text:
Top 10 lineups: Angels the cream of the crop
Trio of Trout, Hamilton, Pujols is explosive; Tigers, Cards, Brewers can score big, too
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
The Super Bowl is over, Spring Training is mere days away and the time to make fatally flawed predictions about the 2013 season proper is drawing near.
But before we can make predictions, it's helpful to make assessments.
Today, we'll look at the top 10 lineups in baseball. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we'll look at the top rotations, bullpens and defenses, respectively. And finally, on Friday, we'll identify the top 10 overall rosters.
Some of you are going to say some truly unholy things about me in the comments section, while some of you will agree with me, to the extent that I say favorable things about your favorite team. Just know that while I've consulted the numbers -- advanced and otherwise -- this is, ultimately, a subjective exercise. I encourage you to contribute your own rankings below.
With all that said, here are the top 10 lineups as we enter camp:
10b. Yankees: How do you fall from No. 2 in run production in the Major Leagues to this spot on this silly little list? Easy. Lose four of your top eight run creators to either free agency (Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Raul Ibanez) or the ol' hip surgery/PED-reports combination (Alex Rodriguez). Toss in a captain (Derek Jeter) coming off ankle surgery and a center fielder (Curtis Granderson) whose production declined precipitously in the second half last season, and you open the door to scrutiny. Brett Gardner's return will help, as will Robinson Cano playing for his next contract. There's no telling what Kevin Youkilis and Travis Hafner can add at this stage of their careers. All we know is that the Yankees, on paper at least, don't look nearly as formidable as they did a year ago. But they do always seem to find a way.
10a. Red Sox: Yeah, I'm including 11 teams in a top 10. Sue me. Just seems right to pair the Red Sox and Yanks together to illustrate that they've both taken a dip. A year ago, the Red Sox were No. 1 on this list. In the time since, they've dealt Adrian Gonzalez and the injured Carl Crawford, and David Ortiz, while still productive, was limited to 90 games in 2012 because of injury. This winter, they've added Mike Napoli (a perfect fit for Fenway Park who will help them continue to crush left-handed pitching, provided his hip issues don't keep him off the field) and Shane Victorino (who had a terrible year). Give this team a healthy Jacoby Ellsbury, Ortiz, Napoli and Dustin Pedroia, and the runs will come in bunches. There are lots of question marks heading into the season, though.
9. Rockies: Colorado finished sixth in the Majors in runs scored (758) last season, and did it with Troy Tulowitzki on the shelf for all but 47 games. The emergence of catcher Wilin Rosario has lengthened an ample attack sparked by Dexter Fowler and guided by Carlos Gonzalez. A Coors creation? To some degree, as evidenced by the drastic home/road splits (and that's why I don't have the Rockies higher). But no National League team has averaged more runs per game than the Rockies over the past five seasons, and the runs will keep coming in 2013.
8. Reds: Cincinnati finally has a reliable leadoff presence in Shin-Soo Choo, who is entering a contract year, and that allows Brandon Phillips, who batted leadoff in the playoffs, to move down. Joey Votto was a shell of his former self when he returned from knee surgery last year. If he can get back to 100 percent, the Reds will undoubtedly look more like the team that led the NL in runs scored from 2010-11 than the team that finished 21st in the Majors in the runs department last year. But they'll need more of the same from Ryan Ludwick, one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball last season, and Todd Frazier, who now has a position -- third base -- to call his own.
7. Nationals: Two different Nationals offenses were on display in 2012 –- the one that put up just 3.84 runs per game in the season's first two months (ranking 25th in the Majors) and the one that averaged 4.81 runs from June 1 on (ranking fifth). Bet on the latter being the norm this year. Denard Span takes over the leadoff spot, allowing Jayson Werth to move down in the order. Bryce Harper should be more consistent in his second year. Ryan Zimmerman had arthroscopic surgery to address the shoulder injury that plagued him in '12. The Nationals have balance, speed and power -- all the makings of an elite offense.
6. Rangers: Texas finished first in the Majors in runs scored last year, with Adrian Beltre having one of the best seasons of his life. But it's difficult to imagine the loss of power provided by Josh Hamilton and Napoli won't be missed, in some measure, even in that ballpark, and even with the additions of Lance Berkman and A.J. Pierzynski. The possibility of Nelson Cruz facing a suspension over his reported involvement with performance-enhancing drugs is a big question mark, and Ian Kinsler's drop in production as 2012 evolved is a concern. The Rangers will need another big year from David Murphy, and they'll need big contributions from Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt when they arrive. This is still an elite lineup, but it might not reach the production levels of some recent years.
5. Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are loaded with both talent and question marks, and I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have combined to average 68 home runs over the past three seasons. Can they reach that level in 2013? Jose Reyes is an elite leadoff man. Will that translate to the American League? Was signing Melky Cabrera, who is coming off a PED suspension and was a fourth outfielder just three years ago, a mistake? If Brett Lawrie is healthy, will he be the monster he was down the stretch in '11? Will Colby Rasmus ever reach his star potential? Big questions, all. But remember that before injuries began to ravage their lineup in mid-July last year, the Blue Jays were averaging nearly five runs per game. And they've certainly improved on paper.
4. Brewers: Any questions about Ryan Braun in the wake of his successful appeal of a PED suspension were answered convincingly in 2012, as he put together another MVP-type season. Aramis Ramirez effectively replaced Prince Fielder in terms of lineup presence, equaling Braun's 80 extra-base hits. Nori Aoki, who had an underrated rookie year, sets the table, and the Brew Crew's hope is that Rickie Weeks avoids the first-half woes that hampered them last year. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had an .873 OPS last season. This lineup is an absolute handful.
3. Cardinals: The Redbirds' lineup includes five guys -- Allen Craig, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran and David Freese -- who finished in the NL's top 20 in OPS last season, more than any other club. Craig is going to be a stud. Three players who entered 2012 with less than two years of service time finished the season among the top 10 in runs created per 27 outs. The first two were Mike Trout and Buster Posey, as you might have guessed, and the third was Craig (or as I like to call him, "The Wrench"). You can put the Brewers and Cards in any order you choose. I'm giving the Cards the slightest of edges because of their depth.
2. Tigers: Two seasons ago, the Tigers finished fourth in the Majors in runs scored with 787. Then they added Fielder, one of the elite power hitters in the game, and they scored ... 61 fewer runs. Naturally. Truth is, the injured Victor Martinez was really missed, and Jhonny Peralta, Alex Avila and Delmon Young did not adequately support Fielder and Triple Crown winner and AL MVP Miguel Cabrera. So the plate discipline a healthy Martinez adds to the picture in 2013 is vital, as is the speed and presence of the newly acquired Torii Hunter. If Austin Jackson further proves to be the real thing in the leadoff spot, the Tigers can and should again finish somewhere in the top five in runs scored.
1. Angels: With Hamilton aboard, the Angels now have two guys who ranked in the top 10 in runs created per 27 outs last season (Trout finished first in that category). Oh, and they have Albert Pujols, who won't be going through the same adjustment issues he did at the start of 2012. Because of their ages, Hamilton (31) and Pujols (33) probably won't be the historically productive pair some fans might dream they will be, but there is little reason to believe an Angels team that ranked fourth in the Majors in runs scored last season won't again be elite. A big X-factor is Mark Trumbo, who disappeared in the second half last season. As it stands, I'll take the Angels' lineup over any other right now.
Honorable mention: The Dodgers still strike me as more sizzle than substance because they need a leadoff hitter and the jury is out on Carl Crawford and Hanley Ramirez. On measure, though, they'll certainly improve on the 637 runs they scored a year ago, perhaps by a considerable margin. ... The A's had the most productive offense in baseball in the second half last season. It's just difficult to sustain that level of output in that ballpark of theirs. ... The D-backs fell from the ranks of my personal top 10 when they traded Justin Upton. ... The Braves have eight starters 25 or younger. Lots of Uptons and upside. ... Thanks to the continued excellence of Paul Konerko and huge comebacks from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, the White Sox ranked seventh in the Majors in runs last year. Can they repeat that?
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lasers hold a great deal of promise for the
battlefield – they are able to strike at the speed of light giving a better
chance of hitting a fast moving target on short notice on the battlefield.
The U.S. Navy has been working on a laser system
that will eventually be mounted on ships to replace the rapid firing cannons
that are designed to shoot down missiles and other threats at close range. A
laser system to replace the rapid-fire guns has been in development by the Navy
since the 1980's reports Military.com,
and the laser system has hit a new milestone.
The goal of the Navy missile program is to create
a laser
with one megawatt of power. Last month, the research teams working on the
project at the Los Alamos National Lab demonstrated that they could create
lasers with the power needed for the Navy. A preliminary review of the program
began last week and is being conducted by the Office of Naval Research.
Dinh Nguyen, senior project leader for the Free
Electron Laser program said, "Until now, we didn't have the evidence to
support our models."
The research team used a new injector design to
shoot electrons through a series of magnetic fields and was able to generate
the power needed for a viable weapon. The laser program is called the
free-electron laser of FEL.
Office of Naval Research program manager Quentin
Saulter said, "The FEL is expected to provide future U.S. Naval forces
with a near-instantaneous laser ship defense in any maritime environment
throughout the world."
The laser began as a 14-kilowatt prototype, and the
research team then moved on to producing a 100-kilowatt laser. The test with
the new injector has put the research team 9-months ahead of its 2011 testing
The U.S. Air force is also working on laser
systems that will be mounted inside aircraft to destroy missiles in flight. The
Air Force ended
development of an airborne chemical laser early last year in favor of
solid-state lasers.


text:
Although Apple's iOS first showed up on the iPhone in 2007, it was
easily adapted to the larger iPad that launched in 2010.
Google is now starting to gain some traction with Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" -- it was
designed from the beginning for tablets. Likewise, HP/Palm
and RIM are using mobile, touch-optimized operating systems for their
And where does leave Microsoft? For now, Microsoft is being
left behind as its competitors continue to move forward at a lightning fast
pace. Even though the company has a stellar basis for a tablet OS with Windows
Phone 7, Microsoft exec Ashley Highfield says that the time just isn't right
yet to jump into the fray.
"We won't do anything in the tablet market unless we
can be distinctive," Highfield told
For now, Microsoft is pushing Windows 7 as its
"tablet" operating system of choice. In fact, Highfield notes that he
uses Dell's poorly
received Inspiron Duo for tablet duties.
Windows 8 will support
ARM processors that are so prevalent in today's iPads,
Xooms, and PlayBooks,
but such a fully featured operating system is still a bit of overkill for a
7" to 10.1", touch-dominated device.


text: Deng was an all star last season. And all NBA defensive 2nd team. He's a proven winner, an unselfish player, a legit permimeter defender, a capable scoring option, he has playoff experience, and is a veterna leader. In my opinion, he is the best player that's been listed as a potential trade target and he is just what our team needs. But, again, we don't have the trade chips to make it worthwhile for Chicago and I certainly don't want to take on Boozer's deal in return. It's shocking to me that anybody here would say no to a Demar-Jose/Deng deal.


text:
By Rachel Segura
Journal Staff Writer
Taking a chance should be the title for author C. Joseph Greaves next novel. Based on the story of his journey to become a published writer, it would be a nice fit.
As a trial lawyer in Los Angeles, C. Joseph Chuck Greaves and his wife left the City of Angels when he retired in 2006. They lived in Santa Fe until January of this year when they came to McElmo Canyon.
His inspiration for writing sprang up in 1994 while on a Thanksgiving hiking trip in Johns Canyon near Mexican Hat, Utah. As he and his wife were hiking a trail it began to snow. The heavy silence of snowfall, and the uninhabited canyon, fell all around them as they turned back. But they were delayed when they came upon two human skulls lying mysteriously on the ground. A thunder clap rolling through the canyon, broke the deafening silence and awakened a sudden curiosity in Greaves.
He tracked his curiosity to a woman in Mexican Hat who owned a trading post. According to her, the skulls belonged to two sheepherders who were murdered in the 1930s over land settlements and greed.
Upon returning to California, it was all Greaves could think about.
When he retired, he knew he wanted to write, and this tale was the perfect hitch. The haunting story of Johns Canyon began a 15 year search of fact finding that would eventually lead to Greaves sophomore novel, Hard Twisted. This literary force of fiction, born from a story of kidnap, murder, secrets and betrayal, was released on Nov. 13 with a book tour to follow, starting on Nov. 19.
The author kindly offered the Journal his thoughts on writing, what it took to land his publishing deals and what its like to be compared to famed author Cormac McCarthy.
How important was reading as a child, an adolescent and an adult?
Hugely important. As an adolescent, I read my sisters entire set of Nancy Drew mysteries, and that proved to be a gateway drug to Ray Bradbury, Arthur Conan Doyle and Rex Stout. Ive always been a voracious reader, of literary fiction for the most part, and that habit is inculcated early in life. Parents take note.
What makes a book appealing to a reader other than tastes or interests?
I know that Im personally reluctant to read books that fall outside the genres to which I naturally gravitate. Thats why book groups are so valuablethey force you to stretch your reading muscles. I belong to a group in McElmo Canyon, and as a consequence, Ive enjoyed several books this year that Id otherwise never have read. The common denominator among those books was great writing. Great writing overcomes all barriers.
Tell me about Hard Twisted.
Its set in Depression-era Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. A young girl and her father are living on the side of the road, homeless, and they meet a drifter from Texas named Jimmy Palmer. The drifter kills her father and kidnaps the girl. From there, he takes her, basically, on a years killing spree all over the West. After he commits this double murder in Utah, they go on the run and eventually get caught in Texas. I was fascinated with the girl more than anything so the story is told from her perspective. The Valley of the Gods is a beautiful place but it is harsh, stark country for a girl her age. It was a typical Stockholm Syndrome situation.
When trying to get published, how did you stay positive while being rejected?
It takes a thick skin, and a breathtaking leap of faith, to quit your day job in order to write full-time for four years without a contract. I guess I just believed in what I was writing, and that if given a fair reading, it would find both an agent and a publisher. Happily, thats exactly what happened. I was luckier than most. I received around twenty form rejections from New York agents, and then I entered both of my manuscripts in the 2010 SouthWest Writers international writing contest. There were 680 entrants that year, and Hard Twisted came in second, and Hush Money came in first. Within two weeks I had an agent, and within six months I had two publishing contracts, with St. Martins Press and with Bloomsbury.
Describe a typical day of writing.
I get up, eat breakfast, write until 1:00, eat lunch, then generally put in another hour or so of editing. Im usually tapped out by 2:30, and move on to real life.
Why was your debut novel not the novel that led you into the direction of writing?
I didnt want my first book to be literary fiction. As a novelist trying to succeed, that genre is a little harder to sell, so I went with a more popular fiction genre. Hush Money is a legal thriller set in Los Angeles. It was very well-received.
Some authors feel their writing contains bits of themselves, some dont. In your opinion, do authors draw from parts of themselves more often than they think?
There are no vampires, and yet theres no shortage of vampire novels. But that doesnt mean Anne Rice didnt put a little bit of herself into the characters that inhabit Interview with the Vampire. In Hard Twisted, I tell the story from the point of view of a young girl from Depression-era Oklahoma. In preparing to write in that voice, I read a lot of books from that time and place. I studied the vocabulary, vocal inflections, and local customs. But those are just costumes. The underlying narrative has to come from somewhere, and that place is me as the author.
What do you think about your writing being compared to Cormac McCarthys?
Ive written this novel in a spare, matter-of-fact style, which is a style of Cormac McCarthy. Its gruesomely descriptive and in that way makes it captivating. Hes one of my favorites so if people want to say that, Ill take it.
Greaves will be at Marias Bookstore in Durango on Tuesday, Nov. 27 to promote the release of Hard Twisted. To learn more about the author and his novels visit his website, chuckgreaves.com


text:
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text:
So, I'll just cut to the case.
It's stated by Itachi (albeit in a weird manner) that in order to awaken MS, a Sharingan wielder must kill the ones closest to him.
Let's make a list of the known MS wielders.
Danzō Shimura - Stole Shisui's Sharingan, already in MS state
Itachi Uchiha - Killed the whole clan
Izuna Uchiha - Might have killed someone, not out of the question
Madara Uchiha - Obviously a man that would do many things for power
Obito Uchiha - ?
Hatake Kakashi - Still not 100% certain but probably killed Rin
Sasuke Uchiha - Found out the truth about Itachi right after causing his death
Shisui Uchiha - Not enough info on him but he was most probably a part of Root, hence, killed his friend
I feel like I have to elaborate on Shisui being a part of Root.
Although it's not 100% certain, there are a couple of indicators.
First of all, his affiliation with Danzo is kind of sketchy.
I have reason to believe that he gave his eye willingly. Otherwise how could Danzo just snatch it out of it's locket and stop at only one? Why not just kill Shisui and have both?
Besides, his mantra is pretty much the same as Root and Danzo's. The mantra Itachi said that he learned from Shisui.
Self sacrifice... A nameless shinobi who protects peace from within it's shadow... That is a true shinobi.
Although it's not identical, the whole reason the Root and Danzo existed was this mantra. They did the dirty work, protected the village from within the shadows and sacrificed themselves so others could live.
Meh, anyways.
At first I thought Kakashi awakening his MS was just an anomality.
Maybe he awakened it because he already underwent such emotional trauma, losing both of his teammates and Minato. Maybe he blamed himself for the death of Obito, so that counted as ''killing a friend'' or maybe just because he was an outsider with a Sharingan, regular MS laws didn't apply to him...
But after the latest issues, seeing that he probably killed (or caused the death of) Rin, I'm leaning towards believing that what Itachi said was actually true.
You had to kill a friend.
So, this brings up the question. How did Obito gain his MS? He still has his original Sharingan, the pattern is the same as Kakashi's. Which means he awakened it.
There are two possibilities I can think of.
One; he awakened it because he had a shared vision with Kakashi when Rin died. He might have felt that he killed Rin, due to seeing it from Kakashi's viewpoint. Which would be a plot hax and very implausible if you ask me...
Two; he killed a friend.
I'm leaning towards the second option.
Madara had already planned pretty much everything out. He had given his eyes to Nagato, which means that everything was set.
He had no reason to live in his weakened state anymore. Him encountering Obito was probably just a pleasent coincidence (for Madara) and he tweaked his plan accoding to it.
So, under Obito's circumstances, he seems as if he has no one else to befriend other than Madara at the moment. Besides, he owes him his life and Madara's been treating him pretty well up until now.
Seeing that Madara actually ended up entrusting his whole plan to Obito, it would mean that he would want him to become stronger.
Madara already stated that he couldn't live unless he was plugged into the Mazou.
So, all he would have to do would be to pull a Dumbledore.
Let Snape/Obito kill him while he was already going to die and bestow him the Elder Wand/MS.
Anyways, long story short; I theorize that Obito killed Madara thus unlocked his MS.
Cheers! Thanks for reading!


text:
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This is the iPhone 5 clock radio with multiple alarms that wake sleepers with music, a buzzer, or bed-shaking vibrations. An iPhone 5 docks in the clock radio and the alarm can be set to play the iPhone's music, FM radio, a buzzer, or initiate the vibrating pad that sets up under a pillow to wake stubborn sleepers. The dual alarms enable one to be set for the weekdays and the other for the weekends, or for partners who wake at different times. The touch of a button automatically syncs the clock's time with the iPhone 5, the LCD has 10 levels of brightness, and the radio provides up to 10 preset stations. Unlike typical clock radios with muted sound, this superior model has a passive radiator that provides deep bass. Charges docked devices. Compatible with iPhone 5, iPod 5th generation, and iPod nano 7th generation. 9 1/4" L x 5 2/3" H x 4 3/4 D. (1 3/4 lbs.)
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text:
For this reason alone I might have flown or swum to Perth to ask to ordain as an anagarika there! Ajahn Brahm, like most heroes, took action when others would not and accepted the consequences. In the end, he's more supported than ever.To be honest, at the beginning I was going to steer clear of it due to the bhikkhuni controversy.
James, I wish you the best, but be mindful that Ajahn Brahm is on the leading edge of what I feel is the next wave in the Thai sangha, that being full support of women in the Sangha. As you know from his Dhamma talks, he's a progressive force. You have a rare opportunity to train with someone who represents the new wave, and I hope you see this as rarefied air, and not a hindrance. Anumodana!


text:
This is the inflatable paddleboard that evokes the centuries-old stand-up surfing form of Ku Hoe He'e Nalu seen today on Oahu's renowned Waialua Bay. Without the bulk of a solid board, it travels easily in its included 33" H x 20" W x 9" D backpack, inflating in minutes with the included hand pump. Constructed of durable drop-stitched polyethylene that provides maximum rigidity and buoyancy for riders up to 265 lbs., it is wider and thicker (and more stable) than a traditional surfboard. A 4" raised tip prevents the nose diving under the water and a removable epoxy fin enables consistent tracking when paddled by the 72" adjustable-length polyethylene paddle. A large, diamond-groove patterned EVA foot pad ensures a comfortable grip while you transition your feet to "surf stance" when riding a wave. With integrated carrying handle and leash insert. Ages 13 and up. Inflated 10' L x 31" W x 4 3/4" H. (26 lbs.)
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Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
Shipping charges noted in parentheses apply in addition to our standard shipping & service.
We're sorry, but gift wrap is not available. Please call 1-800-395-7006 for Premium or Express delivery rates.
Oversized items scheduled for expedited delivery (Premium or Express) may incur additional shipping and services charges because of their unusual size. Please call 1-800-321-1484 for an estimate of S&S charges. International callers, please call 1-513-860-3397.
We're sorry, but gift wrap is not available for oversized items.
Shipped via truck and may require customer assistance upon delivery. You will be contacted to make an appointment for delivery.
We're sorry, but gift wrap and gift cards are not available.
GST still applies and will be charged upon processing. For complete shipping & service charges please call Customer Service at
May we recommend:
COPYRIGHT © 2018 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W109147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


text:
9:00 - 48.4 mile / godzina 36 minut - 10:36
Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway - end
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text:
has launched a new beta version of its Flash Player. The new version
is 10.2
beta and it is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac
computers right now on Adobe
Labs. The new beta includes Stage Video which is a new API that
has best in class video playback performance across platforms. The
beta also has support for hardware acceleration in IE9.Other
new features include enhanced text rendering, native mouse cursors
API along, and support for full screen playback with multiple
monitors. Stage Video is one of the most important things in the new
beta version and promises to allow websites to deliver smooth video
to a number of different devices and access hardware acceleration for
the entire video pipeline.Adobe writes, "Working
together with hardware vendors has helped us take advantage of the
GPU to offload not only H.264 hardware decoding (introduced in Flash
Player 10.1) but the rest of the video rendering pipeline, including
color conversion, scaling, and blitting. How efficient is hardware
acceleration in Flash Player 10.2 beta? Using Stage Video, we've
seen laptops play smooth 1080p HD video with just over 0% CPU
usage."Stage video will work with all existing video
viewed in Flash Player according to Adobe once the new API is used in
the video player SWFs. Adobe notes that YouTube has already started
to add early support for Stage Video. Using IE9, Adobe claims that
some tests have shown up to 35% improvement in rendering performance.
The final release of Flash Player 10.2 is expected for next
year.Adobe notes, "We've found the beta to be pretty
stable and ready for broad testing, but keep in mind this is a
pre-release version of Flash Player, so not everything will be fully
baked. If you encounter any issues, please file a bug in our public
database so we can investigate. We appreciate your help and


text:
Mama would never describe herself this way, but she is an artist. She is one who likes to add beauty to the mundane. We have everything from hand-embroidered pillow cases to cute snowmen ornaments made with love. Even our dishtowels — items designed to clean up messes — have her handiwork on them. And I wish I had kept count of all the little kids she has made doll quilts for… You see, everything and everyone deserves beauty and hope.
Today, take a look at some of her work and consider Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I love her days-of-the-week dishtowels, so I turned one into a journal page for you. I didn't iron it because I convinced myself you'd like to have the texture in the background… and I hate to iron! I've written about Mama's embroidery work before. To read that story, click here.
To download today's journal page, click here.
Here's a glimpse:


text:
Google has high expectations for Android in 2009 as it looks for the open source OS to grab a larger portion of the smartphone market. The open source OS started slowly, but is now picking up steam in the market.
T-Mobile's HTC-sourced million-selling G1 smartphone was the first Android device to hit the market, but it is no longer alone. Samsung has officially announced its new Android-powered I7500 handset. The phone features a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 320 x 480. The I7900 supports HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 5.76Mbps networks on 900/1700/2100MHz frequencies.
The device also supports EDGE and GPRS networks on 850/900/1800/1900 Mhz. That means that it could support the AT&T network here in America. However, Samsung makes no mentions of the device coming to the U.S. at this point with the launch date set for June in Europe only.
Samsung Executive Vice President JK Shin said in a statement, "Samsung is among the earliest members of the Open Handset Alliance and has been actively moving forward to introduce the most innovative Android mobile phone. With Samsung's accumulated technology leadership in mobile phone industry and our consistent strategy to support every existing operating system, I believe that Samsung provides the better choices and benefits to our consumers."
Samsung says that the I7500 offers the full suite of Google services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Calendar, and Google Talk. The device also has internal GPS allowing location-based features of the Google services to be utilized.
Other features of the device include a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a Power LED that can record video and take still pictures. The phone supports video and audio formats including MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, MP3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, WMA, RA. Internal memory is 8GB and the phone has a microSD card slot supporting cards up to 32GB. Power comes from an internal rechargeable battery with 1,500 mAh of power. Overall measurements for the I7500 are 115 x 56 x 11.9mm.


text:
At KOA, we love having fun and inviting new folks to join us online as well as at our campgrounds. Share your camping experiences, stories, photos and videos!
Each month, direct to your email inbox, we'll send the best camping news, tips, recipes and more, to enhance the camping lifestyle that you love so much.
Learn More
RV Expert Mark Polk gives you an inside look at the RVIA National RV Trade Show and what's new in RVs for 2018.
Classic rice crispy treats take on an adult twist with this favorite recipe.
Keep your camping trips save and fun with our list of tips for safe camping.
Plan the perfect trip from home or on the road with the official KOA app. Learn More
Open All Year
Reserve: 800-562-9751
Info: 616-895-6601
8275 Warner Street
Allendale, MI 49401
From Grand Rapids: Take 96 West toward Muskegon. Take Exit 16 toward CR B35/ Coopersville. Turn left onto 68th Ave. Turn right on Warner St to KOA. About 6 miles.
Camper Rating 4 out of 5
Based on 1000 Reviews
Download PDF
Do not include the length of your tow or pull vehicle.


text: It's the hottest month of the year and the entries reflect that! To enter the TransWorld SURF Model Search email your photos to email@example.com. Please include name, age, hometown, and some info about yourself. Monthly winners will receive prizes from B. Swim, Spy, and be featured in TransWorld SURF magazine. You must be 18 to enter.


text: It looks like you will soon be able to do more than just online shopping and download tunes via the internet. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting a new development in Broward County, South Florida, concerning online legality. In what can perhaps be seen as a sad reflection of our times, the county has just launched online services which allow married couples to apply for divorce online. The site will guide residents through the legal steps to getting a divorce. The system is designed to help people with low income save money by foregoing attorney fees. The various steps on the site contain full information, including legal definitions. They also have sets of questions to help users determine which forms they need to fill out. "It kind of guides you through, it asks questions. Once it knows your name, it will put it in every space it should go," Kris Mazzeo, director of the circuit/civil family division of the clerk of courts, said. Once residents complete the online forms necessary, they merely have to mail the signed forms to the county clerk's office. Some forms do require a notary signature. Broward County officials feel the service will save its citizens time and inconvenience. "People come downtown and it's expensive to park. If we can keep them from making extra trips to the courthouse, it would be great for them," director Mazzeo said. The city may also have some selfish motives in adopting this change of policy. The online application process is expected to simplify the paperwork needed by the county clerks and eliminate incomplete applications and angry customers. Broward County is also launching similar legal services for small claims lawsuits and tenant evictions. Broward County is not the first county to bring its divorce process online. The opulent Palm Beach County also has adopted such a system, along with several others.


text:
The flow of blood pumped by the heart is controlled by one-way valves. These valves assure that blood moves in only one direction. When the heart's mitral valve leaks blood into the upper chamber from the lower chamber, it is called mitral regurgitation.
If the amount of blood that leaks is severe, mitral regurgitation can be serious. The sooner it is treated, the better the outcome.
Mitral regurgitation may be caused by:
- Mitral valve prolapse—Abnormal closure of the valve with protrusion of a leaflet tip backward into the left atrium, causing it to leak.
- Infections that cause scarring of the heart valve such as rheumatic fever or bacterial endocarditis.
- Damage from a heart attack.
- Several different types of congenital heart defects, which can affect mitral valve function.
- Cardiomyopathies—Diseases that weaken the heart muscle and stretch the mitral valve.
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your chance of developing mitral regurgitation include:
- A history of rheumatic fever or other serious infectious disease
- Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Storage diseases such as hemochromatosis and glycogen storage disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Muscle disease
- Malnutrition
- Alcohol use disorder
- Radiation exposure
- Exposure to certain drugs such as lithium, sulfonamides, chemotherapy, and phenothiazines
The speed with which symptoms progress closely follows the cause of mitral disease. Acute diseases cause rapid decline, while more chronic diseases lead to slower onset of symptoms.
Mitral regurgitation may cause:
- Chronic, progressive fatigue
- Shortness of breath, especially with exertion
- Worsening shortness of breath when you lie down
- New, associated palpitations or racing heart rate, which may suggest the development of a heart arrhythmia
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Leaking heart valves usually make sounds called murmurs that can be heard through a stethoscope. You will likely be referred to a cardiologist.
Imaging tests evaluate the heart and surrounding structures. These can be done with:
An ECG can measure your heart's electrical activity.
Treatment options depend on the severity and history of the valve leakage and its effects on the heart's size and function. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Treat Underlying Disease
Correcting the underlying problem may help the mitral valve function. The treatment depends on the symptoms. In chronic and slowly progressive mitral regurgitation, medications may help reverse effects on the heart's size. Ultimately, surgery will likely be needed. In acute and rapidly declining disease, the benefit of medications is limited to short term stabilization until emergency surgery occurs.
There are several open heart surgical procedures that can fix leaking valves. The type chosen will depend on the valve and the expert recommendation of the surgeon. The valve may be repaired, if it is an option, or it will be replaced.
To help reduce the chances mitral regurgitation:
- Prevent cardiovascular disease by controlling weight and blood pressure, exercising, eating heart-healthy foods, and watching your cholesterol levels
- Avoid contact with streptococcal diseases including strep throat, pharyngitis, and scarlet fever
- Get prompt treatment for infections
- Avoid IV drug use
- Limit alcohol intake
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC
- Review Date: 09/2017 -
- Update Date: 05/02/2014 -


text:
Amidst all of this talk of [relatively] low-displacement
turbocharged, gasoline-electric hybrid, and fully electric vehicles, the
North American car market seems to have forgotten about turbodiesel engines.
Diesels are the go-to solution for getting incredible fuel economy in European
vehicles, but the North American auto market doesn't have a wide range of
diesel vehicles to choose from (unless you want a full-size pickup).
However, you can always count of the VW Group to embrace
turbodiesel technology and the company offers U.S.-spec Audi and Volkswagen
branded vehicles with TDI engines. The latest of these vehicles is the new
2012 Passat TDI.
The Passat TDI features a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine and
starts at $25,995. For the enthusiasts out there, the TDI can be paired with a
standard 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed DSG dual-clutch
VW says that the Passat TDI will deliver 43 mpg on the
highway, giving it a maximum driving range of 800 miles. City fuel economy is a
respectable 31 mpg. For comparison, the Toyota Camry Hybrid ($27,050), Hyundai
Sonata Hybrid ($25,795), and Ford Fusion
Hybrid ($28,600) are rated at 31/35, 35/40, and 41/36 respectively
(city/highway)."The 2012 Passat is a true Volkswagen, offering German engineering, class-leading standard features, and superior fuel economy, all for a remarkable value," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. "Demonstrating our commitment to the American market, the car will be produced at one of the newest, most advanced, and environmentally responsible auto assembly plants in the world in Chattanooga, Tennessee."
Interestingly, while VW seems to be embracing diesel engines
for its passenger vehicles, Ford has no plans to share its European diesel
engines with consumers in the U.S.
"[Ford] could easily bring diesels to the U. S.
market," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for global
product development, in March. "It doesn't make sense. We are not going to
force it on customers."


text:
Vennligst vent...
Prebz og Dennis PC
Marcus og Martinus PC
GO Lamp for R9841760. Dual Lamp module for BARCO IQ G350/G350 PRO/G400/G500/G500PRO/R350/R350PRO/R400/R500/R500 projectors. Type = UHP. Power = 250 Watts. Lamp life (Hours) = 3000. Now with 2 years FOC warranty.2 YEAR free of charge (FOC) warrantyagainst product failure on all GO Lamps.30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE- If you're not happy with the performance of a GO Lamp in your machine up to 30 days after purchasing it, simply send it back for a full credit.GO Lamps are a leading manufacturer of Genuine Original replacement projector and RPTV lamps that offer the exact same performance as the original.With lower manufacturing costs and a shorter route to market, GO Lamps are generally priced 25% to 35% more competitively without any compromise on the quality.The GO Lamps range is endorsed by the world's leading lamp (bulb) manufacturers Philips, OSRAM, Ushio and Phoenix. The range is put through strict quality checks which include: Beam Performance, Ignition, Voltage, Appearance, Connections, and Runtime. All lamps are manufactured to ISO14001 standards. Each Genuine Original Lamp is bespoke designed to ensure great performance levels and not to infringe on any IP or copyrights.
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text:
A part of my family
Peggy King, a child sponsor since 1986, included World Vision in her estate plan so she can continue helping her sponsored children and others like them -- even after she's gone. This is her story.
* * *
It wasn't easy for Peggy to begin sponsoring children. As a single mother with four children of her own, she struggled to make ends meet. But when her kids saw a World Vision television special about child sponsorship, Peggy couldn't ignore their desire to help others.
"They said that they would save up every penny they had," she recalls. "So we went ahead and put a jar on the table, and they put their pennies into it. Every single month, we came up with exactly the right amount!"
As the years went on, Peggy and her family grew very close to their sponsored children. She says she will always remember their sponsored boy from Ecuador, Louis. "He had gotten an award, a medal on a yellow ribbon. He sent that medal to me. He said he wanted me to have his prized possession," says Peggy.
Her youngest child had been killed, and had won medals from the Marine Corps. When one of her other kids suggested that they send one of her son's medals to Louis, she did. "He wrote back to me and said it was his most prized possession of his whole life, and that he would keep and treasure it forever."
Peggy considers her sponsored children as family and holds them close to her heart. She's even been known to put pictures they send alongside her biological children's photos on her mantel.
She also works with World Vision to provide her children with additional gifts. "I ask my sponsored children if there is something special they are thinking about that they would need or want, and I send World Vision the money to help them get it," Peggy shares. It is no surprise that her sponsored children call her "abuelita," which means "little grandmother."
"I am a part of their family, just like they are a part of mine," she explains.
To make sure that her sponsored children will be taken care of even when she is no longer here, Peggy decided to include World Vision in her estate plan. "I don't know when I am going to die, and I don't want my kids to go without a sponsor," she says. "The children I have now may be grown and not need me, but I will always have a World Vision child."
That is why Peggy made sure that her children and others like them will have her support, no matter what happens.
"I'm including them just like you would a part of your family," Peggy explains. "I wouldn't want them left without support," she adds.
Because she made World Vision part of her estate plan, Peggy can rest assured that her family will be taken care of beyond her lifetime.
Jessie Lester is a writer with World Vision U.S. Additional reporting by Vicki Brummond.
Read more inspiring stories of other faithful World Vision supporters who plan to continue making a difference after their lifetime. Learn how you too can use your will, living trust, retirement assets, and more to leave a legacy of hope for the world's children.


text:
What is the education discount policy?
For more than 15 years, Bio-Rad has made science education a major priority. To support this effort, the company has implemented a discount policy that allows high school and college teaching laboratories to purchase kits, instruments, reagents, and other equipment at preferred prices.
How do I apply for the education discount?
If you are an educator at the high school or college level, visit our Education Discount Policy page to establish an education account number.
Pkg of 1, 5.0 x 20 cm, glass chromatography column, max. vol. 393 ml, cross-sectional area 19.63 cm2, for use in low-pressure chromatography
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*Econo-Column columns are composed of borosilicate glass, polypropylene, and polyethylene. They have good chemical compatibility with acids, bases, chaotropes, and polar organic solvents. However, they should not be used with nonpolar solvents such as hexane or methylene chloride. Please contact technical support to verify the compatibility of untested solvents before use.
Related Products
Econo-Column columns are available in sizes 5–170 cm long and 0.5–5.0 cm in diameter and volumes from 1–1,374 ml. View the complete line of Econo-Column glass chromatography columns to select the most suitable column for your application.
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View the full selection of Bio-Rad chromatography media to select the best column packing for your separation needs.
Supporting Documents
See the Empty Chromatography Columns and Accessories Brochure to explore a variety of spin, gravity, low- and medium-pressure columns and select the appropriate column for your application.
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This product contains electrical or electronic material. Learn more about Bio-Rad's EU Recycle Program


text:
If you appreciate the work we're doing and you'd prefer to download the free recordings but still wish to give in return, you may give electronically via PayPal by clicking the link below.
You may also give via postal mail, whether in return for the free downloads, or to order hard copies. If requesting a hard copy of a recording, simply list the respective recording number(s) and whether you'd like an audio cassette or CD. Make checks payable to "Gospel Truth Ministries" and address your letter to:
Each CD (80 min) and each cassette (62 min or 92 min) can usually hold at least two separate messages. Most sermons are between 20 and 40 minutes long. Please include at least US$2 per title to help cover our costs of materials and postage.
When you donate toward a recording, whether by purchasing a hard copy or simply giving in return for free access to the online versions, you are sowing into this ministry so that it may continue to give freely to the Body of Christ around the world.
Any gifts for hard copies above $2 per recording, and all gifts for online versions or our ministry in general, are tax-deductible under U.S. federal law.
Your gifts given in faith will not only increase our outreach but increase fruit to your account as well (Phil. 4:17)!
Apart from your offerings, we will not be able to continue this outreach of freely downloadable recordings. Your thoughtful giving partners you with God and us in this labor of love.
"As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. Don't take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts. Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food" (Matthew 10:7-10).
After listening to the full message, we encourage you to share your thoughts, questions and testimonies with us.
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Please also visit our ministry training school, The Prophetic Voice Institute.
Dr. Kostelnik offers three diploma courses, totaling over 600 pages, available free online, or for a small fee through postal mail correspondence.
Do you need prayer? Healing? A miracle? God cares about your needs!
Dr. Kostelnik pastors a Spirit-filled assembly in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. See more about White Oak Chapel!


text: Registration is now open for the Leading Edge course, "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity" offered by the SW Colorado Small Business Development Center. This innovative, farmer and rancher friendly course teaches the art of business planning and management with a focus on agriculture and related businesses such as food processing, farm services, recreation and tourism. Attendees can learn to test ideas, explore new marketing opportunities, create budgets, understand financial statements, find about how and where to get funding, develop a business and marketing plan and network with other farmers. Ideal for both new and experienced agricultural producers and entrepreneurs. This Leading Edge course is offered by SW Colorado Small Business Development Center and will be held on Saturday afternoons at the Mancos Public Library starting Saturday, Jan. 19 and will run through March 23. Please register by Friday, Jan. 11 to secure a seat. For details and to register, contact the SBDC at 247-7009 or Cindy Dvergsten at 882-4222.


text:
you look at release dates merely, one might think that Ford is a bit behind
the times with fully electric vehicles. After all, GM is launching
the Chevy Volt and Nissan is launching the LEAF EV in 2010.
Ford's battery electric vehicle (BEV), the Ford
Focus Electric, won't land until late next year. But
if you look at Ford's overall approach and the slew of incoming
offerings you realize just how seriously the company is taking
electrification -- they're just being a bit smarter about it,
offering more of a "portfolio" of different kinds of
electric offerings. And anyone who knows investing knows a
diversified portfolio is always the smartest investment.We
sat down with Sherif Marakby, Director of Ford's Hybrid and Electric
vehicles program, and received some perspective on Ford's electric
vehicle efforts that we hope to share with you.I.
A Bit of BackgroundElectric
car efforts date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. By
1897 there was a fleet of electric taxis operating in New York City,
sold by Electric Carriage and Wagon Company.However, Ford's
first modern electric car effort arguably was the Ford
Comuta concept car. Produced and sold in very limited
quantities in 1967, the vehicle sported four 12-volt lead acid
batteries that powered two electric drive motors. The vehicle
was speed limited to 37 miles per hour. Its range was limited
to 40 miles at an average speed of about 25 mph. In an
interview printed in The
New York Times, Ford
President Arjay Miller was quoted as saying, "Cars like the
Comuta could be available in five to 10 years."Ford was
right, but the first EV wasn't a Ford. It was
the Sebring-Vanguard
Citicar. Produced between 1974 and 1977, over 2,300
vehicles were sold propelling it to become America's sixth largest
vehicle maker, behind GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC, and Checker
(Taxis). In 1979 (around the time GM was stepping
up its own EV efforts), Commuter Vehicles purchased Florida-based
Sebring-Vanguard and rebranded its vehicles the Comuta-Car and
Comuta-Van, playing off the name of Ford's iconic concept.
While the company eventually folded, its results from a pure sales
perspective were impressive -- 4,300 total sales between 1979 and
1982, a record that stands to this day for road-legal electric
vehicle sales (though it will surely be left behind by GM and Nissan
this year or next). Ford would not dive back into the
electric fray until 1997 when it produced a low-volume electrified
Ford Ranger. Ford would go on to sell 1,500 vehicles, some
with lead-acid batteries, others with nickel-metal hydride
batteries. In 2003 Ford began terminating the program and its
leases. But Ford generously offered the vehicles to some
lessees at $1 USD. Others were sold at price. The
majority, though, met a sad fate in the junk-heap.In 2004
Ford launched the hybrid Ford Escape crossover SUV. Variants of the
Escape hybrid included a Mercury Mariner hybrid in 2006 and a Mazda
Tribute Hybrid (at the time Ford owned a controlling stake
Mazda) in 2007. The Ford Escape is still going strong, but Ford
plans to close the Escape models after this year (and Ford is killing
the Mercury brand, so no more Mercury Mariner Hybrid). It
will replace the Escape with its European CUV counterpart, the Ford
Kuga.Ford's second hybrid, the Ford
Fusion hybrid sedan, launched in 2010. Offering an industry
best 41 mpg for a mid-sized sedan (Toyota's Prius is considered in
the "compact car" class), the sedan also was offered
with Ford's
popular Sync service. By all indications, Ford plans to
keep selling this vehicle and refreshing the hybrid technology
aboard.As Marakby puts it, "When you look at what we
have today we have two successful hybrid vehicles."II.
Hybrid PlatformIn
2012 Ford will bring the next major update to its hybrid platform.
Likely targets will include the 2013 Ford C-Max, the 2013 Ford
Fusion, 2013 Ford Focus (based on the current MK3 international
model), and the 2013 Ford Kuga CUV. Ford's currently released
info indicates that two of those models will get hybrid treatment
that year, with more possibly coming in the next model year.Mr.
Marakby says that the hybrid variants will be "high volume"
and will still switch to lithium-ion batteries (current hybrids use
NiMH). The drive technology and battery system are expected to
improve. Ultimately these improvements boil down to better
controls of when to apply electric drive and refinements to the
battery itself -- a smaller package, cheaper production costs, and
less weight.Mr. Marakby comments, "We do believe that
out of hybrids, plug-ins, and battery-electrics, our higher volume
solution we think the market will continue to expand is hybrids --
hybrid electric vehicles.""Today we already have
the marketing plan for hybrids. Which is really an
uncompromised vehicle; you get 41 mpg on a Fusion hybrid, it's the
best fuel economy you can get in that class of vehicles and
everything else is the same as a regular vehicle. Customers don't
have to do anything different, so that's an easy message."Ford
has indicated that its hybrid platform will share parts with its
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle
(BEV) platforms. Thus it's likely that Ford will be contract
the batteries to LG Chem Subsidiary Compact Power, Inc. (CPI) and
will use Canadian parts supplier Magna for part of the drive train
(Magna has already
been confirmed as the maker of much of the Ford Focus
Electric BEV's drivetrain, more on that later). However,
neither of these details is official yet, and the exact suppliers may
its next generation hybrids, Ford will be assembling its battery
packs at
the Ford's Rawsonville Plan in Michigan, shifting production
from Mexico. Its transaxles, currently produced by a Japanese
supplier will be made at Ford's Van Dyke Transmission Plant, also
in Ford's home state of Michigan.To
wrap up, expect two next-generation Ford Hybrids in 2012, using
lithium-ion technology for the first time.III.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric VehiclesAlso
launching in 2012 will be Ford's first plug-in hybrid electric
vehicle. Like GM's
2011 Chevy Volt (to be produced by the end of 2010) the 2013
Ford PHEV will have a gas engine and a battery, rechargeable by
plugging in. However, GM's electrified vehicle is a so-called
"series" electric in which all drive power is provided by
the electric drive motor(s). The gas engine will only be used
as a generator to charge the batteries or directly produce
electricity for the motor.The Ford PHEV, by contrast is a
"power-split" architecture. Drive power will be
provided by both an electric motor and a gas-motor, working in
coordination.Mr. Marakby's team at Ford believes this is a
far better approach than the one GM is taking. Series hybrids
suffer the same temperature issues as battery electric vehicles,
while power-split designs do not.Mr. Marakby remarks:
you look at the battery technology and whether its a battery electric
or an extended range battery electric or a series plug-in, you are
relying heavily on that battery. You're counting on that
battery at all temperature conditions and all driving conditions.
It's not just the temperature issues, but performance.
If you want maximum torque as you're getting on the highway and your
battery can't provide it and you're relying the battery that's an
issue. And it get worse at colder temperatures and hotter
temperatures. So, with a blended plug in you don't have
these issues, you can run 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), you can run 120
degrees (Fahrenheit) -- any temperature you want. If the
battery can't provide it during that short duration of when you need
that the engine will complement because you have a full mechanical
adds, "We believe that the battery technology is moving fast.
However, its not at the point where you're looking at any driving
condition, any temperature condition that you can rely on (to) have
the same equivalent experience of a gas vehicle today. That's
why we believe in the plug-in, the blended."On the topic
of why Ford is first launching battery electric vehicles before
PHEVs, which it appears to believe are better for more customers,
Mr. Marakby says there is "no real technology reason" and
that the decision just boiled down to what vehicle to make into a
PHEV.On that note, Mr. Marakby let an interesting detail
slip, stating, "[The PHEV is] not a Focus. We believe
that's going to be an affordable solution for those customers that
want the hybrid electric vehicle but they want the extended electric
drive and the higher fuel economy -- where they're able to plug it
into their outlet into their garage and get better fuel economy."It
seems likely that the PHEV will be the C-Max.
This assumption is based on the expected all-electric range of 30
miles and a juicy tidbit which Mr. Marakby let slip -- that the
intended total
was about 700 miles on a full tank and full charge. The current
Kuga has a 12.3 gallon tank, while the C-Max has a 14 gallon tank.
Given that the C-Max gets better gas mileage and still only averages
about a 450 mile range in current petrol (gas) variants, it seems
very likely that the less efficient Kuga with a smaller tank could
meet the 700 mile target. To recap, Ford in 2012 will
unleash its first PHEV. The PHEV is not the
Ford Focus and is likely based on the Ford C-Max, or perhaps the Ford
Fusion. Ford feels that its PHEV will be a more compelling
offering than series/BEV plug-ins, but will still be lower volume
than hybrids.IV.
Battery Electric VehiclesAnd
that brings us to the last piece of the puzzle -- battery electric
vehicles. Ford's first BEV, the Ford
Transit EV, will launch later this year. Ford ditched
England's Smith Electric Vehicles in favor of Detroit,
Michigan-based Azure
Dynamics Corp., which Ford says will better meet its needs.
Volume will be very low initially -- possibly only 1,000 vehicles
according to Mr. Marakby. He says that production will largely
depend on fleet demand. AT&T has
already signed
on to buy as many as ten of the cars and a few other major
partners are lined up. The car makes sense for some businesses
-- their fleet drivers engage in many stops, but only travel around
50 miles in total -- and the 2010 Transit Connect EV gets 80 miles on
a full charge. The top speed is 75 mph.The cargo van is
driven by a 28 kWh battery with cells from Johnson
Controls-Saft, which takes 6-8 hours to charge on a 240 volt
charging station -- pretty much mandating a charging station.
The battery has liquid cooling, but there's no liquid heating -- an
electric heater will provide for that under cold conditions (which
may negatively influence mileage -- as Mr. Marakby reminds, "Energy
is not free").Pricing has still not been announced -- the
gas version retails starting at $21,880 MSRP, so we know it's going
to be higher than that. The cargo van can be expected to likely
fall somewhere in the $35k-$45k range.The van sports a
maximum payload of 1,000 pounds and 135 cubic feet of space
(floor-to-ceiling load height is 59.1 inches and there's 47.8 inches
of load width between the wheel arches). It seats a driver and
one passenger.The vehicle will be built at Ford's plant in
Kocaeli, Turkey. Final assembly and integration of the powertrain and
batteries will take place at Azure Dynamics' plant in Michigan.
Ford's production is rumored to shift to the U.S. in 2012 or 2013,
but Ford would not confirm these rumors.While Ford feels that
businesses will slowly warm up to the economic logic of BEV cargo
vehicles, Ford's sentiments on these vehicles bearing utility for the
average customer seems pessimistic at best."If you have
long driving or drive on the highway a lot a battery electric is not
for you," Mr. Marakby told us. And then there's the
temperature issue."Nonetheless in 2011 Ford is releasing
a BEV consumer vehicle, which has now been officially named as
the 2012
Ford Focus Electric. The vehicle targets a range of 100
miles on a full charge, Ford announced this week and will feature
both liquid cooling and heating,
which should help offset battery issues (the 2011 Chevy Volt, by
contrast has only liquid cooling -- relying on less effective electric heating).LG
Chem Subsidiary Compact Power, Inc. (CPI), as previously
mentioned, is producing the battery cells, while Canada's Magna
International, Inc. is providing much of the
drivetrain.Mr. Marakby warns, though, "If you drive it
very aggressively you're going to get worse numbers, if you drive it
milder you'll get better numbers."Ford isn't betting on
big customer demand. Mr. Marakby states, "Volume
expectations as we've announced is still below 10,000 units on these
vehicles... We're not planning 100,000 of these."He
elaborates, "The battery electrics because of some of the
challenges... cold temperature, practicality, no engine, range -- we
believe that's still going to be in the low volume. That's why
we're planning the low volume. If the market takes off and
there's a lot of interest, we have the technology and we can ramp up
the volume."That may be necessary, given that the Nissan
LEAF -- Ford's primary competitor -- has sold
out until mid-2011 with 17,000
preorders placed in the U.S. and Japan. Nissan is
bringing three factories online and plans on producing 200,000 LEAFs
globally a year within a couple years -- an incredibly high volume.
Even GM is talking about building 30,000 Volts in 2012 (with 10,000
in 2010/2011) -- though the Volt is in a slightly different class
given that it's an gasoline extended-range battery electric
vehicle.But Mr. Marakby says that the initial enthusiasm may
wane when customers encounter the headaches that come with BEVs.
He elaborates:
You're relying significantly at the
battery being at this nice temperature range when you can't guarantee
that in every condition. Sure, if you charge it at night, every
day, [but] you have to alter your behavior to do that.These
vehicles aren't good for everyone.
why is Ford bothering at all? It seems, based on what Mr.
Marakby said, the reasoning boils down to two key points.
First, Ford believes that some customers will still buy BEVs despite
the problems -- Ford's diverse approach assumes that customers want a
variety of different kinds of vehicles. Secondly,
while a battery pack does not currently equal a gas tank in energy
density per space and is still very expensive, Ford realizes that
eventually battery tech may become affordable and reliable enough to
become the best, most affordable solution for the majority of its
customers. So Ford is getting its feet wet, without diving in,
in order to position itself to be on top of this market when it
matures. And the key word there, if Ford's assessment is
accurate, is "when".V.
seems to be taking a sensible approach to electrification. For
economic conservatives it scores points for being less reliant on
government handouts for deploying its charging solutions (it's paying
for the first 5,000 Ford Focus Electric customers' chargers out of
pocket).Likewise Ford seems to have the best hybrid
strategy. Its Escape and Fusion hybrids already
have dramatically
outsold GM's hybrid attempts and the Fusion even beat out
the hybrid Toyota Camry in recent sales. The 2012 update to
lithium-ion batteries should bring even more promise to the
platform's high volume future.The one real
disappointment/enigma is why Ford is not releasing a PHEV in 2011,
when it views it as the most attractive plug-in package.
Instead it's releasing a BEV (the 2012 Ford Focus Electric) that
year, which it admits is a less than able performer under many
conditions. Ford downplays that its "just a year"
difference, but that decision may come back to bite it.Still
if unannounced competitive alternatives don't arrive sooner, the PHEV
that will launch in 2012 (2013 model year) will offer customers a
more compelling alternative to the Tesla
Model S, Chevy Volt, and Nissan Leaf EV.Ford's biggest
competition will likely be the Toyota
Prius PHEV which will launch in 2011 at an estimated price
of $48,000 USD.Nissan and GM are currently stealing the
electric show with flashy BEVs, but one must remember that Toyota
is still sales king. And here in the states Ford is the
king of electrified sales from a domestic producer -- and if our talk
with Mr. Marakby on the company's upcoming products is any
indication, it plans to stay that way.


text:
The AllerAir® 5000 Series contains some of the most popular and general purpose air purifiers in the AllerAir® brand. The models in the 5000 Series treat all the various types of pollutants, which contribute to poor indoor air quality. The substantial quantity of activated carbon ranges from 18 lbs to 27 lbs in these units and absorb chemicals, gases and odors. The AllerAir® 5000 Series features a more compact design than the 6000 Series while still offering exceptional chemical, gas, odor and particle filtration. The 5000 Series purifiers also possess a powerful Medical-Grade HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of all airborne particles down to 0.3 microns.
Try searching or browse the categories.


text:
You are logged in as:
Your tax invoice can be downloaded on flysaa.com under Manage & Fly 72 hours after the e-ticket has been issued.
If a Tax Invoice has been successfully generated from the South African Airways Tax Invoice System, the onus rests on the recipient to ensure that his/her mailbox has enough space to receive an e-mail - with a PDF attachment; and that his//her service provider or exchange server allows for delivery of such e-mails. South African Airways, can not take responsibility for undelivered e-mails due to any other reasons beyond our control including the above.
Prescribed details required from the South African Revenue Service on a tax invoices
Tax invoices must ordinarily reflect the following details as prescribed by the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act No. 34 of 1997):
JOHANNESBURG. 22 May 2014. South African Airways (SAA) today announced Captain Eric Manentsa as its new Chief Pilot.
The announcement, which was made by Minister Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Public Enterprises, follows the retirement in July last year of captain Johnny Woods, who was the Chief Pilot and Head of Flight Operations.
His appointment is effective 1 June 2014.
Capt. Manentsa has been flying for SAA for twenty years, and has been the fleet captain on the A319/A320 fleet for the past six years. As chief pilot he will be responsible for the airline's 800 pilots in terms of their day to day function, ensuring the company remains compliant to local and international regulations and to continue supporting the company in fulfilling its mandate.
Minister Gigaba described his appointment as a proud moment for the airline which will go down in history, as a 'milestone decision' coinciding with the country celebrating 20 years of democracy.
Capt. Manentsa has 30 years of experience in aviation in South Africa, as a pilot and in managerial and leadership roles. His background encompasses the broader industry: commercial, military and the general aviation sector.
To date he has amassed approximately 14, 000 flying hours.
He obtained his Commercial License in 1987 and has worked for the Department of Transport in the former Ciskei, the SA Department of Defence and completed Officer Forming and Junior Command staff courses at the South African Air Force College.
He joined SAA in 1994 as an in-flight relief pilot on the Boeing 747 for nine months before flying as a First Officer on the Boeing 737 on the domestic and regional network. He has also flown the Airbus A320s and when these were phased out he flew as Senior First Officer on the Airbus A340s.
In 2005, twelve years after joining SAA he became a captain on the Airbus A319/320. On 1 July 2008 he was appointed as Fleet Captain of the A319/A320.
Capt. Manentsa played a key role in the formation of the original SAA Cadet Pilot Programme, He has also been a key figure in the airlines further efforts towards transforming the flight deck in that he was a member of the committee that was tasked by SAA and SAAPA (the SAA Pilots Association) to address the seniority of those pilots from non-white groups who got their licenses prior to 1994 and subsequently joined SAA after 1994.
This process resulted in producing the airline's first black and female captains. To maintain the integrity of the process, he opted to not have his seniority adjusted, even though he met the criteria for this.
He has also served as an executive member on SAAPA and the Airline Pilots' Association of South Africa.
Other achievements:
• He was also involved in designing and developing a recruitment and selection policy for the flight deck crew.
• He was appointed as non-executive director in the Board of the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa.
• In 2007 he with others co-founded Mtha Aviation which seeks to further contribute to the skills development agenda in the industry.
• He holds a BA (Industrial psychology), and BA Honours degree and is currently busy with a Master's degree in Business Leadership.
Caption: (L to R) Minister Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Public Enterprises; Captain Eric Manentsa, SAA Chief Pilot; and Monwabisi Kalawe, SAA Group CEO
About South African Airways
South African Airways (SAA), Africa's most awarded airline, operates to 40 destinations worldwide.
In its domestic market SAA has an extensive schedule operating 554 flights in total per week between Johannesburg – Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, from its Johannesburg hub, as well as code-shared flights between Lanseria – Cape Town and Durban. SAA offers more frequencies than any other airline in South Africa.
Regionally, SAA offers 24 destinations across the African continent including Abidjan, Accra, Blantyre, Brazzaville, Cotonou, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Douala, Entebbe, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Ndola, Pointe Noire, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.
SAA's international network creates links to all major continents from South Africa through 10 direct routes and code shares, with daily flights from Johannesburg to London (Heathrow), Frankfurt, Munich, Mumbai, Perth, Hong Kong, Beijing, New York, Washington, and Sao Paulo. SAA has codes share agreements with 29 other airlines across the markets it serves. The airline has extended its code share agreement with Mango, its low cost operator, to also include coastal cities in South Africa (between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and George), as well as Johannesburg – Bloemfontein; Cape Town - Bloemfontein and Cape Town - Port Elizabeth.
SAA's core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC).
SAA is a Star Alliance member which offers more than 21, 900 daily flights to 1, 328 airports in 195 countries. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa' Award in the regional category for eleven consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa's most on-time airlines.
For more information contact:
South African Airways
Tlali Tlali (Mr)
SAA spokesperson
Mob: +27 82 333 3880
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
No blockbusters went down on Monday night, but teams did make a total of five trades on the final night before the deadline. Here's a quick rundown of those moves:
• Braves acquire starting pitcher Paul Maholm and outfielder Reed Johnson from the Cubs for pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman.
Rebuffed by Ryan Dempster in their attempt to solidify their rotation, the Braves tapped their minor league pitching depth to acquire a lesser Cub starter in Maholm, a 30-year-old sinkerballing southpaw, as well as Johnson, a 35-year-old righty bench bat. The irony of what at first looks like a smaller-scale deal than the Dempster acquisition, which was slated to be for Randall Delgado, is that the Braves gave up a pitcher even more highly regarded coming into the year in Vizcano.
Drafted and developed by the Pirates, Maholm had been solid for the Cubs, putting up a 3.74 ERA and a 60 percent quality start rate while averaging an even 6.0 innings per start. Maholm doesn't miss a ton of bats, but his 6.1 strikeouts per nine and 2.5 walks per nine are both career bests that pair well with a strong 52 percent groundball rate. He's not just a rental, either; he's making $4.75 million this year and has a team option for $6.5 million for 2013, with a $0.5 million buyout. He'll replace Jair Jurrjens, who had been torched for 14 runs in 5 2/3 innings over his last two starts to raise his ERA back to 7.04, a somewhat surprising turn for a pitcher who had delivered a 2.13 ERA in four starts since returning from the minors. Then again, with just 11 strikeouts in 31 innings since returning, Jurrjens wasn't fooling many hitters.
Johnson is an excellent fourth outfielder, a proven lefty-masher (.312/.369/.468 career, compared to .267/.325/.382 against righties) who can play all three positions and who can cover for the loss of Matt Diaz to a thumb injury earlier this month. He's hitting .302/.355/.444 with three homers this year, this despite a ghastly but still much-improved strikeout-to-walk ratio (43/10, after two years of a combined 113/10). To get this useful pair, the Braves gave up quality in the form of the 21-year-old Vizcaino, who came into the year ranked 40th on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list — and an eye-popping 14th on Keith Law's list — but who underwent Tommy John surgery in late March after pitching through a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament since 2010. Undersized at 6 feet and 190 pounds, and with an unorthodox delivery, he throws a 92-96 MPH fastball that can touch 98 out of the bullpen, and a power curveball that's also an out pitch. His command issues, injury history and failure to develop a third pitch may make him a permanent reliever, though. Chapman is a reliever as well, a 25-year-old righty who was striking out 10.1 per nine at Triple-A Gwinnett on the strength of a plus changeup that complements an 89-92 MPH fastball.
• Pirates acquire outfielder Travis Snider from the Blue Jays for relief pitcher Brad Lincoln
Perhaps the most compelling move of the night was the liberation of the 24-year-old Snider from Toronto. A first-round pick out of a Washington state high school back in 2006, he reached the majors as a 20-year-old in late 2008 and hit a tantalizing .301/.338/.466 in 80 PA, numbers that pushed him into the top 10 of the Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus prospect lists coming into the 2009 season. Since then, he has struggled to a combined .243/.303/.425 line in 837 big league plate appearances — never more than 319 in a single season — while battling injuries and a seemingly endless series of promotions and demotions. While tearing up Triple-A Las Vegas on an annual basis (.333/.412/.565 combined) he has become something of a stathead cause célèbre whom fans of other teams covet — a classic "change of scenery" player.
As I noted at Baseball Prospectus yesterday, the Pirates have gotten a Replacement-Level Killer-worthy production out of their leftfielders (.200/.243/.321) while their rightfielders haven't been much better (.258/.297/.458). Both Opening Day starters, Alex Presley and Jose Tabata, have served minor league stints due to their struggles, with the latter still there. The team brought up Starling Marte for a look on Thursday, and had been discussing him as the key player in a potential trade for the Indians' Shin-Soo Choo. The acquisition of Snider won't necessarily stop that from going down, but note the contrast: Marte is 23, with two-thirds of a season at Triple-A and 22 big league plate appearances under his belt, while Snider is just eight months older, with a ton more upper-level experience. Because of his yo-yoing, he won't even be arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season, making him somebody who should have a reasonable shot of becoming a lineup staple. Even matching his big league numbers to date (.248/.306/.429 ) would be an improvement upon the current situation, though Snider will have to improve upon a strikeout-to-walk ratio that was at 5.1 in 202 plate appearances last year.
In Lincoln, the Blue Jays get the fourth overall pick of the 2006 draft — 10 picks ahead of Snider — a player who looked like a bust coming into the year, having delivered a grand total of 100 1/3 major league innings with a 5.74 ERA. Now 27 years old, he has emerged as a useful reliever, delivering a microscopic 0.50 ERA and a 40/8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, compared to a 6.08 ERA in five starts as a rotation patch. He's got good control of a fastball that averages 93.8 MPH and a hard curveball that generates swings and misses, but lacking a reliable third pitch, he's likely to stay in the bullpen.
• Dodgers acquire relief pitcher Brandon League from the Mariners for outfielder Leon Landry and pitcher Logan Bawcom
League is a 29-year-old righty who can pump it in the mid-90s, though "it" in this case is a two-seam fastball that he uses to generate groundballs rather than a heater that misses bats. Indeed, League has struck out just 5.4 hitters per nine while walking 3.8, which when paired with a .329 BABIP helps to explain why he lost the closer job in May. He won't be tasked with ninth-inning duties in L.A., at least on a regular basis; instead, he'll serve as a setup guy for Kenley Jansen, as someone who can come in and generate a double play when needed. Jansen has and the rest of the bullpen have been worked heavily this month, with the closer making 13 appearances and the unit as a whole making 78 appearances and throwing 75 1/3 innings, both season highs despite the four-day All-Star break.
Landry, the Dodgers' third-round pick in 2010 out of Louisiana State, is a 22-year-old burner who was hitting .328/.358/.559 at High-A Rancho Cucamonga of the hitter-friendly California League. His slugging percentage is a function of his 15 triples; he has a more modest eight homers. He's a centerfielder with the arm to play right, but despite the eye-popping stats, he doesn't profile as a regular down the road. Bawcom is a 23-year-old righty reliever who was a 17th-round 2010 pick out of the University of Texas. Armed with a 92-95 MPH fastball and a slider, both above average, he has whiffed 11.1 per nine split between Rancho and Double-A Chattanooga, but he profiles more as a mid-innings guy than a late-innings one.
• Rangers acquire catcher Geovany Soto from the Cubs for pitcher Jacob Brigham
Now 29 years old, Soto once ranked among the league's top-hitting catchers, at least when healthy. He hit a combined .254/.347/.452 with an average of 17 homers from 2008-2011, albeit in the form of strong even-numbered years and mediocre odd-numbered ones thanks to oblique, shoulder, groin and knee injuries. In the midst of a dreadful campaign with the bat, he's hitting just .199/.284/.347 with six homers in 197 plate appearances, though he's hit a more respectable .241/.323/.398 in 93 PA since returning from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Behind the plate, Soto's fairly average at throwing out runners (a league-average 27 percent caught stealing rate, down one point from his career rate) but above-average in pitch-framing. For the Rangers, he'll serve as a backup to Mike Napoli, who hasn't been able to replicate last year's MVP-caliber season, hitting just .228/.344/.445 with 17 homers. Soto replaces Yorvit Torrealba, who was hitting just .236/.302/.342 and who was designated for assignment after this deal was consummated.
In Bingham, the Cubs get a 24-year-old Double-A righty whose progress up the ladder was slowed by 2008 Tommy John surgery. He's got a 91-95 MPH fastball, an average slider, and a below-average changuep — the makings of a back-end starter or middle reliever; while he can miss bats (8.4 strikeouts per nine), he'll have to do better keeping the ball in the park (1.4 homers per nine).
• Mariners acquire outfielder Eric Thames from the Blue Jays for relief pitcher Steve Delabar
As noted yesterday, the Mariners were on the hunt for hitters under club control, and in Thames they got one, a 25-year-old outfielder who was the Jays' seventh round pick in 2008 out of Pepperdine University. After batting .262/.313/.456 with 12 homers in 394 PA as a rookie, Thames beat out Snider to open the season as the team's starting leftfielder, and roared to a .308/.361/.446 start in April, but when he backed that with a .193/.227/.301 May, he quickly fell out of favor and was shipped down to Triple-A Las Vegas while the team turned to Proven Veteran Rajai Davis (yawn). Despite mashing in hitter-friendly Vegas (.330/.407/.528), Thames was bypassed in favor of Snider and Anthony Gose when injuries hit the Toronto outfield. The Mariners have gotten a miserable .201/.272/.370 performance from their leftfielders this year; Casper Wells has been a major improvement upon Chone Figgins, and with the trade of Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees, both he and Thames can get longer looks. Still, Thames is short enough on both power and patience that he doesn't profile as a plus bat at a key offensive position.


text:
Now the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint
BioEnergy Institute has paired with LS9 to tweak the microbe and
further improve and validate the company's approach. Despite
the enormous potential, the technology is still in its nascent
stages. Describes Eric Steen, a researcher with JBEI's Fuels
Synthesis Division states, "There is still much more research to
do before this process becomes commercially feasible."
help improve the bacteria's prospects, the JBEI researchers -- Jay
Keasling, the Chief Executive Officer for JBEI; Mr. Steen; Yisheng
Kang; and Gregory Bokinsky -- threw their genetic toolkit at the
bacteria, adding a host of novel pathways to produce additional
structurally tailored fatty esters (biodiesel), alcohols and waxes
directly from glucose.
With a greater array of products
secured, the researchers next focused on converting sugars other than
glucose. To accomplish this the researchers added
hemicellulases, special enzymes that digest the tough cellulose
polysaccharides that typically go to waste.
Steen, "Engineering E. coli to produce hemicellulases enables
the microbes to produce fuels directly from the biomass of plants
that are not used as food for humans or feed for animals. Currently,
biochemical processing of cellulosic biomass requires costly enzymes
for sugar liberation. By giving the E. coli the capacity to ferment
both cellulose and hemicellulose without the addition of expensive
enzymes, we can improve the economics of cellulosic biofuels."
results were published
in the January 28, 2010 edition of the prestigious Nature
Continuing ahead the researchers see much work to be
done. Foremost among the objectives are maximizing the speed
and efficiency at which the microbes process the biofuels.
will certain question whether it's worth it for the government and
private sector to be pouring so much money into funding biofuels
research. However, they must consider that biologically
produced biofuels are unarguably one of the strongest and most
promising cornerstones of energy research. After all, the
modern global industrial economy was built on the backbone of
naturally fixed solar energy in the form of hydrocarbons (oil, coal,
and natural gas), and being able to replenish these stocks in a cheap
carbon neutral manner could solve mankind's energy problems in the
short term -- and that could be enormously lucrative and beneficial.


text:
When it comes to storage technology on computers, hard drive
technology has advanced the slowest as far as performance is concerned. Companies
like Samsung are looking to Flash Solid State Disks (SSDs) to replace the
spinning disk and reduce loading times for applications.
SSDs have the advantage of rapid response times without
having to wait for a hard drive to spin up/seek and have drastically reduced power
consumption compared to traditional hard drives. SSDs use zero watts when not being
accessed, and as little as 200 milliwatts during
read/write activities.
Given the lower power requirements, company's like Sony and Fujitsu are looking to
Samsung to provide SSDs for their mobile computers. Samsung also uses its SSD
drives on the Q30
notebook and Q1 UMPC.
Samsung announced today that it has produced samples of the
world's first 16Gb NAND flash memory device built on a 50 nanometer process.
The multi-level cell (MLC) design uses a 4KB page size instead of the 2KB used
in competing designs. As a result, read speeds are double that of 2KB designs
while write speeds are increased by 150%.
The increased storage capacity and faster write speeds will help Samsung reach its goal of producing 128GB SSDs by the
first half of 2008.
Samsung will begin mass production its new MLC 16Gb NAND
flash memory chips in Q1 2007.


text:
NCUA Beefs Up Appeals Info, MBL Guidance and Risk Evaluation
Based on feedback from credit unions, the NCUA has beefed up resources for credit unions to appeal exams and communicate with examination staff, the regulator said this week.
Letter 13-CU-01 shared the NCUA's 2013 supervisory focus, which includes improved consistency, better risk management, and more clarity and guidance to examiners and credit unions.
According to the letter issued Thursday, CU Online and the pre-examination planning letter will now provide information on how to contact a credit union's assigned examiner and supervisory examiner, and will provide an electronic notice if the information changes.
Additionally, formal and informal appeal options available to credit unions have been added to the exam report cover letter.
The change follows an exam appeal by the $32 million Commodore Perry FCU that was elevated to the Supervisory Review Committee. Commodore Perry officials have been critical of the appeals process.
NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz granted the Oak Harbor, Ohio, credit union a 60-day appeal extension in January; the new deadline is March 18.
The NCUA also said it will publish enhanced guidance for member business lending, credit ratings and troubled debt restructurings. Credit unions can expect a supervisory letter regarding MBL waiver requests, specifically focusing on waivers for personal guarantees and blanket waivers versus individual loan waivers.
The NCUA Board in May revised troubled debt restructuring rules, requiring MBLs to include a personal guarantee. The guidance will also focus on appropriate underwriting and credit monitoring systems for MBLs.
Finally, examiners will evaluate a credit union's capacity to manage operational risk and the balance sheet. Operational risk focus will include technology like remote deposit capture, mobile banking and social media, and internal controls.
Balance sheet examination will focus on a credit union's ability to generate adequate earnings without adversely increasing interest rate risk, liquidity risk and concentration risk.
Examiners will also review a credit union's expertise and risk-mitigation controls when offering less established products like private student loans or investments associated with credit union-funded employee benefit programs that would otherwise be impermissible.
The letter from Matz was sent to CEOs and directors and is available on the NCUA's website.


text:
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