text:
[Page 290]
What are some of these newer truths for which I am responsible as transmitting agent to the world of occult students? Let me briefly state them in the order of their relative importance:
1. The Teaching on Shamballa. Little has ever been given on this subject. Only the name was known. This teaching includes:
a. Information as to the nature of the will aspect.
b. Indications as to the underlying purposes of Sanat Kumara.
c. Directions as to the building of the antahkarana, which is the first step towards achieving monadic consciousness, and thus the first step towards the Way of the Higher Evolution.
2. The Teaching on the New Discipleship. This has been revolutionary where the old schools of occultism are concerned. The teaching includes:
a. A presentation of the new attitude of the Masters to Their disciples, due to the rapid unfoldment of the mind principle, and the growth of the principle of "free will". This changed technique negates the old attitudes, such as that portrayed in the Theosophical literature, and it was a recognition of the difficulties of correcting the wrong impression given, which prompted H.P.B. in one of her communications to the Esoteric Section of her day, to regret ever having mentioned Their names. That earlier presentation was useful, but has now served its purpose. Unless the schools based on the old methods, change their techniques and their approach to the truth, they will disappear.
b. Information as to the constitution of the Hierarchy, and of the various Ashrams of which it is composed. I have presented the Hierarchy as the Ashram of Sanat Kumara, in its sevenfold form, thus linking will and love.
c. A presentation of the newer type of meditations, with its emphasis upon visualisation, and the use of the creative imagination; I have presented a system of meditation, which has eliminated the attention paid hitherto to personal problems, and the intense earlier focus on the relation of the disciple and the Master. The keynote of group fusion and of service, underlies the newer form of meditation, and not this powerful emphasis upon the personal relation of the disciple to the Master, and the achievement of the individual aspirant. This was degenerating into a form of spiritual selfishness and separateness.
3. The Teaching of the Seven Rays, The fact of the seven rays was well [Page 291] known to the heads of the Theosophical Society, was mentioned very abstractly and vaguely in The Secret Doctrine, and formed in an elementary form some of the teaching given in the Esoteric Section; the names of the rays were given, and some information as to their qualities, and the Masters on the rays was imparted, but not much else. I have given out much information upon the subject, and have endeavoured to show the importance of this teaching, from the psychological angle, because the new psychology is in the making. If esoteric teaching is eventually to be public in its presentation, it will be given out along the lines of psychology, because esoteric teaching in its fullest and deepest sense concerns the consciousness aspect of man and God.
4. The Teaching on the New Astrology. This teaching too has gone out to a few hundred students before its publication in book form. This new astrology has been hitherto ignored by those astrologers who have read it and (with the exception of four astrologers who have deeply appreciated it, but who wish I would be more explicit) see little in it. I have given enough, could the open-minded astrologer but realise, to establish the coming astrology on a firm basis; the accuracy of what I have given, will in the course of time be ascertained, when astrologers who are dealing with the horoscopes of advanced people and disciples, will use the esoteric planets as given by me, and not the orthodox planets as usually used. The accuracy of their deductions will necessarily depend upon their own point of development, and also upon their ability to recognise an advanced person, a disciple, or an initiate when they meet him, and undertake to cast his horoscope. If they are themselves advanced disciples, they may have a tendency to set too rigid a standard for those seeking astrological deduction, and thus fail to recognise a disciple; if they are not advanced, they may regard people as advanced who are far from being even true aspirants. In either case then the horoscope may prove inaccurate. It is of no use to use the esoteric planets in relation to the average man.
5. Information about the New Group of World Servers and their work. This information includes:
a. The recognition of this group as intermediate between the Hierarchy and Humanity.
b. The nature of their work, as it influences the human soul, and as it seeks, through the instrumentality of the men and women of goodwill, to determine the period in which we live.
c. The Triangle work, which embodies two phases of their work, i.e., the forming of the network of light as the channel of communication [Page 292] between the Hierarchy and Humanity, and the forming simultaneously of the network of goodwill, which is the objective expression of the subjective influence of the light. Ponder on this statement.
6. The Attempt to Form an Exoteric Branch of the Inner Ashrams. This is evidenced in the work I have done with a special group of aspirants and accepted disciples, whose instructions, emanating from my Ashram, have been embodied in the book Discipleship in the New Age (Vols. I and II).
7. Teaching upon the New World Religion, with its emphasis upon the three major Full Moon periods (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, falling usually in April, May and June respectively) and the nine (occasionally ten) minor Full Moons each year. This leads to a consequent relation being established between the work of the Christ and of the Buddha, in the minds of spiritually inclined people everywhere, with the result of a great broadening of the human aspiration. This work is as yet embryonic, but it should receive increasing attention. Eventually it will demonstrate as the main linking unit between the East and the West, particularly if Shri Krishna is shown to be an earlier incarnation of the Lord of Love, the Christ. Thereby three major world religions - the Christian, the Hindu, and the Buddhist - will be intimately related, whilst the Mahommedan faith will be found to be linked to the Christian faith because it embodies the work of the Master Jesus as He overshadowed one of His senior disciples, a very advanced initiate, Mahomet.
A close study of all the above will indicate to you the lines along which I would like to see the work expand in future years. I would ask for a careful study of these words, for I regard this as an important instruction, and one which could be regarded as the skeleton outline of the work I wish to see done. It will involve an intensification of the work of the advanced section in the Arcane School, a greater emphasis upon the Full Moon meetings, a careful organisation of the Triangle work, and the Goodwill work as an added effort, to aid the work of the New Group of World Servers, plus an attempt to recognise the members of the New Group whenever and wherever contacted. This will not be at all an easy task, my brothers, if you look only for those who think and work your way, or who recognise the Hierarchy as you recognise it, or if you exclude those who labour in relation to religious and other fields in a manner different to yours.
... In the foregoing pages I gave you certain broad principles, and outlined a new aspect of the work which I had undertaken to do for humanity - under instruction from the Hierarchy. The teaching I gave there is very abstruse; little of it can as yet be of real service to the majority of aspirants, [Page 293] but a wide and general idea can take form, and provide the immovable background for later teaching. I would have you remember that the teaching which I have given out, has been intermediate in nature, just as that given by H.P.B., under my instruction, was preparatory. The teaching planned by the Hierarchy to precede and condition the New Age, the Aquarian Age, falls into three categories:
1. Preparatory, given 1875 - 1890..................................................................... written down by H.P.B.
2. Intermediate, given 1919 - 1949.................................................................... written down by A.A.B.
3. Revelatory, emerging after 1975............................................................... to be given on a worldwidescale via the radio.
In the next century, and early in the century, an initiate will appear, and will carry on this teaching. It will be under the same "impression", for my task is not yet completed, and this series of bridging treatises, between the material knowledge of man and the science of the initiates, has still another phase to run. The remainder of this century, as I told you elsewhere (Destiny of Nations, page 106), must be dedicated to rebuilding the shrine of man's living, to reconstructing the form of humanity's life, to reconstituting the new civilisation upon the foundations of the old, and to the reorganising of the structures of world thought, world politics, plus the redistribution of the world's resources in conformity to divine purpose. Then and only then will it be possible to carry the revelation further. (18 - 251/5).
(1) The Spiritual Hierarchy has been steadily drawing nearer to humanity as men have become more conscious of divinity, and more fitted for contact with the divine.
Another great Approach of divinity and another spiritual revelation are now possible. A new revelation is hovering over mankind, and the One Who will bring it and implement it is drawing steadily nearer to us. What this great approach will bring to mankind, we do not yet know. It will surely bring us as definite results as did all the earlier revelations, and the missions of Those Who came in response to humanity's earlier demands. The World War has purified mankind. A new heaven and a new earth are on their way. What does the orthodox theologian and churchman mean when he uses the words "a new heaven"? May these words not signify something entirely new, and a new conception as to the world of spiritual realities? May not the Coming One bring us a new revelation as to the [Page 294] very nature of God Himself? Do we yet know all that can be known about God? If so, God is very limited. May it not be possible that our present ideas of God, as the Universal Mind, as Love, and as Will, may be enriched by some new idea or quality for which we have as yet no name or word, and of which we have no slightest understanding? (8 - 148/9).
(2) On the fact of God, and of man's relation to the divine, on the fact of immortality and of the continuity of divine revelation, and upon the fact of the constant emergence of Messengers from the divine centre, the new world religion will be based. To these facts must be added man's assured, instinctive knowledge of the existence of the Path of God, and of his ability to tread it, when the evolutionary process has brought him to the point of a fresh orientation to divinity, and to the acceptance of the Fact of God Transcendent and of God Immanent within every form of life. . . .
The great theme of the new world religion will be recognition of the many divine approaches and the continuity of revelation which each of them conveyed. (8 - 150).
(3) The establishing of a certain uniformity in the world religious rituals, will aid men everywhere to strengthen each other's work, and enhance powerfully the thought currents directed to the waiting spiritual Lives. At present, the Christian religion has its great festivals, the Buddhist keeps his different set of spiritual events, and the Hindu has still another list of holy days. In the future world, when organised, all men of spiritual inclination and intention everywhere, will keep the same holy days. This will bring about a pooling of spiritual resources, and a united spiritual effort, plus a simultaneous spiritual invocation. The potency of this will be apparent. (8 - 154).
(4) Churchmen need to remember that the human spirit is greater than all the churches, and greater than their teaching. In the long run, that human spirit will defeat them and proceed triumphantly into the Kingdom of God, leaving them far behind, unless they enter as a humble part of the mass of men. Nothing under heaven can arrest the progress of the human soul on its long pilgrimage from darkness to light, from the unreal to the real, from death to immortality, and from ignorance to wisdom. (8 - 159).
(5) The day is dawning when all religions will be regarded as emanating from one great spiritual source; all will be seen as unitedly providing the one root out of which the universal world religion will inevitably emerge. Then there will be neither Christian nor heathen, neither Jew nor Gentile, but simply one great body of believers, gathered out of all the current religions. They will accept the same truths, not as theological concepts, [Page 295] but as essential to spiritual living; they will stand together on the same platform of brotherhood and of human relations; they will recognise divine sonship and will seek unitedly to co-operate with the divine Plan as it is revealed to them by the spiritual leaders of the race, and as it indicates to them the next step to be taken on the Path of Approach to God. Such a world religion is no idle dream, but something which is definitely forming today. (7 - 140).
(6) Humanity is recognising the need for a more vital approach to God and one more intelligently presented; men are tired of doctrinal and dogmatic differences and quarrels; the study of Comparative Religion has demonstrated that the foundational truths in every faith are identical. Because of this universality, they evoke recognition and response from all men everywhere. The only factor in reality which militates against the spiritual unity of all men everywhere, is the existent clerical organisations and their militant attitude to religion and to faiths other than their own.
In spite of all this, the structure of the New World Religion is being raised by the dissenting groups within the institutional churches, by the many world groups who present the concept of God immanent, even when they do so with selfish motive and with an unwholesome emphasis upon the powers of the indwelling divinity to provide perfect health, plenty of money, serene business success, and unbroken popularity!
The New World Religion is also being brought into expression through the work of the esoteric groups throughout the world, because of their particular emphasis upon the fact of the spiritual Hierarchy, upon the office and the work of the Christ, and upon the techniques of meditation whereby soul-awareness (or the Christ consciousness) can be achieved. Prayer has expanded into meditation; desire has been lifted into mental aspiration. This is supplanted by a sense of unity and by the recognition of God immanent. This leads eventually to at-one-ment with God transcendent. (7 - 156/7)
(7) The keynote of the New World Religion is Divine Approach. "Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you" is the injunction, emanating in new and clear tones from the Hierarchy today. The great theme of the New World Religion will be the unifying of the great divine Approaches; the task ahead of the churches isto prepare humanity, through organised and spiritual movements, for the fifth imminent Approach; the method employed will be the scientific and intelligent use of Invocation and Evocation, and the recognition of its stupendous potency; the objective of the coming Approach, of the preparatory work and of the Invocation, is revelation - [Page 296] a revelation which has ever been cyclically given and which today isready for man's acceptance. (7 - 158).
(1) There is no obligation to obey. We seek to train intelligent servers of the race, and these are developed by self-initiated effort, freedom in action and discrimination in method, and not by unquestioning obedience, negative acquiescence, and blind following. Let this not be forgotten. If any command may ever emanate from the subjective band of teachers of whom I am a humble member, let it be to follow the dictates of your own soul and the promptings of your higher self. (4 - 103/4).
(2) In the training of the occidental student, blind unquestioning obedience is never asked. Suggestions are made as to method and as to a technique which has proved effective for thousands of years and with many disciples. Some rules as to breathing, as to helpful process, and as to practical living on the physical plane will be imparted, but in the training of the new type of disciple during the coming age, it is the will of the watching Gurus and Rishis that they be left freer than has heretofore been the case. This may mean a slightly slower development at the beginning but will result, it is hoped, in a more rapid unfoldment during the later stages upon the Path of Initiation.
Therefore, students are urged to go forward during their period of training with courage and with joy, knowing that they are members of a band of disciples, knowing that they are not alone, but that the strength of the band is theirs, the knowledge of the band is theirs too as they develop the capacity to apprehend it, - and knowing also that the love and wisdom and understanding of the watching Elder Brothers are back of every aspiring Son of God e'en though apparently (and wisely) he is left to wrestle through to the light in the strength of his own omnipotent soul. (4 - 152/3)
(3) There is no such thing as occult obedience as usually taught by the occult schools. In the olden days in the East, the Master exacted from His disciple that implicit obedience which actually made the Master responsible and placed upon His shoulders the destiny or the karma of the disciple. That condition no longer holds good. ...In the coming New Age, the Master is responsible for the offering of opportunity, and for the right enunciation of the truth, but for no more than that. (5 - 5).
(4) The obedience required is obedience to the Plan. It is not obedience [Page 297] to the Master. . . . The obedience demanded is that of the personality to the soul, as soul knowledge, soul light, and soul control become increasingly potent in the mind and brain reactions of the disciple. (5 - 686/7). See also: (6 - 264, -549).
(1) Blindness is a prelude to initiation of no matter what degree. It is only at the last and highest initiation that the "tendency to blindness" comes to a complete end. In the early stages of evolution, blindness is natural, innate, unavoidable, and impenetrable. For ages man walks in the dark. Then comes the stage wherein this normal blindness is a protection, but has also entered a phase wherein it can be overcome. Technically speaking, the blindness to which I have referred is something different. From the moment when a human being catches the first, faint glimpse of the "something or other", and sees himself in juxtaposition to that dimly sensed, distant reality, the blindness with which I have dealt is something imposed by the soul upon the hastening aspirant, so that the lessons of conscious experience, of discipleship, and later of initiation, may be correctly assimilated and expressed; by its means, the hurrying seeker is defended from making too rapid and superficial progress. It is depth and a profound "rootedness" (if I may coin such a word) for which the inner Teacher, and later the Master looks, and "occult blindness", its need, its wise handling and its final elimination, are part of the curriculum imposed upon the candidate. (18 - 197).
(2) Occult blindness is spiritually induced, and "blacks out" the glory and the promised attainment and reward. The disciple is thrown back upon himself. All he can see is his problem, his tiny field of experience, and his - to him - feeble and limited equipment. . . . The beauty of the immediate, the glory of the present opportunity, and the need to focus upon the task and service of the moment, are the rewards of moving forward into the apparently impenetrable darkness. (18 - 198).
(3) Thus the veils serve their purpose; blindness nurtures and protects, provided it is innate and natural, soul-imposed or spiritually engendered. If it is wilfully self-induced, if it provides an alibi for grasped knowledge, if it is assumed in order to avoid responsibility, then sin enters in and difficulty ensues. From this may all of you be protected. (18 - 200).
(4) The progressing disciple does not move into new fields or areas [Page 298] of awareness, like a steady marching forward from one plane to another. What must be grasped is that all that IS is ever present. What we are concerned with is the constant awakening to that which eternally IS, and to what is ever present in the environment, but of which the subject is unaware, owing to short-sightedness. . . . The Kingdom of God is present on Earth today, and for ever has been, but only a few, relatively speaking, are aware of its signs and manifestations, (11 - 53).
(1) The path of knowledge is that of the occultist and the sage; that of love is that of the mystic and the saint. The head or the heart approach is not dependent on the ray, for both ways must be known; the mystic must become the occultist; the white occultist has been the saintly mystic. True knowledge is intelligent love, for it is the blending of the intellect and the devotion. Unity is sensed in the heart; its intelligent application to life has to be worked out through knowledge. (4 - 120).
(2) The past has seen much application of the heart way, . . . and in this incarnation the mental unfoldment is of prime importance. (4 - 121).
(3) The mystic is not necessarily an occultist, but the occultist embraces the mystic. Mysticism is but one step on the path of occultism.
By finding the kingdom of God within himself, and by the study of the laws of his own being, the mystic becomes proficient in the laws which govern the universe, of which he is a part. The occultist recognises the kingdom of God in nature or the system, and regards himself as a small part of that greater whole, and therefore, governed by the same laws.
... To make it more simple for general comprehension: after initiation, the mystic is merged in the occultist, for he has become a student of occult law; he has to work with matter, with its manipulation and uses, and he has to master and control all lower forms of manifestation, and learn the rules whereby the building devas work. Before initiation the mystic path might be expressed by the term, Probationary Path. Before the occultist can manipulate wisely the matter of the solar system, he must have mastered the laws that govern the microcosm, and even though he is naturally on the occult path, yet he will still have to find the God within his own being, before he can safely venture on the path of occult law.
The mystic seeks to work from the emotional to the intuitional, and thence to the Monad or Spirit. The occultist works from the physical to [Page 299] the mental, and thence to the atma or Spirit. One works along the line of love; the other along the line of will. The mystic fails in the purpose of his being - that of love demonstrated in activity - unless he co-ordinates the whole through the use of intelligent will. Therefore, he has to become the occultist.
The occultist similarly fails, and becomes only a selfish exponent of power, working through the intelligence, unless he finds a purpose for that will and knowledge, by an animating love, which will give to him sufficient motive for all that he attempts. (2 - 147/9).
(4) (The mystic) concentrates on abstractions, on attributes more than on aspects, and on the life side more than the concrete. He aspires, he burns, he harmonises, he loves and he works through devotion. He meditates by attempting to eliminate the concrete mind altogether, and aspires to leap from the plane of the emotions, to that of the intuition.
He has the faults of his type - dreamy, visionary, impractical, emotional, and lacking that quality of mind that we call discrimination. He is intuitive, prone to martyrdom and self-sacrifice. (2 - 150).
(5) The mystic eliminates or endeavours to transcend mind in his process of finding the Self. The occultist, through his intelligent interest in the forms which veil the Self, and by the employment of the principle of mind on both its levels, arrives at the same point. He recognises the sheaths that veil. He applies himself to the study of the laws that govern the manifested solar system. He concentrates on the objective, and in his earlier years may at times overlook the value of the subjective. He arrives eventually at the central life by the elimination, through conscious knowledge and control, of sheath after sheath. He meditates upon form, until form is lost sight of, and the creator of the form becomes all in all. (2 - 151).
(6) The keynotes of the occult life have been (and rightly) the notes of knowledge, of the mental approach to the problem of divinity, the recognition of divine immanence, and of the fact that "as He is so are we". There is, however, no sense of duality. The goal is the achievement of such an approved and appreciated identification, that man becomes what he is - a God and, eventually, God in manifestation. This is not the same thing as the mystical union.
And yet, the whole theme is mystical and innately subjective. The time must come when the mystic will appreciate, and follow the way of the head, and not only the way of the heart. He will learn to realise that he must lose his sense of the Beloved, in the knowledge that he and the beloved are one, and that the vision must and will disappear as he transcends it (note [Page 300] that phrase) in the greatest processes of identification through initiation.
The occultist, in his turn, must learn to include the mystical experience in full understanding consciousness as a recapitulatory exercise, before he transcends it and passes on to a synthesis and an inclusiveness, to which the mystical approach is but the beginning, and of which the mystic remains unaware.
The mystic is too apt to feel that the occultist over-estimates the way of knowledge, and repeats glibly that the mind is the slayer of the real, and that the intellect can give him nothing. The occultist is equally apt to despise the mystical way, and to regard the mystical method as "living far behind him". But both must learn to tread the way of wisdom. The mystic must, and will inevitably, become the occultist, and this whether he likes the process or not. He cannot escape it in the long run, but the occultist is not a true one, until he recovers the mystical experience, and translates it into terms of synthesis. Note the structure of the words I have used in this last paragraph, for it will serve to elucidate my theme. I use therefore the words "mystic and mystical" in this section of the treatise to describe the intelligent, highly mental man, and his process upon the Path of Disciple-ship. (15 - 543/4).
(7) It is occult students for whom search is now being made, and not mystics; it is for clear-thinking men and women that the call has gone forth, and not for the fanatic or for the person who sees nothing but the ideal, and who is unable to work successfully with situations and things as they are, and who cannot, therefore, apply the necessary and unavoidable compromise. (13 - 654).
(8) The first initiation might be regarded as the goal and the reward of the mystical experience; it is fundamentally not an occult experience in the true sense of the term, for it is seldom accurately realised, or consciously prepared for, as is the case with the later initiations, and this is why the first two initiations are not considered major initiations. . . . The mystical Way leads to the first initiation. Having achieved its purpose, it is then renounced, and the "lighted Way" of occultism is then followed, leading to the lighted areas of the higher states of consciousness.
Thus both ways are seen to be essential; the mystical way is for the majority at this time, and an increasingly large number of mystics will emerge out of the modern masses of men; paralleling this, the occult way is attracting more and more of the world intelligentsia. Its experience is not basically religious, as the orthodox churchman understands the word. The way of science is as deeply needed by mankind, as is the way of reli-[Page 301] gion, for "God" is found equally on both ways. The scientific way leads the aspirant into the world of energies and forces, which is the true world of occult endeavour, revealing the Universal Mind and the workings of that great Intelligence which created the manifested universe. The "new man" who has come to birth at the first initiation, must and will tread the occult or scientific way, which inevitably leads him out of the world of mysticism into the scientific and assured perception of God as life and energy. (18 - 666).
I felt it might be of interest to students to know this much about this ancient text book of the Adepts.
. . . The Old Commentary . . . has no assignable date. Should I endeavour to tell you its age, I have no means of proving the truth of my words. . . . I have sought in the above few phrases to give the gist of what is expressed in the Commentary, through the means of a few symbols and a cryptic text. These old Scriptures are not read in the way modern students read books, they are seen, touched and realised. The meaning is disclosed in a flash. Let me illustrate: The words "the One enunciates the word which drowns the triple sound" are depicted by a shaft of light ending in a symbolic word in gold superimposed over three symbols in black, rose and green. Thus are the secrets guarded with care. (4 - 76).
The success of modern medicine is today so great, that millions of people are kept alive - if not cured - who in earlier days, and with less scientific aptitude, would normally have died. In this developed skill and knowledge, and in this aptitude in the care of the physical mechanism, is today to be found a major world problem - the problem of overpopulation of the planet, leading to the herd life of humanity and the consequent economic problem - to mention only one of the incidental difficulties of this success. This "unnatural" preservation of life is the cause of much suffering, and is a fruitful source of war, being contrary to the karmic intent of the planetary Logos.
With this vast problem, I cannot here deal. I can only indicate it. It will be solved when the fear of death disappears, and when humanity learns [Page 302] the significance of time and the meaning of the cycles. It will be simplified when true astrological findings become possible, when man knows the hour of his departure from this outer plane, and masters the technique of "withdrawal", and the methods of abstracting himself consciously from the prison of the body. But much research has to take place first. (17 - 278/9).


text:
9 Ways to Celebrate July 4th Like a POTUS
Fireworks. Barbeques. Trips to the ER. Sick of doing the same old thing every Fourth of July? Abandon the same old-same old and celebrate like our presidents do. Here's how.
1. Purchase a Broom
Though George Washington refused an official salary for his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, he did ask for his daily expenses to be reimbursed—which is why we have a meticulous account of what he purchased on July 4, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. In case you can't decipher the spidery script, Washington purchased mutton, veal, "a roasting peice of Beef," cabbage, beets, potatoes, lobster and... a broom.
2. Push up some daisies
Not one, not two, but three presidents have commemorated the Fourth of July by kicking the bucket.
John Adams passed away on July 4, 1826, at the age of 90. His last words, it's said, were, "Thomas Jefferson survives." Adams was unaware that Jefferson had died just hours before.
Both men had America on their minds in their final moments. Among Jefferson's final words: "I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God,—my daughter to my country."
In addition to mentioning Jefferson, Adams also said, "Independence survives."
Five years later, James Monroe succumbed to heart failure and tuberculosis on July 4, 1831.
3. Drink double rations of rum
To celebrate Independence Day in 1778, then-General George Washington issued his army double allowances of rum. Does this guy know how to party, or what?
4. Recover from an assassination attempt (or try to)
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel when John Hinckley, Jr., fired six shots. None of them directly hit Reagan; his near-fatal injury was sustained when a bullet ricocheted off of his waiting limousine. By July 4, the President was doing well enough to host a picnic for a few thousand people (see main picture above) on the South Lawn of the White House.
Reagan isn't the only president to be in assassination recovery on July 4. James Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881. Sadly, his recovery didn't go as well as Reagan's. He lingered all summer, and though many attempts were made to save his life (some that did more harm than good), he died on September 19.
5. Celebrate the birth of your child
In 1998, Barack Obama was surely at the University of Chicago Medical Center celebrating the birth that day of his first daughter, Malia. Malia now celebrates her birthday during annual Fourth of July picnics for military families on the White House lawn.
6. Go on vacation
After serving in their official capacities by giving speeches and attending the White House picnic, many presidents use the Fourth of July to kick off a vacation. Ulysses S. Grant set the precedent back in the late nineteenth century by retreating to the Jersey Shore for some R and R.
7. Eat some rancid cherries
Following Independence Day celebrations at the Washington Monument in 1850, Zachary Taylor did what a lot of us probably do later in the night on July 4: He raided the fridge. Chowing down on cherries and iced milk, Taylor became immediately ill afterward, and died on July 9. Rumors of poisoning immediately flew around, but analysis of his remains in 1991 showed no evidence of assassination by arsenic. Taylor's physicians chalked up his unexpected demise to cholera.
8. Blow out some candles
Calvin Coolidge is, thus far, the only U.S. President to be born on July 4. In 1872, John Calvin Coolidge, Jr., was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, to Victoria Moor Coolidge.
9. Light a few firecrackers
Not even the Commander in Chief can resist being a pyromaniac on the Fourth of July. But, as you might expect, their fireworks are a little more impressive than yours. Here, Harry Truman gleefully accepts a massive firecracker with his initials on it in 1947.
If none of these presidential plans appeal to you, you could always create your own fireworks show with what you have on hand. That's what a group of miners in Swan City, Colorado, had in mind in 1884 when they blew up the local post office after the town refused to supply fireworks.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
With back-to-back road wins after a sluggish start this season, Northside�s football team had been trending upwards, but coach Bob Eason was hard-pressed to evaluate whether that continued Friday night.
With back-to-back road wins after a sluggish start this season, Northside�s football team had been trending upwards, but coach Bob Eason was hard-pressed to evaluate whether that continued Friday night.
While the Monarchs did defeat Dixon 40-13 for its second win in as many outings in the East Central 2-A Conference, Eason wasn�t quite sure what to make of his team�s performance on a night that began with a steady rain that abated in the second half.
The reason for Eason�s perplexity was at least twofold.
One, Dixon (5-3, 1-1) was better than advertised � and better probably than the Monarchs expected, although Eason and his staff knew tailback Malik Simmons was exceedingly dangerous. Simmons proved that, rushing for two touchdowns and 263 yards on 43 carries.
The other reason Eason wasn�t sure of what to make of what he saw Friday night was the unrelenting flood of flags that at times threatened to rival the raindrops. Northside (5-3, 2-0) and Dixon combined for 276 yards on 32 penalties that were marked off � several others were not.
�We�ll take it, a win�s a win in this conference,� Eason said. �We�ve got three games left. We�re still undefeated so we�ve still got a shot at maybe a conference championship. So everything�s still in front of us. We ain�t got to backtrack any. So we�ll see what happens.�
But was the win more of the Monarchs treading water and not continuing to improve?
�That�s hard to tell,� he said. �I�ve got to watch film. I just didn�t think we had played smart. We scored 40 points and possibly could have scored more if it weren�t for penalties. The penalties kind of made it probably a different game than it should have been.
�The frustration (over the penalties) is real.�
Dixon coach Brandon Iseman shared Eason�s pain after seeing his club run 70 plays to 39 for the Monarchs, including more than twice as many rushing attempts (64 to 25) in moving the ball between the 20-yard lines.
�I think it was a very physical game,� Iseman said. �It�s like I told the kids, when you play a very good team you can�t make a ton of mistakes to beat them. We did a lot of a great things, but some of the self-inflicted penalties really hurt us.�
In its first meeting against Northside since 2002, Dixon was more than competitive against the Monarchs in its first year in 2-A after moving up from 1-A under statewide realignment. But every time the Bulldogs seemed on the verge of turning the momentum they came up empty on a play or the Monarchs stopped them on defense or scored.
�Self-inflicted wounds, they�ll hurt you,� Iseman said. �You can�t do those types of things and beat a good team.�
While Dixon�s offense focused on the run with Simmons and quarterback Robbi Wyble, who had 81 yards rushing, the Monarchs were more balanced.
Tailback Kris Curry rushed for 106 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown run, while Ne�Also Miller, looking like he�s recovered from an ankle injury, gained 94 yards on just three carries, including a touchdown run of 57 yards.
And Famous Roberts added 43 yards, including a 21-yard score.
Quarterback Jake Erickson completed just 5 of 14 passes, but he made the most of his completions, hitting Korey Curry for a 9-yard score, Matt Pinto for a 31-yard touchdown and UNC-bound Josh Cabrera for a 10-yard scoring toss for the final points of the game.
The tone was set early in a game in which Dixon didn�t have one three-and-out and Northside just one and was both physical and times chippy.
Dixon drove to the Northside 34 on its first possession but Simmons was held to 2 yards on fourth-and-3, and the Monarchs responded with a 66-yard drive � overcoming two holding penalties and a third that wasn�t accepted � to score on the Erickson-to-Curry hookup after a 15-yard run by Roberts on fourth-and-7 at the Dixon 34. Erickson hit Pinto for the two-point conversion.
The Monarchs made it 14-0 on their next possession on Roberts� long TD run just 24 seconds into the second quarter. Northside had first-and-10 at the Dixon 23 on its next possession but turned it over on downs, but the Monarchs made it 20-0 just two plays into the second half when Erickson hit Pinto, who raced down the sideline into the end zone.
Dixon countered with a 67-yard march, overcoming penalties for holding and illegal procedure in the process. After a 30-yard keeper by Wyble on fourth-and-5, Simmons scored the first of his two 5-yard touchdowns on the next play with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
After Dixon held Northside without a first down on its next possession, the Bulldogs got to midfield before having to punt � but Brooks Rogers inadvertently touched his knee down as he took the snap on the punt, giving the Monarchs the ball at the Dixon 38.
Northside took advantage of the break, scoring on a 23-yard run by Kris Curry to go up 26-7.
Dixon again answered with a 66-yard drive, capped by Simmons� second TD run with 8:18 left in the game to cut the lead to 26-13. But the Monarchs scored on their next two possessions to seal the win, with Miller knifing through the line and sprinting into the end zone for his 57-yard score and Cabrera catching a slant across the middle from Erickson with 4:06 left.
While happy with the win, Eason saw plenty to work on.
�Sloppy, God was sloppy. It looked like we were coming back off an open date,� Eason said. �It�s all about focus. The kids ain�t us t focused. Whether it�s homecoming week, it�s Dixon. This is what our kids were thinking, not what I�m thinking.
�I knew the tailback was a good player. But you can�t convince high school kids of anything hardly. They did what we thought they could do if worked well, and they did. Dixon did a good job. I guess we didn�t believe it until they got close to the 20.�
Dixon 0 0 7 6 � 13
Northside 8 6 6 20 � 4
First Quarter
NS � Ko. Curry 9 pass from Erickson (Pinto pass from Erickson), 4:44
Second Quarter
NS � Roberts 21 run (pass failed), 11:36
Third Quarter
NS � Pinto 31 pass from Erickson (run failed), 11:24
D � Simmons 5 run (Maready kick) 8:16
Fourth Quarter
NS � Kr. Curry 23 run (pass failed), 11:53
D � Simmons 5 run (kick failed) 8:18
NS � Miller 57 run (Cabrera pass from Erickson), 7:25
NS � Cabrera 10 pass from Erickson (run failed) 4:06
First downs 20 16
Rushes-yards 64-344 25-246
Passing 22 85
Comp-Att-Int 3-6-0 5-14-0
Punts-Avg. 1-0 2-45.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 16-120 16-156
RUSHING�D: Simmons 43-263, Wyble 21-81. NS: Kr. Curry 12-106, Miller 3-94, Roberts 7-43, Cabrera 2-9, Smith 1-3
PASSING�D: Wyble 3-6-0 22. NS: Erickson 5-14-0 85.
RECEIVING�D: Coleman 1-11, Fullerton 1-8, Williams 1-5. NS: Pinto 2-55, Cabrera 2-21, Ko. Curry 1-9, Taylor 1-(-3).


text:
If you would like to keep up to date with news about Gameloft's latest releases, simply enter your email adress below. The email/country/device info that is being collected via the subscription request will be subject to Gameloft's privacy policy.
View more ►
View more ►
Despicable Me is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved. Software © 2013 Gameloft. All Rights Reserved. Gameloft and the Gameloft logo are trademarks of Gameloft in the US and/or other countries.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.
Universal Privacy Policy


text:
2009 Coachmen Spirit Of America 29RKS
2009 Coachmen Spirit Of America 29RKS Specifications
|RV Insurance
Ads by Google
Buyers Guides
Recent Blog Posts
- Lance Camper 2465 Ultra-Light Travel Trailer Unveiled
Lance Camper 2465 Ultra-Light Travel Trailer UnveiledLance ...
- Five Last-Minute Great Lakes Camping Trips
Five Last-Minute Great Lakes Camping TripsIf you are lookin ...
- East Coast RV Weekend Getaways
East Coast RV Weekend GetawaysWhile an RV trip around the c ...
Recent Comments
- Wayne
I was always lead to believe that Fleetwood and Winnebago were best. But recently, it seems most of them ...
- kani
Silvercar in San Diego is not allowed to pick up renters at the airport. So you have to ride the rental c ...
- Gwen
@oldcarjunky If you think that Westfalias materials or build quality was crap, then you definitely should ...


text:
Henley bringing home-state hopes to 1st Masters
Apr. 08, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Russell Henley's head was on a swivel Monday at Augusta National, scanning the gallery for friends, family or anyone else yelling "Go Dawgs."
The former Georgia Bulldog and Peach State native is playing in his first Masters.
He is carrying the hopes of fans cheering for their first home-state champion since Larry Mize won the green jacket in 1987. Henley said he hadn't felt as nervous as he did Monday — and that was just practice.
"The excitement of being here and knowing I'm a contestant is a feeling like I've never had," Henley said Monday.
The 23-year-old attended the tournament while growing up in Macon. He played the course while at Georgia and won his way into the field with a victory at the Sony Open in January.
He hopes that enjoying the moments early in the week will lead to focused golf when the tournament starts Thursday.
Henley's not the only one with deep roots in the Georgia pines. Matt Kuchar grew up in Florida, but is as beloved by the Augusta National galleries as if he'd been born in the Peach State.
Maybe it's because he played college golf at Georgia Tech or settled on Sea Island.
Most likely it's the way his smile radiated over the course when he first contended as an amateur in 1998, his tie for 21st was the best finish by an amateur in 20 years.
"There's a lot of connections for me," he said. "It's a special place for sure."
Should Henley triumph it would mark just the fourth Georgia native to capture the title since the tournament began in 1934. Savannah-born Claude Harmon won in 1948, Gainesville, Ga., native Tommy Aaron in 1973 before Mize — a true hometown favorite from Augusta — rolled in his 140-foot chip on the 11th hole to defeat Greg Norman in a playoff.
"I picked a doozy" of a tournament to win, Mize said at the time.
Wins by Henley or Kuchar would sit equally as well with Augusta National crowds.
Henley, playing his practice round with two-time Masters champion Tom Watson and amateur Nathan Smith, twirled his driver as he walked the fairway, continually stopping to say hi to well-wishers.
"I heard a lot of 'Go Dawgs.' That was cool. Heard a lot of 'Go Jackets.' Didn't really get that one," Henley joked about Georgia's main state rival, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Kuchar was quick to defend his school when asked to assess why so many young Georgia Bulldog players such as Henley, Harris English and even defending Masters champion Bubba Watson are excelling on tour.
"I'd like to say that Georgia Tech has got about as many alumni out here as possible," he said with a smile.
Kuchar fell in love with this event because of the amateur experience conceived by golf's greatest amateur, tournament co-founder Bobby Jones.
Jones, an Atlanta native, designed Augusta National with architect Alister MacKenzie and the Masters began in 1934. By then, Jones' championship days were past and he never finished better than 13th in 12 career appearances.
Kuchar felt Jones' aura throughout the grounds 15 years ago in his debut here, from staying in the amateur's only "Crow's Nest" clubhouse loft to the amateur dinner and interacting with the gracious Southern galleries.
"You really feel like this tournament is for you, as an amateur," Kuchar recalled. "This is what it's supposed to be. ... Bobby Jones designed it with amateurs in mind and they couldn't wait to have some amateurs have some real success."
Kuchar, who qualified as the U.S. Amateur champion, gave everyone a thrill with his week at Augusta National. He was paired with then one-time and defending Masters champion Tiger Woods and wound up the low amateur, a feat he repeated later that year with a tie for 14th at the U.S. Open.
Kuchar has grown with his game and comes in expecting to contend after last year's tie for third.
Henley hopes he makes an immediate mark on Augusta National and fulfill the dream of wearing the green jacket, something he's thought about since learning the game in Macon.
"I've dreamed about playing in this tournament. I've dreamed about winning on the PGA Tour and I've accomplished both of those," Henley said. "I've got a lot more on the list."
Henley doesn't want to think too far down Magnolia Lane, though, but can't always help imagining victory here. "It would be very special," he said.


text:
In a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral, mourners follow a brass band playing dirges. When they leave the cemetery, the music changes tempo — "Oh, when the saints go marchin' in" — and everyone dances, celebrating the deceased and the gift of life.
It's been something like that in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005, and leaking levees almost drowned the city.
We don't forget, but we had to begin again, so we did. Returning residents, joined by young entrepreneurs who moved here after the storm, led the way.
Tourists are discovering a revived city too. There still are issues, of course, but plenty to celebrate. Last year, 9.28 million...


text:
By Yvonne Sadovy, Chair, Grouper & Wrasse Specialist Group, An extract from Species - the SSC newsletter, issue 36
The humphead, or Napoleon, wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus, is one of the largest of all reef fishes and the biggest of the wrasse family, the Labridae. It can reach well over two meters in length and 200 kilograms in weight - an elephant of coral reefs. This species is considered a gourmet food fish and is appreciated for the fine taste and texture of its flesh. In many areas of the Pacific, it is of considerable local traditional significance, long used for special ceremonies in Fiji, Palau, and elsewhere. More recently, it has become a small, but significant component of the international luxury trade in live reef fish which has expanded rapidly within the last decade in developed areas of southeast Asia. In restaurants and seafood markets in Hong Kong, for example, this species has retailed for as much as US$100/kg and it is also widely on sale in Taiwan, Singapore and southern China. It is one of the most highly valued species in the trade.
Like many large reef fishes, the humphead wrasse does not appear to be particularly common. Its lifespan of at least a couple of decades, and low replacement rates, mean that it is unlikely to recover readily from anything other than the low levels of local fishing effort to which it was exposed in the past. It is not an easy species to catch, but with the advent of night spearing (when animals are readily taken from their sleeping holes) and the growing demand for exports in the international live reef fish trade, there is now considerable concern that this widespread, but uncommon, species is being threatened. It was included in the 1996 IUCN Red List as vulnerable. Concerns for its status have already led to protection in parts of Australia and the Philippines, and in the Maldives and Palau. One diving fraternity is so concerned about this species (a favourite with divers) it has set up its own monitoring network to report on known individuals (large adults are reasonably site-faithful) and lobby for protection.
Several aspects of the life history, fishery and trade in this species make conservation efforts particularly challenging, and, being a marine fish, population estimates for species assessments are fraught with difficulties. Despite considerable concern for its status in some areas, its large size, wide-ranging behavior and shy nature make it very difficult to study in the field, or to survey using underwater visual census techniques. On the other hand, its low volume in most local fisheries means that it is rarely monitored.
On the demand side, we know that adults are increasingly uncommon and most fish on sale in Hong Kong, the centre of international trade, are now juveniles. Little is known of the biology of this species and its likely status has been assembled from numerous anecdotal accounts from fishers, divers, biologists throughout the Indo-Pacific in both source and destination countries. The picture that is emerging from these sources is a consistent and disturbing one of declining numbers wherever an export trade develops. Because so little information is recorded, there is little realization of the breadth of the problem with this species.
Faced with a general lack of understanding of the humphead wrasse but considerable concern, our Specialist Group is working on a synopsis of data and awareness campaigns especially in countries which are developing, or likely to develop an export trade for live reef fish. A small grant recently awarded from the Chicago Zoological Society will support an education programme aimed at highlighting the status and vulnerability of this species in much of its range and the concerns over the impacts of international trade. We aim to promote data collection within local fisheries and protection from export, while encouraging biologists to develop research projects to improve the means of surveying this, and similar, marine fishes. Studies are also needed on its biology. In the demand center of Hong Kong, campaigns of consumer education are being conducted and our Specialist Group works together with the government and local non-governmental organizations to raise awareness of the status of this species among live reef fish traders and to improve the collection of import data.


text:
Muskeg [Algonquian, "grassy bog"] is a term describing a type of landscape, environment, vegetation and deposit. It attained widespread use in the 1950s during northward expansion of resource development. Peatland and organic terrain are equivalent terms generally referring to northern landscapes characterized by a wet environment and vegetation (eg, black spruce muskeg) botanically classified as mire (subdivided into bogs and fens).
Muskeg defies precise scientific definition. It may cover large areas (Hudson Bay Lowland) or occur as small, isolated pockets. Muskeg produces peat deposits of variable thicknesses and types because of incomplete decomposition of plant matter in the wet, acid environment. The particular vegetation and hydrological patterns allow recognition of different muskeg types by remote sensing. Most peat and muskeg in Canada is less than 10 000 years old and occurs in areas covered by the last glaciation. Peat accumulation rates and the distribution of muskeg are dependent on climate conditions and controlled by climate changes. In northern regions, muskeg and permafrost are closely associated and can present difficult engineering problems. No comprehensive, Canada-wide survey of muskeg has been made, but various estimates indicate that Canada may have more muskeg (over 1 295 000 km2) than any other country.
Because of its importance to wildlife, water resources and the northern environment, muskeg is no longer considered wasteland. When managed properly, organic soils on peat have excellent capability for agriculture and forestry. Peat products have long-established uses in horticulture, and there is renewed interest in peat as an alternate energy source. Peat provides raw materials for the chemical industry (resins, waxes, paints, etc) and can serve as an efficient filter for some hazardous wastes.
See also Swamp, Marsh and Bog; Vegetation Regions.


text:
From watching all of the promos for the upcoming shows coming to network television this fall and in mid-season, I think I've finally figured out the secret to getting your sitcom greenlit by a network.
Based off a formula of being reactive to trends/what's successful elsewhere, attempting to address a current issue, attaching one, if not several, big names to the project, and creating a situation that dutifully avoids such description as edgy, subversive, and, arguably, both original and smart, I think I've got something worthy of being shoved down people's throats. First on billboards, bus and bench ads, then on actual TV, the show I have in mind is so greenlight-ready, I've already written the press release for it.
Coming to (REDACTED) this fall, from the brilliant mind of [insert someone like JJ Abrams or Joss Whedon and if you can't get them someone who has major credits, even if they only want $$$], comes a brand new series that will make you laugh harder that you've ever remembered laughing, even if you had a time machine.
Following his cameo in Ricky Gervais' Life's Too Short, Liam Neeson (played by Liam Neeson or Nick Offerman), sick of having special skills, being a Greek god, and punching wolves, just wants the laughs. Reprising his role in Taken 2 (the sequel is filming right now) and getting hold of a time machine, he's going to go back in time and stop himself from taking the starring role in Taken, thus preventing himself from being typecast. The actor will then have to avoid being cast in hard-hitting Oscar dark-horse dramas about gay marriage, financial collapse, or the depletion of natural resources, navigating himself out of the treacherous and unnecessarily ornate office spaces of Hollywood in what critics [or whoever will give us press] call "exactly like Entourage if it was darker, hipper, and actually funny."
With the help of Channing Tatum (played by Channing Tatum), [or any just-turned or about to turn A-list star who was in a comedy last Summer], and Jon Hamm (played by Sam Worthington), and Pamela Adlon [or anyone else who can lend comedic credibility to the show by their name alone], Neeson can adapt to the vastly different world of 2008 when Obama was celebrated almost across the board and you people were still all about 9/11 jokes, and he'll never have to worry about every looking off dramatically into the distance. He also wouldn't have to worry about saying lines of dialogue between explosions in a movie or be mistaken for Ralph Fiennes ever again. Instead, he can do it now for the laughs that he, and not a Ralph-profile lookalike, was destined to get.
From people that did something on Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men (with Charlie Sheen), The Simpsons, Community (post-Dan Harmon), and the jokes in The Avengers, comes LIAM NEESON'S PERSONAL REDUX, premiering this fall on (REDACTED).
Can't wait to hear about this at Network TV Upfronts in 2013.


text:
Milele Roots
Milele Roots
Milele Roots
Theater & DanceMiddle East Dance
Concerts & Live Music Kids & Family OutdoorNoontunes: Spinster
Education & LearningBasic Nutrition For the Healthy Pet
Education & LearningRapid Learning Kayak Skills + Roll Sessions
Concerts & Live MusicThe Other Guys
Art & Exhibitions Education & Learning6 Week Class: Intermediate Drawing with Victoria Pearmain
Art & Exhibitions Education & Learning6 Week Class: Drawing Basics with Victoria Pearmain
Concerts & Live MusicCat Man Smothers
Business & Career Health & Wellness Talks & ReadingsBowen Theory Education Center Eighth Annual Symposium
Charity & Fundraisers This & ThatJim Brewer " Swing for Kids" Charity Golf Tournament
This & ThatThe Great Southern Outdoor Show
Concerts & Live Music Food & DrinkFood Truck Friday's, Culture Fest: Music and Dance from Around the World
Kids & FamilyAlpine Crest Elementary Fall Festival
Festivals & Fairs Home & Garden Kids & FamilySignal Mtn. Nursery Fall Festival
Art & Exhibitions Festivals & Fairs Talks & ReadingsYA-hoo Festival: Chattanooga's Celebration of Young Adult and Middle Grades Literature
Festivals & Fairs Kids & Family This & ThatFarm Days
Health & Wellness SportsIRONMAN
This & ThatThe Great Southern Outdoor Show
Festivals & Fairs Kids & Family This & ThatFarm Days
Concerts & Live MusicFree Fiddle School
Festivals & Fairs Health & WellnessjClare's Holistic Natural Health Expo 2018
Theater & DanceDisney's "Newsies"
Theater & Dance This & ThatAutumn Belly Dance Session
This & ThatJoggers & Lagers
Concerts & Live MusicOpen Air with Jessica Nunn
Education & LearningCreative Insight Journey: 8 Week Online Course
Concerts & Live MusicMonday Nite Big Band
Art & Exhibitions Education & Learning6 Week Class: Beginning Acrylic Painting with Karen Reader
Education & LearningTennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour
Concerts & Live MusicDanimal
Concerts & Live MusicBill McCallie and In Cahoots
Food & Drink Health & Wellness OutdoorPaths to Pints along the Riverwalk
© 2014 The Pulse and Brewer Media. All rights reserved.


text:
An Extended CHICKAMAUGA Scenario: September 18th
Work on RIVER OF DEATH has enabled us to gather information which we now use in expanding the Chickamauga scenario in GLORY to the full, 3-day battle. Players may use this for either the 19th, 20th, or full battle games.
The game starts with the 1400 turn of September 18th, continuing on as far as players wish. All Reinforcements prior to those listed in the rules are given below, as well as initial deployments.
Initial Union Deployment
AM Available for 1400 Turn: Mitchell Cav (2), Reynolds/XIV (2), van Cleve (1), Wood (1)
Initial Confederate Deployment
AM Available for 1400 Turn: Johnson (2), Lidell (2), Forrest (1), Stewart (1), Preston (1)
Union Reinforcements
Remainder as per Schedule in Rules Book
Confederate Reinforcements
Remainder as per Schedule in Rules Book
a = Robertson's brigade moves with Johnson AM until the 19/0630 turn.
First Turn Initiative: The Confederates automatically have the Initiative for the 1400 turn.
Confederate Destination Designation
Designated Destinations are pre-determined for units arriving as per the above schedule. The DD rule from the game applies, except that if a bridge has been destroyed (see below), once the units have reached that DD, they may move elsewhere.
Activation Markers
Special rules, to simulate the confusion about the breaking situation, corps level lethargy, as well as lack of overall command orders, are used in terms of the number of AM to be drawn per turn.
For the first turn (18/1400), all AM listed above as available are placed in The Pool, and all are drawn.
For every turn after that, all of the available AM, for units on or entering the map, are placed in The Pool.
Neither player may purposely leave out AM. Exception, for the 1400 turn no AM for Granger's Reserve are available.
The above rules apply through the Night Turn of September 18th. Starting with the 0630 turn of the 19th, we heartily recommend you start using 16.3.
At the start of the 18th Alexander's Bridge is intact.
Any player may destroy a bridge. To do so, when activated, a full strength (non-Disordered) unit must start adjacent to the bridge hexside. Presence of enemy units across the bridge does not matter.
As the unit's action for the turn (it may not move or fire), the player rolls the die.
The CSA player (only) may attempt to repair a bridge. At the start of any turn beginning with the 0900 turn of the 19th, after drawing an AM, he may ignore that AM and, instead, choose to try to repair any bridge which is not within 2 hexes of a Union combat unit. To do so, he rolls a die (no unit is needed):
Play Note: This represents the work of Bragg's pioneer companies.
Forced Night March
For the Night Turn of the 18th, only, either (both) player(s) may choose to have entering Reinforcements use Forced Night March. Units already on the map may not use this.
All reinforcements that will Forced March are designated at the start of the turn. These units will not be activated by their own AM (and thus their AM will not be placed in The Pool), but will be activated when that player's Forced March AM is drawn.
Units that FM must stay on Roads and/or Trails. They may cross bridges/fords, but pay the normal price for doing so. As an exception to normal Night rules, they must use Extended Movement.
All units that use FM must roll for Disorder at the end of movement, regardless how far they moved. Exception: artillery does not get disordered by FM.
The FM AM is a freebie. It does not count against the AM limits, above. Moreover, if a player's FM AM has not been drawn, it is put into effect at the end of the turn.
The Cheatham Exception: Cheatham's Division may not use Forced March in its turn of entry; it may use Extended Movement (if eligible). The CSA Player may choose, if he wishes, to have it enter when he draws the FM AM (which will negate any possible traffic jams).
There are two types of Fords. The main fords are all fords, other than the ones listed below. These user the rules for fords and the Terrain costs as on the map.
However, many of the fords were not that helpful. The fords at the following hexes
Bad Fords: 4110, 3615, 3522, 3130, 3036, 2436.
We've decided to change the Rout Rule somewhat, as below.
14.2.2. Infantry is retreated three (3) hexes, cavalry (4). That's hexes, not MP.
14.2.3. Routed units, when activated, may (not must) move one hex (regardless of cost. Such movement must be away from the nearest enemy (or leave it equidistant).
14.2.5. There is no Rout Movement Phase.
Scott's Cavalry
For the 19th and 20th scenarios, Scott's cavalry starts in 4103.
Granger's Reserve
The In Reserve rule for the 19th scenario is not used for Granger when starting on the 18th.


text:
Beau Johnson of Mississippi may have to retire after his first muzzleloader deer hunt, because he may not top this wall-hanger!
As related in Mississippi Sportsman, Johnson and his father, Shane, went hunting during the state's muzzleloader season. He's 15 years old and state regulations allow youngsters his age to use any firearm, but he wanted to give the smokepole a try.
They got to their stands, about 100 yards apart, and within half an hour Beau was trying to watch his big buck after he'd double-lunged it with the muzzleloader. But he wasn't sure he'd hit it due to the smoke and his excitement. He fired a text message to his father and they decided to wait a few hours to hunt some more since the deer were pretty active.
The buck didn't go far, though, and the excitement ensued when they found the old-timer. The 12-pointer sported an extra beam and green scored at 164. Quite a buck!
Check out the full story here in Mississippi Sportsman.


text:
|RS Junior
|San Jose, Calif.
|High School:
|Mechanical Engineering
AS A RS JUNIOR (2013-2014): (XC) Ran a 25:55.3 at the 8k Bronco Invitational … placed 21st in the 8k S.F. State Invitational with a time of 26:19.
AS A RS-SOPHOMORE (2012-2013): (XC) Started off the season at the USF Invite 8k in 26:49 … Ran in the WCC Preview 7,770 race in 26:06.15 … Earned a seasonal best time in the 8k at the Bronco Invite in 26:11 … Placed 23rd at the Doc Adams Invite 8k in 25:41 … Ended the season at the NCAA West Regional 10k in 32:31. (TRACK) Ran the 5000m race in 15:38.18 at the Kim Dyust Invite … Raced in the Johnny Mathis Invite 1500m in 4:06.50 … Ran 15:20.40 in the SF Distance Carnival 5k … Earned 15:38.13 in the Chico Distance Carnival 1500m … Competed in the Woody Wilson Invite 1500m run in 4:09.46 … Raced in the 5000m run in 15:24.25 at the Brutus Hamilton Invite … Ran in the Sac State Open 1500m in 4:04.98 ... Had a huge breakthrough in the 5k at the West Coast Invite with a time of 15:08.24 and 8:42 in the 3k.
AS A RS-FRESHMAN (2011-2012): (XC) Competed in the USF Invite in the 8k and ran a time of 26:45 … Earned a personal-best-time in the 4mile at the Hornet Jamboree in 20:53 … Raced another personal-best at the Stanford Invitational, this time in the 8k with a time of 25:50 … Ran 26:50 in the WCC Championships 8k. (TRACK) Earned a personal best time in the 5k at the Kim Duyst Invite in 15:43.39 …Raced the 3k at the Aggie Open in 9:12.57 … Finished the 1500m with a personal best time of 4:17.04 at the Johnny Mathis Invite … Ended the season at the Sac State Open with a time of 4:16.07.
AS A FRESHMAN (2010-2011): (XC) Did not compete. (TRACK) Ran 16:24:75 in the 5000m for 40th place @ Cal State Stanislaus 3/5/11…Finished 12th place in the 5000m with 15:57:59 @ San Francisco State 4/2/11…Earned a PR in the 5000m in 15:48:76 @ Chico State 4/8-9/11.
Cross Country: 20:53 in the 4mile (2011 - Hornet Jamboree); 26:06.15 in the 7,770m (2012 - WCC Preview); 25:41 in the 8k (2012 - Doc Adams); 32:31 in the 10k (2012 - NCAA D1 West Regionals)
Track: 4:04.98 in the 1500m (2013 - Sac State Open); 8:42 in the 3k (2013 - West Coast Invite); 15:08.24 in the 5k (2013 - West Coast Invite)
PERSONAL: Majoring in Mechanical Engineering.


text:
On February 11, WICS hosted a study session. Since it was midterms week, WICS decided it would be beneficial for members to collaborate and study together. Upperclassmen helped the underclassmen out with work they didn't understand while snacking ice cream and cookies. About over 10 people showed up and had a great time eating ice cream and studying together!
WICS First General Meeting and Mentorship Mixer '14
Written by: Gurveen Sekhon
On Monday October 6th, WICS held our first general meeting of the year and kicked off the 2014-15 Mentorship Program. We gave a brief overview of what our club is about and introduced this year's board members. All this information can also be found on our website in case you missed the meeting. There were also prizes given out for the raffle right before the Mentorship Mixer began. There were prizes such as Google blankets, Bags full of swag, T-shirts, a copy World of Warcraft, a Kindle Paperwhite, and much more!
Our Mentorship Program had a really strong kick off this year. A lot of students and mentors came out and got to know each other in groups based on where their interests laid. Make sure to join next year's Mentorship Program, whether as a mentor or a mentee.
First Annual WICS Games
On Wednesday, October 1st WICS held its first ever WICS Games! Over 40 students and 7 teams participated in our games to be the first team to ever win WICS Games. Each team worked together along with a mentor for each team to solve rounds of questions with varying level of difficulty to accumulate points to win. Subway sandwiches were served for dinner to munch on while solving problems! Everyone that came to our meeting received really cool Google swag!
Make sure to come out to our annual WICS Games and start the year by meeting many people and having fun!
Studying and Interview Help from WICS
On Thursday April 24th and May 8th, WICS hosted a Study Session that also consisted of interview help in order to prepare for upcoming midterms and career fairs.
Study groups were formed by classes, there were tutors that came by to help anyone who was struggling with specific topics.
At the same time, for those who came by for interview help, WICS prepared common tech interview questions for them to solve. Interview experience and questions were shared amongst those who have been in one before.WICS hopes that those who came got to learn something new and useful towards their classes and finding a job.
WICS Attends CWIC SoCal!
WICS members got the opportunity to attend the Celebration of Women in Computing in Southern California (CWIC-SoCal) Conference held on April 5th and 6th. WICS provided attendees reimbursement for signup fees as well as free transportation!
The event kicked off with a welcoming ceremony that consisted of talks from inspirational women in the computing field. The talks were held by a broad scope of women all united by the core concept of computing. The backgrounds of these women ranged from industry to research. In fact, Gloria Mark, a professor from the Informatics department of UCI also held a talk of her research of multitasking.
The WICS members learned about grad school, what these speakers do, and about women in the tech field in general. There was also a Q/A panel with company representatives as well as a mentorship panel. At the end of the first day, CWIC-SoCal also held an Academic/Career Fair with quite a few company booths, swag, and networking opportunities. That night ended with a Lego Challenge and a game of CS jeopardy. The winners of the lego competition, 5 groups of 5, all received $25 Amazon gift cards, congrats to one of the WICS's teams that won!
All in all, it was a very exciting weekend that consisted of fun and networking with other women students and professionals in computing. Next year, WICS will be hosting init(Together) once again, stay tuned and don't miss out!
Studying with WICS
Over 20 people came on Monday, February 10th to join WICS for a study session. Topics such as ICS 45C, ICS 6B, and many other classes were being covered by some students that were willing to help teach those in need of help. Popcorn and soda were provided by WICS to help replenish some lost brain cells in the process. Even though it was a study session, there were still some socializing and de-stressing involved.
WICS would like to thank all those that came to help others in their studying and hope that everyone did well on their midterms!
Food and Fun with WICS
On Monday, February 3rd, over 40 people came to de-stress at the potluck with all the ICS clubs over some delicious food and fun boardgames! There was a variety of food such as sushi, buffalo wild wings, dumplings, curry, chicken alfredo, bacon siracha cookies, and cake pops! Besides food, there were also groups of people playing Apples to Apples, Cards Against Humanity, and Uno! It was a fun and stress-free night full of some nice home-made food and all of your fellow ICS friends; we will be having more potlucks later in the school year, stay tuned if you want to come join the fun next time!
Movie Night and Boardgames with WICS
Monday, January 27th, WICS hosted a movie night for over 20 people that came to de-stress from all the midterms they've had/about to have! There was popcorn, pizza, and snacks provided while The Princess Bride was playing. A group of people were also enjoying a fun game of Monopoly! It was a nice relaxing night that helped keep people's minds off of homework and exams; WICS will be having more social events like this in the future!
First WICS Meeting of Winter '14
Thursday, January 10, 2014. Are you tired of going to parties and thinking to yourself, "Uggh, what a sausage fest? Like seriously, enough with the testosterone! Where my ladies at?" FEAR NOT, women in computer science, because on this unassuming Thursday night, 40+ beautiful ladies who are pursuing a career in an emerging field that offers excellent job stability gathered to throw the most epic of ragers. There was pizza; there was soda; there were animal crackers, board games, and there was even a powerpoint presentation! Dancing Queen WICS's President Angela Li teased us with events to come. Projects committee chairwomen announced this quarter's Android App Development extravaganza, and someone even ALMOST built a hotel on Boardwalk in the first forty minutes of Monopoly. If you made the mistake of not attending, don't be sad. There will be another! Check Facebook for updates about WICS! Happy Week 1!
Week 8: Thanksgiving Potluck
Wednesday, November 20th, WICS co-hosted a Potluck with other ICS clubs on campus. The movie of choice: Iron Man 3, was being played on the projector as over 40 attendees came to have some fun and take a break from school! People got to eat some delicious food and chat with members from other ICS clubs.


text:
21 Listings:
4 Sold:
Transworld Business Advisors is the largest company in the industry and offer a range of services: Selling existing business, assisting buyers in finding the right business or franchise and helping business expand their footprint through franchising. We have been in business for 35 years and have a team of over 325, to serve your needs selling more
Mike Limbers
Rumely, MI
Money maker, established clientele, low rent, long lease.
Thank you for signing up for the BizBuySell bulletin.
Sign up for the BizBuySell Bulletin and get advice on:
You can opt out of the BizBuySell Bulletin at any time.
Business listed by:
Unknown Broker
Unknown Broker Company
Full name is required.
Get free alerts via email when new businesses are listed matching your Alger County Convenience Stores search criteria.
Reveal hidden alerts and unlock advanced features on search results and detail pages to help you find the perfect business.
Premium Members also get valuable insight into the buying process via our
video series, access to our advanced
business search agent, and more!


text:
Everett J. Benoit Sr.
Sr., of Smithfield, passed away Dec.
30, 2010, at the Greenville Health Center. Born in Providence, July 20, 1917, to Euclid and Cordelia (Auger) Benoit, he was married to Elizabeth (King) Benoit for 72 wonderful years.
Beloved father of Denise Benoit of Jamestown, Everett J. Benoit Jr. of Smithfield and Robert J. Benoit and his wife Marie of Harmony; grandfather of three and greatgrandfather of three and brother of Lillian Curtin.
Benoit was employed by Brown and Sharpe. He was a veteran of World War II, a Smithfield Little League team manager for many years and a member of St. Michael's Church Holy Name Society.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Edward Church in Providence and a burial was held at the R.I. Veteran's Cemetery in Exeter.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the R.I. Veteran's Medical Center, Patient Activities Fund, 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02903.


text:
$1 million Powerball ticket sold in downtown Louisville
$1 million Powerball ticket sold in downtown Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Somebody who bought a Powerball ticket in downtown Louisville is $1 million richer.
A $1 million winning ticket was sold in the gift shop in the PNC tower at the corner of Fifth and Main streets, according to the Kentucky Lottery's Facebook page.
Two $10,000 winning tickets were also sold in Wednesday's drawing.
One was sold at a Thornton's on Shelbyville Road and the other at a Circle K in Newport.
A ticket sold in Virginia hit all five numbers and the Powerball.
The winning numbers were: 5-27-36-38-41 and the Powerball was 12.


text:
Important note
No grade-related sanction may be imposed until a student admits misconduct and/or forgoes appeal rights, or is found in violation after a formal proceeding. The student must be allowed to continue attending the class in which dishonesty has been alleged until the right of appeal has been exhausted. If an academic integrity matter is pending at the end of a semester, the instructor must assign an Incomplete (I) in the course until the matter is resolved. A student cannot avoid a failing grade by dropping the course. The instructor can impose a sanction of "F" or "XF" even if the student drops the class, including drops that occur prior to the no-penalty drop deadline. (See below for further information on this process.)


text:
Everyone always says that Win 9x/ME sucks and Win NT/2k is so much more stable.
Why is it more stable?
Well, Here is your answer. Yet another tutorial by xmaddness.
In this tutorial I will take you on an in-depth look at the inner workings of the M$-DOS/3.x, Windows 9x and Windows NT/2k Operating Systems. This tutorial will be written in lay mans terms and requires no prior knowledge of how each system works. (Although it will definetly help) I will discuss how each operating system boots, manages memory, how applications interact with the Operating System, and how the Operating System interacts with the hardware. This could be a pretty long tutorial. :P
-----------------------A Brief summary of the PC Boot Process---------------------------
Every time you boot your computer several steps must be taken to get your system up and running. I will provide a brief summary of the initial tasks that must be completed before the operating system can run succesfully. I will list the processes first giving you a brief glimps, and then I will continue to explain them in more detail. Each time you boot your computer the following occurs:
[list=1][*]Startup BIOS tests essential system hardware. This test is called the Power on self test (POST)[*]Setup information is used to configure both hardware and software.[*]Hardware is assigned system resources that they will later use for communication.[*]The operating system is loaded, configured, and started.[*]Hardware is matched up via the BIOS to the specific device drivers that control them.[/list=1]
Now lets take a deeper look at each process in this list.
During POST the ROM BIOS startup program surveys hardware resources and needs, and assigns system resources to meet those needs. The BIOS starts by reading information from the hardware provided by DIP switches, jumpers, and the CMOS chip, and the compares what it finds with the hardware that is found. Some hardware components, such as video cards, have their own BIOS's and request system resources at this time as well.
- The ROM BIOS startup program searches for and loads an OS.
Most often the Operating System is loaded from logical drive C on the hard drive. The CMOS chips configuration information tells the startup BIOS where to look for the OS. The BIOS turns to that device (usually the hard drive, but could also be a floppy boot disk, hence why you choose the boot order in the BIOS), reads the beginning files of the OS, copies them to the memory and then turns the control over to the OS.
- The OS configures the system and completes its own loading sequence.
The OS checks some of the same things that the startup BIOS checked, such as available memory, and whether that memory is reliable. The OS continues by loading drivers to control such things as a mouse, cd-rom drive, and other peripherals.
From this point on the loading sequence begins to change depending on which OS you are using on your machine. Lets take a brief look at the M$-DOS/3.x Operating System.
---------------------------The M$-DOS Operating System-------------------------------
[list=1][*]BIOS locates the IO.SYS file and executes it.[*]The IO.SYS file finishes and locates the MSDOS.SYS file and executes it.[*]The MSDOS.SYS file locates the CONFIG.SYS file and if found executes it.[*]The COMMAND.COM file is executed and locates the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and if found executes it.[/list=1]
Once the autoexec.bat file is executed, the OS is completely loaded and the command.com waits for your commands. (hence why it is called command.com) Now lets take a quick look at what takes place during each step.
[list=1][*]The BIOS locates the master boot record on the hard drive, which looks to the partition table to determine where the logical boot drive is physically located. Once the BIOS locates the boot record it begins the loading of the first OS files. The M$-DOS boot record is a very short program; it consists of only two small hidden files which make up the core of the DOS OS. These two files are IO.SYS, and MSDOS.SYS.
[*]The first file that the BIOS loads and exectues is the IO.SYS file, which contains more BIOS software. Once this file is executed the MSDOS.SYS file, which contains software to manage files, run application software, and interface with hardware, is executed.
[*]The MSDOS.SYS file locates the CONFIG.SYS file and if found begins to execute it. The CONFIG.SYS file contains information that loads the proper device drivers and is actually optional. Next comes the COMMANd.COM. The COMMAND.COM is the file that provides you with a command prompt and awaits your instructions. The COMMAND.COM file includes the basic navigational instructions such as DIR, COPY, MOVE, RD, MD, CD, and many more.[/list=1]
This loading sequence will be the same to this point for the Windows 3.x/9x/ME Operating Systems. These OS's are based on the DOS core file system and this is the main reason for their instability. The instability issues will become clear to you after I discuss how each OS manages memory and resources.
-----------------------------The Windows 3.x Operating System-------------------------
If Windows 3.x is present on the machine there is usually and command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file that executes the WIN.COM file located in the C:\WINDOWS directory. Windows software loads just like other software running in DOS. The program is first loaded into memory and then executed. Lets take a quick look at what happens when the WIN.COM is executed.
[list=1][*]WIN.COM is executed via the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (or from the dos prompt)[*]WIN.COM looks for and loads the folowing initialization files: SYSTEM.INI, PROGMAN.INI, WIN.INI, CONTROL.INI, and MOUSE.INI.[*]Windows 3.x is then fully loaded and awaiting your commands. [/list=1]
Now lets take a quick look at what each of these INI files did.
- SYSTEM.INI contains hardware settings and multitasking optioins for windows.
- PROGMAN.INI contains information about Program Manager groups.
- WIN.INI contains information about user settings, fonts, file associations and extensions, and application settings.
- CONTROL.INI contains information about the user's desktop, screen saver, wallpaper, colors, etc...
NOTE: Windows 3.x is really NOT a true Operating System persay. During this stage of creation it was simply an application that ran in the DOS Operating System.
Continued here-------------------------------------------------------------
The M$-DOS Operating System was limited to 16-bit data processing because originally only 16 lines on the system bus were devoted to transmitting data to and from the CPU. With the earlier CPU's DOS could only handle one program at a time, and that program had direct access to the first 1024K of memory addresses. This processing mode is called REAL MODE. Later, beginning with the i286 CPU, the CPU could handle more than one program at a time by switching back and forth between them. This mode, called PROTECTED MODE, allows for memory adresses above 1024K, 32-bit data transfers, and the OS could use the hard drive as virtual memory. Once this technology became available, Windows 9x would start to emerge. We will discuss more of how the various OS's handle memory and resources in more detail in later sections.
-----------------------The Windows 9x/ME Operating System------------------
In this section we will take an indepth look into how the Windows 9x/ME Operating systems differ in the boot process from the M$-DOS/3.x OS.
M$-DOS is a 16-bit OS. All portions of the OS are written using 16-bit code, and DOS only supports 16-bit drivers and 16-bit applications. Windows 3.x also only supports 16-bit drivers and 16-bit applications, but does contain a smal amount of 32-bit code. With the advent of Windows for Workgroups 3.11, M$ introduced a fast 32-bit programming for disk access, which is now called VFAT, but generally speaking Windows 3.x is a 16-bit program and only supports 16-bit applications. Another change to note is that with the advent of Windows 9x/ME, plug and play devices become available and widly used.
For more on file systems see my tutorial FAT vs. NTFS The ultimate Guide to Win file systems.
The Windows 9x/ME OS contains some 16-bit code and some 32-bit code. Programs written in 32-bit code require much more memory and are generally faster than the 16-bit programs. Windows 9x supports VFAT, which was written for Windows with Workgroups 3.11, and is 32-bit code. Windows 9x/ME can support 16-bit drivers, although its better to use the 32-bit drivers supplied with Windows 9x/ME for three main reasons:
- 32-bit drivers are much faster.
- 32-bit drivers can be stored in Extended Memory, freeing more of the first MB's of memory for applications.
- 32-bit drivers are dynamically loaded, meaning they are loaded when needed and unloaded when not needed, saving yet more memory.
For now it is important to understand that with Windows 9x/ME, the 32-bit processes are much more used rather than M$-DOS, more of the 32-bit vs. 16-bit processing will be discussed in later sections.
Now lets take a look at the Windows 9x/ME boot process and core files.
Windows 9x/ME first loads in real mode, and then switches to protected mode. With M$-DOS, the two core real-mode system files that are needed for starting up the OS, IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS, remain in memory once the OS is up and running. With Windows 9x/ME the IO.SYS is responsible for only the initial startup processes performed in real mode, then control is turned over to VMM32.VXD, which runs in protected mode, and the IO.SYS is removed from memory and terminated. Windows 9x/ME also includes a file named MSDOS.SYS, but it is only a text file that contains some switches to affect the way the OS boots. Lets now take a quick look at the outlined startup processes and the files involved.
[list=1][*]BIOS boots the PC, runs POST, and the Plug and Play BIOS configuration begins. [*]IO.SYS loads and checks for the MSDOS.SYS, CONFIG.SYS, and loads any information found within. The COMMAND.COM and AUTOEXEC.BAT are loaded. Finally WIN.COM loads the real mode core components. IO.SYS is now terminated.[*]VMM32.VXD creates virtual machines (will be discussed later), and loads static vxd's in the registry, and the system.ini file.[*]Windows 9x/ME now transfers to PROTECTED mode.[*]Plug and Play configuration manager loads and and configures PnP devices, and loads the dynamic 32-bit device drivers (VxDs)[*]Windows then loads the remaining components such as:[/list=1]
- Kernel (kernel32.dll, Krnl386.exe)
- GDI (gdi.exe, gdi32.dll)
- Fonts
- Win.ini is checked
- Shell and desktop is constructed
Windows 9x/ME is now loaded and ready to take commands. Lets now take a closer look at each of these processes.
- BIOS Boot
Startup BIOS begins its process discussed earlier in the tutorial. If the BIOS is Plug and Play (PnP) compatible, it then looks to the perminent RAM stored on hardware devices for configuration information. It then performs the POST and then stores the PnP information for the PnP configuration manager used later in the boot process.
IO.SYS is now loaded, which creates a real mode OS environment. It automatically loads many drivers, sets environmental variables, and executes any commands listed in the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. These two files are not used in the same way that they were used with DOS, because many of these commands are now located in the IO.SYS file. Although they are still ran and the entries found within are still loaded. The reason for this is so the Windows 9x/ME OS is backwards compatible with older 16-bit drivers. IO.SYS then loads the COMMAND.COM, and follows instructions found within the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Finally IO.SYS loads the WIN.COM, which loads other real mode components.
In this part of the OS boot the IO.SYS gives control to the VMM32.VXD (Virtual Memory Manager) and loads static VxDs. (recall that Static VxDs are loaded and stay in memory, whereas Dynamic VxDs load when needed and unload when not needed) A VxD (Virtual Device Driver) works with a virtual machine to provide access to hardware for software running in the Virtual Machine. (will be discussed later) Under Windows 3.x, these VxDs were loaded from the system.ini in the [386enh] section, and had a 386 file extension.
The VMM32.VXD is built specifically for the computer it is on when Windows 9x/ME was installed and contains critical VxDs needed for a succesful boot. VMM32.VXD kills the IO.SYS and, while still in real mode, loads static VxDs device drivers that are found in the following four locations:
[list=1][*]Embedded in the Vmm32.VXD file.[*]Found in the registry.[*]Found in the SYSTEM.INI file.[*]Or stored in the \windows\system\vmm32 directory.[/list=1]
- Protected Mode switchover and PnP configuration.
The VMM32.VXD now switches to Protected mode and loads the PnP Configuration Manager. The PnP Manager loads and configures both the legacy devices and the PnP devices. Legacy devices are older devices that do not have a RAM bios with PnP information, and usually make use of DIP switches, Jumpers, or both. It looks into the memory and uses any information that the BIOS left for it and loads the appropriate PnP VxDs accordingly.
- Windows loads the remaining components.
With the VMM32.VXD still in control, Windows 9x/ME loads the three core componets (GDI, KERNEL, and USER, which will be discussed later) of the Windows 9x/ME OS. At this time the appropriate fonts are loaded and other associated resources are loaded. The WIN.INI file is checked, and commands found within are executed for backwards compatibility. The shell and desktop are now loaded, and finally the startup directory is executed.
This completes the Windows 9x/ME Operating system startup procedure. If some of the things do not make sence now, do not worry. I will discuss the KERNEL, GDI, and User subsystems in the "How Windows manages memory and resources section". These core components are what determines the stability of the Operating Systems and will become the focus of this tutorial. Although to understand WHY these core components you must have an understanding of how each operating system loads and interacts with the hardware and resources.
Well, thats it for now. The reason I'm writing this is because I have my final coming up next week in my PC Support and Services -- Operating Systems class. I figured I would write this tutorial from my notes to be sure I would pass the test. I am splitting this tutorial into five parts. Part one and two is here. The other parts will be as follows:
- Part 3 - Windows NT/2K
- Part 4 - How windows manages memory and resources
- Part 5 - Conclusion
Look for them coming soon. They will be additions to this same thread and I will either bump or post when the additions are made. Hope you enjoy!
BTW: If any thing is found to be confusing or wrong in this tutorial, contact me and I will correct them accordingly.


text:
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A 22-year-old carjacker who stole a Nevada state trooper's cruiser then fatally shot himself in the chest with the patrolman's shotgun was on probation in Florida for carrying a concealed weapon.
Investigators confirmed Wednesday that Devin Peterson of Jacksonville, Fla., appears to have died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound after carjacking a second vehicle and leading police on a chase Monday on Interstate 80 east of Reno.
Florida Department of Corrections records show he was convicted of the felony gun charge in April 2011 and was sentenced to three years' probation.
Peterson fled after he and three other Jacksonville residents were pulled over and state troopers searched their SUV for marijuana. Their bail at the Washoe County Jail is set at $150,000 each on drug and conspiracy charges.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
The man who hijacked a Nevada state trooper's cruiser and used the patrolman's shotgun to carjack another car before allegedly committing suicide appears to have died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, investigators said Wednesday.
Initial reports from the Nevada Highway Patrol that indicated the victim shot himself multiple times were incorrect, Lyon County Sheriff's Lt. J.L. Pattison said. He said the coroner's report is not official yet, but it's clear there was only one gunshot wound.
"Unofficially, it is self-inflicted," Pattison told The Associated Press. "There is only one shot. A shotgun is pretty effective."
State troopers fired shots at the suspect as he fled in the stolen patrol car Monday afternoon near the Mustang exit on Interstate 80, about 5 miles east of Reno. But Pattison said no law officers fired their weapons at the scene where the victim shot himself near Fernley, in Lyon County, about 15 miles farther east.
"The only shooting that took place in Lyon County was the suspect that shot himself in the chest. There was no law enforcement shooting at that scene," he said.
The Lyon County sheriff's office is acting as the coroner conducting an independent investigation into the death of the victim, who was a passenger with three other people in a 2013 Ford Explorer with Florida plates that was pulled over by two troopers just before 4 p.m. Monday. The small, rural county does not have a coroner's office.
The troopers, who have been placed on paid administrative leave, were searching the car when the suspect somehow managed to make off with one of the cruisers.
Other law enforcement officials started chasing the stolen vehicle, and eventually shot out its tires, patrol officials said.
But when the suspect left in the patrol vehicle, he took the trooper's shotgun and carjacked a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, troopers said.
Marie Coates, of Fernley, who was driving the Pontiac, wasn't harmed. She told KOLO-TV in Reno that she was headed eastbound on I-80 when the stolen trooper's car merged onto the highway and nearly hit her. She came upon the disabled cruiser blocking the highway and a man got out and talked to a woman in another car who drove off before he approached Coates.
"That's when I noticed the gun," Coates said. She said he walked up to her and fired shots above her car. "He started screaming at me, 'Get out of the car, I'm not kidding.'"
Authorities have not identified the suspect or a female passenger in the vehicle that was originally pulled over. They identified two other people in the SUV as Manuel Alejandro Rodriguez, 29, and Christian M. Magllano Alzpurua, 23, both of Jacksonville, Fla.
Both men have been booked in the Washoe County Detention Center on suspicion of selling a controlled substance, possessing a controlled substance for sale and conspiracy to violate a uniform controlled substance act. Bail was set at $150,000 for each man.