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The Miniature Horse: More Than Just a Smaller Horse
- Jan 13, 2013
- Topics:
Although the care of Miniature Horses is nearly the same as that of larger breeds, Minis are more susceptible to certain health problems.
Photo: Photos.com
Reprinted from The Horse Report with permission from the Center for Equine Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis (UC Davis).
Gary Magdesian, DVM, of the UC Davis William F. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and Mark Rick, DVM, of Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, Calif., contributed to this article.
What comes in a small package, has all the characteristics people love about horses, and is easy to manage and a delight to have around? A Miniature Horse.
Miniature Horses are no taller than 38 inches and come in a rainbow of coat colors and patterns. They are easily trained, have a gentle nature, and can pull four times their own weight. These horses are descended from Shetland ponies and were selectively inbred for their size. In earlier times, small horse breeds were likely the products of surviving harsh natural climates and limited feed sources. As human knowledge of genetics grew, it became possible to breed specifically for size.
Miniature Horses have been bred for superb conformation and outstanding dispositions. The result is a proportionate little horse that is suitable to a variety of uses: as pets, show animals, and a form of therapy for disabled people and guides for the blind.
In the show ring, "Minis" compete in halter/conformation and in performance events such as obstacle driving. An organization devoted to small equines--the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC)--includes the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) among other registries. Founded in 1888, the ASPC began registering Miniature Horses in 1971. The AMHR includes an A division, which registers horses standing 34 inches or under at the last hair of the mane, and a B division for horses standing up to 38 inches. Regular Shetlands stand up to 46 inches.
Minis require similar care to their full-sized counterparts but, based on their size, they require much less space, making them accessible to more people, including those who have had no experience with horses. It is important that owners of Miniature Horses educate themselves thoroughly in good basic horse care as well as in the breed's unique needs. While some Miniature Horses are kept primarily as pets, they still need to be treated like horses, with appropriate nutrition, housing, room to run, regular hoof care, dental care, grooming, vaccinations, and parasite control.
As has frequently arisen with breeding a species for specific characteristics, desired traits can be accompanied by undesirable ones. In Miniature Horses, dwarfism is an unfortunate complication of breeding, even when both of the parents appear to be normal. In Minis, a dwarf is not only smaller than normal, it also has varying degrees and combinations of undesirable conformational faults.
These can include limb, spine and jaw deformities. A dwarf Mini can have just one or a combination of such traits. Mildly affected horses can lead normal lives, while the most severely affected ones can suffer from chronic pain or the inability to stand or move. In some instances, the deformities are not noticeable at birth but become obvious as the horse ages.
Although the care of Miniature Horses is nearly the same as that of larger breeds (but on a much smaller scale with regard to feed, deworming doses, medication, etc.), Minis are more susceptible to certain health problems, as discussed below. And, there are times when it can be dangerous to treat Miniature Horses the same as you would treat a full-sized horse. Many potential problems can be avoided altogether by providing the proper care and feeding these animals require.
Unique Health Issues of Miniature Horses
Obesity--Miniature Horses are prone to obesity. Most owners of large breed horses tend to overfeed the Minis. In addition, pasture restriction and daily exercise are less likely to occur. Many of the medical challenges Miniature Horses face can be avoided by maintaining an ideal body condition (a 5 out of 9 on the Henneke Body Condition Scale).
Ideally, Minis should consume approximately 1.5% of their body weight in hay daily. The average Mini weighs 250 pounds, and this translates to 3.5 pounds of hay per day. The backyard Mini in the United States does not expend a large amount of calories in exercise. Those used as cart animals, show horses and lactating mares will have higher nutritional demands and can require up to 3% of their body weight in forage. Small amounts of concentrates or alfalfa should be given only during the breeding season or for exercising and showing horses.
Vitamin and mineral supplements might be required for adults or foals, depending on the diet fed. Vitamin and mineral requirements are similar to large breed horses on a per weight basis. Protein requirements mimic those of large breed horses (per weight basis) and lower nonstructural carbohydrate content hays, such as certain grass hays, are recommended for Miniature Horses given their propensity for obesity.
Some owners underestimate the weight of a Mini by 20%, which equates to 50 lbs. Weight tapes tend to be inaccurate and scales are not a common resource. However, dewormers and other medications should be administered with caution and there are formulas to calculate body weight based on body length and girth width, as follows:
Estimated Body Weight (pounds) = (9.36 x girth inches) + (5 x body length in inches) - 348.5
Dental Issues--Healthy teeth are important to the general health of all horses. The most common cause of death in aged wild horses is the inability to chew food; these horses either die of intestinal obstruction or weakness or are taken down by predators. In addition to the ability of the horse to process its feed, the health of the teeth also affects the health of the sinuses and the condition of the nasal passageway (Frankeny, 2003).
Miniature Horses tend to have more problems with their teeth than do larger breeds of horses. This is likely due to the small size of their heads combined with the same number and size of teeth as found in a full-size horse, leading to overcrowding of the teeth. Overbites (brachygnathism) and underbites (prognathism) are common and can set a Mini up for years of abnormal dental wear if left untreated.
Veterinarians at UC Davis recommend that newborn foals have their first oral exam shortly after birth to identify any bite abnormalities. For foals with abnormalities, periodic reduction of dental overgrowths should be done from several months of age on to improve the range of motion of the jaw. Otherwise, annual dental exams, starting at one to two years of age, should be performed.
The young Mini is prone to sinus infections because of overcrowding of the dental roots in the smaller sinus space. This affects normal sinus drainage, and these horses will often display tearing of the eye on the affected side, swelling of the facial area below the eye, and a unilateral nasal discharge.
Minis tend to retain their deciduous teeth (baby teeth), which are also called caps. They will drool and display difficulty chewing. Specialized equipment is usually required to examine and correct these abnormalities in their much smaller oral space.
If owners of Miniature Horses do not invest in regular dentistry--perhaps because their horse does not wear a bit and has a voluptuous body condition--years of abnormal alignment and wear can lead to severe dental malocclusions that will predispose the horse to colic and choke and possibly shorten its lifespan.
Yearly dental examinations are highly recommended. In addition to routine dental care, teeth should be evaluated any time a horse shows signs of possible dental disease (difficulty chewing, dropping partially chewed food ["quidding"], excessive salivation, swelling of the face, nasal discharge, or a foul odor from the mouth or nose). Many problems can be successfully treated if addressed immediately.
Colic--Minis have robust appetites, but their predisposition for dental problems can impair their chewing capacity.
The reduced ability to grind feed combined with the robust food-seeking nature of the Mini creates a unique subset of common colic. Minis are prone to three distinct types of colic: fecaliths, enteroliths, and sand colic. The root "lith" means "stone".
Fecaliths are accumulations of long-stem feed, twine or hair, and manure that create a hard, rock-like obstruction in the small colon. These obstructions cause gas to build up and cause moderate pain. Similarly, trichophytobezoars, which is an accumulation of feed and hair, are sometimes seen in Minis that spend a lot of time standing around and grooming each other. It is much less commonly seen in horses that are pastured.
Enteroliths are mineral stones that form in the colon of horses fed a diet involving alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is rich in magnesium, protein, and phosphorus, and these components combine as magnesium, ammonium and phosphate around a central nidus such as a piece of wire or foreign material to form a stone. Arabian horses are the most common enterolith formers, and Minis are also at increased risk. Although horses can pass small enteroliths, surgery is often required to remove larger stones that cause obstruction. Abdominal radiographs have a 90% detection rate for enteroliths in a fasted horse. The small abdominal diameter of the Mini makes radiographic diagnosis a valuable tool and radiographs are recommended for any Mini experiencing multiple colic episodes or unrelenting abdominal pain.
Sand colic is also common in Minis because they tend to be scavengers and vacuum their surroundings. Sand settles in the colon, weighs the organ down, and abrades the lining of the colon to produce inflammation and diarrhea. Sand is readily visible on radiographs (X rays) and a fecal float for sand should be a regular part of the colic exam for a Miniature Horse. A fecal float consists of placing a large handful of feces into a plastic bag filled with water. The bag is hung, and the bottom is inspected for sand that will have settled after a few minutes. Sand can be treated with oral laxatives and psyllium, but occasionally it will cause the colon to displace or function poorly. Sand colics can require surgery when medical treatment does not resolve the problem. Feeding Minis on rubber mats, adding psyllium to the monthly routine, and avoiding sandy environments can help prevent this problem.
Hyperlipemia--The most significant metabolic difference between large breed horses and Minis that puts them at risk is their propensity for hyperlipemia. Miniature Horses, donkeys, and small ponies have a tendency to mobilize fat when their body senses an "energy crisis" and they are not able to meet their metabolic demands. Late-term pregnancy, lactation, stress, illness, or any factor that impairs appetite for more than 24 hours can initiate a crisis.
This disorder of lipid metabolism causes fat to be released from lipid stores and transported to the liver where it is converted to glucose. Obesity increases the risk of hyperlipemia. When the horses are off feed or stressed the lack of insulin stimulates a cascade of events, which triggers fat breakdown.
This breakdown of fat leads to fatty acids that are taken up by the liver. These are reformulated into triglycerides that are released into the bloodstream, and the horses develop "fatty" blood. The fat influx often overwhelms the liver and causes hepatic lipidosis, which is an excessive amount of fat inside the liver cells as well as infiltrating organs. The fat infiltration interferes with normal liver function, leading to failure or rupture of the liver. Rapid intervention with intravenous glucose and nutritional support, coupled with insulin therapy, is necessary to prevent this.
Affected Minis will often show a decline in appetite, lethargy, and weakness before signs progress to incoordination (ataxia), abdominal pain, tremors, diarrhea, jaundiced coloration, seizure, head pressing, and, if left untreated, death. Even aggressive treatment can be ineffective once the liver is overwhelmed; there is a 70% mortality rate associated with delayed treatment, whereas early medical treatment can be associated with a good outcome.
Hyperlipemia should be suspected in any Miniature Horse that has been off feed for more than 24 hours. Prompt veterinary attention is the key to successful reversal of this condition. The physical appearance of fat or alterations in markers of fat and liver metabolism in a blood sample will confirm the suspicion of hyperlipemia.
Prevention of hyperlipemia is very important because this condition is difficult to treat. Miniature Horses should be on a diet that provides adequate nutrition but does not induce obesity. Extreme stress should be avoided as much as possible, and horses that are in a stressful situation should be closely monitored for loss of appetite. Any sickness or loss of appetite should be addressed immediately to determine whether supportive therapy should be initiated.
Reproduction--The incidence of dystocia, or difficult births, in Miniature Horses is much higher than in full-sized breeds. This is probably due to the fetopelvic disparity (small size of the mare's pelvis relative to the large fetus) and to fetal malpresentations (abnormal presentation, posture, or position of the fetus) in the Mini. In addition, the umbilical cord can become twisted and entangled around the foal.
Regardless of the cause of the dystocia, once a foaling problem arises, it is more difficult to correct because manual manipulation of the fetus is more complicated in the smaller uterus. Therefore, UC Davis veterinarians highly recommend that owners of Miniature Horses seek the attendance of a veterinarian for any foaling mares so that if complications arise, immediate assistance can be given.
The increased rate of congenital abnormalities also makes loss of pregnancy more likely in this breed. The abortion rate in Minis can approach 30%. It is very important to monitor Minis used for breeding in their last trimester. Gestational length has been observed to be shorter in the Mini, with an average of 320 days and wide individual variation. The impending signs of parturition are similar to those in large breeds, with vulvar relaxation, softening of the tail head, mammary development, and lactation occurring within the last six weeks of gestation.
Eclampsia--Clinical eclampsia is not commonly seen in large breed horses but can be a life-threatening complication associated with pregnancy and lactation in Miniature Horses. Eclampsia is a dramatic drop in systemic calcium concentrations that can occur in late gestation or early lactation. The body requires calcium for normal muscular and electrical activity, and signs of low calcium include muscle tremors, sweating, anxiety, bloat, colic, and pupil dilation. Left untreated, it will progress to recumbency, seizures, and death. To the uninformed eye, this set of symptoms mimics a severe colic.
Foals--The average weight of a miniature horse foal is approximately 20 pounds. These small patients require extra attention to drug dosages and equipment size. They are prone to angular and flexural limb deformities and careful assessment of their conformation is necessary at birth.
Common abnormalities include valgus (toed out) or varus (toed in) conformations. Tendon contracture, and the opposite called tendon laxity, are both problems that can occur in Mini foals. Other congenital defects include heart defects (e.g., ventricular septal defect), brachygnathia or prognathia (discussed earlier), patellar abnormalities, and dwarfism (discussed earlier). Patellar abnormalities include lateral deviation or luxation of the patella. When trying to stand, the affected foal fails to extend its stifles and adopts a crouching position or does "the splits".
There are aspects of Miniature Horse care that are very similar to the large breed horse. Obesity is one of the largest obstacles in this breed, and regular exercise and feed restriction that is relative to size are necessary to sustain health. Routine maintenance of their teeth, their feet and their vaccination and deworming schedules should be similar to those of their larger counterparts. Their size can work for them and against them, and a knowledge of their unique health considerations is valuable to anyone considering adding one to their herd.
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Escobar's walk-off single caps Rays' comeback rally
ST. PETERSBURG -- Not a bad way to reach the midway point of the season.
Tampa Bay came from behind against Detroit ace Justin Verlander to send Saturday night's game into extra innings, when Yunel Escobar's two-out RBI single gave them a 4-3 win in the bottom of the 10th.Full Game Coverage
ST. PETERSBURG -- Not a bad way to reach the midway point of the season.
Tampa Bay came from behind against Detroit ace Justin Verlander to send Saturday night's game into extra innings, when Yunel Escobar's two-out RBI single gave them a 4-3 win in the bottom of the 10th.Full Game Coverage
By winning, Tampa Bay snapped a two-game losing streak while improving to 42-39 after 81 games played with 81 more to go.
"[The win was] just indicative of what we're capable of doing, playing against the best teams well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "There was a great vibe in the dugout tonight. Our guys came out ready to play. It was a great comeback."
Verlander appeared to have the game under control when he took the mound to start the eighth. The Tigers ace had just escaped a seventh-inning jam via a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play -- the third the Rays hit into, when Wil Myers grounded out to start the inning. Then Luke Scott turned on a 1-0 pitch, blasting his fifth home run of the season to tie the score.
"It was a changeup, just stayed a little flat," Verlander said. "I feel like my changeup got a little up and flat, but as the game went along, it got a little bit better so I was comfortable throwing it there. It just didn't do what I needed it to do. Got a little bit too much plate and didn't have much depth to it. He put a good swing on it."
Scott's home run was his seventh career game-tying or go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later, and his first as a Ray.
"[The home run was] definitely gratifying coming off one of the best in the game," Scott said. "It was big for our team, helped us out to tie the game and we were able to win it in extra innings."
The game moved into the bottom of the 10th when James Loney hit a one-out single up the middle. Myers laced another single over second base. After reliever Bruce Rondon struck out Scott, a wild pitch allowed both Rays to move to scoring position with Escobar stepping to the plate.
Rondon fell behind 2-0 when he unleashed a 100-mph fastball that Escobar roped on a line over center fielder Austin Jackson. Pinch-runner Sam Fuld crossed the plate on Escobar's single for the win.
"I looked up after I hit the ball and saw that [Jackson] was in," said Escobar with Rays bench coach Davey Martinez translating. "I thought at first he was going to catch it. When I saw it go over his head I was happy."
Escobar's teammates mobbed him at first base to properly salute the fifth walk-off hit of his career and his first as a Ray.
"I'm very happy I was able to help the team win today," Escobar said. "I've been swinging the bat well and seeing the ball well lately. All I want to do is help us win. … A lot of times you try to do things right and they don't work out for you. Now I'm starting to get my hits and help us win. Basically, that's all I want to do."
Rays starter Chris Archer recorded a no-decision in his sixth start of the season, allowing five hits and three earned runs in five innings of work.
Alex Torres followed Archer with two scoreless frames and Joel Peralta pitched a scoreless eighth before Fernando Rodney entered the game in the ninth. Uncharacteristically, the Rays closer pitched two innings to record his third win of the season.
"That was prime Fernando from last year," Maddon said. "He was strike throwing, great fastball, absolutely fantastic changeup -- you could just see him. He was very focused. … I asked him about the second inning and he said no problem. … Tonight was a night to really go for it, I thought."
Rodney's two-inning stint was a season high and equaled his longest outing as a Ray.
"I feel good today," Rodney said. "[Maddon] asked if I can come back for one more [inning] and I said yes. The guy is the boss. Everything he says, I do."
The Rays won their 500th game since becoming the Rays in 2008, moving to within six games of the American League East-leading Red Sox, who lost Saturday night.
"These are the games we've been talking about that we have to start winning," Maddon said. "And we won it tonight against a really good team. The reason why we're in somewhat of a hole, a little kind of bunker right now, is because we have not been winning those games. We've been there, we're used to winning them, we know that we can and hopefully this can get us over the hump mentally."
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Born and raised in Texas, Jake Raulerson still grew up rooting for Florida.
"My dad was born in Jacksonville," the Celina (Texas) High offensive tackle explained, "and he's been a Florida fan forever."
Yet when it was time to decide where he wanted to play football, Raulerson didn't hesitate. The nation's No. 51 prospect took pride in becoming Texas' first verbal commitment for the Class of 2013.
Raulerson's decision shouldn't come as much of a surprise. He's merely the latest in a long line of Texas players who chose to stay close to home.
There's plenty of debate over which state produces the most football talent. Is it Texas, Florida, California or somewhere else?
But there's no doubt that schools from Texas rely more on home-grown prospects than any other state in the union. The numbers back it up.
Rivals.com analyzed the last five recruiting classes from each of the 117 FBS non-academies to find out which schools had signed the highest percentage of in-state players during that stretch. Texas led the way, as 91.3 percent of its signees came from within its own state.
"That doesn't surprise me," Raulerson said. "When you're born and raised in Texas, you're going to want to go to Texas and be in the state. When you're born and raised here, you love it here. It's not really a place you want to leave."
Other schools in Texas have followed a similar strategy.
In fact, six Texas teams had among the 10 highest percentages of in-state recruits over the last five years. Baylor ranked second (88.1 percent), Rice sixth (85.3), Houston eighth (84.3), Texas A&M ninth (81.2) and TCU 10th (78.8). The only non-Texas teams in the top 10 were No. 3 Fresno State (87.8), No. 4 San Jose State (87.5), No. 5 San Diego State (85.7) and No. 7 Florida Atlantic (84.4).
Every single FBS program in Texas relied on in-state prospects for more than 60 percent of its signing classes over the last five years.
For the purposes of this study, we counted the last school a recruit attended before he signed with a four-year college. For example, a Florida high school player who spent two years at a California junior college before joining an FBS program would count as a California player. Also, players from Washington, D.C., who signed with Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech were counted as in-state recruits.
The fact Texas schools topped the list didn't surprise coaches in the Lone Star State.
"There are 10 or 11 Division I-A football teams in the state of Texas [UT San Antonio and Texas State will make it 12 this fall], so there are a lot of choices for those players to stay in state and allow their parents and the people who are kin to them stay and watch them play," Baylor coach Art Briles said.
"And you'll play a high brand of football. There's no reason to jump out of your back yard when you've got everything you need in it."
For comparison's sake, in-state prospects have made up about 65 percent of the signees at Miami and 55 percent of the recruits at Florida State and Florida over the last five years. California players have comprised over 70 percent of the recruiting classes at USC and UCLA over that time span, while California has gone out of state for 43 percent of its signees.
"Kids in the state of Texas choose to stay more often than not," Houston coach Tony Levine said. "You look at the Atlanta area, there's a lot of kids there, and a lot who leave the state of Georgia to go to other schools. You tend to see these high school kids in the state of Texas wanting to stay in state and closer to home than you do kids in other states."
Brian Perroni, the Texas recruiting analyst for Rivals.com, cites another factor.
Perroni noted the preponderance of schools that aren't far away from Florida or California. Many of them are within driving distance. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, LSU and Arkansas are four major powers in neighboring states to Texas, but there aren't that many other out-of-state programs in similar proximity.
"With Florida, you have Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas relatively close," Perroni said. "Texas is a huge state. Texas and Texas A&M are sort of in the middle, centrally located to recruit kids. Other [out-of-state] schools are so far away, other than the Oklahoma schools and LSU, so there's more incentive for Texas kids to stay in state. Every school in the country recruits the state of Texas, but I don't think schools hit it quite as heavily as they do Florida."
The University of Texas has made the most of the situation.
Perhaps no team in the country annually has more of a head start in the recruiting process. Texas typically gets the majority of its verbal commitments in the wake of Junior Day events that take place close to a year before National Signing Day.
"Texas is a great place and a great product," Texas co-recruiting coordinator Bruce Chambers said. "It doesn't take a whole lot to sell that product. From an academic standpoint and from a tradition standpoint and the alumni ... those are all positives. Couple that together with a winning program that has withstood the test of time, and people want to be a part of that. Then throw in the fact that you don't have to go outside the state of Texas to play in BCS games, win a national championship or get television exposure. All those are things young athletes look at."
As of Tuesday, Texas already had 11 verbal commitments for 2013, all from the state of Texas. Each of the five previous years, the Longhorns had at least 12 commitments by the end of February.
Virtually all those early February commitments during that stretch came from Texas residents. The exception was Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral quarterback Connor Brewer, the first player to commit to the Longhorns from the Class of 2012.
And most of those commitments weren't offered until a recruit participated in a Junior Day event at Texas.
"They've made their offers somewhat prestigious to kids," Perroni said. "If a kid gets that offer after going on campus, it's hard for them to turn down. Their friends will be saying, 'Oh, you turned down Texas? Why did you do that?' It's because they've made their offers so prestigious. The last few years, Texas has gotten pretty much whoever they wanted in the state."
But the other Texas schools also have gotten their share.
The most notable examples may be Baylor and Rice, since many other private schools don't rely as much on in-state prospects.
Over the last five years, over three-quarters of Stanford's recruits have been out-of-state players. The same is true at Northwestern. Other private schools with low percentages of in-state recruits over the last five years include Duke (28.8), Vanderbilt (17.0), Wake Forest (16.1) and Notre Dame (9.7).
But only Texas has signed a higher percentage of in-state recruits than Baylor over the last five years. The in-state recruiting percentages at Baylor and Rice even dwarfed that of Miami, a private school located in a metro area with perhaps the largest concentration of high school talent.
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Briles, a former Texas High School Coaches Association president, won four state championships at Stephensville (Texas) High before moving to the college ranks. He had a successful five-year tenure at Houston while relying mainly on Texas prospects. A similar formula just helped Baylor post its first 10-win season since 1980.
"Every day I've lived and every day that I've coached, it's been in the state of Texas," Briles said. "I know what I'm dealing with and know who I'm dealing with and know what to expect when I get those people. I'd say that's probably the main reason."
Perhaps it all goes back to a comment Briles made at the news conference introducing his 2012 signing class. Riverside (Calif.) Community College linebacker Eddie Lackey was the only player in that 23-man class who didn't hail from Texas.
"You don't have to look over the fence to see what you're looking for sometimes," Briles said at the time. "We feel pretty good about what's in your back yard."
Most Texas high school players apparently feel the same way.
Steve Megargee is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com, and you can click here to follow him on Twitter.
(Olin Buchanan and David Fox of Rivals.com contributed to this report).


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"'Take a Whiff on Me' is a song about cocaine abuse that Leadbelly adapted from the oral tradition, and was first recorded while he was still an inmate at the Angola Penitentiary in Louisiana
. Leadbelly accompanies himself with his ever-present 12-string acoustic guitar. Following a brief guitar intro, the tempo eventually quickens as he relates a rather matter-of-fact account of the powerful effects of cocaine. Leadbelly's vocal rings strong and clear as he bellows, 'Take a whiff on me, take a whiff on me / Everybody take a whiff on me / Oh, oh everybody take a whiff on me / When I marry gonna buy me a line / Gonna whiff my baby, didn't change your mind / Oh, oh baby take a whiff on me.' For the repeated chorus line, Leadbelly's voice jumps to a high falsetto for the first line, then descends as he sings the following lines, sliding back to the original octave."All Music Guide


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Rocky Mountain National Park > Twin Sisters Peaks > Climber's Log
Twin Sisters Peaks Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2015
|Looking for something without to much snow, this was a fun, short hike.
|Posted Dec 2, 2015 11:54 am
|Triplets or Twins?
Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2014
|Climbed East and West Twin Sisters Peaks along with Twin Sisters Mountain via the Twin Sisters Trail. The trail got wiped out in parts by 2013 floods, you cross the slide then as the switchbacks on the south side come back to it you have to do some short bushwhacks to string the trail segments together. Not difficult to hike around, but it is an impressive testament to the force of Mother Nature.
|Posted Jun 1, 2014 9:17 pm
|Great Hike
Date Climbed: May 29, 2014
|First time on this trail. Great views and perfect weather. Some minor post-holing near the tree line, but nothing unmanageable. Navigation through the slide area is easy due to cairns. Will visit again soon.
|Posted May 29, 2014 11:59 pm
|Fun day hike in Estes
Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2014
|Deep snow, but worth the haul.
|Posted May 10, 2014 10:13 am
Date Climbed: May 3, 2014
|There is a huge landslide from the 2013 floods that wiped out many switchbacks. We crossed it a few times without problems.
|Posted May 5, 2014 1:12 am
|Twin Sisters Peak
Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2006
|I don't know what (except perhaps mountain fever) had me thinking I could climb this set of peaks before an afternoon flight home out of Denver. But I made the peaks and the flight thank goodness. Great views into the park including of Longs Peak.
|Posted Sep 6, 2013 5:13 am
|Pete Castricone
|Ran it
Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2013
|Great view of Longs.
|Posted Sep 5, 2013 7:11 pm
|Gear Up
Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2003
|Made this hike as a gear up for Quandary the following day. Great weather.
|Posted Aug 6, 2013 1:25 pm
|Twin Sisters- #2
Date Climbed: Jan 5, 2013
|In January with rkymtn.
Again with Dina on March 29 after a trip to the Stanley.
|Posted Jul 7, 2013 5:41 pm
Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2008
|Been up twin sisters several times and I get hot just looking at it now (avoid hot summer days). Lot's of fun in winter though.
|Posted May 14, 2013 2:01 pm
|Twin Sisters
Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2013
|A great weather day! It was relatively warm with very little wind. My wife and I enjoyed this easy hike and added some scrambling on the summits for fun. The trail was well packed, so the snowshoes stayed in the car.
|Posted Jan 6, 2013 7:10 pm
|Twin Sisters
|So many times!
|Posted Dec 25, 2012 1:49 pm
|Amazing View
Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
|Nice hike with great views, I highly recommend it!
|Posted Aug 13, 2012 8:08 pm
|Standard Trail
Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2012
|This was a long day. Started the day off on Point 8,149, drove over to Twin Owls TH and scrambled up "Gem Peak" and The Needles then ended the day with a good but tiring hike up Twin Sisters and over to Twin Sisters Mountain.
Completely snow free by the way.
|Posted Jun 6, 2012 8:00 pm
Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2011
|A really underrated hike. We did both peaks. The other one (I think the South sister) is a scramble but totally worth it, as there is a huge chair made out of rocks at the top. Nobody was up the southern peak, we had it all to ourselves.
|Posted May 7, 2012 5:12 pm
|Twin Sisters + Twin Sister Mountain
Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2009
|Great views of Longs from all 3 on these summits.
|Posted Mar 30, 2012 4:30 pm
|Beautiful View
Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2010
|Absolutely perfect weather - got some awesome photos of Longs
|Posted Jan 16, 2012 11:11 pm
|my first
Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2011
|time to the northern area of RMNP, Great views from this summit:)
|Posted Nov 10, 2011 12:22 am
|my first
Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2011
|time to the northern area of RMNP, Great views from this summit:)
|Posted Nov 10, 2011 12:22 am
|Ted Eliason
|Great diversion when its rough up high
Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2008
|This peak just breaks treeline. Elk on the trail. Technical bolted routes on the side. Views of the West park.
|Posted Oct 13, 2011 4:53 pm


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Former NFL defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy has called commissioner Roger Goodell a liar in a statement released Friday by the NFL Players Association.
The league identified Kennedy as the original whistle-blower in the Saints' bounty scandal. Kennedy has denied this—strongly. Kennedy was a defensive tackle with the Vikings when they met the Saints in the 2009 NFL championship game.
The NFL says Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove mentioned the Brett Favre bounty to Kennedy, who then passed along the information to then-Vikings coach Brad Childress. Early in their careers, Hargrove and Kennedy had been teammates with the Rams.
More from Bountygate
— Vilma takes league back to court
— Brees backs Fujita, calls case a 'sham'
"Roger Goodell identifies me as the 'whistleblower' who approached former Viking coach Brad Childress about an alleged bounty on Brett Favre in the NFC championship game," Kennedy's statement said in part.
"Contrary to the false information disseminated by the NFL, coach Childress approached me and asked me if I knew anything about such an allegation and I told him the truth: I did not. I had no knowledge of any such alleged bounty.
"Roger Goodell also states that I was interviewed by the NFL about the alleged bounty. That is another lie; I was never interviewed by the NFL, unless the NFL considers two 30-second conversations when I told NFL Security that I had no knowledge of any such allegations "interviews." I certainly do not.
"The third lie that Roger Goodell told about me is perhaps the most upsetting because it involves a man for who I have great respect and admiration, Anthony Hargrove. The NFL states that Anthony Hargrove told me about the alleged bounty on Brett Favre. That is an utter lie; it simply never happened.
"I am not one of the players who has been officially disciplined by the NFL as part of this sham, but I now know that I too have been damaged by the NFL's complete disregard for truth and integrity."


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Craig and Jeff working on PocketBible at Java Creek Cafe
Our regular readers know that Laridian currently employs just two full-time programmers: me (Craig) and Jeff Wheeler. We have several part-time employees doing marketing and technical support work, but Jeff and I are the only full-timers. Jeff and I go way back, first working together in 1985. Except for nine months in 1988-89 when I left to join Parsons Technology and before Jeff joined me there, we've worked together ever since then.
I want you to know that in November of last year, Jeff was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. His prognosis is good, but the cancer is aggressive and calls for aggressive treatment. He's had two surgeries, and recently began about an eighteen-week regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Those of us who have had cancer victims in our families know that treatments and responses vary. However, during this period, it is expected that Jeff will go through a three-week cycle of nausea, then fatigue, then a brief period of feeling good before the cycle of treatment begins again.
Needless to say, we all at Laridian covet your prayers for the treatment to be productive and the side-effects to be tolerable.
Additionally, I want you to know how this affects our work at Laridian. Laridian is a small company and that is intentional. In an article in Christian Computing Magazine ten years ago we explained how our history of working for a huge, publicly-traded software company motivated us to create something different when we founded Laridian. We wanted to be small and stay small. One of the results of meeting that goal is that when one of us is operating at less than 100%, it affects all of us. It also affects our ability to meet our customers' expectations. So we, too, would appreciate your prayers and patience during this period.
Of course, we all have troubles in this life. Your family has perhaps gone through a lot worse at one time or another. Jeff knows his particular problems aren't any bigger than what you have experienced or might be currently experiencing. But we thought it was important for you to know what's going on here so you will have some additional insight into how this situation may affect the work we do for you here at Laridian.
Again, thank you always for your prayers. It is our pleasure to be able to serve you through the work we do.


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Gio keeps focus on game between the lines
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
WASHINGTON -- One thing can be said about Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez: He doesn't let distractions get the best of him.
During Spring Training, a report from the Miami New Times linked Gonzalez and other Major League players to an anti-aging clinic called Biogenesis, which reportedly supplied PEDs. However, Gonzalez seemingly was able to leave that distraction off the field.
In five exhibition games, Gonzalez allowed three runs in 18 innings. But the highlight of Gonzalez's spring came on March 12, when he pitched five shutout inning for Team USA in a 7-1 victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park in Miami, his home city. While in the Classic, he received a pep talk from pitching coach Greg Maddux, who told him to stay focused on the game at hand. That was not the case during last year's National League Division Series against the Cardinals.
"He said simplify everything. Instead of looking all around, focus on one little thing, like a routine ground ball," Gonzalez remembered. "Clear your mind, don't think about anything. It's just you and the catcher."
Asked how he didn't let the distraction off the field affect him on the field, Gonzalez said, "I went about my business. It was exactly what it was. I just focused on what I know to focus on, and that's baseball. I have fun doing it, I have team support. Not only that, I got to pitch in front of my home crowd. It just spruced more energy and I stayed focused. That meant a lot to me, to represent Team USA, and I didn't want to let them down."
Major League Baseball's investigation into Biogenesis and the players allegedly involved is still ongoing, but Gonzalez said he "doesn't know" if the league is still investigating him.
"At this point, I'm over it," Gonzalez said. "Turn the page, move forward, ready for baseball."
Gonzalez will be facing the Marlins on Wednesday night at Nationals Park in front of his parents, brother and cousin. His outing comes two days after Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout inning in a 2-0 victory over Miami.
"I'm going to try my best to give my team some strong innings and try to hold the Fish down," Gonzalez said. "We are going to go out there and have some fun. Opening Day is going to set the tone for us. We are going to have some fun after that."
Gonzalez is coming off his best season in the Major Leagues, having gone 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA and 207 strikeouts and earned a third-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award vote.
"I'm ready to move on and focus on baseball," Gonzalez said. "Nothing has changed since I've been playing. It's the same routine. I've been going out there and attacking the strike zone. That's my style of pitching. I want to play against your best and I try to do my best. That's the way I am. I'm ready to play baseball. I'm ready to focus on 2013 and move forward."
For a guy who was a Cy Young Award candidate last year, Gonzalez wants to put up better numbers in 2013 and win the World Series.
"I want to win more games. I want to do whatever I can more, and more better," Gonzalez said. "When you have a rotation like ours and an offense and defense like ours, why not go above and beyond having those expectations. It's only on yourself that you want to exceed and try to make it better. If you want to prove something, prove it to yourself."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He also could be found on Twitter @WashingNats. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Discussion in 'Shoes and Apparel' started by aweil, Dec 5, 2012.
Mine has apparently been delivered at home. Excited for later
My 10 pairs shipped yesterday, apparently they are being held waiting to clear Chinese customs through UPS. Scheduled for Friday delivery.
Sorry did I read that right? 10 PAIRS? :shock:
10 different pairs?
Nike must love you lol
I'm definitely a fan
Awesome color way. almost similar to roger's 2007 us open shoes
Cheers man. The initial plan was to go full black, but started adding white and thought it worked really well, so bit of a hybrid of ideas!
well that white worked well. i think someone did all black in this thread somewhere
Look spr nice and clean!! Big fan of white soles on shoes! I had this same configuration the other day but with white vents and white laces but didn't go through with it!
Do you have some spare white laces around that you can put and snap some pics for me to have a more clear idea? Thanks in advance!
While pretty much no one here loves you.
hey tmcw, when did you place your order? i placed one on jan 22 and the order is still in production thanks.
Did anyone here try the 'wide' fit?
I did but haven't received them yet. I have the 2K ID's in the wide and they fit great. I don't even have a wide foot but I find the retail 2k and vapor to be slightly narrow on me.
My 16 pairs shipped today.
I wish.
Love this thread like cotton candy.
My customizer adding a few touches to mine. Pics in place next week.
Please let me know how they compare. I'm on my third pair of Vapors and the third unfortunately fits tighter than the other two and has been bugging the sides of my left foot and giving me a small blister there. Plenty broken in, too.
Hey guys, need your opinion on this!
Option A
Option B
definitely option B, looks great.
B looks pretty nice
I dont understand this hatred. Did I upset you?
Option A for me, they look cleaner.
Way to be original with your color theme man. good job.
imo the best id I've seen
+ how did you manage to get that grey shank color? it's not available on nike id's website, only white is
Cheers man.
Do you mean the mid-foot shank or the foot frame bit? The shank is black and the frame is white, but I think because its not matte, the black shows through and makes it less white in comparison to the swoosh
So I had to look back from page 1 to find your post, found it on page 5 DECEMBER? Do you think I'm going to recall seeing your post from almost 2 months ago? So what if I used orange and blue? (please, nobody choose this colors or you're unoriginal) Those are the main colors for my team. Still, mine have some differences from yours.
It's not my fault you're too lazy to look back and see what's been done already. It's like going to a dunk contest and do the same dunk, but with the other hand, and call it and brand new dunk. All the while, the same basic elements remain.
Sure, if you want to define originality as adding/removing a similar color on the small part of the shoe, that is damn near indistinguishable from a distance because the colors and the locations are so similar, while maintaining the same overall color scheme, then be my guest.
And If I am going to draw inspirations from elsewhere and make slight modification to an original design, I'd make a reference to it. Like what I did with one of the Wimbledon designs.
Jesus Christ, get a grip, they're a pair of shoes. Do you think Federer whines to Nike that you're wearing shoes like his? The only thing that's the same is the upper, the midsole and the mesh anyway.
But now you mention it, i have some old shoes from the 90's that have some blue on so you're all copying me tbh, i feel so special
I'm sure he's going to wear them to the French Open at "night" too because they definitely have night matches there . Your designs are slapdash at best, he used what are probably his school color's so get a grip.
Wow, the hate is strong lately. And yours are all that great? Silence doesn't mean approval, it's because they don't care and are nice enough to not spoil your moment. But I'll remember it, what goes around comes around.
ok so the shank is black!
What's the necessity of insulting? I chose those colors because they pleased ME! And are the same colors for my team. Not school btw.
Yo don't have exclusivity and I don't need to ask for your permission or give u credit in any way. I wanted orange and blue in my design. I had a couple of more designs, but those two are the ones I liked the most since white will get dirty way to fast! It's not like there is. trillion ways of customizing options given to us by Nike so that it's unique and original so it passes your Board of Approval
For originality.
Grow up, maybe when you mature up you'll understand that the world doesnt't revolve around you and/or your designs that you post on this forum.
Instead of hating why not just compliment that I did something similar to what you did and comment in a positive way.
Here is an example!
"Oh hey! I like option A/B more, looks cool! I did somthing similar 2 months ago!!"
First of all, I didnt say anything about "school", so don't put that on me.
Second of all, I didn't mean to insult you, so I do apologize for that since you took it that way (and I did come across as insulting now that I re-read it). I think that's a lesson for someone else on this page. But it's common courtesy to reference if it's anyway possible. I'm not going to say what you said, because it's nearly identical, not similar. I saw the '12 Wimbledon color theme, wanted to change a small portion of it, so I made a reference to it. Simple as that.
Saying nearly identical doesn't make sense. It's either identical (exactly the same) or not.
Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical.
(of figures) Having the same shape, with the same angles and proportions, though of different sizes.
So you want to get down to the nitty gritty definition now? Fine, your shoe is "similar". I'll go and make a "similar" shoe too for my next design.
Hey guys,
I'm new here and love checking out all your cool shoes!
Now I need your help: I'm looking for a classic white/black/grey shoe only to be played on red clay and which matches with many different shirts etc.
Which one do you prefer?
Cheers! Sorry, had a dig around and believe it or not, no white laces to be found. Will post if any appear
# 6 please!
I think it was jan 12th, so sounds about right, no?
@RFan ,1 and 3
I would go with #2 or #6... With #6 being my top choice
Hehe! No problem! Thanks!
Are you 12? There are only so many color options with the ID's, so I hate to break it to you, but there will be many others in the world who will come up with the same design - exact or close - as you, and most of them will have never read these boards. Get a grip. They're shoes. Not original works of grand art that are being lifted.
Yeah I noticed that. That's why I've stopped because it's so limiting. Or maybe I should start again, since there are so many "templates" for me to use now. I don't want to hear nothing when I start making similar looking shoes. Maybe I'll just change the shank color.
And no I'm not 12, are you? Since you're crying about something that didn't even involve you?
cool thanks. i was just wondering b/c i thought i read somewhere that shoes were delayed or something. hopefully i'll get mine in a week or so, can't wait.
Anyone ordered red ones so far ? I am curious about the shade of red
Two veeery different designs! Go with the one that matches most of your wardrobe. I personally like the second one more.
I like the 2nd one
I like #2.
#1 : more contrast, more powerful.
I have ordered some red ones ,although they have not arrived yet. they are due on March 25th cant wait
Separate names with a comma.


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Search renewed for Pittsfield community development director
PITTSFIELD -- Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi has renewed his search for the city's next community development director following the recent rejection of a job offer by his first choice to fill the vacancy.
"We've re-advertised the position and applications are rolling in," he said. "We hope to start conducting interviews after Thanksgiving."
An ad hoc committee consisting of staff from the city's Community Development and Personnel departments will review the resumes before forwarding the names of the three finalists to Bianchi. The mayor will interview the finalists.
Since early September, the Bianchi administration has been seeking a successor to Deanna L. Ruffer, who left the post Sept. 7 for a similar position in Chatham on Cape Cod. She had served eight years in the post.
The city's Director of Community Development has been a major factor in the revitalization of downtown Pittsfield and other economic projects throughout the city in recent years.
Initially, 11 applicants sought to replace Ruffer. However, Bianchi's top prospect turned down the municipal position, in part, due to its yearly salary of $73,000, according to the mayor.
"Salary is always an issue," he said. "We had a very good candidate and offered him the job, but it didn't work out."
The city's Community Development Director is a three-year position subject to appointment by the mayor that does not require approval by the City Council, according to the city code. However, Bianchi has said he will still formally notify the council of his choice.
Longtime Community Development staff member Bonnie Galant has been serving as the department's interim director and handling the job well, according to Bianchi.
"The nice thing is we have a great staff," he said. "Bonnie Galant and the others are a great group."
Bianchi has said the city's next community development director needs to follow in Ruffer's footsteps by helping the city secure millions of dollars in state and federal grants.
Under Ruffer's direction, Pittsfield received more than $22 million in government funds toward job creation, building affordable housing and improving city parks.
That funding was in addition to money from the federal Community Development Block Grant fund that Pittsfield receives every year.
The funds Ruffer secured for Pittsfield helped finance several city projects including the establishment of the Beacon Cinema, the restoration of the Colonial Theatre, the redevelopment of the former Rice Silk Mill on Spring Street into an apartment complex, and the initial refurbishment of the First Street Common.
Ruffer was also responsible for recruiting LTI Smart Glass from Lenox to Pittsfield, and helping the Ice River Springs water bottling company of Canada expand into the city.
Ruffer's successor will inherit a staff of 14 people that include the city's parks and open space manager, recreation coordinator and conservation agent.
To reach Dick Lindsay:
or (413) 496-6233.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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SUMMERFIELD, Fla. - A Marion County woman is hoping someone will recognize a man she believes has been breaking into her Summerfield barn and sexually assaulting her miniature show horses.
Abby Conder, the owner of the barn, tells Local 6 surveillance video from her barn shows the intruder breaking in early Sunday morning at around 3:30 a.m. but not doing anything to the animals that night.
But she said she believes he's responsible for injuring several of her horses on earlier visits.
"I'm very worried about my horses. I'm worried this man is very psychotic because the attacks have been getting more brutal," Conder said.
She said back in August, she discovered one of her show horses, worth between $50,000 and $200,000 was missing from its stall and was restrained outside of the barn bleeding.
Since then, two other horses have been assaulted similarly in December and she thinks the intruder is responsible.
"He is enjoying coming into my barn, taking my "cream of the crop" show horses out of the barn to do this to," Conder said.
After one of the attacks, Conder bought a guard dog and she said the next night, she found the dog beaten to death in the barn, while another horse had been brutalized outside.
"I don't believe he'll stop even with this being on the news," Conder said. "I think he's too at home in here. I think he's still going to come into this barn at night."
Contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office if you have any information on the attacks.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Falling Water Church will continue to host an old-fashioned camp meeting at 10 a.m. today and Saturday. Bros. Dean Caldwell of Pottsville and Larry Willis of Hartman will speak each night respectively. Call (870) 294-5339 for more details.
Dinner, singing fundraiser
Cornerstone Assembly of God will host a spaghetti dinner and Southern Gospel singing fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday on State Highway 105 north of Atkins. Singing begins at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted to repair the food bank truck.
Talleys of Tennessee to perform Saturday
The Talleys of Tennessee will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Restoration Church, 2349 S. Elmira Ave. in Russellville. Pastor James Findley invites everyone to attend.
Homecoming at Unity Missionary on Sunday
Unity Missionary Baptist Church will host its homecoming service at 3 p.m. Sunday at 306 N. Fourth St. in Dardanelle. Guest speaker will be The Rev. Seth Martin of St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock. The Rev. Mark K. Wilson invites everyone to attend.
A reception will follow the service. Proceeds will benefit Mount Nebo Cemetery Fund. For more information, call (479) 229-0012.
Church to host free teaching workshop
A free teacher's and parent's workshop for teaching reading and English will be at 1 p.m. July 14 at Hector Church of Christ. Also, ladies may now make plans to attend the Ladies' Day at 1 p.m. Oct. 13. For more information, view the schedule on the church Facebook page.
Pearce in concert to be July 14
Congregation Chiam B' Derech will present Ted Pearce in concert at 7 p.m. July 14 at 410 S. Arkansas Ave. in Russellville.
Pearce is the founder of the "March for Life" in Europe and "March of Remembrance" in the United States, bringing healing to those who suffered during the holocaust and reconciliation with those who stood by.
Admission is free. CDs will be available after the concert and a love offering will be accepted.
Benefit dinner
River Valley Grace Lutheran Church will host a benefit dinner for missions from 5-8 p.m. July 14 in Lamar. Tickets for adults are $12.50 and ages 14 and under for $6.50. Dine in or carryout. For reservations or more information, call (479) 497-2505 or (479) 754-0134. Meal will include BBQ ribs or chicken, potato salad or parsley potatoes, baked beans, cole slaw and desserts.
Calvary to host VBS
Calvary Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School from 6-8:10 p.m. July 15-19 at 1434 State Highway 22 in Dardanelle for students in first through sixth grade.
A preregistration party will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. For more information, call Teresa Staton at (479) 692-9223.
11th Hour at Mount Vernon July 15
Mount Vernon Freewill Baptist Church will host an event at 5 p.m. July 15 featuring 11th Hour of Monroe, La. Take State Highway 105 north from Atkins and turn onto St. Joe Road and follow the signs in the Buttermilk community. Everyone is invited.
Drinkwitz to speak at Fellowship
Eliah Drinkwitz, Arkansas State University running backs/special teams coordinator, will speak at 9:15 and 11 a.m. July 15 at Fellowship of Christians.
Drinkwitz, a former member of Fellowship of Christians, most recently spent the 2012-11 season working with coach Gus Malzahn for the second time in his career. He also worked with Malzahn as an assistant coach at Springdale High School in 2004.
Pastor E. Wayne Drain invites everyone to hear Eliah's message and testimony. For more information, call 967-5882 or visit www.foconline.org.
VBS at Delaware FBC to begin July 16
Delaware First Baptist Church (FBC) will host Vacation Bible School (VBS) from 6-8:45 p.m. July 16-20 on State Highway 22 West.
Family Fun Day and VBS registrations will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 14 at Delaware FBC for ages 3 to adult. There will be food, fun and games for everyone. For more information, call Pastor Wylie Jones at (479) 477-0990 or VBS director Stephanie Whitson at (479) 477-0235.
Kelley Heights to host VBS
A "Gold Rush" will mine for the truth about Jesus Christ. A preregistration party will be from 1-5 p.m. July 21 with Vacation Bible School from 6-8:30 p.m. July 23-27 at Kelley Heights Baptist Church, 420 Darby Lane in Russellville. For more information or transportation, call Jeannie Luu at 747-3962.


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BERLIN — Delegate Mike McDermott (R-38B) this week was named to a special House committee put together to analyze and craft legislation to address Maryland's gun control laws.
McDermott was asked this week to serve on the committee that will consider the vast number of proposed gun control bills filed or expected to be filed in the General Assembly during the current session in the wake of the tragic school shootings in Connecticut last month. McDermott, a career law enforcement officer, believes he will bring a different level of expertise to the panel.
"I'm getting put on a committee to consider all of these gun control bills," he said this week after the committee chairman poked his head in his office to request his presence on the panel while McDermott was talking to The Dispatch on a separate issue. "I guess I was asked because I naturally have a broad knowledge of the field. It also gives me the opportunity to show I can work across the aisles."
McDermott was pleased to be asked to serve on the committee and hoped it might provide a forum for some of his own legislation he has proposed but has not yet introduced.
"It's certainly an honor to be asked and I'm glad to serve," he said. "Hopefully, it gives a voice to some of those other things I've been talking about. I've been pretty outspoken on some of these issues."
McDermott has proposed public schools implement a "guardian" program; an authorization for school districts to issue less lethal taser-style weapons to certain school staffers; and an authorization for those who possess conceal-carry permits along with active or retired law enforcement officers who are certified to possess firearms to carry a concealed weapon on the campus of a public school.
McDermott's proposed initiatives stop short of placing armed guards at the entrances to public schools. Instead, his proposed legislation is aimed at beefing up security at public schools and addressing the issue of mental illness and access to weapons.
McDermott has outlined some of the security initiatives already in use in some school districts across the country. For example, in some school districts there are certain staffers known only to the administration who carry concealed firearms in the schools. The trained individuals are called "guardians" and represent a vigilant line of defense for those they protect.


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KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Nacional)
This five-person Tijuana collective's latest release is another seamless blend of norteno and various electronic styles, combining brass instruments, accordion, bajo sexto guitar and other acoustic instrumentation with a variety of electronic beats and textures. 7/8/2005 - Don Yates
Other Nortec Collective album reviews:
The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 - 2/15/2001


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Mobility Matters: Tracking the Mobile Banking Revolution in Credit Unions
The plunge into mobile banking is quickening – adoption, said the experts, is occurring much faster than happened with online banking, which took 10+ years to become entrenched in our lives.
Mobile is doing it twice as fast, and the data points keep exploding. A for instance: Bank of America just put out a press release celebrating its 10 millionth mobile banking customer (active users have grown by 3 million in just the past year). The release quoted a B of A executive saying the institution now sees more than $1 billion in mobile transactions every week.
Mobile is becoming the globe's dominant form of Internet access – by 2015 more people in the U.S. will access the Internet via mobile devices than any other way, said researchers at IDC in a report a few months ago, and if anything that day may come sooner.
Fallout from this abrupt shift to mobile is everywhere, and especially hard hit is branching, said marketing researchers Rosetta in a study that bluntly reported consumers are jilting branches in favor of digital banking. "I was surprised by how many wanted to pull away from branches," said Rosetta managing partner Ned Elton in a Credit Union Times interview.
Experts are not quite ready to bury old-style analog banking but there is a lot of rethinking going on – "bankers are now trying to figure out what branches are for," said Novantas consultant Kevin Travis in an interview. "We haven't entered this end game."
Workers' CU iPad App: Listen to Christopher Saari, the Internet banking manager for Workers' Credit Union in Fitchburg, Mass., and his goals for the recent rollout of an iPad app just may surprise. "We expect to see older users adopting it," said Saari in a Credit Union Times interview. He indicated that the $880 million institution already had brisk adoption of its iPhone app, but lately he had noticed a sizable number of iOS users coming directly into the credit union's website via Safari, the Apple browser. His guess – and it is probably right – is that the traffic is from iPad users. When they realize there now is an iPad specific app, Saari believes they will switch to it.
As for the age prediction, he said, "Around here" – in northern Massachusetts – "iPad users tend to be older." Gen Y can scrape together the cash for an iPhone but not it and an iPad, said Saari.
The PayPal Payments War: The gloves are off, the new competition is going to be brutal. On the heels of its launch of a payments tool at Home Depot (pay with a mobile number and PIN), PayPal now has announced roll out of the service to 15 more national retailers, among them: Abercrombie & Fitch, Advance Auto Parts, Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Foot Locker, Guitar Center, Jamba Juice, JC Penney, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Nine West, Office Depot, Rooms To Go, Tiger Direct and Toys "R" Us.
In a blog, PayPal president David Marcus wrote: "Consumers are relying on technology now more than ever to simplify their lives when it comes to shopping and paying, and retailers must adapt to this shift or risk becoming irrelevant."
Included in the PayPal suite are tools for rewarding consumers with the aim of hiking loyalty, said Marcus.
Recently, too, PayPal announced – in association with Technology Credit Union in San Jose, Calif. – a service that will let Tech CU members send money to mobile phone numbers by tapping in info at an ATM.
The company, at the NACHA convention in Baltimore, also announced a new P2P service that, it said, was specifically geared at credit unions and community banks.
The loud PayPal message: it intends to be a big player in the mobile payments space.
clearXchange Gets Hot: The war for person-to-person payments also heated up, as Wells Fargo has announced a clearXchange-powered service that will let any Wells customer send money to any Wells or Bank of America customer. The difference: the sender needs to know only the recipient's email address or mobile phone number. No knowledge of bank account details is required.
clearXchange is owned by Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase.
The take-away for credit unions: despite persistent doubts about the ability to monetize p2p, the trillion dollar banks seemed determined to push ahead with P2P in 2012 and that may force smaller institutions to follow.
McAfee Threat Assessment: Up, up, up. That's the topline commentary on mobile malware, according to researchers at McAfee. James Walter, manager of McAfee Threat Intelligence Service, said in a Credit Union Times interview that Android malware in particular saw a sharp spike from Q4 2011 to Q1 2012: "It's up 1,200 percent," he said. "The growth is alarming,"
Malware aimed at iOS devices – iPhone, iPad – mainly target "jailbroken" devices, a gambit specifically warned against by Apple. McAfee did however report seeing growing numbers of viruses and malware aimed at Apple desktops and laptops.
Good news is that the vast majority of cases of mobile malware are mere nuisances. Worst cases seem to involve sending unauthorized premium SMS, maybe dialing pricey phone numbers. Nothing rises to the level of Zeus – yet.


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He was born Sept. 9, 1943, in Dover to Sam and Hazel Hurst Shaddon. Cecil was an employee of Lynn's Tree Service and a cattle farmer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Eugene, Chester and Boyce Shaddon; one sister, Silvia Litsey; and one grandson, Nathaniel Collins.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Turney Shaddon; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bud and Dee Shaddon of Dover, Larry and Felicia Shaddon of Russellville and Jason and Laura Shaddon of Russellville; two daughters, Melissa Coffman and her friend, Ronny Williams, and Sandra Collins of Russellville; one brother, Ed Shaddon; 15 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other family and friends.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, July 8, 2013, at Hudson Cemetery in Moreland officiated by the Rev. Jerry Patton, under the direction of Broussard Funeral Home of Russellville. The visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2013, at Broussard Funeral Home of Russellville, 3323 E. 6th Street (968-1143).
Honorary pallbearers will be Bud Shadon, Larry Shaddon, Jason Shaddon, Gage Shaddon, Jacob Shaddon and Jeremiah Shaddon.
Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.broussardfuneral.com.


text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, October 12, 2012, 1:59 PM
Town Square
Pumar pleads not guilty
Original post made on Oct 12, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, October 12, 2012, 1:59 PM
a resident of Slater
on Oct 12, 2012 at 2:20 pm
gcoladon is a registered user.
I don't know whether it's a problem with how our legal system works, or people's values, that results in guilty parties seemingly never pleading guilty. I think everyone would, or should, be better off if those guilty of crimes against other citizens were able to admit their wrongdoing and get a 'fair' (let's leave the definition of that until later) punishment.
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Oct 12, 2012 at 2:39 pm
"He sped through a red light, swerved to avoid a truck entering the intersection, lost control of his car and then ran into William Ware"
Only $10,000 bail? And he was released? That is wrong. His wreckless behavior resulted in a person's death. Did he even lose his license, or is business as usual until the hearing?
This guy should do time and lose his license for life.
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Oct 12, 2012 at 2:41 pm
If I was on his jury, I would throw the book at him. Life in state prison. He may be only charged with one crime, but he actually committed several acts of reckless driving before he killed the victim.
a resident of Gemello
on Oct 12, 2012 at 2:50 pm
This guy pleading innocence is outrageous. incidents like this should never give the guilty party any such option. This guy should be behind bars for life. I understand the criminal system should be responsible to rehab people but incidents like this should send a message to everyone that deliberate and unnecessary crimes will not be tolerated and will face still life sentence.I can see this case drag for a long time and this guy will not even get 5 years prison term. Our legal system sucks.
a resident of Castro City
on Oct 12, 2012 at 2:50 pm
He'll get off just as the woman from Saratoga did last year. Seems if one has enough money and no scruples, one can get away with murder in Mountain View! He intentionally ran a red light which resulted in the death of an innocent bystander who would be alive but for Pumar's actions and he is released on $10 K bail with no lost privileges? Money obviously has spoken.
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Oct 13, 2012 at 12:36 pm
sean is a registered user.
"Pumar remained on the scene" wonder why? Was it because his car was in like 15 pieces and he had injuries? To the people referring to the Saratoga doctor lady who fled home after killing a pedestrian, I think this is a little different. A 22 year old kid driving his dads $60,000 car down side streets at 60 and killing someone vs. a old lady hitting an old man at a low speed on a blind corner, she did flee and deserved a harsher punishment but I bet this kid gets 1 year and serves about 4 months in a low security facility.
Note that if the charge of gross vehicular manslaughter is filed as a misdemeanor the MAX sentence is one year in jail.
Filed as a felony? MAX sentence of six years in prison.
There is also a mandatory three-year license revocation.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Oct 13, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Otto Maddox is a registered user.
Wow.. some people have no idea how our justice system works.. and why.
If the evidence is so clear and the State's case so strong why don't we welcome a trial? Let the evidence be entered and examined. That's what is so great about our country compared to lots of others.
The jury doesn't get to throw "the book" at anyone. That's the job of the DA to determine what crimes to charge a person with based on the evidence collected. I'm sure his lawyer will work out a plea bargain with the DA. Most cases never go before a jury which is a travesty but I'll save that for another rant another day.
And if you think people should enter a guilty plea when they're guilty please turn yourself in every time you speed, roll through stop sign, or doing something else illegal. March right down to the police station and ask to be written a citation. Then go to traffic court and plead guilty.
Whether this takes 5 days or 5 years (which it won't) justice will be served. This guy is in a lot of trouble and he's going to be paying for his mistakes for a long time after his sentence has been served.
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Oct 13, 2012 at 5:43 pm
sean is a registered user.
Be an unbiased juror for a moment and pretend you know nothing about this accident or the people involved. Now this is presented in front of you:
Web Link
Tell me what you think? I know how my heart feels and the pictures are pretty tell tale.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Oct 16, 2012 at 8:55 am
Otto Maddox is a registered user.
A picture, all by itself, tells me little about what caused the accident.
The D.A. needs to meet a much higher burden of proof than what we see on T.V. and what is printed in the media.
Things like intent have to be considered for charges like this.
You can't determine that from the picture you linked.


text:
This is my first year playing in San Diego -- my first year living on the West Coast. And so far, I absolutely love it. It has been a lot of fun. I am from North Carolina, and in the big leagues, I have played for Detroit and Florida. San Diego is a great city. It is cool and it has a good vibe. It is a beautiful place to live.
My family is still back East, but that doesn't stop my family -- my dad in particular -- from following me out here. He will stay up to watch all the games. That isn't necessarily the case for my mom. She will get the news from my dad or from me when I talk to her. But my dad has no problems staying up all night to catch the games whenever he can.
Being with this team is great because, like family, we have a great atmosphere with this club. Everybody is very welcoming, and it is easy to feel like one of the guys. That helps make for a good feeling.
My season, so far, has had some good moments. I feel like I am doing some things, putting together some good at-bats. Sometimes your batting average doesn't always show the quality of your at-bats. I feel like I have done a really good job stringing together some quality at-bats. I want to keep that going and, hopefully, some more hits will start to fall. It seems like some of the hard balls I have hit have been right at guys. I will look at my average at the end of the year, not now.
Good things happen to you and your team when the balls fall, when the balls find holes. It would be great to catch some more breaks. Most people only see the stats at the end of a game, but if you watch our games, we have been in a lot of them. In some key situations, the balls have been hit hard but right at people. We haven't gotten too many breaks so far, and that is just baseball. We have to continue to stay after it and continue to try and break through.
I think it will just be a matter of time before things even out. That is all you can hope for. Go out and compete, and try to find a way to make it turn around. Each guy here is going out and giving his best. If we keep doing that, it will turn.
Fleet-footed center fielder Cameron Maybin was acquired via trade by San Diego from Florida during the offseason. The Padres have struggled in April, but the 24-year-old Maybin, a former first-round pick, has helped pace them offensively by leading the club with 43 total bases.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Halo Wars • Page 2
343: Halo Wars a "success", sequel currently not planned
343 Industries boss Frankie O'Connor has said that Ensemble RTS Halo Wars was a "huge success", but insists work on a sequel has not begun.
Fan outrage persuades 343 Industries to continue Halo Wars stat-tracking
343 giveth, and 343 taketh away. And then it changeth its mind and giveth again. Eth.
Halo Wars player stats to be wiped due to Waypoint transition
Microsoft's announced it's to close the website for Halo Wars and wipe online player stats for the RTS.
Get two 360 Platinum Hits, get one free
Amazon's offering a third game free when you buy two Platinum Hits for Xbox 360, provided it's an equal or lesser price then the two you've already picked.
Fable II, Halo Wars join 360 Classics range
Microsoft's announced it's added Fable II and Halo Wars to the Classics catalogue for 360.
Halo Wars, Dead Rising added to GoD on Live
Nelson's confirmed that Halo Wars and Dead Rising are now available on Games on Demand for Xbox Live.
Halo Wars stats wipe was "human error," Microsoft admits
Major Nelson's apologised on behalf of Microsoft for Halo Wars' leaderboards being completely reset on Wednesday, saying the gaffe was "human error". Sounds as though there's no chance of the boards being restored: Nelson said the "unfortunate incident" has "resulted in the loss of all data" related to the strategy title's online portion. In a […]
Halo Wars leaderboards erased due to technical glitch
Due to a technical glitch on Xbox Live, the leaderboards for Halo Wars has been wiped clean. All stats are now back to launch day status, and this includes all singleplayer, multiplayer and Trueskill leaderboards, as well as all matchmaking data. According to a post on the official Halo Wars website, it's unknown if the […]
Halo Wars Battle Map Pack now out [Update]
The Major's updated to reveal that the Halo Wars Historical Battle Map Pack is now available for download. The blurb: Expand your Halo Wars experience with the Historical Battle Map Pack Add-on. These four new maps highlight key turning points in the epic war between the UNSC and Covenant forces. The maps include: Blood River […]
New add-on coming for Halo Wars July 21
A Halo Wars add-on called Historic Battles has been announced for July 21. It will run you 800 MS Points ($10.00) and contains four new maps and four new Achievements. Here's the breakdown: Barrens (1v1 Map): Difficult terrain channels units into killing zones. The side that controls the Forerunner artifacts will have the advantage. Blood […]
Halo Wars: Details released for Title Update 3
Robot Entertainment has released a list of fixes included in Title Update 3 for Halo Wars. It is expected to arrive in just a few weeks, and here's what you can expect: Balance Changes UNSC Warthogs Gauss cannon damage against tanks and other heavily armored vehicles reduced by 25% UNSC Warthogs build time increased by […]
Halo 3 and Halo Wars sell between 57,000 and 74,000 units in April
Killzone 2 may have sold 58,000 units in the US during the month of April, but according to recent NPD numbers, Halo 3 may have outsold it. A report from Gamasutra divulges that Halo 3 and Halo Wars sold somewhere between 57,000 and 74,000 units a piece. While exact figures for each were lacking in […]
Halo Wars: Strategic Options Add-on Pack now on Live
The Halo Wars: Strategic Options Add-on Pack is now available on Xbox Live. It contains the three new game modes: Keepaway which is a capture the flag game; Tug of War sees who can field and maintain the strongest army; and Reinforcements allows you to adapt your tactics with waves of troops. The add-on will […]
Halo Wars patch notes ready for today's title update
Halo Wars gets a patch today – get all details from the official site. Looks like general stuff to do with balance. Few bug fixes there, but nothing major.
Halo Wars add-on, Strategic Options, confirmed and detailed
Microsoft just confirmed a first Halo Wars add-on, titled Strategic Options. It's to release in the "coming weeks". It'll include the following: Keepaway Mode is the "Halo Wars" adaptation of Capture the Flag. Teams will battle it out to capture a free-roaming Forerunner Sentinel to score points before the other team. Capture three sentinels to […]
Halo Wars to get patched soon, multiplayer bugs to be fixed
A Halo Wars title update's on the way, according to the game's official site. A release window wasn't provided, but the post said players can expect fixes to some matchmaking bugs, and a few other minor bits. Two things of note though: the Prophet of Regret's speed on land will be reduced to match the […]
Xbox boss: "It's not as if we're doing something like Halo Kart"
Xbox games head Phil Spencer's defended the firm's decision to publish a Halo RTS, saying the decision wasn't exploitative but rather a way of introducing new consumers to the franchise. "With Halo Wars, we thought we had an interesting story, an interesting universe, and we were trying to find ways that we could expose that […]
Halo Wars hits one million sales worldwide
Halo Wars has hit one million sales worldwide, making it the best selling strategy title for Xbox 360. Released last month, the game has attracted over 2.6 million multiplayer matches via XBL – 118 years of combined time, apparently – with an average of 200,000 users logging in to play daily. Press release after the […]
Halo Wars spoiled completely in less than two minutes
Gamesradar's posted a video of all the cut-scenes in Halo Wars, giving you the game's entire plot in 90 seconds. For the sake of clarity, this will spoil it for you. We strongly advise you do not hit the link if you're in any way sensitive on the subject of Halo Wars' plot. OK?
Microsoft announces Halo Wars vid series
Microsoft just announced a "Halo Wars: Universe Expanded" video series. It's a three-part thing, showing how Halo Wars fits in with the rest of the Halo games. The first part's available on March 2. Press release after the break. Halo Wars releases tomorrow.
Halo Wars latest
Halo 3 and Halo Wars sell between 57,000 and 74,000 units in April
Xbox boss: "It's not as if we're doing something like Halo Kart"
January NPD: Halo Wars demo downloaded 2 million times in a week
New Halo Wars images show tanks, Hunters, Banshees – looks great


text:
EMC who cares?
Really, the BT power line modems are also an abject EMC failure but due to the money behind them ofcom, etc, don't care. The solution? They re-draft regulations to allow more noise...
A pal of mine suggested a short while back that it might be fun to obtain the blueprints for Sinclair Research's ZX Spectrum and have a batch built up to sell to fans of retro computing. It's a good job this plan never made it out of the pub: the dear old Speccy would have immediately fallen foul of modern electromagnetic …
Really, the BT power line modems are also an abject EMC failure but due to the money behind them ofcom, etc, don't care. The solution? They re-draft regulations to allow more noise...
You should try the Home Hub 3's standard PSU.
When I first got Infinity I couldn't work out why my previously reliable network of power line kept failing to link.
A few tests later, and I found it's the cheap PSU BT supply chucking too much noise back down the mains!
Binned it.
The point of this is.................
If you did get the blueprints, i'd be interested in doing it as a project...
maybe with modern components behind it, it's EM output can be reduced to 'regulated' levels..
Blueprints ?
Surely a simple circuit diagram ?
My memory may be playing tricks on me, but I'm pretty certain there was a very short-term release of DIY spectrum kits* so there might be something already out there. Trying to build a modern compliant version strikes me as the IT equivalent of fitting wheels to a tomato - time consuming and utterly pointless.
*The genius that was Sir Clive realised that you could get your customers to build the unit, thus avoiding unrealistic delivery schedules *and* sell it as a "feature". Certainly the ZX80, and early ZX81s ....
I think (but don't have clear memory or facts) that the ZX series were cheaply made and used a double-sided PCB and not multi-layer boards with power & ground planes. That, if true, is probably the #1 reason for the poor EMC performance.
Also note they tested it without cables/peripherals, so real-world use would be significantly worse that observed in El Reg's article.
With modern components behind it, you could likely put the entire thing in a single FPGA, with the only signal lines coming out being the cassette interface line, the video, and the keyboard scan - and in today's designs, those would all be 3.3V rather than 5V, reducing the RF even more.
the spectrum contained a ULA , an early (OTP) programmable logic for the address decoding and some other stuff', so no good just copying drawings
Then I guess the solution is to buy 'The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer' (ISBN-10 0956507107; published in 2010 so still widely available) as the ULA is fully documented and imaged within. You could definitely build an entire new ZX Spectrum with that and even have the correct horizon on Aquaplane, the correct multicolour text on Uridium, etc.
I can't be the only one who remembers making music through a nearby transister radio by coding different length loops on the Speccy and tuning the loop frequency to play a note on the radio.
If you did it on a Speccy, you were a bit behind the times. See http://lambda-diode.com/electronics/tempest/ for a reference to doing it with a PDP-8 in the 1970s.
Or even http://tech.nology.org/ftf/?p=919 with recordings...
But good work, nonetheless.
I can't remember making music on the Spectrum this way (it had a speaker after all), but I do remember a piano program for the ZX80 that worked that way.
I did use a radio to monitor long-running programs - in fact I can still remember the "melody" for one of them. The trig functions had very distinctive sounds.
I did it with a ZX-80 in 1981 before buying a ZX-81 and subsequently (for my 18th birthday) a Spectrum.
It amuses me that my current PC has 12582912 times the RAM of my ZX-80 (12Gbx1024Mbx1024Kb) ...
The oddest case of this I came across occurred with an Amstrad PC 1512 running Digger. The actual game music could be picked up by a radio tunned to just below Radio 1's FM frequency.
I'm not sure if this was a deliberate feature of the game that worked with any PC or just a peculiar interaction with the Amstrad's hardware. It didn't seem to be a general occurrence with the 1512, I never managed to do the same with other games.
The flip side of that was being shown once how touching a screwdriver to the right point on a BBC B's motherboard caused it to play a particular radio station from the speaker. I wish I could remember how to pull of that particular trick.
Ha, funny you say that. I remember back in the 70s that my TRS80 played merry hell with radios (and sometimes UHF tv stations) whenever it was running. There were even programs you could run that would make the interference sound (kind of) like music or speech.
> ...radio tunned to just below Radio 1's FM frequency.
Wow! It was frequency modulated?
I remember reading about how early developers used the RF noise to their advantage with AM radios.
Note that they were likely far slower than z80.
I mean for debugging, literally listening loops. Sorry.
The TRS-80 Model 3/4 had an available action game that included *actual music* (intentional!) that could be heard by placing an AM radio next to the computer. The booklet that came with the game included directions explaining this absolutely-intentional feature.
I REM this. My neighbour used to complain loudly when I ran my Speccy because he said it used to POKE his TV reception. Said it also upset his DIM CAT. The CONT.
I got the POINT and so I went OUT to Tandy, had a PEEK and bought some metallic spray. Upon my RETURN I coated the inside of the case and then insulated with electrical tape. Sorted the problem FOR sure. CLEAR result. Try it out to VERIFY.
...pictured in the article? I think it is.
May be worth trying a MK3 board. Just for giggles.......
Its a marginal fail, its only 4 or 5dB above the limit, and at a couple of spot frequencies. A few minor modifications would fix it - either an "R" or a ferrite bead in the clock line, or a little work on the grounding scheme. I've seen much worse initial plots than this. Oh, and the emissions above 100MHz should be fine, look a the plot, there is no energy in the higher frequencies, it is just the test equipment noise floor. OK there might be problems with spurii and harmonics of the UHF modulator, once it gets enabled again. Not bad for the time and rather exceptional for our Clive - or Jim Westwood (see Reg's passim) to give him a proper name.
A nice shielded case would do wonders...
Egor, break out the evostick and tinfoil!
Ahahaha! Ever peer inside the case of an Amstrad PCW? Alan was way ahead of you there!
I remember seeing metal-loaded spray paint intended to provide screening for plastic cases. Such solutions may still be available.
It's still available, and is still used in a couple of our 20+ year old designs! (Our industrial customers are a conservative lot and still want "what they bought last time" - who am I to argue if they're willing to pay for it?)
Mind you, the updated versions use all the techniques mentioned in the original article and end up costing far less overall, not more. In short, stop the product from radiating in the first place and you don't need to stick expensive filters everywhere.
In Vicarage Lane, we had to wait for the tea trolley - to buy chocolate for the silver foil wrapper it came in.
--stop the product from radiating in the first place --
Got THAT T shirt. Odd how spending a few pennies on prevention is begrudged, but a few hundred thousand dollars may be spent to find and fix RFI later.
I'm retired now and get the occasional job via a contracting firm when someone realizes he's ignored High School (6th Form for you lot) Physics.
Or can't figure out his own test equipment.
Take two ferrites and call me in the morning.
Reminds me of my first computing job in the mid 80's.
We had an old 'British Micro' running CP/M with an orange monochrome display. If you placed the display on top of the case of the main unit, then the display would distort as the electro-magnetic fluctuations from the unit would effect the cathode tube.
Add some floppy access to it and the screen would become unreadable.
To solve, we had to use a 1/8" steel sheet between the box and the display.
Tight loops produced a different noise (more whine than ticking hum) on a nearby transistor radio than main control loop of a program (presumably DRAM refresh cycle rate changed), so I was able to find errant code by listening to the radio tuned to some interfering harmonic frequency on similarly Z80 equipped Jupiter ACE.
I always assumed the cause was the plastic case not providing any shielding.
I wonder if the Spectrum has caused any real interference problems either with contemporary or modern electronic equipment, despite the failure? If not, what does that say about the limits? Or modern electronics?
Abject fail icon to reflect the abject fail ...
Define "real".
If it makes your radio buzz, so you have to move the radio to the other side of the room, maybe no big deal, but it's "real".
Then put 10 Spectrums (Spectra?) in a classroom, and discover that it causes patterning and noise on the TV upstairs where they're watching a schools broadcast. Is that "more real".
Then you get the really awkward ones, like when it upsets the hearing aid of the deaf kid so (s)he can't use the computer lab.
You ned to draw a line somewhere, and enforce it.
I thought the 3.5MHz clock might be one suspect.
The clock is stepped down from 14Mhz crystal but the 3.5 was used by most of the computer and 7 and 14 used by the ULA to render the screen (pixel clock etc.)
I would have expected far worse to be honest. I recall my Spectrum+ would knock out Radio 1 on FM!
Not sure about "rather fishy power supply and cable". The brick was a simple transformer/bridge rectifier/capacitor jobbie and onboard the regulator was a basic linear 7805. Nothing noisy there.
Oh, a 7805 can be plenty noisy if you forget the decoupling capacitor on the output. Oscillates around 3MHz IIRC.
Back in the days of the ZX81 here in the US, the requirements for computers were the less rigorous Part 15A, intended for office work (since nobody would have a computer in the home where Part 15B ruled).
There was one computer of which I am aware that would stand any chance in the modern regulatory environment, and that would be the old Atari 400 and Atari 800 - all the guts were in a potmetal shell weighing more than the entire ZX81. It would be fun to try one of them out in an RF chamber.
Then there was the good old TRS-80 Model 1 - a machine so RF noisy that several games did sound effects by instructing you to tune an AM radio between stations and place near (within 2m) of the machine. A machine so noisy it "passed" TEMPEST because it put out SO MUCH hash you couldn't recover what was on the screen.
...was the C64 more or less leaky than the Speccy? :o)
It had a metal shield on most models. They were more compliant than Sinclair who were way too obsessed with cost and this cheapness is the reason why I think we have very little in the way of a computer industry.
People grew out of the speccy and its limitations and the lack of profit meant no investment in a decent 16-Bit machine, Sinclair had wasted all the money on a QL.
I doubt your reasoning. We have perfectly cromulent hardware success stories coming from Cambridge including the ARM and we punch way above our weight in software terms. It's hard to argue the cheapness of the Spectrum isn't part of the reason why so many were able to get into software. It helped in my case. (Age 7).
Why bother? You could probably emulate a speccy with a microcontroller.
Wonder if anybody has stuck the whole thing, ULA, CPU and all, on a single chip yet?
The answer, it appears, is yes :
The clue was in the name all along
My guess for a source of the radio noise would be the power supply section on the main board (not the adapter). At the time it was a common source of breakdown and if I remember correctly it was a cheap self-oscillating circuit generating -5 and +12 in addition to the +5 from a common regulator using the 9V main. It's hard to tell how much EMF could be generated this way or which harmonics but it was not shielded at all.
You're right about the circuit. Strange thing is that if they had run 9VAC into the machine, they could have had their 12V and -5V without faffing with that oscillator, just simple diodes, caps and regulators. There would have been a larger smoothing cap inside the Speccy (maybe a few smaller ones in parallel according to available space), but apparently the way it was done was the absolute cheapest.
While I understand the need for some regulation of the EM radio spectrum, this kind of thing is disappointing. Once upon a time, anybody with the knowledge necessary to build a circuit and shove it in a box could then go and put it on sale. Nowadays it looks more like you'd need a legal qualification more than the electronics knowledge to put something on sale. You have EM Compliance, you have the god damned WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE directive and no doubt another few regulations I am not aware of!
I wonder how many innovative products are left rotting in peoples sheds because they've looked at the cost and effort of taking them to market and have turned round and said sod that for a laugh...
I wonder how big the pile of non-rotting obsolete products would be if we didn't have said regulations, and personally I'm quite glad that I can listen to the radio/get wireless reception without my next door neighbour spewing EM noise out with some bit of kit knocked up in someone's shed.
The regulations aren't just there to stop people having fun you know...
Then look at it another way, we have all these new regulations and now have electrical appliances and TVs that generally only last the warranty period of a year and then fail.
Whats the average life of a modern LCD TV? 2-3 years? I remember a time when a TV would last 15+ years.
RoHS has just meant brittle inferior solder that cracks at the first sign of heat/stress and then it's landfill bound. Now that's eco friendly.
They giveth with one hand...
Unfortunately I cannot remember where I read it, but I remember once reading that in modern electronic hardware, the quantity of valuable metals is actually being reduced. Where once a circuit board would have significant amounts of gold on connectors, and lead in the solder as you pointed out, now there is very little to make recycling economical, and I have to wonder if ironically that has actually countered the increased concern in recycling old equipment?
As for my earlier point, I am not disputing that some regulation is both necessary and good, I too expect to be able to use my laptop and phone to get reliable connections to all manner of wireless signals. However I also have to wonder how bad things would be in an unregulated environment. I mean, when these devices were being produced (literally in sheds and garages to begin with) and there wasn't huge amounts of regulation, I don't hear stories of how they destroyed TV and radio transmissions. Nor do I necessarily see the need for CE marks, since electrocuting your customers or burning their houses down tends to be bad for business!
What I am really suggesting is perhaps a lighter set of regulatory requirements that allow inventors to come up with new products for minimal overheads, although perhaps only where these do not involve the use of Wireless RF components.


text:
my buddy john agreed to dip his toe into the pool of insanity with me and join me on a trip to escanaba for the rounders first annual round up. we took 2.5 days to get there, and a day and half to get back. we had a blast, met a ton of cool people, and drank a fair number of leinenkugels. see below for details...
the bike is loaded and ready to go. that blue dry bag is special heat treated titanium fabric, and i get three more horsepower at the wheel with that on there. (i think cliffy uses an old laundry bag on his bike.)
john showed up as his usual cheerful self. little did he know that we were going to be hitting the cycle as far as weather goes.
our route took us up I-35 from austin, through dallas. we ate in denton at the catfish king. (motto: "we sell yellow packing foam as hush puppies.")
we spent the night in ardmore, and got up the next day and rode some more to pauls valley where we had a great breakfast in the little downtown area. (john is a master of leaving the interstate area of cookie cutter junk places, and finding fantastic little restaurants where the locals hang out.) here's a shot of the street.