text:
SOMETIME last week, driven by the strong love for my country, I embarked on a venture to write an opinion article on the expected 2013 Zimbabwe elections. I found myself zooming in on Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of MDC-T and Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF.
Several aborted attempts were to follow. I would write one page and find myself scribbling and tearing the papers and throwing the pieces of paper in the little bucket bin under my table. This happened three times. It turned out that my inclination towards MDC-T was clouding the smooth flow of my thinking.
Several attempts to present the MDC-T as a better option for the Zimbabwean electorate, as I had done in my previous writings, were to follow. In the end, I tore my draft points and digressed; I found myself writing about why Mugabe is a hero. One is not a hero because they were blown by the wind whichever direction the wind listed but because they defied the odds in fighting for justice.
There is no doubt that Mugabe is at the sunset of his life, but the least we can do for the remaining days of his life is to acknowledge and celebrate a man who lived out his purpose in driving the national and African agenda. That is not an attempt to say that he has not made mistakes like every one of us. But that he is one person whose works will speak well after he is gone is undeniable.
My diaspora stint, although it took long for me to admit it, opened my eyes to the realities of the factors at play in global politics. My sober conclusion is that Africa needs more Mugabes. The political leadership of Africa has been very timid and visionless in dealing with the issues bedevilling our continent. With the continent that provides the world with the bulk of raw materials and mineral wealth, why should the dark cloud of poverty and despair still hover above us?
God blessed Africa with vast arable land and good climatic conditions ideal for agriculture and tourism. But, we don't have anything to show for it. Why? Africa has become a sorry example of the saying that poverty is not the shortage of food or money but the inability to use the resources one has to make money or food. We can only blame it on our leadership.
So, when one leader stands out to challenge the status quo and boldly takes drastic measures, and in many respects, dangerous to their own personal affairs, to cause a serious and permanent re-configuration in the ownership dynamics, that leader must be applauded. He deserves a standing ovation. I believe the coming elections is where Zimbabweans should acknowledge this man.
Africa needs leaders who are prepared to forego their prestige and privileges as they pursue to bring meaningful and sustainable change for their people.
Mugabe was a darling of the world. He compared favourably to Nelson Mandela and other world venerated leaders as long as he continued to play within the box prescribed by the West, who continue to arrogate themselves the big-brother role when it comes to Africa's affairs.
The wanton vilification that President Mugabe and his Zanu PF received when they decided to champion the real African revolution through the agrarian reforms just betrays desperation by the world leaders who are ready to crush anyone who challenges their hegemony. But, for Mugabe, even the rescinding of the knighthood and university degrees, the economic sabotage, travel bans and freezing of personal assets abroad never managed to break his spirit. The primary thing on his mind was to fight for Zimbabweans to regain their honour and sovereignty. Talk of a principled man!
That Zimbabwe suffered with him also goes without saying. Many of us, because of the suffering that we experienced when Mugabe took the principled stand, forgot that there is no meaningful change that just comes without sacrifice. So we abandoned the liberation movement and clung to the next available party.
In that way, we played into the hands of those who were at the forefront in the regime-change agenda. It is incumbent upon me also to admit that Zanu PF made many mistakes along the way, especially when some within the movement sought to enrich themselves. That, to an extent discredited the noble intentions of the policies. But, that cannot take away the good that was in the fight.
The last 50 years saw many African countries attaining their independence but it is sad to say that there was too little, if any change at all, in the change of the standards of living of the generality of our people. Yes, some of the lack of development was a result of some of our corrupt politicians who made sure that their bellies and necks were fat at the expense of prosperity of the people. But, the greater reason has been the lack of resources that indirectly remained in the hands of our erstwhile colonial masters.
Our leaders institutionalized and perpetuated the centuries of exploitation by agreeing to retention of the status quo in terms of the ownership of the resources and means of production. Africa needs a fundamental reappraisal of its objectives and strategies if African renaissance is not to remain a pipe dream. Africa, and posterity cries out for the emergence of champions of the order of Mugabe first to deal with resource ownership and then to drive the unity of Africa and the optimisation of the benefits of those resources by way of processing and value addition.
This will not be a type of leader who is shy in demolishing the structural barriers that has kept Africa a disgrace but innovative strategic thinkers who are prepared to boldly engage the systems to bring change so that the scripture will be fulfilled that "Ethiopia (or Africa) shall lift her hands to God".
The resources, land and minerals in particular, were so central to the fight for independence in Zimbabwe. Both, for the freedom fighters and equally so for those who fought to maintain the exploits their forefathers had gotten by unjust means. The resources were so important that they became a major hindrance in the compromises that the Ian Smith regime would have made earlier during the struggle. The 5, 000 or so farmers in the then Rhodesia had huge influence in the decisions of the Rhodesia Front. They feared for "their" land and so strengthened the Smith regime by providing the resources for the war.
We saw a similar drive around year 1999. The farmers, who had continued to enjoy benefits even after independence, panicked when Zanu PF resolved to address the imbalance. They were then staring in their faces some of their previous fears. The farmers, together with their friends in the West, then started scouting for ways and means of countering the threatening move to redistribute land and other resources.
Unfortunately, this is how the MDC was formed. I say, unfortunately, because they took advantage of the people's anger and disenchantment with Zanu PF owing to the deterioration in the economic conditions caused by a myriad of reasons which included the failure of the IMF-sponsored ESAP, the drought of 1987 and general endemic corruption. Many of the people who formed the core of the MDC leadership and membership were, and are still, genuine people who had, and still have, the interest of the country at heart, but just fell prey to the underhand maneuvers which were at play.
They needed the financial resources and the adage became true: he who pays the piper calls the tune. Thus, the MDC, who had gone to bed with the farmers, made a rigorous campaign for the "No Vote" at the referendum in 2000. The MDC, I think, should have moved to redefine themselves as a real people's party, led by leaders who are their own not shadows of the farmers and other agendas.
I believe that this can still be done, but it appears the lack of political will to pursue it is just abundant under the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai.
In South Africa, we have witnessed a similar drive to remove the ruling ANC from power. This drive got into serious over-drive when talk about economic liberation got to a peak just like it had done in Zimbabwe in 1998. We have seen the Democratic Alliance party resort to all forms of sabotage and vilification of the ANC using their arms which include the media and some within the judiciary. The aim is to stop the ANC before it lays its hands on the resources just like they attempted to stop Zanu PF after 1999 in Zimbabwe.
The scramble for Africa's resources continues to this day. Dr. S. Zondi, a respected commentator and writer, in one of his writings highlights current trends in "land grabs" taking place in Africa by the West and emerging east through shady deals with some shortsighted African governments. This underlines the importance of African farmland in global food production. Africa remains the future in terms of global food security.
The indigenization of the economy is one issue that causes me a lot of pain when I analyse the policies of the parties in Zimbabwe. I find it difficult that any sane educated Zimbabwean should be against the principle of the indigenisation drive. Yes, they can criticize the method and implementation but definitely not the policy itself. It is a noble policy. The critics of Zanu PF fail to make a distinction between the party itself and its policies.
For political expediency, many of the previous opposition sympathizers often seek to portray Zanu PF as attempting to present indigenisation as a substitute of employment creation. That is clearly not the case. But, the indigenization drive should go on while at the same time we seek to address the unemployment issues. Any genuine foreign investor should find it logical to partner with locals. This, to me, is a better approach than the wholesale nationalisation which is being lobbied for in South Africa.
The unemployment issue should then be addressed by the government prioritising infrastructure development and favourable regulatory and incentives for business to thrive.
The myth that the current indigenisation scares away investors, and thus worsens unemployment levels, needs to be debunked. We just have to show that the indigenous partner knows what he/she is doing and that there is a peaceful political environment and potential for profit.
This is one area where Mugabe needs to be applauded because we can only influence the direction of Africa if we own the resources. That is what the world powers have understood and have always sought a say in our Africa's resources giving rise to the numerous conflicts that we have witnessed since our countries attained independence. The battle for resources is not a make-believe war. It is real, that is why Mugabe and Gaddaffi were being ostracized while the likes of Mandela have been hero-worshipped because they dared not touch the resources issue. The potential spiral effect of Mugabe's ownership policies in Africa needed to be contained.
Having been a Christian for the greater part of my life, I know that when God decides to bring a change to the affairs of his people, he usually finds a man whom he anoints for that purpose. To that effect, I am inclined to believe that President Mugabe may have had his heart and mind hardened by God so that he refuses to compromise, even under immense pressure, until his purpose of the redistribution of the resources has been carried out.
We may not see it now, but, in years to come, when Zimbabwe returns to her prospering ways and has been restored to the prestigious bread basket of Africa status, our children shall be grateful of the travail that we had to go through to change the structure and ownership our resources.
Mbango Sithole is a Zimbabwean consultant in South Africa who writes in his personal capacity. You can e-mail the writer on firstname.lastname@example.com
Mbango Sithole


text:
Our Fitness Blog
My boss says that I don't know how to talk to women….
So what is a trainer supposed to be like? There can be a fine line between being an effective trainer and a drill sergeant. The truth is, most people don't respond very well to screaming and intimidation. Believe it or not very few people, especially women, respond well to insults disguised as help.
In my opinion, the primary job of a trainer is to be a motivator. Obviously there is an expectation of knowledge and professionalism, but the true test of a trainer is how they interact with their members. The best trainers understand that they are in the people business. They care about the person they are working with and work to motivate and push them to get the best out of themselves.
The best trainers take your fitness goals seriously and find the best methods to get you there.
Many trainers tend to either become a personal therapist or a glorified spotter. Neither of these truly helps to carve the path to fitness that their members are looking for. Not only should a trainer help you to achieve and exceed your goals, but often times they play a large part in setting goals.
In order to be effective a trainer has to learn how to motivate each and every member and push them to become the best version of themselves.
One of my favorite aspects of being a trainer was working with each member and finding different ways to challenge them. Every person is motivated differently and it both fun and challenging to keep people engaged and seeing progress.
There is no greater job satisfaction than seeing the positive impact that you are having on a person.
Even after being a trainer and a fitness addict, I still need motivation. I still need that person to push me and encourage me to work just a little bit harder. Like most people I am constantly working toward my fitness goals and would not be successful without a truly motivating trainer.
The trainer is just one of the amazing aspects of a 9Round workout. Check out www.9round.com to find the 9Round closest to you.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
King Phresh - Fortune Teller [User Submitted]
First visual from KP's Upcoming Mixtape "Cash Rules Everythang" Said to be release by Mid March.
For Business inquires E-mail (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Or call (614-452-0255) Columbus, Ohio stand up !!! FettiNation
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
The new tech titans are building the tools that influence our daily lives, giving us games like Words With Friends, and the ability to stream our favorite TV shows wherever we are, on whatever gadgets we choose.
But where do they rest their bleary eyes after their late-night hackathons? Some prefer a modest place to call home, belying their rock-star-nerd status. But others have splurged, showing it really pays to be a geek after all.
By Ellen Lee, Special to CNBC.com
Updated 12 March 2012


text:
The classic Crocs clog just made a big move from a shoe you wear while gardening to a fashion-forward statement piece to wear on the catwalk.
In an unexpected collaboration, the Spanish luxury fashion brand Balenciaga created a platform version of the foam shoe and embellished it with colorful charms. At 10 centimeters tall, Balenciaga literally took Crocs to a new level on Oct. 1 during Paris Fashion Week.
@balenciaga just brought the Crocs game to new heights. Swipe ⬅ to get a second look at the shoe they sent down the runway in Paris.
A post shared by Crocs Shoes (@crocs) on
"It's a very innovative shoe," Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia told Vogue UK on Sunday. "It's light, it's a one-piece foam mold and to me these kind of techniques and working with these kind of materials is very Balenciaga."
The shoes will be available exclusively through Balenciaga in Spring 2018.
But this isn't the first time Crocs are rocking the runway. Earlier in September, British fashion designer Christopher Kane debuted rhinestone-covered Crocs sandals during London Fashion Week.
Kane said working with Crocs was his "most controversial collaboration… which makes it all the more fun," in a statement.
Indeed, there are many people who wish the foam shoe would stay off the runway. Here are some of their responses on Twitter:
A sight for sore eyes pic.twitter.com/RbapaLlw7c— C (@behind_her_lens) October 1, 2017
This is why we can't have nice things— Alex V (@flexvangundy) October 1, 2017
I'm sorry am I hallucinating or did I just see platform Crocs from Balenciaga— Tyler McCall (@eiffeltyler) October 1, 2017


text:
Angelina Jolie made her first appearance since revealing she underwent a double mastectomy when she walked the red carpet at the London premiere of Brad Pitt's new movie World War Z on June 2.
"It really shows you that one person can make a difference," Brad told Extra at the event. "I was incredibly proud of her way before this, but it's a very brave decision."
OK! News: Brad Pitt Talks About How Unhappy He Was While Married to Jen Aniston
Brad also said the couple made sure their children knew exactly what was going on with mom. "We have a policy in our family, no secrets… I mean there's an age of understanding, so you've got to present it in a way that is age appropriate, but we know our children very well… we want everything to be on the table and any questions they have for them to ask."
OK! News: Celebs React to News of Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy
"We unleash certain things on them when it's out of the scary zone," continued Brad. "And we know where we're heading, it's been a lovely thing."
Photos: Can You Guess the Celeb Parents of Seven Different Sets of Twins?
Brad's movie World War Z hits theaters June 21.
Do you agree with Brad and Angelina's decision to talk to their kids about her surgery, or do you think it's too much for them to understand? Tell us your opinion in the comments section or tweet us @OKMagazine.


text:
Playaz Circle (Feat. Phonte) - Paper Chaser/We Workin'
Video For Playaz Circle "Paper Chaser Featuring Phonte And We Workin'" Off Of "Supply & Demand"&IP=220.127.116.11
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Develop epos front end a simple back end
Budget $250-750 USD
I need you to develop some software for me. I would like this software to be developed for Windows . EPOS system required for cafe
Kind of development: New program from scratch
Description of requirements/functionality: we need epos system that can:
Work in restaurants and takeaways but also retail environments.
Main page payout must be variable so that button size and colour can be altered depending on circumstances of use.
Must be able to split categories down into sub categories and sub-sections
Must be able to build up a meal from a selection of additional items available on the epos system.
Tabs to allow a person or table to start stored and increase a bill as the meal progresses.
Able to select a table (1-20), partially create an order then select another table and create order and then return to the original table to continue processing order.
TO be used offline only.
Records payment methods.
Able to calculate and apply discounts
Button to allow the use of vouchers
Additional facilities:
Full x and z reads to include breakdown per user
To run on Win OS 32 or 64 bit (fully compatible from Windows 7 onwards) touch screen tablet
Custom VAT %
Reprint last receipt button
Sales report showing itemised sales transaction (format to be agreed) for specified date range
To be proposed and agreed during design (flat file db is fine).
DB design to be agreed
Must have ability to export/edit and then import data
Printer: print receipt to 80mm epos printer connected via USB (format to be agreed)
Full source files and window installation files to be provided
System should be very similar to ECT Touch Restaurant version [url removed, login to view] (please see trial version).
Manual (describing what is required with redundant sections highlighted), screenshots and video is attached for reference.
Specific technologies required: Candidate should have experience of Epos software
OS requirements: Windows
Extra notes: Payment terms:
75% on release of tested version (customer sign off)
25% after 6 weeks warranty period (for any bug fixes)
9 freelancers are bidding on average $558 for this job
Hello, I understood the initial scope of this project. Although i want to discuss further this job in order to prepare the final concept for this project. After Complete discussion over the call or in chat, i wi More
"IT FLEX SOLUTIONS has focused exclusively on the Web Development/Designing projects with 8+ years of service. Our Web Development/Designing expertise has helped clients to create e-commerce, social networking, real-es More
I've been working with window desktop application for 3 years. Both front end and backend with complex functionalities. HR apps, Inventory apps and Accounting applications.
Hello, I have seen your requirements and the work can be done with the best what I can deliver to you I am working on upwork from many years and I having an experience of more than 5 years in this field, I can do desi More
I have more than 10 years practical development experience in various different languages. I am a quick worker and a fast learner.
Hello, how are you doing today? Click on that__CHAT__button below so that I can ask a few questions concerning your project. I have read all the provided instructions and I am the right person to work on this task. I p More
Dear sir we have alredy uilt many pos system and can also show you we can easily do it as per your needs and wants in your requirment and budget , I am glad to inform you that we have an expert team of developer More


text:
The new crime thriller "Gangster Squad," with its swell cast led by Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn and Emma Stone, tries to capture mob-infested Los Angeles circa 1949, when Hollywood glam ruled the Strip, wiseguys took aim with tommy guns and fedoras were all the rage.
Those fedoras are a tip-off of problems to come — there are simply too many of them in "Gangster Squad."
Director Ruben Fleischer gives a lot of neon and noir-ish flash to the turf wars between East Coast and Chicago underworld figures for control of the City of Angels and their battles with the undercover cops obsessed with taking them down.
Screenwriter Will Beall, working with the tawdry true-life saga chronicled in former Los Angeles Times reporter Paul Lieberman's book, "Gangster Squad: Covert Cops, the Mob, and the Battle for Los Angeles," has packed the plot with period details, violence and the sort of pithy lines you'd expect bruisers to be spitting out in the 1950s.
But the soul of the era is missing, and with it any reason to care.
In Fleischer's hands, the high-stakes shootouts are as stylish as a GQ spread, but it's nearly impossible to figure out who's zoomin' who. Fleischer didn't have these sorts of identity issues in the hyper-violent fun of 2009's "Zombieland," whose apocalyptic road trip to evade the easy-to-spot undead put the director on the map.


text:
Sam92 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 35 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
The company will be selling photovoltaic products (that are installed on roofs) - Which is a new clean energy, and eco friendly.
Everybody is targeted, men/women
Clean/Fresh logo with a symbol of a photovoltaic (maybe a house roof with the photovoltaic panels on top and/or have a sun with the photovoltaic panels...)
Colors scheme is open (2 colors max)
This logo needs to be simple, extremely easy to remember and have a symbol - The symbol by itself must identify the company (like the Nike logo, the M of McDonalds...).
Please don't use any photo libraries icons/symbols, be creative.
Maybe look at those logos for inspiration (not that we like them, it's just that it can help with the symbols: http://solar-panel-installers.ca/ http://www.pvpower.com/ ...)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Have questions?
We are here and ready
to help you.
Chat Online Now
(800) 750-7764 - We're here 8:00AM until 7:00PM EST.
Email us anytime.
We'll contact you within 4 business hours.
Check out our FAQs.
View Return Instructions.
Create custom labels with the material, size and shape you
specify using your artwork.
Labels preprinted with your graphic or logo ready for use in
your label printer.
Zebra desktop printer compatible jewelry labels will save your shop time and money. Get free shipping when you shop & order today!
Filtering by:
Items 1 - 0 of 0
Popular Products
We take great care to ensure that the labels you purchase from LabelValue.com are of the highest quality. Our compatible Zebra direct thermal desktop printer labels are ideal for use in a variety of retail shops and applications. We manufacture a variety of barbell and rat tail labels to ensure you have the labels you need for your jewelry shop.
At LabelValue.com, we take great pride in offering you premium services with the best priced products available. That's why we go the extra mile to offer fast, free shipping on every Zebra label order with absolutely no order minimums. We also pride ourselves on offering top-notch customer service. We hope you don't ever have any issues with our site or products, but let's face it, sometimes things happen. Our friendly customer service team is available during business hours to help make sure you are taken care of while shopping with LabelValue.com.


text:
Saenna is a template with responsive design. You can change easily color and fonts. It has simple page structure and easy to use APIs (google maps, google fonts etc.). This template has fully working ajax subscription form and contact form and comes with Flickr feed integration. Also you can change any item in included PSD file. Saenna perfectly suitable for any creative, business website other under construction or landing page theme.
Special Features:
Valid HTML5 ( validator.w3.org )
Easy Customizable
Responsive Design
jQuery Countdown Timer
Working Ajax Subscription Form
Working Contact Form
Google Maps Integration
Google Webfonts
Supersized Background Slideshow
Animated headline text
Flickr feed integration
Bootstrap v2.3
Font Awesome
PSD included
Please, rate my template if you like it!


text:
I have trouble swimming the 500 freestyle i have a very fast 200 free and 100 and 50 but struggle to hold pace any suggestions
I have trouble swimming the 500 freestyle i have a very fast 200 free and 100 and 50 but struggle to hold pace any suggestions
If you have a good 200 free, you should be able to hold on long enough to have a decent 500. You'll need a bit more conditioning, of course. And I believe it is important to do sets at 500 race pace on short rest so you get a feel for holding pace. I like to do USPRT sets. My USRPT for 500 training is repeat 50s holding 29 seconds or better on a 50-second sendoff. I do two sets of 30 of those. Of course, as designed by USRPT, I never do the full 60 because I fail out of the set. But that set gives a great feel for the pace and also improves conditioning.
Curious why you wouldn't use 100 yd as a distance to train for the 500?
I'm 56 and the national record for the 500 yd free is 4:56, so obviously :29 is not a realistic race pace for those in my age group, but holding 1:05 - 1:10 on 100s swam on a 2:00 interval seems like it might have merit. What do you think? Just seems the 500 requires a mind set of pacing longer distances than the 50, but curious what others think.
So swimming 50s at your 500 pace until you break is a great way to train the pace and feel of the race. Some days with longer sets will help with endurance as well, but for the pacing and muscle specific training, I like repeat 50s to train for the 200 and 500.
I found the following thread very helpful in trying to improve my 500 time. The biggest advice that I can give is to take it out easy. Like, 3 seconds slower than you the pace where you feel like you are going too slow on the opening hundred! Good streamlines, build your kick as the race goes on. Posts #6,8,14 have good ideas to employ from some great distance swimmers in the Masters ranks...
mm & Gary & knel,
that's all good stuff. I'm back in the pool after three decades away and very new to all this usrpt approach. But I can relate to breaking down trying to swim 100's as part of a broken 500. I always start the workout optimistic and they just waste me and my hope of holding a 1:05 pace soon falls into the reality of 1:15 or worse after 4 or 5 100s.
I have a much better result when holding 50s for my 200 pace, just never considered doing the volume of 50s mentioned here. If my desired time for the 500 is 5:25, that breaks down to 10 50s at :32.5 and I think I can hold more than 10 at that pace if I get some rest. Is the amount rest related to age, or the number of reps, or none of the above and just get in shape!


text:
Scripture: Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Observation: If I call Jesus Lord, then I am also claiming that I am his servant. And if I am his servant, then my goal is to please Him!
Application: Ira Stanphill's song says, "I don't know about tomorrow…" I am finding that many times I do not even know about today! But one thing remains constant; I want to please my Lord. If the day is boring, or full of surprises; if everything goes as planned, or nothing works as planned, I want to please Him!
Prayer: Lord, the end of the song says "I know who holds tomorrow." I am glad I know You hold today! Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!


text:
Mahindra Genio On Road Price In Yavatmal
Looking for on road price of Mahindra Genio. Find it here. Genio On-road price in Yavatmal indicated here includes registration,insurance,tax, and other charges. Genio dealers may or may not include extended warranty in the on-road price.
Mahindra Genio Price in Yavatmal
For a loan of ₹ 4.99 Lac @ 12% over 60 months
|Ex-show Room Price
|₹ 4,99,000
|₹ 47,123
|Road Tax
|₹ 7,020
|Other Charges
|₹ 18,962
|On Road Price
|Get price in Whatsapp
* Mahindra Genio on road price in Yavatmal indicated here is subject to changes. On-road price changes for different variant of the check. General offers and dealer offers may not have affected the Genio onroad price listed above. Customer who choose Mahindra Genio finance option may pay more. Contact Genio dealers in Yavatmal for accurate on-road price.
Unnati Motors
Plot No B-9, Lohara Midc, Near ...
Yavatmal - 445001
Confusing yet? Looking for other options? Consider the following cars which competes with Mahindra Genio in terms of segment, price, market positioning and features.
Mahindra Genio On Road Price, Mahindra Genio On Road Price, Genio On Road Price In Yavatmal, Mahindra Genio discounts in Yavatmal, Mahindra Genio finance.


text:
When war hits home: Bush push changing lives
It's a bright but bone-chillingly frigid Saturday as people gather to make their voices heard.
A week before this cold rally, local U.S. Army Reserve members lined up in Charlottesville for their monthly drill session, wondering if they might soon be putting their skills into practice on a Middle-East battlefield.
In the seven days leading up to the march that will follow the rally, numerous college students across Virginia, who had opted for the benefits of being "simultaneous members"– a program that offers state residency and tuition assistance to students who were also enlisted part-time in the armed services– received word it was time to leave the classroom to fulfill their military obligations.
And so today over a thousand people brave sub-freezing temperatures to congregate at the east end of the Downtown Mall to march for peace.
War is on everyone's mind.
Crowd members huddle together and try to stay warm shifting from one foot to the other, as speakers from religious groups and political organizations take the podium to encourage political leaders to turn away from an invasion of Iraq. The air fills with the thud of applauding mittens.
As the march begins, shouts go up: "Not my president, not my war. Enron's president, Exxon's war." A sea of people sweeps down the Mall. Mothers with strollers. Elderly couples with canes. High school students with placards. Black people, white people, brown people. Dreadlocks. Ski caps. Crew cuts.
Chanting "Drop Bush, not bombs," marchers momentarily flood McIntire Road before being herded back onto sidewalks by police.
A statistic floats through the crowd, repeated over and over: According to a Los Angeles Times poll, 72 percent of Americans think there is not enough evidence to justify a war with Iraq.
But does that figure accurately represent the Charlottesville area? How do local residents feel about the prospect of war? And what impact would a U.S. invasion have on lives here at home? The Hook talks to several people with a particular stake in the United States' military involvement in the Middle East to find out their thoughts.
Eric T. Allen
Following the horrors of September 11, Charlottesville native and Gulf War veteran Eric T. Allen immediately tried to re-enlist in the Marine reserves. His says his wife was "dead set against it," but Allen was determined.
"A lot of it was out of anger and feelings of patriotism," he says. "I told my wife, 'Whose mother do you want to ask to send her son? I'm already damaged goods in that area.'"
In 1991, Allen's Marine group was the first combat reserve unit activated, and he spent several months driving an amphibious assault vehicle in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, among other duties. Reflecting on his experiences, he says, "It was certainly life-altering. It changed my personality. I lost my innocence."
But he'd do it all over again if the Marines hadn't rejected him as too old at 35, pointing him toward the National Guard, where he just completed a 12-month stint.
He's convinced there's reason to go to war against Saddam Hussein. "The evidence is overwhelming that he has weapons of mass destruction," he says. "He could be worse than Hitler."
Allen, who owns Valley Publishing Corporation, says he believes that a unilateral invasion may be necessary because "I don't have a lot of faith in the U.N."
He does have confidence in the Bush administration, though. "I don't think we could have a better group doing it as far as experience. Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell– all you need is Schwarzkopf, and you've got the whole team."
Although he suspects a war would entail "surprisingly high" Iraqi civilian casualties, in his opinion the time to act is now. "I think the longer we wait, the worse it will get."
Allen trusts President Bush's wartime agenda. "I think oil's probably a factor in it," he says, "but I don't think it's the factor. I think it's national security."
Elie Avidor
Israeli Elie Avidor describes how during the Gulf War his niece in Tel Aviv experienced firsthand the effects of Iraq's scud missiles– crouching in a protected room, throwing up inside her gas mask.
"This time she's bought tickets to leave," he says. "She knows from her previous experience that she doesn't want to go through this with her kids."
Nevertheless, Avidor, who grew up in Haifa, says that when he was in Israel for two weeks in early January, concern about a U.S. war with Iraq was overshadowed by attention to the upcoming elections and Hezbollah bombings. "And to tell you the truth, being in Israel, there is way less demonizing," he says. "They don't sit around and demonize Hussein on the news. They don't need to justify anything."
He adds, "In Israel the concern is whether they should retaliate if they're attacked."
Although the 53-year-old Avidor, who's lived in Charlottesville for four years, disagrees with "some Americans who think we should sit still until we're bombed by someone," he believes, "Bush and the U.N. need to try the most before going to war... They should explore everything, and if nothing works, I think they should try anything before going for an all-out war and bombing."
Asked if he thinks a war is inevitable, he replies, "It's more like I don't want to lose hope."
The University of Maryland doctoral candidate's mother and brother remain in Israel, and he says the consequences of a war with Iraq for his immediate family are hard to predict. "It depends to what extent Israel is involved in the war. It depends on whether the super-fanatic Muslims get frustrated and expand their activities in the U.S. Then it would affect my daily life."
In the meantime, Avidor urges people to seek out foreign news sources and "to listen to Muslims who live here to hear what they say, how they feel."
Butch Bailey
When Stanardsville residents Butch and Astrid Bailey learned in early January that their only son, Gabe, a U.S. Marine stationed in California, was scheduled to ship out to Kuwait on January 18, Butch decided to visit Gabe before he deployed. He arrived to find Gabe sorting through gear spread all over the living room.
"He was getting pushed for time, and I was helping him," his dad recalls. "And he was explaining all the things he had– the K-Bar [a knife designed for hand-to-hand combat] was the worst– and the vacuum-sealed chemical suit and his Kevlar vest. He wanted me to try it on. These things made it more real than I wanted it to be. And because it was my own son..."
His voice drifts off.
But on the Saturday of the march, Gabe received word his deployment was on hold. It's been day to day ever since, with Bailey and his wife anxiously waiting on pins and needles.
"I don't know if people who aren't in this situation can really understand that," Bailey says. "They can sympathize, but they can't empathize.
"When I was sitting in that room with Gabe getting ready," he says somberly, "I had the most profound sense of dread I've ever experienced."
Although the 53-year-old Bailey, a Greene County schoolteacher, dodged the draft during the Vietnam War, he claims he's not a total pacifist. "I do believe there are just causes that would require going to war. But for the most part, and specifically in this case, there are other options," he says.
And he points out, "There's no guarantee that if we have a war with Iraq it will result in peace and freedom.
"If President Bush's daughters were both enlisted in the Marines," Bailey theorizes, "and they were squared away, ready to be sent to Kuwait, I think he would be much more expansive about what the options are."
For now, though, Bailey waits apprehensively for word of Gabe's deployment. "I am worried about how it's going to feel when he's gone. I mean, this is bad, but how's it going to feel then?" he asks. "There's that sense of being out of control."
Saul Barodofsky
Self-described "head schlepper" at Sun Bow Trading Company, 64-year-old Saul Barodofsky wears a tie emblazoned with American flags as he pets the head of his Great Mastiff, Dominick. Barodofsky has made over 100 trips along the Silk Road to buy textiles for his store on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. He's no fan of Saddam Hussein and says he thinks it's just a matter of time before Hussein takes aggressive action against the rest of the world. But he's troubled by the question of whether the U.S. should go to war with Iraq.
"I don't think it's a matter of 'should.' There are a couple of problems involved in answering the question," he says. "Number one, we're not talking about going to war with Mother Teresa. Number two, we have not seen such governmental secrecy since the Vietnam War. So we really have no idea of what is going on."
As a citizen, he doesn't like the level of subterfuge he detects in the current administration. "I think the government's big mistake is not keeping the American public really informed about what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how they are doing it," says Barodofsky.
Although he advocates the removal of Saddam Hussein ("This is a really bad man."), he's convinced Bush has another motive for invading Iraq. "We know this is all about oil," he says. "And it's not just about oil; it's about cheap energy so we can keep our businesses going."
Barodofsky's not overly concerned that a war with Iraq would have a negative impact on his own business. He points out that during the Gulf War he traveled to Turkey eight times, receiving upgrades and extras thanks to the lack of travelers. "I wouldn't say it benefited me," he cautions. "What I did was I took advantage of a situation."
Does Barodofsky believe a war with Iraq is inevitable? "Not like death and taxes," he says.
Jacke Brown
Staff Sergeant Jacke Brown's former Army unit in Atlanta, represented by a black puma on the sleeve of her camouflage fatigues, deployed to Kuwait shortly after her transfer to Charlottesville.
"If I had stayed," she says, "I would have deployed with people I'd known." Instead, she's handling personnel records at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Cherry Avenue, a post she took over January 5.
Brown has spent her career in the Army. After serving in a reserve unit for seven years, she decided to enlist full-time in 1989. She's done stints in Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., and Spain. During the Gulf War, she was stationed at the mobilization station in Fort Benning, Georgia. Now, at age 43, she has only three years to go until she retires.
She finds nothing unusual about the current escalation in military activity, pointing out, "We're trained to do this 365 days a year." Brown, however, does not support a war with Iraq.
"No," she says, "and that's being honest." Bush's motivation for war is unclear to her, but Brown offers with a shrug, "It seems to be about what Iraq is hiding."
"If there's a way to solve the problem other than war... you have to consider the youthfulness of the Army," she explains, adding it's not a question of U.S. soldiers' being well prepared– they are– it's a matter of putting them at risk. "Even the president, he has daughters. He doesn't have sons. You've got people who are sending their only sons."
Asked if she thinks a U.S. invasion of Iraq is inevitable, she answers with a sad smile, "Oh, yes... They wouldn't be sending so many soldiers, if something wasn't going to happen."
Brown is particularly worried about the safety of her old unit because they're specialists in decontamination and creating smoke screens, which will place them in the thick of combat.
"Hopefully, by some fluke," she sighs, "it may not happen."
Helena Cobban
Helena Cobban's desk is stacked with books and articles covered with sticky-notes. In addition to being a global affairs columnist for The Christian Science Monitor and Al-Hayat, a London-based pan-Arabic newspaper, she serves as a fellow at UVA's Institute for Practical Ethics and sits on the Middle East advisory committee for Human Rights Watch. Cobban's familiarity with the horrors of war, however, is far from scholarly.
"I probably have experienced war at what you'd crudely call the ground-zero level more than most in the mainstream media," she says, explaining that she lived through six years of war in Lebanon while married to a Lebanese national and trying to raise their two children. Now 53, Cobban points out that today most wartime journalists are flown in and put up in international hotels. "They're not worrying in a visceral way about their children when a bomb goes off."
She says, "I had several friends killed during the war," and recalls a woman in her Beirut apartment building who died from a stray bullet while doing the dishes. About her years in Lebanon, she says, "What I took from that is war is unhealthy for women and children."
Cobban adamantly opposes a U.S. war with Iraq. "I wouldn't support it even if the U.N. said go," she says.
"I think people in this country altogether have been so blessed by not having, from 1812 to September 11, to suffer an attack on the homeland," says Cobban, who was born and educated in England. "It takes a leap of imagination to understand what a sustained attack would mean for people living in Iraq."
Although she thinks the U.S. should accept some responsibility for Hussein's despotism since it supported him during the Iran-Iraq war, she rejects any unilateral action to depose him, noting, "That's true rogue nation behavior."
Regarding Bush's current push toward military conflict, Cobban says, "Until the last moment, he can always call it off. And if he does, he'll find a great many people willing to help him 'come down from the tree.'"
Susan Donovan
Sitting at a table in the offices of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Susan Donovan explains that she got involved with resettling refugees because she felt helpless to effect political change. She thought if she couldn't alter the course of action, at least she could assist with the consequences.
"My role is to clean up," she says, "to plan for the disaster and clean up after it."
Her reaction to the possibility of war with Iraq is complicated, Donovan explains. "There are two of me. There's me, and there's the director of the IRC. As director of the IRC, I'm not political; I'm concerned about the role an invasion would have on refugees.
"For me, it's different. I've studied foreign affairs. I believe in the United Nations. I believe in global responses to problems like Saddam Hussein. I'm concerned about our response being unilateral."
Although she objects to a war with Iraq, if the U.S. moves forward with an attack, she says the IRC would be involved within 48 hours.
"Clearly, an invasion of Iraq would create a refugee crisis. There are no relief agencies in Iraq right now who can prepare for this," says Donovan, 44. "And there haven't been for 10 years because of the sanctions."
She points out there are 5,000 refugees remaining to be resettled from the last Gulf War. And September 11 resulted in the U.S.'s curtailing its commitments to take in people currently awaiting asylum. Donovan says that before the terrorist attacks, the U.S. was slated to bring in 70,000 refugees during the 2002 fiscal year, but following the calamity, it accepted only 27,000.
Looking ahead to the potential consequences of a U.S.-Iraq war, she laments, "It's an unfortunate situation where we may be creating refugees and then not offering any solution to that.
"We're founded by refugees, and we're founded with this value of providing safe haven," says the 12-year Charlottesville resident. "If we break away from our commitment, we don't provide leadership."
Alan Doukan
A Palestinian who grew up in Kuwait, Alan Doukan originally came to the U.S. in 1985 to attend college in Norfolk. Following graduation, he roamed from coast to coast ("I've lived all over") before settling in Charlottesville in 1994. Now a U.S. citizen with the heart of an entrepreneur, Doukan, 36, recently sold the Estes IGA on Cherry Avenue, the latest in a string of businesses he's owned in town.
Shocked and hurt by the events of September 11, like every American, Doukan says his neighbors offered him nothing but kindness in the aftermath. "I had no problem. I even had more support," he recalls. "A lot of people came to the store and offered to give us a place to spend the night."
Although he's concerned about terrorism, Doukan doesn't think Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States. He's against an invasion of Iraq "because it's not a war to bring democracy. It's an oil war." He continues, "I want our government to use the same standard it used with China and Kuwait, where human rights are the main interest and economics second."
He thinks Bush should allow the United Nations to pursue a diplomatic solution ("Listening is a big problem we have. We need to listen") and instead turn his attention to addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "If that problem was solved," Doukan says, "then most of the havoc in the Middle East would be solved."
Nevertheless, he fears the Bush administration is committed to walking down the warpath. "I think it's happening. Our economy sucks, and our government needs something to make people get busy."
But in Doukan's opinion, an invasion of Iraq will only serve to bolster anti-American sentiment among Middle Eastern people and spur terrorism. "A long time ago when we were kids, I remember the normal person loved America, and the government hated it," he says. "Now it's the opposite."
Shaharya Khan
Shaharya Khan is the quintessential all-American: the son of Pakistani parents who moved to Manassas when he was four, he came to UVA as a Jefferson Scholar, studied governmental pragmatism, and then went on to graduate school in UVA's M.D./Ph.D. program.
"I've never gotten a ticket– parking violations excluded. I've never gotten into any trouble," he says. "I've always been involved and felt like a good citizen."
Yet the day after September 11, a policeman driving by stopped and confronted Khan as he was walking to his lab. The cop asked for his student I.D., driver's license, and passport. When Khan explained he didn't carry his U.S. passport around with him, the policeman barraged him with questions, writing down all his answers.
Khan was in shock. "It was after so much effort at contributing to society, those very people you hope would appreciate that... it's devastating," he says, reflecting on the incident. "It further undermines my sense of membership in society.
"The thing is I consider myself lucky," he continues. "I wasn't arrested. I wasn't denied legal counsel. I didn't have my life taken away like some people."
Khan no longer takes his rights for granted. "As American citizens, we have a responsibility to use our voice," he says, "and I believe because my voice matters, I can say, 'We should not go to war.'"
With a brother who's a lieutenant in the Army, Khan, 27, appreciates the commitment of the military. "I understand the sacrifice that he makes. I also understand, quite frankly, the way I understand world events, that Iraq is not a threat to us."
Khan wishes people in the U.S. would recognize that it's only by sheer luck they're not Iraqi citizens facing a destructive war. "It could be my brother, my father, my mother underneath those bombs," he says, "except for an accident of circumstance."
Although Saddam Hussein may be a despot, Khan says, "His death does not justify their deaths."
Alan Farrell
When Alan Farrell was 20 years old, he was living the gruesome Vietnam War reality that Larry Burrows' famous Life magazine photos graphically brought home to Americans. Fighting as a Green Beret in Laos, Farrell became intimate with war's high price.
"We were losing something like 300 guys a week," he recalls.
Today, at age 53, Farrell is a French professor teaching 20-year-olds at Virginia Military Institute. Over the past month, he's noticed desks emptying in his classes as students are called up for service.
"Once you've joined a unit, there is no educational dispensation," he says. "When they say go, you go."
He recently received a letter from a student now stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who said he felt "cheated" by not being sent to Kuwait. Farrell knows all too well the restlessness that often accompanies being a soldier, but he's also familiar with other aspects he'd rather spare his students. "They don't know what the scream of a guy who just lost his eyes is like.
"I think the most terrifying thing for me is when a student comes and says, 'I want to be a soldier like you,'" he remarks. "But, of course, I'm enormously proud of them, too."
Farrell supports a war with Iraq, stating flatly, "I don't have much faith in diplomacy." Regarding Saddam Hussein, he says, "The guy is a threat in any number of ways.
"It's certainly our responsibility to protect ourselves," he continues, "and in protecting ourselves, I don't much care who gets hurt." In Farrell's opinion, "The collateral damage is worth it."
Asked about the Los Angeles Times poll that claims that 72 percent of Americans think there's not enough evidence to justify a war with Iraq, Farrell responds, "I'm not sure the polls are the people." He adds, "When the voters elected Bush, if they couldn't predict how that guy would respond to certain situations, then shame on 'em."
Farrell thinks a war is probable, given how many U.S. troops have been deployed.
"I guess it would affect me personally in the number of students involved," he reflects. "My students from 30 years ago will be leading, and my students from last year will be over there as regular soldiers.
"I can just say, as a schoolteacher, I don't want my boys to go off to war. But I urge them to do the right thing," he concludes.


text:
NeXT Computers
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Pics of two unusual boards
NeXT Computers Forum Index
Rare NeXT Hardware
View previous topic
View next topic
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Canada
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:02 pm
Post subject: Pics of two unusual boards
Today I took delivery of some NeXT equipment that was offered up on the CC-Talk list. Thanks to Chris, I have a NeXT Cube and two NeXT mono slabs but the interesting part is the two unusual boards that were in the Cube.
One board turns out to be one that is already documented in the Archives here. The board is a NeXTbus prototype board with CubeDigital I/O board attached. It is
documented here
. I believe it provide serial and parallel ports to the Cube but I haven't looked too much in detail as I've only had a chance to take pics. I couldn't find a picture here so please take a look.
The second board is one that I couldn't find info on here. It is a NeXT board with DAZZL-12AD marked on it. I think it's an analog to digital converter board of some type but I don't know the specifics.
I have not yet started up the Cube to see if there is any specialized software on it but that will come. If I find out any more, I'll post back.
If anyone can tell me what the second board is, I'd love to know, if someone has seen it before.
You can see further close-up pics here:
Back to top
Joined: 07 Dec 2011
Posts: 375
Location: switzerland
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 4:53 am
Post subject:
since there are two BURR-BROWN DACs on the piggyback board, it's pretty save to assume that this is a digital-to-analog board (audio).
October 12, 1988 Computing Advances To The NeXT Level
Back to top
Joined: 03 Jun 2015
Posts: 213
Location: Germany
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 1:52 pm
Post subject:
My Goodness, that brings tears to my eyes. Nice!
Aparat from the Burr Brown DACs there is an ADC678JD analog-to-digital converter on there (12 Bit which maybe forms the last part of the board's name: DAZZL-
. And an ADG507A analog multiplexer. Some timers at the top I guess.
So it is some kind of A/D D/A board.
Back to top
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Canada
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 4:30 pm
Post subject:
Sadly, I think the original hard drive is toast. It sounds like a plane taking off and would practically shakes the screws out of the unit. I still tried to boot it and it does not respond to SCSI initialization. That's too bad.
However, I did some more searching. According this page:
it has a list of NeXT peripherals and under "Data Acquisition and Sound", it has:
** Dazzl, Inc.
Model 16/12/200 Analog to Digital Converter - 16 channel 12
bit 200,000 sample per converterz.
Model 16/16/500 Analog to Digital Converter - 16 channel 16 bit
500,000 sample per second converter.
DataDisplay - realtime display software for use with Dazzl
A to D products.
I am guessing this is the first one because of the "12AD". I'll keep digging for info.
Back to top
Joined: 09 Jan 2011
Posts: 290
Location: Snowy Canada
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:37 pm
Post subject:
Here is some more info for you
Last edited by t-rexky on Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:28 am; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
Rob Blessin Black Hole
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 710
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:29 pm
Post subject:
Hello : Totally cool , it may be worth trying to repair the hard drive or hard mount it to see if the software is recoverable and look at it with a second drive. Brian Archer on the forums has had success replacing capacitors on doa hard drives and getting them to work. I probably would have a surrogate drive and if all else fails if you want to send the drive to me I'll see if I can get it to boot or hard mount and copy the software off it for you. No charge other than shipping it would be kind of fun or if you have the make and model of drive and want to try it yourself I probably have an identical drive. I have have an analog to digital convertor external box that was used with a NeXT cube at one point maybe this was how.
Peace Rob
Rob Blessin President computerpowwow ebay
303-741-9998 Serving the NeXT Community since 2/9/93
Back to top
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Canada
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 3:40 am
Post subject:
Thanks for the information guys. I guess it's more than a joystick controller card
Turns out the bad hard drive is not original to the Cube so it will not have that software on it. At least I know what to look for now so thanks t-rexky. And Rob, I very much appreciate the offer even though it's not needed in this case. I believe there is an extra drive in the lot so I'll take a look just in case but it's probably wiped clean and reformatted. This lot originally came for the University of Waterloo which was/is know for it's computer engineering program (wish I could have went) so this could have been used for almost anything, given this particular cards ability.
I have to look over the CubeDigital card. With it in place, the Cube shows a white screen and will not boot. I'll have to check the wiring as it used to work with the card in place.
Certainly makes for an interesting Cube in any case. If someone does happen to have the software or further documentation on the pin outs for the Centronics connector, please let me know. I'd love to play with it a little. Sadly, it did not come with the Centronics cable.
Back to top
Joined: 03 Jun 2015
Posts: 213
Location: Germany
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:54 am
Post subject:
snuci wrote:
** Dazzl, Inc.
Model 16/12/200 Analog to Digital Converter - 16 channel 12
bit 200,000 sample per converterz.
Model 16/16/500 Analog to Digital Converter - 16 channel 16 bit
500,000 sample per second converter.
DataDisplay - realtime display software for use with Dazzl
A to D products.
I am guessing this is the first one because of the "12AD". I'll keep digging for info.
And why does it have the Burr-Brown DACs if it is only meant to do A/D conversions?
Back to top
Joined: 09 Jan 2011
Posts: 290
Location: Snowy Canada
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:15 pm
Post subject:
bobo68 wrote:
And why does it have the Burr-Brown DACs if it is only meant to do A/D conversions?
The second photo from the "Software and Peripherals" catalog shows a "Calibrate" menu entry. Perhaps the D/A is for calibration, although I cannot imagine why they would use a D/A for calibration, as opposed to a fixed reference, or perhaps a few switched fixed references...
Back to top
Joined: 03 Jun 2015
Posts: 213
Location: Germany
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:19 pm
Post subject:
I was thinking along similar lines. There are also some op amps on the board one could use as comparators.
But Burr-Browns just for calibration? Maybe if price is not a consideration...
Last edited by bobo68 on Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:52 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Canada
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:48 pm
Post subject:
Found in comp.sys.next written by William M. Bumgarner on 12/8/90:
I spoke with Scott D. of Dazzl yesterday, here are the full details on the board and what else is available.
Dazzl 16 channel A/D Board.
- 16 inputs
- 200 kHz total sampling rate (by specification-- apparently, it can be driven faster)
- 12 bits resolution (14 bits available at a lower speed)
- Self installing software (makefile does the intsall)
- 1.0 and 2.0 kernel drivers included
- Parallel port included on the board
input specs:
- very accurate-- low chatter, high per sample and long run accuracy.
- Gurantee sample length, rate, start and end within 1 sample
- Programmable triggers;
- software (internal) and hardware (external) trigger support.
- pre, post, and mid triggering supported.
Availability: NOW. The board is in production and shipping. Cash is much preferred; PO's will be indefinitely delayed right now. This will change in the future, but the size of the board production part of the company is extremely small (as is the company)-- a little history:
Scott started the board project because he needed a research tool for his neurophysiology studies-- he picked up an absolute genius of a hardware designer and built the board, which, over time, became a real product. The quality of standards is very high, the future is bright, but the cash flow is not large now; Scott can't afford to float PO's right now.
Price: Corporate - $2950, Educational - $1950
- support is currently limited due to time. This will be changing in the future.
- source code is available on a special case basis. Five sample acquisition programs available. Currently no interface other than the kernel driver. I will be implementing GUI type stuff in the future, look for a release around mid-summer at latest.
- A couple of third party apps are going to support the board directly.
- 2 boards in a machine running simultaneously works well.
- not currently compatible with 040 products-- will be as soon as Scott has an 040 board in hand.
- 144 channel multiplexer: gives 144 channels at 1 to 2 kHz sampling rate per channel. Ideal for medical work, automation, and other tasks.
- 256 channels is entirely possible; implementation requires a few orders (see below)
Future Directions:
- additional features can be added that will affect the price.
Back to top
Display posts from previous:
All Posts
1 Day
7 Days
2 Weeks
1 Month
3 Months
6 Months
1 Year
Oldest First
Newest First
NeXT Computers Forum Index
Rare NeXT Hardware
All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Jump to:
Select a forum
Posting Rules
Site News
The Lounge
Classic Computer Marketplace
The Mothership
NeXT Computer, Inc.
NeXT Work Logs
Black Hardware
NeXTdimension Board
Rare NeXT Hardware
White Hardware
Sun / HPPA Hardware
NEXTSTEP / OPENSTEP Software
Porting New Software
Emulation / Virtualization
New Technology
High Performance / Overclocking
NeXT History
Apple, Inc.
Apple Work Logs
Apple Hardware
Apple Software
post new topics in this forum
reply to topics in this forum
edit your posts in this forum
delete your posts in this forum
vote in polls in this forum
Powered by
© 2017 phpBB Group


text:
Foreign markets are opening up quickly for U.S. farm goods, as is reflected by the current high prices for U.S. grown crops.
American farmers are positioned well to meet these demands and get a very good payday for doing so, says Virginia Economist Dennis Gartman.
Gartman publishes the Suffolk, Va.-based Gartman Letter, a daily commentary on commodity and marketing issues. He has been publishing the daily commentary since 1987, and over the years has conducted numerous presentations and courses on issues relating to the capital markets and derivatives for various brokerage firms, central banks, and U.S. government entities.
"The recession is over, though it may not seem like it in the U.S. or western Europe — we have been slow to recover. In parts of South America and even a few countries in Africa, recovery is progressing faster. In Asia the recovery is unbelievably rapid and it's going to continue to grow, Gartman says.
"The first time I went to China, 18 years ago, I remember standing on a corner, waiting for a traffic light to change. I thought I was going to be run over by 10,000 bicycles. The last time I visited China, standing at the same street corner, and I thought I was going to be run down by 10,000 Mercedes," he adds.
The point is, he explains, the Chinese middle class is growing at a remarkable pace. This middle class is already bigger than the total population of the U.S. — and growing. The Chinese middle class wants 'stuff' — they want cotton clothes, meat and high protein food and cars and fuel for those cars.
"The one thing you can count on is that Asian per capita income is going from the low end of the world spectrum to the high end at a very rapid pace. The advent of the Internet has had a profound impact on the growth of Asian economies and the economic power of countries like China and India will grow for a long, long time," Gartman says.
There are now 55 provinces in China with populations higher than 5 million. That's good for the Chinese economy, but not so good for China's agricultural industry. Cheap labor in these areas is moving to the city and leveling the playing field for food and fiber products from the U.S. and other countries around the world.
Big market for cotton
"Over the course of the next 50 years, I can't tell you how many pairs of denim jeans or cotton towels will be sold in China. U.S. cotton growers who have seen cotton prices double in the past few years, won't be surprised to see $1.50 a pound cotton and higher in the future," Gartman says.
The Chinese gross domestic product will pass the U.S. However, it may be 200 years before the per capita wealth of Chinese passes the U.S. That is a very, very good thing, according to the Virginia economist.
The bottom line in China's growth and that of other Asian nations is they will want to be able to buy a lot more corn, soybeans, wheat and other commodity crops from the United States over the next 10-20 years.
The value of the U.S. dollar is a critical factor in the ability of U.S. farmers to sell farm products. The Euro has fallen from a high of $1.43 to less than $1.30 over the past few months. On the other side of that coin, Gartman says, is the growing strength of Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars.
"In non-economic terms, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have 'stuff' to sell and the world wants stuff — corn, cotton, soybeans. Their dollar value is a negative in competing with the U.S. for export markets, but their big advantage is their government doesn't abrogate contracts and the U.S. government has a history of cancelling deals," he adds.
"The U.S. is losing export markets to these three countries and most of those goods are going straight to China. Canada, New Zealand and Australia all have lots of stuff to sell, good ports, good infrastructure, and they will be strong competitors with U.S. farmers for export markets," Gartman says.
For 2011, he cautioned U.S. farmers to take a close look at what is happening around the globe. Grain growers, for example, should not under-estimate the negative impact winter floods in Australia had on their grain crop.
Speaking at the combined North Carolina Commodity Conference in mid-January, Gartman said corn prices will almost certainly go higher and stay higher for a long time. Soybeans are almost certain to go higher — world demand is there, he says.
"The flood and typhoon that hit Queensland state in Australia virtually eliminated their hard red winter wheat crop. Wheat prices are going higher, especially high protein wheat, and more especially hard red winter wheat.
"Cotton is still the bright and shining example of opportunity for U.S. growers. There is no doubt we will be exporting a lot more cotton over the next few years. As long as demand for cotton products mirrors cotton production, cotton prices are going to stay strong," Gartman predicts.
"The bottom line is the world needs stuff and the demand for that stuff is going to get stronger and stronger. Perhaps the most important change in the commodity market is the drive toward backwardation. Watch the structure of the futures market, copper, crude oil, soybeans, and wheat to backwardation and above all we've taken cotton to backwardation.
"Global economies are getting stronger and growers should do everything the can to avoid selling their crops too quickly into a backwardated market. The demand is only going to get stronger. I own a lot of corn, soybeans and cotton and as of mid-January the market is telling me to get longer on all these commodities," Gartman says.


text:
Free chat. Fontana.
Fontana. Dominant Women
Polish Women
Polish Brides
Polish dating
American singles
Polish dating service. Single women online. Beautiful Polish women seeking men.
Dominant Women. Fontana.
Dominant Women are looking for men.
Free registration. Free chat. Free guestbook.
Fontana. Free Online Dating Service. Dominant Women seeks love.
Do not pay for online. Free Online Dating Service. More Dominant Women.
Fontana. Beautiful Polish polish bride seeks love.
Dominant Women Fontana seeking submissive men. Dating economically dominant women.
About Myself I am single dominant women who lives in Fontana. I speak: English, Polish; Education: Studying in University; Religion: Catholic; Marital status: Single; Kids: I have no kids Plans on having children: Not sure; Non-Smoker; Drink on occasion; Jrena from Gdansk, Poland. Personality and Interests My personality is best described as: Adventurous, Wild, Spontaneous, Easygoing, Open-Minded, Friendly, Kind, Gentle, Outgoing, Sensitive, Nurturing, Loving, Serious, In my free time, i like: Hiking, Surfing, snowboarding, Skateboarding I enjoy: Coffee and conversation, Meetings, Videos, Music and concerts, Shopping, Travel.
Dominant Women Fontana seeking submissive men.
Dominant Women seeks love and looking for dating and marriage with foreign men.
Dominant Women seeks love. Polish brides seeking romance. Fontana.
About Myself I am single Polish woman
very faithful, kind, caring, affectionate woman. I am a sociable person with a good sense of humor. I am honest, responsible. My parents made me a decent young woman. I like singin', paintin', playin' volleyball and football,swimmin',ridin' a bike. Hair color:light brown; Hair length: medium straight; Religion: atheist; Education: high school student; Speaks: English, French, SDrinking: light/social drinker. I am lookin' for boys from Europe, USA, Australia. Handsome and nice.
Women seeks love.
Free registration. Free chat. Free guestbook. Fontana.
Dominant Women. Poland personals at our site for free. Mature woman looking for serious relationship. I like to spend time with my relatives and friends. I'm fond of cooking. Date of birth 1973 - September - 15
Natli I COME POLAND. I'M 24 YEARS OLD.I graduated from Navy Academy.I HAVE TWO WORKS. During the day I work as a cashier in the financial agency.During the night not all night I work as a bodyguard on Petrol station. like meeting new peoole. Although I like going to the disco cinema and thather. I love to ski ang swimming. Body Type: small Height: 169 cm; Hair brown; Hair length: long; Catholic; Education: student Speaks: English, German, Drinking: don't drink at all
Dominant women Fontana. Polish dating service for singles where you can register, search, and interact with other online singles for free.
Women seeks love.
Walentyna: 25 years, Poland. Dominant Women Fontana.
Fontana. Walentyna: 25 years.
I need a real, strong, appropriate and responsible man
Fontana. Free registration. Dominant Women are brought up to have great respect for their culture and tradition.
Nickname Walentyna from Warsaw Age 25 Lives in Poland In town Częstochowa Zodiac sign Libra Last login 3 h , 42 min ago Registered since 2009-03-01 02:57:35 Looking for Partner /men. About herself im nice and smile girl im myself. Ideal friend / partner. Smart, funny, adventurous, brave :), tolerant, candid, gentle, immature or mature. It doesnt't matter. He must like me. Polish girl, with a great sense of humor and an equally big heart, I like my work, beloved trips to the mountains, I love animals, I am a happy owner of two wonderful German Shepherds.
Women seeks love.
Justyna Age 33. Looking for Partner Free Online Dating. Dominant women Fontana.
Dominant Women are one of the most beautiful girls around. You like dating Dominant women Fontana. online.
I am sociable,informale,merry,romantice. I like dance,sports,travel,animals. I live in Poland with my two daughters and cat. My man must be love me. Must be my the best friend,r eliable sort of person, resourceful, resoponsible. Nice and inteligent woman, I like sport , good books and traveling.. Black , long hair and blue eyes. Age 33 Lives in Poland In town Świdnica Zodiac sign Aries Last login 39 min , 24 sec ago Registered since 2011-04-13 00:57:42 Looking for Partner. Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.
Women seeks love.
Dominate women seeks submissive male. Free guestbook, mature women seeking life partner. Free chat without registration.
Female looking for a male. Hello, my name is Daria. I am not your ordinary girl, I don't go out drinking every weekend, I don't go hooking up with guys. I like my privacy, I like spending time at home reading, or writing. I am finishing up writing my first novel and so far it's been a great experience. I'm looking for someone who shares the same values and interests as me, thoughtful honest and kind. I have a great family and friends who are the most amazing people, I would love to get to know you and hear your story. Message me.
Women looking for young men. Meet mature women for relationship.
Fine lady is looking for a man. Hello, my name is Helena, I'm 28 years old. I work at a grocery store at the register. I have had a hard time finding work after graduating with a philosophy degree few years ago. I am down to earth, easy going person that is eager to meet someone for a serious relationship. Please send me and interesting story from your life , something funny and witty. I'm looking for a man who can handle me and provide me with a good and comfortable life. I am looking for a guy who will love me unconditionally.
Women seeks love.
Dating economically dominant women in UK:
dominant women Fontana -
Glasgow - Liverpool - Leeds - Sheffield - Edinburgh - Bristol - Fontana - Leicester
Beautiful Polish girls seeks love.


text:
Write a Review
Among Brooks' most loved products, the B67 has inspired generations of cyclists to explore the open road on two wheels. The B67 is a modern update of a saddle first offered in 1927. It uses single seat rails for compatibility with modern seat posts. It's an ideal all-rounder for cyclists who like their handlebars higher than their saddles, perfect for city riding or weekend adventuring. And, of course, the B67 features Brooks' full-grain, premium leather, and trademark rivets for the ultimate in comfort, style, and durability.
Please wait while the review submission content loads...
Page 1 of 1


text:
[photo The Little Reporter]
The Salon du Chocolat is a yearly trade fair for the international chocolate industry. The 17th Salon du Chocolat was held in Paris 20th-24th October 2011. The event kicked off in style with the annual chocolate fashion show. Each year, fashion designers and chocolatiers from around the world come together to create chocolate covered outfits for a fashion show featuring French models and celebrities. Let's get a group tour organised for the 2012 event!


text:
Following the numbers for Legg Mason Inc (LM), we have recently recorded that 21 day Wilder Moving Average is higher than the 50 day SMA. Traders may be watching this reading to see if a strong near-term trend is evident.
Following all the day to day information regarding publically traded companies can be challenging. There is rarely any shortage of data that investors can examine when attempting to research specific stocks. One of the greatest challenges for the investor is determining which data to focus on and which data to set aside. Investors will often need to stay aware of happenings in the overall economic environment, and pay attention to global factors that may have a widespread impact on markets. Being aware of the macroeconomic picture can greatly help the investor when making important portfolio decisions.
Taking a peek at some Moving Averages, the 200-day is at 31.35, the 50-day is 27.78, and the 7-day is sitting at 30.36. The moving average is a popular tool among technical stock analysts. Moving averages are considered to be lagging indicators that simply take the average price of a stock over a specific period of time. Moving averages can be very useful for identifying peaks and troughs. They may also be used to help the trader figure out proper support and resistance levels for the stock.
Traders are paying renewed attention to shares of Legg Mason Inc (LM). The current 14-day RSI is presently sitting at 62.02, the 7-day is 55.30, and the 3-day is 37.55. The RSI, or Relative Strength Index is a popular oscillating indicator among traders and investors. The RSI operates in a range-bound area with values between 0 and 100. When the RSI line moves up, the stock may be experiencing strength. The opposite is the case when the RSI line is heading lower. Different time periods may be used when using the RSI indicator. The RSI may be more volatile using a shorter period of time. Many traders keep an eye on the 30 and 70 marks on the RSI scale. A move above 70 is widely considered to show the stock as overbought, and a move below 30 would indicate that the stock may be oversold. Traders may use these levels to help identify stock price reversals.
Some investors may find the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R as a helpful technical indicator. Presently, Legg Mason Inc (LM)'s Williams Percent Range or 14 day Williams %R is resting at -53.04. Values can range from 0 to -100. A reading between -80 to -100 may be typically viewed as strong oversold territory. A value between 0 to -20 would represent a strong overbought condition. As a momentum indicator, the Williams R% may be used with other technicals to help define a specific trend.
Currently, Legg Mason Inc (LM) has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of 46.64. The CCI technical indicator can be employed to help figure out if a stock is overbought or oversold. CCI may also be used to aid in the discovery of divergences that could possibly signal reversal moves. A CCI closer to +100 may provide an overbought signal, and a CCI near -100 may offer an oversold signal.
Taking a quick look at technical levels and trend lines, we see that the stock has a 14-day ADX of 31.77. For traders looking to capitalize on trends, the ADX may be an essential technical tool. In general, and ADX value from 0-25 would represent an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would indicate a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would indicate a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would signify an extremely strong trend.
Dealing with the ups and down of the stock market is something that most investors will encounter at some point. Everyone wants to feel that thrill of seeing that big winner soar, and nobody wants to see that loser keep sinking. Figuring out how to best approach the stock market can take up a lot of time and energy. There are many strategies that investors can use when purchasing stocks for the portfolio. Some of these strategies may be riskier than others. Determining a comfortable level of risk appetite may be highly important for the individual investor. It is important to remember that there are no guarantees in the stock market. New investors may have to learn that there is rarely any substitute for hard work and tireless research. Many investors jump in head first and find this out the hard way. Realizing that there is no guaranteed strategy for stock picking might help the investor stay focused and grounded while building up the portfolio.


text:
Nordstrom — The Galleria At Tyler
Riverside, CA Hours and Location
Category: Department Stores
Department Stores
Click to see nearby in Riverside.
Nordstrom Hours
Other Nearby Locations:
- Nordstrom: Riverside (Riverside Plaza Drive) — 5.0 miles
- Nordstrom: Ontario — 12.5 miles
- Nordstrom: Chino — 16.4 miles
Other Department Stores Nearby:
Hours for other Riverside stores...
3601 The Galleria At Tyler
Riverside, CA 92503Driving Directions
Other Nearby Locations:
- Nordstrom: Riverside (Riverside Plaza Drive) — 5.0 miles
- Nordstrom: Ontario — 12.5 miles
- Nordstrom: Chino — 16.4 miles
Other Department Stores Nearby:
Hours for other Riverside stores...
LocationNordstrom The Galleria at Tyler in Riverside
Store Services
All Nordstrom stores offer alterations and tailoring services, and basic alterations are free for many full-price items purchased at Nordstrom (online or in store). Just bring your receipt or packing slip in with you and talk to our experts. They'll determine what's needed during your fitting, and let you know if any charges apply.
Anastasia Brow Studio at Nordstrom
Ladies and gents, it's time to tame those brows. Your trained Brow Studio expert will reshape and sculpt the perfect brow arch using the Anastasia method.
"I wanted to create the ambiance of my salon inside the Nordstrom cosmetics department," says Anastasia. "Time is of the essence for the savvy Nordstrom shopper, and that is why we created a Brow Studio to suit their needs."
Nordstrom Beauty Stylists
Our Beauty Stylists offer a free service that's tailored just for you—to find the best beauty, skincare, perfume and grooming products across all our women's and men's brands. Ready to meet your very own beauty consultant? Call 1.800.7beauty or book an appointment with a Beauty Stylist.
Find a Beauty Stylist in Riverside, or give us a call at 1.800.7beauty.
Nordstrom Personal Stylists
Get together with someone who gets you. Someone who knows your closet as well as you do. Someone you can count on today, tomorrow … a year from now.
Our Personal Stylists are superfriendly—and always free. They know just what you need—even before you do! It's the ultimate shopping convenience.
Prosthesis Program
Our Certified Prosthesis Fitters provide assistance to the special needs of women dealing with breast cancer or surgery. We offer a vast array of intimate apparel, breast forms and mastectomy bras, plus assistance with Medicare claim filing—all in a comfortable and confidential setting.
Visit our Restaurants & Specialty Coffee site to learn about all our restaurants, see what's in your area and take a look at sample menus.
Espresso Bar
Enjoy handcrafted coffee beverages prepared by skilled baristas, along with a selection of fresh pastries and a variety of grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and snacks that are made fresh daily.
Mon-Fri 8:30am-9pm
Sat 8:30am-8pm
Sun 10am-7pm
Marketplace Cafe
Our contemporary food marketplace is perfect for a casual meal, offering wonderful menu selections, including soups, salads, sandwiches, specialties and desserts to satisfy a discerning palate. Beer and wine are available.
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm
Sun 11am-6pm
As of: 10:45 pm (PST) Sun Feb 17, 2019. [Change]


text:
Mozilla Releases Diversity Statement After Appointing Allegedly Anti-Gay CEO
Mozilla released a "Statement on Diversity" on Tuesday evening, presumably in response to uproar over the company's appointment of Brendan Eich, a Proposition 8 donor, as its CEO.
The company makes no direct reference to Eich or the boycott announced by two married, gay Firefox developers Hampton Catlin and his husband Michael.
Mozilla has always been deeply committed to honoring diversity in sexual orientation and beliefs within our staff and community, across all the project's activities. One concrete example of this is in our health benefit policies. Mozilla provides the same level of benefits and advantages to domestic partners as we do to married couples across the United States, even in states where it is not mandated. For those who choose life insurance, voluntary spouse coverage extends to domestic partners, including same-sex couples. With thousands of people spanning many countries and cultures, diversity is core to who we are, and we're united in our mission to keep the Web open and accessible for everyone.
What do you think of Mozilla's statement, Instincters? Is it enough? Is it necessary?


text:
How You Can Help
Volunteer Conservation Assistants
There are many ways in which you can help whether you prefer to be indoors or outside, energetic or not too active or to be with people or mostly or on your own. All volunteers have one thing in common – all want to help develop the Reserve and protect our most precious wildlife.
If you have any existing knowledge or skills, you will be able to put them to good use. If not, we will provide you with all the training and information you need
Volunteer Wardens
- Can commit to half a day or a full day once a week, fortnight or month.
- Are based out on the reserve and in the hides.
- Enjoy watching wildlife and recording what they see.
- Enjoy talking to visitors.
- Help with guided walks.
Volunteer Visitor Centre Guides
- Can commit to half a day or a full day once a week, fortnight or month.
- Are based in our superb visitor centre.
- Are interested in the natural and social history of Sculthorpe Moor and the work of the Hawk and Owl Trust.
- Enjoy talking to people and directing them to the best places that day to see the wildlife.
Volunteer Education Assistants
- Are contacted when their help is needed.
- Are based in the visitor centre, out on the reserve or in one of the hides.
- Enjoy talking to groups of children and/or adults.
- Help with guided walks and events.
Volunteer Administration Assistants
- Are contacted when there help is needed.
- Could be based in the visitor office or at home.
- Help with filing, word processing, photocopying etc.
Volunteer Special Events Assistants
- Are contacted as an when their help is needed.
- Can be based at the reserve or other venues where the Nature reserve is being promoted, For example at local shows
- Are willing to take on a range of tasks, manning the information stand, helping with catering, selling raffle tickets etc.
For more information about volunteering at Sculthorpe Moor or if you are interested in getting involved and want to know how then please contact out volunteer co-ordinator Neil Chadwick on 01328 856788 or email Neil by Clicking Here


text:
Katoomba XVII Wrap Up…
Throughout Southeast Asia, there is increasing regional interest in market-based conservation strategies, including payments for ecosystem services (PES). While a number of projects are underway, PES in the Southeast Asia region primarily occurs on an ad hoc basis through small-scale pilot projects. However, information, capacity to design and manage PES deals, and institutions to support on-the-ground implementation are often lacking and have hindered efforts to scale up.
Carbon markets, both regulated and voluntary, have attracted the greatest attention and offer opportunities for new investment in rural regions of SE Asia. The emergence of opportunities for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) makes it even more important for countries in the region to build their capacity to engage in the global dialogue, design low carbon emission strategies and build multi-stakeholder processes including local communities.
Many SE Asian nations face a range of water-related challenges, including threats to reliable flows of water and the marine environment. While there are efforts underway to introduce market-based approaches — such as payments for watershed services (PWS) and user fees in marine protected areas — there remain outstanding questions, such as: how to identify additional prospective buyers; how to structure the contracts; how to distribute payments equitably to communities; how to monitor the schemes to ensure efficient and effective delivery of the service; and how to ensure that payments schemes are sustainable.
Mangrove ecosystems, in particular, are of particular interest to stakeholders in the region and represent an interesting vehicle to bridge terrestrial environments and marine environments, adaptation and mitigation, and local and international financing schemes (e.g. REDD). Carbon pools of mangroves are now being shown to exceed that of upland tropical forests. Throughout the Mekong region, market-based instruments for the conservation of marine and mangrove ecosystems are still nascent, with only a few small-scale case studies or pilots.
In response to these questions and challenges, the 2010 South East Asia Katoomba Group meeting offers a unique opportunity to further develop:
• Carbon Financing including post-COP15 discussions on national-level REDD systems, international, regional and national experience, investor and other stakeholder engagement, pilot demonstration sites, capacity building / training needs, and research agendas; and
• Payment for Watershed Services schemes throughout the region, by exploring current projects and experience from around the world where PWS agreements are operational.
• Payment for Marine Ecosystem services throughout the region, by exploring how climate change adaptation strategies can be complemented by mitigation measures and revenues from carbon credits; and identifying buyers for a range of marine ecosystem services.
• Biodiversity Markets and Market-like Structures offsets, biodiversity banking


text:
Wright gets All-Star start; Harvey on NL staff
MILWAUKEE -- If anyone doubted David Wright's commitment to the Mets -- his favorite team as a child and his only professional employer -- Wright silenced them last winter by signing an eight-year, $138-million contract that effectively made him a lifetime Met.
The organization means so much to Wright that, with this year's All-Star Game taking place at Citi Field, he said he would gladly trade all six of his previous All-Star appearances for a chance to play in Flushing.View Full Game Coverage
MILWAUKEE -- If anyone doubted David Wright's commitment to the Mets -- his favorite team as a child and his only professional employer -- Wright silenced them last winter by signing an eight-year, $138-million contract that effectively made him a lifetime Met.
The organization means so much to Wright that, with this year's All-Star Game taking place at Citi Field, he said he would gladly trade all six of his previous All-Star appearances for a chance to play in Flushing.View Full Game Coverage
"They've had tremendous first halves," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We're very, very happy and very lucky we have those two guys on our team."
For Wright, 30, the All-Star selection is the seventh of his career and his fifth start. Wright was a prime candidate to start the game last year in Kansas City, but fell victim to a late voting surge by Sandoval -- a snub that he admitted was still disappointing to him one year later.
Still, the chance to represent the Mets at Citi Field outweighs just about everything else for Wright, who has been selected to the second-most All-Star rosters in franchise history behind Tom Seaver (nine).
"I was drafted by this team, developed by this team, and a lot of players don't get the opportunity to participate in one All-Star Game," Wright said. "This year being at home, obviously it's special."
For Harvey, who did not make his big league debut until last August, this will mark his All-Star debut. Collins will also be at Citi Field as a member of Bruce Bochy's coaching staff, while head trainer Ray Ramirez and strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Malone will work for the NL team.
"It hasn't quite hit home yet," Harvey said. "It's definitely a huge honor, and I couldn't be more excited that it's in New York. I'm glad I'm playing there with David. It will definitely be a fun experience, and I couldn't be happier."
Voting for this year's game will continue on MLB.com from Saturday to Thursday, July 11, with fans casting ballots for the 2013 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by freecreditscore.com to determine the final player for each League's All-Star roster.
The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. Visit MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
Wright is enjoying another stellar season at the plate, appearing in 82 of the Mets' 83 games and batting .304 with 13 homers and 14 stolen bases. He leads NL third basemen in average, on-base percentage (.393), slugging (.519), hits (96), walks (43), doubles (19) and triples (five), and his skills have traditionally translated well to the Midsummer Classic -- he holds a .400 average and one home run in six career All-Star appearances.
"David's David," Collins said of Wright, who was named team captain shortly after signing his new contract. "I could have written it down [at the beginning of the year] and been pretty close to what he's doing. I'm not surprised at that."
Wright will also captain the State Farm Home Run Derby at Citi Field, choosing three other NL sluggers to compete alongside him. Though he has narrowed the field down to a handful of candidates, Wright said he still has not decided whom to invite.
As steady as Wright has been this season, perhaps no player in baseball has generated more early headlines than Harvey, the second-year sensation who holds a 7-2 record, 2.27 ERA and leads the NL with 141 strikeouts.
As a result, Harvey has earned the respect of his peers. His election to the All-Star team came by winning the NL's player ballot, receiving 287 votes compared to 231 for second-place finisher Clayton Kershaw.
"I thought Matt would pitch good," Collins said. "I didn't know he would pitch this good. From what I saw last year in the second half, you say, 'Wow, the sky's the limit here.' To come as fast as he's come to where he's at right now? Pretty impressive."
The most intriguing subplot for Harvey will be whether he has done enough to start the game. Though Harvey's statistics speak for themselves, so do Kershaw's. Then again, Harvey will have an opportunity to state his case in person next week in San Francisco, pitching in front of Bochy.
The Mets have already expressed a willingness to shift Harvey up in the rotation, allowing him to sidestep the rule that prevents Sunday, July 14 starters from pitching more than one inning in the All-Star Game.
"It's one thing I can't decide," Harvey said of starting the game. "I've got two more starts left, and I have to go out there obviously and put up zeros, and do everything I can to help the Mets."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo.