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Day 1: Had to work late so didn't get much of a chance to play with it when I got home. Unboxed it and had a good look at it as you do. Pressed all the buttons and such as you do. Then I decided that before I turn it on I'll slip the provided sim card in... uh oh my stubby bitten down fingernails couldn't for the life of me pull the slider out to slip the sim card in. Had to use a nearby tab off a can to pull the thing out, no biggie though as I won't be doing it again anytime soon. I then turned it on and preceded to go through the set-up steps. All the usual guff, time and date, wifi etc, then I got to the PSN sign up part and was quite surprised that because it needed a system update I had to make a temporary sign in so I could update it. Hmm still no biggie but kind of annoying. After I updated and signed in I then played a little with the built in game/tutorial Welcome Park which is full of mini games to get you accustomed to the many control systems the Vita has. I was rather impressed with capacitive touch screen response, not so much with the rear touchpad as it must be single touch and I was getting rather frustrated with the mini game only to realise that my other finger was still touching the side and therefore it was not registering my other finger. The sixaxis works like a charm. Unlike a lot of people I'm quite fond of motion gaming and was pleased with that. The camera was fun as well, I got my Terminator skull to move and talk, took three attempts and when it did it looked freakishly stupid but was good for a laugh and for showing the off some of it's functions. I was pretty happy with the fact that I was earning trophies while playing these mini games as well.
Day 2: Now this was the day the thing started to bug me a bit. Not really because of the hardware (it didn't freeze or anything) but mainly because of Sony's incredibly stupid decision to make overpriced proprietary memory cards and not even include a measly 512mb in the box. A little on board storage might have been nice as well but no. So I decided to jump online and future proof myself by ordering a 32gb card. I had yourvoice survey points to spend and unfortunately Mighty Ape were all out so I had to import one through Fishpond with up to a one month wait and even with the $100 off I got it still cost me $33, FML I could have got a 1tb external for that sort of money. The least Sony could have done was released the 32gb memory cards worldwide on release. So for the record I couldn't download any of the apps and have a play, I couldn't download any game demos or Wipeout 2048, I couldn't use the camera, actually all I can really do at the moment until my memory card arrives is thrash the hell out of Welcome Park. Well alright then I'll just get myself a game that doesn't require a memory card. How 'bout Uncharted... No, ok what about Little Deviants... No, ok I know I'll get Modnation Racers oh wait I already own it on PSP through PSN I'll just transfer it over... Doh. NOT HAVING A MEMORY CARD WITH A VITA IS LIKE NOT HAVING AN ACTIVE SIM CARD WITH A MOBILE PHONE. Sure I can use some of the features but I can't use it for the majority of the things it was made for.
Day 3: Went to turn it on, it didn't turn on so I plugged it in and was worried when I didn't see any kind of light on it, checked the manual, orange light when charging, looked at it again and was quite surprised to see I'd plugged the cord in upside down. I'm used to things only going in one way or not at all. Oh well plugged it in the right way, orange flashing light, don't remember reading anything about light flashing, attempted to turn on, no success, checked manual again, nothing about orange flashing light, Google search "an orange flashing light while charging indicates that the Vita is too low to power up", Ok then. About five minutes later the device stopped flashing so I turned it on and thought I'd try out the browser but as I did I noticed the 3G symbol instead of the wifi and thought screw that I'm not wasting my 100mb so went into the settings and connected again but while messing around with the other settings I noticed it disconnected again, another Google search "Vita will disconnect from access point when not in use to conserve battery power, will reconnect when app is opened that requires it, no settings to change this". Hmm can be a little frustrating as it is time consuming when opening the app, I am surprised there's no option to change this. Tried the browser, it's what you'd expect from a console browser a lot easier to use however with the touchscreen as opposed to a controller or remote.
Day 4 (Today): Had a quick play with "near" an app which lets you know of any nearby Vita users within a 10km radius. Absolutely had no idea what I was doing, it really needed it's own tutorial but it only had hints, still wasn't really sure what was going on, but I was surprised that there was another seven Vita users within an 8km radius. Unsure however if they were all online at the time or they had just checked in at that location last, probably the latter. Also had a play with Google maps, works fine however was disappointed there was no turn by turn navigation built in, otherwise I might have considered the car mount.
Overall so far I think the Vita has great potential however it is a $300 device with a $500 price tag. If I didn't get it for free I wouldn't even have considered the 3G version and the fact that I wouldn't consider anything less than a 16gb memory card you're looking at at least another $70 not including the price of games. It's memory card dependence is a downside as well, it's so important to have at least some memory I feel it should be bundled with some. It will be interesting once more games come out and the price gradually comes down and hopefully they start bundling them with memory cards. I'll update this thread once I get a game next week sometime.
Also for those tl;dr people here's the summary
Day 1: Worn fingernails couldn't open card slots. Really quite impressed with control system and trophy support.
Day 2: No memory card = No fun.
Day 3: First charge confusing. Wifi connection confusing. Browser is acceptable.
Day 4: "near" extremely confusing. Maps disappointing.
Overall: Great potential, too expensive.
Any questions feel free to ask.


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1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many assume that windows and doors are the major cause of a home's energy wasting air leaks. But according to recent research by the Department of Energy (DOE), gaps, joints and disconnections in the typical home's duct system are much more significant. The DOE states that the typical duct system loses 25 to 40 percent of the energy put out by the central furnace or heat pump. Authorities recommend having a heating contractor test for leaks and then seal them with a brushed-on fiber-reinforced sealant. Duct tape usually dries out and fails. It turns out duct tape is great for many things, but sealing ducts isn't one of them!
2. Ask your contractor to perform an Infiltrometer "blower door" test. The blower door is a computerized instrument originally invented by the Department of Energy. It pinpoints where your home's worst air leaks are, such as duct leaks, and also measures how leaky the overall house is. Most homes have the equivalent of an open window in combined air leaks. Many heating contractors offer an Infiltrometer test as part of a "Whole House Health & Comfort Checkup" that also checks insulation levels and overall duct performance. Ask if they also provide an infra-red camera scan to pinpoint hidden heat leaks.
3. Close your fireplace damper. Did you remember to close it last time you used the fireplace? Shut it now or waste precious warm air all winter long!
4. Replace your furnace or heat pump air filter. Most systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient operation. Keep forgetting to do it? Ask your contractor for information on an extended surface area whole house air filter that only needs to be replaced once a year. It also does a far better job of keeping your equipment and the air in your home clean.
5. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned. A pre-season tune up is a great investment. It reduces the chances of breakdowns on cold winter nights, improves safety, and more than pays for itself through more energy efficient operation. Ensure your contractor also performs a complete carbon monoxide safety check.
6. Install a programmable set-back thermostat. Turn down your thermostat 8 degrees for 8 hours a day and you'll save 8 percent on home heating costs. But you don't have to sacrifice comfort! Ask your heating contractor to install a "programmable thermostat" that will turn the heat back up before you wake up or before you come home. New models are much easier to program.
7. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. Just like a car, heating and cooling equipment doesn't last forever. Is your system more than 12 years old? It probably wastes 35 cents out of every dollar you pay for fuel. Planning to stay in your home more than a few years? Many authorities recommend replacing it before it fails permanently. A new system is safer, improves comfort, is more dependable and creates less air pollution. New units pay for themselves over time as they only waste eight cents out of every dollars worth of gas. However, government and utility research has found that over 90% of newly installed high efficiency systems have energy wasting installation mistakes. Do some homework before talking to contractors.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Office of Marketing and Communications is located in Hopkins Hall. During the academic year, our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
By Bryan Jackson, '12
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Dr. Mary A. Hamilton, namesake of the Dr. Mary Hamilton Woman of Promise Award, was recognized at the 2012 ceremony on March 20 for distinguished involvement with the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University. Hamilton, a retired associate professor of journalism and mass communication and 1959 Bona graduate, was honored on the Wall of Distinguished Graduates for her years of service and work within and outside of the St. Bonaventure community. An expert in media law and women's contributions to the media, Hamilton worked as a reporter and editor in New York City, Washington D.C., and York, Pa., and helped develop a public relations program for the Center for Constitutional Rights prior to joining the St. Bonaventure faculty in 1982. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
The J/MC Wall of Distinguished Graduates represents journalism and mass communication graduates who have outstanding contributions that reflect admirably on the school of journalism and mass communication.
The Woman of Promise Award is presented to a J/MC student who possesses the skills to flourish in her post-graduate career. The 11th annual Woman of Promise Award recipient is senior Manuela Marin Salcedo.
About the University: Inspired for more than 150 years by the Catholic Franciscan values of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them.
Application forms, procedures and additional information
There are many ways to experience
St. Bonaventure for yourself
Learn more about the programs that interest you


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Protected by distance from bombing raids and by agricultural abundance from severe want, American society did not face the fear, chaos and lack that made sports both impossible and unthinkable in Europe. There may be more to Americans insisting upon continuing their games, though. I like to think that Americans are so serious about their leisure time because individually and collectively the country has earned the right to relax in seeming frivolities. Rather than a mere distraction from war, ball games actually provided a potent symbol of the society Americans fought to protect.
It is quite fitting that West Point dominated college football's war years. Commentators often point out the unfair basis of Army's great dynasty. War provided the Cadets a double advantage. While war-aged players from every college team began departing for training after 1942, the service academies could recruit players from other schools, keep them safely away from the fighting, and offer three more years of eligibility. Army coach Earl Blaik felt no compunctions about attracting experienced talent to the academy and exploiting his advantages on the field.
When bruising 6'1", 210 lb Fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard arrived in New York for the fall of 1944 he had already turned heads as a freshman at North Carolina. Blanchard was no boy at age 22, whereas few of the players on teams Army faced were older than 19. The young man who shared accolades with Blanchard in Army's great backfield, Glenn Davis, was a genuine freshman. A high school sensation in several sports, the lean and lanky Californian headed to West Point as the leading scorer and yardage rusher in his home state.
Facing weakened opposition squads and playing behind the blocking of an equally stacked and mature line the Army backfield exploded on all comers. The Cadets were simply loaded. 6'3", 220lb monster tackle DeWitt Coulter (a product of Fort Worth's famed Masonic Home "Mighty Mites") would go on to notoriety in the professional game with the New York Giants after the war. He, too, was in his mid-twenties. Even though Blaik generally benched his better players after securing an insurmountable lead, refusing to increase the deficit unnecessarily, Army struggled to not score. After having not scored on Notre Dame at all since 1938, two lopsided shut-outs in 1944 and 1945 amounted to 107-0. Army gave up only 35 points in 1944, scoring less than 46 on only two occasions. The following season they allowed only 46 points all year while recording five shut-outs.
In the fall of 1946 veteran players returned from the war looking to avenge the heavy losses the Cadets had handed their schools in their absence. But Army's dominance continued. Certainly the margins began to narrow a little. Michigan gave a scare as Army needed a grueling 77 yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter to finally wrestle momentum from the Wolverines and secure a 28-13 win at the Big House. But the huge shut outs continued over Oklahoma, Cornell, Villanova and West Virginia. The only blemish on the record of Blaik's great war-era teams came on November 9th at Yankee stadium, as 60,000 expectant fans witnessed the now infamous scoreless tie with Notre Dame. That game would have been an Army victory as well, but for one last-ditch open field tackle by Notre Dame's legendary, versatile All-American back Johnny Lujack. Blanchard had broken from the crowd and with nothing but Lujack and 40 yards of daylight between him and the goal a touchdown seemed the most likely outcome. Instead, a perfectly timed and doggedly executed tackle at the knees left Blaik's record for 1944-46 a not-quite perfect 26-0-1.
The Cadets won two AP national titles outright in 1944-45 and shared a third with the Irish in 1946. Blanchard won the Heisman Trophy in 1945 and Davis claimed it the following year. The team posted 13 shut-outs in 27 games while averaging over 50 points on offense – a figure that still looks ugly in our age of pass-first, five receiver set, spread offense insanity. In his career Glenn Davis accounted for a touchdown either rushing, passing, or receiving once every nine times he touched the ball. No other college player has come close to that staggering statistic.
Since 1946 Army has not claimed even a shared national title and has only produced one further Heisman winner, Pete Dawkins in 1958. Today Army teams struggle to even register on the national radar. There is no doubt that Army's wartime success was rooted in the depletion of other programs and the Academy's temporary monopoly of national athletic talent. But that hardly matters. Fighting a harsh and costly war against Fascism and Militarism to defend the kinds of free societies where people can waste their hard-earned time and money on ball games because they want to, Americans needed comfort and encouragement. And shouldn't the Army have the best team during war time?
As a uniquely American spectacle, I cherish all the things about College Football that reflect its national character. It is a shame that the modern game has left the service academies behind. Top athletes should be proud and keen to attend West Point or Annapolis. But that's their decision. Whether Army football will ever be great again I don't know. Be we can look back with fond smiles and know that when the U.S. Army stood unwavering for the cause of liberty against the Fascist hordes, its football team swept aside all foes in like manner, setting records that continue to stand up against the innovations of the modern game.
(Sources: John Devaney, Winners of the Heisman Trophy; Sporting News, College Football's Twenty Five Greatest Teams)


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REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Good bones: Canterbury Hills matron needs work done
Address: 312 Westminster Road
Neighborhood: Canterbury Hills
Asking: $339,900
Assessment: $352,400
Year Built: 1972
Size: 3,800 fin. sq. ft. / 580 unfin.
Land: 0.76 acres
Agent: Donna Goings, Charlotte Ramsey, Inc. 434-981-9367
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10
Today's real estate scene remains a buyers' market. They want a steal, and they expect upgrades. They want a pretty face for a bargain price. But price and value aren't the same thing, and buyers won't find both in this Canterbury Hills house. What they will find is space, convenience, and more than a few projects. A lipstick job probably isn't one of them.
Canterbury Hills is just off Barracks Road, convenient to Routes 250 and 29. In this neighborhood, folks buy and stick around. It's a close-knit community with a homeowners' association (yet no required fees) and picnics and socials. Buyers who are okay with a walk can access the bus route and hoof it to the nearby shopping centers.
The living space and four bedrooms are on the first level, a boon for folks about to retire and stay put: a single step separates the driveway from the front door. The house is a time capsule from 1972: one bath has an avocado green tub and tile; the master bath is sky blue. But the bathrooms have ample counter space and are actually pretty roomy. Although it's saddled with dated wallpaper, fixtures, and paneling, the house appears built well and has one feature that can't be disparaged: square footage.
The kitchen stove is harvest gold, and the counters are backed by ho-hum brown tile backsplash. By contemporary standards, the breakfast nook with bay window overlooking the yard is amply sized. The large formal dining room off the kitchen has a closet for china and linen and could also accommodate a corner cupboard and sideboard.
A family room has a fireplace, wood paneling, and built-in shelving, all in keeping with 1972, but then there's some parquet flooring that doesn't quite square with the linoleum and hardwood in the rest of the house. A large closet provides storage for games or a sound system, and a door leads to a deck, which needs some TLC.
In the basement, more wood paneling and orange carpet fight to cover surfaces. A kitchen area, indicated by green patterned linoleum, would be functional with a fridge and oven (currently lacking), and it's large enough for eating in. A full bath and separate entrance are convenient. Association rules forbid rentals, but the space could accommodate in-laws and an au pair or other caregiver. A separate utility room has a washer/dryer hookup and a sizable walk-in cedar closet.
In the backyard, the low rumble of the 250 by-pass is audible, and the road itself is visible from the deck in the winter, but tall trees block the view when they're in leaf. The yard slopes down more at the edge, but near the house it's large and flat enough for kids to play. The driveway wraps around the house to the entrance to the basement. It's a huge space big enough to park two SUVs and still have plenty of room for a workshop.
Buyers won't find a pretty face here; what they will find is a house with potential. Serious renovations are needed, but a buyer with the money and taste to bring out the best in the good bones may reap some rewards.
Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!


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The condition and functionality of the main components of a project's wind turbines and the major electrical equipment at its substation are critical to maximise power output and minimise downtime over the lifetime of a project. Understanding how components deteriorate and optimising stock levels accordingly can ensure a wind farm's continued power output without excessive investment in costly spare parts.
Main components
The major components of a wind turbine are the blades, the main bearing, the gearbox (if there is one) and the generator. "The most important in terms of maintenance is the gearbox, followed by the generator, then the blades," says Eduardo Garcia Perez, head of central maintenance for Europe at EDP Renewables, which develops, owns and operates wind farms in several countries across Europe with an installed capacity of almost 4GW.
According to Garcia Perez, around 1-5% of the main wind turbine components fail each year. The exact failure rate of each component varies, depending on the turbine model, its age, the wind and weather conditions where it operates and quality of the maintenance programme of the wind farm operator.
The blades of the rotor capture the kinetic energy of the wind, which is converted to mechanical energy in the form of low-speed torque in the main shaft. They are the "weak point" of a wind turbine, says Garcia Perez, due to being exposed to tough environmental conditions over a long time period.
During the first five years, usually the warranty period, blades typically have relatively few problems provided they are sufficiently maintained. However, beyond that they need a high level of attention through visual inspections. Blades have a composite structure and are exposed to the elements over a period of 20 years. "They are subject to ultra-violet radiation and temperature changes," Garcia Perez explains. "All of this cannot be tested at a test site over a threeto four-month period."
EDP carries out regular inspections of the blades in its turbine fleet while they are operational, from the ground with telescopes and using a crane platform to check for defects. It is after between eight and nine years of operation that the condition and durability of the wind turbine blades could present problems, says Garcia Perez. However, because most of the turbine blades in operation on megawatt-clas turbines are not yet that old, there is no experience in understanding their degradation beyond that point.
Because the maintenance work is done onsite, blade maintenance is less costly and so less critical than similar work for either the gearbox or generator.
The gearbox is necessary to increase the rotational speed at high torque of the main shaft to the higher speed required to rotate the generator. Gearboxes usually degrade through wear, pitting and cracking on teeth and the bearing.
"For our gearboxes we obtain maintenance information from oil analysis, Scada (wind farm supervisory control and data acquisition) data, endoscopies and even noise," says Garcia Perez. "With the information, we try to establish both a trend analysis and a comparison of each machine with the rest of the fleet. A gearbox takes six to eight weeks to repair and we always have them in stock."
Gearboxes last about eight to ten years but sometimes, depending on the model, they can fail after only five years.
The generator takes the mechanical power from the high-speed low-torque shaft and converts it into the electricity that will then go via a substation to the grid. Generators usually fail by a degrading of the isolation material in the rotor or stator, due to exposure to electromagnetic fields.
"Generators are inspected externally, (we) retouch electric connections and frame bolts and grease the bearings," says Garcia Perez. "Sometimes we apply vibration analysis for bearings and measure conductivity and isolation. It is also important to check the alignment with the gearbox. Sometimes, generators fail mechanically due to damage to the wire connections."
Estimating component needs can be difficult, as some generator models can last between five and eight years while others run for more than 15 years without any problem, he adds.
Another key component is the main bearing, which supports the main shaft. This transmits the torque from the rotor to the gearbox and is subject to radial and axial loads from the blades. Regular greasing to keep main bearings lubricated ensures they normally last more than ten years until they need to be replaced.
Emerging market
Until recently, wind-turbine manufacturers dominated the post-warranty component maintenance market. However, a service market is emerging with energy service companies (ESCOs) specialising in maintenance and repairs competing with manufacturers for post-warranty service contracts. Developers such as EDP Renewables are also starting to manage their own post-warranty maintenance.
A significant proportion of EDP's European capacity of almost 4GW covers a variety of turbine models and sizes, according to Garcia Perez. Two years ago, the company started managing its own stock levels. The local warehouse at each EDP wind farm is stocked with adequate levels of small parts, such as sensors, bolts hydraulic materials, oils, greases and filters. These stock levels are initially set using recommendations from the turbine manufacturer and will subsequently be adjusted by the local wind-farm manager and entered into a computerised system.
Major components will almost always be the original manufacturers' own parts stored in the warehouse and the system for calculating stock levels - still a work in progress for EDP - is more complex (see below).
State of flux
Garcia Perez believes maintenance management is in flux. Once, manufacturers dominated, charging premium rates for post-warranty maintenance as they monopolised expertise. Now a market is developing where manufacturers, ESCOs and developers compete. In the future, Garcia Perez sees a possibility of a post-competitive system: performance data-sharing on stock across the industry.
While EDP Renewables keeps spare small parts at each wind farm, major components are stored and managed in a central warehouse. Eduardo Garcia Perez, the company's head of central maintenance for Europe, explains that the procedure for calculating stock levels begins while the parts are still under warranty. Over this period of roughly five years EDP will keep a record of all failures or defects for each main component. Six months before the warranty expires Garcia Perez's team begins to create a database with all the recorded failures and the point in the five-year period when the failures or defects occurred.
Once this is done, he says, and accounting for the number of turbines in the fleet, the number of failures for the subsequent three years is predicted and stock levels are adjusted accordingly.
The whole process is then repeated year-on-year and, as more data accumulates, a more accurate picture of component failure and stock requirements can be drawn. The database records all defects and failures of the major components of each turbine and accounts for any adjustments to the number of turbines in the fleet, changing the stock levels if necessary.
"To have a big size of fleet always helps," he adds. "For one thing, it means it is possible to share major components such as gearboxes, generators and main bearings, so the ratio of stock over covered fleet decreases, meaning lower investment costs for spare parts. A bigger fleet also makes it possible to obtain better commercial conditions in terms of price and delivery time because of the higher volume.
"In our central warehouse in Spain you will see for our post-warranty European fleet of wind turbines one generator and one gearbox for each model - unless it is a model with known problems where we will have maybe five gearboxes and five generators," says Garcia Perez. "The total is probably 30 gearboxes, 30 generators, no blades, ten main bearings and 15 transformers."
However, EDP is yet to carry out detailed financial calculations on the cost of the process. "We are still at the stage of managing our own repairs and calculating the correct level of spare parts," says Garcia Perez. "We have not yet done a financial analysis, that will be the next stage."


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Webcams In Virtual Teams: Perceptions Of Impact On Interactions And Effectiveness
Last modified: 2012-01-03
Virtual teams have proliferated as businesses realized benefits in coordinating across geographic and departmental boundaries. With the increase in quality and availability of video over the Internet, there are opportunities to improve effectiveness of virtual teams by integrating videoconferencing into synchronous meetings. The purpose of this qualitative study is to evaluate the impact of video on team interactions and effectiveness. Results showed a relationship between the added richness and authenticity brought about by video and increased effectiveness, while also showing a relationship between the increased stress of learning new technology and decreased effectiveness. These relationships provided the basis for a proposed theoretical model that describes the impact of webcam utilization on virtual teams as a function of time along five key dimensions: authenticity, focus, stress, learning technology, and effectiveness.


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Which is why today's giveaway is so near and dear to me. Not only is it published by my beloved publisher, Lark Crafts, its subject matter is completely in step with my interests. Eco Craft, by Susan Wasinger, is full of clever, creative ideas for breathing new life into objects that might otherwise get tossed. Divided into sections offering suggestions to "Decorate," "Create," "Illuminate," and "Celebrate," Eco Crafts contains 30 inspired eco-friendly projects for turning trash into treasures.
Lark has generously offered a copy of Eco Crafts to one small measure reader. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below. If you'd like to share something you've eco-crafted yourself, feel free, but if you just want to leave a comment, that's fine, too.
I'll share something I repurposed, and kept out of the landfill in the process. I took an interior panel from a large metal dog crate that was used as a divider and turned it into a holder for my earrings. It's large and industrial-looking, but completely utilitarian and, with its matte black finish, blends seamlessly into the large built-in cabinet unit in our bedroom. There's also the cold frame we made last year out of old windows, that is currently housing a large pot of arugula and will soon host a whole mess of vegetable starts. What about you?
I'll run the giveaway through next Wednesday, ending at midnight EST. Please leave a way of contacting you, should you be the winner, either via a link back to your blog or website, or with your email address in your comment.
I wish you all a world of winning success and may the odds be ever in your favor!
UPDATE: The winner of Eco Craft, as chosen by the Random Widget, is Kristy Lynn, lucky #60. Thank you so much to all that entered! I loved reading your ideas for repurposing!


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The MTA board voted 12-1 on March 25 in favor of raising subway, bus, and commuter fares and increasing tolls to help cut the struggling authority's $1.2 billion budget deficit.
Under the plan, which is scheduled to take effect May 31, base subway and bus fares will rise by between 25 and 30 percent. A single ride would go up 50 cents to $2.50, and the monthly MetroCard will jump by $22 to $103.
Commuter fares, also slated to increase by at least 25 percent, will be imposed effective June 1. The MTA would raise tolls on its bridges and tunnels in mid-July.
Besides the fare increases, the authority is planning a far-ranging reduction in mass transit services that includes everything from longer nighttime waits to fewer station staff. A majority of these changes would affect transit services in the outer boroughs, including in Queens and Brooklyn.
The W and Z subway lines will be eliminated entirely, while the G, M, J, and N lines will run shorter routes. Off-peak and weekend service on the A/D/E/F/G/J/M/N/Q/R lines will be scaled back.
Weekday or weekend service on 35 bus routes - including popular lines serving Central and South Brooklyn and others all over Queens from Flushing to Springfield Gardens - would be reduced or shut down altogether.
In another oft-overlooked change, the MTA will increase the maximum seated load capacity on subways from 100 to 125 percent, a move the authority has acknowledged would result in further overcrowding and longer wait times.
After the MTA vote, elected officials spoke out against the authority's plans which, in sum, represent an enormous shift in the cost and quality of transit services.
"I am extremely disappointed that today, against the best interests of hardworking New Yorkers, the MTA Board approved its draconian budget imposing steep fare hikes and severe service cuts," Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said in a statement.
Markowitz said the cuts unfairly impact Brooklyn residents who rely on the subway and bus systems to get around the borough and commute to work in Manhattan.
"No one is questioning the reality that we need to identify funding sources to close the MTA and city's growing budget gaps in these challenging economic times," Markowitz said. "But placing the burden unfairly on the backs of hard-working Brooklynites and the city's straphangers and bus riders is simply not the answer."
The borough president joined other officials in calling on the state legislature to provide the MTA with the emergency funding the authority has requested to reduce the proposed service cuts.
The MTA could still drop the fare increases sharply if it receives the funding, but negotiations in Albany on an MTA bailout package have stalled.
Queens City Councilman John Liu, chairman of the council Transportation Committee, lambasted the MTA for voting to approve the cuts while time remains to find a solution in Albany.
"It's too bad the MTA chose theatrics and fear-mongering over diligence and reason with its vote," Liu said. "The bottom line is that today's MTA action was rash and unnecessary, and the MTA must work with our Albany leaders to craft the appropriate bailout package."


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Former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich stood before a packed house in Sun City's Magnolia Hall and spoke about his campaign platform — 21st Century Contract with America.
Gingrich's residents-only talk was part of a two-day trip through South Carolina, site of the first primary in the South. It included lunch at the Bluffton Golden Corral, an overnight stay at the governor's mansion and a meeting with Gov. Nikki Haley. His whirlwind visit ended with a public screening at Coligny Theatre on Hilton Head Island of the documentary "A City Upon a Hill" made by him and his wife, Callista.
His contract of solutions to bring America back to traditional values and policies is made up of four pieces, he told the Sun City crowd.
Those pieces include: First, to restore the proper role of the legislature; second, sign 50-100 Executive Orders on the first day he is in office; third, establish a training program for people he hires once he gets the presidential nomination; and fourth, get the American citizens involved in working as a team.
"If you're serious about change, you can't just hire nice, well-meaning people. This is 80-year left-wing established policies that have to change and it's not going to be easy," he said on the third point.
The audience gave Gingrich a number of standing ovations and rounds of applause.
"It was a good speech," said Dave Sherron. "I agreed with everything he said."
Lidia Marques managed to get her photo taken with him following the presentation and was impressed.
"I thought it was excellent. He had a lot of good points," she said. "I find him to be a very knowledgeable, intelligent man and that's what we need in Washington."
Gingrich told the crowd that his draft of the whole new contract would be on his website — www.newt.org — Sept. 27, 2012.
"That's the first half of my inaugural address. I'm going to take an hour and a half," he said to much laughter. "Then I will sign 50-100 Executive Orders. They are not the law but they direct people responsible to carry out the law."
Those will be published on his website by Oct. 1, 2012, he said, and he is looking for input from the American public as to what those orders should be.
"People will be in no doubt about what I am going to do and the first Executive Order will be to abolish the White House czars," Gingrich said. "I ask you to be with me and recognize that we are on an eight-year journey to remind Congress, the Senate, the statehouses, the county councils, the school board that we're moving in a direction to put America on the right road."
In answer to questions from the audience, Gingrich said that he would work for a balanced budget amendment, saying that he tried that in 1994 and came close to passing it.
"So we just pretended it had passed and balanced the budget anyway," he told the crowd. "I am the only speaker in your lifetime who has passed a balanced budget four consecutive years."
In addressing education, Gingrich — a longtime teacher — said he believed the country needed to fundamentally re-establish the entire educational system.
"We need to be honest about achievement," he said. "If you promote someone who can't read, you are cheating the, for their entire lives. The current education system is wrong. We don't need our children to memorize marginally better than children from other countries. I think every child should have an individualized learning program."
Gingrich said he was comfortable with 12-year term limits and was uncomfortable with very short limits, citing California's state government where "they have very short terms and what that means is no one in Sacramento has any idea what they're doing."
He said he does not have the financial standing that several of his fellow campaigners will have. Gingrich ended his talk at Sun City by urging the audience to contribute to his campaign and becoming involved.


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A blog to compile what I have learned (and what I am learning) about Mandriva (and GNU/Linux in general) since 2009, when I migrated. Current distros I'm using: OpenMandriva Lx 4, Mageia 7, PCLinuxOS, MX 19, PicarOS, Elive 3, and AntiX 13.
jueves, 8 de julio de 2010
Mandriva 2010 Spring: A Review for Newbies
Yesterday, Mandriva 2010.1 (Spring) was released after a rather long wait that kept many people wondering if there was going to be a new Mandriva after "Adelie" . Since I had the opportunity to download the ONE version (KDE), I immediately installed it on my Dell Mini Inspiron V Netbook to test it.
In this initial review, I will share with you what I found. Now, before you continue reading, let me warn you that I am no computer guru, technician, software engineer, or the like. I am a simple computer user who got fed up with the formatting ritual and the multiple threats of Windows. I want to write this to people who do not know a lot about computers in the language they can understand. This is not a technical review; these are the honest impressions of a simple user. So please do not expect me to get into the intricate world of technicalities; I only want to say what a common mortal such as myself saw.
What's New?
Well, the first novelty that I saw is the option to install the OS from the GRUB (the screen that lets you choose which OS you want to use to boot up the computer). That is certainly more convenient because, in previous releases, you had to run the system before to be able to install it. However, I decided to run the Live CD anyway to see how it performed. I'm sure there are more novelties, but this one was the most obvious for the untrained eyes of mine.
A. Start up time:
From the Live CD, the distro took a rather long time to allow me interact with the OS (3 min, 50 sec to present the screen for language choice). From there, I got the usual options (language, locale, keyboard to use, time). After that, the system did its thing until I could finally use it. The total start up time until I saw the Mandriva Galaxy window and the system was ready for use was 4 min, 45 sec. This might look excessive, but the OS is not installed, so, as a user, I utter no complaint. I did notice that there was no windows telling me what Akonadi was doing. (Don't worry; I don't know what that is, either :-P). Should I miss it? :-/
B. Functionality:
1. The USB drive was working perfectly (beautified, larger icons, integrated options) and displayed the available space on the device. It is placed to the bottom right, so Windows users will find it more familiar.
2. The audio with Amarok was fine (I played a wave file; it was OK). However, I couldn't play any MP3 files as the OS needs the codecs (which are provided when you install the system, so don't worry).
3. The effects worked great! I activated the Kwin cube and the screen borders. Everything worked perfectly. The best part was that the process for placing different wallpapers on each side of the cube became a matter of two clicks. This, in Mandriva 2010 ("Adelie"), was a headache because the plasma environment wouldn't obey you. Now, Mandriva managed to tame it, which I truly appreciate. You also get identified icons for your folders (videos, documents, music, downloads, images)
4. There is a possibility to switch the desktop interface (the one with a menu) to a simpler, yet strikingly beautiful, netbook appearance. However, if you enable it and then go back to the desktop appearance with the menu, the Kwin animated cube gets messed up. I mean, you can still have all the functionalities of the four desktops, but there is no turning animation; instead of the spinning cube, you see the main screen of the netbook interface when you change each desktop. You solve this little problem by rebooting, but since I was testing the Live CD, I just did not mind. UPDATE: I tested the netbook interface once that the OS was installed and the problem described above does not occur. Actually, it was mind-boggling to see that minimal interface interacting with the Kwin effects (the screen edges activated the "desktop grid", the "show desktop", and even the cube perfectly!)
5. The distribution comes with Firefox 3.6.6 as the web browser (you also get Konqueror), Kopete for instant messaging and, this time, it has SCIM. Yay! (This is the IME for working with other languages, such as Japanese, Thai, Korean). Update: After installing the corresponding software (packages and its dependencies), the IME works fine. マンドリバは日本語ができるよ。I cannot seem to make it work in Open Office, though, so I used Abiword for documents in Japanese. I can input Japanese text in Web pages without any problem.
6. The Card Reader works perfectly and the wi-fi detected the available signals as expected. Connecting was as simple as ever.
C. Installation:
I rebooted and chose the installation without getting into the OS. The process went on smoothly; you get the partition wizard, etc. When I reached the stage of the GRUB installation, I noticed that it now offers you the opportunity to protect the GRUB with a password. I tried it, but it wouldn't let me because that feature does not work with a graphical installation...Well, not that I cared much, anyway. In general, the installation process did not change a lot: it is pretty intuitive and as user-friendly as it gets. I hooked the computer to a wired Internet connection and it pick it up without any need of my intervention. The whole thing lasted less than 25 minutes.
D. Booting with Mandriva Spring installed
After the installation, the OS took 1 min and 10 seconds to have the computer ready to work. That's fast enough for me, who used to wait more than 4 minutes for my Windows system to let me use the computer (when it was in a good mood, of course). They replaced the visual spinning circle (nice, but not very functional); so now you see a combination of a bar and a "verbose" process.
Update: I also booted the computer with the Netbook interface. The time is reduced a bit (10 seconds less).
E. Limitations
I consider this new release a great OS for netbooks, as it runs efficiently and, although it looks beautiful, performance has not been sacrificed. I must install it to a laptop and desktop to see how it performs but, judging from my previous experience with Mandriva 2010, I expect no problem. However, I would not recommend using Mandriva 2010 Spring Live CD as RESCUE tool. Well, let me clarify: If our Windows computer breaks and you need to check your email, or create a document, this distro will save your day. However, as the Live CD does not include a CD burner (you get it when you install the OS) and it blocks access to other partitions, Mandriva Live CD will not be good to back up or modify documents in your Windows partition. If that is what you want, I suggest you to use SimplyMepis instead. Nevertheless, if you install Mandriva to keep your system as a dual-boot, you will be able to access your other partitions and back up documents from the Mandriva partition without any problem.
There was a time in which Mandriva was considered a somewhat "intermediate" Linux distribution. In 2009, when I started using it, I found it slightly "difficult". However, with the 2010 release, I have noticed how the distro has been oriented to the ease of use. I'm not saying that it is easy, as no OS is, but I must confess that I perceive less entanglement now. So, today I can confidently recommend beginners to install it as their debut distro in the fascinating world of Linux.
Even though we had to wait a bit more to have this distribution, in the eyes of a simple user, the waiting was worth it. Now I have to keep exploring to discover all the new possibilities (see updates). As a non-technical Linux user, my deepest gratitude to all who made Mandriva 2010 Spring a reality!
I created a page to log the different issues I might encounter and ways to solve them (or circumvent them if I cannot solve them) here.
UPDATE: Yesterday, I installed Mandriva 2010 Spring on a desktop to test how the OS performs there. I will post the issues on the log above.
12 comentarios:
Good to hear that Farman is working fine. It will be sad that Mandriva stopped the desktop development just when they have reached so much.ResponderEliminar
By the way, did you try the CTRL + ALT + Backspace Kungfu instead of rebooting? I've heard that it helps when some windows are frozen. Of course, this is a different problem, but who knows?ResponderEliminar
- Anónimo9 de julio de 2010, 22:36
Very Nice Review.ResponderEliminar
I had Mandriva 2010 gnome and, later, Mandriva 2010 version 3 MUD lxde installed on my desktop rig until my power supply unit conked out. Mandriva is fairly stable and has great hardware support both for desktops and netbooks. I intend to install the 2010 Spring edition with gnome desktop once I resurrect my rig.ResponderEliminar
Megatotoro: Yes, it is a relief! The problem only occurs in Live mode, it seems. After installation, both appearances work fine.ResponderEliminar
Anónimo: Thanks for reading!
Barista Uno: You are right about Mandriva hardware support. Mandriva 2010 works great as the default system in my home desktop (clone), office desktop (Dell, and my two netbooks (Asus / Dell). It also powers my wife's laptop (Toshiba) and her desktop (clone).
I have tryed Mandriva 2009 before. But it was for difficult and much troubles for me with it. But this works fine. Maybe the new owner/investor had a positive impact to make it more userfriendly?ResponderEliminar
Henrik: I had the same impression with Mandriva 2009. I guess you are right.ResponderEliminar
Many who like Mandriva should give the new Pardus 2009.2 a try to (International version have Spanish language to):ResponderEliminar
Would be nice to see a review of it to compare it with the new Mandriva.You get all that are included in Powerpack but for free.So I wonder how Mandriva will get people pay for Powerpack in the long run with so much similar distributions with all mediacodecs included?
Can not be easy with their business model.
In fact, Pardus is one of my favorite distros. I already tried the Geronticus Eremita and it's a fabulous distro. The only thing I dislike about Pardus is that you have to download the Calisan and the install version independently, a minor bother, really. I think that it's too bad that there are great distros out there, like Pardus or Mepis, that do not get enough attention.ResponderEliminar
As for the question on PwP...I, for one, will buy it! ;-)
Anyway I am glad that Mandriva seems to survive.They are important for the Linux community and have good developers.ResponderEliminar
Installed it (KDE version of One) on my laptop and it works perfectly. Also the looks is very nice and modern. I think this release is currently my favourite distribution ever. I lso like the new netbook interface a lot.ResponderEliminar
It's the Ides of August!
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Roman general Julius Caesar is given an ominous message by the Soothsayer. The message is a simple warn...
I bought a new headset for my laptop two days ago. Since the store did not have many options available, I went for a Combat Argom Tech piec...
On Feb, 24, I upgraded my Fedora install from 27 to 29. Well, it turns out that Fedora 30 was released two days ago, so I decided to upgrad...


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Brison may be leaving but he and these others will be testifying at the Mark Norman trial
Treasury Board President and veteran Liberal MP Scott Brison is quitting politics.
But as my Postmedia colleague Brian Platt noted in his latest article, link below, a court case centred on Vice Admiral Mark Norman is sure to keep him in the public spotlight.https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/scott-brison-exits-politics-but-mark-norman-trial-will-keep-him-in-the-spotlight
Brison will face withering examination from defence lawyers for Norman, who have focused on Brison's role in pausing a $700-million navy supply ship procurement, Platt wrote. The vice admiral is facing a criminal charge of breach of trust for allegedly leaking cabinet secrets about the project.
Last month, the Crown outlined its witness list, which includes Brison. Here is the full list (it didn't come in an electronic form so hard copy pages had to be scanned). Of note, former Defence Minister Peter MacKay is supposed to be called as a witness but only to verify various documents:


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We all remember how Prof Mary Beard got her arse handed to her on live TV at 'Question Time', don't we?
Well. good. Because the narrative has shifted, she's wrapped herself in the cloak of outraged womanhood and declared that she's the victim of 'trolls' and 'right wingers' who mock her appearance and attack her because she's a woman…
The website owner's protestations that this is just what's happening notwithstanding, the newspaper that gleefully hosted the video just last week now gives her column space:
Mary Beard OBE, Professor of Classics at Cambridge, is author of a dozen books, writer and presenter of BBC2's BAFTA-nominated Pompeii and Meet The Romans, and a regular on Radio 4, Newsnight and Question Time.Today, she is sipping a cappuccino, peering at me through smeary specs and speaking very calmly, clearly (and loudly) about the myriad unspeakable, disgusting and abusive online comments she has received over the past week in what must surely be one of the most truly monstrous episodes of internet trolling ever.
Do remember this next time someone rants & raves about 'the right wing press'. They aren't, they don't have any agenda. They'll sell any story, from any angle.
Even one clearly designed to make us all forget what really occurred on 'Question Time'…
H/T: JohnB via Twitter


text: Below is a listing of all upcoming multihull sailing events in Florida: races, boat shows, demo sails, community events. This list includes Florida sailing events, as well as events of interest to Florida sailors that might take you out of state. If you're looking for something in particular, or want a different view, make adjustments via the buttons across the top. If you'd like to arrange a private demo sail or viewing, use the form on the right. We look forward to seeing you!


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I think many of these critics are missing the point. As is often the case with sensitive issues, 1) those who know often can't say and 2) those who say often don't know. There are some exceptions worth noting!
One company that occupies a unique position with respect to this problem is Mandiant. Keep an eye on the APT tag of their M-unition blog. Mandiant's role as a consulting firm to many APT victims helps them talk about what they see without naming any particular victim.
I also recommend following Mike Cloppert's posts. He is a deep thinker with respect to counter-APT operations. Incidentally I agree with Mike that the US Air Force invented the term "advanced persistent threat" around 2006, not Mandiant.
Reviewing my previous blogging, a few old posts stand out. 4 1/2 years ago I wrote Real Threat Reporting, describing the story of Shawn Carpenter as reported by Time magazine. Back then the threat was called "Titan Rain" by Time. (This reflects the use of a so-called "intrusion set" to describe an incident.) Almost a year later Air Force Maj Gen Lord noted "China has downloaded 10 to 20 terabytes of data from the NIPRNet. They're looking for your identity, so they can get into the network as you."
Now we hear of other companies beyond Google involved in this latest incident, including Yahoo, Symantec, Adobe, Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical, Juniper Networks, and "human rights groups as well as Washington-based think tanks." (Sources 1 and 2.)
Let me put on the flight cap of a formally trained Air Force intelligence officer and try to briefly explain my understanding of APT in a few bullets.
- Advanced means the adversary can operate in the full spectrum of computer intrusion. They can use the most pedestrian publicly available exploit against a well-known vulnerability, or they can elevate their game to research new vulnerabilities and develop custom exploits, depending on the target's posture.
- Persistent means the adversary is formally tasked to accomplish a mission. They are not opportunistic intruders. Like an intelligence unit they receive directives and work to satisfy their masters. Persistent does not necessarily mean they need to constantly execute malicious code on victim computers. Rather, they maintain the level of interaction needed to execute their objectives.
- Threat means the adversary is not a piece of mindless code. This point is crucial. Some people throw around the term "threat" with reference to malware. If malware had no human attached to it (someone to control the victim, read the stolen data, etc.), then most malware would be of little worry (as long as it didn't degrade or deny data). Rather, the adversary here is a threat because it is organized and funded and motivated. Some people speak of multiple "groups" consisting of dedicated "crews" with various missions.
Looking at the target list, we can perceive several potential objectives. Most likely, the APT supports:
- Political objectives that include continuing to suppress its own population in the name of "stability."
- Economic objectives that rely on stealing intellectual property from victims. Such IP can be cloned and sold, studied and underbid in competitive dealings, or fused with local research to produce new products and services more cheaply than the victims.
- Technical objectives that further their ability to accomplish their mission. These include gaining access to source code for further exploit development, or learning how defenses work in order to better evade or disrupt them. Most worringly is the thought that intruders could make changes to improve their position and weaken the victim.
- Military objectives that include identifying weaknesses that allow inferior military forces to defeat superior military forces. The Report on Chinese Government Sponsored Cyber Activities addresses issues like these.
Notice "stealing money" is not listed here. Although threats exist that target cash, those groups are not considered "APT".
Footnote: my Google query for advanced peristent threat that omits a few organization names (including this blog) now yields 169 non-duplicative hits as of this writing, up from 34 in July 2009.


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As the debate around legalization of recreational marijuana in New York state swirls, and the punches and counterpunches of the pros versus cons become more frenetic, we need to take a step back, slow down and use reason rather than rhetoric.
There are wide disconnects among what we know, what we think we know and what is actually happening elsewhere. The mythology about the harmlessness of marijuana stems, in large part, from our collective — sometimes nostalgic — memories of the '60s, which are juxtaposed against the old "reefer madness" mentality, or the belief that pot causes insanity. Neither position represents what we need to focus on to make the informed choices that will impact our state in many ways for decades to come.
As a colleague put it, if you haven't used marijuana or been exposed to its consumption in the past two or three years, you're likely seeing the legalization debate through the wrong lens. The THC component of marijuana (which produces the high) has skyrocketed from between 5 and 10 percent in the 1960s to an average of 40 to 50 percent or higher now, according to The Los Angeles Times. This isn't Woodstock weed. It's far more potent.
And the implications are far-reaching. A report by the Colorado Department of Public Health shows that marijuana-related hospitalizations increased from 1,313 per 100,000 in 2011 to 3,025 by 2015 — an increase of 43 percent. Colorado legalized marijuana in 2013. The number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled between 2013 and 2017 in the state, according to The Denver Post.
Young people vape more than they smoke marijuana. Vaping leads to higher concentrations of THC levels in users, giving them a more powerful high that can be accompanied by hallucinations, according to NBC News. And THC-based gummies, candies and sodas are clearly marketed to attract youth.
About the "safer product" myth: In Oregon, only 3 percent of retailers and growers have had their products tested, and a state audit notes, "We cannot ensure that the products are safe," according to Oregon NBC affiliate KGW8. In California, more than 20 percent of the marijuana products tested failed "purity and potency" testing requirements, according to an NBC affiliate there.
The $300 million in annual sales tax revenue that Gov. Andrew Cuomo anticipates the marijuana industry would generate would represent only .17 percent of the $176 billion budget proposed for New York state this year. Meanwhile, in Colorado, for every $1 of sales tax revenue generated by marijuana, $4.57 is spent to mitigate the problems that come with its use, according to a study by Colorado Christian University.
And it's common knowledge that the black market for marijuana has not been eradicated in states where it's legal — and, in fact, it continues to thrive in those places.
Let's consider social justice. In 2014, the year after Colorado legalized marijuana, the number of arrests for the drug decreased by 51 percent for whites, 33 percent for Hispanics and 25 percent for African-Americans. The marijuana arrest rate for blacks (348 per 100,000) was almost triple that of whites (123 per 100,000) that year, according to a report by the Colorado DPH.
The tobacco giant Altria (the owner of Marlboro) invested $12.8 billion in the Juul vaping company last year, giving it a 35 percent stake in the company, according to CNBC. And Altria invested $1.8 billion in Canadian cannabis company Cronos last year. This is big business poised to cause, and then profit from, a public health crisis.
The American Journal of Psychiatry states, "Cannabis use, even among adults with moderate to severe pain, was associated with a substantially increased risk of nonmedical prescription opioid use." Clearly, pot is not the solution to the opioid epidemic.
The American Medical Association opposes marijuana legalization. So does the New York Catholic Conference, the New York State STOP-DWI Association and the New York State PTA. STOP-DWI recently sent a letter to Cuomo and the State Legislature, asking that they "allow appropriate time to consider the implications in regard to highway safety, as we are surely facing a whole new school of impairment."
With legalization comes more availability of products attractive to children, including marijuana-based cookies and brownies. Availability means access, and, we know, with greater accessibility comes greater use.
Slow down, New York. What's the rush to legalize marijuana?
Judi Vining is executive director of Long Beach AWARE, a nonprofit public policy organization "that helps create and maintain a healthy environment for families and teens."


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Medion, Europe's prime purveyor of low-cost PCs, phones and satnavs, is taking on Asus' Eee PC. Its Akoya sub-notebook will come in MacBook-like shiny black and white versions, sport a 10.2in display and cost just €399 ($620/£318).
Medion hasn't detailed the Akoya's processor specifications, but Intel's Atom has to be the most likely option. The mini laptop will come with 1GB of DDR 2 memory, Medion said, and an 80GB 5400rpm hard drive.
Medion's Akoya E1210: battling the Eee
The sub-notebook's portage runs to a trio of USB 2.0 ports, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, VGA, 3.5mm audio I/O sockets and a Kensington security hole. In addition to wired networking, the Akoya comes with 802.11n Wi-Fi on board, and Medion said buyers will also be able to spec up a version with Bluetooth.
Other options include an external optical drive and a six-cell battery to complement the standard, three-cell one. Standard battery plus laptop together weigh 1.2kg, and the whole lot measures 247 x 179 x 28-36mm.
The display has a native 16:10 ratio resolution of 1024 x 600.
The unit comes with a two-year warranty and Windows XP Home Edition - which Linux lovers should have no trouble deleting and replacing with their favourite distro.
Related Sub-notebook Reviews
Vye mini-v S37B
Asus Eee PC 900
Apple MacBook Air
Toshiba Portégé R500
Maxdata Belinea s.book 1
Asus Eee PC 701


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Michael Muskal
LA Times
November 15, 2012
Oil company BP has agreed to plead guilty to misconduct and negligence charges and pay a record $4.5-billion fine in connection with the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, one of the nation's worst environmental disasters.
In an announcement Thursday morning from its London headquarters, BP confirmed that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve all federal criminal charges and all claims by the Securities and Exchange Commission against the company stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion, the subsequent oil spill and the response.
As part of the agreement, BP said it has agreed to plead guilty to 11 felony counts of misconduct or neglect in connection with the 11 people who died in the explosion. In all, the company agreed to plead guilty to 14 criminal charges including one count of obstruction of Congress.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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The Bureau of Development Services Announces Search for Citizens to Serve on the Development Review Advisory Committee
The Bureau of Development Services has announced a search for interested citizens to fill five upcoming vacancies on the City of Portland Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC). The outgoing members' terms expire on January 25, 2012.
The DRAC is a citizen advisory body representing those with interests in the outcome of policies, budgets, regulations, and procedures that affect development review processes. The purpose of the DRAC is to foster a timely, predictable and accountable development review process that implements the City's goals for land use, transportation, housing, economic development, neighborhood livability and the environment.
The DRAC advocates for and supports consistent and fair application and implementation of regulations.
The DRAC meets on the third Tuesday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the 1900 Building, 1900 SW 4th Avenue. DRAC members serve 3-year terms and may be re-appointed. The DRAC consists of seventeen members representing a wide variety of stakeholder groups, including (but not limited to) development, planning, construction contracting, public works, design professions, neighborhood interests, business interests, historic preservation, environmental organizations, and institutional properties.
The upcoming five vacant positions need to be filled by individuals representing the following categories:
- Large Construction Contractors
- Citywide Neighborhood Interests
- Large Developers
- Major Facilities Landowners
- Small Businesses
Applications should be submitted to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement with a cover letter describing the applicant's interest, background and experience, or a resume. Applications should be submitted by Friday, January 13, 2012.
We are looking to have the positions filled in the month of February. For more information about the DRAC, you may contact Mark Fetters, Bureau of Development Services at 503-823-1028 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Interested citizens should contact the Office of Neighborhood Involvement at 503-823-4519 for the application form or access it through the ONI website at www.portlandonline.com/oni.


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News & Notes: Game 14
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 (1:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com
Buffalo Bisons (4-9, 6th(-4.0), North)
LHP Casey Fossum (0-1, 9.00)
Rochester Red Wings (6-6, 4th(-1.5), North)
RHP Kyle Gibson (0-0, 5.63)
TODAY'S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings in the third game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Wings jumped out to a 2-0 series lead thanks to a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday. Following tomorrow's finale, the Bisons will welcome in Lehigh Valley for a four-game series against the IronPigs.
VS. RED WINGS: The Red Wings picked up the first two victories of the season series with yesterday's doubleheader sweep. Last season, the Bisons won the last five contests of the year to close out an 11-5 season-series win. Since the Bisons returned to the IL in 1998, the Herd has more wins against Rochester (115) than any other team.
CASEY ON THE MOUND: LHP CASEY FOSSUM is back on normal rest and will make his third start of the season this afternoon. The southpaw pitched on short rest on April 15 in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and struck out six over 4.2 innings of work. Fossum yielded just two runs on six hits to the Yankees. Bisons' starters have allowed just 54 hits in 66.2 innings of work this year, but together have just a 2-8 record.
ALWAY ON: OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS has reached base safely in all 13 games this season. The outfielder is one of only two International League hitters to have reached base in 13 games this year, matching Louisville's Dave Sappatt. Nieuwenhuis also has the longest active hit streak in the IL. He has hit in nine straight, with a .419 (13-31) average since April 11.
LEADING OFF: OF JASON PRIDIE hit his second lead-off home run of the season in game one of yesterday's doubleheader. Pridie also homered to lead off the team's game on April 9 against Pawtucket. The outfielder has half of the Bisons six home runs this season and leads the team with six RBI.
ROSTER MOVE: During yesterday's doubleheader, the Mets recalled Bisons INF JUSTIN TURNER. With the Herd, the infielder hit .300 (12-40) with two RBI and six runs scored in 10 games to begin the season. Turner led Buffalo with two triples.
METS UPDATE: The Mets (5-12) lost to the Astros last night by a 6-1 score at Citi Field. Former Bisons LHP JON NIESE allowed just two runs in six innings but fell to 0-3 on the season. OF CARLOS BELTRAN hit his third home run of the year in the loss. New York hosts Houston again tonight at 7:10 p.m.


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Dog Friendly Shimada, JP
Need help deciding where to stay, play, or eat with your dog in Shimada, JP? Get the scoop on our favorite pet friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities in Shimada below!
There is 1 pet friendly hotel in Shimada, JP. You'll find information on all the most popular pet friendly hotels, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds in Shimada below.
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Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have taken a step toward developing a new treatment to aid the recovery of limb function after strokes.
In a study published online in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, researchers report the full recovery of forelimb strength in animals receiving vagus nerve stimulation.
"Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide," said Dr. Navid Khodaparast, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and lead author of the study. "Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Our results mark a major step in the development of a possible treatment."
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an FDA-approved method for treating various illnesses, such as depression and epilepsy. It involves sending a mild electric pulse through the vagus nerve, which relays information about the state of the body to the brain.
Khodaparast and his colleagues used vagus nerve stimulation precisely timed to coincide with rehabilitative movements in rats. Each of the animals had previously experienced a stroke that impaired their ability to pull a handle.
Stimulation of the vagus nerve causes the release of chemicals in the brain known to enhance learning and memory called neurotransmitters, specifically acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Pairing this stimulation with rehabilitative training allowed Khodaparast and colleagues to improve recovery.
Many rehabilitative interventions try to enhance neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to change) in conjunction with physical rehabilitation to drive the recovery of lost functions, according to Khodaparast. Unfortunately, up to 70 percent of stroke patients still display long-term impairment in arm function after traditional rehabilitation.
"For years, the majority of stroke patients have received treatment with various drugs and/or physical rehabilitation," Khodaparast said. "Medications can have widespread effects in the brain and the effects can last for long periods of time. In some cases the side effects outweigh the benefits. Through the use of VNS, we are able to use the brain's natural way of changing its neural circuitry and provide specific and long lasting effects."
"Through the use of VNS, we are able to use the brain's natural way of changing its neural circuitry and provide specific and long lasting effects." Dr. Navid Khodaparast, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Khodaparast acknowledged the study has some limitations. For example, the animals were young and lacked some of the other illnesses that accompany an aged human population, such as diabetes or hypertension. But Khodaparast and his colleagues said they are optimistic about vagus nerve stimulation as a future tool. They will continue testing in chronically impaired animals with the hopes of translating the technique for stroke patients. Working with MicroTransponder Inc., a partner company in the current study, researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland have begun a small-scale trial in humans.
"There is strong evidence that VNS can be used safely in stroke patients because of its extensive use in the treatment of other neurological conditions," said Dr. Michael Kilgard, professor in neuroscience at UT Dallas and senior author of the study.
|Contact: Ben Porter
University of Texas at Dallas


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Celine Dion and family are spending most of their time these days in Las Vegas. After five years of sold-out shows at Caesars Palace, Celine restarts her record-setting performances on June 10th. With so much time away for show business and her Las Vegas contract extended to 2019, Celine recently sold her 24,000-square-foot Montreal mansion for almost $30 million, and also has her Florida home up for sale.
When Celine and her manager-husband, René Angélil, built their beachfront home in 2010 on Jupiter Island, Florida, they outdid themselves with water features most have only seen in public water parks. Nestled on 6 private acres on the Atlantic Ocean in one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the United States is their Bahamian-style 10,000-square-foot home with eight bedrooms and 415 feet of private beach. In addition to the main house, there are five pavilions that serve multiple functions including a double four bedroom guest house (eight extra bedrooms), tennis house with simulated golf range, humongous master closet with electric racks and a revolving shoe carousel, pool house with separate kitchen, beach house with second floor sleeping loft and a massage room. Even more, tennis and basketball courts, children's play house and croquet court, the home is being sold with most of the furniture included.
But let's talk water. Aside from having one of the longest private beaches in Florida as a playground, in the middle of the main house and guest homes is a man-made river, a massive pool that winds around the property with bridges, gazebos, water slides, water-gun stations … Even a man-made beach for sunning if you weary of the one that goes with the ocean. There is also another pool on the ocean side of the house.
Celine Dion and husband, Rene, are selling their Jupiter, Florida beach estate and personal water park. Originally priced at $72 million, now listed at $62.5 million.
More info: sothebyshomes.com


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It took a lot of time and effort to build this 2000-foot long Hot Wheels track—From The Marbles says that's equivalent to 24 miles in big people land—with only a three-minute video payoff. We say it was absolutely worth it. We found ourselves unaccountably rooting for the little plastic car, especially during the heart-stopping moment at 1:32 when it nearly jumps the track. Go little car, go!
The whole thing's meant to raise money for Hope For Gabe, a foundation raising awareness of and searching for a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare and pernicious form of the disease. So check that out, freeloaders.
Be certain to stick around for our World Series open thread, in which you and other like-minded individuals seek to determine which remaining manager has the more hilarious substance abuse problem. Also, Hickey!


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In order to keep spammers at bay, I am instituting a policy that keeps the membership to current and active members only. Any user that has never posted to the forum and has been inactive for over 3 months, meaning they have never accessed the forum by logging in, will be deleted. Spammers will register and put hyperlinks to websites in their user profile. Rather than spend an enormous amount of time trying to keep this from happening in the first place, a periodic deletion of inactive users will achieve the same result with little time involved.
If you're not a spammer and you're sitting on the sidelines never using your account, you may find your account deleted. Just a heads up.


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Wiring harness for use with Engo RW-Series and SW-Series
LED work lights. One harness will wire up to 2 lights.
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Aspects of the Kibo network are patented, patent-pending, or patent-applied-for.
For product questions, contact us.
For questions about your order, log into your account or email Click here (order questions only)
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Fax: 360-573-0793


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A dream escape
Tourist settlements in select forested areas of Greece have been contributing to developing ecotourism, raising awareness on environmental issues, promoting ecology education and, of course, providing leisure activities. The rare natural beauty of Greece with endless areas of breathtaking landscape paired with the feeling of serenity and the benefits of fresh air are reasons good more than enough for you to take an alternative holiday in the heart of nature and be initiated into the joys of a mountain experience.
Let us introduce you to some of the villages that will accommodate you.
Papades Village
Where: In Northern Evia, this settlement covers an area of 20.000m² sporting great facilities in the woods and an infinite view to the blue of the Aegean.
Facilities: Papades Village is ideal for a family holiday. Its 58m² fully equipped and furnished cottages with central heating and fireplaces, an indoor and outdoor playground, an art workshop, a farm and a sports area are tailored to fulfill the needs and wishes of your young fellow travellers.
Activities: Go hiking or horse-riding in the oak forest. For a wheel excitement, go mountain biking or jeep safari. Take lessons of pine chopping and retsina collecting, or practice several sports. If action is not your cup of tea, opt for soap, candle and jam making lessons, or help with the farming activities. Getting to know the flora of the area will prove to be an easy task for those interested, thanks to the tags the 3.000-odd plants bear. If you are more into wine or tsipouro, indulge into them in the local tavernas, enjoying the view to the islands of Sporades.
Worth seeing: The fossil forest and the Museum of Paleolithic Mammals in the village of Kerasia; the imposing waterfalls of Drymon; the monastery of St David built on the remnants of an ancient temple; the verdant villages nearby.
For further information, please call: +30 6984 606289
Kedros Village
Where: In the district of Arta, not far from the village Katarraktis, at an altitude of 920m in the mountain range of Tzoumerka. Let this settlement's 45.000m² area be your starting point for exploring around and relishing Greek nature.
Facilities: The guesthouse comprises 20 snug fully equipped and furnished cottages, able to accommodate up to 8 visitors each depending on their size. The café and the restaurant are housed in two separate buildings.
Activities: Hiking in the Tzoumerka; rafting in the Arachthos and Kalarrytikos rivers; horse-riding; rappelling/abseiling; archery.
Worth seeing: The spectacular Tzoumerka and Matsouki waterfalls; the bridge at Plaka; the villages of Syrrako and Kalarrytes; the monasteries of Tsouka and Kipina; the cave "Anemotrypa Pramanton".
For further information: www.guesthousekedros.gr
Kapsitsa Village
Where: In the SE side of mount Gkiona (in mountainous Fokida) at an altitude of 1.000m and at just 20km from the city of Amfissa. The ecological significance of this spectacular landscape reflects in the rareness of the "abies cephalonica", the fir tree of Kefanonia, which tops off the grandeur of nature of the area.
Facilities: Peacefulness is guaranteed in the fully equipped and furnished cottages of the guesthouse, as they are built at a reasonable distance from each other in the fir forest. Playgrounds, sports facilities and a restaurant will make sure you'll miss out on nothing while there.
Activities: Take romantic strolls around or use your car to explore the neighbouring areas, so gorgeous and so historically important.
Worth seeing: The city of Amfissa with the huge olive grove around it, the village of Galaxidi, scenic Itea, the gorge of Rekka, the byzantine monasteries of Panagia Prosiliou and Profitis Ilias and, last but not at all least, the archaeological site of Delphi.
For further information: www.fokida.gr
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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Firstly sorry I've not been on here much, got a whole load of personal stuff going on which is taking up most of time, but I hope that will all change soon!
Secondly I know the guy who runs the New Elementary blog (http://bit.ly/NE40205) and he asked me to do a review of the castle set out of the up coming Lego Movie. You can read the review if you go to the above website/link thingy!
he also asked me (along with the other guys doing the reviews) to come up with alternative builds from the set. Man was it hard building with such limited stock. Well this is what i came up with
Am I my Husbands keeper? by peggyjdb, on Flickr
Well I'm not sure I would have got the set but it was a whole load of fun being involved. Now I need to take my boys to see the film!


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nickh1 said:
I check the psi on the different secondary speeds. It didnt change much.
Low was 20/18.5, medium was 20.5/19 and high was 21/19.
I have a 12 psi pressure reducing valve on the makeup water and filler/flushed it with cold water. Is 20ish psi in the ballpark?
I noticed the Poly Butylene straight away. You are a at a slight advantage that's its a slab install and not an above grade install. (Less tubing exposed to free air) I would certainly hit it w a cleaner, flush and add a good inhibitor.... This may effect your warranty if you don't.Solid_Fuel_Man said:
Also, I'm guessing from the look and the age of that install that is PB tube. No oxygen barrier, the circulators and the little bit of iron fittings may not fair well long term. Keep it all nonferrous including the expansion tank. I'd also give each loop a good flushing until the water runs clear.
Paul, in this case, he has full flow always occurring on the load side. Rare condition in the field. If each of the 3/4" tubes were a micro zone, then the boiler would short cycle if piped direct. This is what I call driving a tack with a sledge hammer. WHAM BAM thank you ma'am...Paul48 said:
Everything being proper..... nothing can be more efficient than using the most btus produced by the boiler. Directly pumping the boiler allows for that. How is that even debatable?


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US Sen. Murkowski calls for national forestry bill, tells Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that current forest management policies are 'strangling the economic life' of small communities
December 19, 2013
(press release)
– U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today called for a national solution to systemic shortcomings in the management of the nation's forests to address the economic and ecological needs of forests and communities across the country.
"When it comes to forest management, we would all agree on both sides of the aisle, on and off this committee, that the status quo is unacceptable. It's just not working right now," Murkowski said. "As I see it, the best way to change the status quo is through a nationwide bill that addresses the roadblocks to increasing the pace and scale of forest management, including timber harvest."
Speaking Tuesday as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered state-based forestry bills by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Jon Tester (D-Montana), Murkowski said the challenges posed by current forest management policies, which are strangling the economic life of small communities across the west, are shared by states from New Mexico to Alaska. Murkowski said place-based legislation may have its place, but that Congress needs to take up a national timber bill to address the growing problems across the country.
"The roadblocks are systemic in nature and not generally place-based or state-specific," Murkowski said. "They involve issues such as management direction and regulation – for example, the roadless rule, the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws, forest and resource planning, and, of course, litigation. Our focus in this committee with respect to forestry should be on a national bill."
Murkowski pointed to her home state and the impact reinstatement of the roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest was having on the economy of Southeast Alaska.
Murkowski brought Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to Alaska in August to tour the Tongass with the goal of finding ways to increase the availability of timber, including a solution to the restrictions imposed by the roadless rule, to support Southeast's shrinking timber industry.
The failure of the federal land management agencies to support timber harvests has serious consequences for local communities across the West, Murkowski said.
Murkowski noted that in addition to boosting the market's timber supply and creating jobs, increasing timber harvests would reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires in the West.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.


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ElJayVee, I'm interested to hear what songs are in your "Go Larry" playlist.
... The Unforgettable Fire (partly to hear him say, "$*!#" at the beginning)...
In the background at the beginning of TUF you can hear him curse.
Don't give him too much love... or else he'll punch you in the face with his deathstare


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Alleged Army deserter, 1 other arrested in Carson City
An alleged Army deserter was arrested Tuesday at an apartment in the Parkway Plaza complex, 20 College Parkway.
According to Carson City Sheriff's Office reports:
Matthew James Golden, 24, of Carson City was a military police officer based in Sacramento. He went missing Nov. 17.
A deputy with the Sheriff's Office's Special Enforcement Team arrested Golden at 6:05 p.m. on a felony deserter/absentee warrant issued by the armed forces. A 19-year-old Carson City man in the apartment was arrested on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and criminal contempt. Golden was being held without bail; the 19-year-old's bail was set at $2,100.
According to Nevada Appeal and Record-Courier archives:
Golden and his wife pleaded guilty in November 2008, when both were 19, in connection with several break-ins the previous month at a Gardnerville martial-arts studio. They took cash, credit cards and checks worth nearly $6,000. Golden pleaded guilty to burglary; his wife, Amanda, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.
The Goldens were sentenced in December 2008 to five years of probation and were given credit for 105 days served in the Douglas County Jail.
In May 2009, they were sentenced to three-year suspended sentences and probation in the theft of a guitar and $600 from Pizza Factory in Minden. The theft occurred about the same time as the break-ins in Gardnerville.
Golden was arrested in August 2009 for underage drinking, a probation violation. He admitted several probation violations, including drinking alcohol, not reporting to his probation officer, changing his residence without notice, and failure to pay fees and fines or find employment. He later was sentenced to five years in prison.
Golden also was arrested Nov. 13, 2012, on a fugitive-from-justice bail out of Kentucky. He and Amanda Golden are divorced.