text:
I love cherries and I'm also quite keen on beer, so you would think that I would have jumped at the chance to try a Belgian cherry beer on tap when offered one; yet I at first refused. Although I adore cherries — they may just be my favorite fruit — I abhor fake cherry flavoring. This is why I am unable to take cough medicine or drink cherry soda. It just tastes fake and wrong to me. So last year, while visiting the lovely city of Haarlem in the Netherlands, I had to be convinced to try the cherry beer that is a staple at most pubs in the fall. I am so glad I relented.
Kriek (pronounced like "creek") is a fruit beer made from lambic, a sour and dry Belgian beer, which has been infused with sour cherries and their pits. According to the bartender I chatted with in Haarlem, the pits are where the real cherry flavor lies. Lambic is only brewed in Belgium. It is unique in that brewers don't add any yeast as an ingredient. Fermentation instead occurs through exposure to yeast strains and bacteria native to the area of Pajottenland (is it me, or does that sound like a name thought up by Dr. Seuss?). The marriage of lambic with sour cherries is really a regional match made in heaven.
After sipping my friend Corbin's kriek, I was hooked. My first response was literally "Wow!" The cherry flavor was tart and sweet, but understated and not syrupy, and the texture of the brew was perfect. Although we had just had a big meal, I drank two and a half pints. I realized this was my one and only chance to have this stuff on tap (well, until my next visit to Northern Europe, whenever that may be) and I wanted to make the most of it.
The next morning, before I flew to London, I dashed to the local liquor store and bought a few bottles of kriek to share with my husband, who was stuck at home with the kids while I gallivanted throughout Europe with my oldest friend. It was the least I could do — really. I knew he would love it, and wasn't sure I could find the stuff at home.
But a few months after returning home, I saw it on the menu at Luka's Taproom in Oakland. And, although it wasn't as fresh and earthy as the lovely brew on tap in Haarlem, it was close enough to make me quite happy. Our waitress told us she had seen it at Whole Foods, so I journeyed over there a few days later and bought some, along with a bottle or two of framboise, kriek's raspberry cousin which is equally intriguing.
The most common brand sold in the United States is Lindeman's, which comes in both 750 ml and 8 oz bottles, and is sold at both Luka's Taproom and Whole Foods. But if you're interested in trying a few other varieties, The Trappist in Oakland has a number of different brands by the bottle and actually sometimes even has kriek on tap (at least their web site says they do). I tried a bottle there recently. Unfortunately I can't remember the brand, but it was less sweet than the Lindeman's and quite good.
Although Luka's refers to kriek as a dessert beer, I think the designation is too limiting. Since finding that I can get it here, I've tried it with numerous dishes. Kriek is a fantastic accompaniment to roasted pork, spinach salad, and baked chicken. It's also nice with a plate of cheese — the stinkier the better.
So if you come across some kriek, I highly recommend it. Better yet, if you find yourself in Belgium or The Netherlands in the fall, try a pint on tap. You won't regret it.


text:
Tag Archives: If
Pink Floyd – If
An evening pause: Animated in a very strange manner, with an unusual mix of artistic styles.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
By the way, I am as always looking for more evening pause suggestions. If you've suggested before, you know the routine. If not, place a comment here saying you've got something (but don't include the link), and I'll email you for it.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Todays communications system designer makes use of HF, UHF, VHF, and SATCOM tools and capitalizes on the unique capabilities that each brings to the job. HF radio offers a unique combination of cost effectiveness and versatility for long- haul communications, while VHF/ UHF radio products bring solutions to classical line- of- sight communications requirements.
Recent developments
in digital signal processing and manufacturing
miniaturization have pushed the technology to smaller, lighter, and less
expensive equipment. Software- based radio platforms are now able to solve complex system requirements. This chapter can only touch on a few of the many modern radio system possibilities available today.
The Digital Battlefield
Figure 8-
1 illustrates a modern battlefield communications network
architecture that uses SATCOM, UHF, VHF, and HF technologies.
Mobile communications
vehicles provide hubs that receive and retransmit
radio signals that cover the entire available spectrum. VHF Combat Net
Radios (CNR) provide ground LOS communications between squads, while UHF radios provide the same for ground- to- air (G/ A) close support.
Harris VHF/
UHF radios are interoperable with all common waveforms used
in aircraft. The operator can easily program channels on frequencies for a
G/ A net, in plain text AM or FM, as well as cipher text AM or FM.
HF and SATCOM
radios provide long haul communications from the front
line back to theater headquarters. Such a tactical communications network
provides coverage over distances ranging from less than 50 miles to more
than 1,500 miles.
elements of this network include frequency hopping, encryption,
and HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) capabilities.
Network requirements
dictate that links are provided between the fixed
headquarters site and fixed installations for quasi- permanent military
regions and zones. Provisions are then made for communications between
headquarters and task forces at fixed, non- permanent, installations.
Lower echelon communications have a combination of fixed, mobile, and man- portable equipment. Frequency management of the network is a headquarters responsibility.
Video Imaging
VHF/ UHF bandwidth
considerations support 16 kbps to 64 kbps within
typical 25 kHz channel, improving the speed in which a text string, file, ora document can be sent.
Figure 8-
2 shows a scenario in which unattended still- video camera sends images
to an imaging terminal viaan a fiber- optic link. The terminal
captures and digitizes the image and sends the data to a modem in the
transceiver, which relays the data to the base. Communications may be via a two- way link that uses an ARQ protocol to obtain error- free transmission of the image, or a one- way link in which FEC coding reduces the probability of error in the received message.
High data
rates for detailed images or maps shorten the on- air time
required to pass the image files.
The Harris
Universal Image Transmission System (HUITS) digital imaging
product optimizes the compression of digital images and uses an ARQ
protocol specifically designed for transmission over tactical radio channels.
VHF/ UHF Telephone System
A VHF or UHF
radio link extends the reach of a telephone network to the
battlefield as shown in Figure 8- 3. The telephone system enables users to
place calls to and from mobile radio transceivers in field to commercial
switched telephone networks or private subscriber telephonethe lines.
Calls from
the field are placed over HF, VHF, or UHF to anywhere in the
world through the base station telephone switch or exchange. To initiate a call, the user enters a telephone number just as if the Remote Access Unit
(RAU) was a telephone set connected directly to the base station telephone
At this point,
the number dialed is transmitted through the RAU to the
Telephone Interface Unit (TIU). As the TIU dials the digits and the target
telephone rings, the mobile operator hears call progress tones, just as if
a regular telephone was used.
In order to
contact anyone in the field, a telephone user dials a telephone
number (or the extension) to which the TIU is connected from anywhere
in the world. The TIU automatically answers the call and the user is
connected directly with the field radio.
Secure communications
can be achieved through interfaces to the com-
mon inventory of encryption devices. The high data rates available over a
25 kHz VHF channel improve the intelligibility of wide- band secure voice.
Radio E- mail
mail and other inter- networking technologies are becoming
increasingly important for interoffice communications. However, many
users find that communications between remote stations are difficult
and/ or expensive, due to costly telephone or satellite charges. Harris has
developed radios and systems that are an excellent alternative for providing these services to distant users or stations. Typical applications include:
Naval ship- to- shore and ship- to- ship communications
Embassy Ministry of Foreign Affairs communications
Oil/ Gas/ Mining operations
In the following
discussion, we will focus on naval applications; similar
configurations support other radio e- mail and inter- networking
communications system requirements.
A radio e-
mail system for naval ships and deployed forces that supports
naval communications, including administrative, logistic, and engineering
order- wire traffic, is shown in Figure 8- 4.
Local Area
Networks (LANs) within a ship provide an intranet with e- mail
capability between various on- board duty stations. This LAN can also connect to a Harris Wireless Gateway, which extends the intranet using
UHF LOS radio links to the various ships of the group. The Gateway provides seamless data transfers between common networked applications, such as E- mail and FTP file transfer, running on geographically separated LANs. HF long haul BLOS radio links, can extend the group intranet to distant support groups or to headquarters on shore.
such as the Harris Wireless Messaging Terminal make the
operator interface nearly identical to the office environment e- mail
handling applications. This makes training of personnel easier and message handling simpler.
System Design Considerations
Harris RF Communications Division has a communications systems engineering department staffed by specialists in the design of custom equipment for the one- of- a- kind type of application. The following are some of the factors that systems engineers consider when designing a modern radio system.
System definition
Who are the users?
What is their location?
Are communications one- way or two- way?
What are the interfaces with other communications media?
What is the operating environment (hostile or friendly, rural or urban)?
Transfer of information
What type of traffic is there (voice, data, images)?
Do the priority
levels differ, depending on the message source and/ or
What are the security levels for safeguarding the information?
Message protection and security
What is the correct type of error detection and correction for data?
What type of COMSEC is needed?
Will spread- spectrum or frequency- hopping techniques be used to avoid interception or jamming?
Is excision filtering needed to remove interfering signals?
System availability
What is the probability of transferring messages in real time?
Can alternate routing be used to enhance message availability?
Can lower priority traffic use store- and- forward techniques?
Are there any operational restrictions due to propagation, transmitter power, or other constraints?
Traffic analysis
What are the typical message lengths?
What is the average number of messages per unit of time?
What are the message priorities?
When is the peak traffic?
What are the types of traffic?
Projected growth for each category of traffic
What impact does higher traffic levels have on system implementation?
Are additional nodes and/ or relays necessary?
Impact on message structure
Is the format for data message compatible with traffic requirements?
Include security classification, priority, source, and destination address.
Fixed site
Are the receiving,
transmitting, and control functions collocated
or separate?
Is this a permanent or temporary installation?
Are there any frequency restraints for collocated receivers and transmitters?
What are the staffing requirements?
What are the environmental considerations?
What type of power is available?
Is uninterrupted power a requirement?
Mobile site
Is the equipment designed for a vehicle, ship, shelter, or aircraft?
Are manpacks required?
What are the antenna limitations and constraints?
What are the physical size constraints?
What are the bandwidth and primary power requirements?
What are the environmental considerations?
Communications protocol
Is there a return channel for ARQ?
Is ALE being used?
What are the data protocols?
Equipment selection
Transmitter requirements: Power output, solid state versus tube, broadband or narrowband, allowable distortion, frequency range, tuning speed, remote control?
Receiver requirements: Selectivity, dynamic range, distortion, remote control?
Antenna requirements: Gain, bandwidth, polarization, radiation pattern, available terrain, remote control?
Data communications systems
What is the data rate?
How is data being protected (type of encryption)?
What is the modulation scheme?
Interface to other equipment and systems
What other
equipment is required (fax, data terminal, imaging systems)?
What other types of systems are involved?
What interfaces are required between HF/ VHF/ UHF radio systems, satellite, or switched telephone networks?
Command and control
Will operation be attended or unattended?
Is self- test required?
Are the transmitter, receiver, and control sites at different places (split site)?
Modern radios are small and lightweight. Features and capabilities, which formerly required additional equipment, are now fully embedded into the radio transceiver.
and SATCOM radios play key roles in modern worldwide
telecommunications systems, often working in conjunction with other
media, such as cellular networks, and telephone landlines.
Radio e- mail is becoming a very important part of military communications systems.
A systems
approach is needed to obtain the best results in designing
a modern radio communications network.


text:
The Sims FreePlay is EA's follow-up to 2010's Sims 3 for Android. I don't normally review free apps (and certainly not apps that are free and then ask you to pay later on) but this one caught my Sim-loving heart.
As I mentioned in my previous Sims 3 review; I've been a big Sims fan from day one. Since its original release there have been lots of spin-offs and expansions – all of which I have avoided. Give me the simple 'make-your-Sim-happy-and-get-a-better-job' style gameplay and I'll quite happily play for hours. Add in stupid dating or magical expansion packs and I'll look elsewhere.
And this is why I have been playing Sims FreePlay every day for three weeks now.
You start the game with an empty town map and you've got to select your plot to build on. Your initial build will come without a fee (and it's not a bad house either) just to get you going and then it's time for the fun part – creating your Sim.
I was quite surprised at how much you can play around with the look of your Sim. When compared with The Sims 3 there must be ten times as many clothes, hairstyles and personalities to choose from. You could quite easily spend twenty minutes just making your Sim look how you want him to.
Once created it's time to move your Sim into their new home. The tutorial does a great job at introducing you to how the game works and what you should be doing to get your Sim up and running in their new place. This is when you realise that 'real-time' really does mean real-time. Events that occur in The Sims FreePlay take as long as they would in the real world. Send your Sim to the toilet and they'll take 10-15 seconds to perform the action. Washing hands – 10 seconds. Fancy a good night's sleep? That'll be 7 hours please.
This real-time gameplay may not be to everyone's tastes but it does work for people who, like me, have things to do during the day – like work! Send your Sim off to work in the morning and when you get home from work yourself they'll have finished as well.
Each action your Sim performs earns experience points (or 'XP') and in some cases money too. The more XP you earn the more things you unlock in the game and the more money you have means nicer things for your Sims.
If you want your Sim to earn more money and XP then you've got to keep your Sim happy just as previous Sims games would have you do. By fulfilling the usual Sims needs (hunger, toilet, cleanliness, fun, social and sleep) you can make your Sim feel fulfilled. A fulfilled Sim earns more XP/money for actions performed and if they perform the action in their own household they get even more still. This is where the management of your Sims comes in. Keep your Sims fulfilled and doing things in their own home may seem a bit anti-social but it helps you level up a lot quicker. There are some cases however that you may want to have all your Sims in one house and make them fulfilled there – mainly because it means you don't have to keep switching between houses which will save vital seconds of time.
As you progress through the tutorial you'll notice you receive 'Life Points' for completing goals. Life Points are for the impatient amongst us who don't want to wait 12 hours for a house to build or can't wait any longer for their Sim to finish in the bath. Using up a Life Point will instantly complete an action/task and save you having to wait around. This can be useful when you're building things around town such as new houses or workplaces. Think of Life Point as gold dust because that's pretty much what they are.
The whole reason The Sims FreePlay is free is because they rely on people getting hooked on the game and also getting impatient. If you run out of Life Points or Simoleons (the Sims' currency) then you can buy some from the Sims Store – with real money. This is the part of the game that makes me feel a bit sick. A measly 6 Life Points costs £2.37 but you can actually purchase 1000 for £71.39. How they can get away with this I do not know. Patience is a virtue my friends, I've only used a few of my Life Points up (one time being when the tutorial forced me to) and another when I needed a new Sim quickly but paying for them is not an option for me – especially at those prices.
As you progress in the game you will then need to build your Sims somewhere to work. After all, they've gotta pay the bills sometime. This is the first time I fell over in the game. I built a science lab which was the best-paid job on the town map but what I failed to realise is that the working hours were from 10am 'til 6pm. Because I go to work at 9am (I'm talking about real life now) I wasn't around to send my Sims off at 10am. You can send your Sim off around 60 minutes early to work but sadly I wasn't at home to do so. Well, that was $10,000 wasted. So I had to save up and I built a sports stadium instead. The work hours were much better for me and my Sims as they now work from 8am-12 noon. Your Sims will get promoted and earn more money and experience the more they work so make sure you keep them going. Sending them to work in a fulfilled state is not only amusing but also helps increase the amount of XP and money they bring back at the end of the working day.
Pets! Who doesn't want their Sim to have a loveable companion? Well you don't get a choice with your first Sim as they'll be given a very handy golden retriever. You don't have to feed or 'water' your pets but they do come in handy. If you leave him alone for long enough he'll find hidden treasures in the garden. These range from $1 to $100 and even Life Points (although these are quite rare). Simply tap on the barking mutt once he's found something and he'll dig it up for you. Other than that, pets don't play a huge part in the game, they're mainly for show but also help out every now and again with the bills. If you build a pet shop in town then you will be able to purchase different breeds of dog but these can only be purchased by using up some of your Life Points When you see your gold retriever is actually worth 100 Life Points the thought may cross your mind to have him put down and sold but sadly this cannot be done. Fancy a retired greyhound? That'll be 5 Life Points. 25 Life Points if you want a scary looking a Labrador and there are many others to choose from.
A great source of income is from growing your own fruit and vegetables (try telling that to British farmers). You can quickly, well, every couple of hours, rack up hundreds of XP and Simoleons by growing some potatoes for example. Have a few or more Sims doing that at the same time and you'll be able to afford that new flat screen TV you wanted. Along with having a job and planting crops you can also bake things in the kitchen. These baked goods are nice but they don't give you anywhere near as much when compared to farming.
Sims can go for a drive around town to cool off and they can also visit each other's houses. The lack of free will however means you have to get them to all interact with each other. This is OK in the main but it's time consuming work for sure. There is also a lack of dignity between Sims. For example: you can quite happily have 4 Sims in the bathroom at any one time. One in the shower, one washing their hands, one in the bath and the other clearing out last night's curry in the toilet – and they won't batter an eyelid either. This (however disgusting) is actually quite handy when you're trying to satisfy multiple Sims' needs – and it can also make for some quite amusing situations.
Up next: Build Mode is here! That's right; you can now fully build your Sims home from scratch on your mobile device. It's one floor only at the moment but it's a start if nothing else. If you'd rather not select one of the pre-made houses for your Sim to move into then why not just buy the plot and come up with the grand design yourself? The build mode works really well indeed. It's so easy to create rooms, doorways and windows that you could spend an age just building one lot. Don't forget however that houses cost money so make sure you've got enough in the bank before you start doing so. You don't want to end up with an unfinished house for your Sim to shelter in do you? Or do you…?
Along with building houses and re-sizing your rooms (at any time in the game) the buy mode lets you add furnishing and items to your house. There are hundreds of objects to choose from ranging from crappy little CRT TVs to beautiful tall fridges with ice making capabilities. Some of the items are very expensive and some, again, require Life Points to purchase but you can normally get yourself a bargain if you search hard enough. The quality of the item you buy does affect how long actions performed with it last however. For example, if you buy the cheapest possible bed it will take your Sim 7 hours for a good night's sleep and only 725 XP points. However, upgrade to one of the 3-star beds and your Sim can be up and refreshed in just 6 hours with 825 XP points to boast. This works the same with other object around the house; it'll even take longer to go to the toilet if you buy one of the cheap ones!
It's this mixture of pros and cons that make The Sims FreePlay interesting and fun to play. There's no requirement to 'add friends' to be able to progress further as in other real-time games and this is a big plus. As much fun as it would be if you could visit your friend's towns it's nice to have FreePlay as a standalone game.
I would highly recommend that all Sims fans give FreePlay a go. It may not be your style but it's fun to just 'pick up and play' when you have a spare moment.
The real-time gameplay of Sims FreePlay isn't new to me but it's the first of its type I've actually continued playing for more than a few days. The inability of being able to queue up actions for your Sims can be annoying at first but I suppose they can't have you queuing things up for a day's worth of actions or you'd just earn stupid amount of money and XP in a very short period of time. I do feel however you should be able to queue up smaller actions such as going to the toilet and washing your hands afterwards. Even with this limitation the game plays out very well. The Goals will keep giving you something to aim for be it to just buy a new coffee machine or to finally do the WooHoo.
The graphics have really come a long way since The Sims 3. They're crisp, clear and smooth and this really helps bring the game alive. The amount of detail was quite surprising when you consider this is just a mobile game. You can zoom in and spin your camera around as much as you like and it doesn't have any troubles coping.
There is a bit of slowdown every now again when all your Sims are together and fulfilled but this is just a minor glitch.
Flying around your town map just shows the level of detail the developers have gone into here. Traffic lights change colours (and cars even follow the rules!) and trees blow in the wind which give it a more 'console like' feel. I would put The Sims FreePlay on-par with The Sims 2 on PC graphics-wise.
The touch controls work incredibly well. They're responsive and the 360 degree camera allows you to navigate round your Sim's house with ease. This can be very handy when you have a house full of Sims and you're trying to select an item that's behind another one.
One of my big problems with The Sims 3 on Android was the terrible sound in-game. Where was the build music? Why did it keep glitching? All my worries and sleepless nights have been resolved in Sims FreePlay. There are different musical pieces in each mode just like in a 'proper' Sims game. The only annoying factor here is when you're quickly switching between your Sims' houses as the 'house music' will start from the beginning each time. I can overlook this however as there is variety in the different modes. If you've got a spare few minutes you can actually change the in-game music to something more preferable anyway – simply navigate to the location where your Sims game downloaded (normally in /sdcard/Android/data/com.ea.games.simsfreeplay_row/published/music) and you can put something a bit more to your taste in there.
The sound effects in the game are good too. Each action you perform has a different sound so you certainly know the difference between your Sim making a coffee or having a bath. You can even here your Sim typing on their keyboard as they play their own copy of The Sims 3!
It may be the lure of the Sims and their everyday lives or perhaps I just like watching my Sims shower in their underwear but the easy-to-learn and hard-to-put-down gameplay will keep you coming back for more.


text:
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Fighting Fantasy #1 - The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
8 comments:
Excellent review, nicely written and constructed, with excellent points and observations throughout! This wasn't my first FF book either, so I have a similar view of it as you, although I do have a soft spot for RN's illustrations, and I always like the idea of the maze, even if it is a bit unexciting to play. I'm looking forward to more.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 February 2012 at 19:00
Great review and site, cant wait for more.ReplyDelete
Excellent review. The hamster comment had me in stitches! One thing, there's an odd quirk to the rules of TWoFM that lets you drink a potion in the midst of battle. So in the midst of the fight with the cyclops, you can potentially get two full heals. You can also find a shield that reduces damage 1 in 6 times. This makes it just about do-able for a min stats character, though I'd still recommend a min Skill of 8.ReplyDelete
Loved "0 Razaaks" by the way!
Great review, I like your style. I have tweeted it for you at @fightingfantasy to get your numbers up!ReplyDelete
Editor www.fightingfantasy.com
Kieran - I had the shield but it didn't do much for me as the dice were unkind enough that I would have lost that fight even if I had SKILL 9. I never thought about using the potion during combat though.ReplyDelete
Jamie - many thanks for that - got a whole ton of hits yesterday :)
Hi Paul. I would like to include you on my April A to Z - could you email me on firstname.lastname@example.com so I can send you some interview questions?ReplyDelete
Many thanks,
- Anonymous11 March 2016 at 17:31
there's a great map here so you'll never get lost in zagor's maze ever again -ReplyDelete
it's more complex than most books!
Definitely use the potion during combat, the rules of WFTM allow it so why not?ReplyDelete


text:
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text:
September 29, 2008
President B. Joseph White
Office of the President
University of Illinois
108 Henry Administration Building
506 S. Wright St., MC-370
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Sent via U.S. Mail and Facsimile (217) 333-5733
Dear President White:
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) unites leaders in the fields of civil rights and civil liberties, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of liberty, legal equality, academic freedom, due process, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience on America's college campuses. Our website, www.thefire.org, will give you a greater sense of our identity and activities.
FIRE is concerned about the threat to freedom of expression posed by the University of Illinois' prohibition against certain political or partisan expression by faculty. This is our understanding of the facts. Please inform us if you believe we are in error.
The September 2008 issue of Ethics Matters, an internal University of Illinois (UI) publication authored by the UI Ethics Office and distributed to all UI employees, including faculty, contained an article entitled "Prohibited Political Activity: Upcoming elections and how this impacts you as an employee." The article detailed activity that supposedly is prohibited by the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, 5 ILCS 430. Specifically, "prohibited political activity" includes, as described by the article, "things employees can not [sic] do while working, when on University property, while using University resources (e.g., phone, fax, paper, email, etc.), or when acting as a representative of the University."
Noting that the law "isn't always as clear as we'd like," the article lists examples of prohibited and permitted political activity. Examples of prohibited political activity include "[w]earing a pin or t-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or Republican Party, or a Democratic/Republican candidate" and "[d]istributing, producing, or posting flyers or other campaign literature on campus during lunch or break time." While the Ethics Matters article does note that "[t]he University Ethics Office can not [sic] and does not intend to police each of the campuses for political buttons, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.," this qualification in no way changes the underlying fact that the University Ethics Office seeks to ban "political buttons, t-shirts, bumper stickers" and other expressions of political support by faculty members on campus.
This prohibition is unacceptable and directly violates the constitutional rights of UI faculty. If Illinois intended simply to prevent faculty, as state university employees, from creating the appearance that the university endorses a particular political candidate, it has wildly overshot. While it is true that colleges are required because of their tax-exempt status or status as government agencies not to, for example, endorse a candidate, it is absurd to argue that faculty partisan political speech as obviously and transparently personal as buttons and bumper stickers may be banned outright.
By placing such a blanket restriction on political speech, the University of Illinois is in clear violation of its legal obligation to uphold the First Amendment on campus. As a public university, UI is legally bound by the United States Constitution's guarantee of freedom of speech. Faculty at UI enjoy this right in full. As the Supreme Court famously stated, "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." Tinker v. Des Moines School Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 506 (1969). Indeed, the Court has declared that "[t]he college classroom with its surrounding environs is peculiarly the 'marketplace of ideas.'" Healy v. James, 408 U.S. 169, 180 (1972).
A great swath of political speech that UI seeks to regulate falls under the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech; indeed, the protection of such political speech was arguably the core motivation for the First Amendment. In particular, the Supreme Court has indicated that "speech concerning public affairs is more than self-expression; it is the essence of self-government," reflecting "our profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open." Garrison v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 64, 74-75 (1964) (internal quotations omitted). Elsewhere, the Court has declared, "Whatever differences may exist about interpretations of the First Amendment, there is practically universal agreement that a major purpose of that Amendment was to protect the free discussion of governmental affairs." Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 218 (1966).
Given these declarations, it is untenable for a public university such as Illinois to deny its faculty the right to engage in simple political speech like wearing campaign buttons or affixing political bumper stickers to cars. When a faculty member wears a political button on campus, there is little chance that any reasonable person would assume that the faculty member is speaking on behalf of the university. The content of the button, whether or not it is political in nature, reflects the personal opinions and views of that individual, not the university as an institution. The university cannot credibly argue that allowing faculty to wear political buttons or affix bumper stickers to cars as a means of expressing themselves on political issues in any way endangers the university's obligation of political neutrality or its tax-exempt status.
Because the guidelines from the University Ethics Office so clearly overreach, the university must make clear to its faculty, in no uncertain terms, that they are free to engage in the political and partisan speech that the First Amendment protects. FIRE hopes to resolve this situation amicably and swiftly. We will continue to pursue this matter, however, until the University of Illinois reaffirms the First Amendment rights of its faculty.
We request a response to this letter no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on October 13, 2008.
William Creeley
Director of Legal and Public Advocacy
Richard Herman, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eric Gislason, Interim Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Richard Ringeisen, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Springfield
Thomas Hardy, Executive Director, Office for University Relations, University of Illinois
Doon McNeely, Ethics Officer, University of Illinois
Cary Nelson, President, American Association of University Professors; Professor, Department of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Steven Helle, Professor, Department of Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Roger Smitter, Executive Director, National Communication Association
Jonathan Bean, President, Illinois Association of Scholars


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Welcome to My Website!
At the time, it was the most terrible airline disaster that had ever occurred, anywhere in the world, and yet no one ever wrote a book about it...
WE ARE GOING IN is the story of the midair collision over the Grand Canyon in 1956, in which all 128 persons aboard lost their lives. It is a search for the truth told largely as a documentary, presenting some of the author's theories about what happened and providing generous supportive evidence or proof for each of them. The author also repudiates a number of longstanding beliefs, by re-examining the physical evidence and drawing on testimony and reasoning. Along with his emphasis on determining the course of events on the day of the disaster, he has written WE ARE GOING IN with heartfelt compassion, and because of this the book is not only informative but also dramatic and moving. The author's style moves back and forth between mundane or technical subjects, and the grave, terrible circumstances and events that caused the accident, interspersing these with many compassionate sentiments about the people involved. He also offers surprisingly pertinent, compelling insights into the human psyche and the role of fate in the unfolding of events.
The author presents many simple facts and special terms and concepts pertaining to aviation; with a fuller understanding of airplanes and flying, the reader cannot help but find a better grasp of the tragedy. On the other hand, for the reader who may prefer to experience the story more purely as a drama, the Foreword includes an outline of where most of the technical sections are. The book is written in such a way that these can be skipped without disrupting the continuity or the substance of the story. Whichever path the reader chooses to follow through the book, he is sure to come away with renewed reverence for mankind.
MIKE NELSON lost his uncle in the airline disaster that is the subject of this book. Countless times throughout his youth, Mr. Nelson thought deeply about his uncle's final moments, straining to understand and to empathize with him. Despite the sensitivity and caring with which he imagined the accident, he could never quite fathom or fully accept what had happened, and in mid-life he decided to find out as much as he could. His researches led to a great many surprising places and people, and soon to the completely unexpected resolve to write an entire book about the accident. The result is the present volume, entitled after the last words of one of the crewmembers.
Mr. Nelson spent over a decade researching, interviewing, and analyzing, steeping himself in the accident and educating himself in aviation and aeronautics. Writing has been one of his avocations for his whole adult life, and when he turned his investigations of the collision toward creating an entire book, he began anew to refine the expository style that had been his own for many years beforehand. Thanks to these labors, the authority, clarity, and eloquence of his prose rival those of many established writers.
Mr. Nelson currently resides on a country acreage with his wife, in northeast Iowa.


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ESPNU Ultimate Sports Fan Contest & Instant Win Game
Ended: 4/3/2012 23:59 ET(18+)
Enter your video in ESPNU's contest showing why you're the ultimate college sports fan and you'll have a chance to win a trip to the ESPY Awards on one of 100 Instant Win Prizes!
PRIZESGrand Prize: A trip for 2 to the 2012 ESPY Awards. Trip package includes:
- round trip air transportation for 2 to Los Angeles, CA;
- 2 nights' accommodations at a hotel;
- ground transportation to and from the ESPY Awards;
- 2 tickets to the 2012 ESPY Awards; and
- $1,000 spending money.
100 First Prizes (50 during Submission Phase and 50 during Voting Phase):
- An ESPN Insider Subscription.
NOTESYou may enter up to 3 videos in the contest.
Your Comment Here:


text:
The Listros
Many are and have been the plans in our hearts but ultimately it is God's purpose that prevails.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
We Have Moved!
You may click on the image above or
click here to go to our new site:
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Friday, February 05, 2010
The Bible - More Relavant than We Think
After being here in Peru for just over a year, It's amazing how much the Bible has come to life for me (Christian). In America the stories of poverty, donkeys, farming, neighbors and markets all seemed theoretical. It is hard for the average middleclass person to relate to a lot of the situations in which Jesus ministered. Here, and in most of the world, people live lives a lot like what we read about in the Bible.
Today we went and visited a leper at his home. It was something that I never expected to do. A few weeks ago Julio got to translate to this man in the hospital that his leprosy had advanced to the point that there is no hope of a cure. As you can imagine he was devastated. Julio shared that even though there is no hope physically; Jesus came and died so that we could have hope for salvation and a life with him forever. This man prayed a prayer of tears for Jesus to forgive him and save him. It is a awful and beautiful story isn't it?
On the way to his house in a friend's mototaxi we stopped at the market and bought him some basic cheap groceries. We got to his house, a 15' x 15' room with a corrugated roof. He was much less gruesome than you would think. While there, it hit me that lepers are real people with real lives and personalities, not just caricatures in the Bible or a movie. I found myself feeling a mixture of respectful pity and envy. I in no way envy his position now but I truly am envious that he will be able to meet our creator sooner than me.
We plan on continuing to keep in touch with him. But it was an amazing privilege to be used by God in a small way which allowed me to experience the Bible being lived out. I hope that God will continue to show me and you that the American experience is a blessing that can keep us from really being able to relate to His word.
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Sickness and Salad
Some of you know that lettuce is to be avoided in this country . . .I got VERY sick from it in Arequipa, but when you have had 3 salads in the past year you might do something foolish like buy lettuce and try again. I made the best, let me rephrase that, the closest thing to taco salad I could yesterday. It was so good and definitely satisfied a craving many of us had. Unfortunately today Beth is throwing up, others have stomach aches and several have diarrhea. I am not positive it was the lettuce (I washed it twice and I am feeling fine) but you can be sure we won't do that again anytime soon. Maybe again next year right before our annual dose of amoeba medicine. (Post Script: Just found out several friends have had a virus lately involving fever, headaches and nausea . . . . it was probably that . . . . maybe I will try lettuce again sooner than later. That salad was good.)
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Sanity Check
We spent last weekend in Lima with our friends the Dillons. It was a lot of fun. They came down from Huaraz and we spent 4 days together in the pseudo-normalcy of Lima. Christian and I planned this mini-vacation during our first 3 weeks in Pucallpa. That was a very rough time. As Christian explained to someone the other day – "The tickets to Lima are what kept us from buying tickets to Miami and beyond." We were desperate for a break and cheap tickets to Lima seemed like a good solution. The greatest part about our long week-end (besides the Dillions, por supuesto) was the fact that now, 2 months after purchasing the tickets, leaving Pucallpa was hard. We had things to here and it got in the way of our "normal life". For now we belong in Pucallpa. God is faithful to remind us that He brought us here – never would we have chosen this place. So glad God knows best.
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We are still here
Sorry it has been so long since I've let you in on life down here. I need to be sure to update more often because the longer I wait the harder it is to describe all that has been going on.
Some days are so terrible and I want to leave – I don't want to write on those days because I know I would be very negative.
Some days are amazing and I love it here – I don't write on those days either because I would be overly optimistic.
Today is a good day to write because it had good, bad, frustration and peace . . . all in the same day.
We are keeping very busy with meetings, getting to know the core group of leaders at the church, understanding Peruvian culture as it is in Pucallpa (very different from the mountains), and keeping our house clean and food on the table.
Christian still feels hindered in ministry due to his Spanish but really it is coming along. Today a 17 year-old college girl came over to practice her English. Her name is Naysha. Her dad owns a small dirt track and restaurant just outside of town (at km 13) and also a garage pretty close to our house. She is very sweet and she spent close to 4 hours at the house with our family. She is very open about who she is, her family, and religion – hoping next time we can talk more pointedly about Christ. Half of her time with us was speaking English and the other half was Spanish with Christian. I am excited to see how this friendship will grow.
In the last month Christian and the kids purchased the first of what I am sure will be many motorcycles. Christian, unfortunately, had to take his bike apart to fix some things and he found a hole in the engine case . . . . not good, but not the end of the world. The kid's bike is just right for Gabe and Emma. Emma just learned how to use the clutch and loves to ride (especially now that her good friend/neighbor, Mimi, just got the same kind of bike this week and they can ride together.) Gabe hopped right on and picked up where he left off. He can't wait to race. He and his friend Oli have already built a track right near the house, out behind the school. He loves to ride. It is so good to be in a place where they can get their bike out and go. The younger three are still looking for a bike – I am sure one will come along soon.
We still have days we want to pack up and leave but we now are at a place where we would miss many things about Pucallpa . . . .that is good we have a connection. Still I wonder at times, "Why does God want us here?' - but He is faithful to reveal just a little at a time the answer to that question. We are no one special or extraordinary – just Christ followers that make mistakes and love God. Our prayer is that HE would be glorified through our family and that others would see HIM through us . . . (not just our red VW or cute gringo kids).
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Thursday, February 04, 2010
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With the release of the Mango Toolset, Microsoft also added Visual Basic support for XNA and Windows Phone.
VB resources include VB XNA documentation and VB WP7 code samples and starter kits is intended to walk you through some of the steps in creating a simple XNA application for Windows Phone 7 using VB.
"XNA now fully supports Visual Basic on all platforms (Xbox360/Windows and WP7). Although the model for developing game apps is different from that used by most VB Developers it is easy to get started. With the platform already well developed there're a huge number of resources available which VB Developers can use. VB developers can join the party and start creating to great apps using XNA."
How do I use it?
"The first thing to do is install the Windows Phone Developer Tools 7.1 Beta (Mango Toolset) onto a machine with Visual Studio 2010 SP1 installed. VS2010 SP1 is critical for this to work and also will change how Silverlight app developed using VB are now compiled. This'll also install updated WP7 templates.
Be aware that XNA requires a higher-end video card to allow the emulator to run; most modern machines have cards capable of supporting DX10 and 11 which should be sufficient. This's important as Silverlight apps using the emulation don't require the higher end video card."
- Windows Phone SDK Beta: Download Center | Go live license
- Code Samples for Windows Phone
- Windows Phone Developer Tools 7.1: Download | Getting Started
[Source: Visual Basic Team]


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Daniel Craig is now a purple lolly ready for a good licking !!!!!!!
To me looking at this it looks rather bizarre, just seen it on Loose Women and the lolly is quiet big and as the panel licked and sucked Daniel Craig (this sounds very rude) his head dropped off!!!!!
An ice cream company have created a purple "licence to chill" yes I wrote "licence to chill!!!) lolly after asking more than 1,000 women which male celebrity they would like to see on the end of a stick.
Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies said artists "worked tirelessly" I bet they did!!!!! to recreate a sculpture of 41-year-old Craig in the scene where he emerges from the sea in Casino Royale.
"Daniel Craig topped the Delmonte's poll of Britain's coolest celebrities and thanks to our Del Monte lolly replica he is officially immortalised as super smooth and licensed to chill," said spokesman Matt O'Connor from DelMonte.
The Daniel Craig smoothie lollies are blueberry, pomegranate and cranberry flavoured and under 100 calories each. Oh yes we like that part under 100 calories thats the selling point.
They are to be distributed during the first National Ice Cream Week for a week which ends on June 7, so get them before they disappear!


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What's With This Seed Popper?
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, "What does this seed popper want to say?"
If you were thinking that we've kinda closed shop here, you'd be wrong. Sure, we haven't posted articles in a while, but that's because we've been so busy behind the scenes. Just this past weekend I was in Cincinnati of all places, photographing materials for one of the articles for our upcoming Breath Magazine. In March and April we're off to one coast and then to the other. Stay tuned and we'll fill you in on this excellent adventure we're calling Breath.


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L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette
$ 55.00
This floral fruity Eau de Toilette will transport you to the cherry tree-dotted hillsides of southern France with its delicate and fresh scent. A feminine fragrance, it is made with a cherry extract from the Luberon region of Provence.
Indulge your senses with notes of freesia, cherry and lily of the valley, underlined by a base of amber and musk that linger.
To use, spray on pulse points of the body, including neck, chest and wrists. For best results, layer your scents: apply the Eau de Toilette after using the Cherry Blossom Shimmering Lotion.
Perfumery Notes
Top Note: sweet & juicy with Cherry and Freesia
Middle Note: Floral and Feminine with Cherry Blossom and Lily of the valley
Base Note: Warm and Woody with Amber and Musk.


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Russell Cave was declared a National Monument in 1961 because of early inhabitant's use of the cave entrance. The large opening provided shelter from inclement weather.
The surrounding area varied over the centuries from rolling tundra to deciduous woodlands. There was wildlife to hunt, fresh flowing water, and medicinal and edible plants could be found.
Fast forward to the present day; look around for similarities and differences. Visitors may see wildlife; the water still flows into the cave as it did in the past but is now monitored monthly for bacteria.
Last updated: April 14, 2015


text: FDIC's Bair Tops Women to Watch List Corporate world remains male dominated, but that, too, is changing By Jim O'Neill, Newser User Posted Nov 10, 2008 9:15 AM CST 0 comments Comments Ex-Morgan Stanley co-President Zoe Cruz. (AP Photo/Morgan Stanley) View 2 more images (Newser) – While two of Wall Street's top women—Morgan Stanley's Zoe Cruz and Citigroup's Sallie Krawcheck—fell from grace this year, the global economic storm has pushed several others, like the FDIC's Sheila Bair and Bank of America's Barbara Desoer to the top of the Wall Street Journal's 2008 50 Women to Watch list. Just 2.4% of Fortune 500 companies have a woman at the helm, but the Journal notes an increase in women on key hiring committees. The top 5: Sheila Bair, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo Barbara Desoer, Bank of America Hu Xiaolian, People's Bank of China Christine LaGarde, French finance minister (Read more Sheila Bair stories.) View 2 more images


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A study of hospital records in South Carolina reported Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. showed that many AIDS cases go unreported to health authorities. Using a computerized record of hospital discharge diagnoses for an 18-month period in 1986 and 1987, researchers from the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control found that only 91 of 153 AIDS cases were reported to the state's AIDS registry, with nearly half the blacks with the disease going unreported.
"If under-reporting to the degree observed in this study is widespread in the United States, current estimates regarding the extent of the epidemic should be viewed with caution," study author George Conway wrote. The group speculated that the low reporting rate in South Carolina may be the result of reluctance of doctors to report acquired immune deficiency syndrome cases or of inexperience with diagnosing the disease. In a separate study in the New England Journal of Medicine, Belgian researchers reported that AIDS may spread more easily among heterosexuals than had previously been recognized. Dr. Nathan Clumeck and his colleagues at the St. Pierre University Hospital in Brussels reported that a civil engineer from Central Africa who moved to Belgium in 1963 apparently infected at least 11 of the 18 women he had sex with in the three years before he died in 1986.
Two of the women were infected after having sex only once with the man, the researchers said.


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American Cinematheque at the
Egyptian Theatre Presents...
Making Movie History for Over 80
What's this?
Click to print Page 1 or Page 2 or Full Text of a January
2010 Calendar
Click for a printable
ticket order form.
Connect with other film fans on:
Theatre's Facebook Page
Your Page Too
SOLD OUT SCREENINGS: There will be a
waiting line for Sold Out screenings. Tickets often become available at the door the night
of an event.
Sold out programs will be indicated
here if sold out 24 hours in advance of screening date.
All guests are subject to
availability. The Cinematheque will offer a refund due to guest cancellations only IF the
refund transaction is complete PRIOR to the start of the show.
<<< January 28 - 31,
2010 >>>
This is an Egyptian Theatre Exclusive!
Italian director Sergio Leone began his career with the sword-and-sandals opus
COLOSSUS OF RHODES in 1961. In 1964, inspired by Akira Kurosawas YOJIMBO, Leone
helmed A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, which starred the then virtually unknown Clint Eastwood. The
picture proved a mega-hit in Europe and did well enough in the U.S. to encourage United
Artists to release its sequel, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, and the majestic conclusion of the
trilogy, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Next up were Leones operatic masterworks
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and the tragicomic DUCK YOU SUCKER (aka A FIST FULL OF
DYNAMITE). It wasnt until 1984 that his next effort was released, a magnum opus
about Prohibition-era Jewish gangsters in New York, ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, starring
Robert De Niro. Sadly, it turned out to be the maestros swan song. Sergio Leone died
in 1989, leaving a legacy of influence in his wake.
Thursday, January 28 - 7:30 PM
Double Feature: A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (PER UN PUGNO DE DOLLARI), 1964, MGM
Repertory, 99 min. Director Sergio Leone remade Akira Kurosawas YOJIMBO with Clint
Eastwood as a poncho-wearing, cheroot-chewing gunman, and wound up with the most
revolutionary western of the 1960s. Trailer
IN PIU), 1965, MGM Repertory, 130 min. Sergio Leones sequel to FISTFUL stars Clint
Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as rival bounty hunters who wind up tracking the same man (Gian
Maria Volonte). Trailer
Friday, January 29 - 7:30 PM
Digitally Restored! THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (IL BUONO, IL BRUTTO, IL
CATTIVO), 1966, MGM Repertory, 161 min. Sergio Leones surreal masterpiece follows a
trio of equally violent and unrepentant gunslingers (Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee
Van Cleef) who engage in a jaw-dropping series of double- and triple-crosses to get their
hands on a fortune. [DCP Format] Trailer
More digitally restored films.
Saturday, January 30 - 7:30 PM
IL WEST), 1968, Paramount, 165 min. Charles Bronson is a soft-spoken, harmonica-playing
gunslinger bent on revenge against brutal assassin Henry Fonda. Co-starring Claudia
Cardinale as an independent-minded mail-order bride and Jason Robards as a wry bandido
with an agenda of his own. Trailer
Sunday, January 31 - 7:30 PM
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, 1984, Warner
Bros., 229 min. Childhood friends Robert De Niro and James Woods rise to power as New York
gangsters during the glory years of Prohibition, only to lose their souls in the process.
Leones last masterpiece features Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld,
Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Danny Aiello and William Forsythe, as well as the film debut of
Jennifer Connelly. Trailer


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We have information you must know before you buy the Forester.
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See used Subaru Forester listings in your area.Used Listings
The Subaru Forester has made a name for itself in the compact crossover segement as a capable and comfortable vehicle that's just the right size for a lot of consumers. Bearing the traditional Subaru trait of standard all-wheel drive also helped it gain traction among adventurous buyers and those living in snowy climates. But buyers in any climate will like the ease of entry, spacious interior and driving experience that ranges between competent with the standard four-cylinder to brisk with the turbocharged engine. What's more, the Forester is available in lots of different trims and packages that are likely to suit a wide variety of consumers. The Forester also has a history of dependability among Subaru's loyal owners. Anyone looking for a capable crossover will find a lot to like in the Forester.
The base Forester is the 2.5X. Standard is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower going through all four wheels with a five-speed manual as standard. A four-speed automatic is optional. Power windows, locks and mirrors are also standard, along with Bluetooth, cruise control and a four-speaker audio system with AUX and USB inputs. The 2.5X is relatively rare on dealer lots, though. More buyers opt for the better-equipped 2.5X Premium, which adds 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, power driver's seat, telescopic adjustment to the tilt steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof and privacy glass.
The 2.5X Limited adds automatic transmission, heated front seats, windshield de-icer, heated mirrors, automatic climate control and a touchscreen radio with backup camera. The 2.5X Touring also boasts dual-zone automatic climate control, Xenon headlamps and premium audio system. The 2.5XT Premium is equipped similarly to the 2.5X Premium but adds the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 224 horsepower, also mated to a four-speed automatic. The top Forester trim is the 2.5XT Touring, which aside from the engine is identical to the 2.5X Touring.
The Honda CR-V is very spacious and efficient but only offers optional all-wheel drive and one four-cylinder engine that isn't terribly powerful. The Ford Escape has highly sophisticated optional features and three engines to choose from, but can be expensive and isn't the largest crossover in the segment. The Kia Sportage is attractive and very well-priced but is smaller and has a hard ride, especially on the sporty SX model. And the Volkswagen Tiguan's turbo four-cylinder is more than a match for the Forester's, while it has a nicer interior, but also costs much more.
While the Forester isn't the freshest design up against some brand new and visually exciting competitors, it does have most of the bases covered for crossover shoppers. Its upright design lends good visibility and there are both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines to choose from. In addition, there's a wide variety of trim levels and packages to suit different budgets. For buyers looking for a competent and comfortable vehicle, especially those attracted to all-wheel drive, the Forester could fit the bill.
The base Forester includes most of the features buyers in the compact crossover segment consider essential. It starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and all-wheel drive. A five-speed manual is standard, but a four-speed automatic is optional. Also included are power windows, mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard, as is a panoramic moonroof, air conditioning, split-folding rear seat, tilt steering wheel, trip computer and alarm. A Value Package adds 16-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, but the limited options list keeps the 2.5X as the low-price leader of the Forester line. These models are fairly rare at dealerships, though, so most buyers would be better served by stepping up to one of the higher trims, which offer a lot more desirable features, too.
The 2.5X Limited boasts some luxurious features for compact crossover buyers looking for even more comfort. The Limited gets a standard automatic transmission, fog lights, leather upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, removable cargo tray, automatic climate control, the All-Weather Package with heated front seats, heated mirrors and a de-icer an the touchscreen HD radio with six speakers, subwoofer and iPod integration. The optional Navigation Package adds a larger touchscreen with satellite radio, Sirius traffic and weather and text message capability. A backup camera is optional.
The 2.5X Premium adds more features to the relatively spartan 2.5X and makes it the best value in the Forester line. Standard on the Premium are 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, body-color exterior trim, a 10-way power driver's seat, reclining rear seatbacks, rear cup holders and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel. The All-Weather Package includes heated front seats, heated outside mirrors and a windshield de-icer. The All-Weather Plus Package adds a touchscreen HD radio with six speakers and iPod control on top that. The Navigation Package, available only with the automatic transmission, adds a detachable TomTom navigation unit. A backup camera is also available on models with automatic transmission and navigation.
The Touring trim is the most luxurious Forester there, combining all of the most advanced features available. These include a dual-zone automatic climate control, xenon headlamps, turn signals integrated into the outside mirrors, silver roof rails, an upgraded gauge cluster and a backup camera. The optional Navigation Package includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen with satellite radio, traffic and weather and phone integration. In terms of equipment, the Touring manages to combine a lot of desirable premium features with the same comfort and practicality attributes of the basic Forester formula.
The 2.5XT Premium adds significantly more performance to the normal Premium trim. The biggest change is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that turns out 224 horsepower. XT models are distinguished by the functional hood scoop. The turbo engine brings the Forester closer in line with performance of competing V6 models. All XTs get the four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5XT Premium also includes a rear spoiler, body-color trim, a panoramic moonroof, 10-way power driver's seat, reclining rear seat, rear cup holders, aluminum pedal covers, the All-Weather Package and the four-speaker audio system with USB input and Bluetooth. Options include the Navigation Package.
Looking for the fastest, most luxurious Forester? The 2.5XT Touring packs all of the features of the 2.5X Touring into a more athletic package. That means it includes features like xenon headlamps, dual-zone climate control, turn signals integrated into the outside mirrors, leather upholstery, upgraded gauge cluster, backup camera and silver roof rails. The XT also adds a hood scoop, rear spoiler and aluminum pedal covers. The Navigation Package with the touchscreen navigation system, Sirius traffic and weather and phone integration, is optional. In the end, the Forester 2.5XT Touring is worth considering if you're looking at premium, turbocharged compact crossovers but don't want to spend thousands of dollars more just to get that more expensive badge. It's a fast, versatile vehicle.
We have partnered with trusted dealers in your area to give you a great price on the new Subaru Forester.
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Spacious, efficient and reliable, but isn't that agile and only offers one engine with modest power
Offers efficient and power engines, stylish and boasts advanced features, but can be very expensive
Well-equipped for a competitive price, but is smaller than some and ride can be stiff
Exceptional turbo four-cylinder with well-built interior, but takes premium fuel and can be pricey
We have information you must know before you buy the Forester.
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When Ad Age received a call from a Chevron spokesman miffed about our coverage of its new campaign, we were puzzled -- we hadn't covered the campaign. After some digging, it turned out that activist group The Yes Men, along with Rainforest Action Network and Amazon Watch, had hijacked Chevron's brand, its ads and its PR push. Not only did the group send out convincing fake press releases, it set up very convincing fake Chevron sites and even a fake Ad Age site with fake coverage. Much to the consternation of Chevron, a number of real news outlets fell for the ruse.
Rainforest Action Network uses people power to challenge business as usual.
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text:
Portco Corporation
Customer Service Representative
Reliable, motivated and self directed with extensive history of successful work experience including office administration, customer service and oversight of staff in manufacturing environments. Looking for part-time position.
Customer Service Representative
Medical Billing Associate
Coach Operator
Sales Manager
General office, Customer Service, Multi-tasking, Written and oral communication, Negotiating, Sales, Problem solving, Math aptitude
Approached customer service with a win-win strategy resulting in loyal and pleased customers.
Created office systems providing better cohesion of production, sales and customer service.
Oversight of sales strategies and opportunities that resulted in successful absorption of 400% increase in production.
Targeted new product resulting in $1 million in sales per month.
Created, organized and incorporated a non-profit industry association that served to educate and promote local business strategies nationally.