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Years ago, at my previous job, my boss came into the office and asked a group of us if we had a spare cellphone charger. As everyone scrambled to help the boss out by offering their own cellphone charger, I pondered for a moment how odd it was that no one was bothering to ask him what model of phone he was using.
I was deep in the middle of a project, so didn't pay too much attention to what was going on, but I do recall seeing my boss take the charger that one guy handed to him, compare the connector with the port on his phone, and satisfied, took the charger into his office.
About ten minutes later, the boss came back into our office area and sheepishly informed us that the charger had completely fried his phone. "I forgot to check the voltage of the charger" was his explanation.
Up until a few years ago, the mish-mosh of assorted chargers and connectors led to this problem more often than people realize. The general assumption by many people was that if the connector fit perfectly into the phone's power jack, then it should be sufficient to charge the phone. This wasn't the case at all. In the best of cases, the charger simply wouldn't do anything. In the worst, it would fry the phone's circuits and damage it permanently.
Thanks to the advent of USB, that all changed. However, there are still some important things you should keep in mind when you're looking for a quick, temporary charger to get your phone or tablet's battery charge back up.
Not All Chargers Are Created Equal
Here at MakeUseOf, we've tried to help out readers with a number of charger issues through the years. Matt provided 5 ways you can charge your phone in an emergency 5 Ways To Charge Your Phone In An Emergency 5 Ways To Charge Your Phone In An Emergency Smartphones can be important tools in an emergency. Besides providing the chance to call for help, a phone can act as a flashlight, compass and GPS. But all of a phone's functions rely on the... Read More , and he also described how wireless charging works What Is Wireless Charging & How Exactly Does It Work? [MakeUseOf Explains] What Is Wireless Charging & How Exactly Does It Work? [MakeUseOf Explains] We live in a wireless world. Except we don't. Sure, we can send huge amounts of information across the airwaves, but the devices capable of sending and receiving it are tied down to power cords.... Read More . Christian provided a few tips on how to troubleshoot when your HP TouchPad isn't charging HP TouchPad Not Charging? Don't Worry, It's Probably Not Bricked! HP TouchPad Not Charging? Don't Worry, It's Probably Not Bricked! The HP TouchPad is a remarkable piece of kit. This tablet computer with its dual core CPU was released with a buggy version of the webOS operating system back in mid-2011 and failed to capture... Read More . There are a lot of times when it would be good to understand just exactly how charging actually works.
So, just as a quick exercise, let's do a quick test. Go around your house and collect as many of those newer style USB chargers that you might have. Some might be some form of mini-USB, or you might have those USB chargers for your tablet. Maybe you have a few of those "smart chargers" that you can disconnect the cord from and insert other USB cords into it. Gather those all up and then bring them back here.
Now, before I have you look at the actual numbers on these things, I'm going to describe what we're looking at. Years ago, there was a much larger variety of chargers that went along with Nokia, Motorola and all other brands of phones. Everyone had their own proprietary connector that you had to purchase special if you ever wanted to replace it. Hopefully, you had a phone that was common enough that you could find the charger in a regular big-box store.
Each one of these had its own voltage and current rating, based on the phone manufacturer's specs. USB changed everything, because manufacturers finally standardized on two or three mini-USB jacks, as well as the typical 30 pin tablet heads.
Those newer USB chargers all carry a standard output voltage spec of 5V. This is great, because now no one should be able to plug in a phone with a lower voltage demand and fry the phone, because the phone – if it's newer – is likely manufactured based on that 5V input voltage. However, not all is right with the world just yet. Every device has its own special current demands – so the current ratings for many of the manufacturer chargers still varies.
To show why this matters, take a look at the diagram below.
These aren't your standard electrical symbols. I've taken the liberty of creating my own symbols to make visualizing what's going on a little easier. Picture the "Amps" circle as a sort of a power generator that only works as hard as it has to in order to provide the amount of "energy" that your device needs at any given moment. Picture the "Volts" as a constant waterfall of energy that never changes. Now, let's take a look at those chargers you've collected.
Take a look at the labels on them and look for the "OUTPUT" section. Log the different numbers you see. Here are three chargers that I collected from around my house:
Samsung – 5 Volts, 0.7 Amps
Motorola – 5.1 Volts, 0.850 Amps
Asus – 5 Volts, 2 Amps
As you can see, with modern chargers, the waterfall never changes, but the capacity of each engine is different. Some chargers can only put out 0.5 amps. Others can put out 2 amps or more.
In the old style chargers where you might accidentally plug a charger rated with a large voltage into a phone with a small voltage requirement, it would be like trying to shove way too much energy through a very small hole.
That mass of energy would blow apart the hole – basically overcharge the circuit and fry it. Now that everything is based on 5V, what's the problem? Why can't we now swap around power chargers? Well, if you've ever tried plugging in a larger smartphone with a USB charger from a smaller phone, you probably know that the smartphone won't work if you try to use it while charging. This is because that smaller 0.7 Amp charger just doesn't have an "Amp" engine powerful enough to provide the energy needed by a 1.2 amp device in full use.
However, you could definitely take the 2 Amp charger for the larger device and use it for a smaller device that only needs 0.7 Amps, because that larger charger has an engine that's powerful enough to feed all of the needs of that device.
This is the main difference between voltage and current in chargers. When that rating label shows a voltage that's higher than the phone's rating, it's going to provide that voltage no matter what – and you're going to destroy the device. However, when that rating shows an amperage that higher than the phone's rating, nothing is going to go wrong. This is because the device "draws out" the amps from the charger that it needs – the charger will not pump the maximum rated amperage into that phone.
So, as long as your tablet charger is rated with the same voltage as your smartphone (these days, that'll be 5 volts), then go ahead and charge your smartphone with it.
Keep in mind that the cable matters too. That USB cables that came with your phone may plug into your tablet's interchangeable charger, but that USB cable will limit the current to between 1 and 1.5 amps. Meaning – if you try to use your phone's USB cable to charge your tablet or large smartphone, it may not work. Especially if you're doing something with the smartphone that forces it to require a greater current draw.
Another mistake people make – assuming anything can be plugged into the computer USB port and charge. The reality is that a standard USB on a laptop is approximately 0.5 amps max. So, many devices will actually use up the same (or more) charge than the USB port can supply, never charging the battery at all.
The world of electric power can be a little complicated. The relationship between current and voltage isn't always obvious, and sometimes people get tripped up when using certain chargers that have no business being plugged into those larger electronic devices. Hopefully this explanation provided you with a better understanding of what to look for when you're trying to match up that charger with a device, or at least now you have a way to try and troubleshoot problems.
Have you ever had any odd charger issues? Every fry a device by plugging in charger that was too large? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!
Image Credits: Burning Cellphone Via Shutterstock, Power Up Via Shutterstock, Smart Phone Via Shutterstock
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Thank u sir for ur advises, but i read also that now even u will charge ur fon to 12v or 24v, the fon will not charge and not fry because of its built in controller.
thank you for the great article! I have an lg g3 and it basically only charges with a few things and its really annoying and I wasn't understanding why. If a cable does not say output but says vw-1 and 30v is it the 1 volt its charging at? Also the article say
"Another mistake people make – assuming anything can be plugged into the computer USB port and charge. The reality is that a standard USB on a laptop is approximately 0.5 amps max. So, many devices will actually use up the same (or more) charge than the USB port can supply, never charging the battery at all."
I didn't quite understand this. Will the phone only not be able to charge if its on? Like if you turn the phone off can it manage to slowly charge? I plug my phone into a usb on laptop or desktop or a usb in my car and it wont charge even if the phone is off. Should it be able to charge the phone if the phone is off just very slowly? I run into the problem you mention where it detects charging on and off and it will not charge or die lol just wondered if my cell phone will always need a charger which sucks for in the car were there is an easy accessible usb I had hoped could charge my phone but doesn't seem to work. Thank you!!
edit** sorry it doesn't detect on and off if just says charging but doesn't ever charge to break even or slowly drains even while "charging"
Side note: for example I just got a brand new Lenovo thinkpad and it was having the same problem and not being able charge the phone for about 15 mins and the phone would just die and now miraculously it has managed to start working and has half battery charge on phone. will charging my phone using the usb on my laptop possibly damage the computers usb in any way? if so id rather not use the computer to charge it. thanks again.
Thank you, 100 times over, for taking a topic which is too lofty for me to grasp and making it understandable. I will start looking now for anything else you've explained since I have just found, after a long history of looking, someone who can help me assimilate some technical concepts. Bravo!
simply explained , thanks Ryan :)
Very helpful and simply explained , thank you Ryan :)
All actual "CHARGING CORDS" were created equal. The power source of said charger is the only this of importance.
*thing. Or "of the two."
My original Huawei was of 5V and 1A. Now I bought an adapter of 5V and 2A. Is it good? or it will blow my battery?
I've got a HTC charger for my HTC phone but usb got lost so can I use same adapter with some other usb
Sure you can , coz USB is universal that of the adapter. so you can buy another USB and use it for the same adapter the result will be same.
Baterry university... Com. Valuable info
There's a great little device available (e-bay/amazon etc) called 'charger doctor' for a few dollars/pounds. It plugs into a USB socket and has its own USB socket into which you can plug your charger cable. It then shows the voltage and current flowing through it. I've tested all my chargers, both wall plugged and car cigarette lighter type, as well as computer/laptop USB ports and portable 'power pack' type chargers, with a variety of cables. The variation was quite surprising and I ended up throwing out many items. Worth getting one a experimenting yourselves. I'm not sure of the accuracy of the displayed voltage/current at such a low price but as a device for making comparisons it seems pretty reasonable.
Li-Ion batteries don't not suffer from the old Ni-Cad memory effect. In fact, Li-Ion batteries prefer to be kept topped up if possible. If I'm near a charger, my phone goes on the charger... and I get amazing longevity out of my Li-Ion batteries.
That was a really good article. It answered a lot of questions I have had about all these different chargers for a long time. Now I know what I can and cannot use.
Is there an article like this on Laptop chargers? At one point with five people in the household each with a laptop..things got screwy. I often look at our chargers wonderin which came with which (the part that disconnectsp and is plugged into the wall) because my kids would just unplug from the bar, leave that part plug in the wall where they were and grab a similar one and go elsewhere...i have NO IDEA what came with what and i have no idea what the numbers mean alth i have tried to look them up.
Well, if you get the chance, use a cheap magnifying glass and read the specs on each charger and laptop. Make a list with the names of the owners as your heading. The first thing to look for is the manufacturer's name. In the unlikely event that you have five completely different laptops, just match up the manufacturers and Bob's your uncle. Then I would get beige masking tape, put a large, flag like piece on each charger, near the end that plugs into the laptop, and write something stupefyingly obvious on it (like "MOM" or "Dell" or "Mac Book Air", or whatever. Just make it unique to the household). On the chargers, you want to look at the line that says "output" and then it will list volts (ex: 19.5 V) and amps (ex: 3.4 A). Those are the actual specs for my Dell laptop. Then, on a tag under the laptop is a line that says "Input". On mine, it says "19.5 V 3.4A / 4.6A / 6.7A". That's Dell's way of saying that several chargers will work with this unit, three different Amp ratings but they all have to be 19.5 Volts. If you manage to get a list that uniquely detects a separate charger for each laptop, get the tape out, mark em' (put a corresponding piece of marked tape on the matching laptop) and you're done. If not, as a last resort, check the DC power jack sizes (the round end that plugs into the laptop) and look for incompatibility. If, for example, you had two on the list that either had the same info, or not enough info listed to tell, a power jack that only fits one and not the other is as good a way as any to get that list functional - grab the tape. Also, consider that if it walks like a duck.... you may have a pair or more of off brand units that use, essentially, universal power supplies (generic) so, again, if the power requirements are equal (and ONLY if you're sure you read them right and ONLY if they're ACTUALLY listed) then it doesn't really matter and you can mark the matching units accordingly, remembering to mark them separate from the previously ID'd units that are different from the generic ones.
Also, if I take your meaning correctly, and that by 'bar' you mean the block on the power supply, and not a wall plugged-in 'power strip' where you plug all kinds of stuff into, then what you're saying is that the detachable, AC cord with the universal, three prong insert for the 'bar' that plugs into the wall is being swapped out by the others in the house - and don't sweat it. It's only supplying the 'bar' with the same AC it gets from the wall. Those actually are universal - as long as it fits properly into the device you're powering. HOWEVER, leaving it plugged in to the wall without having it plugged into a device may present an electrical issue (Electrical Issue means FIRE HAZARD) Lovingly smile at your children and inform them that if they burn the house down they will NOT get new laptops with the insurance money. Then give them one of those free twisty-ties you get at the produce or bulk section of the super market and remind them that saving a few calories per day by not carrying the power cord with them will, in no way at all, save the ozone layer, prevent global warming, cure acne or help them get their licences. It will be equally useless against the Ninjas that are sure to stop by later because, "If you don't have it with you, you can't kill ninja's with it." (personal credo)
Jackson, if you got your ears on, now would be a great time to allow us to post pics.
Thank u soooo much for this article! my mom has messed up so many phones and tablets just sticking anythung in. Im emailing her this article!
Thanks for the article, now I understand difference between amps and volts ;)
Thank you for this info. Fortunately, I have a hubby who knows electronics so this even made sense to me! A lot of times, technical stuff doesn't.
"typical 30 pin tablet heads." AFAIK, the only "standard" 30-pin connector was the original Apple 30-pin dock connector (yes, several cameras and other devices may have had other 30-pin connectors).
The EU solved the problem nicely by requiring cell phone makers to standardize on 5v micro-USB (which also have a 10x longer connect/disconnect lifespan than mini-USB). Even Apple has to provide 30-pin or Lightning-to-micro-USB adapters in the EU.
I guess I should correct my statement above. The phone did charge for a while but I only had service 28% of the time. So it did not work well - I think it was a combination of a defective phone and an ineffective service provider, however it had nothing to do with the charger.
I had a Samsung Galaxy 2 that was charging fine with a charger and suddenly it stopped. I went to my phone company store and they told me it was that the charger was not compatible - even though it had been working so they sold me an expensive charger they had. It still didn't charge it was the phone - That phone was a total dud for me never would charge never had service and the phone company wouldn't fix so I had to change companies - so don't always jump to the conclusion that it is the charger some times it's the phone and some times the connectors on the phone get dirty as well. You used to be able to clean most connectors but now it is difficult to do that.
I remember blowing a few transformers while plugged into games consoles... the console drew more amperage than the bricks were rated for
My phone got fried by the charger it came with. How does that happen?
Faulty phone or charger. I have a power supply capable of delivering 5 volts at 30 amps and it's never fried anything.
Good read, I recall a move to standardise phone power connectors years ago, must have been signed in invisible ink...
Beware of the wall wart usb chargers that have a minimum current draw requirement.
I have a plug (1amp) that does not switch on unless it has a current draw (battery resistance) of more than 160ma. This is fine for charging a Kindle, or running a Raspberry Pi, or even a 12amp battery bank, but it will not charge an iphone 4, The iphone must not require more than 160ma or the data pins in the usb plug may need shorting. I can't find the charging requirement for my apple phone, it must be an apple secret. No change there then.
how do you know what the min draw req is?
You ask the supplier, if he can't give an answer then don't buy.
If your device battery hss run excessivly low, you may need a heavier chsrger to kickstsrt the charging process. Many supplied chargers do not have the capacity to start charging a severly discharged battery.
I thought the US was developing/mandating standardization is this area similar to the EU. I remember when Martha Stewart (of all people) testified before congress with her box full of phone chargers. This was a few years ago now. I thought the 'new standard' was supposed kick in about now. But knowing the way the US government works, we'll probably have to wait another decade or so...
Nice article, thanks! In it you mention:
"Keep in mind that the cable matters too. That USB cables that came with your phone may plug into your tablet's interchangeable charger, but that USB cable will limit the current to between 1 and 1.5 amps."
That seems to imply that some USB cables are different from others - is this the case?
Ooo, Ooo. I can answer that.
Just like the limitations on a machine (like your car as a towing machine) can have a listed rating (my truck's bumper says "3000 lb trailer weight"), the various parts that assist in the weakest area of that limitation may vary. With a car, it could be the transmission, the suspension or the strength of the actual bumper. With a cable, the diameter of the wires and the amount of insulation on them determine factors like heat, electro-magnetic field effect, and of course, electron flow. But really, the options here are somewhat negligible. If the cable is rated at less amps than the charger is capable of putting out, its a design issue and your charger is junk. If the cable is rated at higher, it's not a problem.
I think the most likely situation where this could be an issue is using a cable from a modular charger, where the cable is separate from the part that plugs into the wall. Here, if your cable is from a charger rated LESS than the charger and device your charging, your putting more amps through the cable than it was designed for. Neither the charger nor the phone can detect the limitations of the cable. Here there are two possible outcomes, either or both likely - less available amps for the device and heat buildup in the cable. I don't like either of those so I would try to keep the cable matched to the device it came with or, if you need to buy ONLY a USB power supply cable, buy it from a set that comes with a charger rated at or better than the amps listed on your device. Yes, now you have a more powerful charger, but you may not need another car charger or wall charger and you may want to keep the power supplier (the part that plugs into the wall or car) as OEM.
Thanks Charlie, good reply. I did search on eBay, and on various other places, to get a good spectrum of what sort of USB cables are available. There were only one or two that made any sort of reference to the current carrying capacity of the cable. Perhaps this is a new niche that some cable supplier can exploit... I have a selection of cables at home (I find that, with teenagers in the house, the best way to ensure cable availability is to saturate the house with them ;-). I'll investigate further to see if there's any noticeable difference, though this won't be trivial without a standardised test setup.
Anyway, if I find anything, I'll post it here.
You forgot to explain the "Magic Smoke" that actually powers electrical / electronic devices. Most people have, at one time or another, witnessed the puff of this Magic Smoke leaving a device. Once the Magic Smoke is gone, the device stops working. Apparently, no one has figured out a way to reinstall more Magic Smoke so their devices can be used again ;)
I remember them packing LOTS of that magic smoke into the old 'tube' televisions and stereo sets. They must be making a more efficient version of the smoke, 'cause I don't see so much of it these days.
Unless you have an older British-made car with Lucas electrics.... http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm
Thank you for the explanation. It clears up a few things I were confused of.
Thanks for the info. But, I am having a great deal of difficulty reading the voltage/amperage information on any of the chargers I have. Documentation with the devices doesn't cover the chargers. A search on the web doesn't help either. I have a number of different devices and chargers and would like to reduce that two only what I really need to carry on trips. Is there somewhere I can gather this information?
Jack - it's nearly always listed on the charger in very, very small print, next to "OUTPUT". It'll show voltage, current, and sometimes overall power as well, in Wattage.
Even with a magnifying glass and bright light it's almost impossible to read either samsung or motorola.
I remember using a 3/8 hose to water my garden. It tookforever because the volume of water was so low. After I went and bought a 5/8 hose, it took a fraction of time. The current is much the same way. A too low of current can mean a battery never topping off or just take longer to charge.
That's a great analogy.
I have a question. so i have an old Motorola Droid 1 and Droid 2. I also have a HTC Evo 4g and a Evo Shift 4g. they all use micro USB, but when i use the htc cables on the Droids, they either don't charge or have some crazy screen issues. they would be ghost pressing and it seems to just go crazy, opening apps, calling people, playing games. the moto micro USB cable obviously works prefect. when i used the same htc cable on the htc's, they work prefect. the moto cable on the htc's work prefect too. anyone know why the droids are picky when it comes to cables? they were all plugged into the same wall wort, and the same usb port on a laptop .
dusters16 - what are the voltage/current ratings for the HTC charges? You can look up the voltage/current requirements for Droid 1 and Droid 2 - I suspect the HTC chargers aren't quite right considering the behaviors your describing.
My concerns are with regular alkaline AA/AAA batteries and NiMH battery chargers, as WARNING labels mention the possibilities off over-charging and causing batteries to explode....... ???
Many chargers are designed to detect when the battery is fully charged. Putting the wrong battery in a charger can cause the battery to overcharge. With cellphones; the circuitry that determines when the battery is charged is built in the phone not the charger. This is why generic chargers can charge a phone and you later see a notification the phone is fully charged.
You should NEVER try to charge alkaline batteries. They are not designed to be re-charged. Once they are discharged, they should be disposed of properly.
NiMH batteries will not explode from overcharging. The may explode if you heat them to 200-300 degrees. Can't tell you for certain since I never tried to do it.
Since the flow of electrons doesn't change from the output of your USB charger, doesn't the excess which the charging circuit does not use have to escape somehow? Like through heat? Would this not eventually damage the components of the charging circuit in your phone?
No - it isn't like a fire hose where you're trying to shove 0.8 amps into something that only needs 0.3. You have to think of current differently, it's not like voltage. Current is like an all-you-can eat buffet for a phone that has requirements less than what's available by the charger. However, if you're a phone that needs 0.8 Amps and the charger is only 0.3 Amps, it's like a football player going to a salad buffet. The dude is not going to get enough calories and will probably starve. :-)
Sorry - that's the best analogy I can come up with. Maybe someone out there can be a bit more creative. :-)
Boy, do I hate analogies. If he ate enough salad, he would get enough calories. Similarly, eventually, the lower current charger should charge up the battery--as long as it was current limited. If it isn't, it's going to heat up and either shut down or fry, depending on how sophisticated (protected) it is. I once had a Verizon tech explain to my wife and me that we should turn off the phone when charging just like we wouldn't charge our car battery with the car running. An (obviously more) useful comparison here would be a trickle charger--you can't start a car with it, but eventually it gets the battery charged.
I'm glad you mentioned current limiters. I also mentioned overvolt circuitry; people need to know that there are many different standards in micro-circuitry for these things, depending on where they're made and by whome. Also, there's no standard dictating that any of these specs have to divulged on the product or the packaging and even if they were (maybe online) available, the specs get complicated - but more than that: what would you be matching those specs against??!? The safest solution is to go with a known, trusted manufacturer whose reputation is more important to them than saving half a mil over the next quarter.
Also, electricity works in a state that is easily quantified, but the real limits of the parts (the devices AND/OR the components that make up those devices) are (unlike electricity) subject to the incidental tolerances inherent to the manufacturing process. That and the fact that component failure is (like drug interaction) only looked at in a shallow, superficial way, there's no way to predict if a failure will result in 1) your charger not charging, or 2) your charger turning into an arc-welder (exaggeration). I do know that companies with more to protect will look at the problem more comprehensively, they guard their data and they charge us for its employment. Reputation is not everything, but it's a lot.
Let me know if this helps: You have a hose. It has a diameter and a pressure. You want to put various 'devices' on the end, lets say: a pressure washer (machine), a garden sprayer and a water balloon filler. No matter what, you have a couple of limits here: 1 the diameter can be changed in the device, but the hose itself stays the same, 2 the pressure is the pressure at the hose output (the hose end). It stays the same at that point.
A quick disclaimer: electronics instructors have been using the water analogy for decades and sooner or later, that analogy breaks down, but for our purposes, it may serve.
The water balloon filler will reduce the diameter at the output, but the pressure behind it stays the same (which is why a perception of increased pressure exists - same pressure in a smaller cross section or impact area). So you have reduced flow, but not pressure. Here the pressure is like the Voltage - it stays the same, but the flow is like the Amperage, the device 'needs' less and true to form, you have less output. (Fill two buckets side by side with an open hose vs a H2O balloon filler and guess which will be filled first) (Spoiler = open hose, try it.) So, here the volume or diameter of the flow (amps) is 'available', but not being used.
The garden sprayer has a twistie end for 'variable' output. And notice on some models, there's a threaded end that fits another standard fitting. If you attach another hose to that fitting and change the allowed amount of water to be the maximum (assuming the max in the sprayer = the max of the hose), then the other hose (the one we screwed onto the output end of the sprayer) would have the exact same output (diameter, pressure, flow) as the supply hose. As you close off the valve though, you're reducing available water - even though it's at the same pressure as it exits the restricting valve - and then asking it to fill the same void in the form of the second hose. The exit pressure at the valve is the same as the entrance pressure into the sprayer, BUT the exit pressure of the second hose is reduced because the 'need' is higher than the supply (the amount of, say liters per second vs the diameter or volume of the second hose). Here we have again reduced the 'need', but attached our output to a device with more need, so it'll take longer to fill. This equates to a lower amperage rated device supplying a higher rated battery. Notice that, like the analogy, it takes longer to fill but, unlike the analogy, there's no accounting for damage to the equipment due to mismatched tolerances. Just remember that in electricity, within a certain percentage of amps, over is ok - under takes longer. Hang in there.
Now for the pressure washer. Here we are going to ignore the intended output since it equates for other discussions I've had, but not this one. The important thing to remember is that the machine needs lots of water to work, so it has a tank. The comparison here is between the machine's tank and the water balloon. If you leave both attached to their respective, aforementioned 'devices' indefinitely, the tank will hold but the balloon will burst. Now, the analogy will break down further upon scrutiny, especially by a plumber, but keep in mind that we said that pressure was voltage. The pressure will kill the balloon. The voltage will kill the phone (or whatever). The pressure will NOT kill the tank in the machine because it's rated for that pressure. I'm sure if you could get more pressure, you could kill that too. That's voltage. The diameter, or flow in units per time (amperage) simply says how long it's going to take.
How'd I do? Happy to specify or elaborate. All comers welcome. Please be gentle and remember the disclaimer.
The electrical engineer I work with told me that it is like going to a fire hydrant and hooking up a garden hose. You will get the same pressure (voltage), but your flow (amperage) will be less. Although it would take much longer to fill a swimming pool with a garden house compared to a fire hose. There are differing variables between this analogy and that of a phone with a calibrated charging circuit. The pool would overflow while a charging circuit would turn off the flow or reduce the flow when the battery is full.
YEA!! Confirmation on my attempt. Imagine your fire hose hooked up to my pressure washer! You're right about the pool, but another way to think about it would be like having a shutoff valve attached to the filler mechanism that is triggered by the height of the water (like a toilet tank).
But you're also right about the differing variables: if the pressure of the neighborhood water supply suddenly doubled, it's not likely that the valve would melt open ('shorting' out the system) causing the pool to fill up so fast that it would explode.
To expand on Ryan's comment, no, plugging in something that requires 0.3 amps doesn't permit the wall outlet to send 5.0 amps to the device, just like plugging in a 40 watt desk lamp doesn't pull as much power as plugging in your big-screen TV, and a hair dryer pulls even more; otherwise, your house's circuit breakers would trip every time you plugged *anything* into the wall.
Most residential circuit breakers are 10, 15 or 20 amps (1,100, 1,650, or 2,200 watts total draw before they're required to trip), but your cellphone (and everything else) draws a *lot* less than the *maximum* current, so you can have 4-5 outlets on one circuit breaker, and everything plugged in draws a portion of that.
Because the companies want to charge you extra for their own charges, that's why. and that's the ONLY reason why. Same charger, different end.
I wonder how much that was Barnes & Noble's thinking when they made the charging cables for the Nook Tablet. The cable end *LOOKS* like one of the less-used USB connectors, and another charger with that end will *sort of* charge it, but in order to get a charge that completes some time in this century, you have to use a Nook-specific cable, which is about 1/16-1/8" longer. And there are some wall USB adapters that won't put out enough power to charge the tablet.
And finally, to put a final insult on it, the B&N proprietary cables are built *SO* poorly they can break within a couple months. And just *try* to find a replacement for just the cable, taht doesn't require you buying yet another wall-wart piece.
Will needed info, Ryan!
Thanks for the information. I bought spare battery power supplies for charging when in the wilderness and found the same sort of problems. Even if it plugs into your device that does not mean it will juice it up. Also the sales people gave me wrong information.
Another irritation I would like to scratch: The one standard I wish they would make all manufacturers comply with is a label on the charger that will tell you what device it connects with. If I remember I usually stick a label on each cord but why can't the manufacturers.
Mike - I made the same mistake re: the battery chargers. I completely forgot to check that the current capability of the battery pack/charger was sufficient for the phone. I found that my phone started charging okay, but then the charging icon changed to a strange one, and the charge started dropping. Very annoying. I'm back to searching for a stronger battery pack that can supply the required juice.
This brings me to the point I was thinking of while reading your article, Ryan. Under-current can be equally problematic, but over the long term. As you know, all batteries have a certain memory (from the old days of Ni-Cad) or, more accurately, elasticity. Under powering the charge will almost certainly affect the battery's behavior.
In almost every instance where the amperage is not what the battery considers 'optimum' (regardless of the manufacturer's posted specs), the charge time AND number of recharges will be reduced - and I can't think of any instance where the change would be for the better. The only way to account for it would be to have the device keep track of as many factors as possible for each charge, but a key factor which I see no evidence of in terms of data availability, would be voltage and amperage. If smart devices could track charge state over time / per voltage and amperage availability, you could write software (theoretically) that could optimize charging, or at least make suggestions (I like that charger better than the other one).
ALSO EVERYONE ! - be ware of voltage differences in cheap, aftermarket devices. I have seen outputs on chargers listed as 5v to be as high as 6.7. This will not be dangerous to a high-end piece of equipment that was made in anticipation of DC irregularity, but cheaper devices without better overvolt circuitry can get damaged. The only way to test it is with a reliable volt or multi-meter.
For once, the European Commission used its power to the advantage of EU citizens.
The European Commission has persuaded mobile-phone manufacturers to abandon the wasteful and inefficient production of different chargers for different phones. Fourteen of the leading phone-makers agreed on a harmonised system for data-enabled phones sold in the EU. The result on paper is new technical standards. The result in the shops - and in the pockets and handbags of EU citizens - is that all these phones can be charged with a simple micro-USB plug.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/rtte/chargers/cool-eu/index_en.htm
The agreement has been in effect since 2011.
If only governmetn could just stay with making 'good' rules like that instead of stupid rules no one would care for...
Not be pedantic but "good" for whom? The customer? The Manufacturer? Everybody has a different definition of what is "good" for them. There is a very good chance that what is "good" for the customer is not "good" for the manufacturer. Governments tend to follow the Golden Rule "He who has the gold, makes the rules."
I was clearly referring to customers, but you're right. You're not being pedantic. It's simply the truth. That rule is older than dirt.
Hello again, Tina. Excellent addition.
Here's hoping that Corps will grow up a little and see the long term consequences of their actions - self steer - and avoid forcing us, in our respective representative forms of government, to force them to do what's right.
I know most of the people here may not think like this, but I bet you're imagining a Fermi-like estimation of just how many discarded charger plugs are in landfills across the globe. I know I am.
"The world of electric power can be a little complicated. "
It is complicated on purpose by the manufacturers because different cables, different amp/volt ratings provides them with another way to lock in the suck.., I mean customers.
This is nothing new. I run into this problem with printers all the time. I buy my printers (mostly HPs) at garage and tag sales. Each series of printers has a different shaped plug and a different power brick. Even when the plug is shaped the same, the power numbers of the printer could be different. Considering that over the years HP has made probably close to a hundred, if not more, different series of printers, it is very hard to re-use power bricks.
I wonder how the auto industry would do if every model, or even only every manufacturer used a battery with different specs and/or cables.
Please try to think for yourself instead of blindly re-posting the comments of others.
A useful article !
I have a question. Does higher amperage mean faster charging, or is it still the same for all chargers; the phone decides how much to draw from the charger?
I have 3 different Nokia chargers, with 0.35 Amps, 0.45 Amps and 0.8 Amps. Does switching from the 0.35 Amp charger to the 0.8 Amp charger halves the charging time?
It depends on the phone, if it can use 0.8 amps then yes it will charge faster with the 0.8 amp charger. If it can only use 0.35 then it will only pull 0.35 from the charger no matter how high the value is.
As the other commenter just said - it does depend on the phone. The phone's current rating is a max - so the phone won't draw more than that rated current at any given time. So yes, the phone decides how much to draw - it uses what it needs. If it needs more than the charger is capable of, then it won't work.
Then does switching off the phone help? Since the phone uses less energy that way.
Yes, it might help. But though the phone is switched off, and it still needs more current than the charger can supply, it may not charge.
I have a question. Say charger 1 outputs 5.2V, 500mA and charger 2 outputs 4.9V, 500mA. Though the charging current depends on the smart phone's battery, can it also depend on the charger? I mean, the voltage level at which the charger outputs. Generally when batteries are charged at higher voltage, they tend to charge fast taking higher currents.
My observation was the output of USB 2.0 port was around 4.9-5.0V and that of a smart phone charger (HTC) was 5.2V approx. So when I charge my phone via USB, it takes more time (charging at less current) and when the same is charged via charger, it takes less time (charging at higher current). The only difference in these cases is the current source with different voltages.
USB's standard voltage is 5.0v; if the voltage is out of spec, whatever device is attached *could* be damaged, but probably won't with the examples you gave.
Watts = volts * amps, so a higher voltage provides more current to charge the battery, so yes, it should charge faster unless the device lowers the amperage to provide a stable wattage, or uses a voltage regulator to protect itself. I'd still recommend using the manufacturer's charger or as close to "standard" 5.0v to protect the equipment.
Great post. There's another oddity with respect to Android phone chargers. Apparently Android phones are smart enough to throttle back the charging rate when plugged into the USB port on a laptop to prevent draining or damaging the laptop battery Some aftermarket AC chargers are designed in such a way that Android phones cannot tell that they are on AC and not on a USB port. This has the unfortunate consequence of substantially reducing the charging rate when using the AC charger. According to Amazon reviews, some enterprising folks have managed to fix the problem by opening the charger and soldering a connection between two specific pins.
Crazy - I never heard of that. Will have to research and potentially do an article about it. Thanks for the tip!
This is actually a usb specification. When data transfer is allowed, usb limits the charging current. This is done because of the possibility of the current passing through for charging interfering with the data signals. This is the reason a lot of android phones now have a "charging" option when you plug them into a computer which disables the data connection so the charging current is uncapped.
The soldering he's talking about deals with soldering the two data pins on the usb cord, which makes the charging device a dedicated charging port.
"The world of electric power can be a little complicated. "
It is complicated on purpose by the manufacturers because different cables, different amp/volt ratings provides them with another way to lock in the suck.., I mean customers.
This is nothing new. I run into this problem with printers all the time. I buy my printers (mostly HPs) at garage and tag sales. Each series of printers has a different shaped plug and a different power brick. Even when the plug is shaped the same, the power numbers of the printer could be different. Considering that over the years HP has made probably close to a hundred, if not more, different series of printers, it is very hard to re-use power bricks.
I wonder how the auto industry would do if every model, or even only every manufacturer used a battery with different specs and/or cables.
Not only printers. In the past half dozen years, I've had three IBM / Lenovo laptops, each with a different shape and size charger connection.
Your auto analogy may actually come to pass - apparently electric cars (Tesla, Nissan Leaf) and plug in hybrids (Volt, Prius) all use different, proprietary charging protocols and systems.
Printers is the first thing that came to mind. I too have a couple of IBM laptops.
If I am not mistaken, back in the dark ages when cars were just started being made, each maker had their own specs. Somehow I don't think we will see different charging protocols and systems for electric/hybrid cars. Strike that last. It would be a great way to eliminate competition, force them to build their own network of charging stations.
I agree - there are so many other products like this. Not just power cords for printers and laptops, but what about ink cartridges? You would think the printer industry would have decided on a standard and gone with that - but these days the printer manufacturers make far more money on selling ink than they do on the printers themselves. Making a standard would put all that money at risk I suppose.
When the other company make a series of non-compatible charger and accessories for their products, Apple make it the other way. One of advantage of using Apple products is that you could borrow your friend's adapter and it will just works. I wonder what will happened to all other printers manufacturer when Apple produce their own printer, where the ink cartridges will work across different printer series.
Not true. iPads require more amperage to charge than, say, iPhones and iPods, and any non-iOS devices (iPod nanos, for example) use different chargers. The latest iPads and iPod Touches also have moved to the Lightning connector, rendering all older "dock-connector" addons obsolete.
Again, Drag, you get right to the sweet spot. My prediction on cars is that Auto Mfgs will stick with the known money makers of repair/maintenance and "newer-shiny-er". Convenience of use = more repairs & maint = increased spending to keep it going as it gets older = easier to sell more shiny, new stuff.


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When U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke unexpectedly left office Tuesday with a terse resignation letter, his shoes were immediately filled by a lifelong Arizonan with more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor.
It's unknown whether Ann Scheel, the new interim U.S. attorney, will bring a dramatic change in priorities or policies to Arizona's federal justice system.
What is clear is that the 49-year-old career prosecutor inherits a flurry of high-profile cases, including the murder trial of Jared Loughner, accused in January's shooting spree near Tucson, and a civil-rights probe of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Meanwhile, the White House is expected to begin seeking a nominee to permanently fill the vacancy left by Burke in an uncertain political climate.
Scheel, who became a federal prosecutor in 1989, most recently served as first assistant under Burke, handling day-to-day operations.
She previously was a supervisor over violent crimes and victim-witness sections and worked on organized crime and white-collar cases.
As Arizona's top federal attorney, Scheel now oversees about 350 prosecutors and other employees.
Mary Murguia, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, said Scheel is a proven leader devoted to the federal justice system.
"I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody with better experience," said Murguia, who worked with Scheel at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the 1990s. "Federal prosecutions in Arizona are in good hands with Ann at the helm."
Among the most notable cases on Scheel's administrative docket is the trial of Loughner. He is accused of killing six people and wounding 13 others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in a shooting spree outside a shopping center.
Because of public passions and the defendant's psychological issues, the case is likely to involve tough political and legal decision making.
The probe of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's illegal-immigration sweeps will be more politically sensitive.
The case has dragged on since the complaints of racial profiling were first lodged in 2008.
In June, Burke said Justice Department authorities continued "working aggressively to review the facts and complete this investigation."
Federal prosecutors also have been reviewing allegations that sheriff's administrators abused their law-enforcement authority while pursuing corruption investigations aimed at Maricopa County officials who were political foes.
In addition to those cases, Scheel assumes the legal responsibility over firearm-smuggling investigations such as Operation Fast and Furious, the much-scrutinized probe that may have prompted Burke's decision to quit.
Scheel, who is married with two children, has kept a low profile throughout her career and declined interview requests on Tuesday.
Jose Rivera, a former U.S. attorney for Arizona, described Scheel as "really smart, a hard worker who doesn't get bogged down with personalities or minor issues."
"When I worked there, I saw her as an upcoming star, and I think she's fulfilled that," Rivera added.
Scheel, the daughter of an attorney, graduated from Xavier College Preparatory, an all-girls Catholic high school in Phoenix, and from the University of Arizona, where she earned degrees in economics and law.
She worked in private practice for two years before becoming a federal prosecutor.
There are 93 U.S. attorneys in the country, serving as chief federal-law officers in their respective districts. U.S. attorneys serve four-year terms and are subject to removal by the president.
Burke, a former top aide to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, became U.S. attorney in 2009. He quickly garnered a reputation for efforts to improve the justice system in Indian country and remained an outspoken defender of the administration's border-security efforts.
Rivera was among several sources who said it is unclear who will emerge as candidates to permanently replace Burke.
Rivera said Burke's resignation comes amid political campaigning and such a partisan climate that the Senate may delay confirmation of any nominee until after the presidential election next year.
Because the U.S. attorney job requires Senate confirmation, it is expected that President Barack Obama would at least consult with Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain about a replacement for Burke.
Kyl sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which vets U.S. attorney nominees.
Republic reporters Dan Nowicki and Robert Anglen contributed to this article.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday 11th August 2016
We started the day with an update from Nicole where she told us about the change to our schedule and how eight events academy students has now become six. This meant that we had to decide as a group how to reassign the roles that were originally given to the two members to as it meant that those individuals would have more responsibilities. After deciding on role reassignment, we went onto discussing the key comments/concerns we got back from our pitch on Wednesday from the Globe team in regards to our event idea, so we made amendments to our event idea based on those key comments.
As for the next half of the day, we got feedback from Amardeep (Event Academy student), on the invitation design process. He showed us the prototype he had made and we as a group gave constructive criticisms on the design and also gave ideas on what could be added and taken away from the design in order to make it better. I felt today was a good day because we have now established what needs to done and when it needs to be done by, so I feel like we are more focused as a team because we know that our event is now three weeks away, which is very exciting.
Samiat Kolawole


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This male patient wanted to do better in his career and realized that his smile undermined his confidence. After 6 porcelain veneers, the patient was very satisfied with the excellent treatment provided by Dr.Robles.
Note: Patients depicted in photos have provided their consent to display their pictures online. Results may vary.
A young woman tired of her uneven smile came to the office to improve her smile. The treatment plan included porcelain veneers for the upper front teeth. After delivery of 6 porcelain veneers, she was very happy with the cosmetic dentistry treatment provided by Dr. Robles!
This patient had extreme wear on all of their teeth. The patient needed a full mouth rehibilitation. We were able to give them their "trial smile" the day treatment was started. A couple weeks later after careful observation of function and cosmetics we are able to provide the patient with a smile makeover that they deserve!
This patient had wear and abfractions on his upper teeth and discoloration all over. We were able to give him a bright, youthful looking smile. This patient had 8 veneers/crowns on the upper and had KöR Whitening done on the rest of the teeth.


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Gated and Quiet - 2 Miles off Interstate
Full Hookups
Free WiFi
4 Room Rental Units
40 X 100 ft Recreation Hall (available
to rent for gatherings)
25 x 50 ft Pool
16 person In ground Spa
Shady, Breezy Pavilion
Bath House with 4 restrooms/showers
Pet Friendly with Dog Park
Our dedicated, experienced team of staff is ready to make your stay pleasant and memorable, We would love to hear from you. To learn more about us, please call us at +1.9038656000.
Canton Creek RV Park
32891 State Highway 64
Wills Point, TX 75169
(903) 865-6000
Latitude 32.630733
Longitude -95.951993
Stay on major roadways,
do not tell your GPS to go shortest route


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THREE years after the fall of the Berlin Wall it is becoming clear that in some parts of Eastern Europe the new world order is being run by the same old leaders: ex-communists still fond of authoritarian ways.
Romania, where veteran bureaucrat Ion Iliescu won reelection as president on Sunday, is perhaps the region's preeminent laggard in democracy. Others include Serbia, Croatia, the former Soviet republic of Belarus, and the Slovakia half of the soon-to-split Czech and Slovak Republic.
The iron repression of the bad old days doesn't necessarily still rule these places. What does distinguish them is continued leadership by partly reconstructed party members who are learning to manipulate new electoral processes and play on fear of capitalistic chaos to win votes.
"There is going to be this situation where many former communist regimes will be voted into office," says George Zarycky, central European specialist at the human rights organization Freedom House.
Ex-communist parties still have extensive resources at their disposal, points out Mr. Zarycky, even after the sudden loss of power and prestige most experienced at the turn of the decade. Apparatchiks indispensable to the continued function of government still fill posts throughout the region, even in internal security forces.
Fully a quarter of Eastern Europe's adult population has belonged to a communist party at sometime or another since the end of World War II, according to one estimate. Remaining true believers thus form a substantial political power base.
Romania is a model for this condition. Less Western than Hungary, lacking Poland's history of anti-communist infrastructure, Romania is now a semi-authoritarian country wearing democratic clothes. Tainted politicians
At first, it didn't appear that things would work out that way.
In a country where almost every politician seemed tainted one way or another, Ion Iliescu was hailed as a reformer before the first post-Ceausescu election, in May 1990. The former senior Communist Party boss won 85 percent of the vote. But Iliescu lost much favor shortly thereafter when he imported 20,000 coal miners into the cities to crush opposition protests - a favored tactic of the old regime. Six people died and foreign leaders would have little to do with him.
In the run-up to last week's presidential poll, Iliescu stumped the countryside, courting peasants by accusing the opposition of "savage capitalism" and plotting to take away land. In a runoff election Sunday, he defeated Emil Constantinescu, candidate of a centrist coalition, by some 15 percent. The coalition has charged fraud, saying it was cheated of up to 10 percent of its vote.
Romania is far from the only "same old leaders" case. Serbia and Croatia, besides being bitter foes in the former Yugoslavia, both have leaders who continue such authoritarian practices as the harassment of opponents and journalists. Slovakia is still a part of Czechoslovakia and not yet a country on its own. But with the so-called "Velvet Divorce" from the Czechs looming, the ex-communist Slovak Prime Minister Vladmimir Meciar is moving to consolidate power in textbook, old-regime ways.
The media have been a particular target of Merciar. For one thing, he and his parliamentary allies have in effect reclaimed control over Slovak TV for the state.
They are now pressing a bill that would require journalists to submit transcripts of all interviews with government officials for state approval before publication.
But prior service as a communist official doesn't mean a new Eastern European leader will necessarily display authoritarian traits. Boris Yeltsin, it must be remembered, was once a high Kremlin official. Detours to democracy
The reverse is also true: Slovakia's Merciar was kicked out of the party following the 1968 Soviet invasion of his homeland. But, as political scientist Charles Gati of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., writes in the current issue of Foreign Affairs: "Mainly because of the powerful, lasting impact of communist political culture, the road to democracy in east-central Europe is paved not only with bumps but with long detours that could lead to dead ends."
The level of repression, even in Romania, is much lower than in the past. In parts of the region, including Poland and Hungary, democracy seems to be taking hold.
But Dr. Gati argues that the danger lies not so much in what former party members are doing now, as in what they might do in a crisis "born of major domestic confrontations, intra-regional conflicts, or outbursts of large-scale violence in the former Soviet Union."


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Re "Stop before you tax again!," Editorial, Nov. 18
Words of caution are probably necessary concerning the Democrats' two-thirds majority in the Legislature, but it should be pointed out that the intentions of the voters of California have been thwarted for many years because of the undemocratic tyranny of the legislative minority in both houses.
There have been many proposals to fix our budget deficits. Our problems would not be occurring, and Proposition 30 would not have been needed, if there had been an orderly process for the expression of the will of the voters.
Ralph Mitchell
Monterey Park
The Democrats have achieved their supermajority in Sacramento, and now they are getting comfortable with the driver's seat. They should be careful before they get into gear and clutch more of our tax dollars.


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Government of Bangladesh
The Government of Bangladesh is UNICEF's main partner in Bangladesh. UNICEF and the Government signed a Basic Cooperation Agreement in 2006.
Ministry of Health and Family WelfareThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare works with UNICEF for improved health and nutrition. Within the Ministry, UNICEF works with the following agencies:
Ministry of Mass and Primary EducationThe Ministry of Mass and Primary Education is UNICEF's partner for early learning programmes, education for working children, and the primary education programme PEDPII. Under the Ministry, UNICEF works with:
Ministry of Women and Children AffairsThe Ministry of Women and Children Affairs administers adolescent and child empowerment programmes with UNICEF. Under the Ministry, UNICEF works with:
The Local Government Division and UNICEF also work together for universal birth registration.
Ministry of Food and Disaster ManagementUNICEF works with the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management on emergency preparedness and relief programmes for women and children.
Bangladesh Bureau of StatisticsUNICEF works with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to monitor the situation of children in Bangladesh.


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Silent Hills/P.T Horror Relived With These Edited In-Game PS4 Screens, Shows Lisa With Scary Smile And More
When it comes to marketing an unannounced title, Hideo Kojima knows how to do it in best way, fans saw a glimpse of his marketing skills at the time of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros And The Phantom Pain. At this year's GamesCom, Kojima was at his wittiest best with reveal of new Silent Hills/P.T title for PlayStation 4.
A teaser demo for new Silent Hills title went live on PlayStation Store immediately after its official announcement, and this idea was the brain child of Hideo Kojima. The teaser demo took gaming world by storm because of its horror element.
Reddit user Eeezo has revisited some of the most horrific moments from Silent Hills/P.T demo with few editing just to give it a realistic feel. Warning: You might caught Phobia of Corridors after going through these in-game screenshots of Silent Hills/P.T. So proceed at your own risk.
Tell us in the comment section below, what's your opinion on this new Silent Hills/P.T title from Hideo Kojima.


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John Robert Christian
Died: 6/29/2010
Mr. John Robert Christian, age 40, of New Castle, DE, died suddenly on Tuesday, June 29, 2010.
Born in Elkton, MD, on May 7, 1970, Mr. Christian had worked as a dispatcher for Maryland Portable Concrete in Aberdeen, MD, for 25 years. He also greatly enjoyed owning his own business, Tinys Outdoor Movies, a party/event specialty company he operated for the past several years.
Mr. Christian will be long remembered as a loving husband, as well as a devoted son, brother, nephew, uncle, and friend. He loved animals throughout his life and especially delighted in caring for his four pet dogs.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 10 years, Karen A. Wisowaty Christian; parents, Johnny M. Christian and Elizabeth I. Christian; brothers, Michael Lockard and Kevin Vogel; sisters, Susie Laws, June Lanzi, Carol Cook, and Amberly Smith; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Timothy Vogel, and a nephew, Joshua Lanzi.
A public visitation will be held from 2 pm to 4 pm and again from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday, July 2, 2010, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 214 Clinton Street, Delaware City. The funeral service will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Christian may be made to Delaware Humane Association, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.
To sign guest book, visit spicermullikin.com SPICER-MULLIKIN FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY 302-328-2213
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Comments will be posted within 24 hours pending approval.


text:
Sunday, September 23, 2012
5% of Minnesotans Have over $100 of unclaimed money
Page Title - No value Fox has learned that 5% of Minnesotans are owed over $100. And they hit the streets try to find people... And sure enough the 8th person they asked (a local waitress) found out that she had some cash owed to her from an old employer.
Labels: Minnesota, Missing Money, Treasure Hunt, Unclaimed Assets
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One of the key breakthroughs associated with this announcement is the ability for SoC developers to seamlessly migrate their SystemC-based SonicsMX configurations into an RTL form ready for functional verification and logic synthesis. The SonicsMX SystemC and RTL models support a wide range of transaction level modeling design techniques, enabling SoC architects to rapidly explore architectural choices such as topologies, protocol choices, buffering, quality-of-service (QoS), security, power management, and pipelining. In contrast, traditional SystemC-based architectural approaches focus purely on algorithmic and contention-oriented performance analysis, leaving many key system and physical optimization issues for the RTL design phase, which uses different methodologies. The new version of SonicsStudio eliminates such risks when using SonicsMX.
"As SoC complexities continue to explode, and the interconnect continues to move towards the centerpiece of the design, it's essential that SoC architects analyze the performance and cost tradeoffs of the interconnect as early as possible in the development project," said Drew Wingard, chief technology officer, Sonics Inc. "Sonics has already enabled its customers to make this shift with earlier versions of SonicsStudio. The availability of SystemC models for SonicsMX expands the SoC architect's exploration capabilities into higher levels of abstraction, and by supporting seamless iterations between SystemC and RTL views of SonicsMX, this new version of SonicsStudio enables teams to also deploy ESL techniques incrementally. This has a far reaching impact on the adoption of SystemC modeling by SoC developers."
Sonics recently announced that SystemC versions of Sonics SMART Interconnects solutions such as SonicsMX, that are suitable for operation in the CoWare Inc.'s Platform Architect product, will be available directly from CoWare Inc.
About Sonics
Sonics, Inc.(R) is the premier supplier of SMART Interconnects(TM) solutions that deliver high SoC design predictability and increased design efficiency. Major semiconductor and systems companies including Broadcom, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, and Samsung have applied Sonics' SMART Interconnects solutions in leading products in the wireless communications, digital multimedia, automotive, and office products markets. Sonics is a privately-held company funded by Cadence Design Systems, Toshiba Corp., Samsung Ventures, and venture capital firms Investar Capital, Smart Technology Ventures, TL Ventures, Easton Hunt Capital, JAFCO Ventures, and H&Q Asia-Pacific. For more information, see www.sonicsinc.com.
Sonics and SMART Interconnects are registered trademarks of Sonics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Fast Forward PR (for Sonics Inc.) Mary Jane Reiter, 408-725-1239 Email Contact


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Chelsea Manning Is Finally Called a Woman By the Army
One of Chelsea Manning's requests have finally been heard, even though it is in name only.
One of Chelsea Manning's requests have finally been heard, even though it is in name only.
Following the long awaited death of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the U.S. Marine Corps have now taken action to assure that gay and lesbian military spouses will be allowed in all on-base military spouse clubs. In a memo sent to Marine legal offices across the country, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant ordered that…
Having openly gay people serving in the military was supposed to ruin everything—at least if you believed opponents of allowing them to serve openly. But a new Pentagon report given to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta this week says that, in fact, absolutely nothing has changed in the eight months since the ban on…
Add this to the list of things gay members of the Armed Forces are allowed to do now that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is dead: kiss their partners, and upload the resulting photo to Facebook, causing everyone's heart to grow three sizes.
Top Marine officer Gen. James F. Amos has admitted that, despite his fears, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell has not caused the destruction of the Marines.
Like many victories, you take the bad with the good. For the GLBT military folks who attended the first-ever gay military personnel convention, OutServe, in Las Vegas yesterday the good has been the non-stop support and "shrugs" they received after they came out and the opportunities that are now opening up for them.
A three-judge panel ruled that the U.S. has to stop enforcing Don't Ask Don't Tell immediately, rather than the drawn-out procedure that was a condition for Congress repealing it. Last week, the president said it would take "weeks, not months."
West Point has declined to readmit Katherine Miller, who famously withdrew from the school rather than continue closeted. That's because no one knows when Don't Ask Don't Tell's repeal will take effect.
Speaking to Bryan Fischer (he of the "feminization of the Medal of Honor,") the Republican presidential hopeful said he would "support reinstating" Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Congratulations, Pawlenty, you're an even bigger asshole than John McCain!
Now that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal is in motion, a new social networking site for gay servicemembers has come online. But it may still not be safe to post on it.
"We are not a nation that says, 'Don't ask, don't tell,'" said President Obama this morning, signing that policy's repeal. "We're a nation that says, 'Out of many we are one.'" He looked happy and relieved.
It's a Christmas miracle! The final count was 65 yay!, 31 nay. All that's required now is a signature from President Barack Obama, and this shit is OVER, except for the bloggin' and talkin' from angry homophobes.
Today the Senate voted 63-33 to cut off debate on a bill that will end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. They'll hold a final vote at 3 p.m., and the repeal is expected to pass.
I'm writing letters to my loved ones in case I don't return from Afghanistan. I hope my partner never has to open his. If he does, it will ask him to tell who I was, because I couldn't.
As expected, the House passed the standalone Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal bill. Now Harry Reid has to schedule a Senate vote. Reid's statement yesterday didn't make it clear if and when he will.
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal again hangs in the balance: Today, the House votes on a standalone bill, but it's unclear what the Senate will do. Meanwhile, Dan Choi has been hospitalized, and the Marine Commandant is talking shit.
The dismal setback yesterday in Senate efforts to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell — despite the support of the American public, the president, military leaders, the House — may not be the end of the story. Now what?
Well, this is goddamn depressing: Democrats in the Senate were unable to get the votes to get the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal to even be debated, which means the last hope of legislative repeal is dead. What went wrong?
Joe Lieberman thinks that repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell is worth debating through Christmas. That's because we Jews hate Christmas! But seriously, Lieberman is making sense, and so is Scott Brown. Really. But Secretary Robert Gates is getting pessimistic.
The Don't Ask Don't Tell hearings in the Senate have resumed. There's no question that the policy needs to be repealed. What is outstanding: Why is John McCain such an asshole? Theories from The Daily Show and others.


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OKEMAH, Okla. (AP) - A possible explosive device found on a gas line in Okfuskee County has been rendered harmless and is being removed from the site.
FBI Special Agent Clay Simmonds said FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol bomb technicians had recovered the device and determined there were no secondary devices at the scene. Simmonds said the device's contents will be taken to a laboratory and examined to see if it is active or inert.
Simmonds says the sheriff's office called the agency about 11a.m. after a deputy discovered the possible bomb south of Okemah. Simmonds said the deputy concluded it might be a bomb after seeing a timer attached to it.
Simmonds says the gas line was cleared as a precaution. Oklahoma Highway 27 was closed, and some nearby homes were evacuated.


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Next to cross off of my list: my bridesmaids dresses. And this one was, by far, the easiest! Thanks completely to my sister/maid of honor who has been keeping a sharp eye out for deals.
My original plan was to let each girl pick out their own dress in a color I chose, like these lovely bridesmaids:
I was considering the mismatched dress option to save my lovely ladies some money and let them find a style that was flattering on them. I am in two weddings this fall and both brides chose dresses around $100. Now, I rarely spend $100 on a dress. And when you add shoes, jewelry, gifts, parties, etc., the cost of standing up next to your BFF while she says, "I do!" can get a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, there is almost NOTHING out there for bridesmaids under $100 and both brides picked lovely dresses that I might even wear again (score!). They are simply another victim of the ridiculous wedding industry and their inflated prices the minute you say the W word.
So, I hadn't even begun to look, or asked the ladies to look, for dresses. My wedding is 8 months away and I still feel like I have tons of time (The joke is on me, right? I know...). My sister was out shopping one day and emailed me pictures of an absolutely adorable red dress at Stein Mart (of all places...) for under $40. They are classic, pretty and wearable as you can see from my little sis modeling it here:
Cute, right? I love it! So Liz begged Stein Mart to put a few dresses in various sizes on hold for a few days while bridesmaids came to try it on. It seems like a go, although not all 5 girls have been able to try on their size. Three are being ordered from stores out of
the state, so we won't really know if this is THE DRESS until they've all tried their size on and given me a thumbs up. But, I'm feeling positive about it all. The dress seems to fit well and is a beautiful red. The best part? I didn't have to do a smidge of work to find them. Yes!!
We'll still have one more lady in the wedding party to dress, but I think (fingers crossed) we should be able to find her an option that complements this dress easily.


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Glass art is one of the most attractive art forms we have today. Shaping and designing the beautiful shining glass is a great way to showcase your art. There are various types of glass and even more ways to carve designs on them. From as primitive as inscribing design with a sharp object to modern as imprinting with a laser printer. Many forms have been created and appreciated by the artists. The technology is not widely accepted. People even consider it more technology and programming than art. But lampwork is the undisputed and one of the oldest form of glass decorating techniques.
Glass Designs Hayley Gammon
I have always had a passion with art and when I did my first taster session in glass when studying Three Dimensional design at Manchester Metropolitan University I was hooked. Glass has the design and methodology of more conventional art and design with an added excitement and adrenaline. I have always been driven by excitemen and new experiences; glass blowing defiantly has this to offer. Everyday seems to bring new challenges, as with ever new piece of work a new obstacles and objective is alive .
About glass art and glass art techniques
Glass arts are one of the most difficult but beautiful genres of art form. The characteristic shine of the glass allows it to give a certain gloss and ambiance to the place it is kept in. Glass has an amazing elasticity that allows artists to mold it easily. This allows artists to make great shape as well as fine designs on them. Glass is available in various colors which actually adds to the existing design. The quick plasticity makes this great brittle matter a true clay for art.
Since the discovery of glass and the knowledge of its eye-catching properties, glass has become one of the most popular artistic elements. There are various techniques to make glass arts: blowing, fusing, kiln-casting, slumping, pat-de-verre, flame-working, hot-sculpting and cold working. Not all types of glass allow all types of working. So the specific type of glass should be chosen based on the specific design and molding technique.


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Hundreds of East Bay volunteers working to get President Barack Obama re-elected showed up at the campaign's Oakland office to get marching orders during the election.
If they visit now, though, they could be taking home some stylish footwear needed to win the next race.
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Weekly Rankings: Week 7 Value Meter
Eli Manning and the Giants are really putting the 'start any QB against the Falcons' theory to the test this week.
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Dalvin CookNFL
Full practice Wednesday
Cooper KuppNFL
Ruled out for Week 7
Ryan TannehillNFL
Ruled out for Week 7
Derek AndersonNFL
Gets Week 7 starting nod
Leonard FournetteNFL
Could practice Thursday
Johnny GaudreauNHL
Leaves game with potential concussion
Brady TkachukNHL
Out about one month with torn leg ligament
Deandre AytonNBA
Double-doubles in regular-season debut
Devin BookerNBA
Scoring explosion in opener
DeAndre JordanNBA
Double-doubles in team debut
More Fantasy Articles
Beating the Book: Chris Liss Handicaps Week 7
Chris likes Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars as 4.5-point home favorites over the Texans.
Streaming Defenses: Week 7 Options
A home game against Buffalo makes the Colts our top Week 7 steaming pick, but the Broncos and Cardinals are also strong options in what should be a sloppy matchup.
Staff Picks: Cardinals, Titans, Jaguars and Redskins
The Staff likes Blake Bortles and the Jaguars as 4.5-point home favorites against the Texans.
Survivor: Surviving Week 7
If you've used up the Rams and Chargers, Chris Liss likes Calais Campbell and the Jaguars at home against the Texans.
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Dalvin CookRB
Full practice Wednesday
Cooper KuppWR
Ruled out for Week 7
Ryan TannehillQB
Ruled out for Week 7
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Chris SaleP
Ruled out for Game 5 start
Alex Bregman3B
Hits atop order in Game 4
Cody Bellinger1B
Leading off Wednesday
Fantasy Basketball
Deandre AytonC
Double-doubles in regular-season debut
Devin BookerG
Scoring explosion in opener
DeAndre JordanC
Double-doubles in team debut
Fantasy Hockey
Johnny GaudreauLW
Leaves game with potential concussion
Brady TkachukLW
Out about one month with torn leg ligament
David PastrnakRW
Sees plenty of time on PP in loss
Fantasy Soccer
Stefan SavicD
Returns to training Wednesday
Sadio ManeF/M
Undergoes procedure on broken thumb
Christian NorgaardM
Suffers knee sprain
Fantasy Golf
Andy Sullivan
Grabs second straight top-10
Lucas Bjerregaard
Follows up victory with top-10 at British Masters
Francesco Molinari
Off-week at British Masters
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Myles GaskinRB
Likely to play in Week 8
Malik RosierQB
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Will practice Thursday
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Recovering from foot surgery
Crisshawn ClarkG
Sidelined indefinitely by ankle issue
Austin WileyF
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Mike Rodriguez
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Returns to practice Tuesday
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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Public Service Commission approves emergency plan to help mitigate increase in February commodity costs on National Grid upstate New York bills
Customers encouraged to enroll in balanced billing option
National Grid has requested and received approval to defer upcoming increases in electricity supply prices for upstate New York residential and small business customers. The approval will help the company's upstate electricity customers better manage their energy costs during an unusually cold winter season.
Costs for electricity supply - the actual energy itself - for upstate New York have increased substantially in the past few months due to colder-than-normal weather conditions and a dramatic rise in the cost of natural gas that fuels many electricity-generating stations. These increases, coupled with much higher than typical usage, prompted the company to take action to help stabilize energy costs for its customers.
As a result of this approval, the electricity supply increases for February that would have increased total bills approximately 20 to 30 percent will be deferred for recovery in future months. Additionally, the company is encouraging customers to further mitigate the impact of high supply prices by enrolling in the budget billing program, which will spread high winter bills over the course of a year. There is no cost to enroll in the budget billing plan.
National Grid does not control or set the cost of electricity or natural gas supply. It purchases the commodity on behalf of its customers and passes that cost on directly without markup. Even though the company's delivery rates have been reduced twice in the past two years, rapidly rising supply costs and dramatically higher customer usage has resulted in higher-than-normal winter bills for many customers. Prior to this recent cold snap, since 2008, overall electricity bills for upstate New York customers on average have decreased about 12 percent, while total natural gas bills have decreased about 35 percent due in part to these efforts.
"This year's colder-than-normal temperatures have made this a particularly challenging winter season for our customers," said Ken Daly, National Grid president, New York. "The significant increase in electricity supply costs has made the situation even more critical. We are pleased that the New York Public Service Commission reviewed and approved our emergency proposal quickly to help provide some immediate relief to our customers."
Customers can further manage their energy costs by reducing their usage. National Grid has a 20-year history of energy efficiency programs in the U.S. Upstate New York National Grid customers can call 1-800-642-4272 or visit http://www.nationalgridus.com for energy-saving tips, rebates and a list of qualified energy services companies.
Customers who are having difficulty paying their utility bill are also urged to call National Grid as soon as they believe they are having trouble. National Grid has consumer advocates that can help customers through a variety of company, state and federal programs. The earlier a customer contacts National Grid, the easier it is to provide assistance.
For more information, visit www.nationalgridus.com. Follow National Grid on Twitter, watch it on YouTube, friend it on Facebook, and find photos on Instagram.


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How?(12 Posts)
Ok. So I am a teacher. Currently at home with four children aged 2, 4, 6 and 7. We are in between schools so I am home educating. But it's really hard.
My two eldest have been very much ahead at their private school. I feel like I am letting them down. My 4 year old finds reading and writing hard and I so want to be able to immerse myself with her. But how can you do it when they all have such different needs?
They do reading eggs, maths whizz, love horrible history and various education sites. But when it comes to other things we just wander and then end up do
Sorry. Too early.
Doing nothing. They also do kumon. But when it comes to writing I have no ideas which is not good being a teacher. It is the age difference that causes me to falter.
I know everyone says to just go with the flow and learn as we live. But I would like something more structured. They were pushed at school and need that or they end up on cheese strings!!!!
Does anyone have any tips or sources which provide some kind of lesson plans/structures?
My husband thinks it should be easy to teach them all as I am used to it. But at school you brainstorm as a team, only have a set age usually and have lots of resources and children to bounce ideas off each other. Help!!
How long a period are you talking about?
Advice for a few weeks would be different from advice for a few months.
We are waiting for a school place which I really hope will come up around September time. Obviously it won't happen overnight for all of them. So there could be another half year at home possibly.
To expand, we have been offered a place at a school with a poor reputation and lots of advice to wait for an alternative. All the waiting lists in the area are long. But we will wait.
If your two eldest are already very much ahead, is there really a need to keep up the pace in the standard curriculum areas? Might it be more fun to take the opportunity to branch out into topics they wouldn't have been able to do so readily at school, where the differences between them will be less important and where they won't need so much pushing because they've chosen to do it for themselves?
For example, maybe they would like to immerse themselves in art, or take up a new language or musical instrument. You could all go on some museum or zoo visits, or go along to historical sites where each child could be learning different things from the visit. You could go on some nature walks and see what you find. These activities don't always have to involve a high level of planning on your part in order for the children to learn from them. Home education can look very different to school. In particular you can allow for more serendipity because you don't have to worry that complete chaos will descend if you don't have everyone engaged in an activity at the same time. It's OK if only one or two of your children take an interest in the beetle they've just found while others are sweeping the path with a branch or collecting stones.
Summer is just around the corner, so getting out will be easier and more fun than it has been. Many families are feeling rather cooped up and frustrated at the moment!
If you are keen to keep your 4yo engaged with reading, what about reading aloud to the whole family or enjoying audiobooks together while they are drawing, using Lego or curling up to listen? You could keep the focus on her needs by leaning towards whichever stories you think will appeal to her.
I would agree with Saracen-perhaps work on a project that interests them and bring in the practical e.g. gardening and cooking would bring in science and maths and more besides.
You could have a rethink if it goes on beyond September.
Enjoy books with all of them, but especially the 4 yr old.
We do formal work first thing in the morn on whatever we happen to be intersted in currrently and this is where I worm in Maths and English daily in a more curriculum style. Then the day just flows into what ever crops up, for example a tv program sparking a discussion, a question sparking a demonstration from me, a problem occuring for which I send them to the net to find a solution, a trip out leading to ideas for future trips. We pick a termly or weekly topic (or rather a topic which is finished when it is finished) and I create a mind map of ideas of what to do or research and what resources we need. It is a good way of making a topic cross curricular, and in your case differentiated by age. Each day I tick some things of the mind map that we cover or add a new branch to explore as I also react to what the child wants/enjoys/needs help with.
With one to one support, the children can achieve as much in an hour as they do in a whole day at school. Therefore don't panic that you are not pushing them enough. With good home schooling, they will start to push themselves - they will want to learn and they will do it for themselves.
Have you read How children learn at home by Alan Thomas? Really worth it and very useful for getting a window into other home Ed families.
I think HE is probably harder for a teacher than for anyone else, because teachers are enculturated into the idea that education is something you do to other people rather than something that people do for themselves. I mean this in a kindly supportive way - I'm thinking it's probably harder for you to let go of trying to keep a cohort paddling along in roughly the same direction than it is for someone whose main experience of spending lots of time with a group of differently-aged children is with their own pre-schoolers, where we are all much better at letting go of the idea that there need to be external stimuli for learning to happen.
THere are some good ideas from Saracen upthread.
In your shoes, I'd also have the older children making treasure hunts for the 4 year old (while you make one for the older children, with alternating clues). In our house, there are always puzzle clues, maths clues (with solutions and wrong solutions on pieces of paper blutacked to the kitchen cupboards/drawers, and the next clue is hidden in the drawer/cupbaord behind the right answer), clues in foreign languages (google translate - and I get the child(ren) to listen to the google translate bot reading it out in the foreign language, then have a stab at pronouncing it themselves before reading the English translation). You can have trivia clues where the answer is somewhere in the Usborne encyopedia of you-name-it.
We tend to bake a batch of cookies/similar treat first, then while they are in the oven, the treasure hunt gets created. Then, astonishing, voila, the final clue leads to the prize of... the thing everyone just baked. It's a total swizz as prizes go but I'm still getting away with it!
THe biggest thing is to remember that education product is necessary when you have a class of 30, because you can't have a conversation with each child to establish what they understand, so you really need written evidence. With four children, you can just talk with them - they'll tell you what they know, what they want to know, what they don't understand. Lots of your learning (even all of it?) can happen through "purposive conversation" within a family. A story that is made up and told to a sibling is just as valuable as one that gets written down in an exercise book, for example.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for such wonderful replies. Thanks for taking the time to help me. Some fabulous ideas for me to try. We are getting there slowly but some valid points made about relaxing the curriculum side of things slightly. Thanks again.
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Wow. A game hasn't made me laugh this hard since Conker's Bad Fur Day. Brian Fargo, creator of classics Fallout and Baldur's Gate is taking another stab at the RPG genre with the side-splitting romp, The Bard's Tale. Based loosely on the PC original, you play as the Bard, an arrogant, greedy, "all for one and me for myself" guy who wants nothing to do with saving the world. The reluctant, sardonic hero's tale is sizable, features some branching story paths, and is a refreshing take on the seemingly overused Baldur's Gate engine.
While IGN has previously covered The Bard's Tale I finally had the chance to sit down and play a build for a solid three hours. Sure, I knew this game was going to be funny the moment it was first shown to me about a month before E3 2004, but I didn't imagine it would be this funny, this often. Yeah, I'm lovin' The Bard.
Bard Battle
You can pretty much separate The Bard's Tale into two pieces. There's combat and then there are interactions with NPCs. The combat is similar to what's been seen in games like Champions of Norrath, only it's not multiplayer. Rather than fighting with a team of four players, the Bard summons spells with his lute. These spells are creatures -- an electrical spider, a rat, a wicked crone -- and have some personality and their own health bar to be concerned about. It's these spells that will make up your party in combat.
Within the first three hours of play, you'll have at least four spells at your disposal, with more seemingly easy to come across on your adventures. As I found out early on, you are gonna need those spells quite often. See, this game -- at least in the current build -- is gonna whump ya in the good 'n' plenties. Enter the forest and you'll find yourself under siege by any variety of creature, sometimes with five guys surrounding you. It can be a bit daunting. You can block (by tapping the block button at the moment of an attack), but their oppressive attacks just won't stop. That's why a spell can help keep some enemies occupied so you can get to their backside and cut them down.
The real problem with spells is that you have to sheath your weapon to play your lute, leaving your vulnerable to attack. This require you to use some forsight and call forth a spell early or to run around like a scared little child as you frantically pluck at your lute. The nice thing is that spells aren't time-based. Instead, each spell has a specific mana cost to summon. Once there, a spell will remain as long as it has health or until it's dispelled.
Man's Best Friend
While spells are great, my favorite ally in combat has become my attack dog. Well, really he's just a puppy right now. See, very early in my adventures I came across this mongrel and chose to befriend him. Now he won't leave my side. As you gain experience and level up the Bard, you'll earn new feats. One of those is the ability to train your dog to attack enemies. That little pup is really helpful at keeping enemies busy and he can only be stunned, never killed, making him a permanent friend.
What's really amazing about this dog, who's now been at my side for the past two hours of gameplay, is that 80% of gamers will never have this benefit. That's because when you meet this mutt you are given the option to be snarky or nice. In fact, just about every conversation in The Bard's Tale features this option. If you're mean to the dog, he leaves and never returns. Well, I can tell you that I would be dead many times over if not for my mutt. Damn do I love the little son of a bitch.
Those kind of ramifications are felt throughout The Bard's Tale. One old man starts demanding an apology for your constant rude behavior towards Huston's citizenry. I chose to be snarky and he gave me some lip. Each time I run into him, he becomes more adamant for an apology and I keep being a jerk. Deep down, in the back of my mind, I know at some point this is going to come back to bite me in the ass. In fact, developer inXile promises that there will be repercussions for your actions that won't be felt until 10-20 hours later.
Now you may think that the solution is to always be nice, but that's definitely not the answer. First of all, Cary Elwes, who does a marvelous job voicing the Bard, says the funniest damn things when being snarky. Really, almost every bitter line is perfectly crafted. It's almost like an IGN editor was suddenly transported to medieval times. Yes, he's really that much of an ass. But you will also gain some things by being snarky. Sometimes it can get you a cheaper cost on a ferry ride or convince someone to leave you be. There's no worse feeling than being nice and having it backfire on you. That's when you go, "Crap, I should have just been an ass to this guy."


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Top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy threw one inning Tuesday in extended spring training against members of the Minnesota Twins organization, the first time he has faced hitters other than Orioles farmhands since spring training in March 2013.
Bundy, 21, threw 18 pitches, giving up two home runs, and his fastball reached 90 to 92 mph. He is scheduled to pitch again Saturday, throwing up to 30 pitches or two innings.
"I texted him last night. I know it was a big day for him," Showalter said. "I'm glad he got it behind him. He felt good."


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NEW YORK—Chadbourne & Parke has signed a 20-year lease for more than 200,000 sq. ft. at 1301 Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The law firm will begin moving to its new space and will complete the move after the redesign and build-out of its space is completed. The lease includes two, five-year options for renewal and expansion options.
Chadbourne Partner Richard Sonkin, head of the firm's real estate committee, worked with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank to negotiate the transaction.
The firm's new space will be designed by Gensler.
"We intend to design and build an office for the future, leveraging some of the key drivers for our clients and our lawyers—efficiency, flexibility and technology. We will create a state-of-the-art workspace for our clients, our lawyers and our staff," said Chadbourne Managing Partner Andrew Giaccia.
Founded in 1902 in New York City, Chadbourne provides a full range of legal services. The firm has 12 offices around the world.