text:
This MOTHER EARTH NEW reader survey shows the top 10 best places to homestead in North America. (See the North America homesteading maps in the image gallery.)
The Top 10 Best Places to Live in North America
"Go West (or Midwest), folks" pretty well sums up the findings of MOTHER'S first-ever Community Survey — with apologies to 19th c. newspaper editor Horace Greeley and his admonition to adventurous and ambitious youth of his day. We stopped counting the responses just before press time, and, as always occurs when we ask you for your opinion, got significantly more than we asked for. Hundreds of you not only commented upon your individual communities, but also upon the state of the nation, the quality of our air, water and soil, and the content of our character. But first things first.
The greatest percentage of respondents who are big fans of their communities are centered in:
1. Wisconsin, Oregon, or Washington State, or ... 2. In select communities or areas in a broad band running up the middle of the continent from Oklahoma through Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota and into the eastern prairie provinces, and/or ... 3. In settlements of like-minded souls far from good-job markets, and where public services (schools, police) are few or less-than-adequate by city standards, or ... 4. Outside a small city or on the fringes of a country town.
Best of the Best Places to Live in North America
Nearly all of the top-rated areas are quiet enclaves where geographic and social amenities have naturally attracted a gathering of people for whom sharing seems more important than conspicuous consumption ... often in locations where life can be a struggle with nature. None are places you'll find in conventional magazine or TV lists of "The Best Places to Live."
Following is our readers' choice of the ten best. They are listed in no particular order. Each is unique and approaches perfection in its own way.
Oregon and Washington — the whole of both states — earn a top rating. Most readers live in small towns a short ways off I-5 that parallels the coast some 60 miles inland, connecting major cities from Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland and the California coastline. Some folks mention the rain ... lots of rain. But Margo Fukuji doesn't even notice it. She moved from California to Veneta (Lane County, Oregon, ten miles west of Eugene) and finds "fresh air, moderate climate, great for outdoor activities, a safe place to raise a family, super friendly people [and only] 4.9 percent unemployment." 'Nuff said!
Washington and Oregon are also America's most environmentally-aware (and active) states.
The Kickapoo River Valley in west-central Wisconsin is another enclave of country-cooperation. A reader with the lyrical name of Ayla Heartsong writes."This is the most satisfying place on Earth, anywhere . .. a land of broad, big-sky ridges and tight, cozy valleys," where she has lived "the most self-sufficient life (so far)." There's been a "gentle meshing of century-old family farmers and back-to-the-landers" ... and ..."shopping malls are far away, but major cities still reachable."
Northeast Indiana/Ohio farm country surrounding Ft. Wayne and stretching into the northwest corner of Ohio, between Defiance and Lima, offers everything a country-living dreamer would want — if you like your land fiat to gently rolling, supremely fertile and well-watered by slow, wide rivers with names like Flatrock and Maumee, where you'll see kids fishing and swimming just like in Norman Rockwell paintings from the 1940s. For what its worth, Lima (pronounced with a hard "i" like the butter-bean, not "Leema" like the Peruvian city) was cited in a recent national real estate survey as having the cheapest hi-quality homes in the nation. This is the real Middle America: church-going, square-dancing, hog-raising country where folks don't lock the farmhouse door or feel they need to count their change at the feed store.
The maritime provinces of east coast Canada have a climate moderated by the ocean, so are not as cold and snowy as it is inland far to the south and west. The mile on mile of rocky coastline is notched with coves and little fishing villages that harbor sturdy but inexpensive homes, sturdy but friendly Scots-descended people, no crime or pollution, and all the codfish chowder, lobster, and home-grown vegetables you can eat. The "Novi" lobster boat, with its high-peaked bow and tucked stern is the most nimble of deep-sea hull designs ... and is still built of wood. The Maritimes are much like Maine was a half-century ago. Ms. Bonnie L. Scott's husband (they are readers from Norfolk, Va.) tells her not to mention their prospective retirement haven in Queens County, Nova Scotia, where they are "largely self-sufficient in food, housing, auto repair, and entertainment ... or else everyone will want to move here."
From Pulaski County, Ky. southwest to Monroe County, W. Va., along the spine of the Appalachians, you'll encounter communities of farming and light industry plus mountainous, tourist areas that have avoided the mining, logging, and rural poverty that plague some other areas of the Bluegrass and Mountain States. David Pike reports that his town of Somerset (Pulaski County, Ky.) "... [has] a nice balance of industry and tourism, [producing] ... a 5 percent unemployment rate. Lake Cumberland is a major destination for travelers: the soil is dark with just enough clay (great for organic gardens), schools rank among the top ten in Kentucky, it has a fantastic medical community, housing is abundant and reasonable and a new, medium-sized home costs $84,500." (When the national average new home of any size costs just under $110,000, we might add.) The only negative is the heat and humidity in July and August. Well, jump in the lake!
At the other end of the ridge, John Chernauskas of Troy (Monroe County, W Va.) points out that his and surrounding communities have stressed education and environmental protection, and — though at the cost of short-term job-growth — have resisted the inroads of such major industries as forest-product giants that strip the forests and pollute the water.
The aptly-named towns of Mountain Home (pop., approx. 9,000) and Mountain View (pop., approx. 2,000) bracket the Buffalo National River preserve and Ozark National Forest in northern Arkansas and are the center of a little-known paradise for Mother-Earth types. As Mountain View's Sandra Sutton says. "Our area rings with ... mountain music and people really enjoying the simple life .... You can't leave without wanting to come back [to] the natural beauty and friendly people."
Colorado, with a few reservations. There may be no more beautiful expanse of land in the nation than the one which is divided by the Rockies, but you won't be elated in the increasingly crowded, often smog-plagued (if economically booming) strip of cities running up the middle of Colorado along the foot of the mountains. The plains to the east also received mixed reviews among MOTHER readers. But another of our "Ten Best" locations is found in the mountains at the southwest corner of the state where the continental divide meanders through Saguache, Hinsdale, and Mineral counties and the San Juan and Los Caritas mountain ranges. Hidden away among the Gunniston, San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests is a scattering of hamlets where pass-closing winter snows demand a high degree of self-reliance and interdependence unknown in a city or flatland town. Our own favorite is the town of Creede in Mineral County, located up-grade beyond South Fork on Rt. 149. Bob Ford — "the dirty little coward who shot Mister Howard" ( Jesse James' false name) as it goes in the song — fled to the mountains after an irate public threatened to lynch him for his dastardly deed. Little Bob ran a bar in Creede, but got what most folks thought was too long in coming to him a few years later. There's a plaque on the spot where an unknown avenger walked in, unloaded both barrels of a 12-gauge into Ford's treacherous hide, turned heel and left, never to surface again.
Today, a less violent breed of folks hangs onto a hard but fulfilling existence in the mountains. As Lance Grolla of Crestone (Saguache County) says. "Three hundred family homes ... a dozen spiritual centers ... an eco-village ... a nature preserve that happens to have people in it ... Fifty strawbale homes ("Strawbale House Capital of North America") ... plus an earthship ... sandbag homes proposed ... do fine just bartering and sharing...." The town's motto is "Crestone, Colo., where inconvenience is a virtue."
Upper Mississippi River Valley towns get plaudits all around. The river may need a few more decades of dedicated cleanup, but the small towns around Davenport/Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline/Rock Island, Ill. stand out. Marva Venhuizen says of her town. "Albany [Ill.] is on the banks of the mighty, wonderful Mississippi River ... [with] Indian mounds, beautiful bluffs ... recreation year-round ... great gardening ... security and [fine] education for a small town."
South New Jersey is unknown to those of us who have experienced "the Garden State" only from the hi-priced 'burbs in the north around New York City, or from driving the foul-smelling urban wasteland along the N.J. Turnpike. But one need only get off the thruway beyond Trenton and head south to find areas where the state more than lives up to its nickname. Indeed, south Jersey — from the ecologically unique and largely uninhabited Pine Barrens of Burlington and Ocean counties down along the marshy north shore of Delaware Bay or off any interchange along the Garden State Parkway as it parallels the east shore down to Cape May — stands out as one of our ten best. Subscriber Kim Hauser of Vincentown (just off Rt. 206 and only seven miles downwind of the dreaded N.J. Turnpike) "... found plenty of work, very nice people, a helpful community, excellent schools ... and the gardening is great." Stores are a short trek away, but isn't that the point?
Inland from North Carolina's Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds you'll find piny woods and rich farmland that is overlooked by visitors sailing the sounds and taking in the sun during the heart of the summer. It's an area where "people barter services and family is the numberone concern. Money doesn't mean much ... simple living does," report Brian Waldron and his wife, who operate a 72-acre farm in Pitt County. Plus, within a short drive, "natives" have the snug harbors and bathing beaches to themselves any time they want during the warm spring and warmer fall months (and on the many balmy days in mid-winter) when the tourists are marooned back home in the snow drifts of Baltimore, Philadelphia, "The District" (Washington, D.C.), or New York City.
The entire state of Wisconsin is also a winner — despite (or, for many ice fishermen, snow-machine lovers, and cross-country skiers, because of) the snow. Gail Grundy of Kei, Manitowoc County finds ... many old farm houses with barns and a few acres for sale all over ... cheaper and better made than the new houses today. The Land is great for gardening." Indeed, in our companion article on finding your country property, you'll read of a Wisconsin dairy farm with more than 140 tillable acres, 4BR house and equipped milking barn being sold for less than $400/acre.
Retirement Heaven
Retirement communities are not welcome everywhere ... but several little-publicized areas were especially recommended for their friendliness toward retirees — and some famous ones were rejected. One winner is the Gulf Coast around Hattiesburgh, Miss. — a dynamic town of under 100,000, with 70 degrees Fahrenheit average temps (and humidity to match) and year-round gardening. (Drop a line to Ms. Sher-Lee Paula Broadhead of 316 Sunrise Rd., Petal, MS 39465. She is a one-woman Chamber of Commerce).
Emil Frey calls his retirement haven of Mountain View (Stone County), Ark., "a retirement heaven!"
Naples and Sanibel and the other shell islands on Florida's southwest (Gulf) coast are far too expensive for many readers. But within a brief drive upcoast, you can buy an old but still-good mobile home in earshot of the gulf in St. Petersburg for about $5,000 plus $210-a-month park rent. St. Pete does indeed have sloped curbs for seniors using chairs and walkers; you can still get a good meal at Morrison's Cafeteria for a dollar, and the sun is still guaranteed by the Chamber of Commerce to shine 300 plus days a year! Prices remain reasonable as you move on up through Sarasota to Tarpon Springs, report our readers.
Any but well-off retirees are also advised to avoid most of Florida's east (Atlantic) coast, especially the "Gold Coast" from crime-ridden Miami/Dade County and hi-priced Ft. Lauderdale north to Daytona and on up to Palm Beach. One native Floridian is even leaving ancient, gracious St. Augustine farther north. He is "... going to Mississippi or Alabama so I can retire without the invasion that's ruined Florida." Inland, in Florida's livestock and citrus areas, there are many delightful retirement communities (some very reasonable — especially the mobile home parks — "... though you must watch out for the hurricanes.") However, Disney has ruined a once-delightful Orlando, report several readers ... and the cane-growing areas to the inland south "... reek of chemicals half the time."
"Sadly," report several readers, "... in much of California, taxes, fuel, and housing costs are prohibitive for folks on a reduced or fixed income." Arizona and other Southwest retirement havens remain excellent bargains if you can afford full-time air conditioning or take the dry heat. Roberta Mauck of Yuma, Ariz. appreciates "... cheap land ... [where] I can live in my RV ... on Social Security. Summer heat (114 degrees Fahrenheit with spikes to 124) drives away the population (good!) and kills everything but cactus .... But I love it here." Is there a parking space near by Roberta?
City Life
Many readers still tough it out in cities—if only to accumulate cash to escape to the country on weekends or full-time (someday). Houston; New York; Columbus, Ohio; the Boston area; Oklahoma City; Richmond, Va.; and other major cities were mentioned only as good places to be from — while nearby small towns and rural areas were often well-rated!
Readers confirm that conventional survey recommendations for "Small/Liveable Cities" such as Sioux Falls, S.D, are accurate; indeed every city in the West (particularly in Montana) seems to be erupting with small, fast-paced businesses (many started by folks fleeing city life — women in the majority). Good-paying office and light manufacturing jobs are available there too if you are "computer-literate."
Readers report that Salt Lake City and Seattle, Wash. abound with especially good folks (even if the air may leave something to be desired on occasion).
Grand Junction, Colo. is not too far from Denver and Boulder, but lacks their bad air and tourists, say other readers. Texas towns large or small fared badly in the survey: water and air were considered "evil."
Honolulu and San Francisco remain cities to leave your heart in — if you have plenty of money to leave there as well. They are heart-stoppingly expensive, leaving New York in their wake if you can imagine. Ditto Sitka, Anchorage, or any Alaskan city. But the charm, ambiance, and scenery make these Pacific cities worth it if you can foot the bill and must remain city-bound, say readers. And, the Pacific seafood!
Smog, Ticky-Tacky Tinseltown, hours of freeway driving, crime, and bad publicity notwithstanding, parts of Los Angeles County are reportedly sheer heaven-on-earth in winter, but "wicked hot" in the summer. Tucson and Pima are oases in Arizona, which is reportedly a desert where you can go from air-conditioned home and garage to car, parking garage and office and back, and never experience a real world described as "hotter'n the grates of hell."
Readers find an active cultural and intellectual life in college towns such as Ames, Iowa; Hamilton, Ohio; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Missoula, Mont.; Austin, Tex.; and Eugene, Oreg. But they are still cities ... and embody the kind of compromise we all make when we just can't make the grade financially in the sticks.
Plenty of readers report planning to move from a tourist-overrun area ... or from a hot to a balmy dime ... or from a too-cold climate to "anywhere your breath doesn't make snowflakes," as one reader puts it. Many regret that they have no choice but to flee too-pricey spots such as Long Island, N.Y. or southern California. Favorite destinations are the Carolinas or "Jefferson"—the quasi-separatist "state" made up of northern California and southern Oregon counties where the local economy is based on logging, ranching, and commercial fishing; an area of "... honest working men and women" that is a world apart from the coastal city academic/arts centers of Political Correctness often branded "The Left-Coast."
The one (distinctly Western, definitely un-"Left" and non-coast) city that gets universal raves as the single best place to accumulate cash to fund that country dream ... free of smog, street crime and urban stress ... and where living can be cheap ... is Reno, Nev.! (Not Las Vegas, note well.) Gaming and nite-time hi-life brings in the big bucks, so housing, food and family-style off-hour pursuits are reasonably-priced, but top-quality. Plus, good-paying work is available 24 hrs/day, year-round. One reader advises."... learn to deal blackjack or spin a roulette wheel ... there's no tax-witholding on your chiptips .. . and a gratuity from just one winning hi-roller can pay for a good chunk of land. But, plan to settle down in Indiana or Oregon. 'Sin City' is no place to raise kids!"
Look Well
Our admittedly non-scientific survey shows that areas vary greatly — often within short distances. Virginia residents living in the D.C. suburbs are not happy, but in the Tidewater area along Chesapeake Bay or out in the Appalachians, life is great! In Massachusetts, the Boston area is crowded and overpriced, while non-tourist parts of Cape Cod are delightful. The urban areas of MOTHER'S birthplace, North Carolina, get mixed reviews but the Piedmont and shore are exceptional places to live!
In sum: Paradise is where you find it. So get started! We at MOTHER and the good readers who contributed to the survey all wish you good hunting and hope our efforts will help a little.
Survey Methodology
In the previous two issues, readers were asked to return a questionnaire indicating their satisfaction with the climate, land, job and housing markets, and public services of their current or prospective country-home locales — together, indicating suitability of an area to a MOTHER-style life of independence on the land. Responses were received from southern California to British Columbia and Alaska, from Florida to Maine and the Maritimes, and in areas as diverse as cosmopolitan Las Vegas and parts of southern Alaska that are accessible only by air during the long winters. The map tabulates the findings.
By no means statistically valid, the survey neglects such major parts of North America as west Texas, all of North Dakota, and most of Canada. The wholly negative results from Tennessee and thin (if positive) results from much of the Far West are a fluke due to the informal nature of the survey (a statistically inconclusive, self-selected sample to use statisticians' jargon.) However, a broad enough scattering of MOTHER's readers responded to the survey — offering consistent-enough observations to reach the broad conclusion itemized in this article.


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China told U.S. trade negotiators in Washington on Wednesday that Beijing would do more to protect intellectual property rights and combat piracy by promoting the use of legal software, China's commerce minister told reporters.
Minister Chen Deming said that while Beijing agreed to address those longstanding U.S. complaints, American officials at Wednesday's U.S-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting promised to address China's demands for greater exports of U.S. high-technology products and to facilitate more Chinese investment in the United States.
Reporting By Paul Eckert; Editing by Sandra Maler

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In The Sky Notebook Season Paper
Déplacez votre souris sur l'image, cliquez pour agrandir.
In The Sky Notebook Season Paper
Season Paper
The stationery line designed by Season Paper is beautiful, delicate and colorful.
In The Sky notebook ... A wonderful notebook for all your wishes of writings or drawings
A very nice collection printed in France with original designs
Season Paper is a creative studio based in Paris born from the meeting of Julie and Melisa Designers who bring us their dream world.
- Material : Cover paper 250 g - White Paper - Staples
- Dimensions : Format A5 : 20,8 cm x 14,5 cm
- Content : 44 white pages without lines


text:
Prolific Japanese music producer Mitsuo Terada (aka "Tsunku") is best known for producing idol J poppppp group Morning Musume and helping to launch the career of singers like Aya Matsuura. He also created Rhythm Heaven.
How did candy pop wizard Tsunku add smash-hit game designer to his already impressive resume? Terada tells Wired that it all started with an unsolicited game submission to Nintendo. "In Japan, with games that use rhythm and sound, it's long been the case that the placement of accents and the timing of button-presses has had nothing to do with music," the producer says. "For someone like myself, whose work revolves around music, this has never seemed right, and I wrote up my proposal in hopes of doing away with this." For Tsunku, he needed Nintendo's help to bring his game to life: "I also felt that without Nintendo's expertise, realizing my idea for a rhythm game would be impossible."
But his submission was out of the blue! "It wasn't like I really knew anyone with Nintendo, either," he continues. "It was a bit risky, but my staff just took our proposal and approached them directly." After meetings (and several dance classes), he was able to get his idea across to Nintendo, and the game got green-lit. And now it's making loads of money. Funny how that works.
J-Pop Producer Tsunku Perfects Music Games With Rhythm Heaven [Wired]


text:
Some field notes on Trolls, courtesy of T.H.I.S.
The PCs are exploring the catacombs beneath a Colosseum-in-Rome type of structure, when they come across a foul-smelling, stagnant, ankle-deep with algae, public mass latrine. Countless urinals of marble, line this rather large chamber equally crafted of marble. Whatever system of plumbing once worked here, has not in many years. Old graffiti lines the stained,dirty walls, prominently bolded are such intellectual poetic musings as, "Urine For It Now", "I Pee Therefore It Comes" and "Now Urine Trouble".
A few moments after the PCs get to take in this unpleasant location, they hear the low rumbling of ancient plumbing and rather large Urine Elemental rises like a great, wet, wave of filth to attack them. The creature reeks and exudes noxious debilitating fumes, while its liquid strikes burn flesh like acid.


text:
Control system migration or migraine?
Birds know when to fly south for the winter, but how do automation engineers figure out when it's time to migrate? CONTROL Editor in Chief Walt Boyes looks at the latest battleground between vendors.
AND THE number one reason to migrate your control system: "(1) You need to update your collection of hats and jackets." Well, so say the ControlTalk Boys, Greg McMillan and Stan Wiener. Ah, but is that new collection of hats and jackets worth the hard work of determining when and how to upgrade your control system, and whether to go with your current vendor or seek a new one?
Once upon a time, you installed a shiny new control system for your plant. You loved it, and it worked pretty much as you expected. Over time, though, just like your car, you've seen new models, and those new models had features and functions that you'd really like to have, and that can't be found in your current system. Just as with any product, the further you get away from the warranty period the higher the failure rate, and the faster the failure rate grows.
Eventually, parts become difficult to obtain, and very pricey, if you can get them at all. The vendor tells you the product is so old that it isn't officially supported anymore. Now management tells you that they want you to connect your control system to the business enterprise. You call your vendor, and they laugh at you.
If this sounds like your predicament, you aren't alone. You have a new end-users' ailment called "migrationitis." You now have to figure out how to migrate from your existing system to a new one, select a new vendor, possibly select a systems integrator to do the work, and make sure that you neither lose data and functionality you have now, nor cause the plant to shut down while you make the changes necessary to migrate your system.
"We found that our analog turbine control system was one of the top three causes of trips and transients," says Marlon Dempsey, instruments and controls engineer for Duke Power's Oconee Nuclear Station (Seneca, S.C.). "This was primarily because its components presented a single point of failure."
During the 1990s, consolidation of the automation industry's vendors made the situation even more difficult for end-users, especially when it came time to upgrade their control systems. Some systems were basically red-headed stepchildren to their new vendor-owners.
Roger Bailey, head of ABB's systems business, is blunt about the issue. "To be honest," he says, "until System800xA was introduced last year, I think many of our employees were reluctant to admit that the Mod, Harmony and other products were really ours because they didn't know how we were going to handle legacy systems."
It took a significant management shakeup at ABB to solve this problem. Bailey says of ABB's staff, "Now they know, and I think you'll see a change." And not a moment too soon. End-users like Wintershall, Germany's largest crude-oil producer, were being courted and wooed away, because of the ease with which ABB's competitors could apply FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt).
Other vendors haven't been as publicly forthcoming as Bailey, but most large system vendors and even a few second tier suppliers have had similar issues. One major software control system has changed ownership three times since 1990, and changed its name twice.
Migration Road Paved with Good Intentions
Dinesh Paliwal, president of ABB Inc. and global head of ABB's automation business, said in early 2005, "60% of all potential systems business is upgrading and migration in 'brownfield plants.' " If ABB understands this, you can bet the other vendors do too. At the Honeywell Users Group (HUG) meeting in June 2005, Kerry Sartain, of Georgia-Pacific, co-chair of the User Input Subcommittee (UIS) told CONTROL that one of the most valuable things the HUG has done has been to keep Honeywell focused on producing deep and detailed migration plans from older TDC systems to the latest Experion products, (See Figure 1). "It isn't enough to say we can migrate from a TDC2000 to an Experion PKS," he said. "The details have to be clearly worked out as well."
The operators' console may be the pretty part, but it is what is between the console and the field instruments that makes or breaks an upgrade.
In our discussions with end-users, we've found that the first thing to do is to make sure you know what the system does that you like, and then make a list of the deficiencies you want to correct.
"After realizing that we needed to migrate, we looked at various factors critical to our decision making to determine which product to choose," relates Fabio Fazio, senior maintenance leader at Petrobras. "Those factors included control reliability, data configurability, network architecture support, plant standardization and safety instrumented system integration."
Then comes the hard part. Migrators get to listen to the pitches of all the vendors, both first and second tier, as to why they should move to that vendor's platform, and why it's distinct from all the others.
Picking a Path is Easy—Sometimes…
Back in the day, Honeywell's Geismar, La.-based properties were part of Allied Chemical. Now that they belong to Honeywell, it appears that migrating from legacy systems to Honeywell's Experion PKS systems is gong swiftly and simply. Earlier this year, Honeywell Geismar's hydrofluoric acid works replaced a 1990s legacy system with a new Experion DCS system in 24 hours, using the facility's existing wiring. In addition, since Honeywell also makes security systems, as Bill Lessig, Geismar's plant manager, showed in his presentation at HUG, it was simple to interface the control system to the plant security system and the plant safety system. The point of Lessig's talk was that the integration of process control, building automation, and security systems was the driver for his project. Integration is the key, he noted, because it offers:
- Risk reduction,
- Better preparedness,
- Proactive response,
- Lower total cost of ownership (TCO) due to having one vendor,
- Easier training, and
- Cost savings due to the ability to share data.
"It may not seem like it, but it is an extremely powerful tool," Lessig adds.
…Except When It's Not Easy
Duke Power had a much harder choice, since the existing controls were provided by GE, the continuing vendor of its turbines. When GE announced it was phasing out support for its analog control systems, Duke Power had no choice but to look for another vendor. GE offered Duke digital control options, but after a thorough review, Duke chose a redundant control system from Invensys Triconex. "The controller is triple-redundant," Dempsey says, "so we no longer have a single point of failure."
Dempsey goes on to describe an important new benefit. "And the box is qualified with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as a safety-related application that can help keep core from melting if there's a problem. This is several safety levels above what is required for turbine control, but when you consider that the turbine can trip the entire plant, it makes sense to go for the highest quality," he says.
Duke Power's Oconee Station was only the second operating nuclear plant to be re-licensed for a second 20-year operation stint.
You also have to evaluate all the options. "It would have been easy just to go with the turbine control system offered by the manufacturer," adds Dempsey. "However, the Invensys hardware was not only on a par with the other alternatives, but the company also went the extra mile to make sure their system matched our needs. With the other vendors, we would have had to make changes to our plant control system and our cable room, which simply weren't viable options."
Changing Horses
One interesting fact is that while many migrations are straightforward moves from an antiquated system made by a vendor to the latest and greatest system by the same vendor, many migrations are not. End-users regularly decide to standardize on a new vendor for upgrades. For instance, Petrobras' petrochemical plant (San Lorenzo, Argentina) had a typical mix of systems. Built in 1965, the plant had everything from pneumatic controllers and single-loop standalone controllers to outdated systems from the former Fisher Controls and Bailey Controls, now Emerson and ABB, respectively. The plant also had a SCADA system and many freestanding PLCs.
Fabio Fazio reports that the upgrade's important drivers included high downtime of the existing systems, costly maintenance of the obsolete systems, and the diverse legacy systems, which made it hard to acquire or supervise global business data.
Petrobras investigated products from all the major control system vendors, prior to choosing a Honeywell upgrade path. "The other products we evaluated didn't even compare," says Fazio of Honeywell's product, "in terms of communications, redundancy, architecture and safety system integration features." Illustrating how important winning a migration contract can be, Fazio adds, "Due to the success of our Experion migration, Petrobras is now investigating other Honeywell solutions."
Dancin' Wit' Who Brung Ya
Sometimes it's far easier to stick with the controls vendor you have. Dynea UK Ltd. (Mold, Flintshire) upgraded the control system for its urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins and adhesives process. For example, Dynea chose ABB for the new system, based partly on its strong relationship with ABB and, previously, Alfa Laval, which supplied the original SattCon system on site.
Rick Hirons, Dynea's plant engineer, says, "We worked with Alfa Laval for 10 years, and in all that time, we never had a problem. Because ABB is using the same engineers, we were happy to award them the contract to update the SattCon system." Dynea found that ABB also had features that they needed. "One of the major benefits of the ABB system is that it includes batch management software," Hirons says. "This allows Dynea to produce a more consistent product based on the ability to call up stored recipes."
Another important consideration for migrators is how to maximize the value of the existing installed infrastructure. Dynea, for example, is interfacing all its existing HART equipped field instruments and control valves to ABB's new control system. This will allow Dynea to use other new plug-ins to the ABB system, such as alarm management systems, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMA) and asset management systems (Maximo, Mettler-Toledo, Matrikon), without having to convert or replace field systems and wiring to Foundation Fieldbus or another digital field wiring system.
Don't Forget the Second Tier
As our senior technical editor, Rich Merritt, pointed out in his recent article ("Second-Tier Systems Replace Legacy Controls," CONTROL, Dec. '05), it is often far less expensive to upgrade with a second-tier controls supplier than to stick with the Big Boys.
In another article, ("Choosing an Enlightened Control Path," CONTROL, Jan.'05), plant manager Yin Zuwei reported on Wuxi Dong Tai Fine Chemicals Ltd.'s upgrade from analog standalone loop controllers to a modern distributed control system. "The bids we received were all for small to medium-scale solutions," he wrote, "such as ABB's S900, Honeywell's Plantscape system, DeltaV from Rosemount (sic) and MTL Open System Technologies' MOST Matrix system."
"We selected the Most Matrix system," he continued. "We found the system we selected was comparatively cheaper than the DCSs from other companies, especially in Division 2 areas." Yin Zuwei isn't alone.
So, What's an End-User to Do?
Everyone we talked to said much the same thing. First, take control of your existing system, and clearly define the upgrade goals and objectives. Then determine your migration strategy. Then, and only then, start the vendor selection process, knowing that you have the upper hand. As ABB's Dinesh Paliwal notes, "It is far cheaper to keep an existing customer than to find a new one."


text:
Virginia residents who want to board an airplane will soon need a star on their driver's license, indicating that it is a REAL ID credential, or they will need another form of approved identification to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility.
Virginia's REAL ID driver's licenses and identification cards have a small star in the upper right corner to indicate that it meets new federal regulations that establish minimum security standards. The upgraded REAL IDs will be required starting Oct. 1, 2020.
A standard credential – without the star – will not be valid to board a flight or to access secure federal facilities, including military bases and some federal offices. The standard credential will display the words "Federal Limits Apply" instead of the REAL ID star. To get the REAL ID star, individuals will need to appear at their local Virginia DMV in person and bring certain documents to prove U.S. citizenship and Virginia residency.
REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards. The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.
For details about how to obtain a REAL ID driver's license or identification card in Virginia, visit dmv.virginia.gov. TSA also provides a short video about flying with a REAL ID at tsa.gov/videos/flying-real-id-0.


text:
An early snow packing machine at Winter Park.
Teens in Colorado are struggling. Rates of mental health issues, substance abuse and suicide are rising. We investigate the causes — and possible fixes.
It's time to fill out your ballot for your favorite songs of 2019. This is your chance to let us know the music YOU loved most this year. We'll count down your 102 favorites on New Year's Eve on Indie 102.3.Take the survey.


text:
Calendar |
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County
Illinois and the Korean War, January 1953
60 years
ago, 12 Illinoisans died in Korean War
Send a link to a friend
[January 02, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- The state of Illinois is
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War by supplying
information each month about the state's involvement in the
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Illinois Department of
Veterans' Affairs, Illinois Korean Memorial Association, and the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, along with media
partners the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois
Broadcasters Association, are sponsoring "Illinois Remembers the
Forgotten War." For more information, visit
Illinoisans killed in action in Korea,
January 1953
By county of residence
(Source: U.S. Department of Defense records)
Cook County:
Pvt. Charles R. Cook,
Army, Jan. 14.
2nd Lt.Donald F.
Lambert, Marines, Jan. 8.
Pfc. Thomas G. Sykora,
Army, Jan. 5.
Pfc. Marcial T. Vera, Army, Jan. 7.
Rock Island:
1st Lt. Charles
Overstreet, Army, Jan. 8.
Pvt. Edwin A. Rietz, Army, Jan. 3.
St. Clair:
Pfc. George E. Hand,
Marines, Jan. 15.
Pfc. Edward J. Tomlin, Marines, Jan.
Key events during the Korean War,
January 1953
Although the war had been raging on the Korean Peninsula for 2
1/2 years, a single event at home on Jan. 20, 1953, changed the
entire situation in Korea. On that date, Dwight D. Eisenhower was
inaugurated as president of the United States and immediately began
taking steps to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war in
Korea. He nominated John Foster Dulles to replace Dean Acheson as
secretary of state and Charles Wilson to replace Robert Lovett as
secretary of defense. Both men would join the president in his
efforts to end the fighting, something that would be realized
following almost six months of some of the most desperate fighting
of the war.
But the war seemed as intractable as ever as the new year dawned.
The Communists still insisted that all prisoners held by U.N. forces
be returned to their control, while Eisenhower adopted outgoing
President Truman's pledge that no prisoner who did not want to be
repatriated would be forcibly sent north.
On Jan. 25, just a few days after Eisenhower's inauguration, the
U.S. 31st Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division launched
Operation Smack, an assault on the Communist stronghold known as
Spud Hill. The attack was supported by both tanks and airstrikes,
but was still repulsed by the Communists. Casualties were heavy on
both sides.
A newly arrived reporter who witnessed the fighting wrote a
scathing criticism of the operation, accusing the Americans of
staging the attack for visiting dignitaries. His report further
eroded the American public's lagging support for the war, while also
raising serious questions about the objectivity of the American
[to top of second column]
Illinois Korean War Memorial
The Illinois Korean War Memorial is located in Springfield's Oak
Ridge Cemetery, the same cemetery that contains the Lincoln Tomb.
Oak Ridge is the nation's second-most visited burial ground, behind
only Arlington National Cemetery.
Dedicated on June 16, 1996, the memorial consists of a
12-foot-tall bronze bell mounted on a granite base. At the
circumference of the base are four niches, each with a
larger-than-life figure representing a branch of the armed services.
Inscribed on the base are the names of 1,754 Illinoisans killed in
The Illinois Korean War Memorial is administered by the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency and may be visited daily free of
Korean War veterans oral history project
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
The oral history program at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum offers "Veterans
Remember," a collection of interviews with Illinois residents
about their wartime experiences, at the library's website,
www.alplm.org/oral_history/home.html. The interviews concern the
experiences of Illinois veterans who fought in several conflicts,
including the Korean War, as well as the experiences of those on the
home front. Visitors to the website can listen to or watch the
interviews in their entirety. Several of the interviews have
transcripts, and most have still images as well.
Website visitors will need a computer capable of playing MP3
audio files or MPG compressed video files in order to listen to the
interviews. The transcripts and still images are also accessible.
Volunteers conducted and edited many of the interviews and developed
the transcripts that accompany them.
Korean War National Museum
The Korean War National Museum, or KWNM, celebrates the 60th
anniversary of the Korean War with a renewed focus on getting a
world-class museum built now, in the lifetime of the Korean War
veterans. Meanwhile, the Denis J. Healy Freedom Center, located at 9
South Old State Capitol Plaza in Springfield, is open Tuesday
through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but
donations are accepted. The KWNM welcomes donations of photographs,
documents, diaries and artifacts of those who served in the Korean
War. To learn more about the KWNM, or to volunteer or donate, visit
www.kwnm.org or look for the
museum on Facebook.
Korean War booklet
The Illinois Korean Memorial Association, an all-volunteer
organization, has published a booklet, "A Brief History of the
Korean War," copies of which have been provided free of charge to
public libraries, high schools and junior high schools in Illinois.
Individuals may obtain a copy by sending a $10 check or money order
to: Illinois Korean Memorial Association, P.O. Box 8554,
Springfield, IL 62791.
Tax-deductible donations are welcome. All donations go to the
book project and to the upkeep of the Illinois Korean War Memorial.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency]
< Tourism index
Back to top
| Sports
| Business
| Rural
Review |
& Learning |
and Family |
| Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives |
& Courts |
Leisure Time |
Life | Health
& Fitness | Teen
to the Editor


text:
Pngtree offers HD wallet background images for free download. Download these wallet background or photos
and you can use them for many purposes, such as banner, wallpaper, poster background as well as powerpoint background and website background.
Join pngtree designer team
Upload your first copyrighted design. Get $5 + $88 designer coupon packsJOIN US
5,563,653+ designers have joined Pngtree
Register and start download
By creating an account, I agree to Pngtree's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Intellectual Property Rights
Already have an account? Log in


text: Lt Kije 99 Report post Posted August 11, 2014 Finding a woman sobbing that she had locked her keys in her car, A passing soldier assures her that he can help. She looks on amazed as he removes his trousers, ..... Rolls them into a tight ball and rubs them against the car door. Magically it opens....... "That's so clever," the woman gasps. "How did you do it?" "Easy," replies the man. "These are my khakis. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums
The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!
OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"
Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.
YES! I want to register an account for free right now!
Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.
Below you will find a list of discussions in the Breeding & Hybridization forums at the OrchidTalk Orchid Forums - Grow Orchids!. The Breeding & Hybridization forum Meristemming orchids, cloning orchids, 3N and 4N, Orchid Seed Pods, Orchid Pollination, Orchid breeding, etc...


text:
President Donald Trump slammed former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington Thursday morning, saying he wants to pray for Schwarzenegger because of his ratings on the show "The Apprentice."
Trump was introduced at the breakfast by television producer Mark Burnett, who helped make Trump the reality show's host in 2004. Trump remains a producer on the reboot of the show.
U.S. & World
The breakfast is a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. Trump also warned the audience there that religious freedom is "under threat" and vowed to repeal the Johnson Amendment, an IRS rule barring pastors from endorsing candidates from the pulpit.
But when he took the podium, Trump immediately criticized Schwarzenegger, the current host of "The Apprentice."
"The ratings went right down the tubes," Trump said of the show. "It's been a total disaster."
He added, "I want to just pray for Arnold if we can, for those ratings."
Schwarzenegger responded on Twitter soon after the remarks, offering to switch jobs with Trump, since he clearly cares about TV a lot.
With Schwarzenegger in the White House, he said, "people can finally sleep comfortably again."
Later on, Rex Tillerson apologized for being late to introducing himself at the State Department, which he now leads, citing the breakfast.
"It seemed at this year's prayer breakfast people felt the need to pray a little longer," he joked.
The president made no mention at the prayer breakfast of other steps he may take on promised protections for religious objectors to gay marriage and abortion, saying only that religious freedom is a "sacred right." He used his remarks to thank the American people for their prayers in his opening days in office.
Religious conservatives whose overwhelming support propelled Trump to the White House have been watching closely for him to deliver on those issues. Kelly Shackelford, head of First Liberty Institute, a non-profit legal group that specializes in religious freedom cases, said no other presidential candidate was "more outspoken on their commitment to religious freedom" than Trump.
While the president's comments were likely to be warmly received by religious groups, LGBTQ groups are anxious that the president could use his executive powers to curb rights.
"We think it is entirely possible there could be an executive order that creates religious exemptions," said James Esseks, LGBT project director for the American Civil Liberties Union. He added that the "narrative" that Trump won't harm the LGBTQ community was "not correct."
Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced that the president would leave intact a 2014 executive order that protects workers for federal contractors from anti-LGBTQ discrimination, saying in a statement that Trump "continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election."
During a Monday news briefing, White House spokesman Sean Spicer offered no details on whether Trump could still issue an executive order affecting the LGBTQ community.
"There is a lot of executive orders, a lot of things that the president has talked about and will continue to fulfill, but we have nothing on that front now," Spicer said.
For now, both sides are speculating on Trump's plans.


text:
The promotional code:
has been applied.
You have no items in your Shopping Basket.
Contact Us
⌚ 24 hours a day 7 days a week
FREE Weekly Email Offers
Refine by
intentionally left blank
At Suttons Seeds we pride ourselves in producing top quality Bedding Plants which have been grown to be delivered at the optimum time for you to plant on and grow successfully.
Bedding plants are an essential part of your garden design and we have a full range of popular and specialist varieties to suit your needs. Whether you're planting summer bedding plants, winter bedding plants, spring bedding plants or in borders and containers, we have the best plants for you.
Suitable for growing in full sun or partial shade, our bedding plants come in a variety of sized plug plants and potted varieties to suit your space.
Browse our range of bedding plants and grow something different today - Quality guaranteed!
Zzz NOSTOPRODUCTLISTING-CMR
First, decide on the colour schemes and plant combinations you wish to achieve - are you looking for harmonious colour combinations or bold contrasting schemes?
Consider how large the plants are going to grow and think about the patterns you wish to make with them within the bed or border. Plant tall items in the middle of a bed or the rear of a border, and low-growing plants at the edge.
Do not plant bedding plants when it's too hot, and remember to water them thoroughly first, while they're still in their trays.
Ensure that the planting area is free from weeds and thoroughly cultivated with a fork.
With a trowel, dig a hole slightly bigger than the root of the plant. Remove the plant from its pot or tray, trying not to disturb the roots. position it into the hole and then draw the surrounding soil back in and firm gently. Water plants thoroughly and protect from slugs and snails.
Not long from now, when summer bedding comes to an end, the garden starts to fade. Autumn and winter bedding plants will provide some colour immediately, and throughout the coldest and darkest days of winter, and spring bedding plants will flower for weeks on end throughout spring!
On receipt of your plans carefully unpack and check the compost is moist. Should the compost be dry water the plants carefully using a small watering can, and allow to drain.
A 7cm pot filled loosely with moist compost is ideal to plant these sturdy young plants into. In each pack you will find a dibber stick. Gently push it through the base hole of each cell and ease the plant and root plug out of the tray, placing it into the centre of the filled pot until the roots of the plug are covered. Firm the compost gently around the base of the plug whilst ensuring the stem and leaves remain above the top layer.
Alternatively, plant into trays of compost. A 36x22cm (14x81⁄2″) tray will hold up to 24 plants. Grow on in a light place at a temperature of 16 °c (60°F).The plants can be planted outdoors once they have a strong root system and the danger of frost has passed which in most areas is during late May/early June.
Order Online or call 0344 326 2200 - 24hrs a day, 7 days a week Product or other query Email Customer Services Customer Services call 0333 043 0700 - 8:30am -5pm, Mon-Fri
Suttons, Woodview Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7NG. Registered in England and Wales No. 284448. VAT No 158 9318 27.


text:
Discussion in 'Fan Art' started by Robert Comsol, Nov 28, 2012.
@Bob - is there a cross section where you show which deck is where on the primary hull?
@ blssdwlf
I made a cross section on page 12 of this thread which has been thus far a helpful guidance (Deck 9 is proabably just going to be 7' tall to allow for the overhead space required by the photon torpedo / space probe revolver magazine we "saw" through the grated window in the background of the phaser control room on Deck 11).
Because I've now lost track where and when I put a draft in this thread, I'm preparing a thread index so that the drafts can almost instantly be accessed (similar to the index I made for your thread last year). Of course, I will only feature the drafts I consider to be presentable - - and will add some annotations / markers so that Andy and me won't miss areas that still require corrections and/or upgrades.
I'm really starting to like this layout. Question - which medical ward do you think the pressure chamber should belong to as seen in "Space Seed" and "Lights of Zetar"?
@ 137th Gebirg
The hyperbaric chamber from "The Lights of Zetar" is on Deck 5, mostly because they entered the "doctor's office" through the "exam room door" which matched the strange directors' choices in "Amok Time" (and, if you prefer, "The Changeling"). Because of the director-inflicted mis-alignment between main corridor and sickbay studio set and the lack of accomodation space elsewhere, I saw no other choice.
The "decompression chamber" from "Space Seed" had a significantly different alignment. Because of the final changes and to make sense of the A-frame corridors in "The Naked Time" (the corridor to the Engineering Control Room is not the same as the one outside Medical Ward 4 in this Episode!) it has moved to Deck 5, but you don't see it in the current draft (I thought it could be on Deck 7 but I was wrong). It will be featured on Deck 5 in either a future draft revision or the final CAD deck plans.
In "Space Seed" the medical ward with the chamber is on Deck 5, Briefing Room 2 on Deck 6 and the engine room on Deck 7. This is also compliant with the movement of the characters in this episode (I also tried to make sense of the characters' movement throughout these deck plan drafts ).
You might even have some room left over to do a set or two from what we saw in Gold Key comics even.
If you've ever seen Scotty's Guide to the Enterprise, even if it's not "canon" it's useful in seeing a good take on the idea of crew accomodation. There were dual quarters with a bathroom in the middle, shared by the crewmen. I don't see a problem with that, along with the small quarters, senior crew quarters, etc. that were in there.
@ JJohnson
I will check out Shane's take on that. But in general, I feel bathrooms should be shared by as many crew members as possible to conserve space. According to the "Hornblower Effect" the captain and the senior officers, however, should have their own bathrooms.
@ publiusr
Unfortunately I'm not aware of these comics. Anything approved by Gene Roddenberry should be accomodated as long as there is no harm / contradiction to what we saw onscreen in TOS. I also feel that the different rooms from TAS have not been properly recorded. I've just finished watching the first TAS season and it's fun to discover these locations aboard the Enterprise.
Here's the Thread Index I announced so you all can instantly access the various deck plans (and to help Andy and myself to record which areas still require corrections and/or upgrades).
This is not a chronological evolution of the thread, as it started with Engineering Deck 14 up to E-Deck 9 and then jumped to Main Deck 3. Blank areas in these drafts are conjectural and show areas not seen in TOS which are going to be explored at the earliest next convenience.
Primary Hull Cutaway (post # 169)
Will essentially remain the same but Deck 9 will be most definitely reduced in height to allow for more height of Decks 10 and 11. Of course, the assumed length of 1,080 feet (suggested by Phil Broad) is a problem as the over-imposed Bridge studio set would suggest that 974 feet would make a better match.
In general this would reduce all dimensions to 90% (corridor height only 2.5 meters) and be a close call for the port turbo lift on Deck 7 Spock exited in "The Naked Time" (apparently no step or ramp down). Notice: "Briefing Lounge" should be "Conference Lounge" / "Briefing Room 1" because in WNM we saw both as different locations (obviously the original Briefing Lounge from "The Cage" had been converted into a recreation lounge but kept its original name. Lt. Kelso addressed it as "Briefing Lounge"!).
Bridge turboshaft is obsolete. Though probably intended by Matt Jefferies according to the optional turbo lift position on the Season One studio set plans (near the end of the Jefferies Tube corridor), there is no visual evidence in the series that we ever saw that turbo lift or shaft.
Main Decks 3 and 4 (post # 177)
Main Deck 3 is close to final, but still needs to be matched with possible access routes Kirk and Odona took in "The Mark of Gideon" according to the revised Deck 5 plan.
Alternately, I'm tempted to illustrate an option that accommodates Pike's Cabin and the Briefing Lounge (though at the expense of the accuracy of the Deck 3 corridor seen in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield").
Main Deck 4 is mostly done. Janice's cabin 3F 125 "was" Kirk's cabin at Stardate 1533.6, the corridor at 12 o'clock has to feature a stair she (apparently) took to descend to Deck 5 between "3F" and "3C" there. "Briefing room" next to her cabin has to become the "new" Recreation Room 6(converting the one on Deck 3 into Rec Room 7 sometime before MG).
The depth of RR 6 is not revealed! Towards the bow we have a strange repetition of the same area (Kirk looks that way!), grated ladder has to connect to inner corridor on Deck 5 passed at the beginning of "Journey to Babel".
Lokai's and Bele's obstacle course at 3 o'clock needs to be refined. No turbo lift there, these characters must have gone through some kind of maze adjacent to the "Crewman's Lounge". Maybe Pike's Cabin was the enigmatic "6F" equally present on both officers quarters direction signs? Or it's the direction of transporter room 6 (forward) that would be located on the port side of Deck 6, according to the direction sign in "Turnabout Intruder" outside of Briefing Room2? Side corridors and stairs definitely need to be aligned with (most) corridors on Deck 5 below.
Main Deck 5 (post # 213)
is close to final. Inner corridor at 12 o'clock needs to be refined to accommodate Season One Medical Ward 4 featured in "The Naked Time", "Space Seed" and others.
"The Naked Time" circular corridor close to sickbay and the "Space Seed" corridor(next to Khan's Cabin) shared the same turbolift. The turbo lift was deconstructed and relocated to the door opposite the MW 4 exam door ("Scotty's office") prior to "Journey to Babel" ("side turbo shaft", typical Season Two turbo lift location).
Alternately, the whole turbo lift access at this point was removed and our triumvirate walked (rather than to use the turbo lift at "3F") for reasons that are unknown to us (turbo lift breakdown of overweight alien ambassadors? Kirk, Spock and McCoy eager to show presence in the overcrowded corridors?).
At 6 o'clock turbo lift used by Spock and Dr. Jones, Lawrence Marvick and Kirk with security detail and the corresponding corridor featured in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" to be illustrated!
Main Deck 6 (post # 236)
is close to final. Outer corridor (astern) near 6 o'clock turbo lift is Season One corridor featured in the last scene of "Balance of Terror" to be illustrated. Corridor illustration close to the upper level of the Engineering Control Room is not compatible with footage from "The Corbomite Maneuver" as Kirk is obviously passing "Briefing Room 2"(corridor scene from "Court-Martial" may have to be relocated to Deck 8).
Would put medical exam room from "The Corbomite Maneuver" at 10 o'clock where there is currently still a cabin. Possibly Kirk's turbo lift ride may not really be feasible (because of the early production date?). Would reduce LS & AG section in size, accessible only via ladder from below.
Extension of port side turbo shaft could end/connect to the turbo lift near Transporter Room 6(F) featured in "This Side of Paradise" and "Elaan of Troyius". Turbo lift car depot at 12 o'clock near Transporter Room 3 (maintenance one deck lower).
Main Deck 7 (post # 280)
is almost final. Service corridors to Computer Core may be reduced to narrower conduits that do separate the medical wards from one another (and allow for more space next to the fifth or sixth bed facing the core).
The visual footage from the TAS episode "Once Upon a Planet" is difficult to rationalize. The basic cel outside the "Computer Bay" is a reuse of the one from the Engineering Core. Apparently there is an air-conditioning type crawlway from the (unseen) console to the right (of the screencap) that leads to a rectangular inner arrangement of the Computer Core / Bay.
Engineering Deck 8 (post # 123)
still has to show the Auxiliary Control Room at the bow. Recreation Room on the port side is apparently the same as in "And The Children Shall Lead" and "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" but cannot be Recreation Room 6 seen in "The Mark of Gideon". The overscan of a 4:3 tube TV set would have equally cut off the "6" in both episodes. If you prefer it didn't, then the engineering hull has at least 6 recreation rooms, otherwise it may had just one and there's a briefing room probably on the starboard side.
The back wall of room appears parallel to the exterior hull as suggested by this shot, the shot with Spock could suggest he's heading for the Auxiliary Control Room and the doorframe we see is actually a port side access that will lead clockwise to the starboard part of the ACR that's separated by a grate from the master control table at the center.
The circular corridor towards the bow may be straightened to look more credible "in-universe" and to have a rectangular recreation room on the port and briefing room on the starboard side.
Engineering Deck 9 (post # 122)
"Lazarus' Corridor" may be straightened towards the bow, too. Since "And The Children Shall Lead" placed a new turbo shaft there on the deck above, I'm inclined to have Kirk, Spock and Scotty make a (straight) run to this turbo lift (taking them to the nearest transporter room) to eject the Nomad probe back into space in "The Changeling".
I'm still undecided what to make of the TAS footage and dialogue from "The Terratin Incident". According to the actual dialogue we are looking at the "main warp engine circuits" although it appears that this is rather a dilithium crystal storage than an interior working component of the dilithium crystal converter assembly, because there is apparently no ray shielding or the like (it rather looks like the crystals are on display for the engineers to take readings and to notice possible visual changes). The surrounding room elements - http://tas.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/1x11/theterratinincident_050.JPG
are equally interesting and I probably have to accommodate these in the bow of Deck 10 (because the room seems to extend to the deck above).
Engineering Deck 10 (post # 113)
The extra two transporter rooms at the bow will have to go (Albertese is going to like that a lot…). Again, the "And The Children Shall Lead" turbo lift on Deck 8 looks more and more like a blessing in disguise.
The wall we saw behind the Engineering Core now appears to have characteristics of a "partition wall" behind which we'd find this turbo lift. However, the essential horseshoe layout of the (bigger) room will stay intact.
The Y-shaped fusion reactor / "battery" corridor (was "energizer corridor) will be turned 180° and become shorter (unless I relocate the scene from "The Ultimate Computer" and engineering circuit bay G-121 and the Jefferies Tube close to the port or starboard nacelle pylon….)
Engineering Deck 11 (post # 109)
"Energizers" are now fusion reactors and/or "batteries". Bow starboard corridor looks weird.
Engineering Deck 12 (post # 74-75)
EPS power relay corridor has to be removed (is on Deck 10) as well as the Karidians' cabin (saucer location instead).
Engineering Deck 13 (post # 126)
The Hearing Room (instead of the erroneous "Court Room") would probably look better parallel to the ship's exterior, similar to the recreation and briefing room on E-Deck 8. I'm having second thoughts about the layout of the detention section. The existence of a "science library" here (like previously on Deck 7 near the medical labs) strongly suggests the presence of research labs, IMHO.
I think the bow would be an ideal place to accommodate the rectangular sickbay lab, the rectangular bedroom, and the medical supply storage cabinet separating the two, seen in TAS' "The Survivor". Same applies for the multipurpose tank from "The Ambergris Element".
The panel regulators suggest that the tank can be filled with liquids or atmospheres of all kind. I believe this would be a great facility to examine alien life forms from non-M-Class planets (brought by shuttle or transporter beam) which require an artificial atmosphere. The Zoology Lab of the Llife Sciences Department will probably be in the vicinity. The tank could also serve as a detention cell for alien life forms requiring a different atmosphere.
Engineering Deck 14 (post # 71-72)
is essentially final, except – of course – for the blank and unseen areas. In "The Enemy Within" the mission was "specimen-gathering on Alpha 177". It stands to reason that the accommodation of such specimen is in close proximity, either next to the "vault" or on E-Deck 13 near the Zoology Lab.
Although I located an alternate location for the transporter room from WNM on Main Deck 6, I would still have to wonder where they put the flight recorder of the SS Valiant after they left the room. Seems like a historic object I'd examine and store in the E-Deck 14 vicinity.
P.S. I noticed that in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" Dr. Jones' cabin starts with "4F". This cabin is closest to Transporter Room 4 on Deck 6, thus it appears that the cabin door signs do start with the indication of the nearest transporter room for evacuation purposes.
Couldn't help but to do some preliminary work on Deck 8. I noticed that Uhura's bathroom ("Elaan of Troyius") would actually have a panoramic window on Deck 8 next to the "Inspection Door Vent Systems Connections". This would really explain why hers was the best cabin available aboard the ship, IMHO.
I'm just wondering what "vent systems" could mean for a starship that travels through the vacuum of space. I presume this is a maintenance hatch once the ship has docked at a larger facility to take in fresh air and oxygen. Environmental Engineering on Deck 6 would be rather close and therefore seems to be at an adjacent and correct location.
I hope to have something more constructive and substantial to say later, but I have to go ahead and commend the work being done here and the unique approach being taken. Once I got over my initial gag reflex over curved corridors in the secondary hull, it proved a fascinating read. (And I had no such issues with the primary hull layouts, of course.)
Well done.
@ Praetor
Thank you! Yes, the circular corridor in the engineering hull has become notorious for provoking "gag reflexes" but if you were to illustrate the circular corridor segements from each episode / different E-deck on a transparent sheet of paper and then overlap all those sheets, you'd inevitably see a "whole" circular corridor.
I realized another problem I hadn't paid proper attention to: In "The Ultimate Computer" Kirk, Spock and McCoy leave Dr. Daystrom in a bedroom section (two beds at least), enter a turbo lift opposite the (unseen) exam room which immediately starts to move counter-clockwise horizontally before going into a vertical / diagonal ascent to carry them to the Bridge.
Looks like the only candidate for this turbo lift would be the outer corridor on Deck 6 at the 2 o'clock position. Interestingly, this would also suggest turbo shafts that keep their distance to the transporter chambers and should therefore all be on Deck 6 (and not partially on Deck 7 as currently illustrated. Great, more lab space ).
It also helps to resolve a problem I had been struggling with prior to the drafts of Decks 5 through 7: If there is a turbo shaft behind the outer corridor on Deck 6 at 2 o'clock, there is no reason not to assume that it extends clockwise to the central stern-bow axis at 3 o'clock where we could have a turbo shaft taking passengers to the bow of the saucer (all it essentially does is take a detour around Environmental Engineering).
P.S. I forgot, here is a parallel thread dealing with turbo lift "walk around" areas illustrated in the lastest deck plan drafts for the saucer hull.
Well it doesn't have to be more lab space, although the voids left by having studio-relevant positions allow for some unusual shaped rooms of your own design. Maybe water storage wrapping around the engineering hull core--like some of the rad shelters for NASA deep space craft that are to be found in the core of real ships on the drawing board.
That's exactly the concept they might have had in mind for these circular lounges (e,g, Conference Lounge and "Briefing Lounge" in "Where No Man Has Gone Before") and locations on Decks 4 through 6 of the saucer deck plan drafts.
Indeed, the circular surroundings of the Engineering Core could have a similar function for personnel working in this hull during an emergency.
Just a quick update as a result of the preliminary work for Deck 8.
The Herbarium from "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" should go to the center of Deck 5 assuming it is still connected to the "Life Sciences Department Botanical Section" featured in "The Man Trap".
Simply put the "back door" leads straight to the rectangular passage briefly seen in TB and to the circular Herbarium (apparently Kirk wanted to take Dr. Jones to the more exotic plants).
I should also add that Matt Jefferies envisioned the circular Herbarium room to connect to a more rectangular section containing the carnivorous plants.
Also, the corridor outside has the same properties as in the Deck 5 scene with the Section 3 security report (i.e. extra door between briefing room and cabin set, "Astro-Medicine Ward 4" door sign on briefing room set).
The major reason the botanical section cannot possibly be on Deck 8 comes from this shot in "The Man Trap". As discussed earlier, Deck 8 is way to narrow to accomodate such a long corridor.
As a result, Uhura's cabin will be on Deck 5 (vis-a-vis another botanical section of the life sciences department) and the central overhead support beams of both the Herbarium (Deck 5) and the "Solarium" / Season 3 Rec Room (Deck 8) can be conveniently accomodated in the center of the saucer.
I have re-read this thread a total of three times now, trying to get my full thoughts to coalesce into something that will resemble coherency. My inability to do so is either a compliment to Robert Comsol and company's thoroughness, or an insult to my mental faculties.
I wanted to briefly discuss methodology. My first question relates to TMoSt and how you are using it. Your OP states some facts gleaned from there, and I take it you have reviewed the text presented therein somewhat thoroughly. Is it your intent to use this as your barometer for your overall project? If so, do you factor the Jefferies cross section of the Enterprise into the equation - and if so, how? Further, I'm curious what specifically prompted you to pick the 1080' feet figure instead of the more generally accepted 947'?
Second, I admire that you are taking everything we've seen on the show and trying to adhere as closely to that as possible, using visual evidence of corridors to try to place rooms. I certainly do not disagree with this effort. However, I want to ensure that the correct amount of salt is applied in this venture. That is, we know fairly conclusively that the curved corridor was a conceit to make the ship seem bigger than it was. We also know that it was considered advantageous since it corresponded with the curve of the saucer. However, I am not certain how much forethought placed in their staging of scenes, nor how much forethought was placed in the assignment of door numbers.
That said, mine any diamonds from the rough that you can - just remember that if something doesn't work out, it is not unreasonable to chalk something up to a production inconsistency.
I've mostly assumed that you are doing this without thinking too much of anything introduced from TNG or other series as far as the way technology works - in one post, I believe you (quite correctly) pointed out that the TOS tech could be quite different than anything in a previous era or later era. I wholly agree with this. I'm curious, though, how much thought you have given to trying to reconcile this with the previous or later series? Decks with inconsistent heights, for example, might be considered controversial by 24th century standards.
Using the yellow circular hatch as a way to allow curved corridors makes sense. I feel that your second revisions of the engineering hull are closer to what I expected from this methodology - curved corridors, yes, but not overabundantly so. I think they key here is balancing out onscreen interpretation with what would actually make sense, which I think you are doing so far. The one thing I might suggest we consider more is how would the ship actually be laid out? Do designers place the turbolifts and corridors first, or the rooms, and put the corridors in between? I think there's a happy medium to be found.
When it comes time to take the project back up, I think it would be logical to take all the WIPs so far and compare them, and perhaps derive a horizontal cross section from them. I'm concerned that you might get so stuck on trying to make the sets fit the available area that we might find they don't stack properly.
I wanted to touch briefly on the topic of the warp drive as well. Somehow, the Enterprise combines matter and antimatter, along with dilithium crystals, to make power. And the engine pods somehow warp space and move the ship. From TOS, we do know this. But what we don't know is exactly how it works. We have the "matter/antimatter integrator" in the floor of engineering in season two onward, which was maybe there all along, albeit another room. We have the energizer structures there all along. We have the dilithium room in "The Alternative Factor" which I'll get to in a minute. And we have the cathedral. Oh, and lest we not forget the crawlway Scotty used, in "That Which Survives" I think. That's pretty much all TOS tells us.
It's my assertion that it was initially thought that the "antimatter pods" were the warp nacelles, and were self-contained, aircraft-style engines. I think this changed as the series went on, and a more hands-on approach was needed. Plot seemed to necessitate the addition of the integrator, which presumable, does just that - uses dilithium to "integrate" matter and antimatter, resulting in power. Somehow, this probably goes through the cathedral and ends up in the engines. The energizers presumably steal power from the main reactor to power everything else.
I have yet to see a truly satisfactory answer for the "re-amplification" room in "The Alternative Factor." I had always assumed the Enterprise usually carried many backup crystals (lacking in "WNMHGB" and "Mudd's Women," to be sure) which had to be "rested" (but not recrystalized per TVH) through some arcane process.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to following this thread when you pick the job back up after your hiatus.
Possibly the constant and inevitable detail revisions I apply and don't have the time to illustrate in a graphic and concise manner, so I'm most likely the one to be blamed.
I'm grateful that you take the time to get into the details and hopefully encourage others to do so, too. I really miss the feedback of the BBS veterans ("the old ones") that came before me with their TOS WIP Enterprise threads. Some of their thoughts reflect in my work while other ideas, I'd like to think, could be stuff for interesting discussions.
Yes, The Making of Star Trek is the barometer unless altered and/or revised by contradicting (first grade canon) TOS onscreen information.
The Jefferies' cross section / JCS (illustration above):
I've mentioned before that I believe there is sufficient evidence that the ship's internal description was an early concept for one of the pilot film versions (still including a physical Main Deck 2). The text description mentions 11 main decks and 16 engineering decks.
Judging by the sphere at the nacelles' end, the JCS has to have been drawn after the 11-footer VFX model had been altered for the regular series, thus it cannot come from the "pilot film stage" of production. Notice that Main Deck 2 appears to have been flattened by the lowering of the bridge module!
Where it gets confusing are the visible decks in the JCS. There are only 9 main decks (including the flattened # 2) and only 15 engineering decks (looks like one deck level may have been removed to allow for one taller engineering deck).
I assume Jefferies tried to fix the original, early aforementioned description by taking the studio set deck heights into account, thus the 11 decks were reduced to 9.
Gene L. Coon may not have been aware of this and still went with the old description, therefore Decks 10 and 11 took hits in "Errand of Mercy". I think this settled the inconsistency and frankly, I feel that this was a good thing as we will (hopefully) see.
In the JCS we see the three vertical main lines (usually mistaken for turbo shafts, IMHO) and a hint of the vertical engineering core in the engineering hull, but not necessarily an exact reproduction to be taken literally (as various other details in the JCS).
The whole deck plan idea started with my intention to illustrate Kirk's (provisional) cabin on Engineering Deck 12 in "Mudd's Women". I realized I couldn't fit the circular studio set corridor there unless I tweaked it.
To keep this at the absolute minimum I realized I'd have to go for a larger figure of the ship's overall length. For various reasons – some also discussed in previous TOS Enterprise threads – I went for the 1,080 feet O.L. figure.
I think this one works best as it enables 16 engineering decks with a height often exceeding 9', most of the main decks to be 9' tall, the outer ring cabins on Main Deck 5, to have Spock's turbo lift on Main Deck 7 in "The Naked Time" without further tweaking these corridors, too (thank heavens for that! ), and last but not least a bigger shuttlebay (I assume its VFX footage to have been shot in "X-ray-vision" to give us a better overall idea of this area by removing the stern wall with the part of the U-shaped observation corridor we didn't see).
Most unfortunately there is a price tag, and that is the inability to properly align the command bridge, so we'd have to assume it to be somewhat larger than it actually was.
IIRC an O.L. of 987' would enable a perfect match, and this was probably what Matt Jefferies used as a scale reference to come up with the "947 feet" figure (and possibly resulted in him reducing the original 11 decks to only 9 in his JCS).
My approach to apply "Occam's Razor" is that "the concept that answers more questions than raising new ones, is probably the closest one to the truth". YMMV, of course.
I'm not sure. The outer cabin ring on Main Deck 5 (revised version!) is a very close call, but still suggests that the radius of the inner corridor (studio set) has the accurate dimensions.
Regarding the door signs (that will conflict in my deck plan drafts) I agree that we need a salt shaker here.
I'm doing my best to have these make sense as much as that may be possible (i.e. these also have an influence on the overall layout, so it's not just about having a credible turbo lift network and character movements that make sense.)
That definitely applies to the side door of Kirk's cabin aboard the ISS Enterprise in the mirror universe which should open to a corridor but instead reveals an extra room for Marla to change clothes. Good thing, then, I'm not attempting to produce deck plans of that ship.
Yes, in TAS it's the Engineering Core, in TMP (and TWOK) the Intermix Chamber Coil and in TNG and beyond the Warp Core. I try not to mix lingo from the different Trek incarnations and try to only seek inspiration from post-TOS incarnations where TOS (or TAS) fails to provide the necessary answers.
Nevertheless I'm trying to accomodate TOS Enterprise rooms and corridors from TAS, DS9 and ENT as long as these do not contradict genuine TOS footage or layout suggestions.
Thank you very much! First and foremost it should be an accurate reproduction of what we saw onscreen because this is the essential reference everyone can relate to. Next, IMHO, the turbo lift network should be accurate, efficient and believable. Eventually the whole layout should look good, which seems (no offense) what you're aiming at.
The only excuse I'm able to offer is that I don't pretend to know the intricate details of 23rd Century starship engineering. The circular arrangement inside the engineering hull might be a design feature improving warp drive performance, relieve structural pressure or something along these lines. The remaining challenge will remain to keep the (onscreen) circular corridors but arrange the surrounding areas in a manner that the whole ensemble will look and feel much better than it currently does.
Thus far I hope I visited all the other WIP threads, current and closed. There are items I wholeheartedly agree with my esteemed colleagues, there are others where I digress.
While due to my lack of appropriate computer skills I'm still unable to present three-dimensional renderings, I approach the plans with what I hope to be an appropriate awareness of three-dimensionality, nevertheless (e.g. room heights of Engineering Control Room in contrast to room height of Impulse Engine Room).
Its because of issues like this I created parallel threads to hopefully discuss these subjects to get a better "understanding" in the process.
The confusion you expressed earlier is something I accept full responsibility for, because unless I was done with the Main Deck 7 draft, I hadn't thought that the "cathedrals" are most likely the enigmatic "energizers" referred to in "The Doomsday Machine".
The "matter/antimatter integrator" (what a euphemism considering nothing is integrated but everything annihilated instead ) is a can of worms, but I assume it's not where you believe it is.
The dialogue in "That Which Survives" is obscure at best and conflicting at worst. Nevertheless, blssdwlf and I seem to agree that it has to be at a location where the "jettison" scenario is feasible, and have accordingly concluded that it has to align with one of the bottom hatches of the engineering hull.
My take on it is that it is part of the Engineering Core (a predecessor of TMP's intermix chamber coil) which essentially looks like a warp engine but, of course, is missing the warp coil elements.
I think dilithium crystals (my treatise "studying" possible energy amplifying characteristics) do more than that. Here's my assertion:
"batteries" > dilithium crystals > ignite fusion reactors > dilithium crystals > ignite matter-antimatter reactors > dilithium crystals > boost power for warp drive. The cathedrals / energizers regulate and distribute the available energy, failure of these and you are stuck with battery and/or fusion power only ("The Doomsday Machine").
Injection of fusion plasma into the matter-antimatter reaction product stream influences warp drive performance ("intermix formula").
I think that's in a nutshell what I came up with in trying to get a better idea how the energy plasma tubework inside could or should look like.
Most definitely not re-crystallized as in ST IV through gamma radiation, I absolutely agree.
I think "re-amplification" is a strong hint that the crystals can loose their amplification properties and therefore have to be regenerated by some exotic process to regain their original and "full crystal [amplification] power". While the warp engines occasionally needed to be "re-energized" (i.e. recharged) I don't think that's necessarily the case with the crystals where "draining" these, IMO, does not imply "discharge" but instead "degradation of amplification properties".
Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate that a lot. I intend to get on with the deck drafts at the earliest next opportunity, stay tuned.
Splendid. I think, then, that you're starting off with the right approach.
To be clear, do you mean you think the drawing reflects a smaller Enterprise, the kind that would've had 203 crew members? In turn, the text version represents the "real" size of the Enterprise settled on after the pilots but still fairly early on in production?
Regarding the "lowering" of the bridge module, here's where I apply the salt. We "know" to an extent that this was done to upsize the ship from a 203 crew vessel to a 430 crew vessel. I choose to, frankly, ignore the dome alteration for this reason. The bridge previously sat higher in a different dome, if you want, but I don't consider it to have any bearing on deck two.
I suppose, also, it matters whether the sensor platforms are "decks." Reading this, it sounds like you think that the bridge dome is the reason why there were more decks, and Jefferies revised this number downward when the bridge dome was enshrinkened? Jefferies' Phase II Enterprise cross section may bear scrutiny here, as it was mostly intended to represent the same ship, albeit with changed engine pods and bridge. [/quote]
Right - it definitely started as general scribblings of where things were, not necessarily final placements. And I can see the logic of your scaling choice.
Just to throw a monkey wrench in, this was something put together, I believe, by aridas sofia many years ago that makes too much sense:
Ah, ok. My only worry was that you had found yourself beholden to them - and I think you should not.
Quite commendable - but again, I'd urge you to not feel too beholden to these "other" rooms, especially if you're going for a true Jefferies-level vision.
I trust you on that. I guess my only fear is that we end up with something that just doesn't make sense, in simply trying to bend over backwards to accommodate running scenes done in a "trick" set.
Regarding the cathedrals, I'd also urge you to approach them consistently. That is, if you decide they are forced perspective or not, use them that way in all locations they appear. I have seen others not do so, and in my opinion it is selective thinking at best.
An interesting and unique take, to be sure, but not one without merit. Surely there must be some form of ejectable component for the crew's safety, even if it's just a main chamber and fuel cells.
Another unconventional take (which I like as a general rule) but one that again has some interesting merit, particularly in thinking that perhaps that's what TPTB were thinking in the days of TOS.
Makes sense to me - at least it's certainly the best explanation for that weird room so far.
Allow me try a chronology of events what I think happened
IIRC, the "203 lives" reflected a much smaller ship from an earlier draft. After they had built the ship to reflect the change in size, they unfortunately forgot to boost crew complement accordingly in the final screenplay
Already for pilot "The Cage" they used the occasion to describe the early and basic internal layout and fix the vessel's size, based on the size of the studio set bridge in relation to the top of the VFX model. Odd: No deck location provided for the transporter room/s, but the concept of saucer separation other than for emergencies only. Could indicate a certain uneasyness whether to really go for the transporter system solution or saucer landing (a la Forbidden Planet).
After the regular series has been green-lighted Matt Jefferies takes the time to do his JCS (which he probably wouldn't have done just for either of the pilots. Why go through the hazzle of doing a cutaway for either of the pilots but the series is rejected?). He realizes that the studio set height doesn't allow for 11 decks in the saucer hull and reduces the number of decks in the JCS. Scriptwriters remain unaware of the change and go by the original text description, therefore
"Errand of Mercy" features visible impacts on Decks 10 and 11
The opening shot onto the transparent bridge in "The Cage" settled the correct size.
Briefing Room # 1 from "The Cage" was located on Deck 3 (still Deck 4 in my current draft). Was converted into the "Briefing Lounge" of WNM (now, actually a recreation or officers' lounge) because Astro-Labs on Deck 2 had been converted into the conference lounge aka Briefing Room # 2 (with a nice panoramic window ahead, but because of the camera angle in WNM we never got a chance to see it behind Kirk's chair...).
When Deck 2 was removed the new conference lounge was removed, too, and a room inside the ship became Briefing Room 2 (often seen in TOS).
If we don't assume that Main Deck 2 had been removed for the regular series (obviously one deck was removed when the bridge module was lowered...), it is impossible to rationalize the long turbo lift ride Spock and the Romulan commander embarked upon in "The Enterprise Incident".
When Spock said "Deck 2" the ship's computer immediately understood he was referring to Engineering Deck 2 because no other "Deck 2" was left on the ship.
For the Phase II cross section he eliminated one more main deck (compared to JCS) and there were only 8 left. It's somewhat odd if you look at the actual result, since the lower deck heights on the TMP Enterprise now allow for 11 main decks while in contrast we have less engineering decks (judging by the window positioning on the engineering hull).
McCOY: I know engineers. They love to change things.
While I love the visualization of the studio set inside the saucer (tells me I still got plenty of work ahead on Deck 6),
do I detect an ironic undertone in your comment? There should be two engine rooms in the saucer and therefore the warp engine room is misaligned.
"Would Matt have approved" is the constant question that runs through my mind. To avoid any misunderstandings: I'm confident that he did not approve a circular corridor in the engineering hull and wanted the end of the Jefferies Tube corridor to feature a turbo lift (to the Bridge). Unfortunately he was overruled by the directors and/or producers and what ended up on film is something different but canon nevertheless (looks like a fate both Enterprise creators had to endure ).
I think I understand exactly what you mean because that issue has caused me considerable headaches.
From a production point-of-view I have no doubt that it was meant to be a forced perspective and in real life would be long and parallel. This is what I reproduced on Main Deck 7 and Engineering Deck 9.
On E-Deck 12 however, the forced-perspective-taken-literally works much, much better with the main sensor-deflector components.
I'm inclined to feature only one engine room in the engineering hull (i.e. E-Deck 12, would be quite a paradigm shift, wouldn't it? ) but that would raise problems to rationalize the turbo lift rides in "Ultimate Computer" and "By Any Other Name" and Janice would need new quarters on E-Deck 12.
Although according to Scotty "the miracle worker" it was him who made the jettison scenario possible in the first place:
SCOTT: I've sealed off the aft end of the service crawlway, and I've positioned explosive separator charges to blast me clear of the ship if I rupture the magnetic bottle.
IMHO, it should read: I've been sealed in the service crawlway, and I've activated explosive separator charges to blast me clear of the ship if I rupture the magnetic bottle.
I think he really and often exaggerates too much.
So, hiatus over yet?
Yes, but you are keeping me busy with all these interesting threads you permanently come up with.
I'll be back ASAP. I need to get the Season Three Recreation Room reconstructed, first
Belay my last remark, in Praetor's Excelsior scaling thread starting at post # 367 TOS Enterprise related issues came up (and continued) dealing with deck heights in the engineering hull.
This looks like a good opportunity to feature a draft from last December I made trying to fix those deck levels:
My friend Andreas provided a preliminary exterior view, right from the start we decided that the windows should be located as they had been on the actual VFX model and whatever discrepancies would arise from placing the deck levels would somehow needed to be fixed - much to my own surprise the "fixing" was only required on a minimal level.
"Sixteen deck levels"
The Making of Star Trek (TMoST) was very specific and stated that the engineering hull would contain 16 decks. However, the good book left it open from where on to start counting and whether to number individual engineering decks or not.
Although I described this in previous posts here and in other threads, the draft hopefully illustrates the issue: Assuming an overall length of 1,080 feet (in contrast to the 947' figure) and considering the actual footage taking place inside the engineering hull with corridors between 8 and 10' high, will inevitably claim engineering decks inside the connecting dorsal.
I haven't done the simulation but I think it's obvious that if we tried to locate those 16 engineering decks within the actual engineering hull exclusively, we'd arrive at deck level heights that are no longer compatible with the actual footage.
Although it became an abandoned TOS concept, TMoST described saucer separation as a maneuver not limited to ship evacuation scenarios.
This was the major inspiration for me to treat both the engineering hull (including the dorsal) and the saucer hull / main section as distinctive entities with an individual deck numbering for both. I also believe that in a ship evacuation scenario, only the saucer hull would separate, leaving the connecting dorsal (as part of the) engineering hull behind.
And, of course, the Romulan Commander's quarters in "The Enterprise Incident" could be on (Engineering) Deck 2 in the connecting dorsal.
Regarding the window alignment for practical purposes these could either be for "desk-sitters" or for crew personnel walking by (e.g. "promenade deck" featured in the alternate edit of "Where No Man Has Gone Before"). However, Sulu and Dr. Piper may be coming from an elevated dining area in this outer corridor (i.e. the windows that high up are equally useful for crewmembers in transit and for dining area occupants).
As a matter of fact, I'm currently dealing with such a practical situation at the property management I'm working for. We have an entire building floor with windows very high up where our new tennant intends to accomodate office space. What's the solution? All the office spaces are elevated to provide the employees of the company with an outside window view (and once you're mostly sitting in a desk chair you don't pay that much attention to how much overhead space you still got left when standing up).
The enigma of the connecting dorsal's illuminated windows
Unfortunately, TMoST makes no reference whatsoever to the space inside the connecting dorsal. One BBS member (have a good day, too) suggested the vertical lights to be the lights of the (IMHO, erroneous) vertical turbo shaft. I find myself unable to think of a good reason why such lights should be visible on the exterior hull (especially since these correspond to other windows of equal size and proportions)
I firmly believe that these lights correspond to the area where the "main line" vertically connects the engineering hull and the saucer hull (admittedly I've not yet entirely made up my mind whether that line should be the main power line / TMP intermix shaft - "blood vein" - or a main systems line - "nervous system").
As such these room lights would be permanently on for inspection of the main line while simultaneously accomodating the ladders connecting both hulls. In the highly improbable, however not necessarily impossible, case that even the emergency lighting could go off, orbiting a planet could still provide some illumination through these windows from the starlight reflected by the planet. It's a weak rationalization but better than none, IMHO, and I'm most eager to listen to other ideas.
P.S. Bad news! One of the TOS Enterprise devoted websites I frequently visited was Phil Broad's www.cloudster.com. I find myself unable to access this great website any longer. Are his pictures now lost or have these been saved?
Yep you can find pretty much everything on the Wayback Machine at archive.org.
It is a crying shame that the original site went away. Discovered that last month myself and I was quite shocked. That's when I thankfully discovered the archive.
Separate names with a comma.