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Aviation experts are coming up with a 60-year-old solution to a modern problem - how to create a cheap, fuel-efficient and quiet supersonic aeroplane. This is their breakthrough solution:
US Navy biplane in flight in December 1934
Researchers from MIT and Stanford have shown via computer modelling that a modified biplane can produce significantly less drag than a single-wing craft, improving the fuel efficiency and quietening that sonic boom. However Qiqi Wang, his MIT colleague Rui Hu and Antony Jameson of Stanford University admit that it's not the first time someone has suggested biplanes could sort out the sonic problems.
Back in the 1950s, German engineer Adolf Busemann was the first to come up with a biplane design that thwarts shockwaves at supersonic speeds. The problem with a regular single-wing aeroplane is that as the jet nears the speed of sound, air compresses in front of and behind it, and when the plane goes past Mach 1, the sudden increase in air pressure sends two shockwaves radiating out.
"The sonic boom is really the shockwaves created by the supersonic airplanes, propagated to the ground," Wang said in a canned statement. "It's like hearing gunfire. It's so annoying that supersonic jets were not allowed to fly over land."
Busemann showed that with a biplane, the configuration of the top and bottom wings would cancel out the shockwaves of each other. But because the wings create a small space for air to go through, when the biplane is still going below the speed of sound but getting faster, the wings could "choke", creating huge drag.
Wang, Hu and Jameson came up with a computer model to simulate the biplane's performance at every speed along the way, so that they could compile the results into a shape for each wing that would allow the supersonic biplane to fly at all speeds.
If the supersonic jet has smooth inner surfaces on the wings, then that widens the channel through which air can flow, and if the top edge of the top wing and the bottom edge of the lower wing is bumped out, the plane can fly faster than sound with half the drag of a single-wing aircraft like the Concorde.
Conceptual drawing of a silent supersonic aircraft.
Credit: Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University
Less drag would not only get rid of the sonic boom problem, it could reduce the amount of fuel needed for each flight as well, Wang said.
His team is working on the best design for a supersonic plane, but he pointed out that there is also a team in Japan that's trying to design a biplane with moving wings, so they can change mid-flight to minimise drag.
"Now people are having more ideas on how to improve [Busemann's] design," Wang said. "This may lead to a dramatic improvement, and there may be a boom in the field in the coming years." ®


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STORIES FROM THE HEART: It can be tough being a kid with a heart problem; author helps ease pain he felt with book aimed at others going through it
Samuel Ward III wants kids with heart conditions to know they're not alone.
He knows how they feel because he was once one of them.
The author – who goes by Len, and by the pen name Len N. Wallace – was born with a hole between the walls of his heart.
Shortly […]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kite Leash
Leash Without Function
What happened?
We know kite leashes are important, it shouldn't be necessary to rehash that at this point for most of us. Years back we used to argue about this amazingly enough. Suicide leashes have a strong following, despite what the name implies. I don't know how common this is at other areas but around here I see guys heading out at times with their suicide leash coiled on the harness "Wonder Woman" style but not connected to anything. This means your kite is unleashed.
Unleashed kites can do some serious harm. I was told a story recently about just that sort of accident. Many of the details prior to the lofting were only seen by the victim whose observations appear below. Others saw events following the lofting.
Guys were out in a squall among numerous other squalls, first mistake but others followed. This was in Miami during Tropical Storm Fay shortly before the rider in Ft. Lauderdale was hurt. A kiter was heading back offshore when he noticed a guy launched a jump in his direction. The outbound kiter stopped and brought his kite to the zenith to try to avoid hitting the guy jumping. The jumping kiter landed and was hit by a particularly strong squall gust. He may have been knocked over or simply had the bar ripped from his hands, he was unhooked and was wearing his leash "Wonder Woman" style. That is for looks only and not attached to anything. The guy sitting with his kite at the zenith about 30 ft. offshore suddenly had a second kite bar wrap his lines resulting in TWO looping out of control kites. He was lofted out of the water and about 40 to 60 ft. inland. He smashed hard on his side against the sand fracturing his C2 (hangman's fracture) and C3 vertabrae. The kiter managed to activate his primary QR at this point amazingly enough. He was still pulled by the looping kite so another kiter tried to hold him in place while a third guy ran up and opened his secondary quick release defusing the situation.
The helping kiteboarders DID A VERY IMPORTANT THING by working to keep the injured kiter immobile. This act likely saved the kiteboarder from serious paralysis perhaps for life. There have been other injured kiters who were not so lucky as to have people there to try to keep them immobile. He was very fortunate that his C2 fracture wasn't more severe. That is the vertabrae and related nerve network they try to break with a hang man's noose causing loss of life through asphyxia.
He has been in a Halo Vest (head restraint collar) for seven weeks and may need to have it on for 8 to 12 weeks total. You sleep, badly, sitting up with these things on. The kiteboarder has no medical insurance and has ripped through his savings, taken out cash advances to the maximum on his credit cards, had to sell his car and has been out of work for 7 weeks. The kiter shouldn't have been out in the squall but he didn't deserve to be taken out by someone else's kite and physically and financially messed up like this.
Another accident with similarities claimed the life of Silke Gorldt in 2002 at a Pro competition. That is a runaway kite with no leash. Also she had no Quick Release, few did in those days.
What can we learn?
- Stay out of squalls, always.
- Always use a well tested kite leash. By not using a kite leash you are putting yourself at risk most of all compelling you to hang on to your kite in extremes. Then there are all those potential victims downwind. If you see a "Wonder Woman" wannabe, talk with them tactfully and effectively, OK?
- Never put others at risk with your jumps. Always allow a safe downwind buffer with jumps and riding in general.
- Practice hitting your Quick Release physically and mentally regularly as seconds can count.
- Wear reasonable safety gear.
- If you kiterboard, have adequate medical insurance.
- If you see someone with potential neck trauma try to keep them calm and immobile. More comments about this under "Head Injury" at Medical Info.
FKA, Inc.
transcribed by: Rick Iossi
Board Leash
Board Leash Teeth
What Happened?
There is a girl that rides in the spot we ride that uses an Oceanus reel leash. I have told her for the year we have known her to get rid of the thing and drag back to her board. Yesterday she decided to not use it anymore. Unfortunately, it was after she broke out most of her front teeth. She fell, got dragged down wind with her back to the kite, came up for a breath, and her board caught up to her and hit her in the mouth. Full damage is fractured upper jaw, many stitches inside her mouth, front upper teeth pushed up into the roof of her mouth, 2 lower teeth broken off...in short her teeth look like she is from Arkansas. She spent an hour with an oral surgeon yesterday, and goes back to see him Monday. She obviously has some extensive dental work to be done. Oh and she did have the 1 meter extension line on her board.
What can we learn?
- don't use a board leash at all, even if you wear a helmet
- learn how to bodydrag back to your board
- if you think you need a leash, you may consider a tool like the "GO-Joe".


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Can't make it to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby this year? You can still join in the fun by throwing your own Derby party, with the help of hats, bourbon and a lot of mint.
Here are some tips — courtesy of a veteran hostess and a professional party planner — on tapping into the Derby's Southern tradition to thrill guests at your own Derby bash.
Mint juleps are just the beginning.
U.S. & World
Southern-inspired fare can help give your soiree an authentic Kentucky Derby feel. Louisiana crawfish and beet salad, sweet potato hash and bourbon-glazed short ribs are just a few of the recipes shared on the Derby's official website.
And of course, mint juleps are a must-serve drink. Marion Rogers, 96, who hosted Kentucky Derby parties for 30 years in her St. James, New York, home, served each of her parties' roughly two dozen guests mint julep in one of the official Kentucky Derby glasses she had collected over the years.
Party planners Seri Kertzner and Michelle Bachman, who together style parties in New York and the Hamptons with Little Miss Party Planner, suggest doubling down on the mint theme by serving crudites out of mint julep cups.
Dress up your home, and your head.
The mint need not end with the juleps. You might as well use them as your decor, too, to save on costs, suggests Kertzner.
"Instead of buying flowers, decorate your home with mint. It will look pretty and smell pretty," she said.
But maybe the most important decor for any Derby party takes place on everybody's heads, with the Derby's trademark whimsical hats.
That could make an outdoor party especially welcome, at least while you're not gathered inside to watch the race itself on TV. If you go that route, try bringing a portable radio outside so people can listen to the race, in a throwback to Derby races of yore.
"Ladies can put their hats to good use while enjoying the sun and warm air," Kerzner said.
Get competitive, and loud.
You can bring some of the competition set to happen on the track in Louisville into your own home with Derby-inspired party games. Give your guests a reason to watch the race with your own betting pool — no knowledge of horse racing required!
Ask each guest to bring a small entry fee and to draw a slip of paper with a horse and its odds of winning. Whoever has the the horse that takes the prize gets to take home all the money in the bag. At Marion's parties, where guests would bring $2 each, the winnings would be about $40.
If your guests prefer style over the sport, tell them to come dressed to impress, and host a "best hat" contest. The tradition of wearing fashion-forward hats to the Derby is thought to bring good luck, according to race organizers.
Flowers, feathers and bows are staples of the often oversize headpieces, which can range from classy to wild. Kerzner suggests picking up figurine horses from a craft store and spray-painting them gold, then using them as trophies in categories like best or biggest hat.
And whether your guests are cheering for horses or for hats, be prepared for them to make some noise. It's tradition that everyone stands to sing "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses make their way to the track. Once the race begins, expect spirited cheering to break out.
"People would hollar and scream during the race," Marion Rogers' daughter, also named Marion, recalled of her mother's decades of parties, "but at least one person could hear who won."


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My Hope Chest, a Florida-based non-profit, is proud to introduce the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Ribbon, the first ribbon to support uninsured and underinsured breast cancer survivors. This new ribbon speaks to the restoration, transformation and the completion from the cancer journey that many survivors seek through reconstructive surgery after mastectomy. For those who desire, breast reconstruction provides closure and a new wholeness allowing a woman to put the disease behind her at last.
"The traditional 'pink ribbon' has branded breast cancer 'awareness, education and research' but overlooks a huge population of underserved survivors that live with scars and a constant reminder of the disease," founder Alisa Savoretti said. "There are hundreds of breast cancer groups in America focused on prevention and finding a cure, while the need for breast reconstruction has flown under the radar of the 'pink ribbon.'"
The colors in the breast reconstruction ribbon transition and transform, just like the survivors My Hope Chest helps to become whole again. The ribbon goes from pink - the original breast cancer color, to white - known as the "light" or the power of healing. The white blends to yellow, the color of hope, sunshine and new beginnings.
The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Ribbon symbolizes transformation and closure from the disease. My Hope Chest hopes this new symbol will help others recognize this need and shine the light on this epidemic for thousands who have sacrificed a piece of themselves to save their life.
Founded in 2003 by Alisa Savoretti, My Hope Chest services pick up where other breast cancer organizations leave off providing "final step of breast cancer treatment" and helping women become whole again. Savoretti knows from first-hand experience how breast reconstruction after cancer helps restore not only the body but also transforms and heals the mind and spirit. She founded the organization after her own struggle with breast cancer.
My Hope Chest is a national non-profit organization that provides breast reconstruction for uninsured and underprivileged breast cancer survivors.
For more information on My Hope Chest, visit their website at http://www.myhopechest.org/


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I am endeavoring to run through the missions using my mobile device operating on the Android OS. So far I have come across many aps that will display html source code, however, rather than displaying code for the page as viewed they reload the url and give me the code as viewed by someone without an account - i.e. 'you must be logged in to view this page'.
Obviously, I could just use my desktop but I was hoping to do this in my spare time on buses, trains, etc and feel it should be within the realms of possibility. And, I could, theoretically, write or amend existing open source browser code to include the functionality to view html source, but that would be time consuming (especially for a 'noob' like me).
I was wondering if anyone knew of a pre-existing application that would allow me to view the code as required.
In the meantime I will continue my search and update as and when (and if) I find any useful information.
With many thanks - sadntwisted
*** update ***
Sorted! I had to save the page as html then view separately. I used SxBrowser available for free on Android market place to save and just the first free html editor in the market place to view. (Please note - this is not an endorsement of SxBrowser, despite using it for less than 5 mins I found it annoying. However, if there is anyone else in the same boat as me it represents a quick fix.)


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Job Search / Re: Does it make sense to take the FL Bar?« on: March 01, 2010, 07:36:24 AM »
I'm deciding the exact same thing right now, with one rather weak job lead pending outside of FL. I think just go where you want to for now. For me, it isn't likely I will find much of a decent job here anyway I might as well go where I want to live.
Well GL.... Hope things start to look up!!! Congrats on Graduating as well. As for me, I'm still undecided. Deadlines are fast approaching though!
Thanks! You too! I am still deciding as well. I can only give myself until the end of this month...ugh!


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Have you ever wanted to learn Japanese? Now you have the tools to get you and your child started learning it! Hiragana is one of the basic forms of the Japanese writing system. Practice tracing the character, and learn a few new words in Japanese.
Follow the link to see the whole Hiragana Alphabet Chart.


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Now that the U.S. Soccer federation's perennial coach-in-waiting finally has the job, Juergen Klinsmann will be expected to kick-start a stagnant men's national team.
The USSF moved quickly Friday in hiring Klinsmann a day after the firing of Bob Bradley.
The former standout player and coach for the German national team will be a familiar name to American fans. The U.S. almost hired Klinsmann twice — first after the 2006 World Cup and again last year before giving Bradley what turned out to be a short-lived contract extension.
"I am proud and honored to be named the head coach of the U.S. men's national team," Klinsmann said. "I would like to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for the opportunity, and I'm excited about the challenge ahead. I am looking forward to bringing the team together for our upcoming match against Mexico and starting on the road toward qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup."
Klinsmann will be introduced Monday at a news conference in New York. His first game as U.S. coach is Aug. 10 against archrival Mexico in an exhibition in Philadelphia
Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins next June.
"He is a highly accomplished player and coach with the experience and knowledge to advance the program," USSF President Sunil Gulati said. "Juergen has had success in many different areas of the game, and we look forward to the leadership he will provide on and off the field."
Former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, who worked alongside Klinsmann for ESPN at last year's World Cup, expects him to inject energy, but notes he's not a miracle worker.
"It's not as if all of sudden because Juergen Klinsmann is coach that we're going to have an American Lionel Messi drop into our laps," Lalas said. "The players are what they are. It's up to him to make sure he has the correct mix of players and to motivate them, to coach them up. For the experienced veterans that are part of the national team setup, this will be a source of motivation — and maybe a kick in the pants."
Although the federation has discussed the job with Klinsmann in the past, the coach's desire for wide-ranging authority over the entire U.S. program became a point of contention.
"When you look at where we are and where we should be, Juergen is coming in with a full-blown plan," said former U.S. forward Eric Wynalda, now a commentator for Fox Soccer. "There's a lot of things he's been very adamant about, things he feels need to change. The reluctance from U.S. Soccer's point of view to relinquish power was the only piece of red tape in his way."
Klinsmann will have a chance to make his mark in the federation's youth teams, given current coaching vacancies at the Under-20 team, which failed to qualify for this year's World Cup, and the Under-23 team, which soon will start preparations for 2012 Olympic qualifying. The Under-17 team also could face a reassessment after its second-round elimination with a 4-0 loss to Germany at this summer's FIFA championship.
Germany coach Joachim Loew, who was Klinsmann's assistant before becoming his successor, expects big changes.
"I am happy for Juergen, that he has found a new challenge and I wish him a lot of success," Loew said. "The way we know Juergen, he'll go into the job with power and shake up a lot of things."
Klinsmann is the first non-American to coach the national team since Bora Milutinovic (1991-95), who was succeeded by Steve Sampson (1995-98), Bruce Arena (1998-06) and Bradley.
"I believe he understands the American system as well as anybody, having observed youth development and the professional game in the United States," Sampson said.
Klinsmann and his wife, Debbie, live in California with their two children, Jonathan and Laila.
"His greatest weapon is the fact that he understands the American people more than any other foreign coach possibly could," Wynalda said. "If you're going to make the move, he's the perfect choice."
Klinsmann, who turns 47 Saturday, has a considerable World Cup pedigree.
As a player, Klinsmann scored 11 goals in three World Cups, 1990, 1994 and 1998. That ties him for sixth on the all-time scoring list, just behind Pele.
Klinsmann helped key West Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning team and European Championship-winning German team in 1996. He retired in 1998 and moved to the U.S. shortly afterward.
Klinsmann became Germany's coach in 2004, after the team's poor showing in the 2004 European championships. Klinsmann led the team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, which was hosted by Germany. In 34 matches, Klinsmann's record was 20-8-6.
"Certainly there isn't any player currently on the national team or any players that could be brought in that can say 'Juergen hasn't done it,'" Sampson said. "That's the overriding advantage that Juergen has."
He went on to coach the German club Bayern Munich but lasted less than a full season after falling out of favor with management. He has worked as a consultant since, most recently with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC.
"I think it's good for US Soccer," Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "I know that Juergen is a guy that they've been talking to off and on over the number of years right after Bruce Arena left and Juergen left Germany. I knew it was a possibility then. Obviously in the interim time, they've been able to work out whatever issues or differences there were."
The USSF fired Bradley on Thursday — less than a year after giving him a new contract through 2014.
Bradley led the U.S. team to considerable success and several big moments, including an appearance in the round of 16 at last year's World Cup in South Africa and a victory over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
But the Americans took a step backward this summer, and a stinging 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final last month — the U.S. blew a 2-0 lead — appears to have persuaded Gulati it was time to make a change.
"I'm disappointed at the loss of Bob because I felt the national team was in transition and he needed more time to complete the job," Sampson said.
US hires Klinsmann to coach men's national team
Now that the U.S. Soccer federation's perennial coach-in-waiting finally has the job, Juergen Klinsmann will be expected to kick-start a stagnant men's national team.


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Psychologists & Psychotherapy i Verden
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It's affordable. Getting started is free so you can feel confident our service and the therapist we match you with is right for you. Then just pay a low flat fee for unlimited sessions with your counselor.
It's convenient. You can do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate with your therapists as often as you want and whenever you feel it's needed. Help is available at your time and your place.
Find your counselor today


text:
Jon Masters
- Email: [[email@example.com)]
JonMasters is a kernel tools developer working at Red Hat. He focuses on the RHEL5 kernel, upstream development of new features, and on the Real Time MRG product using the RT patchset.
Jon maintains module-init-tools, redhat-rpm-config, and others. He runs Fedora 9 as well as RHEL 5, and occasionally other Linux distributions too - especially within virtual machines. Jon is a huge enthusiast for the PowerPC architecture, having spent a number of years as an embedded developer working largely on programmable logic devices running Linux on PPC. His personal website lives at jonmasters.org.


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Chapter 15: The Waterfall
"God, where are you in my life?"
When you ask that question, you had better be ready for his answer. As this recollection of events will reveal, He answered in an unexpected way when Pete and I moved from California to Oregon.
Shortly after Pete and I met in 1993 and I first visited his bachelor pad in Santa Maria, I noticed a poster that his sister Linda had given him. He had mounted it in a plain black poster frame and placed it on the living room wall. The picture centered on a rushing waterfall that flowed into a rocky stream, surrounded by lush green ferns, trees, and thick moss, all under a darkened forest canopy and fair blue skies. My awe in the beauty of God's creation in a full range of blue and green colors was breathtaking, and Pete and I couldn't help but feel privileged to be able to enjoy something so beautiful together.
In 1997, while our new home was being built in Buellton, we removed the picture from under the poster frame, painstakingly trying not to tear it, which we did accidentally, having to discard part of the clear rocky stream. Once we had carefully removed the waterfall portion of it from the frame we rushed it to Michael's crafts store and had it set within a simple wooden frame behind glass.
We were settling into our newly built home and wanted to place it in an area where we could enjoy looking at its beauty every day. So we decided to hang it in our small dining room, where it remained for the next five years until we carefully packed it away for our move to Eagle Creek, Oregon in June 2002. Once there, we decided to place it in our bathroom to create a feeling of the green Oregon outdoors.
It had been nine years and many hours of meditation, asking, "I wonder where that waterfall is, or it could be anywhere, only God knows where it is, and we'll probably never know."
Santa Maria is well known for its "Santa Maria style" Tri-Tip barbecues, prepared over red oak, and we wanted to share Pete's expertise in preparing the mouth-watering meat for our new friends from AEC. We had settled into our new home and thought it was a wonderful way to begin making new friends.
Within minutes, a few of the guests came out to our deck, asking, "Where did you get that incredible picture in your bathroom?"
"Pete's sister gave it to him before we met and we've loved it so much that we had it framed a few years ago. We've been enjoying it ever since."
"Do you know where that waterfall is located?"
"No, we wish that we did, though."
"You're not going to believe this, but that waterfall is called Punchbowl Falls and it's about a two-mile hike along Eagle Creek off of the Columbia Gorge highway!"
We couldn't believe it! Of all of the waterfalls on this earth, God had placed this waterfall into our lives and we believed He was using it to guide us to where He wanted us to grow in our spiritual journey. He truly does work in ways that are mysterious to us and that we can't even begin to fathom!
In August 2002, Pete and I took a three-day trip to San Francisco and Hopland, California for Fetzer Wineries' annual event, "Fun in the Sun with Emeril Lagasse." We knew the day we planned to return would be the perfect opportunity for hiking to Punchbowl Falls, so before leaving home, we made sure that we packed clothing and our hiking boots in the car.
When Sunday finally came we were both ecstatic and ready to fly back to Portland. Our plane touched down and we hurried to our car parked in one of the two long-term lots and made our way east on Highway 84 towards another new adventure.
I have to confess, I'm terrified of heights and rocky trails, much as I like hiking. But, somehow I managed to endure the two-hour hike along steep cliffs, cliffs that dropped off to Eagle Creek, one hundred feet below. It seemed as if I had a six-inch path to make my way on, trembling, wanting to close my eyes at times, wishing I wasn't experiencing this. But, I was determined to see Punchbowl Falls for myself.
My feet hurt terribly when I asked somebody, "How much further is Punchbowl Falls?"
"It's just around the corner!"
The last turn, there it was, Eagle Creek gently flowing into the small pool, making its way down a rocky stream towards the Columbia River.
Pete and I stood admiring this wonder located within a mere hour's drive from our home in Eagle Creek, Oregon. We both knew that God had placed this into our lives for his purpose. We were in awe as we contemplated what the Lord was going to do in our lives next, and we didn't want to leave.
A few moments passed, and as we turned to hike back to the car, a pure white butterfly flitted around my feet until it finally rested on my boot. I sensed God saying, "I've brought you here for a purpose. Trust me."
Pete and I believe that God led us to Eagle Creek, Oregon for His divine purpose. God already had an incredible plan for our lives when I had asked, "God where are you in my life?" a few months earlier. He had already determined to show me!
Neither one of us believed that any part of what happened that day or in the weeks before could have been coincidental. When God does something this powerful in your life, you know in your heart that it can't be just another coincidence.
I've shared this story with nonbelievers and they have said they think it was a mere coincidence. "I don't believe in a god works that way in our lives," more than one of them has said.
I know that my God does. It may sound strange, but I believe that God can use any circumstance, person, any place, or any thing, to make a positive change in somebody's life.
We have had the opportunity to repeat this story, as well as other profound moments, with many of our friends and it never fails to amaze me how sharing the magnitude of God's work in our lives amazes and touches their hearts. Ours has been a journey of unfailing faithfulness and trust. Punchbowl Falls made a lasting impression on us, for sure!
Jeremiah 29:11, has become the foundation of my decision to place my trust in the Lord. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD.


text: Simple dark UI for web and app design. Everything is organized in a single .psd file, well layered and grouped. It's almost fully resizable (except icons used). This pack includes: simple buttons, touch bars, star ratings, tag items, forms, checkboxes and more! Font used is Bebas, that can be found at http://www.dafont.com/bebas.font Hope you'll like it!


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Monkey Go Happy 5
Game not available yet? Share it to show us you want it!
Earlier version(s) of Monkey Go Happy 5 puzzle game:
Monkey Go Happy 2
Please the moody monkey. He keeps on shedding his tears and he looks really sad. He will only smile if you do a lot of funny things like bumping your sleigh into a snowman.
Monkey Go Happy 3
Meet the moody monkeys. They are always crying and they won't stop until they see a lot of interesting things. You can make them happy if you agree to do a lot of exciting deeds.
Monkey Go Happy 6
Test your wits in solving a series of mind-boggling brain quizzes. Each level has a different set of tests. Your goal is solve these tests by searching for the missing objects.
Monkey Go Happy Adventure
Find all of the hidden coins. Once you've collected enough, use them to buy the items that you need to retrieve the toys inside the mysterious castle. Do your best so that the mother monkey will no longer feel sad.
Monkey Go Happy Balloons
Help the monkeys retrieve their hidden balloons in this simple puzzle game. Use your mouse to solve the puzzle and reveal all of the balloons. Click each and every balloon to collect them and complete the level. Trade in collected balloons for gifts and toys for each of the mini monkeys. Collect all of the toys in order to win the game.
Monkey Go Happy Candy
Choose and dress up your monkey and then enter the world of candy! Successfully make your monkey go happy by solving all the various puzzles within the locations of the map by collecting objects, placing them in your inventory and then using them on various places around the map. Collect 80 different gummy bears along the way to make your monkey truly happy, and keep a close eye out for codes and numbers. Solve each puzzle in a particular order to find all the candy and make your monkey ultimately happy.
Monkey Go Happy Dragon
Cheer up your sad monkey by solving the various puzzles throughout the locations in all seventeen stages of this puzzle game. Use clues and items from the places that you explore to solve riddles and eventually summon a dragon. Use your bright wits in this edition as you'll find yourself using items in areas that aren't normally for use there, thus making this version a little more brain-busting then the other primate go happy games.
Monkey Go Happy Elevators
Solve the mystery on each floor by finding all the toys that are hidden inside the cabinet drawers. These toys can make the little monkeys smile so do your best to collect them all.
Monkey Go Happy Elevators 2
Stop the little monkeys inside the elevator from crying. They want their toys back. The toys are hidden somewhere inside the puzzling rooms but you will need a code to open the locker.
Future version(s):
Related to Monkey Go Happy 5 game:
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text:
Images Powered by Ice Portal
Those interested in warm-weather sports will find midsummer to early fall the best time to visit. July and August can be hot and dry, but be prepared for cool temperatures the rest of the year—and be aware that it can snow in the Rockies any month of the year.
Winter-sports lovers will find dry, cold weather and plenty of snow (54 in/137 cm). January temperatures generally range 3-30 F/-16 to -1 C, though the warm Chinook winds in southern Alberta can raise them rather suddenly. The mountain regions and the northern part of the province can be cold year-round. It can snow in the Rockies in any month.
Alberta boasts the title of Canada's sunniest province, with more clear days than anywhere else in Canada, making the scenic views IMAX-spectacular. June is probably the wettest month—although even then it's nothing like the steady mist of, say, the Pacific Northwest.
Mountain weather can be very changeable and unpredictable. Wear layers of clothing, which can be added or taken off as conditions warrant. If you are driving in winter, snow tires are a must.
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In recent episodes, we have focused our virtual tour of colleges on the public and private higher education institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region: Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. As we explained then, we put off a look at colleges in New York (which is, of course, part of the Mid-Atlantic region) because we knew that it was the home state of many of our listeners, and we knew that they would be especially interested in it. It is possible that other listeners are also interested in New York State, perhaps because it has more four-year colleges than any other state—about 130.
Today, we will look at public four-year colleges in New York. They can be found in two massive systems of public higher education, two of the very biggest in the nation: The State University of New York and The City University of New York (located, of course, in the five boroughs of New York City). Plus, there are a couple of special additional public choices we will take a glance at.
And, as we say every time, no college—not even one in our home state—has asked us or paid us anything to include it. These are our own choices.
1. The State University of New York
Founded in 1948 with the consolidation of 29 existing higher education institutions, The State University of New York (commonly referred to as SUNY) is, in fact, the largest comprehensive university system in the U.S. Currently, SUNY comprises 64 institutions, almost half of which (30) are community colleges. Here is an interesting fact: "93 percent of New Yorkers live within 15 miles of a SUNY campus, and nearly 100 percent live within 30 miles" (quoted from the website). And here is another: "One out of three New York State high school graduates choose SUNY, and the total enrollment of nearly 463,000 full-time and part-time students represents 37 percent of New York State's higher education student population" (quoted from the website).
Now, during our virtual tour, we have talked a fair amount about how New York State really doesn't have a flagship university that high school students in the state are dying to attend—not in the same way as Texas or Ohio or Mississippi or North Carolina or lots of other states in the South and Midwest especially. But we have also talked a fair amount about how 70 percent or so of high school students stay in their home state for college. So, one of three New York high school students chooses a SUNY campus—and that doesn't count those who choose a public City University of New York campus or a private college in the state.
Students can apply to most SUNY campuses by completing one online application and submitting all of their documents just once. SUNY advises students to apply by December 1 to ensure optimal financial aid, degree program choice, and campus housing.
Four University Centers. SUNY has four "university centers." They are perhaps SUNY's idea of four flagship-like campuses. The four are Stony Brook University on Long Island, Binghamton University in upstate New York, the University at Buffalo, and the University at Albany. I think that most New Yorkers would argue that Stony Brook and Binghamton are the two top universities in the SUNY system. So, let's start with Stony Brook, which is located on a large rural-like campus in the far-out suburbs about 60 miles east of New York City, easily accessible by the reliable Long Island Rail Road.
Founded in 1957 to educate secondary school teachers of science and math, Stony Brook was directed by the State Board of Regents in 1960 to become an institution that would "stand with the finest in the country"—perhaps the Board of Regents' idea of a flagship university. Today, it offers about 17,000 undergraduates and about 8,500 graduate and professional students 68 undergraduate degree programs and more than 140 graduate degree programs in its colleges and schools of arts and sciences, business, engineering and applied sciences, journalism (the only undergraduate school of journalism in a public New York university), marine and atmospheric sciences, social welfare, nursing, health technology and management, dental medicine, and medicine. It is well known and respected for its science, engineering, and medical programs, and it co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory, a federal research laboratory. Stony Brook is one of the universities of choice for bright New York City students who are looking to attend a public college for financial reasons. About 25 percent of its undergraduates are Asian.
Stony Brook's first-year students are assigned to one of six "Undergraduate Colleges," which are organized around themes of interest to students: Arts, Culture, and Humanities; Global Studies; Human Development; Information and Technology Studies; Leadership and Service; and Science and Society. Students in each Undergraduate College receive "customized advising and support, special educational and social programs, and opportunities for close interaction with faculty and fellow students around themes of common interest. Both commuter and residential students are welcomed into College life. First-year resident members of each College are housed together in the same residential quadrangle." (quoted from the website) With two freshman seminars and a host of educational and social activities, these Undergraduate Colleges help freshmen adjust to life at a university with 17,000 undergraduate students. Like other SUNY campuses, undergraduates are required to take a broad array of liberal arts and sciences courses to satisfy general education distribution requirements.
Like most major universities, Stony Brook offers a variety of study abroad opportunities and 20 varsity sports teams. And, of course, there are plenty of activities on campus, though my understanding is that some students who live on Long Island or in New York City go home on weekends.
Stony Brook's incoming freshmen this fall posted average SAT scores in the mid-600s for mathematics and about 600 for critical reading and writing. Their average high school GPA was about a 3.8. Almost 90 percent of Stony Brook's recent graduates are either employed or enrolled in graduate or professional school—a good record for a public university.
Binghamton University is in the relatively small upstate New York suburb of Vestal. Established in 1946 to serve the educational needs of World War II veterans, Binghamton was originally a branch of private Syracuse University and became a part of SUNY four years later. Today it offers about 13,500 undergraduates and about 3,500 graduate and professional students studies in seven schools and colleges: arts and sciences, community and public affairs, nursing, management, engineering and applied science, and education (graduate students only). A new graduate School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will open in 2018.
About 20 percent of its undergraduates stay at Binghamton to earn a graduate degree. Almost 70 percent of undergraduates earn their degrees in the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, the oldest college at Binghamton. Like Stony Brook, Binghamton has broad liberal arts and sciences general education requirements for its undergraduate students.
Binghamton fields 21 varsity sports teams and offers a lot of outdoor recreational activities in nearby state parks. It is one of 16 colleges to earn "the highest score on The Princeton Review's annual 'green rating' for campus environmentally-related policies, practices and academic offerings" (quoted from the website).
Binghamton's incoming freshmen last fall posted average SAT scores in the mid-600s for mathematics and just a bit lower for critical reading and writing. Their average high school GPA was about a 3.6.
If students prefer a more urban location, then either the University at Buffalo or the University at Albany might be preferable to Binghamton and Stony Brook. Undergraduate enrollment at Buffalo is the highest of the four university centers at about 20,000 students, while undergraduate enrollment at Albany is the lowest at about 13,000 students. So these are all substantial universities, which would seem really big to any freshman—albeit nothing close to the largest of the flagship universities we have talked about earlier in our virtual tour. Incoming freshman SAT scores are just a bit lower at Buffalo and Albany, which might put them in reach of more students.
In-state tuition and fees at the university centers run a remarkably reasonable $9,000 per year, with out-of-state tuition and fees at about $22,000 to $24,000.
Specialized Institutions. There are three specialized SUNY institutions worth a quick mention, even though they will likely be of interest only to a limited audience:
- "The College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is . . . focused on the science, design, engineering and management of natural resources and the environment. [It] offers 23 undergraduate and 30 graduate degree programs . . . . Students study at the Syracuse campus and on 25,000 acres of property throughout New York State. ESF also offers numerous opportunities to study abroad. Career-related internships provide invaluable work experience and can often pave the way to permanent positions after graduation. ESF's special relationship with neighboring Syracuse University provides ESF students with access to selected SU courses, student services and activities." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) ESF serves just about 1,700 undergraduate students.
- "Founded in 1874, Maritime College [is the] oldest and largest maritime school in the country. . . . [It] is located in historic Fort Schuyler, [the]Bronx. . . . Maritime offers undergraduate programs in engineering, naval architecture, marine transportation, maritime studies, marine environmental science and international transportation and trade. . . . Maritime students may pursue a U.S. Coast Guard License. These students participate in Maritime's structured Regiment of Cadets, as well as summer sea terms aboard the Empire State VI training ship. There is no military obligation for Maritime graduates unless they choose to participate in one of four ROTC programs. Graduates enjoy a nearly 100% career placement rate and earn some of the nation's highest average starting salaries." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) Maritime serves just about 1,600 undergraduate students.
- "The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is . . . a renowned college of art and design, business and technology, with more than 40 degree programs. Majors span a wide range of fields, from photography and toy design to international trade and cosmetics and fragrance marketing. Each major includes a full liberal arts education. A faculty of academics and working professionals integrates hands-on teaching with real-world expertise, and industry connections provide unrivaled internship and career opportunities." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) FIT is located in the heart of Manhattan in New York City and serves about 9,500 undergraduate students.
Any of these three colleges could be the right choice for a student who is interested in these specialized fields of study. And, while we said that Maritime and Environmental Science and Forestry serve only about 1,600 to 1,700 undergraduates—making them quite small by SUNY standards—remember that we have talked about quite a few colleges, especially small private colleges, that are a lot smaller than that.
Two Comprehensive Colleges. When talking about the state public higher education systems in other states on our virtual tour, we have typically talked only about individual colleges that we thought were attractive enough to draw out-of-state students away from the public colleges in their own state in order to attend them. That is a high standard, I think. I am not sure that any of the many other SUNY campuses are sufficiently attractive to do that, but let us mention two that might be. Both are well known here in the southern part of the state and are certainly better known regionally than nationally: SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Purchase.
Founded in 1828 as the New Paltz Classical School (teaching Latin, Greek, reading, writing, and arithmetic to local children), SUNY New Paltz became a normal school for training teachers and was one of the founding institutions of the SUNY system. It is located in a small town about 90 minutes north of New York City in the picturesque Hudson River Valley, with lots of nearby outdoor activities that draw vacationers from all over. A popular campus that typically receives more than 14,000 applications for 1,100 slots, New Paltz admits freshmen that are good students, academically on par with the University at Albany. This fall, about 93 percent of New Paltz freshmen were New York residents.
New Paltz offers its approximately 6,500 undergraduates a choice of 105 majors across five schools/colleges: liberal arts and sciences (the largest of the schools/colleges), education, business, fine and performing arts, and science and engineering. As we have already said about SUNY campuses, undergraduates are required to complete a general education core, covering a broad array of arts and sciences fields. New Paltz undergraduates take about 12 to 14 courses, more in the arts than in the sciences. New Paltz also serves about 1,000 graduate students.
New Paltz fields 15 varsity sports teams and sponsors over 200 student organizations. It offers students a full-fledged campus life in what many people consider an idyllic setting.
SUNY Purchase (also known as Purchase College) is located just outside New York City in suburban Westchester County. It was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller to "combine on one campus conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences" (quoted from the website). Today, within its School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (where about 65 percent of Purchase students study), it has schools of film and media studies, humanities, and natural and social sciences. Within its School of the Arts (where about 35 percent of Purchase students study), it has a School of Art + Design and conservatories of dance, music, and theatre art (including its own dance company and its own theatre repertory company); it also offers a bachelor's degree in arts management and a master's degree in entrepreneurship in the arts. In total, Purchase offers about 47 bachelor's degree majors—six of which are in music (one in production, two in composition, and three in performance)! These arts degree programs make Purchase a truly unique public opportunity for about 4,500 undergraduate students and just over 100 graduate students.
In addition to its dancers, Purchase fields 17 varsity sports teams. It offers a variety of special housing options, including freshman-year housing, conservatory floors, and residential learning communities built around themes (e.g., psychology and social justice, spirituality and society, leadership). Freshmen admitted to Purchase this fall had SAT subtest scores averaging in the mid-500s and a high school GPA of about a 3.1. So that puts it in range of just-above-average students. Of course, those students applying to the arts programs must meet audition or portfolio standards, too.
In-state tuition and fees at the comprehensive colleges run about $7,500 per year, with out-of-state costs at about $17,500—so, a bit lower than the university centers and, again, a great price.
Four Undergraduate Statutory Colleges. SUNY also has four colleges housed at two universities that are, otherwise, private. They are the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and College of Human Ecology (that is, three of Cornell's seven undergraduate colleges/schools). Let's take a quick look:
- "Since 1900, the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University has blended visual fine arts, design and the science of ceramics, glass and materials. It is . . . home to the School of Art & Design and the Inamori School of Engineering. These high quality, internationally known programs offer opportunities for small classes and individual attention at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. . . . The School of Art & Design, with BFA, BS (Art History) and MFA programs, works with internationally acclaimed artists in one of the nation's finest art facilities. The Inamori School of Engineering, with BS, MS, and PhD programs, educates over one-third of all ceramic engineering graduates in the U.S. and is one of 10 centers for advanced research in New York." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) The College serves just about 600 undergraduates with these very special interests and talents.
- Cornell's "School of Industrial and Labor Relations is the only undergraduate school of its kind in the U.S. The ILR School has a unique program that uses the social sciences to examine the full range of 'people' issues faced in the workplace. ILR provides preparation for leadership positions in business, law, politics, social justice and public policy. The ILR curriculum provides a strong liberal arts foundation through classes in economics, sociology, psychology, history, law and statistics. From there, students can develop their special interests in a number of areas including management, law, human resources, dispute resolution, employee relations, labor economics, organizational behavior and international labor rights." (quoted from the SUNY website) The ILR School serves just about 1,000 undergraduates.
- Cornell's "College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) . . . is the only college of agriculture and life sciences in the Ivy League and the second largest college at Cornell. The college is committed to research, education and outreach [and] . . . offers over 20 majors, all focusing on the four college priorities: Life Sciences, Applied Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Agriculture and Food. Undergraduates have the chance to use their skills and knowledge to answer some of the world's most pressing social, economic and scientific challenges." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) The College serves about 3,500 undergraduates, who enjoy an enviable 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Cornell's "College of Human Ecology . . . examines human life from a scientific, social and aesthetic perspective. By blending academic disciplines with a global point of view, students and faculty use their knowledge to explore and develop solutions to contemporary human issues. Students explore liberal arts disciplines including biology, chemistry, economics, psychology and sociology, and apply their knowledge in fields such as health, design, nutrition, public policy and marketing. Students are prepared for medical, law or other graduate programs, and for careers in business, education, communications or other fields of health and human services." (excerpted and quoted from the SUNY website) The College serves about 1,250 undergraduates.
We will hear a bit more about Cornell next week when we turn to private colleges in New York State.
2. The City University of New York
Today's extraordinary City University of New York (CUNY), with a total of 24 two-year, four-year, and graduate campuses serving over a quarter of a million degree students, began as the Free Academy, with about 200 students in 1849. It became The College of the City of New York in 1866. The all-female, free Normal College of the City of New York, which became Hunter College, was established in 1870. CUNY has a long and fascinating history, full of political battles and fights over free tuition and outreach to New York City's many immigrant populations as they arrived decade after decade. The website notes that in "the post-World War I era when discrimination against Jews was common at Ivy League universities and other private educational institutions, many Jewish students and academics found their intellectual home at New York's public colleges, where ethnicity, religion and national background barred no one" (quoted from the website). City College became known as the "Harvard of the Proletariat." In 1961, CUNY was formed from the public college campuses that had sprung up to serve New York City's growing population in all five boroughs.
The 11 four-year colleges, which cover all five boroughs, have their own histories and their own identities. Though most are best known in New York City, a few have enjoyed a somewhat wider reputation. High school students in New York City can generally get decent advice from high school counselors about their CUNY options (indeed, I believe that these are the higher education options that New York City high school counselors know best). But for those of you outside the City who are intrigued by life in the big city and who might be interested in taking a look at a CUNY college, here are four that you might consider:
- The City College of New York (CCNY), located in upper Manhattan on a lovely campus with buildings designated as landmarks, is the flagship college of the CUNY system. Its founder, Townsend Harris, said this: "Open the doors to all. Let the children of the rich and the poor take their seats together and know of no distinction save that of industry, good conduct, and intellect" (1847). Today, it boasts schools of architecture, education, and engineering; humanities, arts, and science divisions; the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership; and the highly respected Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. CCNY enrolls about 13,000 undergraduate students and another approximately 3,000 graduate students.
- Hunter College is located on the Upper East Side in Manhattan; it's in a great part of town, but has no campus to speak of. It is CUNY's largest college, with a total enrollment of about 23,000 students. In its six schools, Hunter offers liberal arts and sciences majors to its undergraduate and graduate students as well as professional programs in nursing, health professions, urban public health, education, and social work. Today, its students come from more than 150 countries and speak about 150 languages. Many are first-generation college-goers.
- Baruch College, located on the site of the Free Academy in downtown Manhattan, is noted for its business programs. It is named for alumnus Bernard M. Baruch, financier and statesman. It offers its approximately 12,500 undergraduates a choice of 23 majors in its three schools: business, arts and sciences, and public affairs. Baruch also serves about 3,000 graduate students. Its students come from more than 120 countries and speak more than 110 languages.
- Queens College, located on an attractive campus in a residential neighborhood of Flushing in the borough of Queens, is one of the larger CUNY colleges, serving more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 150 countries. Founded in 1937, it offers a broad and deep liberal arts and sciences curriculum with over 140 undergraduate and graduate majors in four divisions: education, mathematics and natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities (including the Aaron Copland School of Music, which offers three music degrees). Queens graduates more teachers than any other college in the tri-state area, and more than half of Queens undergraduates go on to pursue graduate degrees.
This year's freshman class at the four colleges we just profiled had average high school GPAs from 88 to 90 (on a 100-point scale) and average SAT composite scores in critical reading and mathematics from about 1160 to 1260.
CUNY's prestigious Macaulay Honors College is a highly selective college that enrolls undergraduates on eight of the four-year CUNY campuses. Macaulay students take classes at their home campus, but also meet together at the Macaulay building in Manhattan for lectures and other activities. Macaulay students receive a full scholarship and a laptop. But there is an early December 1 deadline, so move quickly if you are interested. This year's freshman class posted an average high school GPA of 94 (on a 100-point scale) and an average SAT composite score in critical reading and mathematics of about 1400.
Of course, students can join student organizations and play on varsity sports teams at CUNY colleges, though I think it is unlikely that students who are seriously committed to varsity athletics would make CUNY their first choice.
Students can apply to as many as six CUNY colleges with one application and one application fee (though some colleges and some special programs have supplemental requirements, such as additional essays). We believe that, for very good students, one or more of these four-year CUNY colleges can serve as a reasonable safety school during the college application process. We do not believe that it makes sense for very good students to apply to a less prestigious private college as a safety school when they would likely be better off academically and financially at one of the good CUNY four-year colleges.
The CUNY colleges are quite inexpensive for New York City residents and qualified New York State residents—from about $4,500 in tuition per year for a two-year CUNY campus to about $6,000 in tuition per year for a four-year CUNY campus.
3. Paying for College in New York State
When Marie and I attended the National Association for College Admission Counseling's college fair in New York City last April, we spoke with Michael Turner from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, who recorded this information for NYCollegeChat. (Be sure to listen to it in our recorded episode.)
4. Military Service Academies
New York State is home to two of the five military service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (commonly referred to as West Point) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), located in King's Point on Long Island. These are public institutions, of course, funded by the federal government. Students pay no tuition or room and board, though they do incur an obligation to serve after graduation, as we have discussed in other episodes.
Let's look briefly at the USMMA, which I think we probably know less about:
[USMMA] educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers of exemplary character who serve America's marine transportation and defense needs in peace and war. With 95 percent of the world's products transported over water, these leaders are vital to the effective operation of our merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport during war and peace….
Known for its rigorous academic program, USMMA requires more credit hours for a baccalaureate degree than any other Federal service academy. This challenging coursework is augmented by the Academy's Sea year experience, which affords midshipmen the opportunity to acquire hands-on, real-world experiences aboard working commercial vessels sailing to ports around the world. Midshipmen who master this demanding curriculum earn a unique combination of credentials:
A highly regarded Bachelor of Science degree
A U.S. Coast Guard license
An officer's commission in the U.S. Armed Forces
For this reason, Academy graduates are highly sought after as officers in the military and the merchant marine. This merchant fleet of efficient and productive commercial ships owned by U.S. companies and registered and operated under the American flag, forms an essential part of our domestic and international transportation system….
All graduates have a service obligation upon graduation…
Five years in the United States maritime industry, with eight years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the armed forces
Or five years active duty in any of the nation's armed forces.
In time of war or national emergency, the U.S. Merchant Marine becomes vital to national security as a 'fourth arm of defense.' Our merchant ships bear the brunt of delivering military troops, supplies and equipment overseas to our forces and allies, operating as an auxiliary unit to the Navy. (quoted from the website)
Students at the USMMA take a core curriculum of liberal arts and sciences courses before choosing one of five majors in marine transportation and marine engineering.
To be eligible to join the approximately 950 young men and women at the USMMA, students must have a minimum SAT score of 560 on both the critical reading and mathematics subtests and must have taken an academically rigorous high school program. Students must also secure a nomination from a member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives from his or her home state. Such nominations should be sought ideally in May of the junior year of high school.
West Point was founded in 1802 and is located just north of New York City on the Hudson River. Its cadets choose from 40 academic majors that cover a broad array of disciplines—including American politics; art, philosophy and literature; foreign languages; history; sociology; management; and psychology; as well as the engineering and sciences you might expect. Throughout their four years, cadets take physical education courses (with their grades averaged into their GPAs) and are required to participate in competitive sports. And then there are the military skills:
"The heart of the military training takes place during the summer. The basic Soldier skills of rifle marksmanship, land navigation, and close combat are but the underpinnings of each cadet's initial training the first summer; by graduation every cadet has participated in small-unit leadership training; attended military schools such as Airborne and Air Assault; served as senior leadership to junior cadets' summer training; and interned . . . in active duty units across the globe." (quoted from the website)
Average SAT scores of the incoming class of cadets were 608 in writing, 627 in critical reading, and 645 in mathematics. About 70 percent ranked in the top fifth of their high school graduating class. Of the approximately 4,000 high school students who were nominated by their Congressional representative, their U.S. Senator, or the Vice President of the U.S., only about 1,250 were accepted.
Here is what a West Point graduate can expect:
"Upon graduation, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and serve for five years on active duty (if you choose to depart the Army after five years, you will be required to serve three years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR)). During your senior year, you'll find out which specialized field, or "branch," you will enter. Both the needs of the Army and your preferences will be considered.
In your first year after graduation, you'll attend a Basic Officer Leader Course for general information and training. Upon its successful completion, you then take branch-specific courses to become competent in the technical aspects of your specialty.
Next, you'll be sent to an Army unit where you will build experience in troop command for the next three years. You might lead a Military Police unit, a small artillery fire support team, or a Military Intelligence unit, for example." (quoted from the website)
That is quite a bit of service—but also quite a bit of education and training. All free.
Listen to the podcast to find out about…
- Streamlined applications processes for SUNY and CUNY colleges
- Guaranteed admission to SUNY and CUNY colleges
- New York State funds available for covering New York State college costs
Check out these higher education institutions and organizations we mention…
In New York State
- Baruch College (CUNY)
- Binghamton University (SUNY)
- City College of New York (CUNY)
- The City University of New York (CUNY)
- College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY)
- Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (SUNY)
- Cornell University College of Human Ecology (SUNY)
- Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations (SUNY)
- Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY)
- Hunter College (CUNY)
- Macaulay Honors College (CUNY)
- Maritime College (SUNY)
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
- New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (SUNY)
- New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
- Queens College (CUNY)
- The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Stony Brook University (SUNY)
- SUNY New Paltz
- SUNY Purchase
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
- U.S. Military Academy
- University at Albany (SUNY)
- University at Buffalo (SUNY)
Learn more about these topics in previous episodes…
- An introduction to our virtual tour of colleges around the United States: In Episode 26: Why Look at Colleges Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Public colleges and universities: In Episode 1: Public, Private, and Proprietary Colleges
- Institutions with a specialized academic focus: In Episode 5: Colleges with Special Emphases (Part 2)
- Military service academies: Episode 4: Colleges with Special Emphases (Part 2)
Ask your questions or share your feedback by…
- Leaving a comment here on the show notes for this episode
- Calling us at (516) 900-NYCC to record a question on our NYCollegeChat voicemail if you want us to answer your question live on our podcast
- Emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com to ask a question if you want us to answer it privately
Connect with us through…
- Subscribing to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn
- Liking us on Facebook
- Following us on Twitter
- Reviewing parent materials we have available at www.policystudies.org
- Inquiring about our consulting services if you need individualized help
- Reading Regina's new blog, Parent Chat with Regina, or checking out our book, How to Find the Right College.
Listen to the episode in the player, download it here, or subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn.


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Last year, the ol' Cleveland Cavaliers GM let his restricted free agents hold out well past training camp. Those free agents, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, came back and struggled getting back into game shape.
I don't fault Danny Ferry for holding out because Varejao and Pavlovic are vastly overrated players. However, contract issues have a way of permeating a locker room with a vile stench. It's pretty basic human resources management; if an employee feels like he's producing at a higher level than he's being reimbursed for, the employee will either (a.) ask for more compensation or (b.) lower his productivity level to where he perceives he's being reimbursed.
This off-season, Ferry only offered Delonte West two guaranteed seasons. Clearly, everything in Cavalier-land is geared towards signing LeBron James as a 2010 unrestricted free agent.
West averaged 10.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds in 26 games for the Cavs. He said to himself, "you know what? I'm second in assists and minutes for this team. I've tied the gunning Boobie Gibson in scoring without breaking plays. I should get a pretty good deal here."
Unlike Pavlovic and Varejao, who averaged 20 minutes a game and only showed up in the first few rounds of the playoffs before renewing their contract, West is a starter and a cog in the Cavalier machine. Ferry was smart enough to concede a third contract year to him. The deal is reportedly a cool $12.6 million spanning three years.
West's primary responsibility will be to back up Mo Williams at the point. West is 6'4″ which gives the team some size and a potent defender when they realize Daniel Gibson is nothing more than Ben Gordon on welfare.
West has also started to develop a 15-to-20-foot jumper on the baseline. This is always money when LeBron charges towards the basket. It'll be just as valuable with the shoot-first Williams running Mike Brown's offensive sets. West will be able to bail his new point guard out of some pretty bad decisions.
For the most part, I think this is a good move. It also shows that Ferry is learning from his off-season mistakes.


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Registration Issues
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Advice on Joining
Information on the various programs/options, their requirements, the application process (including waivers, MEPS and eye surgery), and other issues relevant to joining the Marine Corps.
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Advice on Joining
Over the last year, I have strongly considered an application to OCS through OCC. Surfing various boards/blogs, I've heard that if I am on the fence o...login to view the rest of this post
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The BEST ATV Tour in Costa Rica has to be the one in La Fortuna and "NO", it's NOT La Pradera, (not that you've really heard of that one either) but La Pradera does happen to be the BIGGEST and the one you usually run into on the internet but just NOT the BEST. Obviously we haven't been on every ATV tour in Costa Rica and their could be other great ones, so yeah, 'BEST' might be a little overly dramatic but believe me, this one I just went on is about 5-steps above most. And the fact that many are just average is the reason we've never really endorsed one before.
So, here's the SC@@P- When D'Angelo returns from visiting relatives in New York we will make the video and you'll see why we say what we do. In the meantime, if you're going to be in La Fortuna and are interested... let us know. Pura Vida!
TONS of Costa Rica Tavel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!


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Final Step: Bring Everything Together
The last and final steps in order to create your business cards are:
1) You will have to put a lot of visuals on one sheet of paper – try to do that on a rather big sheet – it will provide more space for you.
2) Start out with simpler, smaller sketches before you go big.
3) When you switch to the big paper, use a pencil first – because you do not want to ruin an overall design at the very end when working with a marker.
4) Then start using the marker and go over your pencil sketch.
5) Add further details, colours, shadow and connectors.
6) If you want to make your card smaller - take a photo and adjust the size digitally.
"I started working on my final version, taking all the individual parts into consideration. While I had worked in my sketchbook for the individual parts, I now used some larger paper to have more space and options to place the icons. I did this in A3 to have a lot of space. A further advantage of this approach is that when you are finished and you take a photo, you can reduce the size and suddenly all your sketches look much more professional through the shrinking process. Give it a try! Here is my final version. First the pencil draft, and then with marker and colours. It is not yet perfect but it is a good first shot at how a professional business card based on visuals could look like! I also have to admit that my personal portrait turned out much nicer than reality. Well, it probably rather represents me a couple of years ago. However, I decided to keep it that way – and you can and should do so, too!" ☺
tata: my card


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The president and publisher of the National Enquirer, a longtime friend of President Donald Trump's, was granted immunity by federal prosecutors in the course of their investigation into former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, a source told NBC News, confirming a report in The Wall Street Journal.
David Pecker described Cohen's and Trump's involvement in hush-money payments to women ahead of the 2016 election, the Journal reported.
A spokesperson for the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to comment to NBC News.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Later Thursday, The Associated Press reported the Enquirer kept a safe containing documents on hush money payments and other damaging stories it killed as part of its cozy relationship with Trump leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has lashed out at Cohen for pleading guilty on Tuesday to eight felony counts, including two of campaign finance violations over the payments. In a Fox News interview that aired Thursday, he said the payments didn't constitute crimes and that Cohen flipped — a process he said "almost ought to be illegal" because people "make up lies" about others to get reduced jail time.
But Pecker's participation in the case could bolster Cohen's claims.
The plea deal that Cohen reached this week laid bare the relationship between Pecker and Trump that goes well beyond the tabloid's screaming headlines.
Besides detailing the tabloid's involvement in payoffs to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to keep quiet about alleged affairs with Trump, court papers showed how Pecker, head of Enquirer parent company American Media Inc., offered to help Trump stave off negative stories during the 2016 campaign.
Court papers say that Pecker "offered to help deal with negative stories about (Trump's) relationships with women by, among other things, assisting the campaign in identifying such stories so they could be purchased and their publication avoided."
Campaign finance laws generally prohibit corporations from cooperating with a campaign to affect an election, though media organizations are exempted from that restriction so long as they're performing a journalistic function. AMI's problem, said campaign finance expert Richard Hasen, is that Cohen's prosecutors don't appear to think hush money payments qualify as journalism.
"AMI and Pecker have not been charged, but they might be charged," he said before news of Pecker's immunity broke. Though a novel legal case might be made that paying sources for silence is in fact standard tabloid reporting practice, he said, Cohen's plea agreement doesn't give that theory much weight.
The Cohen case outlined a tabloid strategy known as "catch and kill," or paying for exclusive rights to someone's story with no intention of publishing it in order to keep it out of the news altogether.
McDougal reached a deal to be paid $150,000 for her story about an alleged affair in 2006 and 2007, prosecutors said. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, negotiated a $130,000 payment through Cohen for her story — and both were successfully buried until after the campaign.
When negotiations lagged on the Clifford deal shortly before the election, her lawyer told the Enquirer that she was close to reaching a deal with another outlet to tell her story. An editor at the tabloid, in turn, texted Cohen to say something needed to be done "or it could look awfully bad for everyone," according to court papers.
The deal was quickly reached, and Cohen agreed to make the payment.
In court on Tuesday, Cohen said that he had agreed to work with Pecker to make the deals "in coordination with, and at the direction of, a candidate for federal office" — clearly Trump.
AMI did not respond to requests for comment.
The relationship between Trump and the Enquirer has been cozy for decades. Former National Enquirer employees who spoke to the AP said that negative stories about Trump were dead on arrival dating back to when he starred on NBC's reality show "The Apprentice."
In 2010, at Cohen's urging, the National Enquirer began promoting a potential Trump presidential candidacy, referring readers to a pro-Trump website Cohen helped create. With Cohen's involvement, the publication began questioning President Barack Obama's birthplace and American citizenship in print, an effort that Trump promoted for several years, former staffers said.
The Enquirer endorsed Trump for president in 2016, the first time it had ever officially backed a candidate. In the news pages, Trump's coverage was so favorable that the New Yorker magazine said the Enquirer embraced him "with sycophantic fervor."
Positive headlines for Trump were matched by negative stories about his opponents: an Enquirer front page from 2015 said "Hillary: 6 Months to Live" and accompanied the headline with a picture of an unsmiling Clinton with bags under her eyes.


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Dear users,
My business partners speak Cantonese and English but I wish to chat with them in Cantonese. I live in shanghai. Can you recommend me a school to learn Cantonese in Shanghai?
Many thanks in advance,
Learning Cantonese in Shanghai
Topics related to learning Cantonese.
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Tuberculin Skin Test
We have simplified our online booking and payment for the TB Skin Test. Please select a future date and appointment time that suits you best to reserve and pay for your appointment! (no refunds for missed appointments)
TB Test Appointment
Date:July 7, 2020
Time:8:30am - 8:40am
TB Test Appointment


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You may be aware that some breeds of dog and their crosses can be susceptible to inherited disease. Of course you want to be sure that the dog you choose is as healthy as possible, and you would like to know that it has not inherited any undesirable disease-causing genes from its parents. There is some help in that DNA tests for diseases in purebred dogs are available for some conditions in some breeds, but there are not very many such tests just yet! There are also, however, a number of clinical veterinary screening schemes that dog breeders can use to increase the probability of producing healthy puppies.
Details of the various screening schemes, both veterinary and DNA, that are available to breeders in the UK can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/doghealth
Potential dog owners should be aware that, at present, the application of various health screening results to breeding programmes is not always straightforward, and breeders may make choices for various reasons. A responsible breeder though, will always be willing to discuss relevant health issues with you. Breed clubs are often useful sources of breed-specific information.
There are not currently any veterinary screening schemes or DNA tests for disease relevant to this breed under the Assured Breeder Scheme, however you should still ask breeders and refer to breed clubs about health issues in the breed.
The list above is not necessarily comprehensive, other available health tests can be found at http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/breeding-for-health/dna-screening-schemes-and-results/ or for further advice please contact your local breed club.
Copyright © The Kennel Club Limited 2020. The unauthorised reproduction of text and images is strictly prohibited.


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Cheapest Fare Finder
If you're on the hunt for low cost train tickets, our nifty cheapest fare finder tool is the answer to your prayers! Searching over a much wider time frame than an ordinary search, the cheapest fare tool is fantastic way highlighting cheaper fares for your journey at different times of day.
The cheapest fare finder explained
The cheapest fare finder is ideal if you don't need to travel at a specific time. Whilst an ordinary search will only bring up eight trains, the cheapest fare finder searches the whole day. If you happen to enter a time when there no cheap trains but you're actually happy to travel at any time of day, booking via the cheapest fare finder, will prevent you from missing out if there are low cost tickets available at an earlier or later time.
How do I use the cheapest fare finder?
- Click the button marked 'advanced options' on the bottom left hand side of the booking engine and check the box labelled 'find the cheapest fares throughout the day.'
- A pop up message will appear explaining how the tool works and leaving after/arrive by drop down menu will be replaced with a bar showing the time range the booking engine will search over.
- To increase or reduce the time range, click the grey buttons at either end of the bar and move them to the left or right until you are happy with the times and press 'find tickets'.
Selecting your Fare
- When using the cheapest fare finder tool, the cheapest fares for your journey will be shown in blue on the left hand side of the page. The cheapest fare will be selected by default and the trains available at that price shown on the right
- If the times are inconvenient, clicking another price in the list may bring up trains that are more suitable for your needs.
- Check the T&Cs of the ticket by clicking the information buttons beside the price and find journey information by clicking the information buttons in the info column.
- Clicking on your preferred time will highlight your train in green. When you've chosen your trains, click 'add to basket' and proceed through the booking process as normal.
Top tips for saving on train tickets
Don't forget there are plenty of other tricks to help you save on the cost of your train travel.
1) Booking in Advance can save you up to 80% on the cost if tickets bought on the day if departure. Cheap train tickets are normally released around 12 weeks in advance and are normally available until 6pm the night before travel. Cheap tickets are only released in limited numbers and sold on a first come first served basis so it's best to get in early for the lowest prices..
2) Get a railcard. If you spend £150 a year or more on rail travel, it's worth purchasing a railcard online or at the station if you're eligible. Booking train tickets with a railcard will allow you to save up to a third on the cost of your train tickets.
3) If you don't mind travelling for longer for cheaper,try selecting the slower/overtaken trains button. Comparing different train operators along the same route may also bring up cheaper fare.
4)If there are no cheap advance rail fares on your route or you need flexible rail tickets, split ticketing or breaking the journey down into two or more smaller portions with a separate train ticket for each section could be the key to finding cheap train tickets.


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Tenth anniversary of the Iraq war is a reminder how consequential of a political event it was… RNC releases its "autopsy" on the 2012 election… But what if the policies -- and not the messaging -- are contributing to the GOP's brand problems?... Cook: GOP redistricting might have been short-term winner, but long-term loser… Obama to pick Tom Perez for Labor secretary… Recapping CPAC… And Mark Sanford's first (and easier) test.
*** A consequential anniversary: It's another busy week in American politics. At an event this morning beginning at 8:00 am ET, the Republican National Committee is releasing its "autopsy" on the 2012 elections and its recommendations going forward. Tomorrow, President Obama departs for his four-day trip to Israel and the Middle East, and South Carolina holds its primaries (featuring Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch) to fill the state's vacant congressional seat. But in our eyes, the biggest story this week is Tuesday's 10th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. Why? Because when you look back on it, the Iraq war is the most consequential political event of the past 10 years -- and probably beyond. The war (and especially its growing unpopularity) is one of the chief reasons why Barack Obama is in the White House; it explains how Democrats took control of Congress in 2006 and how they expanded their gains two years later; and it was the issue that damaged George W. Bush's second term and post-presidential legacy (at least so far). And the damage the war did to the Republican brand is something from which the GOP still hasn't fully recovered. Indeed, a Jan. 2013 NBC/WSJ poll found that 59% of Americans don't believe the Iraq war was worth it -- a percentage that has continued to grow since 2003. And a new Gallup poll finds 53% of Americans saying it was a mistake.
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
In this July 9, 2008 file photo, U.S. Army soldiers from Charlie Battery, Fires Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment prepare to search a classroom as they occupy a school during Operation Fires Festung in Qubah, north of Baghdad in Iraq's volatile Diyala province.
*** And a big political story: Of course, Iraq is much more than a political story. It's a story about lives lost and money spent, about the change in the balance of power in the Middle East (there is no doubt that Iran is stronger post-Saddam Hussein than it was before), about whether the Bush administration was honest with the American people why the country went to war, and about how the U.S. is now much more hesitant to intervene abroad (see Libya and Syria). But its effect on American politics can't be understated, even 10 years later. Without Iraq, there would be no President Obama. He rode Iraq to the nomination, making it the most important distinction he had with Hillary Clinton. Shoot, John Kerry isn't the nominee in 2004 were it not for Iraq and the Democrats' urgency at the time to find someone with war credentials as their standard-bearer. Iraq changed a lot in American politics. And that's why the anniversary is important.
While speaking Monday at a National Press Club breakfast, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus reflects on what may have gone wrong for the GOP during the 2012 presidential campaign.
*** RNC releases its "autopsy" on the 2012 election: The discussion of Iraq is instructive as the RNC releases its recommendations after the party's electoral losses in 2012. The reason: The policies a party pursues still matter -- a lot. The RNC's "Growth and Opportunity Project" proposes plenty of intriguing reforms such as spending $10 million hiring paid staff to do better outreach to minority communities; cutting down on the number of presidential debates; recommending to hold its convention before August (so the nominee can tap into general-election funds earlier); and hiring a chief digital and technology officer to close the GOP's technology gap. What's more, the report recommends that GOP candidates do a better job of communicating. "To be clear, our principles are sound," RNC Chair Reince Priebus is expected to say in his remarks. "But the report notes the way we communicate our principles isn't resonating widely enough. Focus groups described our party as 'narrow minded,' 'out of touch,' and 'stuffy old men.' The perception that we're the party of the rich continues to grow."
*** But what if it's the policies -- and not the messaging? Yet here's the question to chew on: What if the policies are also contributing to the GOP's brand problems? The party wants to spend millions on minority outreach. But you could also argue that the GOP's past opposition to Obamacare and immigration reform, as well as its pursuit of voting laws that impact minority communities, has been just as significant to its performance with these voters. The party wants to limit the number of debates. But was the number the problem in 2012, or was it more the substance and policies being discussed (for example, all the candidates rejecting a 10-to-1 deal on cuts to revenues)? And the party wants to change the perception that it's the party of the rich. But just this week, the GOP-controlled House is expected to vote on the Ryan budget plan, which gives the wealthy a significant tax cut while cutting programs that benefit the poor. After all, don't forget these exit-poll results from the 2012 presidential election: A combined 60% of voters said tax rates should go up either for all Americans or for those making more than $250,000, and 59% said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. And we have one final question: How much of this is fighting the last war? Sure, limiting the number of debates and holding a convention in July seems smart after what happened in 2012. But don't forget, John Kerry and the Democrats in '04 still lost after holding few debates and a July convention.
The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson and Bloomberg View's Margaret Carlson join Morning Joe to talk about President Barack Obama's charm offensive on the Hill, the budget battle and CPAC. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough comments on the budget battle and says, "we have to stop this generational theft." The panel also talks about Reince Priebus' plan to help makeover the GOP including a promise of $10 million in community outreach.
*** GOP's redistricting was a short-term winner, but what about the long term? As the RNC says it will spend $10 million to do better outreach with minority and younger-vote communities, Charlie Cook made a striking observation over the weekend: Republicans, through redistricting, protected their members in 2012 but boxed themselves into mostly white congressional districts. "[Republicans] clearly did everything they could to purge Democratic voters from their districts ahead of 2012, no matter whether those voters were white, black, Hispanic, left-handed, or right-minded—just as Democrats would have done had the roles been reversed. But in the process of quarantining Democrats, Republicans effectively purged millions of minority voters from their own districts, and that should raise a warning flag. By drawing themselves into safe, lily-white strongholds, have Republicans inadvertently boxed themselves into an alternate universe that bears little resemblance to the rest of the country?" Just where is the RNC going to be able to test run this new outreach? A handful of gubernatorial races perhaps? Maybe a Senate race or two? Having the ability to test run in House districts would get them farther, faster, but that isn't going to happen.
*** Obama picks Perez for Labor: President Obama today will announce he's nominating Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez to be his next Labor secretary, replacing Hilda Solis. Politico has more: "Perez's confirmation hearings are expected to feature more questions about a scathing inspector general's report released last week that revealed internal racial hostilities in the Civil Rights Division and found Perez gave misleading public testimony when he said in 2010 that political appointees did not make the decisions to drop prosecution of New Black Panther Party members. Senate Republicans will also likely question Perez about his decision not to join a False Claims Act case against the city of St. Paul, Minn. Republicans have claimed the lawsuit could have won up to $180 million for the federal government."
*** Recapping CPAC: As we reported over the weekend, Rand Paul narrowly won the CPAC presidential straw poll, getting 25% of the vote to Marco Rubio's 23%. Following them were Rick Santorum at 8%, Chris Christie (who wasn't invited to speak) at 7%, Paul Ryan at 6%, and Scott Walker at 5%. And don't miss Kasie Hunt's eight takeaways from the CPAC confab
*** Sanford's first (and easier) test: Due to his name ID, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is expected to finish first in tomorrow's GOP primary to fill the state's vacant congressional seat. But that will be the easy part for him. Roll Call: "Sanford … faces 15 other Republicans on the primary ballot for the special election to represent the coastal, GOP-leaning seat. He is all but certain to come in first, but taking less than 50 percent of votes cast. That will send Sanford, a former three-term congressman, to an April runoff with another Republican. GOP insiders see the top contenders for nabbing that second-place slot as: attorney Curtis Bostic, state Sen. Larry Grooms, former state Sen. John Kuhn, state Rep. Chip Limehouse and economics teacher Teddy Turner, the son of media mogul Ted Turner. But with so many candidates in the race, the margin for coming in second is small. Voter turnout predictions range from 30,000 to 35,000, which means anything is possible."
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Are We Reaching Or Something Is Off About Whitney Houston At Her Performance On X Factor! (Whitney's Bra Straps Come Down & Looks Confused When Getting Interviewed)
Whitney Houston on the X Factor
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LGBT Equality: Burger King Unveils the Rainbow-Wrapped Whopper
Burger King Worldwide Inc. is serving up a new video and a specially wrapped version of its flagship sandwich to trumpet its support of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people.
The effort makes the Miami-based burger giant the first of the big U.S. fast-food chains to take such a bold stance on the politically charged issue, and underlines how a growing number of retailers see support for LGBT rights as good for business.
Burger King on Wednesday launched a short film on YouTube in support of the LGBT community. The company filmed patrons of a Burger King along the San Francisco Pride Parade route who were surprised to open a Whopper wrapped in rainbow-colored paper with the message "we are all the same inside." The "Proud Whopper," which is otherwise identical to the Whopper sandwiches not wrapped in the rainbow paper, is available at that San Francisco Burger King through July 3.


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The Bentley Continental GT is a tasty slice, a tasty slice that we actually prefer in the V8 trim instead of the W12, even if it makes 67 less horsepower. But now Bentley is trying to bridge the gap with this, the new Continental GT V8 S.
Think of the S as the Speed version of the V8-powered Continental GT. You get 21 more horsepower for a total of 521. It also has a retuned suspension and the Conti GT body you know and love.
So what does this mean for performance? In over-the-top Bentley terms, the S is "more dramatic" and a "sensory overload." In Germanic numbers, the S Coupe gets to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, while the cabriolet takes 4.5 seconds. The suspension is slightly lowered and springs are lightly stiffened.
But don't expect that the Conti GT has now become a Porsche 911. Bentley is emphasizing that the GT S is still a grand tourer of epic proportions, so don't start taking your Bentley to track days. Well, actually, take your Bentley to track days, that'd be awesome.
And I'm betting this is the one you'll want to take.