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(36,000 FT. ABOVE) KANSAS CITY, Missouri - It's not often that you find yourself on the flight deck of the world's most advanced passenger aircraft. But that's where I am, flying west over Missouri, sitting in the right seat next to Boeing test pilot Randy Neville aboard the all-new 787 Dreamliner.
If I'm honest, it's a bit overwhelming. Five large screens display all manner of flight data, while a panorama of cockpit windows provide a command view of the Midwest passing beneath us. And surrounding the screens and windows are dozens of knobs, switches, levers and buttons packed throughout the cockpit. But the complexity fades away when Neville pushes the button that disconnects the autopilot and then turns and says, "the airplane is yours."
I am now one of the few people outside Boeing to fly 787 ZA003, the third Dreamliner off the assembly line and one of the workhorses of the aerospace giant's flight test fleet.
Today is a good day.
The 787 is the airplane Boeing hopes will lead the way to an efficient new era of airline travel. Already in service with All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, the Dreamliner burns about 20 percent less fuel than existing airplanes in its class, but right now I'm not thinking much about the business case. Instead it's time to enjoy a few turns, ascents, descents and even a simulated emergency in the first composite airliner in the world.
With all of the advancements that have gone into the Dreamliner – the fly-by-wire systems, the new aerodynamic designs, the carbon fiber composite construction, the efficient new engines – the 787 is designed to fly like other Boeing airliners – to be familiar to the current crop of pilots flying the skies in Boeing's other aircraft.
"Just keep us at this altitude," Neville says, a reminder that despite all the technology, the pilot still has to pay attention to the basics.
The impressive demonstration in the 787 starts at takeoff. Sitting in the jump seat positioned between and behind Neville and fellow test pilot Mike Bryan on the flight deck, the initial climb is impressive thanks to the light load of just 35 passengers – mostly Boeing employees heading home to Seattle after a few weeks touring Europe and the United States to demonstrate the airplane. At just 352,000 pounds at takeoff (maximum takeoff weight is over 500,000 pounds), it doesn't take long before we level off at 36,000 feet.
The visibility from the flight deck of the 787 is impressive. The large windows provide views that far exceed most airline cockpits. It is also very quiet up front compared to other planes of this size, thanks to a lack of sharp edges keeping wind noise to a minimum, even at more than 560 miles per hour.
With Neville in the left seat, I'm given the opportunity to fly the Dreamliner for a little over half an hour. Lacking any experience flying airliners, the experience is far from a thorough flight test, but I get the opportunity to make numerous S-turns of various – albeit moderate – bank angles and some gentle climbs and descents (not all intentional), and I'm guided through some highlights of the airplane's fly-by-wire flight controls.
The view from the pilot's seat in the 787 is especially familiar to anybody who has spent time flying Boeing's 777The view from the pilot's seat in the 787 is especially familiar to anybody who has spent time flying Boeing's 777, the company's slightly bigger wide-body, long-haul aircraft. The most apparent difference between the two airplanes is the four large 15-inch screens that serve as the flight systems and navigation displays, along with the heads-up display directly in front of the pilots. But the 787 has been designed and tuned to fly very similarly to the 777, making the transition relatively easy for existing Boeing pilots.
Boeing has always utilized a control yoke for pitch and roll control in its airliners. Unlike the small side stick used on a variety of Airbus airliners, the yoke on the 787 is a U-shaped control attached to the floor with a column between the pilots' legs.
Both the 787 and the newest Airbus aircraft use fly-by-wire control systems, meaning the yoke or stick (and rudder pedals) are connected to a computer that in turn controls the ailerons, spoilers, elevator and rudder on the wings and tail. There is no direct mechanical linkage between the pilot's main controls and flight control surfaces in a fly-by-wire aircraft, and the two companies differ fundamentally on how their software uses the 1's and 0's to control the airplane.
In Airbus aircraft, the pilot uses the side stick to input, or "command" a pitch or roll rate. This is done in the traditional method of moving the stick, but it doesn't require more force from the pilot to command a greater rate, and once the desired bank or pitch angle is achieved, the side stick returns to center. There is no feedback given to the pilot through the controls based on how the airplane is maneuvering and the captain and first officer's sticks don't move together to reflect what the other is doing. Instead the control laws of the fly-by-wire system ensure the airplane is flown within the safe boundaries of the flight envelope once the pilot has commanded a maneuver.
In the 787, when the pilot moves the yoke, more or less force is required depending on whether or not more or less control input is used. And if the pilot pulls the yoke back to pitch up during take-off, the pilot must hold the yoke back to continue the climb, or use the trim button that relieves the pressure on the yoke just as it would in a small Cessna or other traditionally controlled airplanes. And both the captain and first officer's yokes are cross-linked, so one pilot can at a glance (or feel) know what's happening with the controls.
"If you get slow you're going to have to hold the nose up, or if you get very fast it's going to climb, so you have to push the nose," Neville tells me, describing the fairly traditional inputs a pilot must make when flying.
"You can design that out with fly-by-wire flight control systems if you want to. We [Boeing] don't." Neville says. "That's why we have conventional trim control switches. So again, those are cues that your airspeed is accelerating or decelerating. You have to compensate for that."
Neville's comments are a direct comparison to Airbus planes where the aircraft will maintain the commanded attitude even if it's speeding up or slowing down.
Boeing's system favors airspeed stability, and Airbus' system favors attitude stability. Supporters and critics of each fly-by-wire philosophy debate endlessly which is better to fly and which is safer. We'll leave that argument for another time.
Even with the more traditional pilot input/feedback in the 787, the fly-by-wire system provides plenty of help to reduce pilot workload.
At the most simple level, and common to other fly-by-wire aircraft, there's no back pressure on the yoke needed during a turn. In most aircraft without fly-by-wire, the pilot must pull back on the stick or yoke a small amount to compensate for the vertical component of lift from the wings that is lost when the plane is in a bank. When "hand-flying" the 787 the pilot simply turns the yoke and the computer inputs the correct amount of elevator to maintain the same altitude.
Simple, yet new to those not accustomed to flying via computer.
"Watch your altitude," comes the gentle reminder from Neville. During my time at the controls making S-turns over the Midwest, there is a little altitude gain during many of the turns. Old habits die hard.
Simulating the loss of power in an engine is a far more impressive demonstration of fly-by-wire technology, and something I get to experience first-hand.
For pilots learning to fly a twin-engine aircraft, much of the time is spent learning how to deal with the loss of an engine. During critical phases of flight such as take-off or landing, losing an engine demands immediate action and dramatically increases the pilot workload. Even in other modern fly-by-wire airliners, pilot input such as using the rudder pedals to compensate for the lack of thrust and associated drag from inoperative engine is something that demands attention.
"If we were to suddenly have an engine fail," Neville says calmly as he turns off the auto-throttles, "we're just going to simulate that." The right throttle lever is pulled back, the engine is reduced to idle and then it happens. Nothing. No need to stand on the left pedal to keep the airplane flying straight and no trim changes needed, either.
"You're pretty much hands and feet off the controls," Neville points out.
Losing an engine during flight is now a non-event.Technically, my hands are still on the yoke, but no control input is needed even though the airplane is now flying with almost half of its normal thrust. The rudder pedals do physically move, letting the pilot know what the computer has done to compensate. With the lack of thrust, we're slowly decelerating, and I could push the nose down to descend and maintain our airspeed. But losing an engine during flight is a non-event. Neville says from a piloting point of view it's basically the same during take-off and landing, though normally the auto-throttles would handle the still-working engine. Even with the automation turned off, according to the veteran test pilot, there isn't much to flying on a single engine in the 787.
"Even manually flying, and manually controlling the throttles," Neville says, "a single engine approach in this airplane is a no brainer. It's so easy. It's such a low workload."
During single engine flight, the flight control laws in the fly-by-wire system compensate with the proper amount of control input to counteract the loss of thrust. The 777 has a version of thrust asymmetry compensation as well. But the version on the 787 does a better job of flying the airplane on one engine.
"It's going to give you a minimum drag configuration," Neville tells me, referring to the multi-axis control with the new software. "That's the inherent flight controls, not the autopilot. It really reduces the pilot workload with what has typically been a pretty dynamic situation."
Indeed, even for a total novice multi-engine, big jet pilot, the experience of flying and even making a few gentle turns on a single engine feels the same as flying with both engines operating. The only difference is the airspeed.
The new flight control laws – called "P-Beta" in the Dreamliner – like all parts of the 787 were tested thoroughly in a wide variety of conditions during develoment. Simulated engine failures were performed in just about every conceivable situation, including take-off roll, before nose rotation, during rotation, after rotation, during the climb, during the landing and during both compensating and aggravating crosswinds. The result is an airplane that is as boring as possible to fly, even in emergencies.
After making a few final turns, careful to let the Dreamliner hold altitude on its own, it's time to relinquish the controls and give test pilot Mike Bryan his seat back. With the flight path marker lined up with the guidance circle on the heads up display, and trimmed to fly hands off at 36,000 feet, I voluntarily push the autopilot button on the panel and hand ZA003 back to its captain.
"The airplane is yours," I say to Neville before climbing out the seat.
My flying experience is similar to what's been given to pilots of customer – and potential customer – airlines during Boeing's worldwide demonstration tour.
"It's mostly letting them see the airplane, getting a feel for it, and doing some minor maneuvering," according to Neville. "They're mostly line pilots – they're not in the test world. And on the demo flights we tend to have a lot of executives in the back."
Back in the main cabin, there's still plenty of time to explore the different seating options and check out the 787's giant overhead bins. I peer through the oversized passenger windows, catching a glimpse of the Rockies while testing the dimming feature and watching the view lighten and darken with the press of a button.
Despite Boeing's massive efforts to improve the passenger experience, for the final approach and landing I head back to the cockpit and again strap myself into the jump seat. The best seats are always in the front of the plane and it's hard to imagine a better view as we touch down in Seattle.
All photos: Jason Paur/Wired


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The P*DA is an item in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness that you obtain at the start of the game. It serves as a combination of the Pokédex and items like the Pokégear throughout your adventure to save the Shadow Pokémon. Some of its features are keeping track of the Shadow Pokémon you met and if you captured them or not.
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subset: commoncrawl


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A well-known hair stylist in Milan who worked with models developed the WIDU® concept. He was concerned that the constant washing of hair and heat from the photographic lights dried the scalp. As he felt that boar bristle and nylon bristle brushes had the tendency to both scratch the scalp and tear the hair, so he developed the wooden bristles.
The brushes are handmade in Italy by adult native artisans that have perfected their skills over the last thirty years. No child labor is utilized. Our products are of impeccable old world quality and long lasting value unlike many of our imitators.
After an extensive study and research the hard white wood of the hornbeam tree was chosen for the bristles. Horn beam is in the birch family and has a strong resistance to breakage and maintains its exceptional smooth qualities.
The WIDU® Wooden Bristle brush is all-natural. Neither animal by-products nor synthetic materials are used in its manufacture. It is an animal and cruelty-free product. We have discovered that:
1. Wooden bristles gently massage the scalp and move natural oils through the hair. The brushes aid in scalp massage, blood circulation, excess sebum absorption and the removal hair impurities.
2. Massaging the scalp helps promote hair growth and stimulate acupressure points.
3. The combination of wood and natural antistatic rubber helps to prevent flyaway hair.
4. When exposed to a blow dryer, the brush stays cool because wood and rubber do not conduct heat. When hair is wet the wooden bristles glide easily through the tangles.
5. The brushes and combs are naturally hypoallergenic. The comb's wooden teeth are turned and well finished so they do not tear at the hair. The majority of our brushes and combs are only finished with a protective coating of beeswax or purified linseed oil.
6. Only wood suppliers who agree to a policy of Forest Stewardship Council sustainable forestation are utilized. This also applies to the African wood suppliers.


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We are reluctant to call these yellow-green round lanterns "cheap paper lanterns" because their quality and value are outstanding for the price. Our paper lanterns have been designed with the budget shopper in mind. Available in an array of tried and true basic colors, these decorative lanterns feature wire ribbing and a simple C-hook or bulb grabber expander. Our parallel ribbed paper lanterns are intended for use with cord sets or battery powered LED lights.
Product Specifications
Paper Lantern Color: Green
Dimensions: 18 Inch
Material: Rice Paper
Expander: C Hook or Bulb Grabber Style
Ribbing: Parallel Ribbing
Light?: Not Included - we recommend LED, battery operated or cord socket sets. Find options our Lighting category!
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On 14 May 1973, the last Saturn V to fly, designated SA-513, launched the Skylab Orbital Workshop (OWS) into a 435-kilometer-high orbit about the Earth. Flight controllers soon realized that the 100-ton space laboratory was in trouble. Although they did not know it at the time - Skylab had launched into dense clouds, so could not be imaged during most of its ascent - 63 seconds after liftoff a design flaw had caused Skylab's meteoroid shield to rip away. Shield debris had jammed one of the workshop's two main electricity-producing solar arrays. The other array remained attached to Skylab's side only at its hinge (forward) end.
Shield debris had pummeled SA-513, tearing at least one hole in the tapered interstage adapter that linked its S-II second stage with the OWS. It also apparently damaged the system for separating the cylindrical adapter that linked the S-II to the S-IC first stage. The adapter, meant to separate shortly after the spent S-IC, remained stubbornly attached to the S-II all the way to orbit.
After the S-II's five J-2 engines shut down, forward-facing solid-propellant rockets ignited to push the spent stage away from Skylab. Their plumes blasted open and tore away the loose solar array. Ironically, the jammed array probably survived because it was tied down by meteoroid shield debris.
Without the protection of the reflective meteoroid shield, temperatures within Skylab's 11,303-cubic-foot pressurized volume soon soared, raising fears that its air would become tainted by outgassing from materials on board, film would be ruined, and food spoiled. Meanwhile, maneuvers designed to cool Skylab's interior tended to starve it of electricity, for they turned away from the Sun the four "windmill" solar arrays on the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), the beleaguered space laboratory's only functioning electricity source.
NASA immediately began a Skylab rescue effort. Engineers developed deployable sunshields and tools for freeing the stuck main array, flight controllers carefully maneuvered Skylab to maximize the amount of electricity the ATM arrays could produce while reducing temperatures on board as much as possible, and the first crew meant to board Skylab (designated Skylab 2 by NASA) hurriedly trained to become orbital repairmen.
On 25 May, the Skylab 2 crew of Pete Conrad, Paul Weitz, and Joe Kerwin lifted off in an Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) atop a Saturn IB rocket. After a failed attempt to pull open the one remaining main solar array with a hook extended from the open CSM hatch, they docked with and entered Skylab, then deployed a sunshield through an experiment airlock. Temperatures began to fall, but the Orbital Workshop remained starved for electricity. On 7 June, Conrad and Kerwin succeeded in forcing open the surviving main solar array, saving not only their own 28-day mission, but also the 59-day Skylab 3 and 84-day Skylab 4 missions.
The Skylab 3 crew of Alan Bean, Jack Lousma, and Owen Garriott lifted off 28 July. During their 6 August spacewalk, Lousma and Garriott deployed an improved sunshield. The Skylab 4 crew of Jerry Carr, William Pogue, and Ed Gibson boarded the laboratory on 16 November. Carr and Gibson mounted a meteoroid collector on an ATM strut during their spacewalk on 3 February 1974, in the hope that a Space Shuttle crew might retrieve it as early as 1979. When the Skylab 4 crew undocked on 8 February 1974, Skylab was expected to remain aloft until 1983, when atmospheric drag would cause it to fall back to Earth. They left Skylab's airlock hatch closed but not latched so that it could provide entry for future visitors.
On 10 June 1977, former Skylab Deputy Director John Disher, NASA's Director of Advanced Programs, directed NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, to conduct an in-house study of the feasibility of reusing Skylab in the Space Shuttle program. On 16 November 1977, MSFC engineers J. Murphy, B. Chubb, and H. Gierow presented results of the study to NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight John Yardley. Before coming to NASA in 1974, Yardley had managed Skylab assembly at McDonnell Douglas, the Orbital Workshop's prime contractor.
The MSFC engineers first assessed Skylab's condition. They reported that when the Skylab 4 crew returned to Earth, the Orbital Workshop's water system contained 1930 pounds of water (enough to supply three men for 60 days). The water, they said, probably remained potable, but could have developed a bad taste. If not still potable, it could be used for bathing. In any case, the Skylab water system included resupply points, so a Space Shuttle crew could replenish it if water transfer equipment were developed.
The oxygen/nitrogen supply remaining on Skylab was probably sufficient to supply three men for 140 days at Skylab's operating pressure of five pounds per square inch, the MSFC engineers estimated. The ventilation and carbon dioxide removal systems were almost certainly functional. Even if they were not, their most important components were designed to be replaceable in space.
The MSFC engineers also assessed Skylab's electrical power system. They estimated that the main solar array Conrad and Kerwin had freed could still generate between 1.5 and 2.5 kilowatts (KW) of electricity, and that the batteries it had charged, located in Skylab's Airlock Module, were probably still usable. The batteries for the ATM arrays, on the other hand, were almost certainly frozen. They recommended that controllers reactivate the main array electrical system from the ground before the first Shuttle visit, and that any effort to revive the ATM electrical system be left until a later time.
More problematic than the electrical system was the attitude control system, which relied on a trio of Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) to turn Skylab so that, among other things, it could point its solar arrays at the Sun. One CMG had failed and another showed signs of impending failure. In addition, Skylab's guidance computer was probably dead after being subjected to "extreme thermal cycling." The Orbital Workshop's thruster system, on the other hand, was probably operational with about 30 days of propellant remaining.
Finally, the MSFC team looked at Skylab's cooling system, which had leaked while the astronauts were on board and had probably frozen and ruptured since the last crew returned to Earth. They called "serviceability of [the] cooling system. . .the most questionable area" as far as Skylab's reusability was concerned, but added that "any inflight 'fixes' should be well within the scope of crew capability."
The MSFC engineers then proposed a four-phase plan for reactivating and reusing Skylab. The target date for the first Phase I milestone had already passed by the time they briefed Yardley: they called for an October 1977 decision on whether Skylab should be reboosted to a higher orbit, extending its orbital lifetime until about 1990, or deboosted so that it would reenter over an unpopulated area.
Assuming that NASA decided to reboost Skylab, then a ground reactivation test would occur between June 1978 and March 1979. If the reactivation test was successful, then a Space Shuttle Orbiter would rendezvous with Skylab during the Shuttle Program's fifth Orbital Flight Test mission in February 1980. The Orbiter would conduct an inspection fly-around, then deploy an unmanned Teleoperator spacecraft from its payload bay. Using a control panel on the Shuttle, the astronauts would guide the Teleoperator, which would carry an Apollo-type probe docking unit, to a docking with the front docking port on Skylab's Multiple Docking Adapter. The Teleoperator would then fire its thrusters to raise Skylab's orbit. Its work done, it would then detach, freeing up the front port for Phase II of MSFC's plan.
Phase II would begin in March 1980, when NASA would initiate development of Skylab refurbishment kits, a 10-foot-long Docking Adapter (DA), and a 25-KW Power Module (PM). The DA would include at one end an Apollo-type probe docking unit for attaching it to Skylab's front port and at the other end an Apollo-Soyuz-type androgynous unit to which Shuttle Orbiters and the PM could dock.
The first refurbishment kit and the DA would reach Skylab on board a Shuttle Orbiter in January 1982. During the same mission, spacewalking Shuttle astronauts would fold two of the four ATM solar arrays to improve clearance for visiting Orbiters and would retrieve the meteoroid experiment the Skylab 4 astronauts had left on the ATM.
A second Shuttle visit in August 1983 would bring additional refurbishment kits and would repair Skylab's damaged cooling system plumbing. As time allowed, the Phase II crews would perform undefined "simple passive experiments" on board Skylab and would collect samples of its structure for analysis on Earth.
Phase III would begin in March 1984 with delivery of the PM and any remaining refurbishment kits, the MSFC engineers told Yardley. Using the Shuttle's Remote Manipulator System robot arm, astronauts would lift the PM from the Orbiter's payload bay and turn it 180° so that it protruded forward well beyond the Orbiter's nose. They would then dock one of the PM's three androgynous docking units to an identical unit at the front of the Orbiter's payload bay. The Shuttle would use another of the PM's docking units to dock with the DA on Skylab.
Following docking with Skylab, the astronauts would deploy the PM's twin solar arrays and thermal radiators, link it to Skylab's systems by cables extended through open hatchways or installed on the hull during spacewalks, and power up the PM's three CMGs to replace Skylab's crippled attitude control system. The Orbiter would then undock from the PM, leaving it attached permanently to Skylab, and NASA would declare the revived and expanded Orbital Workshop to be fully habitable.
Phase III would continue with the first in a series of 30-to-90-day missions aboard Skylab. During these, a Shuttle Orbiter carrying a Spacelab module in its cargo bay would remain docked with the Orbital Workshop. The astronauts would work in the Spacelab module, take advantage of Skylab's large pressurized volume to perform "simple experiments" requiring more room than Shuttle and Spacelab could provide (for example, preliminary space construction experiments), and begin building up stockpiles of food, film, clothing, and other supplies on board. Another 30-to-90-day mission would see the astronauts refurbish and use selected Skylab science experiments, install new experiments based on Spacelab experiment designs, and stockpile more supplies. Between these missions, the new and improved Skylab would fly unmanned.
The MSFC engineers told Yardley that the volume available to a crew on board a Shuttle Orbiter without a Spacelab module in its payload bay would total only 1110 cubic feet. Adding a Spacelab would increase that to about 5100 cubic feet. This was, however, less than half the pressurized volume of Skylab. For a mission including a Shuttle Orbiter, Spacelab module, and Skylab, the total volume available to the crew would exceed 16,400 cubic feet.
They were not specific about what Skylab would be used for when Phase IV began in mid-1986, though they did offer several intriguing possibilities. Shuttle Orbiters might, for example, attach Spacelab modules and experiment pallets to the third docking port on the PM. A Shuttle External Tank might be joined to Skylab to serve as a strongback for large-scale space construction experiments using a mobile "space crane." The experiments might include construction of a large space power module or a multiple beam antenna. A new "floor" might be assembled within Skylab, enabling it to house up to nine astronauts. As NASA developed confidence in the revived space laboratory's health, manned missions on board Skylab without a Shuttle Orbiter present might commence, leading to permanent manning and "support [of] major space operations."
The MSFC engineers did not estimate the cost of Phases I and IV of their plan, though they did provide a (perhaps optimistic) pricetag for Phases II and III. Their estimate did not include Space Shuttle transportation and contractor study costs. In Fiscal Year (FY) 1980, NASA would spend $2 million each on Phases II and III. This would climb to $5 million for Phase II and $3.4 million for Phase III in FY 1981. FY 1982, the plan's peak funding year, would see $4.5 million spent on Phase II and $10.2 million spent on Phase III. In FY 1983, NASA would spend $2.5 million to close out Phase II and $12 million to continue Phase III. The following year it would spend $9.1 million on Phase III. Phase III closeout in FY 1985 would cost $4.5 million. Phase II would cost a total of $14 million, while the more ambitious Phase III would total $41.2 million. Phases II and III together would cost $55.2 million.
MSFC's presentation to Yardley concluded with a call for more in-house and contractor studies in FY 1978. McDonnell Douglas and Martin Marietta subsequently began more detailed Skylab reuse studies, the former under supervision of NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the latter under MSFC supervision. The Martin Marietta and McDonnell Douglas studies will be discussed in forthcoming posts.
Skylab Reuse Study Presented to Mr. Yardley by MSFC, November 16, 1977.


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Stephen Colbert is going to salute the U.S. troops coming home in his own unique way.
His namesake Comedy Central vehicle ,"The Colbert Report," will run a two-night special to mark the end of combat operations in Iraq, loaded with guest appearances from big name politicians like Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Jim Webb as well as U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno.
The special episodes, dubbed "Been There: Won That: The Returnification of the American-Do Troopscape, " will air September 8 and 9 and the live audience is expected to be filled with Iraq War vets and active duty troops. Other soldiers from around the world will be beamed in via satellite from Afghanistan and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Odierno famously shaved Colbert's head — on President Barack Obama's orders — when the comedian broadcast four episodes of "The Report" from Baghdad last year. On that visit, Colbert donned a camouflage suit and reported from a desk supported by sand bags.
The 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which exited Iraq on Wednesday, officially was designated the last combat brigade to leave Iraq under Obama's plan to end combat operations there by Aug. 31. Some 50,000 members will stay another year in what is designated as a noncombat role.
Though Colbert's normal mode is satire, he's a strong supporter of the troops.
With the WristStrong bracelets he's promoted since falling while running around his desk and breaking his wrist, he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity that assists injured service members and their families. He's a board member of DonorsChoose.org, which is raising money for the education of children of parents in the military.
"Sometimes," Colbert said earlier to The Associated Press, "my character and I agree."


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Jul 18 2009, 8:09 am
Post your comments here!
Hello, yesterday when I was playing the server is closed and I was banned by the host, I wanted to ask you to please Take this for me because the Shinobi of Legend is everything to me, is very difficult to live without it, I need to play!
Note: I do not remember having committed any offense to be banned, but if I have made many excuses I ask you!
thank you attention!


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I stole this from my Sister because I believe this is SO true fro all us gals.She found this article in her journey.
We are beautiful women who have no idea we are beautiful. We stand in front of the mirror and tear ourselves apart, going over every seeming imperfection, every flaw, every bit of evidence that we are not as we were once so long ago.
This is insanity.
In five years, we will salivate for this skin. In ten years, we will have nothing but respect for this ass. In twenty, we won't care about any of it--scanning our pictures instead for signs in our eyes that we were present and willing to be honest and real and incredibly brave, no matter what the state of our abs.
We are aging, every one of us, everyday, all the time. This body will not stay. It will morph and change. It will get weaker, and yes, it will die. And until that moment, this body will house the very essence of us. This body will play host to all our hopes and fears, our most true and alive moments. This body will hold every second of our existence on this planet, and it will remember down to the cells everything that made us laugh and cry.
Today, get out your big camera, your phone or your point and shoot and honor your body. Your perfection (or lack thereof) is not the point. What matters is that you turn your gaze on what is holding you together right now. What matters is that you love and cherish the essence of who you are before it's too late.


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We Ask Chefs: What's the First Drink You Learned to Make?
Hey Chef, what's in your glass?
There's always a first time for everything. Most chefs will happily give you full details of the first meal they ever made, but we were curious about their inaugural drinks. What drinks did they first learn to make for themselves? Some chefs recalled beverages as innocent as peanut butter milkshakes, while others started out simple (with vodka slugged straight from the bottle.)
We asked chefs from across country about which drinks they first learned to mix themselves. Here's what they had to say...
"A White Russian. I was in culinary school and 'borrowed' some half & half and Kahlua. I really love the flavor of coffee, so I enjoyed learning how to make this drink." —Hung Huynh (The General, CATCH)
"A Long Island Iced Tea. My first bartending gig was in the Statler Hotel's lobby bar when I was 18. I remember thinking how easy the recipe was—a little of everything in the well, with a splash of Coke." —Braden Wages (Malai Kitchen)
"Chocolate milk. You were never a kid if you didn't make chocolate milk. Hershey's syrup mixed with milk. Best invention ever." —Peter Coenen (The Gage)
What's New On Serious Eats
"A rum and Coke, a drink I first started making over 10 years ago. I used to mix Captain Morgan's with Coke and a twist of lime—it was the perfect drink for a long night ahead—the sugar and caffeine would keep me up all night." —Harold Dieterle (Perilla, Kin Shop, The Marrow)
"My grandparents had a house on Lake Michigan, and every summer I would go up. One year they taught me how to make an Old Fashioned. That was their drink of choice, and by the end of the summer I was like their personal bartender." —Vinny Dotolo (Animal)
"Sangria at my family's Spanish restaurant when I was 13 or 14 years old."—Kevin Nashan (Sidney Street Cafe)
"Pretty sure the first drink I made does not have a name, but it was whatever terrible booze I found in my parents' liquor cabinet. I mean a splash of this and a splash of that, topped with some sort of soda—gross!" —Ben Bettinger (Imperial)
"The first drink I learned how to make was a peanut butter milkshake." —Adam Leonti (Vetri Ristorante)
"Bourbon old fashioned...at family get togethers, depending on whether we were at my grandmother's, my aunt and uncle's, or my folks' house, you would always see a different way to make one. I definitely come from a bourbon centric family. I always liked how adamant they would get about whose was better." —Sean Temple (Paulee)
"Negroni (so Italian)!" —Giuseppe Tentori (GT Fish & Oyster)
"Orange Julius was the first beverage I ever concocted on my own. I was probably eight years old." —Chris Pandel (The Bristol, Balena)
"The first drink I learned to make was a Caesar. It's a Bloody Mary with Clamato juice. My Canadian friend showed me how to make them, and I loved them." —Richard Gras (Oak)
"Watermelon slushy." —Eddy Thretipthuangsin (PakPao Thai)
"Vodka from the bottle." —Jon Shook (Animal)
"The first drink that I learned to make would have been my college go-to: a Jack and Coke, garnished with two olives. I guess the salty, briny olives balanced that sweetness for me." —Gabrielle Quinonez Denton (Ox)
"A Greyhound."—Marco Canora (Hearth)
"Screwdriver, but I made them too strong and puked." —Gabe Rucker (Le Pigeon)
"The first drink I leaned to make was a Dark and Stormy, while on vacation with my uncle." —Marc Marrone (LAVO Italian Restaurant, TAO Asian Bistro)
"A Suicide. I was only 5 or 6, so it was made of as many different fruit juices mixed together as you could find in the house. Not until I was older did I learn that it was based off a drink my parents used to drink in college. To be economical they would mix all the alcohol they had together (brandy, tequila, gin...), add some juice and have at it. Pretty much what we call 'Jungle Juice' today." —Hank Costello (Andina)
"I think it was a Cosmopolitan when I was 18 years old and working in my brother's restaurant, when I did half my time working in the kitchen and half my time in bar. It was 2000, and they were really popular." —Michael Ferraro (Delicatessen)
"Tequila shot."—Shaun Hergatt (Juni)
"Rum and Coke! I cooked in the Bahamas for a year. If they know you well enough at the bar, they'll put a bottle of Bacardi Anejo and a can of Coke and let you pour your own." —Kyle Bailey (Birch & Barley)
So many drinks, so little time. Keep in the loop on Twitter, or sign up for our weekly newsletter.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Welcome to Sid's Place!
For Wholesome Home Cooking,
Go To Sid's Place!
Sid Hedayati has been at the same location for more than 20 years, serving good quality home cooking at reasonable prices that haven't changed all that much in that time.
"Cooking that natural chicken (no hormones) over a direct fire gives it a good flavor," he says.
Chicken Plus specializes in Greek fare, but there are also plenty of satisfying American dishes such as baby back pork ribs, steak and prime rib if you are not into ethic food.
Sid also carries several fish dishes, such as salmon and catfish, all caught live, not raised on farms.
"Price wise you get good fish at a price I don't think you can get anywhere else," he says.
And that food is fresh cooked to order. Which means that if you order fried zucchini, or French fries the cooks will be slicing the zucchini or potatoes up fresh in the kitchen.


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- Eddie Aldridge, Stone Sailing Club
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- Chandler, Toba Communication
WARP-SPEED turnover! Great communication! We were VERY impressed with the result! First proof was so good, there were hardly any changes made. Thanks again!.
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text: Frequently Asked Questions What are the general office hours?The Kingsport Times News general office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. How do I subscribe to the home delivery of the Kingsport Times News?Click here to fill out a subscription request or call our office at 423-246-8121. My paper wasn't delivered today, what office do I contact for further assistance?Please call our customer service at 423-392-1390. Where do I find the full obituaries on the website?The obituaries are available here, under the Announcements section. How do I report an error in a story?You should refer to the specific story citing what the story erroneously reported and cite the correct information in an e-mail to an editor.Please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call our news department at 423-392-1361. How do I submit a wedding or engagement announcement?You can share an announcement by downloading the correct form found here. or come by our office at 701 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport, TN. How do I submit a letter to the editor?Our policy on letters to the editor can be found here. How do I retrieve articles in the Times News archive?Searching the archives for the Kingsport Times News Online requires that you be a KP Advantage Member. This website is a complete replica of the print edition and includes the ability to search our online archive. Contact Us for further information. How do I postpone my home delivery while on vacation?Click here for more info or you may call the 423-246-8121 during business hours and talk with a representative. Please allow 24 hours notice for postponing your delivery. How do I send a tip, story idea or press release to the news staff?Please send your tips and press releases to firstname.lastname@example.com. Letters can be addressed to Newsroom, Kingsport Times News, 701 Lynn Garden Drive Kingsport, TN 37660 Where can I access the e-edition?You can find the digital copy of the Kingsport Times News here. I cannot access or login to read the e-edition, whom do I contact for assistance?Please call one of our customer service representatives at 423-246-8121.


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Los Angeles Kings Pregame: Lords of Bumtown
Doug Johnson of the Puck Buddys issues this pregame report. Follow @PuckBuddys.
"Los Angeles is just New York lying down." – Quentin Crisp
The Puck Drop: As hockey analysts go, it's a fair bet the late Naked Civil Servant numbers among the more improbable. Yet we can't find a better clear-eyed summation of the 2012 Los Angeles Kings than Mr. Crisp's tart bon mot. Where the New York Rangers are a team that is on its toes, the L.A. Kings are lazing in a recumbant slough with nary the will to move. ("Someone get me a bucket!")
Their last game before Monday's dance with the Caps should illustrate the point. A sorry 31 shots on goal, with eight power plays (one 5-on-3) and not a single puck finds the twine? Against the Blue Jackets? At least in Versailles the ruined monarchy mustered the spirit to play a rousing set or two of tennis, and look what happened to them. Awkward!
By Doug Johnson 9 years ago


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SAN News (presumably standing for San Andreas Network News), is a news agency appearing in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. SAN News has no ground operations unit in Xbox and Xbox 360 versions, instead, VCN is its placeholder and this is evidenced by the VCN markings on the Newsvan.
The broadcasting agency has its own helicopter, the News Chopper, which can be seen flying alongside the Police Maverick and around the player when a four star wanted level is achieved. The helicopter doesn't affect anything, but Carl can still shoot it down.
For on-the-ground operations they use the Newsvan but, unlike the News Chopper, it is not deployed on the streets based on the wanted level, and can be found driving about the various streets and highways.
It is never revealed if SAN News broadcasts anything other than news or where their studio is. However, a Newsvan can be seen parked outside the Missionary Hill Radio Tower on Missionary Hill suggesting that their studio and broadcasting facilities may be located here.


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In a video conference interview with Tippecanoe Valley High-School (Indiana) students Valve's Gabe Newell revealed that "We just finished Portal 2. It's pretty much put to bed and we're just waiting for final approvals and to get the discs manufactured."
Portal 2 is a hilariously mind-bending adventure that challenges you to use wits over weaponry in a funhouse of diabolical science.
Using a highly experimental portal device, you'll once again face off against a lethally inventive, power-mad A.I. named GLaDOS. And this time you won't be alone. Meet an expanded cast of characters as you think your way through dangerous, never-before-seen areas of Aperture Laboratories.
Break the laws of spatial physics in ways you never thought possible, with a wider variety of portal puzzles and an expansive story that spans a single player and co-operative game mode.
The game's two-player cooperative mode features its own entirely separate campaign with a unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters. This new mode forces players to reconsider everything they thought they knew about portals. Success will require them to not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively.
On the PS3 Portal 2 will be supported by Steamworks, a complete suite of game features and services including auto updates, community features, downloadable content, and more.
Marking the debut of Steam functioning on any next generation console, the features shipping in the PS3 version of Portal 2 include cross platform play (PC/Mac vs. PS3) for multiplayer games, persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games, and cross platform chat (PC/Mac and PS3).
More articles about Portal 2


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I have a database with a table named 'Items', that have a few simple attributes. Let's assume it looks like so:
ID Name IsEdible -- ---- -------- 1 Apple 1 2 Chair 0 3 Bread 1
Let us also assume that we want to print this data out to the screen like so:
Item Is this edible? ---- --------------- Apple Yes Chair No Bread Yes
Now, the MVC pattern basically says that this should happen:
- The controller is instantiated
- The controller asks the model for the data
- The controller reads in the template (the view)
- The controller replaces the placeholders in the template with the data it got from the model
- The controller sends (serves) this result to the end user
All pretty simple. My question is this: At some stage, the column IsEdible has to be converted from bit value (1/0) to a string value (Yes/No). Should the model be doing this, or should the controller be doing this? In other words, should the formatting of the data be handled by the model, or just the data retrieval?
I know it's a nit-picky question, but I feel this is a core concept of MVC that I'm unsure of.
This post has been edited by e_i_pi: 02 September 2011 - 08:30 PM


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The Houston Dynamo Reserves defeated the FC Dallas Reserves 2-1, Tuesday morning, at the Houston Amateur Sports Park. Warren Creavalle and Jason Johnson scored the goals for Houston as the Dynamo improved their record to 2-0-0 in their 2013 Reserve League campaign.
FC Dallas controlled the tempo of the match early and nearly got on the board in the fifth minute. Colombian striker Fabian Castillo beat a Dynamo defender to the touch line and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Erich Marscheider. The young Dynamo goalkeeper, however, stayed tall and used his body to prevent two shot attempts and keep the visitors off the board.
After a few near misses in front of goal, the Dynamo broke through in the 33rd minute. Veteran forward Brian Ching earned a foul in FC Dallas' half of the field and played a quick free kick to the left flank. The ball worked around to left back Mike Chabala who found the end line and fed Johnson at the six-yard box. Johnson spun and saw his first shot attempt blocked by goalkeeper Chris Seitz, but Creavalle was there to clean up the rebound and give the home side the 1-0 lead.
The visitors were able to level the match before halftime from a Fabian Castillo penalty kick. The penalty originated after current FC Dallas and former Dynamo midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson sprinted down the left wing and played a cross into the Houston 18-yard box. Although the ball was cleared away, Creavalle came sliding in late with a tackle and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Castillo laced his attempt down the middle to level the match.
After two saves in the first half, Marscheider was called into action again in the 51st minute. FC Dallas Academy defender Kris Reaves sprinted down the right flank and played in a cross toward the Dynamo six-yard box. Marscheider knocked down the cross and scrambled to his feet to stop the point-blank shot from Victor Ulloa. The rebound fell on the foot of homegrown striker Bradlee Baladez but the 21-year-old forward could not keep his attempt on frame.
Houston found their winner in the final minutes of the match. After Johnson was played into the penalty box, FC Dallas Academy defender Christian de Luna found himself on the wrong side of the Jamaican striker and was whistled for a foul. Johnson completed the play, striking the ball to the right side of Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez to give the Dynamo a 2-1 lead.
FC Dallas nearly equalized in the 89th minute when second-half sub Bobby Edet was played over the top of the Dynamo defense. Marscheider came out to intercept the play, but the ball deflected off Edet and rolled toward the Dynamo net. A Dynamo defender alertly sprinted back to clear the ball away before it crossed the line.
The Dynamo Reserves are next in action on Sunday, May 19 when they host USL Pro side Charleston Battery at the Houston Amateur Sports Park. FC Dallas will resume Reserve League action when they travel to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire Reserves on Wednesday, May 1.
Houston Dynamo Reserves (2-0-0) vs. FC Dallas Reserves (0-3-0)
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 – Houston Amateur Sports Park
MLS Reserve League
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Warren Creavalle 2 (unassisted) 33
FCD – Fabian Castillo 1 (penalty kick) 42
HOU – Jason Johnson 1 (penalty kick) 87
Disciplinary Summary
HOU – Warren Creavalle (caution) 41
FCD – Marco Ortiz (caution) 43
FCD – Christian de Luna (caution) 89
Houston Dynamo – Erich Marscheider; Eric Brunner, Anthony Arena, Mike Chabala; Brian Ownby; Warren Creavalle, Luiz Camargo, Alex Dixon; Jason Johnson, Brian Ching (Bryan Salazar 46).
Subs not used: Tally Hall, Christian Diaz*, Jose Rodriguez*, Irvin Ramirez*.
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz (Richard Sanchez 57); Kris Reaves*, Bobby Warshaw, Christian de Luna*, Kellyn Acosta; Victor Ulloa, Marco Carrizales*, Marco Ortiz*, Je-Vaughn Watson; Fabian Castillo (Bobby Edet* 46), Bradlee Baladez.
Subs not used: Kyle Zobeck.
*Academy player


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A day after Donald Trump took to Twitter in the middle of the night to shame a former beauty pageant winner and criticize Hillary Clinton, his rival's team fired back with its own tweet storm in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
"It's 3:20am. As good a time as any to tweet about national service," began a series of messages tweeted from Clinton's verified account.
The five-part series makes no mention of Trump and instead encourages followers to answer the call to public service and "lift each other up," — a positive message at glaring odds with her rival's comments the previous night.
Early Friday, Trump launched a social media tirade against the 1996 Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado and accused Clinton's team of helping her get U.S. citizenship.
"Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?" read one tweet Trump posted on his account at 5:30 a.m.
Trump ignored questions from reporters about the tweets as he campaigned in Michigan. But he wrote on Twitter Friday afternoon that his pre-dawn tweeting was a sign that "I will be there, awake, to answer the call."
Clinton retorted in a tweet of her own saying the episode was "unhinged. Even for Trump."
She elaborated at a campaign event in Florida Friday, where she questioned "who gets up at 3 o'clock in the morning to engage in a Twitter attack against a former Miss Universe?"
"I mean he hurled as many insults as he could. Really, why does he do things like that?"
U.S. & World
She said the actions proved "yet again that he is temperamentally unfit to be president and commander in chief."
"I have said it before and I have said it again," Clinton added. "A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not be anywhere near the nuclear codes."
Earlier, Machado took to her Facebook page to say Trump's tweets were part of a pattern of "demoralizing women."
"These attacks are cheap lies with bad intentions," Machado said. (See a translation of her full post here).
But Trump appeared undaunted, even as his broadside against Machado ricocheted across the campaign, and Democrats seized it as to criticize him all the more.
[NATL] Highlights From the 2016 Campaign Trail
His campaign described the hullabaloo as the consequence of collusion between biased news outlets and Clinton's campaign.
"This is the single biggest coordinated media attack in history," said Trump campaign spokeswoman Jessica Ditto.
Machado, the Venezuela-born actress, has been center stage in the campaign since Clinton noted in Monday's debate that Trump had mocked her publicly for gaining weight after she won Miss Universe, a pageant then owned by the businessman. Clilnton brought up that Machado said Trump called the woman "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping." If that was a trap laid by Clinton, the irrepressible Trump dug himself deeper the next day by saying Machado's "massive" weight gain had been "a real problem."
His latest taunt appeared to refer to footage from a Spanish reality show in 2005 in which Machado was a contestant and appeared on camera in bed with a male contestant. The images are grainy and do not include nudity, though Machado later acknowledged in the Hispanic media that she was having sex in the video. NBC News has not verified its authenticity.
Clinton's campaign has released videos featuring Machado and has arranged for reporters to interview her in an effort to use Trump's comments against him just as early voting in critical states gets underway. Her spokesman said she called Machado Friday to thank her for her courage.
Clinton, in her response to Trump on Twitter, tied his broadside against Machado to his previous attacks on Rosie O'Donnell and Kim Kardashian about their looks.
"When something gets under Donald's thin skin, he lashes out and can't let go," Clinton said. "This is dangerous for a president."
Shaming Machado over intimate details from her past could be particularly risky as Trump tries to win over more female voters, many of whom are turned away by such personal attacks. It also risks calling further attention to the thrice-married Trump's own history with women.
Clinton's campaign has highlighted Machado's status as a new American and her plans to cast her first vote for Clinton. But Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said Clinton did not help Machado get U.S. citizenship.
The flurry on Twitter began shortly after 3 a.m. on the East Coast when Trump complained about stories about his campaign based on anonymous sources and told his supporters not to believe them.
"There are no sources, they are just made up lies!" he wrote.
Trump has repeatedly gotten himself in trouble with his late-night and early-morning tweets, which appear to be written by the candidate himself. Trump has, at various points during his campaign, toned down the content, but rarely for long.
His Republican allies have implored him to stick to attacks on Clinton over her family foundation, her emails or her long history as a political insider, critiques that fall further out of view whenever he sparks a new controversy.
Even some of Trump's most vocal allies seemed at a loss for words at the candidate's latest actions.
"He's being Trump. I don't have any comment beyond that," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a top supporter. Generally chatty and occasionally critical of Trump, Gingrich said tersely that Trump sometimes does "strange things," but that Clinton lies. "I'll let you decide which is worse for America."
But Trump's inner circle followed his lead by refusing to concede any missteps. Trump didn't mention the tweets Friday evening as he rallied supporters in Michigan.
The vendetta against Machado adds fuel to a burgeoning debate in America about putting down women over the perception of promiscuity. Women's advocates have said the phenomenon, which takes place largely online, holds women to a different standard because men are often praised for having multiple partners.
A day earlier, as Trump tried to bounce back from his widely panned debate performance, he warned voters that a Clinton victory would bring her husband's sex scandal back to the White House. The fresh rehash of the 1990s Monica Lewisnky scandal came despite Trump's insistence that he's been courageously restrained by not bringing it up.


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Photo Credit: Jim Belushi's picture is courtesy of Gargoyles/Buena Vista Television. Photographic illustrations of Jim Belushi are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Jim Belushi is derived from astrological interpretation of Jim Belushi's date, time, and place of birth.


text:
Yoke Yik, Soo
Vol 4, No 4 (2012) - Articles
The Contribution of Economic Sectors to Economic Growth: The Cases of China and India
Abstract PDF
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Month: June 2017
Month: June 2017
When choosing a mattress, always take into account the style of sleep you might be at ease with. To give you a concept of precisely what to pick, stomach sleepers need a hard mattress. Without adequate support with a tough mattress, your spinal column will most definitely not be upright. If you usually sleep on your sides, you might need to pick a much softer mattress as a substitute. For people who always sleep on their backs, a medium firmness degree is recommended. This helps in keeping the shoulders straight throughout the night when you sleep.
You should also test out the mattress at the store. Lie down on the mattress and try different sleeping styles. You may find that the mattress is just too soft after all. Extended sleep on an overly firm mattress could also result in body aches.
Should you be merely buying a new mattress to place on your existing bed frame, remember to take along your measuring tape with you. Without a perfect fit with your bed frame, your mattress is not going to feel as comfortable. Do not search for a mattress while you are feeling exhausted as you will feel like each and every mattress is extremely relaxing.
Do not be reliant on healthcare-sounding phrases. There are many mattress phrases which may appear confusing but are really straightforward things. Any mattress making use of the expression orthopedic will not be always much better. A mattress that has wonderful lower back support and also backbone alignment characteristics is what you need to purchase. These top 5 mattresses are hands down the best memory foam mattresses you will find sold in the market today. You might find a number of mattresses way too firm if you are not a side sleeper. When possible, pay attention to further endorsements and certifications on such mattresses.
Consider obtaining a few other extras that go well with the mattress. A mattress that comes packed with accessories will usually be much more practical due to these custom-made options. These may consist of mattress covers. For convenience, a mattress must have covers which can be very easily removable. We highly suggest that you clean or substitute your mattress covers occasionally.
A mattress topper is equally as significant as a mattress cover. They offer both additional comfort as well as protection for your mattress. A foam mattress topper is usually utilized for good reason.
Mattresses ought to be rotated and flipped every so often to ensure uniform utilization. The more recent types of mattresses have handles. Mattress handles are good installations that can help you move it about. A lot of memory foam mattresses don't need to be turned over ; however they still reap the benefits of being swiveled every once in a while.
Mattresses may be found in many dimensions with a variety from single to California king size. A very simple rule to follow along with is to get the biggest mattress that can fit into your bedroom. The next thing to accomplish is to make certain the mattress's span as well as width are adequate for the people who will be sleeping on it. Your sleep will probably be negatively afflicted if the bed is simply too compact for you. A compact mattress will lead you to continuously clash with your companion during the night.


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Check the image..
Most of my icon are very weird in the computer.
It's get been worse with Word... Some word document, the icon are looking normal, other word document, the icon is all mess up.
I allready check in Explorer for the file type and they show correctly there.
An antivirus and Ad-Aware were run with nothing to report.
Anyone got idea?


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Gamespot Score: 8.0 (Great)
My Score: 8.0
(+) Pros: - Great story with various outcomes based on alignment, - A strong cast of characters, - Combat can be challenging (though somewhat cheap), - The process of recruiting demons and fusing new ones is very addictive, - Tons of content, both story and optional,.
(-) Cons: - Difficulty can be rage inducing for new players (somethings the game is even downright cheap), - Not a lot of variety in areas.
Gameplay time: 40 hours +, 10 hours per subsequent playthrough
I love the "Shin Megami Tensei" series. Hell, we all love it, but here's the thing. "Shin Megami Tensei IV" is the fourth installment to the original "SMT" games. No, I'm talking about the likes of "Persona", "Strange Journey", "Soul Hackers", "Devil Survivor" or anything of the sort. "SMT" used to have its own games, without all these little spin off names, and "SMT IV" is the obvious fourth installments. When it comes to the main "SMT" games, I haven't played a single damn one, but when "SMT IV" was announced, I looked at a few trailers and got myself interested. In a way, its very similar to the likes of "Strange Journey", being a dungeon crawler where you get to talk to and recruit demons...it looked simple, yet revolutionary with the technical advancements on the 3DS. So here's my journey through "SMT IV", the incredibly hyped franchise debut on the 3DS.
Okay, so the story. The story focuses on once again, a silent protagonist that goes by the default name of Flynn. Flynn belongs in a world known as the Eastern Kingdom Of Mikado, a medieval country that splits its people into two categories, the luxurors and the casualries. The luxurors are the rich, honorable and prideful people, while the casualries are the poor, humble people that work their butts off to improve the living conditions of the people in the country. It's a biased system, and the people know it. Flynn is a casualry, together with his friend Issachar, they make it to Mikado castle to participate in the gauntlet rite, a ritual that picks a handful of youths from all around the country to become samurai. Flynn becomes one, but Issachar doesn't, and for Flynn's first mission, he is to enter a dungeon to slay...demons. Flynn's new life involving demons begins.
|Bye bye demons.
The "SMT" series has always had a strong focus on their story..."SMT IV" is no different. While it touches on some really sensitive themes, the game does not sugarcoat anything unnecessary and throws us a harsh story about this virtual reality (in some ways, it relates to real life as well). I do not like to spoil too much of it, so I won't, but I'll say that its not your usual JRPG story that you can find anywhere, I assure you. What's else though is that like most other "SMT" games in the series, the story has multiple endings, each of which can be replayed in "New Game +" for more insight on a different view of the story. This has always been a strong point of the "SMT" games.
Like previous "SMT" games of old, the multiple endings stem off the path your character decides to choose, though alignment values. Alignment values are points that cater into the way your character responds to different questions, and whether or not the response that you picked was a "lawful", "neutral" or "chaotic" response, it adds to your alignment value. If you responded in such a way that a person aligned with law would, your alignment shifts towards law, the same way that it shifts towards chaos if you make a choice that an "evil" person would. Neutral is the middle ground...the most "human" response. These values are calculated and will matter towards what kind of ending you will get at the end of the game...sort of like a karma system.
|F**k you. You'll run away after taking my stuff half of the time.
A great story requires a strong cast of characters, and that's just what "SMT IV" has. You'll grow attached to your fellow samurai Prentice quickly, be it the quick triggering Walter, the goody-two-shoes Jonathan, or the girl that takes neither stance, Isabeu. Each character is strong enough to hold their own through specific story incidents, and you can choose to take their stance when the alignment issues come to light. There aren't many characters in this one in comparison to some of the other games in the "SMT" series (more specifically the "Devil Survivor" games and "Persona" games), but it works well too. The English voice acting is top notch to boot.
Now let's talk about the gameplay. "SMT IV" is a 3rd person dungeon crawler with dynamic camera angles that you can manipulate as you wish. You explore location, find demons, engage them in combat, rinse and repeat. The dungeon exploration itself is completely new, as they have removed the first person dungeon crawling mechanics of old. With the new third person camera, you can look up to climb ledges and ladders, look down to jump over scaffolding or pits. You can turn the camera manually, crouch over small holes, jump over long distances...to say the least, the game is making good use of the 3DS technology to create a nice dungeon crawling experience.
|Isabeu is awesome. You go girl!
Combat is your standard turn based affair that we're used to seeing in "SMT" games of old. Not the ones like in "Persona" or "Devil Survivor", but more reminiscent to the likes of "Strange Journey" and "Nocturne". You get 1 turn for each character in your party, up to 4 at a time, and the enemy has a fixed amount of turns as well. Acting with any action costs a turn, but striking an enemy's weakness will grant you an extra turn. You can also pass your turn on to your next party member if you feel like the current character won't be effective during that turn, 2 passes take up one turn, so you can work around that for a perfect coherent strategy. If played against the enemy correctly by abusing weaknesses, you can have up to 8 actions in a single turn.
Of course, this all applies to the enemy as well. If they score well against your team, they'll get to move a lot more than you do, and when that happens, it's most probably game over for you. This game is brutal, and the game will constantly try to throw you on your back foot with very difficult demon encounters left and right. Missing will make you lose turns, so will striking the enemy's strong points, and if you land critical hits, you get extra turns. Battle is a very strategic affair, and you WILL need to manipulate the weaknesses and strengths for your team to get more turns on your side.
|Behold! The gauntlet rite!
Combat is nice and all, but the game wouldn't be "SMT" without the talk of demons. You know what I'm talking about. During combat, you'll be doing battle mostly against demons of many types, like in many "SMT" games, you will be able to negotiate with these demons to get them to your side. Before the demons will commit themselves to you, you will need to get on their good side, as always. This can come in many ways, be it answering their questions to their liking, giving them items, macca, your health, spirit and so on. Demons that have been suckered to your side will then fight for you...or you can use them for demon fusion, an aspect that has been present in the franchise for a long time. Fusing two different demons will get you a new one, that's how it works. When going to new areas and recruiting new demons, new fusion possibilities are always open, so this is a very addictive process to find yourself the perfect team.
Game content isn't lacking in any way. On your first run, the main story alone will get you somewhere easily between the 20-30 hour mark, WITHOUT side quests. This is fine, but the game tosses you a lot of side quests from time to time...its the matter of whether you want to do them, or not. The side quests don't seem like much as first, but as you complete prerequisites more pop up here and there...it soon becomes overwhelming. Hell you even get side quests from demons during random encounters, they will employ you for help. With all these side quests in mind you can easily cook up another 10-20 hours, if you are the hardcore type. Lets not forger that you can go for the other endings after you finish the game, letting for multiple playthroughs.
|Demon fusion!
Like most "SMT" games are..."SMT IV" is hard. Like, it will break your balls if you go in unprepared. The game throws you into many boss battles with the odds stacked against you. Enemies get the first move most of the time, and if you do not have the right team composition, you will die before you get a chance to even fight back. It discourages new players, to say the least, though veterans should be just fine. There is also a huge lack in environment variety this time around, since we're travelling around the city of Tokyo for the majority of the game....you won't be seeing much except for buildings, streets, buildings, streets....and more streets. Okay, maybe you'll see some underground train stations, but that's it. Not weird castles, deserts or volcanic areas...it's all in the city.
"SMT IV" is surely a great debut for the franchise on the 3DS....though I kind of expected more. The exploration mechanics have been severely improved, and challenging battles make this an entry that won't be soon forgotten. But, the lack of environments really make exploration a lot less fun this time around. There's a lot to do on "SMT IV", but unless you're really hardcore, you won't be digging too much into those. Fans of the series will find a lot to like about "SMT IV", new comers will find something to like, but it isn't the best place to start in this franchise.
Happy gaming!


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It's the first day of December, people! I'm sure I don't need to remind you, but you only have less than 25 days left for Christmas shopping, and even less than that to prepare your Christmas baskets full of homemade goodies! Do you have your Christmas baskets planned out? This year, part of my basket will include the gift of homemade vanilla extract. Store-bought pure vanilla extract is expensive, but you can cut your costs by making it at home with just two ingredients: vanilla bean pods and alcohol (preferably vodka or bourbon).
I started brewing my vanilla extract back in September so that it would be ready for Christmas, but it isn't too late to start on yours now even for this gifting season. Placing a "Do Not Use Until" date on the bottles will inform your recipients when the vanilla is ready. Even if your friends can't use it right away, they'll appreciate that you prepared it for them for later use. And, it never expires.
If you plan to give the vanilla extract away as gifts, I suggest using 4-ounce dark glass bottles, such as these Amber Boston Round Glass bottles I bought for only $.68 each! I then created labels on my computer and printed them out on sticker paper. If you're not able to design your own personalized labels, click the label icon below for a free printable I created just for you!
(Click image above for free printable)
A few notes about homemade vanilla extract:
*This is my favorite place to buy vanilla beans.
*Continue to add used vanilla bean pods from other recipes into the brewing extract instead of tossing them out. Top off extract with more vodka as you use it up, along with more vanilla beans. Or, just keep a 2nd bottle brewing for when the first is used up.
*If using the vodka bottle to brew your vanilla extract, take out 2 shots worth before adding the bean pods so the vodka doesn't overflow.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
- 750 mL bottle vodka
- 9 vanilla bean pods
If brewing for home use:
- Pour out 2 shots worth of vodka and store for another use. Slice each vanilla pod in half vertically, leaving one side attached at the end. Drop vanilla pods in the vodka bottle and replace lid. Let steep in a cool area in your pantry for 12 weeks before first use. Shake every couple of weeks.
If brewing for 4-ounce bottled gifts:
- Slice each vanilla pod in half vertically and horizontally. Place 1 1/2 pods (6 sliced segments) in each 4-ounce bottle. Fill each bottle with vodka, replace lid tightly and let steep for 12 weeks. If giving away before the 12 weeks is up, include a tag with the bottle that states the "Ready for Use By" date.
- Source: Inspired by Confections of a Foodie Bride and Bethany Actually


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Arkansas e-Link expands operations in state
Broadband network to begin services in Washington County
A statewide broadband network is expanding its operations by providing services in Washington County starting November.
Officials said Arkansas e-Link, led by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will use high-speed data transmission lines to connect 413 community institutions for videoconferencing between medical professionals, patients, doctors and others, along with the real-time exchange of patient data and readings.
A demonstration of the training and equipment capabilities was held Thursday at the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. Officials said 11 of the 413 institutions are in northwest Arkansas, and when the rollout is completed, e-Link will have a presence in all 75 Arkansas counties.
"By providing the equipment and bandwidth necessary to make it happen, Arkansas e-Link is connecting patients, physicians and other medical professionals in an expansion of telemedicine the size and scope of which is unprecedented," said UAMS Chancellor Dr. Dan Rahn. "The project will benefit residents in their daily lives by providing connections to their local hospital, public library, two-year college, emergency services, community health clinic, mental health clinic and other institutions within the network."
Officials said the broadband will allow patients to consult in real time with medical specialists in other locations through interactive video so the patients can receive needed health care near their homes. Hometown medical providers will be able to collaborate with distant medical specialists to co-manage patient care so they don't have to refer patients to distant hospitals or clinics, while the higher education component of e-Link will facilitate resource sharing, collaboration and research opportunities at two-year and four-year colleges in Arkansas.
Officials said Arkansas e-Link was created from a $102 million grant awarded in August 2010 to UAMS and partner institutions through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Comprehensive Community Infrastructure program.
With another $26 million in matching funds from partner institutions statewide, officials said the project is integrating isolated community institutions to expand the capabilities and geographic reach of broadband networks serving Arkansas. Washington County is getting $3.46 million of the total for the data transmission lines, interactive video units and medical equipment.
"Washington Regional, by working with its e-Link partner, has more opportunity to reach out further with its services and boost accessibility in our community," said Washington Regional Medical System Chief Executive Officer Bill Bradley. "Although telemedicine is not new to northwest Arkansas, I'm glad to see this expansion. We can augment and diversify our specialty coverage as well as explore new possibilities. This gives Washington Regional yet another tool that will allow us to maintain our strong commitment to providing the best care possible to our patients."
"We are very excited about this collaborative effort," said Debbie Green, Arkansas e-Link project director. "We believe this is a great opportunity for the state."


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Teams (click here) are now set for the second biennial PING Junior Solheim Cup. The 2003 event will be played at Bokskogen Golf Club in Malmö, Sweden, Sept. 8-10.
Val Skinner of Delray Beach, Fla., an LPGA Tour player since 1983, will captain the 2003 U.S. team. The 20-year Tour veteran has six career victories to her credit and represented the United States on its Solheim Cup team in 1996.
The first girls-only team event of its kind at the junior level, the PING Junior Solheim Cup is sponsored by PING and will be conducted by the Swedish Golf Federation. Patterned after The Solheim Cup, this prestigious invitational will pit the 12 finest female junior golfers (ages 13-18) from the United States against the top 12 junior girls from Europe.
The U.S. team was selected based on a ranking system that awarded points for top tournament finishes. The top 10 girls in points were named to the team along with two captain's selections.
The U.S. team will consist of Amanda Blumenherst (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Paula Creamer (Pleasanton, Calif.), Esther Choe (La Quinta, Calif.), Amie Cochran (Torrance, Calif.), Lauren Espinosa (Irving, Texas), Taylor Leon (Dallas, Texas), Brittany Lincicome (Seminole, Fla.), Whitney Myers (East Berlin, Pa.), Jennifer Pandolfi (Navarre, Fla.), Jane Park (Beaumont, Calif.), Morgan Pressel (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Christie Reed (Coral Springs, Fla.).
(Note: Since the writing of this news release, Allison Goodman of San Diego has replaced Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., on the U.S. team. Pressel withdrew from the event Sept. 5 after her mother passed away.)
Nine of the 12 girls are Polo Golf Junior All-Americans and the team members have combined for 19 national wins this year. Six of the girls are returning from last year's U.S. team that dominated the inaugural event, winning 17-7.
Three of the returnees look to continue their unbeaten streak at the event as Blumenherst, Pandolfi and Pressel were never on the losing end in their matches of 2002.
The nation's top-ranked girl, Creamer, will be making her second appearance at the PING Junior Solheim Cup, as well. The first-team Polo Golf Junior All-American has captured six national junior events in 2003 and made headlines in professional and amateur events.
Park, who recently reached the finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur, will also be returning to the U.S.


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Last week, a meteor blew apart over Russia's Chelyabinsk region, generating a shockwave that injured hundreds and caused millions of dollars in damage. The disintegrating fireball strewed bits and pieces of itself over the country's Ural mountains, some of which researchers now claim to have recovered. But scientists aren't the only ones interested in the fragmented space rock — meteorite hunters have reportedly taken to the Urals' icy slopes in droves in search of riches, in what's being billed as a "meteorite rush."
Via Reuters:
One amateur space enthusiast estimated chunks could be worth anything up to 66,000 roubles ($2,200) per gram - more than 40 times the current cost of gold.
"The price is hard to say yet ... The fewer meteorites that are recovered, the higher their price," said Dmitry Kachkalin, a member of the Russian Society of Amateur Meteorite Lovers. Meteorites are parts of a meteor that have fallen to earth.
Scientists at the Urals Federal University were the first to announce a significant find - 53 small, stony, black objects around Lake Chebarkul, near Chelyabinsk, which tests confirmed were small meteorites.
The fragments were only 0.5 to 1 cm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) across but the scientists said larger pieces may have crashed into the lake, where a crater in the ice about eight meters (26 feet) wide opened up after Friday's explosion.
More on the ongoing hunt for pieces of the "once-in-a-century" meteorite at Reuters.


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Faculty prepare next generation of social changemakers
October 03, 2011
Rogers Hall
Tod Sloan knows that being an agent of social change is complicated. Issues such as cross-sector collaboration, conflict resolution, and burnout can make the work exhausting and unsustainable.
However, Sloan, professor of counseling psychology, believes that training and dialogue can help activists and advocates be more effective in their work. An experienced advocate whose devotion to social justice infuses his work in and out of the classroom, Sloan maintains that working for change can actually prevent the issues that drive individuals into counseling.
This fall, Sloan and Bruce Podobnik, associate professor of sociology/anthropology, have organized a series of workshops for members of the Lewis & Clark community who want to be more effective community leaders and advocates. The program, "Will Work for Change: an Activism and Leadership Training Forum," aims to offer a wide variety of experiences and skills that students, faculty, and staff can put into practice as they work within the larger community.
In the responses below, Sloan discusses how the series reflects the Lewis & Clark commitment to working on behalf of positive social change.
How do you think the theme of working for social change reflects the ethos of the Lewis & Clark community?
A central part of the mission of Lewis & Clark is to foster the development of civic leadership. Some of that can happen through professional roles, but much of it happens through various forms of citizenship that go beyond voting and contributing money to causes. For example, it can mean showing up at a meeting full of volunteers who happen to be interested in an issue or cause and trying to be effective in complicated group processes.
In the Graduate School, where I teach, it is clear that a majority of the students have strong interest in working for social justice beyond the confines of the professional roles for which they are preparing. And many say that they chose Lewis & Clark because they know we are committed to fostering reflection and action in connection with social change.
How does this series transcend party lines to offer useful information and resources regardless of a person's politics?
The skills offered in the workshops are relevant to any group that is trying to come to agreement about how to make a desired change, get the work done, keep people motivated, and ensure that people enjoy the process. These workshops emphasize wide participation in decision making, authentic communication, inclusivity, and personal self-care to avoid burnout and causing problems for others.
We intentionally did not feature any particular issues or causes in the workshops, although obviously all of the presenters have their particular interests; they are focusing on conveying skills and experience relevant to working on a wide range of issues.
What drew you to specialize in this area within the field of counseling psychology?
Working for social change is a way of preventing a lot of the problems that counselors and psychologists end up addressing at the individual level. If we can reduce poverty, war, environmental destruction, racism, sexism, and so forth, collective well-being will be enhanced. Our professional codes of ethics in psychology and counseling actually call us to work for social betterment as well as for individual health.
I also think counselors and psychologists often have skills and training (such as listening, mediation, conflict resolution) that are very relevant to helping groups work more effectively, and I am eager to engage them in the support of the important social movements of our times.
How does the forum relate to your ongoing work in support of activists and advocates in the Portland community?
Over the past few years, in my own participation in community groups working on sustainability and social justice issues in Portland, I have been struck by the difficulty of maintaining momentum after initial meetings and building convergence between different groups working in the same sector. Some of the workshops we invited bear directly on these two issues.
About Tod Sloan:
Sloan teaches seminars on life span development, the social context of counseling, dialogue practices, social theory, community consultation, and critical psychology. He coordinates Project Dialogue, part of the Graduate School's Center for Community Engagement. His current scholarship involves developing systems to support activists and change agents in grassroots ecological and social justice organizations.
Counseling Psychology at Lewis & Clark