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Ok, so I want to go to a game soon, but its really hard to start a new chant when your the only one. So here is my plea.
I want to take my son to his first Knicks game soon, he's 16 months. He watches on TV and claps when the fans clap, he tries to sing when the "Take me home" commercials are on. This kid is a True fan in the making, and believe me, If he likes BBALL I will have this kid on the court, I'm 6'4" so it's only fair to believe he'll be tall.
Anyway so this leads me to my point, if I bring my son to a Knicks game and they play as badly as they have been playing I'd be highly upset.
So obviously Boo-Ing and chanting "Fire Thomas" has not worked and WILL not work. So my plan is to start chanting "Refund" and clap... the same way that we would chant "Defense". or "WE WANT A REFUND" and clap the same way we do when we chant a name like "Pa-Trick Ew-ING".
'Refund" CLAP CLAP "REFUND" CLAP CLAP...
So yes, I want to take my son to a home game before Christmas and damn they better play well.
I love the Knicks and have always enjoyed them since the 7th grade (1993) but this is ridiculous, these tickets are way too high priced and Basketball means too much to NY for us fans to have to put up with this.
It would be great to hit Dolan and Thomas where it hurts most. In their pockets. Believe it or not if Dolan thinks his Wallet is going to get hit he'll do something about it. Maybe he will "Fire Thomas" or maybe the knicks will start playing. Maybe someone will get traded. I dont know since I'm not psychic but obviously Boo and "Fire Thomas" chants have not worked for the last 3 years.
So who wants to join me? We can all try to buy tickets in the same section. Lets pick a game and lets try to accomplish something.


text: With the upgrade, my user name changed from FIGHTMAGNET to 81giantkiller, which I've never used here at the junkie forums. That was a very very very old handle that's dead, originally attached to the same e-mail as FIGHTMAGNET. The e-mail is now dead for both. Hence, I lost my FIGHTMAGNET account, because of the change. I have the password for FIGHTMAGNET memorized, (which has changed along the way), but not the one for 81giantkiller, which makes it impossible to recover my account, because of the change. Can the names be switched back, to try and recover FIGHTMAGNET ? Other users have similar tales of whoa. (ie.losing their handle, with the change)

subset: commoncrawl


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The three women who staged an extremely punk-rock protest concert against Vladimir Putin on the altar of Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral will go on trial this Monday as the rest of the world watches, not particularly convinced that the members of Pussy Riot are going to get a fair shake in Russian courts. Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich will face charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility, and, if found guilty, could face up to seven years in prison.
Pussy Riot's members have already been languishing in jail since February. The Human rights groups and high profile musicians such as Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have made no secret of their skepticism regarding Russia's judicial process, and think that the girls' fate is subject largely to the whims of President Vladimir Putin as well as the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (whose name and title, we might note, are just a few typos away from the being the name of a potentially awesome punk-rock band). Kirill, who speaks on behalf of an organization that has gained political influence in the wake of the Soviet Union's disintegration, has used particularly harsh language to characterize Pussy Riot's impromptu performance, which he styles as a far-reaching anti-clerical campaign. Pussy Riot has no lead singer, leaving room for rotating membership. The band modelled itself on riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill, and organized their performance as way to demonstrate dissatisfaction among young Russians with Vladimir Putin's intransigent existence in Russia's political hegemony.


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Refineries Experts Serving Vermont
Change State | Show all Vermont experts
Find a Refineries Expert
Experts in refinery distillation of crude oil into gasoline, kerosene, diesel, asphalt, and heavier components; crude fractions, refining, and processing. Refineries experts serve as expert witnesses and forensic consultants in Vermont legal matters, and provide expert reports and testimony for judges, attorneys, lawyers, law firms, insurance companies and government agencies in Federal and state court trials and arbitrations in Vermont.
The listings below are of Refineries experts serving Vermont.
Expert ListingsNo Pollution Enterprises
Nicholas Cheremisinoff
Charles Town, WV
Dr. Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff is a chemical engineer with more than 35 years of industry applied research and international consulting experiences. He renders opinions based on a careful reconstruction of facility practices. He and his staff develop the source terms needed to quantify exposures and doses.
Bradley Consulting Services
Steven Bradley
Arlington Heights, IL
He is a recently retired licensed PhD materials engineer with over 40 years of experience in performing failure analyses and identifying the root cause. Areas of expertise include refinery chemical and petrochemical failures. He is a Fellow of ASM and ASTM and a board member of the Failure Analysis Society with over 60 technical publications.


text:
Customized manufacturing cells
亚博vip群1 is your reliable partner for intelligent, process-oriented and customized cells We adopt a visionary approach to developing and integrating customized manufacturing cells for the efficient and sustainable production of tomorrow.
In order to respond to the constantly increasing demands on production and to keep a decisive step ahead of the competition at all times, individually tailored automation solutions are essential. From the first idea to production support – as a competent partner we supply you with manufacturing cells configured for your special production requirements. As standardized as possible, as individual as necessary.
Grasp the critical competitive advantage
We offer one of the world's largest portfolios of robot kinematic systems, with jointed-arm and linear robots. In addition we offer proven components and technology packages tailored to the application. In combination with our comprehensive automation expertise and in-depth process know-how, we will supply you with a manufacturing cell – tailored to the automation requirements of your production – to provide you with a critical competitive edge in the market.
Decide in favor of progress and efficiency in a modular structure with configurable and customer-specific modules. We are happy to advise you.
Decide in favor of progress and efficiency in a modular structure with configurable and customer-specific modules. We are happy to advise you.


text:
"Other vendors were proposing discrete components, which just adds complexity and cost, rather than"
Alan Paris, IT Manager, Canongate
Canongate was founded in 1973 and has since emerged as one of the most dynamic publishing houses in Britain. With a distinctly international outlook, Canongate Books continues to nurture and publish new talent from around the world, whilst retaining the essence of Scottish literature. It is one of the founding members of the Independent Alliance, a global alliance of ten UK publishers and their international partners who share a common vision of editorial excellence, diverse publishing and commercial success.
Canongate needed to upgrade its legacy server and storage infrastructure in order to improve performance and reliability while safeguarding valuable data.
The company turned to FUJITSU Integrated System PRIMEFLEX vShape, an out-of-the-box, pre-configured, virtualised server and storage solution, consisting of Fujitsu PRIMERGY servers and NetApp storage.
Read thw full Canongate case study (186 KB/A4, 2 pages)
Dela med andra


text:
This was published 7 years ago
Clown swipe upsets Italians
ITALY'S President Giorgio Napolitano cancelled a dinner meeting on Wednesday with Peer Steinbruck, Chancellor Angela Merkel's challenger in Germany's coming September elections, after Mr Steinbruck referred to two prominent Italian political figures as ''clowns''.
Mr Steinbruck, the candidate for the Social Democratic Party, made the comments at an event in Potsdam on Tuesday that was part of a nationwide tour for his own campaign, said his spokesman, Michael Donnermeyer.
During the event, Mr Steinbruck described former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi as ''a clown with a special shot of testosterone''. At another point, he extended his remarks to include Beppe Grillo - a former comedian whose Five Star Movement won more votes than any other party in the Italian elections that ended Monday - saying that ''to a certain extent, I am upset that two clowns have won''.
German leaders have not sought to hide their dislike for Mr Berlusconi, who they say dragged Italy into the eurozone debt crisis. Before the Italian vote, several allies of Dr Merkel made clear in public remarks that they supported Prime Minister Mario Monti and his program in Italy.
But Mr Steinbruck's comments appeared to hit a nerve with President Napolitano, who is overseeing the delicate negotiations to form a new government after the Italian vote failed to produce a clear governing majority in both houses of Parliament.
''We deeply respect Germany for its successes,'' Mr Napolitano said on Wednesday in a speech to the Italian community in Munich. ''Germany was capable of resurrecting from its own ruins and rebuilding a new Europe together with Italy. We respect, but naturally we demand respect for our own country.''
He is scheduled to meet Dr Merkel in Berlin overnight.
Both Mr Berlusconi and Mr Grillo were highly critical of Dr Merkel in their election campaigns, blaming the German government for having pushed Italy to enact painful economic austerity under Mr Monti's government.
Earlier, Mr Grillo rejected a call by Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani to back a coalition. To have any chance to govern, Mr Bersani's bloc needs to bring Mr Grillo into the process or join Mr Berlusconi, who lost to Mr Bersani by less than half a percentage point in the lower house.
The New York Times, AFP


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Bahia Palace Riad Architecture, Marrakesh, Morocco
Bahia Palace Riad Architecture, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2016–04-21.
The name Bahia means "brilliance" and the Bahia palace was built with the intention of being the most brilliant palace of its time. Built by two different generations - Si Moussa and his son, the overall design and layout is slightly random and unorganised. The materials used to make the intricate displays of zelij, ceramic and wood work through out the palace were sourced from across the Maghreb.
- Filename
- AK6A0107.jpg
- Copyright
- Chris Griffiths
- Image Size
- 5760x3840 / 2.5MB
- chrisgriffithsphoto.com
- Contained in galleries
- Bahia Palace - Marrakesh - Morocco


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Cable-related problems most often arise from inadequate risk identification, sub-standard design, lack of planning and deficiencies in how procedures are applied.
Information on cabling issues is usually closely guarded, and little is available in the public domain. But a look at high-profile cases reveals some common problems: poor interface design at wind turbines and substations; the use of unsuitable cable installation vessels, equipment and methods; cable laying and burial delays, frequently weatheror soil-related; damage to cables during installation; cable or joint failure soon after commissioning; sediment movement leading to continued cable exposure and free spans or excessive soil cover; as well as third-party anchor damage.
Both array cables in wind farms and export cables to shore have been affected by these issues. When plotting the occurrences on a timeline from the early 2000s to the present day, a correlation can be seen between the rising number of incidents and the amount of wind capacity installed, although the situation has slightly improved in the last few years.
Sharing information
Yet, when consulting with a wide range of stakeholders in offshore wind, DNV GL discovered that, while the immediate causes appeared to be related to underestimating the risks as described above, the roots of the problem were actually lack of knowledge and skills, poor engineering and project management, and non-existent work standards (see below).
Two years ago, the CableRisk joint industry project (JIP) was set up to introduce a publicly available guideline for cable installation and maintenance, with contributions and involvement from 15 partner organisations, coordinated by DNV GL. The project hosted review sessions, inviting guest speakers from relevant stakeholder groups such as insurers, developers, foundation designers and service providers to contribute. Interim results were disseminated at various wind-energy conferences.
The draft guideline was sent out for review to 500 individuals from 200 organisations, based in Europe and beyond. A total of 900 comments were received and, where necessary, addressed in the guideline.
Risk reduction
In February 2014, the 145-page guideline, Subsea power cables in shallow water renewable energy applications, was published. The recommended practice provides guidance for all lifecycle phases of subsea power-cable projects, with a focus on static service in offshore wind. It defines minimum requirements, but overall promotes a risk-based approach whereby risks are reduced to acceptable levels as defined for each individual project.
The guideline applies to the entire length of the cable and its surroundings, including assessment of project conditions, planning and execution of works, as well as asset management later on, and the document contains numerous examples of possible solutions. It defines key terms used in design documents or agreements, such as "burial depth", and can serve as a reference document between stakeholders, such as contracting parties.
The comprehensive guideline is expected to benefit the entire offshore wind industry. The document references existing guidance in the form of IEC and ISO standards and guidelines published by bodies such as the International Council on Large Electric Systems, the International Marine Contractors Association (Cigre) and the International Cable Protection Committee. It thereby leverages information from a number of sectors, including offshore oil and gas and telecommunications, which had not been consistently achieved before.
Different conclusions
While insurers have reasoned that more powers provided to marine warranty surveyors can largely resolve the issues, the JIP came to a different conclusion. The problems will only disappear if they are addressed early, during conceptual and design phases. Further, a stronger focus on planning is required, as well as working on quality assurance processes.
Frequently, a project's objectives and boundary conditions have not been documented. Site conditions need to be established through a combination of desk-based studies and surveys. Most, but not all, parties involved understand by now that submarine cables require dedicated offshore survey campaigns, separate from those conducted for wind-turbine foundations. Some steps to consider include:
- The optimum burial depth should be determined by applying a risk-based approach, yielding an adequate and economic burial with a consistent level of protection
- Minimum burial depths stipulated by authorities can be counter-productive, for example in hard soils
- The cable interface at the wind turbine or offshore substation should generally receive more attention, particularly the cable installation process
- Mock-ups and onshore trials for cable pull-in can help spot potential problems
- The cable laying and burial processes should be monitored and controlled to ensure no cable parameters are compromised; a range of tests can ascertain a fault-free installation
The focus on cabling has frequently been on capital rather than lifecycle cost. Even if safely buried,cables still require some maintenance activities, including monitoring of cable parameters, inspections and potentially remedial work, such as reburial.
This type of industry collaboration shows that offshore wind is maturing. The incremental improvements in industrial practice that stem from this collaborative approach are a critical element of the push towards lowering the cost of energy for offshore wind.
The following important topics still require further investigation.
For instance, the appropriate rating of power for cables transmitting variable renewable energy is not effectively covered by IEC standards.
Risk-based burial protection design requires validation, as well as the backfill typically achieved in a trench during burial and over time.
Some mechanical properties of the cable, such as squeeze loads during installation, should be specified in an agreed way. Long-term storage and associated re-testing of spare cable is another topic that requires clarification, and once offshore wind farms reach the decommissioning stage, aspects like cable removal will need to be expanded on.
There is ongoing work with a number of interested groups. DNV GL intends to align legacy DNV and GL codes and maintain the cable guideline; future updates will cover new technological developments and reference newly published guidance.
JIP partners
Bohlen & Doyen, Boskalis Offshore, Dong Energy, Electrabel GDF Suez, Iberdrola, Inch Cape (EDPR, Repsol), JDR Cable Systems, NSW, Offshore Marine Management, Siem Offshore Contractors, Tekmar Energy, Tideway Offshore Solutions, Van Oord Offshore Wind Projects and VSMC
Thomas Boehme is a principal engineer at DNV GL and was project manager for the joint industry project.
To download the guidelines, go to https://exchange.dnv.com/servicedocuments/dnv and search for DNV-RP-J301


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Just One Question: What Is Your Enduring Memory of the Machine Shop and Project Labs?
In the early 1940s Thayer had no machine shop. We three M.E. candidates were charged with building a shaper from raw castings. (A shaper produces a flat surface in metal by repeated, horizontal cutting strokes while advancing the piece a desired amount at right angles to the stroke.) Our professor, Joe Ermenc, arranged with the Lebanon High School to use its machine shop and shop teacher after hours. We drove to Lebanon each Friday, worked until late, and then rolled up in sleeping bags on the gym floor. The shop teacher got us started on various components and then pretty much left us alone. It was back to our sleeping bags in the gym on Saturday night. We completed the machine and installed it in the Thayer basement, one of the first machine shop tools. My companions in this effort were Roger Gaskill '43 Th'44 and Frank Perley '43 Th'44.
—Dick Livingston '43 Th'44
Perhaps most memorable was the water. Yes, water in the lab. Water in pipes and valves and flowing through channels and over weirs. This was the hands-on part of courses in fluid mechanics, water supply, and sanitary engineering. Professor Ed Brown's good nature helped temper the hard study with pleasant hours. I remember faculty members who relished the physical side of our studies, and demonstrated the importance of "feel" in engineering.
—Sam Florman '46 Th'46
Machine shop was a required lab course in which we learned how to work metals on a lathe, a planer, and a milling machine as well as learning how to weld. It was taught by a retired machinist from Springfield, Vt., Larry Goldthwaite, who was a wonderful character and a very good teacher. Part of the final exam was to weld two pieces of steel together and then break it in the testing machine, hoping that it broke in the base metal rather than the weld. The course was great fun and has served me well throughout my dealings with steel bridges, including welding fabrication and the machining of the parts that go into movable bridges.
—Bill Conway '52, Th'54
In the electrical machine lab I turned off the wrong breaker and cut off the field current to a big DC motor that was turning at a good clip. The armature current shot up and burned the commutator bars. Professor Kingsley made me dismantle the motor and trundle the armature over to the machine shop to have the commutator resurfaced. Maybe he called ahead over there, because they made me do the job all by myself: set the armature up on the big lathe, center it properly, set up the tool and the cutting angle, and make tiny shallow cuts until no more burned copper showed. Everybody stood over me and made scathing comments whenever I did the tiniest thing wrong. You can bet that after that I thought twice before I touched a breaker!
—Randy Cooper Th'54
Larry Goldthwaite oversaw the shop with great skill and even greater patience. He showed us how to arc weld two small pieces of steel, drawing a perfect bead with ease and practiced skill. When my turn came I carefully placed my two pieces on the welding bench, pulled down the mask, and set about drawing the best bead I could. Not bad, I thought. Then Larry quietly asked, "How do you plan to get it up from the bench?" Much to the amusement of all hands, I had welded the work firmly to the steel bench.
—Bill Macurdy '55 Th'57
Dan Paradis '61 Th'62 and I were working with schlieren images of burning acetylene and other gases in a small lab, and neglected the use of oxygen and the addition of CO2 to the atmosphere caused by burning gases. When we walked out, I passed out. Thus, the dean ordered the creation and adoption of a safety code. (We all contribute to the history of the place in one way or another.)
—Jerry Greenfield '61 Th'62 Tu'65
Larry Goldthwaite was in charge when I took the course required to be able to have access in the shop. I still have the gear assembly on my desk that we made using each of the machines. It includes a 16-toothed gear, an 8-spline sleeve, an axle threaded on one end and with a larger opposite end, and an internally threaded base. My second memory relates to using a chuck on a tool or drill. Larry taught us the necessity of tightening such devices on each of the three openings – and I still do that today.
—Harris McKee '61 Th'63
Larry Goldthwaite was a very precise and meticulous man, and it was easy to get on his wrong side with sloppy work. I learned that his somewhat gruff exterior camouflaged a genuinely warm and kind person. I still have on my desk the paperweight that I made during his shop course – four-part assembly that required learning how to use most of the shop's equipment and a lot of useful techniques, skills that were helpful to me during my career and personal life.
—Andy Urquhart '61 Th'64 Adv'71
In 1962 I bought my first car, a VW bug. It came with a small, lightweight shift knob that didn't measure up to my expectations. Thanks to the help of a machine shop teacher, I turned out a beautiful egg-shaped, custom-made, steel gear shift knob. I drilled and tapped it and cut off the shift lever in my new car and threaded that shaft for the new knob. That knob was a real treasure. It was heavy enough that I could toss it from gear to gear and shifting became a snap!
—John D. Pearse '62
I built a radio from scratch and – the most amazing thing – it worked!
—Sandy Duncan '63
I took the machining extracurricular course in the machine shop. The most valuable lesson for me was to understand the process of metal evolving from a drawing to an actual part. The lesson was the time and effort required to machine a part. When I became an engineer, I remembered that as I awaited the parts I had designed, and I appreciated the effort invested by our technicians. My second lesson was to leave your work area in better order than you found it. Not a bad lesson, even now.
—Dick Couch '64 Th'65
My enduring memory is Frank Dulac. He had such an infectious can-do attitude. He always had time for one more request and never lost his patience with students.
—Neil Drobny Th'64
I loved working in the machine shop (hey, it's part of why I'm an engineer). I had a summer job at Grumman Aircraft on Long Island and got to work in the machine shop, where they built the jigs and tools so that everything they did was one of a kind. It was great that I had the Thayer experience so I understood what they were doing and could learn much more because I was already starting with a strong base.
—Ward H. Hindman '65 Th'68
In 1963, as part of ES-22: Systems, I was staring at an equation on the blackboard and realized that an ideal seismograph would reduce the connection of a mass to the Earth to zero. The previous fall I'd seen some impressive table air-bearings used in demonstrations of Newtonian mechanics in physics lectures – these air-bearings reduced (horizontal) friction to almost zero for hockey puck-like disks. I imagined a one-dimensional air-bearing built using a rectangular tube turned with an angular edge up, with a right-angle "sled" riding on it. I went to the machine shop and the gentleman there told me to get the specs – hole diameters and spacing – from his counterpart in the physics department. I did so and returned worried that I wouldn't know how to run the necessary drilling equipment with sufficient precision. The shop's head honcho expressed doubt that the machine shop could take on the job, given the many holes that would be required and the delicacy of the very small drill bits. I came back the next day to find my completed air-bearing, built from beautifully machined aluminum. I built the rest of the seismograph myself, and it won me a very helpful citation.
—Mark Tuttle '65 Th'66
My experience was that the idea of a perfect shop at Thayer was that every tool was in place and accounted for rather than out and at work on projects. That is, my experience was not all that positive. However, if I worked with Vic Surprenant, the on-site technician, I could get almost anything done because he was there to help students, not to keep the place in perfect order. I would have loved to have him with me here at Plastic Technologies Inc., where our culture is to "make things happen" rather than to keep everything in perfect order.
—Tom Brady '66 Th'68
In 1967 I was responsible for making aluminum snow pickets for our Dartmouth Mountaineering Club expedition to put a new route on Mt. McKinley (Denali). I went to the machine shop, was given a catalog, and ordered some stock T-shaped aluminum. When the order arrived, two days before we were to leave for Fairbanks, we realized that the aluminum was not stiff enough. It was too late to reorder, so we reluctantly cut it to size and drilled the carabiner holes. When we unveiled the pickets on the mountain, our shocked teammates were ready to throw us off the nearest face, but we had no choice and used them. Luckily, we had no wrenching falls; certainly the pickets would not have held. Lesson learned: Next time my life depended on a material or design, I carefully researched before I bought.
—Michel Zaleski '68 Th'69
I brought in a rusted brake drum from my 1967 Volvo to see if I could use one of the machines to resurface it and remove the rust. To my surprise the head of the shop, Fred Schleipman, showed me how to do it! I remember him saying, "You need a carbide-cutting head," which I had never heard of. I felt guilty putting this dirty, rusty wheel on a pristine, expensive lathe, but I was very impressed that he allowed this "extracurricular" activity. The machine shop gave me an appreciation for the work of a machinist and how one could spend a lifetime mastering those skills.
—Jim Wood '71, Th'72
Prior to being allowed to run rampant in the machine shop, you were given a project to complete that required the use of every machine in the shop. I was given a drawing of a four-piece paperweight and given guidance by the staff at each step of the project, focusing on both the machines being used, their capabilities, and the tolerances of the build for each of the steps. Our paperweights were sent off to be chromed so that we would have something "sharp" adorning our desks. For my 34 years with General Electric that paperweight has followed me. It still sits on my desk as a reminder that Thayer taught us not just how to think, but to build.
—Jim Bartlett '72 Th'73
Building the Stirling engine for thermodynamics, we learned a valuable lesson on the cost of tolerances – how much more work it was to the tradesman if someone specified +/- .003 rather than +/- .03. My machine shop experience and relationship with Fred Schleipman paid off later when I was a poor married student and my car window crank (a molded plastic part) broke. Access to the shop and a little design advice from Fred enabled me to machine a metal part that not only solved the problem but looked good, too.
—Mike Sulaver '74 Th'77 Tu'77
I was a volunteer fireman on the Hanover Fire Department, and during summer term I brought an antique fire truck with me to school. The truck, built in 1919, had a very pitted water pump shaft from rusting, and it would constantly tear up the water pump bearings. I worked with Fred in the machine shop and built a new water pump shaft to replace the old one. Problem solved!
—John Bartlett '75 Th'78
I learned the most valuable lesson of my Thayer career in the machine shop: Workers on the shop floor know more than I do! Professor Converse required each member of his thermodynamics class to make a Stirling engine so we would understand, in his words, "how things are made." I emerged with a profound respect for the machinists and their skills. My Stirling engine sits on my desk in front of me as my proudest trophy from my Thayer years.
—Scott Magelssen '75 Th'76
The summer before my Thayer fifth year, I applied for a job in a printed circuit board manufacturing facility in my hometown. When I told them about the machine shop class I had taken, they hired me on the spot! I also remember the Stirling cycle engine that we built in the machine shop class. It's interesting to see that large-scale versions are being used to generate clean energy.
—Wayne Ballantyne '77 Th'78
I still have my Stirling engine. I don't dare test whether it still runs!
—Pete Leone '78
A few years back I discovered my Stirling engine. It brings back fond memories of my Hanover experiences.
—Tony Jones '79 Th'80
My most vivid memory of my Thayer School days was making a Stirling engine. I had very little experience working with tools of any sort, but I quickly grew to love the pleasures of metal shop. I especially recall the satisfying sensation of shaping and polishing the bronze flywheel. When my little machine was done, I calculated its efficiency, which I recall as being dismal. However, once you cranked the thing up it would really buzz along. Now, 30 years later, it sits on a shelf in the family room. My kids still love to pour in the alcohol and get it going. I think they can't quite believe I made it with my own hands.
—Lisa Saunders '79
I enjoyed treks with the Mountaineering Club – and I liked the idea of a real-world test for my undergrad course's machine shop project. So I contacted the REI company and they agreed to send a variety of free carabiners, which I then tested for tensile strength using a very strong machine shop testing apparatus. It was fun seeing where the carabiners failed (near the gate) and ranking their strengths. Blue ribbon went to "D-shaped" carabiners with locking gates.
—Jim Payne '81
Just the other day my 6-year-old was playing with the Stirling engine I built. I have fond memories of the Thayer machine shop and Roger Howes and Vic Surprenant.
—Terry Wong Th'81 DMS'90
I was never really a designer, but I did need to do some data gathering to support Professor Strohbehn's work on hyperthermia using ultrasound. We needed to test our disc-shaped ultrasound transducer before attempting to use it in studies with cancer patients. That meant constructing a non-interfering Plexiglas "fish tank," which is where the shop came in. As I was rather clueless at building, one of the shop guys directed my work and chipped in as I built the tank. Later I filled the tank with de-ionized water and floated a hunk of raw roast beef a few inches from the transducer. The 3 MHz sound heated the meat, and I got temperature readings at various positions. This allowed us to better understand the heating capabilities of the circular transducer when encountering human flesh. It also led to a memorable roast beef dinner.
—Russell King Th'83
I remember the bridge project. We were given three-foot lengths of aluminum strips and a piece of Plexiglas. We roadtripped along the Connecticut River to look at old truss bridges for design ideas. It was my first chance to cut and bend metal with a Bridgeport machine, which was a blast. I got to keep the bridge, which I still display proudly in my study.
—Doug Kingsley '84 Th'85
In the bridge-building contest, our group made the truss bridge too short. Instead of making the bridge greater than the span required, we made it exactly the width of the span to be bridged. Any weight on the bridge sent it to the bottom. We had to build an adapter on the end of the bridge, which threw off any real ability to predict the bridge deflection due to load. I guess that's why I ended up in software design.
—Steve Morris '84 Th'85
I built a mechanical CPR device in the machine shop. The experience was so positive because of Roger Howes. He was very helpful, and I learned a lot.
—Heidi Russell '84
I always found Roger Howes and his team enthusiastic, willing to help and, most importantly, patient. From the popular truss design competition to my ENGS 21 project, where we designed and built a deep sea cable connector out of a titanium "memory" alloy, to my thesis project on thin film transfer printing, my time spent in the shop was not only productive, it was always fun.
—Eric Schnell '84 Th'85
Vic Surprenant gave me excellent help in making the machine we used to investigate the wear of UHMPE against stainless steel in low-amplitude oscillating motion. It was a tribology project that I did for Professor Francis Kennedy as a part of my M.E. degree. How exciting it was to make a drawing and have it realized in the real physical world! I made some parts of the machine myself, but Vic made most of them. The finished machine was used for a number of years for tribology experiments with the guidance of Professor Kennedy.
—Leo Smidhammar Th'85
I have fond memories of the machine shop with Roger Howes. Our group built a wheelchair that elevated upwards for access to cabinets and shelves. We used those wonderful machines like the Bridgeport. I grew up in Bridgeport, Conn., so using that machine was very special.
—Nancy Shawah Cheung Th'86
I was a grad student working for Professor John Collier, manufacturing titanium alloy implants for rabbits and implanting them. The implants were basically glorified washers with countersinks and fancy coatings, and I needed numerous sizes to fit the various rabbit tibiae. Titanium is not an easy material to work, and I was not very experienced in drafting or design. I kept my list of implant sizes on a piece of paper by "my" lathe. When there was time, the guys in the machine shop would help me out (like little elves in the night) and make a few of these little implants and leave them in my box. One day I found a round wire thing in my box. I could not figure out what the elves were up to! I inquired and found it was the smallest diameter implant I thought I needed. Little did I know that this was an "un-makeable" device. I learned two important lessons that have helped me in my career: be careful that you never ask for something that is "un-makeable", and you need to have made things yourself in order to gain that wisdom.
—Kim Dwyer Th'88
My fondest memory came from the introduction to the machine shop that Roger Howes oversaw. To be allowed to use the machine shop, one had to successfully follow a set of directions for various machines and tools, and until that point in my life I was not handy at all with such things. To this day I keep the device that I had to machine on my desk, and anybody from Dartmouth during the same era who sees it says, "Hey, you're a Thayer graduate, aren't you?!" We all built them – and it gave us an appreciation that people have to be able to build what we engineers design. Years later, I became a professor at Vermont Technical College and found that Roger Howes had joined the faculty there, too. He remains a whiz in Vermont Tech's machine shop as he helps his engineering technology students, but I can still tap a thread when need be – all thanks to the Thayer machine shop.
—Scott Sabol '88 Th'88
As a master's candidate and later a research associate under John Collier, I was building all manner of Rube Goldberg devices for testing total joint replacement prostheses. My free access to the machine shop was key, as many of these devices and fixtures started out as rough ideas and only took final shape on the mill or the lathe. Having earned my bachelor's degree outside Dartmouth, I was unfamiliar with the Thayer machine shop and was amazed at not only the level of access that students had but the amount of patient teaching that Roger Howes, Gary Durkee, and Roland Gauthier provided. Later on, as a design engineer and a project manager, I was always cognizant of the fact that whatever I designed or had designed, someone had to build it, so it better be buildable.
—Jim McNamara Th'89
Together with the Swedish student Stefan Palmgren Th'91, I worked on our B.E. project. My task was to design two planar robot arms for a master-slave configuration, while Stefan designed the wrist with a special force and torque sensor. After finishing the drawings, I had to manufacture the complete structure in the machine shop on the lathe and milling machine. Roger Howes helped, so the work was done properly. Back in Germany, it was no problem for me to get credit for the project.
—Harald Schoenenborn Th'91
For three years I worked for Roger Howes in the machine shop as a T.A. From Roger I learned two vital and related things: How to make myself heard and how to stand up for myself. Roger has a keen eye for group dynamics. Many times I saw him pull a quieter student apart from a group and give him or her a talk – telling us usually that our ideas couldn't be any worse than those of the louder members of the group, so we must get in there and fight for them. Usually he was right. Roger also trusted me to help students learn the machinery and new techniques. Once he and Roland Gauthier asked me to shut down the shop for lunchtime. All the students stopped working as asked except one, who informed me: "I don't have to listen to you. You're just another student." So I spun around and hit the emergency stop button on the wall, cutting power to all machinery in the room. When he tried to turn the mill on and it wouldn't start, he turned to me and demanded that I turn the power back on. I told him, "I'm sorry, I can't; I'm just another student." This has helped me anytime I've been dismissed as "just another X" – you are never quite that powerless. Roger lured me away from a lucrative job at the dining hall with the promise of lower pay and a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich once a week. Best deal I ever made.
—Becca Voelker '92 Th'94
Roger Howes and Gary Durkee were great – patient with a novice like me and always good with a joke. I had never done anything in a machine shop. They never made me feel afraid to go for it, even though I was scared to death I'd break something.
—Darrin Clement Th'93
One of the proudest entries on my resume is of my experience in the machine shop. Machining metal taught me a ton about planning ahead and doing everything deliberately. Parts were either exactly right or they were junk.
—Zander Lichstein '95, Th'97
Roger Howes ran the shop with pragmatic rules: "If you're about to do something stupid, ask first." "If you bust something, than fess up." "Clean up before closing time." With all the high-minded intellectualism around campus, I could have compartmentalized these rules to the shop floor, but there was something in Roger's manner of teaching that led me to extrapolate instead. After all, what good is an education in mind-bending concepts and theories unless we learn to acknowledge the limits of our understanding, take responsibility for our actions, and respect other people's time?
—Sol Diamond '97 Th'98
My senior thesis project was to design and build a better body for the Formula race car. I loved the countless hours I spent in the basement of Thayer. I'd happily come back and do it all over again.
—Erik Weeman '97
The machine shop opened at 7:30 a.m., an ungodly hour for college students. It didn't take long to learn that I would have Roger Howes, Leonard Parker, and Pete Fontaine almost all to myself if I kept coming in then. I picked a thesis that would let me spend as much time in the shop as I could and dragged out its completion just to keep working in the shop another term.
—Gus Moore '99 Th'01
I was fortunate to work closely with Pete Fontaine in the CNC shop and learn many of the aspects of product design and producibility from him. Working with the cantankerous old Bridgeport CNC, I saw firsthand how small tweaks to designs could significantly improve producibility of a system. Knowing the essentials of machining and smart-part design have enabled me to excel in the aerospace industry, where the vast majority of parts are CNC-machined. It always strikes me how students from other universities have no experience with product design and manufacture, and how much they struggle to understand that engineering is not just calculation of solutions to book problems, it is the ability to make an elegant solution to a real-world problem. Part of that elegance is in the ease of manufacture, a skill Thayer School and its machine shop effectively instill in all their graduates.
—Brian Paris Nealon '01 Th'02
I used the machine shop to create a sculpture for studio art. Kevin Baron was instrumental in ordering materials, as well as setting up the CNC lathe to create a mechanical joint that allowed my sculpture to rotate in the wind. Execution of this sculpture would not have been possible without the machine shop and the enthusiasm and guidance from Kevin for a non-engineering-related project.
—Mat Ackerman '05
Although I did not use the machines, the staff helped me make some parts of the bioreactor for my experiment. I found the staff very nice, helpful, and professional. I wish I had been an undergraduate there and spent more time on the machines with them.
—Yanpin Lu Th'05
The machine shop is the heart of the Thayer – the place where build happens! I believe that working in teams and getting your hands dirty are the most important parts of an engineering education.
—Brian Mason Th'05
I worked under Kevin Baron programming and running the milling machines. One day when Kevin was out, I ran out of work and asked Leonard Parker what to do. He handed me a bright orange mallet and told me to sit behind the new thermodynamics students building their Stirling engines and "threaten" them. Although a bit harsh, we always made sure that anyone new in the lab was watched. The machine shop was one of the most caring areas, even if no one in there would admit it.
—Tasha Sakaguchi Th'05
It's funny how attached I grew to a small, crowded, windowless project design lab after spending a ridiculous amount of time in it. We solved problems, ate meals, fretted that we were going to fail the class because we didn't have our project working a week before our final presentation, and traded high-fives when we managed to get it working.
—Josh Kjenner Th'06
I was intimidated by the machines until Leonard Parker and Mike Ibey began helping me out, making sure I was using the machines correctly. They made the experience way better with their humor and anecdotes of past machine shop "incidents." I always looked forward to my part of the day spent there.
—Erik B. Marquez '06 Th'07
I dropped into the machine shop for practical experience on anything mechanical. As a graduate student driving an old car, I found their mechanical advice invaluable in keeping my 1991 car running through five winters. They had so much knowledge and enthusiasm to share.
—Glenn Nofsinger Th'06
Some of the early Advanced Transit Dynamics' TrailerTail prototypes were made in the machine shop as part of an ENGS 190/290 design project. Jeff Grossman '06 Th'07 was on the Thayer team (and now works for ATD), led by CEO Andrew Smith Tu'07. Also helping was Chuck Horrell '00 Th'01 (also now with ATD).
—Errik Anderson '00 Th'07
I came to Thayer with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This gave me a somewhat unique perspective on the nature of the Thayer machine shop and its role as a learning tool. At my undergraduate institution, the multiple machine shops and casting facilities were guarded from the average student, much as they are at other institutions. In contrast, at Thayer the hands-on spaces are truly integral to the education. My presence there was natural; I didn't need a "reason" or some kind of lab hall pass to use the facilities. I spent some time in the machine shop and project lab working with James Joslin '05, the mechanical design wizard of our research group. He was very comfortable working in these spaces and was treated as a peer by the machine shop guys. I know that developed from countless hours learning by doing, and I know his experience was not unique because you could walk by the machine shop on a busy day and see every station occupied by a student. My enduring memory of the Thayer machine shop is that the people responsible for the space recognized that it is there for the benefit of the students. And in order to maximize that benefit and really differentiate a Thayer education from any other engineering education, they tried very hard to make project space seem like an open environment, a natural place for a student to be.
—Devin Brande Th'07
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Flights to Seattle
We fly non-stop from London to Seattle up to 11 times a week with daily departures. In just under 10 hours your London to Seattle flight takes you over the mountainous Canadian west to the dramatic seascape of Puget Sound with views of Lake Washington and snow-covered, volcanic Mount Rainer beyond.
Daily flights from British Airways make maximum use of the time difference – you leave and arrive mid afternoon. Return flights leave early evening allowing you plenty of time to make the most of your time – one last stroll around Pike Street Market or the Waterfront? For extra flexibility, check out more timetable options offered by British Airways and our US partner, American Airlines.


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The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
The German-Soviet Pact, also known as the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact after the two foreign ministers who negotiated the agreement, had two parts. An economic agreement, signed on August 19, 1939, provided that Germany would exchange manufactured goods for Soviet raw materials. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union also signed a ten-year nonaggression pact on August 23, 1939, in which each signatory promised not to attack the other.
The German-Soviet Pact enabled Germany to attack Poland on September 1, 1939, without fear of Soviet intervention. On September 3, 1939, Britain and France, having guaranteed to protect Poland's borders five months earlier, declared war on Germany. These events marked the beginning of World War II.
The nonaggression pact of August 23 contained a secret protocol that provided for the partition of Poland and the rest of eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of interest. In accordance with this plan, the Soviet army occupied and annexed eastern Poland in the autumn of 1939. On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union attacked Finland, precipitating a four-month winter war after which the Soviet Union annexed Finnish territory borderlands, particularly near Leningrad. With German indulgence, the Soviet Union also moved to secure its sphere of interest in eastern Europe in the summer of 1940. The Soviets occupied and incorporated the Baltic states and seized the Romanian provinces of northern Bukovina and Bessarabia.
After the Germans defeated France in June 1940, German diplomats worked to secure Germany's ties in southeastern Europe. Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia all joined the Axis alliance in November 1940. During the spring of 1941, Hitler initiated his eastern European allies into plans to invade the Soviet Union.
Hitler had always regarded the German-Soviet nonaggression pact as a tactical and temporary maneuver. On December 18, 1940, he signed Directive 21 (code-named Operation Barbarossa), the first operational order for the invasion of the Soviet Union. From the beginning of operational planning, German military and police authorities intended to wage a war of annihilation against the Communist state as well as the Jews of the Soviet Union, whom they characterized as forming the "racial basis" for the Soviet state.
German forces invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, less than two years after the German-Soviet Pact was signed.
According to Russian government figures USSR losses within postwar borders at 26.6 million.


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Order and delivery terms and conditions
Kalevala Jewelry Webshop terms and conditions
These terms and conditions (hereafter the "Agreement") contains the terms and conditions of the use of Kalevala Jewelry Webshop at www.kalevalajewelry.com (hereafter the "Webshop") owned by Kalevala Koru Oy (hereafter "Kalevala Jewelry"). When a person (hereafter the "User") orders a product or products from the Webshop (hereafter the "Products"), the User agrees to be bound by the Agreement.
The contact details of Kalevala Jewelry are the following:
Kalevala Koru Oy (Business ID: 0109579-3)
Hankasuontie 11 A
00390 Helsinki
Tel. +358 (0) 207 611 230
Email: [email protected]
The use of the Webshop
Payment methods
The following payment options are available at the checkout:
- American Express
- Visa
- Visa Electron
- Mastercard
- PayPal
For payment with credit cards, the User is charged in real time, through the payment gateway. Kalevala Jewelry is using secure payment system of leading financial entities in electronic commerce in order to keep up maximum security of the payment (SSL technology). Kalevala Jewelry does not have access to the User's credit card numbers and they will not be saved on Kalevala Jewelry's database, not even temporarily.
In order to pay the Products with a Visa Electron card, the Verified by Visa service for online payments must be activated. The Webshop verifies all the credit card transactions before delivering the Products to the User. Kalevala Jewelry reserves the right to reject any order if Kalevala Jewelry has not been able to verify the credit card transaction.
Product Prices
The shipping fees are as follows:
- Delivery inside Finland 5,90 €
- Delivery to Sweden 140 kr
- EU deliveries 15,00 €
- Other international deliveries 19,00 €
All the Product prices and delivery charges are displayed in euros (€) or in Swedish Krona (kr) depending on the Webshop locale used.
If the Products are delivered to destination outside the EU, the User is responsible for any customs fees, import duties or other comparable costs. The User acknowledges that the customs policies vary widely from country to country. The User should contact the local customs office for further information. When customs clearance procedures are required, the User is responsible for charges related thereto and the User acknowledges and agrees that it can cause delays beyond Kalevala Jewelry's original delivery estimates.
Delivery time
All Kalevala Jewelry's Products carry a life-long warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Kalevala Jewelry's warranty provided herein does not include normal tear and wear due to use of the Product. Furthermore, Kalevala Jewelry's warranty does not include defects due to negligence in products care. A thorough care guide for Kalevala Jewelry's Products can be found at www.kalevalajewelry.com/care-instructions.
Cancellation and Product Returns
Privacy policy
Changes to the Webshop and the Agreement
Kalevala Jewelry reserves the right to make changes to the Webshop, its polices and the Agreement at any time. If the Agreement is changed, Kalevala Jewelry will post a notification of the said change at the front page of the Webshop. Modified Agreement will apply to all orders made after the notice is posted to the front page of the Webshop.
Force Majeure
Kalevala Jewelry shall not be liable for any breach of its obligations under this Agreement or delays in performing or failure to perform in accordance with this Agreement, which are attributable to causes beyond Kalevala Jewelry's reasonable control, including without limitation fires, strikes, labor disputes, wars, natural catastrophe, acts or interventions by any governmental authority, failure of a common carrier, supplier, hardware, software, browser, network failure or malfunction.
Liability and Mandatory Consumer Legislation
Applicable Law and Disputes
This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Finland, excluding its choice of laws provisions. Any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be settled in Finland at the Helsinki district court.


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Compare cheap flights to Catania
When is the cheapest time to fly to Catania?
What to do in Catania
Catania is a beautiful city that will give you a taste of Sicily's best. You'll find rich history, UNESCO-listed wonders, modern and youthful destinations, the towering view of Mt Etna, and extraordinary locals.
Spend a day exploring the historic centre of Catania. Walk along the street of Via Etnea to see the Basilica of Collegiata, then visit the remains of the Roman Amphitheater at Piazza Stesicoro. Check out Chiesa San Bagio and the stunning Santuario della Madonna del Carmine. You can even go shopping right after for good deals on clothes, accessories, food and more at the Fera O' Luni market.
There are plenty more architectural wonders within the city. So grab your camera and wander Via Crociferi, Piazza Duomo, and Villa Cerami. Culture vultures should visit Museo Civico, Museum of Emilio Greco, and Bellini Civic Museum.
Hop on a bus to Taormina for a relaxing day. Find your next social media picture at the lovely streets, alleys, and steps of Corso Umberto I. Take photos and shop around Piazza IX Aprile too.
Soak up the sun and go enjoy the crystal clear waters of Isola Bella. Have a splashing good time at Grotta Azzurra. At dusk, stop by the ancient Greek Theatre for a view of its ruins and the sweeping scenery of Etna and the Bay of Naxos.
Adventure travellers can't miss hiking the exciting trails of Mount Etna. But if you're visiting Catania with your kids, you can spend a fun day at the amusement parks of Etnaland.
When to visit Catania
The best time to visit Catania for cool temperatures and great weather is winter (November-February). Summer is also a great time to visit Catania. Book flights for May so you can save money on your airfares, because it's the cheapest time to fly to Catania.
With the Schengen Convention, Australians don't need a visa to fly to Italy and travel to Catania. Find out more at Smartraveller and get up-to-date travel info from the Embassy of Italy in Canberra.
Travelling to and around Catania
Fly to Catania Vincenzo Bellini Airport, where you can reach the city centre by bus, taxi, and car rental. Go travel around Catania and explore the rest of Sicily by bus, hop-on hop-off bus, taxi, ferry, car rental, and booked tours.
See more of gorgeous Italy in Sicily! Book your Catania flights on Skiddoo with KLM, Alitalia, Swiss Airlines or Thai Airways today and join our satisfied customers on Skiddoo reviews.
Temperature average in August
Rainfall average in August
14.5 mm
Cheapest time to fly to Catania (CTA)
All prices refer to return flights to Catania and include taxes and charges.
Our experiences customer support team is there to help you every step of the way.
With the Skiddoo Price Promise, if you find a cheaper price online we'll match it!


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Paul George scores 29 points to lead Indiana Pacers over Miami Heat 87-77
Indiana Pacers held Miami to a season-low point total in an 87-77 win over the Heat on Tuesday.
Indiana Pacers held Miami to a season-low point total in an 87-77 win over the Heat on Tuesday.
Paul George had 29 points and 11 rebounds, including four 3-pointers, to get the best of his matchup with LeBron James. David West added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson chipped in with 13 points for the Pacers (21-14), who have won 11 of their last 13 games.
Dwyane Wade scored 30 points and James had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Miami (23-10), which still has the best record in the Eastern Conference.
It was the first time the teams had met since Miami beat the Pacers in six games in the conference semifinals last year.
Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings scored 29 points as the Bucks gave Jim Boylan a win in his first game as coach with a 109-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Bucks parted ways with coach Scott Skiles on Monday in what was called a mutual decision, and the Bucks appointed Skiles' top assistant Boylan as a replacement. This is the second time Boylan has succeeded Skiles midseason. He took over the Bulls when Skiles was fired on Christmas Eve in 2007.
Goran Dragic scored 21 points and Jared Dudley added 18 for Phoenix.
James Harden scored 31 points and Chandler Parsons added 20 to help set up the win after Houston trailed by as many as 14 in the first half.
Metta World Peace had a season-high 24 points for the Lakers, who were playing without their top three big men: Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill - all out with injuries. Kobe Bryant added 20 for the Lakers and Steve Nash had 16 as they tied a season high with their fourth straight loss.
The Brooklyn Nets improved to 6-1 under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo with a 109-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Reggie Evans had a career-high 23 rebounds and Deron Williams scored 22 points. Evans outrebounded the undersized Sixers 23-22 through three quarters.
Andray Blatche scored 20 points for the Nets, hours after he was questioned by Philadelphia police as part of a sexual assault investigation at an upscale hotel. Blatche was not charged.
Jrue Holiday scored 19 points and Spencer Hawes had 14 for the Sixers.
At Minneapolis, Nikola Pekovic had 25 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, and Andrei Kirilenko added 21 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Atlanta Hawks 108-103.
Derrick Williams scored 17 points and Alexey Shved had 15 for the Timberwolves, who were missing coach Rick Adelman due to personal reasons. Terry Porter filled in and led the Wolves to their first victory over Atlanta since 2006, snapping an 11-game skid in the series.


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Pop princess Taylor Swift's love story begins with her fans.
The 20-year-old "Love Story" singer was selected by newspaper editors and broadcast producers for the honor after she skyrocketed to fame, earned a bevy of awards and at one point had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"I am so honored and so excited," Swift told the AP. "This was so unexpected, and I could not be more grateful."
U.S. & World
The singer was thrust into the limelight after she was accepting the award for best female video when Kanye West leapt on stage and interrupted her speech, sparking a media firestorm.
She belted out tunes from her album "Fearless" during her sold-out, 52-city tour across North America.
She went on to win album of the year from the Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards. Swift won artist of the year at the American Music Awards and performed at the Grammys. She also hosted "Saturday Night Live."
"That entire week was life-changing, honestly," Swift said after taping the venerated late-night comedy show. "It makes you feel so thankful to be a part of the music industry, but more than that, to me, 'SNL' is show business."


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Listen to the archive stream: Or download the MP3
Red Moses and Sami Knowles met at a San Francisco house party in the fall of 2006, but it wasn't until three years later, when they got an RV and hit the road, that their musical life became priority. The two, which make up the indie duo Callow, have been living in the bay and touring the West ever since. The simplicity and challenge of life in a tiny space has no doubt influenced their sound– a hauntingly minimal, meaty, introspective and transcendental kind of art rock, conceptualized on their debut album Orb Weaver (released May 3, NxNW Records). Red's raw contralto is reminiscent of Vice Chestnut, while Sami creates a dark, primordial landscape with the simultaneous use of keyboard and percussion.
Dear Indugu
Guest DJ
Dear Indugu is an acoustic/electric indie-rock band from Oakland, California noted for powerful instrumentation, potent lyrics, and rich vocal harmony. What began as the solo project of singer-songwriter Jesse Strickman, grew into a permanent four-piece, with an occasional live horn section. The name, Dear Indugu, is inspired by the film 'About Schmidt' and is a metaphor for the communication of one's innermost feelings to complete strangers.


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The question: How do you fit a circle in a square?
The answer: The CIRCLEDOME®....simple as that!
We have taken our legacy product, The CIRCLEDOME®, and integrated it with a standard lay-in concept. The result, an easy installation method to achieve lighting with domes. Now available in a 2x2 configuration with a 1' or 2' dome and a 4x4 with a 3' or 4' dome, this unit can be utilized in most applications with no modification to the existing grid ceiling. Long life replaceable LED light engines with numerous lumen and color temperature options enable a multitude of standard combinations for illumination. Additionally, there is an RGB option for ambient lighting. Consult factory for specifications on the 2x2 with 1' dome and 4x4 with 3' dome.


text: This is the FINAL CALL to submit your research papers for the 5th annual HITB Security Conference in Amsterdam (#HITB2014AMS) taking place at De Beurs van Berlage from the 27th - 30th of May 2014. Initial round of selected CFP submissions: http://haxpo.nl/hitb2014ams-conference/#speakers #HITB2014AMS starts off with 2-days of hands on technical trainings featuring 10 new classes followed by a 2-day triple track conference with our brand new HITB Haxpo or hacker expo running alongside it: http://haxpo.nl/training-list/ http://haxpo.nl/hitb2014ams-haxpo/ --- As always, we're looking for talks that are highly technical, but most importantly, material which is new, fresh and that _hasn't been presented previously_ Submission Deadline: 1st of February 2014. HITB CFP: http://cfp.hackinthebox.org/ === Each accepted submission will entitle the speaker(s) to accommodation for 3 nights / 4 days at the Hilton DoubleTree and travel expense reimbursement up to EUR1200.00 per speaking slot. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following: Cloud Security File System Security 3G/4G/WIMAX Security SS7/GSM/VoIP Security Security of Medical Devices Critical Infrastructure Security Smartphone / MobileSecurity Smart Card and Physical Security Network Protocols, Analysis and Attacks Applications of Cryptographic Techniques Side Channel Analysis of Hardware Devices Analysis of Malicious Code / Viruses / Malware Data Recovery, Forensics and Incident Response Hardware based attacks and reverse engineering Windows / Linux / OS X / *NIX Security Vulnerabilities Next Generation Exploit and Exploit Mitigation Techniques NFC, WLAN, GPS, HAM Radio, Satellite, RFID and Bluetooth Security WHITE PAPER: If your presentation is short listed for inclusion into the conference program, a technical white paper must also be provided for review (3000 - 5000 words). Your submissions will be reviewed by The HITB CFP Review Committee: Charlie Miller (formerly Principal Research Consultant, Accuvant Labs) Katie Moussouris, Senior Security Strategist, Microsoft Itzik Kotler, Chief Technology Officer, Security Art Cesar Cerrudo, Chief Technology Officer, IOActive Jeremiah Grossman, Founder, Whitehat Security Andrew Cushman, Senior Director, Microsoft Saumil Shah, Founder CEO Net-Square Thanh 'RD' Nguyen, THC, VNSECURITY Alexander Kornburst, Red Database Fredric Raynal, QuarksLab Shreeraj Shah, Founder, BlueInfy Emmanuel Gadaix, Founder, TSTF Andrea Barisani, Inverse Path Philippe Langlois, TSTF Ed Skoudis, InGuardians Haroon Meer, Thinkst Chris Evans, Google Raoul Chiesa, TSTF/ISECOM rsnake, SecTheory Gal Diskin, Intel Skyper, THC Note: We do not accept product or vendor related pitches. If you would like to showcase your company's products or technology at HITB Haxpo (which also has it's own set of speaking slots), please email info at ...16599... Regards, Hafez Kamal Hack in The Box (M) Sdn. Bhd 36th Floor, Menara Maxis Kuala Lumpur City Centre 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603-26157299 Fax: +603-26150088


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DURHAM — Before commercial whaling was outlawed in the 1980s, diplomats, scientists, bureaucrats, environmentalists, and sometimes even whalers themselves attempted to create an international regulatory framework that would allow for a sustainable whaling industry.
In "Whales and Nations: Environmental Diplomacy on the High Seas," (University of Washington Press, 2014) Kurkpatrick Dorsey, associate professor of history at the University of New Hampshire, tells the story of the international negotiation, scientific research, and industrial development behind these efforts — and their ultimate failure.
"As a teenager growing up in Southern Ohio, I played a board game at summer camp called 'Save the Whales.' What were we saving the whales from? From the whalers, of course, but also from the International Whaling Commission and the general attitude that whales were better as food than as something to be preserved," Dorsey says.
"I wouldn't generally recommend using a board game to learn about history, but in this case, the game helped sparked my interest. Why were people so angry about the International Whaling Commission? Why were people arguing about the proper use of a whale? Thirty years later, I have finally written this book," he says.
"Whales and Nations" begins in the early 20th century, when new technology revived the fading whaling industry and made whale hunting possible on an unprecedented scale. By the 1920s, declining whale populations prompted efforts to develop "rational" — what today would be called sustainable — whaling practices.
But even though almost everyone involved with commercial whaling knew the industry was on an unsustainable path, Dorsey argues that powerful economic, political, and scientific forces made failure nearly inevitable.
"Why had these knowledgeable and powerful people been unable to put whaling on a sustainable course? Part of the answer comes from the widespread agreement that whales were masses of meat and blubber that were meant to be harvested. New refining techniques converted whale oil to margarine, which meant many Europeans encountered whales as a thin spread on their morning toast, and most governments were determined to keep the oil flowing," he says.
Based on a deep engagement with diplomatic history and access to extensive archival resources in Norway, Great Britain, United States, New Zealand, and Australia, the papers of the International Whaling Commission, and the papers of prominent whalers and scientists, "Whales and Nations" provides a unique perspective on the challenges facing international conservation projects. This history has profound implications for today's pressing questions of global environmental cooperation and sustainability.
"One hundred years after Sir Sidney Harmer's prophetic warning that whaling in Antarctic waters was on an unsustainable course, most people who encounter whales cannot imagine harpooning Willy. But have we learned lessons for solving the ocean's problems?" Dorsey asks.


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A war on corruption is Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's signature policy, and he's staked his political career on winning it.
On Mr. Medvedev's watch, Duma deputies and state officials have been forced to file income statements for the first time, the police force has been overhauled, and arrests for bribe-taking have sharply increased.
So why is Russia getting lower marks for fighting corruption than in the past?
The latest sign that Medvedev's much vaunted anticorruption drive is faltering comes from the independent Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International, whose widely watched global Corruption Perceptions Index shows Russia slipping dramatically down the annual list of 178 countries, from 146th place last year to 154th. That puts it in league with countries like Laos, Kenya, and the Central African Republic.
The 8 worst countries on Transparency International's list
Russia has even fallen behind most of its post-Soviet neighbors, with Ukraine sprinting 20 places ahead and the hermit state of Belarus a full 27 places up the list.
"Yes, the authorities have made loud declarations about fighting corruption, but there's a big discrepancy between words and reality," says Anton Pominov, a researcher with Transparency International's Russian branch. "It's not just us. Most reports by independent organizations on Russian corruption agree on one thing: nobody sees any effective action."
Medvedev's agenda
Medvedev, who came to power in 2008, has passionately argued that Russia needs to "modernize" its industrial base, social customs, and political institutions to survive in the 21st century.
The first order of business, he frequently says, is to eradicate the country's endemic culture of graft, bribe-taking, and official extortion, which experts estimate sucks upwards of $300 billion out of the economy each year.
"We are not used to saying 'we have a dream' in my country, but this is my political vision," Medvedev told a gathering of journalists and scholars a year ago. "[Corrupt officials] hold the power in Russia. Corruption has a systemic nature, deep historic roots. We should squeeze it out. The battle isn't easy but it has to be fought."
But the average price of a bribe has actually shot up this year, according to Russia's Interior Ministry, to 44,000 roubles ($1,450), up from 23,000 roubles ($750) in 2009.
Russian police opened 35,000 corruption cases in the first nine months of this year, which marks a jump of 17.5 percent over the same period last year, according to an Interior Ministry statement.
"We understand that you can't overcome corruption in one year," Alexander Nazarov, deputy head of the ministry's economic crimes department, told journalists Wednesday.
Culture of corruption
"We have laws, but they don't function," says Yuly Nisnevich, a corruption expert with the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. "The results are much worse than figures alone can illustrate. What we see is that the authorities are losing control. People come into official jobs for one reason alone: to line their own pockets."
He says that bribery cases may be increasing in number, but those charged are mainly small offenders such as doctors, teachers and traffic cops.
"A fish rots from the head down," Mr. Nisnevich says. "How can you expect people who've come to power as a result of corruption to seriously battle against corruption. And there are no mechanisms in our society to correct this."
Public opinion polls show that most Russians are completely cynical about the anticorruption drive, with 80 percent naming official bribery as one of the country's top problems, after poverty and unemployment, in a recent survey by the independent Levada Center in Moscow.
"While many people say they feel positively toward Medvedev's idea of fighting corruption, very few say they believe it can succeed," says Denis Volkov, a sociologist with the Levada Center. "Last year, when there were several high-profile corruption prosecutions, 71 percent of respondents in one poll told us they believed these cases were just window dressing."
Some critics say that the centralized, top-down political system established by former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is the root of the problem.
"Authoritarian systems usually breed corruption," says Nisnevich. "If you don't have political competition, business transparency and civil society participation, corruption becomes the main way of transacting all affairs. Without competition, there's no hope of fighting corruption."


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UTR2 (YEL040W)A permutation based statistical method (PBM5) ranks this transcript 243 among all S. cerevisiae genes based on its periodicity and magnitude of oscillation among five data sets. Using an arbitrary cutoff of 1000, this transcript is considered periodic. Its weighted average peak occurs at 4% of the cell cycle, where we use the M/G1 boundary as 0%. For other landmark peak times see this figure. For further details, please visit our website at http://www.fhcrc.org/science/labs/breeden/cellcycle.
In the first three data sets, data points that have been flagged as suspect are plotted in red.
If you use these data in your research, please cite the following papers. The alpha 30, alpha 38 and alpha 26 data sets are described inT. Pramila, W. Wu, W. S. Noble and L. L. Breeden. "The Forkhead transcription factor Hcm1 regulates chromosome segregation genes and fills the S phase gap in the transcriptional circuitry of the cell cycle." Genes and Development. 20(16):2266-2278, 2006.The alpha and cdc15 data sets are described inP. T. Spellman and G. Sherlock and M. Q. Zhang and V. R. Iyer and K. Anders and M. B. Eisen and P. O. Brown and D. Botstein and B. Futcher. "Comprehensive identification of cell cycle-regulated genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by microarray hybridization." Mol Biol Cell. 9(12):3273-97, 1998.The cdc28 data set is described in"A genome-wide transcriptional analysis of the mitotic cell cycle." R. J. Cho, M. J. Campbell, E. A. Winzeler, L. Steinmetz, A. Conway, L. Wodicka, T. G. Wolfsberg, A. E. Gabrielian, D. Landsman, D. J. Lockhart and R. W. Davis. Molecular Cell. 2(1):65-73, 1998.Please direct inquiries to Linda Breeden (firstname.lastname@example.com) or Bill Noble (email@example.com).


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Tuesday December 15, 2009 2:58 pm
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Features, Family, Women, Men, Under $250
Casio rocks it this year with the Exilim Zoom EX-Z280 digital camera, and we like it enough that we are recommending it in this years gift guide. It sports a dedicated Easy Mode, making it easy enough for pretty much anyone who enjoys pressing buttons to operate, while still maintaining the advanced features for more experienced pros, including ones that you don't typically find on budget-priced digital cameras. One such feature is mechanical (instead of digital) image stabilization, giving you nice clear shots while you stumble around during a holiday party after one-too-many eggnogs, as well as a 4x optical zoom lens. In addition, it shoots video in 720p, so it can even take the place of your Flip-style camcorder. You can grab one now for $173 on Amazon.
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When James Caithness died suddenly of an asthma attack in 1826, his widow Ann, aged 30, was expecting their fifth child (Charles). The four older children were James Ramsay b 1815, George b 1818 (1817 on his Master's 'ticket'), Mary Ann b 1820 and William b 1824.
It was a dire situation for any woman but Ann rose to the challenge, making successful application for her two eldest boys to attend the
Royal Hospital
School, Greenwich, to be trained as mariners and
receive an education.
The first ten, even twenty, years of Ann's widowhood must have been extremely difficult. Whether she would have continued to receive James's naval pension of 20 pounds a year has yet to be established. By 1841 William, then 17, was working as a servant in Redbridge, in the parish of Millbrook, a small village in South Stoneham union. (The entry was hidden under the surname Kaithness.) His mother, aged 45, was living on her own in Totton. Charles was nearby, a baker's apprentice at 15.
It was a dire situation for any woman but Ann rose to the challenge, making successful application for her two eldest boys to attend the
Ann Caithness, widowed in 1826: number of children 'Four and more per accouchement', i.e. she was then pregnant with her fifth child.This document is among her son James's application papers for the Royal Hospital, Greenwich
Map shows Totton, Eling (and its mill), Redbridge, Millbrook and Marchwood
|St Mary's, Southampton
George was pursuing his career in the mercantile marine, serving as an apprentice, seaman and mate during the decade 1830-1840. Charles was a journeyman baker by the late 1850s and, in keeping with the family's maritime associations, became a ship's baker; he was with the Peninsular and Oriental line by 1861. They were all making their way and forging their own lives.
There's a rumour that William visited
South Africa in
1853 but documentary evidence of this is lacking. In March 1851 he was with his
mother in Millbrook village, working as a labourer. Nothing changed by 1861,
other than their ages: Ann was then sixty-five and William thirty-five. It was the last Census in which he would be listed.
It's all very well tracing ancestors using the Census: the
entries do provide milestones to hang their story on, giving some indication of where they lived, who was in the household and
their occupations, but the important years between could remain invisible
history unless other extant records are covered. The possibilities are endless:
vestry minutes, churchwardens' accounts, settlement papers, monumental
inscriptions, apprentice bindings, muster rolls, poll books and many more
|Ann and William at Mousehole, Millbrook, Hampshire: 1861 Census
Equally vital – and just as fascinating - is background and contextual research: the setting in which the ancestors found themselves, their social scene, their neighbourhood, external influences such as economics, politics, epidemics and wars – even the weather – in fact everything that affected their lives, bringing us a closer understanding of their circumstances, actions and experiences. This makes the difference between a grayscale picture and one in glorious colour.
To be continued
Eling Riverside Walk
To be continued


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Welcome to Racerhead, and Happy Easter and Good Friday to everyone. We have an off-weekend for Monster Energy AMA Supercross, then two rounds to close it all out, the first at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, then across the country to Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas for the grand finale. It's been an excellent series so far, though it is all over but the shouting. Ryan Villopoto basically just needs to finish the event at MetLife to wrap up his fourth consecutive title, then true Monster Energy Kawasaki rider can focus on what's next ...
… which is the big question: What's next for Ryan Villopoto? Unless you've been offline the past few weeks, you have read or heard the talk that the defending Lucas Oil 450 Pro Motocross Champion is not going to be racing outdoors. Various reports have him riding with a re-injured leg that knocked him out of the Motocross of Nations last year; others have him injuring his other leg. There's also the rather odd one that he's already exhausted Kawasaki's win-bonus budget for 2014. But no one has apparently talked to RV himself about what's really going on (or not going on), and his team hasn't said anything either. They appear to be getting ready for outdoors, business as usual.
This talk is not limited to online pundits, race reporters, and pit gawkers. It was a big topic of conversation at the Red Bull MotoGP last weekend at the remarkable Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where much of the racing industry was gathered even while the Seattle Supercross was being run (and won by Villopoto). I have received calls here at the office from national promoters asking if it's true or not, and I don't really know what to tell them, as I haven't had the chance to speak with Villopoto either.
But here's what we think we know: Villopoto has a problem with his knee, but it's the other leg—not the one that needed ankle work and knocked him out of the MXoN last year. He injured it within the last month. While Ryan himself is not saying anything on the subject, the plan is apparently to try to go outdoors, beginning with Glen Helen on May 24, and then for as long as he can stand the pain or stay in the championship hunt. If he makes it through the season, that would be fantastic for everyone—at least everyone but Team USA and maybe even the Monster Energy Cup fans, because if he needs three or four months (a best-case-scenario for knee surgery), that puts him right up against the start of the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in January. And no one can blame the man for keeping his eye on the SX record books and maybe doing something that even Jeremy McGrath never did: win five SX championship titles in a row.
How can he ride now if the knee is that bad? Supercross is a much different animal than outdoor motocross, and his extraordinary precision and the lack of leg-grabbing ruts and berms makes riding inside a stadium much easier on a bad knee than, say, any of the twelve national tracks. RV lost the 2009 outdoor season to a knee-twisting incident—he won the first round at Glen Helen and then only managed a twenty-first at Hangtown, then he went under the knife.
Regardless of what happens with Villopoto (and I am a glass-half-full guy, so I'm hoping for the best here) the outdoors are still looking extremely competitive in the 450 Class. Past champions James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, and Chad Reed, plus past 250 Champions Trey Canard and Eli Tomac—and of course former MX2 world champ Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia, Jake Weimer, Malcolm Stewart, Davi Millsaps, Andrew Short and Mike Alessi (at least for the first race)—will all line up at Glen Helen on May 24 with a chance at doing something special.
As for the 250 Class, there's a whole bunch of fast kids gearing up for that, including past champs Dean Wilson and Blake Baggett, as well as one very driven veteran: Christophe Pourcel. And the closer we get to Glen Helen, the more I'm hearing from people in the know—including some top riders themselves—that he is going to surprise a lot of people. But since we're talking about Pourcel, it really could be a comeback win or a very short summer. Stay tuned.
Oh, a public-service note to the pro riders out there planning on racing the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships: Don't forget to fill out your license application and get yourself entered.
Okay, here's the rest of Racerhead:
THE NUMBER - 4 - (Aaron Hansel)
Although it won't be official until next week, we can all but safely say that Ryan Villopoto has clinched yet another 450SX Monster Energy Supercross Championship. And perhaps just as impressive as winning four consecutive titles (the second in history to do this behind Jeremy McGrath) is the fact that he's wrapped up the last three of them with gates yet to be dropped. That's amazing. And while some of RV's fellow competitors hold reputations for consistency, perhaps it's Villopoto who should wear that crown as well. Check out the average points per race for the last four seasons.
2014 (through fifteen races)
- Ryan Villopoto - 21.2
- James Stewart - 18
- Ryan Dungey - 17.8
- Ken Roczen - 16.6
- Justin Barcia - 16.46 (thirteen races)
- Ryan Villopoto - 21.82
- Davi Millsaps - 19.88
- Ryan Dungey - 19.82
- Justin Barcia - 16.29
- Chad Reed - 14.94 (sixteen races)
- Ryan Villopoto - 21.53 (fifteen races)
- Davi Millsaps - 15.65
- Ryan Dungey - 21.42 (twelve races)
- Justin Brayton - 16.06 (sixteen races)
- Jake Weimer - 14.31 (sixteen races)
- Ryan Villopoto - 21.13 (sixteen races)
- Chad Reed - 19.65
- Ryan Dungey - 19.29
- James Stewart - 17.71
- Trey Canard - 18.21 (fourteen races)
Now, to put someone else's consistent dominance into perspective, Ricky Carmichael won ten outdoors titles in the ten years he competed full-time, and he wrapped up all ten of those before the final round of the series. That's just never going to happen again
PRO PERSPECTIVE – CAREER RESURRECTION (Jason Thomas and David Pingree)
JT: In honor of Easter weekend and the resurrection, let's talk about which rider has had the best career resurrection. There are lots of possibilities here, but I am going to go with Kevin Windham. Early in the 2002 season, things were beginning to unravel for the #14. Rumors of him partying and losing focus were rampant, and accordingly his results were not what he or Suzuki expected. The situation came to a head in Atlanta with a horrific practice crash, leaving him with a broken femur.
After the dust settled and the healing began, KW hinted that he might retire, shocking the motocross world. He would miss the rest of the 2002 season before photos emerged of him on a Factory Connection Honda in early 2003. Excitement grew as he looked to be preparing for an assault on the outdoor championship and reports of his speed in testing spread like wildfire. When he did return at Glen Helen, he did so with the full support of the motocross die-hards. He went from just another motocross star to the absolute fan favorite over the next few years. His return and renewed attitude was not lost on fans and they responded in kind, making him a hero in the paddock.
Windham went on to win many races over the next ten years and battled for more than one title. As he grew older, he became the working man's racer. "Down-to-earth family man" was the phrase I heard when his name came up in public, and I can't really argue with that. He was always very approachable in a sport that doesn't always display that. To see a rider have a solid career for seven-plus years is rare enough, but to take a year off only to come back and race for ten more years at the highest level is herculean. They just don't make 'em like they used to. Hats off to you, KW.
PING: After reading JT's thoughts on Kevin Windham, I'm thinking he might have nailed it when it comes to all-time career resurrections. But there are still a few others who come to mind who really rallied when they were down and had the best part of their careers during a second wind. Some of those riders include Jimmy Button, Mike Brown, James Dobb, Steve Lamson … but the guy who stands above all others in my book when you are talking about breathing new life into a career is Doug Henry.
Doug started as a scrappy 125 rider for DGY on the East Coast, blitzing the NESC on a YZ125 and YZ250. He picked up a factory Honda ride in '93 and became a national motocross champion in the 125 class (twice). He was climbing his way to the top in the 250 ranks when he broke his back in that horrific crash at Budds Creek.
Most guys would have called it a career at that point. He had some money in the bank and those #1 plates on his wall. Why risk it? But Doug put his head down and made a comeback, pioneering the modern four-stroke motocross bike in the process. Then, for the second time at Budds Creek, he was struck down when his bike faltered on an uphill double and he broke both arms. Henry brought himself back from the depths again yet again to win the 250 National Championship the following season. If all that wasn't enough, Doug came back again in the sport of Supermoto, winning an X Games gold medal and competing for that championship.
A crash during practice at a warm-up race would injure Doug's spine, forcing him into a wheelchair. But even after all that, Doug comes back and races snocross, A Day in the Dirt, and other events on a modified machine. His grit, bravery, and determination to come back from the lowest points make Doug Henry an easy choice for the best resurrection of a career.
Thanks for the inspiration, Doug.
While I hated missing the Seattle SX last weekend (rumors were strong that it might be the last one there, but we'll know soon enough), I was very happy to be in Austin, Texas, at the Circuit of the Americas for the Red Bull MotoGP. The facility is a remarkable state-of-the-art road racing course, and while the racing wasn't as close as anyone might have hoped, seeing Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa, and MotoGP champion Marco Marquez of the Repsol Honda team blasting around the track in front of about 60,000 fans was pretty cool. This was also the first time I had ever visited Austin, and it immediately shot way up on my list of favorite cities around the world.
Also, the MotoGP crowd is much different from what I'm used to seeing in motocross. Comparatively speaking, it was more "Formula 1" than a supercross crowd like you might see at Dallas or Houston SX races, and the whole pace of the event was much more subdued than the slam-bang series of explosions and action that is supercross. Also, the whole town seemed to roll out the red carpet for the visiting race fans, as I am sure they will do when Circuit of the Americas hosts the X Games for the first time this summer.
The whole weekend had parties and get-togethers, including a reception by the Bonnier Group that publishes Cycle World and Dirt Rider, among many other publications. My longtime friend Andy Leisner now publishes Cycle World, and he took the opportunity at the cocktail party to introduce his old boss Larry Little, and together they toasted the room to the passing of longtime Cycle World man Jim Hansen, who passed last week. It was also good to see Ray Blank, the retired former boss at American Honda, back at the races for the weekend.
On Sunday morning my wife, Shannon, and I were invited by Lee Edmunds to take a tour of the Repsol Honda pits, where we got to see how much work goes into the setup of the bikes for Marquez and Pedrosa, who would go out and go 1-2 in the MotoGP. Had Rossi's front tire not had some issues, it might have been much more interesting, but it was really cool to watch and also do some bench-racing with Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, and Dan Truman, who were all there together, plus Adam Cianciarulo and his manager Russ Stratton, who got to hang out with Rossi so the world's two fastest #46s could compare racing notes—and Eric Johnson and Mitch Covington, who were also busy trying to keep an eye on Thomas Covington's race over in Italy. (I also tried to get some workout tips from Johnny Louch of the Rockwell Gym, which I have yet to implement. Maybe after Vegas!)
Finally, there's the town itself. Austin hosts more cool music shows than probably any other town in America besides New York City, which is twenty times bigger, and also has countless restaurants and bars. Every one of them seemed to have some kind of MotoGP insignia going on, including the Chupacabra, which Blake Baggett has nothing to do with! And Rainey Street might be the coolest restaurant row in all of Texas—maybe even America.
If you ever get the chance to go to Austin in general or the Circuit of the Americas in particular, take it! Thanks to Mel Harder for the great passes and hospitality, and good luck to everyone at COTA for the upcoming X Games.
FAST FRIENDS (Jason Weigandt)
In even more Villopoto news, the champion has found a new friend who probably has a better perspective on the pressures and dangers of racing than most. Casey Stoner won two MotoGP World Championships and then shocked the world by deciding to retire two years ago at the ripe old age of 26. Stoner, who coincidentally hails from the same Australian town as Chad Reed, said he wasn't happy with the direction MotoGP was going. He was planning on attending the MotoGP in Austin, so he flew to the U.S. early and checked out the Houston Supercross. But after a day at the races, he was hooked, and Villopoto was his new best friend! Stoner even headed to California to hang with Villopoto for the week and detoured up to Seattle to watch another race. Said Kawasaki senior racing manager Reid Nordin, "Looks like we've adopted him.... He's been hanging around so much we might need to put him to work!"
Remember when we featured that unique West End play in London about middle-aged men camping out at the RedBud National? The Brett Neveu-written play is coming to America! Matt Allard, who attended the play and penned the feature for Racer X Illustrated, spotted a note on the broadsheets about the play making its U.S. debut in Chicago in January 2015.
In my mind's eye I see a young Julia Roberts playing Amy Ritchie, an old Seth Rogen playing Tim Ritchie, and Jason Lawrence as himself.
Can't wait for this one—here's the trailer for The John Penton Story, Pipeline Digital Media
And Bryan Stealey spotted this in his weekly search for anything related to Simon Cowell (just kidding).
"Round five goes bar to bar in Bulgaria"
Press release for the Bulgarian GP, quoting Art Eckman's trademark line from yesteryear.
We spotted an extraordinary set of motorcycling photos from sixties-era America. They were shot by a Chicago-based photographer named Danny Lyons, who published a book called The Bikeriders in 1968. While most of the photos are from a biker gang called The Outlaws that he rode with, there are a few glimpses of old-school scrambles races that are just remarkable. Check them out, along with Lyons' story, right here.
And here are more from the Magnum Photos collection.
On Track School has announced their student of the month.
For the latest from Canada, check out DMX Frid'Eh Update #17.
For The List this week, with the SX world on Easter break, we posted a feature on Americans who went to Europe over the years, just like Thomas Covington is doing now. We got a lot of comments and mail on it, including this one from Eric Golden:
"Awesome 'Americans In Europe' article this week. How about one going the other way - Europeans who left the GPs to come race in the US? I would personally like to know how many GP riders used the GPs as a warmup, then left and came to the US in their prime (not as a last resort because they couldn't find a ride).…"
Stay tuned, we will start gathering them up for a future list.
And supercross may be taking Easter off, but in Europe they will be racing the Bulgarian Grand Prix at Sevlievo this weekend, and it will air online on www.mxgp-tv.com, with the second motos tape-delayed on CBS Sports Network at 6 p.m. Sunday evening. See if Tony Cairoli can rebound from last weekend's defeat at his home GP in Italy, or if Covington can get his Kawasaki back up toward the front.
That's it for Racerhead. Thanks for stopping by, and have a happy holiday weekend. See you at the races.


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SIDEBAR: A 23-year-old woman who fought off an attacker and the Good Samaritans who came to her aid are being credited for putting a stop to the crime with their quick action.
A 23-year-old woman who fought off an attacker and the Good Samaritans who came to her aid are being credited for putting a stop to the crime with their quick action. It was just instinct, say Camdenton residents Debbie Neal and Larry Lewis, who were returning home after their shift at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Still in uniform, the correctional officers had pulled into the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter just before 1 a.m. Thursday when they heard a woman scream. "At first we thought it was a young couple squabbling," Neal said. "That is when she looked at us and screamed, 'Get him, he's trying to kidnap me!'" Without a second thought, they chased after the suspect who jumped over a railing and ran into the woods. Nearby, a Wal-Mart employee who saw the attack also began the pursuit. Neal pulled out her cell phone to call police and report the incident. Neal and Lewis started searching the area and at times would hear the suspect walking in the woods, she said. The Camdenton and Linn Creek Police Departments and the Camden County Sheriff's Department spent nearly an hour searching the woods. Police say they found the suspect not far from the building, highly intoxicated and with minor injuries to his hands and wrists. He was checked at the hospital and released. Neal and Lewis said they didn't even think about helping and are glad the suspect was apprehended. If faced with the same situation, he'd do it again, Neal said. Camdenton Police Chief Laura Wright commended the bystanders for coming to her aid and also credit the victim for being alert and aware of her own surroundings. Contact this reporter at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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