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Quotes from Big Trouble in Little China can work with anything!
In this case, I'm talking about Newt Gingrich as the conservative frontrunner in the GOP race. I don't think anyone really saw this coming.
I'm not too perturbed about Newt. I was a supporter of Contract with America, and he knows what makes a conservative. But he's prone to getting distracted, and he's had some ethics issues, so he's not the best guy to nominate. But will Obama fare well against Newt in the debates? No. Newt will destroy Obama. Handily.
But that leaves the question: who's best?
Santorum? Unfortunately for him, he lost in Pennsylvania, which is a swing state. And it seems Republicans remember that.
Paul? Certainly he's called the Fed problems. And his fiscal policies are solid. But his isolationism is dangerous.
Huntsman? I can't get him. He seems very moderate, and he has executive experience as Governor of Utah. And he's been the ambassador to China. I don't know.
Perry? On record alone, he's solid. But he's a gaffe machine. (And so was Bush, btw. Must be a Texas thing.) His proposals have been solid. And the team around him is excellent. I don't know if he'd do well in a debate with Obama, or royally screw the pooch.
And that brings me to Herman Cain. I really don't know what's up, but with the sexual harassment claims, and now the woman claiming the 13 year affair and the non-denial denial from Cain's camp, he's falling apart. At this point, he's shedding support because he's been inconsistent on the scandal. At least with Newt, we know his scandals, and he's freely admitted them. But Cain crumbled with the clumsy coverup. In addition, he performed poorly in the Foreign Policy Debates.
(Oh, I didn't include Bachmann because she faded ages ago, mainly because she hasn't put forth any plans of substance.)
Now, the big question is what happens to the 10-15% of Cain voters when Cain inevitably pulls out. Where will they go? Who has a plan that is similar to Cain's? Cain's big push was 9-9-9, and that's where he found his support. But the only other people out there that's proposed something similar are Newt and Perry. Since the 10-15% of Cain voters haven't peeled of to Newt, it's safe to say they're going to run somewhere else– and that's most likely to Perry.
To solidify this, and rebound in the campaign, Perry's going to have to quickly secure Cain's support. If Perry's going to have a chance to pull off the nomination, he's got to secure the Cain backers, and that means securing Cain.


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While many investors have revived their love affair with corporate bonds this year, one stands out: Pacific Investment Management Co.'s (Pimco's) Bill Gross.
His $3.6 billion Total Return exchange-traded fund (ETF) has more than quadrupled its allocation to such notes since January to more than 41 percent of its holdings. Gross isn't the only one to find high-grade corporate bonds more appealing lately, given that mutual-fund investors have poured $63 billion into the debt this year after pulling record amounts in 2013, according to Wells Fargo & Co. data.
On one hand, this makes sense because the U.S. economy has been picking up and the most-creditworthy companies look pretty good based on their balance sheets.
On the other, this more-than-$5 trillion slice of the U.S. bond market is about as sensitive as it's ever been to moves in benchmark interest rates, and the Federal Reserve's preparing to raise borrowing costs next year.
The extra yield, or spread, investors demand to own investment-grade company debt instead of Treasuries is near the lowest since before the 2008 credit crisis. This means any ripple effects from the Fed's exit will be all the more painful for holders of this debt.
"You have to be cautious and careful about this because we do think higher rates are coming," said George Rusnak, national director of fixed income for Wells Fargo Private Bank. "As spreads are less, you're less protected."
At the same time, benchmark bond yields aren't likely to rise much during the next six months, so investment-grade corporate securities should hold their value, he said. When rates do rise, the notes may outperform junk bonds—which have benefited disproportionately from a search for yield amid unprecedented Fed stimulus.
Pimco's Total Return ETF, which follows a similar investment strategy as the firm's $223.1 billion Total Return Fund, has been steadily increasing its corporate-debt holdings throughout the year. The notes account for more than 41 percent of the fund now, compared with as low as 9.73 percent at the end of January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The two-year-old ETF shrunk its allocation of government-related debt, reducing the proportion of such notes to 27 percent from 40.23 percent at the end of last year.
Mark Porterfield, a Pimco spokesman, declined to comment.
The bets have paid off. U.S. high-grade notes are poised for an annual return of 10.4 percent, the most since 2009 when credit markets were rebounding from their seizure, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data. Junk bonds, meanwhile, are on track for an 8.9 percent gain.
Investors are demanding 1.13 percentage points of extra yield over Treasuries to own investment-grade debt, down from 6.56 percentage points in December 2008. In June, the spread fell to 1.06 percentage points, the lowest since 2007.
In other words, investors are demanding less and less compensation for owning debt that's safe enough.

subset: commoncrawl


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Apricot and Toasted Almond Stuffing
Quick Facts
Servings: 12
A holiday stuffing that blends the wonderful flavors of apricots, cranberries, brandy and toasted almonds all in one dish.
- 1 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, diced (10 apricot halves)
- 2 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 cups stuffing cubes, (cubed dried white bread)
- 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup toasted almonds, sliced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the brandy and apricots in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add celery, onion and garlic, sauté until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add brandy and apricots, and cook until half of the liquid evaporates. Remove from heat and cool.
- In a large bowl, combine apricot mixture, stuffing cubes, broth, almonds, cranberries, egg, thyme and pepper; tossing gently. Spoon the bread mixture into a 2-quart (2L) casserole that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray. Cover with lid, and bake for 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Nutrition Facts
Calories 506
Calories from Fat 70 (14%)
(12%)Total Fat 8g
(7%)Saturated Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
(7%)Cholesterol 22mg
(65%)Sodium 1562mg
(12%)Potassium 428mg
Total Carbohydrate 84g
(19%)Dietary Fiber 5g
Sugars 16g
Sugar Alcohols 0g
(27%)Protein 13g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Nutrition facts are calculated by a food expert using nutritional values provided by the USDA for common products used as recipe ingredients. Actual nutritional values may differ depending on the amounts or products used and can be affected by cooking methods.
Copyright © 2019 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com
Read our healthy recipe definitions.
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
The information presented here is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2019.


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1. Sagrada Familia with Skip-the-Line
From $ 25.7
From $ 25.7
From $ 51.7
From $ 63.9
From $ 103.3
From $ 88.5
From $ 120.5
From $ 67.6
From $ 94.7
From $ 46.2
From $ 27.1
Enjoy a guided tour to the historic medieval city Girona. The city is interesting for many reasons: It has one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe, beautiful medieval architecture, and an important artistic heritage.
- Enjoy a half day tour to the medieval city Girona
- Transport to/from Barcelona is included
- Visit the Jewish quarters
- See where scenes from Game of Thrones will be shot
- Get a tour of the cathedral in the old city center
- See the pastel-colored houses by the river
- Enjoy some free time to explore on your own
Visit the Medieval City Girona
Your tour starts with a bus ride from Barcelona to Girona. Girona is one biggest cities north of Barcelona with one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe which also is where some chapters of the new season of the hit series Game of Thrones will shot.
Experience the medieval city's fascinating history as your guide takes you on a guided tour around the small streets of the old city center.
You'll also visit the cathedral in the old city center with its well-preserved medieval streets and the famous pastel-coloured houses at the edge of the river bank. During your tour, you'll learn about the city's history and important artistic heritage.
You will be given some free time in Girona to enjoy the city on your own.
How do I get my tickets?
Shortly after your booking is complete your e-ticket will be sent directly to your email, just print it out and bring it on your tour.
Where does the tour begin?
The tour starts at Julia Travel Office. The address will be clearly stated on your e-ticket. Please be there 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Where does the tour end?
The tour ends back at Julia Travel Office in Barcelona.
How long does the tour last?
The tour lasts approx. 6 hours.
Are there children's tickets?
Yes, children's tickets are available for children between age 4-12. Children between under 4 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Important information:
- Please note that it's a walking tour, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
Instant confirmation
Print out voucher
Running Time: 6 hours
Half Day Tour to Girona
Carrer de Balmes 5 08007 Barcelona


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A deal that LA Fitness had planned to consummate after it received a $300 million acquisition loan has fallen through, according to sources.
The Irvine, CA-based company had a letter of intent to acquire Urban Active, Lexington, KY, sources say. As rumors were circulating in mid-April about the proposed deal, Urban Active's CEO Royce Pulliam and General Counsel John Gragg told Club Industry that it was not in negotiations with LA Fitness to be acquired. When asked about any future mergers or acquisitions, Pulliam said, "At this point, we have no comment on that."
The LA Fitness loan was acquired from GE Capital, Norwalk, CT, a division of General Electric, the same company that provided Planet Fitness with a $40 million loan last year. Standard and Poor's Leveraged Commentary and Data (LCD) first reported news of the LA Fitness loan. GE was shopping the loan to potential lenders and has structured the credit as a $100 million revolver and a $200 million term loan, LCD reported.
LA Fitness declined to comment on the funding and the possible acquisition.
One source says that the proposed LA Fitness acquisition of Urban Active "fell apart at the last minute."
"I never believed it from the get-go," the source says.
LA Fitness has seven clubs in Ohio and one club in Kentucky, two states where most of Urban Active's clubs are located. Urban Active has 36 clubs in seven states, including two clubs expected to open in July.
LA Fitness recently opened new clubs in Pasadena, MD, and Tucson, AZ, and has more than 360 clubs across the country.
It is not known what will happen to the $300 million loan that LA Fitness received.


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4 Nights | HAVANA
About Havana, Cuba
You will visit the following 2 places:
Charleston is a city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is the second largest city in the state. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline and is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, or, as is locally expressed, "where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean." Founded in 1670 as Charles Town in honor of King Charles II of England, Charleston adopted its present name in 1783, and is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts.
Havana, officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 15 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.1 million inhabitants, the largest city in Cuba and the second largest in the Caribbean region, after Santo Domingo. The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbours: Marimelena, Guanabacoa, and Atarés. The sluggish Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay.


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How do you find the skills needed in the virtualised data centre?
Calling all-rounders
Datacentre Staffing the constantly churning world of the data centre is becoming increasingly tricky. Not only is the technology moving fast, but many key IT workers are reaching retirement age. When they leave, decades of experience leaves with them, a problem that looms large among the concerns of many CIOs, according to Symantec's annual State of the Data Center report.
Retirement is not the only problem. Most data centres are organised by technology specialism and staffed by highly knowledgeable experts in one area, such as storage or networking. Cross-specialist knowledge is hard to find and in great demand, as SANs, for example, increasingly run over Ethernet, along with all the other business-critical applications, each with its own requirements.
Demand for convergence and virtualisation skills is particularly high, and makes staff retention difficult. The result is a huge skills void at a time when businesses increasingly see the data centre and IT in general as a service, not as a technology provider.
If people with cross-disciplinary skills can command high prices, but IT budgets are flat, what is to be done?
Susan Snedaker of VirtualTeam Consulting says that cutting back staff, or freezing recruitment even though the workload is increasing, may work in the short term, and looks good on a balance sheet, but over-stretches remaining staff and increases the risk of errors that might prove costly.
Motivating staff to take on new projects helps to keep them up to date with the latest technology, but that should go hand-in-hand with a willingness to re-organise projects so you can do more with less. One company found that buying a couple of desktop management tools meant it could support more desktops without increasing staff numbers.
However, sometimes new blood is absolutely essential. Talking to local authorities, such as regional development agencies, can help with funding, and finding people involves the normal process of using personal contacts, agencies, headhunters, and advertising, with the inevitable delays and costs. Better and more cost effective to retain and develop the people you have.
According to Dave Cappuccio, vice-president of Gartner Research VP, if employees learn that cross-disciplinary skills are valued, especially when coupled with expertise in at least one core discipline, then they will respond. They are the people who are on the lookout for new things to learn, and the ones who are likely to get new projects finished on time.
Fostering those cross-disciplinary skills in-house will result in more motivated employees too. "Developing people with these kinds of skills can help alleviate both the baby boomer and skills transfer issue, as well as keeping your best people challenged, while continually increasing their value to the company," says Cappuccio. ®


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And the Babe of the Week is…Ashley Payne!
At just 20-years-old, Our Babe of the Week Ashley from South Carolina is one of the youngest winners we've ever had.
This week's race was a close one, but in the end Ashley the budding lingerie model defeated six other beautiful babes to earn her spot as Babe of the Week. Can this two time top-5 finalist for Playboy's 'Miss Social' add Babe of the Month to her list of titles? We think she's got a solid shot.
Here's the deal: At the end of the week, each Babe of the Day will compete for your votes and the winner will become Babe of the Week. Each week's winner will then face off to become Babe of the Month, and those winners will then duke it out for – you guessed it – the Babe of the Year title. Only those lucky ladies will be inducted into GuySpeed's Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for the hottest of babes.


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(Budget Travel) -- No matter if it's your first cruise or your 40th, these money-saving pointers and insider tips will have you acting like an old salt in no time. Budget Travel magazine's Trip Coach answers readers' top questions.
What should a novice know to avoid feeling like an idiot?
Follow my five essentials and you'll blend right in:
(1) Don't ever pay the brochure price. You never spring for the hotel rack rate, right? Cruising is the same. The list price in the catalog is there mostly to make all those promotions seem like better deals. If you search in the right spots, you're guaranteed to do better.
(2) It's a ship, not a boat. There's plenty of nautical lingo you can ignore, but calling an ocean liner a boat will get you pegged as an ignorant landlubber every time.
Budget Travel: 8 new natural wonders
(3) Wear whatever you want -- until 6 p.m. It's fine to go casual to a buffet, but at any other type of restaurant, men should swap the Hawaiian shirt for a button-down and blazer, the swim trunks for slacks, and the flip-flops for business-casual shoes. Women, the equivalent.
(4) Passport, passport, passport! Many cruisers rarely leave the ship, what with all the restaurants, zip-line rides, casinos lectures, and comedy shows. But if you ever do want to escape, one sure way to feel like a rube is to get stuck on board. To disembark at most ports, you'll need an international ID.
(5) All mandatory costs (food and lodging) are paid for up front. "It's possible to get by without spending a nickel during the trip," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of cruisecritic.com. But it will be a miracle if you do. Cruise lines are masterful at making all those "optionals" (spa treatments, margaritas, shore excursions) seem too enticing to pass up. So plan ahead to avoid any unpleasant surprises with the purser.
Budget Travel: World's most beautiful lakes
How can I get the best deal?
While many travel agents have been battered by the advent of online booking sites, they still reign supreme when it comes to cruising. Real-live agents are paid commissions by the cruise lines, so you won't pay a cent for their help, and they'll usually offer more insight and personalized advice than your computer.
"Look for an agent who cruises a lot, really knows the ships and can figure out which is right for you," says Paul Motter, cruisemates.com editor. When you do find agents that appeal to you, don't hesitate to test them out with a trick question. For example: Do they foresee any problems if your child isn't potty trained? (Kids in swim diapers aren't allowed in cruise-ship pools. Ever.)
Budget Travel: Best places you've never heard of
When is the best time to buy?
You may have heard that the cruise industry's much-touted "wave season," which runs from January to March, is the optimal time, but really that's just when agencies sell the most cruises, not necessarily when travelers get the best deals. If you really want to save, opt for one of two tactics: Book really early or really late.
Six or more months in advance, cruise lines try to fill up cabins by offering two-for-one deals, free airfare and other promos. But you can also land a discount if you wait until the last minute, somewhere between two to six weeks prior. Last fall, for instance, the price of a seven-day Princess Cruises trip to the Caribbean was slashed from $649 to $499 per person.
Keep in mind, though, that last-minute deals are usually only found for off-season trips: winter in Europe, summer and fall in the Caribbean and spring and autumn in Alaska. Finally, if you're eager to sail on a hot new ship, patience goes a long way: Cabins that went for nearly $1,500 last winter on Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas are now available for less than $1,000.
How much should I budget for extras?
The reality is that cruises can (and will) nick you at every turn. How much is up to you. Spending an extra $50 per person per day is fairly average, and it's easy to drop a whole lot more.
"The major extra is alcohol," says Brian David Bruns, who wrote about his year working as a cruise waiter in Cruise Confidential (travelerstales.com, $15). "We were always puzzled by passengers who stayed on board drinking $6 Coronas when they could buy them for a buck apiece at a bar in port."
Another way to save: Ask a friendly crew member to tell you about excursions you can book on the spot in port. They generally cost half of what the cruise line charges.
Finally, even though gratuities are normally added to your bill usually $10 to $15 per person per day -- it is possible to change the amount. The only caveat: You'll have to endure a potentially awkward face-to-face with a staffer to detail why the service didn't stack up.
Which cruise line offers the best value?
Again, it all comes back to optional costs. Cruisemates.com recently did the math comparing a luxury ship (Regent's Seven Seas Voyager) with a middle-market ship (Celebrity's Solstice) on nearly identical six-night Caribbean itineraries. At first glance, Regent cost far more: $3,365 vs. $1,895.
But its all-inclusive bill covers airfare, alcohol, shore excursions and tips. If you opted for those extras on Celebrity, your total expenses would be about the same, so it's arguable that Regent is a better value, given its top-notch restaurants and service. To compare more lines yourself, consult the comprehensive, 688-page Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (berlitzbooks.com, $24).
3-D Movies!
Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is the line's first ship built with a 3-D movie theater.
Skip karaoke. Norwegian Cruise Line's Epic rents Gibson electric guitars for $10 a day.
Skyscraper-size rides!
The new water slide on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream drops a dizzying 765 feet.
Check out these hot travel deals selected by Budget Travel editors
Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE!
Copyright © 2011 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved.


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The Red Chair is a great way to meet new people. I know, that sounds really strange but it's so true!
My humble red chair (rescued from the Falmouth dump, more context here) is making a tour of all the best Inns and B&B's in New England, and because of that, it was invited to meet the editors of Yankee Magazine. And I got to tag along.
Yankee Magazine is headquartered in the village of Dublin, New Hampshire. In the shadow of Mount Monadnock, this is a classic New England spot if ever I saw one with a white-spired church, petite village green, tiny sandwich shop and miniature rotary.
Blink and you will miss it.
We were ushered in the hallowed halls of this iconic spot, and amazingly enough, retired editor Judson Hale was there! What an incredibly warm and charming fellow he is — curious about the Red Chair and eager to show us his famous "Museum," a collection of objects gathered over the 50 plus years he has worked at Yankee, many of them as it's editor in chief.
Jud's Museum is irreverent, historical and downright hilarious. He has a splinter of the sinking of the Maine (1898) which a man from Cuba claims to have rescued from Havana Harbor, a glove mold from the old runner factory next to "The Balsams" in Dixville Notch, NH and even a crows foot Jud says was stolen from the dead body of Sitting Bull. He asked for Einstein's brain but never got it, and that kind of detail does not set Jud back — he has a fake.
You will enjoy his whimsy in this YouTube clip talking about the contents of his famous office. I did get the sense he had told the stories he shared with me and the Red Chair a few times before, but you too can experience it with the magic of the internet:)
Here are a few more images from this special visit, one that both the Red Chair and I will cherish forever:
Hanging out outside the building, waiting to meet the Editors.
Contents of Jud's Museum, up close and personal.
Close up of the fragment of the "Maine" — "How do I know this is a splinter from the sunken ship?" Jud asked me, looking coy. "The man who gave it to me told me so." he answers himself with a wry smile.
While the exact historical relevance of each the objects in Jud's museum may be a bit suspicious, one thing is surely true — Jud has enjoyed collecting them, and there would be no better tour guide to this rare space than the inspired collector himself. You can read more about our visit in the Yankee Magazine blog written by Heather Atwell. Check it out!


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Dynamic views are a nice way of showcasing the new web standards, HTML5 and CSS3, but personally I think they are horrible. In my experience they are slow to load (and believe me my machine ranks above average on CPU and memory), and they remove any sense of individuality from the blogs on which they are used. Whilst the presentation shouldn't be as important as the content, I think we all judge books by their covers and blogs by their layout. Unfortunately once a blog owner has decided to use dynamic layouts us as readers have no option to view the original template unless we turn off JavaScript. Unfortunately, if you turn off JavaScript you will be able to see the main page of the blog using the normal template but you won't be able to look at older posts and none of the widgets will work. Fortunately the rest of this post introduces a solution that means if you hate dynamic views as much as I do you can banish them for good!
When you turn JavaScript off Blogger doesn't gracefully show you the old template for a dynamic blog. What it does is give you a link to the front page of the blog with
?v=0 appended to the end. It turns out that adding
v=0 to the query string of the URL for any page within a blog causes it to be displayed using the old template. Unfortunately Blogger doesn't re-write the links in a page when you add
v=0 to the URL, so they all point back to the dynamic view. And even if you have JavaScript turned off they just send you back to the homepage not the actual page you wanted to look at. This is a horrid mess, but it does give us a way of fixing things.
My solution is a GreaseMonkey script that runs as the page loads, redirects you away from the dynamic view and back to the original template pages and re-writes all the out going links, where necessary, to include the
v=0 parameter so that they all just work. If you use Firefox then you will need to install the GreaseMonkey addon before you can use the script, if you use Google Chrome then support for GreaseMonkey scripts is built in. Once you are ready you can install my script by clicking this link. Currently it will only be applied to blogspot hosted blogs so unfortunately you might still see the odd dynamic view blog (Blogger Buzz for example) but hopefully there shouldn't be too many.
Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for improvements, and certainly links to any blogspot hosted blogs where you still see the dynamic views.


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For endgame, not so much...
For better or worse, Bioware has made the decision to give away most of the game's content. This leaves them in the position of trying to convince players to fork over cash for playing the game as a service. Thus, it does not appear that Bioware is keen for existing subscribers to switch to a non-subscription model and pay less. There are various things to unlock - including some extraordinarily petty options such as a charge to hide your helmet (certainly not mandatory, just petty) - but the bigger story is what you cannot unlock.
- Endgame content requires the purchase of consumable weekly passes per type of content you wish to play. Even at the most favorable exchange rate, unlocking two of the four types of content (raid, PVP, space combat, flashpoints) will cost you more than $15/month.
- Nonsubscribers are stuck with a currency cap that cannot be lifted. This limit applies not only to credits - the standard currency - but also the various token currencies used to purchase items.
- Nonsubscribers are also slapped with a permanent penalty to vendor prices, which includes gear vendors that take tokens.
- The cap plus the penalty combine to make it impossible for non-subscribers to purchase certain token rewards, and more generally require 25% more grinding at whatever you are grinding (raids, PVP, flashpoints, etc) for gear.
Leveling and grandfathered unlocks
Setting aside the endgame, what if, like myself, you are primarily interested in the game for the solo story content? This scenario is a bit more interesting.
There are certain restrictions that you can't lift (or won't want to pay for) including the currency penalties (you won't hit the credit cap but you may have problems with commendation vendors on planets) and restrictions on travel. There are also restrictions on your rate of exp gain, but that is ironically a mixed blessing in that I found the game's exp curve to be faster than I needed and skipped most of several planets to preserve challenge. And there are things you will probably need to pay for, such as access to your crewskills, probably a third hotbar (I don't know that all four that players had previously - or six that subscribers now get - are completely mandatory, but you will probably need a third bar).
Then there are an odd handful of things that can be unlocked in principle, but in practice are cheaper to unlock via a temporary subscription. Access to races - which are purely cosmetic in this game - will run you 600 Cartel Coins, but your existing characters are not affected when your subscription lapses. Your first two inventory upgrades can be paid for with 5000 and 20,000 credits as a subscriber, while non-subscribers must pony up 175 Cartel Coins per unlock - 350 total. In short, if you're looking to start up one - or better yet several - new characters, a one-month subscription may be the way to go.
And finally, there's the question of content. The new "Section X" content added with this patch will run non-subscribers 600 Cartel Coins. This content features new daily quests, which will be markedly less attractive to non-subscribers due to the currency issues, and the one-time questline for the HK-51 droid companion. This sort of content may well be more attractive as a rental than a permanent unlock.
Looking Ahead
On the horizon, Bioware plans at least one major content drop. It will also be interesting to see whether some of these restrictions get relaxed - either by default or through additional purchases - as the model matures. In the mean time, I don't regret my one-month subscription, and I might even see an advantage to subscribing for a month at a time periodically.
I suppose the risk you run - and perhaps the reason why Bioware is willing to make the temporary subscription attractive - is that you get used to the perks that cost money and do not want to give them up. Then again, I suppose that is a good thing to the extent that it would mean that you are playing the game and enjoying it enough to want to pay.


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A US programmer working on critical infrastructure secretly outsourced most of his highly-paid and security-sensitive job to Chinese programmers while he surfed eBay, updated his Facebook profile and watched videos of cats, Verizon has reported.
The story sounds as incredible as it must have been serious – but read on because there is a final twist.
Called in by a concerned company worried about anomalies in its logs, Verizon originally suspected that the company's network had been compromised by Chinese hackers after discovering access from a Shenyang-based company through an unauthorised VPN.
Incredibly, after studying six-months' worth of server logs, it turned out that the access appeared to happen daily and sometimes for an entire workday at a time.
The victim firm believed it had become the victim of a dastardly new malware attack able somehow to re-route traffic between countries via their network but the explanation turned out to be a mild-mannered family man and employee called - to spare his anonymity - "Bob".
Highly proficient in C, C++, perl, java, Ruby, php, and python, what Bob had been up to became apparent as soon as investigators took a closer look at the hard drive of his workstation.
What they found were hundreds of PDF invoices from a Chinese developer for the programming work he was supposed to have been carrying out himself.
To allow the incredible outsourcing scam to work, Bob had even FedExed his RSA authentication token to the Chinese developers so they could log in through the VPN.
Then investigators looked at Bob's web browsing history to see what he'd been up to during his worktime;
"A typical 'work day' for Bob looked like this:
9:00 a.m. – Arrive and surf Reddit for a couple of hours. Watch cat videos
11:30 a.m. – Take lunch
1:00 p.m. – eBay time.
2:00 – ish p.m Facebook updates – LinkedIn
4:30 p.m. – End of day update e-mail to management.
5:00 p.m. – Go home."
The Chinese firm had been paid $50,000 for their work, a small part of his annual salary.
The punchline? Bob was considered an excellent worker, praised for handing in his clean code on time. "Quarter after quarter, his performance review noted him as the best developer in the building," said Verizon.
Less amusing is that the company Bob was coding for worked on critical infrastructure (Verizon leaves the firm unnamed for obvious reasons).
"We have yet to see what impact this incident will have, but providing programming code used to run critical national infrastructure providers' systems to off-shore firms seems dangerous at best," commented Nick Cavalancia of Internet monitoring firm, SpectorSoft.
"What many organisations fail to understand is that with effective, proactive monitoring that can alert IT security teams when unacceptable online behaviors occur, this type activity can be thwarted before it becomes an incident," he said.
The full Verizon case study can be found at Verizon's website (note: has been innaccessible for periods).


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Commercial, Military, Products
By By Andrew Drwiega, International Bureau Chief | February 28, 2014
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Why not use the AW101 "as an optionally piloted vehicle?" asked AgustaWestland's chief executive officer, Daniele Romiti. We were beginning a discussion of his company's attitude to rotary unmanned aerial systems and optionally piloted vehicles at the company's headquarters in Vergiate, Italy.
After the initial shock of the statement and the mental image of unmanned AW101s flying around the Afghan battlefield wore off, further clarification made it not only logical but an obvious progression for the industry – and this company – to make. It has access to its own avionics and automatic flight control system (AFCS) and can call on the backing of group company Selex ES with its wealth of UAV experience.
The question tied into something that George Barton, vice president for business development at Lockheed Martin, told me back at the Dubai Airshow in November 2013. Lockheed Martin provides the mission management systems and flight control for the Kaman K-Max that has been continually trialed by the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan over the last few years. In Dubai he asserted that the technology was far from being K-Max specific and that it could be applied to different aerial platforms.
One of AgustaWestland's joint venture companies, Sistemi Dinamici, has also developed its own unmanned platform, the Hero UAV. "We already have a solution up to 200 kg through a company that we partially own, so we were not taking this new design inside our company but will leave it as part of our portfolio," Romiti noted.
So AgustaWestland is more focused on UAVs than might be apparent at first glance. In 2012 another of its companies, PZL-Aswidnik SA, demonstrated a prototype SW-4 RUAS/OPH (Solo) single engine rotorcraft unmanned aerial system/optionally piloted helicopter. This is now the vehicle being used to ascertain the UK's Royal Naval requirement for a UAS.
"We are now also looking into a heavier solution UAV which will have remarkable performances," stated Romiti. The OPV solution is an option that AgustaWestland is studying closely which also reads across into its developing strategy of creating a range of "dual use" platforms that have both civil and military value. Romiti revealed that the OPV option has been placed into the company's technology path for consideration in future developments. "We were looking at an application for the AW101 … the basic materials are already there in terms of the full autopilot; so it becomes a matter of datalinking." He said that the certain types of mission did exist where there were opportunities such as long and/or tiring surveillance flights and night flights for cargo. "That could be done by an OPV," he suggested. "In my opinion OPVs could be more effective on a large aircraft. And the combination of manned-unmanned [in one helicopter] could be more attractive than having two separate platforms."
The emergence of UAVs in the commercial marketplace is no threat to the helicopter markets for the time being, stated Roberto Garavaglia, senior vice president strategy and business development. He makes an important point: "Generally UAV developers have not been the traditional manned fixed wing manufacturers, such as General Atomics [Predator and Grey Eagle as examples]. We are watching those who specialize in automation." He added that once there is no need for a person onboard, then the size of the UAV is open for redefinition depending on the mission.
"Micro UAVs are very sophisticated pieces of engineering," he noted, but believes that the helicopter can find its place as the core around which any mission system is developed.
"We do not believe that rotary will take the core of unmanned operations. The use of energy is more efficient on a fixed-wing but there are many reasons why you need to hover," he said.
In a world of declining military markets, how does a company such as AgustaWestland respond? Self-financing the design and production of new aircraft is out of the question without government customer requirements and financial backing, so how do you "hedge your bets" that you will have something to offer when the call comes?
Romiti is putting his faith into dual-use platforms, in a way that the company has already demonstrated with the AW139M that is now is use with the Italian Air Force, the Irish Air Corps and Qatari Air Force. He says that AgustaWestland's civilian family of helicopters concept (AW139, AW169, AW189) can also be translated into the military. A walk around the Vergiate plant's various buildings shows a mix of AW139s, both civil and military, in assembly and completion. Although the pulse assembly line may have different helicopter models on the line, the production process is synchronized so that any modification is done on the pulse line at the appropriate point, such as an alternate undercarriage and mission system.
The idea of dual-use was started with the announcement of the AW149 at Farnborough Airshow in 2006. It is not just about expanding the family range of helicopters in both sectors, it also reaches into training and support and the savings to the military that such a policy can offer. There will be two variants of the AW149, one for battlefield utility and one for maritime use including an anti-submarine warfare capability. Romiti explained: "The maritime version will take dipping sonar and sonar buoy dispensers. Also the composite structure addresses corrosion issues. There can be folding blades and folding tail but we are not thinking about an automatic folding system as it becomes more complex and expensive. And we certainly don't want to enter into the garden of the NH-90; we want to stay at a price level to offer differentiating solutions. After all, you don't face an extreme environment every day."
But the basic tenet behind making a dual system real is starting early enough in the design principles to be effective in production and delivery, adds Romiti. The commonality that is inherent in the AgustaWestland family approach will be as attractive to military buyers as civil operators is the belief. It is about general architecture that can allow for specific components. "I cannot think of a new design without taking all the elements of this family concept. Unless a specific requirement will come – but I am not seeing any specific requirements at the moment."
A "clear example" of this is the SAR helicopters for the UK. "Starting from the basic design where optimizing the internal space was required, there is the option to accommodation different layouts and flexibility is a key of dual use." But from utility to medevac, there is a demonstrated need where military users want to be able to transform the aircraft quickly. "Whenever you need you take out seats and equip for another mission all of the interfaces need to already exist inside the helicopter."
Don't count AgustaWestland out of the U.S. Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. Romiti says that Bell Helicopter's involvement in the Joint Multi Role (JMR) technology demonstrator gave the company encouragement that they had "the right solution" with the AW609. "For us it was a big challenge to take a new approach in the vertical lift solution with tiltrotor technology," he admits, in spite of the joint program with Bell that began in September 1998. By the end of November 2011, AgustaWestland had acquired full ownership the program, previously known as the Bell/Agusta BA609.
"The AW609 that was bought from Bell is no longer the same aircraft. We have now incorporated our 'family elements' principles into the design, including avionics, and we will grow it with those principles," said Romiti.
The third prototype aircraft is still a certification aircraft but it has new systems architecture and incorporates all the improvements that the AW609 team has made over the two years working on the aircraft. The two initial prototypes were a combination of old technology mixed with elements of AgustaWestland's new designs. "We will see if we build a fourth, the design engineering teams are pushing me but I am resisting," said Romiti with a smile. There is still a requirement to conduct the de-icing tests and the suggestion is that a fourth aircraft maybe needed to do those in tandem with the main certification program being conducted by the third aircraft.
The AW609 team now numbers more than 100 personnel and is still growing. Clive Scott, AW609 program manager said that the testing program "would hit 1,000 flight hours this year" and had already passed over 900 hours at the start of February [at the beginning of February 2012 the total stood at around 650 registered since its first flight of March 2003].
According to Scott, the all-composite airframe is lighter, new systems such as Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics have been integrated and a 10 percent drag reduction has been achieved in a number of ways, including replacing the tail cone and replacing the exhaust which – through analysis – was found to create an exhaust plume drag. The team also added smaller measures such as "eyebrows" below the spinner cone to improve airflow over the blades. Scott says that a combination of wind tunnel testing with positive results from computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling pointed the way toward areas where improvements could be made.
In terms of the re-emergence of the AW609 in the FVL competition, Romiti would only reveal that, "we had a discussion with some friends as to why we are not taking part in this program." The reason being that AgustaWestland had too much "on its plate" at the time – "too many products along the development path so we could not add a new one." He admits that there could be partnering opportunities in the future, potentially as a logistics partner or even in terms of work-share if a tiltrotor design was ultimately successful.
But as a civil product the market currently does not yet perceive "all the benefits of the tiltrotor solution." Civil infrastructure needs to change, that much is already accepted, However, Romiti observes that with a footprint that is equivalent to a Sikorsky S-76, the AW609 can already be accommodated into existing air transport systems.
"We are having discussions with the authorities [in Italy] because the current rules of navigation and approach negatively affect the benefits of a tiltrotor. We do not want to queue into an ATC zone in the same way as an airplane. This is part of our discussion."
"The certification process has not been easy as we having to refer to fixed wing and helicopter requirements. The combination of the two has been very challenging," he admits.
Garavaglia said that for the last couple of years the company has not pushed for new orders (which stood at around 70 in 2012) until it is satisfied with a final set of specifications and a final configuration before proceeding. "We are working on the short takeoff/landing capability; why not work on having an extra 100 lbs on takeoff if it is possible?" This drive to explore all the parameters of the aircraft's envelope is evident when talking to anyone connected to the program.
Although certification is still around three years away in 2017, the momentum has been growing regarding the aircraft's future potential. "From this month we are going to start all the certification activities. It is no longer about testing the architecture – that is now fixed," said Romiti.
SW4 Solo UAS, or unmanned aircraft system. Photo courtesy AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is about to become more focused than ever on customer satisfaction. Over the next 12 months its Step Change Program will aim to improve not only its physical dealings with its customers, but is aimed at improve innovation, investing in technology and delivering better value for money.
From a new completions center with timed responses to solving customer's logistical needs, to lean engineering, a business excellence program that reaches across sales and more closely monitors the fluctuations of the market – all will be headed by senior vice presidents.
Romiti was eager to see this attention to customer needs addressed quickly and effectively: "I have personally fixed windows of timing during which a customer has to get the answer from the company. If we exceed this length the question moves up to his boss. This continues to happen if the time limit is reached."
Next Issue (April 2014): Think Customer continued; the AW139 effect; world markets reviewed; and the value of training with technology.


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Kepware Helps Customers Operate Communication Systems for Automation Applications
Source: ControlGlobal.com
Jan 23, 2013
Kepware's hands-on training program is designed to help customers set-up and operate communication systems for automation applications. Customers can schedule on-site customized classes at their facility with the Kepware training staff.
The classes will be offered at Kepware's Portland, Maine headquarters once a month. This 2-day course provides seating for up to 10 attendees. Kepware is also scheduling "on-the-road" training at special events throughout the United States, and internationally in regions such as Asia and Europe.
Kepware's training program address the specific challenges unique to users' automation environments. Courses can be customized based on the trainees' levels of expertise, location, application, and industry requirements. The labs and training material cover core concepts, such as OPC standards, client/server communication, and connecting to a PLC or device, as well as more advanced subjects such as communication optimization and diagnostics.
For more information and to register, please visit www.kepware.com/Products/services_training.asp.


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INDIANAPOLIS—Paul George scored 23 points and recorded his first playoff triple double, leading Indiana past Atlanta 107-90 for a 1-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference series.
George made just 3 of 13 shots but was 17 of 18 from the free-throw line, had 11 rebounds and 12 assists. George Hill added 18 points despite playing with a groin injury. It's the first time since 2006 that the Pacers have opened a playoff series with a win.
The best-of-seven series resumes Wednesday at Indy.
On Sunday, the Central Division champs played more like the team that was contending for the No. 2 seed rather than the one stumbling to five losses in its previous seven games.
Atlanta was led by Jeff Teague with 21 points and Josh Smith with 15.


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Ahhhh tangy tomatoes over pasta…this would be perfect if you're looking for an easy and tasty dish for Mother's Day! Also, notice the new Recipe Index tab, this is a new and easy way to find all the recipes here at The Kitchen Twist!
In the area of nutrient research, nothing has been hotter in the last several years than studies on the lycopene in tomatoes. This carotenoid found in tomatoes has been extensively studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties. Tomatoes help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen damage. Lycopene from tomatoes has been repeatedly studied in humans and found to be protective against a growing list of cancers. These cancers now include colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Scientists are finding out that it is the array of nutrients included in tomatoes, including, but not limited to lycopene, that confers it with so much health value.
Rosemary contains substances that are useful for stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving digestion. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks. In addition, rosemary has been shown to increase the blood flow to the head and brain, improving concentration. So, generously enhance the flavor of this pasta dish with rosemary, and know you're doing your body good.
1 lb. whole wheat fettuccine
8 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
12 sun-dried tomato halves, packed in oil
1/4 cup olive oil (from the sundried tomato jar if possible)
2 lbs. grape, or cherry tomatoes (3 pints)
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
1 t Himalayan sea salt*
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3/4 cup Chardonnay white wine (one mini bottle)
1 cup nutritional yeast
2 (14.5 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
2 T chopped rosemary
Garnish with additional chopped rosemary
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and the fettuccine cooking according to package directions. Meanwhile, roast a head of garlic and use 8 cloves in this recipe or alternately, toast the 8 whole, peeled, garlic cloves along with the pine nuts then combine with the sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil in a blendtec*blender. Whirl on whole juice setting to create a relatively smooth tomato pesto. Spread the grape or cherry tomatoes onto a foil lined baking sheet and broil in an oven 10 to 12 minutes until lightly smoked and skin appears to be browning. Sauté the chopped onion in a large large skillet set at medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, lemon juice, Himalayan sea salt, pepper and Chardonnay and simmer 5 minutes. Add the sun-dried tomato pesto to the onion mixture and combine. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and turn the temperature to low. Add the nutritional yeast and canned tomatoes. Cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes then add the rosemary. Serve the sauce over the fettuccine, garnish with additional chopped rosemary. Serves 8. ©Janice Moreland http://thekitchentwist.com


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There's been a lot of talk recently about the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, which went into effect last week. Since I haven't studied it, I don't know if it's a good thing or not, but I do know this.
One day last summer, I thought I'd do something different and make a nice, healthy salad. I was cutting a cucumber when I accidentally slit my left index finger, which began to bleed profusely. Being a card-carrying guy, of course, I didn't panic; I just sort of growled at it for a minute in my best John Wayne/Rooster Cogburn style.
When that didn't make the bleeding stop, I rinsed my finger in cold water, wrapped it in a gauze, then raised my arm above my head. (That's what nurses always tell me to do after I donate blood. They're the ones who went to school for this kind of thing, so I figured they must know what they're talking about.)
After a couple of minutes, when I got tired of holding my arm up, I wrapped my still bleeding finger as tightly as I could in a Band-Aid – a big one, not a skimpy job. It never occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, I should go to the hospital. Since nothing had fallen off yet, I didn't see any reason to bother anyone.
About an hour or so later, after mowing the yard and trimming the weeds, I noticed some red spots on my blue jeans. At first, I thought it was ketchup I must have spilled, but then it dawned on me I only use ketchup on cheeseburgers, which I don't eat anymore.
Then I noticed the Band-Aid around my left index finger, which was now numb because it was wrapped so tightly, was totally drenched in blood. That's when I decided that maybe, just maybe, I should seek some expert medical help. It still hadn't fallen off, but it was starting to feel like it didn't belong to me, which can never be a good sign.
I was in the emergency room of my local hospital about 90 minutes in all, most of it waiting for the doctor to see me. Besides getting my finger professionally rinsed off and numbed, I got two stitches. I also got to watch the doctor artfully tie up the stitches, which is actually interesting to watch if you've never seen it done.
I got my first bill two weeks later. What I hope will be the last one came two weeks ago. The whole ordeal, so far, has cost $687. Even with insurance, I have paid $254. All because I wanted to have a healthy lunch one day. (That should teach me.) I can't imagine what it would have set me back if I wanted something like a cheeseburger with fries or, better yet, cheese fries.
I know someone who was once flown by helicopter from Rochelle Community Hospital to a hospital in Rockford, a total of 30 miles, in a non-emergency situation, for $9,000. He was also charged $2,300 a month for special bandages to control bleeding in his legs. That didn't include the doctor's fee or a weekly home visit by a nurse, only the bandages. I'm sure everyone reading this knows something similar or even worse.
So, I don't know if Obamacare is going to be good or not, but I don't know how anyone can survive in today's world without some kind of health insurance.


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Janae Francis
(May not apply to other forms of depression)--Increased appetite with weight gain --Loss of interest in work or other activities --Less energy and ability to concentrate --Unhappiness and irritability --Increased sleep --Hopelessness --Sluggish movements --Social withdrawal Source: PubMed Health Every year at this time, Tina Kirkham looks at the calendar and starts to tense up. That's because she knows she's heading into her most difficult part of the season. "It seems like every year it hits worse," said the mother and nutrition assistant with Utah State University's Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program. Kirkham, 50, said she has suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder for a long time. SAD is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in a specific part of the year -- either the winter or summer, spring or autumn -- every year, according to Wikipedia. Medical sites state that the disorder is most common in the winter. "I have to use a special light lamp in the morning," said Kirkham, who listed a host of steps she takes to try to stay positive. Among them, Kirkham takes a prescription moodenhancing drug, writes in a mood journal, thinks positive thoughts, takes regular naps and eats well. "I know to exercise, but some days, I have no motivation. I have to make myself work, and helping others helps myself," she said. Kirkham knows she is not alone. Through her life experiences, she has met many who are just like her. "I think living in Utah and its high altitude makes it worse," she said, also commenting on Utah's bad air quality. "I also find that creative people suffer the most in my dealings with people I work with." Dianna Abel, a psychologist and director of the Counseling Service Center at Weber State University, said anxiety and depression are by far the largest two categories students who seek help fall into. "These truly do get worse during the winter," she said. Like Kirkham, Abel also pointed to limited exposure to light as a key source of people's mood swings. "People need to get out and get some sunlight," she said, recommending that those who suffer need to "make time" to make sure this happens. "They need to get up in the elevation," Abel said, recommending day trips to Park City. "If they can make some time, it will make a difference." The psychologist said people who notice seasonal depression can help themselves by paying particular attention to the healthy routines they already know are good for them. She named the same types of behaviors as Kirkham outlined, with the addition of staying away from excessive alcohol. Abel said one mistake people make is not making time for fun and friends. Listing ways people can elevate their moods -- things like taking a bubble bath, watching a favorite movie and doing something active like skiing -- Abel said remembering to hang out with friends is also important. Another suggestion Abel makes is to redirect negative thoughts. She said one thing people do is put a rubber band on their wrist. When they catch themselves having negative thoughts, they flick the rubber band as a way to remind themselves to stop. Abel also said new research surrounds the role of gratitude in changing people's morale. "People should take some time at regular intervals to journal those kinds of things," she said about gratitude lists. "If you can bring those things into focus, that would help." Andrea Widdison, of Hooper, said she has watched as her husband has learned to cope with his "winter blues." "He works in a building with no windows or natural light, and he starts work before sunrise. He often stays late and arrives home shortly before dark," she said. "It used to affect him a lot more when he brought his lunch to work and stayed indoors all day. However, he's found that, if he just goes out for lunch every day and gets some natural light, it's considerably better." But Widdison said all that eating out sometimes can lead to another problem -- winter waistline. ___ (c)2013 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at www.standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services


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Olympic silver medallist Stuart Bithell has announced he will team up with Chris Grube in an effort to achieve gold at Rio 2016.
Bithell, who took silver alongside Luke Patience at the London Games, as well as claiming two silvers in the World Championships, will switch from 470 class to the 49er class with Grube also making the transition.
Grube, 27, missed out on qualification for the 2012 Olympics to the team of Bithell and Patience, but the one-time rivals will now be team-mates in the run-up to Brazil.
It is an experience Bithell is relishing.
"It's a very exciting new challenge for us both," he said.
"For me it's a change of boat and a change of position on the boat from crew to helm, so there's lots to learn.
"But we've been having a great time so far and I think we have so much potential as a team.
"Chris is a great crew and I know that he fully shares my dreams of gold in Rio, so we'll both be putting in the hard yards to try and make that happen."


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Following an awful scandal in which a bunch of Secret Service agents were busted for drinking and partying with hookers in Columbia, the President is moving towards a "culture change" by appointing the first woman ever to run his security detail.
The Washington Post's Scott Wilson reports Obama will name Julia Pierson, 55 and a 30-year Secret Service veteran, the new director of the agency later this afternoon. Officials told Wilson it was an effort to bring a "culture change" to the notorious boys club reputation the Secret Service has earned over the years.


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So I started again. I used Color Scheme designer to help me clarify the colour scheme I wanted to use - especially as I am still hoping to make this one entirely from stash.
I was still a little dubious at this point but then I added the 60 degree triangle border and I was sold on the colour scheme.
I've added border 3 and next up are the flying geese.
I am hoping to get these cut out tonight or tomorrow as my sewing 'cave' will be converted to a bedroom for guests next weekend so I'd like to have it sewn on this week. We'll see though - they are a funny size!


text:
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Sunday, January 15, 2012
You Make Me Quiver...Release Day Blog Hop at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!
(If you are looking for the Tiffany Doodles Blog Hop, please click HERE!)
Good morning and welcome to release day at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! All the fabulous new stamps you've seen over the last several days of previews are now available for purchase! To celebrate, we are having a blog hop today featuring all the new stamps. As always, Kimmie will be giving away some packages of some of the new stamps to a couple of lucky stampers, so make sure to leave comments at every blog on the hop.
Make sure to start the hop over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog to ensure that you visit all the blogs on the hop. If you've been tracking along, you should have arrived here after visiting Peggy Marsh's lovely blog. :)
For my card today, I used one of Annie's new Greek Goddesses. This is Artemis...isn't she fantastic?! She also reminds me of Katniss from the Hunger Games...I love that series of books, and am really looking forward to the movie! The "You Make Me Quiver" sentiment comes with Artemis. The black border was cut with a Memory Box Die. The papers are from Authentique "Blissful". Artemis was cut out and matted with Spellbinders Labels 18.
Artemis was stamped on Neenah and coloured with Copics.
After you finish the hop, make sure to stop by the Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Online Store where you will be able to purchase all the new January stamps!! As always, Kimmie will have the Gimmie Kimmie Kits available for a limited time.
It's now my pleasure to send you off to visit with Elaine Hughes who I know has something stunning to share with you! (and don't forget to leave comments along the way for your chance to win some of the new stamps!)
Happy hopping!!
44 comments:
- Lori said...
Oh WOW, Melanie! Your coloring is AMAZING! This card is gorgeous!
- January 15, 2012 at 1:30 AM
- Chrizette said...
Oh wow, I love these Greek Goddess images and you coloured her beautifully. The card came out awesome!
Celestial Things
- January 15, 2012 at 4:46 AM
- Grace said...
This is SUPER!!
thanks for sharing!
- January 15, 2012 at 6:17 AM
- Heike said...
Wow, your card is wonderful. All the new images are soooo sweet.
- January 15, 2012 at 7:12 AM
- Mary-Anne V said...
Love the grey with yellow combo...Thanks for the chance to win!
- January 15, 2012 at 8:42 AM
- Nana Diana said...
Melanie, this is just stunning!! What is there to say any more without repeating myself? Fabulous as always!!
- January 15, 2012 at 9:04 AM
- zehra said...
Wow, what a gorgeous card, love the colors and coloring
- January 15, 2012 at 9:10 AM
- Cindi F said...
This is stunning! I love that border and your coloring is amazing as always.
- January 15, 2012 at 10:09 AM
- mackbrad said...
Your style is so amazing! I love seeing all your projects!
- January 15, 2012 at 10:43 AM
- Kimberly said...
love your shadowing... the nose even looks like it is popping out of the paper
- January 15, 2012 at 10:50 AM
- Larisa Hohman said...
So beautiful as always! Love your work!
- January 15, 2012 at 10:57 AM
- Angela said...
Stunning card I love the colors.
- January 15, 2012 at 11:01 AM
I LOVE her. Your coloring is absolutely beautiful!
- January 15, 2012 at 12:14 PM
- Marilyn said...
Absolutely stunning card as always!! You really bring these images to life!
- January 15, 2012 at 12:42 PM
- Dawn Louise said...
Stunning and so well put together, love the stamp too x
- January 15, 2012 at 1:03 PM
- jan farnworth said...
wow love the color and that image just pops
- January 15, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Gorgeous card!!
- January 15, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Great coloring job, her knees almost look like a photo. Thanks for sharing.
- January 15, 2012 at 3:19 PM
- Hanneke said...
Great card! Love that stamp and colors! I am going to hop along now on this fun hop. Hugs, Hanneke
- January 15, 2012 at 3:35 PM
- JaniceA said...
Great card love the back ground paper you choose.
modjjjash at yahoo dot com
- January 15, 2012 at 3:44 PM
- Trisha said...
Amazing detail and layering. Love your card.
- January 15, 2012 at 4:56 PM
- Evelyn vasquez said...
Love the colors you picked, in particular the dress
- January 15, 2012 at 5:14 PM
- Jenny said...
Gorgeous Melanie:):)
- January 15, 2012 at 5:19 PM
- Melissa said...
you are one extremely talented stamper! I just love your work!
- January 15, 2012 at 6:01 PM
- Alaine said...
I love howyou colored her up. Gorgeous.
- January 15, 2012 at 6:53 PM
- Country Mouse said...
Love your color combo and sentiment!!! Great card!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
- January 15, 2012 at 7:17 PM
- Annheidel said...
Love your card, especially the colors!
- January 15, 2012 at 7:48 PM
- Carole B said...
Adorable card.
- January 15, 2012 at 8:04 PM
- Amanda R said...
Stunning Melanie and I love the papers you used, not your traditional red and pink.
- January 15, 2012 at 8:36 PM
- Rosa Witten said...
Beautiful! Love the colors and design.
- January 15, 2012 at 8:48 PM
- Ellen said...
What adorable cards Melanie! You are very talented with your coloring!
- January 15, 2012 at 9:28 PM
- wahixane77 said...
Your coloring is fantastic. Love your card. Olivia
- January 15, 2012 at 10:22 PM
- Lillian said...
Cute card !
- January 15, 2012 at 11:04 PM
- Stephenie said...
Gorgeous coloring!! and shading!!
- January 15, 2012 at 11:11 PM
- Neesey said...
Your card is adorable. I love the layers and all the texture. TFS
- January 16, 2012 at 12:04 AM
- FrancineB said...
Oh, wow!!! What a fantastic card! Love your mad coloring skills.
Okay, I NEED this stamp. Love the Goddess theme.
- January 16, 2012 at 12:22 AM
- Shari said...
yeah I finally am able to leave you a comment so I want to say ALL 4 days of your cards were amazing!!!! I LOVE your colouring and am always so impressed when I open your blog. Hopping to be able to pop by Guelph next weekend if I get off work in time to see you.
- January 16, 2012 at 7:43 AM
- Margaret said...
Love your coloring and layout and papers. Beautiful card.
- January 16, 2012 at 10:12 AM
- Sharon Caudle said...
You, my dear, are utterly amazing and so wickedly talented!!! I could sit here and stare at your coloring for hours! Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration to all of us! Your works of art are truly appreciated.
hugs, Sharon
- January 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM
- Lisa said...
Amazing as always Melanie. You are my inspiration to learn to use my Copics better!!!
- January 16, 2012 at 12:55 PM
- Sandra said...
I would like to tell you Melanie that your blog is one that I really look forward to seeing when I am hopping around...this card is so beautiful and I really like the colour combos you have chose.
- January 16, 2012 at 6:19 PM
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text:
Installing and configuring an Actiontec R1408 wired home network
Creating an Actiontec wired home network with a Fios connection requires five major steps:
Step 1: Verifying your Actiontec router installation
Before you begin creating a home network, confirm that your Actiontec router is functioning properly. The easiest way to do this is to verify you can connect to the Internet.
Step 2: Preparations for creating an Actiontec wired home network
Before you begin setting up your home network, be sure that you have completed each item on the checklist below.
Review the Wired Home Networking system requirements.
Verify that you have a Network Interface Card (NIC) for each computer you are adding to your home network.
Confirm that you have the required hardware and accessories:
Step 3: Configuring Windows for your Actiontec wired home network
Before you can connect a computer to your home network, you must configure Windows to automatically obtain an IP address for the Actiontec router.
The instructions and illustrations below use Windows XP. Although you can set up a network in Windows 98 SE, Me and 2000, you will find it significantly easier if the computer connected to the router or gateway is running Windows XP. Windows XP was designed with features and installation wizards specifically for networking.
To configure your NIC connection in Windows XP:
Step 4: Connecting other computers to your Actiontec wired home network
Connecting additional computers to your Actiontec wired home network requires four steps:
Step 5: Testing the Internet connections
The final step is to test your Internet connection. This ensures that all the connections are secure, and the hardware configurations are working properly.
What's Next?
Looking for Residential?
Looking for Wireless?


text:
New Car Review
2013 Honda Accord: Unfamiliar Territory
I have a confession. Before last week, I had never been behind the wheel of a Honda Accord. Crazy, right? The other staffers here at AutoTrader thought so, too. "Seriously? You've never driven an Accord? Like, ever?" said one of them. I know it's hard to believe, considering the popularity of this mainstream sedan, but unlike some kids I grew up with, I didn't get one when I turned 16. Nevertheless, I've always heard great things about the car, so I was excited to drive a 2013 Honda Accord for a few days.
So That's What All the Fuss Is About
OK, I get it. The Accord just feels nice. It offers a smooth ride and decent power for a 4-cylinder engine. The interior definitely feels upscale -- not exactly luxury-car territory, but the leather seats and trim look more expensive than our Accord's $30,000 price tag would suggest. (Note: Our long-term Accord is $30,000 because it has leather and navigation. You can definitely opt out of these features and still get a great car.)
Both front and back seats are spacious and supportive. My daughter's car seat fits perfectly in back (forward-facing now -- yay!), and her little feet that love to kick aren't anywhere near the front passenger's seat back.
Getting Tech-y
As far as technology goes, my iPhone initially paired seamlessly to the Honda, though I have to re-sync it each time I get in the car or wait around five minutes for the Bluetooth to autonomously recognize my phone. That's annoying when I compare this to our long-term 2014 Mazda CX-5, which automatically syncs up as soon as you turn on the engine.
Our entire office agrees the navigation system leaves much to be desired, but we're all obsessed with the Accord's LaneWatch system (I am a much better driver with this feature).
I tend to hold the steering wheel with my left hand around the 7 o'clock mark, which is the exact location of the HondaLink infotainment system's voice-activation button. At least once per car ride, I accidentally press this button and interrupt a phone call or a song. Pretty sure this is just user error, but it's frustrating nonetheless.
Despite a few negatives, I am impressed by the 2013 Honda Accord. I can see why it has been such a popular choice among drivers for decades. It really does offer something for everyone.


text:
Use mouse scroll wheel over image or pinch-to-zoom on touch devices. You can also click and drag around on image.
Tank prep
Parked toBullitt CB
byThe Bullitt
Hand hammered knee dents into the Bullitt CB tank
Vehicle Info: 1973 Honda CB350G
KeywordsSign up to add your own keywords
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text: Mary Ann Shillner <email@example.com> asked [4/5] about Bible software. I am using Bible Windows, which is now up to v.2.2.2 It now supports the Louw-Nida NT lexicon based on semantic domains which comes as an optional extra. It comes with a hypertext package from Folio Views, which allows you to add your own notes and bookmarks. Also, you can now search for prepositional prefixes in the LXX, and there is Psalm number harmonizing, so that the LXX can be locked and scrolled with either the BHS or an English translation. On this latter point: the RSV includes the Apocrypha, but the NRSV with which v.2.2.2 works does not -- a pity. The search facilites were always good, but have they have greatly increased. Putting the cursor on a grammatical form occuring in the text, and initiating a "Search Word at Cursor" saves a *lot* of time. What I particularly like is the way the upgrade now handles the *results* of searches. One mouse click puts all the full verses resulting from your search into your clipboard, thence to your WP. My WP is AmiPro and the DDE in Bible Windows works extremely well ( it's got macros for other WPs too). Type a chapter and verse reference, hit a couple of keys and you can have the verse in English, Greek, Hebrew, Latin in RTF in your WP right away. You can contact the author of Bible Windows, John Baima email@example.com -Maurice [Bray, Ireland] 05-Apr-94 at 20:45:32 IST


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
If the reaction of Canadian Employment Minister Jason Kenney is anything to go by, the negative reaction of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to Scarlett Johansson's signing to represent Israeli soda-maker SodaStream is likely to actually boost sales for the company.
A major mover in the BDS movement is international aid organization Oxfam, for which Johansson was an active ambassador. However, the actress terminated her relationship with Oxfam over its own criticism of the her deal with SodaStream, prompting Kenney to posted to Twitter that he is keen to start buying SodaStream's products.
In an interview on Canada's Sun News, Kenney acknowledged that he used to be a supporter of Oxfam, but no more.
"I've given money to Oxfam in the past because I thought they were there to help poor people, not to marginalize Israelis and make Palestinians unemployed," the minister told his host, adding that he is now "dropping Oxfam and becoming a customer of SodaStream, thanks to all the nutters at Oxfam who are marginalizing Palestinians."
It has been widely pointed out that Israeli companies like SodaStream provide thousands of Palestinians with good paying jobs that they would be unable to find otherwise, thanks to the Palestinian Authority's gross mismanagement of billions of dollars in financial aid over the past decade.
Johansson herself even pointed out that fact when she suggested Oxfam's misguided criticism would only serve to put hundreds of Palestinian employees of SodaStream out of work.
In his post to Twitter, Kenney, who visited Israel last month with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, tagged his remark with the term "buycott," which is used by those working to reverse the anti-Israel boycotts by convincing people to buy Israeli-made products.
Israel Today is pleased to host a "buycott" page of our own, featuring a video interview with several Palestinian employees of SodaStream, and plenty of Israeli-made products for your consideration. CHECK IT OUT NOW >>
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: email@example.com
Israel Today
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text:
So, will Sarah Palin really try to run for president in 2012? Did she learn anything from the last time she ran for national office? Let's find out with some help from The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me".
Don't Hand Those Clothes To Me
Original music and lyrics, Sting, 1981
Additional lyrics by Wayne A. Schneider 2009
Young gov'nor, the subject
Of blogger fantasy
She wants this so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside her there's nothing
This girl's a prop on stage
Veep-picking, she's so close now
This girl is half his age
Don't hand, Continue reading


text:
Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez crowned as 63rd Miss USA
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Newly crowned Miss USA Nia Sanchez is a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo and says women should be able to defend themselves as a way to battle the problem of campus rape.
The 24-year-old from Las Vegas says bringing awareness to the issue is very important.
Sanchez beat out 50 other contestants from all the states and the District of Columbia on Sunday night for the title of 63rd Miss USA. First runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari.
Sanchez will go on to represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe competition later this year.
Sanchez also said she was "so proud to bring the title of Miss USA back to Nevada."


text: I just had my second article published on June 14, 2010 at SQLServerCentral. I will be posting a follow-up to that article in the near future. The follow-up is related to the discussion in the thread for the article. The article is titled: What, Where, When, How, Who2. The discussion on it can be found here. In the discussion there is a note about an error that some people are seeing. There is also a note about a different proc (who is active) written by Adam Machanic (Blog | Twitter). In the follow-up I will be looking at the error in specific and comparing what Adam has done to resolve it (since it works in his) – with full attribution .


text:
ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) Garrick Jones rushed for two late touchdowns to rally Mississippi Valley State past Prairie View A&M 22-20 Saturday.
The Delta Devils (4-6, 4-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) trailed 20-10 entering the fourth quarter before Jones took over.
His 1-yard touchdown run with 7:06 remaining cut the Panthers' lead to 20-16.
After MVSU forced Prairie View A&M to punt with under two minutes left, Jones finished a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 10-yard run with 14 seconds remaining for the winning score
Prairie View A&M (3-7, 3-5) scored first when Rickey Simpson returned Jones' fumble 60 yards for a touchdown.
After the teams exchanged field goals, Jones threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Julian Stafford for a 10-10 tie.
Jones, who carried 18 times for 82 yards, completed 18 of 28 passes for 221 yards with an interception.
Spencer Nelson's 7-yard touchdown run put Prairie View A&M ahead at halftime 17-10.


text:
World's Leading Seismology Lending Library Builds New Test Vault, July 14, 2008
by Thomas Guengerich
SOCORRO, N.M., July 14, 2008 – The world's leading seismology research support center is constructing an innovative instrument test facility at New Mexico Tech.
Photos by Shane Ingate of the facility under construction.
The university in Socorro is home to the national seismology instrument center, with more than $20 million of top-of-the-line "broadband" seismic sensors and another $50 million of other seismic equipment, all funded by the National Science Foundation. The state-supported research university now is developing new capabilities for testing, calibrating and maintaining those instruments.
Since 1998, the Socorro research university has been home to the Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere, commonly known as PASSCAL, which conducts over 50 national and global research projects each year and operates a lending library of nearly 8,500 research seismographs. PASSCAL is a division of the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology [IRIS], which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
"We are the international standard for portable seismic research instruments," said Dr. Rick Aster, the principal investigator for IRIS/PASSCAL at New Mexico Tech and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. "Other nations, like China, are trying to catch up, but we manage, by far, the world's largest pool of this type of state-of-the-art research instrument."
"In any year, these instruments might be deployed to South America or Antarctica or anywhere else where there is interesting science to be done," he said. "Once they come back to Socorro, the PASSCAL staff has to turn them around and redeploy them in new experiments. To do this, we need to expand our low-vibration facilities to help us retest instruments as they come out of the field."
Right: Dr. Shane Ingate, staff scientist and chief of instrumentation at IRIS-PASSCAL, explains the methodology used in the test vault.
Dr. Shane Ingate and university staff architect Dan Jones designed an innovative small building specifically to test the center's 1,200 state-of-the-art broadband seismic sensors. The new building will be insulated from cultural noises like vehicles, human footsteps and – thanks to its complete dependence on solar power – even from the hum of standard electrical devices.
"These broadband sensors are so sensitive that they can detect cold air falling from an air conditioning system," Ingate said. "The cold air is like a waterfall onto the pier. That gentle patter of cold air is masking the background seismic noise that we're trying to detect while testing and calibrating these seismometers."
Ingate designed a building that is well-coupled to the ground so seismometers can record natural Earth movements and that will maintain a stable internal temperature.
To achieve that, Ingate designed an innovative test room – or vault – that is separate from the main building. He and Jones devised a construction that includes two 10-foot deep concrete piers inside a non-magnetic room with 2-foot thick pumice-crete walls. Pumice-crete is a lightweight rock material that provides a high thermal insulation value, and is mined in the nearby Jemez Mountains. Atop each concrete pier is a 6,500-pound slab of granite, which will serve as the surface for testing the instruments.
Left: Two broad-band seismometers sit on the test pad at IRIS-PASSCAL. The granite slab was recently added to provide a 'quieter' environment in which to test the seismometers.
The 10-foot deep concrete piers are designed to couple the granite slabs to the ground, so that the granite moves exactly the same as the Earth. The piers weigh over 60 tons.
"Most of our sensors can be tested on a concrete floor in the warehouse," Ingate said. "But these broadband sensors are the Cadillacs of seismometers. They need to be tested in a specialized vault."
The PASSCAL facility in Socorro serves as an international lending library, providing the seismological community with state-of-the-art, portable seismic instruments through support from the National Science Foundation.
"IRIS has really democratized seismology," Aster said. "Now every university doesn't have to put together its own lab. The instruments are available on loan and all the data is ultimately available to all researchers through the internet."
Seismologists and other geo-scientists use PASSCAL's instruments for a wide variety of Earth science research – from the esoteric disciplines, like mapping the Earth's core, to the societally important studies such as studying hazardous earthquake zones and listening for signs of nuclear bomb tests or other human-caused signals.
In past years, the PASSCAL instrument center would sometimes have to allow sensors to go from one experiment to another without returning to Tech. As the failure rate increased, IRIS PASSCAL program manager Dr. Jim Fowler set a policy that all sensors must be tested every two years.
The broadband systems, which cost about $26,000 each, are returned to Socorro for testing after every deployment.
"No researcher wants a dead or poorly performing instrument," Ingate said.
The IRIS-PASSCAL center at New Mexico Tech opened in September 1998, as a result of a competitive bidding process. The National Science Foundation previously had supported two instrument centers – one at Stanford University in California and one at Columbia University in New York. The federally-funded Foundation decided to combine the two centers and solicited bids. In the process David beat two Goliaths.
"That was huge for New Mexico Tech," said Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Dr. Van Romero. "Winning that bid was a huge coup. This is a real jewel and it's been extremely successful."
The facility now has 35 full-time employees and more than 20,000 square feet under roof.
New Mexico Tech is a small university that thinks globally. The university is partners with the University of Cambridge in the $75 million Magdalena Ridge Observatory. The university operates an international graduate program for law enforcement officials. University professors, researchers and students are at the vanguard of science and technology in every department.
"Our goal at New Mexico Tech is to provide the infrastructure that allows our faculty and researchers to compete on a national and global basis," Romero said. "IRIS/PASSCAL exemplifies that strategy."
Founded in 1984, IRIS is a consortium, with more than 100 U.S. university members, and promotes the collection and use of seismic data with the caveat that all data collected enters the public domain.
"Seismology is a global science – where all the data ends up in a central repository in a common format," Ingate said. "And it's available to anyone with a computer."
Aster has found that data gathered by one researcher often is later interpreted by another researcher to deduce a complete new set of results.
"It's increasingly common that people retrieve data and do completely new studies from what the original researcher intended," Aster said.
As one example, after the devastating Sumatra earthquake of December 2004, Aster used PASSCAL data to map the seismic waves that circled the globe, which helped scientists around the world understand the dynamics of that devastating earthquake.
"Seismology is a young science," Aster said. "We're still doing very basic science and exploration, and we are really just starting to understand the detailed inner workings of our planet."


text:
Monty Python Killer Rabbit Plush
Death with Big Pointy Teeth
- The most feared rabbit ever
- The real deal, down to the pointy (plush) teeth
- Do not sue us if the rabbits kill you; it's not OUR fault, you were warned
Oh it's just a harmless little bunny, isn't it? How could a cute thing like that bite anyone's head off? Well, be warned – and be afraid. Straight from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail comes this furry harbinger of doom. Cute, furry, soft, and completely deadly. Look at those teeth – they weren't made for vegetables. No, this rabbit has an appetite for only one thing: human flesh!
This is a plush life-sized version of that famed beast of destruction. It looks like a cute little bunny, but pull open its mouth to reveal its hideously deformed teeth. Unless you happen to have a Holy Hand Grenade in your arsenal, there is only one thing left for you to do: Run Away! Run Away!
Dimensions: Approx 9" long and 5.5" tall (ears down)


text:
Internet providers Bonner-West Riverside MT – Broadband Satellite Internet Services
The internet has become a household necessity. The changing world in Bonner-West Riverside MT requires internet providers to offer faster and faster internet download and upload speeds. Gone are the days of dial-up service. Bonner-West Riverside MT internet providers must meet the demands of consumers. Streaming HD content is becoming more and more common in Bonner-West Riverside. Video requires the download of massive amounts of data. Wide screen HD TVs are one of the reasons internet providers in Bonner-West Riverside Montana are scrambling to boost speeds.
Internet providers Bonner-West Riverside Montana
- Cable Internet Providers
- DSL Internet Access
- Satellite Internet Services
- Call for Bonner-West Riverside MT internet service availability
Bonner-West Riverside Montana Cable Broadband & DSL broadband internet providers
There are 3 types of broadband Bonner-West Riverside internet providers. Typically satellite internet providers have been limited in their speeds. Satellite based broadband with speeds from 1-3Mbp has been typical (New technology has increased this to a top speed of triple that). Satellite is now offering blazing fast internet in Bonner-West Riverside of up to12mbps. The internet providers have evolved to keep up with the bandwidth demands from their Bonner-West Riverside MT internet customers.
The main advantage of a satellite provider is the access it affords homeowners in areas where DSL or cable broadband is not available. There is a vast area in rural America that depends on satellite for their internet needs. The new technology that is just being offered will enable these rural MT homes to enjoy the speeds previously limited to city dwelling DSL and Cable Broadband subscribers. As technology marches on, who knows, maybe there will be a internet satellite on homes in denser populated areas similar to the satellite TV expansion we have seen in the last 10 years.
DSL Internet Providers in Bonner-West Riverside MT
Bonner-West Riverside MT phone based DSL broadband is typically the least expensive of all the broadband internet providers. Speeds range from 1.5Mbps to 6Mbps depending on the distance from the ISP. The price is right, however DSL has a somewhat limited service area. DSL broadband has to be within an 18,000ft radius of the internet service providers central office. Call for Bonner-West Riverside MT DSL internet availability.
Many people are confused as to exactly what DSL is. DSL is delivered to your home via the good old telephone wire. Yes, the wires running around the neighborhood. These same wires that have been used primarily for phone service. Pretty amazing how the internet providers new technology allows a small copper wires bandwidth to be split between phone service and DSL high speed internet. Probably much to many peoples surprise, only a fraction of the bandwidth is actually used for the telephone. This leaves you're your local phone provider with a huge opportunity to provide you with high speed internet.
DSL is an affordable answer for many home owners who are looking for an internet connection to their home. One draw back to DSL service is that it does require a telephone line service provider. In other words to Have DSL you need a Land-line Phone provider. But don't despair, the phone service internet providers realize many people today only have cell phones and do not need a landline service too. So within the last couple of years the internet providers have begun offering DSL without landline Phone service. The DSL internet providers call this a DRY LOOP. At first this option was a little pricey but as the competition among the Bonner-West Riverside internet service providers has heated up recently, the prices have dropped. DSL can be a pretty neat alternative to Cable, as the price for internet service can be a little cheaper. If you do not have cable service at your home or use the internet where speeds of 1.5-6mbps are sufficient, then you can save a couple bucks and the internet service will be just fine.
Internet Providers in Bonner-West Riverside by Cable
Bonner-West Riverside cable internet service providers are in the middle as far as price range. Cable internet providers supply a vast part of our country with broadband internet. Cable usually is supplied to your home on a coaxial RG6 cable line from a nearby telephone pole. The readily available access to this form of broadband delivery gives your Bonner-West Riverside cable company a huge advantage in the cable service provider's world.
Bonner-West Riverside MT Internet Providers Speeds
Cable also boasts speeds as fast as 105 mbps. Although a bit pricey at these speeds, this wins cable, the holy cow that's really fast award. Typical Montana cable internet providers speeds subscribed to by the average homeowner are in the 6-20mbps. This is a great and affordable option for Bonner-West Riverside MT Internet to enjoy uploading and downloading large files and streaming a video with little or no buffering. Cable broadband internet providers have filled a new nitch in the market of MT. HD video streaming. A couple of years ago no one could have imagined the advances we have seen. What wonders will the cable internet providers achieve in the next couple of years. The internet and the data delivered to your home in Bonner-West Riverside by your cable internet providers is truly amazing.
Order Internet service in Bonner-West Riverside MT by providers you can trust
What a world we live in today. Sounds like something out of a SIFI book. Bonner-West Riverside is streaming video to their HD LCD TVs with 5.1 surround. You've arrived home and video conferenced with some clients in Hong Kong. Grabbed a cold beverage and downloaded a couple of HD movies to watch later. Your buddy calls your Bonner-West Riverside home, and you answer on your VOIP sip phone. The wife is surfing the web to shop for a new laptop. Your smartphone rings and your off to the golf course. Perfect time to pull up that new GPS golf app on your smartphone. The internet and technology sure have changed things in a very short time. One thing you can count on, your internet providers in Bonner-West Riverside Montana will be evolving with us.
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