warranty.
The products, which are disconnected from welding or junction due to manufacturer defects, are repaired free of charge with a Lucky Culture Warranty for 6 months.
Stone or Enamel Drop:
In possible cases, the product is examined, if a manufacturing defect is detected, the product will be repaired or replaced within the scope of warranty.
If damage is a result of impact or compression, the product will be out of warranty. However, after the Lucky Culture employee receives approval from the workshop, paid repair can be arranged.
Discontinued Products:
Renovation of the products, which are discontinued, can only be done when spare parts are available. In such cases, the Lucky Culture employee initiates the renovation after receiving approval from the workshop.
Vintage and One of a Kind Products:
Renovation of our renewed vintage products, will only start after the approval from the workshop by the Lucky Culture employee. In the event that the pieces of the products are broken, the stones fall or get lost, a similar piece or stone might be used with the approval of the customer. In cases where a manufacturing defect is detected, the product will be exchanged.
Bespoke Pieces
Products produced with special request such as ring size or chain length are covered by the Lucky Culture Warranty for 3 months.
In cases where the warranty period has passed, the product can be taken into paid maintenance if modification is possible.
In case of broken pieces of products or missing stones, a similar part or stone will used with the approval of the customer. In cases where there is a problem due to production and no similar parts or stones are found, the product will be exchanged.
All shipping costs with return, exchange or repair shall need to be taken care by the customer unless a manufacturing defect is detected.
Typically our dispatch times (depending on the jewelry item you ordered) are within 2 days.
Shipping price is 59 TL for Turkey.
Purchases over 2500 TL, the shipping is free.
For international shipping please get in touch with us.
After your goods are delivered to the shipping provider, the tracking number will be forwarded via mail and sms.
Exchange and return cases the shipping belongs to the customer.
If you have any questions or concerns about the shipment, please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com before ordering any products, so we can figure the best way out.
Exchange and Returns
Exchange and Returns
As Lucky Culture, we want you to be satisfied with the products you have purchased!
In accordance with the Consumer Protection Law, you can return or replace your products that you have purchased within 14 days of receipt. There is no return or exchange of used, custom made or sample sale products.
Piercings are not eligible for returns because of hygienic reasons.
Return Process:
Email email@example.com with your order number and our customer service team will get in touch. Please note that the customer is responsible for all shipping costs (both of the original purchase and return process), and shipping fees are not refundable.
After your return is confirmed, the amount of your purchase will be credited to the credit card or bank account you use, deducting the shipping charge. The return date may vary depending on the applications of the bank you work with.
Exchange Procedure:
Exchanges are only available through our physical stores, not through our website, and they must be arranged in advance. Email to email@example.com and our customer service team will reach out and arrange the store exchange.
For full details of our return and exchange procedures get in touch with customer service.
Care Label
Care Label
With Lucky Culture Warranty your jewelry is protected from the original date of purchase by 3 months for damage caused by manufacturing defects. For detailed information, please read the Warranty section.
Care Tips For Using Your Lucky Culture Jewelry For A Long Time:
Store your products in their original boxes or in air-tight boxes or pouches specially made for jewelry.
Keep your products away from cosmetics, perfume and chemicals.
Do not store them in direct sunlight, especially in a humid and damp environment such as a bathroom.
Take off your jewelry while swimming and taking a shower.
Take off your jewelry during physical activities, cleaning or cooking.
The Plating
As Lucky Culture, we apply the highest quality micron coatings with the latest technologies on 925 sterling silver. However, we cannot guarantee that gold-plated jewelry will remain the same color forever. Gold plated pieces are, by default, liable to lose their color over time. The speed at which the plating fades depends on many variables, such as the natural PH ratio of your skin, the level of perspiration, or the skin care products you use. Therefore, it is important to pay particular attention to your gold plated jewelry.
If your products started to lose their plating before you expected, you can contact us by sending an e-mail to email@example.com. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
All Lucky Culture products are coated with a special protection against tarnishing, yet it is still important to follow the care instructions.
The contact of your jewelry with air can result with tarnishing over time. Sulfide layer formation is a natural process and it is a natural reaction that occurs as a result of the combination of silver with sulfur in the air. The tarnishing situation has nothing to do with the quality of the material. In such cases, we recommend wiping your jewelry with a silver cloth only when you see it necessary. In intensive use, polish on the cloth can remove the coating of your products. Silver is the most precious metal after gold. Although it changes color as a result of natural reaction over time, it can always be polished and restored.
The dragon is believed to bring good luck in Chinese culture. It is seen as a symbol of power and creativity.
Unconditional Returns
As Lucky Culture, we want you to be satisfied with the products you purchase! You can return them unconditionally within 14 days.
The Lucky Guarantee
All Lucky Culture products are guaranteed for 3 months against any defects caused by production. For detailed information, please read the Warranty section.


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Source: Date Stamp: 1985 Release Date: 1985 Carded Availability: Power of the Force Tri-Logo Assortment No. : 93750 Retail: $2.99 Weapons and Accessories: Point of Interest: This figure debuted in the United States on The Power Of The Force card, and in Europe on the Tri-Logo card. It was never packaged on a Canadian card. This figure was also package along with EV-9D9 and Amanaman in the second edition of the Return Of The Jedi Sears exclusive Jabba The Hutt Dungeon Action Playset. |
Comments: 1985 saw the plastic tribute to a great film finally realized with the addition of Barada to Kenners Star Wars action figure collection. Though subtle enough to be missed by all but the most faithful science fiction aficionado, someone (or some people) at Lucasfilm wanted to honour the film The Day The Earth Stood Still by using the three words that could save the human race from certain extinction subtly in Return Of The Jedi, a film thirty-two years its junior. So, unlike most of the background characters in the Star Wars saga, Klaatu, Barada, Nikto will always have the greatest of meanings. Major Variations: Though all vintage figures have minor variations, the Barada action figure has no known variations. Text & Photography by D. Martin Myatt. |
Back To Basic Figures


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Hello! Welcome to the Modding and Development section, where we hope to bring you more news, reviews and discussion about the latest maps and mods than you can shake a Hammer at.
I'm MisterAddy, one of the new editors at LambdaGeneration. You may recognise me as a regular at PlanetPhillip.com and this very site, as well as being a long-time lurker on the Steam Forums. I am mostly a single-player gamer so I love everything Half-Life and Portal, and will help keep you up to date with community content to help ease the SP drought.
And I, hscsguy – co-editor of Modding and Development here at Lambda Generation – am assisting in the development of this monster of an article. Like MisterAddy, I too am a fan of single player games and mods alike with a fascination of Half Life 2 multiplayer mods on the side. I am pretty active over at the forums on Steam and avidly watch over the Source modding community to an embarrassing degree. And without further ado, I leave you with that exceedingly cliché phrase as we move on to the news you came here to read.


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4725.0 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A focus on children and youth, Apr 2011
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/05/2012 Reissue
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LAW AND JUSTICE: SAFETY AND SECURITY This article is part of a comprehensive series released as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A focus on children and youth. Note: In this section, the terms 'youth' and 'young people' refer to people aged 15–24 years. Data presented are from the ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2008 (cat. no. 4714.0).
Feeling safe and secure at home is important in providing a stable foundation to overall wellbeing. Concerns over safety can impact on family relationships, participation in education and employment opportunities, as well as feelings of social inclusion. Wellbeing can also be affected by concerns over safety within the surrounding neighbourhood, with feelings of safety in the neighbourhood linked to better mental and physical health outcomes (Endnote 1). PERSONAL SAFETY People's perceptions of their personal safety can affect their feelings about their community and their participation in community activities. It can also affect their access to community services (Endnote 2). Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in 2008:
Significantly, more young males (89%) than females (61%) felt safe or very safe at home alone after dark. Young males were also more likely than young females to feel safe at home alone during the day and walking alone after dark. 1.1 FEELING SAFE OR VERY SAFE WHEN ALONE, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15–24 years—2008 (a) Difference between males and females is statistically significant. Source: 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey In most cases, there was no significant difference in feelings of safety between youth in remote and non-remote areas. However, young females in remote areas were more likely than those in non-remote areas to report feeling safe walking alone in their local area after dark (45% compared with 31%). NEIGHBOURHOOD/COMMUNITY PROBLEMS In 2008, over two-thirds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (69%) were aware of problems in their neighbourhood or community. In non-remote areas, 67% of young people were aware of neighbourhood or community problems and the most commonly reported problems were:
1.2 REPORTED NEIGHBOURHOOD PROBLEMS (a)(b), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15–24 years—2008
(b) Includes problems with neighbours, neighbourhood conflict and personal safety. (c) Difference between non-remote and remote areas is statistically significant. Source: 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey In remote areas, 34% of young people who reported problems in their neighbourhoods were satisfied or very satisfied with the way their local government handled these problems, compared with 25% of those in non-remote areas. ENDNOTES 1 Ziersch A.M., Baum F.E., MacDougall C., & Putland C. 2005, 'Neighbourhood life and social capital: The implications for health', Social Science and Medicine, 60 (1), pp. 71-86. 2 Australian Social Inclusion Board 2009, A compendium of social inclusion indicators, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.


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Nothing exemplifies the failure of Republicans to communicate more than the exit polling data regarding the public's perception of the cost of living. A whopping 37% of voters selected 'rising prices' as their most important issue in the election, yet amazingly, they split their votes evenly between Romney and Obama. Hence, the arsonist behind the high prices for food, fuel, healthcare, and every other vital product and service affected by his tax and regulatory regime, was regarded as the firefighter by half the electorate.
The single most regressive market-distorting policy to ever emanate from Washington is the absurd tendentious treatment of ethanol. Over the past decade, ethanol has been the poster child for the worst aspects of big-government crony capitalism. The ethanol industry has used the fist of government to mandate that fuel blenders use their product, to subsidize their production with refundable tax credits, and to impose tariffs on more efficient sugar-based ethanol from Brazil. These policies have distorted the market for corn to such a degree that 44% of all corn grown in the country is diverted towards motor fuel blends. If we would literally flush half the corn harvest down the toilet, we would be better off than using it to make our motor fuel less efficient.
Now, consumers are stuck with higher food and fuel prices, while rich farmers enjoy the favors of free legislation forcing people to buy their odious product. Although the subsidy has expired, the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which requires that 10% of all fuel be mixed with ethanol, is still in effect. There is no worse tyranny than using the power of the law to coerce citizens into purchasing an ineffectual product that costs more, and in turn, drives up the cost of everything else along the food chain.
Over the summer, the ethanol debate reached a new tipping point when the severe drought in the heartland destroyed much of the corn crop. At that point, even the obdurate knuckleheads in Washington began to wake up to the reality of the ethanol boondoggle. A bipartisan group of 156 representatives, 8 governors, and 25 senators petitioned the EPA to temporarily waive the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuels Standard until we recover from the drought. After dragging their feet for months, the EPA announced today that they have no intention on suspending the mandate for even one day.
Folks, this is the regressiveness of the progressives on display for everyone to see. The same man who rails against tax cuts for those who pay the most in taxes, has no problem forcing all American consumers to subsidize a boondoggle for the rich. I have a novel idea, Mr. President. Let's not steal money from the rich, but let's not subsidize them either; let's not subsidize the poor and working class, but let's not create the need for the subsidy in the first place.
There is a fierce debate taking place about the source of the GOP electoral loss this November. Many people are questioning how we can win when so many people are offered handouts from the government, irrespective of how eloquently we defend free markets and limited government. However, the real key to success is to find candidates who will complete their sentences and articulate to the American people how and why the cost of living has gone up. We need candidates who will harness issues like ethanol and hang them around the necks of the regressive progressives. This is a teachable moment for the average American, and it is ripe for anyone to come along and seize. These are the bread and butter issues that edify government interventions at their worst and how they engender the need for subsidization. We need to tell the American people that we will not subsidize them, but we will eliminate the policies that precipitate the need for those subsidies.
It's not too late to begin our message of free market populism by hanging crony capitalism around Obama's neck and passing a full repeal of the ethanol mandate in the House. That will change the entire trajectory of the debate over poverty, taxes, and the role of government. It is definitely superior to passing a special interest farm bill that is chock full of handouts for rich farmers.
Challenge your representatives to submit a bill that will repeal the ethanol mandate and begin rehabilitating the image of the Republican Party as the party that stands with individual liberty over Obama cronyism.
Cross-posted from The Madison Project


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John MacHale
FREE Catholic Classes
Born March 6, 1791 at Tubbernavine, Co. Mayo, Ireland ; died at Tuam, November 4, 1881.
He was so feeble at his birth that he was baptized at home by Father Conroy, who, six years later, was unjustly hanged during the Irish Rebellion. Though Irish was always spoken by the peasants at that time, the MacHale children were all taught English. When he was old enough John ran barefoot with his brothers to the hedge-school, then the sole means of instruction for Catholic peasant children, who on fine days conned their lessons in a dry ditch under a hedge, and in wet weather were gathered into a rough barn. John was an eager pupil, and listened attentively to lives of saints, legends, national songs, and historical tales, related by his elders, as well as to the accounts of the French Revolution given by an eyewitness, his uncle, Father MacHale, who had just escaped from France. Three important events happened during John's sixth year: the Irish Rebellion of 1798; the landing at Killala of French troops, whom the boy, hidden in a stacked sheaf of flax, watched marching through a mountain pass to Castlebar; and a few months later the brutal execution of Father Conroy on a false charge of high treason. These occurrences made an indelible impression upon the child's singularly acute mind. After school hours he betook himself to the study of Irish history, under the guidance of an excellent old scholar in the neighborhood. Being destined for the priesthood the boy was sent to a school at Castlebar to learn Latin, Greek, and English grammar. In his sixteenth year the Bishop of Killala gave him a busarship in the ecclesiastical college at Maynooth.
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The emigrant French priests who then taught at Maynooth, appreciated the linguistic aptitude of the young man and taught him not only French, but also Latin, Greek, Italian, German, Hebrew, and the English classics. After seven years of hard work, having acquired a profound knowledge of theology, he was appointed in 1814 lecturer in that science, although only a sub-deacon. Before the end of the year, however, at the age of twenty-four, he was ordained a priest by Dr. Murray, Archbishop of Dublin. Father MacHale continued his lectures at Maynooth until 1820, when he was nominated professor of theology. He was much esteemed by his students, whom he strove to render as zealous, earnest, and sincere as himself, and he never failed to give them very practical advice about their duties and studies.
Dr. MacHale was then above medium height, of rather an athletic figure. Dignified and reserved in demeanour, his simple and unassuming manners and attractive conversation procured him many admirers, including the Duke of Leinster, who often invited him to Carton, where he had frequent opportunities of meeting men capable of appreciating his intellect and character. About this period he commenced a series of letters signed "Hierophilus", vigorously attacking the Irish Established Church. They attracted the notice of Daniel O,Connell and led to a very sincere friendship between these two Irish patriots. In 1825, Leo XII appointed him Bishop of Maronia, in partibus , and coadjutor to Dr. Waldron, Bishop of Killala. After his consecration in Maynooth College chapel, the new prelate, who was warmly received by Dr. Waldron and his people, devoted himself to his sacred duties. He preached Irish and English sermons, and superintended the missions given in the diocese for the Jubilee of 1825. The next year Dr. MacHale joined Bishop Doyle ("J.K.L") in denouncing the proselytising Kildare Street Society of Dublin to which the Government unjustifiably gave countenance. He also attended the annual meeting of the Irish bishops, and gave evidence at Maynooth College before the Parliamentary Commissioners then inquiring into the condition of education in Ireland.
About this time he also revised a theological manual "On the Evidences and Doctrines of the Catholic Church ", afterwards translated into German. With his friend and ally, Daniel O'Connell, MacHale took a prominent part in the important question of Catholic Emancipation, impeaching in unmeasured terms the severities of the penal code, which branded Catholics with the stamp of inferiority. During 1826 his zeal was omnipresent; "he spoke to the people in secret and public, by night and by day, on the highways and in places of public resort, calling up the memories of the past, denouncing the wrongs of the present, and promising imperishable rewards to those who should die in the struggle for their faith. He called on the Government to remember how the Union was carried by Mr. Pitt on the distinct assurance and implied promise that Catholic Emancipation, which had been denied by the Irish Parliament, should be granted by the Parliament of the Empire" (Burke, "The History of the Catholic Archbishops of Tuam ").
In two letters written to the Prime Minister, Earl Grey, he described the distress occasioned by starvation and fever in Connaught, the ruin of the linen trade, the vestry tax for the benefit of Protestant churches, the tithes to the Protestant clergy, which Catholics were obliged to pay as well as their Protestant countrymen, the exorbitant rents extracted by absentee landlords, and the crying abuse of forcing the peasantry to buy seed-corn and seed-potatoes from landlords and agents at usurious charges. No attention was vouchsafed to these letters. Dr. MacHale accompanied to London a deputation of Mayo gentlemen, who received only meaningless assurances from Earl Grey. After witnessing the coronation of William IV at Westminster Abbey, the bishop, requiring change of air on account of ill-health, went on to Rome, but not before he had addressed to the premier another letter informing him that the scarcity in Ireland "was a famine in the midst of plenty, the oats being exported to pay rents, tithes, etc., and that the English people were actually sending back in charity what had originally grown on Irish soil plus freightage and insurance". It may be observed that Dr. MacHale never blamed the English people, whose generosity he ever acknowledged. On the other hand he severely condemned the Government for its incapacity, its indifference to the wrongs of Ireland, that aroused in the Irish peasantry a sullen hatred unknown to their more simple-minded forefathers. During an absence of sixteen months he wrote excellent descriptive letters of all he saw on the Continent. They were eagerly read in "The Freeman's Journal", while the sermons he preached in Rome were so admired that they were translated into Italian. Amid the varied interests of the Eternal City he was ever mindful of Ireland's woes and forwarded thence another protest to Earl Gray against tithes, cess, and proselytism, this last grievance being then rampant, particularly in Western Connaught. On his return he became an opponent of the proposed system of National Schools, fearing that the bill as originally framed, was an insidious attempt to weaken the faith of Irish children.
Dr. Kelly, Archbishop of Tuam, died in 1834, and the clergy selected Dr. MacHale as one of three candidates, to the annoyance of the Government who despatched agents to induce the pope not to nominate the Bishop of Maronia to the vacant see. Gregory XVI dryly remarked "that ever since the Relief Bill had passed, the English Government never failed to interfere about every appointment as it fell vacant " (Greville, "Memoirs", pt. II). Disregarding their request, the pope appointed Dr. MacHale Archbishop of Tuam. He was the first prelate since the Reformation, who had received his entire education in Ireland. The corrupt practices of general parliamentary elections and the Tithe war caused frequent rioting and bloodshed, and were the subjects of no little denunciation by the new archbishop, until matters were tardily settled by the passing of a Tithes bill in 1838. In spite of the labours of his diocese, which he always zealously fulfilled, Archbishop MacHale now began in the newspapers a series of open letters to the Government, whereby he frequently harassed the ministers into activity in Irish affairs. During the Autumn of 1835, he visited the Island of Achill, a stronghold of the Bible Readers. In order to offset their proselytism, he sent thither more priests and Franciscan monks of the Third Order. Although Dr. MacHale had strong views as to the proper relief of the poor and the education of youth, he condemned the Poor Law, and the system of National Schools and Queen's Colleges as devised by the Government. He founded his own schools, entrusting those for boys to the Christian Brothers and Franciscan monks, while Sisters of Mercy and Presentation Nuns tought the girls. But the want of funds naturally restricted the number of these schools which had to be supplemented by the National Board at a later period, when the necessary amendments had been added to the Bill.
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The Repeal of the Union, advocated by Daniel O'Connell, enlisted his ardent sympathy and he assisted the Liberator in many ways, and remitted subscriptions from his priests for this purpose. We are told by his biographer O'Reilly, that like his friend, the prelate "was for a thorough and universal organisation of Irishmen in a movement for obtaining by legal and peaceful agitation the restoration of Ireland's legislative independence". The Charitable Bequests Bill, formerly productive of numerous lawsuits owing to its animus against donations to religious orders, was vehemently opposed by the archbishop. In this he differed considerably from some other Irish prelates, who thought that each bishop should exercise his own judgment as to his acceptance of a commissionership on the Board, or as regarded the partial application of the Act. The latter has since then been so amended, that in its present form it is quite favourable to Catholic charities and the Catholic poor. In his zeal for the cause of the Catholic religion and of Ireland, so long down-trodden, Dr. MacHale frequently incurred from his opponents the charge of intemperate language, something not altogether undeserved. He did not possess that suavity of manner which is so invaluable to leaders of men and public opinion, and so he alarmed or offended others. In his anxiety to reform abuses and to secure the welfare of Ireland, by an uncompromising and impetuous zeal, he made many bitter and unrelenting enemies. This was particularly true of British ministers and their supporters, by whom he was dubbed "a firebrand", and "a dangerous demagogue". Cardinal Barnabo, Prefect of Propaganda, who had serious disagreements with Dr. MacHale, declared he was a twice-dyed Irishman, a good man ever insisting on getting his own way. This excessive inflexibility, not sufficiently tempered by prudence, explains his more or less stormy career.
During the calamitous famine of 1846-47, nothing could exceed his energy and activity on behalf of the afflicted people. He vainly warned the Government as to the awful state of Ireland, reproached them for their dilatoriness in coming to the rescue, and held up the uselessness of relief works expended on high roads instead of on quays and piers to develop the sea fisheries. From England as well as other parts of the world, cargoes of food were sent to the starving Irish. Bread and soup were distributed from the archbishop's own kitchen, and he drove about regularly to relieve hungry children and people too weak and infirm to seek for food in Tuam. The enormous donations sent to him were punctiliously acknowledged, accounted for, and promptly disbursed by his clergy among the victims of fever and famine. The death of Daniel O'Connell (1847) was a deep sorrow to Dr. MacHale. He was also much grieved at the dissentions of the Repealers, and the violent tactics of the Young Ireland Party, who would not listen to his wise and patriotic advice. In 1848, he visited Rome and by his representations to Pius IX inflicted a deadly blow upon the Queen's Colleges. He also succeeded in preventing diplomatic intercourse between the British Government and Rome. The Synod of Thurles, held in 1850, emphasized the different views entertained by the hierarchy respecting the education question. On that occasion Dr. MacHale strongly protested against giving any countenance to a mixed system of education already condemned by the pope. During the recrudescence of "No Popery" in 1851, on the occasion of the re-establishment of the English Catholic hierarchy, and the passing of an intolerant Ecclesiastical Titles Bill that inflicted penalties upon any Roman Catholic prelate who assumed the title of his see, Dr. MacHale boldly signed his letters to Government on this subject "John, Archbishop of Tuam ". This act of defiance so startled the Cabinet that it was considered more prudent not to attempt a prosecution and to allow the Bill to remain a dead letter.
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As to the Catholic University, though Dr. MacHale had been foremost in advocating the project, he disagreed completely with Dr. Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin (afterward Cardinal ), concerning its management and control, and the appointment of Dr. Newman as rector. The want of concord among the Irish bishops on this question, and the honest but totally wrong opinions of Dr. MacHale, handicapped the new university. The archbishop approved of Tenant Right and also of the Irish Tenant League. He wrote to O'Connell's son that it "was the assertion of the primitive right of man to enjoy in security and peace the fruit of his industry and labour". At a conference held in Dublin, men of all creeds supported his views on "fixity of tenure, free sale, and fair rent". Though it is impossible to relate all the events of a life which the "Freeman's Journal" described as the history of Ireland for the greater part of the nineteenth century, enough has been written to show how by pen, word, and deed, "the Lion of Juda " endeavored to benefit his country. Toward the end of his life he withdrew very much from active politics, though he was happy enough to live to see the dawn of more prosperous days for Ireland.
Notwithstanding his very advanced years, Dr. MacHale attended the Vatican Council in 1869. With several distinguished prelates of various nationalities, he thought that the favourable moment had not arrived for an immediate definition of the dogma of papal infallibility ; consequently, he spoke and voted in the council against its promulgation. Once the dogma had been defined, Dr. MacHale instantly submitted his judgment to the Holy See, and in his own cathedral he declared the dogma of infallibility "to be true Catholic doctrine, which he believed as he believed the Apostles' Creed ", a public profession that further raised John of Tuam in the estimation of all who admired his great genius and virtue. In 1877, to the disappointment of the archbishop who desired that his nephew should be his co-adjutor, Dr. McEvilly, Bishop of Galway, was elected by the clergy of the archdiocese, and was commanded by Leo XIII after some delay, to assume his post. Although the aged prelate had opposed this election as far as possible, he submitted to the papal order, without protest or resentment. In private life Dr. MacHale never wasted time, for he was always employed in study, business and prayer. He was noted for his charity to the poor, his strict fulfillment of every sacred duty, and the affectionate consideration and hospitality ever displayed towards his clergy. His intense respect for sacerdotal dignity rendered him slow to reprimand, though he was inflexible in matters of faith and principle. Every Sunday he preached a sermon in Irish at the cathedral, and during his diocesan visitations he always addressed the poor people in their native tongue. On journeys he usually conversed in Irish with his attendant chaplain, and never addressed in any other tongue the poor people of Tuam or the beggars who greeted him whenever he went out. He always encouraged the preservation of the Irish language, and compiled in it a catechism and a prayer-book. Moreover, he made translations into Irish of portions of the Holy Scripture as well as the magnificent Latin hymns, "Dies Irae" and "Stabat Mater ". He translated into Irish Moore's "Melodies" and Homer's "Iliad". In the preface to his translation of the first book of the "Iliad" he wrote that "there is no European tongue better adapted than ours (Irish) to a full or perfect version of "Homer". These Irish works of Dr. MacHale excited the sincere admiration of all Celtic scholars who were able to appreciate the beauty of his classical Gaelic. He celebrated the golden jubilee of his episcopacy in 1875. The venerable old man lived for six more years, maintaining his usual mode of life as far as his strength permitted and making the visitations of his diocese. He preached his last Irish sermon after his Sunday Mass, April, 1881. He died after a short illness, and is buried in Tuam Cathedral.
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BillboardIn its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends. |
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This article is more than 1 year old
AT&T may have influenced American Idol final vote
Partisan employees get over excited
Telecom giant AT&T stands accused of attacking the very foundations of American suffrage after allegedly tainting the results of the country's largest democratic election - voting for American Idol.
The New York Times has reported that AT&T - one of the show's largest corporate sponsors to the US edition of Pop Idol - helped ease series winner Kris Allen to victory by providing free text messaging and "power texting" lessons at parties organized by Allen fans in his home state of Arkansas.
There are no reports of similar parties and free voting services held for runner-up, Adam Lambert who many had figured was a sure series winner in last week's final.
Stung by the claims over this alleged ravaging of Lady Liberty, and the potential cloud this might cast over the show for tween and teen viewers and - by extension - the advertisers targeting them, the show's broadcaster Fox has responded by stating it's "absolutely certain" the outcome was not unfairly influenced.
"We have an independent third-party monitoring procedure in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process. In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition," Fox reportedly said.
AT&T also released a statement asserting a few local Arkansas employees were invited to attend the parties and were "caught up by the enthusiasm."
It is unclear whether the extra votes could have affected Idol's outcome, because the gap in votes separating the winner and loser of the final is not publicized.
Not only does a shaky claim to being America's one true musical zenith mean bad news for Idol sponsors like Ford and Coke who have put millions into promoting the show, it may also call into question the country's other top democratic institutions including America's Sexiest Baby, Who Wants to Date an Accountant?, USA's Got Puppies and regional competitions for World's Greatest Grandma. ®


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Shahnaz Husain Shamask-I Plus Rejuvenating Mask Review
Product Description:
Rich in almonds and other valuable herbs, this formulation helps to soften dead epithelial cells and facilitates their removal. The skin appears smooth and young, healthy and revitalized.
INR 330 for 50 gm.
Method of Use:
Apply on face and neck, avoiding the eyes. Let it dry. Wash off, preferably with milk and then water.
The face mask comes in a golden-coloured tube with a screw-off cap. The tube packaging makes it convenient to use.
My Experience with Shahnaz Hussin Shamask I:
Well, I had actually gone out to buy this particular mask and my staple hair care product "Shatone" when I picked up some other SH products like the coffee bean scrub which I reviewed a few days back.
This particular mask was recommended by the legendary, Ms. Shahnaz Husain, a few days ago in an article, in which she was giving tips to take care of the skin in the winters. Since then, it was on my "things I must get" list. :haanji:
The mask is light brown, has slightly thick consistency, but spreads out easily on the face. The texture is grainy and not smooth. It has some particles, which are though not very hard, but can give you a light scrubbing. I scrub my face with this mask first and then let it stay for 10-15 minutes before I wash it off.
The mask has a mix of herbal+chemical smell (and of almond oil too 😛 ); nothing very luring/appealing. I won't consider it pleasant, but anyway, not all products which smell good work well 😛
The mask is not a clay-based one and does not dry out completely like most face packs. I don't keep it for more than 15 minutes on my face and by that time it does not dry.
Post-washing I see that it makes my face soft, hydrated and my skin looks much better. There is no stretchy feel at all and I don't need to follow up with a moisturiser too. It is basically a nourishing mask as I can also see components like almond, sandalwood oil, honey. I believe it would be best for normal to dry and combination skin only. If you have super oily and acne-prone skin and you prefer clay-type masks with ingredients like tea tree/neem etc., then you can easily skip this.
Lastly, I would like to mention that I can only assess this mask by considering its immediate result on the skin. I use it only once in a week and not everyday, so I cannot comment/assure you whether it can do drastic good for your skin or improve skin tone, reduce blemishes or wrinkles, etc. I personally prefer using it before my evening outs so that my skin looks good. Also, I don't really seek great benefits from skin care products like scrubs or face masks as I don't use them every day.
Overall, I like the mask and I would recommend it to normal-dry-combination skinned beauties for some quick skin pampering. Ladies with oily skin, please check my post on best face packs for oily skin before you start spanking me 😀
Pros of Shahnaz Husain Shamask-I Plus Rejuvenating Mask:
- Reveals a soft, smooth skin after washing the mask off.
- Adds a slight glow.
- Does not dry out the skin like clay-based packs.
- Has slight grainy texture, so can be used as a scrub too.
- Hydrates the skin lightly.
- Suits my combination to sensitive skin.
- Never broke me out.
- The formula does not seem very high on chemicals, is more on the herbal side.
- Decent tube-type packaging.
- I like all skin-friendly things mentioned in the ingredients list.
- Shahnaz Hussain products are easily available in India.
- Bonus-Shahnaz Hussain products are cruelty free, I mean they don't test animals.
Cons of Shahnaz Husain Shamask-I Plus Rejuvenating Mask:
- I don't like its fragrance/smell.
- Slightly expensive for the 50 gm quantity given.
- Not great for oily skin.
IMBB Rating:
3.5 on 5 :-* :-* :-*
Shahnaz Forever Hair Oil
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Shahnaz Husain Herbal Kajal
Shahnaz Husain Hair Touch up
Shahnaz Hussain's Henna Precious Herb Mix
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Himani Boro Plus Healthy Skin Herbal Sun Protection Lotion
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Lotus Herbals Nutraeye Rejuvenating and Correcting Eye gel
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Avon Naturals Skin Care : Cleanser, Toner, Face Mask
Botanical Aromatherapy Face Mask Geranium
Oriflame Optimals Oxygen Boost Face Mask
Oriflame Essentials Cotton Face Mask


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Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Adcom GFA-565 monoblock power amplifier
"Hello, it is I, C. Victor Campos."
It was Adcom's Director of Product Development on the phone. He had just read my January review of the B&K M-200 monoblocks, in which I noted how Anthony H. Cordesman always seemed to rave about Adcom, Adcom, Adcom. Maybe there was an element of sour grapes on my part: Cordesman getting first crack at the Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks.
"The reason we didn't send you the amps earlier," Victor explained, "is that you wanted balanced inputs and we didn't have them ready. Now they're ready."
"And now Tony's tied up with Iraq," I said, referring to Mr. Cordesman's distinguished service as ABC News's defense analyst. "Send the amps. Excuse me, Victor, Tony's on the telly again."
Lars was sitting next to me as we watched Tony on the tube. During a lull in the fighting I told the Swede the Adcoms were coming. Meanwhile, we heard on the news that there was a small earthquake in Cleveland and some citizens of that Ohio city feared they were under attack by Iraqi Scud missiles.
"Things are looking up," I said to Lars.
"What happens if the Adcoms are terrific?" wondered Lars. "You have yust praised the B&K M-200 monoblocks as the best sound around for under $3000 a pair."
"I'll have to praise the Adcoms, too. I don't like all this praising, as you well know from the stinting praise I have lavished on your system. But if the amps are good, they're good. And if Cordesman is correct, it won't be the first time. He seems to be pretty good on Iraq, too." I paused. "Did you catch that? Peter Jennings and Tony are on a first-name basis."
What you want to know is which pair of monoblock amps is better: the Adcoms or the B&Ks. And that's toughlike asking whether Jeff Rowland Design Group amps are "better" than Krell.
Consider the Jeff Rowland amps. I haven't heard any of their models lately, but there was a time when a dealer friend handled the line and I listened a lot. Jeff's designshis amps, in particulartend to be rich, warm, dimensional: remarkably tubelike for solid-state amps. They tend to be excellent choices with speakers which "need" tubes but can benefit from the dynamic authority of solid-state: Avalons, for instance.
I had a chance to live with VTL 225 monoblocks for several monthsthe amps Bob Harley finds heavenly with his Hales Signature Two speakers. The Hales tend to be on the lean side of neutral. The VTL amps are rich, warm, generous, full, with lots of bloom in the bass. Perfect match for the Hales, perhaps, but not for my own reference Spendor S100 speakers.
The VTL 225s tend to sound too much like the Spendors, which may be why, when you mate the two, you get too much of what is usually a good thing: richness, warmth, and a sweet, forgiving quality to the treble. I needed more bite, more balls.
The Adcom GFA-565 amps arrived promptly as promised and I let them warm up while I attended a meeting of the Westchester Audiophile Society. The following day, Victor was on the horn again, close after the crack of dawn.
"Cock a doodle doo. It is I, C. Victor Campos. Is this Tom Selleck?"
"Tom Selleck?"
"I mean Sam Tellig. Is this Sam Tellig?"
"Yes, Victor, I got the amps. They sound good but I haven't had much time to listen yet."
"When I first heard the Adcom GFA-565 mono amps," Victor said, "I couldn't believe my ears. This is the best sound I have ever heard."
"You haven't heard a Krell KSA-250," I shot back. To date, the Krell KSA-250 is the best solid-state amp that I have heard, all things considered.
"I don't know how the Krell could be better than a pair of Adcom GFA-565s," Victor crowed. "The dynamics, the detail, the transparency. This amp is our masterpiece."
Only Victor Campos can get away with hype like this.
"The amp is my swan song," Victor continued.
"Swan song? You retiring? Going somewhere? Florida? Heaven?"
"No, I'm leaving for Massachusetts tonight. I'm not going anywhere, really. But I don't know how I could improve on the GFA-565. It's our masterpiece," Victor declared.
"Newt will think of something else for you to work on," I said. (Newton Chanin is Victor's bosshead honcho of Adcom.)
"I don't know any other amp I would rather listen to," Victor continued to crow, before I cut him off.
"We'll see how it compares to a Krell KSA-250," I said.
"You have a KSA-250? I thought you told me you decided not to buy one."


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You Did It!
With all the Facebook pictures of first day of school being posted right now, I thought that since my kids are out of school, it would be perfect to do a page that focused on my daughter's last day of high school.
This little owl was the perfect touch of whimsy for my big kid page. So cute and fun!
The sticker strip seem appropriate here, too! Just love what it says! Instead of using it as a complete strip, I cut it apart to make it more of a journaling grouping.
Be sure to check out the Little Yellow Bicycle Blog for more ideas with Makin' the Grade!
The team is showing so many great ideas for both the Big Kids and the Little Kids! There is certainly something for everyone!


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The glowing sphere of plutonium-238 shown was similar to the one used to power the Cassini spacecraft. |
Atomic Number: | 94 | Atomic Radius: | 243 pm (Van der Waals) |
Atomic Symbol: | Pu | Melting Point: | 640 °C |
Atomic Weight: | 244 | Boiling Point: | 3228 °C |
Electron Configuration: | [Rn]7s25f6 | Oxidation States: | 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 |
Plutonium is the second transuranium element of the actinide series. Element 93 was discovered in 1940/41 by Glenn T. Seaborg, Edwin M. McMillan, J. W. Kennedy, and A. C. Wahl by deuteron bombardment of uranium-238 in the 60-inch cyclotron at the University of California, Berkeley Lab. They first synthesized neptunium-238 (half-life 2.1 days) which subsequently beta-decayed to form a new heavier element with atomic number 94 and atomic weight 238 (half-life 87.7 years). It was fitting that element 94 be named after the next planetoid, Pluto following the precedence that uranium was named after the planet Uranus and neptunium after the planet Neptune. Seaborg submitted a paper to the journal Physical Review in March 1941 documenting the discovery, but the paper was quickly withdrawn when it was found that an isotope of plutonium, Pu-239 could undergo nuclear fission making it useful in developing an atomic bomb. Pu-239 had a fission cross-section 50% greater than that of 235U, the best fissioning element known at that time.
Seaborg was called away from Berkeley to lead the Plutonium Production Lab or "Met Lab" at the University of Chicago. The Met Lab was to produce useful quantities of plutonium as part of the secret Manhattan Project during World War II to develop an atomic bomb. On August 18, 1942, a trace quantity of plutonium was isolated and measured at the Met Lab for the first time. About 50 micrograms of Pu-239 combined with uranium and fission products was produced and only about 1 microgram was isolated. This was enough material for chemists to determine the new element's atomic weight. In November 1943 a few milligrams of PuF3 was reduced to create the first sample of plutonium metal. Enough plutonium was produced to make it the first man-made element to be visible to the unaided eye.
The nuclear properties of plutonium-239 were also being studied and researchers found that when hit with a neutron it fissions by releasing energy and more neutrons. These neutrons can hit neighboring atoms of Pu-239 and so on, in an exponentially fast chain-reaction, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This energy could result in an explosion large enough to destroy a city or fuel a nuclear reactor.
During WW II the three primary research and production sites of the Manhattan Project were the Plutonium Production Facility at what is now the Hanford Site, Washington, the Uranium Enrichment facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the weapons research and design laboratory, now known as Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 1943, the first production reactor that made Pu-239 was the X-10 Graphite Reactor built at a facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee that later became the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Manhattan Project produced the plutonium for the "Trinity Test" conducted in New Mexico by Los Alamos Laboratory Director Robert Oppenheimer and Army General Leslie Groves. The world's first atomic bomb ("The Gadget") was exploded near Socorro, New Mexico on July 16, 1945, resulting in an explosion with an energy equivalent of approximately 20,000 tons of TNT. The first atomic bomb used in war had a uranium core and was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The second atomic bomb used had a plutonium core and was nicknamed "Fat Man" because of its round shape. It was used to destroy Nagasaki, Japan in August 9, 1945, which put an end to WW II.
Publication of the discovery and the naming of the new element plutonium was delayed until a year after the end of World War II. Seaborg originally considered the name "plutium", but later thought that it did not sound as good as "plutonium."
Later, during the Cold-War era, large stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium were built up by both the Soviet Union and the United States. Each year about 20 tons of plutonium is still produced as a by-product of the nuclear power industry. As of 2007 it was estimated that the plutonium stockpile was about 500 tons, world-wide. Since the end of the Cold War these stockpiles have become a focus of nuclear proliferation concerns. In 2000, the United States and the Russian Federation mutually agreed to each dispose of 34 tons of weapon grade plutonium before the end of 2019 by converting it to a mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel to be used in commercial nuclear power reactors.
Today plutonium-239 remains an important component of nuclear weapons, and the United States maintains plutonium-related capabilities in support of national defense and global nuclear deterrence. Pu-239 for civilian nuclear power plants provides energy for many nations. Plutonium-238 continues to be vital to space exploration pushing the limits beyond which manned space exploration is possible and satisfying our quest for knowledge.
Twenty-three radioactive isotopes of plutonium have been characterized from mass numbers 228 to 247. Nine of these exhibit metastable states, though these all have half-lives less than one second. The longest-lived isotopes are plutonium-244, with a half-life of 80.8 million years, plutonium-242, with a half-life of 373,300 years, and plutonium-239, with a half-life of 24,110 years. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives less than 7,000 years. The primary decay modes of isotopes with mass numbers lower than plutonium-244, are spontaneous fission and α emission, mostly forming uranium and neptunium isotopes as decay products along with a variety of daughter fission products. The primary decay mode for isotopes with mass numbers higher than plutonium-244 is by β emission, mostly forming americium isotopes as daughter decay products. Plutonium-241 is the parent isotope of the neptunium decay series, decaying to americium-241 via β decay. By far of greatest importance is the isotope 239Pu produced in extensive quantities in nuclear reactors from natural uranium:
238U (n, gamma) → 239U (beta) → 239Np (beta) → 239Pu
Plutonium-238 with a half-life of 87.7 years is another important isotope. Both Pu-239 and Pu-238 have many practical applications as discussed below.
Plutonium is unique among the elements in its physicochemical complexities by virtue of its position at a transitional location in the periodic table where the 5f electrons are at the border between delocalized (not associated with a single atom) and localized (associated with a single atom) behavior and it is considered one of the most complex of the elements. Plutonium also sits near the juncture where the actinide series transitions from main d-block element chemistry to rare earth like behavior as a result of the actinide contraction. Because of its defense and commercial importance, plutonium is one of the most intensely investigated of elements.
Plutonium metal has a bright silvery appearance at first and takes on a dull gray, yellow or olive green tarnish when oxidized in air. A relatively large piece of plutonium is warm to the touch because of the energy given off by alpha decay. Larger pieces will produce enough heat to boil water. The metal readily dissolves in concentrated mineral acids. Plutonium metal normally has six allotropes or crystal structures; alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), delta (δ), delta prime (δ') and epsilon (ε). It forms a seventh phase (zeta, ζ) under high temperature and a limited pressure range. These allotropes have very similar energy levels but significantly varying densities (from 16.00 to 19.86 grams/cm3) and crystal structures. This makes plutonium very sensitive to changes in temperature, pressure, or chemistry, and allows for dramatic volume changes following phase transitions. At room temperature plutonium is in its alpha (α) form, the most common structural form of the element. It is as hard and brittle as cast iron unless alloyed with other metals to form the room-temperature stabilized delta (δ) phase which makes it soft and ductile. Unlike most metals, it is not a good conductor of heat or electricity. It has a low melting point (640 °C) and an unusually high boiling point (3,228 °C).
A ring of 99.96% pure electro-refined plutonium (Los Alamos National Laboratory) |
Plutonium can form alloys and intermediate compounds with most other metals. Gallium, aluminum, americium, scandium and cerium can stabilize the δ phase of plutonium metal. Nuclear fuel pellets can be formed by alloying plutonium with various metals such as: aluminum; zirconium; cerium; cerium-cobalt; uranium-titanium, uranium-zirconium and uranium-molybdenum. Thorium-plutonium-uranium alloys were investigated as a nuclear fuel for fast breeder reactors. A plutonium-gallium-cobalt alloy (PuCoGa5) was found to be an unconventional superconductor, showing superconductivity below 18.5 Kelvin, an order of magnitude higher than the highest between heavy fermion systems known.
Plutonium forms compounds with a variety of other elements. Plutonium reacts with pure hydrogen, forming plutonium hydrides. It also reacts readily with oxygen, forming PuO and PuO2 as well as intermediate and sub-stoichiometric oxides. The metal reacts with the halogens, giving rise to trivalent Pu compounds with the general formula PuX3 where X can be F, Cl, Br or I and tetravalent plutonium compounds such as PuF4. The following oxyhalides are observed: PuOCl, PuOBr and PuOI. Plutonium reacts with carbon to form PuC, nitrogen to form PuN and silicon to form PuSi2. Pu3+ and Pu4+ oxalates are important intermediates that are calcined to form oxides as a step in plutonium processing. Other important compounds in reprocessing are fluoride, peroxide, acetylacetone, carbonate and hydroxide.
The color displayed by plutonium solutions depends on both the oxidation state and the extent of complexation by various ligands. In aqueous solution plutonium exhibits five ionic valence states: Pu+3 (blue lavender), Pu+4 (salmon-colored, when uncomplexed), PuO+ (lavender), PuO+2 (orange-brown) and PuOxOHy (dark green in basic solution). The pentavalent ion, PuO+ is unstable in aqueous solutions and it disproportionates into Pu+4 and PuO+2. However, PuO2+ can be stabilized in aqueous solution in a narrow pH range around 4.5. By virtue of the close proximity of the electrode potentials of the various plutonium redox couples (~ 1 Volt/NHE), four oxidation states can co-exist in solution simultaneously: Pu3+, Pu4+, PuO2+ and PuO22+.
Various oxidation states of plutonium in aqueous solution; all in non-complexing perchloric acid, except Pu(VII) in strong base. (D. E. Hobart and P.D. Palmer, Los Alamos National Lab.) |
Pu4+ is a "hard" (ionic) cation with the largest electronic charge of plutonium ions and it forms complexes with a variety of inorganic and organic ligands. In dilute perchloric acid, Pu4+ is un-complexed and is salmon-colored. However in concentrated acids, Pu4+ forms anionic complexes such as: Pu(NO3)62- (dark green) and Pu(Cl)62- (brick red). Pu4+, having a high ionic charge readily hydrolyzes (combines with hydroxide ion) at near-neutral pH values forming a green colloidal suspension that behaves like a solution but is actually a solid precipitate that can be separated by ultra-centrifugation.
Plutonium-organic complexes are very important for separation, reprocessing, and purification and include: Tributyl phosphate (TBP); Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA or HDEHP); octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO); crown-ethers; and many others.
Plutonium is the heaviest primordial element in existence by virtue of its most stable isotope, plutonium-244, whose half-life of about 80 million years is just long enough for the element to be found in trace quantities in nature. In 1971 mass spectrometric measurements of plutonium isolated from Precambrian bastnasite (a lanthanide chloride-fluoride mineral) by Hoffman and coworkers confirmed the presence of Pu-244 in nature. Although the existence of Pu-244 as an extinct radioactive element had been postulated to explain the xenon isotope ratios observed in meteorites, this is the first indication of its present existence in nature. Plutonium also exists in trace quantities in naturally occurring uranium ores. It is formed in much the same manner as neptunium: by irradiation of natural uranium with the neutrons followed by beta decay. Exceedingly small amounts of Pu-238, attributed to the extremely rare double-beta decay of U-238, have been found in natural uranium samples. Plutonium was most likely formed by neutron activation of natural U-238 at the Oklo natural reactor but if formed it has long since decayed away. Plutonium is for the most part a by-product of nuclear reactions in reactors where some of the neutrons released by the fission process convert U-238 nuclei into plutonium. Plutonium-238 and -239 are the most widely synthesized isotopes. Plutonium-239 is synthesized via the following reaction using uranium (U) and neutrons (n) via beta decay (β−) with neptunium as an intermediate:
Plutonium-238 is synthesized by bombarding uranium-238 with deuterons in the following first discovery reaction:
Plutonium has assumed the position of dominant importance among the transuranium elements because of its use as an explosive ingredient in nuclear weapons and the place which it holds as a key material in the development of industrial use of nuclear power. During fission, a fraction of the binding energy, which holds a nucleus together, is released as a large amount of electromagnetic and kinetic energy which is quickly converted to thermal energy. Fission of a kilogram of plutonium-239 can produce an explosion equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT which is equivalent to about 22 million kilowatt hours of heat energy. In 1982 it was estimated that about 300,000 kg had accumulated. The most common chemical process, PUREX (Plutonium–URanium EXtraction) reprocesses spent nuclear fuel to extract plutonium and uranium which can be used to form a mixed U/Pu oxide or "MOX" fuel for reuse in nuclear power reactors. MOX fuel production is also a good mechanism to reduce excessive defense plutonium stockpiles for peaceful purposes, which in effect is forging "swords into plowshares."
Plutonium isotopes undergo radioactive decay, which produces decay heat. Different isotopes produce different amounts of heat per mass. Pu-238 with a half-life of 88 years has a relatively high heat production rate which makes it useful as a power source with a long service life. The decay heat is usually listed as watt/kilogram, or milliwatt/gram. Pu-238 is a heat source in radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which are used to power spacecraft and extra-terrestrial rovers. As a power and heat source, Pu-238 has also been used to power instruments left on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, weather satellites and interplanetary probes and powers the Cassini Saturn mission and the Mars rovers.
Plutonium-238 was at one time used successfully to power artificial heart pacemakers but has been replaced by lithium-based primary cells. Plutonium-238 was studied as a way to provide supplemental heat to scuba divers. Pu-238 mixed with beryllium is a convenient method to generate neutrons.
Pu-238 powers the Cassini Mission now orbiting Saturn. (NASA) |
Plutonium, along with all of the other transuranium elements, is a radiological hazard and must be handled with specialized equipment and precautions. Animal studies have found that a few milligrams of plutonium per kilogram of tissue are lethal. Plutonium is more dangerous when inhaled than when ingested. When inhaled, plutonium can pass into the bloodstream moving throughout the body and into the bones, liver, or other body organs. Plutonium that reaches body organs generally stays in the body for decades and continues to expose the surrounding tissue to radiation and thus may cause cancer. Precautions must also be taken to prevent the unintentional formulation of a critical mass. Pure Pu-239 metal present in sufficient quantity with an appropriate geometry can form a critical mass and pose a serious and often lethal criticality event. Low levels of plutonium in the environment is a result of world-wide fallout from numerous above-ground nuclear tests during the Cold War (now banned) pose little health hazard. Disposal of plutonium waste from nuclear power plants and dismantled nuclear weapons built during the Cold War is a nuclear-proliferation and environmental concern.
Further Reading
- D. L. Clark, S. S. Hecker, G. D. Jarvinen, and M. P. Neu (2006) "Plutonium", Chapter 7 in The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements, Third Edition, L. R. Morss, J. Fuger, and N. M. Edelstein, Eds, Springer Publishers.
- Los Alamos Science (2000) Number 26, Volume I and II, Los Alamos National Laboratory report LA-UR-00-4100.
- Wikipedia - Plutonium
Updated by Dr. David Hobart, August 2013.


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Browse our selection of Power Semiconductors
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April 2009: Named among the largest corporations in the San Francisco Chronicle's "Chron 200"
April 2009: Ranked among the top companies in the San Jose Mercury News' "Silicon Valley 150"
October 2007: Named in "Silicon Valley Deloitte Technology Fast 50"
June 2007: Ranked among Business 2.0 Magazine's "100 Fastest-Growing Technology Companies"
April 2007: California Innovation Award - California Tech 100 & California Commission on Jobs and Economic Growth
Diminishing natural resources, demand for cheap clean electricity and an environmental drive for energy efficiency were the leading reasons for the foundation of IXYS, and today, contribute to the growing demand for IXYS' products. IXYS has become the pioneer in advanced power MOSFETs and IGBTs for power management, energy efficiency and medical electronics, namely defibrillators.
Dr. Nathan Zommer, IXYS Chairman and CEO, founded IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ: IXYS) in 1983 in Santa Clara, CA, known as Silicon Valley. Seed capital was provided by a legendary group of Silicon Valley venture capitalists led by Adler & Co. The name IXYS was derived from the goal of "Integrated Control SYStems", (ICSYS), and as Dr. Zommer said, "We integrated first our name, the 'C' and the 'S' with the letter X, and continue to integrate power and control as the technology for the future." 1983 was a prolific year in Silicon Valley's history, with numerous start ups, yet IXYS was unique in its focus on power and energy, and was one of only a few power semiconductor companies that were founded with the "fabless" concept. Dr. Zommer also pioneered the concept of utilizing advanced CMOS IC manufacturing foundries to produce high power and high voltage power semiconductors.
IXYS quickly differentiated itself from other power semiconductor companies by establishing a product portfolio of higher performance, innovative high efficiency, high power MOSFETs and IGBTs, with numerous patents for design and process. In 1989, IXYS provided the advanced power MOSFETS for the development of the General Motors' Impact electric car that became the historic EV1, a legacy being re-played now with the return of the electric car.
A Silicon Valley visionary, IXYS identified the need for 'green energy' or energy efficient products decades ahead of its competitors; the company continues to address this burgeoning market from the power semiconductor perspective.
IXYS grew overseas with a global vision in mind by acquiring and growing a specialized power bipolar wafer fab and assembly operation in Germany in 1989. Since then its global reach expanded to the United Kingdom, Korea, Taiwan and in more locations in the USA. IXYS became a NASDAQ-listed public company in 1998, and currently has headquarters in Milpitas, CA and Biel, Switzerland.
Today IXYS owns four wafer fabs within its operations; three facilities employ silicon technology, and one is GaAs RF based, with an additional dedicated DCB power substrate manufacturing line. IXYS' wafer fabs utilize unique advanced high voltage processes that are not available in typical foundries.
IXYS' wide range of products are embedded in industrial automation, motor controls, telecommunication systems, electric trains, electric cars, elevators, medical imaging systems, defibrillators, power supplies and UPS, appliances, consumer products, alarm systems, airplanes and more. Backed by divisions Clare Inc. and Zilog, IXYS expanded its control IC offerings to complement its growing power semiconductor business; today, IXYS offers mixed signal ICs, HVICs and legendary MCUs.
IXYS was recognized as one of the 100 fastest growing technology companies by Business 2.0 magazine, and was named one of the 15 most innovative companies by the State of California. Deloitte and Touche named IXYS as one of the "Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50" in 2006, and is ranked annually in the top 100 companies of Silicon Valley.
With $380 million in annual revenues, IXYS continues to execute on its long-standing strategic initiatives -- backed by its founder, seasoned management team and shareholders. Today, IXYS has a growing, diversified product portfolio, which includes power MOSFETs, IGBTs, bipolar power semiconductors, BCDMOS SOI high voltage ICs, RF MMICs, amplifiers, mixed signal ICs, microcontrollers and systems.


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Colnago K.Zero time trial bike launched
A big step up from the Flight TT
This story originally appeared on Bikeradar.
At a time when quite a few bike companies are feeling the pinch and research and design budgets are being reeled in, Colnago have been busy ploughing ahead with a slew of new things. On top of their recent C59 Disc road bike, they also launched a new time trial bike which they're calling the K.Zero.
Both bikes were launched at the Taipei trade show, which is essentially mid-season for consumers. It's quite a bold move, as it sets a precedent for what might or might not be launched at the trade/consumer shows later in the year such as Eurobike and Interbike.
At first glance it might well look like a revamp of the existing Colnago Flight TT bike, but it isn't. It's a whole new bike, about the only thing it has in common with the Flight is that it has Colnago written on it.
Starting at the front Colnago have integrated the bar and the stem. Instead of making the bar change from an aero profile to a round shape to fit into a conventional stem, they have simply kept the aero profile going the full width of the bar and made the stem clamp have the same aero profile shape to hold the bar. This means you can't rotate the bar in the stem, but being able to do that on an aero bar designed with an NACA aero profile that works when running what you might term as 'flat' would be ridiculous. Making sure the bar can only be fitted in the orientation where it has the least drag is a smart idea, and also allows the stem to be thinner (when viewed from the front as the air sees it).
The stem then integrates to a certain degree with the top tube area of the frame, with only a slight gap between the two, but importantly a deliberate small step down from the top of the stem to the top of the top tube. Another important thing to note in this area is that there are no exposed cables at all - nothing but sculpted surfaces designed to be slippery and/or condition the air flowing over them to reap benefits further along the frame.
That bar and stem setup clamps onto a fork with a conventional steerer tube, but at the end of the steerer Colnago have designed a fork that is far from conventional. The blades and their relationship to the rotating front wheel have been closely studied, and the result is a little less drag, but a better air flow coming off the fork and wheel assembly for the rest of the bike to encounter as it moves. The forks also feature a built in brake system courtesy of TRP. Essentially a short-arm V-brake setup, but manufactured to continues the aero shape that conditions the air onto the downtube. Again, no exposed cables at all.
Complete rethink
The main frame has had everything redesigned. All the tube profiles are new, and are either standard NACA profiles, or modified versions by Colnago that still fit within the UCI regulations. The chainstays have gained a healthy 7% increase in stiffness, resulting in measurable gain (slight, but important) in the energy transfer between the rider and the rear wheel which drives the bike forwards. The chainstays also incorporate a brake system similar to the forks, tucked away behind the bottom bracket shell. But this time the brakes are partially hidden by a cover which acts to keep the air flow speed high along the insides of the chainstays (almost like a twin-keel floor on older F1 cars). This reduction in pressure along the inside of the chainstays allows the rotating rear wheel an easier space within which to rotate, so at a not too narrow range of speeds the rear wheel requires less energy to rotate, meaning more energy is left over to power the bike forwards.
There are smaller details too, such as the trailing nacelle where a conventional rear brake would be that works the smooth the air that flows from it and onto the rotating rear tyre. It is a tiny benefit for sure, but that's the main thing with aero bikes these days... Designers are chasing small benefits around a whole system - the complete bike - looking for little percentages here and there. But if they find 1% in nine key areas, that's a whole lot of speed for simply paying attention to several small details. And Colnago, along with the K.Zero's lead designer Davide Fumagalli have done just that (the K.Zero has exactly 9% lower drag coefficient compared to the Flight). All we have to do now is wait for ours to arrive.
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