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This is something that always annoys me when putting an A4 letter in a oblong envelope: one has to estimate where to put the creases when folding the letter. I normally start from the bottom and on eye estimate where to fold. Then I turn the letter over and fold bottom to top. Most of the time ending up with three different areas. There must be a way to do this exactly, without using any tools (ruler, etc.).
Fold twice to obtain quarter markings at the paper bottom. Fold along the line through the top corner and the third of these marks. The vertical lines through the first two marks intersect this inclined line at thirds, which allows the final foldings.
(Photo by Ross Millikan below - if the image helped you, you can up-vote his too...)
Here is a picture to go with Hagen von Eitzen's answer. The horizontal lines are the result of the first two folds. The diagonal line is the third fold. The heavy lines are the points at thirds for folding into the envelope.
This is both practical (no extra creases) and precise (no guessing or estimating).
Alternate answer (from about.com)
You only need to fold once in half and fold two diagonals. The second line can be found from folding the first third over again.
This solution works only with a sheet of paper having aspect ratio of sqrt(2) (as A4 has).
Approximation method:
Beyond the more geometric methods explained so far, there is an iterative algorithm (in practice, as precise as any exact method) that I think no one mentioned. In fact, the following method can be generalized to any shape, size and number of foldings.
Let me denote $d_l$ the distance from the left side of the paper to the first mark on the left and $d_r$, the distance from the right side to the right mark. To simplify, assume that the lenght of the side you want to divide is 1.
Make a first approximation for $d_l$. You want $1/3$, but imagine you take $1/3+\varepsilon$ ($\varepsilon$ being some error to the right or to the left). Thus, on the right you now have $2/3-\varepsilon$.
Next, divide the right part into two for the first approximation of $d_r$ (by taking the right side of the paper to your first pinch; again, just a pinch). This gives you $d_r=1/3-\varepsilon/2$, thus, a better approximation!
Now, repeat this procedure on the left. On the left part you now have $2/3+\varepsilon/2$. Take the left side of the paper to the second pinch to obtain a second approximation of $d_l = 1/3+\varepsilon/4$. Note that, after two pinches, you have reduced your initial error to a quarter!
If your initial guess was accurate enough, you will not need to continue more. But, if you need more precission, you just have to repeat the process a couple of times more. For instance, an initial error of $\varepsilon=1$cm reduces to less than 1mm (0.0625mm) after repeating the iteration twice.
By the way, I think this method is due to some origamist, but I do not know his/her name.
A non-mathematical but quick way (which I used when I had to mail hundreds of letters years ago): Bend the paper in the Z-shape as you would want it to fold but without creasing yet, gently push the edges (top of paper and 2/3rds down on the left, 1/3rd down and bottom on the right) together so the edges align automatically, while at the same time making the pile flatter, and finally press the edges down to create the folding. You can do that with 10 sheets simultaneously and still get reasonable results.
5-Fold Technique: Accurate to ~ 1mm (If you can fold in half accurately)
Bend the paper in half, top to bottom, making crease #1 at the center on one edge of the paper.
Bend top down to fit in crease #1 to make crease #2 (1/4 distance from the top).
Reverse paper (back face), bend so crease #1 and crease #2 align and make crease #3 halfway between them.
Reverse paper (original face), bend so that crease #3 fits into crease #2. Make crease #4 halfway between them.
Bend so that crease #3 fits into crease #4. Make crease #5 halfway between them.
Fold bottom to meet (approximately) 1/3 of the way between crease #5 and #4 (closer to #5).
Summary - Final order of creases: bottom, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2, top
top + bottom = 1
top + 1 = 2
1 + 2 = 3 (fold backwards)
3 + 2 = 4
3 + 4 = 5
Does not produce an exact solution but usually does better than guessing the first fold.
I love the geometrical solutions! That said, there is a trick for more accurate estimation. The trick is not to try to judge 1/3 of the whole sheet but to try to judge 1/2 of the remaining sheet while you are doing the first fold. In other words, as you fold the bottom 1/3 of the sheet upwards, the edge that you are moving upwards approaches the exact middle of the remaining 2/3 of the sheet. For me, this is easy enough to judge, and results in folds accurate to within a couple of millimeters.


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Is there anything special I must do or can I just insert a xbox game into a 360? I'm most interested in playing the original Halo and the Call of Duty games.
Only certain Xbox games can be played on the 360. Luckily, the Halo series and Call of Duty series were popular enough to get Xbox 360 support.
You must have an Xbox 360 hard drive on your Xbox 360 in order to play original Xbox games. (Most Xbox 360s sold in the last couple of years were bundled with some amount of internal storage)
You may have to have an internet connection available to your Xbox 360 in order to download the correct software updates in order to play certain titles. You cannot play online with any original Xbox games. Unlike certain other online/downloadable features of the Xbox 360, you don't need to spend any Microsoft points or be subscribed to Xbox Live Gold in order to download these software updates.
You can play local multiplayer (ie, the original Halo supported 4 people using the same console, and this works fine on the 360), and some people have reported that you can use System Link mode for LAN play, even between an Xbox and a Xbox 360. Regardless of your Xbox Live status, you cannot play these games online any more.
Otherwise, though, they work fine and can be lots of fun to play.
Good news:
Sometimes or some games require you to have an Internet connection to download the emulation drivers that older games need to run on the 360.
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Carb Tuning for Cornering - Corner CapableWritten by on September 1, 2010 Contributors: Jeff Smith, Johnny Hunkins, Christopher Campbell Carbs Are A Leg Down To EFI When It Comes To Hard Cornering, But There Are Affordable Fixes To Help Close That Gap.
Wide-open throttle seems to get all the attention when it comes to carbs. Whether on the dyno or on the strip, carb tuning will usually come down to the wide-open mixture-a jet change here or there, the big squirters and pumps, and once it's pulling as hard as it can, it's time to put away the wrenches. While it would be wrong to neglect a carb's calibration while running all four butterflies on end, it is just as wrong to believe the job is done at that point. Consider the big Holley 750 HP fitted to our solid-roller 408 small-block in Project Talladega. There was no denying the sharp tune found when the linkage yanked the carb to full noise-our dyno and dragstrip calibration sessions ensured that fact. No, the problems here were much more subtle, the kinds of things you could easily neglect with a shrug.
Getting to the specifics in the case of our Laguna, it was only when the car was not straight ahead and wide open that the carb's performance inadequacies made themselves known. Starting with its behavior right at idle, the stroker small-block was not quite happy. The idle seemed unstable, with excessive rpm pull down in gear, and the feeling that a two-foot driving style was required to keep the engine lit at a stop. Sure, this might be put down to the big .600-inch lift, 242/242-at-.050 COMP roller cam, but we had to think there was room for improvement in idle quality, even with the big cam.
From the jagged idle the engine would snap to attention if the throttle was stomped, boiling the hides at will. But at more meager inputs the results were far from satisfying, with a rough tip-in and light throttle transition to pedal inputs. On the jammed Southern California freeways, the poor light-throttle response was tormenting. Finally, when pressed hard around corners, the seamless straight-line performance just seemed to fall apart, with the engine coughing and sputtering against the g-force. Under hard extreme braking, the engine would just want to stall. When you are serious enough about cornering performance to run R-compound tires on the street, this is nothing but bitterly disappointing. On the autocross course, the let down was especially apparent. While such a set of circumstances would be enough to make an enthusiast seriously consider a change to fuel injection, we had to think that some massaging to the carburetor combination could yield very satisfactory results without breaking the bank.
The Fix Is In
Rather than just accept the shortcomings of our carburetor setup as par for the course when running a radical carbureted small-block on the street, we figured with some expert tweaks, the all-around performance could be dramatically improved. To prove that point, we headed to one of the country's premier carburetor specialists, The Carb Shop in Ontario, California, and took notes as they worked their magic. On the job was technician OJ Bretzing, who disassembled our fuel mixer and then went through the unit with a fine-toothed comb, making minor modifications to achieve specific results. Nothing done to the carb could be considered a major reworking. Rather, the modifications centered upon intelligent changes that specifically addressed some of the problems with solutions that come from knowing the intricacies of how the carb functions. To begin, Bretzing disassembled the carb, carefully cataloging all of the parts, and then treated the mixer to a bath in a sonic cleaning machine to start with impeccably cleaned parts. The carb was then reassembled, making the required changes as the build progressed.
The first modification was to the carburetor floats. Center-hung Holley floats were initially designed with acceleration at the forefront, and when g-forces are active during cornering, the fuel in the bowls responds by sloshing. The modification here is to take the standard Holley Nitrophyl floats and shave the material at the corners, converting the float from a rectangular profile to a trapezoid, resembling a triangle. What this does is concentrate the center of buoyancy away from the outer extremities and moves it to the center of the bowl. Thus, fuel sloshing left or right will have a lesser effect on the float position. To seal the pores of the Nitrophyl float material, the cutaway surface was coated with 5-minute epoxy. The epoxy not only seals, but provides a small amount of additional mass that dampens the float's response.
Next on the hit list were the needle and seat assemblies. Here the internal restriction was enlarged from the stock .097-inch orifice to .120 inch. The actual dimensional change might seem small with an increase of only .023 inch in diameter, but this represents a change of 53 percent in cross-sectional area open to fuel flow. The higher flowing needle and seat assembly makes the carb much more sensitive to float inputs, allowing the bowls to fill faster once the needle separates from the seat.
The fuel in the bowl is only useful to the engine if it reaches the jets, and under very hard acceleration or braking, this can become difficult. As a nod to fuel control, both the front and rear jets were fitted with short jet extensions, which place the fuel pickup point virtually dead center in the bowls. This strategy provides the best opportunity for the jets to find fuel whether accelerating or braking.
Longer bowl vents were also added to the main body, making it less likely for fuel to escape the carb while the vehicle is pressed into extreme maneuvers. Keep in mind when contemplating longer vents that there needs to be adequate clearance to the air cleaner lid, otherwise the vents will not vent, defeating their purpose.
Addressing the light throttle and transition irregularities, the first item Bretzing keyed on was the drilled primary throttle plates. Drilling the plates has long been a popular modification to allow additional air into the engine at idle, particularly with long duration cams. While this can work well, it is a primitive approach, since this allows no metering activity to take place at the throttle plate holes. The holes effectively bypass the normal idle circuit, acting as a measured vacuum leak. While the holes allow less idle throttle angle, if the air bypassed is in excess to the engine's requirements, the result can be compromised low-speed metering, particularly in the transition from the idle circuit to the transfer slot. On our carb it was determined that the low-speed, low-throttle driveability could be improved by increasing the throttle angle at idle slightly, making the transfer partially active at idle. The theory here is that transition to the transfer slot portion of the idle circuit will be more active, covering the lean hole at low throttle inputs. To that end, the throttle plates were replaced with standard butterflies without holes.
Also addressing the driveability and carburetor's low-speed transitions, the primary to secondary linkage was modified, replacing the long link positioned at the lower linkage hole to a shorter piece engaged in the upper hole. This will delay the rate of the secondary actuation. The idea here is to delay the point of secondary engagement and slow the action for improved signal to the secondary booster prior to the secondary coming into play. Bear in mind that this is a transitional change, and at wide-open throttle the secondary still comes to wide open the moment the throttle is at the floor. Similarly, we found that the pump shot was weak at the initial portion of throttle actuation, causing a lean stumble with slow throttle engagement at part throttle. The cure here was a swap in pump cams, replacing the pink cam with the more aggressive green cam. Either cam will give the full pump shot with the throttle stomped wide open, but the green cam will give more fuel earlier in the throttle.
So what did this moderate level of carb modification do for our Laguna? Putting theory to the test on the open road, we found the changes delivered as intended. We had the carb making good on all counts, from cleaning up the idle, with improved transitions and low-speed, part-throttle manners, to effectively metering even when giving the chassis a real workout. A carb can be a very efficient and cost-effective way of delivering fuel, and with the right level of know-how, it can be calibrated to cope with varied driving conditions. Based on the way the car behaves on the street, The Carb Shop has the expertise to get it dialed in.
Where The Rubber Meets The Road
We've hit a number of autocross and road race events with the Laguna this year, and one of the biggest hurdles we've experienced is keeping the fire lit during hard braking and cornering. Enigmatically, faster road courses pose less of a problem than slower autocrossing, which is why the NASCAR guys never see this issue pop up. With our Carb Shop mods in place, we noticed improved street manners right away-this is due to the more aggressive accelerator pump cam, the plain throttle blades, the slower linkage, and a change from a 10.5 to a 7.5 power valve. These mods had the added benefit of improving street driving, particularly part-throttle response, which was an unexpected bonus. The following week we took the Laguna to the Costa Mesa Goodguys autocross, and noticed the improvement right away. Some stumble is still evident-you can't eliminate it 100 percent-but it is much more manageable. Braking is where we saw the most improvement, with the Laguna experiencing not a single stall in the stop box all weekend. Along with the improvement in street manners, we're now rethinking whether we need to step up to fuel injection, which we always had in the back of our mind. We like the carb's simplicity and cost-effectiveness, and now with a near perfect tweak, we can see years of trouble-free operation ahead. -Johnny Hunkins
Where The Money Went
The Carb Shop stripped, cleaned, rebuilt, and modified our carb for a price of $320 including parts and labor. Some of the small parts used in modifying our carb, and their individual mail-order prices (via Summit Racing) are listed below.
|Holley pump cam assortment kit:
|Secondary linkage:
|Throttle plates (111/16 inches):
|Jet extensions:
|Nytrophyl float kit (each):
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
Slowing the actuation of the secondary improves the part-throttle response by allowing the airspeed through the carb to accelerate before the secondary is brought into play.This change in secondary timing will bring the secondary on line when the booster signal is more advantageous. The change is made via a linkage modification using the upper hole. At full throttle the secondary will reach wide open just as before.Because our Laguna is set up for corner burning as well as strip performance, taller bowl vents were added to the main body to reduce the chance of fuel splashing out the vents.To aid in light throttle enrichment, the pink accelerator pump cam was replaced with a green color-coded unit. This cam provides more fuel earlier in the pump's operation.While the performance mods promised to cure our carb's idiosyncrasies, it is important not to neglect the basics when the carb is installed, including setting up the float level, and then fine-tuning the idle mixture and speed settings.


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ruhoh, git and azure 2013-08-17
When I thought about rebooting my blog after the posterous shutdown, I decided that I wanted to go all old school and reboot using just plain old static HTML processed through some kind of static blog generator.
So, off I went and Googled using Bing for static blog generator twitter bootstrap because I wanted a static blog generator that came with Twitter Bootstrap pre-configured. The first hit was ruhoh. The docs looked great, it was pretty straightforward to setup so I took the plunge and installed it.
Installing ruhoh was a lot harder than it looked. The main problem is due to a dependency that ruhoh has on psych which in turn has a dependency on libyaml. The Internet gave some helpful suggestions on how to fix this by statically linking libyaml into psych. So after following detailed instructions on how to Hack a Ruby Gem I was able to get psych installed and ruhoh up and running on my machine.


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Ardmore, OK – The Goddard Center will host Touch-a-Truck on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This family friendly event is free and open to the public. There will be a no horns hour from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for very young and sensitive children. Kids of all ages are invited to come see, touch, explore, and honk the horns of trucks and vehicles of all sizes! Come meet the people who build, protect, and serve our communities as the respective professionals explain their equipment and discuss their jobs.
There will be a large variety of vehicles for kids to explore including vehicles from the Ardmore Freightliner, Ardmore Peterbuilt, Ardmore Police Department, Asphalt Express, Big "T" Ice Cream, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, C.L. Boyd Company, Day Concrete, Dot Foods, Joe Broaden, MHC Kenworth, OG+E, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Roger Wilkins Sand, Gravel & Dozer Service, Science Matters Mobile Museum, Shane's Wrecker Service, Sport Trucking, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and Volvo Rental.
"All proceeds raised from this fundraiser will go to help support our Art Education Outreach Programs including our work with area schools," states Goddard Center Director Leila Lenore. Families are encouraged to eat lunch at the event where grilled hot dogs, soda pop, water, and chips will be sold to raise money for Art Education programming with the schools.
Visitors can also tour the Goddard Center art galleries, which will feature the Annual All Schools Elementary Exhibit, featuring the artwork of young aspiring artists throughout southern Oklahoma. There will also be an Outside Art Market featuring affordable art by professional local artists.
For more information, please call the Center's business office at (580) 226-0909 or visit www.goddardcenter.org. The Goddard Center is located at 401 1st Ave. SW in Ardmore. In the event of inclement weather, Touch-a-Truck will be postponed until April 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.


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SES Conference Coming in August
The Art and Science of Standardization, the annual conference of SES - The Society for Standards Professionals, will be held Aug. 12-15 in Savannah, Ga. Jim Pauley, senior vice president, external affairs and government relations, Schneider Electric, and chairman of the board of directors, American National Standards Institute, will deliver the keynote address. Conference sessions will highlight participation and cooperation in standards work, conformity assessment, intellectual property, standards in research and academia, and standards and strategic content.
2013 World Standards Day Papers
Papers on the theme of "Standards for a World at Work and Play" are due Aug. 3 for the 2013 World Standards Day Paper Competition co-sponsored by SES - The Society for Standards Professionals and the U.S. World Standards Day Planning Committee. The topic recognizes standards as tools that assure repeatability, consistency, dependability and excellence; it identifies standards setting bodies as forums for the public and private sectors to collaborate together for a common good; and it confirms that standards bring confidence and benefits to government, business and consumers. Cash prizes will go to the best three papers submitted.
World Standards Week
The 2013 World Standards Week will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 4 in Washington, D.C. An annual event drawing together the standards and conformity assessment community, the gathering includes committee meetings, forums and more. The U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day, "Standards for a World at Work and Play," will be held Oct. 3 and will focus on the essential role of standards.
IgCC Guide Available
Building Code Basics: Green, Based on the 2012 International Green Construction Code, is available for sale from the International Code Council. Intended to be a practical reference, the guide features illustrations and tables; references to relevant code sections to help connect the IgCC to real-world applications; practical, on-the-job scenarios of code applications; and use of current methodologies and standards.
Polymer Pipe Report Published
The Nuclear Energy Standards Coordination Collaborative, a joint initiative of the American National Standards Institute and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has published a report, "Polymer Piping Codes and Standards for Nuclear Power Plants: Current Status and Recommendations for Future Codes and Standards Development," developed by its Polymer Pipe Task Group. The report looks at current standards and gives recommendations for future code and standards development related to polymer piping for nuclear applications; it also identifies existing gaps in piping standards associated with nuclear applications as well as guidelines and recommended mechanisms for addressing the gaps.
Newsletters Available from NIST
Interested readers may sign up to receive newsletters from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The NIST


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I set up simple bidirectional db replication using Oracle Streams. I used enterprise manager for this. Streams are active and their status is ok. The problem is that the replication is very slow. What happened:
- I made insert into on machine A.
- I checked but there was no data in machine B.
- I opened View Capture Statistics on machine A and my transaction was under Active Streams Transactions List (Running for more than 1 minute) and was Active For over 1000 seconds.
- I went to make some food and when I came back transaction had been eventually propagated to machine B.
So it looks like the transaction stayed in some kind of buffer for over 1000 seconds. How can I speed up this process? I am totally new in databases so please forgive me if it is a stupid question :).
Machines are just vbox instances (WinXP + Oracle 11g Enterprise).


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Lenovo Enhanced Multimedia Remote with backlit keyboard N5902 | 57Y6678 | Lenovo (US) for $35.99 + free shipping
Free Shipping. $79.99 price drops to $35.99 with coupon code 'USP1M16678' (add coupon code in Cart). I purchased this unit for our presentation room at work and it works great! The keyboard is backlit for use in a darkened room, and the responsiveness of the touch-sensitive pointing device is excellent. I would recommend for any office or multimedia setup. Coupon code valid until May 7.
20 Comments add a comment
Best HTPC remote (for keyboard). Won't be without my Harmony, but this is a very welcome and needed addition. Highly recommend, especially at this price.
I bought this about 5 months ago. It is by far the best HTPC remote with a full keyboard and it has back lighting.
I own this remote and I love it, but I hated the shipping process with Lenovo. Someone has to be home to sign for it. They wont leave without it. So you have to stay home for delivery.
Works with both operating systems: Microsoft and Windows.
note: NOT Bluetooth, but comes with its own wireless USB adaptor stored conveniently in the battery compartment.
We have 8 Lenovo Q150 w/ 8 of these keyboards. Love them! especially its single [CntlAltDel] key. :-)
With rave reviews I eagerly await the delivery man to drop mine off
This also works with google tv including the Logitech revue.
thanks, i have the older, non-backlit, one and have been looking forward to getting the newer one.
Was the not black lit keyboard like $19.99 or something. I remember seeing those deals form Lenovo's website. Don't know if the extra money is worth the backlit display.
would love it if this thing worked on my ps3...
bought one of these last time they were up, my only problem was they range was horrible with mine.
@mserebrenik: It's not just the backlight that is improved. I've got the old one, and while it's great, it has other flaws that have been improved. The old one has a track ball, which after a while needs to be cleaned, and it's no short process breaking into it to do so. The new one has some sensor that doesn't require mangling the thing to clean. The new one also has a scroll function, which the old one is sorely lacking. There are a few other design improvements regarding button placement, but honestly if you're planning on using this for an HTPC, it's probably worth the extra money just for the scroll bar, and the sensor and backlight are just bonuses.
@bbreon: That's great to know as I've always wondered.
A good price on an excellent HTPC keyboard. We have them on all of our HTPCs. Here's my review and comparison compared to the original model
As noted, the delivery requirement sucks, and must have been new from when I bought my other three in the past.
While I love this keyboard, I won't be buying from Lenovo. again because of the. signature requirement.
@stark: totally agree. I own both (bought the new version after accidentally packing the old one away into long-term storage). My only complaint when transitioning from the old to the new version, is that some of the buttons have slightly different locations. Not an issue if you didn't use the old version, but have been "re-training" my hands to find the right buttons has been challenging!
@chillyp77: agree on the shipping hassle though. I now have my own UPS account (easy to set up, and free), which also gives you the option to have a signature-release on file with their "UPS My Choice" and you can opt to have anything except an "adult-only signature" package (alcohol, tobacco, etc) left at the door!
the backlight on this is great, the timeout is a little short but it's not a deal breaker.
Estimated ship date: 5/17.... Long ways away! Order this if you don't have an immediate need.
Yay! I've been wanting to get one of these for a while. Just ordered mine.
Looks like a two week wait for shipping, but I don't mind that at all for getting it less than half price!
Thanks for the post went ahead and ordered this to replace my full size media keyboard. I am also thinking it might even replace my gyration mouse which would be nice. Always wanted to check this out but could never let myself drop the 65~ average price. Worth the wait.....I hope!!


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Anyone with a little ambition and elbow grease can make a terrific podcast.
Though creating a regular talk show is hard work, it's also part of the appeal, relishing in a collaborative nature and DIY spirit that's as admirable as it is daunting to undertake. Whether you prefer to spend the late nights handpicking a selection of tunes or talking big ideas with friends — err, at least Bryan Cranston in the Godzilla remake — there are plenty of methods for going about creating a podcast, especially considering the media form has become one of the most democratic to date. Nonetheless, how exactly do you go about creating one?
There's a melange of factors at play, from casting equipment to premium (and freemium) recording software, not to mention the rough waters that authoring your own XML feed lead to. Still, content often belies polished recording, with the most engaging likely to become editor's picks in the iTunes store.
Here's our straightforward guide to making a podcast. Keep in mind it's more intended to be a jumping off point than a one-stop resource for anything and everything podcast-related.
Also, check out our top picks for the best podcasts — from news and comedy to music and sports — along with our guide for downloading and listening to podcasts on your smartphone.
This guide was originally published December 9, 2009 and has been continually updated to reflect new technology. Louie Herr contributed to this article.
Step 1: Choosing a theme, format, equipment, and resources
Labeling your podcast, "Me" or "Thoughts on Life," likely won't help it blow up on the iTunes' top podcast list. That is, unless you're Paris Hilton or the word's leading expert on Bigfoot. Instead, try to devise a compelling theme and format.
Choose a distinct theme: Choose a topic that you're passionate about, preferably one that focuses on a niche that hasn't been covered or is relatively devoid of content. Podcasts can expound on just about anything, whether it be a sci-fi expose on alien abductions or a news piece detailing the fluctuating price of largemouth bass in Seattle, so try not to worry about your chosen topic. For example, consider the design-centric 99% Invisible and run-tastic Phedippidations, each of which is drastically different yet still highly entertaining within their respective fields.
Choose a format: In a nutshell, your podcast represents the way your show is arranged. That said, you're more likely to create better content if you opt for the same framework with each episode. Generally, podcasts have a host who invites guests to have a conversation on a specific topic chosen in advance, but structure does vary greatly depending on the selected content and how you wish to go about it. Finding the right format for you is often a trial-and-error process, one you'll likely hone and fine tune over the course of your first couple episodes and as you begin to familiarize yourself with other podcast offerings.
- Episode length — How long do you want your podcast to be? Most podcasts don't exceed 60 minutes as anything longer tends to be a bit much for the average listener. Take into account the length of any media you will air, such as songs or a pre-recorded introduction, and run a timer for each segment to ensure the utmost accuracy. Timing doesn't need to be exact across all episodes, but it should be in the ballpark.
- Script it — Though not an absolute necessity, we encourage you to pre-write at least an introduction to begin each segment. Assuming you manage to make it feel natural, scripting will provide a smooth lead-in and provide a good opportunity to think about the structure of the segment. What main points should you cover? What questions should you ask? The more planning the better. While rigid time constraints can be tough to work with at times, it's far worse to find yourself with time to fill and no potential material to do it with. Leave a little wiggle room for spontaneity, just don't rely on it to keep you afloat.
- Scheduling — How often will your podcast air new episodes? Weekly or biweekly tends to be the norm for most, but producing even just one segment a week can be difficult to maintain when you're just beginning. A bimonthly schedule, or even simply a monthly schedule, will likely provide you with more time for preparation if you're topic isn't particularly time-sensitive.
- Lawyering — Unfortunately, you will need artist consent if you want to play songs or videos during your podcast. Though obtaining the rights can be an uphill battle, contacting the content creator for direct consent is often relatively easy for smaller artists given it mean increased exposure. You can also use media files that have been specifically licensed for use, many of which you can obtain through either Creative Commons Search or Freesound.org, the latter source of which offers licensed sound effects and field recordings.
Bonus tip: Don't invite your dream guest to the first podcast episode you hope to record. Instead, start with friends that you will feel comfortable with. This will relieve some pressure.
Enlist your friends: First, if any of your friends flaunt experience in sound engineering, now is the time to double down on a six-pack and ask that they impart some of said knowledge. Chances are, they'll be able to get you up and running far more quickly than you'll be able to yourself, especially if you have a complicated recording setup. All participant roles during the podcast should be planned ahead of time, so you have a proper idea who is introducing each segment and who is serving as the engineer, for example. Try to avoid conflicts if possible — it can be difficult to simultaneously host and engineer a podcast. Also, we recommend distributing and rotating responsibilities so that all participants have opportunities to learn the different roles. Again, none of this essential to creating a podcast, but facilitating roles and divvying up the workload will put less strain on you.
Podcasting Equipment: Despite what you might think, you don't need to spend tons of money on capable recording equipment. Buying microphones and mixers will surely improve sound quality, but there's no need for a Mackie Firewire Interface — or other high-end components — to record basic audio on your computer. There are countless podcasting kits that typically come with bundled with a microphone, headphones, microphone cable, and a compact mixer.
- USB Microphone: In all reality, podcasters should consider purchasing an external microphone, such as Blue Microphones' four-star Spark Digital ($205) or the classic and affordable Shure SM58 ($136). USB mics, such as Blue Microphones' Yeti ($150), plug directly into your computer and interface with your recording software, offering superior sound and greater flexibility than your computer's built-in option.
- Recording Software: While you could opt for high-end recording programs such as Pro Tools, there are several reputable free options out there. The first, Audacity, is an open-source editing and recording program that's compatible with most operating systems and works well for beginners. Though it dons a rather unflattering exterior, you'll be able to record live audio directly onto the site, or import a variety of different of audio files including MP3 and WAV. There's even an a standard crash recovery option. Acoustica Basic Edition is another option, providing freemium audio recording and editing within a well-designed interface. However, you'll have to pay extra for features like multi-track editing and other advanced settings.
- Mixer: Beginning podcasters don't necessarily need to purchase a mixer, as any worthwhile piece of recording software allows users to directly record their voice and store it as an audio file. Of course mixers can add benefits, such as greater control and effects options, simply not offered elsewhere. A mixer is valuable, for instance, if you'd like to include music or movie clips.
- Pop Filter: Every hear of popped plosives? Well, pop filters are represent an inexpensive way to decrease explosive breath sounds common among casual vocal delivery. There's a bevvy of offerings out there, from Generic ($5) to Nady ($25), each of which is designed to eradicate the sudden burst in air pressure and the bassy response that ensues when saying words chock full of "p" and "b."
Step 2: Record an audio file
Once you've obtained the proper gear, you're ready to begin your recording. Keep in mind the basics of your podcast and try to stay on topic when recording your first episode, and while radio vets can produce quality content with slight preparation, you're only just beginning. Most professionals have spent years condensing stories and honing their craft in the studio, likely encountering the same technical difficulties as you will along the way. Best to embrace your relative inexperience before the show begins.
Open recording software — Launch your recording software when you're ready to record. The recording software can be intimidating at first given the novice podcaster will be unfamiliar with the many modular controls, so for now, it's best to simply ensure your USB microphone can successfully interface with your recording software. While this task should be easy, it's possible that you'll encounter several technical problems. Again, that' why you recruited a friend with sound-engineering experience. However, you can always reference the tutorials for your respective recording software if need be. Both experts and novices have written volumes written about sound engineering and recording.
Troubleshooting — Expect to run into some problems . Everything from technical components to general inexperience will present a challenge for podcasters. Obviously, technical issues can be very frustrating, especially with how mysterious audio production can be when you first start out. Try to treat each challenge you encounter as an opportunity to learn more about the software and sound recording in general.
Step 3: Convert the audio file into podcast
Presto! You have an audio file (or files) for that pilot podcast episode. It's not really a podcast until it's online and available to the public, though.
Post production — Not only applicable to podcasters mixing interfaces to create multitrack recordings, post-production editing is key to nearly every podcast. Masterful editing takes time to learn, though, so don't be concerned if you can't pull of some of the more advanced procedures and actions in the beginning. As far as basics go, you want to ensure your vocal volumes are roughly the same across speakers and work on tightening dead space between phrases. If you have other audio components, such as miscellaneous sound effects and background music, make sure the volume levels are low enough you can still hear the speakers. You can also work to trim your file to the specified length, or adjust the bit rate and other audio facets for your desired medium. Editing deserves a tutorial on its own, but for most casual podcasters, most of it can be done without expensive software or substantial time. It's not quite music.
Uploading to a host site — Sadly, there's really no point in a podcast if you don't intend to share it with others. To do so, you must host your resulting audio file somewhere online, prior to linking to the file from elsewhere. There are numerous ways to go about hosting your podcast, though same are better than others. Websites like WordPress and Blogger provide a free and simple means for hosting audio files, but they're limited in terms of flexibility and exhibit a general lack of control. HostGator, though more complicated, offers more advanced features and your own domain at a relatively low cost. However, if you do go with WordPress, the site will automatically add the RSS2 enclosure when you add a link to your audio file to make it possible to use as a podcast. Uploading your audio file will make the necessary RSS2 enclosure tag and can generate your XML feed. Alternatively, check out our roundup of the best free Web hosting sites for other options.
Indexing — Technically, podcasts are XML files that index the MP3 files and metadata that represent each episode. Content management systems like Squarespace and the aforementioned WordPress, with a plugin like podPress, can generate a podcast XML feed. Regardless of which way you author your podcast's XML file, be sure to follow Apple's podcast specifications for best results. Afterward, once your XML file is online, use an RSS validator like feedvalidator.org to make sure you didn't make any mistakes before submitting your feed to the iTunes store.
Step 4: Get huge
Congratulations! After a little time, and maybe some troubleshooting, Apple will list your podcast in the iTunes Store. You are now a media entity, so start acting like one!
Social media — Your podcast needs listeners and social media networks provide a great way to connect with them. Post notifications to Facebook, Twitter, and other networks whenever new podcast episodes become available, expanding the content with additional links and updates if there have been any new developments since your podcast initially aired. Did you recently feature a song from a local artist? Post an update with a link to that song. Really pumped about a guest that will join your next episode? Add an update saying so. Use social media to maintain interest in your brand between episodes.
Website — Your podcast should also have a home beyond its social media presences. The premium Squarespace, along with other platforms lining our picks for the best free blogging sites, represent just a handful of quality alternatives if you're looking for a polished presence and one-stop access to all your episodes. No matter which site you decide to utilize, it should provide information about the podcast — what it's about, who participates — and show notes for all episodes.
Repeat — There you have it. You are now a podcaster. Remember, podcasts are recurring media, so it's time to get to work on episode two. Before you do, though, consider a debrief with other hosts and with your respective guests. Discuss what worked well and what could be improved. If time allows, make said debriefings a regular part of recording your podcast. Ad-hoc thinking could arise as well, so keep a running list of ideas that you can review when you need to.
[Photocredits: Phuriphat, Chaikom/Shutterstock]


text:
what I'm trying to do is make the paddle follow the mouse position(red dot).
I know how to rotate the paddle relatively to the center of the screen, but I'm not sure how to determinate the coordinates.
what I'm trying to do is make the paddle follow the mouse position(red dot).
From what I understand, you want to have the paddle be at a point on the circle nearest the mouse cursor. Here's the general way of calculating that point:
The simplest way would be to make your paddles origin at the center of the circle. Then you just need to calculate the angle and you're done (your paddle origin, or center position should be at the circle center and the paddle itself should be to the right of the circle as starting position).
Something like this:
If you want to have the paddle origin at the center of the paddle itself, then you can do the following to get a point that's always on the circle (the code to obtain the rotation will be the same as above):


text:
I have a working HTML/JS page that uses Google Maps:
How do I import this into wordpress.barrycarter.info?
Simply cutting/pasting or doing "
<?php include()?>" doesn't work,
since WP processes the result before displaying it, breaking the page:
(use "view source" to see the hideously mangled JS).
I can't even use the "Google Maps v3 Shortcode" plugin, since the map overlays are generated client-side, not via KML.


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Blasts of heavy gunfire, cries of terror, and the prevailing rumble of horses' hooves have all silenced their alarm within Pittsburgh's Benedum Center, as "War Horse," a touring dramatization of Michael Morpurgo's children's novel of the same name, has ended its run.
Morpurgo's story of enduring devotion and harrowing wartime ordeals, brought to life by an exceptional cast and innovative stage craft, exposed the heart to tremendous emotional warfare while it challenged the mind and dazzled the eye.
A boundless affection and tender devotion awaken on an August day in 1912, when Ted Narracott, a man of minute affluence but abundant pride, brings a spindly foal to live on his farm in Devon, England, after winning him during an auction in which he and his brother were in heated battle over the self-same animal. Narracott's brother eventually challenges Ted to yet another bet, still involving the colt. If the horse can, in a week's time, learn to push a plow, Ted will receive a monetary gift from his brother, but if not, he must forfeit the colt. The possibility of losing the colt upsets no one more than Ted's teenage son, Albert who has taken a fondness to the young horse. While determinately and single-handedly instructing the yearling in the grueling farm task, Albert and Joey, a name seemingly mutually agreed upon by the young boy and his hoofed friend, deepen their bond of profound companionship and trust, a connection that will eventually be tested for longstanding endurance as the two best friends are separated at the onslaught of World War I and must fight for the most valuable prize of all: a reunion.
As Albert, Andrew Veenstra exuded an adorable boyish sweetness and energy as he traverses Albert's early years, while never loosing his gentleness, even after his Albert has been forced to mature.
Todd Cerveris, as Ted Narracott, depicted a man of striking cowardice and insecurity, while Angela Reed, Cerveris' real-life wife, brought a winsome courageousness to her portrayal of Ted's wife Rose.
Using sparse props and scenery, the most integral part of this magnificent production was the unique form of storytelling used to breathe life into the animal characters of the story. Life-sized puppets, manipulated mostly by multiple puppeteers, animated such important characters as Joey, a magnificent black horse named Topthorn, as well as various birds and other horses. In Joey's case, when he becomes fully grown, he is controlled by three puppeteers, two of which are semi-visible inside the frontal and hind quarters of Joey's massive puppet body, while the third puppeteer is completely visible and outside of Joey, leading his head by a guiding rod that controls his head, neck, and ear movements. The fluidity with which the horse puppets, particularly, moved provided graceful and naturalistic authenticity to the production, as did some of the horses' more menacing movements as they reared-up out of disturbance and were mounted by other actors.
Another captivating feature of the production was the use of the expanse of a rigid sliver of white material that spanned the length of the middle portion of a black screen at the back of the stage. Throughout the production, it becomes apparent that this white material symbolizes a ripped-out piece of paper from the sketchbook of a British major who takes care of Joey in his beginning experiences in the war and who enjoys making drawings. While this white screen was used primarily to show pencil-like drawings of locales and to indicate the passage of time within the story as well as the changing of cities and countries, it also provided unnerving moving images, such as a spray of machine gun bullets that correlated with the battle scene then appearing on the stage, or it could also depict seeping red blood as the story's human hero is wounded.
To assuage the distressing impact of the intense battle scenes and plentiful moments of emotional strife, the play offered a satisfying amount of humorous instances - the recurring character of the Narracott's goose who obstinately and unfailingly attempts to enter the household, forever to be forbidden admittance, and always staring in huffy confusion at the firmly closed door after it has been slammed shut just as he tries to enter; the tenderly innocent interaction between Joey and Albert, as the former mischievously picks up Albert's cap and as the latter, in a moment of early desperation when attempting to gain Joey's trust and obedience, thrusts his own head into Joey's feed bucket to show him its proper use. Moments of endearing comedy also derived from the shoddy communication between the British and German troops when they would come face-to-face and find their language barriers an irritating obstacle. In one such occasion, an Irish soldier is ordered to confront a German soldier to settle an argument about the rightful ownership of Joey, who both sides could use. When the German soldier attempts to ask the Irishman if he would like to engage in a coin toss for Joey, they make a spectacle of trying to understand each other, all of which results in the Irishman recommending they play Heads-or-Tails, thinking he had thought of the idea first. Never do the European languages involved in the story prove detrimental to the audience's understanding of a scene; each scene is performed in English but is meant to be understood as spoken in the corresponding foreign tongue, heard by the uncomprehending ear of a foreign soldier or civilian.
Fans of the novel may be interested to know that the play does not fully follow the events as depicted in the book, but the production most assuredly provides the heart with an enormously emotionally gripping and visually stunning first-class theatrical experience.


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What is the most boring or ridiculous training your company has ever put you through?
Have you been to a training class so boring you need to drink 4 redbulls just to stay awake? So mind numbing that you would rather chew threw your own arm to get away rather than sit through one more minute? Please advise of your experiences...
30 Answers answer
Radiation safety. I fell asleep after "don't drink the tritium."
My first job out of college sent us to an all-day training at a hotel across the highway to become "Totally Customer Focused". We got pens, pencils, buttons, notepads, etc. and a whole slew of sessions like "who are our customers", "how do we focus on the customer", etc.
I'm not quite sure what the point was, but it seemed to be "we should listen to what the customer's needs are and meet them". That took an all-day training seminar to comprehend??
Fish, the Pike Street Market method. It's all about customer service, and we are an internal department. We did all kinds of dumb stuff, including putting up mirrors so we could "check our attitude at the door", a metal board with happy magnetic words where we could make peppy phrases, and chose fish names. Mine was Megalodon. I still have a little stuffed shark hanging from my office nameplate. We were asked to put motivational quotes appending our emails. So I assembled about a hundred motivational quotes and just rotated through them. About six months after the whole Fish craze died down, I got reprimanded for having a poem by Marianne Williamson on my tagline because it mentions God. Mind you, I am not religious, I just find the poem very powerful. And I had suffered through innumerable proselytizing emails from a very religious co-worker not a year before. Bureaucrats!
Poem: http://skdesigns.com/internet/articles/quotes/williamson/our_deepest_fear/
I was working as a Service Writer at a local forklift dealership. I had 39 male technicians and no females worked in my department except me. This wasn't my first job surrounded by men. The secretary took me in to the office for training. She was an older southern women with that soft voice. She said, in that voice, " Now we need to talk about ...sexual harrassent." I just looked her trying not to laugh, and said, "Well, where do I sign up for that?"
While I do take sexual harrassment seriously, when you work with nothing but men, you learn that words are words, and how you hear them was NOT how they meant it. It does happen, and there is no excuse for it, but the majority would never do that.
I was on active duty with the Air Force and I'd peg it to two incidents in the early to mid 90s.
One was sensitivity training...just why did we need that?
The other was learning to run the Air Force as a business was run - FAIL! The US military is designed to break things and kill people, any other use constitutes a waste of tax payer money.
I work for the government.. (and was ARMY before that).. almost all the training is boring.. "Death by PowerPoint"...
I'm a government worker employed by the Army. So what training did your tax dollars pay for that was boring or ridiculous training? OK, you asked; the winner is; Human Trafficking. Yes the government feels that we have to be told that human Trafficking is wrong :-)
@moondrake: AWESOME!!
It wasn't training, per se, but day after day of presentations by software vendors pitching their HR/Payroll products. Loooooong days. Dark, overheated rooms. Droning lecturers. Heavy lunches. Argh!
Last summer I attended an 8 week training course. I'm not sure that I remember anything from that course now. Basically it was an 8 week party in Houston.
Sexual Harassment Training- There is nothing funnier than watching a film about not offending employees sexually, especially when the actors in the film are sexually harassing each other. Everyone just laughs and the "big-wigs" scold us.
My employers made everyone watch a training video. It was called Why Are You Making It So Hard (for me to give you my money)?
It was made to look like the world's crappiest gameshow, with WAYMISH used as a sort of catch phrase. Every time someone (always in retail settings) screwed up, the 'host' would say "classic WAYMISH moment!." Basically it was about having good customer service, so it's easier for customers to get the product or service they want, and be happy to buy or pay for it.
The kicker? The company I work for isn't retail, it's airport parking. I drive a bus. It was the least applicable training video that anyone could possibly have chosen. It's only indirectly applicable to cashiers, and not even remotely so for drivers like myself.
Even management thought it was pointless (and they were forced to watch too). We had to come in on our day off for it. It should come as no surprise that it was a corporate decision.
Sitting me in front of a VCR and handing me a stack of VHS :)
How to ergonomically use desk equiptment, like a STAPLER!
oh boy the answers i have!
the funniest: working on computer based learning system (CBLS)-the third one was on how to work the cbls system.(you had to be psycic to do the first two)
the stupidest: working in food prep-no cashregister near the department, or expected for us to use- the video on how to identify if someone is old enough to purchase tobacco or alcohol.
the weirdest: how to clean up a lead-acid battery spill (in the food areas?-they didn't like when i asked why we would have any battery anything in the bakery)
the repeatativest: how to fold a towel to fill a shelf.
the grossest: how to identify the kind of bug/rodent you saw for the infestation logs.
osha approved course on White-out cleanups....honest
A two hour video of a video of a conference call, explaining how vpn works, by someone trying to explain a roll out for the replacement software.
All pretty much monotone, so out was even easier!
@benyust2 and I have both been to some boring ones, since we're both CPAs... I'm sure he can attest to the nails-across-a-chalkboard annual accounting & auditing updates (8 hours+) or the half day technical topic seminars. Not sure where he practices, but in NJ every 3 years we have to go to a 4 hour ethics update. I actually took the course 3 times in like a year - once because my old firm required it, once after I got my license (requirement to take the course after you are licensed, regardless of when you last took it), and once at my new firm because they sponsored a session. That was fun.
Training on how to avoid a slip and fall. And there was a written test after.
@dcalotta: Yep! I have only had to do the ethics CPE as part of the CPA exam. I've only been a CPA for 3 years or so and I didn't need the ethics for my first renewal. I'll need it again soon though. Those annual tax updates are brutal. But, the 2 day class on Single Audits (an audit of a specific program of a nonprofit who spends a certain amount of government funds) was probably the worst. I do self-study if at all possible. I think the worst moment was a during a tax update when the speakers invited an IRS agent to speak. After she talked for a half hour about a new IRS rule, the regular speaker got up, said he had just called the IRS and everything she said was wrong. I felt I was owed that 30 minutes back.
I was active duty Navy. They sent me from Hawaii to California for a 3 day training course on a system my ship didn't even have. "Well we might get it one day." 2 1/2 years later, I left the ship and still no system.
Some might see this as a 3 day all expense paid vacation. I saw it as 3 extra days separated from my newly wed wife.
Worked as a number cruncher for an aircraft company doing rehab on military jets. Tripped and fell on some stairs one day (nothing hurt but my pride) but they had to file an incident report.
The next day I was given the additional duties of "safety coordinator".
I was required to attend a number of lame safety courses that all had written exams. We had to pass the written tests or re-take the course until we did. They claimed flunking would be reflected in your performance eval. The worst was the 2 day hazmat training course. Like I'd be on anyone's speed-dial in case of a chemical spill.
The fire safety training made up for it. Got to spend a 1/2 day on the flight line putting out real fires with a fire extinguisher. (Imagine a 2'x4' shallow metal pan with 1/2" of flaming jet fuel). It was much tougher than I'd thought it'd be.
@mtm2: Did 20 in the Navy, retired last year. I literally cannot count the number of moronic required training sessions I put up with over that time.
Required training course on basic computer skills aimed at new users of word processors, basic data bases, etc. In tried-and-true Department of Defense style, any required course is required for everyone, including the IT department and several people with degrees in computer science and systems analysis.
Safety training for DuPont. Sat in hard plastic chairs watching VHS tapes from the 70s (this was 2007) for 2 hours telling me not to drink the experimental chemicals and to look both ways before crossing the street.
@wilfbrim: Right there with you...I just note two that stood out over all the others.
@benyust2: I've avoided non-profit audits thusfar, thankfully! At my last tax update, they brought in an IRS Special Agent from the criminal enforcement division. His talk was really interesting, because it wasn't about how to properly reply to CP2000s or something. He spoke in conjunction with tax/criminal tax attorneys, it was pretty cool.
@mtm2: Ditto. I am coming up on 30 years in local government and mind-numbingly stupid trainings are a part of the endurance test for public service. I get a double whammy, as my department is funded through a Federal grant, so we get the benefit of both local and Federal idiocracy.
@moondrake: I feel your pain. 33 years in state government. Accountability issues are taken so seriously that we spend a lot of time in mandatory training. To make it worse, Training is one of the areas under me so I am frequently the person to hear the gripes when we have to pass along and enforce a mandated training on blood borne pathogens (for desk jobs?), etc. When I do any of the training myself, I TRY to toss in some laughs to keep people awake. Right now I am arranging mandated Ethics training for all employees. This should be fun, especially since the mandate is coming down from an administration that doesn't even know how to SPELL ethics!
Sexual harassment (it's bad...okay?) Which was just videos from the era of "that's sexual harassment, and I don't have to take it" commercials and some poorly proofread powerpoint slides (Basically, the internet is only to be used for work related maters, porn, and social networking are prohibited [yes, that's how the punctuation worked out])
Customer service (wait, I work security, and don't have "customers") I mean, we all know that when your job is to look through peoples crap, and tell them "No, you can't bring in [a box of knives/a gun/a pound of weed/a few 40's] to court" that making sure a yelling homeless man happy is your number one concern (I reciprocate the mood people give me, with understanding that they don't want to be there, but I will not be thanking people for calling me some rather unflattering names shared with classic WWII groups)
Each of these things lasted for a full 8 hours, and were done on paid holidays that would have been days off otherwise.


text:
James Metz, MD
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: September 11, 2013
Meditation is a wonderful technique to help with stress reduction. It is easy to learn and can be done without the help of therapist. It can be practiced in a variety of places including work, home, and in the hospital. Meditation originated in the Eastern religions and was used for calming and focusing the mind. It has been popularized in the United States through the introduction of transcendental meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1960s. Deepak Chopra, who has been a strong supporter of meditation, has also helped spread its popularity.
There are many ways to practice meditation and each individual develops their own style and preferences. Most recommend performing meditation once or twice a day for 10-20 minutes to reap the full benefits. Find a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed. Sit in comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes so you are not affected by visual stimulation. Breathe naturally. Some will use a mantra (phrase or word that you repeat to yourself to help distract your thoughts) such as "om". Gradually relax all the muscles in your body from your feet up to your head. Your mind may wander, but use your mantra to help continue to focus on your breathing and relaxation.
You can find many resources for learning meditation online or in your local bookstore or library. Meditation is a wonderful complementary medical technique that is safe, relaxing—and best of all, free!


text:
I'd like to exclude the directories "temp" and "Ubuntu One/" from backup. What is the correct escaping of the space????
RSYNCCONF="--delete --exclude=.* --exclude=temp/"
Thanks in advance!
- Chris
excludes=( ".*" temp/ "Ubuntu One/" )' 'RSYNCCONF="${excludes[@]/#/--exclude=}"
$RSYNC -e "$S" -avR $FROMSSH:$SOURCE ${RSYNCCONF[@]} $TARGET$TODAY $INC >> $LOG 2>&1
didn't work. I'd really appreciate any advice.
This is the script: http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/_attachment?target=Skripte%2FBackup_mit_RSYNC%2Fbackup.sh


text:
N +41º 23' 27.74" / W +2º 8' 30.49"
Tel: (34) 93 4106060Fax: (34) 93 3215179
Check-in after 15:00h
Check-out until 12:00h
The fully renovated Meliá Barcelona Sarrià is a luxury city hotel with a strategic location in the financial, cultural and commercial heart of the city of Barcelona.
Only a few minutes from Avenida Diagonal, the Paseo de Gracia and the Football Club Barcelona Camp Nou Stadium, it is the perfect choice both for business and leisure travellers. Near the stops for the tourist bus, the hotel is also located in one of the city's main cultural and entertainment districts.
Meliá Barcelona Sarrià is certified as a Biosphere Hotel by the RTI (Responsible Tourism Institute), an organisation supported by UNESCO
Its privileged location in center city Barcelona allows guests rapid access by public transportation or a peaceful stroll to the city's main touristic and cultural points of interest; and also outstanding shopping and commercial areas of the City of Gaudí.


text:
6 Famously Terrible Movies That Were Almost Awesome
At some point in the last six months, you've sat in a theater watching a terrible movie that took $200 million to make and said to yourself, "Why the hell did they ever think this would be good?"
The reason is that lots of bad movies looked like good movies in the early stages. It takes a whole bunch of people to make a movie, and often the finished product is only as good as its shittiest element. That messy process is how we wound up with ...
#6. X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand was the unforgivable follow-up to X2. We say "unforgivable" because the second X-Men movie was widely regarded as one of the greatest superhero flicks of all time, if just for one scene.
You know, the stabbing scene.
Yet, despite coming hard on the heels of that success and boasting a larger budget than most nations' militaries, The Last Stand somehow managed to spit in the face of just about everything the X-Men franchise had going for it. Everyone's favorite characters from the first two films were either killed off, depowered, reduced to cheap gags or, in Nightcrawler's case, completely left out.
"Audiences just can't root for a blue protagonist."
If you followed the debacle that was the third X-Men movie, you probably blame Twentieth Century Fox or the departure of director Bryan Singer. But the truth is that all the film's problems can be traced to one equally bad movie that steered both franchises into a kryptonite iceberg faster than a speeding bullet.
Via Superman.wikia.com
Nice work, dickface.
Singer left The Last Stand in July 2004 to direct Superman Returns, but also brought with him two of X2's screenwriters, his longtime editor/composer John Ottman and actor James "Cyclops" Marsden. Fox had no choice but to step in and make sure their dismembered picture beat Superman to the finish line over James Marsden's dead body.
Which it did.
The Awesome Movie We Missed Out On:
Via Goodcomics.comicbookresources.com
If you're not a comics geek, that is an issue from one of the greatest story lines ever: "The Dark Phoenix Saga." And, sure enough, this was precisely where Bryan Singer wanted the third movie to pick up from, as it was exactly where X2 left off.
According to X2 screenwriter Michael Dougherty, The Last Stand was supposed to come off as a goddamn monster movie: "The idea was that you open up with Alkali Lake but it's completely barren and dried up and there are these odd reports of strange phenomena going on around the world accompanied by bright lights in the sky." You know, such as ships getting torn in two ...
... and San Francisco getting fucking destroyed:
Instead of being shoved into the corner like Jennifer Grey, the second coming of Jean Grey/Phoenix was supposed to be heralded as if "a very god-like force had entered their reality ... causing disruptions around the world." In nerd terms, instead of X-Men: The Last Stand, you would have gotten X-Men: The Best Movie Ever, with a three-way war for control of Phoenix between the X-Men, Magneto's Brotherhood and the same Hellfire Club that would eventually be recycled into X-Men: First Class.
And someone traded that film for Superman Returns.
At long last, Superman fans can watch his son play piano.
#5. Alien: Resurrection
Via Dethorchid.com
Coming off the disastrous Alien 3, the development of Alien: Resurrection actually started off in the most promising way possible. The studio asked the up-and-coming screenwriter Joss Whedon to resurrect the franchise from the dreary and slow third film. Whedon's then-credits included Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Speed, and he would shortly thereafter get nominated for an Academy Award for Toy Story.
However, the decision to kill Ripley off in Alien 3 and the prospects for a short-lived Alien vs. Predator franchise severely tied Whedon's hands for the project, particularly when it came to all things Ripley. The studio suggested that they just clone her back in. Whedon did what they said, at which point it was suggested that he add some more clones.
Above: The difference between "horror" and "horrible."
Things kind of went downhill from there.
The Awesome Movie We Missed Out On:
First of all, let's go back one movie in the series. Check out the original, hilariously misleading teaser trailer for Alien 3.
Yep, it promised that the aliens would be showing up on Earth. A few dozen drafts of the screenplay later, it wound up taking place on a remote asteroid prison with a lonely, dog-shaped alien.
So Whedon's original draft of the next film (which you can find on the Internet) included the climax that so many of us anticipated for the Alien series: an "epic final battle on Earth, for Earth."
Leading up to that was a huge soldiers vs. aliens battle on board a massive ship that is slowly crashing toward Earth. Then a new, much more terrifying alien is born and starts wreaking havoc ... and no, it's not the weird-ass human/alien hybrid thing that made it into the film.
Which promptly started tonguing Ripley.
Here's how Whedon described it in the screenplay:
"An alien, to be sure, but nothing we've seen so far, its forelegs arch out of its back like spiders legs, its back legs set on enormous haunches, thick and powerful. Its head is long, eyeless, like the others, but along its white expanse red veins, coming out of the skin and running like thick black hairs to the back. It has retracted pincers at the side of head that come out when its tongue does. It's much bigger than the others, nearly the size of the queen herself.
And it's bone white."
So pretty much not that.
Then we see it in action:
"It LEAPS up to the ceiling in a second, quick and effortless as a monstrous flea. [It] leaps again and lands on the screaming soldier ... pincers SWING out and pin either side of his head. His eyes go wide as:
Its tongue SHOOTS into his throat. We watch it drain the blood from his body. We can see it, see its stomach swell, red tinged, as his body goes blue and slack."
"OK, that all sounds good, but we're going to just give you this instead."
So then the ship crashes on Earth, and Ripley and Call (Winona Ryder's character) are forced to do battle with this horrific new alien before it can go on a rampage through Earth's population.
As you know if you've seen the movie, virtually all of this was cut, for budget reasons. As for what was left, as Whedon puts it:
"I don't remember writing, 'A withered, granny-lookin' Pumkinhead-kinda-thing makes out with Ripley.' Pretty sure that stage direction never existed in any of my drafts."
Not that Whedon has ever had an issue ratcheting up the creep factor.
#4. Wild Wild West
Via Impawards.com
One of the worst, most unnecessary movies of all time, Wild Wild West stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline as racist jokes in cowboy outfits. It managed to score five Razzie Awards for being the shittiest piece of shit ever filmed (more than Howard the Duck, Catwoman or The Love Guru could pull off) despite its $140 million price tag. Will Smith later publicly apologized to actor Robert Conrad from the original TV series for taking such a steaming dump on the source material.
Via Amazon
"Why does this box set smell like asshole?"
The Awesome Movie We Missed Out On:
Originally, the movie was supposed to be directed by Richard Donner, who incidentally directed three episodes of the original TV series. A pre-meltdown Mel Gibson was slated to star, and their version of the film was written by Shane Black, whose credits at the time included the often brutally violent first two Lethal Weapon movies and The Last Boy Scout. In short, Wild Wild West was damn near a clever, witty, bloody action comedy set in the Old West. But at some point Donner and Gibson left the project to make a different movie with a different writer -- Maverick.
The world will never forgive them.
So Smith was left to make the gurgling hamster fart that became Wild Wild West, which he considers to be the biggest mistake of his career if for no other reason than the role he turned down to make it: Neo from The Matrix.
Via NY Daily News
He got in 12,932 little fights, and his mom got scared ...
OK, so that might very well have ruined The Matrix (we're pretty sure the script would have gone through several rewrites to Will Smithify the role of befuddled geek Thomas Anderson). So maybe getting a shitty Wild Wild West was worth getting The Matrix in exchange.
Thanks, Will!


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GENESEO, N.Y. - The State University of New York at Geneseo will feature works by faculty, students and guest artists during its "Parabolic Paths" dance performance April 14-17 in the college's Alice Austin Theater in Brodie Hall. The Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. The Sunday matinee begins at 2 o'clock.
The program will include guest artist Bill Evans' "Yes, Indeed!" The world- renowned choreographer is a dancer, teacher, writer, lecturer, adjudicator and consultant on movement theory. He has taught and served as an administrator of dance at various universities and companies in many parts of the United States. His performance experience in modern, ballet and tap has spanned the globe and his own compositions have enjoyed international attention. Evans currently is a visiting professor of dance at SUNY Brockport.
Guest artist Kylee Pike Fassle, a 2004 SUNY Geneseo alumna, will perform "Funny Heartache," a jazz piece set to Chris Botti's "My Funny Valentine" and Michael Buble's "Heartbreak Tonight." Guest artist, Eran David P. Hanlon, will premiere "The Last Coronation," a dance theatre piece with a video backdrop, set to music by Kevin Garcia.
Concert artistic director Jonette Lancos, professor of dance at Geneseo, will stage her original piece entitled "Mexico Daydreamers," inspired by her travels to the Mexican countryside of Oaxaca and the modern city of Puerto Vallarta. Lancos will also present "Ballet for Now," a classical ballet with a contemporary approach.
Heather Acomb, a 2006 SUNY Geneseo alumna and adjunct lecturer of Dance at Geneseo, will present "Of Harmony and Chaos," a group work exploring music visualization, Vivaldi, and all things Baroque.
The performance also will feature works by four senior students: Allison Bohman's" Love is Us," a contemporary ballet about the search and longing for love and human connection inspired by her summer study in Paris; Jillian DeGironimo's " Above All Things," a piece that delves into the universal process of grief; Elizabeth Doyle's "Nothing Collapses," a work inspired by the study of breath in dance, Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself 6," and the cycle of life; and Lauren Alaimo's "Sunrise," a solo about learning to trust and love oneself after experiencing an emotional low.
"Parabolic Paths" is directed by Lancos and Acomb, with student directors Jamie Hartle and Kelly Keenehan. Aly Ellis is stage manager. Student lighting and costume designers mentored by Theater faculty Johnnie Ferrell and Crystal Ferrell. Support for the production is provided by Orchesis Student Dance Organization and the School of the Arts.
Tickets for the concert are $8 for reserved seating and are available by visiting the Brodie Hall Box Office, bbo.geneseo.edu, or by calling (585) 245-5833.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
Media Relations Manager
(585) 245-5516


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We hear it everyday; a flu epidemic has hit the country more than ever before. So, does that mean we should stay home and be non-exposed to the world? Realistically speaking, we have to leave our homes and surround ourselves with people who may have the virus or may just have an acute cold. Either way, take the following precautions to decrease your risk of catching the virus in Spin Classes:
1) Go to class well hydrated. When your body is well hydrated, it has the ability to produce the necessary transporting mucous to keep debrit out of the nose, lungs and throat thereby keeping the virus out of you.
2) Wipe your bike down thoroughly. Giving the person before you the benefit of the doubt, it may be true that they cleaned up their sweat after using the bike. Besides, that is proper Spin ettiquette. But you know what Grandma says, an ounce of precaution is a pound of cure.
3) Keep your body's immune system strong through eating enough protein each day. My recommendation is to consume grams of protein that equal the pounds of lean mass you have. So, get your body composition tested soon and find out how much muscle vs. fat your body has and then split that number into 5, for 5 meals a day. I discuss this and other viable tips in my book, Breaking the Chains of Obesity, 107 Tools. (don't be scared by the title. It;s an excellent workbook).
4) Take your vitamins. Many people ask me which are best. I find that vitamin C is king, the wellness formula from Whole Foods, a multi vitamin, fish oil, glutathione. Start basic. If you can even take a good antioxidant, then do it. If symptoms come on, start taking Zicam every 3 hours. That stuff works wonders.
5) Make sure you are getting your REST each night. Everyone needs 7 hours a night minimum. That is, of good rest! So, clear your mind before bed time, get a massage, take a warm bath...Just get that rest in because an unrested body is a vulnerable body.
6) Cut back on High Glycemic carbs. Viruses brew on sugar. Keep your body's glucose and insulin levels low by following more of a low glycemic nutrition plan. Again, this is all in Breaking the Chains of Obesity, 107 Tools.
So there are some tips that when follwed can be very helpful for keeping your body strong. So, take care of your body and treat it like a temple!


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Yankees' 'Sweet' Tribute To the City of Boston
In the wake of Monday's bombings, the New York Yankees planned a tribute to the people of Boston, bringing a sense of détente to their long-running rivalry with the Red Sox. The Yankees announced that they would hold a moment of silence before their game Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and play Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," a Fenway Park favorite, after the third inning. The Red Sox responded by writing to the Yankees on Twitter, "Thank you! We appreciate your support." The Red Sox, who were in Cleveland to play the Indians, canceled a scheduled open house event for fans at Fenway.
—Brian Costa
Down, Set, Cook!
The NFL is putting players through cooking classes as part of a series of programs designed to prepare them for life after football. A group of 21 current and former players—including Eagles receiver Jason Avant and Saints guard Jahri Evans—will attend a workshop at New York's Institute of Culinary Education next month, where they will be shown the recipes for succeeding in the hospitality and culinary business. The training program is one of 10 offered under the league's Player Engagement initiative.
—Jonathan Clegg


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Giant's breakfast.
Main Content
Very beautiful capture!
Awesome Photos...
Out of this world
Very nice! It is an interesting picture
Kani, well done. Beautiful work.
They look like huge bears falling asleep.
The transparent of the air is more like a crystal ball.
They kind of look like frozen animals.
I'm frozen just looking at it! Well done!
Gdynia.,, Morze Baltyckie,,,,niespodziewane !!!!
Kani many congratulations! Beside the rocks there is a wonderful view of the Baltic sea. At which time you made the shoot?
simply wow!!!!!!!
definitely incredible coldness
Where the cold things are:-)
serenely beautiful
Wonderful scenery.
Fantastic pics
They look like ice covered sea animals/
That's amazing.
I'm surprised they are rocks instead of some enormous animals lying there... a great shot in general and look at the pinkie lovely skyline! :)
The horizon is mesmerizing.
So beautiful and quiet.
A delicate pink sky, a blue and white horizon,and the ice covered rocks in the foreground, well its just an awesome shot. Much more than unusual, and hard for me to believe that its a beach! Terrific photography, so thank you. j.e.s.
When I first glanced at this, I thought I was looking at dead polar bears on floating icebergs. I felt sad and looked for the description. Amazing what the mind can come up with? LOL! Beautiful picture of the icy rocks.
The texture on the makes them look like they are alive
I appreciate your effort of capturing this beautiful and rare shot with twilight background using long exposure, a lower viewpoint and a zoom lens despite the freezing cold. Though we had the same kind of happiness which you enjoyed when you happened to see a rare kind of wonderful scenery, we never face any physical effort on this. Thanks to you for posting a wonderful shot and thanks to National Geographic for paving way to this great opportunity!
Amazing shot of what looks like it could be pastries of various kinds decorated with powdered sugar and icing. Fascinating!
Cool! just a little too cool! Really nice shot!
Turning it into B & W could be just as effective and then enhancing the shadows.
The composition and long exposure doing the trick to turn this into a very interesting and good photo. Thanks for sharing.
looks like a turtles frozen
The rocks with the crown of ice is an example of how nature adorns itself to express the beauty and creativity supposed to be owned only by humans.
great effort there for a wonderful outcome
or it's just the ice..
This is great. The photographer's instinct to frame the image with a clean non-distracting background really puts the viewer's focus where it needs to be, and the long exposure really helps give the water a very smooth mist-like look. Congrats to the photographer for a wonderful image.
what a nice pict.. ^^
Great Shot, Atmospheric, Well Done.
Great job!
Long exposure, alway I love.
Absolutely fascinating, thank you for taking this shot and sharing it.
Nice capture
Excellent Shot...
I HATE signing in every time I visit this site!!!
@Antonio Falivene thank you Antonio, that was about 16:00 I think...
@Connie Kingrey I thought the same exact thing. The photo really gets your imagination working.
Check your browser settings. You should be able to configure it so it retains your username and password.
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text: Case | HBS Case Collection | January 2015 (Revised June 2016) $19B 4 txt app WhatsApp...omg! David Collis and Ashley Hartman In February 2014, Facebook announced the acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 billion. WhatsApp, founded in 2009, was a relatively young company that employed only 50 people and earned merely $10 million in revenue in 2013. It was one of many mobile messaging services that allowed users to contact each other without paying costly text message fees. However, its popularity and growth potential enticed Facebook, a company facing many challenges and looking for opportunities to expand its user base. Facebook, the social networking website that allowed users to share information with friends, believed WhatsApp was a logical next step that would help it achieve its mission of "making the world more open and connected." When Facebook announced the acquisition, it vowed to keep WhatsApp operating independently, letting the founders control the direction of the company and allowing WhatsApp to stay true to its mission. Yet, many debated the logic behind paying so much for such a small company with limited revenue streams. Was Facebook correct to purchase WhatsApp? Even at $22 billion? How could it create value if it did not integrate WhatsApp with Facebook? Keywords: WhatsApp; Facebook; Mobile Messaging; social network; Acquisitions; value added; strategy alignment; monetization; social platforms; technology; Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Communications Industry; Information Technology Industry; Citation:Collis, David, and Ashley Hartman. "$19B 4 txt app WhatsApp...omg!" Harvard Business School Case 715-441, January 2015. (Revised June 2016.) View Details CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related


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5 Great Movies With Mind-Blowing Symbolism You Didn't Notice
Most of the time, it's pretty easy to tell what a movie is about: Lincoln is about Lincoln. The Hangover is about some dudes who get a hangover. Tree of Life is about ... you know, things. However, sometimes a movie you've seen a million times will convince you it's about something very simple, when, in fact, there was a hidden meaning all along that the director intentionally put there, but for some reason didn't want you to find. For instance ...
#5. Aliens is a Metaphor For the Vietnam War
20th Century Fox
James Cameron's Aliens, the godfather of sci-fi action movies, is about as straightforward as a film gets (except for the part where the aliens are actually giant penises, but that was already there when Cameron came in). It's just a simple story about a bunch of American soldiers sent to a faraway land where they are led to their senseless deaths by incompetent leaders. What could that possibly be a metaphor for?
Karsten Bidstrup/Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images
Yeah, according to the Alien: Quadrilogy box set special features, everything in the movie is designed to trigger one huge Vietnam War flashback ... and considering the movie came out just 11 years after the war ended, it wouldn't have been that far from the audience's mind. First, we have the dropship, which was modeled after U.S. combat aircraft of the era:
20th Century Fox, Staff Sgt. Phil Schmitten/US Army
After mating them with giant crabs.
Then we have the general design of the soldiers: Their weapons, outfits, and even the designs they paint on their gear are based on the ways that American soldiers used to decorate theirs during the war.
20th Century Fox, military.com
20th Century Fox, eastofeton.wordpress.com
"This platoon has a minimum 15 pieces of flair."
But the similarities aren't just cosmetic; they are also all over the plot. Like in Vietnam, the technologically superior soldiers soon find themselves overtaken by an enemy that tends to sneak up on them in the dark. Obviously, Cameron isn't saying that the Vietnamese were penis-headed rape monsters -- it's more about the attitude of the soldiers towards them, which goes from "I'm the ultimate badass!" to "Game over, man!" over the course of the conflict.
Then there's the way the movie portrays figures of authority: They're all corrupt, useless morons, basically. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation, like many major companies during Vietnam, is putting their soldiers in jeopardy just to make a profit. The commanding officer, Lieutenant Gorman, is not only elitist (he chooses not to eat with his men, which pisses off Hicks), but laughably incompetent: He gets himself knocked out during the very first fight, and Ripley has to rescue everyone. This is most likely based on what most people think of American officers during Vietnam: that they got a bunch of young Americans killed without ever actually getting their hands dirty.
20th Century Fox
The scene where Paul Reiser does an impression of Nixon for 10 minutes should have tipped us off.
It's probably safe to say that Cameron doesn't think Vietnam ended too well, considering how the colony on LV-426 is engulfed in a thermonuclear explosion at the end. And those poor marines didn't even get to do any surfing.
#4. X-Men is All About Gay Rights
20th Century Fox
If we asked you what the X-Men movies are a metaphor for, a lot of you would probably say "growing knives out of your hands and stabbing people." Others would point out that the comic was originally about the 1960s civil rights movement and racism, so the movies must be, too. That's close, but no cigar: The X-Men films are actually one big metaphor for gay rights. Says who? Well, the director, for starters. And both screenwriters for X2. And Magneto himself, Ian McKellen. All of whom are gay.
Ferdaus Shamim / Wireimage / Getty
The shirt was proof enough, sir. But thank you.
Now, you probably noticed some of the more obvious clues in the movies but took them as isolated jokes -- like the scene in X2 where Iceman "comes out" to his parents and they ask him "Have you tried not being a mutant?" or the one in X-Men: First Class where Beast is in a similar situation and says "You didn't ask, so I didn't tell." Or, you know, that slightly homoerotic scene with young Magneto and Professor X in the same movie.
20th Century Fox
Pick one.
But those are just stray moments where the metaphor-frosting got a bit lumpy on top of the storytelling cake -- and let us tell you, this is one super gay cake. Let's go through the similarities between mutation and homosexuality: Both "manifest in adolescence" (in the first movie, the first time Rogue realizes she's a mutant is also the first time she kisses a boy). Both are controversial social issues that lead to scare-mongering politicians talking about "saving our children":
20th Century Fox
We're not sure that "moon" plan has been properly thought through.
In fact, William Stryker, the baddie from X2, also represents homophobia: He sent his mutant son to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters thinking it was a "Pray Away the Powers" camp where his son could be cured, but Xavier responds by pointing out that "mutation is not a disease," again mirroring arguments surrounding homosexuality. When Stryker finds out that his son has been going to a mansion filled with fabulous people dressed in totally killer outfits (another similarity), he gets extremely pissed. Some fans have taken this whole thing about as well as Stryker did -- to the point where the screenwriters stepped in and confirmed that, yep, the X-Men are about gay rights.
Can we pay this guy to come to our comments section, too?
And finally, we leave you with this scene from the first X-Men movie where Magneto kidnaps the anti-mutant Senator Kelly and forces him to undergo a procedure that involves a machine that looks like this:
20th Century Fox
Magneto making a face like this:
20th Century Fox
And a lot of milky white fluidy stuff that spurts out the machine's tip:
20th Century Fox
OK, that may not actually be part of the symbolism.
#3. Inception is Actually About Filmmaking
Warner Bros.
For about a year, like 30 percent of the Internet was all theories about Inception, but while we were busy debating things like whether the movie is a dream or whether Batman faked his death in the end, there was a far simpler hidden meaning we never noticed: The whole damn picture is secretly a metaphor for movie-making. Yeah, that's right: Inception in/cepted you.
The evidence is kind of undeniable. First off, every member of the "Dream Hacker" squad has a role that corresponds with a role on a movie set: Eames (Tom Hardy) is the actor, because he can literally change faces -- sometimes while sitting in front of an actor's vanity mirror:
Warner Bros.
"Where the fuck are my hookers and blow?"
Ariadne (Ellen Page) is the screenwriter, because she designs the dreams; Saito (Ken Watanabe) is a studio executive, because he's paying for the whole thing; Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the director, the one with vision, the guy who can bring the whole thing together. Hell, he even looks like Christopher Nolan.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
But, to be perfectly honest, all white people look the same to us.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, Arthur, is the producer, the guy who knows how it all works (that's why he speaks almost exclusively in expository dialogue), and Yusuf (good ol' Dileep Rao) is the special effects guy, because most of you forgot he existed and he probably never got his share of the bounty. It's no mistake that the coolest special effects moment in the movie only happens because of something he did, and the movie specifically points out that he gets no credit for it:
Warner Bros.
The line is "Did you guys see ... oh."
Also, the scene where the characters scout the dream layout before putting their plan into action is modeled off how location scouts for movies work. And did you ever notice how the dreams in the movie don't function like real dreams? They're all based on movie-making tricks: The "infinite staircase," for example, is an optical illusion.
Warner Bros.
"In a real dream the staircase looks like that because, fuck you, it just does. Also, you're naked and late for 7th period Algebra."
Finally, Dom Cobb and the Inceptors' mission is remarkably similar to the mission of a moviemaker: they want to change the way someone (in this case, Cillian Murphy's character) thinks about the world -- like any artist. Even the strategies they discuss (focusing on positive emotion instead of negative emotion, and not "disturbing the subconscious" by changing the rules out of nowhere) are movie-making tactics: You got to establish rules for your movie universe, and you can't break them, or the audience chases you with motorcycles and stabs you to death.


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The United States has charged 11 people with illegally exporting U.S. microelectronics to Russia for use by the military and intelligence agencies.
Seven suspects were arrested Wednesday in the Houston area, including Alexander Fishenko, a naturalized American citizen born in Russia. He also is accused of acting on behalf of the Russian government without registering as a foreign agent.
Another suspect, Alexander Posobilov, also a naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested Tuesday night at George Bush International Airport in Houston. Authorities say he was headed to Singapore and Moscow.
Three other people allegedly involved in the procurement ring are believed to be at large in Russia.
Fishenko allegedly used his Houston-based business Arc Electronics Inc. to export items that are supposed to be under strict government control because of their potential military use in radar and surveillance systems, weapons guidance systems and detonation triggers.
Prosecutors say Fishenko also is a part owner of Moscow-based Apex System LLC, which is a certified supplier of military equipment to the Russians.
Both Arc and Apex are charged with illegal activity along with the 11 individuals in an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Fishenko and the other defendants hid the fact they were exporters and pretended Arc Electronics produced mundane items such as traffic lights.
According to court documents, the participants in the alleged scheme told other Russian procurement companies to hide the materials they were receiving from Arc. Fishenko allegedly told one company, "Make it up pretty, correctly and make sure it looks good."
Posobilov allegedly told a business to alter a certificate about the end use of a shipment to indicate the materials were for "fishing boats, and not fishing/anti-submarine ones."
Prosecutors say Arc has exported approximately $50 million worth of microelectronics and other technology to Russia since 2002. It is not clear how much of that was illegal, but court documents said the illegal activity began in late 2008.
The eight suspects arrested in the Houston area were scheduled to have court appearances Wednesday.


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Moons of the Solar System
8 of 10
Titania is the largest of Uranus' 15 moons. The surface is made of rock and ice and has many deep canyons.
Fun Fact: Most of the moons of Uranus were named after characters in Shakespeare; Titania comes from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Photo source: NASA
Next: Triton
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