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"The design is a celebration of truck drivers"Rikard Orell, director of design
Ten stories that will
change the world. At least for truckers.
The new Volvo FH was built with one thing in mind: The driver. Because attracting and keeping the best drivers is key to profitability.
The Volvo FH will help them to do an even better job – and save up to 10% fuel. It contains numerous world first innovations in order to drive safer, load faster, reduce fatigue and increase productivity.
This magazine brings you the top ten news stories, each one dedicated to what it's all about: The bottom line.
"The design is a celebration of truck drivers"Rikard Orell, director of design
When we enter the top-secret design studio Asok George stops in front of the new Volvo FH.
"Every time they uncover it I just have to stand still and look for a moment. Everything is new, but there's no doubt we're looking at a Volvo."
Asok George is responsible for the exterior design of the new Volvo FH, but the distinctive personality was a priority for everyone on the design team.
"With its sloping windscreen the Volvo FH has always been easy to distinguish. And it will continue to be so," says Asok George.
Now with the windscreen uprighted to create more cabin space, the angle of the roof is even more important. Thanks to this the cabin still has an unmistakable profile.
"It shouldn't go unnoticed when you drive a Volvo. Our goal is to make it the most easily recognised truck on the road," says Asok George.
We walk from one side of the cab to the other. Asok George and Rikard Orell, director of design at Volvo, point out different features and details. The tight joins between the body parts, the precise fit and finish that have been accomplished. Lines and curves on the cab, what designers call the graphics. Here the aim has been to create a solid shape, not a front and two sides. This is why the lines and graphics continue around the whole cab.
But even more important than the lines is the stance – the attitude of the truck.
"Yes, this is vital. It has to express the truck's efficiency and dynamics. It should look like it's moving even when it's standing still," says Asok George.
The new Volvo FH appears to lean forward with its wheels pressing at the ground, ready to shoot off. This impression is partly built up by the graphics – an important area is the design of the wheelhouse and fender. The upper edge of the fender flares runs forwards and downwards – creating a dynamic line that reinforces the shape of the wheel arch.
We climb into the cab. Now we're leaving Asok George's design area and entering the domain of interior designer Carina Byström.
It's airy and light inside, despite studio lighting levels being nowhere near daylight. The escape hatch – which doubles as a sunroof – is part of the reason, but the cabin has bigger windows altogether.
"The design increases the feeling of cabin space. That's why we've worked with large, sweeping lines and created clean surfaces," says Carina Byström.
"Take the instrument panel. This sweeps across from a-pillar to a-pillar emphasising the breadth of the cabin," adds Rikard Orell.
Just like the exterior, the design inside the cab must express Volvo's philosophy and Scandinavian heritage.
"The shapes and forms should be true," says Rikard Orell. "Not complicated or artificial."
The colour scheme in the cabin is completely new. The dominating colour is light, subtle and "very Scandinavian". Closer to the floor the tones are darker, higher up they become lighter – opening up the cab and enhancing the spacious atmosphere.
Sweeping forms are everywhere. Inspiration has come from the bentwood style of Swedish furniture design that has been popular since the 1930s. The impression is one of craftsmanship and robustness. But there's no wood in the cabin.
A lot of work has gone into the surfaces and materials. Demands on materials are tough – wear and tear is an issue and everything has to last.
"Quality is important, our customers are fussy about it. And so they should be," says Rikard Orell.
Another detail that gives the Volvo FH a distinct profile is its side mirrors.
"We wanted to make the mirrors slimmer so they wouldn't obstruct visibility as much. Now the entire mirror turns, instead of just the mirror glass inside a big casing," says Asok George.
The slimmer mirrors also reduce wind resistance. Despite being higher than its predecessor – the leader in aerodynamics – the new Volvo FH is just as aerodynamic.
"By making the corners more rounded we've managed to build a cab with marginally less wind resistance," says Asok George.
The tight fit of body parts comes in here, too. For example, the join between the lower and upper part of the cab is completely tight. This covers the engine, suspension and details otherwise visible in the gap.
"The truck is tighter all the way around. As a result, wind streams around the cab instead of through it. This does wonders for the aerodynamics and further reduces fuel consumption," says Asok George.
The design expresses self-confidence without being aggressive. The idea of course is to attract both operator and driver.
"In recent years the value of a skilled driver has risen dramatically. There's an art to driving a truck. For me the design is a celebration of truck drivers all over the world," says Rikard Orell.
But drivers aren't the only ones who need to be satisfied.
"Transport operators are our customers, and society, too – everybody who comes into contact with the truck when it's being used. It's great if people find our trucks awesome, but they mustn't be intimidated by them," says Rikard Orell.
"Volvo is a brand that cares about people. We hope you can see this in the design," says Asok George, who gives the truck one last look before its grey cover goes back on again. .
"I thought every conceivable stunt had already been done. I was wrong."Peter Pedrero, stunt coordinator
What you see in this film is the real thing. Some may see it as overkill. We felt it was an exciting way to demonstrate the precision and control of the new Volvo FH. Were we right or wrong?
Alan Jones presses the pedal and 750 horses rumble into action. At the same time a second Volvo FH has started on the other side of the highway. Speed picks up and the two trucks drive in parallel on either side of the refuge. Then they pull apart – just a little – tensioning the line that connects their trailers.
In his rear mirror, Alan can see Faith Dickey standing on the roof of the other trailer, ready to climb onto the line. Her clothes are flapping in the wind. Will she be able to walk the line between the trucks without falling?
We meet Faith Dickey just before she carries out the big test, while the film team set up their cameras on the trucks and helicopter. Every step she takes will be recorded.
"I've walked slacklines between rock peaks 1,200 meters above the ground," says Faith. "But this is something else. The drivers are fantastic, but no matter how they drive the line is moving around in all directions. And every time there's the slightest irregularity in the road the line starts jumping up and down."
Faith Dickey is American and one of the big names in slacklining. It's a young sport that started when rock climbers began tensioning nylon lines between trees and eventually between rock peaks.
Now the sport is growing rapidly, not least due to breathtaking videos on YouTube. Faith has the highlining world record for women: 81 metres, and the longest female free solo of 26 metres – meaning no safety leash to save her in a fall. But she wouldn't dream of slacklining two moving trucks without a safety leash, largely because of the wind speed.
"It's really hard to grasp how much wind there is up there on the roof when the trucks pick up speed. On top of that there are gusts of wind coming down from the mountains and a strong wind tunnel created by the trucks."
The view is overwhelming. We're on a nearly finished piece of motorway in the mountains between Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia. Since the road isn't yet open to the public, we can carry out our test without inquisitive onlookers, or traffic.
Safety is crucial for Volvo – and for Peter Pedrero, the stunt coordinator for our film.
"Stunts are not for the reckless. Safety always comes first. You have to prepare for the worst possible scenario at all times, and plan how to deal with it. Meticulous preparation and planning are everything," says Peter Pedrero.
"I thought every conceivable stunt had already been done. I was wrong. Crashing boats at 40 knots, turning over in burning cars, it's just another day at work. But nobody has walked a line between two moving trucks before. It feels like a huge challenge, and it's challenge that lights my fire."
The test puts enormous demands on the drivers. Alan Jones is a professional precision driver with a long line of films behind him. Jens Karlsson, who drives the other Volvo FH truck, has carried out countless test drives for Volvo during his 23 years as truck driver.
"This is the hardest thing I've ever done. It demands incredible precision. Just a couple of centimetres off and the line slackens and Faith falls," says Jens Karlsson.
A lot depends on the two trucks. This is the ultimate test of road handling and stability for the new Volvo FH series. World firsts such as rack and pinion steering and individual front suspension are two things that enable the drivers to drive so accurately. (Read more about the technology in the next article).
"I'm not sure it would have been possible to carry this out with any other truck," says Jens after training with Faith on the line, again and again, during many long days.
The unopened highway consists of a straight stretch, a long bend and, behind the long bend, two tunnels. Before the trucks go through their tunnels Faith has to make it over to the other side. Then the line gets ripped off.
"First I thought it would never work," says Faith. "We practised and practised and I kept on falling. But then I felt it was possible, that I could walk the nine metres to the other truck in time."
She looks focused. Now the practising is over, the cameras are rolling and it's time to find out. Will Faith make it to the other side?
The trucks are tearing down the highway. Faith takes her first tentative steps on the line. The helicopter sweeps past with its telephoto lens in the door opening. The wind speed is brutal where we're sitting on the roof of the trailer, but Faith is going for it. The trucks turn into the curve, and the tunnels loom closer. Faith wobbles ... .
Two pieces of world news lift road handling to an even higher level. With independent suspension and rack and pinion steering the Volvo FH has gained qualities that have previously only been available in passenger cars.
A truck on a narrow and uneven road can be hard to keep on track.
"A car on the same road is often easier to handle. The driver sits much lower and has greater margins," says Niklas Fröjd, vehicle dynamics specialist at Volvo.
The car has another advantage – individual suspension. Each car wheel has an axle of its own, so it can roll independently of the others.
"On the truck each pair of wheels has to share an axle. So one wheel affects the other wheel's movement to a great extent," explains Niklas Fröjd.
The new Volvo FH evens things out a bit. Opt for Volvo's new Individual Front Suspension (IFS) and you get road handling qualities above and beyond any other heavy goods vehicle.
"The feeling of driving a car comes standard with all new Volvo FH trucks. But IFS takes it a step further. The truck sways even less in curves and it cuts through the straight stretches like an arrow, even if the road is bumpy," says Niklas Fröjd.
IFS is a precondition for the other piece of world news in heavy trucks – rack and pinion steering.
Dominant in the car industry, this technology improves the feeling of control over steering and road contact. When you turn the steering wheel on a vehicle with rack and pinion steering the wheels respond immediately.
"The difference between driving a truck and driving a car has never been smaller," says Stefan Axelsson, who leads the group at Volvo that fine-tuned the new handling qualities.
Something that's often forgotten when we talk about handling is how it affects the driver's effectivity and, in turn, the company's viability.
"Good handling properties make driving less of a strain. This helps the driver to stay alert and drive safely," says Stefan Axelsson.
"Apart from this, a sharp driver is a better representative for the company when arriving with the customer's delivery."
Enhanced roll stability of the cab and well-balanced damping for cab and chassis alike. These are the main factors behind the 50 percent improvement to roll stability that can be experienced in all new FH cabs.
"One example is the suspension springs at the rear of the cab. These have been moved apart by 25 cm, which increases the roll stability of the cab considerably," says Stefan Axelsson.
The increased stability of the cab combined with new geometry and improved design of front and rear suspension also result in better directional stability for the new truck.
All this gives the driver a greater feeling of precision and control, making progress on the road safer and less tiring.
"Everyone who has been involved in developing the new road handling qualities is really proud of the result," says Niklas Fröjd and Stefan Axelsson. .
Leaner and meaner. It's a combination nobody thought possible, especially not while meeting Euro 6. But thanks to technical breakthroughs such as the new driveline, I-Torque, the new Volvo FH saves up to 10 percent fuel.
"At the same time it sets a new standard for drivability. The acceleration is fantastic," says Mats Franzén, responsible for engine strategies at Volvo Trucks.
You can feel the response the moment you press the accelerator. The power comes immediately and it keeps coming all the way up to max speed. Without interruption, and without tailing off on hills and curves.
The only thing that's been cut back is the fuel consumption. In one year the saving is over 4,100 litres per 140,000 kilometres.
"We're always working with fuel efficiency to save a drop here and a drop there. But this is something completely different, now we're cutting fuel consumption by up to 10 percent in one swoop – it's a revolution," says Mats Franzén. This is despite the well known fact that Euro 6 means cleaner exhaust at the expense of increased energy consumption – in fact, most manufacturers are counting on an increase in fuel consumption of several percent.
"The reason for Volvo's success is a number of innovations that work together. The most important is I-Torque, our new driveline for long haul. But I-See also makes a major contribution," says Mats Franzén.
I-See enables the truck to remember hills and change gear in the optimal way to save fuel. (I-See is available now with Euro 5. Read more about I-See in the following article.)
The new driveline builds on a variant of Volvo's effective D13 engine, which becomes much leaner by operating within a narrow and low rev span – between 900 and 1,200 revs per minute.
"The engine is most effective at really low revs. There's less friction, there are fewer injections and combustions. The engine quite simply breathes more easily," explains Christian Nilsson, project manager for the new Euro 6 engines.
"It's quite an experience to drive on the motorway and see the rev meter running so low the whole time. You pick up speed without having to rev up, and the engine can hardly be heard."
This is made possible by the increased torque of 2,800 Nm. Thanks to newly developed turbo technology the power is also greatest at low revs. This makes the 460 horsepower feel like a lot more, despite the engine being so economical.
But to run at such low revs wouldn't have been possible without the new transmission, I-Shift 2. This is double clutched so it can change much faster, without losing any power.
"The feeling is just magic. The power is there the whole time, you don't lose anything on gear changes. It simply flows, softly and quietly," says Björn Lyngsjö, project manager for I-Shift 2.
Similar gearboxes are used in the racing world and have started to appear in passenger cars, but Volvo is first in with this technology in a heavy goods vehicle.
"It's like having two I-Shift gearboxes to change between in a fraction of a second. When you start driving in first gear on one, second gear is already in place on the other," says Björn Lyngsjö.
"So now you can keep up with cars after a red light, or after toll stops on motorways. You gain speed quickly, and then it's easy to maintain a steady speed the whole way even if there are lots of hills. This means increased productivity," says Björn Lyngsjö.
Sharp bends are also easier to manage with I-Shift 2.
"There's no problem with gear changes in the middle of a bend – the pull is there the whole time. One of the test drivers likened it with the drive wheels locking on to the road with suction."
The new I-Torque driveline is only available with the new Euro 6 engine.
"But even with the current Euro 5 driveline a lot of fuel can be saved. So everyone purchasing a new Volvo FH will already have a much leaner truck with the help of I-See and other improvements," says Mats Franzén. .
The first time you drive up a hill in the new Volvo FH, I-See is figuring it out. The second time you drive up the hill it manages your speed and gear changes for you, saving up to 5 percent fuel. I-See is a major breakthrough, and it's available now with Euro 5.
"This is intuitive technology at its best. You might think steeper hills mean bigger savings, but it's actually most effective on gentle slopes," says Anders Eriksson, responsible for I-See at Volvo.
When the truck comes to an undulation it remembers, I-See helps the intelligent transmission (I-Shift) to manage the speed and gear changing with maximum fuel efficien- cy. In all, it carries out six different manoeuvres to reduce fuel consumption. For instance, it accelerates in time to make the most of gravity – avoiding unnecessary use of the engine.
"This is the type of thing skilled drivers already do. But if you're driving a truck for eight hours, you're not likely to do it in quite the same way. With I-See managing the slopes you can concentrate on other aspects of the drive instead," says Anders Eriksson.
Together with the cruise control's most efficient setting, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 5 percent on stretches where I-See is used. How much this amounts to depends on how much you use I-See. And since it's self-teaching, no maps or updates are needed. This, too, saves money.
Even if I-See is a major fuel saving improvement, there are several other important factors. One of these is I-Shift itself, Volvo's twelve-gear automatic transmission that chooses the optimal gear to save fuel.
"When you discover how quickly and smoothly it changes gears you understand why I-Shift has become popular among drivers," says Anders Eriksson. .
Tall or short, narrow or wide, every driver has a comfortable position. The new driving seat has better cushioning and is more versatile.
It's the steering wheel that's the secret. With neck-tilt, a feature that evokes luxury associations, the steering wheel can be tilted, not just raised or lowered as before.
"When your arms drop down a bit the driving improves," says Peter Johansson, design engineer at Volvo.
Together with raising and lowering functions, the wheel can be angled up to 40 degrees – 10 of these come from the neck-tilt function. A more vertical steering wheel makes the Volvo FH feel similar to a conventional car. This feeling is also helped along by the Independent Front Suspension, a world first in the Volvo FH.
Tall drivers in particular will appreciate the increased adjustment area of the driving seat. The seat can slide back further in the new Volvo FH, 4 centimetres to be precise. Altogether the seat can slide up to 24 centimetres in a forwards backwards direction (best in class). The span for raising or lowering the new seat is 10 centimetres.
The seat also has a new shape. Among other things, it has improved lateral support and longer leg support. But this is a tricky area: too little leg support is not good, too much is no good either as it makes it harder to get in and out of the seat.
"The new seat is quite amazing when you realise it's designed to work for almost every shape and size of driver," says Peter Johansson. .
A quick glance is all it should take to know what you need to know. That's the idea behind the new, clear instrument panel. The right buttons and controls are at your fingertips. And the buttons you use most often are easy to move closest to hand.
Integrating the speedometer with digital gauges and indicators, the driver's information display provides the most important information at a momentary glance. What's more, the driver can customise the display and choose up to three favourite gauges using the steering wheel controls.
Integrated within the instrument panel, the SID, or Secondary Information Display, has a sharp new screen for navigation, up to 4 cameras, your music and mobile phone – and Dynafleet communication.
All information sounds have been refined to ensure clarity without being irritating. Illuminated controls now have a uniform light source and brightness is controlled by the driver.
All information sounds have been refined to ensure clarity without being irritating. Illuminated controls now have a uniform light source and brightness is controlled by the driver.
A switch on the steering wheel lets you manage the driver's instrument group and the secondary display. The buttons themselves are more ergonomic – among other things a thumb wheel helps to control instruments and scroll through menus.
There are more rocker switches and many of them are movable. Each movable button is connected to a function, so when you move the button the function moves with it.
All symbols on buttons and controls have been redesigned for continuity and clarity.
All stalks and controls have been given a more ergonomic design. They're quick to find and the integrated buttons are easy to use, without taking your eyes off the road.
The digital display can be run in black panel mode, where everything except legally required instruments is blacked out. When the vehicle is at a standstill even the screen can be blacked out.
Lessen the time a driver needs to look away from the road and you reduce the risk of an accident – this has been the thinking when designing the instrument cluster in the new Volvo FH. It's led to greater flexibility in the cluster and fewer visual distractions.
The designers have tried hard to get rid of everything disturbing in the driver's line of vision. Smooth, clean surfaces make the driving environment more harmonious. A good example is the secondary display (SID), which has been integrated within the instrument panel and doesn't impede your field of vision.
Another important aspect has been to improve the image quality of the display screens.
"The new screens have better contrast, sharpness and colour. It's also easier to scroll the menus and find what you're looking for," says Nina Theodorsson who has been working with the cluster. This makes it easier to locate the information.
Having the right thing in the right place goes beyond the instruments. The buttons and stalks needed to control the vehicle should also be easy to see and use. This is why buttons now have surfaces that allow fingers to tell them apart, and a distinct clicking sensation.
"The driver or operator can simply rearrange the positions of several of the buttons, so that the most frequently used features are closest to hand," says Nina Theodorsson.
The fixed buttons have mostly been placed close to the area they control. There are buttons in the door for the windows and side mirrors, and in the ceiling for the yellow flashing light, microphone and so on.
"These are in the places you are most likely to look for them," says Nina Theodorsson.
The position and design of controls is a passive measure that helps the driver find the necessary information without delay. There are also active measures which have been further developed – the driver information system is one. This can choose to delay an incoming phone call in a situation where the driver needs full concentration. The call is then let through immediately after.
"Another example is the lane change support feature, which now has a stronger red light and a clearer warning sound," says Nina Theodorsson. "Altogether these changes contribute to a safer workplace for drivers and less damage to the truck."
"Now driver's can keep their eyes where they should be – on the road." .
Peter Johansson is one of the developers behind the new cab. He tells us about the challenge of creating an effective working environment that is also a relaxing home environment. The key was a cab with more space.
The first step was upright A-pillars. The new cab is also higher and the floor lower. The height of the engine tunnel has been halved, which makes it easier to move around in the cab.
"Now all cabs have full standing height inside. The upright A-pillars put a further ten centimetres of air between the seated driver and the windscreen. The whole cabin is lighter and airier," says Peter Johansson, responsible for cab ergonomics.
Altogether the cab has grown by one cubic metre. More air, but also more storage space.
"Wherever you sit in the cab, you have storage space within reach. The new catwalk shelves above the doors, for example. These are ideal for the little things you often need to take with you when you're in and out of the cab," says Peter Johansson.
The increased glass area adds to the sense of light and space. Both windscreen and side windows are bigger. It's also possible to have an extra side window if you like.
"And now you get lots of daylight coming in from above, thanks to the large sunroof that also works as an escape hatch," says Peter Johansson. .
The extra cubic metre of space in the new cab has been put to good use. Not only with extra storage space, but with new, functional ideas that make it easier to take more personal belongings on board – and use them.
Quality of life inside the cab is better by design. One of many functional ideas is the jalousie covers on the storage compartments that stop belongings from falling out.
"We chose the jalousies because they add a high quality feeling to the interior – but more importantly, because they can be opened up completely without stealing living space inside the cab," explains Peter Johansson, responsible for ergonomics at Volvo Trucks.
The overhead front compartments have been made bigger and have their own removable shelves. This makes it easier to organise your things and keep them in place. The upper compartments at the back of the cab are available at different heights, allowing you to optimise space with, or without, a second bunk.
"These ones have jalousie covers that open sideways – not unlike a wardrobe you might have at home – and lighting that turns on automatically when you open them," says Peter Johansson.
There's even a foldaway drying cupboard for wet clothes on days when the driver gets caught out by rain.
"The drying cupboard is a textile bag with a fan at the bottom. When it's not in use you simply fold it up and put it away. It's perfect for a jacket and smaller items like hats and gloves," says Peter Johansson.
If you prefer, you can choose to have the fridge in the shelf above the bed, otherwise it's placed under the bed with the lower storage drawers.
"The fridge has grown from 22 to 33 litres and includes a freezer compartment. This allows you to store more food and to keep milk cartons and bottles upright. There's even space for 1.5 litre PET bottles, so drinks are still cold when you drink them," adds Peter Johansson.
Another clever detail is the drawer that's hidden in the side of the instrument panel, which combines a sturdy cup holder with a concealed compartment for your personal effects..
A well equipped and accommodating cabin is more than comfort – it's a competitive advantage. In the pursuit of the most skillful drivers, a comfortable cab is becoming increasingly valuable.
When a driver is able to relax and get a good night's sleep you can see it in the bookkeeping. There's greater effectivity, fewer injuries, less damage to trucks and more deliveries are on time.
"A rested driver makes fewer mistakes and quite simply costs less money," says Rikard Orell, design director at Volvo Trucks.
For the transport operator a good cabin is a precondition for attracting the best drivers.
"Good drivers are becoming scarce. The operators offering the best working conditions have the upper hand," says Rikard Orell.
What's more, a good cabin has space for both work and leisure. This has been the goal with the new Volvo FH.
"We've compared the cab with a business hotel. It should be clean, tidy and effective, yet homely at the same time," says Carina Byström, responsible for interior design at Volvo Trucks.
One of the objectives has been to create a calm environment. This is why the cab is dominated by smooth, clean surfaces and sweeping forms.
"A calm, uncluttered environment inside makes it easier for the driver to stay focused on what is happening outside the vehicle," says Rikard Orell.
Concentration is also helped by the position of the instrument panel. From the driver's seat it's easy to reach the buttons and stalks needed to manoeuvre the vehicle. These have also been given shapes and surfaces that make them easily identified with fingertips, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
The design even helps the driver to manage long periods of time at the wheel without having to make too many stops.
"This is why it's important to have a wide range of adjustment possibilities on the seat and steering wheel and be able to have food and drink close at hand," says Carina Byström.
Leisure time, too, is better in an uncluttered cab. The furnishing is designed for a comfortable and varied life on board. Storage possibilities have been extended but they're hidden behind the walls and under the bed, so that the environment remains calm and tranquil regardless. The bed and lighting are two more areas that have been improved.
The cab has a lot of textile inside it, which apart from anything else is good for the sound level, but plastic also plays an important role in the interior. Here quality has been central.
"There's more wear and tear in a truck cab than you would imagine. Look at a steering wheel that's a few years old," says Rikard Orell.
New durable surfaces have been developed for the Volvo FH that combine softness with a matt finish. These surfaces maintain their high quality appearance for a long time – consequently, so does the whole interior.
"Personally I think the new surfaces are both nicer to touch and pleasing to the eye," says Carina Byström. .
With potential to help thousands of drivers get a good night's sleep, I-ParkCool is the name of the new integrated parking cooler in the Volvo FH. It includes a number of intelligent ideas. One is that it shouldn't spoil the standing height inside the cab – or the aerodynamics of the vehicle itself.
In warm climates a separate cooler is often used to cool the cab once the engine is turned off. Fixed to the ceiling inside the cab or on its roof, this either compromises the driver's space or the truck's fuel consumption. The Volvo FH is unique in offering a purpose-designed integrated cooler.
Because I-ParkCool is integrated within the cab, there's no compromise to standing height, aerodynamics or access to the emergency escape hatch. It also weighs less than alternative coolers. And there are more clever features to come: "Managed with the Parking Climate function, the cooler and the parking heater work together when needed. If the temperature drops in the middle of the night the parking heater automatically helps to maintain the driver's selected temperature,'' explains Ulf Björkerud, developer at Volvo Trucks.
Mostly the cooler is needed in the beginning of the night and in the morning when the sun comes up again. In the middle of the night the temperature often drops and the cab can get cold. I-ParkCool maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the night – without running the risk of a flat battery in the morning.
"A good night's sleep improves both efficiency and safety. A driver who needs to keep stopping and napping – or even worse, keeps nodding off at the wheel – is a liability to himself, the transport operator and other motorists," says Ulf Björkerud.
What's more, if the driver stops for a break in the middle of a hot day, I-ParkCool can boost the cooling effect for up to an hour. It also has a timer function built in.
The cooler is highly effective, so it's often only needed for short intervals. Combined with a low interior noise level and the comfortable new bed, this means a good night's sleep is not unrealistic. Even on those hot, cold, hot nights..
There are lots of little improvements in the new Volvo FH. Little things that can make a big difference on a long journey.
One of those little things is the drying cupboard. "The drying cupboard is a textile sack with a fan at the bottom. When it's not in use you simply fold it up and put it away. This means it takes up hardly any space in the cabin," says Peter Johansson, responsible for ergonomics at Volvo Trucks.
Despite being inside the cab most of the time, truck drivers have to spend quite a bit of time outdoors. When loading and hitching, for example. Rainy days mean the driver gets wet. Then, starting the journey in dry clothes can save the day.
"There's enough space for a jacket and smaller items such as a hat and gloves. And socks, of course, for days when the weather is really nasty," says Peter Johansson.
The new bed is another improvement. It has a more comfortable mattress and it's wider where it's most needed: 4 centimetres at the head and 5.5 centimetres at the hips. The foot end, in contrast, has become 4 centimetres narrower to increase space for the driver's seat.
"It might not sound much, just a few centimetres, but these are important centimetres. The bed feels much bigger in the new Volvo FH," says Peter Johansson.
An area Volvo engineers have worked hard with is cabin lighting. Two new ceiling lamps provide overall lighting, angled reading lights have been placed behind you, both in bed and over the driver's seat, to cast light at the optimal angle.
"We've tried to get rid of all the shadows in the cabin by positioning lights in a better way. To avoid glare we've used lots of indirect light. An example is the entry lamp which lights up the steps without shining in your eyes," says Peter Johansson.
Also the storage spaces have better illumination. In the compartment above the bed, lamps turn on automatically when you open the hatch.
When driving in the dark you have the benefit of improved night lighting – red LED lamps that let you have lighting on without ruining your night vision.
"Controlling the lighting from in bed has also improved. With the new control panel you can even dim the lighting, or choose one of the fixed levels on the light switches," says Peter Johansson.
If you like you can choose to have the fridge in the shelf above the bed. Otherwise it's under the bed. 33 litres of space lets you store quite a bit of food and even 1.5 litre PET bottles. So cold drinks are still cold when you drink them.
If a bottle of water isn't enough you can fill the special container that has a tap. The container is made to fit inside the extra storage space under the floor and holds about 7 litres. Pull out, turn the tap and drink.
The height of the engine tunnel has been halved. This makes the floor flatter and easier to walk on. The floor has a thick carpet for greater comfort.
More little improvements? How about the option of a factory fitted microwave oven? Similarly, you can opt for the TV stand, an electrically or manually adjusted bed. The passenger seat swivels round and the table has become easier to set up. Then there's the universal fixture for ...
Many little improvements, all with one purpose – to make the truck driver's life on board a little better. .
Bigger windows, a redesigned instrument panel and new rearview mirrors improve the driver's visibility and reduce the risk for collisions. Small and large.
Altogether the cab's usable window area has increased by 17 percent. This is most noticeable on the side windows.
"Now the bottom edge of the window slopes forward, it helps the driver discover if something or someone is close to the vehicle," says Hanna Degerman, responsible for visibility.
With better ground visibility around the cab, it's easier for the driver to avoid low obstacles and the expensive damage they can cause.
Together with the new uprighted A-pillar, new design rearview mirrors give the driver 10 percent greater visibility. On the passenger side visibility is increased by 20 percent.
Another important improvement is the design of the instrument panel. The new shape is less obtrusive.
"The entire instrument panel has a new appearance that improves visibility. Nothing sticks up or disturbs the eye. Part of this is the new information display which is completely integrated and doesn't protrude like it has in previous models," says Hanna Degerman.
Another development is the ability to connect up to four different cameras to the information display, as opposed to just one. This assists with safer driving, for example when reversing, loading or unhitching. .
The new cab is Volvo's strongest so far. And the world's toughest crash tests show that drivers have a good chance of survival in an 80 km/h crash with a stationary object.
The new Volvo FH series has been crash tested over 1,000 times in computer simulations and 20 times in reality. This goes far beyond standard testing. Despite the fact that it's no longer necessary, Volvo continues to test its vehicles to Swedish standards – known internationally as "The Swedish impact test'' and "The world's toughest crash test."
Simulation and testing have made it possible to build a cab structure that provides maximum protection for the driver. The cabin has become both larger and stronger.
Crash tests confirm the benefits of the new cab structure. The crash dummy survives even the toughest test, a crash at 50 km/h with a truck-shaped fixed barrier. In real life the test is comparable to one of 80 km/h with a stationary truck, and suggests that a driver too, would survive the crash.
"With the new FH we've had the opportunity to design a cab structure from scratch, without limitations. We've taken full advantage of this opportunity to build our safest truck ever," says Matti Koponen at Volvo Cab Engineering. Unique for Volvo, testing is carried out with all interior fittings in place and storage compartments filled.
"There should be no possibility of getting injured in a crash by something inside the cab. Even the coffee maker should stay in place," says Ulf Torgilsman, collision specialist at Volvo Cab Engineering. .
The Volvo FH is the first truck in the world that comes with an emergency escape hatch as standard. It's a sunroof that's been made considerably larger. The bonus, of course, is a light and airy cabin.
Half of all truck accidents end with the vehicle turning over. Getting out through the door when the vehicle is lying on its side can be extremely difficult. And kicking out the windscreen is no longer an option, now that it's glued in place. The solution is an escape hatch.
"There was never a possibility of us building a cab without an emergency exit."
"If the windscreen was to be glued in place, there would have to be another way for the driver to escape. It was an absolute demand," says Ulf Torgilsman, collision specialist.
This is why every Volvo FH now has a skylight that's built to work as an escape hatch. It measures 50x70 centimetres, which allows even extra large drivers to climb out easily.
What's more, the skylight meets the demands on emergency exits for trucks transporting inflammable goods, such as petrol and other substances.
Another comfort is the ample light that enters the cab through the skylight. This improves the driver's well-being and reduces the need for electric lighting.
"A pleasant driving environment is also important for safety. It makes it easier for the driver to stay alert. So you could say the escape hatch actually helps to reduce the chances of it being needed in an emergency," says Matti Koponen at Volvo Cab Engineering. This goes well with Volvo's aim to build safe trucks. .
Volvo was first with front underrun protection, the system that prevents cars from being run over by the truck. In the new Volvo FH this protection is further enhanced – far beyond the demands of the law. The improved protection will come to save many lives.
"The new front underrun protection system is like an extra nose on the vehicle. The old protection could retract 10 cm in a collision. The new one can retract 20 cm," says Peter Rundberget, cab and safety developer at Volvo.
The front underrun protection system, or FUPS as it's called, is designed to protect drivers of cars in a crash with a truck. For every truck driver who dies in an accident between a car and a truck, nine more car drivers are killed. Of course, an accident involving the death of another driver is a traumatic experience that many truck drivers never recover from, so a good FUPS is in everybody's interest.
Volvo's FUPS absorbs some of the force in a collision by recoiling backwards under the truck, like a shock absorber for the car. But developing this new protection has been anything other than simple. While legal authorities demand greater protection, transport companies want to avoid additional weight.
"We wanted to build an underrun protection that absorbed energy without adding weight. In fact, we made it lighter. Part of the solution was an aluminium construction," says Peter Rundberget.
The new front underrun protection system has been tested in 500 computer simulated crash tests and a dozen full scale tests.
"We wanted to go further than legal requirements with this system. This is why we developed many new variants of the tests and now cover a further 10 different collision situations. I'm convinced that it's going to be noticeable in future statistics," says Peter Rundberget.
Crash statistics show the absolute figures over how many crashes, injuries and deaths occur. What they don't show is how many truck drivers never recover from an accident where a car driver is killed. Or how many that change career and how much it costs the transport operators in lost competence and experience. If statistics like these existed they would undoubtedly show the benefit of an effective underrun protection system. .
When it's pitch black outside approach lights enable the driver to lighten up both inside and around the vehicle from a distance.
"This lets you see if anybody is hanging around outside or inside the truck (and avoid being assaulted). The lights activated include front and rear lamps on both the truck and trailer, side lights and interior lighting," says Carl Johan Almqvist, responsible for Traffic & Product Safety at Volvo Trucks.
Both the locks and the alarm have been improved. What's more, the trailer can be connected to the alarm with sensors so that it's triggered if someone tries to open the trailer door. And choosing laminated windows makes it harder to break into the cab.
When approaching the Volvo FH you can unlock the driver's door without unlocking the passenger door, using the remote control on the key. Press once for the driver's door and twice for both doors.
"This reduces the risk of uninvited company climbing in the passenger door while the driver is climbing into his side of the cab," says Carl Johan Almqvist. Further increasing the driver's security, the grille can be equipped with an electromechanical lock. The steering wheel lock is electromechanical, too. .
Now you can get immediate help in your own language – all over Europe. Standard on the new Volvo FH, this smart new technology increases security for the driver and reduces downtime for the operator. If anything should go seriously wrong, simply press the button: help is never far away.
A breakdown, a flat tyre or a broken windscreen can happen to any truck. But if it happens in a Volvo, you are not alone. And the assistance is now even quicker.
"There's no point in denying it – breakdowns cannot be avoided altogether. But what we can do is make it as easy as possible to get help when they occur. This is what Volvo Action Service On Call is all about. Press the VAS-button and help is soon on its way," says Christian Gustavsson, in charge of Volvo Trucks service.
When the driver presses the button a call goes automatically to the call center at Volvo Action Service where it's connected to an operator who speaks the driver's language. The operator immediately receives information about which truck the call is coming from and where it's located.
The driver can concentrate on explaining what has happened. Together with the fault codes from the truck, this explanation helps the workshop to see what the problem is without delay. Standstills are expensive – uptime is a vital issue for profitability.
"Thanks to the immediate arrival of exact information at the VAS Call Center, the vehicle can often be ready to run again much sooner. The fact that help is no further away than the press of the button is also reassuring for the driver," says Christian Gustavsson.
"A big advantage is that the Call Center immediately receives the exact location of the truck. On average it takes a driver eight minutes to explain where the truck is located. These are precious minutes in a breakdown situation. With the VAS-button this only takes a second thanks to the integrated GPS," says Christian Gustavsson.
The button increases security in other ways, too. Volvo Action Service can help a driver who becomes sick or who needs to get home quickly, perhaps due to a family emergency. Even help with renting another vehicle or trailer can be arranged while repairs are being carried out.
Volvo Action Service is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. It has a network of more than 1,100 workshops in Europe. This means you won't have to wait for help for very long, no matter where you are or what time of day it is. Everyone who drives a new Volvo FH has access to Volvo Action Service. .
Remember what it was like to get up and walk to the TV to change channels? It sounds old-fashioned but this is reality for a truck driver when loading. Until now. With wireless remote control a lot of unnecessary climbing in and out of the cab can be avoided.
Press a button and the vehicle adjusts itself to the height of the loading bay. Down goes the tail lift and loading begins – the display confirms it's being distributed evenly without exceeding maximum axle weight. Once loaded, close the tailgate, jump in and drive.
The remote control saves time regardless if it's the driver or somebody else doing the loading. Since the display shows a range of data from the load indicator, it's easy to avoid overloading and uneven loading without having to run in and out of the cab to check the indicator all the time.
"A few years ago we let drivers begin testing the first remote control. Reactions to the prototype were very positive, so we continued to develop the real thing," says Markus Olsson, component specialist working with the remote control at Volvo.
Assisted by the remote it's possible to raise and lower the suspension, roll the truck to one side, operate the rear tail lift, control loading lighting, start, stop and rev the engine – and lock the vehicle.
The remote has three different modes: loading, equipment and swap body. The functions available in each mode are largely decided by the driver.
"Being able to stand outside the truck and see it from the side makes the work much simpler. I'm convinced this little gadget is going to help in countless ways," says Markus Olsson. .
Times are changing for drivers who spend their days swapping cargo and trailer. Small ideas in technology make big tasks better, faster and smoother.
Just imagine, the trailer can be rolled to one side so it can come in close even when the loading bay isn't straight. It does this by raising and lowering the suspension on each side of the truck. Together with the possibility of raising and lowering front or rear suspension, this makes the trailer highly versatile.
Quick change to swap bodies. Using the wireless remote, changeover between swap bodies is now simpler. The two fixed positions have become three, which can all be saved. This means the driver can save the three standard heights for swap bodies and adjust the vehicle height with the press of a button, instead of gauging the height manually every time.
Remembers the loading bay. There's even a fixed setting for loading. The driver can save four different heights so the truck automatically adjusts to the preset height at the press of a button: a shortcut for drivers who often return to the same or similar loading bays.
A load indicator you can calibrate yourself. Saving workshop time and costs, this lets the driver or operator calibrate the load indicator wherever scales are available. Calibration is carried out from the cabin with the load indicator – where data can be saved for up to 20 different trailers.
Rear suspension with greater stroke. The increased stroke helps when changing trailers, allowing the driver to lower the vehicle enough to reverse under the trailer. And the suspension has a reverse-mounted antiroll bar so you can back up closer to low objects, such as loading docks and asphalt pavers. .
The new Volvo FH makes it possible to increase uptime more than ever before. Its new technology lets the workshop carry out an inspection of vital parts while it's on the road. This means that maintenance can be planned according to when it's actually needed.
This piece of world news is made possible by the Telematics Gateway, the communication unit in the Volvo FH that keeps the truck, driver and operator one step ahead in various situations. For maintenance based on real needs, it sends a report to the workshop so the technician can see the status of vital parts, such as the brake pads, clutch, battery and air dryer.
"If these are in better condition than expected the workshop can adjust the service plan so the vehicle gets its service when it actually needs it," says Christian Gustavsson, in charge of Volvo Trucks service in Europe.
As part of the new Volvo Gold Contract offer, this will allow customers to forget about the service plan and let the workshop take care of it. The technician will keep a track of the truck's mileage, how quickly parts are wearing and adjust the service plan accordingly – and call you for maintenance when the truck needs it.
"Being able to inspect the wear remotely means you don't have to visit the workshop too often – and you get the service done before it's too late," says Christian Gustavsson.
Maintenance has come a long way towards meeting the individual needs of the truck. The fact that there are so many things that need to be serviced on a truck means that this reality-based maintenance will have an important effect on uptime and operator profitability.
"The transport operator gets more effective use out of the truck – and more tonne-kilometres," says Christian Gustavsson.
In the event of an actual breakdown, the communication unit sends the fault codes to Volvo Action Service who contact a nearby Volvo workshop so that the right mechanics, tools and spare parts can be sent out with the service vehicle.
"Sending a mechanic hours away to determine what's wrong and then back to the workshop to collect the right parts is a terrible waste of resources," says Christian Gustavsson, rounding up.
"In these situations a remote check up can even mean the truck can make its deadline delivery after the repair. It's like having a virtual technician on board." .
Many transport operators have discovered that a Volvo service contract is a great way to increase vehicle uptime and concentrate on making money. Up until now the very best solution has been Volvo Gold Contract. But with a better Volvo FH, it's now possible to make an even better business proposition.
The new Volvo Gold contract offers 100% uptime. And that's a promise.
How this is possible? Like a partnership, the new contract helps Volvo to better understand its customer's operation. Together with the new Volvo FH connectivity, this enables the workshop to take a proactive role – inspecting vital parts while the truck is running and adjusting the service schedule to fit with reality. And because reality is never completely predictable, it combines Volvo Action Service On Call and a network of 1,100 workshops – each committed to a right-first-time diagnosis and repair.
Which brings us to another promise written in gold, Uptime Assurance. In the event of a standstill, we will get you back on the road within the agreed time. In fact, if it takes us longer, Volvo will pay you. It's all part of the contract.
Of course, Volvo knows its business like you know yours, and the new Volvo FH is a truck that everybody can depend on.
Add the new gold contract to your Volvo FH. It's worth its weight in uptime alone. .
Tomorrow's technology already has its place in the new Volvo FH. With a little help from the new communication unit, feature upgrades can come as often as they like without any inconvenience. The technology inside is future friendly.
When a Volvo FH leaves the factory today we know that some of its features will evolve several times during its lifetime. Software systems that control the transmission, instrumentation and engine, for example, can now be updated online.
"When we develop a more fuel efficient method of shifting gears, the truck can be upgraded without going near a workshop," says Christian Gustavsson, responsible for Volvo Trucks service.
"This means you get a better truck – without additional trips to the workshop."
Telematics Gateway is the communication unit connected to the computers that manage the engine and gearbox. It's also connected with sensors that detect the condition of the parts, with Dynafleet, with the tachograph and to other important functions. It can share information from these systems with the workshop, often in the form of fault codes.
"It's like a portal for a whole range of time saving and valuable features," says Christian Gustavsson
Thanks to Telematics Gateway the workshop can monitor the condition of the truck's parts online, before a planned maintenance appointment. If there's less wear than expected the maintenance can be postponed. This way the transport operator avoids unnecessary workshop visits and downtime.
Another important feature enabled by the communication unit is the VAS-button. This comes as standard and provides a direct line to Volvo Action Service On Call – open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with over 1,100 workshops throughout Europe.
"In a breakdown the driver presses the button. The vehicle calls Volvo Action Service call centre and sends information about the driver so he gets connected to an operator who speaks his language," says Christian Gustavsson.
The operator can also see where the vehicle is located, something that otherwise takes a long time to establish over the phone.
"When the operator gets vital information directly from the communication unit, the driver doesn't have to be the one helping the operator and it can work the other way around – as it should do," says Christian Gustavsson. .


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Catcher Carlos Ruiz and lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero are both good to go for the National League Division Series, manager Charlie Manuel said today.
Both were injured in Sunday's regular season finale. Romero left the 8-7 loss to the Braves with stiffness in his lower back. Ruiz left after being hit on the elbow by a pitch in the third inning.
Ruiz finished the season with a career-high .302 batting average, making him just the second regular Phillies catcher since 1954 to finish the season at or above the .300 mark (minimum 400 plate appearances). The only catcher to do it is Mike Lieberthal, who hit .313 in 2003 and .300 in 1999. In 1954, Smokey Burgess hit .368 in 392 plate appearances.
Romero, meanwhile, is the Phillies' only veteran lefty reliever, something the Phillies would need for vaunted Reds lefties Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.
In other news, the game times for the remainder of the National League Division Series have been set.
Game 3 of the Phillies-Red series will be at 7:07 p.m. Sunday night on TNT, unless the Yankees-Twins series ends in three games. If so, then Phillies-Reds will move to an 8:07 p.m. start on TBS.
Game 4, if necessary, will be at 5:07 p.m. on TBS on Monday if neither NLDS ends in a sweep. If Phillies-Reds is the only game, it moves to 7:37 p.m.
Game 5, if necessary, is at 6:07 p.m. on TBS on Wednesday, but would move to 7:37 if it was the only game.
More to come ...

subset: commoncrawl


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Next Meetup
What we're about
You know that scene in All About Eve, when they gather at the theater to read the play for the first time? We are people who love plays and love to table read plays, aka reading plays aloud. Newbies, returning members, wanna-be thespians, and pros are absolutely welcome.
The 1st Saturdays will be table reading plays: Warming up with monologues, followed by reading 3 flash plays, aka 10-minute plays, then table reading a longer one-act play. If you have original flash plays, you can submit them one at a time, one month ahead for approval.
I will provide a wide range of plays. We will cold read the plays, meaning read them for the first time on the day of the event. This is not about a perfect performance. This is about having fun giving voice to the work and enjoying the mistakes as well as the meaningful moments.
The reading times will mostly be 5, 10, and 45 minutes. Due to the size of my office, the max size for an event will be 8 readers. Please cancel 48 hours before the day of the event. This will permit people on the waitlist to get a spot.
I love plays. I love reading plays. I love writing flash plays. I love exploring people, places, times, themes, and things through the lens of the play. I look forward to meeting those of you who feel the same way. "Chipping-in" to help defray the cost of running the meetup group is not required but is greatly appreciated ~ BjT


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We, endeavor to help campers be the best athlete they can be, and we hope to encourage them to be the best student, family member, and person they can be. We believe attitude shapes the way people live.
Spokane Washington (Vocus/PRWEB) February 17, 2011
The NBC Basketball Camps lineup is headlined by new locations in Hannibal, Missouri; Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania; Salem, Medford, and Hood River, Oregon; Coupeville and Ellensburg, Washington; Azusa, and Upland, California; Armstrong, British Columbia; Salt Lake City, Utah; and west Maui, Hawaii. New volleyball and soccer camps will open in Upland, California and Edmonton, Alberta.
NBC Camps provides comprehensive sports skill development in basketball, volleyball, soccer, and non-contact football. President and founder, Fred Crowell appears at various NBC Camps around the country and speaks to his vision for the total sports athlete: "We, at NBC Camps, not only endeavor to help campers be the best athlete they can be, we hope to encourage them to be the best student, family member, and person they can be. We believe attitude shapes the way people live. At NBC Camps, we are committed to addressing attitude both on and off the court. We believe hard work and self-discipline are necessary components for campers to become their best. Therefore, we provide a focused, intense curriculum designed to discourage comparison and instead promote self- correction and personal pride." Crowell, a former NCAA Division 1 head coach, believes players reach their potential in an environment of hard work enthusiasm, gratitude, and encouragement.
Since NBC Camps inception in 1971, over 250,000 campers have attended these camps. NBC Camps is the largest overnight basketball camp program in the world, with locations in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Italy. On average each summer, approximately 10,000 student athletes experience the NBC Camps edge.
"Some of the finest athletes in the world have attended NBC Camps over the years," says Jennifer Ferch, VP of NBC Camps. "People like Scott Brooks, head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder and 2010 NBA coach of the year, who attended NBC Camps as a young player, as did Luke Ridnour, point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Paul Pierce, "The Truth", perennial All-Star for the Boston Celtics. NBC Camps' alumni are often highly successfully, not only in their sport, but more importantly in the game of life. Alumni include CEOs of major corporations, university professors, and presidents of leading businesses in a variety of fields. NBC Camps is the total sports package for the total sports athlete."
About NBC Camps
NBC Camps, headquartered in Spokane, Washington, is affiliated with US Sports and NIKE Sports Camps located in Marin County, California. NBC Camps has offered summer camps for four decades, and their mission remains as vibrant today as it was in the beginning: to create the best sports camp experience in the world, aspire to teach each sport at the very highest level, work hard to create a totally unique experience, and give to each student athlete the will to become not only the best athlete but also the most complete person he or she can be.
Players, coaches, parents and others interested in the 2011 NBC Camps experience can visit http://www.nbccamps.com or call 1-800-406-3926.
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WikipediaRead full entry
|This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009)
Atropa is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its best-known member is the Deadly Nightshade (A. belladonna). Its pharmacologically active ingredients include atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, all tropane alkaloids. The genus is named after Άτροπος (Atropos) of the Three Fates, the one which cut the life thread.
In some older classifications, the Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is considered a species of the Atropa genus as Atropa mandragora.
- Atropa acuminata – Indian belladonna
- Atropa baetica
- Atropa belladonna – Belladonna; deadly nightshade
- Atropa caucasica
- Atropa komarovii – Turkmenistan Belladonna
- ^ "Atropa L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atropa.
|Wikispecies has information related to: Atropa


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Brittany Alana Davis
Communications Director
PRESS RELEASE: Graduation and retention rates up at state universities
TALLAHASSEE— Student graduation and retention rates are continuing to improve at Florida's state universities with an increasing number of students studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, according to a recent report by the Board of Governors.
Those are among dozens of trends highlighted in the Board's 2012-2013 Annual Accountability Report, which compiles data from all State University System institutions and tracks system changes from year-to-year. See a summary of the report here.
As a whole, the report shows that universities are on the upswing from years past, graduating more students in a timely manner, producing more diplomas in high-demand fields, bringing in more federal research dollars and securing more patents for inventions.
Among the most notable findings, the State University System increased its six-year graduation rate (the national standard of measurement) to 68 percent, up by 4 percent compared to the 2003-2009 cohort. Universities also saw a slight increase in student retention rates, suggesting that institutions are successfully supporting students early in their college years.
"This is our fifth year of producing this report, and the data are getting more useful every time," said Jan Ignash, vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs for the State University System. "We're now able to track trends and compare ourselves with other large university systems."
Added Ignash, "Because of the number of students we serve, these are stubborn numbers. Even a change of 1 percentage point is very significant."
The report also highlights some challenges, including lagging graduation rates at certain universities and a systemwide struggle to reduce the number of students with excess hours, which are costly for students and delay their progression into the workforce.
Those challenges are addressed by the Board of Governors' proposed Performance Funding Model, said Marshall Criser III, chancellor of the State University System.
"A fundamental piece of the Board's 10-metric model is to reward excellence and improvement," Criser said. "We will continue to work with our universities and Florida's elected leaders to deliver value in higher education."
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Facts about the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The system has 12 universities and more than 335,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the system's coordination and operation. The Board appoints a Chancellor who serves as the system's chief executive. For more, visit www.flbog.edu.


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YA author, John Green, is something of a nerdist. Okay, NerdFantasticist. Also, Awesomeist. est. er. Whatever.
(See his "Don't Forget to Be Awesome" store .)
John Green is awesome because he explains why going back to school is cool. (Thank you, kind sir.)
Did he have you at "Dear students returning to school" or "Mini-Cooper landing on Mars"?
I know! Me, too!!
I mean, how fracking psyched are you?


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We've all dialed numbers we didn't mean to when we have our phones in our back pockets. I've certainly gotten a one-minute voicemail that consisted of nothing but static and jumbled noise, or even the sound of the caller talking to someone else while unaware that their phone has called me. This phenomenon is known as butt dialing, or pocket dials, and the phones usually call random string of numbers or a selection off your contacts list. But according to recent reports, nearly 40 percent of 911 emergency calls in New York City stem from your behinds, and that's no prank at all.
In the Big Apple, about 38 percent of approximately 10.4 million calls to 911 in 2010 were considered accidental or false alarms. These calls were "19 seconds or less" with no response on the other line when the dispatcher picked up. The data, provided by New York Daily News, calculates that this average of 10,700 false calls a day has caused more time wasted by dispatchers than the 3,495,716 calls in which police cars were actually sent to the real emergencies. The number continued to increase in the first quarter of 2011, bumping the percentage of 911 butt dials to 39 percent. These percentages of butt dials contribute to slower overall response time by 911 NYPD dispatchers.
Considering how the accidental dials are causing a huge waste of resource, it's surprising to see that the city has not done much to curb the false alarms. There are small plans for 911 dispatchers to track butt dial numbers to call them back and alert them of the accident, but that seems like it should be someone else's job when officers should be paying attention to incoming calls. Honestly, what can you do to make calling 911 on a real emergency more efficient while proving you called them on purpose? Perhaps making the dialer press one more number to authenticate could help, but will the extra few seconds actually do harm in a time-sensitive emergency situation?
While the city figures out its own solution to this odd problem, remember to keep your phone screen locked to prevent emergency dials. If you can, keep your phones in your front pocket so you won't accidentally sit on them either. We know you can't help it sometimes, and you don't mean to waste officers' time, but every little effort helps.
Have you ever made or received an embarrassing butt dial? Tell us your stories in the comments!
Image Credit: Flickr / twicepix
Editors' Recommendations
- Driverless cars can only take you so far. This is how smarter cities are being built
- Lyft's first app-based scooter service rolls into Denver
- In 'Crazy Rich Asians' Singapore's tech and opulence get starring roles
- Boxy shuttles, not cars, will be people's first taste of autonomous vehicles
- With cameras that know dogs from Dodges, Honda is making intersections safer


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Image Gallery: Sunfishes
Worldwide there are four species of sunfishes, in three genera, Mola, Masturus and Ranzania. Australia is home to all four. Adult sunfishes are distinctive fishes that lack a true tail and have tall dorsal and anal fins positioned at the rear of the body. The larvae look surprisingly different to adults.


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A new customer required a Parker Denison R5U (R5U12) relief valve, which was to be mounted directly onto a pump. The valve is now being delivered to the customer.
1/2" Hydraulic Lever Control Valves
The SD11 monoblock lever control valve range is well-suited to travelling and tilting vehicles, silage chopper-mixers, and in services for cranes, compactors and car carriers. Offering a simple, compact but heavy-duty design the SD11 range is available in 1 to 6 sections for open and closed centre hydraulic systems. Other features include:
- fitted with a main pressure relief valve and a load check valve;
- available with parallel or series circuit;
- optional power beyond port (only for parallel circuit);
- diameter 20 mm -- 0.79 in interchangeable spools;
- a wide variety of service ports and circuit valves;
- available in manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, electro-hydraulic and remote, with flexible cables spool control kits.
This online catalogue only showcases a small selection of the products that we supply from a comprehensive range of hydraulic brands and manufacturers - we couldn't possibly squeeze everything we do in here! So don't worry if you can't find what you're looking for… Our experienced team should still be able to help.
Call us now on:+44 (0)845 644 3640 or enquire online and "let us take the pressure!"


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Car Review
2012 Honda CR-V: New Car Review
Pros: New sporting look; Honda reliability; comfortable driving position; big interior pace
Cons: Outdated powertrain; uninspired looks
The Honda CR-V, which has been around since 1995 on the U.S. market, is in its fourth generation with the current iteration, unveiled in late 2011 as a 2012 model. The CR-V was an early entry into the now extremely popular CUV market.
The 2012, although slightly different-looking than the third generation, is not seriously changed. The fourth-generation CR-V features an updated version of the 2.4-liter inline-4 engine mated to the same five-speed automatic transmission found in the third generation. The power output on the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder has been slightly increased for the fourth generation, up to 185 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. The 2012 CR-V is available in LX and EX versions with various upgradable packages, including full-time all-wheel drive, leather and satellite navigation.
Comfort & Utility
The interior of the CR-V is not much like that of any other CUV on the market. Other CUV interiors replicate the space and utility of larger SUVs, but the CR-V's interior is more like a three-quarter-scale Honda Odyssey minivan interior. Front passengers enjoy a tall seating position yet have plenty of headroom. The gearshift juts out from the center of the dash, much like the minivan, and beneath it Honda has included several storage spaces. Between the two front seats, Honda has installed a large center console storage unit with sliding top, which, again, is just like the Odyssey.
In the back, the CR-V is resembles a more conventional CUV and features a 60/40 split rear seat that folds almost flat. With the rear seats up, the CR-V provides 37.2 cubic feet of storage space. With the rear seats folded, that space is increased to a substantial 70.9 cubic feet.
The CR-V LX model has more standard equipment for 2012, including air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, an intelligent Multi-Information Display, remote entry, a multi-angle rear-view camera, a 160-watt, four-speaker audio system and motion-adaptive electric power steering.
The CR-V EX also has an upgraded six-speaker audio system, power moonroof and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The CR-V EX-L adds a leather-trimmed interior, 10-way power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control and 328-watt seven-speaker audio system with XM satellite radio. Available features for the CR-V EX-L include the Honda satellite navigation with voice recognition and traffic features or a rear DVD system; you have to choose one or the other, however.
Performance & Fuel Economy
The 2.4-liter inline-4 engine in the 2012 CR-V produces 185 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. Although these power output numbers are higher than they were for the third generation, fuel economy has actually improved slightly for 2012. A selectable Econ mode can the way the CR-V accelerates to make it more efficient, and Honda's Eco Assist feature, which uses "green" visual cues around the speedometer to indicate when the vehicle is being driven most efficiently. The EPA-estimated fuel economy rating for the front-wheel-drive CR-V is 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel drive CR-V is rated at 22/30 mpg.
Every 2012 CR-V has standard electronic stability control, ABS with brake assist, side curtain and front side airbags. There is also an occupant position detection system on the passenger's side, and the front seats are designed to help reduce injury severity in case of an accident.
Driving Impressions
A compact SUV built off the Honda Civic's platform with its added height, weight and all-wheel drive doesn't sound like a great driving experience, and the CR-V might not turn anyone's head as it pulls up in front of a restaurant. However, the CR-V's ride is peppy, reliable and pleasurable, and the interior feels spacious and solid. Overall, the CR-V is stable, solid and confident on the road in virtually any weather and at any speed.
Other Cars to Consider
Mazda CX-5 - Starting at $20,695, the 2013 CX-5 is the newest addition to the CUV market. The base CX-5 features Mazda's 2.0-liter SKYACTIV 4-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Impressively, the CX-5 has been rated at 35 mpg on the highway.
Ford Escape - Starting at $21,440, the Escape is the bestselling CUV in the U.S. market. Customers considering the Escape against the CR-V would be advised to wait until the release of the all-new 2013 Ford Escape, which will be better-looking and more fuel efficient.
Chevrolet Equinox - Starting at $23,530, the Chevrolet Equinox is a surprise contender on the CUV market. The Equinox is bigger than the CR-V but is just as fuel efficient thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission.
AutoTrader Recommends
Customers who are looking for a roomy, fuel-efficient CUV with a proven reliability history will be happy with the CR-V, which starts at $22,495. We recommend upgrading to the EX-L but sticking with the 2WD model, priced at $27,245, and adding the navigation system for a total cost of $28,745. That's about the same as the 4WD model ($28,495) and most people will use the navigation more than they'd use four-wheel drive.


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Alternative PHP Cache (APC) on DebianFebruary 2nd, 2006
[Update, March 9th: Be sure to read the comments!]
The Alternative PHP Cache is a great way to improve the performance of webservers. I just finished installing it on mokey the server that runs this site and a number of others, primarily because of our increased use of a content management system called eZpublish which is very powerful, but also very memory hungry. There is no Debian package at the moment, so here is how I installed APC:
- Download APC:
cd /usr/local/src
wget http://pecl.php.net/get/APC-3.0.8.tgz
- Extract the archive:
tar -xvvzf APC-3.0.8.tgz
- Install php and apache development files:
sudo apt-get install apache-dev php4-dev
(if you have apache2 it's apache2-dev)
- Run these commands:
export CPPFLAGS="-I/usr/include/apache-1.3 -DAPC_PHP4_STAT"
./configure --enable-apc --enable-apc-mmap --with-apxs --with-php-config=/usr/bin/php-config
For apache2 the last line becomes:
./configure --enable-apc --enable-apc-mmap --with-apxs=/usr/bin/apxs2 --with-php-config=/usr/bin/php-config
- Build it!
sudo make install
- Finally, add this line to the bottom of your /etc/php4/apache/php.ini (or /etc/php/apache2/php.ini)
Good luck, and leave a comment or contact me if you have any problems. If you don't feel comforable installing apc yourself contact me and I may be able to help.


text: Karen B 26 Report post Posted September 29, 2012 Mikail Zakin (1920-2012) We were saddened to learn this past week that Mikail Zakin passed away after a short illness. She spent the last part of her summer teaching at Castle Hill on the Cape and encouraged her students to keep going and growing their work in clay. Mikail was the co-founder and president of Old Church Cultural Center in Demarest, New Jersey. She helped teach and inspire two generations of potters. She was a force right up to the end of her 92 years. Anne Bailey was involved in the early pottery shows that were organized by Mikail Zakin and Karen Karnes at Old Church Cultural Center in Demarest, New Jersey. These shows still go on today. Anne remembers, "Mikail was such an inspiration to so many potters. When the shows at Old Church first began back in the 1970's, we would all gather at Mikail's house for dinner to share stories and food. Mikail along with Karen were strong advocates for the creative life and helped many aspiring young potters find their way. When I last saw Mikhail last year she was as sharp and interesting as ever! She will be greatly missed." A memorial service will be held at the: Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ on October 6 at 6:00 PM Click here for the Old Church website for more information: http://tasoc.org/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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IN A STRANGE TWIST of evolution, the influenza virus seems to have endless capability to reinvent itself, infecting waterfowl, swine and humans over and over again with great power and destructive force. A periodic reassortment of its genes gives rise to new variants that have not been seen before. Each time, the new variant poses a potential threat to both man and animal. Another shuffle of the deck has just occurred, leading to a new outbreak of bird flu in China, where people and fowl are often in close contact.
This variant, known as H7N9, has not reached U.S. shores, but it is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of influenza. It might cause a pandemic, or settle into a slow burn for years, or simply die out. At this stage, no one knows. The uncertainty ought to remind us of past lessons about infectious disease and globalization, which remain as urgent as ever.
One of those lessons is the vital role of rapid communication about an emerging outbreak. A decade ago, a virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, took hold in China. The Communist government, which keeps a tight grip on information, responded poorly to the threat and failed to report early cases as the virus spread. It was a vivid example of the dangers of a closed society. As Mikhail Gorbachev found out after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, there are some events — spreading radiation or a virus — that just can't be hidden from the rest of the world.
This time, China has reacted differently. The authorities announced the early cases, reported details to the World Health Organization, deposited genetic sequences of the virus in an open database and shared isolates of the live virus with scientists. While China's rulers still impose a dark curtain of censorship over much other news, the authorities deserve credit for recognizing the global demand for openness about the new bird flu virus. So far, infections have been confirmed in 129 people, of whom 31 have died.
The critical tripwire that could lead to a pandemic would be sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus. Until now, there have been small clusters of people infected but not sustained transmission. Still, China is not out of the woods. Early indications suggest that this variant of influenza can infect birds without them showing obvious signs and symptoms, meaning it could spread in flocks and not be visible, endangering humans who come into contact with the birds. China may need to cull millions of birds, a challenge it has not yet faced.
It is natural for people to grow fatigued about warnings of pandemic. If it hasn't happened, why worry? Here's why: Germs do not stop at passport control. What happens in China today could happen here tomorrow. Bird flu is everyone's problem, and we can only hope that China continues to fight it effectively and with transparency.


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FRITZ!Box 7590 Service - Knowledge Base
FRITZ!Box 7590 Service
AVM Content
Not your product?
This document is also available for the following products:
Listening to messages while they are being recorded
Your FRITZ!Fon allows you to listen in on messages while they are being recorded on the FRITZ!Box answering machine. Messages are automatically played over the telephones's speaker.
Note:The configuration procedure and notes on functions given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for your FRITZ!Box.
1 Configuring the FRITZ!Box
- Click "DECT" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
- Click "Cordless Telephones" in the "DECT" menu.
- Click the button (Edit) for the respective telephone.
- Click on the "Telephony Device Features" tab.
- Enable the option "Listen in on the answering machine".
- Click "OK" to save the settings.
Now messages are automatically played over your telephone's loudspeaker while the answering machine records them, and you can also answer the call while listening. Since the DECT base station allows you to conduct a maximum of three calls at the same time, the message will be played on up to three telephones at the same time.


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5 Wood Alternatives for Classic Plastic Toys
There are many classic toys I remember from my childhood, and all of them were made out of plastic. Lately, though, we've been seeing wooden versions of originally plastic toys cropping up, and we think they're pretty cool. Here we've rounded up 5 of our favorites.
• Wooden Boggle from Funny Farm Toy Barn: Maybe it's just that I'm obsessed with Scramble with Friends these days, but I love this cool wooden Boggle set.
• Wooden Tea Set from Plan Toys: I had a plastic tea set as a girl, and the fancy pants among us had porcelain ones. But while porcelain can break and plastic is, well, plastic, a wooden tea set makes for a beautiful and sturdy design.
• Wooden Rubik's Cube from Rubik's: Kick it back to the 80s with a 30th anniversary wooden Rubik's Cube. Yes, the inside is plastic in order to make turning it easier, and yes, it comes with a plastic stand, but the faces are all wood! The stickers are even translucent to allow the wood grain to show through, and one side is naked wood.
• Rocky Color Cone from Holgate Toys: This toy was probably originally all wooden, but all the versions I knew as a child were that plastic. You know what I'm talking about. So investing in a wood version is taking it back to its roots.
• Spiral Drawing Toy from Rocking Frog: Who didn't have Spirograph as a kid? Rocking Frog on Etsy has made their own wooden version out of bamboo. It's sized to the exact dimensions of a piece of notebook paper so you don't have to fiddle with those traditional small parts.
Do you have any unusual wooden toys, or traditionally plastic pieces now made out of wood? Share them in the comments!
(Images: as linked above)


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|Sesame Street
|September 26, 2011 (4257)
|January 15, 2012 (4300)
Sesame Street's 42nd season began production on February 8, 2011[1] and wrapped May 20, 2011, with other inserts taped following that date. Half the street stories and select inserts for season 43 were shot during this time as well.[2] Episodes premiered on September 26, 2011.
The season continues to focus on the STEM curriculum; encouraging children to think critically about science, technology, engineering and math. The curriculum helps children develop a better understanding of how things work, and builds stronger cognitive reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
One episode this season, written by Annie Evans, is titled "BubbleFest" and stars Telly, Abby and Elmo.[3] Ernie and Bert are featured in an episode in which they search for a place to spend the night when their apartment becomes flooded. At one point, they stay at Gordon and Susan's and some sheep dance into the scene.[4] Another episode celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month features Gina and Rosita teaching Latino culture to Marco.[5](YouTube)
A new "tune-in" segment, "Murray's Science Experiments", has Murray Monster ask a scientific question and sets up an experiment to find the best answer to his question. With help from Ovejita and some kids, Murray observes, investigates and discovers the answers to his questions. New segments of Super Grover 2.0[6][7] and Abby's Flying Fairy School return from last season. What's the Word on the Street and The Word of the Day also return with 26 new words.
The season featured many new guest appearances. Grover appeared in a segment with Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony of the NY Knicks.[8] Other celebrities appearing in the 42nd season include: Craig Ferguson,[9] Jesse Tyler Ferguson,[10] Sofia Vergara,[11] and Joel McHale.[12] In season 42, there are guests from The Daily Show (YouTube). Broadway-star Sutton Foster appears in a new song, "Lever Lover."OK Go filmed an insert, performing a song about mixing colors.[13]
Among the spoofs this season are "Heaviest Catch" (parody of the TV show Deadliest Catch), "Ate My Red Two" (spoof of Elvis Costello's "(The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"), "Measure, Yeah, Measure" (parody of Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never"), "G" (parody of the TV show Glee) and "SpiderMonster the Musical" (spoof of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).
44 Episodes (4257-4300)
- Episode 4257 -- Failure to Launch
- Episode 4258 -- Rocco's Boat
- Episode 4259 -- The Bubblefest
- Episode 4260 -- Observe, Record, Annoy
- Episode 4261 -- The Shape-O-Bots
- Episode 4262 -- The Latinization of Marco
- Episode 4263 -- Humpty Dumpty's Big Break
- Episode 4264 -- Goodbye Pacifier
- Episode 4265 -- The Good Birds Club
- Episode 4266 -- The Big Bad Wolf Huffs and Puffs Slimey
- Episode 4267 -- Baby Bear's New Doll
- Episode 4268 -- Elmo and the Butterfly
- Episode 4269 -- Siblings
- Episode 4270 -- Letter "R" Mystery
- Episode 4271 -- Cast Iron Cooks
- Episode 4272 -- Getting Centered
- Episode 4273 -- A Prince of a Frog
- Episode 4274 -- Elmozilla
- Episode 4275 -- Super Maria
- Episode 4276 -- The Flood
- Episode 4277 -- Falling Leaves
- Episode 4278 -- That's All Our Senses Club
- Episode 4279 -- What's In Big Bird's Nest
- Episode 4280 -- Rhyming Block
- Episode 4281 -- Furry Potter
- Episode 4282 -- Elmo Wants to Have a Ball
- Episode 4283 -- The Cowmonster Pair (repeat)
- Episode 4284 -- Abby's Tricycle (repeat)
- Episode 4285 -- Mary Mary Quite Contrary makes a garden (repeat)
- Episode 4286 -- Abby turns Chris and Baby Bear into bees (repeat)
- Episode 4287 -- The Rainbow Show (repeat)
- Episode 4288 -- Stinky's Annual Birthday Flower (repeat)
- Episode 4289 -- Wild Nature Survivor Guy visits Sesame Street (repeat)
- Episode 4290 -- Tribute to Number Seven (repeat)
- Episode 4291 -- The Prince and the Penguin (repeat)
- Episode 4292 -- Abby gets the Sparkle Speckle Fairy Freckles (repeat)
- Episode 4293 -- Chris and Elmo go camping (repeat)
- Episode 4294 -- Amphibian Show (repeat)
- Episode 4295 -- Big Bird considers moving (repeat)
- Episode 4296 -- Inspected By 4 (repeat)
- Episode 4297 -- Jack's big jump (repeat)
- Episode 4298 -- Wing in a Sling (repeat)
- Episode 4299 -- Squirmadega Car Race (repeat)
- Episode 4300 -- Jack Grows His Own Beanstalk (repeat)
- After this season and until Season 46, the long-running Elmo's World is replaced by Elmo the Musical.
- Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Rosita, Cookie Monster, Grover, Baby Bear, Curly Bear, Telly, Oscar the Grouch, Ernie, Bert, Murray Monster, Ovejita, Count von Count, Mr. Johnson, Two-Headed Monster, Stinky the Stinkweed, Prairie Dawn, Little Bo Peep, Slimey, Horatio the Elephant, Keith Heartburn, The Amazing Mumford, Anything Muppets, Sheep, Mr. Yak, Segi
- Maria: Sonia Manzano
- Alan: Alan Muraoka
- Gordon: Roscoe Orman
- Gina: Alison Bartlett
- Luis: Emilio Delgado
- Bob: Bob McGrath
- Susan: Loretta Long
- Gabi: Desiree Casado
- Chris: Chris Knowings
- Leela: Nitya Vidyasagar
- Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar
- Pam Arciero, Jennifer Barnhart, Rickey Boyd, Fran Brill, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Kevin Clash, Bruce Connelly, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Eric Jacobson, John Kennedy, Peter Linz, Jim Martin, Joey Mazzarino, Paul McGinnis, Jerry Nelson, Carmen Osbahr, Frank Oz, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Steve Whitmire, Bryant Young
Guest stars[14]
- Sara Sweetman appears in "Murray's Science Experiments" segments.
- Executive Producer: Carol-Lynn Parente
- Co-Executive Producer: Kevin Clash
- Coordinating Producer: April Chadderdon
- Senior Producer: Tim Carter
- Line Producer: Stephanie Longardo
- Producers: Melissa Dino, Benjamin Lehmann
- Directors: Kevin Clash, Ken Diego, Moses Edinborough, Jim Martin, Joey Mazzarino, Scott Preston, Lisa Simon, Matt Vogel, Nadine Zylstra
- Head Writer: Joey Mazzarino
- Writers: Molly Boylan, Annie Evans, Christine Ferraro, Judy Freudberg, J Milligan, Emily Perl Kingsley, Sonia Manzano (uncredited), Luis Santeiro, Belinda Ward, John Weidman, Ed Valentine
- Film & Animation Producers: Christine Walters, Kimberly Wright
- Additional Voices For Abby's Flying Fairy School: Jeremy Redleaf, Jessica Stone
- Abby's Flying Fairy School characters designed by: Peter de Seve
- Puppets, Costumes, Props: Jason Weber with Connie Peterson, Rollie Krewson, Polly Smith, Michelle Hickey, Andrea Detwiler, Lara MacLean, Loryn Brantz, Colette Nickola, Marc Borders, Heather Asch
- Music Director: Bill Sherman
- Music Director - Arrangements: Joe Fiedler
- Music Director - Studio: Paul Rudolph
- Music Coordinator: Gaellissa Francis
- Composers: Jon Baker, Eli Bolin, Joe Fiedler, Chris Jackson, Alex Lacamoire, Stephen Lawrence, Janis Liebhart, Chris Miller, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Raymond Basho Mosko, Justin Paul, Alan O'Day, Kathryn Raio, Mark Radice, JP Rende, Bill Sherman, Nathan Tysen, Russell Velazquez, PT Walkey
- Set Designer: Bob Phillips
- Art Direction/Graphics: Pete Ortiz
- Prop Coordinator: Keith Olsen
- Associate Directors: Frank Campagna, Tim Carter, Emily Cohen, Ken Diego, Leigh E. Gallagher, Dylan Hopkins, Benjamin Lehmann
- Control Room PA: Leigh E. Gallagher, Geri Cole, Jane Lee, Ashmou Younge
- Sound Effects Editor/Re-recording Mixer: Dick Maitland, C.A.S
- Technical Director: Tom Guadarrama
- Cameras: Frank Biondo, Jerry Cancel, Shaun Harkins
- Production Assistants: Geri Cole, Julia Guidera, Stephanie Maio, Andrew Moriarty, Rachel Smith
- Vice President of Education and Research: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
- Special Thanks To: Definition 6, Hyperactive Pictures, Magnetic Dreams, Speakeasy FX, Tony Testa, Yellow Sound Lab
- Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York
- ↑ Evans, Annie. Sesame Family Robinson. Back to the Studio!. March 21, 2011.
- ↑ Stephanie D'Abruzzo official site
- ↑ Evans, Annie. Sesame Family Robinson. Back to the Studio!. March 21, 2011.
- ↑ Tough Pigs: Live from Sesame Street, Part 1: Childhood Icons and Dancing Sheep
- ↑ Season 42 Press Release
- ↑ @welcomemattv on Twitter
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ @amareisreal on Twitter, @amareisreal on Twitter, @sesamestreet on Twitter
- ↑ @craigyferg on Twitter
- ↑ @jessetyler on Twitter
- ↑ "Modern Family" Actress Sofia Vergara Visits Sesame Street
- ↑ @joelmchale on Twitter
- ↑ OK Go and the Muppets: Best Callabo Ever?
- ↑ Sesame Workshop Press Release
External links
|Previous season:
|Next season:
|Season 41 (2010)
|Season 43 (2012-2013)


text:
- There will be an interruption in forum availability while this process is underway. This disruption is not planned to exceed 48 hours.
- Posters are strongly encouraged to keep local copies of posts made after this announcement to prevent them from being consumed by the digital abyss.
- This week's Activity Scan will not take place.
- Bookmarks and links to this forum will break.
- Existing users and posts should not be affected.
Watch this space for more information.


text:
::enters the cave that is this forum:: "Hello? Is there anyone here?"
Regular: Yes.
"Is there a chance that I could spend the night?"
Regular: Do you have pizza?
"What?"
Regular: I ordered some pizza but I think they sent it to the wrong address. Fetch me some pizza and I'll let you stay the night.
"'Kay." ::fires a translocater off to the bottom of the mountain, and teleports there::
------------------
Explanation? Here's one!


text:
If you're referring to Jundo and Nonin Chowaney I don't believe definitions of Buddhahood was the real problem. Rather, the problems seems to be that Jundo and Nonin wanted to promote their particular views and be more in control. They also both seem to have something of a penchant for confrontational arguing online.Jikan wrote:That's the short version (I was a moderator for about two years before e-sangha imploded). I understand there's someone who was banned at e-sangha and a few other boards out there who is writing a book on this topic and may well be reviewing DharmaWheel right now for material.Konchog1 wrote:That was basically it. Different groups and individuals violating the TOS, getting banned, and complaining about it.
One instance of friction came up regarding some American Zen approaches to the definition of Buddhahood, which were in patent contradiction to traditional definitions. The moderators & admins took one side, some users took the other, and the rest is cyber history. A Zen-specific forum (ZFI) emerged from that particular brouhaha; I understand it's still up and running, although with somewhat different leadership. There are a number of good participants there.
As evidence note that Jundo and Nonin Chowany's views are very much the same, yet Jundo was banned from ZFI where Nonin presides. If Nonin were to visit Treeleaf.com (where Jundo presides) much, I suspect he would be banned from there eventually, just as he was banned from e-sangha.


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The debt ceiling.
Why do we have a federal debt ceiling? The simple answer is because Congress and the President don't trust themselves to be fiscally responsible. The people shouldn't trust them either. We're now in a constant cycle of growth of our national debt, and our present mode of government is: Republicans, who have very little power, try to be fiscally responsible, while Democrats do nothing whatever to reform entitlements or cut spending to prevent reaching the next ceiling. They want to raise taxes in their traditional tax and spend mode, so they can spend more. The deficit therefore keeps bumping against the ceiling. The debt grows even as our national economy shrinks.
Reaching the debt ceiling and having to raise it should be like a fire alarm – a call to action. However, we live in a country with no leadership. We have a Do-nothing President and and a Do-nothing Senate. As President Obama concludes his fifth year in office, we find he has done nothing to try to grow the economy. To the contrary, he and Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, have blocked many Republican initiatives from the House.
The much-maligned Tea Party is simply a movement of people who demand fiscal responsibility and have been aggressive in the House and to a lesser extent, in the Senate. Traditional Republicans want the same thing but aren't willing to take political risk, so Republicans battle each other and work without a common purpose.
Democrats don't want fiscal responsibility; they even argue that the deficit and the debt aren't really a problem. Tax reform to get the economy going again? Forget it. Reducing federal regulations on business? No such initiatives from the Democrats. Entitlement reform? The President appointed the Simpson-Bowles Commission, which labored for a year and came up with modest reform proposals. Obama totally ignored their recommendations.
Entitlement programs are the main driver of the constant increase in the national debt and the need for raising the ceiling. The Democrats won't touch Social Security or Medicare or Food Stamps with a ten foot pole, and have added the most massive entitlement of all time, Obamacare.
The only way we will ever see entitlement reform is if Democrats have no power in the government. We need a Republican House, Senate, and Presidency. Until that comes about, (and it may never come about) the federal debt will keep rising and we'll keep on being fiscally irresponsible, perhaps bringing about a collapse of our economy.
I recommend raising the debt ceiling by ten billion dollars. That's a lot of money: think about it. A billion dollars is one thousand piles of cash, each holding a million dollars. Ten billion is a huge sum indeed. Oops, I just realized, at the rate we're spending, that's less than a week of increase in our debt. Our debt is currently around 17 trillion dollars, or 17 million piles of cash each holding a million dollars.
But, let's all just be like Obama and Reid: don't worry about it. As W.C. Fields put it, "Start off every day with a smile and get it over with."
While I'm doing quotes, how about this one: "Good government never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.
-- Frank Herbert, "Children of Dune"