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Saturday, July 30, 2011
The ideal thirst-quencher - a refreshing real lemonade
I love the fact that Estonia is becoming more knowledgeable about food - both its own and in general. During the Soviet time you couldn't really buy lemons at all. Then, for well over a decade, we got lemons, but often of questionable quality. I guess with our small population - just over 1.3 million people (= a very small market share) - our fruit importers didn't have much bargaining power at the European fruit and vegetable wholesalers and often ended up with the worst of the available fruit - including dried up lemons. (Still, compared to the "fresh" artichokes or rubbery fennels I've seen, the lemons have been pretty decent, I guess).
Now, during the last few years, we've had a bit of a food(ie) revolution happening. The number of excellent food blogs have sky-rocketed. There are lots of lovely restaurants popping up here and then. Organic food is becoming more available and small, artisanal producers have appeared on the shelves. The country of origin has become more important. If we take lemons, then it's not just a lemon you're buying, but lemons from Spain, Italy or elsewhere - depending on the season and the grocery store. And just recently I've realised that some stores even mark the variety of lemons. My local grocery store has been selling Spanish Primofiori lemons -huge, juicy and beautifully acidic (NB! Do not confuse with the Sicilian primofiore lemons). According to this page, Primofiori (locally known as limon Fino or limon Mesero in Spain) is the most important and popular lemon variety in the Mediterranean basin- over half of the annual Spanish lemon crop is made up of this variety. Primofiori lemons are large (mine averaged at 350 g each!), and they yield a lot of juice for their size.
Here's how I've been making lemonade to quench the thirst - we've had weeks of sunny, warm and dry summer here in Estonia, so this lemonade has been a real hit. It keeps for a week in the fridge, so it's
Note that there's no point giving exact number of lemons here - my Primofiori lemons were weighing about 350 g, yielding about 100 ml (just under 1/2 cup) juice each. I'll just give a proportion of sugar per juice that I've used. This yields a sharp and just slightly sweet lemonade - use more sugar, if you wish.
A really refreshing lemonade
(Tõeliselt mõnus limonaad)
juicy lemons
caster sugar
to serve:
still or sparkling soda water or plain water
ice cubes
Wash the lemons carefully, cut in half and juice them. Measure the juice, then take about 100 g (3.5 oz) of sugar per 250 ml (1 cup) of lemon juice.
Place sugar and lemon juice into a small saucepan and bring slowly to a boil. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring every now and then.
Cool a little, then bottle and keep in the fridge.
To serve, place some ice cubes into a glass, pour some lemonade extract in over the ice cubes and top with (soda) water, to taste.
8 comments:
- n-talo said...
excellent photo, and your lemon sirup looks refreshing
- 8:50 pm, July 30, 2011
- Nisrine said...
I love homemade lemonade. This one looks and sounds fantastic especially with sparkling water.
- 9:50 pm, July 30, 2011
And the skins can be frozen and filled with lemon ice-cream!
- 11:31 pm, July 30, 2011
- retriever said...
I love limonade fruitnaturel when weather is cold, greeting from belgium
- 6:48 am, July 31, 2011
- Pene said...
Try adding some fresh chopped up mint as well.
- 7:25 am, August 01, 2011
- Joy said...
A couple of drops of rosewater turns real lemonade into an even more delicious drink.
- 6:22 am, August 03, 2011
Any suggestions on using a "better natural sugar" like stevia?
- 8:01 am, August 04, 2011
- grace Virlouvet said...
Great lemonade.. i also do the same in hot summer days! really refreshing! and fresh mint leaves if available in the garden.. they just sometime wither. :(.. thanks for sharing!
- 2:01 am, August 15, 2011
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Of all unfortunate things that can befall your humble abode, a fire is probably the most devastating. Hence you need a solid fire detection and alarm system to detect if there is a chance for a fire and nip the situation in the bud.
The First Alert SA710CN Smoke Alarm with Photoelectric Sensor is one such smoke detector that you would like to keep inside your house. It uses photoelectric sensors which tend to be more accurate and cause less number of false alarms. It is a small unit that can be installed in the ceiling or the wall as per your needs.
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The unit is powered by 9 volt batteries which come included with the system. It has a low battery warning letting you know when to replace the batteries. A button is provided to test if the system is working correctly or not. There is not much more you can expect from a simple yet effective fire detector that will not burn a hole in your pocket.
See Home Security View for more information.

subset: commoncrawl


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Delta Air Lines' acquisition of an oil refinery in Trainer, Pa., could give it a fuel cost advantage of at least 20 cents a gallon over competitors on transatlantic services from New York and ultimately market dominance across the Atlantic.
According to Philip Verleger, Jr., an economic consultant on energy and commodity markets and publisher of Petroleum Economics Monthly for more than 25 years, simply reducing the refining margin on jet fuel will provide much of these savings for Delta. This so-called "crack spread," according to Verleger, currently stands at about 15 cents a gallon.
An additional five to 10 cents in savings, says Verleger, will come from the reduced supply for jet fuel on the U.S. East Coast for Delta's competitors in the New York market, and their growing reliance on more expensive imported stocks. This benefit alone could give Delta a $4,000-5,000 advantage on every flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport, based on a Boeing 777's hourly fuel burn, Verleger calculates, and could grow even higher should the small number of refineries located on the East Coast use increased demand to raise prices.
"I fully expect to see five years from now that a much larger share of the international flights from JFK will be Delta's," says Verleger, who three decades ago focused on the air transport sector for his PhD thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "To really build New York and make it work, you need a cost advantage, and this gives them the cost advantage."
Verleger also foresees competitive problems for United Airlines on transatlantic flying out of nearby Newark Liberty International Airport.
Cost Advantage
According to Verleger, Delta's potential competitive advantage compares to Southwest Airlines' hedging policy before the spike in fuel costs that gave it a distinct cost advantage for several years over the many U.S. airlines that did not hedge. "By acquiring the Trainer refinery, Delta may pull off the same feat as Southwest," Verleger says in a "Notes at the Margin" report he prepared for Platts just before Delta announced its deal. Platts, like Aviation Week, is owned by the McGraw-Hill Companies.
"Delta will be able to cover a large portion of its jet fuel needs at the major New York airports at a cost substantially below that of its competitors," adds Verleger. "This advantage would be particularly useful in the very competitive North Atlantic market, where Delta goes up against American [Airlines], British Airways (BA), Lufthansa, Air France, United and Virgin Atlantic, among others.
"With Trainer, Delta could match the competition's prices and pocket profits from lower-cost fuel. Alternatively, it could follow Southwest's example and initially pass the cost savings on to consumers. This would force larger losses on other airlines or cause them to exit the market. We bet that Delta chooses the latter option," notes Verleger.
American Airlines, which is currently restructuring under Chapter 11 protection, is "in no position to fight a price war," and could be particularly susceptible to pressure and vulnerable on its New York-London route, believes Verleger. BA, which has a joint venture with American on transatlantic services, also could pay a price.
But Verleger notes that Delta is taking some risks. It is expecting the refinery to be profitable, which Verleger thinks is possible but is a broad assumption given the economic difficulties affecting refineries in the past years. Environmental regulations also could create problems, especially if the Environmental Protection Agency tightens rules on sulfur levels in fuel, Verleger says. Boosting jet fuel production—Delta plans to more than double it at Trainer—will create more sulfur, he notes.
Spending to comply with such regulations "can easily be the cost of one or two [Boeing] 777s," adds Verleger.
Refineries also have to be shut down every year or so for maintenance and, Verleger notes, accidents often occur when refineries come back online. Refinery owners usually build inventories of the refined products ahead of time to carry them through the shutdowns—or strike deals with other refiners to cover each other during their respective maintenance periods—but Delta still will face the risk of an unexpected shutdown.
Healthy Returns
Refineries also pay interest on that extra inventory, and Delta may find that cost rising in the coming years as interest rates rise.
In spite of the risks, Verleger believes Delta is making the right move. The airline, for its part, believes it has mitigated its risks. The carrier, for example, says it has environmental indemnities for anything that occurs prior to its ownership of the refinery. Delta also notes that it already has a three-year agreement with BP to supply the crude oil to be refined at the facility, and multi-year agreements with BP and Phillips 66 to exchange the refinery's gas, diesel and other products for jet fuel supplies across its network.
The airline also has employed Jeffrey Warmann, a 25-year industry veteran and former manager for Murphy Oil USA's Meraux, La., refinery, to run its facility.
Delta CEO Richard Anderson also notes that the airline is acquiring the refinery at what he considers a bargain price of $150 million, net of the $30 million that Pennsylvania is putting toward the deal. Even with Delta's planned investment of $100 million to boost the refinery's jet fuel output, Anderson says the amount Delta is spending equals the list price of one 777. For its investment, it expects to save about $300 million a year on fuel costs. "I actually think this is a lot less risky than buying 60 new airplanes and spending $2.5 billion in capital," which is what Delta calculates it would need to do to achieve the same amount of cost savings by flying more fuel-efficient aircraft, Anderson says.


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Betty Catherine Petefish
Betty Catherine Petefish, 76, of Van Buren, Ark., died Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Van Buren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan, 18, at Poteau Valley Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Parsley officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. in Fort Smith (Ark.) National Cemetery under the direction of Evans and Miller Funeral Home, Poteau.


text:
The End
Long time no speak. First, the good news: the book is finished. It's written, illustrated, designed, printed, bound, and shipped. Right now, several thousand books are skittering out all... Read more
Hi friends,
We're halfway through August, right in the middle of the haze of summer, and I'm thinking about snow. See, I've got two documents open right now: one is... Read more
✓ First Draft
Dear reader,
Three days ago I submitted the first draft of the Shape of Design to its editor, Mandy Brown. Three weeks from now, she will return the manuscript, cleaned... Read more
Shipping Details
Hi folks,
Lots of questions about shipping, especially international shipping. Here are the details. It's simple, really:
All prices already include shipping costs.
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Funding Goal is Met! And then some! And then some more!
I have no idea what to type into this little box.
At this point, I suppose the only thing to say is THANK YOU. Sincerely. I was confident that the... Read more


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|2004-09-08, 20:00
|Link #1
Combating Spoiler Scum
Join Date: Nov 2003
Age: 35
Perfect Blue [movie]
So I watched Perfect Blue 5 minutes ago, and I am not sure at all of what happened. My first impression is that maybe the entire movie was the delusions of the has-been pop-artist Rumi (pretending that she was Mima), but I'm not at all sure about that. Others have said that Mima really was having issues and Rumi was pushing her into it. If somebody could help me out, that would be great!
|2007-02-12, 16:07
|Link #4
Dark Lord of the West
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Age: 31
Perfect Blue [movie]
I just got a new anime movie. It's called Perfect Blue. It came out a few years ago and I got it(VHS) and watched it and I was impressed and I loved how the story kept you in it till the end.
I give Perfect Blue **** out of ***** (4 out of five stars)
|2007-04-19, 12:56
|Link #6
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
This movie seemed very schizoid at first. Kinda like a Hitchcock film. In fact, I would say that is the best quick description... "Think animated Hitchcock."
I liked it, I didn't go gaga pver it... but it was ok.
I don't think I need to help clarify the events, as that was already done.
Although I will disagree with Fronzel on the ending. Sure it was simplistic...but it fit. After all the delusional depictions and hallucionogenic animations... the simplistic ending grounds the rest of what you have been seeing. It makes the whole deal make sense and sort of anchors it to reality in that way.
Of course, that is my perceptions, and no one is obliged to agree with them.
|2009-07-05, 13:50
|Link #8
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: England
Age: 37
I saw the HD version not that long ago, still feels the same, just in better detail.
I really like it.
One thing I will add, if you ever feel like tracking down the live action. DON'T, its rubbish. Plus the cover looks like a porn film, not good when your boss sees you lending it to someone you work with.
|horror, psychological
|Thread Tools


text:
drabbat necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 170 diseños de 61 diseñadores freelance.
Wedding photography company, Rabbat Photography needs a new, classy, timeless, logo. We want something that will be in style for a long a long time. We specialize in wedding photojournalism.
Rabbat Photography
New logo that can be used both on the front page of our homepage and as a watermark on the photos. We are currently revamping our entire website and will base it around the logo.
Our company is a wedding photojournalist company with 2 photographers at every wedding. We also do our best to run our business in the most environmentally friendly way we can.
- The name, Rabbat Photography or initials RP
- Classy
- Vector format
- Should fit into a rectangular or oval space-can be a modified rectangle or oval (ie. doesn't have to be exact).
- Existing colour scheme not necessary
- Could have some green in it to show that we are environmental, but doesn't have to
- Should be able to use it as a watermark
- I like art deco and 1920s style (but with that in mind, I don't want it to look too dated).
- Be creative!
- Pastel colours
- No backwards letters (realized this after looking at some of the initial designs).
- Clip art
- No cheesy images of brides and grooms or camera related things
- Not STRICTLY wedding related, since we do other types of photography as well.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
An Epic Games exec has compared the PlayStation 4 to "a really perfect gaming PC," citing the console's combination of "phenomenal" hardware and convenient user experience.
He know's PC's can have much better hardware. This is more addressing the fact that unlike PC's, which most are tied to the Window's OS eating RAM, the PS4 is built for Gaming and to be utilized for gaming.
"He also pointed to the memory limitations of the 32-bit versions of Windows as an example of how PS4 titles could even surpass what "most PCs" can do."
Keyword is most. With the PS4 (and probably the Xbox 720 unless it's Window OS running) devs are working on a PC minus the Window's OS.
At least thats what I'm getting from this article.
Either way, when these consoles release it should be good for everyone. I'm holding off on even buying any PC hardware upgrade (only need my GFX Card), due to the reason that they may release better equipment at a cheaper price to compete.
wow, thats actually intelligent. Im doing the same thing. Im sticking with pc but wont upgrade until the ps4 goes past the early adopter stage. A huge part of the gaming market is multiplatform, and I dont want to be under powered.
but of course some of the stuff said is complete bs, less and less pcs are running 32 bit and even less gaming pcs are. If you buy a pc today it wont be 32 bit. And windows isnt even that heavy other than using nearly 2 gigs of ram.
but it will be backward compatible... aall windowses are.
as far as comparing 8 to 7, 8 runs better and uses less resources than 7 did. When you look at the 360, you can see the refinement they made in that OS and translated well onto the PC with windows 8.
My netbook has 2gb of ram and runs way better on 8 than it did when it shipped with XP. And i never thought there would be any windows better than XP. It had a nice balance of performance to resource ratio.
windows 8 breathed new life into an old machine and made it possible to enjoy using it again. i can only imagine how well it makes newer PC's run on much better hardware. As a comparison, my work PC has 4gb of ram and runs windows 7 and just doesnt feel as zippy as that little netbook. Even when doing similar tasks like office or surfing the web/youtube.
Just to point out, this is my own personal experience and not representative of others in general.
but PC gamers think you can draw conclusions just by direct hardware comparisions
I cant believe people actually think Windows is some huge hog. Windows barely needs 1.5gigs of RAM, Windows 8 even less so.
Most PC these days easily come with more than 8 Gigs of RAM. Hence Windows pulling 1.5Gigs of RAM hardly matters.
People need to look past that. Windows gives you advantages too. People gaming on PCs have access to a library of games from 25 years back. Its all possible because of a solid platform Windows has become.
Its amusing when people cheer consoles and their optimization yet forget every gen they are left with a lack of BC.
The next thing they tend to boast about is console optimization, yes its there but it wont magically make the hardware over come limitations. As an example even today PS3 & Xbox 360 both get out performed by a Dual core PC equipped with a 8800GTX. So where did the console optimization go? The same 8800GTX today gets outperformed by 100USD GPUs.
The same fate lies for the next consoles. Lack of BC and will be getting outperformed far quicker by Low mid range PCs far quicker than the last consoles.
Windows, like most general purpose OS's is a resource hog. Only focusing on ram usage is overlooking the many layers of inefficiency built in to such an OS in order to deal with all the various flavors of hardware it might be running on.
Each level of abstraction adds more overhead. Plus there are all the services that serve no purpose if it were purely used for gaming.
A purpose built OS running on purpose built hardware can greatly outperform a general purpose OS running on the same hardware.
For the disagrees just take a look at the minimum hardware requirements for windows NT vs Windows 7. Back then I was running a 66Mhz Pentium with 32MB of RAM, I think 16 was the minimum and you needed about 100MB of disk space.
Today you need a 1Ghz processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of disk space.
So RAM has gone up by a factor of 62.5, CPU speed by a factor of 15 (actually it's much higher than that since modern CPUs do far more per cycle) and disk space by a factor of 160.
If Windows is so bad then why is it 8800GTX with a dual core is still beating current consoles? PC optimization is no where near as bad as console makers want people to believe. Sorry but these are just sad attempts by console makers to make the PC look bad so they can sell their consoles, while charging a premium on every game sold.
People blame Windows for taking up RAM, wait till the PS4 releases, in all likely hood 1-2 GB of RAM will be reserved for the OS. So will PS4 OS be called a resource HOG too? Def not as a machine becomes more multi purpose it certainly needs an OS. It just so happens the PC is far ahead of the consoles and next gen consoles will most likely be featuring OSes of their own.
I didn't say PC's weren't ahead of consoles, only that because of the diverse hardware and the software abstractions needed to support such hardware that PC's are not nearly as efficient as they could be.
In my career I've written a couple of RTOS from scratch as well as porting others and kernel work on desktop and server OSs.
A simple 32bit RTOS with full multi-tasking, threads, paged memory, networking etc. can run in Kb's of memory on a 32bit arm running at a few 10's of Mhz. Running a simple OS such as that on something of the caliber of a modern PC would just scream and would provide all the services necessary for gaming.
Once you start to generalize the inefficiency is inevitable, add in the legacy code needed for backwards compatibility and the overhead becomes quite significant.
Microsoft could use Windows on the next Xbox by stripping out all the extra crap that is unnecessary on a fixed hardware spec and I'm sure it would outperform stock windows by quite a margin.
Again the inefficiency isnt ground breaking. Yes its there, and consoles are more efficient no one is doubting that. However the differences arent ground breaking.
If consoles were so efficient there would be no reason why the PS3 wouldnt outperform a 8800GTX. 8800GTX is about 2x as powerful and the result is pretty simular too. PS3 runs most of its games in 720p or below while 8800GTX runs most games in 1080p. So where is the console optimization?
Now yes all of us can start nit picking over the Windows OS. However with the amount of resources available today we honestly should be looking at the benefits of backward compatibility too. I personally own over 200 games on Steam alone.
Imagine if i had bought those games for a console. It would have ended up costing me upward of 7000usd, when next gen arrives i would have had to keep the old console too, just to play my old library. Hence personally i think its a good thing Windows offers such BC, in exchange for the resources it takes up i think its a bargain specially when resources are abundant who cares?
@Kevnb-Wise choice. No reason to buy a PS4 if your just buying muiltiplats and you have a beast PC already. I would just wait too.
@Reynod- He is trying to say in order to have a PC beat a PS4 or 720 you need MORE then 8gigs of ram, you need MORE then 1.85 TFLOPS etc. Why? Because PC isn't as optimized. ON top of this.....what PC game is even fully supporting all that tech anyways? PS4 will use that tech before a damn PC game does day 1!
I'm not sure you can even name me a successful PC game this year or last year that required and used that much power.
I game on PC and consoles and the one thing consoles have over PC is opitmziation. Period. To even have a beast PC, you need to have developers ac actually supporting it. Don't run to me telling me you maxed out Assassin's Creed or Mass Effect etc.....if you did your a idiot for buying a souped up PC for just a bit of high res.
I bought my PC for games like Diablo 3 (funny enough its coming to PS3 and PS4) Battlefield 3, Skyrim mods, Guild Wars 2, Planetside 2 etc.
But don't sit there making it sound like one can game on PC and just not have consoles as if PC is truly THAT good. I love PC gaming, but I just can't not own a console.
80% of PC games are just 3rd party ports to begin with. Still building a beast PC next year, but I'm building it for the right reasons.
Most of these gaming rigs also do not have the CPU and GPU on the same die (much faster connectivity between the two), 8GB's of GDDR5 to play with, etc... They are general purpose office machines that have had high performance parts grafted onto them in order to enable them to play videogames... while still having to maintain general purpose functionality. A console is tuned specifically for gaming at the hardware level, and as such will always outperform a PC with the same specs.
"Windows, like most general purpose OS's is a resource hog."
What you are forgetting now, is that the PS4 OS is likely to be a similar "general" purpose OS. Maybe it doesn't have as many features, but it certainly will have to do a lot of the same things.
The PS4 and likely the next Xbox will also have a slightly bloated OS.
Furthermore, Windows once it is loaded and running, it's background tasks takes pretty minimal resources. The RAM requirement isn't that huge of a deal either, because most PCs today have far more RAM than they need, that is system RAM, not even video RAM.
Windows 8 on top of this is designed with low powered devices in mind, so it uses even less resources and that is why it loads so fast.
Point being, today's hardware far exceed what Windows need and minimally impact gaming performance.
The real problem of PC is that consumers installs a crap load of extra services in the background that they don't turn off. The other problem is optimization due to too many different configurations, but even on consoles you aren't likely to even get double the performance that a PC can dish out by brute force.
From what I can tell, this is the biggest gap between a launch consoles and PC performance. I suspect that is due to the PC having virtually no resolution cap whereas consoles have 1080p and a relatively low price attached.
Even then at 8GBs of GDDR5 the PS4 is going to be costly.
It varies game to game how well optimised they are but PC game optimisation has gotten better and better and will only keep getting better with better OS refinement, Direct3D advances and the fact the consoles are now x86 machines.
Certainly you do not need a massively more powerful PC to beat a console.
It isn't like you need 5 times the power of a console to actually best it.
You'll start to easily the the difference when a PC is twice as fast.
To be honest, that isn't difficult. We already have cards that are more than twice as fast as what is inside PS4- that wasn't the case when 360 launched it took time for PC to reach that point.
So PC is in a great position.
In fact I saw that an 8800GTX can manage bioshock infinite playable on 'medium' @ 1080p.
According to the devs 'medium' PC settings are a bit better than console settings and 1920 x 1080 is way more than double the resolution the consoles run that game (PS3 renders the game at a mere 1152 x 640)
Soooo......... Yeah.
Lets not claim PC optimisation is that bad and that crippling when 6 year old PC hardware still comfortably trounces console hardware without being like 10x faster.
Certainly the next gen console OSes will need to do more than they have in the past. But they won't have anywhere near the multitude of layers of software found in something like Windows.
Try going through Windows stack trace and you may be shocked at how many layers of APIs you go through for even seemingly simple tasks.
"Windows barely needs 1.5gigs of RAM, Windows 8 even less so."
Barely? Barely?
Holy shit, I feel old when people say that. Remember when desktops measured RAM in KB and we felt lucky to have that much?
I'd say the exact same thing if I was Epic VP.
Im not understanding where people say windows uses 1.5 gb of ram comes from. Vista which was the worst OS used 1.2, windows 7 uses like 800 mb and xp used like 300 or 400 lol.
consoles may be using less software in the background and have hardware on the same die and all. But lets not forget the cpu is designed with low power in mind arm if im not mistaken. Least that's what I heard. That's basically what your smart phone and tablets use. Just with more cores. PCS still have power house processors. And lets not even talk about the gpu. The gpu that's coming with these consoels is like a big joke. Thankfully console gamers aren't picky and take what they can get. Microsoft and Sony get this therefore they will give them the cheap dirt stuff. Most pc gaming rigs are way more powerful and only cost $400. lol If you don't believe me I can link you to the parts.. its not difficult to build one. yes for $400 you can get a pc that's twice as good as next generation consoles that haven't even been released yet.
But you go on ahead and defend the corporations that are playing you for a fool and laughing all the way to the bank. Enjoy!
It isn't just what Windows uses that causes problems, it's that it's so easily cluttered. But it doesn't matter. The PS4 will be an upgrade from my PC (which is an AMD 1090t, GTX 460, and 8GB RAM). So I'll be buying a PS4 instead of upgrading and will only upgrade my PC when the need is obvious again.
There are just some things a windows (or any other general purpose) OS will never be able to do. For example, if I have a 16GB machine and an APU (Trinity) installed, wtf do I need to set the shared mem size for the GPU and why can't I go beyond 2GB and why does it take this memory away from the OS.
It's not so much the HW, but there is so much legacy code in the OS (still) that for a console this either needs to be adapted (and I am sure even MS will customize windows for the 720 to allow this) or you need your own OS.
With these new chips with an intelligent OS you would have one kernel which handles that huge block of memory and you could just allocate it with whatever you want handing it over back and forth between CPU and GPU. This needs a massive change in the OS and it requires HW which can actually share memory pointers between the two (coherent memory model).
These are just legacy restrictions which a PC will carry over with each generation. It is almost impossible to overcome those just to be compatible with a wide range of HW...things which a console does not need to do.
- a shared memory model is required to not copy e.g. vertex data between CPU and GPU which happens quite frequently, still - even though you'd push more code to shaders these days.
Why would you want to go beyond 2GB on a APU like the trinity? Its not like trinity is any good at games and even then a game requiring that much Memory just wont run on the APU to begin with, unless you want to be seeing a slide show.
For dedicated GPUs they already come with super fast GDDR5 Memory.
So your arguement doesnt make any sense. As usual you are just making attempts to nitpick over non issues.
Again if Windows is so bad as an OS why doesnt PS3 or Xbox 360 beat the 8800GTX? its just twice as powerful as those machines. As per you if Windows is so bad and unoptimized why doesnt it get beated then? Yet every 8800GTX running on a windows OS even today runs most games in 1080p, yet both the current consoles run 720p or below.
Again i would tell you to look beyond the nit picking and see the huge backward compatibility advantage Windows offers. Tell me are you going to have PS2, PS3, PS4 all hooked up at the same time just to play your games library? I know i will be having just 1 PC playing the hundereds of games i bought over the years. No need to maintain old hardware to play everything i bought. Hence while there are certain disadvantages, i would think the advantages far out way them.
That's not the point. The point is, that a PC is holding back SW architecture because of its legacy constraints - especially in dedicated use cases which is e.g. gaming. As such a general purpose machine will never be able to allow developers to go the "optimal" route. Trinity is gen 2, Kaveri is gen 3, and the 2014 road map will have a complete heterogen memory sub system. And, why wouldn't I wan't more than 2GB? Why is it the OS's job to limit my creative engineering approach? Obviously you guys boast to have more than 2GB which in return means, textures must be cached in DDR and swapped out frequently - even on a system like Trinity. This is totally useless overhead since you never need to go across a bus unless the OS forces you to. BTW: One could simply optimize games for APUs which you would probably be surprise what you could squeeze out of that cheap configuration. But I guess it kinda counters even inhouse AMD products like a 7990...
Same will happen with PC ports to PS4 if devs don't take advantage of "don't move the damn memory" rule which still applies to the PC. Guess why they stick GB's or RAM to gfx boards these days, huh? So your data must never leave VRAM. Obviously.
Not sure why I still bother talking here...I guess that's so over your heads anyway...good bye
@ Ju
Hybrid memory cube.
Whats the point in moaning when in about 2-3 years you'll be able to have system memory on PC knocking out over 300GB/s compared to about 25 now. You could dump whatever APU you want on a die and have loads of bandwidth to share in a unified pool should you so desire.
Chip stacking is the real computing technology revolution and consoles will just miss it and PC will reap ridiculously massive benefits from it inside the next few years.
Amazing how people are still thinking in terms of 'power' when the most popular games today are simple, small footprint titles like subway surfers and league of legends.
Hell bioshock infinite runs on outdated tech and its still a fun game. The more visually complex and 'powerful' a game becomes, the more expensive it is to produce, and the less development risks can be taken.
This obsession with 'power' is a pubescent male fetish and a self defeating loop.
of casual games, like Subway Surfer. Though I do agree, some of the smaller indie type titles get more creative. I think believable expansive worlds and detail, and the hardware capable of bringing in new gameplay design possibilities is what true evolution in gaming is all about.
I look at the recent the recent trailer for "The Last of Us" and when I see the look on the 2 kids in the beginning, and I feel the emotion.
You know I disagree. I am a graphics whore so presentations means a lot to me. It puts me into the experience. A game can be graphically impressive and fun. There is room for all types of experiences. God forbid the industry turned into all casual mobile games and vice versa.
Popularity and Quality are two very separate concepts.
"This obsession with 'power' is a pubescent male fetish and a self defeating loop."
^^^You're bang on about that. People need to care more about the creativity and imagination of the content over how well they can push it's pixels. It's a completely vacuous and meaningless diversion.
I mean, honestly, I don't like LoL and I don't like casual games, but nevertheless there are lots of really incredible games that have been achieved without ridiculous tech. The SNES Final Fantasies and Chrono Trigger are still some of the greatest games I've ever played by a long shot. The visuals, the music, the narrative- they're all fantastically designed and I'll never forget them.
The tech has outrun the creativity- we need to forget about the tech and just work with what we've got to produce memorable and enduring games. I can only name about 10 games I've actually cared about this gen. We have more than enough power to make awesome stuff. In fact I think the tech is holding back games from being taken seriously. Instead of making profound and intelligent games, devs are fixated on making empty blockbuster film-esque graphics showcases. And people just lap it up and demand more of the same. They don't even realise what they're missing.
To be honest, one of the reasons I'm sort of looking forward to the Ps4 IS it's understated specs. They're obviously dwarfed by high-end PCs but who cares? Maybe we'll start seeing some more interesting games at last.
comparing a $500 console with $500 GPU's is nuts. they are telling this now for marketing of consoles eventually when future games comes out when the most pc yes most pc's have better graphics and better details then they will again say just deal with it "its a pc after all"
If they don't support make games with better graphics for pc then they will just piss off the gpu manufactures and the pc community. and I personally think they are not that foolish.
"comparing a $500 console with $500 GPU's is nuts"
Its funny that people tend to compare next consoles to 500usd GPUs. Yet forget The comparison isnt even valid.
They should instead be making a comparison with something like this:
HD 7850, 175usd, comes with Bioshock and Tombraider free. Thats more of a fair comparison. Even then by the time PS4 is out there will be better and cheaper GPUs out that will likely outperform the PS4.
But it isn't as good as the titan...the best card out...lol...jk...developers are happy to finally hav a decent static system modeled after a pc. I still don't understand all the arguments. Everyone should b happy. Console gamers get a better console thatsveasier to build for. Its potential is unknown. And PC gamers can still use the PC. Except now because consoles drive software, PC gamers get better games too.
I agree,they are just gutted that they spent suchensuch on their cards etc and boasting its a beast but now ps4 is showing to be just as power full for a measly 300 quid.. fuck,I'd be pissed to if I was a PC bod lol
the main issue here, is everytime a developer says they are glad for the pc like architecture because... or anything that relates to the new consoles to PC; some twat has to post about how "their pc is better because blah blah blah- and why everyone should have the setup they have or a pc setup in general because of how 'superior' it is" well at this stage i wish they would just stfu. 1) Whats the point of a mega expensive setup that costs developers more money to take advantage of and to do so end up compromising gameplay? 2) Not everyone can afford to pay that sort of money for a PC; with the risk of virus's and the other increased costs of a PC in general-plus the very real possibility you may have to upgrade withint a year or two to stay at the top of the game. 3) If you honestly think a gpu under $450/$500 is going to outperform the ps4- priced about this price on it's own then you clearly understand nothing about different processor-gpu setups, bandwidth in ram and all the other factors that will effect how the device performs. Numbers on paper mean fuck all. 4) I'm not willing to spend a few hundred pounds to potentially just see some facial hair and cracks in the ground etc look a tiny bit better...
After the whole Wii U fiasco I now take everything Mark Rein says with a pinch of salt.
PC have to kinda of rams. ddr3 and GDDR5 windows don't use GDDR5. i don't know why u got tons of agrees but i have should know better that i am in N4G.
It's not just the OS, it's the directX API, too.
Cut out the middlemen.
The Ps4 will be an awesome console, I know of 10 360 owners that are going for Ps4, plus all the ps3 owners are just upgrading, Im going to get 2 Ps4's, one for my room the other for the living room, I have to let people know a sad truth, the only reason the 360 sold evenly with the ps3 here in mexico is that the 360 was easier to hack and get pirated content for it. I know how it sounds but Mexico is a third world country, people need the cheapest option.
64 bit is standard today, not 32.
PC's can have 32 gb ram for cheap.
Point is PS4 is a gimmped PC either way you look at it.
GPU wise and CPU wise.
You're absolutely right. And I absolutely do not care. I'll be sticking with consoles next gen thanks.
Im glad you're happy with your PC. Im happy with my console. In a perfect world we'd both be content with our choices and that would be that. Except in the gaming world thats not enough is it? Its not enough to be self content, we have to push our views onto others too. To somehow convince others that our choice is the superior one to justify our decision. Well allow me to break this cycle...
Im happy with my console. Im glad you're happy with your PC.
The End
"PC's can have 32 gb ram for cheap."
Great. It won't be used, but at least PC gamers can get online and bitch about it not being used. That makes it worth it, I'm sure.
the perfect PC that wont do 1080p at 60fps. cant wait!!
The thing is EPIC support MS over Sony so to come out and say this just amazes me. They could have made the Gears series multiplatform after 2 but they seem more interested in there partnership with MS and making money from there engine. So speaking highly of Sonys consoles this time around won't make MS too well. Saying that EPIC supported PS3 really well early on as it added mos support for UT on ps3 only the only ps3 game with mods proving ps3 can do it.
GDDR6 drops next year according to an article posted like a month ago on here. Haven't validated it, but it was enough for me to hold off on doing a 670 SLI to see what happens.
1. PS4 can't run Arma 3 on Ultra......END OF STORY!
2. "This really opens up beyond what most PCs can do, because most PCs are running a 32-bit version of Windows"
Steam hardware Survey shows 73.6% of it's users are using a 64bit OS with Win7 64bit being the most popular at 55.11% FACT!
3. If the PS4 can't do 1080p at 60fps across 3 screens then it's NOT PERFECT!
I'm addicted to Peripheral view in my PC Games and so far I haven't heard if the PS4 will support this wonderful feature.
4. The PC is PERFECT cause you can tailor make it to YOUR GAMING NEEDS.
the PS4 is one size fits all.
the PS4 will be great but I'm sorry my current PC still does more than what a PS4 will do.
Intel Sandy Bridge FTW!!!
I foresee an incredible amount of dev support. Hopefully next gen brings an over saturated amount of different genres. Preferably JRPG's like the ps1 era.
I hope naughty dog ditches the shooter genre for a while and makes JAK 4 or some other action game.also so far it looks like the wiiu is getting the best JRPG's with monliths X and Xseeds new game.
The Jak and Daxter series entered the shooter genre after the first game?
That has to be good coming from epic. Now all they need to do is make gears of war for ps4 and there wont be a need for xbox.
ya it almost feels like some major developers are getting sick of microsoft. I really hope sony crushes them because microsoft are really messing things up.
I was just curious as to what you were talking about? Epic and Microsoft have a great relationship and Microsoft has really good relationships with most third party developers, which is why they've been able to take advantage of timed DLC and things like that.
What have they messed up for you personally? I mean do people not realize how bad things would be if Sony or any single company had zero competition? You'd be stuck paying whatever they want, play whatever they want, and the list goes on and on.
We need all the companies how they are, each one playing off the other and that benefits all gamer's.
Funny too how quickly Sony fans turn into Gears fans, I wouldn't hold my breath on it ever going to a Sony console though, Microsoft has DEEP pockets.
Hmm...why would you think major devs are getting tired of microsoft??
Besides, don't you believe in nice, healthy competition as jek_porkins pointed out?
Nah xbox can keep gears, i wouldn't say epic is a great studio either, gears is okay and they even admitted that they wanted to make the story similar to band of brothers but they just weren't able to achieve that, so they made a bro shooter instead.
Seriously can't wait for the Playstation 4! :D
Epic betrayed pc gaming. The PS4 will flop outside of Japan.
Pc gaming wins, end of story sucker.
right...Even your DP is laughing at you for such comment
@ Pissed999, dude you ought to have my name!
Dare insult my PS4 by comparing it to a PC!
Time to choose sides people...
This war.... HAS BEGUN!
lol considering it's coming from the same guy who wanted to look cool by insulting the WiiU and claiming that unreal engine 4 won't work on it (which it does), this guy is a complete joke....makes me almost miss Cliffy B, ALMOST but I will never miss that fool.
it will be better than "most" pc's
there are over 1 BILLION pc's in use as we speak
but every gaming rig with a gtx 560 or better will destroy the ps4
epics own unreal demo looks far worse on ps4
kids, stop thinking ps4 will be EVEN CLOSE to a high end gaming rig, its a mid-spec build, with an awful cpu
While the PS3 is no high end PC, it will play games very close to high end PCs. PC uses brute force to outpace consoles, straight up powerful hardware. Consoles rely on devs working with specific hardware to optimize for it. If you were to get the same exact hardware equivalent as the PS3 and tried running a game at the same settings, you would realize the PS3 runs it better.
you are missing the point.Also the ps3 is nowhere near a high end pc, ps4 is a couple cuts away but not the ps3.
not really dude, the year the ps3 came out, so did the 8800 gtx, it SMASHES the ps3 in every game ever made, its runs games at higher resolutions and way higher framerates with more graphical options
nowadays a $30 gpu destroys the ps3
ps3 graphics may look good to you, because thats all you play, to a pc game they look, and have looked for the last 5 years, totally obsolete and last gen
whan i played uncharted 3, i couldn't believe people thought it looked good, to me it was covered in jaggies, low res textures, looked sub-hd in many areas, bad caracter models
everyone seemed to think it was amazing though, and right there you can tell its someone who only games on consoel
pc is already, today, FAR beyond anything ps4 will ever do
1200p, 1440, 1600p
8x aa, 16x aa, 32x aa, 64x aa, txaa
60-120 frames
a game like crysis 2 in 2560x1600 looks better than anything ps4 will ever do
and crysis 3......shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, even in 720p it looks better maxed on pc than any ps4 game will, and when you crank it up to 1200p, its bloody aamzing
ilive below, people bash on the system becasue articles like this.......and people on here get the idea from articles like this that the ps4 will be anywhere near a high end gaming rig....it will NEVER be close to a pc with a gtx670, gtx 680, gtx 690, gtx titan.....never.......
a gtx 670 can be had for $300, it DESTORYS ps4
People are disagreeing with you? My GTX 590 (1000$ when I bought it) gives me a TINY performance jump for Bioshock Infinite running at 45-60FPS over the PS3 version. That's only a year and a bit old graphics card. Now take a graphics card from the year PS3 was released and I highly doubt it'll push games like Bioshock Infinite, Battlefield 3 and others as far as the PS3 can. Just like if you bought a high end gaming PC now, you need to upgrade at least every 2-3 years to keep up with the PS4/720.
It has zero to do with raw Hardware strength and 100% to do with developer support. Barely any developers (Valve and such) develop their games for hardware that isn't recent. So you may buy that Titan epic 3000 beefcake edition now, but it'll be a load of wasted money in 2-3 years when PS4/720 is outperforming it for Bioshock 8 or Battlefield 44: Dinosaur edition.
Don't get me wrong, PC hardware is much more powerful than the PS4. But pure meat means absolutely nothing when nobody supports it. Which is where console gaming has the technical advantage. Developers have been saying it for a while. But apparently gamers know more than the guys working the hardware and realizing platform strengths.
ugh... again the PC and PS3 fights...
i'm sticking with PS because of exclusive games... and thank god most of them comes with amazing graphics (which may not beat the high end PC graphics).
but i'm happy.
EDIT: @Sevir (below): i couldn't have put it better... had i read your post i would not have wasted my one bubble (bubble me up please, the admin hates me) on this stupid topic of PC Vs Console.
You first two completely missed the point. I am a PC gamer, I understand how PCs work. I'm telling you, buy a GPU equivalent to that of the RSX inside of the PS3 with a processor equivalent to that of the CELL and the PS3 will run the multiplatform game better than that shitty CPU and GPU you bought. Same idea WILL happen with the PS4.
But from what you responded with already, it's just going to fly over your heads.
Everytime i see landog in a ps4 article is just to troll as much as he can..
Poor guy.. guess having a 4k computer doesnt make people better.. you are the living proof of that..
Noone cares if you think that ps3 games look bad, 99% of the people #yeah the real ones not drones# think uncharted its one of the best looking games and also A GREAT GAME. Not like crysis.. The game u needed to call for pc, graphics=check, anything else.... (?)


text:
With the anticipated approval of Monsanto's YieldGard Rootworm hybrids, the year 2003 may be the beginning of an era dominated by corn hybrids with built-in corn rootworm protection.
But with limited supplies of the new hybrids, an expected increase in U.S. corn acres, and continued strong insect pressure, the era of corn rootworm insecticide use is ending not with a bleat, but a bit of a roar.
After last year's nearly 20% increase in sales of corn rootworm (CRW) insecticide to almost 20 million acres, manufacturers predict that 2003 will be another strong sales year. Treated acreage could climb slightly. Prices are expected to be up about 3% on some insecticides, after holding stable or falling slightly in recent years. And several new insecticides will be introduced, along with Monsanto's new CRW-protected hybrids.
All types used
Last year's insecticide sales increase buoyed all formulation types, including granules, liquids and seed-applied products. But on a percentage basis, sales of liquids and seed-applied formulations rose more than sales of granules as more growers got rid of insecticide boxes in anticipation of a stronger reliance on genetically enhanced CRW-protected seeds.
"Many growers want to make a technology switch to corn rootworm-protected hybrids and discontinue using insecticides," says Ken Ostlie, University of Minnesota extension entomologist. But that is not realistic because of the need to treat rootworms on the insect resistance management acres that are required with the use of CRW hybrids, as well as on conventional fields. That realization has boosted interest in seed treatments and liquids, Ostlie adds.
"Farmers are attracted to the simplicity of seed treatments and liquid products compared to granular formulations," he says. However, research results from the last couple of years show that neither the liquids under drought conditions nor the seed treatments under heavy infestations provide the same level of control as the granules, he notes. New seed-applied insecticides from Syngenta and Gustafson may offer better CRW control than existing seed treatments, but they are still best suited to fields with low to moderate CRW pressure, Ostlie says.
"The challenge for growers is to know if they have a high-risk CRW situation," he says. "A lot of growers don't have scouting data to determine what their risk is."
Going into 2003, growers should be aware of the damage potential from both CRW and early-season insects, such as wireworm. Ostlie notes that CRW infestations of first-year corn appear to be worsening in many areas. In Minnesota and Iowa, for example, more acres are being affected by extended diapause of northern CRW. In Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states, egg laying by western CRW in soybean fields continues to force more growers to use insecticides on first-year corn.
Early-season insects also seem to be proliferating across the Corn Belt. Scientists are debating causes ranging from warmer winters, earlier planting, less tillage and the fading impact of extended-residual CRW insecticides used in the '50s and '60s.
Ostlie says growers should consider an insecticide seed treatment or hopper-box treatment for corn not being treated with a CRW insecticide that controls secondary pests. "Only a grower can decide how much insurance he needs and how much he can afford, but this is worth considering," he says.
Jockeying for position
This year insecticide manufacturers are jockeying for position in the shifting marketplace. Syngenta and BASF are adding seed treatment or liquid products. EPA willing, Gustafson will add a new seed treatment to its lineup by spring. And Helena Chemical Company is introducing its first-ever CRW insecticide, a granular product with the same active ingredient as FMC's Capture liquid insecticide. Meanwhile, traditional granular insecticide manufacturers emphasize that their products' superior control will continue to make them an important option.
Here's what companies have to say about new products and marketing programs for 2003.
New control options
YieldGard Rootworm
After preparing to launch its long-awaited CRW-protected hybrids each of the past two seasons, Monsanto says its YieldGard Rootworm hybrids finally will be commercialized in 2003, assuming final regulatory approval comes through as anticipated.
At press time, Monsanto had full USDA and FDA approvals for commercialization and was waiting only for final details on insect resistance management requirements from EPA to receive that agency's final sign-off for food and feed use. Japanese regulators also have given full food and feed approval for the technology, and an okay from Canada is expected by planting, according to Monsanto.
In the fall of 2000, Monsanto pledged that it would not commercialize CRW-protected seed without those approvals from the U.S. and Japanese agencies in hand. The company is continuing to seek okays for CRW technology in other countries and regions, including the European Union (EU). Given the EU's de facto moratorium on new genetically enhanced (GE) crops, Monsanto will ask growers who plant YieldGard Rootworm hybrids to market the corn through elevators and other outlets that segregate CRW and other GE hybrids for approved markets only. YieldGard Rootworm hybrid seed bags will carry the Market Choices symbol and direct growers to a list of elevators, which is maintained by the American Seed Trade Association at www.amseed.org.
YieldGard Rootworm hybrids will be available from Monsanto's flagship DeKalb and Asgrow seed brands, as well as more than 100 seed company partners. Supplies are expected to be limited, but trial quantities will be available in maturities ranging from 95 to 114 days, says Jennifer Ozimkiewicz of Monsanto. In addition to built-in CRW control, all seed will be treated with an insecticide to control early-season insects such as wireworms and seed corn maggots.
Growers can expect YieldGard Rootworm hybrids to provide better, more consistent control of CRW larvae than the best granular insecticides, says Todd DeGooyer, crop technology manager for Monsanto.
"We are seeing consistent control throughout the season and under extreme environmental conditions," he says. "We saw about a 5 bu./acre yield advantage over common insecticides averaged across 19 locations in 2001, and a 15 bu./acre advantage over untreated corn."
Growers who plant YieldGard Rootworm will be required to follow an insect resistance management program, which had not been set at press time.
Syngenta received EPA approval to market its Cruiser seed treatment insecticide in late October, just in time to treat seed for 2003. Because of the late registration, Cruiser will be available from a limited number of seed companies. For a list of seed companies and hybrids, visit www.cruisercorn.com.
Cruiser is approved for systemic and contact control of a wide range of early-season insect pests, as well as CRW and billbug at a higher use rate. Early-season pests controlled include wireworm, seed corn maggot, white grub, flea beetle, southern corn leaf beetle and chinch bug.
In 2003, Syngenta will market Cruiser primarily for early-season pests and billbugs, says Mark Jirak, seed treatment crop manager for Syngenta. In the longer term, Cruiser also will be an important option for growers who want to control rootworms on CRW-hybrid refuge acres without using a liquid or granular insecticide.
Tests show that, at the higher CRW use rate, Cruiser provides the same yields as granular insecticides under light to moderate rootworm pressure, Jirak says. Syngenta Seeds also markets Force ST seed treatment for control of CRW. Whether Syngenta continues marketing both seed treatments for rootworm control will depend on results from the 2003 use season, Jirak says.
Cruiser is a member of a new subclass having active ingredients called neonicotinoids. Gaucho, Prescribe and Poncho insecticides from Gustafson are in the same class. These actives move systemically throughout the corn plant and protect against target insects through contact and by disrupting receptors that tell insects to feed. Syngenta also markets Cruiser as a seed treatment in cotton, sorghum, barley and wheat. Helix, for canola, contains the same active ingredient.
Two years ago Gustafson introduced Gaucho, for control of early-season pests, and Prescribe, which adds CRW control to Gaucho's secondary pest lineup. In 2003, pending EPA approval, Gustafson plans a limited introduction of Poncho, its second-generation seed-applied insecticide. In 2004, Poncho will replace Prescribe, and possibly Gaucho, says Paul Holliday of Gustafson.
Poncho is expected to have full EPA registration by March 2003. Because of that late date, growers probably won't be able to plant Poncho-treated seed in 2003. But it will show up in seed company demonstration plots across the Corn Belt, Holliday says.
Poncho will be available at two use rates. At the lower secondary insect use rate, Poncho adds black cutworms to the list of secondary insects handled by Gaucho. That list includes seedling protection against wireworms, white grubs, seed corn maggots, imported fire ants, chinch bugs and flea beetles.
At the higher CRW use rate, Poncho controls corn rootworms, wireworms, seed corn maggots, black cutworms, flea beetles through the fifth true-leaf stage, white grubs, chinch bugs, Southern green stink bugs, corn leaf aphids, imported fire ants, thrips and grape colaspis, according to Gustafson.
Helena Chemical Company launched Empower 1.15 G insecticide on a limited basis in 2002. It will be available across the Corn Belt in 2003.
Unlike most granular insecticides, Empower has a two-rate application structure. For CRW control, the rate is 8.7 lbs./acre in 30-in. rows. To control secondary insects only, the use rate is 6.5 lbs./acre in 30-in. rows.
Empower contains bifenthrin, the same active ingredient that is in Capture liquid insecticide from FMC, but delivered on a clay-based granule. The granule offers Helena's proprietary Asset Formulation technology, which enhances application and activity, says Phil Thien of Helena.
A pyrethroid, Empower doesn't have any herbicide interactions. It carries a Caution signal word. Goggles, gloves and a dust mask should be worn when handling.
Changes to the tried and true
Supplies of Aztec insecticide ran out in 2002. This year, Bayer CropScience will manufacture additional Aztec as needed to maintain supplies, says Andrew Seitz of Bayer. The company continues to emphasize Aztec's strong control of secondary insects, including cutworms, wireworms and white grubs.
FMC has reformulated Capture liquid insecticide to improve its viscosity and mixing at low temperatures, says Bob West of FMC. The company has made minor changes to its application equipment; for example, it has made pumps larger to better handle large planters and improved nozzles for more even application. FMC is expanding the Acres Ahead cooperative equipment program with John Deere. Growers will be able to order Capture application equipment directly from John Deere dealers in 2003. On new John Deere 1790 planters, the Capture system will be supplied with the planter if a tank and bracket are ordered with the planter.
Syngenta will hold the line on Force 3G prices for 2003. Force ST-treated seed will be available on more hybrids than last year — 33 in all. Pricing is unchanged, but under a special promotion, Syngenta Seeds is offering the 11th bag of seed free with the purchase of 10 bags. There is no order cutoff date for seed treated with Force ST, but Syngenta's ability to fill orders for Force ST is limited later in the season due to treatment scheduling and reduced hybrid availability, says Marc Hennen of Syngenta Seeds.
Fortress 5G
To improve CRW control consistency, Amvac Chemical Company has increased the recommended use rate for Fortress 5G to 4 lbs./acre, up from 3.2 lbs./acre, says Ted Ramirez of Amvac. After selling out of SmartBox row application units in 2002, Amvac will have additional new units available in 2003. Amvac continues to assist growers in purchasing and calibrating SmartBox applicators, which are the only EPA-recognized closed-system granular applicators on the market. Amvac's Fortress 5G, Fortress 2.5G and Aztec 4.67G qualify for financing through the Pioneer Hi-Bred TruChoice program, as well as through the Bayer CropScience and AgriGold Seed program.
While several manufacturers plan to increase prices in 2003, the price for Lorsban will remain stable, says Rajan Gajaria of Dow AgroSciences. The company continues to develop GE corn with built-in CRW protection, which it expects will come to market in 2005.
Regent liquid insecticide received approval for a lower secondary insect control rate in late spring 2002. The new rate is 3 oz./acre for 30-in. rows to control wireworms and seed corn maggot. That compares with 4.16 oz./acre for corn rootworms.
Bayer CropScience is promoting Regent for use with pop-up in-furrow fertilizers. Last year about 45% of Regent was applied with a pop-up, says Brian Ahrens, Regent product manager.
Use of Regent provides assistance towards purchase of one-pass application systems available through Redball Products Company. This year, an additional discount and a $500 credit is available on Redball equipment purchases made before February 28, as well as installation assistance, depending on anticipated treated acreage.
Bayer CropScience plans to sell Regent to BASF in 2003.
Soybean seed treatments
In corn, seed treatments to protect against fungal diseases, and increasingly against insect pests, have been the norm for decades.
Until recently, soybeans have largely been left out of the seed treatment trend. But in recent years, more growers have been planting soybeans that have been protected against diseases, especially early-planted beans. In the future, some soybean seed could be treated with fungicides and insecticides to control diseases and insects that carry diseases, says Wayne Pedersen, University of Illinois plant pathologist.
With ever-earlier soybean planting dates, and less tillage, "we are turning the dial up in terms of the potential for disease problems," Pedersen says.
Seed treatment instead of more seed
More expensive soybean seed also is a factor behind the trend toward treating soybean seed with fungicides.
"With seed at $25 a bag, more growers are wondering if it is time for precision planting plus a seed treatment instead of increasing the seeding rate to compensate for stand losses to disease," Pedersen explains. "If you have a choice of planting an extra quarter of a bag or a $1.50 seed treatment, which is cheaper?"
Seed treatments win hands down, except for one factor. Most seed companies won't take back treated seed, Pedersen says. Unlike treated corn seed, which can be successfully stored for several seasons, treated soybean seed can't be held over to the following year because the treatment reduces germination during storage.
Despite that drawback, more growers are requesting that soybean seed be treated with fungicides. They are experiencing better stands and fewer replants.
For early planting
Pedersen suggests ordering treated seed for early-planted fields. "The rule of thumb I have in Illinois is that if you are planting before the first of May, it almost always pays to treat soybean seed," he says. "If you plant after the first two weeks of May, treating almost never pays. In between is a gray area."
Typical seed treatments include Apron/Maxim from Syngenta and Rival/Vitavax or Rival/Allegiance from Gustafson.
Someday, if new research pans out, it may also pay to have soybean seed treated with an insecticide to control bean leaf beetle. Pedersen and other scientists are examining whether early-season bean leaf beetle control will reduce bean pod mottle virus, which is carried by the insect. The virus shows up as green stem, which makes harvest difficult.
"In some environments, we have seen a positive response, but not in others," Pedersen says. At this point, insecticide seed treatments for corn, such as Gaucho and Cruiser, are not labeled for use on soybeans. Pedersen predicts that manufacturers may seek label approval for soybeans if ongoing research shows a benefit.


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HOMEPAGE www.danieljvance.com
By Daniel J. Vance MS, LPC, NCC
For years, people with more severe versions of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) have been doubted over whether their claims of disability have merit. Melinda Honn used to try persuading doubters, but now accepts she can't. She and I began corresponding eight years ago to keep me informed about MCS developments.
The Chemical Sensitivity Foundation defines MCS as a "medical condition characterized by debilitating chemical sensitivities. People chemically sensitive are made sick by exposures to chemicals found in many common products such as pesticides, perfumes, tobacco smoke, new carpets, air fresheners, new paint and building materials, and many cleaning and laundry products."
Symptoms can be disabling, and include headache, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
In an email, Honn said, "When I first got MCS (about twelve years ago), I was very sick most every day. I suffered serious migraines, nausea, fatigue, frozen joints, and more. Because of not understanding the condition and not having learned yet what caused me to feel sick, I continued to have daily exposures."
Honn has been especially sensitive to laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and sun screen. Exposure causes her airway to close. Literally to save her life, she and her husband moved to a remote Arizona development in 2004 where many other MCS-affected families reside in specially made homes.
For years, she tried raising awareness and fighting for accommodation, and in return was shocked at the lack of empathy and accommodation. Though the condition is real, most people with MCS aren't believed. In 2007, she earned Arizona's ADA Disability Advocacy Award.
Honn now says, "But I've now given up trying to make a change. After 12 years of hard work, I don't find any difference in the general public accommodating or accepting the condition."
She makes the most of an isolated life. She grows her own food and raises chickens. She has completed more than 100 quilts, and had four featured in McCall's Quilting magazine.
She and her husband manage an online MCS support group, and Honn edits the online monthly newsletter, Environmental Health Bulletin, which goes to 1,200 people with MCS in five countries. She believes MCS affects millions of Americans.
She said, "In other words, I have completely switched my efforts from accommodation issues and trying to fit into society to having a lifestyle of helping others with MCS live peacefully with the condition."
Contact: danieljvance.com [Palmer Bus Service and LittleGiantFudge.com make this column possible.]


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St. Thomas Academy goaltender David Zevnik made 28 saves in the Cadets' 3-1 victory over Benilde-St. Margaret's. Photo by Adam Crane
David Zevnik
David Zevnik isn't the sort of kid who goes around boasting about his accomplishments.
Quietly confident. Calm, understated.
Those are the words teammates and coaches choose to describe the St. Thomas Academy senior.
Flamboyance really isn't his thing.
So don't let Zevnik's Twitter handle -- @Got2rings30 -- make the wrong impression.
"It's more of a joke than anything," he said, cracking an uncomfortable smile as his face glowed red.
A goaltender, Zevnik wears the number 30. The Got2rings is a reference to the back-to-back state Class 1A titles he's helped the Cadets earn each of the last two seasons.
Rest assured, Zevnik was not wearing championship rings, gold chains -- or any jewelry for that matter -- after he turned in another subtlety spectacular performance in a 3-1 victory over defending state Class 2A champion Benilde-St. Margaret's (9-4-0) on Thursday, Jan. 11 at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
"He's the best goalie in the state," Cadets junior defenseman Jack Dougherty said. "There's not a doubt in my mind."
St. Thomas Academy senior goaltender David Zevnik has helped the Cadets win Class 1A titles each of the past two seasons. Photo by Adam Crane
Zevnik stopped 28 shots against the Red Knights, including an array of blasts from Benilde-St. Margaret's senior sniper Grant Besse. A Mr. Hockey frontrunner who has 23 goals this season and 138 for his career (sixth all time in the state), Besse tried shooting high, then low in his multiple attempts to solve Zevnik.
"He's got a hard shot," Zevnik said about Besse. "I remember playing against him in the Elite League, so I'm kind of familiar with how that goes."
A standout in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League this fall, Zevnik's stellar play has continued into the high school season. He leads the state with a .948 save percentage, 1.16 goals-against average and ranks second in wins with 11.
If Besse is leading the campaign for Mr. Hockey (given annually to the state's top senior skater), then Zevnik no doubt is out in front in the race for the Frank Brimsek Award that goes to the state's top senior goaltender.
"We have talked about that a lot this year, how great it is to have David back again and how he has gotten better every year," St. Thomas Academy co-head coach Greg Vannelli said. "He's probably the steadiest goalie we've ever had as far as getting better a little bit every year. He's down to one goal a game against these really good teams."
Vannelli just shakes his head as he delivers that last line. Zevnik and the Cadets (11-1-1) have defeated powerhouses Hill-Murray and Edina by 2-1 scores. And, now, a 3-1 victory over the Red Knights.
"He's a very good goalie," Benilde-St. Margaret's coach Ken Pauly said. "Look at what he is doing. He held us to one goal. He held Edina to one goal. He's held a high-scoring Hill-Murray team to one goal. I mean, that's not an accident. The percentages don't lie. I'd put him right up there."
St. Thomas Academy has allowed more than one goal just three times this season. In one of those games, a 3-1 loss to Minnetonka, one of the goals was scored in the closing seconds into an empty net.
David Zevnik has notched victories over Edina, Hill-Murray and Benilde-St. Margaret's this season. Photo by Adam Crane
Zevnik said he doesn't get upset if he allows more than a goal in single game. Opposing players crashing into him, or setting up camp in the crease, doesn't blow his stack, either. On Benilde-St. Margaret's lone goal, a blast from the high slot by freshman defenseman Peter Heimbold, Red Knights forward Dan Labosky was on the ice and part of pile of players crowding Zevnik.
The goal didn't appear to bother Zevnik in the slightest.
"I don't get rattled easily," he said.
And that, more than anything, is the centerpiece to Zevnik's success.
"Tonight you saw it in the first period, they were crashing the net trying to hit him," Dougherty said. "It didn't phase him, he just kept saving puck after puck, keeping us in this one."
Added Vannelli: "Under pressure, it's the calmness. Goalies are just like the forwards and defensemen. If they can have the game seem like it is a little slower they just don't overreact to stuff.
"It's really easy to play in practice, but when you get in a pressure game goalies tend to just overreact to saves, instead of being like they are in practice more. He's just calmed down more each year."
-- Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor
A fast start propelled St. Thomas Academy to a 3-1 victory against Benilde-St. Margaret's Thursday at the Cadets' rink in Mendota Heights.
Scoring two goals before the game was five minutes old gave the Cadets a favorable cushion. St. Thomas Academy (No. 1, Class 1A) has allowed more than two goals in a game just once this season.
Benilde-St. Margaret's (No. 3, Class 2A), which averages 5.75 goals per game, could not consistently challenge the Cadets' defensive corps or goaltender David Zevnik.
More than a meeting of reigning state champions, Thursday's game showcased programs in different stages of their evolution.
Benilde-St. Margaret's won Class 1A state titles in 1999 and 2001 then opted up to Class 2A beginning with the 2005-06 season. Placed in Section 6 – one of the state's toughest – the Red Knights fell in the semifinals five times in six seasons before breaking through with a state title last season.
Winners of the past two consecutive Class 1A titles and four in the past seven seasons, St. Thomas Academy will join the 2A ranks starting next season. The Cadets' section placement will be decided by March but they will be one of the favorites.
St. Thomas Academy beat Class 2A powers Hill-Murray and Edina – stripping the latter of its No. 1 ranking – previously this season.
Critics mention those victories, plus the four Class 1A state titles, as reasons why St. Thomas Academy should spend the postseason jostling with the state's largest programs. Benilde-St. Margaret's used to hear those same arguments.
Going forward, the Cadets will try to mimic the Red Knights' rise from multiple small-school champions to a team annually in the mix of Class 2A favorites.
Two early goals Thursday showed the Cadets meant business. St. Thomas Academy forward Alex Johnson gave his team a 1-0 lead just 49 seconds into the game. Defenseman Tony Bretzman made it 2-0 at 4:02.
Red Knights' defenseman Peter Heimbold cut the lead to 2-1 at 3:49 of the second period. Cadets' forward Tommy Novak answered with a tap-in rebound goal with 36.8 seconds to play in the second period.
The Cadets were without second-leading scorer Christiano Versich, a sophomore who participated in warm-ups but did not play because of an ankle injury he suffered Wednesday in practice.
-- David La Vaque, Star Tribune staff writer
1. Tommy Novak, St. Thomas Academy
The slick forward was missing his usual sidekick in fellow sophomore Christiano Versich (ankle injury), but Novak was his usual highly effective self. And by effective we mean splitting defenses, cycling the puck, working the corners and, oh yeah, scoring a crucial goal on a deflection in the final minute of the second period to put the Cadets ahead 3-1.
2. David Zevnik, St. Thomas Academy
The senior goaltender can add another notch in his stick after shutting down yet another high-powered offense. Zevnik, who had previously held Edina and Hill-Murray to a single goal turned the trick again by stopping 28 of 29 shots.
3. Grant Besse, Benilde-St. Margaret's
The senior sniper scored a third-period goal, but it was disallowed because of a lightning quick whistle. He was involved in most of the Red Knights' best scoring chances (he had an assist on their lone goal) and also dished out several hard hits – and absorbed several of them, too, while receiving his usual star treatment.
-- Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor


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Aldila NV Voodoo VS6 Wood Shaft:
The Aldila NV Voodoo VS6 is the latest addition to the popular VooDoo series designed with a stiffer tip section to create a lower launch. Like its counterpart the VS VooDoo the NV VooDoo also incorporates the same S-CORE technology which increases the cross sectional stiffness, thus reducing the deformation (ovaling) of the shaft during the golf swing. Thus more energy is stored in pure bending and released to the ball at impact.


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I was very pleased to be asked to do a guest post for Jen of Honey Kennedy while she is away in New York (my first ever). The theme is love, and my post is all about things I once found unlovable, but have learned to love by thinking differently about them. It's here, if you fancy.
There have been some really amazing posts so far, so if you haven't seen them yet, I would definitely recommend a visit. Hila's post on literary love is particularly superb, as is her follow up post about publishing woes, which is so spot on.


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pkt77242 wrote:Ardbeg Uigeadail L6 271
N: Raisin, walnuts, sultana and some soft peat. Some toast and cranberries.
P: Much smokier. Some nice peat and raisins. Briney.
F: Long. Smokey raisins and slightly burnt toast. Briney peat.
Very enjoyable. Has a great thick/oily mouthfeel. 91 points.
I have an L6 as well. The emptier the bottle gets the more sherry I pick up. What about you?


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As prom season approaches, high schoolers throughout the country will don tuxes or bejeweled dresses for this classic rite of passage. But those fancy outfits and the flowers that accompany them don't come cheap. In fact, Visa's 2011 Prom Spending Survey found that families spent an average of $807 on prom costs, including attire, flowers, transportation, and tickets.
If that number has you clutching your wallet in panic, here's how to keep costs down without ruining the fun.
[See 50 Ways to Improve Your Finances in 2012.]
1. Allow ample time for dress shopping. As prom night approaches, the selection may get picked over and the urge to blow the budget out of desperation may overshadow frugality. Jane Behre, a high school junior in New Hope, Penn., bought her prom outfit for just under $80. It included a $50 long black dress on sale at jcpenney and a pair of Christian Siriano shoes at Payless for $29. Her strategy? Start early and search the sale racks.
No prom-goer wants to arrive at the dance wearing the same dress as someone else, so alternative options like consignment shops, Etsy.com, and eBay.com offer more unusual styles at an affordable price. Kimberly Foss, a certified financial planner and founder of Empyrion Wealth Management in Roseville, Calif., recommends frequenting consignment shops in the upscale part of town to find the best selection. "They have some fabulous clothes that most of those people wore one time," she adds. Of course, shopping online requires extra time for shipping and consignment shopping can be hit or miss, so these strategies also require extra lead time.
2. Consider renting instead of buying. Many tuxedo rental shops offer coupons or other deals during prom season. But nowadays, guys aren't the only ones who can rent prom attire. Foss suggests sites like RenttheRunway.com, a Netflix-like service that rents designer dresses and accessories for as little as $50. Some brick-and-mortar boutiques also offer dress rentals for a fraction of the full retail cost.
[See 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used.]
3. Team up with friends. Friends and family members can be a huge help in prepping for prom. For instance, Behre's younger sister has a knack for makeup, so she'll likely have her makeup done at home instead of going to the cosmetics counter at a department store. Friends or relatives might also have expertise you could enlist for making boutonnieres or styling hair. Hosting a spa party, complete with manis and pedis and hair styling stations, is a budget-friendly way to bond with friends before the big event. For transportation, car-pooling or sharing the costs of a limo or party bus help ease the financial load.
Of course, if your high schooler has a flair for creating the perfect smoky eye or stylish updo, those skills could prove profitable this time of year. Behre's mom, Leah Ingram, a frugal living blogger, says her younger daughter has gotten so many complements on her makeup skill that she's encouraging her to market herself to students at other schools.
4. Nix unnecessary extras. Digital cameras and camera phones have made professional prom photos all but obsolete for many people. Rather than posing against a cheesy sunset or curtain backdrop, prom-goers can snap photos of each other on the dance floor, in front of the school mascot, or at a park or other setting before the dance.
Instead of dining at a fancy restaurant before the dance, consider hosting a pre-prom gathering at home. Several years ago, when Barb Freda's teenage son attended prom in Louisville, Ky., a group of parents and teens gathered at one family's house for a pre-prom potluck dinner. "The hosts made the entree, someone else did the dinner, I made the desserts," she says. "After we saw the kids off on a bus to get them safely there and back, we enjoyed dinner ourselves." This is also a good opportunity for parents to snap photos paparazzi-style.
[See 8 Painless Ways to Save Money.]
If your teen insists on dining out, Foss suggests using credit-card rewards points to pay for the restaurant tab. Alternately, he or she could pay for the meal out of savings from babysitting or a part-time job, which is what Ingram will suggest if her daughter wants to splurge on a fancy dinner or a limo.
5. Resell or repurpose the dress. If you opt to buy a dress instead of renting, recoup some of that investment by reselling it on eBay or at a consignment shop. When Foss' daughter moved away to college, the pair sifted through her formal dresses and earned about $2,200 by consigning them.
Behre has other plans for her long black dress. Instead of reselling it after the dance, she'll have it shortened so she can wear it for less-formal occasions and get more mileage out of the dress. Swapping dresses with a friend for a future dance is another cost-cutting option.
More From US News & World Report


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Program Description
People of all ages enjoy the unique hands-on learning experience offered by the Zoomobile Program. Traveling to schools and community centers across Western New York, the Zoomobile uses live animal representatives, touchable biofacts and props to teach about a wide variety of topics. Whether a group is studying a specific topic or just seeking to learn more about wildlife, the Zoomobile has a program to fit anyone's needs. (See a list of programs below)
Program Details
The following programs travel via the Zoomobile and require mileage fees of $.50/mile, round trip.
Zoo "Tails": Storytelling with our favorite animal friends (Ages PreK – K)
[30 minute presentations: 1 Presentation = $65, 2 = $117, 3 = $175, 4 = $234]
(For multiple same-day presentations, the prices reflect a 10% discount off of your total)
This program combines the exciting world of reading with a visit from an animal featured in that story. After reading an animal tale together, we'll learn a little more about that character by exploring biofacts and meeting them live! We would be happy to use a story of your choosing or make suggestions based on the animals available.
Special Events: Large events [1-hour minimum/4- hour maximum: $125/hr]
The Buffalo Zoomobile can be booked for picnics, block parties, fairs, carnivals, lawn fetes, conventions, and other functions. The program consists of 4-7 live animals and many touchable biofacts (turtle shells, animal skins/pelts, etc.). Many of the animals are able to be touched as well.
The following programs can be adapted to ages 1st grade and older, unless otherwise specified.
Prices for the following programs are based on total audience size:
Groups up to 30 = $125, Groups 31 – 100 =$185, Groups 100+ =$225
I Love Nature: An introduction to our natural world [60 minutes] (Ages Pre-K -1st grade)
Young children are introduced to the wonders of nature and encouraged to safely and respectfully explore the outdoors. Basic concepts of natural interrelationships and their own role in nature are discussed. One half of the program is spent outdoors exploring the environment, after which their "discoveries" are discussed indoors. This program also includes one live animal ambassador.
Classic Zoomobile: Animal class adaptations and characteristics [90 minutes for 3 stations]
Students learn adaptations and characteristics of three different classes of animals (mammals, birds, and reptiles). Environmental and conservation topics are also discussed in relation to the animal classes. Hands-on experience is vital to the success of this program; therefore, small class size is preferred. Students are split into three groups that rotate among the stations. There is one live animal ambassador from each animal class and assorted biofacts to enhance this learning experience. One or two other animal class stations (arthropods, amphibians) can be added for an additional fee of $40 per station and extra 30 minute running time.
Biomes of the World: Major biomes of the world [90 minutes for 3 stations]
Students learn the characteristics of major global biomes. Students will be split into three groups that rotate among three stations (Rainforest/Deciduous Forest, Marine/Freshwater, Desert/Grassland). Each 30-minute station focuses on the flora, fauna, climate and location of two world biomes, using biofacts and one live animal to illustrate unique environmental niches. One or two other biome stations (Tundra/Taiga, Mountain/Urban) may be added for an additional fee of $40 per station and extra 30 minute running time.
Endangered Species: Features vital and endangered species [60 minutes]
This program defines what threatened, endangered, extirpated and extinct species are. It also shows a cross-section of animals on the endangered species list, the reasons they are in danger, and preventative measures that have arisen over the years to help save these wonderful creatures. A look at the illegal pet trade, animal hunting/exploitation for merchandise, and habitat destruction delivers a solemn message of the plight of these animals, while a look into the protective laws and conservation/preservation efforts of zoos and nature preserves offer hope for the future. A final look will be given to individual solutions, group awareness, education, and recycling.
Tropical Treasures: Rainforest discovery [60 minutes]
This program imparts knowledge about tropical rain forests using definitions, descriptions, audience participation, and live animal presentations. Topics covered during the presentation include conservation, preservation, bio-diversity and ways people can help save the rain forests.
A Touch of Class: A brief review of the top five animal classes. [60 minutes]
Investigate and learn about birds, mammals, reptiles, arthropods, and amphibians. Characteristics of each class will be discussed using biofacts and live animal representatives. This program is a shortened alternative to the Classic Zoomobile, and therefore only basic characteristics are covered.
World Safari: Take a "trip" to the seven different continents of the world. [60 minutes]
Combine interesting animal facts with geographic locations for a global understanding of the animal kingdom. Live animal representatives from many continents will help to illustrate the world's colorful and exotic bio-diversity.
Predator vs. Prey: Adaptations and characteristics of predator and prey animals [60 minutes]
This program helps students distinguish between predator and prey animals. Explore the interdependence between these species, showing why each needs the other to survive. Food chains and food webs are discussed. For the older audience the effect of pesticides on a food chain comes into play. Live animals will be used to visualize relationships.
Magnificent Mammals: Adaptations and characteristics of mammals [60 minutes]
Experience a fun-filled program devoted entirely to our fellow mammals (including marsupials and monotremes). Learn what it takes to be classified as a mammal, what adaptations help them survive, what they eat, where they live and how they move about and why. Hands-on interaction with live mammals and biofacts make this program an excellent learning opportunity.
Excellent Ectotherms: Adaptations and characteristics of "cold-blooded" animals. [60 minutes]
Enter a world of reptiles, amphibians and arthropods. This program is crawling with snakes, toads, spiders and much more. Explore the existence of our world's most primitive living terrestrial animals through hands-on interaction with biofacts and live animals.
Winged Wonders: Adaptations and characteristics of birds. [60 minutes]
From chickens to owls, learn about the amazing adaptations of our feathered friends. Natural histories, predator-prey interactions, and the ability of flight will be discussed. While witnessing some of nature's most secretive birds along with some common everyday species, students learn the value of avian life in today's world.
Customized: Choose your own topic [60 minutes]
Are you a teacher interested in relating a specific wildlife/nature topic to a Zoomobile visit? Are you an organization or club that wants to learn more, but don't see the topic you want listed above? Please call us at 995-6123 to discuss your goal, and together we will try to build a program to your specifications.
Sensory Safari: Exploring the animal world through our senses [60 minutes]
This hands-on program is especially designed for senior facilities as well as centers for the physically and mentally disabled. The focus of this program is sensory enrichment via touch, sight, and sound with both exotic and domestic animals.
Senior Safari: How the Buffalo Zoo has changed throughout our lifetime [60 minutes]
This interactive program is geared toward seniors in retirement communities, senior centers and well-elderly facilities. A history of the Buffalo Zoo (and zoos in general), little known animal facts, and zoo memories are presented in a fun game-like atmosphere. This program includes one live animal ambassador.
*NEW* Enrichment Makers: The science and study of animal behavior [Five 60 minute sessions]
(5th – 8th grade; recommended for afterschool/out-of-school setting)
This multi-session program allows students in afterschool programs to become scientists as they learn about animal
behavior and enrichment. In the first four sessions, students will work with live animals and zoo staff to practice skills such as behavioral observation, ethogram creation, behavioral sampling , hypothesis testing and enrichment creation. The fifth session culminates at the Buffalo Zoo, where students will deliver their enrichment, while observing the animal's behavioral reactions. Cost: $550 + presale group admission rate for Zoo visit


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Less is more (especially when you're crunched for time and were suppose to be out the door 10 minutes ago). I'm leaving you with an image I can't get unburned from my retinas. I want it all, now, especially those **&%@ shutters and skylight.
Found it on Porchlight Interiors,
who found it in British Homes & Gardens.
Need a copy of that issue in a bad way.


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Von Ulshafer, 85, of Wabash, IN, and having ties to Roanoke, IN, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at 10:43 a.m. at the Wabash County Hospital.
Mr. Ulshafer was a graduate of LaFontaine High School and attended Ball State University for one year. He worked as a tool and die maker at Delco in Kokomo for 27 years, retiring in 1992. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He was a member of Grace Community Church, Marion.
He was born Nov. 16, 1927, in Wabash County to Urban David and Maxine Elizabeth Harrell Ulshafer. He married Phyllis Marie Watts on Sept. 8, 1950, in Roanoke. His wife survives.
Additional survivors include four sons, Edward (Allison) Ulshafer, of LaFontaine; David A. (Sheryll) Ulshafer, of Wabash; Kevin (Margaret) Ulshafer, of Macon, GA; and Jeff (Colleen) Ulshafer, of Winter Springs, FL; a daughter, Loraine Kay (Mike) Sorrell, of LaFontaine; a sister, Reba (Donald) Jacobs, of LaFontaine; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Calling is Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash. A service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the LaFontaine Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
To sign the online guest book, visit www.grandstaff-hentgen.com [1].
[1] http://www.grandstaff-hentgen.com


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On "Mad Men," real-life marrieds John Slattery and Talia Balsam play Roger and Mona Sterling, a onetime married couple who have remained friends and, for all we know, might end up reconciled once the series returns next year for its final seven episodes.
Slattery is in Los Angeles filming the last episode of "Mad Men" and, during a break, swung by The Times' television studio for a Web chat. And because we know how much he misses his wife (and because Balsam is so great on the show), we hooked the couple up via Skype to talk about the series and Roger and Mona and whether the Sterlings' daughter prefers to be called Margaret or Marigold these days.
"Just because they can't necessarily find a way to be together on a daily basis doesn't mean they can't have an affection or respect for one another," Slattery says of the Sterlings
There was certainly a shared sense of purpose in that great episode that aired during the recently completed half season where Roger and Mona ventured out to a commune to retrieve their wayward daughter. Let's just say they looked a little out of place among the unwashed hippies.
"You always wear fur to the farm," Balsam says, smiling.
As for filming "Mad Men's" final episode, Slattery says it has been as poignant as you'd expect, starting with the cast getting together for a last table read.
"That was emotional," Slattery says. "There were some sniffles and teary eyes around the room, an emotional speech. Until it's finished ... and even after it's finished, it won't probably sink in for a while. But, yes, it's been emotional. We've been doing this for a long time now."
Take a look at our conversation above and see what else they had to say about the series.


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Earlier this month, when the Website Deadspin.com broke the story of Manti Te'o's non-existent girlfriend, I heard from several friends, all with some version of the same message: "That girl in the hoax photographs looks exactly like you."
There was a reason for that. The photographs were of me, though I had no idea until the story broke that they had been used to create a false identity for a woman who never existed, Lennay Kekua.
Here's how it happened.
As someone in my mid-twenties, I am of the generation that uses social media to connect with friends, family and business associates. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: These are the ways we communicate. And like most of my generation, I didn't give a lot of thought to the word "friend" in the social media sphere. If someone sent me a friend request, more often than not, I accepted it. As a result, I found myself with a lot of friends, including some I barely knew. One of them was a guy I had only a passing acquaintance with, but who had gone to my high school.
I thought I had been careful with the privacy settings on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. I kept up with Facebook's privacy policies and took advantage of privacy tools. My private profile was not searchable by anyone who was not a "friend of a friend." I even limited access to photos of me that were posted by other people and tagged on my profile. And I made sure that every post and tag that was on my timeline was there because I allowed it to be there.


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There are many kinds of the structures of the triple-effect evaporator. In the design and production,the refrigerant steam...See More
The falling film evaporator adds the feed liquid from the top of the evaporator. The feed liquid membrane flows along the tube...See More
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All about Iowa government.
- Bills and Amendments
- Check on the status of a bill in the Iowa Legislature. Full text of all bills is available.
- Code of Iowa
- State laws searchable by keyword.
- State of Iowa Home Page
- Official page for the State of Iowa with information on all branches and agencies of state government. Also includes resources for business, tourism, and education in the state.
- Welcome to the Iowa Legislature
- Learn about our state government and find links to other states.
- Iowa Judicial Branch Web Site
- Site contains a wide spectrum of information about the Iowa court system including recently published opinions, overview of court procedures, glossary of legal terms, and information about child support, child custody, and domestic abuse laws.
- Iowa State Government
- For more Iowa Government (The Iowa Code, Travel and Tourism, Legislature, the Court and Corrections system, Sex Offender Registry)